Search Results (124)

This paper develops a teletraffic-based energy-efficiency analysis of QoS-constrained NOMA using an order-statistics framework for underlay secondary-access operation. Throughput is derived from the ordered SIR distribution for an orthogonal reference and for NOMA under minimum-rate requirements. A linear base-station power model is then incorporated to define energy efficiency, including both transmit power and SIC-related processing. For the multiuser case, the analysis shows that QoS constraints impose a structural feasibility limit on the supported number of users, which is also approximated in closed form through the Lambert W function. By coupling this feasibility result with a birth–death teletraffic model, the average energy efficiency is obtained as a function of the offered load. The results show that stricter QoS requirements reduce energy efficiency, while NOMA preserves a wider feasible region than the orthogonal reference in the setting considered. From a symmetry/asymmetry perspective, the orthogonal reference provides a more symmetric access structure, whereas NOMA introduces asymmetry through user ordering, unequal power allocation, and SIC. The resulting framework links ordered-user operation, QoS feasibility, SIC-aware power consumption, and traffic dynamics in the energy-efficiency characterization of underlay secondary access. Full article

Red Amaranth (RA) Azo dye is a persistent pollutant in wastewater and stands as a toxicological risk, which has led to the development of effective methods for its removal and photocatalytic degradation. Therefore, CeO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by a controlled precipitation method, and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV–Vis) analysis and Tauc plots yielded a band gap of ~3.24 eV. The CeO₂ nanoparticles showed the fluorite cubic phase, and nearly spherical particles with an average size of ~10 nm. Nitrogen physisorption revealed a type IV isotherm with a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of 85.27 m²·g⁻¹ and a total pore volume of 0.27 cm³·g⁻¹, indicating a mesoporous structure and high surface accessibility. The chemical behavior showed Ce and O, consistent with phase purity. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated in 20 ppm aqueous solution of RA under 365 nm UV irradiation (LED 100 W), with a temperature of ~20 °C and a 15 min dark adsorption step. Concentration decay was followed at λ_max = 520 nm by Lambert–Beer. The degradation efficiency η and pseudo-first-order kinetic were obtained from ln(C₀/C_t) vs. time. In addition, chemical oxygen demand (COD) tests were performed on RA solution before and after photodegradation, showing a COD reduction of ~85% (from 19.8 to 3 mg O₂·L⁻¹), which corroborates mineralization beyond chromophore bleaching. Under [C₀ = 20 mg·L⁻¹] and [m_cat = 1.0 g·L⁻¹], CeO₂ achieved [RA = 90% at 180 min, k = 0.0125 min⁻¹]. These results demonstrate that CeO₂ is an effective photocatalyst for RA degradation under UV-A irradiation, integrating adsorption, kinetic behavior, and mineralization performance into a coherent structure–property relationship. Full article

The 2x2 Demonstrator, a prototype for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) liquid argon (LAr) Near Detector, was exposed to the Neutrinos from the Main Injector (NuMI) neutrino beam at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). This detector is a prototype of a new modular design for a liquid argon time-projection chamber (LArTPC), comprising a two-by-two array of four modules, each further segmented into two optically isolated LArTPCs. The 2x2 Demonstrator features a number of pioneering technologies, including a low-profile resistive field shell to establish drift fields, native 3D ionization pixelated imaging, and a high-coverage dielectric light readout system. The 2.4-tonne active mass detector is flanked upstream and downstream by supplemental solid-scintillator tracking planes, repurposed from the MINERvA experiment, which track ionizing particles exiting the argon volume. The antineutrino beam data collected by the detector over a 4.5 day period in 2024 include over 30,000 neutrino interactions in the LAr active volume—the first neutrino interactions reported by a DUNE detector prototype. During its physics-quality run, the 2x2 Demonstrator operated at a nominal drift field of 500 V/cm and maintained good LAr purity, with a stable electron lifetime of approximately 1.25 ms. This paper describes the detector and supporting systems, summarizes the installation and commissioning, and presents the initial validation of collected NuMI beam and off-beam self-triggers. In addition, it highlights observed interactions in the detector volume, including candidate muon antineutrino events. Full article

