Combined radiation with hemorrhage (combined injury, CI), exacerbates hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome and mortality compared to radiation alone (RI). We evaluated the effects of RI or CI on blood cell depletion as a biomarker to differentiate the two. Male CD2F1 mice were exposed to 8.75 Gy γ- radiation (60Co). Within 2 h of RI, animals were bled under anesthesia 0% (RI) or 20% (CI) of total blood volume. Blood samples were collected at 4-5 h and days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 15 after RI. CI decreased WBC at 4-5 h and continued to decrease them until day 3; counts then stayed at the nadir up to day 15. CI decreased neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils more than RI on day 1 or day 2. CI decreased RBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit on days 7 and 15 compared to RI, whereas Hemorrhage alone returned to the baseline on days 7 and 15. RBCs depleted after CI faster than post RI. Hemorrhage alone increased platelet counts on days 2, 3, and 7, which returned to the baseline on day 15. Our data suggest that WBC depletion may be a biomarker within 2 days post-CI and RBC depletion after 3 days post-CI.

This paper presents laboratory devices on which experimental measurements were carried out to prove the validity of the assumption about the reduction of vibrations transmitted to the conveyor belt structure generated by the impact forces of falling material grains in the places of transfer or on the hoppers of conveyor belts. In order to limit damage to the conveyor belts caused by the impact of the sharp edges of material grains, conveyor belts are supported by impact rollers or impact rubber rods in the places of transfers and on the hoppers of belt conveyors. The flattened ends of the impact rollers are inserted into the grooves of steel brackets installed on the supports of the fixed conveyor idlers of a conventional design. In this paper, a special modification of the fixed conveyor idler is presented, which consists of inserting plastic brackets into the structurally modified roller axle holders of the fixed conveyor idler. Measurements were carried out on the first laboratory device, which showed that the specially modified fixed conveyor idler resulted in a higher damping of up to 15% of the impact forces of the falling weight on the rubberized hoop of the impact roller shell compared to the conventional fixed conveyor idler design. Measurements carried out on the second laboratory device show that the effective vibration velocity values detected at the points where the impact roller axis fits into the fixed roller table holder, i.e. points B and D, are higher than when using plastic brackets, up to 6% for a 108 mm diameter roller, compared to steel impact roller brackets.

In this study, we demonstrate the direct preparation of dihalo-γ-lactams featuring two distinct halogens from dichloroamides using a novel Atom Exchange Radical Cyclization (AERC) procedure. This method integrates the established Atom Transfer Radical Cyclization with halogen exchange in solution. The technique operates under mild conditions and requires little amounts of metallic copper, serving as both a supplemental activator and reducing agent.

Background: Despite their generally favorable prognosis, hepatic fibrosis remains a possible complication for hepatitis B virus (HBV) inactive carriers. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of significant fibrosis and associated risk factors among Omani HBV inactive carriers. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 200 Omani HBV inactive carriers visiting a tertiary hospital in Muscat, Oman, between January 2017 and December 2018. Significant fibrosis (stage F2 or higher) was identified using two-dimensional shear-wave elastography. Baseline clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were analyzed to determine associations. Results: Of the total sample, 106 patients (53%) were male, and the mean age was 44.6 ± 9.3 years. The prevalence of significant fibrosis was 20% (n = 40). Male gender (p = 0.007), age ≥60 years (p = 0.024), and fatty changes in liver ultrasound (p = 0.044) were found to be independent factors for significant fibrosis. Conclusion: the prevalence of significant fibrosis was relatively high among a sample of Omani HBV inactive carriers, with several sociodemographic and clinical risk factors identified. Periodic assessment of liver function is needed for patients with these risk factors; moreover, routine biochemical parameters could be useful predictors of disease prognosis. Further research is recommended to substantiate these findings.

: In the realm of data management, data preservation stands as a critical undertaking aimed at preserving and upholding the integrity of data. Regardless of whether it concerns personal or enterprise data, the detrimental effects of malicious alterations implemented by attackers cannot be overlooked. Particularly in conventional industrial control environments, the prevalent practice involves the transmission of data from sensors to databases for storage purposes. However, it is essential to recognize that this process exposes the data to various vulnerabilities. Thus, to ensure the long-term security and reliability of the data, it becomes imperative to implement robust data preservation strategies within these industrial control systems. However, the reliance of these databases on physical hard disks introduces inherent vulnerabilities, including the potential for data loss due to disk damage or targeted malicious attacks. Consequently, it becomes imperative to prioritize the implementation of robust data preservation measures. These measures are crucial in mitigating the risk of disruptions and protecting critical data from compromise. By establishing effective data backup systems, employing advanced security protocols, and implementing proactive monitoring mechanisms, organizations can bolster their data preservation capabilities and safeguard against potential threats to data integrity and availability. As a result, many enterprises opt to store their data with third-party providers to ensure data integrity. However, this approach carries inherent risks. If the third-party service experiences an attack or if the data is tampered with, it becomes challenging to verify the integrity of the data. To address these concerns and ensure data preservation within the context of the Internet of Things (IoT), a growing number of individuals are integrating IoT with Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). By leveraging DLT, the integrity of data can be ensured, reducing reliance on centralized third-party storage and enhancing security in the IoT ecosystem. In this article, IOTA is the DLT, which employs Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) to store transaction information. Compared to Ethereum or other blockchain technologies, IOTA offers notable advantages in terms of transaction verification speed, making it highly suitable for real-time IoT environments. However, the conventional transmission path from sensors to IOTA nodes entails a complex route, involving multiple hardware devices before reaching the intended destination. This complexity poses challenges in ensuring data integrity during transmission and introduces vulnerabilities such as man-in-the-middle attacks or SQL injection attacks. To address these issues, we propose a method to streamline the transmission path between sensors and IOTA, specifically tailored for industrial fields with numerous IoT devices. Our approach involves preprocessing the data stored on the server using our method before uploading, ensuring data confidentiality, and leveraging IOTA to guarantee data integrity. To achieve the shortest path between IoT and DLT nodes, it becomes necessary to establish IOTA nodes on lower-level devices, such as Raspberry Pi or IoT controllers. By simplifying the transmission path, we can reduce the potential for tampering and enhance overall data security. Implementing our proposed method enables the assurance of data confidentiality and integrity during both transmission and storage on the server, strengthening the trustworthiness of the IoT, and IOTA integration.

Lactoperoxidase (LP), which is a high-value minor whey protein, has recently drawn extensive attention from research scientists and industry due to its multi-function and potential therapeutic applications. In this study, the separation and optimization of two similar-sized proteins, LP and lactoferrin (LF) were investigated using strong cation exchange column chromatography. Optimization was started with central composite design based experiments to characterize the importance of different decision variables. The three variables used in the optimization were flow rate, length of gradient and final salt concentration in the linear elution gradient step. The obtained empiric functional model represented the effect of the significant factors on the yield as the objective function. Afterwards, the calibrated mechanistic model was employed to predict accurate optimal set of variables. The optimal operating points were found and the results were compared with validation experiments. Predictions respecting yield confirmed a very good agreement with experimental results while keeping purity, a product quality characteristic, equal or above to a predefined value.

As marine traffic is contributing to pollution and mostly have predictable route with repetitive load profiles, to reduce their impact on environment, hybrid system with proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC-s) and battery pack, is promising replacement. For this purpose, the numerical model of repowered existing vessel that have two diesel engines with 300 kWe is developed. The goal of this paper is to develop numerical model which analyzes and determine equivalent hybrid ship propulsion system for known traveling route. The developed numerical model consists of an interconnected system with PEMFC stack and battery pack as power sources. Numerical model is developed and optimized to meet minimal required power demand for successful route demand, which has variable loads and daily sails six-time same voyage- in total 54 nautical miles. The results have shown that equivalent hybrid power system consists of 300 kWe PEMFC stack and battery pack with 424 kWh battery and state of charge varying between 20 and 87%. To power this new hybrid power system, hydrogen tank of 7200 l holding 284.7 kg at pressure of 700 bar is needed, compared to previous system that spend 1524 kg of diesel and generate 4886 kg of CO2.

Turner syndrome (TS) is caused by a complete or partial absence of an X or Y chromosome, including chromosomal mosaicism, affecting 1 in 2,500 female live births. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) is used as a sensitive indicator of spontaneous chromosome instability. Cells from mosaic patients constitute useful material for SCE evaluations as they grow under the influence of the same genetic background and endogenous and exogenous factors. We evaluated proliferation dynamics and SCE frequencies of 45,X and 46,XN cells of 17 mosaic TS patients. In two participants, 45,X cells exhibited a proliferative disadvantage in relation to 46,XN cells after 72h of cultivation. The analysis of mean PI showed significant differences between 45,X and 46,XN lineages; however there were no intraindividual differences. On the other hand, mean SCE frequencies showed no differences between the two lineages, but there were intraindividual differences in 5 patients. The absence of mean SCE frequency differences between 45,X and 46,XN lineages may indicate that both were equally unstable, as more than 70% of the 46,XN lineages had an anomalous karyotype. However, 46,XN had a higher mean PI, suggesting that the amount of cells with a karyotype distinct from 45,X may increase with time in mosaic TS women.

The concept of a Social License to Operate (SLO) has become increasingly important in the sustainability literature in recent years. Having its origins in the business discourse of the mining industry with respect to limiting opposition to mining projects, the notion of a social contract above and beyond legal requirements has since become applied across a number of different industries. Despite the concepts adoption confusion exists over the practices and outcomes of SLO, and particularly the nature of engagement. Given this situation it is surprising that not more attention to the role of marketing, and social marketing in particular, in operationalizing the concept. The paper discusses the potential of social marketing to contribute to SLO. Economic, political and social relations are complex in SLO and exchange is intricate in such relational environments. A community-based social marketing orientation is proposed as a means to improve exchange relations and enhance engagement. Seven models of SLO related social marketing models are discussed with community-based social marketing and adaptive co-marketing models being regarded as the most positive for the achievement of an SLO. Potential barriers to adoption of these approaches are noted.

As new vaccines reduce P. falciparum (Pf) cases, clinicians can focus on rescuing more children with cerebral malaria (CM). Adjunctive “therapeutically-rational exchange transfusion” (T-REX) refers to using special “Pf-resistant” donor red blood cells (RBCs) that secrete nano-sized RBC extracellular vesicles (EVs). Can some RBC EVs rapidly dislodge Pf-infected RBCs (iRBCs) sequestered in blood vessels and reduce inflammation? Does post-exchange “rebound parasitemia” reflect sequestration-reversal? We reviewed case-reports, EV and liposome studies, expert perspectives, and time-sequence data. In the AQUAMAT study, median coma-recovery time was 20 hours for artesunate. In contrast, a CM patient treated with type-O T-REX quickly began speaking (during the procedure). For other rapid-recovery CM patients, donor RBC variables had not been specified. Despite rapid Pf-killing, drugs need 20 hours to substantially reduce iRBC cytoadhesion while EVs can selectively bind distant inflamed tissues within 15 minutes. RBCs stressed by blood-bank storage and Pf infection secrete EVs. Post-exchange “rebound parasitemia” can occur within 60 minutes and may reflect release of sequestered iRBCs. Sequestration-reversal can be assessed by monitoring Pf parasitemia and total Pf biomass. New data suggest clinicians, working with transfusion- and laboratory-medicine physicians, can, and should, assess T-REX options and publish their findings to help clarify how RBC EVs may serve as therapeutic “decoy ligands.”

