bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electrical characterization of multi-gated WSe2/MoS2 van der Waals heterojunctions
Authors: Chava Phanish , Kateel Vaishnavi , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Helm Manfred , Mikolajick Thomas , Erbe Artur 
Published: March 2024

AbstractVertical stacking of different two-dimensional (2D) materials into van der Waals heterostructures exploits the properties of individual materials as well as their interlayer coupling, thereby exhibiting unique electrical and optical properties. Here, we study and investigate a system consisting entirely of different 2D materials for the implementation of electronic devices that are based on quantum mechanical band-to-band tunneling transport such as tunnel diodes and tunnel field-effect transistors. We fabricated and characterized van der Waals heterojunctions based on semiconducting layers of WSe2and MoS2by employing different gate configurations to analyze the transport properties of the junction. We found that the device dielectric environment is crucial for achieving tunneling transport across the heterojunction by replacing thick oxide dielectrics with thin layers of hexagonal-boronnitride. With the help of additional top gates implemented in different regions of our heterojunction device, it was seen that the tunneling properties as well as the Schottky barriers at the contact interfaces could be tuned efficiently by using layers of graphene as an intermediate contact material.
Post-secondary classroom teaching quality evaluation using small object detection model
Authors: Wang Rui , Chen Shaojie , Tian Gang , Wang Pengxiang , Ying Shi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe classroom video has a complex background and dense targets. This study utilizes small object detection technology to analyze and evaluate students’ behavior in the classroom, aiming to objectively and accurately assess classroom quality. Firstly, noise is removed from the images using a median filter, and the contrast of the images is enhanced through histogram equalization. Label smoothing is applied to reduce the model’s sensitivity to labels. Then, features are extracted from the preprocessed images, and multi-scale feature fusion is employed to enhance semantic expression across multiple scales. Finally, a combination loss function is utilized to improve the accuracy of multi-object recognition tasks. Real-time detection of students’ behaviors in the classroom is performed based on the small object detection model. The average head-up rate in the classroom is calculated, and the quality of teaching is evaluated and analyzed. This study explores the methods and applications of small object detection technology based on actual teaching cases and analyzes and evaluates its effectiveness in evaluating the quality of higher education classroom teaching. The research findings demonstrate the significant importance of small object detection technology in effectively evaluating students’ learning conditions in higher education classrooms, leading to improved teaching quality and personalized education.
On the feasibility of malaria hypothesis
Authors: Habibzadeh Farrokh 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn 1954, Allison proposed that hemoglobin S (HbS) gene causes protection against fatal malaria. This would explain the high HbS gene frequency observed in certain regions hyperendemic for malaria, so-called “malaria hypothesis”. This in silico study was conducted to examine the feasibility of the hypothesis under more realistic initial conditions, where a mutant gene with heterozygous advantage against malaria (e.g., HbS) was introduced in a group of Neolithic hunter-gatherers who decided to start agriculture nearby water where malaria killed a proportion of population. The tribe population size, number of children born to each woman in each generation, mortality from malaria and sickle cell disease, the protection factor provided by the gene carriers against malaria, the probability of mating between the members of the parent and offspring populations, population growth, and increased fertility in women heterozygous for HbS, were also considered. For effectively confer protection against malaria within the shortest possible period, the mutation needs to be happened in a small population. For a large population, the process would take around 100 generations (~ 2500 years) or more to provide an effective protection. Even then, the probability that the new gene could survive and propagate to future generations is about 35%. Conventional population genetics equations with differential or difference equations, give totally incorrect estimates of the gene frequency in small populations; discrete mathematics should be used, instead. After introduction of the advantageous mutation, the gene frequency increased until a steady state value. This value is far less than the gene frequency reported in certain tribes of Africa. It seems that the malaria hypothesis, per se, could not explain such a high observed gene frequency, unless HbS is associated with lower mortality from other causes too.
