An environment that supports lifelong learning contributes to the sustainability of the organisations in a Smart City, their stakeholders and ultimately, the city itself. Workplace Learning Analytics (WLA) can provide an organisation’s employees with the opportunity for lifelong learning in the workplace to enhance their skills and knowledge in their current and/or future roles. It uses the data generated by Learning Experience Platforms (LXPs) and other learning platforms to provide support for data-driven decision-making to gain a competitive edge. One of the components of successful and sustainable WLA is a layered architecture. The purpose of this paper is to present the design of a WLA architecture that can be used in organisations to impact successful WLA. This architecture was developed from the results of evaluating four potentially relevant architectures for WLA. The evaluation consisted of three phases. In the first phase, the architectures were evaluated using the DeLone and McLean Model of Information Systems Success. In the second phase, a real-world case of an organisation that provides lifelong learning opportunities to its stakeholders was used to validate the findings of the first phase. The proposed Layered Architecture for WLA was further validated in the third phase where a focus group discussion was held with participants from the real-world context. The architecture can provide valuable guidance to both practitioners and researchers to improve the success of WLA. Full article

Urban greenery is a strategy to improve the thermal environment in urban areas affected by heat islands and global warming. These phenomena can harm the citizens’ quality of life. Researchers have investigated the thermal benefits of urban vegetation, but only a few have explored its complexities across diverse urban scales. Understanding these variations is critical for precise analysis, customized solutions, efficient resource allocation, and enhancing urban living quality while promoting sustainability and climate resilience. This paper reviews 250 scientific articles about the relationship between greenspace and the urban thermal environment published between 2010 and 2023 through urban scales. It summarizes the parameters and findings of greenery’s contribution to cooling the urban environment. The data reveal that most studies concentrated on the block scale, public open spaces, neighborhoods, parks, grouped vegetation, mixed arrangements, high vegetation, spatial parameters, and the use of air temperature data to report their findings. The cooling-effect evidence shows that the block scale has an average mitigation range of 0.7–2.7 °C, the neighborhood scale of 1.1–2.9 °C, and the city scale of 0.5–2.2 °C. Furthermore, it is critical to define reliable research methods and perform thorough software validation to assess model performance and establish guidelines for urban-landscape design accurately. Full article

Fibrosis, a pathological alteration of the repair response, involves continuous organ damage, scar formation, and eventual functional failure in various chronic inflammatory disorders. Unfortunately, clinical practice offers limited treatment strategies, leading to high mortality rates in chronic diseases. As part of investigations into gaseous mediators, or gasotransmitters, including nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), numerous studies have confirmed their beneficial roles in attenuating fibrosis. Their therapeutic mechanisms, which involve inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and proliferation, have been increasingly elucidated. Additionally, novel gasotransmitters like hydrogen (H₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) have emerged as promising options for fibrosis treatment. In this review, we primarily demonstrate and summarize the protective and therapeutic effects of gaseous mediators in the process of fibrosis, with a focus on elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in combating fibrosis. Full article

The advancement of an intelligent automobile sound switching system has the potential to elevate the market standing of automotive products, with the pivotal prerequisite being the selection of automobile sounds based on the driver’s subjective perception. The subjective responses of diverse individuals to sounds can be objectively manifested through EEG signals. Therefore, EEG signals are employed herein to attain the recognition of automobile sounds. A subjective evaluation and EEG signal acquisition experiment are designed involving the stimulation of three distinct types of automobile sounds, namely comfort, power, and technology sounds, and a comprehensive database of EEG signals corresponding to these three sound qualities is established. Then, a specific transfer learning model based on a convolutional neural network (STL-CNN) is formulated, where the method of training the upper layer parameters with the fixed bottom weights is proposed to adaptively extract the EEG features related to automobile sounds. These improvements contribute to improving the generalization ability of the model and realizing the recognition of automobile sounds fused with EEG signals. The results of the comparison with traditional support vector machine (SVM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) models demonstrate that the accuracy of the test set of the STL-CNN model reaches 91.5%. Moreover, its comprehensive performance, coupled with the ability to adapt to individual differences, surpasses that of both SVM and CNN models. The demonstrated method in the recognition of automobile sounds based on EEG signals is of significance for the future implementation of switching driving sound modes fused with EEG signals. Full article

