Sluggish transfer kinetics caused by solid–solid contact at the lithium (Li)/solid-state electrolyte (SE) interface is an inherent drawback of all-solid-state Li metal batteries (ASSLMBs) that not only limits the cell power density but also induces uneven Li deposition as well as high levels of interfacial stress that deteriorates the internal structure and cycling stability of ASSLMBs. Herein, a fast Li⁺ transfer scaffold is proposed to overcome the sluggish kinetics at the Li/SE interface in ASSLMBs using an α-MnO₂-decorated carbon paper (CP) structure (α-MnO₂@CP). At an atomic scale, the tunnel structure of α-MnO₂ exhibits a great ability to facilitate Li⁺ adsorption and transportation across the inter-structure of α-MnO₂@CP, leading to a high critical current density of 3.95 mA cm⁻² at the Li/SE interface. Meanwhile, uniform Li deposition can be guided along the skeletons of α-MnO₂@CP with minimized volume expansion, significantly improving the structural stability of the Li/SE interface. Based on these advantages, the ASSLMBs using α-MnO₂@CP protected the Li anode and can stably cycle up to very high charge/discharge rates of 10C/10C, paving the way for developing high-power ASSLMBs. Full article

Stressful life events (SLEs) and suicidal ideation (SI) are prevalent in persons with major depression disorder (MDD). Less is known about the underlying role of insomnia symptoms in the association between SLEs and SI. This three-wave prospective cohort study sought to investigate the longitudinal association among SLEs, insomnia symptoms, and SI in persons with MDD. The study population included 511 persons with MDD (mean [SD] age, 28.7 [6.7] years; 67.1% were females). Generalized estimated equations (GEEs) were utilized to explore prospective association among exposure of SLEs, insomnia symptoms, and SI. Additionally, a structural equation model (SEM) was employed to estimate the longitudinal mediating effect of insomnia symptoms in the relationship between SLEs and SI. Our study demonstrated that cumulative SLEs were determined to be longitudinally associated with SI in persons with MDD. We further observed that the association between SLEs and SI was significantly mediated by insomnia symptoms. Clinicians assessing persons with MDD, especially those with the history of SLE, could carefully evaluate and promptly treat insomnia symptoms as part of personalized assessment of their depressive illness, thereby achieving early prevention and intervention for suicidal behaviors in persons with MDD. Full article

The nutrition of preterm infants remains contaminated by wrong beliefs that reflect inexactitudes and perpetuate old practices. In this narrative review, we report current evidence in preterm neonates and in preterm neonates undergoing surgery. Convictions that necrotizing enterocolitis is reduced by the delay in introducing enteral feeding, a slow advancement in enteral feeds, and the systematic control of residual gastric volumes, should be abandoned. On the contrary, these practices prolong the time to reach full enteral feeding. The length of parenteral nutrition should be as short as possible to reduce the infectious risk. Intrauterine growth restriction, hemodynamic and respiratory instability, and patent ductus arteriosus should be considered in advancing enteral feeds, but they must not translate into prolonged fasting, which can be equally dangerous. Clinicians should also keep in mind the risk of refeeding syndrome in case of high amino acid intake and inadequate electrolyte supply, closely monitoring them. Conversely, when preterm infants undergo surgery, nutritional strategies are still based on retrospective studies and opinions rather than on randomized controlled trials. Finally, this review also highlights how the use of adequately fortified human milk is strongly recommended, as it offers unique benefits for immune and gastrointestinal health and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Full article

In recent years, a series of recommendations have been issued regarding the administration of drugs because of awareness of the serious side effects associated with certain classes of drugs, especially in vulnerable patients. Taking into account the obligation of the continuous improvement of professionals in the medical fields and the fact that we are in the midst of a “malpractice accusations pandemic”, through this work, we propose to carry out a “radiography” of the scientific literature regarding adverse effects that may occur as a result of the interaction of drugs with the physiopathological particularities of patients. The literature reports various cases regarding different classes of drugs administration associated with adverse effects in the elderly people, such as fluoroquinolones, which can cause torsade de pointes or tendinopathy, or diuretics, which can cause hypokalemia followed by torsade de pointes and cardiorespiratory arrest. Also, children are more prone to the development of adverse reactions due to their physiological particularities, while for pregnant women, some drugs can interfere with the normal development of the fetus, and for psychiatric patients, the use of neuroleptics can cause agranulocytosis. Considering the physiopathological particularities of each patient, the drug doses must be adjusted or even completely removed from the treatment scheme, thus requiring the mandatory active participation both of clinician pharmacists and specialists in the activity of medical-pharmaceutical analysis laboratories within the structure of hospitals. Full article

