Soybean are vulnerable to drought and temperature increases potentially induced by climate change. The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of cover crops (CC) can influence the gas exchange potential of glyphosate tolerant soybean when the vapor pressure deficit (Vpd) increases. This two years study was conducted in an open experimental field comprising Direct Seeding plots without CC (DS) or with CC (DSCC). Stomatal conductance (Gs) was measured five times on the same identified leaves following GBH application. These leaves were then collected in order to observe the stomata (size, density and stomatal index) with a scanning electron microscope and to perform measurements on foliar traits (venation density, width of midrib). The Vpd was calculated concomitantly to Gs measurements at the leaf surface. The results suggest that the use of CC promotes phenotypic change in soybean leaves (more elaborate venation and a higher stomatal density), which in turn may enhance their tolerance to drier conditions. In 2019, Gs could be up to 29% higher in DSCC plots compared to DS ones along with similar Vpd values. This study shows that the benefits of using CC can be observed through the morphological development strategies of the crop plants and their higher tolerance to drought.

Climate change, increasing global food needs, and decreasing global resources brought a new era to human every-day live with a strong turn to circular economy and sustainability. Food packaging and preservation is an important global sector where enchanced research is carried out. New methods such as active packaging and chemical preservatives replacement are of major interest. Many researchers were published studies about active packaging films, replacement of chemical preservatives with natural originated extracts, and novel incorporation procedures. Sequentially to our and other scientists’ previous work, in this paper we present the results of the improvement which was achieved by incorporating the developed nanohybrid of natural-halloysite/carvacrol-extract, the pure natural carvacrol extract and the commonly used low-density-polyethylene. The well known corona-treatment procedure was employed to produced the optimum final film and the results shown that the low-density-polyethylene incorporated with natural-halloysite/carvacrol-extract nanohybrid and coated external with extra carvacrol extract exhibited aproximatelly 100% higher Young-Modulus values, slightly decreased ultimate strength by 20%, and almost stable elonation at break properties. The water-vapor and oxygen barrier increased by 40%. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the corrona-treated film increased by 28% compared to the similar but untreated product because of the lower release rate of the carvacrol.

In order to further control the equivalent circulating density,a new type of annular pres-sure-reducing downhole tool for high temperature and high pressure wells-liquid-absorbing ECD tool is designed.Through this tool,the bottom hole pressure of the equivalent circulating drilling fluid can be close to its hydrostatic pres-sure,therebyachieving a deeper drilling depth.The tool is mainly composed of screw mo-tor,vortex blade,annular seal,universal joint and drill string.Its working principle is mainly to use the liquid absorption effect of the tool and the hydraulic energy of the circu-lating fluid extracted by the screw motor to convert it into mechanical energy,and to gen-erate suction force to improve the flow energy of the drilling fluid in the bottom hole an-nulusand reduce the equivalent circulation density.Based on ANSYS-FLUENT analysis andsimulation,the change of pressure drop characteristics under different drilling fluid density,displacement and tool size was simulated.The simulation results show that thedepressurization effect is 1.0MPa when the drilling fluid density is 1.2g/cm3. When the drilling fluid density is 1.5g/cm3,the depressurization is about 1.7MPa,and when thedrill-ing fluid density is 1.8g/cm3,the depressurization is about 1.9MPa.When the drilling fluid density is 2.0g/cm3,the pressure drop is about 2.3MPa.When the flow rate is from 1500-2500L/min,the maximum pressure can be reduced by 2.3MPa.When the viscosity is 40mPa•S and 60mPa•S,the pressure drop almost does not change.The increase of viscosi-ty has little effect on the pressure drop,and it is mainly affected by the flow rate under equal displacement.

Global use of single-use non-biodegradable plastics, like bottles made of polyethylene tereph-thalate (PET), have contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbi-al communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full consortium of five bacteria capable of synergistically degrading PET. Using omics approaches we identified key genes implicated in PET degradation within the consortium’s pangenome and transcriptome. This analysis led to the discovery of a novel PETase, EstB, discovered to hydrolyze oligomer BHET, and polymer PET. Besides genes implicated in PET degradation, many other biodegradation genes were discovered. Over 200 plastic and plasticizer degrada-tion related genes were discovered through the Plastic Microbial Biodegradation Database (PMBD). Diverse carbon source utilization was observed by a microbial community-based as-say, which paired with an abundant number of plastic and plasticizer degrading enzymes in-dicates a promising possibility for mixed plastic degradation. Using RNAseq differential analysis, several genes were predicted to be involved in PET degradation including aldehyde dehydrogenases and several classes of hydrolases. Active transcription of PET monomer me-tabolism was also observed, including the generation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bi-opolymers. These results present an exciting opportunity for the bio-recycling of mixed plastic waste with upcycling potential.

Although fragility fractures, osteoporosis, sarcopenia and frailty are becoming more prevalent in our aging society the treatment options are limited and preventative strategies are needed. Despite magnesium being integral bone and muscle physiology the relationship between dietary magnesium and skeletal muscle and bone health has not been investigated concurrently before. We analysed cross-sectional associations between dietary magnesium and skeletal muscle mass (as fat free mass – FFM), grip strength and bone density (BMD) in 156,575 men and women aged 39-72 years from the UK Biobank cohort. FFM was measured with bioelectrical impedance and expressed as the percentage of body weight (FFM%) or divided by body mass index (FFM_BMI). Adjusted mean grip strength, FFM%, FFM_BMI, and BMD were calculated according quintiles of dietary magnesium, correcting for covariates. Significant inter-quintile differences across intakes of magnesium existed in men and women respectively of 1.1% and 2.4% for grip strength, 3.0% and 3.6% for FFM%, 5.1% and 5.5% for FFM_BMI, and 2.9% and 0.9% for BMD. These associations are as great or greater than annual measured losses of these musculoskeletal outcomes indicating potential clinical significance. Our study suggests that dietary magnesium may play a role in musculoskeletal health and have relevance for population prevention strategies for sarcopenia, osteoporosis and fractures.

This research investigates the effect of pre-soaking treatment on plant-based aggregate using a wet grout binder to formulate a high-strength lightweight concrete (HSLWC). The surface modification utilising a novel grout soaking technique with various water-to-cement (w/c) ratios indicated a new method of approach for the recent development of lightweight plant-based aggregate (LWPA). In this experiment, the fresh and hardened properties of modified LWPA lightweight concrete were assessed by verifying their workability, densities, compressive and split tensile strengths towards the modulus of elasticity. The results showed that pre-soaking plant-based lightweight aggregate (w/c: 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2) slightly increased the density of the samples compared to untreated LWPA. The oven-dry density of treated and untreated LWPA is controlled in the range of HSLWC. The outcomes indicated that the workability of the surface- modified LWPA has significant improvement up to 40% in 6 min for (TDS)/0.6 sample compared to the original LWPA. The mechanical properties of the LWPA concrete with surface modification method exhibit substantial increment of compressive strength, split tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity were recorded at 22%, 26%, and 34%, respectively. Significantly, the findings from this scientific method revealed that the pre-soaking treatment method on LWPA has shown to be a highly recommended technique in improving interfacial bonding while performing as one of the most promising solutions to improve the properties of lightweight concrete.

Background: Several trace minerals have been shown to be associated with thyroid cancer. However, there is a paucity of data on the characteristics of thyroid nodules in different mineral rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The objective of this study is to establish the spectrum of thyroid nodules in different regions of the most mineral wealthy country in the world. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study, performing descriptive statistics and logistic regression with a p value < 0.05 deemed of statistical significance. We enrolled 529 patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules between 2005 and 2019 in two of the richest provinces in minerals (Katanga and South Kivu) and the capital city, Kinshasa. Results: The mean age was 44.2±14.6 years with a female predominance, with a female to male ratio of 5.4. 66.5% of patients had a family history of thyroid disease. 74 patients had simple nodules, whereas 455 had multiple nodules. 87.7% of patients with nodules were euthyroid. The nodules mostly presented a solid structure (72.2%), hypoechogenicity (84.5%), a macronodule (59.8%), calcification (14.4%) and lymphadenopathy (15.5%). 22.3% of these nodules had a malignant character. The independent factors associated with this malignancy were age ≥60 years (aOR=2.81), Katanga as province of origin (aOR=8.19), solid echostructure (aOR=7.69), hypoechogenicity (aOR=14.19), macronodule (aOR=9.13), calcification (aOR=2.6) and the presence of adenopathy (aOR=6.94). Conclusion: By the way of this first of its kind study, we demonstrated that thyroid nodules were more likely to be malignant if found in patients originating from mineral rich region of Katanga. This high frequency of malignancy in mineral rich regions requires measures aimed at early detection in this population, lower threshold for suspicion of malignancy and adequate training of doctors involved in the management of these patients. This study paves the way for future, more extensive and well-funded studies to better understand the relationship of heavy metals and thyroid cancer incidence in the richest country in heavy metals in the world.

Recently, the composite materials consisting of ionic liquids (ILs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a great of attention due to their fantastic properties. Many theoretical studies have been performed towards its special structures and applications. Yet, the mechanism for the diffusion of ILs inside MOFs channels still remain unclear. Here, the DFT calculations together with frontier orbital analysis, natural charge analysis, and energy decomposition analysis were performed to investigate the diffusion behavior of a typical IL, [C4mim][PF6], into the ZIF-8 SOD cage. The potential energy surface (PES) profiles indicate that it is quite difficult for the cation [C4min]+ to diffuse into the cage of ZIF-8 through the pristine pores because of its large imidazole steric hindrance. Moreover, the PES reveals that a success diffusion could be obtained by the thermal contributions, by which the pore size is enlarged through the swing effects at a higher temperature. Subsequently, electronic structure analyses reveal that the main interactions between [PF6]-or [C4mim]+ and ZIF-8 is the steric repulsion interactions. Finally, the effects of amounts of [C4mim][PF6]on the ZIF-8 were investigated, and the results show that two pairs of [C4mim][PF6] per SOD cage is more reasonable in terms of interaction energies and structural changes.

There is a continuous interest in cannabinoids like Δ9-tetrahydro cannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). A patent of Webster et al., described the conversion of CBD to either D8-THC or D9-THC, depending on the acid catalyst applied. The use of para-toluene sulfonic acid (pTSA) led to the formation of D8-THC, while boron trifluoride etherate (BF3·Et2O) yielded mainly D9-THC. The enormous difference in product selectivity between these two catalysts was investigated with Molecular Modeling. It was found that pTSA leads to fast isomerization of Δ9-CBD to Δ8-CBD and subsequent ring closure to Δ8-THC. BF3·Et2O catalysis leads to the formation of tertiary carbenium ions in the Transition States which yield D9-THC and some iso D8-THC. Under dry conditions in refluxing toluene, it was found that pTSA is predominantly present as a dimer, and only a small fraction is available as monomeric catalyst. Applying the computationally derived activation barriers in Transition State theory yielded reaction rates predicting amounts of cannabinoids that are in close agreement with the experimental findings.

The phytonutraceutical Ormona® is a product composed of: purified oil of Bixa orellana Linné; dry extract of Myrciaria dubia McVaugh; dry extract of Trifolium pratense L. and dry extract of Euterpe oleracea Mart. obtained using Evolve® technology. This study evaluated the effects of Ormona® on Wistar rats affected by ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis. Pre-treatment was conducted for 15 days before surgery and continued for a further 45 days after the surgical procedure. The experimental design consisted of 5 groups (n=5): OVW: treated with distilled water (1 mL/ kg, p.o); ADS: alendronate sodium (4 mg/ kg p.o); EST: conjugated estrogen (2 ug/ kg, p.o); ORM: Ormona® (20 mg/kg, p.o); ORM + EST: Ormona® (20 mg/kg + conjugated estrogen 2 ug/ kg, p.o. Biochemical and hormonal parameters, along with bone histopathology and trabecular and femoral diaphysis size, were evaluated through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and bone calcium quantification by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results show that ovariectomy caused bone alterations such as loss of femoral microarchitecture, decreased bone homeostasis parameters, and changes in the lipid profile. Estrogen supplementation reduced parameters such as cholesterol, LDL, and Ca2+ concentration. However, Ormona® showed higher serum estradiol levels (p&lt; 0.01), effects on the lipid profile, including parameters that estrogen replacement and alendronate sodium did not affect, with an increase in HDL, and positive modulation of bone metabolism, increasing osteocytes and the presence of osteoblasts. Ormona®, therefore, produced better results than the groups treated with estrogen and alendronate sodium.

