Search Results (10,781)

The promising potential of porous metallic materials for railway applications (e.g., conductive materials, materials for braking systems) is due to their unique combination of low density, high specific surface area, and high energy absorption capabilities. Porous multi-phase silicide coatings (FeSi, Si₂CN₄) provide a synergistic effect, doubling surface hardness and establishing a stable diffusion barrier. The article proposes a comprehensive approach to replacing materials for critical railway transport components, involving the development of a base material and a barrier coating. The use of widely available induction-melting components to produce a base material with superior mechanical properties is demonstrated. The material exhibits high static strength and hardness while maintaining acceptable impact toughness and ductility. To enhance wear, corrosion, and scale resistance, technology for forming a barrier layer via silicide coatings is proposed. The coating formation technology enables the regulation of porosity through the formation of nitrogen-containing phases. It is shown that pores can serve as “containers” for fillers that impart functional properties to the coatings (e.g., adjusting the friction coefficient or electrical conductivity). The new base material–barrier coating system can serve as a foundation for the sustainable production of critical rolling stock parts and other devices for railway transportation systems. Full article

Stock prediction requires the joint modeling of temporal dynamics and cross-stock dependence. Existing graph-based and hypergraph-based forecasting methods often process spatial relation modeling and temporal evolution in separate stages, which may weaken the interaction between relational information and recurrent state updating. This study proposes a Recurrent Spatiotemporal Hypergraph Attention Gated Recurrent Unit model for stock forecasting, in which hypergraph-based higher order dependence and temporal dynamics are integrated within each recurrent update. The hypergraph is constructed offline from heterogeneous financial features through Tucker decomposition, similarity estimation, and Top-K sparsification, and is then used as a structured relational prior during forecasting. Experiments on CSI 300 constituent stocks from January 2014 to October 2024 show that RST-HGA-GRU achieves the best overall performance across multiple evaluation metrics and forecasting horizons from 1 to 6 days. Ablation, sensitivity, back testing, and multi-horizon Diebold–Mariano tests further support the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed framework. These results demonstrate that recurrent spatiotemporal fusion with hypergraph-based higher-order relation modeling is effective for stock price forecasting. Full article

Urban areas in subtropical regions are increasingly exposed to heat stress as climate change intensifies extreme heat events. In high-density cities, urban renewal is widely implemented to upgrade aging building stock, yet its potential role as a passive heat adaptation strategy remains insufficiently understood, particularly for projects below environmental impact assessment thresholds. This study examines how urban renewal influences neighborhood-scale microclimates through a comparative analysis of six residential renewal cases using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Pre- and post-renewal scenarios are evaluated to assess changes in wind environment and thermal conditions, with a particular focus on the spatial extent and distance–decay characteristics of renewal-induced effects. The results reveal a consistent distance–decay pattern of microclimate responses across all cases. The influence of urban renewal is strongest within 0–50 m, remains detectable up to approximately 100 m, and diminishes substantially beyond 100–150 m, indicating a clear neighborhood-scale impact radius. Ventilation performance improves systematically following renewal, while thermal responses are more heterogeneous. Localized cooling of up to 1.5 °C is observed in selected cases, whereas others exhibit negligible temperature change despite enhanced airflow. These findings demonstrate that improved ventilation alone does not guarantee thermal mitigation. Instead, thermal outcomes depend on the interaction between airflow, solar exposure, and surface thermal properties. Urban renewal can therefore function as a form of passive heat adaptation when morphological changes are coordinated with shading and surface design strategies. By quantifying the spatial limits of renewal-induced microclimate effects, this study provides empirical evidence for integrating microclimate considerations into neighborhood-scale planning. The identified influence radius offers a practical reference for climate-responsive urban renewal, particularly in high-density subtropical cities where incremental redevelopment plays a dominant role. Full article

This paper investigates pricing formulas for geometric average and arithmetic average Asian call and put options under an uncertain exponential Ornstein–Uhlenbeck stock model. Employing the $\alpha$-path technique from uncertainty theory, we derive closed-form integral representations for all four option types and rigorously establish their monotonicity properties with respect to the strike price, interest rate, time to expiration, and initial stock price. A comparative analysis with Liu’s standard uncertain stock model and a discussion of the option Greeks are also provided. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the practical applicability of the proposed formulas. Full article

