Relative Reference Research Articles

Experimental study of photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems using thermal interface materials and natural cooling

This study investigates a novel approach to enhancing photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator systems by utilizing advanced thermal interface materials in real-world conditions. The research compares two experimental systems under natural air cooling employing different thermal interface materials: one features a pyrolytic graphite sheet, while the other uses conventional thermal grease, alongside a photovoltaic-only system for reference. An Arduino-based data logger accurately monitored key environmental and operational parameters. At peak solar irradiation, the system with the pyrolytic graphite sheet achieved a surface photovoltaic temperature of 39.01 °C, generating 4.90 W and an overall efficiency of 17.95 %. In comparison, the system with thermal grease had a surface photovoltaic temperature of 48.88 °C, generating 4.67 W with an efficiency of 16.87 %, while the photovoltaic-only system reached a surface photovoltaic temperature of 55.37 °C, producing 4.54 W and an efficiency of 16.42 %. The experimental data’s accuracy and reliability were validated against simulations from previous work, revealing error margins between 1.20 % and 3.03 %. These findings underscore the potential of pyrolytic graphite sheets as effective thermal interface materials to significantly enhance the efficiency and power output of photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator systems, offering valuable insights for optimizing renewable energy technologies.

Synergistically ceramization of rubber system for fire safety cable by sepiolite functionalized with boron-based nanoparticles

In this research, a novel ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) formulation for cable with high ceramization efficiency was prepared by the addition of functionalized sepiolite with boron fluxing compound nanoparticles (SEPTB) obtained by precipitation route. Non-functionalized sepiolite (SEP) has been incorporated to the system for reference. EPDM materials were characterized by standardized tests measuring their behavior against fire and important improvements were observed, especially in terms of smoke production (25% reduction of the smoke production compared with the formulation using SEP) presenting a remarkable behaviour against dripping and self-extinction when a flame is directly applied. The mechanism of ceramization under fire conditions was discussed. It was found that EPDM system with SEPTB additive transformed into a rigid ceramic after treating at 1000°C. In this particular case, the ceramization was more efficient due to the sepiolite transformation to enstatite at lower temperatures (∼750 vs ∼850°C) combined with the “in situ” formation of a glassy phase which notably enhances the reinforcement of the char layer by forming a reinforcing 3D enstatite fibers net structure that reduces smoke production and even totally avoids the dripping of melted polymer by the action of the heat in a fire event. This work provides new insights for the preparation of high-performance synergist additive based on sepiolite for the enhancement of fire retardance of EPDM system for cable applications.

A Corpus-Based Study of Spatial Frames of References in Early Child Mandarin Chinese

This study examines the developmental pattern of spatial frames of reference (FoRs) in Chinese preschoolers using the naturalistic data elicited from the Beijing Early Childhood Mandarin Corpus. Altogether, 2837 static spatial sentences were identified from the corpus, and 785 of them used FoRs; thus, they were analysed using the seven-class FoRs coding system developed from the literature review. The results indicated that: (1) six classes were produced by the Beijing preschoolers, including the direct reference (DR), geomorphic reference (GR), landmark-based reference (LBR), object-centred reference (OCR), relative reference (RR), and people-centred reference (PCR). But, the absolute reference (AR) frequently used by Beijing adults was not produced by the preschoolers; (2) significant age differences were found in the utterances with reference and demonstrative sentences and were also identified in the production of OCR, PCR, and RR; (3) there were no significant gender or gender x age effects in the production of FoRs, except for the no-frame sentences; and (4) there was a stable and consistent pattern of FoRs allocation by age, and the most frequently used was OCR. All these findings indicate interactions among language, culture, and cognition.

