bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The MUC1–HIF-1α signaling axis regulates pancreatic cancer pathogenesis through polyamine metabolism remodeling
Authors: Murthy Divya , Attri Kuldeep S. , Suresh Voddu , Rajacharya Girish H. , Valenzuela Carlos A. , Thakur Ravi , Zhao Junzhang , Shukla Surendra K. , Chaika Nina V. , LaBreck Drew , Rao Chinthalapally V. , Hollingsworth Michael A. , Mehla Kamiya , Singh Pankaj K.
Published: March 2024

Dysregulation of polyamine metabolism has been implicated in cancer initiation and progression; however, the mechanism of polyamine dysregulation in cancer is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the role of MUC1, a mucin protein overexpressed in pancreatic cancer, in regulating polyamine metabolism. Utilizing pancreatic cancer patient data, we noted a positive correlation between MUC1 expression and the expression of key polyamine metabolism pathway genes. Functional studies revealed that knockdown of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (
SAT1
), a key enzyme involved in polyamine catabolism, attenuated the oncogenic functions of MUC1, including cell survival and proliferation. We further identified a regulatory axis whereby MUC1 stabilized hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), leading to increased SAT1 expression, which in turn induced carbon flux into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. MUC1-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhanced the promoter occupancy of the latter on
SAT1
promoter and corresponding transcriptional activation of
SAT1
, which could be abrogated by pharmacological inhibition of HIF-1α or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of
HIF1A
.
MUC1
knockdown caused a significant reduction in the levels of SAT1-generated metabolites, N1-acetylspermidine and N8-acetylspermidine. Given the known role of MUC1 in therapy resistance, we also investigated whether inhibiting SAT1 would enhance the efficacy of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. By utilizing organoid and orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse models, we observed that targeting SAT1 with pentamidine improved the efficacy of FOLFIRINOX, suggesting that the combination may represent a promising therapeutic strategy against pancreatic cancer. This study provides insights into the interplay between MUC1 and polyamine metabolism, offering potential avenues for the development of treatments against pancreatic cancer.
Direct solar energy conversion on zinc–air battery
Authors: Fu Xinlong , He Feng , Liu Xin , Ge Binghui , Zhang Deyi , Chang Qian , Gao Jingchi , Li Xiaodong , Huang Changshui , Li Yuliang
Published: March 2024

A concept of solar energy convertible zinc–air battery (SZAB) is demonstrated through rational design of an electrode coupled with multifunction. The multifunctional electrode is fabricated using nitrogen-substituted graphdiyne (N-GDY) with large π-conjugated carbonous network, which can work as photoresponsive bifunctional electrocatalyst, enabling a sunlight-promoted process through efficient injection of photoelectrons into the conduction band of N-GDY. SZAB enables direct conversion and storage of solar energy during the charging process. Such a battery exhibits a lowered charge voltage under illumination, corresponding to a high energy efficiency of 90.4% and electric energy saving of 30.3%. The battery can display a power conversion efficiency as high as 1.02%. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the photopromoted oxygen evolution reaction kinetics originates from the transition from the alkyne bonds to double bonds caused by the transfer of excited electrons, which changes the position of highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, thus greatly promoting the formation of intermediates to the conversion process. Our findings provide conceptual and experimental confirmation that batteries are charged directly from solar energy without the external solar cells, providing a way to manufacture future energy devices.
A wireless, implantable bioelectronic system for monitoring urinary bladder function following surgical recovery
Authors: Kim Jihye , Bury Matthew I. , Kwon Kyeongha , Yoo Jae-Young , Halstead Nadia V. , Shin Hee-Sup , Li Shupeng , Won Sang Min , Seo Min-Ho , Wu Yunyun , Park Do Yun , Kini Mitali , Kwak Jean Won , Madhvapathy Surabhi R. , Ciatti Joanna L. , Lee Jae Hee , Kim Suyeon , Ryu Hanjun , Yamagishi Kento , Yoon Hong-Joon , Kwak Sung Soo , Kim Bosung , Huang Yonggang , Halliday Lisa C. , Cheng Earl Y. , Ameer Guillermo A. , Sharma Arun K. , Rogers John A.
Published: March 2024

Partial cystectomy procedures for urinary bladder–related dysfunction involve long recovery periods, during which urodynamic studies (UDS) intermittently assess lower urinary tract function. However, UDS are not patient-friendly, they exhibit user-to-user variability, and they amount to snapshots in time, limiting the ability to collect continuous, longitudinal data. These procedures also pose the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, which can progress to ascending pyelonephritis due to prolonged lower tract manipulation in high-risk patients. Here, we introduce a fully bladder-implantable platform that allows for continuous, real-time measurements of changes in mechanical strain associated with bladder filling and emptying via wireless telemetry, including a wireless bioresorbable strain gauge validated in a benchtop partial cystectomy model. We demonstrate that this system can reproducibly measure real-time changes in a rodent model up to 30 d postimplantation with minimal foreign body response. Studies in a nonhuman primate partial cystectomy model demonstrate concordance of pressure measurements up to 8 wk compared with traditional UDS. These results suggest that our system can be used as a suitable alternative to UDS for long-term postoperative bladder recovery monitoring.
Del rollo como sustantivo comodín contracultural al rollo aproximador en el español
coloquial actual
Authors: Llopis Cardona Ana , Jansegers Marlies
Published: March 2024

