Surface Density Research Articles

Predicting HCN, HCO^+, multitransition CO, and dust emission of star-forming galaxies. Extension to luminous infrared galaxies and the role of cosmic-ray ionization

The specific star formation rate of star-forming main sequence galaxies significantly decreased since $z 1.5$ because the molecular gas fraction and star formation efficiency decreased. The gas velocity dispersion decreased within the same redshift range and is apparently correlated with the star formation efficiency (inverse of the molecular gas depletion time). However, the radio--infrared (IR) correlation has not changed significantly since $z 1.5$. The theory of turbulent clumpy star-forming gas disks together with the scaling relations of the interstellar medium describes the large- and small-scale properties of galactic gas disks. We extend our previous work on the IR multitransition molecular line, and radio continuum emission of local and high-z star-forming and starburst galaxies to local and $z 0.5$ luminous IR galaxies. The model reproduces the IR luminosities, CO, HCN, and HCO$^+$ line luminosities, and the CO spectral line energy distributions of these galaxies. We derived CO(1-0) and HCN(1-0) conversion factors for all galaxy samples. The relation between the star formation rate per unit area and the H$_2$ surface density cannot be fit simply for all redshifts. The star formation efficiency, the product of the gas turbulent velocity dispersion, and the angular velocity of the galaxies are tightly correlated. Galaxies with lower stellar masses can in principle compensate their gas consumption via star formation by radial viscous gas accretion. The limiting stellar mass increases with redshift. The radio continuum emission is directly proportional to the density of cosmic-ray (CR) electrons, but the molecular line emission depends on the CR ionization rate via the gas chemistry. The normalization of the CR ionization rate we found for the different galaxy samples is higher by about a factor of three to five than the normalization for the solar neighborhood. This means that the mean yield of low-energy CR particles for a given star formation rate per unit area is higher by about three to ten times in external galaxies than was observed by Voyager I.

Spatial patterns of colorectal cancer survival rates in Malaysia, 2013-2018.

Large geographical variations in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates have been reported across regions. Poorer survival rates were mainly found in socioeconomically deprived areas, highly dense areas, and areas lacking healthcare accessibility. The objective of this study was to identify, compare, and contrast the spatial patterns of 5-year CRC-specific survival rates and identify high-priority areas by districts in Malaysia. This retrospective cohort study utilized secondary data from the National Cancer Registry. CRC patients (ICD10 C18-21) diagnosed between 2013 and 2018 were selected. Patient addresses were geocoded into districts and states via geospatial data from the National Geospatial Centre, whereas district population density data were gathered from the Population Census of Malaysia. Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis and log-rank test were conducted to determine and compare the 5-year CRC-specific survival rates, and the spatial distribution of CRC survival by district was determined via ArcGIS software. A total of 18,513 CRC patients were registered from 143 districts, with 10,819 deaths occurring during follow-up. The national 5-year CRC-specific survival rate was 42%, with median survival time of 36months (95% CI: 34.46, 37.54). The eastern region (Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang) had the lowest survival (38.0%). Among the 143 districts, eighty-one (56.6%) reported survival rates below the national average while thirty-six (25.2%) were identified as high-priority districts. The differences in CRC survival rates were evident according to geographical location. Area-based targeted interventions to improve CRC detection, management, and access to healthcare are imperative to address cancer survival disparities and help effectively allocate resources.

Self-healing Micro-Supercapacitor Based on Robust Liquid Metal-CNT-PEDOT:PSS Film for Wireless Powering of Integrated Strain Sensor.

