Detailed Surface Research Articles

3D Structure of Low‐Angle Normal Faults and Tectono‐Sedimentary Processes of Nascent Continental Core‐Complexes in the SE South China Sea

AbstractThis contribution explores the formation and evolution of hyper‐extended basins, associated with the early stage of core complex formation, controlled by low‐angle normal faults active at <30°. Based on a high‐resolution industrial 3D seismic reflection survey along the southern margin of the South China Sea (SCS) (Dangerous Grounds), we mapped and analyzed the 3D geometry of low‐angle normal fault systems and the related stratigraphy. Two main hyper‐extended basins were documented, filled by up to 6 km of sediments including pre‐ to post‐rift sequences. The observed normal faults on depth migrated seismic sections show an average dip angle of <30° and appear planar, characterized by continuous reflections with no clear steepening at depth and sole‐out on distinct decollement levels. Detailed fault surface mapping reveals the occurrence of km‐scale corrugations together with large wavelength undulation. The formation of these hyper‐extended basins is associated with polyphased syn‐rift infill during the development of the low‐angle normal faults. The first syn‐rift sequence appears as chaotic and discontinuous packages that has been dismembered and fragmented during the activity of low‐angle normal faults. The second syn‐rift package shows unexpected sedimentary wedges developing successively toward the footwall and the hangingwall. This geometry results from the interplay between the main low‐angle normal fault and antithetic faults defining a so‐called extensional fishtail. The deep structure of these basins shows nascent domes with limited evidence of magmatism. Eventually, these basins likely capture the earliest stage of core complex development in the proximal margin of the southern SCS.

Predicting sensitivity to glucose in metal sulfides: A structural and surface characterization study

The increasing prevalence of diabetes is leveraging the development of improved management technologies, including non-enzymatic glucose sensors that offer enhanced stability and longer operation times. However, the lack of reliable methods to predict materials' electrocatalytic activity remains a significant barrier to their advancement. Herein, we obtained transition metal sulfides (CuS, Ag2S, FeS2, and α-NiS) with similar shapes and sizes using wet chemical methods. Detailed structural and surface characterization revealed the presence of metals in mixed oxidation states and the formation of disulfides and polysulfides on the surface of air-exposed materials. The optical measurements supported by theoretical calculations indicated band gaps of 1.74, 0.98, and 1.14 eV in CuS, FeS2, and Ag2S, respectively. Nickel sulfide exhibited an intraband transition at 1.42 eV. The electrocatalytic activity toward glucose was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronamperometry. The lowest oxidation potential of 615 mV showed α-NiS, whereas the highest – Ag2S (860 mV). The sensitivity determined in chronoamperometry measurements increased in the order of α-NiS>CuS>Ag2S>FeS2. Furthermore, selectivity studies revealed that FeS2 responded only to strong reductants, while α-NiS to all examined electroactive species. In the last step, a clear relationship was identified between the d-band center position (dbc) in metal sulfides and their electrochemical performance. The dbc relative to the Fermi level is optimal in CuS and NiS (around −2 eV) for forming bonds with glucose and intermediates, while in Ag2S and FeS2, it lays too far or too close for effective electrooxidation.

Next generation gravel road profiling – The potential of advanced UAV drone in comparison with road surface tester and rotary laser levels

Over the last decades, significant progress has been made and new approaches have been proposed for efficient collection of road condition data. Gravel roads are crucial for connecting urban and rural areas in Sweden, constituting a significant portion of the road network. Therefore, this study addresses the use of a developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based digital imaging system focusing on efficient collection of surface condition data over gravel roads.The study focuses on in-situ profile measurements of a gravel road located in Trosa, Sweden, using three different profiling methods: UAV drone with RTK technology, Road Surface Tester (RST), and Rotary Laser Level (RLL) to explore the agreement between these methods.The UAV drone, equipped with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technology, captures high-resolution images to produce detailed 3D surface models, overcoming the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions. Notable outcomes reveal RTK technology's stability, maintaining a steady 3D position accuracy below 2 cm. To enhance synchronization and comparison between different profiling methods, efforts should be made to standardize coordinate systems and measurement analysis software.Minimum average absolute differences of 1.1 cm, 1 cm, and 0.7 cm were recorded for all profiles (from 1 m left to 1 m right of the road centerline) in the comparisons between UAV drone – RST, UAV drone – RLL, and RST – RLL methods, respectively. This underlines the significant advancement in UAV drone technology, enabling remarkably accurate measurements of vertical offsets for profiling the tested gravel road despite the high altitude at which the UAV drone operates.