This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of functional substances and explored their biological activities using colorimetric and chromatographic techniques to identify high-value materials from 14 species of forest plants native to Korea. Comparative analysis between plant species included calculating the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemical compounds caffeic acid (1), p-coumaric acid (2), and quercetin (3) using HPLC, and antioxidant activity tests (DPPH and ABTS⁺) and menopausal symptom relief tests (E-screen assay) to investigate their biological activities. The results highlighted Cercidiphyllum japonicum (FR 4), Aruncus dioicus (FR 6), and Pseudocydonia sinensis (FR 8) as excellent forest plant resource materials among the 14 forest plant resources. Notably, FR 4 exhibited significant activity in the E-screen assay. On the basis of these findings, we propose the use of FR 4 as a valuable material. Further analysis identified the phytochemical compounds maltol (4), chlorogenic acid (5), ellagic acid (6), and quercitrin (7) in FR 4 and analyzed their biological activities. Compounds 2–6 found in FR 4 were confirmed to possess strong antioxidant activity, and an E-screen assay revealed an excellent cell proliferation rate for quercitrin (7). This suggests that quercitrin (7) in FR 4 may be a significant indicator of the alleviation of menopausal symptoms. Full article

Photocatalysis technology is an economical and effective new energy technology which depends on the conversion and storage of light energy through an energy transfer process or charge transfer process. Recently, organic semiconductor photocatalytic materials with the advantages of controllable structure, broad spectral response, designability, and flexibility have received wide attention. In particular, the organic polymeric materials containing poly-perylene diimides (PDI) show significant promise in the realm of photocatalysis due to their impressive catalytic capabilities and wide spectral reactivity. However, a poor charge separation and transportation (CST) process undermines their photocatalytic efficiency in most polymer photocatalysts, as well as in PDI photocatalysts. In this context, we propose a new strategy through regulating the monomer symmetry to construct highly efficient PDI photocatalysts. As proof-of-concept, a series of new PDI-based organic supramolecular photocatalytic materials with full visible spectral response from the perspectives of both the π-π conjugated structure and the symmetry of chain structure are successfully synthesized. Meanwhile, the structural compositions, morphology features, electrical properties, and photocatalytic performances of those obtained PDI photocatalysts were systematically studied. The results shown that the as-prepared PDI-1,5NDA exhibits 1.6-fold and 3.7-fold higher levels of photosynthesis of H₂O₂ activity than those of PDI-1,4NDA and PDI-PDA, respectively, which could be ascribe to its lower symmetry and large π-conjugate systems greatly enhances the separation of charge carriers. Full article

Maternal obesity is a well-established risk factor for offspring obesity development. The relationship between maternal and offspring obesity is mediated in part by developmental programming of offspring metabolic circuitry, including hypothalamic signaling. Dysregulated hypothalamic inflammation has also been linked to development of obesity. We utilized an established C57Bl/6J mouse model of high-fat, high-sugar diet induced maternal obesity to evaluate the effect of maternal obesity on systemic and hypothalamic TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in neonatal and adult offspring. The offspring of dams with obesity demonstrated increased adiposity and decreased activity compared to control offspring. Maternal obesity was associated with decreased plasma TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in adult female offspring and decreased plasma IL-6 in neonatal male offspring. Neonatal female offspring of obese dams had decreased TNF-α gene expression in the hypothalamus compared to control females, while neonatal and adult male offspring of obese dams had decreased IL-6 gene expression in the hypothalamus compared to control males. In summary, our results highlight important sex differences in the inflammatory phenotype of offspring exposed to maternal obesity. Sex-specific immunomodulatory mechanisms should be considered in future efforts to develop therapeutic interventions for obesity prevention and treatment. Full article

Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins, comprising a family of over 100 members with conserved motifs, exhibit diverse biological functions. Several TRIM proteins influence viral infections through direct antiviral mechanisms or by regulating host antiviral innate immune responses. To identify TRIM proteins modulating hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, we assessed 45 human TRIMs in HBV-transfected HepG2 cells. Our study revealed that ectopic expression of 12 TRIM proteins significantly reduced HBV RNA and subsequent capsid-associated DNA levels. Notably, TRIM65 uniquely downregulated viral pregenomic (pg) RNA in an HBV-promoter-specific manner, suggesting a targeted antiviral effect. Mechanistically, TRIM65 inhibited HBV replication primarily at the transcriptional level via its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and intact B-box domain. Though HNF4α emerged as a potential TRIM65 substrate, disrupting its binding site on the HBV genome did not completely abolish TRIM65’s antiviral effect. In addition, neither HBx expression nor cellular MAVS signaling was essential to TRIM65-mediated regulation of HBV transcription. Furthermore, CRISPR-mediated knock-out of TRIM65 in the HepG2-NTCP cells boosted HBV infection, validating its endogenous role. These findings underscore TRIM proteins’ capacity to inhibit HBV transcription and highlight TRIM65’s pivotal role in this process. Full article

Although traditional fault diagnosis methods are proficient in extracting signal features, their diagnostic interpretability remains challenging. Consequently, this article proposes a conditionally interpretable generative adversarial network (C-InGAN) model for the interpretable feature fault diagnosis of bearings. Initially, the vibration signal is denoised and transformed into a frequency domain signal. The model consists of the two primary networks, each employing a convolutional layer and an attention module, generator (G) and discriminator (D), respectively. Latent code was incorporated into G to constrain the generated samples, and a discriminant layer was added to D to identify the interpretable features. During training, the two networks were alternately trained, and the feature mapping relationship of the pre-normalized encoder was learned by maximizing the information from the latent code and the discriminative result. The encoding that represents specific features in the vibration signal was extracted from the random noise. Ultimately, after completing adversarial learning, G is capable of generating a simulated signal of the specified feature, and D can assess the interpretable features in the vibration signal. The effectiveness of the model is validated through three typical experimental cases. This method effectively separates the discrete and continuous feature coding in the signal. Full article

Muscular atrophy is a complex catabolic condition that develops due to several inflammatory-related disorders, resulting in muscle loss. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is believed to be one of the leading factors that drive inflammatory response and its progression. Until now, the link between inflammation and muscle wasting has been thoroughly investigated, and the non-coding RNA machinery is a potential connection between the candidates. This study aimed to identify specific miRNAs for muscular atrophy induced by TNF-α in the C2C12 murine myotube model. The difference in expression of fourteen known miRNAs and two newly identified miRNAs was recorded by next-generation sequencing between normal muscle cells and treated myotubes. After validation, we confirmed the difference in the expression of one novel murine miRNA (nov-mmu-miRNA-1) under different TNF-α-inducing conditions. Functional bioinformatic analyses of nov-mmu-miRNA-1 revealed the potential association with inflammation and muscle atrophy. Our results suggest that nov-mmu-miRNA-1 may trigger inflammation and muscle wasting by the downregulation of LIN28A/B, an anti-inflammatory factor in the let-7 family. Therefore, TNF-α is involved in muscle atrophy through the modulation of the miRNA cellular machinery. Here, we describe for the first time and propose a mechanism for the newly discovered miRNA, nov-mmu-miRNA-1, which may regulate inflammation and promote muscle atrophy. Full article

This study aimed to streamline the determination of chlorophyll content in Cunninghamia lanceolate while achieving precise measurements of canopy chlorophyll content. Relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) in the Cunninghamia lanceolate canopy were assessed in the study area using the SPAD-502 portable chlorophyll meter, alongside spectral data collected via onboard multispectral imaging. And based on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral collection of spectral values in the study area, 21 vegetation indices with significant correlation with Cunninghamia lanceolata canopy SPAD (CCS) were constructed as independent variables of the model’s various regression techniques, including partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forests (RF), and backpropagation neural networks (BPNN), which were employed to develop a SPAD inversion model. The BPNN-based model emerged as the best choice, exhibiting test dataset coefficients of determination (R²) at 0.812, root mean square error (RSME) at 2.607, and relative percent difference (RPD) at 1.942. While the model demonstrated consistent accuracy across different slope locations, generalization was lower for varying slope directions. By creating separate models for different slope directions, R² went up to about 0.8, showcasing favorable terrain applicability. Therefore, constructing inverse models with different slope directions samples separately can estimate CCS more accurately. Full article

