Nonlocal theories are gaining prominence because they can solve problems which lead to unphysical conclusions in standard models. This study presents a novel fractional boundary element method (BEM) solution for nonlinear nonlocal thermoelastic problems of anisotropic fibrous polymer nanomaterials. This broad BEM solution combines two solutions: anisotropic fibrous polymer nanomaterials problem solution and nonlinear nonlocal thermoelasticity problem solution. The nonlinear nonlocal thermoelasticity problem solution divides the displacement field into complementary component and particular component. The overall displacement is generated using the boundary element technique, which is the solution to a Navier type problem, while the particular displacement is derived using local radial point. The New Modified Shift-Splitting (NMSS) approach, which reduces memory and processing time requirements, was used to solve linear systems created by BEM. Figures demonstrate the numerical findings, which show the effects of fractional and graded parameters on the thermal stresses of nonlinear nonlocal thermoelastic problems of anisotropic fibrous polymer nanomaterials. The numerical results indicate the consistency and efficiency of the proposed methodology.

The direct hydrogenation of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) to higher alcohols (C2+OH), as an important research area in C1 chemistry, is one of the most essential approaches to convert CO2 into liquid fuels or other value-added chemicals. The high atom economy and direct pathway make this reaction attractive to convert CO2 to higher alcohols. However, due to the complicated reaction network and the difficulty of C-C coupling, the formation of higher alcohols is more difficult compared with methanol or other compounds containing one carbon. The key issue is development of novel catalysts with high conversion and space time yield. But this is still a huge challenge faced by researchers. In this review, the thermodynamics and reaction pathways of CO2 hydrogenation were firstly clarified. Subsequently, after reviewing single metal-based, bi-and multi-metallic catalysts, the recently progress of tandem catalytic system was emphasized. Finally, we also provided an overview about tandem catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation to higher alcohols.

The photodegradation of azithromycin present was carried out in water using H2O2 under UV irradiation. The reaction variables considered in this study were the amount of H2O2 solution and the initial concentration of azithromycin to evaluate the performance of the photodegradation process. The azithromycin degradation was not observed in the dark during stirring for 20 minutes. The study showed efficient photodegradation of azithromycin using H2O2 as an oxidant in the presence of UV irradiation. The azithromycin degradation was affected significantly by the pH of the irradiated solution. The degradation was low at an acidic pH and showed an increasing trend as the pH changed to basic. The azithromycin degradation was increased with a higher amount (higher concentration) of H2O2. The degradation of azithromycin decreased with a higher concentration of azithromycin in the reacting solution. The highest degradation of AZT was achieved in 1 hour using a 1.0 ppm AZT solution containing 3 ml of H2O2. The experimental data obtained was well-fitted to zero-order reaction kinetics. The results of this study were found to be superior when compared with those reported in the literature, with photocatalysis using nanomaterials and photolysis using irradiation and H2O2. The UV/H2O2 system was found to be quite efficient for the photodegradation of azithromycin, and this system can be applied to degrade other organic pollutants present in industrial wastewater. To this point, such a study has not been reported specifically for AZT photodegradation.

When a grid-forming (GFM) inverter is connected to a low or medium voltage weak power grid, the line impedance with resistive-inductive characteristics will cause power coupling. Typical GFM decoupling control strategies are designed under nominal line impedance parameters. However, there are deviations between the nominal line impedance and actual parameters, resulting in poor decoupling effects. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes a power decoupling strategy based on a reduced-order extended state observer (ESO). Firstly, the power dynamic model of GFM is established based on the dynamic phasor method. Then, the model deviation and power coupling due to line impedance parameter perturbation are estimated as internal disturbances of the system, and the disturbances are compensated on the basis of typical power control strategy and virtual impedance decoupling. Good decoupling performance is obtained under different impedance parameters, improving the control strategy's robustness. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the results of RT Box hardware-in-the-loop experiments.

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 research focuses on the Hopf bifurcation occurring at a singular point with high-order degeneracy in a class of three-dimensional systems. Based on center manifold theorem, by expanding the technique for determining singular point values of degenerate singularities in two-dimensional systems, the formal series method to determine the singular point values at the high-order degenerate critical point is discussed. Furthermore, a class of specific three-dimensional differential systems with high-order degenerate singularities is explored. By computing the singular point values and determining center conditions, we proved that a minimum of 5 small-amplitude limit cycles in the vicinity of the origin. This research provides new perspectives on the center problem and limit cycle bifurcation in high-dimensional systems with high-order degenerate singular points.

Uncertain fractional differential equation (UFDE) is an excellent tool for describing complicated dynamic systems. This paper analyzes the valuation problems of currency option based on UFDE under optimistic value criterion. Firstly, an uncertain fractional currency model is formulated to describe the dynamics of foreign exchange rate. Then, the pricing formulae of European, American and Asian currency option are obtained under optimistic value criterion, respectively. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the validity of our theoretical results.

Recent research emphasises the importance of Artificial Intelligence applications as supporting tools for students in higher education. Simultaneously, an intensive exchange of views has started in the public debate in the international educational community. However, for a more proper use of these applications, it is necessary to investigate the factors that explain their intention and actual use in the future. With the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model, this work analyses the factors influencing students' use and intention to use artificial intelligence technology. For this purpose, a sample of 199 Greek students at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences from the University of Patras participated in a survey. The findings highlight that expected performance, habit, and enjoyment of these Artificial Intelligence applications are key determinants influencing teachers' intentions to use them. Moreover, behavioural intention, habit, and facilitating conditions explain the usage of these Artificial Intelligence applications. The study did not reveal any moderating effects. The limitations, practical implications, and proposed directions for future research based on these results are discussed.

: This paper presents a comparison between direct integer orders or classical model reference adaptive control (IO-DMRAC) versus its fractional orders counterpart (FO-DMRAC) applied to the F-16 aircraft longitudinal model pitch rate control. A substantial improvement is achieved when using fractional order adaptive control, since, in addition to performance indices, such as Integral Square-Error criterion (ISE) and Integral Square-Input criterion (ISU) being lower, the oscillations of the system output (pitch rate) in the transient period, are eliminated. Moreover, it is the first attempt in literature of adaptive control that a FO-DMRAC is applied to the pitch rate control of an aircraft. A F-16 short-period model, whose relative degree is equal to 1 (n^*=1) is analyzed by mean of simulations with good results. A FO-DMRAC is designed, for a specific operating flight conditions and compared with its IO-DMRAC counterpart. Furthermore, the boundedness of all signals, including the internal ones ω(t) are assured.

This work presents the mathematical framework of the Second-Order Comprehensive Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis Methodology for Response-Coupled Forward/Adjoint Linear Systems (abbreviated as “2nd-CASAM-L”), which enables the most efficient computation of exactly obtained mathematical expressions of first- and second-order sensitivities of a generic system response with respect to functions (“features”) of model parameters. Subsequently, the first- and second-order sensitivities with respect to the model’s uncertain parameters, boundaries, and internal interfaces are obtained analytically and exactly, without needing large-scale computations. Within the 2nd-FASAM-L methodology, the number of large-scale computations is proportional to the number of model features (defined as functions of model parameters), as opposed to being proportional to the number of model parameters, which are considerably more than the number of features, being incomparably more efficient and more accurate than any other methods (statistical, finite differences, etc.) for computing exact expressions of response sensitivities (of any order) with respect to the model’s features and/or primary uncertain parameters, boundaries, and internal interfaces. The application of the 2nd-CASAM-L methodology is illustrated using a simplified energy-dependent neutron transport model of fundamental significance in nuclear reactor physics.

Aiming at the development of the application of massive and heterogeneous LEO constellations, the influence of typical perturbation forces on the orbit prediction of LEO satellites at different altitudes is analyzed. Firstly, the main perturbation force model of LEO satellites is introduced. Then experiments for analyzing the influence of orbit prediction on LEO satellites at different altitudes are designed. Finally, the influence of typical perturbation forces on the orbit prediction under different prediction durations by numerical analysis is assessed systematically, and the orbit prediction of LEO satellites with different non-spherical gravitational field orders, ocean tide orders and atmospheric density models were compared and calculated. The research results show that different orders of non-spherical gravitational fields should be considered when the altitude of satellites is different, the reasonable gravitational field orders for LEO satellites at 500km, 1000km, 1500km and 2000km under 1-hour forecast time are 140x140, 80x80, 60x60 and 40x40 orders, the reasonable orders of ocean tide perturbation for 1500km and 2000km satellites are 20x20 orders. Under the 24-hour forecast time, atmospheric resistance has a great influence on the precision of LEO satellites at orbit altitude below 1,000km. The forecast deviation of the LEO satellites orbit at 500km reaches 8751.576m. The difference of orbit precision between different atmospheric density models is in the meter level. The orbit deviation by the Standard Atmosphere 1976 and NRLMSISE 2000 atmospheric models respectively reaches 25.494m. Relevant conclusions provide support for the optimization and selection of dynamical models in high precision orbit determination and fast orbit prediction of LEO satellites.

The licensing of new reactors implies the use of verified and validated neutronics codes. Numerical validation can rely on sensitivity and uncertainty studies but they require repeated execution of time-consuming neutron flux and depletion calculations. The computational costs can be shortened by using perturbation theories. However, Depletion Perturbation Theory is restricted to single integral values such as a nuclide density. Relying on reduced basis approaches, which reconstruct the whole nuclide densities at once, is one way to get around this restriction. Furthermore, the adjoint-based reduced-order model uses the direct and adjoint equations for the projection. For diffusion or transport calculations, Exact-to-Precision Generalized Perturbation Theory has been developed. Still, no models for depletion calculations are readily available. Therefore, this paper describes a novel adjoint-based reduced order model for the Bateman equation. It uses a range-finding algorithm to create the basis and the Depletion Perturbation Theory for the reconstruction of the nuclide densities at first order. Our paper shows that for several perturbed cases, the depletion reduced-order model successfully reconstructs the nuclide densities. As a result, this serves as a proof of concept for our adjoint-based reduced order model which can perform sensitivity and uncertainty burn-up analysis in a shorter time.

Nepal, primarily an agricultural country, heavily relies on agricultural residue and fuelwood for daily energy requirements. In 2022, total energy consumption was 640 PJ, with traditional sources accounting for 64.17%, and fuelwood comprising 58.53% of total fuel consumption. The estimated potential supply of agricultural residue is 26 million tonnes, yielding about 442 million GJ of energy in 2021. Biomass trading often emphasizes volume or weight, necessitating a rapid and non-destructive assessment of energy properties for mutual benefit, aiding in the identification, management, and utilization of biomass sources. In this study, 200 biomass samples were collected in two batches (126 and 74 samples) from various locations in Nepal. Using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), a model was developed correlating higher heating value (HHV) from a bomb calorimeter and spectral data from Fourier Transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) (3595 – 12,489 cm-1) sensor. PLSR models incorporated raw spectra, eight preprocessing techniques, the multi-preprocessing five-range method, and a genetic algorithm. Outliers in the first batch were identified, and the first batch divided into an 80% calibration set and a 20% validation set, while the second batch was designated as an unknown sample set. The optimum PLSR model, utilizing first derivative preprocessing, improved accuracy by 6.77%, with coefficients of determination in the calibration set, validation set, and unknown set as 0.9694, 0.9578, and 0.8089, respectively. Root mean square errors were 132.4790 J/g, 189.4800 J/g, and 360.8845 J/g for the calibration set (RMSEC), validation set (RMSEP), and unknown set (RMSEUN), respectively. The prediction to deviation ratio (RPD) for the validation set and unknown set was 4.9 and 2.4, respectively. The cross validation model of combined sample data of every sets showed the R2CV of 0.95 and RPDCV of 4.6 indicating the model could serve as a reliable and swift non-destructive alternative for evaluating biomass HHV using NIRS and ready for updating for industrial use. However, incorporating a larger number of representative samples is crucial to enhance accuracy and develop a more comprehensive global model for predicting biomass HHV.