Transient Three-Dimensional Measurement of Ice Crystal Accretion Using a Plenoptic Camera

Monitoring the three-dimensional formation of ice layers on airfoils during icing wind tunnel experiments is extremely challenging. For the first time, this paper demonstrates the use of a single plenoptic camera to perform transient, nonintrusive in situ measurements of ice crystal accretion. Experiments have been conducted in the Altitude Icing Wind Tunnel at the National Research Council of Canada under different icing conditions to assess the potential of the new technique. Using the camera in a close-up configuration, the results show the evolution of the three-dimensional shape of the accreted ice in high spatial and temporal resolution and in absolute metric units. The computed surface meshes allow for a detailed analysis in terms of ice shape, surface area, and ice volume. Posttest shapes are compared to measurements taken using a commercial laser scanner. Although not rated for ice surfaces, this device is used as a reference to compare the detailed surface structure after registering the data sets. The results of the two methods are in good agreement and show a mean relative deviation of the plenoptic camera of about 0.15 mm.

Investigating the impact of irrigation practices on hydrologic fluxes in a highly managed river basin

Irrigation practices and sources can have significant impacts on water resources and the hydrologic fluxes that control these resources. To better manage water resources and future water supply, the influence of irrigation practices and management on these hydrologic fluxes should be quantified in time and space at varying scales, under potential irrigation management practices. To fulfill this objective, a surface-subsurface modeling approach was applied to simulate watershed-scale hydrologic processes in the Cache la Poudre River Basin, Colorado, USA (4824 km2), in which both surface water irrigation and groundwater irrigation are prevalent. The model chosen for this study is the watershed model SWAT+, using the spatially distributed, physically based groundwater module gwflow, in which unconfined groundwater storage, flows, and interaction with land surface features are simulated using a collection of grid cells that represent control volumes of the aquifer. Major groundwater inflows and outflows include pumping, recharge, groundwater-channel exchange, groundwater-lake exchange, and tile drainage outflow. To investigate the impact of irrigation practices, detailed surface and groundwater irrigation routines and canal-aquifer interactions were added to the SWAT+ source code, requiring information of irrigation sources and irrigation canal locations throughout the river basin. Model calibration and testing was performed using monthly stream discharge and groundwater head. The calibrated model is used to quantify the impact of surface water and groundwater irrigation scenarios on water availability and hydrologic fluxes within the river basin. A total of 22 scenarios were conducted and grouped into five main groups: irrigation source, irrigation amount, irrigation type, canal bed thickness, and partial or full sealing of earthen irrigation canals. Using groundwater as the only irrigation source decreases groundwater discharge to streams (by 14 %) due to lowering groundwater levels; converting flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation throughout the basin decreases surface runoff by 22 %; and sealing earthen canals leads to a lowering of groundwater levels, which decreases groundwater discharge to streams by 9 %, leading to an overall decrease in streamflow in the Cache la Poudre River and changes to temporal patterns in streamflow. Overall, irrigation amount and type and canal sealing have a small impact on total groundwater storage, compared to changes in the percent of fields irrigated by groundwater pumping. Results are helpful for informed decision-making in agriculture water management and can lead to sustainable, efficient, and equitable use of water resources, helping to address the challenges posed by water scarcity and environmental conservation.

Crystal-Rigidifying Strategy in Hybrid Manganese Halide to Achieve Narrow Green Emission and High Structural Stability.

Although organic-inorganic hybrid Mn2+ halides have advanced significantly, achieving high stability and narrow-band emission remains enormously challenging owing to the weak ionic nature and soft crystal lattice of the halide structure. To address these issues, we proposed a cationic engineering strategy of long-range cation π···π stacking and C-H···π interactions to simultaneously improve the crystal structural stability and rigidity. Herein, two organic zero-dimensional (0D) manganese halide hybrids of (BACQ)2MnX4 [BACQ = 4-(butylamino)-7-chloroquinolin-1-ium; X = Cl and Br] were synthesized. (BACQ)2MnX4 display strong green-light emissions with the narrowest full width at half-maximum (fwhm) of 39 nm, which is significantly smaller than those of commercial green phosphor β-SiAlON:Eu2+ and most of reported manganese halides. Detailed Hirshfeld surface analyses demonstrate the rigid environment around the [MnX4]2- units originating from the interactions between [BACQ]+. The rigid crystal structure weakens the electron-phonon coupling and renders narrow fwhm of these manganese halides, which is further confirmed by temperature-dependent emission spectra. Remarkably, (BACQ)2MnX4 realizes outstanding structural and luminescence stabilities in various extreme environments. Benefiting from the excellent performance, these Mn2+ halides are used to assemble light-emitting diodes with a wide color gamut of 105% of the National Television System Committee 1931 standard, showcasing the advanced applications in liquid-crystal-display backlighting.

