Search Results (62,473)

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) employing Li-rich layered oxide (LLO) cathodes are regarded as promising next-generation energy storage systems owing to their outstanding energy density and intrinsic safety. Polymer-in-salt solid electrolytes (PISSEs) offer advantages such as high room-temperature ionic conductivity, enhanced Li anode interfacial compatibility, and low processing costs; however, their practical deployment is hindered by poor oxidative stability especially under high-voltage conditions. In this study, we report the rational design of a bilayer electrolyte architecture featuring an in situ solidified LiClO₄-doped succinonitrile (LiClO₄–SN) plastic–crystal interlayer between a Li_1.2Mn_0.6Ni_0.2O₂ (LMNO) cathode and a poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)-based PISSE. This PISSE/SN–LiClO₄ configuration exhibits a wide electrochemical stability window up to 4.7 V vs. Li⁺/Li and delivers a high ionic conductivity of 5.68 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C. The solidified LiClO₄-SN layer serves as an effective physical barrier, shielding the PVDF-HFP matrix from direct interfacial contact with LMNO and thereby suppressing its oxidative decomposition at elevated potentials. As a result, the bilayer polymer-based cells with the LMNO cathode demonstrate an initial discharge capacity of ∼206 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.05 C and exhibit good cycling stability with 85.7% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.5 C under a high cut-off voltage of 4.6 V. This work not only provides a promising strategy to enhance the compatibility of PVDF-HFP-based electrolytes with high-voltage cathodes through the facile in situ solidification of plastic interlayers but also promotes the application of LMNO cathode material in high-energy ASSLBs. Full article

Asphalt is widely used as a binder in pavement engineering. The temperature-dependent phase transition behavior of asphalt binders critically influences pavement performance. This study comprehensively evaluates phase transition characteristics to establish robust performance indicators. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was employed to characterize 30 neat asphalt binders across a broad temperature range. Phase transition temperatures and moduli were derived from complex and loss modulus curves. Correlations with saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) fractions and conventional properties (penetration, viscosity, ductility) were statistically analyzed. The results revealed significant performance variations among binders of identical penetration grades. T_g effectively differentiated low-temperature behavior, overcoming empirical limitations. High-temperature indicators (T₂, E₂₀) strongly correlated with viscosity (R² > 0.96). SARA analysis showed that saturates reduced T_g (r = −0.566) while asphaltenes increased E₂₀ (r = 0.804). Multiple regression models confirm synergistic interactions among SARA fractions, although low-temperature indices exhibit a weaker dependence on composition. DMA-derived phase transition parameters provide physically meaningful performance indicators, superior to conventional metrics. Incorporating T_g and T₂/E₂₀ into grading systems can enhance asphalt selection for thermal susceptibility, advancing pavement durability design. Full article

The transition toward renewable-powered greenhouse agriculture offers opportunities for reducing operational costs and environmental impacts, yet challenges remain in managing fluctuating energy loads and optimizing agricultural inputs. While second-life lithium-ion batteries provide a cost-effective energy storage option, their thermal and electrical characteristics under real-world greenhouse conditions are poorly documented. Similarly, although plasma-activated water (PAW) shows potential to reduce chemical fertilizer usage, its integration with renewable-powered systems requires further investigation. This study develops an adaptive monitoring and modeling framework to estimate the thermal resistances (R_u, R_c) and internal resistance (R_int) of second-life lithium-ion batteries using operational data from greenhouse applications, alongside a field trial assessing PAW effects on beefsteak tomato cultivation. The adaptive control algorithm accurately estimated surface temperature (T_s) and core temperature (T_c), achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.31 °C, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.25 °C, and a percentage error of 0.31%. Thermal resistance values stabilized at R_u ≈ 3.00 °C/W (surface to ambient) and R_c ≈ 2.00 °C/W (core to surface), indicating stable thermal regulation under load variations. Internal resistance (R_int) maintained a baseline of ~1.0–1.2 Ω, with peaks up to 12 Ω during load transitions, confirming the importance of continuous monitoring for performance and degradation prevention in second-life applications. The PAW treatment reduced chemical nitrogen fertilizer use by 31.2% without decreasing total nitrogen availability (69.5 mg/L). The NO₃⁻-N concentration in PAW reached 134 mg/L, with an initial pH of 3.04 neutralized before application, ensuring no adverse effects on germination or growth. Leaf nutrient analysis showed lower nitrogen (1.83% vs. 2.28%) and potassium (1.66% vs. 2.17%) compared to the control, but higher magnesium content (0.59% vs. 0.37%), meeting Japanese adequacy standards. The total yield was 7.8 kg/m², with fruit quality comparable between the PAW and control groups. The integration of adaptive battery monitoring with PAW irrigation demonstrates a practical pathway toward energy efficient and sustainable greenhouse operations. Full article

