bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic radiation estimation at the ground plane near fifth‐generation base stations in China by using machine learning method
Authors: Shi Dan , Li Wanqing , Cui Keyi , Lian Cheng , Liu Xiaoyong , Qi Zheng , Xu Hui , Zhou Juejia , Liu Zhao , Zhang Hua
Published: February 2024

A novel method based on machine learning is proposed to estimate the electromagnetic radiation level at the ground plane near fifth‐generation (5G) base stations. The machine learning model was trained using data from various 5G base stations, enabling it to estimate the electric field intensity at any arbitrary radiation point when the base station provides service to different numbers of 5G terminals which are in different service modes. The inputs required for the model include the transmit power of the antenna, the antenna gain, the distance between the 5G base station and 5G terminals, terminal service modes, the number of 5G terminals and the environmental complexity around the 5G base station. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the estimation method, with the mean absolute percentage error of the machine learning model being approximately 5.98%. This level of accuracy showcases the reliability of the approach. Moreover, the proposed method offers low costs when compared with on‐site measurements. The estimated results can be utilised to reduce test costs and provide valuable guidance for optimal site selection, thereby facilitating radio wave coverage or electromagnetic radiation regulation of 5G base stations.
Update: Herzinsuffizienz mit erhaltener Pumpfunktion
Authors: Morbach Caroline , Störk Stefan
Published: February 2024

Was ist neu?

Diagnosestellung Die 2021 erschienene Herzinsuffizienz-Leitlinie der Europäischen Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (ESC) hat die Diagnosestellung etwas vereinfacht. Sie listet die Diagnosekriterien gleichwertig, ohne das Vorliegen einer bestimmten Anzahl von Kriterien zu fordern.

Ätiologie Eine Expertengruppe der Herzinsuffizienz-Vereinigung (HFA: Heart Failure Association) und der Rhythmus-Vereinigung (EHRA: European Heart Rhythm Association) der ESC sowie der Europäischen Gesellschaft für Hypertonie unternahm den Versuch, durch detaillierte Phänotypisierung pathophysiologisch und therapeutisch distinkte Profile an HFpEF-Patienten herauszuarbeiten.

Therapie In einem unlängst erschienenen Update der Leitlinie wurden auf der Basis neu gewonnener Evidenz erstmals konkrete Empfehlungen zur Pharmakotherapie der HFpEF formuliert. Die Kontrolle der Risikofaktoren und ein gesunder Lebensstil bleiben weiterhin von großer therapeutischer Bedeutung.
Lebertransplantation – Die deutschsprachige Leitlinie der DGVS und DGAV
Authors: Bruns Tony , Aehling Niklas , Bechstein Wolf Otto , Becker Thomas , Trautwein Christian , Berg Thomas
Published: February 2024

Was ist neu?

Mit der S2k-Leitlinie „Lebertransplantation“ steht erstmals eine deutschsprachige konsensbasierte Leitlinie zur Verfügung, um die Diagnostik und Therapie vor und nach Lebertransplantation zu standardisieren und zu verbessern. Ziel der Leitlinie ist es, einen Handlungskorridor für häufige klinische Entscheidungen zu etablieren, um eine konsistente und qualitativ hochwertige Patientenversorgung zu sichern.
Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in Diagnostik, Therapie und Versorgung bei Patient*innen mit axialer Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Haibel Hildrun , Rademacher Judith , Rodriguez Valeria Rios , Labinsky Hannah , Kiltz Uta
Published: February 2024

Bei der axialen Spondyloarthritis gibt es geschlechtsbezogene Unterschiede bei verschiedenen Aspekten der Erkrankung. Patientinnen werden später als Patienten diagnostiziert, müssen mehr Arztbesuche in Kauf nehmen, haben weniger häufig eine röntgenologische Progression hin zur radiografischen axialen Spondyloarthritis, haben mehr und ausgedehntere Schmerzen und leiden häufiger unter peripherer Arthritis und Enthesitis. Sie haben in der Bildgebung mehr Differenzialdiagnosen. In der Therapie sprechen Frauen weniger gut an als Männer und verbleiben auf Therapien weniger lange. Frühere Diagnose, besseres Erkennen der Symptome und eine frühe Einleitung der Therapie könnten die Situation verbessern.
Effects of a commercial feed additive used for prophylactic purposes
on health and blood parameters in neonatal calves
Authors: Köse Samet , Şehu Adnan
Published: February 2024

Objective Neonatal calf diarrhea is commonly observed worldwide and leads
to significant economic losses. The objective of this study was to investigate
the effect of a feed additive supplemented with milk on the incidence of
diarrhea days with scours, fecal score, average daily gain, fecal bacterial
concentration, and blood parameters in neonatal calves.

Materials and methods Forty Holstein-Friesian crossbreed (HF x
Montbeliarde) calves were divided into control (C) and experimental (E) groups,
each containing 20 calves. The study was conducted over a period of 10 days. The
control group was fed whole milk twice daily. The experimental group was fed the
same whole milk supplemented with feed additive once in the morning at 100
g/calf/day.

Results At the end of the study, it was determined that the feed additive
in the milk affected fecal score, blood pH, pCO2,
cHCO3
-, K+, cHgb, and plasma
glucose levels (p<0.05), but did not affect the incidence of diarrhea,
average daily gain, days with scours, and other blood parameters
(p>0.05). Rotavirus was the main pathogen found in the fecal samples of
calves with diarrhea. Higher concentrations of Escherichia coli,
Salmonella spp., and Clostridium perfringens were detected in
the feces of experimental calves (p<0.001).