Definition of multispectral camera system parameters to model the asteroid 2001 SN263

In 2012, Brazil began the studies to send its first deep space exploration mission, ASTER, which would be the first mission to orbit a triple asteroid system, 2001 SN263. We aim to contribute to the ASTER mission by defining the parameters of a multispectral camera system that will be used to study the asteroid system 2001 SN263, through software simulations that should help planning the data collection. We inserted the shape model of the objects in the software POV-Ray and modeled two cameras, a Wide Angle (WAC) and a Narrow Angle (NAC). We inserted the asteroid's parameters and simulated the satellite position. We created various scenes so we could obtain a good view of the asteroid. Alpha is entirely visible only in the WAC images, while the NAC is expected to reveal surface details. Beta seems relatively small in the WAC images, whereas we obtain a broad view from the NAC at 100 km distance. Gamma, smaller than Beta, should provide more detailed images through the NAC, whereas the WAC images should be able to show its inclined orbit around Alpha. To see Gamma behind Alpha in its revolution movement, we would have to elevate the camera's orbit. The method employed to simulate images generated by satellite cameras can be applied to other scenarios where the target requires imaging, extending beyond the field of planetary geology.

Comparative Evaluation of Disinfection Protocols for Dental Impressions in Prosthodontics.

In prosthodontics, dental impressions are essential for creating precise dental restorations. However, these impressions are susceptible to microbial contamination, which can pose a risk of infection to patients. Consequently, effective disinfection methods are crucial to prevent postoperative infections. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various disinfection techniques for dental impressions used in prosthodontics. A total of 148 poured dental impressions were randomized into three disinfection groups: immersed in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde, or 0.2% chlorhexidine solution. The bacterial contamination was evaluated by direct colony-forming unit (CFU) counting, while the dimensional accuracy and surface detail duplication of each resin sample were determined as physical properties. Data were analyzed using SPSSversion 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Either analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the option for post-hoc or non-parametric tests was used to investigate and compare the efficacy of the better disinfection protocols where the p-value was considered significant if less than 0.05. Glutaraldehyde showed the lowest mean CFU count (2.5 log10 CFUs), followed by sodium hypochlorite (3.2 log10 CFUs) and chlorhexidine (3.5 log10 CFUs). All disinfection protocols were able to significantly reduce microbial contamination when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The results of the physical property assessment demonstrated acceptable dimensional accuracy in all tested protocols, with slight differences recorded between them regarding the reproduction of surface detail. More specifically, the mean dimensional deviation was in the range between 0.02 and 0.04 mm, while scores for surface detail reproduction ranged from 2 to 4. The ANOVA results revealed significant differences in microbial contamination levels (F(2, 145) = 5.72, p = 0.007) and dimensional accuracy (F(2, 145) = 3.45, p = 0.032) between the various disinfection protocols. This study enlightens the effective sterilization protocol to be adopted in prosthodontics for dental impressions. Glutaraldehyde was most effective in microbial reduction, while sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine were equally effective. Therefore, clinicians must be vigilant in assessing the type of microbial flora that can be encountered during prosthodontic procedures while choosing disinfection protocols for patient safety and quality of impressions.

