In this short note, the described step-by-step derivations of the industrial energy demand function from the production function framework and provided researchers with two specifications. Then we applied these theoretical specifications to the time series data as empirical analysis. We concluded that theories should be considered at the beginning of the empirical analyses but the data also should be allowed to speak freely. Hence, the main suggestion of this short note is that it would be a better strategy to consider the combination of theory-driven and data-driven approaches in the empirical analyses.

Using density functional theory (DFT), the density of states of NH4V3O8 (NVO) was analyzed pre and post-oxygen defects (Od) formation. The findings revealed a reduced bandgap in NVO after Od introduction, emphasizing the role of Od in enhancing conductivity of the material, thus improving its electrochemical attributes. Through the water bath method, both NVO and its oxygen-deficient counterpart, (NH4)2V10O25⸱8H2O (NVOd), were synthesized as potential cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Experimental outcomes resonated with DFT predictions, highlighting the beneficial role of oxygen defects in boosting electrical conductivity. Notably, the refined material displayed a remarkable capacity of 479.3 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, underscoring its promise for advanced energy storage solutions.

This paper performs a comprehensive analysis of the wind energy potential of onshore regions in Greece with emphasis on quantifying the volume risk and the spatial covariance structure. Optimization techniques are employed to derive efficient wind capacity allocation plans (also known as generation portfolios) incorporating different yield aspirations. The generation profile of minimum variance and other optimal portfolios along the efficient frontier are subject to rigorous evaluation using a fusion of descriptive and statistical methods. In particular, principal component analysis is employed to estimate factor models and investigate the spatiotemporal properties of wind power generation, providing valuable insights into the persistence of volume risk. The overarching goal of the study is to employ a set of statistical and mathematical programming tools guiding investors, aggregators and policy makers in their selection of wind energy generating assets. The findings of this research challenge the effectiveness of current policies and industry practices, offering a new perspective on wind energy harvesting with a focus on the management of volume risk.

Consumers are attracted by the increasing number of available SVOD platforms, but subscribing to all of them would be too expensive. To reduce costs, consumers could combine the use of proprietary subscriptions, non-proprietary subscriptions, and illegal streaming sites. In turn, platforms could enforce access control, a decision that could produce the desired reduction in non-proprietary subscriptions but also an undesired reduction in proprietary subscriptions. The effects of this decision and the determinants of SVOD content demand remain largely unexplored. We propose a baseline model where the SVOD content demand is driven by variety seeking, household financial situation, ethical evaluation, and social norms, as well as a change model where the subscription variation is driven by users’ trait reactance and perceived fairness of the decision. We conducted a survey on the current ways of SVOD content consumption and the responses to a hypothetical access control enforcement, with four randomized versions of the authentication mode. Results confirmed many of the proposed determinants and showed a noteworthy reduction in proprietary subscriptions due to the control enforcement but no effect due to the authentication modes. All these findings may help improve future models on SVOD content consumption and better address the difficult challenge of converting unauthorized users into authorized ones.

We are going to demonstrate the origin of dark energy, using a Hardwire similarity, a test that is carried out in terrestrial seismic with vibroseis in the search for gas and oil. In the first instance, we are going to analyse the mathematical function of Dirac's delta and compare it with the detonation of an explosive that is carried out in the search for gas and oil. Let's understand that in both cases a frequency spectrum is produced. We will also explain the meaning of a non-causal, zero-phase system; a causal system, of minimum phase, in order to determine the mathematical behaviour that corresponds to the Big Bang. Next, following the line of seismic, we will analyse a Hardwire Similarity to demonstrate that a vibroseis source, which generates a sweep, produces, in addition to the ideal sweep of fundamental frequencies, spurious harmonic frequencies and additional noise. We will show that this additional energy generated by the spurious harmonic frequencies and additional noise adds to the energy of the fundamental frequency sweep in analogy as dark energy does.

The chemical stability of tetramethylammonium (TMA) head groups, both with and without the presence of a choline chloride and ethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvent (DES), was studied using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and ab initio Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. DFT calculations of transition state energetics (ΔEreaction, ΔGreaction, ΔEactivation, and ΔGactivation) for key degradation mechanisms, ylide formation (YF) and nucleophilic substitution (SN2), suggested that the presence of DES enhances the stability of the TMA head groups compared to systems without DES. Ab initio MD simulations across hydration levels (HLs) 1 to 5 indicated that without DES, YF dominates at lower HLs, while SN2 does not occur. In contrast, both mechanisms are suppressed in the presence of DES. Temperature also plays a role: without DES, YF dominates at 298 K, while SN2 becomes prominent at 320 K and 350 K. With DES, both degradation mechanisms are inhibited. These findings suggest DES could improve the chemical stability of TMA head groups in anion exchange membranes.

In order to study the strength changes of concrete specimens under different loading conditions, based on the principle of minimum energy dissipation and from the Angle of concrete failure energy per unit area, the finite element numerical simulation software was applied to concrete specimens with different failure modes of tension, compression, bending and torsion, and the double-broken line damage constitutive model was adopted to simulate and analyze the failure forms of concrete specimens under different loading conditions. The failure area and failure energy of each specimen during loading were quantitatively calculated under each failure mode, and the relationship between the failure area and failure energy consumed under different failure modes was analyzed. The results show that under different failure modes, the failure area of concrete specimens is different, the energy consumed during failure is different, and the strength is different. However, in the process of failure, no matter how the failure mode changes, the failure energy W per unit area remains unchanged and is a constant, which is related to the physical properties of concrete itself.

The spin-torsion theory is a gauge theory approach to gravity that expands upon Einstein's general relativity (GR) by incorporating the spin of microparticles. In this study, we further develop the spin-torsion theory to examine spherically symmetric and static gravitational systems that involve free-falling macroscopic particles. We posit that the quantum spin of macroscopic matter becomes noteworthy on cosmic scales. We further assume that the Dirac spinor and Dirac equation adequately capture all essential physical characteristics of the particles and their associated processes. A crucial aspect of our approach involves substituting the constant mass in the Dirac equation with a scale function, allowing us to establish a connection between quantum effects and the scale of gravitational systems. This mechanism ensures that the quantum effect of macroscopic matter is scale-dependent and diminishes locally, a phenomenon not observed in microparticles. For any given matter density distribution, our theory predicts an additional quantum term, the quantum potential energy (QPE), within the mass expression. QPE induces time dilation, distance contraction, and thus mimics a gravitational well. When applied to cosmology, our theory yields a static cosmological model. The QPE serves as a counterpart to the cosmological constant introduced by Einstein to balance gravity in his static cosmological model. The QPE also offers a plausible explanation for the origin of the Hubble redshift (traditionally attributed to the universe's expansion). The predicted luminosity distance-redshift relation aligns remarkably well with SNe Ia data from the cosmological sample of SNe Ia. In the context of galaxies, QPE functions as the equivalent of dark matter. The predicted circular velocities align well with the rotation curve data from the SPARC (Spitzer Photometry and Accurate Rotation Curves database) sample. Importantly, our conclusions in this paper are reached through a conventional approach, with the sole assumption of the quantum effects of macroscopic matter on large scales, without the need for additional modifications or assumptions.

Nucleation is a fundamental and general process at the initial stage of first order phase transition. Although various models based on the classical nucleation theory (CNT) have been proposed to explain the energetics and kinetics of nucleation, detailed understanding on nanoscales are still required. Here we focus on homogeneous bubble nucleation, in which evaluation of the size dependence of bubble free energy is the key issue. We propose application of a formula in stochastic thermodynamics, the Jarzynski’s equality, for data analysis of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to evaluate the free energy of bubble nucleation. As a test case, we performed a series of MD simulations with Lennard-Jones (LJ) fluid system. By applying an external spherical force field to equilibrated LJ liquid, we evaluated the free energy change during bubble growth as the Jarzynski’s ensemble average of required works. A fairly smooth free energy curve was obtained as a function of bubble radius in metastable liquid of mildly negative pressure conditions.

In the weak-field approximation of covariant theory of gravitation the problem of 4/3 is formulated for internal and external gravitational fields of a body in the form of a ball. The dependence of the energy and the mass of the moving substance on the energy of field accompanying the substance, as well as the dependence on the characteristic size of the volume occupied by the substance are described. Additives in the energy and the momentum of the body, defined by energy and momentum of the gravitational and electromagnetic fields associated with the body are explicitly calculated. The conclusion is made that the energy and the mass of the body can be described by the energy of ordinary and strong gravitation, and through the energies of electromagnetic fields of particles that compose the body.

We present a Quantum Space Model (QSM) of the evolution of the universe based on the theory that space consists of energy quanta from which it began. We used the Friedmann equations to trace its history and show that Dark Energy is the energy of space which caused its accelerating expansion.The universe started from a quanta of space which was triggered by quantum fluctuations that caused the Big Bang. It then expanded and cooled undergoing phase transitions to radiation, fundamental particles, and matter. Matter grew into galaxies, and was consolidated by gravity into Black Holes, ending in a Big Crunch and Deep Freeze inside a Black hole at 1.380 trillion years. Fluctuations caused a new Bang to start another cycle in its life. If the Law of Conservation of Energy is universal, then the cosmos is eternal. Our results support the theoretical predictions of a cyclic universe by Steinhardt and associates, as well as Penrose. Space and energy are equivalent as embodied in the Planck energy equation. They are the two most fundamental quantities that govern cosmic evolution. The two principal long range forces are the gravitational force and the space force,which maybe the fifth force in the universe. They provide the clockwork mechanism operating our cyclic universe.

Whether the universe is a computer simulation, or whether we wish to efficiently model our universe in a computer simulation, there would be benefits to modeling it in a fashion analogous to computer spreadsheet, each lattice cell can be conceived as containing all the mathematical formula necessary to continuously compute its state relative to changes in all its neighboring cells, and by progression, in relation to all the cells of entire space-time lattice. Alternatively, the “real” universe may itself be built on a space cell lattice, an irregular foam of space cells, in which each cell may be conceived as a multidimensional cell of distortable space, the shape of which fully describes (a) the four basic forces (gravity, electromagnetic, strong, weak) observed at that cell of space, and (b) the probability (or weight distribution) of any quantum states overlapping the cell and its neighbors. At an appropriate scale, it would appear that this conceptual model would resolve apparent conflicts between general relativity and quantum physics. It would also provide a new interpretation of Planck’s constant as description of the number of space cell events associated with any set of observable events. If formulae operating at a lattice cell level can be improve our ability to understand and model larger scale phenomena, this would be strong evidence in favor of the theory that mathematics is not just a human invention but rather an inherent feature of space-time itself.

Smart local energy systems (SLES) have been promoted in policy as a solution to decarbonisation challenges which also bring wider benefits, such as community prosperity and energy affordability. But the combination of conditions required to enable their successful emergence and operation are still to be elaborated. This paper reports on the development of a Theory of Change (ToC) for the “societal project” of emergence of SLES with benefits. ToC is a process of making explicit the causal links by which activities lead to outcomes, surfacing assumptions, and recognising possible unintended consequences. We describe the ToC development process, involving consultation and collaboration across a research consortium. It consists of layers (e.g. users, skills, data and digital), and shows conditions considered necessary to deliver SLES, and for these to deliver wider benefits. It also provides interactive links to evidence emerging from the consortium, as well as policy/governance conditions and metrics. We reflect on potential uses of the ToC – internally to the consortium and externally – along with challenges we encountered in pursuing this approach. Policy implications relate to the importance of enabling conditions across multiple sectors, the absence of any of which could inhibit delivery of either SLES or their ensuing benefits.

In recent years, intensive work has been carried out to achieve maximum energy production in photovoltaic power plants. Today, this challenge has to be solved for arrays of solar panels that move with the object on which they are installed (vehicles, trucks, ships, etc.). The present work tries to find the best solution for both constant voltage systems and for cases of maximum intensity. Once found, these solutions will be applied in real time for the dynamic recharging of battery packs, trying to achieve energetically autonomous vehicles.To solve these situations, a new computational method of voltage and amperage calculation has been developed in this paper, based on Dijkstra’s minimum path finding algorithm on graph theory, adapted to electrical circuits. For this purpose, panel performance analysis sensors, developed at the University of Malaga, have been combined with different electronic solutions (wifi relay devices using esp8266 or similar chips) achieving an accurate and sufficiently fast solution at very low cost. With this, series or parallel configurations can be carried out depending on the type of energy generation sought. The theoretical solutions using Minkowski paths, achieved in the past, have been simulated and subsequently constructed in this article, indicating the diagrams necessary for their realisation.

