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In recent decades, polyelectrolytes (PELs) have attracted significant interest owing to a surge in research dedicated to the development of new technologies and applications at the biological level. Polyelectrolytes are macromolecules of which a substantial portion of the constituent units contains ionizable or ionic groups. These macromolecules demonstrate varied behaviors across different pH ranges, ionic strengths, and concentrations, making them fascinating subjects within the scientific community. The aim of this review is to present a comprehensive survey of the progress in the application studies of polyelectrolytes and their derivatives in various fields that are vital for the advancement, conservation, and technological progress of the planet, including agriculture, environmental science, and medicine. Through this bibliographic review, we seek to highlight the significance of these materials and their extensive range of applications in modern times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the toxicological impact on healthy cells and to improve the therapeutic response, many drug delivery systems have been fabricated and analysed, involving the use of different natural and synthetic materials at macro-, micro- and nanoscales. Among the natural materials which have demonstrated a huge potential for the development of effective drug delivery systems, silk fibroin has emerged for its excellent biological properties and for the possibility to be processed in a wide range of forms, which can be compliant with multiple active molecules and pharmaceutical ingredients for the treatment of various diseases. This review aims at presenting silk fibroin as an interesting biopolymer for applications in drug delivery systems, exploring the results obtained in recent works in terms of technological progress and effectiveness in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From powering our homes to driving our economies, energy lies at the heart of humanity's complex challenges in the modern era. This paper reviews the evolution of smart energy systems, examining their technological advancements and societal implications while proposing a future design framework emphasizing four key pillars: holistic resource optimization, adaptive intelligence, environmental harmony, and human-centered design. While they offer numerous benefits, such as enhanced energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, smart energy systems also face challenges. These include cybersecurity risks, the complexity of integrating diverse energy sources seamlessly, high upfront costs, and potential compatibility issues arising from evolving technologies. Overcoming these challenges will be crucial for unleashing the full potential of smart energy systems and facilitating their global adoption. Abundant opportunities for further research and development exist in this domain, awaiting exploration and advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst an unprecedented period of technological progress, incorporating digital platforms into diverse domains of existence has become indispensable, fundamentally altering the operational processes of governments, businesses, and individuals. Nevertheless, the swift process of digitization has concurrently led to the emergence of cybercrime, which takes advantage of weaknesses in interconnected systems. The growing dependence of society on digital communication, commerce, and information sharing has led to the exploitation of these platforms by malicious actors for hacking, identity theft, ransomware, and phishing attacks. With the growing dependence of organizations, businesses, and individuals on digital platforms for information exchange, commerce, and communication, malicious actors have identified the susceptibilities present in these systems and have begun to exploit them. This study examines 28 research papers focusing on intrusion detection systems (IDS), and phishing detection in particular, and how quickly responses and detections in cybersecurity may be made. We investigate various approaches and quantitative measurements to comprehend the link between reaction time and detection time and emphasize the necessity of minimizing both for improved cybersecurity. The research focuses on reducing detection and reaction times, especially for phishing attempts, to improve cybersecurity. In smart grids and automobile control networks, faster attack detection is important, and machine learning can help. It also stresses the necessity to improve protocols to address increasing cyber risks while maintaining scalability, interoperability, and resilience. Although machine-learning-based techniques have the potential for detection precision and reaction speed, obstacles still need to be addressed to attain real-time capabilities and adjust to constantly changing threats. To create effective defensive mechanisms against cyberattacks, future research topics include investigating innovative methodologies, integrating real-time threat intelligence, and encouraging collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a new automated system that blends multi-satellite information and citizen science data for reliable and timely observations of lake and river ice in under-observed northern regions. The system leverages the Google Earth Engine resources to facilitate the analysis and visualization of ice conditions. The adopted approach utilizes a combination of moderate and high-resolution optical data, along with radar observations. The results demonstrate the system's capability to accurately detect and monitor river ice, particularly during key periods, such as the freeze-up and the breakup. The integration citizen science data showed added values in the validation of remote sensing products, as well as filling gaps whenever satellite observations cannot be collected due to cloud obstruction. Moreover, it was shown that citizen science data can be converted to valuable quantitative information, such as the case of ice thickness, which is very useful when combined with ice extent derived from remote sensing. In this study, citizen science data were employed for the quantitative assessment of the remote sensing product. Obtained results showed a good agreement between the product and observed river status, with a Critical Success Index of 0.82. Notably, the system has shown effectiveness in capturing the spatial and temporal evolution of snow and ice conditions, as evidenced by its application in analyzing specific ice jam events in 2023. The study concludes that the developed system marks a significant advancement in river ice monitoring, combining technological innovation with community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Three-dimensional reconstructions of state-of-the-art high-resolution imaging are progressively being used more for preprocedural assessment in thoracic surgery. It is a promising tool that aims to improve patient-specific treatment planning, for example, for minimally invasive or robotic-assisted lung resections. Increasingly available mixed-reality hardware based on video pass-through technology enables the projection of image data as a hologram onto the patient. We describe the novel method of real-time 3D surgical planning in a mixed-reality setting by presenting three representative cases utilizing volume rendering. Materials: A mixed-reality system was set up using a high-performance workstation running a video pass-through-based head-mounted display. Image data from computer tomography were imported and volume-rendered in real-time to be customized through live editing. The image-based hologram was projected onto the patient, highlighting the regions of interest. Results: Three oncological cases were selected to explore the potentials of the mixed-reality system. Two of them presented large tumor masses in the thoracic cavity, while a third case presented an unclear lesion of the chest wall. We aligned real-time rendered 3D holographic image data onto the patient allowing us to investigate the relationship between anatomical structures and their respective body position. Conclusions: The exploration of holographic overlay has proven to be promising in improving preprocedural surgical planning, particularly for complex oncological tasks in the thoracic surgical field. Further studies on outcome-related surgical planning and navigation should therefore be conducted. Ongoing technological progress of extended reality hardware and intelligent software features will most likely enhance applicability and the range of use in surgical fields within the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), technological progress is changing established workflows and enabling some basic routines to be updated. In dentistry, the patient's face is a crucial part of treatment planning, although it has always been difficult to grasp in an analytical way. This review highlights the current digital advances that, thanks to AI tools, allow us to implement facial features beyond symmetry and proportionality and incorporate facial analysis into diagnosis and treatment planning in orthodontics. A Scopus literature search was conducted to identify the topics with the greatest research potential within digital orthodontics over the last five years. The most researched and cited topic was artificial intelligence and its applications in orthodontics. Apart from automated 2D or 3D cephalometric analysis, AI finds its application in facial analysis, decision-making algorithms as well as in the evaluation of treatment progress and retention. Together with AI, other digital advances are shaping the face of today's orthodontics. Without any doubts, the era of "old" orthodontics is at its end, and modern, face-driven orthodontics is on the way to becoming a reality in modern orthodontic practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Industry 5.0 paradigm has a human-centered vision of the industrial