bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen production by decomposition of ethanol in the afterglow of atmospheric-pressure nitrogen microwave plasma torch
Authors: Niu Yu-Long , Li Shou-Zhe 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma torch (MPT) is employed to produce hydrogen via the decomposition of ethanol (C2H5OH). The ethanol aerosol is injected directly into the early afterglow of a nitrogen plasma and the products are analyzed with Fourier transformation infrared spectrometery and gas chromatography. Meanwhile, optical emission spectroscopy is used to diagnose the plasma. The influencing factors for the hydrogen production are investigated with respect to the location of the ethanol injection, the ethanol feed rate, the ethanol microdroplet size, the absorbed microwave power, the total flow rate of carrier gas, and the Ar–N2 mixture ratio, respectively. It is found that the excited species and high temperature play important roles in ethanol decomposition. In addition, the effect of the gas flow pattern in the reaction chamber on hydrogen production is analyzed with the aid of computational fluid dynamics and the mechanism of ethanol decomposition by MPT is discussed. Hydrogen production in our experiment was successful, with a production rate of up to 1309 l h−1, an energy yield of up to 468 l kWh−1, and a hydrogen yield of up to 95%, respectively.
Study of the threshold anomaly in the elastic scattering of d+ 197Au
Authors: Giudice T , Abriola D , Arazi A , de Barbará E , Cardona M A , Gómez J , Hojman D , Id Betan R M , Kohen M S , Llaneza N , Martí G V , Paes B , Schneider D , Soler H , Lubian J 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Measurements of the elastic scattering angular distribution for the d+ 197Au system were carried out covering deuteron incident energies in the range from 5 to 16 MeV, i.e. approximately 50% below and above the Coulomb barrier. A critical interaction distance of d

