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Estimation of brain activity sources of sympathovagal dynamics
No full textCharacterizing source brain activity in relation to peripheral neural-autonomic function is crucial in neuroscience research. Despite recent advances for estimating brain-heart interplay (BHI), the specific intracortical sources underlying this interaction remain poorly understood, and especially a non-invasive model to localize the brain source of cardiac autonomic functions is lacking. In an effort to estimate the joint intrinsic activity of central and autonomic systems, this study extends canonical EEG source localization by introducing a framework for brain source reconstruction of sympathovagal and vagal components. The proposed method integrates EEG and ECG-derived heart rate variability series within a low-resolution electromagnetic tomography framework and was validated using data from 26 healthy subjects undergoing a well-known sympathovagal elicitation paradigm – the cold pressor test – compared to the resting state. Experimental results demonstrate that accounting for heartbeat dynamics significantly alters source activation patterns, aligning coherently with current knowledge on central autonomic networks and BHI dynamics. The proposed method opens new avenues for research into the neural sources of autonomic functions
Using sap flow sensors for estimating tomato transpiration in greenhouse soilless culture under different salinity conditions
No full textIn greenhouse soilless culture, precision irrigation depends on accurate measurement of crop transpiration (T). Stem sap flow sensors (SFS) could be applied for estimating crop transpiration over short time intervals (minutes) in vegetable crops with vertical growth and a uniform stem diameter such as tomato. In this work conducted in 2021 with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Pisanello’) grown under greenhouse in a closed-loop substrate culture, the effect of nutrient solution salinity on crop water use was evaluated and the relationship between T measured in individual plants with an SFS or an electronic balance and crop water uptake was analysed. The plants were irrigated with different salinities of the nutrient solution: 3.0 (control), 6.0 (S1), and 9.0 (S2) dS m-1. The sap flow rates of individual tomato plants were measured using the stem heat balance method to estimate plant T. A climatic station continuously recorded the climate parameters inside the greenhouse during the experiment and the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) was calculated using the FAO-24 Penman equation. Each growing system hosted 30 plants and was equipped with a water meter positioned on the electrovalve used to refill the mixing tank. Daily plant water uptake (WU) was determined with a water meter by recording the amount of nutrient used to refill the mixing tank. The daily values of T measured on individual plants with a SFS (TSFS), or an electronic balance (TEB) were compared with each other and with WU. Crop WU and T did not differ significantly between the control and S1 treatment while they were significantly reduced in S2 plants. The linear regression between TSFS and WU and between TSFS and TEB was analysed separately for the three salinity treatments. Since the equations were not significantly different, neither in the intercept nor in the slope, a unique regression equation was calculated for the relationships between TSFS and WU, and between TSFS and TEB. There was a close correspondence between TSFS and WU and between TSFS and TEB, with the slope close to one and the intercept not significantly different from zero for both regression equations. These results suggest that SFS could be used to estimate plant T and then crop water requirements in greenhouse tomato culture under different salinity conditions
Modeling, Control and Monitoring of Automotive Electric Drives
No full textThe electrification of automotive powertrains has accelerated research efforts in the modeling, control, and monitoring of electric drive systems, where reliability, safety, and efficiency are key enablers for mass adoption. Despite a large corpus of literature addressing individual aspects of electric drives, current surveys remain fragmented, typically focusing on either multiphysics modeling of machines and converters, or advanced control algorithms, or diagnostic and prognostic frameworks. This review provides a comprehensive perspective that systematically integrates these domains, establishing direct connections between high-fidelity models, control design, and monitoring architectures. Starting from the fundamental components of the automotive power drive system, the paper reviews state-of-the-art strategies for synchronous motor modeling, inverter and DC/DC converter design, and advanced control schemes, before presenting monitoring techniques that span model-based residual generation, AI-driven fault classification, and hybrid approaches. Particular emphasis is given to the interplay between functional safety (ISO 26262), computational feasibility on embedded platforms, and the need for explainable and certifiable monitoring frameworks. By aligning modeling, control, and monitoring perspectives within a unified narrative, this review identifies the methodological gaps that hinder cross-domain integration and outlines pathways toward digital-twin-enabled prognostics and health management of automotive electric drives. © 2025 by the authors
