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12 pages, 2724 KiB  
Article
Non-Adiabatically Tapered Optical Fiber Humidity Sensor with High Sensitivity and Temperature Compensation
by Zijun Liang, Chao Wang, Yaqi Tang, Shoulin Jiang, Xianjie Zhong, Zhe Zhang and Rui Dai
Sensors 2025, 25(14), 4390; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25144390 - 14 Jul 2025
Viewed by 394
Abstract
We demonstrate an all-fiber, high-sensitivity, dual-parameter sensor for humidity and temperature. The sensor consists of a symmetrical, non-adiabatic, tapered, single-mode optical fiber, operating at the wavelength near the dispersion turning point, and a cascaded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) for temperature compensation. At one [...] Read more.
We demonstrate an all-fiber, high-sensitivity, dual-parameter sensor for humidity and temperature. The sensor consists of a symmetrical, non-adiabatic, tapered, single-mode optical fiber, operating at the wavelength near the dispersion turning point, and a cascaded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) for temperature compensation. At one end of the fiber’s tapered region, part of the fundamental mode is coupled to a higher-order mode, and vice versa at the other end. Under the circumstances that the two modes have the same group index, the transmission spectrum would show an interference fringe with uneven dips. In the tapered region of the sensor, some of the light transmits to the air, so it is sensitive to changes in the refractive index caused by the ambient humidity. In the absence of moisture-sensitive materials, the humidity sensitivity of our sensor sample can reach −286 pm/%RH. In order to address the temperature and humidity crosstalk and achieve a dual-parameter measurement, we cascaded a humidity-insensitive FBG. In addition, the sensor has a good humidity stability and a response time of 0.26 s, which shows its potential in fields such as medical respiratory dynamic monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Optical Sensors)
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17 pages, 3341 KiB  
Article
Strength Enhancement of Clay Through Lime–Sand Stabilization at Various Remolding Water Contents
by Shuai Qi, Jinhui Liu, Wei Ma and Jing Wang
Materials 2025, 18(14), 3282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18143282 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 369
Abstract
During the construction of subgrade, the remolding water content w of lime–sand-stabilized clay usually varies in a wide range, leading to inconsistent effectiveness in strength enhancement. Until now, this aspect has not been investigated. In this study, an unconfined compression test and microscopic [...] Read more.
During the construction of subgrade, the remolding water content w of lime–sand-stabilized clay usually varies in a wide range, leading to inconsistent effectiveness in strength enhancement. Until now, this aspect has not been investigated. In this study, an unconfined compression test and microscopic observation were carried out on clay and stabilized clay (adding 4% lime by mass and 50% sand by volume). The results show the following: (1) remolding water content w had a strong effect on the soil fabrics of pure clay and lime-stabilized clay. An increase in the w from the dry to wet side of optimum reduced matric suction, which diminished the aggregation effect among fine-grained particles in both clay and lime-stabilized clay. Correspondingly, fine-grained aggregate progressively disintegrated, and dispersed fine-grained particles increased. As a result, the w increment at wwcha made the dispersed fine-grained particles successively fill the large pores between aggregates, densifying the soil fabric. In contrast, at w > wcha, the ongoing disintegration of aggregate resulted in progressive structural weakening. Herein, wcha was defined as the characteristic water content at which the soil fabric transitioned from structural densification to weakening. (2) The UCS of both pure clay and lime–sand-stabilized clay followed a bell-shaped pattern as the w increased, with wcha acting as the turning point. For pure clay soils, the UCS increased with increasing w up to wcha because of structural densification, but decreased beyond wcha due to structural weakening. In lime–sand-stabilized clay, where a sand grain skeleton developed, the compression of lime-stabilized clay induced by the movement of sand grains during shearing activated its contribution to the overall strength. The compressive capacity of the lime-stabilized clay varied in a bell-shaped manner with w, and this trend was mirrored in the UCS of lime–sand-stabilized clay. (3) At a low w, the fact that the clay aggregate exhibited sand-like mechanical behavior reduced the effectiveness of incorporating sand and lime for enhancing the UCS. As the w increased at wwcha, the breakdown of aggregates enlarged the distinction between pure clay and sand, resulting in a more pronounced improvement in the UCS with the addition of sand and lime. At w > wcha, the lubrication effect occurring at the contact between sand grains diminished the interlocking between the sand grains. Consequently, the effectiveness of the UCS enhancement decreased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Construction and Building Materials)
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22 pages, 4857 KiB  
Article
eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Depth-Structured Variation of Coral Reef Fish
by Jinfa Zhao, Lin Lin, Yong Liu, Teng Wang, Yu Liu, Yayuan Xiao, Jianzhong Shen, Hongyu Xie, Hai Huang and Qiuying Han
Fishes 2025, 10(5), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10050209 - 2 May 2025
Viewed by 850
Abstract
Global coral reef ecosystems face various levels of disturbance pressure. Understanding the depth-structured variation in coral reef fish communities can help us to better grasp and predict the adaptive changes of the ecosystem under different stressors. This study applied eDNA metabarcoding technology to [...] Read more.