Abstracta

El presente estudio se centra en los cambios que ha experimentado rollo para comportarse como
sustantivo comodín y como marcador pragmático en la conversación coloquial de los últimos cincuenta años. Para explicar este
proceso, se ha recopilado un corpus de textos caracterizados por su coloquialidad y se ha procesado el análisis de los datos
mediante la metodología del Perfil Comportamental. Una vez detectadas las relaciones dinámicas cambiantes entre los significados,
se ha procedido a la explicación cualitativa de la ruta diacrónica de los significados abstractos teniendo en cuenta los factores
socioculturales que los motivaron. Los resultados revelan que rollo experimentó cambios semánticos relevantes en
el seno del movimiento sociocultural de la Contracultura de los años setenta. Su configuración como elemento vago en el sociolecto
juvenil posibilitó que a finales de los noventa se pragmaticalizara como aproximador, que resulta ser el uso más frecuente en el
lenguaje juvenil actual.
Gravitational waves with dark matter minispikes: Fourier-domain waveforms of eccentric intermediate-mass-ratio-inspirals
Authors: Yue Xiao-Jun , Cao Zhoujian
Published: March 2024

An intermediate mass black hole (IMBH) may have a dark matter (DM) minihalo around it and develop a spiky structure called DM minispike. Gravitational waves (GWs) can be produced if a stellar compact object, such as a black hole or neutron star, inspirals into the IMBH. This kind of systems are known as intermediate-mass-ratio-inspirals (IMRIs) and may be observed by space-based GW detectors including LISA, Taiji and Tianqin. In this paper, we lay the foundations for the construction of analytic expressions for Fourier-domain GWs produced by eccentric IMRIs with DM minispikes in a post-circular or small-eccentricity approximation (e < 0.4). We take the effect of dynamical friction from the DM as a perturbation, and decompose the dynamical equations into perturbed part and unperturbed part. The equations are solved in a series expansion form about zero initial eccentricity to eighth order. The time-dependent, ‘plus’ and ‘cross’ polarizations are expanded in Bessel functions, which are then self-consistently reexpanded in a power series about zero initial eccentricity. The stationary-phase approximation is then employed to obtain the explicit DM-modified analytic expressions for the Fourier transform of the post-circular expanded, time-domain signal. We exemplify this framework by considering a typical IMRI with a DM minispike and find the GW detectability strongly depends on the radial profile of the DM distribution. When the density of DM is large enough, the signal to noise ratio will be degraded significantly and a detection loss may occur if we use a template without the effect of DM to treat a signal including the DM effect. With the Fourier-domain gravitational waveforms we also estimate the accuracy of the measurement of the DM minispike parameters in our reference model. Our framework hold the promise to construct a ‘ready-to-use’ Fourier-domain waveforms for data analysis of eccentric IMRIs with DM minispikes.
Auger photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy of molecules adsorbed on a gold wire surface
Authors: Palaudoux J , Lablanquie P , Benbalagh R , Ismail I , Naitabdi A , Huart L , Cubaynes D , Nicolas C , Céolin D , Renault J -P , Hervé Du Penhoat M -A , Dupuy R , Penent F
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we present the results on Auger/photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS) of molecules—propanethiol and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-deposited on a gold wire surface, using a magnetic bottle electron time-of-flight spectrometer. Although this study is preliminary and conducted under low vacuum (∼10−7 mbar) conditions in comparison to surface science standards, it demonstrates the APECS methods high efficiency in probing complex molecules. We also establish its versatility and potential for easy extension to other various systems.
On the possibility of mixed axion/neutralino dark matter in specific SUSY DFSZ axion models
Authors: Yang Zhong-Jun , Feng Tai-Fu , Wu Xing-Gang
Published: March 2024

We introduce four supersymmetric (SUSY) axion models in which the strong CP problem and the μ problem are solved with the help of the Peccei–Quinn mechanism and the Kim-Nilles mechanism, respectively. The axion physics enriches the SUSY model by introducing axion as a dark matter candidate and, therefore, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) could just be a part of the total dark matter. For this reason, axion relieves the tensions between SUSY models and numerous experimental measurements, such as the dark matter direct detection experiments and the precise measurements of anomalous magnetic moment of the muon a

μ
. In the present paper, we investigate the constraints imposed by the latest a

μ
measurements and LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment on the relic density of the Higgsino-like LSP. Additionally, we consider the constraints arising from the cosmology of saxions and axinos, and their impacts on the parameter space of our models are carefully examined. For the axion constituting the remaining portion of dark matter, we find that the conventional misalignment mechanism can successfully account for the correct dark matter relic density observed by the Planck satellite.
Discovery of magnesium-aluminum alloys by generative model and automatic differentiation approach
Authors: Cheng Shuwei , Li Zhelin , Zhang Hongfei , Yan Xiaohong , Chu Shibing
Published: March 2024