Toward Enhancing Chiro‐Optical and Magneto‐Optical Properties of Magnetic Nanocrystals by Surface Plasmons
No full textMagneto-optics, a research area that studies the interaction between magnetic fields and light, has recently made remarkable progress due to a better understanding of light–matter interactions at the nanoscale. The integration of magnetic and plasmonic functionalities with nanometric resolution offers exciting opportunities, especially due to the ability of plasmonic phenomena to enhance magneto-optical responses. In this respect, wet-chemistry methods are particularly useful in fine-tuning the magnetic and plasmonic properties of nanocrystals, enabling the creation of a large library of hybrid colloidal systems with enhanced magneto-optical features. Here, recent advancements in these magnetoplasmonic hybrid nanomaterials are explored and special focus on a key area of interest, that is, the nascent field of chiral plasmonics is put. Metal nanocrystals with intrinsic chiroptical features can lead to a combination of chiral plasmonics and magneto-optics effects when interacting with the magnetic counterpart, paving the way toward the establishment of a systematic and comprehensive roadmap for the predesign and fabrication of chiral magnetoplasmonic systems. The implications of this progress are profound, offering both fundamental insights and promising technological applications
Coupled Paleomagnetism and 40Ar/39Ar Dating of Latera Ignimbrites (Vulsini Volcanic District, Italy) Unravel Processes Associated to Piston-Collapse Calderas
No full textCorrelation of ignimbrite units at polygenic calderas is mandatory for the reconstruction of caldera-forming events and proper identification of their eruption dynamics. However, ignimbrites erupted at different times from the same caldera can display similarities in composition and lithology that can hamper proper correlation of outcrops across the caldera structure. Here, high-resolution paleomagnetic and 40Ar/39Ar data are used along with stratigraphic evidence to address and resolve the relationships between two ignimbrites associated with the Latera caldera (Grotte di Castro and Onano Formations, Vulsini Volcanic District, Central Italy). These were characterized at 32 paleomagnetic sites and eleven 40Ar/39Ar sampling sites encompassing proximal and distal facies. Overall, the paleomagnetic directions of the two ignimbrites are statistically indistinguishable whereas single-grain 40Ar/39Ar ages of sanidine and leucite crystals show systematic preservation of pre-eruptive ages with sectorial variations closely controlled by eruption dynamics, yet with a neatly defined common juvenile (syn-eruptive) age at 205 ka. The data show that the two ignimbrites are the product of a single event, here renamed the “Grotte di Castro-Onano” eruption, representing the largest and latest caldera-forming stage of the Latera system. The sectorial preservation of pre-eruptive 40Ar/39Ar ages across the depositional sequence is interpreted to reflect the extraction processes with selective (re)mobilization of magma batches associated to piston collapse dynamics. Coupling paleomagnetism with 40Ar/39Ar dating is shown to be a key step in such cases for successful resolution of individual caldera-forming events at the millennial scale
Solar-Powered Electrification and Hydrogen Integration for Decarbonising the Glass Industry
No full textDeeper penetration of renewable energy is essential for decarbonising the glass industry, but balancing
its intermittent nature with the sector’s continuous high process heat demand remains challenging. Hybrid glass
furnaces offer a promising solution by combining direct electrification with fuel switching to green hydrogen. This
paper quantifies the viability of increased boosting levels in hybrid furnaces, identifying threshold conditions for
profitability and sustainability at an electricity-to-natural-gas price ratio of 1.5 and an electricity emissions factor
of 0.3 tCO2/MWh. Subsequently, it investigates the economic and environmental impact of varying solar energy
availability on decarbonising the energy supply of a representative 300 t/d oxyfuel container glass furnace equipped
with solar plants and electrolysers of varying sizes. In the direct integration configuration, average melting cost
savings and emission reductions reach 28.1%, and 18.8% for a 1:1 ratio between nominal furnace energy demand
and solar generation. In a hydrogen integration configuration, average melting cost savings and emission reductions
rise to 42.5% and 48.0%, with peak cost savings of 46.5%. Full energy self-sufficiency is achieved for solar
overgeneration of around 36–40%, corresponding to a solar plant and electrolyser capacity of 150 MW and 45 MW.