Deep Learning-Based Biometric Finger Vein Authentication System for Enhanced Security

Biometrics, which uses human physiological characteristics, is a method for protecting personal information. Recently, finger vein authentication has become one of the most popular biometric techniques. This method offers high security and accuracy, making it a reliable form of biometric authentication. The system compares a person's vascular structure in their finger to previously collected data. Finger vein authentication works by identifying vein patterns beneath the skin's surface. The proposed system aims to enhance user authentication security by leveraging the uniqueness of finger vein patterns. The finger vein image is obtained from a database, and preprocessing is done using a Gaussian median filter in both spatial and frequency domains to remove noise. Image segmentation is performed through a line tracking method, which enhances image contrast. For feature extraction, the system utilizes Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and these features are matched with the stored finger vein database. A deep learning approach is then applied to classify users as genuine or imposters. In real-time, a scanner captures the finger vein image, which is sent to an Arduino board for storage and subsequently processed in MATLAB for classification. The result is transmitted through a GSM module as an alert or message, and the information is also stored in an IoT system for future reference. A GSM module is integrated with the user for communication. The proposed system achieves an accuracy of 96%, making it highly beneficial for security applications like access control, identity verification, banking, and financial transactions.

Experimental study on seismic performance of two-story two-bay. Precast concrete frame with UHPC-based connections

The UHPC-based connections, utilizing Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) to connect rebars within precast concrete structures, present the advantages of short splice length, simplified construction, and low cost due to the excellent bond property between UHPC and rebars. This investigation focuses on seismic performance of precast concrete frame (PCF) with UHPC-based connections. The UHPC-based connections were arranged strategically to the beam-column joints and column bases in PCF to connect longitudinal rebars of beams and columns, respectively. Two half-scale, two-story, two-bay reinforced concrete frames, including PCF and a monolithic concrete frame (MCF) for reference, were tested under cycle loading with axial compression ratios of 0.33 in the middle columns and 0.22 in the side columns. The results revealed that PCF exhibited a beam sway mechanism, with all beam hinges developed prior to column hinges, while MCF displayed a mixed sway mechanism, with part of beam hinges developed prior to column hinges. The hysteresis curves of the two frames were globally stable with minimal pinching, and PCF displayed greater energy dissipation compared to MCF. The load-carrying capacity of PCF was 9 % higher than that of MCF. The displacement ductility of PCF was 4.14, exceeding that of MCF by 10 %. The two frames showed similar laws of stiffness degradation. Overall, the precast concrete frame with the UHPC-based connections exhibited better seismic performance in comparison with the monolithic counterpart.

Research on the Construction of Urban Digital Governance System

With the rapid development of information technology, digital transformation has become an important way to modernise urban governance. The research on the construction of urban digital governance system aims to explore how to make use of the new management, optimise public services and enhance urban competitiveness. This research field not only focuses on innovation at the technical level, but also emphasises the deep integration of digital governance in multi-dimensional aspects such as policy formulation, regulatory improvement and public participation. By building a digital governance system, it can effectively respond to various challenges in urban development and promote sustainable urban development. Based on this, the following is a discussion on the construction strategy of urban digital governance system for reference.

From Graphic Surface to Continuous Surface

The interior spaces we inhabit every day are defined by a system of cultural and symbolic references manifest in surfaces, objects, furniture, and art pieces that colonize and design our everyday spaces. For this research, the author aims to develop a theory concerning the shaping of interior space by the surface, informed by domestic interiors published in the magazine Domus during Gio Ponti’s second tenure as editor-in-chief (1948–1978). Domus helped to build a design culture in Italy and Europe by publishing domestic interiors understood as a field where the efforts of artists, architects, and designers coalesced, and the room became the place where disciplinary specificities dissolved.

Legal Regulation Risks and Insights Related to Cross-Border Flow of Data

The primary objective of this research is to ensure the secure and compliant transmission of personal information from China. To this end, the Chinese government has implemented the "Standard Contract Measures for the Export of Personal Information." This study employs both literature review and factor analysis methods to meticulously examine the potential risks in the practical implementation of these measures, and further suggests strategies to address the current challenges. Additionally, the study introduces foreign systems for reference, aiming to guide Chinese enterprises in circumventing legal risks associated with cross-border data flows and ensuring the security and compliance of personal information departing from the country. The findings of this research reveal that the existing legal framework for cross-border data flows in China has certain shortcomings, providing valuable insights for the improvement of China's legal framework and related regulatory systems. Furthermore, it offers practical cautionary value for Chinese enterprises in their operations.

