Search

Multitime quantum correlation functions are central objects in physical science, offering a direct link between the experimental observables and the dynamics of an underlying model. While experiments such as 2D spectroscopy and quantum control can now measure such quantities, the accurate simulation of such responses remains computationally expensive and sometimes impossible, depending on the system's complexity. A natural tool to employ is the generalized quantum master equation (GQME), which can offer computational savings by extending reference dynamics at a comparatively trivial cost. However, dynamical methods that can tackle chemical systems with atomistic resolution, such as those in the semiclassical hierarchy, often suffer from poor accuracy, limiting the credence one might lend to their results. By combining work on the accuracy-boosting formulation of semiclassical memory kernels with recent work on the multitime GQME, here we show for the first time that one can exploit a multitime semiclassical GQME to dramatically improve both the accuracy of coarse mean-field Ehrenfest dynamics and obtain orders of magnitude efficiency gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine-learning (ML)-based interatomic potentials are increasingly popular in material modeling, enabling highly accurate simulations with thousands and millions of atoms. However, the performance of machine-learned potentials depends strongly on the choice of hyperparameters—that is, of those parameters that are set before the model encounters data. This problem is particularly acute where hyperparameters have no intuitive physical interpretation and where the corresponding optimization space is large. Here, we describe an openly available Python package that facilitates hyperparameter optimization across different ML potential fitting frameworks. We discuss methodological aspects relating to the optimization itself and to the selection of validation data, and we show example applications. We expect this package to become part of a wider computational framework to speed up the mainstream adaptation of ML potentials in the physical sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy has played an essential role in cancer treatment for over a century, and remains one of the best-studied methods of cancer treatment. Because of its close links with the physical sciences, it has been the subject of extensive quantitative mathematical modelling, but a complete understanding of the mechanisms of radiotherapy has remained elusive. In part this is because of the complexity and range of scales involved in radiotherapy—from physical radiation interactions occurring over nanometres to evolution of patient responses over months and years. This review presents the current status and ongoing research in modelling radiotherapy responses across these scales, including basic physical mechanisms of DNA damage, the immediate biological responses this triggers, and genetic- and patient-level determinants of response. Finally, some of the major challenges in this field and potential avenues for future improvements are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text is a preface to the proceedings of the 19th International Workshop on Plasma Edge Theory in Fusion Devices, which took place in Hefei, China in September 2023. The workshop focused on the field of edge plasma physics, which is crucial for fusion research. The workshop included 93 participants from various research organizations, with contributions categorized into three topics: basic plasma edge theory, models of special phenomena and edge control, and integrated plasma modeling. The preface highlights the importance of collaboration and intellectual exchange in advancing the field of edge plasma physics and fusion research. [Extracted from the article]

Faculty online learning communities (FOLCs) can help faculty effectively adopt and persist in using research-based curricula. This paper documents faculty perspectives on the value they gained from participating in a multi-year FOLC designed to help them implement an inquiry-based physical science curriculum. Personal value narratives were collected from 11 volunteer FOLC participants. In the narratives, participants responded to prompts regarding their initial reasons for participation, activities they engaged in, and values they gained, as well as how participation impacted their profession, social connections, professional practice, and ability to influence their world as teachers. Qualitative analysis shows that the values faculty gained through their participation in the FOLC could be associated with four major areas of impact: teaching, community, leadership and personal development. The first two aligned with the initial goals of the FOLC, while the latter two emerged organically through participation over its four-year duration. The methods used to assess value creation in the NGPET FOLC and the findings from this study can inform other professionals who aspire to create and sustain a long-standing faculty development community and understand its impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the relationship between philosophy, science, and history, highlighting the conflicting views on their intellectual importance. It discusses the perspectives of Platonism and Aristotelianism, with Platonism prioritizing philosophy as a non-empirical pre-science and Aristotelianism subordinating philosophy to science. The article also delves into the role of history in these disciplines and emphasizes the importance of understanding the past in order to anchor truth and avoid the loss of freedom. Overall, it provides a nuanced examination of these subjects without adopting a specific judgment. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Integrated science is a ubiquitous school subject that is an amalgamation of science disciplines; its teaching allows topics to be sequenced in any order and given various degrees of coverage and emphasis in the classroom. Ensuring canonical coherence, which is the logical organization of subject matter for effective instruction is therefore necessary for meaningful student learning to occur. Purpose: We examine the coherence as well as closely related ideas of coverage and emphasis of the integrated science curriculum and textbooks from Singapore. Such an analysis has not been attempted before, which might shed light on strong student achievement reported from this region in this subject. Methods: Coherence was determined by finding buttress topics and upper triangular patterns based on a list of standard science topics––these inter-related curricular features aid in conceptual learning of a subject. We also investigated questions about coverage and emphasis from the number of learning outcomes, topics in curriculum and