Intense EM Research Articles

Reconnecting sustainability reporting with earnings management: empirical evidence from Kuwait

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting on accruals-based earnings management (AEM) activities in Kuwait.Design/methodology/approachBased on a random-effects regression analysis, this study examines the relationship between sustainability reporting (SR), as determined by the intensity degree method and EM, as measured by AEM, using panel data from 37 listed Kuwaiti companies on the Kuwait Stock Exchange between 2017 and 2021.FindingsEmpirical results reveal that SR affects EM in Kuwait. It appears that socially responsible Kuwaiti firms concentrate their efforts on fostering transparency and integrity in their interactions with stakeholders rather than engaging in misleading practices.Practical implicationsThis study suggests a range of practical implications in Kuwait and similar economies. The findings highlight that SR can be advantageous for individuals, policymakers and corporations by promoting positive impact, addressing sustainability targets, building stakeholder confidence, reducing the risk of exposure to environmental, social and ethical liabilities and enhancing public well-being.Originality/valueThis study creates a unique ESG data set for Kuwait, unavailable in academic research. Building upon previous study that focused only on the environmental aspect (Gerged et al., 2020), this research, however, adopts a broader approach by investigating the overall impact of ESG reporting on EM in Kuwait, making it the first study to explore this relationship in this country.

Thermally Conductive and UV-EMI Shielding Electronic Textiles for Unrestricted and Multifaceted Health Monitoring

HighlightsAg nanoparticles are evenly plated on BN-embedded fibers as a thermally conductive sheath, bridging the insulating interface between fibers to construct a 3D heat transfer network.The LM-printed e-textile shows outstanding capability for the monitoring of human ECG, sEMG, and EEG signals even under intense EM interference, when commercial electrodes cannot work properly.The e-textile simultaneously manifests excellent EMI shielding (SET > 65, X-band) and UV protection (UPF = 143.1) performance, thus protecting the device and skin from harmful radiation.

Enhancing visible-light photocatalytic performance of Au/TiO2catalysts through light reflection-promoted optical absorption with oriented anatase mesocrystals

Au NPs effectively harvest light through absorption of light back-reflected from <001> oriented TiO2mesocrystals supported on Ti foil. The enhanced light absorption facilitates the generation of electron–hole pairs and intensive EM fields that realizes efficient photocatalysis.

Physical performance and loading for six playing positions in elite female football: full-game, end-game, and peak periods.

The present study investigated the position-specific match demands and heart rate response of female elite footballers, with special focus on the full-game, end-game, and peak-intensity periods. In total, 217 match observations were performed in 94 players from all eight teams of the best Danish Women's League, that is, goalkeepers (GK, n=10), central defenders (CD, n=23), full-backs (FB, n=18), central midfielders (CM, n=28), external midfielders (EM, n=18), and forwards (FW, n=11). Positional data (GPS; 10Hz Polar Team Pro) and HR responses were collected. HRmean and HRpeak were 87%-89% and 98%-99% of HRmax , for outfield players, with no positional differences. CM, EM, and FB covered 8%-14% greater (P<.001) match distances than CD. EM, FW, FB, and CM performed 40%-64% more (P<.05) high-speed running and 41%-95% more (P<.01) very-high-speed running (VHSR) than CD. From the first to the last 15-minute period, total distance, except for FW, number of VHSR, except FB, peak speed and sum of accelerations and sum of decelerations decreased (P<.05) for all outfield positions. In the most intense 5-minute period, EM, FB, and CM performed 25%-34% more (P<.01) HSR than CD, whereas EM, FW, and FB performed 36%-49% more (P<.01) VHSR than CD. In conclusion, competitive elite female matches impose high physical demands on all outfield playing positions, with high aerobic loading throughout matches and marked declines in high-speed running and intense accelerations and decelerations toward the end of games. Overall physical match demands are much lower for central defenders than for the other outfield playing positions, albeit this difference is minimized in peak-intensity periods.

