Dimension Of Structures Research Articles

The educator and educational continuity in the zerosei integrated system in Italy. Virtues, skills and world context

In Italy, Legislative Decree 65/2017 establishes the integrated system of education and instruction from birth to six years, effectively establishing the institutional conditions for the creation of an educational proposal that has pedagogical roots dating back to the debates on educational continuity which have crossed the Italian scientific landscape since the 1980s. This proposal from the legislator has opened the way to numerous debates regarding a series of rather complex issues concerning pedagogical, political, organizational and financial issues. In the analysis and problematization of these themes, the question of the definition of the professional figure who can/should operate, precisely, in a zero-six context seems to emerge as emblematic. This issue appears to be particularly thorny since at the moment in Italy we are in a transition phase which sees on the one hand the push towards a new integrated educational system for early childhood, on the other the persistence of old training and organizational structures which on the one hand they can be considered a limit to change, on the other hand they can prove to be a solid reference base from which to start to achieve change. In the definition of operational paths to promote the integrated zerosei system, and in the definition of the related professional figures, the theme of educational continuity appears to be central, which emerges both in relation to the internal dimension of the educational structures and in relation to the contiguity between these structures, the services, the family and the territory.

General Three-Body Problem in Conformal-Euclidean Space: New Properties of a Low-Dimensional Dynamical System

Despite the huge number of studies of the three-body problem in physics and mathematics, the study of this problem remains relevant due to both its wide practical application and taking into account its fundamental importance for the theory of dynamical systems. In addition, one often has to answer the cognitive question: is irreversibility fundamental for the description of the classical world? To answer this question, we considered a reference classical dynamical system, the general three-body problem, formulating it in conformal Euclidean space and rigorously proving its equivalence to the Newtonian three-body problem. It has been proven that a curved configuration space with a local coordinate system reveals new hidden symmetries of the internal motion of a dynamical system, which makes it possible to reduce the problem to a sixth-order system instead of the eighth order. An important consequence of the developed representation is that the chronologizing parameter of the motion of a system of bodies, which we call internal time, differs significantly from ordinary time in its properties. In particular, it more accurately describes the irreversible nature of multichannel scattering in a three-body system and other chaotic properties of a dynamical system. The paper derives an equation describing the evolution of the flow of geodesic trajectories, with the help of which the entropy of the system is constructed. New criteria for assessing the complexity of a low-dimensional dynamical system and the dimension of stochastic fractal structures arising in three-dimensional space are obtained. An effective mathematical algorithm is developed for the numerical simulation of the general three-body problem, which is traditionally a difficult-to-solve system of stiff ordinary differential equations.

Simulation of Dendrite Growth with a Diffusion-Limited Aggregation Model Validated by MRI of a Lithium Symmetric Cell during Charging

Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density but are challenged by dendrite growth, which can lead to short circuits and battery failure. Multiple models with varying degrees of accuracy and computational cost have been developed to understand and predict dendrite growth. This study presents a simple model to simulate macroscale dendrite growth on lithium metal electrodes. The model uses a 3D single-particle Diffusion-Limited Aggregation (DLA) algorithm with an electric field bias to simulate dendrite growth. The electric field bias was introduced into the model with an important parameter, namely the biasing factor c, which determines the balance between diffusion and electric field effects. Before performing the simulation with the proposed model, the dendrite growth in a lithium symmetric cell during charging was measured by sequential 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These data were then used to validate the simulation, as the dendrite structure in each measured MRI time frame was used a starting point for a new simulation, the results of which were then validated with the measured dendrite structure of the next time frame. The best agreement between the simulated and measured dendrite structures using the overlap and displacement of deposition sites metrics was obtained at the biasing factor c = 0.7. This agreement was also good in terms with the fractal dimension of the dendrite structures. The proposed method offers a simple, accurate, and scalable framework for predicting dendrite growth over long deposition periods, making it a valuable tool for studying dendrite suppression under real-world battery charging conditions.

