Search Results (1,880)

Conventional overload verification of bimetallic protection elements requires long-duration current loading and considerable time and energy consumption. This study proposes a rapid verification method combining a first-order thermodynamic equivalence model with image-based deflection measurement. Local linear interpolation between adjacent measured frames was used to determine the energization time corresponding to a prescribed target deflection. A current-dependent empirical correction factor was introduced to compensate for systematic deviations caused by simplified lumped thermal parameters and test-specific thermal boundary conditions. The model was identified using one target-deflection dataset and evaluated at two additional target deflections without parameter re-identification. Repeated tests were also conducted to assess cycle-to-cycle stability. The results show that the corrected model substantially reduced the temperature-rise deviation, maintained good prediction consistency across different target deflections, and exhibited low cycle-to-cycle variability. The method provides a physics-informed semi-empirical framework for rapid evaluation of bimetallic-strip overload characteristics. Further re-identification and assembled-product validation are required when the specimen configuration or thermal boundary conditions change. Full article

Severe localized corrosion in crude unit overhead systems is a critical integrity concern, particularly under transient wetting conditions. This study combines high-frequency online ultrasonic (UT) monitoring with a simplified dew-point temperature margin (ΔT) to evaluate short-term changes in corrosion severity during operation. Wall-thickness data obtained at 12 h intervals were used to derive long-term thinning trends and a short-interval corrosion rate indicator (CR_12h). CR_12h increased as ΔT decreased, indicating that reduced dew-point margin was associated with increased corrosion severity. Although ΔT is not an exact thermodynamic dew-point prediction, it served as a practical operational proxy for transient wet-corrosion propensity. The evaluation supported partial replacement of the affected column-top region with Alloy C-276 cladding. Follow-up inspection after four years showed approximately 0.1 mm of pitting, corresponding to about 0.025 mm/y, which was approximately one order of magnitude lower than the previous Type 405 stainless-steel cladding. These results demonstrate a practical approach for linking continuous corrosion-monitoring data with operational indicators and material-selection decisions in crude unit overhead systems. The study further illustrates how monitoring-derived insights can be translated into repair planning and subsequently validated through long-term field performance following material upgrade. Full article

SrTiO₃/Nb₂O₅ composite materials with 1 and 10 wt.% Nb₂O₅ were prepared by a sol–gel route and characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, BET, UV-Vis DRS, photoluminescence, and dielectric spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated via degradation of rhodamine B and tetracycline under UV and visible light. The addition of Nb₂O₅ resulted in a significant reduction in specific surface area (from 22.7 to 3.1 m²/g), a narrowing of the optical band gap (from 3.22 to 2.49 eV), and a decrease in photoluminescence intensity. Despite these changes, the photocatalytic performance decreased with increasing Nb₂O₅ content. For rhodamine B degradation, the UV rate constant fell from 0.0136 min⁻¹ for pristine SrTiO₃ to 0.0035 min⁻¹ for SrTiO₃/10% Nb₂O₅. The lower activity is mainly ascribed to the loss of active sites, surface carbonate formation, and enhanced non-radiative recombination at interface defects, which suppress charge transfer to the surface. The results demonstrate that careful control of the composite microstructure is essential for achieving efficient photocatalysis, even when heterojunction formation is thermodynamically favorable. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although chemotherapy is widely used, it is associated with severe side effects, including myelosuppression and systemic toxicity. Nanoparticles have emerged as promising candidates for modulating drug activity. In this study, we investigated whether platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) of various sizes interact with idarubicin (IDA), an anthracycline anticancer drug used primarily to treat acute leukaemia. Methods: Interactions between PtNPs and IDA were analysed using dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Thermodynamic and thermal properties were assessed using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Biological effects were evaluated using the Ames mutagenicity assay on the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium TA98 strain and cytotoxicity assays on SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 cell lines. Results: DLS demonstrated changes in the hydrodynamic diameter of PtNPs following IDA addition, which were further supported by AFM imaging. PtNPs significantly quenched IDA fluorescence, indicating close molecular interactions, which were further supported by FTIR and NIR. ITC revealed that the interactions were endothermic, with enthalpy values ranging from 1.2 to 3.6 kcal/mol, and DSC demonstrated that the PtNP-IDA combination altered the melting temperature of IDA. Biological assays revealed that all examined PtNP sizes influenced IDA mutagenicity in the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium TA98 strain. Furthermore, PtNPs modulated the cytotoxicity of IDA in SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that PtNPs interact with IDA and modulate its biological activity. However, in this study no non-cancerous cell lines were examined; therefore, the observed interactions and biological effects support further investigation of the PtNP-IDA combination in the context of nanoparticle-assisted anticancer therapy on a broader range of in vitro cell lines. Full article

