bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cavity induced modulation of intramolecular vibrational energy flow pathways
Authors: Mondal Subhadip , Keshavamurthy Srihari
Published: November 2024

Recent experiments in polariton chemistry indicate that reaction rates can be significantly enhanced or suppressed inside an optical cavity. One possible explanation for the rate modulation involves the cavity mode altering the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) pathways by coupling to specific molecular vibrations in the vibrational strong coupling (VSC) regime. However, the mechanism for such a cavity-mediated modulation of IVR is yet to be understood. In a recent study, Ahn et al. [Science 380, 1165 (2023)] observed that the rate of alcoholysis of phenyl isocyanate (PHI) is considerably suppressed when the cavity mode is tuned to be resonant with the isocyanate (NCO) stretching mode of PHI. Here, we analyze the quantum and classical IVR dynamics of a model effective Hamiltonian for PHI involving the high-frequency NCO-stretch mode and two of the key low-frequency phenyl ring modes. We compute various indicators of the extent of IVR in the cavity–molecule system and show that tuning the cavity frequency to the NCO-stretching mode strongly perturbs the cavity-free IVR pathways. Subsequent IVR dynamics involving the cavity and the molecular anharmonic resonances lead to efficient scrambling of an initial NCO-stretching overtone state over the molecular quantum number space. We also show that the hybrid light–matter states of the effective Hamiltonian undergo a localization–delocalization transition in the VSC regime.
Soft plant root structure-media flow interactions: Exploring the adverse effect of lead contamination in North-Eastern Indian rice
Authors: Panja Suraj , Mehta Sumit Kumar , Kalita Jinmay , Prasad Manish Kumar , Mondal Pranab Kumar
Published: November 2024

We experimentally investigate the effect of lead (Pb2+) contamination on the roots of an Assamese rice line variety Lachit using a heavy metal analyzing fluidic tool. To demonstrate the adverse effects of lead contamination on rice seedlings in a controlled environment, we have performed a number of multidisciplinary experiments. Also, we develop a numerical model in this endeavor to predict the Michaelis–Menten kinetics parameters, which are used to depict the lead transport phenomenon following soft root structure-media flow interactions. We show that increased inlet lead concentration of the media solution leads to a reduction in root growth exponentially in the developed fluidic device. As supported by the Raman spectra analysis, the drastic metabolic changes are visible under lead contamination. Our results revel that, in comparison to the control condition, lead accumulation results in a decrease in the uptake of nitrogen and also, the metallic nutritional components (K+, Na+, and Ca2+). Under lead contamination, the average osmotic pressure difference at the root surface is seen to be less than in the control situation. The inferences drawn from the current research shed light on the detrimental effects of lead contamination on rice roots, which have the potential to significantly lower agricultural yields and threaten food security in areas where rice is the primary food source.
Mechanical properties of hcp Fe at high pressures and temperatures from large-scale molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Deluigi Orlando R. , Bringa Eduardo M.
Published: November 2024

We study the elastic behavior of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Fe at the high temperature and pressure conditions of the Earth Core, using an embedded-atom method interatomic potential adjusted to those conditions. We calculate diffusivity, elastic constants, density, bulk modulus, shear modulus, and sound velocities vs temperature. We obtain reasonable agreement with ab initio simulations and with other empirical potential simulations. Our densities and shear modulus are slightly higher than those in the preliminary reference earth model for the core. Phase stability is discussed in terms of the Born criteria and free energies, finding that hcp is mechanically stable and that the free energy difference between hcp and body-centered cubic (bcc) is very small compared to the thermal energy. We compare our simulated shear modulus G to several analytical models, obtaining excellent agreement with the Atom in Jelium model by Swift and co-workers. Assuming that the yield strength Y is equal to the shear modulus G, Y=G/30, we find reasonable agreement with a recent parametrization of the Steinberg–Guinan model. These results can lead to future large-scale, multi-million simulations of Fe under core conditions for samples with microstructure like grain boundaries and twins, which might be present under those conditions.
Study on lubrication characteristics of multi-layer structure hinge under the influence of clearance dynamic
Authors: Zhai Fugang , Huang Weijie , Xing Yangtao , Wang Yanzhe
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a methodology for investigating the lubrication characteristics of multi-layer structural mechanical hinges based on clearance dynamics. By multi-layer hinged structures, we mean the four mediums: the journal, lubricating oil film, bearing sleeve, and connecting rod. Initially, a dynamic model that incorporates clearance is established using the automatic dynamic analysis of mechanical systems, revealing that the primary contact area is located between 50° and 70°. Subsequently, a lubrication model for the multi-layer structural mechanical hinge is constructed using ANSYS FLUENT software, which demonstrates the effects of critical parameters—such as contact angle, sleeve installation angle, inlet pressure, and shaft neck speed—on lubricant flow, pressure, and void fraction. The findings indicate that the motion offset angle significantly influences the pressure distribution within the oil film area, with high-pressure and low-pressure zones oriented counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively, relative to the offset angle axis. Furthermore, as the distance between the offset angle and the oil inlet increases, the volume fraction of cavitation decreases from 1.77% to 1.16%. When the sleeve installation angle aligns with the motion offset, the volume fraction of cavitation reaches 1.9%. Conversely, when the assembly angle aligns the oil inlet hole with the injection hole, the volume fraction of cavitation is minimized to 0.36%, resulting in an approximate performance improvement of 81.11%. This study provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing the lubrication design of multi-layer structural mechanical hinges and offers substantial guidance for the lubrication of mechanical hinges.
Radiometric forces exerted on a perforated membrane
Authors: Sharipov Felix , Schafer Benjamin C.
Published: November 2024