The spectra and global distributions of the X-ray emissions generated by the solar wind charge-exchange (SWCX) process in the terrestrial magnetosheath are investigated based on a global hybrid model and a global geocoronal hydrogen model. The solar wind O6+ ions which are the primary charge state for oxygen ions in solar wind are considered. The line emissivity of the charge-exchange born O5+ ions are calculated by Spectral Analysis System for Astrophysical and Lab oratory (SASAL). It is found that the emission lines from the O5+ ranges from 105.607 to 118.291 eV with the strong line at 107.047 eV. We then simulated the magnetosheath X-ray emission intensity distributions with a virtual camera at two positions of north pole and dusk at six stages during the passing of a perpendicular interplanetary shock combined with a tangential discontinuity structure through the Earth’s magnetosphere. During this process, the X-ray emission intensity increases with time, and the maximum value is 27.11 keV cm-2 s-1 sr-1 on the dayside, which is 4.5 times that before the solar wind structure reaches the Earth. A clear shock structure can be seen in the magnetosheath and moves earthward. The maximum emission intensity seen at dusk is always higher than that seen at north pole.

The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics successfully describes electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces but omits gravity. We introduce the Kinematrix Field Theory (KFT), integrating gravity into this fundamental force framework through a novel particle, the kinematon. This gauge boson, existing in both massless and massive forms, advances the SM's scope to address enigmas like dark matter and neutrino masses. We detail the mathematical structure of the KFT and establish Feynman rules for kinematon interactions with fermions and gauge bosons. The KFT, synergizing with the Higgs mechanism and general relativity, aspires to a unified quantum theory of gravity. We explore the kinematon's phenomenological implications and potential experimental signatures, forecasting significant advancements in fundamental physics and setting a course for future explorations in the SM.

Living cells are complex systems that may be characterized by fluids crowded by hundreds of different elements in particular by a high density of polymers; they are an excellent and challenging laboratory to study exotic emerging physical phenomena where entropic forces emerge from organization processes of many-body interactions. The competition between microscopic and entropic forces may generate complex behaviors like phase transitions that living cells may use to accomplish their functions. In the era of the big data, when biological information abounds but general principles and precise understanding of the microscopic interactions scarce, the entropy methods may offer significant information. In this work we develop a model where the thermodynamic equilibrium results from the competition between an effective electrostatic shortrange interaction and the entropic forces emerging in a fluid crowded by different size polymers. The target audience for this article are interdisciplinary researchers in complex systems, particularly in thermodynamics and biophysics modeling.

One of the factors in the mobility of a nation's economy is the stock exchange which plays a decisive role in sustainable economic development. Accordingly, and for the special place of the stock exchange in the economy, we decided to investigate the relationship between the interest and exchange rates and the Tehran stock exchange dividend and price index (TEDPIX). Using the autoregressive distributed lag method, the present study is conducted utilizing the annual data over the period of 1991 to 2020. The results indicate that the exchange rate has a positive long-run relationship with the TEDPIX, but no statistically significant relationship was found between the TEDPIX and the interest rate. Furthermore, the results of the estimation of the error correction model show that 30.786% of the disequilibrium in each period is adjusted to the long-run equilibrium.

Laboratory experiments and natural phenomena investigations in this research series experimentally revealed the existence of gravitational repulsion force dependent on thermal energy content, pervading our surroundings both microscopically and macroscopically. This paper presents an alternative mathematical model of both gravitational repulsion and attraction forces between two gaseous molecules, validated by experimental data. The model is self-standing and independent of existing models built on idealistic assumptions. While existing models considered gravitational interaction as a single force, the presented experimental model considers it the resultant of two distinct forces: gravitational repulsion and attraction. When established experimental data on nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were applied, the model performed, both analytically and experimentally: (1) confirming the existence of both gravitational repulsion and attraction forces among gas molecules, (2) demonstrating that the two forces follow Inverse-Cube relationship with the distance between molecules, (3) revealing that repulsion force is linearly proportional to the absolute temperature, thus filling the critical gap between energy and fundamental forces. Orders of magnitude of gravitational repulsion and attraction forces are very large compared to the gravitational force between gas molecules calculated according to the classical theory, enabling manipulation to achieve hitherto unknown outcomes and developments.

Bio-molecular reagents like antibodies required in experimental biology are expensive and their effectiveness, among other things, is critical to the success of the experiment. Although such resources are sometimes donated by one investigator to another through personal communication between the two, there is no previous study to our knowledge on the extent of such donations, nor a central platform that directs resource seekers to donors. In this paper, we describe, to our knowledge, a first attempt at building a web-portal titled Bio-Resource Exchange that attempts to bridge this gap between resource seekers and donors in the domain of experimental biology. Users on this portal can request for or donate antibodies, cell-lines and DNA Constructs. This resource could also serve as a crowd-sourced database of resources for experimental biology. Further, in order to index donations outside of our portal, we mined scientific articles to find instances of donations of antibodies and attempted to extract information about these donations at the finest granularity. Specifically, we extracted the name of the donor, his/her affiliation and the name of the antibody for every donation by parsing the acknowledgements sections of articles. To extract annotations at this level, we propose two approaches – a rule based algorithm and a bootstrapped relation learning algorithm. The algorithms extracted donor names, affiliations and antibody names with average accuracies of 57% and 62% respectively. We also created a dataset of 50 expert-annotated acknowledgements sections that will serve as a gold standard dataset to evaluate extraction algorithms in the future. Contact: [email protected], [email protected] Database URL: http://tonks.dbmi.pitt.edu/brx Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Database online.

Cancer cells exhibit aberrant extracellular matrix mechanosensing due to altered expression of mechanosensory cytoskeletal proteins. Aberrant mechanosensing of the tumor microenvironment (TME) by cancer cells has been shown to be associated with cancer development and progression. Recent studies show that altered mechanosensing changes the mechanobiological properties of cells, and, in turn, cells become susceptible to mechanical perturbations. Due to an increasing understanding of cell biomechanics and cellular machinery, several approaches have emerged to target the mechanobiological properties of cancer cells and cancer-associated cells to inhibit cancer growth and progression. In this review, we summarize the progress that happened in the development of mechano-based approaches to target cancer by interfering with the cellular mechanosensing machinery and overall TME.

As shown in former papers, the nonadiabatic Heisenberg model presents a novel mechanism of Cooper pair formation generated by the strongly correlated atomic-like motion of the electrons in narrow, roughly half-filled "superconducting bands". These are energy bands represented by optimally localized spin-dependent Wannier functions adapted to the symmetry of the material under consideration. The formation of Cooper pairs is not the result of an attractive electron-electron interaction but can be described in terms of quantum mechanical constraining forces constraining the electrons to form Cooper pairs. There is theoretical and experimental evidence that only this nonadiabatic mechanism operating in superconducting bands may produce eigenstates in which the electrons form Cooper pairs. These constraining forces stabilize the Cooper pairs in any superconductor, whether conventional or unconventional. Here we report evidence that also the experimentally found superconducting state in bismuth at ambient as well as at high pressure is connected with a narrow, roughly half-filled superconducting band in the respective band structure. This observation corroborates once more the significance of constraining forces in the theory of superconductivity.

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

Hox gene clusters are crucial in Embryogenesis. It was observed that some Hox genes are located in order along the telomeric to centromeric direction of the DNA sequence: Hox1, Hox2, Hox3…. These genes are expressed in the same order in the ontogenetic units of the Drosophila embryo along the Anterior-Posterior axis. The two entities (genome and embryo) differ significantly in linear size and in-between distance. This strange phenomenon was named Spatial Collinearity (SP). Later, it was observed that, particularly in the Vertebrates, a Temporal Collinearity (TC) coexists: first is Hox1 expressed, later Hox2 and even later Hox3,…,. According to a Biophysical Model (BM), pulling forces act at the anterior end of the cluster while a cluster fastening applies at the posterior end. Hox clusters are irreversibly elongated along the force direction. During Evolution, the elongated Hox clusters are broken at variable lengths thus split clusters may be created. An Empirical Rule was formulated distinguishing development due to a complete Hox cluster from development due to split Hox clusters. BM can ‘explain’ this Empirical Rule. In a spontaneous mutation where the cluster fastening is dismantled, a weak pulling force automatically shifts the cluster inside the Hox activation domain. This cluster translocation can probably explain the absence of Temporal Collinearity in Drosophila.

Mass plays a strange multiple role in classical physics. This results in a difference between gravity and all other forces - a difference that stood at the beginning of Einstein's development of his general theory of relativity. The equivalence principle (EP) deals with homogenious gravitational fields, which, in fact, don‘t exist in nature. There is only an approximation for this field in Einstein-Lift possible for local situations. Nevertheless this EP can be true, because in classical formal binary logic there can be formulated a true conclusion from a wrong premise or assumption.

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

Background: Intrauterine transfusion (IUT) of the donor and partial exchange (pET) of the recipient is a temporizing treatment for pregnancies with Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence (TAPS). We sought to give a detailed description of the procedural approach and outcomes for sequential donor IUT and recipient pET in TAPS. Methods: Retrospective study of spontaneous TAPS referred to the Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy treated with donor IUT followed by recipient pET utilizing a double-syringe set up. Procedure characteristics and outcomes as well as accuracy of existing transfusion formulas were analyzed and compared with the literature. Results: 5 of 78 patients with spontaneous TAPS underwent a total of 19 combined IUT/pET procedures (median first procedure to delivery interval 5.6 weeks [interquartile range IQR 1.9-6.0]). One pET was stopped for fetal decelerations. Patients delivered at 33.0 weeks [IQR 31.9-33.3] with two survivors and no neonatal transfusion requirements. IUT volumes were 48 ml [IQR 39-63 ml] and pET volumes 32 ml [IQR 20-50] utilizing aliquots of 5 – 20 mls for the latter (p=0.021). For IUTs, assumption of a fetal blood volume below 150 ml/kg underestimated required transfusion volume. For pETs, all formulas required adjustment of dilution volume based on bedside testing (p<0.05 for all). Conclusions: Donor transfusion followed by partial exchange in the recipient can prolong pregnancy in spontaneous TAPS and obviate the need for neonatal transfusion. A double-syringe setup facilitates efficient saline exchange. Because the accuracy of volume formulas is limited, bedside testing is recommended to achieve the target hemoglobin.