This work presents a novel approach for the study of the movement of droplets on inclined surfaces under the influence of gravity and chemical heterogeneities. The developed numerical methodology uses data-driven modeling to extend the applicability limits of an analytically derived reduced-order model for the contact line velocity. More specifically, while the reduced-order model is able to capture the effects of the chemical heterogeneities to a satisfactory degree, it does not account for gravity. To alleviate this shortcoming, datasets generated from direct numerical simulations are used to train a data-driven model for the contact line velocity, which is based on the Fourier neural operator and corrects the reduced-order model predictions to match the reference solutions. This hybrid surrogate model, which comprises of both analytical and data-driven components, is then integrated in time to simulate the droplet movement, offering a speedup of five orders of magnitude compared to direct numerical simulations. The performance of this hybrid model is quantified and assessed in different wetting scenarios, by considering various inclination angles and values for the Bond number, demonstrating the accuracy of the predictions as long as the adopted parameters lie within the ranges considered in the training dataset.

Different types of resonators are used to create acoustic metameterials and metasurfaces. Recent studies focused on the use of multiple resonators of dipole, quadrupole, octupole and even hexadecapole types. This paper considers the theory of an acoustic metasurface, which is a flat surface with a periodic arrangement of multiple resonators. The sound field reflected by the metasurface is determined. If the distance between the resonators is less than a half the wavelength of the incident plane wave, the far field can be described by a reflection coefficient that depends on the angle of incidence. This allows to characterize the acoustic properties of the metasurface by a homogenized boundary condition, which is a high order tangential impedance boundary condition. The tangential impedance depending on the multiple order of the resonators is introduced. In addition, we analyze sound absorption properties of these metasurfaces, which are a critical factor in determining their performance. The paper presents a theoretical model that accounts for the multiple orders of resonators and their impact on sound absorption. The maximum absorption coefficient for a diffuse sound field, as well as the optimal value for the homogenized impedance, are calculated for arbitrary multipole orders.

We are currently facing a potential ‘polycrisis’, a critical inflection point that requires a whole-of-society response aimed at building collective foresight and preparedness for short-, medium-, and long-term risks. The role of higher education institutions and social stakeholders is decisive to make an impact. This paper depicts the alignment of academia, governance, and industry with the aim to challenge, inspire, and encourage universities to go beyond commodified courses and mere employability, enhance student growth and bind macro-scale measures that lead to a sustainable future. A modest teaching innovation project has served as a transforming lever, with the private sector joining in, to create a platform that reaches more than 50 000 undergraduate students and teaching staff. The resulting structure, rooted in the University’s strategic plan, has served to channel local and regional initiatives, establish effective partnerships with broad social members, raise awareness and promote actions to advance in the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals. Chronology, materials and methodology, together with a description of the different courses, programmes and actions are provided. The paper concludes with some recommendations for future research, policy and cooperation among stakeholders. Research methodology posted on clinicaltrials.gov under ID NCT04392869, NCT05598944, and NCT05775978.

Most works related to the identification of mathematical nonlinear systems make one suppose that such approaches can always be directly applied to any nonlinear system. This misconception produces a great deal of discouragement when the obtained results are not the expected ones. Thus, the current work hypothesizes that the most information one has about the mathematical structure of the model, the most precise the identification result should be. Therefore, a variant of the Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics (SINDY) approach is presented to obtain the full mathematical nonlinear model of a high-order system with coupled dynamics, namely, a commercial quadcopter. Furthermore, due to its high sensitivity to inputs, a control system is devised using the identified model to stabilize the quadcopter. This illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed identification method.

By this contribution we would like to briefly highlight the problems in conceiving the “Hydrogen Bond” (HB) as a real short-range, directional, electrostatic, attractive interaction and to reframe its nature through the non-approximated view of condensed matter offered by a Quantum Electro-Dynamic (QED) perspective. We focus our attention on water, as the paramount case to show the effectiveness of this 40-years’ old theoretical background, which depicts water as a two-fluid system (where one of the two phases is coherent). The HB emerge to be the result of the electromagnetic field gradient in the coherent phase of water, whose vacuum level is lower than the non-coherent (gas-like) fraction. Thus, the HB can be properly looked at, i.e. no more as a “dipolar force” among molecules, but as the phenomenological effect of their collective thermodynamic tendency to occupy a lower ground-state, compatibly with temperature and pressure. This perspective allows to account for many “anomalous” behaviours of water and to understand why the calculated energy associated to HB should change when considering two molecules (water-dimer), or the liquid state, or the several kinds of ice. The emergence of a condensed, liquid, phase at room temperature is indeed the consequence of the boson condensation as described in the framework of spontaneous symmetry breakings (SSB). The switch from a still semi-classical Quantum Mechanical (QM) in the 1st quantization to a Quantum Field Theory (QFT) view embedded in the 2nd quantization is advocated for a more realistic and authentic description of water, condensed matter and living systems.

This paper shares research results of an explorative study investigating a Malta context university lectureship experience. The qualitative research findings, based on thematic analysis of 10 interview transcripts, describe the experience of being a university academic as an ever-changing journey of time passages in space and time. The journey is characterised by the strong theme of teaching along with the two other primary themes labelled identity and un/belonging. Identity feeds on teaching and the sense of un/belonging, but not only. Profession/Practice and Research/Publication are two other themes that in this study emerge as feeding the primary themes. These research findings unsettle privilege portrayals of tenure track university lectureship. They confirm the emphasis on teaching in this local context and increased administration obligations. Distinctively, they expose another identity dimension additional to the teacher and researcher attributions highlighted in mainstream literature. These findings suggest that university academics need to be supported for keeping alive differentiated identity dimensions which are not in opposition to each other yet in competition for time. While the limitations of the study are acknowledged, several recommendations deriving from this study for the local context are shared.

We are currently facing a potential ‘polycrisis’, a critical inflection point that requires a whole-of-society response aimed at building collective foresight and preparedness for short-, medium-, and long-term risks. The role of higher education institutions and social stakeholders is decisive to make an impact. This paper depicts the alignment of academia, governance, and industry with the aim to challenge, inspire, and encourage universities to go beyond commodified courses and mere employability, enhance student growth and bind macro-scale measures that lead to a sustainable future. A modest teaching innovation project has served as a transforming lever, with the private sector joining in, to create a platform that reaches more than 50 000 undergraduate students and teaching staff. The resulting structure, rooted in the University’s strategic plan, has served to channel local and regional initiatives, establish effective partnerships with broad social members, raise awareness and promote actions to advance in the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals. Chronology, materials and methodology, together with a description of the different courses, programmes and actions are provided. The paper concludes with some recommendations for future research, policy and cooperation among stakeholders. Research methodology posted on clinicaltrials.gov under ID NCT04392869, NCT05598944, and NCT05775978.

The aim of the present work is to explore a different non-traditional approach to higher dimensional spacetime which differs from the usual approaches such as large extra space dimensions, warped extra space dimensions and multiple extra time dimensions. This approach will be referred to as "Dynamic" higher dimensional spacetime. By this term will be introduced a new kind of higher dimensional spacetime (more than the usual 3+1 dimensions), which behaves dynamically in the sense that time is not a fixed dimension but is the extra plus one dimension to the spatial dimensions of the phenomenon we are studying. For a higher dimensional phenomenon, the lower dimensional time will behave as space and the new time will be a plus one dimension, meaning if we study a 3-dimensional phenomenon then time is the usual 4th dimension but if we are studying a 4-dimensional phenomenon then its time will be an extra 5th dimension and for this phenomenon the 4th dimension will behave as space. All spatial dimensions are indistinguishable from each other and behave in the exact same way, which means that the important parameter is not the dimension we are studying (for example the 4th or the 5th) but the number of dimensions in which a phenomenon can interact and how higher dimensional phenomena interact with lower ones. This non-traditional approach to higher dimensional spacetime may appear confusing at first but will become clearer in the rest of the paper. For this reason, we will first associate the time dimension with propagation relative to space dimensions and change orthogonal to them in order to give the reader a better intuition. Following that, we will describe how higher - dimensional phenomena would appear to us, the 3 - dimensional observer and try to set some guidelines on how we should mathematically model higher - dimensional phenomena in order for us to make accurate predictions of their behaviour. Then we will express the general framework of a "Dynamic" higher - dimensional spacetime and turn our gaze to 4+1 – dimensional phenomena. We will explore how a mass term arises for 4 – dimensional waves by generalizing the frequency – speed – wavelength relation of 3D waves and give a basic description on a possible way to describe a 4+1 – dimensional disturbance in a scalar Energy Field in order to make accurate predictions on our 3+1 dimensional plane. In this framework we will derive the Klein – Gordon equation by generalizing the wave equation and ignoring all lower than 4+1 - dimensional disturbances and compere our mass term findings with the Klein – Gordon equation mass term and with results from gravity – induced quantum interference experiments. Lastly, we will describe how a "Dynamic" 5 - dimensional spacetime would appear in a 3D observer and examine whether our findings are compatible with quantum mechanics and the special theory of relativity.

Collatz conjecture (3x+1 problem) is a natural phenomenon in set theory that may be reconstructed using known combinatorics and order theory. Construction begins by selecting a specific order isomorphism with a bijectional order-embedding. Mapping by 3x+1 induces a unique property to only members of the mapped embedding. Under selective congruence from recursive division by two, that complex controls sequence behavior. This demonstration uses an order isomorphism consisting of two linear orders: the (1) odd positive integers and the always odd (2) Rule 50 Jacobsthal numbers, as the embedding. The argument proceeds by cardinality. When the order isomorphism is mapped under 3x+1, all Rule 50 Jacobsthal numbers are mapped to all the powers of four. This one-to-one correspondence guarantees that every odd integer is assigned to a Rule 50 Jacobsthal number, and subsequently, to a power of four. To align this construction with the conjecture, expand the set to all positive integers by showing that: (1) the powers of four embed the powers of two, in a natural way, and (2) the unique factorization of any positive even integer, not congruent to a power of two, is simply an odd integer, once the factorized power of two is divided out. In other words, if the initial choice for a positive integer is not congruent to a power of two, then recursion continues until a Rule 50 Jacobsthal number (guaranteed by cardinality) is attained. Since this value mapped by 3x+1 is always a power of four, repeated division by two will always send the sequence to one. Because this same process occurs for any choice of positive integer, Collatz conjecture is true.

