Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are vascular anomalies resulting in abnormal connection between pulmonary arteries and veins. In 80% of cases, PAVMs are present from birth, but clinical manifestations are rarely seen in childhood. These congenital malformations are typically associated with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), a rare disease that affects 1 in 5,000/8,000 individuals. HHT disease is frequently caused by mutations in genes involved in the TGF-β pathway. However, approximately 15% of patients do not have a genetic diagnosis and, among the genetically diagnosed, more than 33% do not meet the Curaçao Criteria. This makes clinical diagnosis even more challenging in the pediatric age group. Here, we introduce an 8 years old patient bearing a severe phenotype of multiple diffuse PAVMs caused by an unknown mutation which ended in lung transplantation. Phenotypically, the case of study follows a molecular pattern HHT-like. Therefore, molecular biology and cellular functional analysis has been performed in primary endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from the explanted lung. The findings revealed a loss of functionality in lung endothelial tissue and a stimulation of endothelial to mesenchymal transition. Understanding the molecular basis of this transition could potentially offer new therapeutic strategies to delay lung transplantation in severe cases.

Transition to renewable energy has been recognized as a crucial step to addressing climate change and achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets, but it can also cause energy sprawl if not planned properly. Clean renewable energy communities (CREC) are emerging globally as an approach for decentralized energy systems and an alternative to traditional centralized energy systems. CREC aims to lower the energy carbon footprint, enhance local energy resilience, and improve the quality of life of residents. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study reviews metrics that can assess the impact of energy transition plans and support decision-making to select technologies that create efficient, reliable, and accessible energy systems. It classifies these metrics into a five-dimensional sustainability approach: environmental, technical, social, economic, political and institutional. The paper proposes a conceptual framework to guide decision-makers in recognizing the role of sustainable land development, sustainable energy planning, and resiliency as an integrated approach to energy transition planning. This framework stresses mapping the place-based potential for clean renewable energy at various scales, highlights the importance of resilience in energy planning, and addresses challenges associated with energy source selection, built environment efficiency, and energy trade. While the framework can serve as a starting point for evaluating energy transition plans, further work is needed to address the limitations of existing metrics and identify additional evaluations for energy mixed land use that are critical to managing energy sprawl on ecosystem services and other land uses.

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

A combination of Poloxamer 407 (P407) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) hydrosols is proposed as an in situ thermo-gelling vehicle for the nasal drug delivery of chlorhexidine-silver nanoparticles conjugates (SN-CX). Varying ratios of P407 and HPMC were applied in the presence and absence of SN-CX in order to optimize the gelation temperature (Tg) to values close to the physiological nasal such (30–34°C). Mechanisms for the observed gelation phenomena were suggested based on viscosimetry, texture analysis, and dynamic light scattering. Tests were carried out for sprayability, washout time, in vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation, and antimicrobial activity. When applied separately, HPMC was found to lower the P407 gelation temperature, whereas SN-CX increased it. However, in the presence of HPMC, SN-CX interfered with the P407 micellar organization in a principally contrasting way, while leading to an even further decrease in Tg. SN-CX-loaded nasal formulation composed of P407 16% and HPMC 0.1% demonstrated a desired gelation at 31.9 °C, good sprayability (52.95% coverage of the anterior nasal cavity), mucoadhesion for 70 min under simulated nasal clearance, expedient release and permeation, and preserved anti-infective activity against seasonal Influenza virus and beta-coronavirus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and other pathogens. Our findings suggest that the current development could be considered a potential formulation of a protective nasal spray against respiratory infections.

Inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution was used to determine the surface thermodynamic properties of silica particles and PMMA adsorbed on silica, and more particularly, to quantify the London dispersive energy γsd, the Lewis acid γs+ and base γs- polar surface energies of PMMA/silica composites as a function of the temperature and the recovery fraction θ of PMMA. The polar acid–base surface energy γsAB and the total surface energy of the different composites were then deduced as a function of the temperature. In this paper, the Hamieh thermal model was used to quantify the surface thermodynamic energy of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) adsorbed on silica particles at different recovery fractions. A comparison of the new results was carried out with those obtained by applying other molecular models of the surface areas of organic molecules adsorbed on the different solid substrates. An important deviation of these molecular models from the thermal model was proved. The determination of γsd, γs+, γs-, and γsAB of PMMA in both bulk and adsorbed phases showed an important non-linearity variation of these surface parameters as a function of the temperature. The presence of maxima in the curves of γsd(T) highlighted the second order transition temperatures in PMMA showing beta-relaxation, glass transition and liquid-liquid temperatures. These three transition temperatures depended on the adsorption rate of PMMA on silica. The proposed method gave a new relation between the recovery fraction of PMMA and its London dispersive energy showing an important effect of the temperature on the surface energy parameters of adsorption of PMMA on silica. A universal equation relating γsd(T,θ) of the systems PMMA/silica to the recovery fraction and the temperature was proposed.

In the context of the minimally extended varying speed of light (meVSL) model, both the absolute magnitude and the luminosity distance of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) differ from those predicted by general relativity (GR). Utilizing the Pantheon+ data, we examine the plausibility of various dark energy models under meVSL. Both ωCDM and CPL parameterization dark energy (DE) models exhibit indications of cosmic variations in the speed of light at the 1-σ level. For Ωm0=0.30,0.31, and 0.32 with (ω0,ωa)=(−1,0), the 1-σ range of c˜˙0/c˜0(10−13yr−1) is (-8.76 , -0.89), (-11.8 , 3.93), and (-14.8 , -6.98), respectively. Meanwhile, the 1-σ range of c˜˙0/c˜0(10−12yr−1) for CPL dark energy models with −1.05≤ω0≤−0.95 and 0.28≤Ωm0≤0.32, is (-6.31 , -2.98). The value of c˜ at z=3 can exceed that of the present by 0.2∼3 % for ωCDM models and 5∼13 % for CPL models. Additionally, for viable models except for the CPL model with Ωm0=0.28, we find −25.6≤G˜˙0/G˜0(10−12yr−1)≤−0.36. For this particular model, we obtain an increasing rate of the gravitational constant within the range 1.65≤G˜˙0/G˜0(10−12yr−1)≤3.79.

The triplet excited state reactivity towards phenolic hydrogen of the -diketones benzil and 2,2´-furil in the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [bmim.PF6] was investigated employing the nanosecond laser flash photolysis technique. Irradiation (lmax=355 nm) of benzil yields its triplet excited state with lmax at 480 nm and tT=9.6 μs. Under the same conditions, 2,2’-furil shows a triplet-triplet absorption spectrum with bands at 380, 410, 450, and 650 nm and tT=1.4 μs. Quenching rate constants (kq) of the reaction between benzil triplet and substituted phenols ranged from 1.4x107 L mol-1 s-1 (para-chlorophenol) to 1.8x108 L mol-1 s-1 (para-methoxyphenol). A new transient was formed in all cases, assigned to the benzil ketyl. Similar results were obtained for the quenching of 2,2’-furil triplet by phenols, for which kq ranged from 1.9x108 L mol-1 s-1 (para-chlorophenol) to 2.2x108 L mol-1 s-1 (para-methoxyphenol). The 2,2’-furil ketyl radical was also observed in all cases (lmax=380 nm). The quenching rate constants are almost independent of the substituent and diffusion-controlled (kq ~ 108 L mol-1 s-1). The proposed mechanism for the phenolic hydrogen abstraction by benzil and 2,2´-furil triplet may involve a proton-coupled electron transfer reaction, ultimately leading to the radical pair ketyl/aryloxyl.

This paper describes an entropy equation that can be used for measuring energy. It originated from measuring economy in AI models, where the assumption would be that any organic system makes use of energy efficiency to form its structures. Looking at clustering and cohesion resulted in the equation E = (mean * variance). It was apparent however, that it was a very generic type of equation and it could be adjusted so that distance represents mean. This new version was applied to the domain of physics and the universe, when the equation can support the idea that work is done through the energy released by the 'change' in entropy. A comparison with Einstein's relativity equation is made and also the audacious suggestion that a black hole has only potential energy inside, which converts to kinetic energy after a Big Bang, for example. From that suggestion, a universal theory about state change can be made.

The current state-of-the-art does not provide a universal and rapid method of determining the state of health (SOH) of a battery or a supercapacitor without carefully examining the degradation of hundreds of full charge/discharge cycles. Lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries and supercapacitors of different cell chemistries were studied by impedance spectroscopy during lifetime tests. Faradaic and capacitive charge storage are distinguished by the relationships between stored electric charge and capacitance. For batteries, impedance spectroscopy is best applicable in the flat region of the voltage-charge curve. An approximately linear correlation between pseudocapacitance and Ah capacity is observed as long as overcharge and deep discharge are avoided. The correct calculation of quantities related to complex impedance and differential capacitance is outlined – which may also be useful as an introductory text and tutorial for newcomers to the field. Novel diagram types are proposed for the purpose of instant performance and failure diagnosis of batteries and supercapacitors.

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is defined as a cellular process during which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal phenotypes and behavior following the downregulation of epithelial features. EMT and its reversed process, the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), and the special form of EMT, the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), have been thought as a universal dogma controlling developmental and pathological processes. More than half a century of EMT study has made it a large research field and a mainstream concept. However, discrepancies and disputes over EMT and EMT research have also grown over time. Particularly, neither the epithelial and mesenchymal states/properties nor their regulatory networks nor specific markers have been defined, rendering the EMT, MET and EndMT concepts groundless. Moreover, EMT and MET effects should not be a cause, but rather a consequence of or an accompanying effect during developmental and pathological processes. EMT and MET represented by the change in cell shapes or adhesiveness or symbolized by EMT factors are biased interpretation of the overall change in cellular property and regulatory networks during development and cancer progression. The true meaning of EMT effects in some developmental and pathological processes, such as fibrosis, needs re-evaluation. But the core EMT factors are actually a few components of the regulatory networks of neural stemness, which determines tumorigenicity and pluripotency. The EMT effects in cancer progression and neural crest formation are wrong attribution of the role of neural stemness during cancer progression and the cell-intrinsic property of neural crest cells to the unknown mesenchymal state. It is time to reassess the significance of EMT and its related concepts in scientific research.

Time series forecasting has been a challenging area in the field of Artificial Intel-ligence. Various approaches such as linear Neural Networks, Recurrent Linear Neural Networks, Convolutional Neural Networks and recently Transformers have been attempted for the time series forecasting domain. Although, Trans-former-based architectures have been outstanding in the Natural Language Pro-cessing domain, especially in autoregressive language modeling, the initial at-tempts to use transformers in the time series arena have met with mixed success. One of the recent papers demonstrated that modeling the multi-variate time se-ries problem as independent channels on a transformer architecture produced lower mean square and mean absolute errors on benchmarks, however, another recent paper claimed that a simple linear neural network out-performs previous approaches including transformer-based designs. We investigate this paradox in detail comparing the linear Neural Network and Transformer based designs, provide insights to why a certain approach may be better for a particular type of problem. We also improve upon the recently proposed simple linear Neural Network based architecture by using dual pipelines with batch normalization and reversible instance normalization. Our enhanced architecture outperforms all existing architectures for time series forecasting on majority of the popular benchmarks.