I
= 2.49 fm was determined from these distributions, which is comparable to that of the radioactive halo nucleus 6He. The experimental angular distributions were systematically analyzed using two alternative models: the semi-microscopic São Paulo and the effective Woods–Saxon optical potentials, for which the best-fitting parameters were determined. These potentials, integrated with the vicinity of the sensitivity radius, were calculated for each energy. For both models, the energy dependence of these integrals presented the breakup threshold anomaly around the coulomb barrier, a typical signature of weakly bound nuclei.
Ultrafast spin dynamics: complementing theoretical analyses by quantum state measures
Authors: Ziolkowski Franziska , Busch Oliver , Mertig Ingrid , Henk Jürgen 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
In theoretical analyses of ultrafast spin dynamics simulated phenomena are commonly discussed in terms of observables. In this paper we report on possible benefits of complementing such studies by quantum state (QS) measures. These measures quantify specific properties of QSs, e.g. distance in Hilbert space and mixing. For Co/Cu heterostructures illuminated by femtosecond laser pulses, we discuss the general behavior of selected measures, but address in particular the degree of perturbation by a laser pulse. It turns out that the measures are especially sensitive to variations of the polarization of a laser pulse and the sample composition. Moreover, they are closely linked to magnetization and number of photo-excited electrons.
Method of precise sensing channel positioning forϕ-OTDR-based DAS
Authors: Peng Yang , Zhang Dan , Fu Shi-Chong , Li Xiao-Lei , Nuerlan Yedili , Ma Zhuo 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
For the applications of distributed acoustic sensing technology (DAS), such as leakage detection in a pipeline, it is important to precisely identify the sensing channels along a optic fiber to correctly locate the vibrations and improve the accuracy of DAS. A method of precise sensing channel positioning for DAS is proposed. An experimental validation is conducted in consideration of optic fiber types and soil types. A bending element was inserted into the sand and clay to excite the constant-frequency signals point by point along the optic fiber. A DAS interrogator was used to collect the vibrations of the fiber. The average of the normalized time-domain signals and the amplitude of the specific constant frequency in the frequency domain are analyzed. The parameters of the skewness of the amplitude-channel curve (SACC) and the relative shift of the amplitude peak (RSAP) are proposed to identify the boundary of the adjacent sensing channels. The accuracy of the sensing channel positioning is better than the spacing of the excitation points.
Recent advances of two-dimensional material additives in hybrid perovskite solar cells
Authors: Yin Yifan , Zhou Yuchen , Rafailovich Miriam H , Nam Chang-Yong 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have become one of the state-of-the-art photovoltaic technologies due to their facile solution-based fabrication processes combined with extremely high photovoltaic performance originating from excellent optoelectronic properties such as strong light absorption, high charge mobility, long free charge carrier diffusion length, and tunable direct bandgap. However, the poor intrinsic stability of hybrid perovskites under environmental stresses including light, heat, and moisture, which is often associated with high defect density in the perovskite, has limited the large-scale commercialization and deployment of PSCs. The use of process additives, which can be included in various subcomponent layers in the PSC, has been identified as one of the effective approaches that can address these issues and improve the photovoltaic performance. Among various additives that have been explored, two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged recently due to their unique structures and properties that can enhance the photovoltaic performance and device stability by improving perovskite crystallization, defect passivation, and charge transport. Here, we provide a review of the recent progresses in 2D material additives for improving the PSC performance based on key representative 2D material systems, including graphene and its derivatives, transitional metal dichalcogenides, and black phosphorous, providing a useful guideline for further exploiting unique nanomaterial additives for more efficient and stable PSCs in the near future.
A nanophotonic interferometer
Authors: Ghaffari Abbas , Kashani Somayeh , Do Kevin , Weninger Keith , Riehn Robert 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The transmission of light through sub-wavelength apertures (zero-mode waveguides, ZMW) in metal films is well-explored. It introduces both an amplitude modulation as well as a phase shift to the oscillating electromagnetic field. We propose a nanophotonic interferometer by bringing two ZMW (∼100 nm diameter) in proximity and monitoring the distribution of transmitted light in the back-focal plane of collecting microscope objective (1.3 N.A.). We demonstrate that both an asymmetry induced by the binding of a quantum dot in one of the two ZMW, as well as an asymmetry in ZMW diameter yield qualitatively similar transmission patterns. We find that the complex pattern can be quantified through a scalar measure of asymmetry along the symmetry axis of the aperture pair. In a combined experimental and computational exploration of detectors with differing ZMW diameters, we find that the scalar asymmetry is a monotonous function of the diameter difference of the two apertures, and that the scalar asymmetry measure is higher if the sample is slightly displaced from the focal plane of the collecting microscope objective. An optimization of the detector geometry determined that the maximum response is achieved at an aperture separation that is comparable to the wavelength on the exit side of the sensor. For small separations of apertures, on the order of a quarter of the wavelength and less, the signal is strongly polarization dependent, while for larger separations, on the order of the wavelength or larger, the signal becomes essentially polarization-independent.
Plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis using gold nanoparticles encapsulated in nanoscale molybdenum oxide shell
Authors: Tao Zizi , Feng Jiyuan , Yang Fan , Zhang Liqiu , Shen Hongxia , Cheng Qiong , Liu Lichun 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Using solar energy to enhance the transformation rate of organic molecules is a promising strategy to advance chemical synthesis and environmental remediation. Plasmonic nanoparticles responsive to sunlight show great promise in the catalysis of chemical reactions. In this work, we used a straightforward wet-chemistry method to synthesize plasmonic octahedral gold nanoparticles (NPs) coated with thin molybdenum oxide (MoO3−x
), Au@MoO3−x
NPs, which exhibited strong surface plasmon resonance in a broad wavelength range. The synthesized Au@MoO3−x
NPs were characterized by UV–vis, SEM, TEM, EDS, XPS, and the electrochemical technique of cyclic voltammetry (CV). The catalytic performance of Au@MoO3−x
NPs under visible light irradiation was investigated using the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) as a model reaction. The presence of a thin capping layer of MoO3−x
on our Au NPs contributed to the broadening of their range of absorption of visible light, resulting in a stronger intra-particle plasmonic resonance and the modulation of surface energy and electronic state. Accordingly, the kinetics of plasmon photocatalytic transformation of 4-NP to 4-AP was significantly accelerated (by a factor of 8.1) under visible light, compared to uncapped Au NPs in the dark. Our as-synthesized Au@MoO3−x
NPs is an example that the range of plasmonic wavelengths of NPs can be effectively broadened by coating them with another plasmon-active (semiconducting) material, which substantially improves their plasmonic photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, the synthesized Au@MoO3−x
NPs can be used to accelerate the transformation of organic molecules under visible light irradiation.
Effect of vacancy ordering on the grain growth of Ge2Sb2Te5 film
Authors: Liu Cheng , Tang Qiongyan , Zheng Yonghui , Zhao Jin , Song Wenxiong , Cheng Yan 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) is the most widely used matrix material in phase change random access memory (PCRAM). In practical PCRAM device, the formed large hexagonal phase in GST material is not preferred, especially when the size of storage architecture is continually scaling down. In this report, with the aid of spherical-aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy (Cs-TEM), the grain growth behavior during the in situ heating process in GST alloy is investigated. Generally, the metastable face-centered-cubic (f-) grain tends to grow up with increasing temperature. However, a part of f-phase nanograins with {111} surface plane does not grow very obviously. Thus, the grain size distribution at high temperature shows a large average grain size as well as a large standard deviation. When the vacancy ordering layers forms at the grain boundary area in the nanograins, which is parallel to {111} surface plane, it could stabilize and refine these f-phase grains. By elaborating the relationship between the grain growth and the vacancy ordering process in GST, this work offers a new perspective for the grain refinement in GST-based PCRAM devices.
Mechano/acousto-electric coupling between ReS2 and surface acoustic wave
Authors: Zhang Jinxi , Wu Chen , Zhang Qiankun , Liu Jing 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates for developing next generation electronic/optoelectronic devices with programmable multi functions, due to their widely tunable properties by various physical stimuli. Mechanical strain is one of the most promising means to effectively modulate the physical properties of 2D materials. Nevertheless, few studies reported micro/nano scale controllable strain application platforms, limiting the development of novel mechano-electrical/optoelectrical devices based on 2D materials. This work proposes surface acoustic wave (SAW) device as a controllable strain modulation platform for 2D materials with sub-micro scale resolution. The platform uses the piezoelectric material (LiNbO3) as the substrate, which is deposited with interdigitated transducers (IDT) to generate SAW on the surface. The propagation of SAW causes surface deformation, which is then transferred to the 2D materials on the substrate. The period of the surface deformation/strain is related with that of SAW, which is determined by the period of IDT with nano meter scale. It is demonstrated that the photo luminescence spectrum of a 2D ReS2 flake on this platform gradually shifts with the SAW excitation power, which reaches a shift of 3 nm as the SAW excitation power achieves 26 dBm, corresponding to a band gap increase of 5 meV. Meanwhile, the platform is also capable to provide acousto-electric coupling between SAW and 2D materials, which is demonstrated by the shift of the SAW resonant frequency due to the re-distribution of photo-generated carriers in ReS2 upon light illumination.
In vivo estimation of anisotropic mechanical properties of the gastrocnemius during functional loading with MR elastography
Authors: Smith Daniel R , Caban-Rivera Diego A , Williams L Tyler , Van Houten Elijah E W , Bayly Phil V , Paulsen Keith D , McGarry Matthew D J , Johnson Curtis L 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objective. In vivo imaging assessments of skeletal muscle structure and function allow for longitudinal quantification of tissue health. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) non-invasively quantifies tissue mechanical properties, allowing for evaluation of skeletal muscle biomechanics in response to loading, creating a better understanding of muscle functional health. Approach. In this study, we analyze the anisotropic mechanical response of calf muscles using MRE with a transversely isotropic, nonlinear inversion algorithm (TI-NLI) to investigate the role of muscle fiber stiffening under load. We estimate anisotropic material parameters including fiber shear stiffness (

