Search Results (1,113)

Corona discharge at the tip of buildings in a thunderstorm environment is an important factor causing changes in the near-ground electric field, but the influence of a quadratic growth law and quantitative research on the parameters is still rare. Therefore, based on the three-dimensional corona discharge model, this paper studies the influence of positive and negative symmetrical triangular wave electric fields with different amplitudes on the corona discharge of an independent lightning rod. Studies have shown that the corona current is synchronized with the peak of the background electric field. Studies have shown that the corona current is synchronized with the peak of the background electric field. When the polarity of the electric field changes from positive to negative, the positive charge accumulated in the positive half-cycle promotes the subsequent negative corona, so the negative corona starts in advance when the polarity reverses. Compared with unipolar discharge, the amplitude of the negative current and the number of negative charges have significantly improved. However, due to the counteraction of neutralization between positive and negative charges, the total corona charge is at a low level, which shows a net negative polarity result. The corona current and the amount of charge increase nonlinearly with an increase in the background electric field amplitude. Under the symmetrical triangular wave electric field, the quantitative fitting relationship between the peak value of the negative corona current in the second half-cycle and the amount of charge is established for the 5 m high independent lightning rod, which is I⁻ = −0.0532 − 0.153$E$ − 0.0682 $E^2$, Q⁻ = −3.18 × 10⁻³ + 7.762 × 10⁻⁴E − 4.671 × 10⁻⁵$E^2$, respectively. The increase in the background electric field amplitude will aggravate the disturbance of the corona discharge to the near-surface electric field. When the direction of the electric field has reverted to zero, the existence of the space charge will lead to a significant change in the strength and polarity of the ground electric field. When the thunderstorm background electric field changes from positive to negative, the corona effect reverses the polarity of the ground electric field in advance, and the larger the peak value of the background electric field, the larger the advance. The corona interference mechanism revealed by this study can provide an important reference for correcting the electric field monitoring data and improving the accuracy of lightning warnings. Full article

Urban radio spectrum monitoring is becoming increasingly complex due to the rapid growth of wireless devices, unauthorized emissions, and dynamic electromagnetic environments in smart cities. Traditional spectrum analysis approaches, based on manual operation or static detection techniques, are no longer sufficient to ensure scalable, autonomous, and secure monitoring. The convergence of two emergent technologies—Large Language Models (LLMs) and the Model Context Protocol (MCP)—facilitates a fundamental shift in radio monitoring. We define this as the AICEBERG paradigm: a novel, stratified architecture where a high-level, intelligent agentic interface (the peak) abstracts the underlying complexity of SCPI-driven hardware integration and radio governance protocols (the foundational base). This autonomous framework provides the necessary objective rigor to audit the stochastic ‘ocean of electromagnetic waves’ characteristic of modern smart cities, ensuring a stable platform for regulatory enforcement amidst high-density signal interference. The proposed system implements a three-layer processing flow, enabling high-level natural language commands to be translated into validated and secure hardware actions on RF spectrum analyzers. A dual-server design separates operational execution from safety validation, ensuring controlled SCPI command handling, parameter verification, and instrument health monitoring. Experimental validation demonstrates the feasibility of autonomous measurement execution. The results show that the proposed architecture reduces human dependency, enhances reproducibility and lowers the expertise barrier required for RF spectrum surveillance. To the best of our knowledge, AICEBERG represents one of the first integrated frameworks to bridge LLMs with SCPI-compliant hardware through the MCP for autonomous radio governance. Full article

