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Commodity price dynamics in the era of energy transition: Exploring the substitutability of clean energy
No full textA growing body of literature argues that green transition offers a viable pathway to counteract climate change. This article examines the ongoing environmental paradigm shift by analyzing the relationships between clean and traditional commodity prices. Using a novel framework that integrates cointegration analysis with volatility transmission measures, we highlight how spillovers predominantly flow from renewable energy prices to fossil fuel prices, particularly during turbulent periods after 2020. Based on daily data through December 2024, our estimation results reveal that clean and traditional energy prices share long-term relationships, indicating a substitutability mechanism at work over the long run. These findings are consistent with the decline in fossil fuel use driven by positive shocks to clean energy supply and supportive public policies. From a financial perspective, our results align with growing market sentiment toward Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, reflecting an increasing investor preference for green financial products. Robustness checks confirm the validity of these findings
Piezoelectric floating mass transducer as micro actuator working with magnetorheological elastomer
No full textThis study analyzes the application of a piezoelectric floating mass transducer (FMT) combined with a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) for exciting the ossicular chain and general mechanical systems. The results highlight the effectiveness of the FMT in inducing vibrations, further enhanced by the adaptive properties of the MRE, making it a promising option for broader engineering and biomedical applications, including hearing restoration devices. The study confirms that resonance tuning and the magnetic field-dependent properties of the MRE are crucial for optimizing vibration performance, significantly affecting energy transfer, while the MRE provides additional control over stiffness and damping. Compared to conventional actuators, the FMT-MRE system offers advantages in terms of frequency adaptability, though challenges remain due to nonlinear behaviors induced by MRE hysteresis. The full practical implementation is limited by the occurrence of irregular vibrations and bistability under high-voltage excitations. Firstly, a simplified 1-degree-of-freedom pure MRE system modeled with the Bouc–Wen component is analyzed at low and high excitation frequency. Next, application for the middle ear implants is studied in case of linear and nonlinear system
Pleural fluid biomarkers to predict response to pleurodesis or indwelling pleural catheter for malignant pleural effusion: still a long way to go
No full textThis letter summarizes the current literature on pleural fluid biomarkers that predict treatment response to chemical pleurodesis and indwelling pleural catheters in patients with malignant pleural effusion. We found evidence on pleural fluid biomarkers to be limited to a few small studies, where the biomarkers prognostic value was not tested in separate validation cohorts. Although low pleural fluid LDH, high glucose, and high pH levels are associated with pleurodesis success, no clinically valuable biomarker has been identified. Hence, further research on the inflammatory processes of malignant pleural effusion and during definitive pleural procedures is needed, as well as proper testing of potential biomarkers in separate model derivation and validation cohorts
Infective Endocarditis in Pediatric Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: Results from a National Multicenter Study
No full textAbstract: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), however, data on its epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms, complications, and outcomes remain scarce. This retrospective multicenter study analyzed pediatric patients (< 18 years) with CHD diagnosed with IE between 2008 and 2023. Clinical data—including demographic information, cardiac history, echocardiographic findings, microbiological results, treatment strategies, and outcomes—were collected and analyzed. A total of 41 patients were included. The most common risk factors were prior cardiac surgery or percutaneous intervention, prosthetic materials, and significant valvulopathies. A significant association was observed between vegetation size and embolic events, with larger vegetation conferring a higher embolic risk. Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. Fever, new onset or worsening valvulopathies, and vegetation or abscesses formation were the predominant clinical presentation. Aggressive medical and surgical management resulted in favorable outcome in most patients. While IE remains a major challenge in pediatric CHD patients, early detection and timely intervention are crucial for optimizing outcomes, particularly in patients with large vegetations. Future research should aim to identify additional risk factors and refine strategy for prevention and treatment in this high-risk population
mmTracking: A DL-Based mmWave RADAR Data Processing Algorithm for Indoor People Tracking