Development and application of a comprehensive assessment method of regional flood disaster risk based on a refined random forest model using beluga whale optimization

To scientifically characterize regional flood disaster risks, a comprehensive regional flood disaster risk assessment index system was constructed based on the R cluster-factor analysis method. To improve the regional flood disaster risk identification ability, a random forest model refined by the beluga whale optimization (BWO-RF) was proposed. It was applied to the flood disaster risk assessment of the Jiansanjiang Branch of the Beidahuang Agricultural Reclamation Group in Heilongjiang Province, China. The research results show that the constructed BWO-RF model has strong generalization ability and optimization efficiency. The evaluation results have high rationality and stability, which fully demonstrates the applicability of the BWO-RF model in flood disaster risk assessment. On a time scale, the flood risk of the Jiansanjiang Branch shows a clear downward trend. However, due to weak economic development and insufficient water conservancy and flood control planning and construction, the risk of flood disasters fluctuates greatly in the later period, and the prevention and control situation is still not optimistic. On a spatial scale, the risk of flood disasters on farms in the northeast of Jiansanjiang Branch is low, while the risk on farms in the southwest is higher. Future flood control and drainage should focus on this area. The research results provide a technical method system for reference in flood disaster risk assessment and provide valuable information for reducing regional flood disaster risks.

L’integrazione tra grammatica e repertorî lessicografici ladini

In Val Gardena, the first hesitant approaches to writing date back to the beginning of the 19th century with Mathias Ploner. The first printed descriptive grammar of a Dolomite-Ladin language was produced by Josef Anton Vian from Val di Fassa: Gröden, der Grödner und seine Sprache (1864). The most recent projects related to lexicography and grammar of the Istitut Ladin Micurá de Rü are a concrete expression of the close connection between grammar and dictionary. The publication of the grammar a few years after the dictionary (both available in online format) facilitates the integration of the two dimensions. This can be achieved by a system of hypertext references, thanks to which each term in the grammar opens a corresponding tab in the dictionary by means of a simple click. The dictionary is the tool most often and immediately used not only to understand the meaning of words, but also to solve grammatical uncertainties. The speaker’s competence is not reduced to lists of memorised words. The learning of a language is subject to stimulation through elements linked by relationships, grammatical and syntactic connections. The plug-in programme, adapted to our needs by Smallcodes in Florence, focuses on the textual rather than only the lexical dimension of the Ladin language and interacts effectively with Italian and German. For each lemma and each conjugated form, full integration with the online dictionary is achieved, as well as with the verb conjugator, the spell-checker, the phraseology database and the word’s pronunciation.

Do Preliminary References Increase Public Support for European Law? Experimental Evidence from Germany

AbstractExplanations for the successful expansion and consolidation of the European Union and its legal system have long emphasized the importance of domestic courts’ sending preliminary references to the Court of Justice. Key to many of these theoretical accounts is the claim that domestic courts are better equipped than the Court of Justice to compel national governments to comply with EU law. Integrating insights from the comparative judicial politics literature into the context of the EU's preliminary references system, we provide a theoretical and empirical foundation for this claim by arguing that incorporating domestic courts into the EU legal process enhances public support for expansive judicial interpretations of EU law. We go on to argue, however, that this transfer of legitimacy depends on citizens’ views of the national and European courts. We support our argument with evidence from a preregistered survey experiment fielded in Germany.