Investigating Metric Dimension and Edge Metric Dimension of Hexagonal Boron Nitride and Carbon Nanotubes

When there is a difference in the distance between two vertices in a simple linked graph, then a vertex $x$ resolves both $u$ and $v$. If at least one vertex in $S$ distinguishes each pair of distinct vertices in $G$, then a set $S$ of vertices in $G$ is referred to as a resolving set. $G$'s metric dimension is the minimum number of vertices required in a resolving set. A subset $S$ of vertices in a simple connected graph is called an edge metric generator if each vertex can tell any two distinct edges $e_1$ and $e_2$ apart by their respective distances from each other. The edge metric dimension (EMD), denoted as $\mathrm{dim}_e(G)$, is the smallest cardinality of such a subset $S$ that serves as an edge metric generator for $G$. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the edge metric dimension (EMD) of hexagonal boron nitride and carbon nanotube structures.

Infrared nonlinear optical materials with multiple strongly ionic cations

Infrared nonlinear optical (IR-NLO) crystals with excellent properties are in extensive demand due to their important role in IR laser technology. Currently, it remains a great challenge to obtain IR-NLO materials with both high second harmonic generation (SHG) response and large laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDTs). Some structural design strategies such as ‘structural/functional regions’ have been adopted to develop new high-performance NLO materials. The covalent structural region producing SHG signals has been extensively investigated, whereas the hard cations (alkali, alkaline-earth, and rare-earth metal ions) which are responsible for improving LIDTs, have been relatively neglected. Utilizing the concept of structural/functional regions, we focus on the relation between structural regions and SHG properties in chalcogenides. Combining different kinds of hard cations can change the dimension of structures and affect the stacking of NLO-active groups. Introducing more hard cations and constructing more complex ion regions help to increase the laser damage threshold. Based on the mentioned structural strategies, guidance will be provided for developing high-performance multiple-cation materials for IR NLO applications.

Epistemological shifts, power imbalances and conflicts at documenta fifteen: decolonial cultural policy conceptions beyond Eurocentric universalism

ABSTRACT Focusing on the epistemic dimension of exclusionary institutional structures in the German cultural sector in relation to cultural production, this article searches for decolonial cultural policy conceptions that are critical of knowledge-related power imbalances and their entanglements. By taking the international art exhibition documenta fifteen in Kassel in 2022 as a case study, the paper examines the community- and collectivity-based practices and methodologies introduced by the Indonesian artist collective ruangrupa. In particular, this empirically grounded inquiry focuses on ruangrupa’s lumbung values as a proposition of epistemic pluriversality. In this way, it also reveals various conflicts that occurred before and during the fifteenth edition of the exhibition, arisen from epistemological differences in perspectives, narratives, aesthetics and artistic methodologies between colonial and capitalism-critical cultural practices and Western art institutions. Following the tenets of the decolonial turn and decolonial thought, the paper explores alternatives to the dominant Eurocentric universalism of knowledge through the example of documenta fifteen, transcending the binary of either/or and advocating pluriversality as a universal option, rather than Eurocentric universalism as a singular totality, as proposed by Walter Mignolo. Following Catherine Walsh, the quest for the recognition and dissemination of pluriversal perspectives is intrinsically linked to the search for other ways of knowing, thinking, theorising and being that resist totalising power. In doing so, the authors ultimately seek to outline some attributes of decolonial conceptions of cultural policymaking, aiming at reducing epistemological inequalities in accessing cultural production for marginalised and racialised artists and cultural practitioners.