STAP-2 facilitates insulin signaling through binding to CAP/c-Cbl and regulates adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Sekine Yuichi , Kikkawa Kazuna , Honda Sachie , Sasaki Yuto , Kawahara Shoya , Mizushima Akihiro , Togi Sumihito , Fujimuro Masahiro , Oritani Kenji , Matsuda Tadashi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSignal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) is an adaptor molecule involved in several cellular signaling cascades. Here, we attempted to identify novel STAP-2 interacting molecules, and identified c-Cbl associated protein (CAP) as a binding protein through the C-terminal proline-rich region of STAP-2. Expression of STAP-2 increased the interaction between CAP and c-Cbl, suggesting that STAP-2 bridges these proteins and enhances complex formation. CAP/c-Cbl complex is known to regulate GLUT4 translocation in insulin signaling. STAP-2 overexpressed human hepatocyte Hep3B cells showed enhanced GLUT4 translocation after insulin treatment. Elevated levels of Stap2 mRNA have been observed in 3T3-L1 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) during adipocyte differentiation. The differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes was highly promoted by retroviral overexpression of STAP-2. In contrast, STAP-2 knockout (KO) MEFs exhibited suppressed adipogenesis. The increase in body weight with high-fat diet feeding was significantly decreased in STAP-2 KO mice compared to WT animals. These data suggest that the expression of STAP-2 correlates with adipogenesis. Thus, STAP-2 is a novel regulatory molecule that controls insulin signal transduction by forming a c-Cbl/STAP-2/CAP ternary complex.
FRETpredict: a Python package for FRET efficiency predictions using rotamer libraries
Authors: Montepietra Daniele , Tesei Giulio , Martins João M. , Kunze Micha B. A. , Best Robert B. , Lindorff-Larsen Kresten 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a widely-used and versatile technique for the structural characterization of biomolecules. Here, we introduce FRETpredict, an easy-to-use Python software to predict FRET efficiencies from ensembles of protein conformations. FRETpredict uses a rotamer library approach to describe the FRET probes covalently bound to the protein. The software efficiently and flexibly operates on large conformational ensembles such as those generated by molecular dynamics simulations to facilitate the validation or refinement of molecular models and the interpretation of experimental data. We provide access to rotamer libraries for many commonly used dyes and linkers and describe a general methodology to generate new rotamer libraries for FRET probes. We demonstrate the performance and accuracy of the software for different types of systems: a rigid peptide (polyproline 11), an intrinsically disordered protein (ACTR), and three folded proteins (HiSiaP, SBD2, and MalE). FRETpredict is open source (GPLv3) and is available at github.com/KULL-Centre/FRETpredict and as a Python PyPI package at pypi.org/project/FRETpredict.
Accurate prediction of RNA secondary structure including pseudoknots through solving minimum-cost flow with learned potentials
Authors: Gong Tiansu , Ju Fusong , Bu Dongbo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPseudoknots are key structure motifs of RNA and pseudoknotted RNAs play important roles in a variety of biological processes. Here, we present KnotFold, an accurate approach to the prediction of RNA secondary structure including pseudoknots. The key elements of KnotFold include a learned potential function and a minimum-cost flow algorithm to find the secondary structure with the lowest potential. KnotFold learns the potential from the RNAs with known structures using an attention-based neural network, thus avoiding the inaccuracy of hand-crafted energy functions. The specially designed minimum-cost flow algorithm used by KnotFold considers all possible combinations of base pairs and selects from them the optimal combination. The algorithm breaks the restriction of nested base pairs required by the widely used dynamic programming algorithms, thus enabling the identification of pseudoknots. Using 1,009 pseudoknotted RNAs as representatives, we demonstrate the successful application of KnotFold in predicting RNA secondary structures including pseudoknots with accuracy higher than the state-of-the-art approaches. We anticipate that KnotFold, with its superior accuracy, will greatly facilitate the understanding of RNA structures and functionalities.
