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In this paper we would like to highlight the problems of conceiving the "Hydrogen Bond" (HB) as a real short-range, directional, electrostatic, attractive interaction and to reframe its nature through the non-approximated view of condensed matter offered by a Quantum Electro-Dynamic (QED) perspective. We focus our attention on water, as the paramount case to show the effectiveness of this 40-year-old theoretical background, which represents water as a two-fluid system (where one of the two phases is coherent). The HB turns out to be the result of the electromagnetic field gradient in the coherent phase of water, whose vacuum level is lower than in the non-coherent (gas-like) fraction. In this way, the HB can be properly considered, i.e., no longer as a "dipolar force" between molecules, but as the phenomenological effect of their collective thermodynamic tendency to occupy a lower ground state, compatible with temperature and pressure. This perspective allows to explain many "anomalous" behaviours of water and to understand why the calculated energy associated with the HB should change when considering two molecules (water-dimer), or the liquid state, or the different types of ice. The appearance of a condensed, liquid, phase at room temperature is indeed the consequence of the boson condensation as described in the context of spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB). For a more realistic and authentic description of water, condensed matter and living systems, the transition from a still semi-classical Quantum Mechanical (QM) view in the first quantization to a Quantum Field Theory (QFT) view embedded in the second quantization is advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on perception and cognition require sound methods allowing us to disentangle the basic sensory processing of physical stimulus properties from the cognitive processing of stimulus meaning. Similar to the scrambling of images, the scrambling of auditory signals is aimed at creating stimulus instances that are unrecognizable but have comparable low-level features. In the present study, we generated scrambled stimuli of short vocalizations taken from the Montreal Affective Voices database (Belin et al., Behav Res Methods, 40(2):531–539, 2008) by applying four different scrambling methods (frequency-, phase-, and two time-scrambling transformations). The original stimuli and their scrambled versions were judged by 60 participants for the apparency of a human voice, gender, and valence of the expressions, or, if no human voice was detected, for the valence of the subjective response to the stimulus. The human-likeness ratings were reduced for all scrambled versions relative to the original stimuli, albeit to a lesser extent for phase-scrambled versions of neutral bursts. For phase-scrambled neutral bursts, valence ratings were equivalent to those of the original neutral burst. All other scrambled versions were rated as slightly unpleasant, indicating that they should be used with caution due to their potential aversiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Minerals & Processing / Huagong Kuangwu yu Jiagong is the property of Industrial Minerals & Processing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

New data on the effect of a ZrO2 nanopowder additive (from 0 to 10 wt %) on phase formation and structural transformations in the hard-alloy matrix in the region of destruction under impact loading and on diamond retention in composite diamond-containing 25Сdiamond–70.5WC–4.5Co materials formed by spark plasma sintering are presented. The sintered initial 94WC–6Co composite consists of the hexagonal WC phase with unit cell parameters a = 0.2906 nm and с = 0.2837 nm, the cubic Co3W3C phase (а = 1.1112 nm), and the hexagonal graphite phase. The sintered composites with ZrO2 content from 0.5 to 10% is composed by the WC and Co3W3C structural phases, amorphous carbon, and the tetragonal ZrO2 phase (а = 0.36019 nm, с = 0.5174 nm). It has been shown that, when the ZrO2 content is increased, the sizes of phase components and average microstrains are more rapidly decreased in directions с and а of the 94WC–6Co composite. The addition of ZrO2 to the 25Сdiamond–70.5WC–4.5Co composite improves diamond retention. In the sintered composites, diamond retention is improved due to that they have a higher content of the tetragonal ZrO2 phase, which provides the transformational mechanism of strengthening in the hard-alloy matrix material via its structural transformations into a denser one and the formation of a more fine-grained matrix structure with thin interlayers of cobalt bonds between WC grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change-induced prolonged water stress (WS) affects crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis in pitaya (Hylocereus), limiting crop productivity through insufficient photosynthate. To document how WS/rehydration affects diel photosynthesis, red-fleshed pitaya (H. polyrhizus) micropropagules were studied for 5 weeks in a mannitol-induced water potential gradient replaced with moderate (MWS; −1.0 MPa in week 2; −0.5 MPa for the rest) or intensified (IWS; −1.0 and −1.5 MPa in weeks 2 and 3; −0.5 MPa for the rest) WS in vitro. