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To enhance the charging and discharging strategy of the energy storage system (ESS) and optimize its economic efficiency, this paper proposes a novel approach based on the enhanced whale algorithm. Recognizing that the standard whale algorithm can sometimes suffer from local optima in high-dimensional multiobjective optimization, this study introduces chaotic mapping and individual information exchange mechanisms to address this challenge. The proposed algorithm explores optimal configurations for different energy device placements and capacities through encircling and bubble searches, evaluating various multiobjective functions for optimization. In addition, the algorithm refines both the system operation model and the ESS configuration model, with the objective function being the analysis of the average annual revenue of the ESS. Model testing results demonstrate that this algorithm yields more moderate energy storage (ES) capacity decay, extending operational time to 3,124 days and achieving a full-life cycle benefit of the ESS as high as 1,821,623.68 yuan. Also, our algorithm demonstrates high efficiency, with minimal test time (68.36 seconds) and quick optimization (0.031 seconds per cycle), regardless of problem complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to optimize the performance of the transmission network (TN), this paper introduces the random fractal search algorithm based on the beetle antenna search algorithm, thus proposing the random fractal beetle antenna algorithm (SFBA). The main work of this research is as follows: (1) in the beetle antenna search algorithm, this study used a population of beetles and introduced elite members of the population in order to make the algorithm more stable and to some extent improve the accuracy of its answers. (2) Utilizing the elite reverse learning method and the leader's multilearning strategy for elites helps to strike a balance between the global exploration and local development of the algorithm. This strategy also further improves the ability of the algorithm to find the optimal solution. (3) Experiments on real experimental data show that the SFBA algorithm proposed in this paper is effective in improving TN performance. In summary, the research content of this paper provides a good reference value for the performance optimization of TN in actual production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer has been proved promising in various applications. The homogeneous winding method in loosely coupled transformers incurs unnecessary intense magnetic field distribution in the center and causes extra magnetic loss. An inhomogeneous winding method is proposed in this paper, and a relatively homogeneous magnetic field distribution inside the core is achieved. This paper investigated the magnetic loss of homogeneous winding and inhomogeneous winding for wireless power transfer. A theoretical model was built to evaluate magnetic loss under inhomogeneous winding. The coupling coefficient and magnetic loss were investigated individually and comparisons were made between different width ratio combinations. Theoretical analysis was validated in experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a concise and universal method to calculate the maximum RF (radio frequency) power transfer efficiency between arbitrary multiple transmitters and multiple receivers wireless power transfer (MIMO-WPT) system is presented. The method is based on maximum Rayleigh quotient which can be deduced either from the multi-port impedance matrix Z or from the multi-port scattering matrix S. Moreover, without any limitation on the transmitting/receiving element's geometry, numbers, operating frequency, coupling method, and so on, the approach is capable to evaluate both the transfer efficiency and the maximum transfer efficiency (MTE) of any type of transmitting and receiving elements, and to obtain the optimum impedances for all transmitting or receiving ports as well. At the end of this paper, the MTEs of some typical MIMO-WPT systems will be calculated to validify the proposed method, and the effectiveness against the receiver's misalignment by using multiple transmitters will be demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiofrequency surface coils used as receivers in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) rely on cables for communication and power from the MRI system. Complex surface coil arrays are being designed for improving acquisition speed and signal-to-noise ratio. This, in-turn makes the cables bulky, expensive, and the currents induced on cables by time-varying magnetic fields of the MRI system may cause patient harm. Though wireless power transfer (WPT) can eliminate cables and make surface coils safer, MRI poses a challenging electromagnetic environment for WPT antennas because the antennas made using long conductors interact with the static and dynamic fields of the MRI system. This paper analyses the electromagnetic compatibility of WPT antennas and reveals that commercially available antennas are not compatible with MRI systems, presenting a safety risk for patients. Even when the risk is minimized, the antennas couple with surface coils leading to misdiagnosis. This paper presents an approach to eliminate safety risks and minimize coupling using a filter named "floating filter." A WPT antenna without a filter has a distortion of 27%, and floating filters reduce the distortion to 2.3%. Secondly, the floating filter does not affect the power transfer efficiency, and the transfer efficiency of 60% is measured with and without filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer (WPT) has attracted attention from academia and industry in recent years. WPT has natural electrical isolation between primary and secondary side, which ensures safe charging in an underwater environment. This breakthrough technology greatly facilitates the deep-sea power transmission. However, at the current stage the transferred power and energy efficiency level are not up to that of the WPT system in the air. The major concerns include the attenuation is seawater, extreme temperature and pressure conditions, disturbance of ocean currents, and bio-security. Three questions are answered in this paper: first, the expressions of eddy current loss and attenuation of electromagnetic wave in seawater are unified, and the influence of seawater as transmission medium on the WPT system is discussed. Second, the evolution of electromagnetic coupling structure suitable for underwater applications is studied. Third, the loss and heating effects of an underwater WPT system and the corresponding bio-fouling phenomenon are investigated. The questions above were addressed through analysis of electrical properties, coupler structures, and bio-fouling effects of the underwater WPT system. This paper will facilitate the study and research on underwater WPT applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a complete wireless power transmission scenario is presented, including an external transmission antenna, an in-body embedded antenna, a rectifying circuit, and a powered sensor. This system operates at the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical bands (902.8–928 MHz). For the antenna design, important parameters including reflection coefficient, radiation pattern, and specific absorption rate are presented. As for the rectifying circuit, a precise model is created utilizing off-the-shelf components. Several circuit models and components are examined in order to obtain optimum results. Finally, this work is evaluated against various sensors' power needs found in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is a polyphenolic polymer present in the cell walls of specialized plant cell types in vascular plants that provides structural support and plays a major role in plant protection. The lignin biosynthesis pathway is regulated by transcription factors from the MYB (myeloblastosis) family. While several MYB members positively regulate lignin synthesis, only a few negatively regulate lignin synthesis. These lignin suppressors are well characterized in model plant species; however, their role has not been fully explored in gymnosperms. Lignin forms one of the major hurdles for the forest-based industry e.g. paper, pulp, and biofuel production. Therefore, the detailed mechanisms involved in the regulation of lignin synthesis are valuable, especially in conifers that form the major source of softwood for timber and paper production. In this review, the potential and differential domains present in the MYB suppressors in gymnosperms are discussed, along with their phylogenetic analysis. Sequence analysis revealed that the N-terminal regions of the MYB suppressor members were found to be conserved among the gymnosperms and angiosperms containing the R2, R3, and bHLH domains, while the C-terminal regions were found to be highly variable. The typical repressor motifs like the LxLxL-type EAR motif and the TLLLFR motif were absent from the C-terminal regions of MYB suppressors from most gymnosperms. However, although the gymnosperms lacked the characteristic repressor domains, a R2R3-type MYB member from Ginkgo was reported to repress the lignin biosynthetic pathway. It is proposed that gymnosperms possess unique kinds of repressors that need further functional validation.

