Interface Position Research Articles

Fast forward modeling and response analysis of extra-deep azimuthal resistivity measurements in complex model

The Extra-Deep Azimuthal Resistivity Measurements (EDARM) tool, as an emerging technology, can effectively identify geological interfaces within a range of several tens of meters around the borehole, providing geological structures for directional drilling, and effectively improving reservoir encounter rates and enhancing oil and gas recovery rates. However, the signal is jointly affected by interfaces located both ahead of the drill bit and around the borehole, making it impossible to directly obtain the interface position from the signal. Considering the increased detection range of EDARM and the requirements for computational efficiency, this paper presents a 2.5-dimensional (2.5D) finite element method (FEM). By leveraging the symmetry of simulated signals in the spectral domain, the algorithm reduces computation time by 50%, significantly enhancing computational efficiency while preserving accuracy. During the geosteering process, fault and wedge models were simulated, and various feature parameters were extracted to assess their impact on the simulation outcomes of EDARM. The results show that both Look-around and Look-ahead modes exhibit sensitivity to changes in the angle of the geological interface. Crossplot analysis allows for effective identification of interface inclinations and the distances between the instrument and the geological interface. This recognition method is quick, intuitive, and yields reliable results.

Multimodal nanoparticle analysis enabled by a polymer electrolyte nanopore combined with nanoimpact electrochemistry.

Nanopores are emerging as a powerful tool for the analysis and characterization of nanoparticles at the single entity level. Here, we report that a PEG-based polymer electrolyte present inside the nanopore enables the enhanced detection of nanoparticles at low ionic strength. We develop a numerical model that recapitulates the electrical response of the glass nanopore system, revealing the response to be sensitive to the position of the polymer electrolyte interface. As proof of concept, we demonstrate the multimodal analysis of a nanoparticle sample by coupling the polymer electrolyte nanopore sensor with nanoimpact electrochemistry. This combination of techniques could deliver the multiparametric analysis of nanoparticle systems complementing electrochemical reactivity data provided by nanoimpact electrochemistry with information on size, shape and surface charge provided by nanopore measurements.

Density effects of different genesis in lowland reservoirs

Features of formation of vertical stratification of water masses in reservoirs caused by heterogeneity of distribution of water mineralization are considered. These effects with different genesis are considered on the example of three specific significantly different water bodies. As a first example, the Kama reservoir in the confluence of the Sylva and Chusovaya rivers is considered, characterized in winter by a significantly different hydrochemical regime. In the zone of their confluence in winter, vertical stratification of water masses is formed, which is used to significantly reduce the rigidity of water masses. It has been shown that the intra-day unevenness of the operation of the Kama hydroelectric power station significantly affects the fluctuations in the boundary of water masses. At the same time, the position of the water mass interface itself is very stable relative to the seasonal operation of the reservoir. As a second example, a small reservoir located in the zone of active technogenesis is considered, characterized by filtration discharges of highly mineralized groundwater. If the observed stratification of water masses in these examples is quite stable during the whole season, then in the third considered example – the Kama reservoir in the area of Berezniki, located in the zone of support pinching out, it is very short-lived, it can only be observed for several days. Despite its relative short duration, it is very significant for ensuring a sustainable water supply. Factors determining duration of observation of vertical heterogeneity of water masses of water bodies are considered.

Using High-Speed Videoendoscopy to Analyze Laryngeal Closure Parameters During Normal Swallow.

