Uncovering and Expressing our Purpose.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is currently a source of angst, because of its ability to give us content that sounds uncannily like a real person, and because of concern that people will not stop at using it as a tool to generate and synthesize ideas, but instead will cede control over our words, and then our thoughts. This editorial details each article in Creative Nursing Vol. 30 Issue 2, highlighting the ways in which social media, different kinds of AI, and other tools for connectivity can be used for good: finding our purpose, uniting people over long distances, expediting knowledge implementation, managing large volumes of literature, advancing health equity, and enriching nursing education.

Van Hove Singularity and Enhanced Superconductivity in Ca-Intercalated Bilayer Graphene Induced by Confinement Epitaxy.

We demonstrate the impact of high-density calcium introduction into Ca-intercalated bilayer graphene on a SiC substrate, wherein a metallic layer of Ca has been identified at the interface. We have discerned that the additional Ca layer engenders a free-electron-like band, which subsequently hybridizes with a Dirac band, leading to the emergence of a van Hove singularity. Coinciding with this, there is an increase in the critical temperature for superconductivity. These findings allude to the manifestation of Ca-driven confinement epitaxy, augmenting superconductivity through the enhancement of attractive interactions in a pair of electron and hole bands with flat dispersion around the Fermi level.

Spatial sensitivity distribution assessment and Monte Carlo simulations for needle-based bioimpedance imaging during venipuncture using the finite element method.

Despite being among the most common medical procedures, needle insertions suffer from a high error rate. Impedance measurements using electrode-equipped needles offer promise for improved tissue targeting and reduced errors. Impedance visualization usually requires an extensive pre-measured impedance dataset for tissue differentiation and knowledge of the electric fields contributing to the resulting impedances. This work presents two finite element simulation approaches for both problems. The first approach describes the generation of a multitude of impedances with Monte Carlo simulations for both, homogeneous and inhomogeneous tissue to circumvent the need to rely on previously measured data. These datasets could be used for tissue discrimination. The second method describes the simulation of the spatial sensitivity distribution of an electrode layout. Two singularity analysis methods were employed to determine the bulk of the sensitivity within a finite volume, which in turn enables consistent 3D visualization. The modeled electrode layout consists of 12 electrodes radially placed around a hypodermic needle. Electrical excitation was simulated using two neighboring electrodes for current carriage and voltage pickup, which resulted in 12 distinct bipolar excitation states. Both, the impedance simulations and the respective singularity analysis methods were compared with each other. The results show that the statistical spread of impedances is highly dependent on the tissue type and its inhomogeneities. The bounded bulk of sensitivities of both methods are of similar extent and symmetry. Future models should incorporate more detailed tissue properties such as anisotropy or changing material properties due to tissue deformation to gain more accurate predictions.

Linear resistivity at van Hove singularities in twisted bilayer WSe2.

Different mechanisms driving a linear temperature dependence of the resistivity ρ ∼ T at van Hove singularities (VHSs) or metal-insulator transitions when doping a Mott insulator are being debated intensively with competing theoretical proposals. We experimentally investigate this using the exceptional tunability of twisted bilayer (TB) WSe2 by tracking the parameter regions where linear-in-T resistivity is found in dependency of displacement fields, filling, and magnetic fields. We find that even when the VHSs are tuned rather far away from the half-filling point and the Mott insulating transition is absent, the T-linear resistivity persists at the VHSs. When doping away from the VHSs, the T-linear behavior quickly transitions into a Fermi liquid behavior with a T2 relation. No apparent dependency of the linear-in-T resistivity, besides a rather strong change of prefactor, is found when applying displacement fields as long as the filling is tuned to the VHSs, including D ∼ 0.28 V/nm where a high-order VHS is expected. Intriguingly, such non-Fermi liquid linear-in-T resistivity persists even when magnetic fields break the spin-degeneracy of the VHSs at which point two linear in T regions emerge, for each of the split VHSs separately. This points to a mechanism of enhanced scattering at generic VHSs rather than only at high-order VHSs or by a quantum critical point during a Mott transition. Our findings provide insights into the many-body consequences arising out of VHSs, especially the non-Fermi liquid behavior found in moiré materials.