Global coral reef ecosystems face various levels of disturbance pressure. Understanding the depth-structured variation in coral reef fish communities can help us to better grasp and predict the adaptive changes of the ecosystem under different stressors. This study applied eDNA metabarcoding technology to analyze the spatial distribution of the coral reef fish at various depths (0 m, 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 30 m, 40 m, 50 m, and 60 m) within the Xisha Islands of China. The results indicated that the eDNA technology detected a total of 213 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), including 33 species that were not identified using traditional methods. Herbivorous fish generally dominated in relative abundance across different depths. Moreover, the similarity among depth groups was largely absent, and significant differences existed in fish assemblages across depth gradients, consistent with the unique depth preferences of fish microhabitats. Importantly, our findings revealed distinct depth-structured variation among different functional groups of coral reef fish. Large carnivorous fish initially increased and then decreased along the depth gradient from 0 to 60 m, with a turning point around 20 m, while large herbivorous fish displayed the opposite trend. Small carnivorous and small herbivorous fish consistently declined along the same depth gradient. Additionally, the Margalef index (D) and Function richness (FRic) both displayed a consistent downward trend with increasing depth, while the Shannon–Wiener index (H′), Pielou index (J′), Quadratic entropy (RaoQ), Functional dispersion (FDis), and Functional evenness (FEve) initially increased and then decreased, peaking around 20 m. This study revealed that eDNA metabarcoding is an effective tool for evaluating coral reef fish biodiversity, community composition, and spatial distribution. It enhances our understanding of distribution dynamics and offers valuable insights for coral reef conservation and restoration efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Population Genetics of Fishes)
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17 pages, 12096 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Precise Prediction Dispersion Turning Point of Optical Microfiber Coupler Biosensor with Ultra-High Sensitivity and Wide Linear Dynamic Range
by Haiyang Yu, Yue Wang, Yang Xu, Wenchao Zhou and Yihui Wu
Biosensors 2025, 15(4), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15040241 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 605
Abstract
Optical microfiber biosensors demonstrate exceptionally ultra-high sensitivity at the dispersion turning point (DTP). However, the DTP is highly susceptible to variations in dimensional and external environmental factors, and the spectral response is mismatched from preparation in air to application in a liquid environment, [...] Read more.
Optical microfiber biosensors demonstrate exceptionally ultra-high sensitivity at the dispersion turning point (DTP). However, the DTP is highly susceptible to variations in dimensional and external environmental factors, and the spectral response is mismatched from preparation in air to application in a liquid environment, making the DTP difficult to control effectively. In this work, we propose a method that bridges the relationship between the interference spectra of air and aqueous environments. By counting the interference peaks in air, we can accurately predict the DTP position in liquids. Meanwhile, it provides a new balance between sensitivity and wide linear dynamic range, achieving wide dynamic range detection across various concentrations. The optical microfiber coupler (OMC) is fabricated using the hydrogen–oxygen flame melting tapering method. In addition, the concentration, temperature, and solvent used for the sensor’s biofunctional layer are optimized. Finally, in refractive index sensing, a maximum sensitivity of 1.17 × 105 ± 0.038 × 105 nm/RIU is achieved. For biosensing, a wide dynamic range detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is realized at concentrations of 12–48 ng/mL, 120–480 pg/mL, and 120–480 fg/mL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro-nano Optic-Based Biosensing Technology and Strategy)
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26 pages, 11335 KiB  
Article
Water–Gas Shift over Pt Nanoparticles Dispersed on CeO2 and Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (GDC) Supports with Specific Nano-Configurations
by Athanasios Androulakis, Ersi Nikolaraki, Catherine Drosou, Kalliopi Maria Papazisi, Stella Balomenou, Dimitrios Tsiplakides, Konstantinos G. Froudas, Pantelis N. Trikalitis, Dimitrios P. Gournis, Paraskevi Panagiotopoulou and Ioannis V. Yentekakis
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(23), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14231928 - 29 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1392
Abstract
The water–gas shift (WGS) reaction is one of the most significant reactions in hydrogen technology since it can be used directly to produce hydrogen from the reaction of CO and water; it is also a side reaction taking place in the hydrocarbon reforming [...] Read more.