scenario and foresees a close collaboration between humans and robots. Industrial manufacturing environments must be easily adaptable to different task requirements, possibly taking into account the ergonomics and production line flexibility. Therefore, external sensing infrastructures such as cameras and motion capture systems may not be sufficient or suitable as they limit the shop floor reconfigurability and increase setup costs. In this paper, we present the technological advancements leading to the realization of ProxySKIN, a skin-like sensory system based on networks of distributed proximity sensors and tactile sensors. This technology is designed to cover large areas of the robot body and to provide a comprehensive perception of the surrounding space. ProxySKIN architecture is built on top of CySkin, a flexible artificial skin conceived to provide robots with the sense of touch, and arrays of Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors. We provide a characterization of the arrays of proximity sensors and we motivate the design choices that lead to ProxySKIN, analyzing the effects of light interference on a ToF, due to the activity of other sensing devices. The obtained results show that a large number of proximity sensors can be embedded in our distributed sensing architecture and incorporated onto the body of a robotic platform, opening new scenarios for complex applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) emerged as a prominent imaging technique in 2013, attracting significant interest due to its remarkable features such as precise phase retrieval, expansive field of view (FOV), and superior resolution. Over the past decade, FPM has become an essential tool in microscopy, with applications in metrology, scientific research, biomedicine, and inspection. This achievement arises from its ability to effectively address the persistent challenge of achieving a trade-off between FOV and resolution in imaging systems. It has a wide range of applications, including label-free imaging, drug screening, and digital pathology. In this comprehensive review, we present a concise overview of the fundamental principles of FPM and compare it with similar imaging techniques. In addition, we present a study on achieving colorization of restored photographs and enhancing the speed of FPM. Subsequently, we showcase several FPM applications utilizing the previously described technologies, with a specific focus on digital pathology, drug screening, and three-dimensional imaging. We thoroughly examine the benefits and challenges associated with integrating deep learning and FPM. To summarize, we express our own viewpoints on the technological progress of FPM and explore prospective avenues for its future developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Federated learning (FL) is a machine learning (ML) technique that enables collaborative model training without sharing raw data, making it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications where data are distributed across devices and privacy is a concern. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) play a crucial role in IoT systems by collecting data from the physical environment. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the integration of FL, IoT, and WSNs. It covers FL basics, strategies, and types and discusses the integration of FL, IoT, and WSNs in various domains. The paper addresses challenges related to heterogeneity in FL and summarizes state-of-the-art research in this area. It also explores security and privacy considerations and performance evaluation methodologies. The paper outlines the latest achievements and potential research directions in FL, IoT, and WSNs and emphasizes the significance of the surveyed topics within the context of current technological advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CdZnTe (CZT) is a new type of compound semiconductor that has emerged in recent years. Compared to other semiconductor materials, it possesses an ideal bandgap, high density, and high electron mobility, rendering it an excellent room-temperature composite semiconductor material for X-ray and γ-ray detectors. Due to the exceptional performance of CZT material, detectors manufactured using it exhibit high energy resolution, spatial resolution, and detection efficiency. They also have the advantage of operating at room temperature. CZT array detectors, furthermore, demonstrate outstanding spatial detection and three-dimensional imaging capabilities. Researchers worldwide have conducted extensive studies on this subject. This paper, building upon this foundation, provides a comprehensive analysis of CZT crystals and CZT array detectors and summarizes existing research to offer valuable insights for envisioning new detector methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growth of global population and economic development, people are facing the problem of increasing scarcity of renewable energy and unsustainable energy use. To achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations, research on energy consumption efficiency has become particularly important. This research evaluates the energy consumption efficiency of 270 cities in China through an improved EBM model and finds a common phenomenon of low energy consumption efficiency in the cities, with the highest efficiency in northeast China and the lowest efficiency in eastern China. In addition, the efficiency of industrial exhaust emissions most significantly positively correlates with the efficiency of employed population and total energy consumption efficiency, while the efficiency of regional GDP does not significantly correlate with the efficiency of the two input variables. Using the LMDI method to decompose the driving factors of energy consumption efficiency in the cities, we find that the most important factor affecting energy consumption efficiency is their own energy endowment. Therefore, to improve the energy consumption efficiency of its cities, the China government should comprehensively consider factors such as regional economic development level, industrial structure, and technological level differences, formulate relevant energy-saving and emission-reduction policies, focus on optimizing the energy consumption structure, encourage technological progress and innovation, and help increase investment in science and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic interplay between agent-based modeling (ABM) and artificial intelligence (AI) through a meticulous bibliometric study. This study reveals a substantial increase in scholarly interest, particularly post-2006, peaking in 2021 and 2022, indicating a contemporary surge in research on the synergy between AI and ABM. Temporal trends and fluctuations prompt questions about influencing factors, potentially linked to technological advancements or shifts in research focus. The sustained increase in citations per document per year underscores the field's impact, with the 2021 peak suggesting cumulative influence. Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS) reveals historical patterns, and the recent decline prompts exploration into shifts in research focus. Lotka's law is reflected in the author's contributions, supported by Pareto analysis. Journal diversity signals extensive exploration of AI applications in ABM. Identifying impactful journals and clustering them per Bradford's Law provides insights for researchers. Global scientific production dominance and regional collaboration maps emphasize the worldwide landscape. Despite acknowledging limitations, such as citation lag and interdisciplinary challenges, our study offers a global perspective with implications for future research and as a resource in the evolving AI and ABM landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to elucidate the transformative integration of computational techniques within power systems, underscoring their critical role in enhancing system modeling, control, and the efficient integration of renewable energy. It breaks down the two-sided nature of technological progress, highlighting both gains in operational efficiency and new challenges such as real-time processing, data management, and cybersecurity. Through meticulous analysis of query-based research patterns and mathematical frameworks, this study delves into the balancing act between specificity and breadth in scholarly inquiries while evaluating the impact and evolution of research trends through citation analysis. The convergence of interests and transient research trends is evident, particularly in Artificial Intelligence and optimization. This comprehensive narrative anticipates a sophisticated trajectory for power systems, advocating for continuous innovation and strategic research to foster sustainable, resilient, and intelligent energy networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy security refers to a country's capacity to provide the energy resources essential to its wellbeing, including a reliable supply at an affordable costs. Economic growth and development cannot occur without access to reliable energy sources. Energy availability is a proxy for a country's standard of living and a key factor in its economic development and technical progress. Solar power is the most reliable and cost-effective option when it comes to meeting the world's energy needs. Solar-powered cooling systems are one example of how solar energy may be used in the real world. Solar-powered air conditioners have become more popular in recent years. The problems caused by our reliance on fossil fuels may be surmounted with the help of solar cooling systems that use solar collectors. Solar cooling systems may utilize low-grade solar energy, making them popular in the construction industry. Solar cooling systems powered by photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) collectors have been the subject of much research to improve the thermodynamic and economic performance of solar