Greater Control Research Articles

Dynamic photomask directed lithography based on electrically stimulated nematic liquid crystal architectures

Lithography technology is a powerful tool for preparing complex microstructures through projecting patterns from static templates with permanent features onto samples. To simplify fabrication and alignment processes, dynamic photomask for multiple configurations preparation becomes increasingly noteworthy. Hereby, we report a dynamic photomask by assembling the electrically stimulated nematic liquid crystal (NLC) into multifarious architectures. This results in reconfigurable and switchable diffraction patterns due to the hybrid phase arising from the NLC molecular orientations. These diffraction patterns are adopted as metamask to produce multiple microstructures with height gradients in one-step exposure and hierarchical microstructures through multiple in-situ exposures using standard photolithography. The fabricated pattern has feature size about 3.2 times smaller than the electrode pattern and can be transferred onto silicon wafer. This strategy can be extended to design diverse microstructures with great flexibility and controllability, offers a promising avenue for fabricating metamaterials via complex structures with simplified lithography processes.

Developments and Applications of Field-Effect Transistor

This review article delves into the development and future prospects of Field-Effect Transistors (FETs), tracing their evolution from the nascent theoretical concept proposed by Julius Lilienfeld in 1925. Over the years, FETs have traversed significant milestones, marking their progression from fundamental ideas to practical applications. Key among these milestones are the advent of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor FET (MOSFET), which revolutionized the electronics industry, the Fin FET, offering enhanced performance through three-dimensional structures, and the GateAll-Around FET (GAA-FET), promising even greater control and efficiency. It provides a systematic comparison of these technologies, dissecting their structural differences, evaluating performance metrics such as speed, power consumption, and scalability, and exploring their potential applications across diverse domains. While recent advancements in FET technology have primarily focused on structural innovations to mitigate the short channel effect, researchers are also actively exploring alternative avenues, including the use of novel materials and refined fabrication techniques, to further enhance FET performance and unlock new possibilities for electronic devices. This multifaceted approach underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of FET technology, positioning it as a cornerstone for future advancements in electronics.

Editor’s Note: In Defense of Freedoms: Decentralized Networks as a Shield Against AI-Powered State Surveillance in Smart Cities

Associate Editor Ahmed Alrawi discusses the advancement of AI-powered state surveillance in smart cities and how they have sparked concerns. Decentralized systems may present a solution. Dispersed dat and systems make it more difficult for government security agencies and urban administrators to conduct widespread surveillance but also empower individuals with greater control over their personal data.

Liquid Crystal Enables Extraordinarily Precise Tunability for a High‐Q Ultra‐Narrowband Filter Based on a Quasi‐BIC Metasurface

AbstractNotch filters usually involve high costs, great difficulties in processing, and very limited tunability. By coating a nematic liquid crystal (LC) layer onto a well‐designed quasi‐bound states in the continuum (quasi‐BICs) metasurface, this work designs and demonstrates a high‐Q tunable filtering system with precise tunability in the near‐infrared spectral range. Optimal structural parameters and the filtering performance are first determined by numerical simulations and then confirmed in experiments. The precise tunability is enabled by modifying the LC molecules’ principal axes with an applied voltage, where the least distinguishable central wavelength interval is smaller than 0.3 nm, and the largest Q factor extracted from experiments can be ≈256.1. Compared to most of the commercial notch filters that work in the visible region and have no tunability, this work achieves an ultra‐narrowband filtering system that features low manufacture difficulty and cost, and great control of light propagation. The proposed design also opens new avenues for developing BIC‐based high‐Q devices with enhanced signal‐to‐noise ratio and multifunctional properties.

