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Photocatalysis has shown power in the valorization of biomass while controlling the selectivity is a long‐standing goal and challenge, especially for the complex and reactive bio‐polyols. The selectivity control of photocatalytic biopolyols reforming to formic acid (FA) or CO is realized via engineering the electrostatic field on TiO2 semiconductor. The electrostatic field is generated by surface modification with anion adsorbates, which can alter the trap states of photoexcited holes and regulate interfacial hole transfer to the surface‐bound species, thereby strongly affecting photocatalytic activity. Taking formic acid dehydration as an example, a shallow trap of photoexcited holes on pristine TiO2 favors the dehydration of FA to CO, while a deep trap of photoexcited holes after introduced anion adsorbates makes FA stable. Based on this result, the selectivity is successfully tuned in the photocatalytic oxidation of biopolyols via controlling electrostatic field. A wide range of biopolyols can be selectively converted into FA or CO. This work presents an effective strategy to manipulate reaction pathways via generating electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the effects of environmental electromagnetic irradiation on the metabolism of organisms have attracted extensive attention, but the mechanism is still not clear. D-glucose plays an important role in the metabolism of organisms. In this work, the change in the optical rotation of D-glucose solution under an electrostatic field is measured experimentally, so as to explain the mechanism of the electric field-induced biological effect. The experimental results show that the electrostatic field can alter the optical rotation of D-glucose solution at different temperatures. Under the different strengths of electrostatic field, the specific rotation of D-glucose solution increases at different temperatures; the maximum increase can reach 2.07%, but the effect of temperature and electric field strength on the rotation increment is nonlinear and very complex. Further, it turns out that the proportion of α-D-glucose in solution increases by up to 3.25% under the electrostatic field, while the proportion of β-D-glucose decreases by as much as 1.75%. The experimental study confirms that electrostatic field can change the proportion of two conformation molecules (α and β-D-glucose) in D-glucose solution, which can provide a novel explanation for the mechanism of the electric field-induced biological effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental setup and methodology for studying the triboelectric properties of materials at various temperatures are described. The technique is based on recording the electrostatic field that occurs during friction of surfaces of two materials forming a dynamic pair. The use of a tuning fork electrostatic field sensor that has been developed made it possible to carry out measurements in a wide temperature range from –50 to +60°C. Based on the experimental results, the dependences of charge accumulation and decay were obtained for various pairs of shoe materials (felt, leather, natural, and synthetic fabrics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of polar impurities, such as phospholipids, free fatty acids (FFA), and peroxides, can be challenging during the refining of crude canola oil. Current conventional refining methods are energy-intensive (e.g., hot water washes) and can generate significant waste (e.g., wastewater effluent) and neutral oil loss. This study investigated the joint use of nano-adsorbents and electrostatic field (E-field) treatment as a potential and sustainable alternative in removing these impurities during the oil refining process. Specifically, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles were employed to neutralize FFAs, achieving a 62.4% reduction in acid value while preserving the fatty acid profile of the oil. After refining, E-field treatment was successful in removing the spent nano-adsorbent from solution (up to 72.3% by weight), demonstrating enhanced efficiency compared to conventional methods (e.g., gravitational settling, filtration, and centrifugation). The neutral oil loss using Al2O3 nano-adsorbents was also comparable to conventional refining methods, with a 4.38% (by weight) loss. After E-field treatment, the Al2O3 nano-adsorbent was then calcined to assess reusability. The Al2O3 nano-adsorbent was effectively recycled for three refining cycles. the methods do not use of large amounts of water and generate minimal waste byproducts (e.g., effluent). Nonetheless, while the nano-adsorbents demonstrated promising results in FFA removal, they were less effective in eliminating peroxides and pigments. E-field techniques were also effective in removing spent nano-adsorbent; although, optimization of E-field parameters could further improve its binding capacity. Finally, future studies could potentially focus on the physicochemical modifications of the nano-adsorbent material to enhance their refining capacity and reusability. Overall, this study presents a sustainable alternative or addition to conventional refining methods and lays the groundwork for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oils and fatty acid esters (FAEs) are commonly used in various industrial and commercial applications. However, the presence of contaminants in these oils can severely affect their functionality and suitability. Conventional refining techniques for vegetable oils typically involve degumming, neutralization, bleaching and deodorization. Meanwhile, refining of FAEs often utilize wet or dry washing processes. These are often resource-intensive, producing substantial waste products, causing neutral oil loss, and can also result in the loss of micronutrients. To address these challenges, researchers have explored the use of nano-adsorbents and electrostatic field (E-field) technologies as alternatives in purifying industrial dielectric oils by removing polar particles and contaminants. Nano-adsorbents demonstrated increased efficiency in removing polar contamination while minimizing neutral oil loss. However, removal of these spent adsorbents can be challenging due to their nano-size, and physicochemical properties. The use of these materials combined with E-field technologies offers a novel and sustainable solution for removing spent nano-adsorbents and contaminants. This review provides an overview of current traditional and novel refining technologies for vegetable oils and FAEs, including their associated limitations. Compared to