The term electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generally refers to high-power electromagnetic waves and can be classified into EMPs caused by nuclear weapons, non-nuclear EMPs, and EMPs caused by natural phenomena. EMPs can cause catastrophic damage to any electronic device consisting of electromagnetic components, including communications devices and transportation. In this study, the shielding effectiveness of paint was evaluated depending on the type and content of carbon material and binder. To analyze the compatibility and dispersibility improvement of the raw materials used in paint manufacturing, experiments were conducted in two stages, using 27 mixtures. The shielding effectiveness was evaluated for the optimal mixture developed through mixture experiments. The results of this study confirmed that the developed EMP shielding paint can improve the shielding effectiveness of concrete by 25–40 dB. Additionally, the adhesion strength and moisture resistance evaluation of the EMP shielding paint were evaluated. The average adhesive strength of the EMP shielding paint was 1.26 MPa. In moisture-resistance testing at a temperature of 50 ± 3 °C and a relative humidity of 95% or higher for more than 120 h, no cracks or peeling were observed on the painted surface. Full article

Conservation, characterization and exploitation of agrobiodiversity are key factors to guarantee food security and face future challenges such as climate changes. These issues are the subject of a series of international agreements, such as the Convention of Biological Diversity, with its Nagoya Protocol, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004. Italy ratified the Treaty in 2004 and instituted a long-lasting program, RGV-FAO, to implement it. CREA is one of the three organizations involved in the RGV-FAO Program, together with the National Research Council (CNR) and Reti Semi Rurali. CREA maintains a total of 40,186 accessions including cereals, vegetables, fruits, forages, industrial crops, forest and woody crops, medicinal and aromatic plants, and their wild relatives. Accessions are conserved using different ex situ conservation systems (seeds, in vivo plants, vegetative organs and in vitro plantlets), and characterized using genetic, morpho-phenological and/or biochemical methods. Herein, we will present the CREA long-lasting program RGV-FAO with some examples of the use of plant genetic resources in breeding programs, including molecular approaches. Some critical issues related to access and benefit sharing in PGRFA, such as the Nagoya Protocol and the Digital Sequence Information, will be discussed, highlighting their potential impact on food security and on the advancement of knowledge. Full article

(1) Background: Pediatric intracranial aneurysms (PIA) are rare and clinicopathologically distinct neurovascular entities. The aims of this study are to evaluate our institution’s experience and corroborate our results with updated literature. (2) Methods: This is a single-institution, retrospective study. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PIA are included. Variables of interest include patient demographics, clinical presentation, treatment outcomes and features specific to each patient’s PIA. A literature review on PIA-centric clinical studies was conducted. (3) Results: A total of 14 PIAs in 11 patients were treated from 2000 to 2022. The mean age was 5.8 years old, and most were males (90.1%). Anterior circulation PIAs constituted 78.6% of the cohort. Half of the PIAs were of the dissecting type, and 14.3% were giant aneurysms. Of interest, 14.3% of patients had subsequent de novo aneurysms after treatment of their index aneurysm. For treatment, 57.1% underwent surgery, 35.7% had endovascular intervention and the remaining 7.1% were managed conservatively. Based on the literature review, this study had congruent findings to other existing publications. (4) Conclusions: PIAs are unique neurovascular lesions that have good outcomes if managed in a timely fashion by an experienced multidisciplinary team. We recommend longer surveillance periods due to the risk of developing de novo aneurysms. Full article

Traditionally, it has been considered that the Ptolemaic or classical maps from the four editions of Ptolemy’s Geography published in Rome (1478, 1490, 1507, and 1508) are apparently indistinguishable at first glance because they have been printed from the same plates. This poses a problem for antiquarians, collectors, and curators who wish to accurately date their copies. Recently, two very comprehensive articles have been published on the different paper watermarks associated with each edition, which would allow for the correct identification of each one. However, there are occasions when the maps do not display watermarks. This article aims to provide some keys to distinguish between the incunabula editions (1478, 1490) and those of 1507–1508 in cases of the absence of watermarks. In this process of detecting differences, we have used digitized images of the maps. The results show small modifications in the copper plates made between the editions of 1490 and 1507/08. Our findings reveal that seven previously unknown reworked maps have been identified. Full article

