Increase In Intensity Research Articles

Dynamic Vortex Height Evolution During Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification

AbstractThe vertical structure of the tropical cyclone (TC) vortex can be quantified throughout the TC life cycle via the dynamic height of the vortex (DHOV) metric, which is sensitive to the rate of decay of the tangential wind field with height. Observed storms always possessed a high DHOV value prior to periods of rapid intensification (RI). When limited to vertically‐aligned TCs where the low‐ to mid‐level vortex tilt magnitude is small, all DHOV values are found to be large enough for RI. Vortex tilt results from environmental vertical wind shear (VWS) and a similar relationship is found in an ensemble of TCs simulated in a moderate shear environment. Once vortex tilt decreases, both the observed and ensemble TCs exhibit a concurrent increase of DHOV and intensity, indicating the metric provides useful information about changing vertical structure in both tilted and aligned TCs. The growth of DHOV during RI is closely coupled with a strengthening warm core at the upper levels. A simulation with an upper‐level jet of VWS is used to better understand the importance of the upper levels during RI by disrupting vortex development there. DHOV and intensity of the TC are effectively capped in the jet simulation relative to its counterpart in a control simulation, indicating shear can limit TC height without appreciable low‐ to mid‐level tilt. Differences in kinematic and thermal structure between the jet and control runs are found from 12‐ to 16‐km altitude, suggesting the importance of warming near the tropopause in powerful TCs.

Lanthanide and functionalization-free dual-state emitting zinc-based MOFs followed by dual-state detection: ratiometric and color-tonality visual detection of tetracycline in solution and on paper in food and environmental samples.

Anefficient dual-state blue-emitting zinc-based metal-organic frameworks(MOFs), designated as UoZ-8has been developed. Coordination-induced emission causes the UoZ-8 to give the blue emission in both solid and dispersed form in liquid. Upon the addition of tetracycline (TC), a noticeable shift from blue emission to greenish-yellow emission occurred, with a marked increase in intensity, which was attributed to the inner filter effect accompanied by aggregation-induced emission (IFE-AIE). Consequently, ratiometric-based fluorometry (in solution) and color tonality visual detection platform (on paper) were developed, exploiting the dual-state property of UoZ-8 alone and UoZ-8:TC. The detection limit using the ratiometric-based fluorescence method was 3.8 nM, while on paper it was 3.5 µM. Paper-based visual mode was used for the detection of TC in tap and riverwater samples showingsatisfactory accuracy and precision.

Identification and quantification of localized urban heat island intensity and footprint for Chennai Metropolitan Area during 1988-2023.

Rapid urbanization has altered land use and land cover to accommodate the growing population. This shift towards urbanization has resulted in the UHI effect, where the inner urban core is notably warmer than its surroundings. Existing research on UHI has primarily focused on major cities at the regional scale, leaving a gap in addressing the effect of extreme UHI zoneswithin a city. This study bridges the gap by developing a methodology to quantify the impact of LULC changeon the localized UHI zones within the urban areas, which will assist policymakers in mitigating urban heat. LULC change matrix analysis and LST retrieval weredone from the Landsat 5 and 8 images acquired between 1988 and 2023. Representative study sites that intersectedwiththe LULCconversion from water bodies and vegetation to other LULC and which showed maximum UHIwere selected. Mean LST was calculated for the proximity of 1000m around the selected areas. The developed methodology was applied to the Chennai Metropolitan Area in Tamil Nadu, India. The conversion of Pallikaranai marshland to the Perungudi dumping ground(PDG), and the green cover to the Kodungaiyur dumping ground(KDG) has led to an average increase in UHI intensity of 0.21°C/year and 0.15°C/year, respectively. The UHI effectis felt at the distance of 450m from PDG and 550m from KDG, which have shown that the life within the proximityare expected to experience the UHI effect. Therefore, it is imperative to alleviate the rising UHI around the selected areas. This developed methodology can be applied globally to select thetargeted UHI zones for sustainable urban planning to mitigate urban heat.

High-Intensity Continuous Light from Red-Blue Light-Emitting Diodes Improved Yield, Nutritional Quality and Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation in Two Leaf-Color Lettuces.