Over the last decade, dual active bridge (DAB) converters have become critical components in high-frequency power conversion systems. Recently, intensive efforts have been directed at optimizing DAB converter design and control. In particular, several strategies have been proposed to improve the performance of DAB control systems. For example, fractional-order (FO) control methods have proven potential in several applications since they offer improved controllability, flexibility, and robustness. However, the FO controller design process is critical for industrializing their use. Conventional FO control design methods use frequency domain-based design schemes, which result in complex and impractical designs. In addition, several nonlinear equations need to be solved to determine the optimum parameters. Currently, metaheuristic algorithms are used to design FO controllers due to their effectiveness in improving system performance and their ability to simultaneously tune possible design parameters. Moreover, metaheuristic algorithms do not require precise and detailed knowledge of the controlled system model. In this paper, a hybrid algorithm based on the chaotic artificial ecosystem-based optimization (AEO) and manta-ray foraging optimization (MRFO) algorithms is proposed with the aim of combining the best features of each. Unlike the conventional MRFO method, the newly proposed hybrid AEO-CMRFO algorithm enables the use of chaotic maps and weighting factors. Moreover, the AEO and CMRFO hybridization process enables better convergence performance and the avoidance of local optima. Therefore, superior FO controller performance was achieved compared to traditional control design methods and other studied metaheuristic algorithms. An exhaustive study is provided, and the proposed control method was compared with traditional control methods to verify its advantages and superiority. Full article

In most silent speech research, continuously observing tongue movements is crucial, thus requiring the use of ultrasound to extract tongue contours. Precisely and in real-time extracting ultrasonic tongue contours presents a major challenge. To tackle this challenge, the novel end-to-end lightweight network DAFT-Net is introduced for ultrasonic tongue contour extraction. Integrating the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) and Attention Gate (AG) module with entropy-based optimization strategies, DAFT-Net establishes a comprehensive attention mechanism with dual functionality. This innovative approach enhances feature representation by replacing traditional skip connection architecture, thus leveraging entropy and information-theoretic measures to ensure efficient and precise feature selection. Additionally, the U-Net’s encoder and decoder layers have been streamlined to reduce computational demands. This process is further supported by information theory, thus guiding the reduction without compromising the network’s ability to capture and utilize critical information. Ablation studies confirm the efficacy of the integrated attention module and its components. The comparative analysis of the NS, TGU, and TIMIT datasets shows that DAFT-Net efficiently extracts relevant features, and it significantly reduces extraction time. These findings demonstrate the practical advantages of applying entropy and information theory principles. This approach improves the performance of medical image segmentation networks, thus paving the way for real-world applications. Full article

The onset of puberty, which is under the control of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, is influenced by various factors, including obesity, which has been associated with the earlier onset of puberty. Obesity-induced hypothalamic inflammation may cause premature activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, resulting in the development of precocious or early puberty. Mechanisms involving phoenixin action and hypothalamic microglial cells are implicated. Furthermore, obesity induces structural and cellular brain alterations, disrupting metabolic regulation. Imaging studies reveal neuroinflammatory changes in obese individuals, impacting pubertal timing. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy enables the assessment of the brain’s neurochemical composition by measuring key metabolites, highlighting potential pathways involved in neurological changes associated with obesity. In this article, we present evidence indicating a potential association among obesity, hypothalamic inflammation, and precocious puberty. Full article

Purpose: The post-pandemic management of COVID-19 infections and any emergent outbreaks is because this endemic disease remains a public health concern. Vaccine hesitancy may continue to hamper efforts to respond to any new disease outbreaks and future epidemics. This qualitative study aimed to explore the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in Kenya to gain deeper insights into this issue. Methods: This study was implemented in western Kenya using key informant interviews. Fourteen (14) key informants were purposively selected for this study. All interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The interpretation of findings was conducted within the framework of the Health Belief Model. Key findings: Knowledge was a critical factor in combatting misinformation and fostering vaccine acceptance among participants in this study. Misinformation included rumors that the vaccine lowers immunity and was intended for population control. Cues to action included influence from political and opinion leaders and observing the loss of life among unvaccinated individuals. Perceived barriers to vaccine uptake included fear of vaccine safety, side effects, long waiting times at the time of our study, fear of contracting COVID-19 at vaccination sites, family/spousal influence on vaccine uptake and fear of the unknown with the vaccine. Conclusions: The findings from this study provide insight into areas for targeted strategies for managing COVID-19 vaccinations and future pandemics. Within the framework of the Health Belief Model, this study identified salient barriers and facilitators of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy that may be helpful to inform future pandemic responses. Full article