The growing demand for advanced tools to ensure safety in railway construction projects highlights the need for systems that can smoothly integrate and analyze multiple data modalities, such as multimodal learning algorithms. The latter, inspired by the human brain’s ability to integrate many sensory inputs, has emerged as a promising field in artificial intelligence. In light of this, there has been a rise in research on multimodal fusion approaches, which have the potential to outperform standard unimodal solutions. However, the integration of multiple data sources presents significant challenges to be addressed. This work attempts to apply multimodal learning to detect dangerous actions using RGB-D inputs. The key contributions include the evaluation of various fusion strategies and modality encoders, as well as identifying the most effective methods for capturing complex cross-modal interactions. The superior performance of the MultConcat multimodal fusion method was demonstrated, achieving an accuracy of 89.3%. Results also underscore the critical need for robust modality encoders and advanced fusion techniques to outperform unimodal solutions. Full article

Amblyseius swirskii are predaceous mites that feed on phytophagous mites, pollens, and plant exudates and are known as one of the most potent biological pest management agents. Tetranychus urticae is a global mite that is difficult to manage because of its high population growth rates, necessitating alternative management measures like biological control. Regarding the functional response, the effects of temperature and prey density are some of the essential behaviors of natural enemies. This study investigates the effect of varying temperatures and prey densities on A. swirskii, a biological control agent for T. urticae. The present results demonstrated the change in the functional response estimates when A. swirskii was reared at various temperatures and different prey densities. The results of the estimates regarding the searching efficiency (a′) showed the highest value (a′ = 0.919) at 26 °C and the lowest value (a′ = 0.751) at 14 °C. The handling time per prey item (T_h) for the predatory mites changed with the temperature and prey density, showing the shortest handling time at 26 °C (T_h = 0.005) and the highest value at 14 °C (T_h = 0.015). The functional response curves matched the type II functional response model, demonstrating the inverse dependence of temperatures and prey density with a positive quadratic coefficient. The predation curves for A. swirskii showed a significant difference between the mean numbers of T. urticae consumed at various prey densities and temperatures, illustrating a relationship between A. swirskii and T. urticae. Therefore, the results of this research may be utilized to forecast the behavior of A. swirskii and its usefulness in controlling T. urticae populations. Full article

An accurate analysis of the relationship between humans and the land in oasis areas is essential for the formulation of policies for differentiated oasis urban development and resource management measures. Therefore, researchers have conducted numerous studies based on the linear relationship between “people and land” in oasis areas. To address this gap, this paper takes the Wuwei oasis as an example and re-examines the impact of human activities on the sustainability of natural capital from a new research perspective (nonlinear perspective). The study selected four variables, namely planted forests, scientific R&D investment, urbanization, and population density, as the main human activities affecting the Wuwei oasis area. The NARDL model, the nonlinear Granger causality test, is employed to investigate the interactions between the variables and the oasis natural capital in both the short and long term. The results indicate the following: (1) During the study period, the consumption of natural capital in the Wuwei oasis has been increasing annually and has long exceeded the local ecological carrying capacity. (2) In the short term, planting forests is the most beneficial human activity. The most beneficial human activity is the planting of trees, while in the long term, scientific R&D investment has the most positive effect on enhancing the oasis’ resource reserves. (3) Urbanization, population density, and planted forest land all have a direct effect on the sustainable development of natural resources in the oasis. The findings of the study indicate that the application of scientific and technological innovation to promote the sustainable development of resources and the environment is a more reliable approach for oasis cities with a high degree of industrialization. Full article

Hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites (LHPs) have emerged as a highly significant class of materials due to their tunable and adaptable properties, which make them suitable for a wide range of applications. One of the strategies for tuning and optimizing LHP-based devices is the substitution of cations and/or anions in LHPs. The impact of Cs substitution at the A site on the structural, vibrational, and elastic properties of MA_xCs_1−xPbCl₃-mixed single crystals was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman and Brillouin light scattering techniques. The XRD results confirmed the successful synthesis of impurity-free single crystals, which exhibited a phase coexistence of dominant cubic and minor orthorhombic symmetries. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the vibrational modes associated with the PbCl₆ octahedra and the A-site cation movements, thereby revealing the influence of cesium incorporation on the lattice dynamics. Brillouin spectroscopy was employed to investigate the changes in elastic properties resulting from the Cs substitution. The incorporation of Cs cations induced lattice distortions within the inorganic framework, disrupting the hydrogen bonding between the MA cations and PbCl₆ octahedra, which in turn affected the elastic constants and the sound velocities. The substitution of the MA cations with smaller Cs cations resulted in a stiffer lattice structure, with the two elastic constants increasing up to a Cs content of 30%. The current findings facilitate a fundamental understanding of mixed lead chloride perovskite materials, providing valuable insights into their structural and vibrational properties. Full article

