bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative first principles investigation on the structural, optoelectronic and vibrational properties of strain-engineered graphene-like AlC3, BC3 and C3N monolayers
Authors: Bhattacharjee Souvik , Banerjee Anibrata , Chattopadhyay Kalyan Kumar
Published: March 2024

Three cardinal two-dimensional semiconductors viz., AlC3, BC3 and C3N, closely resembling the graphene structure, are intriguing contenders for emerging optoelectronic and thermomechanical applications. Starting from a critical stability analysis, this density functional theory study delves into a quantitative assessment of structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, vibrational and thermodynamical properties of these monolayers as a function of biaxial strain

(
ε
)

in a sublinear regime

(

−
2
%
⩽
ε
⩽
4
%

)

of elastic deformation. The structures with cohesive energies slightly smaller than graphene, manifest exceptional mechanical stiffness, flexibility and breaking stress. The mechanical parameters have been deployed to further cultivate acoustic attributes and thermal conductivity. The hexagonal structures with mixed ionic-covalent molecular bonds have indirect electronic band-gap and work-function acutely sensitive to

ε

. Dispersions of optical dielectric function, energy loss, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity, absorption coefficient and conductivity are deciphered in the UV–Vis–NIR regime against strain, where particular frequency bands featuring high polarization, dissipation, absorbance or reflectance are identified. Phonon band-structure and density of states testify dynamic stability in the ground state for all systems except the compressed ones. A comprehensive group theoretical analysis is performed to cultivate rotational; infrared and Raman-active modes, and the nature of molecular vibrations is delineated. The red-shifting of phonon bands and

E

2
g

/

A

1
g

Raman peaks with increasing

ε

, associates estimation of Grüneisen parameter. Finally, strain-induced alterations of thermodynamic quantities such as entropy, enthalpy, free energy, heat capacity and Debye temperature are studied, followed by a molecular dynamics-based stability assessment under canonical ensemble.
C3N based heterobilayers: a potential platform to explore optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties
Authors: Mondal Deep , Ghosal Supriya , Jana Susmita , Roy Anirban , Asfakujjaman  , Basak Krishnanshu , Ghosh Mainak , Jana Debnarayan
Published: March 2024

We theoretically investigate the full thermal transport and optoelectronic features of two established van der Waals heterostructures based on the recently synthesized monolayer of C3N using the machinery of the Boltzmann transport equation and GW+BSE calculations. Among the structures, C3N/hBN tends to exhibit a small indirect gap semiconducting nature with an admixture of comparatively higher ‘flat-and-dispersiveness’ and band degeneracy in the conduction band minima. A nearly comparable high thermoelectric power factor is observed for both carrier types at 300 K and 900 K at specific concentrations. The other material, C3N/Graphene however maintains a low Seebeck coefficient with large electrical conductivity which correctly manifests its metallic character. A combination of low atomic mass, higher anharmonicity and longer lifetime of acoustic phonons in C3N/hBN results in an intermediate lattice thermal conductivity (196 W m−1 K−1) at room temperature as compared to its constituent monolayers. Under heavy n-type doping, C3N/hBN hetero-bilayer displays a figure of merit value of 0.13 (and 0.36) at room temperature (and at 900 K). As per the optical signatures are concerned, C3N/hBN reveals two distinct absorption peaks with a high electron–hole quasiparticle interaction energy correction. Besides both the heterostructures display a much better absorption throughout the spectrum as compared to graphene. We expect these findings will motivate future research in designing thermoelectric and optoelectronic materials made of light mass, earth-abundant and non-toxic elements.
Enhancing piezoelectric performance of CNTs through B and N substitution under combined mechanical loads: insights from MD simulations
Authors: Luhadiya Nitin , Kundalwal S I
Published: March 2024

The piezoelectric properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) doped with boron (B) and nitrogen (N) were studied using the classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation software package large scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator. The interactions among the nanotube atoms C, N, and B were calculated using the Tersoff potential. MD simulations were performed to observe the changes in the piezoelectric coefficient of the doped CNTs under loading conditions like tension, torsion, and a combination of both. We considered a wide range of chirality to determine the influence of structural variation on the piezoelectric effect. The study revealed that B-CNTs exhibit superior piezoelectric coefficients compared to N-CNTs, indicating the significant role of dopant type. Moreover, under tensile loading, zigzag-oriented B-CNTs showed higher piezoelectric coefficients with a maximum

e

33

= 0.2441 C m−2, whereas under torsional loading, armchair-oriented B-CNTs showed enhanced response with a maximum

e

36

= 0.0564 C m−2. A notable observation was that under combined loading conditions (tensile and torsional), the piezoelectric behavior of the B-CNTs was dependent on the nanotube’s chirality and did not yield a linear additive response. The polarization induced under combined loading in most of the doped CNTs is significantly higher than the sum of polarization generated under tensile and torsional loading conditions. This behavior suggests that the overall piezoelectric effect under combined loading can be enhanced, which emphasizes the need for an approach to optimize the mechanical loading condition. The results showcase the potential of B-/N-CNTs to be engineered for efficient performance by demonstrating that tailored mechanical loading can enhance the piezoelectric responses in doped CNTs, opening a pathway for highly functional and efficient nanoscale piezoelectric devices.
Neural blind deconvolution for deblurring and supersampling PSMA PET
Authors: Sample Caleb , Rahmim Arman , Uribe Carlos , Bénard François , Wu Jonn , Fedrigo Roberto , Clark Haley
Published: March 2024