Zinc is essential for animals, playing a vital role in enzyme systems and various biochemical reactions. It is crucial to ensure a sufficient intake of zinc through the diet to maintain efficient homeostasis. Only few studies on zinc effect in cow lactating diet evaluated the effects on milk and cheese quality, with conflicting findings. 24 cows of the Friesian breed were divided into two groups (CTR: control and TRT: treated group). Cows were selected for age, body weight, parity and phase of lactations (mid lactation, 140–160 days). CTR diet contained 38 mg/kg of Zn and TRT diet was supplied with 120 mg/kg of complete feed for 60 days. The objective of current investigation was to evaluate the impact of a dietary Zinc Oxide (ZnO) integration of lactating Friesian cows on chemical composition, zinc content, fatty acid and proteic profile, ammine content, pH, a_w, texture, and sensory profile of cheese and to improve the chemical-nutritional quality of milk and cheese. The results showed that ZnO supplementation reduced mesophilic aerobic bacteria and Presumptive Pseudomonas spp. growth, proteolysis, biogenic amines content, lipid oxidation, odour intensity and sour and increased hardness, gumminess, chewiness, elasticity of cheese. Biogenic amines are considered an important aspect of food safety. ZnO integration in cow diet could represent a promising strategy for improving the quality, the safety and shelf-life of caciotta cheese. Full article

The demand for fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) has significantly increased in various industries due to their attributes, including low weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and cost-efficiency. Nevertheless, FRPs, such as glass and Kevlar fiber composites, exhibit anisotropic properties and relatively low interlaminar strength, rendering them susceptible to undetected damage. The integration of real-time damage detection processes can effectively mitigate this issue. This paper introduces a novel method for fabricating embedded capacitive sensors within FRPs using a coating technique. The study encompasses two types of fibers, namely glass and Kevlar fiber/epoxy composites. The physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique is employed to coat bundle fibers with conductive material, thus creating embedded electrodes. The results demonstrate the uniform distribution of nanoparticles of gold (Au) along the fibers using PVD, resulting in a favorable resistance of approximately ≈100 Ω. Two sensor configurations are explored: axial and lateral embedding of the coated yarn (electrodes) to investigate the influence of load direction on the coating yarn. Axial-sensor configuration specimens undergo tensile testing, showcasing a linear response to axial loads with average sensitivities of 1 for glass and 1.5 for Kevlar fiber/epoxy composites. Additionally, onset damage is detected in both types of fiber composites, occurring before final fracture, with average stress at the turning point measuring 208 MPa for glass and 144 MPa for Kevlar. The lateral-sensor configuration for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) exhibits good linearity towards strain until failure, with average gauge factors of 0.25 and −2.44 in the x and y axes, respectively. Full article

The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines depends on widespread vaccine uptake. Employing a telephone-administered weighted survey with 19,502 participants, we examined the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adults in Texas. We used multiple regression analysis with LASSO-selected variables to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and intentions to receive the vaccine among the unvaccinated. The prevalence of unvaccinated individuals (22%) was higher among those aged 18–39, males, White respondents, English speakers, uninsured individuals, those facing financial challenges, and individuals expressing no concern about contracting the illness. In a fully adjusted regression model, higher odds of being unvaccinated were observed among males (aOR 1.11), the uninsured (aOR 1.38), smokers (aOR 1.56), and those facing financial struggles (aOR 1.62). Conversely, Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics were less likely to be unvaccinated compared to Whites. Among the unvaccinated, factors associated with stronger intent to receive the vaccine included age (over 65 years), Black and Hispanic ethnicity, and perceived risk of infection. Hispanic individuals, the uninsured, those covered by public insurance, and those facing financial challenges were more likely to encounter barriers to vaccine receipt. These findings underscore the importance of devising tailored strategies, emphasizing nuanced approaches that account for demographic, socioeconomic, and attitudinal factors in vaccine distribution and public health interventions. Full article

