The automotive industry needs to improve energy efficiency rapidly to achieve carbon neutrality while creating a safe, secure, comfortable driving environment for customers. Porous sound-absorbing materials and porous thermal insulators are typically used to satisfy these requirements despite limitations in mass and space. While these porous materials are similar, the microstructures they offer for high performance differ in the size and connectivity of their fluid phases, which enhances the difficulty of achieving excellent sound absorption and thermal insulation in the same material. In this study, a hydrophobic cellulose nanofiber–poly(methylsiloxane) xerogel composite was developed using computational microstructure modeling. This porous material has high porosity and excellent thermal insulation and sound absorption properties.

We propose a method that enables precise determination of the number of atoms in a Dick-noise-free optical lattice clock, by effectively addressing quantum projection noise. Our approach relies on conducting stability measurements at three distinct parameter sets, allowing us to differentiate between quantum projection noise, photon shot noise, and technical noise. Importantly, our method enables accurate extraction of the atom number, even in the presence of photon shot noise and technical noise. To validate the effectiveness of our approach, we employ numerical simulations and optimize the modulation parameters to achieve the smallest uncertainty possible. The numerical simulations show the validity of our method and demonstrate a measurement uncertainty in the atom number that is below 4% across a wide range of atom numbers, provided that the standard deviation of atom number fluctuation is kept below 0.23 times the average atom number.

The present study evaluates mold fungal resistance of newly developed loose-fill thermal insulation materials from wheat straw, corn stalk and water reed. Three different processing methods of raw materials was performed by mechanical crushing (Raw, ≤ 20 mm), thermal-mechanical pulping (TMP) using 4% NaOH and steam explosion pulping (SEP). An admixture of boric acid (8%) and tetraborate (7%) was applied to all processed substrates due to their anti-fungal properties. Additionally, the fourth sample group was prepared from SEPs of all raw species without boric acid and tetraborate (SEP*) as control. Samples from all treatments were separately inoculated by 5 different fungal species and incubated in darkness for 28 days at 28 ℃ and RH >90%. The highest resistance to the colonization of mold fungi was achieved by TMP and SEP processing coupled with addition of boric acid and tetraborate, where molds infest only around 35% to 40% of the inoculated sample area. The lowest mold fungi resistance was detected for Raw and SEP* samples, each ~75% that was affected by rich amount of accessible nutrients, suggesting that boric acid and tetraborate additives alone did not prevent mold fungal growth as effective as in combination with TMP and SEP treatments. Together, the achieved fungal colonization scores after combined fungicide and pulping treatments are acceptable for the application of various renewable materials in future thermal insulation product development.

In this study, seven mortar mixes were prepared by replacing natural sand by crumb rubber ,CR, (10%, 25%, 50%, 60%, 75% and 100%). The properties of mortars, both in their fresh and hardened states, were studied. Key characterisitcs, including density, water absorption coefficient, porosity, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, shrinkage/swelling, elastic modulus, compressive strength, flexure strength, fracture energy and performance after exposure to heat, were evaluated. The results obtained showed that as the CR fraction increased, density, initial setting time, and workability decreased but mortars with CR fractions ranged between 25% and 50% are lightweight and can be used for repairing as they fulfill satndards. It was observed that strengths and stiffness decreased with higher CR content while shrinkage increased for CR percentage higher than 60%. However, up to 50% of CR content the mortars obey to the standards for repair. Interestingly, incorporating up to 50% waste tires proved to improve comfort and thermal resistance without affecting thermal inertia. A slight increase in the mass loss is observed when mortars are exposed to high temperatures. Mortars containing CR between 25% and 50% can be classified as lightweight and thermally insulating mortars, suitable for repairing concrete structures in accordance with industry standards.

This review delves into the critical role of automation and sensor technologies in optimizing parameters for thermal treatments within electricity power generation. The demand for efficient and sustainable power generation has led to a significant reliance on thermal treatments in power plants. However, ensuring precise control over these treatments remains challenging, necessitating the integration of advanced automation and sensor systems. This paper evaluates the pivotal aspects of automation, emphasizing its capacity to streamline operations, enhance safety, and optimize energy efficiency in thermal treatment processes. Additionally, it highlights the indispensable role of sensors in monitoring and regulating crucial parameters such as temperature, pressure, and flow rates. These sensors enable real-time data acquisition, facilitating immediate adjustments to maintain optimal operating conditions and prevent system failures. It explores the recent technological advancements, including machine learning algorithms and IoT integration, which have revolutionized automation and sensor capabilities in thermal treatment control. Incorporating these innovations has significantly improved the precision and adaptability of control systems, resulting in heightened performance and reduced environmental impact. This review underscores the imperative nature of automation and sensor technologies in thermal treatments for electricity power generation, emphasizing their pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring reliability, and advancing sustainability in power generation processes.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a lifelong pathogen characterized by asymptomatic latent infection in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) with periodic outbreaks of cold sores caused by virus reactivation in the TG and subsequent replication in the oral mucosa. While antiviral therapies can provide relief from cold sores, they are unable to eliminate HSV-1. We provide experimental results that highlight non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a new alternative therapy for HSV-1 infection that would resolve cold sores faster and reduce the establishment of latent infection in the TG. Additionally, this study is the first to explore the use of NTP as a therapy that can both treat and prevent human viral infections. We investigated the antiviral effect of NTP using an in vitro model for HSV-1 cold sores, involving the application of NTP from two separate devices to cell-free HSV-1, HSV-1-infected cells, and uninfected cells. We found NTP reduced the infectivity of cell-free HSV-1, reduced viral replication in HSV-1-infected cells, and diminished the susceptibility of uninfected cells to HSV-1 infection. This triad of antiviral mechanisms of action suggest the potential of NTP as a therapeutic agent effective against HSV-1 infection.

This paper aims at achieving optimal rotor speed estimation for an induction motor using the Extended Kalman filter (EKF). Speed estimation is essential for fault diagnosis in Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA). The estimation accuracy is obtained by exploring the noise covariance matrices estimation of the EKF algorithm. The noise covariance matrices are determined using a modified subspace model identification approach. In order to reach this goal, this method compares an estimated model of a deterministic system, derived from available input-output datasets, with the discrete-time state-space representation used in the Kalman filter equations. This comparison leads to the determination of model uncertainties, which are subsequently represented as noise covariance matrices. Based on the 5th order nonlinear model of the induction motor, rotor speed is estimated with the optimized EKF algorithm and the used algorithm is tested experimentally.

Covid-19 is an airborne disease, with the vast majority of infections occurring indoors. By comparison, little transmission occurs outdoors. Here, we investigate the airborne transmission pathways that differentiate the indoors from outdoors, and conclude that profound differences exist, which help to explain why SARS-CoV-2 transmission is much more prevalent indoors. Near and far-field transmission pathways are discussed along with factors that affect infection risk, with aerosol concentration, air entrainment, thermal plumes, and occupancy duration all identified as being influential. In particular, we present the fundamental equations that underpin the Wells-Riley model, and show the mathematical relationship between inhaled virus particles and quanta of infection. A simple model is also presented for assessing infection risk in spaces with incomplete air mixing. Transmission risk is assessed in terms of aerosol concentration using simple 1D equations, followed by a description of thermal plume-ceiling interactions. With respect to this, we present new experimental results using Schlieren-visualisation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based on the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. Pathways of airborne infection are discussed, with the key differences identified between indoors and outdoors. In particular, the contribution of thermal and exhalation plumes is evaluated, and the presence of near-field/far-field feedback loop postulated, which is absent outdoors.

The urban heat island (UHI) and its intensity is one of the phenomena that are of determining importance for the comfort of living in cities and their sustainable development in the face of deepening climate change. The study is objectively difficult due to the large dynamics like land cover and the considerable diversity of land use patterns in urban areas. Various approaches and methods are used in research practice, based both on ground measurements and in the use of remote methods and satellite information. However, most of these approaches provide information with problematic spatial and temporal resolution, making them difficult to apply for sustainable urban planning purposes, which require adequate information provision. This paper presents the results of the application of thermal photogrammetry based on the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), combined with geographic information systems (GIS), in the study of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHI), at the local level for the largest housing complex in Bulgaria - Lyulin district of the capital of Sofia city. The studies were carried out during a heat wave in July 2023. A difference of 16.5oC was found between locations with SUHI occurrence and suburban areas. The information benefits of locally addressed data and their direct applicability are discussed to support decision-making processes in the planning and management of urban areas, including their climate adaptation and sustainable development.

Ni-rich layered cathodes are regarded as a potential candidate for high energy-density lithium-ion batteries, but their high sensitivity to air during storage and poor thermal stability are a vital challenge for large-scale applications. In this paper, an effective solid-solution strategy was proposed to improve the surface and structural stability of Ni-rich layered cathodes by introducing Li2MnO3. The structural analysis results indicate that the formation of Li2CO3 inert layers on Ni-rich layered cathodes during storage in air is responsible for the increased electrode interfacial impedance, thereby resulting in the severe deterioration of electrochemical performance. The introduction of Li2MnO3 can reduce the surface reactivity of Ni-rich cathode materials, playing a certain suppression effect on the formation of surface Li2CO3 layer and the deterioration of electrochemical performances. Additionally, the thermal analysis results show that the heat release of Ni-rich cathodes strongly depends on the charge of states, and Li2MnO3 can suppress oxygen release and significantly improves the thermal stability of Ni-rich layered cathodes. This work provide a method to improve the storage performance and thermal stability of Ni-rich cathode materials.

The thermal decomposition of siderite and its decomposition products in a vacuum atmosphere was investigated for the first time using in situ high-temperature transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy. These measurements were supported by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and magnetic measurements. In situ Mössbauer spectra were collected from room temperature (RT) to 750 oC with a temperature step of 50 oC. After that, the sample was cooled down to RT with step 100 oC. Raw siderite samples contain siderite as the only iron-bearing mineral, and after heating the samples at high temperatures, hematite and magnetite are only Fe-bearing phases. In the temperature range of 300 oC - 500 oC, siderite decomposition occurs. The analysis shows that siderite transforms directly into magnetite, and then hematite generation occurs as long as siderite is present in the sample. Changing hyperfine parameters like isomer shift, quadrupole splitting, or hyperfine magnetic field versus temperature were obtained for siderite and iron oxides (hematite, magnetite). The measurements also show that magnetite formed during the decomposition of siderite is a composition of particles of various sizes and a low degree of crystallization.

In pursuit of sustainable human survival, the effective utilization of renewable energy has become critical to technological advancement. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology, which generates electricity by leveraging the temperature differential between surface and deep ocean waters, enables stable power generation around the clock. In this domain, the combination of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and heat exchangers has exhibited immense potential for ameliorating the deficiencies of conventional OTEC. This study uses numerical simulation to investigate the fluid dynamics characteristics of heat exchangers with flat fins and different types of longitudinal vortex generators (LVGs) under the same number of fins. The research encompasses heat exchangers with rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal LVGs. Concurrently, the analysis examines how the vortices generated by the LVGs influence the thermoelectric performance of the TEGs. The results demonstrate that heat exchangers integrating flat fins and LVGs can enhance the power generation efficiency of TEGs. However, the pumping power required by the LVGs constrains the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. Compared to rectangular and triangular LVGs, trapezoidal LVGs achieve a superior balance between output and pumping power. Heat exchangers utilizing trapezoidal LVGs can attain the highest TEG thermoelectric conversion efficiency with a specific seawater flow velocity. Overall, these findings provide valuable reference information for applying TEGs and heat exchangers in OTEC design.

This study explores the advanced integration of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric systems in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) to optimize performance. OTEC, a promising renewable energy source, needs help in efficiency maximization. We address this by implementing Bi2Te3 thermoelectric generators (TEGs), known for their high thermoelectric efficiency at low-temperature differences. Our research encompasses a comprehensive simulation and analysis of these TEGs in OTEC systems, examining material properties, system design, and environmental impact. We present a novel approach to integrating these TEGs, optimizing their arrangement, and interfacing with the OTEC cycle to enhance overall efficiency. The study also investigates the durability and cost-effectiveness of Bi2Te3 TEGs in marine environments. Results demonstrate a significant improvement in energy conversion efficiency, highlighting the potential of Bi2Te3 TEGs in sustainable ocean energy exploitation. This work advances material science in renewable energy, providing valuable insights into the practical application of thermoelectric materials in large-scale energy systems. It paves the way for future research on material optimization and system integration, essential for developing efficient and sustainable OTEC systems.

The manufacturing method influences the properties of the produced components. This work investigates the influence of manufacturing methods such as fused filament fabrication (3D printing) and injection molding on water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of the specimens produced from neat biobased poly(lactic acid) (PLA) polymer and poly(lactic acid)/wood composites. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) acts as the reference material due to its low water absorption and good functional properties. The printing layer thickness is one of the factors that affects the properties of a 3D printed specimen. The investigation includes two different layer thicknesses (0.2 mm and 0.3 mm) while maintaining uniform overall thickness of the specimens across two manufacturing methods. 3D printed specimens absorb significantly higher amounts of water than the injection molded specimens, and the increase in the layer thickness of the 3D printed specimens contributes to further increased water absorption. However, the swelling due to water absorption in 3D printed specimens decreases on increased layer thickness. Tensile, flexural and impact properties of all the specimens decrease after water absorption while the properties improve on decreasing the layer thickness. Higher porosity on increasing the layer thickness is the predominant factor. The results from dynamic mechanical analysis and microscopy validate the outcomes.

