In view of the problem that the output thrust of solenoid actuator is affected by various factors and is difficult to calculate in actual working conditions, this paper proposes a semi-analytical model constructed by magnetic field subdomain method with internal and external boundary conditions in cylindrical coordinate system for calculation, and the general solution equations of magnetic vector potential for each subdomain are derived and solved by MATLAB. Taking a push-pull electromagnet as an example, the finite element simulation and experimental comparative analysis are carried out. The correctness and applicable conditions of the subdomain method are illustrated by comparing the gradient plot of magnetic vector potential, inductance curve and electromagnetic force. By calculating the output thrust after considering the core gravity, spring force and electromagnetic force, it is shown that this method has the advantage of computational flexibility compared with the finite element method, and it is easier to write special algorithms according to various working conditions to calculate the important parameters in engineering applications.

An embryonic version of membrane theory can be date back to the Bernstein's work reported more than a hundred years ago. Such an originally old work has evolved conceptually and mathematically up until today, and it plays a central role in current membrane theory. Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation (GHK eq.) is one of the math-based monumental works, which constitutes the present membrane theory. Goldman theoretically derived GHK eq., but its physiological meaning was provided by the two renowned scientists, Hodgkin and Katz. These two employed an assumption that the electric field (EF) across the plasma membrane is constant to validate the GHK eq. physiologically. Proposal of Hodgkin-Huxley model (HH model) is another math-based monumental works developed from the membrane theory and now forms a fundamental part of the current membrane theory. GHK eq. and HH model are quite fundamental central concepts in the current physiology. Despite the broad acceptance of GHK eq. at present time, its prerequisite that the EF within the plasma membrane is constant is hardly believable. Especially when the action potential is generated, it sounds totally nonsense. Furthermore, the existence of constant EF within the plasma membrane is conceptually almost in conflict with the HH model. The authors will discuss those problematic issues the membrane theory inherits.

Owing to the nondiffracting, self-accelerating, and self-healing properties, Airy beams of different nature have become a subject of immense interest in the past decade. Their interesting properties have opened doors to many diverse applications. Consequently, the questions of how to properly design spatial manipulation of Airy beams or how to implement them in different setups have become important and timely in the development of various optical devices. Here, based on our previous work, we present a short review on the spatial control of Airy beams, including the interactions of Airy beams in nonlinear media, beam propagation in harmonic potential, and the dynamics of abruptly autofocusing Airy beams in the presence of a dynamic linear potential. We demonstrate that under the guidance of nonlinearity and external potential, the trajectory, acceleration, structure, and even the basic properties of Airy beams can be adjusted to suit specific needs. We describe other fascinating phenomena observed with Airy beams, such as self-Fourier transformation, periodic inversion of Airy beams, and the appearance of spatial solitons in the presence of nonlinearity. These results have promoted the development of Airy beams, and have been utilized in various applications, including particle manipulation, self-trapping, and electronic matter waves.

This article studies electrostatic fields and potentials in the presence of conductors and point charges under the framework of solving Laplace’s equation with specifi ed boundary conditions. The results demonstrate that many problems posed and solved in elementary electrostatics through various heuristics such as the method of images, can be more rigorously treated under the solution framework of Laplace’s equation.

This paper is concerned with a hydraulic cylinder directly controlled by a variable speed fixed displacement pump. The considered configuration is referred to as a one-motor-one-pump (1M1P) motor-controlled hydraulic cylinder (MCC). A 1M1P MCC with a hydraulically driven passive load-holding function enabled by controlled system pressures is proposed. The proposed load-holding functionality works if there is a standstill command, a loss of power supply, or a hose rupture. Additionally, this paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the proposed system's operation and load-holding function across four quadrants. Simulation results demonstrate the four-quadrant operation and good load-holding performance under the aforementioned scenarios. In conclusion, the proposed 1M1P MCC can be successfully used on practical applications characterized by overrunning loads and four quadrant operation.

Formation avoidance is one of the critical technologies for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) formations. To this end, a cooperative obstacle avoidance algorithm based on an improved artificial potential field and a consistency protocol is proposed in this paper. A cooperative obstacle avoidance algorithm based on the improved artificial potential field method and consistency protocol is proposed for the local obstacle avoidance problem of AUV formation. Firstly, for the disadvantage that the traditional artificial potential field method is easy to fall into local minima, an auxiliary potential field perpendicular to the AUV moving direction is designed to solve the problem that AUVs are easy to have zero combined force in the potential field and local minima. Secondly, the control law of AUV formation that keeps the speed and position consistent is designed for the problem that the formation will change during the local obstacle avoidance of the formation system. The control conflict problem of the combined algorithm of the artificial potential field law and the consistency protocol is solved by adjusting the desired formation of the consistency protocol through the potential field force. Finally, the bounded energy function demonstrates system convergence's stability. The simulation verification confirmed that the AUV formation could achieve the convergence of the formation state under local obstacle avoidance.

Recently, cobalt iron boron (CoFeB) thin films have been widely investigated to apply to magnetic sensors, due to their high magnetic moment, anisotropy, and stability. However, most of these studies are conducted on rigid silicon substrates. For more diverse applications of magnetic sensors and angle sensors, it is important to explore the properties of ferromagnetic thin films grown on non-rigid deformable substrates. Here, using representative deformable substrates such as polyimide (PI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that can be bent or stretched, we report experimental comparison of in-plane magnetic field angle-dependent properties of the amorphous Ta/CoFeB/MgO/Ta thin film which is grown on those deformable substrates. We investigate effects of substrate roughness, tensile stress, characteristics of deformable substrates, and sputtering process on the change of magnetic properties like coercive field (Hc), remanence over saturation magnetization (Mr/Ms), and their biaxial characteristics. This work presents unconventional foundations for exploring deformable magnetic sensors capable of detecting magnetic field angle.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD), caused by a virus within the Poxviridae family and Capripoxvirus genus, induces nodular skin lesions in cattle, spreading through direct contact and insect vectors, significantly affecting global cattle farming. Despite available vaccines, their effectiveness is limited by poor bioavailability and adverse effects. Our study aimed to identify potential inhibitors targeting LSD-associated DNA polymerase protein, selecting LSDV039 for further investigation through comprehensive analysis and computational methods. Virtual screening revealed rhein and taxifolin as potent binders among 380 phytocompounds, with respective affinities of -8.965 and -7.195 kcal/mol. Canagliflozin and tepotinib exhibited strong affinities (-9.858 and -8.856 kcal/mol) among 718 FDA-approved antiviral drugs. Molecular dynamics simulations of canagliflozin, tepotinib, rhein, and taxifolin highlighted taxifolin's superior stability and binding energy. Rhein displayed compactness in RMSD and RMSF but fluctuations in Rg and SASA, while canagliflozin demonstrated stability compared to tepotinib. The study highlights the promising potential of repurposed drugs and phytocompounds as LSD therapeutics. However, extensive validation through in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical trials is crucial for their practical application.

Global warming may increase the potential evapotranspiration (Etp), thereby affecting the amount of clean water resources available in a region. In this study, the systematic biases in temperature outputs of 24 global climate models (GCMs) under 3 emission scenarios are corrected by using 8 bias correction methods. The trend of Etp in Yangzi River Delta in the 21st century is projected by using 4 Etp calculation formulas. The uncertainty of the projections is estimated and decomposed by using multi-way analysis of variance. The influence of uncertainty on the projected change signal is quantified by using the signal-to-noise ratio. The results show that, relative to the reference period (1971~2000), the annual mean daily Etp in Yangzi River Delta will increase by 0.14~0.17mm/d during the period 2021~2050 and by 0.21~0.41mm/d during the period 2061~2090, respectively. During 2021~2050, the uncertainty of Etp increase projections is dominantly contributed by the main effects of GCM (63%) and Etp calculation formula (24%). During 2061~2090, it is mainly contributed by the main effect of GCM (36%), followed by the main effects of emission scenario (34%) and Etp calculation formula (18%). The increase projections of Etp are generally reliable and robust during the two projection periods.

The main sources of intrinsic noise in excitable cells at the microcircuit and network levels are the stochastic characteristics of ion channel gating and activation of the synaptic conductance. Studies using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methods to examine the effects of synaptic background activity were not adequately investigated in non-neuronal excitatory cells, where neurotransmitter-based innervation also occurs. We created a mathematical model to replicate the background synaptic noise dynamics in a non-neuronal cell. We utilized the stochastic Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process to represent excitatory synaptic conductance, which was incorporated into a whole-cell model to produce spontaneous and evoked cellular electrical activities. The single-cell model includes many biophysically detailed ion channels represented by a set of ordinary differential equations in Hodgkin-Huxley and Markov formalisms. This paradigm effectively induced irregular spontaneous depolarizations (SDs) and spontaneous action potential (sAP) resembling in vitro-like electrical activity in the cells. The input resistance decreased by multiple factors, and the spontaneous action potential firing rate elevated. The potential to reach the action potential threshold is altered. Background synaptic activity can alter the input/output characteristics of non-neuronal excitatory cells. Suppressing these baseline activities would facilitate the discovery of new pharmaceutical targets for different clinical diseases.

The clinical neurophysiological tests allow determine the type, extent, and nature of brachial plexus damage. They are crucial in decision-making regarding surgical procedures or conservative treatment. This report aimed to present an algorithm for rehabilitation procedures in patients with brachial plexus injury of various origins based on the results of neurophysiology findings for the selection of procedures supporting the process of nerve and muscle regeneration. The research group consisted of patients whose medical documentation was analyzed concerning the reason, level, and localization of damage to the brachial plexus structures, surgical and or rehabilitative treatment as well as the MRI results. Among the group of ten patients, the clinical studies showed the greatest incidence of brachial plexus injuries of the mixed (both pre- and postganglionic), all trunks, and cervical root injuries, respectively. Results of the motor evoked potentials (MEP) and electroneurography (ENG) recordings induced at levels of spinal roots and Erb's point showed a decrease of more than 40% in amplitudes on the symptomatic side in comparison to the asymptomatic side. This difference was recorded for the axillary and radial innervation and the C5, C6, and C7 root domains, ranging from 56% to 71%; the lowest decrease was recorded following electrical stimulation at Erb's point for the ulnar nerve (41.5%). The latency prolongation on the symptomatic side in CMAP and MEP tests ranged from 0.2 to 1.9 ms, the most following magnetic stimulation of the C5 cervical root for the axillary innervation. All results indicated the axonotmesis and neuropraxia type of injury in motor fibers (40%) confirmed by EMG results. The sensory conduction studies (SNCS) in distal nerve branches did not confirm the severe advancement of the brachial plexus injury (22%). The proposed algorithm of the physiotherapeutic procedures should be mainly targeted for recovery of motor dysfunction as the consequence of brachial plexus injury. Rehabilitation should incorporate the treatment supporting nerve regeneration, muscle strengthening, and maintaining functional ranges of motion of the injured extremities. The rehabilitation treatment for patients with brachial plexus injuries is an individualized process, and the selection of procedures and the effectiveness of the treatment undertaken should be confronted with results of neurophysiological tests verifying the motor neural transmission from the level of the cervical motor center to the effector, peripheral nerve function, and muscle’s motor unit activity.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate anti-staphylococcal activity of liposomal daptomycin, against four biofilm-producing S. aureus and S. epidermidis clinical strains, three of which are methicillin resistant. Neutral and negatively charged Daptomycin-loaded liposomes were prepared by three methods thin film hydration (TFH), DRV and microfluidic mixing (MM), and characterized for drug encapsulation (EE%), size distribution, zeta-potential, vesicle stability, drug release and drug integrity. Interestingly, whilst drug loading in THF and DRV nanosized (by extrusion) vesicles was around 30-35, very low loading (~4%) was possible in MM vesicles, requiring further explanatory investigations. Liposomal encapsulation protected daptomycin from degradation and preserve its bioactivity. Quantitative microtiter plate (crystal violet, CV), methylthiazoltetrazolium (MTT), and growth curve (GC) assays evaluated antimicrobial activity of neutral and negative charge daptomycin-liposomes towards planktonic bacteria and biofilms. Neutral liposomes exhibited dramatically enhanced inhibition of bacteria growth (compared to free drug) for all species studied, while negative charged liposomes were totally inactive. Biofilm prevention and treatment studies revealed high antibiofilm activity of liposomal daptomycin. Neutral liposomes were more active for prevention and negative charge ones for treating established biofilms. Planktonic bacteria as well as matured biofilms of low daptomycin susceptible MRSE and MRSA strains were almost completely eradicated by liposomal-daptomycin indicating the need for their further exploration as antimicrobial therapeutics.

