Search Results (635)

Renewable energy sources such as hydropower are important to reduce the global emissions. Hydropower, however, comes with other environmental challenges by altering the ecological conditions in the rivers. Hydraulic models connected with fish habitat models could be one tool to assess the environmental impacts and evaluate mitigation measures for fish habitats. This study examines the limitations of steady-state hydraulic simulations in a low-sloping river located between two hydropower plants, where downstream regulations significantly influence the river flow dynamics. A 2D hydrodynamic model in Delft3D FM was applied to compare steady-state and transient simulations, focusing on how hydraulic variables affect the spawning habitat. The results show that steady-state models fail to capture time-dependent damping and delayed water level responses, leading to systematic underestimation of hydraulic variability. Peak bed shear stress values were under-predicted by the steady-state interpolation, which may under-predict spawning ground stability. Additionally, the steady-state approach failed to capture daily habitat fluctuations, resulting in a mean absolute error of 2910 m² in spawning habitat area per hour. This study demonstrates how errors in hydraulic calculations propagate into habitat assessments, potentially leading to misleading long-term evaluations of fish populations. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate hydraulic modelling approaches based on river-specific flow dynamics. Future studies should investigate the sensitivity of fish habitat models to hydraulic inputs from steady-state and transient simulations by integrating these approaches into advanced fish modelling tools, such as individual-based models. This will help determine the optimal balance between computational efficiency and accuracy in long-term habitat assessments. Full article

The Baltic Sea is an intra-continental marginal sea that is vertically stratified with a strong halocline isolating the saline bottom layer from the brackish surface layer. The surface layer is eutrophic, and abiotic zones lacking oxygen are common in the deeper regions. While freshwater is constantly flowing into the North Sea, oxygen-rich bottom waters can only occasionally enter the Baltic Sea following a special sequence of transient weather conditions. These so-called Major Baltic Inflow events can be monitored via the sea level gradients between the Kattegat and the Western Baltic Sea. Innovative interferometric altimetry from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission gave us the first opportunity to directly observe the sea level signal associated with the inflow event in December 2023. Recent high-rate multi-mission nadir altimetry observations support the SWOT findings for scales larger than 50 km. The SWOT observations are compared to the simulations with the regional 3D HBMnoku ocean circulation model operated by the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). The model explains more than 80% of the variance observed by SWOT and up to 90% of the variance observed by the nadir altimeters. However, the north–south gradients of the two datasets differ by about 10% of the overall gradient. Comparisons with tide gauges suggest possible model deficiencies on daily to sub-daily time scales. In addition, the SWOT data have many fine scale structures, such as eddies and fronts, which cannot be adequately modeled. Full article

Underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) play an increasingly crucial role in both civilian and military fields. However, existing routing protocols primarily rely on node position information for forwarding decisions, neglecting link quality and energy efficiency. To address these limitations, we propose a fuzzy logic reasoning adaptive forwarding (FLRAF) routing protocol for three-dimensional (3D) UASNs. First, the FLRAF method redefines a conical forwarding region to prioritize nodes with greater effective advance distance, thereby reducing path deviations and minimizing the total number of hops. Unlike traditional approaches based on pipeline or hemispherical forwarding regions, this design ensures directional consistency in multihop forwarding, which improves transmission efficiency and energy utilization. Second, we design a nested fuzzy inference system for forwarding node selection. The inner inference system evaluates link quality by integrating the signal-to-noise ratio and some metrics related to the packet reception rate. This approach enhances robustness against transient fluctuations and provides a more stable estimation of link quality trends in dynamic underwater environments. The outer inference system incorporates link quality index, residual energy, and effective advance distance to rank candidate nodes. This multimetric decision model achieves a balanced trade-off between transmission reliability and energy efficiency. Simulation results confirm that the FLRAF method outperforms existing protocols under varying node densities and mobility conditions. It achieves a higher packet delivery rate, extended network lifetime, and lower energy consumption. These results demonstrate that the FLRAF method effectively addresses the challenges of energy constraints and unreliable links in 3D UASNs, making it a promising solution for adaptive and energy-efficient underwater communication. Full article