Objective. To simultaneously deblur and supersample prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) images using neural blind deconvolution. Approach. Blind deconvolution is a method of estimating the hypothetical ‘deblurred’ image along with the blur kernel (related to the point spread function) simultaneously. Traditional maximum a posteriori blind deconvolution methods require stringent assumptions and suffer from convergence to a trivial solution. A method of modelling the deblurred image and kernel with independent neural networks, called ‘neural blind deconvolution’ had demonstrated success for deblurring 2D natural images in 2020. In this work, we adapt neural blind deconvolution to deblur PSMA PET images while simultaneous supersampling to double the original resolution. We compare this methodology with several interpolation methods in terms of resultant blind image quality metrics and test the model’s ability to predict accurate kernels by re-running the model after applying artificial ‘pseudokernels’ to deblurred images. The methodology was tested on a retrospective set of 30 prostate patients as well as phantom images containing spherical lesions of various volumes. Main results. Neural blind deconvolution led to improvements in image quality over other interpolation methods in terms of blind image quality metrics, recovery coefficients, and visual assessment. Predicted kernels were similar between patients, and the model accurately predicted several artificially-applied pseudokernels. Localization of activity in phantom spheres was improved after deblurring, allowing small lesions to be more accurately defined. Significance. The intrinsically low spatial resolution of PSMA PET leads to partial volume effects (PVEs) which negatively impact uptake quantification in small regions. The proposed method can be used to mitigate this issue, and can be straightforwardly adapted for other imaging modalities.
Heterogeneous nucleation optimization from AgCl and reduction control in ethylene glycol for fast and reproducible synthesis of silver nanowires
Authors: Li Shuxin , Zhang Chengdong , Ma Lijun , Ji Shulin , Yang Deren
Published: March 2024

Silver nanowires synthesized by the most commonly used polyol method are typically accompanied by nanoparticles and nanorods, which have a negative impact on the performance of silver nanowire-based devices. Herein, we report a reproducible and easy method for preparing silver nanowires with yields exceeding 70% by optimizing the heterogeneous nucleation of silver from silver chloride precursors and regulating the reduction in ethylene glycol. The yield of silver nanowires depended on the morphology and concentration of silver chloride and the decomposition time of ethylene glycol. The Raman spectra were used to study the effect of the decomposition time of ethylene glycol on the concentration of acetaldehyde in solution, which influenced the reduction rate of silver ions. Then, the reaction time of silver nanowires was further reduced from 24 min to 10 min by increasing the reaction temperature from 160 °C to 170 °C. On the basis, the silver nanowire based capacitive screen with a good capacitive response and anti-aging performance was further fabricated. This method provides a new way for the macro preparation of silver nanowires with high yields.
Effects of electron-to-ion mass ratio in driving magnetic oscillations of magnetohydrodynamic plasmas and self-organized criticality
Authors: Acharya S P , Shaw P K , Jha A K , Janaki M S , Iyengar A N S
Published: March 2024

Evolutions of nonlinear magnetic fields have been shown to be governed by a set of coupled nonlinear equations of second order in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) plasmas by Lee and Parks [Geophys. Res. Lett.
19, 637–640 (1992)]. We have considered the same set of coupled nonlinear equations for further analysis in this work by neglecting the presence of external forcing term in it. Different modes of oscillations of magnetic field have been found to exist in special limiting cases of this set of undriven second order coupled nonlinear equations having frequencies that are multiples of lower hybrid frequency. Numerical solutions of these coupled equations have been analysed revealing a quasi-periodic route to chaotic oscillations of the nonlinear magnetic fields as electron-to-ion mass ratio signifying presence of linear coupling effects is increased. Some signatures of the phenomenon of self-organized criticality (SOC) in typical quasi-periodic oscillations of magnetic field have also been noticed using Fourier analysis. The presence of long range correlations has been witnessed in quasi-periodic oscillations whereas both long range correlations and anticorrelations are found in chaotic oscillations using rescaled range analysis. Concluding remarks are provided in addition to various results and discussions.
Neighborhood degree sum-based molecular indices and their comparative analysis of some silicon carbide networks
Authors: Das Shibsankar , Kumar Virendra
Published: March 2024