An ex vivo animal model to study the effect of transverse mechanical loading on skeletal muscle
Authors: Sargent Marisa , Wark Alastair W. , Day Sarah , Buis Arjan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn many populations like wheelchair and prosthetic users, the soft tissue is subject to excessive or repetitive loading, making it prone to Deep Tissue Injury (DTI). To study the skeletal muscle response to physical stress, numerous in vitro and in vivo models exist. Yet, accuracy, variability, and ethical considerations pose significant trade-offs. Here, we present an ex vivo approach to address these limitations and offer additional quantitative information on cellular damage. In this study, skeletal muscle tissue from Sprague Dawley rats was isolated and transversely loaded. Histological analysis and fluorescence staining demonstrated that the setup was suitable to keep the tissue alive throughout the experimental procedure. Mechanically induced cell damage was readily distinguishable through morphological changes and uptake of a membrane impermeable dye. Our comparably simple experimental setup can be adapted to different loading conditions and tissues to assess the cell response to mechanical loading in future studies.
Design and analysis of quasi‐lumped notch filter with extended upper pass band
Authors: Mohit  , Jhariya Satish , Singh Shailendra , Rai Raghvendra Kumar 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper presents a hybrid technique‐based compact narrow band stop filter design for broadband applications. It provides the rejection of 60 dB at the centre frequency of 2.25 GHz without any stop band harmonics over the required frequency band of operation, i.e. 1–10 GHz. This filter is highly appropriated for the rejection of undesired bands for RADAR, electronic warfare, and military communications.
A comprehensive packaging solution from DC to 113 GHz for InGaAs amplifiers
Authors: Valenziano Luca , Hebeler Joachim , Sherifaj Alban , Thome Fabian , Koos Christian , Zwick Thomas , Bhutani Akanksha 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis letter presents the design, fabrication and measurement of a 72 kHz to 113 GHz ultra‐broadband amplifier that includes a direct current (DC)‐blocking functionality. This amplifier module stands out with a high average gain of 12.5 dB in the frequency range from almost DC to 110 GHz. This work not only combines electrical interconnections but also mechanical design considerations, thermal requirements and practical application specific aspects. To ensure a low thermal resistance, the InGaAs amplifier IC is directly mounted on an aluminium submount, applying an advanced gluing concept, and interconnected to an input and output 50 grounded coplanar waveguide by wire bonds with a length of only 135 . To enable convenient usage of the package, 1 mm connectors are utilized. This amplifier module exhibits excellent thermal behaviour and group delay characteristics, making it an ideal choice for use in optical data transmission experiments.
A 53–125 GHz chip to double‐ridge rectangular waveguide transition
Authors: Pittermann Martin , Zwick Thomas , Bhutani Akanksha 
Published: March 2024

AbstractA novel chip to double‐ridge rectangular waveguide transition, with an ultra‐broadband operation bandwidth exceeding three standard rectangular waveguide (WR) bands of WR15, WR12, and WR10 is demonstrated for the first time in this letter, to the best of authors' knowledge. This bandwidth is achieved by coupling the microstrip mode directly to the fundamental TE mode of the waveguide. A unique feature of this transition is that the transition design can be implemented on substrates with a high dielectric constant, which makes it suitable for integration with monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs). A back‐to‐back transition is realized using a split‐block assembly and 254 thickness alumina substrate ( at 80 GHz). The latter acts as an MMIC substrate substitute, including a tapered microstrip and a 50 coplanar waveguide pad for probe‐based measurement. Two novel mechanical assembly concepts, involving die‐attach‐foil and indium solder, are used to build two split‐block prototypes. The simulated and measured S‐parameters of the transition are demonstrated from 35 to 125 GHz.
