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AbstractAerodynamic drag is one of the main obstacles to accelerate a solid body when it moves in the air. When a racing car or road vehicle burns fuel to accelerate, drag force pulls it from back to reduce the speed and hence the fuel efficiency is adversely affected. About 50 to 60% of total fuel energy is lost only to overcome this adverse aerodynamic force. To win a race, which may be decided by fraction of second, the racing cars need a faster acceleration, which is possible by reducing the drag force by optimizing its shape to ensure stream-lining or reducing the separation. Reduction of aerodynamic drag has become one of the prime concerns in vehicle aerodynamics. This article is concentrated on different aspects analysis of aerodynamic drag of racing cars and different drag reduction techniques such as rear under body modification and exhaust gas redirection towards the rear separation zones. Through a numerical process (Finite Volume Method) of solving the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations backed by k–epsilon turbulence model, the drag coefficient of the car under analysis is found to be 0.3233 and it is evident that the drag can be reduced up to 22.13% by different rear under-body modifications and up to 9.5% by exhaust gas redirection towards the separated region at the rear of the car. It is also evident that if somehow the negative pressure area and its intensity at the rear of the car can be minimized, the separation pressure drag is subsequently reduced.

AbstractWith the evolution of the smart grid concept, the production of electric vehicles (EVs) is predicted to rise because of environmental concerns, technological advancements, and improvements in EV management. Vehicle‐to‐grid (V2G) is an enabling, realistic, and affordable technology to cope with a large number of EVs, increase energy sustainability, provide economical solutions, satisfy user‐side consumers, and facilitate power flow to the grid. Power electronics (PE) converters, particularly bidirectional power converters, are promising interfaces for V2G infrastructure because they determine the characteristics and functionalities of V2G. Therefore, this study provides an extensive review of the characteristics, technological aspects, and visions of V2G infrastructure. This review helps to identify the current state, most recent developments, and problems related to bidirectional interface topologies and control strategies in V2G infrastructure. It further examines the classification of chargers or dischargers based on numerous factors, including limitations and impacts. Furthermore, the benefits, challenges with possible mitigation solutions, and future outlooks in the implementation of V2G technology are discussed. This review is planned to serve as a reference for existing work in V2G frameworks, PE interfacing topologies, and control strategies, and to also facilitate a guideline for future work that can be implemented to flourish V2G technology.

The extensive use of dyes in numerous industries results in massive dye discharge in the wastewater, which is a major cause of water pollution. Globally, the consumption of dyes is near seven hundred thousand tons across different sectors, of which around 10–15% goes into the wastewater. Among the dye kinds, anionic dyes make up the main proportion, having a 32–90% share in the wastewater. Different plant-derived wastes, which are sustainable given their natural abundance, effectiveness, and low cost, are frequently proposed for dye separation. However, these adsorbents are inherently more suitable for cationic dyes than anionic dyes. In recent years, the modification of these wastes has been progressively considered to suit them to anionic dye removal. These modifications involve mechanical, thermal, or chemical treatments, or combinations. These attempts propose two-way benefits, as one abundant waste is being used to cure another severe problem, and eventually both could be diminished. This review has a key focus on the evaluation of plant-derived adsorbents and their modifications, and particularly for anionic dye adsorption. Overall, the mechanism of adsorption and the suitability of the current methods are discussed, and their future potential is explored.

Plant growth regulators are naturally biosynthesized chemicals in plants that influence physiological processes. Their synthetic analogous trigger numerous biochemical and physiological processes involved in the growth and development of plants. Nowadays, due to changing climatic scenario, numerous biotic and abiotic stresses hamper seed germination, seedling growth, and plant development leading to a decline in biological and economic yields. However, plant growth regulators (PGRs) can potentially play a fundamental role in regulating plant responses to various abiotic stresses and hence, contribute to plant adaptation under adverse environments. The major effects of abiotic stresses are growth and yield disturbance, and both these effects are directly overseen by the PGRs. Different types of PGRs such as abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), ethylene (ET), and jasmonates (JAs) are connected to boosting the response of plants to multiple stresses. In contrast, PGRs including cytokinins (CKs), gibberellins (GAs), auxin, and relatively novel PGRs such as strigolactones (SLs), and brassinosteroids (BRs) are involved in plant growth and development under normal and stressful environmental conditions. Besides, polyamines and nitric oxide (NO), although not considered as phytohormones, have been included in the current review due to their involvement in the regulation of several plant processes and stress responses. These PGRs are crucial for regulating stress adaptation through the modulates physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes and activation of the defense system, upregulating of transcript levels, transcription factors, metabolism genes, and stress proteins at cellular levels. The current review presents an acumen of the recent progress made on different PGRs to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stress such as heat, drought, salinity, and flood. Moreover, it highlights the research gaps on underlying mechanisms of PGRs biosynthesis under stressed conditions and their potential roles in imparting tolerance against adverse effects of suboptimal growth conditions.

