Annealing Conditions Research Articles

Studies on Pollination, Fruit Set and Self-Incompatibility Index in Apple Varieties under Wet Temperate Conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Studies on Pollination, Fruit Set and Self-Incompatibility Index in Apple Varieties under Wet Temperate Conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Annealing-induced defects and optical degradation in sputter-deposited silicon nitride: Implications for photonic applications

Silicon nitride (SiNx) is a critical material for advanced photonic applications. This study investigates the effect of annealing on sputter-deposited silicon nitride. The results demonstrate that blisters and holes appear in annealed SiNx, which compromise its integrity and lead to increased roughness. These defects are closely related to the annealing process. Specifically, the blister diameter expands from 5.17 μm at 600 °C to more than 25 μm at 800 °C. Additionally, the defect ratio increases significantly from 1.25 % to 14.82 % for full annealing. Rapid thermal annealing induces a 12 % defect ratio and a surface roughness of 13.1 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results suggest that defects originate from unsaturated silicon sites, particularly in silicon-rich SiNx. Raman spectroscopy reveals a blueshift in the silicon peak after annealing, indicating biaxial tensile stress applied to the coatings, which is supported by the diffraction peaks observed in grazing incidence X-ray diffraction patterns. This mechanical stress may contribute to blistering and bursting. Moreover, annealing significantly alters the refractive index and dispersion properties of SiNx, with transmission losses reaching up to 20 %, presenting a considerable challenge for photonic applications. Notably, the performance of silicon nitride-based Bragg reflectors deteriorates markedly after annealing. This study elucidates the balance between annealing conditions and their effects on sputter-deposited silicon nitride, ensuring its continued viability in the rapidly expanding field of photonics.

The effect of Sn microalloying on the selective oxidation of Fe-(6-10 at.%)Mn alloys

To evaluate the suitability of Sn microalloying as strategy to decrease the selective oxidation kinetics of Mn-alloyed advanced steels, the effects of 0.01 and 0.03 at.% Sn micro-additions on oxide morphology and oxidation kinetics for Fe-6Mn and Fe-10Mn (at.%) alloys were determined under annealing conditions characteristic of the continuous galvanizing process. Selective oxidation followed a parabolic rate law, where activation energy analysis revealed that internal oxidation is rate-determined by the grain boundary diffusion of O in Fe. The 0.01 and 0.03 at.% Sn additions significantly reduced the internal oxidation of alloys with Mn contents of 6 and 10 at.%, which was attributed to interfacial Sn segregation reducing the solubility of O in Fe, the occupation of adsorption sites for water vapour molecules, and the reduction of short-circuit diffusion of O along internal interfaces. Sn microalloying decreased the external oxidation of Fe-6Mn-(0.01,0.03)Sn, but did not significantly alter external oxide thickness of the Fe-10Mn-(0.01,0.03)Sn alloys. In this case, Sn reduced the outward diffusion of Mn along grain boundaries, but also affected the balance between the inward O flux and outward Mn flux. Incorporating the effect of Sn occupying adsorption sites into a selective oxidation model revealed that Sn microalloying is predicted to cause a transition from internal to external oxidation for Fe-10Mn. For Fe-6Mn alloys, however, a Sn micro-addition of 0.01 at.% (∼0.022 wt.%) was sufficient to significantly reduce selective oxidation kinetics and produce beneficial alterations to the external oxide morphology in order to ease reactive wetting in the continuous galvanizing process.

Flexible multi-electrode neural probe using active-matrix design of transistor array

