bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NaCl aerosol filtration over filter media with intrafiber porosity: can filtrate capacity be increased by wicking into this pore volume?
Authors: Poudyal Amulya , Tatarchuk Bruce J
Published: August 2024

This paper investigates a novel fiber-based filter media wherein a NaCl filtrate is collected and reservoired not only onto the surfaces of the fibers and within their inter-fiber voidage but also within the internal porosity of high pore volume nanoporous fibers or vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCF) floc used to fabricate the media. This transport process is shown to occur through a NaCl dissolution into the water-filled nanopores of the fiber and a subsequent intra-fiber wicking phenomenon. The study further elucidates two distinct NaCl accommodation mechanisms which are uniquely available to filter media containing nanoporous intrafiber porosity: (1) wicking and capillary condensation of liquid NaCl aerosols directly into the intrafiber pores at high RH, and (2) dissolution of otherwise solid NaCl aerosols deposited onto fiber surfaces (at low RH) into the interior nanopores of the fiber because these pores (when hydrophilic) are saturated with water (even at low RH). To investigate these two mechanistic regimes, various media were fabricated possessing multiscale porosity in the form of: (i) embedded flocs of VGCFs (4.108 cm3 gm−1 pore volume), (ii) hydrophilic and high pore volume activated carbon fibers (ACFs, 0.950 cm3 gm−1) and (iii) solid graphite fibers. These media were then comparatively evaluated toward NaCl aerosol filtration at different relative humidities. Pressure drop measurements versus filtrate accumulation and SEM-EDAX VGCF demonstrated the location and transport of NaCl into the intrafiber voidage. Media containing both VGCF floc and ACF accumulated 1200% more NaCl at low RH (and a specified pressure drop) than similar media prepared from non-porous graphite fibers, with an additional 315% increase from low to high RH. A Gibbs free energy driving force model is provided to illustrate the driving forces favoring water condensation into the nanopores and solid NaCl aerosol dissolution into the water phase. Filtration efficiency and quality factor assessments for the various media are also systematically evaluated to demonstrate the observed mechanistics.
Enhanced durability of Pd/CeO2-C via metal–support interaction for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Mao Xinbiao , Ou Mingyu , Zhao Wenjun , Shi Meiqin , Zheng Lingxia
Published: August 2024

It is a challenge to improve the long-term durability of Pd-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells. Herein, Pd/CeO2-C-T (T = 800 °C, 900 °C and 1000 °C) hybrid catalysts with metal–support interaction are prepared from Ce-based metal organic framework precursor. Abundant tiny CeO2 nanoclusters are produced to form nanorod structures with uniformly distributed carbon through a calcination process. Meanwhile, both carbon and CeO2 nanoclusters have good contact with the following deposited surfactant-free Pd nanoclusters. Benefited from the large specific surface area, good conductivity and structure integrity, Pd/CeO2-C-900 exhibits the best electrocatalytic ORR performance: onset potential of 0.968 V and half-wave potential of 0.857 V, outperforming those obtained on Pd/C counterpart. In addition, the half-wave potential only shifts 7 mV after 6000 cycles of accelerated durability testing, demonstrating robust durability.
Stiffness and damping tuning through using a piezoelectric friction damper and a layered structure
Authors: Rezvani Sina , Park Simon S
Published: August 2024

Vibration suppression is essential for enhancing the performance of mechanical systems, as it prevents structural damage and minimizes noise. Various methods, including passive, semi-active, and active approaches, have been developed to achieve this goal. Among these, friction dampers, primarily categorized as passive, are highly efficient in adjusting system damping and influencing energy dissipation. By modulating the normal force in the friction damper based on external force intensity, performance can be further enhanced. This study employs a piezoelectric actuator to regulate the normal force and introduces an analytical method along with finite element modeling to estimate the normal force in the friction damper. A layered structure is introduced as an additional mean to tune damping and stiffness. The performance of the semi-active piezoelectric friction damper is investigated in free and forced vibrations, including flexural and axial cyclic loads. Furthermore, the advantages of employing layered structures are investigated experimentally. Overall, the piezoelectric friction damper demonstrates effective energy dissipation during macroslip events. Nevertheless, in case of microslip, increasing the actuator voltage results in reduced damping and a marginal rise in stiffness.
Trade-off relations between Bell nonlocality and local Kochen–Specker contextuality in generalized Bell scenarios
Authors: Porto Lucas E A , Ruffolo Gabriel , Rabelo Rafael , Terra Cunha Marcelo , Kurzyński Paweł
Published: August 2024