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and integrated net CO2 uptake (INCU) were measured using an Arduino-based photosynthesis system. Micropropagules under MWS had similar Pn in weeks 5 and 1, whereas the control (−0.5 MPa) increased. Pn recovery did not occur after IWS. The average relative INCU was similar in the control and MWS, but lower in IWS. The Pn difference increased with WS, becoming more evident at dawn (Phase II), evening (Phase IV), and predawn the next day (Phase I), and occurred earlier in Phases IV and I under IWS. MWS did not reduce photosynthesis, demonstrating that the photosynthetic regulation could respond to short-term WS in pitaya and indicating the potential of watering for Pn recovery at evening and predawn under IWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iron Steel Vanadium Titanium is the property of Iron Steel Vanadium Titanium Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents an innovative algorithm for unwrapping 2D phase maps with discontinuities. The method employs residue detection for identifying affected areas at a coarse scale. Unlike traditional techniques relying on subjective assessment, this algorithm automates threshold determination, ensuring precision without manual intervention. At the pixel level, it utilizes a bitmap mask based on second differences and the geometric mean formula to locate inconsistencies within the wrapped map precisely. This coarse-to-fine process establishes an optimal threshold for the second difference mask, resulting in highly accurate unwrapped outcomes while maintaining computational efficiency. Compared to conventional methods, this approach delivers superior unwrapped results, making it suitable for diverse applications. Experimental validation includes computer-simulated surfaces and practical fringe projection systems, accompanied by a thorough error analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A class of small systems is considered that includes spatial regions occupied by atoms and molecules in three-aggregate states, with a total volume that is not macroscopic. This does not allow use of the concept of phase for each region with a different aggregate states, as is done in Gibbs thermodynamics. They occur in a large number of systems, starting from well-known porous materials with different specific surface areas (including adsorbents, catalysts, and membranes) to ensembles of colloidal particles with diverse structures and nature, which are in non- or quasi-equilibrium states of the entire system. Specific thermodynamics of three-aggregate volume-limited systems formed by solid surfaces that contain a mobile layering fluid is discussed: the limited system volume V(H) is interpreted as quasi-homogeneous in analogy with the minimum unit volume dVmacro of a macrosystem (where H is the characteristic size of a small system, and V(H) < dVmacro). Thermodynamics of the full system is analyzed by means of statistical thermodynamics based on the so-called lattice gas model. Two-level models reflecting their local heterogeneities at molecular and supramolecular levels are introduced to describe the structures of real materials and systems. Two levels of describing the energy of interaction between components of the system are also introduced: the short-range interaction potential at the molecular level between the fluid components and between solid atoms and components of the molecular mixture and the long-range potential between solid particles. It is shown that the size dependences of thermodynamic properties of confined systems have an effective character reflecting the weighted average effect of contributions from heterogeneous regions near confining surfaces of solids. It is found that apart from the traditional consideration of overlapping of potential fields from opposite solid surfaces, the limitation of the system requires allowance for the implicit interaction between confining walls through fluid molecules. Possible definitions of the concept of phase are considered for small three-aggregate systems. These definitions are consistent with the Gibbs concept of phase equilibrium, along with ways of calculating three types of surface tension in these systems. A thermodynamic analysis is performed of the concept of disjoining pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Accurately representing the precipitation diurnal cycle has long been a challenge for global climate models (GCMs). Here we evaluate the precipitation diurnal cycle in the DYAMOND global convection‐permitting models (CPMs) and CMIP6 HighResMIP models. Comparison of the high‐ (25–50 km) and low‐resolution (100–250 km) models with parameterized convection in HighResMIP shows that simply increasing model resolution does not noticeably improve the precipitation diurnal cycle. In contrast, CPMs can better capture the observed amplitude and timing of precipitation diurnal cycle. However, the simulated spatial variation of timing in CPMs is smaller than observed, leading to an exaggeration of the spatially averaged diurnal amplitude. The better‐simulated precipitation diurnal cycle in the CPMs is tied to mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), which contribute about half of the total precipitation. The observed life cycle of MCSs, including initiation and mature stages, is well captured in the CPMs, leading to a more realistic precipitation diurnal cycle.