Simplified decoupling simulation study of non‐contact voltage measurement in distribution station area
Authors: Liu Lina , Wang Tao , Shen Jie , Li Ruichao , Li Fangshuo , Qu Ming , Li Xiaojun 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe coupling capacitance between the line and the transducer cannot be ignored when making non‐contact voltage measurements on low‐voltage three‐phase power lines. This leads to an increase in the number of unknown capacitances, and the number of correlatable response voltage equations is less than the number of unknown coupling capacitances. In this paper, a simplified decoupling method is proposed based on the characteristics of triangular three‐phase lines erected in distribution areas. Firstly, the equivalent circuit measured by the voltage sensing mechanism during three‐phase operation is established, and the three‐phase line response voltage equation is derived. Secondly, this paper proposes a three‐phase line response voltage decoupling algorithm after designing the decoupling matrix. Then, this paper uses the least squares method to solve the coefficients in the equations. Finally, the three‐phase voltage fluctuations of the actual low‐voltage stations are simulated by simulation. The measured sensor voltage values are substituted into the algorithm to invert and calculate the three‐phase line voltage. The three‐phase phase error is less than 2°. The amplitude error is less than 1.77%. The experiment verifies the stability and accuracy of the proposed decoupling method.
Fuel‐efficient and safe distributed hierarchical control for connected hybrid electric vehicles platooning
Authors: Guo Jinghua , Wang Jingyao , Wang Ban 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn order to enhance the performance of safety and fuel economy of connected hybrid electric vehicles (CHEVs), a novel distributed hierarchical platoon control scheme of CHEVs is proposed. First, the non‐linear dynamic model of CHEVs platooning is established to accurately depict the multi‐process coupling characteristics of CHEVs. Then, a distributed hierarchical control framework for CHEVs platooning is proposed, which is consisted of a upper model predictive control (MPC) law and a lower energy management control law. The upper MPC control law is built to produce the desired accelerations of every vehicle in the platoon and the lower fuzzy‐based energy management control law is constructed to ensure the engine maintain at the rang of optimum working point and the motor work with the high efficiency of CHEVs platooning. Finally, the results manifest that the effectiveness of proposed platoon control scheme for CHEVs.
Transition to a weaker Sun: Changes in the solar atmosphere during the decay of the Modern Maximum
Authors: Mursula K. , Pevtsov A. A. , Asikainen T. , Tähtinen I. , Yeates A. R. 
Published: March 2024

Context.The Sun experienced a period of unprecedented activity during the 20th century, now called the Modern Maximum (MM). The decay of the MM after its maximum in cycle 19 has changed the Sun, the heliosphere, and the planetary environments in many ways. However, studies disagree on whether this decay has proceeded synchronously in different solar parameters or not.Aims.One of the related key issues is if the relation between two long parameters of solar activity, the sunspot number and the solar 10.7 cm radio flux, has remained the same during this decay. A recent study argues that there is an inhomogeneity in the 10.7 cm radio flux in 1980, which leads to a step-like jump (“1980 jump”) in this relation. If true, this result would reduce the versatility of possible long-term studies of the Sun during the MM. Here we aim to show that the relation between sunspot number and 10.7 cm radio flux does indeed vary in time, not due to an inhomogeneous radio flux but due to physical changes in the solar atmosphere.Methods.We used radio flux measurements made in Japan at four different wavelengths, and studied their long-term relation with the sunspot number and the 10.7 cm radio flux during the decay of MM. We also used two other solar parameters, the MgII index and the number of solar active regions, in order to study the nature of the observed long-term changes in more detail.Results.We find that the 1980 jump is only the first of a series of 1–2-year “humps” that mainly occur during solar maxima. All five radio fluxes depict an increasing trend with respect to the sunspot number from the 1970s to 2010s. These results exclude the interpretation of the 1980 jump as an inhomogeneity in the 10.7 cm flux, and reestablish the 10.7 cm flux as a homogeneous measure of solar activity. The fluxes of the longer radio waves are found to increase with respect to the shorter waves, which suggests a long-term change in the solar radio spectrum. We also find that the MgII index of solar UV irradiance and the number of active regions also increased with respect to the sunspot number, further verifying the difference in the long-term evolution in chromospheric and photospheric parameters.Conclusions.Our results provide evidence for important structural changes in solar magnetic fields and the solar atmosphere during the decay of the MM, which have not been reliably documented so far. We also emphasize that the changing relation between the different (e.g., photospheric and chromospheric) solar parameters should be taken into account when using the sunspot number or any single parameter in long-term studies of solar activity.
