Target detection of helicopter electric power inspection based on the feature embedding convolution model.

This study aims to improve the helicopter electric power inspection process by using the feature embedding convolution (FEC) model to solve the problems of small scope and poor real-time inspection. First, simulation experiments and model analysis determine the keyframe and flight trajectory. Second, an improved FEC model is proposed, extracting features from aerial images in large ranges in real time and accurately identifying and classifying electric power inspection targets. In the simulation experiment, the accuracy of the model in electric power circuit and equipment detection is improved by 30% compared with the traditional algorithm, and the inspection range is expanded by 26%. In addition, this study further optimizes the model with reinforcement learning technology, conducts a comparative analysis of different flight environments and facilities, and reveals the diversity and complexity of inspection objectives. The performance of the optimized model in fault detection is increased by more than 36%. In conclusion, the proposed model improves the accuracy and scope of inspection, provides a more scientific strategy for electric power inspection, and ensures inspection efficiency.

Identification of transformer overload and new energy planning for enterprises based on load forecasting.

The new energy system constructed by energy storage and photovoltaic power generation system can effectively solve the problem of transformer overload operation in some enterprises. It can not only reduce the cost of electricity, but also realize low-carbon emission reduction. However, due to its low return on investment, the willingness of enterprises to install new energy is not high. In this paper, we first establish a load forecasting model to users whose transformers are overloaded or about to be overloaded, which are potential customers with new energy installation needs. Then, Optimal configuration models of PV and energy storage systems based on nonlinear programming are developed for these potential customers. The optimal installed capacity of the PV energy storage and the optimal charging and discharging strategy for the energy storage system can be obtained. This optimization strategy ensures that the electricity consumption of the enterprise does not exceed the rated capacity, and effectively reduces the enterprise's basic tariff and electricity price to achieve cost reduction and efficiency. Finally, taking a building materials production factory as an example, we obtain the optimal plan for the new energy capacity, as well as the economic benefits of the plan and the specific strategy of energy storage charging and discharging for this factory.

Optimizing microgrid performance: Strategic integration of electric vehicle charging with renewable energy and storage systems for total operation cost and emissions minimization.

At present, renewable energy sources (RESs) and electric vehicles (EVs) are presented as viable solutions to reduce operation costs and lessen the negative environmental effects of microgrids (µGs). Thus, the rising demand for EV charging and storage systems coupled with the growing penetration of various RESs has generated new obstacles to the efficient operation and administration of these µGs. In this regard, this paper introduces a multi-objective optimization model for minimizing the total operation cost of the µG and its emissions, considering the effect of battery storage system (BSS) and EV charging station load. A day-ahead scheduling model is proposed for optimal energy management (EM) of the µG investigated, which comprises photovoltaics (PVs), fuel cells (FCs), wind turbines (WTs), BSSs, and EV charging stations, with shed light on the viability and benefits of connecting BSS with EV charging stations in the µG. Analyzing three case studies depending on the objective function-Case 1: execute EM to minimize total operation cost and maximize the profits of BSS, Case 2: execute EM to minimize total emission from the µG, and Case 3: execute EM to minimize total operation cost, maximize the profits of BSS, and minimize total emissions from the µG. The main aim of the presented optimization strategy is to achieve the best possible balance between reducing expenses and lessening the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions. The krill herd algorithm (KHA) is used to find the optimal solutions while considering various nonlinear constraints. To demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed solution, the study utilizes the KHA and compares the obtained results with those achieved by other optimization methods. It was demonstrated that such integration significantly enhances the µG's operational efficiency, reduces operating costs, and minimizes environmental impact. The findings underscore the viability of combining EV charging infrastructure with renewable energy to meet the increasing energy demand sustainably. The novelty of this work lies in its multi-objective optimization approach, the integration of EV charging and BSS in µGs, the comparison with other optimization methods, and the emphasis on sustainability and addressing energy demand through the utilization of renewable energy and EVs.

How effective is virtual reality for electrical safety training? Evaluating trainees' reactions, learning, and training duration.