As the global community shifts away from fossil fuels towards more environmentally friendly energy alternatives, there is an escalating demand for sophisticated energy storage solutions. Solid-State Batteries (SSBs) have emerged as a promising advancement, presenting a superior substitute to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This review provides an in-depth examination of SSBs, emphasizing their enhanced energy density, safety, and longevity. We evaluate conventional cathode materials, including lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). Additionally, we introduce emerging materials such as sulfides, oxides, and air-based cathodes, discussing their benefits, limitations, and their congruence with solid electrolytes. Special attention is devoted to the structural fine-tuning of cathode ma-terials, investigating approaches like nanostructuring, surface coatings, and composite strategies to counteract issues such as restricted conductivity and structural volatility. The review critically analyzes the electrical and thermal properties of these materials, which are essential for battery safety and efficacy. Moreover, we present a comparative assessment of cathode materials based on performance indicators and identify prevailing research voids and hurdles in the commerciali-zation of SSB cathodes. Concluding, we suggest prospective research directions and innovations, underscoring the revolutionary potential of SSB technologies in paving the way for a sustainable energy horizon.

Cadmium, an environmental toxin, is associated with a range of adverse health effects due to increased Reactive Oxygen Species production, including decreased bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Notably, cadmium is found at concentrations 4-5x higher in the blood of smokers versus non-smokers. Experiments performed in human cancer cells indicate that melatonin may directly protect against cadmium-induced tissue damage via regulation of mitochondrial activity. Further, recent evidence has demonstrated that melatonin can improve bone health for individuals with osteoporosis and partially protect against cadmium-associated inhibition of bone repair. Here we review this data and propose supplementation with melatonin as a strategy to protect against the negative impacts of cadmium exposure on bone mineral density within individuals regularly exposed to cadmium via cigarette smoking.

Consumption of prunes has been shown to slow bone loss after menopause in American women but there is no data on its effects in Asian women. 135 postmenopausal Korean women with osteopenia were randomized to 100g/day of prunes or no prunes with 600U vitamin D and 800mg of calcium for 12 months. Bone density was measured at baseline and 12 months in the lumbar spine, both hips and the L forearm. Serum levels of CTX and P1NP and vitamin D calcium and phosphate were measured at baseline, 6 and 12 months. PTH was measured at baseline if vitamin D was low Four women dropped out of each group over the 12 months. There was no difference between groups in blood measures or bone density in any region over the 12 month trial., In conclusion 100g/day of prunes has no effect in Korean woman on bone density or bone markers.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about potential environmental factors that could influence the spread and severity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Atmospheric pollution, particularly particulate matter (PM), has been suggested as a contributing factor to viral infections and respiratory complications. This two-year observational study aimed to investigate the relation between air pollution and the spread of COVID-19, focusing on PM2.5. Unlike previous studies limited to specific cities or countries, inevitable to use temporal data. Our research analyzed data from various states across the United States, considering both spatial and temporal correlation. The analysis considered the number and geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases along with daily PM2.5 exposure levels, accounting for monthly average PM2.5 exposure, from March 2020 to December 2021. The observed conflicting results of the temporal and spatial correlation present challenges for researchers in understanding the true nature of the relationship between PM2.5 air pollution and COVID-19 cases. The correlation between various factors, such as population density, PM2.5, temperature, and wind speed, and COVID-19 refers to an association or statistical relationship, not causation. Moreover, the intricate interplay of these variables makes it difficult to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

Although impending urbanization is a well-acknowledged problem, there is a rising concern about how the urban forms will change and what can be the impacts on the global energy demand. As hubs of economic, social and cultural activities, cities are major energy consumers and GHG emissions. Energy consumption is a technical or a spatial problem? From Newman and Kenworthy to today, several studies have tried to shed light on this nexus. In this work, the controversial paradigm of urban density is discussed as a key component of the fight against climate change impacts. Concerning energy consumption, an in-depth bibliometric analysis is developed to identify the interdependencies of the terms. As a key ‘promise’ of an efficient urban configuration, density has been the core of diverse studies but with still under exploration arguments. This work provides a way forward for planners seeking to design strategies related to dense urban tissues exploring controversial paradigms as a key solution for energy-efficient problems.

Nickel-base superalloys like VDM 780 may possess a high content of Cr and Co. This influences solution energies of phase-forming elements like Al and Ta (γ′-phase), Nb (γ′′- and δ-phase), and Ti (η-phase). We perform density functional theory studies of a nickel matrix at 0 K with high concentrations of either Co and Cr and calculate the influence of these elements on solution energies. In the case of Co, the solution energy can be predicted well by the nearest-neighbor interaction in the Co-rich matrix. For Cr, the effect is more complicated because Cr has a larger ionic radius and changes the magnetic state of the material. The effect of a Cr-rich matrix on the energy of Co is dominated by magnetic effects, interactions with the other elements by elastic deformation of the lattice.

The X-ray emission from a supernova remnant (SNR) is a powerful diagnostic of the state of the shocked plasma, and, given a model, can be used to determine the energy of the explosion, the age of the SNR and the density of the surrounding medium. Observed properties are shock radius, electron temperature (kTe) and emission measure (EM) of the shocked-gas. The standard and XSPEC definitions have an important difference. The XSPEC definition is superior for SNRs, which have components with low hydrogen abundance. SNR model calculations are based on hydrodynamic solutions for fluid variables of density, pressure and velocity. The relations between fluid variables and kTe or EM depend on composition, ionization state and electron-ion temperature ratio (Te/TI). Here the effects of composition, ionization and Te/TI on standard and on XSPEC versions of kTe and EM are investigated.

Our study assessed the impact of using ovitraps with pyriproxyfen on mosquito populations and the feasibility of using human saliva samples to test for seroconversion to dengue virus (DENV). We used a quasi-experimental research design by forming the intervention (n=220) and the control (n=223) groups in neighboring Taguig City, Philippines, over four months. Socio-demographic data, entomological indices, and IgG antibodies against DENV were measured. Associations between the implementation of ovitraps dosed with pyriproxyfen and mosquito densities (percentage positive ovitraps and container indices) and DENV seroconversion were calculated post-intervention in Months 2, 3, and 4. Among participants recruited at baseline, 17 and 13 were seropositive for dengue (DENV) in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Both entomological indices were lower in the treated area than the control site at months two, three, and four post-interventions but not earlier. Dengue seroconversions rates did decrease in the treated population but not significantly so. In conclusion, the use of PPF-treated ovitraps impacted the mosquito population but not the seroconversion rates. Compliance to provide saliva samples and the ability to detect IgG antibodies within these samples were encouraging and suggested that further studies on a larger population and longer duration are warranted.

Astragalus bone is one of the most important fossil records as it can reconstruct the prehistoric life. Respectively, this study aims to model the body mass, habitat preference, and population density of prehistoric bovid Duboisia santeng (Dubois 1891) in eastern Java island in the early Pleistocene. The astragali from 9 specimens were used to estimate the body mass and population density. Likewise regression models are used to analyze the relationship between astragalus lateral length, width, and body mass compared to the astragalus of extant Bovid species. The result revealed the body mass average was 60.3 kg (95%CI: 58.9-61.7) and this indicates the D. santeng belongs to large herbivores. While the population density was estimated at about 5.39 individuals per km2 (95% CI: 3.18-7.6).

In this four-month-long study (from April 1, 2020 to August 1, 2020), we have collected, modeled, and analyzed COVID-19 data from the top five most infected counties per top six most infected states in the United States (30 counties total). More specifically, we collected data on each state’s total COVID-19 cases, deaths, tests conducted, and their counties’ population, density, percentage of seniors, number of hospitals, total COVID-19 cases, and total COVID-19 related deaths. In this study, we have models illustrating the growth of COVID-19 cases and deaths per county, growth of COVID-19 cases and deaths per state (which is really the sum of our chosen five counties), and growth of COVID-19 tests conducted per state. In addition, our study also contains models illustrating the statistics of several variables that might have affected a county’s COVID-19 data, which has been mentioned above: population, density, percentage of seniors, and number of hospitals. An interesting finding we have noticed upon modeling the 30 counties’ density and total COVID-19 cases as an xy scatter plot is that there is a considerably strong relationship between the two variables. Los Angeles County (which was an extreme outlier), in particular, supports the idea that a county’s most populous city can greatly affect its entire county’s COVID-19 cases; if the largest city is extremely dense, it appears that the entire county has a greater total COVID-19 case count.

The present investigation deals with the determination of the physio-chemical properties of two commercial grade samples of local gums (Gum Arabic and Natural Rubber Latex (NRL)). The results revealed that the gum samples have high melting point that indicate thermal stability at room and moderate temperatures. The gum samples have about 95 % carbohydrate content and a corresponding high internal energy and can serve as a source of energy. The rheology of the samples revealed shear-thickening characteristics with gum Arabic being thixotropic and pseudo-plastic in nature while NRL was observed to be anti-thixotropic and rheopectic. Further results from the moisture absorption, contact angle and Fourier Transform Infrared Radioscopy (FTIR) analyses gave better insight into their hydroscopic behaviors. Gum Arabic has excellent water absorption capacity with less wettability as it consists mainly of more water-soluble compounds in comparison to Natural Rubber Latex. These insights from the study will enhance wider application of the gums with increased value-addition to the gums and the communities where they (can) thrive.

Temperature influences the life of many organisms in various ways. A great number of them live under conditions, where their ability to adapt to changes in temperature can be vital and largely determine their fitness. Understanding the mechanisms and principles underlying this ability to adapt can be of great advantage, for example, to improve growth conditions for crops and increase their yield. In times of imminent, increasing climate change, this becomes even more important, in order to find strategies and help crops cope with these fundamental changes. There is intense research in the field of acclimation, that comprises fluctuations of various environmental conditions, but most acclimation research focuses on regulatory effects and the observation of gene expression changes within the examined organism. As thermodynamic effects are a direct consequence of temperature changes, these should necessarily be considered in this field of research, but are often neglected. Also, compensated effects might be missed, even though they are equally important for the organism, since they do not cause observable changes, but rather counteract them. In this work, using a systems biology approach, we demonstrate that even simple network motifs can exhibit temperature dependent functional features, resulting from the interplay of network structure and the distribution of activation energies over the involved reactions. The demonstrated functional features are (i) the reversal of fluxes within a linear pathway, (ii) a thermo-selective branched pathway with different flux modes and (iii) the increased flux towards carbohydrates in a minimal calvin cycle that was designed to demonstrate temperature compensation within reaction networks. By this, we expand the scope of thermodynamic modelling of biochemical processes by addressing further possibilities and effects, following established mathematical descriptions of biophysical properties.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are known as tunable solvents. It is possible to prepare ternary deep eutectic solvent (TDES) are used for desired purpose by selecting the suitable molar ratio and components of mixture. Therefore, four DESs and two TDESs were prepared in this work. DESs and TDESs were prepared with potassium carbonate (PC) as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and three hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) such as glycerol (GL), ethylene glycol (EG) and 2-amino-2methyl-1-3-propanediol (AMPD) known as a hindered amine (HA). Binary DESs were PC-GL with molar ratios 1:10 and 1:16 and PC-EG with the same molar ratios. TDES were prepared by adding AMPD in binary DESs such as PC-GL-AMPD 1:16:1 and PC-EG-AMPD 1:10:1. The experimental density and refractive index of all DESs and TDESs were measured at the temperature of 293.15 to 343.15 K with an interval of 5 K. The effect of temperature, molar ratio and alkyl chain length on the properties was investigated. The molar volumes and isobaric thermal expansion were calculated using experimental density data. The experimental refractive index data was used to derive the specific refraction, molar refraction, free molar volume, electronic polarization, polarizability constant and internal pressure at several temperatures.

In swarm-robotics foraging, the purpose of task allocation is to adjust the number of active foraging robots dynamically based on the task demands and changing environment. It is a difficult challenge to generate self-organized foraging behavior in which each robot can adapt to environmental changes. To complete the foraging task efficiently, this paper presents a novel self-organized task allocation strategy known as the dynamic response threshold model (DRTM). To adjust the behavior of the active foraging robots, the proposed DRTM newly introduces the traffic flow density, which can be used to evaluate the robot density. First, the traffic flow density and the amount of obstacle avoidance are used to adjust the threshold which determines the tendency of a robot to respond to a stimulus in the environment. Then, each individual robot uses the threshold and external stimulus to calculate the foraging probability that determines whether or not to go foraging. Simulation and physical experiments are carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the DRTM is superior to and more efficient than the adaptive response threshold model (ARTM) in swarm foraging.