textbooks, and page surface area of textbooks following past TIMSS research. Results: Three buttress topics and two upper triangular patterns in life and physical science disciplines were found, but not among earth science topics. Two topics were strongly emphasised in the curriculum and textbooks––organs, tissues and physical properties of matter––and there was a close alignment between topics in the curriculum and textbooks. Integrated science here was relatively restricted compared to three other high-performing East-Asian regions, but there was a common strong emphasis on physical science topics. Conclusions: Integrated science in Singapore has shown some evidence of coherence in its curriculum and textbooks that have also emphasised physical science topics. Because learning outcomes here were intentionally trimmed due to past general educational reforms, the findings lend tentative support to arguments stating that a reduced, but well-designed science curriculum has benefits for learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption of weighty metal particles from contaminated water sources has garnered significant attention due to its critical role in environmental remediation and ensuring safe drinking water. Heavy metal ions can be removed from water using conventional adsorbents such as activated zeolites; however, these materials have low absorption and slow kinetics. To solve these issues, carbon-based adsorbents that exhibit easy synthesis, high porosity, design ability, and stability have been proposed. In this review, a carbon-based adsorbent, named M-NC, and graphene oxide were created for the particular evacuation of weighty metal particles. To increase the potential for Heavy Metals (HM) immobilization, sulfide-modified biochar was created via a process called synchronous carbon layer epitome. A hypothetical physicochemical and thermodynamic examination of the adsorption of weighty metals Zn2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Ag2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ on carbon-based adsorbents was done with factual material science fundaments. The biochar with large surface areas is utilized to eliminate weighty metal particles, quite possibly the most significant heavy metal pollutants, from aqueous solutions. The limit of the adsorbent for eliminating weighty metal ions was concentrated on utilizing Langmuir adsorption isotherm under ultrasound-helped conditions. The Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MNCs) can be applied to the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. It is possible to use the Langmuir and second-order kinetic equations to accurately explain the adsorption method. Thermodynamic limitations were also envisioned because sorption is exothermic when it happens spontaneously. A homogeneous measurable physical science adsorption typically was utilized to describe and analyze the experimental heavy metal removal isotherms at 30°C and pH5 utilizing adsorbents produced by pyrolysis of biomasses (broccoli stalks). The experimental results were investigated in terms of Langmuir and pseudo-2nd-order kinetic equations, Freundlich and isotherm models. The outcome of pH, initial heavy metal ion concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dosage regarding the adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of Pb2+ and Cd2+ on the hydrogel was examined. This study contributes to the advancement of information in the ground of environmentally friendly heavy metal removal techniques, specifically focusing on the usage of biomass-based adsorbents. These findings have the potential to address the need for effective solutions in water purification and environmental cleanup efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has been proved to be a successful treatment for osteoarthritis patients. However, the stress shielding caused by mismatch in mechanical properties between human bones and artificial implants remains as a challenging issue. This study aimed to properly design a bionic porous tibial implant and evaluate its biomechanical effect in reconstructing stress transfer pathway after UKA surgery. Methods: Voronoi structures with different strut sizes and porosities were designed and manufactured with Ti6Al4V through additive manufacturing and subjected to quasi-static compression tests. The Gibson-Ashby model was used to relate mechanical properties with design parameters. Subsequently, finite element models were developed for porous UKA, conventional UKA, and native knee to evaluate the biomechanical effect of tibial implant with designed structures during the stance phase. Results: The internal stress distribution on the tibia plateau in the medial compartment of the porous UKA knee was found to closely resemble that of the native knee. Furthermore, the mean stress values in the medial regions of the tibial plateau of the porous UKA knee were at least 44.7% higher than that of the conventional UKA knee for all subjects during the most loading conditions. The strain shielding reduction effect of the porous UKA knee model was significant under the implant and near the load contact sites. For subject 1 to 3, the average percentages of nodes in bone preserving and building region (strain values range from 400 to 3000 μm/m) of the porous UKA knee model, ranging from 68.7 to 80.5%, were higher than that of the conventional UKA knee model, ranging from 61.6 to 68.6%. Conclusions: The comparison results indicated that the tibial implant with designed Voronoi structure offered better biomechanical functionality on the tibial plateau after UKA. Additionally, the model and associated analysis provide a well-defined design process and dependable selection criteria for design parameters of UKA implants with Voronoi structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue titled "Macroscopic and Microscopic Thermodynamics: From Fundamentals to Present Applications, 2nd Edition." It explores the broad field of thermodynamics and its applications in various scientific disciplines. The article discusses the historical development of thermodynamics and its expansion into fields such as cosmology, information science, and social sciences. It also highlights the importance of molecular thermodynamics in chemical engineering and the use of computational methods in solving thermodynamic problems. The document provides a list of the contributions included in the special issue, which cover topics such as vapor-liquid equilibrium, clathrate hydrates, binary mixtures, and surface tension. The authors emphasize the importance of thermodynamics in addressing theoretical and practical problems and highlight its potential for further research in fields like process engineering, human health, and environmental preservation. [Extracted from the article]