Conclusion and clinical relevance The findings indicate that this feed
additive improves fecal score, some blood parameters, and fecal concentration of
pathogenic bacteria in feces. Additionally, it shows a favorable effect on both
diarrhea incidence and the days with scours, suggesting its potential efficacy
in preventing diarrhea in neonatal calves. Preventing diarrhea during this
crucial stage of life can contribute to the health and productivity of animals
and play a role in preventing antibiotic resistance by reducing reliance on
antibiotics.
Vergiftung mit Cumarinderivaten beim Hund: Retrospektive Analyse
klinischer und labordiagnostischer Daten
Authors: Frommeyer Anna , Mischke Reinhard
Published: February 2024

Gegenstand und Ziel In dieser retrospektiven Studie wurden Patientenakten
von mit Cumarinderivaten vergifteten Hunden ausgewertet, um das klinische Bild
genauer zu charakterisieren.

Material und Methoden Dazu erfolgte eine retrospektive Analyse der Daten
von 52 Hunden mit hämostaseologisch nachgewiesener Intoxikation mit
Cumarinderivaten, die in der Klinik für Kleintiere stationär
zwischen September 2011 und Oktober 2018 behandelt wurden.

Ergebnisse Bei nur 2 Hunden (4%) konnte eine Giftaufnahme sicher
beobachtet werden. Die häufigsten beobachteten Symptome waren ein
reduziertes Allgemeinverhalten (79%), Blässe der Schleimhaut
(79%), Anorexie (60%) und Dyspnoe/Tachypnoe
(60%). Makroskopisch sichtbare innere und äußere
Blutungen traten hingegen seltener auf. Initial zeigte sich in allen
Fällen eine hochgradig veränderte Prothrombinzeit sowie bei den
meisten Patienten eine deutlich verlängerte aktivierte partielle
Thromboplastinzeit. Eine Anämie lag bei 75% der Patienten vor.
Alle in die Studie aufgenommenen Hunde wurden initial mit
10 mg/kg Vitamin K1 intravenös behandelt. Zur
Prophylaxe einer möglichen Unverträglichkeitsreaktion erfolgte
eine Vorbehandlung mit 1 mg/kg Prednisolon. Kein Patient zeigte
Anzeichen einer anaphylaktoiden Reaktion. Transfusionen von Vollblut oder
Erythrozytenkonzentrat bekamen nur 10 der 52 Tiere; nur eines 2
Erythrozytentransfusionen. 94% der Tiere konnten nach einer medianen
Klinikaufenthaltsdauer von 3 Tagen (1–9 Tage) mit physiologischen oder
annähernd physiologischen Gerinnungszeiten zur ambulanten Therapie nach
Hause entlassen werden.

Schlussfolgerung Die Cumarinintoxikation ist oft verbunden mit
unspezifischen Symptomen und besitzt bei adäquater Therapie eine gute
Prognose.

Klinische Relevanz Bei unklaren Erkrankungsfällen ist immer eine
Gerinnungsdiagnostik indiziert. Bei lebensbedrohlichen Notfällen stellt
die unverzügliche intravenöse Infusion von hochdosiertem Vitamin
K1 eine sehr effektive Behandlung dar und führt zu einem
raschen Anstieg der Gerinnungsfaktoraktivität.
Was erwartet mich und mein Kind?
Authors: Meißner Yvette
Published: February 2024

Die Entscheidung, eine Familie zu gründen, stellt Frauen mit entzündlich-rheumatischen Erkrankungen (ERE) vor Herausforderungen, die solche von Frauen ohne chronische Krankheit übersteigen. Das Spannungsfeld zwischen der eigenen und der kindlichen Gesundheit kann zu Konflikten und emotionalen Belastungen führen. Die rheumatische Grunderkrankung nimmt eine wesentliche Rolle in der Entscheidungsfindung rund um Kinderwunsch und Schwangerschaft ein. Krankheitsverlauf und -management und die Auswirkung der ERE auf die Schwangerschaft sind Themen, die Betroffene beschäftigen. Die stärksten Ängste der Frauen im Hinblick auf die Schwangerschaft stehen im Zusammenhang mit der Arzneimitteltherapie und dem potenziellen Risiko, die embryonale oder fetale Entwicklung negativ zu beeinflussen. Betroffene schätzen die Sicherheit von Medikamenten oft anders ein als die rheumatologisch betreuenden Ärzt*innen. Hinzu kommt, dass Gynäkolog*innen häufig ebenfalls keine Erfahrung mit rheumatischen Erkrankungen und deren Therapien haben. Aus diesen Gründen haben rheumatisch erkrankte Frauen einen erheblichen Bedarf an individuellen, umfassenden und aktuellen Informationen rund um Schwangerschaft und Geburt vor dem Hintergrund ihrer Grunderkrankung, der oftmals nicht ausreichend gedeckt wird. Sorgen und Ängste sollten ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der individuellen Beratung von Frauen mit ERE sein, die schwanger werden wollen oder bereits schwanger sind. Informierte Frauen haben bessere Chancen, die komplexen Herausforderungen einer Schwangerschaft trotz ihrer chronischen Erkrankung zu meistern.
Hepatic Dysfunction during Induction Chemotherapy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoblastic Lymphoma and Its Effects on Subsequent Therapy and Outcome
Authors: Reddy Nalla Anuraag , Raj Keerthi , Lashkari Harsha Prasada
Published: February 2024

Introduction The overall survival rate for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) has shown tremendous growth in the recent years. Hepatic dysfunction is one of the complications seen during therapy and can add to the underlying morbidity of the disease, delay in chemotherapy, modification of drugs, and rarely fulminant hepatic failure.

