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At least 109 records · Page 6

Searches for heavy neutrinos in the decays of positively charged kaons

According to predictions of the {nu}MSM model, a heavy neutrino may exist in the mass range below 1 GeV. Searches for rare kaon decays make it possible to study the heavy-neutrino-mass range M{sub {pi}} < m{sub {nu}H} < M{sub K}. A preliminary analysis of data from the E949 experiment performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL, USA) is performed in the present study. Basic background processes are studied, and it is shown that a sensitivity at a level of 4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -8} to the K{sup +} {yields} Micro-Sign {sup +}{nu}{sub H} branching ratio can be reached for the mass value of m{sub {nu}H} = 250 MeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Selective UV radiation detection on the basis of low-dimensional ZnCdS/ZnMgS/GaP and ZnCdS/ZnS/GaP heterostructures

The detecting properties of periodic heterostructures with ZnCdS quantum wells separated by ZnMgS or ZnS barrier layers are studied. Heterostructures are grown on semi-insulating GaP substrates by metal organic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE). On their basis, metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) diodes with interdigital Schottky contacts 3 μm, distances between them of 3 μm, and a total detector area of 100 × 100 μm are fabricated. The detectors have low dark currents (10{sup –12} A); at low bias voltages, they provide a narrow- band response (full-width at half-maximum of FWHM = 18 nm at a wavelength of 350 nm) which is controlled by the ZnCdS quantum-well composition. As bias is increased to 70 V, the maximum detector sensitivity shifts by a wavelength of 450 nm, which is caused by penetration of the external-bias electric field into the semi-insulating GaP substrate. In this case, the narrow-band response of the detector at a wavelength of 350 nm is retained, i.e., the two-color detection of light is provided.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

HIV-1 Transmission during Early Infection in Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Phylodynamic Analysis

Conventional epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases is focused on characterization of incident infections and estimation of the number of prevalent infections. Advances in methods for the analysis of the population-level genetic variation of viruses can potentially provide information about donors, not just recipients, of infection. Genetic sequences from many viruses are increasingly abundant, especially HIV, which is routinely sequenced for surveillance of drug resistance mutations. In this study, we conducted a phylodynamic analysis of HIV genetic sequence data and surveillance data from a US population of men who have sex with men (MSM) and estimated incidence and transmission rates by stage of infection.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Sensitivity of joint contagiousness and susceptibility-based dynamic optimal control strategies for HIV prevention

Predicting the population-level effects of an infectious disease intervention that incorporate multiple modes of intervention is complicated by the joint non-linear dynamics of both infection transmission and the intervention itself. In this paper, we consider the sensitivity of Dynamic Optimal Control Profiles (DOCPs) for the optimal joint investment in both a contagiousness and susceptibility-based control of HIV to bio-behavioral, economic, and programmatic assumptions. The DOCP is calculated using recently developed numerical algorithms that allow controls to be represented by a set of piecewise constant functions that maintain a constant yearly budget. Our transmission model assumes multiple stages of HIV infection corresponding to acute and chronic infection and both within- and between-individual behavioral heterogeneity. We parameterize a baseline scenario from a longitudinal study of sexual behavior in MSM and consider sensitivity of the DOCPs to deviations from that baseline scenario. In the baseline scenario, the primary determinant of the dominant control were programmatic factors, regardless of budget. In sensitivity analyses, the qualitative aspects of the optimal control policy were often robust to significant deviation in assumptions regarding transmission dynamics. In addition, we found several conditions in which long-term joint investment in both interventions was optimal. Our results suggest that modeling in the service of decision support for intervention design can improve population-level effects of a limited set of economic resources. We found that economic and programmatic factors were as important as the inherent transmission dynamics in determining population-level intervention effects. Given our finding that the DOCPs were robust to alternative biological and behavioral assumptions it may be possible to identify DOCPs even when the data are not sufficient to identify a transmission model.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Data for Stetten et al. (2025), "Biogeochemical controls on iron speciation and cycling across upland to shoreline gradients in freshwater and estuarine coastal soils (Lake Erie and Chesapeake Bay, United States)"

