High Energy Research Articles

Skeletal malformation in growing milk sheep.

Two six-month old female Lacaune lambs with severe skeletal malformations of both front limbs were presented to the Department of Farm Animals, University of Zurich. The clinical examination showed alert animals with a high body weight and body condition score as well as a valgus deformation without pain or swelling. Radiographic examination showed severe irregularities in the epiphysial plate of the metacarpal bones in both lambs. Delayed growth in the lateral aspects of the physis was evident and resulted in valgus deformation. Nutritional causes were considered as the main reason for this presentation and a nutritional consultation was performed by the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Zurich. The estimated energy intake of these lambs was 65 % higher than the recommended maximum for growing sheep and the estimated vitamin D content of the diet was 71 % below the recommended allowance. Both animals were euthanized, and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was performed postmortem to measure total bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone mineral density (tBMD) and cortical bone mineral density (cBMD) of the left and right metatarsal bone of both animals. The BMD and the tBMD at 10 % of bone length were below the reference values and the BMD at 50 % was above the reference values. In addition, postmortem examination revealed a Salter-Harris-Typ-1 facture in the right caput humeri of one lamb. Histological evaluation showed defects in the articular cartilage with an eburnation in the metacarpal region and a disrupted area of columnar cartilage. This case report supports the fact that a high dietary energy intake leads to damage to the cartilage and the epiphyseal zone in sheep. In addition, insufficient dietary vitamin D intake contributed to the incomplete bone mineralization, as well as delayed growth and skeletal malformation.

Tuning the coordination environment of sulfur on carbon surface via doping with iron for high-capacity gaseous elemental mercury capture

Enhancement of the formation of unsaturated short-chain sulfur represents the key point in enhancing the gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) capture by sulfur-based sorbents, and yet the sulfur often agglomerates into long-chain species. Herein, by doping with iron cation as the regulator of the coordination environment of sulfur, the long-chain sulfur was successfully converted into short-chain sulfur on carbon. The iron-sulfur loaded carbon shows a high Hg0 adsorption capacity of 72.8 mg·g−1 (80 % breakthrough) and a low cost of $42.09/kg Hg, which are superior to various sulfur modified carbons and metal sulfides. The iron can not only immobilize more amount of sulfur on carbon surface, but also break the S-S bonds. The double interaction of iron and carbon with sulfur facilitates the formation of short-chain sulfur species for Hg0 adsorption. Density functional calculations suggest that S, Fe and C sites on surface are active centers for Hg adsorption. The Hg can tri-coordinate with S, Fe and C sites, which gives a high adsorption energy of − 219.3 kJ‧mol−1, confirming the strong reaction. This work provides a new in insights into the regulation of the coordination environment of sulfur, which allows the designing of high-capacity and low-cost sorbents for gaseous Hg0 removal.

An auto-encoder bio medical signal transmission through custom convolutional neural network

The transmission of biomedical signals in real-time is extremely difficult and necessitates the use of cloud and internet of things (IoT) infrastructure. Security is also an important consideration, however, to achieve this, a reconstruction method is developed where the entire signal is fed as an input, just the primary portion, the entire signal is taken then encoded, and then deliver to the destination. It is unlocked using a reconstruction technique without any signal attenuation. The key difficulty is how to manage the sensor network once the input is prepared for transmission. This has problems with extremely high network energy consumption and accurate data collection. The accuracy of data reconstruction through is improved by compressive sensing. The lifespan of the network as a whole could be extended, in this study; the proposed proposed system convolutional neural network (PS-CNN) is an integrated model that combines feature selection and auto-encoder. In order to produce the most useful features for particular tasks, our algorithm can eventually separate the appropriate task units from the irrelevant tasks.

