bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond pairwise: Higher-order physical interactions affect phase separation in multicomponent liquids
Authors: Luo Chengjie , Qiang Yicheng , Zwicker David
Published: July 2024

Phase separation, crucial for spatially segregating biomolecules in cells, is well-understood in the simple case of a few components with pairwise interactions. Yet, biological cells challenge the simple picture in at least two ways: First, biomolecules, like proteins and nucleic acids, exhibit complex, higher-order interactions, where a single molecule may interact with multiple others simultaneously. Second, cells comprise a myriad of different components that form various droplets. Such multicomponent phase separation has been studied in the simple case of pairwise interactions, but an analysis of higher-order interactions is lacking. We propose such a theory and study the corresponding phase diagrams numerically. We find that interactions between three components are similar to pairwise interactions, whereas composition-dependent higher-order interactions between two components can oppose phase separation. This surprising result can only be revealed from the equilibrium phase diagrams, implying that the oft-used stability analysis of homogeneous states is inadequate to study these systems. We thus show that higher-order interactions could play a crucial role in forming droplets in cells, and their manipulation could offer novel approaches to controlling multicomponent phase separation.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Hawking-Page transition on a spin chain
Authors: Pérez-García David , Santilli Leonardo , Tierz Miguel
Published: July 2024

The accessibility of the Hawking-Page transition in AdS5 through a one-dimensional (1D) Heisenberg spin chain is demonstrated. We use the random matrix formulation of the Loschmidt echo for a set of spin chains, and randomize the ferromagnetic spin interaction. It is shown that the thermal Loschmidt echo, when averaged, detects the predicted increase in entropy across the Hawking-Page transition. This suggests that a 1D spin chain exhibits characteristics of black hole physics in 4+1 dimensions. We show that this approach is equally applicable to free fermion systems with a general dispersion relation.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Autonomous dynamics of two-dimensional insulating domain with superclimbing edges
Authors: Kuklov Anatoly , Prokof'ev Nikolay , Svistunov Boris
Published: July 2024

Superclimbing dynamics is the signature feature of transverse quantum fluids describing wide superfluid one-dimensional interfaces and/or edges with negligible Peierls barrier. Using Lagrangian formalism, we show how the essence of the superclimb phenomenon—dynamic conjugation of the fields of the superfluid phase and geometric shape—clearly manifests itself via characteristic modes of autonomous motion of the insulating domain (“droplet”) with superclimbing edges. In the translation invariant case and in the absence of supercurrent along the edge, the droplet demonstrates ballistic motion with the velocity-dependent shape and zero bulk currents. In an isotropic trapping potential, the droplet features a doubly degenerate sloshing mode. The period of the ground-state evolution of the superfluid phase (dictating the frequency of the AC Josephson effect) is sensitive to the geometry of the droplet. The supercurrent along the edge dramatically changes the droplet dynamics: The motion acquires features resembling that of a two-dimensional charged particle interacting with a perpendicular magnetic field. In a linear external potential (uniform force field), the state with a supercurrent demonstrates a spectacular gyroscopic effect—uniform motion in the perpendicular to the force direction.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Feedback cooling a levitated nanoparticle's libration to below 100 phonons
Authors: Gao Jialiang , van der Laan Fons , Zielińska Joanna A. , Militaru Andrei , Novotny Lukas , Frimmer Martin
Published: July 2024

Macroscopic rotors are interesting model systems to test quantum theory and for quantum sensing. A promising approach for bringing these systems to the quantum regime is to combine sensitive detection with feedback cooling to reduce the thermal occupation of the mechanics. Here, we implement a backward-scattering scheme to efficiently detect all three libration modes of an optically levitated nanoparticle. We demonstrate parametric feedback cooling of all three libration degrees of freedom to below 16 mK, with one of the modes reaching the temperature of 1.3 mK, corresponding to a mean phonon number of 84. Finally, we characterize the backward-scattering scheme by determining its measurement efficiency to be 0.5%.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Minigap-induced negative differential resistance in multilayer
MoS2
-based tunnel junctions
Authors: Kawasaki Seiya , Kinoshita Kei , Moriya Rai , Onodera Momoko , Zhang Yijin , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Sasagawa Takao , Machida Tomoki
Published: July 2024

Despite extensive research, the high-energy band properties of transition metal dichalcogenides remain unexplored. Here, we reveal that a multilayer MoS2-based tunnel junction exhibits substantial negative differential resistance (NDR) owing to the presence of a minigap, which is the energy gap between the upper and lower bands of the valence band at the Γ point. We fabricated a highly p-doped multilayer p+−MoS2/h-BN/p+−MoS2 tunnel junction. When a bias is applied across the junction, holes at the Fermi level at the Γ point in the valence band of the source-side p+−MoS2 resonantly tunnel to the drain-side p+−MoS2 with momentum conservation. When the energy of the injected hole coincides with the minigap of the drain-side p+−MoS2, the tunneling conductance is suppressed; thus, NDR is observed in the current-voltage characteristics. We identified minigap-induced NDR over a broad range of MoS2 thicknesses, including the bulk, that was observable even at room temperature.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Searching for new fundamental interactions via isotopic shifts in molecular lattice clocks
Authors: Tiberi E. , Borkowski M. , Iritani B. , Moszynski R. , Zelevinsky T.
Published: July 2024