The limited energy density of micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) and challenges in their integration significantly impede the advancement of MSCs in wearable electronic devices. Here, this work designs a robust and wrinkled liquid metal-CNT-PEDOT:PSS film with high capacity and self-healing properties (defined as LM-CNT-PEDOT:PSS). The wrinkled structure further enhances tensile properties of LM-CNT-PEDOT:PSS and increases its active specific surface area per unit. Simultaneously, the incorporation of liquid metal (LM) enhances both the mechanical and healing properties of the LM-CNT-PEDOT:PSS electrode. The flexible and self-healing MSC based on wrinkled LM-CNT-PEDOT:PSS shows a remarkable specific capacitance of 114.29 mF cm-2 and a high areal energy density of 15.47 µW h cm-2. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of the healed MSC retained 90.01% of its initial performance, and the MSC unit can be arbitrarily integrated according to various energy and voltage requirements through the healing properties of LM-CNT-PEDOT:PSS, widening the range of applications in next-generation microelectronic devices. The wrinkled LM-CNT-PEDOT:PSS film is utilized for the fabrication of a highly sensitive strain sensor. Simultaneously, the prepared sensor can be seamlessly integrated with wireless charging and MSC to facilitate convenient monitoring of physiological signals, thereby offering an effective solution for the advancement of wearable technology and self-powered systems.

Scaling relationships of lamina mass per unit area, mean thickness, and leaf bulk tissue density across nine diverse species.

Although previous studies have reported a positive correlation between leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA) and mean leaf thickness (LT), the LMA versus LT scaling relationship has not been determined due to limited sample sizes, despite its importance in estimating leaf bulk tissue density (mass per unit volume). This issue was addressed using between 174 and 185 leaves from each of nine phylogenetically diverse species to investigate the LMA vs. LT scaling relationship. For each leaf, lamina thickness was measured at 12 positions (avoiding midribs and major veins) to calculate LT, and LMA was measured based on leaf area and dry mass measurements. Reduced major axis regression protocols were used to determine the LMA vs. LT scaling exponent (i.e., the slope). Bootstrap percentile methods were used to calculate the 95% confidence intervals of slopes. A statistically significant LMA vs. LT relationship was found for each species; seven of the nine scaling exponents were significantly greater than unity indicating that LMA (and thus leaf bulk tissue density) disproportionately increased with increasing LT. In addition, the conspecific variation in LMA exceeded the interspecific variation in LMA as a consequence of differences in LT. These results indicate that empirical measurements of LMA and LT can be used to accurately estimate leaf bulk tissue density, which provides insights into adaptive life-history strategies, conspecific variation, and (with sufficiently large data sets) phylogenetic trends.

Retinal Vascular Changes in Vitiligo: A Novel Approach Using OCTA

ABSTRACT Purpose This study aimed to the detect of structural and functional changes in the retina and choroid in patients with vitiligo using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Materials and Methods Thirty patients with vitiligo and 30 healthy participants were enrolled in the study. Central macular thickness (CMT), retina nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and superficial and deep vascular density (VD) ratios were compared between the groups. Results The mean age was 43.32 ± 12.13 and 45.90 ± 7.50 years, respectively (p = 0.435). CMT, RNFL thicknesses (except temporal quadrant), CT, superficial and deep VD, and FAZ area were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05 for all). Temporal RNFL thicknesses were lower in vitiligo patients than in control groups (p = 0.005). There was a moderate negative correlation between the duration of vitiligo disease and the mean RNFL thickness, inferior RNFL thickness, superficial total, superior, superior inner, outer, and superior outer VD values. No correlation was found between the VASI (Vitiligo area scoring index) score in vitiligo patients and OCT and OCTA values. Conclusion Although it is known that vitiligo causes melanocyte loss in ocular tissues, there was no significant effect of vitiligo on superficial and deep retinal VD. Further comprehensive studies with a larger and more diverse population of vitiligo patients are needed to explore this further.

Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a novel Oxy133-infused biomimetic bone graft using a rat model of posterolateral spinal fusion.

