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Preparation and thermal performance of a novel 1,10-decanediol -paraffin/expanded graphite composite phase change material for solar thermal utilization
Get PDFThe intermittent nature of solar irradiation poses significant challenges to the energy transfer stability of conventional solar-thermal conversion materials. To address this, solar-thermal phase change materials (PCMs) integrate thermal conversion and storage, mitigating temporal and spatial discontinuities of solar energy. However, existing PCMs suffer from limitations such as inadequate solar absorption, leakage, and low phase change enthalpy. In this study, a novel binary eutectic PCM comprising 1,10-decanediol (DDL) and paraffin wax (PW) was synthesized via melt blending. Expanded graphite (EG) was incorporated as a thermal conductivity enhancer and structural support, with a shape-stabilized composite PCM fabricated through vacuum impregnation. The DDL-PW/EG composite achieved a high encapsulation efficiency of 90%, exhibiting a phase change temperature of 63.2 °C and a latent heat capacity of 203.9 kJ·kg−1. Notably, its thermal conductivity reached 6.89 W·m−1·K−1, 13.78 times higher than that of pristine DDL-PW, while maintaining 85.0% photothermal conversion efficiency. Accelerated thermal cycling tests (200 cycles) revealed negligible degradation in phase change temperature and enthalpy, underscoring exceptional thermal reliability of the composite. Combining robust thermal storage performance with efficient solar-thermal conversion, the DDL-PW/EG composite demonstrates significant potential for advancing solar energy harvesting and storage applications
Euclid IV. The NISP Calibration Unit
No full textThe near-infrared calibration unit (NI-CU) on board Euclid’s Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) is the first astronomical calibration lamp based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to be operated in space. Euclid is a mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 framework to explore the dark universe and provide a next-level characterisation of the nature of gravitation, dark matter, and dark energy. Calibrating photometric and spectrometric measurements of galaxies to better than 1.5% accuracy in a survey homogeneously mapping ~14 000 deg2 of extragalactic sky requires a very detailed characterisation of near-infrared (NIR) detector properties as well as constant monitoring of them in flight. To cover two of the main contributions – relative pixel-to-pixel sensitivity and non-linearity characteristics – and to support other calibration activities, NI-CU was designed to provide spatially approximately homogeneous (1500 ph s−1 pixel−1. For this functionality, NI-CU is based on LEDs. We describe the rationale behind the decision and design process, the challenges in sourcing the right LEDs, and the qualification process and lessons learned. We also provide a description of the completed NI-CU, its capabilities, and performance as well as its limits. NI-CU has been integrated into NISP and the Euclid satellite, and since Euclid’s launch in July 2023, it has started supporting survey operations
DeepILS : Towards Accurate Domain Invariant AIoT-enabled Inertial Localization System
Get PDFAccurate indoor localization and navigation enable real-time, ubiquitous, location-based services. Over the past decade, data-driven approaches for inertial odometry have shown the potential to enhance indoor positioning accuracy. However, low-cost inertial measurement units (IMUs), commonly used in smartphones and IoT devices, are prone to significant noise, leading to drift and degraded performance in navigation algorithms. This paper presents a novel, lightweight, and real-time end-to-end framework, DeepILS1,designed to process raw inertial data for precise pedestrian localization in indoor environments. DeepILS utilizes a residual network enhanced with channel-wise and spatial attention mechanisms, enabling accurate velocity and position estimation across diverse motion dynamics. The framework’s effectiveness is validated using four benchmarks and two newly introduced datasets in real-time edge scenarios. These datasets were collected across diverse indoor environments at the KAIST campus and Incheon National Airport, using multiple hardware platforms, including the KAIST IoT positioning module and Android smartphones. Experimental results, including tests on unseen data and comprehensive ablation studies, demonstrate that DeepILS improves localization accuracy by 70% compared to state-of-the-art methods while effectively mitigating sensor noise and enhancing robustness in real-world environments. Specifically, DeepILS exhibits excellent edge performance on IoT devices, making it highly suitable for real-time applications
Mesothelial CXCL10 potentiates fibre-driven inflammation within the pleural cavity