AbstractHuman-induced climate change will likely cause more intense and frequent cyclones and typhoons, as noted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Within the Asia-Pacific region, regional security discussions at the leadership level focus on the imminent threats to states and societies of more frequent and intense extreme weather events and sea-level rise as it is the world’s most exposed region. This article examines recent developments and discourse regarding climate change in the Asia-Pacific security architecture using the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a case study. It finds increasing recognition of climate change and its implications for peace and security within the regional security architecture. Debates over how best to address it to overcome an atomised approach to climate change impacts on peace and security in the region remain unresolved, but recent pronouncements at the leadership level signal an emerging mindset shift in understanding climate change within the regional security discourse. However, the substantive discussions largely take place in hybrid forums, albeit with official recognition in more traditional platforms, which may undermine efforts for an inclusive regional discourse on the climate change impacts on peace and security in ASEAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sierpiński graphs are frequently related to fractals, and fractals apply in several fields of science, i.e., in chemical graph theory, computer networking, biology, and physical sciences. Functions and polynomials are powerful tools in computer mathematics for predicting the features of networks. Topological descriptors, frequently graph constraints, are absolute values that characterize the topology of a computer network. In this essay, Firstly, we compute the M-polynomials for Sierpiński-type fractals. We derive some degree-dependent topological invariants after applying algebraic operations on these M-polynomials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian Study of Healthy Ageing (ISHA) is a large-scale blood-based prospective study in India that aims to examine the burden, causes, and consequences of chronic diseases in the adult population. The study has recruited approximately 220,000 participants and is focused on testing hypotheses related to lifestyle, diet, obesity, and genetic determinants of cancer and other chronic diseases. The population studied is relatively lean, with low rates of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking but high rates of tobacco chewing. The study will provide valuable insights into the risk factors for vascular and non-vascular mortality in the Indian population and contribute to understanding the impact of lifestyle transitions on chronic diseases. Data-sharing regulations are in place, and future collaborations are encouraged. The study collected baseline data from over 200,000 participants in India, including information on demographics, socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and physical measurements. The findings show that the participants in the study were, on average, younger and more highly educated than those under active follow-up. The study also found that the prevalence of underweight was similar between men and women, but overweight and obesity were slightly more common among women. The study provides valuable data on the health and aging of the Indian population. This table provides data on various health indicators for men and women in different age groups. The data includes the number of participants, age, education level, tobacco and alcohol use, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, blood pressure, lung function, grip strength, prevalence [Extracted from the article]

Studies indicate that racial disparities in STEM achievement or equity grade gaps are associated with faculty fixed mindset beliefs; however, whether specific instructional beliefs are linked to student academic achievement remains unclear. We surveyed 216 STEM faculty to assess their mindset and instructional beliefs and linked these to detailed student transcript data (n = 31,361). Results reveal that faculty with fixed mindset beliefs also endorsed more traditional instructional beliefs regarding assessment, grading, and diversity. Further, the endorsement of these beliefs was associated with larger equity grade gaps. Analysis of faculty characteristics indicate that male faculty, full professors, and instructors in Physical Sciences tended to hold instructional beliefs that are linked to larger equity grade gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ordinary 3D wave equation for nondissipative, homogeneous, isotropic media admits solutions where the point sources are permitted to move, but as shown in this paper, it does not admit solutions where the receiver is allowed to move. To overcome this limitation, a new wave equation that permits both the receiver and the source to move is derived in this paper. This new wave equation is a generalization of the standard wave equation, and it reduces to the standard wave equation when the receiver is at rest. To derive this new wave equation, we first mathematically define a diverging spherical wave caused by a stationary point source. From this purely mathematical definition, the wave equation for a stationary source and a moving receiver is derived, together with a corresponding free-space Green function. Utilizing the derived Green function, it is shown that unlike the standard wave equation this new wave equation also permits solutions where both the receiver and the source are permitted to move. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates that, instead of an ordinary wave equation, the wave equation for a moving source and a moving receiver governs the waves emitted by moving point sources and received by moving receivers. This new wave equation has possible applications in acoustics, electrodynamics, and other physical sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer engineering is an interdisciplinary approach that promises to confront the complexities of cancer and accelerate transformative discoveries by integrating innovative fields across engineering and the physical sciences with a focus on cancer. We offer a conceptual framework for the hallmarks of cancer engineering, integrating 12 fields: system dynamics; imaging, radiation, and spectroscopy; robotics and controls; solid mechanics; fluid mechanics; chemistry and nanomaterials; mathematics and simulation; cellular and protein engineering; kinetics and thermodynamics; materials science; manufacturing and biofabrication; and microsystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nashaat [25] introduced the powered inverse Rayleigh (PIR) distribution. It provides a better fit other than (inverse