Blockchain Based Decentralized Storage Drive

The "Decentralized Storage Drive" project introduces a secure, blockchain-based platform for decentralized data storage and sharing. By integrating the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) for decentralized storage, the platform ensures that data remains immutable and resistant to censorship. Solidity smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum blockchain provide robust mechanisms for access control, allowing users to manage data ownership and permissions without relying on centralized authorities. A React-based front- end interface simplifies user interaction, enabling seamless data upload and access management. This project addresses critical issues related to data privacy, security, and ownership, offering a user-friendly solution that empowers individuals with greater control over their digital assets. Throughout the development of this project, a focus on security, user control, and decentralization has been paramount. The rigorous testing of smart contracts and the integration of secure authentication methods ensure that the platform is both reliable and resilient to potential threats. The "Decentralized Storage Drive" represents a significant advancement in the field of decentralized applications, demonstrating the practical application of blockchain technology in everyday data management. Key Words: Decentralized Storage, Blockchain Technology, IPFS(InterPlanetary File System), Smart Contracts, Data Integrity, Access Control

Improving global gross primary productivity estimation using two-leaf light use efficiency model by considering various environmental factors via machine learning

Distinguishing gross primary productivity (GPP) into sunlit (GPPsu) and shaded (GPPsh) components is critical for understanding the carbon exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems under climate change. Recently, the two-leaf light use efficiency (TL-LUE) model has proven effective for simulating global GPPsu and GPPsh. However, no known physical method has focused on integrating the overall constraint of intricate environmental factors on photosynthetic capability, and seasonal differences in the foliage clumping index (CI), which most likely influences GPP estimation in LUE models. Here, we propose the TL-CRF model, which uses the random forest technique to integrate various environmental variables, particularly for terrestrial water storage (TWS), into the TL-LUE model. Moreover, we consider seasonal differences in CI at a global scale. Based on 267 global eddy covariance flux sites, we explored the functional response of vegetation photosynthesis to key environmental factors, and trained and evaluated the TL-CRF model. The TL-CRF model was then used to simulate global eight-day GPP, GPPsu, and GPPsh from 2002 to 2020. The results show that the relative prediction error of environmental stress factors on the maximum LUE is reduced by approximately 52 % when these factors are integrated via the RF model. Thus the accuracy of global GPP estimation (R2 = 0.87, RMSE = 0.94 g C m−2 d−1, MAE = 0.61 g C m−2 d−1) in the TL-CRF model is greater than that (R2 = 0.76, RMSE = 2.18 g C m−2 d−1, MAE = 1.50 g C m−2 d−1) in the TL-LUE model, although this accuracy awaits further investigation among the released GPP products. TWS exerts the greatest control over ecosystem photosynthesis intensity, making it a suitable water indicator. Furthermore, the results confirm an optimal minimum air temperature for photosynthesis. Overall, these findings indicate a promising method for producing a new global GPP dataset, advancing our understanding of the dynamics and interactions between photosynthesis and environmental factors.

Blockchain and decentralized finance (DEFI): Disrupting traditional banking and financial systems

Blockchain technology and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) are revolutionizing traditional banking and financial systems by eliminating the need for intermediaries, reducing transaction costs, and fostering more inclusive financial services. Unlike centralized systems that rely on trusted third parties such as banks and payment processors, DeFi operates on decentralized networks powered by blockchain technology. This innovation enables peer-to-peer financial transactions, smart contracts, and automated protocols, allowing for secure and transparent exchanges without the need for intermediaries. The disruption caused by DeFi challenges the conventional financial system by providing users with greater control over their assets and access to a broad range of financial services, including lending, borrowing, trading, and asset management. Through blockchain’s inherent features such as immutability, cryptographic security, and transparency, DeFi systems ensure trust less transactions, reducing the risk of fraud and errors while enhancing privacy. This paper explores the transformative potential of blockchain and DeFi in reshaping the financial landscape, addressing key benefits such as financial inclusion, the democratization of wealth, and more efficient global financial markets. However, the rise of DeFi also brings challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, technological risks, and the need for robust security measures to prevent fraud and ensure user protection. As DeFi continues to evolve, its impact on the future of finance is profound, offering both opportunities and risks that must be carefully navigated.