cooling systems. This research focuses on exploring the potential of solar-generated heat for use in cooling systems. This study will also examine the current challenges involved with using solar energy in cooling applications, as well as the possible benefits that may help pave the way for more research and greater employment of heat gain from the solar system in various cooling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Based on the current state of science, the use of animals remains essential in bringing safe and effective medicines to patients. To be on the forefront of science from an animal welfare and 3Rs (reduction, refinement, replacement) perspective, organizations benefit from an internal 3Rs advisory group. The goals of a 3Rs AG are to foster awareness and support the promotion of a culture of care (for humans and animals), drive innovation, accelerate technical development, and influence 3Rs best practices via a science-driven and collaborative approach. A 3Rs AG is a benefit to a company, enabling and supporting a pathway enriched with best practices, maintaining employee engagement and encouraging innovation. The thoughtful reduction in and replacement of animal studies and the refinement of animal study designs, enabled by a 3Rs AG, can enhance animal welfare and guide resources. This article provides guidance on how to establish a successful and impactful 3Rs AG. Based on the current state of science, the use of animals remains essential in bringing safe and effective medicines to patients. Respect for laboratory animal welfare and the application of 3Rs principles (the replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal use in research) are a priority throughout the pharmaceutical industry. Given the rapid pace of development, technological progress, and the emergence of new-approach methodologies (NAMs) in the field of biomedical research, maintaining a leading position in scientific advancements with a focus on the principles of replace, reduce, and refine (3Rs) can be quite challenging. To effectively address these challenges and sustain a prominent position in the scientific community, organizations can derive significant advantages from establishing an internal 3Rs advisory group (3Rs AG). The primary objective of a 3Rs AG is to stay at the forefront of the knowledge of best practices related to the 3Rs principles in the industry. This group plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and facilitating the seamless integration and implementation of 3Rs principles into a company's policies and procedures. The thoughtful reduction in and replacement of animal studies and the refinement of study designs and practices, enabled by a 3Rs AG, can minimize animal use as well as guide resources and positively impact study and data quality. This article provides guidance on how to establish a successful and impactful 3Rs AG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal-to-oil (CTL) combined with carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) can significantly reduce the CO2 emissions generated in the production process to achieve clean coal utilization. Taking CTL enterprises as sources and deep saline aquifers and oil fields as sinks, this paper establishes a source–sink matching model, which is combined with a trinomial tree real-option model of carbon price fluctuation, and evaluates the investment decisions of CTL. The results show that 36 pipelines with an average transportation distance of 319.13 km and predominantly small diameters must be constructed for CO2 capture and storage combined with enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Under the current carbon price, 83.33% of enterprises can invest immediately when adopting EOR; when utilizing storage in a deep saline aquifer (DSF), even with a 50% subsidy and a decrease in costs due to the learning rate, enterprises still need to execute the deferred option investment. Government subsidies and technological advances can greatly increase the value of investment. The critical carbon price of CTL-CCUS projects is sensitive to government subsidies, technological advances, and CO2 transportation distances. Therefore, China should reasonably guide the development of the carbon market and give play to the role of the carbon market in emission reduction incentives. In addition, the Chinese government can provide direct financial support for the CTL-CCUS project to increase the enthusiasm of CTL enterprises for CCUS transformation and promote technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various designs of furnaces for melting alloys are used in the foundry industry. Regardless of their design, they have one common detail, which is the lining of their interiors with refractory materials. This component in the design of a metal-melting furnace has a very important task—to protect the rest of the furnace assemblies from thermal and mechanical damage. Continuous technical progress and the quality requirements of casting production produce increasingly higher demands for refractory materials in connection with their development as well. The article presents the results of an innovative method of vibratory compaction of refractory material (high-alumina aluminosilicate) using reduced pressure. The analysis presents a comparative study of two methods used for forming refractory materials, i.e., the application of the mentioned innovative method and the classical (standard) method of compaction by vibration only. The effects of the introduced modification in the manufacture of ceramic shapes were evaluated by means of the material's resistance to thermal shock, linear expansion, and dimensional change due to firing, apparent density, open porosity, and apparent specific gravity, determination of total pore volume and pore size distribution by mercury porosimetry, and slag resistance. The tests performed indicate that the procedure of lowering the pressure during the vibratory compaction of the refractory material creates a more homogeneous structure with a smaller number and size of pores. This makes it possible to improve most of the parameters that determine the quality of the refractories used for the linings of the foundry furnace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a growing number of environmental issues, including global warming, water scarcity, and fossil fuel depletion, the topic of modern materials in energy is becoming crucial for our civilization. The technological advancements that have been observed bring many innovations that significantly impact how energy can be generated, stored, and distributed. Moreover, new opportunities have emerged in energy and materials engineering due to the increasing computational capability of current data processing systems. Methods that are highly demanding, time-consuming, and difficult to apply may now be considered when developing complete and sophisticated models in many areas of science and technology. Combining computational methods and AI algorithms allows for multi-threaded analyses solving advanced and interdisciplinary problems. Therefore, knowledge and experience in this subject, as well as the investigation of new, more efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions, currently represent one of the main directions of scientific research. The Special Issue "Advances in Materials: Modelling Challenges and Technological Progress for Green Engineering and Sustainable Development" aims to bring together research on material advances, focusing on modelling challenges and technological progress (mainly for green engineering and sustainable development). Original research studies, review articles, and short communications are welcome, especially those focusing on (but not limited to) artificial intelligence, other computational methods, and state-of-the-art technological concepts related to the listed keywords within energy and materials engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landscape of ophthalmology is undergoing significant transformations, driven by technological advancements and innovations in materials science. One of the advancements in this evolution is the application of nanoporous materials, endowed with unique physicochemical properties ideal for a variety of ophthalmological applications. Characterized by their high surface area, tunable porosity, and functional versatility, these materials have the potential to improve drug delivery systems and ocular devices. This review, anchored by a comprehensive literature focusing on studies published within the last five years, examines the applications of nanoporous materials in ocular drug delivery systems (DDS), contact lenses, and intraocular lenses. By consolidating the most current research, this review aims to serve as a resource for clinicians, researchers, and material scientists engaged in the rapidly evolving field of ophthalmology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term mechanical circulatory support by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), with or without an additional temporary or long-term right ventricular (RV) support, is a life-saving therapy for advanced heart failure (HF) refractory to pharmacological treatment, as well as for both device and surgical optimization therapies. In patients with chronic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), timely prediction of HF's transition into its end stage, necessitating life-saving heart transplantation or long-term VAD support (as a bridge-to-transplantation or destination therapy), remains particularly challenging, given the wide range of possible etiologies, pathophysiological features, and clinical presentations of NICM. Decision-making between the necessity of an LVAD or a biventricular assist device (BVAD) is crucial because both unnecessary use of a BVAD and irreversible right ventricular (RV) failure after LVAD implantation can seriously impair patient outcomes. The pre-operative or, at the latest, intraoperative prediction