This paper focus on the modeling and time-domain analyzing method of piecewise-smooth fractional-order circuit systems. Firstly, an analytical framework is constructed based on a generalized piecewise-smooth two-port impedance network model, which takes the topological characteristics of Dickson type switched-capacitor converters (SCCs) as examples, and considers the fractional-order characteristics of class-2 X7R ceramic capacitors, which are widely used in SCCs. Secondly, the time-domain analyzing method for such a piecewise-smooth fractional-order circuit system is developed, numerical solutions are obtained, and the influence of the fractional-order capacitor on the power conversion efficiency of the system are revealed. Finally, in order to validate the analysis, both numerical simulation and experiments are provided in the work, the results of which confirm that, the proposed fractional-order analytical framework can capture the power loss mechanism of piecewise-smooth fractional-order circuit systems more effectively than the traditional integer-order based approach, thus benefiting the design of circuit systems.

We introduce the linear subgroup of volume-preserving diffeomorphism as the underlying symmetry to construct an action within the effective field theory framework and the Schwinger-Keldish formalism. The formulated action is posited to effectively incorporate dissipative effects into the Navier-Stokes equations.

We delve into the axion-dilaton model within the supergravity framework, with a specific focus on the intricacies of domain wall construction and stability. Employing holographic vitrification, we unravel the dynamics of domain wall formation in gauge theories featuring periodic vacuum structures. Our model, incorporating a QCD-like axion term and a stabilizing dilaton, undergoes scrutiny for conductivity variations under weak disorder. The investigation reveals the model's resilience, manifesting near-perfect conductivity under mild disorder conditions. However, the rigorous mathematical motivation for the holographic setup demands further elucidation. The scattered nature of our results prompts the necessity for a more systematic interpretation of QCD phenomena and conductivity transitions. This study contributes to the mathematical understanding of the axion-dilaton model's behavior, highlighting the imperative for a refined holographic framework and a more coherent interpretation of observed phenomena.

Online teaching is considered an important approach for achieving sustainable learning and education, and college teachers’ attitude and behavioral intention are essential for the sustainable adoption of online teaching practice in higher education institutions. To examine the influencing factors that sustain teachers’ attitude toward online teaching and behavioral intention, we conducted a cross-sectional study based on a sample of 1,102 college teachers in central China, using hierarchical linear regression analysis to explore possible influencing factors in four levels: individual experience, environmental support, self-perception, and technology acceptance. The study results show that the subjective norms, readiness, beliefs, and perceived usefulness of online teaching had a significant impact on teachers’ attitude toward online teaching and behavioral intention. Nevertheless, the effect varied with factors like online-teaching load and teachers’ technology self-efficacy, as their influence seemed to be singular, affecting the teachers’ attitude toward online teaching or behavioral intention exclusively. In contrast, previous online-teaching experience did not notably affect either. The findings of this study reveal the complex interactions of factors that influence college teachers’ disposition toward and decisions about online-teaching practices and emphasize the need for targeted strategies to maintain and enhance online education in the post-pandemic era.

This paper explores the Wilsonian renormalization group of probe-D-branes, focusing on the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) action. The analysis involves deriving the constant of motion and formulating the Wilsonian renormalization group equation. The study extends to the infrared regime, considering both zero and non-zero temperatures. Additionally, thermodynamic aspects related to the functional form of the grand potential are discussed. The investigation provides insights into the renormalization of probe-D-branes and their thermodynamic properties.

For many engineering applications it is sufficient to use the concept of simple materials. However, higher gradients of the kinematic variables are taken into account to model materials with internal length scales as well as to describe localization effects using gradient theories in finite plasticity or fluid mechanics. In many approaches length scale parameter have been introduced that are related to a specific micro structure. An alternative approach is possible, if a thermodynamically consistent framework is used for material modelling as shown in the present contribution. However, even if sophisticated and thermodynamically consistent material models can be established there are still not yet standard experiments to determine higher order material constants. In order to contribute to this ongoing discussion system identification based on the method of self-adaptive filtering is proposed in this paper. To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach it has been applied to second-order gradient materials considering longitudinal vibrations. Based on thermodynamically consistent models that have been solved numerically it has been possible to prove that system identification based on self-adaptive filtering can be used effectively for both narrow-band and broadband signals in the field of second-order gradient materials. It has also been found that the differences identified for simple materials and gradient materials allow for condition monitoring and detection of gradient effects in the material behavior.

Data obtained by Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of pressure-driven turbulent channel flow are studied in the range 180 ≤ Reτ≤ 10,000. Reynolds number effects on the Mean Velocity Profile (MVP) and second order statistics are analyzed with a view of finding logarithmic behavior in the overlap region or even further from the wall, well in the boundary layer’s outer region. Values of Kármán constant for the MVPs and the Townsend-Perry constants for the streamwise and spanwise fluctuation variances are determined for the Reynolds numbers considered. A data-driven model of the MVP, proposed and validated for zero pressure gradient flow over a flat plate, is employed for pressure-driven channel flow by appropriately adjusting Coles’ strength of the wake function parameter, Π. There is excellent agreement between the analytic model predictions of MVP and the DNS-computed MVP as well as of the Reynolds shear stress profile. The skin friction coefficient Cf is calculated analytically. The agreement between the analytical model predictions and the DNS-based computed discrete values of Cf is excellent.

In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhimurium in fried fish paste using floating electrode-dielectric barrier discharge (FE-DBD) plasma (1.1 kV, 43 kHz, N2 1.5 m/s, 1-60 min). In addition, quality evaluation (pH, VBN) of fried fish paste was conducted after FE-DBD plasma treatment. When FE-DBD plasma was treated for 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min, S. aureus decreased by 0.16-1.13 log10 CFU/g, and S. Typhimurium decreased 0.25-1.13 log10 CFU/g. Both decreased > log10 CFU/g at 60 min. The D-value was 58.92 and R2 was 0.97 for S. aureus using first-order kinetics, and the D-value was 43.60 and R2 was 0.97 for S. Typhimurium using the Weibull model. There was no significant difference in pH after FE-DBD plasma treatment (p > 0.05). However, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) significantly decreased as the treatment time increased (p < 0.05), and it was the lowest at 60 min to 3.46. Therefore, FE-DBD plasma treatment could be considered as a technology for preserving the quality of processed foods.

This paper offers an integrated approach for correlated storage assignment strategy (CSAS) to optimize travel distance by considering item correlation, picking frequency, zoning, and slot constraints to improve operational efficiency in distribution centers. We simplify the mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model and incorporate integrated heuristic procedures for faster convergence. We introduce positive and negative centroid deviations as techniques to guide the model convergence and explore different scenarios. In the second stage of item assignment, we prioritize items within zones using a ranking formula that is optimal for both single-item and multiple-item orders. By analyzing the distribution of correlated item across zones and the impact of their picking frequency on optimizing travel distance, we propose an improved CSAS that minimize travel distance by strategically placing items based on their proximity to the depot. Our model reduces trips in distant zones by prioritizing larger average order sizes, while maximizing trips for frequently ordered smaller lists in closer zones. This method significantly reduces travel distance by minimizing the need for pickers in distant zones to frequently travel to the depot. Simulation results show reductions of up to 36.75% for fitted data and 33.59% for recent data.

The thick functionally graded material (FGM) circular cylindrical shells with advanced varied shear correction coefficient and third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT) under advanced thermal vibration are studied by the method of generalized differential quadrature (GDQ). The coefficient of displacement model of TSDT is applied to derive the equations of motion for the thick FGM circular cylindrical shells. The stiffness in simpler forms of thick FGM circular cylindrical shells and temperature rise in linear expression of the heat conduction equation are used. The differential equations in dynamic equilibrium state of thick FGM circular cylindrical shells can be obtained and rewritten into displacements and shear rotations in partial derivative expressions under dynamic thermal loads in partial derivative expressions. Parametric effect studies including advanced nonlinear varied shear correction coefficient, nonlinear coefficient c1 value, power law index and thermal temperature difference of external heating loads on the displacements and stresses of thick FGM cylindrical shells under thermal dynamic vibration are investigated.

Incorporating AI tools like ChatGPT into higher educational settings has been beneficial for education, yet the extent of user satisfaction with the information provided by these tools, known as user information satisfaction (UIS), remains underexplored. Our study introduces a UIS model specifically designed for ChatGPT's application in the educational sector. Drawing from established UIS theory, we crafted a model centered around seven essential factors that influence the effective use of ChatGPT, aiming to guide both educators and learners in overcoming common challenges such as plagiarism and ensuring the ethical use of AI. We gathered data from Indonesian university participants and applied Structural Equation Modeling using Smart-PLS 4.0 for our data analysis. The results reveal that completeness, precision, timeliness, convenience, and the format of information as the most influential factors driving user satisfaction with ChatGPT. Interestingly, our research indicated that the accuracy and reliability of the information, typically deemed paramount, were not the primary concerns in the academic use of ChatGPT. Our findings lead to a recommendation for a cautious approach to the integration of ChatGPT in higher education. We advocate for a strategic use that recognizes its innovative potential while also acknowledging its limitations, thus ensuring a responsible and effective application in educational contexts. This balanced perspective is crucial for integrating AI tools into the academic fabric without compromising educational integrity or quality.

The performance of laser beams in tracking Lissajous scan trajectories is severely limited by beam jitter. To enhance the performance of fast steering mirror (FSM) control in tracking Lissajous scan trajectories, this paper proposed a fractional order active disturbance rejection controller (FOADRC) and verified its effectiveness in improving system scanning tracking accuracy. A dynamic mathematical model of fast steering mirror was studied and the design of parameters for the control mode of the closed-loop system was determined. A reduced order linear active disturbance rejection controller suitable for FSM systems was designed and the corresponding fractional order proportional differentiation (FOPD) controller were determined according to the mathematical model. The use of the designed controller enabled high-performance tracking of high-frequency Lissajous scanning curves (X-axis 500 Hz, Y-axis 350 Hz) and met the need for high-frequency repetitive scanning. The controller has the characteristics of simple implementation and low computational complexity and is suitable for closed-loop control applications in engineering.

Chipman contends, in stark contrast to the conventional view, that utility is not a real number but a vector and is inherently lexicographic in nature. According to these views, it will be proved that, for every preordered topological space (X,≾,t), the assumption t to be finer than the order topology t≾ on (X,t), i.e. t⊇t≾, and the assumption the quotient topology t∣∼≾ that is defined on the preordered set (X∣∼,≾∣∼) of indifference classes of ≾ to be Hausdorff imply that a cardinal number κ and a (complete) preorder ≲ on {0,1}κ that is coarser than the lexicographical ordering ≤lex on {0,1}κ, i.e. ≤lex⊂≲, can be chosen in such a way that there exists a continuous order-embedding ϑ:(X,≾,t)⟶({0,1}κ,≲,t≤lex). This theorem will be compared with a theorem that, in particular, describes necessary and sufficient conditions for ≾ to have a continuous multi-utility representation.