This narrative review proposes the ‘Brain Health Triad’ as a novel integrative framework for neurorehabilitation and cognitive enhancement, built upon three interdependent biological pillars: neurostimulation, neurotrophy, and neuroprotection. We illustrate how the synergistic interplay between a ‘core triad’ composed of Hericium erinaceus, Bacopa monnieri, and L-Theanine targets these pillars with high specificity. Hericium erinaceus fosters neurotrophy by inducing Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis through erinacines and hericenones; Bacopa monnieri complements this by enhancing neurostimulation and synaptic plasticity via bacosides; and L-Theanine regulates neurotransmitter balance and alpha-wave activity to stabilize the neural signaling environment. This core architecture is further reinforced by adjunctive nootropic clusters—including withanolides, ginkgolides, citicoline, cordycepin, macamides, and fulvic acid—which provide essential support for mitochondrial resilience and the mitigation of amyloid-β and tau toxicities. By synthesizing molecular evidence from the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling axis and the Nrf2/NF-κB homeostatic switch, we demonstrate that this multi-target strategy offers a more robust path to neuronal resilience than traditional single-target approaches. We conclude that this integrated model provides a solid framework for future clinical applications in the management of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

Background/Objectives: Patients with poor sleep are at high risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since T2DM is linked to increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and Metformin is commonly used to treat T2DM, we examined how Metformin affects sleep stages in patients with concurrent T2DM and OSA-related symptoms of snoring and fatigue. Patients with T2DM on Metformin progressively develop increased insulin resistance associated with sleep disturbances and poor glycemic control. We therefore explored sleep pattern changes in patients with OSA symptoms and T2DM on Metformin, with a special focus on whether Metformin affects sleep architecture. Methods: Polysomnogram (PSG) data from patients with T2DM on Metformin was evaluated along with data on age, body-mass index (BMI), and biological sex. Data analysis included mean ± standard deviation, t-test with p < 0.05 taken as significant, and linear regression. Results: Patients with a BMI of less than 30 (non-obese) and taking Metformin exhibited a significantly shorter rapid eye movement sleep stage (REM) duration than patients on alternative therapies (p = 0.036). No such difference in REM was found for patients with a BMI of 30 or greater (obese) taking Metformin. While there was also no significant difference in slow-wave sleep stage (N3) duration with Metformin use, linear regression identified a moderate negative correlation between N3 and age in patients taking non-Metformin therapies (R² = 0.4555). No significant correlations between sleep stage duration and patient sex, smoking status, or BMI greater than 30 were identified. Conclusions: Overall, patients with OSA and T2DM on Metformin had lower mean quantities of N3, and REM sleep compared to those not on Metformin. Non-obese patients with T2DM and OSA being treated with Metformin were observed to have less REM sleep, regardless of sex or smoking history. N3 and REM sleep are needed for the timely secretion of growth hormone and memory consolidation. Since Metformin is correlated with differences in N3 and REM sleep, it may contribute to the development of insulin resistance. Future studies are needed to explore potential causes for this relationship and how it may affect the treatment of T2DM. Full article

Drawing on social facilitation theory and regulatory focus theory, we propose and test a moderated mediation model in which being observed promotes employees’ innovative behavior through willingness to share knowledge, with regulatory focus serving as a key boundary condition. We tested the model in two complementary studies: a field experiment (N = 223) and a two-wave survey (N = 103). Across both studies, being observed was positively related to willingness to share knowledge, which in turn predicted innovative behavior. In the survey study, prevention focus (an individual’s orientation toward fulfilling duties, responsibilities, and avoiding negative outcomes) strengthened the positive effect of being observed on willingness to share knowledge and magnified the resulting indirect effect on innovative behavior. By contrast, promotion focus (an individual’s orientation toward pursuing aspirations, personal growth, and attaining positive outcomes) attenuated the link between being observed and willingness to share knowledge, although the conditional indirect effect did not reach significance. These findings contribute to the social facilitation literature by specifying the knowledge sharing mechanism and the regulatory-focus boundary conditions through which social attention translates into innovative behavior in organizational field settings. Full article