To realize a brain-machine interface, a neural probe is one of key hardware. For the neural probe, a high spatial resolution of an electrode array, high electrical sensitivity, and mechanical flexibility remain challenging and essential issues. In regard to these, implantable multi-electrode neural probe employing active-matrix design with field effect transistors (FETs) can attract attention due to their advantages of a suitable integration density and good signal-amplifying abilities. Therefore, we developed a flexible multi-electrode neural probe employing an active-matrix design based on a two-transistor (2T) scheme for application to a flexible neural signal recording probe. As a proof of concept, 4 × 8 electrode array (32 channels) with TFTs was demonstrated. For the flexible active-matrix design, back-gate indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated on a polyimide (PI). The TFTs used here can amplify signals and achieve a switching function to drive the active matrix. The probe structure was encapsulated by the same PI material again to achieve flexibility with good reliability, as the sandwich-like structure can induce a neutral plane on the TFT and electrodes. To ensure a high signal-to-noise ratio, the structural and process parameters of the TFT were studied. Among different annealing times and temperatures of the IGZO TFT, the optimized annealing condition of the TFT was found to be 250 °C a 1 hour on a flexible substrate. The width over length of the transistors was optimized to 50 μm/10 μm, and the field-effect mobility was 8.33 cm2/V·s. The on current was 2.28 × 10−6 A at a low driving voltage of 5 V. The transconductance was 2.16 μS and the threshold voltage (Vth) was 1.6 V. By applying 5 V, the switching TFT was turned on, and a doubly amplified signal (> 2.4 times) could be measured on the drain line. The electrode array probe with the active-matrix design can use for accurate neural recording and herald a new generation of flexible neural probes with high spatial resolutions.

Modeling vacancy-induced porosity in compositionally-graded complex alloys

A phase-field model of the void evolution is developed to investigate the vacancy-induced Kirkendall porosity within diffusion couples under isothermal annealing conditions. This model encapsulates a comprehensive computational framework for multicomponent diffusion, non-equilibrium vacancy diffusion, voids nucleation, and growth — integrating considerations for surface anisotropy and morphological instability. This novel thermodynamically consistent methodology combines the phase-field model with the vacancy diffusion model and uses thermodynamic and atomic mobility parameters defined by CALPHAD approach. The generalized nature of the method enables us to include both non-equilibrium and equilibrium vacancies, covering all cases of non-ideal/ideal sinks and sources for vacancies, whether at dislocations or void surfaces. Moreover, the model can deal with compositionally complex alloys such as Ni-based superalloys. Along with the full model, a fast variant is also suggested, providing long-time simulations at the experimentally relevant time and space scales valuable for both academic and industrial contexts. The model’s efficacy was demonstrated through precise simulation of voids evolution in a model AlCoCrTa/Ni diffusion couple, mirroring the experimental outcomes observed in the CMSX-10/Ni diffusion couple at 1525 K after 192 h of annealing. This encompassed accurate replication of diffusion profiles and tomographic analysis of voids. A very good agreement with the experimental data was observed, particularly in the distribution of pore volume-fractions and the delineation of void shapes.

Electrochemically coupled CH4 and CO2 consumption driven by microbial processes

The chemical transformations of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gases typically have high energy barriers. Here we present an approach of strategic coupling of CH4 oxidation and CO2 reduction in a switched microbial process governed by redox cycling of iron minerals under temperate conditions. The presence of iron minerals leads to an obvious enhancement of carbon fixation, with the minerals acting as the electron acceptor for CH4 oxidation and the electron donor for CO2 reduction, facilitated by changes in the mineral structure. The electron flow between the two functionally active microbial consortia is tracked through electrochemistry, and the energy metabolism in these consortia is predicted at the genetic level. This study offers a promising strategy for the removal of CH4 and CO2 in the natural environment and proposes an engineering technique for the utilization of major greenhouse gases.

Residues determination, risk assessment, and dissipation behavior of myclobutanil formulation on apple.

This study aimed to investigate the dissipation pattern, risk assessment, and waiting period of myclobutanil on apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh.) under temperate conditions in Kashmir, India. The study involved the application of myclobutanil 10 WP at a single recommended dosage (125 g a.i.ha-1) and double dosage (250 g a.i.ha-1) on Red Velox apple trees, 2 months before harvest. GC equipped with an electron capture detector was used to analyze myclobutanil residues in fruit samples. The study revealed that myclobutanil, at both recommended and double recommended doses, dissipated rapidly and became nondetectable after 55 and 60 days, respectively. The waiting period for myclobutanil application was determined to be 12.41 days for the single dose and 25.58 days for the double dose, respectively. These waiting periods were based on the maximum residue limit of 0.6 ppm as prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and European Commission. The study concludes that myclobutanil 10 WP is safe for consumers at both recommended and double recommended doses when applied 2 months before harvest. Risk assessment, considering the average daily apple consumption in India and theoretical maximum residue contributions (TMRCs), indicates negligible health hazards even at double the recommended dosage. The calculated TMRC values at Day 0 were significantly below the maximum permissible intake. For average and maximum myclobutanil residues at single and double doses, the TMRC values were found to be 0.0069 and 0.0070 mg day-1 person-1 and 0.0105 and 0.0106 mg day-1 person-1, respectively. These results indicate that myclobutanil, when used according to recommended dosages and waiting periods, poses minimal health risks to consumers. The study emphasizes the importance of prudent fungicide use to minimize fungicide residues on fruits, thereby ensuring their safety for consumption.