Magnesium-aluminum alloy is one of the most common alloy materials in the industry, widely utilized due to its low density and excellent mechanical properties. However, investigating its properties or predicting new structures through experiment inevitably involves complex processes, which cost much time and money. Currently, simulations, such as density functional theory (DFT) and machine learning (ML) methods, are mainly employed for predicting new alloy materials. While precise, DFT incurs significant computational costs, which posing challenges for research. On the other hand, although ML methods are versatile and efficient, they demand high-quality datasets and may exhibit some degree of inaccuracy. To address these challenges, we employ a combination of generative model and automatic differentiation, reducing the search space and accelerating the screening of target materials. Finally, we use generative model to predict a multitude of magnesium-aluminum alloys. We perform structure optimization and property evaluation for ten potentially valuable intermetallic compounds. Ultimately, we identified Mg3Al3, Mg2Al6, Mg4Al12, Mg15Al, and Mg14Al2 as five stable structures, among which Mg4Al12, Mg15Al and Mg14Al2 may have higher potential application value.
Singularity formation for the cylindrically symmetric rotating relativistic Euler equations of Chaplygin gases
Authors: Hu Yanbo , Guo Houbin
Published: March 2024

This paper studies the formation of singularities in smooth solutions of the relativistic Euler equations of Chaplygin gases with cylindrically symmetric rotating structures. This is a nonhomogeneous hyperbolic system with highly nonlinear structures and fully linearly degenerating characteristic fields. We introduce a pair of auxiliary functions and use the characteristic decomposition technique to overcome the influence of the rotating structures in the system. It is verified that smooth solutions develop into a singularity in finite time and the mass-energy density tends to infinity at the blowup point for a type of rotating initial data.
Shadowing for nonuniformly hyperbolic maps in Hilbert spaces
Authors: Ren Xiankun , Zhou Yunhua
Published: March 2024

We prove a shadowing lemma for nonuniformly hyperbolic maps in Hilbert spaces. As applications, we firstly prove that the positive Lyapunov exponents of a hyperbolic ergodic measure µ can be approximated by positive Lyapunov exponents of atomic measures on hyperbolic periodic orbits; secondly, give an upper estimation of metric entropy by using the exponential growth rate of the number of such periodic points that their atomic measures approximate µ and their positive Lyapunov exponents approximate the positive Lyapunov exponents of µ.
A label free nano biosensor for the detection of E.coli using cysteine capped gold nanoparticle
Authors: R Maguteeswaran , A Evarshini , Samuel Vimala Rani , Pondurai Sampath
Published: March 2024

This study presents a novel one-pot synthesis method to generate positively charged gold nanoparticles (+) Au NPs, utilizing the thiol-containing amino acid cysteine as a capping agent. The resulting Cys-Au NPs displayed a self-assembled monolayer of uniformly sized gold nanoparticles with the diameter of size 36 nM and demonstrated a distinct color change and absorbance shift from 530 to 512 nm when exposed to E. coli, enabling the development of a colorimetric biosensor for rapid and reliable detection of the bacteria. Cys-Au NPs were characterized using spectroscopy, SEM (Scanning electron microscopy); X-ray diffractometer analysis and the photophysical properties of the particles towards E. coli were investigated through absorption spectroscopy and colorimetric tests. The electrostatic binding between Cys-Au NPs and the negatively charged E. coli cell wall facilitated the sensor’s specificity. The biosensor exhibited a detection limit of 2.2 × 102 CFU/mL, with a linear detection range between 2.2 × 10¹ and 2.2 × 104 CFU/mL. The sensor’s applicability extends to the detection of E. coli in potable water, presenting significant potential in food safety and clinical diagnostics. This innovative detection method provides a quick and efficient means of identifying E. coli in water samples, offering broad applications in various fields, including rapid bacterial detection, food safety, and clinical diagnostics.
Complexity-free charged anisotropic Finch-Skea model satisfying Karmarkar condition
Authors: Khan S , Yousaf Z
Published: March 2024

By making use of the extended geometric deformation (EGD) approach, this work explores the charged anisotropic Finch-Skea solution satisfying the Karmarkar condition. The implementation of EGD-approach splits the original gravitational source into perfect and anisotropic fluid configurations. We employ Herrera’s complexity factor Herrera L (2018Phys. Rev.D97044010) formalism to develop theoretical models characterizing the role of complexity in the Finch-Skea solution. The use of the Karmarkar condition enables us to derive a solution for the isotropic, charged spherical configuration by defining a Finch-Skea metric that evaluates the deformation functions. The Finch-Skea ansatz serves as a valuable seed model for solving the seed-gravitational source, however, the zero-complexity constraint is employed to solve the remaining set of anisotropic equations. We match the interior metric manifold attributed to the spherically symmetric ansatz with the classical Reissner-Nordström metric. We examined the influence of gravitational decoupling on the anisotropic Finch-Skea solution. We also analyzed the physical viability of the presented results using graphical representations for the thermodynamic variables.
Spectroscopic and electronic investigations on tin(II) 2,3-naphthalocyanine/p-Si heterojunction for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Hassanien A M , Darwish A A A , Kamal A M
Published: March 2024