Extending the Pre-ordered Precursor Reduction strategy to L10 ternary alloys: the case of MnFePt

L10 nanostructured alloys continue to attract a great deal of attention due to their advanced physico-chemical properties arising from the peculiar arrangement of the atoms in the tetragonal unit cell. Efforts have been focused on synthesizing and optimizing L10 3d-5d binary alloys, with the incorporation of a third element to enhance the chemical order degree and/or modulate the physical properties. Among the family members, magnetic L10 MnFePt ternary alloys are of great relevance owing to the possibility to tune the magnetic properties to meet the requirements of many applications including data storage/processing, sensors, catalysis, and biomedicine. In this work, a direct, effective and sustainable strategy, called Pre-ordered Precursor Reduction (PPR), was exploited for the first time to synthesize highly-ordered L10 MnFePt ternary alloy nanoparticles by thermal decomposition in reductive atmosphere of MnxFe1-x(H2O)6PtCl6 crystal salts whose crystallographic structure resembles the specific atomic arrangement of the L10 phase. Despite the higher complexity with respect to the binary system, the peculiar atomic arrangement of the elements in the precursor crystalline salt allows a great control over the structural and magnetic properties. By modulating the process conditions and the initial chemical composition it is possible to finely tune the magnetic properties thus proving the high versatility and efficiency of the PPR approach to synthesize highly ordered L10 ternary alloys with controlled properties.

Neural dynamics underlying the illusion of control during reward processing.

The illusion of control refers to a behavioral bias in which people believe they have greater control over completely stochastic events than they actually do, leading to an inflated estimate of reward probability than objective probability warrants. In this study, we examined how reward system is modulated by the illusion of control through the lens of neural dynamics. Participants in a behavioral task exhibited a classical illusion of control, assigning a higher value to the gambling wheels they picked themselves than to those given randomly. An event-related potential study of the same task revealed that this behavioral bias is associated with reduced reward anticipation, as indexed by the stimulus-preceding negativity, diminished positive prediction error signals, as reflected by the reward positivity, and enhanced motivational salience, as revealed by the P300. Our findings offer a mechanistic understanding of the illusion of control in terms of reward dynamics.

Measuring Infant Feeding Health Literacy: A Gap Analysis between Communication Policy and Practice

Health literacy is often associated with health outcomes as people with higher health literacy are found to have better health conditions. Past researchers conclude that people with higher health literacy have greater control over the means of their health determinants resulting in better health decisions. Therefore, it is imperative to understand whether government health communication policies are impacting the health literacy levels of its citizens. Moreover, communication plays a vital role in translating policies into practice. However, sub-optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices among rural mothers suggest gaps in the current communication strategies. Therefore, this study is objectivized to analyze the current IYCF communication policies for the rural mothers of Gaya, India. For this purpose, an analysis of the IYCF communication policies followed by observation of the key phenomenon, interviews with relevant stakeholders and focus group discussions with the rural mothers were carried out to identify the barriers in the current communication strategies. The study also tried to assess the impact of IYCF communication policies on rural mothers by unveiling their current level of IYCF health literacy.

Evolution of Food Trade Networks from a Comparative Perspective: An Examination of China, the United States, Russia, the European Union, and African Countries.

In the intricate landscape of the global food system, a nuanced understanding of dynamic evolution patterns and driving mechanisms of food trade network is essential for advancing insights into the African food trade and maintaining the food security of Africa. This paper constructs a framework for analyzing the food trade network from a comparative perspective by comparing and analyzing the evolution of food trade networks in China, the United States, Russia, the European Union, and African countries. The development trend of food trade between China, Russia, the United States, the European Union, and African countries is relatively good. China, the United States, Russia, and the European Union export far more food to African countries than they import, and bilateral food trade plays an important role in alleviating food supply shortages in Africa. The food trade networks between China, the United States, Russia, the European Union, and African countries exhibit a butterfly-shaped structure centered in Africa, and the overall intensity of bilateral trade linkages is gradually increasing. France has the greatest control over the food trade network between China, the United States, Russia, the European Union, and African countries, and the influence of the United States on the food trade network between China, the United States, Russia, the European Union, and African countries is increasing. China's independence in the food trade network between China, the United States, Russia, the European Union, and African countries is enhanced, but its control ability is limited. The impact of differences in total population, differences in food production, and geographical borders on the trade network between China, the United States, the European Union, and African countries tends to decrease, while the influence of differences in the proportion of agricultural employment, differences in the arable land available for food production, and institutional distance tends to increase.