The Influence of Mo Content and Annealing on the Oxidation Behavior of Arc‐Melted Cr–xMo–8Si Alloys

The influence of Mo (10–40 at%) additions to Cr–8 at%Si is systematically studied by analyzing arc‐melted alloys in the as‐cast and annealed state. The oxidation resistance is tested by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at 1200 °C in air for up to 100 h. Samples are characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and wavelength‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The studied Cr–xMo–8Si alloy series shows a beneficial effect of Mo on the corrosion behavior. For all of the investigated Mo contents, no nitridation is observed and the oxide scale adhesion is improved. An increased amount of intermetallic A15 phase leads to the formation of a SiO2 scale beneath the Cr2O3 layer during high‐temperature exposure. The internal SiO2 layer inhibits further internal oxidation of the A15 phase. Uniform size and distribution of A15, benefits the formation of a duplex oxide scale. Cr–25Mo–8 at%Si, shows the most promising oxidation behavior. The TGA data follows the paralinear law, with both the growth rate, kp, and volatilization rate, kv, of Cr2O3 being reduced by adding 10–25 at% Mo. A binary Cr/Mo–Si phase diagram is generated in order to determine accurate annealing conditions and estimate the stability range of the metastable σ phase.

Endocrine Responses to Heated Resistance Exercise in Men and Women.

Pryor, JL, Sweet, DK, Rosbrook, P, Qiao, J, Looney, DP, Mahmood, S, and Rideout, T. Endocrine responses to heated resistance exercise in men and women. J Strength Cond Res 38(7): 1248-1255, 2024-We examined the endocrine responses of 16 (female = 8) resistance trained volunteers to a single bout of whole-body high-volume load resistance exercise in hot (HOT; 40° C) and temperate (TEMP; 20° C) environmental conditions. Thermoregulatory and heart rate (HR) data were recorded, and venous blood was acquired before and after resistance exercise to assess serum anabolic and catabolic hormones. In men, testosterone increased after resistance exercise in HOT and TEMP ( p < 0.01), but postexercise testosterone was not different between condition ( p = 0.51). In women, human growth hormone was different between condition at pre-exercise ( p = 0.02) and postexercise ( p = 0.03). After controlling for pre-exercise values, the between-condition postexercise difference was abolished ( p = 0.16). There were no differences in insulin-like growth factor-1 for either sex ( p ≥ 0.06). In women, cortisol increased from pre-exercise to postexercise in HOT ( p = 0.04) but not TEMP ( p = 0.19), generating a between-condition difference at postexercise ( p < 0.01). In men, cortisol increased from pre-exercise to postexercise in HOT only ( p < 0.01). Rectal temperature increased to a greater extent in HOT compared with TEMP in both men ( p = 0.01) and women ( p = 0.02). Heart rate increased after exercise under both conditions in men and women ( p = 0.01), but only women experience greater postexercise HR in HOT vs. TEMP ( p = 0.04). The addition of heat stress to resistance exercise session did not overtly shift the endocrine response toward an anabolic or catabolic response. When acute program variables are prescribed to increase postresistance exercise anabolic hormones, adding heat stress is not synergistic but does increase physiologic strain (i.e., elevated HR and rectal temperature).

