Q345 steel is widely used in the construction industry, vehicle manufacturing industry, bridge construction industry and many other aspects due to its excellent comprehensive performance. However, due to its high silicon content, direct hot-dip galvanizing will lead to a series of problems, such as easy peeling of the coating due to the "silicon reactivity". In this paper, we adopt the "two-step hot-dipping method", first hot-dip aluminizing and then hot-dip galvanizing, to isolate the substrate and zinc liquid direct contact, so as to avoid the occurrence of "silicon reactivity". Through the microstructure characterization, neutral salt spray corrosion experiments, electrochemical experiments, the results show that: Al-Zn composite coatings from the inside out were perpendicular to the substrate growth of loose Fe2Al5 layer and Al-Zn layer, outbursts generation; Al-Zn composite coatings resistance to neutral salt spray corrosion was far more than the substrate; Al-Zn composite coatings polarization curve corrosion potential than the substrate was lower than that of the substrate by 0.512V, showing a strong corrosion resistance. It shows extremely strong corrosion resistance.

This paper presents a concise mathematical framework for investigating both feed-forward and backward process, during the training to learn model weights, of an artificial neural network (ANN). Inspired from the idea of the two-step rule for backpropagation, we define a notion of F_adjoint which is aimed at a better description of the backpropagation algorithm. In particular, by introducing the notions of F-propagation and F-adjoint through a deep neural network architecture, the backpropagation associated to a cost/loss function is proven to be completely characterized by the F-adjoint of the corresponding F-propagation relatively to the partial derivative, with respect to the inputs, of the cost function.

We search for limit cycles in the dynamical model of two-species chemical reactions that contain seven reaction rate coefficients as parameters and at least one third-order reaction step, that is, the induced kinetic differential equation of the reaction is a planar cubic differential system. Symbolic calculations were carried out using the Mathematica (or, Wolfram language) mathematical program package, and it was also used for the numerical verifications to show the following facts: the kinetic differential equations of these reactions each has two limit cycles surrounding the stationary point of focus type in the positive quadrant. In the case of Model 1, the outer limit cycle is stable and the inner one is unstable that appears in a supercritical Hopf bifurcation. Moreover, the oscillations in a neighborhood of the outer limit cycle are slow-fast oscillations. In the case of Model 2, the outer limit cycle is unstable and the inner one is stable. With another set of parameters, the outer limit cycle can be made stable and the inner one unstable.

Isothermal interrupted hot compression tests of 5754 aluminum were conducted on Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator at temperature 350 °C and 450 °C, strain rate 0.1 s-1 and 1s−1. These tests simulated flat rolling to investigate how softening behaviors respond to controlled parameters, such as deformation temperature, strain rate and delay times. This data allowed the parameters for the hot rolling process to be optimized. The delay times during interrupted compression vary between 5s and 60s. The dynamic softening at each pass and metadynamic recrystallization at the intervals of deformation passes were analyzed in detail. 0.2% offset yield strength is applied to calculate the softening fraction undergoing metadynamic recrystallization. A kinetic model was developed to describe metadynamic recrystallization behaviors of the hot deformed 5754 aluminum alloy. Furthermore, the time constant for 50% recrystallization was expressed as functions related to the temperature and the strain rate. The experimental and calculated results were found to be in close agreement, which verified the developed model.

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are shape morphing materials whose large and reversible shape transformation results from the coupling between the mobile anisotropic properties of liquid crystal (LC) units and the rubber elastic of polymer networks. Their shape changing behaviors under the stimuli are largely directed by LC orientations, and therefore various strategies have been developed to spatially modulate the LC alignments. But most of the methods suffer from complex fabrication technologies or intrinsic limitations in applicability. To address this issue, programmable complex shape changes in some types of LCEs, such as polysiloxane side-chain LCEs or thiol-acrylate main-chain LCEs, etc, have been achieved by using a mechanical alignment programming process coupled with two-step crosslinking. Here, we report a polysiloxane main-chain LCE with programmable 2D and 3D shape changing performances achieved by mechanically programming the polydomain LCE between the two crosslinking steps. The resulting LCEs exhibited reversible thermal induced shape transformation between the initial and programmed shapes due to the two-way memory between the first network structure and the second network structure. Our work would be potential for expanding the applications of LCE materials in actuators, soft robotics and smart structures where arbitrary and easily programmed shape morphings are needed.

Environmental regulation has dual effects on water resource utilization performance through various channels such as the "three red lines" and the "Porter hypothesis". Based on the detailed analysis of the impact path of environmental regulation on water resource utilization performance, the two-step system GMM method was adopted to test the dual effects of environmental regulation on water resource utilization performance by using panel data of 30 provinces and cities from 2004 to 2020. The results show that: (1) Environmental regulation has a significant direct impact on water resource utilization performance, and is currently in the stage of positive relationship of an inverted u-shaped relationship. (2) Environmental regulation has a significant indirect impact on water resource utilization Environmental regulation has dual effects on water resource utilization performance through various channels such as the "three-red lines" and the "Porter hypothesis". In accordance with a detailed examination of the influence path of environmental regulation on the performance of water resource utilization, the double effects of environmental regulation on water resource utilization performance were examined using panel statistics from 30 provinces and cities from 2004 to 2020 using the two-step system GMM approach. The results demonstrate that: (1) Environmental regulation has a direct effect on water resource utilization performance which is currently in the stage of the positive relationship of an inverted u-shaped relationship. (2) The influence of environmental regulation on water resource utilization performance through government intervention and industrial structure adjustment is indirect, among which government intervention can significantly improve water resource utilization performance, while the growth of the tertiary industry as a percentage can lower water resource utilization performance. (3) Both direct and indirect impacts indicate that enhancing the efficiency of the use of water resources is sustainable, and the water resource utilization performance of the preceding period had a major positive impact over the present phase. Therefore, the paper sets out a few policy suggestions, such as choosing reasonable environmental regulation tools, actively guiding the market-oriented reform with constraints, and upgrading the industrial structure in a green way.

The quest for accurate and more efficient methods for solving periodic/oscillatory problems is gaining more attention in recent time. This paper presents the construction and implementation of a family of exponentially–fitted Obrechkoff methods. A single–step Obrechkoff method involving terms up to the fourth derivatives was used as the base method. We also present the stability and convergence properties of the constructed family of methods. Two numerical examples were use to illustrate the performance of the constructed methods.

In this paper, a new full-Newton step feasible interior point method for convex quadratic programming is presented and analyzed. The idea behind this method is to replace the complementarity condition with a non-negative variable weight vector and use the algebraic equivalent transformation for the obtained equation. Under the selection of appropriate parameters, the quadratic rate of convergence of the new algorithm is established. In addition, the iteration complexity of the algorithm is obtained. Finally, some numerical results are presented to demonstrate the practical performance of the proposed algorithm.

Cryopreservation, storing biological material in liquid nitrogen (LN, −196 °C), offers a valuable option for the long-term conservation of non-orthodox seeds and vegetatively propagated species in the sector of agrobiodiversity and wild flora. Although large-scale cryobanking of germplasm collections has been increasing worldwide, the wide application of cryopreservation protocol in wild flora is hampered by difficulties in vitro propagation and a lack of universal cryopreservation protocols, among others. This study established a systematic approach to developing an in vitro culture and droplet-vitrification cryopreservation procedure for shoot tips of Scrophularia kakudensis. The standard procedure includes two-step preculture with 10% sucrose for 31 h and with 17.5% sucrose for 16 h, osmoprotection with loading solution C4-35% (17.5% glycerol + 17.5% sucrose, w/v) for 30 min, cryoprotection with A3-80% (33.3% glycerol + 13.3% dimethyl sulfoxide + 13.3% ethylene glycol + 20.1% sucrose, w/v) at 0 °C for 60 min, and cooling and rewarming using aluminum foil strips. After unloading, a three-step regrowth procedure starting with an ammonium-free medium with growth regulators was essential for developing normal plantlets from cryopreserved shoot tips. Liquid overlay on the gelled medium two weeks after inoculation resulted in vigorous growth during subcultures. Moreover, liquid overlay increased LN regeneration by up to 80%, i.e., 23% higher than no liquid overlay.

Classical numerical methods for solving ordinary differential equations often produce less accurate results when applied to problems with oscillatory or periodic behaviour. To adapt them for such problems, they are usually modified using the exponential fitting technique. This adaptation allows for the construction of new methods from their classical counterparts. The new methods are usually more accurate, efficient and suitable for handling the oscillatory or periodic behaviour of the problem. In this work, we construct a two-parameter exponentially-fitted Taylor method suitable for solving oscillatory or periodic problems that possess two frequencies. The construction algorithm is based on a proposed six-step flowchart discussed by authors in related literature. Two standard test problems were used to illustrate the accuracy and performance of the proposed method.

Arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (SCD) has an annual prevalence of 1 per 1000 while 75% of the victims suffer from ischemic and 10% from non-ischemic or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Altogether, these three entities account for more than 80% of the total SCD victims. Guidelines for implantable cardiac defibrillators are still dominated by LVEF<30% from the MADIT II study. In terms of arrhythmic risk stratification, the PRESERVE-EF study restored in clinical practice the two-step arrhythmic risk stratification approach based on Electrocardiographic non-invasive risk factors (NIRFs) guiding to electrophysiological study. In our times with the multiple cardiac imaging methods and artificial intelligence applications availability, this two-step approach based on integrated arrhythmia mechanisms detection, emerges as an efficient SCD risk stratification paradigm for these three entities but also for the patients with congenital heart disease.

This experimental study probes the dynamic behaviour of a 3mm ABS sheet during positive mould vacuum-assisted thermoforming. In this process, the sheet undergoes large and fast deformations, caused by the applied vacuum and mechanical stretching by the mould. The objective is to elucidate the complexities of these large, rapid and non-isothermal deformations. The non-isothermal conditions are caused by the radiative heating of the sheet, convective heat loss to the surrounding air and conductive heat transfer from the sheet to the mould. Utilizing stereo Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in tandem with thermal imaging, the present study accurately maps the occurring displacement, strain and strain rate field in relation to real-time temperature variation of the material. The study progresses to observe the ABS material from the moment it contacts the mould until it conforms to a positive 250mm diameter semi-sphere cast aluminium mould. The DIC methods are validated by comparing thickness values derived from DIC’s principal strain directions to ultrasonic thickness gauge readings. This knowledge not only broadens the understanding of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the material but also aids in optimizing process parameters for improved thickness uniformity in thermoformed products.

In the present paper, we efficiently solve the two-body problem for extreme cases such as those with high eccentricities. The use of numerical methods, with the usual variables, cannot maintain the perihelion passage accurately. In previous articles, we have verified that this problem is treated more adequately through temporal reparametrizations related to the mean anomaly through the partition function. The biparametric family of anomalies, with an appropriate partition function, allows a systematic study of these transformations. In the present work, we consider the elliptical orbit as a meridian section of the ellipsoid of revolution, and the partition function depends on two variables raised to specific parameters. One of the variables is the mean radius of the ellipsoid at the secondary, and the other is the distance to the primary. One parameter regulates the concentration of points in the apoapsis region, and the other produces a symmetrical displacement between the polar and equatorial regions. The three most used geodesy latitude variables are also studied, resulting in one not belonging to the biparametric family. However, it is in the one introduced now, which implies an extension of the biparametric method. The results obtained by the method presented here now allow a causal interpretation of the operation of numerous reparametrizations used in the study of orbital motion.