Background/Objectives: Dental implants have become a cornerstone of restorative dentistry, providing a long-lasting method for tooth replacement. The level of osseointegration has a big impact on the biomechanical stability at the bone-implant contact (BIC), which determines how long these implants will work. However, the exact consequences of changing osseointegration levels on different implant designs, especially in bones with variable densities, are not well known. Three short dental implants were tested in this study: BioMet 3iT3, Straumann® Standard Plus Short Regular Neck (SPS-RN), and Straumann® Standard Plus Short-Wide Neck (SPS-WN). 3D finite element analysis (FEA) was used to look at how well they worked biomechanically. This paper tests the implants at four stages of osseointegration: 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in both high-density (Bone Type III) and low-density (Bone Type IV) cancellous bone. It also created and examined realistic CAD models under static occlusal loading conditions to assess stress distribution and major strains at the bone-implant contact.; Results: The study discovered that as osteointegration increases, von Mises stress and principal strains go down significantly for all implant types. The SPS-WN implant had the lowest strain values, especially for bone with low density. These reductions demonstrate increased mechanical stability as the bone-implant inter-face becomes more capable of dispersing mechanical stresses, minimizing the potential for localized deformation and bone resorption.; Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of achieving optimum osseointegration to reduce mechanical stress and increase the lifespan of dental implants. The SPS-WN type implant performed better in biomechanical tests than the others, especially when bone conditions were not ideal. This makes it a great choice for clinical applications that need long-term implant success.

Background We aimed to compare the retinal, optic disc vascular density (ODVD) values, and acircularity index (AI) of patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (IMT) and healthy individuals using the optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA) device. Methods The study included 39 patients with IMT and 37 healthy controls. The OCTA findings of the patients and controls were examined. Results The total, parafoveal and perifoveal vascular density of the superficial capillary plexus, choriocapillaris blood flow, inside-disc ODVD, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and retinal thicknesses were found to be statistically significantly lower and the foveal avascular zone value was statistically significantly higher in the IMT group compared to the control group (p=0.001, p=0.01, p=0.02, p=0.01, p=0.009, p=0.002, p=0.02, respectively).There was a statistically significant negative correlation between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and AI (p=0.02), a statistically significant positive correlation between peripapillary vascular density and BCVA(p=0.04). Conclusion We consider that the lower retinal, choriocapillaris, and ODVD values, retinal and RNFL thicknesses in the patients with IMT compared to the controls were due to vascular damage, remodeling, fibrosis, proliferation, and Müller cell damage. Ellipsoid zone defect, AI, and peripapillary vascular density are important indicators in the evaluation of visual acuity in these patients.

This article develops a multi-perspective view on motivations and methods for tobamovirus purification through the ages, and presents a novel efficient, easy-to-use approach that can be well-adapted to different species of native and functionalized virions. We survey the various driving forces prompting researchers to enrich tobamoviruses: from the search for the causative agents of mosaic diseases in plants to their increasing recognition as versatile nanocarriers in biomedical and engineering applications. Best practice and also rarely applied options for the serial processing steps required for successful isolation of tobamoviruses are then reviewed. Adaptations for distinct particle species, pitfalls and 'forgotten' or underrepresented technologies are considered as well. The article is topped off with our own development of a method for virion preparation, rooted in historical protocols. It combines selective re-solubilization of polyethylene glycol (PEG) virion raw precipitates with density step gradient centrifugation in biocompatible iodixanol formulations, yielding ready-to-use particle suspensions. This newly established protocol and some considerations for perhaps worthwile further developments could serve as putative stepping stones towards preparation procedures appropriate for routine practical uses of the multivalent soft-matter nanorods.

Polychlorinated phenoxathiins (PCPTs), polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDTs), and polychlorinated thianthrenes (PCTAs) are sulfur analogues of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/DFs). Chlorothiophenols(CTPs) and chlorophenols (CPs) are key precursors to form PCTA/PT/DTs, which can form chloro(thio)phenoxy radical, sulfydryl/hydryl-substituted phenyl radical and (thio)phenoxyl diradicals. The available radical/radical PCTA/DT formation mechanism failed to explain the higher concentration of PCDTs than that of PCTAs under the pyrolysis or combustion conditions. Thus in this work, a detailed thermodynamics and kinetic calculations were carried out to investigate the pre-intermediates formation for PCTA/PT/DTs from radial/molecule coupling of 2-C(T)P with their key radical species. Our study found that the radial/molecule mechanism can thermodynamically and kinetically contribute to the gas-phase formation of PCTA/PT/DT/s. The S/C coupling modes to form thioether-(thio)enol intermediats are preferable over the O/C coupling modes to form ether-(thio)enol intermediats. Thus, although the radial/molecule coupling of chlorophenoxy radical with 2-C(T)P have no effect on the PCDD/PTs formation, the radial/molecule coupling of chlorothiophenoxy radical with 2-C(T)P play an important role in the PCDT/PT formation. Most importantly, the pre-PCDT intermediates formation pathways from the coupling of sulfydryl/hydryl-substituted phenyl radical with 2-C(T)P and the coupling of (thio)phenoxyl diradicals with 2-C(T)P are more favorable to pre-PCTA/PT intermediates formation pathways from the coupling of chlorothiophenoxy radical with 2-C(T)P, which can give reasonable explanation for the high PCDT-to-PCTA ratio in the environment.

A space charge density wireless measurement system based on the idea of distributed measurement is proposed for collecting and monitoring the space charge density in an ultra-high-voltage direct-current (UHVDC) environment. The proposed system architecture is composed of a number of wireless nodes connected with space charge density sensors and a base station. The space charge density sensor based on atmospheric ion counter method is elaborated and developed, and the ARM microprocessor and Zigbee radio frequency module are applied. The wireless network communication quality and the relationship between energy consumption and transmission distance in the complicated electromagnetic environment is tested. Based on the experimental results, the proposed measurement system demonstrates that it can adapt to the complex electromagnetic environment under the UHVDC transmission lines and can accurately measure the space charge density.

The research objectives was to determine the plants vegetation profile in forest revegetation and Mount Arjuna springs. The method used was descriptive method. While based on the techniques and tools used to research, the author uses the survey method to obtain facts that occur in the research area, namely in the area around the springs of Arjuna mount, Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. Data obtained in the field are then processed and analyzed using GIS, ArcView 3.3 and Google Earth programs. The results of the study explain the profile of plant vegetation, namely plant stratification, bird wealth, taxonomic wealth and plant density have a significant effect on forest revegetation and springs in Arjuna mount. The forest vegetation profile has a positive and significant effect on the preservation of springs. The better the profile of forest vegetation, the preservation of springs will be better, and vice versa.

The petroleum industry produces thousands of barrels of oilfield waters from the initial stage driven by primary production mechanisms to the tertiary stage. These produced waters contain measurable amounts of oil in water emulsions, the exact amounts being determined by the chemistry of the crude oil. To meet strict environmental regulations governing the disposal of such produced waters, demulsification to regulatory permissible levels is required. Within the electric double layer theory, coupled with the analytical solutions to the Poisson Boltzmann Equation, continuum electrostatics approaches can be used to describe the static and electrokinetic properties of such emulsion systems. Therefore, theoretical understanding of the stability of oil in water emulsions within such fundamental concepts provides reliable approaches to demulsification. In this paper, we have used theoretical approaches, based on zeta potential and surface charge density models to determine the stability of oil in water emulsions for different crude oil samples. Accordingly, we have used literature based data on the chemistry of the crude oils, and have ranked the order of emulsion stability based on criterial established by zeta potential plots for the oil. Our theoretical calculations show that where the isoelectric points of crude oil samples are closer to each other, the degree of ionization plots versus pH indicate close tends for salinities at varying pH of oilfield waters. Based on the chemistry of crude oil samples, the most efficient and cost-effective means of demulsification is by reducing produced water pH to values closer to the average point of zero charge pH values

Control of autonomous robot motion in radial mass density field is presented. In that sense the robot motion is described as the function of the radial mass density parameters. The radial mass density field is between the maximal radial mass density and the minimal radial mass density. Between these two limited values one can use n points (n = 1, 2, . . . nmax) and calculate the related radial mass density for each point. The radial mass density is maximal at the minimal gravitational radius and minimal at the maximal gravitational radius. This conclusion is valid for Planck scale, but also for the scales that are less or higher of that one. Using the ratio of the Planck mass and Planck radius it is generated energy conservation constant with value κ = 0.99993392118. Further, in this theory it is possible to connect Planck’s and gravitational parameters as functions of the maximal (or minimal) radial mass density. In that sense the autonomous robot motion in radial mass density field is important for the control of the robot motion at micro and nano scales.

This paper addresses the issues of how we can quantify structural information for nonparametric distributions and how we can detect its changes. Structural information refers to an index for a global understanding of a data distribution. When we consider the problem of clustering using a parametric model such as a Gaussian mixture model, the number of mixture components (clusters) can be thought of as structural information in the model. However, there does not exist any notion of structural information for nonparametric modeling of data. In this paper we introduce a novel notion of {\em kernel complexity} (KC) as structural information in the nonparametric setting. The key idea of KC is to combine the information bias inspired by the Gini index with the information quantity measured in terms of the normalized maximum likelihood (NML) code length. We empirically show that KC has a property similar to the number of clusters in a parametric model. We further propose a framework for structural change detection with KC in nonparametric distributions. With synthetic and real data sets we empirically demonstrate that our framework enables us to detect structural changes underlying the data and their early warning signals.

Recently, due to the decrease in labor force, increase in labor costs, and the desire for improved quality of life, research on robots has been actively conducted to address these issues. However, it is currently difficult to find robots that physically interact with humans. The reason is that the actuators of robots do not have high torque density on their own. To solve this problem, high torque density motors, such as proprioceptive actuators, are being researched. However, the torque density is still insufficient for physical interaction with humans, so we have developed a motor with higher torque density. However, high torque density motors have the disadvantage of lower speed characteristics due to increased Back-EMF. Therefore, to address the deterioration of speed characteristics in the developed motor, we applied the Independent 3-Phase winding structure to improve the speed characteristics. Consequently, through comparison with Y-Connection and Delta-Connection, we propose the most suitable winding structure for high torque density motors intended for physical interaction with humans.

Redox-flow batteries are rechargeable batteries that store energy in two liquid electrolytes, separated by a membrane. During charging and discharging, the electrolytes flow through the membrane and undergo chemical reactions that generate or consume electrical energy. These batteries are known for their scalability and long cycle life and are versatile energy storage technologies developed to enhance efficiency and lower costs. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional electrolytes, and their properties have been studied to improve the performance of redox-flow batteries. We investigated choline chloride/ethylene glycol (ChlCl/Eg) mixtures with LiPF6 salt at four concentrations through experimental and MD simulations. The thermophysical and transport properties of the mixture, including density, diffusion coefficient, viscosity, and ionic conductivity, were calculated across a temperature range of 298.15–398.5 K. Our findings indicate that an increase in salt concentration leads to a decrease in diffusion coefficients and ionic conductivity, while increasing the viscosity of the deep eutectic solvent. This research provides valuable insights into the behavior of DES mixtures and can aid in the design and optimization of DES-based processes for use in redox-flow batteries.

NiO-based nanomaterials have attracted a great deal of interest in view of various applications, that have stimulated the implementation of various synthetic approaches to control their chemico-physical properties as a function of the desired end-use. In this regard, their bottom-up preparation starting from suitable precursors plays an important role, but a molecular level in-sight into their reactivity remains an open challenge. In this study, we focus on the fragmentation of Ni(II) diketonate-diamine adducts, of interest as precursors for Ni(II) oxide systems, by com-bined electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with multiple collisional experiments (ESI-MSn) and theoretical calculations. The joint analyses revealed common features in the frag-mentation pattern of the target compounds: i) in the first-fragmentation, all three complexes form analogous base-peak cations by losing a negatively charged diketonate; in these cations, Ni-O and Ni-N interactions are stronger and the Ni positive charge is lower than in the neutral complexes; ii) the tendency of ligand electronic charge to migrate towards Ni further increases in the subsequent fragmentation processes, leading to the formation – in all three cases – of a tetracoordinated Ni environment involving an interesting cation-π intramolecular interaction.

