bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary and secondary resonance phenomenon for two-layer liquid sloshing in a rectangular container under horizontal excitation
Authors: Liu Dongxi , Li Yiran
Published: March 2024

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study primary and secondary resonant sloshing in a laterally excited rectangular container containing two-layer stratified liquids. The findings revealed that primary resonance of the free surface or the separation surface occurs when the forcing frequency closely matches the corresponding natural frequency. Some intriguing phenomena, such as the sudden wave amplitude increase and the downward shift in resonant peaks, can be observed due to the soft-spring effect. Secondary resonance arises when superharmonic or sub-harmonic frequencies associated with liquid sloshing closely align with the natural frequencies of the system. For the free surface, the secondary resonances of the first five modes occur at forcing frequencies closely related to a third of the first mode, half of the second mode, a third of the third mode, a quarter of the fourth mode, and a fifth of the fifth mode natural frequency of the free surface, respectively. Furthermore, secondary resonance can also manifest under other forcing conditions, such as when the harmonic at a fractional multiple is near the second mode natural frequency of the free surface. Regarding the separation surface, it is worth noting that secondary resonance occurs due to the dominant contribution of fractional harmonics of the forcing frequency. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic investigation of primary and secondary resonance behaviors in a two-layer liquid system.
GenIce-core: Efficient algorithm for generation of hydrogen-disordered ice structures
Authors: Matsumoto Masakazu , Yagasaki Takuma , Tanaka Hideki
Published: March 2024

Ice is different from ordinary crystals because it contains randomness, which means that statistical treatment based on ensemble averaging is essential. Ice structures are constrained by topological rules known as the ice rules, which give them unique anomalous properties. These properties become more apparent when the system size is large. For this reason, there is a need to produce a large number of sufficiently large crystals that are homogeneously random and satisfy the ice rules. We have developed an algorithm to quickly generate ice structures containing ions and defects. This algorithm is provided as an independent software module that can be incorporated into crystal structure generation software. By doing so, it becomes possible to simulate ice crystals on a previously impossible scale.
Surfactant-laden liquid thread breakup driven by thermal fluctuations
Authors: Carnevale Luís H. , Deuar Piotr , Che Zhizhao , Theodorakis Panagiotis E.
Published: March 2024

The breakup of liquid threads into droplets is crucial in various applications, such as nanoprinting, nanomanufacturing, and inkjet printing, where a detailed understanding of the thinning neck dynamics allows for a precise droplet control. Here, the role of surfactant in the breakup process is studied by many-body dissipative particle dynamics, in particular, the various regime transitions and thread profiles, shedding light on molecular-level intricacies of this process hitherto inaccessible to continuum theory and experiments. Moreover, the role of surfactant in the most unstable perturbation, the formed droplet size, and surfactant distributions have been unraveled. As surfactant concentration rises, both the wavelength and time to breakup steadily increase due to the lowering of surface tension below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and viscous effects introduced by micelles above the CMC. These changes prior to the breakup lead to larger droplets being formed in cases with higher surfactant concentration. We also compared the thinning dynamics to existing theoretical predictions, revealing that the surfactant-laden breakup starts at the inertial regime and transitions into the thermal fluctuation regime when the concentration is increased. Thus, we illuminate the hitherto poorly investigated and intricate breakup process of surfactant-laden liquid threads driven by thermal fluctuations, contributing to a deeper understanding of this process at molecular scales.
Superior energy storage and discharge performance achieved in PbHfO3-based antiferroelectric ceramics
Authors: Li Shuifeng , Tang Xin-Gui , Guo Xiao-Bin , Tang Zhenhua , Liu Qiu-Xiang , Jiang Yan-Ping , Li Wenhua , Lu Sheng-Guo , Zheng Guangping
Published: March 2024

Dielectric capacitors prepared by antiferroelectric (AFE) materials have the advantages of large power density and fast discharge ability. It has been a focus on the improvement of the recoverable energy density (Wrec) and discharge energy–density (Wdis) in the AFE ceramics. To address the above issue, optimizing the proportion of components is proposed for enhancing ceramic antiferroelectricity, ultimately improving the breakdown strength (Eb) and Wrec. In this work, an ultrahigh Wrec (14.3 J/cm3) with an excellent energy efficiency (η) of 81.1% is obtained in (Pb0.96Sr0.02La0.02)(Hf0.9Sn0.1)O3 AFE ceramic at electric field of 490 kV/cm, which is the maximum value reported in lead-based AFE ceramics fabricated by the conventional solid-state reaction method so far. The multistage phase transition induced by the electric field is observed in the polarization–electric field (P–E) hysteresis loops. Furthermore, an outstanding power density (PD) of 335 MW/cm3 and an excellent Wdis of 8.97 J/cm3 with a rapid discharge speed (102 ns) are obtained at electric field of 390 kV/cm. In addition, (Pb0.96Sr0.02La0.02)(Hf0.9Sn0.1)O3 ceramics also possess an excellent thermal and frequency stability. These exceptional properties indicate that (Pb0.98−xSrxLa0.02)(Hf0.9Sn0.1)O3 ceramics are a potential candidate for pulsed power devices and power electronic devices.
Mode decomposition and spatial propagation regularity analysis of cavitation variation on a twisted hydrofoil
Authors: Fang Mingkun , Liu Qiang , Tao Ran , Zhang Fangfang , Zhu Di , Xiao Ruofu
Published: March 2024