The thermoelectric generator (TEG) has much potential as a renewable energy technology that could be used in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). This technique employs TEGs and heat exchangers as substitutes for the intricate elements found in conventional OTEC systems, including pressure valves, evaporators, condensers, and turbine generators. By harnessing the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater, it facilitates the conversion of this thermal gradient into electrical energy. This study used computer simulations to look at and compare three different types of heat exchangers: a cavity-type heat exchanger, a heat exchanger with flat fins, and a heat exchanger with longitudinal vortex generators (LVGs). The objective was to evaluate the influence of these designs on the thermoelectric conversion performance when implemented in OTEC systems. The study's findings indicate that using heat exchanger configurations featuring flat fins, or LVGs, enhances the efficiency of thermal energy transfer from warm seawater to TEGs, resulting in a notable enhancement in the output power of TEGs. Furthermore, the efficiency of TEG thermoelectric conversion is influenced by varying seawater flow rates in relation to the performance of flat fins and LVGs. In contrast to the cavity-type heat exchanger, the utilization of a heat exchanger equipped with flat fins has been found to yield a notable enhancement in the output power of TEGs by approximately 22.92%. Furthermore, this configuration demonstrates a substantial improvement in thermoelectric conversion efficiency, exhibiting an increase of around 40.01%. These improvements are observed under certain conditions pertaining to flow rates and fin heights. Utilizing heat exchangers equipped with LVGs has been found to enhance the output power of TEGs by 13.02% and improve the overall thermoelectric conversion efficiency by 17.72%. These improvements are observed under certain conditions, including specific flow rates, LVG tilt angles, and locations.

Bosons are particles that can occupy the same quantum state. Identical classical particles are considered distinguishable, but with bosons this is no longer the case. With bosons 1 and 2 in states α and β, the compound state function, ΨS=(1/2)Ψα(1)Ψβ(2)+Ψβ(1)Ψα(2), does not change when the particles are interchanged, i.e., there is one state where classically there would be two. This leads to boson statistics, which is different from Boltzmann statistics in that it favors putting more particles in the same state. For a sufficiently low temperature, it is possible that all bosons aggregate in the ground state where they effectively form a single megaparticle. We cover boson statistics and show how and why Bose-Einstein condensation can occur. We also show how growing networks like the WWW, the economy, or citation networks in scientific literature can follow boson statistics. Analyses of Bose-Einstein condensation have generally assumed a bath with a temperature, i.e., a thermal equilibrium where random collisions lead to a Gaussian-noise-term. However, many setups in physics involve conversion or transport of energy, i.e., nonequilibrium. Nonequilibrium noise is commonly characterized by the frequent occurrence of large kicks, i.e., outliers. We model this by implementing α-stable noise. No temperature exists in that case. We find that Bose-Einstein condensation is still theoretically possible, but probably much harder to engineer. Social and economic traffic is also often best modeled as nonequilibrium and our results may be significant in these contexts.

In order to assess the range of impact of thermal wastewater discharge from the third Nuclear Power Plant (NP_No.3) on the local ecosystem, a three-dimensional ocean model (MITgcm) driven by tidal and climatological forcings is employed to study the present work. Tides and daily wind forcings are incorporated into the MITgcm model to examine their effects on the thermal plume and the water circulation in Nan Wan Bay. The model results reveal that the thermal plume is most likely to disperse to the southwest in summer; it is unlikely to drift to the southeast or northeast because of the presence of gentle southwesterly monsoon. In winter, the thermal plume is most likely to be directed to the southwest but barely visible in the northeast or southeast directions because of prevailing northeasterly monsoon. Additionally, it is worth emphasizing that strong tidal currents generate a pair of counter-rotating eddies that significantly dominate the dispersal of the thermal plume. However, seasonal monsoons also play an essential role in modifying the plume’s direction and dispersion. The model results reveal that the flow field and thermal plume agree well with observational data.

People wore clothes for warmth, survival and necessity in modern life as well but in modern era, eco-friendliness, shorten production time, design, and intelligence also matters. The seamless bonding technology strengthen the bond between fabrics in textiles, while Grey relational analysis (GRA) can be applied to fabrics to measure the relationship between data series and determine the closeness of each data series. In this study, polyurethane prepolymer, 2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA) as an end-capping agent, and n-octyl acrylate (ODA) as a photo-initiator were used to synthesize dual-curing polyurethane hot-melt adhesive. The Taguchi quality engineering and grey relational analysis used to discuss the influence of different mole ratio of NCO:OH, and the effect of the molar ratio of addition of octyl decyl acrylate on the mechanical strength. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results showed the termination of prepolymer's polymerization reaction and the C=O peak intensity at 1730 cm-1 indicating the efficient bonding to main chain. The high molecular weight polymer (20,000-30,000) described by advanced polymer chromatography (APC) confirmed the polyurethane polymer bonded with octyl decyl acrylate to achieve the photo-thermosetting effect. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed the thermal decomposition temperature of polyurethane hot melt adhesive also increased and highest pyrolysis temperature (349.89℃) for the polyhydric alcohols. The high value of shear strength (34.94 kg/cm2) as well as peel strength (1.68 kg/cm) were also observed in dual-cure photo-thermosetting polyurethane hot melt adhesive. The signal-to-noise ratio also used to generate the grey relational degree. It was observed that the best parameter ration of NCO: OH was 4:1 with 5 moles of monomer. The Taguchi quality engineering method was used to find the parameters of single quality optimization, and then the grey relation calculation was used to obtain the parameter combination of multi-quality optimization for thermosetting polyurethane hot melt adhesive. The study aims to meet the requirements of seamless bonding in textile factories and optimized experimental parameter design by setting target values can effectively increase production speed, reduce processing time and costs as well.

In this study, Cu/Ni and Cu/Al multilayer thin films with individual layer thickness varying from 25 nm to 200 nm were deposited at room temperature and further annealed up to 300 ℃. The mechanical and microstructural properties of the multilayers were characterized by nanoindentation, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Both systems exhibited an increase in hardness with increasing annealing temperature. However, the Cu/Ni system showed a gradual and moderate (up to 30%) hardness increase from room temperature to 300 ℃, while the Cu/Al system showed a sharp increase (~150%) between 125℃ and 200℃. This distinct strengthening behavior is attributed to solid solution formation in Cu/Ni and diffusion-activated intermetallic formation in Cu/Al.

Indoor comfort is a critical determinant of the holistic educational experience, significantly influencing the well-being, concentration, and performance of students within the confines of school environments. Despite the widespread implementation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in educational institutions, achieving satisfactory thermal conditions, acceptable acoustics, and optimal daylight levels for occupants continues to pose a considerable challenge. In this review, we specifically delves into the parameters characterizing Italian school environments, recognizing their direct impact on students’learning and concentration. The primary objectives of this review are conducting a thorough examination of the current acustic conditions in Italian schools. The initial phase of our search strategy involved retrieving data from key databases, namely, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Following the elimination of duplicate articles (n = 289), a total of 135 distinct papers remained for analysis. A critical review of the existing literature is presented based on these criteria, offering guidelines and recommendations for forthcoming studies. The critical review underscores various shortcomings in the current design, deployment, and documentation of multi-domain studies, signaling the need for enhanced quality in future research efforts.

To improve the adaptability of aerial reflective opto-mechanical structures to low-temperature environments, an optimized thermal control design is proposed. Firstly, the relationship be-tween conventional heating methods and axial/radial temperature differences of mirrors with different shapes is analyzed. Based on heat transfer analyses, it is pointed out that optimized thermal control design is necessary to ensure the temperature uniformity of the fused silica mirror and take into account the temperature level when working in low temperature environ-ments. A thermal control scheme based on temperature negative feedback variable power zone heating is proposed for the characteristics of aerial electro-optics systems. Using the thermal control scheme at low temperatures ensures that the average temperature of the mirror fluctu-ates slowly and slightly around 20℃. At the same time, the temperature differences within a mirror and between the primary mirror and the secondary mirror can be controlled within 5℃. Thereby, satisfactory image quality is obtained.

This paper aims to study and analyze a new Peltier cell layout using a PCM in biphasic mode, with the liquid phase encapsulating the p-n junctions and the solid one playing the role of heat sink. The selected PCM is an organic compound that operates within a temperature range corresponding to the melting process. The phase change zone encompasses the working temperature of the Peltier cell, avoiding thermal gradient variation across the cell section and maintaining the operating conditions and the cell efficiency. PCM encapsulates the Peltier cell thermocouples, creating a layer that increases the power generation as the thickness reduces. We simulated the performance of the new configuration for different temperature gaps between both sides of the cell, obtaining an improvement in power generation from 1.65 to 7.93. This power increase ratio depends on the temperature gap and transient time to reach the steady working temperature. The control of the layer thickness, transient time, and working temperatures resides in the external heating power source, which varies the operating conditions regulating the heat power and the airflow. Maximum output power from the cell prototype is 36.5 W, while conventional Peltier cells operating in similar conditions produce 7.3 W, which represents a power gain of 500%.

The paper describes and analyzes the performance of a new thermoelectric generation system based on the use of Peltier cells inserted in the ducts of the air conditioning equipment. The hot and cold air streams that flow in the two separated sections of an air conditioning system are used to create a thermal gradient between the two faces of the Peltier cells. Hot and cold air flow inside the A/C unit are driven to a built in thermal chamber where the Peltier cells are placed. Peltier cells are incrusted into an insulation wall that separates the two sections of the chamber through which hot and cold air streams are flowing. The so designed configuration allows the Peltier cells to generate electric current. The study has been run for constant cold air temperature and variable hot air temperature, resulting in a variable performance of the thermoelectric generator. Theoretical study has been completed with experimental tests to determine real performance of the thermoelectric unit. Efficiency of the thermoelectric generator has been found to be linearly dependent on the temperature difference between hot and cold air subsections of the chamber. Maximum efficiency, however, is limited by the hot air stream temperature, since in real conditions ambient temperature cannot overpasses a specific value. For standard operational conditions, 5º C and 45º C for the cold and hot air streams, the thermoelectric generator operates at 44% of the maximum efficiency attainable.

This study aims to tackle the challenge of high noise levels on balconies while preserving natural ventilation. Eight innovative balcony designs, incorporating elements like diffuser edges, undulating ceilings, Helmholtz resonators, grooves, or sound traps, were evaluated via finite element (FE) modeling. The extensive FE studies involved about 10 million elements per analysis case. Results showed that a standard balcony with a front parapet wall could achieve a noise reduction of around 10 dBA, with the jagged ledge design providing an additional 2 dBA improvement. Adding protruded ledge designs led to higher insertion loss (IL) by up to 9.4 dBA, especially at higher stories. Having wall-embedded Helmholtz resonators improved IL by up to 1.5 dBA. The jagged ledge design consistently exhibited positive IL across a broad frequency range from 200 Hz to 2 kHz. Combining beneficial balcony ceilings and wall ledges significantly reduced noise across lower and higher frequency ranges. Front jagged and full wavy ceilings offered positive IL throughout different storeys, proving their effectiveness against human vocal range. This study found that jagged ledge and front jagged ceiling designs, effective across various balcony heights, are viable options for improving balcony noise mitigation, providing valuable insights for architects and designers seeking practical solutions for outdoor noise reduction.

Stratified Taylor Couette Flow (STCF) undergoes transient growth. Recent studies have shown that there exists transient amplification in the linear regime of counter-rotating STCF. It is reported that as Gr increases, the maximum amplification factor ($G_0$) initially decays before it eventually starts growing after reaching a certain critical value Gr$_{c}$. Assuming other parameters of the model are kept constant, the value Gr$_{c}$ changes with respect to different speed ratios of the cylinders. The observed decay/growth pattern of $G_0$ is attributed to the interplay between the induced shear and buoyancy. In this study, the mechanism that triggers this observed pattern is investigated. The kinetic budget of the optimal transient perturbation is analysed numerically to simulate the interaction of the shear production (SP), buoyancy production (BP) and other energy components that contributes to the total optimal transient kinetic energy. These contributions affect the total energy by influencing the perturbation to extract kinetic energy (KE) from the mean flow. The decay of $G_0$ resulted from the positive amplification of both BP and SP, while the growth is attributed to the negative and positive amplification of BP and SP, respectively. The optimal SP is positively amplified, implying that there is the possibility of constant linear growth. These findings agree with the linear growth rate for increasing values of Gr.

The limits for recording weak signals for electrochemical seismic sensors are determined by their self-noise. At the same time, the noise nature is complex and not fully understood. In this work, for the first time, in addition to the frequency dependences of the noise amplitude, the difference in the phases of the noise currents of the cathodes of an electrochemical sensor has been studied. It has been established that at low frequencies the cathode currents change in an-tiphase. As the frequency increases, the phase difference becomes random. At the same time, the frequency at which the phase difference changes depend on the interelectrode distance; the clos-er the electrodes are located to each other, the greater it is. Physically, this effect is explained by the transition from noise caused by the integral flow of the working fluid to noise associated with vortex flows, the size of which depends on frequency. Thus, a new way of studying noise makes it possible to identify its physical nature and develop new methods of reduction.