Novel high energy density materials N14 (1,6-dihydro-1,2,3,3a,4,5,5a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-tetradecazapyrene) and N18 (1,2,2a,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,9,10,10a,11,12a-octadecazacoronene) were designed, and their structures, detonation performance and stabilities were calculated employing density functional theory (DFT). Calculations reveals that they have a good balance between high energy and stability. Their energy gaps between LUMO and HOMO are all lower than that of TATB, while their impact sensitivity h_50% is estimated close to that of RDX. Concerning energy, detonation performance of the N14 (P = 43.6 GPa, D = 10040 m/s, Q = 2214 cal/g) and the N18 (P = 37.4 GPa, D = 9400 m/s, Q = 2114 cal/g) are comparable to CL-20.

Iterated games, in which the same economic interaction is repeatedly played between the same agents, are an important framework for understanding the effectiveness of strategic choices over time. To date very little work has applied information theory to the information sets used by agents in order to decide what action to take next in such strategic situations. This article looks at the mutual information between previous game states and an agent's next action by introducing two new classes of games: ’invertible games’ and ‘cyclical games'. By explicitly expanding out the mutual information between past states and the next action we show under what circumstances these expressions can be simplified. These information measures are then applied to the Traveler's Dilemma game and the Prisoner's Dilemma game, the Prisoner's Dilemma being invertible, to illustrate their use. In the Prisoner's Dilemma a novel connection is made between the computational principles of logic gates and both the structure of games and the agents' decision strategies. This approach is applied to the cyclical game Matching Pennies to analyse the foundations of a behavioural ambiguity between two well studied strategies: ‘Tit-for-Tat' and ’Win-Stay, Lose-Switch'.

This study delves into the transformative growth of private higher education in China, highlighting the rapid and diverse expansion following the COVID-19 pandemic. Although previous studies have reported expansion and difficulties, a thorough examination of the relationship between institutional adaptation and the development of human capital remains unexplored. This study examines how private higher education institutions modify their job-related courses to suit the demands of the job market, evaluates the effect on the employability of graduates, and investigates ways to control costs without sacrificing academic quality. This study analyzes data from the Ministry of Education, Wind Information, and Shenwan Hongyuan Research to gain insights into the impact of human capital theory and institutional theory on private higher education in China. Enrollment trends, program alignment, financial sustainability, and quality enhancement activities are all examined using detailed analysis. Private higher education institutions play a critical role in developing a skilled labor force by filling skill gaps and meeting the demands of an evolving job market. The findings also emphasize the importance of quality assurance procedures, strategic program development, and collaborations with businesses. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the imperative for more research and policy action. This is crucial to securing the lasting effectiveness and influence of private higher education institutions on China's socioeconomic progress and human capital development in the post-pandemic era.

We present a numerical study in which large-scale bulk simulations of self-assembled DNA constructs have been carried out with a realistic coarse-grained model. The investigation aims at obtaining a precise, albeit numerically demanding, estimate of the free energy for such systems. We then, in turn, use these accurate results to validate a recently proposed theoretical approach that builds on a liquid-state theory, the Wertheim theory, to compute the phase diagram of all-DNA fluids. This hybrid theoretical/numerical approach, based on the lowest order virial expansion and a nearest-neighbor DNA model, can provide, in an undemanding way, a thermodynamic description of DNA associating fluids that is in semi-quantitative agreement with experiments. We show that the predictions of such scheme are as accurate as the ones obtained with more sophisticated methods. We also demonstrate the flexibility of the approach by incorporating non-trivial additional contributions that go beyond the nearest-neighbor model to compute the DNA hybridization free energy.

This paper proposes a novel economic theory - Economic dynamics, which is the first in a series of articles on the economic dynamics. This paper is divided into four sections. Section 1 discusses the methodology and significance of the economic dynamics. The application of the standard model of theoretical physics as a new conceptual and modeling reference framework for the economic dynamics is an inevitable step beyond the Newtonian mechanics framework. Section 2 briefly outlines the content of the economic dynamics and its standard model, including market dynamics and its quantum electrodynamics model, both sharing the U(1) symmetry group; the sub-economic dynamics and its quantum chromodynamics model, both sharing the SU(3) symmetry group; the economic externality dynamics and its isospin dynamics model, both sharing the SU(2) symmetry group; and the ordinary rationality mechanism and its Higgs mechanism model, both causing spontaneous symmetry breaking. Additionally, through analysis of Pareto efficiency, it outlines economic gravity and its general relativity model. Section 3 provides three necessary foundational theoretical preparations for the economic dynamics, detailing scientific observation theory, economic rationality theory, and monetary pecuniary theory. Scientific observation theory first introduces the concept of observational directionality for empirical sciences, providing a shared orthogonal frame for cross-disciplinary observation, termed the orthogonality principle. By introducing the concept of observational disturbance degree, it distinguishes between high disturbance quadrants and low disturbance quadrants, corresponding to different mathematical paths, termed the diagonal rule. Quantum physics, higher-order cognition, and economic forward observation all fall within the high interference area, belonging to von Neumann's "yes-no" type of measurements, and are suitable for the same mathematical description. Economic rationality Theory, within the decision theory framework, defines three types of rationality theories: Economic rationality (or economic rational man), bounded rationality, and ordinary rationality, and defines the position of each rationality theory in the gauge field theory model of market dynamics. Economic rationality is a personified description of perfect competitive markets, the former being the global gauge potential, while the latter is the global gauge field strength. Bounded rationality describes specific market participants, the former being the local gauge potential, while the latter's market performance is the local gauge field strength. Ordinary rationality is the market ground state, possessing the properties of the Higgs field and the functions of the Higgs mechanism, causing spontaneous symmetry breaking in the market. The monetary pecuniary theory first argues for its light-like nature, thereby establishing a special relativity model of monetary peculiarity. This is a necessary condition for applying the gauge field theory model in market dynamics. Within the special relativity framework, using absolute prices (absolute time), a geometrized global money cone (light cone) can be constructed. Using intrinsic prices (proper time), individualized local wealth cones and poverty cones can be constructed, reflecting individual differences among market participants.

Internet of things (IoT) is a network of smart things. This indicates the ability of these physical things to transfer information with other physical things. The characteristics of these networks, such as topology dynamicity and energy constraint, challenges the routing problem in these networks. Previous routing methods could not achieve the required performance in this type of network. Therefore, developers of this network designed and developed specific methods in order to satisfy the requirements of these networks. One of the routing methods is utilization of multipath protocols which send data to its destination using routes with separate links. One of such protocols is RPL routing protocol. In this paper, this method is improved using composite metrics which chooses the best paths used for separate routes to send packets. We propose Energy and Load aware RPL (ELaM-IoT) protocol, which is an enhancement of RPL protocol. It uses a composite metric, calculated based on remaining energy, hop count, Link Expiration Time (LET), load and battery depletion index (BDI) for the route selection. In order to evaluate and report the results, the proposed ELaM-IoT method is compared to the ERGID and ADRM-IoT approaches with regard to average remaining energy, and network lifetime. The results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed ELaM-IoT compared to the ERGID and ADRM-IoT approaches.

A new model of cosmology is proposed, where the state of high energy density commonly associated with the big bang is generated by the collapse of an antineutrino star that has exceeded its Chandrasekhar limit. To allow the first neutrino stars and antineutrino stars to form naturally from an initial quantum vacuum state, matter and antimatter are assumed to gravitationally repel. In this scenario, a degenerate antineutrino star in effective hydrostatic equilibrium has a density that is similar to the dark energy density of the ΛCDM model. When viewed from the core, such a star could today accelerate matter radially and emit the isothermal cosmic microwave background radiation, which addresses the horizon and flatness problems. This model and the ΛCDM model are in similar quantitative agreement with supernova distance measurements. The presented model is also in qualitative agreement with observed large-scale anisotropy and inhomogeneity, which distinguishes it from the ΛCDM model.

Type II diabetes (T2D) is a multifaceted metabolic disease influenced by various factors (genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and other). An alarming surge in T2D prevalence is estimated, reaching 700 million cases by 2045 worldwide. This review explores the complex interactions of multiple risk factors throughout life and offers a new perspective on T2D. Genetic and epigenetic influences are described in detail. Prenatal factors, such as exposure to undernutrition and maternal overfeeding, induce lasting epigenetic changes, affecting T2D susceptibility. Furthermore, birthweight is a crude proxy for perinatal programming, with low and high birthweights associated with increased T2D risk. Often overlooked, the early postnatal period also significantly contributes to perinatal programming. Neonatal over-nutrition and feeding choices exert lasting effects on DNA methylation and metabolic outcomes later in life. Stress during this period further exacerbates T2D susceptibility. In continuation, childhood behaviors which are influenced by prior periods contribute substantially to T2D risk. Adverse childhood experiences amplify the risk of many diseases, including T2D. Sleep hygiene throughout life plays a role in metabolic health, influencing insulin resistance and appetite regulation. In adulthood, obesity remains a prominent predictor of T2D, with chronic stress contributing to weight gain and unhealthy lifestyle. This review proposes a novel perspective, considering T2D pathophysiology as a nonlinear process governed by numerous factors and their interactions throughout life. The inherent unpredictability suggests a need for personalized interventions tailored to specific risk profiles, emphasizing the importance of understanding gene-environment interactions and embracing a holistic view of T2D pathogenesis.

Efficient train driving plays a vital role in reducing the overall energy consumption in the railway sector. An energy minimising control strategy can be computed using the framework given by optimal control theory, in particular the Pontryagin maximum principle. Our optimisation approach is based on an algorithm presented by Khmelnitsky that considers electric trains equipped with regenerative braking. A derivation of Khmelnitsky’s theory from a more general formulation of the maximum principle is given in this article, and a complete list of switching cases between different driving regimes has been included that is essential for practical application. A number of numerical examples are added to visualise the various switching cases. Energy consumption data from real-life operation of passenger trains are compared to the calculated energy minimum. In the presented study, the optimised strategy was able to save 37 percent of the average energy demand of the train in operation.

With a longer-term goal of addressing the comparative behavior of the aqueous halides F$^-$, Cl$^-$, Br$^-$, and I$^-$ on the basis of quasi-chemical theory (QCT), here we study structures and free energies of hydration clusters for those anions. We confirm that energetically optimal $(\mathrm{H_2O})_n\mathrm{X}$ clusters, with X = Cl$^-$, Br$^-$, and I$^-$, exhibit \emph{surface} hydration structures. Computed free energies based on optimized surface hydration structures utilizing a harmonic approximation, typically (but not always) disagree with experimental free energies. To remedy the harmonic approximation, we utilize single-point electronic structure calculations on cluster geometries sampled from an AIMD (\emph{ab initio} molecular dynamics) simulation stream. This \emph{rough-landscape} procedure is broadly satisfactory and suggests unfavorable ligand crowding as the physical effect corrected. Nevertheless, this procedure can break down when $n \gtrsim 4$, with the characteristic discrepancy resulting from a relaxed definition of clustering in the identification of $(\mathrm{H_2O})_n\mathrm{X}$ clusters, including ramified structures natural in \emph{physical cluster theories.} With ramified structures, the central equation for the present rough-landscape approach can acquire some inconsistency. Extension of these physical cluster theories in the direction of QCT should remedy that issue, and should be the next step in this research direction.

This paper critically reviews the convergence between Business Ecosystem Theory and Social Network Theory in sustainability studies. While both frameworks view organizations as part of larger, interconnected systems, they can be differentiated by six key dimensions: unit of analysis, focus, decomposability, types of relationships, market segment, and worldview. To better reflect real-world phenomena, this paper argues for a new stream of theoretical convergence that is practical, reliable, generalizable, and reproducible. Specifically, it proposes shifting from interoganizational networks to interfunctional networks, which reduces complexity, enhances stability over time, and provides a clearer theoretical distinction. This is illustrated through a case study of Tesla Inc.’s ecosystem, built from data presented in the company’s 10K form, which also serves as an example of the emergence of a new strategic construct named the Business Ecosystem Footprint. This construct could assist managers in understanding where their organization stands within the network of functions, guiding them in making informed decisions about resource allocation and diversification, specifically aimed at supporting financial goals as well as sustainability and decarbonization objectives. The article concludes by suggesting potential research agendas, such as automating ecosystem mapping, exploring the constraints of the new construct, and testing new hypotheses related to firm performance.