Coastal environments are dynamic interfaces that mediate carbon and nutrient exchanges between terrestrial landscapes and open waters, but it is unclear how biogeochemical reactions, in particular iron (Fe) redox transformations, affect the understanding and prediction of coastal ecosystem functions. This dataset includes measurements from two freshwater sites in the Western and Central basins of Lake Erie (Ohio, United States) and two estuarine sites in the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland, United States); the analytical results were reported by Stetten et al. (2025) in Science of the Total Environment. It was produced as part of the COMPASS-FME project, which seeks to advance a scalable, predictive understanding of the fundamental biogeochemical processes, ecological structure, and ecosystem dynamics that distinguish coastal terrestrial-aquatic interfaces from the purely terrestrial or aquatic systems to which they are coupled. The sites were sampled in November 2022 (CRC), December 2022 (MSM), February 2023 (GCW), and March 2023 (OWC); site codes follow those used by Pennington et al. (2025).The dataset consists of the following soil data:- Solid data (Fe concentration, etc.)- Porewater data (sulfate, sulfide, etc.)- Linear combination fitting results of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra; i.e., quantitative results of the oxidation state of Fe, indicated as a proportion of pure Fe(III) and Fe(II) model compounds- Linear combination fitting results of EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) spectra, indicated as proportion of of Fe-model compounds (illite, smectite, etc.)Each data type has a single file in comma-separated value (CSV) format. No special software is required to read it.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction Analyses of a Deeply Embedded Model Reactor – SASSI Analyses

This report summarizes the SASSI analyses of a deeply embedded reactor model performed by BNL and CJC and Associates, as part of the seismic soil-structure interaction (SSI) simulation capability project for the NEAMS (Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation) Program of the Department of Energy. The SASSI analyses included three cases: 0.2 g, 0.5 g, and 0.9g, all of which refer to nominal peak accelerations at the top of the bedrock. The analyses utilized the modified subtraction method (MSM) for performing the seismic SSI evaluations. Each case consisted of two analyses: input motion in one horizontal direction (X) and input motion in the vertical direction (Z), both of which utilized the same in-column input motion. Besides providing SASSI results for use in comparison with the time domain SSI results obtained using the DIABLO computer code, this study also leads to the recognition that the frequency-domain method should be modernized so that it can better serve its mission-critical role for analysis and design of nuclear power plants.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Automated Algorithms for Quantum-Level Accuracy in Atomistic Simulations: LDRD Final Report.

This report summarizes the result of LDRD project 12-0395, titled "Automated Algorithms for Quantum-level Accuracy in Atomistic Simulations." During the course of this LDRD, we have developed an interatomic potential for solids and liquids called Spectral Neighbor Analysis Poten- tial (SNAP). The SNAP potential has a very general form and uses machine-learning techniques to reproduce the energies, forces, and stress tensors of a large set of small configurations of atoms, which are obtained using high-accuracy quantum electronic structure (QM) calculations. The local environment of each atom is characterized by a set of bispectrum components of the local neighbor density projected on to a basis of hyperspherical harmonics in four dimensions. The SNAP coef- ficients are determined using weighted least-squares linear regression against the full QM training set. This allows the SNAP potential to be fit in a robust, automated manner to large QM data sets using many bispectrum components. The calculation of the bispectrum components and the SNAP potential are implemented in the LAMMPS parallel molecular dynamics code. Global optimization methods in the DAKOTA software package are used to seek out good choices of hyperparameters that define the overall structure of the SNAP potential. FitSnap.py, a Python-based software pack- age interfacing to both LAMMPS and DAKOTA is used to formulate the linear regression problem, solve it, and analyze the accuracy of the resultant SNAP potential. We describe a SNAP potential for tantalum that accurately reproduces a variety of solid and liquid properties. Most significantly, in contrast to existing tantalum potentials, SNAP correctly predicts the Peierls barrier for screw dislocation motion. We also present results from SNAP potentials generated for indium phosphide (InP) and silica (SiO 2 ). We describe efficient algorithms for calculating SNAP forces and energies in molecular dynamics simulations using massively parallel computers and advanced processor ar- chitectures. Finally, we briefly describe the MSM method for efficient calculation of electrostatic interactions on massively parallel computers.