The advent of modern satellite technology has transformed observational astronomy and astrophysics, offering unprecedented insights into the large-scale behavior of gravitation and challenging established cosmological models. This technological progress has reinvigorated the study of relativistic cosmology, leading to a critical reassessment of foundational assumptions, particularly the cosmological principle, which posits that the universe is homogeneous and isotropic on large scales. While this principle underpins the Standard Cosmological Model and the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metric, emerging data has increasingly been challenging its validity. Central to this investigation are the redshift-distance and light intensity-distance relations, essential for testing cosmological models. The integration of both parametric and nonparametric redshift models provides a more comprehensive analysis, addressing discrepancies in our understanding of the universe's structure and evolution. However, unresolved mysteries, particularly concerning dark matter and dark energy, complicate these models. This research critically examines the cosmological principle using the latest observational data and scrutinizes the Friedmann model's assumptions. The study shows that galaxy formation was most rapid in the early universe, especially within the redshift range of , with notable peaks around at and These two characteristic redshift values, predicted by our standard Friedmann redshift model used in this work, are confirmed by the observational data utilized in this research. The research also highlights that dark matter plays a significantly more critical role than dark energy in the process of galaxy formation. While dark energy primarily affects the large-scale expansion of the universe, dark matter seems to go beyond the domination of local galaxy formation and evolution of cosmic structures. These findings underscore the limitations of current models and contribute to the ongoing refinement of cosmological theories, offering a clearer understanding of the universe’s evolution.

Motor imagery requires mental representation of the body, which is obtained by the integration of exteroceptive and interoceptive information. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of interoceptive sensitivity in motor imagery performed through visual and kinesthetic modalities in participants with low (lows, N = 26), medium (mediums, N = 11) and high hypnotizability scores (highs, N = 16), measured by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form A. These groups display different motor imagery abilities and interoceptive sensitivity. The efficacy of motor imagery was measured by chronometric index and self-reported experience, and interoceptive sensitivity by the Multisensory Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) questionnaire. EEG alpha and beta power spectral densities were extracted from recordings acquired during baseline, actual movement, visually and kinesthetically imagined movements. The chronometric indices did not reveal significant differences among groups and between imagery modalities. In contrast, the self-reported imagery efficacy indicated better kinesthetic imagery in highs and mediums than in lows, and no modality difference among lows. MAIA dimensions sustained the differences in sub-jective experience and almost all the EEG differences, slightly different in highs, mediums and lows. This is the first report of a major role played by interoceptive sensitivity in motor imagery.

In this study, a cholera infection model with the bilinear infection rate is developed by considering the perturbation of the infection rate by the mean-reverting process. First of all, we give the existence of a globally unique positive solution for a stochastic system at arbitrary initial value. On this basis, the sufficient condition for the model to have an ergodic stationary distribution is given by constructing proper Lyapunov functions and tight sets. This indicates in a biological sense the long-term persistence of cholera infection. Furthermore, after transforming the stochastic model to an relevant linearised system, an accurate expression for the probability density function of the stochastic model around a quasi-endemic equilibrium is derived. Subsequently, the sufficient condition to make the disease extinct is also derived. Eventually, the theoretical findings are shown by numerical simulations. Numerical simulations show that the impact of regression speed and fluctuation intensity on stochastic systems.

Graphene oxide (GO) is considered as one of the promising adsorbents for the removal of various heavy metal contaminants in aquatic environment, due to its beneficial structural, chemical and electronic properties. Using the density functional theory (DFT) approach, we investigate the reactivity of a model GO nanoparticule (C30H14O15) toward neutral and charged lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) atoms. We found the model metal-free GO to have a high chemical reactivity. To study the adsorption of the metal atoms on the GO nanoparticle, we have used a single and doubly-adsorbed neutral (Pb0 and Cd0) and charged (Pb2+, Cd2+) atoms. After identified possible adsorption sites on the GO, we found that a single charged metal ion binds more strongly than a neutral atom of the same type. To determine the possibility of multiple adsorptions of GO nanoparticle, two metal atoms of the same species are co-adsorbed on its surface. Our calculations reveals a site-dependent adsorption energy such that when two atoms of the same specie are adsorbed at sites Si and Sj , the binding energy per atom depends on the whether one of the two atoms is adsorbed firstly on the Si or Sj sites. It is also found that the binding energy per atom for two co-adsorbed atoms of the same specie is less than the binding energy of a singly-adsorbed atom which suggests that atoms may become less likely to be adsorbed on the GO nanoparticle when their concentrations increase. This applies to both neutral and charged atoms. We adduce the origin of this observation to be interplay between metal-metal interaction on the one hand and GO-metal on the other, with the former resulting in a less binding for the charged adsorbed metals in particular, due to repulsive interaction between two positively charged ions. The frontier molecular orbitals analysis and the calculated global reactivity descriptors of the respective GO- metal complexes revealed that all the GO-metal complexes have a smaller HOMO-LUMO gap (HLG) relative to that of pristine metal-free GO nanoparticle. This suggests that although the GO-metal complexes are stable, they are less stable compared to metal-free GO nanoparticles. The negative values of the chemical potentials obtained for all the GO-metal complexes further confirms their stability. Our work calculates parameters that will be crucial to rational design of GO nanoparticles for Pb abd Cd ions contaminants removal, and may find application in water purification for example.

This study comprehensively investigates Al2O3's mechanical properties, focusing on fracture toughness, surface energy, Young's modulus, and crack propagation. The density functional theory (DFT) is employed to model the vacancies in Al2O3, providing essential insights into this material’s structural stability and defect formation. The DFT simulations reveal a deep understanding of vacancy-related properties and their impact on mechanical behavior. In conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the fracture toughness and crack propagation in Al2O3 are explored, offering valuable information on material strength and durability. The surface energy of Al2O3 is also assessed using DFT, shedding light on its interactions with the surrounding environment. The combination of DFT and MD simulations provides a robust framework for a comprehensive understanding of Al2O3's mechanical properties, with implications for material science and engineering applications.

In this study, alfalfa silage with different packing densities (500 kg/m3, 600 kg/m3 and 700 kg/m3) were set up under outdoor high temperature and indoor normal temperature. The chemical composition, fermentation quality and microbial community of alfalfa silage were analyzed. The results showed that DM and WAC content decreased with the increase of density. When the density is 600kg/m3, CP content reaches the maximum and ADF content is the lowest. Temperature has a certain effect on alfalfa silage. The content of Lactobacillus plantarum fermented at high temperature is lower than that fermented at normal temperature. At the same time, the content of Lactobacillus plantarum decreased with the increase of packing density. However, the content of Lactobacillus plantarum was the lowest when the packing density was 600 kg/m3 at high temperature. In summary, this study explained the effects of different temperature and density on alfalfa fermentation quality and microbial community, and clarified that the density should be reasonably controlled within 600 kg/m3 during alfalfa silage, providing theoretical support for production practice.

The pressing process and density profile of particleboards produced with addition of waste wood containing phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin was presented. The particles were melamine-urea-phenol-formaldehyde (MUPF) resinated. Recovered particles were obtained from post-industrial waste plywood. The press closing time recorded during the pressing of mats containing only recovered particles in the core layer (100%), at a unit pressure of 3 MPa, in which the face layer rate was 50%, resin load for face and core layer was 12% and 10% was shorter by 29% than for the industrial particle mats. Regardless of the level of variability of independent factors the overheating time of mats to a temperature of 100 °C, containing recovered particles was 10% - 20% shorter than the time of overheating mats with industrial particles. The greatest impact (52%) on maximum density of the face layer of particleboards was demonstrated by the content of the recovered particles and the resin load (32%). The maximum density area of the face layer was located closer to the surface in particleboards produced with a higher (80%, 100%) content of the recovered particles, a higher (i.e. 12% and 10%, respectively, for face and core layer) resin load, a lower (35%) face layer rate and a higher (3 MPa ) unit pressure.

A study on flywheel geometries is presented here with the use of finite element modelling (FEM) simulations. The study analyses the stress behaviour of flywheel rotors subject to the rotational speed that creates the maximum stress that the flywheel can support, and then calculates the rotational energy mass ratio (energy density) for each geometry. The obtained geometry was Gaussian section for the Flywheel rotor. The used material for the simulations is carbon fibre Hexcel UHM 12000. The best results were a rotational speed of ≈279.000 rpm and rotational energy density of ≈ 440 Wh/kg for a single disk, but this keeps the total energy low. To increase the total energy, Flywheels with 2 and 3 rotors were analysed. Then the stability under rotation of these Flywheels were analysed, some instability was found and a solution was presented.

The research on the distribution of rural buildings is one of the fundamental works of urban-rural development in Vietnam. Adopting Mask R-CNN deep learning framework and collecting sub-meter remote sensing images, this research used a remote sensing interpretation model of rural buildings trained based on East Asian characteristics of rural buildings and successfully recognized about 2.87 million rural buildings in 34 Vietnamese provincial administrative districts with a total area of rural buildings of 2,492 million square meters. The reliability of the identification results was verified by manual detection and quantitative statistics, and a multi-scale database of rural buildings in Vietnam based on individual rural buildings was created. Based on the database, this paper analyzes the distribution characteristics of rural buildings and summarizes characteristics of rural buildings distribution at the country, regional, and provincial scales. The identification results lay the foundation for the next study of urban-rural relations in Southeast Asia and the construction of a basic database on villages.

Multi-board electronic cases with high density and high power modules are widely used in industrial power supply management. With the improvement of case performance and miniaturization requirements, heat dissipation becomes one of the important factors to be considered in the design process. First,The existing small electronic thermal design methods focus on heat dissipation structure or heat source layout optimization,and ignores on-load test for modeling analysis. Second,The selected power module has on-load power consumption, resulting in relatively low calorific value and the effectiveness of thermal design cannot be verified. Third, The thermal lacks Intelligent monitoring and feedback control mechanism. In order to solve these problems, this paper designs a kind of heat dissipation case with intelligent temperature control based on high-power and high-density power supply array. Based on the extremely miniaturization design principle, we adopt the composite heat dissipation mode based on conduction and supplemented by forced air cooling . The case is made of magnesium and aluminum alloy with a perforated design. Finally, we compare and analyze with the existing cooling design. The results show that the case is smaller in volume, and the cooling performance parameters are slightly better than the existing case. Under the condition of high-density and high-power design, The output power of the whole system is not less than 10kw and the lowest packing-level density is not less than 47w/cm2 with high reliability, portability and practicability. It also provides technical support and prototype support for the standardized design of similar power arrays.

Changes in the atomic and electronic structure of silicon carbide 3C-SiC (β-SiC), resulting from lead adsorption, have been studied within the density functional theory. The tests were conducted for three representative surfaces with varying degrees of lead coverage. Results indicate that chemisorption occurs, with the strongest binding, found on the hexagonal surface (111) in interaction with three dangling bonds. The adsorption energy rises with increasing coverage, especially as the surface approaches saturation. Analysis of the data was focused on parameters important for corrosion processes such as bond distances, binding energies, Bader charges and charge density difference.

One of the strategies to reduce the contents of the low density lipoproteins (LDLs) in a blood is a hemoperfusion, in which case they are selectively retracted from plasma by an adsorber located outside the patient body. Recently, a photo-controllable smart surface was developed for this purpose characterised by high selectivity and reusability [C.Guo et al., ACS Applied Materials &amp; Interfaces 2022, DOI:10.1021/acsami.2c07193]. We present a mesoscopic model for such a setup involving the azobenzene-containing polymer brush and the model LDL particles. The latter comprise an uniform spherical core covered by a shell of elongated particles representing phospholipids. The system is studied using the coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation. We examined the dependences of the binding energy on both the length of polymer chains and the grafting density of a brush, and established optimal conditions for the adsorption. These are explained by a competition between the concentration of azobenzenes and phospholipids in the same spatial region, flexibility of polymer chains, and excluded volume effects.

The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), is believed to have originated from Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, this pest has extensively spread and is found in most parts of Africa, with records in approximately 40 countries in over 100 host plant species. Despite Thaumatotibia leucotreta being the leading cause of interceptions of Capsicum and cut flowers exported by Kenya to the European Union, information on abundance and damage levels inflicted on capsicum is limited. The objective of the study was to assess the abundance and damage levels of T. leucotreta on capsicum in the selected counties in Lower Eastern Kenya (Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties). Higher T.leucotreta larval density per farm was recorded in Kitui County compared to other counties. In farms with capsicum only (not intercropped with other crops), the mean number of FCM larvae was relatively higher in Kitui. Farming practices such as the use of uncertified seeds and seedlings and the excessive use of pesticides may be the major contributors to high larval incidence in Kitui County.

Phase synchronization of weakly coupled limit cycle oscillators are related to the stability of the zero solution of the reduced-order dynamics of phase differences, represented by a systems of differential equations on a hypertorus. Using Rantzer's density function, a dual form of Lyapunov function, we propose a method to certify almost global stability of an equilibrium on a hypertorus. We show that the proposed method can certify robustness of phase synchronization of all-to-all and weakly coupled limit cycle oscillators with respect to disturbances in phases. The method leverages sum of squares polynomial optimization to construct the certification function.