The crust region is a tiny fraction of neutron stars, but it has a variety of physical properties and plays an important role in astronomical observations. One of the properties characterizing the crust is the elasticity. In this review, with the approach of asteroseismology, we systematically examine neutron star oscillations excited by crust elasticity, adopting the Cowling approximation. In particular, by identifying the quasi-periodic oscillations observed in magnetar flares with the torsional oscillations, we make a constraint on the nuclear saturation parameters. In addition, we also discuss how the shear and interface modes depend on the neutron star properties. Once one detects an additional signal associated with neutron star oscillations, one can get a more severe constraint on the saturation parameters and/or neutron star properties, which must be a qualitatively different constraint obtained from terrestrial experiments, and help us to complementarily understand astrophysics and nuclear physics.

The present exploratory study tested the hypothesis that computerized cognitive training (CCT) in home telemonitoring may beneficially affect eyes-closed resting-state electroencephalographic (rsEEG) rhythms in Parkinson's disease patients with cognitive deficits (PDCD). A Eurasian database provided clinical-demographic-rsEEG datasets in 40 PDCD patients, 29 PD patients without cognitive deficits (PDNCD), 40 Alzheimer’s disease patients with cognitive deficits (ADCD), and 40 cognitively normal older adults (Healthy). Sixteen of the 40 PDCD patients completed a cross-over unsupervised CCT program of simple, serious video games (versus a sham program) consisting of 14 daily sessions of approximately 20 minutes each in the patients' homes. Compared to the Healthy, PDNCD, and ADCD groups, the PDCD group was characterized by greater diffuse rsEEG delta (about 2-4 Hz) and theta (about 4-7 Hz) source activity. The PDCD patients who underwent the CCT program showed an improvement in video game performance and a reduction in these delta-theta source activities after this program compared to the control condition. In conclusion, these results suggest that the 2-week CCT program in home telemonitoring may mitigate the abnormal “slowing” of rsEEG rhythms in PDCD patients, possibly enhancing the regulation of brain arousal and quiet vigilance.

This research was devoted to study the effect of the tacticity of PMMA on the surface physicochemical properties such as the London dispersive component of the surface energy of the polymer, the polar and dispersive free energies, the Lewis’s acid-base surface parameters, and the Lewis acid and base surface energies of atactic, isotactic and syndiotactic PMMAs as a function of the temperature. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution was used to determine the surface thermodynamic properties of PMMA at different tacticities. The experimental values of the net retention time and volume of model organic molecules adsorbed on the atactic, isotactic and syndiotactic PMMAs, were obtained by IGC technique at infinite dilution. The London dispersion interaction energy was used for the separation of the polar and dispersive energy of the different n-alkanes and polar solvents adsorbed on the different PMMA surfaces. The London dispersive surface energy γ_s^d (T) of PMMAs was determined by applying the Hamieh thermal model that took into account the effect of the temperature on the surface area of adsorbed molecules. The obtained results showed non-linear variations of γ_s^d (T) of atactic, isotactic, and syndiotactic PMMAs with three maxima characterizing the three transition temperatures of PMMAs, T_g, T_g and T_(liq-liq) with a shift of these temperatures with the isotactic and syndiotactic PMMAs. It was showed that the polar interaction free energy ∆G_a^p (T) also showed the presence of the three above transition temperatures of the polymers. The study showed an important non-linearity variation of the different acid-base parameters in the various polymer surfaces proving the highest effect of the temperature and the tacticity on these parameters. The determination of the enthalpic and entropic Lewis’s acid-base parameters showed an amphoteric character for the different PMMAs. The basicity of the atactic PMMA was about four times larger than its acidity outside the neighborhood of the transition temperatures of the polymer. Whereas, the isotactic PMMA was about 2 to 2.5 times more basic than acid, while the syndiotactic PMMA exhibited the highest basicity by showing a surface 5 to 8 times more basic than acid. However, the Lewis acid-base parameters strongly depended on the temperature and sudden variations of these surface parameters were observed around the transition temperatures largely depending on the PMMA tacticity. The determination of the polar acid and base surface energies of the three PMMAs led to the same previous transition temperatures with an important effect of the tacticity of PMMA on the values of these acid-base surface energies.

Based on the dynamic strength variation mechanism of concrete under complex loading conditions, two approaches were devised: numerical testing and CT scanning, guided by the principle of minimizing energy dissipation. A methodology for calculating concrete's failure area and measuring its strength was developed. The analysis delves into the mechanisms behind failure patterns and variations in concrete specimen strength, focusing on crack initiation, development, and the resultant failure surface formed by crack propagation, along with the stress distribution in concrete specimens subjected to diverse loading conditions. Through evaluating the strength and computed failure area of concrete specimens, it is evident that the loading method influences both the strength and failure area of concrete specimens. In general, a larger failure area correlates with a higher measured strength.

This article presents a description of a new method for solving the factorization problem, based on the gradient descent algorithm. This approach demonstrates significant improvements in efficiency compared to traditional methods proposed in previous research. This article describes a new method for solving the factorization problem, based on the gradient descent algorithm, and demonstrates the transition from algebraic methods to approaches based on functional analysis. The proposed approach not only improves the efficiency of solving the problem but also allows the application of computational algorithms of functional analysis, opening new possibilities for research and optimization.

Brain imaging studies have recently provided some evidence in favour of covert cognitive processes ongoing in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) (e.g., minimally consciousness states, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome) engaged in passive sensory stimulation or active tasks such as motor imagery. In this exploratory study, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex to assess modulations of corticospinal excitability induced by action observation in eleven patients with DoC. Action observation is known to facilitate corticospinal excitability in healthy subjects, unveiling how the observer’s motor system maps others’ actions onto her/his motor repertoire. Additional stimuli were non-biological motion and acoustic startle stimuli, provided that sudden and loud acoustic stimulation is known to lower corticospinal excitability in healthy subjects. Results indicate that some form of motor resonance is spared in a subset of patients with DoC with some significant difference between biological and non-biological motion stimuli. However, there was no covariation between corticospinal excitability and the type of DoC diagnosis (i.e., whether VS/UWS or MCS). Similarly, no covariation was detected with clinical changes between admission and discharge in clinical outcome measures. Both motor resonance and biological/non-biological motion discrimination correlated with the amplitude of the N20 somatosensory evoked potentials following the stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist (i.e., the temporal marker signalling the activation of the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex). Moreover, the startle-evoking stimulus produced an anomalous increase in corticospinal excitability, suggesting a functional dissociation between cortical and subcortical circuits in patients with DoC. Further work is needed to better comprehend the conditions in which corticospinal facilitation occurs and whether and how they may relate to individual clinical parameters.

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 medium-voltage DC (MVDC) technology has gained increasing interests in recent years. Power electronics devices dominate those grids. Accurate simulation of such a grid, with detailed models of switching semiconductors, can quickly became very time-consuming, according to the number of connected devices to be simulated. A simulation approach based on interactions on a continuous time model can be very interesting, especially for developing a system level control model of such a modern MVDC distribution grid. Aim of this paper is to present all the steps required for obtaining a continuous time modelling of a +/- 10 kV MVDC grid case study, including Solid State Transformer (SST) and Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) based Active Front End (AFE). Additional aim of this paper is to supply an educational content about the use of the continuous time simulation approach, thanks to a detailed description of the various devices modelled into the presented MVDC grid. The results of a certain number of simulation scenarios are eventually presented.

The aim of the work is to study the effect of the 3D printing process on the microstructural and hydrophilic properties of polylactic acid (PLA) samples with various model printing patterns obtained from the black Filament PLA by sequentially applying polymer layers using the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) method. X-ray phase analysis revealed partial crystallization of PLA polymer chains in printed samples, which occurs under thermal and mechanical action on the original amorphous PLA filament during 3D printing to varying degrees, depending on the geometry of the pattern and the morphology of its surface. At the same time, IR spectroscopy data indicate the preservation of all intrastructural chemical bonds of polylactide. Measured at the original installation, the values of the wetting edge angles on the surface of the printed samples are in the range φ = 50-60°, which is significantly less than the right angle. This indicates the hydrophilic properties of all samples’ surface. At the same time, the influence of different geometries of model drawings in printed samples was found not only on the morphology of the samples’ surface according to SEM data, but also on its wettability.

In the process of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the focus on climate risk driven by transition innovations has received widespread attention from governments, regulators, and investors. Based on the identification of low-carbon patents through the Green and Low-carbon Technology Inventory in China, this study constructs low-carbon innovation measurements of listed firms in China from 2015 to 2021. Then, an empirical model is used to investigate the impact and mechanism of climate transition innovations on the default risk. The baseline regression model shows that low-carbon innovations can mitigate the default risk of listed firms. Moreover, our findings are supported by instrumental variable regressions that use the time costs of innovation. Finally, the mediation effect demonstrates that investor attention, total factor productivity, and technology spillovers are paths through which transition innovations can affect the default risk. This study reveals that low-carbon technological advances have a positive effect on climate transition risks.

The equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter as well as the neutron and proton effective masses and their partial-wave and spin-isospin decomposition are analyzed within the Brueckner–Hartree–Fock approach. Theoretical uncertainties for all these quantities are estimated by using several phase-shift-equivalent nucleon-nucleon forces together with two types of three-nucleon forces, phenomenological and microscopic. It is shown that the choice of the three-nucleon force plays an important role above saturation density, leading to different density dependencies of the energy per particle. These results are compared to the standard form of the Skyrme energy-density functional and we find that it is not possible to reproduce the BHF predictions in the (S,T) channels in symmetric and neutron matter above saturation density, already at the level of the two-body interaction, and even more including the three-body interaction.

The impact of the climate crisis on urban environments and life within them is evident. In the face of challenges like heatwaves, floodings and other extreme events, pollution, and declining quality of life in cities, there is a growing demand for the preservation and expansion of urban green spaces, often driven by citizen-led transformations. This paper examines 100 urban greening projects initiated or supported by citizens globally, categorizing them according to the type of greenery, the stakeholders involved, the mode of implementation and the use of smart technologies incorporated. We notice variations in green endeavors based on the stakeholders spearheading them, however most of entirely citizen-led initiatives aimed at the creation of urban farms and food growing, demonstrating the pressuring needs for food securing and self-determination in communities. More than half of the assessed initiatives that managed to scale up and multiply had public authorities providing a framework or a type of support for their development or an NGO or other organization providing expertise and mobilize citizens at various stages. In terms of technological use, we find mostly websites and social media platforms easing participatory endeavors and knowledge sharing of best practices, accelerating scaling efforts, while there is a low integration of more advanced digital technologies, which if used, could enable real-time monitoring of green spaces, inform evidence-based decision-making, and streamline processes in scaling up green initiatives.

