Construction of 3D porous Cu_(1.81)S/nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks for ultrafast and long-cycle life sodium-ion storage

Transition metal sulfides have great potential as anode mterials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to their high theoretical specific capacities.However,the inferior intrinsic conductivity and large volume variation during sodiation-desodiation processes seriously affect its high-rate and long-cyde performance,unbeneficial for the application as fast-charging and long-cycling SIBs anode.Herein,the three-dimensional porous Cu_(1.81)S/nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks(Cu_(1.81)S/NC)are synthesized by the simple and facile sol-gel and annealing processes,which can accommodate the volumetric expansion of Cu_(1.81)S nanoparticles and accelerate the transmission of ions and electrons during Na^(+)insertion/extraction processes,exhibiting the excellent rate capability(250.6 mA·g^(-1)at 20.0 A·g^(-1))and outstanding cycling stability(70% capacity retention for 6000 cycles at 10.0 A·g^(-1))for SIBs.Moreover,the Na-ion full cells coupled with Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)/C cathode also demonstrate the satisfactory reversible specific capacity of 330.5 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0 A·g^(-1)and long-cycle performance with the 86.9% capacity retention at 2.0 A·g^(-1)after 750 cycles.This work proposes a promising way for the conversionbased metal sulfides for the applications as fast-charging sodium-ion battery anode.

Prescribed Performance Tracking Control of Time-Delay Nonlinear Systems With Output Constraints

The problem of prescribed performance tracking control for unknown time-delay nonlinear systems subject to output constraints is dealt with in this paper. In contrast with related works, only the most fundamental requirements, i.e., boundedness and the local Lipschitz condition, are assumed for the allowable time delays. Moreover, we focus on the case where the reference is unknown beforehand, which renders the standard prescribed performance control designs under output constraints infeasible. To conquer these challenges, a novel robust prescribed performance control approach is put forward in this paper.Herein, a reverse tuning function is skillfully constructed and automatically generates a performance envelop for the tracking error. In addition, a unified performance analysis framework based on proof by contradiction and the barrier function is established to reveal the inherent robustness of the control system against the time delays. It turns out that the system output tracks the reference with a preassigned settling time and good accuracy,without constraint violations. A comparative simulation on a two-stage chemical reactor is carried out to illustrate the above theoretical findings.

Advances in the Fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells by RolltoRoll Technology

In recent years,perovskite solar cells(PSCs)have garnered significant attention as a potential mainstream technology in the future photovol-taic(PV)market.This is primarily attributed to their salient advantages including high efficiency,low cost,and ease of preparation.Nota-bly,the power conversion efficiency(PCE)of PSCs has experienced a remarkable increase from 3.8%in 2009 to over 26%at present.Conse-quently,the adoption of roll-to-roll(R2R)technology for PSCs is considered a crucial step towards their successful commercialization.This arti-de reviews the diverse substrates,scalable deposition techniques(such as solution-based knife-coating and spraying technology),and optimiza.tion procedures employed in recent years to enhance device performance within the R2R process.Additionally,novel perspectives are presented to enrich the existing knowledge in this field.

Finite-time Prescribed Performance Time-Varying Formation Control for Second-Order Multi-Agent Systems With Non-Strict Feedback Based on a Neural Network Observer

This paper studies the problem of time-varying formation control with finite-time prescribed performance for nonstrict feedback second-order multi-agent systems with unmeasured states and unknown nonlinearities.To eliminate nonlinearities,neural networks are applied to approximate the inherent dynamics of the system.In addition,due to the limitations of the actual working conditions,each follower agent can only obtain the locally measurable partial state information of the leader agent.To address this problem,a neural network state observer based on the leader state information is designed.Then,a finite-time prescribed performance adaptive output feedback control strategy is proposed by restricting the sliding mode surface to a prescribed region,which ensures that the closed-loop system has practical finite-time stability and that formation errors of the multi-agent systems converge to the prescribed performance bound in finite time.Finally,a numerical simulation is provided to demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the developed algorithm.