Geological Mapping of Kaso, Tambaksari, Ciamis, West Java Province Using Lidar Images Interpretation

Abstract Remote sensing nowadays is used to quickly and effectively obtain information about an object, area or phenomenon and can be applied to large areas that are sometimes difficult to reach. Satellites with multispectral imagery are commonly used in geological mapping, but have drawbacks when used in tropical areas such as Indonesia, with dense vegetation, fast sedimentation rates and highly weathered that will cover fresh rocks making it difficult to interpret geological condition through aerial photo. Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) images using laser beams to produce elevation data (x,y,z) with high spatial resolution and can penetrate the surface of vegetation are expected to be a solution in areas with dense vegetation that are sometimes difficult to reach. The study was conducted by interpreting the morphometric aspects using Digital Terrain Model (DTM) data processed from LiDAR imagery with a spatial resolution of 1 m/pixel to display the topographical surface in detail. The morphometric aspects used include slope, surface roughness, aspect, hillshade, and stream pattern. Field data validation through surface mapping is carried out to correct the lithology interpretation by comparing the results of LiDAR image interpretation. Field data validation results show that interpretation using LiDAR imagery has good results (79%) through overall accuracy percentage, with the lithology units being sandstones, siltstone, breccias, and andesitic igneous rocks. The lineament interpretation of the DTM data indicates the existence of a geological structure in the form of a normal and strike-slip fault in the study area.

Development and mechanical characterization of horse hair with titanium dioxide nanoparticles reinforced polyester composite

This study aims to examine the effects of waste material more especially horse hair as fiber on mechanical and physical properties. Tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness properties of horse hair fiber and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) polyester composite were investigated to determine whether the latter might be used as a new material in various engineering applications for a longer life. To improve the impact resistance of the composite, horse hair fiber is mixed in different ratios with titanium dioxide and polyester as filler. Tensile, flexural, and impact mechanical properties were assessed using the Universal Testing Machine, the Rockwell Hardness Testing Machine, and the Izod Impact Test. Specimens were hand-put up using various fiber weight ratios. The results of this study showed that Specimen 5 showed a tremendous increase in flexural strength (98.87 MPa), tensile strength (91.46 MPa), hardness (115 HV), impact strength (15.98 J m−1), and water uptake (10.18%) as compared to the neat and also with the other Specimens. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the fracture surface in more detail in order to search for failure mechanisms and the dispersion of nanoparticles. SEM micrographs verified the uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles. Results suggest that these composites can be used as a material for a variety of applications, including biological claims that they are a practical, durable, and environmentally friendly choice.

A Systematic Study of Methyl Carbodithioate Esters as Effective Gold Contact Groups for Single‐Molecule Electronics

AbstractThere are several binding groups used within molecular electronics for anchoring molecules to metal electrodes (e.g., R−SMe, R−NH2, R−CS2−, R−S−). However, some anchoring groups that bind strongly to electrodes have poor/unknown stability, some have weak electrode coupling, while for some their binding motifs are not well defined. Further binding groups are required to aid molecular design and to achieve a suitable balance in performance across a range of properties. We present an in‐depth investigation into the use of carbodithioate esters as contact groups for single‐molecule conductance measurements, using scanning tunnelling microscopy break junction measurements (STM‐BJ) and detailed surface spectroscopic analysis. We demonstrate that the methyl carbodithioate ester acts as an effective contact for gold electrodes in STM‐BJ measurements. Surface enhanced Raman measurements demonstrate that the C=S functionality remains intact when adsorbed on to gold nanoparticles. A gold(I) complex was also synthesised showing a stable C=S→AuI interaction from the ester. Comparison with a benzyl thiomethyl ether demonstrates that the C=S moiety significantly contributes to charge transport in single‐molecule junctions. The overall performance of the CS2Me group demonstrates it should be used more extensively and has strong potential for the fabrication of larger area devices with long‐term stability.

A Systematic Study of Methyl Carbodithioate Esters as Effective Gold Contact Groups for Single-Molecule Electronics.

There are several binding groups used within molecular electronics for anchoring molecules to metal electrodes (e.g., R-SMe, R-NH2, R-CS2 -, R-S-). However, some anchoring groups that bind strongly to electrodes have poor/unknown stability, some have weak electrode coupling, while for some their binding motifs are not well defined. Further binding groups are required to aid molecular design and to achieve a suitable balance in performance across a range of properties. We present an in-depth investigation into the use of carbodithioate esters as contact groups for single-molecule conductance measurements, using scanning tunnelling microscopy break junction measurements (STM-BJ) and detailed surface spectroscopic analysis. We demonstrate that the methyl carbodithioate ester acts as an effective contact for gold electrodes in STM-BJ measurements. Surface enhanced Raman measurements demonstrate that the C=S functionality remains intact when adsorbed on to gold nanoparticles. A gold(I) complex was also synthesised showing a stable C=S→AuI interaction from the ester. Comparison with a benzyl thiomethyl ether demonstrates that the C=S moiety significantly contributes to charge transport in single-molecule junctions. The overall performance of the CS2Me group demonstrates it should be used more extensively and has strong potential for the fabrication of larger area devices with long-term stability.

