bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring the concordance between endoscopic and histologic inflammation and its effect on IBD-associated dysplasia
Authors: Guerrero Vinsard Daniela , Lennon Ryan , Avvaru Himaja Kumari , Patel Mehrie , Lahori Simmy , Raffals Laura E. , Coelho-Prabhu Nayantara
Published: November 2023

Background and study aims Chronically inflamed colonic mucosa is primed to develop dysplasia identified at surveillance colonoscopy by targeted or random biopsies. We aimed to explore the effect of mucosal inflammation on detection of visible and “invisible” dysplasia and the concordance between the degree of endoscopic and histologic inflammation.

Patients and methods This was a 6-year cross-sectional analysis of endoscopic and histologic data from IBD. A multinomial model was created to estimate the odds for a specific lesion type as well as the odds of random dysplasia relative to the degree of inflammation. Kappa statistics were used to measure concordance between endoscopic and histologic inflammation.

Results A total of 3437 IBD surveillance colonoscopies between
2016–2021 were reviewed with 970 procedures from 721 patients containing 1603 visible lesions.
Kappa agreement between histologic and endoscopic degree of inflammation was low at 0.4. There
was a positive association between increased endoscopic inflammation and presence of
tubulovillous adenomas (TVAs) (odds ratio [OR] 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–4.62;
P=0.04). Among cases with visible lesions, the yield of
concomitant random dysplasia was 2.7% and 1.9% for random indefinite dysplasia. The odds of
random dysplasia significantly increased as the degree of endoscopic and histologic
inflammation increased (OR 2.18, 95%CI 1.46–3.26; P<0.001 and OR
2.75; 95%CI 1.65–4.57, P<0.001, respectively. The odds of
indefinite random dysplasia also significantly increased as endoscopic and histologic
inflammation increased (OR 2.90; 95%CI 1.85, 4.55, P<0.001 and
OR 1.98; 95%CI 1.08, 3.62, P<0.035, respectively.

Conclusions Endoscopic and histologic inflammation are associated with higher odds of finding TVAs and random low-grade, high-grade, and indefinite dysplasia. Concordance between histologic and endoscopic inflammation severity is low.
Metal-Free Synthesis of 9-Sulfenylphenanthrenes via HNO3/HCl-Promoted Annulation of 2-Alkynylbiaryls with Disulfides
Authors: Huang Xiao-Cheng , Su Hui , Luan Tian , Yao Zhi-Xiang , Yu Wan-Guo
Published: November 2023

A metal-free thiolative annulation of 2-alkynylbiaryls with disulfides has been developed. This mild and efficient approach was promoted by inexpensive HNO3/HCl and afforded a range of corresponding 9-sulfenylphenanthrenes in good to excellent yields with a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. Both sulfide groups of the disulfide reagent were used in the reaction.
Effects of a Transoceanic Rowing Challenge on Cardiorespiratory
Function and Muscle Fitness
Authors: Ellis Chris , Ingram Thomas E. , Kite Chris , Taylor Suzan R. , Howard Elizabeth , Pike Joanna L. , Lee Eveline , Buckley John P.
Published: November 2023

Ultra-endurance sports and exercise events are becoming increasingly popular for
older age groups. We aimed to evaluate changes in cardiac function and physical
fitness in males aged 50–60 years who completed a 50-day transoceanic rowing
challenge. This case account of four self-selected males included electro- and
echo-cardiography (ECG, echo), cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness measures
recorded nine months prior to and three weeks after a transatlantic team-rowing
challenge. No clinically significant changes to myocardial function were found
over the course of the study. The training and race created expected functional
changes to left ventricular and atrial function; the former associated with
training, the latter likely due to dehydration, both resolving towards baseline
within three weeks post-event. From race-start to finish all rowers lost
8.4–15.6 kg of body mass. Absolute cardiorespiratory power and muscular strength
were lower three weeks post-race compared to pre-race, but cardiorespiratory
exercise economy improved in this same period. A structured program of
moderate-vigorous aerobic endurance and muscular training for>6 months,
followed by 50-days of transoceanic rowing in older males proved not to cause
any observable acute or potential long-term risks to cardiovascular health.
Pre-event screening, fitness testing, and appropriate training is recommended,
especially in older participants where age itself is an increasingly significant
risk factor.
Bone Mineral Density and Vitamin D Status in Patients with Autoimmune
Polyglandular Syndromes: A Single Tertiary Care Center
Experience
Authors: Akkurt Kocaeli Aysen , Erturk Erdınc
Published: November 2023