Climate change is altering river-ice regimes across northern basins, with important implications for river hydraulics, infrastructure and flood hazards. In this study, river-ice thickness was simulated at 59 hydrometric stations across the Mackenzie River Basin (MRB) for the period 1980–2024 using a thermodynamically based Stefan ice-growth model driven by daily mean air temperature from the Canadian Surface Reanalysis (CaSR). Cumulative freezing degree-days (CFDD) were derived from 10 km gridded air temperature fields, and site-specific Stefan coefficients (α) were calibrated using measured average ice thickness data from the updated Canadian River Ice Database (CRID). The model reproduced observed river-ice thickness with good accuracy, achieving a median coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.96 across all stations. Basin-wide analysis revealed statistically significant warming in annual and seasonal air temperatures, averaging 0.37 °C decade⁻¹, accompanied by widespread declines in CFDD. These climatic changes translated into widespread reductions in simulated annual maximum river-ice thickness, averaging 1.1 cm decade⁻¹, together with a shift toward earlier peak ice thickness. Sensitivity analyses with uniform air-temperature increases of +1 to +3 °C further indicated average reductions in maximum river-ice thickness of up to 10 cm. Overall, the results demonstrate that the Stefan ice-growth model provides a robust and computationally efficient framework for basin-scale assessment of river-ice thickness and show that river ice across the MRB is already responding to climate warming, with continued thinning expected under projected future warming scenarios. Full article

Lined rock caverns offer a promising option for underground hydrogen, helping to mitigate renewable intermittency and enhance system stability. Considering the geological characteristics of hard rock formations in Southern Ontario, Canada, this study establishes a thermo–gas–mechanical coupled framework that incorporates hydrogen mass and energy evolution in the cavern, gas–wall convective heat exchange, dynamic cavern-volume feedback, and the deformation behaviour of the sealing layer, concrete lining, and surrounding rock. The influences of cavern geometry, sealing material, and in situ stress on the short–term thermodynamic and mechanical responses are further examined. The results show that hydrogen temperature and pressure exhibit clear stage–dependent evolution during the charging–storage–discharging cycle. The comparison between the first and 20th operating cycles indicates that repeated operation mainly causes a moderate adjustment of the cyclic thermal state and temperature–pressure baseline, without changing the overall stage–dependent response pattern. During charging, temperature and pressure increase simultaneously; during storage, both gradually decrease as thermal energy is transferred to the cavern wall; and during discharging, expansion causes pronounced cooling and depressurization, followed by gradual recovery driven by heat transfer from the surrounding rock. Cavern geometry significantly affects stress redistribution around the cavern. The circular cavern shows a relatively uniform stress distribution, whereas the arched cavern is more prone to local stress concentration near the sidewall–floor transition zone. The sealing material mainly influences gas temperature fluctuations through its thermal conductivity. The fibre–reinforced plastic (FRP) sealing layer amplifies thermal fluctuations during cyclic operation, whereas the steel sealing layer promotes heat dissipation through the lining and surrounding rock, thereby moderating cavern–gas temperature variations. In situ stress difference further controls the directional distribution of stresses around the cavern. As the minimum horizontal principal stress increases, compressive stress concentration at the crown and invert becomes stronger, while relative stress release occurs near the sidewalls. These findings provide a thermo–mechanical basis for preliminary cavern–geometry design, comparison of sealing–layer thermal performance, and assessment of in situ stress adaptability for lined rock cavern hydrogen storage in Southern Ontario. Full article

