In the past decade, under the background of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality era, the rapid development of new energy vehicles has put forward higher requirements for the performance of strike forces such as battery cycle life, energy density and cost. Lithium-ion batteries have gradually become the mainstream of electric vehicle power batteries due to their excellent energy density, rate performance and cycle life. At present, the most widely used cathode materials for power batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and ternary nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM). However, these materials exhibit the bottlenecks that limit the improvement and promotion of power battery performance. In this review, the performance characteristics, cycle life attenuation mechanism (including structural damage, gas generation and active lithium loss, etc.) and improvement methods (including surface coating and element-doping modification) of LFP and NCM batteries are reviewed. Finally, the development prospects of this field are proposed.

Optimum design and accurate control of the internal structure of the laser target materials remain an important goal for various laser physics experiments, especially for generating high flux photon and neutron beams. The low-density material is considered to be one of the most difficult for X-ray study due to its high transparency and imperceptible contrast. To produce clear visualization of foam containing sparse structures we used a high-quality monochromatic X-ray beam of synchrotron radiation source PETRA-III at DESY. The X-ray beam parameters allow tomographic scanning with application of phase contrast retrieval algorithms. A series of 3D images of foam-suspended glass microsphere inside the plastic cylinder were obtained with the quality high enough to observe the internal structure and to visualize uniformity, displacement and surface roughness on both sides of the microsphere. The main object under investigation was a CH-plastic capillary including 10 mg/cc CHO-foam with the centered glass microsphere. The results of this work demonstrate that tomographic visualization based on a high quality X-ray radiation and phase contrast analysis is an effective and useful technique for development of new laser targets containing structured low density materials.

Knowledge of the temperature evolution is crucial to understand and control laser beam welding of low-melting materials. Existing temperature determination approaches are restricted to i) one-dimensional temperature information (e.g. ratio-pyrometers), ii) a priori knowledge of the emissivity (e.g. thermography) and iii) high temperature regions (e.g. two-wavelength imaging). In this paper, a ratio-based two-color-thermography approach is developed that allows for two-dimensional temperature determination in low-melting temperature ranges (< 1200 K). For static measurement situations it is demonstrated, that temperature can be determined despite variation in signal intensity and emissivity with high accuracy. The two-color-thermography set-up is further transferred into a commercial laser beam welding machine and experiments are conducted for varying process parameters. The direct application of the developed two-color-thermography system in dynamic process situations is limited as image artifacts presumably caused by internal reflections inside the optical beam path are present.

Spiral steroids (SS) are a newly discovered type of steroid. Originally, they were described as cardiotonic glycosides because they cross-reacted with digoxin-specific antibodies (Digoxin-Like-Materials-DLM). SS differ from the classical steroids in several ways: [a] they are steroid phosphodiester conjugates and displace digoxin from digoxin-specific antibodies, [b] in contrast to all other steroids, cholesterol is not a precursor, [c] SS have more than 21 carbon atoms; the extra atoms form a 5th ring which includes a lactone, [d] SS bind to NaK-ATPase in membranes rather than receptors in the nucleus. SS have been identified by HPLC- mass spectroscopy in extracts from mammals, birds, and oysters but were not detected in plant extracts. Overall, SS seem to be key components in regulating potassium electrolytes during pregnancy and its related diseases – specifically pre-eclampsia and necrotizing enterocolitis.

This work investigates how integrated polyimide inlays with applied sensor bodies influence the guided ultrasonic wave propagation in narrow glass fiber-reinforced polymer specimens. Preliminary numerical simulations indicate that in a damping-free specimen, the inlays show reflections for the S0-mode propagation. Hence, an air-coupled ultrasonic technique and a 3D laser Doppler vibrometer measurement are used to measure different parts of the propagating waves’ displacement field after burst excitation at different frequencies. No significant reflections on the inlay can be seen in the experiments. However, it is shown that the reflections from the strip specimen’s narrow width cause periodical reflections that superimpose with the excited wave fronts. A continuous wavelet transformation in the time-frequency domain filters discontinuities from the measurement signal and is used for reconstruction of the time signals. The reconstructed signals are used in a spatial continuous wavelet transformation to identify the occurring wavelengths and hence to prove the assumption of reflections from the narrow edges. Since the amplitude of the reflections identified in the numerical data at the polyimide inlays are an order of magnitude smaller than the excited wave packages, it is concluded that material damping of the epoxy resin matrix extincts possible reflections from the inlays.

As a consequence of intense industrialization in the last few decades, the amount of agro-industrial wastes has increasing, where new forms of valorization are crucial. In this work, 5 residual biomasses from Maranhão (Brazil) were investigted as supports for immobilization of lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL). The new biocatalysts BM-TLL (babaçu mesocarp) and RH-TLL (rice husk) showed immobilization efficiencies &gt;98% and hydrolytic activities of 5,331 U.g-1 and 4.608 U. g-1 respectively against 142 U. g-1 by Lipozyme® TL IM. High esterification activities were also found, with 141.4 U.g-1 and 396.4 U.g-1 from BM-TLL and RH-TLL against 113.5 U.g-1 by TL IM. Results of porosimetry, SEM and BET demonstrated BM and RH supports are mesoporous materials with large hydrophobic area, allowing a mixture of hydrophobic adsorption and confinement, resulting in hyperactivation of TLL. These biocatalysts were applied in the production of hexyl laurate, where RH-TLL was able to generate 94% conversion in 4 h. Desorption with Triton X-100 and NaCl confirmed that new biocatalysts were more efficient with 5 times less protein than commercial TL IM. All results demonstrated that residual biomass was able to produce robust and stable biocatalysts containing immobilized TLL with better results than commercial preparations.

In order to reach the theoretical efficiency limits of lead-based metal halide perovskite solar cells, the voltage should be enhanced because it suffers from nonradiative recombination. Perovskite materials contain intrinsic defects that can act as Shockley-Read-Hall recombination centers. Several experimental and computational studies have characterized such defect states within the band gap. We give a systematic overview of compositional engineering by distinguishing the different defect reducing mechanisms. Doping effects are divided into influences on: (1) Crystallization; (2) Lattice properties. Incorporation of dopant influences the lattice properties by: (a) Lattice strain relaxation; (b) Chemical bonding enhancement; (c) Band gap tuning. The intrinsic lattice strain in undoped perovskite was shown to induce vacancy formation. The incorporation of smaller ions, such as Cl, F and Cd, increases the energy for vacancy formation. Zn doping is reported to induce strain relaxation but also to enhance the chemical bonding. The combination of computational studies using (DFT) calculations quantifying and qualifying the defect reducing propensities of different dopants with experimental studies is essential for deeper understanding and unraveling insights, such as the dynamics of iodine vacancies and the photochemistry of the iodine interstitials, and can eventually lead to a more rational approach in the search for optimal photovoltaic materials.

The hybrid personal cooling system (HPCS) consisted of ventilation fans and phase change materials (PCMs) covered with insulation pads is a promising wearable cooling system to mitigate heat strain and heat-related illnesses of occupational workers with heavy labor in hot environments. Effects of clothing characteristics (e.g., thermal resistance of insulation pads, latent heat and melting temperature of PCMs) on the thermal performance of the HPCS have been investigated in detail in our previous study. Apart from the aforementioned factors, environmental conditions, i.e., environmental temperature and relative humidity, also significantly affect the thermal performance of the HPCS. In this paper, a numerical parametric study was performed to investigate the effects of the environmental temperature and relative humidity (RH) on the thermal management of the HPCS. Five levels of air temperature under environmental RH=50% were chosen (i.e., 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 ºC) to study the impact of environmental temperature on the HPCS’s cooling performance. In addition, four levels of environmental RH at ambient temperatures of 36 and 40 ºC were selected (i.e., 30, 50, 70 and 90%) to examine the effect of RH on cooling performance of the HPCS. Results show that high environmental temperatures could accelerate the PCM melting process and thereby weaken the cooling performance of HPCS. In the moderately hot environment (36 °C), the HPCS presented good cooling performance with the maximum core temperature at around 37.5 °C during excise when the ambient RH≤70%, whereas good cooling performance could be only seen under RH≤50% in the extremely hot environment (40 °C). Thus, it may be concluded that the maximum environmental RH for the HPCS exhibiting good cooling performance decreases with the increase in the environmental temperature.

This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted landscape of supercapacitors, highlighting their pivotal role in meeting the global demand for efficient energy storage solutions. Supercapacitors, with their high power density, rapid charge-discharge cycles, and extended cycle life, offer a compelling alternative to conventional batteries and capacitors. The review delves into the fundamental mechanisms of energy storage in supercapacitors, categorizing them into Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitors (EDLCs), pseudocapacitors, and hybrid capacitors. It discusses significant advancements in supercapacitor technology, including nanostructured materials, flexible and wearable supercapacitors, solid-state supercapacitors, and hybrid supercapacitors, highlighting their potential applications across industries such as transportation, renewable energy, consumer electronics, and industrial power management. Through continued research and development, supercapacitors are poised to play a pivotal role in driving the transition towards a greener and more efficient future.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in the last few years emerged as an exceedingly promising material for craniofacial defect, due to its biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, its utilization remains controversial due to its inertness and low osteoinductivity. This study aimed to investigate the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing maxillo-facial and neurosurgical procedures with PEEK implants. The focus is on evaluating bone regrowth on the surface and edges of the implant, periosteal reactions, and implant positioning. A retrospective analysis of 12 maxillo-facial surgery patients and 10 neurosurgery patients who received PEEK implants was conducted. CT scans performed at least one-year post-operation, were examined for bone regrowth, periosteal reactions, and implant positioning. In maxillo-facial cases, the analysis included mandibular angle and fronto-orbital reconstruction, while neurosurgical cases involved cranioplasty. In maxillofacial surgery, 11 out of 12 patients showed radiological evidence of bone regrowth around PEEK implants, with favorable outcomes observed in craniofacial reconstruction. In neurosurgery, 9 out of 10 patients exhibited minimal or none bone regrowth, while one case demonstrated notable bone regeneration beneath the PEEK implant interface. The study highlights the importance of implant design and patient-specific factors in achieving successful outcomes, providing valuable insights for future implant-based procedures.