Point cloud registration is a necessary prerequisite for conducting precise, large-scale forest surveys and management. This paper focuses on providing a systematic overview and summary of the work on forest point cloud registration over the past 20 years. The developmental process of forest point cloud registration methods, spanning from the early reliance on manual markers to the subsequent evolution towards automatic registration based on feature matching, and then to the advanced technology based on deep learning were reviewed. Furthermore, the paper offered detailed discussions on the registration between different point cloud platforms: ground platforms, between ground platforms and aerial platforms, and between aerial platforms. Additionally, the paper delved into mainstream datasets and evaluation metrics in the domain of forest point cloud registration. Finally, the paper summarized the current state of research in this area, highlighted challenges, and provided future research outlooks. This review aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of forest point cloud registration, and to promote the advancement of point cloud technology, hopefully inspiring further applications in the field.

This paper explores the significant potential of modified zeolites in various industries, emphasizing their role in promoting environmental sustainability. The study highlights the applications of modified zeolites in heavy metals in contaminated soil, showcasing their ability to address environmental pollution and enhance resource utilization. The research underscores the importance of fine-tuning zeolite modification techniques to achieve precise structural control and stability. Challenges related to the impact of even minor modifications on performance and the long-term stability of modified zeolites are acknowledged. Despite these challenges, the paper anticipates a promising future for modified zeolites, with advancements in materials science and nanotechnology expected to pave the way for innovative solutions in contaminated soil.

Since the 1970s, researchers have developed semi-empirical models to describe fire smoke movement inside buildings, but there are three major issues. Firstly, several plume models are available to estimate the smoke production rate and the capacity of smoke extraction fans, but their discrepancy or accuracy is unclear. Secondly, the phenomenon of stratification affects the vertical transportation of smoke, and influences the activation time of the detectors and the efficiency of the smoke extraction system. A stratification model is available in the literature to calculate the maximum height that smoke can rise, but it cannot cover all design scenarios. Thirdly, the size of the smoke reservoir has been regulated in fire regulation. The regulation does not consider the factors that strongly affect the movement of smoke in the reservoir, such as the ceiling height, reservoir shape, smoke temperature, etc. These models are difficult to directly apply to a practical design project, and some clauses of the fire regulation do not address the requirements correctly and become a hurdle of design. This paper depicts the cases encountered during the design over the past decades and provides detailed processes of solving these issues. The approach of the design process demonstrates how fire engineers further develop the fire models and fill the gap between research and engineering practice. This paper systematically examines fire smoke models for the plume, vertical transportation of the smoke, the ceiling jet, and smoke spreading underneath the flat ceiling, and provides practical solutions for each of the smoke development stages.

In recent years, vulnerable populations have become the main targets of casualties in many building fire accidents. It is of great significance to study the behavioral patterns of vulnerable populations during emergency evacuation and to design specialized strategies conducive to the evacuation of vulnerable populations to improve evacuation efficiency and reduce casualties. In this paper, simulations are carried out using AnyLogic based on a social force model to explore the impact of dedicated exits in public places on the evacuation of vulnerable populations. A model of a normal room with three exits was created in which pedestrians were divided into two categories: normal and vulnerable populations with different evacuation speeds and footprint sizes. Simulation results show that dedicating middle exits reduces evacuation time in most cases while dedicating side exits significantly increases evacuation time. Middle exits as dedicated exits can balance the evacuation speed of vulnerable and normal populations, and improve the overall evacuation efficiency of vulnerable populations. Calculating the balance analysis index OPS for building evacuation, the results show that the balance of exits is the key to the evacuation time, and the closer the OPS value is to 0 the better the evacuation balance, which leads to a shorter evacuation time. This paper illustrates the impact of dedicated exits on the evacuation of vulnerable populations. Also, it provides a basis for the need for dedicated exits in different situations by calculating OPS values.