To (1) create a novel tissue-engineered bone graft comprising the osteoinductive oxysterol Oxy133 and (2) compare the osteogenic capability of this novel bone graft with bone graft substitutes previously examined. Oxy133 was homogeneously incorporated into a biomimetic bone graft substitute (BioMim) comprising extracellular matrix and calcium phosphates. Two iterations of the graft were created: one corresponding to an implant-dose of 2.0mg Oxy133 (BioMim-Oxy133-Lo) and the other corresponding to an implant-dose of 20mg Oxy133 (BioMim-Oxy133-Hi). Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated randomly to four equally sized groups: 1) BioMim-Oxy133-Lo, 2) BioMim-Oxy133-Hi, 3) absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) with topically applied Oxy133 dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (ACS-Oxy133; 20mg Oxy133/graft), and 4) ACS with topically applied rhBMP-2 dissolved in water (ACS-rhBMP-2; 5.0μg rhBMP-2/graft). All animals underwent L4-L5 posterolateral spinal fusion. Spines were harvested 8 weeks postoperatively and analyzed using micro-CT imaging. Successful fusion was achieved in all animals. Grafts containing Oxy133 had significantly greater bone volume, percentage bone volume (%BV), bone surface density (BSD), and trabecular number (TbN) compared to ACS-rhBMP-2 (p<0.01 for each). Animals treated with BioMim-Oxy133-Lo had the greatest %BV, BSD, and TbN (p<0.001 for each), whereas animals treated with ACS-rhBMP-2 had the lowest %BV, BSD, TbN, and trabecular thickness (p<0.001 for each). BioMim-Oxy133 is a novel bone graft that led to superior bone volume and quality compared to ACS-rhBMP-2 in a clinically translatable rat model of spinal fusion. Future work is needed to further evaluate this material as a safe and efficacious bone graft substitute.

The differences between remote sensing and in situ air pollutant measurements over the Canadian oil sands

Abstract. Ground-based remote sensing instruments have been widely used for atmospheric research, but applications for air quality monitoring remain limited. Compared to an in situ instrument that provides air quality conditions at the ground level, most remote sensing instruments (nadir viewing) are sensitive to a broad range of altitudes, often providing only integrated column observations. These column data can be more difficult to interpret and to relate to surface values and hence to “nose-height-level” health factors. This research utilized ground-based remote sensing and in situ air quality observations in Canada's Athabasca oil sands region to investigate some of their differences. Vertical column densities (VCDs) of SO2 and NO2 retrieved by Pandora spectrometers located at the Oski-Otin site at Fort McKay (Alberta, Canada) from 2013–2019 were analyzed along with measurements of SO2 and NO2 surface concentrations and meteorological data. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) observations by a CIMEL sunphotometer were compared with surface PM2.5 data. The Oski-Otin site is surrounded by several large bitumen mining operations within the Athabasca oil sands region with significant NO2 emissions from the mining fleet. Two major bitumen upgraders that are 20 km south-east of the site have total SO2 and NO2 emissions of about 40 and 20 kt yr−1, respectively. It was demonstrated that remote sensing data from Pandora and CIMEL combined with high-vertical-resolution wind profiles can provide information about pollution sources and plume characteristics. Elevated SO2 VCDs were clearly observed for times with south and south-eastern winds, particularly at 200–300 m altitude (above ground level). High NO2 VCD values were observed from other directions (e.g., north-west) with less prominent impacts from 200–300 m winds. In situ ground observations of SO2 and NO2 show a different sensitivity to wind profiles, indicating they are less sensitive to elevated plumes than remote sensing instruments. In addition to measured wind data and lidar-observed boundary layer height (BLH), modelled wind profiles and BLH from ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) have been used to further examine the correlation between column and surface observations. The results show that the height of emission sources (e.g., emissions from high stacks or near the surface) will determine the ratio of measured column and surface concentration values (i.e., could show positive or negative correlation with BLH). This effect will have an impact on the comparison between column observations (e.g., from the satellite or ground-based remote sensing instruments) with surface in situ measurements. This study explores differences between remote sensing and in situ instruments in terms of their vertical, horizontal, and temporal sampling differences. Understanding and resolving these differences are critical for future analyses linking satellite, ground-based remote sensing and in situ observations in air quality monitoring and research.

On the universality of star formation efficiency in galaxies

We analyze high-resolution hydrodynamics simulations of an isolated disk dwarf galaxy with an explicit model for unresolved turbulence and turbulence-based star formation prescription. We examine the characteristic values of the star formation efficiency per free-fall time, ϵff, and its variations with local environment properties, such as metallicity, UV flux, and surface density. We show that the star formation efficiency per free-fall time in ≈10 pc star-forming regions of the simulated disks has values in the range ϵff≈0.01−0.1, similar to observational estimates, with no trend with metallicity and only a weak trend with the UV flux. Likewise, estimated using projected patches of 500 pc size does not vary with metallicity and shows only a weak trend with average UV flux and gas surface density. The characteristic values of ϵff≈0.01−0.1 arise naturally in the simulations via the combined effect of dynamical gas compression and ensuing stellar feedback that injects thermal and turbulent energy. The compression and feedback regulate the virial parameter, αvir, in star-forming regions, limiting it to αvir≈3−10. Turbulence plays an important role in the universality of ϵff because turbulent energy and its dissipation are not sensitive to metallicity and UV flux that affect thermal energy. Our results indicate that the universality of observational estimates of ϵff can be plausibly explained by the turbulence-driven and feedback-regulated properties of star-forming regions.