The cavitation phenomenon can induce non-uniformity in the fluid, impacting fluid dynamic performance. This paper focuses on the cavitation shedding of the Delft Twist 11 hydrofoil. First, the reliability of numerical simulations is verified by computational fluid dynamics results. Utilizing the variational mode decomposition method, the cavitation signals on two cavitation paths are decomposed. Finally, the cavitation pulsation tracking network method is proposed to extensively investigate the spatial propagation patterns of cavitation signals at various sections above the twisted hydrofoil. The results reveal that typical frequencies at different monitoring planes are 30, 58, and 88 Hz. The corresponding amplitude analysis at these frequencies provides insight into the spatial propagation and attenuation process of cavitation vortices shedding. This study offers a novel perspective for a deeper understanding of cavitation mechanisms. Simultaneously, this provides references for enhancing the performance of mechanical engineering systems, reducing energy consumption, and improving structural reliability.
The ethics perspective of physics department chairs
Authors: Marder Michael P. , Houle Frances A. , Kirby Kate P.
Published: March 2024

Although a new American Physical Society ethics survey shares some conclusions with a previous one, disparities between the two highlight the need for improved procedures and open communication channels in physics departments.
Bubble lasers can be sturdy and sensitive
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: March 2024

Made of liquid-crystal films, the soft, air-filled lasers have stable spectra that shift when the bubbles are squeezed.
Changes of soil carbon along a topo-climatic gradient in rangelands of Iran: insights from 14C mean residence time and δ13C
Authors: Owji Alireza , Landi Ahmad , Hojati Saeed , Khodadadi Maral
Published: March 2024

Context Soils can be the largest terrestrial carbon source and a potential sink of atmospheric CO2. Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics can be unravelled by 14C-derived mean residence times (MRT). Aims We aimed to understand SOC dynamics in surface and subsurface soils along a topo-climatic gradient in the rangelands of Khuzestan Province, Iran. Methods Study sites were selected under two contrasting regional climates in Izeh (MAT + 19.2°C, MAP 623 mm) and Ramhormoz (MAT + 27.5°C, MAP 200 mm). Soil physicochemical properties, SOC forms, and 14C MRT and δ13C signatures were determined in the control profiles. Key results The average MRT up to 1 m depth in Izeh and Ramhormoz were 2980 and 6582 years before present, respectively. On average, a loss of 300 Mg C ha−1 in SOC stocks and a rise of 430 years in SOC MRT up to 1 m can be expected per 1°C increase in MAT, 50 mm reduction in MAP, and 100 m decrease in elevation, highlighting the potential significance of MAT in SOC dynamics. Using optimistic and pessimistic carbon emission scenarios, carbon emissions in the upland areas were projected to be between 50 and 100 Mg C ha−1 over 80 years. Conclusions While the most influential element on SOC stock and its relative age was likely the temperature, other factors like erosion and deposition processes can cause enhanced SOC dislocation along the topo-climatic gradient. Implications Soil carbon pools stabilised for centuries to millennia are susceptible to alterations due to climate and land cover change.
Membrane localization accelerates association under conditions relevant to cellular signaling
Authors: Huang William Y. C. , Boxer Steven G. , Ferrell James E.
Published: March 2024

Translocation of cytoplasmic molecules to the plasma membrane is commonplace in cell signaling. Membrane localization has been hypothesized to increase intermolecular association rates; however, it has also been argued that association should be faster in the cytosol because membrane diffusion is slow. Here, we directly compare an identical association reaction, the binding of complementary DNA strands, in solution and on supported membranes. The measured rate constants show that for a 10-µm-radius spherical cell, association is 22- to 33-fold faster at the membrane than in the cytoplasm. The kinetic advantage depends on cell size and is essentially negligible for typical ~1 µm prokaryotic cells. The rate enhancement is attributable to a combination of higher encounter rates in two dimensions and a higher reaction probability per encounter.
Individual variation in contact effects – stability, convergence, and divergence
Authors: Barking Marie , Mos Maria , Backus Ad
Published: March 2024