conventional methods, E-field treatment offers several advantages, making it an attractive alternative to conventional approaches in food processing and oil refining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confronting the limitations of traditional von Neumann architectures—chiefly their inability to process unstructured data efficiently, this work proposes a new in‐memory sensing and computing paradigm exemplified by introducing a pioneering tin oxide nanowire‐based photoelectric synaptic transistor (PST) with a floating gate replicating biological synapses' functionality. Capitalizing on the nanowire structure's high surface area to volume ratio, the PST overcomes the challenges of photo response in metal oxide semiconductors. Integrating metal oxides' Photoelectric‐Phenomenon‐Coupling effect with the charge storage capacity of field‐effect transistors enables effective optical detection and weight storage. The PST performs exceptional optoelectrical and synaptic properties, including capabilities for long‐term memory, short‐term memory, paired‐pulse facilitate, and synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, by incorporating a learning mechanism, the PST achieves an impressive 94.65% accuracy in recognizing patterns in the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology's(MNIST) handwritten digit dataset within 50 epochs. This research indicates a significant step toward intelligent computing systems closely mimicking the human brain's computational prowess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Electrostatic fields, as a new food physical processing technology, can effectively improve the quality of frozen food. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of electrostatic field‐assisted frozen storage (SEF) on dough rheological properties, gluten structure, and its mechanism. Findings: The results showed that the G′ and G" of the gluten were efficiently maintained by SEF throughout frozen storage. Meanwhile, after 8 weeks of frozen storage, the relative contents of α‐helices were 25.28% and 24.76%, respectively, and the relative contents of random coils were 40.58% and 41.25%, respectively, in SEFs compared with the control group. This suggested that SEFs might affect the recrystallization of ice crystals by changing the orientation of water molecules, which, in turn, alleviated the disruption of protein secondary structural order. SEF had no effect on the gauche‐gauche‐gauche conformation. SEF reduced damage to protein senior structure by frozen storage. The glutenin macropolymer (GMP) depolymerization of the control and SEF groups was 28.55% and 28.17%, respectively, and the SEF decelerated the GMP depolymerization. Conclusions: SEF slowed the disruption of the molecular structure by reducing the depolymerization of GMP and slowing the depolymerization of the α‐helix, thus maintaining the viscoelasticity of the gluten. Significance and Novelty: Exploring the mechanism of the effect of electrostatic field‐assisted frozen storage on gluten quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effects and possible mechanism of electret and 5-fluorouracil（ 5-FU） on the growth of scar fibroblasts. Methods The effect of +5000 V electret combined with different concentrations of 5-FU on the proliferation of scar fibroblasts was detected by automatic enzyme labeling instrument. The apoptosis of scar fibroblasts and the mRNA expression of p53 and other apoptotic genes were studied by fluorescence microscopy and RT-PCR technology under the action of electrostatic field. Results ① After the treatment of positive electret and different concentrations of 5-FU for 72 h, the cell proliferation rate decreased, and the inhibition rate of scar cells in the +5000 V electret+160 μg/ml 5-FU group was (0.15±0.051)%. ②+5000 V electret group could promote the apoptosis of scar fibroblasts; The number of apoptotic cells in +5000 V electret and 5-FU group was higher than that in 5-FU group. ③The mRNA expression levels of four apoptotic genes in the +5000 V electret group were increased, and the expression levels of four signature genes in the +5000 V electret and 5-FU group were increased compared with those in the 5-FU group. Conclusion The combination of positive electret and 5-FU had a synergistic effect on inhibiting cell growth. The mechanism of positive electret inhibiting scar cell growth may be through promoting the expression of apoptosis gene, and then affecting the growth state of cells to inhibit cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in gluten during the freezing process could cause a deterioration in dough quality, which would be solved by electrostatic field treatment. This paper investigated the effects of electrostatic field assisted freezing (EFAF) on the functional properties, structural characteristics and aggregation behavior of gluten. The results showed that EFAF improved the functional properties of gluten with enhanced water holding, emulsifying and foaming properties. When the electrostatic field was applied, the α-helix content and g-g-g conformation of gluten proteins increased with a maximum of 27.50 % and 40.05 %, respectively, which were significantly different from the control (P

Freezing is an important method for food preservation, and some frozen foods still require separate thawing processes before consumption. Traditional thawing methods suffer from issues such as uneven temperature rise, long processing time, and significant loss of juices. As a new thawing technology, physical field thawing has received extensive research and attention in recent years. This paper reviews the research progress of physical field thawing in frozen food processing, and elaborates on the mechanisms and application effects of technologies such as ultrasound, dielectric, and electric fields in the thawing process. Compared to traditional thawing methods, physical field thawing better preserves the nutritional components of the ingredients, maintains sensory quality, reduces juice loss, and improves thawing efficiency. Different types of food materials and thawing methods may yield different effects, requiring analysis of the response characteristics and physicochemical parameters, such as dielectric constant, conductivity, and fat content, of actual ingredients to determine the optimal thawing conditions. Future research will focus on exploring efficient, stable, and low-energy physical field-assisted technologies, continuing in-depth studies on the impact on ingredient quality and thawing effects, to better meet consumers' demand for efficient processing of frozen foods.