This study investigated the development of Aedes aegypti density in houses of the urban locality of Poblado Miguel Alemán Valdes, in the Sonora state of Mexico, after application of 1% propoxur paint as full wall coverage (IP) and targeted indoor painting (IP 1m) in comparison to IRS with propoxur 70% WP (full wall coverage). The 1% propoxur paint was applied by the homeowners by brushing and rolling at the recommended dose of 1L/8 m², equivalent to 1.5 g a.i./m², while IRS was conducted by professionals with Propoxur 70% WP at a dose of 1 g a.i./m². Adult mosquito surveys were conducted in a random sample of houses in each block one week before the interventions and at week 1, month 1 to 4, month 6, month 9 and month 12 post-interventions. All three propoxur based treatments provided similar reductions (43.7%, 44.9% and 41.3% for IP, IP 1m and IRS respectively) in the fraction of houses positive in female Aedes aegypti resting indoor and outdoor as one year average of 8 follow up surveys. Indoor resting density of Aedes females during the one-year evaluation was reduced by 77.5% through IP followed by IP 1m with 64.2% reduction and 30% reduction with IRS. Culex mosquitoes’ interior density was affected as well by the insecticide treatments with similar average reductions for IP 1m (50.0%) and IRS (57.8%) in comparison with control. Aedes breeding was impacted by the insecticide paint in similar extent for both interventions, expressed by a substantial reduction of the House Index (20.1% IP, 31.2% IP 1m) and especially the Container Index (51.8% IP, 61.7% IP 1m) during the one-year surveys in comparison to control. In contrast, IRS treated block experienced an increase in both indexes. However, despite IP and IP 1m impacted in Aedes adult and immature indexes with noticeable reductions, the differences in all cases were not significative among the different insecticide treatments. The low sample size and mosquito population levels may have influenced the statistical outcomes. More than 80% of the interviewed residents were satisfied with the effectiveness of the paint and IRS treatments. The determination of the blood cholinesterase activity of tested individuals after the use of the carbamate paint and IRS in this study did not exceed acceptable inhibition limits. This study suggests that the application of propoxur paint by homeowners as full house coverage or as targeted indoor painting can be a safe and accepted intervention method for density reduction of Aedes aegypti populations in urban environments.

Three genera of very large volant birds existed for most of the Pliocene: the Pelagornithidae seabirds; the large North American Teratornithidae and the stork Leptoptilos falconeri in Africa and Asia. All became extinct around 3 Ma. The reasons for their demise are puzzling, as the Pelagornithidae had a world-wide evolutionary history of more than 50 Ma, smaller teratorns were still extant in the Holocene and smaller stork species are still globally extant. Extant large birds have a common critical takeoff airspeed suggesting a biomechanical limit in terms of power, risk and launch speed, and simulations of the flight of these extinct species suggest that at 1 bar they would have exceeded this value. Estimates for the Late Pliocene atmospheric density are derived from marine and terrestrial isotopes as well as resin chemistry, both approaches suggesting a value of about 1.2 bar, which drops to present levels during the period 3.3 to 2.6 Ma, thus a loss in atmospheric density may have caused biomechanical and ecological stress contributing to their extinction and/or development of smaller forms. This hypothesis is examined in terms of a possible mechanism of atmospheric mass loss and how this would be seen in the geological record. At 1.2 bar all the extinct species present takeoff airspeeds similar to large extant volant birds and which match the expected power and kinetic energy levels.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 changed the way we interact and engage in commerce at a fundamental level. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders leave businesses and cities wondering what economic activity will look like in the future. Given a likely reduction in face-to-face interactions, it is important to better understand how social interactivity influences economic outcomes. Here we measure the effect of social interactions in the workforce on patent production and economic efficiency. We decompose U.S. occupations into individual work activities, determine which of those activities are associated with face-to-face interactions, and reaggregate the labor force of each U.S. metropolitan statistical area (MSA) into a metric of social interactiveness. We then calculate each MSA’s density of social work activities and find that this measure is more highly correlated with an MSA’s per capita patent production than simple population density. This suggests that density of face-to-face interactions is the important driver of a city’s rate of invention. We close by exploring analogies between the development of cities and the development of stars, suggesting ways these analogies may help frame future research on cities.

Significant progress has made in pattern recognition technology. However, one obstacle that has not yet overcome is the recognition of words in the Brahmi script, specifically the recognition of characters, compound characters, and word because of complex structure. For this kind of complex pattern recognition problem, it is always difficult to decide which feature extraction and classifier would be the best choice. Moreover, it is also true that different feature extraction and classifiers offer complementary information about the patterns to be classified. Therefore, combining feature extraction and classifiers, in an intelligent way, can be beneficial compared to using any single feature extraction. This study proposed the combination of HOG +zonal density with SVM to recognize the Brahmi words. Keeping these facts in mind, in this paper, information provided by structural and statistical based features are combined using SVM classifier for script recognition (word-level) purpose from the Brahmi words images. Brahmi word dataset contains 6,475 and 536 images of Brahmi words of 170 classes for the training and testing, respectively, and the database is made freely available. The word samples from the mentioned database are classified based on the confidence scores provided by support vector machine (SVM) classifier while HOG and zonal density use to extract the features of Brahmi words. Maximum accuracy suggested by system is 95.17% which is better than previously suggested studies.

Understanding the physical properties of ultramafic rocks is important for evaluating awide variety of petrologic models of the oceanic lithosphere, particularly upper mantle and lower crust. Hydration of oceanic peridotites results in increasing serpentine content, which affects lithospheric physical properties and the global bio/geochemical cycles of various elements. In understanding tectonic, magmatic and metamorphic history of the oceanic crust, interpreting seismic velocities, rock composition and elastic moduli are of fundamental importance. In this study we show that as serpentine content increases, density decreases linearly with a slope of 7.85. We also correlate increase in serpentine content with a linear decline in shear, bulk and Young’s moduli with slopes of 0.48, 0.77, 0.45 respectively. Our results show that increase in serpentine content of lower crust and forearc mantle could decrease elasticity of lithospehere and result in break-offs. Therefore tectonic processes at peridotite rich slow spreading ridges may be strongly affected by serpentine content, particularly serpentinization may be responsible for discontinuities in thin crust, and formation of weak fault zones.

To generate a probability density function (PDF) for fitting probability distributions of real data, this study proposes a deep learning method which consists of two stages: (1) a training stage for estimating the cumulative distribution function (CDF) and (2) a performing stage for predicting the corresponding PDF. The CDFs of common probability distributions can be adopted as activation functions in the hidden layers of the proposed deep learning model for learning actual cumulative probabilities, and the differential equation of trained deep learning model can be used to estimate the PDF. To evaluate the proposed method, numerical experiments with single and mixed distributions are performed. The experimental results show that the values of both CDF and PDF can be precisely estimated by the proposed method.

The dislocation density tensors of thin elastic shells have been formulated explicitly in terms of the Riemann curvature tensor. The formulation reveals that the dislocation density of the shells is proportional to KA3=2, where K is the Gauss curvature and A is the determinant of metric tensor of the middle surface.

Water treatment efficiency of several filter media such as perlite, modified (silicated) perlite, zeolite and sand were studied on wastewater. This study contains 2 distinct experiments which the first one emphasize on the modified perlite’s performance in removing turbidity which has been gone through 3 phases including low turbidity model water, mid turbidity and high turbidity model water; the second experiment underlines the differentiation between 3 evolutionary material based on perlite which undergoes the filtration process with certain turbid model water. It was dedicated that modified perlite removed more than 90% of turbidity and it functions better than other materials with high turbidity (more than100 NTU). The experiments have been conducted with sodium silicate perlite, normal perlite and synthetic zeolite perlite in order to determine the optimized material which is able to be substituted with perlite in the filtration process.

For traffic management under sudden disaster in high-density areas, the first and foremost step is to prevent traffic congestion in the disaster-affected area by traffic flow control, as to provide enough and flexible traffic capacity for emergency evacuation and emergency rescue. Catastrophe border identification is the foundation and the key to traffic congestion prediction under sudden disaster. This paper uses a mathematical model to study the regional traffic flow in the high-density area under sudden fire disaster based on the Cusp Catastrophe Theory (CCT). The catastrophe border is identified by fitting the CCT-based regional traffic flow model to explore the stable traffic flow changing to the instable state, as to provide a theoretical basis for traffic flow manage and control in disaster-affected areas, and to prevent the traffic flow being caught into disorder and congestion. Based on VISSIM simulator data by building simulation scenarios with and without sudden fire disaster in a Sudoku traffic network, the catastrophe border is identified as 439pcu/lane/h, 529pcu/lane/h, 377pcu/lane/h at 5s, 10s, 15s data collection interval respectively. The corresponding relative precision, which compares to the method of Capacity Assessment Approach (CAA), is 89.1%, 92.7% and 76.5% respectively. It means that 10s data collection interval would be the suitable data collection interval in catastrophe border identification and regional traffic flow control in high-density area under sudden fire disaster.

The textbook analysis of vacuum energy density (VED) in flat spacetime follows from Pauli’s lectures of 1951, in which quantum vacuum is modeled as a reservoir of free harmonic oscillators. In his lectures, Pauli shows that deriving a nearly vanishing VED is contingent upon fulfilling three corollary conditions called polynomial-in-mass-constraints. The goal of this work is to evaluate Pauli’s constraints against the Standard Model parameters and the Higgs mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking.

In the current manuscript we assess to what extent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is a suitable tool for probing the dipoles formed at interfaces between self-assembled monolayers and metal substrates. To that aim, we perform dispersion-corrected, slab-type band-structure calculations on a number of biphenyl-based systems bonded to a Au(111) surface via different docking groups. In addition to changing the docking chemistry (and the associated interface dipoles), also the impacts of polar tail-group substituents and varying dipole densities are investigated. We find that for densely-packed monolayers the shifts of the peak positions of the simulated XP-spectra are a direct measure for the interface dipoles. In the absence of polar tail-group substituents they also directly correlate with adsorption-induced work-function changes. At reduced dipole-densities this correlation deteriorates, as work function measurements probe the difference between the Fermi-level of the substrate and the electrostatic energy far above the interface, while core level shifts are determined by the local electrostatic energy in the region of the atom from which the photoelectron is excited.

We analyzed the peak spring tidal current speeds, annual mean tidal power densities (TPD) and annual energy production (AEP) obtained from experiment 06.1, referred as the "HYCOM model" throughout, of the three dimensional (3D), global model HYCOM in an area covering the Baja California Pacific and the Gulf of California. The HYCOM model is forced with astronomical tides and surface winds alone, and therefore is particularly suitable to assess the tidal current and wind-driven current contribution to in-stream energy resources. We find two areas within the Gulf of California, one in the Great Island Region and one in the Upper Gulf of California, where peak spring tidal flows reach speeds of 1.1 meters per second. Second to fifth-generation tidal stream devices would be suitable for deployment in these two areas, which are very similar in terms of tidal in-stream energy resources. However, they are also very different in terms of sediment type and range in water depth, posing different challenges for in-stream technologies. The highest mean TPD value when excluding TPDs equal or less than 50 W/m² (corresponding to the minimum velocity threshold for energy production) is of 172.8 W/m², and is found near the town of San Felipe, at (lat lon) = (31.006 -114.64); here energy would be produced during 39.00% of the time. Finally, wind-driven currents contribute very little to the mean TPD and the total AEP. Therefore, the device, the grid, and any energy storage plans need to take into account the periodic tidal current fluctuations, for optimal exploitation of the resources.

Organosilicate glass (OSG) films are a vital component in modern electronic devices, with their electrical properties playing a crucial role in device performance. This comprehensive review systematically examines the influence of chemical composition, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation, and plasma treatment on the electrical properties of OSG films. Through an extensive survey of literature and experimental findings, we elucidate the intricate interplay between these factors and the resultant alterations in electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and breakdown strength of OSG films. Key focus areas include the impact of diverse organic moieties incorporated into the silica matrix, the effects of VUV irradiation on film properties, and the modifications induced by various plasma treatment techniques. Furthermore, we discuss the underlying mechanisms governing these phenomena, shedding light on the intricate molecular interactions and structural rearrangements occurring within OSG films under different environmental conditions. This review not only consolidates existing knowledge but also identifies gaps in understanding and suggests avenues for future research, thereby advancing our comprehension of OSG film behavior and paving the way for enhanced performance in next-generation electronic and photonic devices.