The spectroscopic and electronic properties of small-molecular organic semiconductors in thin films are a significant aspect that controls the performance of their optical/optoelectronic devices. A heterojunction of thermal vacuum deposited film of tin(II)2,3-naphthalocyanine (SnNc) dye onto a p-type Si wafer (SnNc/p-Si) was fabricated. The morphology of SnNc thin film onto Si wafer was explored using the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). The specular reflectance and the fluorescent properties of SnNc thin film onto Si wafer were investigated. The PL emission spectra of SnNc/p-Si emission bands are related to the B and Q absorption bands for SnNc. The spectral behavior of the refractive index and the specific polarizability for both SnNc/Glass and SnNc/p-Si were extracted. Under varying temperatures (298–378 K), the electronic properties of the SnNc/p-Si heterojunction were analyzed in dark conditions. The diode parameters of SnNc/p-Si heterojunctions, which exhibited temperature-dependent behavior, were extracted from the current–voltage (I-V) procedure. According to the Cheung-Cheung and Norde procedure, the essential electrical diode parameters of the SnNc/p-Si device, such as the ideality factor, the series resistance, and barrier height, were estimated. The photoconductivity parameters, such as the photocurrent, the sensitivity, and the responsivity of the SnNc/p-Si devices, were estimated. These findings can be helpful and utilized in optoelectronic and organic electronic applications.
A simple naked eye detection of Pb2+ on a gold nanocluster decorated disposable paper spot arrays
Authors: Kumara B N , Naveen M H , Sonia J , Rafi Mohammed , Bang Jin Ho , Prasad K Sudhakara
Published: March 2024

Among all the heavy metal ions, Lead (Pb2+) has become a serious threat to human health and the environment. It is vital to develop an accurate system to monitor the Pb2+ level. Fluorescent and colorimetric sensors are one such system to detect Pb2+ with high accuracy. Herein, we used thiolated gold nanoclusters (GNC) decorated paper spot arrays for the detection of Pb2+ through a simple colorimetric method. The prepared GNC and the developed complex were well-studied using various characterizations. The addition of Pb2+ to GNC results in a slight shift in the absorption spectra from 485 nm to 534 nm. Further, GNC showed a broad emission peak centered around 650 nm, and the addition of Pb2+ resulted in an enhancement in the peak intensity, due to cation-induced-aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE). The HR-TEM analysis confirms the spherical shape of the prepared GNCs with an average size of 2.60 nm. Whereas, the addition of Pb2+ onto GNC leads to the formation of an aggregated structure of size 6.17 nm due to the formation of a chelation complex. The GNC showed a particle size of 2 nm with a zeta potential of −16.45 mV, whereas the Pb2+@GNC complex exhibited an increment in an average size to 96 nm having a zeta potential of −19.67 mV, substantially demonstrating the capturing of Pb2+ by GNC. Overall, spectroscopic and surface morphology studies indicated aggregated induced emission (AIE) phenomena between GNC and Pb2+. The selective detection of Pb2+ by GNC was observed by the appearance of salmon pink to mauves colour and was captured using a smartphone. The developed paper spot array can detect up to 10 ppm of Pb2+. Further, the developed probe showed a distinguishable color change for Pb2+ along with other cations of interest such as Hg2+, Mg2+, K+, Mn2+, and Fe2+. Therefore, the present paper spot array could detect Pb2+ even in the presence of other metal ions due to its evident distinguishability. The fabricated GNC-embedded paper spot array obeys the new REASSURED criteria proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and could be used for on-spot detection of Pb2+.
Electrostatic anharmonicity in cylindrical Penning traps induced by radial holes to the trap center
Authors: Chimwal Deepak , Kumar Sugam , Joshi Yash , Lal Aditya Aryan , Nair Lekha , Quint Wolfgang , Vogel Manuel
Published: March 2024

We present a systematic and quantitative investigation of the electrostatic anharmonicity in cylindrical Penning traps that is induced by the presence of radial holes for access to the trap center. The expected distortion of the electrostatic potential is studied as a function of the relative hole size, shape, arrangement, and number.
μ2mech: A software package combining microstructure modeling and mechanical property prediction
Authors: Linda Albert , Negi Ankit Singh , Panwar Vishal , Chafle Rupesh , Bhowmick Somnath , Das Kaushik , Mukherjee Rajdip
Published: March 2024

We have developed a graphical user interface (GUI) based package μ2mech to perform phase-field simulation for predicting microstructure evolution. The package can take inputs from ab initio calculations and CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagrams) tools for quantitative microstructure prediction. The package also provides a seamless connection to transfer output from the mesoscale phase field method to the microscale finite element analysis for mechanical property prediction. Such a multiscale simulation package can facilitate microstructure-property correlation, one of the cornerstones in accelerated materials development within the integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) framework.
Azimuthal modulation of light propagation through 1DPCs via efficient nonlinear frequency mixing
Authors: Batoo Khalid Mujasam , Al-Dolaimy F , Al-Shukarji Ali Hisham , Abdulridui Ussam Abdali , Hussain Sajjad , Abbas Jamal K , Shaghnab Murtadha Laftah , Ramadan Montather F , Alawadi Ahmed , Alsalamy Ali
Published: March 2024