The rapid development of nanotechnology has offered the possibility of creating nanosystems that can be used as drug carriers. The use of such carriers offers real opportunities for the development of non-invasive drug delivery through skin structures. However, in addition to the ability to create suitable nanocarriers, it is also necessary to know how they move through dermal layers. The human skin consists of layers with different wettability characteristics, which greatly complicates how introduced substances move through it. In this work, an experimental study of the diffusion process of nanoparticles through partitions with different wettability properties was carried out. Conventional diffusion tests using Franz chambers were used for this purpose. We quantified how the wettability of the barrier, the number of layers, and their mutual configuration affect the transport of nanoparticles. Based on the results, an analysis of the phenomena taking place, depending on the wettability of the partition, was carried out. A model relationship was also proposed to determine the effective diffusion coefficient, taking into account the influence of the wettability and porosity of the barrier. Full article

In the world of finance, considerable attention is given to improving machine learning techniques to predict the future of stock markets. However, for obvious reasons, this turns out to be an unsolvable mission, most likely because the real world is not driven by algorithms but by human beings. In response to this, the present study has its focus on raw affective responses in actual asset managers during their decision making regarding controlled financial scenarios. Nineteen asset managers were invited and asked to make sell/buy decisions related to visual presentations of three different price developments of different assets. The three scenarios were “crash”, “stable” and “gain”. Parallel to their decision making, startle reflex modulation (SRM) was used to measure non-conscious affective responses without demanding any respective explicit responses (no conscious language processing involved). Interestingly, two further factors were introduced. First, all participants had to make their decisions once while being informed that 0% prior investments (low exposure) have been made into the presented assets, and once being informed that a large investment consisting of 25% of ones’ overall portfolio has been made prior to making the decision (high exposure). Second, the factor experience was included dividing all participants into two groups, one with low experience and the other with high experience. First, across both these extra factors, it was found that “crash” scenarios resulted in the most negative affective responses. The most positive affective responses were found for “gain” scenarios, while the “stable” condition was in between. Interestingly, the factor of prior investment (i.e., exposure) had an effect. Non-conscious affective responses during decision making related to the “stable” condition varied as a function of “exposure”. In the low exposure condition, affective responses to decision making during the “stable” scenario were most negative, even more negative than in “crash” scenarios. The factor experience also had an effect, but due to the small sample size, no significant interaction occurred. However, t-tests revealed the same significant effects in the experienced group as found in the 0% prior investment condition. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical investigation measuring non-conscious affective responses during decision making in the context of asset management. Thus, this study might form an interesting basis for new strategies to explore non-conscious human brain functions instead of inventing new algorithms to make asset management more successful. Full article

In this study we propose to use for bioprinting a bioink enriched with a recombinant RE15mR protein with a molecular weight of 26 kDa, containing functional sequences derived from resilin and elastin. The resulting protein also contains RGD sequences in its structure, as well as a metalloproteinase cleavage site, allowing positive interaction with the cells seeded on the construct and remodeling the structure of this protein in situ. The described protein is produced in a prokaryotic expression system using an E. coli bacterial strain and purified by a process using a unique combination of known methods not previously used for recombinant elastin-like proteins. The positive effect of RE15mR on the mechanical, physico-chemical, and biological properties of the print is shown in the attached results. The addition of RE15mR to the bioink resulted in improved mechanical and physicochemical properties and promoted the habitation of the prints by cells of the L-929 line. Full article