The U.S. is currently the country with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths. By the second week of October 2021, over 700,000 people in the U.S. had died after contracting the virus. When estimating the cost and benefit of a COVID-19 prevention measure, the value of a statistical life (VSL) has been widely used as an approximation for the value of a lost life. However, VSL arguably overstates the costs of deaths caused by COVID-19 because VSL captures the private individual’s benefit, and it is the same for everyone regardless of where they live, their productivity, their age, and their gender. In this study, rather than looking at the cost of life loss due to COVID-19, we focus on the opportunity costs of COVID-19 deaths to society. The opportunity cost of COVID-19 deaths is defined as the combination of direct medical costs and the costs of lost potential lifetime earnings. Our analysis focuses on the period from March 2020 to October 2021. We then quantify the average opportunity cost of COVID-19 deaths across the U.S. and by state level. Full article

Grasping robots always confront challenges such as uncertainties in object size, orientation, and type, necessitating effective feature augmentation to improve grasping detection performance. However, many prior studies inadequately emphasize grasp-related features, resulting in suboptimal grasping performance. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a new grasping approach termed the Feature-Augmented Grasp Detection Network (FAGD-Net). The proposed network incorporates two modules designed to enhance spatial information features and multi-scale features. Firstly, we introduce the Residual Efficient Multi-Scale Attention (Res-EMA) module, which effectively adjusts the importance of feature channels while preserving precise spatial information within those channels. Additionally, we present a Feature Fusion Pyramidal Module (FFPM) that serves as an intermediary between the encoder and decoder, effectively addressing potential oversights or losses of grasp-related features as the encoder network deepens. As a result, FAGD-Net achieved advanced levels of grasping accuracy, with 98.9% and 96.5% on the Cornell and Jacquard datasets, respectively. The grasp detection model was deployed on a physical robot for real-world grasping experiments, where we conducted a series of trials in diverse scenarios. In these experiments, we randomly selected various unknown household items and adversarial objects. Remarkably, we achieved high success rates, with a 95.0% success rate for single-object household items, 93.3% for multi-object scenarios, and 91.0% for cluttered scenes. Full article

Due to limited in-situ ocean observations, reanalysis data are often considered as an important source for studying tropical cyclone (TC)-induced ocean waves. Here, we introduced a method to quantitatively evaluate the errors of TC-induced ocean waves in reanalysis datasets. The TC data are from the IBTrACS dataset. We compared TC-induced ocean waves in two reanalysis datasets (i.e., ERA5 and WAVERYS) with those in buoy data when TCs are near the buoy stations. We showed that the errors of TC-induced ocean waves in WAVERYS and ERA5 are similar, because the surface winds in these two datasets are the same. We noticed that the errors in the North Pacific are remarkably smaller than those in the North Atlantic due to more realistic probability density of TC-induced ocean waves in the North Pacific compared with those in the North Atlantic. Moreover, the errors are strongly related to significant wave height (SWH) and the distance from TC center. The larger the SWH and the shorter the distance, the larger the error. Furthermore, the errors in TC-induced ocean waves decreased significantly over the past decades. Full article

The radiation-induced optical absorption at 1.5–5.5 eV (up to the beginning of fundamental absorption) has been analyzed in CVD diamond disks exposed to 231-MeV ¹³²Xe ions with four fluences from 10¹² to 3.8 × 10¹³ cm⁻². The 5 mm diameter samples (thickness 0.4 mm) were prepared by Diamond Materials, Freiburg (Germany); the average grain size at growth site was around 80 μm; and the range of xenon ions was R = 11.5 μm. The intensity of several bands grows with ion fluence, thus confirming the radiation-induced origin of the defects responsible for these bands. The recovery of radiation damage has been investigated via isochronal (stepwise) thermal annealing procedure up to 650 °C, while all spectra were measured at room temperature. Based on these spectra, the annealing kinetics of several defects, in particular carbon vacancies (GR1 centers with a broad band ~2 eV) and complementary C-interstitial-related defects (~4 eV), as well as impurity-related complex defects (narrow bands around 2.5 eV) have been constructed. The experimental kinetics have also been analyzed in terms of the diffusion-controlled bimolecular reactions. The migration energies of tentatively interstitial atoms (mobile components in recombination process) are obtained, and their dependence on the irradiation fluences is discussed. Full article