Driven by environmental sustainability concerns, the integration of biobased components in curtain wall systems is gaining traction in both research and the construction market. This paper explores the development and validation of a bio-based façade system within the Basajaun H2020 project. The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of introducing environmentally friendly bio-based components into the mature curtain wall façade industry. The paper focuses on identifying technological solutions for replacing key components such as profiles, insulation, and the tightness system with bio-based and less environmental impact alternatives presenting the results achieved in the façade system design of the Basajaun project funded by European Union. These solutions aimed at creating a bio-composite-based curtain wall façade that adheres to current building envelope standards and normative; to implement diverse façade typologies for vision panels, opaque sections, and integrated windows; to engineer the prefabrication process for industrialization, enabling wider market replication and simplified transport and installation. The results demonstrate that the Basajaun façade successfully integrates selected components and meets the performance requirements set by regulations. However, questions remain regarding the workability of bio-based profiles as a commercially viable, ready-to-market solution that can replace traditional aluminum profiles in the curtain wall façade industry.

In this paper, we present an experimental procedure to enhance the dimensional accuracy of fabrication via Stereolithography (SLA) of features at the micro-scale. Using a custom benchmark part, deviations in feature dimensions (micro-pores diameters and depths) were detected and measured by confocal microscopy. Samples characterization and experimental observations allowed the identification of inaccuracy sources, mainly due to the laser beam scanning strategy and to the incomplete removal of uncured liquid resin in post-processing (i.e., IPA washing). As a technology baseline, the measured dimensional errors on pores diameters were up to -46%. A compensation method of the nominal laser spot diameter (85m) was defined and implemented resulting in relevant improvements in dimensional accuracy of 9.8% and 11.3% on full-open pores diameter and depth, respectively. Further investigation was performed on a customized test part to adjust the calibration procedure. The measurements revealed that the estimate of the laser beam spot size is 968m. Measurements on micro-pores having different sizes revealed that a constant compensation parameter (i.e., C=85, 96, 120m) is not fully effective at the micro-scale, where average errors still remain at -24%, -18.8%, and -16% for compensations equals to 85, 96 and 120m, respectively. A further experimental campaign allowed the identification of an effective nonlinear compensation law where the compensation parameter depends on the micro-feature size C= f (D). Results show a sharp improvement in dimensional accuracy on micro-pore fabrication, with errors consistently below +8.2%. The proposed compensation method can be extended for the fabrication of any micro-features without restrictions on the specific technology implementation. Concerning the inaccuracy introduced by the laser path, experimentation with a customized part allowed the optimization of the part orientation to reduce the errors and their differences along the X and Y machine axes.

Keywords: Marine Coasts; Protected Areas; Defense and Conservation; Asbestos Cement Materials; Wastes; Contamination; Human Health Risk; Medical Geology.

Globally, weeds interfere with agricultural production activities and have a very serious impact on agriculture and animal husbandry. Identifying a safe and reliable weed control strategy might increase yield, production net income, and improve crop quality. A field experiment was carried out to explore the effects of weeds interference frequency on the yield and quality of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch in an arid and semi-arid area of northwest China. The experiment consisted of seven treatments and were (1) no weeding, marked as WF0; (2)-(7) artificial weeding by hoe once every 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks after emergence, marked as WF1, WF2, WF4, WF6, WF8 and WF10, respectively. We found that the higher weeding frequency had a higher the plant height, photosynthesis, yield and quality. The highest yield was obtained in the WF1 treatment, while the cost of weeding was the highest among all treatments. The concentration of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid were increased by 53.24% and 36.57%, with the highest nitrogen metabolism enzymatic activities and quality in WF4 treatment. WF4 treatment exhibited the largest increases in the net income among all treatments in both growing seasons, with respective increases up to 71.39 % and 78.81%. These findings suggested that weeding once every 4 weeks would be an effective and sustainable measure to control weeds in an arid and semi-arid area.

We overview recent findings achieved in the field of model-driven development of additively manufactured porous materials for development of a new generation of bioactive implants for orthopedic applications. Porous structures produced of biocompatible titanium alloys by selective laser melting can present a promising material to design scaffolds with regulated mechanical properties and with capacity to be loaded with pharmaceutical products. Adjusting pore geometry, one could control elastic modulus and strength/fatigue properties of the engineered structures to be compatible with bone tissues, thus preventing the stress shield effect when replacing a diseased bone fragment. Adsorption of medicals by internal spaces would make it possible to emit the antibiotic and anti-tumor agents into surrounding tissues. We critically analyze the recent advances in the field featuring model design approaches, virtual testing of the designed structures, capabilities of additive printing of porous structures, biomedical issues of the engineered scaffolds and so on. A special attention is paid to highlight the current troubles in the field and the ways of their solutions.

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing fascination with electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) because of their capacity to undertake demanding and perilous missions, while also delivering advantages in terms of flexibility, safety, and expenses. These UAVs are revolutionizing various public services, encompassing real-time surveillance, search and rescue operations, wildlife assessments, delivery services, wireless connectivity, and precise farming. To enhance their efficiency and duration, UAVs typically employ a hybrid power system. This system integrates diverse energy sources, such as fuel cells, batteries, solar cells, and supercapacitors. The selection of an appropriate hybrid power arrangement and the implementation of an effective energy management system are crucial for the successful functioning of advanced UAVs. This article specifically concentrates on UAV platforms powered by batteries, incorporating innovative technologies like in-flight recharging via laser beams and tethering. It provides an all-encompassing and evaluative examination of the current cutting-edge power supply configurations, with the objective of identifying deficiencies, presenting perspectives, and offering recommendations for future consideration in this domain.

In this work, a systematic study was conducted on the fabrication of multi-material components obtained employing Laser-Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) technology. The idea of making multi-material components is a winning capability of additive technologies because it allows the fabrication of Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) with the customization of parts according to different required properties. The transition from one material to another was achieved gradually and continuously within the same layer using ad-hoc equipment designed for L-PBF systems with a powder spreading technique based on coaters or rollers. The influence of the relative position of the different materials within the powder chamber and the geometry of the developed equipment on the metallurgical and mechanical properties of the manufactured samples was evaluated. The performed tests involved the use of two materials, a nickel-based superalloy, and a stainless steel, having different chemical, physical and mechanical properties to obtain gradual properties variation in the manufactured samples. Based on the results of post-process characterization obtained through metallographic, chemical, and mechanical analysis, the relative positions of the materials and the geometry of the developed equipment have a limited effect on the sample’s manufactured properties. The characteristics of the FGM zone depend on the nature of the employed powders, and its extent coincides with that defined during the design of the divider.

A pilot study on laser 3D printing of inorganic free-form micro-optics is experimentally validated. Ultrafast laser nanolithography is employed for structuring hybrid organic-inorganic material SZ2080TM followed by high-temperature calcination post-processing. The combination allows production of 3D architectures and the heat-treatment results in converting the material to inorganic substance. The produced miniature optical elements are characterized and their optical performance demonstrated. Finally, the concept is validated for manufacturing compound optical components such as stacked lenses. This is opening for new directions and applications of laser made microoptics under harsh conditions such as high intensity radiation, temperature, acidic environment, pressure variations, which include open space, astrophotonics, and remote sensing.

Solar reflective index (SRI) is one of the important parameters in the analysis of a building’s energetic and thermal performance, especially for “cool” reflective paints or coatings. However, there exists less information on the typical performance of the cool materials exposed for long term in the Middle East and more specifically in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this study, we determined values of reflectance, emittance, solar reflective index (SRI), and color difference, for three different high SRI white paints exposed naturally on low and high sloped racks for three years. After 3 years, reflectance values of exposed paint panels significantly decreased with an increased color difference in comparison with original unexposed paint surfaces. Emissivity of the paint changed very little for all of the exposed samples, but SRI, determined from both the reflectance and emittance, was reduced from between 95 and 110 to between 60 and 90 after three years. This appeared to be related to exposure to high temperatures, UV radiation, and adhesion of airborne contaminants in conjunction with low precipitation. Macroscopically, panels exposed on a low slope were the most discolored with the greatest presence of dust infusion and reduction in increase in surface temperatures which was demonstrated through thermal imaging. Such natural weathering research study is necessary for the development of standard exposure tests and determination of various control elements to increase the durability of cool materials in hot and arid climatic conditions of UAE.

Recently, several research groups have reported on anomalous enhancement of the self-field critical currents, Ic(sf,T), at low temperatures in superconductor/Dirac-cone material/superconductor (S/DCM/S) junctions. Some papers attributed the enhancement to the low-energy Andreev bound states arising from winding of the electronic wave function around DCM. In this paper, Ic(sf,T) in S/DCM/S junctions have been analyzed by two approaches: modified Ambegaokar-Baratoff and ballistic Titov-Beenakker models. It is shown that the ballistic model is an inadequate tool to analyze experimental data from S/DCM/S junctions. The primary mechanism for limiting superconducting current in S/DCM/S junctions is different from the conventional view that the latter is the maximum value within the order parameter phase variation. Thus, there is a need to develop a new model for self-field critical currents in S/DCM/S systems.

Recently, Kayyalha et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2019, 122, 047003) reported on anomalous enhancement of the self-field critical currents, I_c (sf,T), at low temperatures in Nb/BiSbTeSe₂-nanoribbon/Nb Josephson junctions. The enhancement was attributed to the low-energy Andreev bound states arising from winding of the electronic wave function around the circumference of the topological insulator BiSbTeSe₂ nanoribbon. In this paper, we show that identical enhancement in I_c(sf,T) and in the upper critical field, B_c2(T), at approximately same reduced temperatures, were reported by several research groups in atomically thin junctions based on a variety of Dirac-cone materials (DCM) earlier. Our analysis shows that in all these S/DCM/S systems the enhancement is due to a new superconducting band opening. Taking in account that several intrinsic superconductors also exhibit the effect of new superconducting band(s) opening when sample thickness becomes thinner than the out-of-plane coherence length, we strength our previous proposal that there is a new phenomenon of additional superconducting band(s) opening in atomically thin films.

In this short review paper we have assembled the main characteristics of partial oxidation reactions (oxidative dehydrogenation and selective oxidation to olefins or oxygenates, as aldehydes and carboxylic acids and nitriles), as well as total oxidation, particularly for depollution, environmental issues and wastewater treatments. Both gas-solid and liquid-solid media have been considered with recent and representative examples within these fields. We have also discussed about their potential and prospective industrial applications. Particular attention has been brought to new raw materials stemming from biomass and to liquid-solid catalysts cases. This review paper also summarizes the progresses made in the use of unconventional activation methods for performing oxidation reactions, highlighting the synergy of these technologies with heterogeneous catalysis. Focus has been centered on usual catalysts activation methods but also on less usual ones, such as the use of ultrasounds, microwaves, grinding (mechanochemistry) and photo-activated processes, as well as their combined use.