The aerospace industry develops prognosis and health management algorithms to ensure better safety on board. Particularly for in-flight controls where jamming is dreaded. For that, vibration signals are monitored to predict future defect occurrences. However, time series are not labeled according to severity level, and the user can only assess the system health from the data mining procedure. To that extent, we developed a clustering algorithm using a deep neural network core. We encoded the time series into pictures to be feed into an artificially trained neural network: U-NET. From the segmented output, one-dimensional information on cluster frontiers is extracted and filtered without any parameter selection. Then, a kernel density estimation finally transforms the signal into an empirical density. Ultimately, a Gaussian mixture model extracts the latter independent components. The method empowered us to reveal different degrees of severity faults in the studied data, with their respective likelihood without prior knowledge. We compared it to state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. However, internal clustering results evaluation for time series is an open question. As state-of-the-art indexes were not producing relevant results, we built a new indicator to fulfill this task. We applied the whole method to an actuator consisting of an induction machine linked to a ball screw. This study lays the groundwork for future training of diagnosis and prognosis structures in the health management framework.

Iterative Stochastic decoding is an alternative to standard fixed-point decoding of Low-density parity check codes (LDPC) to reduce inter-node routing. In this paper, we propose a Flexible Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-Based Stochastic decoding (SD) hardware architecture for LDPC codes in the Fifth-Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) Standard that supports decoding of set of various code rates. This decoder’s runtime flexibility is desirable to switch a better performing code rate automatically based on the channel conditions without the extra time needed for reprogramming of FPGA. An offline design method is implemented to generate the hardware description language (HDL) code description of the decoder for the required code-rate set, which is further synthesized and integrated into the Xilinx Kintex-7 series FPGA board to determine the hardware resource utilisation and processing throughput. The Synopsys design tools were employed during both the simulation and synthesis stages, in combination with TSMC 65-nm CMOS standard cell technology, to facilitate comparative analysis. Compared with state-of-the-art designs, the proposed architecture reduces hardware utilization by up to 26% and achieved energy efficiency by 52%.

The world is moving to the next phase of the energy transition with high penetrations of renewable energy. Flexible and scalable redox flow battery (RFB) technology is expected to play an important role in ensuring electricity network security and reliability. Continuous performance improvements will further enhance their value by reducing parasitic losses and maximizing available energy conversion over broader operating conditions. Concentration overpotentials from poor internal reactant distribution at high and low states of charge (SOC) limit power densities and are thus an important area of investigation. However, efforts to address these coupled electrochemical phenomena can compromise mechanical performance. Modelling and simulation of cell design innovations have shown it is possible to reduce losses from pump energy while increasing the availability of active species where required. The combination of wedge-shaped cells with static mixers investigated in this paper can reduce pressure drop and improve energy efficiency. Toroidal vanadium redox flow battery (VRB/VRFB) designs incorporating this innovation are presented for further development to improve community engagement with the technology.

The increasing environmental awareness and carbon-storing capability of wood have amplified its relevance as a building material. The demand for high-quality wood species necessitates exploring alternative, underutilized wood sources due to limited forest areas and premium wood volume. Consequently, the veneer-based industry is considering lower-value hardwood species like grey alder, black alder, and aspen as substitutes for high-quality birch. Initially less appealing due to their lower density and mechanical properties, these species show promise through densification, which enhances their density, strength, and hardness. This study aims to enhance plywood screw withdrawal capacity and surface hardness by densifying low-density wood species and using them in plywood face veneer layers or all layers. The relationship between wood density, surface hardness, and screw withdrawal capacity of plywoods made of low-value species like aspen and black alder is examined. Experimental work with a pilot-scale veneer and plywood production line demonstrates improved surface hardness (65% and 93% for aspen and black alder, respectively) and screw withdrawal capacity (16% and 35% for aspen and black alder, respectively) in face veneer densified low-value hardwood plywood. This research highlights the potential of densified low-value wood species to meet construction requirements, expanding their practical applications.

A modification to the conventional spark plasma sintering (SPS) process was undertaken to allow edge-free deformation of grains longitudinally to the loading axis in a process termed spark plasma texturing (SPT). The resulting Al7075 SPT compact was compared to SPSed Al7075 in terms of densification behaviour, microstructural evolution, and mechanical properties. The result reported herein highlights the unique benefits of the SPT technique and potential application in the manufacturing of advanced materials.

The use of tuning forks to measure fluid density and viscosity is widely employed in fields such as food, medicine, textiles, automobiles, petrochemicals, and deep drilling. The explicit analytical model based on Euler-Bernoulli cantilever beam theory for the relationship between tuning fork resonance characteristics and the density and viscosity of fluid is only applicable to the situation where the fluid viscous effect is very small. In this paper, the finite element method is used to simulate the influence of large variations in fluid density and viscosity on the resonance characteristic parameters (resonant frequency and quality factor) of the tuning fork. The numerical simulation results are compared with the analytical analysis results and experimental measurement results. Then, the sensitivity of tuning fork resonance characteristic parameters to fluid density and viscosity is studied. The results show that compared with the analytical results, the numerical simulation results have a higher degree of agreement with the experimental measurement results. The relative difference in resonant frequency is less than 2%, and the relative difference in quality factor is less than 4%. This indicates that the finite element method includes the influence of fluid viscosity on tuning fork resonance parameters, which is more in line with the actual conditions than the analytical model. Simulating and analyzing the sensitivity of the tuning fork to fluid density and viscosity by the finite element method, it is possible to consider the situation where fluid density and viscosity vary over a large range. Compared with experimental measurements, this method has higher efficiency and can significantly save time and economic costs. This study can overcome the limitation of existing explicit analytical models, which are only applicable when the viscous effects of the fluid are very small. It enables a more accurate simulation of the coupling vibration between tuning forks and fluids, thereby providing theoretical references for further optimizing tuning fork structural parameters to enhance the accuracy of measuring fluid characteristic parameters.

The performance of Yttrium-Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) high-temperature superconductors in high-frequency applications is significantly affected by the microwave surface resistance (Rs). The paper delves into the basics, measuring methods and factors affecting the resistance (Rs) in YBCO, highlighting its high critical temperature (Tc) and low resistance, positioning it as a promising material. YBCO's compatibility with epitaxial growth and microstructure engineering offers opportunities to reduce grain boundary effects and improve Rs, making it advantageous for high-frequency electronics, communication systems, and MRI coils. This is due to its high critical current density (Jc) and exceptional Rs at practical temperatures. Challenges remain in comprehending and managing Rs in YBCO, despite its favorable characteristics. Utilizing advanced fabrication methods and incorporating nanotechnology allow for customization of YBCO-based devices. Multi-scale modeling and simulation are essential for guiding experimental work and understanding YBCO's performance in high-frequency settings. This study highlights the promise of YBCO for future high-frequency technologies and stresses the importance of more research to overcome hurdles and fully exploit its capabilities, potentially transforming superconducting devices for practical use.

This paper concentrates on the general birth-death processes with two different types of catastrophes. The Laplace transform of transition probability function for birth-death processes with two-type catastrophes are is successfully expressed with the Laplace transform of transition probability function of the birth-death processes without catastrophe. The first effective catastrophe occurrence time is considered. The Laplace transform of its probability density function, expectation and variance are obtained.

Two beneficial characteristics of aircraft generators are having armature windings and PM excitation sources placed on the stator side (maintenance and thermal management) and having a clear-cut rotor without permanent magnets or excitation windings (vulnerable at high speeds due to associated centripetal mechanical stresses). Within this framework, a doubly-salient permanent magnet (DSPM) generator was conceived by optimizing the stator size and rotor structure to minimize the torque ripple and maximize the RMS voltage value per turn of each generator phase. A Multi-Objective Design Strategy based on a 2D finite element analysis was used, being set to have characteristics closest to optimal for a Boeing 767 turbine, that is, the necessary electromotive force for a required power of 90 kW at 3000 rpm, feeding a simplified Boeing 767 electrical power distribution system. The results show that the machine could not deliver the required power at 3000 rpm since the 2D finite elements analysis demonstrates that the 2D model gives optimistic results when compared with the 3D FEM model. However, with a 3D finite element analysis of the machine feeding the aircraft load, it was seen that the machine’s efficiency is 92%, suggesting this machine can be a plausible solution.

The possibility of using graphane monolayer crystals as the electrode material is becoming popular. Graphane is stable at room temperature and has large surface area, but its chemical inertness hinders its direct interactions with Li ions. In this study, we performed density functional theory calculations to study the energetic stability, structural and electronic properties of Li on graphane with various CH divacancy configurations (v12, v13 and v14 ). The results show that adsorption of Li atom reduces the formation energy of the CH divacancy configurations. The Li-v12 is most stable with the highest binding energy of 3.25 eV/Li and relaxes to in-plane with other C atoms. Altering the Li charge state to have Li−1-v12 or Li+1 -v12 affects the energetic stability and electronic characters of Li-v12 . The Li−1-v12 (Li +1-v 12 ) enhances (reduces) the binding force between Li and v 12 configuration, and furthermore it improves (deteriorates) the conductivity of the structure. Further investigation of graphane with vacancies is encouraged due to these intriguing observations, as it holds promise for potential utilization as an electrode material.

In the natural environment, sand accumulation and desertification can influence the efficiency of photovoltaic arrays. In this study, PV module output characteristics were examined under different sand particle size, varying sand densities and inclination angles, and at wind speeds of 5m/s, 10m/s, and 15m/s. Both theoretical and experimental results showed that the output power of the module declines with increasing sand density. As the sand particle size increases, the module maximum output power rises and then stabilizes. The two control variables, namely sand density and sand particle size, influence the module temperature and light transmittance distinctly. Contrary to the impact of sand density on the module filling factor curve, the module filling factor exhibits varying trends under different sand particle sizes. Additionally, the pattern of the module filling factor as a function of sand density contrasts with that of the module temperature under analogous conditions. Specifically, when the sand density on the PV module surface increases from 0 to 40g/m², there is a 32.2% reduction in maximum output power. At a wind speed of 15m/s, this reduction was found consistent across all wind speed categories. Furthermore, the trend of the module filling factor rel-ative to sand accumulation density contrasts with the module temperature trend under analogous conditions. Notably, the filling factor reached its apex at a sand accumulation density of 35g/m², which corresponded to the module temperature's nadir during the experiment.

This study examines the wind shear coefficient (WSC) values at three coastal wind sites located in the southern region of Balochistan, Pakistan: Pasni, Ormara, and Jiwani. These WSC values were obtained using 10-minute measured wind speed data at heights of 20, 40, and 60 meters above ground level (AGL). Since wind measurements are typically recorded at lower heights due to cost and resource constraints, extrapolation techniques were employed to estimate wind speeds at higher altitudes. However, using a constant WSC value for extrapolation may lead to significant errors between extrapolated and actual wind speed measurements, impacting the energy output of wind turbines. To evaluate the effect of WSC on energy yield, the study employed power curves and frequency distributions for 2MW and 1.5MW wind turbines. Additionally, wind power density was calculated using air density derived from measured air temperature and surface pressure data, covering two years period from November 2016 to August 2018. The overall mean WSC values were found to be 0.076 at Pasni, 0.094 at Jiwani, and 0.053 at Ormara. The study further investigated the seasonal, monthly, and diurnal variations of WSC. For assessing wind resources at a height of 60m, the study utilized Wind Roses, wind power density, and Weibull parameters. Comparing the actual WSC values presented in this paper with those obtained using the 1/7 power law and measured data at 60m AGL, the energy yield from the wind turbines showed reduced output and capacity factor.

The general-purpose Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN includes the hadronic calorimeter to register the energies of the charged and neutral hadrons produced in the proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a center of mass energy 13.6 TeV. The calorimeter is located inside the superconducting solenoid of 6 m in diameter and 12.5 m in length creating the central magnetic flux density of 3.8 T. For operating optimally in the high pileup and high radiation environment of the High Luminosity LHC, the existing CMS endcap calorimeters will be replaced with a new high granularity calorimeter (HGCal) comprising of an electromagnetic and a hadronic section in each of the two endcaps. The hadronic section of the HGCAL will include 44 stainless steel absorber plates with a relative permeability value well below 1.05. The volume occupied by 22 plates in each endcap is about 21 m3. The calculation of the axial electromagnetic forces on the absorber plates is a crucial element in designing the mechanical construction of the device. With a three-dimensional computer model of the CMS magnet, the axial forces on each absorber plate are calculated and the dependence of forces on the central magnetic flux density value is presented. The method of calculation and the obtained results are discussed.

