Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) metamaterials characterized by mathematically-controlled topologies exhibit better mechanical properties compared to uniform structures. The unit cell topology of such metamaterials can be further optimized to improve a desired mechanical property for a specific application. However, such inverse design involves multiple costly 3D finite element analyses in topology optimization and hence has not been attempted. Data-driven models have recently gained popularity as surrogate models in the geometrical design of metamaterials. Gyroid-like unit cells are designed using a novel voxel algorithm, a homogenization-based topology optimization, and a Heaviside filter to attain optimized densities of 0-1 configuration. Few optimization data are used as input-output for supervised learning of the topology optimization process from a 3D CNN model. These models could then be used to instantaneously predict the optimized unit cell geometry for any topology parameters, thus alleviating the need to run any topology optimization for future design. The high accuracy of the model was demonstrated by a low mean square error metric and a high dice coefficient metric. This accelerated design of 3D metamaterials opens the possibility of designing any computationally costly problems involving complex geometry of metamaterials with multi-objective properties or multi-scale applications.

Glioblastomas presenting topographically at the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are exceedingly rare. Given the specific anatomical considerations and their rarity, overall survival (OS) and management are not discussed in detail. The authors performed an integrative survival analysis of CPA glioblastomas. A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was performed per PRISMA guidelines. Patient data including demographics, clinical features, neuroimaging, management, follow-up, and OS were extracted. The mean age was 39 ± 26.2 years. The mean OS was 8.9 months. Kaplan–Meier log-rank test and univariate Cox proportional-hazards model identified hydrocephalus (log-rank, p = 0.034; HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.12–0.94; p = 0.038), chemotherapy (log-rank, p < 0.005; HR 5.66; 95% CI 1.53–20.88; p = 0.009), and radiotherapy (log-rank, p < 0.0001; HR 12.01; 95% CI 3.44–41.89; p < 0.001) as factors influencing OS. Hydrocephalus (HR 3.57; 95% CI 1.07–11.1; p = 0.038) and no adjuvant radiotherapy (HR 0.12; 95% CI 0.02–0.59; p < 0.01) remained prognostic on multivariable analysis with fourfold and twofold higher risk for the time-related onset of death, respectively. This should be considered when assessing the risk-to-benefit ratio for patients undergoing surgery for CPA glioblastoma.

This article examines the recent trends in whistleblowing regulation, analysing the issue of financial rewards as one of the key distinctions between the legislative solutions on the matter in the United States as compared to European jurisdictions. Using the lens of corruption theories, the article concludes that the usage of financial rewards increases the overall regulatory capacity of the state to reduce corruption and fraud and reduce the emerging, largely anonymous digital whistleblowing. The financial rewards are also, due to the peculiar nature of both corruption and whistleblowing, an adequate tool to help to quantify the effects of whistleblowing. The article argues that the introduction of financial rewards should not be viewed as dependent on the differences in the legal traditions or culture but on the quality of the institutions and their ability to assess the reports of the whistleblowers. The article offers considerations concerning the conditions for the introduction of financial rewards.

Industrial production generates enormous amounts of wastewaters with a high content of organic and inorganic substances, which must be treated before discharging into a natural recipient to such a quality that it will not have a negative impact on the aquatic environment. This paper shows the possibility of applying a multi-stage process with Fenton reagents in combination with bentonite as an adsorbent in the treatment of ammonia-phenolic wastewater. The role of bentonite clay in this study was dye removal. The investigation was carried out under laboratory conditions, and the efficiency of the process was determined on the following parameters of COD, ammonia, phenol and thiocyanate. Also, the influence of the pH value, the concentration of oxidant hydrogen peroxide and catalyst iron sulphate heptahydrate was examined. The optimal values obtained for the pH, concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the catalyst iron sulphate heptahydrate was: 3; 30% and 23 g/l, where the efficiency of removal of the COD, ammonia, phenol and thiocyanate was: 96.42 %; 85.17 %; 100 % i 99.13 %.

Many different methods are used for generating blackbox test case suites. Test case minimization is used for reducing the feasible test case suite size in order to minimize the cost of testing while ensuring maximum fault detection. This paper presents an optimization of the existing test case minimization algorithm based on forward-propagation of the cause-effect graphing method. The algorithm performs test case prioritization based on test case strength, a newly introduced test case selection metric. The optimized version of the minimization algorithm was evaluated by using thirteen different examples from the available literature. In cases where the existing algorithm did not generate the minimum test case subsets, significant improvements of test effect coverage metric values were achieved. Test effect coverage metric values were not improved only in cases where maximum optimization was already achieved by using the existing algorithm.

This paper presents unified force and position control based on sliding mode control (SMC) for a series elastic actuator (SEA). Compliant motion of robotic systems is crucial when dealing with unstructured environments as in the case of physical human-robot interaction. Therefore, not only traditional mechanical systems with stiff joints but also mechanically compliant systems such as SEAs have been actively studied. In order to accomplish versatile tasks, the strategy enabling both position control and force control is favorable. In this paper, the controller synthesizing position and force controllers on the basis of SMC for the control problem of SEAs is proposed by extending our previous work. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.