A multiscale (micro-macro) approach is proposed for the establishment of the full thermal and induced stress fields in cracked composites that are subjected to heat flow. Both the temperature and stresses distributions are determined by the solution of a boundary value problem with one-way coupling. In the micro level and for combined thermomechanical loading, a micromechanical analysis is employed to determine the effective moduli, coefficients of thermal expansion and thermal conductivities of the undamaged composite. In the macro level, the representative cell method is employed according to which the periodic damaged composite region is reduced, in conjunction with the discrete Fourier transform, to a finite domain problem. As a result, a boundary value problem is obtained in the Fourier transform domain which is appropriately discretized and solved. The inverse transform and an iterative procedure provide the full thermal and stress fields. The proposed method is verified by comparisons with exact solutions. Applications are given for the determination of the thermal and stress fields in cracked fiber-reinforced polymeric composite, cracked porous ceramic material and cracked periodically layered ceramic composite caused by the application of heat flow. The presented formulation admits however the application of a combined mechanical and heat flux on cracked composites.

The purpose of this finite element analysis (FEA) was to evaluate the stress experienced by both the prosthetic components and the bone in relation to varying cement thicknesses ranging from 20 to 60 μm, utilized in the attachment of a zirconia crown on a conometric cap. The study focused on two distinct types of implants (Cyroth and TAC, AoN Implants, Grisignano di Zocco, Italy) featuring a Morse cone connection. Detailed three-dimensional (3D) models were created to repre-sent the bone structure (cortical and trabecular) and the prosthetic components, encompassing the crown, cement, cap, abutment, and the implant. The two implants were placed in a 1.5 mm sub-crestal position and subjected to an inclined load of 200 N at 45° on the crown. The results re-vealed that an increase in cement thickness resulted in a reduction of von Mises stress on the cor-tical bone for both Cyroth and TAC implants, while the decrease in stress on the trabecular bone was relatively less pronounced. However, the TAC implant exhibited a higher stress field and de-formation in the apical area compared to the Cyroth implant. In summary, this study investigated the impact of cement thickness on stress transmission across prosthetic components and peri-implant tissues by means of FEA analysis, indicating that the 60 μm cement layer manifested higher stress values nearing the material strength limit.

In this study, the biodegradation properties of leather treated with various finishing chemicals were evaluated in order to enhance the sustainability of leather processing. We applied advanced analytical techniques including FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Leather samples treated with different polymers, resins, bio-based materials, and traditional finishing agents were subjected to a composting process under controlled conditions to measure their biodegradability. The findings revealed that bio-based polyurethane finishes and acrylic wax exhibited biodegradability, while traditional chemical finishes like isocyanate and nitrocellulose lacquer showed moderate biodegradation levels. The results indicated significant differences in the biodegradation rates and the impact on plant germination and growth. Some materials, such as black pigment, nitrocellulose lacquer and wax, were beneficial for plant growth, while others, such as polyurethane materials, had adverse effects. These results support the use of eco-friendly finishes to reduce the environmental footprint of leather production. Overall, this study underscores the importance of selecting sustainable finishing chemicals to promote eco-friendly leather manufacturing practices.

The present study evaluates mold fungal resistance of newly developed loose-fill thermal insulation materials from wheat straw, corn stalk and water reed. Three different processing methods of raw materials was performed by mechanical crushing (Raw, ≤ 20 mm), thermal-mechanical pulping (TMP) using 4% NaOH and steam explosion pulping (SEP). An admixture of boric acid (8%) and tetraborate (7%) was applied to all processed substrates due to their anti-fungal properties. Additionally, the fourth sample group was prepared from SEPs of all raw species without boric acid and tetraborate (SEP*) as control. Samples from all treatments were separately inoculated by 5 different fungal species and incubated in darkness for 28 days at 28 ℃ and RH &gt;90%. The highest resistance to the colonization of mold fungi was achieved by TMP and SEP processing coupled with addition of boric acid and tetraborate, where molds infest only around 35% to 40% of the inoculated sample area. The lowest mold fungi resistance was detected for Raw and SEP* samples, each ~75% that was affected by rich amount of accessible nutrients, suggesting that boric acid and tetraborate additives alone did not prevent mold fungal growth as effective as in combination with TMP and SEP treatments. Together, the achieved fungal colonization scores after combined fungicide and pulping treatments are acceptable for the application of various renewable materials in future thermal insulation product development.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the preoperative modeling of fluid-structure interaction in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms. In this study, we investigate two cases involving laminar incompressible fluid flow interacting with hyperelastic materials (a vertical flap and aneurysm walls) under the effect of fluid flow. We present a finite element method (FEM) for these prototypical two-dimensional ($2D$) configurations, taking into account the complex flows and deformation of the variant's structure models. We use an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation in a continuum, fully monolithic coupled way, and discretize the fluid and solid domains using the quadratic LBB stable $P_2P_1$ finite element pair to approximate the displacement, velocity, and pressure spaces independently. The resulting discretized form of the nonlinear algebraic system is linearized using a variant of Newton's procedure, and the Jacobian matrices are approximated via the divided difference method. The resulting linear systems are solved using a direct solver MUMPS. We evaluate hydrodynamic forces such as drag and lift coefficients for nonlinear elastic material models, including Saint-Venant Kirchoff, Neo-Hookean, and Mooney-Rivlin (2 parameters) separately. To gain more physical insight into the problem, we verify the computed results by comparing the velocity, viscosity, and pressure fields. Our aim is to qualitatively analyze the changes in the mechanics of the wall behavior of the elasticity of the flap vs. the complexity of deformation, interface, details for prototypical flow situations, corresponding displacement, and deformation. We also provide a physical interpretation of blood flow magnitude and basic hemodynamic phenomena of wall shear stresses (WSS) in aneurysma and the range of deformation. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive approach to modeling fluid-structure interaction in cerebral aneurysms, which could help in the development of more effective treatment strategies.

Since its introduction, back in the late 1970s, the non-affine or slip parameter, ξ, has been routinely employed by numerous constitutive models as a constant parameter. However, the evidence seems to imply that it should be a function of polymer deformation. In the present work, we phenomenologically modify a constitutive model for the rheology of unentangled polymer melts [P. S. Stephanou et al. J. Rheol. 53, 309 (2009)] to account for a non-constant slip parameter. The revised model predictions are compared against newly accumulated rheological data for a C48 polyethylene melt obtained via direct non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations in shear. We find that the conformation tensor data are very well predicted; however, the predictions of the material functions are noted to deviate from the NEMD data, especially at large shear rates.

Miniaturization of electronics devices is often limited by the concomitant high heat fluxes (cooling load) and maldistribution of temperature profiles (hot spots). Thermal energy storage (TES) platforms providing supplemental cooling can be a cost-effective solution, that often leverages phase change materials (PCM). Although salt hydrates provide higher storage capacities and power ratings (as compared to that of the organic PCMs), they suffer from reliability issues (e.g., supercooling). ‘Cold Finger Technique (CFT)’ can obviate supercooling by maintaining a small mass fraction of the PCM in solid state for enabling spontaneous nucleation. Optimization of CFT necessitates real-time forecasting of the transient values of the melt-fraction. In this study artificial neural network (ANN) is explored for real-time prediction of the time remaining to reach a target value of melt-fraction based on the prior history of the spatial distribution of the surface temperature transients. Two different approaches were explored for training the ANN model, using: (1) transient PCM-temperature data; or (2) transient surface-temperature data. When deployed in a heat sink that leverages PCM based passive thermal management systems for cooling of electronic chips and packages, this maverick approach (using the second method) affords cheaper costs, better sustainability, higher reliability and resilience.

In this article, the effect of substitution of Zr and Ga in Dy2Fe17 prepared by arc melting technique are studied. The substitution of Zr and Ga in Dy2Fe17 was found to have an important effect on their structure and magnetic properties. The Rietveld analysis conformed that the crystalline system wereTh2Ni17 structure. Lattice parameters a (Å) and c (Å), unit cell volume (Å3), bonding distance (Å) were calculated by using Rietveld analysis. The unit cell volume of Dy2Fe17-xZrx and Dy2Fe16Ga1-xZrx increase linearly with the Zr and Ga substitution. The substitution of Zr and Ga are limited up to x=1 in order to avoid the decrease in saturation magnetization. The Curie temperature (Tc) of Dy2Fe17-xZrx and Dy2Fe16Ga1-xZrx are found to be Zr content dependent. The Curie temperature is found to be increasing first and then decrease for higher Zr content. The maximum curie temperature was observed 510K at x = 0.75 for Dy2Fe17-xZrx and 505.1 K at x = 0.5 for Dy2Fe17-xZrx which are102 K and 97 K higher than Dy2Fe17. The room temperature Mössbauer analysis shows the decrease in average hyperfine field and increase in isomer shift with Zr doping.

MPC (Magneto-Photonic Crystal) Optimisation is a feature-rich Windows software application designed to enable researchers to analyze the optical and magneto-optical spectral properties of multilayers containing gyrotropic constituents. A set of computational algorithms aimed at enabling the design optimization and optical or magneto-optical (MO) spectral analysis of 1D magnetic photonic crystals (MPC) is reported, together with its Windows software implementation. Relevant material property datasets (e.g., the optical spectra of refractive index, absorption, and gyration) of several important optical and MO materials are included, enabling easy reproduction of the previously published results from the field of MPC-based Faraday rotator development, and an effective demonstration-quality introduction of future users to the multiple features of this package. We also report on the methods and algorithms used to obtain the absorption coefficient spectral dispersion datasets for new materials, for which the film thickness, transmission spectrum, and refractive index dispersion function are known.

Here, we report on ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) generated by nanosecond pulsed laser (Nd:YAG, 1064 nm) through ablation of metallic Zn target in water and air and their comparative analysis as potential nanomaterials for biomedical applications. The prepared nanomaterials were carefully characterized in terms of their structure, composition, morphology and defects. It was found that in addition to the main wurtzite ZnO phase, which is conventionally prepared and reported by others, the sample laser-generated in air also contained some amount of monoclinic zinc hydroxynitrate. Both nanomaterials were then used to modify model wound dressings based on biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid. The as-prepared model dressings were tested as biomedical materials with bactericidal properties towards S. aureus and E. coli strains. The advantages of the NPs prepared in air over their counterparts generated in water found in this work are discussed.