Rayleigh, Rayleigh, and Weibull) distributions. The moments of order statistics and recurrence relations for the single and double moments have been established. The computation of the means and variances are enumerated. These computations can be truly interesting and applied in numerous domains of study. Moreover, cumulative entropy (C.E.) and actuarial measures (A.M.) are also calculated to address the uncertainty in portfolio optimization. The usages of C. E. and A.M. are widespread in many real-word applications specifically in physical sciences and insurance science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a compilation of various scientific papers and preprints covering a wide range of topics, including protein folding, cell migration, machine learning, deep neural networks, neural scaling laws, representations and generalization in artificial and brain neural networks, and the neuron as a direct data-driven controller. The papers discuss different aspects of these subjects, providing a comprehensive overview of the current research in these fields. This document can be a valuable resource for library patrons conducting research on these topics, particularly in the fields of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. [Extracted from the article]

Skylab was the first United States orbital station.1 The Skylab program used the remaining Apollo hardware to study human endurance and ability to live and work in space for progressively increasing time. The three missions of 28-, 56- and 84-days duration benchmarked biomedical responses to microgravity and closed environments, logistics, on orbit systems maintenance and repair, solar physics, and Earth observations. During the final mission, the crew was able to study the comet, Kohoutek. The launch of the station resulted in considerable damage to the solar panels and micrometeoroid shield, requiring a complex in space crew repairs. Using Skylab related terms PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were queried for refereed publications, and personal experience contributed additional input to this paper. Over 1,700 biomedical and physical sciences and review publications were identified. Twenty met the inclusion criteria. These consisted of refereed articles, books, NASA technical reports and conference papers. Only peer reviewed publications received a robust evidence rating. Skylab program produced a wealth of fundamental biomedical and human factors knowledge paving the way for the International Space Station and future planetary crewed missions. Skylab operational, engineering, and scientific accomplishments paved the way for telemedicine, automated biomedical measurement system accelerating the development of hospital intensive care units on Earth, understanding the life cycle of our star, and fostering student participation in space experiments. The delays in the Space Shuttle development necessary for continuing use and servicing of Skylab contributed to its orbital decay and destruction during reentry into the Earth atmosphere. After 50 years, Skylab biomedical and engineering findings remain as the benchmark for all subsequent investigations of space crew health, performance, and habitability. The supporting experimental hardware launched a new era of medical care and telemedicine on Earth and in space. The International Space Station, the longest flying human habitat in LEO would be impossible without the experience from Skylab, and Soviet/Russian Orbital Stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the role of organizational factors in research collaboration networks among European universities. The study of organizational drivers in shaping collaboration patterns is crucial for policy design aimed at reducing research fragmentation and fostering knowledge creation and diffusion. By using Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) and controlling for spatial factors, we investigate the role of two main mechanisms guiding the partners' selection process: organizational attributes and homophily. We investigate two distinct scientific collaboration networks (i.e., projects and publications) and two research domains (Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Life Sciences) over the 2011–2016 time period. Our empirical evidence reveals that, among the main dimensions indicated by the literature, research capability (measured by the dimension of doctoral programs) has the clearest and most stable impact either on the tendency to establish collaboration ties or as homophily effect. In terms of policy implications, it emerges that organizational similarity in research capability matters and policy makers should consider doctoral programs as a strategic variable to promote successful collaborations in scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular chirality plays a pivotal role across the disciplines of chemical and physical sciences, as well as holding significant implications in the realms of medicine and technology. Chiral macrocycles have attracted recent interests in synthetic chemistry, material science, and supramolecular chemistry. Due to the cyclic arrangements of stereogenic elements or special orientations confined in the rigid structures, π‐conjugated chiral macrocycles are expected to be highly luminescent, and configurationally stable, and thus serve to develop high‐performance chiroptical materials. Given the rapid progress achieved in this new area in recent years, it is significant to highlight new concepts and breakthroughs. This minireview will offer the overview of a wide range of π‐conjugated chiral macrocycles from traditional molecules which include the axially, helically, and planar chiral skeletons to the new chiral nanobelts with a focus on the structure‐function relationship between chiral molecules and the unique chiroptical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, we extracted the variety of newly optical soliton solutions which describe the wave propagation in nonlinear low-pass electrical transmission lines model by utilizing the auxiliary equation method. The secured solitons solutions yield a variety of typical soliton shapes, including dark solitons, periodic singular optical solitons, combined bright and dark solitons, kink wave solitons, bright solitons, ant-kink wave solitons, and solitary waves. The physical structure of extracted soliton solutions visualized in three different graphically structures such as three-dimension, two-dimensional and contour plotting on the choices of some constant parameters by utilizing the numerical simulations. This study explored optical solitons, solitary wave solutions, exact solitons for improving the performance of nonlinear low-pass electrical transmission systems. It provides an overview of solitons, their relevance, and stability principles. It also