Risk-taking in banks: does skin-in-the-game really matter?
Authors: Moreira Fernando 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe belief that bank capital helps improve stability takes for granted the idea that increases in capital are an incentive to reduce risk-taking because bank owners would have more to lose (skin-in-the-game) if their banks fail. Nevertheless, given the higher cost of capital as compared to debt, it is also possible that increases in capital would lead to higher risk-taking due to the need for banks to boost their returns. In light of these contradictory possibilities, we exploit exogenous variations of capital to empirically investigate the actual effects of capital on risk-taking. Our analyses based on a sample of nearly 1900 US Banking Holding Companies in the 1990–2020 period indicate that increasing capital actually leads to higher risk-taking, which contradicts the skin-in-the-game hypothesis. We show evidence that this relationship could be explained by the consequent increase in funding costs that creates pressure for better returns, which is normally achieved by means of taking higher risk. Our main findings are robust to a number of alternative model and sample specifications.
Hostile attributional biases in severe alcohol use disorder: replication, gender specificity, and mechanistic insights
Authors: Pabst Arthur , Gautier Mado , Maurage Pierre 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Aims
Despite their importance in the emergence and persistence of severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD), social cognition impairments remain understudied in this population. Hostile attributional biases (HAB), a key component of social cognition, may be involved in interpersonal problems and SAUD maintenance. However, current evidence for HAB in SAUD is highly preliminary, as it relies on a single study based on a small sample and on a task that cannot dissociate increased hostile from reduced benign attributions. We therefore used an improved methodology to further characterize this bias and disentangle underlying mechanisms. In addition, we explored potential gender differences.

Method
A total of 56 patients (28 women) diagnosed with SAUD and 66 (27 women) demographically matched controls completed the Word-Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility, which provides a valid, spontaneous, and relatively implicit assessment of both hostile and benign social attributions related to ambiguous situations. They also completed self-report measures of psychopathology and interpersonal problems.

Results
At the group-level, patients with SAUD presented higher HAB than controls, without group differences for benign attributions. Gender analyses revealed that this effect selectively emerged in men with SAUD. Further, patients’ benign attributions did not differ from their hostile attributions. Finally, HAB (not benign attributions) were associated with interpersonal problems and state anxiety in patients.

Conclusions
The association between SAUD and HAB at the group level is genuine and replicable across samples and tasks. This association may further selectively emerge in men. Our results also confirm the functional significance of HAB in SAUD, and point to potential mechanisms and clinical recommendations.
Mendelian randomization analysis using multiple biomarkers of an underlying common exposure
Authors: Jin Jin , Qi Guanghao , Yu Zhi , Chatterjee Nilanjan 
Published: March 2024

Summary
Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is increasingly popular for testing the causal effect of exposures on disease outcomes using data from genome-wide association studies. In some settings, the underlying exposure, such as systematic inflammation, may not be directly observable, but measurements can be available on multiple biomarkers or other types of traits that are co-regulated by the exposure. We propose a method for MR analysis on latent exposures (MRLE), which tests the significance for, and the direction of, the effect of a latent exposure by leveraging information from multiple related traits. The method is developed by constructing a set of estimating functions based on the second-order moments of GWAS summary association statistics for the observable traits, under a structural equation model where genetic variants are assumed to have indirect effects through the latent exposure and potentially direct effects on the traits. Simulation studies show that MRLE has well-controlled type I error rates and enhanced power compared to single-trait MR tests under various types of pleiotropy. Applications of MRLE using genetic association statistics across five inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and MCP-1) provide evidence for potential causal effects of inflammation on increasing the risk of coronary artery disease, colorectal cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis, while standard MR analysis for individual biomarkers fails to detect consistent evidence for such effects.