Edge-based metric resolvability of anti-depression molecular structures and its application

Chemical graph theory represents an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of chemistry and mathematics, focusing on the analysis of various chemical structures through graph-theoretical frameworks. This area facilitates the examination of complex and extensive chemical configurations by leveraging graph theory principles. In chemical structure graphs, atoms are depicted as vertices, with edges representing the bonds between them. By employing chemical graph theory, the exploration of diverse drug compounds and intricate molecular structures becomes more manageable. A key concept in this field is the resolvability parameter, a metric derived from graph theory. It stipulates that each vertex in a structure must possess a distinct representation via elected vertices, known as a metric basis, resolving set, or locating set in different scientific contexts. The metric dimension, defined as the minimum number of vertices in the resolving set, plays a crucial role in characterizing the structural properties of chemical graphs. In this study, we discussed the edge metric dimension of structures of benzodiazepines, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazam, clonazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam, lolendazam, alferez, which are types of drug that used for the treatment of depression. We also put to use the edge metric dimension in anti-depression chemical structures, which are different types of Benzodiazepine. For application of this topic, we select the hospitals and health centers in any emergency situation. In any chronic disease situation, these chosen health centers provide all medical facilities to other hospitals efficiently only because we assigned each hospital and health center a unique code.

Functions, governance and coupling in the integrated system of interventions and social services in Italy: the intertwining of the State and a regional case

The paper proposes a reflection on social policies (which necessarily have an effect on the social work organisation), in particular on the construction and implementation of the integrated system of interventions and social services in Italy, promoted by the Framework law for the implementation of the integrated system of interventions and social services (Law no. 328 of 8 November 2000). The proposed reflection problematises this construction process in view of the fact that Constitutional Law 3/2001 reforming Title V of the Italian Constitution makes Law 328/2000 in force, but not binding on the Italian Regions. The paper aims to unravel the ill-defined and complex intertwining of the national and regional levels, choosing to analyse a regional case ‒ Sicily, a Region with a special statute in the south of Italy ‒ in order to analyse whether and how it refers to Law 328/2000. In this direction, it focuses on the inspiring principles of the regulatory framework of reference and on the governance structure that the regulatory framework and the planning acts outline through the division of tasks and functions among the public actors of the national, regional and local levels. Furthermore, the paper proposes to trace the relationship (coupling) between the institutional actors involved in the process of construction and implementation of the integrated system of interventions and social services, on the basis of four ideal-typical coupling dimensions proposed in the literature ‒ choosing to adapt them to the proposed analysis considering exclusive legislative power in the field of social policies as the dimension of institutional distinctiveness and governance structures (network decision-making process) as the dimension of responsiveness ‒ and to outline the possible effects of these dimensions on the homogenisation and fragmentation of social policies on the national territory.

3D printable spatial fractal structures undergoing auxetic elasticity

Currently simple and conventional structures are unable to meet increasingly critical and diverse applications, as well as establishment of constitutive relationship of complex structure is becoming a major challenge in materials and mechanics disciplines. To overcome these challenges, fractal structures have attracted much attention due to their abilities to establish constitutive relationships of complex structures. In this study, we design a spatial fractal framework by using high elasticity material and 3D printing method. The constitutive relationships of fractal framework are mathematically modeled. Effects of fractal levels, fractal dimension, and spatial pattern of structures on the mechanical behavior of the fractal framework and assembled spatial fractal structures are studied using both finite element analysis and experimental measurements. The constitutive relationships among stress, strain, fractal dimension, fractal levels, and spatial patterns of structures are proposed and discussed. This paper develops a novel method to establish constitutive relationships of complex structures, and provides theoretical and engineering basis for 3D printable spatial fractal structures undergoing auxetic elasticity.

Correlation between fractal characteristics of fault structures and metallogenic density in the Nanling area, South China

As fault structures exert a significant effect on metallogenic processes and mineralization, their proper characterization can assist in the determination of target areas for exploration. In this study, we apply the fractal theory on the interpretation of remote sensing images of the Nanling area, South China, to determine the relationship between fault structures and regional mineralization. Our results show that the fractal dimension (D) of fault structures in the Nanling area is 1.72, which is much higher than the regional average (1.35) for southern China. This difference reflects a strong geological tectonic activity in this region. Besides, we find that well-developed faults have a complex spatial distribution, and therefore this region is characterized by favorable metallogenic conditions with good prospecting prospects. Our results indicate the presence of a close relationship between the fractal dimension (D) and the spatial distribution of mineral deposits. Specifically, a higher D value generally corresponds to a dense distribution of ore deposits. Finally, based on regional structural and metallogenic characteristics as well as spatial coupling relationships, two target mineralization areas are identified as potential candidates for further exploration.