Extended Review of Political Choreographies, Decolonial Theories, Trans Bodies

This article offers a comprehensive review of Political Choreographies, Decolonial Theo-ries, Trans Bodies, the latest book, a volume edited by Marina Gržinić and Jovita Pristovšek in intensive collaboration with Nomusa Makhubu and Tjaša Kancler, published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in 2023. This volume takes as its starting point the body as a structural signifier, which is conceptualized in seven chapters. Each of them addresses the question of movement, politics, revolt, action, etc., in a variety of ways to de-link ourselves (especially us Whites) from colonial modernity as the organizing principle not only of capitalism but of a whole range of processes that emanate from modernity, i.e., forms of domination and oppression such as racism, sexism, Eurocentrism, and environmental destruction. What makes this book special, however, is not only the positions presented but also the way in which they are presented. Each conversation begins with a carefully selected starting point, linked to the interlocutor’s* work and accompanied by a rich citation system of references and additional information. This opens up the formation of epistemic counter-narratives that confront the violent history of capitalism and form possibilities for yet unidentified bodies, movements, politics, and political action as future potentialities.

IMPROVING DATA QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT FOR REMOTE SENSING ANALYSIS: USE-CASES AND EMERGING RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Abstract. During the last decades satellite remote sensing has become an emerging technology producing big data for various application fields every day. However, data quality checking as well as the long-time management of data and models are still issues to be improved. They are indispensable to guarantee smooth data integration and the reproducibility of data analysis such as carried out by machine learning models. In this paper we clarify the emerging need of improving data quality and the management of data and models in a geospatial database management system before and during data analysis. In different use cases various processes of data preparation and quality checking, integration of data across different scales and references systems, efficient data and model management, and advanced data analysis are presented in detail. Motivated by these use cases we then discuss emerging research questions concerning data preparation and data quality checking, data management, model management and data integration. Finally conclusions drawn from the paper are presented and an outlook on future research work is given.

Sur la crise psychique : considération inactuelle

ObjectivesAs the concept of crisis has permeated all disciplinary fields, it has become less intelligible. This phenomenon is also valid in psychiatry, on account of the usage of the concept in relation with different realities. Thus, our present case study takes interest in what the psychic crisis is, so as to clarify how it appears for individual subjects through its various manifestations, whose heterogeneity has an undeniable clinical interest. MethodologyIn an attempt to provide a granular definition of the psychic crisis, we will first put forth a historical and etymological study. Then, based on a system of psychoanalytical references supplied with contributions from philosophy and particularly from phenomenology, we will address in what way any psychic crisis comes as a critical reaction to an encounter with the real, which appears as a discontinuity, an event for the subject. ResultsWe theorize that the internal disruption caused by the psychic crisis phenomenon, which tears apart the subject's representations, stems from its unique operating mode by means of the language use to interact with the surrounding world. The subject going through a crisis, and accompanied by health care professionals, will be guided to a decision that aims at creating a new livable mode following the downfall of their former objective certainty. DebateHence, we believe any psychic crisis unravels the subject as a being to themselves. However, such an epiphany is not harmless, which is why the health care professional plays an even greater role in this instance. Running counter to current practices, the health care professional must not hinder the psychic crisis when it arises, but, instead, make space for any uniquely subjective creation that is likely to come forth. ConclusionWe advocate for the emergence of a new mode of being, of dealing with the world, while facilitating the subject's fashioning of their own dynamic narrative, of the crisis they are going through. We believe, indeed, that such are the ethical prerequisites of care, with regard to the psychic crisis.

Номинативный потенциал аксиологической парадигмы мемориального медиапортрета кинолегенды (на материале французского языка)

The study aims to identify the characteristics of evaluative names that form the paradigm of the axiological field of the memorial media portrait of a cinema legend. The study was carried out using the material of a special issue of the journal “Le Figaro Hommage” published in September 2021 in connection with the passing of the French cinema legend Jean-Paul Belmondo – “Le Magnifique. Jean-Paul Belmondo 1933/2021”. The paper presents a systematic analysis of a set of names that create the axiological field of the memorial media portrait of the cinema legend. The study is novel in that it is the first to take a multilevel approach to analysing various types of names of a French film star presented in the micro-, macro- and hyper-context. Attention is paid to the lexico-semantic aspect of the names, their usage as part of different stylistic devices, as well as their role in the system of references that extend the axiological space of the media portrait of the cinema legend beyond the boundaries of articles and the entire special issue dedicated to Belmondo. The results show that the memorial media portrait of the cinema legend represents an archetypal phenomenon in which an idealised image of the screen star is formed with the help of a set of naming units.