The water–gas shift (WGS) reaction is one of the most significant reactions in hydrogen technology since it can be used directly to produce hydrogen from the reaction of CO and water; it is also a side reaction taking place in the hydrocarbon reforming processes, determining their selectivity towards H2 production. The development of highly active WGS catalysts, especially at temperatures below ~450 °C, where the reaction is thermodynamically favored but kinetically limited, remains a challenge. From a fundamental point of view, the reaction mechanism is still unclear. Since specific nanoshapes of CeO2-based supports have recently been shown to play an important role in the performance of metal nanoparticles dispersed on their surface, in this study, a comparative study of the WGS is conducted on Pt nanoparticles dispersed (with low loading, 0.5 wt.% Pt) on CeO2 and gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) supports of different nano-morphologies, i.e., nanorods (NRs) and irregularly faceted particle (IRFP) CeO2 and GDC, produced by employing hydrothermal and (co-)precipitation synthesis methods, respectively. The results showed that the support’s shape strongly affected its physicochemical properties and in turn the WGS performance of the dispersed Pt nanoparticles. Nanorod-shaped CeO2,NRs and GDCNRs supports presented a higher specific surface area, lower primary crystallite size and enhanced reducibility at lower temperatures compared to the corresponding irregular faceted CeO2,IRFP and GDCIRFP supports, leading to up to 5-fold higher WGS activity of the Pt particles supported on them. The Pt/GDCNRs catalyst outperformed all other catalysts and exhibited excellent time-on-stream (TOS) stability. A variety of techniques, namely N2 physical adsorption–desorption (the BET method), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and hydrogen temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), were used to identify the texture, structure, morphology and other physical properties of the materials, which together with the in situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and detailed kinetic studies helped to decipher their catalytic behavior. The enhanced metal–support interactions of Pt nanoparticles with the nanorod-shaped CeO2,NRs and GDCNRs supports due to the creation of more active sites at the metal–support interface, leading to significantly improved reducibility of these catalysts, were concluded to be the critical factor for their superior WGS activity. Both the redox and associative reaction mechanisms proposed for WGS in the literature were found to contribute to the reaction pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology)
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22 pages, 2208 KiB  
Article
The Final Pliocene and Early Pleistocene Faunal Dispersals from East to Europe and Correlation of the Villafranchian Biochronology between Eastern and Western Europe
by Nikolai Spassov
Quaternary 2024, 7(4), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat7040043 - 11 Oct 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2012
Abstract
The Villafranchian stage in the mammal fauna evolution in Eurasia (ca. 3.6/3.4 Ma—ca. 1.2 Ma) is associated with the beginning of the formation of the modern appearance of the mammal megafauna of today’s Palaearctic. The cooling and the aridification starting with the beginning [...] Read more.