Abstract Lead based bulk piezoelectric materials, e.g., PbZrxTi1‐xO3 (PZT), are widely used in electromechanical applications, sensors, and transducers, for which optimally performing thin films are needed. The results of a multi‐domain Landau–Ginzberg‐Devonshire model applicable to clamped ferroelectric thin films are used to predict the lattice symmetry and properties of clamped PZT thin films on different substrates. Guided by the thermal strain phase diagrams that are produced by this model, experimentally structural transitions are observed. These can be related to changes of the piezoelectric properties in PZT(x = 0.6) thin films that are grown on CaF2, SrTiO3 (STO) and 70% PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3‐30% PbTiO3 (PMN‐PT) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Through temperature en field dependent in situ X‐ray reciprocal space mapping (RSMs) and piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM), the low symmetry monoclinic phase and polarization rotation are observed in the film on STO and can be linked to the measured enhanced properties. The study identifies a monoclinic ‐rhombohedral MC‐MA‐R crystal symmetry path as the polarization rotation mechanism. The films on CaF2 and PMN‐PT remain in the same symmetry phase up to the ferroelectric‐paraelectric phase transition, as predicted. These results support the validity of the multi‐domain model which provides the possibility to predict the behavior of clamped, piezoelectric PZT thin films, and design films with enhanced properties.

Abstract Land monsoon rainfall has a distinct annual cycle. Under global warming, whether the phase and amplitude of this annual cycle would be changed is still unclear. Here, a global investigation is conducted using 34 CMIP6 and 34 CMIP5 models under a high emission scenario. Seasonal delays would occur in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) American (3.43 days), Northern Hemisphere (NH) African (5.98 days) and SH African (3.76 days) monsoon regions, while no robust signal is found in other monsoon regions. Except NH American monsoon, amplitude is enhanced in all the monsoon regions. Compared to amplitude, the phase changes dominate the future changes of precipitation in the SH American, NH African and SH African monsoon regions. In these phase‐dominated regions, atmospheric energetic framework is proved to be reliable at regional scale and the enhanced effective atmospheric heat capacity is found to be the dominant factor.

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is hydrophobic, piezoelectric, and has good chemical stability and high mechanical properties; therefore, it is often used to reinforce other composite materials for various applications. However, the characteristics of pure PVDF nanofibers have rarely been comprehensively explored. This study prepared pure PVDF nanofiber membranes using electrospinning and investigated their physicochemical and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the PVDF nanofiber surfaces were white, homogeneous, flat, bead-free, and smooth, and that the nanofiber diameters were 230–855 nm. Fourier-transform infrared analyses showed that the β phase was dominant in all the nanofibers. The spectra showed that the α, β, and γ phases were present in PVDF1 and PVDF2, whereas PVDF3 and PVDF4 were dominated by the β and γ phases. The PVDF nanofiber samples had a semi-crystalline structure with crystallinity values of 58.45–52.67%. The tensile strength of the PVDF nanofibers increased from 3.61 to 6.00 MPa with an increasing PVDF concentration. The application of a high voltage during the electrospinning process did not damage the chemical structure of the PVDF nanofibers. The PVDF nanofiber membranes produced in this study are potential candidates for application in wound healing, water filtration, and masks.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Prior research has shown that patients with schizophrenia (SZ) show disruption in brain network connectivity that is thought to underlie their cognitive and psychotic symptoms. However, most studies examining functional network disruption in schizophrenia have focused on the temporally correlated coupling of the strength of network connections. Here, we move beyond correlative metrics to assay causal computations of connectivity changes in directed neural information flow, assayed from a neural source to a target in SZ. STUDY DESIGN: This study describes a whole-brain magnetoencephalography-imaging approach to examine causal computations of connectivity changes in directed neural information flow between brain regions during resting states, quantified by phase-transfer entropy (PTE) metrics, assayed from a neural source to an endpoint, in 21 SZ compared with 21 healthy controls (HC), and associations with cognitive and clinical psychotic symptoms in SZ. STUDY RESULTS: We found that SZ showed significant disruption in information flow in alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (12-30 Hz) frequencies, compared to HC. Reduced information flow in alpha frequencies from the precuneus to the medio-ventral occipital cortex was associated with more severe clinical psychopathology (ie, positive psychotic symptoms), while reduced information flow between insula and middle temporal gyrus was associated with worsening cognitive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings highlight the importance of delineating dysfunction in neural information flow in specific oscillatory frequencies between distinct regions that underlie the cognitive and psychotic symptoms in SZ, and provide potential neural biomarkers that could lead to innovations in future neuromodulation treatment development.