STATES OF COMPULSION: Reassessing ‘State‐Led’ Neighborhood Change in Hong Kong

AbstractThis article provides a critical reassessment of the role of the state in processes of neighborhood change in Hong Kong, based on mixed‐methods research conducted in the rapidly changing Sai Ying Pun neighborhood. We argue that common narratives of ‘state‐led’ processes of neighborhood change often overstate, oversimplify or unduly assume the influence of state agencies, especially the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and other ‘usual suspects’, obscuring the complex ways that states facilitate and compel the actions and agendas of other actors. By elaborating implications of several specific forms of state action, especially a 2010 amendment to Hong Kong's Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance, we demonstrate that the state in Hong Kong plays many different roles in facilitating neighborhood transformation, creating an uneven geography of state intervention dependent on locally specific factors such as the particularities of architecture, housing types and residential density in different urban areas as well as existing configurations of policy, legislation and infrastructure. These many articulations of the state are of strategic value to a variety of elite interests, from property developers to wealthy residents and international consumers, whose distinct and competing agendas could hardly be so well served by a less dynamic state.

Multi-physics ensemble modelling of Arctic tundra snowpack properties

Abstract. Sophisticated snowpack models such as Crocus and SNOWPACK struggle to properly simulate profiles of density and specific surface area (SSA) within Arctic snowpacks due to underestimation of wind-induced compaction, misrepresentation of basal vegetation influencing compaction and metamorphism, and omission of water vapour flux transport. To improve the simulation of profiles of density and SSA, parameterisations of snow physical processes that consider the effect of high wind speeds, the presence of basal vegetation, and alternate thermal conductivity formulations were implemented into an ensemble version of the Soil, Vegetation, and Snow version 2 (SVS2-Crocus) land surface model, creating Arctic SVS2-Crocus. The ensemble versions of the default and Arctic SVS2-Crocus were driven with in situ meteorological data and evaluated using measurements of snowpack properties (snow water equivalent, SWE; depth; density; and SSA) at Trail Valley Creek (TVC), Northwest Territories, Canada, over 32 years (1991–2023). Results show that both the default and Arctic SVS2-Crocus can simulate the correct magnitude of SWE (root-mean-square error, RMSE, for both ensembles – 55 kg m−2) and snow depth (default RMSE – 0.22 m; Arctic RMSE – 0.18 m) at TVC in comparison to measurements. Wind-induced compaction within Arctic SVS2-Crocus effectively compacts the surface layers of the snowpack, increasing the density, and reducing the RMSE by 41 % (176 kg m−3 to 103 kg m−3). Parameterisations of basal vegetation are less effective in reducing compaction of basal snow layers (default RMSE – 67 kg m−3; Arctic RMSE – 65 kg m−3), reaffirming the need to consider water vapour flux transport for simulation of low-density basal layers. The top 100 ensemble members of Arctic SVS2-Crocus produced lower continuous ranked probability scores (CRPS) than the default SVS2-Crocus when simulating snow density profiles. The top-performing members of the Arctic SVS2-Crocus ensemble featured modifications that raise wind speeds to increase compaction in snow surface layers and to prevent snowdrift and increase viscosity in basal layers. Selecting these process representations in Arctic SVS2-Crocus will improve simulation of snow density profiles, which is crucial for many applications.