The iron roughneck is an automated equipment utilized for the connection and removal of drilling tools. This paper presents the design of an integrated iron roughneck, providing a detailed introduction to its clamp body structure, along with an analysis of its structural characteristics and performance requirements. The study delves into the integration mode and working characteristics of the clamping mechanism and spin buckle mechanism for the integrated upper clamp body structure of the iron roughneck. Additionally, this paper conducts an in-depth theoretical study on the spin buckle mechanism. Firstly, it analyzes the actual working condition of the spin buckle roller from two perspectives: contact theory and rolling friction theory, determining the structural form of the spin buckle roller. Secondly, it investigates the relative displacement between the spin buckle mechanism and the drilling tool, proposing a design method for the floating device mounted on the spin buckle roller and establishing the kinematic equation of the spin buckle roller under the influence of the floating device. Furthermore, the kinematic equations of the spin buckle roller under the influence of the floating device are established. Finally, a dynamics simulation experiment is performed to simulate the working process of the spin buckle mechanism under actual working conditions, analyzing the dynamics and kinematics of the spin buckle mechanism and obtaining the relevant parameter curves of the spin buckle mechanism and drilling tools. Through data comparison and analysis, the correctness of the theoretical analysis results and the rationality of the performance and structure of the spin buckle mechanism are verified.

The Great Reset has been presented by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 as a model through which a “stakeholder economy” would achieve “resilient, equitable and sustainable” economic, social and environmental goals. A more equitable distribution of resources, better working conditions, and ecological transitions are included in a social, economic and environmental reform agenda. This article raises the question of whether the Great Reset project should be interpreted as a “realistic utopia” and what is its reform potential. In an attempt to answer the question of whether the Great Reset as a realist utopia is consistent with the current state of science and philosophy, the article re-examines the idea of utopia in the light of recent philosophical and scientific approaches, such as critical realism in philosophy, so-cial systems theory in sociology and complexity theory in science. A comparative conceptual analysis is carried out and discussed introducing the idea of a realist utopia in Rawls' theory of justice as fairness. In the final discussion, some doubts are raised about the logical coherence, rigor of scientific theorizing, policy prescriptions, and predictive potential of the Great Reset emerging paradigm. It is concluded that utopian projects of radical reform can become realistic when they offer explanations of the deep structural changes that underlie social and economic evolution, drawing from these explanations the policy implications and prescription that can support struc-tural changes, rather than from assumed long-term effects of exogenous shocks or “black swan” events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our goal in this paper is to study the relationship between the linear approximation of Einstein's equations to the Klein-Gordon’s equation. The part one presents what the Klein-Gordon’s equation and the integration of the theory of quantum information in it. The Part two deals with the Stress Energy tensor quantum, wherein the detail I linearized gravity of Einstein equation, and wherein I develop the tensor quantum energy pulse from the equivalence of equation einstein the linearized gravity and the Schrödinger equation relativistic described by Klein-Gordon’s equation.

In wireless sensor networks, there is no a central controller to enforce cooperation between nodes. Therefore, nodes may generate selfish behavior to conserve their energy resources. In this paper, we address the problems of transmission power minimization and energy balance in wireless sensor networks using a topology control algorithm. We considered the energy efficiency and energy balance of the nodes, and an improved optimization-integrated utility function is designed by introducing the Theil index. Based on this, a topological control game model of energy balance is established, and it is proved that the topological game model is an ordinal potential game with Pareto optimality. Additionally, an energy-balanced topology control game algorithm (EBTG) is proposed to construct topologies. The simulation and comparison show that, compared with other topological control algorithms based on game theory, the EBTG algorithm can improve energy balance and energy efficiency while reducing the transmitting power of nodes, thus prolonging the network lifetime.

Molecular transport and quantum tunneling of H2 and H2O molecules through nanoporous gra-phene is studied using computational modeling and first principles density functional theory. It is demonstrated that molecules with sufficiently high kinetic energies can tunnel through the na-nopores. It is also demonstrated that molecules can be trapped in front of the nanopore or behind it. These investigations help us learn the behavior of molecules in and around nanopores of gra-phene. They also help us learn fundamentals of molecular tunneling. We believe, nanoporous gra-phene can play important roles for gas separation and nanofiltration.

We develop an action principle for producing a single fluid, two-constituent system with dissipation in general relativity. The two constituents in the model are particles and entropy. The particle flux creation rate is taken to be zero, while the entropy creation rate is non-zero. Building on previous work, it is demonstrated that a new term (the proper time derivative of the matter space ``metric'') is required in the Lagrangian in order to produce terms typically associated with bulk and shear viscosity. Equations of motion, entropy creation rate, and energy-momentum-stress tensor are derived. Using an Onsager approach of identifying thermodynamic ``forces'' and ``fluxes'' a model is produced which delivers the same entropy creation rate as the standard, relativistic Navier-Stokes equations. This result is then contrasted with a model generated in the spirit of the action principle, which takes as its starting point a specific Lagrangian and then produces the equations of motion, entropy creation rate, and energy-momentum-stress tensor. Unlike the equations derived from Onsager reasoning, where the analogs of the bulk and shear viscosity coefficients are prescribed ``externally'', we find that the form of the coefficients in the second example are a direct result of the specified Lagrangian. Furthermore, the coefficients are shown to satisfy evolution equations along the fluid worldline; also a product of the specific Lagrangian.

This paper delves into the concept of information within the context of conscious systems, emphasizing the pivotal role of entropy as a fundamental aspect in comprehending consciousness. Drawing on insights from Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and information theory, the argument posits that consciousness entails dynamic information processing, distinct from the static storage and retrieval model employed by modern computers. The intrinsic dynamics of neural systems are explored, illuminating how they integrate incoming stimuli into a unified state of subjective experience, thereby shaping conscious awareness. By considering entropy as a temporal and qualitative value, its significance in reducing uncertainty and facilitating adaptability in conscious systems is underscored. Through a series of principles, the intricate relationship between entropy, neural dynamics, and consciousness is elucidated. This analysis suggests the necessity of rethinking traditional notions of information when applied to conscious systems, highlighting the dynamic nature of consciousness and its interaction with the environment.

Hydrogen-bond (H-bond) energies in 310-helices of short alanine peptides were systematically examined by precise DFT calculations with the negative fragmentation approach (NFA), a modified method based on the molecular tailoring approach. The contribution of each H-bond was evaluated in detail from the 310-helical conformation of total energies (whole helical model; WH3-10 model), and the results were compared with the property of H-bond in a-helix from our previous study. The H-bond energies of the WH3-10 model exhibited tendencies different from those exhibited by the -helix, in that they depended on the helical position of the relevant H-bond pair. H-bond pairs adjacent to the terminal H-bond pairs were observed to be strongly destabilized. The analysis of electronic structures indicated that structural characteristics cause the destabilization of the H-bond in 310-helices. We also found that the longer the helix length, the more stable the H-bond in the terminal pairs of the WH3-10 model, suggesting the action of H-bond cooperativity.

The adoption of Industry 4.0 technology is essential for achieving energy efficiency, a critical aspect of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) no. 12 aimed at addressing climate change. Understanding the impact of Sustainable Attitudes, Digital Trust, and Uncertainty Avoidance is crucial in the decision-making process regarding the implementation of Industry 4.0 technology. The slow adoption of Industry 4.0 technology is attributed to non-technological factors or people, while the need to achieve energy efficiency targets necessitates examining the influence of Sustainable Attitudes and Digital Trust as supporting variables, along with Uncertainty Avoidance, on technology adoption. The study employed a quantitative explanatory research approach to investigate the relationships and impacts of variables. It centered on employees of Schneider Electric Indonesia, a global Industry 4.0 technology provider, with a sample of 189 employees selected through random sampling, incorporating a 5% margin error from Slovin formula. The analysis involved the use of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS version 26. Industry 4.0 technology is essential for fostering innovation and business expansion, leading to a sustainable environment by offering principles, guidance, and energy-efficient technologies for companies. The involvement of Sustainable Attitude, moderated by Uncertainty Avoidance, is vital in reaching energy efficiency goals through Industry 4.0 implementation.

Combining modern thermodynamics theory branches, including finite time thermodynamics or entropy generation minimization, constructal theory and entransy theory, with metallurgical process engineering, this paper provides a new exploration on generalized thermodynamic optimization theory for iron and steel production processes. The theoretical core is to thermodynamically optimize performances of elemental packages, working procedure modules, functional subsystems, and whole process of iron and steel production processes with real finite-resource and/or finite-size constraints with various irreversibilities toward saving energy, decreasing consumption, reducing emission and increasing yield, and to achieve the comprehensive coordination among the material flow, energy flow and environment of the hierarchical process systems. A series of application cases of the theory are reviewed. It can provide a new angle of view for the iron and steel production processes from thermodynamics, and can also provide some guidelines for other process industries.

This study derives space travel pricing by Walrasian Equilibrium, which is logical reasoning from the general relativity theory (GRT), the accounting equation, and economic supply and demand functions. The Cobb-Douglas functions embed the endogenous space factor as new capital to form the space travel firm's production function, which is also transformed into the consumer's utility function. Thus, the market equilibrium occurs at the equivalence of supply and demand functions, like the GRT presents the equivalence between the spatial geometric tensor and the energy-momentum tensor, which explains the principles of gravity and the motion of space matter in the spacetime framework. The mathematical axiomatic set theory of the accounting equation explains the equity premium effect that causes a short-term accounting equation inequality, then reaches the equivalence by suppliers' incremental equity through the closing accounts process of the accounting cycle. On the demand side, the consumption of space travel can be assumed as a value at risk (VaR) investment to attain the specific spacetime curvature in an expected orbit. Spacetime market equilibrium is then achieved to construct the space travel pricing model. The methodology of econophysics and analogy method was applied to infer the space travel pricing by the model of profit maximization, single-minded, and envy-free pricing in unit-demand markets. A case study with simulation was conducted for empirical verification of the math models and algorithm. Results show that space travel pricing remains the principle of market equilibrium but needs to be extended to the spacetime tensor of GRT.

Energy storage systems will play a key role for individual users in the future smart grid. They serve two purposes: (i) handling the intermittent nature of renewable energy resources for a more reliable and efficient system, and (ii) preventing the impact of blackouts on users and allowing for more independence from the grid, while saving money through load-shifting. In this paper we investigate the latter scenario by looking at a neighbourhood of 25 households whose demand is satisfied by one utility company. Assuming the users possess lithium-ion batteries, we answer the question of how each household can make the best use of their individual storage system given a real-time pricing policy. To this end, each user is modelled as a player of a non-cooperative scheduling game. The novelty of the game lies in the advanced battery model, which incorporates charging and discharging characteristics of lithium-ion batteries. The action set for each player comprises day-ahead schedules of their respective battery usage. We analyse different user behavior and are able to obtain a realistic and applicable understanding of the potential of these systems. As a result, we show the correlation between the efficiency of the battery and the outcome of the game.

Paper presents proposition of possible extension of The Standard Model Classification of Particles and Fields in way to include gravitation into it.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine why and how adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience variable impairment and identify the processes and strategies adults with ADHD use to develop positive self-regulation skills. Methods: A mixed cohort of 11 participants (6 female and 5 male) from a university, an adult ADHD clinic and an ADHD support group in the UK were interviewed online between September 2021 and February 2022. Data were collected and analysed simultaneously, inspired by constructivist grounded theory methodology. Results: Participants described a “polar awareness of difference” from others in terms of engagement and ADHD characteristics, and a “polar awareness of consciousness” experienced as the states of chaotic attention and hyperfocus, both of which impact core perceptions of self. Using an infinity paradigm, the results demonstrate unskilled attempts to self-regulate within and between these states using self-absorption or self-transcendence strategies including their inherent challenges and energetic cost. Our results further indicate that at the centre of this dynamic paradigm creative awareness strategies exist, which exemplify polarity awareness and the regulation of that awareness supported by an authentic inner compass (AIC). Conclusions: This paper presents the empirical foundation for the ADHD Creative Awareness Theory (CAT) – a new theory for understanding the experience of ADHD consciousness and environmental engagement. Practice implications are explored, and recommendations include use of the CAT as a framework for understanding and development of inherent self-regulation skills for adults with ADHD.