In this paper, we introduce new formulas for calculating the restoring and repulsive magnetic forces between two non-coaxial circular loops with parallel axes. These formulas are derived from a modified version of Grover’s formula for mutual inductance between the coils in question. Utilizing these formulas, we compute the restoring and repulsive magnetic forces between two non-coaxial thick coils of rectangular cross-sections with parallel axes. In these calculations, we apply the filament method and conduct investigations to determine the optimal number of subdivisions for the coils in terms of computational time and accuracy. The method presented in this paper is also applicable to all conventional non-coaxial coils, such as disks, solenoids, and non-conventional coils like Bitter coils, all with parallel axes. This paper emphasizes the accuracy and computational efficiency of the calculations. Furthermore, the new method is validated according to several previously established methods

Life sciences are increasingly benefiting from multidisciplinary research, combining biology, chemistry and physics. At their intersection, biothermodynamics applies the quantitative framework of thermodynamics to life processes and is a potentially interesting subject for life science students. Here a method is proposed to teach undergraduate life science students the basics of biothermodynamics, building and expanding on the concept of Gibbs energy learned as a part of the physical or general chemistry course. The discussion begins with the role of Gibbs energy as the driving force of metabolism and growth. Moreover, a biological example is proposed of the enthalpy-entropy combinations resulting in negative Gibbs energy, which should be interesting to life science students. Gibbs energy is then used to explain microorganism growth rates, using a simple thermodynamic growth model. Finally, multiplication of viruses is considered, including SARS-CoV-2, using Gibbs energy to explain the hijacking of host cell metabolism. Implementation of the proposed biothermodynamics material in classroom is discussed. The paper should be useful as material for making lectures for undergraduate students and as a starting point for anyone beginning to do research in biothermodynamics.

In this study the impact of terrorist attacks on exchange rate is estimated. Particularly, the study focuses on Turkish terrorist attacks and its implication on Turkish lira versus pound sterling exchange rate. In order, to find the causal effect the study employed Autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) bound testing approach as an estimation technique. Accordingly, the analysis reveals that terrorist attack has a negative impact on the exchange rate in both short and long-run. However, the negative effect of terrorism tends to be small in both the short-run and long-run. More precisely, terrorist attack depreciates the exchange rate between Turkish lira and pound sterling by approximately 0.00072 in the next trading day. The long-term effect also shows that terrorist attack depreciates the exchange rate on average by 0.00212.

This study presents the evaluation of an ion exchange resin-based installation designed for the recycling of engine coolants, specifically ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG). The recycling process aims to restore the coolant to meet the stringent ASTM standards for both new and recycled coolants. A combination of physical-chemical methods, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to analyze and validate the purity and performance of the recycled product. The experimental setup included performance tests to assess the efficacy of the recycled coolants in comparison to new coolant standards. The results demonstrate that the recycled EG coolants exhibit comparable quality to new coolants, with all critical parameters falling within the acceptable ASTM limits. This indicates that the ion exchange resin method is a viable and efficient solution for the recycling of engine coolants, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to the disposal of used coolants while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

It is unclear whether military shoes (combat boots and sports shoes) attenuate loading rate or affect force transfer during walking. Therefore, this study compared ground reaction forces (GRF) related to impact and force transfer between combat boots, military sports shoes and running shoes. Ten army recruits walked over a walkway with two force plates embedded. GRF were measured when walking barefoot (for data normalization) and with combat boots, military sports shoes and running shoes. Loading rate, first and second peak forces and push-off rate of force were computed along with temporal analysis of waveforms. Reduced loading rate was observed for the running shoe compared to the combat boot (p = 0.02 and d = 0.98) and to the military sports shoe (p = 0.04 and d = 0.92). The running shoe elicited a smaller second peak force than the combat boot (p < 0.01 and d = 0.83). Walking with military shoes and combat boots led to larger force transfer then running shoes potentially due to harder material used in midsole composition (i.e. styrene-butadiene rubber). These results could lead to a potentially larger risk of injuries while long duration walking in military shoes and boots compared to traditional running shoes.

We investigate the influence of the Abrikosov vortex lattice on the Casimir force in a setup constituted by high-temperature superconductors subject to an external magnetic field. The Abrikosov lattice is a property of type II superconductors in which normal and superconducting carriers coexist and these latter define a periodic pattern with squared symmetry. We find that the optical properties determined by spatial redistribution of the superconducting order parameter induce Casimir forces with a periodic structure whose minimal strengths coincide with the vortex cores.

Treatment of the [AuCl(tetrahydrothiophene)] complex with 4-chloro-2-iodo-1-isocyanobenzene furnished the gold(I) compound [AuCl(CNC6H3-4-Cl-2-I)] (1). In the crystal structure of 1, the linear C–Au–Cl group is subject to the solid-state head-to-tail pairing which is determined by the aurophilic Au···Au and the rare π-holeCN···Cl interactions. These two types of structure-determining interactions are complementary to each other and the system of Au···Au and CCN···Cl contacts accomplishes 2D extended ladder-type architecture. In addition, the terminal I-atoms are involved in the three-center halogen bonding. Density functional theory calculations, employing a set of computational tools, verified the role of Au···Au and π-holeCN···Cl noncovalent bonds in the spectrum of noncovalent forces.

Abstract: Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology has been empowering the quality of the construction activity in all sectors: multidisciplinary designs development; construction planning and monitoring; building management and maintenance. A BIM environment aggre-gates several disciplines and different professional skillsets and in order to control and improve the quality of a BIM project, a BIM manager is required. The BIM manager has the responsibility to coordinate all tasks involved in a building design and associated activities usually workout over the project documents. This professional can access to the distinct discipline models, located in a shared platform, and request for amendments if inconsistencies are detected. The topic of the present study is illustrated with three building cases were distinct specific projects, disciplines and tasks were elaborated: collaboration between disciplines (architecture, structures and con-struction); structural analyses and reinforcement details; quantity take-off of materials and cost estimation; construction scheduling and simulation. Although there are still limitations in the implementation of BIM methodology in all sectors and stages, within the construction industry, BIM has been bringing an important improvement in the quality of a building design, reflected in the quality of the final product. The present study put in evidence the BIM manager role in pro-jects that aggregates several disciplines and experts, bringing an important contribution in the quality of a building design. BIM methodology is a current demand in the construction industry supported on advanced technology and in an adequate management of projects.

The Foreign Exchange rate is very much crucial for determining the economic health level of the country. The foreign exchange rate provides financial stability, enhances purchasing power and allows global trades. This rate usually fluctuates due to the market forces which control the supply and demand of the currency. Nominal and relative inflation and income level have a substantial effect on determining the exchange rates. Government measures, international situations, natural disasters or any unexpected situation like Covid-19, Rohingya crisis etc. can affect the exchange rates. Besides this, the interaction between the factors can create different reasoning to affect the market. This study tries to identify some factors with relevant examples.

We introduce a novel key exchange protocol based on non-commutative matrix multiplication defined in $\mathbb{F}_p^{n \times n}$. The security of our method does not rely on computational problems as integer factorization or discrete logarithm whose difficulty is conjectured. We show that the public, secret and channel keys become indistinguishable to the eavesdropper under matrix multiplication. Remarkably, for achieving a 512-bit security level, the public key is 1024 bits and the private key is 768 bits, making them the smallest keys among post-quantum key exchange algorithms. Also, we discuss how to achieve key authentication, interdomain certification and Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). Therefore, Lizama's algorithm becomes a promising candidate to establish shared keys and secret communication between (IoT) devices in the quantum era.

We introduce a novel key exchange protocol based on non-commutative matrix multiplication defined in $\mathbb{Z}_p^{n \times n}$. The security of our method does not rely on computational problems as integer factorization or discrete logarithm whose difficulty is conjectured. We claim that the unique eavesdropper's opportunity to get the secret/private key is by means of an exhaustive search which is equivalent to the unsorted database search problem. Furthermore, we show that the secret/private keys become indistinguishable to the eavesdropper. Remarkably, to achieve a 512-bit security level, the keys (public/private) are of the same size when matrix multiplication is done over a reduced 8-bit size modulo. Also, we discuss how to achieve key certification and Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). Therefore, Lizama's algorithm becomes a promising candidate to establish shared keys and secret communication between (IoT) devices in the quantum era.

Two polyurethanes (PUs) were similarly synthesized by reacting a cycloaliphatic isocyanate with 1,4 butanediol and two polyols of different nature (polyester, polycarbonate diol) with molecular weights of 1000 Da. The PU made with polycarbonate diol polyol (YCD) was the only showing intrinsic self-healing at 20 °C. For assessing the mechanism of intrinsic self-healing of YCD, a structural characterization by molecular weights determination, infrared and X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis was carried out. It was concluded that the self-healing at 20 °C of YCD was due to non-covalent dynamic exchange interactions among the carbonate groups of the soft segments. Therefore, the chemical nature of the polyol played a key role in developing PUs with intrinsic self-healing at 20 °C.

This study aimed to develop a laboratory-scale direct air capture unit for evaluating and comparing amine-based adsorbents under temperature vacuum swing adsorption conditions. The experimental campaign conducted with the direct air capture unit allowed for the determination of equilibrium loading, CO2 uptake capacity, and other main performance parameters of the investigated adsorbent Lewatit VP OC 1065®. The investigations also helped to understand the co-adsorption of both CO2 and H2O on the tested material, which is crucial for improving temperature vacuum swing adsorption processes. This was achieved by obtaining pure component isotherms for CO2 and H2O as well as three different co-adsorption isotherm models from literature. It was found that the weighted average dual-site Toth model emerged as the most accurate and reliable model for simulating this co-adsorption behavior. Its predictions closely align with experimental data, particularly in capturing the adsorption equilibrium at various temperatures. It was also observed that this lab-scale unit offers advantages over thermogravimetric analysis when conducting adsorption experiments on the chosen amine. The final aim of this study is to provide a pathway to develop devices for testing and developing efficient and cost-effective adsorbents for direct air capture.

This paper first explains the theory of the origin of force from a new perspective, explaining that the origin of all forces is caused by the "missing of energy in the time dimension" (non-conservation in a certain period of time), and constructs a unified theory of force on this basis. Then, through the unified theory of force, the following phenomena are reinterpreted: (1) The common origin of the inverse square law of gravitation and electromagnetic force; (2) The origin of the repulsive force of electrons and protons at small distances; (3) The mystery of the rotation curve of galaxies and the new explanation of "dark matter"; (4) explain the origin of the magnetic field; (5) Predict that moving magnets have the same radiation effect as charged particles (electron magnetic moments also have radiation effects); (6) Reinterpret Maxwell's displacement current; (7) Reinterpret synchrotron radiation and bremsstrahlung; (8) Explain that the strong and weak forces are short-range forces; (9) Predict the true structure of black holes and the origin of gravitational waves;(10) Possible explanation for the origin of the speed of light.

In a search for a solution of the galaxy rotation problem, a novel view on cosmological gravity is developed. In this view, the origin of gravity is traced back to the basic nuclear field of energy, spread by quarks as elementary pointlike sources. This gives a common basis for gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force. After a review on gravimagnetism and the causality problem of gravity, a hypothetical concept for the gravity field is proposed, which solves the rotation problem without the need to accept dark matter as the deus ex machina.