EFEITOS DO SUCO DE UVA TINTO INTEGRAL NA PRESSÃO ARTERIAL DE REPOUSO DE MULHERES CLIMATÉRICAS

Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is a disease that, in most cases, involves genetic factors and lifestyle that affects approximately 21.4% of the Brazilian population, with 55% of this number represented by women and individuals over 75 years, accounting for 22.6% of deaths in Brazil. In women, the increased risk of developing SAH occurs in the period corresponding to the climacteric. Considered as a moment of transition between a woman's reproductive and non-reproductive period, the climacteric occurs between 40 and 60 years and involves the following phases: premenopause, perimenopause and postmenopause. It is known that treatment for SAH is more effective when it involves nutritional and lifestyle strategies combined with drug treatment. Among the alternatives, studies indicate the existence of a hypotensive effect in substances derived from grapes. Thus, this study aimed to observe the effect of ingestion of whole red grape juice on resting blood pressure in climacteric and hypertensive women in the interior of São Paulo. This is a randomized controlled, exploratory study, which included women aged 40 to 60 years with more than three months of amenorrhea and at least two climacteric symptoms. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: Control Group (CG) and Intervention Group (IG) to ingest 190 ml of whole grape juice for 28 days. The volunteers answered self-administered questionnaires and underwent physical examinations and measurement of resting blood pressure data during the first and last visit to compare the effect of the intervention. After the experimental protocol, it was observed that the protocol and dose used were able to cause a decrease in diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group, without causing significant changes in other parameters. Despite the need for further studies with greater control in the organization of groups, in addition to more doses and treatment times, this work corroborates the data that whole grape juice is a potential aid in controlling blood pressure in postmenopausal women.

Assessing the effect of offline topography on electrical resistivity measurements: insights from flood embankments

Summary Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), a geophysical imaging method, is commonly used on flood embankments (dykes or levees) to characterise their internal structure and look for defects. These surveys often use a single line of electrodes to enable 2D imaging through the embankment crest, an approach that enables rapid and efficient surveying compared to 3D surveys. However, offline variations in topography can introduce artefacts into these 2D images, by affecting the measured resistivity data. Such topographic effects have only been explored on a site-specific basis. If the topographic effects can be assessed for a distribution of embankment geometries (e.g. slope angle and crest width) and resistivity variations, it would allow for targeted correction procedures and improved survey design. To investigate topographic effects on ERT measurements, we forward-modelled embankments with different trapezoidal cross-sections sat atop a flat foundation layer with contrasting resistivity values. Each was compared to a corresponding flat model with the same vertical resistivity distribution. The modelling workflow was designed to minimise the effect of forward modelling errors on the calculation of topographic effect. We ran 1872 unique embankment forward models, representing 144 geometries, each with 13 different resistivity contrasts. Modelling results show that offline topography affects the tested array types (Wenner-Schlumberger, Dipole-Dipole, and Multiple-Gradient) in slightly different ways, but the magnitudes are similar, so all are equally suitable for embankment surveys. Three separate mechanisms are found to cause topographic effects. The dominant mechanism is caused by the offline topography confining the electrical current flow, increasing the measured transfer resistance from the embankment model. The two other mechanisms, previously unidentified, decrease the measured transfer resistances from the embankment model compared to a layered half-space but only affect embankments with specific geometries and resistivity distributions. Overall, we found that for typical embankment geometries and resistivity distributions, the resistivity distribution has a greater control on the magnitude of the topographic effect than the exact embankment geometry: the subsurface resistivity distribution cannot be neglected. 2D inversions are suitable when both the embankment is more resistive than the foundations and when the embankment's cross-sectional area is greater than 4 m2/m2 (area scaled to an embankment with a height of 1 m). Topographic corrections, 3D data acquisition or 3D forward models are required when these conditions are not met. These are demonstrated using field data from an embankment at Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Improving the accuracy of the resistivity values in ERT models will enable more accurate ground models, better integration of resistivity data with geotechnical datasets, and will improve the translation of resistivity values into geotechnical properties. Such developments will contribute to a better characterised and safer flood defence network.