African scientific research faces formidable challenges, particularly with limited access to state-of-the-art measurement instruments. The high cost associated with these devices presents a significant barrier for regional research laboratories, impeding their ability to conduct sophisticated experiments and gather precise data. This predicament not only hampers the individual laboratories but also has broader implications for the African scientific community and the advancement of knowledge in developing nations—the financial cost barrier considerably impacts the research quality of these laboratories. Reflection on technical and economical solutions needs to be quickly found to help these countries advance their research. In civil Engineering, the thermal conductivity property is the most important measurement for characterising heat transfer in construction materials. Existing devices (i.e., conductometers) in a laboratory are expensive (approximately 30,000 euros) and unavailable for some African laboratories. The study proposes a new and affordable device to evaluate thermal conductivity in construction materials. The method involves establishing a thermal flux between a heat source ( from the Joule effect provided by steel wool where a current is circulating) and a cold source (generated by ice cube) under steady-state conditions. The development of the cylindrical prototype is based on the comparative flux-meter method outlined in the measuring protocol of the ASTM E1225 standard document. Experiments were conducted on four distinct materials (polystyrene, wood, agglomerated wood, and rigid foam). The results indicate a correct correlation between the experimental values obtained from the newly developed prototype and the reference values found in the literature. For example, concerning the experimental polystyrene study, the detailed case analysis reveals a good correlation, with a deviation of only 4%. The percent error found falls within the acceptable range indicated by the standards recommendations of the ASTM E1225 standard, i.e., within 5% acceptable error.

Partially state-owned firms are common in both developed and developing countries and contribute around 10% of the world's GDP. This has led to a rich literature exploring various aspects of competition between such “mixed”-ownership firms. This paper contributes to the existing literature by studying the effects of mixed ownership on the intensity of competition in oligopoly markets. Our findings indicate that state ownership exerts an anti-competitive influence, with a higher state ownership share resulting in less aggressive behavior by firms in the product market. This result implies that industries with a higher proportion of state ownership yield lower total surplus. Further, when considering factors such as taxes, soft budget constraints, and weak property rights, the anti-competitive effects of state ownership are accentuated.

The accurate state of health (SOH) estimation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) during operation is crucial to ensure optimal performance, prolonging battery life and preventing unexpected failure or safety hazards. This work presents a storage and performance optimised deep learning approach to predict the capacity based SOH of LIBs using raw sensor data from partial charging curves under constant current condition. The proposed model is based on a combination of a 1-dimensional convolutional and long-short term memory neural network and processes time, voltage and incremental capacity of partial charging curves as time series. The model is cross-validated on different aging scenarios reaching an overall MAE = 0.418% and RMSE = 0.531%, promising an accurate SOH estimation of LIBs under varying usage and environmental conditions in a real world application.

This research paper focuses on the synthesis and characterization of Cu-doped Mg-Co ferrites with varying compositions (Mg_0.6-xCo_0.4Cu_xFe₂O₄, where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) using a solid-state reaction method. This paper also investigates the structural, morphological, magnetic, and electrical characteristics of synthesized Mg_0.6-xCo_0.4Cu_xFe₂O₄, where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique confirms the ferrites spinel structure in the Fd-3m space group, with average crystallite sizes ranging from 57.29 to 48.57 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy verifies chemical and structural changes, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals cubic crystal growth with an average grain size of 1 to 1.5 μm. DC electrical resistivity decreases with increasing temperature and Cu²⁺ substitution, ranging from 1.4 x 10⁶ Ω-cm to 6.7 x 10⁵ Ω-cm. The study suggests a correlation between resistivity and Cu²⁺ concentration. Magnetic behaviour, studied using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), shows dependence on dopant concentration, with coercivity ranging from 157 Oe to 256 Oe. The results indicate potential applications in magnetic storage devices, antennas, transformers, and high-frequency electronics.

Transition metal complexes have historically played a pivotal role in creating vibrant pigments utilized across artistic mediums such as ceramics, paintings, and glass mosaics. Despite their extensive historical use, our understanding of the mechanisms governing transition metal complex behavior has predominantly emerged in recent times, leaving numerous aspects of this process ripe for exploration. These complexes exhibit striking color variations under diverse conditions when employed in pigment formulations. This review utilizes a bottom-up scientific approach, spanning from microscopic to macroscopic scales, to unravel the molecular origins of the colors generated by transition metal complexes in pigments and ceramic glazes. Advanced spectroscopy techniques and computational chemistry play pivotal roles in this endeavor, highlighting the significance of understanding and utilizing analytical data effectively, with careful consideration of each technique's specific application. Furthermore, the review investigates the influence of processing conditions on color variations, providing valuable insights for artists and manufacturers aiming to enhance the precision and quality of their creations while mitigating environmental impact.

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.

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) transmit information over time through recurrent connections. In contrast, biological neural networks use many other temporal processing mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is the inter-neuron delays caused by varying axon properties. Recently, this feature was implemented in echo state networks (ESNs), a type of RNN, by assigning spatial locations to neurons and introducing distance-dependent inter-neuron delays. These delays were shown to significantly improve ESN task performance. However, thus far it is still unclear why distance-based delay networks (DDNs) perform bettern than ESNs. In this paper, we show that by optimizing inter-node delays, the memory capacity of the network matches the memory requirements of the task. As such, networks concentrate their memory capabilities to the points in the past which contain the most information for the task at hand. Moreover, we show that DDNs have more total linear memory capacity, with the same amount of non-linear processing power.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is the bioprocess where microorganisms are cultivated in the absence of free water under control conditions. Lactic acid can be produced by fermenting grape stalks with Rhizopus oryzae in SSF. During the microorganism growth, the temperature and water content of the solid bed fluctuate, leading to areas of either dry or excessive moisture in the solid substrate. Therefore, it's crucial to control the supply of water to the matrix. In this work, we obtain lactic acid through SSF of grape stalks using Rhizopus oryzae NCIM 1299. The SSF was conducted at a fixed temperature of 35 °C, with three constant relative humidity levels: 50, 65, and 80 %RH. Mathematical models, including the Logistic and First Order Plus Dead Time models for fungal biomass growth and the Luedeking and Piret with Delay Time model for lactic acid production, were adjusted to kinetic curves. Growth kinetic parameters (Xmax, μmax, Tp, T0, Yp/x and td) were determined for all conditions. These kinetic parameters were then correlated with relative humidity using a second-degree polynomial relationship. We observed a decrease in Xmax with increasing %RH, while the value of Yp/x increased at higher %RH. Finally, the optimal variable relative humidity profile was obtained by applying the Dynamic Optimization Technique, resulting in a 15.30% increase in lactic acid production.

This paper investigates the theoretical foundation for developing renewable geothermal resources locally. For this reason, we pay attention to the role of communities in geothermal development. This study presents arguments for a framework that approaches the geothermal resources as an endogenous factor of community development. To analyse it, we create a model that explains the local economic characters of the geothermal exploitation beyond its geological conditions. It aims to conceptualise a community based geothermal development standard referring to the endogeneity principle. Geothermal energy is given attention since the characteristics of this resource determine its use locally. We argue that the role of communities in geothermal exploitation is pivotal in the process of green growth for further expansion of geothermal energy use.

Background: Previous neuroimaging studies have identified brain regions related to respiratory motor control and perception. However, little is known about the resting-state functional connectivity (FC) associated with respiratory impairment. We aimed to determine the FC involved in mild respiratory impairment without changing the saturation of percutaneous oxygen. Methods: We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 36 healthy volunteers during normal respiration and mild respiratory impairment induced by resistive load (effort breathing). ROI-to-ROI and seed-to-voxel analyses were performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 and the CONN toolbox. Results: Compared to normal respiration, effort breathing activated FCs within and between the sensory perceptive area of respiration (the postcentral gyrus, anterior insular cortex (AInsula), and anterior cingulate cortex) and visual cortex (the visual occipital, occipital pole (OP), and occipital fusiform gyrus). Graph theoretical analysis showed strong centrality in the visual cortex. A significant positive correlation was observed between the dyspnoea score (modified Borg scale) and FC between the left AInsula and right OP. Conclusions: These results suggested that the FCs within the respiratory sensory area via the network hub may be neural mechanisms underlying effort breathing and modified Borg scale scores.

In recent times, there has been significant enthusiasm for the development of all solid state batteries. This interest stems from a dual focus on safety—addressing concerns related to toxic and flammable organic liquid electrolytes—and the pursuit of high energy density. \cite{SCHNELL2018160,Zheng2018}. While liquid electrolyte batteries constitute for now the vast majority of commercial cells, solid electrolyte batteries show great promise. In parallel with experimental research, computational models \cite{GrazioliEtAlCM2016} clarify the several fundamental physics \cite{LiMonroeARCBM2020} that take place throughout battery operations. We review some classical models, emphasizing the conceptual advancements documented in the most recent works.

The Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT) phenotype, identified as a significant clinical indicator in cancer, manifests as a biological process where cells transition from epithelial to mesenchymal characteristics. Physiologically, EMT plays a crucial role in tissue remodeling, promoting healing, repair, and responding to various tissue damages. This study investigates the impact of BNE-RRC on oral cancer cells (KB) and reveals its significant effects on cancer cell growth, migration, invasion, and EMT. BNE-RRC induces the epithelial-like morphology in KB cells, effectively reversing EMT to Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition (MET). Extraordinarily, sustained culture of cancer cells with BNE-RRC for 14 days maintains an epithelial status even after treatment withdrawal, suggesting BNE-RRC as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer. These findings highligh the promise of BNE-RRC as a comprehensive therapeutic agent in cancer treatment by inhibiting cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion, while also orchestrating a reversal of the EMT process. The study proposes that BNE-RRC could be effective agent for cancer treatment.

The temperature effect plays an important role for an accurate determination of the polar free energy, polar thermodynamic parameters, and enthalpic and entropic Lewis’s acid base properties of oxides, polymers and composites polymers/oxides. The adsorption of polymers on other solid surfaces is crucial in many industrial applications, coatings, paints, catalysis, colloids and adhesion processes. (1) Background: Inverse gas chromatography at infinite was used for the physico-chemical characterization of solid substrates by determining the thermodynamic parameters of adsorption of model organic solvents on solid surfaces such as polymers, metallic oxides, carbon fibers, pharmaceutical or 3D/4D printing substrates. (2) Methods: A new method based on the London dispersion equation was applied with a new parameter associating the deformation po-larizability and the harmonic mean of the ionization energies of solvent. More accurate values of the dispersive and polar interaction energies of the various organic solvents adsorbed on PMMA in bulk phase and PMMA/silica at different recovery fractions were obtained as well as the Lewis acid-base parameters and the transition temperatures of the different composites. (3) Results: This new methodology gave very interesting results on the behavior of PMMA adsorbed on silica. An important effect of the temperature and the recovery fraction on the various physicochemical and thermodynamic properties was highlighted. The variations of all interaction parameters showed the presence of three transition temperatures for the different PMMA adsorbed on silica with the various coverage rates with a shift of these temperatures for a recovery fraction of 31% (4) Con-clusions: An important variation of the polar enthalpy and entropy of adsorption, the Lewis ac-id-base parameters and the intermolecular separation distance as a function of the temperature and the recovery fraction of PMMA on silica.

