Artiles
Article
26 July 2024Current and Future Costs of Storage for Electricity in a Decarbonized Electricity System
As power systems globally are transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources, integrating energy storage becomes imperative to balance variable renewable electricity generation. The core objective of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive cost assessment of selected energy storage technologies from 2023 to 2050, focusing on the Austrian electricity market. Our method combines techno-economic assessment with the technological learning method to integrate various storage technologies into a renewable electricity system, using scenarios that account for decarbonization goals. Results indicate that pumped storage hydro exhibits none or negative learning effects, while lithium-ion batteries demonstrate significant investment cost decreases. Despite investment cost reductions, underground hydrogen storage continues to incur high total costs per kWh discharged due to low roundtrip efficiency, suggesting its future outlook depends on seasonal storage needs in fossil-free power systems. An important finding of this analysis underscores the importance of optimizing the ratio of electricity demand, renewable generation expansion and storage deployment for cost-effectiveness. Excessive storage deployment leads to lower utilization and higher costs, emphasizing the necessity of at least 1500 full-load hours for profitable operation across all storage systems. Strategic planning for optimal storage deployment is emphasized to optimize utilization and minimize costs.
Communication
26 July 2024The Project of Constructive Anthropology in Russian Empiriocriticism
The article analyzes the main provisions of constructive anthropology developed in Russian empirio-criticism in the first quarter of the 20th century. The justification of non-metaphysical philosophy, which developed the “problematic” approach to cognition, made the new understanding of man possible. From this point of view, the essence of man is not a metaphysical constant, but is modeled on the basis of an appropriate organization of experience; the essence of man is determined by his existence and is constantly changing; the essence of man can be consciously adapted by directing his development and giving him the necessary characteristics; man as an essence is always man’s project, or scientific and philosophical concept; only by understanding man as a dynamic project can we justify free will and man’s capacity for creation. The project of constructive anthropology is fundamentally different from the philosophical anthropology developed in Germany in the 20th century by Max Scheler and Helmuth Plessner, since the latter is essentially an attempt to preserve the traditional metaphysical interpretation of man.
Article
25 July 2024A Distributed Framework for Persistent Wildfire Monitoring with Fixed Wing UAVs
Wildfires have proven to be a significantly exigent issue over the past decades. An increasing amount of research has recently been focused on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and multi-UAV systems for wildfire monitoring. This work focuses on the development of a decentralized framework for the purpose of monitoring active wildfires and their surrounding areas with fixed wing UAVs. It proposes a distributed fire data update methodology, a new formation algorithm based on virtual forces, fine-tuned by a Genetic Algorithm (GA), to arrange virtual agents into the monitoring area, and a control strategy to safely and efficiently guide fixed wing UAVs to loiter over the structured virtual agents. The system is tested in Software In The Loop (SITL) simulation with up to eight UAVs. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in monitoring the fire in a persistent manner and providing updated situational awareness data. The experiments show that the proposed framework is able to achieve and maintain coverage up to 100% over the area of interest, and very accurate fire representation. However, the performance is decreased for the experiments with low UAV numbers and large fire sizes.
Article
22 July 2024Aging-Associated Molecular Changes in Human Alveolar Type I Cells
Human alveolar type I (AT1) cells are specialized epithelial cells that line the alveoli in the lungs where gas exchange occurs. The primary function of AT1 cells is not only to facilitate efficient gas exchange between the air and the blood in the lungs, but also to contribute to the structural integrity of the alveoli to maintain lung function and homeostasis. Aging has notable effects on the structure, function, and regenerative capacity of human AT1 cells. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving these age-related changes in AT1 cells remains limited. Leveraging a recent single-cell transcriptomics dataset we generated on healthy human lungs, we identified a series of significant molecular alterations in AT1 cells from aged lungs. Notably, the aged AT1 cells exhibited increased cellular senescence and chemokine gene expression, alongside diminished epithelial features such as decreases in cell junctions, endocytosis, and pulmonary matrisome gene expression. Gene set analyses also indicated that aged AT1 cells were resistant to apoptosis, a crucial mechanism for turnover and renewal of AT1 cells, thereby ensuring alveolar integrity and function. Further research on these alterations is imperative to fully elucidate the impact on AT1 cells and is indispensable for developing effective therapies to preserve lung function and promote healthy aging.
Review
19 July 2024Solid Additives to Increase the Service Life of Ceramic Cutting Tool: Methodology and Mechanism
With the development of the manufacturing industry, there is an increasing demand for high-efficiency processing, high-precision processing, and high-temperature processing. The characteristics of ceramic tools, such as high hardness and wear resistance, make them suitable for high-precision processing. Additionally, their excellent high temperature resistance perfectly meets the requirements of high temperature processing. However, ceramic tools have a relatively low strength and are prone to breakage, which limits their application in some high-strength machining fields. Their low toughness and brittleness also lead to easy cracking and reduced tool life, resulting in frequent tool changes that further limit processing efficiency. Therefore, improving the service life of ceramic tool materials is crucial to enhance processing efficiency and achieve significant economic benefits. With the development of material science, solid additives with toughening and strengthening properties have greatly improved the performance of ceramic tool materials and given ceramic tools new life-enhancing properties, such as lubrication and repair. By utilizing the combined action of one or more solid additives and employing surface coating technology, the service life of ceramic cutting tools is significantly extended. This makes the application of ceramic tools in industrial cutting more and more widely, and the demand is also growing rapidly. However, the mechanism and methods of various solid additives to increase the life of ceramic tool materials have not been systematically reviewed. The analysis of the composition and functional properties of ceramic tool materials was used as a basis to summarize the mechanism by which various solid additives improve the service life of ceramic tool materials, and to provide points for attention in their use. The aim is to assist researchers in designing and preparing new ceramic tool materials that can meet processing requirements. Finally, the research status, challenges, and prospects of enhancing the service life of ceramic cutting tools with solid additives are summarized, providing a foundation for further research.
