bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wie gut sind wir wirklich? Interventionsbedürftige Nachblutungen und intraoperative Elektrokoagulationen bei der Thulium-Laser-Enukleation der Prostata
Authors: Filmar Simon , Schaefer Jakob , Gross Andreas J. , Hook Sophia , Mehrer Fabio , Becker Benedikt , Rosenbaum Clemens , Netsch Christopher
Published: April 2024

Die interventionsbedürftige Nachblutung stellt eine wichtige Komplikation bei der Thulium-Laser-Enukleation der Prostata (ThuLEP) dar. Ziel dieser Untersuchung war diese Komplikation bei der Behandlung einer benignen Prostatavergrößerung retrospektiv zu analysieren. Die Arbeit konzentriert sich auf die Untersuchung möglicher ursächlicher Faktoren für interventionsbedürftige Nachblutungen sowie die Anwendung einer intraoperativen Elektrokoagulation. Insgesamt wurden 503 ThuLEPs im Zeitraum von 08/2021–07/2022 untersucht.

Bei 4,2% (n=21) der Patienten trat postoperativ eine interventionsbedürftige Nachblutung auf. Die Daten konnten zeigen, dass bei diesen Nachblutungen eine signifikante Assoziation zwischen einem hohem Prostatavolumen, einem hohem Enukleationsgewicht sowie einer intraoperativen Elektrokoagulation bestand. Bei insgesamt 41,2% (n=207) der Fälle wurde intraoperativ eine Elektrokoagulation angewandt. In diesen Fällen bedingte statistisch signifikant eine intraoperative Kapselperforation sowie eine hohes Enukleationsgewicht die Anwendung einer Elektrokoagulation.
Type I Endoleak Following Covered Stent Graft Placement for Traumatic Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Kumar Ishan , Ansari Md. Sharoon , Verma Ashish , Singh Pramod Kumar , Kumar Ratnesh
Published: April 2024

Subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon entity caused by trauma or iatrogenic arterial injury. Endovascular management is the preferred treatment strategy but can be complicated by endoleaks. We report a case of type I endoleak occurring after endovascular covered stent placement to treat a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of proximal left subclavian artery.
Role of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Treatment of Massive Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Glazier Hugh A. , Kaki Amir
Published: April 2024

Massive/high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with a 30-day mortality rate of approximately 65%. In searching for strategies that may make a dent on this dismal mortality rate, investigators have, over the last decade, shown renewed interest in the potential beneficial role of venoarterial (V-A) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the treatment of patients with high-risk PE. There is a dearth of high-quality evidence regarding the value of ECMO in the treatment of massive PE. Studies examining this issue have generally been retrospective, often single center and frequently with small patient numbers. Moreover, these reported studies are not matched with appropriate controls, and, accordingly, it is difficult to regulate for inherent treatment bias. Not surprisingly, there are no randomized controlled trials examining the value of ECMO in the treatment of massive PE, as such trials would pose formidable feasibility challenges. Over the past several years, there has been increasing support for upfront use of V-A ECMO in the treatment of massive PE, when it is complicated by cardiac arrest. In those patients without cardiac arrest, but who have contraindications for thrombolysis, V-A ECMO combined with anticoagulation may be used to stabilize the patient. If after 3 to 5 days, such patients demonstrate persistent right ventricular dysfunction, embolectomy (either surgical or catheter based) should be performed. Well-designed, multicenter, prospective studies are urgently needed to better define the role of V-A ECMO in the treatment of patients with massive PE.
Management of Urgent Bleeding in Patients with Hemophilia A: Focus on the Use of Emicizumab
Authors: Jiménez-Yuste Víctor , Álvarez-Román María T. , Berrueco Rubén , Bonanad Santiago , Calvo-Villas José M. , González-González Rebeca , Porras José R. González , Núñez-Vázquez Ramiro J. , Rodríguez-López Manuel
Published: April 2024

Management of patients with hemophilia A (HA) requires the knowledge and experience of specialized health care professionals. However, these patients may need to be attended in emergencies, outside the referral hospital, where health care professionals do not know about hemophilia and/or new innovative treatments.

This study aimed to develop a simple and practical algorithm that could be used in emergency situations by nonspecialized treaters in HA and bleeding with or without factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors under emicizumab prophylaxis.

A group of experts agreed on a simple algorithm, easy to operate, adapted from previous international guidelines, and based on their clinical experience.

The proposed algorithm starts with identifying the patient, confirming the diagnosis of HA, prophylaxis with emicizumab, and/or use of other treatments. After stabilizing the patient and stratifying the bleeding risk, the patient is managed according to the presence/absence of FVIII inhibitors. Patients without FVIII inhibitors should receive FVIII concentrate. Dose and follow-up depend on bleeding localization and severity. Patients with FVIII inhibitors should preferably receive recombinant activated factor VII as bypass agent. A basic coagulation assay, FVIII assessment, and FVIII inhibitors detection assays are necessary in an emergency. However, these tests should be interpreted with caution and appropriately chosen, as emicizumab may alter the results.