Ultra-thin and high temperature NiCrAlY alloy metamaterial enhanced radar absorbing coating

Abstract In this article, we present an enhanced metamaterial radar absorbing coating (MRAC) which possesses good electromagnetic absorption performance and ultra-thin thickness at high temperatures. The absorber is composed of radar EM absorbing coating and a layer of metamaterial. The metamaterial layer on the coating can enhance the absorption in two aspects. First, due to the coupling between the high permittivity coating and metamaterial layer, the impedance can match a smaller thickness better than a coating alone. Meanwhile, intense EM fields appear the surface of metamaterial pattern, which can also promote the absorption. The periodic pattern is made of special alloy which provides high temperature resistance quality. It is worth noting that the processing merely requires traditional plasma spraying, which ensures the practicability and feasibility. A 0.96 mm thick sample can achieve EM reflection loss below -5 dB at 800 °C over the whole X band. The experimental results are also consistent with the simulation, which successfully verifies the feasibility and proposes a competitive design for radar absorbing coatings (RAC).

Introduction of a Ground Penetrating Radar System for Subsurface Investigation in Balik Pulau, Penang Island

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) are non-invasive geophysical techniques that enhance studies of the shallow subsurface. The purposes of this work are to study the subsurface composition of Balik Pulau area in Penang Island and to identify shallow subsurface geology features. Data acquisition for GPR is by using 250 MHz antenna to cover 200m survey line at Jalan Tun Sardon, Balik Pulau. GPR survey was divided into ten sections at 20 m each. Results from GPR shows that there is low EM reflection along the first 40 m of the survey line. Intense EM reflections were recorded along the distance 40 m to 100 m. Less noticeable radar reflections recorded along 100 m to 200 m distance of the survey line. As a conclusion, clear signal of radar wave reflection indicates dry region of the subsurface. Meanwhile, low signal of radar wave reflection indicates highly weathered granitic soil or clay of the subsurface.

On optimization of the insulation of high-voltage coaxial bushing

This paper considers ways to improve the electric strength of a high-voltage bushing by decreasing the maximum electric intensity. For a coaxial cylindrical bushing with radii r 0 and r m > r 0, which result in an insulation gap (r m –r 0) with permittivity e0, this problem is solved with the use of an additional layer of insulation. This layer, with permittivity e > e0, is limited by radii r 0 and r e < r m . A simple algorithm to calculate an optimal thickness of this layer was obtained; the algorithm minimizes the maximum intensity as a function of radii r 0 and r m and relative permittivity e/e0 > 1.582. The algorithm is also transformed into an algorithm of synthesis of the noted layer thickness providing minimum intensity E m . The optimal relative values of all the dimensions of a high-voltage bushing as a function of the layer permittivity and level of reduction in the intensity E m are given in a form that is convenient for practical use.

Determining soil salinity and plant biomass response for a farmed coastal cropland using the electromagnetic induction method

Apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measured by electromagnetic induction (EM) instruments has been successfully used as an ancillary variable to estimate soil salinity from field to watershed scales. It is particularly useful in the case of coastal farming area where reliable estimates of soil salinity aid farmers and researchers in understanding the development of salinization and establishing appropriate management practices. The objectives of this research were to estimate soil salinity (ECe) using intensive EM survey data and prediction equations relating soil salinity to ECa, to determine the optimal data interval in EM survey and to validate the prediction reliability using plant biomass response to soil salinity. This study was conducted in a typical coastal rain-fed farmland in north Jiangsu Province, China. The results indicated that apparent electrical conductivity showed significant correlation with ECe and EM readings from the horizontal coil orientation can be used as the sole predictor in a linear mixed model. Field EM survey data exhibited directional trend resulting from the impact of anthropogenic activities on soil salinity. An optimal sampling interval of 16m in the survey transect essentially meets the need of spatial prediction when field EM survey is performed. Soil salinity increased with depth and higher soil salinity mainly occurs in areas where rice was previously planted, particularly in lower-lying regions and areas adjacent to the aquaculture plant. Plant biomass is negatively related to both, measured and estimated soil salinity. The relation to measured soil salinity was closer than to estimated soil salinity. Boundary line analysis shows that root zone salinity (ECe) causes a 4.4% and 6.4% plant biomass reduction per dS/m for rice and cotton, respectively. Such results allowed us to conclude that a larger data interval of EM survey than the present could produce satisfactory estimation accuracy of field soil salinity, and the relationship between soil salinity (or ECa data) and plant biomass could help to derive site specific yield goals and management practices in the farmed coastal cropland.