Astrovirology and terrestrial life survival.

Microbial organisms have been implicated in several mass extinction events throughout Earth's planetary history. Concurrently, it can be reasoned from recent viral pandemics that viruses likely exacerbated the decline of life during these periods of mass extinction. The fields of exovirology and exobiology have evolved significantly since the 20th century, with early investigations into the varied atmospheric compositions of exoplanets revealing complex interactions between metallic and non-metallic elements. This diversity in exoplanetary and stellar environments suggests that life could manifest in forms previously unanticipated by earlier, more simplistic models of the 20th century. Non-linear theories of complexity, catastrophe, and chaos (CCC) will be important in understanding the dynamics and evolution of viruses.

On the Lookout for a Crack: Disruptive Becomings in Karoline Georges's Novel Under the Stone.

Informed by medical science and biotechnology, Karoline Georges's novel Under the Stone offers a reflection on suffering bodies and imagines responses to an overwhelming sense of fear and passivity that embodied trauma and the world's many crises can create. In line with the editors' reclaiming of the milieu for the medical humanities, I draw on Deleuze and Guattari's geophilosophy and Sara Ahmed's notions of stranger and encounter for reading the novel's spatialization of oppressive power dynamics and its imagination of subversive emergence. I also complicate the literary text's discourse on space and body by relying on wonder studies to examine further its alternative forms of careful attunement enacted through the protagonist's affective and disembodied awakening, the latter fueled by his escape from "the incessant movement of automatic components that delineat[e] [his] presence in the world" (Georges 2016, 61). Happening from and because of the Tower's milieu, this escape becomes a mitigating force to physical, affective, and social struggles. I thus contend that Georges's text provides thought-provoking material about the functions and effects of art for addressing the dangers and promises of bioethics, body sovereignty, and life protection.

Metasurface for Engineering Superimposed Ince-Gaussian Beams.

Ince-Gaussian beams (IGBs) are the third complete family of exact and orthogonal solutions of the paraxial wave equation and have been applied in many fields ranging from particle trapping to quantum optics. IGBs play a very important role in optics as they represent the exact and continuous transition modes connecting Laguerre-Gaussian and Hermite-Gaussian beams. The method currently in use suffers from the high cost, complexity, and large volume of the optical system. The superposition of IGBs can generate complicated structured beams with multiple phase and polarization singularities. A metasurface approach is proposed to realizing various superpositions of IGBs without relying on a complicated optical setup. By superimposing IGBs with even and odd modes, multiple phase, and polarization singularities are observed in the resultant beams. The phase and polarization singularities are modulated by setting the initial phase in the design and controlling the incident linear polarization. The compactness of the developed metasurface devices and the unique properties of the generated beams have the potential to impact many practical applications such as particle manipulation, orbital angular momentum spectrum manipulation, and optical communications.

Van Hove singularity driven enhancement of superconductivity in two-dimensional tungsten monofluoride (WF).

Superconductivity in two-dimensional materials has gained significant attention in the last few years. In this work, we report phonon-mediated superconductivity investigations in monolayer Tungsten monofluoride (WF) by solving anisotropic Migdal Eliashberg equations as implemented in EPW. By employing first-principles calculations, our examination of phonon dispersion spectra suggests that WF is dynamically stable. Our results show that WF has weak electron-phonon coupling (EPC) strength (λ) of 0.49 with superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 2.6 K. A saddle point is observed at 0.11 eV below the Fermi level (EF) of WF, which corresponds to the Van Hove singularity (VHS). On shifting the Fermi level to the VHS by hole doping (3.7 × 1014cm-2), the EPC strength increases to 0.93, which leads to an increase in theTcto 11 K. However, the superconducting transition temperature of both pristine and doped WF increases to approximately 7.2 K and 17.2 K, respectively, by applying the Full Bandwidth (FBW) anisotropic Migdal-Eliashberg equations. Our results provide a platform for the experimental realization of superconductivity in WF and enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature by adjusting the position ofEFto the VHS.

Quantum Griffiths Singularity in Ordered Artificial Superconducting-Islands-Array on Graphene.