The radiometric force exerted on a thin perforated membrane and the heat flux from the membrane to a surrounding gas are calculated by the direct simulation Monte Carlo method over wide ranges of the gas rarefaction and membrane porosity. Ab initio potentials are used to model the intermolecular collisions. We find that perforations increase the force several times in the viscous regime of flow but decrease the force in the free-molecular and transitional regimes. The influence of the accommodation coefficients is studied by applying the Cercignani–Lampis model. The effects of gas species, degree of non-equilibrium, and environment temperature are found to have relatively small effects on dimensionless quantities such that the reported results can be applied to wide ranges of these factors and, hence, to numerous practical situations such as the levitation of centimeter-scale membranes at upper atmospheric altitudes.
Evolution of cooperation in heterogeneous populations with asymmetric payoff distribution
Authors: He Zhixue , Wang Xiaoyue , Zhao Qiwen , Shi Lei
Published: November 2024

The emergence and maintenance of cooperation is a complex and intriguing issue, especially in the context of widespread asymmetries in interactions that arise from individual differences in real-world scenarios. This study investigates how asymmetric payoff distribution affects cooperation in public goods games by considering a population composed of two types of individuals: strong and weak. The asymmetry is reflected in the fact that strong players receive a larger share of the public pool compared to weak players. Our results demonstrate that asymmetric payoff distribution can promote cooperation in well-mixed populations and trigger the co-evolution of cooperation between sub-populations of strong and weak players. In structured populations, however, the effect of asymmetric payoff distribution on cooperation is contingent on the proportion of strong players and the extent of their payoff share, which can either foster or inhibit cooperation. By adjusting the interaction probability between strong and weak players based on their spatial arrangement on lattice networks, we find that moderate interaction probabilities most effectively maintain cooperation. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of cooperation under asymmetric conditions, highlighting the complex role of asymmetrical interactions in the evolution of cooperation.
On the large-scale vortices in an L/D = 2.30 serpentine diffuser with internal bump
Authors: Huang He-xia , Lin Zheng-kang , Tan Hui-jun , Bai Mao-long , Jia Ming-pu , Zhu Yu , Liu Lei
Published: November 2024

In this paper, the generation and spatial evolution of large-scale vortices in an ultra-compact serpentine diffuser (L/D = 2.30) featuring an integrated internal bump are experimentally and numerically investigated. Due to reduction of the local flow area caused by the internal bump, a favorable streamwise pressure gradient is induced first and then followed by an adverse one. Concurrently, a high-pressure region exists on the side of the diffuser as it contracts, yielding a sideward circumferential pressure gradient and then an inward one. Such circumferential pressure gradients divert the boundary layer on the windward side of the internal bump to the side and induce a spanwise U-shaped vortex on the leeward side, which constrains the development of flow separation in this region. The circumferential pressure gradients further induce two pairs of streamwise vortices located at the top and bottom of the diffuser, respectively. These vortex pairs entrain the low-energy fluids and transport them to the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP), resulting in two pairs of low-total-pressure regions and swirling flows. Moreover, in the experimentally studied range of the exit Mach number MAIP from 0.293 to 0.546, the distributions of low-total-pressure regions and swirl angles at the AIP exhibit a small variation, indicating that the internal flow field structures are insensitive to MAIP.
Effect of wall contact angle on the conjugate heat transfer for flow boiling processes in rectangular microchannels
Authors: Wang Jian , Li Zhiqiang , Yu Hao , Liu Linhua , Xiang Gao-Ming , Yang Jia-Yue
Published: November 2024

Microchannel boiling heat transfer offers a promising solution to address extreme high heat flux in miniaturized and high-density integrated electronic devices. In this work, we performed numerical studies to elucidate the complex flow boiling process in a square microchannel using the open-source platform OpenFOAM. The governing equations of the two-phase flow was solved based on the finite volume framework, and the surface tension together with phase change models were incorporated to study the wettability and conjugate heat transfer in the microchannel. First, the stability of the liquid film shows that smaller contact angles lead to thicker and stable liquid films near the solid wall, while larger contact angles result in thinner and fragile films. Second, the heat transfer, represented by the dimensionless parameter Nu, shows that smaller contact angles result in higher and more uniform distribution of Nu. The velocity gradient causes the Nu to be higher for the sidewalls than for the bottom wall. The contact angle also affects the peak value of Nu. Small contact angles result in large solid wall temperature gradients and more efficient heat transfer. Finally, the simulation results show that smaller thermal conductivity of the solid results in larger temperature gradient in the flow direction, implying that the conjugate heat transfer is less efficient. Overall, the present numerical findings provide useful guidance for efficient thermal management in electronic devices.
Noise schemas aid hearing in noise
Authors: Hicks Jarrod M. , McDermott Josh H.
Published: November 2024