Surface Effects Study: A Continuum Approach From Fundamental Modes to Higher Modes and Topological Polarization in Orthotropic Piezoelectric Materials

Abstract The primary goal of the current work is to investigate how wave propagation influences the performance of surface acoustics wave (SAW) macro- and nano-sensors. Therefore, shear horizontal (SH) waves use the surface piezoelectricity theory to explore SH waves in an orthotropic piezoelectric quasicrystal (PQC) layer overlying an elastic framework (Model I), a piezoelectric substrate, and an orthotropic PQC substrate (model II). This study employs a variable-separable technique. The theoretical forms are constructed and used to present the wavenumber of surface waves in any direction of the piezoelectric medium, based on the differential equations and matrix formulation. In addition, we take into account the surface elasticity theory in order to obtain the phase velocity equation. Two configurations are examined: an orthotropic piezoelectric material layer over an elastic framework and a piezoelectric material half-space with a nanosubstrate. Analytical expressions for frequency equations are derived for both symmetric and antisymmetric waves. This study investigates the effects of surface elastic constants, surface density, anisotropic piezoelectric constant, and symmetric and antisymmetric modes on phase velocity. This study is confined to only linear wave propagation. Additionally, the analysis is based on idealized material properties, surface properties, and characteristic length of the material.

Graph Neural Network (GNN) for Joint Detection–Decoder MAP–LDPC in Bit-Patterned Media Recording Systems

With its high area density, bit-patterned media recording (BPMR) is emerging as a leading technology for next-generation storage systems. However, as area density increases, magnetic islands are positioned closer together, causing significant two-dimensional (2D) interference. To address this, detection methods are used to interpret the received signal and mitigate 2D interference. Recently, the maximum a posteriori (MAP) detection algorithm has shown promise in improving BPMR performance, though it requires extrinsic information to effectively reduce interference. In this paper, to solve the 2D interference and improve the performance of BPMR systems, a model using low-density parity-check (LDPC) coding was introduced to supply the MAP detector with the needed extrinsic information, enhancing detection in a joint decoding model we call MAP–LDPC. Additionally, leveraging similarities between LDPC codes and graph neural networks (GNNs), we replace the traditional sum–product algorithm in LDPC decoding with a GNN, creating a new model, MAP–GNN. The simulation results demonstrate that MAP–GNN achieves superior performance, particularly when using the deep learning-based GNN approach over conventional techniques.

Integrating Greenhouses into Buildings: A Renewed Paradigm for Circular Architecture and Urban Regeneration

In the post-COVID-19 era, there has been an increasing interest in re-evaluating citizens’ living conditions within dense and grey urban areas. The provision of green spaces has always been identified as an important aspect of alleviating contemporary everyday life stress and preventing or limiting mental health-related issues. It is also an important strategy to mitigate urban heat islands and foster adaptation strategies to climate change. Among the numerous experiments of ‘green action’ available to urban planners, urban farming strategies have been widely used in Europe to provide green spaces and ecosystem services, exploring the topics related to self-production of food, biodiversity, and zero-km cultivation. Therefore, finding new spaces for agriculture in urban environments has driven scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop new soilless technologies (such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics) to maximize yields in urban areas, creating new agricultural and architectural models such as the vertical farms (VF) and the building-integrated greenhouses (BIGH). In this regard, the objective of this paper is to recontextualize the integrated greenhouse element for high-tech food production as new iconic architectural models derived from the experience of the Victorian Winter Gardens and the first tropical greenhouses. Revisiting these perspectives, this paper offers opportunities to redefine the greenhouse as a multifunctional asset that aligns with both environmental goals and architectural standards.

New constraints on the central mass contents of Omega Centauri from combined stellar kinematics and pulsar timing