Thoracic aortopathies, including aneurysm and dissection, are complex vascular disorders characterized by structural alterations of the aortic wall that disrupt normal haemodynamics. Altered shear stress, turbulent flow, and endothelial dysfunction promote thrombus formation and modulate systemic hemostasis via platelet activation and the von Willebrand factor–ADAMTS13 axis. The Total Thrombus-Formation Analysis System (T-TAS) is a microfluidic, flow-dependent assay that quantitatively evaluates thrombus formation under physiological shear conditions. Although studied in various cardiovascular contexts, its application in aortopathies remains largely unexplored, and no prospective studies have validated its clinical utility. Integrating T-TAS with computational haemodynamic approaches, such as two-way fluid–structure interaction simulations, enables assessment of the interplay between blood flow, vessel wall mechanics, pulse wave propagation, and local shear patterns. Patient-specific modelling, including individualized flow profiles, pressure distributions, and wall properties, may enhance mechanistic insights. Genetic variants in Fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1), Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 1/2 (TGFBR1/2), Actin Alpha 2 (ACTA 2), and Myosin Heavy Chain 11 (MYH11) further contribute to structural vascular heterogeneity and diverse systemic haemostatic phenotypes, highlighting the need for personalized assessment. T-TAS should currently be considered an exploratory research tool rather than a validated diagnostic or prognostic method. This narrative review proposes a hypothesis-generating framework integrating structural, haemodynamic, molecular, and functional perspectives. Combining flow-based thrombosis assays with advanced modelling may inform future translational studies, improve mechanistic understanding of thrombus formation, and support personalized risk stratification and management in patients with thoracic aortopathies. Full article

Multi-purpose platforms, which combine renewable energy generation devices and diverse functionalities, are a smart way to expand the applications of offshore platforms. An environmentally friendly multi-purpose offshore platform is proposed by the ‘Blue Growth Farm’ project, which includes a wind turbine, a set of wave energy converters, and an aquaculture system. To assess its feasibility and performance, a field experiment is conducted at an offshore site in Italy using a 1:15 scaled outdoor platform prototype. To provide comprehensive insights into the platform’s behavior, in the present work, aero–hydro–servo–elastic coupled numerical models based on the blade element method and potential flow theory are developed for various experimentally tested configurations of this multi-purpose platform. Time domain analyses are conducted to investigate the performance of the outdoor prototype platform under the recorded realistic environmental loads from the field experiment. The numerical results, including platform motion, mooring line tension forces, and wind turbine responses, agree with the corresponding experimental records. For example, the absolute mean value errors for platform roll and pitch motions are approximately 1 degree, validating the developed numerical model. Meanwhile, the present comparative study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed multi-purpose concept and can provide a reference for similar projects in the future. Full article

This study examines partial differential equation models with delay on both unbounded and bounded domains. The mathematical model is reformulated as a system of nonlinear integral equations. The primary objective is to investigate the long-time behavior of solutions to nonlinear integral equations and to compare these findings with those from the partial differential equation model under varying growth rates. The theory of asymptotic spreading speed is employed to achieve this objective. The existence and uniqueness of solutions to the nonlinear integral equations are demonstrated. Minimal wave speeds are calculated for the model with bounded and unbounded domains, considering different growth rates and time delays. Numerical experiments are conducted to validate the theoretical results. Full article

Marine renewable energy (MRE) systems operate in harsh marine environments where long-term exposure to seawater leads to biofouling, resulting in increased surface roughness, hydrodynamic drag, added mass, structural loading, sensor degradation, and reduced energy production. Despite its significant operational and economic impact, biofouling management in MRE devices has traditionally relied on manual inspections and empirical growth models, which offer limited predictive capability. This review provides a structured, data-centric synthesis of recent advances in machine learning (ML) and bioinformatics approaches for biofouling modeling, performance prediction, and maintenance planning in offshore wind turbines, tidal turbines, and wave energy converters. The study systematically examines key fouling locations and associated engineering impacts, and analyzes the major data streams used for predictive modeling, including SCADA and condition-monitoring time series, metocean variables, inspection imagery, laboratory and field experiments, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing outputs. We compare modeling strategies ranging from physics-based simulations to classical ML, deep learning, computer vision, and hybrid physics-informed frameworks, and discuss how biological indicators such as microbial community profiles and eDNA-derived taxa abundances can be integrated as predictive features. The review further outlines emerging digital twin architectures for fouling-aware performance forecasting and maintenance decision support. Finally, we identify key challenges including data scarcity, cross-site generalization, validation practices, and uncertainty quantification, and propose future research directions toward integrated, proactive biofouling management systems in marine renewable energy infrastructure. Full article

