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Energy supply on high mountains remains an open issue since grid connection is not feasible. In the past, diesel generators with lead–acid battery energy storage systems (ESSs) were applied in most cases. Recently, photovoltaic (PV) systems with lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery [1][2][3] ESSs have become suitable for solving this problem in a greener way [4].
In 2016, an off-grid PV system with a Li-ion battery ESS was installed in Paiyun Lodge on Mt. Jade (the highest lodge in Taiwan) [5].
After operating for more than 7 years, the aging of the whole electric power system became a critical issue for its long-term usage. In this research, a method is established for analyzing the massive energy data (over 7 million rows), such as daily operation patterns, as well as the C-rate, temperature, and accumulated energy distributions, and estimating the health of the Li-ion battery system [5].
A completed electric power improvement project dealing with power system aging is reported [5].
Based on the long-term usage experience, a simple cost analysis model comparing lead–acid and Li-ion battery systems is built, revealing that expensive Li-ion batteries can compete with cheap lead–acid batteries for long-term usage on high mountains [5].
This case study can provide engineers and researchers with a fundamental understanding of the long-term usage of off-grid PV ESSs and engineering on high mountains [5].
This image is adapted from 10.3390/batteries10060202
03 Jul 2024
An animal cell, a fundamental unit in animal biology, is a eukaryotic cell encapsulated by a lipid bilayer called the cell membrane. This structure houses a nucleus with genetic material, DNA, orchestrating cellular activities. Mitochondria, often called the cell's "powerhouses," generate energy. The endoplasmic reticulum plays a role in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism, with rough and smooth ER subtypes. The Golgi apparatus processes and packages molecules, while lysosomes contain digestive enzymes. Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis. A complex cytoskeleton provides structural support and enables cell movement and division. Centrioles aid in cell division. These cells exhibit remarkable diversity, adapting to various functions and tissues within the animal kingdom.
07 Jun 2024
Nanoparticles are minuscule particles with dimensions typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers. Their small size grants them unique physical and chemical properties, making them indispensable in various fields. In medicine, drug delivery systems employ nanoparticles to target specific cells, reducing side effects. In electronics, nanoparticles enhance the performance of semiconductors and catalytic materials. In environmental science, they aid in water purification and pollution control. Nanoparticles are also vital in materials science, as they can reinforce composites, enhancing strength and durability. Moreover, their optical properties enable innovative applications in imaging and sensors. However, the exceptional reactivity and potential toxicity of some nanoparticles raise concerns for safety and environmental impact. Their development demands a balance between harnessing their capabilities and understanding their potential risks, which is a crucial aspect of ongoing research in nanotechnology [1].
23 Oct 2023
Rocky intertidal communities show a distinguishable grouping fitting two Gulf of Maine regions that separate at mid-coast Maine. This pattern is uniquely intertidal and not shown by subtidal species assemblages. Satellite-derived shore and sea surface temperatures explained a significant amount of the variation responsible for producing regional patterns. The regions correspond with the two principal branches of the Gulf of Maine Coastal Current [1].
05 Jul 2023
The figure summarizes the main methods, which are applied to improve the electrochemical performance of air electrodes with perovskite structure: lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) and lanthanum strontium cobaltite ferrite (LSCF) [1].
01 Sep 2023
This picture describes non-pharmacological interventions for pain management in hemodialysis patients. five primary nonpharmacological interventions: acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, virtual reality, and alternative methods such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, music therapy, and aromatherapy [1].