The decarbonization of existing buildings remains a major challenge, particularly in contexts characterized by high energy demand and heating systems based on fossil fuels. While electrification is widely recognized as a key pathway, its direct application is often limited by building and operating conditions. This study investigates the potential of hybrid heating systems as transitional solutions through a large-scale numerical parametric simulation analysis based on representative models of the Italian residential building stock. The analysis explores the interaction between climatic conditions, system operation, and energy performance under standardized assumptions. The results reveal that hybrid systems achieve significant reductions in non-renewable primary energy (up to 39–44%) and CO₂ emissions (approximately 50–58%), primarily through the substitution of natural gas with electricity. Conversely, total primary energy may increase (approximately 2–26%) due to the contribution of renewable energy associated with heat pump operation. Operating cost savings are observed in the 25–40% range, with slight variation depending on climatic conditions. The effectiveness is not uniform, with maximum benefits in intermediate climate zones and reduced performance under more severe conditions. Overall, hybrid systems show stable and reliable performance across heterogeneous building configurations, supporting their role as robust mid-term transition technologies toward building decarbonization. Full article

This study examines how operational efficiency, credit risk, and third-party funds affect the stock prices of banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, with financial performance acting as a mediating variable. Focusing on banks included on the main board during 2020–2024, the study uses panel data collected from annual reports and financial statements published on the official Indonesia Stock Exchange website. The sample consists of 29 commercial banks selected through purposive sampling, yielding 145 observations. Operational efficiency is measured using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), while the relationships among variables are tested through Structural Equation Modeling with the Partial Least Squares approach. The results show that third-party funds and operational efficiency contribute positively to stock prices, whereas credit risk does not have a direct effect. At the same time, all three independent variables exert positive indirect effects through financial performance. These findings indicate that financial performance serves as an important mechanism linking banks’ internal conditions to market valuation. The study underscores the relevance of managerial efficiency and strong funding capacity in enhancing investor confidence and offers novelty through the application of SFA and a simultaneous mediation model in the context of Indonesia’s post-pandemic banking sector. Full article

There is a well-documented gap between the prescription of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) and their real-world use during anaphylaxis. Although several aspects of AAI underuse have been investigated, the potential role of shelf life in influencing patient adherence has not been quantified. This study assessed the real-world remaining shelf life of AAIs available at pharmacies in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway, using pharmacy-level stock data and pharmacy employee-reported perceptions. Across Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, the average remaining shelf life was 9.6 months, and in Norway it was 10.5 months at the point of dispensing. In Denmark, Finland and Sweden, 100%, 91%, and 94% of employees, respectively, considered shelf life an important or very important factor when dispensing AAIs to patients. Our findings suggest that patients and caregivers filling prescriptions for AAIs frequently receive devices with limited remaining shelf life, which may necessitate multiple renewals per year. This has potential implications in terms of adherence to clinical guidelines, dependence of expired devices during emergencies, patient cost, caregiver burden, and overall societal expenditure. These results highlight an unmet need for emergency treatment options with longer shelf life to better support continuous access to life-saving medicine during anaphylaxis. Full article

As China’s urbanization transitions from incremental expansion to stock-based renewal, industrial land redevelopment has become a key pathway for promoting high-quality urban development. However, existing studies mostly assess redevelopment potential from a single dimension and lack a systematic framework integrating ecological function (E), spatial structure (S), economic conditions (C), and building foundations (B). Taking the built-up area of Xi’an as a case study, this study adopts a functional–structural optimization perspective and constructs a four-dimensional ESCB assessment framework based on 13 indicators covering ecological function, spatial structure, economic conditions, and building foundations. GIS-based spatial quantification, MiniBatchKMeans clustering, and the XGBoost algorithm were employed to identify the redevelopment potential of industrial land, while SHAP analysis was used to interpret indicator contributions and determine the core influencing factors. The results show that industrial land in the study area can be classified into four types: vitality–density dominant, transport–scale coordinated, scale–facility lagging, and topography–vegetation sensitive, with significant differences in spatial distribution and indicator characteristics. The interpretable machine learning model further identifies road network density, block-level economic vitality, and land-use suitability as the three principal drivers of redevelopment potential, among which road network density plays the most critical role. By integrating clustering analysis with interpretable machine learning, the ESCB framework effectively reveals the synergies and trade-offs among multidimensional indicators and provides differentiated and precise support for industrial land redevelopment strategies. Full article

This study examines the relationship between firms’ financial adaptability and performance during periods of macroeconomic stress. Using panel data on companies listed on the Mongolian Stock Exchange from 2015 to 2024, the analysis measures financial adaptability through a Firm Adaptability Index (FAI) constructed from observable indicators of liquidity, coverage capacity, and asset-use efficiency. The index is constructed using principal component analysis (PCA) to avoid arbitrary equal-weighting assumptions, and the debt ratio is deliberately excluded to prevent multicollinearity with the leverage control variable used in the regression models. The empirical framework primarily relies on panel regression models with interaction terms, supplemented by a DID-style comparison and an event-study-based diagnostic. The validity of the quasi-experimental design is confirmed by a formal parallel-trend test and placebo checks using artificial shock dates. The findings do not support the view that financial adaptability exerts a uniformly strong and stable direct effect on firm performance across all conditions. Instead, its empirical relevance becomes more visible when macroeconomic conditions worsen. In particular, the interaction result related to interest rates suggests that firms with higher levels of financial adaptability tend to exhibit less pronounced profitability sensitivity to financing cost pressure. Additional analyses point to short-term liquidity buffers as a plausible channel and show that the strength of this relationship varies by firm size and sectoral characteristics. This study contributes to the literature by bringing together the related concepts of financial flexibility, organizational resilience, dynamic capabilities, and strategic adaptability within a firm-level empirical setting. It also proposes a practical way to measure financial adaptability not through a single proxy, but through a composite index that integrates several observable financial dimensions. Overall, the evidence suggests that financial adaptability is better understood not as a constant determinant of profitability, but as an internal capability whose relevance becomes more apparent under conditions of heightened uncertainty. Full article