of RV function after LVAD implantation is reliably possible, but necessitates integrative evaluations of many different echocardiographic, hemodynamic, clinical, and laboratory parameters. VADs create favorable conditions for the reversal of structural and functional cardiac alterations not only in acute forms of HF, but also in chronic HF. Although full cardiac recovery is rather unusual in VAD recipients with pre-implant chronic HF, the search for myocardial reverse remodelling and functional improvement is worthwhile because, for sufficiently recovered patients, weaning from VADs has proved to be feasible and capable of providing survival benefits and better quality of life even if recovery remains incomplete. This review article aimed to provide an updated theoretical and practical background for those engaged in this highly demanding and still current topic due to the continuous technical progress in the optimization of long-term VADs, as well as due to the new challenges which have emerged in conjunction with the proof of a possible myocardial recovery during long-term ventricular support up to levels which allow successful device explantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I reflect on human imagination, the intention of technology, and the future of humanity in the era of the Anthropocene. I begin by presenting the environmental crisis and declare a need to protect and safeguard nature. In the first part, I offer an explanation of a dream of an airliner and link it to the Bachelardian theory of aerial imagination and oneiric flight. I show how, today, technology has entered our lives profoundly and how it has become closely intertwined with us human beings. Based on this, the second part is dedicated to Martin Heidegger and his question concerning technology. By analyzing Heidegger's seminal essay on technology, I argue for an alternative possibility of thinking about human artefacts (such as various tools or even an airliner) beyond them being merely a standing-reserve and thus rather as a mode of unconcealement. The third and last part of this essay is dedicated to Ilia Delio's Teilhardian cosmic vision of the future of technological progress. Technology, for Delio, is a part of this cosmic narrative and human beings represent the thinking portion of the universe. I conclude with a thought on a new elemental consciousness and imagination, in which nature, its life force, and the most advanced technology, including AI, would become a part of a new panentheistic whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New innovations within spine surgery continue to propel the field forward. These technologies improve surgeons' understanding of their patients and allow them to optimize treatment planning both in the operating room and clinic. Additionally, changes in the implants and surgeon practice habits continue to evolve secondary to emerging biomaterials and device design. With ongoing advancements, patients can expect enhanced preoperative decision-making, improved patient outcomes, and better intraoperative execution. Additionally, these changes may decrease many of the most common complications following spine surgery in order to reduce morbidity, mortality, and the need for reoperation. This article reviews some of these technological advancements and how they are projected to impact the field. As the field continues to advance, it is vital that practitioners remain knowledgeable of these changes in order to provide the most effective treatment possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersive technologies are revolutionary technological advancements that offer users unparalleled experiences of immersion in a virtual or mixed world of virtual and real elements. In such technology, user privacy, security, and anonymity are paramount, as users often share private and sensitive information. Therefore, user authentication is a critical requirement in these environments. This paper presents a systematic literature review of recently published research papers on immersive technology-based user authentication mechanisms. After conducting the literature search in September 2023 using Scopus, the selection process identified 36 research publications that were further analyzed. The analysis revealed three major types of authentications related to immersive technologies, consistent with previous works: knowledge-based, biometric, and multi-factor methods. The reviewed papers are categorized according to these groups, and the methods used are scrutinized. To the best of our knowledge, this systematic literature review is the first that provides a comprehensive consolidation of immersive technologies for user authentication in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topology optimization holds great potential to achieve the best performance for various fluid-related applications like aircraft components and microfluidic mixers. This paper reviews comprehensively the technical progress of this field over the last decade from the viewpoint of structural expression. The density-based approach has been widely adopted to design structures due to its simple concept, ease of implementation, and robustness. Different designs using such a pointwise method for systems under Stokes, laminar Navier–Stokes, turbulent, non-Newtonian, and steady-state/unsteady-state fluid flows are reviewed and discussed in depth. Both isogeometric analysis and the moving morphable components/voids methods will demonstrate their advantages regarding integration with computer-aided design. The moving morphable components/voids method also significantly reduces computing costs. From the viewpoint of boundary smoothness, we are most concerned about whether smoother boundaries can reduce objective functions such as energy dissipation even lower. Therefore, this work also concentrates on level set and spline expression methods. Furthermore, we identify isogeometric analysis and machine learning in shaping the field's future. In addition, the review highlights the following two challenges: achieving accurate fluid model construction and the relatively limited experimental validation of fluid topology optimization outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid economic growth of China has caused significant adverse effects on the environment. Meanwhile, technological innovation, a fundamental driver of economic development and social progress, plays a pivotal role in mitigating haze pollution. This study comprehensively examines the influence of technological innovation on haze pollution in the Yangtze River urban agglomeration, using the STIRPAT model and analyzing research data from 2004 to 2020. Additionally, the study investigates the specific moderating role of urban spatial structure in the relationship between technological innovation and haze pollution. The findings reveal that technological innovation in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration can effectively curtail haze pollution, and its impact extends to surrounding areas through spillover effect. The polycentric urban spatial structure significantly enhances the haze-reducing effect of technological innovation in the region. Notably, in cities with a strong level of environmental regulation, the urban spatial structure plays a substantial role in augmenting the haze-reducing impact of technological innovation. The policy implications of this research underscore the importance of continuous improvement in technological innovation within the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration. To address haze pollution in future development, the adoption of a polycentric development strategy and the establishment of sound environmental governance policies are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to present the role played by the Catholic Church in Western Europe against civilization's threats to the value of work in the context of Catholic social teaching. There are historical and contemporary changes and threats to the value of work. The importance of work was analyzed in terms of antiquity, the Middle Ages, during the nineteenth-century industrial revolution and in the era of contemporary IT changes. We present how the value of work was perceived, what role Christianity played and the position of the Catholic Church in relation to social changes and the progress of civilization. It was pointed out how socio-economic transformations and, above all, scientific and technical progress, influenced the threats regarding the personal dimension of work and the subjective role of a man. The evolution of the legal protection of the state against employees and employers, and the position taken by the Catholic Church in this matter were described. It has been shown that old and modern forms of work under the guise of facilities are a threat to the value of work and a human's subjectivity. The analysis of the positions and documents of Catholic social science allowed us to show a change in the role of the Church, which, from the attitude of real influence in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, became directed in the 21st century to strengthen active attitudes in the work environment among Catholics. It expects the sensitivity of conscience and open brotherhood, and adopts an attitude of charity and committed action for the benefit of the economically excluded and people deprived of decent work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing interest and rapid developments in precision medicine, which is a new medical concept and model based on individualized medicine with the joint application of genomics, bioinformatics engineering, and big data science. By applying numerous emerging medical frontier technologies, precision medicine could allow individualized and precise treatment for specific diseases and patients. This article reviews the application and progress of advanced technologies in the anesthesiology field, in which nanotechnology and genomics can provide