INTRODUCTION: The widespread use and inherent risks associated with low-voltage electrical equipment require all workers to understand its hazards and how to manage them. Despite being the most commonly used method for raising safety awareness, lecture-based training often proves ineffective. Virtual reality (VR) allows the user to be immersed in a virtual environment and actively participate in practical training while maintaining their safety, which can potentially result in engaging and effective training. This paper investigates the effectiveness of using immersive VR for low-voltage (LV) electrical safety training to understand the potential benefits of VR technology for industrial safety training applications. METHOD: A within-group experimental design was employed with 18 participants undertaking the LV VR training. The effectiveness of the training was evaluated by measuring participants' reactions, learning, and training duration. Participants' learning was measured before, immediately after, and four weeks after the training, whereas reaction and suitability of training duration were measured after the training. RESULTS: Participants reported highly positive reactions to the LV VR training, particularly regarding their level of engagement, intention to use the system in the future, and enjoyment. Knowledge test scores significantly improved immediately after training with high effect sizes. Although scores decreased significantly four weeks after training, they remained significantly higher compared to before training. The training duration, ranging from 29 to 44 minutes was considered suitable for the training. CONCLUSIONS: LV VR training effectively elicited positive reactions from trainees and supporting trainees to acquire and retain safety information while maintaining appropriate training duration. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: VR emerges as a viable alternative training method worth exploring for organizations seeking to improve their safety training programs. VR combines educational and entertainment values, facilitating enjoyable learning experiences.

Assessing the Burden of Electrical, Elevator, Heat, Hot Water, and Water Service Interruptions in New York City Public Housing.

Reliable electricity, elevators, heat, hot water, and water are aspects of safe and accessible housing. Interruptions to these services represent a persistent challenge faced by public housing residents in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). We compiled outage data spanning 2020-2022 from NYCHA's online service interruptions portal and paired these data with demographic and meteorological sources to understand the burden of these outages. To ease dissemination of these data-a spatiotemporally granular outage dataset that could fill gaps surrounding urban outage health impacts-we provide a public dashboard for visualization and download of the service interruption data in an analysis-ready format. We demonstrated that (1) outages often exceeded health-relevant restoration windows (e.g., 8 h for electrical interruptions); (2) senior developments (exclusively residents 62 +) had the longest duration of elevator, heat, and hot water outages; and (3) outages sometimes overlapped with temperature extremes-potentially increasing their health risk. Residents of NYCHA, who are predominately low-income, Black, and Hispanic face a disproportionate burden of service interruptions. Like all New Yorkers, NYCHA residents deserve to live in dignified housing that is safe and accessible. Addressing service interruptions are one way to make public housing safer and push toward climate and environmental justice.

Energy regeneration: A study on dynamic capacitance adjustment technology in piezoelectric shock absorbers for electric vehicles under varied road conditions.

This study investigates the performance of dynamic capacitance regulation technology in electric vehicle piezoelectric shock absorbers for energy recovery under varying road conditions. By simulating a quarter-vehicle suspension system, this paper comprehensively analyzes the energy recovery efficiency of piezoelectric shock absorbers on gravel, speed bumps, and bumpy road conditions, comparing the performance differences between traditional fixed capacitance and dynamic capacitance. The results demonstrate that dynamic capacitance regulation technology can automatically adjust the capacitance value in response to instantaneous voltage changes, thereby enhancing energy recovery efficiency under various road conditions. This technology not only improves the energy conversion efficiency of piezoelectric shock absorbers but also strengthens the system's adaptability to different vibration frequencies and amplitudes. Further simulation evidence confirms that piezoelectric shock absorbers, under dynamic capacitance regulation, achieve better energy recovery performance across diverse road conditions, offering new insights into improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of electric vehicles. The novelty of this research lies in the first application of dynamic capacitance regulation technology to the energy recovery system of electric vehicle piezoelectric shock absorbers, providing a new theoretical foundation and technical reference for optimizing electric vehicle energy recovery systems.

Toward an equitable transportation electrification plan: Measuring public electric vehicle charging station access disparities in Austin, Texas.

The deployment of public electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) is a critical component of transportation electrification. Recent studies have highlighted growing concerns about disparities in accessibility to public chargers between different demographic groups. This research expands ongoing equity concerns by contextualizing existing transportation equity discourse and analyzing public charger access disparities in Austin, Texas. Using threshold equity toolkits, we investigated public EVCS access disparity across different races and income groups. We conducted a generalized additive model regression to measure and visualize the effects of possible determinants on public EVCS access. The analysis results revealed that a public EVCS access disparity exists in Austin, with most chargers being installed in areas where the majority of the population is Non-Hispanic White. There was a more equal distribution of public EVCSs across income quartiles when compared with race. However, middle- and high-income groups had better access than lower-income communities in terms of distance to the nearest public EVCSs. Our regression analysis found that regional and socio-demographic factors, such as race and income, have a statistically significant impact on public charger access. The regression analysis also revealed that Austin's current public EVCS deployment seems to favor communities above the poverty level and with higher numbers of registered electric vehicles. Local policymakers should reflect on the findings of this study to develop an equitable transportation electrification plan. Federal environmental justice plans such as the Justice40 initiative can benefit from incorporating more local contexts to better invest in disadvantaged communities.