The aim of this paper is to apply all the existing pyranometric method, to estimate the sunshine duration from the global solar irradiation, in order to find in their original form the most suitable method for a tropical site. Then, in a second step, one of these methods will be optimized to well fit tropical sites. Five methods in the literature (Step Algorithm, Carpentras Algorithm, Slob &amp; Monna Algorithm, Slob &amp; Monna 2 Algorithm, and Linear Algorithm) were applied with eleven years of global and diffuse solar radiation data. As a result, in their original form, the Step Algorithm is on the first rank. But in the second step, after improving its main coefficients, the Carpentras Algorithm was found to be the best algorithm for tropical site in the southern hemisphere.

Mapping vegetation species is critical to facilitate related quantitative assessment, and for invasive plants mapping their distribution is important to enhance monitoring and controlling activities. Integrating high resolution multispectral remote sensing (RS) image and lidar (light detection and ranging) point clouds can provide robust features for vegetation mapping. However, using multiple source of high-resolution RS data for vegetation mapping at large spatial scale can be both computationally and sampling intensive. Here we designed a two-step classification workflow to decrease computational cost and sampling effort, and to increase classification accuracy by integrating multispectral and lidar data to derive spectral, textural, and structural features for mapping target vegetation species. We used this workflow to classify kudzu, an aggressive invasive vine, in the entire Knox County (1,362 km2) of Tennessee, the United States. Object-based image analysis was conducted in the workflow. The first-step classification used 320 kudzu samples and extensive coarsely labeled samples (based on national land cover) to generate an overprediction map of kudzu using random forest (RF). For the second step, 350 samples were randomly extracted from the overpredicted kudzu and labeled manually for the final prediction using RF and support vector machine (SVM). Computationally intensive features were only used for the second-step classification. SVM had constantly better accuracy than RF, and the Producer’s Accuracy, User’s Accuracy, and Kappa for the SVM model on kudzu was 0.94, 0.96, and 0.90, respectively. SVM predicted 1010 kudzu patches covering 1.29 km2 in Knox County. We found the sample size of kudzu used for algorithm training impacted the accuracy and number of kudzu predicted. The proposed workflow could also improve sampling efficiency and specificity. Our workflow had much higher accuracy than the traditional method conducted in this research, and could be easily implemented to map kudzu in other regions or other vegetation species.

Running on a non-motorized, curved-deck treadmill is thought to improve gait mechanics. It is not known, though, if the change in gait carries over to running on a motorized treadmill or level ground. To determine the effect of running on a curved non-motorized treadmill (CNT) on gait characteristics measured during a subsequent bout of running on a traditional motorized treadmill (TMT). Sixteen healthy college-aged participants, age (mean±SD) 20.4±1.6 years volunteered to have their gait analyzed while running on a TMT and CNT. After familiarization and warm-up on both treadmills, each subject completed five, 4-minute bouts of running alternating between traditional motorized and curved non-motorized treadmills: TMT-1, CNT-1, TMT-2, CNT-2, and TMT-3. Variables of interest included step length (m), stride length (m), imbalance score (%), and step angle (°) and were measured using Optogait gait analysis equipment. Differences in gait char acteristics among TMT-1, TMT-2, and TMT-3 can be attributed to running on the CNT. The results show that running on a CNT resulted in significant changes in gait characteristics. These findings suggest that running on a CNT can significantly alter gait characteristics may result in improvements in running gait that persist to subsequent running on a TMT.

Automatic generation control (AGC) plays a vital role in creating an equilibrium between generated output power and load demand, in order to maintain frequency at desired value. This study focuses on performance analysis of simple-multi attribute rating technique (SMART) assisted proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller design for AGC of two interconnected power systems. PID controller is designed by minimizing frequency variations, area control errors for area-1 and area-2, and tie-line power deviation. An objective function is framed considering error minimization of aforementioned factors as sub-objectives. The construction of objective function involves using the integral of time-multiplied absolute error (ITAE) for frequency deviations for area-1 and area-2, ITAE for deviation in tie-line power, and ITAEs for area control errors for area-1 and area-2 as sub-objective functions. By assigning appropriate weights to these sub-objective functions, an overall objective function is formed. This study determines these weights in an organized manner using SMART method, rather than randomly/equally assigning them. Overall objective function is minimized using Jaya algorithm. To demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed Jaya-based PID controller, its performance is analysed and compared with controllers tuned using other optimization algorithms, including sine cosine, Luus-Jaakola, teacher-learner based optimization, Nelder-Mead simplex, and elephant herding optimization. Considering six different case studies that consider a range of load variations, responses for fluctuations in frequency and tie-line exchange are plotted. Statistical and non-parametric analysis performed further provide additional insights into the performance of Jaya-based PID controller.

In this paper, a numerical modeling of the impact, spreading, and eventually rebound of a viscoelastic droplet is reported. The numerical model is based on the volume of fluid (VOF) method coupled with the FENE-CR constitutive equations, and accounts for both the surface tension and the substrate wettability. The FENE-CR constitutive equations are used to model the polymer solution, while taking advantage of its rheological characterization. The comparison is performed between droplets of Newtonian solvent and a monodisperse polymer solution. The droplet impact on both hydrophilic and superhydrophobic substrate is analyzed through a detailed analysis of the spreading diameter evolution. It is found that while the droplet kinematic phase seems independent of the substrate and fluids properties, the recoiling phase is highly related to all of them. In addition, the model infers a critical polymer concentration above which the droplet rebound from a superhydrophobic substrate is suppressed. The simulation is of particular interest to ink-jet processing, and demonstrates the capability of the model to handle complex non-Newtonian droplet dynamics.

The two-scale method (TSM) is an effective approach to simulate electromagnetic (EM) scattering from rough sea surface, to interpret physical interaction of EM wave with rough sea surfaces. The sea surface roughness spectrum and the cutoff wavenumber are two key factors affecting the accuracy of TSM simulation. This paper takes the geophysical model functions (GMFs) of different band as reference, and quantitatively studies the two factors based on the numerical simulation of different polarization backscattering coefficients. The numerical simulation demonstrates that Apel spectrum is more suitable for the backscattering simulation in C/X/Ku-band, and the optimal cutoff wavenumbers are also derived for TSM simulation of EM scattering in C/X/Ku-band. Then an empirical model function of optimal cutoff wavenumbers with respect to frequency, incident angle and wind speed are obtained with regression method. Finally, the simulation results with the new model function of cutoff wavenumber are compared with the GMF and measured data in different bands and they are all consistent. Moreover, a physical explanation for the optimal cutoff wavenumber is also given.

The combined use of lasmiditan and triptan is unexplored in medical literature. This study aimed to investigate whether the intake of lasmiditan following triptan improves migraine pain. Following triptan intake, if headache relief was less than 50% at 1 hour, patients took 50 mg lasmiditan within 2 hours of migraine onset. Patients recorded headache intensity and adverse events(AEs) caused by lasmiditan at 1, 2, and 4 hours after intake of additional 50 mg of lasmiditan. A significant reduction in pain scale was observed post 50 mg lasmiditan intake (p &lt; 0.001, t-test). Pain relief was reported for 32 migraine attacks (80%) at 1 hour after additional lasmiditan intake. Although AEs were observed in 63% of the patients who took an additional lasmiditan, most were mild and resolved 1 hour after lasmiditan intake. Our study revealed the significant headache reliefs provided by an additional lasmiditan for patients who did not achieve satisfactory results following initial triptan intake for treating migraine. The AEs associated with this treatment strategy were mild and lasted for a short term. This study suggested that the combination of triptan and lasmiditan is promising for the treatment of migraine and should be studied in a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

In the context of "dual carbon", with the continuous deepening of the power system reform, the application of high proportion renewable energy is becoming increasingly widespread. All sectors of society have put forward higher requirements for electricity sales packages, which can guide the behavior of power users, promote energy conservation and emission reduction, and finally promote low-carbon operation of the power market economy.Therefore, the requirements of power users and power selling companies for the power selling package are increasing, which puts forward higher requirements to the power selling package recommended by the power selling company . However, the existing recommendation methods are unable to make appropriate recommendations for the users with lack of preference information. Therefore, this paper proposes a two-sided matching decision-making method of electricity sales package based on disappointment theory. First of all, according to the incomplete fuzzy preference relationship provided by the power user and the electricity sales package, the respective priority weight vector is obtained, and then the subjective satisfaction matrix of the power user and the electricity sales package to each other is obtained; Next, the adjusted satisfaction matrix is calculated by adding the influence of the theory of joy and disappointment; Then, based on the adjusted satisfaction matrix, an optimization model aiming at maximizing the total satisfaction of power users and electricity sales packages is established, and the optimal stable matching model of power users and electricity sales packages is obtained; Finally, taking an industrial park in Zhejiang Province as an example, by using the bilateral matching method proposed in this article, the optimal matching schemes for 5 power users and 6 electricity sales packages are obtained, which shows the effectiveness and rationality of the two-sided matching decision-making method of electricity sales package based on the disappointment theory proposed in this paper.

This paper proposed three-dimensional numerical simulation method by coupling of electrostatic and fluid fields to evaluating the performance of electrical sensor in the concentration measurement of gas/solid two-phase flow. Compared with the static numerical simulation, this real-time dynamic 3-D simulation method can research on a designed capacitance sensor combining the dynamic characteristics of the two-phase flows for concentration measurement. Several fluid-electrostatic models of transmission pipes with different sensor structures are built. Under different test positions and different particle concentrations, the flow characteristics and the corresponding electric signals can be obtained, and the correlation coefficient between the concentration values and the capacitance values are used for performance evaluation of the sensors. The effects of flow regimes on concentration measurement are also been investigated in this paper. To validate the results of simulation, an experimental platform with horizontal straight pipe for phase volume concentration measurement of solid/air two-phase flow is built, and the experimental results agree well with simulation conclusions. The simulation and test results show that the coupling models can give constructive reference opinions for the sensor design and collection of installation position in different transmission pipelines, which are very important for the practical process of pneumatic conveying system.

The power generation structure and load characteristics in different provinces are quite different in China, and the distribution of peak regulating resources and demands is extremely unbalanced. Due to many factors such as low power marketization degree, shortage of peak regulating resources and block of transmission channels, the consumption of new energy is facing greater pressure. In order to improve the mutual aids in regional power grid, this paper proposes a two-layer optimization dispatching model considering the mutual aids of peak regulation resources between each province, and determines the optimal units startup mode and power output in each provinces, thus obtaining all the power supply output arrangements and the technical and economic indicators. Finally, take the actual regional power grid in China as an example, the simulation results show that the proposed model can significantly improve the new energy utilization rate, which verified the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed model and methods in this paper.