Human hearing is robust to noise, but the basis of this robustness is poorly understood. Several lines of evidence are consistent with the idea that the auditory system adapts to sound components that are stable over time, potentially achieving noise robustness by suppressing noise-like signals. Yet background noise often provides behaviorally relevant information about the environment and thus seems unlikely to be completely discarded by the auditory system. Motivated by this observation, we explored whether noise robustness might instead be mediated by internal models of noise structure that could facilitate the separation of background noise from other sounds. We found that detection, recognition, and localization in real-world background noise were better for foreground sounds positioned later in a noise excerpt, with performance improving over the initial second of exposure to a noise. These results are consistent with both adaptation-based and model-based accounts (adaptation increases over time and online noise estimation should benefit from acquiring more samples). However, performance was also robust to interruptions in the background noise and was enhanced for intermittently recurring backgrounds, neither of which would be expected from known forms of adaptation. Additionally, the performance benefit observed for foreground sounds occurring later within a noise excerpt was reduced for recurring noises, suggesting that a noise representation is built up during exposure to a new background noise and then maintained in memory. These findings suggest that noise robustness is supported by internal models—“noise schemas”—that are rapidly estimated, stored over time, and used to estimate other concurrent sounds.
Direct parallel electrosynthesis of high-value chemicals from atmospheric components on symmetry-breaking indium sites
Authors: Sun Yuntong , Dai Liming , Sui Nicole L. D. , Li Yinghao , Tian Meng , Duan Jingjing , Chen Sheng , Lee Jong-Min
Published: November 2024

To tackle significant environmental and energy challenges from increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, we propose a method that synergistically combines cost-efficient integrated systems with parallel catalysis to produce high-value chemicals from CO
2
, NO, and other gases. We employed asymmetrically stretched InO
5
S with symmetry-breaking indium sites as a highly efficient trifunctional catalysts for NO reduction, CO
2
reduction, and O
2
reduction. Mechanistic studies reveal that the symmetry-breaking at indium sites substantially improves d-band center interactions and adsorption of intermediates, thereby enhancing trifunctional catalytic activity. Employed in a flow electrolysis system, the catalyst achieves continuous and flexible production of NH
3
, HCOO
-
, and H
2
O
2
, maintaining over 90% Faradaic efficiency at industrial scales. Notably, the parallel electrolysis device reported in this study effectively produces high-value products like NH
4
COOH directly from greenhouse gases in pure water, offering an economically efficient solution for small molecule synthesis and unique insights for the sustainable conversion of inexhaustible gases into valuable products. Therefore, this work possesses considerable potential for future practical applications in sustainable industrial processes.
Uncovering multiscale structure in the variability of larval zebrafish navigation
Authors: Sridhar Gautam , Vergassola Massimo , Marques João C. , Orger Michael B. , Costa Antonio Carlos , Wyart Claire
Published: November 2024

Animals chain movements into long-lived motor strategies, exhibiting variability across scales that reflects the interplay between internal states and environmental cues. To reveal structure in such variability, we build Markov models of movement sequences that bridge across timescales and enable a quantitative comparison of behavioral phenotypes among individuals. Applied to larval zebrafish responding to diverse sensory cues, we uncover a hierarchy of long-lived motor strategies, dominated by changes in orientation distinguishing cruising versus wandering strategies. Environmental cues induce preferences along these modes at the population level: while fish cruise in the light, they wander in response to aversive stimuli, or in search for appetitive prey. As our method encodes the behavioral dynamics of each individual fish in the transitions among coarse-grained motor strategies, we use it to uncover a hierarchical structure in the phenotypic variability that reflects exploration–exploitation trade-offs. Across a wide range of sensory cues, a major source of variation among fish is driven by prior and/or immediate exposure to prey that induces exploitation phenotypes. A large degree of variability that is not explained by environmental cues unravels hidden states that override the sensory context to induce contrasting exploration–exploitation phenotypes. Altogether, by extracting the timescales of motor strategies deployed during navigation, our approach exposes structure among individuals and reveals internal states tuned by prior experience.
Salmonella
virulence factors induce amino acid malabsorption in the ileum to promote ecosystem invasion of the large intestine
Authors: Radlinski Lauren C. , Rogers Andrew W. L. , Bechtold Lalita , Masson Hugo L. P. , Nguyen Henry , Larabi Anaïs B. , Tiffany Connor R. , Carvalho Thaynara Parente de , Tsolis Renée M. , Bäumler Andreas J.
Published: November 2024