The article presents the results of constructing a diagram of the phase composition of the Fe-S-Cu system and its mathematical model. Using the equations obtained in the work, a computer program was created and, using it, an analysis of phase formation in copper ores of various deposits was carried out. It was found that copper ore concentrates from the Berezovsk deposit in Kazakhstan contain Cu5FeS4 (20,22 %), CuS (14,21 %) and FeS2 (65,57 %), and copper ores from the Zyryanovsk deposit contain CuFeS2 (4,03 %), Cu5FeS4 (45,29 %) and FeS2 (50,68 %). Such data allows you to choose the optimal methods for further processing of concentrates, and the mathematical approach itself is more productive than the often used geometric one according to the rule of segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the bone implant candidate materials that have similarities to the original bone is porous Hydroxyapatite (HA) based 3D bone replica. Most previous studies primarily focused on the manufacture of porous ceramics in a form that is still far from the original appearance of bone. Manufacturing the femur bone with a shape that resembles the original is expected to be closer to the application. The characteristic of the replica produced have a shrinkage range of 34,28–47.46 %, a porosity range of 18,89-37.75 %, a density range of 1.97-2,56 gr/ cm3, a bending strength range of 0.33-6,49 MPa, and pores sizes of 80-230 µm. Based on the findings, HA scaffolds for bone replicas were successfully created and incorporated in physical and chemical features.

The FormCopy (FC) analysis of control proposed by Noam Chomsky develops Norbert Hornstein's movement analysis. This paper points out that there is inconsistency between both analyses and the standard phase theory. Then, it presents a new definition of phase and the PIC that makes reference to ϕ-feature agreement in order to resolve this inconsistency. Minimal Yield (MY) is one of the conditions on Merge that distinguish the FC analysis from the movement analysis. It is a fundamental assumption in the FC analysis but rules out sideward movements employed in the movement analysis. The second part of the paper first introduces Hisatsugu Kitahara's analysis of "proper binding" effects in terms of MY. Then, it shows that this analysis, together with the newly proposed definition of phase and the PIC, correctly predicts a surprising difference between English and Japanese with respect to the "proper binding" phenomenon. This constitutes further evidence for MY and hence for the FC analysis of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed the method of periodic principal components for signals with a quasi-periodic dynamic spectrum characteristic of radio pulsars. The method is based on an analysis of the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the signal frequency–time correlation matrix averaged over many pulsar rotation periods. Using the observations of PSR B0329 54 with the radio telescope at Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory near a frequency of 111 MHz in a 2.5 MHz band as an example, we show that even for short data intervals (a few minutes) the developed method allows one to identify up to nine pulse components of the pulsar, to estimate the correlation between them, and to find the period of Faraday modulation for each component as well as its relative phase and frequency–time chirp rate, i.e., it allows the structure of the emission source to be judged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed the method of periodic principal components for signals with a quasi-periodic dynamic spectrum characteristic of radio pulsars. The method is based on an analysis of the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the signal frequency–time correlation matrix averaged over many pulsar rotation periods. Using the observations of PSR B0329 54 with the radio telescope at Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory near a frequency of 111 MHz in a 2.5 MHz band as an example, we show that even for short data intervals (a few minutes) the developed method allows one to identify up to nine pulse components of the pulsar, to estimate the correlation between them, and to find the period of Faraday modulation for each component as well as its relative phase and frequency–time chirp rate, i.e., it allows the structure of the emission source to be judged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study how stimulus information can be represented in the dynamical signatures of an oscillatory model of neural activity--a model whose activity can be modulated by input akin to signals involved in working memory (WM). We developed a neural field model, tuned near an oscillatory instability, in which the WM-like input can modulate the frequency and amplitude of the oscillation. Our neural field model has a spatial-like domain in which an input that preferentially targets a point--a stimulus feature--on the domain will induce feature-specific activity changes. These feature-specific activity changes affect both the mean rate of spikes and the relative timing of spiking activity to the global field oscillation--the phase of the spiking activity. Fromthese two dynamical signatures, we define both a spike rate code and an oscillatory phase code. We assess the performance of these two codes to discriminate stimulus features using an information-theoretic analysis. We show that global WM input modulations can enhance phase code discrimination while simultaneously reducing rate code discrimination. Moreover, we find that the phase code performance is roughly two orders of magnitude larger than