The Villafranchian stage in the mammal fauna evolution in Eurasia (ca. 3.6/3.4 Ma—ca. 1.2 Ma) is associated with the beginning of the formation of the modern appearance of the mammal megafauna of today’s Palaearctic. The cooling and the aridification starting with the beginning of the Early Pleistocene gradually eliminated the quasi-tropical appearance of the Late Neogene landscapes and fauna of Europe. The time from the Mid-Piacenzian (ca. 3.3–3.0 Ma) to the end of the Early Pleistocene was a time of particularly intense dispersal of species, of faunal exchange between Eurasia and Africa, and of the entry of new mammals into Europe from the East. That is why the correlation of the biochronology of the Villafranchian fauna between Eastern and Western Europe is of particular interest. Accumulated data make possible a more precise correlation of these faunas today. A correlation of selected Eastern European localities with established faunal units and MNQ zones is made in the present work. Usually, the dispersal from Asia or from E. Europe to W. Europe is instantaneous from a geological point of view, but in a number of cases, reaching W. Europe happens later, or some species known to be from Eastern Europe do not reach Western Europe. The main driving forces of the faunal dispersals, which are the key bioevents in the faunal formation, are climate changes, which in turn, affect the environment. We can summarize the following more significant Villafranchian bioevents in Europe: the End Pliocene (Early Villafranchian: MNQ16) turnover related to the first appearance of a number of taxa, for example, felids, canids, proboscideans, and ungulates; the Quaternary beginning turnover. Correlated with this are the beginning of the Middle Villafranchian, which should be placed at about 2.6 Ma; the Coste San Giacomo faunal unit turnover (Senèze and Slivnitsa localities should be included here, and the FU itself, at the very beginning of the late Villafranchian (=MNQ18a)); the Pachycrocuta event at the very beginning of the Olivola FU; and the events related to the Late Villafranchian/Epivillafranchian bounfary. Full article
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14 pages, 4321 KiB  
Article
Microscopic Experiments to Assess the Macroscopic Sweep Characteristics of Carbon Dioxide Flooding
by Rujun Wang, Wei Zhou, Yongliang Tang, Daiyu Zhou, Zangyuan Wu and Liming Lian
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 9007; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14199007 - 6 Oct 2024
Viewed by 982
Abstract
The Lunnan oilfield in the Tarim Basin, one of China’s major onshore oilfields with substantial geological reserves, faces particular challenges due to the complexity of its reservoir environment and the dispersion of remaining oil. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, presents an opportunity for [...] Read more.
The Lunnan oilfield in the Tarim Basin, one of China’s major onshore oilfields with substantial geological reserves, faces particular challenges due to the complexity of its reservoir environment and the dispersion of remaining oil. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, presents an opportunity for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and geological storage. In this context, the use of carbon dioxide for EOR can simultaneously address environmental concerns and improve oil recovery rates. This study focuses on the TI reservoir in the No. 2 well area of the Lunnan oilfield, employing advanced techniques to analyze the micro- and macro-characteristics of carbon dioxide flooding. Results: From the microscopic point of view, carbon dioxide flooding is mainly miscible with crude oil, which has a strong component exchange effect and can be displaced in the form of full pores, and the microscopic displacement efficiency is close to 100%. Macroscopically, under the combined injection and production of different injected hydrocarbon pore volume multiples (HCPVs), it is injected at the upper and lower layers of the interlayer and produced far away from the lower layer of the interlayer, with a total recovery rate of 52.83%. With the increase in the HCPV, the recovery increased rapidly at first and then slowly, and the HCPV at the demarcation point was 0.5, while the oil production rate increased in a wave-like manner and then decreased rapidly, and the HCPV at the breakthrough point of TI gas was 0.5. However, when the upper and lower layers far away from the interlayer are injected at the same time, the upper and lower layers of the interlayer are produced at the same time, and the total recovery rate can reach 83.02%. With the increase in the HCPV, the recovery rate increases rapidly at first and then slowly, and the HCPV at the turning point is 6.52. The oil production rate increases in a wave-like manner, then decreases rapidly, rises rapidly, and then decreases slowly in a wave-like manner. The HCPV at the breakthrough point of TI gas is 0.63, and the HCPV at the injection–production transition point is 0.63. The total recovery rate of carbon dioxide miscible displacement can reach 88.68% under the condition of separate injection and combined production with different injected hydrocarbon pore volume multiples. With the increase in the HCPV, the recovery increased rapidly at first and then slowly. The HCPV at the demarcation point was 6.5, the oil production rate increased in a wave-like manner, then decreased rapidly, increased rapidly, and then decreased slowly in a wave-like manner. The HCPV at the breakthrough point of TI gas was 0.63, and the HCPV at the injection–production transition point was 6.5. The research results provide data support for the physical reality of the microscopic and macroscopic sweep characteristics of carbon dioxide flooding in the Lunnan oilfield, Tarim Basin. Full article
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13 pages, 3924 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Nanostructured Mg2Ni for Hydrogen Storage by Mechanical Alloying via High-Pressure Torsion
by Edgar Ignacio López Gómez, Joaquín Gonzalez, Jorge M. Cubero-Sesin and Jacques Huot
Reactions 2024, 5(4), 651-663; https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions5040033 - 24 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1874
Abstract
Mg2Ni is a highly promising candidate for solid-state hydrogen storage due to its high storage capacity. However, its synthesis is challenging due to the high melting point of Ni (1455 °C) and the boiling point of Mg (1090 °C). In this [...] Read more.
