The development of multifunctional, flexible, and sustainable wearable electronics is critical for the advancement of next-generation smart systems. In this paper, a dual-functional, self-powered device capable of both piezoelectric energy harvesting and high-sensitivity strain sensing is reported. This device was fabricated using sulfated cellulose nanocrystals (SCNCs) derived from waste tissue. These SCNCs were integrated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and supported on biodegradable mulberry paper (MP). It was found that sulfation enhanced the surface charge density, crystallinity, and dipole alignment of the CNCs, thereby significantly improving the piezoelectric performance confirmed with theoretical simulation such as DFT, COMSOL Multiphysics simulation, piezobased dielectric studies and characterization experiments. Based on the experimental demonstration, the optimized composite device exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 6–8 V and short-circuit current of 120–150 nA under mechanical deformation. Furthermore, it demonstrated a rapid response (0.5–2 s) and high sensitivity of more than 80
After finish milling in die and mould manufacturing, the method used for quality control is usually visual and tactile inspection of the surface finish by the operator. The purpose of the inspection is to link the manufacturing conditions to the appearance of the surface. The perceived quality of a surface is related to how light is reflected by that surface which in turn depends on geometrical features, such as distribution of heights (i.e. surface roughness) as well as slopes and curvatures. Prior work relating perceived quality to surface properties has almost exclusively focused on roughness. The present study re-examines data from a previous study with the objective to investigate how the geometric topography characterisations multiscale curvature and slope analysis could be useful for relating surface texture both to how finish milled metallic surfaces were processed as well as how the appearance was perceived. It was found that large variation in surface curvatures and slopes, as well as sharp curvatures and steep slopes, generate lower perceived quality, and that this effect was most prominent in a certain range of scales. Here, it was suggested to use the slope parameter Total variation as a link between manufacture and function since it has good discriminatory power regarding tool and workpiece material used as well as discriminatory power and very good statistical correlation (Spearman rank coefficient ρ = -1) regarding perceived appearance when calculated at a scale around 20 μm.
The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater on Mars, which once contained a lake of liquid water. We report the rock properties encountered by Perseverance during a 10-kilometer traverse extending over 400 meters in elevation, from beneath Jezero's western sedimentary fan to the upper crater rim. These rocks consist of coarse-grained olivine, magnesium and iron carbonates, silica, and phyllosilicates, including some of the oldest materials exposed within Jezero. We infer that these rocks formed by olivine accumulation in an igneous system of layered intrusions, followed by exposure to water and carbon dioxide, which caused extensive carbonation of the silicate minerals. Aqueous alteration was more pronounced at lower elevations. Higher-elevation exposures on the crater rim appear similar to olivine-rich rocks distributed over the wider Nili Fossae region.
As sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks evolve into increasingly Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven, user-centric ecosystems, traditional reactive handover mechanisms demonstrate limitations, especially in mobile edge computing and autonomous agent-based service scenarios. This manuscript introduces the Wireless AI Agent Network (WAAN), a cross-layer framework designed to enable intent-aware and proactive handovers in 6G networks. WAAN embeds lightweight Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) agents as autonomous, negotiation-capable entities across heterogeneous edge nodes that contribute to intent propagation and network adaptation. To ensure continuity across mobility-induced disruptions, WAAN incorporates semi-stable Rendezvous Points (RPs) that serve as coordination anchors for context transfer and state preservation. The framework’s operational capabilities are demonstrated through a multimodal environmental control case study, highlighting its effectiveness in maintaining user experience under mobility. Finally, the article discusses key challenges and future opportunities associated with the deployment and evolution of WAAN.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the requirements for sensors and smart devices, where high performance, power efficiency and low manufacturing costs are mandatory. As a consequence, the research for better performing materials and more cost-effective manufacturing techniques is being performed. This work reports on ink formulations based on nitrogen-doped graphene and environmentally friendly polymers (Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and their use in fully screen-printed transistors and humidity sensors. The ink formulations were developed using environmentally friendly solvents and showed non-Newtonian behaviour. The N-rGO composites showed a high electrical conductivity of 1.9 +/- 0.5 S center dot cm(-1), 100 times higher than the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites. Fully printed Graphene field effect transistors (GFET) were developed with low operating voltage of < 2 V to be implemented as humidity sensors with the fully a linear response and high sensitivity (4.25 Omega center dot%RH-1 as resistive sensor), allowing integration into low-power microcontrollers for sensing applications.