Precision measurements with ultracold atoms and molecules are primed to probe beyond-the-standard model physics. Isotopologues of homonuclear molecules are a natural testbed for new Yukawa-type mass-dependent forces at nanometer scales, complementing existing mesoscopic-body and neutron scattering experiments. Here, we propose using isotopic shift measurements in molecular lattice clocks to constrain these new interactions from new massive scalar particles in the keV/c2 range: The new interaction would impart an extra isotopic shift to molecular levels on top of one predicted by the standard model. For the strontium dimer, a Hz-level agreement between experiment and theory could constrain the coupling of the new particles to hadrons by up to an order of magnitude over the most stringent existing experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Dilute Measurement-Induced Cooling into Many-Body Ground States
Authors: Langbehn Josias , Snizhko Kyrylo , Gornyi Igor , Morigi Giovanna , Gefen Yuval , Koch Christiane P.
Published: July 2024

Cooling a quantum system to its ground state is important for the characterization of nontrivial interacting systems and in the context of a variety of quantum information platforms. It can be achieved by employing measurement-based passive steering protocols, where the steering steps are predetermined and are not based on measurement readouts. However, measurements realized by coupling the system to auxiliary quantum degrees of freedom (“detectors”) are rather costly and protocols in which the number of detectors scales with system size will have limited practical applicability. Here, we identify conditions under which measurement-based cooling protocols can be taken to the ultimate dilute limit where the number of detectors is independent of system size. For two examples of frustration-free one-dimensional spin chains, we show that steering on a single link is sufficient to cool these systems into their unique ground states. We corroborate our analytical arguments with finite-size numerical simulations and discuss further applications of dilute cooling.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Implementing organizational ambidexterity using the balanced scorecard in Puebla City’s hotel industry, Mexico
Authors: Lastre Sierra Hassir , Ruiz Molina Antonio , Barrón Villaverde Diana
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper investigates the effectiveness of the Ambidextrous Scorecard (ASC) in facilitating the integration of organizational ambidexterity in four-star Puebla City hotels for managing exploitation and exploration activities. It proposes an integrated approach to ambidexterity and introduces the ASC as a tool explicitly targeting hotels’ challenges and opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes survey data from 41 hotels (85.42% response rate). Our methodology involves a literature review, the Delphi technique for questionnaire validation, and data collection through Google Forms. Statistical tests confirm the reliability and validity of the approach for assessing the effective integration of exploitation and exploration activities.

Findings

The paper highlights how the ASC promotes an integrated approach to managing both activities. By incorporating exploitation activities (cost reduction, strategic alliances), and facilitating exploration activities (process innovation, new market attraction), the ASC empowers hotels to streamline operations, develop novel offerings, and achieve enhanced operational efficiency and innovation.

Research limitations/implications

We acknowledge limitations due to its specific focus on the hotel industry in Puebla City, suggesting that the results may not be universally applicable. We recommended that further investigation be conducted into the application of the Ambidextrous Scorecard (ASC) across different sectors and regions to enhance understanding of organizational ambidexterity. Exploring the impact of integrating exploitation and exploration activities across corporate areas could offer valuable insights for implementing the ASC in diverse business settings.

Practical implications

The paper indicates that hotels can achieve ambidexterity by integrating exploitation and exploration activities using the Balanced Scorecard. This approach enhances competitiveness, allowing hotels to anticipate and respond to market trends quickly. It highlights the significance of considering ambidexterity across all organizational areas to ensure sustained adaptability and performance in dynamic environments.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the concept of integrated ambidexterity and the ASC as a novel tool for managing the balance between innovation and efficiency. The ASC transcends the hotel industry, potentially benefiting various service sectors by facilitating a more integrated approach to organizational performance.
Preferred knowledge formats in mobile learning in Namibian public universities: a students’ perspective
Authors: Kaisara Godwin , Bwalya Kelvin Joseph
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study is to identify the various knowledge formats suitable for mobile learning in Namibian public universities.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a qualitative design, data were collected through focus group interviews of students in two public universities in Namibia.

Findings

Results suggest that students consume knowledge in various formats, with videos the most preferred format. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that students’ preferences are shaped by various factors such as costs and quantity of information.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to two public Namibian universities. This limited scope, as well as its qualitative nature, means that findings cannot be arbitrarily generalized to other contexts but cardinal as a source of insight in contextually similar environments.

Practical implications

The findings reveal that teachers should be cognizant of the preferred knowledge formats for mobile learning to achieve its full potential in terms of effective teaching and learning. Therefore, teachers should package learning information for mobile learning in line with learners’ characteristics and preferences.