Thompson, Aidan Patrick↗

Neutron Detector Signal Processing to Calculate the Effective Neutron Multiplication Factor of Subcritical Assemblies

This report describes different methodologies to calculate the effective neutron multiplication factor of subcritical assemblies by processing the neutron detector signals using MATLAB scripts. The subcritical assembly can be driven either by a spontaneous fission neutron source (e.g. californium) or by a neutron source generated from the interactions of accelerated particles with target materials. In the latter case, when the particle accelerator operates in a pulsed mode, the signals are typically stored into two files. One file contains the time when neutron reactions occur and the other contains the times when the neutron pulses start. In both files, the time is given by an integer representing the number of time bins since the start of the counting. These signal files are used to construct the neutron count distribution from a single neutron pulse. The built-in functions of MATLAB are used to calculate the effective neutron multiplication factor through the application of the prompt decay fitting or the area method to the neutron count distribution. If the subcritical assembly is driven by a spontaneous fission neutron source, then the effective multiplication factor can be evaluated either using the prompt neutron decay constant obtained from Rossi or Feynman distributions or the Modified Source Multiplication (MSM) method.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Vertical 2T-nC FeRAM Demonstration: BEOL Read Transistor for 4F 2 Memory Strings and Two-Terminal Selector Design for Polarization Disturb Mitigation

In this work, we demonstrate a vertical 2T-nC FeRAM with a back-end-of-line (BEOL) read transistor (T R ) for 4F 2 string and propose a selector design to mitigate polarization disturb in passive capacitor crossbar arrays. Key contributions include: 1) successful integration and operation composed of a Si MOSFET write transistor (T W ), 3-layer cylindrical ferroelectric capacitors, and Si-doped In 2 O 3 BEOL T R , demonstrating the feasibility of 4F 2 2T−nC string; 2) introducing nonlinearity into the capacitor stack to suppress ferroelectric voltage drop under inhibition biases while maintaining sufficient write voltage, reducing disturbance; 3)modeling and experimental validation of inserting a metalsemiconductor (a-Si)-metal (MSM) selector into the capacitor in mitigating the disturb, particularly achieving 9x reduction of disturb after 10 6 cycles in the V W /2 scheme.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Delayed HIV diagnosis common in Sweden, 2003–2010

Background: Early diagnosis of HIV is important for the prognosis of individual patients, because antiretroviral treatment can be started at the appropriate time, and for public health, because transmission can be prevented. Methods: Data were collected from 767 HIV patients who were diagnosed in Sweden during 2003–2010 and were infected in Sweden or born in Sweden and infected abroad. A recent infection testing algorithm (RITA) was applied to BED-EIA test results (OD-n < 0.8), CD4 counts (≥ 200 cells/μl), and clinical information. A recent infection classification was used as indicator for early diagnosis. Time trends in early diagnosis were investigated to detect population changes in HIV testing behavior. Patients with early diagnosis were compared to patients with delayed diagnosis with respect to age, gender, transmission route, and country of infection (Sweden or abroad). Results: Early diagnosis was observed in 271 patients (35%). There was no statistically significant time trend in the yearly percentage of patients with early diagnosis in the entire study group (p = 0.836) or in subgroups. Early diagnosis was significantly more common in men who have sex men (MSM) (45%) than in heterosexuals (21%) and injecting drug users (27%) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) in both univariate and multivariable analyses. The only other factor that remained associated with early diagnosis in multivariable analysis was young age group. Conclusion: Approximately one-third of the study patients were diagnosed early with no significant change over time. Delayed HIV diagnosis is a considerable problem in Sweden, which does not appear to diminish.