The magnetic field of the earth plays an important role in the ecosystem, and the magnetic field of celestial bodies is also important in the formation of cosmic large-scale structures, but the origin and evolution of the celestial magnetic field is still an unresolved mystery. Many hypotheses to explain the origin have been proposed, but there are some insurmountable difficulties for each one. At present, the theory widely accepted in scientific society is the dynamo model, it says that, the movement of magnetofluid inside celestial bodies, which can overcome the Ohmic dissipative effect and generate persistent weak electric current and macroscopic magnetic field. However, this model needs an initial seed magnetic field, and the true values of many physical parameters inside the celestial body are difficult to obtain, and there is no stable solution to the large range of fluid motion. These are all difficulties for the dynamo model. Furthermore, it is difficult for the dynamo to explain the correlation between the dipole magnetic field and angular momentum of a celestial body. In this paper, by calculating the interaction between spin of particles and gravity of celestial body according to Clifford algebra, we find that a rotational celestial body provides a field $\Omega^\alpha$ for spins, which is similar to the magnetic field of a dipole, and the spins of charged particles within the celestial body are arranged along the flux line of $\Omega^\alpha$, then a macroscopic magnetic field is induced. The calculation shows that the strength of $\Omega^\alpha$ is proportional to the angular momentum of the celestial body, which explains the correlation between the magnetic intensity and angular momentum. The results of this paper suggest that further study of the effects of internal variables such as density, velocity, pressure and temperature of a celestial body on $\Omega^\alpha$ may provide some new insights into the origin and evolution of celestial magnetic field.

Huperzine A is an herbal reversible inhibitor of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE). A molecular docking analysis on Huperzine A molecule has been carried out to understand its structure, conformational flexibility, intermolecular interaction and the binding affinity in the active site of AChE enzyme. Further, the charge density distribution of huperzine A molecule (lifted from the active site of AChE) was determined from the high level quantum chemical calculations coupled with charge density analysis. The binding affinity of Huperzine A towards AChE was calculated from the molecular docking; the lowest docked energy is -8.46 kcal/mol. In the active site, huperzine A molecule interacts with acyl binding pocket-Phe330 of AChE, that is, the bicyclo ring group of huperzine A forms an intermolecular interaction with the oxygen atom of main chain of the amino acid residue Phe330 at the distances 3.02 and 3.25 Å respectively. On the other hand, a gas phase study on huperzine A molecule also performed using HF and DFT (B3LYP) methods with the basis set 6-311G**. The molecular structure, conformation, and the charge density distribution of huperzine A molecule in the gas phase have determined using quantum chemical calculations and the charge density analysis. The comparative studies between the gas phase and the active site forms of huperzine A molecule, explicitly reveals the degree of conformational modification and the charge density redistribution of huperzine A when present in the active site. The dipole moment of the molecule in the active site is 6.85 D, which is slightly higher than its gas phase value (5.91 D). The electrostatic potential (ESP) surface of active site molecule clearly shows the strong electronegative and positive ESP regions of the molecule, which are the expected strong reactive locations of the molecule.

Nowadays, the identification and characterization of grapevine cultivars resilient to climate and water stress while preserving quality traits is crucial for the wine industry. Therefore, the objective of this work was to characterize according to their aromatic potential 9 white and 6 red minority cultivars recently recovered from Castilla-La Mancha region (Spain), subjected at two different water deficit regimes: rainfed, with subsistence irrigation, and irrigated. For this, the varietal aromatic potential index (IPAv) and the detailed aromatic composition were analyzed by HS-SBSE-GC/MS, in extracts of two different ph. For IPAv values, red varieties did not show a clear trend with respect to irrigation. However, in white minority varieties, higher values were obtained under irrigation conditions. Thus, a clear differentiation of the minority varieties in comparison to the references was observed, primarily attributed to the content of esters and acids, in both white and red varieties. A notable contrast was observed at different pH, indicating a greater extractability of certain compounds like linalool, under more acidic conditions. This suggests that some recovered minority cultivars could be promising for cultivation in semi-arid regions with limited water, contributing to the wine sector sustainability in the future.

The pervasive presence of atmospheric pollution, particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, instigates aberrant cellular and tissue conditions, precipitating oxidative damage and inflammatory cascades conducive to the onset of cancer, notably mammary cancer. Given the hepatic metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, the imperative of employing natural antioxidants becomes apparent. In this study, we delve into the antioxidant and hepato-protective properties of Pistacia lentiscus against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced toxicity, alongside exploring its potential anticancer attributes. Our investigations unveil Pistacia lentiscus's anti-proliferative efficacy against human breast cancer cell lines. Notably, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-intoxication escalates body weight, disrupts lipid profiles, and incites serum oxidative damage. Concurrently, hepatic and renal oxidative stress ensue, accompanied by heightened antioxidant enzyme activity in the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-exposed-group compared to controls (p<0.05). Nonetheless, Pistacia lentiscus co-administration rectifies biochemical imbalances, significantly attenuates oxidative stress aberrations, and augments antioxidant enzyme responses (p<0.05). Importantly, histological analysis evinces Pistacia lentiscus's shielding effect against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced hepatocyte injury and steatosis. Our findings underscore Pistacia lentiscus's robust anti-proliferative, antioxidant, and hepato-protective capacities, mitigating metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress propagation in liver and kidney functions, and potential histological alterations, thereby impeding 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary cancer initiation. We posit that Pistacia lentiscus may serve as a prophylactic agent against breast cancer instigated by this carcinogen.

The vagina is an essential component of the female reproductive system and is responsible for providing female sexual satisfaction. Vaginal smooth muscle contraction plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, including sexual arousal, childbirth, and urinary continence. In pathophysiological conditions such as pelvic floor disorders, aberrations in vaginal smooth muscle function can lead to urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. A set of cellular and sub-cellular physiological mechanisms regulates the contractile properties of the vaginal smooth muscle cells. Calcium influx is a crucial determinant of smooth muscle contraction, facilitated through voltage-dependent calcium channels and calcium release from intracellular stores. Comprehensive reviews on smooth muscle biophysics are relatively scarce within the scientific literature, likely due to the complexity and specialized nature of the topic. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of alterations in the cellular physiology of vaginal smooth muscle contraction. The benefit associated with this particular approach is that conducting a comprehensive examination of the cellular mechanisms underlying contractile activation will enable the creation of more targeted therapeutic agents to control vaginal contraction disorders.

Water availability is a major constraint for spring wheat production on the western Loess Plateau of China. The impact of tillage practices on water potential, water potential gradient, water transfer resistance, yield, and water use efficiency (WUEg) of spring wheat was monitored on the western Loess Plateau in 2016 and 2017. Six tillage practices were assessed, including conventional tillage with no straw (T), no-till with straw cover (NTS), no-till with no straw (NT), conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), conventional tillage with plastic mulch (TP), and no-till with plastic mulch (NTP). No-till with straw cover, TP, and NTP significantly improved soil water potential and root water potential at the seedling stage and leaf water potential at the seedling, tillering, jointing, and flowering stages, compared to T. These treatments also significantly reduced the soil-leaf water potential gradient at the 0-10 cm soil layer at the seedling stage and at the 30-50 cm soil layer at flowering, compared to T. Thus, NTS, TP, and NTP reduced soil-leaf water transfer resistance and enhanced transpiration. Compared to T, the NTS, TP, and NTP treatments significantly increased biomass yield (BY) by 18, 36, and 40%, respectively, and grain yield (GY) by 28, 22, and 24%, respectively, with corresponding increases in WUEg of 24, 26, and 24%, respectively. These results demonstrate that NTS, TP, and NTP improved GY and WUEg of spring wheat by decreasing the soil-leaf water potential gradient and soil-leaf water transfer resistance and enhancing transpiration, and are suitable tillage practices for sustainable intensification of wheat production in semi-arid areas.

We discuss a central concept of nanothermdynamics; the subdivision potential. We explain how it can be measured or calculated for some typical ensembles, as this has been disputed in the literature. We proceed to discuss its meaning for particular systems, and predict scaling laws for three ensembles. The laws depend on the small system geometry in a predictable way for an ideal gas model with surface adsorption. We provide new equations which relate the subdivision potential to experimental investigations, and give expressions for grand canonical ensembles of spheres, cylinders, slit pores and fluids confined in porous media. The subdivision potential is not compatible with the popular Hadwiger theorem in geometry, and can therefore not be described by a Minkowski set of variables. It is equivalent to Gibbs descriptions when shape- and size variables are defined.

Background: Parathyroid imaging techniques are used in patients with biochemically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) to detect the localization of enlarged parathyroid gland(s) (PTG) and thereby to allow more focused, unilateral or minimally invasive parathyreoidectomy (PTX), instead of classical bilateral neck exploration (BNE). Although the preferred sequence of imaging continues to evolve, ultrasonography (US) is usually the first line modality, followed by 99mTc sestamibi parathyroid scan (SPS). However, both tests may have suboptimal localizing accuracy with considerable rate of non-localized cases. Therefore, more accurate four-dimensional computed tomography scan (4D-CT) has been employed for PTG imaging. Currently, there is a paucity of data evaluating the utility of 4D-CT in low case-load settings. Aim: To evaluate the impact of PTG imaging, using 4D-CT in conjunction with it’s intraoperatively displayed results, on the outcomes of surgical PTX. Our primary outcome was sensitivity of 4D-CT in comparison to US and SPS for preoperative PTG adenoma localization. The secondary outcomes were the need for redo surgery and morbidity. Additionally, the characteristics of surgical PTX, i.e. operative time, number of removed parathyroid glands, and rate of simultaneous thyroid surgery, were assessed. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of surgically treated patients with pHPT from 01/2010 to 01/2021 was conducted. Evaluation of impact of the preoperative imaging modalities on the results of surgical treatment was carried out. Results: During the study period 290 PTX were performed, 45 cases were excluded due to surgery for secondary, tertiary or recurrent HPT, or due to use of alternative imaging techniques; the remaining 245 patients were included in the study. US was carried out for PTG imaging in 236 (96.3%), SPS in 93 (38.0%), and 4D-CT in 52 patients (21.2%). The use of 4D-CT was associated with a significantly higher rate of successful localization of enlarged PTG (49 cases, 94.2%) compared to US and SPS (74 cases, 31.4%, and 54 cases, 58.1%, respectively). We distinguished between three groups of patients based on preoperative imaging: 1) PTG lateralization via US or SPS in 106 (43.3%) cases, 2) precise localization of PTG via 4D-CT in 49 (20.0%) patients, and 3) in 90 cases (36.7%) PTG imaging failed to localize enlarged gland. The group of 4D-CT localization had significantly shorter operative time, lower rate of simultaneous thyroid resections, as well as lower rate of removal of ≥2 PTG, compared to the other groups. The 4D-CT imaging was also associated with the lowest perioperative morbidity and with the lowest median PTH in one month follow-up; however, compared to the other groups, these differences were statistically not significant. Implementation of 4D-CT (since 01/2018) decreased the need for redo surgery (from 11.5% to 7.3%), and significantly increased the annual case load of PTX at our institution (from 15.3 to 41.0), compared to the period before 4D-CT diagnostics. Conclusions: 4D-CT imaging enabled to precisely locate almost 95% of enlarged PTG in patients with pHPT. Accurate localization and intraoperatively displayed imaging results are useful guides for surgeons in making PTX a faster and safer procedure in a low volume center.