Pre-anoxic electro-stimulation enhanced simultaneous nitrification-denitrification in single-stage electrolysis-integrated sequencing batch biofilm reactor.

Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) is a promising nitrogen removal process. However, total nitrogen (TN) removal is limited due to unsatisfactory denitrification. This study demonstrated that short-time (1 h) pre-anoxic electro-stimulation significantly enhanced SND efficiency in the aerobic phase by promoting the proliferation of mixotrophic and heterotrophic denitrifiers. SND and TN removal efficiencies at the optimal electric current (EC) (0.02 A) were 85.6 % and 93.9 %, which were 39.1 % and 17.2 % higher than control. Microbial community analysis indicated that the abundance of mixotrophic and heterotrophic denitrifiers significantly increased. H2 generated in the electro-stimulation process induced the proliferation of mixotrophic denitrifiers. The weak EC (0.02 A) promoted the activity and growth of heterotrophic denitrifiers by accelerating electron transfer. They concurrently mediated heterotrophic denitrification to enhance SND efficiency. PICRUSt2 analysis revealed that the abundance of denitrifying genes dramatically surged. This study provides new insights into applying electrolysis to achieve advanced SND while minimizing electricity consumption.

Baffled flow constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell coupling systems for combined secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment with simultaneous bioelectricity generation.

Baffled flow constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (BFCW-MFC) coupling systems were constructed with baffles embedded in cathode chamber. The performance of BFCW-MFCs operated at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) was evaluated. At the representative HRT of 48 h, embedding 1 or 2 baffles (i.e., BFCW-MFC1 and BFCW-MFC2) produced 32.9 % (29.5 mW/m3) and 53.2 % (34.0 mW/m3) more power density than control system (22.2 mW/m3), respectively. Comparable organics biodegradation efficiencies were observed in BFCW-MFCs at the same HRTs. BFCW-MFC1 and BFCW-MFC2 had higher ammonium and total nitrogen removal efficiency. All systems had decreased nitrogen removal performance as shortening HRT from 72 to 12 h. Multiple nitrogen removal processes were involved, including ammonium oxidation, anammox, and heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrification. The predominant bacteria on electrodes were identified for analyzing bioelectricity generation and wastewater treatment processes. Generally, simultaneous wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation were obtained in BFCW-MFCs, and embedding 1 or 2 baffles was preferable.

Gravity-driven packed bed filter, with copper-impregnated activated carbon, for continuous water disinfection in absence of electricity.

Availability of safe drinking water is a major concern in many parts of the world. While many filtration units operating on various principles are available to combat this, most require electricity, which may not be consistently available in such areas. In the present study, we have designed and demonstrated a water disinfection system that can operate purely on gravity, without any electricity. For this, a potassium hydroxide modified copper-impregnated activated carbon (KOH-Cu-AC) hybrid was used as a filter medium for disinfection, because it is less expensive, with performance comparable to previously reported hybrids containing silver. To maintain a constant water flow rate under gravity, during disinfection, a Mariotte bottle was used as the reservoir of the contaminated water. Using this and a constant head between the bottle and the treated water exit point, the required water-filter contact time of 25 min (for decontamination) is maintained in the filter column, regardless of tank-fill level. The demonstrated lab-scale system can perform disinfection of simulated contaminated water (with an initial concentration of 104 CFU mL-1 Escherichia coli), for at least 6 h, with a flow rate of 150 mL h-1. The disinfection performance from the gravity-based filter was further validated with the conventional pump-driven filter, used for continuous disinfection of drinking water. Equivalence of results between pump- and gravity-driven operations helps us to eliminate the need for power, without any compromise in disinfection efficacy. Finally, copper concentration from treated water (106 ppb at steady state) remains very well within the safe limit (1000 ppb as per USEPA guideline). Hence, the lab-scale design of gravity-based packed bed filter will be useful for domestic and community-based supply of safe drinking water in resource-constrained areas, because it eliminated electricity requirement of conventional power-driven systems. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Cost-effective KOH-Cu-AC hybrid is developed as a disinfection material. Mariotte bottle used for maintaining constant disinfected water flow rate works without any electrical power supply. This system can be used for getting on-spot, continuous disinfected water supply. The concentration of copper in the treated water is well within the safety limit. It can be applicable in rural and remote areas (no electric power source) as well as natural calamity-affected areas.