more personalized anesthesia protocols, while 3D printing can yield more patient-friendly anesthesia supplies and technical training materials to improve the accuracy and efficiency of decision-making in anesthesiology. The objective of this manuscript is to analyze the recent scientific evidence on the application of nanotechnology in anesthesiology. It specifically focuses on nanomedicine, precision medicine, and clinical anesthesia. In addition, it also includes genomics and 3D printing. By studying the current research and advancements in these advanced technologies, this review aims to provide a deeper understanding of the potential impact of these advanced technologies on improving anesthesia techniques, personalized pain management, and advancing precision medicine in the field of anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material innovation plays a very important role in technological progress and industrial development. Traditional experimental exploration and numerical simulation often require considerable time and resources. A new approach is urgently needed to accelerate the discovery and exploration of new materials. Machine learning can greatly reduce computational costs, shorten the development cycle, and improve computational accuracy. It has become one of the most promising research approaches in the process of novel material screening and material property prediction. In recent years, machine learning has been widely used in many fields of research, such as superconductivity, thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, catalysis, and high-entropy alloys. In this review, the basic principles of machine learning are briefly outlined. Several commonly used algorithms in machine learning models and their primary applications are then introduced. The research progress of machine learning in predicting material properties and guiding material synthesis is discussed. Finally, a future outlook on machine learning in the materials science field is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2020, during the 80th cruise of the R/V "Akademik Mstislav Keldysh", the chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a) and spectral coefficients of light absorption by phytoplankton pigments, non-algal particles (NAP) and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were measured in the Norwegian Sea, the Barents Sea and the adjacent area of the Arctic Ocean. It was shown that the spatial distribution of the three light-absorbing components in the explored Arctic region was non-homogenous. It was revealed that CDOM contributed largely to the total non-water light absorption (atot(λ) = aph(λ) + aNAP(λ) + aCDOM(λ)) in the blue spectral range in the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea. The fraction of NAP in the total non-water absorption was low (less than 20%). The depth of the euphotic zone depended on atot(λ) in the surface water layer, which was described by a power equation. The Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea did not differ in the Chl-a-specific light absorption coefficients of phytoplankton. In the blue maximum of phytoplankton absorption spectra, Chl-a-specific light absorption coefficients of phytoplankton in the upper mixed layer (UML) were higher than those below the UML. Relationships between phytoplankton absorption coefficients and Chl-a were derived by least squares fitting to power functions for the whole visible domain with a 1 nm interval. The OCI, OC3 and GIOP algorithms were validated using a database of co-located results (day-to-day) of in situ measurements (n = 63) and the ocean color scanner data: the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra (EOS AM) and Aqua (EOS PM) satellites, the Visible and Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) and JPSS-1 satellites (also known as NOAA-20), and the Ocean and the Land Color Imager (OLCI) onboard the Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B satellites. The comparison showed that despite the technological progress in optical scanners and the algorithms refinement, the considered standard products (chlor_a, chl_ocx, aph_443, adg_443) carried little information about inherent optical properties in Arctic waters. Based on the statistic metrics (Bias, MdAD, MAE and RMSE), it was concluded that refinement of the algorithm for retrieval of water bio-optical properties based on remote sensing data was required for the Arctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Across the last decades, animal welfare science has established that regular access to sensory, motor, and cognitive stimulation significantly improves captive animal's well-being. In primates, in particular, cognitive enrichment protocols have been crucial to alleviate boredom and, more generally, several symptoms of compromised wellbeing. Despite this, cognitive enrichment practices have not received the same level of attention as structural and social enrichment. Consequently, captive animals are usually given ample climbing or grooming opportunities but are less frequently provided with intellectual challenges. This is especially problematic for primates and other species with high cognitive abilities and demands. Following and in order to expand upon recent scientific and technological progress, we developed a multiple-choice interface for touchscreen devices tailored to rhesus macaques housed at the facility of the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of the German Primate Center. The interface allows the animals to flexibly choose between three tasks on a trial-by-trial basis, allowing them to switch activities as desired. Generally, our animals showed consistent task preferences, across time of day and weekly sessions, while also displaying proficiency in doing so. We believe that with a multiple-choice approach, it is possible to increase animal wellbeing by providing captive animals more opportunities to control their own environment, simultaneously providing researchers with a reliable and scalable method for cognitive assessment and animal training. Research on the psychological and physiological well-being of captive animals has focused on investigating different types of social and structural enrichment. Consequently, cognitive enrichment has been understudied, despite the promising external validity, comparability, and applicability. As we aim to fill this gap, we developed an interactive, multiple-choice interface for cage-mounted touchscreen devices that rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) can freely interact with, from within their home enclosure at the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of the German Primate Center. The multiple-choice interface offers interchangeable activities that animals can choose and switch between. We found that all 16 captive rhesus macaques tested consistently engaged with the multiple-choice interface across 6 weekly sessions, with 11 of them exhibiting clear task preferences, and displaying proficiency in performing the selected tasks. Our approach does not require social separation or dietary restriction and is intended to increase animals' sense of competence and agency by providing them with more control over their environment. Thanks to the high level of automation, our multiple-choice interface can be easily incorporated as a standard cognitive enrichment practice across different facilities and institutes working with captive animals, particularly non-human primates. We believe that the multiple-choice interface is a sustainable, scalable, and pragmatic protocol for enhancing cognitive well-being and animal welfare in captivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) technology and devices represent an exciting field in computer science that is rapidly emerging worldwide. The demand for automation and efficiency has also been a contributing factor to the advancements in this technology. The proliferation of IoT devices coincides with advancements in wireless networking technologies, driven by the enhanced connectivity of the internet. Today, nearly any everyday object can be connected to the network, reflecting the growing demand for automation and efficiency. This paper reviews the emergence of IoT devices, analyzed their common applications, and explored the future prospects in this promising field of computer science. The examined applications encompass healthcare, agriculture, and smart cities. Although IoT technology exhibits similar deployment trends, this paper will explore different fields to discern the subtle nuances that exist among them. To comprehend the future of IoT, it is essential to comprehend the driving forces behind its advancements in various industries. By gaining a better understanding of the emergence of IoT devices, readers will develop insights into the factors that have propelled their growth and the conditions that led to technological advancements. Given the rapid pace at which IoT technology is advancing, this paper provides researchers with a deeper understanding of the factors that have brought us to this point and the ongoing efforts that are actively shaping the future of IoT. By offering a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape and potential future developments, this paper serves as a valuable resource to researchers seeking to contribute to and navigate the ever-evolving IoT ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological progress is opening up practical applications for quadruped robots. In this context, comprehensive performance demands, including speed, payload, robustness, terrain adaptability, endurance, and techno-economics, are increasing. However, design conflicts inevitably exist among these performance indicators, highlighting design challenges, especially for a heavy-duty, electrically actuated quadruped robots, which are strongly constrained by motor torque density and battery energy density. Starting from task-specific holistic system thinking, in this paper, we