GDF5 gene is involved in the development of skeletal elements, synovial joint formation, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Several polymorphisms are present within the gene and two of them, rs143384 and 143383, have been reported as correlated with osteoarticular disease or muscle flexibility. The aim of this research is to verify if the worldwide distribution among human populations of rs143384 polymorphism has been shaped by selective pressure, or if it’s the result of random genetic drift events. Ninety-four individuals of both sexes, 18-28 years old, from Sardinia were analyzed. We observed the following genotype frequencies: 28.72% of homozygotes AA, 13.83% of homozygotes GG, and 57.45% of heterozygotes AG. Allele frequencies were 0.574 for allele A and 0.426 for alle G. Relationships between populations were verified by Multidimensional Scaling (MDS). Our data show: i) a clear heterogeneity within the African populations; ii) a strong differentiation between Africans and the other populations: iii) the Sardinian population is placed withing the European cluster. To reveal possible traces of selective pressure, Population Branch Statistic (PBS) was calculated; both SNPs rs143384 and 143383 have low PBS values, suggesting that there are no signals of selective pressure in those areas of the gene.

Inflation and exchange rates have great influence on consumer prices especially on imports and exports. Exchange rate fluctuations create inefficiency and distort world prices whereas changes in inflation rates have a direct impact on consumer goods prices which incidentally include exchange rates. There is a direct interdependence between inflation and exchange rates and this paper is aimed at investigating this relationship in dynamic context. It tries to find out how changes in inflation and exchange rates impact on another by adopting the econometric and copula approaches. Both inflation and exchange rates data are susceptible to volatility clustering, possess fat tails and are skewed coupled with conditional heteroskedasticity. Hence we model the univariate distributions by using ARMA$(p,q)$-GARCH$(x,y)$ so as to capture the most important stylized features of inflation and exchange rates. A bivariate model is then constructed by coupling the marginal distributions of inflation and exchange rates using the survival Clayton copula. Empirical results from monthly inflation and exchange rates data show positive correlation between the two based on Kendall $\tau$ test which confirms that a change in inflation results in change of exchange rates an vice versa hence there is co-movement. Furthermore, by the Granger causality test, exchange rates spikes cause changes in inflation rates. The results of the study have implications on economic policy design and hedging strategies for traders on imports and exports.

In the early 2000s, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) emerged as a performant and relevant tool for identifying micro-organisms. Since then, it has become practically essential for identifying bacteria in microbiological diagnostic laboratories. In the last decade, it was successfully applied for arthropod identification allowing to distinguish vectors from non-vectors of infectious diseases. However, identification failures are not rare, hampering it widely use. Failure is generally attributed either to the absence of respective counter species MS spectra in the database, or to the insufficient quality of query MS spectra (i.e. lower intensity and diversity of MS peaks detected). To avoid matching errors due to non-compliant spectra, the development of a strategy for detecting and excluding outlier MS profiles became compulsory. To this end, we created MSProfileR, an R package leading to a bioinformatics tool through a simple installation, integrating the control quality system of MS spectra and an analysis pipeline including peak detection and MS spectra comparisons. MSProfileR can also add metadata concerning the sample that the spectra are derived from. MSProfileR has been developed in the R environment and offers a user-friendly web interface using the R Shiny framework. It is available on Microsoft Windows as a web browser application by simply navigation using the link of the package on the Github. MSProfileR is therefore accessible to non-computer specialists and is freely available to the scientific community. We evaluated MSProfileR using two datasets including exclusively MS spectra from arthropods. In addition to coherent sample classification, outlier MS spectra were detected in each dataset confirming the value of MSProfileR.

In Shark Bay, a large hypersaline bay in Western Australia, longitudinal density gradients force gravitational circulation that is important for Bay-ocean exchange. Observations of vertical stratification and velocity are presented, confirming a steady near-bed dense water outflow from Shark Bay’s northern Geographe Channel that persisted through all stages of the tide. Outflow velocities were 2–3 times stronger than the outflows recorded previously in Naturaliste Channel (in the west) and were more resistant to breakdown by tidal mixing. Estimates of turbulent kinetic energy production derived from ADCP data using the variance method showed a more complex structure in Geographe Channel, due to shear associated with the stratified conditions, with peak levels of turbulence occurring during reversal of tidal flows. For both channels the main source of turbulence was tidal flow along the seabed, with the bottom current speed cubed, |U_b³|, providing a reasonable proxy for tidal mixing and prediction of dense water outflows from Shark Bay the majority of the time. Orientation and deeper water of Geographe Channel along the main axis of the longitudinal density gradient provided an explanation for the predominant outflow from the Bay’s northern entrance. These density-driven currents could potentially influence recruitment of commercially fished scallops and prawns through dispersal and flushing of larvae.

Gedanken experiments illustrating exemplifications of the Landauer principle in the free falling Einstein elevator are treated. Double-well simplest information system embedded into the free falling elevator is addressed. Infinitesimal horizontal force applied to the particle m transfers it from position “0” to position “1”, emerging from the free falling double-well system confining mass m. When thermal noise is considered, the potential barrier of kBT should be surmounted for the erasing of one bit of information. Entropic forces arising in the free falling elevator are considered. The maximal change in the entropy of free-joint polymer chain attached to the free falling elevator is estimated as ΔSmax≅kB, and it is remarkably independent of the mass attached to the chain and the parameters of the chain itself. Free falling minimal Szilard engine is treated. The informational re-interpretation of the minimal Szilard process is shaped as follows: the energy kBTln2 necessary for erasing of 1 bit of information is spent for lifting up mass, whatever, is the value of this mass. Appropriate choice of frames enables elimination of gravity in the considered system; however elimination of the thermal noise (dissipation processes) by the same procedure is impossible.

In this paper, the columnar supramolecular aggregates of photosensitive star-shaped azobenzenes with benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide core and azobenzene arms are analysed theoretically applying a combination of computer simulation techniques. Without a light stimulus, the trans-stars build one-dimensional columns of stacked molecules during the first stage of the noncovalent association. These columnar aggregates represent the structural elements of more complex experimentally observed morphologies -- fibers, spheres, gels and others. Upon UV light exposure, the azobenzene arms isomerise from thermodynamically stable planar trans- to a metastable kinked cis-state influencing the aggregate morphology. Here, we determine the most favourable mutual orientations of the \textit{trans}-stars in the stack in terms of (i) the pi-pi distance between the cores lengthwise the aggregate, (ii) the star slipped displacements and (iii) the rotation promoting the helical twist and chirality of the aggregate by calculating the binding energy diagrams using density functional theory. The model predictions are further compared with available experimental data. The intermolecular forces responsible for the stability of the stacks made of trans-azobenzene stars in crystals are quantified using Hirshfeld surface analysis. Finally, to characterize the self-assembly mechanism of such stars in solution, we calculate the hydrogen bond lengths, the normalized dipole moment and the binding energies as the functions of the columnar length using molecular dynamics trajectories, and conclude about the cooperative nature of this process.

As a first step a unification of the gravitational with the electromagnetic interaction within a classical framework is proposed. It is based on a V₅-geometry, with x₅ = q/m. The sole source term is mechanical stress energy, positioned along x₅. The trajectories of test-bodies are placed in V₄ (x₅ = const)-slices. The resulting field equation couples a geometric G-tensor to mechanical stress energy, its momentum with respect to V₅ and the change of this momentum with proper time τ. The following step proceeds to the quantization of space-time to enable the formalization of elementary particles und strong interaction. This is complimented by the inclusion of spin and the weak force, leading finally to a grand total equation, the stationary version of which corresponds to Schroedinger´s equation, the instationary version to the Einstein equation of General Relativity.

Objectives The aim of this study was to measure the magnitude of forces in the joints of the lower limb whilst running barefoot and compare them to the forces generated whilst wearing running shoes with a thick midsole.MethodsTwenty-three volunteers who utilised running as their main sport or a training aid ran as training aid were included in this study. Each volunteer would run down a fourteen-meter-long corridor both barefoot and with running shoes. Forces for joints of the lower limb were collected using a Vicon motion analysis system and force plates. The joint forces for the ankles, knees and hips were taken as the largest joint force experienced during the stance phase and then averaged over five running trials.ResultsThere was significant reduction in the joint forces for the ankles, knees, and hips when barefoot running compared to the shod condition.ConclusionBarefoot running could be utilised to prevent both acute and degenerative injuries of the lower limb.

When dealing with galactic dynamics, or more specifically, with galactic rotation curves, one basic assumption is always taken: the frame of reference relative to which the rotational velocities are given is assumed to be inertial. In other words, fictitious forces are assumed to vanish relative to the observational frame of a given galaxy. It might be interesting, however, to explore the outcomes of dropping that assumption; that is, to search for signatures of non-inertial behavior in the observed data. In this work, we show that the very discrepancy in galaxy rotation curves could be attributed to non-inertial effects. We derive a model for spiral galaxies that takes into account the possible influence of fictitious forces and find that the additional terms in the new model, due to fictitious forces, closely resemble dark halo profiles. Following this result, we apply the new model to a wide sample of galaxies, spanning a large range of luminosities and radii. It turns out that the new model accurately reproduces the structures of the rotation curves and provides very good fittings to the data.

Experimental systems to simulate future elevated CO2 conditions in the field often have large, rapid fluctuations in CO2. To examine possible impacts of such fluctuations on photosynthesis, intact leaves of field grown plants of five species were exposed to two-minute cycles of CO2 between 400 and 800 mol mol-1 lasting a total of 10 minutes, with photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and PSII fluorescence measured at the end of each half-cycle, and also 10 minutes after the end of the cycling. Prior to the cyclic CO2 treatments, steady-state responses of leaf gas exchange and fluorescence to CO2 were determined. In four of the five species, in which stomatal conductance decreased with increasing CO2, the cyclic CO2 treatments reduced stomatal conductance. In those species, both photosynthesis and the photochemical efficiency of PSII were reduced at limiting internal CO2 levels, but not at saturating CO2. In the fifth species, there was no change in stomatal conductance with CO2, and no change in either photosynthesis or PSII efficiency at any CO2 level with CO2 cycling. It is concluded that in many, but not all, species fluctuations in CO2 may reduce photosynthesis at low CO2 partly by decreasing the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, as well as by decreasing stomatal conductance.

The majority of E-commerce transactions reveal private information such as customers' identities, order contents, and payment information during the transaction. Other personal information such as health conditions, religion, and even ethnicity may be also deduced. Even when deploying electronic cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, anonymity cannot be fully guaranteed. Also, many anonymous payment schemes suffer from possible double spending circumstances. E-commerce privacy is basically a difficult problem as it involves parties with concurring interests. Three major e-commerce requirements are highly difficult to resolve: anonymous purchase, anonymous delivery, and anonymous payment. This work presents a possible e-commerce system addressing all three anonymity requirements for electronic-items business on open networks. The system offers anonymous entities authentication mechanisms up to completing a fair anonymous e-commerce transaction. The system is based on deploying a physically clone-resistant hardware token for each relevant involved party. The tokens are made clone-resistant by accommodating a Secret Unknown Cipher (SUC) in each hardware-token as a digital PUF-like identity. A set of novel generic system-setups for units, protocols and e-commerce schemes is introduced. The proposed anonymization is basically attained by virtually-replacing relevant e-commerce entities by low-cost, unique and clone-resistant tokens/units using SUCs. The units act as trustable anonymous, authenticated and non-replaceable entities monitored by their acting users.