The Influence of Interest in Using M-Banking on the Gen-Z Generation

The aim of this research is to determine the influence of interest in using m- banking on generation Z. Mobile banking is a bank payment transaction service that allows customers to carry out various transactions using smartphones. Generation Z manages their money using mobile banking which provides ease of access, greater control over personal finances, and a more efficient and secure banking experience. Data collection was carried out through primary and secondary data. Data collection through interviews, questionnaires and documentation studies. The research method uses quantitative methods with a sample size of 100 students. Data testing was carried out by carrying out classic assumption tests, regression tests and hypothesis testing using SPSS. The results of the research show that m-banking has a positive and significant influence on Generation Z. Increasing education and socialization features are very necessary, considering that ease of use and perceived benefits play an important role in the adoption of this technology. Service providers can collaborate with campuses to hold seminars or workshops that provide students with a deeper understanding of the benefits and effective ways of using M-Banking

Empowering Citizens Through Translated Patient Summary Access and Sharing in Digital Health Ecosystems.

This paper introduces a mobile framework designed to enhance citizen access to and sharing of health data, aiming to empower individuals with greater control over their personal health information. Accessing and sharing health-related data is essential in everyday scenarios, from routine doctor visits or viewing your health on your own to emergencies where swift access can save lives. It addresses the challenges posed by the fragmented nature of healthcare services and the barriers of language differences in patient records. The framework utilizes the EU eHealth Digital Service Infrastructure (eHDSI) OpenNCP for translating patient summaries and the FHIR Smart Health Links Protocol for secure sharing. A pilot study with 40 participants was conducted to assess the usability and effectiveness of the app, revealing a strong demand among citizens for such innovative health services.

Linear stability analysis of a Couette-Poiseuille flow: A fluid layer overlying an anisotropic and inhomogeneous porous layer

We investigate the temporal stability analysis of a two-layer flow inside a channel that is driven by pressure. The channel consists of a fluid layer overlying an inhomogeneous and anisotropic porous layer. The flow contains a Couette component due to the movement of the horizontal impermeable upper and lower walls binding the two layers. These walls of the channel move at an identical speed but in opposite directions. The flow dynamics for the porous medium are modelled by the Darcy-Brinkman equations, and the Navier-Stokes equations are employed to describe the motion within the fluid layer. The hydrodynamic instability of infinitesimal disturbance is investigated using Orr-Sommerfeld analysis. The corresponding eigenvalue problem is derived and solved numerically using the Chebyshev polynomial-based spectral collocation method. Results reveal that stability features are strongly affected by the axial and spatial permeability variations of the porous medium. Further, the ratio of the depth of the fluid layer to the porous layer and the strength of the Couette component play a crucial role. The destabilization of the perturbed system is noticed by strengthening the Couette flow component. The combined impact of increasing the anisotropy parameter and depth ratio, decreasing Darcy number, and reducing the inhomogeneity factor stabilizes the system. This facilitates us to have greater control over the instability characteristics of such fluid-porous configuration by suitably adjusting various flow parameters. The outcome will be beneficial in relevant applications for enhancing or suppressing the instability of perturbation waves, as preferable.