Energy is a fundamental ingredient in economic development and energy consumption is an index of prosperity and the standard of living. The consumption of energy has increased significantly in the last number of decades, as the standard of living has improved. Renewable energy is a sustainable and clean source of energy derived from nature. Renewable energy technology is one of the solutions, which produces energy by transforming natural resources into useful energy forms. When you do something for the first time in the world, you never attain a perfect product or solution from the start. In Central Greece Lamia city, we are the first to design and implement an off-grid energy system using hydrogen energy storage technology and phase change materials for a house residence. The action plan for energy efficiency, a series of directives and incentive mechanisms, mandatory energy certification of buildings, indicate the urgent need to reduce energy consumption in buildings, which results in a more comfortable living, long service life of buildings, which in turn preserves the environment.

The use of naturally available materials not conforming to traditional specifications or standards, in the base and sub-base layers of road pavement structures, stabilised with New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME), have been tested, implemented and successfully verified through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) in South Africa. This was made possible through the development and use of a design procedure addressing fundamental principles and based on scientific concepts, which are universally applicable. The understanding of and incorporation of the chemical interaction between the mineralogy of the materials and a NME stabilising agent (compatibility between the chemistry of the reactive agents and material mineralogy) into the design approach is key to achieving the required engineering properties. Stabilised materials evaluation is done using tests indicative of the basic engineering properties (physics) of compressive strengths, tensile strengths and durability. This article describes the basic materials design approach developed to ensure that organofunctional nano-silane modified emulsions can successfully be used for pavement layer construction utilising naturally available materials, at a low risk. The enablement of the use of naturally available materials in all pavement layers can have a considerable impact on the unit cost and life-cycle costs of road transportation infrastructure. TRANSLATE with x English ArabicHebrewPolish BulgarianHindiPortuguese CatalanHmong DawRomanian Chinese SimplifiedHungarianRussian Chinese TraditionalIndonesianSlovak CzechItalianSlovenian DanishJapaneseSpanish DutchKlingonSwedish EnglishKoreanThai EstonianLatvianTurkish FinnishLithuanianUkrainian FrenchMalayUrdu GermanMalteseVietnamese GreekNorwegianWelsh Haitian CreolePersian TRANSLATE with COPY THE URL BELOW Back EMBED THE SNIPPET BELOW IN YOUR SITE Enable collaborative features and customize widget: Bing Webmaster Portal Back

Nanomaterials based on metal oxides (MexOy) are employed as catalysts and/or sorbents in processes undergoing conditions in supercritical water (scH2O), the “green” reaction medium used to obtain energy relevant products. Their properties are greatly affected by the synthesis method used to produce the active MexOy. Moreover, in order to maintain their performance, it is more practical and cost-effective to use supported MexOy nanoparticles. Within this context, the present work deals with the preparation of carbon-supported ZnO and CuO composites by an innovative method based on impregnation under scH2O conditions. Metal oxides were impregnated on a carbon (C) support using a continuous flow tubular reactor. The results show that impregnation in scH2O is a promising approach for the preparation of ZnO/C and CuO/C composite materials. This one-step synthesis method, in a continuous flow, uses neither seed layer nor mineralizer, and it needs substantially lower preparation times than the conventional impregnation methods.

Photophysics properties such as fluorescence quenching, and photoexcitation dynamics of bimolecular non-covalent systems consisting of cationic poly[(9,9-di(3,3’-N,N’-trimethyl-ammonium) propyl fluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl)] diiodide salt (PFN) and anionic graphene carboxylate (GC) have been discovered for the first time by the steady state and time-resolved femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy with broadband capabilities. The steady-state fluorescence of PFN is quenched with high efficiency by GC acceptor. Fluorescence lifetime measurements revealed that the quenching mechanism of PFN by GC is static. Here, the quenching mechanisms are well proven by TA spectra of PFN/GC systems. For PFN/GC systems, the photo electron transfer (PET) and charge recombination (CR) processes are ultrafast (within few tens of ps) related to static interactions whereas for PFN/DCB systems the PET takes place in few hundreds ps (217.50 ps)1 suggesting diffusion-controlled PET process. In the latter case, the PFN+•-DCB-• radical ion pairs as the result of PET from the PFN to DCB are clearly resolved and they are long-lived. The slow CR process (in 30 ns time scales)1 suggest PFN+• and DCB-• may already form separated radical ion pairs through charge separation (CS) process, which recombined back to the initial state with a characteristic time constant of 30 ns. The advantage of the present positively charged polyfluorene used in this work is the control over the electrostatic interactions and electron transfers in non-covalent polyfluorene/quencher systems in DMSO solution.

Geothermal energy is a weather-independent, permanently available renewable energy source. In addition to producing heat and electricity, geothermal energy can be used to extract critical raw materials dissolved in the heat-carrying fluid. Researchers working on the frontiers of geothermal energy utilisation may be able to transform ultra-deep metallic mineral formations into “orebody-Enhanced Geothermal Systems”. In the planned technology, the metal-containing geological formation would be manipulated in such a way that cogeneration of energy and metals is possible and can be optimised in the future according to market needs. The potential of geothermal energy for sustainable mineral extraction and energy production aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This new technology could substantially decrease Europe’s dependency on importing critical metallic minerals (such as lithium and tungsten) and energy; over and above, it has a small environmental footprint, including very low carbon emissions

Using valid experimental parameters we quantify the magnitude of resonantly phonon-driven precession of exchange magnons in freestanding ferromagnetic nickel thin films on their thickness L. Analytical solutions of acoustically driven equations for magnon oscillators display a nonmonotonous dependence of the peak magnetization precession on the film thickness. It is explained by different L-dependence of multiple prefactors entering in the expression for the total magnetization dynamics. Depending on the ratio of acoustic and magnetic (Gilbert) damping constants, the magnetization precession is shown to be amplified by a Q-factor of either the phonon or the magnon resonance. The increase of the phonon mode amplitude for thinner membranes is also found to be significant. Focusing on the magnetization dynamics excited by the two first acoustic eigenmodes with p=1 and p=2 we predict the optimum thicknesses of nickel membranes to achieve large amplitude magnetization precession at multi 100 GHz frequencies at reasonably low values of an external magnetic field.

An inter- and transdisciplinary concept has been developed, focusing on the scaling of industrial circular construction using innovative compacted mineral mixtures (CMM) derived from various soil types (sand, silt, clay) and recycled mineral waste. The concept aims to accelerate the systemic transformation of the construction industry towards carbon neutrality by promoting the large-scale adoption and automation of CMM-based construction materials, which incorporate natural mineral components and recycled aggregates or industrial by-products. In close collaboration with international and domestic stakeholders in the construction sector, the concept explores the integration of various CMM-based construction methods for producing wall elements in conventional building construction. Leveraging a digital urban mining platform, the concept aims to standardize the production process and enable mass-scale production. The ultimate goal is to fully harness the potential of automated CMM-based wall elements as a fast, competitive, emission-free, and recyclable alternative to traditional masonry and concrete construction techniques. To achieve this objective, the concept draws upon the latest advances in soil mechanics, rheology, and automation and incorporates open-source digital platform technologies to enhance data accessibility, processing, and knowledge acquisition. This will bolster confidence in CMM-based technologies and facilitate their widespread adoption. The extraordinary transfer potential of this approach necessitates both basic and applied research. As such, the proposed transformative, inter- and transdisciplinary concept will be conducted and synthesized using a comprehensive, holistic, and transfer-oriented methodology.

Vacuum drying can dehydrate materials further than dry heat methods while protecting sensitive materials from thermal degradation. Many industries have shifted to vacuum drying as cost- or time-saving measures. Small-scale vacuum drying, however, has been limited by high costs of specialty scientific tools. To make vacuum drying more accessible, this study provides design and performance information for a small-scale open source vacuum oven, which can be fabricated from off-the-shelf and 3-D printed components. The oven is tested for drying speed and effective-ness on both waste plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a consortium of bacteria developed for bioprocessing of terephthalate wastes to assist in distributed recycling of PET for both additive manufacturing as well as potential food. Both materials can be damaged when exposed to high temperatures, making vacuum drying a desirable solution. The results showed the open source vacuum oven was effective at drying both plastic and biomaterials, drying at a higher rate than a hot-air dryer for small samples or for low volumes of water. The system can be constructed for less than 20% of commercial vacuum dryer costs for several laboratory-scale applications including dehydration of bio-organisms, drying plastic for distributed recycling and additive manufacturing, and chemical processing.

Building envelope can play a crucial role in building improvement efficiency and the adoption of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) coupled with transparent elements may (i) allow a better control of the heat flows from/to the outdoor environment, (ii) increase the exploitation of solar energy at building scale and (iii) modulate the light transmission to avoid glare effects. Starting from a literature review of experimental works, this research identifies the main possible integration of PCM in transparent/translucent building envelope components (in glazing, in shutters and in multilayer façade system) drawing a global picture potentials and limitations of these technologies. Transparent envelopes with PCMs have been classified from the simplest “zero” technology, which integrates the PCM into the double glass unit (DGU), to more complex solutions – with different numbers of cavities of the glass (TGU), different position of PCM layer (internal/external shutter), and in combination with other materials (TIM, aerogel, prismatic solar reflector, PCM curtain controlled by an electric pump). The results of the analysis are resumed in a SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats) analysis table to underline strengths and weaknesses of transparent building envelope components with PCMs, and to indicate opportunities and threats for future research and building application.

In our study we investigated the additive manufacturing (AM) of ceramic-based Functionally Graded Materials (FGM) by the direct AM technology Thermoplastic 3D-Printing (T3DP). Zirconia components with a varying microstructure were additively manufactured by using thermoplastic suspensions with different contents of pore forming agents (PFA) and were co-sintered defect-free. Different materials were investigated concerning their suitability as PFA for the T3DP process. Different zirconia-based suspensions were prepared and used for AM of single- and multi-material test components. All samples were sintered defect-free and in the end we could realize a brick wall-like component consisting of dense (<1% porosity) and porous (approx. 5% porosity) zirconia areas to combine different properties in one component. The T3DP opens the door to AM of further ceramic-based 4D-components like multi-color or multi-material, especially multi-functional components.