μ

1

), substrate shear stiffness (

μ

2

), shear anisotropy (

ϕ

), and tensile anisotropy (

ζ

) of the gastrocnemius muscle in response to both passive and active tension. Main results. In passive tension, we found a significant increase in

μ

1

,

ϕ
,

and

ζ

with increasing muscle length. While in active tension, we observed increasing

μ

2

and decreasing

ϕ

and

ζ

during active dorsiflexion and plantarflexion—indicating less anisotropy—with greater effects when the muscles act as agonist. Significance. The study demonstrates the ability of this anisotropic MRE method to capture the multifaceted mechanical response of skeletal muscle to tissue loading from muscle lengthening and contraction.
CMF-Net: craniomaxillofacial landmark localization on CBCT images using geometric constraint and transformer
Authors: Lu Gang , Shu Huazhong , Bao Han , Kong Youyong , Zhang Chen , Yan Bin , Zhang Yuanxiu , Coatrieux Jean-Louis 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Accurate and robust anatomical landmark localization is a mandatory and crucial step in deformation diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with craniomaxillofacial (CMF) malformations. In this paper, we propose a trainable end-to-end cephalometric landmark localization framework on Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, referred to as CMF-Net, which combines the appearance with transformers, geometric constraint, and adaptive wing (AWing) loss. More precisely: (1) we decompose the localization task into two branches: the appearance branch integrates transformers for identifying the exact positions of candidates, while the geometric constraint branch at low resolution allows the implicit spatial relationships to be effectively learned on the reduced training data. (2) We use the AWing loss to leverage the difference between the pixel values of the target heatmaps and the automatic prediction heatmaps. We verify our CMF-Net by identifying the 24 most relevant clinical landmarks on 150 dental CBCT scans with complicated scenarios collected from real-world clinics. Comprehensive experiments show that it performs better than the state-of-the-art deep learning methods, with an average localization error of 1.108 mm (the clinically acceptable precision range being 1.5 mm) and a correct landmark detection rate equal to 79.28%. Our CMF-Net is time-efficient and able to locate skull landmarks with high accuracy and significant robustness. This approach could be applied in 3D cephalometric measurement, analysis, and surgical planning.
RMSim: controlled respiratory motion simulation on static patient scans
Authors: Lee Donghoon , Yorke Ellen , Zarepisheh Masoud , Nadeem Saad , Hu Yu-Chi 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objective. This work aims to generate realistic anatomical deformations from static patient scans. Specifically, we present a method to generate these deformations/augmentations via deep learning driven respiratory motion simulation that provides the ground truth for validating deformable image registration (DIR) algorithms and driving more accurate deep learning based DIR. Approach. We present a novel 3D Seq2Seq deep learning respiratory motion simulator (RMSim) that learns from 4D-CT images and predicts future breathing phases given a static CT image. The predicted respiratory patterns, represented by time-varying displacement vector fields (DVFs) at different breathing phases, are modulated through auxiliary inputs of 1D breathing traces so that a larger amplitude in the trace results in more significant predicted deformation. Stacked 3D-ConvLSTMs are used to capture the spatial-temporal respiration patterns. Training loss includes a smoothness loss in the DVF and mean-squared error between the predicted and ground truth phase images. A spatial transformer deforms the static CT with the predicted DVF to generate the predicted phase image. 10-phase 4D-CTs of 140 internal patients were used to train and test RMSim. The trained RMSim was then used to augment a public DIR challenge dataset for training VoxelMorph to show the effectiveness of RMSim-generated deformation augmentation. Main results. We validated our RMSim output with both private and public benchmark datasets (healthy and cancer patients). The structure similarity index measure (SSIM) for predicted breathing phases and ground truth 4D CT images was 0.92 ± 0.04, demonstrating RMSim’s potential to generate realistic respiratory motion. Moreover, the landmark registration error in a public DIR dataset was improved from 8.12 ± 5.78 mm to 6.58mm ± 6.38 mm using RMSim-augmented training data. Significance. The proposed approach can be used for validating DIR algorithms as well as for patient-specific augmentations to improve deep learning DIR algorithms. The code, pretrained models, and augmented DIR validation datasets will be released at https://github.com/nadeemlab/SeqX2Y.
Investigation of multi-periodic self-trigger plasma in an AC-driven atmospheric pressure plasma jet