This work shows the physicochemical and mineralogical characterization of diatomites form the Hidalgo and Jalisco States, Mexico. In the case of the mineral from Hidalgo State, this has the following chemical composition; 70.0 % wt. SiO₂, 11.63 wt. % Al₂O₃, 1.95 wt. % FeO, 1.79 wt. % MgO, 2.41 wt. % K₂O, 0.85 wt. % CaO and 6.10 wt. % Na₂O. On the other hand, the mineral from Jalisco has the following chemical composition; 93.58 wt. % SiO₂, 3.03 wt. % Al₂O₃, 1.81 wt. % FeO, 0.40 wt. % MgO, 0.92 wt. % K₂O, 0.11 wt. % CaO and 0.24 wt. % Na₂O. For recovery of metals, both minerals got arsenic, silver, lead and nickel recoveries upper to 95 % and lower to 10 % for chromium. According to efficiency of interchange, the mineral from Hidalgo is slightly higher in the case of arsenic, lead and silver; while for nickel and particularly chromium (VI) the efficiency is higher for the mineral from Jalisco.

Water electrolysis provides efficient and cost-effective production of hydrogen from renewable energy. Currently, the oxidation half-cell reaction relies on noble-metal catalysts, impeding widespread application. In order to adopt water electrolyzers as the main hydrogen production systems, it is critical to develop inexpensive and earth-abundant catalysts. This review discusses the proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis (WE) and the progress in replacing the noble-metal catalysts with earth-abundant ones. Researchers within this field are aiming to improve the efficiency and stability of earth-abundant catalysts (EACs), as well as to discover new ones. The latter is particularly important for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under acidic media, where the only stable and efficient catalysts are noble-metal oxides, such as IrO_x and RuO_x. On the other hand, there is significant progress on EACs for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic conditions, but how many of these EACs have been used in PEM WEs and tested under realistic conditions? What is the current status on the development of EACs for the OER? These are the two main questions this review addresses.

In this paper, I propose new models of quantum information processing using the exchange interaction in physical systems. The partial SWAP operator that can be realized using the exchange interaction is used as the underlying resource for defining models of quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum memory and decoherence-free subspaces. Given the non-commutativity of these operators (for adjacent operators operating on a common qubit), a number of quantum states and entanglement patters can be obtained. This zoo of states can be classified, due to the parity constraints and permutation symmetry of the states, into invariant subspaces that are used for the definition of some of the applications in this paper.

The present study investigates the decision-making process of investors on the Pakistan Stock Exchange with regard to portfolio construction, explicitly focusing on the incorporation of ESG concerns. The present study employed SmartPLS and structural equation modeling (SEM) to quantitatively assess data received from a sample of 393 out of 400 respondents. Based on the available data, investors participating in the Pakistan Stock Exchange are notably impacted by ESG aspects. The findings of this study hold significance for emerging economy firms, regulators, and investors, both in terms of theoretical and practical ramifications. The study's findings demonstrate a clear indication of investors' significant emphasis on ESG matters. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights for stakeholders who are involved in the ever-evolving realm of sustainable finance within developing countries

This research deals with the processing of wood using a circular saw, which is associated with several risks and factors that affect the wood splitting process. One of them is the wear of the teeth of the saw blade and the change in the size of the cutting forces. The aim of this study is to compare real measured values and theoretical values when processing Norway Spruce wood, using two types of saw blades SK and HSS with a diameter of 600 mm and the number of teeth 54 and 56. Experimental measurements were carried out on a special test device with the possibility of moving the tested wood into the cutting devices and a simple saw blade replacement system. The results of the contributions show significant differences, based on defined factors, which are supported by FEM analysis of cutting forces in the process of cutting wood - when changing the design of the saw blade. The results of the experiment show that the cutting conditions (cutting speed, feed speed) do not have a significant effect on the size of the cutting forces. The theoretical and real stress values for HSS discs ranged from 14 to 22 MPa. Significantly larger differences were recorded for discs with SK, where the real values of the maximum stresses were around 14 MPa and the theoretical ones around 25 MPa. When cutting spruce with a disc with SK slices, the maximum values of the the-oretical cutting forces were in the range of 76 to 94 N and the maximum values of the measured cutting forces were in the range of 40 to 44 N.

Land use land cover change analysis is one of the most particular techniques to understand how land was used in the past, what types of changes are to be expected in the future, as well as the forces and processes behind the changes. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the land use land cover changes and its driving forces in Mago National Park, southern Ethiopia. Satellite image of Landsat5 TM (1988, 1998 and 2008) and Landsat8 OLI/TIRS (2018) with a time span of 30 years were employed. In addition, field observation, and social survey were conducted to study the drivers of land use land cover changes. QGIS 3.2 and SPSS (for social data analysis) software’s’ were used for satellite image processing, accuracy assessment, map preparation and descriptively analyze the driving forces of LULCC respectively. Supervised classification with maximum likelihood algorithm was conducted for satellite image analysis and generation of information using Quantum GIS 3.2 Post classification change detection method was applied to quantify the land use/land cover change. The result of the study indicated riverine forest, woodland, grassland, water body, degraded land and bare land as a major land use land cover class in the park. The result of land use land cover classification showed that in 1988 most of the study area was covered by woodland and grass land. In the first period (1988-1998), woodland, riverine forest, water body and bare land decreased by 6.76%, 37.98%, 22.37% and 70.14% respectively, while grass land, and degraded land increased by 16.11% and 85.67% respectively. In the second period, (1998 -2008), woodland, riverine forest and degraded land were decreased by 5.44%, 4.61%, and 80.74% respectively, while grass land, water body and bare land is increased by 14.74%, 3.76% and 52.58% respectively. From 2008-2018 riverine forest, grassland, water body and bare land decreased by 1.33%, 15.16% and 4.82% and 25.02% respectively, while woodland increased by 11.84%, and degraded land increased by 85.49% respectively. Riverine forest, water body, grass land and bare land showed decrement and that of woodland, degraded land indicated increment during study period. From 1988-2018, woodland, riverine forest, water body and bare land indicated decrement and the remaining grass land and bare land cover types indicated increment during study period. The result of social survey indicated that expansion of agriculture, human induced fire, overgrazing and hunting are proximate driving forces of the change in Mago National Park. Population pressure from a different area, poverty, decreased farmlands productivity; education, weak law enforcement and cultural factors are the major underlying causes of the observed changes. Therefore, proper land use planning, legal support, and strong law enforcement are the key recommendations to sustain natural resources of the study area.

The experimental results of forces and efforts derived from the opening of incisions in the orbital cavity in a pig’s head are presented in this article. The different areas of the incision openings are related to the needs at the incision procedure for a dacryocystorhinostomy. In terms of the experimental procedure, an origin and a plane are defined so as to allow the location of the opening of the incision. The incisions are retracted along an axis of said origin. This procedure has been based on the mathematical model developed for this work, which consists of a procedure for determining the behavior of an incision when a force is applied to retract the skin. The experimental data obtained, suggests the existence of an almost linear relationship between the increment of resistance in relation to the time obtained for each opening, the same of which is deemed to be consistent with the behavior of an elastic material.

Both drag and lift forces impact an inclined plane when it is dragged through a granular bed. In this paper, the following results have been obtained: the drag and lift forces grow with the velocity of motion; when the immersion depth is constant, the inclination angle has no effect on drag force, however, the lift force increases linearly with this inclination angle; the ratio of drag and lift forces is exactly equal to the tangent value of the inclined angle. In order to describe this physical process macroscopically, a continuum wedge model based on the Coulomb model is established to predict drag and lift forces. Particularly，the dynamic friction angle in the assumed shear band is predicted as a function of both inclined angle and moving velocity.

Conventional economic theory outlines that developing countries experience economic growth through an undervalued exchange rate and that exchange rate overvaluations has negative long term effects on economic growth. This paper examined the impact of exchange rate movements as well as exchange rate misalignments on economic growth for the Trinidad and Tobago economy over the period 1960 to 2016. We find statistically significant evidence that both exchange rate appreciation and misalignments impact negatively on economic growth in the T&T economy. Drilling deeper we find interestingly that there exist no non-linear effects of exchange rate misalignments on growth. Specifically we find statistically significant evidence that both overvaluations and undervaluations hamper economic growth in the Trinidad and Tobago economy. We attribute this to T&T’s small and underdeveloped manufacturing sector that tends to be overlooked on account of its energy resources, in addition to the fact that its manufacturing sector is highly import oriented. A major policy recommendation would be for the critical reassessment of the rules governing the HSF, as government expenditure was allowed to follow energy revenues due to its current limitations.

The kipping handstand push-up (kHSPU) is an exercise performed by many thousands of CrossFit participants. The safety of kHSPUs has been questioned because of vertical impacts upon the head. Here, we measured the axial loads placed upon the head during kHSPUs and sought to identify other factors that may place participants at risk of injury. 16 volunteers from a single gym performed 3 sets of up to 7 kHSPUs with their head and one hand contacting force platforms. Forces were recorded continuously and video recording were made while performing the exercises. The force profiles showed distinct landing and kipping peaks. Participants landed with more force than during their normal headstand, but less than their body weight. The force on the head was greatest during the "kip," and was usually more than body weight. Participants who reported pain following kHSPUs moved their head into extension during the exercises. Forces to the head during kHSPUs were below forces proposed for damage to the young male cervical spine, but overlapped those proposed for female cervical spines. While kipping handstand push-ups may be safe for young and previously uninjured male athletes, they may be unsafe for females and for those with previous injury or other compromising factors.

Shrubs are a significant component of urban vegetation residing in parks, but they experience various influences of biotic and abiotic agents, among which aphids play an important role. In this work, the effect of aphid colonization on three shrub species in urban environment was examined. Fourteen parameters have been analyzed, describing photosynthetic pigment content and gas exchange to carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen partition. While no significant effect of colonization was found on photosynthetic pigment parameters, the effect was significant on gas exchange parameters. The strongest effect aphid colonization achieved on nitrogen partition and C/N ratio, parameters that could be suggested in further similar studies. All parameters were classified in two groups according to principal component analysis, suggesting correlation between nitrogen and carbon content, C/N ratio, measured gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll a content. The ratio between net photosynthesis and dark respiration (A/K) was in the second group, suggesting that this parameter provide additional information on the effect of aphid colonization, and deserve special attention in further studies. There were differences in reaction of examined shrub species, where the strongest reaction by gross primary productivity (GPP) achieved Hybiscus syriacus, and by nitrogen partition and C/N ratio Spirea trilobata and Cydonia japonica.

This paper uses panel data to find the determinants of tracking errors in exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the Hong Kong stock market. A comparison of tracking errors between physical and synthetic ETFs also indicates that the synthetic ETFs have higher tracking errors. The magnitude of tracking errors is found to be negatively related to size but positively related to dividend yield, trading volumes of funds, and market risk. However, this study also finds that expense ratio has a negative impact on tracking error, which is not consistent with previous studies, and which this paper addresses.

The vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are complex and diverse, and the ecological environment is fragile and sensitive. It is very important to study the dynamic changes in vegetation and the main factors related to these changes to grasp the present state of the regional ecosystem, maintain the balance of the ecosystem and promote the sustainable development of the ecosystem. Therefore, this paper is based on SPOT/VEG NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) data, land use data, topographic data and meteorological data from 1999 to 2019. The spatiotemporal variation in the NDVI over the Tibetan Plateau in the last 21 years and its response to different driving factors were investigated by using the Sen slope method, Mann–Kendall mutation test, partial correlation analysis and geographical detector method. The results showed that (1) the vegetation coverage on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau showed an increasing trend from 1999 to 2019, with increases in approximately 67.00% of the plateau area. (2) The spatial differences in vegetation coverage were large; notably, low-density vegetation areas decreased obviously, moderate-density vegetation areas accounted for approximately 50% of the total area, high-density vegetation areas were the least common, and the overall growth rate was significant. (3) The NDVI was positively correlated with temperature and precipitation, and a positive correlation was observed in more than 66% of the region. (4) The order of the influence of single driving factors on the NDVI was as follows: precipitation > soil type > altitude > temperature > gradient > slope > population density > GDP. (5) The effect of multiple factors was significantly higher than that of single driving factors, with a notable nonlinear influence. The interactions between meteorological factors, such as precipitation, and topographic factors, such as altitude, were important, with a q value over 0.79.

Space-time evolution is briefly explained by using the 3-dimensional quantized space model (TQSM) based on the 4-dimensional (4-D) Euclidean space. The energy (mass), charges and absolute time are newly defined based on the 4-D Euclidean space. The photons and gravitons are understood as the 2-D space fluctuations along the space axes and 1-D time fluctuations along the time axis, respectively. This indicates that the electromagnetic (EM) and gravitational (G) waves can be unified into the so called gravityelectromagnetic (GEM) wave which has both space and time fluctuations. The photon with zero force fields is the 2EM wave because an EM wave corresponds to a charged fermion. The dark matter bosons, weak force bosons, strong force bosons are the 1-D time fluctuations which can be expressed by the G waves. This indicates that all five forces are unified by the GEM wave. It is called as the super unification theory in the present work. And the force carrying bosons and mesons are, for the first time, proposed as the possible candidates of the magnetic monopoles like the fermions and baryons are the electric monopoles. The signs of the magnetic charges quantized as q_m=cq are newly defined. The big bang is understood by the space-time evolution of the 4-D Euclidean space but not by the sudden 4-D Minkowski space-time creation. The big bang process created the matter universe with the positive energy and the partner anti-matter universe with the negative energy from the CPT symmetry.

The present paper deals with the stochastic modeling of bio-colonization for the computation of stochastic hydrodynamic loading on jacket-type offshore structures. It relies on a multidisciplinary study gathering biological and physical research fields that accounts of uncertainties at all the levels. Indeed, bio-colonization of offshore structures is a complex phenomenon with two major but distinct domains (i) marine biology whose processes are modeled with biomathematics methods and (ii) hydrodynamic processes. This paper aims to connect these two domains. It proposes a stochastic model for the marine organism’s growth and then continues with transfers for assessment of drag coefficient and forces probability density functions that accounts for marine growth evolution. A case study relies on the characteristics (growth and shape) of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) in northeastern Atlantic.

Nanopores with irregularities are promising tools for distinguishing nano-size objects by their shape, but the forces on the object that critically influence its axial and rotational movement are unclear. The physics of the situation was described using the Poisson-Nernst-Planck and Navier-Stokes equations. With uniformly charged object the axial Coulomb and dielectric pressure (which opposes it and is surprisingly important), control the object's axial movement and rotation. Even without external pressure the hydrodynamic pressure is significant (negative at its upper and positive at its lower surface), but its total value is almost zero. If the object is charged only on the upper surface the axial upper Coulomb pressure is near zero close to the center, but negative near its end (the pressure is zero at the lower surface). The total axial dielectric pressure, which is largely dominated by the pressure at the upper surface, is positive along the length of the object becoming pronounced near its end. The axial hydrodynamic pressure is negative and significant at the upper surface (zero at the lower surface), diminishes in value near the object's end, critically influencing its axial movement, which becomes much faster. At its end the axial dielectric pressure prevails, and controls its rotation.

It is known that ammonium has a higher permeability through anion-exchange and bipolar membranes compared to K+ cation that has the same mobility in water. However, the mechanism of this high permeability is not clear enough. We develop a mathematical model based of the Nernst-Planck and Poisson equations for diffusion of ammonium chloride through an anion-exchange membrane; proton exchange reactions between ammonium, water and ammonia are taken into account. It is assumed that ammonium, chloride and OH− ions can only pass through membrane hydrophilic pores, while ammonia can also dissolve in membrane matrix fragments not containing water and diffuse through these fragments. It is found that due to the Donnan exclusion of H+ ions as coions, the pH in the membrane internal solution increases when approaching the membrane side facing distilled water. Consequently, there is a change in the principal nitrogen-atom carrier in the membrane: in the part close to the side facing the feed NH4Cl solution (pH&lt;8.8), it is the NH4+ cation, and in the part close to distilled water, NH3 molecules. The concentration of NH4+ reaches almost zero at a point close to the middle of the membrane cross-section, which approximately halves the effective thickness of the diffusion layer for the transport of this ion. When NH3 takes over the nitrogen transport, it only needs to pass through the other half of the membrane. Leaving the membrane, it captures an H+ ion from water, and the released OH− goes towards the membrane side facing the feed solution to meet the NH4+ ions. The comparison of the simulation with experiment shows a satisfactory agreement.

In this paper, we investigate the “statics and dynamics” return and volatility spillovers transmission across developed and developing countries. Quoted against the U.S. dollar, we study twenty-three global currencies over 2005 – 2016. Focusing on the spillover index methodology, the generalised VAR framework is employed. Our findings indicate no evidence of bi-directional return and volatility spillovers between developed and developing countries. However, a unidirectional volatility spillover from developed to developing countries is highlighted. Furthermore, our findings document significant bi-directional volatility spillovers within the European region (Eurozone and non-Eurozone currencies) with the British Pound (GBP) and the Euro (EUR) as the most significant transmitters of volatility. The findings reiterate the prominence of volatility spillovers to financial regulators.

The impact of monetary policies and their implementation by exchange rate covered the economic condition of Ghana. The social inclusion and conversion factors change the implemented policies of nations, where the real price, trade, technology, a price rate and price level of ratio take an important part of growth. The reform of the financial sector favors the free floating of the exchange rate and global trade by under the premise of flexible exchange rates. The tragedy of country growth and exchange rate toward a trajectory of growth with the growth-enhancing effect through social inclusion, conversion factors, price level ratio, exchange rate, merchant rate, export and trade services. The research study is based on secondary study and social inclusion equity indicators with public resources, building human resources and social protection for economic development has determined. The monetary policies are classified by the different evidence and trade indicators. The significant influence of growth and internal policies has affected trade and exchange rates with growth and reserve policies. The results have computed by linear regression and it proved that social inclusion and alternative conversion factors impact on the global trade and create short term binary relationship.

The Algiers Stock Exchange (ASE) is the only stock exchange in Algeria. It’s one of the newest and smallest emerging stock exchanges in the world. The focus of this paper is to model and forecast monthly returns of the ASE index (DZAIRINDEX) using The Box- Jenkins methodology. The period of this study is from Jun 2010 to July 2019. According to Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) estimator, the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average SARIMA(2,0,0)(0,0,1) is chosen as the best model for forecasting the monthly DZAIRINDEX returns. Diagnostic tests confirm that the fitted model is adequate, where the residuals of this model are normally distributed with no autocorrelation and no heteroskedasticity. The forecast of the monthly DZAIRINDEX returns for one year ahead using this model shows a decreasing fluctuations trend. Based on different measures of forecast accuracy such as ME, MAE, RMSE, MASE, we show that the forecast accuracy of SARIMA(2,0,0)(0,0,1) is acceptable and this model performs much better than a naïve model. These results could be used by the financial communities in Algeria to deal with stock exchange risks and to improve their decisions.

This study aims to examines three elements shape leadership in Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory as a relationship and process. LMX quality is important for the company, because it relates to employee behavior and attitudes, including improving employee performance. The research method applied literature review using description logic and systematics. In this article the theory will be observed specially the effect of LMX on employee performance and antecedents of LMX. The results of the study found that the effect of LMX quality on performance is determined by the characteristics of the task as antecedent LMX in the company.

This study examines the exchange rate rebound effects of the Central Bank intervention in the selected ECOWAS economies. An empirical understanding of these effects is very important to trade adjustment as well as the macroeconomic stability in these countries. Using the panel data modelling framework, the study finds that the impact of the Central Bank intervention on exchange rate is insignificant and it does not lead to the exchange rate rebound. In addition, money supply as well as monetary policy rate implemented by the monetary authorities significantly influences the level of exchange rate in a positive direction.

This paper investigates the impact of price and real exchange rate volatility on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in a panel of 10 Latin American and Caribbean countries, observed between 1990 and 2012. Both price and exchange rate volatility series are estimated through the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity model (GARCH). Our results, obtained employing the Fixed Effects estimator, confirm the theory of hysteresis and option value, in so far it is found a statistically significant negative effect of exchange rate volatility on FDI. Price volatility, instead, turns out to be positive but insignificant. Moreover, we show that human capital and trade openness are key for attracting foreign capital. From the policy perspective, our analysis suggests the importance of stabilization policies as well as the one of government credibility in promoting trade openness and human capital formation.

The material flow dynamic and velocity distribution on the melted domain surface play a crucial role on the joint quality and formation of welding defects. In this study, authors investigated the effects of the low and high currents of plasma arc welding on the material flow and thermodynamics of molten pool and its relationship to the welding defects. The high-speed video camera (HSVC) was used to observe the convection of the melted domain and welded-joint appearance. Furthermore, to consider the Marangoni force activation, the temperature on the melted domain was measured by a thermal HSVC. The results revealed that the velocity distribution on the weld surface was higher than that inside the molten weld pool due to the difference of the massive density between the air and the steel. Moreover, in the case of low welding current (80A) the convection speed of molten was faster than that of the high welding current case (160A) owing to the difference of main driving forces direction and strength, which leading to undercut and humping defects on the weld surface and excessive convex (burn-through) defect at the bottom weld side, respectively. The medium welding current (120A) had two convection patterns with the main flow in backward direction, which resulted in better welding quality without defect. The interaction between the shear force and Marangoni force played a solid state on the convection and heat transportation processes in the plasma arc welding process.

Swarm electrification-driven communities face significant challenges, including implementing advanced distributed control in areas with limited ICT access and establishing trust among villagers hesitant to grant access to their assets. This paper proposes a distributed DC microgrid architecture for P2P energy exchange in these communities, ensuring stability and effective exchange operation. By implementing a Blockchain marketplace specifically designed to suit the rural context, the proposed architecture ensures tracing of exchange transactions to fairly settle participants. Validation experiments demonstrate its efficacy in achieving peak shaving. It provides 11% of the requester's total demand from the community even while maintaining the constraint of reducing discharge-charge cycles to one per day, thereby preserving battery life. Additionally, the solution reduces prosumer production losses by 16% of the total PV production.