Electromagnetic wave instability in a relativistic electron-positron-ion plasma

By employing the anisotropic plasma distribution function, the stability of circularly polarized electromag- netic (EM) waves is studied in a relativistically hot electron- positron-ion (e-p-i) plasma, investigating two specific sce- narios. First, linear dispersion relations associated with the transverse EM waves are analyzed in different possible fre- quency regimes. The expression of the aperiodic hydrody- namic instability is obtained and numerically the transverse EM modes are shown to grow exponentially. Secondly, we have found that the transverse electromagnetic wave inter- act with a collisionless anisotropic e-p-i plasma and damp through the nonlinear Landau damping phenomena. Taking the effects of the latter into consideration, a kinetic nonlin- ear Schrodinger equation is derived with local and nonlo- cal nonlinearities, computing the damping rates. The present work should be helpful to understand the linear and non- linear properties of the intense EM waves in hot relativisti-

Controllable Self-Assembly of Two Luminescent Silver(I) Metal–Organic Frameworks Bearing a Tetradentate Ligand

Luminescent metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are appealing. In this regard, the dye molecule 1,2,4,5-tetra(4-pyridyl)benzene (bztpy), a tetradentate ligand, can be rationally incorporated for the modulation of structures and photochemical properties as a building unit. By reacting bztpy and K[Ag(CN)2] in the presence of CuCl in a solution of NH3·H2O/EtOH at room temperature, we managed to synthesize two novel MOFs exhibiting good luminescent behavior. In the reaction, CuCl was proven to be important as a catalyst, which enables the reactant to generate reactive intermediate [Ag(NH3)2]Cl with the help of ammonia. Thus, Ag+ ions released from intermediate promote the formation of products 1 and 2. Transformation between two compounds can be realized by simple operations. Topology studies reveal that 1 belongs to a 4-fold interpenetrating “moganite” net, but for 2 a new-found (3,4)-connected net occurred with a Schlafli symbol of {62.104}{62.10}2. Photoluminescent behaviors of solid 1 and 2 exhibit intense em...

THz-wave emission from inner I-V branches of intrinsic Josephson junctions in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

We have observed emissions of intense, continuous and monochromatic EM waves at THz frequencies from intrinsic Josephson junctions in the single crystalline Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ mesa structure, which take place deep inside the multiple branch structures of the current-voltage characteristics. We measured a rectangular groove-type mesa sample with a nearly square shape fabricated by focused ion beam milling. The detection of emitted THz-waves and the spectroscopic measurement by the FT-IR spectrometer for obtaining the radiation frequency were performed simultaneously during the current-voltage measurement. By sweeping the voltage on a particular branch, we have observed that the radiation frequency varied in a relatively wider range than expected from the conventional cavity resonance condition, and that the frequency obeys the ac Josephson relation, in which the Josephson frequency is universally proportional to the voltage. These experimental facts may provide us significant information to understand the mechanism of the THz-wave emission from intrinsic Josephson junctions in order to make use of them as useful THz sources for many practical applications.