01 Sep 2023
Matter in the bulk form (that is, massive matter) behaves much differently from single atoms or molecules. For example, bulk iron is a ferromagnetic substance characterized by high remanence (residual magnetism) and saturation magnetization values; differently, a single atom of iron is a not magnetic specie. At interface between single atoms and bulk matter, there is a region where matter is not bulk anymore but not yet in the atomic or molecular form. In this dimensional regime the miniaturized solids change their properties with varying of size. In particular, the variation of physical and chemical properties takes place in a size regime typically ranging from a few nanometers to several nanometers tens (nanoscopic regime). In such ‘transition zone’ these solids with molecular size change their properties on the basis of the own dimensionality that can be expressed in different ways. In the case of atomic clusters, the dimensionality is usually expressed in terms of nuclearity, that is the number of atoms contained in the atomic cluster. As an example, let’s consider the reaction for the formation of an atomic cluster of iron: xFe → Fex, in this case x atoms of iron bond together to generate an iron cluster and the x value represents the cluster nuclearity, that is the number of iron atoms contained in the cluster. Nuclearity does not change continuously but in a discrete manner, and precisely it varies according to ‘magic numbers’ since cluster stability depends on nuclearity. The fundamental cluster (i.e., the smallest stable cluster) of gold has a nuclearity equal to 13 (i.e., Au13), then there is Au55, Au147, etc. Clusters with a nuclearity corresponding to a magic number have a stable electronic configuration just like the noble gasses. Such dependence of properties on size is a fundamental concept of the nanomaterial science and it is expressed by a three dimensional representation of the periodic table of elements [1]. In particular, the development along the z axis of this 3D periodic table indicates the variation of the element properties with the atomic cluster nuclearity. For example, the remanence disappears in the case of iron particles with a size inferior to that of single domain (ca. 13nm). This kind of magnetism is named superparamagnetism and single-domain iron particles have a size-dependent superparamagnetic behavior. Further examples can be the tunable fluorescence of semiconductor quantum-dots, the change of metal cluster melting point with size, etc.
02 Jan 2024
A thermal image, taken using a FLIR sensor, of a pistachio tree in Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain.
20 Feb 2023
Summary [1]:
Camouflage and Communication: Giant pandas have distinctive black-and-white markings that serve a dual purpose. Their face, neck, belly, and rump are white, helping them blend into snowy habitats, while their arms and legs are black, aiding in shade camouflage.
Unique Eyes: Unlike most bears, giant pandas have vertical-slit pupils similar to domestic cats, giving them unique and specialized vision.
Swimming and Tree Climbing: These pandas are surprisingly skilled swimmers and excellent tree climbers. At just 5 months old, panda cubs start learning how to climb, often practicing by climbing on their mother.
Dietary Habits: Giant pandas are renowned for their voracious appetite and spend a significant portion of their day feeding. They devote approximately 10 to 16 hours each day to consuming food, with bamboo being their primary source of nourishment.
Bamboo Dependency: Bamboo is crucial to the panda's diet. To avoid starvation, pandas require access to at least two different species of bamboo in their habitat. These plants provide the majority of their nutritional needs.
Exclusive Habitat: Giant pandas are an exclusive species found solely in China. They are native to certain regions of China and are not naturally found anywhere else in the world.
12 Sep 2023
Copper ferrite is of great interest to researchers as a material with unique magnetic, optical, catalytic, and structural properties. In particular, the magnetic properties of this material are structurally sensitive and can be tuned by changing the distribution of Cu and Fe cations in octahedral and tetrahedral positions by controlling the synthesis parameters. A new, simple, and convenient method for the synthesis of copper ferrite nanoparticles using a strongly basic anion-exchange resin in the OH form is proposed. The effect and possible mechanism of polysaccharide addition on the elemental composition, yield, and particle size of CuFe2O4 are investigated and discussed. It is shown that anion-exchange resin precipitation leads to a mixture of unstable cubic (c-CuFe2O4) phases at standard temperature and stable tetragonal (t-CuFe2O4) phases. The effect of reaction conditions on the stability of c-CuFe2O4 is studied by temperature-dependent XRD measurements and discussed in terms of cation distribution, cooperative Jahn–Teller distortion, and Cu2+ and oxygen vacancies in the copper ferrite lattice. The observed differences in the values of the saturation magnetization and coercivity of the prepared samples are explained in terms of variations in the particle size and structural properties of copper ferrite.
20 Mar 2023
The infection cycle of rice black‐streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) induced diseases on three cereal crops (rice, maize, and wheat). The virus can be transmitted among its different hosts by Laodelphax striatellus, which mainly overwinters and propagates in wheat fields, resulting in disease outbreaks on rice and maize. [1]
Nan Wu, Lu Zhang, Yingdang Ren, and Xifeng Wang
25 Jan 2024
Baculovirus transmission routes, mode of infection and dispersal pathways in the environment. After larvae ingest OBs while feeding on contaminated foliage a portion of the infected individuals develop lethal disease and release OBs onto the host plant where they can be transmitted to a susceptible host (red arrow). OBs on foliage are also washed by rainfall into the soil, from which they can be transported back to plants by biotic and abiotic factors (black arrows). Alternatively, insects that consume OBs but survive may continue to develop, pupate and emerge as covertly infected adults (blue arrows). These adults can disperse before laying eggs and passing the infection to their offspring. Vertical transmission can be sustain over several generations until some elicitor or stress factor triggers (orange arrow) the covert infection into lethal disease which returns to the horizontal transmission cycle (red arrows). [1]
Trevor Williams, Cristina Virto, Rosa Murillo, and Primitivo Caballero, Wikimedia Commons
31 Jan 2024
A bunch of pistachio nuts from a pistachio orchard located in Castilla y León, Spain.