Mg2Ni is a highly promising candidate for solid-state hydrogen storage due to its high storage capacity. However, its synthesis is challenging due to the high melting point of Ni (1455 °C) and the boiling point of Mg (1090 °C). In this study, elemental powder mixtures of Mg and 30 at% Ni were processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) to synthesize the Mg2Ni intermetallic compound through mechanical methods. The formation of 11 wt% of Mg2Ni after 50 turns of HPT was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), reaching a maximum of 59 wt% after 100 turns. Rietveld refinement confirmed a nanocrystalline size for the Mg2Ni phase synthesized via HPT. Hydrogenation tests showed that the Mg-Ni synthesized by HPT can absorb hydrogen at 350 °C even after several weeks of air exposure. Furthermore, a maximum absorption capacity of 3.8 wt% was reached after 20 h of hydrogen exposure for the sample with 100 turns. This capacity is close to the theoretical capacity of 3.9 wt% for this composition. The results confirm that combining HPT with subsequent heat treatment is an efficient strategy to increase the Mg2Ni fraction after HPT processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen Production and Storage, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 4035 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Melt-Spun Recycled PA 6 Polymer by Adding ZnO Nanoparticles during the Extrusion Process
by Anja Ludaš Dujmić, Rafaela Radičić, Sanja Ercegović Ražić, Ivan Karlo Cingesar, Martinia Glogar, Andrea Jurov and Nikša Krstulović
Polymers 2024, 16(13), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16131883 - 1 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1847
Abstract
With recent technological advances and the growing interest in environmentally friendly fiber production processes, the textile industry is increasingly turning to the spinning of filaments from recycled raw materials in the melt spinning process as the simplest method of chemical spinning of fibers. [...] Read more.
With recent technological advances and the growing interest in environmentally friendly fiber production processes, the textile industry is increasingly turning to the spinning of filaments from recycled raw materials in the melt spinning process as the simplest method of chemical spinning of fibers. Such processes are more efficient because the desired active particles are melt-spun together with the polymer. The study investigates the melt spinning of recycled polyamide 6 (PA 6) fibers modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 wt% of the polymer. The extrusion process was optimized under laboratory conditions. An analysis of the effectiveness of the nanoparticle distribution and chemical composition was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of the thermal analysis show an increase in the glass transition temperature of the extruded material from 50.97 °C (raw polymer) to 51.40 °C to 57.98 °C (polymer modified with ZnO NPs) and an increase in the crystallization point from 148.19 °C to a temperature between 175.61 °C and 178.16 °C, while the molar enthalpy (ΔHm) shows a decreasing trend from 65.66 Jg−1 (raw polymer) to 48.23 Jg−1 (PA 6 2.0% ZnO). The FTIR spectra indicate PA 6 polymer, with a characteristic peak at the wavelength 1466 cm−1, but pure ZnO and PA 6 blended with ZnO show a characteristic peak at 2322 cm−1. The distribution of nanoparticles on the fiber surface is more or less randomly distributed and the different size of NPs is visible. These results are confirmed by the EDS results, which show that different concentrations of Zn are present. The mechanical stability of the extruded polymer modified with NPs is not affected by the addition of ZnO NPs, although the overall results of strength (2.56–3.22 cN/tex) and modulus of elasticity of the polymer (28.83–49.90 cN/tex) are lower as there is no drawing process at this stage of the experiment, which certainly helps to increase the final strength of the fibers. The results indicate the potential of modification with ZnO NPs for further advances in sustainable fiber production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Textile Based Polymer Composites)
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29 pages, 11497 KiB  
Article
Study on the Characteristics of Downwash Field Range and Consistency of Spray Deposition of Agricultural UAVs
by Zongru Liu, Rong Gao, Yinwei Zhao, Han Wu, Yunting Liang, Ke Liang, Dong Liu, Taoran Huang, Shaoqiang Xie, Jia Lv and Jiyu Li
Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060931 - 13 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2152
Abstract
Agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), increasingly integral to crop protection through spraying operations, are significantly influenced by their downwash fields, which in turn affect the distribution of spray droplets. The key parameters impacting spray deposition patterns are the velocity of the downwash airflow [...] Read more.
Agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), increasingly integral to crop protection through spraying operations, are significantly influenced by their downwash fields, which in turn affect the distribution of spray droplets. The key parameters impacting spray deposition patterns are the velocity of the downwash airflow and its spatial extent. Understanding the interplay of these parameters can enhance the efficacy of UAV applications in agriculture. Previous research has predominantly focused on downwash airflow velocity, often neglecting the spatial scope of the downwash. This paper presents an applied foundational study grounded in the compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. Leveraging a dependable k-ε turbulence model and dynamic mesh technology, it develops an effective three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach to analyze the downwash field’s distribution characteristics during UAV hover. To validate the CFD method, a visualization test was conducted using EPS (expanded polystyrene foam) balls dispersed in the airspace beneath the UAV, illustrating the airflow’s spatial distribution. Additionally, a parameter η was introduced to quantify changes in the wind field’s range, enabling the mapping of the cross-sectional area of the downwash airflow at various velocities within the UAV’s airspace. The study reveals that the downwash field’s overall shape evolves from a “four-point type” to a “square-like” and then to an “ellipse-like” configuration. Lower downwash airflow velocities exhibit a more rapid expansion of the wind field area. High-velocity downwash areas are concentrated beneath each rotor, while lower-velocity zones coalesce under each rotor and extend downward, forming a continuous expanse. Within the UAV’s downwash area, the deposition of droplets is more pronounced. At a given nozzle position, an increase in downwash airflow velocity correlates with greater droplet deposition within the downwash field. This research bridges a gap in downwash field studies, offering a solid theoretical foundation for the development of future UAV downwash field models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of UAVs in Precision Agriculture—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 6214 KiB  
Article
Study on the Degradation Effect of Carbonaceous Shale under the Coupling Effect of Chemical Erosion and High Temperature
by Guangwei Xiong, Qiunan Chen, Yongchao He, Zhenghong Chen, Xiaocheng Huang and Yunpeng Xie
Materials 2024, 17(3), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030701 - 1 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1260
Abstract
The southwest region of China has abundant groundwater and high-temperature geothermal energy. Carbonaceous shale, as one of the typical surrounding rocks in this region, often suffers from deterioration effects due to the coupled action of groundwater chemical erosion and high temperature, which affects [...] Read more.
The southwest region of China has abundant groundwater and high-temperature geothermal energy. Carbonaceous shale, as one of the typical surrounding rocks in this region, often suffers from deterioration effects due to the coupled action of groundwater chemical erosion and high temperature, which affects the long-term stability of tunnel engineering. In order to investigate the deterioration effects of carbonaceous shale under the coupled action of chemical erosion and high temperature, carbonaceous shale from a tunnel of Lixiang Railway in Yunnan Province was taken as the research object. The microstructure and mineral composition of the samples before and after chemical erosion were obtained with a scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer and an X-ray diffraction test. Then, triaxial compression tests were conducted on the samples under different time points and different temperature effects of chemical erosion, and the stress–strain curves and the deterioration laws under a single factor were obtained. An improved numerical simulation method based on the parallel bond model was developed, which can account for the coupled effects of chemical erosion and high temperature on the rock. By simulating the triaxial compression test of carbonaceous shale, the deterioration law of carbonaceous shale under the coupled action was discussed. The results show that chemical erosion has a significant deterioration effect on the triaxial compressive strength of carbonaceous shale, and the degree of deterioration is related to the erosion time. In the first 30 days of erosion, the triaxial compressive strength of carbonaceous shale decreased by 11.38%, which was the largest deterioration range. With the increase in erosion time, the deterioration rate gradually decreased; temperature had a significant threshold effect on the strength of carbonaceous shale, and a clear turning point appeared at about 200 °C. By simulating the deterioration effects of carbonaceous shale under the coupled action of chemical erosion and high temperature, it was found that the longer the duration of chemical erosion, the stronger the temperature sensitivity of carbonaceous shale, and the more serious the loss of compressive strength during the heating process. When the temperature was low, the strength of carbonaceous shale changed little, and some samples even showed an increase in strength; when the temperature was high, the strength of carbonaceous shale decreased significantly, showing deterioration characteristics. The numerical simulation method was compared and verified with the indoor test results, and it was found that the numerical calculation had a good agreement with the test results. Full article
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14 pages, 4345 KiB  
Article
Thermal Analysis in the Evaluation of Solid Lipid Microparticles in the Form of Aqueous Dispersion and Fine Powder
by Eliza Wolska and Géza Regdon
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(24), 13282; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413282 - 15 Dec 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1579
Abstract
In the presented study, an attempt was made to investigate the most important attributes of solid lipid microparticles (SLM) using thermal analysis (DSC/TG) in order to determine the importance of this technique in the research and development of lipid microparticles. Particularly interesting in [...] Read more.