Overshoot‐Suppressed Memristor Crossbar Array with High Yield by AlOx Oxidation for Neuromorphic System

AbstractThere is a need to design a hardware synapse array appropriate for enhancing the efficiency of neuromorphic computing systems while minimizing energy consumption. This study introduces a memristor device with an AlOx overshoot suppression layer (A‐OSL) to achieve a self‐compliance effect. By optimizing each cell within the 16 × 16 crossbar array, synaptic devices are successfully fabricated with reliable characteristics and 3‐bit multilevel capabilities. In addition, the oxygen composition of TiOx and the annealing conditions are optimized to reduce the forming voltage and minimize the variation in the switching voltage. As a result, stable forming‐free characteristics are obtained through A‐OSL insertion, a reduction in forming voltage, and TiOx oxygen composition optimization. Also, target weights are accurately transferred to the A‐OSL memristor crossbar array and conducted the inference process by applying spike signals to the array following the designated time step. The spiking neural network (SNN) is demonstrated by measuring vector‐matrix multiplication (VMM) of the 16 × 16 crossbar array. The VMM results exhibit a classification accuracy of 90.80% for the MNIST dataset, which is close to the accuracy achieved by software‐based approaches, amounting to 91.85%.

Evolution of interfacial phases between Al alloy and high entropy alloy during annealing

While the interfacial phases between Al and high-entropy alloy (HEA) share the same types as that between Al and steel, it has been found previously that the thermal stability of the Al-HEA interfacial phases is significantly higher than that of the Al-steel interfacial phases. To further elucidate the reason for the exceptional thermal stability of Al-HEA interfacial phases, this study investigated the evolution of the interfacial phases formed between Al alloy and FeCoCrNiMn HEA during annealing. An Al-FeCoCrNiMn thin film diffusion couple was extracted from a friction stir lap welding (FSLW) joint by focused ion beam and then annealed at 400 °C. An amorphous layer is formed initially at the interface due to the high strain rate deformation during FSLW. The amorphous layer remained even after prolonged annealing at 400 °C (∼0.72 Tm of Al alloy) for 60 min with very limited thickening (from 50 nm to 55 nm), showing remarkable thermal stability at the relatively high temperature. Al13Fe4-type intermetallic compound (IMC) with the Fe site occupied by Fe, Co, Cr, Ni and Mn first nucleates at the interface between Al alloy and amorphous layer. With the annealing time extended to 180 min, the amorphous layer is partially transformed into Al5Fe2-type IMC. The rate constant for the thickening of the reaction layer at the Al/FeCoCrNiMn interface is 0.03 μm∙min1/2, which is much smaller than (only 0.02 times) that at the Al/steel interface under similar annealing condition. The high thermal stability of Al-HEA interfacial layer is thus attributed to the slow kinetics in crystallization of the initially formed amorphous layer, the barrier effect of amorphous layer for interdiffusion, and the reduced diffusivity inside of IMCs caused by significant fluctuations in lattice potential energy due to high-density doping with HEA elements. This finding provides new insights into the fabrication of thermally stable Al-HEA hybrid structures suitable for service conditions involving high-temperature exposure.

Present Status of Viral Diseases of Grapevine (&lt;i&gt;Vitis Vinifera&lt;/i&gt; L.) and their Management Strategies in India

Grapevine is an important fruit crop cultivated in temperate, subtropical and tropical conditions in India. The maximum share in area, production, and productivity of grapes is governed by four states viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The sudden and drastic changes in climatic conditions and the emergence of diseases have made grapevine cultivation more challenging. Fungal and bacterial diseases are the major constraints in the grapevine production. Besides, some viral diseases like Grapevine Leafroll Disease (GLD) and Rupestris Stem Pitting Associated Diseases (RSPD) are reported in Indian vineyards. Although the presence of Grapevine Leafroll-Associated Viruses (GLRaVs) viz., GLRaV-1, GLRaV-3, and GLRaV-4 are known the impact on yield and quality of the grapes is not yet studied. Similarly, the Rupestris Stem Pitting Associated Virus (RSPaV) is known to infect the Indian vineyards of different locations but a complete understanding of their overall impact on vineyards is lacking. Therefore, it is presumed that fewer or no losses occur due to GLD and RSPD diseases. There is a strong need for hours to study the impact of known viruses on physiological and yield contributing parameters. In addition to this, robust, rapid and reliable diagnostic techniques are required for the detection of known and unknown viruses. The presence of new and emerging viruses in the Indian vineyards cannot be overlooked. Further, for the management of the viruses and avoiding their spread, the availability of Disease-Free Quality Planting Material (DFQPM) is a prerequisite. To produce DFQPM, various tissue culture techniques need to be standardized for the elimination of the virus/es from the diseased vines. The Tissue Culture-Raised Quality Planting Material (TCQPM) needs to be further tested for genetic purity (true-to-type) and virus indexing to confirm DFQPM. By considering the importance of DFQPM, recently, the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Govt. of India in association with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has initiated a National Mission on Clean Plant Programme. The implementation of this initiative is more challenging and expected to open different avenues of research and development in the production of DFQPM for the growers. This is an important and timely beginning of the production of DFQPM.