This study proposes a customized industrial nozzle for generating impulsive air jets. It is installed on an automatic machine where wine caps are stacked and shot consecutively into a rotating cylinder by an air jet. This process is very noisy; hence, this study aimed to investigate possible geometric variations of the nozzle that can reduce the emitted noise. First, the nozzle was tested in a laboratory to measure the air consumption at different supply pressures. Subsequently, 3D models of the nozzle and its variations were created and used for computational fluid dynamics simulations. Different boundary conditions were set, first to validate the model and compare it with the experimental test results, and then to simulate the real working conditions and determine the geometry that is less noisy while maintaining the velocity peak. Among the various possibilities, shortening the final ducts of the nozzle appears to be the most promising solution. These modified nozzles could be easily added to current machines to provide immediate benefits, and this study represents a promising start for action on other machines where this type of device is present.

Recently, the indications for Cochlear Implant (CI) have also been extended to subjects with Single Sided Deafness (SSD) in order to restore binaural hearing. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the advantages of CI following one year of usage in SSD subjects. Secondarily we want to assess the long-term stability of the CI. 57 participants performed a complete audiological assessment (speech audiometry in quiet and in noise and localization test). For each was also evaluated subjective hearing profile (with Speech Spatial and Qualities_SSQ questionnaire) and the impact of tinnitus (with the use of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory_THI questionnaire) After one year of CI usage, we observed a significant improvement in speech-to-noise ratio, in sound localization abilities, in the Speech (p-value 0.001) and Spatial (p-value 0.001) subscales of the SSQ questionnaire and in THI questionnaire (p-value 0.001). The improvements in speech in noise and localization abilities and the reduction of the SSQ and THI questionnaires scores were maintained over time (6th to 60th month follow-up). Only eight participants did not fully utilize the CI. CI in SSD represents an effective method for improving speech recognition in noisy environments, restoring sound localization abilities, reducing tinnitus and improve subjective listening skills.

The main development direction of energy efficiency technologies in construction is the creation of various materials with a complex structure and unique strength, thermal and other properties. The aerogel is a material with high porosity and excellent thermal insulation properties. This paper provides the state-of-the-art of aerogel applications for the additive manufacturing of energy efficient buildings. This work provides the experimental and numerical assessment results of thermal conductivity of aerogel-enhanced blanket, the experimental assessment results of thermal performance of aerogel-enhanced building structure, the experimental assessment results of the aerogel application as mixture powder component of the concrete mixture to printing building and the experimental assessment results of the aerogel application as parget powder component. Experimental results show the effect of aerogel powder component application: thermal conductivity decreased by 25%.

The Advanced Meteorological Image (AMI) onboard GEOKOMPSAT 2A (GK-2A) enables the retrieval of dust aerosol optical depth (DAOD) from geostationary satellites using infrared (IR) channels. IR observations allow the retrieval of DAOD and the dust layer altitude (24 hour) over surface properties, particularly over deserts. In this study, dust events in northeast Asia from 2020 to 2021 were investigated using five GK-2A thermal IR bands (8.7, 10.5, 11.4, 12.3, and 13.3 μm). For the dust cloud, the observed brightness temperature differences (BTDs) of 10.5 and 12.3 μm were found to be always negative, while the BTD of 8.7 and 10.5 μm varies relying on the dust intensity. Making the best use of optical properties, a physical approach for DAOD lookup tables (LUTs) was developed using IR channels to retrieve the DAOD. This study simulated the characteristics of thermal radiation transfer using the forward model and dust aerosols can explain by BTD (10.5, 12.3 μm), which is an intrinsic characteristic of dust aerosol. The DAOD and property of dust can be gained from the brightness temperature (BT) of 10.5 μm and the BTD of 10.5, 12.3 μm. Additionally, the cumulative distribution function (CDF) was employed to strengthen the continuity of 24-hour DAOD, which was applied to the algorithm by calculating the conversion value coefficient for the DAOD error correction of the IR with daytime visible aerosol optical depth (VAOD) as the true value. The results show that DAOD product can be successfully used during both daytime and nighttime to continuously monitor the flow of yellow dust from the GK-2A satellite in northeast Asia. In particular, the validation result of IR DAOD was similar to that of the active satellite product (CALIPSO/CALIOP), which showed a tendency similar to that for IR DAOD at night.

The MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) Florian Goebel telescopes are a system of two Cherenkov telescopes located on the Canary island of La Palma (Spain), at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory, and operating in stereo mode since 2009. Their low energy threshold (reaching 15 GeV) allows the study of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) in the very-high-energy gamma ray range with an impressive sensitivity up to the redshift limit of the existing IACT systems. MAGIC has collected many discoveries and comprehensive studies of different kinds of galaxies and their AGNs, also in a multi-wavelength context, expanding the knowledge of our Universe. Here we report the highlights which have been achieved by the MAGIC collaboration since the beginning of the operations.

The presence of phase diffusion can lead to the loss of the advantages of quantum measurements. Squeezing is considered to be an effective method to reduce the detrimental effect of phase diffusion on the measurement. The Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer has been exploited as a generic tool for precise phase measurement. Describing the reduction in quantum advantage caused by phase diffusion in an MZ interferometer that can be mitigated by squeezing is not easy to handle analytically, because the input state will change from a pure state to a mixed state after experiencing the diffusion noise in the MZ interferometer. We introduce a truncated MZ interferometer that can achieve the same potential phase sensitivity as the conventional MZ interferometer. This scheme can theoretically explain how phase diffusion reduces phase estimation and why squeezing counteracts in the presence of phase diffusion. Using the Gaussian property of the input state and the characteristic of Gaussian operation in the squeezing, the two orthogonal field quantities of the quantum state are squeezed and anti-squeezed to different degrees, and the analytic results are obtained. The truncated MZ interferometer is simpler to build and operate than the conventional MZ interferometer, and also mitigates the phase diffusion noise by the squeezing operation, thus making it useful for applications in precision metrology.

The paper presents the results of experimental studies and mathematical modeling of the effect of stress accumulation in thermosetting epoxy polymer "hot" curing on anhydride hardener. Stress accumulation occurs under cyclic thermomechanical action in a locked rod, similar effects are observed, for example, in thermoplastic elements subjected to the combined effect of mechanical loads and variable temperatures. Experimental results have shown that under cyclic thermomechanical loading during exploitation it is possible to accumulate residual stresses in the thermosetting polymer. A multi-element structural mathematical model with memory for thermomechanical load, which allows to consider the accumulation of residual thermal stresses, has been proposed. The results of modeling and experiment are compared. Based on the results, corrections are made in the approach to the application of this model to thermosetting polymers such as the epoxy resin under study. Considering the corrections, a good agreement (the difference is from 1 to 6%) with the results of experimental determination of stresses under complex cyclic thermomechanical load was obtained.

Development of load-bearing polymer composite constructions in civil engineering, such as industrial chimneys and gas ducts, requires filling some research gaps. These gaps are related to long-term behavior under mechanical and temperature loads, cyclic ones as well. Such conditions mean that viscoelasticity should be considered. First of all, viscoelastic parameters should be calculated, based on the used inner structure model. Then, due to the high working temperatures, thermal aging should be considered as well. This research is devoted to effects of thermal aging on viscoelastic behavior of polymers. Two sets of experiments were conducted: creep tensile tests and cyclic heating in constrained state. The Kelvin-Voigt viscoelasticity model was used to determine the rheological parameters of binder from experimental creep curves. Thermally-aged binder turned out to lose its viscous properties and became elastic. Cyclic heating was used to compare the behavior of normal and thermally-aged binder and to evaluate the possibility of temperature stress accumulation. Similar to creep tests, cyclic heating showed that aged binder lost viscosity and worked almost perfectly elastic. Non-aged binder was prone to stress accumulation much more. As a result, the rheological behavior of aged and non-aged binder was compared and showed a significant difference. In addition, the influence of temperature stress accumulation on stress—strain state was evaluated and turned out to be significant as well. The obtained results can be further used to predict the mechanical behavior of structures made of polymer composites operating for a long time at elevated temperatures, including those exceeding the glass transition temperature.

The two-stage direct thermal contact (2sDTC) process is a rapid dewatering approach for fluid fine tailings (FFT) that is integrated into an oil sands bitumen extraction plant to reduce tailings pond storage and freshwater usage. In the first stage, combustion gas directly contacts atomized FFT, vaporizing water and yielding dry solids and steam-rich hot gas. The second stage involves pond effluent water directly contacting the steam-rich hot gas, recovering heat and condensing moisture. Case studies confirm the technical feasibility of the integration. Benefits include producing a dry discharge, reducing tailings water discharge and conserving an equivalent to 0.2 barrels of freshwater per barrel of oil produced. Most importantly, these benefits incur no additional energy cost to the plant as the integration eliminates the energy penalty and CO2 emissions associated with FFT dewatering. Further capacity enhancement can be achieved by using centrifuge-concentrated FFT. The study reveals that FFT concentrated to ~50 wt% solids could still maintain its pump-ability and be accommodated by the 2sDTC process, leading to an integration which could dewater more FFT annually and conserve more freshwater ( 0.58 barrels per barrel of oil produced), with the sole energy requirement being the power to drive the centrifuge machinery.

Structural systems in housing projects contribute to the energy consumption of buildings during and after construction, and the climate plays a significant role in this energy consumption. Housing projects in harsh environments such in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) directly contribute to energy performance, specifically in low-density residential areas. By selecting the most efficient structural system, prior construction can enhance energy performance in such housing projects. The present study investigates the energy performance of three different structural systems used in UAE national housing: precast concrete, reinforced concrete, and light gauge steel (LGS). The case studies used for this study were constructed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, specifically in Alain city. Second, through qualitative analysis and average annual billing of each housing project, the study identifies the thermal defects and determines the electricity consumptions of each system. The results indicate that the LGS system provides high thermal conductivity through its structural elements whereas reinforced concrete leads to the highest annual energy consumption in kW h/m². Finally, precast concrete has few thermal defects in its junctions and structural elements. The results indicate that LGS and reinforced concrete should be further studied, especially with regard to insulation and improvement, prior to implementation in housing systems.

Carbonate rocks occupy about 6490 km2 in Albania (23% of the country) and the total exploitable karst water resources are estimated in 2.84*109 m3/year (about 65% of the total exploitable groundwater resources in the country, and about 70% of those used for water supply). In addition, karst massifs are very rich in thermal waters, related to the ascending fluids which are essential for the development of hypogenic karstification in the outer Albanides. This type of karst facilitates the circulation regime of deep fluids, which are revealed at the surface through both numerous phenomena of hypogene karst and hot springs. The relatively small Kruja Tectonic Zone is characterized by the presence of SE-NW oriented carbonate structures, rich in thermal sources, and contains more than the 80% of Albania thermal springs. One of its most interesting carbonate structures, for the presence of both cold and thermal waters, is the small karst structure of Makaresh, with a surface of 22 km2. The purpose of this article is to describe the characteristics and factors that affect the quantitative and qualitative formation of cold and thermal groundwater in this massif. Based on the physico-chemical characteristics, groundwaters of the study area are classified in cold and thermal waters. The former are mainly of HCO3-Ca or HCO3-Ca-Mg type (Electrical Conductivity 580-650 μS/cm, Temperature 13.9-16.6° C). Thermal waters are mainly of the Cl-Na-Ca type (EC 7200-7800 μS/cm, T 18.5-22.5° C); further, they are characterized by high hydrogen sulphide concentration, up to about 350 mg/l. The presence of two groundwater types in the Makaresh massif is connected to the presence of two groundwater circulation systems. The main factors of the groundwater physic-chemical quality are the solution of rocks and minerals therein contained, the presence of hypogenic speleogenesis, and the mixing of the groundwater of the two systems. The hydrogeological studies proved that karst rocks contain considerable fresh water resources; the capacity of water wells used for the drinking water supply reaches up to about 50 l/s. Thermal waters are not currently exploited due to their temperature, but they are potentially suitable for thermal uses, by drilling boreholes at depth of about 1000 m.

High-methoxyl apple pectin (AP) derived from apple was employed as the main ingredient facilitating rheological modification features for developing dysphagia-friendly fluidized alimentary matrices. Xanthan gum (XG) was also included as a composite counterpart to modify the viscoelastic properties of the thickened system under different thermal processes. The results indicate that AP is extremely sensitive to thermal processing, and the viscosity is greatly depleted under a neutral pH level. Moreover, the inclusion of calcium ions echoed a modification effect on the rheological properties of AP, and both the elastic property and viscosity value are promoted after thermal processing. The modification effect of viscoelastic properties (Gʹ and Gʹʹ) is observed while XG is incorporated into the composite formula. By promoting the XG ratio from 7: 3 to 6: 4 (AP: XG), it triggers the rheological transformation from a liquid-like form to a solid-like state, and the viscosity value shows that the AP-XG composite system exhibits better thermal stability after thermal processing. The ambient modifiers of pH (pH < 4) and calcium chloride concentration (7.5%) with an optimal AP-XG ratio of 7:3 lead to weak-gel-like behavior (Gʹʹ < Gʹ), helping to maintain the texture properties of dysphagia-friendly features similar to those prior to the thermal processing.