that of the rate code defined for the same model solutions. The results of ourmodel have applications to sensory areas of the brain, to which prefrontal areas send inputs reflecting the content of WM. These WM inputs to sensory areas have been established to induce oscillatory changes similar to ourmodel. Our model results suggest amechanismby whichWMsignals may enhance sensory information represented in oscillatory activity beyond the comparatively weak representations based on the mean rate activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty‐three porcelain shards (28 Ru ware and 5 Ru‐type ware) unearthed from Qinglingsi kiln and 31 celadon fragments from Zhanggongxiang kiln were studied systematically for tracing their correlation and difference in glaze and body characteristics through a variety of characterisation methods. Samples without HF corrosion were applied to achieve the microstructure and composition details by SEM and TEM. Results exhibited that there were certain similarities between Ru ware, Ru‐type ware and Zhanggongxiang kiln celadon in glaze colour and thickness, body features, fracture structure; however, they showed obvious differences in body thickness, chemical composition of glaze and body, phase constituents and microstructure of glaze. Plentiful needle‐like diopside were widely distributed in Zhanggongxiang kiln celadon glazes, while this type of crystals was only existed in few Ru and Ru‐type ware glazes with small content. Besides, a large amount of residual quartz was present over the Ru ware glazes, which could have relation to the incorporation of agate. The liquid‐liquid phase separation structure (Ca‐rich droplets and Si‐rich matrix) was generated within the interspaces of anorthite clusters or around the brims of anorthite needles or columns. The occurrence of phase separation was generally accompanied by Al2O3 consumption, but suppressed in the areas far from anorthite due to the rise of Al2O3 content, indicating that Al2O3 was the most sensitive constituent for this glaze behaviour. The distinguished size, shape and distribution of phase‐separated droplets or interconnected structures were closely associated with the scale and crowding level of anorthite crystallisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel multiple-phase CrFeNiAl0.2Ti0.1 medium entropy alloy was designed by introducing large atomic radius elements Al and Ti with the molar ratio of 2:1, which was systematically investigated from microstructure to mechanical properties. The results show that the alloy formed a typical dendritic structure with (Cr, Fe)-rich BCC dendrites and Ni-rich FCC interdendrites through uniform transformation. In the interdendrites, a small number of microscale strips and nanoscale particles composed of Ni3(Al, Ti)-type L12 phase precipitated via a mechanism of precipitation decomposition. Compared to the CrFeNi base alloy with a yield strength of 160 ± 5 MPa, the as-cast CrFeNiAl0.2Ti0.1 exhibited a superior strength-plasticity combination with a high yield strength of 903 ± 10 MPa and a great plastic strain of more than 50%. The significant improvement of the yield strength was mainly attributed to solid solution strengthening from the large lattice-distortion and modulus-distortion of Al and Ti atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research aimed to establish the productivity of piglets during their two-phase rearing with different durations of the phases of this period of the production cycle. It was established that at the end of the first rearing phase, animals' absolute gains and weight upon its completion depended more on its duration than on the intensity of piglet growth during this period. Thus, in the group where the duration of the first phase of rearing was 17.6 % shorter, the weight of piglets when transferred to the second phase of rearing was 15.0 % lower, while in the group where the duration of the first phase of rearing was 35.3 % shorter, the weight of animals when transferred to the second phase turned out to be 28.3 % smaller, and in the group where the duration of the first phase of rearing was 52.9 % shorter, the weight of piglets at the end of the first phase turned out to be 50.5 % lower. In the second phase of fattening, the intensity of growth in animals with a duration of 9 and 18 days did not have significant differences, while their counterparts with a 27-day duration of the second phase of fattening had average daily gains in the second phase of fattening by 13.7–15.6 % more than the previous groups. The difference in absolute growth depended more on the duration of the period and less on the intensity of growth during this period. Thus, in the group where the duration of the second phase of rearing increased by 17 %, the absolute growth during this time increased by 1.97 times, and with its increase by 35 %, the latter increased by 3.41 times compared to the group of piglets where the duration of the second phase of rearing was 9 days. The live weight of piglets at the end of the second growing phase increased by 4.3 % and 8.5 %, respectively. The preservation of piglets in the second phase of rearing did not have significant differences between groups of piglets with different durations of the second phase of rearing. In contrast, the average weight of piglets dropped out in the second rearing phase decreased by 15.4–33.5%, with an increase in the duration of the second phase from 18 % to 35 and 52 % of the entire growing time. It has been proven that with an increase in the duration of the second phase of rearing, in which liquid feeding of piglets was used by 18 %, 35 %, and 53 % of the entire