Flux-switching permanent magnet (FSPM) motors have gained increasing attention in the electric vehicles (EVs) applications due to the advantages of high power density, high efficiency. However, the heat sources of both permanent magnet (PM) and armature winding are located on the limited stator space in the FSPM motors, which may result in the PM overheated and irreversible demagnetization caused by temperature rise and it is often ignored in the conventional thermal analysis. In this paper, a new electrical-thermal two-way coupling design method is proposed to analyze the electromagnetic performances, where the change of PM material characteristics under different temperatures is taken into consideration. Firstly, the motor topology and design equations are introduced. Secondly, the demagnetization curves of PM materials under different temperatures are modeled due to PM materials are sensitive to the temperature. And based on the electrical-thermal two-way coupling method, the motor performances are evaluated in details, such as the load PM flux linkage and output torque. Then, the motor is optimized, and the electromagnetic performances between initial and improved motors are compared. Finally, a prototype motor is manufactured, and the results are validated by experimental measurements.

Cochlear implantation is the therapy used for patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. For the success of the surgery, it is important that each surgical step is performed with meticulous precision, starting from the correct patient’s position on the operating table. In elderly or obese patients, this can be difficult to achieve due to cervical rigidity. In these cases, the orthopedic position is an excellent choice to perform a mastoidectomy accurately, ensuring a safe procedure and avoiding unpleasant complications.

The paper describes problems with the current additive manufacturing chain before considering additive manufacturing as part of a modern manufacturing chain. Additive manufacturing can be used for near net-shape for finishing, for repair or for adding special features which cannot be made with traditional manufacturing. This paper describes how STEP-NC deals with these different scenarios in terms of accuracy, multi-material and variation of slice direction. The possibilities of multi-material objects also raises questions about the design of such objects and how these need to be handled by an advanced controller. The paper also describes non-planar slicing. Curved direction and cylindrical direction are shown to improve the accuracy of curved structure additive manufacturing. STEP-NC using boundary representation has better capability of depicting complex internal structures for additive processes. By using exact model of the final product represented by STEP-NC, the paper demonstrates improvements in data size reduction, slicing accuracy, and precise manipulation of internal structure.

In this research paper, a novel high step up dc-dc converter with a coupled inductor and voltage doubler circuits is proposed. The converter achieves a high step up voltage gain with an appropriate duty ratio and low voltage stress on the power switches. Also, the energy which is stored in the leakage inductor of the coupled inductor can be recycled to the output. The operating principles and the steady state analysis of the proposed converter are discussed in detail. Finally, a prototype circuit of the proposed converter is implemented in the laboratory in order to verify the performance of the proposed converter.

Graphene oxide was synthesized by a one-step environmentally friendly mechanochemistry process directly from graphite and characterized by Raman, FT-IR and UV/vis spectroscopies, Atomic Force Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Spectroscopic analysis shows that the functional groups and oxygen content of the synthesized material are comparable with those of graphene oxide synthesized by other previously reported methods (Hummers). Thermogravimetric analysis reveals thermal stability up to 400 °C.

In this paper we introduce the New/Generalized two parameter Gamma function and Pochhammer symbol. We named them, as Generalized p - k Gamma Function and Generalized p - k Pochhammer symbol and denoted as $ _{p}^{a}\Gamma_{k}(x) $ and $ _{p}^{a}(x)_{n,k} $ respectively. We prove the several identities for $ _{p}^{a}\Gamma_{k}(x) $ and $ _{p}^{a}(x)_{n,k} $ those satisfied by the classical Gamma function. Also we provide the integral representation for the $ _{p}^{a}\Gamma_{k}(x) $

Nucleic acid therapeutics are witnessing an impressive acceleration in recent years. They work through multiple mechanisms of action, including downregulation of gene expression and modulation of RNA splicing. While several drugs based on the former mechanism have been approved, few target the latter, despite the promise of RNA splicing modulation. To improve our ability to discover novel RNA splicing-modulating therapies, we developed HCS-Splice, a robust cell-based High-Content Screening (HCS) assay. By implementing the use of a two-colour (GFP/RFP) fluorescent splicing reporter plasmid, we developed a versatile, effective, rapid, and robust high-throughput strategy for the identification of potent splicing-modulating molecules. The HCS-Splice strategy can also be used to functionally confirm splicing mutations in human genetic disorders or to screen drug candidates. As a proof-of-concept, we introduced a dementia-related splice-switching mutation in Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT) exon 10 splicing reporter. We applied HCS-Splice to the wild-type and mutant reporters and measured the functional change in exon 10 inclusion. To demonstrate the applicability of the method to cell-based drug discovery, HCS-Splice was used to evaluate the efficacy of an exon 10-targeting siRNA, which was able to restore the correct alternative splicing balance.

Background/Objectives: Population aging is rapidly increasing, and the importance of preventive medicine has been stressed. Health checkup, diet, and exercise are of paramount importance. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized dual-task intervention that combined exercise with cognitive tasks in improving physical and cognitive functions among independently living elderly individuals. Methods: Participants were aged &gt;65 years who were mostly independent in their activities of daily living, divided into 2 groups. The group receiving the 20-min robot-assisted session was compared to the group receiving traditional functional restoration training. This randomized trial assessed the impact of this intervention on the 30-s chair stand test score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Japanese version score of the participants. Results: Both scores significantly improved in the intervention group, indicating enhanced lower-limb function and cognitive capabilities. Conclusions: These findings suggest that integrating cognitive tasks with physical exercise can be a potent strategy to improve overall well-being in the elderly, offering valuable insights for designing comprehensive preventive health programs tailored to this demographic.

In this paper, an analytical form of the Unit Step Function (or Heaviside Step function) is presented. This important function constitutes a fundamental concept of Operational Calculus and is also involved in many other fields of applied and engineering mathematics. In particular, Heaviside Step Function is performed in a very simple manner by the use of a finite number of standard operations, as the summation of six inverse tangent functions. The novelty of this work when compared with other analytical expressions, is that the proposed exact formula contains two arbitrary single - valued continuous functions which satisfy only one restriction. In addition, the proposed representation is not exhibited in terms of miscellaneous special functions, e.g. Bessel functions, Beta function, Logistic function. Besides, it is neither the limit of a function, nor the limit of a sequence of functions with point – wise or uniform convergence. Hence, this formula may be much more practical, flexible and useful in the computational procedures which are inserted into Operational Calculus techniques and other engineering practices.

Multi-step ahead streamflow forecasting is of practical interest for the operation of hydropower reservoirs. We provide generalized results on the error evolution in multi-step ahead forecasting by conducting several large-scale experiments based on simulations. We also present a multiple-case study using monthly time series of streamflow. Our findings suggest that some forecasting methods are more useful than others. However, the errors computed at each time step of a forecast horizon within a specific case study strongly depend on the case examined and can be either small or large, regardless of the forecasting method used and the time step of interest.

This paper reviews the unilateral and bilateral, one- and two-dimensional Laplace transforms. The unilateral and bilateral Laplace transforms are compared in the one-dimensional case, leading to the formulation of the initial-condition theorem. This problem is solved with all generality in the one- and two-dimensional cases with the bilateral Laplace transform. General two-dimensional linear systems are introduced and the corresponding transfer function defined.

From experimental studies of protein folding, it is now clear that there are two types of folding behavior, i.e., two-state folding and non-two-state folding, and understanding the relationships between these apparently different folding behaviors is essential for fully elucidating the molecular mechanisms of protein folding. This article describes how the presence of the two types of folding behavior has been confirmed experimentally, and discusses the relationships between the two-state and the non-two-state folding reactions, on the basis of available data on the correlations of the folding rate constant with various structure-based properties, which are determined primarily by the backbone topology of proteins. Finally, a two-stage hierarchical model is proposed as a general mechanism of protein folding. In this model, protein folding occurs in a hierarchical manner, reflecting the hierarchy of the native three-dimensional structure, as embodied in the case of non-two-state folding with an accumulation of the molten globule state as a folding intermediate. The two-state folding is thus merely a simplified version of the hierarchical folding caused either by an alteration in the rate-limiting step of folding or by destabilization of the intermediate.

Freezing of Gait (FoG) is a disabling motor complication in Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting approximately 50% of advanced PD patients. It is characterized by sudden and transient inability to initiate or maintain walking, leading to falls and reduced quality of life. This study investigates the relationship between white matter integrity and step initiation impairments in FoG. Forty-three PD patients (26 with FoG) underwent diffusion-weighted imaging to assess white matter DTI metrics and kinematic analysis during step initiation tasks. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore the connection between white matter tract integrity and step initiation behavior. The multiple regression analysis shows that (1) Right Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus RD explained 31% of APA duration’s variance; (2) Corpus Callosum Forceps Major explained 25% of the step length's variance. There was a positive correlation between the Right Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus RD and APA duration and a negative correlation between Corpus Callosum Forceps Major RD and step length. The findings suggest that compromised white matter integrity in RILF and CC contributes to impaired motor control during step initiation in FoG. These regions are critical for inhibitory control and interhemispheric coordination, crucial for APA execution and step length regulation.

In this nano era, nanomaterials and nanostructures are popular in developing novel functional materials. However, the combinations of nanoproducts with materials at micro and macro scale can open new routes for conceiving novel materials with an improved or even new functional performances. In this study, a brand-new hybrid, containing both nanofibers and particles having a microsize, was fabricated using a sequential electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) process. Firstly, the microparticles loaded with drug (berberine hydrochloride, BH) molecules in the cellulose acetate (CA) were fabricated using a solution electrospraying process. Later, these microparticles were suspended into a co-dissolved solution containned BH and a hydrophilic polymer (polypyrrolidone, PVP), and were co-electrospun into the nanofiber/microparticle hybrids. The EHDA processes were clearly recorded, and the resultant products showed a typical hybrid topography, with microparticles distributed all over the nanofibers, which was demonstrated by SEM assessments. FTIR and XRD demonstrated that the components within the hybrids were presented in an amorphous state and have fine compatibility with each other. In vitro dissolution tests verified that the hybrids were able to provide the designed dula-step drug release profiles, a combination of the fast release step of BH from the hydrophilic PVP nanofibers through an erosion mechanism and the sustained release step of BH from the insoluble CA microparticles via a typical Fickian diffusion mechanism. The present protocols pave a new way for developing trans-scale functional materials.

The aim of this paper is the analysis of arbitrarily loaded isotropic rectangular Kirchhoff plates supported at all corner points, whereby the edges are arbitrarily supported (simply supported, clamped, or free). Analytical methods commonly used include the single trigonometric series of Lévy, the double trigonometric series of Navier, the power series expansions, etc. In this paper the deflection surface was approximated with the sum of a particular solution to the governing differential equation (GDE) and two single series. The terms of the single series were the product of an unknown function of an independent variable and a trigonometric function of the other independent variable, whereby the trigonometric functions were chosen to vanish at the corner points. On the one hand the terms of the series were required to satisfy the homogeneous GDE, leading to two uncoupled differential equations, one for each unknown function, and so the approximate solution satisfied exactly the GDE. On the other hand the boundary conditions were satisfied only at selected collocation points along the boundary, the number of collocation points in each direction corresponding to the number of terms of the associated series. Results for several plates supported at all corner points with arbitrary edge support conditions were presented and showed good agreement with the exact results, the accuracy increasing the more terms of series were considered. Cantilevered plates and plates having two adjacent edges free will be analyzed using this approach in future research.