This paper investigates the application of blended learning in undergraduate translation classes to enhance the effective incorporation of technology in teaching. Blended learning is the combination of face-to-face instruction with online learning, which provides students with a flexible and diverse learning environment for developing technological proficiency. Using a case study methodology, this research examines the translation undergraduate program at the University of Jeddah, which implemented blended learning as its primary instructional framework starting in 2021. The study aims to explore the advantages and challenges associated with the adoption of blended learning in translation classes while offering practical suggestions that could help in its implementation. The findings show several advantages of integrating blended learning into undergraduate translation classes. Firstly, the students could benefit from a flexible learning environment that accommodates their individual learning preferences and schedules. Secondly, It also helps to promote active engagement and interaction which nurture collaborative learning opportunities among students. Thirdly and lastly, blended learning provides a platform for students to develop their technological skills, which become crucial in today's digital age. Despite this, the study also points out significant challenges that need to be addressed. These important challenges include the required planning and preparation involved in creating effective online components, ensuring equitable access to technology and the internet, and adapting teaching and learning approaches to optimise the blended learning experience.To sum up, this paper contributes to the understanding of blended learning in the context of undergraduate translation classes.

Safety limits application has always been a traditional approach to ensure the safe operation of electro-mechanical systems within many industries including automated vehicles, robotics, aerospace, traditional automotive, railways, manufacturing, etc. In all of these applications, control and safety limits are usually hard-coded into the production firmware and are fixed throughout the entire product life cycle. Currently, due to the evolving needs of automated systems like automated vehicles and robots, this traditional approach does not address all the use cases and scenarios to ensure safe operation. Especially for data-driven machine learning applications that constantly evolve and learn over time, it is important to be able to adjust the safety limits application strategy to be more flexible and adaptable based on different Operational Design Domains (ODDs) and scenarios. Our ITSC conference paper ~\cite{4} introduced the concept of a new safety limits application strategy called the Dynamic Control Limits Application (DCLA) strategy that supports the flexible application of diverse limits profiles based on the parameters involved within the dynamic scenario at different layers of the Autonomy software stack.This paper extends the DCLA strategy to derive the complete methodology for safety limits application based on ODD elements, scenario identification and scenario classification using Decision Making Engines. It leverages the layered architecture introduced in the ITSC conference paper to implement the Decision Making (DM) algorithms. Another important extension is the use of cloud infrastructure that is based on the Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) technology to store the scenarios and the limits mapping to serve as a ground truth and/or a backup mechanism in case of errors or failures associated with the main Decision Making (DM) Engine. There is also a focus on providing a more comprehensive list of scenarios and a custom built experimental dataset to cover the maximum ODD elements, and multiple tables of safety limits to be chosen from, which eventually helps in creating different safety limits application profiles. These distinct safety limits application profiles are based on the scenario parameters that are perceived by the system upon which the Decision Making algorithms are applied or trained. This systematic approach can be used within the industry for any of the future automated vehicles and systems until Level 5 Autonomy.

The allocation of funding for higher education typically focuses on competition in neoliberal mechanisms. Surprisingly, much less attention has been paid to considering the effect of fund locations for sustainable development through public goods purposes in neoliberal contexts. This study aims to examine specific funding schemes and determine the influential factors impacting funding for teaching, research, and public goods transformation. Taking Taiwan's Higher Education Sprout Project (HESP) as an example, we explored the effect of policy initiatives on public goods transformation towards sustainable development. The data were collected from the Ministry of Education and Scopus databases. First, a regression analysis was conducted to determine which factors influence the effect of funding allocations in academic institutes. Second, we used logistic regression to detect the effects of the system and the sector. Third, we used partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to explore the causal effects among the selected impact variables on expected outcomes. Finally, we used the bootstrap method to demonstrate the model’s robustness. Our study found that only diversity was shown in private technology groups receiving less HESP funding. At the same time, it did not widen the differences in the sector and system in the transformation process. Our findings suggest that funding allocations will not affect teaching and research based on sectors and systems. In contrast, this study demonstrates that transforming public goods through special funding can play a critical role in leading sustainable development in higher education.

Modern power systems are confronted with a spread concern on the frequency stability issue due to the widespread integration of randomly fluctuating renewable resources. To address the above concern, this work introduces a load frequency control (LFC) scheme based on a hydrogen based energy-storage unit and a parameter tuning strategy for fractional-order proportional-integral-derivative (FOPID) controller. Firstly, a two-area interconnected power system (IPS) model, including thermal, hydro, solar, wind, gas power generator, and hydrogen based energy-storage unit, is established. Then, a FOPID controller is designed for this IPS model, and an improved gradient-based optimizer (IGBO) is developed to adaptively regulate the parameters of the FOPID controllers. Finally, the effectiveness of the offered LFC scheme are tested through load disturbance and renewable energy fluctuations test scenarios, and provides comparison and robustness analysis among different schemes. The test results validated that the offered LFC scheme can effectively suppress the frequency fluctuations of IPS and has excellent robustness.

In order to achieve its carbon peak and neutrality targets, a high proportion of distributed power sources are connected to the distribution network in China, which greatly increases the risk of distribution network operation. Aiming at the above problems, this paper proposes an active distribution network risk planning model based on multi-source data from carbon capture and power internet of things, and conducts exceeding testing of distribution network based on the stochastic load flow algorithm with semi-invariant and level expansion, calculates the semi-invariant of each order of node state vectors and branch current vectors, and then utilizes the Gram-Charlier level expansion to obtain the exceeding probability density function and probability distribution function of the node voltages and line powers of the distribution network. The probability density function and probability distribution function of the exceeding are obtained using the Gram-Charlier series expansion. Combined with multi-source data, the active distribution network with integrated energy system considering carbon capture is modeled. According to the risk scenario of the distribution network, the nonconvex constraints in the model are simplified by the second-order cone relaxation, and the optimal planning scheme of the distribution network is solved by combining the gurobi solver with the risk index as the first-level objective and the economic benefit as the second-level objective. The simulation results of a coupled network consisting of a 39-node distribution network and an 11-node transportation network verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Due to the nonlinear stiffness and fractional-order damping characteristics of some real suspension systems, coupled with the presence of viscoelastic materials, fractional-order nonlinear suspension system modeling has become a focus of research in recent years. In this study, an electric oil and gas actuator based on fractional-order PID position feedback control is proposed, through which the damping coefficient of the suspension system is adjusted to realize the active control of the suspension. A fractional order PID algorithm is used to control the motor's rotational angle to realize the damping adjustment of the suspension system. In this process, the road roughness is collected by the sensors as the criterion of damping adjustment, and the particle swarm algorithm is utilized to find the optimal objective function under different road surface slopes, to obtain the optimal cornering value. According to the mathematical and physical model of the suspension system, the simulation model and the corresponding test platform of this type of suspension system are built. The simulation and experimental results show that the simulation results of the fractional-order nonlinear suspension model are closer to the actual experimental values than those of the traditional linear suspension model, and the accuracy of each performance index is improved by more than 18.5%. The designed active suspension system optimizes the body acceleration, suspension dynamic deflection, and tire dynamic load to 89.8%, 56.7%, and 73.4% of the passive suspension, respectively. Notably, the designed fractional order PID control circuit for the motor shows better control results compared to the conventional PID control circuit. This study provides an effective theoretical and empirical basis for the control and optimization of fractional-order nonlinear suspension systems.

Open Education, Open Educational Practices (OEP), and Open Educational Resources (OER) have emerged as significant opportunities for enhancing global sustainability information sharing. However, the creation and sharing of OER, as well as the usage of OEP in Higher Education for Sustainable Development (HESD), remain limited. This study explores the implementation of OEP in HESD, aiming to empower students to co-produce OER on Sustainable Development (SD). This study, drawing on the theoretical approach of the principle of constructive alignment, proposes the development of students’ digital competence in OER production. A two-group pre-test post-test analysis of 409 students (Psychology, Economics, Education, Geography) reveals a significant increase in digital competence over time among students who produced OER on SD, compared to their peers enrolled in courses unrelated to OER content development. We delve into the practical implications for designing OEP in HESD and strategize to support students in their OER production processes.

Policy initiatives by the United Nations and EU institutions have emphasized the need for higher education institutions (HEIs) to fulfill a significant role in the green transition, and that they tend to fall short of the achievement of this objective. Multiple studies indicate that HEIs assign high importance to the integration of environmental sustainability on a strategic level but generally lack dedicated policies of integration in operational aspects. This paper analyzes the state of the art on research on HEI sustainability and maps institutional sustainability self-assessment models, tools, and guidelines. The mapping was conducted in four prominent research areas: 1) sustainability integration in educational activities, pedagogical perspectives, and systemic transformations; 2) benchmarking sustainability of organizational transformation and operational op-timization, and links between developmental priorities and educational settings; 3) whole-system approaches focusing on the design and implementation of whole-institution sustainability plans; and, 4) HEI sustainability culture and operations. Best practices were selected on criteria of 1) the effectiveness of self-assessment models, tools, and guidelines in each respective research area; 2) the degree of integration of systems thinking and/or modelling; and 3) the incorporation of qualitative indicators for stakeholder engagement.

This manuscript employs a surface stress-driven nonlocal model to explore the combined effects of long-range interaction and surface energy on higher vibration modes of functionally graded nanobeams. The nanobeam theory, based on Bernoulli-Euler kinematics, incorporates surface effects such as surface elasticity, surface residual stresses, surface density, and rotary inertia. Hamilton's principle is applied to derive the governing equation with size-dependent considerations. The main outcomes of a parametric investigation, considering four different kinematic boundary conditions (Cantilever, Simply-Supported, Clamped-Pinned, and Doubly-Clamped) while varying the nonlocal parameter and material gradient index, are presented and discussed. Additionally, the normalized natural frequencies for the second, third, fourth and fifth modes of vibrations are provided and analyzed for each case under study. The results underscore the model's effectiveness in capturing surface energy effects on the overall dynamic behavior of functionally graded Bernoulli-Euler nanobeams, offering a cost-effective approach for designing and optimizing nano-scaled structures.

This comprehensive study delves into the implementation and effectiveness of the flipped classroom model in engineering EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) courses in Taiwan. Situated within the strategic framework of Taiwan's Bilingual Nation 2023 policy, this research aims to enhance the global competitiveness of Taiwan's semiconducting manufacturing engineering sector. The study’s primary focus is on understanding the perceptions and learning outcomes of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students in engineering courses. Through a methodical approach using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, the study analyzes data from 33 junior engineering students specializing in mechanical and mechatronic fields. The findings highlight a significant positive influence of the flipped classroom model on various aspects of student learning, including increased engagement, heightened creativity, and enhanced problem-solving skills. Additionally, the study emphasizes the critical role of timely L1 support in facilitating effective learning in EMI settings. These outcomes not only demonstrate the flipped classroom's viability as a sustainable educational approach but also provide crucial insights for educators and policymakers. By aligning cutting-edge teaching methods with the evolving needs of engineering education, this study contributes to the discourse on educational innovation. It ultimately guides the development of future engineering programs that cater to diverse student needs and fosters the cultivation of skilled engineering professionals.

In this paper, we present a three-step sixth-order iterative schemes to estimate the solutions of a nonlinear systems of equations, for predicting the shear strength of a reinforced concrete beam. This procedure is designed by means of a weight function technique. The values for the parameters of this system were randomly selected inside the prescribed ranges by technical standards for structural concrete; moreover, some of this parameters were fixed taking into consideration the solvability region of the adopted steel constitutive model. The efficiency of the new class is compared with other current schemes, with very good results.