rearing time, the intensity of growth of piglets increased, and due to which their absolute growth increased by 4.5 %, 10.2 %, and 16.3 %, respectively, the live weight at the transfer to fattening increased by 3.4 %, 7.9 %, and 12.2 %, respectively, the technological waste of piglets decreased by 1.06 %, 1.83 %, and 2.23 %, decreased by 13.7, and 25.8 %, the weight of piglets that were eliminated during the entire period of rearing compared to analogs that had 100 % of the time the first phase of rearing under dry feeding systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iron Steel Vanadium Titanium is the property of Iron Steel Vanadium Titanium Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the operation of the stabilization systems, the parameters of the control object and the regulator can change for various reasons within fairly wide limits. In such cases, they speak of the presence of parametric uncertainty. Note that the main indicator of the quality of the stabilization system is considered to be the accuracy of the stabilization of the control object. As theoretical studies show, the accuracy of stabilization systems directly depends on their rigidity and damping, because they directly affect the formation of the moment of stabilization and determine the effectiveness of the system's response to external disturbances. Changing stiffness and damping in order to ensure the necessary efficiency of stabilization systems is the basis of their operational adjustments. To change these parameters, there are summation circuits in the systems. Will the change in the summation circuit type affect the solution to the main task of the operational adjustment of the stabilization system? This article considers the possibilities of summation circuits to ensure the optimality of the settings of the stabilization system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal zones supporting diurnal shelf waves near the South Kuril Islands were determined based on the analysis of small-scale amplitude and phase variations of diurnal O1 and K1 tidal waves estimated from along-track TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry data. The amplitudes and phases of these waves were revealed not only along the original tracks (1992–2002), but also along those shifted by half the intertrack distance (2002–2005). This made it possible to more accurately determine the zone supporting diurnal shelf waves. It was found that diurnal shelf waves in the form of baroclinic coastal trapped modes strongly influence tidal motions on the oceanic shelf of Urup and Iturup islands. Two wavelengths fit in this section of the shelf (one pair of quasi-stationary eddies is localized on the shelf of Urup Island and a second one on the shelf of Iturup Island). This is an unexpected result, as barotropic shelf modes usually form one pair of eddies (for example, on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island, on the northern shelf of Hokkaido Island and on the oceanic shelf of the North Kuril Islands). We found that the zone of K1 and O1 tidal waves start from Chirpoi Island, which means that shelf waves are generated as a result of the diffraction of a large-scale Kelvin tidal wave in the deep Bussol Strait. The existence of the lower frequency O1 tidal shelf wave was found not only on the shelf of Urup and Iturup islands, but also on the shelf of Shikotan Island, which is consistent with the earlier results of Yefimov and Rabinovich (1980). Diurnal shelf waves cause significant increases in the O1 and K1 amplitudes on the coast of Iturup Island (especially at its southern part) and on Urup Island in comparison with the open ocean, and produce strong instrumentally-observed diurnal tidal currents in these regions. Baroclinic diurnal shelf (coastal trapped) waves also contribute to vertical movements, forcing water temperature variations at sufficiently great depths, which can have a significant impact on the living conditions of benthic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian clocks temporally organize behaviour and physiology of organisms with a rhythmicity of about 24 h. In Drosophila, the circadian clock is composed of mainly four clock genes: period (per), timeless (tim), Clock (Clk) and cycle (cyc) which constitutes the transcription-translation feedback loop. The circadian clock is further regulated via post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms among which microRNAs (miRNAs) are well known post-transcriptional regulatory molecules. Here, we identified and characterized the role of miRNA-277 (miR-277) expressed in the clock neurons in regulating the circadian rhythm. Downregulation of miR-277 in the pacemaker neurons expressing circadian neuropeptide, pigment dispersing factor (PDF) advanced the phase of the morning activity peak under 12 h light: 12 h dark cycles (LD) at lower light intensities and these flies exhibited less robust rhythms compared to the controls under constant darkness. In addition, downregulation of miR-277 in the PDF expressing neurons abolished the Clk gene transcript oscillation under LD. Our study points to the potential role of miR-277 in fine tuning the Clk expression and in maintaining the phase of the circadian rhythm in Drosophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent design and development of precipitate reinforced refractory metal alloys demonstrate the possibility of A2 + B2 bcc superalloys as a new class of high temperature materials. Existing β-Ti alloys do not typically employ reinforcement with intermetallics, as in other high temperature alloys; to this effect sufficient additions of Fe, a low cost