Immunological abnormalities, the resulting endocrinopathies, and their treatments
may impact bone health and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in patients with
autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS). Several etiologies contribute to
increased risk for low bone mineral density (BMD), including vitamin D
deficiency. This study evaluated the vitamin D level and BMD of patients with
APS. We performed a cross-sectional study on 44 patients with APS and 55 age and
gender-matched control subjects. Among patients with APS, 14 were classified as
APS-2 [Addison’s disease (AD)+autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD)
and/or type 1 diabetes(T1D)]. In contrast, the other 30 were APS-3
(ATD+T1D+other autoimmune diseases). Serum samples were analyzed
for vitamin D levels. The lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD were measured by
dual X-ray absorptiometry. Z-scores were obtained by comparison with age- and
gender-matched average values (both patients and controls). The accepted normal
levels were Z-score>–1 and
25-OHD>30 ng/ml. Patients with APS showed 25-OHD levels
and BMD significantly lower than healthy controls (p<0.001 and
p<0.05, respectively). The highest prevalence of abnormal BMD was
observed in the APS-2 subgroup (13 out of 14 patients, 92.6%).
Identifying and treating vitamin D deficiency and low BMD is critical in APS
patients. The fact that the significant endocrine component of APS-2 is AD, and
these patients receive chronic long-term glucocorticoid therapy can be shown as
the reason for this result. However, more extensive prospective controlled
studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Individualised Homoeopathic Medicine Resolved Multiple Recalcitrant Verruca Vulgaris: An Evidence-Based Case Report
Authors: Purkait Rajib , Banerjee Abhiram , Choubey Gurudev
Published: November 2023

Background Verruca vulgaris commonly known as warts are characterised by common, benign, localised epidermal lesions caused by human papilloma viruses. Various treatment options are available but many of them are invasive and destructive, which may cause damage to the epidermis or discomfort to the patient.

Objective The main objective of this case report is to produce pieces of evidence systematically, favouring homoeopathy.

Method This is a reported case of verruca vulgaris, presented with multiple rough, itchy, cauliflowers like warty growth on the dorsal aspect of both the feet. Outcome Related to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL) scale was used as a patient-reported outcome measure for subjective assessment. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire was used to assess the improvement in the quality of life. Photographs were taken as objective evidence. Lastly, possible causal attributions were evaluated by using Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH).

Result The case was improved on the ORIDL scale (score +4). Quality of life was improved (score 10 to 0) and documented through the DLQI questionnaire. Photographs were presented as objective evidence. The high total score (+9) of MONARCH established the possible causal attributions between the homoeopathic intervention and clinical improvement in the patient.

Conclusion In this case, individualised homoeopathic medicine, Thuja occidentalis, is proved to be effective in the resolution of all warts within a plausible time frame of medicine intake. Further documentation and studies are warranted in the future.
Reducing Pain and Promoting Healing in Acute Anal Fissure with Individualised Homoeopathic Treatment: A Case Series
Authors: Dixit Ashish Kumar , Yadav Moorat Singh
Published: November 2023

Anal fissure (AF) is a prevalent cause of severe anal pain and is among the most common anorectal issues encountered in clinical practice. This case series aims to evaluate the effectiveness of individualised homoeopathic medicine (IHM) prescriptions in patients with acute AF. The study included seven diagnosed cases of AF that were treated with personalised homoeopathic medicine. Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and the Outcome in Relation to Impact on Daily Life (ORIDL) score was used to assess treatment outcomes and fissure healing at baseline and during follow-up visits. The Modified Naranjo Criteria were used to evaluate the causal attribution of treatment effects. All seven cases showed a significant reduction in VAS scores from baseline to 3 months (mean score: 8.71 ± 0.95 to 0.143 ± 0.37) and ORIDL score at 1 to 3 months for main complaints and overall well-being was from 2.00 ± 0.00 to 3.00 ± 0.00, and 3.71 ± 0.756 to 3.85 ± 0.37 respectively. Complete healing of the fissure was observed in six cases, while partial healing was noticed in one case. The mean Modified Naranjo Criteria score was 8.71 ± 0.75. Therefore, IHM is useful in reducing pain and promoting healing of acute AF, but more research is needed to validate its efficacy with robust methodology. Additionally, future studies should also investigate the role of Paeonia in treating AF. Nonetheless, the findings offer a potential opportunity to improve treatment options for individuals with this painful condition.
Monochorionic Twin Pregnancy Complicated by Arrhythmia in One Twin: Longitudinal Hemodynamic Effects of Flecainide Cardioversion Assessed by Fetal Venous Doppler
Authors: Einum Anders , von Brandis Philip , Leirgul Elisabeth , Ebbing Cathrine
Published: November 2023

A parous woman with a monochorionic twin pregnancy presented at gestational week 25 with an uncommon situation. One twin had developed hydrops, but not due to placental transfusion syndrome. The twin had a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, a rare and severe complication that untreated would threaten the lives of both twins. We present the longitudinal Doppler ultrasound findings when assessing the hemodynamic effects of the arrhythmia and the transplacental treatment with antiarrhythmic medication (flecainide), and how the arrhythmia and the conversion to normal rhythm influenced umbilical and liver circulation in the fetus.
EXPLORing Arthritis with Total-body Positron Emission Tomography
Authors: Chaudhari Abhijit J. , Abdelhafez Yasser G. , Nardo Lorenzo , Raychaudhuri Siba P.
Published: November 2023

Arthritis has significant adverse consequences on musculoskeletal tissues and often other organs of the body. Current methods for clinical evaluation of arthritis are suboptimal, and biomarkers that are objective and measurable indicators for monitoring of arthritis disease activity are in critical demand. Recently, total-body positron emission tomography (PET) has been developed that can collect imaging signals synchronously from the entire body at ultra-low doses and reduced scan times. These scanners have increased signal collection efficiency that overcomes several limitations of standard PET scanners in the evaluation of arthritis, and they may potentially provide biomarkers to assess local and systemic impact of the arthritis disease process. This article reviews current results from using total-body PET in the assessment of common arthritic conditions, and it outlines future opportunities and challenges.
Epidemiological and Genetic Characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia after the Outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: Li Lin , Wang Bing-han , Li Wei
Published: November 2023

Objective Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) accounts for a major part of community-acquired pneumonia in children, and we performed this study to investigate the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of MPP after the outbreak of COVID-19.

