In order to detect abnormal heat generation in time, a reversible color-changing coating temperature measurement method is proposed for self-detection of temperature by power equipment, and its adhesion characteristics and aging performance were analyzed. The results showed that the reversible color-changing coating prepared with crystalline violet lactone as the colorant, bisphenol A as the color developer, octadecanol as the solvent, and RTV-II as the base paint can meet the requirements of self-detection of temperature by power equipment with its adhesion performance. The accelerated aging tests using high temperature, light and humidity were carried out in the laboratory, and we concluded that the deterioration degree of the color-changing coating was positively correlated with the temperature. Light can accelerate the aging rate of reversible color-changing coatings, and the degradation process of the coating was significantly accelerated under UV light. The effect of humidity on... [more]

A comparative metabolomic study of three varieties of alfalfa (Medicago varia Mart.) was performed via extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide modified with ethanol (EtOH) and the detection of bioactive compounds via tandem mass spectrometry. Several experimental conditions were investigated in the pressure range of 50−250 bar, with ethanol used as a co-solvent in an amount of 1% of the total volume in the liquid phase at a temperature in the range of 31−70 °C. The most effective extraction conditions were as follows: a pressure of 250 Bar and a temperature of 60 °C for M. varia. M. varia contains various phenolic compounds and sulfated polyphenols with valuable biological activity. Tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI−ion trap) was applied to detect the target analytes. A total of 103 bioactive compounds (59 polyphenols and 44 compounds belonging to other chemical groups) were tentatively identified in extracts from aerial parts of alfalfa. For the first time, twenty-one chemical c... [more]

Forest fires have emerged as a significant global concern, exacerbated by both global warming and the expanding human population. Several adverse outcomes can result from this, including climatic shifts and greenhouse effects. The ramifications of fire incidents extend widely, impacting human communities, financial resources, the natural environment, and global warming. Therefore, timely fire detection is essential for quick and effective response and not to endanger forest resources, animal life, and the human economy. This study introduces a forest fire detection approach utilizing transfer learning with the YOLOv8 (You Only Look Once version 8) pretraining model and the TranSDet model, which integrates an improved deep learning algorithm. Transfer Learning based on pre-trained YoloV8 enhances a fast and accurate object detection aggregate with the TranSDet structure to detect small fires. Furthermore, to train the model, we collected 5200 images and performed augmentation techniques... [more]

During the hydraulic-fracturing process, stress interference occurs among multiple wells and fractures, potentially affecting the trajectory of hydraulic fracture propagation. Previous studies have largely overlooked the influence of proppant support stresses on the trajectories of fracture propagation. This paper establishes a mathematical model, grounded in the boundary element method, designed to compute the propagation of multiple fractures, considering both proppant support on the fracture surface and dynamic perturbations within the local stress field. The findings of this research reveal that the stress field induced by hydraulic fracturing exhibits dynamic evolution characteristics, necessitating a comprehensive study of the fracture initiation and extension across the entire fracturing time domain. The effect of the residual fracture width under proppant action on the in situ stress field cannot be ignored. During simultaneous fracturing, hydraulic fractures are inclined to pr... [more]

This study investigated how welding affects the thermal deformation of square cells produced for casks, which are dry storage containers for spent nuclear fuel. We aimed to minimize structural deformation by utilizing STS316L as the material for the square cells. We explored a method of subdividing the square cells and joining them through butt welding. Keeping the upper plate thickness constant, GTA butt welding was conducted while varying the column’s wall thickness, followed by measurement with a laser vision sensor. The heat conduction and thermal strain were then calculated using a finite element analysis (FEM). Both experimental and analytical results confirmed that there was significant thermal deformation in the cases of thick-walled columns due to variations in heat conduction distribution, with the resulting deformation patterns depending on thickness.

In order to improve the accuracy of a solar-powered punch card car’s movement on a designated route and reduce positional deviations during its operation, a solar-powered punch card car with a single cam as the steering guidance mechanism was designed. The car adopts a three-wheel structure. The transmission mechanism, steering mechanism, driving mechanism, and regulating mechanism of the car were analyzed. The kinematics model of the car was established and the motion characteristics of the car were obtained. By analyzing the relationship between the steering angle of the car and the curvature radius of its travel route, the front wheel angle of the car at each position was calculated using MATLAB R2020a. This allowed us to establish the relationship between the front wheel angle and the displacement of the steering push rod, which was further converted into the theoretical contour line of the cam. Subsequently, the theoretical contour line of the cam was completed and envelope correc... [more]