In order to utilize high-alumina coal gangue (HACG) as auxiliary cementitious admixture, it is of fundamental significance to thermally activating Al2O3 effectively in HACG and promoting formation of hydratable products containing Al2O3. In this paper, a new preparation technology is developed to make HACG auxiliary cementitious admixture by thermal activation of HACG-Ca(OH)2 (CH) mixture. HACG powders mixed with 20wt.% CH were calcined within a temperature range of 600-900oC, the thermal transformation and mineral phase formation were analyzed by thermogavimetric analyzer (TGA), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). The hydration reaction between activated HACG-CH mixture and cement was also investigated. HACG experienced a conventional transformation from kaolinite to metakaolin at 600oC and finally to mullite at 900oC. However, CH underwent an unexpected transformation process from CH to CaO, then to CaCO3, and finally to CaO again with increasing calcining temperature. These substances states were associated with dehydroxylation of CH, chemical reaction between CaO and CO2 generating from combustion of carbon in HACG, and decomposition of CaCO3, respectively. It is the formation of a large amount of CaO above 800oC that favors the formation of hydratable products containing Al2O3 in the calcining process and C-A-H gel in hydration process. The mechanical properties of HACG-cement mortar specimens were measured, from which the optimal calcination temperature for preparing HACG auxiliary cementitious admixture was determined to be 850oC. As compared with pure cement mortar specimens, the maximum 28-d flexural and compressive strength of HACG-cement mortar specimens increased by 5.4% and 38.2%, respectively.

The temporo-spatial theory of consciousness postulates that the brain implements its own inner time and space for conscious processing of outside world. In line with this hypothesis, I present a mechanistic model of mutually connected processes that encode the inner space and time. The model is used to elaborate the binding mechanism between two sets of processes representing the inner space and time, respectively. Further, a stochastic version of the model is developed to investigate the interplay between the binding strength and noise. The spectral entropy is used to characterize the noise effects on the systems of processes when the binding strength is varied. The stochastic modeling results reveal that the spectral entropy values for strongly bound systems have similar entropy values for weakly bound or even decoupled systems. Thus, the analysis performed in this study allows to conclude that the binding mechanism is noise-resilient.

Rigid pavements at military airfields experience surface deterioration within 6-18 months of construction. The cause of this degradation is mainly due to combined exposure to repeated heat shocks from jet engine exhaust and spilled aviation oils (hydrocarbons). Surface degradation occurs in the form of disintegration of aggregates and cement paste into small pieces that pose severe risks of physical injury to maintenance crews or damage to an aircraft engine. Since coarse aggregates typically occupy 60-80% of the concrete volume, aggregates' thermal properties and microstructure should play a crucial role in the degrading mechanism. At high temperatures, concrete with lightweight aggregates is reported to have better performance compared to concrete with normal-weight aggregate. Thus, the present study carried out a detailed investigation of the mechanical and thermal performance of lightweight aggregate concrete exposed to the combined effects of high temperature and hydrocarbon oils simultaneously. To identify the resistance of different concrete with various lightweight coarse aggregates, pumice, perlite, lytag (sintered fly ash), and crushed brick were used as lightweight coarse aggregates in concrete. Also, basalt aggregate concrete was used as a reference. After cyclic exposures, all specimens were tested for residual mechanical, thermal, chemical, and microstructural properties. Overall, concrete with crushed brick aggregate and LYTAG used in this study showed superior resistance to the simulated airfield conditions.

Water pollution, intensified by the release of hard-to-degrade pollutants, poses severe threats to ecosystems, human health, and economic development. The existing advanced oxidation processes often involve high operational costs and may result in secondary pollution, highlighting the necessity for innovative and more sustainable solutions. To address these challenges, our study introduces a cost-effective and eco-friendly corona discharge barrier plasma discharger for wastewater treatment. Through the central composite design/response surface methodology, a high decolorization rate of 98% of methylene blue (MB) within 10 minutes was achieved by optimizing parameters such as pH and voltage. Furthermore, the mechanisms of the generation of reactive oxygen species via this device was discussed in detail and the degradation pathways of MB were described. Moreover, this device is also very energy-efficient, with a low energy density and electrical energy per order of 0.15 watt/mL and 5.79 kWh/m³/order, respectively. In conclusion, the plasma discharger developed in this study provides a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution for dye wastewater treatment. This research contributes significantly to the advancement of sustainable dye wastewater management practices, offering an innovative method that meets both environmental and economic objectives.

Negative thermal quenching (NTQ) denotes that the integral emission spectral intensity of a given phosphor increases continuously with increasing temperature up to a certain elevated temperature. NTQ has been a subject of intensive investigation in recent years and a large number of phosphors were reportedly to have exhibited NTQ. In this paper, a collection of results in the archival literature about NTQ of specific phosphors are discussed from a macroscopic viewpoint in the following three aspects:1) Could NTQ of a given phosphor be reproducible?2) Could the associated data for a given phosphor exhibited NTQ be in line with the law of conservation of energy?3) Could NTQ of a given phosphor be demonstrated in a prototype WLED device? By analyzing typical cases based on common sense, it is hoped to increase the awareness for the issues with the papers reporting NTQ of the specific phosphors based on spectral intensity along with for the importance of keeping stability and consistency of the measurement conditions in temperature-dependent spectral intensity measurement which is a prerequisite for the validity of the measurement results.

The development of Al-Ni alloys with a controlled microstructure has had a great impact on the field of study of aluminum-based alloys. In the present research, the influence of thermal parameters on the grain structures resulting from the directional solidification process of Al-Ni alloys with different alloy content has been studied. It has also been evaluated how different structures and the distribution of second phases influence the corrosion behavior and microhardness of alloys. The columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) was observed to occur when the temperature gradient in the melt decreased to values between 1.3 to 2.9 ° C/cm. In addition, a small increase in the microhardness values was observed as a function of the Ni-content. When the Ni-content increase, the resistance to polarization decreases for samples with equiaxed grain structure, throughout the range of compositions studied. Furthermore, the equiaxed grain structure presents higher resistance to polarization values than the columnar grain zone, for alloys with a composition equal to or lower than the eutectic composition.

Discretization in time and in the state space of the system leads to the necessity to solve the parameter identification problems for dynamic systems in a limited time (at a finite time interval) using observations obtained under the influence of unknown-but-bounded noise. Finding the solution in this case is more difficult compared to traditional identification problem setting which considers random independent zero-mean noise. For system parameter identification problem under unknown-but-bounded noise, a randomized stochastic optimization algorithm is given in the paper, estimates for the mean square values of the residuals for a finite observation interval are obtained. An example of application of the given method to the problem of tuning the parameters of a multi-mirror telescope is considered.

This work explores five falling film evaporator (FFE) simulation approaches combined with energy consumption minimization strategies, namely Mechanical Vapor Recompression and Thermal Vapor Recompression (MVR and TVR respectively). Global system analysis and advanced dynamic optimization strategies are then investigated to minimize steam consumption, the cost of steam, the total annualized cost and maximizing product yield. The results indicate that a higher TVR discharge pressure, or MVR compression ratios, along with higher feed temperatures enhance evaporation with but increase operational costs. The most economic option includes three evaporator effects with TVR for achieving 50% product dry mass content. However, for a 35% dry mass content, MVR becomes cost-effective with an 11% reduction in unit electricity prices or a simultaneous 7% drop in electricity prices and a 5% increase in gas-based steam prices. Furthermore, switching from milk powder production to milk concentrates, an annual cost reduction ranging from 10.75 to 44% is achieved. Also, a forecasted 20% (or more) reduction of biomass-based steam cost can lead to lower annual expenditure comparing with the nominal NG-based steam Case. Regarding the total annualized cost, for a new plant design, optimization strategies lead to a 9 - 45% reduction in the total cost depending on the Case under consideration.

Magnesium, as one of the most abundant cation in the human body, plays an important role in both physiological and pathological processes. In this study, it was shown that a promising biomedical material Mg-substituted hydroxyapatite (Mg-HA) can be synthesized via fast mechanochemical method. For this method, the nature of magnesium-contained carriers was shown to be important. When using magnesium oxide as a source of magnesium, the partial insertion of magnesium cations into the apatite structure occurs. In contrast, when magnesium hydroxide or monomagnesium phosphate is used, a single-phase Mg-HA is formed. Both experimental and theoretical investigations showed that an increase in the Mg content leads to a decrease in the lattice parameters and unit cell volume of Mg-HA. Density functional theory calculations showed the high sensitivity of the lattice parameters towards the crystallographic position of the calcium site substituted by magnesium. It was shown experimentally that insertion of magnesium cations decreases the thermal stability of the hydroxyapatite. The thermal decomposition of Mg-HA leads to the formation of a mixture of stoichiometric HA, magnesium oxide and Mg-substituted tricalcium phosphate phases.

As the lifespan of porous asphalt pavement extends, it invariably experiences performance degradation and an increase in tire/pavement noise compared with the original surface when it is newly built. To understand the medium-term performance of porous asphalt pavement during service and reveal the influence of different pavement performance indicators on tire/pavement noise generation, a seven-year continuous observation and data analysis study was conducted. Porous asphalt with different designed material parameters was taken into account, including thin-layer porous asphalt overlay with a maximum nominal aggregate size of 10mm (PUC-10), porous asphalt with a maximum nominal aggregate size of 13mm (PAC-13), and a two-layer porous asphalt incorporating both PUC-10 and PAC-13 (PUC-10+PAC-13). Using automated pavement technology testing equipment, key performance indexes, including damage rate (DR), rut depth (RD), international roughness index (IRI), and sideway force coefficient (SFC), were measured and calculated. The on-board sound intensity (OBSI) method was used to test noise levels in three types of porous asphalt pavement structures and on a dense graded easy compact asphalt concrete (ECA) for comparison. The progressions of the medium-term performances were analyzed according to the measured results. The correlations between tire/pavement noise levels and testing speed, testing lane, pavement structure, and road condition indicators were investigated by regression. The research results revealed that the DR and SFC of the three types of porous asphalt pavement displayed more significant attenuation in the service period, while the IRI and RD showed small changes. Among them, the SFC demonstrated significant attenuation over the first 4 years, decreasing between 13.8% and 17.0%. From the 3-7 years of operation, the transverse crack disease in porous asphalt pavement progressed rapidly. The three porous asphalt pavement structures tested exhibited commendable noise reduction capabilities. Compared to ECA, the OBSI noise levels of these structures were lower by 2.09 dB, 1.53 dB, and 2.88 dB, respectively. Compared to other pavement condition indicators, RD had a more significant impact on the OBSI value of the PUC-10 porous asphalt pavement. For the PUC-10+PAC-13 porous asphalt pavement, there was a significant linear relationship between the OBSI value and SFC, mainly due to polishing of the coarse aggregate surface. It leads to a decrease of the micro-texture, which lies in increasing tire/pavement noise at high-frequency ranges and decreasing SFC. This study will have guiding significance for the research of the attenuated law and durability improvement of porous asphalt tire/pavement noise.

Jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are an important agricultural product worldwide. Despite its high demand in recent years, there are few studies on its production under adverse conditions caused by environmental phenomena. Crops in protected environments such as aeroponics offer greater control of these phenomena and enable efficient use of resources. However, it is necessary to validate the cultivation technique for which new technologies are being used. One of these is the analysis of images captured in the visible and near and far infrared spectrum which involves using non-invasive techniques in order to characterize the growth of a plant and diagnose if it presents any type of stress. This study presents the characterization of vegetative growth and fruiting of jalapeño pepper plants in an aeroponic system, where the root, leaf development parameters and fruits were measured in four jalapeño pepper crops through images of plants captured in the visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR) and far infrared (IR) spectrums. Four crops of thirty jalapeño pepper plants were sown to obtain a total of one hundred and twenty plants which were characterized in the different phases of growth and fruiting. Each of the four jalapeño pepper crops were monitored for sixty days in an aeroponic system in a greenhouse. The first crop was intended to carry out tests to establish the appropriate fertigation times, the next three crops were grown under favorable conditions. Algorithms were developed in Matlab to obtain, over ten image capture sessions, the morphometric and thermal parameters of the roots (perimeter, area, length and average temperature), plants (perimeter, area, height and average temperature), and fruiting. (yield and number of fruits). The statistical analysis was carried out using the ANOVA and Tukey tests considering a value of p ≤ 0.05. The results obtained indicate that there is no significant difference between the characterizations of the four crops. This statement is also supported by the visual analysis of the growth curves parameters of the four crops. In addition, the temperature inside the aeroponic system was contrasted with the ambient temperature and it was verified that the temperature to which the roots are exposed was in the range of 10°C – 20°C. The thermal analysis determined that a plant that presents water stress and is also exposed to high temperatures has an average leaf temperature of 3.7 to 5 °C above the optimal condition for the plant, while a plant with stress at normal temperatures was 1.3 °C higher than the plant without stress.