β-Ti stabiliser, can promote formation of an ordered-bcc intermetallic phase, β′-TiFe (B2), offering scope to develop a β + β′ dual-phase field. However, key uncertainties exist in the base Ti-Fe binary. The current research evaluates the formation of ordered-bcc TiFe precipitates within a disordered-bcc β-Ti matrix through variable heat treatment strategies. The microstructure optimisation has revealed new insight into the Ti-Fe phase equilibria at near eutectoid temperatures in the purported dual-phase field, where a complex interplay between β-Ti, β′-TiFe and α-Ti exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni-60%WC alloy coatings were prepared on the surface of a H13 steel substrate by laser cladding with a fibre laser at different laser powers. The microstructure and phases of the laser clad Ni-60%WC alloy coatings fabricated with laser power of 2100, 2500 and 2900 W were analyzed, and the electrochemical performance was measured by the potentiodynamic polarization curve (PPC) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that the laser clad Ni-60%WC alloy coatings were composed of WC, W2C, and NiC phases, and the WC particles were homogeneously distributed throughout the coating cross-sections to form sound metallurgical bonding with the H13 steel substrate. The corrosion current density icorr, and polarization resistance Rp, were lowest on the laser clad Ni-60%WC alloy coating fabricated with a laser power of 2500 W. The impedance of this sample also exhibited the largest, demonstrating that the appropriate laser power will improve corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation expressions of elliptical Gaussian beams carrying mixed screw–edge dislocations through a uniaxial crystal orthogonal to the optical axis are derived. The effects of the source beam and crystal on the intensity and phase of such beams during propagation are discussed in detail. The obtained results show that the intensity profiles of elliptical and circular Gaussian beams carrying mixed screw–edge dislocations in uniaxial crystals are controlled by the beam parameter ratio of the waist width, edge dislocations, off-axis distance and ratio of the refractive indices of uniaxial crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram is an indispensable tool for new product development in the steel industry and it is traditionally plotted via extensive thermomechanical studies. To reduce the cycle time of product development, a machine-learning model to predict the CCT of a new grade (chemistry and processing parameters) has been developed in this work. The idea is to have a holistic predictive model suitable for integrated steel manufacturing plant, instead of having many models for different class of material compositions. A wide range of data set is prepared to this effect and explored with multiple regression-based machine-learning models. Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) demonstrates exceptional results amongst the rest, and it is topped off with a metallurgical constraint/correction-factor to obtain the final model. The model is validated against test data as well as against some well-established metallurgical correlations and is found to perform fairly well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using post‐critical reflection data, it is possible to obtain useful information that allows more reliable geological characterization of the subsurface. However, the strong distortion caused by the phase shift in post‐critical wavelets makes the use of post‐critical reflections rather challenging. For this reason, an approach which is capable of estimating the phase shift of each wavelet of a reflection event in a data‐driven manner is desirable. In this vein, in case the frequency spectrum of a wavelet can be correctly estimated, it is possible to estimate the instantaneous phase shift. In this work, we propose an approach which can perform such estimation based on spectral recomposition of seismic data. We design an inversion approach in order to reconstruct the seismic spectrum of the wavelets of a reflection event, which subsequently allows us to estimate the instantaneous phase of each wavelet of the near‐surface reflection events without performing prior velocity analysis and/or critical‐angle estimation. After finding the instantaneous phase for each wavelet of a reflection event, we show next how one can find the respective phase shifts that can then be corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibitory control has been linked to beta oscillations in the fronto-basal ganglia network. Here we aim to investigate the functional role of the phase of this oscillatory beta rhythm for successful motor inhibition. We applied 20 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) while presenting stop signals at 4 (Experiment 1) and 8 (Experiment 2) equidistant phases of the tACS entrained beta oscillations. Participants showed better inhibitory performance when stop signals were presented at the trough of the beta oscillation whereas their inhibitory control performance decreased with stop signals being presented at the oscillatory beta peak. These results are consistent with the communication through coherence theory, in which postsynaptic effects are thought to be greater when an input arrives at an optimal phase within the oscillatory cycle of the target neuronal population. The current study provides mechanistic insights into the neural communication principles underlying successful motor inhibition and may have implications for phase-specific interventions aimed at treating inhibitory control disorders such as PD or OCD.