In an environmentally controlled plant factory with LED red-blue light, the effects of conventional light (4R:1B, 200 μmol·m-2·s-1, 18/6 h) and continuous light (CL, 24/0 h) with three light intensities (4R:1B, 200, 300 and 400 μmol·m-2·s-1, 24/0 h) on yield, nutritional quality, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) in green-leaf Yidali and purple-leaf Zishan lettuces were investigated. The results showed that the dry and fresh shoot weight of two lettuces exposed to CL tended to increase with light intensity-from 200 to 400 μmol·m-2·s-1-compared to conventional light, while the leaf area tended to decrease or remained unchanged. High-intensity CL could significantly increase soluble sugar and reduce the nitrate contents of the two lettuces. Also, the antioxidant substance (anthocyanins, flavonoids and total phenols) content of the two lettuces was improved with the increase in CL intensity. High-intensity CL could significantly increase the malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion content and DPPH of the two lettuces. The above indices showed similar results both at 6 and 12 days after light treatment. In contrast, the Zishan cultivar contained more antioxidant substances, ROS and MDA contents and DPPH (more than 1 to 100 times) than the Yidali cultivar under high-intensity CL. In summary, high-intensity CL could improve the yield and nutritional value of both Yidali and Zishan lettuces. The high CL tolerance of Zishan was attributed to a stronger antioxidant capacity due to a greater content of antioxidant substances and DPPH, while the accumulation of ROS and the content of antioxidant substances might interact.

Effect of oversolidus barothermal treatment on the microstructure and properties of binary hypereutectic Al-Cu alloys

This study investigates the effect of oversolidus barothermal treatment (BTT) on microstructure and properties of binary alloys Al-22Cu and Al-27Cu (at.%), focusing on the pressure-induced shifts in solidus and liquidus temperatures. The pressure shift of the solidus and liquidus temperatures was established at a hydrostatic argon pressure of ~ 100 MPa using the differential barothermal analysis (DBA). The solidus temperature of both alloys increased by approximately 8 ℃ during heating, aligning closely with the equilibrium state diagram upon cooling. The liquidus temperature of the alloys at 100 MPa increased by 11 ℃ for Al-22Cu and by 14 ℃ for Al-27Cu compared to the phase diagram. Taking these results into account, barothermal treatment of the alloys was carried out at 100 MPa and 570 ℃ for 240 min (BTT1), as well as at 100 MPa and 562 ℃ for 10 min (BTT2). Processing of alloys at BTT1 leads to the primary Al2Cu particle size significant increase to lengths of 350–1500 μm and widths of 150–400 μm. During BTT1, the structure of the initial lamellar eutectic Al-Al2Cu is modified with the formation of discrete intermetallic particles, with the length and width being 15–240 and 1–3 µm, respectively. With a decrease in temperature and exposure time, a significantly less intense increase in the size of primary intermetallic compounds occurs, and a noticeable increase in discrete eutectic intermetallic compounds occurs. The microhardness reached 2043 MPa for the eutectic (initial Al-22Cu). For the intermetallic and the eutectic, the microhardness was 4189 and 2699 MPa, respectively (initial Al-27Cu); for intermetallic and the eutectic 4754 and 1382 MPa, respectively, for the Al-22Cu alloy processed at BTT1, and the eutectic microhardness for the Al-22Cu composition processed at BTT2 was 2409 MPa. The bending strength of alloys decreases after oversolidus BTT.

Evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety Management System Performance in Shipyard Businesses with FAHP and FPROMETHEE Methods

