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2023-09-01 | The thermal solutions currently being proposed, thermal interface materials (TIMs) are playing an important role in thermal management. Conventional thermal conductivity (TC) of polymers is extremely low (less than 5 W/m K), which cannot meet the requirement of high TC of TIMs. However, low-melting metal TIMs are one of solution to meet high thermal conductivity with above than 50 W/m K which can decrease thermal resistance between silicon chip/TIM and TIM/heat spread. In this paper, the performance of low-melting metal TIM including Indium, In 3 Ag and In 10 Ag were evaluated on Au-deposited silicon chip and heat spreader. The package warpage was simulated and analyzed. Some flaws with voids or delamination were detected by scanning acoustic tomography (SAT). For wettability comparison, contact angle was measured with respect to Ag contents. As a result, there was no noticeable relationship between package warpage and Ag contents. But In 3 Ag had the lowest percentage of void on low-melting metal TIMs. In addition, In 10 Ag had shown the highest wettability on Au-plated heat spreader. In view of melting point temperature, both In 3 Ag and In 10 Ag had lower than Indium based on differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis results. These factors could be helpful to reduce mechanical and thermal stress between a substrate and a heat spreader. The results indicated that In 3 Ag and In 10 Ag had the better performance than Indium in high-power package application. | Low-melting metal thermal interface material for high-power package application | 10.1007/s40042-023-00881-z |
2023-09-01 | The thermodynamic and kinetic contributions to an exhaustive extraction of medical devices are studied using the Abraham solvation parameter model and a systematic analysis of the material–solvent interactions, using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as an example material and extraction solvents of varying polarities. The thermodynamic distribution of extractables compounds between LDPE and solvents of different polarities (water as polar, methanol/ethanol as semipolar, and hexane as nonpolar), used in the exhaustive extraction of medical devices, are first correlated by Abraham solvation parameter model using experimental data. The constructed models are used to derive the partition coefficient between LDPE and various solvents for the representative extractables entities over a wide hydrophobicity range in $$\log_{10} P_{\text{o/w}}$$ log 10 P o/w (the octanol–water partition coefficient) from − 1 to 18. The derived partition coefficients are then used to compute the extraction efficiency by a repeated extraction with five extraction cycles. The ranges of partition coefficient and extraction efficiency by each solvent or three combined solvents allow the assessment of the exhaustive extraction coverage over the hydrophobicity range. In addition to the thermodynamic analysis, the kinetic contribution to the exhaustive extraction by each solvent is also analyzed systematically, starting from the LDPE–solvent interaction, as indicated by a material swelling, to a consequential change in diffusion coefficient, and to a solvent-dependent release rate. The ratios of experimental diffusion coefficients of extractables by hexane extraction to that by alcohol extraction are collected to demonstrate the impact of solvent swelling on the diffusion and release of extractables. The ratios of amounts of extractables released by 24-h and 72-h extraction cycles, recommended by ISO 10993-12 (2021), are also collected to show the influence of cycle time on extraction efficiency. It is concluded from the study that the three solvents of varying polarities are very adequate to extract LDPE to exhaustion over the hydrophobicity range ( $$\log_{10} P_{\text{o/w}}$$ log 10 P o/w from − 1 to 18) or beyond. The extraction by water and methanol/ethanol is a slower “diffusion-controlled” process, compared to a faster “relaxation-controlled” process by hexane. It is also demonstrated that the use of 72-h extraction cycle time has no realistic advantage. The 24-h extraction cycle time is a better choice in achieving an exhaustive extraction efficiently, particularly for extractables with a very slow migration kinetics. | Correlation of Extractables Transfer from Low-Density Polyethylene into Extraction Solvents with Abraham Solvation Parameter Model and Assessment of Thermodynamic and Kinetic Effects in Achieving Exhaustive Extractions in Chemical Characterization of Medical Devices | 10.1007/s10953-023-01286-z |
2023-09-01 | Corundum-mullite ceramic proppant was prepared by granulation and sintering with low-grade bauxite as the main raw materials and CaO as the additive mineralizer. The bulk density, breakage ratio, phase composition and microstructure of the ceramic proppant were characterized and studied. The results show that the bulk density and the breakage ratio of the ceramic proppant firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of CaO content. When the CaO content was 2 wt%, the ceramic proppant had the optimal performance, in which the bulk density was 1.52 g/cm 3 and the breakage ratio was 8.2% under 52 MPa after sintering at 1440 ℃. It was found that the anorthite phase was formed in the ceramic proppant when the content of CaO was 2 wt%, which inhibited the growth of the secondary mullite crystals by consuming SiO 2 and promoted the formation of corundum crystals, thus improving the strength and decreasing the breakage ratio of the ceramic proppant. | Effects of CaO addition on the properties and microstructure of low-grade bauxite-based lightweight ceramic proppant | 10.1007/s41779-023-00888-6 |
2023-09-01 | This study investigated effects of rehydration time, temperature, and ultrasound treatment on rehydration rate (RR), water holding capacity (WHC), color, composition (protein content and soluble sugar content), molecular weight distribution (MWD), thermal properties and microstructure of TSP (texturized soybean protein made under low moisture condition). The increase in rehydration time and temperature increased RR, WHC, leading to loss of color, protein and soluble sugars of rehydrated TSP. The enhancement of temperature augmented the porosity of the microstructure, decreased the thermal stability, but did not change the molecular weight distribution of proteins of rehydrated TSP. After TSP was rehydrated for 20 min without ultrasound treatment, The RR and WHC curves were basically stable, and the loss of protein content reached a constant. And the rehydrated TSP at 40℃ for 20 min had a higher sensory score than other groups without ultrasound. Ultrasound further enhanced RR and WHC and shortened the time for TSP to reach water absorption saturation (15 min). Ultrasound had no significant effect on the protein content of rehydrated TSP, but reduced the soluble sugar content. There was the maximum sensory score of rehydrated TSP with ultrasound treatment at 40℃ for 15 min. These results provide theoretical support for the rehydration of TSP in food industry processes. | Effects of Rehydration Time, Temperature and Ultrasound Treatment on Rehydration, Quality and Structure Properties of Low Moisture Texturized Soybean Protein | 10.1007/s11483-023-09783-w |