Methods A total of 15,538 throat swab samples were collected from inpatients with respiratory tract infections from January 2021 to December 2021. All specimens were detected by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The P1 gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in positive samples was amplified and sequenced.

Results From January 2021 to December 2021, a total of 15,538 children with acute respiratory tract infection were tested by real-time RT-PCR in our study, including 9,056 boys and 6,482 girls. Overall, 469 (3.0%, 469/15,538) tested positive for MP, with 266 (2.9%, 266/9,056) males and 203 (3.1%, 203/6,482) females (p = 0.48). The positive rates of MP infection in < 1 year old, 1 to 3 years old, 3 to 5 years old, 5 to 7 years old, and >7 years old groups were 1.31% (85/6,474), 1.87% (64/3,423), 3.65% (95/2,601), 8.02% (127/1,583), and 6.72% (98/1,458), respectively. The homology analysis of the P1 gene of 24 MP positive samples showed that the nucleotide sequence consistency was up to 91.2 to 99.3%.

Conclusion After the outbreak of COVID-19, positive detection rate was the highest from 5 to 7 years old among children with MPP, and the genotype of MP in Hangzhou, China area was focused on P1 subtype, type I.
Evaluation of the relative importance of preheat from hohlraum x rays and a radiative shock on a low-density foam
Authors: Kim Y. , Di Stefano C. , Kozlowski P. M. , Murphy T. J. , Haines B. M. , Day T. H. , Brophy M. , Gunderson M. A. , VanDervort R. W. , Cleveland M. A. , Coffman T. A. , Olson R. E. , Douglas M. R. , Smidt J. M. , Morrow T. , Schmidt D. W. , Albright B. J. , Barnak D. H. , Widmann K.
Published: November 2023

Indirectly driven shock-tube experiments were performed on the Omega Laser Facility to evaluate the relative importance of hohlraum x ray and radiative shock preheat sources on a low-density foam. X rays emitted from the hohlraum and a subsequent shock wave are channeled into a low-density foam sample, which contains a plastic preheat-witness disk placed downstream of the foam. Simultaneous radiographic measurements of the shock speed in the foam and the expansion rate of the witness disk due to preheat allow for the observation of effects from the hohlraum's low-energy and high-energy x-ray spectrum. We showed, from simulations, that low-energy x rays from the hohlraum are preferentially absorbed near the ablator surface (where the hohlraum and the shock tube meet), while higher-energy x rays largely pass through the ablator and foam and are volumetrically absorbed by the witness disk. Reproducing the experimentally measured shock speed and expansion of the witness disk simultaneously, we extracted the temperature evolution of preheated foam from the simulation and evaluated the relative importance of preheat sources on a low-density foam from hohlraum x-ray radiation and radiative shock. We found that radiation from the shock front was more effective at preheating the low-density foam than the high-energy x rays from the hohlraum. This shock-tube preheat experiment is important for understanding the results of the MARBLE experiments at the National Ignition Facility because initial conditions of foam-filled MARBLE capsules are sensitive to preheat.
Spectral (in)dependence of nonequilibrium charge carriers lifetime and density of states distribution in the vicinity of the band gap edge in F8BT polymer
Authors: Saitov Shamil R. , Litvinenko Daniil N. , Aleksandrov Alexey E. , Snigirev Oleg V. , Tameev Alexey R. , Smirnov Alexander M. , Mantsevich Vladimir N.
Published: November 2023

Photoelectric properties of the F8BT polymer are investigated by the Constant photocurrent method (CPM) based on the photocurrent spectra Δjph(hν) and absorption spectra αCPM(hν). The negligibly weak dependence of charge carriers lifetime on the photon energy is found for hν = 2.2–2.7 eV. The peculiarities of the absorption spectra and the photoconductivity spectra are revealed to be determined mainly by the Gaussian distribution of the density of states (DOS). The density of trap states in the F8BT polymer thin films in the exponential DOS is estimated to be 103 times higher than in the Gaussian DOS.
A durable non-contact reciprocated triboelectric nanogenerator for low-frequency vibration energy harvesting
Authors: Liang Ganggang , Zhao Daoli , Yan Zhimiao , Sun Weipeng , Wang Zhemin , Tan Ting
Published: November 2023