This study aims to assess the interface shear adhesion behaviour between compacted clay and a metallic surface. A new testing approach was developed in this study for this purpose. The proposed method is simple and requires neither advanced equipment nor special test procedures, and thus represents an improvement on existing practice in this field. The experimental program involves determining the interface shear adhesion strength of reconstituted Kaolin clay/metallic surface where the Kaolin clay testing specimens were compacted dynamically at different energy levels and moisture contents. In general, the results show that the interface shear adhesion strength increases as the dry density of the clay increases, whereas it decreases as the moisture content increases. Furthermore, the results in this study reveal a unique multistage interfacial shear adhesion strength behaviour as the moisture content changes that could be related to the compaction curve of the clay. The observed behaviour, in this study, could be interpreted in terms of the effect of clay dry density and moisture content on the contact area and moisture-induced capillary adhesion at clay particles-continuum interface surface.

Plasma plays an important role in semiconductor processes. With the recent miniature and integration, the control of plasma became essential for the success in critical dimension of a few nanometers and etch narrow and deep holes with high aspect ratios. Recently, the etching process has reached physical limitations due to a significant increase in wafer surface temperature under the elevated amount of RF power, affecting not only the warpage phenomenon but also etching uniformity and etching profiles. Therefore, the plasma characteristics are identified using invasive single Langmuir probe (SLP) for wafer temperature diagnosis. Optical data is obtained through a non-invasive optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and the plasma parameters are derived to compare and verify with the SLP. Two variables, electron temperature and electron density, are substituted for the heat flux formula to derive the heat flux according to its location. Using a wafer-type temperature sensor, check the derived heat flux values and compare trends. Such studies are expected to be able to calculate heat flux values in real time, anticipate wafer temperatures, and solve existing problems.

Voids in face-centered cubic (fcc) metals are commonly assumed to form by the aggregation of vacancies; however, the mechanisms of vacancy clustering and diffusion are not fully understood. In this study, we use computational modeling to provide a detailed insight into the structures and formation energies of primary vacancy clusters, mechanisms and barriers for their migration in bulk copper, and how these properties are affected at simple grain boundaries. The calculations were carried out using Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potentials and Density Functional Theory (DFT) and employed the Site-Occupation Disorder code (SOD), the Activation Relaxation Technique nouveau (ARTn) and the Knowledge Led Master Code (KLMC). We investigate stable structures and migration paths and barriers for clusters of up to six vacancies. Migration of vacancy clusters occurs via hops of individual constituent vacancies with di-vacancies having a significantly smaller migration barrier than mono-vacancies and other clusters. This barrier is further reduced when di-vacancies interact with grain boundaries. This interaction leads to the formation of self-interstitial atoms and introduces significant changes into the boundary structure. Tetra-, penta-, and hexa-vacancy clusters exhibit increasingly complex migration paths and higher barriers than smaller clusters. Finally, the direct comparison with the DFT results shows that EAM can accurately describe the vacancy-induced relaxation effects in the Cu bulk and in grain boundaries. Significant discrepancies between the two methods were found in structures with a higher number of low-coordinated atoms, such as penta-vacancies and di-vacancy absortion by grain boundary. These results will be useful for modeling the mechanisms of diffusion of complex defect structures and provide further insights into the structural evolution of metal films under thermal and mechanical stress.

Research have been conducted in many countries around the world to assess air quality during COVID-19 pandemic, especially during lockdown period, some of these studies found an increase or decrease in some pollutants. This paper investigates the impact of COVID-19 on seven air pollutants (i.e., PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, O₃, SO₂, H₂S, CO) from the period January 2020 to December 2020 in the State of Kuwait. Kuwait is a desert country located in the north-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, and the northeast of the Arabian Gulf (Persian as it is sometimes called). Several analytical methods were conducted, such as spatial analysis (spatial interpolation) to study the distribution of the studied variables. The data was also statistically analysed (time series analysis - Kernel density) to study the temporal changes. The analysis also included applying air quality index to the data. We found that concentrations for the pollutants decreased during the pandemic due to the decrease of anthropogenic sources including such as traffic and petroleum activities, but the concentration for PM_2.5 increased, mostly because of the transported dust coming with the northwest winds prevailing in Kuwait from the Arabian deserts and Iraq.

Maize (Zea mays L.) production in West and Central Africa is constrained by drought, low soil-N and Striga infestation. Breeders in the region have developed and commercialized extra-early and early-maturing hybrids (E-EH and EH), which combine high yield potentials with tolerance/resistance to the three stresses. Hybrids of both maturity groups are new to the farmers; thus, the urgent need to recommend appropriate agronomic practices for these hybrids. We investigated the responses of four hybrids belonging to extra-early and early-maturity groups to plant density (PD) and nitrogen (N) application in five agroecologies. The EHs consistently out-yielded the E-EHs in all the five agroecologies. The hybrids showed no response to N-fertilizer application above 90 kg ha-1. All interactions involving N had no significant effect on all traits except in few cases. The E-EHs and EHs had similar response to PD; their grain yield decreased as PD increased. Contrarily, flowering was delayed and expression of some other agronomic traits such as plant and ear aspects became poorer with increased PD. Optimal yield was obtained at approximately 90 kg N ha-1 and 66,666 plants ha-1. Most of the measured traits indicated high repeatability estimates (i.e. ≥ 60) across the N levels, PDs and environments. Evidently, the hybrids were intolerant of high PD.

Nicotine is a pharmacologically active component of tobacco which adversely affects the male reproductive system and fertility and Icariin (ICA) is the main active ingredient of Epimedium herba which has been used to treat several male reproductive problems. This study was aimed at investigating the protective or ameliorative effect of ICA against reproductive toxicity induced by intraperitoneal injection of nicotine in mice. Forty male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, nicotine (0.75 mg/kg intraperitoneally), icariin (ICA, 75 mg/kg), and icariin plus nicotine (ICA + nicotine) group. After 35 days of treatment, the mice were weighed, sacrificed, and their reproductive organs were collected and examined for further studies. In the nicotine-treated group, epididymal sperm density and serum testosterone concentrations significantly decreased relative to the control group. Nicotine also caused oxidative damage as shown by significant reduction in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and an elevation in Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Icariin on the other hand, improved the reduction in sperm characteristics, hormone levels, and activities of antioxidant enzymes alterations observed in the nicotine treated mice. These findings indicate that the nicotine-induced reproductive toxicity and oxidative damages on male reproductive tissues can be effectively attenuated by icariin.

The objective of this study was to determine the association of physiological responses and root distribution patterns on yield of the second ratoon cane and the relationships among these traits. Seventeen sugarcane genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The second ratoon crop was evaluated for germination percentage, cane yield, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR), chlorophyll fluorescence, relative water content (RWC), specific leaf area (SLA) and stomatal conductance. Root length density (RLD) was evaluated by auger method. The root samples were divided into upper soil layer and lowers soil layers to study root distribution patterns. Sugarcane genotypes were significantly different for RLD, germination percentage and cane yield. Root distribution patterns were classified into three groups based on the RLD. High RLD between plants in the upper soil layers at 90 DAH was positively correlated with high germination, whereas high RLD between rows in the lower soil layers at 90 and 270 DAH was associated with high cane yield. RWC at 90 DAH and stomatal conductance at 180 DAH were closely related to germination percentage, whereas chlorophyll fluorescence and stomatal conductance at 180 DAH were closely related to cane yield.

The relative dislocation density of aluminum and copper samples is quantitatively measured using linear Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS). For each metallic group, four samples were prepared with different thermomechanical treatments in order to induce changes in their dislocation densities. The RUS results are compared with Nonlinear Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (NRUS) as well as Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) measurements. NRUS has a higher sensitivity by a factor of two to six and SHG by 14% to 62%. The latter technique is, however, faster and simpler. As main a result we obtain a quantitative relation between the changes in the nonlinear parameters and the dislocation density variations, which in a first approximation is a linear relation between these differences. We also present a simple theoretical expression that explains the better sensitivity to dislocation content of the nonlinear parameters with respect to the linear ones. X-Ray diffraction measurements, although intrusive and less accurate, support the acoustics results.

β-dicalcium silicate (β-Ca₂SiO₄, or β-C₂S in cement chemistry notation) is one of the most important minerals in cement. An improvement of its hydration rate would be the key point for developing environmentally friendly cements with lower energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. However, there is a lack of fundamental understanding on the water/β-C₂S surface interactions. In this work we aim to evaluate the water adsorption on three β-C₂S surfaces at the atomic scale using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our results indicate that thermodynamically favorable water adsorption takes place in several surface sites, with a broad range of adsorption energies (−0.78 to −1.48 eV), depending on the particular mineral surface and adsorption site. To clarify the key factor governing the adsorption, the electronic properties of water at the surface were analyzed. The partial density of states (DOS), charge analysis, and electron density difference analyses suggest a dual interaction of water with β-C₂S (100) surface: a nucleophilic interaction of the water oxygen lone pair with surface calcium atoms, and an electrophilic interaction (hydrogen bond) of one water hydrogen with surface oxygen atoms. Despite the elucidation of the adsorption mechanism, no correlation was found between the electronic structure and the adsorption energies.

In mega cities such as Seoul in South Korea, it is very important to protect the city from the flooding even for the short time of period due to the enormous amount of economic damage. In impervious area of the city, stormwater pipe network is commonly applied to discharge rainfall to the outside of catchment. Therefore, the stormwater pipe network in urban catchment should be carefully designed to discharge the runoff quickly and efficiently. In this study, different types of structures in stormwater pipe network were evaluated using the relationship between the peaks rainfall and runoff in urban catchments in South Korea. More than 400 historical rainfall events were applied in five urban catchments to estimate peak runoff from different type of network structures. Linear regression analysis was implemented to estimate peak runoffs. The coefficient of determination of the regressions were higher than 0.9 which means the regression model represent very well the relationship between the two peaks. However, the variation of the prediction becomes large as the peak rainfall increases and the variation become even larger when the network structure is branched. Therefore, it depends on the structure of stormwater pipe network. When the water paths in the pipe network is unique (branched network), the increased amount of rainfall is congested around the rainwater inlets and the uncertainty of peak runoff prediction is increased. If there are many possible water paths depending on the amount of discharge (looped network), the increased rainfall is discharged more quickly through the many water paths. This can be a way to represent the reliability of the stormwater pipe network. The structures of stormwater pipe network is evaluated using drainage density which is the length of pipes over the unit catchment area and 95% confidence interval. As a result, the 95% confidence interval is increased as the drainage density is increased because the accuracy of peak runoff prediction is decreased. As mentioned earlier, because the looped networks have many alternative water flowing paths, elimination time of rainfall from the catchments become short, the 95% confidence interval become narrow, and the reliability of peak runoff prediction become high. Therefore, it is beneficial to install looped stormwater pipe network within the affordable budget. It is important factor to determine the amount of complexity in stormwater pipe network to decrease the risk of urban flooding.

Novel high energy density materials N14 (1,6-dihydro-1,2,3,3a,4,5,5a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-tetradecazapyrene) and N18 (1,2,2a,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,9,10,10a,11,12a-octadecazacoronene) were designed, and their structures, detonation performance and stabilities were calculated employing density functional theory (DFT). Calculations reveals that they have a good balance between high energy and stability. Their energy gaps between LUMO and HOMO are all lower than that of TATB, while their impact sensitivity h_50% is estimated close to that of RDX. Concerning energy, detonation performance of the N14 (P = 43.6 GPa, D = 10040 m/s, Q = 2214 cal/g) and the N18 (P = 37.4 GPa, D = 9400 m/s, Q = 2114 cal/g) are comparable to CL-20.

Deadwood represents a source of nutrients, carbon and water for metabolism within forest ecosystem. Nutrients are mobilized due to the decomposition of wood, which is a long-term process that can be best studied by analysing environmental data on a temporary scale. Our study provides physico-temporal data on the downed logs of three major tree species in European temperate forests: Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. Time since death was obtained using tree censuses (repeated for 40 years) and dendrochronology for each single downed log, the oldest being 75 years old. Standard laboratory methods were used for the determination of wood density and moisture changes. F. sylvatica was decomposed rapidly in the initial phase – mass loss was 50% during the 5 years after death, while A. alba and P. abies lost 13% and 16%, respectively. Downed logs of F. sylvatica contained 391 kg of water per m³, while these of P. abies 279 kg. A log-transformed linear model was created that shows the dependence of time since death on mass loss. According to the model, F. sylvatica had the shortest total decomposition time (39 years), followed by A. alba (58 years) and P. abies (86 years).