Rare-earth doped yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5) thin films grown by chemical vapour deposition for quantum technologies

Yttrium orthosilicate (Y2SiO5 - YSO) is one of the most promising crystals to host rare-earth (RE) ions for quantum technologies applications. In this matrix, they indeed exhibit narrow optical and spin linewidths that can be exploited to develop quantum memories or quantum information processing capabilities. In this paper, we propose a new method to grow RE doped silicate thin films on silicon wafers based on direct liquid injection chemical vapour deposition (DLI-CVD). We optimize the deposition and annealing conditions to achieve formation of the high temperature X2-YSO phase. The phase purity and crystalline quality of the films are assessed by evaluating the optical properties of Eu3+ ions embedded in this oxide matrix. In view of the results, we discuss the possible phase formation mechanisms, and the potential of this new wafer-compatible form of YSO for quantum technologies applications.

The characterization of diamond single crystal growing along (100) after annealing treatment under high pressure and high temperature

Diamond has many desirable properties. In this study, temperature gradient method was used to prepare a series of type Ib diamond single crystals, which were processed again to obtain and characterize Type IaA diamonds with even more desirable properties. Before annealing, Fourier-transformed infra-red(FTIR) spectra of diamond showed peaks at 1130 cm−1 and 1344 cm−1; After annealing, the peak at 1282 cm−1 was appeared in FTIR spectra of diamonds This data indicated that the isolated nitrogen in diamond aggregated after high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method annealing experiment. Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) spectra suggested that no nitrogen-related color centers existed in the diamond before annealing. In contrast, after annealing, a peak at 637 nm appeared in the PL spectra, indicating the appearance of NV−colors centers type Ib diamond post-annealing. The experimental results show that type Ib diamond crystals can be decolorized after 60 min of annealing under 7 GPa and 1850 °C, which makes part of the area transparent. Under 7 GPa and 2100 °C, type Ib diamond crystals can produce NV color center when annealed for 3 min. With increasing annealing temperature and prolonged annealing duration, the density and size of etch pits on the crystal surface escalated. Therefore, this study provides a guideline for the decolorization of diamonds by HPHT annealing. Moreover, this study also reports a method to change the crystal type and obtain NV color centers under ultra-high-temperature annealing conditions of 7 GPa pressure and 2100 °C temperature, which can be applied to develop quantum materials.

A novel approach to the dual sugar test for the assessment of intestinal epithelium permeability in response to exertional heat stress and nutritional intervention