Originality/value

There is scant information on knowledge formats suitable for mobile learning. Consequently, this study contributes to the nascent body of knowledge on this important issue. Furthermore, although mobile learning uptake is on the ascendancy in Africa, to the best of our knowledge, no study of this nature has been undertaken in this context thereby leaving knowledge gaps for designers, researchers and practitioners in mobile learning.
Strategic crises management in Finland: government responses to COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Johanson Jan-Erik , Pekkola Elias , Stenvall Jari , Rannisto Pasi-Heikki , Leponiemi Ulriika
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This article examines the strategy formation in the Finnish government’s pandemic management during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing a research gap by exploring the possibilities for strategy formation in guiding government policy formation.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing perspective of strategic planning and emergent strategies influenced by the authorizing environment, the article emphasizes the importance of strategy development in government. The management of COVID-19 pandemic serves as a case study for investigating public strategies in policy formation, underscoring the significance of the authorizing environment in integrating predefined strategic plans with emergent strategic avenues.

Findings

The management of pandemics has led to changes in legislation and modes of government decision-making, resulting in learnings for coordinating subnational governments and allocation of resources. The government actions evolved from extracting components from predefined strategic plans and drawing on the experiences of other countries. The emergent properties emerged from amalgamating these elements into an umbrella strategy with a variety of new responses.

Research limitations/implications

The examination focuses on the view from the nexus of government. Although, informed by the subnational developments and stakeholder responses, the study adopts a bird’s eye view on the COVID-19 management.

Practical implications

The examination raises needs for legislative changes, improvement of cross-sectoral coordination within central government and improvement for the decision-making capability within subnational government.

Originality/value

By focusing on the Finnish government’s measures in pandemic management, this article contributes to the discourse on pandemic management. The findings provide insights for strategic crisis management in the public sector.
Competition intensity is linked to the co‐occurrence status and height differences of plant species found growing together in an old‐field community
Authors: Gridzak Riley , Lavender Thomas Michael , Aarssen Lonnie W. , Schamp Brandon S.
Published: July 2024

Experimental evidence suggests that larger plant species generally have a competitive advantage and thus should dominate communities where competition for limiting resources (i.e. water, soil nutrients, light, space and/or mutualists) is intense. Additionally, researchers have postulated that competition can generate negative co‐occurrence patterns. However, neither expectation is strongly supported by empirical evidence.

In a relatively undisturbed old‐field plant community, we explored the interdependency of these expectations by examining pairwise species co‐occurrences, and pairwise species maximum height differences (measured here as the maximum potential height of the species), and by estimating competition intensity for sample plots using field transplants grown with and without neighbours. Specifically, we tested whether maximum species height differences were greater for negatively co‐occurring species pairs than for positively co‐occurring pairs found growing together. We also tested whether the maximum species height differences and co‐occurrence status of species pairs were associated with the average competitive environment they tended to be found growing in.

Negatively co‐occurring species pairs found growing together differed more in maximum height than in positively co‐occurring species pairs that were more similar in maximum height. Additionally, species maximum height differences between negatively co‐occurring species pairs where higher in less competitively intense plots, whereas species maximum heights were more similar between positively co‐occurring species pairs found growing together in less competitively intense plots.

Synthesis. Our results suggest an association between estimates of competition intensity generated using transplant experiments and co‐occurrence patterns. These findings contribute to our understanding of the association between size‐mediated competition and spatial organization in plant communities and provide a framework for future research in this area.
Innovate, conserve, grow: A comprehensive analysis of technological innovation, energy utilization, and carbon emission in BRICS
Authors: Zhang Meng , Imran Muhammad , Juanatas Ronaldo A.
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study was to embark on a transformative exploration of the interplay between technological innovation, renewable energy, economic development, and carbon emissions in BRICS nations, unveiling novel insights that redefine sustainability paradigms and contribute to global environmental policymaking. This comprehensive study spans the years 1990–2022, meticulously examining the dynamics of economic indicators, energy consumption, renewable energy generation, and technological progress. The dataset's non‐normal distribution prompts the use of moment quantile regression, providing nuanced insights with consideration for diverse slopes and cross‐sectional dependencies. Validation through the “Dumitrescu‐Hurlin panel Causality Test” refines the findings, revealing the diminishing impact of technological innovation across quantiles. The study illuminates a compelling connection: heightened technological innovation correlates strongly with reduced carbon emissions, particularly evident at lower quantiles. This aligns seamlessly with existing research, emphasizing technology's transformative potential for sustainability. Conversely, a concerning positive association emerges between energy utilization and carbon emissions, highlighting the persistent environmental challenge posed by escalating energy use. Urgent strategic interventions are underscored to address the ecological consequences associated with rising energy consumption. The intricate relationship between renewable electricity production and carbon emissions unfolds, emphasizing renewables' pivotal role in mitigating environmental impact. This aligns with ongoing discussions regarding their indispensable contribution to sustainable development. The study underscores the strategic importance of prioritizing renewable power production in environmental sustainability initiatives. However, a disconcerting positive association surfaces between economic development and carbon emissions across all quantiles, revealing the environmental costs accompanying economic growth in BRICS nations. As economic development advances, carbon emissions escalate, presenting substantial sustainability challenges and emphasizing the imperative to balance progress with environmental conservation efforts. This contribution enriches the ongoing discourse on fostering sustainability within the BRICS nations and beyond, marking a significant stride toward a more environmentally conscious future.
CEO Restricted Stock, Incentives, and Corporate Innovations*
Authors: Boli Yi , Oh Jong‐Min
Published: July 2024