Shipyards are places where new ships are built, routine and mandatory maintenance and dismantling of ships are carried out and a wide range of work equipment and chemicals are used during these processes. The fact that most of the world is covered with water and that maritime transportation is advantageous compared to other types of transportation brings maritime transportation to the forefront. This situation also leads to an increase in work intensity in shipyards. Therefore, occupational health and safety (OHS) practices are also important in shipyards. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the OHS Management System (OHSMS) performances of shipyard enterprises and to rank the shipyard enterprises selected as alternatives according to their OHSMS performances in line with the determined criteria. In the first stage, five main and 16 sub-criteria as OHSMS performance criteria and five alternative shipyard enterprises were identified through literature research. In line with the expert opinions, the weights of the criteria were found with the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method, one of the multi-criteria decision-making methods, and the alternative priority order for the criteria was determined with the Fuzzy PROMETHEE (FPROMETHEE) method using the results obtained from the FAHP method. As a result of the analysis, the main criterion "Management Review" was determined as the criterion with the highest weight ratio. As a result of the operations carried out with the criterion weights determined by FAHP, Shipyard 3 alternative was ranked first in terms of OHSMS performance in the priority ranking made by using FPROMETHEE method. In this study, OHSMS performance evaluation in shipyard enterprises has been carried out by using FAHP and FPROMETHEE methods, which are multi-criteria decision-making methods, and the findings have contributed to the shipyard sector and the literature.

Lanthanum-Promoted Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction: Unique Catalyst or Oxide Deconstruction?

A conventional performance metric for electrocatalysts that promote the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the current density at a given overpotential. However, the assumption that increased current density at lower overpotentials indicates superior catalyst design is precarious for OER catalysts in the working environment, as the crystalline lattice is prone to deconstruction and amorphization, thus greatly increasing the concentration of catalytic active sites. We show this to be the case for La3+ incorporation into Co3O4. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) reveal smaller domain sizes with decreased long-range order and increased amorphization for La-modified Co3O4. This lattice deconstruction is exacerbated under the conditions of OER as indicated by operando spectroscopies. The overpotential for OER decreases with increasing La3+ concentration, with maximum activity achieved at 17% La incorporation. HRTEM images and electron diffraction patterns clearly show the formation of an amorphous overlayer during OER catalysis that is accelerated with La3+ addition. O 1s XPS spectra after OER show the loss of lattice-oxide and an increase in peak intensities associated with hydroxylated or defective O-atom environments, consistent with Co(O)x(OH)y species in an amorphous overlayer. Our results suggest that improved catalytic activity of oxides incorporated with La3+ ions (and likely other metal ions) is due to an increase in the number of terminal octahedral Co(O)x(OH)y edge sites upon Co3O4 lattice deconstruction, rather than enhanced intrinsic catalysis.

Dynamics of aquaporin content in the aero-hematic barrier during the latent phase of toxic pulmonary edema

The study evaluates the dynamics of aquaporin (aquaporin-1, aquaporin-5, and epithelial sodium channel) content in the aero-hematic barrier during the latent phase of rat intoxication with carbonyl chloride (phosgene), thermal decomposition products of fluoroplast containing perfluoroisobutylene, and nitrogen dioxide. Rat intoxication was modeled using average lethal concentrations of these toxic substances. At 30 and 60 minutes post-exposure, pulmonary coefficient was measured and histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed. Western blot analysis was used to determine the aquaporin-5 content in rat lung tissues exposed to the thermal decomposition products of fluoroplast. It was found that rat intoxication with phosgene and thermal decomposition products of fluoroplast containing perfluoroisobutylene led to an increase in the relative content of aquaporin-5 and epithelial sodium channel-positive cells in lung tissues as early as 30 minutes post-exposure. At 60 minutes post-exposure, there were signs of the interstitial phase of toxic pulmonary edema and an increase in the pulmonary coefficient. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide resulted in an increase in the pulmonary coefficient and the relative content of aquaporin-5-positive cells, as well as pronounced signs of the interstitial phase of edema 30 minutes post-exposure. Western blot analysis using anti-aquaporin-5 antibodies revealed an increase in the staining intensity of complexes with molecular weights of 25 and 50 kDa, suggesting the formation of aquaporin-5 tetramers and their likely translocation from the intracellular compartment to the plasma membrane of alveolar cells. These findings indicate that aquaporin-5 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of toxic pulmonary edema induced by the studied pneumotoxicants. Targeting these molecules may be a promising approach for pathogenetic therapy of poisoning.