The gut microbiota produces high concentrations of antimicrobial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that restrict the growth of invading microorganisms. The enteric pathogen
Salmonella enterica
serovar (
S.
) Typhimurium triggers inflammation in the large intestine to ultimately reduce microbiota density and bloom, but it is unclear how the pathogen gains a foothold in the homeostatic gut when SCFA-producing commensals are abundant. Here, we show that
S.
Typhimurium invasion of the ileal mucosa triggers malabsorption of dietary amino acids to produce downstream changes in nutrient availability in the large intestine. In gnotobiotic mice engrafted with a community of 17 human
Clostridia
isolates,
S.
Typhimurium virulence factors triggered marked changes in the cecal metabolome, including an elevated abundance of amino acids. In an ex vivo fecal culture model, we found that two of these amino acids, lysine and ornithine, countered SCFA-mediated growth inhibition by restoring
S.
Typhimurium pH homeostasis through the inducible amino acid decarboxylases CadA and SpeF, respectively. In a mouse model of gastrointestinal infection,
S.
Typhimurium CadA activity depleted dietary lysine to promote cecal ecosystem invasion in the presence of an intact microbiota. From these findings, we conclude that virulence factor–induced malabsorption of dietary amino acids in the small intestine changes the nutritional environment of the large intestine to provide
S.
Typhimurium with resources needed to counter growth inhibition by microbiota-derived SCFAs.
H3Se in the

I
m

3
¯

m

Phase: High-Pressure Superconductor with Tc Reaching 200 K at 64 GPa Mediated by Anharmonic Phonons
Authors: Ma 马 Yao 遥 , Li 李 Mingqi 明奇 , Shi 史 Wenjia 文佳 , Wang 王 Vei 伟 , Hou 侯 Pugeng 朴赓 , Pang 庞 Mi 蜜
Published: November 2024

Hydrogen-based compounds have attracted significant attention in recent years due to the discovery of conventional superconductivity with high critical temperature under high pressure, rekindling hopes for finding room-temperature superconductors. In this study, we investigated the vibrational and superconducting properties of H3Se in the

I
m

3
¯

m

phase under pressures of 50–200 GPa. Our approach combines the stochastic self-consistent harmonic approximation and first-principles calculations to account for the quantum and anharmonic effects of ions. According to the results, these effects significantly modify the crystal structure, increasing the inner pressure by approximately 8 GPa compared to situations in which they are ignored. The phonon spectra suggest that when these effects are considered, the crystal stabilizes at pressures as low as approximately 61 GPa, which is significantly lower than the previously predicted value of over 100 GPa. Our calculations also highlight the critical role of quantum and anharmonic effects on the electron–phonon coupling properties. Neglecting these factors can result in a significant overestimation of the superconducting critical temperature (T
c) by approximately 4 K (200 GPa) to 25 K (125 GPa). With anharmonic phonons, the T
c calculated from the Migdal–Eliashberg equations reaches 200 K (μ* = 0.1, λ = 4.1) as the pressure decreases to 64 GPa, indicating that the crystal is a rare high-T
c superconductor at moderate pressures.
Pentameric Assembly Architecture of the Tail Tube Protein in SPR Phages
Authors: Wang Lin , He Yuhang , Zhu Kaixiang , Cui Sheng , Gao Xiaopan , Shang Kun , Zhu Hongtao
Published: November 2024

Most phages—viruses infecting prokaryotes—inject their genomes via a tail structure. The central tail tube, composed of tail tube protein (TTP), typically forms conserved hexameric or trimeric rings. In this paper, we report a novel pentameric TTP assembly, solved by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at 3.5 Å and 3.7 Å resolution. Structural analysis reveals a highly negatively charged inner surface of this pentameric tube. Key residues in the loop connecting β3 and β4 strands are crucial for pentameric ring formation. Mismatches in interactions between stacked layers can induce curvature in the tube. The cryo-EM structure of the TTP polymer at the tube’s end shows that β-strands spanning amino acids 27–65 shift toward the central tunnel, potentially obstructing the passage of the phage genome. This study provides new structural insights into a unique TTP assembly, enhancing our understanding of phage assembly processes.
Antitumoral action of carvedilol–a repositioning study of the drug incorporated into mesoporous silica MCM-41
Authors: Braz Wilson Rodrigues , de Souza Maria Gabriela Martins , da Silva Liziane Marçal , de Azevedo Caroline Borges , Ribeiro Arthur Barcelos , Barbosa Denise Crispim Tavares , Molina Eduardo Ferreira , de Faria Emerson Henrique , Ciuffi Katia Jorge , Rocha Lucas Alonso , Martins Carlos Henrique Gomes , Santiago Mariana Brentini , Santos Anna Lívia Oliveira , Nassar Eduardo José
Published: November 2024