A comprehensive analysis of the vertical thermodynamic structure during a compound dust–heatwave (dust–HW) event over the south-western Iberian Peninsula is presented in this study to investigate potential impacts on surface heat stress and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) conditions. Lidar observations were performed at two dust-influenced stations, Évora (Portugal) and El Arenosillo/Huelva (Spain), during the intense June 2022 Saharan dust intrusion associated with a persistent HW event. The dust intrusion was characterized by high aerosol optical depths (up to ~1) and long duration (8 days). The dust layer extended from the surface up to approximately 6–7 km height, with the highest concentrations detected below 3–4 km. Similar temporal and vertical thermodynamic patterns were observed at both stations, indicating regional-scale consistency during the compound dust–HW event. Near-surface temperatures increased significantly during the dusty period compared with surrounding non-dusty days, suggesting enhanced surface heat-stress conditions under concurrent dust–HW environments. A distinct vertical thermodynamic structure was also identified, with air temperature (AT) increasing within the main dust layer, while relative humidity (RH) decreased below and increased above the layer where the highest dust concentrations were detected (3–4 km). Additional ERA5 vertical velocity diagnostics revealed ascending-motion signatures coinciding with RH-enhanced layers above the main dust intrusion, supporting dynamically consistent conditions for upward moisture transport during the event. Under these RH-enriched and ascending-motion conditions, retrieved CCN concentration estimates suggested potentially enhanced CCN activation environments above the main dust layer under moderate supersaturation scenarios. Overall, the results provide observational evidence consistent with a coupling among dust transport, thermodynamic variability, and CCN-related processes during HW conditions. These findings highlight the importance of understanding concurrent dust–HW environments in dust-influenced regions under projected future HW intensification associated with climate change, and their connection with aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI). Full article

This study evaluates the effects of novel metal-based fuel additives on the combustion, thermal behavior, and emissions of a common-rail diesel engine. Two transition metal complexes, Bis-[N-(1,1′-biphenyl)-2-chlorobenzoylthioureato]nickel(II) (NiL₂) and cobalt(II) (CoL₂), were synthesized and utilized as diesel additives for the first time. Experiments were conducted on a 1.5-L, four-cylinder engine at 1750 rpm under three load conditions: 50, 75, and 100 Nm. The results demonstrated that 25 ppm of NiL₂ and CoL₂ altered the combustion kinetics. At medium loads, the additives increased maximum cylinder pressure by 3% and shortened ignition delay at low loads. Peak heat release and heat transfer rates improved by 4% and 7%, respectively. CoL₂ exhibited the most pronounced thermal effect, raising average in-cylinder gas temperatures by up to 4% at high loads. However, despite these thermodynamic changes, the additives did not yield any reductions in NO, HC, or CO emissions; in fact, emission levels were generally similar to or slightly higher than those of neat diesel. These findings suggest that while these specific complexes act as combustion modifiers that enhance in-cylinder thermal parameters, they do not offer significant advantages regarding emissions under the tested configurations. Full article

Geogenic processes and human activities are both major causes of soil pollution. Soils can get toxic transition metals from the materials they are formed from, but most pollution comes from industrial and farming activities. The presence of these transition metals in soil can be shown through changes in chemical, biochemical, and microbial properties, as well as how plants react. This research aims to remove transition metals like chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), tungsten (W), and cadmium (Cd) from soil using a boron nitride (BN) nanocage. The electromagnetic and thermodynamic properties of these metals when trapped in BN were studied using materials modeling. The metals are captured through chemisorption. The research looked at how Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, W, and Cd are trapped by BN to detect soil metal cations. BN was designed in the presence of these transition metals. The covalent characteristics of these complexes show similar energy levels and a view of the partial density of states between the p states of boron and nitrogen in BN and the d states of Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, W, and Cd in B(X)N complexes. Also, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis showed clear peaks around Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, W, and Cd when they were trapped in BN during atomic detection and removal from soil, although there were some variations in chemical shielding for isotropic and anisotropic tensors. Based on these results, the ability of BN (as an atom sensor) to adsorb toxic metals, metalloids, and nonmetals is ordered as: Cd > Zn > Fe > Cr > Mn ≈ W. This article suggests that elements absorbed by BN could be used to develop and improve the optoelectronic properties of BN, helping to create photoelectric devices for soil cleaning. Full article

Mayonnaise is a high-viscosity food emulsion whose consistency evolves during shearing due to structural rearrangement and possible emulsion destabilization. This study presents a laboratory-scale proof-of-concept for adapting an established motor current-derived accumulated entropy generation (AEG) framework as a thermodynamic descriptor for monitoring mayonnaise structure changes. First, eight reference fluids were tested using a rotating-bob viscometer at shear rates of 600, 800, and 1000 s⁻¹ to establish the relationship between viscosity and motor current. The corrected current response showed a strong linear correlation with viscosity. The approach was then extended to commercially available mayonnaise samples. Due to the higher viscosity and structured nature of mayonnaise, testing was performed at 1000 s⁻¹, where stable shearing could be achieved. A modified impeller-based viscometer setup was used to continuously shear the mayonnaise and monitor the motor current in situ, while rheometer measurements were performed independently to validate the corresponding viscosity changes during shearing. The motor current decreased with shearing time, consistent with the reduction in measured viscosity. The calculated AEG increased continuously and distinguished the shear stability of different mayonnaise formulations. The viscosity degradation rates of two different mayonnaises are characterized using the degradation coefficient B introduced in the degradation–entropy generation (DEG) theorem. A higher B value indicates greater structural breakdown. These results suggest that current-derived entropic parameters (B coefficient and AEG) may serve as practical, sensor-accessible descriptors for monitoring mayonnaise consistency evolution when direct torque measurement or in-line rheology is unavailable. Full article