Перенос энергии возбуждения в комплексах европия с доксициклином в присутствии мицелл поверхностно-активных веществ и наночастиц серебра

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic used to treat infections in humans and in veterinary medicine as a prophylactic drug and growth stimulant. For this reason, residual amounts of antibiotics in milk, meat and other food products can cause resistance and the development of allergies. In this regard, constant monitoring of residual contents of tetracyclines in food products, environmental objects, and biological fluids is required. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of spherical silver nanoparticles and surfactant micelles on the intensity of sensitized fluorescence of europium ion complexes with doxycycline and to develop a new sensitive and simple method for the fluorimetric determination of doxycycline in solutions. As a result of the simultaneous influence of the energy of an external excitation source and the surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles on doxycycline, the intensity of its fluorescence increases. The probability of the ligand transition to the excited state increases significantly, which contributes to the most efficient implementation of intramolecular excitation energy transfer in the Eu3+ complex with doxycycline. We have shown that in the presence of silver nanoparticles and Eu3+ ions, the fluorescence intensity of an analytical system containing doxycycline increases 125 times. In the presence of the nonionic surfactant Tween-80, the sensitized fluorescence signal of the Eu3+ chelate with doxycycline increases by more than 19 times. Solubilization of the components of the analytical reaction into micelles of surfactants helps to change their protolytic properties, dehydration, increase the stability of the complexes, and the efficiency of intramolecular energy transfer. In the combined presence of Tween-80 surfactant micelles and silver nanoparticles, an additional 27-fold increase in the fluorescence intensity of the metal ion chelate with doxycycline is observed. Based on the conducted research, a method for the fluorimetric determination of doxycycline using Tween-80 micelles, silver nanoclusters and Eu3+ ions in natural water has been proposed. The range of detectable concentrations is 1.0·10-7–1.0·10-5 M, detection limit (Limit of Detection) 6.0·10-8М (3 σ). The correctness of the definition has been controlled by the “entered–found” method.

Sensitivity of Arctic marine heatwaves to half-a-degree increase in global warming: 10-fold frequency increase and 15-fold extreme intensity likelihood

Abstract We utilize the 50-member MPI-ESM-LR Earth System model to investigate the projected changes in Arctic marine heatwaves' (MHWs) characteristics caused by an additional 0.5°C increase in global warming, from 1.5°C to 2°C, with respect to pre-industrial levels. Our results indicate that this 0.5°C increase in global warming triggers an intensified response in both the Arctic's mean sea surface temperature (SST) and its variability. In a 2°C warmer world, one out of every four summer months would be warmer than the current climate. We detect a nonlinear increase in MHW intensity in a 2°C world, which is characterized by a break in slope occurring around the year 2042 ± 2 (across 50 ensemble members of the SSP5-8.5 scenario). At the estimated post-break dates, the intensity rate roughly doubles, leading to MHWs in a 2°C world with average cumulative heat intensity 100°C*days higher than in a 1.5°C world. Further results reveal that an extremely rare MHW with an intensity of 3.19°C, classified as a 1-in-100-year event in a 1.5°C world, is expected to transform into a 1-in-7-year event in a 2°C world. This transition signifies an approximately 15-fold increase in the likelihood of such events occurring due to a 0.5°C increase in global warming. Likewise, an uncommon event of years with 125 MHW days in a 1.5°C world is projected to become a 1-in-10-year event in a 2°C world, resulting in a 10-fold increase in occurrence probability. The main contributor to these changes is predominantly the rise in mean SST, with enhanced SST variability playing a minor role. These findings highlight that a 2°C world could lead to a substantial escalation of the frequency and intensity of MHWs in the Arctic compared to a 1.5°C world, transforming what are currently rare extreme events into more common events, with significant implications for global climate dynamics and the well-being of Arctic ecosystems and communities.

Spatio-Temporal and Mechanical Analysis of Bench Press Phases: Barbell Kinematics and Dynamics Across Different Load Intensities