Reference System Element Identification Atlas – methods and tools to identify references system elements in product engineering

Companies target innovations, successful new products. One major challenge is to increase efficiency and decrease the risk of developing new successful products. We want to reach these goals by improving the reusability of already existing knowledge elements extracted from e.g., already existing (sub-)systems or their documentation. These elements are called reference system elements and are meant to be the starting point for product development projects. Based on a systematic literature review complemented by an expert workshop and analysis of established methods and tools in product engineering, we developed the Reference System Elements Identification Atlas to support the identification of suiting reference system elements. Within the Reference System Elements Identification Atlas, we collected 30 methods and tools to identify reference system elements and allocated them to the various knowledge spaces they search. All 30 methods and tools were grouped in five clusters – creativity methods, data analysis methods, market/competition analysis methods, similarity methods, and trend analysis methods. We observed that methods and tools are hardly related to the identification of reference system elements in literature explicitly. We believe the Reference System Elements Identification Atlas provides valuable support to collect valuable reference system elements as the starting point in product engineering.

From Laboratory to Gallery: Transfer of Construction Principles of Scientific Knowledge into Works of Science-Art

Science-art is seen as an artistic practice that uses scientific theories, concepts and laboratory equipment as its main tools, and the creative method of artists is based on the principles of scientific experimentation. Using the methods of the sociology of science and technology of B. Latour and S. Woolgar to study science-art, it is found that scientific experimentation becomes the basis (medium) of this direction of contemporary art. Thus, science-art borrows not only material objects of the scientific world, but also ways of constructing scientific knowledge, which, according to B. Latour’s research, are hidden in the specifics of laboratory practices. Key in this case are “recording techniques”, which replace various data, diagrams, samples and materials in the production of scientific knowledge, and which become an argument in academic discussions. For science-art, the analogue of such written documents are curatorial texts and explications of works, which can be placed both directly in the exhibition space and form a complex system of references to various research materials, interviews with scholars, podcasts, etc. These texts and media texts allow us to use them in the exhibition space. These texts and media texts allow the viewer to perceive the context of the artist’s creative experiment and form a specific artistic complex “artobject — text — audience”. Together with laboratory practices, science-art brings the art and mechanics of constructing scientific knowledge into the sphere of art, unwittingly fulfilling popularizing and educational tasks. However, the conceptual complexity of the works and the focus on the process of scientific investigation rather than on the presentation of results bring back to the viewer the doubt of philosophical quest and a critical view of scientific research as basic elements of academic enquiry.

Evaporative cooling of photovoltaic panels in dry and hot climatic conditions

ABSTRACT Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is a popular choice among other renewable energy sources, but its electrical efficiency decreases with a rise in PV panel temperature. Previous studies on passive cooling with phase change material (PCM) based approach face limitations of temperature drop and leakage issues. To address this issue, an evaporative cooling method that can enhance panel efficiency is investigated. The present study demonstrated a simple, optimized, and cost-effective evaporative cooling for hot and dry climate conditions. The system consists of jute cloth attached directly to the PV panel backside and water flowing from the top header to the jute cloth under gravity has been experimentally investigated in outdoor conditions during summer. The electrical and thermal characteristics (with and without cooling) of the panel were measured. The finding shows that the jute cooling in PV panels leads to a substantial reduction in average temperature by 18°C and a corresponding increase in electrical efficiency by 10.31%. The jute-cooled panel shows an average and maximum output power improvement of 4.33 and 7.10 W, respectively, compared to the referent panel, while consuming only 0.55 l of water per hour. The study also investigated the effect of water failure on jute cooling and water ingress to the junction box. In the event of water cooling system failure, the panel’s temperature increases by an average of 6°C in comparison to the referent panel. Furthermore, the proposed evaporative cooling system shows a cost-incurred payback period of 7 years against the referent system of 5 years.