Quantum Griffiths phase (QGP) is a novel quantum phenomenon of quantum phase transition in two-dimensional (2D) superconductors, and the emergence of inhomogeneous superconducting rare regions immersed in a metallic matrix is theoretically related to the quantum Griffiths singularity (QGS). However, the theoretical proposal of superconducting rare regions still lacks intuitive experimental verification. Here, we construct an artificial ordered superconducting-islands-array on monolayer graphene with the aid of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane. The QGS under both in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields is evidenced by the divergent dynamical critical exponent and is in compliance with the direct activated scaling behavior. The phase diagram clearly shows that the QGP is indeed bred in the rare superconducting regions within isolated superconducting islands with a vanished quantum coherence. Our results reveal the universal features of QGP in artificial heterostructured systems and provide a visualized platform for the theoretical proposal of QGS.

Weak and strong phase response curves of the onion fly circadian clock at temperature changes of 1 °C and 4 °C.

With increasing soil depth, the amplitude and phase of the daily temperature cycle decreases and is delayed, respectively. The onion fly, Delia antiqua, which pupates at a soil depth of 2-20 cm, advances the eclosion phase of its circadian clock as the temperature amplitude decreases. This "temperature-amplitude response" compensates for the depth-dependent phase delay of the temperature change and ensures eclosion in the early morning. To clarify the physiological mechanisms that induce a temperature-amplitude response, we performed phase-resetting experiments using a 12-h high- or low-temperature pulse with an amplitude of 1 °C or 4 °C. Based on the results obtained, four phase transition curves and four phase response curves were constructed. These curves show that the phase of the eclosion clock shifted more as the magnitude of the temperature change increased. The 24-h temperature cycle delayed, rather than advanced, the phase of the D. antiqua circadian eclosion rhythm. Therefore, we propose that a small phase delay is caused by a small temperature amplitude at a deep site in the soil and a large phase delay is caused by a large temperature amplitude at a shallow site, leading to the temperature-amplitude response exhibited by D. antiqua.

Robust topological superconductivity in spin-orbit coupled systems at higher-order van Hove filling.

Van Hove singularities in proximity to the Fermi level promote electronic interactions and generate diverse competing instabilities. It is also known that a nontrivial Berry phase derived from spin-orbit coupling can introduce an intriguing decoration into the interactions and thus alter correlated phenomena. However, it is unclear how and what type of new physics can emerge in a system featured by the interplay between van Hove singularities (VHSs) and the Berry phase. Here, based on a general Rashba model on the square lattice, we comprehensively explore such an interplay and its significant influence on the competing electronic instabilities by performing a parquet renormalization group analysis. Despite the existence of a variety of comparable fluctuations in the particle-particle and particle-hole channels associated with higher-order VHSs, we find that the chiral p±ip pairings emerge as two stable fixed trajectories within the generic interaction parameter space, namely the system becomes a robust topological superconductor. The chiral pairings stem from the hopping interaction induced by the nontrivial Berry phase. The possible experimental realization and implications are discussed. Our work sheds new light on the correlated states in quantum materials with strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and offers fresh insights into the exploration of topological superconductivity.

Quantum phase transitions in two-dimensional superconductors: a review on recent experimental progress.

Superconductor-insulator/metal transition (SMT) as a paradigm of quantum phase transition has been a research highlight over the last three decades. Benefit from recent developments in the fabrication and measurements of two-dimensional (2D) superconducting films and nanodevices, unprecedented quantum phenomena have been revealed in the quantum phase transitions of 2D superconductors. In this review, we introduce the recent progress on quantum phase transitions in 2D superconductors, focusing on the quantum Griffiths singularity (QGS) and anomalous metal state. Characterized by a divergent critical exponent when approaching zero temperature, QGS of SMT is discovered in ultrathin crystalline Ga films and subsequently detected in various 2D superconductors. The universality of QGS indicates the profound influence of quenched disorder on quantum phase transitions. Besides, in a 2D superconducting system, whether a metallic ground state can exist is a long-sought mystery. Early experimental studies indicate an intermediate metallic state in the quantum phase transition of 2D superconductors. Recently, in high-temperature superconducting films with patterned nanopores, a robust anomalous metal state (i.e. quantum metal or Bose metal) has been detected, featured as the saturated resistance in the low temperature regime. Moreover, the charge-2equantum oscillations are observed in nanopatterned films, indicating the bosonic nature of the anomalous metal state and ending the debate on whether bosons can exist as a metal. The evidences of the anomalous metal states have also been reported in crystalline epitaxial thin films and exfoliated nanoflakes, as well as granular composite films. High quality filters are used in these works to exclude the influence of external high frequency noises in ultralow temperature measurements. The observations of QGS and metallic ground states in 2D superconductors not only reveal the prominent role of quantum fluctuations and dissipations but also provide new perspective to explore quantum phase transitions in superconducting systems.