The present study aims to investigate the transmitted and reflected light beams from a one-dimensional defect photonic crystal (1DPC) composed of a three-level ladder-type quantum system. The lower leg of the ladder scheme is driven by a weaker probe beam, while the upper leg is driven by a stronger control beam. Unlike natural atoms, this type of model with broken symmetry permits the generation of a sum-frequency signal beam between the majority of higher and lower quantum states, resulting in the formation of a cyclic closed-loop arrangement for the interaction between light and matter. The Laguerre Gaussian (LG) field with strong coupling and a weak probe light interact with the quantum system. A new weak signal light is produced as a result of the system’s symmetric breakdown, and the medium becomes azimuthal dependent. We investigate the spatial dependence of the transmitted and reflected light from a defect 1DPC by using azimuthal modulation of the LG light. Additionally, we will discuss how the absorption spectrum’s spatial modulation varies with winding numbers. We discover that in certain regions, the gain can be realized without population inversion under certain specified parametric parameters.
Rapid detection and recognition of phosphors using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and principal component analysis method—back propagation neural network algorithm
Authors: Shen Lingbin , Tian Liping , Yao Hongbing , Tian Dongpeng , Ge Yifan , Sun Zhongmou , Liu Yuzhu
Published: March 2024

Rapid detection and quality monitoring of phosphor materials have always been a difficult problem in phosphor materials market. In this work, an independently proposed method based on principal component analysis method—error back propagation neural network algorithm—laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (PCA-BPNN-LIBS) was used for the detection and recognition of phosphors. Firstly, spectroscopic study was carried out on phosphor material samples, and the composition of phosphor elements was analyzed according to the full emission spectrum. Spectral data with different element characteristics detected by LIBS were used as training data sets for further identification. Then PCA method and BPNN algorithm were applied to identify 4 types phosphor samples (P11, P20, P43, P46). A very clear distinction graph was obtained, and the classification accuracy of 99.93% was verified. Allresults show that the proposed PCA-BPNN-LIBS method is an effective method for rapid analysis and recognition of phosphors.
An identity-verifiable quantum threshold group signature scheme based on three-particle GHZ states
Authors: Zhiming Deng  , Lu Dianjun , Chen Teng , Yao Weixin
Published: March 2024

With the advancement of the new generation of information technology in recent years, quantum digital signatures have been widely concerned. Among them, quantum threshold group signatures have become a hot research field due to their advantages such as low cost and strong scalability. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an identity-verifiable quantum threshold group signature scheme based on three-particle GHZ states. The characteristics of the scheme are as follows. The signers can reconstruct the key K for signature’s generation and verification by using the Shamir threshold secret sharing scheme. A quantum signature is generated by performing controlled-not operations, von Neumann measurements, and quantum Fourier transform. When the signature is verified, only classical hash values need to be compared, without comparing quantum states. Identity verification is performed between participants by using hash functions. The efficiency of the scheme is improved by using super-dense coding. Security analysis shows that our scheme is unforgeable and undeniable.
Avoidance of axonal stimulation with sinusoidal epiretinal stimulation
Authors: Corna Andrea , Cojocaru Andreea-Elena , Bui Mai Thu , Werginz Paul , Zeck Günther
Published: March 2024

Objective. Neuromodulation, particularly electrical stimulation, necessitates high spatial resolution to achieve artificial vision with high acuity. In epiretinal implants, this is hindered by the undesired activation of distal axons. Here, we investigate focal and axonal activation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in epiretinal configuration for different sinusoidal stimulation frequencies. Approach. RGC responses to epiretinal sinusoidal stimulation at frequencies between 40 and 100 Hz were tested in ex-vivo photoreceptor degenerated (rd10) isolated retinae. Experiments were conducted using a high-density CMOS-based microelectrode array, which allows to localize RGC cell bodies and axons at high spatial resolution. Main results. We report current and charge density thresholds for focal and distal axon activation at stimulation frequencies of 40, 60, 80, and 100 Hz for an electrode size with an effective area of 0.01 mm2. Activation of distal axons is avoided up to a stimulation amplitude of 0.23 µA (corresponding to 17.3 µC cm−2) at 40 Hz and up to a stimulation amplitude of 0.28 µA (14.8 µC cm−2) at 60 Hz. The threshold ratio between focal and axonal activation increases from 1.1 for 100 Hz up to 1.6 for 60 Hz, while at 40 Hz stimulation frequency, almost no axonal responses were detected in the tested intensity range. With the use of synaptic blockers, we demonstrate the underlying direct activation mechanism of the ganglion cells. Finally, using high-resolution electrical imaging and label-free electrophysiological axon tracking, we demonstrate the extent of activation in axon bundles. Significance. Our results can be exploited to define a spatially selective stimulation strategy avoiding axonal activation in future retinal implants, thereby solving one of the major limitations of artificial vision. The results may be extended to other fields of neuroprosthetics to achieve selective focal electrical stimulation.
Field tests for performance evaluation of a new spent-fuel verification system in heavy water reactor
Authors: Kwak Sung-Woo , Kim Hojik , Kim Jisu , Kim Yewon , Lim Kyung Taek
Published: March 2024