Objective This article aims to find out the prevalence of hepatic dysfunction during induction chemotherapy for ALL and LBL.

Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study, where the data of all children between 1 and 18 years of age with ALL and LBL treated at our center as per the UK-ALL 2003 protocol between December 2013 and December 2021 have been included from the medical records. Hepatic dysfunction was defined as grade 3 and 4 alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 and hyperbilirubinemia as ≥ 1.4 mg/dL as the chemotherapy modification begins at this cutoff. Data from children with hepatic dysfunction was compared with those without hepatic dysfunction using chi-squared test and Student's t-tests. Those variables with a p-value of < 0.2 were analyzed with multivariate regression analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates were used to calculate the event-free survival (EFS).

Results A total of 142 children were included in the study. Thirty-one (21.8%) children developed hepatic dysfunction, 14 (9.9%) of them with ALT/AST elevation and 27 (19%) with bilirubin elevation. Weight (mean 25 ± 13.5, p 0.01), body surface area (mean 0.87 ± 0.29, p 0.02), and National Cancer Institute high risk (p 0.005) were associated with hepatic dysfunction in univariate analysis but none of them were significant in multivariate regression analysis. Treatment modification was required in 14/31 children with hepatic dysfunction. Death in induction was more among children with hepatic dysfunction (p < 0.001). There was no significant impact on minimal residual disease outcomes. Five-year EFS (death or relapse) was 59.93 ± 9% in children with hepatic dysfunction as opposed to 72 ± 5.0% in those without hepatic dysfunction (95% confidence interval, p = 0.07).

Conclusion One in five children with ALL and LBL on induction therapy developed hepatic dysfunction. Almost half of those with hepatic dysfunction required chemotherapy modifications.
Machine Learning to Predict Length of Stay Following Revision Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Johnson Keir , Orfanos Alex , Chen Elizabeth , Cohen Eric
Published: February 2024

Predicting length of stay (LOS) for revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) remains challenging due to the complexity of cases and increased complication rates compared with primary total hip arthroplasty. Artificial intelligence may play a role in predicting LOS after rTHA. This study aims to develop a machine learning model to predict LOS in rTHA patients based on preoperative and intraoperative factors. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients undergoing a rTHA between 2012 and 2018. The data were used to train both random forest machine and logistic regression machine learning models to predict short LOS (≤ 1 day) or long LOS (≥ 2 days). Statistical analysis was performed to analyze differences between short and long LOS groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios associated with long LOS. A total of 4,228 patients were identified in this analysis with a mean postoperative LOS of 3.69 days. Preoperative features associated with a short LOS included male sex, noninfectious revision, spinal anesthesia, later year of operation, younger age, smoking history, and lower body mass index. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to measure model performance for the random forest model and logistic regression model as 0.76 and 0.78, respectively. The machine learning model presented here was able to reasonably predict LOS for revision hip arthroplasty showing promise for use as patient selection tool to identify short LOS patients.
Arbeitsbelastung im OP: Exoskelette für Chirurgen
Authors: Kucera Martin
Published: February 2024

Exoskelette könnten die Arbeitsbedingungen für Operateure revolutionieren. Erste Anwender in deutschen Kliniken gibt es bereits. Ein Startup aus Baden-Württemberg bietet seit Ende 2022 sogar ein Exoskelett für Chirurgen an, das als Medizinprodukt zertifiziert ist.
Overlapping spaces and identities in Quiara Alegría Hudes’s Water by the Spoonful: a metatheatrical approach
Authors: Khaled Ahmed Abdulkhair Abulmagd
Published: February 2024

This article discusses the overlapping relationship between setting diversification and character creation as experimented by Puerto Rican American playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes (1977–) in her metatheatrical dramaWater by the Spoonful(2011). The play, which emerges in a second chronological order in Hudes’s so-called Elliot Trilogy, presents diasporic characters of different ethnicities and mixed cultural backgrounds as operating interactively within three different, though intersecting, realms or spaces: the real world, virtual cyberspace, and metaphysical space. The real world of the play features interacting Puerto Rican Americans, Japanese Americans, African Americans, and White Americans in a way that highlights their ethnocultural diversity in real American, Puerto Rican, and Japanese settings. Some of these binational, bilingual, and bicultural characters, who belong to different generations (20 s, 30 s, 40 s, 50 s), also occupy, and actually favor, the virtual realm or cyberspace of the internet where they assume unreal identities but negotiate real issues spurred by real life circumstances and reveal secrets about themselves and their families through online group therapy sessions. The metaphysical space is used as a magical realist element and is exclusively reserved by Hudes for exposing her Puerto Rican American characters’ restless spiritual and mental struggle with the obsessive feelings of nostalgia, homesickness, regret, and displacement. The three realms or spaces intersect and collide in a way that determines the social attitudes and psychological moods of diasporic characters.
Charge exchange of slow highly charged ions from an electron beam ion trap with surfaces and 2D materials
Authors: Niggas A , Werl M , Aumayr F , Wilhelm R A
Published: February 2024