A facile synthesis of novel binder-free NiSe-SnSe electrode: With enhanced electrochemical performance and superior life span

Fossil fuels depletion and deteriorating environmental conditions have deepened the growing demand for new energy solution. The bimetallic transition metal selenides, which a smaller bandgap and greater electrical conductivity than nanometals, are the subject of recent research on hybrid supercapacitors, composite systems integrating battery-like energy storage capability with capacitive charging. Herein, a new binder NiSe-SnSe composite system for supercapacitors has been developed through facile hydrothermal method, and its structural features, morphological characteristics as well as electrochemical properties are systematically studies in this work. Additionally, a thorough understanding of the electrode physicochemical properties are presented. Practically, a NiSe-SnSe||AC|KOH ASC had excellent specific capacitance (618 F/g at 1 A g−1), mainly owing to fast charge transport in electrochemical action. More importantly, the NiSe-SnSe||AC|KOH ASC electrode exhibits a high specific power of 8400 W kg−1 at a high specific energy of 55.4 Wh kg−1 with remarkable cycling stability by 96.4 % maintenance of initial capacitance after 5500 cycles. Our findings provide a profound understanding and possible use of this newly developed asymmetric supercapacitor in energy storage.

Non-contact Testing of Large Concrete Structures for Voids and Delaminations

Concrete is the most used construction material for civil engineering structures, as it is reliable, cost-efficient, and long lasting. Infrastructure made of reinforced concrete can be used for many decades, provided that maintenance is rigorous. The necessary periodic checks are typically manual tasks, including visual inspection for defects on the outside and hammering to find internal voids and imminent spalling. In this a paper, a non-contact system for automated inspection is presented. Two parallel lasers are used with a scanning head on a mobile platform to cover large areas. The first laser emits a high energy pulse, igniting plasma on the surface and subsequently inducing a shock wave into the structure. The second laser measures the resulting vibration. Signal analysis of individual measurement points give a first indication about the presence of faults. Unsupervised learning and visual computing are used to find and narrow down damaged areas in the scanning data with higher probability. After systematic testing in the laboratory, measurements were conducted recently in two tunnels with concrete linings. This paper provides an overview of the developed hardware and signal analysis techniques. Furthermore, the recent verification results are presented for the first time. In future, the proposed method can be combined with geometric scans and automated optical inspection of the surface to offer a holistic inspection approach and relieve the authorities that are responsible for operation and maintenance of the growing number of aging infrastructures.

The weight of data: an analysis based on the impact on the environment

The carbon footprint generated by the information and communications technology (ICT) sector is increasingly significant, emitting greenhouse gases due to high energy consumption, regardless of the way in which energy is generated, the expansion and growth in data centers, as well as the impact generated by the cryptocurrency sector that in the end represents is reflected in greater consumerism, processing, storage, and transport of information that will be somewhere in the world. Current research addresses the problems and the contrast of figures in energy consumption due to the use of a computer, data processing, the role of the user as an internet consumer, the impact of data centers both in carbon footprint, water footprint and soil footprint, the impact of cryptocurrency mining and its contribution to global energy expenditure as well as the ethical debate of new technologies. And finally, the advances in seeking to optimize energy resources, sustainable and conscious for both consumers and service providers, show the trends focused on energy optimization through software and hardware based on a judicious review of research documents.

Computer simulation in data analysis: A case study from particle physics

The paper presents a case study of the data analysis in the CDHS scattering experiment of particle physics performed in 1983. The case study compares the function of computer simulation in the data analysis with recent philosophical work on the role of simulations in high energy physics (HEP) and the theory-ladenness of the data. In the data analysis of CDHS, computer simulations entered an iterative process of probabilistic data correction. The computer simulation was a crucial ingredient of the data analysis that served to increase the accuracy of the measurement. The way in which simulation was used corresponds in a certain sense to the function of “models as mediators” (Morgan and Morrison), by mediating knowledge about measurement errors and the way of correcting them. I argue that this use of simulation did not give rise to a vicious circle of adjusting data to theory and vice versa but only to a weak, or benign, theory-ladenness of the data compatible with scientific realism. In the publication of the CDHS results, the measurement outcomes are called “observed data”, indicating a realist attitude of the physicists towards the measured quantities which does not exactly fit in with entity realism or theory realism.

