Search Results (568)

The pantograph–catenary system is a critical component of the traction power supply network. Due to hard points on the overhead contact line and vibrations of the pantograph, pantograph–catenary separation may occur, leading to offline DC arc events. To investigate the characteristics of DC arcs generated during pantograph–catenary separation in metro systems, this study constructs a laboratory platform that simulates the offline process and analyzes the electrical characteristics, optical intensity, and arc-burn duration under different electrode separation conditions. First, a DC pantograph–catenary offline arc simulation platform is developed using a contact wire, a carbon-strip pantograph slider, and a linear motor, enabling slider movement in both horizontal and vertical directions. Second, offline discharge experiments are conducted to compare the discharge process and electrical arc characteristics with and without horizontal slider motion. Finally, arc luminosity and burn duration are measured under various electrode separation configurations, and the influence of voltage level, current level, and electrode material is examined. Experimental results reveal a significant polarity effect, where the arc burn duration is notably longer when the contact wire serves as the cathode than when the carbon slider serves as the cathode. At the instant of separation, the high electric field intensity within the micro-gap triggers pronounced “peak phenomena” in both arc resistance and power, accompanied by abrupt voltage surges and transient current dips. Furthermore, the introduction of horizontal motion modulates the arcing process, causing the stable arcing voltage to follow a distinctive trend of a slow increase followed by a gradual decrease, which differs from static separation characteristics. Finally, this study demonstrates that voltage levels exert a more dominant influence on arc luminosity and duration than current levels, while the maintenance voltage of the arc channel remains significantly lower than the air breakdown voltage. Full article

We revisit the extensively debated star-forming main sequence (SFMS)—a tight correlation between the star formation rate and stellar mass in both kiloparsec-resolved and integrated galaxies. We statistically explore the fundamental drivers of star formation at global scales, using a large volume-limited sample of 24,954 local star-forming galaxies to overcome the limitations of previous works. Based on the mid-infrared 12 µm luminosity, stellar mass, and $g-r$ color, we estimate the molecular gas mass for the considered sample. At galaxy-wide scales, we establish global relations between the surface densities of the star formation rate (${\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{\mathrm{SFR}}$), stellar mass (${\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{*}$), and molecular gas mass (${\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{\mathrm{mol}}$). These global density relations are connected with and follow similar trends as the resolved SFMS, the Kennicutt–Schmidt (KS) relation, and the molecular gas main sequence (MGMS). Taking advantage of this large catalog, we show that the scatters in the global KS and MGMS relations are smaller than that of the global relation between ${\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{\mathrm{SFR}}$ and ${\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{*}$, and their Pearson correlation coefficients are higher. More importantly, multivariate regression and partial correlation analyses demonstrate that the apparent ${\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{\mathrm{SFR}}-{\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{*}$ correlation is entirely mediated by ${\mathrm{\Sigma }}_{\mathrm{mol}}$, with its best-fit parameters directly derivable from those of the KS and MGMS relations. Overall, our findings suggest that the correlation between stellar mass and molecular gas, as well as that between molecular gas and star formation, are more direct and fundamental. The star-forming main sequence, thus, appears to be a natural by-product of these two tighter relations. Full article

The valorization of agro-industrial residues through fermentation processes represents a sustainable approach to producing high-value bioproducts, such as microbial organic acids and fermentation-derived anti-browning agents, including kojic acid and kojic acid-rich fermented extracts. In this study, melon waste (non-commercial-quality or damaged fruit) was evaluated as an alternative carbon source (whole fruit) for kojic acid (KA) production by Aspergillus oryzae (ATCC 10124) under submerged fermentation. The effects of process variables such as pH, temperature, and nitrogen and carbon availability on KA synthesis were analyzed, and biomass growth and product formation were described using logistic and Luedeking–Piret kinetic models. Under optimal conditions (pH 5.5, 36 °C, 2.5 g/L melon dry matter, 2.5 g/L yeast extract, 100 rpm), KA production reached 1.64 g/L at a final time of 120 h. Kinetic analysis showed moderate fungal growth (μ_max = 0.058 h⁻¹; X_max = 0.81 g/L), with KA formation following a mixed growth-associated pattern as described by the Luedeking–Piret model (α = 1.26 g KA/g X; β = 0.024 h⁻¹), indicating sustained production during the stationary phase. The KA-rich fermented extract was subsequently applied as an anti-browning treatment on spineless prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes. Short immersion times (0.5–1.0 min) in a 2 g/L KA solution significantly preserved luminosity (L*) and limited total color change (ΔE ≤ 5) during 4 days of storage at 28 °C, compared with water-treated controls, which exhibited accelerated darkening (ΔE ≈ 9–15). Prolonged immersion times induced tissue damage and color deterioration, indicating an optimal exposure window. These results demonstrate the feasibility of valorizing melon waste to obtain a KA-rich extract and support its potential application as a natural anti-browning agent in fresh-cut vegetables within a circular agrifood framework. Full article

