bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strain-dependent transition of the relaxation dynamics in metallic glasses
Authors: Zhu Wenqing , Deng Yao , Liu Junjie , Yan Xin , Wei Xiaoding 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Non-exponential relaxation is pervasive in glassy systems and intimately related to unique thermodynamic features, such as glass transition and aging; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The time scale of non-exponential relaxation goes beyond the time limit (nanosecond) of classic molecular dynamics simulation. Thus, the advanced time scaling atomistic approach is necessary to interpret the relaxation mechanisms at the experimental timescale. Here, we adopted autonomous basin climbing (ABC) to evaluate the long-time stress relaxation. At the same time, based on the energy minimization principle, we carried out simulations at continuum levels on the long-time stress relaxation kinetics of Cu–Zr metallic glass over timescales greater than 100 s. Combined with atomistic and continuum models, we demonstrate that a strain-dependent transition from compressed to stretched exponentials would happen, consistent with recent experimental observations on metallic glasses. Further examination of the spatial and temporal correlations of stress and plastic strain reveals two predominant driving forces: the thermal energy gradient governs in the compressed regime and leads to a release of the local internal stress; in the stretched regime, the strain energy gradient rules and causes long-range structural rearrangements. The discovery of the competition between two driving forces advances our understanding of the nature of aging dynamics in disordered solids.
Optimizing the traversal time for gantry trajectories for proton arc therapy treatment plans
Authors: Wase V , Marthin O , Fredriksson A , Finnson A 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background. Proton arc therapy (PAT) is an emerging radiation therapy technique where either the gantry or the patient continuously rotates during the irradiation treatment. One of the perceived advantages of PAT is the reduced treatment time, but it is still unclear exactly how long these treatment times will be, given that no machine capable of its delivery is available on the market at the time of writing. Objective. We introduce the algorithm arc trajectory optimization method (ATOM), which aims to determine an efficient velocity profile for the gantry for rapid delivery of a given proton arc treatment plan. This algorithm could be used to minimize the delivery time of a proton arc plan without changing the plan or updating the machine. Approach. ATOM computes the trajectory with the shortest delivery time while ensuring there is enough time to deliver all spots in each energy layer and switch energy between layers. The feasibility of the dynamic gantry movement was assured by enforcing maximum and minimum limits for velocity, acceleration, and jerk. This was achieved by discretizing the gantry velocity and combining the A* algorithm with the open-source motion generation library Ruckig. The algorithm was tested on a synthetic data set as well as a liver case, a prostate case and a head and neck case. Main results. Arc trajectories for plans with 360 energy layers were calculated in under a second using 256 discrete velocities. The delivery time of the liver case, the prostate case and the head and neck case were 284 s, 288 s and 309 s respectively, for 180 energy layers. Significance. ATOM is an open-source C++ library with a Python interface that rapidly generates velocity profiles, making it a highly efficient tool for determining proton arc delivery times, which could be integrated into the treatment planning process.
Coupling speckle noise suppression with image classification for deep-learning-aided ultrasound diagnosis
Authors: Wang Ruixin , Liu Xiaohui , Tan Guoping 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objective. During deep-learning-aided (DL-aided) ultrasound (US) diagnosis, US image classification is a foundational task. Due to the existence of serious speckle noise in US images, the performance of DL models may be degraded. Pre-denoising US images before their use in DL models is usually a logical choice. However, our investigation suggests that pre-speckle-denoising is not consistently advantageous. Furthermore, due to the decoupling of speckle denoising from the subsequent DL classification, investing intensive time in parameter tuning is inevitable to attain the optimal denoising parameters for various datasets and DL models. Pre-denoising will also add extra complexity to the classification task and make it no longer end-to-end. Approach. In this work, we propose a multi-scale high-frequency-based feature augmentation (MSHFFA) module that couples feature augmentation and speckle noise suppression with specific DL models, preserving an end-to-end fashion. In MSHFFA, the input US image is first decomposed to multi-scale low-frequency and high-frequency components (LFC and HFC) with discrete wavelet transform. Then, multi-scale augmentation maps are obtained by computing the correlation between LFC and HFC. Last, the original DL model features are augmented with multi-scale augmentation maps. Main results. On two public US datasets, all six renowned DL models exhibited enhanced F1-scores compared with their original versions (by 1.31%–8.17% on the POCUS dataset and 0.46%–3.89% on the BLU dataset) after using the MSHFFA module, with only approximately 1% increase in model parameter count. Significance. The proposed MSHFFA has broad applicability and commendable efficiency and thus can be used to enhance the performance of DL-aided US diagnosis. The codes are available at https://github.com/ResonWang/MSHFFA.
The biological effect of the physical energy of plasma
Authors: Li Y , Zhao F , Liu D , Nie L , Lu X 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Since the publication of the initial paper on atmospheric pressure plasma sterilization by Dr Laroussi in 1996, researchers have contributed to the field with an extensive number of papers on plasma medicine. However, these studies have primarily concentrated on the biological impacts of the chemical reactive components generated by plasma, specifically focusing on the effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Conversely, when plasma directly interacts with biological organisms, there are additional physical energies involved, such as electric fields, ultraviolet (UV)/vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation, heat, etc., which may also play crucial roles in their interaction. This paper delves into this aspect by using the simplest bactericidal effect as a model for biological effects. Three dielectrics—Al2O3, quartz, and MgF2 glass—are employed to isolate the chemical active components, enabling the examination of the bactericidal effects of the electric field, UV, and VUV, respectively. The findings indicate that the plasma-induced electric field can induce irreversible electroporation, effectively eliminating bacteria at 27 kV cm−1. Notably, at a plasma-induced electric field of 40 kV cm−1, sterilization efficiency experiences a significant enhancement. The bactericidal effects of UV and VUV are closely linked to the choice of the plasma’s working gas. Specifically, when Ar is the working gas, the bactericidal effect of UV surpasses that of using only the plasma-induced electric field by two orders of magnitude, while using He results in only a one-order increase. Despite VUV radiation being considerably weaker than UV, its bactericidal effect remains substantial. In instances where He plasma is utilized, the addition of VUV doubles the bactericidal effect. In short, this paper pioneers the exploration of the biological effects of plasma’s physical energy, providing essential insights for the advancement of plasma medicine.
Drifts effect on the divertor W leakage mechanisms under different dissipative divertor conditions of EAST
Authors: Wang Hui , Xu Guoliang , Ding Rui , Si Hang , Jia Guozhang , Xie Hai , Hai Ran , Wang Zhibin , Zhu Dahuan , Yan Rong , Chen Junling 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
A new drift module has been developed in the DIVIMP code, enabling two-dimensional simulations of tungsten (W) transport in the edge plasma with full drifts included. By using the SOLPS-DIVIMP code package, the impact of drifts on W transport and screening has been investigated for various levels of dissipative divertor conditions and different divertor geometric configurations in EAST. Simulation results reveal that