We have studied repositioning of carvedilol (an antihypertensive drug) incorporated into MCM-41 mesoporous silica. The repositioning proposes a reduction in the slow pace of discovery of new drugs, as well as toxicological safety and a significant reduction in high research costs, making it an attractive strategy for researchers and large pharmaceutical companies. We obtained MCM-41 by template synthesis and functionalized it by post-synthesis grafting with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) only or with folic acid (FA), which gave MCM-41-APTES and MCM-41-APTES-FA, respectively. We characterized the materials by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, zeta potential (ZP) measurements, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry, nitrogen gas adsorption, and CHNS elemental analysis. We quantified the percentage of drug that was incorporated into the MCM-41 materials by thermogravimetric analysis and evaluated their cytotoxic activity in non-tumor human lung fibroblasts and the tumor human melanoma and human cervical adenocarcinoma cell lines by XTT salt reduction (2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-arboxanilide). The x-ray diffractograms of the MCM-41 materials displayed low-angle peaks in the 2θ range between 2° and 3°, and the materials presented type IV nitrogen adsorption isotherms and H2 hysteresis typical of the MCM-41hexagonal network. The infrared spectra, the charge changes revealed by ZP measurements, and the CHN ratios obtained from elemental analysis showed that MCM-41 was amino-functionalized, and that carvedilol was incorporated into it. MCM-41-APTES incorporated 23.80% carvedilol, whereas MCM-41 and MCM-41-APTES-FA incorporated 18.69% and 12.71% carvedilol, respectively. Incorporated carvedilol was less cytotoxic to tumor and non-tumor cells than the pure drug. Carvedilol repositioning proved favorable and encourages further studies aimed at reducing its cytotoxicity to non-tumor cells. Such studies may allow for larger carvedilol incorporation into drug carriers or motivate the search for a new drug nanocarrier to optimize the carvedilol antitumoral activity.
Gain sensitivity of the Mach–Zehnder interferometer by photon subtraction
Authors: Podoshvedov Mikhail S , Podoshvedov Sergey A
Published: November 2024

The phase sensitivity of a Mach–Zehnder (MZ) interferometer with a two-mode squeezed vacuum (TMSV) probe state is studied. At the initial stage, the TMSV state is deterministically converted into two single-mode squeezed vacuum (SMSV) states, from each of which photons are subtracted via photon-number resolving measurement in auxiliary measurement modes. The new probe state can already demonstrate gain sensitivity of more than 20 dB with input squeezing of 5 dB and follow Heisenberg scaling. The phase sensitivity of the MZ interferometer, estimated by measuring the intensity difference of two measurement-induced continuous variable states, can surpass the ultimate one with SMSV probe states, at least, with squeezing less than 5 dB. In general, the strategy with preliminary subtraction of photons significantly increases the estimate potential of weakly squeezed states as the probe in MZ phase-dependent interferometry; in particular, it is more effective compared to generating highly squeezed TMSV states or SMSV states.
Interparticle-friction-induced anomalous colloid structure
Authors: Liu 刘 Fuzhou 福洲 , Ding 丁 Yu 宇 , Li 黎 Longfei 龙飞 , Cheng 程 Ke 可 , Ye 叶 Fangfu 方富 , Yang 杨 Mingcheng 明成
Published: November 2024

Interparticle frictional interactions are ubiquitous in colloidal systems, exerting a profound influence on their structural and physical attributes. In this study, we employed Brownian dynamics simulations to explore the non-equilibrium dynamics in colloidal systems, focusing particularly on the role of tangential friction and its influence on the macroscopic physical properties of colloids. We found that the disruption of instantaneous time-reversal symmetry by tangential frictional interactions can trigger the self-assembly of colloidal systems into intricate network configurations, and these novel structures exhibit unique depletion force and rheological properties that set them apart from traditional colloidal gel systems. These findings not only help deepen our comprehension of the self-assembly phenomena in non-equilibrium colloidal systems but also offer fresh insights for the development of colloidal materials with tailored characteristics.
Semi-microscopic Analysis of 20Ne +130Te Elastic and Inelastic Scattering at 15.3A MeV
Authors: hemmdan amal , Behairy Kassem Omar , Anwar Muhammad , Hassanain Mahmoud
Published: November 2024

The new measured data of elastic and inelastic 20Ne+130Te scattering at energy 15.3A MeV have been analyzed in framework of the nuclear optical potential. Three types of semi-microscopic potentials are used; the real is calculated by a double folding model in conjunction with the conventional phenomenological Woods-Saxon (WS) potential for the imaginary part. Two real cluster models were constructed using the cluster structure of 20Ne nucleus as 5 and +16O. The real of the third potential was generated using a CDM3Y6 interaction that employed for comparison. Three excited energies to the superposition of the projectile and target states, ground-state (Quasi), 1,6 and 2.5 MeV are investigated by deformed potentials. The contributions of these states were calculated using a one-step distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA) and coupled Channels (CCs) approaches. Successful calculations and results using semi-microscopic potentials in simple one-channel and CCs are obtained. The values of cross section and volume integrals require more contributions to enable more comparisons regarding this project.
Three-Nucleon Correlations in Light Nuclei Yields Ratios from AMPT Model for QCD Critical Point Investigation
Authors: Yu Ning , Zhang Zuman , Xu Hongge , Zhu Zhong
Published: November 2024

This research use the AMPT model in Au+Au collisions to study the influence of the three nucleons correlation $C_{n^2p}$ on the light nuclei yield ratios. It is found that neglecting $C_{n^2p}$ leads to an overestimated relative neutron density fluctuation extraction. Including $C_{n^2p}$ will enhances the agreement with experimental results with higher yield ratios, yet it does not change the energy dependence of the yield ratio. Since there is no first-order phase transition or critical physics in the AMPT model, our work fails to reproduce the experimental energy-dependent peak around $\sqrt{s_\text{NN}}= $20-30 GeV. Our work might offer a baseline for investigating critical physics phenomena using the light nuclei production as a probe.
Real-time plasma boundary shape reconstruction using visible camera on EAST tokamak
Authors: Chen Ming , Zhang Qirui , Guo Bihao , Yang Jianhua , Chen Dalong , Huang Yao , Shen Biao
Published: November 2024