Hydrazones, characterized by their C=N–NH functional group, are promising candidates in medicinal chemistry due to their ability to interact with biological targets. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of N-pyrrolylcarbohydrazide (1) and four pyrrole hydrazone derivatives (1A–D) in male Wistar rats (6 weeks old). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model, while formalin, tail flick, and paw withdrawal tests evaluated analgesia. Compound 1 exhibited dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity. At 20 mg/kg, significant edema reductions were observed at the 2nd (p = 0.035) and 3rd hours (p = 0.022), while at 40 mg/kg, reductions remained significant at the 2nd (p = 0.008) and 3rd hours (p = 0.046). Compound 1A showed pronounced effects at 20 mg/kg at the 2nd (p = 0.005), 3rd (p < 0.001), and 4th hours (p = 0.004). Other compounds demonstrated minimal or no activity. Analgesic evaluation revealed that at 40 mg/kg, compound 1 significantly reduced paw-licking time in the second phase (p = 0.038). Compounds 1B, 1C, and 1D exhibited transient effects in the first phase only (p < 0.05). Compound 1A lacked significant analgesic activity. The findings suggest that structural modifications may enhance efficacy for broader therapeutic applications. Full article

This paper presents research concerning simulating the thermal firebrand effect due to its accumulation in exterior construction wall elements by developing a 3D finite element model (FEM) via ABAQUS (2022) software to analyze the exterior walls commonly applied to the exterior of dwellings in southern Europe and South America. A non-linear thermal transient analysis is undertaken, in which the results are directly compared with a previous experimental campaign, in which firebrands are deposited on localized surfaces of construction wall specimens, and the temperature is measured in the several layers of the construction elements. The walls are composite elements, made of different layer combinations of masonry brick and wood, varying the type of thermal insulation in the internal core from cork to classical rigid rockwool and polystyrene foam (XPS). It can be summarized from the results that the FEM effectively simulates the thermal response of brick, normal wood (NW), and cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls when insulated with materials like cork or rockwool coated with mortar against firebrand accumulation. However, the lack of accounting for uncontrolled combustion leads to inconsistent results. Additionally, for walls using XPS as the insulation material, the model requires further refinement to accurately simulate the melting phenomenon and its thermal impact. Full article

Background/Objectives: Disrupted intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺_i) regulation and renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activation are pathogenetic factors in diabetic cardiomyopathy, a major complication of type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes. This study explored their potential link in diabetic rat hearts. Methods: Experiments were conducted on T1D and T2D Sprague-Dawley rats induced by streptozotocin and fructose-rich diet, respectively. In T1D, rats were treated with Enalapril (Ena) or Losartan (Los) for six weeks, whereas T2D animals received high-dose (HD) or low-dose (LD) Ena for 8 weeks. Heart function was assessed via echocardiography, Ca²⁺_i transients by Indo-1 fluorometry in Langendorff-perfused hearts, and key Ca²⁺_i cycling proteins by Western blot. Data: mean ± SD. Results: Diabetic hearts exhibited reduced contractile performance that was improved by RAS inhibition both in vivo (ejection fraction (%): T1D model: Control: 79 ± 7, T1D: 54 ± 11, T1D + Ena: 65 ± 10, T1D + Los: 69 ± 10, n = 18, 18, 15, 10; T2D model: Control: 73 ± 8, T2D: 52 ± 6, T2D + LDEna: 62 ± 8, T2D + HDEna: 76 ± 8, n = 9, 8, 6, 7) and ex vivo (+dPressure/dt_max (mmHg/s): T1D model: Control: 2532 ± 341, T1D: 2192 ± 208, T1D + Ena: 2523 ± 485, T1D + Los: 2643 ± 455; T2D model: Control: 2514 ± 197, T2D: 1930 ± 291, T2D + LDEna: 2311 ± 289, T2D + HDEna: 2614 ± 268). Analysis of Ca²⁺_i transients showed impaired Ca²⁺_i release and removal dynamics and increased diastolic Ca²⁺_i levels in both models that were restored by Ena and Los treatments. We observed a decrease in sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase2a (SERCA2a) expression, accompanied by a compensatory increase in 16Ser-phosphorylated phospholamban (P-PLB) in T2D that was prevented by both LD and HD Ena (expression level (% of Control): SERCA2a: T2D: 36 ± 32, T2D + LDEna: 112 ± 32, T2D + HDEna: 106 ± 30; P-PLB: T2D: 557 ± 156, T2D + LDEna: 129 ± 38, T2D + HDEna: 108 ± 42; n = 4, 4, 4). Conclusions: The study highlights the critical role of RAS activation, most likely occurring at the tissue level, in disrupting Ca²⁺_i homeostasis in diabetic cardiomyopathy. RAS inhibition with Ena or Los mitigates these disturbances independent of blood pressure effects, underlining their importance in managing diabetic heart failure. Full article