The development of sustainable, smart food packaging materials that simultaneously provide antimicrobial protection and real-time monitoring of food quality is a critical frontier in food safety. This study reports the fabrication of a multifunctional amphiphilic emulgel designed for the detection of pathogen-induced metabolic pH changes in food systems. The system utilizes Pomegranate-derived nitrogen-doped quasi-spherical carbon dots (QS-CDs) as fluorescent nanoprobes and Rosemary Essential Oil (REO) as a natural antimicrobial agent, both encapsulated within a polyelectrolyte complex of chitosan and sugarcane bagasse-derived carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). A low degree of substitution (DS = 0.4) was specifically engineered for the CMC to ensure an amphiphilic character, enabling nanocomposite complex stabilization of the REO droplets without synthetic surfactants. Structural characterization via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed well-dispersed QS-CDs (4.71–6.62 nm) and stable oil droplets (~605.49 nm) anchored within a zipped polymer network. Thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) using the Coats–Redfern model revealed a significant synergistic effect: the smart-emulgel exhibits a distinct two-stage degradation profile, with the high-temperature stage requiring an activation energy (E_a) of 95.19 kJ/mol, a substantial increase over the corresponding stage in the CD-emulgel baseline (18.69 kJ/mol). This enhanced stability is complemented by a slight increase in crystallinity (X_c from 0.11 to 0.14). While the smart-emulgel remains predominantly amorphous, this shift suggests that the integration of REO and QS-CDs into the polymer network promotes the formation of localized, more ordered domains, contributing to a more robust and structurally integrated matrix. The emulgel demonstrated a dual-mode optical response (colorimetric and fluorometric) sensitive to the metabolic byproducts (e.g., organic acids, amines, other alkaline compounds) produced by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These findings were corroborated by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, which confirmed the thermodynamic stability and optimized electronic energy gaps for pH-responsive sensing. This research provides a green, high-performance platform for the real-time monitoring of food freshness and the prevention of foodborne illnesses. Full article

Accurate short-term rainfall forecasting is essential for disaster mitigation. Although numerical weather prediction models are widely used, their application to short lead times is constrained by computational demands. Data-driven approaches provide an efficient alternative. To better exploit atmospheric water vapor information, this study develops a dual-branch long short-term memory (LSTM) model that integrates Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-derived precipitable water vapor (PWV) with surface meteorological parameters for rainfall forecasting. The model processes historical rainfall and meteorological variables through separate branches. Historical rainfall characterizes precipitation persistence, while PWV, PWV variation (ΔPWV), PWV rate of change (ΔtPWV), and air temperature describe atmospheric moisture evolution and thermodynamic conditions before rainfall. The model was evaluated using hourly observations from 18 GNSS-collocated meteorological stations in Taiwan collected during 2018–2019 and compared with a rainfall history-based LSTM baseline model. Results show that the proposed model achieved accuracies of 89–91% and recalls of 88–90% for 1–3 h forecasts. Its advantages became more evident for longer lead times, with Recall and Threat Score increasing by 6–11% and 4–8%, respectively, for 2–3 h forecasts. These findings demonstrate that integrating GNSS-derived PWV with surface meteorological parameters can improve short-term rainfall forecasting. Full article

The article presents the results of the development of multicomponent adsorption materials based on industrial waste sludge from the water treatment plant of a thermal power plant. Activation of the sludge at 1000 °C makes it possible to obtain a porous matrix. It has been experimentally established that compositions with 50% activated sludge content in combination with oxides of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and NaOH have an optimal sorption capacity with respect to hydrogen sulfide. Kinetic studies have shown that the optimal contact time of the adsorbent with the adsorbate is 15–20 min, and the operating temperature should not exceed 300 K. The calculated thermodynamic parameters confirm the exothermic chemical mechanism of sorption. The materials have the ability to regenerate and display a color change upon contact with hydrogen sulfide. With respect to mercaptan sulfur, the maximum capacity was achieved for the sorption composition with 74.7% ZnO content. The logarithmic dependence of the mercaptan sulfur capacity on the percentage of zinc oxide in the composition has also been established. The environmental significance of the work lies in the utilization of large-tonnage waste and the absence of liquid effluents during regeneration. The proposed materials show promise as potentially cost-effective alternatives for gas purification, though comprehensive economic analysis remains the subject of future work. Full article