The optical fiber-based measurement system has been utilized for inspecting CANDU-type
spent fuel at the Wolsung site in South Korea under the nuclear safeguards of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In our previous studies, we developed a new spent-fuel verification
system to address issues of the existing instrument. While our prior work primarily focused on
equipment development, we had not yet conducted comprehensive field tests to assess its
performance. Recently, we conducted field tests at the Wolsung Unit 4 to thoroughly evaluate the
newly developed spent-fuel verification system's performance. This paper discusses the results of
these field tests, with a focus on signal sensitivity, the system's capability to distinguish
neighboring spent-fuel bundles, and the optical fiber background signals. Additionally, we
conducted experiments to assess how different scintillation materials impact the system's
performance, including p-terphenyl organic scintillator, PVT plastic scintillator, and lithium
glass scintillator. The experimental results demonstrated that the new instrument equipped with
the p-terphenyl organic scintillator outperformed the existing system. The p-terphenyl
scintillator emerged as the superior choice among the three radiation scintillators. Signals that
were previously undetectable using the Li glass scintillator were observed in the signals obtained
with the p-terphenyl and PVT plastic scintillators. The remarkable performance of the new
verification instrument is attributed mainly to the p-terphenyl's high light output and low decay
time. The newly developed verification system is expected to streamline IAEA safeguards inspection
efforts, reducing both time and the burden on nuclear operators. This report represents the first
successful application of the p-terphenyl scintillator as a radiation detector in a wet spent fuel
pool. The experimental findings presented in this paper are anticipated to be valuable for
researchers working on radiation detectors suitable for high radiation environments in water.
The DarkSide-20k experiment
Authors: Zani A. ,   the DarkSide-20k collaboration
Published: March 2024

The DarkSide-20k experiment represents the present goal of the Global Argon Dark Matter
Collaboration program. Bringing together the experience from previous argon-based detectors, as
well as the knowledge gained on large volume membrane cryostats developed within the DUNE program,
the community is now building a dual-phase LAr-TPC equipped with SiPM arrays for light
readout. The main goal of the experiment is to discover or to extend the current sensitivity
limits on the search for dark matter WIMP-like particles. Currently, the experiment has entered
the construction phase and the external cryostat is being put in place at Laboratori Nazionali del
Gran Sasso (LNGS), Italy. Detector construction will follow, and data taking is expected to start
in late 2026. This contribution will introduce the DarkSide detector and goals, and it will
report on the ongoing construction of the underground infrastructure at LNGS. Finally, it will
concentrate on the current activities on large arrays of silicon light detectors, that are at the
base of the construction of the detector light readout system.
The PETALO project
Authors: Iguiñiz Nerea Salor ,   the PETALO collaboration
Published: March 2024

PETALO (Positron Emission TOF Apparatus with Liquid xenOn) is a project that uses liquid xenon as a scintillation medium, silicon photomultipliers as a readout and fast electronics to provide a significant improvement in PET-TOF technology. Liquid xenon allows one to build a continuous detector with a high stopping power for 511 keV gammas. In addition, SiPMs enable a fast and accurate measurement of the time and energy with a small dark count rate at the low temperatures required by liquid xenon. PETit, the first PETALO prototype built at IFIC (Valencia), consists of an aluminum box with one volume of liquid xenon and two planes of VUV SiPMs, which register the scintillation light emitted in xenon by the gammas coming from a 22Na radioactive source placed in the middle. The liquid xenon volume is divided in small, highly reflective cells to enhance light collection.
The first results of energy resolution are presented.
Measurement of UKRI-MPW0 after irradiation: an HV-CMOS prototype for high radiation tolerance
Authors: Zhang C. , Hammerich J. , Powell S. , Vilella E. , Wade B.
Published: March 2024

UKRI-MPW0 was developed to further improve the radiation tolerance of HV-CMOS pixel sensors. It implements a novel sensor cross-section that uses backside-only biasing to allow high substrate bias voltages > 600 V. In this contribution, the measured results of irradiated UKRI-MPW0 samples are presented, including their current-to-voltage (I-V) characteristics, depletion depth and pixel performance. The chip is proved to have survived high radiation fluence of 3 × 1015 neq/cm2.
Local feature expansion Vision Transformer model for bearing fault diagnosis under noise environments
Authors: Zhang Xinliang , Xie Hongbin , Zhou Yitian , Jia Lijie
Published: March 2024

Vision Transformer (ViT) shows potential in bearing fault
diagnosis due to its multi-head self-attention mechanism and
parallel feature extraction network which are efficient to achieve
the robust complete feature representation of the fault. However,
its adaption to the noise interference relies on the sufficient huge
amount of training samples to prepare the local features of the
fault and may suffer performance degradation when only a limited
number of samples are available for the model training. To combat
this challenge, an improved ViT diagnosis model based on the local
feature expansion, i.e., LFE-ViT, is proposed. An auxiliary feature
extraction block is introduced using a local feature expansion
network and works as a parallel module with the ViT encoder. Through
the enlargement of the receptive field, the multi-scale local
features on a high dimensional space are available upon the limited
samples. Then, through a feature embedding channel, the extracted
local features are transmitted to the ViT encoder. Finally, by
virtue of the multi-head self-attention mechanism to capture the
time sequence global information, a fault diagnosis model comprising
comprehensively local and global feature information is
derived. Experimental validation on the bearing fault dataset from
Case Western Reserve University shows that LFE-ViT has provided a
rather satisfactory diagnosis performance under limited samples and
noise environment.
Improving convergence of generalised Rosenbluth sampling for branched polymer models by uniform sampling
Authors: Roberts T , Prellberg T
Published: March 2024