We propose an experimental method for the unidirectional excitation of spin waves. By structuring Au nanowires arrays within a coplanar waveguide onto a thin yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film, we observe a chiral coupling between the excitation field geometry of the nanowires grating and several well-resolved propagating magnon modes. We report a propagating spin wave spectroscopy study with unprecedented spectral definition, wavelengths down to 130 nm and attenuation lengths well above the 100 μm over the 20 GHz frequency band. The proposed experiment paves the way for future non-reciprocal magnonic devices.

Purpose: We evaluated the outcomes of fluid-gas exchange (FGE) for long-term flap closure of idiopathic macular hole (MH) after the inverted internal limiting (ILM) flap technique. Methods: We included eyes showed flap closure without complete MH closure, connection of the apart macular tissue, 1 month postoperatively after the inverted ILM flap technique. The eyes stayed at flap closure at 2 months postoperatively further underwent in-office FGE with 16% C3F8. Results: Among 10 eyes, 5 eyes (50%) showed flap closure at 2 months postoperatively further underwent FGE for complete MH closure while the remaining 5 eyes (50%) progressed directly at 2 months postoperatively. The improvement in vision of all flap closure from baseline was significant (p=0.015), with the mean baseline vision was 1.19 [Snellen equivalent (SE), 20/307] ± 0.52 logMAR and the mean final vision being 0.63 (SE, 20/85) ± 0.38 logMAR. The group that underwent FGE showed a better final vision of 0.45 (SE, 20/75) ± 0.23 logMAR than the group that didn’t undergo FGE (0.81 [SE, 20/128] ±0.44 logMAR). All eyes achieved complete MH closure, including the eyes that underwent FGE in a mean period of 5.60 months (range 3-10 months) after the inverted ILM flap technique. The eyes that underwent FGE achieved higher rate of foveal restoration [complete external limiting membrane (ELM): 80%; complete ellipsoid zone (EZ): 60%] than those that didn’t receive FGE (complete ELM: 40%; complete EZ: 10%). Conclusions: Eyes that underwent FGE accelerated complete MH closure and showed better final vision and fovea l restoration.

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of Pakistani Stock Market. This study uses the data of COVID-19 related positive cases, fatalities, recovers and the closing prices of PSX 100 index of the first half of 2020. The findings of the study suggest that only COVID-19 recoveries are influencing the performance of the index and the daily positive cases and fatalities are insignificantly related to the performance. Further studies can be performed by incorporating other variables such as economic growth, interest rate and inflation rate along with the COVID-19 related variables at a cross-country level.

Teachers of English as a foreign language in Taiwan are challenged to organize multi-dimensional language activities for foreign students coming from ASEAN countries, including Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam. With different cultural backgrounds, these students have different prior knowledge of Taiwanese culture, and, because of the similarities and differences between Taiwan and these countries, it is meaningful to explore the development of globalization with the students, who are learning both English and Chinese. The different historical backgrounds, various cultural and religious differences, and social conditions, such as gender relationships in working places, are significant topics for class discussions. When teachers serve as discussion facilitators, they encourage students to express their own multi-identities and expectations for the exchange program. Most interesting of all is to find out about their own short-term and long-term career goals. 32 foreign students from the Philippines and Vietnam were recruited for research. Questionnaires were used to assess their foreign language learning motivation and strategies, as well as to discover the learning environment they prefer and their globalization prospects. It was found that multi-lingual language policies for promoting globalization in higher education are very likely to influence the success of foreign student study in Taiwan.

The aim of this research work was to provide model for predicting stock volatility in Nigeria Stock market. To achieve this, monthly data for Nigerian stock exchange, Exchange rate, Share index and inflation rate was collected for a period of January 1990 to December 2016.The descriptive statistics revealed these variables to exhibit volatility as a characteristics of financial time –varying series. DCC Model was fitted, were the coefficients for all the parameters and that of the correlation-Targeting (rho_21) are both negative and positive and tend very close to 1 and -1, indicating that high persistence in the conditional variances. The Model DCC, satisfied the properties of a good model of conditional mean and variance of the confidential Interval (C.I) of 1 and -1, that is, the conditional variances are finites and their series are strictly stationary. This therefore implies that the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Exchange rate, share index and Inflation rate will experience a non-steady shock in the Stock market. However Each of these variables have different length of recovery (volatility half- life) ranging from 1.5month, 6.5months, 6months to 2,4months for stock exchange, exchange rate, share index and inflation rate respectively. By implication, the volatility of these variables had a long memory, persistence and mean-reverting.

Supervised machine learning (SML) is a powerful method for predicting a small number of well-defined output groups (e.g., potential buyers of a certain product) by taking as input a large number of known well-defined measurements (e.g., past purchases, income, ethnicity, gender, credit record, age, favorite color, favorite chewing gum). SML is predicated upon the existence of a training dataset in which the correspondence between the input and output is known to be true. SML has had enormous success in the world of commerce, and this success may have prompted a few scientists to employ it in the study of molecular and genome evolution. Here, we list the properties of SML that make it an unsuitable tool in certain evolutionary studies. In particular, we argue that SML cannot be used in an evolutionary exploratory context for the simple reason that training datasets that are known to be a priori true do not exist. As a case study, we use an SML study in which it was concluded that most human genomes evolve by positive selection through soft selective sweeps (Schrider and Kern 2017). We show that in the absence of legitimate training datasets, Schrider and Kern (2017) used (1) simulations that employ many manipulatable variables and (2) a system of cherry-picking data that would put to shame most modern evangelical exegeses of the Bible. These two factors, in addition to the lack of methodological detail and negative controls, lead us to conclude that all evolutionary inferences derived from so-called SML algorithms (e.g., S-HIC) should be taken with a huge shovel of salt.

This study explores the effect of seasonality on soil carbon efflux and pasture growth based on field and lysimeter experiments during summer-fall and winter-spring in two years. Focus is also pointed on irrigation strategies to alleviate the crop response to seasonal fluctuations in precipitation and surface temperatures. Soil respiration, soil and air temperature, leaf photosynthesis, plant dry weight and leaf area index were quantified and analyzed. It has been found significant differences in the CO₂ efflux between the two growing season. Emission of soil CO₂ allowed to characterize and to prioritize the temperature and rain influence in seasonal brachiaria response. During the seasons, the transient variation of CO₂ efflux was highly correlated with rainfall (r = 0.87, P < 0.05), and poorly correlated with soil temperatures (r = 0.5, P < 0.05). The CO₂ efflux and plant response to different level of reposition of evapotranspiration demonstrated that irrigation during fall mitigates the reduction of growth conditioned by drying soil and the lower temperatures. The lower temperatures are limiting only when the soil moisture is below 32% of the field capacity. Thus, we propose to keep the soil moisture around 50% during the fall as a key practices for mitigating the effect of seasonality and its intensification with the climate change, even more if added to management routine practices the soil and water conservation.

Impact force and maximum velocity are important indicators of kick efficiency in fighting activities. Therefore, this systematic review compared the front kick (FK) and roundhouse kick (RK), including maximal and impact force, maximum velocity, maximum angular velocity, and execution time, at different target types and experience levels. The Web of Science, SportDiscus, and PubMed were systematically searched from January 1982 to May 2022, according to PRISMA guidelines. The normalized kicking values were compared using one-way ANOVA. Eighteen articles, including FK with a pooled sample of 113 elite men, 109 sub-elite men, and 46 novices, and 25 articles, including RK with a sample of 238 elite men, 143 sub-elite men, and 27 novice men, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The primary findings were that the impact forces of FK were higher than RK for the novice, sub-elite, and elite groups by 47% (p<0.01), 92% (p<0.01), and 120% (p<0.01), respectively. Moreover, the maximum foot velocity of RK was faster than FK for the sub-elite and elite groups by 44% (p<0.01) and 48% (p<0.01), respectively. The Elite group had 65% (p<0.01) higher knee extension angular velocity within RK than FK, and 138% (p<0.01) higher hip extension angular velocity within FK than RK.

Over the last two decades, knowledge production, research and reconfiguration of universities have been understood as ways of giving new meanings to the university-society binomial. In this regard, humanities are the subject of multiple debates in the face of ideas about their impact in relation to the "other sciences". Based on these premises, this article sets out to explore possible meanings attributed by researchers to the concepts of commitment, mobilization and transfer of research in humanities in view of the debates on the university-society interaction and the third mission of the university (Alonso, Cuschnir and Napoli, 2021). The methodology used will address bibliographical analysis, theoretical background and statements from different institutions, as well as the analysis of material from four interviews. As a first instance, the preliminary results show that strengthening critical thinking as forms of commitment emerge as central senses, focusing on hungarian characteristics and productions in order to unravel the ways of understanding and imagining Eastern European reality. In this respect, the discussion of certain western knowledge is seen as a task associated with social commitment with public universities as a focus of resistance.

Subordinates and leaders engage in a reciprocal relationship known as Leader-Member Exchange (LMX). However, while attempting to study the link and influence of gender on LMX, previous research yields inconclusive data. While several studies found a direct or indirect relationship, others did not link gender to LMX. These researchers inspired one another to begin the current investigation. Finding out how gender affected the quality of interactions between leaders and members was the aim of this study. The study was conducted in carefully chosen workgroups under the direction of supervisors, who were divided based on gender. (Males overseeing men, men overseeing women, women overseeing women, and women overseeing women). There is a noticeable change in the way Dyad members communicate when work groups are divided based on gender. The research also uncovered some noteworthy information concerning the impact of the demographic factor of gender on LMX.

Bimetallic colloidal CoPt nanoalloys, with a very low platinum content, were successfully synthesized following a modified polyol approach. Powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Transmission Electron Microscopy studies were performed to estimate the crystal structure, morphology and surface functionalization of the colloids respectively, while the room temperature magnetic properties were measured using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The particles exhibit excellent uniformity, with a narrow size distribution, and display strong room temperature hysteretic ferromagnetic behavior even in the as-made form. Upon annealing at elevated temperatures, progressive formation and co-existence of exchange coupled both chemically ordered and disordered phases, significantly enhance the room temperature coercivity.

Using valid experimental parameters we quantify the magnitude of resonantly phonon-driven precession of exchange magnons in freestanding ferromagnetic nickel thin films on their thickness L. Analytical solutions of acoustically driven equations for magnon oscillators display a nonmonotonous dependence of the peak magnetization precession on the film thickness. It is explained by different L-dependence of multiple prefactors entering in the expression for the total magnetization dynamics. Depending on the ratio of acoustic and magnetic (Gilbert) damping constants, the magnetization precession is shown to be amplified by a Q-factor of either the phonon or the magnon resonance. The increase of the phonon mode amplitude for thinner membranes is also found to be significant. Focusing on the magnetization dynamics excited by the two first acoustic eigenmodes with p=1 and p=2 we predict the optimum thicknesses of nickel membranes to achieve large amplitude magnetization precession at multi 100 GHz frequencies at reasonably low values of an external magnetic field.