A high entropy stabilized perovskite oxide La_(0.2)Pr_(0.2)Sm_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Sr_(0.2)Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)O_(3−δ)as a promising air electrode for reversible solid oxide cells

Reversible solid oxide cell(RSOC)is a new energy conversion device with significant applications,especially for power grid peaking shaving.However,the reversible conversion process of power generation/energy storage poses challenges for the performance and stability of air electrodes.In this work,a novel high-entropy perovskite oxide La_(0.2)Pr_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Sm_(0.2)Sr_(0.2)Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)O_(3−δ)(HE-LSCF)is proposed and investigated as an air electrode in RSOC.The electrochemical behavior of HE-LSCF was studied as an air electrode in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes.The polarization impedance(Rp)of the HE-LSCF electrode is only 0.25Ω·cm^(2) at 800℃ in an air atmosphere.Notably,at an electrolytic voltage of 2 V and a temperature of 800℃,the current density reaches up to 1.68 A/cm^(2).The HE-LSCF air electrode exhibited excellent reversibility and stability,and its electrochemical performance remains stable after 100 h of reversible operation.With these advantages,HE-LSCF is shown to be an excellent air electrode for RSOC.

Trajectory tracking guidance of interceptor via prescribed performance integral sliding mode with neural network disturbance observer

This paper investigates interception missiles’trajectory tracking guidance problem under wind field and external disturbances in the boost phase.Indeed,the velocity control in such trajectory tracking guidance systems of missiles is challenging.As our contribution,the velocity control channel is designed to deal with the intractable velocity problem and improve tracking accuracy.The global prescribed performance function,which guarantees the tracking error within the set range and the global convergence of the tracking guidance system,is first proposed based on the traditional PPF.Then,a tracking guidance strategy is derived using the integral sliding mode control techniques to make the sliding manifold and tracking errors converge to zero and avoid singularities.Meanwhile,an improved switching control law is introduced into the designed tracking guidance algorithm to deal with the chattering problem.A back propagation neural network(BPNN)extended state observer(BPNNESO)is employed in the inner loop to identify disturbances.The obtained results indicate that the proposed tracking guidance approach achieves the trajectory tracking guidance objective without and with disturbances and outperforms the existing tracking guidance schemes with the lowest tracking errors,convergence times,and overshoots.

Influence of the Nature of the Incoming Sludge on the Performance of a Vertical Flow Reed Beds in Dakar-Senegal

This work investigates the influence of the type sludge on drainage, plant development, purification performances and biosolids quality. Drainage properties were measured through the frequency of clogging, the percentage of leachate recovered and the dryness of accumulated sludge. Plant development was measured through the density, the height and the stem diameter. Purification performance was evaluated from the reduction rate. Biosolids quality was measured after 3 months of maturation. The results show that the clogging frequencies were 9.5%;0% and 3.7%;the volume of leachate recovered was 42.2%;20.4% and 24.7% and, the dryness was 33.4%;61.1% and 52.4% for FS-ST, FS-STT and SS respectively. Plants densities were about, with densities 197.1, 171.3 and 178.3 plants/m2 in beds fed respectively with FS-ST, FS-STT and SS. Despite the high removal rates, the concentrations of pollutants in the leachates are above the Senegalese standard NS 05-061 for discharge into the environment. The biosolids are all mature with C/N and NH4+/NO3?ratios lower than 12 and 1 respectively. The biosolids are also rich in organic and mineral elements. The concentrations of Ascaris eggs are higher than the WHO recommendations. These biosolids should be stored for additional time or composted.