present a novel task-oriented approach to the design of such kind of robots, incorporating hierarchical optimization and a control-in-the-loop design, while following a structured design path that effectively exploits the strengths of both heuristic and computational designs. Guided by these philosophies, we utilize heuristic design to obtain the approximate initial form of the prototype and propose a key task-oriented actuator joint configuration, utilizing commercially available components. Subsequently, we build a step-wise analytical models considering trajectory optimization and motor heat constraints for optimization of leg length and joint match parameters to achieve a compact performance requirement envelope and minimize redundancy in the construction of task-specific components. Furthermore, we construct a holistic simulation platform with a module control algorithm for typical scenarios to evaluate subsystem results and adjust design parameters iteratively, balancing conflicts and eventually achieving a reliable design specification for detailed subsystem design. Based on these strategies, we develop a heavy-duty electric prototype achieving a maximum speed of 2 m/s in trotting gait with a load weighting over 160 kg and enduring a period of 2 h. The experiment upon the prototype verifies the efficiency of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4 (I4) was a revolutionary new stage for technological progress in manufacturing which promised a new level of interconnectedness between a diverse range of technologies. Sensors, as a point technology, play an important role in these developments, facilitating human–machine interaction and enabling data collection for system-level technologies. Concerns for human labour working in I4 environments (e.g., health and safety, data generation and extraction) are acknowledged by Industry 5 (I5), an update of I4 which promises greater attention to human–machine relations through a values-driven approach to collaboration and co-design. This article explores how engineering experts integrate values promoted by policy-makers into both their thinking about the human in their work and in their writing. This paper demonstrates a novel interdisciplinary approach in which an awareness of different disciplinary epistemic values associated with humans and work guides a systematic literature review and interpretive coding of practice-focussed engineering papers. Findings demonstrate evidence of an I5 human-centric approach: a high value for employees as "end-users" of innovative systems in manufacturing; and an increase in output addressing human activity in modelling and the technologies available to address this concern. However, epistemic publishing practices show that efforts to increase the effectiveness of manufacturing systems often neglect worker voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a novel approach to designing and validating a fully electronic braking pedal, addressing the growing integration of electronics in vehicles. With the imminent rise of brake-by-wire (BBW) technology, the brake pedal requires electronification to keep pace with industry advancements. This research explores technologies and features for the next-generation pedal, including low-power consumption electronics, cost-effective sensors, active adjustable pedals, and a retractable pedal for autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, this research brings the benefits of the water injection technique (WIT) as the base for manufacturing plastic pedal brakes towards reducing cost and weight while enhancing torsional stiffness. Communication with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has provided valuable insights and feedback, facilitating a productive exchange of ideas. The findings include two sensor prototypes utilizing inductive technology and printed-ink gauges. Significantly, reduced power consumption was achieved in a Hall-effect sensor already in production. Additionally, a functional BBW prototype was developed and validated. This research presents an innovative approach to pedal design that aligns with current electrification trends and autonomous vehicles. It positions the braking pedal as an advanced component that has the potential to redefine industry standards. In summary, this research significantly contributes to the electronic braking pedal technology presenting the critical industry needs that have driven technical studies and progress in the field of sensors, electronics, and materials, highlighting the challenges that component manufacturers will inevitably face in the forthcoming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) is an important indicator to reflect the sustainability level of agriculture. The AGTFP network reflects the spatial correlations of the AGTFP among regions; thus, exploring its network structure and influencing factors can provide targeted policy guidance to the coordinated development of the agriculture sector. This study builds an epsilon-based measurement data envelopment analysis (EBM-DEA) model to calculate 31 provincial AGTFPs in China from 2002 to 2020. Then, social network analysis (SNA) was utilized to explore the characteristics of the AGTFP network, and the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) was applied to find its external influencing factors. We reached four central conclusions: (1) Overall, there was a gradual upward trend of AGTFP in China during 2002~2020, and the average value rose from 0.75 in 2002 to 0.90 in 2020, but there were some differences among regions. (2) There is a complex and stable network characteristic of AGTFP; the average network density is 0.3753, and the average network efficiency is 0.4714. Meanwhile, some eastern and central areas, such as Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Hebei, Jiangsu, etc., have relatively high centrality and are a bridge in the entire network. (3) The AGTFP network can be divided into eight blocks, including two net beneficial blocks (the central-eastern provinces with high centrality); two net spillover blocks, including the provinces located in the developed urban areas (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Jilin), the underdeveloped northwest regions (Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Tibet). The other areas are two-way spillover blocks. (4) Transportation development gap, technological progress gap, and the similarities of the agricultural industry structure are critical factors influencing the AGTFP network. Hence, improving the efficiency of the logistics and transportation industry, promoting technology transfer from developed areas to underdeveloped areas, and developing characteristic agriculture are all conducive to promoting the whole region's AGTFP. Our research provides policy implications for sustainable agricultural development in China and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of carbon neutralization and carbon peak, carbon reduction in key industries has become a central topic in our country. As an important part of technological progress, it is necessary to study the effect of technology import on carbon emission reduction in key industries. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces. from 2011 to 2020, this paper used the fixed-effect model to analyze the emission reduction effect in key industries on the development status of technology import. The spatial econometric model was used to analyze the spatial characteristics of carbon emissions of technology import and key industries. Then, the mediating effect model was used to bring industrial technological innovations into the research category to analyze the mediating role of technology imports on the carbon emissions of key industries. Finally, a robustness test proved the reliability of the model. The findings were as follows: (1) Technology import significantly promoted carbon emission reduction in key industries; (2) In terms of the spatial relationship, technology import and carbon dioxide emissions had significant spillover effects, and there were trends of high and high aggregation and low and low aggregation, with the impact of technology import on carbon dioxide emissions having a siphon effect; (3) Industrial technological innovation played an intermediary role in this path, but it was a negative role, which was not, in general, conducive to the reduction of carbon emissions of key industries. On this basis, the paper puts forward several policy suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a dynamically changing socio-economic environment with significant technical and technological progress, the notion of energy security takes on a new, broader meaning. Modern literature presents a variety of operational definitions of energy security. Most authors dealing with the issue of energy security expose its different aspects while standing in opposition to competing concepts. As a result, literature that addresses the problems of energy policy is becoming a platform for debates on the essence of energy security and the applicability of its various approaches to individual situations. There is no unanimity among authors with regard to the theoretical framework or the components of this notion. However, the issue of diversity of views is quite typical in social sciences and should not be taken negatively. Despite this, and perhaps contrary to the definitional wealth, experts in the field of energy policy constantly stress the necessity and urgency of undertaking work on the conceptualization of energy security. The aim of the article is a comprehensive review of the concept of energy security in the context of new trends in the development of the energy sector based on a narrative review of scientific literature. The main differences in the perception of energy security have been identified, and it has been pointed out that the "supply concept" of energy security is giving way to an approach in which energy is a factor initiating deep transformations