This study aimed (1) to explore the spatio-temporal phases of the execution of the bench press (BP) exercise based on barbell acceleration and power; (2) to describe barbell velocity, acceleration, mechanical power, and mechanical work at different load intensities; and (3) to analyse differences in kinematic and mechanical parameters. Twenty-one men (21.4 ± 1.5 years; 175.1 ± 6.7 cm; 75.8 ± 7.7 kg; 1RM: 91.7 ± 13.7 kg) and nine women (21.7 ± 2.3 years; 163.3 ± 10.8 cm; 57.2 ± 6.8 kg; 1RM: 38.9 ± 10.5 kg) were evaluated during the eccentric and concentric phases of the BP at different load intervals: interval 1 (55 to 75% 1RM), interval 2 (>75 to 85% 1RM) and interval 3 (>85 to 100% 1RM). Both temporal (duration) and mechanical variables (velocity, acceleration, mechanical power and mechanical work of the barbell) were determined using the Xsens MVN Link System. Mechanical variables were compared among the three different intervals. Interval 3 displayed greater duration compared to intervals 1 and 2. Barbell acceleration and power showed four different phases of BP movement, corresponding to the second and third phases of the exercise, bar braking (eccentric) and bar acceleration (concentric), respectively; the first and fourth phases are mainly determined by gravity instead of muscle intervention. Velocity and acceleration were different among the three different intervals during both the eccentric and concentric phases (p < 0.05). No differences were found between intervals 2 and 3 in mechanical power or mechanical work during the eccentric phase. In conclusion, the BP exercise has four phases considering barbell acceleration and power. The maximum and mean velocity and acceleration during BP performance decrease as load intensity increases. Maximum and mean mechanical power, and mechanical work, decrease progressively in the second and third intervals for both the eccentric and concentric phases. Thus, kinematics and mechanical parameters vary depending on load intensities.

Overseas residency rights of Chinese listed firms' controllers: Impacts on R&D and public welfare donations.

By developing an intertemporal decision-making model, this paper investigates the impact of the acquisition of overseas residency by a firm's beneficial owner on the firm's intertemporal decision-making. By incorporating a discount rate in the model, the paper finds that obtaining foreign residency alters the temporal distributional characteristics of the utility of the beneficial owner, weakening its preference for intertemporal investment behaviors such as R&D and donations. We then conduct an empirical analysis using the propensity score matching method for Chinese listed firms. The results show that firms with overseas residency have significantly lower R&D investment and an increase in philanthropic donation intensity than other firms. This study provides some practical benefit and relevance to government public policymaking: for developing countries such as China, public policies that take into account incentive compatibility will be more conducive to R&D investments and charitable donations by companies that obtain overseas residency rights, thus enhancing their brand value and social well-being.

Effect of Seepage on Sand Levee Failure Due to Lateral Overtopping

Recent increases in rainfall duration and intensity due to climate change have heightened the importance of levee stability. However, previous studies on levee failure, primarily caused by seepage and overtopping, have mostly examined these causes independently owing to their distinct characteristics. In this study, we conducted lateral overtopping failure experiments under seepage conditions that closely resembled those in experiments conducted in previous studies. Seepage was monitored using water pressure sensors and a distributed optical fiber cable that provided continuous heat for temperature monitoring in the levee. Τhe analysis of levee failure due to lateral overtopping, in the presence of seepage, was conducted using image analysis with digitization techniques and machine learning-based color segmentation techniques on the protected lowland side of the levee, targeting the same area. The results revealed that levee failure occurred more than twice as fast in experiments where seepage conditions were considered compared to the experiments where they were not. Thus, levees weakened by seepage are more vulnerable to overtopping and breaching. Consequently, employing a comprehensive approach that integrates various monitoring and analysis methods for assessing levee stability is preferable to relying on a single method alone.

Study of plasmonic silver nanoparticles synthesized by conventional and eco-friendly methods with ultraviolet irradiation

The synthesis of some silver nanoparticles was carried out by twostep reduction, with chemical or biological antioxidants, and subsequent exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Synthesis efficiency was progressively increased after 30 min during second step: about 40% increase of LSPR band intensity for chemical reducing and more than 100% enhancing for biological reducing.

Dynamic analysis of green technology innovation in products and processes under supply chain competition scenarios-A study based on stochastic differential game model.

