Offshore Renewable Energy Advance

Offshore renewable energy generation has become an important means to address the energy crisis and climate change, which has gained widespread attention in recent years. This article presents classic domestic and international cases that introduce the development and industrial transformation of generation technologies for offshore wind, offshore photovoltaics, ocean wave energy, tidal energy and temperature difference energy. Offshore power generation projects face challenges in design, safety, long-term operation and economic feasibility. Offshore renewable energy generation is gradually moving towards industrialization, and is expected to become a key component of global energy supply in the future with technological advancements and policy support, providing strong support for tackling climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.

Mini Review on the Photocatalytic Removal of Gaseous Ammonia: Current Status and Challenges

Ammonia gas (NH₃) is a notorious malodorous pollutant released mainly in agriculture and industry. With the increasing demand for ammonia, environmental pollution caused by ammonia discharge has seriously threatened human health and safety. Due to the discrete emission and low concentration of NH₃, photocatalytic oxidation is an economical and efficient treatment strategy. TiO₂, as a common photocatalyst, has been widely used by researchers for the photocatalytic removal of NH₃. In addition, surface modification, element doping, semiconductor recombination and metal loading are used to improve the utilization rate of solar energy and carrier of TiO₂ so as to find a catalyst with high efficiency and high N₂ selectivity. Further, at present, there are three main removal mechanisms of NH₃ photocatalytic oxidation: ·NH₂ mechanism, iSCR mechanism and N₂H₄ mechanism. Among them, N₂H₄ mechanism is expected to be the main removal path of NH₃ photocatalytic oxidation in the future because the removal process does not involve NO_x and nitrate. This review summarizes recent studies on the photocatalytic oxidation of NH₃, focusing primarily on NH₃ removal efficiency, N₂ selectivity, and the underlying removal mechanisms. Additionally, the potential future applications of NH₃ photocatalytic oxidation are discussed.

Fire-Retardant Wastepaper Reinforced Waste Polyethylene Composite: A Review

The increase in fire outbreaks recently and the need for eco-friendly and fire-resistant materials have inspired a wave of studies, focusing on producing innovative composite materials with effective fire-resistant properties. This review delves into the world of fire-resistant wastepaper-reinforced waste polyethylene composites. Using wastepaper as a strengthening factor in polyethylene matrices, combined with fire-retardant additives like nanoparticles, introduces a hopeful path for waste management and improved material properties. This work carefully considers the combining approaches, physical and mechanical properties, fire-resistant mechanisms, and environmental impacts of these composites. The review underscores the possible and potential applications, difficulties, and prospects of such environmentally friendly materials in various industries. Understanding these composites’ blending, attributes, and conceivable utilization is essential for advancing maintainable and fire-safe material innovation in pursuing a greener future.

Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction of Paeonol and Paeonoflorin from Moutan Bark with Magnetic Graphene Oxide

Herbal medicine plays an important role in modern medicine and separation of the active ingredients from herbal medicine is vital for convenient and safe usage. Paeonol and paeonoflorin are the active ingredients in the widely used herbal medicine of moutan bark. In this study, the composite of graphene oxide-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (GO-Fe₃O₄) was synthesized and used as a magnetic absorbent to extract paeonol and paeonoflorin from the herbal medicine of moutan bark. The adsorption of paeonol and paeoniflorin on GO-Fe₃O₄ rapidly reached equilibrium (within 10 min) due to the high absorption capability of GO. Thermodynamics and kinetics for the absorption process were studied. The optimal condition for the elution of the target compound from GO-Fe₃O₄ was the use of 2 mL of a mixed solvent (methanol and dichloromethane, 1:1 by volume) with 0.2% formic acid for 5 min. The GO-Fe₃O₄ adsorbent possesses the advantages of rapid adsorption and convenient separation. GO-Fe₃O₄ can be used over 6 times without losing absorbing capacity. This method is efficient, convenient and rapid, thus possesses a high potential for the separation of active ingredients from herbal medicine.

Effect of Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Addition on the Ablation Resistance of BN Matrix Ceramics

Ablation resistance is a critical factor in evaluating the performance of BN-based ceramic composites under extreme service conditions. This study investigates the ablation behavior and underlying mechanisms of BN-MAS wave-transparent ceramic composites with varying magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) content through oxyacetylene torch tests. The results reveal that increasing the MAS content reduces the mass ablation rate from 0.0298 g/s to 0.0176 g/s and the linear ablation rate from 0.149 mm/s to 0.112 mm/s. The incorporation of MAS into h-BN ceramics significantly lowers the surface ablation temperature, primarily due to the evaporation of B₂O₃ (g) and MAS ceramics. Cross-sectional analysis of the ablated composites indicates the presence of micro- and macro-spallation in the ablation center. The primary ablation products are magnesium-aluminum borosilicate glass and mullite. Key ablation mechanisms include the oxidation of h-BN under flame exposure, the erosion of viscous oxidation products, and the physical degradation of the matrix caused by the high-velocity gas flow.