In this study, we investigate the contact effects of stability, convergence, and divergence regarding the use of
the same linguistic construction in the same contact situation. To do that, we collected experimental production and judgment data
by native German speakers living in the Netherlands regarding their usage of the complementizer um ‘to’ in German
and compared those data to those of a control group of German speakers not in contact with Dutch. The results show that most
speakers show evidence for some contact-induced language change in their German. At the same time, speakers seem to experience
different contact effects, demonstrating that it is not the structural properties of the construction that result in one effect
over the other, but rather factors that pertain to the individual speakers. In particular, we argue that speakers can either focus
on the similarities or on the differences between their languages, to some extent driven by their attitudes towards their
languages and language change, and then over-generalize these similarities or differences to new contexts. Overall, this result
clearly underlines the importance of focusing on individual speakers as the initiators of language change, which is in line with a
usage-based approach.
Modelling gravitational-wave emission and detection on spandex using a high-speed camera
Authors: Molnár András , Czura Márk , Dercsényi Bence A
Published: March 2024

This paper demonstrates a variation of the rubber sheet experiment (Gravitational Waves Work Like This Drill on Spandex) for measuring the properties of modelled gravitational waves. Mechanically induced waves on the rubber sheet are observed by a high-speed camera and the slow-motion videos are analysed with the Tracker program. We describe the theoretical background and the execution of the measurement process. The measured displacements are suitable for modelling real gravitational-wave signals and determinating properties of the sources.
Cooperative properties of multiple quantum scattering: II. Coherentlasing
Authors: Enaki Nicolae A
Published: March 2024

The description model of the multiple scattering lasers using the superposition states between the generated photons in the ensemble of bi-modes of the resonator field, we introduced a concept of indistinguishable energy portions generated in the resonator following multiple scattering. Each of these quasi-quanta has energy equal to the difference between the pumping and scattering quantum energies at each step of multiple scattering. The conversion of the photons in the external electromagnetic mode of the resonator destroys this cooperative correlation between the bi-modes and established conservation lows during the cooperative emission. The master equation containing two parameters connected with the gain of quasi-energy portions, and their annihilation due to the losses from the resonator, is proposed. The competition between these two processes is numerically studied. An attractive problem is connected with established quantum correlations between the photons belonging to non-adjacent modes of the cavity. The time behavior of the evolution of correlations between such modes is observed. This conception may be used for the teleportation of information in other modes during the multiple Raman conversion.
Wigner function of optical cumulant operator and its dissipation in thermo-entangled state representation
Authors: Zhang 张 Ke 科 , Li 李 Lan-Lan 兰兰 , Fan 范 Hong-Yi 洪义
Published: March 2024

To conveniently calculate the Wigner function of the optical cumulant operator and its dissipation evolution in a thermal environment, in this paper, the thermo-entangled state representation is introduced to derive the general evolution formula of the Wigner function, and its relation to Weyl correspondence is also discussed. The method of integration within the ordered product of operators is essential to our discussion.
A very thin MRPC developed for TOF-PET
Authors: Liu J. , Wang Y. , Guo B. , Han D. , Li Y.
Published: March 2024

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) is a medical molecular imaging modality employed in cancer diagnosis and monitoring. Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs) are utilized in Time of Flight (TOF)-PET due to their superior time resolution. Our research group has successfully developed a 4-chamber 32-gap MRPC prototype with 0.128 mm gap thickness. The measured time resolution for cosmic rays is 20 ps, while the time resolution for the time difference between 0.511 MeV photon pairs is 193 ps Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM). The 23.6 mm thickness of the MRPC prototype will affect the time resolution. To investigate the influence of the number and total thickness of gas gaps on the time resolution, Geant4 software is used to simulate the interaction between particles (such as cosmic rays and photons) and MRPC detectors. Most of the gamma photons interact with the resistive plates in MRPCs. It is ejected mostly a Compton electron into one gas gap, causing the gas ionization. In this paper, two 8-gap MRPC prototypes with 0.128 mm gap thickness and 4.2 mm total thickness are fabricated and tested. The time resolution of 39 ps for cosmic rays and 166 ps FWHM for 0.511 MeV photons is obtained using the fast front-end amplifier and waveform acquisition system. So, a real time PET image can be obtained with a pair of MRPCs, and the detection efficiency for gamma can be improved by increasing the number of thin MRPCs.
Enhanced formic acid electro-oxidation reaction over Ir,N-doped TiO2-supported Pt nanocatalyst
Authors: Huynh Tai Thien , Huynh Quyen , Huynh Ngoc-Han T , Pham Hau Quoc
Published: March 2024