No full textThe pleural cavity is the potential closed space between the two pleurae in the thoracic cavity, which line the lungs and the inner walls of the thoracic cage. The pleurae are composed of mesothelial cells which can be affected by certain medical conditions, like malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). MPM refers to the devastating neoplasm of the mesothelial cells of the pleural cavity, linked to asbestos exposure. Clinical signs of mesothelioma develop around 4 decades after asbestos exposure, so it affects primarily older individuals. Protein CXCL10 has been linked to mesothelioma and has been found to be increased in this condition. The aim of this study was, therefore, to truly understand how CXCL10 plays a role in fibre-induced inflammation of the pleural cavity. To induce inflammation and recreate this environment, we used asbestos-like fibres NM-401 multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs/CNTs). CNTs are structurally similar to asbestos and share the same bio-persistent profile, which confers them their carcinogenic properties. To investigate CXCL10 importance in this context, we firstly deliver by intra-pleural (i.pl) injection a lentiviral construct expressing CRE recombinase under the control of the mesothelin promoter to target deletion of the Cxcl10 gene exclusively to mesothelial cells of Cxcl10fl/fl mice. Mice were then instilled with the CNT and pleural lavage and adipose tissues were collected 4 or 14 days after CNT delivery. Immune cell identification was performed via flow cytometry, adipose tissue was also analysed through confocal microscopy, and cytokine and chemokine expression analysed with multi-plex assay. We firstly confirmed that age impairs immune responses and alters secretion of soluble mediators. We then moved on and ascertained differences in the pleural cavity inflammation with CNT instillation. Delivery of these resulted in increased infiltration of cells like neutrophils, monocytes and small cavity macrophages (SCM) to the pleural fluid. Deletion of the Cxcl10 gene then led to a decrease in the recruitment of these cells to the pleural fluid and monocyte recruitment to the Fat-Associated Lymphoid Clusters (FALCs), thus proposing a reduction in inflammation four days after CNT instillation. Interestingly, IFN-γ was not detected in our assays. Other soluble mediators such as TNFα, CCL4, IL-4, and IL-10 were all increased with CNT instillation, but not changed with Cxcl10 deletion, at day 4. At 14 days, we observed a similar trend in the recruitment of immune cells to the pleural fluid, though the number of cells was reduced compared to day 4. Recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes and SCM was negatively impacted with blockage of CXCL10 production from mesothelial cells, and observed an accumulation of monocytes in the FALCs away from the pleural fluid. We confirmed reduction of CXCL10 with our construct and observed an increase in secretion of certain cytokines such as IL-4, IL-6 and more importantly, IL-10. We proposed that IL-10 is a possible mechanism by which blocking mesothelial cells from producing CXCL10 induces a faster resolution of the pleural cavity inflammation in a fibre-driven context
Decoding mobility hubs : Opportunities and risks underpinning their introduction for the contexts of transport and the wider society
No full textIn an era, where, on the one hand, climate change constitutes a planet-defining threat but, on the other, technology provides unprecedented opportunities for connectivity, sharing and intelligence in transport, mobility hubs have emerged as a potential cornerstone for less car-dominated societies. Still in their infancy as a brand, mobility hubs promise to be visible, accessible, and integration-enabling spaces, where public transit, shared mobility, micromobility and active travel modes co-exist harmoniously alongside infrastructure facilities like charging and sharing stations. Yet, there are still genuine question marks around their implementation, functionality, urban fit and use. Can mobility hubs create opportunities to address effectively transport and even wider societal challenges? Are there any risks or potential side-effects when adopting them? This paper attempts to provide answers by critically reviewing the existing literature and conducting a thematic narrative analysis, identifying and contextualising the opportunities and risks behind mobility hubs' introduction, adoption and travel behaviour impact. According to our research mobility hubs, if designed appropriately, can assume positive roles becoming: an opponent for private car, a solution for any geography, a MaaS companion, a place of social abundance and a supporter of wider economy. If they are not, though, mobility hubs may be instead responsible for: environmental burdens, public indifference, discomfort by default, abuse of space and inequity problems. Our work provides a genuine platform for decoding the potential of mobility hubs exploring the often-neglected grey sides of this shared transport phenomenon by focusing not only in new, niche, shared micromobility-centric investments but also looking at rebranded transit-based mechanisms. If these opportunities are seized and side-effects avoided, then there could be a powerful business case for mobility hubs we argue