This study was aimed to assess visual performance and overall satisfaction of extended depth of focus (EDOF) contact lenses (CLs) in a presbyopic population. We prospectively investigated visual acuity at all distances (0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 1, and 5 m), higher-order aberrations (HOAs), contrast sensitivity function, and, overall satisfaction score, before and during EDOF CL wear. Binocular visual acuity at 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3, and 5 m when wearing EDOF CLs was 0.01 ± 0.14, -0.08 ± 0.02, -0.08 ± 0.02, -0.08 ± 0.00, -0.08 ± 0.00, -0.08 ± 0.02, and -0.07 ± 0.02, respectively. We found a significant improvement at near to intermediate distances (0.3, and 0.5 m), but no significant change at intermediate to far distances (0.7, 1, 2, 3, and 5 m) between before and during CL wear. The area under the log contrast sensitivity function was not significantly changed neither under photopic nor mesopic conditions (p=0.099, and p=0.689). Ocular third-order aberrations, fourth-order aberrations or total HOAs for a 4-mm pupil significantly increased. The overall satisfaction score significantly improved by wearing EDOF CLs. EDOF CLs significantly improved visual acuity at near to intermediate dis-tances, while maintaining far vision, and the effect of contrast sensitivity was minimal, suggesting its viability of presbyopic correction in such candidates.

Resilience governance provides a new governance model for emergency management in higher education institutions facing major public crises. Higher education resilience governance, while achieving short-term objectives such as mitigating external impacts and maintaining core functions, enhances the enduring adaptability of higher education institutions to the increasingly changing natural and social environments. This transformation shifts the emergency management mode in higher education from reactive responses to proactive governance. In terms of value logic, resilience governance upholds the mission of higher education as the primary nurturing ground, ensuring fairness, quality, and sustainability in education. In terms of organizational logic, it emphasizes collaborative cooperation among higher education institutions, government, society, and the market, as well as the integration of functions within higher education institutions and relatively close connections among their personnel. In terms of institutional logic, it relies on both top-down institutional supply and bottom-up institutional demand to support effective participation, resulting in authoritative and complementary behavioral rules. In terms of action logic, it combines vertical coordination mechanisms and horizontal community collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of cooperative governance. Therefore, the highest value should be placed on the safety of faculty and students, and education planning should be imbued with resilience. It starts with organizational adaptability to develop resilient institutions, focuses on orderly transitions to enhance the emergency management system in higher education, and centers on proactivity and collaboration to build a community of action for emergency governance in higher education.

Environmental responsibility and economic benefits have promoted the development of closed-loop supply chain (CLSC), and shortages and channels are considered to be two important issues in CLSC. This paper explores ordering and channel decisions in CLSC with new and differentiated remanufactured products, and considers the price and sales effort-dependent demands, as well as the proportion of emergency orders determined by emergency order costs and backorder losses, and establishes an integrated and decentralized CLSC game models. We introduce a stochastic sales effort, which affects two types of products. Numerical results show that sales effort and the order quantity of new and remanufactured products exhibit concave and convex functions, respectively. Wherein, the upper limit of sales effort has a greater impact on supply chain decisions. High sales efforts can serve as a means of coordinating dispersed supply chains. Moreover, in different cases, decisions of integrated channel are better than those of decentralized channel. Finally, whether the supply chain adopts an emergency order strategy depends on the relative cost of emergency orders and out of stock costs. According to the research in this article, some management insights are also provided.

Educational institutions worldwide have adopted e-learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this shift to online learning (OL) has presented challenges for students and teachers, it has also sparked innovative educational approaches. This study investigates college students' perceptions regarding OL, specifically focusing on gender differences in the experience with OL A quantitative survey gathered information from distinct college students in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations who experienced OL during the pandemic. The survey included questions related to satisfaction with OL and specific aspects such as course content delivery, interaction with instructors, behavioral changes, and challenges with OL. Male and female student OL experience was compared statistically. The results conclude that male students are more satisfied than female students. Students struggled with internet connection, OL adaptation, focus, and workload during OL. Understanding these gender differences in students' satisfaction with OL is crucial for educators and institutions as they strive to optimize the effectiveness of e-learning strategies. By recognizing and addressing male and female students' unique needs and challenges, educational institutions can enhance the overall educational experience during times of crisis and beyond.

Stochastic modelling of geometrically imperfect steel frame structures requires inputs of statistical values of the imperfection parameters, in some cases also with suitably selected mutual correlations between these input parameters. The paper presents a verification study of two stochastic methods to directly model the initial global geometrical imperfections of the steel frame structures. The stochastic input values of geometrical imperfections are derived from the tolerance criteria of the corresponding European Standard. Two advanced stochastic methods have been developed, referred as #RSS (random story sway) and #RSP (random story position). These methods are verified using random sampling simulations. This study provides useful provisions for the advanced numerical analyses of multi-story steel frames of various geometries. The proposed methods are verified for equidistant story heights and for structures of up to 24 stories, hence might be used for the most types of the standard steel frame structures.

We study the tight focusing properties of generic bright and dark HyOPS beams in the presence of primary coma. The role of the polarization singularity index and handedness of the polarization of the HyOPS beams on the focused structure has been discussed. Results have been presented for the total intensity, component intensities, and component phase distributions for left-, and right-handed bright and dark star and lemon types singularities. The presence of primary coma distorted the focal plane intensity distributions for both positive and negative index generic C-points. Coma is known to disturb the circular symmetry of the focal plane intensity distribution. Similarly in tight focusing polarization is known to disturb the symmetry. Therefore, a beam with structured and inhomogeneous polarization distribution tightly focused under the influence of coma is a fit case to study. It is found that the presence of primary coma aberration in the focusing system produces a positional shift of the high-intensity peaks and a reduction of the intensity on one side of the center. As the strength of the primary coma increases, the focal plane intensity distributions shift more and more toward the right from the initial position. Unlike the scalar vortex case, in the case of HyOPS beams, the focal plane intensity distribution undergoes rotation, as the helicity of the HyOPS beams is inverted, in addition to shifting. All the component phase distributions are found to be embedded with phase vortices of charge ±1.

Cavitation resulting from underwater explosions in compressible multiphase or multicomp-onent flows presents significant challenges due to the dynamic nature of shock-cavitation-structure interactions, as well as the complex and discontinuous nature of the involved interfaces. Achieving accurate resolution of interfaces between different phases or components, in the presence of shocks, cavitating regions, and structural interactions, is crucial for modeling such problems. Furthermore, pressure convergence in simulations involving shock-cavitation-structure interactions requires accurate algorithms. In this research paper, we employ the diffuse interface method, also known as the interface capturing scheme, to investigate cavitation in various underwater explosion test cases near different surfaces; free surface and a rigid surface. The simulations are conducted using the Unstructured Compressible Navier-Stokes (UCNS3D) finite volume framework employing central-weighted essentially non-oscillatory (CWENO) reconstruction schemes, utilising the five-equation diffuse interface family of methods. Quantitative comparisons are made between the performance of both models. Additionally, we examine the effects of cavitation as a secondary loading source on structures, and evaluate the ability of the CWENO schemes to accurately capture and resolve material interfaces between fluids with minimal numerical dissipation or smearing. The results are compared with existing high-order methods and experimental data, where possible, to demonstrate the robustness of the CWENO schemes in simulating cavitation bubble dynamics, as well as their limitations within the current implementation of interface capturing.

In the context of inclusive education, digitalization in higher education is designed to promote the ideals of cultural diversity, social inclusivity, and sustainable development through technological means. This study explores the strategies and practices of digitalization in achieving inclusive education goals in higher education, aiming to provide theoretical and empirical foundations for education policymakers, teachers, and technology developers. This study adopts a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative data analysis to assess the current state of digitalization in higher education from various perspectives, particularly its effectiveness in advancing educational inclusivity. Through surveys, in-depth interviews, and case studies, data were collected from teachers, students, and administrative personnel to reveal opportunities and challenges in digital education resources and practices. The results show that while digitalization has improved the accessibility of educational resources, facilitated information sharing and cultural exchange, there are still numerous challenges, such as unequal technology access, insufficient cultural sensitivity in content, and issues related to the depth and quality of online interactions. Furthermore, the study identifies key factors supporting inclusive education, including cross-cultural curriculum design, teacher professional development, and students' critical use of digital tools. Finally, the paper presents a series of strategic recommendations, including the development of multicultural education platforms, strengthening teacher training, and building an inclusive digital environment. These recommendations aim to promote a more coordinated and inclusive higher education digital ecosystem that emphasizes not only technological innovation but also humanistic care and social responsibility. Through these measures, digitalization in higher education can better serve individual growth and comprehensive societal development.

There is a great need to develop research-based models for supporting collaboration between educational institutions. Collaboration models are needed, for example, to assist the transition from lower educational level to higher education or from higher education to work life. In this research, collaboration was conducted through a joint upper-secondary school and university course that addressed global challenges by using a project-based learning approach. There is a shortage of research exploring students’ perceptions of collaboration. Therefore, the main purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the relevance of the joint course for students and university students. The research was guided by the following research question: What kind of relevance did the students experience in the joint project-based learning course? The data was gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and reflective study reports. The data was analyzed via theory-based content analysis where research-oriented relevance model was used as the analysis framework. The analysis framework enabled categorizing experienced relevance on individual, vocational and societal dimensions. Altogether, the analysis produced 7 relevance categories for upper-secondary students and 9 for university students. According to the analysis, upper-secondary school students felt that the course offered the most on an individual relevance dimension whereas university students experienced the vocational relevance dimension most diverse. As the main conclusion, this research produced new insights on the experienced relevance of upper-secondary level and higher education cooperation from the students’ point of view. The acquired knowledge can be useful for everyone developing new cross-institutional cooperation models.

In this paper, we present a new concept of the generalized core orthogonality (called the C-S orthogonality) for two generalized core invertible matrices $A$ and $B$. $A$ is said to be C-S orthogonal to $B$ if $A^{\tiny\textcircled{S}}B=0$ and $BA^{\tiny\textcircled{S}}=0$, where $A^{\tiny\textcircled{S}}$ is the generalized core inverse of $A$. The characterizations of C-S orthogonal matries and the C-S additivity are also provided. And the connection between the C-S orthogonality and C-S partial order has been given using their canonical form. Moreover, the concept of the strongly C-S orthogonality is defined and characterized.