Hydrodynamic Performance of a Hybrid Floating Power Dock Combining Multi-Cantilever Type Buoys

This paper proposes a novel three-dimensional oscillating pendulum wave energy converter (WEC) that integrates an oscillating float dock station. The device captures wave energy by utilizing both the pitch and roll motions of its primary float and the pendular motion of a buoy. A time-domain analysis method is used to numerically evaluate the hydrodynamic behavior and energy conversion efficiency of the WEC. In ANSYS AQWA, a multi-cantilever WEC model is employed to address the fluid-solid coupling, calculating the device’s motion response and capturing the width ratio under various environmental conditions. Additionally, by modifying key geometric parameters including float radius, length, and cantilever angle, the study examines the rotation at the articulation point and the capture width ratio variation for different device configurations. Results indicate that the device achieves a maximum capture width ratio at a float radius of approximately 120 mm under T = 1.4 s, and a 130 mm for wave periods of 1.5 s and 1.6 s. The highest average capture width ratio is reached at a power take-off (PTO) damping coefficient of 400 N·s/m. The study further investigates the effect of cantilever angle and float length, aiding in the optimization of these geometric parameters.

Agricultural Economics

Age Estimation through Analysis of Suture Synostosis in Forensic Practice: A Mini Review

Age estimation is essential in forensic sciences. The examination of neurocranium suture closure, along with other methods, is used to estimate age in skeletal remains. The aim of this review was to identify in the literature methods used through neurocranial sutures for estimating age and analyze the recommendations by its researchers. One electronic research database, Pubmed, was investigated using the following restricted keywords: “age estimation”, “suture” and “forensic”. A search was conducted in March 2024 resulting in 12 articles being included in the final review. The articles were published between 2010 and 2024. Many studies recommend combining suture age estimation with other methods to improve accuracy in both dry skulls and CT scans, as cranial suture results alone are often insufficient. There is still no consensus on the endocranial versus ectocranial evaluation of sutures, with researchers calling for further studies. Population characteristics also affect results, highlighting the need for broader research. Despite its limitations, cranial suture closure remains valuable, with new technologies offering potential improvements.

The Influence Mechanism and Test of Transformation for Cultivated Land Use on the Economic Resilience of Agricultural Crop Production Industry

Under the current multiple impacts, such as tightening resource and environmental constraints, low agricultural economic benefits and rural labor loss, improving the resilience of the planting economy has become the only way to ensure China’s food security and the stable operation of the social economy. As an important way of agricultural production factor, the transformation of cultivated land has a great influence on the development of the agricultural crop production industry. Based on the elaboration of the logical relationship and influence mechanism of the economic resilience of the agricultural crop production industry, the effect and regional differences of the economic resilience of the agricultural crop production industry are empirically tested by a double fixed regression model. It is found that the economic resilience level of the agricultural crop production industry in China is on the rise, but the regional differences are obvious; the transformation for cultivated land use can significantly promote the economic resilience level of agricultural crop production industry and the results are stable; there is regional and dimensional heterogeneity in the impact of cultivated land use transformation on the economic resilience of agricultural crop production industry. Based on this, we can promote the transformation of cultivated land use from three aspects: production, life, and ecology. Especially, attention should be paid to the orderly promotion of the transformation of farmland utilization in the main grain-producing areas and the improvement of the economic resilience of the agricultural crop production industry. Consolidate regional advantages while driving the improvement of economic resilience in the main grain sales areas’ agricultural crop production industry to achieve the goal of sustainable and stable development of China’s agricultural crop production industry.

Preparation of a New Shape-Stable Phase-Change Material Based on Expanded Perlite, Paraffin, Epoxy, Copper and High-Density Polyethylene

Phase change materials (PCMs) face challenges such as low thermal conductivity and leakage, often addressed through attempts at encapsulation or integration into polymer matrices or porous materials. This study uses expanded perlite to prepare a PCM composite. The perlite is treated with hydrochloric acid to remove impurities and improve its absorption, then impregnated with paraffin at 65 °C, with the addition of copper to enhance thermal conductivity. After drying, the material was coated with epoxy resin to prevent leakage and mixed with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to improve its mechanical strength and facilitate integration with other materials. Characterization techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), evaluate the structure and properties of the composite. TGA results show that acid treatment increases paraffin absorption to 80% by weight, while weight loss tests confirm the effectiveness of the epoxy coating against leaks. A decrease in melting temperatures was observed in all HDPE blends, ranging from 4.72 °C to 9.58 °C, likely due to the integrated elements interfering with the reorganization of the molecular chains of HDPE. Although the preparation improved thermal conductivity, thermal tests revealed that increasing the (perlite/PCM) phase in HDPE is essential for further optimization, highlighting the potential of the composite as an effective energy storage solution for sustainable systems.