The article describes the use of microwave irradiation in the synthesis of bis(cyclo carbonate) compounds (BCC) in bulk (without solvent) from carbon dioxide capture using an epoxidized compound - a commercial epoxy resin, and compares this process to the conventional method. CO2 cycloaddition to epoxides is an ecological and efficient method for the formation of bis(cyclic carbonates). Moreover, the introduction of gas into the reaction mixture was carried out at atmospheric pressure with a controlled flow rate, which is advantageous from an economic point of view. Progressive structural changes and the presence of characteristic chemical groups were monitored using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform. The obtained crude products were purified to obtain three fractions, which were subjected to detailed structural analysis using FT-IR and 13CNMR. The formation of the main product with two cyclic carbonates was confirmed. The presence of monomers, dimers and trimers in individual fractions as well as their thermal stability were determined, and the molecular masses in individual fractions were determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

When designing the battery of an electric vehicle, different parameters must be considered to obtain the safest arrangement of the battery/modules/cells from the mechanical and thermal point of view. In this study, the thermal runaway propagation mechanism of lithium-ion cells is analyzed as a function of their arrangement within a battery pack in case of a fire propagation of a battery pack in which a thermal runaway has occurred. The objective is to identify which cell/module arrangement is most critical within the battery pack by microscopic analysis of the structure and chemical composition of the most damaged cells, both horizontally and vertically, of a battery belonging to a burnt vehicle. And their final condition has been compared with the condition of new cells of the same type. In this way the structure and chemical composition of the anode, cathode and separator after Thermal Runaway has been compared. This research has been carried out to obtain information to understand the mechanical properties of lithium-ion cells and their behavior after thermal runaway heating leading to the propagation of a fire. Through the analysis carried out, it is concluded that cells placed in a vertical arrangement have worse behavior than cells in a horizontal arrangement. Regarding the safety of the battery, the results of this study will allow to determine which arrangement and structure of the cells within the battery pack is safer against thermal runaway due to thermal failure.

Wolfenden and his coworkers observed the astronomical numbers for the catalytic proficiency of some enzymes. We connected that pinnacle of biological evolution to the universal thermodynamic evolution. We added or multiplied a random noise with chosen rate constants to explore the correlation between dissipation and enzyme efficiency for ten enzymes: beta-galactosidase, glucose isomerase, β-lactamases from three bacterial strains, ketosteroid isomerase, triosephosphate isomerase, and carbonic anhydrase I, II, and T200H. The turnover number kcat and catalytic efficiency kcat/KM are proportional to the overall entropy production – the main parameter from irreversible thermodynamics. For most enzymes with the Michaelis-Menten type cycle kinetics, the best increase in the forward kcat/KM follows after increasing the equilibrium constant of substrate-enzyme association. The Discussion section emphasizes the role of biological evolution in harvesting order (high enzyme efficiency) from disorder (high noise and dissipation). It also connects the applications of the maximum partial entropy production theorem in optimizing enzyme kinetics (D. Juretić "Bioenergetics - A Bridge across Life and Universe") with the present total entropy production role analysis. De novo enzyme design and various attempts to speed up the rate-limiting catalytic steps may profit from our theoretical insights.

The purpose of this study was to explore and develop high-resolution infrared thermal (HRIT) imaging for screening toddler’s fracture. A Toddler’s fracture is a common tibial fracture of children younger than 6 years old. Initial x-ray radiographs may not show the fracture and another x-ray during a follow-on visit is usually required. The study included 39 participants admitted to an emergency department with a suspected toddler’s fracture. X-ray confirmed 8 cases with a toddler’s fracture (20.5%). Infrared images of participants were recorded on their index visit, focusing on region-of-interests on the injured and the contralateral (uninjured) legs. The uninjured leg acted as a thermal reference. Nine statistical measures were extracted from the images: maximum, mini-mum, mean, standard deviation, median, mode, interquartile range, skewness, and kurtosis. Wilcoxon rank sum test indicated that maximum, mean, standard deviation, median, and inter quartile range temperature measures were significantly different (p<0.05) when comparing fractured and non-fractured legs. Principal component analysis of these measures highlighted distinct separation of toddler’s fracture and non-fracture cases. Similarly, plots of the statistical measures further confirmed clustering of toddler’s fracture cases. The study demonstrated that HRIT imaging can be a valuable tool for screening for toddler’s fracture.

This paper constitutes an original and new methodology for the determination of the surface properties of carbon fibers in the two oxidized and untreated forms by inverse gas chromatography technique at infinite dilution based on the effect of the temperature on the surface area of the various organic molecules adsorbed on the carbon fibers. The studied thermal effect proved a large deviation of the classical methods or models relative to the new determination of the surface properties of carbon fibers, such as the dispersive component of their surface energy, the free surface energy, the free specific energy, the enthalpy and entropy of adsorption of molecules on the carbon fibers. The obtained specific enthalpy and entropy of adsorption for the polar solvents led to the determination of the Lewis’s acid-base constants of carbon fibers. Different molecular models and chromatographic methods were used to quantify the surface thermodynamic properties of carbon fibers and compared to the thermal model. The obtained results proved that the oxidized carbon fibers gave more specific interaction energy and greater acid-base constants than that of the untreated carbon fibers and thus highlighting the important role of the oxidization on the acid-base of fibers. The determination of the specific acid-base surface energy of the two carbon fibers showed greater values of the oxidized carbon fibers relative to the untreated carbon fibers. An important basic character was highlighted for the two studied carbon fibers, larger than the acidic character. It was observed that the Lewis’s acid-base constants of the oxidized carbon fibers are larger than that of the untreated fibers with more accentuated basic charterer. This result was confirmed by all molecular models and chromatographic methods.

The paper presents research results on biocomposites made from a combination of extruded apple pomace (EAP) and potato starch (SP). The products were manufactured by hot pressing using a hydraulic press with a mold for producing samples. The prepared biocomposites were subjected to strength tests, surface wettability was determined and color analysis was carried out. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and cross section observed in Scanning electron microscope (SEM) were also performed. The obtained test results showed that the combination of apple pomace (EAP) and starch (SP) enabled the production of compact bicomposite materials. At the same time, it was found that each increase in the share of starch in the mixture for producing biocomposites increased the strength parameters of the obtained materials. With the highest share of starch in the mixture, 40%, and a raw material moisture content of 14%, the material had the best strength parameters and was even characterized by hydrophobic properties. It was also found that materials with a high content of starch are characterized by increased temperature resistance. Analysis of SEM microscopic photos showed well-glued particles of apple pomace, pectin, gelatinized starch and a smooth external structure of the samples. Research and analyzes have shown that apple pomace reinforced only with the addition of starch can be a promising raw material for the production of simple, biodegradable biocomposite materials.

This paper presents an approach to enhancing the clarity and intelligibility of speech in digital communications compromised by various background noises. Utilizing deep learning techniques, specifically a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) with 2D convolutional filters, we aim to suppress background noise in audio signals. Our method focuses on four simulated environmental noise scenarios: storms, wind, traffic, and aircraft. Training dataset has been obtained from public sources (TED-LIUM 3 dataset, which includes audio recordings from the popular TED-TALK series) combining with these background noises. The audio signals were transformed into 2D power spectrograms, upon which our VAE model was trained to filter out the noise and reconstruct clean audio. Our results demonstrate that the model outperforms existing state-of-the-art solutions in noise sup-pression. Although differences in noise types were observed, it was challenging to definitively conclude which background noise most adversely affects speech quality. Results have been assessed with objective methods (mathematical metrics) and subjective (listening to a set of audios by humans). Notably, wind noise showed the smallest deviation between the noisy and cleaned audio, perceived subjectively as the most improved scenario. Future work involves refining the phase calculation of the cleaned audio and creating a more balanced dataset to minimize differences in audio quality across scenarios. Additionally, practical ap-plications of the model in real-time streaming audio are envisaged. This research contributes significantly to the field of audio signal processing by offering a deep learning solution tailored to various noise conditions, enhancing digital communication quality.

Wildlife monitoring can be time-consuming and expensive, but the fast-developing technologies of uncrewed aerial vehicles, sensors, and machine learning pave the way for automated monitoring. In this study we trained YOLOv5 neural networks to detect Points of Interest, hare (Lepus europaeus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in thermal aerial footage and proposed a method to manually assess the parameter mean average precision (mAP), compared to the number of actual false positive and false negative detections in a subsample. This showed that a mAP close to 1 for a trained model does not necessarily mean perfect detection and provided a method to gain insights into the parameters affecting the trained models' precision. Furthermore, we provided a basic, conceptual algorithm for implementing real-time object detection in uncrewed aircraft systems equipped with thermal sensors, with high zoom capabilities, and a laser rangefinder. Real-time object detection is becoming an invaluable complementary tool for the monitoring of cryptic and nocturnal animals with the use of thermal sensors.

The paper deals with an electrothermal model of a thermoelectric converter dedicated to performing simulations of coupled thermal and electrical phenomena taking place in harvesting processes. The proposed model is used to estimate the electrical energy gain from waste heat that would be sufficient to supply electronic circuits, in particular autonomous battery-less nodes of wireless sensor networks (WSN) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The developed model is not limited to low power electronic solutions such as WSN or IoT; it can also be scaled up and applied to simulations of considerably higher thermal power conversion. In the paper, a few practical case studies are presented that show the feasibility and suitability of the proposed model for complex simultaneous simulation processes, in both electrical and thermal domains. The first example deals with a combined simulation of the electrothermal model of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and an electronic harvester circuit based on Analog Devices’ power management integrated circuit LTC3108. The second example relates to the thermalization effect in heat sink-less harvesting applications that could be mitigated by a pulse mode operation.

This article investigates the source of booming noise emanating from the tailgates of electric vehicles, along with proposed strategies to mitigate it. This study involved the measurement of booming noises during on-road vehicle tests to pinpoint their origins. Additionally, operational deflection shapes (ODS) were extracted from the tailgate vibration signals to gain insight into its dynamic behavior. Modal tests were conducted on the tailgate to determine its dynamic characteristics and compared with driving test results to reveal the mechanism responsible for tailgate-induced booming noise. It was established that such noise is primarily due to the tailgate modes resulting from a combination of rigid body motion in the fore-aft direction and deformation in the central section of the panel. An analytical model of the tailgate was developed using commercial finite element analysis software to propose measures for reducing booming noise. Experimental findings validated the model accuracy. Structural enhancements were implemented to enhance the panel stiffness and improve the connection between the vehicle and tailgate via bushings to dampen the booming noise resulting from tailgate motion. Under random force inputs, analytical results demonstrated a 13.8% reduction in maximum deformation in the tailgate model in the improved structural configuration with increased panel stiffness.

Experimental measurement of porous polypropylene (PP) using the DTC-25 TA laboratory equipment and hot box test has been compared. The thermal conductivity of materials indicates the insulation capability of building materials. Excellent building materials will have a lower thermal conductivities value as well as other building insulator performance metrics. While results show that increasing the volume fraction of fluid in the porous PP has an inverse association with the thermal conductivity of the material as predicted by porous media theories, there is a marked difference in the measured values of the thermal conductivity using the two methods. The thermal conductivity values of porous from DTC-25 and hot box test were 0.21 and 0.0033 W/mK, respectively. The difference in the thermal conductivity values was due to the misapplication of the Fourier’s guarded heat flow model in the DTC-25 device to a convective fluid porous medium material.

A study on the dependence of the thermal conductivity of the percolation network of carbon nanotubes (or CNTs) on the type and degree of functionalization has been carried out. The study was focused on the influence of the more commonly used -COOH, -OH and -СОNH2 groups. A non-linear dependence of the conductivity on the number of functional groups has been revealed. A small number of functional groups can improve conductivity, and a large one can impair it. We presuppose the existence of competing processes that increase thermal conductivity (changes in the CNT geometry, improvement of the contact between them) and enhance photon scattering (emergence of defects and scattering centers). The data can be used for controlling the thermophysical properties of the CNTs as well as determining the optimal degree of functionalization during the development of composites and nanodevices.

This study investigates the effect of Re addition on the microstructure evolution and oxidation resistance of Co-Cr-Ta-Ti-C alloys. The alloys tested in this study consist of a Co-rich matrix with mixed HCP and FCC phases, together with TaTiC2 and Ti-based carbides. The addition of Re promotes the precipitation and growth of a CoCr-rich σ phase. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) showed that the melting temperatures did not change drastically up to 10 at% Re addition, whereas 15 at% Re addition significantly increased the melting temperature of the alloys. Oxidation tests in air at 1200°C showed that excessive Re content could lead to deterioration in oxidation resistance, mainly due to the accelerated formation of volatile Re oxides.