This pilot study was designed to test the tolerability of a lower scope position and feasibility of custom-designed MATLAB graphical user interface (GUI) used to analyze playback review of laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (laryngeal HSV) during healthy volitional dry swallows. We hypothesized this method would conceptually provide time resolution for glottic closure events compared with standard (30 frames per second, fps), and enable a means to measure timing, sequence, and duration of laryngeal movements during swallowing not otherwise visualized. A total of 14 healthy adults (4 male, 22-80 years) participated. We performed laryngeal HSV at 500fps. Measurements included: (i) feasibility and tolerability of the procedure; (ii) identification of a swallowing segment of interest (SOI) for the peak of the swallow; and (iii) description of laryngeal swallowing movements using a GUI. Fourteen subjects tolerated the procedure without discomfort and swallow images were able to be analyzed in 12. Using our GUI, mean SOI was 260 ms, yielding 130 frames for analysis (compared with seven in standard laryngoscopy). Vocal fold adduction, vocal fold medialization, and anterior-posterior arytenoid compression to the epiglottis prior to whiteout could be identified and sequenced. Participants tolerated a low position of the endoscope during dry volitional swallows. The output of our GUI demonstrated a novel technique for identifying, describing, and sequencing a swallowing SOI. Future studies should investigate laryngeal closure and arytenoid positioning with a bolus and in a range of ages, genders, and etiologies in both healthy and abnormal populations to better understand swallowing physiology. NA Laryngoscope, 2024.

Assistive Eyewear: Arduino Powered Eyeglasses for Blind Individuals

The quality of life for individuals with visual impairments has been significantly enhanced by assistive technologies. This paper introduces a new solution called Arduino Powered Eyeglasses (APE) for Blind Individuals tailored specifically for blind individuals. APE integrates sophisticated sensors, microcontrollers, and audio feedback systems into a wearable device, enhancing spatial awareness and navigation capabilities. Utilizing ultrasonic sensors, the system detects obstacles in the user's path and delivers real-time audio feedback through a buzzer embedded in the eyeglasses frame. Furthermore, it has an embedded vibration motor that acts as a feedback system as well when navigating an outdoor and indoor environment that is noisy. The design, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of APE are presented herein, emphasizing its effectiveness in aiding blind individuals with various daily tasks and promoting independence and mobility. APE's affordability and user-friendly interface position it as a promising solution for empowering individuals with visual impairments to navigate the world with increased confidence and autonomy.

Exploring the impact of computerized dynamic assessment on the explicit and implicit knowledge of reflexive pronouns: The mediating role of brain dominance

Dissatisfaction with product-oriented and static forms of assessment led to the emergence of process-oriented testing or dynamic assessment. Learners' involvement in the assessment process can enhance their learning autonomy and help them process linguistic features more deeply. In this regard, this study explored the impacts of computerized dynamic assessment on the explicit and implicit knowledge of reflexive pronouns and the moderating impact of brain dominance among university-level English language learners in Iran. Drawing on Vygotsky's sociocultural theory and employing a quantitative quasi-experimental pretest posttest control group design with two intact classes (N = 62) randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, the rigorous statistical analyses using ANOVAs and t-tests revealed the superior performance of the learners in the experimental group over the control group in both explicit and implicit knowledge on the posttest. As a support for the interface position, our findings highlighted a strong interface between explicit and implicit knowledge. In addition, the study findings indicated that learners with different hemispheric preferences benefitted from computerized dynamic assessment in similar fashions. Practical implications of the study signify how flexible computerized dynamic assessment is to fit different hemispheric tendencies and its affordances and possibilities for inclusive language instruction and the development of both the explicit and implicit knowledge of reflexive pronouns.

Characterization of Interface Transition Zone in Asphalt Mixture Using Mechanical and Microscopic Methods.

An enormous surge in the pavement sector requires the evaluation of interface bonding in asphalt composite, since the assessment of bonding brings considerable cost savings. Microscopic and mechanical analyses were performed to study the status of the interface transition zone of four groups of asphalt mixtures, using thin-slice preparation to obtain asphalt mixture slices with a flat surface for microscopic analysis. The interface transition zones were characterized using good knowledge of blending or diffusion phenomena by conducting tests both at the micro and macro levels to determine mixture quality. Asphalt mixture components were observed using fluorescence microscopy imaging and evaluated by the gray value change law. Asphalt mixture groups, (virgin, recycled of 30% aged and 70% unaged, 6%, and 4% rejuvenator dosage mixtures) under the same process parameters, which are a mixing time of 270 s and a mixing temperature of 150 °C, been considered optimum for component fusion in a hot asphalt mixture were used. This study relied on the influence of morphology law, assessed through rutting tests for high temperature performance, semi-circular bending tests for low temperature performance, and pull-off tests for interface bonding strength. The relationship between interface transition zones and macro performance was studied. The self-developed pull-off method was a research innovation which can be used as an alternative to study interface transition zones in asphalt mixtures, and provides the necessary data needed with 3D surface failure mode calculations. The device measured the bonding strength of a single aggregate in distinct positions using the bitumen penetration test method. The main goals were to determine a correction factor, identify the appropriate alteration, and compute the actual fracture surface area. Using scanning electron microscopy for interface characterization and micro-morphologies of mortar transition zone, our analysis provides adequate knowledge about interface position and the components present. The applied approaches to characterize asphalt mixture interfaces proved workable and reliable, as all methods have similar trends with useful information to determine asphalt pavement quality.