Topological indices of a molecular graph are numeric quantities that characterize its numerous physico-chemical properties, chemical reactivities and biological activities. The neighborhood M-polynomial is productive for discovering neighborhood degree sum-based topological indices. This article deals with computing the neighborhood M-polynomial of silicon carbide networks Si
2
C
3-I[p, q], Si
2
C
3-II[p, q] and Si
2
C
3-III[p, q], and hence examining some standard neighborhood degree sum-based topological indices for the aforementioned networks. The obtained results are analyzed graphically. Moreover, a comparative study of the outcomes with some well-established degree-based topological indices of the silicon carbide networks is executed.
Advanced composite material for high-performance supercapacitors: integrating graphene oxide and barium chromate
Authors: Saleemi Awais Siddique , Abdullah Ali , Batool Kiran , Alotaibi Nouf H , Mohammad Saikh , Saeed Muhammad
Published: March 2024

Graphene oxide-based Barium chromate (BaCr2O4@GO) composites were successfully synthesized through sonication assisted by a hydrothermal process designed for supercapacitor applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and morphological analyses were employed to characterize the nanostructured composites. The XRD and FTIR results reveal that the GO nanoparticles are arranged in a honeycomb-like configuration. Moreover, the TEM images reveal the presence of cauliflower-like structures in the morphology of the composites, which is attributed to the effective intercalation of GO during the thermal reduction process. The electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite were compared to those reported in previous studies on metal chromite materials aimed at enhancing supercapacity applications. The analysis of Galvanostatic Charge–Discharge (GCD) data indicates a significant increase in power density values from 292 W kg−1 to 495.5 W kg−1 for the Nanocomposites. The ability to achieve a balance between enhanced power density and efficient ion transport positions the -nanocomposites as a valuable candidate for advancing the performance of supercapacitors.
Influence of highly optimized charge carrier mobility and diverse physical features toward efficient organic solar cells
Authors: Gogoi Dipankar , Das T D
Published: March 2024

Organic solar cells (OSCs) exhibit potential in low-emissive photovoltaic (PV) technology by enhancing excitonic absorption, higher trap-assist recombination, lower excitons diffusion length (Ln,p), and carrier lifetime (τ
n,p). The main challenge remains the asymmetric carrier mobility (μ
n,p) of the organic absorbing layer (OAL) and various physical factors affecting efficiency (η). This effort has been explored through the attributes of different fullerene derivatives based on binary blends of OAL thickness that suggest new physical insights into the roles of several contributions in the PV performances under intense light illumination. The relationship between optimum mobility ratio (β) and lower trap-state density (Nt) of OAL in OSC structures for inclusive η has been collectively investigated. With a very thin OAL and pioneering transparent hole transport layers (HTLs) can significantly reduce recombination loss and enhance transparency, focusing on near-infrared band absorption and thin hetero-interface design for η and stability. The improved thin OALs, tunable absorption bands, and carrier selectivity address efficiency–transparency trade-offs and reproducibility concerns. The outcome revealed a stable η of 6.27% with a 250 nm thinnest OAL at a temperature of 300 K, which may be interpreted as a coupled framework for effective optimization strategies to accomplish balance between photogeneration and charge carrier recombination. Thus, the observed hypothetically analyzed results have verified the further optimization of OAL thickness for fabrication perspectives with a typical interpretation of ohmic contact.
A comparative study on the acceleration techniques for solving finite difference discretization poisson’s equation in the PIC/MCC Method
Authors: Li Yifei , Wang Weizong , Su Xian , Zhang Guangchuan , Tang Haibin
Published: March 2024

A wide variety of plasma phenomena have been investigated during the past decades using the particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collisions (PIC/MCC) method. As an important component of the PIC/MCC method, solving Poisson’s equation is crucial for the accuracy and efficiency of calculations. Different acceleration techniques for solving finite difference discretization Poisson’s equation are investigated and compared, including direct method, iterative method, multigrid (MG) method, parallel computing and inherited initial value. The charge density distribution with a known analytical solution is used to validate the algorithm and code. The optimal relaxation factor for the successive over-relaxation (SOR) method in 2D Poisson’s equation with unequal grid node numbers in different dimensions is derived, which is only related to the dimension with the largest grid number. Although there will be a ‘more optimal’ relaxation factor deviated from in some simulation cases, selecting the optimal relaxation factor derived always leads to a not slow solving speed. However, when SOR is used in MG for smoothing, the optimal relaxation factor will shift to 0.5–1.2 from the theoretical optimal value derived with the increase of MG levels. By comparing the convergence order under different relaxation factors and MG levels, the suitable MG level is proposed as log2[min(N

x
, N

y
)]−2. Combining the optimal SOR relaxation factor, MG, parallel computing and inherited initial values, the computational cost may decrease by 5 orders of magnitude than that by the simple Gaussian elimination (GE). Based on the optimal acceleration techniques mentioned above, a benchmark simulation case electron cyclotron drift instability (ECDI) in magnetized plasmas was run to further validate the developed PIC/MCC code. The distributions of electric field in the x-direction, electron density and electron temperature are all consistent with the literatures. This paper provides a reference for the acceleration strategy selection for solving Poisson’s equation quickly in plasma simulations.
Surface doping manipulation of the insulating ground states in Ta2Pd3Te5 and Ta2Ni3Te5
Authors: Jiang 江 Bei 北 , Yao 姚 Jingyu 静宇 , Yan 闫 Dayu 大禹 , Guo 郭 Zhaopeng 照芃 , Qu 屈 Gexing 歌星 , Deng 邓 Xiutong 修同 , Huang 黄 Yaobo 耀波 , Ding 丁 Hong 洪 , Shi 石 Youguo 友国 , Wang 王 Zhijun 志俊 , Qian 钱 Tian 天
Published: March 2024