This paper exposes the initial part of a larger research on the impact of the automotive on human health and the quality of life and environment. After a brief introduction on the need for responsible and sustainable approaches and few questions on the subject, some considerations and statistical data are presented, based on a study of the literature on the impact of road traffic and vehicles noise and vibration on people's comfort and health and their quality of life. The research results show, based on official statistics, the significant harmful impact of noise and vibration from motor vehicles and road transport on people's health and quality of life, especially in urban areas during the day. Also, the significant increase in the number of electric and hybrid vehicles from one year to another, a reality and a necessity nowadays, and the awareness that electric vehicles are not perfectly quiet and comfortable, open new research opportunities and require the development of new standards, materials, tools, equipment and test methods in the field of NVH, in a sustained synergistic approach from all stakeholders, to meet the needs and demands of today's consumers, and to comply with existing regulations and standards on environmental protection and sustainable development.

Nanocomposites of cyanate ester resin (CER) filled with three different reactive amino-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) were synthesized and characterized. The addition of a small quantity (0.1 wt.%) of amino-POSS chemically grafted to the CER network led to increasing thermal stability of CER matrix. A significant increase of the glass transition temperature, Tg (DSC data), and the temperature of α relaxation, Tα (DMTA data), by 45-55 оС of CER matrix with loading of nanofillers was evidenced. CER/POSS films exhibited a higher storage modulus than that of neat CER in the temperature range investigated. It was evidenced that CER/aminopropylisobutyl (APIB)-POSS, CER/N-phenylaminopropyl (NPAP)-POSS, and CER/aminoethyl aminopropylisobutyl (AEAPIB)-POSS nanocomposites induced a more homogenous α relaxation phenomenon with higher Tα values and an enhanced nanocomposite elastic behavior. Furthermore, CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites possessed higher specific surface area, gas permeability (CO2, He), and diffusion coefficients (CO2) values than those for neat CER, due to increasing free volume of the nanocomposites studied that is very important for their gas transport properties. Permeability grew respectively by about 2 (He) and 3.5-4 times (СО2), and diffusion coefficient of CO2 increased approximately twice for CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites in comparison with the neat CER network. The efficiency of amino-functionalized POSS in improving the thermal and transport properties of the CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites increased in a raw of reactive POSS containing one primary (APIB-POSS) &lt; eight secondary (NPAP-POSS) &lt; one secondary and one primary (AEAPIB-POSS) amino groups. APIB-POSS had the least strongly pronounced effect, since it could form covalent bonds with the CER network only by reaction of one –NH2 group, while AEAPIB-POSS displayed the most highly marked effect, since it could easily be incorporated into the CER network via reaction of –NH2 and –NH– groups with –O–C≡N groups from CER.

This research investigates the compatibility of conventional air conditioning with the principles of green building, highlighting the need for systems that enhance indoor comfort while aligning with environmental sustainability. Conventional cooling systems, though proficient in regulating indoor temperatures, encounter several issues when incorporated into green buildings. These include energy waste, high running costs, and a misalignment with eco-friendly practices, which may also lead to detrimental environmental effects and potentially reduce occupant comfort, particularly in retrofit situations. Given the emphasis on sustainability and energy conservation in green buildings, there is a pressing demand for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions that support these goals. This study emphasizes the critical need to reconsider traditional HVAC strategies in the face of green building advances. It advocates for the adoption of innovative HVAC technologies designed for eco-efficiency and enhanced comfort. These technologies should integrate seamlessly with sustainable construction, use greener refrigerants, and uphold environmental integrity, driving progress towards a sustainable and occupant-friendly built environment.

Given its exceptional attributes, aerogel is viewed as a material with immense potential. Being a natural polymer, cellulose offers the advantage of being both replenishable and capable of breaking down naturally. Cellulose-derived aerogels encompass the replenish ability, biocompatible nature, and ability to degrade naturally inherent in cellulose, along with additional benefits like minimal weight, extensive porousness, and expansive specific surface area. Even with increasing appreciation and acceptance, the undiscovered possibilities of aerogels within the textile sphere continue to be predominantly uninvestigated. In this context, we outline the latest advancements in the study of cellulose aerogel formulation and their diverse impacts on textile formations. Drawing from the latest studies, we reviewed the materials used for the creation of various kinds of cellulose-focused aerogels and their properties, analytical techniques, and multiple functionalities in relation to textiles. This comprehensive analysis extensively covers the diverse strategies employed to enhance the multi-functionality of cellulose-based aerogels in the textile industry. Additionally, we focused on the global market size of bio-derivative aerogels, companies in the industry producing goods, and prospects moving forward.

The heat generated during the startup process of dry gas seals, such as the friction heat of the asperities, viscous shear heat, and the expansion heat of the gas film, easily leads to seal failure and endangers the stable operation of turbomachinery. This study combines the statistically modified contact model and the average Reynolds equation by considering the adiabatic index and the microscale effects of dry gas seals to explore the heat generation characteristics of dry gas seals formed in series at multiple times. In particular, the change laws and influencing factors among the components, including the friction heat of asperities and the shear heat and expansion heat of the gas film and total heat, are investigated. A comparative analysis indicates that the slip flow effect increases the total heat during the startup process. The friction heat is much greater than expansion heat and shear heat. Despite constant acceleration, exponential acceleration, or Harrision acceleration, the heat changes are uneven during the startup process. In particular, the heat changes sharply in the early stage and gently in the later stage. The Harrision acceleration mode is the most conducive to sealing stability.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have ushered in a technological revolution with their remarkable impact on diverse sectors of our daily lives. These versatile devices known for their outstanding display and lighting capabilities, have become indispensable components in various industries including smartphones, tablets, televisions, and automotive applications. This paper delves into the development of a group of twisted donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) derivatives incorporating bicarbazole and benzophenone structures for potential use as blue emitters in OLEDs. The synthesized compounds, namely DB14, DB23 and DB29, were designed with various alkyl side chains to enhance their film forming properties as for blue emitters. Characterization and evaluation of these derivatives included photophysical, electrochemical, thermal, and electroluminescent analysis. Some of the OLED devices incorporating these emitters demonstrated promising performance with maximum current efficiency (CEmax) of 2.6 cd/A and external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 5.3%. Notably, the DB23 emitter exhibited the highest EQE among all devices. The study also emphasizes the influence of host-guest energy transfer, optimal doping concentrations, and molecular structures on device performance. This research not only contributes to the understanding of advanced OLED materials but also provides insights into designing efficient blue emitters for future display and lighting applications, thereby advancing the field of organic electronics.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/ Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) polymer nanocomposite films have been prepared, and the relationship between their structural, thermal and nanoscale morphologi-cal properties, and their photoluminescent response, has been investigated. Although according to X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) the incorporation of GQDs does not significantly affect the percentage crystallinity of the PVA matrix, for a range of added GQD concentrations, Atomic Force Micros-copy (AFM) showed the formation of islands with apparent crystalline morphology on the surface of the PVA/GQD films, with GQD presumably acting as a nucleating agent for island growth. The incorporation of GQD also led to the formation of characteristic surface pores with increased stiffness and frictional contrast, according to Ultrasonic Force Microscopy (UFM) and Frictional Force Microscopy (FFM) data. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the films were found to de-pend both on the amount of GQD incorporated and on the film morphology. For GQD loads > 1,2wt%, a GQD-related band was observed at ~ 1650 cm-1 in FT-IR, along with an increase in the PL band at lower energy. For a load of ~2wt% GQD, the surface morphology was characterized by extended cluster aggregates with lower stiffness and friction than the surrounding matrix, and the PL signal decreased.

This study investigates the effectiveness of a range of timber-based solutions for seismic and energy retrofitting of existing masonry buildings. These solutions are designed not only to prevent structural collapse during earthquakes but also to create integrated interventions that enhance thermo-physical performance and reduce emissions in existing buildings. Various case scenarios were considered and both mechanical and energetic behavior post-intervention were evaluated. Timber-engineered products serve as foundational components for the retrofit approach, encompassing one-dimensional vertical elements (strong-backs) and various types of panels (cross-laminated timber panels, laminated veneer lumber panels, and oriented strand board panels). The analyzed retrofit techniques share a common principle, involving the attachment of these timber-based elements to the building's wall surfaces through mechanical point-to-point connections. The proposed solutions integrate strong-backs and timber panels with membranes and insulation layers, yielding cohesive and highly effective interventions. Finite element modeling was employed to analyze the mechanical and thermal responses of the retrofitted walls. A comprehensive comparative analysis of various techniques was conducted to determine the most effective solution for each specific scenario.

This study examines the impact of the impregnation of fireclay-based conventional (CC) and medium cement castables (MCC) with liquid sodium silicate glass under vacuum conditions. The goal is to assess how this treatment affects physical, mechanical properties, and durability (alkali and thermal shock resistance) of these castables used in biomass combustion boilers, where they are exposed to temperatures up to 1100°C. The research work employs standard test methods to evaluate physical and mechanical properties. Additionally, advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and specific tests for alkali resistance and thermal shock resistance are used. The research findings suggest that impregnation with sodium silicate glass under vacuum significantly enhances the alkali resistance of both CC and MCC castables. This improvement is primarily due to the reduction in porosity and the increase in density. SEM images reveal that impregnated samples are coated with a glassy layer and the pores are partially filled with sodium silicate. Tests for alkali resistance demonstrate the formation of a protective glassy layer (with a thickness of 0.9-1.5 mm) on the castables surfaces, thereby reducing further penetration of alkali into deeper layers of the samples. However, it is important to mention that impregnated refractory castables have reduced resistance to thermal shock cycles.

Reducing meat consumption is better for the environment. Unfortunately, commercial plant-based meat substitutes are often more expensive than meat and thus have not seen widespread adoption. This paper analyzes commercially-available spirulina, soy, pea, and brown rice protein isolates characteristics to provide data for non-meat protein cost reductions. Thermal and rheological properties, viscosity, density, and particle size distribution are analyzed for further study on alternative protein-based food processing. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis produced dry amorphous-shaped curves and paste curves with a more distinct endothermic peak. Extracted linear temperature ranges for processing in food production for spirulina was 70-90ºC; soy protein was 87-116ºC; pea protein was 67-77ºC; and brown rice protein was 87-97ºC. Viscosity analysis determined each protein material was shear-thinning and that viscosity increased with decreased water concentration, with rice being an exception to the latter trend. The obtained viscosity range for spirulina was 15,100-78,000cP; soy protein was 3,200-80,000cP; pea protein was 1,400-32,700cP; and brown rice protein was 600-3,500cP. The results indicate that extrusion is a viable method for further processing of the protein isolates as this technique has a large temperature operating range and variable screw speed. Data provided here can be used to make single or multi-component protein substitutes.

The present paper is aimed at presenting an updated review of prediction methods for the aerodynamic noise of ducted rotor-stator stages. Indeed, ducted rotating-blade technologies are in continuous evolution and increasingly used, for both aeronautical propulsion units, power generation and air conditioning systems. Different needs are faced, from the early design stage to the final definition of a machine. Fast-running, approximate analytical approaches and high-fidelity numerical simulations are considered as the best suited tools for each, respectively. Recent advances are discussed, with emphasis on their pros and cons.

Traditional graphene-based films normally possess high thermal conductivity (TC) only along single direction, which is not suitable for thermal interface materials (TIMs). Here, a graphene film with excellent bidirectional TC and mechanical properties was prepared by hot-pressing super-elastic graphene aerogel (SEGA). Thermal annealing at 1800℃ improves the further restacking of graphene sheets, bring the SEGA high structure stability for enduring the hot-pressing process. The junctions and nodes between the graphene layers in the hot-pressed SEGA (HPSEGA) film provide bidirectional heat transport paths. The in-plane TC and through-plane TC of HPSEGA film with thickness of 101μm reach 740 Wm-1K-1 and 42.5 Wm-1K-1, respectively. In addition, HPSEGA film with higher thickness still maintains excellent thermal transport properties due to the interconnected structure reducing the effect of the defects. The infrared thermal images visually manifest the excellent thermal-transfer capability and thermal dissipation efficiency of the HPSEGA films, indicating the great potential as advanced bidirectional TIMs.

Grouting materials with good insulation and reinforcement performance are key factors in solving the temperature control problem of high temperature tunnels using curtain grouting, while existing grouting materials cannot balance their working performance and insulation performance in high-temperature environments. In response to the above issues, this article uses red mud to prepare high ground temperature red mud based grouting materials (RMGS), and conducts tests on the working performance (viscosity, setting time, compressive strength) and insulation performance (thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity) of grouting materials at different temperatures (20, 40, 60, and 80 ℃), and analyzes the variation patterns and micro mechanisms of various characteristics with temperature. The results indicate that an increase in temperature will accelerate the viscosity development and condensation of the grouting material, and lead to a decrease in thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity. In addition, an appropriate temperature can also improve the compressive strength of the material. The increase in temperature will accelerate the hydration reaction rate of the grouting material and the development of internal pores, which is the reason why temperature affects the performance of the grouting material. In engineering applications, cement slurry is suitable for static water grouting, cement-sodium silicate slurry is suitable for dynamic water grouting, and RMGS is suitable for high-temperature tunnel grouting.