The focus of the study is the process of modeling the electrostatic field surrounding a person wearing shoes and clothes with different dielectric constants. The objective is to assess the degree of heterogeneity of the electrostatic field strength values generated around a person, considering the triboelectric properties of clothing and shoes. The purpose of the work is to develop models that illustrate the correlation between the electrostatic field and the potential of the human body in the “person – special shoes – floor covering” system. Finite element modeling was performed using COMSOL Multiphysics, which enables the analysis of both individual and interconnected physical processes. It also allows for the consideration of the influence of the shape of charged solids on the inhomogeneity of the electrostatic field on their surface. Three types of models were considered: a person in shoes and without clothes; a person in shoes and light clothing made of a material with a relative dielectric constant ε = 2.4 and an average layer thickness of 0.5 cm; a person in shoes, in light and warm clothes made of materials with a relative dielectric constant ε = 4.3 and an average layer thickness of 2.0–2.5 cm. To strength of the electrostatic field of the system was calculated applying the finite element method. The study revealed that the electrostatic field of the “person-shoes-floor covering” system is maximally concentrated in the lower part of the body geometry, i. e. in the shoe area. For a model in light clothing, the electrostatic field strength at the same potential on the human body increases by more than 2.6 times compared to the model without clothing. The presented modeling method allows us to take into account the properties of materials, thickness and dielectric properties of clothing and footwear packages. This will enable the assessment of potential risks of exposure to electrostatic fields on the health of personnel and industrial equipment. The results of the research can be used in planning experimental studies, selecting materials and designing packages of special antistatic shoes and clothing.

We have newly designed an electrostatic sensor, called an electric field mill (EFM), to simplify the estimation of the charge position and charge amount transferred by lightning discharges. It is necessary for this remote estimation of the transferred charge to measure electric field changes caused by charge loss at the time of a lightning strike at multiple locations. For multiple-station measurement of electric field changes, not only speed but also phase for exposure and shielding of the sensing plates inside each EFM of the array should be synchronized to maintain the sensitivities of the deployed instruments. Currently, there is no such EFM with specified speed and phase control performance of the rotary part. Thus, we developed a new EFM in which the rotary mechanism was controlled consistently to within 3% error by a GPS module. Five EFMs had been distributed in the Hokuriku area of Japan during the winter season of 2022–2023 for a test observation. Here we describe the design and a simple calibration method for our new EFM array. Data analysis method based on the assumption of a simple monopole charge structure is also summarized. For validation, locations of assumed point charges were compared with three-dimensional lightning mapping data estimated by radio observations in the MF-HF bands. Initial results indicated the validity to estimate transferred charge amounts and positions of winter cloud-to-ground lightning discharges with our new EFM array.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent and toxic to human health. It is demanding for high‐efficient and green technologies to remove PFASs from water. In this study, a novel PFAS treatment technology was developed, utilizing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles (1–5 μm) as the catalyst and a low frequency ultrasound (US, 40 kHz, 0.3 W/cm2) for activation. Remarkably, this system can induce near‐complete defluorination for different structured PFASs. The underlying mechanism relies on contact electrification between PTFE and water, which induces cumulative electrons on PTFE surface, and creates a high surface voltage (tens of volts). Such high surface voltage can generate abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS, i.e. O2⋅−, HO⋅, etc.) and a strong interfacial electrostatic field (IEF of 109~1010 V/m). Consequently, the strong IEF significantly activates PFAS molecules and reduces the energy barrier of O2⋅− nucleophilic reaction. Simultaneously, the co‐existence of surface electrons (PTFE*(e−)) and HO⋅ enables synergetic reduction and oxidation of PFAS and its intermediates, leading to enhanced and thorough defluorination. The US/PTFE method shows compelling advantages of low energy consumption, zero chemical input, and few harmful intermediates. It offers a new and promising solution for effectively treating the PFAS‐contaminated drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled freezing point storage assisted by the electrostatic field has been proven to maintain the quality of fresh meat effectively. In this study, we evaluated the freshness variation of pork under controlled freezing point storage assisted by different high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) usage frequencies, including single-used HVEF (SHVEF), interval-used HVEF (IHVEF), and continuous-used HVEF (CHVEF). The pH value, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), total viable count (TVC), and bacterial community composition were determined. The results showed that the pH value in the three groups gradually decreased, while the TVB-N and TVC increased along with the growth of bacteria. The IHVEF and CHVEF treatments effectively delayed the decrease in pH value and significantly reduced the overall level of TVC and TVB-N in fresh pork at a later storage period. Bacterial community composition analysis showed that the dominant bacteria in all three treatments were Pseudomonas, Latilactobacillus, and Brochothrix, and HVEF treatment can significantly decrease their diversity and abundance. The functional analysis showed that HVEF treatment has influenced the pathways of amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism during controlled freezing point storage. In conclusion, the HVEF treatment has a significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory effect against