Construction variability and isolated defects in base layer can be limiting factors in pavement’s service life. To control construction quality and implement an efficient quality management system, this study develops a quick, accurate, and simple non-destructive method using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to determine reliable values of in-place compacted base material properties, such as suction (h_m), water content (θ), dry density (γ_d), and resilient modulus (M_R). To overcome the challenges associated with timely laboratory testing on core samples, a set of mechanistic empirical characteristics curve models were utilized and corresponding fitting parameter prediction models were proposed based simple laboratory tests like the Methylene Blue Test (MBT), Percent Size Distribution Analyzer Test, Percometer Test, and Aggregate Imaging Measurement System (AIMS) Test. The laboratory characterization results were integrated with GPR scan data and processed using two GPR signal analysis software programs, PaveCheck and LayerMAPP, to generate a strip map of the in-situ base properties along the pavement section. Finally, to validate the results from the GPR-based approach, the predicted profile of base material properties from filed test sections was compared with results from other non-destructive methods such as the Nuclear Density Gauge and Falling Weight Deflectomter.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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Abstract Risk perceptions of energy systems, and their evolution under climate change and after accidents, affects public acceptance of generation technologies. Despite this, little is understood about how such factors impact public perception at different time scales and the drivers for perception. We use state-of-the-art natural language processing to measure temporal changes in sentiment toward energy technologies using the full twitter archive for 2009–2022. We find that perception of natural gas and wind has changed little as discussion of climate change on social media increased. However, climate-linked sentiment toward coal, solar, and hydropower has become more negative, while that for nuclear has improved. We also find that all generation technologies experience a drop in supportive discourse after definable accidents, but this typically rebounds with a half-life of less than 3 days. Yet, nuclear power is an exception in how it reacts to large scale events. After Fukushima, sentiment returned to its positive pre-accident levels with an 11.3-month relaxation half-life.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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The rapid development of Large Language Models (LLMs) technology can offer an opportunity for end-users, but it also challenges the required power demand from data centers to meet this increase in performance. Based on trends in the growth of LLMs/data centers and symmetry/favorability of SMR techno-regulatory environments, scenario analysis yielded nine potential future scenarios. This analysis finds three sets of insights: First, SMRs offer the most promise in the “Era of Radical Innovation” scenario, where they could emerge as a key clean power supply for data centers via distributed generation systems. Second, three key factors will determine the success of SMR implementation: optimizing regulatory framework, achieving technological maturity and enhancing social acceptance. Third, adverse SMR scenario triggers the need for alternative strategies, such as renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency enhancement. It pinpointed major challenges to address: decoupling licensing processes, gaining economic competitiveness via modular fabrication and stakeholder acceptance. Against this background, the study offers a three-tiered set of policy recommendations: one for immediate action (including regulatory reforms and R&D support); another focused on medium-term infrastructure development and workforce training; and a third targeted on long-term international cooperation frameworks. A systematic evaluation of their potential to meet the rising power demands for AI while providing energy security and environmental sustainability is presented in this research.

• Book : 57(4)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.3-30
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AbstractThere is a global shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYN), raising concerns about patient care and workforce sustainability. Germany faces a particularly acute shortage, exacerbated by the impending retirement of many senior consultants. This study explores the career perceptions of graduate-entry medical students at the University of Bonn, focusing on their attitudes toward a career in OB/GYN.A cohort of fifth year medical students (n = 213) participated in this study. Surveys were administered directly via QR codes at two points in the 10th semester: pre-rotation (pre-clerkship) and post-rotation, at the time of the OSCE (OSCE = objective structured clinical examination) in OB/GYN. The questionnaires assessed multiple dimensions of students’ career preferences, understanding of the specialty, and the impact of clinical exposure on their perceptions. Statistical analyses, including McNemar’s test, were performed to evaluate changes in students’ perspectives.The findings revealed that prior to clinical exposure, only 32% of students expressed interest in a career in OB/GYN. After completing the rotation, this interest remained unchanged. Notably, concerns about night shifts increased significantly post-rotation, with 75% of students citing it as a key deterrent. Furthermore, financial considerations gained importance, with 54% of students highlighting future income as a critical factor post-rotation compared to 43% pre-rotation. Despite improved understanding of OB/GYN following hands-on experience, concerns about workload and stress persisted.While clinical exposure increased students’ knowledge of OB/GYN, it did not significantly affect their interest in the specialty, likely due to concerns about work-life balance and the demanding nature of the field. The study underscores the need for reforms in OB/GYN training and practice environments to address these deterrents and improve recruitment into this essential specialty.