Manipulating emergent quantum phenomena is a key issue for understanding the underlying physics and contributing to possible applications. Here we study the evolution of insulating ground states of Ta2Pd3Te5 and Ta2Ni3Te5 under in-situ surface potassium deposition via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our results confirm the excitonic insulator character of Ta2Pd3Te5. Upon surface doping, the size of its global gap decreases obviously. After a deposition time of more than 7 min, the potassium atoms induce a metal–insulator phase transition and make the system recover to a normal state. In contrast, our results show that the isostructural compound Ta2Ni3Te5 is a conventional insulator. The size of its global gap decreases upon surface doping, but persists positive throughout the doping process. Our results not only confirm the excitonic origin of the band gap in Ta2Pd3Te5, but also offer an effective method for designing functional quantum devices in the future.
Transfer learning and neural networks in predicting quadrupole deformation*
Authors: Lin 原 Yuan 林 , Li 李 Jia-Xing 佳星 , Zhang 张 Hong-Fei 鸿飞
Published: March 2024

Accurately determining the quadrupole deformation parameters of atomic nuclei is crucial for understanding their structural and dynamic properties. This study introduces an innovative approach that combines transfer learning techniques with neural networks to predict the quadrupole deformation parameters of even-even nuclei. With the application of this innovative technique, the quadrupole deformation parameters of 2331 even-even nuclei are successfully predicted within the nuclear region defined by proton numbers

and neutron numbers

. Additionally, we discuss the impact of nuclear quadrupole deformation parameters on the capture cross-sections in heavy-ion fusion reactions, reconstructing the capture cross-sections for the reactions

and

. This research offers new insights into the application of neural networks in nuclear physics and highlights the potential of merging advanced machine learning techniques with both theoretical and experimental data, particularly in fields where experimental data are limited.
High-frequency fluctuation and EHO-like mode in the H-mode pedestal on the EAST tokamak
Authors: Geng K.N. , Zhang T. , Li G.S. , Ye W.H. , Ye K.X. , Zhong F.B. , Chao Y. , Yang S.Q. , Yu Lin , Zhou Z.Q. , Tang T.F. , Zhang X.X. , Yang Y.J. , Ti A. , Liu J.B. , Yan N. , Li G.Q. , Gao X. ,   the EAST Team
Published: March 2024

In the pedestal region of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) during high confinement mode plasma operations with radio-frequency heating, two distinct fluctuations are observed: high-frequency fluctuations (HFFs) and edge harmonic oscillation-like (EHO-like) modes. The HFFs are characterized by intermittent fluctuations with a broadband frequency range of

1

−

3

 MHz

and a poloidal wave number (

k
θ

) greater than

0.9

 c

m

−
1

. On the other hand, the EHO-like mode exhibits characteristics similar to magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)-like modes with n = 1−5 and lower poloidal wave numbers (

k

θ

⩽
0.12

 c

m

−
1

). During the pedestal establishing phase following the L–H transition, a significant concurrent presence of HFF and EHO-like modes in high-density pedestal regions has been noted. In this phase, the EHO-like mode not only modulates the amplitude of the HFF but also engages in nonlinear interactions. The occurrence of EHO-like mode and HFF is associated with particle transport toward the divertor, though it is notably less than that caused by edge coherent modes. During the inter-edge localized mode (ELM) period, a significant decrease in the

D
α

baseline is observed whenever the low frequency fluctuation (LFF) weakens and the HFF grows, prior to each large ELM. One possible explanation is that the rapid increase of

E
×
B

shear stabilizes the LFF and destabilizes the HFF, which lowers the pedestal transport and enables the further growth of the pedestal until the onset of the ELM.
Vicarious calibration of GEDI biomass with Landsat age data for understanding secondary forest carbon dynamics
Authors: Jha Nidhi , Healey Sean P , Yang Zhiqiang , Ståhl Göran , Betts Matthew G
Published: March 2024