The management of patients with HA is challenging in emergency situations, especially if they are treated with new agents. Nonspecialized in coagulopathies health care professionals have limited understanding of the disease, highlighting the need for an algorithm to assist them in making informed decisions.
Nanoscale x-ray imaging with high spectral sensitivity using fluorescence intensity correlations
Authors: Wollweber Tamme , Ayyer Kartik
Published: April 2024

This paper introduces spectral incoherent diffractive imaging (SIDI) as a novel method for achieving dark-field imaging of nanostructures with heterogeneous oxidation states. With SIDI, shifts in photoemission profiles can be spatially resolved, enabling the independent imaging of the underlying emitter distributions contributing to each spectral line. In the x-ray domain, this approach offers unique insights beyond the conventional combination of diffraction and x-ray emission spectroscopy. When applied at x-ray free-electron lasers, SIDI promises to be a versatile tool for investigating a broad range of systems, offering unprecedented opportunities for detailed characterization of heterogeneous nanostructures for catalysis and energy storage, including of their ultrafast dynamics.
Topological and compositional disorder induced exciton Anderson localization highly enhances luminescence quantum yields of alloyed perovskite nanocrystals
Authors: Ma Wenjie , Miao Ruonan , Wu Huaxin , Dong Guoyan , Fan Jiyang
Published: April 2024

Anderson localization has inspired tremendous effort in exploring underlying physics regarding electron, atom, and photon transport in disordered lattices. However, due to the difficulty in implementing periodic trapping potential for neutral excitons, observing Anderson localization of excitons in disordered semiconductors remains challenging. We report evidence of Anderson localization of Frenkel excitons in the alloyed perovskite nanocrystals that possess high topological and compositional disorder. The broken symmetry-driven constructive interference of scattered exciton wavefunctions around the octahedrons induces strong exciton localization and, consequently, exciton–phonon coupling. This causes significant promotion of the luminescence quantum efficiency from 30% to an impressive 75% owing to enhanced radiative and suppressed nonradiative quantum transition rates. These findings clarify that both Anderson localization and exciton–lattice coupling play key roles in triggering immobility of Frenkel excitons in disordered wide-bandgap semiconductors and guide design of monocomponent warm white light emitters based on highly efficient alloyed perovskite nanocrystals.
A power load forecasting model based on a combined neural network
Authors: Li Jie , Qiu Chenguang , Zhao Yulin , Wang Yuyang
Published: April 2024

The supply of electric power is vital for the daily lives of people, industrial production, and business services. At present, although enough electric power can be supplied to meet the power demand, there are still some challenges, especially in terms of long-distance power transmissions and long-term power storage. Consequently, if the power production capacity exceeds the immediate consumption requirements, i.e., the produced electric power cannot be consumed in a short period, and much electric power could be wasted. Evidently, to minimize the wastage of electric power, it is necessary to properly plan power production by accurately forecasting the future power load. Therefore, a preferable power load forecasting algorithm is crucial for the planning of power production. This paper proposes a novel deep learning model for the purpose of power load forecasting, termed the SSA-CNN-LSTM-ATT model, which combines the CNN-LSTM model with SSA optimization and attention mechanisms. In this model, the CNN module extracts the features from the sequential data, and then the features are passed to the LSTM module for modeling and capturing the long-term dependencies hidden in the sequences. Subsequently, an attention layer is employed to measure the importance of different features. Finally, the output is obtained through a fully connected layer, yielding the forecasting results of the power load. Extensive experiments have been conducted on a real-world dataset, and the metric R2 can reach 0.998, indicating that our proposed model can accurately forecast the power load.
CMOS on-chip thermometry at deep cryogenic temperatures
Authors: Noah Grayson M. , Swift Thomas H. , de Kruijf Mathieu , Gomez-Saiz Alberto , Morton John J. L. , Gonzalez-Zalba M. Fernando
Published: April 2024

Accurate on-chip temperature sensing is critical for the optimal performance of modern complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits (ICs), to understand and monitor localized heating around the chip during operation. The development of quantum computers has stimulated much interest in ICs operating at deep cryogenic temperatures (typically 0.01–4 K), in which the reduced thermal conductivity of silicon and silicon oxide and the limited cooling power budgets make local on-chip temperature sensing even more important. Here, we report four different methods for on-chip temperature measurements native to CMOS industrial fabrication processes. These include secondary and primary thermometry methods and cover conventional thermometry structures used at room temperature as well as methods exploiting phenomena that emerge at cryogenic temperatures, such as superconductivity and Coulomb blockade. We benchmark the sensitivity of the methods as a function of temperature and use them to measure local excess temperature produced by on-chip heating elements. Our results demonstrate thermometry methods that may be readily integrated in CMOS chips with operation from the millikelvin range to room temperature.
Quantum sensing effect of electron tunneling in DQD/analyte complex
Authors: Filikhin I. , Vlahovic B. , Joseph A. , Alston T. , Oxley J.
Published: April 2024

