Rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies are expected to help us in various sectors of life, but their applications also entail certain risks.

The upcoming hypersonic technologies pose a difficult task for air navigation systems. The article presents a designed model of elastic interaction of penetrating acoustic radiation with flat isotropic suspension elements of an inertial navigation sensor in the operational conditions of hypersonic flight. It has been shown that the acoustic transparency effect in the form of a spatial-frequency resonance becomes possible with simultaneous manifestation of the wave coincidence condition in the acoustic field and equality of the natural oscillation frequency of a finite-size plate and a forced oscillation frequency of an infinite plate. The effect can lead to additional measurement errors of the navigation system. Using the model, the worst and best case suspension oscillation frequencies can be determined, which will help during the design of a navigation system.

This paper addresses supply chain transparency improvement in a triadic manufacturersupplier-

supplier relationship. It investigates the problem of improving transparency using

a set of interviews; then, a detailed problematization and a simulation model is formulated

based on the results. The interview results show that there are two key issues to be considered:

information systems issues related directly to transparency and capability issues related

to utilizing transparency. The simulation results support developing capabilities by illustrating

the effects of different options for coordinating material flow. The results of the study

also indicate that while solutions to improve transparency can be relatively straightforward

to implement, developing the capability to benefit from it can be more challenging, even in

a well-established close partnership. In addition, suppliers may be hesitant to collaborate

without active manufacturer involvement.

Al doped ZnO has been explored as a viable alternative to indium thin oxide, which is usually used as transparent electrodes' coverage but is expensive. Homogenous and durable ZnO:Al layers on glass have been obtained in radio frequency magnetron sputtering system by adjusting optimized deposition parameters, using ZnO ceramic target with 2 wt% Al₂O₃. Then, after growth process, annealing treatment has been introduced in order to improve the quality of the layers. Structural, electrical and optical properties of the obtained ZnO:Al layers are presented and discussed. From the application point of view, the best results (sheet resistance of 24 Ω/sq and transparency well above 85%) were achieved after annealing in 300°C.

In a few short paragraphs of The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell presents his theory of introspective knowledge based on the concept of knowledge by acquaintance. In this article, I critically analyze these comments by Russell and their proposed application by contemporary authors, including Brie Gertler (2001; 2011) and Laurence BonJour (2003). I show how these theories differ from the competing ‘inner‑sense theories’ and try to show that they are inconsistent with Gareth Evans’s ‘transparency’ observation. Then I compare acquaintance theories with Alex Byrne’s (2005; 2012) ‘transparency’ theory and show that Byrne’s theory offers a simpler account of mechanisms governing introspection and attribution of mental states to other agents than the observer.

Stable dispersion of antimony-doped tin oxide nano-powder was prepared by wet attrition process by comminuting aggregated ATO nano-powder using the titanate coupling agent as a dispersant to form the chemisorbed layer on the particle surface. The feed solution of the ATO dispersion and PVP was prepared for electro-spun fibers on the glass substrate. The surface resistance of the fibrous ATO film after electrospinning for 30 minutes was in the order of 105 Ω/□, which is sufficient for anti-static coating. The optical transmittance of ATO fibers was confirmed by measuring the visible light transmittance.

In this paper an analysis of the surface properties of (Ti,Pd,Eu)O_x thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering has been described. In particular, the results of composition and structure investigations were studied in relation to the surface state and optical properties. It was found that (Ti,Pd,Eu)O_x film was nanocrystalline and had a rutile structure. The average crystallites size was equal to 7.8 nm. Films were homogeneous and had densely packed grains. Investigation of the surface properties by XPS showed that titanium was present at 4+ state (in the TiO₂form), palladium occurred as PdO₂(also at 4+ state), while europium was in Eu₂O₃form (at 3+ state). In comparison with the unmodiffied TiO₂, the coating with Pd and Eu additives had a rather high transparency (approx. 47%) in the visible light range, its optical absorption edge was shifted towards into the longer wavelengths (from 345 nm to 452 nm), and the width of optical energy gap Egopt was nearly twice lower (1.82 eV). Besides, the resistivity of (Ti,Pd,Eu)O_x at room temperature was 1×10³ Wcm. In the case of the film as-deposited on Si substrate (p-type) the generation of photocurrent as a response to light beam excitation (λ_exc = 527 nm) was observed.