LED Calibration Systems for CALICE Hadron Calorimeter

Abstract This paper presents several versions of the calibration and monitoring system for the scintillator tile hadron calorimeter for the ILC. The first Calibration and Monitoring Board (CMB) is used to calibrate all 7608 SiPMs of a 1 m3 hadron calorimeter prototype. Each CMB has 12 LEDs and each LED illuminates 18 tiles with SiPMs through 18 optical fibers. The pulse is 10 ns wide and delivers a signal equivalent to 70 MIPs to each SiPM. The new AHCAL engineering prototype offers both embedded LED driver (1 LED per 1 tile) and an external calibration board (1 LED per many tiles, up to 72). The embedded LED driver circuit was tuned for shorter pulses and produce nice single photo-electron spectrum and can also saturate the SiPM. A newer version of external calibrating system uses sinusoidal signal generated by a Quasi-Resonant LED driver. The system generates ∼3.5 ns optical pulse with high intensity (0.4 nJ) and low EM noise. The QRLED driver with a special notched optical fibre can saturate 12 SiPMs at once with a signal up to 200 MIPs per tile. Next version will be improved to generate longer pulses (∼5 ns), therefore a higher light intensity. Our development includes an optical distribution through a notched fibre, which shines equally from 12, 24 or 72 points. The light in the final AHCAL prototype will be routed from single LED by 3 fibers having 24 notches each, illuminating row of 72 tiles at once.

Nonlinear dynamics of intense EM pulses in plasma

The evolution of laser beam in underdense/overdense plasma medium which is key to understanding of several nonlinear processes and underlying physics is governed by nonlinear parabolic equation. The nonlinearity considered here is of relativistic as well as of ponderomotive type. We have set Lagrangian for the problem and reduced Lagrangian problem is solved using appropriate trial function. Equation for the beam width and phase are derived. Further, these equations are used to solve eigen value problem for the stability of laser beam evolution and Hurwitz condition is satisfied.

Effect of Initial Cumulus Morphology on Meiotic Dynamic and Status of Mitochondria in Horse Oocytes during IVM

The aim of this investigation was to examine the chromatin configuration of the nucleus, pattern of mitochondrial aggregation and mitochondrial activity in parallel studies in the same horse oocytes. Horse oocytes recovered by ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration in vivo were classified according to two main initial cumulus morphologies as having compact or expanded cumulus. The percentage of oocytes with a diplotene meiotic configuration at the time of recovery from the follicles was highest in compact oocytes. Oocytes with expanded cumulus layers at the time of recovery matured more rapidly in vitro and reached a proportion >50% at the metaphase II stage (M 2) sooner during in vitro maturation (IVM), than did compact oocytes. The mitochondrial aggregation pattern changed from finely distributed (Type 1) through crystalline (Type 2) to an aggregated, granulated appearance (Type 3) during IVM. The pattern of mitochondrial aggregation at the time of recovery was associated with the initial cumulus morphology of the oocyte, in that compact oocytes had a higher proportion of Type 1 aggregation, whereas expanded oocytes had a higher proportion of Type 3. The fluorescence intensity of metabolic active mitochondria, measured by fluorescence intensity (Em 570) per oocyte after MitoTracker CMTM Ros orange labelling, increased in the oocytes during IVM and depended on initial cumulus investment. Oocytes with the granulated type of aggregated mitochondria Type 3 had the highest level of metabolic activity and were in more progressed stages of meiosis (A 1-M 2). Oocytes initially having expanded layers of cumulus reached significantly higher levels of mitochondrial activity after IVM than did oocytes initially having compact cumuli. During resumption of meiosis the mitochondrial activity of oocytes with initially expanded cumulus increased continuously up to M 2, whereas in oocytes from compact cumulus-oocyte complex (COC), the activity declined after A 1/T 1 stages of meiosis.

Engineering nanostructures for giant optical fields

SERS spectra obtained from two nanostructures are reported. In the first, silver nanoparticles are assembled using a dithiol molecular linker into small clusters appropriately structured to produce strong local electromagnetic (em) fields in the interstitial regions between neighboring nanoparticles, precisely where the molecular linker resides. The second consists of bifurcated silver nanowires, predicted to show strong enhancements in the cleft of the bifurcation when excited by light polarized across the cleft. The results suggest that the giant SERS enhancements needed for near-single-molecule sensitivity largely result from extraordinarily intense local em fileds at geometrically favorable locations in nanostructures.