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drifts can enhance the W leakage by more than one order of magnitude. Under the favorable Bt
direction, W erosion mainly occurs on the outer divertor target, making the W leakage from the outer divertor region the dominator. A leakage path from the near-scrape-off layer (SOL) region is revealed by the modeling results. In the leakage path, both the ion temperature gradient force and the reversed poloidal

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drift are pointing upstream. With the radial

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drift pushing W ions from the well-screened far-SOL region to the near-SOL region, the leakage from the near-SOL region becomes significant. As the divertor condition varies from the low-recycling regime to the deep detachment regime, the decrease of the ion temperature gradient velocity and poloidal

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×

B
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drift velocity narrows the width of the near-SOL leakage tunnel and thus enhances W screening. While under the unfavorable Bt
, W erosion and leakage from the inner divertor target matters, the leakage mechanism especially the leakage path from the near-SOL region is similar as the favorable Bt
cases. Furthermore, the effect of different divertor geometries on the W screening has been investigated. The configuration with the outer strike point (OSP) on the horizontal divertor plate is proved to narrow the near-SOL leakage tunnel, and thus the unreversed poloidal

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×

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drift pointing to the divertor target dominates and helps to enhance the divertor W screening. For the same D
2 puffing rate, the W leakage ability of cases with the OSP on the horizontal target can be more than 10 times weaker than the cases with the OSP on the vertical target, especially when the divertor is detached.
Project NextGen: Developing the Next Generation of COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics to Respond to the Present and Prepare for the Future
Authors: Hofmeyer Kimberly A , Ventura Christy L , Armstrong Kimberly L , Houchens Christopher R , Patel Sandeep , Disbrow Gary L , Johnson Robert A ,   Project NextGen Line of Effort Leads, Bandremer Aaron C , Beigel John H , Belski Timothy T , Donis Ruben O , Jayashankar Lakshmi , Koup Richard A , Kovacs Gerald R , Link Malen A , Martins Karen A , Mason Robin M , Stronsky Sabrina M , Wolfe Daniel N 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemiology and product landscapes have changed considerably since onset of the pandemic. Safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics are available, but the continual emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants introduce limitations in our ability to prevent and treat disease. Project NextGen is a collaboration between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, that is leveraging public–private partnerships to address gaps in the nation's COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic capabilities. Targeted investments will advance promising next-generation candidates through the most difficult phases of clinical development to encourage further private sector interest for later stage development and commercial availability. New commercial vaccines and therapeutics that are more durable and effective across variants will improve our fight against COVID-19 and transform our response to future threats.
Evaluation of the effect of proximal massage and palm fisting in reducing the risk of peripheral venous catheter-related phlebitis: randomized control study
Authors: Tosun Betul , Güngör Serap , Ağkale Esengül , Andı Senem 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
Peripheral venous catheter (PVC) is a clinical procedure often performed by nurses in hospitals. Phlebitis can be prevented with more nursing care by applying PVC by trained nurses and using preventive methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of proximal massage and palm fisting on the prevention of phlebitis in patients with a PVC.