Prediction of complications in diabetes mellitus using machine learning models with transplanted topic model features

Purpose: This study aims to predict the progression of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) from the clinical notes through machine learning based on latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling. Particularly, 174,427 clinical notes of DM patients were collected from the electronic medical record (EMR) system of the Seoul National University Hospital outpatient clinic. Method: We developed a model to predict the development of DM complications. Topics developed by the topic model were exploited as the key feature of our machine-learning model. The proposed model generalized a correlation between topic structures and complications. Results: The model provided acceptable predictive performance for all four types of complications (diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cerebrovascular accident). Upon employing extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), we obtained the F1 scores of the predictions for each complication type as 0.844, 0.921, 0.831, and 0.762. Conclusion: This study shows that a machine learning project based on topic modeling can effectively predict the progress of a disease. Furthermore, a unique way of topic model transplanting, which matches the dimension of the topic structures of the two data sets, is presented.

Information Fusion and Metallogenic Prognosis of Gold Deposits in the Qixia Area, Northern Shandong Province, China

Analyzing and fusing information layers of exploratory parameters is a critical step for enhancing the accuracy of identifying mineral potential zones during the reconnaissance stage of mineral exploration. The Qixia area in Shandong Province is characterized by intricate geological structures and abundant mineral resources. Numerous gold polymetallic deposits have been discovered in this region, highlighting the potential for discovering more such deposits in the ore concentration zone and its adjacent areas. In this study, we focus on the Qixia area and employ the box dimension method to analyze the fractal dimension of fault structures. We investigate the relationship between orebody occurrence and fault incidence within the mining region. Furthermore, we combine fractal analysis with Fry analysis to comprehensively predict the metallogenic potential in the area. This study reveals the fractal dimension values of fault structures, demonstrating that fault structures govern the distribution of ore bodies, with NE and NW fault structures being the primary ore-hosting features. Based on thorough analysis, we hypothesize that gold deposits in this area are generally distributed along the northeastern direction. By considering mineral distribution characteristics, this study identifies five potential metallogenic prospect areas within the study region. Capitalizing on advancements in information technology and big data, digital geology has gained prominence in prospecting and prediction. To this end, we construct a multi-information comprehensive prospecting model based on the structure-geochemical anomaly-mineralization alteration, employing the convolutional neural network (CNN) model for quantitative estimation of regional gold mineral resources. The findings validate the CNN model’s robust prediction performance in this area, leading to the determination of five prediction prospects. We observe a notable congruence between the two methods, offering significant insights for subsequent exploration endeavors in the region.

Effect of flow structures on the transport of gametes in broadcast-spawning sea urchin

Broadcasted fertilization for the reproduction of invertebrates is accomplished through a complicated interaction between spawned gametes and the surrounding flows. Most gametes encounter each other in the vicinity of the sea urchin body where unique flow structures develop, and so analysis of local flow characteristics allows us to better understand the effect of flow on the fertilization process. This study applied a Lagrangian framework based on computational fluid dynamics to estimate the fertilization rate of eggs in a range of flow velocities (0.025–0.2 m/s) and the fertilization rate was the highest at U = 0.1 m/s, which is an intermediate flow speed. Among the four classified sub-zones, such as the aboral surface, wake, substrate, and water column, fertilization occurred most frequently in the wake and substrate regions. The relationship between fertilization rate and flow structures was investigated using three parameters: 1) standardized Morisita index to quantify the pattern of gamete distribution, 2) length of the recirculation zone to specify the areas where the eggs are most frequently fertilized, and 3) integral scale to estimate the dimension of vortex structures downstream. The results of this study show that the fertilization rate is higher inside the recirculation zone, especially when strong vortex structures are observed because the flow provides a favorable condition for the gametes to aggregate and collide with each other.