Effects of a plant-based high energy and protein enteral tube feed in home enterally tube fed patients: results from a 6-month single-arm intervention trial

Effects of a plant-based high energy and protein enteral tube feed in home enterally tube fed patients: results from a 6-month single-arm intervention trial

Interface chemical reconstruction with residual lithium compounds on nickel-rich cathode by nonstoichiometrical MoO3-x coating enables high stability

The layered lithium nickel-rich cathodes have become one of the most promising candidates for next-generation lithium-ion batteries with high energy density, However, the nickel-rich cathode suffers from a rapid decay of capacity due to their intrinsic instability and undesirably residual lithium compounds originated from LiNiO2 structural changes on the surface, hindering large-scale commercial application. Herein, a continuous and uniform oxygen vacancy enriched-MoO3-x coating was successfully synthesized and reacted residual lithium compounds as a functional layer on the cathode. Such chemically reconstructed coating (Li2MoO4) strategy endows the 1 wt% MoO3-x coated NCA cathode with a fast Li+ ions transport and enhanced structural stability, leading to an outstanding discharge capacity of 214.0 mAh g−1 at 0.1C (1C = 270 mA g−1), a better capacity retention of 80.3 % after 120 cycles at 0.5C, and an excellent high rate capability of 120 mAh g−1 at 5C cycled in voltage range of 2.75 V–4.3 V. This work provides an effective strategy to modulate surface structure towards advanced Ni-rich cathodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

Layer effects on MXenes electrode and it applied to silicon composite structures

Despite the very high capacity of Si (4200mAh g−1), the widespread application of Si anodes has been hampered by drastic volume changes (up to 300 %) during cycling, leading to electrical contact losses and thus a sharp drop in capacity as the cycle life is shortened. Here we present a class of layered MXene/Si electrodes, which consist of nano-Si embedded in the interlayers of MXene to form a coupling effect, which can inhibit the huge volume change of Si during cycling. Therefore, layered MXene/Si has a highly reversible capacity, much improved cycling performance and excellent mechanical properties. First-principles calculations reveal the excellent electronic conductivity and good diffusion ability of layered MXene/Si, confirming the rapid storage of Li ions. This study provides useful information for the development and production of anode materials with high energy density and good mechanical properties.

District energy modelling for decarbonisation strategies development—The case of a University campus

University campuses can be considered as microcosms of urban districts, since they are typically located within or near a city and have a significant impact on the surrounding area. Moreover, they have a high energy consumption due to the large number of buildings, facilities, and services that use energy for transportation, heating, cooling, and lighting. This makes university campus as testing facility for decarbonisation strategies that can be replicated in other urban areas. The present study discusses a decision-making framework based on a digital twin model for analysing decarbonisation strategies of University College Dublin in Ireland. The thermal and electricity networks of the university campus are modelled to analyse the current status of energy consumption and associated carbon dioxide emissions. Five future development scenarios are explored to identify the optimum pathway for decarbonisation. Conclusions show that the campus can achieve a 10% reduction in emissions without the need for new generation units, while introduction of a new biomass CHP unit would increase this reduction to 17% compared to the baseline. Furthermore, Coupling this with the installation of 3 MW of solar photovoltaic, the calculated campus potential, a total reduction of 26% can be achieved.