Enhancing performance of low-temperature processed CsPbI2Br all-inorganic perovskite solar cells using polyethylene oxide-modified TiO_(2)

CsPbX_(3)-based(X=I,Br,Cl)inorganic perovskite solar cells(PSCs)prepared by low-temperature process have attracted much attention because of their low cost and excellent thermal stability.However,the high trap state density and serious charge recombination between low-temperature processed TiO_(2)film and inorganic perovskite layer interface seriously restrict the performance of all-inorganic PSCs.Here a thin polyethylene oxide(PEO)layer is employed to modify TiO_(2)film to passivate traps and promote carrier collection.The impacts of PEO layer on microstructure and photoelectric characteristics of TiO_(2)film and related devices are systematically studied.Characterization results suggest that PEO modification can reduce the surface roughness of TiO_(2)film,decrease its average surface potential,and passivate trap states.At optimal conditions,the champion efficiency of CsPbI_(2)Br PSCs with PEO-modified TiO_(2)(PEO-PSCs)has been improved to 11.24%from 9.03%of reference PSCs.Moreover,the hysteresis behavior and charge recombination have been suppressed in PEO-PSCs.

Design and optimization of fluid lubricated bearings operated with extreme working performances——a comprehensive review

Fluid lubricated bearings have been widely adopted as support components for high-end equipment in metrology,semiconductor devices,aviation,strategic defense,ultraprecision manufacturing,medical treatment,and power generation.In all these applications,the equipment must deliver extreme working performances such as ultraprecise movement,ultrahigh rotation speed,ultraheavy bearing loads,ultrahigh environmental temperatures,strong radiation resistance,and high vacuum operation,which have challenged the design and optimization of reliable fluid lubricated bearings.Breakthrough of any related bottlenecks will promote the development course of high-end equipment.To promote the advancement of high-end equipment,this paper reviews the design and optimization of fluid lubricated bearings operated at typical extreme working performances,targeting the realization of extreme working performances,current challenges and solutions,underlying deficiencies,and promising developmental directions.This paper can guide the selection of suitable fluid lubricated bearings and optimize their structures to meet their required working performances.

The impact of the coupling relationship between projectile size and yarn dimension on the ballistic performance of plain weave fabric

Aramid fibers,due to their relatively high inter-yarn friction,high strength,high modulus,and other characteristics,have become a typical representative of flexible anti-ballistic materials in modern warfare.Current research on the anti-penetration of aramid fabrics mostly focuses unilaterally on the structure and performance of aramid fabrics or the shape and size of projectiles,with fewer studies on the coupled effect of both on ballistic performance.This study analyzes how the coupling relationship(or size effect)between the projectile and fiber bundle dimensions affects the fabric ballistic performance from a mesoscopic scale perspective.Taking plain weave aramid fabric as the research object,considering different diameter projectiles,through a large number of ballistic impact tests and numerical simulations,parameters such as ballistic limit velocity,average energy absorption of fabric,and specific energy absorption ratio(average energy absorption of fabric divided by projectile cross-sectional area)are obtained for ballistic performance analysis.The influence law of projectile size on the ballistic performance of high-performance fabrics is as follows:The relative range of fitted ballistic limit velocity at different target positions gradually decreases and then stabilizes as the projectile diameter increases,indicating that the fabric structure effect gradually disappears at a projectile diameter of 12 mm;The average ballistic limit velocity at three impact positions,P1,P2,and P3,provides the corresponding ballistic limit velocity for 1000D aramid fabric,which increases with projectile diameter but the rate of increase slows down at an inflection point,which in this study occurs where the fabric structure effect nearly disappears at a projectile diameter of 12 mm;The energy absorption ratio increases and then decreases as the projectile diameter increases from 4 mm to 20 mm,reaching a peak at the diameter of 12 mm due to the gradual disappearance of the fabric structural effect.The projectile diameter of 12 mm corresponds to the coupling size of 11.159,which provides a size design reference for the macroscopic-based continuum models of aramid plain weave fabrics.