Estimates of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) are valuable for effective monitoring and management of water resources. In areas that lack ground-based monitoring networks, remote sensing allows for accurate and consistent estimates of ETa across a broad scale—though each algorithm has limitations (i.e., ground-based validation, temporal consistency, spatial resolution). We developed an ensemble mean ETa (EMET) product to incorporate advancements and reduce uncertainty among algorithms (e.g., energy-balance, optical-only), which we use to estimate vegetative water use in response to restoration practices being implemented on the ground using management interventions (i.e., fencing pastures, erosion control structures) on a private ranch in Baja California Sur, Mexico. This paper describes the development of a monthly EMET product, the assessment of changes using EMET over time and across multiple land use/land cover types, and the evaluation of differences in vegetation and water distribution between watersheds treated by restoration and their controls. We found that in the absence of a ground-based monitoring network, the EMET product is more robust than using a single ETa data product and can augment the efficacy of ETa-based studies. We then found increased ETa within the restored watershed when compared to the control sites, which we attribute to increased plant water availability. Full article

Space exploration has become an integral part of modern society, and since its early days in the 1960s, software has grown in importance, becoming indispensable for spaceflight. However, software is boon and bane: while it enables unprecedented functionality and cost reductions and can even save spacecraft, its importance and fragility also make it a potential Achilles heel for critical systems. Throughout the history of spaceflight, numerous accidents with significant detrimental impacts on mission objectives and safety have been attributed to software, although unequivocal attribution is sometimes difficult. In this Entry, we examine over two dozen software-related mishaps in spaceflight from a software engineering perspective, focusing on major incidents and not claiming completeness. This Entry article contextualizes the role of software in space exploration and aims to preserve the lessons learned from these mishaps. Such knowledge is crucial for ensuring future success in space endeavors. Finally, we explore prospects for the increasingly software-dependent future of spaceflight. Full article

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 profoundly influenced the dynamics within intensive care units, significantly altering the patient–family experience. As the pandemic unfolded, the longstanding practice of using physical restraints for patient safety persisted, introducing new challenges in healthcare settings. This study explored the ramifications of these enduring safety measures on family members of ICU patients during the pandemic, illuminating their lived experiences and the psychological impact of seeing their loved ones restrained. Objectives: To explore family members’ lived experiences with physical restraints in the ICU during COVID-19 and inform improvements in patient-centered care. Methods: Utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology, the study engaged ten family members in detailed interviews to gain an understanding of their experiences with ICU physical restraints during COVID-19. Conducted at a northeastern U.S. hospital, the collected narratives underwent thematic analysis within a sensemaking framework, yielding a profound understanding of family perspectives. Results: Family members faced challenges in understanding and coping with physical restraints, revealing a need for improved healthcare system support for family sensemaking and well-being. Conclusions: The study advocates integrating empathetic communication and family engagement into ICU care practices, underlining the importance of sensemaking during healthcare crises. Full article

Introduction: An aberrant immune response involving yet unidentified environmental and genetic factors plays a crucial role in triggering Kawasaki disease (KD). Aims: The aim of this study was to assess general and laboratory data at the onset of KD in a single-center cohort of children managed between 2003 and 2023 and retrospectively evaluate any potential relationship with the development of KD-related cardiovascular abnormalities (CVAs). Patients and methods: We took into account a total of 65 consecutive children with KD (42 males, median age: 22 months, age range: 2–88 months) followed at the Department of Life Sciences and Public Health in our University; demographic data, clinical signs, and laboratory variables at disease onset, before IVIG infusion, including C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, platelet count, aminotransferases, natremia, albumin, total bilirubin, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were evaluated. Results: Twenty-one children (32.3% of the whole cohort) were found to have echocardiographic evidence of CVAs. Univariate analysis showed that diagnosis of KD at <1 year or >5 years was associated with CVAs (p = 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively); patients with CVAs had a longer fever duration and mostly presented atypical or incomplete presentations. Interestingly, all patients with CVAs had lower levels of vitamin D (less than 30 mg/dL, p = 0.0001) and both higher WBC and higher neutrophil counts than those without CVAs (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.01, respectively). Moreover, blood levels of albumin were significantly lower in KD patients with CVAs compared to those without (11/21, 52% versus 13/44, 30%, p = 0.02). Multiple logistic regression with correction for sex showed that serum vitamin D < 30 ng/mL, WBC count > 20.000/mm³, and age > 60 months at KD onset were the only independent factors statistically associated with CVAs. Conclusions: Hypovitaminosis D, WBC count over 20.000/mm³, and age above 5 years at KD onset emerged as independent factors statistically associated with the occurrence of CVAs. Full article

