A thorough study of EuZn$_2$P$_2$ single crystals, which were grown from Snflux, was performed using both bulk (heat capacity, ac susceptibility, dcmagnetization, electrical resistivitivity, magnetoresistance) and microscopic(M\"ossbauer spectroscopy) techniques. Electrical resistance and magneticsusceptibility were measured also under high pressure conditions (up to 19 GPaand 9.5 GPa, respectively). Further insight into electronic properties andphonons is provided by ab initio calculations. The results indicate thatEuZn$_2$P$_2$ is an antiferromagnet with strong Eu-Eu exchange coupling offerromagnetic type within the basal plane and weaker antiferromagneticinteraction along the c axis. The Eu magnetic moments are tilted from the basalplane. Hydrostatic pressure strongly affects both magnetic (increase of theN\'eel temperature) and electronic (suppression of the band gap and semimetallic behavior) properties, indicating a strong interplay of structure withmagnetic and electronic degrees of freedom.
The forensic field has until now been missing more versatile equipment for non‐destructive characterization, analysis and inspection of 2D and 3D objects. Also, the need for increasingly frequent analysis of art forgeries, where non‐destructive analysis is required at least in the first step, is calling for a multimodal solution. A prototype device for robotic analysis, imaging and mapping of 3D objects is being developed and tested to be used in these areas. The system is based on the principle of integrating imaging and analytical technologies onto six‐axis robotic arms, which allow substantial flexibility in the sample size or shape. The system enables non‐destructive examination of a wide spectrum of samples with complicated curvatures. The new generation of X‐ray imaging detectors provide a high picture quality with a spatial resolution level in the micrometre range in 2D or 3D imaging. The basic version of the robotic scanner allows transmission X‐ray imaging and mapping of the individual photons with high‐sensitivity and high‐resolution detectors. The broad capabilities of XRD imaging are now being complemented by X‐ray fluorescence point analysis and mapping, multispectral macro imaging, and multispectral X‐ray diffraction analysis.
Dedicated fiber links become the more precise and desirable mean for comparing optical clocks and for optical frequency transfer at distances up to a few thousands kilometers. The need of installing special equipment along the link, and usually renting fibers exclusively for frequency transfer, cause that this preferable solution is cumbersome and expensive, and so accessible in severely limited range. In this paper we propose an improved method for comparing optical clocks with use of standard (i.e. not modified for this purpose) DWDM optical telecommunication network. The proposed solution is based on identified correlation between residual phase noise present in a DWDM-based optical frequency transfer and the in-loop phase correcting signal, which can be easily registered and used for improving the comparison accuracy by means of data postprocessing. As we demonstrated, using the proposed method the clocks comparison, uncertainty may be reduced to well below 1×10 -16 for link length in range of 1500 km.
Understanding how users interact with systems and experience usability issues is vital in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Existing approaches often focus on isolated data types, such as interaction logs or subjective reports, providing only a partial view of the user experience. This work introduces AMUSED, a multimodal dataset that integrates user interaction logs, physiological signals, facial emotion features, and self-assessment reports. The dataset includes expert annotations of eleven types of usability smells, creating a rich resource for investigating relationships between usability problems, user behavior, and emotional states. We conducted experiments with 70 participants interacting with three social networks containing usability issues. We then evaluated various machine learning models to assess the feasibility of automatically detecting these issues. The dataset comprises 24 h of user recordings, with over 20,000 user events, such as clicks, scrolls, and input changes. Our analysis reveals that (i) usability smells frequently co-occur, (ii) negative emotions predominate when severe usability issues arise, and (iii) Gradient Boosting models achieve up to 92% accuracy in detecting usability smells, demonstrating the potential for computational methods in automated usability evaluation. Our findings emphasize the value of emotional metrics in HCI research and highlight promising uses of machine learning to automatically detect usability issues.
Positronium lifetime imaging (PLI), an emerging extension of conventional positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, offers a novel window for probing the submolecular properties of biological tissues by imaging the mean lifetime of the positronium atom. Currently, the method is under rapid development in terms of reconstruction and detection systems. Recently, the first in vivo positronium lifetime imaging (PLI) of the human brain was performed using the J-PET scanner utilizing the 68Ga isotope. However, this isotope has limitations due to its comparatively low prompt gamma yields, which is crucial for positronium lifetime measurement. Among alternative radionuclides, 44Sc stands out as a promising isotope for PLI, characterized by a clinically suitable half-life (4.04 h) emitting 1157 keV prompt gamma in 100% cases after the emission of the positron. This study reports the first experimental demonstration of PLI with 44Sc, carried out on a NEMA-image quality (IQ) phantom using the Modular J-PET tomograph—the first plastic scintillators-based PET scanner.
ABSTRACT The whitefly Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a major agricultural pest that infests a wide range of crops and transmits several plant viruses, leading to significant yield losses worldwide. The intensive use of chemical insecticides for its control has contributed to the development of resistance, highlighting the need for alternative management strategies. This study evaluated the pathogenicity of a Cordyceps sp. isolate (GenBank accession: PV848091) obtained from B. tabaci adults collected in soybean fields in Bom Jesus, Piauí, Brazil. Morphological characterization and molecular identification based on ITS rDNA sequencing confirmed its taxonomic placement within the genus Cordyceps . Pathogenicity bioassays were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions by exposing B. tabaci adults to leaf discs treated with two conidial concentrations (1 × 10 5 and 1 × 10 6 conidia/mL). Survival was monitored daily for 9 days, and infection was confirmed by fungal sporulation on cadavers. Both concentrations significantly reduced adult survival, with final survival probabilities ranging from 25% to 50%. Median lethal time (LT₅₀) estimates were 5.0 days for 1 × 10 5 conidia/mL and 7.0 days for 1 × 10 6 conidia/mL, indicating delayed mortality at the higher concentration, possibly due to spore aggregation or saturation effects. These results demonstrate the pathogenic potential of Cordyceps sp. PV848091 against B. tabaci MEAM1 adults and support its evaluation as a candidate mycoinsecticide in integrated pest management programs. Future research should include dose–response bioassays, assessment of efficacy across developmental stages, and field validation.