This paper has designed a four-channel wide dynamic microwave rectifier circuit for the shortcomings of uneven output voltage of each branch of the multi-channel rectification technology. A voltage-doubling rectifier circuit with identical structure was used in each branch. The four rectifier branches shared the same load at the output terminal, allowing the rectifier circuit to have an RF-DC conversion efficiency greater than 50% over the input power range from 12mW to 274mW, widened by 274% compared to a single channel. Not only the advantages of multi-channel technology with wide dynamics were retained, but also the output voltage was highly consistent and could be directly output in parallel without complex power electronics conversion.

The objective of the present work is to investigate the performance of flat-plate solar panels in Greece that continuously follow the daily motion of the Sun. To that end, the annual energy sums are estimated on such surfaces from hourly solar horizontal radiation values at 43 locations covering all of Greece. The solar horizontal radiation values are embedded in the typical meteorological years of the sites obtained from the PV-GIS tool. All calculations use a near-real surface albedo; an isotropic and an anisotropic model are used to estimate the diffuse-inclined radiation. The analysis provides regression equations for the energy sums as a function of time (month, season). The annual energy sums are found to vary between 2247 kWhm−2 and 2878 kWhm−2 under all-sky conditions with the anisotropic transposition model. Finally, maps of Greece showing the distribution of the annual and seasonal solar energy sums under all- and clear-sky conditions are derived for the first time.

This article lays the foundation for Extended Relativity (ER) – a unified geometric approach to the electromagnetic and gravitational field and relativistic dynamics in them. We explain here the basic tenets of ER, including the influenced spacetime of an object and the Extended Principle of Inertia. These two new ideas enable a unified theory of these fields. We introduce local scaling functions for describing the geometry of a spacetime influenced by a field and construct a simple, universal local scaling function which unifies electromagnetism and gravity. We recover the full electromagnetic theory, including Maxwell’s equations. For gravitation, ER passes all of the tests of General Relativity. Despite the non-linearity of relativistic gravitation, we obtain a method of combining fields from multiple sources. Finally, we identify the differences in the relativistic treatment of the electromagnetic field by Special Relativity and of the gravitational field by General Relativity and indicate how these differences are resolved in ER.

During pregnancy, profound physiological changes occur in the maternal body, including those affecting oral health. Dental stem cells (DSCs) have emerged as promising candidates for regenerative therapies in dentistry. This manuscript delves into the intricate interplay between DSC behavior and maternal oral health during pregnancy. We provide an overview of current knowledge concerning the impact of pregnancy on DSCs, highlighting their potential roles in maintaining oral homeostasis and responding to pathological conditions. Additionally, we identify key research gaps and propose future directions for investigating novel therapeutic strategies leveraging DSCs to improve maternal and fetal oral health outcomes. By elucidating this relationship, we aim to pave the way for innovative approaches in preventive and regenerative dentistry tailored to the unique needs of pregnant women.

The vibrational excitation cross section of a diatomic molecule by positron impact is obtained using wavepacket propagation techniques. The dynamics was carried on a two-dimensional potential energy surface which couples a hydrogen-like harmonic oscillator to a positron via a spherically symmetric correlation polarization potential. The cross section for the excitation of the first vibrational mode is in good agreement with previous reports. Our model suggests that a positron couples to the target vibration by responding instantly to an interaction potential which depends on the target vibrational coordinate.

Triphenylphosphonium (TPP) derivatives of a decapeptide related to sequences of bactenecin 7 (Bac7) and oncocin (Onc112) were synthesized and studied as potential antimicrobial compounds using various biochemical and microbiological assays. It was shown that while the reduction of the Bac7 length to 10 a.a. residues dramatically decreases the affinity to bacterial ribosomes, the modification of peptide with alkyl-TPP moieties leads to an increase in the affinity. New analogs which structure combines a decapeptide related to Bac7 and Onc112 — Bac(1-10, R/Y) — and TPP, attached to the C-terminal amino acid residue through alkylamide linkers, inhibit translation in vitro and are found to be more selective inhibitors of bacterial translation as compared with eukaryotic translation, than Onc112 and Bac7. Triphenylphosphonium analogs of a decapeptide related to Bac7 and Onc112 suppress the growth of both gram-negative bacteria, similar to Onc112 and Bac7, and gram-positive ones as alkyl-TPP derivatives, and also act against some resistant laboratory strains. Bac(1-10, R/Y)-C2-TPP, containing a short alkylamide linker between the decapeptide and TPP, is transferred into the E. coli cells via the SbmA transporter protein. TPP derivatives of the decapeptide Bac(1-10, R/Y) containing either decylamide or ethylamide linker cause B. subtilis membrane depolarization, similar to alkyl-TPP. The Bac(1-10, R/Y)-C2-TPP analog is proved to be non-toxic for mammalian cells by MTT-test.

In this paper we give the improved and new analytical and semi-analytical expression for calcu-lating the magnetic vector potential, magnetic field, magnetic force, mutual inductance, torque, and stiffness between two inclined current-carrying arc segments in air. The expressions are ob-tained either in the analytical form over the incomplete elliptic integrals of the first and the sec-ond time or by the single numerical integration of some elliptical integrals of the first and the second kind. The validity of the presented formulas is proved from the special cases when the inclined circular loops are treated. We mention that all formulas are obtain by the integral ap-proach except the stiffness which is found by the derivative of the magnetic force.

The emergence of the H3N2 influenza virus in 1968 marked a significant event as it crossed the species barrier. Since then, ongoing mutational dynamics have led to the formation of antigenic clusters, prompting the World Health Organization to advocate for regular updates to H3N2 vaccines. Research in the Western Pacific region underscores the necessity for heightened awareness and effective control strategies. Stemming from avian influenza A, the 1968 H3N2 influenza pandemic resulted in the deaths of one million people globally, with its seasonal variants primarily affecting older individuals and causing severe illness due to antigenic drift. To address the challenge of vaccine efficacy against H3N2 mutations, researchers are exploring innovative strategies such as precise antigenic material administration, controlled release patterns, understanding immune system mechanisms, and glycan engineering. This review comprehensively examines various aspects of the Influenza A (H3N2) virus, encompassing its virological characteristics, evolutionary trends, global epidemiology, vaccination strategies, antiviral interventions, and emerging diagnostic approaches. It underscores the impact of antigenic variation on vaccine design and effectiveness, seasonal outbreak patterns, pandemic potential, and the interplay between viral factors and host immune responses. Moreover, the review evaluates antiviral therapies and the issue of drug resistance, emphasising the necessity for multidisciplinary approaches involving researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to comprehend H3N2 and enhance public health interventions.

Clusterin (CLU) protein is involved in various pathophysiological processes including carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In recent years, the role of the secretory isoform has been demonstrated in tumor cells, where it inhibits apoptosis and favors the acquisition of resistance to conventional treatments used to treat cancer. To determine the possible therapeutic potential of inhibiting this protein, numerous studies have been carried out in this field. In this paper, we show the existing knowledge on the inhibition of this protein in different types of cancer and discuss the importance it could have in the development of new therapies directed against this pathology.

The antioxidant potential (capacity and activity) of aqueous fullerene dispersions (AFD) of non-functionalized C₆₀, C₇₀, and Gd@C₈₂ endofullerene (in micromolar concentration range) was estimated based on chemiluminescence measurements of the model of luminol and generation of organic radicals by 2,2’-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (ABAP). The antioxidant capacity was estimated by the TRAP method, from the concentration of half-suppression, and from the suppression area in the initial period. All three approaches agree and show that the antioxidant capacity of AFDs increased in the row Gd@C₈₂ < C₇₀ < C₆₀. Mathematical modeling of the long-term kinetics data was used for antioxidant activity estimation. The effect of C₆₀ and C₇₀ is found to be quenching of the excited product of luminol with ABAP-generated radical and not an actual antioxidant effect; quenching constants differ insignificantly. Apart from quenching with a similar constant, the AFD of Gd@C₈₂ exhibits actual antioxidant action. The antioxidant activity in Gd@C₈₂ is 300-fold higher than quenching constants.

Applying a procedure similar to that of E.S. Bring, by using a 4^th degree Tschirnhaus transformation, it was possible to transform the Bring-Jerrard normal quintic (BJQ) equation into a De Moivre form (DMQ), so that it could be solved by radicals. The general solution by radicals of the De Moivre equations of any degree is presented. By the same procedure the BJSx (normal sextic) equation was taken to another one without the 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th terms which was transformed into a cubic (solvable) equation. By applying a 6^th degree Tschirnhaus transformation to the BJSp (normal septic) equation its binormal (without the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th terms) form was obtained.

Applying a procedure similar to that of E.S. Bring, by using a 4^th degree Tschirnhaus transformation, it was possible to transform the Bring-Jerrard normal quintic (BJQ) equation into a De Moivre form (DMQ), so that it could be solved by radicals. The general solution by radicals of the De Moivre equations of any degree is presented. By the same procedure the BJSx (normal sextic) equation was taken to another one without the 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th terms which was transformed into a cubic (solvable) equation. By applying a 6^th degree Tschirnhaus transformation to the BJSp (normal septic) equation its Bring-Jerrard binormal (without the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th terms) form was obtained.

The accuracy of cosmic ray observation by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory Wide Field-of-view Cherenkov/fluorescence Telescope Array (LHAASO-WFCTA) is influenced by variations in aerosols in the atmosphere. The solar photometer (CE318-T) is extensively utilized within the Aerosol Robotic Network as a highly precise and reliable instrument for aerosol measurements. With this CE318-T 23, 254 sets of valid data samples in 394 days from October 2020 to October 2022 at the LHAASO site were obtained. Data analysis revealed that the baseline Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and A˚ngstro¨m Exponent (AE) at 440-870 nm (AE440−870nm) of the aerosols were calculated to be 0.03 and 1.07, respectively, suggesting that the LHAASO site is among the most pristine regions on Earth. The seasonality of the mean AOD are the order of spring &gt; summer &gt; autumn = winter. The monthly average maximum of AOD440nm occurred in April (0.11 ± 0.05) and the minimum was in December (0.03 ± 0.01). The monthly average of AE440−870nm exhibited slight variations. The seasonal characterization of aerosol types indicated that clean continental background aerosol predominated in autumn and winter, which is the optimal period for the absolute calibration of the WFCTA. Additionally, the diurnal daytime variations of AOD and AE across the four seasons are presented. Our analysis also indicates that the potential origins of aerosol over the LHAASO in four seasons were different and the atmospheric aerosols with higher AOD probably originate mainly from Northern Myanmar and Northeast India region. These results provide a baseline for comparison to the future on-site measurement of extinction coefficient profile and aerosol phase function by LHAASO-WFCTA, also enrich the valuable materials on aerosol observation in the Hengduan Mountains and Tibetan Plateau.

Although there is a common physiological notion that the origin of the membrane potential is attributed to transmembrane ion transport, it is theoretically possible to explain its generation by the mechanism of ion adsorption. It was previously suggested that the ion adsorption mechanism led even to the potential formulas which are even identical to either the famous Nernst equation or Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. Our further analysis shown in this paper indicates that the potential formula based on the ion adsorption mechanism leads to one equation which is the function of material surface charge density and the material surface potential. Furthermore, we confirmed that the equation holds in all the different experimental systems we studied. Although we have not succeeded in elucidating why such an equation is established, the equation appears to be the key equation governing the characteristics of the membrane potential regardless of the systems in question.