A novel DC-assisted fast hot-pressing (FHP) powder sintering technique was utilized to prepare Al/Diamond composites. Three series of orthogonal experiments were designed and conducted to explore the effects of sintering temperature, sintering pressure, and holding time on the thermal conductivity (TC) and sintering mechanism of an Al-50Diamond composite. Improper sintering temperatures dramatically degraded the TC, as relatively low temperatures (≤520 °C) led to the retention of a large number of pores, while higher temperatures (≥600 °C) caused unavoidable debonding cracks. Excessive pressure (≥100 MPa) induced lattice distortion and the accumulation of dislocations, whereas a prolonged holding time (≥20 min) would most likely cause the Al phase to aggregate into clusters due to surface tension. The optimal process parameters for the preparation of Al-50diamond composites by the FHP method were 560 °C-80 MPa-10 min, corresponding to a density and TC of 3.09 g cm⁻³ and 527.8 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. Structural defects such as pores, dislocations, debonding cracks, and agglomerations within the composite strongly enhance the interfacial thermal resistance (ITR), thereby deteriorating TC performance. Considering the ITR of the binary solid-phase composite, the Hasselman–Johnson model can more accurately predict the TC of Al-50diamond composites for FHP technology under an optimal process with a 3.4% error rate (509.6 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ to 527.8 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹). The theoretical thermal conductivity of the binary composites estimated by data modeling (Hasselman–Johnson Model, etc.) matches well with the actual thermal conductivity of the sintered samples using the FHP method. Full article

Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) is a new treatment option for patients with metastatic triple-negative and hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. This antibody–drug conjugate is currently approved as monotherapy. Palliative radiotherapy is frequently used to treat symptomatic metastases locally. Concurrent use of SG and irradiation was excluded in clinical trials of SG, and there are currently limited published data. We report here a systematic review, as well as a retrospective multi-center study of 17 patients with triple-negative breast cancer who received concurrent SG and radiotherapy. In these patients, concurrent use was found to be efficient, safe and well tolerated. There were no apparent differences in moderate or severe acute toxicity according to the timing of SG administration. Full article

In algebra, the sedenions, an extension of the octonion system, form a 16-dimensional noncommutative and nonassociative algebra over the real numbers. It can be expressed as two octonions, and a function and differential operator can be defined to treat the sedenion, expressed as two octonions, as a variable. By configuring elements using the structure of complex numbers, the characteristics of octonions, the stage before expansion, can be utilized. The basis of a sedenion can be simplified and used for calculations. We propose a corresponding Cauchy–Riemann equation by defining a regular function for two octonions with a complex structure. Based on this, the integration theorem of regular functions with a sedenion of the complex structure is given. The relationship between regular functions and holomorphy is presented, presenting the basis of function theory for a sedenion of the complex structure. Full article

This work aims to expand the structure–property relationships of bromo-containing polyimides and the influence of bromine atoms on the gas separation properties of such materials. A series of intrinsically microporous polyimides were synthesized from 2,2′-dibromo-4,4′,5,5′-bipohenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (Br-BPDA) and five bulky diamines, (7,7′-(mesitylmethylene)bis(8-methyldibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxin-2-amine) (MMBMA), 7,7′-(Mesitylmethylene)bis(1,8-dimethyldibenzo[b,e][1,4] dioxin-2-amine) (MMBDA), 4,10-dimethyl-6H,12H-5,11-methanodibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine-2,8-diamine (TBDA1), 4,10-dimethyl-6H,12H-5,11-methanodibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine-3,9-diamine (TBDA2), and (9R,10R)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-2,6-diamine (DAT). The Br-BPDA-derived polyimides exhibited excellent solubility, high thermal stability, and good mechanical properties, with their tensile strength and modulus being 59.2–109.3 MPa and 1.8–2.2 GPa, respectively. The fractional free volumes (FFVs) and surface areas (S_BET) of the Br-BPDA-derived polyimides were in the range of 0.169–0.216 and 211–342 m² g⁻¹, following the order of MMBDA > MMBMA > TBDA2 > DAT > TBDA1, wherein the Br-BPDA-MMBDA exhibited the highest S_BET and FFV and thus highest CO₂ permeability of 724.5 Barrer. Moreover, Br-BPDA-DAT displayed the best gas separation performance, with CO₂, H₂, O₂, N₂, and CH₄ permeabilities of 349.8, 384.4, 69.8, 16.3, and 19.7 Barrer, and H₂/N₂ selectivity of 21.4. This can be ascribed to the ultra-micropores (<0.7 nm) caused by the high rigidity of Br-BPDA-DAT. In addition, all the bromo-containing polymers of intrinsic microporosity membranes exhibited excellent resistance to physical ageing. Full article