This manuscript employs a surface stress-driven nonlocal model to explore the combined effects of long-range interaction and surface energy on higher vibration modes of functionally graded nanobeams. The nanobeam theory, based on Bernoulli-Euler kinematics, incorporates surface effects such as surface elasticity, surface residual stresses, surface density, and rotary inertia. Hamilton's principle is applied to derive the governing equation with size-dependent considerations. The main outcomes of a parametric investigation, considering four different kinematic boundary conditions (Cantilever, Simply-Supported, Clamped-Pinned, and Doubly-Clamped) while varying the nonlocal parameter and material gradient index, are presented and discussed. Additionally, the normalized natural frequencies for the second, third, fourth and fifth modes of vibrations are provided and analyzed for each case under study. The results underscore the model's effectiveness in capturing surface energy effects on the overall dynamic behavior of functionally graded Bernoulli-Euler nanobeams, offering a cost-effective approach for designing and optimizing nano-scaled structures.

Pure orbital blowout fractures occur within the confines of the internal orbital wall. Restoration of orbital form and volume is paramount to prevent functional and esthetic impairment. The anatomical peculiarity of the orbit has encouraged surgeons to develop implants with customized features to restore its architecture. This has resulted in worldwide clinical demand for patient-specific implants (PSIs) designed to fit precisely in the patient's unique anatomy. Fused filament fabrication (FFF) three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has enabled the fabrication of implant-grade polymers such as Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), paving the way for a more sophisticated generation of biomaterials. This study evaluates the FFF 3D printed PEEK orbital mesh customized implants with a metric considering the relevant design, biomechanical, and morphological parameters. The performance of the implants is studied as a function of varying thicknesses and porous design constructs through a finite element (FE) based computational model and a decision matrix based statistical approach. The maximum stress values achieved in our results predict the high durability of the implants, and the maximum deformation values were under one-tenth of a millimeter (mm) domain in all the implant profile configurations. The circular patterned implant (0.9 mm) had the best performance score. The study demonstrates that compounding multi-design computational analysis with 3D printing can be beneficial for the optimal restoration of the orbital floor.

Despite the development of technologies, modern methods of disposal of end-of-life tires most often represent either the incineration in cement kilns or the destruction of tires in special landfills, showing a lack of sustainable recycling of this valuable material. The fundamental role of recycling is evident, and the development of high-efficiency processes represents a priority for the European market. Therefore, investigation of end-of-life rubber processing methods is of high importance for manufacturers and recyclers of rubber materials. In this paper, methods of processing of end-of-life tires are reviewed in order to obtain rubber crumb, which can later be used in the production of new industrial rubber goods and composite The processes of separation end-of-life tire into fractions by type of materials using mechanical processing methods along with mechanochemical and mechanical processes of processing the materials of used tires in order to obtain crumb rubber of various fractions and chemical reactivity are considered.

Steel reinforcement in concrete has the tendency to corrode and this process can lead to structural damage. FRP reinforcement represents a viable alternative for structures exposed to aggressive environments and has many possible applications where superior corrosion resistance properties are required. The use of FRP rebars as internal reinforcements for concrete, however, is limited to specific structural elements and does not yet extend to the whole structure. The reasons for this relate to the limited availability of curved or shaped reinforcing elements on the market and their reduced structural performance. Various studies, in fact, have shown that the mechanical performance of bent portions of composite bars is reduced significantly under a multiaxial combination of stresses and that the tensile strength can be as low as 25% of the maximum tensile strength that can be developed in the straight part. In a significant number of cases, the current design recommendations for concrete structures reinforced with FRP, however, were found to overestimate the bend capacity of FRP rebar. This paper presents the state-of-the art review of the research works on the strength degradation in curved FRP composites and highlighted the performance of exiting predictive models for the bend capacity of FRP reinforcement. Recent practical predictive model based on the Tsai-Hill failure criteria by considering the material at marcromechanical level is also discussed and highlighted. The review also identifies the challenges and highlights the future directions of research to explore the use of shaped FRP composites in civil engineering applications and the trends for future research in this area.

Nerve agents have recently been used in battlefield operations, espionage wars and terrorist attacks. These compounds, like some pesticides, cause organophosphate poisoning. The rapid, non-contact detection of a sarin simulant has been demonstrated at the Diagnostics and Metrology Laboratory of the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development using laser photoacoustic spectroscopy, an infrared absorption technology. The first measurements, carried out with an experimental system based on a quantum cascade laser and developed for the assessment of food authenticity in the “fingerprint region”, show that a detection limit of 1 nanolitre is within the reach of the instrument when chemometric analysis is applied.

In the present study, the efficiency of a biomimetic approach by coating demineralized bone matrix (DBM) amorphous calcium phosphate (DBM+CaP), including its combination with serum albumin (DBM+CaP+BSA), was investigated. The intact structure of DBM promotes the transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate (CaP) into DPCD with a characteristic plate shape and particle size of 5–35 µm. The inclusion of BSA in the coating resulted in a better and more uniform distribution of CaP on the surface of DBM trabeculae. MG63 cells showed that both the obtained forms of CaP and its complex with BSA did not exhibit cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 10 mg/ml in vitro. Ectopic (subcutaneous) implantation in rats revealed pronounced biocompatibility, as well as strong osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osteogenic effects for both DBM+CaP and DBM+CaP+BSA, but more pronounced effects for DBM+CaP+BSA. In addition, for the DBM+CaP+BSA samples, a pronounced full physiological intrafibrillar biomineralization and proangiogenic effect with the formation of bone-morrow-like niches, accompanied by pronounced processes of intramedullary hematopoiesis, indicating a powerful osteogenic effect of this composite have been achieved.

Advanced composite materials have drawn significant interest in the last years as an alternative to traditional materials due to their higher performance. However, industry struggle to provide low-cost, higher occupational safety, lower footprint with composites, making them suitable for holistic analyses. Therefore, the material design becomes an essential element that can impact the competitiveness, particularly in terms of productivity, circularity, safety, sustainability, and quality of the value chain. The Material Design-for-eXcellence is a state-of-art methodology for material performance multi-dimensional assessment along its life cycle phases, either useful to support ma-terial selection for new products or also to new material design support optimizing resource effi-ciency. In this methodology, the material behaviour and its multiple characteristics assessment, and the manufacturing processes efficiency are evaluated. The framework considers the analogy of product design holistic approaches, as Lean Design-for-X, to organize and assess the mul-ti-dimensional performance for each “X” Material Property. In this work, it was possible to observe that the bio-based composites solutions could be a good sustainable alternative for several sectors. Every day researchers are creating more new materials, having a diversity of properties at different scales, Material Design-for-eXcellence must also in the near future consider other factors. Hence, additional studies are thus foreseen to explore and develop this new tool.

Interference fits are a very common shaft-hub connection due to their low manufacturing cost and excellent technical properties. Plastic Conditioning of this machine element is a new and not very well known method. By exploiting residual stresses and the associated increase in the yield point, these components can absorb operating loads such as rotating bending moments, torsion, temperature changes and centrifugal forces purely elastically and avoid plastic deformation during operation. Compared to conventionally joined interference fits, the load bearing capacity in the elastic range can be increased by almost 200% and a specifically defined additional safety against plastic deformation in the elastic-plastic range can be ensured. This paper examines the effects of Reverse Yielding on the technology of Plastic Conditioning of Interference Fits in Power Transmission Engineering. Based on the Shear Stress Hypothesis (SH), the Plane Stress State (PSS) and the ideal plastic behavior of materials, the stress-mechanical relationships are explained, the influencing parameters are examined and conclusions are drawn for the plastic conditioning process. Taking into account the theoretical knowledge according to the state of the art, modified material behavior assumptions (isotropic hardening) and the Von Mises Yield Criterion (VMYC) are also considered. In addition, the method of plastic conditioning of interference fits is introduced and its basic principles are briefly explained. Along with computational suggestions to avoid Reverse Yielding, open issues requiring further research are identified.

The broad acceptance of electromobility depends heavily on the performance and service life of the battery technology used. Lithium-ion battery technology is currently the most promising energy storage technology for mobile applications, but the performance and capacity of the cells is extremely temperature sensitive. Especially in these new complex and powerful applications there is a significant need for thermal management. Depending on the ambient conditions, part of the effective battery energy must therefore be used to temper the system. So far, mainly active components have been used for this task. This not only reduces the overall efficiency, but also increases the weight, volume and maintenance requirements of the system. In the present work, an alternative battery temperature management system (BTMS) was developed. A concept based on latent heat storage materials was created, which uses the advantages of thermal energy storage and the design freedom of additive manufacturing technology, and its suitability for use in battery applications was checked. On the one hand, the use of systems for storing thermal energy was researched and, on the other hand, an innovative cooling concept was created considering new production possibilities.

There is great importance and need of improving existing carbon materials fabrication methods. As such, this work proposes to discuss, interrogate, and propose viable hydrothermal, solvothermal, and other advanced carbon materials synthetic methods. The advanced carbon materials to be interrogated will include the synthesis of carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, nitrogen/titania-doped carbons, graphene quantum dots, and their nanocomposites with solid/polymeric/metal oxide supports. This will be done with special mind to microwave-assisted solvothermal and hydrothermal synthesis due to their favourable properties such as rapidity, low cost, and green/environmentally-friendliness. Thus, these methods are important during the current and future synthesis and modification of advanced carbon materials for application in energy, gas separation, sensing, and water treatment. Simultaneously, the work will pay special cognizance to methods reducing the fabrication costs and environmental impact while enhancing the properties as a direct result of the synthesis methods. As a direct result, the expectation is to impart a significant contribution to the scientific body of work regarding the improvement of the said fabrication methods.