Sampling with the generalised atmospheric Rosenbluth method (GARM) is a technique for estimating the distributions of lattice polymer models that has had some success in the study of linear polymers and lattice polygons. In this paper we will explain how and why such sampling appears not to be effective for many models of branched polymers. Analysing the algorithm on a simple binary tree, we argue that the fundamental issue is an inherent bias towards extreme configurations that is costly to correct with reweighting techniques. We provide a solution to this by applying uniform sampling methods to the atmospheres that are central to GARM. We caution that the ensuing computational complexity often outweighs the improvements gained.
Ensemble variational Monte Carlo for optimization of correlated excited state wave functions
Authors: Wheeler William A , Kleiner Kevin G , Wagner Lucas K
Published: March 2024

Variational Monte Carlo methods have recently been applied to the calculation of excited states; however, it is still an open question what objective function is most effective. A promising approach is to optimize excited states using a penalty to minimize overlap with lower eigenstates, which has the drawback that states must be computed one at a time. We derive a general framework for constructing objective functions with minima at the the lowest N eigenstates of a many-body Hamiltonian. The objective function uses a weighted average of the energies and an overlap penalty, which must satisfy several conditions. We show this objective function has a minimum at the exact eigenstates for a finite penalty, and provide a few strategies to minimize the objective function. The method is demonstrated using ab initio variational Monte Carlo to calculate the degenerate first excited state of a CO molecule.
Parametric optimization of the machining performance of Al-SiCp composite using combination of response surface methodology and desirability function
Authors: Kumar Harmesh , Wadhwa Amandeep Singh , Akhai Shalom , Kaushik Arishu
Published: March 2024

In this study, machining parameters such as speed, feed, and depth of cut were optimized for maximum material removal rate (MMR) of Al-SiCp composite turned with a tungsten carbide tool using response surface methodology based central composite design while keeping tool wear and surface roughness within specified limits. The influence of turning factors on flank wear and surface roughness height was investigated using regression models. ANOVA analysis is used to assess the appropriateness of the projected models and the significant factors for response optimization using the desirability method. The percentage contribution of the significant machining parameters and their interactions for optimization of the response is determined using ANOVA technique. Cutting speed is found to be the most significant factor for flank wear, average roughness height Ra and maximum roughness height Rt with contribution of 65.38%, 58.7% and 37.9% respectively for optimization of the response. Confirmation tests were carried out and the percentage error between observed and predicted value of the responses is found to be within acceptable limits, demonstrating that the created models correlates well with the experimental data. Under optimal conditions, utilizing a tungsten carbide tool can prove to be a cost-effective alternative for turning Al-SiCp composite.
Introduction
Authors: Ringe Don
Published: March 2024

This short chapter briefly describes the book and its purpose. It explains the author’s point of view, emphasizing that the book’s main purpose is to present what is already known about the prehistory of Greek. Important points are that the reader is expected to have at least some acquaintance with Ancient Greek and some with modern linguistics (though not with any particular linguistic theory).
The limits of concentrated power: Bureaucratic independence and electricity crises in Rwanda
Authors: Chemouni Benjamin , Dye Barnaby
Published: March 2024

Rwanda is a posterchild of economic success in twenty-first century Africa. Dominant explanations for the country’s growth use the political settlements framework, asserting that concentrated political power enabled long-term planning. In contrast, this article uses the case of Rwanda’s impressive boom in electricity generation to demonstrate that such concentrated power also distorts policy-making processes, creating a fiscal crisis that jeopardizes Rwanda’s economic transformation. Therefore, this article questions a central premise of the political settlements framework. Concentrated political power in Rwanda enabled rapid and ambitious construction of power plants but resulted in an oversupply crisis, plunging the sector into significant debt and raising the cost of electricity. Rwanda’s political settlement prevented experts from challenging unrealistic targets set by top politicians, which led to a headlong pursuit of electricity generation capacity. To understand this process, we assert the importance of focusing on the bureaucratic/politician relationship, which we label ‘bureaucratic independence’, rather than on the oft-used concept of ‘bureaucratic autonomy’ usually associated with the concentration of political power.
Contributing factors for career goal advancement of pharmacy learners in the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community
Authors: Sasser Caroline W , Moss Adam , Goli Swaycha , Grego Amanda R , Knock McKenna , Morbitzer Kathryn , Mortha Sophia M , Eckel Stephen F
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To explore factors influencing career goals and goal attainment for pharmacy learners (eg, students, residents, fellows) who identify as part of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community.

Methods

In late 2021 and early 2022, US-based pharmacy learners were invited to participate in two focus groups. In the first focus group, participants were asked to reflect on career goal influences, barriers, and facilitators. In the second focus group, participants were asked to provide suggestions for educational institution and healthcare organization improvement to support career goal attainment for learners in the BIPOC community. Focus group transcripts were coded using both deductive and inductive coding and thematic analysis.