An acute increase in intestinal epithelium permeability is induced by prolonged exertion in the heat, resulting in the translocation of pathogenic bacteria and endotoxins from the lumen into the circulation, causing a systemic inflammatory response and debilitating symptoms(1). Acute exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome mimics chronic health conditions with which an impaired intestinal barrier function is associated, including coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and liver diseases(2). Intestinal epithelium permeability is typically assessed using a dual sugar absorption test, by administering a drink containing non-metabolisable sugars (e.g. lactulose [L] and L-rhamnose [R]) that can enter the circulation by paracellular translocation when the epithelium is compromised, and are subsequently excreted and measured cumulatively in the urine(3). We aimed to demonstrate that our recently developed ion chromatography protocol(4) can be used to accurately quantify L/R ratio in the plasma of participants exercising in hot ambient conditions and to determine the impact of nutritional intervention on intestinal epithelium permeability. Further, we hypothesised that measuring L/R in plasma collected at intervals during the post-exercise recovery period would reveal more information about intestinal permeability compared to previously published cumulative urine L/R data(3). Endurance-trained participants completed a set of randomised crossover studies, consisting of 2 h running at 60% V˙O2max in temperate, warm and hot ambient conditions (n = 8) and/or in the heat while consuming water, carbohydrate or protein (n = 9). The dual sugar solution was ingested at 90 min of exercise and blood was sampled at 0, 1, 2 and 4 h post-exercise. Plasma sugars were quantified by high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and L/R ratios were compared by two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons. Plasma L/R increased immediately post-exercise in the heat (0.15 ± 0.11) compared with temperate (0.06 ± 0.04, p&lt;0.001) and warm (0.09 ± 0.08, p&lt;0.01) conditions, while consuming glucose before and during exercise alleviated this (0.02 ± 0.02, p&lt;0.001), and this novel information was otherwise missed when measuring urine L/R. Consuming glucose or whey protein hydrolysate during exercise attenuated intestinal permeability from exertional heat stress throughout recovery, with the mean plasma L/R over 4 h reduced from 0.11 ± 0.05 to 0.04 ± 0.03 (p&lt;0.001) and 0.06 ± 0.04 (p&lt;0.01) with glucose and protein, respectively. We recommend using the dual sugar test with quantification of plasma sugars at intervals by HPAEC-PAD to maximise intestinal permeability data collection in exercise gastroenterology research and beyond, as this gives additional acute response information compared to urinary measurements. Our approach can be employed to investigate and develop personalised nutrition strategies that prevent intestinal hyperpermeability during exertional heat stress. This has implications for athlete performance and safety, and can also build upon occupational health and safety practices and inform chronic disease management.

Anelastic Internal Friction and Mechanical Spectroscopy of SiO2/Si Wafers

In this work, after electron irradiation and X-ray, the outcomes of the evaluation dynamic characteristics of interstitial atoms Si j , vacancy V, and O-complexes were evaluated to account for the annealing conditions to derive specific structural defects in the SiO2/Si wafer. A non-destructive method, which allows the determination of the internal friction difference ΔQ −1 /Q −1 0 of the elastic vibration of structural defects of dislocations with density N D and the depth of the broken layer h b , is offered for the SiO2/Si wafer. The method was developed, the installation was designed and manufactured for the excitation and registration of damped bending resonant oscillations in a SiO2/Si disc-shaped wafer with a thickness h SiO2 ≈ 100 nm, h is = 300 ÷ 500 × 103 nm, and diameter D = 60 ÷ 100 × 10−3 m to measure the structurally sensitive internal friction Q −1 in vacuum P ≈ 10−2 Pa. Measurement of the internal friction background Q −1 0 at harmonic frequencies f 0 and f 2 allowed us to experimentally determine the nodal lines of the oscillating disks.

Optimizing a courtyard microclimate with adaptable shading and evaporative cooling in a hot mediterranean climate

While in recent years significant improvements have been made in the thermal adaptation of indoor building environments, less progress has been made in improving thermal comfort in transitional spaces next to buildings. This makes it imperative to investigate the thermodynamics of such outdoor urban spaces, particularly in warm locations such as southern Spain. The application of suitable passive systems for the regulation of thermal exchanges and the creation of temperate conditions is explored. In order to determine the thermal comfort of users this study focuses on the assessment of two key parameters, mean radiant temperature and relative humidity, and how these are impacted by shading and misting systems in a courtyard. Field measurements analysed the extent to which shading and misting systems enhance user comfort levels in a Seville courtyard. The results indicate a considerable decrease in temperature, with thermal mitigation of up to 11.7 °C below reference points outside the courtyard. The percentage of hours within comfort ranges during heat waves increased by 100% by optimizing the results of an additional experimental campaign and considering results from previous ones. The main novelty of this research lies in the comparative study of standalone and integrated passive cooling strategies aiming to provide optimal results in high temperature and heat wave scenarios. The study findings help understand and estimate the effectiveness of low-cost and easily applicable strategies for maintaining comfort conditions during diurnal and nocturnal cycles in both hot seasons and heat waves.