2023-09-01 | The present study investigated the interaction between reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) in enhancing the cold tolerance of cucumber seedlings. In this study, cold-sensitive ‘Jinyan No. 4’ cucumber seedlings were used as test materials. Four different treatments, including CK: distilled water (control), DS: distilled water + 200 μmol L −1 sodium nitroprusside (SNP), BS:1 mmol L −1 buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) + SNP, and SG: 200 μmol L −1 SNP + 5 mmol L −1 GSH were used to pretreat cucumber leaves. Pretreated cucumber seedling leaves were used for the analysis after 24 h and 48 h under low temperature (10 °C day/6 °C night). The results showed that compared with the control, DS and SG treatments could maintain lower K-step (48 h) and L-step (48 h) and higher P-step on the OJIP transient curve. The application of DS and SG also increased the values of maximal redox capacity of photosystem I (PSI) (∆ I / I o ), the primary photochemical efficiency ( F v / F o ), the maximum photochemical efficiency ( F v / F m ), the photosynthetic performance index ( PI ABS ) (48 h), quantum yield for reducing the terminal electron acceptor on the acceptor side of PS I ( φ Ro ), the phenomenological energy fluxes per excited cross section ( ABS / CS m , TR o / CS m , and ET o / CS m ), and the density of per reaction center ( RC / CS m ), while decreasing some others like the relative variable fluorescence at J-step ( V J ) (48 h), the quantum ratio of thermal dissipation ( F o / F m ), the dissipated energy flux per CS ( DI o / CS m ), and the specific energy fluxes per reaction center ( DI o / RC ), with the highest effect being observed in SG treatment. Furthermore, DS and SG treatments were observed a low level of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, the enhancement of proline content, and some enzyme activities (AsA-GSH cycle), and the combined effect of SNP and GSH is more prominent than the single effect of SNP. In addition, BSO (GSH synthase inhibitor) can abolish or reverse the effect of SNP. Our results suggest that GSH may act downstream of NO to improve cold tolerance of cucumber seedlings under low-temperature stress, and more interestingly, NO and GSH play a synergistic role in mitigating the adverse effects of low-temperature stress. | Nitric Oxide and Glutathione Act Synergistically to Improve PSII Activity and PSI Electron Transfer Under Chilling Stress in Cucumber Leaves | 10.1007/s00344-023-10936-x |
2023-09-01 | Nanostructured carbon diffusion layers were produced on the 18Cr2Ni4WA low carbon steel using supersonic fine particles bombarding (SFPB) with activated carbon powders and low-temperature annealing at 500 °C. The microstructures and the formation mechanism of hard nanocrystalline carbon diffusion layers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and molecular dynamics simulation. Additionally, the nano-hardness of the diffusion layer was measured by nanoindentation apparatus and the tribological properties were tested by wear tester. The results show that the thickness of the hard nano-carburized layer is about 20 μm. During SFPB treatment, high-speed Al 2 O 3 particles carrying activated carbon powder impact on the surface of 18Cr2Ni4WA steel, resulting in the formation of high-density dislocations and nano-surface structure, and a large amount of carbide precipitates at grain boundaries and internal defects. The carbon content of the steel surface increased from 0.17 to 4.2% (wt.%). After annealing treatment, the nano-hardness of the carburized layer reaches 7.6 GPa and the friction coefficient decreases to 0.63. | Mechanical Properties and Formation Mechanism of Surface Hard Nanocrystalline Carbon Diffusion Layer on 18Cr2Ni4WA Steel Induced by Supersonic Fine Particle Bombarding | 10.1007/s11665-022-07695-3 |
2023-09-01 | In this report, PEG + PVA + Dy 3+ :Eu 3+ films with Eu 3+ concentrations of 1–7wt% were prepared by solution casting method and characterized. The composites were characterized by PXRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, DMA, SEM, TGA and photoluminescence measurements, and also their antibacterial activities were tested by the diffusion method. Thermogravimetric analyzes show that increasing Eu 3+ content outstandingly increases thermal stability. Moreover, the antibacterial properties of composites showed strong activities against E. coli and S. aureus with the addition of Dy 3+ and Eu 3+ ions to polymer blends. Optical measurement records presented that the optical band gap E g progressively decreased from 4.66 eV for the undoped PEG + PVA blend film to 3.18 eV by increasing Eu 3+ ions concentration. Charmingly, the room temperature PL results reveal that the enhancement of the emission of Eu 3+ ions in the PEG + PVA polymer matrix after co-doping with Eu 3+ ions, whereas the reduction of Dy 3+ emission intensity, owing to energy migration from Dy 3+ to Eu 3+ . Besides, according with low-temperature PL measurements indicate that the PL density gradually decreases due to thermal quenching as the temperature increases. With the temperature increased, the color coordinates gradually changed from orange to reddish-orange. These results show that Dy 3+ /Eu 3+ doped polymer blends can likely of a promising candidate in varieties of applications including OLEDs, biosensors, polymer solar cells and optoelectronics devices. | Structural, Thermal, Optical and Antibacterial Properties of Co-doped (Dy3+/Eu3+): PEG + PVA Novel Transparent Hybrid Films | 10.1007/s10904-023-02724-7 |
2023-09-01 | Abstract Biomedical shape-memory Ti–18Zr–15Nb alloy (at %) was subjected to upsetting with a true strain e = 0.7 in three different regimes: within a temperature range from 20 to 600°C at a deformation rate ξ = 0.1 s –1 ; at temperatures of 250 and 300°C at deformation rates ξ = 0.1, 1, and 10 s –1 ; and deformation at a temperature of 300°C and a rate ξ = 0.1 s –1 after annealing at a temperature of 300°C for different times (τ = 10, 60, 300, 600, and 1200 s). It has been established that the conditional yield stress σ 0.2 continuously decreases with increasing temperature and, at the same time, the maximum stress σ max is observed to grow within this deformation temperature range of 250–300°C. In the region of temperatures from 200 to 400°C, fluctuations with an amplitude growing with an increase in the temperature are observed in the yield curves. The change in σ 0.2 and σ max and the presence of fluctuations in the strain diagrams are produced by dynamic strain aging accompanied by the precipitation of excessive ω-phase particles at temperatures of 200–400°C. An increase in the deformation rate at temperatures of 250–300°C has a strong effect on the deformation behavior of this alloy due to considerable additional deformation-induced heating. Thus, an increase in the deformation rate to ξ = 10 s –1 leads to a jump-like decrease in the stress starting from e ≈ 0.3, afterwards the plastic yield curve takes a wavy shape with a low stress fluctuation frequency. The body-centered cubic (BCC) β-phase is the major phase after all the regimes of thermomechanical tests. Some weak ω-phase lines are observed after annealing at 300°C with exposure for more than 300 s, and essentially broadened ω-phase lines appear for the aged alloy after deformation only with long-term exposure (1200 s). | Study of Low-Temperature Thermomechanical Behavior of the Ti–18Zr–15Nb Superelastic Alloy under Different Temperature-Rate Conditions | 10.1134/S0031918X23601300 |
2023-09-01 | The effect of hot isothermal compression on the flow stress of low-carbon steel was studied using a Gleeble 3500 stimulator at temperatures from 900 to 1200°C and deformation rates from 0.01 to 10 sec – 1 . The flow stress was analyzed at elevated temperatures using a hyperbolic sine function. The material constants were determined in the range of true deformation rates from 0.1 to 0.7. The dislocation structure of low-carbon steel was studied after the deformation at 1100°C and cooling at a rate of 5 K/sec. A governing equation for describing and simulating the low-carbon steel behavior under high-temperature deformation was derived and justified. It was shown that the obtained equation can be used to provide a reliable and valid description of the low-carbon steel behavior under hot forming with a mean relative error of 5.1219% and a correlation coefficient of 0.9886. The equation can be used to model and optimize the process parameters of hot deformation of steel and to predict the evolution of its microstructure. | Flow Stress Behavior and Governing Equation of Plastic Flow of Low-Carbon Steel at Elevated Temperatures | 10.1007/s11041-023-00939-6 |