presents the mathematical formulation of the nonlinear low-pass electrical transmission lines model and discusses its implications for signal propagation. The secured soliton solutions have many applications in engineering and science such as nonlinear optics, fiber optics, laser optics, nonlinear dynamics, ocean engineering, electronic engineering, electrical engineering, computing engineering, power engineering and several other different kinds of physical sciences. The whole study shows that the suggested method is more powerful, effective, simple, and strong for looking into different types of nonlinear models involve in nonlinear sciences and the engineering presentation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging and spectroscopy at terahertz (THz) frequencies have become key methods for fundamental studies across the physical sciences. With the emergence of nanoscale materials and devices, holding great promise for photonics, electronics, and communication technologies, the search for THz analysis at the nanoscale arises. Detectorless THz near-field nanoscopy emerged as a versatile method for hyperspectral mapping of light–matter interaction phenomena in bi-dimensional materials and systems. However, it is strongly limited by the weak scattering efficiencies of atomic force microscope (AFM) tips. Here, we experimentally evaluate the performance of unconventional AFM tip shapes to enhance the scattering efficiency, at three frequencies, namely, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.6 THz. The impact of tip geometry is corroborated by numerical simulations. The shorter shank length of the evaluated tips provides a very compelling alternative to commercial tips at frequencies >2 THz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the impact of climate change on rising global temperatures and the consequent increase in heat waves, attributing these changes to human activity. It discusses the alarming rise in heat-related deaths and the need for policies to mitigate risks and enhance community resilience to extreme heat, emphasizing the importance of understanding the health effects of heat exposure for informing patient care and broader strategies for adaptation.

Humanity's strive to understand why and how life appeared on planet Earth dates back to prehistoric times. At the beginning of the 19th century, empirical biology started to tackle this question yielding both Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution and the paradigm that the crucial trigger putting life on its tracks was the appearance of organic molecules. In parallel to these developments in the biological sciences, physics and physical chemistry saw the fundamental laws of thermodynamics being unraveled. Towards the end of the 19th century and during the first half of the 20th century, the tensions between thermodynamics and the "organic-molecules-paradigm" became increasingly difficult to ignore, culminating in Erwin Schrödinger's 1944 formulation of a thermodynamics-compliant vision of life and, consequently, the prerequisites for its appearance. We will first review the major milestones over the last 200 years in the biological and the physical sciences, relevant to making sense of life and its origins and then discuss the more recent reappraisal of the relative importance of metal ions vs. organic molecules in performing the essential processes of a living cell. Based on this reassessment and the modern understanding of biological free energy conversion (aka bioenergetics), we consider that scenarios wherein life emerges from an abiotic chemiosmotic process are both thermodynamics-compliant and the most parsimonious proposed so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the intellectual history of Western civilization, highlighting key figures and events that have shaped the modern world. It explores contrasting philosophies such as Plato's emphasis on form and matter and Aristotle's focus on natural observation. The influence of Christianity, particularly in separating spiritual and political realms, is also discussed. The text delves into major historical conflicts, including the tension between Church and State supremacy in the Middle Ages, the impact of Germanic tribes on Western culture, the Scientific Revolution, the Protestant Reformation, the transition from Aristotelian to modern philosophy, the founding of America by Anglo-Protestants, and the Enlightenment Project's belief in a science of the social world. The article concludes by examining the role of the contemporary state and the differing views on limited government and big government. [Extracted from the article]

The nature and value of the religious priesthood have often been questioned, including after Vatican II. John Paul II, however, claims that the religious priest 'reproduces in his life the fullness of the mystery of Christ'. Examining Aquinas's understanding of Christ's total self-sacrifice provides a model that explains how. In this article, I present a Christological and Thomistic approach to the question by identifying Christ as a religious priest, highlighting one of Aquinas's patristic sources (St Gregory the Great) and one of his greatest spiritual interpreters of modern times (Bl Columba Marmion). Because of his grace of headship, Christ contains all the perfections found in his members. The perfection of Christ's priestly and religious life consists in his total sacrifice of himself to the Father out of love. Christ firmly fixed his will to offer himself from the moment of the Incarnation. By vowing to follow the counsels, religious priests imitate the fixity of Christ's will to offer himself as a total self-holocaust. This conclusion allows me to propose that Christ is the religious priest, which has several theological and pastoral implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will offer a new defense in response to the problem of natural evil, called the Perfect Will defense. The defense argues that in sustaining the universe, God conforms the system of physical laws to his intellect and will. Yet, God could not fully conform the system of laws (for our universe) to his intellect and will without simultaneously forcing people into a loving relation with God. Yet, since God would not force people to love him, God must thereby initially create people in a universe that has a system of laws that is only partially conformed to God's intellect and will. However, while a universe with a system of laws that is only partially conformed to God's intellect and will allows for people to exercise their freedom over their relation with God, it also results in the occurrence of natural evils. The paper will argue that once this defense is fully developed, it is able to account for why God allows for natural evils to occur within the universe. The