We investigate electron tunneling between quantum dots and molecules to propose a quantum sensor. This sensor consists of double quantum dots (DQD) with energy levels specifically tailored to mirror those of the target analyte. By analyzing the spectral distribution of electron localizations in the DQD system, we can delineate the analyte’s spectrum and deduce its composition by comparing it with a reference sample. To understand electron tunneling dynamics within the DQD/analyte complex, we performed three-dimensional computational modeling applying the effective potential approach to the InAs/GaAs heterostructure. In this modeling, we mimicked the analyte spectrum by utilizing a quantum well characterized by a quasi-discrete spectrum. Our calculations reveal the inherent potential of utilizing this method as a highly sensitive and selective sensor.
Performance limiting inhomogeneities of defect states in ampere-class Ga2O3 power diodes
Authors: Wang Z. P. , Sun N. , Yu X. X. , Gong H. H. , Ji X. L. , Ren F.-F. , Gu S. L. , Zheng Y. D. , Zhang R. , Kuznetsov A. Yu. , Ye J. D.
Published: April 2024

Impacts of spatial charge inhomogeneities on carrier transport fluctuations and premature breakdown were investigated in Schottky ampere-class Ga2O3 power diodes. Three prominent electron traps were detected in Ga2O3 epilayers by a combination of the depth-resolved capacitance spectroscopy profiling and gradual dry etching. The near-surface trap occurring at 1.06 eV below the conduction band minimum (EC), named E3, was found to be confined within a 180 nm surface region of the Ga2O3 epilayers. Two bulk traps at EC − 0.75 eV (E2*) and at EC − 0.82 eV (E2) were identified and interconnected with the VGa- and FeGa-type defects, respectively. In the framework of the impact ionization model, employing the experimental trap parameters, the TCAD simulated breakdown characteristics matched the experimental breakdown properties well, consistently with inverse proportionality to the total trap densities. In particular, the shallowest distributed E3 trap with the deepest level is responsible for higher leakage and premature breakdown. In contrast, Ga2O3 Schottky diodes without E3 trap exhibit enhanced breakdown voltages, and the leakage mechanism evolves from variable range hopping at medium reverse voltages, to the space-charge-limited conduction at high reverse biases. This work bridges the fundamental gap between spatial charge inhomogeneities and diode breakdown features, paving the way for more reliable defect engineering in high-performance Ga2O3 power devices.
Survival prediction of ovarian serous carcinoma based on machine learning combined with pathological images and clinical information
Authors: Zhou Rong , Zhao Bingbing , Ding Hongfan , Fu Yong , Li Hongjun , Wei Yuekun , Xie Jin , Chen Caihong , Yin Fuqiang , Huang Daizheng
Published: April 2024

Ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC) has high mortality, making accurate prognostic evaluation vital for treatment selection. This study develops a three-year OSC survival prediction model using machine learning, integrating pathological image features with clinical data. First, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was used to classify the unlabeled pathological images and determine whether they are OSC. Then, we proposed a multi-scale CNN combined with transformer model to extract features directly. The pathological image features were selected by Elastic-Net and then combined with clinical information. Survival prediction is performed using Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and XGBoost through cross-validation. For comparison, we segmented the tumor area as the region of interest (ROI) by U-net and used the same methods for survival prediction. The results indicated that (1) the CNN-based cancer classification yielded satisfactory results; (2) in survival prediction, the RF model demonstrated the best performance, followed by SVC, and XGBoost was less effective; (3) the segmented tumor ROIs are more accurate than those predicted directly from the original pathology images; and (4) predictions combining pathological images with clinical information were superior to those solely based on pathological image features. This research provides a foundation for the diagnosis of OSC and individualized treatment, affirming that both ROI extraction and clinical information inclusion enhance the accuracy of predictions.
Mechanism study on the influences of buffer osmotic pressure on microfluidic chip-based cell electrofusion
Authors: Xu Mengli , Zhang Xiaoling , Bai Yaqi , Wang Xuefeng , Yang Jun , Hu Ning
Published: April 2024

Cell electrofusion is a key process in many research fields, such as genetics, immunology, and cross-breeding. The electrofusion efficiency is highly dependent on the buffer osmotic pressure properties. However, the mechanism by which the buffer osmotic pressure affects cell electrofusion has not been theoretically or numerically understood. In order to explore the mechanism, the microfluidic structure with paired arc micro-cavities was first evaluated based on the numerical analysis of the transmembrane potential and the electroporation induced on biological cells when the electrofusion was performed on this structure. Then, the numerical model was used to analyze the effect of three buffer osmotic pressures on the on-chip electrofusion in terms of membrane tension and cell size. Compared to hypertonic and isotonic buffers, hypotonic buffer not only increased the reversible electroporation area in the cell-cell contact zone by 1.7 times by inducing a higher membrane tension, but also significantly reduced the applied voltage required for cell electroporation by increasing the cell size. Finally, the microfluidic chip with arc micro-cavities was fabricated and tested for electrofusion of SP2/0 cells. The results showed that no cell fusion occurred in the hypertonic buffer. The fusion efficiency in the isotonic buffer was about 7%. In the hypotonic buffer, the fusion efficiency was about 60%, which was significantly higher compared to hypertonic and isotonic buffers. The experimental results were in good agreement with the numerical analysis results.
Unveiling synergy of strain and ligand effects in metallic aerogel for electrocatalytic polyethylene terephthalate upcycling
Authors: Chen Junliang , Zhang Fangzhou , Kuang Min , Wang Li , Wang Huaping , Li Wei , Yang Jianping
Published: April 2024