This paper investigates the dynamics of market competition among manufacturers pursuing two types of green technology innovation: product innovation and process innovation, which provides a novel perspective on how green technological innovations contribute to enhancing product greenness. Using a two-tier supply chain framework, the study examines the differences in cost-sharing across various types of innovation and the impact of game players on product greenness. A stochastic differential game model involving a shared supplier and two competing manufacturers is constructed. Main findings are as follows: (1) In green product innovation, when market preference for greenness is relatively low, the formation of cost-sharing contracts is less influenced by the intensity of greenness-based market competition. In such scenarios, government subsidies emerge as a crucial tool to effectively guiding the market mechanism towards achieving its intended objectives. (2) As the market competition intensifies, manufacturers' incentives towards suppliers will shift from reducing costs to increasing demand. (3) When the intensity of green competitive is low, and supplier process innovation efficiency is high, manufacturers should bear a greater share of costs; Conversely, suppliers should bear more costs. When supplier process innovation efficiency is higher and market competition is stronger, suppliers should bear more costs if consumer green preferences are lower. (4) Over time, considering consumer preferences, a marginal increase in price exceeds the marginal increment in greenness with respect to contributing to stabilise price fluctuations. Conversely, it tends to raise the mean value of the price. (5) The increase in market competition intensity accelerates suppliers' and manufactures' strategy adjustments for green product innovation, but decelerates the strategy adjustment for suppliers' green process innovation.

First-principles study of electron dynamics of MoS2 under femtosecond laser irradiation from deep ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths.

Time-dependent density functional theory was employed to investigate the electron dynamics of MoS2 following femtosecond pulse irradiation. The study concerned the effects of laser wavelength, intensities, and polarization and elucidated the ionization mechanisms across the intensity range of 1010-1014 W/cm2. As laser intensity increases, MoS2 irradiated with an infrared (IR) laser (800nm) deviates from single-photon absorption at lower intensities compared to that subjected to an ultraviolet (UV) laser (266nm), and nonlinear effects in the current arise at lower intensities for the 800nm laser. At a wavelength of 266nm, MoS2 irradiated with an a-axis polarized laser deposited more energy and generated more electron-hole pairs compared to c-axis polarization. Rate equations were used to estimate the total number of excited electrons in MoS2 and the corresponding plasma frequency. Simulation results indicate that the damage threshold of the UV laser is higher than that of the IR laser, which contradicts the experimental results. This outcome suggests that the mechanism of material damage induced by the UV femtosecond laser near the damage threshold is independent of optical breakdown. The findings of this research are significant for enhancing the performance of MoS2-based photodetectors and optimizing their stability and reliability in high-power, short-wavelength laser applications.

Radiated noise from cavitation bubble volume pulsation in a shaftless pump-jet propulsor

The radiated noise resulting from cavitation bubble volume pulsations is a critical component of cavitation-induced noise during propulsor operation. This paper investigates the radiated noise generated by cavitation bubble volume pulsations in a shaftless pump-jet propulsor. Utilizing spherical bubble acoustic radiation theory, a numerical simulation method was developed to analyze this phenomenon. Additionally, the effects of distance, cavitation number, and flow rate on the radiated noise were examined. The research findings indicated that an increase in flow rate or cavitation intensity leads to a rise in the average cavitation bubble volume within the propulsor impeller. The sound pressure level spectrum of the radiated noise in the propulsor exhibits a continuous spectrum. The sound pressure level initially increases slightly and then continuously decreases with increasing frequency. At a constant flow rate and cavitation stage, the sound pressure level of pulsating radiation noise generated by cavitation bubble volume decreases as the distance between the measurement point and the noise source increases. with the gradient of this reduction progressively diminishing. Additionally, at the same flow rate, the sound pressure level of the radiated noise in the propulsor initially shows a slight increase, followed by a gradual decrease across different cavitation stages, with the characteristic frequency corresponding to the blade passing frequency. As cavitation intensifies, the overall radiated noise increases, while the prominence of the blade frequency diminishes. Furthermore, as the flow rate increases, the cavitation bubble volume pulsations intensify, leading to a corresponding rise in the overall sound pressure level of the radiated noise within the propulsor. This effect becomes more pronounced as the severity of cavitation increases. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the noise control of shaftless pump-jet propulsors.