Land use and land cover change (LUCC) is central to regulating human–land relationships and crucial for urban planning and sustainable development in arid oasis cities. As a typical oasis city in Xinjiang, Shihezi City faces the triple challenges of agricultural protection, urban expansion, and ecological conservation. Taking Shihezi City as the research object, this study used the 30 m resolution China Land Cover Dataset and applied the land use dynamic degree, comprehensive index of land use degree, transfer matrix, Geodetector, and PLUS model to analyse the spatiotemporal dynamics of LUCC from 2002 to 2022, identify driving mechanisms, and predict the land use pattern from 2027 to 2032. The results showed that (1) from 2002 to 2022, farmland decreased by 86.1075 km², man-made surfaces increased by 63.7389 km² (annual expansion rate of 2.86%), grassland slightly increased by 24.5592 km², and other land types remained stable; (2) the dynamics of land use showed a phased characteristic of “growth–equilibrium–acceleration”, and the land use degree index rose to 2.8639; natural factors (elevation, soil, temperature) dominated LUCC, and most interactions among factors showed enhancement effects; (3) the PLUS model predicted that by 2032, farmland would decrease to 224.347 km² and man-made surfaces would increase to 111.941 km². This study clarifies the laws of LUCC in Shihezi, demonstrates driving analysis and simulation prediction, and provides scientific support for balancing urban development, agricultural protection, and ecological security in arid oasis regions. Full article

Juglans neotropica Diels, classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, plays a crucial role in the resilience of Andean montane forests in southern Ecuador—a megadiverse region encompassing coastal, Andean, and Amazonian ecosystems. This study examines how climatic, edaphic, and topographic gradients influence the species’ phenotypic traits across six source localities—Tibio, Merced, Tundo, Victoria, Zañe, and Argelia—all of which are localities situated in the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe. By integrating long-term climate records, slope mapping, and soil characterization, we assessed the effects of temperature, precipitation, humidity, soil moisture, and terrain steepness on leaf presence, fruit maturation, and tree architecture. Over the past 20 years, temperature increased by 1.5 °C (p < 0.01), while precipitation decreased by 22%, disrupting local edaphoclimatic balances. More than 2000 individuals were measured in forest stands, with estimated ages ranging from 11 to 355 years. ANOVA results revealed that Tundo and Victoria exhibited significantly greater DBH, height, and volume (p ≤ 0.05), with Victoria showing a 30% larger DBH than Argelia, the lowest-performing provenance. Soils ranged from loam to sandy loam, with slopes exceeding 45% and pH levels from slightly acidic to neutral. These findings confirm the species’ pronounced phenotypic plasticity and ecological adaptability, directly informing site-specific conservation strategies and long-term forest management under shifting climatic conditions. Full article

BaTiO₃ (BT)-based lead-free ceramics are regarded as highly promising candidates for solid-state electrocaloric (EC) cooling devices due to their large spontaneous polarizations, shiftable Curie temperatures, and environmental friendliness. This review summarizes recent progresses in the design and optimization of BT-based EC ceramics. Key aspects include thermodynamic principles of the EC effect (ECE); structural phase transitions; and strategies such as constructing relaxor ferroelectrics, multi-phase coexistence, etc. Finally, future research directions are proposed, including the exploration of local microstructural evolution, polarization flip mechanisms, and bridging material design and device integration. This work aims to provide insights into the development of high-performance BT-based materials for solid-state cooling devices. Full article