dominant bacteria and enhanced the storage quality of fresh pork. These results could provide theoretical guidance for the possible application of HVEF technology in controlled freezing point preservation of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electric field, a field of electric force surrounding a charged particle, affects the growth, development, morphology, and physiological responses of plants. Previous studies have reported the effects of electric fields on plants, but further investigation is required to understand better how these fields influence plants. Thus, we aimed to explore the effects of both vertical and horizontal electric fields on the growth and physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in controlled environmental conditions. When treated 10-day-old lettuce seedlings with 5 kV/m of vertical or horizontal electrostatic fields for 28 days, the fresh weights of shoots and roots increased. The morphological changes in the leaves differed depending on the direction of the electric field. In addition, electric fields enhanced the uptake mineral content of the plants that is transported into different plant organs and tend to improve their transpiration rate and stomatal conductance. A vertical electric field accelerated sap flow through stems. The rate of the G1 phase of the cell cycle was highest following electric field treatments. Microscopy observations of stomatal size and epidermal cell size supported the notion that mineral uptake was enhanced by the increased transpiration rate and expanded leaf area. Our results indicate that electric fields have positive effects on lettuce growth and physiological responses and that the growth of lettuce is altered by electric fields from different directions. We propose that electric fields could be utilized as an environmental factor to maximize plant productivity and modulate plant responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An environmentally friendly binary copolymer agent was synthesized using the phosphorus- and nitrogen-free agents itaconic acid(IA) and sodium methacrylate sulfonate(SMAS) monomers, and the effects of the synthesis process conditions on the copolymer properties were systematically investigated・ The optimal synthesis conditions were as follows: the mass ratio of raw materials (I A* SMAS) was 2' 1, the polymerization temperature was 95 °C, and the polymerization time was 6 h・ In addition, the additions of irdtiator and chain transfer agent were 5% of the total mass of raw materials. The static scale inhibition experimental studies showed that the synthesized copolymer has excellent scale inhibition and dispersion properties・ The copolymer was combined with an electrostatic field for scale inhibition studies, and the results showed that the presence of electrostatic field increased the scale inhibition performance of IA/SMAS copolymer by 17%, and that the electrostatic force had a synergistic effect with IA/SMAS copolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel self-sustained multipactor mechanism observed in a two-sided dielectric-loaded parallel-plate waveguide. By employing an in-house Monte Carlo algorithm that incorporates numerical calculations of electrostatic field alongside the dynamic electron tracking, we accurately predict the temporal evolution of the discharge. It is found that the emission of secondary electrons leads to the positive self-charging of the two dielectrics. The accumulation of charges creates a non-uniform electrostatic field, which disrupts the double-sided resonant motion of the secondary electrons and ultimately establishes a steady state condition. Thereafter, the electrons drive double- or single-sided stochastic motion, corresponding to low or high orders of resonance, respectively. The susceptibility chart demonstrates that the multipactor saturation threshold is directly correlated to the ratio of the electrostatic field intensity to the radio frequency (RF) electric field intensity. Given the saturation condition, positive pre-charged dielectrics show promise in suppressing secondary electrons. Furthermore, when two dielectrics possess distinct secondary electron yield (SEY), the saturation time of self-charging on one dielectric will be influenced by the SEY of the opposing dielectric, while the saturation value of self-charging on each dielectric surface will remain stable.

In this research, the behavior of an electric field caused by the mechanism of electrostatic painting has been investigated using the finite element method and FLEXPDE software. The aim of this study is to optimize the electrostatic spraying performance of the paint sprayer by investigating the potential field in the paint nozzle. The results show that the potential and the electric field can be solved at any given point and displayed graphically. Additionally, changing the 2D rectangular covering surface to a circular one increased the potential value reached on the covering surface by 10 percent. The amount of electric potential and electrostatic field in the direction perpendicular to the x-axis is shown to be symmetrical and equal for y > 0 and y

At present, the effects of environmental electromagnetic irradiation on the metabolism of organisms have attracted extensive attention, but the mechanism is still not clear. D-glucose plays an important role in the metabolism of organisms. In this work, the change in the optical rotation of D-glucose solution under an electrostatic field is measured experimentally, so as to explain the mechanism of the electric field-induced biological effect. The experimental results show that the electrostatic field can alter the optical rotation of D-glucose solution at different temperatures. Under the different strengths of electrostatic field, the specific rotation of D-glucose solution increases at different temperatures; the maximum increase can reach 2.07%, but the effect of temperature and electric field strength on the rotation increment is nonlinear and very complex. Further, it turns out that the proportion of α-D-glucose in solution increases by up to 3.25% under the electrostatic field, while the proportion of β-D-glucose decreases by as much as 1.75%. The experimental study confirms that electrostatic field can change the proportion of two conformation molecules (α and β-D-glucose) in D-glucose solution, which can provide a novel explanation for the mechanism of the electric field-induced biological effect.