In two dimensional disordered lattices, presence of interaction makes particles less localized than the non-interacting ones within the range of disorder strength W ≤ 4 and interaction strength V ≤ 4. If the interaction strength is higher, then particles localize more. Although, a localization-delocalization transition is not found, a transition with changes in the dominant correlations is observed. The nature of correlations between the particles as nearest neighbors become dominant beyond certain disorder strengths.

This article provides exact analytical formulae for various kinds of rainbow step barrier options. These are highly flexible and sophisticated multi-asset barrier options based on the following principle : the option life is divided into several time intervals on which different barriers are monitored w.r.t. different underlying assets. From a mathematical point of view, new formulae are provided for the first passage time of a multidimensional geometric Brownian motion to a boundary defined as a step function. The article shows how to implement the obtained valuation formulae in a simple and very efficient manner. Numerical results highlight a strong sensitivity of rainbow step barrier options to the correlations between the underlying assets.

Citizens face online privacy threats from social media, organisations and governments. Privacy-enhancing tools (PETs) can help people to preserve their privacy, but the uptake of these is limited. We developed a conceptual framework for privacy self-protection, using a classification framework of four distinct privacy threats and our own novel staged model of PET adoption requisites. Through an expert survey (N = 12) and a lay user survey (N = 500), we identified suitable PETs for non-expert users and identified potential barriers to PET adoption. Based on the studies and our theoretical framework, we then developed and implemented a PET decision support tool called PEDRO, and conducted expert evaluations (N = 10).

Ice accumulation poses considerable challenges in transportation, notably in the domain of general aviation. The present study combines the strengths and limitations of conventional aircraft de-icing techniques with the emerging trend toward all-electric aircraft. The study aims to utilize laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology to create a multifunctional surface, seamlessly integrating hydrophobic properties with efficient electrical heating to mitigate surface icing effectively. We investigated the utilization of a 10.6 μm CO2 laser for direct writing on polyimide (PI), a widely-used insulating encapsulation material. From the thermomechanical perspective, our initial analysis using COMSOL Multiphysics software revealed that when the laser power P exceeds 5 W, the PI substrate experience ablative damage. The experimental results show that when P ≤ 5W, an increase in power has a positive impact on the quality, surface porosity, roughness reduction, line-spacing reduction, and water contact-angle enhancement of the graphene. Conversely, when P &gt; 5 W, higher power negatively affects both the substrate and the graphene structure by inducing excessive ablation. However, it influences the graphene line height positively and is consistent with overall experimental-simulation congruence. Furthermore, the incorporation of high-quality graphene resulted in a surface that exhibited higher contact angles (CA &gt; 120°), lower energy consumption, and higher heating efficiency compared to the use of traditional electrically heated materials for anti-icing applications. The potential applications of this one-step fabrication method extend across various industries, particularly aviation, marine engineering, and other ice-prone domains. Moreover, the method has extensive prospects for addressing pivotal challenges associated with ice formation and serves an innovative and efficient anti-icing technology.

Sleep quality is known to affect automatic and executive brain functions such as gait control and cognitive processing. This study aimed to assess the effect of dual tasks on gait spatiotemporal parameters among young adults with good and poor sleep quality in the United Arab Emirates. In total, 65 young adults with a mean age of 21.1±2.5 were assessed for gait analysis during single-task and dual-task conditions. The participants’ sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and gait was assessed using the BTS Gaitlab System. The participants were asked to walk at natural speed as a single-task condition, followed by walking while performing a cognitive task as a dual-task condition. The parameters assessed included the gait velocity (m/s), cadence (steps/min), step width (m), and stride length (m). The DTC on each gait parameter was calculated. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in the DTC on gait variables between the good and poor sleep quality groups, and the Spearman correlation test was used to assess the correlation between total PSQI scores and the DTC. At a significance level of p&lt;0.05, a significant difference in cadence between the two sleep quality groups was observed, in addition to a positive correlation between sleep quality and the DTC effect on gait mean velocity, cadence, and stride length. Our findings also revealed a greater DTC on participants with poorer sleep quality. These findings contribute to our understanding of the significance of sleep quality in gait performance while multitasking in younger populations.

In current study we have obtained Co2FeSi-glass coated microwires with different geometrical aspect ratio, ρ = d/Dtot (diameter of metallic nucleus, d and total diameter, Dtot). The structure and magnetic properties are investigated at a wide range of temperature. XRD analysis illustrates a notable changing in the microstructure by increasing the aspect ratio of Co2FeSi glass coated microwires. Amorphous structure is detected for the sample with the lowest aspect ratio (ρ = 0.23), whereas a growth of crystalline structure is observed in the other samples (aspect ratio ρ = 0.30 and 0.43). This change at the microstructure properties correlates with dramatic changing in magnetic properties. For the sample with the lowest ρ -ratio, non-perfect square loops are obtained with low normalized remanent magnetization. A notable enhancement in the squareness and coercivity are obtained by increasing ρ -ratio. Changing the internal stresses strongly affects the microstructure, resulting in a complex magnetic reversal process. The thermomagnetic curves show large irreversibility for the Co2FeSi with low ρ -ratio. Meanwhile, if we increase the ρ -ratio, the sample shows perfect ferromagnetic behavior without irreversibility. The current result illustrates the ability to control the microstructure and magnetic properties of Co2FeSi-glass-coated microwires by changing only their geometric properties without performing any addition heat treatment. The modification of geometric parameters of Co2FeSi glass-coated microwires allows to obtain microwires which exhibit an unusual magnetization behavior that offers opportunities to understand the phenomena of various types of magnetic domain structures, which is essentially helpful for designing sensing devices based on thermal magnetization switching.

This paper presents a comprehensive review that highlights the characteristics of non-isolated step-up converters based on high boost voltage lifting techniques. The paper categorises the high boost techniques: multistage/multilevel, switched capacitor, voltage multiplier, voltage lift, switched inductor, and magnetic coupling. The paper also discusses in detail the advantages and disadvantages for each category such as cost, complexity, power density, reliability and efficiency. The number of passive and active components, voltage gain, voltage stress, switching frequency, efficiency and power rating are also compared. Although the paper considers coupling inductors in the context of the non-isolated converter, the focus of the entire article is on the non-isolated high voltage step-up techniques. The key contribution in this paper is the review of high boosting techniques rather than the DC /DC converters. This allows divergence of new ideas and new power converters that will help provide highly efficient and flexible power converters for several applications where the sending end voltage is very low as photovoltaic systems. In addition, many applications and control techniques of DC/DC converters are summarised in this paper.

The seasonally adjusted civilian labor force participation rate, the sum of employed and unemployed persons as a percentage of the civilian non-institutional population, is analysed in the general to specific modelling framework with a saturating set of step indicators from January 1977 through June 2018. The results indicate that, ceteris paribus, the rise in the ratio of women to men in the labor force in addition to positive demographic movements can largely account for the rise in the labor force participation rate up to January 2000. Subsequently, the aging population helps to explain the decline. Recessions play a transitory role.

In the paper we present a new test for comparison of the means of multivariate samples with unknown distributions. The test is based on the comparison of the distributions of the distances between the samples’ elements and their means using univariate two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The activity of the suggested method is illustrated by numerical analysis of the real-world and simulated data.

The World Health Organization (WHO) cancer agency predicts that more than 35 mil-lion cases of will be experienced in 2050, a 77 % increase over the 2022 estimate. Cur-rently, the leading cancer diagnosed cancer are breast, lung and colorectal. There is no standardized tool for cancer diagnosis; initially clinical procedures are guided by the patient´s symptoms and generally involve biochemical blood tests, imaging and biopsy. Label-free nonlinear optical approaches are promising tool for tumor imaging, due to their inherent non-invasive biosafe contrast mechanisms and the ability to monitor collagen-related disorders and metabolic changes during cancer progression. Last ad-vances in nonlinear modalities for tumor imaging are reviewed here. In addition, an application of a blind deconvolution procedure to improve the quality of two-photon images of breast tumor tissues is shown.

Two-dimensional (2D) ice I is an atomic-level ice that is composed of two interlocked atom-ic layers saturated with hydrogen bonds. It has recently been experimentally observed but its properties have yet to be clarified. Accordingly, we theoretically studied the hydrophobic properties of 2D ice I. On the contrary, simulation of a hydrogen fluoride molecule on a 2D ice surface manifested that it destroyed the 2d ice structure and connected new hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Investigations of the interfacial effect between 2D and three-dimensional (3D) ice films indicated that the network structure of 2D ice was not de-stroyed by a 3D ice surface, as the former was saturated with hydrogen bonds. However, the surface of 3D ice reorganized to form as many hydrogen bonds as possible. Thus, the 2D ice film was hydrophobic and inhibited the growth of 3D ice. This shows that if 2D ice can be produced on an industrial scale, it could be used as an anti-3D-icing agent under low tem-perature.

Purpose: The accuracy of conventional visual function tests, which emit visible light, decreases in patients with corneal scars, cataracts, and vitreous hemorrhages. In contrast, infrared (IR) light exhibits greater tissue penetrance than visible light and is less susceptible to optical opacities. We therefore compared visual function results obtained using conventional visual function tests and infrared 2-photon microperimetry (2PM-IR) in a subject with a brunescent nuclear sclerotic and posterior subcapsular cataract before and after cataract surgery. Methods: Visual function testing using the cone contrast threshold (CCT) test, conventional microperimetry (cMP), visible light microperimetry from a novel device (2PM-Vis), and 2PM-IR were performed before and after cataract surgery. Results: Cone contrast threshold testing improved for the S-cone, M-cone, and L-cone by 111, 14, and 30. Retinal sensitivity assessed using cMP, 2PM-Vis, and 2PM-IR improved by 18 dB, 17.4 dB, and 3.4 dB, respectively. Conclusions and Importance: 2PM-IR, unlike conventional visual function tests, showed minimal variability in retinal sensitivity before and after surgery. Thus, IR visual stimulation introduces a paradigm shift for measuring visual function in the retina and posterior visual pathways by circumventing optical media opacities.

Yeast two-hybrid approaches, which are based on fusion proteins that must co-localise to the nucleus to reconstitute the transcriptional activity of GAL4 have greatly contributed to understand the nitrogen interaction network of cyanobacteria, whose main hubs are the trimeric PII and the monomeric PipX regulators. The bacterial two-hybrid system, based on the reconstitution in the E. coli cytoplasm of the adenylate cyclase of Bordetella pertussis, should provide a relatively faster and presumably more physiological assay for cyanobacterial proteins than the yeast system. Here we use the bacterial two-hybrid system to gain additional insights into the cyanobacterial PipX interaction network while simultaneously assessing the advantages and limitations of the two most popular two-hybrid systems. Comprehensive mutational analysis of PipX and bacterial two-hybrid assays were performed to compare outcomes between yeast and bacterial systems. We detected interactions previously recorded in the yeast two-hybrid system as negative as well as a “false positive”, the self-interaction of PipX, which is rather an indirect interaction dependent on PII homologs from the E. coli host, a result confirmed by Western analysis with relevant PipX variants. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of the molecular basis of a false positive in the bacterial two-hybrid system.