This study demonstrates the efficacy of structured pruning and architectural fine-tuning on the YOLOv7-tiny model for eye state detection, emphasizing optimization for real-time applications. Structured pruning significantly reduced the model's complexity and storage size while maintaining high detection accuracy, as evidenced by stable precision, recall, and mAP@.5 metrics across iterations. Further fine-tuning adjusted the model's width and depth, optimizing efficiency and processing speed without compromising performance. These optimizations yielded YOLOv7-tiny variants that are both computationally efficient and accurate, suitable for resource-constrained environments. The findings highlight the critical role of model optimization in deploying effective neural networks for specific detection tasks in real-time scenarios.

Background: The scaffold protein tyrosine kinase substrate 4 (TKS4) undergoes tyrosine phos-phorylation by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway via Src kinase. The TKS4 deficiency in humans is responsible for the manifestation of a genetic disorder known as Frank-Ter Haar syndrome (FTHS). Based on our earlier investigation, the absence of TKS4 triggers migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like phenomena while concurrently suppressing cell proliferation in HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells. This indicates that TKS4 may play a unique role in the progression of cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and the histone methyltransferase of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) are involved in the migration, invasion, and EMT-like changes in TKS4-deficient cells (KO). EZH2 is responsible for the maintenance of the trimethylated lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). Methods: We performed the transcriptome sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, protein and RNA quantitative studies, cell mobility, invasion, and proliferation studies combined with/without EZH2 activity inhibitor 3-deazanoplanocine (DZNep) Results: We detected an elevation of global H3K27me3 levels in the TKS4 KO cells, which could be reduced with treatment with DZNep, an EZH2 inhibitor. Inhibition of EZH2 activity reversed the phenotypic effects of the knockout of TKS4, reducing the migration speed and wound healing capacity of the cells as well as decreasing the invasion capacity, while the decrease in cell prolif-eration became stronger. In addition, inhibition of EZH2 activity also reversed most epithelial and mesenchymal markers. We investigated the wider impact of TKS4 deletion on the gene expression profile of colorectal cancer cells using transcriptome sequencing of wild-type and TKS4 knockout cells, particularly before and after treatment with DZNep. Additionally, we observed changes in the expression of several protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNAs that showed a recovery in expression levels following EZH2 inhibition. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the removal of TKS4 causes a notable disruption in the gene expression pattern, leading to the disruption of several signal transduction pathways. Inhibiting the activity of EZH2 can restore most of these transcriptomics and phenotypic effects.

In recent years, the economics of emotions (EoE) field, which aims to create models of the human mind, has grown quickly. EoE models work well with simulation theory (ST), which is one of the main theories of mind. EoE models show how people's behavior and emotions change based on their knowledge and perception of others. It is hoped that by developing this model, it will be possible to quantitatively analyze not only the mental states of real others, but also the subtleties of the minds of characters in novels in the future. Until now, the decision-making or the factual-reasoning mechanisms have been a black box in ST. This study analyzes how EoE models add to the understanding of ST.

Lower extremity joint kinetic factors are thought to modulate walk–to–run transition (WRT) and run–to–walk transition (RWT). This study aimed to investigate joint stiffness and energetic patterns during the WRT and RWT processes and identify whether gait transitions occurred within a single step or not. Ten healthy subjects participated in treadmill WRT (1.8 m/s – 2.4 m/s) and RWT (2.4 m/s – 1.8 m/s) tests. We investigated two steps before transition (S–2, S–1), two steps after transition (S1, S2) and the transition step (S0). We found significant differences between S2 and S–2 for ankle joint stiffness during WRT and RWT (p < 0.001); and for hip joint stiffness, we found significant differences between S1 and S–1 during WRT and RWT (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, stance phase mechanical energy generation was observed to transfer from proximal to distal joints at S0 during WRT, and from distal to proximal at S0 during RWT. Transition step ankle kinematic and kinetic patterns were similar to the target locomotion task gait format in both WRT and RWT. Moreover, RWT required longer adaptation time compared with WRT. These findings indicate that WRT and RWT were modulated before and after the actual transitions, not within a single step. Redistribution of joint mechanical work generation was related to gait transition triggers, which modulate the WRT and RWT process.

The draconian regulation required by the inherent instability of cognitive phenomena -- gene expression, immune function, cancer suppression, wound healing, animal consciousness, machine intelligence, network stabilization, institutional cognition, and their many and varied composites -- can be viewed through the lens of the asymptotic limit theorems of both information and control theories. Here, we explore the dynamics and sometimes highly punctuated failures of the regulation of cognition under increasing `noise'. The approach parallels, and indeed generalizes, the Data Rate Theorem of control theory, extending the theorem's requirement of a minimum channel capacity necessary for stabilization of an inherently unstable system. Various models are explored across different basic underlying probability distributions characteristic of the system under study, and across different hierarchical scales, finding the addition of adaptive -- learned -- regulation greatly extends the reach of innate -- e.g., AI-driven or otherwise pre-programmed -- regulation. This work points toward the construction of new statistical tools for the analysis of observational and empirical data across a wide spectrum of inherent pathologies and adversarial challenges afflicting a wide variety of cognitive processes.

The article delves into the intricate phase transitions of 1-Octadecanol and n-Nonadecane within a binary system, unveiling dynamic structural changes under varying conditions. Through Fouri-er-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, specific molecular vibrations were identified, shedding light on the molecular composition and interactions. The study highlights the challenges in detecting subtle phase transitions and emphasizes the individuality of molecular behaviours in closely related compounds. The findings underscore the complexity of phase transitions in binary systems and advocate for a nuanced approach to studying molecular structures and behaviours. Addi-tionally, the research contributes valuable insights into the molecular dynamics of Organic Polymer Functional Adsorption Materials, offering implications for synthetic waxy layers in plant epidermis.

In the modern power grid, characterized by the increased penetration of power electronics and extensive utilization of renewable energy, inverters-based power plants play a pivotal role as the principal interface of renewable energy sources (RESs) and the grid. Considering the stability characteristics of grid-following (GFL) inverters when the grid is relatively weak, the application of grid-forming (GFM) controls becomes imperative to enhance the stability of the entire power plant. Thus, there is an urgent need for suitable and effective models to study the interaction and stability of the paralleled inverters employing GFL and GFM controls. Thus, the small-signal modeling with full-order state space model and eigenvalues analysis is presented in this paper. First, the small-signal state-space model of the individual GFL and GFM inverters is obtained considering the control loop, interaction, reference frame, transmissions, and time delays. Then, the models of the individual inverter are extended to the hybrid inverters to study the effects of the GFM inverters on the small- signal stability of the entire system. And, the impacts of the inertia and damping are analyzed by the eigenvalues of the state-transition matrix. Case comprising three parallel GFL inverters and two GFL inverters with one GFM inverter, respectively, are studied to examine the effectiveness and accuracy of the model. Finally, the stability margin obtained from the eigenvalue analysis of the entire system is verified by time-domain simulations.

The poly lactic acid (PLA) is one of the most used bio-derived thermoplastic polymers in 3D and 4D printing applications. The determination of PLA surface properties is of capital importance in 3D/4D printing technology. (1) Background: The surface thermodynamic properties of PLA polymer were determined by using the inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique at infinite dilution. The determination of the retention volume of polar and non-polar molecules adsorbed on the PLA particles filling the column allowed us to obtain the dispersive, polar, and Lewis’s acid-base surface properties at different temperatures from 40 °C to 100 °C. (2) Methods: the applied surface method was based on our recent model that used the London dispersion equation and the new chromatographic parameter function of the deformation polarizability and the harmonic mean of the ionization energies of the PLA polymer and organic molecules. (3) Results: The application of this new method led to the determination of the dispersive and polar free surface energy of adsorption of molecules on the polymeric material, as well as the glass transition and the Lewis acid-base constants. (4) Conclusions: four interval temperatures were distinguished showing four zones of the variations of the surface properties of PLA as a function of the temperature before and after the glass transition.

Background: Healthcare workers are exposed to several hazardous chemicals in the workplace that can result in numerous adverse health effects. Several published studies from many different countries have documented the presence of metabolites from antineoplastic drugs in the urine of healthcare workers and demonstrated contaminated working surfaces with these agents. This study is a literature review that aims to compare the prevalence and degree of exposure to cyclophosphamide (CP), ifosfamide (IFO), and methotrexate (MTX) in physicians, nurses, and pharmacists in the hospital setting. Methods: An extensive search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, HINARI, OARE, and Science Direct where applicable research about healthcare workers and antineoplastic drugs exposure were identified. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords: occupational exposure, antineoplastic drugs (cytotoxic drugs, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate), hazardous chemicals, healthcare workers (healthcare professionals, nurses, pharmacists, physicians), hospital setting, and adverse health outcomes were used. Thereafter, relevant articles from 2000 to 2020 were selected to perform this literature review. Results: Review of literature demonstrated that cyclophosphamide was the most prevalent contaminant in the hospital setting. Additionally, pharmacists are among the group of healthcare workers with the highest prevalence of antineoplastic agents in urine samples while nursing stations had the highest rate of surface contamination. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to develop a system to monitor and detect the pathway of environmental exposure to antineoplastic drugs in the healthcare setting, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing protective measures. Well designed studies focusing on improving the standard safety precautions is a priority to protect healthcare workers.

The belief in online news has become a hot topic. Previous studies have shown the role of emotion in susceptibility to believing fake news. However, Few studies have explored the effect of empathy on belief in online news. This study investigated the relationships between trait empathy, state empathy, the belief in online news, and the potential moderating effect of the news type. One hundred and forty undergraduates evaluated 50 online news pieces (25 real, 25 fake) regarding their believability, state empathy, valence, arousal, and familiarity. Trait empathy data were collected using the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. State empathy was positively correlated with affective empathy in trait empathy and believability, and affective empathy was positively correlated with believability. The influence of affective empathy on news belief was partially mediated by state empathy, regulated by the news type (fake, real). We discussed the influence of empathy on the belief in online news and its internal processes. This study explains some unique insights for researchers, practitioners, social media users, and social media platform providers.

Bridges enable communications and transportation of goods nationally and internationally, underpinning economic and social activities, thus they are pylons of our prosperity and mobility. Bridges worldwide are constantly subjected to physical wear, ageing, deterioration, hazards, environmental influences, and increased loading. Loss of performance and functionality of bridge structures would have a crucial impact on overall infrastructural resilience and would cause significant negative economic and social consequences. Monitoring their behaviour for different loading conditions relies on accurate estimations of the stress-strain state of various critical components and remaining capacities. These activities are of high importance for better planning lifespan prolongation, that is the extension of their service life and prevention of unforeseen collapses, in line with sustainability principles of well-informed maintenance. In many cases, access to the structure is limited or even impossible, which causes the need for the deployment of remote and contactless methods. One such innovative technique, which has recently attracted attention in scientific and practical applications is the digital image correlation (DIC). DIC is a contactless approach applicable for long-term measurements, which enables obtaining the full field of strains and deformations. Although the DIC approach has been widely used in world engineering practice for monitoring bridges and has proved to be a reliable and accurate method, there is a lack of systematic integral review on previous practical applications, revealing limitations and perspectives. This is the main motivation and novelty of this study, which will describe selected case studies, in which DIC was used on real full-scale bridge structures and propose improvements for the method.