The personalization of government: concept and comparative analysis

ABSTRACT The personalization of politics is one of the most important political phenomena of our time. Following the decline of traditional party government, various political systems have seen a radical shift of power from collective to individual actors. In this context, one of the main forms of the personalization of politics is the personalization of government. Heads of government have become more central to democratic executives due to their direct relationship with citizens, their greater control over government action, and structural changes in the institutional setting in which they operate. Although a large body of comparative evidence seems to support this trend, the existing literature has not yet offered a precise conceptual lens through which to do a detailed analysis of this transformation over time. This article introduces the concept of “monocratic government” as a way to study the personalization of government in terms of the ability of leaders to create consensus and use their powers effectively, and to analyse other contextual factors such as the party-system and executive-legislative relations. The last section analyses the Italian Republic over different time periods, paving the way for further comparative analysis.

The Best of Both Worlds: Affiliation and Agency in Traditional and Gig Work Choices

The opportunity to construct a career and the prevalence of virtual work are hallmarks of the extant environment that makes career decisions and workforce recruitment increasingly complex. We seek to understand jobseekers’ choices in this context, which allows for great personal control and independence. We draw on the career self-management stream of social-cognitive career theory to inform our examination of the influences of certain applicant work preferences and individual characteristics on preferences for gig or traditional work and related job-seeking behaviors. Findings from this study indicate that a sense of agency and need for affiliation are significantly related to new and transitional job seekers’ willingness to pursue face-to-face versus gig work opportunities. Additionally, this work revealed a positive relationship between a preference for face-to-face and gig work options, indicating that incorporating a combination of the two may be optimal for employees and employers.

Some parameters of hydroponic and soil Rhubarb cultivated in the Ararat Valley of Armenia

Background: Today, the rhubarb plant is selectively included in the diet. Rhubarb juice offers a unique flavor with a surprising range of potential health benefits. Rhubarb is rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for its red hue. These antioxidants are believed to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, potentially aiding in the fight against various health concerns. Rhubarb juice is an excellent source of vitamins C, and K, crucial for bone health and blood clotting, and also contains vitamin A, contributing to healthy skin and vision. Context and purpose of this study: to investigate for the first time the cultivation of rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) in the Ararat Valley of Armenia in both hydroponic and soil conditions. The research focuses on identifying the optimal growth period to maximize key quality indicators of rhubarb stalks and juice for food and medicinal applications: Brix value, juice density, total titratable acidity, and vitamin C content. Results: Hydroponic cultivation significantly (by three folds) increased the fresh weight of rhubarb petioles (stalks) compared to soil plants. The maximum accumulation of vitamin C in hydroponic plants was observed at the beginning (June) and end (September) of the growing season (19.4 and 17.3 mg%) respectively. However, there was not a significant difference in vitamin C content during July and August (14.3 and 14.0 mg% respectively). Soil plants showed the highest accumulation of vitamin C in September (41.5 mg%), exceeding the values in June by 1.2 times and from July to August by 1.5 times. Total titratable acidity showed seasonal variations: the highest acidity (1.2 to 1.3-fold higher) of hydroponic rhubarb juice was observed in July compared to other months. Soil-grown rhubarb reached peak acidity at the beginning of the growing season (approximately 1.2 times higher than in other months). The Brixo value and juice density peaked in July for hydroponic rhubarb and in August for soil rhubarb. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of hydroponics for maximizing rhubarb yield and potentially influencing the vitamin C content and acidity profile throughout the growing season in Armenia. The results of further research could be used to optimize nutrient composition and environmental parameters for even greater control over rhubarb quality for food and medicinal purposes. Keywords: Vitamin C, Total titratable acidity, Brixo, Juice density

Leader, Lead Thyself: The Benefit of Contract Grading in Social Work Leadership Education

ABSTRACT Contract grading provides graduate-level students with greater control and autonomy within the learning process. The contract grading approach requires students to take greater responsibility for achieving course learning outcomes as well as allowing learners to adjust the style and focus of assignments to meet their own unique needs and desires. Within this article, contract grading is applied to social work leadership education and explored as a parallel learning process designed to reflect some of the fundamentals of leadership in action while also teaching about leadership. A review of the scholarship of contract grading, an example of the application of the method, and a reflection on potential challenges that may result are also included in the article.