Laying the foundations for selective-fish guidance using electricity: multi-species response to pulsed direct currents.

To develop effective technology that employs electric fields to simultaneously guide valued freshwater fish whilst limiting the range expansion of undesirable invasive species, there is a need to quantify the electrosensitivity of multiple families. This experimental study quantified the electrosensitivity of two carp species that, in UK, are invasive (grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, and common carp, Cyprinus carpio) and compared the values with those previously obtained for adult European eel (Anguilla anguilla), a species of conservation concern in Europe. Electric field strengths (V/cm) required to elicit physiological responses (twitch, loss of orientation and tetany) were identified across four pulsed direct current (PDC) electric waveforms (single pulse-2 Hz, double pulse-2 Hz, single pulse-3 Hz and double pulse-3 Hz). Grass carp were sensitive to differences in waveform with tetany exhibited at lower field strengths in the single pulse-2 Hz treatment. Both cyprinid species responded similarly and were less sensitive to PDC than adult European eel, although loss of orientation occurred at lower field strengths for grass than common carp in the single pulse-3 Hz waveform treatment. This variation in electrosensitivity, likely due to differences in body length, indicates potential for electric fields to selectively guide fish in areas where invasive and native species occur in sympatry.

Experimental study on the various varieties of photovoltaic panels (PVs) cooling systems to increase their electrical efficiency.

This study investigates the impact of cooling methods on the electrical efficiency of photovoltaic panels (PVs). The efficiency of four cooling techniques is experimentally analyzed. The most effective approach is identified as water-spray cooling on the front surface of PVs, which increases efficiency by 3.9% compared to the case without cooling. The results show that water-spray cooling raises the PV's temperature to 41°C, while improving its average daytime efficiency to 22%. Air-cooling, water-cooling in the tubes behind the PV, and aluminum oxide-water nanofluid cooling in the tubes behind the PV improve efficiency by 1.1%, 1.9%, and 2.7%, respectively. The findings highlight the potential of water-spray cooling as a cost-effective and efficient method to enhance PV efficiency and contribute to the global effort towards renewable energy.

What drives the relationship between digitalization and energy demand? Exploring heterogeneity in German manufacturing firms.

The growing use of information and communication technologies (ICT) has the potential to increase productivity and improve energy efficiency. However, digital technologies also consume energy, resulting in a complex relationship between digitalization and energy demand and an uncertain net effect. To steer digital transformation towards sustainability, it is crucial to understand the conditions under which digital technologies increase or decrease firm-level energy consumption. This study examines the drivers of this relationship, focusing on German manufacturing firms and leveraging comprehensive administrative panel data from 2009 to 2017, analyzed using the Generalized Random Forest algorithm. Our results reveal that the relationship between digitalization and energy use at the firm level is heterogeneous. However, we find that digitalization more frequently increases energy use, mainly driven by a rise in electricity consumption. This increase is lower in energy-intensive industries and higher in markets with low competition. Smaller firms in structurally weak regions show higher energy consumption growth than larger firms in economically stronger regions. Our study contributes to the literature by using a non-parametric method to identify specific firm-level and external characteristics that influence the impact of digital technologies on energy demand, highlighting the need for carefully designed digitalization policies to achieve climate goals.

Simultaneous costs minimizing in electricity and gas micro-grids with the presence of distributed generation.

Distributed generation can actively participate in the day-ahead markets, real-time power balance, and wholesale gas markets to achieve various goals, such as supplying gas to various electric power generation plants. A multi-objective network with two types of loads is considered in this paper. The reason for the simultaneous optimization of these two networks is that these two energy carriers are dependent on each other and gas is needed to produce electricity, so this issue can be addressed with a multi-objective function. The simulation carried out in this article is coded in GAMS software as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP). The efficiency of gas turbines and fuel cells in this article is dependent on their working point, and considering the exact model of these resources and the relationships related to the calculation of their fuel consumption is non-linear. On the other hand, a binary variable has been used to show the charging and discharging state of the storage and the on-and-off state of the gas turbines. Therefore, the problem considered in this article is a MILP problem. The results of this article are the proper planning of charging and discharging of the energy storage system with the proper planning of the power generation of different energy sources considering the network loads in two optimized and non-optimized scenarios.