2023-09-01 | The iron and steel industry (ISI) involves high energy consumption and high pollution. ISI in China, a leading country in the ISI, consumed 15% of the country’s total energy and produced more than 50% of the global ISI’s carbon emissions. Therefore, in the context of global low-carbon economy and emission reduction requirements, low-carbon smelting technology in the ISI has attracted increasingly more attention in China. This review summarizes the current status of carbon emissions and energy consumption in China’s ISI and discusses the development status and prospects of low-carbon ironmaking technology. The main route to effectively reducing carbon emissions is to develop a gas-based direct reduction process and replace sintering with pelletizing, both of which focus on developing pelletizing technology. However, the challenge of pelletizing process development is to obtain high-quality iron concentrates. Consequently, the present paper also summarizes the development status of China’s mineral processing technology, including fine-grained mineral processing technology, magnetization roasting technology, and flotation collector application. This paper aims to provide a theoretical basis for the low-carbon development of China’s ISI in terms of a dressing–smelting combination. | Current situation of carbon emissions and countermeasures in China’s ironmaking industry | 10.1007/s12613-023-2632-7 |
2023-09-01 | The appropriate matching of base and filler material is a complex task, where yield strength matching is the most general aspect. As the strength properties of structural steels have significantly improved in the past decades, the matching problem has become more relevant today. The mismatch phenomenon significantly affects the behavior of welded joints under dynamic and cyclic loading. Among cyclic loading, low-cycle fatigue (LCF) often occurs in welded steel constructions; furthermore, the LCF resistance of these advanced steels and their welded joints is limitedly known. In this paper, welding experiments are presented for the analysis of the LCF behavior of differently matched butt-welded joints made from two grades of quenched and tempered (Q + T) high-strength steels. For S690QL steel, matched and overmatched consumables were applied, while for S960QL steel, matched and undermatched filler materials were used. Material tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties of the different welded joints. In both examined steel grades, the welded joints tolerated a smaller number of cycles until failure than the base materials. In the case of S690QL, the LCF resistance of the matched welded joints was higher than the overmatched filler material. At S960QL in the higher strain amplitude range, the number of cycles to failure was higher at the same total and plastic strain amplitudes when undermatched filler material was used; however, an opposite ratio can be observed at lower strain values, compared to the matching filler material. | Low-cycle fatigue behavior of differently matched welded joints of quenched and tempered steel | 10.1007/s40194-023-01545-z |
2023-09-01 | Mauritanian iron ore powder (OM) has advantages of high iron grade, low aluminum content, and low loss on ignition, which can be used as a new mineral to replace low alumina limonite that has been exhausted in Australia. However, it will have a certain negative impact on sintering because of its high SiO 2 content. The mechanism of SiO 2 content affecting the sintering behavior was first studied through FactSage 7.2. Then, the liquid fluidity, penetration, and high-temperature performance of different iron ore powders were compared. Finally, the optimization of ore blending structure was studied by the micro-sintering method and the sinter pot test. The results show that the increase in SiO 2 content can reduce the assimilation temperature. The low penetration of OM can lead to an increase in the amount of liquid, and the high SiO 2 content of OM increases the viscosity of the liquid phase. What is more, the increase in SiO 2 also increases the formation of silicate and fayalite phase and inhibits the formation of silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminum (SFCA). To optimize ore blending structure, OM and the low SiO 2 powder OD from Australia were used together, which improves the content of SFCA by 2.04% and decreases the contents of calcium silicate and fayalite by 0.63% and 4.99%, respectively. The results of the sinter pot test indicated that the properties of sinter have been improved. | Optimization of iron ore blending based on replacing Australian low alumina limonite | 10.1007/s42243-022-00896-z |
2023-09-01 | Low frequency vibration assisted forming characterized with high excitation force can reduce the forming load and improve the surface quality, and has been proven to have a promising application in forming processes of high-strength metals. In this work, the plastic deformation behavior of 7075 aluminum alloy sheets under low frequency vibration was studied. The low frequency vibration assisted tension (LFVT) tests were performed on 7075-WT and 7075-T6 sheets. The obvious stress oscillation (called the stress superposition effect) and stress softening/hardening effect were observed in the experimental stress–strain relation under LFVT. After explaining the effects with the thermal activation theory, a physical constitutive model was developed by introducing the mechanical work done by low frequency vibration, a critical vibration energy value, and Hooke’s law into the thermal activation framework. The VUHARD user-subroutine was used to embed the developed model into ABAQUS/Explicit to perform the finite element (FE) analysis of the LFVT tests. The comparison of the predicted load through the FE simulation with the experimental one demonstrated the developed model could precisely describe the stress–strain relation under LFVT. The simulation result with different vibration modes also showed that the vibration softening effect gradually increased as the amplitude or frequency increased. The influence of the amplitude on vibration softening stress was much greater than that of the frequency. | Constitutive modeling and deformation analysis of W-temper and peak aged 7075 alloy sheets under low frequency vibration assisted tension | 10.1007/s10999-023-09647-8 |
2023-09-01 | Combining photothermal therapy (PTT) with chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an efficacious strategy for cancer treatment. However, the hyperthermia-induced heat shock response and low Fenton reaction efficiency limited its clinical application. Here, we present self-assembled querce-tin-Fe 3+ nanoparticles (Qu-Fe NPs) for synergetic near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered low-temperature PTT (LTPTT) and glutathione (GSH)-activated CDT. Qu-Fe NPs had a broad absorption range extending to the NIR region and excellent photothermal conversion ability. After endocytosis into cancer cells, these NPs partially released Qu that downregulated the expression of heat shock protein 70, in turn allowing for LTPTT. Moreover, Qu-Fe NPs could deplete the overexpressed GSH in cancer cells, increasing their sensitivity to reactive oxygen species. Meanwhile, Fe 3+ could be reduced to Fe 2+ , which can react with endogenous H 2 O 2 to generate hydroxyl radicals to achieve CDT. Heat generated by PTT could further accelerate the Fenton reaction in CDT, thus resulting in the synergistic effects between LTPTT and CDT. Both in vitro and in vivo results showed that Qu-Fe NPs could effectively inhibit tumor growth. This work presents a new approach for achieving mutually reinforced, synergetic NPs that can be used for LTPTT/CDT combination therapy. 光热疗法(PTT)与化学动力疗法(CDT)相结合是一种有效的癌症 治疗策略. 然而, 高温诱导的热休克反应和低Fenton反应效率限制了其 临床应用. 在这里, 我们提出了自组装槲皮素-Fe 3 +纳米颗粒(Qu-Fe NPs)用于协同近红外(NIR)光触发低温PTT (LTPTT)和谷胱甘肽(GSH) 激活CDT. Qu-Fe NPs具有较宽的吸收范围, 可延伸至近红外区域, 光热 转换能力良好. 这些NPs在进入癌细胞后, 释放出来的Qu可下调HSP70 的表达, 以实现LTPTT. 此外, Qu-Fe NPs可以消耗癌细胞中的GSH, 增 加癌细胞对活性氧的敏感性. 同时, Fe 3+ 可以被还原为Fe 2+ , 与内源性 H 2 O 2 反应生成羟基自由基, 实现CDT. PTT产生的热量可以进一步加速 CDT中的Fenton反应, 从而导致LTPTT与CDT之间的协同效应. 实验结 果表明, Qu-Fe NPs能有效抑制肿瘤生长. 这项工作提出了一种新的方 法来实现LTPTT/CDT的联合治疗. | Self-assembled quercetin-Fe3+ nanoparticles for synergetic near-infrared light-triggered low-temperature photothermal/glutathione-activated chemodynamic therapy | 10.1007/s40843-023-2536-1 |