Nucleoside analogs are commonly used drugs for the treatment of cancer and viral infections. Nucleoside deoxyribosyltransferase (NDT) is one of the key enzymes required for the biosynthesis of deoxynucleotides. The feasibility of biochemical transformation processes is usually greatly dependent on the cost of biocatalysts. Therefore, immobilizing and reusing biocatalysts is an approach to be considered to bring biotransformations closer to industrial feasibility, since it not only allows enzymes to be reused but can also improve their stability under several reaction conditions. In this work, histidine tags have been successfully fused to a Nucleoside deoxyribosyltransferase from Lactobacillus reuteri (LrDNT), which has been produced in a bench-scale reactor using a facile araBAD promoter-based protein expression system in an industrial microorganism, the E. coli BL21(DE3) strain. The overexpressed LrNDT was bound to a nickel-chelating agarose affinity chromatography medium via a one-step purification and immobilization process with a 99% yield, retaining about 97% of its initial activity. The optimal conditions for the immobilized LrNDT maintain high enzyme activity within the range of 20-45°C and pH 6.0-7.5. Finally, the immobilized enzyme reactor (IMER) of LrNDT was applied for the continuous-flow biosynthesis of 2'-deoxyadenosine and retained 90% of its activity after 16 hours, providing a theoretical basis for the industrial production of nucleoside analogs.

This paper proposes a novel symmetrical active-switched coupled-inductor high-step-up DC/DC converter. A new active-switched coupled inductor is used to allow much higher voltage gain of the proposed converter. The symmetrical circuit structure of the proposed converter evenly divides large input currents and reduce input current ripple by operating in interleaved mode so power density is increased. The switches also have low voltage stress. The operating principle and design considerations for the converter topology are described. The proposed converter with an input voltage of 40 V, an output voltage of 400 V and an output of 1000 W at a switching frequency of 50 kHz is implemented. The simulations and experimental results are thus depicted to verify the theoretical analysis. The highest efficiency is 95.5% at 200 W measured by using a HIOKI 3390. Consequently, the proposed converter is suitable for renewable energy generation systems that require high power, high voltage gain and high efficiency.

In this study, the degradable superhydrophobic Mg/P/Z/F/H (magnesi-um/poly(-caprolactone)/zinc oxide/1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES)/ heating process) composite materials were prepared through one-step method for enhancing the corrosion resistance of AZ91D magnesium alloys. Electrochemical measurements showed that Mg/P/Z/F/H materials significantly improved the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys in 3.5 wt.% NaCl. The self-cleaning, adhesion and stability tests suggested that Mg/P/Z/F/H composite materials had well self-cleaning properties, good adhesion strength and stability in wet atmosphere.

To improve the voltage gain of step-up converters, cascaded technique is considered as a possible solution in this paper. By considering the concept of cascading two Z-source networks in a conventional boost converter, the converter takes the advantages of both impedance source and cascaded converters. However, by applying some modifications, the proposed converter provides high voltage gain while the voltage stress of switch and diodes are still low. Moreover, the low input current ripple of the converter makes it absolutely appropriate for photovoltaic applications in order to expand the lifetime of PV panels. After analyzing the operation principles of the proposed converter, simulation and experimental results of a 100W prototype are presented to verify the proposed converter performance.

This article presents a self balanced multistage DC-DC step-up converter for photovoltaic applications. Proposed converter topology is designed for unidirectional power transfer and provides a doable solution for photovoltaic applications where voltage is required to be stepped up without magnetic components (Transformer-less and Inductor-less). The output voltage obtained from renewable sources will be low and must be stepped up by using a DC-DC converter for photovoltaic applications. K diodes and K capacitors along with two semiconductor control switch are used in the K-stage proposed converter to obtain an output voltage which is (K+1) times the input voltage. The conspicuous features of proposed topology are i) Magnetic components free (Transformer-less and Inductor-less). ii) Continuous input current iii) Low voltage rating semiconductor devices and capacitors iv) Modularity v) Easy to add a higher number of levels to increase voltage gain vi) Only two control switches with alternating operation and simple control. The proposed converter is compared with recent existing transformer-less and Inductor-less power converter in term of voltage gain, number of devices and cost. The application of proposed circuit is discussed in detail. The proposed converter has been designed with rated power of 60W, input voltage is 24V, output voltage is 100V and switching frequency is 100 kHz. The performance of the converter is verified through experimental and simulation results.

The study of different forms of preconditioners for solving a system of nonlinear equations, by using Newton’s method, is presented. The preconditioners provide numerical stability and rapid convergence with reasonable computation cost, whenever chosen accurately. Different families of iterative methods can be constructed by using a different kind of preconditioners. The multi-step iterative method consists of a base method and multi-step part. The convergence order of base method is quadratic and each multi-step add an additive factor of one in the previously achieved convergence order. Hence the convergence of order of an m-step iterative method is m + 1. Numerical simulations confirm the claimed convergence order by calculating the computational order of convergence. Finally, the numerical results clearly show the benefit of preconditioning for solving system of nonlinear equations.

The advancement of performance in the domain of flexible wearable strain sensors has become increasingly significant due to extensive research on laser-induced graphene (LIG). An innovative doping modification technique is required owing to the limited progress achieved by adjusting laser parameters to enhance LIG’s performance. By pre-treating with AgNO3, we successfully manufactured LIG with a uniform dispersion of silver nanoparticles across its surface. The experimental results for the flexible strain sensor exhibit exceptional characteristics, including low resistance (183.4 Ω), high sensitivity (426.8), a response time of approximately 150 ms, and a relaxation time of about 200 ms. Moreover, this sensor demonstrates excellent stability under various tensile strains and remarkable repeatability during cyclic tests lasting up to 8,000 s. Additionally, this technique yields favorable results in finger bending and hand back stretching experiments, holding significant reference value for preserving the inherent characteristics of LIG preparation in a single-step and in situ manner.

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and freezing of gait (FOG) have a loss of presynaptic inhibition (PSI) during anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) for step initiation. The mesencephalic locomotor region (MRL) has connections to the reticulospinal tract that mediates inhibitory interneurons responsible for modulating PSI and APAs. Here, we hypothesized that MLR activity during step initiation would explain the loss of PSI during APAs for step initiation in freezers. Thirty-four freezers were assessed in the ON-medication state. During a functional magnetic resonance imaging protocol of simulated APA task, we assessed beta of blood oxygenation level-dependent signal change of areas known to initiate and pace gait (e.g., MLR), in addition to PSI of the soleus muscle during APA for step initiation, and clinical (e.g., disease duration) and behavioral (e.g., FOG severity and APAs amplitude for step initiation) variables. A linear multiple regression model showed that MLR activity (R2=0.32, P=0.0006) and APA amplitude (R2=0.13, P=0.0097) explained together 45% of the loss of PSI during step initiation in freezers. Decreased MLR activity during a simulated APA task is related to a higher loss of PSI during APA for step initiation. Deficits in central and spinal inhibitions during APA may be related to FOG pathophysiology.

Usually, the two-bath dyeing process using disperse dyes and reactive dyes separately was employed for the dyeing of PC blends. The cost of the double bath, dyeing cycle, energy consumption and chemical consumption is quite higher than the one-step or single bath dyeing methods. In this study, the one-bath dyeing process using one kind of dye was investigated. Polyester cotton blends dyed in one-bath one-step dyeing methods with disperse dye after surface modifications of cotton by acetylation methods were studied. Surface modification of cotton was carried out using fibrous acetylation methods. The effect of acetic anhydride and time on percent acetyl content at room temperature was studied. Modified polyester/cotton was carried out in HTHP dyeing machine incorporates with different dye concentrations and dyeing temperature. Surface chemistry, thermal decomposition property and moisture regain of modified polyester/ cotton blend are evaluated. The color strength of the dyed fabrics and their fastness properties to washing, light, and rubbing as well as tear strength and abrasion resistance were evaluated. The effect of dye concentration and temperature color strength, tensile strength warp and weft direction was assessed. The optimum value for surface modification was obtained with a concentration of acetylation agent 16% and time of reaction 2.5 hours, gave percent acetylation of 34. An FTIR spectrum shows acetylation resonance. The experiment result of dyeing showed that the optimum value was obtained with dye concentration above 1% at a temperature of 120oC, warp tensile strength decreased by 12% and weft tensile strength was decreased by 9% from the control half-bleached fabric. Results of this study showed that a one-step one-bath dyed modified polyester/cotton blend with disperse dye fabric presents good fastness property compared with conventional two-bath dyed fabric as well as colour strength values.

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), each sensor node can estimate the global parameter from the local data in distributed manner. This paper proposed a robust diffusion estimation algorithm based on minimum error entropy criterion with self-adjusting step-size, which are referred to as diffusion MEE-SAS (DMEE-SAS) algorithm. The DMEE-SAS algorithm has fast speed of convergence and is robust against non-Gaussian noise in the measurements. The detailed performance analysis of the DMEE-SAS algorithm is performed. By combining the DMEE-SAS with diffusion minimum error entropy (DMEE) algorithms, an Improving DMEE-SAS algorithm is proposed, in non-stationary environment where tracking is very important. The Improving DMEE-SAS algorithm can avoid insensitivity of the DMEE-SAS algorithm due to the small effective step-size near the optimal estimator, and obtain a fast convergence speed. Numerical simulations are given to verify the effectiveness and advantages of these proposed algorithms.

The article focusses on detecting the unbalance of a mechanical component in the electric drive system of a two-mass servomechanism with a PMSM motor, which is connected to the load via a long, flexible shaft. In the example analysed, the degree of unbalance was determined using the reference current signal from the speed controller of the FOC control system. The authors pre-sented a two-mass model with an unbalanced mechanical system. The STFT transform was used to analyse the symptoms of unbalance and an artificial neural network MLP was used for system state inference. The effectiveness of the presented analysis, based on the reference current signal from the sensor embedded in the control system, was experimentally confirmed.

Modifiable THz spectral shapes are important tools that facilitate the comprehensive study of phonon dynamics in condensed matter systems. The generation of narrow bandwidth THz spectra with tunable center frequency which are suitable THz forms needed to achieve such objectives are currently less studied from the table top laser-induced plasma emitters’ perspective. This experimental research is aimed at developing a robust two-color laser induced plasma set-up comprising of a temporal pulse stretcher and an Optical Parametric Amplifier that generates chirped and wavelength tunable pulses respectively. By focusing and independently controlling the ω and 2ω arms of the chirped pulses resulting after the interaction with a β-BBO crystal, I aim to generate narrow bandwidth THz signal (from plasma) scalable at MV/cm intensity and tunable in a wide THz spectral range, in addition to varying the frequency ratio mix.

In this short communication, we conducted first-principles calculations to explore the stability of boron monochalcogenides (BX, X=S, Se or Te), as a new class of two-dimensional (2D) materials. We predicted BX monolayers with two different atomic stacking sequences of ABBA and ABBC, referred in this work to 2H and 1T, respectively. Analysis of phonon dispersions confirm the dynamical stability of BX nanosheets with the both 2H and 1T atomic lattices. Ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal the outstanding thermal stability of all predicted monolayers at high temperatures over 1500 K. BX structures were found to exhibit high elastic modulus and tensile strengths. It was found that BS and BTe nanosheets can show high stretchability, comparable to that of the graphene. It was found that all predicted monolayers exhibit semiconducting electronic character, in which 2H structures present lower band-gaps as compared with 1T lattices. The band-gap values were found to decrease from BS to BTe. According to the HSE06 results, 1T-BS and 2H-BTe show respectively, the maximum (4.0 eV) and minimum (2.06 eV) electronic band-gaps. This investigation introduces boron monochalcogenides as a novel class of 2D semiconductors with remarkable thermal, dynamical and mechanical stability.