Accurate plasma shape reconstruction is crucial for the stable operation of tokamak devices. In this study, a plasma optical boundary reconstruction system is constructed on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), and real-time shape reconstruction based on an optical method is realized for the first time on EAST. First, a boundary extraction algorithm based on gray features is designed to extract the optical boundary from plasma optical images. Then, to reconstruct the optical boundary in the tokamak coordinate system, a camera calibration algorithm is developed based on feature point matching, and a coordinate mapping algorithm is designed based on plasma geometric features. Then, the system reconstructs the plasma boundary shape based on images acquired by a camera. Finally, the system is deployed in real-time on EAST, and its reconstruction rate meets the requirement of the EAST plasma shape control system. This study validates the feasibility of using an optical boundary shape reconstruction method on a tokamak device for real-time plasma shape reconstruction, providing a new shape reconstruction approach during steady-state discharge in future fusion devices.
Single-qubit gates designed by means of the Madelung picture
Authors: Bonilla–Licea Moise , Bonilla Estrada Moisés
Published: November 2024

In this work the Madelung picture is applied to the single qubit systems. The projective aspect of the Madelung quantities and the polar expression of the components of the quantum state allow one to obtain a general dynamical system of equations. Even though this dynamical system of equations is nonlinear, it offers the advantage of designing single quibt gates in a straightforward manner. It only requires the specification of the initial and final points on the Bloch sphere, as well as the gate operation time. This application of the Madelung picture is particularily illustrated for the nuclear magnetic resonance processor case. It turns the problem of specifying the magnetic fields into a simpler problem of substitution.
Symmetries and singular behaviors with Bohmian trajectories
Authors: Sanz Ángel S.
Published: November 2024

Quantum mechanics is able to predict challenging behaviors even in the simplest physical scenarios. These behaviors are possible because of the important dynamical role that phase plays in the evolution of quantum systems, and are very similar, on the other hand, to effects observable in analogous optical systems. This work focuses on how Bohmian mechanics proves to be a rather convenient theoretical framework to analyze phase-based phenomena, since the phase constitutes the central element in this hydrodynamical formulation of quantum mechanics. More specifically, it allows us to understand how spatial phase variations give rise to velocity fields that eventually rule the dynamical behavior of quantum systems, and that, when integrated in time locally (i.e., taking into account specific positions), they provide us with a neat local (point by point) description of the system evolution in the configuration space. Indeed, it will also be seen that this idea transcends the quantum realm and can be profitably used to describe the behavior of optical analogs with rather singular behaviors. With this purpose, two interesting phenomena that take place in free space are considered, namely, the self-acceleration and shape-invariance of Airy beams, and spontaneous self-focusing.
Reliability of BGA solder joints using nanoindentation
Authors: Cao Jie , Lan Xin , Cui Xiao , Shi Zhirun , Xin Gongming , Cheng Yong
Published: November 2024

The reliability of electronic packaging primarily relies on the thermomechanical properties of solder joints. In the study of solder joint reliability, it is crucial to establish accurate constitutive equations. The parameters required by the constitutive equations are typically derived from uniaxial tensile experiments conducted on bulk solder specimens. To limit the size effects of Sn-Ag-Cu (SAC) solder, a method based on high-temperature nanoindentation creep data of actual SAC solder joints is proposed to extract the parameters of the Anand constitutive equations. Additionally, finite element analysis (FEA) is employed to simulate the stress response of ball grid array (BGA) packaging components under thermal cycling loads. The study reveals that the maximum equivalent stress and variation range of the stress in BGA solder joints based on constitutive equations using nanoindentation (CEUN) are greater than those based on constitutive equations using uniaxial tension (CEUUT). This study indicates that the actual working life of solder joints may be lower than the predicted results based on traditional CEUUT method.
Analysis of interlaminar fracture toughness and the mechanical properties of composite cylinders
Authors: Jia Liwei , Li Wusheng , Kang Yongsheng , Han Zhenyu
Published: November 2024

This paper investigates the interlayer fracture toughness and mechanical properties of composite material cylinders specifically designed for the nuclear industry. Firstly, the corresponding relationship between type one interlayer cracking and load in composite materials is obtained through double cantilever beam (DCB) tests. And it calculates the Type one fracture toughness of the material based on the G1C calculation formula. Secondly, this paper designs an ENF experimental system. The correspondence between the propagation length of Type two interlayer cracks and load is tested through three-point bending (ENF) tests, and the Type two fracture toughness of the material is obtained based on the GIIC calculation formula. Finally, this paper establishes a finite element model of composite material structures. It substitutes the Type one fracture toughness and Type two fracture toughness obtained from previous experiments into the material constitutive model parameters. Then, it analysed the stress distribution of composite material cylinders specifically designed for the nuclear industry under centrifugal load at ultra-high speeds. This paper can provide a theoretical basis for the interlayer performance design and evaluation of the structure.
Effect of plasticizer and filler on the mechanical and thermal properties of carboxymethyl cellulose films from corn husk
Authors: Tianmee Tidarat , Ratanakamnuan Usarat , Namwong Prachaya
Published: November 2024