Asteroid-NeRF: A deep-learning method for 3D surface reconstruction of asteroids

Context. Asteroids preserve important information about the origin and evolution of the Solar System. Three-dimensional (3D) surface models of asteroids are essential for exploration missions and scientific research. Regular methods for 3D surface reconstruction of asteroids, such as stereo-photogrammetry (SPG), usually struggle to reconstruct textureless areas and can only generate sparse surface models. Stereo-photoclinometry (SPC) can reconstruct pixel-wise topographic details but its performance depends on the availability of images obtained under different illumination conditions and suffers from uncertainties related to surface reflectance and albedo. Aims. This paper presents Asteroid-NeRF, a novel deep-learning method for 3D surface reconstruction of asteroids that is based on the state-of-the-art neural radiance field (NeRF) method. Methods. Asteroid-NeRF uses a signed distance field (SDF) to reconstruct a 3D surface model from multi-view posed images of an asteroid. In addition, Asteroid-NeRF incorporates appearance embedding to adapt to different illumination conditions and to maintain the geometric consistency of a reconstructed surface, allowing it to deal with the different solar angles and exposure conditions commonly seen in asteroid images. Moreover, Asteroid-NeRF incorporates multi-view photometric consistency to constrain the SDF, enabling optimised reconstruction. Results. Experimental evaluations using actual images of asteroids Itokawa and Bennu demonstrate the promising performance of Asteroid-NeRF, complementing traditional methods such as SPG and SPC. Furthermore, due to the global consistency and pixel-wise training of Asteroid-NeRF, it produces highly detailed surface reconstructions. Asteroid-NeRF offers a new and effective solution for high-resolution 3D surface reconstruction of asteroids that will aid future exploratory missions and scientific research on asteroids.

Morfologi Thalus Lichen di Kawasan Jalur Pendakian Bukit Mongkrang Kecamatan Tawangmangu Kabupaten Karanganyar

Lichen is an association of fungi and algae, morphologically and physiologically unified as a single entity. Lichen is categorized as plants characterized by a thallus-like form. The aim of this research was to investigate the thallus morphology of lichens along the hiking trails of Bukit Mongkrang, Tawangmangu District, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java Province. The research utilized an exploratory method involving exploration of locations to obtain necessary samples. Purposive sampling was employed to select research locations comprising three stations at varying altitudes. Subsequently, lichen morphology samples were identified. The results revealed three types of thalli: Crustose, Foliose, and Fruticose, with Foliose being the most dominant type at 335 individuals, and Crustose the least at 132 individuals. The most dominant surface morphology of lichen thalli was Maculae details in the species Polyblastidium albicans (Pers.) S.Y. Kondr, Lokos &amp; Hur, while the least common surface detail was Cephalodia in the species Lepraria casiella R.C. Harris. Lichen reproductive structures identified included two types: sexual and asexual. Sexual reproductive structures consisted of Apothecia, Perithecia, and Pycnidia, while asexual reproductive structures included Isidia and Soredia. The most dominant sexual reproductive structure found was Apothecia in the species Lecanora glabrata (Ach.) Malme, and the least common was Pycnidia in the species Anaptychia palmulata (Michaux) Vain. Morphological differences among lichen types were influenced by variations in altitude, air temperature, humidity, and light intensity. Lichen was most abundant at elevations ranging from 1,712 to 1,844 meters above sea level.

TECHNOLOGY OF STRENGTHENING AND RESTORATION OF SHAFT SURFACES WITH HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENT

The issue of increasing the strength of details by applying high-frequency electric current has become one of the most important and urgent issues of today. Ensuring the corrosion resistance of parts is initially implemented by applying materials obtained in relatively economically efficient ways, which reflected in a constructive solution to the issue. It is possible to increase surfaces of small-sized details of any geometric shape with a high-frequency current 1.5-2.5 times. By increasing the surfaces using the HFC method, it is possible to fully ensure their reliability and longevity. The dependences of the amount of heat and current intensity were determined by using the HFC parameters. Based on the obtained results, it was possible to increase the strength of the shafts by 1.5-2.5 times. Keywords: High-frequency current, shafts, technological mode, main parameters, graphic dependence, increase of strength, reliability, longevity.