In the seasonally frozen regions, during the grouting of prestressed bridge ducts in low-temperature environments, incompletely cured grout materials undergo volumetric changes due to the freeze-thaw cycling, resulting in structural cracks along the prestressing ducts of the bridge, thereby diminishing the bridge's operational lifespan. To investigate the frost heaving characteristics of grout materials under freeze-thaw cycles and propose potential enhancements, this study was devised to conduct frost heaving stress tests on grout materials. Through this research, we gained insights into how various additives affect the frost heaving stress characteristics of grout materials under freeze-thaw cycles. Incorporating analyses of free water content, setting time, compressive strength, as well as macroscopic examinations such as XRD and SEM, this study delves into the mechanisms for enhancing frost heaving characteristics of grout materials. Furthermore, it proposes a research approach that utilizes multiple admixtures to improve the frost heaving properties of grout materials. Through frost heaving stress tests and other macroscopic experiments, the study investigates the influence of these combined admixtures on frost heaving stress in grout materials and elucidates the underlying improvement mechanisms. The results indicate that reducing the water-cement ratio, incorporating calcium formate, sulfoaluminate cement, air-entraining agents, and carbamide all have a positive impact on mitigating frost heaving stress in grout materials. However, the improvement mechanisms differ, and employing a single measure alone is insufficient to effectively reduce frost heaving stress while meeting performance criteria such as compressive strength, setting time, and flowability. Free water content emerges as a crucial indicator determining the magnitude of frost heaving stress in grout materials, with 11.5% of free water content representing the critical threshold for frost heaving in grout materials. Utilizing composite admixtures can simultaneously decrease free water content, lower the freezing point of free water, and alleviate frost heaving deformation, resulting in more efficient reduction of frost heaving stress. When the admixture content reaches 9.9%, frost heaving stress is eliminated, and the comprehensive performance parameters including compressive strength, setting time, and flowability meet the specified requirements.

The Ramsey theory based approach to the phase transitions of the second order is suggested. The phase transitions of the second order are seen as switching of physical interactions/chemical bonds between the entities forming the primitive cell of the material. Such a switching is typical for a phase change materials. If the energy of the primitive cell is kept constant under the change in the spatial order of the chemical bonds, the phase transition of the second order takes place. The switching of interactions between the entities forming the primitive cell is accompanied by the breaking of the initial symmetry of the cell. The order parameter/the degree of ordering characterizing the ordering within the primitive cell is re-defined. The introduced degree of ordering quantifies ordering of links/interactions/chemical bonds between entities constituting the 2D lattice; whereas, the classical “Landau degree of order” quantifies the symmetry breaking under variation in spatial locations of these entities. The suggested approach is generalized easily for 3D primitive cells. Thermal capacity of the non-symmetrical phase is larger than that of the symmetrical phase. For the primitive cells built of six interacting entities, the Ramsey Theory predicts inevitable appearance of the unstable monochromatic triangles, when the links correspond to attraction or repulsion interactions. The situation becomes different for the primitive cells built of five interacting entities.

The internet of things and growing demand for smaller and advanced devices has created the problem of high heat production in the electronic equipment which greatly reduces the work performance and life of the electronic instruments. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are placed in between heat generating micro-chip and the heat dissipater to conduct all the produced heat to the heat sink. Development of suitable TIMs with excellent thermal conductivity (TC) in both in-plane and through-plane directions is a very important need at present. For efficient thermal management, polymer composites are potential candidates. But in general their thermal conductivity is low compared to that of metals. The filler integration into the polymer matrix is one of the two approaches used to increase the thermal conductivity of polymer composites and is also easy to scale up for industrial production. Another way to achieve this is to change the structure of polymer chains, which fall out of the scope of this work. In this review, considering the first approach, the authors have summarized recent development in many types of fillers with different scenarios by providing multiple cases with successful strategies to improve through-plane thermal conductivity (TPTC) (K⊥). For better understanding of TC the comprehensive background is also presented. In the end, it is given a detailed conclusion which provides drawbacks of some filler, multiple significant routes recommended by other researchers to build Thermally Conductive Polymer Composites, future aspects along with direction so that the researchers can get a guideline to design an effective polymer based Thermal interface materials. A number of methods to improve the effective (out-plane) thermal conductivity of polymer composites are also discussed.

The urgency for a shift towards cleaner and more efficient energy alternatives for power generation is underscored by the escalating demand for energy and the detrimental environmental impacts of conventional fossil fuels. In the case of automotive power, electric vehicles are being adopted in many applications, however, challenges remain such as extended charging periods and limited ranges between charges. Therefore, this research study conducts a techno-economic analysis of renewable energy technologies (including solar modules, wind turbines and piezoelectric materials) to augment the efficiency and sustainability of electric buses. The study examines the scope for these technologies to be adopted on double-decker electric buses in London in the United Kingdom. The solar modules are placed on the rooftop and sides of the bus generating 15.9 kWh/day and the wind turbine in the front bumper of the bus generates 8.3 kWh/day. However, the piezoelectric material generated only 22.6 Wh/day, rendering it an impractical inclusion in further analysis. Therefore, both the solar modules and wind turbines combined generate 24.2 kWh/day, which can increase the driving range by 16.3 km per day and this results in savings of 19.36 minutes for charging at the stations. Investing in such projects would have a positive return as the internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) are 2.8% and £11,175 respectively. The annual revenue would be £6,712, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction would be two metric tons annually. Electricity exported to the grid, the electricity export rate, and the initial investment are identified as key factors influencing power outage in a sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, this numerical modelling study paves the way for experimental validation towards implementation of renewable energy technologies on electric bus fleets.

Abstract: The establishment of a circular economy in the mining sector, taking advantage of innovations in the exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves, [ ], their [ ], transportation [ ] and subsequent processing [ ] are significant concerns. The issues surrounding the employment of technology targeted at enhancing environmental safety to increase the productivity of the reproduction process of the natural gas and oil resource base are equally important. The paper discusses the use of green seismic technology of survey to determine the oil and gas potential of the subsoil. A methodological toolkit is proposed for carrying out technical and economic calculations to determine indicators of the environmental and economic efficiency of using innovative resource-saving technology for geological survey in areas densely planted with forests. The purpose of the work is to establish the viability of employing resource-saving technology known as Green Seismic to search for promising hydrocarbon objects in forested areas and determine the expected environmental and economic benefits of geological exploration using the suggested enhanced methodology for their evaluation. The tasks set to achieve the goal were solved using methods of geological and economic assessment of the hydrocarbon raw material potential of territories and water areas, environmental assessment of the negative influence of anthropogenic environmental impact on the natural environment, economic and statistical methods of performing technical and economic calculations to determine performance indicators for the implementation of innovative projects in the field of geological exploration. The novelty of the results obtained lies in the proposed improved algorithm for conducting an environmental and economic assessment of geological exploration for hydrocarbon raw materials, a conceptual description of the Green Seismic technology, systematization of technical, economic, and environmental risks, justification of new regional directions for geological exploration using resource-saving seismic exploration technology.

This paper presents a proof-of-concept study on the biocolonization of 3D-printed hydroxyapatite scaffolds with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Three-dimensional (3D) printed biomimetic bone structure made of Calcium Deficient HydroxyApatite (CDHA) intended as future bone graft was made from newly developed composite material for FDM printing. The biopolymer polyvinyl alcohol serves in this material as a thermoplastic binder for 3D molding of the printed object with a passive function and is completely removed during sintering. The study presents the material, the process of fused deposition modeling (FDM) of CDHA scaffolds and its post-processing at three temperatures (1200, 1300, 1400 °C), as well it evaluates the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of scaffolds with MTT and LDH release assays after 14 days. The study also includes a morphological evaluation of the cellular colonization with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in two different filament orientations (rectilinear and gyroid). The results of the MTT assay showed that the tested material was not toxic, and cells were preserved in both orientations, with most cells present on the material fired at 1300°C. Results of the LDH release assay showed a slight increase in LDH leakage from all samples. Visual evaluation of SEM confirmed the ideal post-processing temperature of the 3D-printed FDM framework for samples fired at 1300°C and 1400°C, with a porosity of 0.3 mm between filaments. In conclusion, the presented fabrication and colonization of CDHA scaffolds have great potential to be used in the tissue engineering of bones.

Carbon nanomaterials with a different character of the chemical bond – graphene (sp2) and nanodiamond (sp3) are the building bricks for a new class of all-carbon hybrid nanomaterials, where the two different carbon networks with the sp3 and sp2 hybridization coexist, interact and even transform into one another. The unique electronic, mechanical, and chemical properties of the two border nanoallotropes of carbon ensure the immense application potential and versatility of these all-carbon graphene – diamond nanomaterials. The review gives an overview of the current state of the art of graphene – diamond nanomaterials, including their composites, heterojunctions, and other hybrids for sensing, electronic, energy storage, and other applications. Also, the graphene-to-diamond and diamond-to-graphene transformations at the nanoscale, essential for innovative fabrication, and stability and chemical reactivity assessment are discussed based on extensive theoretical, computational, and experimental studies.

A novel effective vibrational mode was discovered in the conventional transducer with an array of orthogonal (square) regular piezoelectric rods in 1-3 piezocomposite, containing the damping backing and front matching layers. The operational resonance in the structure was determined as the Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) on the backing boundary excited by the adjacent piezo-rods, with its frequency typically near 3 times lower the fundamental half-lambda conventional piezocomposite resonance. Pulse-echo sensitivity and transmitting sound-pressure-level (SPL) in air showed that the signal strength is roughly comparable to the industrial similar air transducers at the frequency range 100…700 kHz, where at these frequencies the lateral and longitudinal piezoelement dimensions in the conventional transducer design are typically close to each other causing interference with unwanted coupling modes. As was determined theoretically and proved in experiments, the backing SAW resonance effect in the transducer performance is inherent just to the regular periodic 1-3 piezocomposite structure, and does occur neither with randomly located/oriented piezo-rods, nor in the homogeneous piezo-plate at least with the same lateral cross-section as the connected to it backing. The purpose of the article is to investigate a newly discovered operational vibrational mode of a SAW type in 1-3 regular piezocomposite, other than piezoelectric resonance. The investigated phenomena can improve the transceiver sensitivity, bandwidth, providing lower drive voltage, and smaller and lighter weight ultrasonic transducers. Based on the piezocomposites with thickness’ 1…1.5 mm (rod resonance near 2…3 MHz), pillar width 0.2…0.8 mm, kerf width 0.1…0.4 mm, the transceivers with an operating frequency from 140 kHz to 650 kHz were designed and fabricated with a conventional backing of a mixture of high-density tungsten powder and epoxy, and a matching layer of a mixture of low-density glass bubbles and epoxy. Experimental evaluation of their acoustical performance showed expected characteristics suitable for practical applications.

Because this issue journal is dedicated to Gelatin here we present a few applications of gelatin in the field of optics. It is understood that optics is the science that studies the production, propagation, interaction and detection of light. Regarding the detection there are some materials sensitive to light (photosensitive) that are used like photomultipliers, CCD’s, crystals, two dimension (2D) materials and more. Among the 2D materials the most popular through several centuries has been gelatin based photographic emulsion that records spatial distributions of light. More recently (1970) films made of Gelatin with Dichromate (DCG) and dyes have been used. We describe some characteristics and applications of these two photosensitive materials. Also we describe examples where gelatin is used as Relative Humidity (RH) sensor and in the fabrication of optical elements based on gelatin. This article is intended to researchers outside the optics community.