While the quantum realm seems hidden, it can also reach examples of infinite energy, especially when a part of space is roughly removed until it disappears, possibly forever. Since it follows that {\it Nothing } can enter a region where the space is missing, the quantum realm, as seen now in affine quantization, will automatically come to help everything else by creating colossal `quantum walls' that will ensure that everything stays out of all black holes. In this article, we show that the expanded quantum realm allows {\it Nothing} to ever fall into a black hole.

Autonomous search is an ongoing cycle of sensing, statistical estimation and motion control with objective to find and localise targets in a designated search area. Traditionally, the theoretical framework for autonomous search combines the sequential Bayesian estimation with the information theoretic motion control. This paper formulates autonomous search in the framework of possibility theory. Although the possibilistic formulation is slightly more involved than the traditional, it provides means for quantitative modelling and reasoning in the presence of epistemic uncertainty. This feature is demonstrated in the paper in the context of partially known probability of detection, expressed as an interval value. The paper presents an elegant Bayes-like solution to sequential estimation, with the reward function for motion control defined to take into account the epistemic uncertainty. The advantages of the proposed search algorithm are demonstrated by numerical simulations.

This study presents an advanced Simulated Shearer Machine Cutting Experiment System enhanced with digital twin technology. Central to this system is a simulated shearer drum, designed based on similarity theory to mirror the operational dynamics of actual mining cutters accurately. The setup incorporates a modified machining center equipped with sophisticated sensors that monitor various parameters such as cutting states, forces, torque, vibration, temperature and sound. These sensors are crucial for precisely simulating the shearer cutting actions. The integration of digital twin technology is pivotal, featuring a real-time data management layer, a dynamic simulation mechanism model layer, and an application service layer that facilitates virtual experiments and algorithm refinement. This multifaceted approach allows for in-depth analysis of simulated coal cutting, utilizing sensor data to comprehensively evaluate the shearer's performance. The study also includes tests on simulated coal samples. The system effectively conducts experiments and captures cutting condition signals via the sensors. Through time-domain analysis of these signals, gathered while cutting materials of varying strengths, it is determined that the cutting force signal characteristics are particularly distinct. By isolating the cutting force signal as a key feature, the system can effectively distinguish between different cutting modes. This capability provides a robust experimental basis for coal-rock identification research, offering significant insights into the nuances of shearer operation.

Using density functional theory (DFT) and the information-theoretic approach (ITA) quantities to appreciate the energetics and properties of biopolymers is still an unaccomplished and ongoing task. To this end, we studied the building blocks of nucleic acid base pairs and small peptides. For base pairs, we have dissected the relative importance of energetic components by using two energy partition schemes in DFT. Our results convincingly show that the exchange-correlation effect predominantly governs the molecular stability of base pairs while the electrostatic potential plays a minor but indispensable role, and the steric effect is trivial. Furthermore, we have revealed that simple density-based ITA functions are in good relationships with molecular polarizabilities for a series of 30 hydrogen-bonded base pairs and all 20 natural α-amino acids, 400 dipeptides, and 8000 tripeptides. Based on these lines, one can easily predict the molecular polarizabilities of larger peptides, even proteins as long as the total molecular wavefunction is available, rather than solving the computationally demanding coupled-perturbed Hartree-Fock (CPHF) equation or its DFT counterpart coupled-perturbed Kohn-Sham (CPKS) equation.

This interdisciplinary work presents a novel patent pending method of inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion called the Nuclear Electromagnetic Shaping Accelerator Reactor (NESAR) that addresses all of the major failure problems with currently known methods of IEC fusion. A brief background of previous IEC methods that generate a negative potential well to accelerate ions for fusion will be reviewed and compared to the NESAR method of magnetic confinement. In addition, a direct comparison will be presented between the NESAR and the tokamak method of fusion. The NESAR method of fusion obtains the plasma oscillation and compression capabilities of a tokamak without producing the catastrophic magnetic reconnection disruptions that currently plague tokamaks. Since the NESAR can oscillate charged particles comparable to the tokamak, this work will briefly review the history of the tokamak, how sawtooth magnetic reconnection occurs, and how the NESAR precludes the occurrence of magnetic reconnection. This work will also review the beginnings of a novel unified field theory that has obtained interest from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This unified field theory is based upon the trajectory of charged particle movements within the NESAR, which is the only concept of magnetic confinement in the world that may allow charge particles to collectively interact relatively to a solitary location. Due to this possible capability, the confined charged particles have the potential to experience curved trajectories; allowing for the effects of curvature deviation to be placed upon the charged particle within the magnetic confines of the NESAR. If charged particles can experience curvature deviation then deviated acceleration is generated; allowing the electromagnet field to be propelled to a higher spatial dimension that could influence spacetime. Finally, this work will review another theory that explains how magnetic pole reversals are observed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) coiled magnetic field detectors. This theory requires little to no postulations to be framed and it is purely based upon the trajectory of charged particles within the NESAR, Michael Faraday’s law of induction, and experimental observations of rotating plasmas.

Internet of things (IoT) is a network of smart things. This indicates the ability of these physical things to transfer information with other physical things. The characteristics of these networks, such as topology dynamicity and energy constraint, challenges the routing problem in these networks. Previous routing methods could not achieve the required performance in this type of network. Therefore, developers of this network designed and developed specific methods in order to satisfy the requirements of these networks. One of the routing methods is utilization of multi-path protocols which send data to its destination using routes with separate links. One of such protocols is AOMDV routing protocol. In this paper, this method is improved using gray system theory which chooses the best paths used for separate routes to send packets. To do this, AOMDV packet format is altered and some fields are added to it so that energy criteria, link expiration time, and signal to noise ratio can also be considered while selecting the best route. The proposed method named RMPGST-IoT is introduced which chooses the routes with highest rank for concurrent transmission of data, using a specific routine based on the gray system theory. In order to evaluate and report the results, the proposed RMPGST-IoT method is compared to the ERGID and ADRM-IoT approaches with regard to throughput, packet receiving rate, packet loss rate, average remaining energy, and network lifetime. The results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed RMPGST-IoT compared to the ERGID and ADRM-IoT approaches.

Dynamic sparse training is an effective strategy to alleviate the training and inference demands of artificial neural networks. However, current sparse training methods face a challenge in achieving high levels of sparsity while maintaining performance comparable to that of their fully connected counterparts. The Cannistraci-Hebb training (CHT) method produces an ultra-sparse advantage compared to fully connected training in various tasks by using a gradient-free link regrowth method, which relies solely on the network topology. However, its rigid selection based on link prediction scores may lead to epitopological local minima, especially at the beginning of the training process when the network topology might be noisy and unreliable. In this article, we introduce the Cannistraci-Hebb training soft rule (CHTs), which applies a flexible approach to both the removal and regrowth of links during training, fostering a balance between exploring and exploiting network topology. Additionally, we investigate the network topology initialization using several approaches, including the bipartite scale-free and bipartite small-world network models. Empirical results show that CHTs can surpass the performance of fully connected networks with MLP architecture by using only 1% of the connections (99% sparsity) on the MNIST, EMNIST, and Fashion MNIST datasets and can provide remarkable results with only 0.1% of the links (99.9% sparsity). In some MLPs for image classification tasks, CHTs can reduce the active neuron network size to 20% of the original nodes (neurons), demonstrating a remarkable ability to generalize better than fully connected architectures, reducing the entire model size. This represents a relevant result for dynamic sparse training. Finally, we present evidence from larger network models such as Transformers, with 10% of the connections (90% sparsity), where CHTs outperform other prevalent dynamic sparse training methods in machine translation tasks.

Field of Research This research study investigates the role of distributed leadership and culture within small enterprises in Malta, an area in which there has been very limited research. It focuses on the interaction between these two elements and their impact on organizational behaviour and effectiveness. Several studies (Jardon et al 2019; Cope et al., 2011; de Oliveira et al., 2015; Mohanty et al., 2012;) suggest that effective leadership and culture are vital elements in the successful endeavours of small organizations. Schein (2006) further asserts that they are two different faces on the same coin and the dyadic interaction characterizes “how leaders create culture and how culture defines and creates leaders”. Distributed Leadership is a systematic practice of interactions and synergies between leaders, followers, and the situation (Spillane 2013). It is different from traditional leadership, which involves top-down management because it tends to be more democratic and participatory, whereby influence and decision-making are shared among multiple individuals rather than being controlled by a single leader. (Xhemajli et al. 2022) Methodology Adopting a naturalistic approach and guided by an interpretivist, constructivist epistemological stance, this research delves into the intricate interplay between leadership and culture within small businesses. The chosen research methodology employs Grounded Theory, recognized for its robust and systematic process facilitating the observation of patterns through intensive iterative and highly analytical procedures (Charmaz, 2015).In the initial stages of field research, characterized by 'responsive interviewing' (Rubin and Rubin, 2012), data sampling commenced with convenience sampling. This initial phase gradually evolved into a refined strategy incorporating selective sampling and theoretical sampling (Corbin and Strauss, 2015). The shift in sampling approaches reflects a deliberate focus on collecting data based on its specific contribution to the development and comprehension of the dimensions, properties, and characteristics of key concepts.The induction of theory is a product of successive comparative analyses, involving the systematic comparison of data points to identify both similarities and variations. Abductive reasoning is integral throughout the analytical process, with particular emphasis during constant comparative analysis of categories, leading to theoretical integration (Charmaz, 2006). This meticulous approach aligns with the assertion of Strauss and Corbin (2015) that grounding theory in data enhances the likelihood of deriving theories that authentically reflect reality.The key advantage of using this approach is that the analysis carried out goes beyond deep exploration and rich description and actually develops a framework that explains the phenomena observed (Parker and Roffey, 1997, p.218). This is very important if the findings are to contribute to the knowledge enhancement of any field of practiceThe culmination of this research effort is the presentation of a set of interconnected concepts, intricately woven together into an emergent parsimonious model (Corbin and Strauss, 2015). This model serves to explain the dynamic interplay between leadership and culture, elucidating its tangible impact on the effectiveness of small enterprises. Research Contribution:Implications for Practice This research contributes to the literature on leadership and organizational culture in small enterprises, particularly in the context of Malta where such studies are scarce. By providing an initial exploration of these phenomena and their impact on organizational behavior, this paper lays the groundwork for further inquiry into this important area. Furthermore, the study offers practical insights for leaders of small enterprises by elucidating leadership behaviors observed in established organizations. Through applied cases, it demonstrates how the abstract concept of culture can be translated into a practical instrument that supports leadership and organizational development. This not only enriches the understanding of leadership dynamics but also provides tangible strategies for implementation. Moreover, the research contributes empirical evidence on the development of leadership functions within small enterprises, emphasizing the potential of shared and distributed leadership models. By grounding its findings in data, the study equips leaders with a deeper understanding of how these leadership approaches can shape organizational development, fostering more effective management practices in small businesses. Methodologically, the adoption of Grounded Theory methodology showcases its efficacy in exploring complex management phenomena. By employing this approach, the researchers were able to gather rich descriptions and develop an explanatory framework, highlighting its applicability in studying nuanced organizational dynamics. Implications for Policy and Theory This research also holds significant implications for policymakers, academic researchers and institutions involved in supporting small businesses. By providing insights into distributed leadership and cultural influences on organizational effectiveness, it offers a basis for informed policy formulation and support mechanisms. The conceptual model emerging from this study serves as a foundation for designing more targeted policies that cater to the unique needs of small enterprises. By understanding the intricacies of leadership dynamics and cultural contexts, policymakers can develop interventions that foster a conducive environment for small business growth and sustainability. Additionally, academic researchers can use these findings to further refine theoretical frameworks and empirical studies in the field, contributing to ongoing scholarly dialogue and knowledge advancement.