This study investigates how entrepreneurial competencies contribute to social value creation and sustainable economic development among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey, an emerging economy, emphasizing the facilitating roles of comprehensive social competence and technological opportunism. Grounded in Competence-Based Theory (CBT), entrepreneurial competencies are conceptualized as higher-order strategic capabilities that enable firms to mobilize resources, coordinate relational processes, and generate both economic and societal value in line with sustainable development principles. Drawing on a two-wave survey of 607 senior managers across ten industrial sectors in Turkey and employing confirmatory factor analysis and Hayes’ PROCESS macro, this research tests an integrated sustainability-oriented capability model. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial competencies significantly enhance sustainable social value creation, while comprehensive social competence serves as a key mechanism that partially mediates this relationship. Although technological opportunism does not directly influence the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and social competence, it significantly amplifies both the direct and indirect effects on social value creation. SMEs with higher levels of technological alertness are therefore better positioned to translate entrepreneurial competencies into sustainable, socially beneficial outcomes. By integrating CBT with emerging perspectives on sustainable entrepreneurship, social innovation, and technology-enabled opportunity recognition, this study advances theoretical understanding of how SME capability configurations jointly foster sustainable economic and societal development. From a practical perspective, the findings highlight the importance of cultivating socially and technologically oriented entrepreneurial competencies to strengthen SMEs’ contributions to inclusive and sustainable growth in emerging economies. Full article

High-resolution short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging requires photodetectors (PDs) with simultaneously low dark current and high responsivity. To achieve this goal, we demonstrate low-defect bulk germanium-on-insulator (bulk-GeOI) PDs designed for enhanced 1550 nm absorption and suppressed dark current via a resonant cavity and low-defect material platform. Devices were fabricated by direct bonding low-defect bulk Ge and thinning it to ~1300 nm, with an intrinsic layer thickness of only 800 nm. This design avoids epitaxial defects to lower intrinsic dark current while forming a resonant cavity for enhanced responsivity at 1550 nm. Precise doping and Al₂O₃/Si₃N₄ bilayer sidewall passivation were employed. From a design perspective, using low-defect bulk Ge minimizes the defects from epitaxial growth and reduces intrinsic dark current, while thinning the Ge layer enhances the resonant cavity effect to improve 1550 nm responsivity. Experimentally, despite the thin absorbing layer, our devices achieved nA-level dark currents (e.g., 18 nA at −1 V for 10 μm devices) alongside high responsivities. Detailed analysis indicates that this dark current is predominantly attributed to surface and sidewall defects from mesa etching, with minimal contribution from low-defect bulk material defects, validating the effectiveness of the bulk-Ge approach in suppressing intrinsic bulk leakage. Optically, the devices achieved high responsivities of 0.85 A/W (1310 nm) and 0.72 A/W (1550 nm), corresponding to external quantum efficiencies of 80.6% and 57.7%, respectively. This work establishes the bulk-GeOI platform as a promising path toward high-performance SWIR PDs, successfully decoupling high responsivity from bulk leakage and paving the way for future gains through refined surface and interface engineering. Full article

Salt marshes are intertidal ecosystems that provide valuable services like wave attenuation, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, due to a combination of factors linked to global climate warming and increased coastal development, expanses of salt marshes are being lost worldwide. This has prompted coastal land managers to seek effective techniques to enhance salt marsh growth with changing environmental conditions. We examine how restoration of fringe oyster reefs, a commonly used technique to increase sediment accretion and erosion control in salt marshes, affects marsh migration and area change over time. Salt marsh vegetation movement was determined through analysis of aerial imagery collected by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveying before and in the months following restoration at a salt marsh island in Liberty County, GA, USA that underwent oyster reef restoration in September 2023 at three sites, each spanning ~25 m of shoreline. Results after one year showed all restoration sites experienced continued growth at greater rates than nearby unrestored control sites, despite environmental differences between sites. Our results provide evidence that oyster reef restoration may be a viable method for mitigating the loss of salt marshes in coastal Georgia. Full article