Ice formation on aircraft surfaces poses significant safety risks, and current detection systems often struggle to provide accurate, real-time predictions. This paper presents the development and comprehensive evaluation of a smart ice control system using a suite of machine learning models. The system utilizes various sensors to detect temperature anomalies and signal potential ice formation. We trained and tested supervised learning models (Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest), unsupervised learning models (K-means clustering), and neural networks (Multi-Layer Perceptron) to predict and identify ice formation patterns. Experimental results demonstrate that our smart system, driven by machine learning, accurately predicts ice formation in real-time, optimizes de-icing processes, and enhances safety while reducing power consumption. This solution holds the potential for improving ice detection accuracy in aviation and other critical industries requiring robust predictive maintenance.

The carbonized elastomer-based composites (CECs) possess a number of attractive features in terms of thermomechanical and electromechanical performance, durability in aggressive media and facile net-shape formability, but their relatively low ductility and strength limit their suitability for structural engineering applications. Prospective applications such as structural elements of MEMS can be envisaged, since smaller principal dimensions reduce the susceptibility of components to residual stress accumulation during carbonization, and to brittle fracture in general. We report the results of operando in-SEM study of micro-deformation and fracture behavior of CECs based on NBR elastomeric matrices filled with carbon and silicon carbide. Nanostructured carbon composite materials were manufactured via compounding of elastomeric substance with carbon and SiC fillers using mixing rolling mill, vulcanization, and low-temperature carbonization. Double Edge Notched Tensile (DENT) specimens of vulcanized and carbonized elastomeric composites were subjected to in situ tensile testing in the chamber of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) Tescan Vega 3 using Deben Microtest 1 kN Tensile Stage. The series of acquired SEM images were analyzed by means of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) using Ncorr open source software to map the spatial distribution of strain. These maps were correlated with Finite Element Modelling (FEM) simulations to refine the values of elastic moduli. Besides, the elastic moduli were derived from unloading curve nanoindentation hardness measurements carried out using NanoScan-4D tester and interpreted using the Oliver-Pharr method. Carbonization causes significant increase of elastic moduli from 0.86 ± 0.07 to 14.12 ± 1.20 GPa for the composite with graphite and carbon black fillers. Nanoindentation measurements yield somewhat lower values, namely, 0.25 ± 0.02 GPa and 9.83 ± 1.10 GPa before and after carbonization respectively. The analysis of fractography images suggests that crack initiation, growth and propagation may occur both at the notch stress concentrator and relatively far from the notch. Possible causes of such response are discussed, namely, (1) residual stresses introduced by processing; (2) shape and size of fillers; and (3) the emanation and accumulation of gases in composites during carbonization.

This study examines the effect of a hyaluronic acid (HyAc) containing tricalcium phosphate putty scaffold material (TCP-P) and of a particulate tricalcium phosphate (TCP-G) graft on bone formation, volume stability and osteogenic marker expression in biopsies sampled 6 months after bilateral sinus floor augmentation (SFA) in 7 patients applying a split-mouth design. Biopsies were processed for immunohistochemical analysis of resin embedded sections. Sections were stained for collagen type I (Col I), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC) and bone sialoprotein (BSP). Furthermore, the bone area and particle area fraction were determined histomorphometrically. Cone-beam CT data recorded after SFA and 6 month later were used for calculating the graft volume at these two time points. TCP-P displayed more advantageous surgical handling properties and a significantly greater bone area fraction and smaller particle area fraction. This was accompanied by significantly greater expression of Col I and BSP and in osteoblasts and osteoid and a less pronounced reduction in grafting volume with TCP-P. SFA using both types of materials resulted in formation of sufficient bone volume for facilitating stable dental implant placement with all dental implants having been in function without any complications for 6 years. Since TCP-P displayed superior surgical handling properties and greater bone formation than TCP-G, without the Hyac hydrogel matrix having any adverse effect on bone formation or graft volume stability, TCP-P can be regarded as excellent grafting material for SFA in a clinical setting.

In this paper, we investigate the so-called electronic dressed states, a unified quasiparticle resulting from the interaction between electrons in a two-dimensional material with an off-resonance optical dressing field. If the frequency of this field is much larger than all characteristic energies in the system, such as the Fermi energy or bandgap(s), the electronic band structure is affected by radiation so that some important properties of the electron dispersions could be modified in a way desirable for practical applications. For example, a circularly polarized light can be used to vary the bandgap of Dirac materials: it opens a gap in graphene and other metallic and semimetallic lattices, or modifies the magnitude of an existing gap. This will either enhance or reduce a gap, depending on its initial value as well as properties of a host material. Here, we consider gaped dice and Lieb lattices as samples, and put forward a full theoretical model to reveal how these electronic states are deformed by an elliptically-polarized irradiation with a focus on generation and modification of a bandgap.

In response to the growing need for efficient energy conversion technologies, this pa-per introduces an innovative Tubular Thermoelectric Generator (TTEG), specifically de-signed for high-efficiency conversion of waste heat into electrical energy. Unlike conven-tional flat plate thermoelectric generators (FTEGs), the TTEG incorporates full-ring ther-moelectric elements within a tubular layout, offering a novel approach to thermal energy recovery from fluid-based systems. This design significantly enhances the heat transfer capabilities, thereby improving the efficiency of energy conversion. Comprehensive simulations and analyses form the core of this study, where the per-formance of the TTEG is rigorously compared with traditional FTEGs. These comparisons highlight the advantages of the tubular design in terms of energy conversion efficiency and practical applicability in various scenarios. The findings reveal that the TTEG not only outperforms its flat plate counterparts but also presents a scalable and adaptable so-lution for waste heat recovery in a wide range of industrial and automotive applications. This research contributes to the field of energy science and technology by presenting a detailed experimental setup, complete with reproducible procedures and results. It opens new pathways for the development of more sustainable and efficient energy conversion systems, aligning with the goal of harnessing renewable and sustainable energy sources. The potential applications of this technology in enhancing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact are vast, making it a significant step forward in the quest for clean and sustainable energy solutions.

In Geo Polymer bricks (GPB), fly ash content which is a waste from power plants is converted into bricks by chemical treatment. GPB can be dried by using appropriate curing methods. Conven-tionally electric oven curing is one of the prominent methods. Using solar dryer instead of elec-trical oven gives added advantage of saving high grade electrical energy. So in this work solar dryer with PCM (Phase Change materials) Paraffin Wax and without PCM is used for curing ap-plication. GPB are gaining added advantage when compared to conventional bricks like cement and sand bricks in terms of strength. GPB has been taken as specimen for comparing the com-pressive, tensile split strength and flexural strength by electrical energy based curing and solar energy based curing. It is experimentally observed that solar energy based curing with PCM and without PCM exhibits higher compressive strength, higher tensile split strength and flexural strength when compared to electrical energy based curing. Solar curing with PCM shows higher compressive strength, higher tensile split strength and flexural strength when compared to Solar curing without PCM. Open solar curing is a traditional technique but nowadays aggressive cli-matic conditions can lead to severe damage of Geo polymers. The novelty of this work is to suggest to study the effect of PCM like paraffin wax in solar drying on curing time, mechanical properties of GPB.

Biomolecular structure drives function, and computational capabilities have progressed such that the prediction and computational design of biomolecular structures is increasingly feasible. Because computational biophysics attracts students from many different backgrounds and with different levels of resources, teaching the subject can be challenging. One strategy to teach diverse learners is with interactive multimedia material that promotes self-paced, active learning. We have created a hands-on education strategy with a set of fifteen modules that teach topics in biomolecular structure and design, from fundamentals of conformational sampling and energy evaluation to applications like protein docking, antibody design, and RNA structure prediction. Our modules are based on PyRosetta, a Python library that encapsulates all computational modules and methods in the Rosetta software package. The workshop-style modules are implemented as Jupyter Notebooks that can be executed in the Google Colaboratory, allowing learners access with just a web browser. The digital format of Jupyter Notebooks allows us to embed images, molecular visualization movies, and interactive coding exercises. This multimodal approach may better reach students from different disciplines and experience levels as well as attract more researchers from smaller labs and cognate backgrounds to leverage PyRosetta in their science and engineering research. All materials are freely available at https://github.com/RosettaCommons/PyRosetta.notebooks.

Nano-scale organofunctional silanes have been developed, tested and successfully applied to protect stone buildings in Europe against climatic effects since the 1860s. The same nanotechnologies can also be used in pavement engineering to create strong chemical bonds between a stabilising agent and the material substrata. The attachment of the organofunctional silane to a material also makes the surface of the material hydrophobic, reducing future chemical weathering. These properties allow naturally available materials to be used in any pavement layer at a low risk. In the built environment, scientists soon determined that the successful use of an organo-silane depends on the type and condition of the stone to be treated. The same principles apply to the implementation of applicable nanotechnologies in pavement engineering. Understanding the basic chemistry determining the properties of the stabilising agent and the organofunctional modifying agent and the chemical interaction with the primary and secondary minerals of the material are essential for the successful application of these technologies in pavement engineering. This paper explains some basic chemistry which fundamentally influences engineering outputs that can be achieved using New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME) stabilising agents with naturally available material in all road pavement TRANSLATE with x English ArabicHebrewPolish BulgarianHindiPortuguese CatalanHmong DawRomanian Chinese SimplifiedHungarianRussian Chinese TraditionalIndonesianSlovak CzechItalianSlovenian DanishJapaneseSpanish DutchKlingonSwedish EnglishKoreanThai EstonianLatvianTurkish FinnishLithuanianUkrainian FrenchMalayUrdu GermanMalteseVietnamese GreekNorwegianWelsh Haitian CreolePersian TRANSLATE with COPY THE URL BELOW Back EMBED THE SNIPPET BELOW IN YOUR SITE Enable collaborative features and customize widget: Bing Webmaster Portal Back TRANSLATE with x English ArabicHebrewPolish BulgarianHindiPortuguese CatalanHmong DawRomanian Chinese SimplifiedHungarianRussian Chinese TraditionalIndonesianSlovak CzechItalianSlovenian DanishJapaneseSpanish DutchKlingonSwedish EnglishKoreanThai EstonianLatvianTurkish FinnishLithuanianUkrainian FrenchMalayUrdu GermanMalteseVietnamese GreekNorwegianWelsh Haitian CreolePersian TRANSLATE with COPY THE URL BELOW Back EMBED THE SNIPPET BELOW IN YOUR SITE Enable collaborative features and customize widget: Bing Webmaster Portal Back TRANSLATE with x English ArabicHebrewPolish BulgarianHindiPortuguese CatalanHmong DawRomanian Chinese SimplifiedHungarianRussian Chinese TraditionalIndonesianSlovak CzechItalianSlovenian DanishJapaneseSpanish DutchKlingonSwedish EnglishKoreanThai EstonianLatvianTurkish FinnishLithuanianUkrainian FrenchMalayUrdu GermanMalteseVietnamese GreekNorwegianWelsh Haitian CreolePersian TRANSLATE with COPY THE URL BELOW Back EMBED THE SNIPPET BELOW IN YOUR SITE Enable collaborative features and customize widget: Bing Webmaster Portal Back