The recovery of biomass in secondary forests plays a vital role in global carbon sequestration processes and carbon emission mitigation. However, accurately quantifying the accumulation rate of aboveground biomass density in these forests is challenging owing to limited longitudinal field data. An alternative monitoring strategy is characterizing the mean biomass at a single point in time across stands with a range of known ages. This chronosequence approach can also be used with remotely sensed data by combining biomass measured with platforms such as NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission with forest age strata provided by historic Landsat imagery. However, focusing on the low-biomass conditions common in newly regenerating forests will accentuate commonly observed over-prediction of low biomass values. We propose a vicarious calibration approach that develops a correction for GEDI’s biomass models in young forests, which may be mapped using Landsat time series, using an assumption that the aboveground biomass of newly cleared forests is zero. We tested this approach, which requires no additional local field data, in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, where extensive inventory data from the USDA Forest Service are available. Our results show that the calibration did not significantly improve the fit of predicted biomass as a function of age across 12 ecoregions (one-side t-test; p = 0.20), but it did significantly reduce bias for the youngest age groups with respect to reference data. Calibrated GEDI-based biomass estimates for < 20 year old forests were more accurate than 2006 IPCC defaults in most ecoregions (with respect to authoritative inventory estimates) and may represent a basis for refining carbon storage expectations for secondary forests globally.
The role of chemo-mechanical modelling in the development of battery technology—a perspective
Authors: Boyce Adam M , Martínez-Pañeda Emilio , Shearing Paul R
Published: March 2024

In the race to reduce global CO2 emissions and achieve net-zero, chemomechanics must play a critical role in the technological development of current and next-generation batteries to improve their energy storage capabilities and their lifetime. Many degradation processes arise through mechanics via the development of diffusion-induced stress and volumetric strains within the various constituent materials in a battery. From particle cracking in lithium-ion batteries to lithium dendrite-based fracture of solid electrolytes in solid-state batteries, it is clear that significant barriers exist in the development of these energy storage systems, where chemomechanics plays a central part. To accelerate technological and scientific advances in this area, multi-scale and highly coupled multiphysics modelling must be carried out that includes mechanics-based phenomena. In this perspective article, we provide an introduction to chemomechanical modelling, the various physical problems that it addresses, and the issues that need to be resolved in order to expand its use within the field of battery technology.
Graph convolutional multi-mesh autoencoder for steady transonic aircraft aerodynamics
Authors: Massegur David , Da Ronch Andrea
Published: March 2024

Calculating aerodynamic loads around an aircraft using computational fluid dynamics is a user’s and computer-intensive task. An attractive alternative is to leverage neural networks (NNs) bypassing the need of solving the governing fluid equations at all flight conditions of interest. NNs have the ability to infer highly nonlinear predictions if a reference dataset is available. This work presents a geometric deep learning based multi-mesh autoencoder framework for steady-state transonic aerodynamics. The framework builds on graph NNs which are designed for irregular and unstructured spatial discretisations, embedded in a multi-resolution algorithm for dimensionality reduction. The test case is for the NASA common research model wing/body aircraft configuration. Thorough studies are presented discussing the model predictions in terms of vector fields, pressure and shear-stress coefficients, and scalar fields, total force and moment coefficients, for a range of nonlinear conditions involving shock waves and flow separation. We note that the cost of the model prediction is minimal having used an existing database.
Conversing
Authors: Sullivan Ceri
Published: March 2024

Given the doctrine of faith alone, discussion with God soon shrivels solely into petitions, granted or denied. This would normally be an embarrassing situation: both speaker and addressee can lose face if no agreement is reached. This chapter points out the comedy of manners produced when Herbert’s exquisite conversational tact when nudging God for a response meets God’s blunt rebuttal. Herbert speaks in the sociable way recommended by the period’s courtesy manuals; God speaks in the rebarbative way modelled by godly Protestant dialogues of the period. The former approach has been noted by Herbert scholars; the latter has not, although it provides much of the comedy of the poems. This chapter draws on the detailed linguistic strategies revealed by the manuals and the dialogues, to show how Herbert’s God puts Herbert’s speaker into place, not vice versa, in poems such as ‘Dialogue’, ‘Artillerie’, and ‘The Holdfast’.
Working to a Conclusion
Authors: Sullivan Ceri
Published: March 2024

If work is seen as an affective rather than instrumental activity, there is less danger of falling into the heresy of supererogation. Sidling around the dour advice of Calvinism about the source of good works, practical divinity and secular occupational manuals provide techniques for nudging oneself into working enthusiastically. Their enjoyment of such emotional labour makes it clearer why, although Herbert dismisses the ‘worky-daies’ as ‘the back-part’ where ‘the burden of the week’ lies, ‘Making the whole to stoup and bow’ (‘Sunday’), he is at his happiest when busiest. In poems such as ‘Submission’, ‘Affliction’ 1, ‘Employment’ 1, and ‘The Thanksgiving’, Herbert sounds irritated as much as anxious when kept idle, as he repeatedly tries to nudge God to choose to work through him.
The metaphysical self
Authors: Schechtman Marya
Published: March 2024