Food waste and food processing wastes which are abundant in nature and rich in carbon content can be attractive renewable substrates for sustainable biohydrogen production due to wide economic prospects in industries. Many studies utilizing common food wastes such as dining hall or restaurant waste and wastes generated from food processing industries have shown good percentages of hydrogen in gas composition, production yield and rate. The carbon composition in food waste also plays a crucial role in determining high biohydrogen yield. Physicochemical factors such as pre-treatment to seed culture, pH, temperature (mesophilic/thermophilic) and etc. are also important to ensure the dominance of hydrogen-producing bacteria in dark fermentation. This review demonstrates the potential of food waste and food processing waste for biohydrogen production and provides a brief overview of several physicochemical factors that affect biohydrogen production in dark fermentation. The economic viability of biohydrogen production from food waste is also discussed.

AbstractSummer droughts strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling, but net effects on SOC storage are unclear as drought affects both C inputs and outputs from soils. Here, we explored the overlooked role of soil fauna on SOC storage in forests, hypothesizing that soil faunal activity is particularly drought‐sensitive, thereby reducing litter incorporation into the mineral soil and, eventually, long‐term SOC storage.In a drought‐prone pine forest (Switzerland), we performed a large‐scale irrigation experiment for 17 years and assessed its impact on vertical SOC distribution and composition. We also examined litter mass loss of dominant tree species using different mesh‐size litterbags and determined soil fauna abundance and community composition.The 17‐year‐long irrigation resulted in a C loss in the organic layers (−1.0 kg C m−2) and a comparable C gain in the mineral soil (+0.8 kg C m−2) and thus did not affect total SOC stocks. Irrigation increased the mass loss ofQuercus pubescensandViburnum lantanaleaf litter, with greater effect sizes when meso‐ and macrofauna were included (+215%) than when excluded (+44%). The enhanced faunal‐mediated litter mass loss was paralleled by a many‐fold increase in the abundance of meso‐ and macrofauna during irrigation. Moreover, Acari and Collembola community composition shifted, with a higher presence of drought‐sensitive species in irrigated soils. In comparison, microbial SOC mineralization was less sensitive to soil moisture. Our results suggest that the vertical redistribution of SOC with irrigation was mainly driven by faunal‐mediated litter incorporation, together with increased root C inputs.Our study shows that soil fauna is highly sensitive to natural drought, which leads to a reduced C transfer from organic layers to the mineral soil. In the longer term, this potentially affects SOC storage and, therefore, soil fauna plays a key but so far largely overlooked role in shaping SOC responses to drought.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have become the leading energy storage technology, powering a wide range of applications in today's electrified world. This comprehensive review paper delves into the current challenges and innovative solutions driving the supercharged future of lithium-ion batteries. It scrutinizes the limitations of energy density in existing batteries, exploring advanced electrode materials and designs that promise higher capacity. Safety concerns take center stage, with a focus on cutting-edge thermal management systems and materials. The imperative of sustainable sourcing is addressed, highlighting alternative materials and recycling strategies for a greener supply chain. Transformative breakthroughs, such as solid-state electrolytes and emerging battery chemistries, offer glimpses of the future. The paper also examines the applications and market perspectives of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, portable electronics, and renewable energy storage. It concludes by emphasizing the transformative potential of lithium-ion batteries in accelerating the energy revolution and paving the way for a sustainable energy future.