In this work, we prepared an Ir,N-doped TiO2 nanomaterial via a facile HNO3-assisted hydrothermal process that was used as an advanced support for nano-sized Pt nanoparticles (NPs) for the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR). The physical and electrochemical behaviours of the as-made Pt/Ir,N-doped TiO2 catalyst were systemically investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopes coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FE-SEM/EDX mapping), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), Tafel slope, CO-stripping, and chronoamperometric (CA) test. The Pt NPs (ca. 3 nm) were anchored on the Ir,N-doped TiO2 support, being formed by a mixture of rutile and brookite with a particle size of several ten nanometers. Due to the small size and uniform distribution of Pt NPs, the Pt/Ir,N-doped TiO2 catalyst had an electrochemical surface area of 79.88 m2 g−1, which was greater than that of the commercial Pt/C (77.63 m2 g−1). In terms of the FAOR, the Pt/Ir,N-doped TiO2 catalyst showed a negative FAOR onset potential, high current density (11.85 mA cm−2), and superior CO-tolerance compared to the commercially available catalyst. Also, the as-made catalyst possessed high electrochemical durability after 3600 s for testing. The enhanced FAOR efficiency was assigned to the formation of a dual-doping effect and strong interplay between Pt and TiO2-based support, which not only improved the electron transfer but also weakened the adsorption of carbonaceous species, thereby boosting the reaction kinetics. This study could open up a facile but effective strategy to promote particular electrochemical applications.
Interactions between forsythoside E and two cholinesterases at the different conditions: fluorescence sections
Authors: Lin Conghuan , Du Huizhi
Published: March 2024

Forsythoside E is one secondary metabolite of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. In the study, the interactions between forsythoside E and two types of cholinesterases, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase were investigated in the different conditions. Forsythoside E increased the fluorescence intensity of acetylcholinesterase but quenched the fluorescence of butyrylcholinesterase. Aβ
25-35 used in the study may not form complexes with cholinesterases, and did not affect the interaction between forsythoside E and cholinesterases. The charged quaternary group of AsCh interacted with the ‘anionic’ subsite in acetylcholinesterase, which did not affect the interaction between forsythoside E and acetylcholinesterase. The enhancement rate of forsythoside E to acetylcholinesterase fluorescence from high to low was acid solution (pH 6.4), neutral solution (pH 7.4) and alkaline solution (pH 8.0), while the reduction rate of forsythoside E to butyrylcholinesterase fluorescence was in reverse order. Metal ions may interact with cholinesterases, and increased the effects of forsythoside E to cholinesterases fluorescence, in order that Fe3+ was the highest, followed by Cu2+, and Mg2+. A forsythoside E-butyrylcholinesterase complex at stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 was spontaneously formed, and the static quenching was the main quenching mode in the process of forsythoside E binding with butyrylcholinesterase. The K values of two complexes were pretty much the same, suggesting that the interaction between cholinesterases and forsythoside E was almost unaffected by acid–base environment and metal ions. The n numbers of two cholinesterases approximately equaled to one, indicating that there was only one site on each cholinesterase applicable for forsythoside E to bind to.
Will the US Survive the Frog? Time and History in the Pandemic and Decline
Authors: Haines Christian P
Published: March 2024

This essay examines two books, Jed Esty’s The Future of Decline: Anglo-American Culture at its Limits (2022) and an edited collection, The Long 2020 (2022), in terms of their respective geometries of history, or the ways in which they extrapolate possible futures for the US from contemporary material conditions. It considers the decline of US global hegemony and the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic insofar as they puncture the nationalist fantasies of US exceptionalism. It also makes a case for steering between the alternatives of apocalypse and redemption in favor of a historical materialist reckoning with US socioeconomic decline. Learning from crisis and decline, the essay argues, doesn’t have to mean surrendering radical political or utopian impulses. It can also mean recasting social hope as the collective reclaiming of freedom from exceptionalism. Finally, the essay makes a methodological proposal for bringing together existential and structural approaches to history (or new materialist and Marxist modes of analysis) in literary and cultural studies, as well as critical theory.
Divergence and reticulation in the Mexican white oaks: ecological and phylogenomic evidence on species limits and phylogenetic networks in the Quercus laeta complex (Fagaceae)
Authors: Morales-Saldaña Saddan , Hipp Andrew L , Valencia-Ávalos Susana , Hahn Marlene , González-Elizondo M Socorro , Gernandt David S , Pham Kasey K , Oyama Ken , González-Rodríguez Antonio
Published: March 2024

Background and Aims

Introgressive hybridization poses a challenge to taxonomic and phylogenetic understanding of taxa, particularly when there are high numbers of co-occurring, intercrossable species. The genus Quercus exemplifies this situation. Oaks are highly diverse in sympatry and cross freely, creating syngameons of interfertile species. Although a well-resolved, dated phylogeny is available for the American oak clade, evolutionary relationships within many of the more recently derived clades remain to be defined, particularly for the young and exceptionally diverse Mexican white oak clade. Here, we adopted an approach bridging micro- and macroevolutionary scales to resolve evolutionary relationships in a rapidly diversifying clade endemic to Mexico.

Methods

Ecological data and sequences of 155 low-copy nuclear genes were used to identify distinct lineages within the Quercus laeta complex. Concatenated and coalescent approaches were used to assess the phylogenetic placement of these lineages relative to the Mexican white oak clade. Phylogenetic network methods were applied to evaluate the timing and genomic significance of recent or historical introgression among lineages.

Key Results

The Q. laeta complex comprises six well-supported lineages, each restricted geographically and with mostly divergent climatic niches. Species trees corroborated that the different lineages are more closely related to other species of Mexican white oaks than to each other, suggesting that this complex is polyphyletic. Phylogenetic networks estimated events of ancient introgression that involved the ancestors of three present-day Q. laeta lineages.