Semi-hydro-equivalent design and performance extrapolation between 100 kJ-scale and NIF-scale indirect drive implosion

Extrapolation of implosion performance between different laser energy scales is investigated for indirect drive through a semi-hydroequivalent design.Since radiation transport is non-hydro-equivalent,the peak radiation temperature of the hohlraum and the ablation velocity of the capsule ablator are not scale-invariant when the sizes of the hohlraum and the capsule are scale-varied.A semi-hydro-equivalent design method that keeps the implosion velocity V_(i),adiabat α_(F),and P_(L)/R_(hc)^(2) (where P_(L) is the laser power and R_(hc) is the hohlraum and capsule scale length)scale-invariant,is proposed to create hydrodynamically similar implosions.The semi-hydro-equivalent design and the scaled implosion performance are investigated for the 100 kJ Laser Facility(100 kJ-scale)and the National Ignition Facility(NIF-scale)with about 2 MJ laser energy.It is found that the one-dimensional implosion performance is approximately hydro-equivalent when V_(i) and α_(F) are kept the same.Owing to the non-hydro-equivalent radiation transport,the yield-over-clean without α-particle heating(YOC_(noα))is slightly lower at 100 kJ-scale than at NIF-scale for the same scaled radiation asymmetry or the same initial perturbation of the hydrodynamic instability.The overall scaled two-dimensional implosion performance is slightly lower at 100 kJ-scale.The general Lawson criterion factor scales asχ_(noα) ^(2D)∼S^(1.06±0.04)(where S is the scale-variation factor)for the semi-hydro-equivalent implosion design with a moderate YOC_(noα).Our study indicates that χ_(noα)≈0.379 is the minimum requirement for the 100 kJ-scale implosion to demonstrate the ability to achieve marginal ignition at NIF-scale.

Two-Way Neural Network Performance PredictionModel Based onKnowledge Evolution and Individual Similarity

Predicting students’academic achievements is an essential issue in education,which can benefit many stakeholders,for instance,students,teachers,managers,etc.Compared with online courses such asMOOCs,students’academicrelateddata in the face-to-face physical teaching environment is usually sparsity,and the sample size is relativelysmall.It makes building models to predict students’performance accurately in such an environment even morechallenging.This paper proposes a Two-WayNeuralNetwork(TWNN)model based on the bidirectional recurrentneural network and graph neural network to predict students’next semester’s course performance using only theirprevious course achievements.Extensive experiments on a real dataset show that our model performs better thanthe baselines in many indicators.

Integrated Sensing and Communication Enabled Sensing Base Station:System Design,Beamforming,Interference Cancellation and Performance Analysis

This paper studies the sensing base station(SBS)that has great potential to improve the safety of vehicles and pedestrians on roads.SBS can detect the targets on the road with communication signals using the integrated sensing and communication(ISAC)technique.Compared with vehicle-mounted radar,SBS has a better sensing field due to its higher deployment position,which can help solve the problem of sensing blind areas.In this paper,key technologies of SBS are studied,including the beamforming algorithm,beam scanning scheme,and interference cancellation algorithm.To transmit and receive ISAC signals simultaneously,a double-coupling antenna array is applied.The free detection beam and directional communication beam are proposed for joint communication and sensing to meet the requirements of beamwidth and pointing directions.The joint timespace-frequency domain division multiple access algorithm is proposed to cancel the interference of SBS,including multiuser interference and duplex interference between sensing and communication.Finally,the sensing and communication performance of SBS under the industrial scientific medical power limitation is analyzed and simulated.Simulation results show that the communication rate of SBS can reach over 100 Mbps and the range of sensing and communication can reach about 500 m.

Identification of key genes and metabolites involved in meat quality performance in Qinchuan cattle by WGCNA