With the development of digital holography, the accuracy requirements for the reconstruction phase are becoming increasingly high. The transfer function of the double fast transform (D-FFT) algorithm is distorted when the diffraction distance is larger than the criterion distance ${\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{t}}$, which reduces the accuracy of solving the phase. In this paper, the Fresnel diffraction integration algorithm is improved by using the low-pass Tukey window to obtain more accurate reconstructed phases. The improved algorithm is called the D-FFT (Tukey) algorithm. The D-FFT (Tukey) algorithm adjusts the degree of edge smoothing of the Tukey window, using the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and the structural similarity (SSIM) to remove the ringing effect and obtain a more accurate reconstructed phase. In a simulation of USAF1951, the longitudinal resolution of the reconstructed phase obtained by D-FFT (Tukey) reached 1.5 $\mathsf{\mu }\mathrm{m}$, which was lower than the 3 $\mathsf{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ obtained by the T-FFT algorithm. The results of Fresnel holography experiments on lung cancer cell slices also demonstrated that the phase quality obtained by the D-FFT (Tukey) algorithm was superior to that of the T-FFT algorithm. D-FFT (Tukey) algorithm has potential applications in phase correction, structured illumination digital holographic microscopy, and microscopic digital holography. Full article

Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is one of the main reasons for liver transplantation (LT). Biomarkers, such as alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) and Des-gamma-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP), can be helpful in defining the recurrence risk post LT. This study aims to evaluate the association between the intensity of DCP immunohistochemical labelling and serum DCP levels in patients undergoing LT for HCC. We carried out a prospective monocentric study including patients who all underwent LT for cirrhosis between 2016 and 2018 and all fell under the Milan criteria. The accepted diagnostic criteria for HCC were contrast-enhanced imaging and histology. Thirty-nine patients were followed for a median of 21 months, with HCC lesions categorized into negative, focally positive, and diffusely positive groups based on DCP immunohistochemistry. The serum DCP levels were significantly higher in the positive groups (258 mAU/mL for the focally and 257 mAU/mL for the diffusely positive) than in the negative group (48 mAU/mL) (p = 0.005) at diagnosis and at the time of liver transplantation (220 mAU/mL for the diffuse positive group). Microvascular invasion (58.8% vs. 19.0% for the diffusely positive and negative groups, respectively, p < 0.001) and lesion size (20 mm in the diffusely labelled group versus 12 mm in the other groups, p = 0.002) were significantly correlated with DCP labelling. Late recurrence occurred only in the positive groups; in the negative group, it occurred within the first 3 months after transplantation. DCP labelling in liver lesions correlates with serum levels and a more aggressive tumour profile. Further investigation is needed to determine if highly DCP-labelled tumours allow for the better selection of high-risk patients before LT. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate assessment and referral practices for the early detection and diagnosis of children at risk for or with cerebral palsy (CP) by health care and education providers in Maryland and Delaware. A secondary aim was to identify barriers for using early detection tools and identify opportunities for change to support early diagnosis and improve care. Seventy-two participants answered ≥ 50% of the survey questions. Most were occupational or physical therapists (86%) working in early intervention (61%). Eighty-eight percent indicated awareness that CP can be diagnosed by 12 months. Though 86% stated they typically suspect a diagnosis of CP between 0 and 12 months, only 19% reported that their patients received a CP diagnosis < 12 months. The Developmental Assessment of Young Children (73%) and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (59%) were used most. Many respondents indicated never using magnetic resonance imaging (70%), the General Movements Assessment (87%), or the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Exam (69%). Participants identified clinical signs and symptoms prompting a referral for the diagnostic assessment of CP, most commonly stiffness in legs (95%), excessive head lag (93%), and persistent fisting (92%). Policy and organizational change, clinician education, and training are needed to support the implementation of CP early detection guidelines. Full article