Influence of the Long-Term Application of Management Practices (Tillage, Cover Crop and Glyphosate) on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Physical Properties

Soil treatments have a significant influence on the agricultural and environmental productivity of agricultural practices. Arable lands are one of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that are influenced by the chemical and physical properties of the soil and are an essential contributor to climate change. We aim to evaluate the long-term management of agricultural practices, such as different tillage systems, cover crops, and glyphosate, on GHG emissions and soil physical properties. The field trial involved three tillage systems (conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT)), along with variations in cover cropping (with and without cover crops) and glyphosate application (with and without glyphosate). These treatments were implemented during the cultivation of oilseed rape in 2022 as part of a cropping sequence consisting of five crops: winter wheat; winter oilseed rape; spring wheat; spring barley; and field pea. Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)) were directly measured using a closed static chamber system. Through the examination of these management techniques, the soil’s physical properties over the studied period were assessed for their impact on GHG fluxes. The findings of the study reveal that N2O emissions were relatively low during the first month of measurement, with significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) observed in the interaction between cover crop and glyphosate treatments. Additionally, N2O emissions were notably elevated in the reduced (0.079 µg m−2 h−1) and conventional tillage (0.097 µg m−2 h−1) treatments at the second month of measurement. Regarding CH4, increased emissions were observed in the reduced tillage and cover crop treatments. CO2 emissions exhibited variability across all of the investigated treatments. Notably, GHG fluxes spiked at the second measurement, signifying the maximum uptake of nutrients by the main plants during the growth phase. Greenhouse gas emissions leveled off across all of the treatments following the harvest, marking the end of the cultivation period. The influence of the deployed techniques varied across the determined physical parameters of the soil. The incorporation of cover crops contributed to improved water content and, further, to electrical conductivity. Glyphosate use showed no direct impact on physical properties of the soil while the different tillage treatments had varying effects on the distribution of the physical properties of the soil with respect to the degree of disturbance or tillage-induced changes. Additionally, GHG emissions were strongly correlated with precipitation at one week and two weeks before sampling, except for CO2, which showed a weaker correlation at two weeks before GHG sampling. The findings indicate that reduced and conventional tillage methods might adversely affect greenhouse gas emissions and plant functionality, particularly concerning nutrient release and uptake, especially in temperate climate conditions.

Regulating the crystal orientation of vapor-transport-deposited GeSe thin films by a post-annealing treatment

Recently, GeSe has emerged as a highly promising photovoltaic absorber material due to its excellent optoelectronic properties, nontoxicity, and high stability. Although many advantages make GeSe well suited for thin-film solar cells, the power conversion efficiency of the GeSe thin-film solar cell is still much below the theoretical maximum efficiency. One of the challenges lies in controlling the crystal orientation of GeSe to enhance solar cell performance. The two-step preparation of GeSe thin films has not yet been reported to grow along the [111] orientation. In this work, we study the effect of a post-annealing treatment on the GeSe thin films and the performance of the solar cells. It was found that amorphous GeSe films can be converted into polycrystalline films with different orientations by changing the post-annealing temperature. [111]-oriented and [100]-oriented GeSe thin films were successfully prepared on the same substrate by optimizing the annealing conditions. With the structure of Au/GeSe/CdS/ITO cell devices, PCEs of 0.14% and 0.16% were ultimately achieved.

Fabrication of a Three-Dimensional Microfluidic System from Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) Using an Intermiscibility Vacuum Bonding Technique.

In this study, the fabrication of microfluidic chips through the bonding of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) boards featuring designed patterns to create a three-dimensional sandwich structure with embedded microchannels was explored. A key focus was optimization of the interface quality of bonded PMMA pairs by adjusting the solvent, such as such as acetone, alcohol, and their mixture. Annealing was conducted below 50 °C to leverage the advantages of low-temperature bonding. Because of the differences in the chemical reactivity of PMMA toward acetone, alcohol, and their combinations, the resulting defect densities at the bonding interfaces differed significantly under low-temperature annealing conditions. To achieve the optimal sealing integrity, bonding pressures of 30 N, 40 N, and 50 N were evaluated. The interface was analyzed through microstructural examination via optical microscopy and stress measurements were determined using digital photoelasticity, while the bonding strength was assessed through tensile testing.