delayed diagnosis↗

The Role of Hydrophobic Nodes in the Dynamics of Class A β-Lactamases

Class A β-lactamases are known for being able to rapidly gain broad spectrum catalytic efficiency against most β-lactamase inhibitor combinations as a result of elusively minor point mutations. The evolution in class A β-lactamases occurs through optimisation of their dynamic phenotypes at different timescales. At long-timescales, certain conformations are more catalytically permissive than others while at the short timescales, fine-grained optimisation of free energy barriers can improve efficiency in ligand processing by the active site. Free energy barriers, which define all coordinated movements, depend on the flexibility of the secondary structural elements. The most highly conserved residues in class A β-lactamases are hydrophobic nodes that stabilize the core. To assess how the stable hydrophobic core is linked to the structural dynamics of the active site, we carried out adaptively sampled molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in four representative class A β-lactamases (KPC-2, SME-1, TEM-1, and SHV-1). Using Markov State Models (MSM) and unsupervised deep learning, we show that the dynamics of the hydrophobic nodes is used as a metastable relay of kinetic information within the core and is coupled with the catalytically permissive conformation of the active site environment. Finally, our results collectively demonstrate that the class A enzymes described here, share several important dynamic similarities and the hydrophobic nodes comprise of an informative set of dynamic variables in representative class A β-lactamases.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Determination of Thermal Damage Threshold in THz Photomixers Using Raman Spectroscopy

The increase of device lifetime and reliability of THz photomixers will play an essential role in their possible future application. Therefore, their optimal work conditions/operation range, i.e., the maximal incident optical power should be experimentally estimated. We fabricated and tested THz photomixer devices based on nitrogen-implanted GaAs integrated with a Bragg reflector. Raman spectroscopy was applied to investigate the material properties and to disclose any reversible or irreversible material changes. The results indicate that degradation effects in the photomixer structures/material could be avoided if the total optical power density does not exceed levels of about 0.7 mW/µm 2 for 100 min of operation. Furthermore, the investigations performed during 1000 min of optical exposure on the photomixer devices’ central region comprising interdigitated metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) structures suggest a reversible “curing” mechanism if the power density level of ~0.58 mW/µm 2 is not exceeded. Long-term operation (up to 1000 h) reveals that the photomixer structures can withstand an average optical power density of up to ~0.4 mW/µm 2 without degradation when biased at 10 V. Besides the decrease of the position of the A1g (LO) Raman mode from ~291 cm -1 down to ~288 cm -1 with increasing optical power density and operation time, broad Raman modes evolve at about 210 cm -1 , which can be attributed to degradation effects in the active photomixer/MSM area. In addition, the performed carrier lifetime and photomixer experiments demonstrated that these structures generated continuous wave sub-THz radiation efficiently as long as their optimal work conditions/operation range were within the limits established by our Raman studies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Projecting the number of new HIV infections to formulate the "Getting to Zero" strategy in Illinois, USA

Objectives: Getting to Zero (GTZ) initiatives focus on expanding use of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to eliminate new HIV infections. Computational models help inform policies for implementation of ART and PrEP continuums. Such models, however, vary in their design, and may yield inconsistent predictions. Using multiple approaches can help assess the consistency in results obtained from varied modeling frameworks, and can inform optimal implementation strategies. Methods: A study using three different modeling approaches is conducted. Two approaches use statistical time series analysis techniques that incorporate temporal HIV incidence data. A third approach uses stochastic stimulation, conducted using an agent-based network model (ABNM). All three approaches are used to project HIV incidence among a key population, young Black MSM (YBMSM), over the course of the GTZ implementation period (2016-2030). Results: All three approaches suggest that simultaneously increasing PrEP and ART uptake is likely to be more effective than increasing only one, but increasing ART and PrEP by 20% points may not eliminate new HIV infections among YBMSM. The results further suggest that a 20% increase in ART is likely to be more effective than a 20% increase in PrEP. All three methods consistently project that increasing ART and PrEP by 30% simultaneously can help reach GTZ goals. Conclusions: Increasing PrEP and ART uptake by about 30% might be necessary to accomplish GTZ goals. Such scale-up may require addressing psychosocial and structural barriers to engagement in HIV and PrEP care continuums. ABNMs and other flexible modeling approaches can be extended to examine specific interventions that address these barriers and may provide important data to guide the successful intervention implementation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The computation of optimal control programmes using a modified successive sweep method.