Carbon Fiber-Mediated Electrospinning Scaffolds Can Conduct Electricity for Repairing Defective Tendon.

Partial or complete rupture of the tendon can damage the collagen structure, resulting in the disruption of the electrical signal pathway. It is a great challenge to reconstruct the original electrical signal pathway of the tendon and promote the regeneration and functional recovery of defective tendon. In this study, carbon fiber-mediated electrospinning scaffolds were fabricated by wrapping conductive, high-strength, loose single-bundle carbon fibers with nanofiber membranes. Due to the presence of nanofiber membranes, the maximum tensile force of the scaffolds was 2.4 times higher than that of carbon fibers, while providing excellent temporal and spatial prerequisites for tenocytes to adapt to electrical stimulation to accelerate proliferation and expression. The diameter of the carbon fiber monofilaments used in this study was 5.07 ± 1.20 µm, which matched the diameter of tendon collagen, allowing for quickly establishing the connection between the tendon tissue and the scaffold, and better promoting the recovery of the electrical signal pathway. In a rabbit Achilles tendon defect repair model, the carbon fiber-mediated electrospinning scaffold was almost filled with collagen fibers compared to a nonconductive polyethylene glycol terephthalate scaffold. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that fibromodulin and tenomodulin expression were upregulated, and their related proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycan binding proteins pathways were enhanced, which could regulate the TGF-ß signaling pathway and optimize the extracellular matrix assembly, thus promoting tendon repair. Therefore, the scaffold in this study makes up for the shortage of conductive scaffolds for repairing tendon defects, revealing the potential impact of conductivity on the signaling pathway of tendon repair and providing a new approach for future clinical studies.

High power density redox-mediated Shewanella microbial flow fuel cells.

Microbial fuel cells utilize exoelectrogenic microorganisms to directly convert organic matter into electricity, offering a compelling approach for simultaneous power generation and wastewater treatment. However, conventional microbial fuel cells typically require thick biofilms for sufficient metabolic electron production rate, which inevitably compromises mass and charge transport, posing a fundamental tradeoff that limits the achievable power density (<1 mW cm-2). Herein, we report a concept for redox-mediated microbial flow fuel cells that utilizes artificial redox mediators in a flowing medium to efficiently transfer metabolic electrons from planktonic bacteria to electrodes. This approach effectively overcomes mass and charge transport limitations, substantially reducing internal resistance. The biofilm-free microbial flow fuel cell thus breaks the inherent tradeoff in dense biofilms, resulting in a maximum current density surpassing 40 mA cm-2 and a highest power density exceeding 10 mW cm-2, approximately one order of magnitude higher than those of state-of-the-art microbial fuel cells.

Repelling Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with electric fields using insulated conductor wires.

BACKGROUND: The control and prevention of mosquito-borne diseases is mostly achieved with insecticides. However, their use has led to the rapid development and spread of insecticide resistance worldwide. Health experts have called for intensified efforts to find new approaches to reduce mosquito populations and human-mosquito contact. A promising new tool is the use of electrical fields (EFs), whereby mosquitoes are repelled by charged particles in their flight path. Such particles move between two or more conductors, and the use of uninsulated copper or aluminum plates as conductors has been proven to be effective at repelling mosquitoes. Here, for the first time, we assess if EFs generated using a single row of insulated conductor wires (ICWs) can also successfully repel mosquitoes, and whether mosquitoes are equally repelled at the same EF strength when the electrodes are a) orientated differently (horizontal vs. vertical placement), and b) spaced more apart. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Over a period of 23 hours, the number of host-seeking female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that were successfully repelled by EFs, using ICWs, at EF strengths ranging from 0 kV/cm (control) to 9.15 kV/cm were quantified. Mosquitoes were released inside a 220×220×180 cm room and lured into a BG-Pro trap that was equipped with a BG-counter and baited with CO2 using dry ice. Mosquitoes had to pass through an EF window, that contained a single row of ICWs with alternating polarity, to reach the bait. The baseline interaction between EF strength and repellency was assessed first, after which the impact of different ICW orientations and ICW distances on repellency were determined. Over 50% of mosquitoes were repelled at EF strengths of ≥ 3.66 kV/cm. A linear regression model showed that a vertical ICW orientation (vertical vs. horizontal) had a small but insignificant increased impact on mosquito repellency (p = 0.059), and increasing ICW distance (while maintaining the same EF strength) significantly reduced repellency (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: ICWs can be used to generate EFs that partially repel host-seeking mosquitoes, which will reduce human-mosquito contact. While future studies need to assess if (i) increased repellency can be achieved, and (ii) a repellency of 50-60% is sufficient to impact disease transmission, it is encouraging that EF repellency using ICWs is higher compared to that of some spatial repellent technologies currently in development. This technology can be used in the housing improvement toolkit (i.e. preventing mosquito entry through eaves, windows, and doors). Moreover, the use of cheap, over-the-counter ICWs will mean that the technology is more accessible worldwide, and easier to manufacture and implement locally.