Authors: Yang Hang , Rousseau Antoine 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jets have been intensively studied due to their potential application in biological fields but some of their physics properties are still not well understood. In the present article, a helium plasma jet driven by 15–18 kHz sinusoidal voltage ignites multi-periodic self-triggered mode or random mode depending on the applied voltage, driven frequency and inter-electrode gap distance. Most of the observed multiperiodic bullets operate every 2 or 3 sinusoidal periods. Such bullets show similarities with pulsed operating mode, having a jitter of less than 100 ns. The presence of an outer grounded electrode ring is a key parameter permitting the ignition of multiperiodic bullets; it also enhances the propagation length up to 8 times. Fast imaging reveals that 2–3 self-triggered discharges occur in the gap region prior to ignition of the bullet in both positive or negative polarities; this leads to an accumulation of charges beneath the ground electrode, locally enhancing the electric field. Bullet velocities for different polarities and gap distances are compared using optical emission spectrum.
Influence of swift heavy ion irradiation on electrical characteristics of β-Ga2O3 Schottky barrier diode
Authors: Hua Mingzhuo , Xu Zhourui , Tian Xusheng , Wang Zhengxing , Zhang Chunfu , Zhao Shenglei , Zhang Yachao , Ning Jing , Feng Qian , Zhang Jincheng , Yue Hao 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The radiation effect of swift heavy ions (16 MeV 181Ta) on the Au/Ni/β-Ga2O3 vertical Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) were investigated at the fluence of 1 × 108, 3 × 108 and 3 × 109 cm−2. The SBDs were characterized by current density–voltage (J–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements. It was found that Schottky barrier height φ decreased from 1.11 eV to 0.94 eV, the ideality factor n increased from 1.01 to 1.29, turn-on voltage V
on increased from 0.52 V to 0.80 V after radiation of 3 × 109 cm−2. The reverse breakdown voltage was decreased from −405 V to −375 V, −350 V and −255 V after radiation of 1 × 108, 3 × 108 and 3 × 109 cm−2, respectively. In addition, the carrier concentration calculated from the capacitance–voltage curves was decreased significantly. Based on the G/ω–ω measurement results, the trap density at the Ni/β-Ga2O3 interface was extracted to be 2.89 × 1015–2.49 × 1016 cm−2 eV−1 and 2.18 × 1015–4.98 × 1016 cm−2 eV−1 with the energy level of 0.85–0.87 eV below the conduction band edge.
Active signal-generating spacer-fabric-type continuous touch/pressure sensor
Authors: Tonomura Kazuki , Yu Annie , Ishii Yuya 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Attention toward automated driving has recently increased. This has also increased the need to monitor drivers’ actions, such as finger touch/pressure sensing on the steering wheel. This study demonstrates an active signal-generating spacer-fabric-type continuous touch/pressure sensor comprising five yarn layers: surface-insulating cotton, upper conductive, monofilament spacer, lower conductive and bottom-insulating cotton yarn. The sensor actively generates signals, and the magnitude of the voltage output through a diode bridge and capacitor circuit determines if the fingers are ‘not touching’, ‘touching’, ‘pushing’ or ‘pushing hard’. This demonstrates that the proposed sensor can be operated as an active signal-generating touch/pressure sensor and can also detect ‘pushing hard’ actions. Furthermore, the active signal-generating operation originates from the electromagnetic waves emitted by electrical appliances and cables powered by a commercial power supply frequency in the environment. The proposed sensor will contribute to developing high-cushioning touch/pressure sensors with low power consumption and excellent air permeability that can be used in electric and autonomous vehicles.
Design, construction and performance testing of a 1.5 T cryogen-free low-temperature superconductor whole-body MRI magnet
Authors: Wang Yulin , Wang Sucong , Liang Ping , Brusic Vladimir , Zeng Jie , Liu Bingjian , Ge Yuwei , Zheng Jianjun , Zhang Jingfeng , Wang Chengbo 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
This work describes the design, construction and testing of a 1.5 T cryogen-free low-temperature superconductor niobium–titanium whole-body magnet with a bore diameter of 850 mm that is suitable for clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. The magnet is actively shielded and passively shimmed to achieve confinement within a 0.5 mT stray magnetic field at 2.5/4 m radial/axial positions and 12.1 ppm field inhomogeneity over a 45 mm diameter of spherical volume. The magnet is conductively refrigerated using a two-stage Gifford–McMahon cryocooler and can be maintained at a steady temperature below 5.7 K during MRI scanning. The MRI scanner assembled with the designed cryogen-free magnet demonstrated stable performance and provided MRI images with good quality and high contrast.