2023-09-01 | With the progress of vascular anastomosis technology, the radical resection surgery of cancer combining with vascular resection and reconstruction has been focused by surgeon. As a natural substitute material for blood vessel, vascular allografts have good vascular compliance and histocompatibility. Generally, the donated veins could not be used immediately, and need to be well preserved. So, it is greatly significant to do research in the preservation effects of different preservation methods on veins. In this study, the effects of different preservative methods of human iliac veins were compared and analyzed in terms of cell viability, vascular wall structure and tension resistance. The donated human iliac veins were randomly divided into three groups: Cold Storage Group (4 °C) (CSG), Frozen Storage Group (−186 °C) (FSG)and Fresh Control Group (FCG). Six detection time-points of preservation for 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28 days were set respectively. There are ten samples in each group and each time-point separately. Survival and apoptosis of vascular cell were evaluated by MTT assay and Tunel fluorescence staining. Tensile test was used to evaluate mechanical properties of vessels. The changes of vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, collagen fibers and elastic fibers were evaluated by HE staining, Masson staining and EVG staining. Furthermore, the changes of organelles were observed by transmission electron microscope. With the extension of preservation period, the vascular cell viability and tension resistance of two groups decreased, and the apoptotic cells increased gradually. The apoptosis index of CSG was higher than FSG at each time point ( P < 0.05). In terms of cell viability, CSG was higher within 3 days ( P < 0.05), both groups were same between 3 and 14 days, and then CSG lower than FSG after 14 days ( P < 0.05). In terms of tension resistance, CSG was stronger than FSG ( P < 0.05) in first 7 days, both groups were same in 2nd week, and then CSG was weaker in 4th week ( P < 0.05). In terms of vascular wall structure, in CSG, vascular endothelial cells were damaged and shed, smooth muscle cells were edema after 14 days, but the cell membrane and intercellular connection were still intact. In 4th week, endothelial cells were completely damaged and shed, the boundary of smooth muscle cell membrane was unclear, intercellular connection was damaged. Moreover, organelles were destroyed and disappeared, perinuclear condensation of chromatin was observed, and some cells had incomplete nuclear membrane or nuclear fragmentation; However, there were no obvious changes in the FSG within 28 days. Finally, local exfoliation and destruction of endothelial cells and edema-like changes of organelles were observed; the collagen fibers and elastic fibers of blood vessels in the two groups had no obvious damage and change within 28 days. For excised human iliac vein, cold and frozen storage can effectively preserve the cell viability, wall structure and tension resistance of blood vessels. With the extension of preservation time, the related performance of vessels declined in varying degrees. Within first week, the effect of cold storage is better than frozen storage, but frozen storage is significantly better than cold storage after 2 weeks. | Effects of different preservation methods of human iliac veins | 10.1007/s10561-022-10055-z |
2023-09-01 | In this work, the outdoor corrosion behavior of AZ31B magnesium alloy in the Antarctic atmospheric environment was investigated. The surface corrosion state of the specimens exposed to the Antarctic atmosphere for 1 month and 24 months differ significantly. The corrosion rate after 1 month during the summer season was 19.82 g/m 2 ·year and it decreased to 13.87 g/m 2 ·year after two years’ exposure. Corrosion is initiated with pitting corrosion and then evolved to uniform corrosion with prolonging exposure time. The skyward surface exhibited a much severe corrosion than that of the groundward surface, attributed to the long-term existence of the adsorbed electrolyte layer. The corrosion products formed on the alloy exposed in Antarctica environment were MgCO 3 ·3H 2 O, MgCO 3 ·5H 2 O and Mg 2 CO 3 (OH) 2 ·0.5H 2 O, with the MgCO 3 ·3H 2 O as the dominant phase in the initial stage and the Mg 2 CO 3 (OH) 2 ·0.5H 2 O as the dominant phase after long-term exposure. | Atmospheric Corrosion of AZ31B Magnesium Alloy in the Antarctic Low-Temperature Environment | 10.1007/s40195-023-01561-4 |
2023-09-01 | Many industrial chemicals are currently produced from fossil resources. However, extensive use of fossil fuels has resulted in an alarming array of energy and pollution-related challenges. The industrial chemicals that are produced from fossil resources could be produced alternatively using green route in a sustainable manner. Here we report the production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) through fermentative route using sugarcane processing wastes (sugarcane bagasse). This study used the second-generation (2G) fermentable sugar (2G FS) recovered from the low-cost feedstock sugarcane bagasse as a substrate for 1,3-PDO production through a mixed culture fermentation in a single pot using Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3594 and Klebsiella pneumoniae NCIM 2957. This novel concept of single-pot, mixed culture fermentation method to produce 1,3-PDO was verified by optimizing process parameters like substrate concentration (2G FS), pH, and temperature. The concentration of 2G FS was varied in the range of 0.5–5% (V 2G FS /V working volume ), pH was varied between 6 and 7, and the temperature range was 30–37°C. The maximum production of 1,3-PDO was observed at the concentration of 5% (V 2G FS /V working volume ), at an optimum pH of 6.8 and a temperature of 35°C. The evaluated thermodynamics parameters for analyzing the rate of fermentation were enthalpy (Δ H ), −47596 KJ/mol; activation energy (Δ E ), −47596 KJ/mol; entropy (Δ S ), 500.46 J/mol; and Gibbs free energy (Δ G ), −2.018 × 10 5 J/mol; and the kinetics parameters were specific growth rate ( μ ), 0.0053 h −1 ; cell mass productivity ( Q x ), 0.249 g/L / h; rate of production ( Q p ), 0.237 g/L / h; and product yield ( Y p/s ), 0.0427 g/g. This work demonstrates a novel single-pot method to produce 1,3-PDO from a low-cost feedstock and makes a valuable contribution to the development of a cost-effective fermentation based on renewable resources. | Pollution to Product—a Novel Two-Stage Single-Pot Fermentative Production of 1,3-Propanediol | 10.1007/s12155-023-10570-1 |