Understanding Osaka mutation polymorphic Aß fibril response to static and oscillating electric fields: insights from computational modeling.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Among its defining characteristics is the accumulation of senile plaques within the brain's gray matter, formed through the self-assembly of misfolded proteins contributing to the progressive symptoms of AD. This study investigates a polymorphic Aß fibril under static and oscillating electric fields using molecular dynamics simulation. Specifically, we utilized a polymorphic fibrillar complex composed of two intertwined pentamer-strands of the Aß1-40 peptide with the Osaka mutation (E22Δ), known for its toxicity and stable structure. Our findings demonstrate that a 0.3 and 0.4 V/nm electric field combined with a 0.20 GHz frequency effectively disrupts the polymorphic conformation of Aß fibrils. Furthermore, we elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this disruption, providing insights into the potential therapeutic use of oscillating electric fields for AD. This research offers valuable insights into novel therapeutic approaches for combating AD pathology.

Modulation of pulsed electric field induced oxidative processes in protein solutions by pro- and antioxidants sensed by biochemiluminescence.

Technologies based on pulsed electric field (PEF) are increasingly pervasive in medical and industrial applications. However, the detailed understanding of how PEF acts on biosamples including proteins at the molecular level is missing. There are indications that PEF might act on biomolecules via electrogenerated reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, it is unclear how this action is modulated by the pro- and antioxidants, which are naturally present components of biosamples. This knowledge gap is often due to insufficient sensitivity of the conventionally utilized detection assays. To overcome this limitation, here we employed an endogenous (bio)chemiluminescence sensing platform, which enables sensitive detection of PEF-generated ROS and oxidative processes in proteins, to inspect effects of pro-and antioxidants. Taking bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, we found that the chemiluminescence signal arising from its solution is greatly enhanced in the presence of H 2 O 2 as a prooxidant, especially during PEF treatment. In contrast, the chemiluminescence signal decreases in the presence of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase), indicating the involvement of both H 2 O 2 and electrogenerated superoxide anion in oxidation-reporting chemiluminescence signal before, during, and after PEF treatment. We also performed additional biochemical and biophysical assays, which confirmed that BSA underwent structural changes after H 2 O 2 treatment, with PEF having only a minor effect. We proposed a scheme describing the reactions leading from interfacial charge transfer at the anode by which ROS are generated to the actual photon emission. Results of our work help to elucidate the mechanisms of action of PEF on proteins via electrogenerated reactive oxygen species and open up new avenues for the application of PEF technology. The developed chemiluminescence technique enables label-free, in-situ and non-destructive sensing of interactions between ROS and proteins. The technique may be applied to study oxidative damage of other classes of biomolecules such as lipids, nucleic acids or carbohydrates.

Effect of AC electric field on enhancing phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils in different pH soils.

To increase the efficiency of phytoremediation to clean up heavy metals in soil, assisted with alternating current (AC) electric field technology is a promising choice. Our experiments utilized the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance and the fast-growing, high-biomass willow (Salix sp.). We investigated the efficiency of AC field combined with S. alfredii-willow intercropping for removing Cd from soils with different pH values. In the AC electric field treatment with S. alfredii-willow intercropping, the available Cd content in acidic soil increased by 50.00% compared to the control, and in alkaline soil, the increase was 100.00%. Furthermore, AC electric field promoted Cd uptake by plants in both acidic and alkaline soils, with Cd accumulation in the aboveground increased by 20.52% (P < 0.05) and 11.73%, respectively. In conclusion, the integration of AC electric fields with phytoremediation demonstrates significant favorable effectiveness.