A second-order method for numerically solving control optimization problems has been developed. The method, referred to as the modified sweep method (MSM), differs from the successive sweep method (SSM) proposed by McReynolds and Bryson (1965) in that the conditions for local control optimality are used to determine the control as an explicit function of the state variables and time. The control is eliminated from the problem and the solution to the resulting two-point boundary value problem can be obtained by linear perturbation methods. The modified sweep method proposed here uncouples the perturbation equations for the state variables and the Lagrange multipliers by using a generalized matrix-Riccati transformation of variables. The resulting algorithm for the numerical iteration process is concerned with determining the initial values of a set of Lagrange multipliers rather than correcting a numerical control programme over the entire time interval of interest.

Colunga, D.↗

A movable stop mechanism for the SIRE telescope

A movable stop mechanism (MSM) designed to activate flaps that change the size and shape of a telescope aperture stop on command is described. Operating at the cryogenic temperatures of the optical system, it consists primarily of a rotary solenoid that drives (activates) dual four-bar linkages in synchronism that in turn rotate the butterfly flaps into position. The design, performance characteristics, and testing of this mechanism are discussed. Specific problems that occurred during testing and the solutions that were adopted are also described.

Tweedt, R. E.↗

Experiments applications guide: Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS)

This applications guide first surveys the capabilities of the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) system (both the flight and ground segments). This overview is followed by a description of the baseband processor (BBP) and microwave switch matrix (MSM) operating modes. Terminals operating with the baseband processor are referred to as low burst rate (LBR); and those operating with the microwave switch matrix, as high burst rate (HBR). Three very small-aperture terminals (VSATs), LBR-1, LBR-2, and HBR, are described for various ACTS operating modes. Also described is the NASA Lewis link evaluation terminal. A section on ACTS experiment opportunities introduces a wide spectrum of network control, telecommunications, system, and scientific experiments. The performance of the VSATs is discussed in detail. This guide is intended as a catalyst to encourage participation by the telecommunications, business, and science communities in a broad spectrum of experiments.

Source record↗

Millimeter-wave and optoelectronic applications of heterostructure integrated circuits

The properties are reviewed of heterostructure devices for microwave-monolithic-integrated circuits (MMICs) and optoelectronic integrated circuits (OICs). Specific devices examined include lattice-matched and pseudomorphic InAlAs/InGaAs high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), mixer/multiplier diodes, and heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) developed with a number of materials. MMICs are reviewed that can be employed for amplification, mixing, and signal generation, and receiver/transmitter applications are set forth for OICs based on GaAs and InP heterostructure designs. HEMTs, HBTs, and junction-FETs can be utilized in combination with PIN, MSM, and laser diodes to develop novel communication systems based on technologies that combine microwave and photonic capabilities.

Pavlidis, Dimitris↗

The molecular matching problem

Molecular chemistry contains many difficult optimization problems that have begun to attract the attention of optimizers in the Operations Research community. Problems including protein folding, molecular conformation, molecular similarity, and molecular matching have been addressed. Minimum energy conformations for simple molecular structures such as water clusters, Lennard-Jones microclusters, and short polypeptides have dominated the literature to date. However, a variety of interesting problems exist and we focus here on a molecular structure matching (MSM) problem.

Kincaid, Rex K.↗