Proteins undergo a series of conformational changes when affected by the applied electric field, which changes their functions and properties. The conformational changes in proteins in various electric fields are different due to their internal structures. This study simulates the molecular dynamics of proteins in different amounts and directions of electric fields with gromacs software. According to the root mean square deviation, hydrogen bond, dipole moment, and solvent accessible surface area, it is proved that the conformation change in proteins is more drastic under the simultaneous action of multiple electric fields under various directions, and different fragments unfold with divergent electric fields combined, which is of great importance to control protein function, improve biochemical research and production efficiency in the food and drug safety field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of the electrostatic method of applying abrasive to the surface of the backing when manufacturing flexible grinding tools. An original technique for the manufacture of experimental samples with abrasive grains oriented at various angles is presented in the article. The diagrams of apparatuses for the orientation of grains relative to the backing surface are given. The optimal angle of grain orientation was revealed and substantiated experimentally. The parameter of the influence of changing the distance between the electrodes on the degree of concentration of grains on the backing surface of the samples is analyzed. The percentage ratios of oriented abrasive grains relative to their total number for various grain sizes are presented. The relationship between the angle of inclination and the actual number of grains per unit surface of the backing is determined. Based on the statistical data obtained, conclusions are formulated that can be used in the manufacture of flexible grinding tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The values of the surface induced charges, the positions of their centers, and the value of the equivalent dipole of an oblate conducting spheroid are determined by transition from spheroidal coordinates to a spherical system of coordinates in the analytical asymptotic calculations of the first order of smallness with respect to the squared eccentricity. The characteristics of the equivalent dipole are obtained depending on the value of the electrostatic field strength, squared eccentricity, and the radius of an equal sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying electrostatic field (EF)–assisted thawing on the quality attributes of previously frozen beef striploin. Beef striploins from both sides of 12 USDA Choice carcasses were halved, frozen at −40°C, and thawed under 4 EF voltage treatments: 0 kV (control), 2.5 kV, 5 kV, and 10 kV. After reaching the internal temperature of −1°C, striploins were weighed for yield calculation, swabbed for microbial analysis, fabricated into steaks, and assigned to either 0- or 14-d aging period and retail displayed for 0 or 7 d. Subjective and objective color measurements were taken during the retail display. Upon completion of retail display, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), cook loss, sarcomere length, troponin-T degradation, muscle fiber spacing, lipid oxidation, antioxidant capacity, pH, and proximate analysis were performed. All EF treatments increased purge loss compared to the control (P0.05). Overall, our study determined that there was no economic benefit to apply EF during thawing regarding yield and purge loss. However, the application of EF may improve tenderness and extend shelf life of beef during retail display.

Removal of polar impurities, such as phospholipids, free fatty acids (FFA), and peroxides, can be challenging during the refining of crude canola oil. Current conventional refining methods are energy-intensive (e.g., hot water washes) and can generate significant waste (e.g., wastewater effluent) and neutral oil loss. This study investigated the joint use of nano-adsorbents and electrostatic field (E-field) treatment as a potential and sustainable alternative in removing these impurities during the oil refining process. Specifically, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles were employed to neutralize FFAs, achieving a 62.4% reduction in acid value while preserving the fatty acid profile of the oil. After refining, E-field treatment was successful in removing the spent nano-adsorbent from solution (up to 72.3% by weight), demonstrating enhanced efficiency compared to conventional methods (e.g., gravitational settling, filtration, and centrifugation). The neutral oil loss using Al2O3 nano-adsorbents was also comparable to conventional refining methods, with a 4.38% (by weight) loss. After E-field treatment, the Al2O3 nano-adsorbent was then calcined to assess reusability. The Al2O3 nano-adsorbent was effectively recycled for three refining cycles. the methods do not use of large amounts of water and generate minimal waste byproducts (e.g., effluent). Nonetheless, while the nano-adsorbents demonstrated promising results in FFA removal, they were less effective in eliminating peroxides and pigments. E-field techniques were also effective in removing spent nano-adsorbent; although, optimization of E-field parameters could further improve its binding capacity. Finally, future studies could potentially focus on the physicochemical modifications of the nano-adsorbent material to enhance their refining capacity and reusability. Overall, this study presents a sustainable alternative or addition to conventional refining methods and lays the groundwork for future research.