Mitochondrial aggregation patterns and activity in porcine oocytes and apoptosis in surrounding cumulus cells depends on the stage of pre-ovulatory maturation

In this study, we evaluated the distribution and oxidative activity of mitochondria in ex vivo pre-ovulatory porcine oocytes using the fluorescence probe MitoTracker CMTM Ros Orange. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were classified according to cumulus morphology and time from hCG administration. The meiotic configuration of the oocytes and the degree of apoptosis in the surrounding cumulus cells were also evaluated. Estrus was synchronized in 45 crossbred Landrace gilts by feeding altrenogest for 15 days and administering 1000 IU PMSG on Day 16. The LH peak was simulated by treatment with 500 IU hCG, given 80 h after PMSG. Endoscopic oocyte recovery was carried out 2 h before or 10, 22, or 34 h after hCG administration. Altogether 454 COCs were aspirated from follicles with a diameter of more than 5 mm. Cumulus morphology in the majority of COCs recovered 2 h before and 10 h after hCG was compact (60.4 and 52.7%, respectively; P<0.05). At 22 h after hCG, COC morphology changed significantly from 10 h dramatically: 74% of COCs had an expanded cumulus ( P<0.01). At 34 h after hCG, 100% of recovered COCs had an expanded cumulus. The percentage of oocytes with a mature meiotic configuration differed among COC morphologies and increased as the interval after hCG administration increased ( P<0.05). The type of mitochondrial distribution in the oocytes ( n=336) changed from homogeneous to heterogeneous as the interval after hCG administration increased ( P<0.01) and was associated with the cumulus morphology. Representative mitochondrial distributions were found as follows: −2 h: fine homogeneous in compact and dispersed COCs; 10 h: granulated homogeneous in compact and dispersed COCs; 22 h: granulated homogeneous in expanded COCs; and 34 h: granulated heterogeneous and clustered heterogeneous in expanded COCs ( P<0.01). The oxidative activity of mitochondria measured by fluorescence intensity (Em: 570 nm) per oocyte after Mitotracker CMTM Ros Orange labeling increased in the oocyte as the post-hCG interval increased ( P<0.01) and depended on the type of mitochondrial distribution. Lowest oxidative activity of mitochondria was found in oocytes with fine homogeneous distribution (253.1±9.4 μA). The oxidative activity increased (334.4±10.3 μA) in oocytes with granulated homogeneous distribution of mitochondria, and reached highest level in oocytes with granulated heterogeneous (400.9±13.0 μA) and clustered heterogeneous distributions (492.8±13.9 μA) ( P<0.01). Mitochondrial activity in oocytes coincided with apoptosis in surrounding cumulus cells which increased in a time-dependent manner during pre-ovulatory maturation in vivo ( P<0.01). These results indicate that there is a relationship between meiotic progression, cumulus expansion and mitochondrial redistribution and their oxidative activity during final pre-ovulatory maturation in pig oocytes. It appears that increased levels of mitochondrial activities in oocytes are correlated to increased levels of apoptosis in surrounding cumulus cells, in which mitochondria may play a role.