2023-09-01 | Modern capabilities of additive technologies make it possible to maximize the metal utilization rate, reduce the carbon footprint, and ensure fast and high-quality manufacture of products of the required shapes and sizes with minimal deviations from the required geometric dimensions from metals, alloys, and polymeric materials. However, the almost complete absence of domestic producers of initial powders, as well as the lack of information about the features of structure formation in products made by 3D printing, especially taking into account operation in a wide temperature range, hinder the development of this industry. The article presents the results of investigating powders obtained from the atomized powder of steel 12Cr18Ni12Ti, and samples made by direct laser melting, across the temperature range from +600 to –196°C. | Investigation of Material Properties for Cryogenic Products, Produced by Additive Manufacturing Techniques | 10.1007/s11015-023-01552-x |
2023-09-01 | This paper presents a low-power 140 kHz relaxation oscillator (ROSC) for low-frequency clock generators and timers. In voltage-mode ROSCs, unavoidable shunt current consumption results from voltage slewing at the integration capacitor. The proposed circuit employs CMOS thyristor-based decision elements which effectively reduce shunt currents by exploiting internal positive feedback. A complementary-to-absolute temperature (CTAT) current reference compensates for the frequency’s temperature sensitivity. In order to achieve high negative temperature coefficient with small area and power overhead, the circuit reuses parts of the positive-to-absolute temperature (PTAT) bias generation block. Moreover, a modified start-up circuit with 3 times faster oscillator power-on is presented. The 0.09 mm $${}^2$$ 2 oscillator consumes 6.5 nW/kHz at 1.5 V to 2.5 V supply if only the CTAT source is considered, resulting in a power consumption of 907.4 nW at 140 kHz. The measured temperature coefficient of $$-$$ - 514.7 ppm/K in the range of −40 °C to 85 °C shows an improvement of 5.5 times compared to the uncompensated case. A supply sensitivity of 2.62 %/V, a frequency resolution of 2.67 kHz/step, and an average clock jitter of 6.02 ns are achieved. The oscillator is embedded in an ultra-low power system-on-chip for autonomous environmental sensing. | Low-power Relaxation Oscillator with Temperature-compensated Thyristor Decision Elements | 10.1007/s10470-023-02177-5 |
2023-09-01 | North-western parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plains are prone to occasional frost incidences which may result in 40–60% loss of tuber yield in potato. The overall aim of this study was to identify the morpho-physiological responses of two frost tolerant (Kufri Anand, J/2–19) and two susceptible (Kufri Pukhraj and MS/7–645) genotypes of Solanum tuberosum to cold stress. Plants were grown in vivo and in vitro under controlled conditions. In the seasons of natural frost occurrence, 2016–2017 and 2020–2021, Kufri Anand (20.4%) and J-2/19 (10.5%) recorded less foliage damage as compared with MS/7–645 (29.7%) and Kufri Pukhraj (40.2%). The genotypes also exhibited variations in fatty acids and ꞵ-sitosterol compositions. The in vitro grown plants were acclimated at 4 ± 2 °C for 10 days before their exposure to freezing temperature (− 2 °C) for 1.0 and 1.5 h of time durations. Electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange were measured. Acclimation treatment did not improve the freezing tolerance behaviour of potato genotypes. However, the frost tolerant genotypes, Kufri Anand and J/2–19, recorded 7.7% and 14.2% less electrolyte leakage at 1.5 h of treatment time span as compared to that of Kufri Pukhraj. Furthermore, post 15 days of recovery after freezing treatment, the non-acclimated J/2–19 plants maintained 16.9% and 9.1% higher net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance values than those of Kufri Pukhraj, indicating the ability of the tolerant genotype to recover faster. Overall, although the cold acclimation did not enhance freezing stress endurance in potato, the genotypes exhibited differential responses to freezing treatments. Moreover, the fatty acid composition, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange can potentially be utilized for assessing the frost tolerance ability of potato genotypes. | Effect of Cold Stress on Field Performance, Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Electrolyte Leakage and Leaf Gas Exchange Parameters of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Genotypes | 10.1007/s11540-022-09593-6 |
2023-09-01 | This work reports the combustion characteristics of two high ash Indian coal, petroleum coke, rice husk, and their blends to assess the effect of rice husk and petroleum coke blending on combustion characteristics of high ash Indian coals. Based on the combustion data obtained from the thermogravimetric analysis, various burning profile parameters such as ignition temperature, burnout temperature, activation energy, and combustion efficiency were analyzed to identify the impacts of petroleum coke and rice husk blending on coal combustion. Results show that petroleum coke having 8602 kcal/kg gross calorific value but inferior combustion properties compared to coal and rice husk. For coal A blends with 10% petroleum coke, with the increase in rice husk content in blends from 10 to 40%, ignition temperature decreased from 409 to 270 O C, burnout temperature dropped from 506 to 502 O C, inferring significant improvements in combustion properties compared to coal and petroleum coke. For coal B blends with 10% petroleum coke, at 300 O C with the increase in rice husk in blends from 10 to 40%, combustion efficiency increased from 4.84 to 19.21%. For 20% petroleum coke of coal B blends, with the increase in rice husk in blends from 10 to 30%, activation energy decreased from 82.54 to 57.69 kJ/mol. Synergistic analysis infers that blending of higher biomass promotes synergistic due to catalytic effect. Analysis of changes in enthalpy, Gibbs free energy and entropy implied that individual combustion of both coal and petroleum coke is difficult compared to rice husk, whereas blending of rice husk makes the combustion process significantly favorable. | Effect of rice husk and petroleum coke blending on combustion characteristics of high ash Indian coals | 10.1007/s13399-021-02090-9 |
2023-09-01 | In this study, we report elaboration of a thin film of CoO x on a low carbon unalloyed steel substrate by electrochemical route and the study of its electrocatalytic performances with respect to the evolution reaction of oxygen (OER) in NaOH medium. The elaborated deposits were well-characterized using X-ray diffraction. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters such as exchange current density, Tafel slope, reaction order with respect to OH– ions and apparent activation energy were studied. The CoO x displays satisfactory OER performance in an alkaline medium, with a low overvoltage of 362 mV at 10 mA/cm 2 and a Tafel slope of 81 mV/dec at 293 K. The apparent kinetic activation energy (= 29.79 kJ/mol) was similar to those obtained for the reported catalytic electrode materials. The O 2 gas obtained on the cobalt oxide electrode was 2.865 mmol/s.cm 2 , which is 28 times higher than that obtained for the platinum electrode (0.102 mmol/s.cm 2 ). Chronoamperometry demonstrates a better electrochemical stability under a polarization potential of 2 V in 1 M NaOH for nearly 25 h. The low cost, the high OER performance, as well as the good stability of the CoOx electrode make it a promising candidate for the industrial-scale water electrolysis. | Electrocatalytic activity of electrodeposited CoOx thin film on low-carbon unalloyed steel substrate toward electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) | 10.1007/s11696-023-02837-w |