Deficits in theory of mind (ToM), known as the ability to understand the other’s mind, have been associated with several psychopathological outcomes. The present systematic review aims to summarize the results of genetic studies that investigated gene polymorphisms associated with mentalization performance tasks in children and adults. The systematic review was carried out following PRISMA guidelines, and the literature search was conducted in PubMed and EBSCOhost using the following keywords: ‘theory of mind, mentalizing, mindreading’ and ‘gene, genetic basis’. Nineteen studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Most of the literature focused on the role of DRD4, DAT1, OXTR, OXT, COMT, ZNF804A, AVP, AVPR, SCL6A4, EFHC2, MAO-A, and the family of GTF2I genes in influencing ToM. However, controversial results emerged in sustaining the link between specific genetic polymorphisms and mentalization abilities in children and adults. Available data show heterogeneous outcomes, with studies reporting an association between the same family genes in subjects of the same age and other studies reporting no correlation. This does not allow us to draw any solid conclusions but paves the way for exploring genes involved in ToM tasks. Full article

This study extensively analyzed the bacterial information of biofilms and activated sludge in oxic reactors of full-scale moving bed biofilm reactor-integrated fixed-film activated sludge (MBBR-IFAS) systems. The bacterial communities of biofilms and activated sludge differed statistically (R = 0.624, p < 0.01). The denitrifying genera Ignavibacterium, Phaeodactylibacter, Terrimonas, and Arcobacter were more abundant in activated sludge (p < 0.05), while comammox Nitrospira was more abundant in biofilms (p < 0.05), with an average relative abundance of 8.13%. Nitrospira and Nitrosomonas had weak co-occurrence relationships with other genera in the MBBR-IFAS systems. Potential function analysis revealed no differences in pathways at levels 1 and 2 based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) between biofilms and activated sludge. However, in terms of pathways at level 3, biofilms had more potential in 26 pathways, including various organic biodegradation and membrane and signal transportation pathways. In comparison, activated sludge had more potential in only five pathways, including glycan biosynthesis and metabolism. With respect to nitrogen metabolism, biofilms had greater potential for nitrification (ammonia oxidation) (M00528), and complete nitrification (comammox) (M00804) concretely accounted for methane/ammonia monooxygenase (K10944, K10945, and K10946) and hydroxylamine dehydrogenase (K10535). This study provides a theoretical basis for MBBR-IFAS systems from the perspective of microorganisms. Full article

The problem of large stockpiles of red mud needs to be solved, and the use of red mud to prepare inorganic fibers is a new way of applying red mud on a large scale. The role of CaO/Al₂O₃ in the melting point and melt structure of red mud was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations and thermodynamic calculations. Liquid phase line temperatures for different CaO/Al₂O₃ systems were calculated using the Factsage program. The radial distribution function and the type of oxygen bonding were used to characterize the effect of different CaO/Al₂O₃ on the structure of the red mud melt. The melting point of MgAl₂O₄ is lower than that of CaTiO₃ due to the fact that the type of oxygen bonding in MgAl₂O₄ is predominantly bridging oxygen bonds. When the red mud system has a low SiO₂ content and CaO/Al₂O₃ is between 0.3 and 3.9, the melting point temperature increases significantly, which is not conducive to the fibrillation of the red mud melt. Full article

Indirect evaporative coolers (IECs) for air conditioning rely on liquid water being sprayed into the exhaust stream of used air to induce evaporation and cool down the incoming stream of fresh air in an indirect heat exchanger. This paper describes a computational fluid dynamics analysis that makes use of the particle transport model to simulate the evaporation of the water droplets at the exhaust side of an IEC using a pre-implemented spray dryer model. Critical parameters include the average size of the droplets and the amount of water sprayed into the system. In addition to droplet evaporation, the evaporation of water from the wet wall on the exhaust side is accounted for. The results show the calculated temperature field in both air streams, the pressure distribution, the relative humidity distribution at the exhaust side and the particle tracks. The predicted wet bulb efficiency of around 30–35% is moderate but in agreement with the literature to date, and it can be attributed to the small heat exchanger size. A parametric study investigated the effect of the droplet size and mass flow rate. At an average size of 50 microns and below, the effect of the mass flow rate is quite strong, while at a higher droplet size the mass flow effect is small. Overall, the model can be used to shed fundamental understanding in order to increase the performance of the IEC while maintaining its compactness. Full article