• Book : 85(03)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.333-343
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Held on October 14, 2023, SPARK 2023 marked the inaugural National Conference organized by the Department of Physics at North Lakhimpur University. It also served as the inaugural conference of the SPARK conference series. SPARK 2023 represents not just an academic event but also a proud moment for our institution, recently elevated to the status of a state university by the Govt. of Assam, India, from its earlier identity as North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous). This conference showcases the academic and intellectual commitment of our nascent university as it strives to establish its position among esteemed institutions of higher learning and research in the nation. SPARK 2023 brought together participants from across India, particularly from the eastern and northeastern regions, and received an impressive 71 abstracts submitted by researchers from 28 prestigious institutions. These institutions encompass universities, colleges, and autonomous research institutes, and their submissions span seven states. The number of total registered participants was 88. The conference was organized into four broad thematic tracks, each covering a diverse range of areas within physics. These tracks are: Track 01: High Energy Physics and Cosmology Track 02: Material Science & Nanoscience, and Statistical Physics Track 03: Electronics, Spectroscopy, Photonics, and Computational Physics Track 04: Astronomy & Astrophysics, Space & Atmospheric Physics, Plasma Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Nonlinear Dynamics List of Local Organizing Committee, National Scientific Committee, Keynote Speakers, Session Chairs and Proceeding Editors are available in this pdf.

• Book : 2957(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.011001-011001
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We present a comprehensive NLO pQCD study on inclusive dijet photoproduction in ultraperipheral nucleus-nucleus collisions (UPCs). Our analysis takes into account the finite size of both the photon-emitting and the target nucleus, estimated using the Wood-Saxon nuclear density profile. We show that a significant part of the measured dijets at large z_\gamma in UPC Pb+Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV come from events with relatively small impact parameters of the order of a few nuclear radii, and the cross section predictions thus become sensitive to the modelling of the collision geometry and photon flux near the source nucleus. In addition, we include the modelling of electromagnetic breakup survival factor needed for a direct comparison with the experimental data and study the resolution power of this process in terms of the impact-parameter dependent nuclear parton distribution functions.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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RhoA is a major regulator of the actin cytoskeleton. Its function in the nucleus, however, is unclear. Fusing wildtype, fast cycling, constitutively active, and dominant negative forms of RhoA with tags promoting nuclear or cytoplasmic location and allowing specific detection, we established a platform to distinguish the functions of nuclear and cytoplasmic RhoA. Our data show that nuclear but not cytoplasmic activation of RhoA regulates DNA amount and nuclear size. This is mediated by sequential nuclear activation of the RhoA effector ROCK and Erk, a major cell cycle regulating kinase. The inhibition of ROCK or Erk activation in untransfected cells reduced DNA amounts to a similar extent, suggesting that endogenous activation levels of nuclear RhoA-ROCK-Erk signaling are sufficient for regulation. We reveal, furthermore, that GDP-bound, but not activated RhoA, translocates to the nucleus, indicating relatively separated cytoplasmic and nuclear RhoA signaling. Moreover, even the massive nuclear activation of RhoA does not cause an obvious increase in nuclear F-actin, indicating that RhoA activation is not critical for nuclear F-actin formation.