We study the relation between CEO restricted stock, CEO incentives, and firm innovation. We first show that restricted stock is negatively associated with R&D investment. We also show that CEO restricted stock is positively related to the number of patents granted and citations received. However, further investigation shows that CEO restricted stock has a positive relation with firm exploitation but a negative relation with firm exploration and breakthrough innovation. The results suggest that restricted stock appears to incentivize CEOs to make efficient R&D investments and produce more innovative outputs in general, but only through exploitation rather than exploration and breakthrough innovations.
EATING LIKE THE ELITE AT NEO‐PALATIAL KNOSSOS
Authors: Nafplioti Argyro
Published: July 2024

Diachronic research of social status differences in diet reveals a dynamic interplay of cultural, economic, and technological forces that have shaped the food choices of individuals across the past centuries. In this paper we focus on food and related practices at Palatial Knossos on Crete in the mid‐second millennium BC and review palaeodietary stable carbon and nitrogen isotope (δ13C and δ15N) data from two cemeteries to explore evidence for embodied social variation during the site’s uncontested heyday in the Neo‐palatial Period (c.1700 to 1500 BC). We show that analysis by sex and tomb suggests no significant social differentiation in access to food resources. Instead, temporal trends reveal increased availability of animal protein during the Neo‐palatial period, aligning with Knossos' political and economic supremacy. We argue that the equitable living circumstances at Knossos during the Neo‐palatial period may have contributed to the absence of factional competition and social unrest, potentially explaining the site's continuity into Post‐palatial times despite widespread destructions elsewhere on Crete. Overall, the findings shed light on the complex interplay between diet, social structure, and historical context at Neo‐palatial Knossos.
Dynamic changes in mRNA nucleocytoplasmic localization in the nitrate response of Arabidopsis roots
Authors: Fonseca Alejandro , Riveras Eleodoro , Moyano Tomás C. , Alvarez José M. , Rosa Stefanie , Gutiérrez Rodrigo A.
Published: July 2024

Nitrate is a nutrient and signal that regulates gene expression. The nitrate response has been extensively characterized at the organism, organ, and cell‐type‐specific levels, but intracellular mRNA dynamics remain unexplored. To characterize nuclear and cytoplasmic transcriptome dynamics in response to nitrate, we performed a time‐course expression analysis after nitrate treatment in isolated nuclei, cytoplasm, and whole roots. We identified 402 differentially localized transcripts (DLTs) in response to nitrate treatment. Induced DLT genes showed rapid and transient recruitment of the RNA polymerase II, together with an increase in the mRNA turnover rates. DLTs code for genes involved in metabolic processes, localization, and response to stimulus indicating DLTs include genes with relevant functions for the nitrate response that have not been previously identified. Using single‐molecule RNA FISH, we observed early nuclear accumulation of the NITRATE REDUCTASE 1 (NIA1) transcripts in their transcription sites. We found that transcription of NIA1, a gene showing delayed cytoplasmic accumulation, is rapidly and transiently activated; however, its transcripts become unstable when they reach the cytoplasm. Our study reveals the dynamic localization of mRNAs between the nucleus and cytoplasm as an emerging feature in the temporal control of gene expression in response to nitrate treatment in Arabidopsis roots.
Inhibitor of cardiolipin biosynthesis‐related enzyme MoGep4 confers broad‐spectrum anti‐fungal activity
Authors: Sun Peng , Zhao Juan , Sha Gan , Zhou Yaru , Zhao Mengfei , Li Renjian , Kong Xiaojing , Sun Qiping , Li Yun , Li Ke , Bi Ruiqing , Yang Lei , Qin Ziting , Huang Wenzheng , Wang Yin , Gao Jie , Chen Guang , Zhang Haifeng , Adnan Muhammad , Yang Long , Zheng Lu , Chen Xiao‐Lin , Wang Guanghui , Ishikawa Toshiki , Li Qiang , Xu Jin‐Rong , Li Guotian
Published: July 2024