Bamboo plantations are increasingly recognized as significant terrestrial carbon sinks, yet accurate estimation of biomass and carbon stocks requires species-specific, regionally validated allometric models. Bambusa emeiensis L.C.Chia & H.L.Fung (ci bamboo) is among the most ecologically and economically important clump-forming bamboo species in southwestern China, but robust multi-regional allometric models are lacking. Using destructive sampling data from 127 culms across two major production areas—Sichuan Province (n = 82) and Guizhou Province (n = 45)—we developed additive biomass and carbon storage model systems enforcing mathematical additivity via nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR). Allometric equations used diameter at breast height (D), culm height (H), and compound variables (DH, D²H) as predictors. Regional models achieved R_a² of 0.0879–0.8320 total relative error (TRE): −0.99% to 0.04% for biomass and R_a² of 0.0923–0.8282 (TRE: −1.01% to 0.03%) for carbon storage; culm and total aboveground models attained R_a² ≥ 0.52. Organ-level carbon content (40.79%–44.46%) was significantly lower than the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) default of 50% (one-sample t-test, p < 0.01 for all organs), with Sichuan values exceeding Guizhou values (independent-samples t-test, p < 0.01), indicating that use of the default would overestimate carbon stocks by 12%–22%. Cross-regional validation revealed prediction biases of up to ±19.24% when applying single-region models outside their training area, whereas the combined model held errors within ±11.36% for biomass and ±8.49% for carbon storage. External validation using 32 independent culms from Hunan, Yunnan, and Chongqing confirmed the robustness of the combined model (TRE: −6.30% to 4.27%). A key limitation is that belowground biomass was not measured. The established models provide scientifically rigorous and practically applicable tools for regional carbon accounting of B. emeiensis plantations under China’s national greenhouse gas inventory framework and for informing sustainable bamboo management planning, and demonstrate that species- and region-specific carbon fractions are essential for accurate carbon stock assessments. Full article

Stock market investors and traders operate in high-pressure environments marked by volatility, uncertainty, financial risk, and intense performance demands. These conditions lead to substantial psychological distress, increasing vulnerability to psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Key psychological risk factors in this population include acute financial loss, chronic stress, impulsivity, perfectionism, and identity fusion with professional performance. Evidence from behavioral psychology and clinical psychiatry indicates elevated rates of mood disorders, anxiety, and burnout in trading environments. Resilience—including emotional regulation, effective stress-coping mechanisms, strong social support, and cognitive flexibility—emerges as a critical protective factor that mitigates suicide risk and promotes adaptive functioning. Strengthening psychological resilience and implementing evidence-based mental-health strategies may help reduce suicide risk and support overall well-being. The medico-legal dimensions of this issue encompass duty of care within high-stress financial workplaces, clinical obligations related to suicide risk assessment and documentation, confidentiality and safety considerations, and questions of foreseeability of suicide in cases involving severe or catastrophic financial loss. Despite growing awareness of mental health challenges in financial professions, the intersection of suicide risk, resilience, and medico-legal responsibilities in this population remains underexplored. Further research is needed to refine assessment frameworks and develop targeted suicide prevention interventions for this at-risk group. Full article

Cover crops in woody crops as a sustainable land management alternative to conventional tillage induce changes in soil properties that improve ecosystem functioning. Soil is highly dynamic, and disturbances in environmental conditions affect soil microorganisms, particularly in gypsiferous soils, where microbiological activity remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of three cover crop systems: spontaneous permanent vegetation cover (SVE), annual legume cover (VIC), and permanent grass cover (BRA), compared with conventional tillage (TIL), on soil physicochemical and biological properties in an olive grove over two crop seasons. Overall, cover crops promoted higher microbial activity and carbon storage than tillage, with responses being more pronounced during the wetter year. Conventional tillage consistently exhibited the lowest levels of enzyme activities and carbon stocks, whereas permanent covers showed stronger positive effects on soil functioning. These findings indicate that the benefits of cover crops on soil processes are reinforced under favorable moisture conditions but also remain under drier years, highlighting their stabilizing role. The improvement of soil health induced by cover crops contributes to enhancing soil ecosystem services, including soil fertility, in olive groves, supporting their adoption as a sustainable management strategy in Mediterranean agroecosystems, even under lower rainfall conditions. Full article

