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In this paper, a wideband polarization reconfigurable omnidirectional antenna (PROA) based on a single-substrate active metasurface is proposed. By controlling the states of the PIN diodes, the antenna can selectively radiate an omnidirectional linearly polarized wave and an omnidirectional circularly polarized wave. The reflection coefficient, axial ratio (AR), radiation pattern, and gain of the proposed antenna have been analyzed from the perspective of simulation and measurement. The measured results show that the PROA has a wide overlapped bandwidth from 2.87 to 3.67 GHz (relative bandwidth 24.46%). To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first reported wideband PROA based on a single-substrate reconfigurable polarization converter. This study not only offers a novel approach to design PROAs, but also greatly reduces the design complexity of the feed source compared with the traditional design method of PROAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent free radicals (PFRs) are emerging substances with diverse impacts in biochar applications, necessitating accurate prediction of their content and types prior to their optimal use and minimal adverse effects. This prediction task is challenging due to the nonlinearity and intricate variable relationships of biochar. Herein, we employed data-driven techniques to compile a dataset from peer-reviewed publications, aiming to systematically predict the PFRs by developing supervised machine learning models. Notably, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model exhibited the best predictive performance for both regression and classification tasks in predicting the PFRs, achieving a test R2 value of 0.95 for PFR content prediction, along with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve (AUROC) of 0.92 for PFR type prediction, respectively. Based on XGBoost model, a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to access PFRs predictions. Analysis of feature importance revealed that the biochar properties, such as metal/non-metal doping, pyrolysis temperature, carbon content, and specific surface area were identified as the four most significant factors influencing PFRs contents. Regarding the types of PFRs in biochar, specific surface area, pyrolysis temperature, carbon content, and feedstock were top-ranked influencing factors. These findings provide valuable guidance for accurately predicting both the contents and types of PFRs in biochar, and also hold significant potential for highly efficient utilization of biochar across various applications. Highlights: • Recognizing dual nature of PFRs, a machine-learning framework predicts them in biochar. • XGBoost excels, achieving an R2 (0.95) for PFR content and an AUROC (0.92) for PFR type. • Important factors of PFR: doping, pyrolysis temp, carbon, and surface area. • GUI enhances accessibility, enabling PFR predictions before biochar preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers in industrial and commercial products. It is generally believed that OPEs in street dust mainly originate from road traffic and anthropogenic activities. The influence of atmospheric deposition is still unknown. In this study, leaves were employed as a novel passive air sampler to collect particle matters (PM) in 12 cities in the central province of Henan, China. Similar compositional profiles of OPEs were found in street dust and PM samples. The concentrations of individual OPEs in PM were 1–4 times higher than in street dust. Chlorinated OPEs concentration in PM shows a moderate correlation (r 2 = 0.538, p < 0.01) with that in street dust. The concentration of alkyl OPEs in PM has a high correlation (r 2 = 0.843, p < 0.01) with that in street dust. No significant correlation (r 2 = 0.133, p = 0.132) was found on the aryl OPEs concentrations between street dust and PM. Spearman correlation reveals that the emission sources of tricresyl phosphate (TCrP) and triethyl phosphate (TEP) may be different from other OPEs in dust and PM samples. Principle component analysis (PCA) provides an appropriate explanation that tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), tris (chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP), tributyl phosphate (TnBP), and TEP in street dust and PM may be emitted from the same sources, suggesting that PM has a significant influence on the occurrence of OPEs in street dust. The estimated dry deposition fluxes of particle-bound OPEs show a significant correlation (R 2 = 0.969, p < 0.01) with OPEs concentrations in street dust, revealing that the input of atmospheric deposition could be a major source of OPEs in street dust. [Display omitted] • Spatial phytosampling was used to study the potential source of OPEs in street dust. • Leaves were used as passive sampler for comparative applications. • Most OPEs in PM had positive correlation with those in the street dust. • The input of atmospheric deposition is a major source of OPEs in street dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the gas-phase retention volume behavior of four highly volatile organophosphate esters (OPEs) on polyurethane foam (PUF) was studied using a frontal chromatogram. The breakthrough volumes (V B) of trimethyl phosphate (TMP), triethyl phosphate (TEP), tripropyl phosphate (TPrP), and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) were 0.33, 0.59, 10.5, and 32.4 m3, respectively. A significant negative correlation was found between the logarithm value of V B and the subcooled liquid vapor pressure (P L) with an r 2 of 0.905, indicating that the vapor penetration depends on both the volatility and total air volume. The enthalpy of desorption and vaporization (Δ H S −Δ H V) showed a significant difference between the tested OPEs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), revealing that the strength of the sorption interaction of the tested OPEs vapor on PUF should be different from that of PAHs. The PUF-air partition coefficients (K PUF-air) of the tested OPEs ranged from 4.3 to 8.1, which were lower than those of three-to four-ring PAHs (7.02–10.2) and organochlorines (8.01–9.72), revealing that the partition of highly volatile OPEs on PUF is lower than that of low-volatile compounds. The PUF/XAD cartridge improved the absorption efficiency of the tested OPEs; however, its sorptive capacity was still limited. [Display omitted] • The breakthrough volumes of four high volatile OPEs on PUF column were determined by frontal chromatograms. • The breakthrough volumes of the tested OPEs are much lower than three to four ring PAHs. • There are significant differences in the sorption interaction on PUF between the tested OPEs and low volatile compounds. • XAD resins can improve the sorptive capacity for high volatile OPEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MATF and MRP enriched substantial heavy metals and PAHs from the environment. • MATF and MRP from actual artificial turf had significantly higher cytotoxicity. • EPFRs and ROS had limited contributions to the cytotoxicity of aged MATF and MRP. • Heavy metals and PAHs played important roles in the toxicity of MATF and MRP. Numerous micro-sized artificial turf fragments (MATF) and rubber particles (MRP) are generated and accumulated during the use of the artificial playing field. However, attention has rarely been paid to the potential toxic effects of MATF and MRP on sportsmen. In this study, the active components and chemical composition of aged MATF and MRP derived from laboratory photoaging and actual field sampling were detected, and their effects on cytotoxicity were examined correspondingly. Laboratory photoaging significantly increased environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs), reactive oxygen species (ROS) abundances and oxidative potential (OP) levels on MATF and MRP, but they have limited cytotoxicity. Unfortunately, in the actual field, aged MATF and MRP with higher heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contents exhibited markedly higher cytotoxicity with the survival rate of cells of 78 % and 26 % (p < 0.05), although they had lower EPFRs and ROS yields. Correlation analysis revealed that the cell viability was closely linked to heavy metals of MATF (p < 0.05), and to organic hydroperoxide (OHP), PAHs and heavy metals of MRP (p < 0.05). By systematically considering the above results, heavy metals and PAHs enriched on MATF and MRP from the surrounding environment played the important role in the cytotoxicity, which was different from conventional perspectives. Our findings demonstrate that MATF and MRP associated with an artificial turf field contain potent mixtures of pollutants and can, therefore, be relevant yet underestimated factors contributing to the health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]