Five-level triage system more effective than three-level in tertiary emergency department

Introduction: The Study Objectives Were To Compare Reliability And Validity Of A 3-LEVEL (3L) Triage System With A New 5-LEVEL (5L) Triage System And Determine The Effect Of Nursing Experience On Triage Reliability. Methods: The Study Was Conducted In A Southeastern Tertiary Emergency Department. With A Stratified Random Sample, Reliability Of 3L Triage Ratings Was Measured With Weighted Kappa (TIME 1). The 5L System Was Then Implemented, And Weighted Kappa Was Remeasured (TIME 2). Validity Was Assessed By Comparing Case Mix, Sensitivity, And Specificity At Times 1 And 2, And Comparing 5L Ratings With Physician Billing (EVALUATION And Management) Codes And Nursing Resource Intensity At Time 2. Results: Time 1 Case Mix (15,324 Patients) Was: Level 1, 6%; Level 2, 36%; Level 3, 59%, And Time 2 (16,024 Patients) Was: Level 1, 1%; Level 2, 8%; Level 3, 38%; Level 4, 41%; Level 5, 13%. Three Hundred-FIVE Triage Ratings Were Evaluated From Time 1, And 303 Were Evaluated From Time 2. Weighted Kappa Was 0.53 For Time 1 And 0.68 For Time 2. Spearman Correlations Were: 5L And Nursing Resource Intensity, 0.55 (P < .0001); And 5L And Em, 0.57 (P < .0001). Sensitivity Was 58% For The 3L And 68% For The 5L. Specificity Was 83% For The 3L And 91% For The 5L. Under-TRIAGE Rates Were 28% For The 3L And 12% For The 5L, And Less-EXPERIENCED Nurses Were More Likely To Under-TRIAGE Using The 3L System. Discussion: The 5L Triage System Is Safer And Provides Greater Discrimination, Better Reliability, And Improved Sensitivity And Specificity Than The 3L Triage System.

Hydrodynamical Description of a Photon Gas in Magnetized Plasmas

The propagation for relativistically intense and broad spectrum EM waves in magnetized plasmas is considered. A general kinetic equation for the photon spectral function is derived and used to obtain a set of hydrodynamical equations for the particular case of helicon waves. Numerical calculations for the 1-D set of equations with a Gaussian distribution function at t = 0 shows that the profile of density changes its shape in the course of time and forms a discontinuity.

Subharmonic electromagnetic radiation from cavitons

In a high-power microwave-plasma system, it has been experimentally found that electromagnetic (em) radiation at subharmonic frequencies [specifically, (3/2)ω0 and (5/2)ω0] of the electron plasma frequency of the unperturbed state, ω0, can be emanated from cavitons which are resonantly driven by an intense em pulse (frequency ω0) in an unmagnetized inhomogeneous plasma. Electron oscillations at ~ (1/2)ω0 are preferentially excited inside a deep (|δn/nc|≥0.5) caviton although this is not deep enough to resonantly support (1/2)ω0 oscillations. The experimental results show that the coupling between the (1/2)ω0 electron oscillations inside the caviton and the electron plasma waves at (3/2)ω0, which is originally excited due to the mode conversion of the incident microwave at the resonant layer and which generates the caviton, produces a localized nonlinear current which emits em waves at (3/2)ω0. A similar coupling between (3/2)ω0 and ω0 frequencies can emit em waves at (5/2)ω0. The model to explain the above new phenomenon is discussed.

Nonlinear neutrino plasmas interactions

A new interaction mechanism is described between neutrinos and dense plasmas. With the unification of the electromagnetic and weak forces, analogous processes should occur for intense neutrino fluxes as for photon fluxes. Intense EM waves excite parametric instabilities in nonlinear media and plasma in particular. Therefore, sufficiently intense neutrino fluxes should also cause similar parametric instabilities in dense plasmas. An important example is the production of Langmuir plasmons and lower energy neutrinos. In plasma physics, for electromagnetic waves, the process is known as stimulated Raman scattering and it greatly increases the interaction of the light with the plasma. We propose that the analogous process, for neutrinos, occurs in the plasma surrounding the core of a supernova due to the immense neutrino flux there and the fact that at some distance from the core the flux is strongly unidirectional. We develop a theory for stimulated scattering of neutrinos in plasmas based on the index of refraction for neutrinos which depends on electron density, conservation of energy and momentum for neutrinos plus plasmons and wave damping; we estimate approximate growth rates.