Accurate prediction of ion-induced energy deposition in polymeric materials is essential for space radiation shielding and advanced radiotherapy applications. This study proposes a generalizable machine learning framework for predicting Bragg peak characteristics using Monte Carlo simulation. Energy deposition profiles were generated via SRIM/TRIM and Geant4 for ions with atomic numbers Z = 1–10 at energies between 70 and 150 MeV. Two key targets were defined: Bragg peak position (MM150) and maximum ionization intensity (IONIZ150). For SRIM/TRIM data, the Poly-2 method achieved near-ideal accuracy for MM150 (R2 = 0.9999), while persistence performed best for IONIZ150 (R2 = 0.9991). However, performance degraded in Geant4 data, where MM150 errors increased (for Poly-2) and IONIZ150 showed higher variability (for sMAPE). The proposed machine learning framework, evaluated using LOPO validation, achieved consistently high generalization performance. In SRIM/TRIM, R2 reached 0.9942 ± 0.0178 (MM150) and 0.9951 ± 0.0144 (IONIZ150), with sMAPE values of 5.11% and 3.76%, respectively. In Geant4, similar robustness was observed, with R2 up to 0.9942 and sMAPE reduced to 4.41% for IONIZ150. These results demonstrate that simulation-informed machine learning enables accurate, robust, generalizable prediction of Bragg peak behavior in polymeric materials, offering a scalable framework for radiation interaction modeling and material design.
The Jurassic Karaburun deposit of the Central Pontides represents one of the largest known volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) systems in Turkiye, comprising similar to 125 Mt of ore with average grade 1.16 wt% Cu, 0.25 wt% Zn, and 0.05 wt% Co. Mineralization is hosted by low-grade greenschist-facies rocks of the Cangaldag Metamorphic Complex (CMC), where volcaniclastic and detrital successions interlayered with deep-marine sediments are intruded by mafic dikes and sills. Ore occurs mainly as stratiform, sheet-like to tabular bodies, expressed by disseminated, banded, pyritic clastic, semi-massive, and massive sulphide textures. To constrain ore-fluid evolution and metal provenance, we investigate primary fluid inclusions in ore-stage quartz and combined microthermometry with quartz delta O-18 and massive-sulphide Pb isotopes. Two-phase inclusions yield eutectic temperatures of-26 to-11 degrees C and lack clathrate formation, indicating a dominant H2O-NaCl system. Homogenization temperatures of 178-301 degrees C, corrected for similar to 160 bar hydrostatic pressure, imply trapping at 223 +/- 25 degrees C; ice-melting temperatures correspond to 1.4-11.1 wt% NaCl equiv. (mean 6.5 wt%). Moderately elevated salinity and the absence of boiling features support seawater-derived fluids modified by subseafloor circulation, with limited magmatic input. Quartz delta O-18 values (11.79 parts per thousand to 14.40 parts per thousand VSMOW) require isotopically evolved fluids, giving delta O-18(fluid) of similar to 3-6%o at FI-constrained temperatures. Pb isotope ratios (Pb-208/Pb-204= 37.463-37.751; Pb-207/Pb-204= 15.424-15.503; Pb-206/Pb-204= 18.079-18.431) are weakly radiogenic and narrowly variable, consistent with a predominately mantle-derived Pb source. Collectively, these constraints indicate formation in a Jurassic ensimatic arc-back-arc basin undergoing rifting, with chiefly seawater hydrothermal fluids modestly overprinted by magmatic volatiles.