Hydrogen plays an important role in the implementation of Australia’s Net-Zero Strategy. It competes with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries in the electrification of Australian land transportation sector, and can provide an alternative energy storage medium for the greening of the country’s electrical grid system. This paper reviews the role hydrogen plays in the current government’s Net-Zero strategy, and investigates the potential role of other bioenergy sources. It is found that hydrogen and batteries play essentially complementary roles in reducing transport emissions, and that the former energy source is more suited to the operation of long-distance commercial service vehicles than batteries. It is suggested that bioenergy fuels such as biomethane, second generation biofuels and HVO can provide suitable bridging alternatives in the event that Australia’s EV strategy is unable to meet the 2030 target.

This study presents the synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of nitrogen-doped vanadium oxide (N-V2O3/C) as a cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), using a hydrothermal method. Compared to undoped V2O3/C, N-V2O3/C exhibits enhanced electrical conductivity, capacity, and electrochemical kinetics, attributed to the incorporation of pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen. Initial charge-discharge cycles indicate phase transitions to amorphous vanadium oxides, enhancing conductivity. N-V2O3/C shows a high specific capacity of 168.4 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 and remarkable reversibility, highlighted by the transient existence of intermediate species during cycling. Optimal electrochemical performance is achieved with a vanadium to nitrogen molar ratio of 2:3, indicating the significant impact of nitrogen doping concentration on the material’s efficiency. This work underscores the potential of N-V2O3/C as a superior cathode material for AZIBs.

A model of a single-server queuing-inventory system (QIS) with catastrophes and a finite waiting room for consumer customers (c-customers) has been developed. When a catastrophe occurs, all inventory in the system's warehouse is destroyed, but c-customers in the system are still waiting for restocking. In addition to c-customers, negative customers (n-customers) are also taken into account, which displaces one c-customers (if any). The policy (?, ?) is used to replenish stocks. If upon arrival of the c-customer the inventory level is zero, then according to Bernoulli’s scheme this c-customer is either lost or joining the queue. The mathematical model of the studied QIS is constructed in the form of a two-dimensional continuous-time Markov chain (2D CTMC). Exact and approximate methods for calculating the steady-state probabilities of constructed 2D CTMCs are developed and closed-form expressions are derived for calculating the performance measures. The results of numerical experiments are presented, demonstrating the high accuracy of the developed approximate formulas, as well as the behavior of performance indicators depending on the reorder point. In addition, an optimization problem is solved to obtain the optimal reorder point to minimize the expected total cost.

The transition to sustainable energy systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region addresses critical challenges of environmental protection, energy security, and socio-economic resilience. Using neo-institutional theory, this paper examines the intricate relationship between formal and informal institutions and their significant impact on the region’s energy transition. Despite the MENA region’s abundant renewable energy resources, numerous institutional barriers, such as governance inefficiencies, regulatory inconsistencies, and entrenched socio-cultural norms, significantly hinder this transition. Through a review of existing literature, this study presents a comprehensive analytical framework designed to overcome these barriers, with a focus on the Just and Sustainable Energy Transition model. This strategic model emphasizes equity, sustainability, and inclusive governance as pillars for reform. The study offers detailed recommendations for institutional change and underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among governments, industry stakeholders, and international partners to unlock the MENA region’s renewable energy potential, advance global sustainability goals, and ensure a more secure and resilient energy future.

One objective of this paper is to investigate bifurcation of solutions of Ornstein-Zernike equation in liquid state theory for the gas-liquid coexistence region of simple fluids. The analysis uses a discrete form of the Ornstein-Zernike equation in real space, together with a closure relation which provides nearly self consistent thermodynamic properties of fluids governed by interaction potentials like the Lennard-Jones potential. Accurate asymptotic forms of correlation functions are incorporated in the real space algorithm so as to mitigate the influence of cutoff length used in the discrete approximations. It is found that there is no spinodal on the vapor side on a sub-critical isotherm. But there are fold bifurcation points on the vapor and liquid sides together with a 'no-real-solution-region' in between. This is followed by a region of negative compressibility extending up to the spinodal on the liquid side. The emerging picture is quite similar to that in the case of the hypernetted-chain-closure. It is also found that complex solutions connect the physical solutions that exist outside the 'no-real-solution-region' as well as in region of negative compressibility. The second objective of the paper, in the light of bifurcation scenario, is to evolve an interpretation of the coupling-parameter expansion of correlation functions pertaining to the region of negative compressibility. It is shown that the expansion provides an accurate description of results of the restricted ensembles, implied in mean field theories and simulation methods. Bifurcation of singlet density to inhomogeneous distributions at a spinodal is also established using a simple equation, which uses the direct correlation function. Thus the paper reestablishes the fact that restriction to a homogeneous singlet density is the root cause of all inconsistencies found in the gas-liquid coexistence region.

Objective: Aims to investigate the effects of empagliflozin (EMPA), a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on renal fibrosis in male diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. Methods: Streptozotocin(STZ) were injected to establish diabetes model, EMPA (10 mg/kg·d) or normal saline (NS) were administered for four weeks. The changes in renal fibrosis-related biomarkers, include vimentin (VIM), collagen types I(Col-I), collagen types III(Col-III), fibroblast-specific protein 1(FSP-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN) were evaluated. Renal pathology, serum glucose levels and urinary protein excretion were also assessed. Results: Biomarkers of renal fibrosis were significantly reduced in the EMPA group compared to those in the NS group after 4-week treatment, including VIM (519.84±83.37 vs. 663.27±91.84 ng/ml, P<0.05), Col-I (21.27±1.46 vs. 25.71±2.82 ng/ml , P<0.05) and Col-III (7.06±1.12 vs. 9.43±1.36 ng/ml, P<0.05), FSP-1 (4.38±0.81 vs. 5.70±0.78 ng/ml, P<0.05), and CTGF (1147±217 vs. 1556±235 pg/ml, P<0.05),respectively. Nevertheless, compared to normal control (NC) group, the levels of renal fibrosis-related biomarkers in the EMPA group showed no significant differences except for VIM, which was VIM (336.66±28.87 vs. 519.84±83.37 ng/mL, P<0.001). NS group rats showed notable renal tubular dilation and casts, EMPA group exhibited only mild tubular dilation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that empagliflozin reverse renal fibrosis potentially through inhibiting CTGF-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

We consider a constrained optimal control problem and an extension of it, in which the set of strict-sense trajectories is enlarged. Extension is a common procedure in optimal control, used to derive necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for the original problem from the extended one, which usually admits a minimizer and has a more regular structure. However, this procedure fails if the two problems have different infima. It is therefore relevant to identify such situations. Following on from earlier work by Warga but adopting perturbation techniques developed in non-smooth analysis, we investigate the relation between the occurrence of an infimum gap and abnormality of necessary conditions. For a notion of local minimizer based on control distance and an extension including the impulsive one, we prove that (i) a local extended minimizer which is not a local minimizer of the original problem and (ii) a local strict-sense minimizer which is not a local minimizer of the extended problem, both satisfy the extended maximum principle in abnormal form. The main novelty is result (ii), as until now it had only been shown that a strict-sense minimizer which is not an extended minimizer is abnormal for an `averaged version’ of the maximum principle.

The rapid advancements and the merging of hybrid quantum-classical computing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) pose a potentially unseen and significant threat to encryption that may impact Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) transition timelines. There is a direct hybrid quantum-classical computing threat on cryptography, and there is also a direct threat AI/ML on cryptography. However, the synergistic combination of these technologies presents known and unknown threats that need attention, focus action, and research. This paper reviews Grover's Adaptive Search (GAS), which combines Grover's Algorithm with adaptive techniques to optimize search further, potentially making it even more efficient for attacking encryption. This work also examines the quantum-accelerated Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) Algorithm, designed to solve systems of linear equations exponentially faster than classical algorithms in certain conditions. The HHL algorithm can solve some lattice-based problems, which have implications for lattice-based encryption. This technological confluence and its potential impact on cryptography and encryption necessitate a proactive and coordinated approach to developing and implementing quantum-resistant AI/ML cryptographic solutions. This paper reviews the technological confluence and its potential implications for classical cryptography and PQC transition timelines and calls for further research.

New information suggests female autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is much more common than previously thought, with a likely prevalence of 6% and with 80% undiagnosed at the age of 18. ASD then becomes a common comorbidity of female mental illness with nearly one in five women who develop a mental illness being autistic. ASD has heretofore been regarded as a pediatric condition and though now thought to be life long it is still not well recognized by adult health services. Most mental illness first presents in the teens and early twenties. Comorbid ASD is more difficult to diagnose due to diagnostic overshadowing, and ASD comorbidity maks the mental illness more severe and mor difficult to treat. Recognized ASD is readily treatable with an approach sympathetic to neurodiversity. Improving the pathway from adolescence to adulthood by increasing knowledge of autism in adult health services would dramatically improve female mental health at surprisingly little extra cost. It is low hanging fruit in a very fraught area of healthcare. This paper will examine the extent of the problem. It will explore solutions and quantify the gains of appropriate therapy.

Distribution System Operators (DSOs) are adapting to changing energy demands and the shift toward renewable and decentralized energy. Circularity is increasingly relevant for DSOs as their distribution systems age and need replacing. Taking circular action, however, is generally regarded as challenging as the current circular economy (CE) landscape is highly fragmented and rarely touches the implementation level. A longitudinal case study at Dutch DSO Liander on the circu-larity of distribution transformers was used to understand empirical success factors for taking circular action and to generate prescriptive knowledge on the operationalization of circularity. Six design propositions for circular action were formulated that suggest to 1) initiate small-scale cir-cularity experiments, 2) involve technical and strategic experts, 3) synergize circularity with more urgent, primary goals 4) translate circular initiatives bottom-up and top-down, 5) collaborate with other DSOs, and 6) create multidisciplinary teams. At DSO Liander, selecting the right interventions depending on the changing context contributed to operationalizing circularity for distribution transformers and achieving circularity targets. The generalizable design propositions could assist other DSOs in optimizing their strategy toward circular action.

This article describes the POTENTIALS project, which aimed to develop business models for the reuse of former industrial and mining sites in different regions. The project focused on the creation of eco-industrial parks as a result to enable sustainable energy production and reduce waste and pollution. A key aspect was the Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA), a new and complex policy assessment tool. Therefore, the TEQUILA (Territorial Efficiency Quality and Identity Layer Assessment) approach is used to describe the TIA and emphasizes its application in assessing the impact of EU policies and projects on territorial cohesion. It underlines the need for a differentiated understanding of the regional characteristics and potential impacts of policies; and stresses the importance of regionalized impact models for the assessment. Furthermore, the process and results of applying the TEQUILA methodology to assess the territorial impact of different scenarios of business models within the POTENTIALS project is given.

We propose a theoretical method for the deterministic shaping of quantum light via photon number state selective interactions. Nonclassical states of light are an essential resource for high precision optical techniques that rely on photon correlations and noise reshaping. Notable techniques include quantum enhanced interferometry, ghost imaging, and generating fault tolerant codes for continuous variable optical quantum computing. We show that a class of nonlinear-optical resonators can transform many-photon wavefunctions to produce structured states of light with nonclassical noise statistics. The devices, based on parametric down conversion, utilize the Kerr effect to tune photon number dependent frequency matching, inducing photon number selective interactions. With a high amplitude coherent pump, the number selective interaction shapes the noise of a two-mode squeezed cavity state with minimal dephasing, illustrated with simulations. We specify the requisite material properties to build the device and highlight the remaining material degrees of freedom which offer flexible material design.