These general guidelines are meant to provide support for the design of low-carbon glass furnaces while minimising
burdens on the broader energy system
Groundless Eco-Friendly Water and PLA Based Artificial Magnetic Conductor
No full textA groundless, eco-friendly, water and PLA based Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) is presented in this manuscript, completely eliminating the need for metallic components. Environmental concerns are becoming a significant focus in many research fields, where the emphasis is not only on performance improvement but also on the sustainability of the devices manufacturing process. The proposed multilayer structure was designed by exploiting accurate numerical simulations. Specifically, the absence of a metallic ground is compensated by the insertion of a water-filled cavity, which improves isolation between the two AMC sides. The prototype was constructed by using commercially available PLA, printed with a standard 3D machine, and filled with distilled water in the required areas. The structure exhibits an excellent electromagnetic behavior as a Perfect Magnetic Conductor (PMC) in the 2-4 GHz band, as verified through waveguide measurements. The obtained AMC bandwidth is relatively large, being approximately 45% centered around 3.55 GHz
Complete structural studies of long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phases in the Y-Ni-Mg system by 3D electron diffraction
No full textThe crystal structures of three Y-Ni-Mg LPSO phases were directly solved from diffraction data of X-rays ((Mg@Y8Ni6)Mg18, tI66-Nd8+xRu6Mg19-x) and electrons ((Mg@Y8Ni6)16Mg505 and (Mg@Y8Ni6)3Mg154)). The latter two are modulated structures described in 6D(Fm-3m(α00)000(0α0)000(00α)000, q1 = 0.441(6) a*, q2 = 0.441(6) b*, and q3 = 0.441(6) c*) and 5D (R-3c(αα0)00(-2α,α0)00, q1 = 0.1457(7) a* + 0.1457(7) b*, q2 = -0.2915(7) a*+ 0.1457(7) b*) superspaces, respectively. The 3D electron diffraction was applied here for the first time to LPSO compounds, turning out to be the only method successfully overcoming the numerous problems hampering their complete structure solution. The structural analysis of these compounds resulted in a generalized description of Y-Ni-Mg LPSO phases in terms of Mg@Y8Ni6 clusters more or less densely distributed in a Mg matrix, justifying the proposed formulas. LPSO classification based on the layer stacking modes is proposed, leading to fcc (c-type) and hybrid fcc/hcp ((h)ncc-type) subfamilies, the former being identified in this work and including (Mg@Y8Ni6)Mg18 as well as (Mg@Y8Ni6)16Mg505. The inter-clusters coordination in form of distorted anticuboctahedra or cuboctahedra is a further fingerprint of membership in either family. Increasing the magnesium content, the Mg@Y8Ni6 units tend to form aggregates at characteristic inter-cluster distances, the distribution of which is at the origin of the structural modulation
Antioxidant flavonol glycosides from the aerial parts of Atriplex halimus L
No full textFive previously undescribed (1–5) and seven known flavonol glycosides were isolated from the aerial parts of Atriplex halimus L. Their chemical structure was elucidated based on NMR spectroscopy and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) data. All isolates were evaluated for their antioxidant potential by means of ABTS test and the most active compounds were selected for further in vitro testing by sodium arsenite oxidative stress assay. Significant antioxidant activity was observed for compound 1 that resulted able to decrease pERK phosphorylation, suggesting a role for this molecule in modulating the MAPK pathway and protecting against oxidative damage