paper will outline the defense, as well as respond to the defense's major objections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this article is to construct novel solitary wave solutions for the nonlinear (3+1)-dimensional modified Korteweg-de Vries-Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation with a conformable derivative by employing the subsidiary ordinary differential equation method and 1 φ (ς) , φ ′ (ς) φ (ς) method. The solutions obtained encompass diverse bright, dark, singular, and periodic solitary waves. Additionally, the article thoroughly discusses the sufficient conditions for the existence of these solutions. To visually represent the obtained solutions, we include 2D and 3D graphical images using the computational software Maple 18. We also included a comparison of fractional derivatives at different values of fractional order and conducted an analysis to understand the influence of nonlinear parameters on wave behaviors. The significance of these solutions lies in their wide-ranging applications in applied sciences and mathematical physics. Furthermore, the proposed methods are invaluable in efficiently solving nonlinear partial differential equations prevalent in engineering and physical science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article examines the micropolar fluid flow with nanofluid suspension across porous stretching/shrinking surfaces with added heat transfer through heat source/sink and radiation. The situation arises in the electrolytic fluid flow across fuel-cell membranes in advanced batteries or fuel cells. To understand the flows and the efficacy of the fuel cell, we study the fluid dynamics of the flow across such shrinking/stretching membranes by converting the non-dimensional governing partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations by using suitable similarity transforms. The energy equation is then analytically solved using hypergeometric series. It is noted that there is a lack of study on nanofluids in the circumstances of micropolar and radiation with porous media. The novelty of the present problem is to examine the influence of micropolar nanofluid flow with heat transfer over permeable surfaces. Analyses show that increasing the rate of shrinking/stretching boundary and increasing the Darcy number decreases the velocity of the fluid while increasing the Eringen number decreases the skin friction decreases dramatically, and increasing the thermal radiation and heat source/sink parameters enhances the thermal boundary layer. Other variations of parameters are also studied and explained graphically. The current work has many useful implications in efficient fuel-cell developments, developing nanofluid has significantly improved the heat transmission process for manufacturing with applications in engineering, biological, and physical sciences. • The present article studies the micropolar nanofluid flow across porous surfaces. • Heat transfer was studied by adding radiation to the energy equation. • Temperature increases due to rising the values of volume fraction. • Momentum and energy equations contain velocity slip and temperature jump boundary conditions. • Both momentum and energy equations are solved analytically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internal and external fixation are common surgical procedures for treating fractures. However, the impact of different surgical approaches (including internal and external fixations) on patients' psychological status and Quality of Life (QoL) is rarely examined. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of internal and external fixation on anxiety, depression, insomnia, and overall mental and physical health in Distal Radius Fractures (DRF) patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 96 fracture patients who underwent internal fixation (57 patients) or external fixation (39 patients). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire were used to assess the patients' pain, anxiety, depression, sleep, and QoL before surgery and at seven days, one month, and three months post-surgery. Results: The VAS scores were significantly lower in the Internal Fixation Group (IFG) than in the External Fixation Group (EFG) on the seventh day and one month postoperatively (P < 0.05). Although both groups showed no significant anxiety, depression, or insomnia before surgery (P > 0.05), the EFG showed significantly higher HADS-A, HADS-D, and AIS scores than the IFG at seven days and one and three months postoperatively (P < 0.05). Additionally, changes in HADS-A, HADS-D, and AIS scores were most significant at day seven post-surgery in the EFG (P < 0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference was found between the two groups in the average Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores before surgery (P > 0.05). However, both groups showed positive changes in PCS and MCS scores at postoperative day seven and one and three months postoperatively, with the IFG having significantly higher average PCS and MCS scores compared to the EFG (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared to external fixation, internal fixation did not significantly impact patients' emotions regarding anxiety and depression in the early postoperative period, and physical and mental health recovery was better during the postoperative rehabilitation period. Furthermore, when there are no absolute indications, the impact on patients' psychological well-being should be considered as one of the key factors in the treatment plan during surgical approach selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the synthesis of pyrido[1,2-a:4,3-b']diindoles through a ruthenium-catalyzed coupling/cyclization reaction. The researchers investigated the reaction conditions and found that electron-donating groups and certain substitutions on the indole ring were well tolerated, resulting in good yields of the desired products. The proposed reaction pathway involves the formation of a ruthenacycle intermediate, followed by the insertion of a sulfur ylide and subsequent cyclization. The authors suggest that these pyrido[1,2-a:4,3-b']diindole derivatives may have potential pharmaceutical applications. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the development of new nucleoside analogues for treating viral infections and cancer. Specifically, it focuses on fluorinated carbocyclic systems, which have shown promise in medicinal and biological chemistry. The authors discuss the synthesis of various analogues with unsaturation and stereoinversion, as well as different reaction methods. The article also highlights the relevance of nucleoside analogues in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the development of mRNA vaccines and antiviral medications. The researchers successfully synthesized a small library of fluorinated carbocyclic nucleoside analogues, achieving C2'-C3' unsaturation using Corey-Winter or Eastwood olefination. They also discovered an unusual C1'-C2' alkene scaffold as a side-product, enabling the synthesis of a 1',2'-didehydro 6'-fluorinated carbauridine and carbacytidine. NMR data was used to investigate the conformations of the analogues in solution, revealing that C2'-C3' unsaturation favored a 6'-endo envelope conformation. Biological evaluation of these nucleoside motifs is currently ongoing. [Extracted from the article]