In this study, the effect of ZnO nanoparticles (Zn NPs) on the performance of epoxy resin composites was investigated. The new ZnO/epoxy resin composites were synthesized using halloysite nanotubes (HNT) and different types of ZnO nanoparticles (commercial ZnO and ZnO-ODTES). These ZnO nanoparticles were utilized for intending to enhance the interfacial bonding between the epoxy resin and the reinforcement. Various methods such as FTIR, TGA, DSC, TEM-EDX, and Nanoindentation analyses were used to prove that the ZnO nanoparticles can improve the properties of epoxy resin composites. The thermal properties of the epoxy resin composites were enhanced to a greater extent by the addition of ZnO NPS. DSC testing proved that the epoxy resin composites modified with ZnO NPS are more flexible and elastic than unmodified epoxy resin. It was seen that the epoxy resin modified with ZnO-ODTES shows a much improved hardness and penetration depth compared to the other samples. These findings can pave the way for the developing of ZnO-based marine coatings with improved properties.

Understanding the origins of life involves dealing with the unresolved question of how the first informational polymers and cell-like structures emerged from prebiotic chemistry. The formation of thermal proteinoids through the heating of mixtures of amino acids, leading to the spontaneous formation of protocells enclosed by membranes, presents a compelling model for the synthesis of polypeptides in an abiogenic context. Recent research has revealed the presence of electrical excitability and signal processing capacities in proteinoids, indicating the possibility of primitive cognitive functions and problem-solving capabilities. The present study provides a comprehensive examination of the features shown by heat proteinoids and their potential significance in the context of the artificial formation of polypeptides during the early stages of Earth’s development. Experiments showcasing the possibility for unconventional computing with proteinoids as well as modelling proteinoid assemblies into synthetic proto-brains are given. Proteinoids’ robust abiogenic production, biomimetic features, and computational capability shed light on potential phases in the evolution of polypeptides and primitive life from the primordial environment.

When wood is thermally modified, several chemical reactions take place that change the chemical and physical properties of the wood. These changes correlate with the degree of modification, which is mostly a function of temperature and duration of modification, and consequently with a mass loss during this process. There is a lack of standardized quality control to verify the degree of heat treatment of wood and thus its quality. One of the possible methods to check the degree of thermal modification of a particular type of wood is thermogravimetry (TG). It is based on the assumption that processes that did not take place during thermal modification continue when the TG experiment is carried out. In this method, calibration curves have to be established based on TG measurements of standard samples that have been thermally modified at different temperatures and whose mass loss during modification is known. The calibration curves show the mass loss during the TG measurement as a function of the mass loss during the previous thermal modification. The course of thermal decomposition during the TG measurements is influenced by many parameters, such as the mass of the sample, the heating rate, the atmosphere in which the measurement takes place, and the shape of the crucible in which the sample is placed. In this paper, the influence of these parameters on the calibration curves was investigated. We have focused on oak wood. The best parameters result in a calibration curve with the largest correlation coefficient R2 and the highest slope of the line k. On this basis, we can determine the mass loss during thermal modification of unknown samples of the same wood species under the same measurement conditions.

The efficiencies of conventional triple organic Rankine cycle (TORC) configurations are restricted by the low critical temperatures of common working fluids (＜320 °C). This paper proposes a high-temperature TORC system. A near-azeotropic mixture biphenyl/diphenyl oxide (BDO), which has stellar track record in the high-temperature ORC applications, is innovatively adopted as the top and middle ORC fluid simultaneously. The top cycle evaporation temperature is up to 400 °C in view of BDO’s high stability. Five conventional organic fluids are chosen for the bottom ORC. Fundamentals of the TORC system are illustrated, and mathematical models are built. Thermo-economic performance is investigated. The results hint that the optimal thermodynamic property is achieved on the use of benzene as the bottom fluid. The maximum thermal and exergy efficiencies are respectively 40.86% and 74.14%. The largest irreversible loss occurs inside the heat exchanger coupling the middle and bottom ORCs, accounting for above 30% of the total entropy generation. The levelized energy cost (LEC) is 0.0284 $/kWh. Given the same heat source condition, the TORC system can boost efficiency by 1.02% and drive down LEC by 0.0024 $/kWh compared with a BDO mixture-based cascade ORC.

Road-embedded inductive power transfer (IPT) systems have the potential to accelerate the electrification of the transportation sector. For these systems to be economically viable however, they need to have a similar durability and lifespan compared to that of asphalt roads. One area that has lacked investigation is thermally induced stresses in a primary IPT pad, which is caused by the increase in temperature of the pad when it is energized and the differing thermal expansion of the materials within. This paper presents an experimental and a finite-element based methodology for investigating the thermal-mechanical behaviour of a ¼-scale double-D pad, which was energized while suspended in air, as well as energized when embedded in pavement. A focus was placed on the measurement and prediction of strains in the magnetic ferrite cores because of their brittleness. Ferrite strains were measured using a combination of resistive strain gauges and non-metallic Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors. Coupled electromagnetic-thermal-structural simulations were conducted to predict temperature and strains in the system, with temperature-dependent properties obtained through physical testing. At an ambient temperature of 50°C, the temperature in the middle of the copper litz wire coil was predicted to be 100°C in both the suspended and embedded case. There was excellent correlation to experimental results, with a difference of less than 10% for most temperature measurements. When energized, the pad was predicted to experience an upward bow due to its temperature rise, resulting bending strains in the ferrite cores. At an ambient temperature of 50°C, maximum tensile strain in the ferrites of the embedded pad was measured to be 62 microstrain (με), with a root-mean square error that was 18 με across three sensors. The experimental and validated numerical methodology can be applied to full-scale operational IPT pads to analyse and improve their thermal-mechanical performance.

The (benzylthio)acetic acid (HBTA) and some aminopyrimidines, namely 2-aminopyrimidine (2-AP), 5-aminopyrimidine (5-AP), 2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine (2-A-4,6-DMP) and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (2,4,6-TAP), were successfully embodied as structural units into the construction of a total of four novel supramolecular organic frameworks. The received crystalline solids were inspected by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC XRD) in order to obtain insight into the structural and supramolecular facets. The SOFs deriving from 2-AP, 5-AP as well as 2-A-4,6-DMP crystallize in the form of true co-crystals (1-3), while the one originating from 2,4,6-TAP crystallizes as salt solvate (4). The SC XRD results indicated the different contents of structural residues present in the asymmetric units of the crystals 1-4 despite the using the same molar ratio of molecular co-formers in each case. The molecular structures of co-crystals 1-3 consist of either one neutral residue of each starting components (1 and 3) or a half nonionized residue of aminopyrimidine ingredient and one neutral residue of acidic specie (2). The asymmetric unit of salt solvate 4 is composed of two ionized residues of each co-former (two 2,4,6-TAP+ cations and two BTA- anions) and one MeOH solvent molecule. The most extensive H-bonding network is observed in the crystal structure of salt solvate 4. The relevant molecular ingredients in co-crystals 1-3 are mainly hold together by the neutral Ocarboxylic–H···Npyrimidine and Namine–H···Ocarboxylic H-bonds. In the case of aggregate 4, the corresponding ionic residues are predominantly sustained by the charged-assisted Npyrimidinium–H···Ocarboxylate and Namine–H···Ocarboxylate hydrogen interactions. The MeOH solvent incorporated into the crystal lattice of adduct 4 is also involved in H-bonding by simultaneously serving as the single donor in OMeOH–H···S and the single acceptor in Namine–H···OMeOH H-bonds afforded the structural diversity within the 2,4,6-TAP+ cations and BTA- anions. Other weaker sets of additional non-covalent contacts existing in the crystal structures of analyzed conglomerates are involved in the self-assembly, stabilization and expansion of total supramolecular organic frameworks. The fact of the formation of non-covalent bonded supramolecular organic frameworks in question is also reflected in corresponding results obtained through elemental analysis (EA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT−IR) and thermal analysis (TG/DSC).

We present multi-sensor measurements from satellites, unmanned aerial vehicle, marine radar, thermal profilers and repeated conductivity-temperature-depth casts made in the Kara Gates strait connecting the Barents and the Kara Seas during spring tide in August 2021. Analysis of the field data during an 18-hour period from four stations evidence that a complex sill in the Kara Gates is the site of regular production of intense large-amplitude nonlinear internal waves. Satellite data show a presence of a relatively warm northeastward surface current from the Barents Sea toward the Kara Sea attaining 0.8-0.9 m/s. Triangle-shaped measurements of three thermal profilers revealed pronounced vertical thermocline oscillations up to 40 m associated with propagation of short-period nonlinear internal waves of depression generated by stratified flow passing a system of shallow sills in the strait. The most intense waves were recorded during the ebb tide slackening and reversal when the background flow was predominantly supercritical. Observed internal waves had wavelength of ~100 m and travelled northeastward with phase speeds of 0.8-0.9 m/s. The total internal wave energy per unit crest length for the largest waves was estimated to be equal to 1.0-1.8 MJ/m.

High-performance insulation and airtight building envelopes are the two most important factors to optimize the building energy efficiency and thermal performance. However, thermal performance of building envelopes can be significantly affected by thermal bridging. Thermal bridges can take place at different locations of the building envelope, causing added transmission losses, increasing heat flow, lower inner surface temperatures. Thermal bridges are regarded in all national regulations for new buildings of all states of European Union (EU) but there are no specifications assessing balconies to wall junctions and the impact on the building thermal performance is not well regulated. In this paper, balcony to wall thermal bridge assessment using infrared thermography is highlighted. The originality is that, infrared thermography, has been applied to a real living latest building in the north east of France showing that there is noncompliance in the national regulations as some exigencies are not met. Thermography of thermal break windows and window doors has also revealed air leakage. The goal, is to illustrate that thermal imaging is a means of quality assurance to new building specifications and should include a clause specifying quality assurance procedure for balconies junction in national building regulations for all states if the EU.

Due to the complexity of the microstructure of porous media, it is of great significance to explore the heat transport mechanism in porous media in many engineering applications. In this study, an expression for effective thermal conductivity（ETC） of porous media with randomly distributed damaged tree-like bifurcation networks is derived based on the theory of thermodynamics and fractal features of tree-like bifurcation networks. We investigate the effect of heat conduction and heat convection in porous media with randomly distributed damaged tree-like bifurcation networks on the ETC of the porous media. It is found that our fractal model is in good consistency with the existing available experimental data. In addition, the influence of the micro-structural parameters of the model on heat transfer in the porous media have been analyzed in detail. The research results can provide significant theoretical guidance for the development and design of heat transfer systems.

Spinal metastatic tumors are common and often cause debilitating symptoms. Image-guided percutaneous thermal ablation (IPTA) has gained significant recognition in managing spinal column tumors due to its exceptional precision and effectiveness. Conventional guidance modalities, including computed tomography, fluoroscopy, and ultrasound, have been important in targeting spinal column tumors while minimizing harm to adjacent critical structures. This study presents a novel approach utilizing a fusion of Cone Beam Computed Tomography with Magnetic Resonance Imaging to guide percutaneous thermal ablation for four patients with secondary spinal column tumors. The visual analog scale (VAS) evaluated procedure effectiveness during an 18-month follow-up. Percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed in two cases, and a thermostat was used during all procedures. Imaging was performed using the Stealth Station navigation system Spine 8 (SSS8) and a 1.5T MRI machine. The fusion of CBCT with MRI allowed precise tumor localization and guidance for thermal ablation. Initial results indicate successful tumor ablation and symptom reduction, emphasizing the potential of CBCT-MRI fusion in spinal column tumor management. This innovative approach is promising in optimizing therapy for secondary spinal column tumors. Further studies are necessary to validate its efficacy and applicability.

Audio recording in classrooms is a common practice in educational research, with applications ranging from detecting classroom activities to analysing student behaviour. Previous research has employed neural networks for classroom activity detection and speaker role identification. However, these recordings are often affected by background noise that can hinder further analysis, and the literature has only sought to identify noise with general filters and not specifically designed for classrooms. Although the use of high-end microphones and environmental monitoring can mitigate this problem, these solutions can be costly and potentially disruptive to the natural classroom environment. In this context, we propose the development of a neural network model that can specifically detect and filter out background noise in classroom recordings. This model would allow the use of lower quality recordings without compromising analysis capability, thus facilitating data collection in natural educational environments and reducing the costs associated with high-end recording equipment.

This article aims to assess, discuss and analyze the disturbances caused by electromagnetic field (EMF) noise of medical devices used nearby living tissues, as well as the corresponding functional control via the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of these devices. These are minimally invasive and non-ionizing devices allowing various healthcare actions involving monitoring, assistance, diagnosis and image-guided medical interventions. Following to an introduction of the main items of the paper, the different imaging methodologies are conferred, accounting for their nature, functioning, employment condition and patient comfort and safety. Then the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) components and their fields, the consequential MRI-compatibility concept and possible image artifacts are detailed and analyzed. Next, the MRI-assisted robotic treatments, the possible robotic external matter introductions in the imager, the features of MRI-compatible materials and the conformity control of MRI-compatibility, are analyzed and conferred. Afterward, the embedded, wearable and detachable medical devices, their EMF perturbation control and their necessary shielding protection technologies are presented and analyzed. Then, the EMC control procedure, the EMF governing equations, the body numerical virtual models, are conferred and reviewed. A qualitative methodology, case study, simple example illustrating the mentioned methodology is presented. The last Section of the paper discussed potential details and expansions of the different notions conferred in the paper, in the perspective of monitoring the disturbances due to EMF noise of medical devices working near living tissues.