A new methodology to calculate interface thermal resistance between intumescent coating and steel substrate

Interface thermal resistance (ITR) plays a very important role in heat transfer and thermomechanical coupling response from intumescent coating to steel substrate in fire. However, the dynamic ITR between intumescent coating and steel substrate during burning is seldom reported. In this paper, a new methodology is presented to calculate dynamic ITR between intumescent coating and steel substrate under high incident heat flux based on the interface conservation equation. The new methodology focuses on measuring the temperature distribution and thermal conductivity of intumescent coating and steel substrate, with fewer variables. In this way, the calculation of ITR can be simplified. Firstly, the temperature variation function curves inside the intumescent coating and the steel substrate were fitted separately based on the temperature measurement data. Secondly, the interface temperatures (Tci,Tsi) were determined separately at the interface position by temperature variation function curves inside the intumescent coating or the steel substrate. Finally, the ITR calculation formula was deduced and the key parameters required for ITR calculation were obtained by cone calorimetry et al. An illustrative example was studied and validate the applicability of the new methodology.

Effects of Head-Up Display Information Layout Design on Driver Performance: Driving Simulator Studies

Head-up displays (HUDs) enable drivers to receive additional information while maintaining a forward view of the road. However, due to human cognitive resource limitations, improper HUD interface design can pose safety risks, especially when multiple pieces of information are presented simultaneously. This study involved 45 participants and conducted two driving simulation experiments. Study 1 explored the impact of different HUD interface positions on driver cognitive performance in single cognitive task conditions. Study 2 validated the findings of Study 1 under multiple cognitive task conditions and further compared drivers’ cognitive performance, workload, driving operation, and eye movement between grouped and disordered information layouts on the HUD. The results indicated that the central area of the HUD interface provided the best cognitive performance, followed by the left side, with the right side performing the poorest. Grouped information layouts on the HUD proved superior to disordered layouts in terms of cognitive performance, workload, driving operation, and eye movement. An XGBoost regression model was proposed to predict the drivers’ comprehensive cognitive responses. This study could provide empirical evidence and practical recommendations for HUD interface design.

On the boundary conditions for GFMxP high-order schemes on staggered grids in the simulation of incompressible multiphase flows

The simulation of incompressible multiphase flows through the so-called fractional step method needs to solve a variable coefficient Poisson equation for discontinuous functions. Recently, it has been shown how the solution of this equation may be found out through a novel coding of the Ghost Fluid Method (named GFMxP), by avoiding any fit to evaluate the interface position and providing, anyhow, a perfect sharp modeling of the same interface. Furthermore, the accuracy order of the numerical solutions exactly corresponds to the order of the adopted finite difference scheme. The effectiveness and reliability of the new procedure were successfully checked by a lot of tests. However, the a-priori knowledge of the unknown function allowed to elude a fundamental aspect of the numerical approach: the appropriate encoding of the boundary conditions. This topic has often been debated in the past, especially from a theoretical viewpoint, and still represents a rather thorny point in the whole simulation process. The paper shows how to handle the problem in practice and in the context of the GFMxP approach, i.e. by accounting for the presence of the discontinuity and the possible use of high-order solving schemes on a staggered grid.