The relations between Bell nonlocality and Kochen–Specker contextuality have been subject of research from many different perspectives in the last decades. Recently, some interesting results on these relations have been explored in the so-called generalized Bell scenarios, that is, scenarios where Bell spatial separation (or agency independence) coexist with (at least one of the) parties’ ability to perform compatible measurements at each round of the experiment. When this party has an n-cycle compatiblity setup, it was first claimed that Bell nonlocality could not be concomitantly observed with contextuality at this party’s local experiment. However, by a more natural reading of the definition of locality, it turns out that both Bell nonlocality and local contextuality can, in fact, be jointly present. In spite of it, in this work we prove that in the simplest of those scenarios there cannot be arbitrary amounts of both of these two resources together. That is, in these cases we show that the violation of any Bell inequality limits the possible violations of any local noncontextuality inequality. We also explore this trade-off relation using quantifiers of nonlocality and contextuality, discussing how such a relation can be understood in terms of a ‘global’ notion of contextuality, and we study possible extensions of this result to other scenarios.
Jeans mass and Gamow temperature: insights from q-Deformed systems
Authors: Senay M
Published: August 2024

In this study, we investigate the potential for star formation within a gas system governed by q-deformed statistics. Our findings show that stars with masses below the conventional Jeans mass threshold can indeed form, with the specific formation depending on the value assigned to the deformation parameter q. In particular, the application of q-statistics allows the emergence of stars with reduced Jeans mass requirements. In addition, within the framework of q-deformed kinetic theory, the ignition temperature of a star may exhibit a decrease relative to the traditionally accepted Gamow temperature. This suggests important implications for the mechanisms driving star formation and the thermal dynamics in stellar bodies under the influence of q-deformation.
Series solution and sensitivity analysis of central disc-shaped objects in electrical impedance tomography
Authors: Gulati Shantam , Jampana Phanindra , Sastry C S
Published: August 2024

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a non-intrusive imaging technique applied in various domains, such as medical imaging, process industries, and geophysics. Estimating the diameter of the air core in a Hydrocyclone is one of the applications of EIT in the process industry. Existing reconstruction algorithms only provide a diffuse reconstruction. Motivated by this, we develop fundamental sensitivity estimates for reconstructing central disc-shaped objects in EIT. We calculate the derivative of the voltages on the electrodes as a function of the radius of central disc-shaped phantoms and compare the theoretical findings with finite element method (FEM) results. We find that the sensitivity (i.e., the derivative of voltages to the radius of the conductivity disc) calculated through our analysis matches the FEM results and is higher for larger radii.
Exploring the effects of the positional configuration of a molecular complex on the electronic structure and optical response in a quantum ring
Authors: Sakiroglu S , Sari H
Published: August 2024

In this study, the energy spectrum, binding energy, and optical intersubband transitions of a molecular complex confined in a quantum ring defined by Gaussian-type potentials were theoretically investigated within the effective mass approximation. The energy states and corresponding wave functions were derived from the solution of the Schrödinger equation using a two-dimensional diagonalization method. The results show that the energy spectrum, binding energy, and intersubband optical transitions show significant sensitivity to the arrangement of the donor atoms and characteristic size parameters of the geometric confinement and repulsive core potential. In conclusion, the structural parameters of the quantum rings and the configuration of the donor atoms provide a new degree of freedom in the tuning of the electronic structure, the stability of Coulombic binding, and the optical response of a molecular complex confined in a quantum ring system.
A fuzzy semi-analytical approach for modeling uncertainties in solitary wave solution of coupled nonlinear Boussinesq equations
Authors: Vana Rambabu , Karunakar Perumandla
Published: August 2024

This article presents the precise solitary wave solution (SWS) of nonlinear coupled Boussinesq equations (BEs) in shallow water using the Homotopy Perturbation Transform Method (HPTM) and Fuzzy HPTM (FHPTM). The study introduces a fuzzy model for the coupled BEs by incorporating uncertainties in wave depth coefficients. The effectiveness of FHPTM is demonstrated through a comparison with the exact solution for the crisp case, using the double parametric approach to highlight the fuzziness in the solution. Numerical results under various scenarios are examined to understand the behavior of the SWS. HPTM results are compared with those derived from the Adomian Decomposition Method (ADM). The results show good agreement with both exact and numerical techniques.
Existence and multiplicity of solutions for singular differential equations with non-local boundary conditions*
Authors: Wei Yongfang
Published: August 2024