The piston-type accumulator is an energy storage device in hydraulic−pneumatic systems, playing a significant role in industries such as petrochemicals, heavy machinery, and steel metallurgy. The displacement parameters of the piston-type accumulator are vitally important for fault diagnosis and early warning in hydraulic systems. Traditional displacement measurement methods cannot meet the requirements of the internal testing environment of the accumulator. Therefore, this paper proposes an accumulator piston displacement signal compensation method based on rotational factors and support vector regression. Firstly, empirical mode decomposition is utilized to denoise the signal. Then, rotational factors are used to generate a delay compensation module to compensate for the signal attenuation and time delay caused by metallic reflection and scattering within the cylinder of the radar signal. The support vector regression model is improved based on a hash table to enhance its computation... [more]

Red ginseng extract is one of the most widely used herbal medicines to prevent and cure various diseases. Among the processed products derived from red ginseng, the water-insoluble part as red ginseng residual (RGR) becomes waste, even though it contains important ingredients. TEMPO-oxidation (TO) can be used as a pre-treatment with different degrees of oxidation (DO) (0 to 0.4) in red ginseng residual (RGR-TO) by introducing chemical oxidation and high-pressure homogenizer (HPH) as a nanofibrillation process. 1H NMR was used to determine the carbohydrate composition and calculate DO, size was examined using a nanoparticle analyzer, and the zeta potential was used to determine surface charge density. RGR-TO with different concentrations had different compositions; glucose and uronic acid were the main ingredients. All treated RGR-TO showed higher oxidant levels than the untreated counterpart (RGR-TO 0). As the oxidant levels increased, the zeta potential and uronic acid increased, but... [more]

Oil and gas wells represent a unique channel in regard to oil and gas exploration and production [...]

Global population growth requires the use of various natural resources to satisfy the basic needs of humanity. Fossil fuels are mainly used to produce electricity, transportation and the artificial air conditioning of habitats. Nevertheless, countries around the world are looking for alternative energy sources due to the decrease in the availability of these fuels and their high environmental impact. The mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (H2 + CO), commonly called syngas, is a high-value feedstock for various industrial applications. By varying the composition of syngas, especially the H2/CO molar ratio, it can be used to produce methanol, fuels or synthetic natural gas. However, when this ratio is very low, the separation of this gas usually represents a great problem when making the energy balance, which is why it is proposed to adapt a combustion process in chemical cycles, taking advantage of the energy of this gas, reducing the energy impact of the process. During the presen... [more]

This study demonstrates the efficient removal of Alizarin Yellow R anionic dye (AY) from aqueous solutions using green adsorbents. Natural kaolin clay (A1), acid-modified natural clay (A2), chemically treated orange peel (C1) and biochar produced by the thermal treatment of orange peel (C2) were tested for the adsorption of AY. The characteristics of the sorbents were determined by instrumental methods: SEM, EDS, FTIR, BET and TGA. The adsorption experiments were performed under different conditions, including the initial AY dye concentration, adsorbent weight, pH, temperature and contact time. The maximum adsorption capacities had values between 15.72 and 74.62 mg/g at 298 K and the optimal pH of 6.5 at initial concentrations ranging from 30 to 70 mg/L for all adsorbents. The equilibrium data were used for the adsorption isotherm models: Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin. The Freundlich model fit best for the adsorbents A2, C1 and C2, and the Langmuir isotherm had the highest regression... [more]

The optimization of total phenolic compounds (TPC) extraction yield and maximization of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) from coriander leaves were investigated using response surface methodology. The extraction of TPC was carried out using microwave-assisted extraction. A Box-Behnken design was used to study the effects of the three independent variables, solvent concentration (ethanol/water 20−80%), microwave power (100−500 watt) and irradiation time (30−150 s) on the response. A second-order polynomial model was used to predict the reaction. The regression analysis showed that about 99% of the variations could be explained by the models. The predicted values were 50.97 GAE/g dw and 5.75 mg GAE/g dw for TPC and TAC, respectively. The reaction surface analysis showed that the optimum extraction parameters that maximized the extraction of antioxidants yield were 52.62% ethanol, 452.12 watt and 150 s. Under optimal conditions, the experimental values for TPC and TAC were 49.63 ± 0.93 mg... [more]

Efficient and precise colorectal polyp segmentation has significant implications for screening colorectal polyps. Although network variants derived from the Transformer network have high accuracy in segmenting colorectal polyps with complex shapes, they have two main shortcomings: (1) multi-level semantic information at the output of the encoder may result in information loss during the fusion process and (2) failure to adequately suppress background noise during segmentation. To address these challenges, we propose a cross-scale interaction fusion transformer for polyp segmentation (CIFFormer). Firstly, a novel feature supplement module (FSM) supplements the missing details and explores potential features to enhance the feature representations. Additionally, to mitigate the interference of background noise, we designed a cross-scale interactive fusion module (CIFM) that combines feature information between different layers to obtain more multi-scale and discriminative representative f... [more]