Coupled Richtmyer–Meshkov and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability on a shock-accelerated inclined single-mode interface

The coupling of Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI), referred to as RM-KHI, on a shock-accelerated inclined single-mode air–SF $_6$ interface is studied through shock-tube experiments, focusing on the evolution of the perturbation distributed along the inclined interface. To clearly capture the linear (overall linear to nonlinear) evolution of RM-KHI, a series of experiments with a weak (relatively strong) incident shock is conducted. For each series of experiments, various $\theta _{i}$ (angle between incident shock and equilibrium position of the initial interface) are considered. The nonlinear flow features manifest earlier and develop faster when $\theta _{i}$ is larger and/or shock is stronger. In addition, the interface with $\theta _{i}>0^{\circ }$ evolves obliquely along its equilibrium position under the effect of KHI. RMI dominates the early-time amplitude evolution regardless of $\theta _{i}$ and shock intensity, which arises from the discrepancy in the evolution laws between RMI and KHI. KHI promotes the post-early-stage amplitude growth and its contribution is related positively to $\theta _{i}$ . An evident exponential-like amplitude evolution behaviour emerges in RM-KHI with a relatively strong shock and large $\theta _{i}$ . The linear model proposed by Mikaelian (Phys. Fluids, vol. 6, 1994, pp. 1943–1945) is valid for RM-KHI within the linear period. In contrast, the adaptive vortex model (Sohn et al., Phys. Rev. E, vol. 82, 2010, p. 046711) can effectively predict both the interface morphology and overall amplitude evolutions from the linear to nonlinear regimes.

The Loss of Interfacial Water-Adsorbate Hydrogen Bond Connectivity Position Surface-Active Hydrogen as a Crucial Intermediate to Enhance Nitrate Reduction Reaction.

The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) offers a promising solution for remediating nitrate-polluted wastewater while enabling the sustainable production of ammonia. The control strategy of surface-active hydrogen (*H) is extensively employed to enhance the kinetics of the NO3RR, but atomic understanding lags far behind the experimental observations. Here, we decipher the cation-water-adsorbate interactions in regulating the NO3RR kinetics at the Cu (111) electrode/electrolyte interface using AIMD simulations with a slow-growth approach. We demonstrate that the key oxygen-containing intermediates of the NO3RR (e.g., *NO, *NO2, and *NO3) will stably coordinate with the cations, impeding their integration with the hydrogen bond network and further their hydrogenation by interfacial water molecules due to steric hindrance. The *H can migrate across the interface with a low energy barrier, and its hydrogenation barrier with oxygen-containing species remains unaffected by cations, offering a potent supplement to the hydrogenation process, playing the predominant factor by which the *H facilitates NO3RR reaction kinetic. This study provides valuable insights for understanding the reaction mechanism of NO3RR by fully considering the cation-water-adsorbate interactions, which can aid in the further development of the electrolyte and electrocatalysts for efficient NO3RR.

Mechanical Performance of Defective FDM Multi-Layer Material Panels

A finite element model was developed in this research to investigate the impact of defects on the mechanical properties of a 3D-printed composite sandwich panel that could occur during the layer alteration period between the dissimilar materials, affecting the interfacial strength between the layers and causing the 3D-printed panel to fail. Numerous parameters, such as interfacial position, size, material properties, and location of defects along the panel, have been examined that might affect the failure mechanism. This finite element study adopted linear elastic behavior by utilizing ANSYS simulation program. The outcomes showed that the midsection of the composite is under a lot of stress, and as we approach the edges of the composite, the tension concentration falls outward until it reaches zero. In the intact scenario, the deformation was zero at either end of the panel and highest in the composite middle. The shear stress was most significant in the center, and it decreased as we moved closer to the extremities of both sides, it gradually decreased until it was lowest there. The endpoints where we have support responses have significant maximum shear stresses, which could degrade the material overall mechanical properties. This rise in the maximum principle stress at the end support could be due to the reaction of the fixed support, which tries to counteract the applied flexural load and raise the maximum principle stress.