Understanding the genetic and metabolic elements that impact meat quality is crucial to improving production and meeting consumer demands in the beef sector.Differences in meat quality among various muscle areas in beef cattle can impact pricing in the market.Despite progress in genomics,the specific genes and metabolites that affect meat quality characteristics in Qinchuan cattle remain inadequately understood.Therefore,this study aims to evaluate the meat quality characteristics of four specific muscle locations(tenderloin,striploin,high rib,and ribeye muscles)in Qinchuan bulls,including 10 traits(total protein content(TPC),intramuscular fat(IMF),non-esterified fatty acid(NEFA),meat color(L*,a*,and b*),shear force(SF),cooking loss(CL),pH0,and pH24).This experiment uses transcriptome,metabolome sequencing,and sophisticated analytical methodologies such as weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)and protein–protein interaction networks(PPI)to identify the key genes and metabolites associated with specific traits.The findings highlight three notable genes(NDUFAB1,NDUFA12,and NDUFB7)linked to intramuscular fat(IMF),three key genes(CSRP3,ACAA3,and ACADVL)correlated with non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA),and one crucial gene(CREBBP)influencing meat color.In conclusion,this investigation offers a new perspective on the differences in bovine muscle locations and contributes to the molecular understanding of bovine meat quality.Future research endeavors could delve deeper into the identified genes and pathways to enhance beef cattle’s quality and yield.

Interfacial friction effects on sealing performances of elastomer packer

Elastomer sealing performance is of critical importance for downhole tools application including the use of fracturing(Frac)plugs during multi-stage hydraulic fracking.In practice sealing performances of such plugs are normally evaluated through pressure tests,and in numerical simulation studies,maximum contact stress,average contact stress and contact length data are used to determine sealing quality between a packer and casing.In previous studies,the impact of friction forces on sealing performance is often overlooked.This work aims to fill this knowledge gap in determining the influence of friction forces on elastomer packer sealing performances.We first determined the most appropriate constitutive hyperelastic model for the elastomers used in frac plug.Then we compared analytical calculation results with Finite Element Analysis simulation using a simplified tubular geometry and showed the significant influences on interfacial friction on elastomer packer stress distribution,deformation,and contact stress after setting.With the demonstration of validity of FEA method,we conducted systematic numerical simulation studies to show how the interfacial friction coefficients can affect the maximum contact stress,average contact stress,contact stress distribution,and maximum mises stress for an actual packer used in plug products.In addition,we also demonstrated how the groove in a packer can affect packer deformation and evolvement during setting with the consideration of interfacial stress.This study underscores the critical role that friction forces play in Frac plug performance and provides a new dimension for optimizing packer design by controlling interfacial interactions at the packer contact surfaces.

Dietary supplementation of laminarin improves the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling piglets

Background Maternal nutrition is essential in keeping a highly efficient production system in the pig industry.Laminarin has been shown to improve antioxidant capacity,reduce the inflammatory response,and favor the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota.However,the effect of dietary supplementation of laminarin on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling offspring remains unknown.Methods A total of 40 Landrace×Yorkshire multiparous sows on d 85 of gestation,similar in age,body weight(BW),parity and reproductive performance,were randomly divided into four dietary treatments with 10 sows per treatment,receiving a control diet(basal pregnancy or lactating diets)and a basal diet supplemented with 0.025%,0.05%and 0.10%laminarin,respectively.The experiment lasted from d 85 of gestation to d 21 of lactation.Results Laminarin supplementation linearly increased number born alive per litter(P=0.03),average daily feed intake(ADFI,P<0.01),and total milk yield of sows during the lactation of 1–21 d(P=0.02).Furthermore,maternal laminarin supplementation increased the average daily gain(ADG)of piglets while tending to reduce the culling and death rate before weaning.In addition,alterations to the composition of colostrum and milk,as well as to serum inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins of sows were observed.The fecal microbiota profile of sows supported the improvement of reproductive performance in sows and the growth performance in suckling offspring.Conclusions Dietary supplementation of laminarin during late pregnancy and lactation could significantly improve reproductive performance of sows and growth performance of piglets.