A newly founded, small-scale research university geared toward international standards and competitiveness, ShanghaiTech University has three STEM divisions (information science and technology, physical science and technology, and life science and technology) and three HASS divisions (creativity and arts, entrepreneurship and management, and the humanities). The university's undergraduate education receives its inspiration from the whole-person approach, and gives particular weight to a "broadly based and in-depth" pedagogical framework, in which the liberal arts make up an indispensable component. Through interdisciplinary curricular planning, small class sizes, emphasis on interaction and openness in learning, and international exchange programs, I explore effective measures to grow general education at ShanghaiTech as well as address challenges that are unique to a Chinese tech university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on supported atomically dispersed palladium (Pd) catalysis for direct alkoxylation and allylic alkylation, emphasizing the catalyst's efficiency and unique mechanism. It discusses the utilization of atomically dispersed Pd on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanosheets for direct allylic alkylation from allylic alcohols, highlighting the role of hydrogen bonding at the organic-inorganic interface in facilitating the reaction.

This research analyzed the state of metacognition in South African Physical Science classrooms, the extent to which South African Physical Science teachers possess metacognitive awareness, and how effective the teachers are in fostering metacognition. Assessment of the current state of metacognition in a sample of Physical Science classes at two KwaZulu-Natal districts, inferring the observed and analyzed level of metacognition of the participants, was based on the assumption that low levels of metacognitive awareness was the reason for achieved poor results. The major findings of this research found; there is a poor state of metacognitive awareness within the studied Physical Science classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents and explains the phenomenon of indexjacking, which involves the systematic infiltration of hijacked journals into international indexing databases, with Scopus being one of the most infiltrated among these databases. Through an analysis of known lists of hijacked journals, the study identified at least 67 hijacked journals that have penetrated Scopus since 2013. Of these, 33 journals indexed unauthorized content in Scopus and 23 compromised the homepage link in the journal's profile, while 11 did both. As of September 2023, 41 hijacked journals are still compromising the data of legitimate journals in Scopus. The presence of hijacked journals in Scopus is a challenge for scientific integrity due to the legitimization of unreliable papers that have not undergone peer review and compromises the quality of the Scopus database. The presence of hijacked journals in Scopus has far‐reaching effects. Papers published in these journals may be cited, and unauthorized content from these journals in Scopus is thus imported into other databases, including ORCID and the WHO COVID‐19 Research Database. This poses a particular challenge for research evaluation in those countries, where cloned versions of approved journals may be used to acquire publications and verifying their authenticity can be difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial from the journal ChemCatChem titled "Special Collection: Catalysts and Reactors under Dynamic Conditions for Energy Storage and Conversion." The editorial discusses the importance of power-to-chemical, power-to-fuel, and power-to-gas processes in decarbonizing the industry and achieving CO2 neutrality. It highlights the challenges of storing large amounts of fluctuating renewable energy and the role of catalysis in transforming electrical energy and low-energy molecules into high-energy reactive molecules. The editorial emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary scientific approaches and the development of new materials and catalytic processes. The document also mentions a topical collection of research articles on the dynamics of catalysts and reactors, as well as upcoming conferences on the topic. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses a study that examines the factors contributing to tree mortality in tropical forests. The research finds that the traits of trees in current forests are more important for predicting changes in forest health than climate projections or rising CO2 levels. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the trait composition of forests, particularly in tropical regions. The findings suggest that future forest health may depend more on existing traits than on climate change. The study also highlights the need for collaboration between field ecology and vegetation model development. [Extracted from the article]

The article is a response to a letter discussing the limitations of using global warming potential (GWP) as a metric for reporting greenhouse gases. The authors argue that GWP is a political tool rather than a scientifically robust metric, and that it should not be used to evaluate the climate impact of volatile anaesthetics. They also challenge the claim that reducing emissions of one volatile anaesthetic will not lead to increased emissions of another. The authors suggest that anaesthetists should use their personal judgment to make decisions about anaesthetics, and focus on reducing major greenhouse gas emissions to zero. [Extracted from the article]