This paper presents an effective and time saving procedure for designing a three-coil resonant inductive wireless power transfer (WPT) link. The proposed approach aims at optimizing the power transfer efficiency of the link for given constraints imposed by the specific application of interest. The WPT link is described as a two-port network with equivalent lumped elements analytically expressed as function of the geometrical parameters. This allows obtaining a closed-form expression of the efficiency that can be maximized by acting on the geometrical parameters of the link by using a general purpose optimization algorithm. The proposed design procedure allows rapidly finding the desired optimal solution while minimizing the computational efforts. Referring to the case of an application constraining the dimensions of the receiver, analytical data are validated through full-wave simulations and measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, possible coupling configurations of a four-plate capacitive power transfer system are studied by varying the combinations of its input and output ports. A voltage source is applied between two of the four plates, and a load is connected to the other two to form different circuit topologies. A mathematical model based on a 4 × 4 mutual capacitance matrix is established for equidistantly placed four identical metal plates. Based on the proposed model, four separate circuit topologies are identified and analysed in detail and described in a general form. The electric field distributions of the coupling configurations are simulated by ANSYS Maxwell. The theoretical modeling and analysis are then verified by a practical system, in which four aluminum plates of 300 mm × 300 mm are used and placed with a gap of 10 mm between adjacent plates. The experimental results show that the measured output voltage and power under the four coupling configurations are in good agreement with the theoretical results. It has found that the voltage gain is the highest when the two inner plates are connected to the source, and this coupling configuration also has the lowest leakage electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative study on three types of slim coil structures used as a three-dimensional (3-D) receiver in a wireless power transfer system with a planar transmitter coil. The mutual coupling values and their variations between the receiver structures and the transmitter coil are compared under different distances and angular orientations with respect to the transmitter coil. The merits of performance are related to the consistency of the mutual coupling values under different orientations in a range of distances from the transmitter coil. The practical results show that slim 3-D receiver coil structures can be compatible with a planar transmitter coil with reasonably high-mutual coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space probes suffer from a fundamental problem, which is the limited energy available for their operation. Energy supply is essential for continuous operation and ultimately the most important sub-system for its sustainable functioning. Considering, for instance, the last space probe put on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, called "Philae", which was sent by Rosetta (http://www.esa.int/Our%5fActivities/Space%5fScience/Rosetta), to operate and to monitor comet activity, its operation was jeopardized due to the fact that it landed on a shadowed zone (no direct sunlight). Since its operational energy was only based on solar harvesters, the energy for its operation was limited by solar energy availability. In this paper a study on a viable alternative based on wireless power transmission is presented and discussed at the system level. It is proved that, using current technology, it is possible to create alternatives or supplement to existing power sources such as solar panels to power up these important space probes and to secure their operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transmission (WPT) systems with moveable mechanical parts have been acquired more and more attention during the past decade. However, due to the moveable feature of transmitting coil and receiving coil, misalignment issue lead to extra power loss, decrease in efficiency, increase in control complexity, and unwanted performance degradation of the whole system. Moreover, it happened frequently than those traditional planar coils systems. The motivation for this paper is trying to have a deep understanding of quantitative relationship between ball-shaped coils mutual inductance and misalignment. Based upon that, engineers would know more detail of the coils position and mutual inductance. So, optimized design might be achieved. On considering that, this paper presents a WPT system with a ball-shaped coil for robot joints. A mutual inductance calculation based on filament method aimed at ball-shaped coil is proposed. Based on these, nine different ball-shaped coil solutions are calculated. Then, model with a minimized change rate of mutual inductance against the angular misalignment is chosen as the optimized design. Circuit analysis of the WPT system with the series–series resonant topology is conducted to choose a proper working frequency and load. Finally, an experimental platform is established. It demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed calculation method and the feasibility of the WPT prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to solve the optimization problems in far-field wireless power transfer systems using deep reinforcement learning techniques. The Radio-Frequency (RF) wireless transmitter is mounted on a mobile robot, which patrols near the harvested energy-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The wireless transmitter intends to continuously cruise on the designated path in order to fairly charge all the stationary IoT devices in the shortest time. The Deep Q-Network (DQN) algorithm is applied to determine the optimal path for the robot to cruise on. When the number of IoT devices increases, the traditional DQN cannot converge to a closed-loop path or achieve the maximum reward. In order to solve these problems, an area division Deep Q-Network (AD-DQN) is invented. The algorithm can intelligently divide the complete charging field into several areas. In each area, the DQN algorithm is utilized to calculate the optimal path. After that, the segmented paths are combined to create a closed-loop path for the robot to cruise on, which can enable the robot to continuously charge all the IoT devices in the shortest time. The numerical results prove the superiority of the AD-DQN in optimizing the proposed wireless power transfer system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional magnetically coupled resonant wireless power transfer systems are faced with resonant frequency splitting phenomena and impedance mismatch when a receiving coil is placed at misaligned position. These problems can be avoided by using uniform magnetic field distribution at receiving plane. In this paper, a novel 3D transmitting coil structure with improved uniform magnetic field distribution is proposed based on a developed optimization method. The goal is to maximize the average magnetic field strength and uniform magnetic field section of the receiving plane. Hence, figures of merit (FoM1 and FoM2) are introduced and defined as product of average magnetic field strength and length or surface along which uniform magnetic field is generated, respectively. The validity of the optimization method is verified through laboratory measurements performed on the fabricated coils driven by signal generator at operating frequency of 150 kHz. Depending on the allowed ripple value and predefined coil proportions, the proposed transmitting coil structure gives the uniform magnetic field distribution across 50% to 90% of the receiving plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, natural pigments have been widely used in meat products (pork/beef patties, sausages, etc.) to maintain color, and as an antioxidant and antibacterial to extend the shelf life of meat products. To date, the food pigment industry has developed rapidly. Natural pigments are more popular among consumers because of their color and physiological functions such as bacteriostatic and antioxidant activity. However, compared with synthetic pigments, some natural pigments have poor stability and water solubility, which limit their application in the food industry. Therefore, taking certain methods to improve their stability and water solubility can expand the scope of use of the pigments and achieve favourable economic benefits. In this paper, we briefly analyze the main factors affecting the stability of natural pigments and summarize the methods commonly used to improve them. The methods mainly include the use of antioxidants and encapsulation of the pigments through spray/freeze drying, complex coacervation, ionic gelation, supercritical anti-solvent, etc. Finally, this paper also outlines the use of stabilized and non-stabilized pigments in meat products so as to serve as a baseline for use in meat and meat products.