Electron beam ion traps allow studies of slow highly charged ion transmission through freestanding 2D materials as an universal testbed for surface science under extreme conditions. Here we review recent studies on charge exchange of highly charged ions in 2D materials. Since the interaction time with these atomically thin materials is limited to only a few femtoseconds, an indirect timing information will be gained. We will therefore discuss the interaction separated in three participating time regimes: energy deposition (charge exchange), energy release (secondary particle emission), and energy retention (material modification).
Skyrmion based universal logic gates and computation operation
Authors: Wats Satwik , Saha Susmita
Published: February 2024

Swirling spin configurations with a non-trivial topological state are popularly known as magnetic skyrmions. They are often observed in magnetic thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). Due to their small size and non-collinear spin texture, they are being considered as a potential candidate for spintronic devices such as data storage devices, and logic-based devices. These skyrmions have distinct properties and interactions, that can be utilized to control their movement by applying an external electric current. In this work, we have successfully demonstrated the operation of skyrmion-based universal NAND and NOR logic gates. We have further performed arithmetic addition of two and three single-bit by using a half and full adder, fabricated based on the XOR and AND gates. We have observed that the presence of only uniform DMI is not enough to achieve all logic operations. The presence of a negative DMI at the edges is crucial in achieving proper logic operations. The findings are very important for the realization of skyrmion-based logic and computational operations.
Berry curvature and quantum metric in copper-substituted lead phosphate apatite
Authors: Chen Wei
Published: February 2024

The recent discovery of copper-substituted lead phosphate apatite, also known as LK-99, has caught much attention owing to certain experimental evidence of room-temperature superconductivity, although this claim is currently under intensive debate. Be it superconducting or not, we show that the normal state of this material has peculiar quantum geometrical properties that may be related to the magnetism and the mechanism for flat band superconductivity. Based on a recently proposed spinless two-band tight-binding model for the Pb–Cu hexagonal lattice subset of the crystalline structure, which qualitatively captures the two flat bands in the band structure, we elaborate the highly anisotropic Berry curvature and quantum metric in the regions of Brillouin zone where one flat band is above and the other below the Fermi surface. In these regions, the Berry curvature has a pattern in the planar momentum that remains unchanged along the out-of-plane momentum. Moreover, the net orbital magnetization contributed from the Berry curvature is zero, signifying that the magnetism in this material should come from other sources. The quantum metric has a similar momentum dependence, and its two planar components are found to be roughly the same but the out-of-plane component vanishes, hinting that the superfluid stiffness of the flat band superconductivity, shall it occur, may be quite anisotropic.
Realization of either physisorption or chemisorption of 2H-tetraphenylporphyrin on the Cu(111) from density functional theory
Authors: Naseri Shabnam , Abbas Ghulam , Johansson Gustav , Koumpouras Konstantinos , Baran Jakub D , Larsson J Andreas
Published: February 2024

The adsorption of organic molecules to surfaces is a central issue to achieve fully-functional molecular devices, for which porphyrins are well-studied due to their chemical stability and functional diversity. Herein, we investigate both the physical and the chemical adsorption of the free-base tetraphenylporphyrin 2H-TPP on the Cu(111) surface within the framework of density functional theory and find that the most stable physisorbed configuration is more weakly bound by −0.31 eV than the chemisorbed configuration. We use the electron localization function to investigate the difference in binding mechanisms between strong physisorption and weak chemisorption. We have computed a reaction barrier of 0.12 eV in going from physical binding to chemical bonding to the surface, and a barrier of 50 meV in going between neighboring physical binding sites. Our results support the possibility of realizing free-base porphyrins either physisorbed or chemisorbed on Cu(111) depending on the deposition procedure and experimental conditions.
Entangled dark state mediated by a dielectric cavity within epsilon-near-zero materials
Authors: Ma Yun , Wang Nuo , Liu Qi , Tian Yu , Tian Zhaohua , Gu Ying
Published: February 2024

Two emitters can be entangled by manipulating them through optical fields within a photonic cavity. However, maintaining entanglement for a long time is challenging due to the decoherence of the entangled qubits, primarily caused by cavity loss and atomic decay. Here, we found the entangled dark state between two emitters mediated by a dielectric cavity within epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials, ensuring entanglement maintenance over an extended period. To obtain the entangled dark state, we derived an effective model with degenerate mode modulation. In the dielectric cavities within ENZ materials, the decay rate of emitters can be regarded as 0, which is the key to achieving the entangled dark state. Meanwhile, the dark state immune to cavity loss exists when two emitters are in symmetric positions in the dielectric cavity. Additionally, by adjusting the emitters to specific asymmetric positions, it is possible to achieve transient entanglement with higher concurrence. By overcoming the decoherence of the entangled qubits, this study demonstrates stable, long-term entanglement with ENZ materials, holding significant importance for applications such as nanodevice design for quantum communication and quantum information processing.
Finite-time blow-up in hyperbolic Keller–Segel system of consumption type with logarithmic sensitivity
Authors: Na Jungkyoung
Published: February 2024

This paper deals with finite-time blow-up of a hyperbolic Keller–Segel system of consumption type with the logarithmic sensitivity