This chapter considers metaphysical questions about the nature of the self and about what is required for its identity over time. These issues are explored through reflection on the question of whether a self can change bodies or exist disembodied. The chapter looks at discussions of this possibility found in the history of philosophy, contemporary metaphysics, religion, mysticism, and popular culture. It explores in detail two important views of the self that have followed from these discussions: one that it is an immaterial substance, or soul, and the other that it is not a substance at all, but a locus of conscious self-experience. Arguments for and against each view are described and evaluated. There is also discussion of different versions of the argument that there are no selves and that our sense of self is a mere illusion.
Waxing and waning selves
Authors: Schechtman Marya
Published: March 2024

Many philosophical discussions of the self focus on typical mature human selves, conceived as cognitively complex beings with self-consciousness, reflective capacities, and moral agency. Human infants do not yet have these capacities, many humans lose at least some of them late in life, and some never develop them at all. Most sentient nonhuman animals also lack these capacities. This chapter considers the selfhood of sentient beings without the capacities of mature human selves, including human infants, dementia patients, humans with cognitive disabilities, and nonhuman animals. It offers an overview of major theories of human psychological development, highlighting the standard developmental milestones for the transition of human infants into mature selves, noting that narrative accounts of human development, though different from narrative approaches to the true self, represent an important point of overlap between questions of basic self-development and development of the true self discussed in Chapter 2. The question of the selfhood of sentient beings without the cognitive sophistication of mature human selves is considered. This involves discussion of a potential distinction between the concepts of person and self. The idea of a minimal self, a bare subject of experience which is the same in all sentient beings, is introduced and discussed in detail, and questions are raised about its identity conditions. The issues discussed here raise important ethical questions, which are noted and considered throughout the chapter.
Dostoevsky’s dramatic life and writing
Authors: Martinsen Deborah
Published: March 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the life story and written works of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Unlike his wealthy contemporaries, Dostoevsky lived exclusively by his pen as novelist and journalist. The events, forces, and ideologies he addressed in his journalistic writing served as fodder for his fiction. Years in prison and exile deepened Dostoevsky’s understanding of the division between educated and uneducated Russians, nobility and peasantry, which is evident from his semi-autobiographical work Notes from the Dead House. Dead House, based on the writer’s experiences in hard-labour prison, describes brief moments of rapprochement amid the violence and chaos of the convict community. Dostoevsky’s journalism includes statements of his views on Russian nationalism and pan-Slavic unity. His writing was always relevant and never uncontroversial in his time, and remains so today.
Space, social justice, and scandal
Authors: Martinsen Deborah
Published: March 2024

This chapter focuses on Dostoevsky’s perspective on space, social justice, and scandal. It analyses Petersburg, as the setting of Crime and Punishment, expanding outward to demonstrate that scandal can occur anywhere. Moreover, Crime and Punishment showcases how poverty makes families and individuals vulnerable in myriad ways. The chapter cites how Dostoevsky uses shame dynamics to implicate readers in the ethical action of his texts, demonstrating that scandal scenes exposed socio-economic inequities. It also explains Dostoevsky’s treatment of the provinces as microcosms of Russia, which have many of the same problems as the capital city, themselves infused by the same dominant dynamics of shame.
Eternal questions
Authors: Martinsen Deborah
Published: March 2024

This chapter discusses how Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov wrestled with the eternal questions by tackling the issue of Christ. Dostoevsky understands the philosophical implications of human actions, but he dramatizes them with characters and images rather than theorizing about them. The Brothers Karamazov features the themes of forgiveness and children’s suffering while also showcasing the paradox at the heart of Christianity. Dostoevsky tackles the eternal questions of good and evil and the existence of God and lays out his Christological poetics in concrete ways. Dostoevsky sees the salvation of the world through the universal love and forgiveness that Christ preached.
Morules and β-catenin predict POLE mutation status in endometrial cancer: A pathway to more cost-effective diagnostic procedures
Authors: Fan Rujia , Lin Wanrun , Zhao Ruijiao , Li Li , Xin Rui , Zhang Yunfeng , Liu Yuxin , Ma Ying , Wang Yiying , Wang Yue , Zheng Wenxin
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The characterization of DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) mutations has transformed the classification of endometrial endometrioid carcinomas (EECs), highlighting the need for efficient identification methods. This study aims to examine the relationship between distinct morphologic features—namely, squamous morules and squamous differentiation (SD), as well as β-catenin expression—and the POLE mutation status in endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods

Our study included 35 POLE-mutated (POLEmut) EC cases and 395 non-POLEmut EEC cases.