We performed a combined analysis of stellar kinematics with line-of-sight accelerations of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) to probe the mass content of Omega Centauri (OC ). Our mass model includes the stellar mass distribution, a more concentrated mass component linked to the observed MSP population, a generic cluster of stellar remnants (assumed to be more concentrated than the stars and MSPs), and an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH), allowing us to determine which of these is statistically preferred to account for these observations. We mass-modeled OC using the package GravSphere to solve the Jeans equations, including constraints in the form of proper motions, line-of-sight velocities, the surface density profile of the stars, the spatial distribution of MSPs, and the recently measured line-of-sight accelerations of a subset of these MSPs, self-consistently modeling their intrinsic spin-down. We explore the impact of different assumed centers of OC on our results and we infer the posterior distributions of the model parameters from the combined likelihood using the nested sampling package dynesty Our analysis favors an extended central mass of $ over an IMBH, setting a 3sigma upper limit on the IMBH mass of $6 We find that pulsar timing observations are an important additional constraint, favoring a central mass distribution that is $ 20&lt;!PCT!&gt;$ more massive and extended than implied by models that are constrained by the stellar kinematics alone. Finally, we find a 3sigma confidence level (CL) upper bound of $6 on the total mass traced by the MSPs, with the density profile following $ p (r) star (r)^ with $ 0.3,$ where $ star (r)$ is the stellar mass density and $ is the stellar velocity dispersion profile. This favors models in which MSPs form via stellar encounters, as in the leading paradigm whereby MSPs are the progeny of low-mass X-ray binaries. Our analysis demonstrates how combining stellar kinematics with MSP accelerations produces new constraints on mass models, shedding light on the presence or absence of IMBHs at the centers of globular clusters. Further, we provide the first validation of its kind where MSP positions are linked to their place of formation in globular clusters, which is in excellent agreement with the expectations of stellar encounter models of MSP formation. This sets a promising precedent amid the rapid growth in the number of observations and discoveries currently taking place in this field.

Toward the Use of Composite Cathode with Significantly High Interfacial Area Density for Solid-State Li–S Batteries

Toward the Use of Composite Cathode with Significantly High Interfacial Area Density for Solid-State Li–S Batteries

Bone tissue condition in early dates of restoration after thermic exposure

BACKGROUND: Thermoablation is a promising method for treating bone tumors. It is important to select the optimal mode (dose/time) of high-temperature exposure to fully realize the potential of this method.AIM: to study in vivo the reaction of rabbits’ bone tissue (BT) in the dynamics of early (3-7 days) recovery after local intraoperative hyperthermic ablation in the temperature range in the bone marrow canal of 55-60℃.METHODS: The study involved 6 mongrel rabbits aged 15 weeks, weighing 3-4 kg. The animals were derived from the experiment on the 3rd and 7th days after local thermoablation of the femoral diaphysis. Histological assay of BT included overall examination (HE staining), assessment of the area of immature BT (Mallory staining), optical density and area of osteoblasts and osteocytes (Einarson staining). Statistical data processing was performed in the R programming language.RESULTS: HE staining showed no signs of pathological changes after high-temperature exposure of BT. Mallory staining revealed no negative effects of local thermoablation on the intercellular bone matrix. Morphometric analysis showed an overshoot in the area of osteoblasts by the 7th day against the background of reduced synthetic activity starting from the 3rd day of the experiment. By the 3rd day, there is also a decrease in the area and optical density of osteocytes in the diaphyses of bones subjected to thermoablation. However, by the 7th day, the area of mature bone cells doesn`t differ from the corresponding value in the contralateral limb.CONCLUSION: Local intraoperative thermoablation of rabbit femoral diaphyses at an intramedullary temperature of 55-60℃ significantly reduces the optical density of osteoblasts and osteocytes in the dynamics of early (3-7 days) recovery after extreme exposure, which suggests a violation of metabolic processes and intracellular organelles (nucleus, ribosomes) of bone cells. At the same time, signs of remodeling of the damaged area were noted, presumably through the mechanism of osteoconduction of endosteal and periosteal cells from metaphyses that were not subjected to direct hyperthermia. The results obtained may be useful in thermoablation of BT tumors with the condition of higher sensitivity of malignant cells to heating.

Restricted growth of polyaniline nanofiber arrays between holey graphene sheets on carbon cloth towards improved charge storage capacity