Conclusions

The Q. laeta complex is a morphologically and ecologically related group of species rather than a clade. Currently, oak phylogenetics is at a turning point, at which it is necessary to integrate phylogenetics and ecology in broad regional samples to figure out species boundaries. Our study illuminates one of the more complicated of the Mexican white oak groups and lays groundwork for further taxonomic study.
Multifunctional enzymes related to amino acid metabolism in bacteria
Authors: Miyamoto Tetsuya
Published: March 2024

In bacteria, d-amino acids are primarily synthesized from l-amino acids by amino acid racemases, but some bacteria use d-amino acid aminotransferases to synthesize d-amino acids. d-Amino acids are peptidoglycan components in the cell wall involved in several physiological processes, such as bacterial growth, biofilm dispersal, and peptidoglycan metabolism. Therefore, their metabolism and physiological roles have attracted increasing attention. Recently, we identified novel bacterial d-amino acid metabolic pathways, which involve amino acid racemases, with broad substrate specificity, as well as multifunctional enzymes with d-amino acid-metabolizing activity. Here, I review these multifunctional enzymes and their related d- and l-amino acid metabolic pathways in Escherichia coli and the hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima.
Deeply integrating latent consistent representations in high-noise multi-omics data for cancer subtyping
Authors: Cai Yueyi , Wang Shunfang
Published: March 2024

Cancer is a complex and high-mortality disease regulated by multiple factors. Accurate cancer subtyping is crucial for formulating personalized treatment plans and improving patient survival rates. The underlying mechanisms that drive cancer progression can be comprehensively understood by analyzing multi-omics data. However, the high noise levels in omics data often pose challenges in capturing consistent representations and adequately integrating their information. This paper proposed a novel variational autoencoder-based deep learning model, named Deeply Integrating Latent Consistent Representations (DILCR). Firstly, multiple independent variational autoencoders and contrastive loss functions were designed to separate noise from omics data and capture latent consistent representations. Subsequently, an Attention Deep Integration Network was proposed to integrate consistent representations across different omics levels effectively. Additionally, we introduced the Improved Deep Embedded Clustering algorithm to make integrated variable clustering friendly. The effectiveness of DILCR was evaluated using 10 typical cancer datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and compared with 14 state-of-the-art integration methods. The results demonstrated that DILCR effectively captures the consistent representations in omics data and outperforms other integration methods in cancer subtyping. In the Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma case study, cancer subtypes were identified by DILCR with significant biological significance and interpretability.
scAMAC: self-supervised clustering of scRNA-seq data based on adaptive multi-scale autoencoder
Authors: Tan Dayu , Yang Cheng , Wang Jing , Su Yansen , Zheng Chunhou
Published: March 2024

Cluster assignment is vital to analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data to understand high-level biological processes. Deep learning-based clustering methods have recently been widely used in scRNA-seq data analysis. However, existing deep models often overlook the interconnections and interactions among network layers, leading to the loss of structural information within the network layers. Herein, we develop a new self-supervised clustering method based on an adaptive multi-scale autoencoder, called scAMAC. The self-supervised clustering network utilizes the Multi-Scale Attention mechanism to fuse the feature information from the encoder, hidden and decoder layers of the multi-scale autoencoder, which enables the exploration of cellular correlations within the same scale and captures deep features across different scales. The self-supervised clustering network calculates the membership matrix using the fused latent features and optimizes the clustering network based on the membership matrix. scAMAC employs an adaptive feedback mechanism to supervise the parameter updates of the multi-scale autoencoder, obtaining a more effective representation of cell features. scAMAC not only enables cell clustering but also performs data reconstruction through the decoding layer. Through extensive experiments, we demonstrate that scAMAC is superior to several advanced clustering and imputation methods in both data clustering and reconstruction. In addition, scAMAC is beneficial for downstream analysis, such as cell trajectory inference. Our scAMAC model codes are freely available at https://github.com/yancy2024/scAMAC.
Dynamic models augmented by hierarchical data: an application of estimating HIV epidemics at sub-national level
Authors: Le Bao , Niu Xiaoyue , Brown Tim , Imai-Eaton Jeffrey W
Published: March 2024

Dynamic models have been successfully used in producing estimates of HIV epidemics at the national level due to their epidemiological nature and their ability to estimate prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates simultaneously. Recently, HIV interventions and policies have required more information at sub-national levels to support local planning, decision-making and resource allocation. Unfortunately, many areas lack sufficient data for deriving stable and reliable results, and this is a critical technical barrier to more stratified estimates. One solution is to borrow information from other areas within the same country. However, directly assuming hierarchical structures within the HIV dynamic models is complicated and computationally time-consuming. In this article, we propose a simple and innovative way to incorporate hierarchical information into the dynamical systems by using auxiliary data. The proposed method efficiently uses information from multiple areas within each country without increasing the computational burden. As a result, the new model improves predictive ability and uncertainty assessment.
The Construction of Capital Among Family Members of People in Prison
Authors: Umamaheswar Janani
Published: March 2024