Energy efficiency investment in Swiss industry: Analysis of target agreements

Slowing down the energy efficiency (EE) improvement rate over the past half a decade and relatively low EE-related investments highlight a need for a more targeted approach to encourage EE improvement investment in the Swiss manufacturing sector. The current work is based on an analysis of already implemented energy efficiency measures (EEMs) via target agreements. Four segments of the Swiss manufacturing sector are identified using the K-means clustering based on the energy consumption profiles of the establishments. The EEMs are categorized through text analysis with the help of a machine learning algorithm. The EEMs are ranked using two indicators that can inform different stakeholders: i) EEMs with Internal rates of return well above the reported risk-adjusted hurdle rates are identified for each segment to help industrial decision-makers take ad-hoc, profit-based investment decisions on EE improvement. ii) Levelized costs of saved energy are presented as value ranges for the EEMs that have the largest impact on annual total final energy (TFE) reduction for each segment to help policymakers design a more targeted approach for the promotion of high-impact EEMs. EE system improvements such as insulation of steam systems and process optimization, as well as EE equipment improvements like process equipment insulation, installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs), smart controls, and IE3 motors, were found to be the most profitable options across all clusters. For the electricity cluster, CHP was found to be the most impactful way of EE improvement (high energy savings) but not cost-effective. For fuel-consuming clusters, waste heat recovery measures were found to be the most cost-effective and among the most impactful options for EE improvement, along with fuel substitution measures with varying degrees of cost-effectiveness.

Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and Stability Study of Lippia origanoides Essential Oil-Based Nanoemulsion as a Topical Delivery System.

Fungal diseases are a priority in research, development, and health care, according to the WHO, mainly due to Candida spp. Essential oils (EOs) of the genus Lippia have demonstrated broad antimicrobial biological activity. Previous studies identified the anti-Candida potential of a thymol/p-cymene chemotype EO from Lippia origanoides H.B.K coded "0018". Nanoemulsions favor the biological activity of EOs and overcome limitations such as low solubility, instability against oxidizing agents, pH, light, and low permeability. To develop, characterize, and adjust a prototype of an O/W nanoemulsion containing the "0018" EO from Lippia origanoides for its evaluation in an In vitro permeability study. Nanoemulsions were obtained using a high energy high shear method. Their particle size distribution, Z potential, viscosity, pH, encapsulation efficiency (EE), thermodynamic stability and the Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) were evaluated. The nanoemulsion prototype was adjusted to improve performance characteristics and microbiological efficacy. Thymol was used as an analyte in the EO quantification using UHPLC-DAD. An O/W nanoemulsion with hydrodynamic diameter <200 nm and polydispersity index <0.3, EE >95%, with TSI < 1.5, anti-Candida albicans efficiency >95% was obtained; permeable with a flow of 6.0264 µg/cm2/h and permeability coefficient of 1.3170x10-3 cm/h. A pharmaceutical formulation prototype is obtained that maintains the physical and physicochemical characteristics over time. Permeability is verified in an in-vitro model. It is proposed to evaluate its antifungal activity in preclinical or clinical studies as a contribution to the treatment of topical fungal diseases caused by Candida spp., through the use of biological resources and Colombian biodiversity.

Exploring the application of hydrazine hydrate in protonic ceramic fuel cells: Strategies and performance improvements

Hydrazine hydrate, characterized by its high hydrogen content and eco-friendliness, garners extensive attention in the field of fuels. Its high energy density and rapid decomposition capabilities render it a promising fuel option for Proton-Conductor Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (PCFCs). Given the unique properties of hydrazine hydrate, this study employs a dendritic porous anode structure to facilitate faster fuel transport. Additionally, the influence of operational temperature and concentration of hydrazine hydrate as fuel on cell performance is analyzed. An effective vapor management strategy is implemented to address its decomposition into water vapor, resulting in a significant 23.17 % increase in the maximum power density (MPD) of the cell. To further enhance the performance of hydrazine hydrate fuel in PCFCs, a Pt–Al spherical catalyst is integrated within the anode structure of the cell. This approach notably improves the cell performance, yielding an additional 14.98 % increase in MPD. This design not only augments the electrical output but also effectively mitigates the degradation of the interface between the anode and the electrolyte. These optimization measures significantly improve the lifespan and reliability of the cell. The outcomes of this study demonstrate the practical feasibility of using hydrazine hydrate as a fuel in PCFCs.