The rapid−growing demand for flexible and wearable electronics has driven increased interest in developing porous electrodes with outstanding charge storage capacity especially areal capacity for polymeric and hybrid supercapacitors. Herein, unique porous polyaniline/holey graphene/carbon cloth (PANI/HG/CC) composite electrodes were constructed by combining rapid frozen interfacial polymerization and layer−by−layer spraying to restrict the growth of PANI nanofiber arrays between carbon−based materials. Benefiting from rapid charge transport, more electroactive sites and improved electrolyte penetration provided by hierarchical porous structure and highly oriented PANI nanofibers in the composite (P − G) by growing directly PANI array on the CC and applying graphene sheets as interlayer and cover layer, an areal specific capacitance of 3.22 F cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2 was achieved. A maximum areal energy density of up to 104.86 μWh cm−2, and excellent capacity retention of 89.5 % at 20 mA cm−2 after 5000 cycles also were achieved for flexible symmetric all−solid−state supercapacitor. Furthermore, the zinc−ion hybrid supercapacitor (P − G||Zn) assembled with P − G cathode and Zn anode could display a capacity of 217.7 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1, and the maximum energy density of 130.6 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 120 W kg−1.

The optimization of phase change heat transfer model for direct contact condensation heat transfer simulation based on Bayesian inversion method

Direct contact condensation heat transfer between steam and water is widely applied across various industries. The utilization of phase change models significantly influences the precision of numerical simulation outcomes in this domain. This study presents numerical simulations of direct contact condensation between steam and liquid films generated by nozzles. Employing Bayesian inversion method, this research conducts optimizations on the Lee and Schrage models and examines the impact of varying treatments of interface area density. Additionally, it proposes enhancements to these methodologies. The findings of this study are expected to foster a more profound comprehension of phase change models and their role in numerical simulations.

The Effect of Adhesive Quantity on Adhesion Quality and Mechanical Characteristics of Woven Kevlar Fabric-Reinforced Laminated Structures

This study investigated the adhesion and mechanical properties of woven fabric-reinforced laminates (FRLs) made with four distinct Kevlar fabrics of varying areal densities (36 g/m2, 60 g/m2, 140 g/m2, and 170 g/m2) under different fabric-to-adhesive weight ratios (1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:1.5) in both the warp and weft directions. A novel aspect of this research lies in our systematic study of the effect of adhesive quantity on FRLs, a topic that has received limited attention despite its critical role in laminate performance. Additionally, the application of a newly developed yarn pullout test alongside the standard T-peel test provides unique insights into the interfacial behavior of laminates. The results show that in lower areal density fabrics (36 g/m2 and 60 g/m2), adhesive quantity minimally affects the pullout and T-peel forces or tear strength, indicating that structural integrity can be maintained with reduced adhesive application. In contrast, higher areal density fabrics (140 g/m2 and 170 g/m2) benefit from an increased adhesive ratio, with a transition from 1:0.5 to 1:1 significantly enhancing the pullout resistance, while further increases to 1:1.5 yielded diminishing returns. Tensile strength remained consistent across all samples, highlighting that it is largely dictated by the inherent properties of the fibers and fabric structure rather than the adhesive. This study concludes that a 1:1 fiber-to-adhesive ratio offers an optimal balance of adhesion quality and mechanical performance for FRLs. By addressing the understudied impact of adhesive quantity on FRLs and introducing the yarn pullout test, this research provides novel and practical guidelines for optimizing FRLs in applications demanding high structural integrity and adaptability under challenging conditions.

Characterizing plastic pollution on beaches of Cozumel Island, Mexico: abundance, distribution, and influencing factors

Plastic pollution in marine environments represents a significant threat to ecosystems worldwide. This study focuses on Cozumel Island, located in the Caribbean Sea, where plastic debris, primarily from inadequate management, adversely affects its beaches. Nine beaches were selected to conduct debris sampling and determine the abundance, density, and type of objects found at the sites. Three sampling repetitions were conducted on the surface of each beach, while three samplings were conducted on eight beaches to analyze buried debris. One of the beaches was discarded for buried debris sampling because of its rocky composition. Data was collected between March 22 and June 15, 2019. A total of 25,102 surface debris items were found, 94% of which were plastic. Similarly, 4,365 buried items were recorded, with the vast majority (97.8%) being plastic debris. Surface and buried debris densities vary, influenced by factors such as beach location, substrate composition, and human visitation. Beaches with lower human presence exhibit the highest debris densities, particularly in windward areas. Statistical models indicate that low-to-medium visitor influx and beach location significantly impact debris characteristics. Insights from this research contribute to understanding the dynamics of marine debris on Cozumel beaches, which plays a crucial role in informed policymaking and conservation efforts.