In the presented study, an attempt was made to investigate the most important attributes of solid lipid microparticles (SLM) using thermal analysis (DSC/TG) in order to determine the importance of this technique in the research and development of lipid microparticles. Particularly interesting in our studies were drug–lipid interactions and modifications of the SLM matrix structure induced by the production method (the hot emulsification method) and further processing (e.g., spray drying), as well as changes occurring during the stability studies. Cyclosporine A, indomethacin and spironolactone were used as model active substances incorporated into SLM. The conducted research demonstrated the significant potential of DSC/TG, especially for the analysis of SLM in the form of fine powder. The method of sample preparation, consisting of evaporation of water at room temperature, turned out to be crucial for the DSC/TG analysis of SLM dispersion. In the case of the tested SLM, the basic and usually the only observed thermal transformation in the DSC spectrum was the endothermic peak associated with the lipid forming a microsphere matrix. This peak is the main source of information about the properties and stability of the tested SLM. The obtained results show that glyceryl behenate (Compritol) is a significantly better lipid for forming lipid microparticles than stearic acid. Although thermal transformations of the incorporated drug substances are not directly visible in the DSC spectra, their impact on the SLM properties can be assessed indirectly, based on changes in the lipid melting point and the shape of the DSC and TG peaks and curves. DSC/TG studies confirmed the lack of an effect of the spray drying process on the properties of drug-loaded SLM with Compritol. Studies have also shown up to a 2-year stability of SLM with CsA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Organic and Medicinal Chemistry)
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9 pages, 2452 KiB  
Communication
Dispersion Turning Attenuation Microfiber for Flowrate Sensing
by Yaqi Tang, Chao Wang, Xuefeng Wang, Meng Jiang, Junda Lao and Dongning Wang
Sensors 2023, 23(16), 7279; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23167279 - 20 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1675
Abstract
We demonstrated a new optical fiber modal interferometer (MI) for airflow sensing; the novelty of the proposed structure is that an MI is fabricated based on a piece of HAF, which makes the sensitive MI itself also a hotwire. The interferometer is made [...] Read more.
We demonstrated a new optical fiber modal interferometer (MI) for airflow sensing; the novelty of the proposed structure is that an MI is fabricated based on a piece of HAF, which makes the sensitive MI itself also a hotwire. The interferometer is made by applying arc-discharge tapering and then flame tapering on a 10 mm length high attenuation fiber (HAF, 2 dB/cm) with both ends spliced to a normal single mode fiber. When the diameter of the fiber in the processing region is reduced to about 2 μm, the near-infrared dispersion turning point (DTP) can be observed in the interferometer’s transmission spectrum. Due to the absorption of the HAF, the interferometer will have a large temperature increase under the action of a pump laser. At the same time, the spectrum of the interferometer with a DTP is very sensitive to the change in ambient temperature. Since airflow will significantly affect the temperature around the fiber, this thermosensitive interferometer with an integrated heat source is suitable for airflow sensing. Such an airflow sensor sample with a 31.2 mm length was made and pumped by a 980 nm laser with power up to 200 mW. In the comparative experiment with an electrical anemometer, this sensor exhibits a very high air-flow sensitivity of −2.69 nm/(m/s) at a flowrate of about 1.0 m/s. The sensitivity can be further improved by enlarging the waist length, increasing the pump power, etc. The optical anemometer with an extremely high sensitivity and a compact size has the potential to measure a low flowrate in constrained microfluidic channels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Optical Sensors)
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22 pages, 7499 KiB  
Article
The Development of a New Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)-Modified Asphalt
by Rui Dong, Aodong Gao, Ying Zhu, Bin Xu, Jierong Du and Shujiang Ping
Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061451 - 2 Jun 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3625
Abstract
The use of (recycled) plastics and (waste) vulcanized rubber powder is the main polymer of raw materials, and composite organic additives are selected to fully combine with asphalt components. The physical and chemical reactions between different components are completed in dynamic mixing, establishing [...] Read more.