No full textLocating and tracking targets in indoor environments is a challenging field of research. The complexity and variability of the environment limit the suitability of many technologies for this application. In this context, mmWave frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radars can prove to be valuable sensors when combined with deep learning (DL) techniques, in order to extend performance in target locating and tracking. This article presents an original approach to locate and track moving targets in indoor environments, based on a YOLOv3 DL network that can be applied to radar data. To quantify the performance of the proposed method, here named mmTracking, tests were designed in accordance with the ISO/IEC 18305:2016 reference standard. The results show a mean error in localization of 0.39 m with a variance of 0.01 m2, and a root mean square error (RMSE) in the tracking of 0.40 m
Accounting for sustainable business models: current trends and future directions
No full textThis chapter aims to review the current state of research on the intersections between SBMs and accounting by outlining the progress made in this field and identifying directions for future research. To accomplish this objective, it employs a grounded theory literature review (GTLR) method (Wolfswinkel et al., 2013). Through its inductive approach, GTLR facilitates a comprehensive literature analysis, enabling the extraction of concepts, subcategories, and categories, and the identification of relationships among them
Insights into the piezo-photocatalytic activity and optimized magnetic recovery of hybrid bismuth ferrite-based nanosystems
No full textBismuth ferrite (BiFeO3), a perovskite oxide with both ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic properties, has emerged as a promising material for environmental cleanup due to its piezo-photocatalytic activity. The material's ability to degrade organic pollutants, such as azo dyes, under both light irradiation and mechanical stress (ultrasonic waves) offers a dual-action mechanism for efficient wastewater treatment. In this work, we explore the synthesis of BiFeO3 nanoparticles via a simple sol–gel method, followed by characterization of their structural, magnetic, and photocatalytic properties. Under ultrasonic treatment, BiFeO3 generates piezoelectric potentials that enhance electron–hole separation, promoting photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The combination of photocatalysis and piezocatalysis improves catalytic efficiency while reducing energy consumption compared to traditional UV-based photocatalysis. Additionally, coupling BiFeO3 with cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) creates a magnetically recoverable system, facilitating efficient catalyst separation from treated water, and modifying the kinetic process of photodissociation. The magnetic recovery was improved through the development of a tailored magnetic support system, designed to optimize the spatial magnetic field gradient. These findings highlight the potential of BiFeO3-based nanosystems for sustainable, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly solutions to water pollution, addressing both dye degradation and the need for effective water remediation techniques
Repliche digitali e inclusione museale: soluzioni accessibili per il Museo Archeologico di San Severino Marche
No full textL’accessibilità museale costituisce una sfida cruciale per garantire un’esperienza significativa a tutti i visitatori, indipendentemente dalle loro abilità fisiche, sensoriali o cognitive. In quest’ottica, il contributo analizza il caso studio del Museo Civico Archeologico di San Severino Marche, ospitato in un edificio storico medievale, per illustrare un modello operativo di inclusione basato sul "Design for All". Attraverso tecnologie digitali di acquisizione tridimensionale e stampa 3D ad alta definizione, sono state realizzate repliche fisiche e digitali dei reperti archeologici e del complesso architettonico. Questo processo ha consentito una fruizione multisensoriale, integrando mappe tattili, contenuti audio-visivi e applicazioni mobili con traduzioni in Lingua dei Segni Italiana (LIS). Una valutazione con utenti diversificati ha evidenziato l’efficacia del percorso espositivo nel rispondere alle esigenze di persone con disabilità motorie, visive, uditive e cognitive, confermando l'importanza della progettazione inclusiva fin dalle prime fasi del processo di digitalizzazione museale. L’esperienza di San Severino Marche offre quindi un esempio replicabile, dimostrando come la tecnologia possa ampliare significativamente l'accessibilità culturale e creare nuove modalità di interazione tra il pubblico e il patrimonio museale
Numerical modeling of a majestic masonry structure: A comparison of advanced techniques
No full textThis investigation focuses on the Cathedral of Camerino, central Italy, which incurred structural damage during the seismic sequence of 2016/2017. The central goal of this study is to deepen our understanding of the progressive damage mechanisms that unfold during seismic events. To attain this objective, we employed two distinct modeling methodologies, one characterized by continuity and the other by discontinuity. These numerical models were subjected to nonlinear dynamic analyses, accounting for the influence of three significant earthquakes in proximity to the village. In the continuous model, the non-linear behavior of masonry was emulated using the concrete damage plasticity model (CDP), whereas the discontinuous approach employed non-smooth contact dynamics (NSCD) in conjunction with the discrete element (DE) method. The findings reveal that all methodologies successfully identify vulnerable regions within the structure. However, it is the discontinuous techniques that offer a more precise delineation of the emergence and progression of structural cracks