In this study, the implementation of Free Route Airspace (FRA) in Europe is presented, with special reference to the merge of SECSI FRA (South East Common Sky Initiative Free Route Airspace) and FRA IT(Free Route Airspace in Italy) in to the SECSI IT FRA. Free Route Airspace is a certain volume of airspace in which users are free to plan a route between defined entry and exit points. Depending on the availability of airspace, routing is possible via waypoints, without calling the Air Traffic Service (ATS) route network. The purpose of this paper is to show how the implementation of free route airspace in Europe, affects traffic indicators in terms of flight length, fuel consumption, environmental impact and economy. This paper will also show a slight decrease in air traffic controller load as a result of the implementation of free route airspace. We also wanted to show how, the merge of SECSI FRA and FRA IT, affects Bosnia and Herzegovina airspace. When fully implemented at European level, it should allow the following savings, compared to the current situation: 1 billion nautical miles in terms of flight length, 6 million tons of fuel savings, and 5 billion euros less costs in in terms of fuel savings.

The increased volume of initiatives and investments in the framework of smart cities, as well as strong investments in AI/ML technology together with the IoT industry, undoubtedly represent the future of practical activities and the implementation of new generation technological solutions in cities. By analyzing the previous literature and related works, in the field of smart waste management solutions, the focus of research was placed on isolated problems at lower levels of technology implementation on individual subsystems with individual environments. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for a systematic integrated approach in the process of designing a model of practical application of technology to solve the problem of waste management in cities with a special aspect on business processes and the end user. The paper presents an analysis of related works and commercial solutions implemented so far and proposes a practical implementation model that, among other things, includes a component of a higher level of abstraction that should perform an additional iteration of the AI/ML process and make a final decision in the prediction process and controls in smart waste management solutions.

A muon collider would enable the big jump ahead in energy reach that is needed for a fruitful exploration of fundamental interactions. The challenges of producing muon collisions at high luminosity and 10 TeV centre of mass energy are being investigated by the recently-formed International Muon Collider Collaboration. This Review summarises the status and the recent advances on muon colliders design, physics and detector studies. The aim is to provide a global perspective of the field and to outline directions for future work.

Since depletion of natural resources and the amount of construction and demolition waste have overcome the socially and environmentally acceptable level, the construction industry must address this issue and reduce its impact on the environment. A step towards sustainability in the construction industry is the application of recycled aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials as integral components of concretes, which provides conserving natural aggregates and waste reduction. This study adopts a holistic approach to producing green self-compacting concrete with the highest portion of recycled aggregate as a replacement for natural aggregate and fly ash as filler. Based on the particle packing density method, four series of self-compacting concrete were prepared: the first series was made with natural fine and coarse aggregate, the second series was made with fine natural aggregate and recycled coarse aggregate, the third with 50 % (by mass) of fine natural aggregate replaced by recycled fine aggregate and recycled coarse aggregate, and the fourth series completely with recycled fine and coarse aggregate. The content of fly ash remained constant. Regardless of the expected decrease of workability in a fresh state with the increase of the recycled aggregate content, all series exceeded the requirements set for the hardened structural concrete.

As the demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources grows, the use photovoltaic (PV) systems have seen rise in popularity and recognition. The performance of PV systems is influenced by numerous factors such as solar irradiance, temperature, and the tilt angle of the PV modules. Among these factors, the tilt angle of the PV modules plays a crucial role in determining the amount of energy that can be generated by a PV system. This paper explores the impact of tilt angle on the output and performance of grid-connected PV systems by using the software PVsyst. The study will examine how different tilt angles affect the energy yield, electrical characteristics, and performance ratio of PV system. A study was conducted to compare the performance of a PV system with fixed tilt angle versus seasonal tilt arrangement. The results showed that a seasonal tilt arrangement led to improved performance and increased electricity generation.

Objectives The addition of CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT) increases the diagnostic accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA). We assessed the impact of FFR-CT in routine clinical practice on clinical decision-making and patient prognosis in patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods This retrospective, single-center study compared a cohort that received CCTA with FFR-CT to a historical cohort that received CCTA before FFR-CT was available. We assessed the clinical management decisions after FFR-CT and CCTA and the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during the 1-year follow-up using chi-square tests for independence. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to visualize the occurrence of safety outcomes over time. Results A total of 360 patients at low to intermediate risk of CAD were included, 224 in the CCTA only group, and 136 in the FFR-CT group. During follow-up, 13 MACE occurred in 12 patients, 9 (4.0%) in the CCTA group, and three (2.2%) in the FFR-CT group. Clinical management decisions differed significantly between both groups. After CCTA, 60 patients (26.5%) received optimal medical therapy (OMT) only, 115 (51.3%) invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and 49 (21.9%) single positron emission CT (SPECT). After FFR-CT, 106 patients (77.9%) received OMT only, 27 (19.9%) ICA, and three (2.2%) SPECT ( p  < 0.001 for all three options). The revascularization rate after ICA was similar between groups ( p  = 0.15). However, patients in the CCTA group more often underwent revascularization ( p  = 0.007). Conclusion Addition of FFR-CT to CCTA led to a reduction in (invasive) diagnostic testing and less revascularizations without observed difference in outcomes after 1 year. Key Points • Previous studies have shown that computed tomography–derived fractional flow reserve improves the accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography without changes in acquisition protocols. • This study shows that use of computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve as gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography in patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease leads to less invasive testing and revascularization without observed difference in outcomes after 1 year. • This could lead to a significant reduction in costs, complications and (retrospectively unnecessary) usage of diagnostic testing capacity, and a significant increase in patient satisfaction.