In this study, microcrystalline cellulose was extracted from corn husk by a pretreatment process using a sodium hydroxide solution to remove lignin. A hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide solution are then used in the bleaching process, and hydrolysis with sulfuric acid is performed. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was then synthesized using monochloroacetic acid as a modifier. FTIR analysis confirmed that the microcrystalline cellulose from corn husk had undergone carboxymethylation. Subsequently, carboxymethyl cellulose films were fabricated utilizing the solvent casting method. The study investigated the influence of different additive types (glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and calcium carbonate) and additive concentrations (0-20% (w/w) based on CMC content) on the mechanical and thermal characteristics of the CMC films. It was observed that the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the CMC film decreased with higher plasticizer content, whereas the elongation at break increased with increasing plasticizer concentration. CMC film with 20% (w/w) of glycerol and propylene glycol showed the highest elongation at break value. On the other hand, CMC film filled with CaCO3 reduces the elongation property but improves the stiffness of the film, as confirmed by the increasing modulus. Adding plasticizer resulted in a decrease in the CMC film’s thermal stability.
Effect of gelation initiators on microstructure and thermal stability of Y2O3-SiO2 composite aerogels
Authors: Ma Kui , Wang Yang , Ren Yuhan , Li Zhanfeng , Sun Chuanqing , Piao Jiasi , Xu Hongzhao , Zhou Changling , Liu Futian
Published: November 2024

This study employed tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and Y(NO3)3·6H2O as precursors to synthesize Y2O3-SiO2 composite aerogels via sol-gel combined with ethanol supercritical drying technology. The influence of ammonia (NH4OH) and propylene oxide (PO) as gelation initiators on the structure and properties of Y2O3-SiO2 composite aerogels was investigated. Following calcination at 1100 °C, the specific surface areas of Y2O3-SiO2 composite aerogels prepared with ammonia and propylene oxide as gelation initiators were found to be 128.84 m2/g and 25.33 m2/g, respectively. Notably, aerogels prepared using ammonia as the gelation initiator exhibited enhanced high-temperature phase and structural stability. To overcome the brittleness and low strength associated with aerogels, mullite fibers were incorporated into Y2O3-SiO2 aerogels using a vacuum impregnation process, resulting in Y2O3-SiO2 aerogel fiber composites. The thermal conductivity of the Y2O3-SiO2 aerogel composites was as low as 0.092 W/m−1·K−1 at 1000 °C, significantly lower than that of 0.135 W/m−1·K−1 for the SiO2 aerogel fiber composites. Due to the high specific surface area and thermal stability, Y2O3-SiO2 aerogel fiber composites demonstrate promising potential as thermal insulation materials suitable for diverse applications in the aerospace industry.
The effects of different curing conditions on the polypropylene fibre reinforcement concrete
Authors: Letsosa Charles M. , Dada Opeoluwa R. , Ikotun Bolanle D.
Published: November 2024

Due to technological advancements, the utilization of fibres and composites in improving the quality and serviceability of concrete structures has gained attention in recent years. Materials such as steel, glass and organic polymers have been used recently to produce short fibres deemed suitable for use in concrete production due to their ability to improve slab durability and prevent cracks in concrete. However, information about their ability to function under different curing conditions is still limited. This research examines the use of synthetic polypropylene fibre (Sika-Fibre 408X) of length 40mm in concrete by subjecting the concrete to four (4) different curing conditions. The curing conditions are ambient temperature, extreme heat of 165°C, extreme cold of -4°C and concrete cured under water temperature of 22°C. The control samples were prepared with no fibre while fibre concrete was made with 5% synthetic polypropylene fibre (Sika-Fibre 408X). Compressive and spilt tensile strength tests were performed on the samples after being cured under the said curing conditions for 14, 28 and 56 days. It was observed that the average compressive strength of fibre-reinforced concrete cured under the four various conditions for 14 days and 56 days is higher than the control sample, but the result obtained at 28 days of curing for all the curing conditions is contrary. The maximum compressive strength of 45.51 MPa was obtained for fibre-reinforced concrete cured under water at 22°C for 56 days. Likewise, for the split tensile test, the results showed that fibre-reinforced concrete has better strength compared to plain concrete under the four curing conditions. Furthermore, fibre-reinforced concrete cured at the extreme cold of -4°C for 56 days has the highest tensile strength of 2.93 MPa. However, for both plain and fibre-reinforced concrete, irrespective of the curing conditions and duration, the minimum compressive strength obtained for this research surpasses the compressive strength minimum requirement of 20 Mpa for cubic concrete according to the SANS 5863:2006.
Creating near real-time alerts of illegal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon using Synthetic Aperture Radar
Authors: Becerra Milagros , Villa Lucio , Nicolau Andréa Puzzi , Herndon Kelsey E , Novoa Sidney , Martín-Arias Vanesa , Dyson Karen , Walker Kaitlin , Tenneson Karis , Saah David
Published: November 2024