With the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the emergence of new strains is an intriguing question. This paper presents an evolutionary theory to analyze the mutations of the virus and identify the conditions that lead to the generation of new strains. We represent the virus variants using a 4-letter sequence based on amino acid mutations on the spike protein and employ an n-distance algorithm to derive a variant phylogenetic tree. We show that the theoretically-derived tree aligns with experimental data on virus evolution. Additionally, we propose an A-X model, utilizing the set of existing mutation sites (A) and a set of randomly generated sites (X), to calculate the emergence of new strains. Our findings demonstrate that a sufficient number of random iterations can predict the generation of new macro-lineages when the number of sites in X is large enough. These results provide a crucial theoretical basis for understanding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.

We study the connection between the phase and the amplitude of the wave function and the conditions under which this relationship exists. For this we use model of particle in a box. We have shown that the amplitude can be calculated from the phase and vice versa if the log Analytical uncertainty relations are satisfied.

Covariant scalar field quantization, nicknamed $(φ^r)_n$, where $r$ denotes the power of the interaction term and $n=s+1$ where $s$ is the spatial dimension and $1$ adds time. Models such that $r<2n/(n-2)$ can be treated by canonical quantization, while models such that $r>2n/(n-2)$ are trivial, or, if treated as a unit, emerge as `free theories'. Models such as $r=2n/(n-2)$, e.g., $r=n=4$, again using canonical quantization also become `free theories', which must be considered quantum failures. However, there exists a different approach called affine quantization that promotes a different set of classical variables to become the basic quantum operators and it offers different results. It is well-known that the canonical quantization of $\varphi^4_4$ fails. Here is how to fix it along with many other problems.

This study investigates the land surface temperature (LST) distribution from thermal infrared data for analyzing the characteristics of surface coverage using the Vegetation-Impervious-Soil (VIS) approach. A set of ten images, obtained from Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper, between 2001 and 2010, were used to study the urban environmental conditions of 47 neighborhoods of Porto Alegre city, Brazil. Porto Alegre has had the smallest population growth rate of all 27 state capitals in the last two decades in Brazil, with an increase of 11.55% in inhabitants from 1,263 million in 1991 to 1,409 million in 2010. We applied the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory in order to test the influence of the economically-related scenario on the spatial nature of social-environmental arrangement of the city at neighborhood scale. Our results suggest that the economically-related scenario exerts a non-negligible influence on the physically driven characteristics of the urban environmental conditions as predicted by EKC theory. The linear inverse correlation R2 between household income (HI) and LST is 0.36 and has shown to be comparable to all other studied variables. Future research may investigate the relation between other economically-related indicators to specific land surface characteristics.

Children—Dependents in Social Construction Theory—are assessed within democracies regarding their ability to self-direct their behavior concerning their associated society. In this regard, childhood represents a lack of self-direction, a life period when people require the guidance and protection of adults. The assumed necessity of adults supervising children in democracies requires substantial social resources, reducing the self-direction of those charged with overseeing children. Given that self-direction defines the optimal experience of people within democratic society, finding ways to increase the self-direction of children is an individual and a social benefit. In this regard, smartphones have improved self-direction in children. How children have become empowered to self-direct their lives with smartphone use considering Social Construction Theory—as Advantaged, Contenders, or Deviants—is the focus of a scoping review conducted on “children, empowerment, smartphones” of the following databases: OVID, JSTOR, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The result is that children permitted to self-direct their activities aided by smartphone technology have comparable social behavior to adults positioned as Advantaged, Contenders, or Deviants and, as such they should be encouraged to utilize smartphone technology to improve their self-direction, as doing so will augment individual and caregiver self-direction, providing increased social benefit.

This study introduces a method for quantitatively assessing the complexity and predictability of fish behavior in closed systems through the application of information entropy, offering a novel lens to understand how fish adapt to environmental changes. Utilizing simulations rooted in a random walk model for fish movement, we delve into entropy fluctuations under varying environmental conditions, including responses to feeding and external stimuli. Our findings underscore the utility of information entropy in capturing the intricacies of fish behavior, particularly highlighting the synchrony in collective actions and adaptations to environmental shifts. This research not only broadens our comprehension of fish behavior but also paves the way for its application in fields like aquaculture and resource management. Through our analysis, we discovered that smaller grid sizes in simulations capture detailed local fluctuations, while larger grids elucidate general trends, pinpointing a 2.5m grid as optimal for our study. Moreover, changes in swimming speeds and behavioral adaptations during feeding were quantitatively analyzed, with results illustrating significant behavior modifications. Additionally, employing a Gaussian Mixture Model helped to clarify the nuanced changes in fish behavior in response to altered light conditions, demonstrating the layered complexity of fish responses to environmental stimuli. This investigation confirms the efficacy of information entropy as a robust metric for evaluating fish shoal behavior, offering a fresh methodology for ecological and environmental studies, with promising implications for sustainable management practices.

The electron of spin −1/2 is a Dirac fermion of a complex four-component spinor field. Though it is effectively addressed by relativistic quantum field theory, an intuitive form of the fermion still remains lacking and it is often described by the so-called Dirac belt trick. In this novel undertaking, the fermion is examined within the boundary posed by a recently proposed MP model of a hydrogen atom into 4D space-time. Its physicality and transformation to Dirac fermion of four-component spinor is unveiled consistent with Dirac belt trick. The outcomes are compatible with Dirac field theory and other associated features like, SO(3) group to SU(2) transition, quantized Hamiltonian, non-relativistic wave function and Feynman diagrams. The model though speculative could become important towards defining the fundamental state of matter and its field theory subject to further investigations.

Background: Patients undergoing brain tumor resection experience changes to their neurocognitive abilities, many of which can be difficult to predict. We hypothesized that changes in brain connectivity could predict changes in neurocognitive functioning, demonstrating the potential for brain connectivity aware surgical planning to provide enhanced outcomes for patients. Methods: Patients underwent functional and diffusion MR scanning and neuropsychological testing before tumor resection and two weeks post-resection. Using this functional and diffusion imaging, we measured changes in the topology of the functional and structural graph networks, respectively. From the neuropsychological testing scores, we derived a composite score that describes a patient’s overall level of neurocognitive functioning. We then used a multiple linear regression model to test if structural and functional connectivity measures could predict changes in composite scores. Results: Twenty-one subjects completed imaging and neuropsychological evaluation both before and after surgery. The multiple linear regression model showed that changes in functional local efficiency were inversely correlated with changes in composite score (p

The Riemann zeta function plays a crucial role in number theory and its applications. The Riemann Hypothesis (RH) posits that zeros of other than the trivial ones are located on the line defined by the equation Re(s) =1/2. This paper introduces a novel and straightforward proof of the Riemann Hypothesis. The proof employs a standard method, utilizing the eta function in place of the zeta function, under the assumption that the real part is greater than zero. The equation for the real and imaginary parts of the Riemann zeta function (eta function) is completely separated. Initially, let with s= . The value of the real part is determined by solving the equation, and the process is repeated for identifying the potential roots shared by the two functions, a common value is obtained, leading to a =1/2, which represents the real part of the main root of the function ζ(s). By plotting the zeta function for the obtained a, it is determined that the function has a root only at a =1/2. In another analysis, by identifying the roots of the common potential between the two functions ζ(s) and ζ(1-s), a common value is obtained, which leads to a =1/2. This value represents the real part of the main root of the function ζ(s). Additionally, using a standard method and with the help of two functions ζ(s) and ζ(1-s), the real part of the root of the zeta function is obtained. To create a generator function for prime numbers in terms of b, one can solve the root of the zeta function where it equals one (i.e., and obtain a relationship between b’ and prime numbers. Giving the value of zeta equal to one and s' = a' + ib’, similar to zeta equal to zero, the roots are again placed on the line. Then, by using the zeta function defined by multiplying prime numbers, we arrive at a new meaningful relation between b’ and its corresponding prime number is obtained.

Users of escalators and moving walkways with sufficient space to accommodate two lanes of users often follow an implied etiquette for the two lanes: one for walking and one for standing (in the US, China, and many countries, the convention is ``walk left, stand right"). When there is high volume, e.g., when exiting a subway or train station or at the conclusion of an athletic event, the escalators often experience bottleneck congestion that constitutes the primary source of delay. It has been suggested that during such high-congestion periods it would be more efficient if everyone just stood in both lanes, with empirical evidence used to support this counterintuitive finding. Simple deterministic queueing models are used to show under what conditions such results hold and also to provide further insights regarding tradeoffs between performance metrics as a function of the distribution of walkers and standers, which could inform practical implementation policies to increase efficiency.

In this follow-up study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of the “I do not smoke, I exercise”, anti-smoking preventive health education program. The program was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior supplemented with life-skills teaching and targeted at high school students. The intervention comprised ten one-hour online sessions, administered by physical education instructors. The study cohort comprised 222 students (109 boys, 113 girls) from 11 secondary schools, with an average age of 16.42 ± 1.36 years. Data collection involved pre- and post-intervention self-assessment questionnaires. The examined variables included attitudes towards smoking, intention to smoke, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control (PBC), knowledge about smoking, smoking behavior, exercise behavior, attitudes toward the program's implementation, and satisfaction with the program. Separate paired samples t-test revealed a significant improvement in students' knowledge about smoking, perceived behavioral control, and overall program satisfaction following the intervention. However, no significant changes were observed in the remaining variables. These findings suggest that the health education smoking prevention intervention incorporates techniques and strategies that influence the Perceived Behavioral Control variable, emphasizing students' strong interest in educationally theorized programs integrating technology into their design. Future studies should consider further examination of tobacco control strategies within the high school context.

The epistemology of the traditional risk assessment examined has a taxonomy based upon deterministic, behaviouristic and compatibilist methodologies which are likely driven by neo-liberal market related requirements for bigger, faster cheaper wind-turbines. Analysis of available risk assessments suggested that there is no conscious effort to deceive the reader although the intended audience is unclear. The language, and scoring mechanisms utilized indicates the presence of conformity bias, confirmation bias, and numerical inconsistency leading to data ossification. By reverse engineering risk assessment content, Pragmatic and Social Psychological aspects can be investigated, and the adequacy of the document can be evaluated using evidence-based models.

Storage, transmission and processing of data become a significant problem when large digital data files or databases are involved, as in the case of decentralized online global databases such as blockchain. Here we propose a novel method that allows the scalability of digital assets, including blockchain databases in the download, validation and confidentiality process, by developing a lightweight blockchain technology called Entropic Blockchain. This is a computer-implemented mathematical method to generate an information-entropic numerical representation of a digital asset, which can be utilized on its own, or as an optically machine-readable entropic barcode, for data secure transmission, processing, labelling, identification, one-way encryption and compression, validation, and digital tamper-proof check.

In this paper, the synthesis of two novel luminescent Eu3+ ion complexes [Eu(TFT)3(phen) (1) and Eu(TFT)3(bpy)•Hex (2)] based on the combination of 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1-tetralone (TFT), containing n-donor ligands (1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-Bipyridine) and Eu3+ ion is reported herein, and their structural features are discussed on the basis of X-ray crystallographic and thermal analyses. We observed that the ligands transfer energy effectively to the metal center by fluorescence, IR and UV spectrograms studies. The structures and properties of complexes 1-2 were optimized by the DFT theoretical calculation, and the calculation results were consistent with the experimental X-ray structure data and spectral analysis.

It is desirable to upgrade previous evolutionary theories, which have remained incomplete and controversial for decades. Here we employ the concept of carbon-based entities (CBEs), which include methane, amino acids, proteins, organisms, and other entities containing relatively many carbon atoms. We deduce the driving force, mechanisms, steps, modes, tempos of CBE evolution, through integration of biology, physics, and chemistry using logics for complex issues. We hence establish the Carbon-Based Evolutionary Theory (CBET). The CBET suggests that evolution is the increase in hierarchy, diversity, fitness of CBEs under natural selection and driven by thermodynamics due to the chemical effect of the thermodynamic features of the Earth on CBEs. It provides better explanations for life origin, macroevolution events, natural selection, sympatric speciation, and evolution tempos than previous evolutionary theories. It reveals the evolutionary basis of multiple important social notions, including diversity, collaboration, altruism, obeying rules, and proper increase in freedom. It refutes some wrong notions in thermodynamics, including negative entropy (negentropy) and that biological order is equal to thermodynamic order, which have misled many people. The CBET is supported by its deduction and application. It could be a rare bridge linking laws of thermodynamics, evolution of life, and development of human society, and could have great significance in various sciences.