Researchers have documented the harms of imprisonment on family life, but much less is known about how family members seek support to cope with the challenges of familial imprisonment. In this article, I draw on 8 months of ethnographic observations of a virtual family support group and in-depth interviews with 27 family members of people in prison to explore participants’ need for, and construction of, communities of support. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concepts of social and cultural capital, I reveal how family members cultivated and leveraged networks of support to develop the social connections, knowledge, skills and resources needed to cope with familial imprisonment. I argue, however, that the persistence of participants’ struggles underscores the intractable nature of the inequality produced by familial imprisonment.
Investigation of the risk factors in the development of radionecrosis in patients with brain metastases undergoing stereotactic radiotherapy
Authors: Doğan Bedriye , Demir Harun , Işık Naciye , Gunalp Gun , Günbey Hediye Pınar , Yaprak Gökhan
Published: March 2024

Objective

To investigate the incidence, timing, and the factors predictors radionecrosis (RN) development in brain metastases (BMs) undergoing stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT).

Methods

The study evaluated 245 BMs who exclusively received SRT between 2010 and 2020. RN was detected pathologically or radiologically.

Results

The median of follow-up was 22.6 months. RN was detected in 18.4% of the metastatic lesions, and 3.3% symptomatic, 15.1% asymptomatic. The median time of RN was 22.8 months (2.5-39.5), and the rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were 16.8%, 41.4%, and 66%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that Graded Prognostic Assessment (P = .005), Score Index of Radiosurgery (P = .015), Recursive Partitioning Analysis (P = .011), the presence of primary cancer (P = .004), and localization (P = .048) significantly increased the incidence of RN. No significant relationship between RN and brain-gross tumour volume doses, planning target volume, fractionation, dose (P > .05). Multivariate analysis identified SIR > 6 (OR: 1.30, P = .021), primary of breast tumour (OR: 2.33, P = .031) and supratentorial localization (OR: 3.64, P = .025) as risk factors.

Conclusions

SRT is used effectively in BMs. The incidence of RN following SRT is undeniably frequent. It was observed that the incidence rate increased as the follow-up period increased. We showed that brain-GTV doses are not predictive of RN development, unlike other publications. In study, a high SIR score and supratentorial localization were identified as factors that increased the risk of RN.

Advances in knowledge

RN is still a common complication after SRT. Symptomatic RN is a significant cause of morbidity. The causes of RN are still not clearly identified. In many publications, brain dose and volumes have been found to be effective in RN. But, with this study, we found that brain dose volumes and fractionation did not increase the incidence of RN when brain doses were taken into account. The most important factor in the development of RN was found to be related to long survival after SRT.
A rare case of De Garengeot hernia: CT findings
Authors: Iovino Maria , D’Elia Anna Chiara , Rispo Maurizio , Rispo Alfonso , Brunetti Arturo , Sandomenico Fabio
Published: March 2024

We report a case of “De Garengeot’s hernia” (DGH), a rare condition that occurs when the inflamed appendix is localized inside a femoral hernia. The appendix may be involved in inflammatory or necrotic processes and the treatment is emergency surgery. It is usually discovered by chance during surgery. It occurs in 0.5%-5% of all femoral hernias. In 0.08%-0.13% of cases, the appendix can present inflammatory or necrotic processes due to the narrowness of the neck of the femoral canal; in these cases, an emergency surgery is required through a no standard surgical procedure. In the other cases, it is usually found accidentally during surgical repair of the hernia or more rarely diagnosed preoperatively by CT. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to report a case of DGH describing CT main findings in order to improve the preoperative diagnosis.
Exploring the Relationship between Ethical Conflicts and Psychological Distress among Social Workers: The Role of Social and Economic Exchange and Burnout
Authors: Kagan Maya , Zychlinski Ester , Lev Sagit
Published: March 2024

This study examines the association between ethical conflicts and psychological distress among social workers and the role of economic and social exchange in mediating this relationship. It also explores the moderating effect of burnout on the association between ethical conflicts and both social and economic exchange. The sample consisted of 568 Israeli social workers, where the majority were women. A moderated mediation model was employed to analyse the research data. The results indicate that the frequency of ethical conflicts was positively correlated with economic exchange, which in turn was positively correlated with psychological distress. Also, the frequency of ethical conflicts was negatively correlated with social exchange, which was negatively correlated with psychological distress. The effect of the frequency of ethical conflicts on both economic and social exchange was more pronounced at higher levels of burnout. The current study provides valuable insights into the complex processes social workers undergo when faced with ethical conflicts and underscores the importance of addressing burnout and exchanges in the social worker–organisation relationship. The study recommends that policymakers and welfare organisation managers allocate resources towards quality supervision and training programmes, promote teamwork and self-care activities for social workers and create an ethical work environment.
Vaccination with structurally adapted fungal protein fibrils induces immunity to Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Pesch Verena , Flores-Fernandez José Miguel , Reithofer Sara , Ma Liang , Özdüzenciler Pelin , Busch Yannick , Sriraman Aishwarya , Wang YongLiang , Amidian Sara , Kroepel Chiara V M , Müller Laura , Lien Yi , Rudtke Olivia , Frieg Benedikt , Schröder Gunnar F , Wille Holger , Tamgüney Gültekin
Published: March 2024

The pathological misfolding and aggregation of soluble α-synuclein into toxic oligomers and insoluble amyloid fibrils causes Parkinson’s disease, a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure.