This study proposes Optimized Skewness and Kurtosis Transformation (OSKT), a novel moment-targeting normality transformation that corrects asymmetry and peakedness in non-normal data. OSKT employs a transformation function derived from the Tukey g–h distribution, incorporating skewness and kurtosis parameters, and is optimized by minimizing a single objective function based on the Anderson–Darling test statistic. The optimization process uses L-BFGS-B to tune the transformation parameters to find the best fit for the standard normal distribution. OSKT ensures a balance between symmetry and tail behavior by minimizing deviations from theoretical normality. It has highly competitive performance compared to the alternative, Box–Cox, Yeo–Johnson transformations, including their robust variants and moment-matching Lambert W method, for normalizing complex distributions. According to our analysis, OSKT also achieves superior normalization for highly non-Gaussian data, successfully transforming highly resistant distributions, including approximately symmetric bimodal datasets, where other methods fail. Full article

High-fidelity 3D reconstruction of human-sized objects typically requires multi-sensor scanning systems that are expensive, complex, and rely on proprietary hardware configurations. Existing low-cost approaches often rely on handheld scanning, which is inherently unstructured and operator-dependent, leading to inconsistent coverage and variable reconstruction quality. This limitation necessitates the need for a controlled, repeatable, and affordable scanning method that can generate high-quality data without requiring multi-sensor hardware or external tracking markers. This study presents a marker-less scanning platform designed for human-scale reconstruction. The system consists of a single structured-light sensor mounted on a vertical linear actuator, synchronised with a motorised turntable that rotates the subject. This constrained kinematic setup ensures a repeatable cylindrical acquisition trajectory. To address the geometric ambiguity often found in vertical translational symmetry (i.e., where distinct elevation steps appear identical), the system employs a sensor-assisted initialisation strategy, where feedback from the rotary encoder and linear drive serves as constraints for the registration pipeline. The captured frames are reconstructed into a complete model through a two-step Iterative Closest Point (ICP) procedure that eliminates the vertical drift and model collapse (often referred to as “telescoping”) common in unconstrained scanning. To evaluate system performance, a modular anthropometric benchmark object representing a human-sized target (1.6 m) was scanned. The reconstructed model was assessed in terms of surface coverage and volumetric fidelity relative to a CAD reference. The results demonstrate high sampling stability, achieving a mean surface density of $0.760{\mathrm{points}/\mathrm{mm}}^2$ on front-facing surfaces. Geometric deviation analysis revealed a mean signed error of −1.54 mm ($\sigma =$ 2.27 mm), corresponding to a relative volumetric error of approximately 0.096% over the full vertical span. These findings confirm that a single-sensor system, when guided by precise kinematics, can mitigate the non-linear bending and drift artefacts of handheld acquisition, providing an accessible yet rigorously accurate alternative to industrial multi-sensor systems. Full article

Two-dimensional (2D) correlation functions are central to understanding structural crossovers in soft-core fluids; however, their asymptotic analysis is hindered by the Hankel-transform kernel, whose asymptotic representation introduces a term that breaks the natural conjugate symmetry of the poles. To address this, we present a symmetric contour integration scheme that restores symmetry at the level of the integration path. By employing quarter-circle contours in the first and fourth quadrants, the method captures conjugate pole pairs simultaneously and evaluates the sine term from the Bessel-function asymptotic without variable transformation or real-part extraction, yielding closed-form analytic expressions for the long-range decay of the density–density correlation function. The approach is demonstrated for a 2D Gaussian-charge one-component plasma under the random phase approximation at intermediate coupling, where the pole analysis provides direct access to the oscillation wavelength and decay length. In the high-density regime, the pole equations simplify to a form amenable to a Lambert W-function approximation, revealing a logarithmic scaling of correlation lengths even at moderate coupling. These findings establish symmetric contour integration as a transparent and versatile framework for pole-resolved asymptotics in 2D liquids. Full article