Harvesting vibration energy using a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a promising approach in solving the power supply restriction of the Internet of Things. Currently, the low durability due to friction surface wearing is the primary limitation of TENGs, which restricts their applicability and practicability. This study introduces a non-contact-type TENG aimed at significantly enhancing its durability by increasing its anti-wear capability. The configuration of the proposed TENG includes permanent magnets and rolling-balls. The reciprocating motion of functional friction surfaces, facilitated by the permanent magnets, enhances the efficiency of harvesting low-frequency vibration energy. The embedded rolling-balls are utilized to separate two functional friction surfaces, which minimizes the friction surface wearing between different dielectric materials. The electrical output characteristics of this non-contact TENG under variable load resistances are explored according to sinusoidal excitation based on either variable frequencies or accelerations. The results demonstrate that the proposed nanogenerator can generate a short-circuit current of 2118.2 nA and achieve a peak power density of 9.891 mW/m2. The electrical responses of this non-contact TENG remain stable over 120 000 continuous working cycles, lasting for more than 200 min. Furthermore, the nanogenerator can identify and harvest energy from running or jumping motions performed by individuals in different postures and at various speeds or heights. With its exceptional durability and stability, this non-contact nanogenerator offers a novel approach to low-frequency vibration energy harvesting, paving the way for practical applications in the field.
Seeing double with a multifunctional reservoir computer
Authors: Flynn Andrew , Tsachouridis Vassilios A. , Amann Andreas
Published: November 2023

Multifunctional biological neural networks exploit multistability in order to perform multiple tasks without changing any network properties. Enabling artificial neural networks (ANNs) to obtain certain multistabilities in order to perform several tasks, where each task is related to a particular attractor in the network’s state space, naturally has many benefits from a machine learning perspective. Given the association to multistability, in this paper, we explore how the relationship between different attractors influences the ability of a reservoir computer (RC), which is a dynamical system in the form of an ANN, to achieve multifunctionality. We construct the “seeing double” problem in order to systematically study how a RC reconstructs a coexistence of attractors when there is an overlap between them. As the amount of overlap increases, we discover that for multifunctionality to occur, there is a critical dependence on a suitable choice of the spectral radius for the RC’s internal network connections. A bifurcation analysis reveals how multifunctionality emerges and is destroyed as the RC enters a chaotic regime that can lead to chaotic itinerancy.
Study of demixing in C–F plasma produced in a capillary discharge
Authors: Pashchina A. S. , Efimov A. V.
Published: November 2023

The spatial distribution of chemical elements in plasma produced by a pulsed discharge in a capillary made of polytetrafluoroethylene has been studied by methods and means of optical spectroscopy. It has been found that the ratio of the molar fractions of fluorine and carbon differs significantly from that in the polymer wall and varies nonmonotonically along the radius of the plasma jet emerging from the capillary. The performed qualitative analysis of the intensity and direction of a number of competing diffusion fluxes involving C, C+, F, and F+ indicates both the possibility of the slowdown in the fluorine and carbon demixing, which start from the peripheral zone, and a change in the direction of some of these fluxes in the central zone of the discharge, which is reflected in the measured mole fraction profiles of these elements.
Investigation of topological valley kink states along zigzag and armchair domain wall in a two-dimensional photonic crystal
Authors: He Wei , Huang Mingyuan , Sun Xiaowei
Published: November 2023

This paper provides a numerical analysis of the topological valley kink states along both zigzag and armchair domain walls of a dielectric two-dimensional photonic crystal (PC), considering the photonic energy band folding mechanism. By engineering the side length of triangular holes in a honeycomb PC, we created inequivalent valleys in the momentum space. We utilized two adjacent valley PCs with inverted structures to induce a topological transition of the TE mode energy band as it crossed the interface. Further research into the projected energy bands along both zigzag and armchair directions revealed that topologically protected valley kink states can be supported by both configurations. The zigzag interface enabled valley waveguides to transport chiral optical fields at the 0°, 60°, and 120° bending angles, while maintaining their backscattering immune properties. The armchair interface, on the other hand, supported the straight propagation. By combining both armchair and zigzag interfaces, the valley waveguide can facilitate bending propagation at 90° and 180°, while also enabling the equal splitting of chiral fields at the intersection between these two interfaces. Our analyzation can be helpful to improve the applications of valley waveguides in integrated photonics.
Demonstration of the normally off
β
-Ga2O3 MOSFET with high threshold voltage and high current density
Authors: Cai Yuncong , Feng Zhaoqing , Wang Zhengxing , Song Xiufeng , Hu Zhuangzhuang , Tian Xusheng , Zhang Chunfu , Liu Zhihong , Feng Qian , Zhou Hong , Zhang Jincheng , Hao Yue
Published: November 2023

In this work, we demonstrated the enhancement mode (E-mode) β-Ga2O3 metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) by introducing a hybrid floating gate (HFG) structure. This E-mode Ga2O3 MOSFET featured the highest VTH of 9.03 V and the highest maximum current ID of 70.0 mA/mm among the reported lateral normally off β-Ga2O3 MOSFETs. Meanwhile, a breakdown voltage of 834 V, a specific on-resistance RON,sp of 19.3 mΩ·cm2, and a sub-threshold swing SS of 87 mV/dec were achieved simultaneously. In addition, VTH shifted by only 9.9% after applying a gate stress of 25 V for 105 s. These findings provide a promising path for the development of enhancement-mode Ga2O3 power devices by incorporating a charge-storage structure.
Degaussing procedure and performance enhancement by low-frequency shaking of a 3-layer magnetically shielded room
Authors: Allmendinger Fabian , Brauneis Benjamin , Heil Werner , Schmidt Ulrich
Published: November 2023