Methods and results
This randomized controlled study was conducted with patients who were hospitalized in the orthopaedics and traumatology service of a state hospital and had PVC. While the study group (n = 36) received proximal massage and palm fisting on the side with a PVC, the control group (n = 36) received standard care for PVC. The data were collected by using the ‘Patient Demographics and Clinical Information Form’, ‘Peripheral Venous Catheter-Related Phlebitis Risk Scale’, and ‘Visual Infusion Phlebitis Assessment Scale’. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding phlebitis development based on age, sex, chronic disease status, PVC insertion site, devices in the PVC, or fluids administered from the PVC. However, there was a significantly higher risk of PVC-induced phlebitis in patients who received proximal massage and palm fisting at 48 and 96 h, when the severity of phlebitis was evaluated on daily basis.

Conclusion
The study showed promising results, suggesting that proximal massage and palm fisting may be a simple and inexpensive technique to prevent the occurrence of phlebitis in PVC patients.

Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05714137
Impacts of humic substances, elevated temperature, and UVB radiation on bacterial communities of the marine sponge Chondrilla sp
Authors: Stuij Tamara M , Cleary Daniel F R , Rocha Rui J M , Polónia Ana R M , Silva Davide A M , Louvado Antonio , de Voogd Nicole J , Gomes Newton C M 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Sponges are abundant components of coral reefs known for their filtration capabilities and intricate interactions with microbes. They play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of coral reefs. Humic substances (HS) affect bacterial communities across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. However, the specific effects of HS on sponge-associated microbial symbionts have largely been neglected. Here, we used a randomized-controlled microcosm setup to investigate the independent and interactive effects of HS, elevated temperature, and UVB radiation on bacterial communities associated with the sponge Chondrilla sp. Our results indicated the presence of a core bacterial community consisting of relatively abundant members, apparently resilient to the tested environmental perturbations, alongside a variable bacterial community. Elevated temperature positively affected the relative abundances of ASVs related to Planctomycetales and members of the families Pseudohongiellaceae and Hyphomonadaceae. HS increased the relative abundances of several ASVs potentially involved in recalcitrant organic matter degradation (e.g., the BD2-11 terrestrial group, Saccharimonadales, and SAR202 clade). There was no significant independent effect of UVB and there were no significant interactive effects of HS, heat, and UVB on bacterial diversity and composition. The significant, independent impact of HS on the composition of sponge bacterial communities suggests that alterations to HS inputs may have cascading effects on adjacent marine ecosystems.
Development, characterization, and evaluation of a simple polymicrobial colony biofilm model for testing of antimicrobial wound dressings
Authors: Robertson Shaun N , Romero Manuel , Fenn Samuel , Kohler Riedi Petra L , Cámara Miguel 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Chronic wound infections are generally of polymicrobial nature with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as fungi frequently observed in them. Wound treatment involves a series of steps, including debridement of the wound, flushing, and often the use of multiple wound dressings many of which are antimicrobial. Yet, many wound dressings are tested versus single species of planktonic microbes, which fails to mirror the real-life presence of biofilms.

Aims
Simple biofilm models are the first step to testing of any antimicrobial and wound dressing; therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate a simple polymicrobial colony biofilm wound model comprised of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans on RPMI-1640 agar. The model was then used to evaluate the topical disinfectant chlorohexidine and four commercially available wound dressings using the polymicrobial model. The model used was as a starting point to mimic debridement in clinical care of wounds and the effectiveness of wound dressings evaluated afterwards.

Methods and Results
Planktonic assessment using AATCC100-2004 demonstrated that all antimicrobial wound dressings reduced the planktonic microbial burden below the limit of detection; however, when challenged with polymicrobial colony biofilms, silver wound dressings showed limited effectiveness (1–2 log CFU reductions). In contrast, a single iodine releasing wound dressing showed potent antibiofilm activity reducing all species CFUs below the limit of detection (&gt;6–10 log) depending on the species. A disrupted biofilm model challenge was performed to represent the debridement of a wound and wound silver-based wound dressings were found to be marginally more effective than in whole colony biofilm challenges while the iodine containing wound dressing reduced microbial recovery below the limit of detection.