Image denoising in fluorescence microscopy using feature based gradient reconstruction.

Purpose: The utility of fluorescence microscopy imaging comes with the challenge of low resolution acquisitions, which severely limits information extraction and quantitative analysis. Image denoising is a technique that aims to remove noise from microscopy acquisitions by taking into account prior statistics of the corrupting noise. In this work, we propose an image denoising technique for fluorescence microscopy imaging. Approach: The proposed technique is based on the principle of multifractal feature extraction from a noisy sample followed by a reconstruction technique from these features. It is observed that by following a proper hierarchical classification procedure, meaningful features can be extracted from a noisy image. A denoised image is then estimated from this sparse feature set through proper formulation of an optimization problem. Results: Experiments are performed on both synthetic image databases as well as on real fluorescence microscopy data. Superior denoising results, in comparison to multiple comparing techniques, validate the potential of the proposed approach. Conclusion: The proposed method gives superior denoising results for low resolution fluorescence microscopy image acquisitions and can be used for post processing of data by biologists.

Bilayer Kagome Borophene with Multiple van Hove Singularities.

The appearance of van Hove singularities near the Fermi level leads to prominent phenomena, including superconductivity, charge density wave, and ferromagnetism. Here a bilayer Kagome lattice with multiple van Hove singularities is designed and a novel borophene with such lattice (BK-borophene) is proposed by the first-principles calculations. BK-borophene, which is formed via three-center two-electron (3c-2e) σ-type bonds, is predicted to be energetically, dynamically, thermodynamically, and mechanically stable. The electronic structure hosts both conventional and high-order van Hove singularities in one band. The conventional van Hove singularity resulting from the horse saddle is 0.065 eV lower than the Fermi level, while the high-order one resulting from the monkey saddle is 0.385 eV below the Fermi level. Both the singularities lead to the divergence of electronic density of states. Besides, the high-order singularity is just intersected to a Dirac-like cone, where the Fermi velocity can reach 1.34 × 106  m s-1 . The interaction between the two Kagome lattices is critical for the appearance of high-order van Hove singularities. The novel bilayer Kagome borophene with rich and intriguing electronic structure offers an unprecedented platform for studying correlation phenomena in quantum material systems and beyond.

Axisymmetric solutions to Einstein field equations via integral transforms.

In this paper, we present new axisymmetric and reflection symmetric vacuum solutions to the Einstein field equations. They are obtained using the Hankel integral transform method and all three solutions exhibit naked singularities. Our results further reinforce the importance and special character of axisymmetric solutions in general relativity and highlight the role of integral transforms methods in solving complex problems in this field. We compare our results to already existing solutions which exhibit the same type of singularities. In this context we notice that most known axial-symmetric solutions possess naked singularities. A discussion of characteristic features of the newly found metrics, e.g., blueshift and the geometry of the singularities, is given.

Rise of artificial general intelligence: risks and opportunities.

Artificial intelligence is making extraordinary progress with an unprecedented rate, reaching and surpassing human capabilities in many tasks previously considered unattainable by machines, as language translation, music composition, object detection, medical diagnoses, software programming, and many others. Some people are excited about these results, while others are raising serious concerns for possible negative impacts in our society. This article addresses several questions that are often raised about intelligent machines: Will machines ever surpass human intellectual capacities? What will happen next? What will be the impact in our society? What are the jobs that artificial intelligence puts at risk? Reasoning about these questions is of fundamental importance to predict possible future scenarios and prepare ourselves to face the consequences.

