Arianta

Absorption of the below-bandgap solar radiation and direct pre-thermalizational impact of a hot carrier (HC) on the operation of a single-junction solar cell are ignored by the Shockley-Queisser theory. The detrimental effect of the HC is generally accepted only via the thermalization-caused heating of the lattice. Here, the authors demonstrate experimental evidence of the HC photocurrent induced by the below-bandgap 0.92 eV photon energy radiation in an industrial silicon solar cell. The carriers are heated both through direct free-carrier absorption and by residual photon energy remaining after the electron-hole pair generation. The polarity of the HC photocurrent opposes that of the conventional generation photocurrent, indicating that the total current across the p-n junction is contingent upon the interplay between these two currents. A model of current-voltage characteristics analysis allowing us to obtain a reasonable value of the HC temperature was also proposed. This work is remarkable in two ways: first, it contributes to an understanding of HC phenomena in photovoltaic devices, and second, it prompts discussion of the HC photocurrent as a new intrinsic loss mechanism in solar cells.

FinTech has revolutionised financial services, making them more accessible and efficient. However, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the FinTech industry, including peer-to-peer lending, in Lithuania and Sweden. This article explores the relationship between the pandemic and changes in peer-to-peer lending returns in both countries. By analysing existing literature, statistical data, and using wavelet coherence analysis, the study aims to understand the influence of COVID-19 on lending in Lithuania and Sweden. The results indicate that the pandemic had a limited impact on Lithuanian peer-to-peer lending, with average interest rates declining over time. Negative correlations between infection cases and lending returns were observed in specific quarters but were only significant in the short term. In contrast, the influence on Swedish peer-to-peer lending was more pronounced. Interest rates initially decreased, but a significant increase occurred in the first quarter of 2022, coinciding with a surge in COVID-19 infections and foreign policies. The negative correlation between cases of infection and lending returns persisted across the short, medium, and long terms alike in Sweden. These findings suggest that the Swedish peer-to-peer lending market was more affected by the economic and policy factors related to the pandemic than that of Lithuania.

W pracy przybliżono wybrane przyczyny pulsacji ciśnienia w układach hydrostatycznych. Wskazano na negatywne skutki tego zjawiska. Podkreślono, że w układach hydrostatycznych z hydrauliczną linią długą (HLD) dochodzić może o amplifikacji amplitud pulsacji ciśnienia dla rezonansowych długości przewodów hydraulicznych przy określonej częstotliwości wymuszenia. Wskazano również, że zewnętrzne drgania mechaniczne działające na zawory hydrauliczne mogą powodować zmiany w widmie pulsacji ciśnienia w układzie hydrostatycznym.

Majority of modern cars are equipped with standard suspension systems with hydraulic shock absorbers. They are reliable elements, but came to the limit of their possibilities to ensure reasonable level of vibration accelerations, when cars became lighter and diameters of the wheel rim and tires has big diameter. This paper provides possible solution for the modern car suspension systems with controlled damping and self-powering service and data transmission. Such dampers implements smart liquid and electrically realized damping force control. This paper focused on electrical properties of this type of shock absorbers. Provided experimental research use shock absorber – energy harvester of new design. All experiments performed on shock machine using produced by authors prototype of original design. Energy gaining performed using three similar prototypes with ferro-nanomagnetic liquid, permanent magnet core and ferromagnetic steel core. Obtained results provided in the graphical form as electric gain with open circuit and loaded by electric load.

Research background: Research and measurement of sentiments, and the integration of methods for sentiment analysis in forecasting models or trading strategies for financial markets are gaining increasing attention at present. The theories that claim it is difficult to predict the individual investor’s decision also claim that individual investors cause market instability due to their irrationality. The existing instability increases the need for scientific research. Purpose of the article: This paper is dedicated to establishing a link between the individual investors’ behavior, which is expressed as sentiments, and the market dynamic, and is evaluated in the stock market. This article hypothesizes that the dynamics in the market is unequivocally related to the individual investor’s sentiments, and that this relationship occurs when the sentiments are expressed strongly and are unlimited.

The article identifies the optimal location of the warehouse distribution centre for Slovenian companies in the international environment. The process of location selection takes into account a series of interconnected factors, including flows of goods between countries; the level of development of the transport system and transport infrastructure; the number of transport companies; labour costs and labour productivity; and the tax benefits existing in each country. Scientific literature mentions various methods for choosing a warehouse location, which differ in complexity and in the use of different qualitative and quantitative factors. However, the methods discussed have a disadvantage in that they use the current input variables when defining the optimal location. Choosing the optimal warehouse location is an important long-term logistics process, which should consider the fact that the environment in which companies operate is constantly changing. Using the proposed approach, future trends in the international environment are presented, which enables a better choice of warehouse location in the long run. Through this approach, companies can save on logistic costs, while also providing better quality logistics services. The analysis represents a starting point for deciding the location of a warehouse, but does not constitute a complete set of guidelines for companies to follow, as the choice of a particular location is dependent upon the complexity of the international environment in which a company operates.

Accessibility of public environment make immense impact on active participation of all citizens in different spheres of public life. Quality of access to urban landscapes and buildings for all citizens gains especial importance in the context of recent demographic trends in the developed countries, as ageing communities, decreasing birth rates and continuing urbanisation of natural environment. Creation of a more responsive urban environment is the instrument to facilitate social integration of people into active public life, especially for the ones with limited physical abilities, instead of sheltering them from a society by extending social services. The author presents a research-based methodology for analysing and evaluating accessibility in public areas of a big city. The originality of the method lays in empowering the disabled persons to play the active role of experts in measuring and evaluating accessibility according the developed assessment tool. The used methodology allows evaluating accessibility on different urban scales: in urban landscapes, in buildings, and in their interiors. The presented case study performed in Singapore explores the quality of access that people have to public spaces, metro stations, hotels and café. As a result, the author presents recommendations for improving accessibility in the city by improving the quality of urban environment and architectural design of buildings, updating the building regulations, as well as construction and maintenances of open spaces and buildings. The results of this research provide the comprehensive action plan for eliminating barriers in the specific Singapore’s environment and in the other cities. Conclusions present the model of coherent accessibility monitoring tool and improvement programme that facilitates creation of a socially responsive urban environment.