Thunderstorm ground enhancements in Finland: observations using spectroscopic radiation detectors

AbstractThis study reports observations of Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements (TGE) that occurred in Southern Finland in the Municipality of Vantaa (60° 18’ N 24° 58’ E at 55 m a.m.s.l) on May 17th, 2020 between 10:23 and 10:28 UTC. The TGEs occurred when a storm front moved across the Helsinki region from roughly a southwest to northeast direction. The TGEs were caused by a Runaway Relativistic Electron Avalanche (RREA) occurring inside a thundercloud. Three independent measuring units of high-volume NaI(Tl) γ spectrometers were used to record ambient dose rate and γ spectra. The observed TGEs manifested themselves as sudden increases in γ radiation on the ground with a wide range of energies from 100 keV up to the maximum of the detector system of 8.8 MeV. The first event lasted 50 s and produced an increase in γ radiation of about 7–12% in the spectra measured with a ten-second collection time. The enhancement in γ radiation was terminated suddenly and simultaneously with an in-cloud lightning strike. This was followed by an 88–100 s long period when the level of γ radiation returned to normal values. After this, a second enhancement was observed to increase the level of γ radiation by 20–50%. The second enhancement lasted 100 s and it was also terminated simultaneously with an in-cloud lightning flash. The second enhancement appears to be stronger, but the exact locations of the thundercloud emitting the γ radiation were not known. From the duration of the second enhancement and the prevailing wind speed, the size of the RREA was estimated to be 400–1000 m. In the second enhancement, the most intense increase was between 100 and 1000 keV, although very-high-energy γ rays was observed up to 8.8 MeV. The shape of the background-subtracted γ spectra agreed well with the observations and predictions of the shape of the bremsstrahlung spectrum emitted by an RREA. Additionally, in the background-subtracted spectra, a minor enhancement of the 511 keV peak was also observed where the RREA also increased the number of positrons which annihilated and increased the emission of the 511 keV γ rays. The results of these high-latitude, low-altitude TGE events are the first ones report in Finland.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF QUADRUPOLE RAIL LAUNCHER AND TWO-WING ARMATURE ELECTROMAGNETIC LAUNCHER: MAGNETIC AND PERFORMANCE METRICS

This study presents a novel two-wing armature electromagnetic launcher design that aims to overcome the limitations of conventional quadrupole railguns. The proposed TWAEL system exhibits significantly enhanced magnetic field properties, achieving a 23-fold increase in magnetic flux density, an increase in magnetic field intensity, and a 1.6-fold increase in current density compared to the QRL under identical input conditions. Consequently, the TWAEL demonstrates a 6.7-fold greater electromagnetic co-energy storage capacity per unit volume, translating to substantially higher accelerative forces, reaching up to 18,045 N. Simulations validate the TWAEL's superior performance in terms of magnetic field characteristics and energy conversion efficiency, highlighting its potential as an advanced, high-performance electromagnetic propulsion system for various applications.

The Upper TRACT Endometry Score: development and internal validation of an objective measure of variables that impact endoscopic procedures for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Endoscopic management (EM) is an increasingly accepted option for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Feasibility can be dependent on a variety of variables. The objective of this study was to identify anatomic and phenotypic tumor characteristics that impact EM, using structured expert forecasting, develop and obtain consensus on an assessment score, and perform initial validation of the score in a retrospective database. We used a modified Delphi method to elicit expert opinions, develop a scale, and gain consensus. Two survey rounds identified 5 consensus categories from which the Upper TRACT Endometry Score was created. An institutional UTUC database was used for initial validation. Patients with low-grade or high-grade UTUC undergoing EM were included. The Upper TRACT Endometry Score was calculated based on variables present at initial ureteroscopy. The primary outcome was extent of procedures received defined as a categorical, ordinal scale. The association of the Upper TRACT Endometry Score with outcomes was evaluated using multivariable ordinal logistic regression and Exact tests. Thirty international endourologic and urologic oncology experts participated in the surveys. One hundred ten renal units (102 patients) were identified for validation. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression demonstrated that as the Upper TRACT Endometry Score increases, the likelihood of requiring a more intensive intervention increases. Fischer's exact test suggested a significant relationship between the Upper TRACT Endometry Score and procedures received (p=0.004). The Upper TRACT Endometry Score is a straightforward tool that with additional validation could be used to help counsel patients and to standardize reporting of variables that may impact endoscopic management of UTUC.