The medicinal plant Abrus precatorius L. was traditionally used in Siddha and Ayurvedic systems of medicine in India. The Indian centre of origin holds vast variability for its seed color. The objective of this study was to assess the total monomeric anthocyanin, flavonol, antioxidative potential, protein content and ash content among the accessions. A total of 99 accessions conserved in the Indian National Genebank were used in this study. The method used for the estimation of total monomeric anthocyanin, flavonol, antioxidative potential, protein content and ash content was pH differential method, Oomah method, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential, Dumas method and gravimetric method respectively. The completely black colored accession was recorded with highest total monomeric anthocyanin (51.95 mg / 100 g of cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalent) and flavonol content (66.41 mg/g of quercetin equivalent). Red + black colored accessions have recorded the maximum value with respect to antioxidants (14.18 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent). Highest amount of protein content was found in a completely white colored accession (20.67%) and maximum ash content was recorded in red + black seed colored accession (4.01%). The promising accessions identified can be used by pharmaceutical companies in drug development and in curing degenerative diseases.

Despite being stored at 113 K and atmospheric pressure, LNG cold potential is not exploited to reduce green ships’ energy needs. An innovative system based on three Organic Ranking Cycles integrated into the regasification equipment is proposed to produce additional power and recover cooling energy from condensers. A first-law analysis identified ethylene and ethane as suitable working fluids for the first and the second ORC making available freshwater and ice. Propane, ammonia and propylene could be arbitrarily employed in the third ORC for air-conditioning. An environmental analysis that combines exergy efficiency, ecological indices and hazard aspects for marine environment and ship’s passengers, indicated propylene as safer and more environmentally friendly. The exergy analysis confirms more than 20% of the LNG potential can be recovered from every cycle to produce a net clean power of 76 kW, whereas 270 kW can be saved by recovering condensers' cooling power to satisfy some ship needs. Assuming the sailing mode, a limitation of 162 kg in LNG consumptions was determined, avoiding the emission of 1584 kg of CO2 per day. Marine thermal pollution is reduced by 3.5 times by recovering the working fluids' condensation heat for the LNG pre-heating.

With our long experience in the field of unification of gravity and quantum mechanics, we understood that, when mass of any elementary is extremely small/negligible compared to macroscopic bodies, highly curved microscopic space-time can be addressed with large gravitational constants and magnitude of elementary gravitational constant seems to increase with decreasing mass and increasing interaction range. In our earlier publications, we proposed that, 1) There exist three atomic gravitational constants associated with electroweak, strong and electromagnetic interactions; 2) There exists a strong interaction elementary charge in such a way that, it's squared ratio with normal elementary charge is close to inverse of the strong coupling constant; and 3) Considering a fermion-boson mass ratio of 2.27, quarks can be split into quark fermions and quark bosons. Further, we noticed that, electroweak field seems to be operated by a primordial massive fermion of rest energy 584.725 GeV and hadron masses seem to be generated by a new hadronic fermion of rest energy 103.4 GeV. In this context, starting from lepton rest masses to stellar masses, we have developed many interesting and workable relations. With further study, a workable model of final unification can be developed.

This paper proposes a novel biologically inspired design for an insect-scale flapping robot. The proposed scheme employs two motors to drive four wings, mimicking the flapping motion of nat-ural four-winged insects. The vehicle incorporates two pairs of flapping wings to generate lift force, with a transmission mechanism featuring flexure hinges instead of pivot joints, resulting in reduced weight and volume. The flexure hinges also exhibit nonlinear stiffness to facilitate smooth wing motion. The vehicle is designed to be symmetrical in structure, with the wings of each section generating greater lift through the clap-and-fling mechanism. The final product weighs 6.2g, pos-sesses a wingspan of 17cm, a one-sided flapping wing angle of 103 degrees, and generates lift that exceeds its weight, attesting to its successful design.

Glutamate excitotoxicity is implicated in the pathogenesis of many disorders, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer’s disease, for which central insulin resistance is a comorbid condition. Massive glutamate release primarily through ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) causes a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i, followed by mitochondrial depolarization and an increase in intracellular O2• (superoxide) production. Recently, we found that insulin protected neurons against excitotoxicity by diminishing the delayed calcium deregulation (DCD), However, a role of insulin in superoxide production in excitotoxicity still needs to be clarified. The present study is aimed to investigate the effects of insulin on glutamate-evoked superoxide generation and DCD using the fluorescent indicators dihydroethidium, MitoSOX Red, and Fura-FF in rats cultured cortical neurons. We found that insulin significantly diminished both the intracellular and mitochondrial superoxide production in neurons exposed to glutamate and there was a strong linear correlation between [Ca2+]i and intracellular superoxide. MK 801, an inhibitor of NMDAR-gated Ca2+ influx, completely abrogated the glutamate effects in both the presence and absence of insulin. In experiments on sister cultures, insulin diminishes neuronal death. Thus, collectively, data obtained suggest that insulin diminishes glutamate-induced superoxide production in neurons via fall of [Ca2+]i increased and thereby improves viability of neurons

The switched inertance hydraulic system (SIHS) is a novel high-bandwidth and energy-efficient digital device which can adjust or control flow and pressure by a means that does not rely on throttling the flow and dissipation of power. An SIHS can provide an efficient step-up or step-down of pressure or flow rate by using a digital control signal. In this article, analytical models of an SIHS in a four-port high-speed switching valve configuration are proposed, and the system dynamics and performance are investigated theoretically and experimentally. The flow responses, system characteristics and power consumption can be predicted effectively and accurately by using the proposed models, which were validated by comparing with experiments and with numerical simulation. The four-port configuration is compared with the three-port configuration, and it is concluded that the former one is less efficient for valves of the same size, but provides a bi-direction control capability. As bi-direction control is a common requirement, this constitutes an important contribution to the development of efficient digital hydraulics.

Bimetallic nanoparticles are of interest since they lead to many interesting electrical, chemical, catalytic, and optical properties. They are particularly important in the field of catalysis since they show superior catalytic properties than their monometallic counterparts. The structures of bimetallic nanoparticles depend mainly on the synthesis conditions and the miscibility of the two components. In this work, PdPt alloyed-bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through the polyol method, and characterized using spherical aberration (Cs) corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). High-angle annular dark-field (HAADF)-STEM images of bimetallic nanoparticles were obtained. The contrast of images shows that nanoparticles have an alloy structure with an average size of 8.2 nm. Together with the characterization of nanoparticles, a systematic molecular dynamics simulations study, focused on the structural stability and atomic surface segregation trends in 923-atom PdPt alloyed-bimetallic NPs was carried out.

The role of hydrogen in a future energy system with a high share of variable renewable energy sources (VRES) is regarded as crucial in order to balance fluctuations in electricity generation. These fluctuations can be compensated for by flexibility measures such as the expansion of transmission, flexible generation, larger back-up capacity and storage. Salt cavern storage is the most promising technology due to its large storage capacity, followed by pumped hydro storage. For the underground storage of chemical energy carriers such as hydrogen, salt caverns offer the most promising option owing to their low investment cost, high sealing potential and low cushion gas requirement. This paper provides a suitability assessment of European subsurface salt structures in terms of size, land eligibility and storage capacity. Two distinct cavern volumes of 500,000 m³ and 750,000 m³ are considered, with preference being given for salt caverns over bedded salt deposits and salt domes. The storage capacities of individual caverns are estimated on the basis of thermodynamic considerations based on site-specific data. The results are analyzed using three different scenarios: onshore and offshore salt caverns, only onshore salt caverns and only onshore caverns within 50 km of the shore. The overall technical storage potential across Europe is estimated at 84.8 PWh_H2, 27% of which constitutes only onshore locations. Furthermore, this capacity decreases to 7.3 PWh_H2 with a limitation of 50 km distance from shore. In all cases, Germany has the highest technical storage potential, with a value of 9.4 PWh_H2, located onshore only in salt domes in the north of the country. Moreover, Norway has 7.5 PWh_H2 of storage potential for offshore caverns, which are all located in the subsurface of the North Sea Basin.

The reasons for the circular sense of human color perception generated by two sorts of color opponent neurons and three cone types are not well understood. Here we use geometrical analysis to examine the hypothesis that opponency, the recursive nature of color perception, and trichromacy arise as the most efficient ways of distinguishing spectrally different points on a plane using a minimum of color classes and receptor types.

Aiming at effectively generating safe and reliable motion paths for quadruped robots, a hierar-chical path planning approach driven by dynamic 3D point cloud is proposed in this article. The developed path planning model is essentially constituted of two layers: global path planning layer and local path planning layer. At the global path planning layer, a new method is proposed for calculating terrain potential field based on point cloud height segmentation. Variable step size is employed to improve the path smoothness. At the local path planning layer, a real-time prediction method for potential collision area and a strategy for temporary target point selection is developed. Quadruped robot experiments were carried out in an outdoor complex environment. The experi-mental results verified that, for global path planning, the smoothness of the path is improved and the complexity of the passing ground is reduced. The effective step size is increased by a maxi-mum of 13.4 times, and the number of iterations is decreased by up to 1/6, compared with the traditional fixed step size planning algorithm. For local path planning, the path length is short-ened by 20%, more efficient dynamic obstacle avoidance and more stable velocity planning are achieved by using the improved dynamic window approach (DWA).

Non-timber forest Products (NTFPs) are a broad category of natural resources harvested from forests that do not involve cutting down trees for their wood or timber. NTFPs play a vital role in the livelihoods and economies of many rural communities, particularly in forest-dependent regions. Despite the benefits obtained from NTFPS, little is known about its potential to alleviate poverty in the local communities. The objective of this review is to comprehensively assess the potential of NTFP's contribution to poverty reduction within forest fringe communities. The study employed the systematic review method to delve into the multifaceted relationship between NTFPs and poverty alleviation. We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses protocol (PRISM-P). In all, 58 research articles were reviewed. The results indicated that NTFPs hold significant promise as a tool for poverty alleviation. Globally, NTFPs have the potential to alleviate poverty and increase household incomes between 19% and 78% within forest fringe rural communities. In addition, the review indicated that countries in Africa and Asia depend highly on NTFPs and provide substantial amounts of income to the locals. However, the potential for NTFPs to reduce poverty is not uniform. It is highly contingent upon local ecological conditions, market accessibility, community involvement, and supporting policies and interventions. In conclusion, this systematic review demonstrates that NTFPs have a substantial role in poverty alleviation. This study underscores the need for continued research and targeted development initiatives to unlock the vast potential of NTFPs in addressing poverty challenges.

Onion skin waste (OSW), the primary non-edible byproduct from onion processing, offers a renewable source of bioactive compounds. This study aims to valorize OSW through subcritical water extraction (SWE), aligning with circular economy and biorefinery principles. SWE was carried out at 145 °C, 50 bar and 50 min in a discontinuous reactor, producing a phenolic-rich extract (32 ± 3 mg/g), dominated by protocatechuic acid (20 ± 3 mg/g), quercetin-4´-O-glucoside (7.5 ± 0.2 mg/g), and quercetin (3.2 ± 0.6 mg/g). Additionally, it contains sugars (207 ± 20 mg sucrose-Eq/g), proteins (22.8 ± 1.6 mg BSA-Eq/g) and free amino acids (20.4 ± 1.2 mg arginine-Eq/g). Its phenolic richness determines its scavenging activity against ●NO and O2●- radicals, and its α-glucosidase and aldose-reductase inhibition without affecting α-amylase. Notably, the extract demonstrates significant α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 76 ± 4 µg/mL), surpassing acarbose (IC50 = 129.5 ± 1.0 µg/mL), in both pure enzyme and cell culture tests without showing cytotoxicity on AGS, HepG2 and Caco-2 human cell lines. The extract’s bioactivity and nutritional content make it suitable for developing antioxidant and antidiabetic nutraceutical/food components, highlighting the SWE potential for OSW valorization without using organic solvents.