The article incorporates an analysis of the switching-on process of alternating current (AC), low-voltage (LV), and electromagnetic (EM) relays energized by harmonically polluted voltage sources. In the undertaken research, the dynamic parameters of relays actuated by electromagnetic drive were examined for shape and supply voltage waveform distortion levels as described by different THD factor values. During the research, diverse supplying voltages were delivered to drive electromagnet coils at a variety of phases so as to reflect the stochastic nature of the energizing procedure. The performed analysis allowed for determining the most influential and decisive factors dictating the basic parameter values of the switching-on process. As an outcome, time-related parameters of relay moving armature movement were obtained, and the frequency of disorder occurrences during the switching-on was examined. For experimentation needs, an experiment stand was developed, and dedicated software for measurement results analysis was elaborated. Based on the study results, EM relay switching-on operation reliability was evaluated in view of electric energy quality. Full article

The traditional power prediction methods cannot fully take into account the differences and similarities between units. In the face of the complex and changeable sea climate, the strong coupling effect of atmospheric circulation, ocean current movement, and wave fluctuation, the characteristics of wind processes under different incoming currents and different weather are very different, and the spatio-temporal correlation law of offshore wind processes is highly complex, which leads to traditional power prediction not being able to accurately predict the short-term power of offshore wind farms. Therefore, aiming at the characteristics and complexity of offshore wind power, this paper proposes an innovative short-term power prediction method for offshore wind farms based on a Gaussian mixture model (GMM). This method considers the correlation between units according to the characteristics of the measured data of units, and it divides units with high correlation into a category. The Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and contour coefficient method (SC) were used to obtain the optimal number of groups. The average intra-group correlation coefficient (AICC) was used to evaluate the reliability of measurements for the same quantized feature to select the representative units for each classification. Practical examples show that the short-term power prediction accuracy of the model after unit classification is 2.12% and 1.1% higher than that without group processing, and the mean square error and average absolute error of the short-term power prediction accuracy are reduced, respectively, which provides a basis for the optimization of prediction accuracy and economic operation of offshore wind farms. Full article

This paper discusses the ways in which digitally enabled transformation in mathematics education could envisage a role for rationality in post-normal science and wicked problems. The scene is set firstly by reviewing the ways in which digital media have been designed and used in transformative mathematics education as a rationale for thinking about such media for wicked problem education. The problem is set in epistemological terms: can normal science approaches contribute to post-normal science? By considering the basic arguments regarding wicked problem education, I focus on the discussion of a specific constructionist digital tool called ‘ChoiCo: Choices with Consequences’, designed to embed mathematical ideas and facilitate mathematical reasoning, yet be about grappling with wicked problems. The final section discusses student discourse to set the scene for what such reasoning might look like in the context of grappling with wicked problems. Full article

Braking systems are extremely important in any vehicle. They convert the kinetic energy of motion into thermal energy that is dissipated into the atmosphere. Different vehicle groups have different nominal and maximum speeds and masses, so the amount of thermal energy that needs to be absorbed by the friction pads and then dissipated can vary significantly. Conventional friction materials are composite materials capable of withstanding high temperatures (in the order of 500–600 °C) and high mechanical loads resulting from braking intensity and vehicle weight. In small vehicles traveling at low speeds, where both the amount of thermal energy and its density are limited, the use of slightly weaker friction materials with better ecological properties can be considered. This work proposes a prototype composite friction material using flax fibers as reinforcement instead of the commonly used aramid. A number of samples were prepared and subjected to laboratory tests. The samples were prepared using components of plant origin, specifically flax fibers. This component acted as reinforcement in the composite friction material, replacing aramid commonly used for this purpose. The main tribological characteristics were determined, such as the values of the coefficients of friction and the coefficients of abrasive wear rate. For this purpose, an authorial method using ball-cratering contact was used. The results were analyzed using statistical methods. It was found that the composite material using flax fibers does not differ significantly in its tribological properties from conventional solutions; so, it can be assumed that it can be used in the vehicle’s braking system. Full article

Traditional antifouling coatings are toxic to marine life, which makes developing new environmentally friendly marine antifouling coatings imperative. Antifouling coatings that are nonadhesive and antimicrobial may provide an effective approach to achieving this goal. In this study, an organic–inorganic composite coating consisting of fluorinated polyurethane (FPU) and carboxymethyl chitosan–zinc oxide (CMC–ZnO) was prepared to achieve antifouling. The coating took advantage of the complementary bioactive effects of the low surface energy of FPU and the antimicrobial properties of CMC–ZnO. The coating showed good antifouling performance, with a survival rate for Escherichia coli of 3.15% and that for Staphylococcus aureus of 3.97% and an anti-protein adsorption rate of more than 90%. This study provides a simple method for preparing antifouling coatings using nonpolluting raw materials with minimal adverse effects on marine environments. Full article