Charging potential appears when a conductor insulated to the ground is exposed to an electrostatic field. A modified measurement method based on a non-contact electrometer is presented in this article. This system is appropriate for measuring the charging potential of a conductor near high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) overhead lines. Compared with the contact measurement method, the modified method is hardly affected by the internal resistance of the electrometer, which helps ensure measurement accuracy in the electrostatic field. In contrast with the traditional non-contact electrometer, the electric field generated by HVDC lines and the space charges around the electrometer probe are shielded using a grounding cage. The effectiveness of the modified measurement method was verified via experiments. The impacts of the structure and position of the measurement system on the measured charging potential are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, it is shown that the geometry of a gravity field generated by a spheroid with low eccentricity can be described with the help of a newly modified Helmholtz equation. To distinguish this equation from the modified Helmholtz equation, we refer to it as the G-modified Helmholtz equation. The use of this new equation to study the spheroid's gravity field is advantageous in expressing the gravity vector as a vector series of spherical harmonics. The solution of the G-modified Helmholtz equation involves both the gravity intensity g (or simply gravity g) and the intensity E of an electrostatic field as shown in sequel. An electrostatic field generated by an oblate spheroid charged with l electrons (uniform ellipsoidal charge distribution) is demonstrated to be a special case. Both gravity intensity g and intensity E are governed by the same law and can be expressed as a series of spherical harmonics, and thus the G-modified Helmholtz equation is useful for describing the gravity and electrostatic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide semiconductors have been developed for ultraviolet–visible photodetectors, but improving sensitivity has remained a challenge due to poor mobility and carrier losses. In this study, a high‐performance photodetector is achieved by implementing a chargeable electret to regulate carrier transmission properties in the CuBi2O4 (CBO) conductive channel. As expected, the positively charged device shows improved performance, with a broadband detection range covering 250–600 nm, maximum responsivity and detectivity of around 10.65 A W−1 and 8.56 × 1012 Jones, and a fast rise and decay time of 50 and 300 µs, respectively. Mechanism analyses suggest two roles of the electret layer: 1) positive charges in the electret layer attract electrons and leave a pure hole conductive channel with less carrier recombination and trapping; 2) holes in the conductive channel move in one direction with less carrier collision and scattering. This work has demonstrated an effective strategy for providing a durable and stable ultra‐high electrostatic field to improve the sensitivity of photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maintain the storage quality of strawberry after harvest and study the effect of low voltage electrostatic field (LVEF)-assisting refrigerated storage on strawberries quality, the study applied the low voltage electrostatic field (3kV 4±1℃ in LVEF group) to store strawberries in refrigeration environment, and setting refrigerated storage at 4±1°C as the control (CK group). The results showed that the freshness days of strawberries refrigerated by low voltage electrostatic field were twice as long as those of refrigerated group. The brightness and red-green degree of strawberries in LVEF group were 1.5 times and 2 times of those in CK group, respectively. The peak hardness of strawberry in LVEF group was 1.43 times of that in CK group, and the hardness decline range was 18.97% lower than that in CK group. The decreasing ranges of Total soluble solids (TSS), Titratable acids (TA) and Vitamin C(VC) in LVEF group were 43.91%, 60.01% and 46.17% lower than those in CK group, respectively. The increment of Malondialdehyde (MDA) of strawberries in LVEF group was 19.77% lower than that in CK group, and the activity peak of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) of strawberries in LVEF group was 1.22 times of that in CK group, and the decreasing range was 22.86% lower than that in CK group. After 10 days of storage, the weight loss rate and decay rate of strawberries in LVEF group and CK group were 16.69%, 15% and 70.65%, 59.45%, respectively. In conclusion, applying low voltage electrostatic field to refrigerated storage can effectively inhibit the quality deterioration of strawberries during refrigerated storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of research is the process of measuring the strength of the atmospheric electrostatic field. This paper is devoted to an analytical review and comparative analysis of modern methods and instruments for measuring atmospheric electrostatic field strength. The results of scientific research and modern practical technologies, which are used to develop technical means and increase the accuracy of measuring the strength of electrostatic fields, are considered. In the work, the general functional requirements for the hardware of systems for measuring the atmospheric electrostatic field strength are formed and the main directions of research and practical tasks for its creation are defined. The design features and characteristics of existing measuring instruments are considered in detail. The advantages and disadvantages of electrometers, electrostatic field mills, microelectromechanical electrostatic field mills, and electric field imaging systems are determined given their portability, sensitivity, measuring frequency, accuracy, measurement range, linearity, and cost. The analysis of the state of modern methods and measuring instruments for the strength of the electrostatic field showed that one of the best solutions for measuring the electrostatic field strength of the atmosphere today is the use of an improved electrostatic field mill. It was determined that one of the important problems for ensuring the development of methods and means of atmospheric electrostatic field strength measuring is the need to generalize the structure of the measuring instruments and calculate its metrological characteristics. It has been established that solving the problem of increasing the accuracy of atmospheric electrostatic field strength measurement requires a comprehensive approach based on improving the design of the sensor structure of the meter, increasing the accuracy of navigation and positioning, increasing the autonomy of work, improving communication and data transmission systems, as well as ensuring high stability and reliability of work under the influence of external factors. Improving the structure and improving the characteristics of electrostatic field mills in the future will ensure the necessary accuracy, compactness, and availability for measurement and its inclusion in the automated system of atmospheric electrostatic field monitoring and forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was made of the interaction of the first azimuthal modes of capillary waves on the surface of an