Water consumption in adults usually reaches lower levels than the recommendations, and evidence of the beverage consumption habits of women in the stages around menopause is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the consumption of beverages and to determine how physical, psychological, and environmental factors modify the hydration habits of reproductive-age and postmenopausal women in the northeast of Mexico. We carried out a cross-sectional study of 40–65-year-old female (n = 690) residents in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León state, Mexico, who were classified as reproductive (n = 263) and postmenopausal (n = 427). Anthropometrics, including body composition, beverage consumption, physical activity, and physical, psychological, and environmental factors, were assessed. There were no differences between the BMI and waist-to-height ratio of reproductive-age and postmenopausal women. The total daily beverage consumption did not differ between reproductive-age and postmenopausal women, with an average beverage consumption of 2723–2915 g/day. A third of the women studied consumed less than 1.5 L/day, and another third—mainly the younger participants—consumed between 1.5 and 2.0 L/day. The most consumed beverage was plain water, followed by regular soda, flavored beverages, coffee, and diet soda. Consumption of regular soda, flavored beverages, and milk was higher among reproductive-age women. The postmenopausal women indicated a higher consumption of plain water and juices. Similar effects of physical and psychological factors and environmental temperature on the beverage consumption of reproductive and postmenopausal women were observed. Physical activity, maximum daily temperature, and body composition were the factors that conditioned beverage intake. Full article

This study investigates the impact of nanofluids (TiO₂, Fe₃O₄, Al₂O₃, and graphene) on thermoelectric power generation within a rectangular heat exchanger equipped with internal winglets. The integration of internal winglets in heat exchangers, alongside the use of nanofluids, is a recent strategy aimed at enhancing convective heat transfer. This numerical research analyzes fluid dynamics and temperature variations on both the cold and hot sides of the thermoelectric generator (TEG). Three different heat exchanger models are evaluated: the first model features a pair of winglets in both ducts; the second model only has winglets in the hot duct; and the third model does not include any winglets. The performance of the nanofluids is systematically compared with that of distilled water. The results show that the Al₂O₃ nanofluid produces the highest power output at 7.8461 watts, which is 1.5% greater than that of TiO₂ and 1.22% higher than distilled water. Moreover, using Al₂O₃ in a heat exchanger with winglets in both ducts results in a 5% increase in power generation compared to a configuration without winglets and a 2% improvement over a model that has winglets only in the hot duct. This enhancement can be attributed to an increased heat transfer area and improved fluid mixing, which together facilitate more effective heat transfer to TEG. Full article

Practical applications such as solar power energy systems, electronic cooling, and the convective drying of vented enclosures require continuous developments to enhance fluid and heat flow. Numerous studies have investigated the enhancement of heat transfer in L-formed vented cavities by inserting heat-generating components, filling the cavity with nanofluids, providing an inner rotating cylinder and a phase-change packed system, etc. Contemporary work has examined the thermal performance of L-shaped porous vented enclosures, which can be augmented by using metal foam, using nanofluids as a saturated fluid, and increasing the wall surface area by corrugating the cavity’s heating wall. These features are not discussed in published articles, and their exploration can be considered a novelty point in this work. In this study, a vented cavity was occupied by a copper metal foam with PPI = 10 and saturated with a copper–water nanofluid. The cavity walls were well insulated except for the left wall, which was kept at a hot isothermal temperature and was either non-corrugated or corrugated with rectangular waves. The Darcy–Brinkman–Forchheimer model and local thermal non-equilibrium models were adopted in momentum and energy-governing equations and solved numerically by utilizing commercial software. The influences of various effective parameters, including the Reynolds number (20 ≤ Re ≤ 1000), the nanoparticle volume fraction (0% ≤ φ ≤ 20%), the inflow and outflow vent aspect ratios (0.1 ≤ D/H ≤ 0.4), the rectangular wave corrugation number (N = 5 and N = 10), and the corrugation dimension ratio (CR = 1 and CR = 0.5) were determined. The results indicate that the flow field and heat transfer were affected mainly by variations in Re,  D/H, and φ for a non-corrugated left wall; they were additionally influenced by N and CR when the wall was corrugated. The fluid- and solid-phase temperatures of the metal foam increased with an increase in Re and D/H. The fluid-phase Nusselt number near the hot left sidewall increased with an increase in φ by (25–60)%, while the solid-phase Nusselt number decreased by (10–30)%, and these numbers rose by around 3.5 times when the Reynolds number increased from 20 to 1000. For the corrugated hot wall, the Nusselt numbers of the two metal foam phases increased with an increase in Re and decreased with an increase in D/H, CR, or N by 10%, 19%, and 37%. The original aspect of this study is its use of a thermal, non-equilibrium, nanofluid-saturated metal foam in a corrugated L-shaped vented cavity. We aimed to investigate the thermal performance of this system in order to reinforce the viability of applying this material in thermal engineering systems. Full article