In this study novel recommendations are presented and substantiated for selecting the number of modes and optical thicknesses of flat lattice slabs that make up the microreliefs, which minimize the computational complexity of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis calculation of the diffraction efficiency (DE) of a sawtooth two-layer two-relief microstructure, while maintaining the specified reliability of the calculation results. The computational complexity can be controlled by allowing one or another level of oscillation of the DE curves depend on the angle of incidence of the radiation incident on the microstructure. In particular, the complexity of the multi-thousand DE calculations in the optimization process can be reduced by using the proposed methodology as well as increased computational complexity to certify the accuracy of the solution obtained as a result of implemented optimization.

The low coefficient of thermal expansion of Invar 36 represents a significant consideration in light of its potential effects, particularly in industrial applications where thermal stability is of paramount importance. In light of this, a three-step heat treatment was employed, to reduce the thermal expansion coefficient, and enhance the thermal dimensional stability. The ingots produced by vacuum induction melting were subjected to a warm rolling process at 900 °C, followed by a three-step heat treatment consisting of water quenching at 850 °C, tempering at 350 °C with a holding time of 1 hour, and aging at 100 °C for 24 hours. This process enabled the coefficient of thermal expansion to remain almost unchanged, exhibiting values between 0.5 and 0.6 x10-6/°C up to 150 °C. Following the heat treatment, the total elongation increased up to 40% as a natural consequence of the reduction of residual stresses, while a slight decrease in tensile strength was observed. The implementation of a three-step heat treatment process has facilitated an enhancement of the soft magnetic property, which has exhibited a decline in coercivity and an increase in saturation magnetization. As a consequence, three-step heat-treated invar 36 alloys are emerging as a potential candidate for utilization in the aerospace and precision electronics industries, given their satisfactory physical and mechanical characteristics.

Typically, a diesel generator on the merchant ship, composed of a wound rotor synchronous generator and a four-stroke diesel engine, supplies electrical power to various loads. Recently, shaft generators for merchant vessels are increasingly replacing diesel generators to reduce CO2 emissions through fuel efficiency improvement. In particular, permanent magnet generators replace induction generators due to their high-efficiency characteristics at light loads. The surface-mounted permanent magnet can be a suitable rotor topology due to the relatively short constant power range. This generator can also operate as a motor according to the propulsion mode, so minimizing the harmonics of the induced voltage and the torque ripple is necessary. This paper proposes an alternative NdFeB magnet pole topology combined with the modular step-skewed rotor. The step-skewed rotor affects to reduce higher-order harmonics, and the modular pole reduces the permanent magnet assembly process and harmonics in voltage and torque. A 2-D finite element method is used to evaluate the harmonics of induced voltage and torque pulsation for the proposed topology. The topology shows harmonic minimization effect by comparing the characteristics of three flatted-bottom magnets. Compared to the tapered bread-loaf magnet, voltage harmonics to the 100th component are almost the same, and the torque ripple is reduced by more than 12% at the same residual flux density. The analysis method is verified by comparing test and analysis results for prototype machines with similar specifications.

The class of A-stable symmetric one-step Hermite-Obrechkoff (HO) methods introduced in [1] for dealing with Initial Value Problems is analyzed. Such schemes have the peculiarity of admitting a multiple knot spline extension collocating the differential equation at the mesh points. As a new result, it is shown that these maximal order schemes are conjugate symplectic which is a benefit when the methods have to be applied to Hamiltonian problems. Furthermore a new efficient approach for the computation of the spline extension is introduced, adopting the same strategy developed in [2] for the BS linear multistep methods. The performances of the schemes are tested in particular on some Hamiltonian benchmarks and compared with those of the Gauss Runge-Kutta schemes and Euler-Maclaurin formulas of the same order.

Motivated by the increasing need of optimised micro-devices for droplets production in medical and biological applications, this paper introduces an integrated approach for the study of the liquid-liquid droplet creation in flow-focusing micro cross-junctions. The micro-junction considered is characterised by a restriction of the channels cross-sections in the junction, which has the function of focusing the flow in the region of the droplet formation. The problem is studied numerically in OpenFOAM environment and validated by the comparison with experimental results obtained by high-speed camera images and micro-PIV measurements. The analysis of the forces acting on the dispersed phase during the droplet formation and the diameter of the droplets obtained numerically are considered for the development of a model of the droplet breakup under the squeezing regime. On the basis of energy balancing during the breakup, a relation between interfacial tension, the size of the cross-sections in the junction, and the time interval needed for droplet creation is obtained, which yields a novel correlation between the dimensionless length of the droplet and the dimensionless flow rate. This correlation is general and can be used to predict the droplet diameters produced by similar micro-junctions with different aspect ratios and extended to different geometries of flow-focusing micro-junctions.

This study explores how the properties of heater materials impact nucleate pool boiling using a comprehensive simulation model. The model integrates well-known heat transfer mechanisms, allowing us to assess the effects of two distinct heater materials. Findings indicate that materials with higher thermal conductivity, such as copper, notably improve refrigeration efficiency in nucle- ate boiling. The study provides insights into the relationship between bubble growth, microlayer recovery beneath a bubble, temperature fluctuations, and heater properties. Comparisons between copper and silicon oxide underscore variations in bubble frequency, attributed to differences in bubble growth time, microlayer recovery time, and material-dependent behavior. The influence of neighboring bubbling sites, especially pronounced in silicon oxide due to its low thermal conductivity and diffusivity, was observed. Temperature variations in such materials became highly visible due to their significant inertia in recovery. Simulation results align well with empirical correlations, confirming the model’s versatility in capturing the intricate phenomena of nucleate pool boiling.

We carry out in a thin heterogeneous porous layer, the multiscale analysis of Smoluchowski's discrete diffusion-coagulation equations describing the evolution density of diffusing particles that are subject to coagulate in pairs. Assuming that the thin heterogeneous layer is made of microstructures that are uniformly distributed inside, we obtain in the limit an upscaled model in lower space dimension. We also prove a corrector-type result very useful in numerical computations. In view of the thin structure of the domain, we appeal to a concept of two-scale convergence adapted to thin heterogeneous media to achieve our goal.

The generalized dual-kinetic-balance approach for axially symmetric systems is employed to solve the two-center Dirac problem. The spectra of one-electron homonuclear quasimolecules are calculated and compared with the previous calculations. The analysis of the monopole approximation with two different choices of the origin is performed. Special attention is paid to the lead and xenon dimers, Pb82+–Pb82+–e− and Xe54+–Xe54+–e−, where the energies of the ground and several excited σ-states are presented in the wide range of internuclear distances. The developed method provides the quasicomplete finite basis set and allows for construction of the perturbation theory, including within the bound-state QED.

Light-gated ion channel and ion pump rhodopsins are widely used as optogenetic tools and these can control the electrically excitable cells as: (1) they are a single-component system i.e., their sensor and effector functions are encoded by the 7-transmembrane domains and (2) they show fast kinetics with small dark-thermal recovery time. In cellular signaling, a signal receptor, modulator and effector components are involved for attaining synchronous multicomponent regulation. Optical modulation of this network requires either receptor to effector encoded in a single ORF or direct modulation of the effector domain through bypassing all upstream players. Recently discovered modular rhodopsins like rhodopsin guanine cyclase (RhoGC) and rhodopsin phosphodiesterase (RhoPDE) paves the way to establish proof of concept. Light sensor coupled modular system could be expressed in a precise cell type and which holds great potential in the advancement of optogenetics 2.0. It would enable manipulating entire relevant cell signaling system. Here, we had identified 50 novels modular rhodopsins with variant rhodopsins domain and its diverse cognate signaling cascades encoded in a single ORF, which are associated with specialized functions in the cells. These novel modular algal rhodopsins have been characterized functionality based on their sequence and structural homology with previously characterized rhodopsins. Presented novel modular rhodopsins with various effector domains hold potential to expand optogenetics tool kit to regulate various cellular signaling pathways across the diverse biological model systems.

Conventional method for monitoring the IgG levels suffered from some apparent problems such as long assay time, multistep processing, and high overall cost. An effective and suitable optical platform for label-free biosensing has been investigated by the implementation of antibody/antigen immunoassays. Thus, the ultrasensitive detection of IgG levels can be achieved by exploiting the dispersion turning point (DTP) existed in the tapered two-mode fibers (TTMFs) due to the sensitivity will reach ±∞ on either side of the DTP. Tracking the resonant wavelength shift it was found that the fabricated TTMF device exhibited limits of detection (LOD) down up to concentrations of 10 fg/mL of IgG in PBS solution. Such immunosensors based on the DTP have great significance on trace detection of IgG due to simple detection scheme, quick response time, and miniaturation.

Anthropogenic chemicals are fundamental to our standard of living in modern society. Unfortunately, some chemicals are persistent and can enter waste streams and ultimately the environment. Commonly used household products including pharmaceuticals and personal care products are an important source of contaminants. The aim of this study was to develop an “Up-the-pipe Solutions” framework to raise awareness about the presence and potential risks of chemicals found in household products to reduce their levels in waste streams or substitute them with less harmful alternatives. This approach based on The Natural Step framework and the concept of essentiality recognises the importance of engaging the community to raise awareness around the consequences of our daily activities and behavioural patterns that can lead to the release of persistent contaminants in main waste streams from the kitchen and bathroom and green wastes we generate.

The introduction of stool as a readily obtainable sample and the recently developed simple-one-step (SOS) stool processing method offer an opportunity for TB diagnosis in children. We conducted this study at secondary health facilities in Ethiopia which are the first level referral facilities for childhood TB diagnosis and treatment with the aim to determine if stool-based TB diagnosis can be performed with reasonable level of concordance with sputum tests in using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra. Eligible children 0-14 years with presumptive pulmonary TB were asked to provide stools in addition to routinely requested sputum samples. We computed Cohen’s kappa statistic in SPSS to determine the level of agreement between stool and sputum test results. Of the 373 children included in the study, 61% were &lt;5 years of age and 56% were male. Thirty-six children (9.7%) were diagnosed with TB and all started treatment. The rate of concordance between stool and sputum was high with kappa value of 0.83 (P&lt;0.001). There were more Xpert ultra positive test results on stool (n=27 (7.2%)) than on sputum/NGA (n=23 (6.2%)). Laboratories in secondary hospitals can perform stool-based TB diagnosis in children with high concordance between stool and sputum test results reaffirming the applicability of the SOS method.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) for the detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis compared to standard pathological ultrastaging in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer (EC). A total of 526 SLNs from 191 patients with EC were included in the study. 379 SLNs (147 patients) were evaluated by both methods, OSNA and standard pathological ultrastaging. The central 1-mm portion of each lymph node was subjected to semi-serial sectioning at 200-μm intervals and examined by hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemistry with CK19; the remaining tissue was analysed by OSNA for CK19 mRNA. The OSNA assay detected metastases in 19.7% of patients (14.9% micrometastasis and 4.8% macrometastasis), whereas pathological ultrastaging detected metastasis in 8.8% of patients (3.4% micrometastasis and 5.4% macrometastasis). Using the established cut-off value for detecting SLN metastasis by OSNA in EC (250 copies/μl), the sensitivity of the OSNA assay was 92%; specificity was 82%; diagnostic accuracy was 83%, and the negative predictive value was 99%. Discordant results between both methods were recorded in 20 patients (13.6%). OSNA resulted in an upstaging in 12 patients (8.2%). OSNA could aid in the identification of patients requiring adjuvant treatment at the time of diagnosis.