Keywords: Academic Trends; Energy Consumption; Higher Education Institutions; Systematic Literature Review; Scholarly output; University buildings

One of the current challenges in Higher Education is the development of students’ emotional competencies, and consequently, how these competencies can be trained. Moreover, this must be addressed within the UN framework of inclusive, equitable, quality education (United Nations Agenda 2030) (SDG 4). To address this challenge, the present study set the following objectives: (1) to analyze pre-service teachers’ level of interest in EI and their perceived level of general EI knowledge, (2) to examine their self-perception of certain variables of emotional knowledge, according to their degree program and year of studies, (3) to analyze the relationship between these emotional knowledge variables and perceived emotional intelligence (EI); and (4) to study the predictive capacity of the study variables on future teachers' emotional knowledge variables. The study sample contained a total of 434 university students from three degree programs at two universities in Spain, of which 82.70% were women, and the mean age was 20.91 years. Two instruments were used: an ad hoc questionnaire, which assessed perceived emotional knowledge according to three variables (General knowledge of EI, where level of training in EI is considered; Intrapersonal knowledge of EI; and Theoretical-practical knowledge related to teaching), and the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24), which assesses metaknowledge of emotional states across three variables (Attention, Clarity, and Repair). Results of the study suggest that there are differences in perceived EI knowledge according to students' year of studies and according to their degree, and indicate that students present high interest, while their perceived level of knowledge is low. In addition, emotional clarity is the EI variable that was identified as being important in the emotional knowledge of future teachers. This study shows evidence of the importance of social-emotional competencies in initial teacher training.

In this paper, we present a new parametric class of optimal fourth-order iterative methods to estimate the solutions of nonlinear equations. After the convergence analysis, we study the stability of this class by using the tools of complex discrete dynamics. This allows us to select those elements of the class with lower dependence on initial estimations. We verify by means of numerical tests that the stable members on quadratic polynomials perform better than the unstable ones, when applied to other non-polynomial functions. We also compare the performance of the best elements of the family with known methods, such as the schemes by Newton or Chun, among others, showing robust and stable behaviour.

The following are three successful case studies that affected humanity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key to their success was their swift adaptability to the new confinement regulations and the unyielding determination of those carrying out their plans. Various extraordinary and prompt efforts were required to make the essential logistical preparations and practice for distance learning a reality. The research activities were also reorganized so the thesis students might carry out a few simple experiments at home under the strict supervision of their advisers and supervisors. The findings revealed that the students who participated in these projects applied all the abilities they had gained before the epidemic. In addition, they included crucial knowledge about the project, problem-based, and research-based learning. Furthermore, because they were the primary implementers of the trials, they learned by planning and performing experiments. The culmination of these efforts was displayed in three scientific publications that were published in index journals with a high level of impact. This latter factor is essential for the prestige and visibility of the university, in addition to the acquisition of financing and grants for scientific research.

The classical propositional calculus (zero-order logic, classical propositional logic), is the most fundamental two-valued logical system. In this paper we present a proof of inconsistency of the classical propositional calculus. Then, we get right away the conclusion that the metatheory of the classical propositional calculus is inconsistent.

We introduce and discuss a generalization of the classical multi-objective optimization to pairs of functions. This procedure is referred to as bi-multi-objective optimization. A justification of this general optimization procedure is presented, related both to multi-objective optimization under ambiguity concerning individual preferences and to Pareto optimality for a family of preferences with nontransitive indifference. Incidentally, the binary relation naturally associated to a bi-multi-objective optimization problem is represented by a finite bi-multi-utility, which generalizes to the nontransitive case the classical finite multi-utility representation. An important application is presented to Markowitz portfolio selection under ambiguity concerning both the vector of returns and the covariance matrix.

Higher education informatization (HEI) is an interdisciplinary field that examines the use and integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in higher education. This paper provides a bibliometric and visual analysis of the research trends, patterns, and topics in this field. Using the Web of Science database, we selected and analyzed 199 SCI and SSCI papers on HEI published from 2000 to 2023 by VOSviewer and CiteSpace software. The results indicate that the publication volume of HEI research has grown significantly in recent years, with China and the US being the most productive and influential countries. The author network shows the collaboration and contribution of different researchers and institutions, while the journal network reveals the multidisciplinary nature and scope of the field. The keyword network and the burst keyword analysis identify the main research themes and the emerging hot topics in HEI, such as online learning, big data, and artificial intelligence. The co-citation network of sources illustrates the theoretical and methodological foundations and influences of the field. The paper concludes with some implications and suggestions for future HEI research.

Fractional calculus is defined by expanded integer order integration and differentiation. In this paper, multiple mathematical models of a nonlinear dual tank device are precisely formulated by fractional calculus. Using the accurate model, multivariable Fractional-Order Controller is designed for the nonlinear device. The merits of the fractional-order design include: 1) Control of multivariable nonlinearities, 2) Compensation of uncertainties, 3) Elimination of coupling effects. Simulations and experiments are conducted to verify the precision of the fractional order models and the effectiveness of the multivariable fractional-order control design.

This paper aims to contribute to refining the e-values for testing precise hypotheses, especially when dealing with nuisance parameters, leveraging the effectiveness of asymptotic expansions of the posterior. The proposed approach offers the advantage of bypassing the need for elicitation of priors and reference functions for the nuisance parameters and the multidimensional integration step. For this purpose, starting from a Laplace approximation, a posterior distribution for the parameter of interest only is considered and then a suitable objective matching prior is introduced, ensuring that the posterior mode aligns with an equivariant frequentist estimator. Consequently, both Highest Probability Density credible sets and the e-value remain invariant. Some targeted and challenging examples are discussed.

Transportation is the primary consumer of oil, accounting for a significant portion of global energy consumption (34%) and CO2 emissions (40%). Electrifying road transportation is crucial to mitigate the effects of global warming. The abundant potential of renewable energy sources like solar and wind is hindered by their intermittent nature and incongruity with peak energy demands. This calls for the development of sophisticated energy storage solutions. Metal-air batteries (MABs), emerging as viable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), have attracted considerable attention due to their promising applications in the transportation sector. Despite substantial progress in MAB development over the past two decades, overcoming critical challenges such as electrolyte decomposition, carbon cathode degradation, anodic dendrite growth, and air impurities remains essential for their commercial viability. This mini-review provides a comprehensive overview of MAB fundamentals and the challenges associated with their development. The insights presented in this review serve to illuminate the current landscape and future prospects of MABs in the transportation sector.

Endoscopic medical images can suffer from uneven illumination, low contrast, and lack of texture information due to the use of point directional light sources and the presence of narrow tissue structures, posing diagnostic difficulties for physicians. In this paper, a deep learning-based su-pervised illumination enhancement network is designed for low-light endoscopic images, aiming to improve both global illumination and local details. Initially, a global illumination enhancement module is formulated utilizing a higher-order curve function to improve global illumination. Sec-ondly, a local feature extraction module incorporating dual attention is designed to capture local detailed features. Considering the significance of color fidelity in biomedical scenarios, the designed loss function prioritizes introducing color loss to alleviate image color distortion. Compared with seven state-of-the-art enhancement algorithms on Endo4IE endoscopic datasets, experimental re-sults show that the proposed method can better enhance low-light endoscopic images and avoid image color distortion. It provides an efficient method to enhance images captured by endoscopes which can effectively assist clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Exercising surds to represent figures is a common practice in scientific and Engineering fields, especially in scripts where calculators are banned or unapproachable. Peter Chew Theorem make result becomes simple when dealing with converting Quadratic Surds. The substance of the Peter Chew Theorem lies in enabling the forthcoming generation to simple break problems related to Quadratic Surds more effectively, easing a direct comparison with contemporary results. By employing the Peter Chew Theorem, one can streamline the tutoring and literacy of math, particularly concerning second- order direct equations with constant portions. This theorem's objective aligns with Albert Einstein's famed quotation Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Pedagogic Conversational Agents (PCAs) are interactive systems that engage the student in a dialogue to teach some domain. They can have the role of teacher, student, or companion, and adopt several shapes. In our previous work, a significant increase of students’ performance when learning programming was found when using PCAs in the teacher role. However, it is not common to find PCAs used in the classrooms. In this paper, it is explored whether teachers would accept PCAs to teach programming better if co-designed with them. An experiment with 35 pre-service Primary Education teachers was carried out during the 2021/2022 academic year to co-design a robotic PCA to teach programming. The experience validates the idea that involving the teachers in the design of the PCA facilitates that they integrate this technology in their classrooms. 97% of the pre-service teachers answered in a survey that they believed that the robot PCA could help children to learn programming and 80% answered that they would like to use them in their classrooms.

We offered the circuit of a discrete analog filter (DAF) low frequencies of second-order on switchable capacitors, which differs from the known ones in that three capacitors with one terminal are connected to a common bus, and the frequency of the DAF pole depends not only on the ratio of the capacitances of the frequency-setting capacitors, but also on the ratio of resistances two additional resistors in the feedback. This allows at constant values ​​of the capacitances and a fixed switching frequency of electronic switches, control the pole frequency by changing the resistance ratio of additional resistors. Computer simulation of the developed circuit was performed in the Micro-Cap environment. It has been established that the DAF has a transmission coefficient close to minus one at very low frequencies and a transmission coefficient close to zero at higher frequencies.

In the field of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for rotorcraft, two significant challenges are resolving the complex vortex structures in rotor wakes, and representing the moving rotor blades in the ambient airflow. This study addresses the first challenge by using a third-order unstructured finite volume solver, which, compared to its second-order counterpart, has substantially lower dissipation. Consequently, even relatively coarse meshes are capable of resolving small vortices. With this background flow field solver, the second challenge is addressed by modeling each rotor as an Actuator Disk Model (ADM), or describing individual rotor blades as actuator lines, designated as the Actuator Line Model (ALM). Both of these models are equipped with an improved correction for aerodynamic losses at blade tips, which is thoroughly presented in the methodology section. The numerical experiments section centers on analyzing errors linked to various sampling approaches. Additionally, the article discusses comparisons between vortex theory and ALM, specifically regarding calculations for fixed-wing aircraft. Furthermore, high-order precision and parallel efficiency are exemplified in scenarios encompassing rotors engaged in both hovering and forward flight rotors. The results in this paper demonstrate that the combination of the ALM/ADM with the improved tip loss correction and the third-order finite volume solver presents a new way of developing efficient tools for the aerodynamic analysis of helicopter rotors.

The manufacturing geometrical variability in axial compressors is a stochastic source of uncertainty, implying that the real geometry differs from the nominal design. This causes the real geometry to lose the ideal axial symmetry. Considering the aerofoils of a stator vane, the geometrical variability affects the flow traversing it. This impacts the downstream rotor, especially when considering the aeroelastic excitation forces. Optical surface scans coupled with a parametrization method allow for acquiring the information relative to the real aerofoils geometries. The measured data are included in a multi-passage and multi-stage CFD setup to represent the mistuned flow. In particular, low excitation harmonics on the rotor vane are introduced due to the geometrical deviations of the upstream stator. The introduced low engine orders as well as their amplitude depend on the stator geometries and their order. A method is proposed to represent the phenomena in a reduced CFD domain, limiting the size and number of solutions required to probabilistically describe the rotor excitation forces. The resulting rotor excitation forces are reconstructed as a superposition of disturbances due to individual stator aerofoils geometries. This indicates that the problem is linear in in the combination of disturbances from single passages.

In this paper, two types of the general fractional derivatives of distributed order as well as a corresponding fractional integral of distributed type are defined and their basic properties are investigated. The general fractional derivatives of distributed order are constructed for a special class of the one-parametric Sonin kernels with a power law singularities at the origin. The conventional fractional derivatives of distributed order based on the Riemann-Liouville and the Caputo fractional derivatives are particular cases of the general fractional derivatives of distributed order introduced in this paper.