Plant pathogens cause devastating diseases, leading to serious losses to agriculture. Mechanistic understanding of pathogenesis of plant pathogens lays the foundation for the development of fungicides for disease control. Mitophagy, a specific form of autophagy, is important for fungal virulence. The role of cardiolipin, mitochondrial signature phospholipid, in mitophagy and pathogenesis is largely unknown in plant pathogenic fungi. The functions of enzymes involved in cardiolipin biosynthesis and relevant inhibitors were assessed using a set of assays, including genetic deletion, plant infection, lipidomics, chemical‐protein interaction, chemical inhibition, and field trials. Our results showed that the cardiolipin biosynthesis‐related gene MoGEP4 of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae regulates growth, conidiation, cardiolipin biosynthesis, and virulence. Mechanistically, MoGep4 regulated mitophagy and Mps1‐MAPK phosphorylation, which are required for virulence. Chemical alexidine dihydrochloride (AXD) inhibited the enzyme activity of MoGep4, cardiolipin biosynthesis and mitophagy. Importantly, AXD efficiently inhibited the growth of 10 plant pathogens and controlled rice blast and Fusarium head blight in the field. Our study demonstrated that MoGep4 regulates mitophagy, Mps1 phosphorylation and pathogenesis in M. oryzae. In addition, we found that the MoGep4 inhibitor, AXD, displays broad‐spectrum antifungal activity and is a promising candidate for fungicide development.
Effect of Alkaline Concentration and Temperature on Lignin Extraction from Sugarcane Bagasse
Authors: Chok Yong Xin , Zulkornain Alia Sabrina , Ya'akob Harisun , Mahmad Puzi Nur Syazwani , Wan Azelee Nur Izyan
Published: July 2024

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is used in various applications, including the production of raw sugar, to be consumed, either directly as food or sugarcane juice. It is reported that 1 ton of sugarcane would generate nearly 280 kg of bagasse and they would be burnt up and leads to air pollution. In fact, sugarcane bagasse contains high lignin content, having Ultraviolet (UV) protection properties. The objective of this study is to determine the best concentration of sodium hydroxide and temperature to extract high yield of lignin for UV protection properties. In this project, sugarcane bagasse is collected from hawker stall in Taman Universiti, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. The lignin composition in sugarcane bagasse was analyzed, giving 16.7± 4.8 wt% of sugarcane bagasse. Alkali extraction of sugarcane bagasse has been carried out by using different concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%) and temperatures (60 °C, 80 °C, 100 °C, 120 °C, 140 °C) in water bath at a fixed time, 1 hour. According to the experiment conducted, the best condition is 10% NaOH concentration, temperature of 100 °C for 1 hour, as the highest yield of lignin can be extracted, which is 55.8±1.92 wt%, with a purity of 28.1±10.75%.  Ultraviolet protection properties of lignin had been analyzed by determining the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). It was done by blending different concentration of lignin into a base cream. The SPF achieved for 5% lignin-blended cream was 4.76 and for 10% lignin-blended cream was 5.78 respectively.
Design Of Emergency Keyword Recognition Using Arduino Nano BLE Sense 33 And Edge Impulse
Authors: Nabaz Danyar , Shafie Noraimi , Azizan Azizul
Published: July 2024

This project focuses on Custom Keyword Voice Recognition (CKVR) for emergency response scenarios. A multilingual keyword spotting system is developed using the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense board and Edge Impulse. The system accurately recognizes the keyword "help" in English, Arabic, Kurdish, and Malay languages. The project utilizes Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) for feature extraction and employs deep learning techniques for model training. By optimizing the model through quantization and achieving 100% accuracy in training and testing phases, the system provides a reliable solution for identifying emergency keywords. The developed system has the potential to enhance safety in public spaces such as malls, hospitals, schools, and stations by quickly responding to individuals in distress. The project demonstrates the effectiveness of the chosen approach, highlighting the significance of MFCC processing, classification learning, and optimized model design in speech recognition. The successful development of this keyword spotting system opens doors for further advancements in the field and emphasizes the potential for innovative solutions that contribute to a safer and more responsive world.
Convolutional Neural Network Model for Facial Feature Extraction in Personality Traits Recognition
Authors: Mahamad Amin Nurrul Akma , Amir Sjarif Nilam Nur , Yuhaniz Siti Sophiayati
Published: July 2024