Recently, there has been a notable surge in interest regarding reclaiming valuable chemicals from waste plastics. However, the energy-intensive conventional thermal catalysis does not align with the concept of sustainable development. Herein, we report a sustainable electrocatalytic approach allowing the selective synthesis of glycolic acid (GA) from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) over a Pd
67
Ag
33
alloy catalyst under ambient conditions. Notably, Pd
67
Ag
33
delivers a high mass activity of 9.7 A mg
Pd
−1
for ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) and GA Faradaic efficiency of 92.7 %, representing the most active catalyst for selective GA synthesis. In situ experiments and computational simulations uncover that ligand effect induced by Ag incorporation enhances the GA selectivity by facilitating carbonyl intermediates desorption, while the lattice mismatch-triggered tensile strain optimizes the adsorption of *OH species to boost reaction kinetics. This work unveils the synergistic of strain and ligand effect in alloy catalyst and provides guidance for the design of future catalysts for PET upcycling. We further investigate the versatility of Pd
67
Ag
33
catalyst on CO
2
reduction reaction (CO
2
RR) and assemble EGOR//CO
2
RR integrated electrolyzer, presenting a pioneering demonstration for reforming waste carbon resource (i.e., PET and CO
2
) into high-value chemicals.
Biochemical and immunological characterization of excretory–secretory products of Vesicocoelium solenophagum and plasma proteins of its bivalve host, Sinonovacula constricta
Authors: Shi Lei , Wang Jun
Published: April 2024

In this study, the excretory–secretory products (ESP) of the daughter sporocysts of Vesicocoelium solenophagum (Trematoda) and plasma proteins of its host, Sinonovacula constricta were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and gelatin-substrate gel analyses, and the relationships between them were analysed using immunoblotting. Proteinase activity was detected in the ESP from daughter sporocysts of V. solenophagum. Some polypeptides of the ESP were found to be recognized by antiserum, raised against plasma from non-infected S. constricta, suggesting that the ESP may mimic host molecules (molecular mimicry). In contrast, neither the obvious proteinase activity nor the binding to the antisera was observed for the soluble proteins of daughter sporocyst, indicating that the ESP may play a important role in the parasite–host relationship. Although the plasma of infected S. constricta contained polypeptides that were similar to the plasma of non-infected bivalves, increased quantities of proteins at >170 kDa, 15 kDa and decreased quantities at 60 kDa were observed in the plasma of infected bivalves. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the plasma of infected bivalves had a faint reaction with both anti-non-infected plasma antisera and anti-sporocyst antisera. These results indicated that the structure and quantity of some polypeptides from the plasma of infected bivalves had changed because of the infection with V. solenophagum. The polypeptides between the plasma of bivalves from a non-epidemic area and that from an epidemic area were similar, but the former had more polypeptides of 170–220 kDa and much greater proteinase activity than the latter, suggesting that the increased polypeptides of 170–220 kDa and the high proteinase activity in plasma may be favourable for protecting the host from being invaded by the parasites.
In vitro effects of isoprinosine and a dipeptide methyl ester on Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces
Authors: Lawton P. , Walchshofer N. , Sarciron M.E.
Published: April 2024

A protoscoleces/vesicles in vitro maintenance test with assessment of viability by eosin exclusion was used to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative activities of isoprinosine, its active component inosine and the dipeptide methylester L-Phe-Phe-OMe on isolated protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis for 24 and 48 h. Isoprinosine and inosine showed dose- and time-dependent activity, the latter displaying a more rapid effect than the former. A high activity was shown with L-Phe-Phe-OMe, when compared to praziquantel. Ultrastructural alterations were much more striking with L-Phe-Phe-OMe, with an effect similar to that of praziquantel, whereas the chemotherapeutic activity of inosine and isoprinosine appeared to be directed against a metabolic target, with a lethal effect not immediately visible at the ultrastructural level. Thus, the previously reported in vivo activities of these drugs result largely from a direct effect on the parasite.
Contamination of soils with eggs of Toxocara in a subtropical city in Argentina
Authors: Alonso J.M. , Stein M. , Chamorro M.C. , Bojanich M.V.
Published: April 2024

Abstract A total of 475 soil samples were collected from five public park playgrounds, 17 kindergarten sandpits and 124 housing estates in Resistencia, a medium-sized subtropical-region city in Argentina, and processed by the centrifugal flotation method. Eggs of Toxocara spp. were present in five (3.4%) of the 146 habitats surveyed and in six (1.3%) of the 475 samples examined. Twenty per cent of public parks, 5.9% of kindergarten sandpits and 2.4% of housing estates were contaminated with Toxocara eggs. Depending on the number of samples examined from the three types of habitat, contamination by Toxocara was 0.7% in public park playgrounds, 1.2% in kindergarten sandpits and 1.6% in the housing estates. High prevalences of Ancylostomidae eggs were also found especially in public park playgrounds with a value of 100%, compared with 19.4% found in housing estates and 11.8% in kindergarten samples. These results suggest that in Resistencia, human infections with Toxocara are likely to occur within the limits of housing estates more so than in public parks or open spaces.
Molecular approaches for studying ascaridoid nematodes with zoonotic potential, with an emphasis on Toxocara species
Authors: Zhu X.Q. , Gasser R.B. , Chilton N.B. , Jacobs D.E.
Published: April 2024