of social systems by changing consumption patterns, reducing energy consumption, and forcing changes in economic systems by imposing energy efficiency standards and environmental standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological progress in recent decades has made it possible to develop the process of documentation and visualization of cultural heritage objects. Despite numerous studies dealing with the documentation of cultural heritage objects, no standardized research methodology has yet been developed in this field. The interest of many specialists from different fields carrying out different work related to the documentation of cultural heritage objects has resulted in a large amount of data, which causes problems in its processing and visualization. As a rule, researchers focus on one method of data collection and, consequently, on one type of data visualization. The documentation of cultural heritage is very important. Therefore, the authors of this article have aimed to develop a methodological data collection process for the documentation and visualization of information about cultural heritage objects. This is particularly important in light of the development of new methods of measuring and inventorying cultural heritage objects, such as laser scanning or low-level aerial photogrammetry. The authors recognize the need to systematize the methodology of collecting and processing data on cultural heritage objects. In addition, it is critical to develop a methodology for visualizing the acquired data using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. One of the most important assumptions of the article is to have universally understandable information about the object. The type of documentation and visualization of information developed in the article will be an interactive thematic map (using Leaflet.js and Three.js). Such a map will allow to collect and visualize all kinds of data, from attribute data to 3D models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of mariculture depends on adopting green technologies, which can mitigate the negative impacts on the environment and ensure long-term viability. However, existing studies do not comprehensively understand the characteristics and regional differences of green technology progress (GTP) in mariculture. According to data from ten coastal regions from 2008 to 2020, this study adopts the Epsilon-Based Measure (EBM)-Malmquist model to measure the GTP of mariculture, uses the Dagum Gini coefficient to analyze the spatial differences of GTP, and uses convergence models to explore the convergence of GTP. The results showed that: (1) the GTP of China's mariculture showed a fluctuating upward trend temporally and significant spatial differences. The overall differences showed a dispersion trend over time. The contributions of inter-regional super variable net value difference (Gnb), inter-regional transvariation intensity (Gt), and intra-regional difference (Gw) were 38.813%, 31.256%, and 29.931%, respectively. (2) The degree of dispersion of GTP among different regions has not decreased with time, which means there is no apparent σ convergence. Absolute β convergence and conditional β convergence existed in GTP, and the absolute value of the latter was greater than that of the former. That is, the growth rate of GTP will first reach their respective steady-state levels and then approach a unified steady-state equilibrium level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of green and low-carbon era, efficiently utilization of renewable biomass materials is one of the important choices to promote ecologically sustainable development. Accordingly, 3D printing is an advanced manufacturing technology with low energy consumption, high efficiency, and easy customization. Biomass 3D printing technology has attracted more and more attentions recently in materials area. This paper mainly reviewed six common 3D printing technologies for biomass additive manufacturing, including Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Direct Ink Writing (DIW), Stereo Lithography Appearance (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) and Liquid Deposition Molding (LDM). A systematic summary and detailed discussion were conducted on the printing principles, common materials, technical progress, post-processing and related applications of typical biomass 3D printing technologies. Expanding the availability of biomass resources, enriching the printing technology and promoting its application was proposed to be the main developing directions of biomass 3D printing in the future. It is believed that the combination of abundant biomass feedstocks and advanced 3D printing technology will provide a green, low-carbon and efficient way for the sustainable development of materials manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anticipated challenge for the offshore wind industry is the legally standardized decommissioning of offshore wind infrastructure after the expiration of the respective approval period. To meet the energy and climate targets set by, e.g., the German Federal Government, this challenge must be mastered in the context of sustainability. Potential concepts are (i) the deconstruction of offshore infrastructure without replacement, (ii) the continued operation of the plants, (iii) partially or even completely replacing them with newer, modernized plants (re-powering). Re-powering could also be a combination of existing infrastructures with other innovative technologies, such as hydrogen. In this work, the three concepts are analyzed along with their risks and additional factors, such as feasibility, cost-effectiveness, predictability of technological progress, and, planning security, are discussed. A quantitative risk and resilience analysis is conceptually demonstrated for the specific risk of extreme weather and wave conditions caused by climate change. Synthetic wave height data are generated and the corresponding load changes are applied to example offshore wind farms. The three end-of-life options are compared using resilience indicators that serve as exemplary measures for the energy output, which serves as the key performance indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Introduction: Wilson's disease (WND) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper (Cu) metabolism. Many tools are available to diagnose and monitor the clinical course of WND. Laboratory tests to determine disorders of Cu metabolism are of significant diagnostic importance. (2) Methods: A systematic review of the literature in the PubMed, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library databases was conducted. (Results): For many years, Cu metabolism in WND was assessed with serum ceruloplasmin (CP) concentration, radioactive Cu test, total serum Cu concentration, urinary copper excretion, and Cu content in the liver. The results of these studies are not always unambiguous and easy to interpret. New methods have been developed to calculate non-CP Cu (NCC) directly. New parameters, such as relative Cu exchange (REC), reflecting the ratio of CuEXC to total serum Cu, as well as relative Cu exchange (REC), reflecting the ratio of CuEXC to total serum Cu, have been shown to be an accurate tool for the diagnosis of WND. Recently, a direct and fast LC-ICP-MS method for the study of CuEXC was presented. A new method to assess Cu metabolism during treatment with ALXN1840 (bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate [TTM]) has been developed. The assay enables the bioanalysis of CP and different types of Cu, including CP-Cu, direct NCC (dNCC), and labile bound copper (LBC) in human plasma. Conclusions: A few diagnostic and monitoring tools are available for patients with WND. While many patients are diagnosed and adequately assessed with currently available methods, diagnosis and monitoring is a real challenge in a group of patients who are stuck with borderline results, ambiguous genetic findings, and unclear clinical phenotypes. Technological progress and the characterization of new diagnostic parameters, including those related to Cu metabolism, may provide confidence in the more accurate diagnosis of WND in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy communities (ECs) can become a potential alternative to promote the fight against climate change. Technological progress and price reductions in recent years have made renewable energy-generation systems increasingly affordable and have generated economic benefits by reducing the value of electricity bills for community members, as well as reducing the growing environmental impact. In this context, the authors have taken Tolosa as a case study and conducted a technical and economic analysis of different possible structures of ECs (physical, virtual, with or without storage, participants with different types of consumption, etc.) by comparing them with each other. The generation capacity of the community and the optimal energy-management algorithms have been illustrated, from which the economic benefits for each member are extracted. A dynamic distribution factor is established as the basis of the algorithms, making the benefits fairer. The results obtained from this work, in addition to illustrating the economic benefits that each type of participant can receive, help to define the most appropriate community structure for each participant while highlighting the social and climate benefits that ECs can provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Coronary artery disease is one of the major cardiovascular diseases associated with multiple inherited and environmental risk factors, and constitutes one of the leading causes of mortality globally. Due to the exceptionally high mortality rates and incidence of coronary artery disease, there exists a pivotal need for the development of methodological algorithms for the prediction of its complexity and severity. This work aimed to assess the robustness of the relationships of