The purpose of the study is to establish compliance of the design of the modernized car with the requirements for safe operation. An option has been proposed for upgrading a passenger wagon to a Mobile Diagnostic Complex for transporting a combined vehicle equipped with appropriate flaw detection equipment intended for rail diagnostics. The authors have established the most optimal option for locating the diagnostic vehicle on board the Mobile Diagnostic Complex (MDC) wagon, taking into account the additional load from the vehicle. To achieve this goal, the article developed a three-dimensional model of the supporting structure of the wagon body, proposed a methodology and presented the results of a study of the stress-strain state of the wagon body, taking into account the additional weight of the wagon. The article develops a methodology for studying the natural frequencies of vibrations of the wagon body and develops a three-dimensional model of the wagon for calculating dynamic indicators in the Universal Mechanism software package. Taking into account the previously carried out strength calculations, as well as in order to maintain the factory life cycle indicators of the supporting structure of the wagon body, it is recommended to use the model in the first version.

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

This paper provides a new discovery that adds to the contemporary theory of modelling of non-stationary queues, by capturing analytically the behavior of the root parameter, for the G1/M/1 PSFFA model of non-stationary Ek/M/1 queue. Additionally, it has been also revealed that the resulting root parameter reduces to the PSFFA model of non-stationary queue. Potential applications of PSFFA to Computer engineering are provided. Some challenging open problems are addressed combined with closing remarks and future research directions.

An eight-sided prism sample, obtained from a hot-rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet, was compressed at room temperature along the transverse direction to investigate the influence of local strain on twinning behavior using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements. The octagonal surface of the sample was divided into distinct regions based on hardness distribution and metallographic observations. The EBSD maps of different areas show significant variations, suggesting that these areas experienced different local strain conditions. The EBSD measurements provided detailed data from three distinct regions, with the strain state known in two regions and uncertain in the third. The combined analysis of the Schmid factor (SF) and the strain compatibility factor (m') was employed to study twin variant selection. The comparison of twinning behavior in different regions showed that the strain compatibility factor offered a more comprehensive explanation for the observed twinning pattern in the region with local shear strain.

The global energy transition is motivated largely by the need to combat climate change. Other reasons include limits to available fossil fuels, energy-related environmental impacts of many kinds, and societal goals such as equity and providing sustainable energy for the poor. This transition will significantly change the world both technically, economically and socially. It is taking shape with characteristics which prioritise certain types of policy, interventions and solutions, as well as certain actors and institutional forces. More fundamentally, it embodies underlying assumptions about what constitutes a desirable type of economy and society. Briefly stated, the energy transition is being geared to a conventional economic growth-focused type of development; including the not unchallenged concept of green growth. Not everyone, however, would agree on those priorities or the underlying assumptions. We point out various constraints and limitations which this approach places on the energy transition. Whilst much of the change being initiated is positive, we argue that different views, which lie closer to discourses such as strong sustainability (1), deep ecology (2) and ecological economics (3, 4) might prioritise differently and offer both necessary and desirable outcomes. Given the predominant focus on energy and climate, equally essential goals such as equity and eradication of poverty appear to be at particular risk of being missed. Building on examples and recent experience we argue that achieving global sustainable energy, not least the societal goals, remains unlikely within socio-political frameworks permeated by the imperatives of market-driven growth, the commodification of resources, and intense competitive dynamics. Technology and economics, the themes of this issue, have far-reaching societal implications and outcomes. We argue that it is essential that they be considered within the broad context discussed here.

The Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) combines the concepts of bioeconomy and circular economy. As an alternative concept to the current fossil-based, linear economy, it de-scribes an economy based on the efficient valorization of biomass. It is regional in nature and aims to improve sustainability. An analysis of the transition process, by identifying its success criteria and assessing its impacts through the modelling of technology-specific scenarios is necessary to ensure that CBE concepts are sustainable. However, a compre-hensive consideration of regional influences on both is lacking. Based on extensive literature research and an expert survey, we (i) present a compre-hensive catalog of CBE success criteria and discuss their region-specific character and (ii) develop a methodology based on evaluation matrices that enable to match CBE technolo-gies with regions. The matrices support the evaluation of technological and regional characteristics influencing the successful CBE implementation. The results show that the success criteria "biomass resources", "technological", and "social" are perceived as highly important, and that most of the success criteria are both region- and technology-specific, highlighting the relevance of developing matrices to match them. We describe such matrices indicatively for the two broadest and most im-portant success criteria clusters “social acceptance” and “biomass supply chain”. With this, we substantiate the regional nature of CBE and raise the awareness on the importance of considering regional conditions in CBE transition processes. Furthermore, we provide practical guidance on how regional conditions can be reflected in the selection of technologies, e.g. in regional CBE technology scenarios.

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) is an emerging wide bandgap semiconductor promising a wide range of important applications. However, mass production of high-quality crystalline Ga2O3 still suffers from limitations associated with poor reproducibility and low efficiency. Low-temperature grown amorphous Ga2O3 demonstrates comparable performance with its crystalline counterparts. Lanthanide Er3+-doped Ga2O3 (Ga2O3: Er) possesses great potential for developing light-emitting devices, photodetectors and optical waveguides. The host circumstance can exert a crystal field around the lanthanide dopants and strongly influence their photoluminescence properties. Here we present a systematical study of the impact of amorphous-to-crystalline transition on the upconversion photoluminescence in Ga2O3: Er thin films. Through controlling the growth temperature of Ga2O3: Er films, the upconversion luminescence of as-grown thin films are strongly enhanced over 100 times. Moreover, the variation of photoluminescence reflects the amorphous-to-crystalline transformation of the Ga2O3: Er thin films. These results will aid further design of favorable optoelectronic devices integrated with lanthanide-doped Ga2O3 thin films.

The binary metal oxide mesoporous interfacial layers (bi-MO meso IF layer) templated by a graft copolymer is synthesized between a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and nanocrystalline TiO2 (nc-TiO2). Amphiphilic graft copolymers, Poly(epichlorohydrin)-graft-poly(styrene), PECH-g-PS, was used as a structure-directing agent, and the fabricated bi-MO meso IF layer exhibits good interconnectivity and high porosity. Even if the amount of ZnO in bi-MO meso IF layer increased, it was confirmed that the morphology and porosity of bi-MO meso IF layer was well maintained. In addtion, bi-MO meso IF layer coated onto FTO substrates show higher transmittance compared with a pristine FTO substrate and dense-TiO2/FTO, due to the reduced surface roughness of FTO. The overall conversion efficiency (η) of a solid state photovoltaic cells, dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabricated with nc-TiO2 layer/bi-MO meso IF layer TZ1 used as a photoanode reaches 5.0% at 100 mW cm-2, which is higher than that of DSSC with a nc-TiO2 layer/dense-TiO2 layer (4.2%), resulting from enhanced light harvesting, good interconnectivity, and reduced interfacial resistance. The cell efficiency of the device did not change after 15 days, indicating that the bi-MO meso IF layer with solid-state electrolyte has improved electrode/electrolyte interface and electrochemical stability. Additionally, commercial scattering layer/nc-TiO2 layer/bi-MO meso IF layer TZ1 photoanode fabricated solid state photovoltaic cells (DSSC) achieved an overall conversion efficiency (η) of 6.4% at 100 mW cm-2.

2023 was the hottest year ever recorded, global warming accelerates its rising, we witness a series of extreme weather events, more frequent and more intense, climate refugees, infrastructure harmed, forests burning, “meteorological tsunamis”. We failed to meet the main goals of the Kyoto protocol; we are very close to fail in meeting the Paris agreement’s slowing global warming goal. Greenhouse gases emissions are at rise and, even if completely halt, temperatures would keep rising, enhancing the global average. Carbon capture and storage technologies are being developed to counterbalance these emissions by removing such gases from the atmosphere and physically storing or transforming them into useful molecules for the society. In this work we prospect microorganisms that can serve as a platform for developing carbon capture technologies. We process samples from the seabed of Brainsfield Strait region, Antarctica, prospecting for an organism capable of fixing carbon dioxide without light (chemoautotrophic bacterias) and capable of enduring extreme conditions of pressure (100 bar) under 100% supercritical state carbon dioxide atmosphere (scCO2), conditions like those found in oil deposits, where the technology can be of particular use.

End-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries can be reused to reduce their environmental impact and economic costs. However, the growth of a second-life market is limited by the lack of information on the characteristics and performance of these batteries. As the volume of end-of-life EVs may exceed the amount of batteries needed for stationary applications, investigating the possibility of repurposing them in mobile applications is also necessary. This article presents an experimental test that can be used to collect the data necessary to fill a battery passport. The proposed procedure can facilitate the decision making process regarding the suitability of a battery for reuse at the end of its first life. Once the battery passport has been completed, the performance and characteristics of the battery are compared with the requirements of several mobile applications. Mobile charging stations and forklift trucks were identified as relevant applications for the reuse of high capacity prismatic cells. Finally, a definition of a state of health (SoH) is proposed to track the suitability of the battery during use in the second life application considering not only energy but also power and efficiency of the battery. This SoH shows that even taking into account accelerated ageing data, a repurposed battery can have an extended life of 11 years at 25~°C. It has also been shown that energy fade is the most limiting performance for lifetime and that cell-to-cell variation should be tracked as it has been shown to have a significant impact on battery life.

The term sustainable energy is very familiar to all of us yet its exact definition or meaning has so far been vague. To date the widely adopted definition of sustainable energy has been inspired by the definition of sustainable development formulated more than 30 years ago in the Our Common Future - the UN’s Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The current definition conceals the true spirit of the Report and this has some ramifications. It raises the question as to whether we have put too much emphasis on attaining the future dimension of sustainability in the middle of the situation where the energy survivability is in fact the real issue in many parts of the world. In this paper the role of energy in sustaining livelihoods of low income communities is discussed. Existing definition of sustainable energy that the whole world seems to have embraced is looked at critically and its downsides exposed. The identified pillars of sustainable energy and the associated issues is discussed and the need for an additional pillar, i.e. affordability is discussed and called for. This paper will argue that global definition of sustainable energy seems inappropriate and should be jettisoned and a more realistic definition should be formulated, adopted and embraced at local (i.e. national or regional) level taking into account local attributes and factors. The current push for a transition from the reliance on conventional energy sources to ‘cleaner’ energy sources (generally associated with renewable energy) has further exacerbated the issue of energy affordability that has made the conditions even more dire for so many groups of the world population. In the midst of this situation, those who push for a rushed energy transition seem to be those who also produce unsustainably high carbon footprint but who can easily offset their carbon foot-print through the ‘net-zero’ concept.