Species-specific identification of ascaridoid nematodes at any developmental stage is a prerequisite for detailed investigation of the life cycles, systematics and epidemiology of this important group, and is also crucial for the diagnosis of associated infections. The morphological identification of some species and/ or their larval stages can, however, present considerable difficulty. Recently, PCR-based methods, using genetic markers in the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA, have been shown to provide reliable alternatives to more traditional methods for the specific identification of nematodes. This article provides an account of recent research on the development of PCR-based methods (utilizing ITS sequences) for the specific identification of ascaridoid nematodes of zoonotic potential, for the diagnosis of infections, and for the analysis of genetic variation within and among individual nematodes and their populations. Prospects for using these diagnostic and analytical tools to investigate epidemiological and population genetic questions relating to ascaridoid parasites are also discussed.
Helminths of the horned leaf frog, Proceratophrys appendiculata, from southeastern Brazil
Authors: Boquimpani-Freitas L. , Vrcibradic D. , Vicente J.J. , Bursey C.R. , Rocha C.F.D. , Van Sluys M.
Published: April 2024

The helminth fauna of the horned leaf frog, Proceratophrys appendiculata (Anura: Leptodactylidae), was studied from 17 adult individuals from an island in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil. A total of five nematode species (Aplectana delirae, Cosmocerca brasiliense, Schulzia travassosi, Rhabdias androgyna and Physaloptera sp.) and an unidentified cestode were recovered from the digestive tract, lungs and gall bladder of P. appendiculata and all the nematode species are new host records. Aplectana delirae had the highest values for the prevalence and intensity of infection and can thus be considered a core species in the helminth community of P. appendiculata. Aplectana crossodactyli is synonymized with Aplectana delirae (). The helminth fauna of P. appendiculata presents characteristics typical of those in amphibians.
Molecular phylogenetic position of Schistosoma sinensium in the genus Schistosoma
Authors: Agatsuma T. , Iwagami M. , Liu C.X. , Saitoh Y. , Kawanaka M. , Upatham S. , Qui D. , Higuchi T.
Published: April 2024

The status of Schistosoma sinensium (samples from Thailand and from Sichuan, China) relative to other species of the genus Schistosoma was investigated using DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene (partial) and the nuclear ribosomal DNA second internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). Trees inferred from these sequences place S. sinensium as sister to the S. japonicum group and suggest a basal position in the clade utilizing snails of the family Pomatiopsidae. The sequence differences between specimens of S. sinensium from China and Thailand are at least as great as between S. malayensis and S. mekongi. Schistosoma sinensium is probably best regarded as a species complex.
Integration of liquid crystal optical delay and mechanical stage optical delay for measurement of ultrafast autocorrelations and terahertz pulses
Authors: Spotts Isaac , Brodie C Harrison , Collier Christopher M
Published: April 2024

To improve the temporal resolution in an optical delay system that uses a conventional mechanical delay stage, we integrate an in-line liquid crystal (LC) wave retarder. Previous implementations of LC optical delay methods are limited due to the small temporal window provided. Using a conventional mechanical delay stage system in series with the LC wave retarder, the temporal window is lengthened. Additionally, the limitation on temporal resolution resulting from the minimum optical path alteration (resolution of 400 nm) of the conventionally used mechanical delay stage is reduced via the in-line wave retarder (resolution of 50 nm). Interferometric autocorrelation measurements are conducted at multiple laser emission frequencies (349, 357, 375, 394, and 405 THz) using the in-line LC and conventional mechanical delay stage systems. The in-line LC system is compared to the conventional mechanical delay stage system to determine the improvements in temporal resolution relating to maximum resolvable frequency. This work demonstrates that the integration of the in-line LC system can extend the maximum resolvable frequency from 375 to 3000 THz. The in-line LC system is also applied for measurement of terahertz pulses.
Enhancing USVs navigation based on minimum error entropy of GPS vector tracking
Authors: Liu Wei , Chen Sizhe , Hu Yuan , Lou Naiyuan , Wang Shengzheng
Published: April 2024

In recent years, unmanned surface Vessels (USVs) have increasingly been used for river monitoring and hydrological surveys. USVs rely on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) for navigation. However, signal blocking can cause the traditional GNSS vector tracking (VT) loop to increase the code phase and carrier frequency errors, leading to higher positioning errors that do not meet USVs’ requirements. To address this problem, we propose a VT method based on the minimum error entropy (MEE) in the signal tracking module. The MEE Kalman filter is adopted as the loop filter to mitigate code phase and carrier frequency errors, reduce non-Gaussian noise and random errors generated by signal blocking, and enhance the positioning accuracy and robustness of USV navigation. The measurement noise covariance of the loop filter was adjusted adaptively using the signal carrier-to-noise ratio. A field experiment was conducted using a commercial GNSS receiver as reference. The results demonstrate a 19.3% improvement in positioning accuracy compared with the traditional method in an open environment. Moreover, the proposed method maintains stable operation and achieves a 79.4% improvement in positioning accuracy during signal blocking. This novel algorithm offers a new concept for USV navigation systems to cope with signal blocking.
Integral maximisation algorithm. Comparison with standard methods and application to adaptive optical systems with statistical backlash
Authors: Jan Luis Emiliano , Zaldivar Escola Facundo
Published: April 2024