Personality computing lies on the effort of designing computational models to recognize personality traits from different sources of input such as visual (image), verbal (text) and vocal (audio). To recognize personality traits from facial images, the recognition model needs to extract facial features such as eyes, mouth, nose, etc. Facial features are relevant for personality judgements where they are providing information about human expression and behaviours. For example, by detecting eye’s movement, dimension and size, machines can describe people’s personality. Basically, people with higher score of conscientiousness have greater fluctuations in their pupil size while people who blink faster are more neurotic. The potential of each facial feature to automatically describe human personality has prompted research in personality recognition using CNN-based techniques. On the other hand, convolutional neural networks (CNN) have proven to be greatly success in the field of image processing including face recognition and detection. Since face detection is a key task in personality recognition using facial features, adoption of CNN model is a reliable choice. This study aimed to explore CNN-based models, which have been used and modified in the personality computing field. In this paper, we review several CNN-based models which have been employed for personality traits recognition, with an emphasis on extraction of facial features. Based on the finding, there are four models (VGGNet, ResNet, FaceNet and OpenFace) which are widely used and frequently adopted by previous studies in personality trait recognition. The adoption of CNN- based models in facial features extraction for personality traits recognition helps in achieving a good accuracy result. Thus, there is a huge potential to enhance and modify CNN-based model to generate more efficient model for facial features extraction tasks. Initially, this paper briefly explains personality computing and facial features extraction for personality recognition task. Next, this paper discusses the characteristics of network layer in CNN-based models for facial features extraction and personality recognition. Finally, this paper concludes that each of these models has its own features strength that are potentially useful for facial features extraction in development of personality traits recognition model.
Factors Influencing Healthcare Workers' Knowledge of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia
Authors: Mohamad Nazri Nurmasitah , Mohd Izhar Mohd Azri , Mohammad Yusof Nur Athirah Diyana , Yusof Khairul Hazdi
Published: July 2024

As frontline defenders against the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) play a pivotal role in infection prevention and control (IPC). This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the factors influencing healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge of COVID-19 in a Malaysian healthcare setting. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a tertiary hospital, involving 353 HCWs who completed a self-administered questionnaire. The study assessed HCWs' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 IPC. Statistical analysis, including logistic regression, was employed to identify factors influencing HCWs' knowledge. The study found that 79.9% of HCWs possessed a commendable level of knowledge, 86.4% held positive attitudes toward COVID-19 IPC measures, and an impressive 95.8% demonstrated safe practices in IPC. Factors significantly influencing HCWs' knowledge included level of education and participation in specialized IPC training programs. To effectively curb the spread of COVID-19, strategies should prioritize regular training, particularly for vulnerable HCW groups, while addressing identified risk factors for infection.
Get Started in Data Governance and Data Stewardship
Authors: Mohd Hanif Atikah Hanisah , Lew Xin Yi , Ibrahim Muhammad Haziq , WONG HOOI TEN DORIS
Published: July 2024

Data is growing rapidly in this new era where almost all organizations need to handle data with care, as data is an asset for organizations. A data governance program is essential for data quality management to improve data-driven insights that enable an organization to make better decisions. To implement an effective data governance program, data stewardship responsible for data management plays a vital role in it. Therefore, this study aims to provide fundamental information on successfully getting started in the data governance and data stewardship program. The literature reviews, principles, roles and responsibilities, framework, implementation, and maturity model assessment will be discussed in detail.
Towards a Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Protection of Farmers' Land Rights in China
Authors: Wang Xiangzhuo , Mohamed Yusof Nor Ashikin , Salleh Siti Hasliah
Published: July 2024

Like in other parts of the world, land rights are crucial for f farmers in China too for they livelihoods and well- being. However, farmers often face various challenges in protecting their land rights, such as  unclear property rights, inadequate legal protection, and insufficient compensation for land acquisition. This paper aims to establish a conceptual framework for understanding the protection of farmers' land rights in China thus addresses the farmer’ land rights problems in a better manner. The proposed framework which is built based on review of existing literature and an analysis of the current situation of farmers' land rights protection in China focuses on legal, institutional, and social dimensions. The legal dimension examines the legal basis for farmers' land rights, their executions and the effectiveness of the legal regulations in protecting these rights. The institutional dimension explores the roles and responsibilities of various government agencies and organizations in safeguarding farmers' land rights. The social dimension considers the impact of social factors, such as culture, tradition, and power relations, on the protection of farmers' land rights. When adopted the proposed framework could serve as a comprehensive guidance for the policy and decision makers of the government, farmers and other stakeholders to understand the protection of land rights.
Long-Term Estimation of Depositions on Heating Surface During Boiling of Long-Life Coolant
Authors: Shinozaki M. , Ito D. , Odaira N. , Ito K. , Saito Y.
Published: July 2024

Long-term boiling experiments with long-life coolant have been made with the aim to apply a boiling cooling technology to the next generation high exothermic electronic devices. The long-life coolant commonly used for cooling electronic devices is a mixture of ethylene glycol and water with multiple antirust inhibitors as additives, which may result in some depositions on the heat transfer surface during the boiling. In this study, the heat transfer surface made of copper was set vertically, and long-term experiments have been performed under the pool boiling. The deposition process was monitored for constant heating conditions. From experimental results, a distinct surface temperature change was observed under constant heat flux conditions. Just after keeping constant heat flux, the surface temperature increases with time, a certain time later decreases, and finally takes a stable value. During the temperature rise, the deposition adheres to the heat transfer surface in dots, which may cause an increase in thermal resistance between the wall surface and the working fluid. However, during the temperature drop, large growth of dot-like depositions on the heat transfer surface could alter wettability and surface roughness, enhancing boiling heat transfer. In addition, to investigate the characteristics of the depositions adhered to the heat transfer surface, a component analysis has been performed, which shows that the main substance was strontium hydroxyapatite, which might be formed by chemical reaction between components in the additives under the boiling.
Performance of Borated Centrifugally Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector Versus Ludlum 42-49B, Fuji NSN3 Detectors for Fission Energy Spectrum Neutron Detection With the Source Within Lead/Concrete Shielded Configurations
Authors: Ota Yusuke , Taleyarkhan Rusi P.
Published: July 2024