This paper focuses on the investigation of a class of singular differential systems with non-local boundary conditions. Its primary objective is to establish the variational structure of the non-local singular differential systems, and systematically explore multiple solutions through the application of the variational method. A significant achievement of this research is the demonstration that the energy functional satisfies the Cerami condition within an appropriate Sobolev's space. The derivation of key results is facilitated by the strategic application of the Minimization sequence and Fountain Theorem. Furthermore, even in cases where the nonlinear term fails to meet the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz condition, this paper successfully applies the variational method to address the associated problems. The challenges addressed in this study include proving the convergence of the solution sequence, ensuring the continuous differentiability of the energy functional, and showcasing the embedding property of space. Distinguishing itself from existing research, this paper innovatively constructs a variational framework tailored specifically for singular differential systems with non-local boundary conditions. The utilization of variational methods enables a meticulous and systematic exploration into the solvability of these intricate problems.
Nonlocal FG porous adsorber with 2D PSH network under magnetic intensity for large frequency range considering vdW interaction potentials
Authors: Khouni Soumia , Bourouina Hicham
Published: August 2024

In this contribution, the nonlocal frequency shift is investigated and analyzed for an adatoms-microstructure system, considering the effects of nonlocal behavior, adatom distribution, and magnetic field. The microstructure is a sandwich microbeam including face sheets that are functionally graded porous (FGP) and a longitudinally perforated core with a uniform periodic square hole’s network (PSH) arranged parallel to the length of the sandwich microbeam. The material characteristics for three layers are assumed to change along the thickness correspondingly to a power law function, where Maxwell’s equations are exploited to express how the applied magnetic field has been affected. Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity is utilized to incorporate small-scale behavior. At the same time, van der Waals interactions between the adatom itself and the adatom microstructure substrate are established employing Lennard-Jones (6–12) and Morse potentials to account for the energy induced by adsorption. The dynamic equations of vibration are modified to develop the Euler–Bernoulli beam model (EBM) and Levinson beam model (LBM), which are then solved using Navier solution method (NSM) and differential quadrature method (DQM) to determine the resonance shift. Numerical results revealed that the calculated shift response was influenced by the perforation characteristics, adsorbed adatoms, magnetic field intensity, and small-scale behavior. Consequently, numerical results are discussed to investigate the nonlocal dynamic response of adatom-microstructure systems, which are relevant to developing mass sensing devices incorporated into micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (M/NEMS).
Numerical investigation of fractional order chaotic systems using a new modified Runge-Kutta method
Authors: Sai Lekshmi A , Balakumar V
Published: August 2024

This article introduces a new modified two-stage fractional Runge-Kutta method for solving fractional order dynamical systems. The non-integer order derivative is considered in the Caputo sense, as it reliably captures the physical nature of the systems. A comprehensive mathematical analysis is performed, covering aspects such as consistency, convergence and error bound. The method’s effectiveness is validated by comparing it with existing methods in the literature for solving linear and nonlinear fractional initial value problems. The proposed method is then utilized to investigate a wide range of commensurate fractional order continuous systems demonstrating chaotic behavior, with their phase diagrams illustrated. Parametric configurations and fractional orders for which specific fractional attractors either exhibit or lack chaotic behavior is also examined. The computation Lyapunov exponents and 0-1 test have been performed to elucidate the dynamic behaviors of the analyzed fractional order systems.
Tuning the physical attributes of A-site double perovskites SrMInSbO6 (M = Hf, Ca) for optoelectronics
Authors: Murtaza Hudabia , Ain Quratul , Munir Junaid , Ghaithan Hamid M , Ali Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed , Qaid Saif M H
Published: August 2024

The extraordinary crystal structure and tunable characteristics of A-site double perovskite oxides make them noteworthy as A-site cations can be precisely tailored to control their chemical and physical properties, opening up new possibilities for high-performing materials in particular technological applications. This manuscript examines the analysis of the physical traits of SrMInSbO6 (M = Hf, Ca) using the DFT technique. Birch-Murnaghan equation is implemented to optimize crystal structures. Both structures are structurally, thermodynamically, and mechanically stable as predicted by a tolerance factor, negative formation energies and elastic constants. Electronic band structures reveal semiconducting behavior with bandgap of 0.87 eV and 0.93 eV for SrHfInSbO6 and 1.17 eV and 3.11 eV for SrCaInSbO6 using GGA and mBJ, respectively. Total and partial DOS plots also emulate electronic band structure profiles perfectly. Furthermore, the optical characteristics for SrMInSbO6 (M = Hf, Ca) revealed strong absorption along with optical conductivity and lowest energy loss in the visible and UV region. The computed characteristics expose the potential of investigated perovskites for water splitting and optoelectronics.
Estimation of the set of states obtained in particle number measurement schemes
Authors: Korolev S B , Bashmakova E N , Yu Golubeva T
Published: August 2024

The paper investigated a set of non-Gaussian states generated by measuring the number of particles in one of the modes of a two-mode entangled Gaussian state. It was demonstrated that all generated states depend on two types of parameters: some parameters are responsible for Gaussian characteristics, while other parameters are responsible for non-Gaussian characteristics. Among all generated states, we identified those optimally generated in terms of the generation probability and the magnitude of non-Gaussianity.
Study on differential magnetic fields of nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope
Authors: Zhang Hao , Yue Yazhou , Lei Xing , Huang Chenyu
Published: August 2024