Multiscale optical phase fluctuations link disorder strength and fractal dimension of cell structure

Optical methods for examining cellular structure based on endogenous contrast rely on analysis of refractive index changes to discriminate cell phenotype. These changes can be visualized using techniques such as phase contrast microscopy, detected by light scattering, or analyzed numerically using quantitative phase imaging. The statistical variations of refractive index at the nanoscale can be quantified using disorder strength, a metric seen to increase with neoplastic change. In contrast, the spatial organization of these variations is typically characterized using a fractal dimension, which is also seen to increase with cancer progression. Here, we seek to link these two measurements using multiscale measurements of optical phase to calculate disorder strength and in turn to determine the fractal dimension of the structures. First, quantitative phase images are analyzed to show that the disorder strength metric changes with resolution. The trend of disorder strength with length scales is analyzed to determine the fractal dimension of the cellular structures. Comparison of these metrics is presented for different cell lines with varying phenotypes including MCF10A, MCF7, BT474, HT-29, A431, and A549 cell lines, in addition to three cell populations with modified phenotypes. Our results show that disorder strength and fractal dimension can both be obtained with quantitative phase imaging and that these metrics can independently distinguish between different cell lines. Furthermore, their combined use presents a new approach for better understanding cellular restructuring during different pathways.

Mapping the shape and dimension of three-dimensional Lagrangian coherent structures and invariant manifolds

We introduce maps of Cauchy–Green strain tensor eigenvalues to barycentric coordinates to quantify and visualize the full geometry of three-dimensional deformation in stationary and non-stationary fluid flows. As a natural extension of Lagrangian coherent structure diagnostics, which provide separate scalar fields and a one-dimensional quantification of fluid deformation, our barycentric mapping visualizes the role of all three Cauchy–Green eigenvalues (or rates of stretching) in a single plot through a novel stretching coordinate system. The coordinate system is based on the distance from three distinct limiting states of deformation that correspond with the dimension of the underlying invariant manifolds. One-dimensional axisymmetric deformation (sphere to rod deformation) corresponds to one-dimensional unstable manifolds, two-dimensional axisymmetric deformation (sphere to disk deformation) corresponds to two-dimensional unstable manifolds and the rare three-dimensional isometric case (sphere to sphere translation and rotation) corresponds to shear-free elliptic Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs). We provide methods to visualize the degree to which fluid deformation approximates these limiting states, and tools to quantify differences between flows based on the compositional geometry of invariant manifolds in the flow. We also develop a simple analogue for bilinearly representing and plotting both rates of stretching and rotation as a single vector. As with other LCS techniques, these diagnostics define frame-indifferent material features in the flow. We provide multiple computed examples of LCS and momentum transport barriers, and show advantages over other coherent structure diagnostics.

Thermoelectricity in bilayer graphene superlattices

Low-dimensional thermoelectricity is based on the redistribution-accumulation of the electron density of states by reducing the dimension of thermoelectric structures. Superlattices are the archetype of these structures due to the formation of energy minibands and minigaps. Here, we study for the first time the thermoelectric response of gated bilayer graphene superlattices (GBGSLs). The study is based on the four-band effective Dirac Hamiltonian, the hybrid matrix method and the Landauer-Büttiker formalism. We analyze the Seebeck coefficient, the power factor, figure of merit, output power and efficiency for different temperatures and different superlattice structural parameters. We pay special attention to the impact of not only minibands and minigaps on the thermoelectric properties, but also to intrinsic resonances in bilayer graphene structures such as Breit-Wigner, Fano and hybrid resonances. In particular, we analyze the interplay between minibands and Fano resonances as a possible mechanism to improve the thermoelectric response of GBGSLs. We also compute the density of states to know if the redistribution-accumulation of electron states is implicated in the thermoelectric response of GBGSLs.