Although microalgae exploitation is very promising, process sustainability is undermined by biomass production and harvesting. Among the various bottlenecks of the production process, particular attention should be paid to the water footprint. Indeed, a huge volume of water is required in microalgae production. Water reuse can support both the water footprint and medium cost reduction, saving water and unconverted substrates. The present study reports preliminary results regarding the utilization of a water reuse strategy for two Chlorophyta microalgae under batch conditions. Growth parameters and chlorophyll content are monitored and the optimal amount of reused medium is assessed. The results show that 70% of the medium can be reused with no loss of specific growth rate and chlorophyll fraction for Pseudococcomyxa simplex in three consecutive batch cultivations. By contrast, a significant decline in Chlorella vulgaris growth was observed after the first cultivation in reused medium,... [more]

This paper investigates the heat transfer performance of flow boiling in microchannels under the dual effect of gravity and surface modification through both experimental studies and mechanistic analysis. Utilizing a test bench with microchannels featuring surfaces of varying wettability levels and adjustable flow directions, multiple experiments on R134-a flow boiling heat transfer under the effects of gravity and surface modification were conducted, resulting in 1220 sets of experimental data. The mass flux ranged from 735 kg/m2s to 1271 kg/m2s, and the heating heat flux density ranged from 9 × 103 W/m2 to 46 × 103 W/m2. The experimental results revealed the differences in the influence of different gravity and surface modification conditions on heat transfer performance. It was found that the heat transfer performance of super-hydrophilic surfaces in horizontal flow is optimal and more stable heat transfer performance is observed when gravity is aligned with the flow direction. And... [more]

Fracture network fracturing is pivotal for achieving the economical and efficient development of shale gas, with the connectivity among fracture networks playing a crucial role in reservoir stimulation effectiveness. However, flow back data that reflect fracture network connectivity information are often ignored, resulting in an inaccurate prediction of the effective fracture network volume (EFNV). The accurate calculation of the EFNV has become a key and difficult issue in the field of shale fracturing. For this reason, the accurate shale gas effective fracture network volume inversion method needs to be improved. Based on the flow back characteristics of fracturing fluids, a tree-shaped fractal fracture flow back mathematical model for inversion of EFNV was established and combined with fractal theory. A genetic algorithm workflow suitable for EFNV inversion of shale gas was constructed based on the flow back data after fracturing, and the fracture wells in southern Sichuan were used... [more]

The current research trend is not only focused on advanced techniques to intensify the extraction of bioactive compounds from plants, but also on the optimization process. The objective of this work was the implementation of the multiple criteria analysis using navigation on Pareto sets to determine the optimal parameters for the microwave-assisted extraction of Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch roots in order to obtain the maximum efficiency of the antioxidant potential of the extracts. The optimized parameters were extraction time, microwave power, and plant biomass/solvent ratio, while the evaluation criteria were based on the total phenols, flavonoids, reducing sugars, and antioxidant capacity. It was shown that the process parameters analyzed, i.e., biomass/solvent ratio, process time, and microwave power, determined the extraction efficiency of total phenolic content (TPC). A different observation was made for the analysis of total flavonoid content (TFC) and total antioxidant poten... [more]

Granulation is an important class of production processes in food, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. In urea fertilizer manufacturing, fluidized beds are often used for the granulation system. However, the granulation processes release ammonia to the environment. Ammonia gas can contribute to eutrophication, which is an oversupply of nitrogen and acidification to the ecosystems. Eutrophication may cause major disruptions of aquatic ecosystems. It is estimated that global ammonia emissions from urea fertilizer processes are approximately at 10 to 12 Tg N/year, which represents 23% of overall ammonia released globally. Therefore, accurate modeling of the ammonia emission by the urea fertilizer fluidized bed granulation system is important. It allows for the system to be operated efficiently and within sustainable condition. This research attempts to optimize the model of the system using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The model takes pressure (Mpa),... [more]

The expansion of renewable electricity storage technologies, including green hydrogen storage, is spurred by the need to address the high costs associated with hydrogen storage and the imperative to increase storage capacity. The initial section of the paper examines the intricacies of storing electricity generated from renewable sources, particularly during peak periods, through green hydrogen. Two primary challenges arise: firstly, the complexity inherent in the storage technology and its adaptation for electricity reproduction; and secondly, the cost implications throughout the technological chain, resulting in a significant increase in the price of the reproduced energy. Electric energy storage emerges as a pivotal solution to accommodate the growing proportion of renewable energy within contemporary energy systems, which were previously characterized by high stability. During the transition to renewable-based energy systems, optimizing energy storage technology to manage power flu... [more]

