Fe2P (iron phosphide) alloys have garnered significant interest in recent years due to their potential applications in permanent magnet materials, particularly in the context of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. We have sought to tailor the magnetic properties, such as magnetization, coercivity, and Curie temperature, to meet the specific requirements of rare-earth-free permanent magnets for various industrial sectors. In this work, we review recent advancements in the exploration of substitutions (Si, Co, Mn, and Ni) within Fe2P alloys aimed at enhancing their magnetic performance as candidates for permanent magnets. The X-ray patterns of (Fe,Co)2P show great crystallinity with a pure Fe2P phase even with Mn and Ni substitutions. The Fe2P structure crystallizes in the P-62m space group. It has been confirmed that the transition metals substitute the 3g Fe-site, sometimes with adverse effects regarding magnetic properties with Co vs. Ni substitution, and that Si substitutes the 2c P-site. The saturation magnetization increases (MS=87 Am2/kg) with Mn substitution, while the Curie temperature decreases with these substitutions. The impact of various substitutional elements on the magnetic properties of Fe2P alloys is highlighted, and challenges encountered in this field are reported.

ABSTRACTThe problem of evaluating the dynamic pressures and the associated forces that are induced by ground shaking on rigid vertical walls is revisited. This study develops a novel benchmark semi‐analytical elastodynamic model for the dynamic response of rigid walls. It extends the pioneering work of Veletsos and Younan in 1994 to treat generalized inhomogeneous backfills. The soil is treated as an approximate continuum of the Tajimi type. This approximation lies in reducing the two elastodynamic equations that govern the soil motion under plane strain conditions to one, that satisfies the equilibrium in the horizontal direction. The soil inhomogeneity is introduced via a power law variation of shear modulus with depth, and is tackled by employing simple trigonometric shape functions. The eigenvalues and the corresponding soil modes are now obtained by solving a generalized eigenvalue problem. Solutions are developed for a single rigid wall retaining an infinitely long soil layer over bedrock and for a pair of two rigid walls retaining a finite‐length backfill. The results are presented in terms of dynamic horizontal pressures, base moments, and shear forces. The effects of both harmonic and earthquake‐induced excitation are investigated. Additional expressions for the horizontal and vertical soil displacements and the shear stresses are derived. The model's predictions are found to be in good agreement with the results from finite element (FE) analyses and existing analytical models. A solution for the one‐dimensional harmonic response of an inhomogeneous soil stratum is also provided, enabling the evaluation of free‐field response.

A Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) based Physical Layer Security (PLS) scheme (QKD-PLS) for optical fiber links is proposed and evaluated. In detail, a novel amplitude and phase scrambling technique for exploiting and seamlessly integrating high key rate QKD for the encryption of the modulation parameters of conventional complex modulation schemes like M-ary Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (M-QAM) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is described. The technique masks the information at the bit level and blocks unauthorized access to the higher layer encrypted bitstream. Scrambling is applied to both the preamble (pilot) and payload segments of the transmission frame, to prevent the eavesdroppers from performing vital receiver functions such as frame synchronization and channel estimation. Additionally, a practical Key Management System (KMS) which takes care of all synchronization processes is developed and introduced. Experimental transmission scenario in fiber links is also presented and depicts the efficacy of the QKD-PLS. Moreover, another advantage of QKD exploitation to the proposed solution comes from the application of kbps-rate QKD keys which feed pseudo-random number generators, to modify the broadband modulation symbols in one-time pad, therefore significantly improving data protection.

This study investigates the impact of green roof (GR) implementations as a mitigation strategy for urban heating during an extreme heat wave event in Athens, Greece, from 28 July to 5 August 2021. Three GR scenarios were simulated, namely 100% grass coverage, 100% sedum coverage, and 50% grass coverage, using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) in conjunction with the multi-layer urban-canopy-model BEP&BEM (Building Effect Parameterization/Building Energy Model) and extra urban land-use categories from Local Climate Zones (LCZ). Based on the results, GRs alter the local heat balance in the Greater Area of Athens (GAA), leading to a total temperature reduction. The 100% grass coverage proved to be the most effective, particularly during daytime, reducing the 2 m temperature field by approximately 0.7 ∘C (mean value) in the GAA. In some locations, temperature reductions exceeded 2 ∘C, depending on the local characteristics and the direction of the prevailing winds. Grass offered superior cooling effects compared to sedum, although sedum is more resilient to dry and moderate climates. The extent of vegetation coverage played an important role in the effectiveness of GRs. Reducing the coverage by 50% significantly reduced the cooling benefits, highlighting the importance of maximizing vegetation coverage to achieve notable temperature reductions.

Background/Objectives: Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) resulting from benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. Patients with central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), Parkinson’s disease (PD), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and multiple systemic atrophy (MSA), commonly experience lower urinary tract dysfunction. Men who suffer from CNS diseases may also experience symptoms related to BPE and BOO, which pose an additional burden to their overall clinical status and result in the need for catheter use and a deterioration in quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify if prostate surgery will benefit men with CNS diseases who have been diagnosed with BPE-related BOO. Methods: The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane systematic reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from 1946 up to July 2023 for peer-reviewed publications addressing the primary outcome (success rate) and the secondary outcomes (postoperative changes in incontinence episodes, urodynamic parameters, questionnaire scores, and quality of life). In addition, the perioperative outcomes (adverse events and the need for further medical or surgical therapy) were reported. Results: A total of 1572 abstracts were screened, and 13 studies involving 1144 patients were eligible for inclusion. Six studies assessed the effect of prostate surgery for BPE-related BOO in SCI, four studies in CVA, two studies in PD, and one study in the MSA population. All studies were considered to have a high risk of bias. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was the most common de-obstruction procedure, followed by prostatic artery embolism and open prostatectomy. The overall pooled success rate was calculated as 81.4% (65–100%) in SCI, 27.1% (9–70%) in PD, and 66.7% (50–79%) in CVA populations. The risk of de novo incontinence was 24.7–50% in SCI, 20% in PD, 21–50% in CVA, and 60% in MSA population. In patients with SCI with BPE-related BOO, prostate surgery improved mean bladder compliance and detrusor filling pressure and resolved detrusor overactivity in up to 50% of patients. Improvement of free flow rate, voided volume, and post-void residual was observed in all patients. Patients with CVA had an increased risk of perioperative mortality compared to non-CVA patients, and the risk of postoperative complications was inversely proportional to the timing of the CVA insult since surgery. Conclusions: This systematic review provides an overview of the available evidence on the outcome of prostate surgery in patients with neurologic diseases and BPE-related BOO. Identifying the optimal practice was challenging due to the limited availability of high-quality studies and the high variability of the reported outcomes. Properly selected patients with neurological diseases may benefit from prostate surgery, provided that preoperative investigations indicate BPE-related BOO.

Bimetallic colloidal CoPt nanoalloys with low platinum content were successfully synthesized following a modified polyol approach. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were performed to estimate the crystal structure, morphology, and surface functionalization of the colloids, respectively, while the room-temperature magnetic properties were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The particles exhibit excellent uniformity, with a narrow size distribution, and display strong room-temperature hysteretic ferromagnetic behavior even in the as-made form. Upon annealing at elevated temperatures, progressive formation and co-existence of exchange coupled, of both chemically ordered and disordered phases significantly enhanced the room-temperature coercivity.