The onset voltage of negative corona discharge on high-voltage conductors is strongly influenced by surface irregularities and electric field non-uniformity. Previous studies have investigated corona inception on stranded conductors and the effect of conducting protrusions on electric field enhancement; however, their combined influence has not been adequately addressed. In this paper, a three-dimensional numerical model is developed to investigate the onset of negative corona on a stranded conductor with a conducting protrusion in the presence of a grounded plane. The electric field distribution is computed using an extended charge simulation technique, in which the stranded conductor is represented by helical line charges, while the protrusion is modeled using ring and point charges. Image charges are implemented to simulate the grounded plane. To ensure high computational accuracy, the boundary conditions were evaluated, demonstrating that for all investigated protrusion geometries, the maximum percentage potential error remained below 1.06 %. The proposed algorithm is tested against previous experimental work, and excellent agreement is reached. The results show that a conducting protrusion dramatically increases the local electric field compared to a stranded conductor without protrusions, which in turn decreases the corona onset voltage. The proposed method is implemented to study the effect of different dimensions of protrusions on the surface electric field and the corona onset voltage, aiding the performance analysis of irregular practical stranded conductors.
The objective of the current study was to assess the hepatoprotective properties of nano-phytosomes (CRV-PNPs) loaded with carvacrol (CRV) in response to lead (Pb)- triggered liver injury. Male Wistar rats were assigned to six groups: Control, CRV, CRV-PNPs, Pb, Pb/CRV, and Pb/CRV-PNPs. Pb intoxication led to considerable blood profile disruption; in addition, it lowered serum total protein and its fractions. Pb also provoked an oxidative stress cascade, indicated by reductions in catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and glutathione (GSH) levels, coinciding with a marked increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Pb also increased the inflammatory mediators (NF-kappa B, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, NLRP3). Compared to crude CRV, CRV-PNPs provided significantly better protection against Pb-induced hepatotoxicity by restoring hematological indices and liver function, correcting dyslipidemia, and attenuating histopathological alterations. This protective efficacy was associated with improved antioxidant enzyme activity, diminished oxidative damage, and reduced inflammatory response by downregulating key mediators. Molecular docking revealed that CRV has a strong affinity for antioxidant and inflammatory proteins. The CRV-PNPs exhibited a better protective effect against Pb-induced hepatic damage than crude CRV, which might be attributed to improved stability, solubility, and bioavailability, as well as multiple protective mechanisms.
Flash boiling (FB) injection offers substantial potential for improved atomization and reduced emissions, while multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) act as catalytic additives that enhance fuel reactivity and heat transfer. This study investigates the combined effects of FB and MWCNTs on spray morphology, flame propagation, and soot formation in a constant volume combustion chamber using iso-octane as a gasoline surrogate. FB narrowed the spray angle (-9.36%) and reduced penetration (-10.23%) and width (-14.08%) due to plume collapse. In contrast, MWCNTs widened the angle (+8.51% under subcooled (SC)), increased penetration (+1.74% SC, +27.78% FB), and drastically reduced spray width (-76.47% under FB). Together, FB and MWCNTs improved atomization and evaporation, yielding narrower spray cores, deeper penetration, and wider dispersion of fine droplets. Flame analysis showed faster development under FB, with flame radius and speed increasing by 12.68% and 13.9%. MWCNTs further accelerated propagation. Flames under combined FB-MWCNT conditions displayed dominant blue/green luminosity, reflecting enhanced mixture homogeneity and reduced sooting. Soot characterization revealed that FB and MWCNTs enlarged aggregate area and radius of gyration while reducing primary particle diameter (-46.21% median) and fractal dimension, producing open, branched structures of finer particulates. Overall, the synergy of FB and MWCNTs enhances mixture preparation, accelerates combustion, and shift soot morphology toward finer primary particles and more open, chain-like aggregates, which are indicative of inhibited particle growth and enhanced oxidation potential, offering a pathway toward cleaner and more efficient GDI technologies.
Mosquitoes pose a significant global health threat due to their capacity to transmit fatal diseases and their growing resistance to conventional synthetic insecticides. This study synthesized and evaluated three novel 2,4thiazolidinedione (TZD) derivatives (TzTPOMe, TzTPCl, and TzTPNO2) as multi-target larvicides against the 3rd larval instar of Culex pipiens. The compounds were synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation and characterized by spectral analyses (IR, NMR, and mass) and DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level to examine the electronic properties of their E and Z isomers. Biological evaluations demonstrated exceptional potency, with all compounds achieving up to 100% mortality at 1000 & micro;g/mL within 24 h. The nitro-substituted derivative, TzTPNO2, exhibited the highest toxicity, recording the lowest LC50 values at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Biochemical assays revealed a potent multi-target mechanism; the leading derivatives significantly inhibited neuro-enzymes (Acetylcholinesterase) and critical metabolic enzymes (GABA-T, amylase, and lipase) while simultaneously suppressing antioxidant defenses (SOD, GST, CAT, and GSH). This systemic collapse triggered catastrophic oxidative stress, evidenced by elevated lipid peroxidation and total protein carbonyl content. Safety assessments against non-target aquatic predators (Stratiomys longicornis, Cybister tripunctatus, Sphaerodema urinators, and Gambusia affinis) revealed a high selectivity toward mosquito larvae with minimal impact on predatory efficiency, supporting their environmental compatibility. These findings were robustly supported by computational modeling; molecular docking and 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirmed the formation of highly stable protein-ligand complexes, often exceeding the binding affinities of established inhibitors. Complemented by favorable ADMET profiling indicating high intestinal absorption and a safe, nonmutagenic profile, these TZD hybrids, particularly TzTPNO2 represent a promising strategy for developing new, resistance-breaking chemical larvicides through combined neurotoxicity, metabolic disruption, and severe oxidative damage, offering a sustainable and environmentally safe approach for integrated vector management programs.
Accurate analytical modeling of gate-on-source double-gate tunnel field-effect transistors (GOS-DGTFETs) remains challenging, particularly when the depletion regions in the source, channel, and drain are not treated rigorously. This limitation can lead to inaccurate electrostatic boundary conditions and degraded prediction accuracy under different bias conditions. In this work, a semi-analytical model is developed for both Si-based and InAs-based GOS-DGTFETs by incorporating the dual-modulation effect, in which the channel surface potential is governed primarily by either the gate bias or the drain bias, depending on the operating regime. The proposed model explicitly accounts for the depletion regions in the source, channel, and drain and solves the two-dimensional (2-D) Poisson equation in five device regions to determine the surface potential and lateral electric-field distributions. The fringing-field parameters associated with all depletion regions are extracted by fitting the analytical lateral electric field distribution to corresponding Silvaco TCAD results using nonlinear least-squares optimization in MATLAB. Using the resulting electrostatic solution, the energy band profile is derived, and the drain current is modeled using Kane's band-to-band tunneling formalism with a variable tunneling length. The model is validated against TCAD simulations for both Si-based and InAs-based structures, and its predictions show good agreement with the simulation results, indicating that it can capture the electrostatic behavior and current characteristics of GOS-DGTFETs under the simulated operating conditions.