Physical fitness self-concept (PFSC) is an important predictor of motivation and physical activity in children. Recent studies revealed that not only PFSC but also its interplay with perceptions of one's ideal and ought physical fitness self are related to motivation and physical activity. As the meaning of ideal and ought selves in children is yet unclear, this study aimed to investigate how PFSC, ideal physical fitness self, and ought physical fitness self are related to children's motivation and physical activity. Six hundred forty-five children (Mage = 8.87 years) filled out questionnaires twice with an interval of approximately 8 months. Polynomial regression with response surface analyses and mediation analyses was conducted. Results showed that PFSC, rather than ideal and ought self-perceptions, is associated with autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, and physical activity. The relationship between PFSC and physical activity was mediated by self-efficacy. Findings indicate that physical activity promotion programs should include PFSC and self-efficacy enhancement in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern trends in the development of experimental research methods imply not only an increase in the accuracy of a specific technique but also the possibility of combining diverse measurements in the course of one experiment. While optical spectroscopy remains one of the most powerful tools used in the chemical and physical sciences to study the structure of a wide range of materials, it is impossible to imagine a single study of local mechanical properties without instrumental indentation. A powerful investigation technique is the in situ combination of these two methods within one experiment. This can be made by focusing the laser either through the transparent sample or through the transparent indenter tip of the special geometry preventing the total internal reflection in diamond. This Tutorial discusses the preparation and characterization of such a transparent diamond indenter. The obtained experimental results and promising application areas of simultaneous measurement of optical spectra during indentation are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine cloud brightening (MCB) is the deliberate injection of aerosol particles into shallow marine clouds to increase their reflection of solar radiation and reduce the amount of energy absorbed by the climate system. From the physical science perspective, the consensus of a broad international group of scientists is that the viability of MCB will ultimately depend on whether observations and models can robustly assess the scale-up of local-to-global brightening in today's climate and identify strategies that will ensure an equitable geographical distribution of the benefits and risks associated with projected regional changes in temperature and precipitation. To address the physical science knowledge gaps required to assess the societal implications of MCB, we propose a substantial and targeted program of research--field and laboratory experiments, monitoring, and numerical modeling across a range of scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Materials Science is a reputable journal that publishes articles on various topics in materials science. It receives numerous submissions each year, which are reviewed by editors who are active researchers themselves. The journal has a strong emphasis on bio and medical materials science, as well as chemical routes to materials. The document provides summaries of the research interests and achievements of several scientists in the field, including Catalin Croitoru, Yi (David) Ju, Steven E. Naleway, Ghanshyam Pilania, Subha Narayan Rath, and Annela M. Seddon. The summaries highlight their contributions to the field, including their research focus, affiliations, publications, and awards. This resource is designed to assist library patrons in determining whether they would like to explore these scientists' work further. [Extracted from the article]

This scientific commentary discusses the importance of understanding carbon source-sink dynamics in masting tree species, particularly in the context of climate change and drought stress. The authors examine the responses of carbon allocation to environmental constraints in stone pine stands, focusing on reproductive effort, radial growth, and tree-ring isotope composition. They find evidence of a shift from sink-limited to source- and sink-co-limited reproduction, suggesting diminishing carbon resources due to drought stress. However, caution is needed in interpreting the data, and further research is necessary to fully understand carbon allocation in trees. [Extracted from the article]

Physical laws manifest themselves through the amalgamation of mathematical symbols, numbers, functions, geometries, and relationships. These intricate combinations unfold within a mathematical model devised to capture and represent the "objective reality" of the system under examination. In this symbiotic relationship between physics and mathematics, the language of mathematics becomes a powerful tool for describing and predicting the behavior of the physical world. The language used and the associated concepts are in a perpetual state of evolution, mirroring the ongoing expansion of the phenomena accessible to our scientific understanding. In this contribution, written in honor of Richard Kerner, we delve into fundamental, at times seemingly elementary, elements of the mathematical language inherent to the physical sciences, guided by the overarching principles of symmetry and group theory. Our focus turns to the captivating realm of spheres, those strikingly symmetric entities that manifest prominently within our geometric landscape. By exploring the interplay between mathematical abstraction and the tangible beauty of symmetry, we seek to deepen our understanding of the underlying structures that govern our interpretation of the physical world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a stochastic, dynamic runway scheduling problem involving aircraft landings on a single runway. Sequencing decisions are made with knowledge of the estimated arrival times (ETAs) of all aircraft due to arrive at the airport, and these ETAs vary according to continuous-time stochastic processes. Time separations between consecutive runway landings are modeled via sequence-dependent Erlang distributions and are affected by weather conditions, which also evolve continuously over time. The resulting multistage optimization problem is intractable using exact methods, and we propose a novel simheuristic approach based on the application of methods analogous to variable neighborhood search in a high-dimensional stochastic environment. Our model is calibrated using flight tracking data for over 98,000 arrivals at Heathrow Airport. Results from numerical experiments indicate that our proposed simheuristic algorithm outperforms an alternative based on deterministic forecasts under a wide range of parameter values, with the largest benefits seen when the underlying stochastic processes become more volatile and also when the on-time requirements of individual flights are given greater weight in the objective function. Funding: This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [Grant EP/M020258/1]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2022.0400. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]