HET-s is a soluble fungal protein that can form assembled amyloid fibrils in its prion state. We engineered HET-s(218–298) to form four different fibrillar vaccine candidates, each displaying a specific conformational epitope present on the surface of α-synuclein fibrils. Vaccination with these four vaccine candidates prolonged the survival of immunized TgM83+/− mice challenged with α-synuclein fibrils by 8% when injected into the brain to model brain-first Parkinson’s disease or by 21% and 22% when injected into the peritoneum or gut wall, respectively, to model body-first Parkinson’s disease. Antibodies from fully immunized mice recognized α-synuclein fibrils and brain homogenates from patients with Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy.

Conformation-specific vaccines that mimic epitopes present only on the surface of pathological fibrils but not on soluble monomers, hold great promise for protection against Parkinson’s disease, related synucleinopathies and other amyloidogenic protein misfolding disorders.
Atrophy network mapping of clinical subtypes and main symptoms in frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Chu Min , Jiang Deming , Li Dan , Yan Shaozhen , Liu Li , Nan Haitian , Wang Yingtao , Wang Yihao , Yue Ailing , Ren Liankun , Chen Kewei , Rosa-Neto Pedro , Lu Jie , Wu Liyong
Published: March 2024

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a disease of high heterogeneity, apathy and disinhibition present in all subtypes of FTD and imposes a significant burden on families/society. Traditional neuroimaging analysis has limitations in elucidating the network localization due to individual clinical and neuroanatomical variability.

The study aims to identify the atrophy network map associated with different FTD clinical subtypes and determine the specific localization of the network for apathy and disinhibition.

Eighty FTD patients [45 behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD) and 35 semantic variant progressive primary aphasia (svPPA)] and 58 healthy controls at Xuanwu Hospital were enrolled as Dataset 1; 112 FTD patients including 50 bvFTD, 32 svPPA and 30 non-fluent variant PPA (nfvPPA) cases, and 110 healthy controls from the Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Neuroimaging Initiative (FTLDNI) dataset were included as Dataset 2. Initially, single-subject atrophy maps were defined by comparing cortical thickness in each FTD patient versus healthy controls. Next, the network of brain regions functionally connected to each FTD patient’s location of atrophy was determined using seed-based functional connectivity in a large (n = 1000) normative connectome.

Finally, we used atrophy network mapping to define clinical subtype-specific network (45 bvFTD, 35 svPPA and 58 healthy controls in Dataset 1; 50 bvFTD, 32 svPPA, 30 nfvPPA and 110 healthy controls in Dataset 2) and symptom-specific networks [combined Datasets 1 and 2, apathy without depression versus non-apathy without depression (80:26), disinhibition versus non-disinhibition (88:68)]. We compare the result with matched symptom networks derived from patients with focal brain lesions or conjunction analysis.

Through the analysis of two datasets, we identified heterogeneity in atrophy patterns among FTD patients. However, these atrophy patterns are connected to a common brain network. The primary regions affected by atrophy in FTD included the frontal and temporal lobes, particularly the anterior temporal lobe. bvFTD connects to frontal and temporal cortical areas, svPPA mainly impacts the anterior temporal region and nfvPPA targets the inferior frontal gyrus and precentral cortex regions. The apathy-specific network was localized in the orbital frontal cortex and ventral striatum, while the disinhibition-specific network was localized in the bilateral orbital frontal gyrus and right temporal lobe. Apathy and disinhibition atrophy networks resemble known motivational and criminal lesion networks, respectively. A significant correlation was found between the apathy/disinhibition scores and functional connectivity between atrophy maps and the peak of the networks.