Imperfection sensitivity of large amplitude vibration of curved single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is considered in this study. The SWCNT is modeled as a Timoshenko nano-beam and its curved shape is included as an initial geometric imperfection term in the displacement field. Geometric nonlinearities of von Kármán type and nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen are employed to derive governing equations of motion of nano-beam. Spatial discretization of governing equations and associated boundary conditions is performed using differential quadrature (DQ) method and the corresponding nonlinear eigenvalue problem is iteratively solved. Effects of value and location of the geometric imperfection, and the nonlocal small-scale parameter on the nonlinear frequency ratio and imperfection sensitivity of a curved SWCNT for various boundary conditions are investigated. The results show that the geometric imperfection plays a significant role in the nonlinear vibration characteristics of curved SWCNTs.

This article considers the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development in relation to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. We conceptualize sustainability from a social systemic perspective, that is, from a perspective that encompasses the multiple functionalities of a social system and their interrelationships in particular environmental contexts. The systems perspective is applied in our consideration and analysis of disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), and sustainable development (SD). Section 1 introduces briefly sustainability and sustainable development, followed by a brief presentation of the theory of complex social systems (Section 2). The theory conceptualizes interdependent subsystems, their multiple functionalities, and the agential and systemic responses to internal and external stressors on a social system. Section 3 considers disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), emerging in response to one or more systemic stressors. It illustrates these with disaster risk reduction in the cases of food and chemical security regulation in the EU. CCA is illustrated by initiatives and developments on the island of Gotland, Sweden and in the Gothenburg Metropolitan area, which go beyond a limited CCA perspective, taking into account long-term sustainability issues. Section 4 discusses the limitations of DRR and CCA, not only their technical limitations but economic, socio-cultural, and political limitations, as informed from a sustainability perspective. It is argued that DRRs are only partial subsystems and must be considered and assessed in the context of a more encompassing systemic perspective. Part of the discussion is focused on the distinction between sustainable and non-sustainable DRRs and CCAs. Section 5 presents a few concluding remarks about the importance of a systemic perspective in analyzing DRR and CCA as well as other similar subsystems in terms of sustainable development.

With the aim to produce new heterocycle molecules, the previously reported 2-(aminomethyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one was converted efficiently by reacting with N,N’-dithiocarbonyldiimidazole (DTCI), to produce the substituted imidazolidine-2-thione moiety inserted in a three fused ring scaffold of the title compound. The molecular composition was confirmed by a high-resolution MS experiment, and its structure was elucidated by 1H, 13CNMR, and IR analyses. The thioacetamide form of the product was supported by density functional theory (DFT)-NMR analysis where 13C chemical shifts of thioacetamide form and of its iminothiol tautomer were calculated in chloroform at the BP86 /Jgauss-TZP2 level of theory. The very good linear correlation between 13C chemical shifts by experiment and by calculation for the NHC=S form confirmed the structure.

Local food has continued to become more popular in both the home and as featured ingredients in all segments of food service. Numerous studies have explored the motivating factors for consumer purchasing motivators. However, no known study has explored if there is a correlation between ego and intent to buy local foods. This study adopted a modified version of the Theory of Trying and surveyed a sample of 237 food service buying agents in South Carolina to examine their perceptions of buying local. Results suggest that ego is a predictor of trying to purchase local foods for restaurants. It was also found that the modified model is an acceptable model for predicting buyer intent. These findings support the majority of the studies looking at ego-centric behaviors with green purchases and could potentially help local food suppliers to better market their products to foodservice establishments. This study could also act as the foundation for future studies to explore the full extent of ego’s motivational effect on purchasing intentions in the food service industry.

Background: This study examines the relationship between energy usage, health issues, and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in Kyrgyzstan, amidst the country's commitment to transition from coal-based energy to renewable sources in line with the Paris Agreement. The purpose is to investigate citizens' attitudes towards PEB and their intentions to engage in environmentally friendly actions, focusing on gas, electricity, and coal. Methods: Drawing upon the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework, a survey was conducted among 1,455 respondents to explore attitudes towards PEB and energy sources' impact on health issues. Results: Decarbonization efforts in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia are in their early stages, with coal remaining a primary energy source. The study emphasizes the importance of governmental policies and citizen action in achieving decarbonization goals. Rising electricity costs outweigh the increase in indirect energy costs for food, posing challenges for households in adapting to changing energy dynamics. Conclusions: Targeted interventions and communication strategies are crucial to promote pro-environmental behavior and facilitate the transition to sustainable energy sources. Understanding the relationships between health concerns, air pollution awareness, PEB, and energy source choices can inform policymakers and organizations in their efforts to ensure a sustainable and healthy future for Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries.

The traditional understanding of brain function has predominantly focused on chemical and electrical processes. However, new research in fruit fly (Drosophila) binocular vision reveals ultrafast photomechanical photoreceptor movements significantly enhance information processing, thereby impacting a fly's perception of its environment and behaviour. The coding advantages resulting from these mechanical processes suggest that similar physical motion-based coding strategies may affect neural communication ubiquitously. The theory of neural morphodynamics proposes that rapid biomechanical movements and microstructural changes at the level of neurons and synapses enhance the speed and efficiency of sensory information processing, intrinsic thoughts, and actions by regulating neural information in a phasic manner. We propose that morphodynamic information processing evolved to drive predictive coding, synchronising cognitive processes across neural networks to match the behavioural demands at hand effectively.

The Gaussian signaling strategy with power control for the Gaussian Z-interference channel with weak interference is reviewed in this paper. In particular, we study the various communication strategies that may arise at various points of the capacity region and identify the locations of the phase transitions between the various strategies. The Gaussian Z-interference channel with weak interference is known to have two critical points in its capacity region, where the slope of the region shows a sudden change. They occur at the points of the unconditional maximum rate for one of the users and the maximum rate that can be accommodated by the other user. In this paper, we discuss two additional critical points (locations of phase transitions) in the achievable region of this channel. At these points, we do not observe a discontinuous slope in the achievable rate region, but there is a discontinuity in the second derivative of the rate contour of the achievable region. This review paper is mainly based on some of our ITA (Information Theory and Applications Workshop, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA) papers since 2011.

Asymptotic theories for fractional cointegrations have been extensively studied in the context of time series data, with numerous empirical studies and tests developed. However, most of the previously developed testing procedures for fractional cointegration were primarily designed for time series data. This paper proposes a generalized residual-based test for fractionally cointegrated panels with fixed effects. The test development is based on bivariate panel series with the regressor assumed to be fixed across cross-sectional units. The proposed test procedure accommodates any integration order between [0,1], and it is asymptotically normal under the null hypothesis. Monte Carlo experiments demonstrate that the test exhibits better size and power compared to a similar residual-based test across varying sample sizes.

To improve carbon efficiency for urban logistics service system composed of a third-party logistics service provider (3PLs) and an e-business enterprise, low-carbon operation game between them was studied. Considering low carbon technology investment cost and sales expansion effect of low carbon level, profit functions for both players were constituted. Based on their different bargaining capabilities, totally 5 types of game scenarios were designed. Through analytical solution, Nash Equilibria under varied scenarios were obtained. By analyzing these equilibria, 4 major propositions were given, in which, some key variables and system performance index were compared. Results show that the best system yields could only be achieved under the fully cooperative situation; limited cooperation only for carbon emission reduction would not benefit the system performance improvement; E-business enterprise-leading game’s performance overtook 3PLs-leading ones.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) are non-ionizing radiations typically emitted by power lines, electrical wiring and electrical appliances. Epidemiological studies have repeatedly shown a positive association between ELF-EMFs and childhood leukemia. Exposures greater than 0.3-0.4 µT increase the risk by approximately 1.5-2 fold, and estimates indicate that up to 2% of childhood leukemia cases in Europe may be attributable to ELF-EMFs. However, it is considered unlikely that ELF-EMFs can cause cancer, because carcinogenesis requires the accumulation of DNA alterations and ELF-EMFs do not have enough energy to damage the DNA. Lack of biological plausibility is a barrier to accept the evidence of carcinogenicity in human studies and to take measures to protect pregnant women and children from ELF-EMFs. Recent evidence indicates that non-mutagenic agents can cause DNA alterations and increase the risk of cancer by promoting the accumulation of cell divisions in stem cells. Cell division generates DNA alterations (e.g., mutations arising during DNA replication), which occur even in the absence of DNA-damaging agents. Importantly, ELF-EMFs can trigger the division of stem cells; this effect is under development in the field of regenerative medicine. A possible mechanism by which ELF-EMFs induce the malignant transformation of hematopoietic stem cells is discussed.

In this paper, a proof similar to the Pusey-Barrett-Rudolph (PBR) theorem is given to prove that time in quantum theory is not epistemic but has ontological reality. For this, we first discuss how time can be encoded as an intrinsic property of a quantum system. We prepare a quantum state containing time as an intrinsic property and show by a PBR-type proof that time cannot be an epistemic notion. In fact, the PBR theorem implies an ontic notion of time. Indeed, if the quantum state is a physical property, then quantum state reduction is a physical process involving information destruction. In this case, quantum probabilities are intrinsic probabilities without epistemic origin, and they generate a genuinely new sequence of events. This novelty introduced by quantum probabilities can be interpreted as time.

Considerable efforts have been devoted to modifying gravity, which aim to elucidate the possible existence or nature of dark matter and energy, describe observational data more effectively, and formulate quantum gravity. In addition, despite the immense success of the quantum field theory, the framework requires renormalization techniques and breaks down at high energies. Recently, the Planck legacy 2018 release has confirmed the existence of an enhanced lensing amplitude in the cosmic microwave background power spectra, which prefers a positively curved early Universe with a confidence level higher than 99%. This study considers the implied curvature of the early Universe as the curvature of “the background or 4D conformal bulk as a manifestation of vacuum energy” and distinguishes it from the localized curvature that is induced in the bulk by the presence of celestial objects that are regarded as ”4D relativistic cloud-worlds.” Analogously, because gravity appears to emerge owing to spacetime curvature and does not exhibit critical characteristics shared by other fields, it has been incorporated as the local curvature of the bulk affecting the embedded quantum fields that are regarded as propagating “4D relativistic quantum clouds.” To consider the effects of the bulk on embedded clouds, this paper presents interaction field equations in terms of brane-world modified gravity and the perspective of geometrization of the quantum mechanics wherein gravity is manifested by the curvature of 4D conformal bulk as an indicator of the field strength of vacuum energy on the embedded 4D relativistic clouds in addition to the boundary interactions, which could remove the singularities and satisfy a conformal invariance theory. A visualization of the evolution of the 4D relativistic cloud-worlds over the conformal spacetime of the 4D bulk is presented, whereas the standard said theories can be recovered from the interaction field equations.

Communicating about sex is important in generating positive perceptions about one’s sexual and romantic life. The last decade has provided insight into the theoretical applications on sex communication research. While the focus on extant research focuses on the psychological processes’ individuals employ to talk about sex, no theoretical framework exists that identifies key constructs that provides a parsimonious understanding about the communicative processes of sex and sexuality. This review sought to identified key constructs that are suitable to develop a sex talk theory. In the current project, we reviewed 24 studies including 8,698 participants (Mage = 24.98) that applied a theoretical framework to sex research. This review identified three salient constructs (e.g., disclosure, cognitive, and relational and behavioral) that are important for a sex talk theory. Last, this review indicated that scholarship should explain the relationships between the key constructs. We provided several recommendations that scholars should take when developing a theory in sex communication research.