During the operation of NMRG, polarized alkali atoms will produce a magnetic field. Different noble gases feel different magnetic fields produced by polarized alkali atoms magnetic field, which will lead to extra bias drift of gyroscope output. Countering this phenomenon, the influence of differential magnetic field on gyroscope output is analyzed theoretically, and the method of calculating differential magnetic field is optimized. The effects of static magnetic field, working temperature, and different cell insufflation parameters on differential magnetic field are studied experimentally. The result shows that the static magnetic field intensity has no obvious effect on the differential magnetic field. There is a working temperature point that makes the differential magnetic field zero when the relaxation time of the two noble gases is the same, and the cell insufflation parameters influence the differential field by influencing the difference in relaxation time.
A two-axis linkage interpolation control method for a new type of antenna base
Authors: Liu Min , Su Kaixin , Xu Wenhua
Published: August 2024

A two-axis linkage interpolation control method was proposed to aim at a new type of two-axis parallel drive antenna base. Firstly, by establishing a kinematic model, the positive and inverse solution relationship between the two driving motors and the azimuth and pitch angle of the front was obtained. Secondly, the path planning and simulation model of two-axis motion control was realized in MATLAB according to the established motion model, and the correctness of the kinematics model of positive and inverse solutions established above was verified by the simulation model. Finally, the servo control system was designed according to the specific load and kinematic parameters of the engineering prototype, the aforementioned two-axis motion interpolation algorithm was implemented in the servo control system, and the debugging and physical verification were completed in the engineering prototype.
Investigation on the transient aerodynamics of a tube-launched unmanned aerial vehicle with a span-extended wing
Authors: Si Peng , Wu Mingjian , Huo Yongqing , Wu Zhilin
Published: August 2024

Span morphing wings are designed for unmanned aerial vehicles to improve aerodynamics and flight performance. The aerodynamic analysis mainly focuses on the quasi-steady performance of span-morphing wings under several typical configurations. However, the aerodynamic characteristics become unsteady and dynamic during the morphing process. This work, therefore, performs a numerical study on the transient performance and the mechanism of a tube-launched aircraft with a span-extended wing. The numerical results show that the transient aerodynamic force creates a dynamic hysteresis loop surrounding the quasi-steady data. The relative deviation in the drag is larger than in the lift, and the hysteresis effect of the flow field is the major contributor. It changes the force distribution by affecting the formation of the wingtip vortex. This work can provide a reference to the design of tube-launched UAVs.
Study of pressure measurement technique using MEMS pressure sensors integrated on built-in printed circuit board
Authors: Liao Binlong , Pu Xiang , Bi Zehua , He Guosheng
Published: August 2024

Surface pressure measurement is an important part of aerodynamic research. In this study, a novel pressure measurement system based on Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) pressure sensors was designed and fabricated. The selected integrated silicon piezoresistive sensors are characterized by small size, low cost, high accuracy, and easy integration. Multi-channel simultaneous measurement of surface pressure is realized by integrating multiple sensors in a self-designed printed circuit board (PCB). A U-shape tube differential pressure device was used to calibrate the constructed pressure measurement system and the measured results are compared with those of commercial sensors. It is shown that the MEMS sensor output had good accuracy and linearity. The pressure measurement system was used to measure the pressure on the surface of a circular cylinder and a NACA0015 airfoil in a wind tunnel. The results further verified the feasibility and reliability of the present measurement system. Compared with other pressure measurement methods, the surface pressure measurement method based on MEMS sensors developed in this paper greatly reduces the cost, and at the same time has good customizability, which can effectively expand the application scenarios and scope of the pressure measurement technique.
Simulation analysis of mud and sand separation performance of hydrocyclone based on fluent
Authors: Wu Juefan , Lin Jiming
Published: August 2024

The hydrocyclone exhibits a simple structure yet harbors a highly intricate internal flow field, necessitating precise structural parameters and accuracy. This study commences by employing SolidWorks for three-dimensional modeling of the hydrocyclone, followed by integrating the CFD numerical simulation method and utilizing Fluent to simulate the sediment separation process within the cyclone. The investigation delves into analyzing the impact of the flow field within the hydrocyclone and the operational parameters on its separation efficiency. The findings reveal that appropriately increasing the feed concentration can mitigate underflow entrainment and enhance the quality of underflow products to a certain extent, whereas increasing the feed mud content yields contrary results. The outcomes of this research offer theoretical guidance for the deployment of similar hydrocyclones in field applications.
The Rhetoric of Falseness or, How to Talk about a Discord
Authors: Chan Eleanor
Published: August 2024