We report on the performance of a Magnetically Shielded Room (MSR) intended for next level 3He/129Xe co-magnetometer experiments that require improved magnetic conditions. The MSR consists of three layers of Mu-metal with a thickness of 3 mm each and one additional highly conductive copper-coated aluminum layer with a thickness of 8 mm. It has a cubical shape with a walk-in interior volume with an edge length of 2560 mm. An optimized degaussing (magnetic equilibration) procedure using a frequency sweep with a constant amplitude followed by an exponential decay of the amplitude will be presented. The procedure for the whole MSR takes 21 min, and measurements of the residual magnetic field at the center of the MSR show that |B| < 1 nT can be reached reliably. The chosen degaussing procedure will be motivated by online hysteresis measurements of the assembled MSR and by eddy-current simulations, showing that saturation at the center of the Mu-metal layer is reached. Shielding factors can be improved by a factor ≈4 in all directions by low frequency (0.2 Hz), low current (1 A) shaking of the outermost Mu-metal layer.
Effects of ablation velocity on ablative Rayleigh–Taylor instability
Authors: Xin J. , Liu Y. , Jiang X. , Yan R. , Li J. , Wan Z.-H. , Sun D.-J. , Zheng J.
Published: November 2023

The influence of the ablation velocity Va on the evolution of single-mode ablative Rayleigh–Taylor instability from the linear to the deeply nonlinear phases is investigated via two-dimensional numerical simulations. Linear growth rates from simulations agree well with the asymptotic theory except for larger discrepancies in the intermediate Froude number regime. The weakly nonlinear growth behavior of the bubble amplitude is found dependent on a critical perturbation wavenumber in a broad Froude number regime. For a linearly stable mode, its nonlinear excitation threshold is higher for larger Va and thus harder to be exceeded. For short-wavelength modes taking significant ablation effects, the bubble penetration velocity is found to reaccelerate after the first saturation and eventually saturate at a larger value with larger Va, due to stronger vortex-acceleration effects and more significant increase in g.
A single-layered elastic metasurface for switching wide-angle asymmetric transmission of flexural waves
Authors: Fan Shi-Wang , Wang Wen-Qi , Liu Jinxi , Liao Xu , Zhang Jingzhe , Wang Yue-Sheng
Published: November 2023

A limitation of present elastic metasurfaces remains in their modest flexibility to meet convertible functions on demand. Here, a feasible single-layered lossless metasurface is theoretically proposed and experimentally demonstrated for adjusting the asymmetric transmission of flexural waves. The easily reconstructed unit is derived from multiple pillared resonators; then, the number of units per period can be changed depending on the desired integer parity. In addition, the asymmetric transmission is physically realized by the uneven diffraction of the ±1st orders in opposite fields of the designed metasurface. Requiring neither active modules nor passively multilayer or loss-induced strategies, our design using only a layer of lossless metasurface allows the elastic-wave behavior to switch between efficient symmetric and asymmetric transmissions. Furthermore, a high contrast ratio of transmitted energy is verified in experiments and simulations within a wide-angle range. The present work is connected with the pragmatic applications of metasurfaces in timely directional vibration control and compactly elastodynamic rectifications.
Lorentz near-field electron ptychography
Authors: You Shengbo , Lu Peng-Han , Schachinger Thomas , Kovács András , Dunin-Borkowski Rafal E. , Maiden Andrew M.
Published: November 2023

Over the past few years, electron ptychography has drawn considerable attention for its ability to recover high contrast and ultra-high resolution images without the need for high quality electron optics. In this Letter, we focus on electron ptychography's other potential benefits: quantitatively mapping phase variations resulting from magnetic and electric fields over extended fields of view. To this end, we propose an implementation of near-field ptychography that employs an amplitude mask located in the electron microscope's condenser aperture plane. We demonstrate the capabilities of our method by imaging a magnetic Permalloy sample and compare our results with those of off-axis electron holography.
Tuning the optoelectronic properties of enargite (Cu3AsS4) solar cells by Ag alloying: A DFT-informed synthesis
Authors: Pradhan Apurva A. , Yao Canglang , McClary Scott A. , Weideman Kyle G. , Blach Daria D. , Khandelwal Shriya , Andler Joseph , Rokke David J. , Huang Libai , Handwerker Carol , Yan Yanfa , Agrawal Rakesh
Published: November 2023

The enargite phase of Cu3AsS4 (ENG) is an emerging photovoltaic material with a ∼1.4 eV bandgap and is composed of earth abundant elements with favorable defect properties arising from the differing ionic radii of the constituent elements. Unfortunately, ENG-based photovoltaic devices have experimentally been shown to have low power conversion efficiencies, possibly due to defects in the material. In this joint computational and experimental study, we explore the defect properties of ENG and employ synthesis approaches, such as silver alloying, to reduce the density of harmful defects. We show that shallow copper vacancies (VCu) are expected to be the primary defects in ENG and contribute to its p-type character. However, as shown through photoluminescence (PL) measurements of synthesized ENG, a large mid-bandgap PL peak is present at ∼0.87 eV from a band edge, potentially caused by a copper- or sulfur-related defect. To improve the properties of ENG films and mitigate the mid-bandgap PL, we employed an amine-thiol molecular precursor-based synthesis approach and utilized silver alloying of ENG films. While silver alloying did not affect the mid-bandgap PL peak, it increased grain size and lowered film porosity, improving device performance. In conclusion, we found that incorporating silver such that [Ag]/([Ag] + [Cu]) is 0.05 in the film using an amine-thiol based molecular precursor route with As2S3 as the arsenic source resulted in improved photovoltaic device performance with a champion device of efficiency 0.60%, the highest reported efficiency for an Cu3AsS4 (ENG)-based device to date.
Deep trap assisting elastico-mechanoluminescence in diphase non-piezoelectrics induced by tunneling effect
Authors: Li Yin , Li Zishuo , Sun Hailing , Kwok K. W. , Zhou Guofu
Published: November 2023