Multi-approach study, digitization and dissemination of a Bronze-Age engraved cup found in Filo Braccio, Filicudi (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

This paper presents a multidisciplinary study combining photogrammetry, near-infrared (NIR) imaging and archaeological analysis to analyse a 1900-1800 BC engraved cup, found at the Bronze Age site of Filo Braccio in Filicudi, Aeolian Islands, Italy. The artefact is unique within the contemporary ‘Capo Graziano’ culture, featuring a rare complex figural scene engraved along the exterior walls; the “scene” provides insights into the prehistoric culture of Filicudi and the Aeolian Islands. The study focused on generating an accurate three-dimensional (3D) model to i) support archaeological research on the artefact's engravings and ii) create engaging digital media for remote and on-site visitors. Photogrammetry used high-resolution photographs taken around the object and control points for metric accuracy assessment. This study also utilises NIR and visible light imaging to examine the engraved cup. The photogrammetric workflow provided a realistic 3D model textured with both visible and NIR data: the 3D model enabled to improve the reading of the engraved scene, revealing horizontal registers of figures, while NIR imaging highlighted material inhomogeneity. The resulting 3D model achieved a high level of detail, with 4381407 faces and a root mean square (RMS) reprojection error of approximately 3.9 µm. The NIR imaging revealed additional surface details not visible in the standard photographs. For dissemination, the optimised 3D model was uploaded to Sketchfab with informative annotations, enabling remote study and cultural promotion of the artefact. This multi-approach methodology offers a valuable tool for comprehensive artefact documentation and analysis, providing new insights into the artefact's complex figural scene.

Mapping local climates in highly heterogeneous mountain regions: Interpolation of meteorological station data vs. downscaling of macroclimate grids

Topography modulates air and soil temperature and gives rise to local climates that may strongly deviate from regional macroclimates. These local climatic conditions determine the distribution of many organisms but are hardly accounted for by coarse-grained macroclimate grids. Downscaling macroclimate grids or interpolating high-resolution climate surfaces from weather station data has thus become a staple in ecological research. Against this background, topographically complex territories pose a challenge, as downscaling and interpolation techniques are susceptible to high topographic heterogeneity. Simultaneously, these regions will act as refugia and preserve biodiversity amidst the challenges of climate change. This contrast renders choosing the technique to derive local climatic conditions under high topographic complexity critically relevant.In this study, we compared how interpolation and downscaling techniques predict the local climates of topographically heterogeneous territories. We interpolated monthly average temperatures from weather stations in a Southern Italy mountain region and downscaled WorldClim and CHELSA macroclimatic grids from their native 30 arcsecs to 10 m resolution. We carried out the interpolation and downscaling procedures by employing four commonly used statistical algorithms and by including physiographic descriptors (altitude, northness, eastness, distance to the coast, and monthly average of daily clear-sky insolation time) known to determine local climatic conditions. We compared the techniques' predictive performance via leave-one-out cross-validation. We extended the comparison over the study area to identify where the techniques most strongly diverged and evaluated how interpolation and downscaling techniques fare against environmental extrapolation.Although the interpolations scored the best values across all error metrics, interpolating weather station data and downscaling WorldClim yielded essentially equivalent predictions of local climates in the cross-validations. Differences between the two techniques emerged during the spatial comparison, where downscaling WorldClim produced biased and less detailed monthly climate surfaces. On the contrary, weather station interpolation was affected by environmental extrapolation in the study area's most internal and topographically heterogeneous landscapes. Downscaling CHELSA severely over-smoothed local climatic conditions during both cross-validations and spatial comparisons, possibly due to lacking climate variability in the native product itself.We demonstrated that technique and data source choice affect the prediction of local climates in topographically heterogeneous territories. Despite its limitations, we argue that interpolating weather station data better accounted for local-scale topographic effects. These effects form an integral part of the microrefugia that will shelter mountain communities from warming climates. We thus recommend carefully considering the techniques chosen to unravel the intricate climatic mosaics of topographically heterogeneous territories.

Clovis organizational dynamics at a Late Glacial campsite in the central Great Lakes: Belson site excavations 2020-2021.