Results

Notably, we observed no presence of morules in POLEmut cases, while SD was identified in 20% of instances. Conversely, morules and SD were identified in 12.7% and 26.1% of non-POLEmut EC cases, respectively, with morules consistently linked to a POLE wild-type status. The nuclear β-catenin expression is typically absent in tumors with wild-type POLE (wt-POLE) status.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the presence of either morules or nuclear β-catenin expression in EEC could practically rule out the presence of POLE mutations. These morphologic and immunohistochemical features can be used as preliminary screening tools for POLE mutations, offering significant savings in time and resources and potentially enhancing clinical decision-making and patient management strategies. However, further validation in larger, multi-institutional studies is required to fully understand the implications of these findings on clinical practice.
Quality indicators in surgical oncology: systematic review of measures used to compare quality across hospitals
Authors: McLeod Megan , Leung Kari , Pramesh C S , Kingham Peter , Mutebi Miriam , Torode Julie , Ilbawi Andre , Chakowa Jade , Sullivan Richard , Aggarwal Ajay
Published: March 2024

Background

Measurement and reporting of quality indicators at the hospital level has been shown to improve outcomes and support patient choice. Although there are many studies validating individual quality indicators, there has been no systematic approach to understanding what quality indicators exist for surgical oncology and no standardization for their use. The aim of this study was to review quality indicators used to assess variation in quality in surgical oncology care across hospitals or regions. It also sought to describe the aims of these studies and what, if any, feedback was offered to the analysed groups.

Methods

A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 1 January 2000 and 23 October 2023 that applied surgical quality indicators to detect variation in cancer care at the hospital or regional level.

Results

A total of 89 studies assessed 91 unique quality indicators that fell into the following Donabedian domains: process indicators (58; 64%); outcome indicators (26; 29%); structure indicators (6; 7%); and structure and outcome indicators (1; 1%). Purposes of evaluating variation included: identifying outliers (43; 48%); comparing centres with a benchmark (14; 16%); and supplying evidence of practice variation (29; 33%). Only 23 studies (26%) reported providing the results of their analyses back to those supplying data.

Conclusion

Comparisons of quality in surgical oncology within and among hospitals and regions have been undertaken in high-income countries. Quality indicators tended to be process measures and reporting focused on identifying outlying hospitals. Few studies offered feedback to data suppliers.
High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes ipsilesional functional hyperemia and motor recovery in mice with ischemic stroke
Authors: Liu Li , Ding Ming , Wu Junfa , Zhang Yuwen , Wang Qianfeng , Wang Nianhong , Luo Lu , Yu Kewei , Fan Yunhui , Zhang Jingjun , Wu Yi , Xiao Xiao , Zhang Qun
Published: March 2024

Neurovascular decoupling plays a significant role in dysfunction following an ischemic stroke. This study aimed to explore the effect of low- and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on neurovascular remodeling after ischemic stroke. To achieve this goal, we compared functional hyperemia, cerebral blood flow regulatory factors, and neurochemical transmitters in the peri-infract cortex 21 days after a photothrombotic stroke. Our findings revealed that low- and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation increased the real-time cerebral blood flow in healthy mice and improved neurobehavioral outcomes after stroke. Furthermore, high-frequency (5-Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation revealed stronger functional hyperemia recovery and increased the levels of post-synaptic density 95, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, phosphorylated-endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the peri-infract cortex compared with low-frequency (1-Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. The magnetic resonance spectroscopy data showed that low- and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation reduced neuronal injury and maintained excitation/inhibition balance. However, 5-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation showed more significant regulation of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters after stroke than 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. These results indicated that high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation could more effectively promote neurovascular remodeling after stroke, and specific repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation frequencies might be used to selectively regulate the neurovascular unit.
Point-of-Care Testing for Hepatitis C in the Priority Settings of Mental Health, Prisons, and Drug and Alcohol Facilities—the PROMPt Study
Authors: McCartney Erin M , Ralton Lucy , Dawe Joshua , Richmond Jacqui , Zobel Joshua , Wigg Alan , Cock Victoria , Tse Edmund Y , Rees Tom , Shaw David , Ferguson Catherine
Published: March 2024

Background

A barrier to hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure is conventional testing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HCV antibody and RNA point-of-care testing (POCT) on testing rates, linkage to care, treatment, and acceptability of testing in 3 priority settings in Australia.

Methods

Participants were enrolled in an interventional cohort study at a reception prison, inpatient mental health service, and inpatient alcohol and other drug unit, between October 2020 and December 2021. HCV POCT was performed using SD Bioline HCV antibody fingerstick test and a reflexive Xpert HCV Viral Load Fingerstick test using capillary blood samples. A retrospective audit of HCV testing and treatment data was performed at each site for the preceding 12-month period to generate a historical control.

Results

A total of 1549 participants received a HCV antibody test with 17% (264 of 1549) receiving a positive result, of whom 21% (55 of 264) tested HCV RNA positive. Across all settings the rate of testing per year significantly increased between the historical controls and the study intervention period by 2.57 fold (rate ratio, 2.57 [95% confidence interval, 2.32–2.85]) for HCV antibody testing and 1.62 (rate ratio, 1.62 [95% confidence interval, 1.31–2.01]) for RNA testing. Treatment uptake was higher during the POCT intervention (86% [47 of 55]; P = .01) compared to the historical controls (61% [27 of 44]).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated across 3 settings that the use of HCV antibody and RNA POCT increased testing rates, treatment uptake, and linkage to care. The testing model was highly acceptable for most participants.