The atherosclerosis, a chronic and inflammatory disease that occurs when there are high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) on plasma. This important risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death worldwide. MicroRNAs have recently emerged as potential biomarkers and therapeutic target for lipid metabolism disorders. In this review, we will provide profile of surrounding miRNAs that have demonstrated being regulators of PCSK9, LDLR and APOB100 genes. Recent work has identified the mir-148, mir-128, mir-27a/b, mir-185, mir-301, mir-130 as important regulators of this pathway because they decrease supply of LDL receptors through interaction with PCSK9. Inhibition of LDLR expression cause elevation of plasma LDL levels which induces atherosclerosis. While mir-30c, mir-122, mir-34 decrease MTTP, which promotes degradation of APOB100 preventing assembly and secretion of VLDL. We conclude that, when overexpressed, mir-148a, mir128 and mir-27a/b, mir-122 and mir-34 are related to decrease in LDLR, facilitating occurrence of atherosclerosis. While mir-30 has been linked to decreased atherosclerosis. Detection of miRNAs profile could be used in the future as a biomarker for disturbs linked to c-LDL uptake and in future anti-miRNAs therapies may be used in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

This article explores the cutting-edge advancement of gypsum and cement building boards infused with shape-stabilized n-octadecane, an organic phase change material (PCM). The primary focus is on improving energy efficiency and providing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding capabilities for contemporary buildings. The research investigates the integration of these materials into construction materials, using red-mud Carbon Foam as a stabilizer for n-octadecane (OD@CCF). Various analyses, including microstructural examination, porosity assessment, and additive dispersion, were conducted using X-ray microtomography and density measurements. Thermal conductivity measurements demonstrated the enhancement of composite boards as the OD@CCF content increased, while mechanical tests indicated an optimal additive content of up to 20%. The thermal-regulated capabilities of these advanced panels were evaluated in a custom-designed room model equipped with a homemade environmental chamber, illustrating a consistent temperature environment during heating and cooling cycles. The incorporation of OD@CCF into cement boards exhibited improved thermal energy storage properties. Moreover, the examined composite boards displayed efficient electromagnetic shielding performance within the frequency range of 3.2–7.0 GHz, achieving EMI values of approximately 18 and 19.5 dB for gypsum and cement boards, respectively, meeting the entry-level value required for commercial applications.

Powder bed fusion (PBF) process is a metal additive manufacturing process which can build parts with any complexity from a wide range of metallic materials. PBF process research has predominantly focused on the impact of only a few parameters on product properties due to the lack of a systematic approach for optimizing a large set of process parameters simultaneously. The pivotal challenges regarding this process require a quantitative approach for mapping the material properties and process parameters onto the ultimate quality; this will then enable the optimization of those parameters. In this study, we propose a two-phase framework for optimizing the process parameters and developing a predictive model for 316L stainless steel material. We also discuss the correlation between process parameters -- i.e., laser specifications -- and mechanical properties and how to achieve parts with high density (> 98%) as well as better ultimate mechanical properties. In this paper, we introduce and test an innovative approach for developing AM predictive models, with a relatively low error percentage of 10.236% that are used to optimize process parameters in accordance with user or manufacturer requirements. These models use support vector regression, random forest regression, and neural network techniques. It is shown that the intelligent selection of process parameters using these models can achieve an optimized density of up to 99.31% with uniform microstructure, which improves hardness, impact strength, and other mechanical properties.

Brushless Direct Current Motors are significantly improved for using many electrical applications. The design investigation is increased year by year and most of the motor design researchers find out the superior efficiency of the BLDC motor. The traditional motor consumed more electrical power than BLDC motor. The design of BLDC motors that are compact, small, easy to control, save energy and light weight. Due to this fact, the design of BLDC motor should be analyzed to improve the motor characteristics performance. The research focuses on the design of BLDC motor performance using Taguchi Method and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for Finite Element Method (FEM). Firstly, the Taguchi Method is applied to identify the optimization point of design parameters and consider using the reference model of actual BLDC electric fan motor with a rated power of 26Watts design. Based on the Taguchi Method to create the RSM is used to two-step optimization design performance using in FEM analysis. The performances of motor design proposed approach to provide the effeteness for motor design investigator. In this investigation aims the better structural performances in output power, torque, efficiency and torque ripple. The final design of proposed model achieved an energy efficiency is 10% higher than the reference design of prototype modes, the output power result is 10W higher this reference design. We can reduce the loss of the proposed motor design. Furthermore, the maximum torque can also increase the 0.032Nm of that design. The design simulation results were produced and studied by the FEM analysis of JMAG software. From the evaluation results, the configurations of reference model design are compared with the proposed design by using the three methods of motor design optimization showed the best characteristics for performance of motor investigation design.

This study explores optimizing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite constellation scheduling for multi-imaging missions in densely targeted areas using an in-house developed Modified Dynamic Programming (MDP) algorithm. By employing Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) to define the mission planning problem, the research aims to maximize observation of high-value targets within restricted planning horizons. Numerical simulations, covering a wide range of target numbers and satellite configurations, reveal the MDP algorithm’s superior mission allocation efficiency, enhanced success rates, and reduced revisit times, compared to the Greedy algorithm. The findings underscore the MDP algorithm’s improved operational efficiency and planning robustness for complex imaging tasks, demonstrating significant advancements over traditional approaches.

Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder and is one of the top 20 reasons of disability in the world. It causes a huge burden on society. In this study, the prediction models of bipolar disorder were constructed based on the concept of knowledge distillation. The input data consisted of patients of bipolar disorder and matched controls, all of which were selected from the open database MIMIC. The method of kernel density estimation (KDE) was exploited to generate probability density functions (PDF) which identify distributions of input data. The PDF values referred to as the soft labels were combined with the input data to construct the prediction models of bipolar disorder using decision tree and artificial neural network respectively. According to the evaluation results, indicators for identifying positive samples of bipolar disorder were improved. Meanwhile, the indicators for identifying negative samples have also been advanced. In addition, the branching attributes selected by the decision trees can be mapped back to specific disease diagnoses, which are all associated with bipolar disorder. In conclusion, using KDE to generate the soft label information of the input data can make knowledge distillation work and has improved the performances of prediction models for bipolar disorder.

The hard open problem of finding the lower bound for the Fokker Planck Kolmogorov’s time-dependent controller parameter probability density function is addressed for the first time in literature in this work. This revolutionary exposition will put control theory and other related inter-disciplinary fields to a higher level towards contemporary control theory. Notably, based on the influential role of control theory in both engineering and industry, this paper will be of great value to all engineering and industry professionals who seek to know more about advanced trends within control theory settings. On the other remit of the spectrum, Fokker Planck Kolmogorov(FPK) equations are of high importance to physicists as well as mathematicians, based on their multiple applicability to multi-interdisciplinary fields of human knowledge, and beyond. So, this by default adds more taste and credibility to this study. Concluding thoughts are included at the end of the work along with a difficult outstanding problem and the direction of future work.

The 6TiSCH protocol (IEEE 802.15.4e) is crucial for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), utilizing a time-slotted channel hopping (TSCH) mode based on node distribution. In our experiment, we explored node position clustering and adjusted the capacity of existing cells in congested areas to understand traffic patterns and optimize cell selection for TSCH resource allocation, particularly in slot frames. Efficient cell allocation prevents packet loss, manages congestion, and enhances data transmission reliability. Node clustering increases cell usage efficiency and reduces communication latency between nodes, with each cell allocation tailored to its traffic needs through the sink node from the clustering result. We evaluated the clustering method using the K-means algorithm through experiments using the 6TiSCH simulator. Additionally, we considered using the routing protocol for low power and lossy networks (RPL) as a comparison, such as OF0 and MRHOF, as the objective function to assess clustering results and their impact on throughput and packet delivery. Our method significantly improved average performance metrics: under the OF0 routing protocol, we achieved a 30.01% latency reduction, 15.95% faster joining time, 8% higher packet delivery ratio, and 13.82% throughput increase. Similarly, with the MRHOF routing protocol, we observed a 12.34% improvement in packet delivery ratio, 21.06% latency reduction, 12.68% faster joining time, and 25.97% higher throughput speed.

The purpose of this work is to analyze heat-treated ash wood at temperature of 185 ºC, in order to analyze its dimensional stability. For comparison, native ash/ not thermally treated wood, was be used. In order to analyze heat-treated ash wood, some main properties such as water absorption, swelling in thickness, roughness, Brinell hardness, modulus of rupture and elasticity, color change toward black with CIELab space, and many others properties were determined and processed. The results obtained after processing the experimental data have showed that heat-treated ash wood had good physical properties as absorption and swelling in thickness, and the slight increase in elasticity offers new fields of use. As a general conclusion of the work, it was established that the ash wood can be properly thermally treated, the dimensional stability characteristics being very good, and the decrease in bending resistance being almost imperceptible.

As the largest carbon pool on Earth, forest ecosystems are essential to maintaining carbon sink balance. However, accurately estimating the carbon sequestration and carbon storage of forest resources remains an urgent issue to address. Plot investigation, model estimation, and machine learning are examples of current approaches. Nevertheless, because of variables such as regional characteristics and plot size, large-scale and extensive region estimates are comparatively scarce. This study, which focuses on Tianzhu County, aims to comprehensively analyze and estimate the Net Primary Productivity (NPP), carbon storage, and carbon density of the forest ecosystem in this area by integrating data from forest resource inventory and the CASA model. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The main vegetation types in Tianzhu County include coniferous forests, broad-leaved forests, mixed forests, and shrub forests; (2) Accordin g to the CASA model calculations, the annual cumulative NPP in Tianzhu County in 2020 ranges from a maximum of 249.63 gC/m² to a minimum of 3.40 gC/m², with the forest NPP amounting to 134,674.65 tons of carbon. Based on MODIS observation data, the forest’s NPP is 171,728.32 tons of carbon, with a maximum of 325.36 gC/m² and a minimum of 0.02 gC/m²; (3) At the pixel scale, the carbon storage of forests in Tianzhu County is 361,700 tons. Specifically, 46,500 tons of carbon are stored in coniferous forests, 1,100 tons in broad-leaved forests, 500 tons in mixed forests, and 313,600 tons in shrub forests.

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are materials with high aspect ratio. Typically, TEMPO-oxidised, or cationic CNFs consist of long fibrils (up to 2 μm) with very low thickness (less than 10 nm). Derived from their high aspect ratio, CNFs form strong hydrogels with high elasticity at low concentrations. Thus, CNF suspensions appear as an interesting rheology modifier to be applied in cosmetics, paints, foods, as a mineral suspending agent, among other applications. The high viscosity results from the strong 3D fibril network, which is related to good fibrillation of the material, allowing the nanofibrils to overlap. The overlap concentration (c*) was found to vary from ca. 0.13 to ca. 0.60 wt.% depending on the type and intensity of the pre-treatment ap-plied during the preparation of the CNFs. The results confirm the higher tendency for the fibres treated with CHPTAC (cationic) and TEMPO to form a 3D network, resulting in the lowest c*. For the TEMPO-oxidised CNF suspensions, it was also found that aggregation is improved at acidic pH conditions due to lower charge repulsion among fibrils, leading to an increase in the suspension viscosity, as well as higher apparent yield stresses. TEMPO CNF suspensions with low content of carboxylic groups tend to precipitate at moderate acidic pH values.

In this study, modified red mud after phosphorus adsorption was used as the adsorbent, and hydrochloric acid and deionized water were used as desorbents to desorb phosphorus. The components in the adsorbent were optimized based on density functional theory, and adsorbent and desorbent models were established. Molecular dynamics simulation was performed to determine the phosphorus concentration before and after desorption, interaction energies, radial distribution function(RDF), mean-square displacement(MSD), and diffusion coefficient. The Monte Carlo method was used to simulate the desorption isotherm, desorption site, heat of desorption, and desorption energy. Simulation results showed that deionized water could only desorb phosphorus on the adsorbent surface, and the stability of the system deteriorated upon adding hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid destroyed the ionic and hydrogen bonding between the O atoms in H2PO4− and reactive metal and oxygen atoms in the activated red mud particles. Moreover, the van der Waals force decreased considerably. The ionic and hydrogen bonds between H2PO4− and the surface of activated red mud particles were broken by hydrochloric acid, which accelerated the desorption of phosphorus from the adsorbent surface. The interaction between hydrochloric acid and phosphorus accelerated the diffusion, which decreased the adsorption capacity. Moreover, the desorption capacity increased with increasing temperature.