Perspective
19 July 2024Disentangling Human Nature: Environment, Evolution and Our Existential Predicament
Throughout our entire evolutionary history, the physical environment has played a significant role in shaping humans’ subsistence adaptations. As early humans began to colonise novel biomes and construct ecological niches, their behavioural flexibility appeared as an unquestionable fact. During the Late Pleistocene-Holocene transition, the shift from foraging to farming radically altered ecosystem services, resulting in increased exposure to zoonotic pathogens and the emergence of structural inequalities that pervade our current human condition in the Anthropocene epoch. The article seeks to use an anthropological biosocial analysis to explore the diverse evolutionary paths humans have taken, which in turn shape their relationships with the natural world. Given the enigmatic nature of human behavior, it is essential to examine it holistically to understand how different subsistence patterns (e.g., intensive agriculture, foraging, and horticulture) have influenced resilience and adaptation to environmental challenges.
Review
16 July 2024Mitochondrial Damage and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition as Major Triggers of the Development of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a type of interstitial pneumonia with an unknown cause that progresses gradually, primarily affecting the elderly. The presence of fibrosis has significant implications for individuals with reduced lung compliance, resulting in decreased quality of life and limited survival. Although the exact mechanism remains unclear, researchers have investigated various factors, such as senescent telomerase replication and abnormal lung stem cell differentiation, to understand the root cause. Extensive research has consistently shown that IPF is closely linked to the dysfunction of alveolar epithelial cells. Current scientific studies on IPF cover a range of aspects including oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial damage, and iron-induced apoptosis. By examining these mechanisms, a comprehensive model has been developed that explains the process of IPF. Oxidative stress is identified as the primary trigger, followed by mitochondrial damage as a central component, leading to the mesenchymal transformation of alveolar epithelial cells as the ultimate outcome. This model is expected to serve as a valuable reference for understanding the mechanism of IPF and guiding future drug development efforts.
Article
15 July 2024Investigation of High Vibration Phenomena in Steam Turbine: An Experimental Exploration into Root Causes and Material Analysis
The steam turbine is a rotating device subject to axial and radial shaft shifts that can induce vibrations during operation. Tools such as monitoring systems and proximity probe sensors are essential to monitoring these vibrations. High vibrations affect the machine’s performance, increasing the risk of malfunctions and reducing its lifespan, and also pose risks to operational and maintenance personnel. The intensified vibrations in the bearing pedestals signify the underlying issues with the machine’s normal operation. Consequently, problems such as rotor imbalance, coupling misalignment, mechanical looseness, material failure, and bent shaft may be caused. In the current study, the latest field-proven automatic diagnostic of rotary equipment (ADRE 408) data acquisition system is installed by Bentley Nevada to investigate the root cause of high vibration. This advanced diagnostic system facilitates a comprehensive assessment, enabling us to effectively identify and address underlying problems. Hence, the current research includes a thorough diagnosis of the underlying problems to attenuate the risks of high vibrations in the steam turbine, coupled with strategic maintenance planning and corrective actions.
Review
11 July 2024Photocatalytic Aerobic Conversion of Methane
The direct conversion of methane into high-value chemicals has been a persistent research focus in the fields of chemical engineering and energy. Photocatalysis, as an innovative technology, not only circumvents the issues of catalyst sintering and carbon deposition associated with traditional thermal catalysis but also transcends thermodynamic limitations by providing new reaction pathways. Utilizing molecular oxygen as an oxidant generates various reactive oxygen species, offering unique thermodynamic advantages for methane conversion. This review summarizes the advancements in photocatalytic partial oxidation (PPOM) and oxidative coupling of methane (POCM) using oxygen as an oxidant. It discusses the activation mechanisms and reaction pathways of methane and oxygen in different systems, as well as the application of photochemical cycling strategies in methane conversion. Finally, it addresses the challenges in this field, proposes potential solutions, and offers perspectives on the future development of photocatalytic systems.
Article
10 July 2024Documenting the Changing Floodplain of Nileas Basin in North Euboea (Greece) before and after Storms Daniel and Elias
The area of north Euboea is characterized by its intense relief, dense hydrographic network, and rich flora and fauna. In the mid-2010s, the region was struck by a plane tree disease that withered the large population of plane trees in the area, while in 2021, a large wildfire completely burned the forest. These unfortunate events depleted the landscape’s natural ability to manage and mitigate flood phenomena. Observing the landscape’s vulnerability to floods, in April 2023, we conduct on-site field inspections in the rivers of the area. In September 2023, a major flood hit the area, causing in dramatic changes to the landscape. Therefore, in November 2023, we conducted follow-up on-site field inspections in the area, in order to trace the differences, present the damages the phenomenon left behind. These inspections allowed to document the landscape changes from the combination of all previous events and identify any associated pathologies. Site visits and comparisons before and after the Daniel/Elias storm revealed dramatic changes in the riverbed width at lower altitudes, significant sediment accumulation in the Voudouros River delta, alterations in the natural landscape along the river and its floodplain, destruction of the arable land, and road collapses in several locations.