Hydrogen-based fuel-cell systems are a promising technology for reducing carbon footprint in the portfolio of future propulsion system concepts for small-range and regional aircraft In order to increase efficiency, the application of a turbo-charged air supply, using a compressor stage, a turbine stage, and an electric motor, has proven to be beneficial. This paper explores the thermal management aspects of a pioneering Electrified Turbo Charger designed for fuel-cell applications. A novel approach employing gas-cooling for the electric machine is investigated through simulation using an adiabatic Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. Bulk-flow-based Heat Transfer Coefficients (BHTCs) and temperatures are extracted from the CFD Analysis and serve as boundary conditions in a Solid Thermal model. Additionally, a 3D transient electromagnetic analysis is employed to assess losses in various components of the machine, which are then integrated into the 3D Solid Thermal Model. Initial evaluation of the temperature distribution is conducted, and subsequent analysis highlights uncertainties inherent in this methodology. Full article

The power transformer is a critical primary device in the power grid, and the verification of its winding mechanical stability is of paramount importance in ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power grid. In the conventional numerical calculation methods for verifying the mechanical stability of power transformer windings, the influence of temperature variations at the winding hot spots on winding mechanical stability has not been taken into account. In reality, factors such as the transformer’s operating load rate, ambient temperature, and the duration of short-circuit fault currents passing through will affect the mechanical stability margin of the transformer windings. Under conditions such as winding aging, deformation, or other reasons, the transformer windings may become unstable due to material parameter degradation, leading to insufficient mechanical stability margin. This paper analyzes the mechanical stability of power transformer windings considering the impact of the temperature field. Initially, a numerical model for calculating short-circuit currents in transformers was established to compute the short-circuit current under three-phase short-circuit-to-ground conditions as an excitation. Subsequently, a 3D electromagnetic force finite element calculation model was developed to determine the electromagnetic forces experienced under this condition. The results of the calculated electromagnetic forces were then used in a numerical calculation method to assess the mechanical stability of the windings. Furthermore, a 3D transformer electromagnetic–thermal flow finite element model was created to calculate the steady-state temperature rise under various operating conditions of the transformer. This model is validated through transformer temperature rise tests, and transient temperature rises under different operating conditions are calculated. The obtained data are fitted using the nonlinear least squares method to derive a fitting function for the winding hot spot temperature concerning load rate, ambient temperature, and short-circuit time. Taking into consideration the influence of temperature on the yield strength and modulus of elasticity of transformer winding materials, the variation in mechanical stability margin of transformer windings due to temperature effects is analyzed. Additionally, the operating domain for preventing the transformer from becoming unstable under three-phase short-circuit impacts is calculated for different degrees of material parameter degradation. This method provides an effective reference for transformer design and operation, demonstrating clear practical value. Full article