Cover crops are important for covering the soil and fixing nutrients in order to manage soil erosion and improve soil quality. This paper discusses some of the modern methods, equipment and technologies used in carrying out cover crop farming. This is important because modern agricultural and farming operations work a lot differently from those of the past as a result of the improvements in technological advancements over the past decades. The paper explains the usefulness of the various classes of cover crops known as grasses, legumes, brassicas and non-legume broadleaves. It also explains the role of smart farming technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, satellites, drones and robotic systems as well as Internet of Things (IoT). Some of the benefits of these advanced technologies are high crop productivity, efficient use of water, fertilizer and pesticides, and improvement in farmer safety and growing conditions, as well as reduced impact on the natural environment and ecosystem. Mechanized cover crop farming equipment are also discussed, and grouped into preparation, planting, termination and incorporation equipment, based on the stage they are used during the cover crop farming process. Clearly, these advanced equipment and technologies are aiding the cover crop farming process by making it safer and environmentally friendly while helping farmers to be more efficient.

In the context of rapid urbanization, urban security has a huge impact on social stability, such as huge property losses and casualties. Especially in extreme weather conditions, disasters will increase, thus the study of urban safety early warning systems is necessary. Firstly, this paper introduces the current situation and problems of urban security. Then, the urban safety early warning systems and emergency response mechanisms under snowstorm conditions are established and discussed according to the current situation. Finally, this paper puts forward suggestions and measures for the urban safety emergency rescue guarantee mechanism in snowstorm conditions.

China has a population of 1.4 billion, ranking first in the world. With the increase in China's economic development and population, the construction of various types of buildings in China is also increasing, and associated safety hazards are gradually increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to study the safe evacuation of people inside and outside the building in emergency situations. In recent years, some scholars have used the traditional statistical method of literature review to analyze the research frontiers in the field of safety evacuation, but few scholars have used bibliometric methods to analyze and review the current situation of research in this field. Therefore, this paper adopts the analysis method combining bibliometrics and traditional literature review to summarize the research status of crowd evacuation published by Chinese scholars in the Web of Science core database, and uses VOSviewer to analyze the authors, institutions, and keywords of the literature search results, so as to identify their research hotspots. The results show that the last three years have been the peak period of crowd evacuation studies, with many disciplines involved in this field and they are closely related, led by the number of papers related to architecture. Simulation, model, behavior, among others, have been the most used keywords in this research field, and the research on path planning and exit selection behavior has also increased significantly. According to the keyword analysis, three hot spots of safety evacuation research, namely large-scale group evacuation, evacuation path planning and evacuation exit selection are analyzed in detail.

Disaster early warning information, if it reaches the communities at-risk with enough lead time, allows individuals to evacuate and subsequently save their lives and livelihoods. However, in many areas of Asia, early warning information does not reach the communities at-risk. Even if it does reach them, the warning information is unclear, distorted, or delayed. This paper aims to understand the underlying factors affecting the dissemination of early warning information, and how it hinders community evacuation in the event of a disaster. It specifically looks into the tools and procedures that are adopted in early warning systems (EWS) as well as the challenges that the communities experienced in receiving the warning information. The paper presents three case studies, including the coastal communities in Bangladesh, the Himalayan communities in Bhutan, and the herder communities in Mongolia to investigate the challenges in EWS. In these communities, the ground-based telecommunication systems, internet and cellular network, have limited coverage. Additionally, the communication infrastructures in these areas are vulnerable to disruptions during extreme disaster events. Using satellites to transmit the warning information to communities at-risk will not only augment the existing ground-based EWS but will also improve evacuation procedures. While this paper builds the case for using the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) to enhance the effectiveness of disseminating early warning information, such effort alone is not enough. Subsequent policy and practical actions must be also undertaken to improve the early warning systems to facilitate effective evacuation.