The sustainable conversion of mechanical energy into light (elastico-mechanoluminescence, EML) opens up possibilities for energy-saving, which is of pivotal significance in addressing the energy crisis. The concepts of piezophotonics and the piezoelectric field's dependence on the probability of charge carriers detrapping have been thoroughly developed in explaining EML. Nevertheless, in contrast to the EML triggered by the piezoelectricity model, strong elastico-mechanoluminescence phenomena have also been frequently discovered in non-piezoelectric materials. Is the working principle different? This paper provides physical insight into the reconfigurable EML phenomena of intrinsic non-piezoelectric systems. It emphasizes the exploration of the mechanism through comprehensive analysis of trap information, de-trapping processes, and the lifetime of charge carriers in traps. We demonstrate the assistance of deep trap to enhance the red EML mode in a diphase centrosymmetric luminescent host through the electron tunneling effect. This advancement supports the progress of non-piezoelectric EML dielectrics and offers an appealing alternative approach in this field.
Deterministic active particles in the overactive limit
Authors: Pikovsky Arkady
Published: November 2023

We consider two models of deterministic active particles in an external potential. In the limit where the speed of a particle is fixed, both models nearly coincide and can be formulated as a Hamiltonian system, but only if the potential is time-independent. If the particles are identical, their interaction via a potential force leads to conservative dynamics with a conserved phase volume. In contrast, the phase volume is shown to shrink for non-identical particles even if the confining potential is time-independent.
Matter transport as fundamental property of acoustic solitons in plasma
Authors: Trukhachev F. M. , Gerasimenko N. V. , Vasiliev M. M. , Petrov O. F.
Published: November 2023

A theoretical study of the phenomenon of unidirectional transport of charged particles by acoustic-type solitons in plasma without the magnetic field is presented. Using a one-dimensional ion-acoustic soliton as an example, it is shown that the transport of charged particles is a fundamental property of classical solitons, which cannot be neglected at small wave amplitudes. The analysis is based on the hydrodynamic model using the Sagdeev pseudopotential and the KdV equation. A brief generalization of the results to electron- and dust-acoustic modes is also discussed.
Reduced-order model and attractor identification for large eddy simulation of squirrel cage fan
Authors: Xiao Qianhao , Jiang Boyan , Yang Xiaopei , Ding Yanyan , Wang Jun
Published: November 2023

A large eddy simulation (LES) of a squirrel cage fan (SCF) provides a precise representation of turbulent flows with different degrees of complexity. This study comprehensively analyzes the coherent structures of turbulent flows in an SCF using an LES, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), and multi-resolution dynamic mode decomposition (mrDMD). An intelligent reduced-order model is established by integrating hierarchical deep learning and the sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics. The result shows that the evolution of the global DMD modes is attenuated due to the spatial distribution variations of localized high-frequency mrDMD modes, along with the fragmented and non-steady development of modal patterns. Unlike POD, DMD quantifies the quality of the impeller inlet environment and captures the antisymmetric low-dimensional flows associated with the shedding of rotating vortex structures. The interaction strength between stationary and dynamic rotating areas is accurately represented by attractors characterized by petal-like structures. The trajectory of the attractors faithfully maps the antisymmetric structural attributes, quasi-periodic behavior, and gradual attenuation characteristics exhibited by DMD modes. The number of petal-like systems and their temporal oscillations are in good agreement with the number of fan blades and their rotational cycles. This study provides new insight into fan engineering to advance flow control strategies and improve the understanding of the underlying flow mechanisms.
Analysis of physiological pulsating flow of fractional Maxwell fluid in a locally narrow artery
Authors: Gao Jun , Zhang Yan , Ma Yuan , Wang Qiao , Bai Yu
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this paper is to provide a novel reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. Two-dimensional governing equations of fractional-order Maxwell fluid flow in a local stenotic artery are established, taking real physiological pulsating blood flow at inlet into consideration. Drawing support from the finite difference method as well as the L1 formula, vorticity and stream functions are introduced to acquire numerical solutions for velocity, stream function, and pressure. The distribution of blood flow in narrowed arteries within a real physiological pulse cycle is discussed. Furthermore, the influences of the degree of stenosis δ, the stenosis length parameter L0, fractional order parameter α, and relaxation time λ on crucial medical indicators, including the time average of the wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time, and pressure distribution are revealed. The results show that the deceleration and reversal phases of real physiological pulsatile flow critically affect the progression of arterial stenosis, and increasing the fractional order parameter α weakens the development of stenosis, while increasing λ has the opposite effect. This study is expected to serve as a reference for formulating standards of key medical indicators in the early diagnosis of vascular stenosis.
Quantitative evaluation of the low-temperature pulsed plasma-wound interaction based on splint model
Authors: Fu Yongqiang , Kong Deqiang , Gu Xinyu , Wang Yuting , Wu Yaojiong , Zhang Ruobing
Published: November 2023