This work is devoted to the construction and study of commutative gates for a two-qubit quantum system. Using four-dimensional algebra developed by the Kazakh mathematician Abenov M.M. all groups of commutative gates have been constructed, and among all states of a two-qubit quantum system, unitary states with which a specific gate is connected have been identified. An explicit type of gate is described that transfers a quantum system from one unitary state to another unitary state. The proposed approach opens up new possibilities for the design of quantum algorithms not only for two-qubit quantum systems, but also for $n$-qubit quantum systems.

Capabilities of the Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) at THz wavelengths for increased sub-surface depth characterisation of (bio-)materials is presented. The penetration depth of a THz evanescent wave in biological samples is dependent on the wavelength and temperature and can reach 0.1-0.5 mm depth due to strong refractive index change ∼0.4 of the ice-water transition; this is quite significant and important when studying biological samples. Technical challenges are discussed when using ATR for uneven, heterogeneous, high refractive index samples with possibility of frustrated total internal reflection (a breakdown of the ATR reflection-mode into transmission-mode). Local field enhancements at the interface are discussed with numerical/analytical examples. Maxwell’s scaling was used to model behaviour of absorber-scatterer inside materials at the interface with ATR prism for realistic complex refractive indices of bio-materials. Modality of ATR with polarisation analysis is proposed and its principle illustrated, opening an invitation for its experimental validation. The sensitivity of the polarised ATR mode to the refractive index between the sample and ATR prism is revealed. Design principles of polarisation active optical elements and spectral filters are outlined. The results and concepts are based on experiments carried out at the THz beamline of the Australian Synchrotron.

We theoretically investigate and optimize the performance of four-wave mixing (FWM) in microring resonators (MRRs) integrated with two-dimensional (2D) layered graphene oxide (GO) films. Owing to the interaction between the MRRs and the highly nonlinear GO films as well as to the resonant enhancement effect, the FWM efficiency in GO-coated MRRs can be significantly improved. Based on previous experiments, we perform detailed analysis for the influence of the GO film parameters and MRR coupling strength on the FWM conversion efficiency (CE) of the hybrid MRRs. By optimizing the device parameters to balance the trade-off between the Kerr nonlinearity and loss, we achieve a high CE enhancement of ~18.6 dB relative to the uncoated MRR, which is ~8.3 dB higher than previous experimental results. The influence of photo-thermal changes in the GO films as well as variations in the MRR parameters such as the ring radius and waveguide dispersion on the FWM performance is also discussed. These results highlight the significantly improved FWM performance that can be achieved in MRRs incorporating GO films

The solutions of the radial Schrödinger equation for a pseudoharmonic potential and Kratzer potentials has been studied separately in the past. The Kratzer potential despite different reports, the basic theoretic quantity such as Fisher information has not been reported. In this study, the solution of the radial Schrödinger equation for the combination of the pseudoharmonic and Kratzer potentials in the presence of a constant-dependent potential is obtained using the concepts and formalism of the supersymmetric and shape invariance approach. The position expectation value and momentum expectation value are calculated employing the Hellmann-Feynman Theory. The expectation values are used to calculate the Fisher information for both the position and momentum spaces in both the absence and presence of the constant-dependent potential. The obtained results revealed that the presence of the constant-dependent potential leads to an increase in the energy eigenvalue, as well as in the position and momentum expectation values. The presence of the constant-dependent potential also increases the Fisher information for both position and momentum spaces. Furthermore, the product of the position expectation value and the momentum expectation value along with the product of the Fisher information, satisfies both the Fisher’s inequality and the Cramer-Rao’s inequality.

The article introduces the reader to the new thermodynamic potential of classical thermodynamics, called the J-potential. For the case of a homogeneous system, it vanishes, but it perfectly serves multiphase (heterogeneous) systems. The J-potential is especially important for the thermodynamics of capillary systems in colloidal science. The J-potential simplifies the derivation of the Neumann and Young equations, and has found application in the thermodynamics of thin films and the theory of strength of materials. In this work, for example, it was used to study the dependence of the chemical potential of a substance of a small bubble on the bubble size.

The aim of this research was to analyze the impact of implemented erosion control works (ECW) on soil erosion intensity in the watershed of the Ćelije reservoir (Rasina River) in the period between 1968 and 2022. The Erosion Potential Method was used to calculate the annual gross erosion (W), sediment transport (G), and erosion coefficient (Z) in the study area. As a result of the performed ECW there was a general decreasing trend in the intensity of soil erosion processes in the last 54 years. The specific annual gross erosion was 1189.12 m3/km-2/year-1 in 1968, while in 2022 it was 554.20 m3/km-2/year-1. The specific sediment transport was 540.18 m3/km-2/year-1 in 1968 and 253.55 m3/km-2/year-1 in 2022. Due to the changes in the intensity of erosion processes the specific annual gross erosion decreased by 634.92 m3/km-2/year-1, and the specific sediment transport by 286.63 m3/km-2/year-1. The erosion coefficient was reduced from Z=0.62 to Z= 0.35. A dependence between the slope of siltation and the natural bed slope was defined. The results show a significant correlation between erosion intensity and performed ECW, providing a basis for future watershed management and defining a strategy for soil erosion control in the Ćelije reservoir watershed.

The mass concentration of particulate matter (PM) has been systematically used in epidemiological studies as exposure indicator, to relate airborne concentrations with a wide variety of human health effects, which can be hardly explained by using this single parameter. In fact, PM is a “particle cocktail” that includes a complex mixture of compounds with a wide range of sizes, chemical compositions and emission sources. Current research hypothesizes that many of the adverse health effects are derived from oxidative stress in biological systems caused by the deposition of PM into the lungs. This emerging hypothesis is called the oxidative stress paradigm. In this commentary article we analize how this new paradigm could help to answer the as-of-yet unanswered questions related to the mechanism of action of PM pollution on human health. Acellular oxidative potential (OP) assays have been emerged as a promising approach to quantify the PM potential to induce oxidative stress and to relate it with the chemical composition and size distribution of PM. Recent researches have shown that the OP is related to the presence of metals, organic carbon, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and quinones. However, the association between PM and particle-induced toxicity is still largely unknown. Therefore, additional research is needed to identify the specific PM characteristic(s), such as its specific size, emission source or chemical content, which contribute the most to its redox activity. Thus, the OP measurements provide information that allows us to evaluate and integrate the toxic potential of PM in a unique parameter, whose relationships with emission sources, size distribution and/or chemical composition should be faced in the near future.

Due to the increasing global importance of decarbonizing human activities, especially the production of electricity, the optimal deployment of renewable energy technologies will play a crucial role in future energy systems. To accomplish this, particular attention must be accorded to the geospatial and temporal distribution of variable renewable energy sources (VRES) such as wind and solar radiation in order to match electricity supply and demand. This study presents a techno-economical assessment of four energy technologies in the hypothetical context of Mexico in 2050, namely: onshore and offshore wind turbines, and open-field and rooftop photovoltaics. A land eligibility analysis incorporating physical, environmental, and socio-political eligibility constraints and individual turbine and photovoltaic park simulations, drawing on 39 years of climate data, is performed for individual sites across the country in an effort to determine the installable potential and the associated levelized costs of electricity. The results reveal that up to 54 PWh of renewable electricity can be produced as a cost of less than 70 EUR/MWh. Around 91% (49 PWh) of this would originate from 23 TW of open-field photovoltaic parks that could occupy up to 578,000 km2 of eligible land across the country. The remaining 9% (4.8 PWh) could be produced by 1.9 TW of onshore wind installations allocated to approximately 68,500 km2 of eligible land that is almost fully adjacent to three mountainous zones. The combination of rooftop photovoltaic and offshore wind turbines account for a very small share of less than 0.03% of the overall techno-economical potential.

We establish a new Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequality characterized by radial symmetry and involving potentials exhibiting pure power polynomial behaviour. As an application of our result, we investigate the existence of extremals for this inequality, which also correspond to stationary solutions for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with inhomogeneous nonlinearity, competing with Hs-subcritical nonlinearities, either of local or non-local nature.

The article presents the results of cyanide leaching of gold-containing concentrate using the trichlorocyanuric acid (TCCA) oxidizer. Gold-containing concentrate obtained from a gold tailings sample from a gold recovery factory (GRF) in one of the deposits of Kazakhstan that was not previously studied for concentrability. According to X-ray phase analysis and energy dispersive spectrometry (DSM) data, the main compounds in the tailings sample under study are: pyrite FeS2, quartz SiO2, calcite CaCO3, albite NaAlSi3O8, muscovite KAl2Si3AlO10(OH)8, dolomite CaMg(CO3)2, and oxidized iron compounds. Microscopic studies have established the presence of gold grains in free form, ranging in size from 0.9-10.2 mkm Au-ultrafine and fine gold. Obtaining a gold-containg concentrate with a gold content of 15.95 g / t is possible according to the enrichment scheme, which includes centrifugal separation, classification according to the fineness class -0.05 mm, additional grinding of hydrocyclone sands to a fineness of 90.0-95.0% of the class finer than 0.050 mm, and control centrifugal separation. Since pyrite in technogenic raw materials is the main gold-containing mineral, this paper presents studies on the oxidizability of pyrite with the TCCA oxidizer. The results of studies on the oxidation of pyrite using the TCCA oxidizer show that the products of its hydrolysis oxidize pyrite with the formation of various iron compounds on its surface. Pretreatment of gold-containing concentrate with oxidizer TCCA for 3 hours before the cyanidation process (20 hours) allows to increase the recovery of gold in the solution by 5.8 %.

InGaN/GaN samples grown on c-plane sapphire substrate with different In concentrations by metal organic chemical vapor deposition are demonstrated. The subsequent capping GaN layer growth opens a possibility for dislocation reduction due to the lateral strain relaxation in growth geometry. We present the further growth optimization and innovative characterization of InGaN layers overgrown on different structures with varying In concentrations. The photoelectrical and optical properties of the InGaN layers with or without capping GaN layer were investigated by time-resolved picosecond transient grating and temperature dependence photoluminescence. We note a 10-fold increase in carrier lifetime in the InGaN layers when the sample structure changes from PIN to single InGaN layer.

Unsmooth reversing is one of the most common faults in the four-way reversing valve of air conditioning system, and the airflow in the valve chamber and the shape of the slider of the reversing valve are the main factors in unsmooth reversing. In order to study the influence of the airflow in the chamber and the slider shape on the reversing process, the fluid flow in the valve chamber of a four-way reversing valve is obtained using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and the influence of slider structure on slider thrust and resistance of the four-way reversing valve is analyzed. Four-way reversing valves with no-cutting, straight-cutting and arc-cutting sliders are employed to evaluate the reversing characteristics. A pressure measuring device for a four-way reversing valve chamber is designed, which is performed to test the chamber pressure of three different types of sliders of four-way reversing valves. The maximum error of experimental tests and simulations is within 5% of engineering tolerance, so as to verify the reliability of numerical simulation. The results indicate that the chamber pressure and resistance-thrust ratio with the cutting slider are reduced, which is beneficial to the reversing of the four-way reversing valve. Compared with the straight cutting structure, the arc cutting slider four-way reversing valve has a more stable reversing process and better comprehensive reversing performance. The results can provide a theoretical basis for engineers to improve the performance of four-way reversing valves.