The anti-counterfeiting of agricultural products plays an important role in protecting the rights and interests of consumers and maintaining the healthy development of the food market. Traditional anti-counterfeiting technology mainly relies on anti-counterfeiting features of packaging or labeling, which has the risk of being copied and reused. Biological fingerprint anti-counterfeiting is a method of anti-counterfeiting that takes the biological fingerprint of agricultural products as the anti-counterfeiting feature. This paper aims to take the distribution of lenticels on the surface of mango as a biological fingerprint, and propose a mango biological fingerprint anti-counterfeiting method. As the mango ripens, the peel color of mango will change significantly, which will affect the accuracy of anti-counterfeiting identification. In this paper, the images of ripe mangoes are classified by Fuzzy C-means clustering, and appropriate image enhancement technology is used to highlight the features. The results show that the mango biological fingerprint anti-counterfeiting method based on Fuzzy C-means clustering has good accuracy and robustness, and effectively reduces the impact of peel color change on anti-counterfeiting identification during mango ripening. These results support that it is feasible to use the lenticels distribution of mango as a biological fingerprint. In this paper, a computer vision anti-counterfeiting method based on lenticels distribution is proposed.

In this paper, a new design configuration has been proposed in which a prototype of resonant inductive power transfer-based contactless power transfer to wound rotor has been developed which provides field power to brushless alternating current (BLAC) or brushless direct current (BLDC) motors without the use of permanent magnets in the rotor. Further, wound field in the rotor of DC motor can be powered without carbon brushes. The proposed design facilitates motor performance improvement by adding an extra dimension of field flux control, while the armature circuit is conventionally fed from position detection and commutation schemes. It contains a primary multilayer concentrated coil fed with high-frequency resonating AC supply or switched mode supply. A single layer helical secondary coil coaxially fixed on the shaft receives high frequency wireless AC power transmitted from primary coil. Fast rectifier inside the hollow shaft and DC filter provides the transferred DC power to field terminals in the rotor. It has been verified that rotor power can be varied linearly with linear variation in input DC power with the highest efficiency at the resonant frequency. Available power to the rotor remains invariable with rotational speed and angle, which is a necessary requirement for rotor field. DC voltage on the rotor terminals can be effectively controlled during standstill as well as during rotation at any speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a non-invasive image-guided procedure where tumors are heated in the body with electrical current. RFA procedures are commonly indicated for patients with limited local disease or who are not surgical candidates. Current methods of RFA use multiple cords and wires that ergonomically complicate the procedure and present the risk of cutting or shorting the circuit if they are damaged. A wireless RFA technique based on electromagnetic induction is presented in this paper. The transmitting and receiving coils were coupled to resonate at the same frequency to ensure the highest power output. The receiving coil was connected to two insulated electrodes on a catheter, which allowed the current to flow to the targeted tissue. The prototype system was tested with ex-vivo bovine tissue, which has similar thermal and electrical properties to human tissue. The setup can monitor the received power, efficiency, temperature, and ablation zone during ablation procedures. The maximum received power was 15 W, and the average maximum efficiency was 63.27%. The novel system was also able to ablate up to a 2 cm ablation zone in non-perfused tissue. This proof of concept for performing RFA wirelessly with electromagnetic induction may merit further optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on inductive power transfer (IPT) systems are most times either theoretical or experimental. In this paper, we want to bring theoretical models and experimental data together using the impedance based interface proposed in SAE J2954. This proposal characterizes the IPT system by impedances at both coil terminals. We show how the experimental data was retrieved at the interface and use it to validate an analytical model and a Simulink model described within this study. Such models can support the design and development process and therefore a comparison with reality is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we use convex optimization to maximize power efficiency through cascaded multi-coil wireless power transfer systems and investigate the resulting characteristic spacing. We show that although the efficiency is generally a non-convex function of the coil spacing, it can be approximated by a convex function when the effects of higher-order couplings are small. We present a method to optimize the spacing of cascaded coils for maximum efficiency by perturbing the solution of the convex approximation to account for higher-order interactions. The method relies on two consecutive applications of a local optimization algorithm in order to enable fast convergence to the global optimum. We present the optimal configurations of coil systems containing up to 20 identical coils that transfer power over distances up to 4.0 m. We show that when spacing alone is optimized, there exist an optimal number of coils that maximize transfer efficiency across a given distance. We also demonstrate the use of this method in optimizing the placement of a select number of high-Q coils within a system of low-Q relay coils, with the highest efficiencies occurring when the high-Q coils are placed on either side of the largest gaps within the relay coil chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents design considerations for an integrated wireless power transfer (WPT) and power line communication (PLC) system (e.g. WPT-PLC). The main goal is to enable wireless charging of mobile electronic products, along with high data rate communication over the shared wireless inductive resonant channel. Starting from a couple of resonant coils, characterized by the S-parameters matrix, the design of an impedance matching network and decoupling filters is carried out to better decouple power and data signals. A pulse-driven class-E power amplifier (PA) and a rectifier are first conceived based on the measured S-parameters and load-pull characterizations. Second, a sine-driven class-E power link, operating at 6.78 MHz, is proposed to reduce the total harmonic distortion of the integrated WPT-PLC system. These design steps aim to ensure high-power efficiency and low harmonic distortion of the class-E PA in order to mildly affect the channel capacity of the PLC. The harmonic interferences of the pulse-driven and sine-driven class-E power links are compared and discussed, together with the electromagnetic compatibility levels, the channel capacity, and the noise disturbances of the PLC channel in order to guarantee an optimized power and data transfer in the integrated WPT-PLC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristic transfer parameters of inductive power transfer systems highly depend on the relative position of the coils to each other. While translational offset has been investigated in the past, the effect of rotatory