To address the challenge of accurately detecting hidden water inrush hazards ahead of working faces, a cross-hole transient electromagnetic (TEM) method utilizing a grounded-wire source is proposed. The technique positions a step-current-driven grounded-wire source within a working-face borehole, while electrode arrays in adjacent boreholes measure secondary electric field responses. This configuration minimizes interference from metal supports or machines, thereby enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of the TEM signals. A theoretical analysis based on the unstructured finite-element (FE) method is used to investigate the configuration. The collected data are processed using differential techniques, and the results confirm the method’s effectiveness in detecting anomalies. This paper investigates the response of our cross-hole method to anomalies in terms of size, resistivity contrasts, and spatial location, with anomaly boundaries quantitatively delineated via first-order differential analysis. This significantly enhances the capability of TEM detection in identifying anomalies. A comparison between our cross-hole method and the traditional roadway–borehole TEM method, using the trapped column model, demonstrates that the proposed cross-hole device more effectively locates anomalies and improves accuracy. Furthermore, this technique enables the formation of a 3D observation framework by utilizing existing boreholes, presenting promising prospects for future applications. Full article

Pipeline filling and emptying are critical hydraulic procedures involving transient two-phase air–water interactions, which can cause pressure surges and structural risks. Traditional Digital Twin models rely on one-dimensional (1D) approaches, which cannot capture air–water interactions. This study integrates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models into a Digital Twin framework for improved predictive analysis. A CFD-based Digital Twin is developed and validated using real-time pressure measurements, incorporating 2D and 3D CFD models, mesh sensitivity analysis, and calibration procedures. Key contributions include a CFD-driven Digital Twin for real-time monitoring and machine learning (ML) techniques to optimise pressure surges. ML models trained with experimental and CFD data reduce reliance on computationally expensive CFD simulations. Among the 31 algorithms tested, decision trees, efficient linear models, and ensemble classifiers achieved 100% accuracy for filling processes, while k-Nearest Neighbours (KNN) provided 97.2% accuracy for emptying processes. These models effectively predict hazardous pressure peaks and vacuum conditions, confirming their reliability in optimising pipeline operations while significantly reducing computational time. Full article

This study investigates the presence and spatial extent of saline water and seawater intrusion in the Subiya Peninsula, Kuwait, a region designated for the establishment of the new Silk City. We collected transient electromagnetic (TEM) data at 63 stations using a coincident loop setup on a regional, as well as local, scale. The data were analyzed through conventional 1D inversion techniques, including Occam and Levenberg–Marquardt methods, to create detailed resistivity models of the subsurface. Our findings indicate significant variations in groundwater salinity, with increased salinity towards the coast and partly decreasing resistivity with depth, suggesting a transition from brackish to saline water. In the northern region, close to the Abdali farms and Al-Raudhatain freshwater fields, groundwater remains fresher at greater depths, while in the south, saline conditions are encountered, occurring at shallower depths. Local scale analysis reveals potential saltwater intrusion pathways and highlighted geological features such as faults. A thorough understanding of the hydrogeological conditions is crucial, as saltwater injection for oil recovery is common in Kuwait, and may correlate with present-day seismic activity. These insights are critical for the sustainable planning and development of Silk City, emphasizing the necessity for further geophysical studies and borehole data to ensure construction safety and sustainable water supply management. This research provides a foundational understanding of the hydrogeological conditions essential for the successful implementation of the Silk City project and for groundwater management in northern Kuwait. Full article

The Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) hosts numerous volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits formed in submarine volcanic settings and enriched by hydrothermal processes, making it a critical region for mineral exploration due to the types of deposits it hosts and its geological complexity. The Wadi Bidah Mineral Belt (WBMB), located within the Arabian Shield, contains over 30 polymetallic VMS occurrences associated with an island arc system active between 950 and 800 million years ago. Despite its mineral potential, the WBMB still needs to be explored, with limited geophysical studies to support resource evaluation. This study focuses on the Hawiah area, a prominent VMS site within the WBMB, to delineate subsurface mineralization using transient electromagnetic (TEM) methods. TEM surveys were conducted to characterize the conductivity structure and identify potential zones of sulphide mineralization. Data were processed and inverted to generate 1D, 2D, and 3D resistivity models, providing critical insights into the depth, geometry, and continuity of the mineralized zones based on the final 3D resistivity distribution. The results revealed distinct conductive (very low resistivity) anomalies, correlating with known surface gossans and inferred sulphide-rich layers, and extended these features into the subsurface. The integration of TEM results with geological and geochemical data highlights the effectiveness of this approach in detecting and mapping concealed mineral deposits in complex geological environments. This study advances the understanding of VMS systems in the WBMB and demonstrates the potential of TEM surveys as a key tool for mineral exploration in the Arabian Shield. Full article