This paper examines the learning experience of an inter-faculty higher education course conducted in an expanded remote format, using digital space as facilitator. The study focuses on the implementation of personalized education, a pedagogical approach that emphasizes the diversification of resources, strategies, and actions to empower learners in assigning personal value and meaning to their learning journey. By presenting an action research project, this study highlights the pivotal role of personalized education in guiding the course design. To foster an engaging learning environment, the course incorporated open activities and leveraged tools and platforms of the social web. Through these means, the participants, forming a community of practice, were able to collaboratively generate knowledge before, during, and after synchronous sessions. Furthermore, the participants effectively disseminated this knowledge through networks and engaged in discussions with external stakeholders. The study underscores how personalized education facilitates situated and meaningful learning by fostering expanded, flexible, and distributed experiences. These experiences revolve around a transmedia narrative that seamlessly integrates digital culture into learning opportunities and processes, effectively naturalizing its presence. The results highlight the value of personalized education approaches in adapting to the complexities of the digital age and establishing meaningful learning experiences for students.

On-chip integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique structures and distinctive properties endow integrated devices with new functionalities and improved performance. With a high flexibility in modifying its properties and a strong compatibility with various integrated platforms, graphene oxide (GO) becomes an attractive 2D material for implementing functional hybrid integrated devices. Here, we demonstrate novel functionalities that go beyond the capabilities of conventional photonic integrated circuits, by harnessing the photo-thermal effects in 2D GO films integrated onto them. These include all-optical control and switching, optical power limiting, and non-reciprocal light transmission. The 2D layered GO films are on-chip integrated with precise control of their thicknesses and sizes. Benefitting from the broadband response of 2D GO films, all the three functionalities feature a very wide operational bandwidth. By fitting the experimental results with theory, we also extract the changes in material properties induced by the photo-thermal effects, which reveal interesting insights about 2D GO films. These results highlight the versatility of 2D GO films in implementing functional integrated photonic devices for a range of applications.

Allocations of funding for higher education have typically focused on competition in neoliberal mechanisms. Surprisingly, much less attention has been paid to considering the effect of fund allocations for public goods purposes in neoliberal contexts. This study aims to examine specific funding schemes and determine the influential factors impacting the funding for teaching, research, and public goods intention. Taking Taiwan's Higher Education Sprout Project (HESP) as a unique example, we explored the effect of policy initiatives on public goods transformation. The data was collected from the Ministry of Education and Scopus database. First, the t-test and ANOVA were used to detect the differences between the system and sector; Second, regression analysis was used to determine influential factors for funding allocations; Final, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the causal effects among the selected variables. The study found that only diversity was shown in private technology groups receiving less HESP funding. The findings suggest that the funding allocation may not affect teaching and research based on sectors and systems. In contrast, this study demonstrates that transforming the public good through special funding can play a critical role in policy intention in neoliberal higher education.

With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), many aspects of our lives, from how we work to how we interact with each other and the world around us is showing dramatic changes. Education is one of the key areas that may be impacted by the rise of AI. Although a large number of studies have been conducted in recent years to shed light on how AI may influence various dimensions of education, a very little work has been carried out to consolidate and synthesis empirical studies on the application of AI in higher education. The present study reviewed empirical studies published between 2013 and 2022 to 1) examine the characteristics of published research in the field, and 2) to present thorough insights on the promises and challenges of this dramatic technology in higher and professional education. This review included 44 empirical studies published as peer-reviewed journal articles. The results indicated that there is rapid increase in the publications focusing on AI in higher education in last a few years. However, a big proportion of these publications are technically theoretical and conceptual proposals for AI intervention. The areas of AI applications in higher education that are supported by evidence based research are presented. Imperative implications are also highlighted for future research and implementation of AI based interventions in higher education.

Embracing innovative digital technologies within educational systems is essential for overcoming challenges in modern learning environments, especially in the post-COVID-19 era. Teaching sustainability management in higher education institutions with innovative digital tools plays a fundamental role in the transition toward sustainable societies. Suitable game design elements play a significant role in facilitating sustainable learning. This study explored the effectiveness of incorporating business simulation games with project-based learning (PBL) in a flipped classroom setting. This approach was adopted within the context of a university cross-border e-commerce course to prepare students for acquiring 21st -century skills as higher-order thinking skills in a rapidly changing educational landscape. A quasi-experimental method was employed, involving a total of 60 university students from China's Zhejiang Province. Participants completed an online questionnaire designed to assess their learning engagement across three dimensions (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral) as well as their higher-order thinking skills (problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity). The results show that the business simulation games combined with flipped classroom learning had a significantly positive impact on students’ learning outcomes, enhancing their problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative capabilities. Importantly, this approach also improved student engagement and promoted sustainable practices by applying real-life scenarios in an interactive environment. We conclude that business simulation games integrated with project-based learning (PBL) in flipped classroom settings represent a valuable educational approach. This approach not only enhances learning engagement but also fosters the development of higher-order thinking skills, encouraging students to adopt sustainable learning practices.

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, the shift to hybrid teaching approaches has introduced novel challenges and opportunities for both educators and students. This qualitative study, grounded in a robust theoretical framework, combines in-depth literature reviews, informal interviews, observations, and thematic analysis to explore the multifaceted dynamics of hybrid language learning within a College of Arts and Sciences. By investigating the experiences of twenty students (referred to as 'S-Part 1' to 'S-Part 20'), the research delves into the core theme of 'Teacher-Student Interaction in Higher Education Institutions' and unpacks nine additional themes: 'Adaptability and Resilience,' 'Flexibility and Autonomy,' 'Connectivity Challenges,' 'Feelings of Isolation,' 'Technology Competence,' 'Personalized Learning,' 'Resource Accessibility,' 'Support Mechanisms,' and 'Positive Learning Experiences.' In this study, these themes encapsulate the diverse experiences and challenges encountered by teachers and college students as they navigate the evolving educational landscape. The insights derived from the study are underpinned by a robust theoretical framework and complemented by existing scholarly literature. As we delve into these themes, it becomes evident that they shed light on not only the intricacies of hybrid language learning but also the broader educational context, offering valuable guidance for educators, institutions, students, and researchers. Based on the ample results, recommendations are presented for school administrators, teachers, students, and future researchers to enhance the quality of hybrid teaching and learning, aligning it with the demands of the post-academic era. Overall, this study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on innovative pedagogical strategies and responsive educational environments, underlining the significance of teacher-student interaction in the new normal of higher education.

Plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses leading to increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. ROS are capable of oxidizing proteins, pigments, lipids, nucleic acids, and other cell molecules, disrupting their functional activity. During the process of evolution, numerous antioxidant systems were formed in plants, including antioxidant enzymes and low-molecular-weight non-enzymatic antioxidants. Antioxidant systems perform neutralization of ROS and therefore prevent oxidative damage of cell components. In the present review, we focus on the biosynthesis of non-enzymatic antioxidants in higher plant cells such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), glutathione, flavonoids, isoprenoids, including carotenoids, tocopherol (vitamin E), ubiquinone and plastoquinone. Their functioning and their reactivity with respect to individual ROS are described. The review is also devoted to the modern genetic engineering methods, which are widely used to change the quantitative and qualitative content of the non-enzymatic antioxidants in cultivated plants. These methods allow to obtain various plant lines with given properties in a rather short time. The most successful approaches for plant transgenesis and plant genome editing for the enhancement of the biosynthesis and the content of these antioxidants are discussed.

This research discusses the development of a software-centered EdTech (Education Technology) class model through the implementation of a course titled "3D Time Machine" at a 4-year university in Republic of Korea over two semesters. The course focused on teaching 3D modeling software, Blender, within the history department. The primary objective of offering this course was to equip students from the digital generation with the capability to manipulate digital technology effectively. Through studying historical materials and accumulating domain knowledge, students could construct their narratives from their unique perspectives. This aimed to foster their proficiency in digital technology operation, preparing them for an education environment increasingly centered around virtual worlds. As the use of virtual worlds gains prominence in educational settings, there is a growing need to incorporate curricula that prepare students to thrive as well-prepared citizens in future societies. Assessing the digital competencies of contemporary university students and designing instructional models with particular attention to their needs is becoming increasingly important. This research draws insights from interviews, conducted in both face-to-face and written formats, with students who participated in the "3D Time Machine" course. The interviews revealed valuable insights that can be actively incorporated into the development of software-centered EdTech instructional models. They reported that they expanded their perceptions as they learned how to make their ideas tangible. The course helped students overcome their fear of digital technology. In conclusion, the course effectively employs 3D modeling technology, a software-centered EdTech, as a core element in helping students develop their narratives rapidly and diversely, thereby playing a crucial role in their ability to articulate their unique perspectives.

The commonly quoted bistable Higgs potential is not a proper description of the Higgs field because, among other technical reasons, one of its stable states acquires a negative expectation value in vacuum. We rely on formal catastrophe theory to derive the form of the Higgs potential that admits only one positive mean value in vacuum. No symmetry is broken during the ensuing phase transition that assigns mass to the Higgs field; only gauge redundancy is “broken” by the appearance of phase in the massive state, but this redundancy is not a true symmetry of the massless field. Furthermore, a secondary, certainly amusing conclusion is that, in its high-energy state, the field oscillates about its potential minimum between positive and negative masses; but it is doubtful that such evanescent states can survive below the critical temperature of 159.5 GeV, where the known particles were actually created.

Super-resolution technology is important not only in bio-related fields but also in nanotechnology, particularly in the semiconductor industry, where fine patterning is required and super-resolution is essential. However, observing microstructures beyond the diffraction limit proposed by Abbe and Rayleigh is considered impossible because of diffraction in traditional optical microscopy ob-servation techniques. However, in recent years, it has been possible to observe microstructures beyond the Rayleigh criterion by analysing the phase distribution of light. This study investigated the physical reasons why phase analysis makes this new analysis technique possible using simula-tions. The results confirmed that the phase component of the zero-order diffracted light reflected from the microstructure and able to pass through the lens system contained the phase information related to the shape of the measured object. Analysis of this information demonstrates the possi-bility of realising super-resolution based on speckle interferometry.

In this study, we introduce the dynamics of a Hepatitis B virus (HBV) model with the class of asymptomatic carriers and conduct a comprehensive analysis to explore its theoretical aspects and examine the crossover effect within the HBV model. To investigate the crossover behavior of the operators, we divide the study interval into two subintervals. In the first interval, the classical derivative is employed to study the qualitative properties of the proposed system, while in the second interval, we utilize the ABC fractional differential operator. Consequently, the study is initiated using the piecewise Atangana-Baleanu derivative framework for the systems. The HBV model is then analyzed to determine the existence, Hyers-Ulam (HU) stability, and disease-free equilibrium point of the model. Moreover, we showcase the application of an Adams-type predictor-corrector (PC) technique for Atangana-Baleanu derivatives and an extended Adams-Bashforth-Moulton (ABM) method for Caputo derivatives through numerical results. Subsequently, we employ computational methods to numerically solve the models and visually present the obtained outcomes using different fractional-order values. This network is designed to provide more precise information for disease modeling, considering that communities often interact with one another, and the rate of disease spread is influenced by this factor.