offset on the transfer parameters is widely unclear. This paper contains simulation results of an inductive power transfer system with a rotatory offset in three axes and shows the possible improvements in the coupling coefficient. As a result, rotation angles can be used as control parameters and thereby increase the system efficiency. Alternatively, the allowed misalignment area of the secondary coil can be increased while maintaining the functionality and same dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in technology have seen mobile robots becoming a viable solution to many global challenges. A key limitation for tetherless operation, however, is the energy density of batteries. Whilst significant research is being undertaken into new battery technologies, wireless power transfer may be an alternative solution. The majority of the available technologies are not targeted toward the medium power requirements of mobile robots; they are either for low powers (a few Watts) or very large powers (kW). This paper reviews existing wireless power transfer technologies and their applications on mobile robots. The challenges of using these technologies on mobile robots include delivering the power required, system efficiency, human safety, transmission medium, and distance, all of which are analyzed for robots operating in a hazardous environment. The limitations of current wireless power technologies to meet the challenges for mobile robots are discussed and scenarios which current wireless power technologies can be used on mobile robots are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More mobile devices such as mobile phones and robots are wirelessly charged for convenience, simplicity, and safety, and it would be desirable to achieve three-dimensional (3D) wireless charging with high spatial freedom and long range. This paper proposes a 3D wireless charging cube with three orthogonal coils and supporting magnetic cores to enhance the magnetic flux outside the cube. The proposed system is simulated by Ansoft Maxwell and implemented by a downsized prototype. Both simulation and experimental results show that the magnetic cores can strengthen the magnitude of B-field outside the cube. The final prototype demonstrates that the power transfer distance outside the cube for getting the same induced electromotive force in the receiver coil is extended approximately by 50 mm using magnetic cores with a permeability of 2800. It is found that the magnitude of B-field outside the cube can be increased by increasing the width and the permeability of the magnetic cores. The measured results show that when the permeability of the magnetic cores is fixed, the induced electromotive force in the receiver coil at a point 300 mm away from the center of the cube is increased by about 2V when the width of the magnetic cores is increased from 50 to 100 mm. The increase in the induced electromotive force at an extended point implies a greater potential of wireless power transfer capability to the power pickup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in material science and semiconductor technology have enabled a variety of inventions to be implemented in electronic systems and devices used in the medical, telecommunications, and consumer electronics sectors. In this paper, a wireless charging system is described as a wearable body heater that uses a chair as a transmitter (Tx). This system incorporates the widely accepted Qi wireless charging standard. Alignment conditions of a linear three-element coil arrangement and a 3 × 3 coil matrix array are investigated using voltage induced in a coil as a performance indicator. The efficiency obtained is demonstrated to be up to 80% for a voltage of over 6.5 Volts and a power transfer of over 5 Watts. Our results and proposed approach can be useful for many applications. This is because the wireless charging system described herein can help design seating areas for the elderly and disabled, commercial systems, consumer electronics, medical devices, electronic textiles (e-textiles), and other electronic systems and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a multiantenna wireless transmitter communicates with an information receiver while radiating RF energy to surrounding energy harvesters. The channel between the transceivers is known to the transmitter, but the channels between the transmitter and the energy harvesters are unknown to the transmitter. By designing its transmit covariance matrix, the transmitter fully charges the energy buffers of all energy harvesters in the shortest amount of time while maintaining the target information rate toward the receiver. At the beginning of each time slot, the transmitter determines the particular beam pattern to transmit with. Throughout the whole charging process, the transmitter does not estimate the energy harvesting channel vectors. Due to the high complexity of the system, we propose a novel deep Q-network algorithm to determine the optimal transmission strategy for complex systems. Simulation results show that deep Q-network is superior to the existing algorithms in terms of the time consumption to fulfill the wireless charging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless energy harvesting is an effective way to power condition monitoring sensors which are the basis of smart grid. In this paper, a new free-standing I-shaped core is designed to scavenge electromagnetic energy from large alternating current. An I-shaped core can guide more magnetic flux by adding a pair of magnetic flux collector plates at both ends of the rod core. It weakens the core demagnetization field and enables more energy to be collected. Since a magnetic field line can be bent with high-permeability soft magnetic materials, a highly efficient grid-shaped coil is proposed. Compared with the I-shaped coil, its weight is lighter and power density is higher. A Mn-Zn ferrite with high relative permeability and ultralow conductivity can effectively reduce eddy current loss, which proves to be the most suitable material. The measured open circuit voltage agrees well with the theoretical value. The experimental results show that the output power can reach 4.5 mW when the I-shaped coil is placed in a magnetic flux density of 6.5 μTrms. The power density is 7.28 μW/cm3. Therefore, the proposed design can be very effective for supplying condition monitoring sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arecoline, the principal active alkaloid in the areca nut, is known for its ability to induce euphoric sensations. Since ancient times, arecoline has garnered attention for its therapeutic potential in addressing psychiatric disorders and alleviating gastrointestinal ailments. However, in 2020, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified arecoline as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' (Group 2B carcinogen), supported by compelling mechanistic evidence. The mechanism of action of arecoline has been extensively studied, but the results of these studies are scattered and lack systematic integration and generalization. In this paper, we have systematically summarized the mechanism of arecoline within the oral cavity, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and digestion system, in terms of both health functions and toxic effects. In addition, we found some concentration-effect relationship between arecoline in the central nervous system and digestive system, i.e., low doses are beneficial and high doses are harmful. By summarizing the mechanisms of arecoline, this review is poised to provide in-depth and valuable insights into the clinical practice and targeted therapy of arecoline in the future.