Semisubmersible floating structures are becoming the predominant understructure type for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) worldwide. As FOWTs are erected far away from land and in deep seas, they inevitably suffer violent and complicated sea conditions, including extreme waves and winds. Mooring lines are the representative flexible members of the whole structure and are likely to incur damage due to years of impact, corrosion, or fatigue. To improve mooring redundancy at each azimuth angle around a wind turbine, a group of mooring lines are configured in the same direction instead of just one mooring line. This study focuses on the mooring failure problems that would probably occur in a realistic redundant mooring system of a semisubmersible FOWT, and the worst residual mooring layout is considered. An FOWT numerical model with a 3 × 3 mooring system is established in terms of 3D potential flow and BEM (blade element momentum) theories, and aero-hydro floating-body mooring coupled analyses are performed to discuss the subsequent time histories of dynamic responses after different types of mooring failure. As under extreme failure conditions, the final horizontal offsets of the structure and the layout of the residual mooring system are evaluated under still water, design, and extreme environmental conditions. The results show that the transient tension in up-wave mooring lines can reach more than 12,000 kN under extreme environmental conditions, inducing further failure of the whole chain group. Then, a deflection angle of 60° may occur on the residual laid chain, which may bring about dangerous anchor dragging. Full article

Memristor-based fractional-order chaotic systems can record information from the past, present, and future, and describe the real world more accurately than integer-order systems. This paper proposes a novel memristor model and verifies its characteristics through the pinched loop (PHL) method. Subsequently, a new fractional-order memristive Hopfield neural network (4D-FOMHNN) is introduced to simulate induced current, accompanied by Caputo’s definition of fractional order. An Adomian decomposition method (ADM) is employed for system solution. By varying the parameters and order of the 4D-FOMHNN, rich dynamic behaviors including transient chaos, chaos, and coexistence attractors are observed using methods such as bifurcation diagrams and Lyapunov exponent analysis. Finally, the proposed FOMHNN system is implemented on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and the oscilloscope observation results are consistent with the MATLAB numerical simulation results, which further validate the theoretical analysis of the FOMHNN system and provide a theoretical basis for its application in the field of encryption. Full article

An eco-friendly standalone microgrid is demonstrated in this article. It has an energy storage system (ESS), a superconducting magnetic energy storage system (SMES), and a wind power generator. Usually, microgrid control and energy management are challenging issues when designing microgrids. Hence, introducing fuzzy control concepts enhances the performance of the recommended microgrid. Wind and ESS energy are normally suitable for satisfying load demands under normal circumstances. However, the SMES supports the microgrid’s transient performance against load demand disturbances. The newly designed fuzzy proportion integral derivative (FPID) controller was used to measure the microgrid’s behavior subjected to fluctuations in wind power and load demand. Simulations via Matlab/Simulink were performed to assess the suggested system’s performance. The simulations’ outcomes established that the introduced microgrid continuously energizes the load demand with AC power during all interruptions with a regulated frequency and voltage. Furthermore, the microgrid operated excellently despite changing wind power and load. The results have been examined under identical conditions with and without SMES using the FPID controller and then compared to the proportional integral derivative (PID). Hence, the suggested microgrid has been examined under four situations: FPID controller with SMES, PID controller with SMES, FPID controller without SMES, and PID controller without SMES. It was found that the microgrid with the proposed FPID controller and SMES produced the best microgrid performance and responses of all the tested situations. The proposed control system provides an average improvement in overshoot, about 24.4%. Also, it is discovered that the suggested controller can precisely maintain the microgrid response stable under any disturbances, notwithstanding the modeling errors. Additionally, the TI C2000 Launchpad XL, TMS320F28379D microcontroller kit was used to create a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) emulator in order to assess the suggested system and verify the simulation outcomes. Full article