Results

Fifteen learners were included in the first focus group, and 10 learners were included in the second. The most common career goal motivators were self-efficacy factors. Barriers and facilitators were often closely related. The most common barriers were financial, lack of representation, and lack of support. Common facilitators included mentorship and informal networking opportunities. Participants suggested multiple strategies for educational institutions and healthcare organizations to support BIPOC learner success, including genuine investment, representation, financial support, improved access to professional development opportunities, partnering with other professional organizations, and prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Conclusion

Institutions should prioritize effective, positive mentoring relationships and exposure to BIPOC professionals. Training programs and associations should consider improving financial support and lowering the cost of involvement to reduce barriers. All stakeholders should prioritize DEI in their organizational culture to promote career advancement of BIPOC learners and professionals.
Enzymatic extraction of anthocyanins from the pomace of aronia (Aronia melanocarpa)
Authors: Kim Jinman , Lee Yejin , Suh Hee-Jae , Lee Hee-Seok , Lee Chan
Published: March 2024

Efficient extraction of natural pigments is a key focus in enhancing the utilization of by-products for applications in the food industry. In this study, an enzymatic extraction method using Pectinex Ultra SP-L, Pectinex XXL, Novoshape, and Celluclast was used to investigate natural pigment production from the pomace of aronia, a commercially important plant. The method's performance was monitored using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection by measuring total and individual anthocyanin levels. Pectinex XXL (0.5%) yielded the highest total anthocyanin extraction (2082.41 ± 85.69 mg/100 g) in the single enzyme treatment, followed by Pectinex Ultra SP-L (0.05%), Celluclast (0.01%), and Novoshape (0.1%). Combining Pectinex XXL (0.25%) with Celluclast (0.01%) increased the extraction ratio of total anthocyanins (2 323.04 ± 61.32 mg/100 g) by ∼50.7% compared with that obtained using the solvent extraction method. This study demonstrated an effective enzymatic extraction method for application in the food industry.
Meta-DHGNN: method for CRS-related cytokines analysis in CAR-T therapy based on meta-learning directed heterogeneous graph neural network
Authors: Wei Zhenyu , Zhao Chengkui , Zhang Min , Xu Jiayu , Xu Nan , Wu Shiwei , Xin Xiaohui , Yu Lei , Feng Weixing
Published: March 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) immunotherapy, a novel approach for treating blood cancer, is associated with the production of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which poses significant safety concerns for patients. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding CRS-related cytokines and the intricate relationship between cytokines and cells. Therefore, it is imperative to explore a reliable and efficient computational method to identify cytokines associated with CRS. In this study, we propose Meta-DHGNN, a directed and heterogeneous graph neural network analysis method based on meta-learning. The proposed method integrates both directed and heterogeneous algorithms, while the meta-learning module effectively addresses the issue of limited data availability. This approach enables comprehensive analysis of the cytokine network and accurate prediction of CRS-related cytokines. Firstly, to tackle the challenge posed by small datasets, a pre-training phase is conducted using the meta-learning module. Consequently, the directed algorithm constructs an adjacency matrix that accurately captures potential relationships in a more realistic manner. Ultimately, the heterogeneous algorithm employs meta-photographs and multi-head attention mechanisms to enhance the realism and accuracy of predicting cytokine information associated with positive labels. Our experimental verification on the dataset demonstrates that Meta-DHGNN achieves favorable outcomes. Furthermore, based on the predicted results, we have explored the multifaceted formation mechanism of CRS in CAR-T therapy from various perspectives and identified several cytokines, such as IFNG (IFN-γ), IFNA1, IFNB1, IFNA13, IFNA2, IFNAR1, IFNAR2, IFNGR1 and IFNGR2 that have been relatively overlooked in previous studies but potentially play pivotal roles. The significance of Meta-DHGNN lies in its ability to analyze directed and heterogeneous networks in biology effectively while also facilitating CRS risk prediction in CAR-T therapy.
Generalized reporter score-based enrichment analysis for omics data
Authors: Peng Chen , Chen Qiong , Tan Shangjin , Shen Xiaotao , Jiang Chao
Published: March 2024

Enrichment analysis contextualizes biological features in pathways to facilitate a systematic understanding of high-dimensional data and is widely used in biomedical research. The emerging reporter score-based analysis (RSA) method shows more promising sensitivity, as it relies on P-values instead of raw values of features. However, RSA cannot be directly applied to multi-group and longitudinal experimental designs and is often misused due to the lack of a proper tool. Here, we propose the Generalized Reporter Score-based Analysis (GRSA) method for multi-group and longitudinal omics data. A comparison with other popular enrichment analysis methods demonstrated that GRSA had increased sensitivity across multiple benchmark datasets. We applied GRSA to microbiome, transcriptome and metabolome data and discovered new biological insights in omics studies. Finally, we demonstrated the application of GRSA beyond functional enrichment using a taxonomy database. We implemented GRSA in an R package, ReporterScore, integrating with a powerful visualization module and updatable pathway databases, which is available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/ReporterScore). We believe that the ReporterScore package will be a valuable asset for broad biomedical research fields.