Excitons Enabled Topological Phase Singularity in a Single Atomic Layer.

The nontrivial and rigorous Heaviside phase jump behavior of phase singularities (PSs) empowers exotic topological modes and widely divergent nature compared to neighboring points, which has attracted great attention in condensed matter physics as well as applications in photonics and ultrasensitive sensors. Here we demonstrate the universal existence of a family of topologically protected PSs generated from exciton resonances of single-atom layers. We obtain the PSs by coating the transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) monolayers on a nonabsorptive semi-infinite substrate without surface plasmon effect or other assisted resonators, which exploits the benefits of both exciton-dominated enhancement and peculiarities of the singular phase. We show that a refractive indices matched transparent substrate enables TMDC monolayers to exhibit topologically protected zero reflection accompanied by a perfect Heaviside π-phase jump at strong light adsorptions, which can be utilized to radically reduce the thickness of PS-based devices to a single atomic layer. By using the TMDC monolayer-based PSs for refractive index biosensors, we demonstrate its superior phase sensitivity at a level of 104 degrees per refractive index unit and detection of bioactive bacteria, respectively, which is comparable to the cutting-edge surface plasmon and Fabry-Perot resonance sensors. Our proof-of-concept results offer experimental and theoretical insights into a single atomic playground for flat singular optics and label-free biosensing technologies.

Dimensional optimisation and an inverse kinematic solution method of a safety-enhanced remote centre of motion manipulator.

BACKGROUND: With the expansion of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) applications in surgery, the remote centre of motion (RCM) manipulator requires a more flexible workspace to meet different operation requirements. Thus, the mechanical structure and motion control of the RCM manipulator play important roles. METHODS: A multi-objective genetic algorithm was exploited to maximise the kinematic performance and obtain a compact structure of the RCM manipulator. An inverse kinematic solution method is proposed to meet task accuracy and kinematic singularity avoidance constraints for safety motion control. RESULTS: Simulation results demonstrate that there are significant improvements in the reachable workspace inside the abdominal cavity, the flexibility of the workspace, kinematic performance, and compactness of the RCM manipulator. Experiments verify the feasibility of the prototype and the validity of the proposed inverse kinematic solution method. CONCLUSIONS: This enhances the adaptability and safety of the RCM manipulator and provides potential prospects for MIS application.

Experimental investigation of a real-time singularity-based fault diagnosis method for five-phase PMSG-based tidal current applications.

This paper presents a novel real-time singularity-based fault diagnosis method for tidal current applications, specifically utilizing a five-phase permanent magnet synchronous generator with trapezoidal back electromotive forces. The proposed method incorporates an innovative orthogonal signal generator through a second-order filter, enabling the extraction of detectable singularity signatures from phase current signals. The principle of the method is elucidated through step-by-step design procedures, outlining the indicator enhancement approach and adaptive thresholds employed for enhanced robustness and adaptability. Fault detection is performed based on the improved fault indicators and an adaptive threshold law, followed by immediate fault localization that is achieved via twice average operations of the phase currents. To demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method, a comparative study is carried out with a classical mean current vector-based fault diagnosis method. A small-scale experimental platform emulating a tidal current application is established for a comprehensive evaluation of both methods. The experimental results highlight the superior fault diagnosis performance of the proposed method, particularly in detecting single and multiple open circuit faults in phases or switches, while exhibiting enhanced robustness against variations in torque and speed. The simplicity of implementation and rapid detection mechanism are principal merits for the proposed method.

Inoperative Love and Social Well-Being in the Face of Oppression: A Psychoanalytic-Agambenian Developmental Perspective and Its Implications for Psychoanalytic Therapy.

The author depicts, relying on several of Giorgio Agamben's philosophical concepts as well as a psychoanalytic developmental perspective, the origins and features of inoperative love and spaces, especially as they pertain to oppressive situations wherein social, political, and economic apparatuses undermine the psychosocial well-being of individuals, families, and communities. In addition, the author conceptualizes psychoanalytic therapy as an inoperative space wherein patients actualize their capacity for impotentiality and experience singularity and rapport.