An atmospheric pressure low-temperature plasma jet has a promising application prospect in biomedical fields due to its low operating temperature and its ability to act in open space. In this paper, a mouse excisional wound splinting (MEWS) model is developed using a BALB/c strain of mice. A pulsed low-temperature plasma jet close to the human temperature is generated to treat the wound of the mouse skin. We have demonstrated that the pulsed low-temperature plasma jet can effectively promote wound healing. The large number of active particles contained in the plasma, such as reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, etc., may be responsible for its ability to increase the wound healing rate and promote skin tissue regeneration. The MEWS model adopted in this experiment reduces the interference in the evaluation of the wound healing effect caused by skin contraction and wound dressing, and thus is closer to the healing process of human wounds, and the method of wound area acquisition and calculation based on image processing reduces human interference and is more standardized, which can be used to evaluate the effect of the pulsed low-temperature plasma jet on promoting wound healing.
The ground offers acoustic efficiency gains for crickets and other calling animals
Authors: Brandt Erin E. , Duke Sarah , Wang Honglin , Mhatre Natasha
Published: November 2023

Male crickets attract females by producing calls with their forewings. Louder calls travel further and are more effective at attracting mates. However, crickets are much smaller than the wavelength of their call, and this limits their power output. A small group called tree crickets make acoustic tools called baffles which reduce acoustic short-circuiting, a source of dipole inefficiency. Here, we ask why baffling is uncommon among crickets. We hypothesize that baffling may be rare because like other tools they offer insufficient advantage for most species. To test this, we modelled the calling efficiencies of crickets within the full space of possible natural wing sizes and call frequencies, in multiple acoustic environments. We then generated efficiency landscapes, within which we plotted 112 cricket species across 7 phylogenetic clades. We found that all sampled crickets, in all conditions, could gain efficiency from tool use. Surprisingly, we also found that calling from the ground significantly increased efficiency, with or without a baffle, by as much as an order of magnitude. We found that the ground provides some reduction of acoustic short-circuiting but also halves the air volume within which sound is radiated. It simultaneously reflects sound upwards, allowing recapture of a significant amount of acoustic energy through constructive interference. Thus, using the ground as a reflective baffle is an effective strategy for increasing calling efficiency. Indeed, theory suggests that this increase in efficiency is accessible not just to crickets but to all acoustically communicating animals whether they are dipole or monopole sound sources.
Complementary roles for mechanical and solvent-based recycling in low-carbon, circular polypropylene
Authors: Nordahl Sarah L. , Baral Nawa R. , Helms Brett A. , Scown Corinne D.
Published: November 2023

Plastic recycling presents a vexing challenge. Mechanical recycling offers substantial greenhouse gas emissions savings relative to virgin plastic production but suffers from degraded aesthetic and mechanical properties. Polypropylene, one of the most widely used and lowest-cost plastics, features methyl pendants along the polymer backbone, rendering it particularly susceptible to declining properties, performance, and aesthetics across a succession of mechanical recycles. Advanced processes, such as solvent-assisted recycling, promise near-virgin quality outputs at a greater energy and emissions footprint. Mechanical and advanced recycling are often presented as competing options, but real-world plastic waste streams are likely to require preprocessing regardless of whether they are routed to an advanced process. This study quantifies the life-cycle greenhouse gas implications of multiple recycling strategies and proposes a system in which mechanical and solvent-assisted recycling can be leveraged together to boost recycling rates and satisfy demand for a wider range of product applications. Polypropylene can be recovered from mixed-plastic bales produced at material recovery facilities and processed through mechanical recycling, with a varying fraction sent for further upgrading via solvent-assisted recycling to produce material approved for food packaging and other higher-quality applications. The resulting mechanically recycled rigid polypropylene reduces life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 80% relative to the same quantity of virgin material, while the upgraded higher-quality material achieves GHG savings of 30%.
Changing face of contractile activation in striated muscle at physiological temperature
Authors: Månsson Alf
Published: November 2023

Calcium binding to troponin, with subsequent displacement of its linked tropomyosin molecule on the thin filament surface, cooperates with myosin binding to actin in the contractile regulation of striated muscle. The intertwined role of these systems is studied in the present issue of JGP by Ishii et al. (https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.202313414). A particularly interesting feature of the paper, except for studying both skeletal and cardiac muscle proteins, is that the experiments unlike most other similar studies are performed at physiological temperature (35–40°C).
Non-perturbative Lee-Wick gauge theory: Towards Confinement & RGE with strong couplings
Authors: Frasca Marco , Ghoshal Anish , Koshelev Alexey S
Published: November 2023

We consider a non-Abelian Lee–Wick gauge theory and discuss Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin invariance. It contains fourth-order derivative as extensions of the kinetic term, leading to massive ghosts in the theory upon quantization. We particularly provide essential clues towards confinement conditions in strongly-coupled regimes, using the Kugo–Ojima approach, and obtain the