Brine-dependent recovery process has seen much global research efforts in the past two decades because of their benefits over other oil recovery methods. The process involves the tweaking of the ionic composition and strength of the injected water to improve oil production. In recent years, several studies ranging from laboratory coreflood experiments by many researchers to field trials by several companies admit to the potential of recovering additional oil in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs. Sandstone and carbonate rocks are composed of completely different minerals, with varying degree of complexity and heterogeneity, but wettability alteration has been widely considered as the consequence rather than the cause of brine-dependent recovery. However, there is no consensus on the cause as several mechanisms have been proposed to relate the wettability changes to the improved recovery. This review paper aims to provide a state-of-the-art development in published research and various efforts of the industry. This review outlines an overview of laboratory and field observations, descriptions of underlying mechanisms and their validity, the complexity of the oil-brine-rock interactions, modelling works, and comparison between sandstone and carbonate rocks. The provided information is intended to provide the reader with up-to-date information, point to relevant studies for those who are new and those implementing either laboratory- or field-scale projects to speed up the process of further investigations in this research area. Overall, the outcome of this review would potentially be of immense benefit to the oil industry.

With the continuous increase in ship size combined with the generally slower increase in the size of waterways, the need for the prediction of ship maneuvering in shallow waterways continues to attract attention from the international scientific community. Ship behavior in shallow water is relevant in seabed effects that result in changing the hydrodynamic forces acting on the ship. In this study, the maneuvering characteristics of container ship with four degrees of freedom in shallow water are analyzed. The Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes approach in Ansys Fluent code is used to produce the maneuvering coefficients through the simulations of forward running, static drift, static heel, circular motion, the combined motions, and the pure roll motion of the Kriso container ship. The maneuvering characteristics of the ship are estimated for evaluating the ship behaviors in shallow water condition. The obtained results show that the roll has a significant decrease and the ship’s turning diameter has a significant increase when the ship operates in the shallow waterway. The prediction of maneuvering characteristics of the ship are in good agreement with those of free running model tests, indicating that the numerical simulation based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics method has compromising capability to predict the maneuvering derivatives and the 4-DOF ship maneuvering motion in shallow water as well.

The utilization of fermented foods has been a longstanding practice in human civilization worldwide for example sauerkraut from the Roman Empire, Jiangshui, and PaoCai, which are popular traditional foods in China. In Korea, Russia, and Mongolia, Kimchi and Kefir are widely used. Similarly, Japan, Indonesia, and Pakistan have their traditional fermented foods such as Miso, Natto, Tempeh, and sourdough, respectively. In America and Europe, fermented alcoholic beverages made from sorghum and maize are among the most common. Nevertheless, the full potential of fermented foods to enhance the bioavailability of bioactive compounds and restore probiotic communities has yet to be thoroughly explored. In this review, we focus on the bioactive compounds and probiotic stability in food fermented with probiotic bacterial strains. Probiotic fermented food improves the bioactive compound contents and has been gaining interest in basic and clinical research. Bioactive compounds, including phenolic, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, stilbenes, coumarins, tannins, anthocyanidins, flavones, isoflavonoids, and polyphenols, along with beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, Pediococcus, and Weissella demonstrate increased levels and restoration in probiotic fermented foods. These bioactive compounds, combined with a thriving microbiota, play a role in preventing viral infections by targeting influenza, noroviruses (NoVs), Murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1), and COVID-19, while also stimulating the host's immune function. Clinical and pre-clinical investigations are warranted to explore the dose-response and duration efficacy of probiotic fermented foods against viral infections.

The electrokinetics methods have a great potential to characterize hydrogeological processes in geological media, especially in complex hydrosystems such as fractured formations. In this work, we conceptualize fractured media as a bunch of parallel capillary fractures following the fractal size distribution. This conceptualization permits to obtain analytical models for both the electrical conductivity and the electrokinetic coupling in water saturated fractured media. We explore two different approaches to express the electrokinetic coupling. First, we express the streaming potential coupling coefficient as a function of the zeta potential and then we obtain the effective charge density in terms of macroscopic hydraulic and electrokinetic parameters of porous media. We show that when the surface electrical conductivity is negligible, the proposed models reduces to the previously proposed one based on a bundle of cylindrical capillaries. This model opens up a wide range of applications to monitor the water flow in fractured media.

This article investigates the potential for carbon reduction in urban parks in Shangqiu City using high-resolution remote sensing imagery. The aim is to guide modern urban carbon neutrality strategies. The carbon reduction potential is estimated based on the mitigation of the urban heat island effect by park greenery, which reduces energy consumption. The parks are regarded as cool island centers, and 100 cooling gradients are gradually formed outward until the temperature reaches that of impermeable urban surfaces. The energy saved by the parks in mitigating the heat island effect is statistically calculated as the carbon reduction potential of urban park greenery. Additionally, this article classifies the sample parks into different categories and selects 26 landscape metrics to analyze their relationship with carbon-saving potential and driving factors.

The usual equation for both motions of a single planet around the sun and electrons in the deterministic Rutherford-Bohr atomic model is conservative with a singular potential at the origin. When a dissipation is added, new phenomena appear. It is shown that whenever the momentum is not zero, the moving particle does not reach the center in finite time and its displacement does not blow-up either, even in the classical context where arbitrarily large velocities are allowed. Moreover we prove that all bounded solutions tend to $0$ for $t$ large, and some formal calculations suggest the existence of special orbits with an asymptotically spiraling exponentially fast convergence to the center.

Man has always been interested in animal electricity, which seems to be measured in every living cell. He has been fascinated by trying to elucidate the mechanisms by which this potential is created and maintained. Biology is the science that seeks to explain this mystery. Biology is based on basic sciences such as physics or chemistry. The latter, in turn, make systematic use of mathematics to measure, evaluate and predict certain phenomena and to develop "laws" and models that are as general as possible while respecting, as closely as possible, observations and facts. The Nernst equation was one of the pillars of electrochemistry. Biology also uses this same equation as one of the indispensable bases for the computation of membrane potential. Man has established a cellular model that highlights this equation in several forms. However, we are going to show by various means that this model is inadequate or even inapplicable.

The utilization of dual-potential mode of integrated array (IDA) electrodes and other two-electrode systems has revolutionized electrochemical detection by enabling the simultaneous and independent detection of two species, accompanied by the exhibition of unique characteristics. In contrast to conventional dual-potential electrodes, the rotating ring disk electrodes (RRDE), IDA electrodes demonstrate analogous yet vastly improved performance metrics, characterized by remarkable collection efficiency and sensitivity. Notably, due to the distinctive microscale structure of IDA electrode, the special “feedback” effect makes IDA a unique signal amplifier. In recent decades, the research surrounding IDA electrodes has garnered escalating interest due to their attractive attributes. This review centers its focus on the fabrication and applications of IDA electrodes. In the realm of fabrication, two critical breakthroughs are poised for realization: the achievement of reduced dimensions and the diversification of materials. Established fabrication methods for IDA electrodes encompass photolithography, inkjet printing, and direct laser writing, each affording distinct advantages in terms of size and precision in IDA construction. Predominantly employed materials for IDA electrodes include gold, platinum, and carbon, with the selection of fabrication methods guided by considerations such as material properties, desired dimensions, cost-efficiency, and specific application requisites. Within the domain of applications, IDA electrodes, capitalizing on their distinctive attributes, have found utility in diverse fields. This review summarizes the applications of IDA electrodes based on their fundamental working principles, encompassing redox cycling, resistance modulation, capacitance variations, and more. The potential for further development of this specialized tool to exhibit enhanced properties holds substantial promise.

In this study, we describe quark confinement in terms of linear interaction potentials and solve the problem of the net spin of a proton. The three quarks in a proton are assumed to revolve around a common center, and their masses are determined assuming they are Dirac particles. On the basis of these assumptions, the magnetic moment of a proton can be derived. Moreover, the rotation of the quarks is considered, in which an electrical current induces a magnetic field. Thus, the scalar product of the magnetic moment and field describes the linear interaction potential between the quarks, and the mass of the proton can be obtained. The proton mass predicted by this physical model is consistent with experimental values, and no numerical or fitting calculations are required. Furthermore, using the newly derived spins and angular momentum of the three quarks, we derived the net spin of a proton. Additionally, we predicted the mass of a pi-meson from the same model, which agrees with the experimental values.

G4v is a four-vector theory of gravitation proposed by Mead (2015, 2023a,b) which reinterprets several major results commonly celebrated for the tensor-based approach of General Relativity (GR). Here, we show that G4v obeys the correspondence principle, an important test of any relativistic theory. We derive the non-relativistic Lagrangian and Energy expressions at the limit of low speeds and potentials, complete with the correct terms for potential energy (something traditional Special Relativity is incapable of achieving). G4v could represent a new interpretation of the gravitational field with essentially the same mathematics as electromagnetism (Mead 2023a). It is also possible to interpret G4v as a very interesting (and useful) approximation of the Einstein field equations (Mead 2023b).

This paper presents a theory on graph topological structure and graph coloring, proving that for any N-order graph structure (with a topological structure similar to ), the maximum number of colors required for coloring is less than or equal to . The Four Color Theorem is just one special case of this theory, with the maximum structure size for a four-color graph being a 4-order structure graph, hence requiring only a maximum of 4 colors for coloring.

This paper presents a novel real time control strategy on four-wheel independent steering system for electric vehicle with stepper motors using neural networks combined with fuzzy logic. The control of the four wheels is based on a variation of Hopfield Neural Network (VHNN) method, in which the input is the error of each steering motor and the output is processed by a hyperbolic tangent function (HTF) feeding the fuzzy logic controller (FLC), which ultimately drives the stepper motor. The whole system is made up of the four aforementioned blocks where they work in sync and inseparable from each other with the common goal of driving all the steering stepper motors at the same time. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control method has strong robustness and practicability under different angles and speeds.

The type III receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 is a pivotal kinase for hematopoietic progenitor cell regulation, with significant implications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) through mutations like internal tandem duplication (ITD). This study delves into the structural intricacies of FLT3, the roles of activation loop mutants, and their interaction with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Coupled with this, the research leverages molecular contrastive learning and protein language modeling to examine interactions between small molecule inhibitors and FLT3 activation loop mutants. Utilizing the ConPLex platform, over 5.7 million unique FLT3 activation loop mutants-small molecule pairs were analyzed. The binding free energies of three inhibitors were assessed, and cellular apoptotic responses were evaluated under drug treatments. Notably, the introduction of the Xepto50 scoring system provides a nuanced metric for drug efficacy. The findings underscore the modulation of molecular interactions and cellular responses by Y842 mutations in FLT3-KD, highlighting the need for tailored therapeutic approaches in FLT3-ITD-related malignancies.

Along with climate change, the native forest replacement by exotic species, such as Eucalyptus globulus, is contributing to a highly fire-prone environment. Since E. globulus detains several post-fire regeneration strategies, sustainable practices are needed to manage eucalyptus stands. Thus, eucalyptus allelopathic potential can be used for weed control. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the herbicidal potential of post-fire regenerated E. globulus leaves in Portulaca oleracea, and unraveling the main physiological processes disturbed by biocide application. For this, an aqueous extract prepared with fresh leaves (FLE; 617 g_{fresh weight}L^-1) and other with oven-dried leaves (DLE; 250 g_{dry weight}L^-1) were prepared and foliar-sprayed twice-a-week at different dilutions in 7-days-old purslane plants. As positive control, glyphosate was used. After five weeks, results revealed that DLE at the highest dose detained the greatest herbicidal activity against P. oleracea. To understand how DLE impacted weed physiology, several biochemical and redox-related parameters were evaluated in purslane plants treated with DLE highest dose. Results suggested an overproduction of hydrogen peroxide, causing severe oxidative damage in roots. Overall, this study showed that young E. globulus dried leaves had powerful herbicidal properties against P. oleracea and can represent a feasible approach for weed management, while reducing fire hazard.

We report photon-phonon atomic coherence (cascade- and nested-dressing) interaction from various phase transitions of Eu3+: BiPO4 crystal. Such atomic coherence spectral interaction evolves from out of phase fluorescence to in-phase spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) by changing the time gate. The dressing dip switch and three dressing dips of SFWM result from strong photon-phonon destructive cross- and self-interaction for hexagonal phase, respectively. The more phonon dressing result in destructive interaction, while less phonon dressing result in constructive interaction of atomic coherences. The experimental measurements of photon-phonon interaction agree with theoretical simulations. Based on our results, we proposed a model for an optical transistor (as an amplifier and switch).