The serine-threonine kinase protein kinase A (PKA) is a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent intracellular protein with multiple roles in cellular biology including metabolic and transcription regulation functions. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor β (PKIB) is one of three known endogenous protein kinase inhibitors of PKA. The role of PKIB is not yet fully understood. Hormonal signaling is correlated with increased PKIB expression through genetic regulation, and increasing PKIB expression is associated with decreased cancer patient prognosis. Additionally, PKIB impacts cancer cell behavior through two mechanisms; the first is the nuclear modulation of transcriptional activation and the second is the regulation of oncogenic AKT signaling. The limited research into PKIB indicates the oncogenic potential of PKIB in various cancers. However, some studies suggest a role of PKIB in non-cancerous disease states. This review aims to summarize the current literature and background of PKIB regarding cancer and related issues. In particular, we will focus on cancer development and therapeutic possibilities, which are of paramount interest in PKIB oncology research. Full article

The ceramic pastes of ca. 31 samples recovered from the Almaraz archaeological site, located in the south bench of Tagus River, were studied in detail using XRF, micro-Raman and GSDR spectroscopies, as well as the XRD technique. The ceramic sherds could be grouped into six categories, red slip tableware, decorated tableware, yellow slip tableware, grey tableware, common tableware, and handmade pottery. Our studies of the mineralogic composition of the sherds’ body indicate all ceramics were produced locally, using siliceous clays in most cases and calcareous clays in a few ones. Micro-Raman and ground state diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy provided useful information regarding the materials used to produce the coloured ceramics: hematite and brookite for the red slip and decorated ceramics, jacobsite or carbon black for the black decoration or grey ceramics. For the yellow slip tableware, a simple engobe rich in yellow clay was used. XRF spectroscopic studies provided the elemental composition of all samples, and biplots of the potassium (K) versus calcium (Ca) contents, normalized to the silicon content of each ceramic paste, clearly show Pliocene and Miocene local clays sources were used to produce most ceramics. Only one sherd can be considered a Lisbon production. Full article

The article analyses the impact of two different types of dispersive glass on cement hydration and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days. The study employed dispersive glass from various LCDs (TV sets, computer monitors, smart phones), characterised by a composition of approximately 8% SrO, and dispersive glass from washing machines, which consists mainly of SiO₂, Na₂O, and CaO. The chemical composition and particle-size distribution of different types of dispersive glass were analysed. The study compares the effect of electronic waste glass on cement hydration by evaluating the amount and rate of heat released during the process. In addition, the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are provided. Different types of glass were determined to have a similar effect on the physical and mechanical properties as well as the mineral composition of cementitious samples: density and UPV decrease up to 6% and compressive strength decreases by about 30%, when 5–20% of cement was replaced by glass waste. However, more prominent differences were observed in the workability of the mixtures: the waste glass from home appliances increased the spread by up to 25%, while the waste glass from electronic devices decreased the spread compared to the reference sample by approximately 20%. The mixtures modified with the waste glass of electronic devices had a higher degree of early hydration (96%) due to the higher water absorption of the mixtures compared to the waste glass of home appliances (88%). Full article

In this paper, we propose a novel method for temperature measurement using surface acoustic wave (SAW) temperature sensors on curved or irregular surfaces. We integrate SAW resonators onto flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) to ensure better conformity of the temperature sensor with the surface of the object under test. Compared to traditional rigid PCBs, FPCBs offer greater dynamic flexibility, lighter weight, and thinner thickness, which make them an ideal choice for making SAW devices working for temperature measurements under curved surfaces. We design a temperature sensor array consisting of three devices with different operating frequencies to measure the temperature at multiple points on the surface of the object. To distinguish between different target points in the sensor array, each sensor operates at a different frequency, and the operating frequency bands do not overlap. This differentiation is achieved using Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) technology. Experimental results indicate that the frequency temperature coefficients of these sensors are −30.248 ppm/°C, −30.195 ppm/°C, and −30.115 ppm/°C, respectively. In addition, the sensor array enables wireless communication via antenna and transceiver circuits. This innovation heralds enhanced adaptability and applicability for SAW temperature sensor applications. Full article