We show that the FLRW metric, modified to include interrelated variation in the speed of light and gravitational constants, leads to Friedmann equations containing terms that behave like dark matter and dark energy without the cosmological constant. When we permit tired light (TL) to contribute to the redshift due to the expanding universe, thus defined by covarying coupling constants (CCCs), the resulting CCC+TL model has a critical density that is just enough to account for the baryon matter in the universe. The CCC+TL cosmology model is consistent with all of the observations that we had the time and the resources to study, including BAOs (baryon acoustic oscillations), the CMB (cosmic microwave background) sound horizon angular size, the time dilation effect, galaxy formation time scales at cosmic dawn, galaxy rotation curves, gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster and ultra-faint dwarf galaxy dynamics, and the mass, size, density, and luminosity evolution of galaxies. We briefly review them in this paper. Additionally, the new model does not suffer from the coincidence problem of the ΛCDM model and complies with the recent DESI findings of an increasing dark energy density with redshift. We present the fundamentals of the CCC+TL model and discuss its applications to some decisive observations. We have considered temporal variation in the constant for cosmological studies and their spherically symmetric variation in astrophysical situations. We conclude that the illusion of dark matter and dark energy in cosmological and astrophysical observations originates from CCC. Full article

The agronomic performance and quality of different strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) varieties produced in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, were studied. The following varieties were evaluated in 2023 and 2024 under semi-forced cultivation and bioinputs: Rociera (RO), Frontera (FR), Sahara (SH), Savana (SV), and Sabrina (SB). The crop performance was evaluated through yield production, and fruit quality was determined through titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (SSs), firmness, and instrumental color with L* (luminosity), a* (red-green color), and b* (blue-yellow color) parameters. The results obtained indicate that the evaluated varieties had good productive performance, especially FR and RO, through viable production yields. Full article

This article develops a structural–analogical framework to investigate conceptual resonances between Qur’an 24:35—the Verse of Light—and contemporary relational models in physics, while maintaining firm epistemic boundaries between theology, philosophy, and empirical science. The Qur’anic metaphors of niche, glass, tree, oil, and layered light depict a graded ontology of manifestation in which being unfolds through ordered relations grounded in a transcendent divine command (amr). By contrast, modern physics—as represented by quantum field theory, loop quantum gravity, and cosmological models—operates entirely within immanent causality, conceiving spacetime and matter as relational, dynamic, and structurally emergent. Despite their distinct registers, both discourses converge structurally around a shared grammar of potentiality, relation, and manifestation. Drawing on classical Islamic metaphysics—especially al-Ghazālī’s Mishkāt al-Anwār—alongside contemporary relational ontologies in physics (Smolin, Rovelli, Markopoulou), the article argues that “real time” functions as an ontological choice that conditions intelligibility, agency, and novelty. The Qur’anic notion of nūr is interpreted not as physical luminosity but as the metaphysical ground of determinability, while the quantum vacuum is treated as a field of latent potential—without suggesting empirical equivalence. Rather than concordism, the comparison highlights a structural resonance (used here as a heuristic notion indicating pattern-level affinity rather than equivalence, correspondence, or empirical verification): both traditions affirm that reality is neither static nor substance-based, but arises through dynamic relational processes grounded—whether transcendently or immanently—in principled order. Full article