Nisin, an antibacterial compound produced by Lactococcus lactis strains, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to be used as a safe food additive to control the growth of undesirable pathogenic bacteria. Nisin is commonly described as a pH-dependent primary metabolite, since its production depends on growth and culture pH evolution. However, the relationship between bacteriocin synthesis and the consumption of the limiting nutrient has not been described until now. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a competitive four-dimensional Lotka Volterra-like equation to describe the relationships between culture pH, limiting nutrient (total nitrogen: TN) consumption and production of biomass (X) and nisin (BT) in four series of batch fermentation with L. lactis CECT 539 in diluted whey (DW)-based media. The developed four-dimensional LV-like equation (with a unique set of parameters) could not be used to describe all cultures belonging to each fermentation series. However, the four-dimensional LV-like equation described accurately each individual culture, providing a good description of the relationships between pH, TN, X and BT, higher values for R2 and F-ratios, lower values (&lt; 10%) for the mean relative percentage deviation modulus, with bias and accuracy factor values approximately equal to one.

The GPA is a universally recognised and utilised metric of academic performance that is considered to also measure a student’s potential for academic performance in the future. In this short communication we examine to what extent the GPA of the first grade of high school predicts performance in the later grades of high school, either generally (as classified in excellent student, strong student, weak student or very weak student) or more accurately (as indicated by the exact GPA in the next grade). We also put to the test the widely held notion that it might be best if core courses such as language and mathematics contributed more to the calculation of the GPA compared to secondary courses such as physical education or music. Our findings confirm the predictive properties of the GPA but strongly rebut the notion that a weighted GPA might achieve a better reflection of students’ potential. The study is based on the academic records of every student in Greece that progressed from first to third grade of high school in the 2016-2019 period. This data set contains records of more than 85,000 students, making it one of the most extensive studies ever conducted on the topic of the properties of the GPA.

Considering the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, onshore wind energy is certain to play a major role in future energy systems. This topic has received significant attention from the research community, producing many estimations of Europe's onshore wind potential for capacity and generation. Despite this focus, previous estimates have relied on distribution assumptions and simulation schemes that summarily under predict both the amount of available future wind capacity as well as its performance. Foremost in this regard is the common use of contemporary, or at least near-future, turbine designs which are not fitting for a far-future context. To fulfill this role, an improved, transparent, and fully reproducible work flow is presented for determining European onshore wind potential. Within a scenario of turbine cost and design in 2050, 13.5 TWof capacity is found to be available, allowing for 34.4 PWh of generation. By sorting the explicitly-placed potential generation locations by their expected generation cost, national relations between turbine cost and performance versus a desired capacity are exposed. In this way, it is shown that all countries possess some potential for onshore wind energy generation below 4 €_ct kWh^-1. and, furthermore, that it is unlikely for these costs to exceed 6 €_ct kWh^-1.

The basis for computation in the brain is the quantum threshold of the ‘soliton’ accompanying the ion changes of the action potential and the refractory membrane at convergences. We provide a logical explanation from the action potential to a neuronal model of the coding and computation of the retina and have explained how the visual cortex operates by quantum phase processing. In the small world network parallel frequencies collide into definable patterns of distinct objects. Elsewhere we have shown how many sensory cells are mean sampled to a single neuron and that convergences of neurons are common. We have also demonstrated, using the threshold and refractory period of a quantum phase pulse, that action potentials diffract across a neural network due to the annulment of parallel collisions in phase ternary computation (PTC). Thus, PTC applied to neuron convergences results in collective mean sampled frequency and is the only mathematical solution within the constraints of brain neural networks (BNN). In the retina and other sensory areas, we discuss how this information is coded and then understood in terms of network abstracts within the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and visual cortex. First by defined neural patterning within a neural network, and then in terms of contextual networks, we demonstrate that the output of frequencies from the visual cortex contain information amounting to abstract representations of objects in increasing detail. We show that nerve tracts from the LGN provide time synchronisation to the neocortex (defined as the location of the combination of connections of the visual cortex, motor cortex, auditory cortex, etc). The full image is therefore combined in the neocortex with other sensory modalities so that it receives information about the object from the eye, and all abstracts that make up the object. Spatial patterns in the visual cortex are formed from individual patterns illuminating the retina and memory is encoded by reverberatory loops of computational actions potentials (CAPs). We demonstrate that a similar process of PTC may take place in the cochlea and associated ganglia, as well as ascending information from the spinal cord, and that this function should be considered universal where convergences of neurons occur.

H9N2 avian influenza viruses have become globally widespread in poultry over the last two decades and represent a genuine threat both to the global poultry industry but also humans through their high rates of zoonotic infection and pandemic potential. H9N2 viruses are generally hyperendemic in effected countries and have been found in poultry in many new regions in recent years. In this review we examine the current global spread of H9N2 avian influenza viruses as well as their host range, tropism, transmission routes and the risk posed by these viruses to human health.

In recent 40 years, the quantity and spatial patterns of farmland in Western Jilin have changed dramatically, which had great impact on soybean production potential. This study used one of the most advanced crop production potential models, the Global Agro-cological Zones model, to calculate the soybean production potential in Western Jilin based on meteorological, terrain, soil and land use data, and analyzed impact of farmland change on soybean production potential during 1975-2013. The main conclusions were the following. First, the total soybean production potential in Western Jilin in 2013 was 89.22 thousand tons. The production potential of eastern area was higher than the other areas of Western Jilin. Second, farmland change led to a growth of 33.03 thousand tons in soybean production potential between 1975 and 2000, and a decrease of 10.30 thousand tons between 2000 and 2013. Third, taking account of two situations of farmland change, the conversion between dryland and other categories, and the change of irrigation percentage led to the total soybean production potential in Western Jilin increased by 23.13 and only 2.87 thousand tons respectively between 1975 and 2000, and increased by 1.13 and 2.81 thousand tons respectively between 2000 and 2013. In general, the increase of soybean potential production was mainly due to grassland and woodland reclamation. The results of this study would be a good reference for protecting safe baseline of farmland, managing land resources, and ensuring continuity and stability of soybean supply and food security.

Layered 2D graphene oxide (GO) films are integrated with silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides to experimentally demonstrate an enhanced Kerr nonlinearity via four-wave mixing (FWM). Owing to the strong light–matter interaction between the SiN waveguides and the highly nonlinear GO films, the FWM performance of the hybrid waveguides is significantly improved. SiN waveguides with both uniformly coated and patterned GO films are fabricated based on a transfer-free, layer-by-layer GO coating method together with standard photolithography and lift-off processes, yielding precise control of the film thickness, placement and coating length. Detailed FWM measurements are carried out for the fabricated devices with different numbers of GO layers and at different pump powers. By optimizing the trade-off between the nonlinearity and loss, we obtain a significant improvement in the FWM conversion efficiency of ≈7.3 dB for a uniformly coated device with 1 layer of GO and ≈9.1 dB for a patterned device with 5 layers of GO. We also obtain a significant increase in FWM bandwidth for the patterned devices. A detailed analysis of the influence of pattern length and position on the FWM performance is performed. Based on the FWM measurements, the dependence of GO’s third-order nonlinearity on layer number and pump power is also extracted, revealing interesting physical insights about the 2D layered GO films. Finally, we obtain an enhancement in the effective nonlinear parameter of the hybrid waveguides by over a factor of 100. These results verify the enhanced nonlinear optical performance of SiN waveguides achievable by incorporating 2D layered GO films.

A significant increase in persimmon production, combined with a higher percentage of fruits intended for export, led to the need to adapt post-harvest technology to ensure that the fruits reach the end consumer in optimal condition. Persimmon is a climacteric fruit, so the respiratory rate and ethylene production regulate its ripening during storage. Depending on the variety, it can be tart or impatient (initially). During mass harvesting, the pulp of persimmon, regardless of its variety, is usually very hard, but then it softens quickly, which creates problems during transportation. The fruit pulp of tart varieties of persimmon is usually lighter than that of tart varieties, but there are fewer filamentous fibers in the pulp of tart varieties that support its structure, therefore, during post-harvest aging, seedless astringent fruits soften faster than less tart fruits with 1-2 or more seeds. In addition, there are many intermediate varieties that change their food-tasting and technological properties depending on the degree of pollination in a single year. This encourages farmers to adhere to various strategies to reduce post-harvest losses. Persimmons are usually sold fresh or dried in the markets. In this article, we sought to compile an up-to-date and brief overview of the latest achievements in the persimmon drying technique, which may arouse interest among farmers and entrepreneurs seeking to implement their projects in this field of production activity.

An investigation of pair partial radial distribution functions and molecular pair potentials within a system has established that the existing potential functions are rooted in the assumption of a static arrangement of atoms, overlooking their distribution and vibration. In this study, Hill’s proposed radial distribution function polynomials are applied for the pure gaseous state to a binary liquid alloy system to derive the pair potential energy. The partial radial distribution functions of 36 binary liquid alloy systems reported in literature were examined and then validated using four thermodynamic models. Results show that the molecular interaction volume model (MIVM) and regular solution model (RSM) outperform other models when an asymmetric method is used to calculate the partial radial distribution function. The MIVM exhibits a mean standard deviation (SD) of 0.095 and a mean absolute relative difference (ARD) of 32.2%. Similarly, the RSM demonstrates a mean SD of 0.078 and an ARD of 32.2%. The Wilson model yields a mean SD of 0.124 and a mean ARD of 226%. The nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model exhibits a mean SD of 0.225 and a mean ARD of 911%. On applying the partial radial distribution function symmetry method, the MIVM and RSM outperform the other approaches, with a mean SD of 0.143 and a mean ARD of 165.9% for the MIVM. The RSM yields a mean SD of 0.117 and an ARD of 208.3%. The Wilson model exhibits the mean values of 0.133 and 305.6% for SD and ARD, respectively. The NRTL model shows an average SD of 0.200 and an average ARD of 771.8%. Based on this result, the influence of the symmetry degree on the thermodynamic model is explored by examining the symmetry degree as defined by the experimental activity curves of the two components.

Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to the over-prescription of antibiotics. This causes dysbiosis and major disruption of the gut microbiome, leading to the development of intestinal diseases, abnormalities in the regulation of immune responses, malfunctioning of entero-endocrine signaling, and an imbalance in communication with the central nervous system (CNS). Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. This approach increased rapidly over the last ten years, because of the rapid rise of multi-drug-resistant bacteria worldwide coupled with a decline in the development and production of novel antibacterial agents. Eradication of multidrug-resistant bacteria is often only possible with bacteriophage treatment. Phage proteins are used to stimulate immune responses against specific pathogens, improve antibiotic susceptibility, prevent biofilm formation, and characterize bacterial pathogens. This review discusses the therapeutic potential of bacteriophage-derived proteins.

The gravitational potential characterizes the gravitational field of ordinary bodies and has dimension equal to the square of the velocity. In 2021, a new expression for the law of universal gravitation was obtained, which is completely analogous to Coulomb’s law. Using this result, the presented paper introduces a new formula for the gravitational potential, which has dimension of velocity. This formula establishes a clear boundary for the mass of objects that are transitive from giant planets to stars of the smallest masses (brown dwarfs).

Suicide is an important public health problem, fundamentally affecting the younger population and responding to multiple biological, psychological, and social causes. The objective of this study was to characterize changes suicide mortality, suicide methods and years of potential life lost during 2005 and 2019 in Paraguay. This observational, descriptive study used data from the Vital Statistics Information Subsystem of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare. The average mortality rate from suicide was 4.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, with an increase from 4.2 between 200-2009 to 5.8 during 2014 and 2019. Suicide was more common in men (75%) than in women. In men, the highest mortality rate was observed among the 20-24 years-old whereas in women the age most affected were the 15–19-year-old age group. The most used method for suicide was strangulation. The most frequent places of suicide occurrence were at home (73%). The seasonality of suicide occurrence showed a slight increase in the spring-summer months compared with autumn winter (53% vs 47%). The rate of potential years of life lost statistically significantly increased from2005 to 2019. Public health measures need to be implemented to investigate the underlying reasons and to implement interventions in the population to decrease suicide mortality in Paraguay.