This article addresses the need to know the thermal conductivity in different filaments that this FDM technology uses. Because there are multiple applications that these additive manufacturing products play in the field of thermal insulation. For the study of thermal conductivity, the DTC-25 commercial conductivity measurement bench is used, where the tests will be carried out on a set of seven different materials with 100% fabrication density. From base materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polylactic acid (PLA), materials of high mechanical and thermal resistance, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and high-performance polyetherimide thermoplastic (ULTEM), to materials with metal inclusions (aluminum 6061) that would later be subjected to thermal aftertreatments. The study shows how the parts manufactured with aluminum inclusion have a higher thermal conductivity, 0.40 ±0.05 W/m·K, compared to another material, such as TPU, of high mechanical and thermal resistance, with a conductivity of 0.26 ±0.05 W/m·K.

In Geo Polymer bricks (GPB), fly ash content which is a waste from power plants is converted into bricks by chemical treatment. GPB can be dried by using appropriate curing methods. Conven-tionally electric oven curing is one of the prominent methods. Using solar dryer instead of elec-trical oven gives added advantage of saving high grade electrical energy. So in this work solar dryer with PCM (Phase Change materials) Paraffin Wax and without PCM is used for curing ap-plication. GPB are gaining added advantage when compared to conventional bricks like cement and sand bricks in terms of strength. GPB has been taken as specimen for comparing the com-pressive, tensile split strength and flexural strength by electrical energy based curing and solar energy based curing. It is experimentally observed that solar energy based curing with PCM and without PCM exhibits higher compressive strength, higher tensile split strength and flexural strength when compared to electrical energy based curing. Solar curing with PCM shows higher compressive strength, higher tensile split strength and flexural strength when compared to Solar curing without PCM. Open solar curing is a traditional technique but nowadays aggressive cli-matic conditions can lead to severe damage of Geo polymers. The novelty of this work is to suggest to study the effect of PCM like paraffin wax in solar drying on curing time, mechanical properties of GPB.

The transition of the energy system to renewable sources means the cheap energy storage in fossil fuels must be replaced by other options. A large part of the demand for useful energy is heat and cold, often produced from electric energy by a resistance heater, compression heat pump or cooler. The question is then to store the initial electric energy by electric energy storage (EES) or the useful energy by thermal energy storage (TES). In a desktop study both options were compared, by the choice made in existing applications, and also generally analyzing current technology data. For the latter, cost, round-trip efficiencies, life cycles and life time of EES, specifically for batteries, and of TES, specifically for hot and cold water, ice and other PCM were collected. Applications studied are heating and cooling in buildings and in industry. Application-typical conversion efficiencies were also collected and taken into account. The results show that in many existing installations TES, incl. by PCM, is already preferred, and that TES is advantageous in most investigated applications economically, in addition to technical advantages. Thus, TES has a large potential in the transition of the energy system to stabilize the electricity grid by demand side management.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is common in the elderly. This paper introduces the overview of Alzheimer's disease and the application of relevant signal processing methods in its detection. Signal processing is a technique that converts raw data into meaningful information and is widely used in the medical field. This paper lists common signal processing techniques, including Fourier transform, time-frequency analysis and statistical signal processing, and discusses their applications in the detection of Alzheimer's disease. Fourier transform can convert time domain signals into frequency domain representations, providing an effective tool for the study of EEG in Alzheimer's disease. Time-frequency analysis can perform a combined time and frequency analysis of the signal to help detect the signal characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. Statistical signal processing methods can be used to identify the features of Alzheimer's disease by building mathematical models. Finally, the challenges of Alzheimer's disease detection are discussed, including signal noise, diversity, and insufficient data volume. Through in-depth research and development of signal processing methods, it is expected to improve the accuracy and efficiency of early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

1960s Europe saw a large number of residential neighborhoods built to house those migrating from the countryside. Today, more than 50 years later, these neighborhoods suffer high levels of functional, social, and technical obsolescence. In response to this, University of Seville developed the Aura Strategy as an intervention methodology to find global solutions to issues in outdated neighborhoods. To provide visibility to this aspect of the Aura strategy, the retrofit proposal presented in this article provides a solution to improve the roofing of buildings in a case study neighborhood (Polígono de San Pablo, Seville) and an analysis of the results in terms of energy and financial savings for local residents. The results show that for a population of roughly 18,000 (in 2018), net savings, including energy and retrofitting costs, ranging from nearly 6.5 to over 8.6 million can be made over the 20-year life cycle span. Likewise, the results obtained on the reduction of thermal loads indicate a 72% decrease in energy consumption, equivalent to a saving of close to 4,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions for the district and the entire life cycle time period, with the consequent benefits on the impact on air quality and and the fight against climate change. climate change.

High Vacuum Flat Plate Collectors (HVFPCs) are the only type of Flat Plate Thermal Collectors capable of producing thermal energy for middle-temperature applications (until 180 °C). As the trend of research plans to develop new Selective Solar Absorbers to extend the range of HVFPC application until 250 °C, it is necessary to correctly evaluate the collector efficiency up to such temperature to predict the energy production accurately. We propose an efficiency model for these collectors based on the selective absorber optical properties. The proposed efficiency model explicitly includes the radiative heat exchange with the ambient, which is the main source of thermal losses for evacuated collectors at high temperatures. It also decouples the radiative losses that depend on the optical properties of the absorber adopted from the other thermal losses due to HVFPC architecture. The model has been validated by applying it to MT-Power HVFPC manufactured by TVP-Solar, and it has been used to predict the efficiency and energy production of HVFPC equipped with new, optimized selective solar absorbers developed in recent years.

The effect of Localized Surface Plasmon (LSP) of 5 nm mean size Au particles deposited on TiO2 P25 was investigated during the photo-thermal water gas shift reaction (WGSR). The effects of CO concentration, excitation light flux and energy, and molecular oxygen addition during the reaction were investigated. The photocatalytic WGSR rate under light excitation with wavelengths extending from 320 to 1100 nm was found to be higher than the thermal reaction alone at the same temperature (85 oC). A ratio H2/CO2 of near unity was found at high concentrations of CO. Addition of molecular oxygen during the reaction resulted in a slight decrease of molecular hydrogen production while the rates of CO2 formation and that of CO consumption changed by one order of magnitude. More important, it was found that the WGSR rates were still high under only visible light excitation (600 - 700 nm). The results prove that Au LSP alone triggers this chemical reaction without the need to excite the semiconductor on which they are deposited.

The extent of micro-phase separation in polyurethanes (PUs) depended on the molecular weight, the chemical nature and the structure of the polyol/soft segments. Balanced properties in PUs were obtained by using blends of polyols during synthesis. No previous studies have been devoted to understand the interactions between the soft segments that affect the properties of the PUs. In this study, different blends of two polyols of different nature (polyester – PE - and polycarbonate diol - CD) and similar molecular weight were prepared and their structural, thermal, surface, viscoelastic and self-adhesion properties were assessed. PE showed larger number of structural repeating units and higher number of polar groups than CD, but the carbonate-carbonate interactions in CD were stronger than the ester-ester interactions in PE. The blending of CD and PE imparted synergic structural properties, particularly in the ones containing less than 50 % PE, they were associated to the disrupt of carbonate-carbonate interactions in CD and the formation of new ester-carbonate and hydroxyl-carbonate interactions. Therefore, higher glass transition temperatures, a new diffraction peak at 2θ = 24°, one additional thermal degradation at 426-436 °C, and less steeper decline of the storage moduli to lower temperature were found in CD+PE blends with less than 50 wt.% PE. Furthermore, the different interactions between the polyol chains in the blends were also evidenced on their surface properties, and all CD+PE blends showed self-adhesion property which seemed related to the existence of ester-carbonate and carbonate-carbonate interactions.

Many studies on magnetorheological fluid (MRF) have been carried out over last three decades several salient advantages such as fast phase change, easy control of the yield stress and so forth. Especially, several review articles of MRF technology have been reported for last two decades summarizing the development of MRFs and their applications. As specific examples, the review articles including the optimization of the particles and carrier liquid to achieve minimum off-state viscosity and maximum yield stress at on-state, the formulation of many constitutive models in-cluding Casson model and Herschel-Bulkley (H-B) model, the sedimentation enhancement using additives and nanosized particles, many types of dampers for automotive suspension and civil structures, medical and rehabilitation devices, MRF polishing technology, the methods of mag-netic circuit design, and the synthesis of various controllers have been published. More recently, the effect of the temperature and thermal conductivity on the properties of MRFs and application systems are actively being investigated by several works. However, there is no review article on this issue so far despite of that the thermal problem is one of crucial factors to be seriously con-sidered for the development of advanced MRFs and commercial products of application systems. In this work, studies on the thermal conductivity and temperature in MRFs themselves and tem-perature-dependent application systems are reviewed, respectively, and principal results are summarized emphasizing on the followings: how to reduce the temperature effect on the field-dependent properties of MRFs and how to design application system to minimize the thermal effect. It is noted here that the review summary is organized in a chronological format using tables.

This study tests the utilization of Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones in improving the quality of eye exams in patients with hearing loss. University of Texas Medical Branch patients above 55 years of age were screened for hearing loss using SoundCheck audiometry. All 29 subjects (18 red-zone and 11 yellow-zone) answered pre-recorded Amsler grid and patient education questions that solicited precise responses. As controls, subjects were randomly administered half of the questions via headphones and half via a smartphone at normal speech volume (60 decibels). Points were awarded for responses demonstrating comprehension, and a post-exam survey was collected. Collectively, the mean score was 1.79 with headphones versus 0.96 with control on the Amsler grid segment and 1.90 with headphones versus 0.97 with control on education questions (p=0.001). Between the red and yellow zone hearing loss patients, the red-zone group answered significantly better in both Amsler (1.78 versus 0.50; p=0.0003) and education questions (1.88 versus 0.44; p&lt;0.0001) with headphones. The yellow zone group answered better with headphones overall but failed to reach significance. Post-exam survey indicated that 28 of 29 patients (97%) preferred the headphones during ophthalmic exams. Patients with severe hearing loss demonstrated better comprehension with the noise-canceling headphones; thus these devices show great promise in improving effective, compassionate communication between providers and hearing-loss patients.

For the eutectic molten PbBi alloy, we tested the additive properties of density, sound velocity, compressibility and dynamic viscosity of this alloy in the temperature range 600 – 1200 K. All these values can be represented as a mass-weighted sum of the corresponding values of pure lead and bismuth in the temperature range 600 – 1000 K within the limit of experimental errors. In the temperature range 800 – 900 K, we found that interatomic forces in the eutectic increase with temperature, which is caused by a decrease in the size of accumulations of atoms, clusters, of melt. A decrease in the size of clusters is accompanied by an increase in bonds between atoms within the clusters, which make them more stable.

Lots of efforts are made to optimize spectrum quality used for indoor farming to maximize artificial light utilization and reduce water loss. For such an improvement, green (G) light supplementation to a red-blue (RB) background was successfully employed in our previous studies to restrict both non-photochemical thermal dissipation (NPQ) and stomatal conductance (gs). At the same time, however, the downregulation of NPQ and gs influences the leaf temperature (Tleaf) in opposite ways. Thus, to elucidate which factor plays a more prominent role in Tleaf regulation and whether such response is temporal or permanent we investigated the correlation between NPQ or gs and the subsequent Tleaf. To this end, we analysed tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Malinowy Ozarowski) grown solely under monochromatic LED lamps (435, 520, or 662 nm; 80 µmol m–2 s–1) or under mixed RGB spectrum (1:1:1; 180 µmol m–2 s–1), and simultaneously measured the gs and Tleaf with an infrared gas analyser and thermocouple or employed infrared thermal camera (FLIR) during thermal imaging analyses. Results documented that growth light quality significantly modified the Tleaf, and such response is not temporal. Furthermore, we found that plants' actual adaxial leaf surface temperature is more closely related to NPQ amplitude, while the temperature of the abaxial surface corresponds to gs.

In recent years, the genesis of natural gas and the definition of major gas source rocks in the Baiyun Sag of the Pearl River Mouth Basin have attracted extensive attention from scholars. There is still considerable controversy over the genesis and the main gas source rocks of natural gas. In this study, the chemical kinetics method of natural gas generation and carbon isotope fractionation was used to study the generation history and isotope evolution history of Paleogene natural gas in the Y5 well area located on the north slope of Baiyun Sag. And other geochemical discriminant methods were applied simultaneously to determine the type and source rocks of natural gas. The results show that the natural gas in the Y5 well area on the northern slope of Baiyun Sag is mainly kerogen degradation gas, mixed with a small amount of oil cracking gas. The mixture of kerogen degradation gas and a small amount of crude oil cracking gas caused the inversion of the carbon isotope sequence of ethane and propane. The natural gas in the Y5 well area mainly comes from delta–shallow lacustrine facies source rock. The high–quality reservoirs in the shallower strata accumulate natural gas generated in the early stage, and the tight reservoirs in the deeper strata mainly accumulate natural gas generated in the late stage.