Practical implementation of Li metal anodes has been hindered by non-uniform, dendritic growth of Li, which causes continuous side reactions, internal short-circuiting, and early cell failure. Although applying external pressure has been reported to promote dense Li plating to some extent, the practical application of this approach remains limited. Herein, a carbon framework-integrated separator to regulate the plating-stripping behavior of Li at reduced external pressure is proposed. To ensure both high porosity and mechanical integrity, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are employed as a model material for realizing the framework-integrated separator structure. CNFs are electrophoretically deposited onto the separator to achieve a uniform and mechanically robust layer, while preserving the intrinsic porous structure of the separator. Combined experimental and computational studies show that when assembled with a Li metal anode, the carbon framework-integrated separator enables kinetics-controlled "in-cavity" deposition, effectively guiding dense Li plating and accommodating plating-induced volume changes. As a result, a high-voltage (4.25 V) and high-capacity (4.0 mAh cm^-2) full cell exhibits stable cycling under low external pressure (0.26 MPa). This work provides a promising strategy for designing functional separators to realize practical high-energy-density Li metal batteries.

This study examined the potential of using a ductless, fixed vane air supply type ventilation system as a solution to structural and cost limitations of duct-type systems in aging buildings. The performance of such ductless, fixed vane air supply type ventilation system was evaluated based on air delivery, indoor airflow distribution, and thermal comfort. Measurements showed a turbulence intensity of 4% at the diffuser outlet, with an average velocity of 2.69 m/s and a velocity standard deviation of 0.12 m/s, indicating a stable airflow. Airflow distribution results revealed velocities between 0.05 m/s and 0.3 m/s, providing a stable and imperceptible draft sensation for seated and standing occupants. The system maintained effective air delivery up to 8 m from the diffuser, achieving uniform air distribution throughout the space. Effective Draft Temperature (EDT) analysis confirmed that airflow and temperature variations remained within the ADPI comfort zone. These findings demonstrate that ductless, fixed vane air supply systems can effectively address limitations of ducted systems while ensuring thermal comfort. This study provides a practical framework for implementing cost-effective and efficient ventilation solutions in aging buildings.

Softmax plays a critical role in deep learning accelerators, but its hardware implementations often suffer from precision loss due to inaccurate division operations. This paper focuses on the design of a high-precision division unit for Softmax, introducing a three-segment piecewise approximation of $\frac{1}{1+s}$ that effectively reduces approximation errors. The proposed approach improves numerical accuracy over previous designs, while preserving hardware efficiency and maintaining a multiplication-free and look-up table-free architecture.

Li ion batteries, widely used in electric vehicles and portable electronics, are now confronting theoretical thresholds in energy density due to low specific capacity of graphite anodes. One promising approach to boost energy density (> 400 Wh kg −1 ) is Li metal batteries (LMBs) paired with commercially available Ni-rich cathodes (LiNi x M 1−x O 2 , M=Mn, Co and x ≥ 0.6). Li metal anodes (LMAs) are regarded as an attractive candidate for next-generation anodes for high-energy-density energy storage because of their high specific capacity (3860 mAh g −1 ) and low electrochemical potential (−3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). However, the practical deployment of LMAs is hindered by their intrinsic high reactivity and uncontrollable growth of Li dendrites, which consequently lead to excessive parasitic reactions and short lifespan of batteries. Recent studies have demonstrated that applying external mechanical pressures to LMAs effectively suppresses dendritic Li growth, promoting dense and uniform Li deposition. Nevertheless, excessively high pressures (>10 MPa) inevitably lead to detrimental effects such as pore collapse in polyolefin separators and even mechanical tearing, ultimately causing internal short circuits. Three-dimensional (3D) frameworks, which have been extensively studied to resolve the critical issues of LMAs, can improve the cell performance of LMBs under low-pressure operation by providing abundant pore volume to accommodate volume expansion and regulate Li deposition behavior. Herein, we present a porous 3D framework of vapor-grown carbon fibers (VGCFs) integrated with the separator via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to guide uniform Li + flux. By optimizing the EPD parameters, a mechanically robust and uniformly porous VGCF layer is combined with a commercial polypropylene (PP) separator. 3D electrochemical simulations reveal that the abundant Li⁺ transport pathways in the VGCF layer enable homogeneous Li⁺ distribution, which could inhibit formation and growth of Li dendrites. This prediction is validated through microstructural analysis of Li deposition, which confirms that Li metal is densely and uniformly deposited within the VGCF layer, gradually filling the pores in the framework from bottom to top. Electrochemical properties under reduced external pressure conditions further confirm the efficacy of the VGCF-integrated separator. Compared to bare PP, symmetric cells and half cells with VGCF-integrated separators exhibit more stable Li plating/stripping, featuring reduced hysteresis and improved reversibility. Notably, full cell employing high-voltage NCM cathode and VGCF-integrated separator maintains a capacity retention of 87.3% after 200 cycles, outperforming cells using bare PP. These results demonstrate that the VGCF-integrated separator enables reliable operation of LMBs under practical low-pressure conditions. This work provides a new approach for the design of advanced 3D frameworks for high-energy-density LMBs.for the design of advanced 3D frameworks for high-energy-density LMBs.

Traditional thermal comfort models, such as the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) model, estimate population-wide average comfort and overlook individual physiological differences. To address this, Personal Thermal Comfort (PTC) models incorporating physiological signals have been explored, with electroencephalography (EEG) gaining attention for its responsiveness to thermal perception and adaptation. This study analyzes EEG responses during thermal adaptation, distinguishing it from prior research focusing on stabilized conditions. EEG and skin temperature were measured under two thermal conditions, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were used to analyze EEG patterns. Results show significant individual variability, highlighting limitations of conventional models. Findings demonstrate that integrating EEG with environmental and physiological data enhances thermal comfort assessment accuracy, contributing to the development of a PTC model for real-time adaptive climate control in smart buildings and HVAC systems.

Practical implementation of Li metal anodes has been hindered by non-uniform, dendritic growth of Li, which causes continuous side reactions, internal short-circuiting, and early cell failure. Although applying external pressure has been reported to promote dense Li plating to some extent, the practical application of this approach remains limited. Herein, a carbon framework-integrated separator to regulate the plating-stripping behavior of Li at reduced external pressure is proposed. To ensure both high porosity and mechanical integrity, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are employed as a model material for realizing the framework-integrated separator structure. CNFs are electrophoretically deposited onto the separator to achieve a uniform and mechanically robust layer, while preserving the intrinsic porous structure of the separator. Combined experimental and computational studies show that when assembled with a Li metal anode, the carbon framework-integrated separator enables kinetics-controlled "in-cavity" deposition, effectively guiding dense Li plating and accommodating plating-induced volume changes. As a result, a high-voltage (4.25 V) and high-capacity (4.0 mAh cm^-2) full cell exhibits stable cycling under low external pressure (0.26 MPa). This work provides a promising strategy for designing functional separators to realize practical high-energy-density Li metal batteries.