One of the fundamental challenges of engineering is establishing the optimal parameters in problems with multiple local solutions. A large number of optimisation algorithms have been developed for this task. This paper proposes a new optimisation algorithm that is effective in systems with hysteresis and non-linearities. Tests are performed with standard optimisation functions and with a complex optical model. For each test, the results of several known optimisation algorithms are compared with the proposed one. All optimisation algorithms used in the tests are then implemented in an actual thermal diffusivity measuring instrument which uses an optical technique. The optical alignment process of this real-world instrument is carried out by various optimisation algorithms and the dispersions in the measured values are compared. It is concluded that the proposed algorithm presents high robustness and the fastest convergence to the global optimum.
High selectivity and sensitivity through nanoparticle sensors for cleanroom CO2 detection
Authors: Channegowda Manjunatha , Verma Arpit , Arabia Igra , Meda Ujwal Shreenag , Rawal Ishpal , Rustagi Sarvesh , Yadav Bal Chandra , Dunlop Patrick SM , Bhalla Nikhil , Chaudhary Vishal
Published: April 2024

Clean room facilities are becoming more popular in both academic and industry settings, including low-and middle-income countries. This has led to an increased demand for cost-effective gas sensors to monitor air quality. Here we have developed a gas sensor using CoNiO2 nanoparticles through combustion method. The sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor towards CO2 were influenced by the structure of the nanoparticles, which were affected by the reducing agent (biofuels) used during synthesis. Among all reducing agents, urea found to yield highly crystalline and uniformly distributed CoNiO2 nanoparticles, which when developed into sensors showed high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of CO2 gas in the presence of common interfering volatile organic compounds observed in cleanroom facilities including ammonia, formaldehyde, acetone, toluene, ethanol, isopropanol and methanol. In addition, the urea-mediated nanoparticle-based sensors exhibited room temperature operation, high stability, prompt response and recovery rates, and excellent reproducibility. Consequently, the synthesis approach to nanoparticle-based, energy efficient and affordable sensors represent a benchmark for CO2 sensing in cleanroom settings.
Average shadowing revisited
Authors: Blank Michael
Published: April 2024

We propose a novel unifying approach to study the shadowing property for a broad class of dynamical systems (in particular, discontinuous and non-invertible) under a variety of perturbations. In distinction to known constructions, our approach is local: it is based on the gluing property which takes into account the shadowing under a single (not necessarily small) perturbation.
Inclusion of metal nanoparticles at the core-shell interface of GaAs0.99Bi0.01/ZnO/ITO core-shell nanowire solar cell for photovoltaic performance enhancement
Authors: Roy Debamita , Biswas Abhijit , Samajdar Dip Prakash
Published: April 2024

Optoelectronic performance analysis of perpendicularly aligned conformally coated GaAs0.99Bi0.01/ZnO/ITO core–shell nanowire solar cell having a core length of 1 μm, core diameter of 160 nm, shell thickness of 10 nm and period of 280 nm, decorated with Au metal nanoparticles(MNPs) of variable diameters at the core–shell interface is done employing FDTD method. Diameter optimization of MNPs with four different diameters values around core GaAs0.99Bi0.01 nanowire is accomplished in terms of maximum short circuit current density (Jsc), which offered an optimized diameter combination of D1 = D2 = 50 nm and D3 = 34 nm, D4 = 10 nm, resulting in a maximum Jsc of 32.6 mA cm−2. A detailed analysis of the electric field profile including its top view and longitudinal view is presented to investigate the distribution of electric field upon optical illumination at different wavelength range. The overall photo generation rate profile is also presented to focus on the localized surface plasmon resonance effect caused by the metal nanoparticles (MNPs). In order to boost the electrical performance, a thin coating of electron selective ZnO shell is used around p type GaAs0.99Bi0.01core, which aids in charge carrier separation, thereby improving open circuit voltage (Voc) and overall power conversion efficiency (PCE). The electrical characteristics of bare NW and MNP decorated GaAs0.99Bi0.01/ZnO core–shell nanowire solar cell for different MNP diameters have been compared. For the optimized diameter combination, as stated above, a Voc of 941 mV, Jsc of 28 mA cm−2, FF of 84.35% and PCE of 22.19% is obtained for SRV of 105 cm s−1 at the interfaces and SRH recombination lifetime as less as 10 ns. For SRV of 105 cm s−1 at the interfaces and SRH recombination lifetime of 1 μs, this proposed structure can achieve a Voc of 1.06 V, Jsc of 31.5 mA cm−2, PCE of 29.37% and FF of 87.88% for equal diameters of D1 = D2 = D3 = D4 = 50 nm.
A comprehensive perspective for single-mode Gaussian coherence
Authors: Singh S K , ur Rahman Atta , Mazaheri M , Peng Jia-Xin
Published: April 2024