Peru’s Southeastern Amazon deforestation trends can be attributed to alluvial gold mining. Illegal mining occurring in forestry concessions, national parks, and the territories of Indigenous People Organizations is of particular concern. We present a methodology to create near real-time alerts of deforestation caused by alluvial gold mining. A time series of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from February to December 2022 is created in Google Earth Engine (GEE) and assessed using Morton Canty’s Omnibus Q-test change detection algorithm. Resulting detections are validated with high-resolution optical imagery from Planet NICFI’s monthly basemaps and Planet Scope daily imagery. The alerts identify the location and timing of large areas (group pixels of <1 ha) of forest loss due to gold mining activities within buffer zones of indigenous territories and protected areas. The overall accuracy of the forest loss analysis conducted with this change detection method was 99.98%, based on an independent accuracy assessment (table 2). This effort has resulted in a public web platform that displays the location of near real time alerts, so Peruvian enforcement agencies can more effectively allocate resources and staff to addressing active illegal mining operations. These results demonstrate the applicability of open-source SAR data to monitor forest loss over areas where cloud cover is more persistent and to improve tools that deliver timely, critical information to decision-makers. Future applications of our method could expand this approach to other drivers of deforestation.
Multispectral multiplexed confocal FLIM for live cell imaging
Authors: Richards Morgan , Osterlund Elizabeth Julianna , Buendia Andrea Rhikkaella , Malic Nikolina , Truant Ray , Fang Qiyin
Published: November 2024

Spectrally resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) with high spatial precision offers comprehensive information on species localization and behavior. It is challenging to resolve weak fluorescence signals in multiple dimensions (spatial, spectral, and temporal) at high frame rates, especially in dynamic live cell processes, as photobleaching and phototoxicity limit acceptable photon count rates. We developed a multiplexed confocal FLIM technique, which uses a prism-based imaging spectrometer to separate a 10 × 10 array of confocal foci into their spectral components. This allows the sampling of the spectra by a time-resolved image sensor to produce a multispectral time-resolved data set used for generating multispectral lifetime images. This system captures 300 × 300 pixel FLIM containing 12 unique spectral bands covering a 450–700 nm spectral range in 1.8 s of exposure. Its performance was demonstrated in fixed stained samples and in multispectral imaging of FLIM-FRET in live cells.
Is There an Indian Secularism?
Authors: John Aruthuckal Varughese
Published: November 2024

This chapter aims to discern the ontology of the secular. If secularism presupposes specific doctrines, conflicts within pluralistic contexts could be anticipated not only despite secularism but also because of it. By viewing the secular as the prodigal child of Christianity, the chapter locates the theological alienation of the secular from Christianity; yet, as its child the secular carries with it certain Christian assumptions. Using Taylor’s taxonomy that delineates the condition of belief in the West, the chapter investigates the fundamental shifts resulting from adoption of the secular doctrine in the Indian context. The exploration centres on the question: does India exhibit a distinct secularism, or is it better understood as a foster-child of Hinduism? Examining compatibilist and non-compatibilist perspectives, the chapter probes the compatibility of the comprehensive doctrine in the Indian subcontinent with secularism. If Taylor traces shifts in religious belief to map secularity in the West, I inquire into identifying a corresponding metric to locate the condition of secularity in the Indian context.
Anthropological Assumptions, Human Rights, and the Freedom of Religion Bills
Authors: John Aruthuckal Varughese
Published: November 2024

Chapter 3 argues that the constitutional debates generated by freedom of religion bills reveal the competing anthropological assumptions of secularism and Hinduism, the former emphasizing the freedom of individual choice and the latter the freedom from religious coercion and the social disruption of conversion. Undertaking a survey of these bills, the chapter shows the tendency to apply a dharmic interpretation of Article 25 of the Constitution, making religious conversions problematic. Further, the chapter discusses the specific application of the constitutional law in the manner it plays out in the interpretations of concepts like ‘force and inducement in religious conversions’, the implications of subjecting freedom of conscience to public order’, and the meaning of the term ‘propagate’.
Lost and Found: Alien as Object, Unconscious as Method
Authors: Wasserman Sarah
Published: November 2024

In a little-known essay, Freud defines “transience value” as “scarcity value in time.” This essay draws upon this strange formulation to explore the vanishing object-worlds of post-45 US fiction and consider the novel as a privileged medium for reckoning with the changing object relations of postwar America. But what can Freud’s formulation and literary portraits of ephemera teach us about contemporary scholarly practice? With ever-shorter cycles of topical and methodological trend, “scarcity value in time” might well describe the forces shaping hiring and publishing now. Given the digitization of archives, our objects of study are both more and less permanent than they used to be. This two-edged phenomenon transfers attention from fixed canons to fleeting spotlights, raising the stakes of “object choice” for emerging scholars. This occasional essay considers my own work in the context of academic trendlines, asking how we negotiate the tension between slow research and the increasingly rapid rhythms of intellectual favor. It also offers some reflections about the current fascination among contemporary literary scholars about genre, drawing inspiration from Kate Marshall’s work to trace the long lineage of the field’s recent interest in genre.