This study localizes the common network of clinical subtypes and main symptoms in FTD, guiding future FTD neuromodulation interventions.
A hydrodynamic modelling of wave-activated bodies for wavelet marine regions
Authors: Peh J S , Muhieldeen Mohammed W , Shuaib N H
Published: March 2024

Recently, most wave energy research has targeted sea areas with high power density under extreme wave conditions for deployment. This trend often leads to higher energy costs for wave power plants. However, many marine areas with low power density, characterized by wavelet conditions and less destructive forces than extreme wave conditions, remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to propose a wave-activated body model for sea regions with wavelet conditions. The wave-activated body design process encompassed site selection, parameter determination, geometry design, comparison and performance evaluation using the ANSYS® AQWA model. The results indicated that the proposed device achieved the desired heave motion, with an amplitude range of 1.2 to –2.5 m, validating its potential for deployment in marine regions with wavelet conditions. Notably, while the proposed design is optimized for wavelet conditions, it was found to have potential limitations in extreme wave environments. This observation emphasizes the challenge of formulating a generalized design suitable for both conditions. Consequently, it is pivotal for wave-activated body designs to be customized based on the specific ocean conditions they target, underscoring the need for specialized designs of wave energy converters that consider the unique wave characteristics of their deployment sites.
Tilted global solar irradiance in Bahrain: an experimental study
Authors: Vasilikos N , Georgantopoulou C , Alajaimi H , Almajed S H , Ahmed M , Mathioulakis D
Published: March 2024

In the present work, tilted global solar irradiance data are presented and analysed, measured for a period of 1 year on the campus of Bahrain Polytechnic, Kingdom of Bahrain, from both a fixed photovoltaic panel and a moving one via a two-axis solar tracker. The fixed panel faces south with an angle of 26° with respect to the horizontal, coinciding with the local geographical latitude. The second panel is moved by two motors, controlled by a global positioning system and suitable software so that the Sun’s rays are perpendicular to the panel surface. A pyranometer is installed on each panel, recording the tilted global solar irradiance, stored by using a data logger. The analysis of the data obtained shows a 33% solar energy gain on an annual basis for the moving panel (2780 versus 2088 kWh/m2 on the fixed panel). More importantly, in June, when the energy demand in Bahrain is elevated due to the increased residential cooling loads, the solar energy received by the moving panel is 54.7% higher compared with that of the fixed panel. On a percentage basis, the increase in solar energy from the moving panel is profound in the early morning and late evening hours. Moreover, the reduction in the solar energy received by the fixed panel from May to June does not appear in the moving panel because of the adjustable orientation of the latter. Throughout the year, the mean daily solar power varies between 0.37 and 0.56 kW/m2 for the fixed panel, and 0.45 and 0.70 kW/m2 for the moving panel. In winter, solar energy fluctuations are elevated due to erratic weather conditions that present a peak standard deviation of 28% of the corresponding mean. The data presented are useful for potential solar investments in Gulf countries.
Optimal site selection for geothermal heated greenhouses in cold climates: a fuzzy logic and geographic information system approach
Authors: Mirabadi Amirhossein , Minaei Saeid , Noorollahi Younes , Almasi Morteza
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive model for selecting optimal sites for geothermal heated greenhouses in the agricultural industry. The research involves two main componentsf: assessing the geothermal energy resource using geological, geochemical and geophysical indicators; and developing a siting model based on fuzzy logic that considers technical, environmental and socio-economic factors. The study focuses on East Azerbaijan province in Iran—a cold region. The results indicate that ~3.24% of the total area of the province is suitable for constructing geothermal greenhouses, resulting in potential savings of ~148 000 and 745 978 m3 of natural gas in areas with high and very high suitability, respectively.
An atypical nodule on the toe of a paediatric patient
Authors: Muñoz Castro David , Albanell Fernández Cristina , Martín Hernández José María , Silva Díaz Esmeralda , Calle Andrino Anaid , Padilla Esquivel Jaime José , Revert Fernández Ángeles
Published: March 2024

A 4-year-old girl presented to our clinic with a 2-month history of a rapidly growing nodule on the right fourth toe. After proper imaging and histological studies, a diagnosis of extraosseous Ewing sarcoma with cutaneous involvement was made. This condition has rarely been reported, as the extraskeletal location of this sarcoma is quite unusual.
Development and Validation of a New High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet Assay for Quantification of Mitoxantrone in Plasma of BALB/c-nu Mice
Authors: Tao Yanru , Zhao Hua , Xiang Yujie , Li Jin , Li Yanting , Hu Jiangling , Wang Hongmei , Jiang Xinhui
Published: March 2024

The concentration of mitoxantrone in the blood of mice was determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method with aloe-emodin as the internal standard. The separation was performed on a Hypersil BDS2 column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm) as the analytical column, the mobile Phase A was acetonitrile, and B was 20-mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate (adding 1% triethylamine and adjusting the pH to 2.8 with phosphoric acid) and 4.6-mM sodium octyl sulfonate. The flow rate was 1.0 mL·min−1, the detection wavelength was 243 nm, the column temperature is 25 ± 5°C and the injection amount was 20 μL. Finally, the linear range of mitoxantrone was 5–200 μg·mL−1, and the correlation coefficient was r = 0.9999. The recovery rate of the method was 91.93–105.5%, and the extraction recovery rate was 91.45–105.5%. The intraday precision and interday precision were <3.29% (limit of detection = 0.3 μg·mL−1). The HPLC method established in this paper was simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate, and can be used to determine the content of mitoxantrone in mouse plasma after tail vein injection.