The Belson site is located on an outwash plain draining the Early Algonquin stage of the central Great Lakes (coinciding with the Older Dryas stadial period around 14,000 Cal B.P) southwest across Lower Michigan into the Ohio tributaries. By 13,000 Cal B.P the St. Joseph River had incised multiple channels into this plain. On a terrace just north of a now-abandoned channel, a detailed surface study by Talbot from 2005-2018 showed several flake clusters largely of Attica chert, procured about 235 km southwest of Belson. A study of the surface sample was published by the authors in 2021 and indicated that the points were made with the Clovis technological pattern. Excavations in 2020-21 revealed hundreds of buried flakes and multiple tools in the lower, less-disturbed terrace sediment. Plotting of this material indicates successive occupations below the ploughed deposit and covering more than 30 m2. The buried assemblages are similar to the published surface assemblage with the addition of more small scrapers and manufacturing debris. Several of the buried tools have traces of proteins from a range of mammals, suggesting a broad-spectrum subsistence strategy. The documentation of a succession of little disturbed deposits with precisely recorded micro-debris will allow for testing of models describing settlement choice and developing dynamics of internal site organization. Initial analysis of recovered data provides support for an 'outcrop centered' model where high-quality chert outcrops serve as central places on the landscape. Samples of sediment and charcoal for identification and dating await study.

Comparative Study of Bis-Schiff Case Containing Conjugated Oligomers Based on Phosphate and Silane Moieties: Investigation of Photophysical and Thermal Properties.

Oligo(azomethine)s bearing phosphate and silane moieties were the subject of an investigation within this study. The initial stage involved the synthesis of two Schiff base monomers, denoted as SCH-1 and SCH-2 (SCHs), each possessing a pair of hydroxyl functional groups. This was achieved through a loss of water between the aldehyde and diamine precursors. Subsequently, the Schiff base entities were subjected to oligomerization through HCl-mediated elimination due to the interaction between the hydroxyl groups of the Schiff bases and the chlorine moieties of dichlorodiethylsilane (Si) or phenyl dichlorophosphate (P). This procedure yielded distinct P-oligo(azomethine) (P1-P, P2-P) and Si-oligo(azomethine) (P1-Si and P2-Si) structures corresponding to each precursor. The molecular structures of the synthesized Schiff base monomers and oligo(azomethine)s were elucidated employing Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR techniques. Thermal properties of the resulting products were assessed by utilizing thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG/DTA and DSC) techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to acquire high-resolution images and detailed surface information on the samples. Additionally, X-ray diffraction was employed to analyze the phase properties of the solid samples. Furthermore, the optical band gap (E g) values of the resulting P-oligo(azomethine)s and Si-oligo(azomethine)s were determined utilizing UV-vis spectrophotometer. The relatively low band gap values exhibited by the synthesized oligo(azomethine)s were indicative of their potential suitability as semiconductive materials in the realm of electronic and optoelectronic device fabrication. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements disclosed a green emission profile upon excitation by blue light. The oligo(azomethine)s incorporating methoxy groups demonstrated a red shift in comparison to their counterparts with methyl groups. Remarkably, no discernible fluctuations in fluorescence were observed over a 3600 s interval under consistent conditions. This observation underscored the inherent stability of the PL emission across the spectral range of exciting light. Thermal analyses unveiled high thermal stability of the synthesized oligo(azomethine)s, sustaining their structural integrity up to 220 °C. The char % of P-oligo(azomethine)s and Si-oligo(azomethine)s were observed to fall within the range of 29.45-55.47% at 1000 °C. SEM images revealed the absence of pores on the surface of P2-Si, which exhibited the highest limiting oxygen index and thermal heat release index (T HRI) values.

TriClsNet: Surface Reconstruction via Graph-based Triangle Classification

In this paper, we introduce TriClsNet, a novel learning-based network that reconstructs surfaces by reframing the triangle classification problem as a graph node classification problem. An improved graph-based triangle classification module is employed to aggregate information from neighboring triangles, effectively leveraging local neighborhood information and enhancing triangle classification accuracy. Additionally, a self-supervised learning branch is incorporated to predict point cloud normals, aiding our network in better learning local point cloud features. Furthermore, a new loss function is designed to guide our network in effective multi-task learning, encompassing both graph node classification and normal prediction. Comparative experimental results on ShapeNet demonstrate that our method can efficiently perform surface reconstruction, outperforming existing methods in the aspects of preserving surface details, reducing holes, and generalization.