∂

t

ρ
=
−
χ
∇
⋅

ρ
∇
log
c

,

∂

t

c
=
−
μ
c
ρ

χ
,
μ
>
0

in

R

d

(
d
⩾
1
)

for nonvanishing initial data. This system is closely related to tumor angiogenesis, an important example of chemotaxis. Our singularity formation is not because c touches zero (which makes

log
c

diverge) but due to the blowup of

C
1

×

C
2

-norm of

(
ρ
,
c
)

. As a corollary, we also construct initial data near any constant equilibrium state which blows up in finite time for any

d
⩾
1

.
Nonlocal based FISTA network for noninvasive cardiac transmembrane potential imaging
Authors: Ran Ao , Cheng Linsheng , Xie Shuting , Liu Muqing , Pu Cailing , Hu Hongjie , Liu Huafeng
Published: February 2024

Objective. The primary aim of our study is to advance our understanding and diagnosis of cardiac diseases. We focus on the reconstruction of myocardial transmembrane potential (TMP) from body surface potential mapping. Approach. We introduce a novel methodology for the reconstruction of the dynamic distribution of TMP. This is achieved through the integration of convolutional neural networks with conventional optimization algorithms. Specifically, we utilize the subject-specific transfer matrix to describe the dynamic changes in TMP distribution and ECG observations at the body surface. To estimate the TMP distribution, we employ LNFISTA-Net, a learnable non-local regularized iterative shrinkage-thresholding network. The coupled estimation processes are iteratively repeated until convergence. Main results. Our experiments demonstrate the capabilities and benefits of this strategy. The results highlight the effectiveness of our approach in accurately estimating the TMP distribution, thereby providing a reliable method for the diagnosis of cardiac diseases. Significance. Our approach demonstrates promising results, highlighting its potential utility for a range of applications in the medical field. By providing a more accurate and dynamic reconstruction of TMP, our methodology could significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases, thereby contributing to advancements in healthcare.
The superiority of the photocatalytic and antibacterial performance of mechanochemically synthesized CdS nanoparticles over solvothermal-prepared ones
Authors: Burashev Gairat , Tatykayev Batukhan , Baláž Matej , Khan Natalya , Jumagazieva Ardak , Iskakbayeva Zhanar , Seysembekova Anar , Tugelbay Saparbek , Turgynbay Nurshat , Niyazbayeva Almagul , Ilin Aleksandr , Burkitbayev Mukhambetkali , Shalabayev Zhandos
Published: February 2024

In this work, we have developed a facile, dry, and environmentally friendly mechanochemical method for the synthesis of cadmium sulfide (m-CdS) nanoparticles in a planetary ball mill using non-toxic precursors. Thiourea was for the first time used as a precursor of sulfide ion in room temperature solid state ball milling synthesis. For comparison of the mechanochemical approach with others, cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were also prepared using the solvothermal method (s-CdS). The crystal structure of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles was studied by XRD, the qualitative chemical band properties were examined by Raman scattering and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, and particle morphology and microstructure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy methods. The sizes of the m-CdS nanoparticles had 5–6 nm in diameter, which is 10 times smaller than the diameter of s-CdS nanorods. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared cadmium sulfide nanoparticles on the dye degradation and hydrogen production by water splitting were evaluated and the antibacterial activities were also tested. The photocatalytic activity of m-CdS was superior to that of s-CdS in the degradation of Orange II under visible light irradiation. Better results for m-CdS were also evidenced in photocatalytic experiments on hydrogen generation. The maximum rate of hydrogen evolution for m-CdS was 191.9 µmolg−1h−1 at the 120th min,while this indicator for s-CdS was only 58.0 µmolg−1h−1 at the same irradiation time.The better effect of m-CdS was evidenced also in an antibacterial study (namely against gram-positive bacteria).
Design and analysis of a contact-aided flexure hinge (CAFH) with variable stiffness
Authors: Dai Shenyuan , Hao Guangbo , Qiu Lifang
Published: February 2024

This paper presents a novel contact-aided flexure hinge (CAFH) with variable stiffness, which consists of a contact-aided segment, a flexible segment and a rigid part. The proposed CAFH can facilitate a compact design and provide an alternative for stiffness-variable designs under any loading conditions. With a mortise-tenon structure, the CAFH is trivially affected by friction. The design and deformation procedures of the CAFH are described in detail, followed by its theoretical kinetostatic modeling using the chained beam-constraint model. The deformation of all segments is considered in the kinetostatic model, which expands the space of design parameters for stiffness-variable designs. Then, the accuracy of the theoretical model and the variable stiffness design are verified by nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental tests. In term of stiffness, the maximum relative errors of the theoretical model are 0.76% in Stage 1 and 0.70% in Stage 2, as compared with FEA, respectively. Further, the parameter sweep is carried out, followed by sensitivity analysis to identify the main test error sources. Finally, the multi-material scenarios are investigated preliminarily, and some outlooks are discussed.
DBD plasma as a practical approach to sterilization of dental instruments
Authors: Mohammed Raghad S , Al -Marjani Mohammed F
Published: February 2024