This paper presents a new high-efficiency-high-step-up based converter integrating two stype DC-DC Boost and Flyback coupled magnetic converter with recovery stage dedicated to smart HVDC distributed architecture in renewable energy production systems. Appropriate duty cycle ratio assumes that the recovery stage work with parallel charge and discharge to achieve high step-up voltage gain. Besides, the voltage stress on the main switch is reduced with a passive clamp circuit and thus, low on-state resistance Rdson of the main switch can be adopted to reduce conduction losses. The circuit is simple to control. As a final point of this research, the simulation and the prototype investigational results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this proposed converter.

The aim of this research was to investigate the mass, substances and energy flow through two-stroke low speed Diesel engines. For this reason, a zero-dimensional model of the combustion in the engine was developed with a calculated amount and composition of exhaust gases. Due to the large amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases, a ratio of real air consumption and stoichiometric amount of air required for combustion of injected fuel was set. The calculated ratio showed that the engine consumes four times more air than needed for combustion in AFR_stoich. In this work it is called the Air Consumption Factor or Ratio and has not been mentioned in scientific literature before. Air Consumption Ratio is defined as a factor of dry or humid air. To be more comprehensive, a modified diagram of composition of the flow in and out of a two-stroke fuel injection engine and the cylinder was drawn.

This paper presents a new algorithm for semi-supervised action recognition using adaptive feature analysis. We model the samples of the same action as the same manifold and those of different actions as different manifolds, and integrate feature correlation mining and visual similarity mining into a joint framework. By maximizing the separability between different classes based on the labeled data, the proposed algorithm learns multiple features from labeled data and utilizes the intrinsic geometric structure of the data distribution between labeled and unlabeled data to boost the recognition. We introduce Projected Barzilai-Borwein (PBB) to train a subspace projection matrix as classifier. Extensive experiments on three benchmark datasets demonstrate that our algorithm outperforms the existing semi-supervised action recognition algorithms when there are a few labeled training samples.

When there is uncertainty in the value of parameters of the input random components of a stochastic simulation model, two-level nested simulation algorithms are used to estimate the expectation of performance variables of interest. In the outer level of the algorithm (n) observations are generated for the parameters, and in the inner level (m) observations of the simulation model are generated with the value of parameters fixed at the value generated in the outer level. In this article, we consider the case in which the observations at both levels of the algorithm are independent, showing how the variance of the observations can be decomposed into the sum of a parametric variance and a stochastic variance. Next, we derive central limit theorems that allow us to compute asymptotic confidence intervals to assess the accuracy of the simulation-based estimators for the point forecast and the variance components. Under this framework, we derive analytical expressions for the point forecast and the variance components of a Bayesian model to forecast sporadic demand; and we use these expressions to illustrate the validity of our theoretical results by performing simulation experiments using this forecast model.

Melanoma is a type of highly malignant and metastatic skin cancer. In situ molecular imaging of endogenous levels of the melanoma biomarker tyrosinase (TYR) may decrease the likelihood of mortality. In this study we proposed the weakly fluorescent probe 1-(4-(2-(4-(dicyanomethylene)-4H-chromen-2-yl)vinyl)phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)urea (DCM-HBU), which releases a strong red-shifted fluorescent signal after a TYR-mediated oxidation followed by hydrolysis of the urea linkage. The large Stokes shift of the dye is owed to the recovery of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect. The resulting probe derivate shows a highly ratiometric fluorescence output. Furthermore, the simultaneous excitation by two near-infrared (NIR) photons of the released DCM-NH2 fluorophore could avoid the usual drawbacks, such as cellular absorption, autofluorescence and light scattering, due to an usually short wavelength of the excitation light on biological systems, resulting in images with deeper tissue penetration. In addition, the probe is useful for the quantitative sensing of TYR activity in vivo, as demonstrated in zebrafish larvae. This new ratiometric two photon NIR fluorescent probe is expected to be useful for the accurate detection of TYR in complex biosystems at greater depths than other one-photon excited fluorescent probes.

We define degree of dependence of two events A and B in a probability space by using Boltzmann-Shannon entropy function of an appropriate probability distribution produced by these events and depending on one parameter (the probability of intersection of A and B) varying within a closed interval I. The entropy function attains its global maximum when the events A and B are independent. The important particular case of discrete uniform probability space motivates this definition in the following way. The entropy function has a minimum at the left endpoint of I exactly when one of the events and the complement of the other are connected with the relation of inclusion (maximal negative dependence). It has a minimum at the right endpoint of I exactly when one of these events is included in the other (maximal positive dependence). Moreover, the deviation of the entropy from its maximum is equal to average information that carries one of the binary trials defined by A and B with respect to the other. As a consequence, the degree of dependence of A and B can be expressed in terms of information theory and is invariant with respect to the choice of unit of information. Using this formalism, we describe completely the screening tests and their reliability, measure efficacy of a vaccination, the impact of some events from the financial markets to other events, etc.

Increasing market participation among smallholder farmers have a big potential to uplift living standards of poor through increasing production and consumption pattern. Although, smallholder farming made 95% of total crop production in Ethiopia, they are exposed to a marketing bottleneck that hinders benefits from their produce. The objective of this study was analyzing factors determining smallholder Teff farmer decision to participate in output market and level of marketed output.The study used data from 190 respondents from four selected Teff dominant kebeles of Gena-Bossa districts in Dawro Zone, through structured questioner. This investigation was imperative because no adequate research has been done in study area in examining the hindering factors of farmers’ market participation. Moreover, in the prior study, different authors come up with varied outcomes in diverse country and geographic location concerning poor farmers’ market participation decision. The descriptive statistics and Heckman two stage econometric methods were employed to analyze data collected from sampled household. The significance of coefficient of inverse Mill’s ratio ( ) indicates the presence of self-selection bias and the effectiveness of applying Heckman two stage model. The results of study show that the smallholder decision to participate in output market were positively influenced by size of land holding, availability of family labor force, education status of household head, accessibility of credit service and access to market price information. On the other hand, size of family member, sex of house hold head being female and distance to market place discourage probability of Teff farmer market participation decision. Moreover, the second stage estimation reveals that, the education status of house hold head, size of farm land, amount of Teff crop produced, accessibility of market information, the size of family labor force and being member to farm cooperative increase the quantity of marketable output, whereas, large number of family size decline the level of Teff crops marketed. The policy that assist poor farmers in obtaining market skills; create affordable credit service; strengthen community based producer groups and capacitating the females socially and economically in the community believed to minimize the problems encountering small farmers in a way to market their crop

Atoms in Molecules (AIM), Natural Bond Orbital (NBO), and normal coordinate analysis have been carried out at the global minimum structures of TH₅⁺ (T = C/Si/Ge). All these analyses lead to a consistent structure for these three protonated TH₄ molecules. The CH₅⁺ has a structure with three short and two long C-H covalent bonds and no H-H bond. Hence, the popular characterization of protonated methane as a weakly bound CH₃⁺ and H₂ is inconsistent with these results. However, SiH₅⁺ and GeH₅⁺ are both indeed a complex formed between TH₃⁺ and H₂ stabilized by a tetrel bond, with the H₂ being the tetrel bond acceptor. The three-center-two-electron bond (3c-2e) in CH₅⁺ has an open structure, which can be characterized as a V-type 3c-2e bond and that found in SiH₅⁺ and GeH₅⁺ is a T-type 3c-2e bond. This difference could be understood based on the typical C-H, Si-H, Ge-H and H-H bond energies. Moreover, this structural difference observed in TH₅⁺ can explain the trend in proton affinity of TH₄. Carbon is selective in forming a ‘tetrel bond’ and when it does, it might be worthwhile to highlight it as a ‘carbon bond’.

The dynamics of a spherical particle in an asymmetric serpentine is studied by finite element method (FEM) simulations in a physically unconstrained system. The two-way coupled time dependent solutions illustrate the path of the particle along a curve where a secondary flow (Dean flow) has developed. The simulated conditions were adjusted to match those of an experiment for which particles were focused under inertial focusing conditions. The obtained rotational modes allowed to infer the influence of the local flow around the particle. We propose a new approach to find the decoupled secondary flow contribution employing a quasi-Stokes flow.

In this letter, it is proposed that cryogenic quantum bits could operate based on the nonlinearity due to the quantum capacitance of two-dimensional Dirac materials, and in particular graphene. The anharmonicity of a typical superconducting quantum bit is calculated and the sensitivity of quantum bit frequency and anharmonicty with respect to temperature are found. Reasonable estimates reveal that a careful fabrication process could reveal the expected properties, thus putting the context of quantum computing hardware into new perspectives.

Abstract: Background and objectives: Symptomatic walled-off pancreatic necrosis is a serious local complication of acute necrotising pancreatitis. The endoscopic step-up approach is the standard treatment for symptomatic walled-off pancreatic necrosis; however, adjunctive radiologic percu-taneous drainage for this condition is controversial. This study compared the clinical and radio-logic resolution of walled-off pancreatic necrosis achieved with the endoscopic step-up approach with or without radiology-guided percutaneous drainage. Material and Methods: This retrospective, single-center cohort study enrolled patients with symp-tomatic walled-off pancreatic necrosis who underwent endoscopic transmural drainage (ETD) followed by directed endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) with or without radiology-guided drainage. A total of 34 patients (endoscopic approach, n=22; combined modality approach, n=12) underwent the endoscopic step-up approach (ETD followed by DEN). Baseline characteristics, clinical success, and resolution of necrosis were compared between groups. Results: All patients achieved symptom resolution from walled-off pancreatic necrosis. The mean patient age was 58.4 years, and 21 (61.8%) were men. After treatment with the endoscopic approach and combined modality approach, clinical success was achieved in 90.9% of patients within 11.5 days, and 66.7% of patients within 16.5 days, respectively. Both the total hospital stay (55 days vs 71 days; p=0.071) and time to complete radiologic resolution were shorter (93 days vs 124 days; p=0.23) in the endoscopic approach group. Conclusion: The endoscopic step-up approach resulted in the clinical resolution of symptomatic walled-off pancreatic necrosis comparable to that of the combined modality drainage. However, the endoscopic approach alone allows higher clinical success, early clinical and radiologic resolution, and a shorter hospital stay.

Classical enzyme kinetics are summarized and linked with modern discoveries here. The time course of sequential catalytic events by biological macromolecular enzyme is analyzed at the molecular level; the relationships between catalytic efficiency (turnover number), catalytic rate/velocity, the amount of time taken and physical/biochemical conditions of the system are discussed. This writing tries to connect the microscopic molecular behavior of enzyme to kinetic data obtained in experiment, and the hypothesis proposed here provide an interpretation to previous experimental observations and can be testified by future experiments.