β
−

functions in the non-perturbative regimes. This is achieved using a set of exact solutions of the corresponding local theory in terms of Jacobi elliptical functions. We obtain a similar

β
−

function just as for the ordinary Yang-Mills theory but the main differences are that now, the cut-off arises naturally from the Lee–Wick heavy mass scales (M). We show that the fate of the ghosts are fixed in these regimes: they are no more the propagating degrees of freedom in the infrared-limit. As it also happens for the ordinary case, confinement is due to the non-Abelian nature of the theory. In the limit

M
→
∞

, one recovers the standard results for the local non-Abelian Yang-Mills theory.
Decoherence of a composite particle induced by a weak quantized gravitational field
Authors: Moreira Thiago H , Céleri Lucas C
Published: November 2023

Even though we have some proposals for the quantum theory of gravity like string theory or loop quantum gravity, we do not have any experimental evidence supporting any of these theories. Actually, we do not have empirical evidence pointing in the direction that we really need a quantum description of the gravitational field. In this scenario, several proposals for experimentally investigating quantum gravitational effects far from the Planck scale have recently appeared in literature, like gravitationally induced entanglement, for instance. An important issue of these approaches is the decoherence introduced by the quantum nature not only of the system under consideration but also from the gravitational field itself. Here, by means of the Feynman–Vernon influence functional, we study the decoherence of a quantum system induced by the quantized gravitational field—in the linearized gravity regime—and also by its own quantum nature. Our results may be significant in better understanding many phenomena like the decoherence induced by the gravitational time-dilation, the quantum reference frames, and the quantum equivalence principle.
Multisynchrosqueezing short-time fractional Fourier transform and its application in rolling bearing instantaneous frequency estimation
Authors: Jiang Licheng , Hu Jianzhong , Zhou Qianfei , Zheng Dejun , Xu Feiyun , Feng Yuegui
Published: November 2023

Multisynchrosqueezing transform (MSST) enhances the time-frequency energy concentration by using iterative reassignment operations in time-frequency analysis (TFA). However, its effectiveness is limited for signals with rapidly changing instantaneous frequency. To address this issue, this paper presents a novel time-frequency representation (TFR) method called multisynchrosqueezing short-time fractional Fourier transform, which offers improved TF concentration for strongly frequency-modulated signals. Firstly, a high-resolution TFR of the signal is obtained by locally optimized short-time fractional Fourier transform (STFrFT). Secondly, iterative synchrosqueezing operations are introduced to further enhance the STFrFT energy concentration, with a termination strategy relying on Rényi entropy proposed to ascertain the optimal number of iterations. Finally, the ideal TFA with high energy concentration is achieved. The proposed method was validated using multi-scene simulated signals and variable-speed bearing signals. The results show that the proposed method exhibits superior time-frequency energy concentration and instantaneous frequency estimation accuracy. The estimation error of the method is consistently at least 40% lower than that of the compared short-time Fourier transform-based methods, as assessed through the evaluation criteria of maximum relative error, mean square error and symmetric mean absolute percentage error.
Improving BFS measurement accuracy of BOTDR based on Cauchy proximal splitting
Authors: Han Jinfeng , Zhang Jianzhong , Ma Zhe , Liu Shuangshuang , Xu Jinglang , Zhang Yubo , Wang Zhikun , Zhang Mingjiang
Published: November 2023

A novel approach based on the Cauchy proximal splitting (CPS) algorithm is proposed to improve Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) measurement accuracy in Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry system. The CPS algorithm utilizes proximal splitting to handle the data and the penalty function based on Cauchy distribution to accurately estimate the target signal to promote sparsity, achieving significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Experimental results confirm that with a SNR increase of 12.7 dB, an increase in BFS measurement accuracy from 4.78 MHz to 0.43 MHz is achieved over a 10.3 km sensing fiber. The denoising effects of the CPS, wavelet denoising (WD) and non-local mean (NLM) algorithms are further compared, demonstrating that the CPS algorithm has the lowest root mean square error (0.43 MHz) and no deterioration in spatial resolution rather than the WD and NLM algorithms does.
Intelligent damage diagnosis method for offshore platforms based on enhanced stabilization diagrams and convolutional neural network
Authors: Leng Jiancheng , Feng Huiyu , Sun Silei , Zhao Haifeng , Zhou Guoqiang
Published: November 2023

Considering that it is difficult to evaluate the damage state of offshore platform structures under environmental excitation by stochastic subspace identification (SSI) stability diagrams alone, an intelligent damage diagnosis method based on enhanced stability diagrams and convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed. The data-driven SSI algorithm and covariance-driven SSI algorithm are utilized to identify stability diagrams of monitoring data, and the stability diagrams of the two algorithms are superimposed together for image enhancement. Further, the enhanced stability diagrams are used as input samples for CNN training to distinguish the damage state of the structure. In the meanwhile, the whale optimization algorithm is employed to optimize the hyper parameters of CNN to ulteriorly improve the recognition performance. The final test accuracy of CNN is 97.20%, and is 13.09% higher than before hyper parameter optimization, which indicates that the damage diagnosis method based on enhanced stability diagrams and CNN is reasonable and effective, and is expected to be applied to real-time damage diagnosis of offshore platform structures.