In developing nations, outdated technologies and sulfur-rich heavy fossil fuel usage are major contributors to air pollution, affecting urban air quality and public health. In addition, the limited resources hinder the adoption of advanced monitoring systems crucial for informed public health policies. This study addresses this challenge by introducing an affordable internet of things (IoT) monitoring system capable of tracking atmospheric pollutants and meteorological parameters. The IoT platform combines a Bresser 5-in-1 weather station with a previously developed air quality monitoring device equipped with Alphasense gas sensors. Utilizing MQTT, Node-RED, InfluxDB, and Grafana, a Raspberry Pi collects, processes, and visualizes the data it receives from the measuring device by LoRa. To validate system performance, a 15-day field campaign was conducted in Santa Clara, Cuba, using a Libelium Smart Environment Pro as a reference. The system, with a development cost several times lower than Libelium and measuring a greater number of variables, provided reliable data to address air quality issues and support health-related decision making, overcoming resource and budget constraints. The results showed that the IoT architecture has the capacity to process measurements in tropical conditions. The meteorological data provide deeper insights into events of poorer air quality. Full article

The Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS) is widely utilized for ocular aberration measurement. However, large ocular aberrations caused by individual differences can easily make the spot move out of the range of the corresponding sub-aperture in SHWFS, rendering the traditional centroiding method ineffective. This study applied a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) model to wavefront sensing for large dynamic ocular aberration measurement. The simulation results demonstrate that, compared to the modal method, the dynamic range of our method for main low-order aberrations in ocular system is increased by 1.86 to 43.88 times in variety. Meanwhile, the proposed method also has the best measurement accuracy, and the statistical root mean square (RMS) of the residual wavefronts is 0.0082 ± 0.0185 $\lambda$ (mean ± standard deviation). The proposed method generally has a higher accuracy while having a similar or even better dynamic range as compared to traditional large-dynamic schemes. On the other hand, compared with recently developed deep learning methods, the proposed method has a much larger dynamic range and better measurement accuracy. Full article

Background: Sarcopenia is defined as a loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical function associated with aging. It is due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and physiological factors. It is also associated with an increased risk of health problems. Since there are many different researchers in the field, with their own algorithms and cut-off points, there is no single criterion for diagnosis. This review aims to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia according to these different diagnostic criteria in older adult populations by age group and sex. Methods: Different databases were searched: Web of Science, Pubmed, Dialnet, Scopus, and Cochrane. The keywords used were “sarcopenia”, “diagnosis”, “prevalence”, “assessment”, “aged”, “aging” and “older”. Studies conducted in a population aged ≥65 assessing the prevalence of sarcopenia were selected. Results: Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 33,515 subjects, 38.08% female and 61.42% male, at a mean age of 74.52. The diagnostic algorithms used were 52.63% AWGS2, 21.05% EWGSOP2, 10.53% AWGS1 and EWGS1, and 5.26% FNIH. Prevalence ranged from 1.7% to 37.47%, but was higher in males and increased with age. Conclusions: The prevalence of sarcopenia varies depending on the diagnostic algorithm used, but it increases with age and is higher in men. The EWGSOP2 and AWGS2 are the most used diagnostic criteria and measure the same variables but have different cut-off points. Of these two diagnostic algorithms, the one with the highest prevalence of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia is the AWGS2. These differences may be due to the use of different tools and cut-off points. Therefore, a universal diagnostic criterion should be developed to allow early diagnosis of sarcopenia. Full article

The rough morphology at the growth surface results in the non-uniform distribution of indium composition, intentionally or unintentionally doped impurity, and thus impacts the performance of GaN-based optoelectronic and vertical power electronic devices. We observed the morphologies of unintentionally doped GaN homo-epitaxially grown via MOCVD and identified the relations between rough surfaces and the miscut angle and direction of the substrate. The growth kinetics under the effect of the Ehrlich–Schwoebel barrier were studied, and it was found that asymmetric step motions in samples with a large miscut angle or those grown at high temperature were the causes of step-bunching. Meandering steps were believed to be caused by surface free energy minimization for steps with wide terraces or deviating from the $[1\overline{1}00]$ m-direction. Full article