Despite many efforts over two decades of independence, Timor-Leste's cereal production and agricultural productivity have decreased dramatically, reflected by high food insecurity and rural poverty. This paper analyses the country's current agricultural mechanization efforts to guide future actions that aim to stimulate growth through sustainable mechanization. We combined information from scientific publications, governmental and international cooperation communications, and data collected during field missions to assess the situation. Our study provides recommendations to reverse a failed tractorization campaign and presents a comprehensive overview of a strategy, in alignment with a proposed and renewed national agricultural mechanization policy, that would enable the modernization and sustainable intensification of current food production systems in a nutrition-sensitive, climate-smart, economically viable, and gender-inclusive fashion. The recommendations suggest a focus on scale-appropriate solutions that respond to upland smallholder farmers' capacities and consider good rural transport options, with the first steps to redirect the situation already taken through a technical cooperation program between FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture. Beyond this, a reform of the current government mechanization hire schemes is needed: integrated approaches, as found from business model analyses and training exercises during field missions, are needed, that entail context-specific solutions for targeted rural communities, with special attention given to participatory extension, inclusive co-validation of technologies, and private sector-led business model development around mechanization service delivery. Finally, the authors hope the presented way forward can serve as a roadmap for smallholder farmers and developing nations in similar conditions elsewhere in the world.

Plant glandular trichomes serve as crucial secretory organs, responsible for the production, modification, and storage of various vital secondary metabolites, including medicinal natural products, while also playing a role in plant defense mechanisms. Artemisia annua L. (A. annua) stands as a significant herb in traditional Chinese medicine because of its primary active compound, artemisinin, which is the most potent antimalarial agent. The glandular trichomes of A. annua are closely related to the synthesis and accumulation of artemisinin. As research in medicinal plants progresses, the significance of glandular trichomes in the study of plant secondary metabolites has notably escalated. Given their pivotal role in artemisinin biosynthesis, the growth and development of A. annua glandular trichomes directly influence the yield and quality of artemisinin. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest research advancements regarding A. annua glandular trichomes, encompassing their morphology, function, growth, and developmental influencing factors, and the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway. The aim is to provide substantial support for ongoing investigations into the growth and development of A. annua glandular trichomes and the underlying mechanisms of metabolic regulation.

Macleaya cordata, a medicinal plant in the Papaveraceae family, is rich in bioactive benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Recent research has elucidated the mechanisms by which these active components promote livestock and poultry growth and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on the intestines. These findings have led to the development of two raw medicinal materials and two veterinary drug formulations, widely used in China's livestock industry. Advances in multi-omics technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing and transcriptomics, have clarified the chemical composition of alkaloids and the biosynthesis of sanguinarine, enabling its de novo synthesis in yeast. Efforts in plant breeding have focused on cultivar selection and germplasm innovation, establishing DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability) testing guidelines. Genetic engineering techniques have re-edited the sanguinarine pathway and induced hairy roots and cell suspension cultures in M. cordata. These advancements reduce production costs, ensure product stability, and promote sustainable production. This paper reviews the species origin, current research status, and prospects of M. cordata, offering guidance for further research on this valuable resource.

Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium), a perennial herb within the Tanacetum genus, stands as a crucial source of natural insecticides pyrethrins which have been utilized for centuries. This study delves into the historical utilization of pyrethrum and elucidates the biosynthetic pathways of pyrethrum, uncovering the majority of genes responsible for pyrethrin production. Moreover, pyrethrum flowers and stems are rich in sesquiterpene lactones, known for their antifungal attributes, and they release (E)-β-farnesene, an aphid alarm pheromone that lures predators such as ladybirds. These discoveries emphasize pyrethrum's multifaceted chemical defense against various biotic adversaries and its viability as a companion plant in agricultural settings. Farmers have recognized and begun utilizing pyrethrum in this capacity. The paper underscores the need for further research to thoroughly comprehend and exploit pyrethrum defense strategies for sustainable farming practices, underscoring its potential in ecological and agricultural spheres.

For horticulture to meet the needs of global markets, the reproduction and breeding of ornamental plants is allimportant. Nevertheless, certain ornamental plants exhibit a lower capacity for explant regeneration when compared to model plants. These challenges hinder the rapid propagation, virus-free breeding, and molecular breeding of ornamental plants. This paper examines both traditional and emerging plant regeneration technologies and discusses the difficulties ornamental plants encounter during the regeneration process. It also provides an outlook on the applications of emerging technologies in ornamental plant regeneration. This study will provide insights into the industrialization and practical application of molecular tools in ornamental plant breeding.

Fruit acidity is an important component of flavor quality in fleshy fruit. The accumulation of malate, the dominant organic acid in the acidity formation of most mature fruit, is highly regulated by metabolism and transportation during fruit development. The knowledge on the mechanism of fruit acidification, as well as the major genes and substances is however still limited. In the present paper, the research advances on the relevance between malate accumulation and the genes associated with malate metabolism and transportation, as well as the transcriptional regulation of malate in fruit was reviewed. Furthermore, positive future research could provide a theoretical reference for optimizing fruit quality and genetic improvement.