Equilibrium and self-assembly of Janus particles at liquid-liquid interfaces for the film formation

This article investigates the equilibrium arrangement, self-assembly process, and subsequent curing of amphiphilic snowman-shaped Janus particles at the oil-water interface. The independent Janus particles are in vertical equilibrium state and the contact position of the oil-water interface is at the largest cross section of the particle’s hydrophobic phase. Under the effect of the surface tension and the adsorption of materials, Janus particles may form particle combinations including the particle pairs and the particle triangle, whose inner and outer sides have the liquid surface exhibiting completely opposite contact angles. Particle combinations form stable parallel double-chain structures with diverse shapes after the self-assembly process. However, the single Janus particles attain a state of mechanical equilibrium under the influence of surrounding particles, enabling them to assemble into regular array structures. The relationship of interfacial tension coefficient between phases can be changed by adjusting the oil-water system, which leads to variations in the self-assembly speed and the final arrangement results. The thin-film with uniformly distributed vertical particles is achieved by replacing the underlying deionized water with a curing agent. Based on the understanding of the interactions between irregularly shaped Janus particles at the oil-water interface, it will be convenient to achieve the controllable self-assembly and widely applications of these particles.

A Cu/Ni/Cu/Sn1.8Ag microbump structure for void-free interface under long time high-temperature storage

Microbumps play a crucial role in interlayer interconnections for advanced packaging. Among the prevalent microbump structures are Cu/Sn and Cu/Ni/Sn configurations. However, as the bump size continues to shrink, excessive Kirkendall voids tend to form in Cu/Sn microbumps, leading to potential reliability issues. While Cu/Ni/Sn structures can suppress Kirkendall void formation, Ni3Sn4 intermetallic compound (IMC) exhibits inferior physical properties compared to Cu3Sn and Cu6Sn5. In this study, a novel Cu/Ni/Cu/Sn1.8Ag (CNCT) Sn-rich microbump structure with controlled Cu thickness is proposed to suppress Kirkendall void formation while promoting Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn as interfacial IMCs. A Ni barrier layer is inserted to partition the Cu pillar and impede Cu atom replenishment from the bottom side. The remaining Cu pillar at the top is designed to be 3μm thick, which is intended to be fully consumed by 8μm Sn1.8Ag solder while simultaneously serving as redundant protection for the bottom Cu pillar against unexpected Sn spillage. The effects of high temperature storage (HTS) at 150°C on IMC evolution in CNCT microbump bonding were investigated for 1500 hours. No significant voids were observed at the bonding interface during HTS. Interfacial positions recorded from 0 to 500 hours show that the Cu3Sn IMC grows unidirectionally toward the Cu side but not toward the Sn side, indicating a greater diffusion flux of Sn atoms compared to Cu atoms. The diffusion coefficients of Cu in Cu3Sn (DCu,ε), Cu6Sn5 (DCu,η), and Sn in Cu3Sn (DSn,ε), Cu6Sn5 (DSn,η) at 150°C were calculated as 1.36×10−18 m2/s, 5.01×10−19 m2/s, 9.53×10−19 m2/s and 1.10×10−18 m2/s, respectively. The dramatic decrease of DCu,η suggests that the diffusion capacity of Cu atoms into Sn is significantly suppressed. The notable transformation of Cu3Sn to Cu6Sn5 occurred after 500 hours. By 1500 hours, Cu3Sn was greatly consumed, and the bonding interface tended to form a stable Cu/Ni/Cu6Sn5/Ni/Cu structure. Diffusion models were established and discussed to elucidate the mechanisms governing both stages.

Detection and mitigation of soil salinization risk from saline/brackish water aquaculture in coastal areas: an application of remote sensing and managed aquifer recharge

This study focuses on detecting and mitigating soil salinization in four coastal areas of the Mekong Delta (Vietnam). Salinity patterns in the soils of the Mekong River Delta are not random but linked to land use practices and distance to the sea. We examine two quick yet reliable remote sensing-based techniques to detect the coastal aquaculture area and separate it from the inland freshwater farmland. These techniques can eventually be used to identify locations with an elevated risk of salinization in other coastal regions. Finally, we investigate a salinization mitigation solution based on creating a managed aquifer recharge system along the buffer zone that separates the coastal aquaculture area from the inland freshwater agriculture area. The implementation of an infiltration pond system is technically feasible in the Mekong Delta provided that hydrogeological characteristics, the fresh-saline interface position, and freshwater demands are considered. The transitional zone between freshwater agriculture and brackish water aquaculture in Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces is optimal for implementing an aquifer recharge/freshwater barrier scheme.