Causative verbs in the Albanian variety of Arbëresh take a finite complement clause, with the causee realized as a nominative or as an oblique (like the dative/instrumental causee in Italian). We argue that causatives are biclausal and that their complement is non-phasal, of different sizes (e.g., vP in Italian and IP/CP in Arbëresh). Being non-phasal, it is transparent to φ-Agree with the matrix v*. The non-phasal vP-complement in Italian triggers an ergative alignment, with the causee realized as an oblique in transitives (or accusative with intransitives/unaccusatives). This option is also available in Arbëresh under contact with Italian, although with a finite complement. The option of a nominative causee in Arbëresh is directly accounted for as φ-Agree with the embedded I. Standard Albanian (and Greek) have an accusative causee, as in English. Given that the embedded I is finite in Albanian, φ-Agree with matrix v* is an instance of hyper-raising. We argue that this option is linked to the null-subject property of Albanian. Finite I is ‘strong enough’ to label by itself (Chomsky 2015), freeing the DP to enter Agree with a higher φ-probe.

The article presents the results of constructing a diagram of the phase composition of the Fe-S-Cu system and its mathematical model. Using the equations obtained in the work, a computer program was created and, using it, an analysis of phase formation in copper ores of various deposits was carried out. It was found that copper ore concentrates from the Berezovsk deposit in Kazakhstan contain Cu5FeS4 (20,22 %), CuS (14,21 %) and FeS2 (65,57 %), and copper ores from the Zyryanovsk deposit contain CuFeS2 (4,03 %), Cu5FeS4 (45,29 %) and FeS2 (50,68 %). Such data allows you to choose the optimal methods for further processing of concentrates, and the mathematical approach itself is more productive than the often used geometric one according to the rule of segments.

The purpose of this work is to study self-oscillatory systems under adaptive external action. This refers to the situation when the phase of the external action additionally depends on the dynamical variable of the oscillator. In a review plan, the results are presented for the case of a linear damped oscillator. Two cases of self-oscillatory systems are studied: the van der Pol oscillator and an autonomous quasi-periodic generator with three-dimensional phase space. Methods. Methods of charts of dynamical regimes and charts of Lyapunov exponents are used, as well as the construction of phase portraits and stroboscopic sections. Results. In a review plan, the results are presented for the case of a linear damped oscillator. Two cases of self-oscillatory systems are studied: the van der Pol oscillator and an autonomous quasi-periodic generator with a three-dimensional phase space. The pictures of characteristic dynamical regimes are described. Scenarios for the development of multidimensional chaos are described. Illustrations are given of the influence of the control parameter, which is responsible for the degree of dependence of the phase on the oscillator variable, on the dynamics of the system at different frequencies of action. Conclusion. The taling into account of the dependence of the phase on a dynamical variable leads to an extension of the tongues of subharmonic resonances, which are weakly expressed in the classical van der Pol oscillator. This is especially noticeable for even resonances of periods 2 and 4. For the generator of quasi-periodic oscillations in the non-autonomous case, three-frequency tori are observed, their regions begin to dominate with an increase in the adaptivity parameter, displacing the tongues of resonant two-frequency tori. A variety of multidimensional chaos characterized by an additional Lyapunov exponent close to zero is discovered, the possibility of developing hyperchaos as a result of destruction is shown.

A series of experiments were carried out to investigate the performance of a WEC rotor with platform motion. To achieve platform motion, a forced motion device with a rotor was installed in the Ocean Engineering Basin. In this study, the rotor’s performance was examined at various phase stages between incoming waves at three wave heights, and compared to a rotor without a PTO system. The phase stage where the rotor exhibited the largest pitch motion was identified, and the efficiencies of the rotor with the PTO system were analyzed during this stage. Without the PTO system, the rotor experienced its largest pitch motion when the rotating center was positioned at the zero-up crossing point of the incoming waves at three different wave heights. Furthermore, it was observed that in the optimal phase, the rotor’s efficiency increased with relatively large platform motion. These findings provide fundamental data for rotor design.