Pollen transmission of Camellia oleifera is affected by climate and environment, and the quality of natural pollination is not high, which seriously affects the yield of Camellia oleifera. Artificial pollination is an effective way to solve the low fruit setting rate of natural pollination, but the problem to be solved urgently in artificial pollination is the collection of a large amount of pollen. At present, there is no mechanized equipment for Camellia oleifera flower bud collection, so developing an efficient pollen collection device has become a key problem that restricts the high-quality development of Camellia oleifera. In this paper, on the basis of measuring the tensile force, the shearing force, and the torsional moment required to remove Camellia Oleifera flower bud from the branch, which are 8.968 N, 13.94 N, and 0.0178 N·m, respectively, three types of Camellia oleifera flower bud collecting actuators were designed. According to the results of parameter design, feasibilit... [more]

To realize the utilization of peanut shell, this study investigates the combustion behavior, chemical kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of peanut shell using TGA under atmospheric air at the heating rates of 10, 20, and 30 K/min. Results indicate that increasing the heating rate leads to higher ignition, burnout, and peak temperatures, as observed in the TG/DTG curves shifting to the right. Analysis of combustion performance parameters suggest that higher heating rates can enhance combustion performances. Kinetic analysis using two model-free methods, KAS and FWO, shows that the activation energy (Eα) ranges from 93.30 to 109.65 kJ/mol for FWO and 89.72 to 103.88 kJ/mol for KAS. The data fit well with coefficient of determination values (R2) close to 1 and the mean squared error values (MSE) less than 0.006. Pre-exponential factors using FWO range from 2.19 × 106 to 8.08 × 107 s−1, and for KAS range from 9.72 × 105 to 2.25 × 107 s−1. Thermodynamic analysis indicates a low-energy ba... [more]

Silicon represents one of the most attractive anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its highest theoretical specific capacity. Thus, there is a most urgent need to prepare Si-based nano materials in a very efficient way and develop some reasonable approaches for their modification in order to resolve the short-falls of Si anodes, which include both low conductivity and huge volume changes during intercalation of lithium ions. In this work, the kerf loss silicon (KL Si) from the photovoltaic industry has been used as an inexpensive Si source for the preparation of a porous silicon/silver/carbon composite (pSi/Ag@C) as an anode material. Porous silicon was embedded with Ag particles via the Ag-catalyzed chemical etching process, providing additional space to accommodate the large volume expansion of silicon. After carbon coating from polymerization of tannic acid on the surface of pSi/Ag, a high-speed conductive network over the surface of silicon was built and contribut... [more]

From grape cultivation to ripening and harvest timing to processing, each step of the winemaking process can be a critical point when it comes to wine quality and phenolic composition. In this study, the influence of winemaking technology on resveratrol and quercetin content, as well as other polyphenolic compounds, was investigated. Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenolic stilbene synthesized by grape skin when damaged by infectious diseases or ionizing radiation. Quercetin is a phenol found in grape skins and stems and is produced to protect grapes from UV light damage. Trans-resveratrol and quercetin are known to act as antioxidants, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes, inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and prevent the release of allergic and inflammatory molecules. However, the question was whether red wine could be enriched with these phenols using a co-inoculation winemaking technology. The main new idea was to completely replace the cold maceration proce... [more]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) miscible fracturing huff-and-puff technology now plays a pivotal role in enhancing crude oil recovery rates, particularly in reservoirs with challenging physical properties, strong water sensitivity, high injection pressure, and complex water-injection dynamics. In this study, the oil-increasing mechanism and huff-and-puff effect of CO2 miscible fracturing fluid are investigated through a comprehensive experimental approach. Specifically, experiments on PVT gas injection expansion, minimum miscible pressure, and CO2 miscible fracturing fluid huff and puff are conducted on the G fault block reservoir of the J Oilfield. The experimental findings demonstrate that injecting CO2 into reservoirs leads to an expansion in oil volume, a reduction in viscosity, and an increase in saturation pressure. Crude oil extraction is further enhanced by the addition of solubilizers and viscosity reducers. The use of solubilizers not only increases oil recovery rates but also reduces t... [more]

This study examines the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in 160 nut samples, both shelled and unshelled (including pistachios, peanuts, and walnuts), from the Lebanese market, focusing on their fungal contamination and specific toxigenic strains. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), known for its potent carcinogenic and immunosuppressive properties, was detected in various samples. Moisture content analysis showed that unshelled nuts often exceeded maximum moisture limits more frequently than shelled nuts, with levels ranging from 1.9 to 9.5%. The predominant fungal genus identified through cultivation on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates was Aspergillus. In total, 55% of samples were contaminated with A. flavus and 45% with A. niger. All toxigenic strains isolated were identified as Aspergillus flavus. The aflatoxins, particularly AFB1, were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), revealing contamination in... [more]