Hyperuniformity in the Manna Model, Conserved Directed Percolation and Depinning.

Hyperuniformity is an emergent property, whereby the structure factor of the density n scales as S(q)∼q^{α}, with α>0. We show that for the conserved directed percolation (CDP) class, to which the Manna model belongs, there is an exact mapping between the density n in CDP, and the interface position u at depinning, n(x)=n_{0}+∇^{2}u(x), where n_{0} is the conserved particle density. As a consequence, the hyperuniformity exponent equals α=4-d-2ζ, with ζ the roughness exponent at depinning, and d the dimension. In d=1, α=1/2, while 0.6>α≥0 for other d. Our results fit well the simulations in the literature, except in d=1, where we perform our own to confirm this result. Such an exact relation between two seemingly different fields is surprising, and paves new paths to think about hyperuniformity and depinning. As corollaries, we get results of unprecedented precision in all dimensions, exact in d=1. This corrects earlier work on hyperuniformity in CDP.

Theoretical insights into interface effects on CO2 hydrogenation to methanol over In4O6/ZrO2(1 1 1) catalyst

Methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation on the defective In4O6/ZrO2(111) surface with surface oxygen vacancies has been investigated by using periodic density functional theory calculations. The calculated oxygen vacancy formation energies indicate that the D1 surface with Ov1 defective sites on the surface of the In4O6 clusters is thermodynamically the most favorable for the adsorbed CO2 to generate methanol along the HCOO pathway. In contrast, the D4 surface with Ov4 defect sites at the interface is the most unstable, reacting along the RWGS path on clusters near the Ov4 defects, and hydrogenating along the HCOO path at the interfacial position to generate methanol. The differential charge density curves further reveal the close relationship between the electronic structure of the metal oxide interface and the CO2 hydrogenation mechanism to methanol.

Numerical Study on the Cooling Method of Phase Change Heat Exchange Unit with Layered Porous Media

The implementation of heat sinks in high-power pulse electronic devices within hypersonic aircraft cabins has been facilitated by the emergence of innovative phase change materials (PCMs) characterized by excellent thermal conductivity and high latent heat. In this study, a representative material, layered porous media filled with paraffin wax, was utilized, and a three-dimensional numerical model based on the enthalpy-porosity approach was employed. A thermal response research was conducted on the Phase Change Heat Exchange Unit with Layered Porous Media (PCHEU-LPM) with different cooling methods. The results indicate that water cooling proved to be suitable for the PCHEU-LPM with a heat flux of 50,000 W/m2. Additionally, parametric studies were performed to determine the optimal cooling conditions, considering the inlet temperature and velocity of the cooling flow. The results revealed that the most suitable conditions were strongly influenced by the coolant inlet parameters, along with the position of the PCM interface. Finally, the identification of the parameter combination that minimizes temperature fluctuations was achieved through the Response Surface Analysis method (RSA). Subsequent verification through simulation further reinforced the reliability of the proposed optimal parameters.

Identifying and analyzing power-law scaling in two-dimensional image datasets.

Power-law distributions provide a general description of diverse natural phenomena in which events with a logarithmically increasing size occur with logarithmically decreasing probability. However, experimentally derived correlated two-dimensional information is often difficult to cleanly interpret as discrete events of defined size. Moreover, physical limitation of techniques such as those based on scanning probe microscopy, which can ideally be used to observe power-law behavior, reduce event number and thus render straightforward power-law fits even more challenging. Here we develop and compare different techniques to analyze event distributions from two-dimensional images. We show that tracking interface position allows the associated scaling parameters to be accurately extracted from both experimental and synthetic image-based datasets. We also show how these techniques can differentiate between power-law and non-power-law behavior by comparison of Hill, moments, and kernel estimators of this scaling parameter. We thus present computational tools to analyze power-law fits in two-dimensional datasets and identify the scaling parameters that best describe these distributions.