The article concerns problems related to the assessment of reactive power in power networks with non-linear, fast-varying loads, such as electric arc furnaces, rolling mill drives, etc. The operation of this type of loads is characterized by the introduction of interharmonic currents (including higher harmonics) into the power supply network and a relatively low power factor. Rapid changes in the RMS value of the current also cause voltage fluctuations and the related phenomenon - flicker. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the selection of power of compensating devices taking into account the random nature of load changes and the distortion of current and voltage waveforms, in particular interharmonic components, the impact of which has not been fully investigated so far. To analyze the random nature of load changes, autocorrelation functions were used, which allowed for the estimation of the expected values of the arc furnace current distortion coefficient (based on the recorded waveforms). In order to determine the parameters of reactive power compensating devices, and in particular capacitor banks, an autocorrelation function in the exponential-cosine-sine form was used, which meets the conditions of differentiation. The article contains comparative results of calculations of the reactive power of capacitor banks determined using different methods.

In this paper we compare the effects of forecasting demand using individual (disaggregated) components versus first aggregating the components either fully or into several clusters. Demand streams are assumed to follow autoregressive moving average (ARMA) processes. Using individual demand streams will always lead to a superior forecast compared to any aggregates, however we show that if several aggregated clusters are formed in a structured manner then these subaggregated clusters will lead to a forecast with minimal increase in mean-squared forecast error. We show this result based on theoretical MSFE obtained directly from the models generating the clusters as well as estimated MSFE obtained directly from simulated demand observations. We suggest a pivot-algorithm, that we call Pivot Clustering, to create these clusters. We also provide theoretical results to investigate sub-aggregation, including for special cases such as, aggregating MA(1) streams and ARMA streams with similar or same parameters.

In this paper, existence and stability results of non-local integro-differential equation with Hilfer derivative of order ω∈(1,2) have been investigated. In this derivative is applied in RLC circuit equation of various fractional order. To proposed problem the existence solutions are derived using Schaefer’s fixed point theorem and the Banach contraction principle is using for uniqueness results. To demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of our theoretical conclusions and two-step Lagrange polynomial interpolation were used to solve four numerical results.

Let $m$ and $n$ be the fixed positive integers. Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ is a von Neuman algebra with no central summands of type $I_{1}$ and $L_{m}$ be a Lie type higher derivation i.e., an additive (linear) map $L_{m} :\mathcal{A}\to \mathcal{A}$ such that \begin{equation}\label{def2} \[L_{m}(p_{n}(\mathfrak{S}_{1},\mathfrak{S}_{2},\cdots,\mathfrak{S}_{n}))=\sum_{l_1+l_2+\cdots+l_n=m}p_{n}\big(L_{l_1}(\mathfrak{S}_{1}),L_{l_2}(\mathfrak{S}_{2}),\cdots,L_{l_n}(\mathfrak{S}_{n})\big)\] %L_{m}(p_{n}(\mathfrak{S}_{1},\mathfrak{S}_{2},\cdots,\mathfrak{S}_{n}))=\sum_{l_1+l_2+\cdots+l_n=m}p_{n}\big(L_{l_1}(\mathfrak{S}_{1}),L_{l_2}(\mathfrak{S}_{2}),\cdots,L_{l_n}(\mathfrak{S}_{n})\big)\nonumber \end{equation} for all $\mathfrak{S}_{1},\mathfrak{S}_{2},\cdots,\mathfrak{S}_{n}\in \mathcal{A}$. In the present paper, we study Lie type higher derivations on von Neuman algebras and prove that every additive Lie type higher derivation on $\mathcal{A}$ has a standard form at zero product as well as at projection product. Further, we discuss some more related results.

Nowadays, higher education students play an active role in the realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) for global citizenship. However, some important issues such as how much students know about these goals can play a role in achieving these goals are not yet clear. The aim of this study is to establish a fundamental study for determining the level of knowledge on the higher education students about SDGs. An open-ended questionnaire was conducted with the qualitative research methods on 54 higher education students after pandemic of COVID-19. As a result of the research, the goals of quality education, gender equality, health and quality of life, reduction of inequalities and peace, justice and strong institutions are the most frequently mentioned by the students. In addition, the opinions of the students on the subject of “sustainable cities and communities” are sequentially; the themes include ensuring socio-economic development, preserving cultural heritage identity, safe environment and durable buildings, as well as modern irrigation and waste methods, and reducing air pollution. On the other hand, they agreed on the need for global citizenship to have universal qualifications. In conclusion, global citizenship contributes directly to the SDGs and human-oriented production should be given more importance.

Providing safely-managed sanitation/hygiene requires key competencies for education, training, service delivery, enterprise development and management, product and infrastructure design and development, construction and installation, governance, financing, research, etc. These strategic sanitation capacities will have to be built from higher education’s academic and professional programmes structured and designed to produce skilled and knowledgeable professionals and practitioners. This study aims to investigate the quality of the sanitation/hygiene management content of Environmental Health programmes; the adequacy of the existing central curricula; and the perception of environmental health sanitation/hygiene-trained professionals to determine the next phase for building knowledge and capacity of sanitation professionals in Nigeria through higher education institutions. A multilevel mixed method concurrent study was used for sampling and data collection with a multilevel perception analysis to examine the perceptions of students, lecturers and graduate alumni as well as employers/supervisors and clients/service-users of sanitation/hygiene related graduates. The main findings of this paper show limited understanding of the concepts of contemporary issues of sanitation/hygiene management; the central/national teaching and curricula were found to be seriously out of date; and clients/service-users were dissatisfied with the skills and knowledge levels of the graduates. The study concludes by recommending a national sanitation management higher education pathway to guide the provision of integrated sanitation/hygiene management education at higher education institutions (HEIs), to build effective, efficient, competent, and sufficient workforce for the country.

In this paper, we give the Galois adjunction form of the regular relation, and by using residuated mapping, we find the connection between it and order-generating set. Furthermore, we obtain the equivalent conclusion of "regular". In addition, by using the specialization order of topological space and the lower approximate operator in the rough set, we find a continuous homeomorphic mapping from a regular space to a Alexandrov topological space

The differential-equation of second order for space-time oscillation in flat tangential-spacetime of Minkowski-type can be written as an energy-equation. For this energy-equation the analogon of damping energy in two coupled Minkoswki-spacetimes with ftl can be calculated and formulated over Lamberts W-function or via Euler-equation.

We introduce a new generalized inverse (i.e., generalized EP element) which is a natural generalization of EP and *-DMP elements in a Banach *-algebra. We present polar-like characterizations of generalized EP elements. The necessary and sufficient conditions under which the sum of two generalized EP elements is a generalized EP element are investigated. Finally, the generalized core-EP orders for generalized EP elements are characterized.

Women's empowerment represents a process in which they are recognized as subjects of rights. Despite advances in women's rights, inequalities persist in various areas. This study aims to validate a psychometric scale of 31 items in seven factors: Participatory Empowerment, Temerity, External Influences, Independence, Social Satisfaction and Equality. The objective is to measure the empowerment of women in the university context. The research was carried out in a transversal and non-experimental manner, with the participants' voluntary collaboration, including the participation of 1,478 university students from four Higher Education Institutions in Zone 4 of Ecuador. The data was analyzed through inferential statistics, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results indicated that the instrument for measuring empowerment can be made up of 24 items grouped into six factors, and this model showed a good fit.

In an increasingly changing world, critical thinking is one of the key skills that ensure organisations' competitive advantage. Thus, in higher education institutions there is an accelerating emphasis on developing critical thinking (CT) among students. This paper presents the results of three experimental courses (Pedagogy and didactics of financial accounting, Virtual Learning Environments in Economics, Business Communication), using a blended learning method, aimed at improving students' CT skills. The three courses were delivered by both higher education teachers and trainers from the labour market. After analysing the data from the three experimental courses, it will be possible to assess whether the intervention of labour market trainers contributed to the improvement of students' critical thinking skills, and, in particularly at the level of which components improvements have been identified.

In this article, an iterative method of two step is proposed for finding all roots simultaneously of polynomial equations. The order of convergence of the proposed algorithm is 2m, by using any iterative scheme of order m. Numerical tests are performed to confirm the theoretical results and to compare the proposed scheme with existing methods for finding all roots simultaneously.

The paper proposes an innovative solution for managing and ensuring high energy efficiency of power supply systems at high non-linear loads. This is realized by maintaining optimal value of reliability indicators and high quality of power supply. The validation is carried out using analyzes and tests of quality of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for increased number of powered frequency converters. It has been proven that the effective use and reduction of energy consumption can be achieved thanks to the unique technological features of the employed electrical devices. This enables a normal operation of the system with decreased power and adequate control of energy processes. The problem of predicting power losses under changing conditions in a decentralized electrical network has been solved based on the theory of electromagnetic compatibility. The influence of the mains mode parameters and the indices of instantaneous distortion of current and voltage waveforms caused by the operation of converters on the resonance phenomena in power supply systems were investigated. Recommendations were developed for the selection of proper parameters of compensators for 6-10 kV and 0.4-0.66 kV circuits based on the analysis of the optimization problem when minimizing active power losses. Results of our findings may aid parties involved in designing and maintaining power networks in various applications, such as mines, etc.

The aim of this study is to introduce and evaluate a new approach by using 3D printed anthropomorphic breast phantoms in teaching X-ray mammography techniques Radiologic technologists. For this purpose, a physical anthropomorphic breast phantom is created, based on a computational breast version. The phantom is created by a stereolithography 3D printer. The practical exercises were conducted in three sessions with the participation of radiographers students first, second and third year of training, respectively. A survey was prepared to summarise the participants´ opinion about this new form of training in mammography technique. A total of 83 students were trained with the new approach. From these 52 responded to the survey questions. More than half of the students (71.2%) successfully handled the exercise with the physical breast phantom. The training provoked a substantial number of students to express the belief that incorporating modern methods based on digital technologies into their X-ray device training is essential. The instructor was well prepared and with the needed competence. The experience within this training convinces the future professionals to introduce the new technologies in their routine work, particularly for exercising the compression technique and breast positioning.

Thermally-assisted-occupation density functional theory (TAO-DFT) has been an efficient electronic structure method for studying the ground-state properties of large electronic systems with multi-reference character over the past few years. To explore the time-dependent (TD) properties of electronic systems (e.g., subject to an intense laser pulse), in this work, we propose a real-time (RT) extension of TAO-DFT, denoted as RT-TAO-DFT. Besides, we employ RT-TAO-DFT to study the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) spectra and related TD properties of molecular hydrogen H2 at the equilibrium and stretched geometries, aligned along the polarization of an intense linearly polarized laser pulse. The TD properties obtained with RT-TAO-DFT are compared with those obtained with the widely used time-dependent Kohn-Sham (TDKS) method. In addition, issues related to the possible spin-symmetry breaking effects in the TD properties are discussed.

In this paper, we identify several relative ordering properties of the modified proportional hazard rate and modified proportional reversed hazard rate models. For this purpose, we use two well-known relative orderings, namely the relative hazard rate ordering and the relative reversed hazard rate ordering. The investigation is to see how a relative ordering between two possible base distributions for the response distributions in these models is preserved when the parameters of the underlying models are changed. We will give some examples to illustrate the results and the conditions under which they are obtained.