High temperature (HT) geothermal wells can provide green power 24h a day 7 days a week. Harsh environmental and operational conditions, long-term durability requirements of such wells require special cementitious composites for well construction. This paper reports a comprehensive assessment of geothermal cement composites in cyclic pressure function laboratory tests, field exposures in an HT geothermal well (300-350oC) as well as a numerical model to complement the experimental results. Performances of calcium-aluminate-cement (CAC)-based composites and calcium free cement were compared against reference Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)/silica blend. The stability and degradation of the tested materials was characterized by crystalline composition, thermo-gravimetric, and elemental analyses, morphological studies, water-fillable porosity, and mechanical properties measurements. All CAC-based formulations outperformed the reference blend both in the function and exposure tests. The reference OPC/silica lost its mechanical properties during the 9-month well exposure through extensive HT carbonation, while properties of the CAC-based blends improved over that period. The Modified Cam-Clay (MCC) plasticity parameters of several HT cement formulations were extracted from triaxial and Brazilian tests and verified against the experimental results of function cyclic tests. These parameters can be used in well integrity models to predict field-scale behavior of the cement sheath under geothermal well conditions.

One of the most burning topics in cybersecurity in 2023 will undoubtedly be the compliance with the Software Bill of Materials. Since the US president issued the Executive Order 14028 on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, software developers have prepared and bills are transmitted to vendors, customers, and users, but they don’t know what to do with the reports they are getting. In addition, since software developers have identified the values of the Software Bill of Materials, they have been using the reports extensively. This article presents an estimate of 270 million requests per month, just from form one popular tool to one vulnerability index. This number is expected to double every year and a half. This simple estimate explains the urgency for automating the process. We propose solutions based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, and we base our tools on the existing FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). This methodology is supported with a case study research and Grounded theory, for categorising data into axis, and for verifying the values of the tools with experts in the field. We showcase how to create, and share Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange data, and automate the Software Bill of Materials compliance process with AI models and a unified computational framework combining solutions for the following problems: (1) the data utilisation problem, (2) the automation and scaling problem, (3) the naming problem, (4) the alignment problem, (5) the pedigree, and provenance problem, and many other problems that are on the top of mind for many security engineers at present. The uptake of these findings will depend on collaborations with government and industry, and on the availability and the ease of use of automated tools.

(1) Teeth, represent in humans the most resilient tissues. However, exposure to concentrated acids might lead to their obliteration, thus making human identification difficult. Teeth often contain dental restorations from materials that are even more resilient to acid impact. This paper introduces novel method of 3D reconstruction of dental patterns as a crucial step for digital identification with dental records.; (2) With combination of modern methods of Micro-Computer Tomography, Cone Beam Computer Tomography, Attenuated Total Reflection in conjunction with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Artificial Intelligence Convolutional Neural Network algorithms, the paper presents the way of 3D dental pattern reconstruction and human remains identification. Research studies morphology of teeth, bone, and dental materials (Amalgam, Composite, Glass-ionomer cement) under different periods of exposure to 75% sulfuric acid; (3) Results reveal significant volume loss in bone, enamel, dentine, and as well glass-ionomer cement. Results also reveal significant resistance of composite and amalgam dental materials to sulfuric acid impact, thus serving as strong parts in the dental pattern mosaic. Paper also introduces probably first successful artificial intelligence application in automated forensic CBCT segmentation.; (4) Interdisciplinary cooperation utilizing mentioned technologies can solve problem of human remains identification with 3D reconstruction of dental patterns and their 2D projections over existing ante-mortem records.

A novel stationary phase for affinity separations is presented. This material is based on sintered borosilicate glass readily available as semi-finished filter plates with defined porosity and surface area. The material shows fast binding kinetics and excellent long-term stability under real application conditions due to lacking macropores and high mechanical rigidity. The glass surface can be easily modified with standard organosilane chemistry to immobilize selective binders or other molecules used for biointeraction. In this paper, the manufacturing of the columns and their respective column holders by 3D printing is shown in detail. The model system protein A/IgG was chosen as an example to examine the properties of such monolithic columns under realistic application conditions. Several specifications, such as (dynamic) IgG capacity, pressure stability, long-term performance, productivity, non-specific binding, and peak shape, are presented. It could be shown that due to the very high separation speed, 250 mg antibody per hour and column can be collected, which surpasses the productivity of most standard columns of the same size. The total IgG capacity of the shown columns is around 4 mg (5.5 mg/mL), which is sufficient for most tasks in research laboratories. The cycle time of an IgG separation can be less than 1 minute. Due to the glass material's excellent pressure resistance, these columns are compatible with standard HPLC systems. This is usually not the case with standard affinity columns, limited to manual use or application in low-pressure systems. The use of a standard HPLC system also improves the ability for automation, which enables the purification of hundreds of cell supernatants in one day. The sharp peak shape of the elution leads to an enrichment effect, which might increase the concentration of IgG by a factor of 3. The final concentration of IgG can be around 7.5 mg/mL without the need for an additional nanofiltration step. The purity of the IgG was > 95% in one step and nearly 99% with a second polishing run.

Many stable water dispersions of various chemical compositions containing bioactive chemical compounds: copper silicate, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (and other auxiliary substances) were developed and fabricated - they were used for preparation of thin hybrid coatings having very good antimicrobial properties against gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and yeast fungus (Candida albicans). Polyester (PES) nonwovens were modified by dip-coating, and PES and cotton fabrics - by dip-coating and coating methods.

This paper introduces an innovative nanotechnology-based approach that provides a pathway to enhance the energy release efficiency of nanoenergetic materials (nEMs) by harnessing self-synchronized collective atomic vibrations and phonon wave resonance within the transition domains between nanocomponents, without altering the material composition. The key innovation involves incorporating finely-tuned 2D-ordered linear-chain carbon-based multilayer nano-enhanced interfaces as programmable nanodevices into the transition domains using advanced multistage processing and assembly techniques. These programmable nanodevices enable precise control over self-synchronized collective atomic vibrations and phonon wave propagation, leading to synergistic effects. To activate and optimize these effects, a combination of various methods is employed, including energy-driven initiation of allotropic phase transformations, surface acoustic wave-assisted micro/nano-manipulation, heteroatom doping, directed self-assembly using high-frequency electromagnetic fields, and data-driven inverse design approaches. By leveraging a data-driven inverse design strategy and uncovering hidden structure-property relationships, we maximize energy release efficiency using the carbon nano-materials genome approach derived from multifactorial neural network-based predictive models. This approach not only unlocks new functionalities in nEMs but also improves environmental performance and safety levels. By pioneering transformative pathways for nEMs through harnessing phonon wave resonance in low-dimensional nanocarbon transition interfaces, this research brings significant advancements in the field.

The use of New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME) for the stabilisation of marginal materials for use in the upper-pavement layers of roads have been proven in laboratories, through Accelerated Pavement Tests (APT) and in practice. In addition, material design methods have been developed based on the scientific analysis of granular material mineralogy and the chemical interaction with the binder to design a material compatible NME stabilising agent for naturally available (often marginal) materials. However, the introduction of any new disruptive technology in a traditionally well-established industry, such as the road construction industry, is usually associated with considerable resistance. This is especially relevant when the new technology enables the use of granular materials traditionally considered to be of an unacceptable quality in combination with relatively new concepts such as New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME). In practice, few road construction projects are without any problems. The introduction of new-technologies obviously makes it an easy target to blame for any non-related problem that may arise during construction. This article aims to assist in pre-empting, recognising, preventing and resolving material or non-material related construction problems through the correct identification of the cause of the problem and recommending the best, most cost-effective way to correct any deficiencies on site.

A new generation of nano-technologies is expanding solid propulsion capabilities and increasing their relevance for versatile and manoeuvrable micro-satellites with safe high-performance propulsion. We propose the innovative concept, connected with application of new synergistic effect of the energetic materials performance enhancement and reaction zones programming for the next generation small satellite multimode solid propulsion system. The main idea of suggested concept is manipulating by the self-organized wave patterns excitation phenomenon, by the properties of the energetic materials reaction zones and by localization of the energy release areas. This synergistic effect can be provided through application of the functionalized carbon-based nanostructured metamaterials as a nano-additives along with simultaneous manipulating by their properties through the electrostatic field. Mentioned effect will be controlled through predictive programming both by the spatial structure and physics-chemical properties of the functionalized carbon-based nano-additives and through the electromagnetic control of the self-organized wave pattern excitation and micro- and nano- scale oscillatory networks in the energetic material reaction zones. Suggested new concept makes it possible to increase the energetic material regression rate and increase the thrust of the solid propulsion system with minimal additional energy consumption.

Backward electromagnetic waves are extraordinary waves with contra-directed phase velocity and energy flux. Unusual properties of the coherent nonlinear optical coupling of the phase-matched ordinary and backward electromagnetic waves with contra-directed energy fluxes are described which enable greatly-enhanced frequency and propagation direction conversion, parametrical amplification, as well as control of shape of the light pulses. Extraordinary transient processes that emerge in such metamaterials in pulsed regimes are described. The results of the numerical simulation of particular plasmonic metamaterials with hyperbolic dispersion are presented, which prove the possibility to match phases of such coupled guided ordinary and backward electromagnetic waves. Particular properties of the outlined processes in the proposed metamaterial are demonstrated through numerical simulations. Potential applications include ultra-miniature amplifiers, frequency changing reflectors, modulators, pulse shapers, and remotely actuated sensors.