The proliferation of deep learning in natural language processing (NLP) has led to the development and release of innovative technologies capable of understanding and generating human language with remarkable proficiency. Atinuke, a Transformer-based neural network, optimises performance across various language tasks by utilising a unique configuration. The architecture interweaves layers for processing sequential data with attention mechanisms to draw meaningful affinities between inputs and outputs. Due to the configuration of its topology and hyperparameter tuning, it can emulate human-like language by extracting features and learning complex mappings. Atinuke is modular, extensible, and integrates seamlessly with existing machine learning pipelines. Advanced matrix operations like softmax, embeddings, and multi-head attention enable nuanced handling of textual, acoustic, and visual signals. By unifying modern deep learning techniques with software design principles and mathematical theory, the system achieves state-of-the-art results on natural language tasks whilst remaining interpretable and robust.

This study describes the seasonal course of denitrifying and nitrate reducing bacteria in a dimictic mesotrophic lake (Lake Scharmützelsee, Brandenburg, Germany) within a three-year period from 2011 to 2013. The bacterial cell numbers were quantified by fluorescence microscopy, most probable number (MPN) and PCR dependent quantification of the chromosomal 16S rDNA and of the nirS and nirK gene copy number. The highest seasonal differences (up to three orders of magnitudes) has been measured by MPN in the epilimnion. This variation was not reflected by PCR dependent approaches or direct microscopical enumeration. At adverse conditions (low temperature and/or low nitrate concentrations), the differences between MPN and gene copy numbers increased up to five orders of magnitudes and decreased to one magnitude at favorable environmental conditions. These results can be explained best by an increasing ratio of viable but not cultivable (VBNC) cells or dead cells at impairing conditions. In the hypolimnion, the courses of MPN and nir gene copy numbers were similar. This can be explained by higher feeding pressure and therefore smaller amounts of dormant cells. In the pelagial in general, the total cell numbers enumerated by either microscopical or molecular approaches were similar. In the sediment, more than 99 % of the DNA was obviously not related to viable bacteria but was rather “dead DNA” in dead cells or adsorbed to particle surfaces.

Canadians overwhelmingly do not want to live in long-term-care (LTC) facilities when they age; yet many end up there for lack of homecare, because family caregivers burn out, or because they and their professional advisors are unaware of alternatives to institutions. Not only is institutional dementia care problem-driven, it segregates disabled people, thereby abrogating human rights. Because systemic ageism and ableism cloud elder care, institutions remain the default option for Canadians with dementia. Yet, decades of deinstitutionalization enabled younger disabled Canadians to live in the community with supports. Why not elders? We describe a plethora of noninstitutional dementia-care alternatives. We then present a roadmap for considering all relevant care options in service plans, one that incorporates supported decision-making by people with dementia. We propose a paradigm shift in how Canada serves its elder citizens—not just the current generation, but those to come, including ourselves.

A facile and environmentally benign method for a single-phase barium titanate synthesis in water vapor medium was studied to reveal the mechanism of phase transformation of the initial simple oxides mixture and estimate the capability of the product to be used as a raw material for low-frequency dielectric ceramics. The composition and structure of the reaction mixture treated in vapor at 130…150 °C as well as 230 °C for various time were investigated by means of XRD, SEM, HRTEM, EDX, and FTIR methods. The kinetics of the occurring phase transformation was described by Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Erofeev equation. The reaction between the initial oxides was considered as a topochemical process with an apparent activation energy of 74…80 kJ mol^-1. A crucial role in this process belonged to the water vapor medium, which facilitated the generation of the reaction zone and its spreading inward the solid particles. The synthesized tetragonal barium titanate powder (mean particle size of 135 ± 24 nm) was sintered by a conventional technique at 1250 °C to obtain ceramics with grains of about 2 μm. Capacitance measurements performed a dielectric constant and loss tangent of ceramics, which reached 3879 and 6.7 10^-3, respectively, at 1 kHz and room temperature.

The classification of tumors in subtypes, characterized by phenotypes determined by specific differentiation pathways, aids diagnosis and directs therapy towards targeted approaches. However, with the advent and explosion of next-generation sequencing, cancer phenotypes are turning out to be far more heterogenous than initially thought, and the classification is continually being updated to include more subtypes. Tumors are indeed highly dynamic and they can evolve and undergo various changes in their characteristics during disease progression. The picture becomes even more complex when tumor responds to a therapy. In all these cases, cancer cells acquire the ability to trans-differentiate, changing subtype, and adapt to changing microenvironments. These modifications affect the tumor's growth rate, invasiveness, response to treatment, and overall clinical behavior. Studying tumor subtype transitions is crucial for understanding tumor evolution, predicting disease outcomes, and developing personalized treatment strategies. We discuss this emerging hallmark of cancer and the molecular mechanisms involved at the crossroads between tumor cells and their microenvironment, focusing on four different human cancers in which tissue plasticity causes a subtype switch: breast cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

An exposition is undertaken to reveal the significant impact of the time-dependent root parameter, on the stability of Pointwise Stationary Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of the non-stationary queueing system. This opens new grounds to stability analysis of non-stationary queueing systems. Potential PSFFA applications of IoT are highlighted.

With continued scaling of semiconductor devices , the value of predictive analysis through 1 accurate quantum transport modeling is exponentially increasing. Quantum transmitting Boundary 2 method (QTBM) has been a well-known method of choice to model quantum transport in simple 1-D 3 devices. Here, we present an extension of the QTBM to the 2-D domain and apply it for more realistic 4 devices for accurate performance analysis.

This review is a first attempt at bringing together various concepts from research on wall- and magnetically-bounded turbulent flows. Brief reviews of both fields are provided: The main similarities identified are coherent (turbulent) structures, flow generation and transport barriers. Examples are provided and discussed.

Positive Health (PH) has been described as a promising transformative innovation to address the challenges of promoting well-being and reducing the burden of disease. The aim of this study is to review the current state of knowledge about PH as introduced by Huber et al. (2016) within the available scientific literature. A rapid review of the literature following the Cochrane Rapid Review recommendations. Three databases were searched (PubMed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL). Data were extracted and synthesized using a narrative approach. A total of 55 articles were included. Initial evaluation studies reveal promising results both at individual and collective levels. However, a need is expressed in several articles for further refinement of the conceptualization of PH and ways to make the effects of the PH approach more measurable. Professionals also expressed a desire for a more informed application and elaboration of the PH method across various settings and populations to enhance its effectiveness in practice. This rapid review highlights the transformative potential of PH in shifting from a disease-focused to a health-oriented paradigm of healthcare. It underscores the need for continued research regarding further development of the concept and its practical method, along with the necessity for methodological innovation.

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

This paper offers a novel geometric and visual approach to the renowned Four Color Map Theorem and K5 non-planarity problem while unveiling their profound connection to the "kissing number" problem in 2D. We represent planar graphs through circles and tangents, simplifying complex structures and shedding light on these classic problems. Our proofs by contradiction, rooted in the kissing number concept, reveal that both the Four Color Map Theorem and K5 non-planarity are fundamentally linked, as they pivot around the concept of coloring. This study bridges the realms of geometry and graph theory, providing fresh insights and emphasizing the significance of the kissing number problem in various fields.

Rising demand and urbanization have led to the global increase and intensification of livestock production. Intensive production has harmful effects on the environment, public health (due to the emergence of zoonotic diseases), and animal welfare. In order to better understand how livestock production intensifies as countries develop and incomes rise, we examine the relationship between income per capita and intensification of poultry and cattle, using the states of India as a study region. We also replicate this analysis at the district level to test whether the relationship holds at different spatial scales. We identify outlying states and districts to see if there are policies that can keep agriculture production largely extensive, even as economic growth occurs. The results support the relationship of income being positively correlated with the proportion of livestock in intensive conditions. However, there are notable outlier states which have grown wealthy while still maintaining largely extensive production, indicating that there may be some cases where economic growth can occur without intensification.

The swelling behavior of titanium-modified austenitic stainless steel 15-15Ti was investigated by pre-implantation of He at room temperature followed by Ni irradiation at 580 °C to peak doses of 120, 240 and 400 dpa. Relatively smaller cavities were observed in the zone of helium implantation while large cavities appeared in the region near the damage peak. A correction formula of the dpa curve was proposed and applied for samples with large swelling. It is found that the steady-state swelling rate of 15-15Ti keeps at ~1% /dpa even to high doses. By comparing the swelling data of the helium-implanted and helium-free regions at same doses, 70 dpa and 122 dpa, the suppression of excessive helium on swelling can be deduced at such doses.

This scientific paper presents a comprehensive investigation into transient Fourier analysis in some electrical engineering applications. The article deals with two effective approaches for solving transient analysis whose application is rather novel. The first contribution uses combined the Fourier series analytic Laplace-Carson (L­C) transform methods in the complex domain using complex time vectors, thereby significantly simplifying the calculation of the original function. As the inverse transform goes back into the time domain, it employs the Cauchy-Heaviside (C­H) method. The second contribution uses the Fourier transform (F­Τ)for transient analysis of a power converter electrical circuit with the passive and the active load. The method of complex conjugated amplitudes is used for steady-state analysis. Both contributions represent a new approach to this paper. The starting point is the Fourier series/expansions, computation of the Fourier coefficients, then continuing by solving the steady and transient states of the system and confirming the transient states using the Fourier transform. To validate our findings, the worked-out analytical results are verified by modelling in Matlab/Simulink environment.

Previously reported atomic data (spectral lines, wavelengths, energy levels, and transition probabilities) have been collected and systematically analyzed for the Cs VI. The present theoretical analysis is supported by extensive calculations made for Cs VI with a pseudo-relativistic Hartree--Fock (HFR) method together with the superposition of configuration interactions implemented in Cowan's codes. In this critical evaluation, we provided several possibly observable lines with Ritz-wavelengths, computed from the optimized energy levels, and theoretical transition probabilities with their estimated uncertainties. In addition, we provided the radiative transition parameters for several forbidden lines within the ground configuration $5s^25p^2$ of Cs VI.

This research explores the transformation of learning methodologies from traditional to modern approaches, focusing on the development of a gamified educational application with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) mentor for secondary school graduates preparing for Croatian state graduation exams. Traditionally, education has been marked by a passive student role and teacher-centric transmission of knowledge. In contrast, modern learning tools, such as gamified applications, introduce interactive and engaging elements. The purpose of this study is to identify user-centric learning approaches through a comprehensive survey of graduating students, assessing their readiness for exams, learning styles, and preferences. The research explores issues such as financial burdens on parents for preparatory courses and copyright concerns with external educational materials. In summary, the learning application should prioritise sustained knowledge retention, motivation, and stress reduction, offering an alternative to external preparatory courses. Conclusions underscore the importance of fostering an engaging learning environment, incorporating teacher-like elements, and aligning with user expectations. As digital technology positively impacts the learning experience, understanding user preferences is crucial in designing educational apps that cater to learners' needs. The study provides insights for developing a gamified learning application that not only prepares students for exams but also enhances long-term knowledge acquisition and engagement.