We investigate the dynamics and stationary states of a semiconductor exciton-polariton condensate in a double well potential. We find that upon the population build up of the polaritons by above-threshold laser pumping, coherence relaxation due to the phase fluctuations of the polaritons drives the system into a stable fixed point corresponding to a self-organized PT-symmetric phase.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by chronic synovitis and progressive destruction of cartilage and bone. RA is commonly accompanied by extra-articular comorbidities. The pathogenesis of RA and its comorbidities is complex and not completely elucidated. Assembly of NLRP3 inflammasome activates caspase-1, which induces the maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 and leads to cleavage of gasdermin D with promot-ing pyroptosis. Although the available therapeutic agents are effective for RA treatment, their high cost and increased infection rate are causes for concern. Recent evidence revealed the components of NLRP3 inflammasome as potential therapeutic targets in RA and its comorbidities. This nar-rative review summarizes the current research evidence regarding the pathogenic role and the therapeutic potential of NLRP3 inflammasome in RA and its comorbidities. Areas covered. We searched the MEDLINE database using the PubMed interface and reviewed English-language literature on NLRP3 inflammasome from 2000 to 2023. Its pathogenic role and therapeutic potential in RA and its comorbidities are the focus of this review. Expert opinion. NLRP3 inflammasome may play a critical role in both innate and adaptive im-munity, and its dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of RA and its comorbidities. Conse-quently, the components of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling represent promising therapeutic tar-gets, and ongoing research might lead to the development of new, effective treatments for RA and its comorbidities.

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which affects the liver. Every year, about 390,000 people die from HBV-related diseases in China, about 86 million people are carriers of HBV, accounting for about 6% of the total population, and 30 million people are chronically infected. From 2002 to 2007, though China government launched “The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI)” program to reduce HBV infection in children, but the number of hepatitis B cases in China remains high. Reasonable estimation of potential HBV carriers is crucial to prevention and control the spread hepatitis B virus. This study is based on the case data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China from 2003 to 2021. We build a dynamic model that includes potential hepatitis B virus carriers, use nonlinear least squares and genetic algorithms to fit the parameters in the model, and calculate the reproduction number of hepatitis B virus transmission in the population and obtain R_c=1.741. The number of potential hepatitis B virus carriers is estimated to be 449,535 (95%CI [415651 to 483420]) based on our model, which is 30.49% of the total number of hepatitis B cases, and the simulation results show the number of chronic hepatitis B incidence decreases as the vaccination rate α increases, increasing α by 20%, the number of chronic hepatitis B incidence decreases by 169,469 on average.

The exact solutions of some conformable time fractional PDEs are presented explicitly. The modified Kudryashov method is applied to construct the solutions to the conformable time fractional Regularized Long Wave-Burgers (RLW-Burgers, potential Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) and clannish random walker's parabolic (CRWP) equations. Initially, the predicted solution in the finite series of a rational form of an exponential function is substituted to the ODE generated from the conformable time fractional PDE by using wave transformation. The coefficients used in the finite series are determined by solving the algebraic system derived from the coefficients of the powers of the predicted solution.

We compare several different measures of non-Gaussianity for two families of four-photon superpositions of the Fock states: even vacuum squeezed states and orthogonal-even coherent states.

Automated vehicles (AVs), which are expected to enter the market within the near future, represent the current frontiers in mobility and urban planning. AVs are assumed to bring substantial benefits to cities in many aspects. The present study attempts to investigate this broad assumption by conducting a literature review on the possible implications of AVs in cities as well as synthesizing the current state of practice of AV pilots to detect trends in their deployment. In this paper, literature findings on AVs’ implication on vehicle ownership, mobility, land use as well thirteen uses cases were synthesized to capture the big picture of them in cities. The findings showed that, in the AV pilots, the operation of AVs is limited to routes stretching less than 3.5km and an operation speed of less than 18km/h; low speed has been one of the main concerns of the participating passengers to use them for daily trips. The results also revealed that although shared AVs are expected in urban mobility, private ownership will stay competitive since vehicle ownership has been a socio-cultural identity in the history of automobiles. The findings also underlined that the potential influence of AVs on active mobility is still unclear as the AVs have not been introduced on a larger scale. Regarding AVs’ impact on land use, their introduction results in the effective use of space, but they will cause suburbanization in the long term.

Let BT4l denotes a subclass of bounded turning functions connected with a four-leaf-type domain. The goal of the study is to probe into coefficients of |b6|, |b7|, |b8|, the bounds of the logarithmic coefficients and the third-order determinants of H3,1, H3,2, H3,3 for functions in this class.

An adaptive control technique has been implemented for DSTATCOM for power quality enhancement in three phase four wires(3P4W) distribution system. The reference source currents are extracted from active components of load current for each phase by using this technique. It has also been used for load balancing, harmonic suppression, power factor improvement and reactive power compensation in distribution system. The adaptive control technique has been tested at varying load in steady state and dynamic conditions. This technique is developed using MATLAB/Simulink and source side harmonics are mitigated under different load conditions which are acceptable in accordance with IEEE standard.

An investigation was made to determine the effects of tungsten surface coating on the coefficient of friction of sliding contact between lubricated steel surfaces. The four-ball test was modified, using a tungsten carbide ball bearing in the spindle to cause sliding contact onto three hard steel ball bearings coated with tungsten disulfide lamellar dry lubricant coating, with a coating of grease lubrication applied to the ball bearings. The coatings, loads, speed, and grease level was varied to best understand the impact of different conditions to the friction coefficient.

The characterization of thin-film solar cells is of huge importance for obtaining high open-circuit voltage and low recombination rates from the interfaces or within the bulk of the main materials. Among the many electrical characterization techniques, the two- and four-wire probe using the Cascade instrument is of interest since the resistance of the wires, and the electrical contacts can be excluded by the additional two wires in 4-wire probe configuration. In this paper, both two and four-point probes configuration are employed to characterize the CIGS chalcogenide thin-film solar cells. The two-wire probe has been used to measure the current-voltage characteristics of the cell which results in a huge internal resistance. Therefore, the four-wire connection is also used to eliminate the lead resistance to enhance the characterization’s accuracy. The load resistance in the two-wire probe diminishes the photogenerated current density at smaller voltage ranges. In contrast, the proposed four-wire probe collects more current at higher voltages due to enhanced carrier collection efficiency from contact electrodes. The current conduction mechanism is also identified at every voltage region represented by the value of the ideality factor of that voltage region. It is observed that a long time given to the charge collection results in increased current density at a higher voltage. According to the results and device characteristics, a novel double-diode model is suggested to extract the saturation current density, shunt and series resistances and the ideality factor of the cells. These cells are shown to be efficient in terms of low recombination at the interfaces and with lower series resistance as the quality of the materials is in its most possible conductive form. The measured internal resistance and saturation current density and ideality factor of the two measurement configuration is measured and compared.

The correspondence between classical and quaternion quantum equations, permits considering the universe (vacuum) as an ideal elastic solid. Elementary particles would have to be standing or soliton-like waves. Tension induced by the compression and twisting of the elastic medium would increase the energy density, consequently generate a gravity forcing and affect the wave speed. Consequently the gravity could be described by an index of refraction. Theory was created by combining the Cauchy model of the elastic continuum with the Planck-Kleinert crystal hypothesis. The quaternion-imaginary Lagrange’an, the quaternion motion equation and the quaternionic oscillator allowed deriving: - The Schrödinger equation from the functional integral, which identifies the quaternion-imaginary quantum Hamiltonian. - The 2nd order wave equation system describing both the bosons and the gravity in terms of quaternionic Poisson equation. - The first order quaternionic wave equation system. - The family of the second order wave equation systems describing both the particles and the generated quaternionic force-fields (four-potentials). - The fundamental Planck and gravity constants. - The quaternionic continuity equation in an ideal elastic solid.

Due to the use of structural and seismic techniques an attempt has been made in this study to determine the hydrocarbon potential and future exploration in Pakistan's Lower Indus basin area and offshore region. In addition to the possibility of hydrocarbon accumulation, the major goals of this research are to analyze structural patterns in the subsurface of the study region, identify the horizons of various formations using surface seismic, and interpret seismic lines. Seismic data has been used to find and integrate the exposed Cretaceous/Tertiary basalt at Ranikot in the lower Indus basin to the well-known Deccan basalts of the Indo-Pak plate, which is the secondary goal of the current investigation. According to the interpretation of seismic data, the Indo-Pakistan plate has experienced rifting because of tectonic activity. Graben and horst structures have been identified in the study area horizon, which indicates that the area has undergone major structural and depositional changes. While faults provide a pathway for hydrocarbons to migrate from their source to reservoir rock, grabens are principally responsible for the accumulation of hydrocarbons. We further deduce that the prior exploration failures in the area were due to a lack of knowledge of the subsurface formations and structural trends, which are essential for characterizing the hydrocarbon play and trap features. Our results can be productive for the local hydrocarbon drilling projects as well as worldwide tectonic stratigraphy studies on passive continental edges.

In this paper, we investigated the trajectory of the massive particle in the vicinity of a general spherical symmetric black hole. Also, in the framework of general sphericalily symmetric black hole, Pseudo-Newtonian potential (PNP) and effective potentials has been investigated. As an example, static spherically symmetric black hole in f(R) gravity is considered and presented the brief discussion on the structure of spacetime and horizons. We calculated energy and angular momentum in the framework of general relativity as well as in Pseudo-Newtonian theory. A graphical comparison of angular momentum in this both framework has been studied.

The Mann-Whitney effect is a measure for comparing survival distributions between two groups. The Mann-Whitney effect is interpreted as the probability that a randomly selected subject in a group survives longer than a randomly selected subject in the other group. Under the independence assumption of two groups, the Mann-Whitney effect can be expressed as the traditional integral formula of survival functions. However, when the survival times in two groups are not independent each other, the traditional expression of the Mann-Whitney effect has to be modified. In this article, we propose a copula-based approach to compute the Mann-Witney effect with parametric survival models under dependence of two groups, which may arise in the potential outcome framework. In addition, we develop a Shiny web app that can implement the proposed method via simple commands (https://nkosuke.shinyapps.io/shiny_survival/). Through a simulation study, we show the correctness of the proposed calculator. We apply the proposed methods to two real datasets.

To understand the mystery of final unification, in our earlier publications, we proposed that there exist three atomic gravitational constants associated with electroweak, strong and electromagnetic interactions. During cosmic evolution, if one is willing to give equal importance to Higgs boson and Planck mass in understanding the massive origin of elementary particles, then it seems quite logical to expect a common relation in between Planck scale and Electroweak scale. Based on these two points, we noticed that, electroweak field seems to be operated by a primordial massive fermion of rest energy 585 GeV. It can be considered as the zygote of all elementary particles and galactic dark matter. H-bar seems to be a characteristic outcome of unified electroweak gravity. Electron rest mass seems to be a characteristic outcome of electroweak and strong gravity. Proton rest mass seems to be a characteristic outcome of electroweak, strong and electromagnetic gravity. Recently observed 3.5 keV photon seems to be an outcome of annihilation of charged baby lepton of rest energy 1.75 keV. Interesting point to be noted is that, Schwarzschild radius of electron is 0.48 nanometer and it needs further investigation with respect to emerging nano-science and technology. Proceeding further, by considering electromagnetic and weak gravitational constants, neutron life time can be understood.