20 Mar 2023
Difflugia australis was first described by Playfair (1918) and has a unique morphotype that distinguishes it from other similar congeners, such as D. bacillariarum Perty, 1849, and Cylindrifflugia elegans (Penard, 1890) n. comb. González-Miguéns et al., 2022 [1]. This differentiation is mainly due to the combination of the following features: The shell is broadly ovate, with a rounded dome and convex sides that converge down to a very short distance from the aperture and diverge suddenly into a short rim (collar). Usually, it is more or less asymmetrical, with one side being more dilated than the other. The shell surface is slightly smooth, composed of flat siliceous plates of irregular shape and size, mixed with fine grains, and with microbial spores of comparable forms spread on the shell surface. Particles are often interspersed with a network of organic cement with a unique mesh pattern. One (sometimes two) slanting spine-like posterior end of the shell is variable in form, and the collar is mainly formed by small plates of equal size. The dimensions of the shell are: total shell length 88–106 µm; shell width 53–88 µm; aperture diameter 19–28 µm; collar height 3–6 µm; spine length 3‒23 μm. The size frequency distributions of both total shell length and shell width indicate that it is a size-monomorphic species with low variability [2]. It can be found in freshwater and sphagnum, especially in Australia, Argentina, Belgium, and China [1][2].
26 Apr 2023
Caligo brasiliensis (Brazilian Owl Butterfly) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The wings are with brown and white stripes, and the hind wings have large eye spots. The host plants of the larvae are bamboo or bromeliads. Owl Butterfly found in the rainforests, tropical forests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central and South America.
Jessie Wu
16 Feb 2023
Chemical structures of the main types of secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by filamentous fungi [1], based on the enzymatic activity of: (a) nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS); (b) polyketide synthase (PKS); (c) terpene cyclase (TPC) for terpenoid production; (d) a number of enzymes for alkaloid production; (e) NRPS and PKS for production of NRPS/PKS hybrid; (f) NRPS and TPC for production of NRPS/terpenoid; (g) PKS and TPC for production of PKS/terpenoid; (h) enzymes for alkaloid production and TPC for production of alkaloid/terpenoid; (i) other enzymes for production meroterpenoid with unique structures (MUS), or NRPS-independent siderophore (NIS), or other types of molecules.
31 Aug 2023
The plant on the left side of the picture is cereus cactus. Cereus cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. They are columnar, with stems that have sharp spines, and pronounced ribs. The Cereus Cactus appreciates a warm, dry environment . Cereus cactus originally comes from South America, introduced into horticulture for its ornamental value.
Jessie Wu
31 Aug 2023
The Reiss Lab at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine holding photos of images published by our group in Encyclopedia or an MDPI journal. From left to right: Shelly Gulkarov, Samantha Vasalani, Ankita Srivastava, Allison B. Reiss, Maryann Johnson, Heather A. Renna, Katie Sheehan. Thanks to photographer Sujith Rajan.
01 Aug 2023
Summary [1]:
Madagascar, located 250 miles off the east coast of Africa, is the sole natural habitat of wild lemurs, making it a critical biodiversity hotspot.
Some lemur species were introduced to the Comoros islands by humans, expanding their range beyond Madagascar.
Lemurs have a unique female-dominant society, with female leaders and aggressive behaviors.
Lemurs play a vital role as seed dispersers in their ecosystems, contributing to forest diversity and dynamics.
Blue-eyed black lemurs are one of the rare primates, besides humans, to have naturally occurring blue eyes and are critically endangered.
Some lemur species self-medicate by consuming millipedes to eliminate gastrointestinal parasites.
Lemurs are the world's oldest living primates, with their origins dating back over 70 million years, and they evolved and diversified on Madagascar.
11 Sep 2023
Molecular and cellular targets of flavonoids in reducing arthritis, explored trough in vivo studies [1].
07 Jun 2024