2023-09-01 | S500MC steel is a grade of high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA) which is widely used in the automotive industry and for agricultural machinery and equipment. Considering properties of this alloy, selection of the welding process and parameters becomes essential to ensure that HSLA assemblies meet specific service requirements. In this work, mechanical and metallurgical properties of S500MC steel produced by autogenous laser beam welding (LBW) and automatic gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) were compared. Tensile testing, metallography, hardness testing, and fractographic analysis were performed on the welded specimens, revealing that the heat input by these welding processes caused significant microstructural changes within the joints. In LBW samples, the heat input about 10 times lower than that in GTAW produced a finer microstructure, narrower fusion zone width, and smaller heat-affected zone. All fractures of the GTAW specimens occurred in the base metal, while all fractures of the LBW specimens occurred in the weld zone, both regardless of the heat input. GTAW joints exhibited higher mechanical properties (even higher than those obtained in the base metal) as compared to LBW joints. | Contrasting the mechanical and metallurgical properties of laser welded and gas tungsten arc welded S500MC steel | 10.1007/s40194-023-01553-z |
2023-09-01 | Effects of solute rare earth (RE) on continuous cooling transformation of a low-alloy Cr–Mo–V bainitic steel are investigated in detail by dilatometry, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microstructures appeared in thermal dilatometric samples of both low-alloy Cr–Mo–V (RE) steels are composed of quasi-polygonal ferrite (QPF), degenerate pearlite (DP), granular bainite (GB), lath bainite (LB), and martensite (M) depending on cooling rate. When cooling rate is lower than 2 °C/s, the addition of RE suppresses QPF transformation, and thereby inducing a broader transformation region of GB. When cooling rate ranges from 2 to 100 °C/s, the addition of RE decreases the start temperature of bainitic transformation distinctly, which results in finer bainitic ferrite grain size and higher dislocation density. The addition of RE can enhance the hardness of the low alloy Cr–Mo–V steel by affecting the aforementioned diffusional and/or partly displacive transformation. However, when cooling rate increases up to 150 °C/s, two steels have the same hardness value of about 435 HV due to only martensite obtained by displacive transformation. | Role of Solute Rare Earth in Altering Phase Transformations during Continuous Cooling of a Low Alloy Cr–Mo–V Steel | 10.1007/s40195-023-01570-3 |
2023-09-01 | Low-temperature ausforming (LT-AF) prior to bainitic transformation leads to a noticeable acceleration of bainitic transformation kinetics; however, the effect of LT-AF on the retained austenite (RA) features and the resulting mechanical properties is still unclear. LT-AF was applied to ultrahigh-strength bainitic steel before austempering. The deformation behavior and the resulting dislocation substructures were investigated by thermomechanical simulator and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The planar dislocation structures produced during deformation at 350 °C accelerate the bainitic transformation kinetics during isothermal holding. The effect of LT-AF on the bainitic transformation kinetics and the features of RA was elucidated via dilatometer measurement, TEM, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. It is observed that LT-AF not only retains more RA content but also facilitates improved RA stability. This trend is mainly due to the large amounts of planar dislocations in RA and bainitic laths inherited from undercooled austenite caused by LT-AF, the decrease in bainitic sheaves size, and the increase in filmy RA content compared to the sample without ausforming. A large fraction of filmy RA with high stability and the refinement of bainitic sheaves obtained by LT-AF remarkably enhance the strain hardening capacity and achieve significantly better ductility compared to the directly austempered sample. | Effect of low-temperature ausforming on bainitic transformation and mechanical properties in ultrahigh-strength bainitic steel | 10.1007/s42243-022-00841-0 |
2023-09-01 | In this study, tartaric acid was identified as an efficient reductant for the reductive leaching of manganese from low-grade pyrolusite ore in an H 2 SO 4 solution. The effect of H 2 SO 4 concentration, tartaric acid concentration, time, and temperature on the leaching efficiency of low-grade pyrolusite ore was investigated. Evidently, when taking into account the various parameter ranges, the greater portion of the increase in efficiency can be attributed to the concentration of tartaric acid and temperature. For instance, by increasing the concentration of tartaric acid within the range of 0 to 0.19 M, the efficiency of manganese has experienced a surge of roughly 62%. In addition, temperature has a favorable impact on the leaching efficiencies of both Mn and Fe; however, the effect is more pronounced for Mn. Specifically, when the temperature is raised from 25 to 85 °C, the leaching efficiency of Mn and Fe rises from 28.9 and 14.3% to 90 and 33.5%, respectively. At optimal leaching conditions (H 2 SO 4 concentration: 1.4 M, time: 150 min, temperature: 85 °C, and tartaric acid concentration: 0.16 M), 94% Mn and 41% Fe were leached. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the breakdown of the strong C=O stretching band for tartaric acid in the presence of H 2 SO 4 and the formation of new bonds at a lower wavelength. Based on the FTIR analysis conducted on the leaching solution, it was observed that the new bands remained consistent when soluble manganese was present. After the impurity removal from leachate, 96% of Mn was precipitated in the form of dioxide manganese by adding potassium permanganate as an oxidant. The results demonstrate that tartaric acid is a practical and efficient reductant for Mn recovery from low-grade pyrolusite ore. Graphical Abstract | Reductive Leaching and Recovery of Nano-crystalline MnO2 from Low-Grade Pyrolusite Ore | 10.1007/s40831-023-00724-y |
2023-09-01 | A flow chemistry based continuous morphology-controllable precipitation strategy was successfully developed for synthesis of europium oxalate hydrate microparticles. The effects of flow ratio between raw materials within microchannels on the crystal structure, morphology and particle size distribution of the precipitated products were firstly studied. The results shown that both high yield and controllable morphology were achieved for Eu 3+ precipitation reactions under its low concentration condition. The effects of supersaturation, mixing intensity, and reaction temperatures were also investigated in detail, which proved the continuous preparation of layered microparticles with concentrated size distribution can be achieved by this strategy. Multiple characterizations and comparison experiment synergistically reveal that the feed flow ratios of nitric acid and oxalic acid determines the morphology and particle size distribution due to affecting the mixing degree and phase composition of the precipitation reaction. In addition, the phase and morphology conversion of precipitates after calcination treatment were also studied, the as-calcined metal oxide powder exhibited a decent photoluminescence characteristic. In summary, this work demonstrates a promising precipitation strategy within micro-channels for mass controllable production of high-quality metal oxide materials. Graphical abstract | Continuous morphology-controllable precipitation strategy for europium oxalate hydrates via microchannel reactor | 10.1007/s41981-023-00277-x |