Isobaric ions having the same mass-to-charge ratio cannot be separately identified by mass spectrometry (MS) alone, but this limitation can be overcome using hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) in microdroplets. Because isobaric ions may contain a varied number of exchangeable sites and different types of functional groups, each one produces a unique MS spectral pattern after droplet spray HDX without the need for MS/MS experiments or introduction of ion mobility measurements. As an example of the power of this approach, isobaric ions in urinary metabolic profiles are identified and used to distinguish between healthy individuals and those having bladder cancer.

The development of a remote sensing system is proposed in the present study for monitoring of the electrical resistance of concrete in real time. The sensor is embedded in the concrete bulk, and the data are sent via a gateway to a computer for the data analysis. The sensibility of the sensors to the effect of the presence of a crystalline admixture has been also assessed in the study. Different cycles of drying and water penetration have been considered to assess the sensor performance in different water content conditions. Sensors have shown to capable of detecting changes in electrical resistance when humidity changes. The sensitive of the sensors to the action of waterproofing admixtures in the mortar has been also confirmed. The contribution of the temperature plays a critical role on the sensor response, and its simultaneous monitoring is recommended.

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) encompass a group of biobased technologies capable of directly converting organic matter into electricity. In these systems, which are derived from conventional electrochemical systems, the ion exchange membrane represents a key element because of its influence on the economic feasibility and on the performance of BES. This study examines the impact of long-term operation of a BES on the mechanical, chemical and electrochemical properties of five different kind of cation exchange membranes (Nafion-117, CMI-7001, Zirfon UTP 500, FKE and FKB) through several techniques: (i) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to assess the changes on the membranes surface, (ii) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to evaluate the structural stability of the membranes, and (iii) ion exchange capacity (IEC) to monitor any change in their electrochemical properties. Results confirmed that there is not an ideal membrane for BES. While Nafion and CMI-7000 exhibited the strongest chemical structure, they also underwent the highest fouling as revealed by a fast increase in surface roughness.

In China, "new quality productive forces" have become an important focus for high-quality development; accelerating this development is an important task for the Chinese government in 2024. Such development relies on the traction of the digital economy. In view of this, developing “new quality productive forces” driven by the Chinese digital economy requires focusing on blocking points, such as the insufficient vitality of data, inadequate algorithmic regulation, the uneven distribution of computing power resources and the immature market environment. In order to dredge these blocking points, it is necessary to establish basic rules on data, strengthening algorithm supervision, building a national integrated computing power network, and optimizing the market environment.

Temperature dependent entropic force acting between the straight direct current I and the linear system (string with length of L) of N elementary non-interacting magnets/spins μ is reported. The system of elementary magnets is supposed to be in the thermal equilibrium with the infinite thermal bath T. The entropic force at large distance from the current is given by Fmagnen=Nμ02μ2I24π2kBTr3 , where r is the distance between the edge of the string and the current I, and kB is the Boltzmann constant; (r≫L is adopted). The entropic magnetic force is the repulsion force. The entropic magnetic force scales as Fmagnen~1T , which is unusual for entropic forces. The effect of “entropic pressure” is predicted for the situation when the source of the magnetic field is embedded into the continuous media, comprising elementary magnets/spins.

It is shown that the four fundamental physical forces, i.e. weak interaction, strong interaction, electromagnetism and gravity, all have their origin in the quark as the single true elementary particle.This requires conceiving the quark as a Dirac particle in a pseudo-tachyon mode, which possesses two real dipole moments: the common one associated with its angular momentum and a second one that is polarisable in a scalar field. This Dirac particle carries a regular charge magnetic monopole without Dirac’s string, theorized by Comay. The boson carrier of its field of energy is the gluon showing an exponential decay of its spatial range because of the influence of an omni-present energetic background field, known as the Higgs field, in this article interpreted as the Lambda in Einstein’s Field Equation.

Nuʻupia Ponds, a traditional Hawaiian fishpond system, are located at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) and part of the Nuʻupia Ponds Wildlife Management Area, a wetland refuge for native, endangered, and protected birds and Hawaiian green sea turtles, as well as many native fish species. Currently, there is uncertainty regarding the ecological status and condition of the fishponds following prior modification of wetland habitats in and around the ponds. This study examines circulation dynamics and characterizes water exchange, pond volume, and residence time across the full tidal spectrum at Nuʻupia fishponds. Our results indicate a general west to east gradient in current flow; with higher flushing rates and lower residence times of fishponds in the western ponds of the Nu’upia system compared to the eastern ponds. We further found low flushing rates at several sites causing limited water exchange with Kāne’ohe Bay, as well as within Nu’upia Pond system. Sufficient water circulation plays a fundamental role in maintaining a healthy balance of fishpond flora and fauna and preserve ecosystem health. The results from this study provide a baseline of current physical water circulation dynamics and implications for ecosystem health, as well as inform science-based conservation and management strategies moving forward.

Exergy analysis evaluates the efficiency of system components by quantifying the rate of entropy generation. In general, the exergy destruction rate or irreversibility rate was directly obtained through the exergy-balance equation. However, this method cannot determine the origin of the component's entropy generation rate, which is a very important factor in system design and improvement. In this study, a thorough energy, exergy thermoeconomic analysis of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was performed, providing the heat transfer rate, entropy generation rate and cost loss rate of each component. The irreversibility rate of each component is obtained by the Gouy-Stodolar theorem. Detailed and extensive exergy and thermoeconomic analyses of PEMFC system have determined that water cooling units experience the greatest heat transfer among the components in the studied PEMFC system, resulting in the greatest irreversibility and thus the greatest monetary flow loss.

The Power Theory of Exchange and Money (PTEM) refines the economic neoclassical two-equation model of exchange. PTEM replaces the statistical average condition of exchange, which represents the equality of supply and demand for all transactions in the market, with a more specific equation of the equality of the generalized power of the parties in relation to their objects of exchange. The purpose of the article is to show the application of PTEM for the study of various social phenomena. Along with a brief summary of the main statements of this theory, its integration into the existing corpus of theories and ideas in economics and sociology is considered. The conclusions of power theory are then applied to consider the following topics: the objective motivation of exchange by the desire to increase power, the power nature of market equilibrium, the power nature of money, the accumulation of power through profit, the creation of money as a power act, the role of the state in the creation of money, the measure of power as a possible tool for social and political research.

This study examines the effect of market risk on the financial performance of 31 non-financial companies listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) over the period 2000-2016. We utilize three alternative variables to assess financial performance, namely return on assets, return on equity and profit margin. Next, we use the degree of financial leverage, the book-to-market ratio, and the gearing ratio as market risk variables. Besides, we employ the pooled OLS model, the fixed effects model, the random-effects model, the difference GMM and the system GMM models. The results show that market risk indicators have a negative and significant influence on the companies' financial performance. The elasticities are greater following the book-to-market ratio compared to the degree of financial leverage and the gearing ratio, respectively. In most cases, the firm size, the tangibility ratio, and the cash holdings ratio have a positive effect on financial performance, whereas the firms' age, the debt-to-income ratio, stock turnover, and leverage hurt the performance of these non-financial companies. Therefore, decision-makers and managers should mitigate market risk through appropriate strategies of risk management, such as derivatives and insurance techniques.

PEM fuel cell is a technology successfully used in the production of energy from hydrogen, allowing the use of hydrogen as an energy vector. It is scalable for stationary and mobile applications. However, the technology demands more research. An important research topic is fault diagnosis and condition monitoring to improve the life and the efficiency and to reduce the operation costs of PEMFC devices. Consequently, there is a need of physical models that let deep analysis. These models must be accurate enough to represent the PEMFC behavior and to allow the identification of different internal signals of a PEM fuel cell. This work presents a PEM fuel cell model that uses the output temperature in a closed loop, so it can represent the thermal and the electrical behavior. The model is used to represent a NEXA Ballard 1.2 kW; therefore it is necessary to fit the coefficients to represent the real behavior. Five optimization algorithms were tested to fit the model, three of them were taken from literature and two were proposed. Finally, the model with the parameters identified was validated with real.

Desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) plays a crucial role in cell-cell adhesion and tissue integrity. Increasing evidence suggests that Dsg3 acts as a regulator of cellular mechanotransduction, but little is known about its direct role in mechanical force transmission. The present study investigated the impact of cyclic strain and substrate stiffness on Dsg3 expression and its role in mechanotransduction in keratinocytes. A direct comparison was made with E-cadherin, a well-characterized mechanosensor. Exposure of oral and skin keratinocytes to equiaxial cyclic strain promoted changes in expression and localization of junction assembly proteins. Knockdown of Dsg3 by siRNA blocked strain-induced junctional remodeling of E-cadherin and Myosin IIa. Importantly, the study demonstrated that Dsg3 regulates the expression and localization of YAP, a mechanosensor and an effector of the Hippo pathway. Furthermore, we showed that Dsg3 forms a complex with phospho-YAP and sequestered it to the plasma membrane, while Dsg3 depletion had an impact on both YAP and phospho-YAP in their response to mechanical forces, increasing the sensitivity of keratinocytes to strain- or substrate rigidity-induced nuclear relocation of YAP and phospho-YAP. PKP1 seemed to be crucial in recruiting the complex containing Dsg3/phospho-YAP to the cell surface since its silencing affected both Dsg3 junctional assembly with concomitant loss of phospho-YAP at cell periphery. Finally, we demonstrated that this Dsg3/YAP pathway has an influence on the expression of YAP1 target genes and cell proliferation. Together, these findings provide evidence of a novel role for Dsg3 in keratinocyte mechanotransduction.

The rationalization of single molecule magnets’ (SMMs) magnetic properties by quantum mechanical approaches represents a major task in the field of the Molecular Magnetism. The fundamental interpretative key of molecular magnetism is the phenomenological Spin Hamiltonian and the understanding of the role of its different terms by electronic structure calculations is expected to steer the rational design of new and more performing SMMs. This paper deals with the ab initio calculation of isotropic and anisotropic exchange contributions in the Fe(III) dimer [Fe₂(OCH₃)₂(dbm)₄]. This system represents the building block of one of the most studied Single Molecule Magnets ([Fe₄RC(CH₂O)₃)₂(dpm)₆] where R can be an aliphatic chain or a phenyl group just to name the most common functionalization groups) and its relatively reduced size allows the use of a high computational level of theory. Calculations were performed using CASSCF and NEVPT2 approaches on the X-ray geometry as assessment of the computational protocol, which has then be used to evinced the importance of the outer coordination shell nature through organic ligand modelization. Magneto-structural correlations as function of internal degrees of freedom for isotropic and anisotropic exchange contributions are also presented, outlining for the first time the extremely rapidly changing nature of the anisotropic exchange coupling.

Given the increased provision of international exchange programmes in higher education, this paper examines students’ perceptions of their learning process in one Erasmus+ programme in Food Innovation and Product Design. Using evaluation model of international exchange programme and triple helix model as the analytical framework, students’ testimonials from 2015–2021 were analysed using a critical discourse analysis. EU and non-EU students had similar perceptions of learning outcomes related to knowledge of the food innovation industry, but non-EU students had a stronger sense of awareness of both the international context and multicultural interaction.