This study aims to determine the Antecedent of employee engagement among police officers in Tanjung Perak Police Station. The approach used in this research is quantitative with survey and correlation methods. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling which obtained by respondents as many as 146 employees of Police officers in Tanjung Perak Police Station which include all the population. The data analysis technique used in this research is descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis. Inferential statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach using Smart PLS application. Furthermore, the measurement of the model (outer model). The test findings suggest that internal and external job transitions improve capital mobility. Movement capital boosts internal employability. Movement capital boosts external employability. Employee engagement and participation are negatively impacted by perceived external employability.

: Protease-producing yeasts were isolated from potato wastes and screened for protease production on skim milk agar plates The best producer of protease isolate was identified as Clavispora lusitaniae. The strain showed better enzyme production using tomato pomace and bread waste mix as a solid fermentation substrate. The optimized conditions improved enzyme activity and showed a maximal production of 33450±503 IU/g compared with the initial activity of 11205,78 ±360 without medium optimization. A threefold increase in protease activity after medium optimization proved the reliability of using the PBD and CCD design. A 19.76-fold purified enzyme and a yield of 32.94% were obtained after purification. The protease showed maximum activity at pH 4 and 60 °C and was resistant to Tween 20, Tween 40, SDS, and β-mercaptoethanol, Ca2+, and Mg2+ stimulated it. The protease activity was strongly inhibited in the presence of urea, and EDTA. The results revealed Clavispora lusitaniae protease's ability to degrade wheat seeds and flour gluten by 98.7% and 97% respectively under pH 4 for 24 hours at 40 °C. According to this study, this enzyme could be a potential candidate for the food industry, particularly for treating wheat seed and flour to reduce the immunogenicity of gluten.

In the article, the authors presented the problem of the transition effect in bridge engineering, its causes, negative consequences, and suggested a solution involving the use of integral bridges with the embankment through a spatial bars structure using reinforced composite polymer material. Integral bridges are designed to collaborate with road or railway embankments in bearing loads. Additionally, their application minimizes maintenance and construction costs while enhancing durability. Current solutions in bridge engineering were described. It is predicted that the presented concept will reduce the amount of plastic waste and contribute to the long-term use of materials. The article emphasized the importance of sustainable development, recycling, and the potential application of substitute materials.

Energy transition is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. All micro, small, medium and large enterprises in operation will have to face it, and some can al-ready boast the first successes in this regard. This paper focuses on the involvement of these smallest players in energy transition. Micro and small entities are the largest part of the economy, having a great influence on its development. Looking at the wide scale of their activities, these entities are distinguished by a specific owner-manager relationship. This means that the final decision-making is influenced by business goals, but also by the manager's approach, their awareness of changes, and personal and other factors. Based on a structured and standardized survey questionnaire, the research was carried out using the Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing technique between April and May 2022 among owners of micro and small enterprises operating in Poland. The survey showed that active engagement of micro and small enterprises in energy efficiency initiatives is related to their market success and financial health.

We extend Ziv and Lempel's model of finite-state encoders to the realm of lossy compression of individual sequences. In particular, the model of the encoder includes a finite-state reconstruction codebook followed by an information lossless finite-state encoder that compresses the reconstruction codeword with no additional distortion. We first derive two different lower bounds to the compression ratio that depend on the number of states of the lossless encoder. Both bounds are asymptotically achievable by conceptually simple coding schemes. We then show that when the number of states of the lossless encoder is large enough in terms of the reconstruction block-length, the performance can be improved, sometimes significantly so. In particular, the improved performance is achievable using a random-coding ensemble that is universal, not only in terms of the source sequence, but also in terms of the distortion measure.

The primary goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in solid-state batteries (SSBs), with a focus on recent advancements in solid electrolytes and anodes. The paper begins with a background on the evolution from liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries to advanced SSBs, highlighting their enhanced safety and energy density. It addresses the increasing demand for efficient, safe energy storage in applications like electric vehicles and portable electronics. A major part of the paper analyzes solid electrolytes, key to SSB technology. It classifies solid electrolytes as polymer-based, oxide-based, and sulfide-based, discussing their distinct properties and application suitability. The review also covers advancements in anode materials for SSBs, exploring materials like lithium metal, silicon, and intermetallic compounds, focusing on their capacity, durability, and compatibility with solid electrolytes. It addresses challenges in integrating these anode materials, like interface stability and lithium dendrite growth. This review includes a discussion on the latest analytical techniques, experimental studies, and computational models to understand and improve the anode-solid electrolyte interface. These are crucial for tackling interfacial resistance and ensuring SSBs' long-term stability and efficiency. Concluding, the paper suggests future research and development directions, highlighting SSBs' potential in revolutionizing energy storage technologies. This review serves as a vital resource for academics, researchers, and industry professionals in advanced battery technology development. It offers a detailed overview of materials and technologies shaping SSBs' future, providing insights into current challenges and potential solutions in this rapidly evolving field.

Femtoscopy is a unique tool to investigate the space-time geometry of the matter created in ultra-relativistic collisions. If the probability density distribution of hadron emission is parametrized, then the dependence of its parameters on particle momentum, collision energy, and collision geometry can be given. In recent years, several measurements came to light that indicated the adequacy of assuming a Lévy-stable shape for the mentioned distribution. In parallel, several new phenomenological developments appeared, aiding the interpretation of the experimental results, or providing tools for the measurements. In this paper we review and discuss some of these advances, phenomenological and experimental.

Melting, solidification and viscosity properties of a multicomponent Fe-Cu-Nb-Mo-Si-B alloys with low aluminum addition up to 0.42 at.% Al were studied using an oscillating cup viscometer. It is shown that melting and solidification are divided into two stages with a knee point at 1461 K. The temperature dependences of the liquid fraction between the liquidus and solidus temperatures during melting and solidification are calculated. It has been proven that aluminum accelerates the processes of melting and solidification and leads to an increase in liquidus and solidus temperatures. In the liquid state at temperatures above 1700 K in an alloy with a low aluminum content, the activation energy of viscous flow increases. This growth was associated with the liquid – liquid structure transition caused by the formation of large clusters based on the metastable Fe23B6 phase. Aluminum atoms attract iron and boron atoms and contribute to the formation of clusters based on the Fe2AlB2 phase and metastable phases of a higher order.

The transition region is a very thin but most peculiar layer in the solar atmosphere, located between the solar chromosphere and the corona. It is a key region for understanding the coronal heating, the solar eruptions triggering, and the origin of solar winds. Here, the gradients of all physical parameters are very high, including plasma density, ionization degree, temperature, and magnetic fields, etc. Therefore, the transition region should be highly dynamic, such as fast energy releasing and transporting, plasma heating, and even particle accelerating. They include two physical aspects: thermal and non-thermal processes. The thermal processes can be observed from the ultraviolet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission by multi-wavelength images. The non-thermal processes, however, should be related to radio emissions especially at millimeter wavelengths, and the frequency range should span from several GHz to beyond 300 GHz, and the emission mechanism should be highly related to the magnetic fields and variations. The ultra-wide broadband spectral observations at millimeter wavelengths with high spectral resolutions may provide rich dynamic information about the transition region, such as non-thermal energy release and transmission, the flows of plasma and energetic particles, the magnetic fields and their variations, the generation and transportation of various waves, and the formation and evolution of the source regions of solar eruptions. Here, we discussed the spectral characteristics of millimeter-wave emission from the transition region and proposed a new conception of ultra-wide broadband millimeter-wave spectrometers to observe them.

This review provides an extensive overview of the developments in the field of polymer science, focusing on the solid-state modification (SSM) of thermoplastic materials. The background of the study places thermoplastics within the context of their increased use over the past century, highlighting their versatility in various applications and the associated environmental and health concerns due to certain additives. The methods section delves into the specifics of SSM, a technique that involves the incorporation of monomers or oligomers into the amorphous phase of polymers through multiple exchange reactions, distinguishing it from traditional melt polymer modification methods. The results section outlines the unique aspects of SSM and its increasing recognition for its potential to enhance material performance in areas such as catalysts and composites. It also discusses the application of SSM in modifying different thermoplastic polymers, highlighting various studies demonstrating the method's effectiveness in altering polymer properties. Finally, this work emphasizes SSM's importance in environmental sustainability and its potential in the recycling and upcycling of plastic materials. It acknowledges the challenges and future perspectives in the field, particularly regarding the scalability of SSM techniques for industrial applications and their role in advancing a circular economy in the polymer industry.

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.

Exploring effective oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts is crucial for progress in solid-state alkaline zinc-air batteries (ZAB). In this paper, silver-manganese dioxide-carbon nanotubes (SMC) ternary composites, which function as Electrocatalyst for air Electrodes, was produced via the pyrolysis of silver permanganate under microwave irradiation in one step. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and an energy dispersion spectrometer (EDS) have consistently determined that SMC consists of silver and alpha-manganese dioxide, which anchored on the surface of CNTs. Through polarization and chronoamperometery curves, the electrocatalytic activity of SMC for ORR was examined. The results reveal that SMC has higher catalytic activity than the chemically produced electrocatalyst for ORR in alkaline condition. Finally, a solid-state zinc-air cell with an electrocatalyst was constructed and tested. Constant current discharge curve of the zinc-air cell with SMC has a long discharge voltage plateau and a 60.03 mAh capacity at 30 mA · cm−2 . The mechanism of improvement in electrocatalytic activity was also discussed. In a summary, the strategy described in this study and the electrocatalyst produced can be regarded as an effective method for making a robust oxygen reduction catalyst toward solid-state zinc-air batteries.

The earth pressure acting on soilbag reinforced retaining structures subjected to surcharge loads under non-limited states, is crucial for designing these structures. In this study, the earth pressures are investigated through model tests of the soilbag reinforced retaining wall. Findings from these tests reveal a non-linear distribution of lateral earth pressure on the wall when subjected to surcharge loads in non-limited states, with an observed escalation in pressure corresponding to increased surcharge loads. Compression tests on soilbags were conducted to analyze their lateral stress-strain behavior. Insights from these tests facilitated the development of a predictive method for estimating lateral pressure on soilbag reinforced retaining walls under similar conditions. This method, rooted in the principle of force equilibrium in differential elements, has its accuracy and reliability substantiated by the alignment of its predictions with the model test outcomes.

This research aims to understand the Cambodian green economy transition and analyze its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The research showed that Cambodia has been significantly transitioning its green economy since 2009 as evidenced by the National Green Growth Roadmap. Cambodia also established the National Council for Green Growth in 2012 and upgraded it to the National Council for Sustainable Development in 2015 in alignment with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations. The members of the Council are from all the government’s ministries and relevant inter-ministerial councils/committees, which are significant for policymaking. All governors of the capital and provincial administrations are also its members, which are significant for supporting and implementing the works at the subnational levels. Under the structure of the Council’s Secretariat, Department of Green Economy is playing an important role in promoting green economic development in Cambodia by looking at national policies and strategic plans, undertaking projects, and mobilizing resources. Through coordination between this Department and UNIDO, Cambodia in 2022 became a Member of the United Nations Partnership for Action on Green Economy. The findings showed that Cambodia is transitioning its green economy at the right time, especially the new government’s Pentagonal Strategy strongly supported this green economy transition with a clear and strong political commitment. The national inter-ministerial council for sustainable development is also very significant for cross sectoral policy-making and implementing levels, inclusively for promoting green economic development.