This study develops an intelligent real-time diagnostic and forecasting model for photovoltaic (PV) stations operating in the rural regions of Kazakhstan. Field measurements show that in Kazakhstan’s rural conditions, daily temperature fluctuations of 18–27 °C reduce PV output by 10–15%, solar irradiance variations of 800–1100 W/m² cause an additional 8–12% deviation, and mineral-rich dust accumulation of 20–120 μm results in 3–5% power loss per 10 μm layer. Using the Beer–Lambert–Bouguer law, thermal degradation coefficients, and inverter droop models, the physical–mathematical behavior of PV degradation was described. The hybrid AI model (LSTM + XGBoost + Random Forest) achieved 89–91% accuracy in 24 h forecasting and 88–93% accuracy in fault detection. Overall, the proposed system reduces energy losses by 10–15% and shortens maintenance time by 18–24%, improving the reliability of rural PV stations in Kazakhstan. Full article

This Editorial introduces the Symmetry Special Issue “Theory and Applications of Special Functions II” and summarizes the nine contributions collected therein. The papers span the analytic continuation of multivariate hypergeometric functions; stability theory for differential equations via integral transforms; numerical schemes for multi-space fractional partial differential equations based on nonstandard finite differences and orthogonal polynomials; applications of the Lambert W function to viscoelastic creep modeling; algebraic constructions of new Hermite-type polynomial families via the monomiality principle; higher-level generalizations of poly-Cauchy numbers; Bell-polynomial expansions for Laplace transforms of higher-order nested functions; and two complementary studies on the physical implementation and algebraic description of Gaussian quantum states. Beyond the contributions of the Special Issue, we highlight methodological connections—continued fractions and complex analysis, transform techniques, special polynomials, and combinatorial sequences—and emphasize the unifying role of symmetry across mathematical structures and applications. Full article

In this paper, the half-logistic generalized power Lindley distribution, a new two-parameter lifetime model for positive and heavy-tailed data, is proposed and studied. Several mathematical properties are derived, including closed-form expressions for the density, distribution, survival, hazard, and the Lambert W quantile function, as well as series expansions for moments, skewness, kurtosis, and Rényi entropy. Parameter estimation is performed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, where Bayesian estimation is implemented via the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm. A Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to evaluate the estimators’ performance, showing decreasing bias and mean squared error with larger samples. Finally, three real-world datasets are analyzed to demonstrate that the proposed distribution provides superior fit compared to Lindley-type competitors and the Weibull distribution, based on likelihood values, information criteria, and empirical diagnostics. Full article

The present study presents a comparative evaluation of two analytical deconvolution models applied to Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) decay curves of zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS), a glass-ceramic material with potential applications in accidental dosimetry. ZLS samples were subjected to beta irradiation and measured under Continuous Wave OSL (CW-OSL) protocols. A comparative analysis is conducted between two deconvolution approaches—the General Order Kinetics (GOK) model and a master analytical equation based on the Lambert W function. The results imply that both models yield a linear dose-response behavior of the fast OSL component; however, the Lambert W approach offers simpler fitting with fewer parameters. The abovementioned findings demonstrate the methodological robustness of the Lambert W formalism and also confirm that ZLS is a promising dosimetric material, aligning with the goals of protocol development in material characterization. Full article

Carcinogenesis, while traditionally attributed to the accumulation of driver mutations in genes regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis, may also be explored as a consequence of fundamental metabolic reprogramming, an idea catalyzed by the Warburg effect, where cancer cells exhibit a paradoxical preference for glycolysis over the far more efficient oxidative phosphorylation. This implies that metabolic dysregulation may be a primary instigator of neoplastic transformation. Our hypothesis proposes that the abrupt loss of cellular energy may stimulate an atavistic response, wherein rapid proliferation and migration are triggered to enhance survival in fluctuating environments. These responses lead to pathological angiogenesis and unchecked cell growth, thereby bridging the gap between genetic and metabolic pathways of carcinogenesis. Full article