The role of dissonance in harmony is a well-established musicological fact but has rarely been explored in a broader disciplinary context, where the metaphor of harmony is applied to objects beyond the musical. This chapter seeks to address this relative absence by problematizing the phrase ‘sweet music’ as a descriptor of pleasant musical experience. It investigates possible routes towards understanding the murkier corners of understanding of the false relation and understanding of discord in general by entertaining metaphor and the power of suggestion as a tool of musicological analysis, and the importance of the evocative trace as evidence alongside the concrete, documented connection. It investigates the literature of the period, both explicitly and implicitly musical to shine a light on the lexicon of falseness through its unexpected synonym, ‘sweet’, and the developing imagery and attitudes surrounding sugar, as England began to import it in ever greater quantities.
Practical Reason as the Source of Explanation and Comprehension
Authors: Zinkin Melissa
Published: August 2024

This chapter sets the stage for a discussion of practical reason in the Groundwork by arguing that practical reason can be a faculty for explanation and comprehension rather than for justification. Typically, the justification of an action is what gives me a reason to act and the explanation is what gets me to comprehend why the action occurs. However, explanations can also be practical; an explanation for why I ought to perform some action can motivate me to do it. It is then possible that the reason why I ought to perform some action is a reason that I comprehend, and comprehend deeply, rather than simply a reason that I endorse, as in Christine Korsgaard’s account. This occurs when I comprehend that my own end is to be an end in myself.
Shallow Morality in the Groundwork
Authors: Zinkin Melissa
Published: August 2024

This chapter begins the book’s interpretation of the Groundwork with a discussion of common moral rational cognition (CMRC) in Groundwork I. Although CMRC determines its actions by asking itself “can you also will that your maxim become a universal law?” it still has a propensity to rationalize against the strict laws of duty. What, then, is missing from CMRC? CMRC is shallow because even though it only acts on maxims that can be a universal law, it fails to comprehend why it is obligated to act on such maxims. It ought to act on maxims that can be a universal law because to do so is to act for the sake of its own rational nature. Only by grasping this reason are we deeply motivated to do what is right and our conformity to the moral law is not precarious.
Introduction
Authors: Toft Monica Duffy
Published: August 2024

The relationship between humans and civil wars has profound implications for our comprehension of violence and its impact on modern society. Civil wars have humanitarian consequences and inflict immense suffering. In our interconnected world as civil wars cross national borders, escalate, and encourage foreign intervention they have far-reaching consequences for global peace, justice, and prosperity. These interconnections—the variation in their causes, how they are fought, how they evolve, and how they end—therefore remains vital.
Origins and ambitions
Authors: Clark Heather
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an overview of Sylvia Plath’s origins and ambitions. Plath was born in Boston, Massachusetts in the early days of the Great Depression. The chapter then details Plath’s early poems and two semi-autobiographical stories told from the perspective of a girl growing up in greater Boston during the war who is bullied by neighborhood children on account of her Germanic heritage. Plath entered Smith College, a renowned all-women’s college in western Massachusetts. The poems she wrote there display a preoccupation with form and sound, sometimes at the expense of meaning. Eventually, Plath would embrace free verse and looser lines after she married Ted Hughes, but she never abandoned poetic structure entirely.
Hypothesis tests in ordinal predictive models with optimal accuracy
Authors: Liu Yuyang , Luo Shan , Li Jialiang
Published: August 2024

In real-world applications involving multi-class ordinal discrimination, a common approach is to aggregate multiple predictive variables into a linear combination, aiming to develop a classifier with high prediction accuracy. Assessment of such multi-class classifiers often utilizes the hypervolume under ROC manifolds (HUM). When dealing with a substantial pool of potential predictors and achieving optimal HUM, it becomes imperative to conduct appropriate statistical inference. However, prevalent methodologies in existing literature are computationally expensive. We propose to use the jackknife empirical likelihood method to address this issue. The Wilks’ theorem under moderate conditions is established and the power analysis under the Pitman alternative is provided. We also introduce a novel network-based rapid computation algorithm specifically designed for computing a general multi-sample $U$-statistic in our test procedure. To compare our approach against existing approaches, we conduct extensive simulations. Results demonstrate the superior performance of our method in terms of test size, power, and implementation time. Furthermore, we apply our method to analyze a real medical dataset and obtain some new findings.
Humoral immunity after a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with psoriasis treated with methotrexate and biologics: a cohort study
Authors: Kvist-Hansen Amanda , Hansen Cecilie Bo , Hamm Sebastian Rask , Pérez-Alós Laura , Zachariae Claus , Nielsen Susanne Dam , Garred Peter , Skov Lone
Published: August 2024