Clinical Trials Registration

ACTRN-12621001578897
Leveraging large language models to foster equity in healthcare
Authors: Rodriguez Jorge A , Alsentzer Emily , Bates David W
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Large language models (LLMs) are poised to change care delivery, but their impact on health equity is unclear. While marginalized populations have been historically excluded from early technology developments, LLMs present an opportunity to change our approach to developing, evaluating, and implementing new technologies. In this perspective, we describe the role of LLMs in supporting health equity.

Materials and Methods

We apply the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) research framework to explore the use of LLMs for health equity.

Results

We present opportunities for how LLMs can improve health equity across individual, family and organizational, community, and population health. We describe emerging concerns including biased data, limited technology diffusion, and privacy. Finally, we highlight recommendations focused on prompt engineering, retrieval augmentation, digital inclusion, transparency, and bias mitigation.

Conclusion

The potential of LLMs to support health equity depends on making health equity a focus from the start.
Diving into CDC pregnancy data in the United States: longitudinal study and interactive application
Authors: Clark-Sevilla Andrea O , Lin Yun C , Saxena Arnav , Yan Qi , Wapner Ronald , Raja Anita , Pe’er Itsik , Salleb-Aouissi Ansaf
Published: March 2024

Objective

Preterm birth (PTB) is a major determinant of neonatal mortality, morbidity, and childhood disability. In this article, we present a longitudinal analysis of the risk factors associated with PTB and how they have varied over the years: starting from 1968 when the CDC first started, reporting the natality data, up until 2021. Along with this article, we are also releasing an RShiny web application that will allow for easy consumption of this voluminous dataset by the research community. Further, we hope this tool can aid clinicians in the understanding and prevention of PTB.

Materials and Methods

This study used the CDC Natality data from 1968 to 2021 to analyze trends in PTB outcomes across the lens of various features, including race, maternal age, education, and interval length between pregnancies. Our interactive RShiny web application, CDC NatView, allows users to explore interactions between maternal risk factors and maternal morbidity conditions and the aforementioned features.

Results

Our study demonstrates how CDC data can be leveraged to conduct a longitudinal analysis of natality trends in the United States. Our key findings reveal an upward trend in late PTBs, which is concerning. Moreover, a significant disparity exists between African American and White populations in terms of PTB. These disparities persist in other areas, such as education, body-mass index, and access to prenatal care later in pregnancy.

Discussion

Another notable finding is the increase in maternal age over time. Additionally, we confirm that short interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) are a risk factor for PTBs. To facilitate the exploration of pregnancy risk factors, infections, and maternal morbidity, we developed an open-source RShiny tool called CDC NatView. This software offers a user-friendly interface to interact with and visualize the CDC natality data, which constitutes an invaluable resource.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study has shed light on the rise of late PTBs and the persistent disparities in PTB rates between African American and White populations in the US. The increase in maternal age and the confirmation of a short IPI as a risk factor for PTB are noteworthy findings. Our open-source tool, CDC NatView, can be a valuable resource for further exploration of the CDC natality data to enhance our understanding of pregnancy risk factors and the interaction of PTB outcomes and maternal morbidities.
Titanium induces proinflammatory and tissue-destructive responses in primary human macrophages
Authors: Gudima Alexandru , Hesselbarth David , Li Guanhao , Riabov Vladimir , Michel Julia , Liu Quan , Schmuttermaier Christina , Jiao Zhen , Sticht Carsten , Jawhar Ahmed , Obertacke Udo , Klüter Harald , Vrana Nihal Engin , Kzhyshkowska Julia
Published: March 2024

Implants and medical devices are efficient and practical therapeutic solutions for a multitude of pathologies. Titanium and titanium alloys are used in orthopedics, dentistry, and cardiology. Despite very good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, titanium implants can fail due to inflammatory or tissue degradation–related complications. Macrophages are major immune cells that control acceptance of failure of the implant. In this study, for the first time, we have performed a systematic analysis of the response of differentially activated human macrophages, M(Control), M(IFNγ), and M(IL-4), to the polished and porous titanium surfaces in order to identify the detrimental effect of titanium leading to the tissue destruction and chronic inflammation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the highest number of differences between titanium and control settings are found in M(IL-4) that model healing type of macrophages. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that both polished and porous titanium affected expression of cytokines, chitinases/chitinase-like proteins, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Titanium-induced release and activation of MMP7 by macrophages was enhanced by fibroblasts in both juxtacrine and paracrine cell interaction models. Production of titanium-induced MMPs and cytokines associated with chronic inflammation was independent of the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. MMP7, one of the most pronounced tissue-destroying factors, and chitinase-like protein YKL-40 were expressed in CD68+ macrophages in peri-implant tissues of patients with orthopedic implants. In summary, we demonstrated that titanium induces proinflammatory and tissue-destructing responses mainly in healing macrophages, and the detrimental effects of titanium surfaces on implant-adjacent macrophages are independent on the bacterial contamination.