Comparison of reminder-preference test to difference and preference tests: An affective approach yielding d-prime results for sensory difference and preference

Preserving the sensory characteristics of reformulated products is crucial for a successful market launch. This underscores the need for precise measurement of consumer perceptions regarding sensory differences and preferences. One approach to assess these aspects is through the utilization of the reminder-preference test, an affective difference-preference test employing the A-Not A with the reminder (A-Not AR) test design. This test measures sensory differences and preferences by employing a consolidated d′ index rooted in signal detection theory and Thurstonian modeling. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the reminder-preference test in measuring the degree of sensory differences and interpreting their relevance concerning consumer preference. To achieve this, the test was compared with both the A-Not AR difference test and the 2-alternative choice (2-AC) preference test. A lemon-lime-flavored carbonated drink and two types of reformulated samples were tested. Young female adult subjects were randomly divided into three groups. Each took one of the following three tests: the reminder-preference test, the reminder test of A-Not AR, or the 2-AC preference test. The reference framing in the reminder-preference and reminder tests was preceded by subjects watching the product’s advertisement to assist them in framing evaluative criteria. This would also facilitate memorizing the perception of the reference product. Test sensitivity in reminder-preference matched reminder and 2-AC tests for sensory differences and preferences. Affective framing enhanced sensitivity to sensory differences resulting in a higher d′ value of the sensory difference than the preference. From the results, it was possible to interpret that the measured sensory differences did not affect consumer preference. The test also illuminated brand marketing effects on preferences through branded reference comparison. Thus, the reminder-preference test shows potential as an efficient sensory method to measure sensory differences and the preference of consumers, while concurrently measuring the effects of marketing on the consumers. Therefore, it can assist in making efficient business decisions regarding product reformulations.

Cinnamyl-Modified Polyglycidol/Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Block Copolymer Nanocarriers for Enhanced Encapsulation and Prolonged Release of Cannabidiol.

The present study describes the development of novel block copolymer nanocarriers of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), designed to enhance the solubility of the drug in water while achieving high encapsulation efficiency and prolonged drug release. Firstly, a well-defined amphiphilic block copolymer consisting of two outer hydrophilic polyglycidol (PG) blocks and a middle hydrophobic block of poly(ε-caprolactone) bearing pendant cinnamyl moieties (P(CyCL-co-CL)) were synthesized by the click coupling reaction of PG-monoalkyne and P(CyCL-co-CL)-diazide functional macroreagents. A non-modified polyglycidol/poly(ε-caprolactone) amphiphilic block copolymer was obtained as a referent system. Micellar carriers based on the two block copolymers were formed via the solvent evaporation method and loaded with CBD following two different protocols-loading during micelle formation and loading into preformed micelles. The key parameters/characteristics of blank and CBD-loaded micelles such as size, size distribution, zeta potential, molar mass, critical micelle concentration, morphology, and encapsulation efficiency were determined by using dynamic and static multiangle and electrophoretic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Embedding CBD into the micellar carriers affected their hydrodynamic radii to some extent, while the spherical morphology of particles was not changed. The nanoformulation based on the copolymer bearing cinnamyl moieties possessed significantly higher encapsulation efficiency and a slower rate of drug release than the non-modified copolymer. The comparative assessment of the antiproliferative effect of micellar CBD vs. the free drug against the acute myeloid leukemia-derived HL-60 cell line and Sezary Syndrome HUT-78 demonstrated that the newly developed systems have pronounced antitumor activity.