Microbe control and decontamination are necessary for medical equipment that will be used again. Several wet and dry sterilizer technologies, like as autoclaves, ovens, UV systems, and chemical agents, have been widely used to eliminate the possibility of cross-infection between contaminated dental instruments or materials and dental patients. The development of a sterilizer device capable of sterilizing dental equipment through non-toxic materials has been shown to significantly decrease the overall procedure time compared to conventional approaches. Therefore, an investigation was conducted to assess the efficacy of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma device in sterilizing dental instruments under atmospheric pressure conditions. Also, due to Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS) existence at low temperatures, researchers have been examining the biological effects of cold plasmas for medical applications with promising results. The dental Tweezer, one of the dental tools, was chosen to perform the sterilization process using the DBD plasma device. The Dental Tweezers samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and then the DBD plasma device was used to sterilize them for 1, 2, 3, and 4 min, respectively, to figure out the best time to do this. The DBD plasma device successfully killed E. coli and S. aureus. Based on the findings derived from our present investigation, the cold plasma device has impressively proven its efficiency in sterilization.
Adsorption and evolution of hydrogen molecules on hexagonal boron nitride monolayer: a combined DFT and kinetic monte-carlo simulations study
Authors: Ghosh Sulagna , Nath Palash , Moshat Sudipta , Sanyal Dirtha
Published: February 2024

Density functional theory (DFT) and kinetic Monte-Carlo (kMC) simulation code has been combinedly used to study the adsorption and evolution dynamics of hydrogen molecules over a hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) monolayer. Maximum adsorption energy from van der Waals curve is predicted to be around 60 to 70 meV using two different DFT functionals. Repulsive lateral interaction between two hydrogen molecules plays a key role in determining the maximum number of adsorptions inside one unit cell of h-BN. Bader charge analysis, electron localization function (ELF), total and partial density of states (DOS) plots have been included to understand the weak interaction going on between the adsorbent and substrate. The input energy parameters from the DFT calculation has been used to perform the kMC simulation for describing the adsorption, desorption and the diffusion pattern of hydrogen molecules with a given time of exposure to an empty h-BN substrate along with the overall surface coverage.
Divergence angle consideration in energy spread measurement for high-quality relativistic electron beam in laser wakefield acceleration
Authors: Lu 卢 Guang-Wei 光伟 , Li 李 Yao-Jun 曜均 , Hu 胡 Xi-Chen 曦辰 , Chen 陈 Si-Yu 思宇 , Xu 徐 Hao 豪 , Zhu 祝 Ming-Yang 铭阳 , Yan 闫 Wen-Chao 文超 , Chen 陈 Li-Ming 黎明
Published: February 2024

The thorough exploration of the transverse quality represented by divergence angle has been lacking yet in the energy spread measurement of the relativistic electron beam for laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA). In this work, we fill this gap by numerical simulations based on the experimental data, which indicate that in a C-shape magnet, magnetic field possesses the beam focusing effect, considering that the divergence angle will result in an increase in the full width at half maxima (FWHM) of the electron density distribution in a uniformly isotropic manner, while the length-to-width ratio decreases. This indicates that the energy spread obtained from the electron deflection distance is smaller than the actual value, regardless of the divergence angle. A promising and efficient way to accurately correct the value is presented by considering the divergence angle (for instance, for an electron beam with a length-to-width ratio of 1.12, the energy spread correct from 1.2% to 1.5%), providing a reference for developing the high-quality electron beam source.
Precise determination of the top-quark on-shell mass
via its scale- invariant perturbative relation to the top-quark
mass
*
Authors: Huang 黄 Xu-Dong 旭东 , Wu 吴 Xing-Gang 兴刚 , Zheng 郑 Xu-Chang 绪昌 , Yan 闫 Jiang 江 , Wu 吴 Zhi-Fei 知非 , Ma 马 Hong-Hao 鸿浩
Published: February 2024

The principle of maximum conformality (PMC) provides a systematic approach to solve the conventional renormalization scheme and scale ambiguities. Scale-fixed predictions of physical observables using the PMC are independent of the choice of renormalization scheme – a key requirement for renormalization group invariance. In this paper, we derive new degeneracy relations based on the renormalization group equations that involve both the usual β-function and the quark mass anomalous dimension

-function. These new degeneracy relations enable improved PMC scale-setting procedures for correct magnitudes of the strong coupling constant and

-running quark mass to be determined simultaneously. By using these improved PMC scale-setting procedures, the renormalization scale dependence of the

-on-shell quark mass relation can be eliminated systematically. Consequently, the top-quark on-shell (or

) mass can be determined without conventional renormalization scale ambiguity. Taking the top-quark

mass

GeV as the input, we obtain

GeV. Here, the uncertainties arise from errors combined with those from

and the approximate uncertainty resulting from the uncalculated five-loop terms predicted through the Padé approximation approach.
Sequential decay analysis of 235U(nth, f ) reaction using fragmentation approach
Authors: Sharma Nitin , Kaushik Ashutosh , Sharma Manoj K.
Published: February 2024

Numerous experimental and theoretical observations have concluded that the probability of the three fragment emission (ternary fission) or binary fission increases when one proceeds towards the heavy mass region of nuclear periodic table. Many factors affect fragment emission, such as the shell effect, deformation, orientation, and fissility parameter. Binary and ternary fissions are observed for both ground and excited states of the nuclei. The collinear cluster tripartition (CCT) channel of the

U(n

, f) reaction is studied, and we observe that the CCT may be a sequential or simultaneous emission phenomenon. To date, different approaches have been introduced to study the CCT process as a simultaneous or sequential process, but the decay dynamics of these modes have not been not fully explored. Identifying the three fragments of the sequential process and exploring their related dynamics using an excitation energy dependent approach would be of further interest. Hence, in this study, we investigate the sequential decay mechanism of the