Soft story irregularity poses a critical seismic risk to existing building stocks. While current seismic codes define stiffness irregularity factors to detect this vulnerability, they are typically evaluated based solely on initial elastic properties. This study investigates the evolution of these code-defined factors (ASCE/SEI-7, UBC, NBC, TBEC-2018, and BSL) within the post-elastic range to examine how structural damage affects soft story irregularity. The methodology comprises two phases: a low-strength RC plane frame (Case A) and a parametric study on a 3D RC building with incrementally increased ground story heights (Case B). Nonlinear pushover analyses were conducted to track the variation in irregularity factors at each pushover step and examined graphically. Results demonstrate that soft story behavior is not a static characteristic; irregularity factors deteriorate significantly as plastic hinges form. Crucially, several models that initially satisfied code limits in the elastic range eventually exceeded irregularity thresholds under inelastic behavior. This indicates that relying solely on initial stiffness may mask latent irregularities emerging during seismic actions. Consequently, to capture the true severity of soft story mechanisms, it is recommended that stiffness irregularity factors be evaluated at target displacement levels corresponding to the design earthquake. Full article

Pyrolysis liquid (PL) derived from biomass pyrolysis exhibits biopesticidal properties and represents a promising value-added product within the sustainable circular economy framework. However, knowledge about the antimicrobial potential of PLs produced from walnut residue at different pyrolysis temperatures remains limited. We investigated the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of PLs obtained from agricultural walnut residue (Juglans regia L.) against selected plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi. PLs were produced at four temperature ranges: 200–300 °C (W-1), 300–400 °C (W-2), 400–500 °C (W-3), and 500–600 °C (W-4). Chemical characterization was performed using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), with determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Pyrolysis temperature significantly influenced the chemical profile and bioactive compound content of the PLs, with W-4 showing the highest total phenolic and flavonoid levels. Heavy metal analysis indicated minimal contamination in all samples. Antibacterial activity was observed in stock solutions, whereas diluted applications showed limited effects. The W-4 fraction showed the strongest antibacterial activity and exhibited MIC values of 12.50 µL/mL against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, and 25.00 µL/mL against Erwinia amylovora. Antifungal activity differed markedly across temperature ranges, with W-3 and W-4 displaying superior activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium dahliae, achieving complete mycelial growth inhibition at 5%, compared to 10% for W-2 and 20% for W-1. Positive controls confirmed assay validity (ciprofloxacin for antibacterial assays and cycloheximide for antifungal assays), whereas negative controls showed no inhibitory effect. Overall, higher pyrolysis temperatures, particularly 400–600 °C, enhanced the antimicrobial potential of walnut residue-derived PLs, supporting their possible use as bio-based antifungal agents for sustainable crop protection. Full article

Purpose: The treatment of proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) remains debated, and similar fracture patterns may be managed with different strategies. The aim of this retrospective single-center case series without a control group was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes after treatment of selected PHFs with the Galaxy Fixation System. The primary endpoint was functional recovery at 12 months, assessed using the Constant Shoulder Score and QuickDASH. Secondary endpoints included radiographic maintenance of reduction, quality of life, treatment-related complications, and need for revision surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 48 consecutive patients with proximal humeral fractures treated at the Orthopaedic and Traumatology Unit of Versilia Hospital, Viareggio, Italy, between November 2017 and February 2022. Fractures were assessed using trauma-series radiographs and computed tomography when required, and were classified by two senior surgeons according to the Neer, AO/OTA, and Hertel classifications. Eligible patterns included 2-part, 3-part, and selected 4-part fractures with at least two-thirds of intact metaphyseal bone stock. Results: Forty-six patients completed the 12-month follow-up; two patients died during follow-up from causes unrelated to the index procedure. The mean Constant Shoulder Score improved from 62.7 at 6 months to 69.3 at 12 months, and the mean QuickDASH improved from 9.4 to 8.1. The mean postoperative head-shaft angle was 137.2 degrees and remained substantially stable at 135.1 degrees at 12 months. Pin-tract infection occurred in 5 patients, pin migration in 4, algodystrophic syndrome in 1, and avascular necrosis requiring revision arthroplasty in 1. Conclusions: In this retrospective uncontrolled series, external fixation with the Galaxy system was associated with progressive functional recovery, satisfactory radiographic maintenance of reduction, and a low rate of revision surgery in carefully selected PHFs. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the retrospective design, limited sample size, absence of a control group, incomplete availability of some baseline variables, and lack of formal comparative or cost-effectiveness analyses. Full article