The emotional component of inner speech: A pilot exploratory fMRI study

Inner speech is one of the most important human cognitive processes. Nevertheless, until now, many aspects of inner speech, particularly the emotional characteristics of inner speech, remain poorly understood. The main objectives of our study are to identify the neural substrate for the emotional (prosodic) dimension of inner speech and brain structures that control the suppression of expression in inner speech. To achieve these goals, a pilot exploratory fMRI study was carried out on 33 people. The subjects listened to pre-recorded phrases or individual words pronounced with different emotional connotations, after which they were internally spoken with the same emotion or with suppression of expression (neutral). The results show that there is an emotional component in inner speech, which is encoded by similar structures as in spoken speech. The unique role of the caudate nuclei in the suppression of expression in the inner speech was also shown.

A modelling technique to investigate the effects of quasi-static loads on guided-wave based structural health monitoring systems

Guided wave-based methods for damage detection have been widely investigated as techniques to identify damages and their dimensions in structures. Most of the research activities presented in literature have been performed focusing on simple case studies in a laboratory environment, whereas Structural Health Monitoring systems should be investigated under operational loading conditions. When subjected to an operational load, propagation mechanisms can change, suffering from the interaction between propagating signal and scattered waves due to an initial stress-strain state, and so leading to errors in damage sites estimation. In this work, a numerical model, based on Finite Element approach, is proposed to investigate the effects of an initial stress-strain state, induced by a quasi-static load, on guided-wave propagation mechanisms. The case study consists of a real structure, a blended winglet of a general aviation aircraft. The methodology was assessed with reference to different scenarios.

Microstructured Magnetoactive Elastomers for Switchable Wettability.

We demonstrate the control of wettability of non-structured and microstructured magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) by magnetic field. The synthesized composite materials have a concentration of carbonyl iron particles of 75 wt.% (≈27 vol.%) and three different stiffnesses of the elastomer matrix. A new method of fabrication of MAE coatings on plastic substrates is presented, which allows one to enhance the response of the apparent contact angle to the magnetic field by exposing the particle-enriched side of MAEs to water. A magnetic field is not applied during crosslinking. The highest variation of the contact angle from (113 ± 1)° in zero field up to (156 ± 2)° at about 400 mT is achieved in the MAE sample with the softest matrix. Several lamellar and pillared MAE structures are fabricated by laser micromachining. The lateral dimension of surface structures is about 50 µm and the depth varies between 3 µm and 60 µm. A systematic investigation of the effects of parameters of laser processing (laser power and the number of passages of the laser beam) on the wetting behavior of these structures in the absence and presence of a magnetic field is performed. In particular, strong anisotropy of the wetting behavior of lamellar structures is observed. The results are qualitatively discussed in the framework of the Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter models. Finally, directions of further research on magnetically controlled wettability of microstructured MAE surfaces are outlined. The obtained results may be useful for the development of magnetically controlled smart surfaces for droplet-based microfluidics.

Multifunctional logic gates based on resonant transmission at atomic-plasmonic structure

Regarding the confinement of light at nanoscale dimensions in plasmonic structures, we try to show the impact of hot atomic vapor spectroscopy on a miniaturized scale. In such a combined structure, resonant coupling of the atom to plasmonic mode provides diverse ways to control the optical response of the system. We fabricate an atomic plasmonic cell based on Rubidium atomic vapor and gold plasmonic thin film onto the Kretschmann setup to introduce resonant coupling (EIT-like) of atom-plasmons as a tunable all-optical bandpass filter, switch, or logic gates. These all-optical devices such as NOR and XNOR logic gates are well done based on the filter by incidence angle of light, temperature as well as the external magnetic field. We believe the possibility of easy modulation of atomic susceptibility, not only through direct alteration on atoms but also through common methods available for modulation of plasmonic mode, has the potential to design and fabricate modern all-optical devices.