This study presents a novel framework to assess the combined impact of soiling and thermal effects on rooftop PV systems through multi-seasonal, multi-site field campaigns in an industrial-urban environment. This work addresses key research gaps by providing a high-resolution, site-specific analysis that captures the synergistic effect of particulate accumulation and thermal stress on PV performance in an industrial-urban environment—a setting distinct from the well-studied arid climates. The study further bridges a gap by employing controlled pre- and post-cleaning performance tests across multiple sites to isolate and quantify soiling losses, offering insights crucial for developing targeted maintenance strategies in pollution-prone urban areas. Unlike previous work, it integrates gravimetric soiling measurements with high-resolution electrical (I–V), thermal, and environmental monitoring, complemented by PVSYST simulation benchmarking. Field data were collected from five rooftop plants in Bursa, Türkiye, during summer and winter, capturing seasonal variations in particulate deposition, module temperature, and PV output, alongside irradiance, wind speed, and airborne particulates. Soiling nearly doubled in winter (0.098 g/m²) compared to summer (0.051 g/m²), but lower winter temperatures (mean 19.8 °C) partially offset performance losses seen under hot summer conditions (mean 42.1 °C). Isc correlated negatively with both soiling (r = −0.68) and temperature (r = −0.72), with regression analysis showing soiling as the dominant factor (R² = 0.71). Energy yield analysis revealed that high summer irradiance did not always increase output due to thermal losses, while winter often yielded comparable or higher energy. Soiling-induced losses ranged 5–17%, with SPP-2 worst affected in winter, and seasonal PR declines averaged 10.8%. The results highlight the need for integrated strategies combining cleaning, thermal management, and environmental monitoring to maintain PV efficiency in particulate-prone regions, offering practical guidance for operators and supporting renewable energy goals in challenging environments. Full article

The majority of Americans do not regularly get the recommended amount of sleep and sleep deficiencies disproportionately burden marginalized communities. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study measuring bedroom air temperature and humidity over three non-consecutive weeks (N = 19 participants; 409 observation nights) using HOBO loggers and sleep health using wrist-actigraphy and sleep diaries. Outdoor temperature and humidity were obtained from a nearby weather station. Linear mixed-effects regression models assessed relationships between temperature and sleep health metrics. Nighttime indoor apparent temperature ranged from 26 to 35 °C and averaged 5 °C higher than outdoors. On average, participants slept 6.7 h per night with 83% sleep efficiency. After adjustment, a 5 °C increase in indoor nighttime dry bulb temperature was associated with a 23 min reduction in mean total sleep time (β = −23.30 [−43.30, −3.45]) and mean onset latency increase of approximately 2 min (β = 1.85 [0.50, 6.65]). Nighttime heat waves were associated with a 4% reduction in mean sleep efficiency (β = −3.71 [−6.83, −0.66]) and an 11 min increase in onset latency (β = 11.32 [2.60, 20.75]). We found evidence that rising summertime temperatures reduced sleep health in a disproportionately impacted community, suggesting that climate change will worsen existing sleep health disparities. Full article

Water resource management is critical for sustainable agriculture, especially in regions like Kazakhstan that face significant water scarcity challenges. This paper presents the development of a real-time water-level monitoring system designed to optimize water use in agriculture. The system integrates IoT sensors and cloud technologies, and analyzes data on water levels, temperature, humidity, and other environmental parameters. The architecture comprises a data collection layer with solar-powered sensors, a network layer for data transmission, a storage and integration layer for data management, a data processing layer for analysis and forecasting, and a user interface for visualization and interaction. The system was tested at the Left Bypass Canal in Taraz, Kazakhstan, demonstrating its effectiveness in providing real-time data for informed decision-making. The results indicate that the system significantly improves water use efficiency, reduces non-productive losses, and supports sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