This study investigated humoral immunity to mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines after a booster dose in patients with psoriasis treated with biologics or methotrexate. We observed an increase in humoral responses in both patients and control participants after a booster vaccine. At 12 months, both groups showed positive humoral responses, but patients had significantly lower levels of IgG and neutralizing indexes than the control group. It is unknown if the observed difference has clinical relevance.
Assessment of hidradenitis suppurativa specialty care in dermatology residency programmes across the USA
Authors: Jenkins Hailey , Westerkam Linnea , Sayed Christopher
Published: August 2024

We examined the availability of specialty care for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in dermatology residency programmes in the USA. Our study revealed there is limited access to dedicated HS clinics and specialists, which may hinder comprehensive care for patients with this condition.
Supervisor synthesis for opacity enforcement in partially observed discrete event systems
Authors: Xie Huawei , Liu Jing , Li Na
Published: August 2024

Opacity is an important system property that is particularly relevant in the context of system security and privacy. A system is considered opaque if the predefined secret behavior of the system is not leaked to an external intruder. In this work, the opacity property is studied in the framework of labeled Petri nets (LPNs). The secret in an LPN system is characterized by a subset of reachable markings. Firstly, an opacity basis reachability graph (OBRG) containing opacity information of the system is developed to denote a system’s reachability set without computing all reachable states. Then the observer of the OBRG is computed, based on which a necessary and sufficient condition is derived to verify the opacity of the LPN system. Finally, given an LPN that does not satisfy the opacity, a maximally permissive supervisor is introduced to guarantee that the controlled system is opaque.
Design and optimization of electricity market trading mechanism based on blockchain technology
Authors: Zhang Xiaohu , Zhang Zhenmin , Cheng Xiaolei , Gong Yuying
Published: August 2024

An increasing number of distributed energy resources, acting as Supplier nodes, are participating in electricity market transactions. In order to meet the demand for large-scale renewable energy participation in the market, this article proposes a multi-layered electricity trading framework based on blockchain technology. This framework, with consortium chain technology at its core, is divided into network layer, regulatory layer, and physical layer. The feasibility of the proposed electricity trading model has been verified through simulation. Furthermore, this study divides the electricity trading process into stages, adopting noncooperative game theory for the bidding and clearing stages of trading nodes. After listing the remaining untraded nodes following the cycle auction, the node electricity price eventually converges to around 0.7 yuan/kW·h in the simulation game. By solving the game, rational node matching is achieved, while also matching untraded nodes with trading partners. The established electricity trading model in this article aims to provide trading services to nodes under different trading scenarios as much as possible, thereby enhancing the utilization of distributed energy resources. Future work will focus on refining the blockchain technology used in our framework, particularly exploring optimizations for scalability and efficiency in handling a larger volume of transactions involving distributed energy resources.
Irregular green netting of eggplant fruit peel: a domestication trait controlled by SmGLK2 with potential for fruit colour diversification
Authors: Arrones Andrea , Manrique Silvia , Gomis-Cebolla Joaquin , Baraja-Fonseca Virginia , Plazas Mariola , Prohens Jaime , Portis Ezio , Barchi Lorenzo , Giuliano Giovanni , Gramazio Pietro , Vilanova Santiago
Published: August 2024

The distribution of chlorophylls in eggplant (Solanum melongena) peel exhibits either a uniform pattern or an irregular green netting pattern. The latter, manifested as a gradient of dark green netting that is intensified in the proximal part of the fruit on a pale green background, is common in wild relatives and some eggplant landraces. Despite the selection of uniform chlorophylls during domestication, the netting pattern contributes to a greater diversity of fruit colours. Here, we used over 2300 individuals from different populations, including a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross population for candidate genomic region identification, an F2 population for bulked segregant analysis by sequencing, and advanced backcrosses for edges-to-core fine-mapping, to identify SmGLK2 gene as responsible for the irregular netting in eggplant fruits. We also analysed the gene sequence of 178 S. melongena accessions and 22 wild relative species for tracing the evolutionary changes that the gene has undergone during domestication. Three different mutations were identified leading to the absence of netting. The main causative indel induces a premature stop codon disrupting the protein conformation and function, which was confirmed by western blot analysis and confocal microscopy observations. SmGLK2 has a major role in regulating chlorophyll biosynthesis in eggplant fruit peel.
Anti-Competitive Agreements and Intellectual Property Licensing in China
Authors: Dai Ken
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks at how the Chinese competition legislation system is mainly composed of the AML, the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of PRC (the “AUCL”), and relevant guidelines and circulars. Based on the principle of good faith and recognized business ethics, the AUCL protects undertakings from suffering anti-competitive conducts so as to maintain a competitive market and protect the interests of consumers. Meanwhile, the AML focuses more on competition itself, requiring enough competitors in the market in order to provide freedom of choice for counter parties/consumers and improve the economic efficiency and social welfare of consumers.
Supplement to Chapter 3
Authors: Lianos Ioannis , Korah Valentine , Siciliani Paolo
Published: August 2024