Assuming a two component, positive and negative mass, superfluid/supersolid for space (the Winterberg model), we model the Higgs field as a condensate made up of a positive and a negative mass, planckion pair. The connection is shown to be consistent (compatible) with the underlying field equations for each field, and the continuity equation is satisfied for both species of planckions, as well as for the Higgs field. An inherent length scale for space (the vacuum) emerges, which we estimate from previous work to be of the order of,

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has spread around the world and killed around 6.9 million people. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential for preventing and controlling the disease, reducing transmission and consequently saving lives. RT-PCR is the gold standard test used to detect the disease. However, the test is expensive and the result is time-consuming, which makes mass testing difficult, especially in countries with limited resources. In addition, the test has high analytical specificity and low diagnostic sensitivity, which leads to false-negative results. Several studies in the literature report the presence of hematological and biochemical alterations in infected patients and use these alterations with machine learning algorithms to help diagnose the disease. Therefore, this article presents the results obtained by different neural network architectures based on Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) for the diagnosis of COVID-19. The study was conducted in two distinct stages: the first consisted of selecting the best ART network among several, using three open-access datasets and comparing the results with the literature. In the second stage, the chosen model was tested on a dataset containing patients from various hospitals in four countries. In addition, the model was subjected to external validation, including data from a country not present during the training and adjustment of the model, in order to validate the robustness and generalization capacity of the model. The results obtained by the ART networks in this study are promising, outperforming not only classical models, but also the deep learning models often used in the literature. Validation on data from different countries strengthens the model’s reliability and effectiveness.

This study explores the impact mechanism of the service-oriented transformation of new energy enterprises on the satisfaction of employee performance evaluation systems under the background of China's electricity market reform. Using CGN New Energy's Guangxi branch as a case study, and adopting the grounded theory method, this research systematically analyzes the influencing factors and action paths of the service-oriented transformation on the satisfaction of employee performance evaluation systems through in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The study finds that the service-oriented transformation significantly enhances employees' sense of professional achievement and skill levels but also increases work pressure and psychological burden. Optimizing the performance evaluation system and improving its fairness and transparency are key to enhancing employee satisfaction. The research results provide a scientific basis for the management practices of new energy enterprises and hold significant reference value for relevant policy-making.

We study a two-echelon supply chain made up of a supplier and a manufacturer, both of which can reduce their component/product carbon emissions. With the vertical technology spillovers, we explore the optimal decisions of centralized and decentralized supply chains with price dependent demand and propose coordination strategy for the decentralized supply chain. Considering the cost contraction effectiveness of the technology spillovers, the centralized and decentralized game theoretic models of a two-echelon supply chain are developed to investigate optimal decisions of pricing and carbon emissions reduction. Through a systematic comparison and numerical analysis, we show that the profits of both players and the entire supply chain improve with the effect of technology spillovers increasing. Carbon emissions reduction will be taken by various protective measures so that the supplier and the manufacturer who do not innovate can hardly share the results of innovating via the “free-riding” methods when the technology spillover is relatively small. We also propose a revenue-cost sharing contract through bargaining to enhance the performance of the decentralized supply chain.

With the development of higher voltage power grid, the high and low voltage parallel loops are emerging, which lead to energy losses, even threaten the security and stability of power system. The multi-infeed HVDC configurations widely appearing in AC/DC interconnected power system make this situation even worse. Aimed at energy saving and system security, a decision optimization method for power grid operating condition with high and low voltage parallel loops is proposed in this paper. Firstly, considering hub substation distribution and power grid structure, parallel loop opening schemes are generated with GN algorithm. Then, candidate opening schemes are preliminarily selected from all these generated schemes based on a filtering index. Finally, with the influence on power system security, stability and operation economy in consideration, an evaluation model for candidate opening schemes is founded based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP). And a fuzzy evaluation algorithm is used to find the optimal scheme. Simulation results of New England 39-bus system and an actual power system validate the effectiveness and superiority of this proposed method.

Graphene oxide (GO) is considered as one of the promising adsorbents for the removal of various heavy metal contaminants in aquatic environment, due to its beneficial structural, chemical and electronic properties. Using the density functional theory (DFT) approach, we investigate the reactivity of a model GO nanoparticule (C30H14O15) toward neutral and charged lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) atoms. We found the model metal-free GO to have a high chemical reactivity. To study the adsorption of the metal atoms on the GO nanoparticle, we have used a single and doubly-adsorbed neutral (Pb0 and Cd0) and charged (Pb2+, Cd2+) atoms. After identified possible adsorption sites on the GO, we found that a single charged metal ion binds more strongly than a neutral atom of the same type. To determine the possibility of multiple adsorptions of GO nanoparticle, two metal atoms of the same species are co-adsorbed on its surface. Our calculations reveals a site-dependent adsorption energy such that when two atoms of the same specie are adsorbed at sites Si and Sj , the binding energy per atom depends on the whether one of the two atoms is adsorbed firstly on the Si or Sj sites. It is also found that the binding energy per atom for two co-adsorbed atoms of the same specie is less than the binding energy of a singly-adsorbed atom which suggests that atoms may become less likely to be adsorbed on the GO nanoparticle when their concentrations increase. This applies to both neutral and charged atoms. We adduce the origin of this observation to be interplay between metal-metal interaction on the one hand and GO-metal on the other, with the former resulting in a less binding for the charged adsorbed metals in particular, due to repulsive interaction between two positively charged ions. The frontier molecular orbitals analysis and the calculated global reactivity descriptors of the respective GO- metal complexes revealed that all the GO-metal complexes have a smaller HOMO-LUMO gap (HLG) relative to that of pristine metal-free GO nanoparticle. This suggests that although the GO-metal complexes are stable, they are less stable compared to metal-free GO nanoparticles. The negative values of the chemical potentials obtained for all the GO-metal complexes further confirms their stability. Our work calculates parameters that will be crucial to rational design of GO nanoparticles for Pb abd Cd ions contaminants removal, and may find application in water purification for example.

There is a continuous interest in cannabinoids like Δ9-tetrahydro cannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). A patent of Webster et al., described the conversion of CBD to either D8-THC or D9-THC, depending on the acid catalyst applied. The use of para-toluene sulfonic acid (pTSA) led to the formation of D8-THC, while boron trifluoride etherate (BF3·Et2O) yielded mainly D9-THC. The enormous difference in product selectivity between these two catalysts was investigated with Molecular Modeling. It was found that pTSA leads to fast isomerization of Δ9-CBD to Δ8-CBD and subsequent ring closure to Δ8-THC. BF3·Et2O catalysis leads to the formation of tertiary carbenium ions in the Transition States which yield D9-THC and some iso D8-THC. Under dry conditions in refluxing toluene, it was found that pTSA is predominantly present as a dimer, and only a small fraction is available as monomeric catalyst. Applying the computationally derived activation barriers in Transition State theory yielded reaction rates predicting amounts of cannabinoids that are in close agreement with the experimental findings.

Objectives: Aim to assess the perceptions of virtual learning among dental residents and faculty and employ Regulatory Focus Theory (RFT) to understand the impact of motivational orientations on virtual learning during COVID pandemic. Methods: 46 dental residents and 10 faculty in Upstate New York participated in the study (June -August 2021). Questionnaires were used to collect demographics, perceptions of virtual learning, burnout, and RFT types (promotion and prevention focus). Multiple regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with perceptions of virtual learning and burnout. Results: Overall, 70% of residents and 44% of faculty found virtual learning effective. Younger residents with less experience preferred virtual learning more than their older, experienced peers. Residents trained outside the U.S. and Canada favored in-person learning more than those trained within. Furthermore, residents with a higher promotion focus score found virtual learning more interactive for didactic courses. Additionally, 52% of residents experienced burnout, with a higher incidence among females (p=0.044). Conclusions: Virtual learning is well-received by dental residents and faculty, with potential for continued use post-pandemic. Future efforts should focus on creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment that meets the motivational and well-being needs of dental residents and faculty.

This study delves into the intricate social dynamics beneath South Kalimantan's traditional diamond mines, revealing a potential for conflict amidst the promise of economic uplift. Going beyond conventional economic and environmental perspectives, the research employs Galtung's Conflict Theory, examining the interplay of attitudes, behaviours, norms, values, and political influences. By adopting this nuanced approach, the study unveils hidden fault lines within these communities, providing a comprehensive understanding of how diverse factors converge to create discord. The consequences of unaddressed conflict include shattered livelihoods, environmental degradation, and fractured communities. The study employs rigorous quantitative methods to empower stakeholders in proactive conflict management, including questionnaires and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with data from 400 respondents. The findings underscore the significant roles of behaviours, attitudes, norms, and politics in fueling tension, with values demonstrating surprisingly less direct influence. This insight is a roadmap for conflict prevention and sustainable development, allowing stakeholders to tailor interventions based on specific conflict-driving factors. The study urges a shift from reactive to proactive measures, envisioning a future where prosperity continues to glimmer and communities thrive in harmony, free from conflict.

Modern exchange theories model a large market, but do not explain single exchange. The paper considers the phenomenon of single exchange and formulates the general exchange problem in the form of a system of two equations, subjective and objective. Subjective equilibrium is given by the Walras-Jevons marginal utility equation. Objective equilibrium equations by Walras and Jevons are averaged over all transactions in the market and can only give a rough general picture without explaining the specific price of an individual exchange. An exchange micro-condition must be found that, when averaged, will give the Walras market equilibrium macro-condition. The study of the internal structure of exchange leads to the need to consider power. The concept of generalized power is introduced. It is generalized power that serves as the primary comparable and measurable objective basis of exchange. The power theory of exchange provides the objective price-equation. It is demonstrated that money is a measure of generalized power in exchange and a certification of generalized power in subsequent exchanges. The proposed theory is able to uniformly explain any exchange, including a single one, which is impossible with the existing theories of exchange.

This paper investigates the influence of magnetic field for a two dimensional deformations on a two temperature problem at the free surface of a semi-infinite semiconducting medium under the effect of mechanical force during a photothermal theory and the effect of hydrostatic initial stress on the medium. The Harmonic Wave Method (Normal Mode Analysis) has been used to obtain the equations of elastic waves, heat conduction equation, quasi-static electric field, carrier density, two temperature coefficient, ratios, and constitutive relationships for the thermo-magnetic-electric medium. The effects of several parameters as thermoelastic and thermoelectric coupling parameters and two temperature parameter of this force on the displacement component, force stress, carrier density and temperature distribution has been depicted graphically.

Real-time object detection remains a pivotal topic in the realm of computer vision. Balancing the accuracy and speed of object detectors poses a formidable challenge for both academic researchers and industry practitioners. While recent transformer-based models have showncase the prowess of the attention mechanism, delivering remarkable performance improvements over CNNs, their computational demands can hinder their effectiveness in real-time detection tasks. In this paper, we elect to use YOLOX as our robust starting point and introduce a series of effective enhancements, culminating in a new high-performance detector named YOLOAX. To further exploit the power of the attention mechanism, we devise multi-dimensional attention-based modules that activate CNNs, emphasizing the most pertinent regions and bolstering the capacity to learn the most informative image representations from feature maps. Moreover, we introduce a novel leading label assignment strategy called STA, along with a groundbreaking loss function named GEIOU Loss, to further refine our detector's performance. We provide extensive ablation studies on the COCO and PASCAL VOC 2012 detection datasets to validate our proposed methods. Remarkably, our YOLOAX is trained solely on the MS-COCO dataset from scratch, without leveraging any prior knowledge, which achieves an impressive 54.2% AP on the COCO 2017 test set while maintaining a real-time speed of 72.3 fps, surpassing YOLOX by a significant margin of 3.0% AP. Our source code and pre-trained models are openly accessible at https://github.com/KejianXu/yoloax.

It is shown that if there exists in nature a pair of heavy elementary particles each with a charge equal to that of the proton and with mass energy , then their direct interaction gives rise to a spontaneous fractionation of the two charges into three pairs of elementary particles according to two equiprobable channels, one hadronic and one leptonic. The leptons and quarks produced are in agreement with the first generation of the Standard Model of matter. Fractionation suggests the relative abundances of the elementary particles, introducing some questions about the possibility of the real existence of a currently unknown particle and its role in the formation of an apparent matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe.

This article delves into the enduring relevance of Liberal International Relations (IR) Theory amidst persistent criticisms regarding power dynamics and its applicability in emerging states. Despite its detractors, Liberal IR Theory offers a nuanced understanding of state behavior, blending social contexts with power dynamics. It recognizes the intricacies of economic interdependence and advocates for a balanced approach in advancing democracy and human rights. While nationalism poses challenges to international institutions, their adaptability endures. Leaders, albeit constrained, retain the capacity to foster peace through visionary leadership and global cooperation. By acknowledging its limitations and fostering open dialogue, Liberal IR Theory continues to evolve, poised to contribute to a just and peaceful global order.