Mouse papillomavirus (MmuPV1) is the first papillomavirus known to infect laboratory mice, making it an irreplaceable tool for research on papillomaviruses. Despite wide use, standardized techniques for conducting MmuPV1 animal research are lacking. In this report, we describe an unexpected MmuPV1 outbreak causing recurrent papillomatosis in a specific pathogen-free animal research facility. The infected mice displayed characteristic papillomatosis lesions from the muzzles, tails, and feet with histological signs including anisocytosis, epithelial dysplasia, and typical koilocytosis. Etiology studies showed that the papilloma tissues exhibited MmuPV1 infection with expression of viral early and late genes detected by RNA-ISH using MmuPV1 antisense probe to viral E6E7 region and antisense probe to viral L1 region. The viral L1 protein was detected by an anti-MmuPV1 L1 antibody. PCR amplification and cloning of the entire viral genome showed that the origin of the outbreak virus, named MmuPV1 Bethesda strain (GenBank Acc. No. PX123224), could be traced to the MmuPV1 virus previously used in studies at the same facility. Our data indicate that MmuPV1 could exist in a contaminated environment for a long period of time, and a standardized international animal protocol discussing how to handle MmuPV1 studies is urgently needed. Full article

Localised cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) is a common neglected tropical disease in Ethiopia, which is mainly treated with intralesional (IL) pentavalent antimonial such as sodium stibogluconate (SSG) and/or cryotherapy. Both treatments are painful, and studies are lacking on the pain associated with these or affected individuals’ experiences of them. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at ALERT Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa/Ethiopia. The socio-demographic and clinical data of individuals affected by LCL receiving IL SSG and/or cryotherapy was gathered, and their treatment was observed. Participants quantified their treatment-associated pain using the Wong–Baker Pain Scale. Health-related quality of life was measured using the (Children’s) Dermatology Life Quality Index. Adverse effects, participant experiences with local therapies, and dermatologists’ experiences and opinions of local LCL treatment were assessed using structured questionnaires. Of the thirty-six individuals with LCL included (64% male, 14% children), 52% reported a treatment-associated pain score ≥ 8. Cryotherapy administered with a cotton bud was associated with lower pain scores ≤ 6 (odds ratio: 0.15, 95% confidence interval: 0.03–0.89) compared to a cryotherapy spray device. There was wide variation in treatment administration. Local LCL treatment is painful, and most individuals experience significant pain. This study highlights the need for less painful but effective treatments, structured training, and clear standard operating procedures. Full article

Relatively little data exist regarding the presence of unregulated contaminants in drinking waters. We sampled source and finished drinking water from 98 community water supply systems throughout Minnesota (U.S.). Facilities were grouped into four networks based on water source and influences from anthropogenic activities. Measured contaminants were dependent on network and included some combination of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), benzotriazoles, hormones, wastewater indicators, and illicit drugs. Overall, the number of contaminants detected in samples ranged from 0 to 35 and concentrations ranged from 0.38 ng/L (progesterone) to 47,500 ng/L (bromoform). Fewer contaminants and lower concentrations were detected in finished water samples, compared to source waters. Significantly (p < 0.05) more PFAS and pesticides and higher sample total concentrations were observed in wells designated as vulnerable to contamination. To estimate potential human-health risk from exposure in drinking water, concentrations were compared against bioactivity information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ToxCast database and state-based guidance values, when available. Although comparisons could be made for relatively few contaminants, concentrations in finished waters were at least an order of magnitude lower than screening thresholds. Results from this study were used to inform enhancement of the Minnesota Department of Health’s drinking water protection program. Full article