2023-09-01 | Combustion experiments of sewage sludge (SS) blended with low-rank coal were conducted through a drop tube furnace (DTF) to explore the effects of low-rank coal type, blending ratio, and steam on the transformation of Zn and Cr. The results showed that the retention rates of Zn and Cr in ash increased from 24.35% and 71.49% for sludge combustion alone to 53.77% and 117.49%, respectively, for coal blended to SS with a mass ratio of 7:3. The greater the proportion of low-rank coal in the fuel, the greater the residual rate of heavy metals in the ash. Meanwhile, rapid diffusion of vapor occupied adsorption sites on metal mineral surfaces, reducing the retention of Zn and Cr in the co-combustion ash. The leaching toxicity analysis of ash showed that the co-combustion ash of SS with coal was free from leaching toxicity hazards in simulated scenarios. The extraction rate of Zn in co-combustion ash increased from 90.72% with hydrothermal acid leaching to 95.46% with microwave-assisted in 2 mol/L H 2 SO 4 extract. The extraction rate of Cr in hydrothermal acid leaching was 62.80%, which was much higher than that in microwave-assisted extraction (31.76%). | Transformation of Zn and Cr during co-combustion of sewage sludge and coals: influence of coal and steam | 10.1007/s11356-023-28907-w |
2023-09-01 | Abstract Using the sol–gel method, by reacting solutions of maleic acid and potassium permanganate, samples have been obtained with a turbostat stacking of layers, which is characteristic of the birnessite structure. Using X-ray phase and thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, the dependence of the textural–structural characteristics of the synthesized materials on the temperature of thermal modification (150, 360°C) and sample composition (Sr-form, H-form) has been shown. It has been found that all samples are characterized by a mesoporous texture. It is shown that the water content in the samples is closely related to the quantitative determination of the specific surface area: the more water, the greater the S BET value. | Sol–Gel Synthesis and Textural–Structural Characteristics of Manganese Oxide: the Effect of Thermal-Modification Temperature | 10.1134/S1995421223030279 |
2023-09-01 | As a common flavonols, kaempferol (Kae) has a broad market as health food and medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, and anti-cancer properties. In this study, a novel convenient and simple fluorescent sensor based on carbon dots (CDs) for the detection of Kae was developed. The fluorescent CDs, with excellent photo-luminescence (PL) and up-conversion luminescence (UCPL) properties, were successfully prepared by low-temperature oil bath reaction based on ascorbic acid as carbon source at 90 °C in one pot. Under the optimal conditions, the fluorescence (FL) intensity of CDs was gradually quenched by the increasing addition of Kae with a linear relationship between F 0 /F and Kae concentration in a wide range from 5 µM to 100 µM with a detection limit of 0.38 µM. And this designed sensor was favourably applied for the detection of Kae in actual sample (xin-da-kang tablets). Moreover, the proposed CDs has great application prospects as a drug-sensor for detecting Kae due to its simple operation, economical and green materials, low equipment requirement, and rapid detection. | Green and Low-temperature Synthesis of Carbon Dots for Simple Detection of Kaempferol | 10.1007/s10895-023-03204-4 |
2023-09-01 | Rapid growth in the construction sector significantly influences the natural resource demands, waste assimilation, as well as its also responsible for environmental pollution. The combination of life cycle assessment (LCA) approach with Ecological Footprint (EF) analysis gives an opportunity to measure an environmental imprint of a building on the planet. The life cycle ecological footprint (EF T ) methodology has been developed for a low-rise residential building located in the Indian tropical climatic zone. The EF T of the low-rise residential buildings is 74.02 gha (i.e. 0.49 gha/m 2 per floor area of the building). The Ecological Footprint of building construction is about 15.41% of the total EF T of the low-rise building. The Ecological Footprint of the operational phase of the low-rise building is the highest (83.67%) among all the life cycle phases. The EF T of the building can be reduced in the range of 1.51–4.33% by replacing the fired clay brick (FCB) with proposed low environment impact bricks/blocks in the brickwork of the building. For achieving Sustainable Development Goals, the EF assessment of all proposed and existing buildings should be examined and policymakers try to promote low EF materials for construction. | Life cycle ecological footprint of building: a case study of low-rise tropical residential building | 10.1007/s13762-022-04518-9 |
2023-09-01 | Abstract This experimental work briefly describes the technology of multiple electron-beam melting to produce low-alloy molybdenum alloys with other carbide-forming elements and carbon. Two new alloys described here allow deformation by cold rolling down to a thickness of 0.17 mm. When modifying the Golovin–Sims formula, we show that an alloy with fine (30–200 nm) carbides is hardened during cold rolling much more strongly than an alloy, in which only coarse (≥1 μm) carbides are present. The evolution of continuity defects with the deformation during cold rolling is traced. | Evolution of Defects during Cold Rolling of Low-Alloy Molybdenum Alloys | 10.1134/S0036029523090033 |
2023-09-01 | This paper introduces a survey on recent smart wearable devices used in different fields, especially healthcare applications. A discussion is presented in terms of power supply, wireless technologies, applications, and wearability of these devices. Regarding the power supply, a photovoltaic is the best harvesting energy source, while the best energy storage is a Li-ion battery. Regarding wireless technologies, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is the best for personal usage, while Wi-Fi has preferred for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Regarding the applications, medical and non-medical applications can be used. Regarding wearability, smart wearable devices can be positioned on a human hand or arm. Also, wearable sensors can be patched on human skin, besides, they can be placed on clothes, such as a smart suit which is preferred for heavy duties. | A Survey on Smart Wearable Devices for Healthcare Applications | 10.1007/s11277-023-10639-2 |
2023-09-01 | The wind energy in cities cannot be exploited effectively because natural wind is unstable and complex. Therefore, a triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid generator with swing-blade structures (SBS-TEHG) was designed to effectively harvest intermittent and continuous wind energy in an urban environment. First, the spring structure and base were considered to realize the maximum output performance of triboelectric nanogenerators. Then, the computational fluid dynamics method was applied to optimize the structure of the SBS-TEHG to improve its aerodynamic performance. The starting wind speed of the SBS-TEHG was 2 m/s, and its energy conversion efficiency was 9.04%, 159% higher than that of the SBS-TEHG without guide plates at 4 m/s. The results demonstrated that the SBS-TEHG lit 105 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) under the intermittent-wind harvesting mode at a wind frequency of 1 Hz when the single swing blade operated, while a wireless PM 2.5 & PM 10 sensor was powered by the SBS-TEHG after a period of operation under the continuous-wind harvesting mode. The findings of this study provide a novel solution for low-speed wind energy harvesting in cities and demonstrate the potential of SBS-TEHG as a distributed energy source. | Triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid generator with swing-blade structures for effectively harvesting distributed wind energy in urban environments | 10.1007/s12274-023-5691-1 |