In this work, we theoretically investigate single-mode Gaussian quantum coherence from a comprehensive perspective. Based on analytical expressions of the first and second moments of single-mode Gaussian states undergoing various Gaussian noisy channels, we use quantum mater equation and the method of the relative entropy to quantify the quantum coherence of any single-mode Gaussian state. We demonstrate that the displaced thermal state achieves maximum quantum coherence when using only the displaced vacuum state, which is a pure coherent state. However, for various lossy noise channels, quantum coherence shows a significant decrease. In the context of a squeezed thermal state, when controlling the squeezing parameter for a given environmental temperature, quantum coherence has been witnessed to increase. The ultimate upper bound of quantum coherence is then attained with the squeezed vacuum state. In particular, we determined the most generalized scenario of the displaced squeezed thermal state. The maximum value of quantum coherence is obtained when displacement and squeeze parameters both attain maximum value. Our study might be important in the future for the characterisation as well as the estimation of various nonclassical quantum correlations in single-mode Gaussian states.
Gradient voltage amplification effect in FDSOI NCFET with thickness-variable ferroelectric layer
Authors: Yao Jiafei , Liu Jincheng , Zhang Xinpeng , Han Xue , Zhang Maolin , Li Man , Yang Kemeng , Chen Jing , Zhang Jun , Guo Yufeng
Published: April 2024

In this paper, a negative capacitance field effect transistor with thickness variable ferroelectric layer (TVFL NCFET) based on the fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) is proposed. The TVFL NCFET features the linearly increased ferroelectric layer thickness along the channel from source to drain. The gradient voltage amplification effect caused by the TVFL is analyzed according to the proposed capacitance model and simulation. Both of the model and numerical results indicate that the TVFL leads to a gradient increased electrostatic potential distribution along the bottom of the ferroelectric layer. The influences of gradient voltage amplification effect on the transfer characteristics, the output characteristic, the ratio between on-state-current (I
ON) and off-state-current (I
OFF), the drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) and the subthreshold swing (SS) are investigated. The results show that the TVFL NCFET achieves the SS of 53.14 mV/dec, which is reduced by 19% when compared to the conventional NCFET. Meanwhile, large ION/IOFF is also realized and up to 1012 at most.
Design of a broadband multifunctional switchable absorber/reflector based on active frequency selective surfaces
Authors: Zhao Ling , Wang Jiayun , Gao Yulong , Chen Linyue , Qu Zeng , Duan Junping , Zhang Binzhen
Published: April 2024

Metamaterial absorbers are candidates for stealth systems due to their excellent wave modulation capabilities. With the rapid development of radar detection technology, the switching ability of metamaterial absorbers is becoming more demanding. A broadband multifunctional switchable absorber/reflector based on active frequency selective surfaces (AFSS) is presented in this paper. The proposed structure comprises an absorbing layer, a switching layer, and a ground with air spacers sandwiched between each layer. The PIN diodes can realize significant broadband conditioning performance between absorption and reflection functions by switching four operating states: ‘00’, ‘01’, ‘10’, and ‘11’. The bias network of this structure features horizontal and vertical configurations that independently coordinate the two polarization directions. It is worth noting that the bias network of the designed structure is very simple to minimize the impact on the structure. Distributions of surface current, an equivalent circuit model, and structural parameters are analyzed for a better professional insight into the working mechanism of the absorber/reflector. Finally, a prototype is fabricated and measured to verify the simulation.
Negative refractive index enhancement with zero absorption in a concentric chiral metal-atomic nanoshell
Authors: Nawab Haq , Khan Majid , Ghafoor Fazal
Published: April 2024

We investigate the electromagnetic chirality and negative refraction in a concentric nanoshell of a chiral metal sphere and a chiral atomic shell. The medium of the atomic shell with a four-level system is driven by a laser field and an incoherent pump field in a diamond configuration. We show that the electric and magnetic absorption spectra connecting through the chiral coefficients of the respective dipole moments of the two media, produce five and three lines spectral profiles. We explain that the spectral lines separated by dips are the manifestation of the classical (quantum) coherence effect of the wave field excitation in the medium of the metal sphere (atomic shell), and the interaction of the respective dipole moments at the interface of the two media. Furthermore, we show negative refraction with zero absorption without requiring permittivity (ϵ) and permeability (μ) simultaneously negative, where for all values of the incident wavelength, Re [μ] ≈ 1, representing a strong chiral electromagnetic behavior. Consequently, the negative refractive index enhances sufficiently beyond n = −1 for a wide range of parameters depending on the coupling parameters, chiral coefficients, and the radii ratio of the concentric metal-atomic nanoshell.
Cellulosic crystallinity and antimicrobial artistry of cactus cilia
Authors: Pandey Ritu , Dubey Amarish , Mishra Ganesh P , Ahuja Aakriti , Kambo Neelu , Joshi Shubham , Sinha Mukesh Kumar , Dubey Ragini , Shrivas Stuti
Published: April 2024