The article consists of two parts. In the first one (introductory) I recall—following Edmund Husserl, Stanisław Ossowski and Adam Schaff—the main formulations of the “principle of transparency of the sign.” In these formulations it is usually said about (1) the transparency of the sign regarding objects denoted by the sign (denoted, designated and/or named), or (2) the transparency of the sign regarding its meaning (respectively, events, states of affairs and facts designated by the sign). However, as Husserl pointed out, one can also speak about (3) the transparency of the sign in relations to the activities and mental states of the sign’s users (senders and recipients). After all, only due to the transparency of the sign understood in this way, it is possible for people to communicate with each other, thus the sign can also has an expressive and communicative function. In turn, the second part of the article (essential) contains a reconstruction of the Leon Koj’s approach; Koj gave a consistently formalized form to the theory of sign based on the principle of transparency— the form of an axiomatized logical system (using Quine's formalism from his Mathematical Logic). One of Koj's main goals was also to indicate the close relationship between semantics and pragmatics, and even the primacy of pragmatics over semantics. Formal-logical tools have also shown that the theory of sign based on the principle of transparency neither contravene The Law of Non-Contradiction (at least in its psychological formulation), nor contain or imply semantic antinomies such us antinomy of the liar. Because it is a theory easily negotiable with Alfred Tarski’s theory of language levels.

The Green Deal and the New Industrial Strategy for Europe recognize the access to raw materials and the security of supply from secondary and primary sources as essential for Europe’s transition to sustainability. It can be expected that with the development of the circular economy approach, the extraction of primary resources would be diminished, but it is emphasized that a circular economy may need a wider range of metals and other raw materials critical to the new environmentally friendly technology, especially in renewable energy and mobility. Therefore, the latest global initiatives and EU policies focus on ensuring resource efficiency in a holistic manner, from the extraction of raw materials to the re-use of the end products, which requires data transparency not only on material and waste flows, but also on financial and economic burdens including incentives and subsidies. In addition, for sectors with significant environmental impacts, the transparency of information on payments to central governments and local authorities can increase social acceptance and accountability and allow for further development. The paper analyzes regulations and initiatives supporting the disclosure of wider data than required in financial and corporate social responsibility reporting related to the implementation of a circular economy. As circular economy indicators take upstream resource flows into account, the transparency of environmental and economic data in the value chain is required, for example for the calculation of the environmental footprint. Moreover, transparency is important for mining companies’ stakeholders to increase social acceptance of mining activities and facilitate the transition to a circular economy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the intersection of unprecedented opportunities and profound challenges. As AI is increasingly integrated into societal structures, the necessity for transparency and open-source approaches becomes paramount to foster both innovation and ethical considerations. Collaborative efforts among academia, industry, and policymakers are essential for addressing the multifaceted complexities that AI presents. While AI promises transformative benefits, potential challenges, such as its weaponization, corporate exploitation, and job displacement, warrant careful attention. Striking a balance between regulation with innovation is critical. Academic institutions can play a pivotal role, guiding AI’s trajectory, nurturing interdisciplinary learning, and equipping future professionals. Embracing open-source AI can ensure its ethical use and mitigate the risks associated with its exploitation. The existential threats posed by AI are significant, yet with strategic collaboration and foresight, a bright, AI-driven future is within reach.

Indium gallium zinc oxide (In–Ga–Zn–O) thin films, which are transparent conductive films for liquid crystals and electroluminescent displays, were fabricated via singlestep sputter deposition using one target containing different proportions of indium oxide, gallium oxide, and zinc oxide powders. Experimental results suggest that the In–Ga–Zn–O thin films can be prepared using the method of single-step radio frequency (RF) sputter deposition, applying a powder target containing indium oxide, gallium oxide, and zinc oxide. The In–Ga–Zn–O thin films were prepared on Si substrates, and the deposition rate depended on the target composition. In these plasma processes, electron density and temperature were essentially independent of target composition. The prepared films were very smooth with a root-mean-square roughness of less than 10 nm. The crystallinity of the ZnO peak was observed in all the films; whereas the In and Ga peaks were not observed in the films prepared. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the films also revealed that the elemental concentration ratio of In–Ga–Zn–O thin films could be prepared using one target, and that can be easily controlled by ratios in the In ₂O ₃/Ga ₂O ₃/ZnO composition in the powder target. The transmittances were > 75% at 800 nm for all the target mixtures, and increased with increasing In ₂O ₃ in the powder target.

Transparent Conductive Electrode (TCE) is an essential part of the optoelectronic and display devices such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Solar Cells, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) and touch screens. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is a commonly used TCE in these devices because of its high transparency and low sheet resistance. However, scarcity of indium and brittle nature of ITO limit its use in future flexible electronics. In order to develop flexible optoelectronic devices with improved performance, there is a requirement of replacing the ITO with a better alternate TCE. In this work, several alternative TCEs including transparent conductive oxides, carbon nanotubes, conducting polymers, metal nanowires, graphene and composites of these materials are studied with their properties such as sheet resistance, transparency and flexibility. The advantage and current challenges of these materials are also presented in this work.