U(n

, f) reaction using quantum mechanical fragmentation theory (QMFT). The decay mechanism is considered in two steps, where initially, the nucleus splits into an asymmetric channel. In the second step, the heavy fragment obtained in the first step divides into two fragments. Stage I analysis is conducted by calculating the fragmentation potential and preformation probability for the spherical and deformed choices of the decaying fragments. The most probable fragment combination of stage I are identified with respect to the dips in the fragmentation structure and the corresponding maxima of the preformation probability (

). The light fragments of the identified decay channels (obtained in step I) agree closely with the experimentally observed fragments. The excitation energy of the decay channel is calculated using an iteration process. The excitation energy is shared using an excitation energy dependent level density parameter. The obtained excitation energy of the identified heavy fragments is further used to analyze the fragmentation, and the subsequent binary fragments of the sequential process are obtained. The three identified fragments of the sequential process agree with experimental observations and are found near the neutron or proton shell closure. Finally, the kinetic energy of the observed fragments is calculated, and the middle fragment of the CCT mechanism is identified.
A Statistical Study of Magnetic Flux Emergence in Solar Active Regions Prior to Strongest Flares
Authors: Kutsenko Alexander S. , Abramenko Valentina I. , Plotnikov Andrei A.
Published: February 2024

Using the data on magnetic field maps and continuum intensity for Solar Cycles 23 and 24, we explored 100 active regions (ARs) that produced M5.0 or stronger flares. We focus on the presence/absence of the emergence of magnetic flux in these ARs 2–3 days before the strong flare onset. We found that 29 ARs in the sample emerged monotonically amidst quiet-Sun. A major emergence of a new magnetic flux within a pre-existing AR yielding the formation of a complex flare-productive configuration was observed in another 24 cases. For 30 ARs, an insignificant (in terms of the total magnetic flux of pre-existing AR) emergence of a new magnetic flux within the pre-existing magnetic configuration was observed; for some of them the emergence resulted in a formation of a configuration with a small δ-sunspot; 11 out of 100 ARs exhibited no signatures of magnetic flux emergence during the entire interval of observation. In six cases the emergence was in progress when the AR appeared on the Eastern limb, so that the classification and timing of emergence were not possible. We conclude that the recent flux emergence is not a necessary and/or sufficient condition for strong flaring of an AR. The flux emergence rate of flare-productive ARs analyzed here was compared with that of flare-quiet ARs analyzed in our previous studies. We revealed that the flare-productive ARs tend to display faster emergence than the flare-quiet ones do.
PEGylation of NIR Cd0.3Pb0.7S aqueous quantum dots for stabilization and reduction of nonspecific binding to cells
Authors: Jednorski Alexandra , Acar Ozgun , Shih Wan Y , Shih Wei-Heng
Published: February 2024

Cd0.3Pb0.7S (CdPbS) aqueous quantum dots (AQDs) made with 3-mercaptoproprionic acid (MPA) as a ligand have the advantages of emitting near-infrared light, well above 800 nm, that completely circumvents interference from tissue autofluorescence and have significant amounts of ligands for bioconjugation. However, retaining the right amount of MPA became a challenge when using CdPbS AQDs for bioimaging because retaining too much MPA could lead to significant nonspecific staining in cell imaging while insufficient MPA could cause AQDs instability in biological systems. Here we examined PEGylation (i.e. chemically linking amine-functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG)) to modify MPA on the AQDs surface to improve AQDs stability and reduce nonspecific staining. In addition, for conjugation with antibodies, a bifunctional PEG with a carboxyl functionality was used to permit chemical linkage of a PEG to an antibody on the other end. It was found that performing PEGylation at the thiol concentration where the zeta potential becomes saturated stabilized the CdPbS AQDs suspension and reduced nonspecific binding to cells. Furthermore, with the bifunctional PEG, the CdPbS AQDs were conjugated with antibodies and the AQD-Ab conjugates were shown to stain cancer cells specifically against normal cells with a signal-to-noise ratio of 8.
Canonical reductions of the TED equation: integrable deformations of heavenly-type equations
Authors: Konopelchenko B G , Schief W K
Published: February 2024

Natural classes of integrability-preserving reductions of a 4+4-dimensional generalisation (TED equation) of the general heavenly equation are recorded. In particular, these reductions lead to integrable ‘deformations’ of various other avatars of the heavenly equation governing self-dual Einstein spaces. The known deformed heavenly equations which give rise to half-flat conformal structures are retrieved in this manner. Moreover, Plebański’s link between the first and second heavenly equations is extended to their deformed counterparts.
Evaluation of temporal, spatial and spectral filtering in CSP-based methods for decoding pedaling-based motor tasks using EEG signals
Authors: Blanco-Díaz Cristian Felipe , Guerrero-Mendez Cristian David , Delisle-Rodriguez Denis , Jaramillo-Isaza Sebastián , Ruiz-Olaya Andrés Felipe , Frizera-Neto Anselmo , Ferreira de Souza Alberto , Bastos-Filho Teodiano
Published: February 2024