Building Energy Optimization using BIM: A Study on Institutional Building

Abstract: In many facets of the construction industry, including energy management to encourage the development of green buildings, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the contemporary data information platforms and management technologies that is widely employed. The goal of this study was to optimize an institutional building's energy consumption by analyzing and evaluating its energy performance using BIM-provided capabilities. The Civil Engineering block of Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College in Tirupati, was taken into consideration for the investigation. The 2D blueprint was obtained from the engineering department and BIM technologies were used to create the necessary building model. The Green Building Studio (GBS) tool and Autodesk Insight 360 were utilized to conduct an energy analysis and derive the energy usage figures. The structural elements that are contributing to the high energy demand, such as the area between windows and walls, the width of the chajja relative to the height of the window, etc., were identified, and the BIM model underwent the required alterations to optimize the energy consumption. Comparing the data obtained in the two aspects, it was found that there was a 30% reduction in energy costs and a roughly 29.76% drop in energy use.

Role of Passivation Ligand in Exciton Diffusion and Emission Mechanism of Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystal Solid

Shorter-ligand passivated metal halide perovskite nanocrystal (PNC) solids possess smaller inter-NC edge distance which can potentially activate shorter-range nonradiative routes of energy transfer. However, these PNCs are prone to develop surface defects due to ligand detachment and the photogenerated excitons also have high probability to undergo dissociation. It remains unclear how these factors influence the exciton diffusion and emission mechanism of PNC solids. Herein, we prepare two PNC solids passivated with alkylamine and alkylacid ligands of different chain lengths and investigate the exciton diffusion and emission properties by combining time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) and low temperature PL spectroscopy. Our results show that due to the easy ligand detachment and rich surface defects, no prominent exciton transfer occurs in PNC solid passivated with short ligands, despite of the shorter distance between adjacent PNCs. In comparison, the PNC solid passivated with long ligands shows significant occurrence of exciton diffusion from high energy sites towards low energy sites. Accordingly, the PL spectra of thick PNC solid passivated with different ligands show a strikingly different evolution trend with decreasing temperature: in short ligand passivated PNC solid, an intrinsic emission is observed along with a defect-related emission arising from carrier trapping and subsequent radiative recombination, and both emissions are enhanced at lower temperature; in long ligand passivated PNC solid, high energy emission quenches while low energy emission is strengthened due to enhanced exciton transfer at lower temperature. This work reveals that the exciton diffusion and emission properties of PNC solid is strongly mediated by the passivation ligands, providing important insights for their applications in optoelectronic devices.

Laser-Scribed Battery Electrodes for Ultrafast Zinc-Ion Energy Storage.

Aqueous Zn batteries are promising for large-scale energy storage applications but are plagued by the lack of high-performance cathode materials that enable high specific capacity, ultrafast charging, and outstanding cycling stability. In this work, we design a laser-scribed nano-vanadium oxide (LNVO) cathode that can simultaneously achieve these properties. Our material stores charge through Faradaic redox reactions on/near the surface at fast rates owing to the small grain size (2-6nm) of vanadium oxide and interpenetrating three-dimensional (3D) graphene network, displaying a surface-controlled capacity contribution (90%-98%). Multiple characterization techniques unambiguously reveal that zinc and hydronium ions co-insert with minimal LNVO lattice change upon cycling. As a result, we demonstrate that a high specific capacity of 553 mAh g-1 can be achieved by the LNVO/Zn system at 0.1 A g-1 , and an impressive 264 mAh g-1 capacity can be retained at 100 A g-1 with a 10 s charge/discharge cycle, showing excellent rate capability. The LNVO/Zn is also capable of reaching >90% capacity retention after 3,000 cycles at a high rate of 30 A g-1, as well as achieving both high energy (369Wh kg-1) and power densities (56,306W kg-1). Moreover, the LNVO cathode retains its excellent cycling performance when integrated into quasi-solid-state pouch cells, further demonstrating mechanical stability and its potential for practical application in wearable and grid-scale applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Does digital technology advancement promote natural resource utilization efficiency?