When methane (natural gas) fuel gas turbines switch to hydrogen–ammonia co-fuel, their thermodynamic performance undergoes significant changes. To expand the operating range of heavy-duty gas turbines when using hydrogen–ammonia co-fuel and to improve their thermodynamic performance, based on the 255.6 MW heavy-duty gas turbine at the Banshan Power Plant in Hangzhou, China, a simulation model was established. A strategy based on changing the angle of the compressor inlet guide vanes (IGVs) was proposed. The thermodynamic performance, turbine stage supercritical flow velocity, and flow matching characteristics of gas turbines were studied under different hydrogen–ammonia mixing ratios. The results indicate that the developed model can accurately predict the performance of the gas turbine under rated operating conditions, yielding a rated output power of 254.59 MW and an efficiency of 36.33%, with relative errors of −0.4% and −1.54% compared with the design values, respectively. When hydrogen–ammonia blended fuel is employed, the outlet Mach numbers of the second- and third-stage turbine stators exceed the safety limit unity. Reducing the IGV angle effectively decreases the turbine stator outlet Mach number and improves operational safety, although a slight reduction in gas turbine efficiency is observed. As the ammonia volumetric fraction in the blended fuel increases, the gas turbine output power increases while the efficiency decreases slightly, accompanied by a reduction in turbine stator outlet pressure and an increase in outlet temperature. Further investigation shows that, after IGV regulation, the combustor outlet pressure, gas turbine power output, and efficiency all increase. Under a fixed IGV opening condition, the gas turbine efficiency gradually decreases with increasing ammonia volumetric fraction. Under off-design fuel flow conditions, increasing the relative fuel flow leads to higher combustor outlet pressure and temperature, whereas increasing the ammonia volumetric fraction causes a slight reduction in these parameters. This research can provide theoretical support for the optimal design and operation of gas turbines using hydrogen–ammonia mixed fuel. Full article

α-Glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) significantly regulate blood glucose by delaying carbohydrate digestion and slowing glucose absorption, thus playing a critical role in glycemic control. Structurally, dihydromyricetin (Unless otherwise stated, the term dihydromyricetin used throughout this manuscript refers to trans-(2R,3R)-(+)-dihydromyricetin.) differs from myricetin in that the C2=C3 double bond in the C-ring is saturated, resulting in a dihydroflavonol instead of a flavonol. This study investigated the inhibition mechanism of α-glucosidase by the C2=C3 double bond structure using a set of integrated and multi-perspective approaches combining enzyme kinetics, multi-spectroscopic methods, molecular docking, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Myricetin (IC₅₀ = 13.648 ± 0.157 μM) was found to be a more potent α-glucosidase inhibitor than dihydromyricetin (IC₅₀ = 453.922 ± 1.643 μM). Enzyme kinetics indicated that myricetin acted as a competitive inhibitor, whereas dihydromyricetin functioned as a non-competitive inhibitor. To further examine these interactions, multi-spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that binding of myricetin caused significant changes in the microenvironment around fluorescent amino acids (such as tyrosine and tryptophan) in α-glucosidase, resulting in slight unfolding of the enzyme structure. Additionally, molecular docking provided a detailed molecular perspective, identifying hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions as the primary forces driving the binding of two flavonoids to α-glucosidase. Delving deeper into the binding mechanism, ITC analysis provided thermodynamic evidence that myricetin (K_D = 6.215 ± 0.022 μM) exhibited a stronger binding affinity to α-glucosidase than dihydromyricetin (K_D = 232.648 ± 1.236 μM), with both interactions being enthalpy-driven and primarily mediated by hydrogen bonds. Building on this, SPR analysis offered additional insights into the binding process, showing that myricetin not only had a higher binding affinity (K_D = 3.416 ± 0.015 μM) but also a faster association rate (k_a = 1668 ± 23 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) compared to dihydromyricetin (K_D = 11.539 ± 0.056 μM, k_a = 339.7 ± 17.1 M⁻¹ s⁻¹). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the C2=C3 double bond plays a key role in enhancing α-glucosidase/inhibitor interactions, providing a theoretical basis for the design of novel AGIs and proposing a new set of multi-perspective methods for elucidating these inhibition mechanisms. Full article