This article reinterprets Yinguang’s (1861–1940) “Eight-Verse Guiding Principles” as a program that integrates worldly ethics with supramundane liberation in modern Chinese Buddhism. On the ethical level, Yinguang established “fulfilling one’s duties and preserving sincerity” as the fundamental code, insisting that moral responsibility and the guarding of right mindfulness revealed the innate luminosity of the mind. Building on this, the article looks at “eliminating selfish desires and manifesting illustrious virtue” (gewu zhizhi 格物致知) as a way to connect ontology to practice, highlighting the significance of “refraining from all evils and cultivating all virtues.” The practitioner made progress toward the ultimate objective of “purifying the mind” by following these steps. On the liberation level, the bodhi-mind functions as vow-power oriented toward Buddhahood for self and others. This dual aspiration functioned as the inner motivation for rebirth in the Pure Land and the attainment of Buddhahood. The triad of “faith, vows, and practice” furnishes an accessible soteriological pathway for ordinary beings who rely on Amitābha’s vow-power to achieve rebirth with karmic burdens. Methodologically, the study combines close reading of primary writings with modern theories of religious ethics and lived religion to show how name recitation (chiming nianfo 持名念佛) concentrates the mind and conduces to the samādhi of recitation, where “the whole mind is Buddha, and the whole Buddha is mind.” Framed within the broader dynamics of Republican-era moral reform and global Pure Land transmission, the article argues that Yinguang’s eight-verse guiding principles embodied the ideal of “reaching Buddhahood by way of the human path,” providing a historically grounded yet contemporary salient model for understanding Chinese religious culture today. Full article

We envision a minimalist way to explain a number of astronomical facts associated with the unsolved missing mass problem by considering a new phenomenological paradigm. In this model, no new exotic particles need to be added, and the gravity is not modified; it is the perception that we have of a purely Newtonian (or purely Einsteinian) Universe, dubbed the Newton basis or Einstein basis (actually “viewed through a pinhole” which is “optically” distorted in some manner by a so-called magnifying effect). The $\kappa$ model is not a theory but rather an exploratory technique that assumes that the sizes of the astronomical objects (galaxies and galaxy clusters or fluctuations in the CMB) are not commensurable with respect to our usual standard measurement. To address this problem, we propose a rescaling of the lengths when these are larger than some critical values, say >100 pc - 1 kpc for the galaxies and ∼1 Mpc for the galaxy clusters. At the scale of the solar system or of a binary star system, the $\kappa$ effect is not suspected, and the undistorted Newtonian metric fully prevails. A key point of an ontological nature rising from the $\kappa$ model is the distinction which is made between the distances depending on how they are obtained: (1) distances deduced from luminosity measurements (i.e., the real distances as potentially measured in the Newton basis, which are currently used in the standard cosmological model) and (2) even though it is not technically possible to deduce them, the distances which would be deduced by trigonometry. Those “trigonometric” distances are, in our model, altered by the kappa effect, except in the solar environment where they are obviously accurate. In outer galaxies, the determination of distances (by parallax measurement) cannot be carried out, and it is difficult to validate or falsify the kappa model with this method. On the other hand, it is not the same within the Milky Way, for which we have valuable trigonometric data (from the Gaia satellite). Interestingly, it turns out that for this particular object, there is strong tension between the results of different works regarding the rotation curve of the galaxy. At the present time, when the dark matter concept seems to be more and more illusive, it is important to explore new ideas, even the seemingly incredibly odd ones, with an open mind. The approach taken here is, however, different from that adopted in previous papers. The analysis is first carried out in a space called the Newton basis with pure Newtonian gravity (the gravity is not modified) and in the absence of dark matter-type exotic particles. Then, the results (velocity fields) are transported into the leaves of a bundle (observer space) using a universal transformation associated with the average mass density expressed in the Newton basis. This approach will make it much easier to deal with situations where matter is not distributed centrosymmetrically around a center of maximum density. As examples, we can cite the interaction of two galaxies or the case of the collision between two galaxy clusters in the bullet cluster. These few examples are difficult to treat directly in the bundle, especially since we would include time-based monitoring (with an evolving $\kappa$ effect in the bundle). We will return to these questions later, as well as the concept of average mass density at a point. The relationship between this density and the coefficient $\kappa$ must also be precisely defined. Full article