While China has experienced an extended period of remarkable economic growth, certain industries have faced challenges such as high pollution, energy consumption, and emissions. To address these issues, China has set strategic goals for promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature in the new era. As a result, enhancing the efficiency of natural resource utilization has become crucial for achieving sustainable development. In line with this objective, this paper investigates the role of digital technology advancement as a pathway to improve the efficiency of e-government and natural resource utilization. This paper employs the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model to calculate the efficiency of natural resource utilization in 276 cities from 2010 to 2020. Utilizing Broadband China's pilot policy, the study employs differences-in-differences and propensity score matching to investigate the impact and mechanism of digital technology progress on natural resource utilization efficiency. The results indicate that the progress in digital technology significantly promotes the efficiency of natural resource utilization, a conclusion that holds even after a series of robustness tests. Mechanism analysis suggests that the progress in digital technology primarily influences resource efficiency by upgrading industrial structures and innovating green technologies. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive impact of digital technology progress on natural resource utilization efficiency is more pronounced in cities with lower political hierarchies, larger population sizes, non-resource-based economies, and those not classified as old industrial bases. This paper expands the research scope of natural resource utilization efficiency and provides specific policy recommendations.

Safe Insulation from the Inside as a Solution to the Energy and Climate Crisis

Along with rapid climate changes, issues related to energy efficiency and efficient use of energy are becoming more and more relevant in the EU. One of the energy-consuming sectors is buildings, which are responsible for about 40% of the EU final energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions. In addition to this, the current energy crisis has acutely raised the issue of energy poverty. Therefore, one of the ways to fight with energy poverty and high energy consumption in buildings is insulation from the inside. However, warming from the inside is risky due to hygrothermal processes and mold risks. This study assesses the hygrothermal performance of masonry walls with 9 interior insulation systems exposed to different external conditions in the climate chambers. Masonry walls were tested in a steady cycle, a dynamic cycle, a dynamic cycle with rain and a steady cycle as drying. Also, an identical simulation of the hygrothermal process was carried out in the DELPHIN software to compare results of both testing methods. Both vapor-open and vaportight systems were chosen as insulation systems. Results show that the hygrothermal behavior of vapor-open and vapor-tight insulation systems are different under different test cycles regarding different vapor diffusion resistance of materials. Mathematical simulations results are different from the climate chamber simulations, because of the change in material humidity, that are changing during climate chambers simulations. From this it can be concluded that mathematical simulations do not give a complete vision of hydrothermal processes, because they are dynamic, but in modeling the properties of materials are defined. The study provides valuable data on hygrothermal processes in different wall insulation systems from the inside.

Recycling Possibilities of Wood-Cement Particle Board Manufacturing Waste

Wood-cement particle boards are gaining popularity within construction materials as they combine natural fiber architectural value with Portland cement durability. The production of the material is associated with processing the produced fiberboards, which includes cutting, grinding, and polishing. The remaining wood-cement dust residues are classified as production waste, which is now deposited in the dump and gives extra expenditure for the enterprise. The utilization of wood-cement dust would also benefit the circular economy and reduce the environmental impact of the production process. Two scenarios are analyzed in this research, and the life cycle assessment (LCA) tool with SimaPro software is compared. The first scenario is associated with the partial replacement of Portland cement with wood-cement dust powder. The second scenario offers re-activation of the wood-cement dust at 450 °C to obtain binder properties. Both materials' mechanical strength is comparable, reaching 10 MPa after 28d curing. To maintain target strength, 70 % of Portland cement can be replaced. To produce 1 t of binder by heating at 450 °C, 1.2 t of wood-cement dust is needed as natural moisture evaporates, and wood dust particles go through pyrolysis, giving extra heat and CO2 emissions as well. LCA results indicate the 70% replacement of Portland cement reduces CO2 emissions from 597 kg of CO2/ton of CEM II/A-LL 42,5 to 179 kg of CO2/ton, while the second scenario is associated with high energy consumption during burning of the binder and increased CO2 value due to fossil fuel consumption and CO2 release from burning organic compounds in the material.