This supplement to Chapter 3 discusses the conceptual foundations of welfare economics, with particular emphasis on ordinal utility, revealed preferences and behaviourism. It first considers marginalism and the development of the neo-classical economics of utility, citing Alfred Marshall's marginalist framework of utility theory, before turning to ordinalism and the rise of the economic efficiency approach, game theory and expected subjective utility in relation to behaviourism and revealed preferences, behavioural economics and the connection between preferences and welfare. Also examined is how the approach of behavioural economics challenges the theory of revealed preferences, noting the pro-State intervention of behavioural economics owing to its reliance on asymmetric paternalism (also known as libertarian paternalism).
National Security and FDI Screening in the UK
Authors: Kokkoris Ioannis
Published: August 2024

The chapter scrutinizes the UK’s foreign investment screening framework, introduced by an account of the evolution of the national security assessment in merger control from the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965 to the Enterprise Act 2002. It analyses recent amendments to the Enterprise Act regime and sector-specific regulations, finding that while some have improved the regime at the margin, several weaknesses remain from a substantial and institutional perspective. The chapter examines FDI screening under the newly established National Security Investment Act and delves into the Act’s provisions, objectives, application, and implications for investors. It dissects the Act’s core elements, highlighting its expansive scope. This examination extends from the substantial prerequisites to the procedural aspects, exploring the review process timeline, notification requirements, call-in powers, interim orders, and remedies and sanctions. The analysis highlights that the Act represents a transformative shift in UK investment screening, necessitating careful consideration by businesses and investors.
Update to Chapter 11: Protective Jurisdiction
Authors: Hartley Trevor C
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses a series of provisions based on the principle of protective jurisdiction. This is derived from the idea that parties who are in a weak bargaining position should be given jurisdictional protection in order to prevent unscrupulous opponents from taking advantage of their weakness. The three instances in which this applies in Brussels and Lugano are insurance contracts, consumer contracts, and employment contracts. Brussels 2012, Recital 18, expresses this policy as follows: In relation to insurance, consumer, and employment contracts, the weaker party should be protected by rules of jurisdiction more favourable to his interests than the general rules. This means that the jurisdictional rules are more generous where the weaker party is suing the stronger party than the other way round. The chapter first assesses certain questions relating to all three areas in general; then it considers each of the three areas individually.
General and Final Provisions
Authors: Wilderspin Michael
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores Chapter VI of the Brussels IIb Regulation that contains a miscellany of provisions. It looks into the provisions indicated in Article 85 up to Article 103. Some articles address the issues of cooperation in court, collection and transmission of information, notification of the data subject, and non-disclosure of information. In the context of the Regulation, no legislation or other similar formality will be required since legalisation of the documents would need an issue by a court. Moreover, the abolition of the requirement for legalisation in the Brussels Conventions and Regulations extended beyond the legalisation stricto sensu to embrace any similar formality. The chapter also considers the Regulation’s attempts to minimise the need for translations.
Regulatory Law Indicators and Risks
Authors: Wood Philip R
Published: August 2024

This chapter reviews the main fields of regulation and describe the essentials of financial regulation and the managing of regulatory risk. It reviews key indicators of financial regulation, such as enforcement, protectionism, investor protection, and degree of freedom. Regulation differs from the ordinary law in that the law is administered by a governmental regulator, the law is criminalised although often described as administrative, and the rules are unusually detailed, prescriptive, and often extraterritorial. This chapter explains that the risks of financial regulation cannot be significantly controlled by a free choice of governing law or courts and that regulation often applies by reason of some fine-trigger contact with the regulating jurisdiction.
History and the Future
Authors: Wood Philip R
Published: August 2024

This chapter proposes two events which are considered to have had a major impact on the crystallisation of the main features of the main legal systems: first the timing of crystallisation in relation to the arrival of the Industrial Revolution in the jurisdictions concerned; and, secondly, cultural and political trends post-1968. It mentions the impact of Brexit and the role of Roman law. The chapter suggests possible future directions for the law. Three prominent issues are whether the law will continue to expand at its present rate and become even more unmanageable, whether the existing families of law will remain substantially as they are, and whether the dominance of English and New York law in wholesale transactions will continue as a duopoly or whether other contenders will emerge. One can expect that the content of the law of the future will be very unexpected.
Scope and Definitions
Authors: Illmer Martin , Nuyts Arnaud , Fitchen Jonathan
Published: August 2024