Fluorographene with Narrow Lateral Size and Thickness Distributions Prepared for Enhancing Lubrication Performance of Bentonite Grease

Fluorographene(FG)with narrow lateral size and thickness distributions was prepared by a liquid-phase exfoliation method,based on liquid cascade centrifugation.The Rtec MFT-5000 tribo-meter was used to investigate the lubricating performance of bentonite grease enhanced by the as-prepared FG.The results showed that the coefficient of friction and the wear volume of bentonite grease with 0.3 wt%FG were decreased by 20.4%and 44.9%,respectively,as compared to those of the base grease.The main reason is that FG can promote the formation of the tribo-chemical reaction film consisting of complex carbon oxide,Fe_(2)O_(3)and FeF_(3)on the friction surface,which can remarkably improve the performance of friction reduction and prevent the appearance of severe wear.

Adaptive admittance tracking control for interactive robot with prescribed performance

An adaptive control approach is presented in this paper for tracking desired trajectories in interactive manipulators. The controller design incorporates prescribed performance functions (PPFs) to improve dynamic performance. Notably, the performance of the output error is confined in an envelope characterized by exponential convergence, leading to convergence to zero. This feature ensures a prompt response from admittance control and establishes a reliable safety framework for interactions. Simulation results provide practical insights,demonstrating the viability of the control scheme proposed in this paper.

Performance Comparison of Hyper-V and KVM for Cryptographic Tasks in Cloud Computing

As the extensive use of cloud computing raises questions about the security of any personal data stored there,cryptography is being used more frequently as a security tool to protect data confidentiality and privacy in the cloud environment.A hypervisor is a virtualization software used in cloud hosting to divide and allocate resources on various pieces of hardware.The choice of hypervisor can significantly impact the performance of cryptographic operations in the cloud environment.An important issue that must be carefully examined is that no hypervisor is completely superior in terms of performance;Each hypervisor should be examined to meet specific needs.The main objective of this study is to provide accurate results to compare the performance of Hyper-V and Kernel-based Virtual Machine(KVM)while implementing different cryptographic algorithms to guide cloud service providers and end users in choosing the most suitable hypervisor for their cryptographic needs.This study evaluated the efficiency of two hypervisors,Hyper-V and KVM,in implementing six cryptographic algorithms:Rivest,Shamir,Adleman(RSA),Advanced Encryption Standard(AES),Triple Data Encryption Standard(TripleDES),Carlisle Adams and Stafford Tavares(CAST-128),BLOWFISH,and TwoFish.The study’s findings show that KVM outperforms Hyper-V,with 12.2%less Central Processing Unit(CPU)use and 12.95%less time overall for encryption and decryption operations with various file sizes.The study’s findings emphasize how crucial it is to pick a hypervisor that is appropriate for cryptographic needs in a cloud environment,which could assist both cloud service providers and end users.Future research may focus more on how various hypervisors perform while handling cryptographic workloads.

Surface Deposition of Ni(OH)_(2) and Lattice Distortion Induce the Electrochromic Performance Decay of NiO Films in Alkaline Electrolyte

NiO,an anodic electrochromic material,has applications in energy-saving windows,intelligent displays,and military camouflage.However,its electrochromic mechanism and reasons for its performance degradation in alkaline aqueous electrolytes are complex and poorly understood,making it challenging to improve NiO thin films.We studied the phases and electrochemical characteristics of NiO films in different states(initial,colored,bleached and after 8000 cycles)and identified three main reasons for performance degradation.First,Ni(OH)_(2)is generated during electrochromic cycling and deposited on the NiO film surface,gradually yielding a NiO@Ni(OH)_(2)core-shell structure,isolating the internal NiO film from the electrolyte,and preventing ion transfer.Second,the core-shell structure causes the mode of electrical conduction to change from first-to second-order conduction,reducing the efficiency of ion transfer to the surface Ni(OH)_(2)layer.Third,Ni(OH)_(2)and NiOOH,which have similar crystal structures but different b-axis lattice parameters,are formed during electrochromic cycling,and large volume changes in the unit cell reduce the structural stability of the thin film.Finally,we clarified the mechanism of electrochromic performance degradation of NiO films in alkaline aqueous electrolytes and provide a route to activation of NiO films,which will promote the development of electrochromic technology.