elliptic jet in a homogeneous electrostatic field that is perpendicular to the axis of the jet. The interaction is nonlinear in the product of two independent small parameters. The interaction arises due to the ellipticity of the perpendicular cross-section of the jet and involves three azimuthal modes: either even or odd. The stability of the jet in the perpendicular homogeneous electrostatic field is lower than that of a jet in a radial electrostatic field. The characteristic destabilization time decreases with increasing initial amplitudes of the interacting modes and intensity of the external electrostatic field, and also depends on the wavenumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Under northward interplanetary magnetic field, periodical fluctuations with the period of 85 s have been observed by one of the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms spacecraft at the dayside magnetopause when the solar wind dynamic pressure suddenly dropped. The observed magnetic field distortions, characterized by the compression of the main component as well as the flapping of the perpendicular components, are in line with the theoretical predictions of the Rayleigh‐Taylor (R‐T) instability excited at the magnetopause. With the convective electric field and the mean electric field removed, the perturbations in the electric field are identified as typical two sinusoidal signals with a 90° phase difference, consistent with previous prediction of the attendant electrostatic field arising from the R‐T instability. The transverse motions of the plasmas resulting from the electric drifting driven by the electrostatic field are observed both in pitch‐angle distributions and in distribution functions. The growth rate of the R‐T instability is about 43 s, implying that the instability has time to grow during the disturbances. Using the Gauss theorem, the calculated net charge density based on the electric field observation is one part of 27 compared to the totally observed plasma density, indicating that only a tiny fraction of the charge separates to set up the electrostatic field, which is due to a collective effect in the plasma. Plain Language Summary: The magnetopause, the outmost edge that our planet's intrinsic magnetic field reaches, is always in motion. The macroscopic acceleration at the magnetopause is sometimes as large as a few km/s2. Theoretically, such an acceleration of the boundary can facilitate an instability in the motion of the interface, the R‐T instability. Such an instability can, in turn, cause a transfer of plasma across the magnetopause, from solar wind into the near‐Earth space. If the resulting particles are sufficiently energetic, operations of many satellites in space can be threatened. However, details of how the instability operates at the magnetopause have been neither verified nor observed in spacecraft observations. Recent measurements from NASA's Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms mission indicate that the R‐T instability can be excited at the magnetopause, and many details of the instability, including those of its electric field and plasma transport across the magnetopause appear to be verified in those observations. Key Points: 85‐s periodic fluctuations with plasma transport are observed at the magnetopause when solar wind dynamic pressure decreases abruptlyMagnetic field is found fluted along the mean field direction and meandering along the perpendicular directionThe attendant electric field of the Rayleigh‐Taylor instability, as well as the resultant cross‐field drift of the plasma, are also identified [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses electromagnetic radiation generated by capillary oscillations of zeroth and first modes of a droplet in an external electrostatic field. It is assumed that the droplet is an ideal, incompressible, electrically conductive fluid with a zero net charge and is charged in an external uniform electrostatic field by induced charges of opposite signs. The discussed radiation is detected in analytical asymptotic calculations of second order of magnitude with respect to the dimensionless amplitude of the droplet oscillations in the external electrostatic field. Analytical expressions for the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation associated with the zeroth and first mode oscillations are found as are dependencies of the radiation intensity on the strength of the field, size of the droplet, and surface tension coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of hyperparasitic fungi in controlling powdery mildew (PM). In a greenhouse, we spray-inoculated single colonies of the melon PM-causing fungus Podosphaera xanthii strain KMP-6N at three different fungal developmental stages (i.e., 5, 10, and 15 days old) with spores of the hyperparasitic fungus Ampelomyces sp. strain Xs-q. After spray inoculation, we collected and counted KMP-6N conidia produced as asexual progeny from PM colonies using an electrostatic rotational spore collector. Collector insulator films were replaced at 24 h intervals until KMP-6N ceased to release additional progeny conidia. Conidial releases from each of the single Xs-q-inoculated KMP-6N colonies gradually reduced, then stopped within ca. 4 and 8 days of the first treatment in 5- and 10-day-old KMP-6N colonies, and within ca. 20 days of the second spray treatment in 15-day-old KMP-6N colonies, respectively. The total numbers of asexual progeny conidia collected from single 5-, 10-, and 15-day-old colonies were ca. 156, 1167, and 44,866, respectively. After electrostatic spore collection, conidiophores in Xs-q-uninoculated KMP-6N colonies appeared normal, whereas almost all conidiophores in 5- and 10-day-old Xs-q-inoculated KMP-6N colonies were completely deformed or collapsed due to the infection of the hyperparasitic fungus. This is the first study to apply electrostatic and digital microscopic techniques to clarify the impact of fungal hyperparasitism on mycohost survival, and, in particular, to assess quantitatively and visually the suppression of conidial release from any PM colonies infected with Ampelomyces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural phases in crystal BEDT-TTF under the influence of doping molecules were studied. The system demonstrates the transition from a parallel aligned molecular phase (β-phase) to a new equilibrium state, where the molecules are rotated at a certain angle (α- or θ-phase). The precursor of this transition is the electrostatic and quadrupole interaction between BEDT-TTF and doping molecules. The modified potential of the Girifalco type is introduced, it depends on both intermolecular distance and the angle of the molecular rotation. It is found that the equilibrium distance between molecules in a stack increases and the deflection angle arises with an increase of the charge of doping molecules, which leads to new equilibrium states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drying of compact and biologically active materials presents significant challenges. In this study, we propose using electrostatic field–ultrasonic coupling pretreatment to enhance the drying efficiency of ginkgo fruits. We designed and constructed an experimental device to investigate the effects of ultrasonic power, pretreatment time, hot air drying temperature, and electrostatic