Moisture migration is an important factor affecting the performance and durability of laminated veneer lumber (LVL), a common packaging material. In this paper, we used low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to investigate the moisture migration of LVL during water absorption and drying. The results showed that as LVL absorbed water, the signals of both strongly and weakly bound water in the pores increased significantly with time until the samples were fully saturated, and the NMR signals did not change much. The drying process of LVL started with a significant decrease of weakly bound water signals, followed by a gradual decrease of strongly bound water signals until the moisture content in the samples had completely evaporated. MRI was used to observe the water distribution during the water absorption and drying process and found that the visual images were consistent with the quantified NMR spectral results. We also found a linear relationship between the NMR signal and the water mass, and a high correlation between the NMR and weighing results. Our results demonstrated that the combination of LF-NMR relaxation technology and MRI technology is an effective method to analyze the moisture distribution and migration for LVL laminates.

Color is an important factor in determining a consumer's desire to buy and an important indicator of meat quality. Processing and storage processes affect the color of meat products. Therefore, research on how to improve the color of meat products can not only improve the quality of meat products but also enhance a consumer's desire to buy. Nitrosomyoglobin is known to be the main substance that exerts color in meat products. Meanwhile, meat products undergo a series of chemical and physical changes during the curing process that also affect the color of cured meat products. This paper reviews the six main factors currently affecting the color of cured meat products: (1) Quality of raw meat and the content of myoglobin; (2) physical structure of the muscle and achromatic aberration; (3) lipid oxidation; (4) Maillard reaction; (5) additives; and (6) packaging methods. In addition, the article also explores the relationship between pH, temperature, water retention and color in cured meat products, in order to provide more ideas for the study of color in cured meat products.

Fermented sausage is a fermented meat product favored by a large number of of consumers. In fermented sausages, the formation of gel is one of the key steps, and its composition mainly includes meat protein and fat, among which myofibrillar protein is essential for the gel properties of fermented sausages. During the processing of fermented sausages, the myofibrillar protein and myosin in the meat are deformed, losing their original solubility and becoming a gel substance, while the metabolites and enzymes of microorganisms in the fermented sausage can interact with the protein and fat in the meat to promote the formation of gel, thereby helping to improve the texture, water retention and taste of the fermented sausage. In this paper, the formation mechanism of gel properties of fermented sausage was comprehensively discussed, the effects of lactic acid bacteria, temperature, and other factors on the gel properties of fermented sausage were analyzed, and the research methods of gel properties were introduced. The aim was to provide a basis for the control of process parameters in the processing of fermented sausage and to provide a reference for further improving the gel quality of fermented sausage.

The study of the distribution pattern of fire risk in ancient buildings can provide a starting point for emergency measures to be taken in case of possible fires. Based on the fire characteristics, system complexity, and geographic information attributes of large palace ancient building complexes, this paper adopts a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method combining fuzzy mathematics and analytic hierarchy process to construct a fire risk evaluation system for ancient buildings, which includes six criteria and 28 indicators such as the value index, and the fire likelihood. For the evaluation method of this system, the expert scoring and Analytic Hierarchy Process are used to determine the weights of various indicators. Then, the multiple rounds of expert analysis with a review of relative literature, the membership degree of each indicator is analyzed one-by-one, and the final risk model, and risk factor are determined. By combining MHMapGIS technology, this comprehensive evaluation method was applied as an example to the Imperial Palace (large Ming and Qing ancient architectural buildings) in Beijing (China) for grid and visual analysis, and the rationality of the results were verified. The evaluation results can intuitively and reasonably show the distribution of fire risk, indicating that the constructed evaluation system and its model method display a certain of feasibility.

This study addresses the significant fire hazards associated with using thermoplastic materials, particularly PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate), which are prone to flammability and high calorific values. By employing a methodology that combines small-scale experiments and theoretical analysis, this paper investigates the impact of material width on the behavior of discrete flames in open spaces, using specimens ranging from 5 to 10 cm in width. The findings indicate that an increase in specimen width positively affects the burning area and brightness, while the dimensionless flame height and heat release rate per unit width exhibit a negative power law decay with increasing width. This suggests that beyond a critical width, further increases in width have little influence on flame propagation. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of fire dynamics in thermoplastics and provide valuable insights that could lead to enhanced fire safety standards and material designs. The originality of this research lies in its detailed analysis of how material dimensions influence flame behavior, a topic that has not been extensively explored before, offering significant practical value in applications where fire safety is crucial.

According to the provisions on fire separation distance between industrial and civil buildings in the latest 'General Code for Fire Protection of Buildings and Constructions' (GB 55037-2022). Radiant heat intensity is one of the main factors in calculating the fire separation distance between buildings. Therefore, the design process involves a lot of calculation of radiant heat intensity. This paper mainly studies the prediction model of radiant heat flux. Three different view factor calculation models, Mudan, Mudan-Sparrow, and Rai-Kalelkar, are used to evaluate the influence of key factors such as the diameter of the pool and the distance between the target and the center point of the liquid pool on the calculation results of radiant heat flux. The results show that when it came to estimating the radiant heat flux, the Mudan and Mudan-Sparrow models yielded comparable results. The calculation of the Rai-Kalelkar model shows that the radiant heat flux is about half of the heat flux in the first two models. When calculating the minimum fire separation distance for combustible liquid storage tanks with a fire dike, the results show that all three models can provide a larger safety margin than the point source model.