The use of (recycled) plastics and (waste) vulcanized rubber powder is the main polymer of raw materials, and composite organic additives are selected to fully combine with asphalt components. The physical and chemical reactions between different components are completed in dynamic mixing, establishing a morphology structure similar to thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), and a thermoplastic highly asphaltized alloy material. TPE-modified asphalt not only significantly improves the high-temperature stability of the base asphalt, but also has the social and economic value of rational utilization of resources and turning waste into treasure. There are very few studies on the preparation of modified high-viscosity asphalt formulations using rubber and plastic as modifiers. In this study, rubber, plastic, and plasticizers were added to the base asphalt, and the TPE modifier formulations were developed through the research of new TPE modifier series and functional formulations, preparation process, and its modified asphalt properties. Meanwhile, the preparation method of the rubber–plastic alloy modifier was determined. The performance of the TPE-modified asphalt was verified through performance verification tests to evaluate the modification effect of the modifier on the base asphalt. The test results showed that the penetration, softening point, ductility, and viscosity indexes of the TPE-modified asphalt developed through the proposed formulation, and it met the specification requirements for high-viscosity modified asphalt. Rubber and plastic modifiers significantly improved the high-temperature stability of the base asphalt. In addition, the rubber–plastic modifier had a significant tackifying effect, with a dynamic viscosity of 60 °C and a Brinell rotational viscosity much greater than asphalt and rubber asphalt. The microscopic mechanism of the newly developed TPE-modified asphalt was analyzed by fluorescence microanalysis. The results showed that the rubber–plastic modifier fully swelled in the asphalt and was uniformly dispersed in the asphalt as a floc. The network structure of activated waste rubber powder-modified asphalt was more uniform and dense, resulting in good performance of the modified asphalt, and stable storage of modified asphalt was obtained. Through appropriate formulation, the comprehensive performance of the TPE-modified asphalt obtained met the requirements of pavement application and construction, providing a good theoretical basis for promoting TPE-modified asphalt. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation in Pavement Materials)
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16 pages, 12007 KiB  
Article
A Seawater Salinity Sensor Based on Optimized Long Period Fiber Grating in the Dispersion Turning Point
by Chao Du, Shuang Zhao, Qiuyu Wang, Bin Jia, Mingzhe Zhao, Li Zhang, Liqin Cui, Shizhe Chen and Xiao Deng
Sensors 2023, 23(9), 4435; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23094435 - 30 Apr 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2789
Abstract
Variations of seawater salinity often cause ocean internal waves, water masses and stratification, which affect the stability of the ocean environment. Therefore, the study of seawater salinity is significant for the prediction of changes in the ocean environment. However, existing methods for measuring [...] Read more.
Variations of seawater salinity often cause ocean internal waves, water masses and stratification, which affect the stability of the ocean environment. Therefore, the study of seawater salinity is significant for the prediction of changes in the ocean environment. However, existing methods for measuring seawater salinity generally have the disadvantages of low sensitivity and low accuracy. In this work, we proposed a seawater salinity sensor based on long period fiber grating (LPFG) in the dispersion turning point (DTP), which has demonstrated the possibility to fabricate LPFG with a shorter grating period by CO2 laser in a thin single mode fiber (SMF) of 80 μm cladding diameter without etching. For obtaining higher sensitivity that could meet the measurement requirement in practice, the proposed sensor was optimized by combining etching cladding and DTP. After the LPFG working near DTP was fabricated by a CO2 laser, the cladding diameter was reduced to 57.14 μm for making cladding mode LP1,7 work near DTP by hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions. The experimental results have demonstrated that a sensitivity of 0.571 nm/‰ can be achieved when the salinity increases from 5.001‰ to 39.996‰, and the sensor shows good repeatability and stability. Based on its excellent performance, the optimized LPFG is a prospective sensor to monitor seawater salinity in real time. Meanwhile, a low-cost way was provided to make LPFG work near DTP instead of ultraviolet exposure and femtosecond laser writing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Grating Sensors and Applications)
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