previously identified, important genetic risk factors affecting the Syntax Score, an index that evaluates the complexity of the disease. The analysis shows that these relationships were quite robust under mild interventions, whereas in the case of stronger interventions, they were more sensitive. In addition, it validated a set of risk factors capable to predict future cardiovascular events in individuals and specific populations. Thus, this work may contribute to the advancement of the data analytics and algorithm development relevant to coronary artery disease patient handling, therapeutic decisions, and predictions of severity and complexity of the disease. An ever-growing amount of accumulated data has materialized in several scientific fields, due to recent technological progress. New challenges emerge in exploiting these data and utilizing the valuable available information. Causal models are a powerful tool that can be employed towards this aim, by unveiling the structure of causal relationships between different variables. The causal structure may avail experts to better understand relationships, or even uncover new knowledge. Based on 963 patients with coronary artery disease, the robustness of the causal structure of single nucleotide polymorphisms was assessed, taking into account the value of the Syntax Score, an index that evaluates the complexity of the disease. The causal structure was investigated, both locally and globally, under different levels of intervention, reflected in the number of patients that were randomly excluded from the original datasets corresponding to two categories of the Syntax Score, zero and positive. It is shown that the causal structure of single nucleotide polymorphisms was more robust under milder interventions, whereas in the case of stronger interventions, the impact increased. The local causal structure around the Syntax Score was studied in the case of a positive Syntax Score, and it was found to be resilient, even when the intervention was strong. Consequently, employing causal models in this context may increase the understanding of the biological aspects of coronary artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is an effective technology to harness low-grade energy. Turbine, as a key component of ORC, takes advantages of its high efficiency and compact size compared with other expanders. Currently, developing suitable turbines with a high performance and a low cost is one of the bottlenecks for wide applications of various ORCs. In this context, technical progress on radial inflow turbines (RITs), axial turbines (ATs), and radial outflow turbines (ROTs) is introduced, and loss models used in the preliminary design are compared, especially for small-scale ORCs. RIT is recommended for medium and small ORCs with an expansion pressure ratio of <10. The power outs and rotational speeds of the designed RITs spanned the ranges of 9.3–684 kW and 3000–114,000 r/min with an efficiency of 56.1–91.75%. In comparison, the power outputs and speeds of ATs were 3–2446 kW and 3000–91,800 r/min with an efficiency of 63–89.1%. AT is suitable for large-scale ORCs with a power output of greater than hundreds of kW. However, AT with impulse stages is feasible for small-scale ORCs when the pressure ratio is high, and the mass flow rate is small. The power outputs of the designed ROTs were relatively small, at 10–400 kW with a speed of 7200–42,700 r/min and an efficiency of 68.7–85%. For organic working fluids with a large expansion pressure ratio, ROT might be employed. Conventional mean-line models may neglect the effects of supersonic flow, which will be encountered in many ORC turbines. Therefore, adequate models for supersonic expansion loss and shock loss need to be added. Meanwhile, a proper multivariable optimization algorithm such as a gradient-based or stochastic search method should be selected. Finally, the challenges and potential research directions are discussed. The outcomes can provide some insights for the development of ORC turbines and the optimization of ORC systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the digital economy and environmental governance efficiency are important methods for current high-quality economic development. Based on the panel data of 11 cities in Zhejiang, on the eastern coast of China, fine particulate matter smaller than a 2.5 μm (PM2.5) environmental efficiency (PMEE) was measured by the undesirable output Slack-Based Measure-Data Envelopment Analysis (SBM-DEA) model. The fixed effect regression model, the divergences in the difference model and other empirical methods were obtained to test the driving mechanism of social-economic factors on the PMEE. The results showed that: (1) the concentration of PM2.5 was continually decreasing, and environmental quality experienced a continuous improvement in Zhejiang province in the observation period, although cities such as Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Shaoxing have relatively severe PM2.5 pollution. (2) The total average value of PMEE in Zhejiang was 0.6430 over the observation period, while there was still a lot of room for improvement when compared to the production frontier. Additionally, PMEE in each city showed a fluctuating growth trend. Cities with a higher PMEE were mainly Zhoushan, Hangzhou and Ningbo. (3) The level of the digital economy had a positive role in promoting the PMEE, which was statistically significant. The level of pollution control and technological innovation also had a significantly positive effect. However, the ratio of the industrial output value to the gross domestic product (GDP) presented a negative effect on the PMEE. In the future, it is suggested that the development of the urban digital economy should be accelerated in an all-around way to improve the efficiency of government pollution control and to improve the technical efficiency of PM2.5 via innovative technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring sustainable levels of rice yield has become a significant concern in recent years. To improve yields in rice production, it is essential to increase factor inputs and productivity. However, current research primarily focuses on general grain productivity, rather than rice. In this study, utilize the DEA-Malmquist index to present a comprehensive temporal and spatial analysis of rice productivity and its determinants in China. Our findings reveal that the overall efficiency of rice production in China exhibits a fluctuating upward trend, with technological progress being the primary driver of improvement in production efficiency. Moreover, rice production efficiency demonstrates a distribution pattern that decreases from east to west, with resource endowment, production conditions, socioeconomic development levels, and the political system being crucial factors influencing efficiency. This study proposes novel ideas for structural adjustments and regional divisions within China's rice industry and provides a theoretical foundation for governments to develop evidence-based policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia-based materials are widely used in dentistry due to their biocompatibility and suitable mechanical and tribological behavior. Although commonly processed by subtractive manufacturing (SM), alternative techniques are being explored to reduce material waste, energy consumption and production time. 3D printing has received increasing interest for this purpose. This systematic review intends to gather information on the state of the art of additive manufacturing (AM) of zirconia-based materials for dental applications. As far as the authors know, this is the first time that a comparative analysis of these materials' properties has been performed. It was performed following the PRISMA guidelines and using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases to select studies that met the defined criteria without restrictions on publication year. Stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP) were the techniques most focused on in the literature and the ones that led to most promising outcomes. However, other techniques, such as robocasting (RC) and material jetting (MJ), have also led to good results. In all cases, the main concerns are centered on dimensional accuracy, resolution, and insufficient mechanical strength of the pieces. Despite the struggles inherent to the different 3D printing techniques, the commitment to adapt materials, procedures and workflows to these digital technologies is remarkable. Overall, the research on this topic can be seen as a disruptive technological progress with a wide range of application possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era also known as digital age is central to the advancement of the construction industry as the industry is currently facing a myriad of challenges, including poor productivity and project failure. Therefore, there is an urgent need for industry to adopt 4IR innovations to increase the building business's performance. The study explored the relationship between the critical barriers to 4IR innovations to foster sustainable development. The study embraced a numerical exploration approach which employed a questionnaire to obtain information from building industry experts. The questionnaire data were used to classify the 4IR barriers into policy and structure, readiness, and acquisition, using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Likewise, a predictive model was developed using Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). It explained the relationship between the barrier categories and the barriers to 4IR innovation adoption for sustainable development. The results showed that policy and structure were critical components of 4IR adoption that the stakeholders of the construction industry must pay close attention to. The study also provided valuable areas for future research to enhance 4IR innovation adoption for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]