The Licantén coastal area in central Chile was severely impacted by the 2010 Mw 8.8 Cobquecura earthquake and subsequent tsunami, exposing the high vulnerability of coastal communities. Over the past decade, urban expansion has advanced toward the shoreline, increasing exposure to coastal hazards. This study aims to quantify shoreline dynamics and urban growth in Licantén between 2010 and 2025. We integrated satellite-derived shorelines (SDSs) from Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery, ERA5 ocean reanalysis to characterize extreme wave events, and an open-source building footprint dataset with high-resolution imagery for urban mapping. Results indicate a post-earthquake acceleration in shoreline erosion up to 5 m per year and a rise in extreme wave events linked to climate variability. Urbanized areas expanded by an average of 46.3%, intensifying risk in hazard-prone zones. These findings highlight the urgent need for evidence-based coastal planning, including zoning and land-use restrictions, to reduce exposure and enhance resilience. This research contributes to climate adaptation strategies and sustainable coastal management in Chile. Full article

To investigate the dynamic response patterns of basalt-fiber-reinforced concrete slabs under random wave loads, this study characterized wave characteristics based on the random wave theory. Numerical simulations of wave loads were conducted using the Morrison equation, and an analytical model for basalt-fiber-reinforced concrete slabs was established. The research systematically examined the influence mechanisms of two key factors—effective wave period and incident angle—on the dynamic properties of such components. The results indicate that when the effective wave period increases from 7 s to 11 s, the peak displacement, peak stress, peak strain, and stress in the basalt-fiber reinforcement of the slab decrease by 12.79 mm, 0.93 MPa, 130 με, and 229.25 MPa, respectively. The growth rate of the component’s dynamic response first increases and then decreases as the effective wave period shortens. When the wave incidence angle increased from 18° to 90°, the peak displacement, peak stress, peak strain, and stress in the basalt-fiber reinforcement of the concrete slab increased by 17.87 mm, 1.32 MPa, 155 με, and 297.97 MPa, respectively. The growth rate of the component’s dynamic response exhibited a continuous increase with the increasing wave incidence angle. At an incidence angle of 18°, the values of the aforementioned four indicators were 576%, 213%, 52.5%, and 46% higher than those under the 90° condition, respectively. The findings of this study provide theoretical support and data references for elucidating the dynamic response patterns of basalt-fiber-reinforced concrete-slab structures under varying wave-loading conditions and for conducting fatigue performance research. Full article

This paper presents two capacitors fabricated using the metallic nanowire membrane (MnM) interposer technology operating at mmWaves. Standard 2D interdigital capacitors (IDCs) are designed to operate up to 70 GHz, which presents a straightforward and non-complex fabrication. In comparison, this work also proposes an improved device that is more compact and exhibits large capacitance density, as high-performance vias enable the realization of high-depth capacitors. The fabrication process of 3D devices presents advanced maturity and innovation as it takes advantage of the porous nature of the interposer material to overcome the device complexity, and is also described in detail. Both capacitor types are modeled by a numerical lumped-element model that also considers parasitics. The 3D capacitors were successfully fabricated and characterized up to 70 GHz, displaying capacitance values between 30 fF and 160 fF and self-resonant frequencies in good agreement with mmWave applications. The quality factor of these devices, measured at 40 GHz, lies between 16 and 4, and the superficial capacitance density is between 4 pF/mm² and 8 pF/mm², showing that these devices are indeed promising for mmWave applications. These devices present considerably larger capacitance density compared to 2D traditional capacitors fabricated on the high-performance substrate, highlighting the advantage of 3D fabrication using nanowire growth. In addition, thin-film resistances are simulated and fabricated, projecting their functions as an RF-choke in a bias tee configuration using Ti thin film sputtering deposition step that is also part of the capacitors fabrication. Full article