This paper presents the results of neutron detection efficiency and dosimetry between a borated centrifugally tensioned metastable fluid detector (B-CTMFD) configured to detect thermal to fast neutrons versus two widely used neutron detection devices of similar form factors: moderated He-3 based Ludlum-42-49B neutron detector, and, the Fuji Electric's NSN3TM (NNSN3) pressurized nitrogen-methane filled neutron detector. The one-on-one performance comparisons were conducted using soft (Cf-252 fission) neutron spectrum isotope neutron sources positioned behind various levels of lead and concrete shielding ranging in thickness from 0 cm (unshielded) to up to 30 cm. The comparisons were conducted with Monte Carlo N-Particle transport code (MCNP) code simulations to account for three-dimensional effects and to relate the absolute detection rate with the dose rate—to derive the sensitivity factor (cpm/μSv/h). While the Ludlum 42-49B and NSN3 detectors operate at a fixed sensitivity setting, the centrifugally tensioned metastable fluid detector (CTMFD) can be (and was) operated to detect and separate the contributions from epithermal (0.02 eV–0.2 MeV) and from fast (>0.2 MeV) neutrons at various sensitivity levels by varying the tensioned metastable negative pressure (Pneg) from 0.3 MPa to 0.7 MPa. The B-CTMFD (configured for detecting the full 0.02 eV to 12 MeV neutrons >0.1 MeV neutron detection at Pneg = 0.7 MPa) offered relative sensitivity enhancements of up to ∼22× greater than Ludlum and over 5× greater than NSN3, over the 0-15 cm range of Pb shielding, and the 0–30 cm concrete shield thickness. The contribution from detecting down scattered neutrons increases with increased thickness, especially for concrete shielding. The B-CTMFD design overcomes the detection penalty (up to 60% depending on shielding type and thickness) inherent in the nonborated centrifugally tensioned metastable fluid detector (NB-CTMFD), designed only to detect fast-energy neutrons—as described in the companion (Part-1) paper. However, unlike the NB-CTMFD, which used 100% decafluorapentane (DFP) (C5H2F10), the B-CTMFD requires the use of an azeotropic mixture of DFP, methanol, and tri-methyl borate (TMB—C3H9BO3, using natural boron) in 80:4:16 proportion. The B-CTMFD was about 6 times more sensitive than NB-CTMFD under the most heavily shielded condition and, taken together, also offered 2-energy bin neutron spectroscopic enablement, together with 22-5× higher absolute efficiency and relative sensitivity compared with the nonspectroscopic Ludlum (He-3) and NSN3 (methane-nitrogen) based detectors. From an intrinsic efficiency standpoint, the B-CTMFD operating at Pneg = 0.7 MPa state demonstrated ∼103× higher intrinsic efficiency over Ludlum 42-49B and NSN3 detectors, respectively.
Robustness of dynamic quantum control: Differential sensitivity bounds
Authors: O'Neil S. P. , Weidner C. A. , Jonckheere E. A. , Langbein F. C. , Schirmer S. G.
Published: July 2024

Dynamic control via optimized, piecewise-constant pulses is a common paradigm for open-loop control to implement quantum gates. While numerous methods exist for the synthesis of such controls, there are many open questions regarding the robustness of the resulting control schemes in the presence of model uncertainty; unlike in classical control, there are generally no analytical guarantees on the control performance with respect to inexact modeling of the system. In this paper, a new robustness measure based on the differential sensitivity of the gate fidelity error to parametric (structured) uncertainties is introduced, and bounds on the differential sensitivity to parametric uncertainties are used to establish performance guarantees for optimal controllers for a variety of quantum gate types, system sizes, and control implementations. Specifically, it is shown how a maximum allowable perturbation over a set of Hamiltonian uncertainties that guarantees a given fidelity error can be reliably computed. This measure of robustness is inversely proportional to the upper bound on the differential sensitivity of the fidelity error evaluated under nominal operating conditions. Finally, the results show that the nominal fidelity error and differential sensitivity upper bound are positively correlated across a wide range of problems and control implementations, suggesting that in the high-fidelity control regime, rather than there being a trade-off between fidelity and robustness, higher nominal gate fidelities are positively correlated with increased robustness of the controls in the presence of parametric uncertainties.
High growth rate metal organic chemical vapor deposition grown Ga2O3 (010) Schottky diodes
Authors: Saha Sudipto , Meng Lingyu , Yu Dong Su , Anhar Uddin Bhuiyan A. F. M. , Zhao Hongping , Singisetti Uttam
Published: July 2024