The Caucasus region represents the northern edge of the Arabia–Eurasia continental collision and accommodates complex deformation involving crustal shortening, lateral block motion, and strike-slip faulting across multiple tectonic domains, including the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, the Kura Basin, and northwestern Iran block. Despite its tectonic significance, the spatial partitioning of present-day deformation and the role of vertical motions were not completely resolved. In this study, we present a comprehensive geodetic analysis of active deformation across Azerbaijan and the surrounding Caucasus region based on long-term continuous GNSS observations. Ten years (2014–2023) of data from 24 permanent GNSS stations were processed to derive a consistent Eurasia-fixed velocity field. To enhance spatial resolution, these new velocities were integrated with previously published regional GNSS solutions using a common reference frame and transformation strategy, resulting in a unified and unprecedented velocity field of 131 GNSS sites. Strain rates were estimated from the combined velocity field, and fault slip rates and block rotations were quantified through elastic block modeling. The horizontal velocity field indicates N-NE motion of 12 mm/yr relative to Eurasia, with pronounced eastward rotation and velocity increase toward the Caspian margin. Vertical deformation at regional scale with high accuracy, revealing coherent uplift of 4–5 mm/yr along the Greater Caucasus. Apart from the highest spatial resolution of deformation with 131 GNSS sites in the region, the sufficiently accurate vertical deformation rates are presented for the first time in the region through 24 permanent GNSS stations. Strain-rate and block modeling results demonstrate strong deformation partitioning, with thrust-dominated shortening concentrated along the Greater Caucasus and right-lateral strike-slip motion accommodating eastward escape along major fault systems. These results provide refined constraints on the kinematics of the Arabia–Eurasia collision in the Caucasus and offer important implications for regional tectonic evolution and seismic hazard assessment.
This article examines the effects of population ageing on the composition of government spending in 25 European Union member states from 1995 to 2023. Empirical evidence indicates that demographic ageing leads to shifts in government spending priorities. In particular, government spending tends to increase on social protection, general public services, health, and defence, while decreasing on housing and community amenities, environmental protection, and education. These results suggest that demographic ageing contributes to a reallocation of government spending toward age-related functions, accompanied by relative reductions in other areas. Overall, the findings highlight the potential structural implications of population ageing for fiscal sustainability and intergenerational equity, emphasizing the importance of public policies that are adaptable to long-term demographic changes.
In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biologically synthesized from the cell-free supernatant of Ureibacillus thermosphaericus DSM 10633T. Optimization studies resulted in a 3.5-fold increase in AgNP production, yielding 53 mg of dry nanoparticles from a 250 mL culture. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the presence of AgNPs through a characteristic surface plasmon resonance at 412 nm, while Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy identified biomolecules responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed spherical nanoparticles ranging from 9 to 32.5 nm in size. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrated the predominancy of silver that stabilized by organic components, supporting the successful biosynthesis and surface functionalization. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against sixteen clinical pathogens, and sub-MIC concentrations significantly inhibited biofilm formation in all tested strains. The cytotoxicity evaluation using the MTT assay showed selective effects, with low toxicity for healthy cell lines (L929, HDF, HaCaT), and markedly lower IC50 values (9–10 µg/mL) for cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HT-29, A549). Additionally, a combined treatment of AgNPs and the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) revealed synergistic interactions in MCF-7 cells at AgNPs:5-FU ratios of 1:2 (combination index = 0.519) and 1:4 (CI = 0.688). These findings highlight the potential of DSM 10633T-dervied AgNPs as effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents with promising biomedical applications. The observed cell line-specific synergy with 5-FU in MCF-7 cells suggests the potential for AgNP-based combination therapies in breast cancer models. Future studies should explore the in vivo efficacy, biocompatibility and therapeutic safety of these nanoparticles to advance their translation to clinical applications. Biosynthesized AgNPs were produced extracellularly from the cell-free supernatant of Ureibacillus thermosphaericus DSM 10633ᵀ under optimized conditions with a high yield. AgNPs exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against 16 pathogens and significantly reduced biofilm formation at sub-MIC levels. AgNPs showed selective in vitro cytotoxicity, with lower IC50 values in cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HT-29, A549) than in healthy cell lines (L929, HDF, HaCaT). AgNPs displayed cell line-specific synergy with 5-FU in MCF-7 cells at defined ratios, supporting further investigation in breast cancer models.