Conclusions
In this model, silver dressings were ineffective versus the whole colony biofilms but showed some recovery of activity versus the disrupted colony biofilm. The iodine wound dressing reduced the viability of all species below the level of detection. This suggests that mode of action of wound dressing should be considered for the type of biofilm challenge as should the clinical use, e.g. debridement.
One hundred optical emission lines of molecular hydrogen from a low-metallicity photodissociation region
Authors: Henney William J , Valerdi Mabel 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
We report the detection of a rich spectrum of more than one hundred optical emission lines of vibrationally hot molecular hydrogen (H2) from the photodissociation region (PDR) around the mini-starburst cluster NGC 346 in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The lines are concentrated in the spectral range $6000 \, {{\mathring{\rm A}}}$ to $9300 \, {{\mathring{\rm A}}}$ and have observed brightnesses ranging from 0.01 per cent to 0.4 per cent times that of the H β λ4861 hydrogen recombination line. Analysis of the spatial distribution of the H2 lines shows that they originate from a range of depths in the PDR, intermediate between the shallow layers probed by fluorescent lines of neutral nitrogen and oxygen, and the more shielded layers probed by neutral carbon recombination lines. Comparison with other PDRs shows that the relative strength of the H2 lines with respect to the [$\mathrm{C\, \scriptstyle I}$] λ8727 line increases rapidly with decreasing metallicity, being at least 40 times larger in NGC 346 than in the prototypical PDR of the Orion Bar. The internal PDR dust extinction is also found to be anomalously low in NGC 346. A separate result is the discovery of a high-ionization bow shock around the O2 star Walborn 3.
The morphological mix of dwarf galaxies in the nearby Universe
Authors: Lazar I , Kaviraj S , Watkins A E , Martin G , Bichang’a B , Jackson R A 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
We use a complete, unbiased sample of 257 dwarf (10$^{8}\, {\rm M}_{\odot } \lt M_{\rm {\star }} \lt 10^{9.5}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$) galaxies at z &lt; 0.08, in the COSMOS field, to study the morphological mix of the dwarf population in low-density environments. Visual inspection of extremely deep optical images and their unsharp-masked counterparts reveals three principal dwarf morphological classes. 43 per cent and 45 per cent of dwarfs exhibit the traditional ‘early-type’ (elliptical/S0) and ‘late-type’ (spiral) morphologies, respectively. However, 10 per cent populate a ‘featureless’ class, that lacks both the central light concentration seen in early-types and any spiral structure – this class is missing in the massive-galaxy regime. 14 per cent, 27 per cent, and 19 per cent of early-type, late-type, and featureless dwarfs respectively show evidence for interactions, which drive around 20 per cent of the overall star formation activity in the dwarf population. Compared to their massive counterparts, dwarf early-types show a much lower incidence of interactions, are significantly less concentrated and share similar rest-frame colours as dwarf late-types. This suggests that the formation histories of dwarf and massive early-types are different, with dwarf early-types being shaped less by interactions and more by secular processes. The lack of large groups or clusters in COSMOS at z &lt; 0.08, and the fact that our dwarf morphological classes show similar local density, suggests that featureless dwarfs in low-density environments are created via internal baryonic feedback, rather than by environmental processes. Finally, while interacting dwarfs can be identified using the asymmetry parameter, it is challenging to cleanly separate early and late-type dwarfs using traditional morphological parameters, such as ‘CAS’, M20, and the Gini coefficient (unlike in the massive-galaxy regime).
On the constraints on superconducting cosmic strings from 21-cm cosmology
Authors: Gessey-Jones T , Pochinda S , Bevins H T J , Fialkov A , Handley W J , de Lera Acedo E , Singh S , Barkana R 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
Constraints on the potential properties of superconducting cosmic strings provide an indirect probe of physics beyond the standard model at energies inaccessible to terrestrial particle colliders. In this study, we perform the first joint Bayesian analysis to extract constraints on superconducting cosmic strings from current 21-cm signal measurements while accounting rigorously for the uncertainties in foregrounds and high redshift astrophysics. We include the latest publicly available 21-cm power spectrum upper limits from HERA, 21-cm global signal data from SARAS 3, and the synergistic probe of the unresolved X-ray background in our final analysis. This paper thus constitutes the first attempt to use 21-cm power spectrum data to probe cosmic strings. In contrast to previous works, we find no strong constraints can be placed on superconducting cosmic strings from current 21-cm measurements. This is because of uncertainties in the X-ray emission efficiency of the first galaxies, with X-ray emissivities greater than 3 × 1040 erg s−1 M$_{\odot }^{-1}$ yr able to mask the presence of cosmic strings in the 21-cm signal. We conclude by discussing the prospects for future constraints from definitive 21-cm signal measurements and argue that the recently proposed soft photon heating should be cause for optimism due to its potential to break degeneracies that would have otherwise made the signatures of cosmic strings difficult to distinguish from those of astrophysical origin.