Corpus linguistics and AI : #LancsBox X in the context of emerging technologies
No full textThis position paper explores how corpus linguistics can respond to advancements in AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs). Drawing on theoretical debates about meaning creation, it examines two models of human-computer interaction, namely Turing’s imitation game, which suggests functional equivalence between successful computer and human communication, and Searle’s Chinese room argument, which critiques the idea of genuine understanding by machines. These discussions emphasize the distinction between form and meaning, with meaning grounded in social context and human interaction. The paper then introduces #LancsBox X, a free software tool developed as a response to the challenges of emerging technologies. Designed for efficiency and user experience, #LancsBox X provides advanced functionalities for corpus analysis, including concordancing, collocation analysis and visualization, keyword identification and web scraping. By emphasizing context in language use, the tool demonstrates how computational methods can support linguistic research while addressing the evolving demands of big data analysis
Phase-Variable and Matching-Tunable Smart Antenna Using Flexible PDMS Cavity for Adaptive Wireless Communications
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Flanking Age : Multilingualism and Its Role in Shaping Cognitive Decline and Neural Dynamics
No full textThis study investigates how individual multilingual engagement modulates brain oscillatory activity and cognitive control across the lifespan, using both resting-state and task-based EEG with a Flanker task. We assessed whether degree of multilingual engagement moderates age-related changes in theta and alpha power and examined how these changes impact task-specific neural dynamics and behavioral performance. Higher degree of multilingual engagement was associated with weaker negative correlations between increasing age and resting-state theta and alpha power. Our analyses of task-based data revealed that older participants with higher degree of multilingual engagement exhibited a smaller Flanker congruency effect (CE) and less reliance on alpha suppression. These patterns may show more efficient interference suppression in this group. In contrast, older adults with lower multilingual engagement demonstrated larger CE and greater alpha suppression, reflecting potentially less efficient neural recruitment. Notably, our findings indicate that effects of higher degree of multilingual engagement extend beyond resting-state dynamics. Specifically, they also impact recruitment patterns in response to cognitive control demands across the lifespan, supporting a notion of maintenance of cognitive control mechanisms with increasing age. Interestingly, the hypothesized link between resting-state and task-based power was not observed, suggesting a more complex nature of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between baseline and task-specific activity. By examining resting-state and task-based activity in cognitive control (and potential links between them), this study adds to the growing body of evidence on multilingualism as a lifestyle factor that can contribute to healthier cognitive aging through neurocognitive adaptations
Using 244Pu/239Pu to pinpoint 240Pu/239Pu signatures of locally derived reactor material in the terrestrial environment
No full textAccelerator mass spectrometry measurements of trace plutonium were conducted on soil samples from a relatively undisturbed site in the United Kingdom. Average isotopic ratios were measured across 15 samples for [Formula: see text]Pu/[Formula: see text]Pu and across 13 samples for [Formula: see text]Pu/[Formula: see text]Pu, yielding values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. The latter is noted to be lower than the global background. A balance equation was employed to determine the local [Formula: see text]Pu contribution at ([Formula: see text])%. Revisiting this in terms of [Formula: see text]Pu suggests a [Formula: see text]Pu/[Formula: see text]Pu ratio of [Formula: see text] for the local contribution. Whilst inconsistent with materials associated with the Windscale and Chernobyl accidents, this ratio aligns with prior [Formula: see text]Pu/[Formula: see text]Pu measurements of spent Magnox fuel