• Book : 14(6)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.404-404
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IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties of ursodeoxycholic (UDCA) and chenodeoxycholic (CDCA) bile acids in a rat model of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI).MethodsThe study included six groups of Wistar rats exposed to different pretreatments. The control and endotoxin groups were pretreated with propylene glycol, a solvent for bile acids, while the other groups received UDCA or CDCA for 10 days. On the 10th day, an endotoxin injection was given to evaluate the impact of these pretreatments. Lung tissue sections were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, targeting the pro-inflammatory marker nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), the anti-apoptotic marker B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), pro-apoptotic markers BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX) and caspase 3, as well as the aquaporins 1 and 5 (AQP1 and AQP5). Oxidative stress was assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).Results and discussionThis study demonstrates that UDCA and CDCA can mitigate endotoxin-induced lung injury in rats. These effects are achieved through modulation of AQP1 and AQP5 expression, reduction of oxidative stress, regulation of apoptotic pathways (BAX, caspase 3, BCL-2), and attenuation of pro-inflammatory activity of NF-κB. Although the results indicate a significant association between the expression of these proteins and histopathological changes, the potential influence of additional factors cannot be excluded. These findings suggest that UDCA and CDCA provide lung protection by acting through complex mechanisms involving inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic pathways.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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AbstractCapparisL. (Capparaceae) is a genus of approximately 145 species, many of which have an ancient history of human use. Australia harbours 21 accepted species ofCapparis, including the widespread and taxonomically complexCapparis spinosaL., two phrase-named species, and two putative new species; however, the relationships of these species and their taxonomic status remains to be tested. Here, we present the first phylogenetic trees containing all species of AustralianCapparisbased on the nuclear Angiosperms353 loci. Paralogous gene sequences were identified and handled through ASTRAL-Pro and orthology inference to estimate three species trees using coalescent and concatenated approaches. Phylogenetic discordance was characterised and investigated with a whole-genome duplication analysis. All three trees resolveCapparisas monophyletic and indicate that a whole-genome duplication event occurred in the ancestor of all AustralianCapparisspecies.Capparissect.CapparisandC.sect.Busbeckea(Endl.) Hook.f. are monophyletic, butC. sect.MonostichocalyxRadlk. is non-monophyletic. We infer thatCapparislikely expanded its range to Australia multiple times, resulting in markedly different patterns of diversification and evolution in different clades. The relationships of species within sect.Busbeckeadiffer across trees and are generally poorly supported presumably due to rapid radiation following a second whole-genome duplication event. The relationships of taxa within sect.Capparisand the clades of sect.Monostichocalyxare well-supported, with some evidence of incomplete lineage sorting. We find that the three morphotypes ofCapparis spinosasubsp.nummularia(DC.) Fici across northern Australia consistently form three clades, distinct from the closely relatedCapparis spinosasubsp.cordifolia(Lam.) Fici found outside of Australia. Based on this phylogenomic analysis and morphological study, we describe five new species and two new subspecies ofCapparis, bringing the total number of species in Australia to 26. The phrase-named taxaC. sp. Bamaga (V.Scarth-Johnson 1048A) Qld Herbarium andC. sp. Coen (L.S.Smith 11862) Qld Herbarium are formally described asC. xylofructaW.E.Cooper andC. megacarpaW.E.Cooper, respectively, andC. platyangulataW.E.Cooper & Joyce andC. splendidissimaW.E.Cooper are newly described.Capparis loranthifoliavar.bancroftiiC.T.White ex M.Jacobs is raised to species level asC. bancroftii(C.T.White ex M.Jacobs) W.E.Cooper & Joyce.Capparis spinosasubsp.nummulariais split into three subspecies:C. spinosasubsp.minor(Domin) W.E.Cooper & Joyce, distributed in Northern Territory and inland Queensland;C. spinosasubsp.insularisW.E.Cooper & Joyce distributed on islands off northern Queensland, andC. spinosasubsp.nummulariawhich is restricted to Western Australia and the far north west of the Northern Territory. Descriptions and notes on habitat and distribution are included for all new taxa, and an identification key is provided for all AustralianCapparistaxa.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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• Book : 20(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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