Besides the intensity and wavelength, the ability to analyze the optical polarization of the detected light can provide a new degree of freedom for numerous applications, such as object recognition, biomedical applications, environmental monitoring and remote sensing imaging. However, the conventional filter-integrated polarimetric sensing systems require complex optical components and complicated fabrication process, severely limiting its on-chip miniaturization and functionalities. Herein, the reconfigurable polarimetric photodetection with photovoltaic mode are developed based on a few-layer MoS2/PdSe2 heterostructure channel and a charge-trap structure composed of Al2O3/HfO2/Al2O3 (AHA) stacked dielectric. Because of the remarkable charge-trapping ability of carriers in AHA stack, the MoS2/PdSe2 channel exhibits a high program/erase current ratio of 105 and memory window exceeding 20 V. Moreover, photovoltaic mode of MoS2/PdSe2 Schottky diode can be operated and manipulable, resulting into high and distinct responsivities in the visible broadband. Interestingly, the linear polarization of device can be modulated under program/erase states, enabling the reconfigurable capability of linearly polarized photodetection. This study demonstrates a new prototype heterostructure-based photodetector with capability of both tunable responsivity and linear polarization, demonstrating great potential application toward reconfigurable photosensing and polarization-resolved imaging applications.

This study presents an eco-epidemiological model exploring a prey population infected by two distinct pathogen strains in the presence of an unaffected predator population. The model investigates how prey herding behavior provides protection against predation under multi-strain infections. A well-posedness and boundedness analysis of the populations ensures the robustness of the model. Linear stability analysis reveals that, under specific herd shapes and predator mortality rates, prey infected with either strain can vanish. Bifurcation analysis uncovers critical dynamics: a supercritical Hopf bifurcation occurs at a threshold prey herd shape (k), indicating the onset of stable oscillatory population cycles. As predator mortality (δ) varies, both subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcations emerge, marking shifts between stable and unstable dynamics, potentially leading to prey extinction or sharp population collapses. The analysis further identifies a Generalized Hopf bifurcation, distinguishing between predictable cycles and more complex. Numerical simulations confirm these findings, offering insights into predator-prey dynamics in ecosystems subject to multi-strain infections. The results have potential implications for understanding disease control, population stability, and ecological resilience.

Wind turbines are a solution for sustainable energy, significantly reducing carbon emissions and fostering a circular economy for more cost-effective and cleaner power generation, in line with worldwide environmental aspirations. In this context, this research aims to explore a novel Two-Stage Twisted Blade micro-Vertical Axis Wind Turbine ($\mu$-VAWT) alternative inspired by the Savonius Rotor (SR). This investigation utilizes the $\kappa-\omega$ SST turbulence model to explore the power coefficient ($C_P$) and torque coefficient ($C_T$), finding $C_P$ values ranging from 0.02 to 0.04 across the turbine by altering the free stream velocity ($V$). $C_T$ analysis further delves into four specific sections, highlighting areas of particular interest. These results are validated by examining velocity contours, pressure contours, and streamlines in four horizontal sections, demonstrating that the proposed turbine model exhibits minimal torque fluctuation. Moreover, the analysis of vertical wind streamlines illustrates very low interference with various wind turbine proposals, underscoring the turbine's efficiency and potential for integration into diverse wind energy projects.

This research presents a comprehensive computational analysis of the two-phase flow dynamics within a three-dimensional porous transport layer (PTL) in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. Employing advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and a volume of fluid (VOF) approach, the study utilizes the finite-volume method to model a time-dependent, isothermal process within a laminar flow regime. Notably, the study treats oxygen as the dispersed phase and water as the continuous phase within the system. Investigations on the anode side uncovered the formation of gas bubbles on the electrode's surface subsequent to the electrochemical reaction. The simulation, spanning 5 seconds with 0.25-second intervals, highlights the critical role of the time interval between the initiation and 2 seconds in achieving pressure and velocity equilibrium within the PTL. The initial 0.75 seconds witnessed a peak in oxygen concentration, followed by its movement across the PTL, exhibiting a transition from regions of lower to higher concentration, consistent with known physical behaviour. Remarkably, the model recorded the highest pressure of 3.5 Pa at 0.25 s. Furthermore, the study observed an incremental pressure drop from 0.25 s to 0.5 s and 1 s, approximately amounting to 28.5% and 20%, respectively, ultimately leading to a uniform pressure distribution within the model. Over time, the pressure drop intensified across the entire model due to the evolving nature of the oxygen gas. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of two-phase flow processes within PEM electrolyzers, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies.

Background：Increasingly, epidemiological surveys and experimental research findings indicate the involvement of immune cells in the onset and progression of prostate cancer. However, it remains unclear whether the relationship between specific immune cell types and prostate cancer is causal or influenced by bias. Through a two-sample Mendelian randomization design, our study aims to uncover the association between different immune cells and the risk of prostate cancer.Methods：A comprehensive study was conducted to investigate the association between immunophenotypes and prostate cancer risk. The study included a total of 731 immunophenotypes as potential exposure factors and analyzed data from 182,625 individuals of European ancestry from the UK Biobank. A screening of 12,097,504 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed. The main analysis utilized the two-sample Mendelian randomization method with inverse variance weighting (IVW). Additionally, multiple analysis methods were combined, and various tests were conducted to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy.Results：The resulting study showed a causal relationship between a total of 34 immune phenotypes and prostate cancer. Among them, the four immune phenotypes of CD62L- DC AC, CD19 on sw mem, FSC-A on plasmacytoid DC and HLA DR on monocyte simultaneously meet three or more statistical methods, suggesting a significant causal relationship with prostate cancer. Additionally, among the 34 immunophenotypes, CD28-CD8dim AC was shown to be positive in reverse Mendelian randomization. Most of these cell phenotypes have been reported to be potentially associated with prostate cancer.Conclusions：Our study demonstrates a causal link between immune cells and prostate cancer risk. Filled in the possible roles of all current immune cell pathways in the development and progression of prostate cancer. The next step is to verify the content and influencing mechanism of these immune phenotypes in cancer cells and adjacent cells through experiments, so as to provide new ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

The valley pseudospin properties of electrons in two–dimensional hexagonal materials result in lots of fascinating physical phenomena, which opens up the new field of valleytronics. The valley-contrasting physics aims at distinguishing the valley degree of freedom based on valley–dependent effects. Here, we theoretically demonstrate that both of the valley–selective high harmonic generation and valley–selective electronic excitation can be achieved by using an orthogonal two–color (OTC) laser field in gapped graphene. It is shown that the asymmetry degrees of harmonic yields in the plateaus, cutoff energies of generated harmonics and electron populations from two different valleys can be precisely controlled by the relative phase of the OTC laser field. Thus the selectivity of the dominant valley for the harmonic radiation and electronic polarization can be switched by adjusting the relative phase of the OTC laser field. Our work offers an all–optical route to produce the valley–resolved high harmonic emissions and manipulate the ultrafast valley polarization on a femtosecond timescale in condensed matter.

Most of the literature on the optimization problem of transportation in supply chain networks (SCN) considered fixed costs (FC). However, in the practical applications of this problem it is important to study the effect of FC. This paper examines the impact of fixed cost increase as well as the variable cost on the optimization of a Two-Stage SCN. To do so, two mathematical models for mixed-integer nonlinear programming are developed. The first model optimizes fixed and variable costs in addition to the opening cost, whereas the second model only optimizes variable and opening costs. To evaluate the effect of considering FC on the optimization supply chain problem, four groups of instances are randomly generated, and solved using Lingo. The results of the two models are compared utilizing the average percentage deviation. In addition, sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the impact of changes in opening and variable costs on the considered optimization problem. The computational results and the sensitivity analysis show that the first model with minimized FC outperforms the second model, which does not consider the FC in minimization and FC affect the optimization.

An experimental investigation on the heat pump performance improvement equipped with the two-phase ejector called “an ejector-expansion heat pump (EEHP)” is proposed. The system performance of the EEHP is compared with a vapour-compression heat pump (VCHP). The improvement potential is determined and discussed. The heat pump test system is constructed which is based on a water-to-water heat pump. It can be experimented with both EEHP and VCHP. The two-phase ejector with the cooling load up to 2500 W is installed for experiment. The results show that the EEHP always produces a higher heating rate and COP than the VCHP throughout the specified working conditions. The heating COP is increased by 5.7-12.2% depending on the working conditions. It is also that under the same heat sink and heat source temperature, the EEHP can produce lower compressor discharge temperature and lower compressor pressure ratio than the VCHP. This is evidence that the two-phase ejector can provide better compressor working characteristics which yields a longer compressor lifetime. It is demonstrated that a key to the performance of the EEHP is the expansion pressure ratio. A larger expansion pressure ratio yields a higher improvement potential when compared with the VCHP.

We investigate the extent to which a two-level quantum system subjected to an external time-dependent drive can be characterized by supervised learning. We apply this approach to the case of bang-bang control and the estimation of the offset and the final distance to a given target state. The estimate is global in the sense that no a priori knowledge is required on the parameters to be determined. Different neural network algorithms are tested on a series of data sets. We point out the limits of the estimation procedure with respect to the properties of the mapping to be interpolated. We discuss the physical relevance of the different results.

The advent of graphene opens up the research into two-dimensional (2D) material, which is considered as a revolutionary material in the future. Due to its unique geometric structure, graphene exhibits a series of exotic physical and chemical properties. Besides, single-element-based 2D materials (Xenes) have garnered tremendous interest. At present, 16 kinds of Xenes (silicene, borophene, germanene, phosphorene, tellurene, etc.) have been explored, mainly distributed in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth main groups. The current methods to prepare monolayer or few-layer 2D materials include epitaxy growth, mechanical exfoliation, and liquid phase exfoliation. Although two Xenes (aluminene and indiene) have not been synthesized due to the limitations of synthetic methods or stability of Xenes, other Xenes have been successfully realized by elaborately artificial design and synthesis. Focusing on elemental 2D materials, this review mainly summarizes the recently reported work about tuning the electronic, optical, mechanical, or chemical properties of Xenes via surface modifications achieved by controllable approaches (doping, adsorption, strain, intercalation, phase transition, etc.) to broaden the applications in various fields, including spintronics, electronics, optoelectronics, superconducting, photovoltaics, sensors, catalysis, and biomedicines. These advances in surface modification of Xenes have laid a theoretical and experimental foundation for the development of 2D materials and their practical applications in diverse fields.

Ebolavirus has a membrane envelope decorated by trimers of a glycoprotein (GP), which is responsible for host cell attachment and membrane fusion. Therefore, GP is a primary target for antiviral drugs development. Here, this article reports the first, to my knowledge, set of structural analysis of all Ebolavirus GP structures as of March 10, 2020, and also a brief update of the structurally identified electrostatic features of the Ebolavirus GP structures in both apo (unliganded) state and also in bound states with a series of small compounds, including a variety of approved drugs. With this comprehensive set of structural analysis, this article puts forward a hypothesis of two Achilles' heels of Ebolavirus GP structure, where the formation of two interfacial salt bridges, instead of destabilizing the prefusion conformation of Ebolavirus GP, constitutes a positive contribution towards the structural rigidification of the prefusion conformation of the Ebolavirus GP structure, thereby acting against GP-mediated Ebolavirus cell entry and/or preventing fusion between the viral and endosome membranes.