Vanadium dioxide (VO₂) has become one of the most promising smart temperature-controlled thin-film materials due to its reversible phase transition between a metallic and an insulating state at approximately 68 °C, accompanied by negligible volume change and excellent optical modulation properties. However, the practical application of VO₂ is still limited by its relatively high phase transition temperature and susceptibility to oxidation. To address these two major shortcomings, this study employed a one-step hydrothermal method to prepare a VO₂ nanopowder, followed by a chemical precipitation method to form a VO₂@AlF₃ core–shell structure. The coated nanoparticles were then dispersed in a PVP ethanol solution, coated onto a glass substrate, and evaluated for performance. The experimental results indicate that when the molar ratio of VO₂ to AlF₃ reached 1:1, the phase transition temperature of VO₂@AlF₃ was effectively reduced to 50.3 °C, significantly lower than the original temperature of 68 °C. Additionally, the material exhibited favorable optical properties, with a solar modulation ability (ΔT_sol) of 17.2% and a luminous transmittance (T_lum) of 36.3%. After calcination in air at 300 °C for 3–6 h, the VO₂ core remained oxidation-resistant and maintained excellent phase-change thermal insulation properties. Full article

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of wrist-worn wearable devices combined with machine learning (ML) approaches for detecting a diverse array of seizure types beyond generalized tonic–clonic (GTC), including focal, generalized, and subclinical seizures. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight patients undergoing inpatient video-EEG monitoring at Mayo Clinic were concurrently monitored using Empatica E4 wrist-worn devices. These devices captured accelerometry, blood volume pulse, electrodermal activity, skin temperature, and heart rate. Seizures were annotated by neurologists. The data were preprocessed to experiment with various segment lengths (10 s and 60 s) and multiple feature sets. Three ML strategies, XGBoost, deep learning models (LSTM, CNN, Transformer), and ROCKET, were evaluated using leave-one-patient-out cross-validation. Performance was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), seizure-wise recall (SW-Recall), and false alarms per hour (FA/h). Results: Detection performance varied by seizure type and model. GTC seizures were detected most reliably (AUROC = 0.86, SW-Recall = 0.81, FA/h = 3.03). Hyperkinetic and tonic seizures showed high SW-Recall but also high FA/h. Subclinical and aware-dyscognitive seizures exhibited the lowest SW-Recall and highest FA/h. MultiROCKET and XGBoost performed best overall, though no single model was optimal for all seizure types. Longer segments (60 s) generally reduced FA/h. Feature set effectiveness varied, with multi-biosignal sets improving performance across seizure types. Conclusions: Wrist-worn wearables combined with ML can extend seizure detection beyond GTC seizures, though performance remains limited for non-motor types. Optimizing model selection, feature sets, and segment lengths, and minimizing false alarms, are key to clinical utility and real-world adoption. Full article

The basic structural concepts in the study of monatomic fluids at equilibrium are presented in this entry. The scope encompasses both the classical and the quantum domains, the latter concentrating on the diffraction and the zero-spin boson regimes. The main mathematical objects for describing the fluid structures are the following n-body functions: the correlation functions in real space and their associated structure factors in Fourier space. In these studies, the theory of linear response to external weak fields, involving functional calculus, and Feynman’s path integral formalism are the key conceptual ingredients. Emphasis is placed on the physical implications when going from the classical domain (limit of high temperatures) to the abovementioned quantum regimes (low temperatures). In the classical domain, there is only one class of n-body structures, which at every n level consists of one correlation function plus one structure factor. However, the quantum effects bring about the splitting of the foregoing class into three path integral classes, namely instantaneous, total thermalized-continuous linear response, and centroids; each of them is associated with the action of a distinct external weak field and keeps the above n-level structures. Special attention is given to the structural pair level n=2, and future directions towards the complete study of the quantum triplet level n=3 are suggested. Full article