Stroke is a neurological syndrome that usually causes a loss of voluntary control of lower/upper body movements, making it difficult for affected individuals to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) combined with robotic systems, such as Motorized Mini Exercise Bikes (MMEB), have enabled the rehabilitation of people with disabilities by decoding their actions and executing a motor task. However, Electroencephalography (EEG)-based BCIs are affected by the presence of physiological and non-physiological artifacts. Thus, movement discrimination using EEG become challenging, even in pedaling tasks, which have not been well explored in the literature. In this study, Common Spatial Patterns (CSP)-based methods were proposed to classify pedaling motor tasks. To address this, Filter Bank Common Spatial Patterns (FBCSP) and Filter Bank Common Spatial-Spectral Patterns (FBCSSP) were implemented with different spatial filtering configurations by varying the time segment with different filter bank combinations for the three methods to decode pedaling tasks. An in-house EEG dataset during pedaling tasks was registered for 8 participants. As results, the best configuration corresponds to a filter bank with two filters (8–19 Hz and 19–30 Hz) using a time window between 1.5 and 2.5 s after the cue and implementing two spatial filters, which provide accuracy of approximately 0.81, False Positive Rates lower than 0.19, and Kappa index of 0.61. This work implies that EEG oscillatory patterns during pedaling can be accurately classified using machine learning. Therefore, our method can be applied in the rehabilitation context, such as MMEB-based BCIs, in the future.
PMF-CNN: parallel multi-band fusion convolutional neural network for SSVEP-EEG decoding
Authors: Yang Jianli , Zhao Songlei , Fu Zhiyu , Liu Xiuling
Published: February 2024

Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) is a key technique of electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCI), which has been widely applied to neurological function assessment and postoperative rehabilitation. However, accurate decoding of the user’s intended based on the SSVEP-EEG signals is challenging due to the low signal-to-noise ratio and large individual variability of the signals. To address these issues, we proposed a parallel multi-band fusion convolutional neural network (PMF-CNN). Multi frequency band signals were served as the input of PMF-CNN to fully utilize the time-frequency information of EEG. Three parallel modules, spatial self-attention (SAM), temporal self-attention (TAM), and squeeze-excitation (SEM), were proposed to automatically extract multi-dimensional features from spatial, temporal, and frequency domains, respectively. A novel spatial-temporal-frequency representation were designed to capture the correlation of electrode channels, time intervals, and different sub-harmonics by using SAM, TAM, and SEM, respectively. The three parallel modules operate independently and simultaneously. A four layers CNN classification module was designed to fuse parallel multi-dimensional features and achieve the accurate classification of SSVEP-EEG signals. The PMF-CNN was further interpreted by using brain functional connectivity analysis. The proposed method was validated using two large publicly available datasets. After trained using our proposed dual-stage training pattern, the classification accuracies were 99.37% and 93.96%, respectively, which are superior to the current state-of-the-art SSVEP-EEG classification algorithms. The algorithm exhibits high classification accuracy and good robustness, which has the potential to be applied to postoperative rehabilitation.
Gaussian-process-regression-based method for the localization of exceptional points in complex resonance spectra
Authors: Egenlauf Patrick , Rommel Patric , Main Jörg
Published: February 2024

Resonances in open quantum systems depending on at least two controllable parameters can show the phenomenon of exceptional points (EPs), where not only the eigenvalues but also the eigenvectors of two or more resonances coalesce. Their exact localization in the parameter space is challenging, in particular in systems, where the computation of the quantum spectra and resonances is numerically very expensive. We introduce an efficient machine learning algorithm to find EPs based on Gaussian process regression (GPR). The GPR-model is trained with an initial set of eigenvalue pairs belonging to an EP and used for a first estimation of the EP position via a numerically cheap root search. The estimate is then improved iteratively by adding selected exact eigenvalue pairs as training points to the GPR-model. The GPR-based method is developed and tested on a simple low-dimensional matrix model and then applied to a challenging real physical system, viz., the localization of EPs in the resonance spectra of excitons in cuprous oxide in external electric and magnetic fields. The precise computation of EPs, by taking into account the complete valence band structure and central-cell corrections of the crystal, can be the basis for the experimental observation of EPs in this system.
Recent breakthrough in AI-driven materials science: tech giants introduce groundbreaking models
Authors: Liu Miao , Meng Sheng
Published: February 2024

A close look at Google’s GNoME inorganic materials dataset (Merchant et al 2023 Nature 624 80–85), and 11 things you would like to know.
Freedom and Equality
Authors: Chambers Clare
Published: February 2024

Freedom & Equality is a collection of essays investigating the contours of feminist liberalism: a liberalism that prioritises equality and individual autonomy, while offering a rigorous critique of using individuals’ choices as the measure of justice. From beauty norms to the gendered division of labour, from marriage to religion, women and men choose to arrange their lives in ways that perpetuate inequality. Often, these choices are made in response to social norms, including unjust, unequal, or harmful norms. It follows that relying on individual choice as a measure of justice actually leaves unjust social structures intact. Any defender of autonomy and equality must be prepared to criticise individuals’ choices while prioritising individual choosers. The essays in this collection cover a wide range of issues fundamental to liberalism, to feminism, and to their intersection. They explore the foundational philosophical concepts of choice, equality of opportunity, ideology, and the state. And they engage directly with key political controversies, including women’s sport, the state recognition of gender, the regulation of cosmetic and cultural surgeries, and state action to secure equality in the family. Freedom & Equality shows that feminist liberalism is both possible and necessary. It is possible because the two doctrines of feminism and liberalism are compatible, their fundamental values of freedom and equality aligned. But feminism is necessary because liberalism has shown that it is simply not up to the task of securing gender equality and women’s liberation alone.