The Secret of the Golden Flower (Taiyi Jinhua Zongzhi 太乙金華宗旨), a Qing dynasty spirit-writing (fuji扶乩) text, is widely known through the Wilhelm–Jung translation lineage, where jinhua 金華 is rendered as “Golden Flower” and read as mandala-like symbolism. Based on a close reading of the Daozang Jiyao 道藏輯要version, this article argues that in the Chinese text jinhua is not primarily a floral image but a technical and experiential term for luminosity in Daoist inner-alchemical cultivation. Hua 華 is resemanticized from botanical “flower/flourishing” into “radiance,” and the work explicitly defines the key term as “jinhua is light”. The text further organizes cultivation into a three-stage trajectory—“sudden emergence”, “circulation”, and “great condensation”, through which qi 氣 is refined into light and luminosity stabilizes as spirit (shen 神). Finally, the analysis situates this luminous grammar within the work’s explicit Three Teachings (sanjiao 三教) framing: Confucian “illuminating virtue” (mingde 明德) and Buddhist idioms of luminous mind-nature (xin-xing guangming 心性光明) and dharma-body language function as a shared vocabulary for describing non-grasping awareness and embodied realization. On this basis, jinhua is best understood not as a decorative metaphor or a purely psychological symbol but as a practice-oriented mechanism of ontological luminosity, clarifying both the inner-alchemical logic of The Secret and the stakes of its modern reception. Full article

Background/objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of resin infiltration in managing anterior molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) defects, focusing on color improvement, lesion size reduction, sensitivity outcomes and patient aesthetic perception. Enamel defects in MIH result from a combination of environmental, systemic, and genetic factors, indicating a multifactorial etiology. These defects, particularly in anterior teeth, pose significant aesthetic and emotional challenges due to their high visibility. This study provides one of the few prospective clinical evaluations of resin infiltration for anterior MIH lesions, assessing not only objective clinical outcomes but also patients’ aesthetic perception. It further introduces a patient-centered approach by comparing aesthetic evaluations made by children and dental professionals over time. Methods: A total of 109 MIH-affected anterior teeth were treated using Icon^® resin infiltration (DMG, Hamburg, Germany) in this registered prospective clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05597956). Participants were classified as children (6–12 years) and adolescents (13–17 years) according to standard pediatric age definitions. Of these, 101 teeth were available for evaluation at the 6-month follow-up due to patient loss to follow-up. The evaluation included photographic follow-up, measurement of lesion size and color, and assessment of sensitivity. During follow-up visits, patients rated the appearance of their lesions using the FDI scale. Results: Before treatment, spectrophotometric analysis showed that lesions exhibited a reddish hue (mean a* = 2.12), were distinctly yellowish (mean b* = 23.20), and clearly differed from surrounding enamel (ΔE = 8.62). The brightness level (L* = 69.81) indicated medium-high luminosity. Lesion size was reduced by an average of 4.5 percentage points. Significant increases in L values and reductions in a* and b* components were observed, with clinically perceptible ΔE changes. Sensitivity improved in 36.6% of patients, who reported a 1–2 point decrease on the SCASS. Moreover, patients’ aesthetic perception significantly improved after Icon^® infiltration resin. Conclusions: Resin infiltration produced noticeable improvements in color, reduced lesion size and sensitivity, and enhanced aesthetic perception, making it a valuable treatment option for managing MIH-affected anterior teeth in children. Full article

Supernova (SN) cosmology is based on the assumption that the luminosity of type Ia SNe, after the luminosity standardization process, remains invariant with progenitor age. However, our comprehensive age measurements of SN host galaxies reveal a significant ($5.5\sigma$) correlation between standardized SN luminosity and progenitor age, which is expected to introduce a serious systematic bias with redshift in SN cosmology. After correcting for this age bias with redshift, the SN dataset aligns more closely with the recent DESI BAO result, bringing the updated ’standard candle’ (SNe) into concordance with the ’standard ruler’ (BAO). When the three cosmological probes (SNe, BAO, CMB) are combined, we find a strong (∼9$\sigma$) discordance with the $\mathrm{\Lambda }$CDM model, suggesting a time-varying dark energy equation of state in a currently non-accelerating universe. Full article

In the pursuit of cleaner and more efficient internal combustion engines, dual-fuel strategies combining diesel and hydrogen are gaining increasing attention. This study employs detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the behaviour of pilot diesel injections in dual-fuel diesel–hydrogen engines. The study aims to characterize spray formation, ignition delay and early combustion phenomena under various energy input levels. Two combustion models were evaluated to determine their performance under these specific conditions: Tabulated Well Mixed (TWM) and Representative Interactive Flamelet (RIF). After an initial numerical validation using dual-fuel constant-volume vessel experiments, the models are further validated using in-cylinder pressure measurements and high-speed natural combustion luminosity imaging acquired from a large-bore optical engine. Particular attention was given to ignition location due to its influence on subsequent hydrogen ignition. Results show that both combustion models reproduce the experimental behavior reasonably well at high energy input levels (EILs). At low EILs, the RIF model better captures the ignition delay; however, due to its single-flamelet formulation, it predicts an abrupt ignition of all available premixed charge in the computational domain once ignition conditions are reached in the mixture fraction space. Full article

Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are intense bursts of high-energy photons which, in just a few seconds, outshine all other $\gamma$-ray emitters in the sky. Due to their extreme luminosity, GRBs are not only important as high-energy astrophysical phenomena but also serve as valuable probe models of the far, high-redshift Universe. The importance of these events has pushed the High-Energy Astrophysics community to propose new mission concepts over the past decade, prompting dedicated research and development efforts to achieve the required technological readiness levels. The X and Gamma-Ray Imager and Spectrometer (XGIS) is one of the two GRB monitors onboard the proposed, upcoming THESEUS space mission. Building on strong heritage from previous studies, ongoing developments and optimizations are focused on enhancing the instrument’s capabilities and increasing its technological maturity. This work presents the current status of the XGIS instrument and the latest technological advancements achieved in preparation for its deployment on THESEUS. Full article

Background/Objectives: The resin infiltration protocol was introduced as a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of incipient carious lesions using low-viscosity resins with high penetration coefficient. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of resin infiltration in hypomineralized anterior teeth of paediatric patients, based on aesthetic improvement, colour change (ΔE), and visual perception. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa and physiotherapy evidence database scales. The level of evidence was assessed using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation tool. Methods: The following five databases were searched: Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42023405299). Results: The search identified 130 preliminary references related to the population, intervention, control, and outcome question, identified from the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, respectively. In addition, two items were added from the grey literature. Ten articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative analyses, and only three studies were included in the quantitative analyses. Positive results regarding stain-size reduction and colour improvement with resin infiltration (Icon^®; DMG, Hamburg, Germany), were reported in moderately severe lesions. Luminosity increased immediately after treatment, and the mean difference in total color change (ΔE), T0–T1 was significant (ΔE, 5.45; confidence interval, 1.94 to 8.96; p < 0.01). The most favourable clinical outcomes were observed following the initial resin infiltration. Moreover, the results were maintained at the 6 month follow-up. Conclusions: Infiltration resin can successfully mask white or white/creamy opacities characteristic MIH affected enamel, similar to those in carious enamel for which it was designed. It yields acceptable aesthetic results in anterior teeth with mild to moderate MIH lesions. Lack of predictability is the main limitation of this therapeutic option. Full article

Road safety ranks among the most apparent concerns in present-day urban existence, with risky driving the most prevalent cause of road crashes. In this paper, we present an external camera video-based automatic hazardous driving behavior detection model for use in smart cities. We addressed the problem with a holistic approach covering data collection to hazardous driving behavior classification including zig-zag driving, risky overtaking, and speeding over a pedestrian crossing. Our strategy employs a specially generated dataset with diverse driving situations under diverse traffic conditions and luminosities. We advocate for a Multi-Speed Transformer model with dual vehicle trajectory data timescale operation to capture near-future actions in the context of extended driving trends. A new contribution lies in our symbiotic system which, apart from the detection of unsafe driving, also assumes the responsibility of triggering countermeasures through a real-time continuous loop with vehicle systems. Empirical results demonstrate the Multi-Speed Transformer’s performance with 97.5% in accuracy and 93% in F1-score over our balanced corpus, surpassing comparison baselines including Temporal Convolutional Networks and Random Forest classifiers by significant amounts. The performance is boosted to 98.7% in accuracy as well as 95.5% in F1-score with the symbiotic framework. They confirm the promise of leading-edge neural architectures paired with symbiotic systems in enhancing road safety in smart cities. The ability of the system to provide real-time risky driving behavior detection with mitigation offers a real-world solution for the prevention of accidents while not restricting driver autonomy, a balance between automatic intervention, and passive monitoring. Empirical evidence on the TRAF-derived corpus, which includes 18 videos and 414 labelled trajectory segments, indicates that the Multi-Speed Transformer reaches an accuracy of 97.5% and an F1-score of 93% under the balanced-training protocol, and in this configuration it consistently surpasses the considered baselines when we use the same data splits and the same evaluation metrics. Full article