The present research utilizes the mass of fine cilia yielded by cactus protoderm. Obtained cilia is characterized morphologically, chemically, thermally, and for antimicrobial activity. Plant based cellulosic wound dressing material expedite tissue generation, hydration, and bactericidal activity. Chemical characterization of cactus cilia reveals a highly absorbent cellulose I structure with crystallinity percentage of 65.02%. Infrared spectroscopy shows aromatic rings in cellulose polysaccharides with carbon (88.37%), oxygen (6.67%), nitrogen (3.67%), and sodium (1.27%). Morphology displayed a very fine (21 to 65 μm), coiled, and uncinate fiber. Significant number of amino acids, amides, and their derivatives exhibit cactus cilia is a plant biomass. Cactus cilia + ampicillin derivative inhibited gram-negative bacterial growth, thus making it a potential material for general use in meditech applications.
Error field detection and correction studies towards ITER operation
Authors: Piron L. , Paz-Soldan C. , Pigatto L. , Zanca P. , Sauter O. , Putterich T. , Bettini P. , Bonotto M. , Cunningham G. , De Tommasi G. , Ferron N. , Gambrioli M. , Graham G. , De Vries P. , Gribov Y. , Hu Q. , Kirov K. , Logan N.C. , Lennholm M. , Mattei M. , Maraschek M. , Markovic T. , Manduchi G. , Martin P. , Pironti A. , Polevoi A.R. , Ravensbergen T. , Ryan D. , Sieglin B. , Suttrop W. , Terranova D. , Teschke W. , Valcarcel D.F. , Vincent C. ,   JET Contributors,   the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation Team,   the ASDEX Upgrade Team,   MAST-U Team
Published: April 2024

In magnetic fusion devices, error field (EF) sources, spurious magnetic field perturbations, need to be identified and corrected for safe and stable (disruption-free) tokamak operation. Within Work Package Tokamak Exploitation RT04, a series of studies have been carried out to test the portability of the novel non-disruptive method, designed and tested in DIII-D (Paz-Soldan et al 2022 Nucl. Fusion
62 126007), and to perform an assessment of model-based EF control strategies towards their applicability in ITER. In this paper, the lessons learned, the physical mechanism behind the magnetic island healing, which relies on enhanced viscous torque that acts against the static electro-magnetic torque, and the main control achievements are reported, together with the first design of the asynchronous EF correction current/density controller for ITER.
Variability of entropy force and its coupling with electrostatic and steric hindrance interactions
Authors: Zhou S
Published: April 2024

We investigated the effective interaction potential (EIP) between charged surfaces in solvent comprised of dipole dimer molecules added with a certain amount of ionic liquid. Using classical density functional theory, the EIP is calculated and decoupled into entropic and energy terms. Unlike the traditional Asakura–Oosawa (AO) depletion model, the present entropic term can be positive or negative, depending on the entropy change associated with solvent molecule migration from bulk into slit pore. This is determined by pore congestion and disruption of the bulk dipole network. The energy term is determined by the free energy associated with hard-core repulsion and electrostatic interactions between surface charges, ion charges, and polarized charges carried by the dipole dimer molecules. The calculations in this article clearly demonstrate the variability of the entropy term, which contrasts sharply with the traditional AO depletion model, and the corrective effects of electrostatic and spatial hindrance interactions on the total EIP; we revealed several non-monotonic behaviors of the EIP and its entropic and energy terms concerning solvent bulk concentration and solvent molecule dipole moment; additionally, we demonstrated the promoting effect of dipolar solvent on the emergence of like-charge attraction, even in 1:1 electrolyte solutions. The microscopic origin of the aforementioned phenomena was analyzed to be due to the non-monotonic change of dipolar solvent adsorption with dipole moment under conditions of low solution dielectric constant. The present findings offer novel approaches and molecular-level guidance for regulating the EIP. This insight has implications for understanding fundamental processes in various fields, including biomolecule-ligand binding, activation energy barriers, ion tunneling transport, as well as the formation of hierarchical structures, such as mesophases, micro-, and nanostructures, and beyond.
Potential Nanoparticles to Integrate with Ceramic Membranes for Treating Industrial Wastewater: A Review
Authors: Rabby Insiat Islam , Enam H.M Khairul , Uddin Wasi , Sultana Afsana , Uddin Rokib , Alam Mahfuz
Published: April 2024

Due to human indifference and reckless oily wastewater production from industry, environmental or ecological pollution has become a challenge for our planet. Oily industrial wastewater mostly released by oil fields, refineries, cars, palm oil sectors, and many others is one of the biggest dangers. Oil and water can be virtually completely separated using membrane-based technologies. However, these technologies still face challenges in upholding efficiency over extended periods due to membrane fouling induced by oil droplets mixing with the membranes. Therefore, to overcome these challenges, the creation of polymeric, ceramic, and metallic-based membrane materials with enhanced performance is the focus of research in this field. In this review, various published approaches applied for treating industrial wastewater by using Ceramic Membranes integrated with nanoparticles were focused initially. Then, a modified experimental procedure from the literature for wastewater treatment process by using ceramic membranes is discussed. The majority of studies indicate nearly total oil rejection and increased outputs. Silicon carbide (SiC), Titanium dioxide (TiO2), Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC), Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), Alumina powder (Al), Silica (SiO2), Graphene Oxide (GO), and Silver (Ag) are identified potential nanoparticles to mix with ceramic membranes for wastewater treatment application.