When experiencing a variety of family negative events, families recognized as having high family resilience maintain and improve family functioning. It is important, therefore, to be able to assess families lacking in family resilience in order to prevent, reduce, or ameliorate family symptoms. The purpose of this study was to clarify the state of exerted family resilience in order to create an assessment scale for insufficiencies in family resilience (IFR). Family resilience is defined as “when a family becomes aware of family symptoms, its power to autonomously and actively improve its own family functions.” The results of a literature review of 22 cases from 16 studies on family resilience and the results of 28 semi-structured interviews with 28 parenting-age families in Japan were qualitatively categorized, and directed content analysis was conducted based on the Concentric Sphere Family Environment Theory. A total of 157 labels, with a total of 23 categories and 47 subcategories, such as “Can utilize relatives,” “Family members can communicate with members of other families,” “Family members can share information,” “All family members can communicate with one another,” “All family members can cooperate with one another,” and “Can share time with family,” was revealed. Thus, a variety of diverse aspects contributing to a family’s resilience, including family member interactions, entire family interactions, use of social resources, and religious and spiritual support, were revealed. The results of this study should be linked to the creation of the IFR.

An explanation of aerodynamic lift still is under controversial discussion as can be seen, for example, in a recent published article in Scientific American [1]. In contrast to an approach via integral conservation laws we here review an approach via the classical Kutta-Condition and its relation to boundary layer theory. Thereby we summarize known results for viscous correction to the lift coefficient for thin aerodynamic profiles and try to remember the work on triple-deck or higher order Boundary Layer theory, its connection to interactive boundary layer theory, viscous/inviscid coupling as implemented to well-known engineering code Xfoil. Finally we compare its findings to simple 2D numerical solution of full Navier Stokes equations (CFD)models. As a conclusion, a clearer definition of terms like understanding and explanation applied to the phenomenon of aerodynamic lift will be given.

In our previous papers [1,3], using only the concepts of the zero-point energy and quantized space–times, all the fields including gravity were explained. However, the previous papers had the following limitations: First, the concept of the quantized space-time must be experimentally confirmed. Second, we should clarify the meaning of the quantized Einstein’s gravity equation, which is derived in [1]. Moreover, in another paper [2], we succeeded in describing the neutrinos’ self-energy and their oscillations. However, this paper assumes the rest energy of 3-leptons in advance, which is why we needed to uncover the reason why leptons have 3-generations. As mentioned, using the concepts of the zero-point energy and quantized space–times, we derived the quantized Einstein’s gravity equation in our previous paper [1]. The paper provides an analytical solution of this equalized Einstein’s equation, which implies the conservation of angular momentum in terms of quantized space–times. Employing this solution and without the standard big bang model, a unique form of acceleration equation for the acceleration-expansion universe is derived. Moreover, the temperature of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) emission is also obtained. Further, this solution results in an analytical (not numerical) derivation of the gravity wave. Moreover, based on the configuration of quantized space–times in terms of both electric and magnetic fields, we analytically attempted to calculate every equation in terms of electromagnetic and gravity fields, using the solution of the quantized Einstein’s gravity equation. As a result of this theory, first the calculated acceleration and temperature of CMB emission agree with the measurements. Furthermore, the analytical solution of the quantized Einstein’s gravity equation resulted in all the laws of electromagnetic and gravity fields in addition to the analytically derived gravity wave, which agrees well with the recent measurements. Moreover, the calculations of the energies in the basic configuration of the quantized space–times resulted in all 3-leptons’ rest energies. Considering this basic configuration is uniformly distributed everywhere in the universe, we can conclude that τ-particles or static magnetic field energy derived from the basic configuration of the quantized space–times is the identity of dark energy, which also distributes uniformly in the universe.

Stueckelberg-Horwitz-Piron (SHP) electrodynamics formalizes the distinction between coordinate time (measured by laboratory clocks) and chronology (temporal ordering) by defining 4D spacetime events x^μ as functions of an external evolution parameter τ. Classical spacetime events x^μ (τ) evolve as τ grows monotonically, tracing out particle worldlines dynamically and inducing the five U(1) gauge potentials through which events interact. Since Lorentz invariance imposes time reversal symmetry on x⁰ but not τ, the formalism resolves grandfather paradoxes and related problems of irreversibility. The action involves standard first order field derivatives but includes a higher order τ derivative that while preserving gauge and Lorentz invariance removes certain singularities and makes the related QFT super-renormalizable. The resulting field equations are Maxwell-like but τ-dependent and sourced by a current that represents a statistical ensemble of instantaneous events distributed along the worldline. The width λ of this distribution defines a correlation time for the interactions and a mass spectrum for the photons that carry the interaction. As λ becomes very large, the photon mass goes to zero and the field equations become τ-independent Maxwell’s equations. Maxwell theory thus emerges as an equilibrium limit of SHP, in which λ is larger than any other relevant time scale. Particles and fields are not constrained to mass shells in SHP theory, and by exchanging mass may produce pair creation/annihilation processes at the classical level. On-shell evolution with fixed particle masses is restored through a self-interaction associated with the 5D wave equation.

The relationship between nations is largely seen as a peripheral issue in the recent history of political philosophy and in the majority of discussions of political philosophy issues today. The idea of a universal natural state were countries are seen as essentially self-sufficient, functional units, and have been proposed to represent the relative lack of moral standards guiding relationships between nations. At one extreme of the tradition, international thought has substituted raison d'état being the highest norm for any universal laws governing relations between states, a view embodied by Machiavelli, Rodin, and others and Hobbes , The lack of supranational political powers has led to the conclusion that, even in cases where the possibility of international moral relationships has been acknowledged, such as in post-Grotian publications on international law, these ties are significantly weaker than in-tranational social bonds. The justification and aversion to war—the primary mode of social in-teraction in the natural condition of the world—is the only issue in the field of global relations to have received substantial theoretical study. Even though this disregard was justified in the past, a number of recent events force us to re-consider the "recalcitrance of international affairs to being theorized about."2. The growing gap between both prosperous and impoverished nations; the emergence of centers of economic in-fluence beyond the reach of effective state regulation; the emergence of severe food and energy shortages brought on, at least in part, by national governments' pursuit of disorganized and uncontrolled growth policies; the growing sensitivity of domestic Countries to the outside eco-nomic, political, and cultural events are some of these developments , requests from third-world nations for greater equal access to international politics and economy. To put it in terms more familiar to conversations about this topic, the rise of "low politics" in negotiation and "welfare questions" within global forums corresponds with the growing influence of transnational con-nections and international agreements on human well-being. Not because "high politics"—that is, the threat and prevention of war—has lost significance; rather, it is just one issue among many for which international cooperation is now required in order to find answers.

This study aims to explain individual engagement in sustainable waste management behaviors (SWMBs) based on the application of protection motivation theory (PMT). SWMBs include waste avoidance, green purchasing behavior, reuse and recycle, and waste disposal behaviors. This study applies PMT to explore how individuals’ SWMBs are influenced by their perceived threats caused by environmental contamination from waste disposal and their perceived coping capability. The Bangkok metropolitan area was selected as a case study because it has faced serious waste management problems caused by massively increasing amounts of solid waste during the last ten years. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with 193 public and private officers residing in the city of Bangkok. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to justify the effect of individual threat appraisal and coping appraisal on the engagement in SWMBs. The results demonstrated that respondents’ self-efficacy highly influenced all types of SWMBs. The perceived probability of being impacted from pollutants influenced all of the SWMBs except green purchasing behaviors. Response efficacy did not influence all SWMBs; however, the perceived severity of adverse consequences caused by pollutants highly influenced reuse and recycle behaviors. It could be suggested that PMT is well suited for investigating low-cost and simple SWMBs. It could also be suggested that different communication campaigns should be established to enhance citizens’ engagement in each type of SWMB.

Body-centered cubic bismuth (Bi) is considered an enticing pressure marker, and therefore it is highly desirable to command its accurate equation of state (EOS). However, significant discrepancies are noted among the previous experimental EOSs. In the present work, the EOS up to 300 GPa is theoretically obtained by direct solving the partition function via a direct integral approach (DIA). The calculated results nearly reproduce the hydrostatic experimental measurements below 75 GPa, and the deviations from the measurements gradually get larger with increasing pressure. Based on the ensemble theory of equilibrium state, DIA works with high precision particularly in high-pressure conditions, so the hydrostatic EOS presented in this work is expected to be a reliable pressure standard.

The mental health impact of the environmental crisis, particularly eco-anxiety, is a growing research topic whose measurement still lacks consensus. In this article, we use item response theory (IRT) to better un-derstand what existing questionnaires measure. To conduct this review, we used open-access data from the short French version of the Climate Change Anxiety Questionnaire (Mouguiama-Daouda et al. 2022, Heeren et al., 2023). Our results suggest that, of the different models tested, the unidimensional model seems to be the most appropriate for measuring eco-anxiety. The item difficulty parameter extracted from the IRT enabled us to discuss the level of severity of the items making up this tool. The Climate Change Anxiety Questionnaire is more appropriate for measuring severe to moderately severe eco-anxiety. Ave-nues for improving this questionnaire and the measurement of eco-anxiety in general are then discussed.

An H-bond involves the sharing of a hydrogen atom between an electronegative atom to which it is covalently bound (the donor) and another electronegative atom serving as an electron acceptor. Such bonds represent a critically important geometrical force in biological macromolecules and, as such, have been characterized extensively. H-bond formation invariably leads to a weakening within the acceptor moiety due to the pulling exerted by the donor hydrogen. This phenomenon can be compared to a spring connecting two masses; pulling one mass stretches the spring, similarly affecting the bond between the two masses. Herein, we describe the opposite phenomenon when investigating the energetics of the C-H...O=C bond. This bond underpins the most prevalent protein transmembrane dimerization motif (GxxxG) in which a glycine C-H on one helix forms a hydrogen bond with a carbonyl in a nearby helix. We use isotope-edited FT-IR spectroscopy and corroborating computational approaches to demonstrate a surprising strengthening of the acceptor C=O bond upon binding with the glycine C-H. We show that electronic factors associated with the C-H bond strengthen the C=O oscillator by increasing the s-character of the -bond, lowering the hyperconjugative disruption of the -bond. In addition, a reduction of the acceptor C=O bond’s polarity is observed upon the formation of the C-H...O=C bond. Our findings challenge the conventional understanding of H-bond dynamics and provide new insights into the structural stability of inter-helical protein interactions.

A proxy war, between a coalition of countries, BLUE and a country, RED, is considered. RED wants to increase the size of the RED territory. BLUE wants to involve more regions in trade and other types of cooperation. GREEN is a small and independent nation that wants to become a member of BLUE. RED attacks GREEN and tries to invade. BLUE decides to give optimal arms support to GREEN. This support can help GREEN in the war against RED and simultaneously reduce the military power of RED, which is valuable to BLUE, also outside this proxy war, since RED may confront BLUE also in other regions. The optimal control problem of dynamic arms support, from the BLUE perspective, is defined in general form. The objective function is a weighted sum of the present value of the free GREEN territory and the present value to BLUE of the net loss of military resources in the RED army. The net loss of RED at a particular point in time is a function of the location of the front line and the size of the mobile GREEN forces behind the RED line. First, it is assumed that the expected net loss is proportional to the force ratio behind the red front line. It is proved that the net loss function is a strictly concave quadratic function of x, the location of the front line. It is also proved that the unique maximum of the net loss function occurs at the same front location, also if the net loss function is proportional to the strength ratio behind the RED lines, raised to any strictly positive exponent. From the BLUE perspective, there is an optimal position of the front. This position is a function of the weights in the objective function and all other parameters. Optimal control theory is used to determine the optimal dynamic BLUE strategy, conditional on a RED strategy, which is observed by BLUE military intelligence. The optimal arms support strategy for BLUE is to initially send a large volume of arms support to GREEN, to rapidly move the front to the optimal position. Then, the support should be almost constant during most of the war, keeping the war front location stationary. In the final part of the conflict, when RED will have almost no military resources left and tries to retire from the GREEN territory, BLUE should strongly increase the arms support and make sure that GREEN rapidly can regain the complete territory and end the war

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.