This chapter first discusses Arts 1-3 of Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments (Recast). It presents definitions of the following terms: ‘judgment’, ‘court settlement’, ‘authentic instrument’, ‘Member State of origin’, ‘court of origin’, and extended meaning of the term ‘court’.
The Recognition and Enforcement of Member State Judgments
Authors: Franzina Pietro , Kramer Xandra , Fitchen Jonathan
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses Arts 36-57 included in Chapter III of Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments (Recast). It covers provisions on the recognition of Member State judgments, documentary requirements for recognition, suspension of the proceedings in which recognition is invoked, the enforcement of Member State judgments, the refusal of recognition and enforcement, appeal against a decision on refusal, and enforcement of penalty provisions in Member State judgments.
Relationship with Other Instruments
Authors: Rogerson Pippa , Bonomi Andrea , Illmer Martin
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses Arts 67-73 included in Chapter VIII of Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments (Recast). Chapter VII regulates the relationship between the Recast Regulation and other international instruments. Those include other EU legislation (Art 67), the 1968 Brussels Convention (Art 68), and other conventions to which Member States of the EU are party (Arts 69-73).
Vertical Restraints
Authors: Niels Gunnar , Jenkins Helen , Kavanagh James
Published: August 2024

This chapter covers the economics of vertical restraints. Such restraints are very common as businesses try to organize their supply and distribution channels efficiently. Competition law faces the challenging task of assessing whether the positive efficiency effects outweigh the anti-competitive effects. The chapter first explains the main efficiency rationales for vertical restraints, including the problems of double marginalization, free-riding, and hold-up. It then sets out how counterfactual analysis can provide insight into whether there is actually a restriction of competition in the first place. The chapter next deals with the foreclosure effects of vertical restraints, and discusses two types of vertical restraint that continue to receive hostile treatment under competition law: resale price maintenance, and territorial restrictions along national boundaries. Finally, the chapter covers vertical restraints in online markets and discusses how these raise new or different challenges—for example, most-favoured-nation (MFN) clauses in online hotel bookings and e-books.
Interim Anti-Suit Injunctions
Authors: Raphael Thomas
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines interim anti-suit injunctions. Most anti-suit injunctions are sought and granted on an interim basis. The need to pre-empt hearings in the other proceedings means that interim relief is frequently a practical necessity; in many cases, the grant of an interim injunction will be decisive. Indeed, anti-suit injunctions can be granted as interim relief only, without corresponding final anti-suit relief. In ordinary civil litigation in the High Court, the power under which interim anti-suit injunctions are granted is section 37(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981, which provides that the court has the power to grant interim as well as final injunctions if it is ‘just and convenient’ to do so. An interim anti-suit injunction claimed under section 37(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 should in general be sought within the framework of pre-existing substantive proceedings brought by claim form.
Introduction
Authors: Secomb Matthew
Published: August 2024

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the role of interest in international arbitration. Interest has three key facets: the rate at which interest accrues; the way interest is calculated (simple or compound); and the period over which interest is calculated. These three facets apply equally to commercial instruments and interest on arbitral awards. As such, any award granting interest must decide on these three issues to enable the parties to calculate the interest payable. Arbitral awards have taken different approaches when deciding questions relating to interest. Some arbitrators approach interest as a purely legal question. They determine a national law through a conflict of laws approach and then apply that law to interest. In other awards, arbitrators have decided that they are free to determine what interest is reasonable.
Italy
Authors: Rubino-Sammartano Mauro , Rubino-Sammartano Ruggero
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses the arbitration system of Italy. It first provides a historical background on Italy’s arbitration law and an overview of the current status of the law before explaining the distinction between national and international arbitration, along with the practice of arbitration in the country. It then considers the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal, focusing on the arbitration agreement itself, the issue of arbitrability in the context of international arbitration (‘personal arbitrability’, ‘objective arbitrability’), decision on the arbitral tribunal’s jurisdiction (‘competence-competence’), and enforcement of an arbitration agreement within or by way of court proceedings. The constitution of the arbitral tribunal (eg, number and qualification of arbitrators, appointment of arbitrators) is also examined, along with the arbitral procedure, the process of rendering the arbitral award, and the question of liability of arbitrators. The chapter concludes with an analysis of procedures for enforcement of national and foreign awards in Italy.
SME and Risk Finance Aid
Authors: Bacon Kelyn
Published: August 2024

This chapter considers the application of State aid law in general to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including in particular the issue of SMEs’ access to finance. The chapter begins by considering the situations in which SME support may give rise to aid within the meaning of Article 107(1). The scope of and conditions for the SME exemptions in the GBER are then discussed, and the different types of exempt aid are outlined. The chapter goes on to discuss the application of the Risk Finance Guidelines, which are targeted mainly at SMEs but may sometimes apply to larger undertakings. The direct authorisation of State aid to SMEs (including risk finance aid) under Article 107(2) and (3) TFEU is then addressed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the application of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU to short-term export credit insurance.