We report on the growth of Si-doped homoepitaxial β-Ga2O3 thin films on (010) Ga2O3 substrates via metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) utilizing triethylgallium (TEGa) and trimethylgallium (TMGa) precursors. The epitaxial growth achieved an impressive 9.5 μm thickness at 3 μm/h using TMGa, a significant advance in material growth for electronic device fabrication. This paper systematically studies the Schottky barrier diodes fabricated on the three MOCVD-grown films, each exhibiting variations in the epilayer thickness, doping levels, and growth rates. The diode from the 2 μm thick Ga2O3 epilayer with TEGa precursor demonstrates promising forward current densities, the lowest specific on-resistance, and the lowest ideality factor, endorsing TEGa’s potential for MOCVD growth. Conversely, the diode from the 9.5 μm thick Ga2O3 layer with TMGa precursor exhibits excellent characteristics in terms of lowest leakage current, highest on-off ratio, and highest reverse breakdown voltage of −510 V without any electric field management, emphasizing TMGa’s suitability for achieving high growth rates in Ga2O3 epilayers for vertical power electronic devices.
Information geometry analysis example for absolute and relative transmission loss in a shallow ocean
Authors: Spendlove Jay C. , Neilsen Tracianne B. , Transtrum Mark K.
Published: July 2024

The model manifold, an information geometry tool, is a geometric representation of a model that can quantify the expected information content of modeling parameters. For a normal-mode sound propagation model in a shallow ocean environment, transmission loss (TL) is calculated for a vertical line array and model manifolds are constructed for both absolute and relative TL. For the example presented in this paper, relative TL yields more compact model manifolds with seabed environments that are less statistically distinguishable than manifolds of absolute TL. This example illustrates how model manifolds can be used to improve experimental design for inverse problems.
Parameter estimation of the hyperbolic frequency-modulated bat calls using hyperbolic scale transform
Authors: Zhang Liang , Du Qinglei
Published: July 2024

Echolocating bats are known to vary their waveforms at the phases of searching, approaching, and capturing the prey. It is meaningful to estimate the parameters of the calls for bat species identification and the technological improvements of the synthetic systems, such as radar and sonar. The type of bat calls is species-related, and many calls can be modeled as hyperbolic frequency- modulated (HFM) signals. To obtain the parameters of the HFM-modeled bat calls, a reversible integral transform, i.e., hyperbolic scale transform (HST), is proposed to transform a call into two-dimensional peaks in the “delay-scale” domain, based on which harmonic separation and parameter estimation are realized. Compared with the methods based on time-frequency analysis, the HST-based method does not need to extract the instantaneous frequency of the bat calls, only searching for peaks. The verification results show that the HST is suitable for analyzing the HFM-modeled bat calls containing multiple harmonics with a large energy difference, and the estimated parameters imply that the use of the waveforms from the searching phase to the capturing phase is beneficial to reduce the ranging bias, and the trends in parameters may be useful for bat species identification.
Trends in antidiabetes medication use among hospitalised patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective single-centre cohort study
Authors: Meier Nicole , Laager Rahel , Gregoriano Claudia , Schütz Philipp , Mueller Beat , Struja Tristan , Kutz Alexander
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Novel antidiabetes medications with proven cardiovascular or renal benefit, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), have been introduced to the market. This study explored the 4-year trends of antidiabetes medication use among medical hospitalisations with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary care hospital in Switzerland.

Participants

4695 adult hospitalisations with T2D and prevalent or incident use of one of the following antidiabetes medications (metformin, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), sulfonylureas, GLP-1 RA, SGLT-2i, short-acting insulin or long-acting insulin), identified using electronic health record data. Quarterly trends in use of antidiabetes medications were plotted overall and stratified by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Results

We observed a stable trend in the proportion of hospitalisations with T2D who received any antidiabetes medication (from 77.6% during 2019 to 78% in 2022; p for trend=0.97). In prevalent users, the largest increase in use was found for SGLT-2i (from 7.4% in 2019 to 21.8% in 2022; p for trend <0.01), the strongest decrease was observed for sulfonylureas (from 11.4% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2022; p for trend <0.01). Among incident users, SGLT-2i were the most frequently newly prescribed antidiabetes medication with an increase from 26% in 2019 to 56.1% in 2022 (p for trend <0.01). Between hospital admission and discharge, SGLT-2i also accounted for the largest increase in prescriptions (+5.1%; p<0.01).

Conclusions

These real-world data from 2019 to 2022 demonstrate a significant shift in antidiabetes medications within the in-hospital setting, with decreased use of sulfonylureas and increased prescriptions of SGLT-2i, especially in hospitalisations with CVD or CKD. This trend aligns with international guidelines and indicates swift adaptation by healthcare providers, signalling a move towards more effective diabetes management.