field voltage on the moisture content of the fruits. We used the response surface methodology to identify optimal process conditions and further explored the kinetic model for the moisture content of the fruits under the pretreatment. The results showed that the optimal process parameters for electrostatic–ultrasound pretreatment and the drying of ginkgo fruits were: an electrostatic field voltage of 11.252 kV, an ultrasound power of 590.074 W, a pretreatment time of 32.799 min, and a hot air drying temperature of 85 °C. Under the optimized process conditions, the correlation between the moisture content of ginkgo fruits and the two-term drying kinetics model was the highest. After electrostatic–ultrasound coupling pretreatment, the drying rate of ginkgo fruits was significantly improved during hot air drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we simulated the electron density disturbance at night in the bottom of the ionosphere caused by the electrostatic field in a thundercloud. The simulation was conducted using the charge of the thundercloud as the source, by incorporating a more up-to-date conductivity profile, and using the ion chemistry model for the lower ionosphere. The results revealed that a thundercloud charge of 30–100 C can cause a disturbance in the electron density in the lower ionosphere, decreasing to 40% of the original value or increasing to 160% of the original value. The electron density disturbance occurs mainly below an altitude of 80 km, and its peak is located at an altitude of 70 km, with a regional horizontal radius of about 50–75 km. The simulation results of this study improve the theory of Salem et al and extend the original one-dimensional model to three-dimensional space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins undergo a series of conformational changes when affected by the applied electric field, which changes their functions and properties. The conformational changes in proteins in various electric fields are different due to their internal structures. This study simulates the molecular dynamics of proteins in different amounts and directions of electric fields with gromacs software. According to the root mean square deviation, hydrogen bond, dipole moment, and solvent accessible surface area, it is proved that the conformation change in proteins is more drastic under the simultaneous action of multiple electric fields under various directions, and different fragments unfold with divergent electric fields combined, which is of great importance to control protein function, improve biochemical research and production efficiency in the food and drug safety field.

Objective: In order to explore the effect of an external electrostatic field on the growth of ice crystals during food freezing. Methods: Based on the classic Kobayashi model of phase field method, the free energy density of electric field was introduced into the phase field model. Used the five-point difference scheme in the finite difference method to discretize the partial differential equation, the simulation and visualization of ice crystal growth were realized by programming. Results: The results showed that the simulation results were consistent with other simulation results and experimental results, and the ice crystal morphology had a typical sixfold symmetry; With the increase of electric field intensity, the growth rate of main branches and nucleation growth of ice crystals were inhibited. Conclusion: In the process of quick-frozen food preservation, adding a certain electric field strength will reduce the formation of ice crystals, and retain the quality and flavor of food as much as possible.

The intensity of acoustic radiation and the characteristic widths (depending on the radii and charges of the drops) of the frequency ranges in which the radiation falls have been calculated for charged droplets of convective clouds and near-ground fogs, which are immobile in the superposition of gravitational and electric fields. The calculations have been carried out using the methods of classical mathematical physics taking into account two small parameters: the dimensionless oscillation amplitude and the equilibrium spheroidal deformation of a charged droplet in an external electrostatic field. All calculations have been performed using the model of an ideal incompressible electroconducting liquid. It has turned out that the acoustic radiation from clouds and fogs occurs in the ultrasonic frequency range, while the acoustic radiation of large rain-drops is in the acoustic range audible to the human ear. The boundary between the ultrasonic and sonic radiations is determined by droplet sizes, electric field strengths (in a small vicinity of the droplets), and the values of interfacial tension coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The effects of different parameters of electrostatic field on the removal of ethylene from fruit and vegetable storage environment were studied. [Methods]The high voltage electrostatic field technology was used to simulate the removal of ethylene from fruit and vegetable storages, and its influencing factors were tested and analyzed. [Results] The removal effect of needle-plate electrodes was better than that of needle electrodes. The removal effect of ethylene at high voltage was better than that at low voltage. The length of gas chamber was positively correlated with the time required for ethylene removal. Increasing the voltage could produce more ozone, thus improving the removal effect of ethylene. [Condusions] This study provides theoretical basis and technical support for the use of high-voltage electrostatic field to remove ethylene in controlled atmosphere storages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article reviews the development of electrostatic apparatuses for controlling insect pests in greenhouses. The apparatuses control insects by repelling them, capturing them, and killing them by producing an arc discharge. The single-charged dipolar electric field screen (SD screen) repels insects due to insects' inherent avoidance behavior toward entering the electric field produced. As this behavior is common to many insect pests, the SD screen effectively prevents many pests from entering a greenhouse. The double-charged dipolar electric field screen (DD screen) has a strong attractive force that captures insects entering its electric field. The DD screen is useful for capturing small insects that pass through a conventional insect net, and unique derivatives of this screen have been invented to trap various insect pests on-site in a greenhouse. An arc-discharge exposer was used as a soil cover to kill adult houseflies that emerged from underground pupae transferred along with cattle manure used for soil fertilization. The houseflies were subjected to arc discharge when they appeared at the soil surface. These apparatuses have the common characteristic of a simple structure, so ordinary workers can be encouraged to fabricate or modify them based on their own needs. This review provides an experimental basis for designing efficient physical measures for controlling insect pests in greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Electronic Processing of Materials / Elektronnaya Obrabotka Materialov is the property of Institute of Applied Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)