2023-09-01 | A low-cost plant growth system has been developed to grow and study different types of endangered cryptogams in ex situ conditions. These cryptogams, considered model plants, are primarily available in the hilly region and generally used for laboratory purposes. Soil degradation and environmental pollution affect these plants and impose severe threats to maintaining their natural habitat. Therefore, such plants need special care for preservation. These plants were collected and allowed to undergo the process of acclimatization by building up an artificial environment for plant growth in ex situ conditions. The ex-situ system was run by solar energy and facilitated by the designed control units to maintain temperature, humidity and light. The water supply mechanism was driven by the rainwater harvested throughout the year. Significant measures were adopted to maintain the optimum levels of dry weight, moisture content, and photosynthetic pigment content. So far the photosynthetic pigment concentration was concerned, the chlorophyll a concentration was found to increase in ex-situ conditions, whereas the concentration of chlorophyll b decreased. The dry weight in plants grown in ex-situ conditions was found to increase. The parameter values were shown significant ( p ≤ 0.05) according to Duncan’s multiple range test. Thus, the development of the plants in the system signifies that this system could be a novel approach toward conserving cryptogams. | Development of a growth chamber for cryptogams: a step toward ex situ conservation | 10.1007/s40415-023-00913-9 |
2023-09-01 | Aquatic macrophytes contain high levels of hydrosoluble compounds. These compounds disproportionately support microbial breakdown and affect biological oxygen demand in eutrophic waters. In this study, we investigated the fate of leachates from free-floating macrophytes ( Pistia stratiotes and Eichhornia crassipes ) usually present in eutrophic tropical lacustrine environments. After extraction, the leachates were fractioned into high and low molecular weight compounds and incubated under aerobic conditions, in the dark and at 20.0 ± 1.3 °C. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen and the total, dissolved, and particulate organic carbon (TOC, DOC, and POC) were determined during 60 days. The selected leachates supported the detritus trophic chain of the Barra Bonita Reservoir. High rates of carbon transfer were measured, which were ascribed to the temperature selected (20 °C), nutrient availability, and labile fractions of the leachates. Decomposition occurred mainly through catabolic pathways (mineralization), with the formation of POC (immobilization) being only minor. In the early stages of P. stratiotes and E. crassipes decomposition, the mineralization of leachates (mainly the low molecular weight) led to declines in dissolved oxygen. Owing to the low rates of mass loss, the recalcitrant fractions of these leachates should constitute the main forms of organic carbon exported from the reservoir. | Oxygen consumption and formation of recalcitrant organic carbon from the decomposition of free-floating macrophyte leachates | 10.1007/s11356-023-29473-x |
2023-09-01 | Biogas is a promising renewable technology to alleviate energy poverty. Pakistan has a capacity of 5 million bio digesters that can be installed in different farming areas. However, this target has never been achieved because many barriers hamper the biogas industry development. In previous studies, some researchers have indicated these barriers in different geographical contexts: however, these barriers are rarely examined in Pakistan. To fulfill the research gap, this study prioritizes potential barriers. Using a literature review and a modified Delphi technique, we identify 25 sub-barriers and catalog them into 5 main categories. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) prioritizes the main barriers and sub-barriers based on potential. Grey Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (G-TOPSIS) ranks the practical alternatives to combat these barriers. The study findings specify that the “financial barrier” is the top-ranked barrier among the main categories, followed by technical, socio-cultural, institutional and administrative, and environmental barriers. The overall ranking shows that the “high starting price tag” is ranked first among all sub-barriers in all categories. It has been proposed that “appropriate financial incentives” and “promotion of customized technology” would be feasible alternative solutions to combat the issues. Based on the research findings, some policy recommendations were suggested for biogas uptake in Pakistan. This study may assist policymakers, stakeholders, and government institutions in accelerating the potential of biogas energy to alleviate energy poverty in rural areas of Pakistan. | Assessing and prioritizing biogas barriers to alleviate energy poverty in Pakistan: an integrated AHP and G-TOPSIS model | 10.1007/s11356-023-28767-4 |
2023-09-01 | Renewable energy and related technologies, such as electric vehicles, are vital to limiting climate change, but they also require more mineral resources, both in variety and quantity. As mining and processing these mineral resources is associated with geopolitical and environmental risks, it is vital to determine which of the essential minerals' resources are relatively more vulnerable to supply risks. Our study refers to these metals as critical metals. Using the STELLA software, we developed a dynamic system to determine the supply and demand trends of specific metals needed for seven low-carbon technologies. Transitioning to a low-carbon future will likely increase mineral production considerably, but REEs, lithium, cobalt, and copper can all be considered critical metals when considering a low-carbon future. Although metal consumption will increase, metal reserves will not constrain the shift toward a low-carbon future, despite some metals being critical. | Selected critical metals for a low-carbon future | 10.1007/s13563-023-00383-1 |
2023-09-01 | Background The investigation of reinforced concrete slabs under impact loading through the experiment is expensive and time-consuming however technological advancements enable the numerical methods to save experimental resources. The manuscript states that the numerical methods involve the selection of the material model which is quite sensitive due to the high complexity of the calibration process, especially the stress-inelastic strain behaviour and damage parameters. Methodology Within the context, the present study considers the five largely known stress–strain models (Alfarah et al. Model, Carreira and Chu Model, Chinese Model code (GB50010-2002), CEB-FIP Model Code 2010 and Aslani and Jowkarmeimandi Model, designated as M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5, respectively) of concrete through the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model using ABAQUS finite element software. Objective The accuracy and reliability of these five models were studied and compared for varying strength of concrete and thickness of slab with the experimental results available in the literature under low-velocity impact. The numerical models were predicted in terms of impact force, displacement, acceleration and strain in concrete as well as reinforcement. Conclusion It was concluded that Alfarah et al. model (M1) was found to be the best predicting model in terms of impact force and midpoint displacement due to mesh insensitivity which is based on element characteristic length. The acceleration-time response was accurately captured by Alfarah et al. model (M1) and least predicted by the GB50010-2002 model (M3). Further, statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the performance of each model in predicting the factors affecting the behavior of concrete under impact loading. It was observed that model M1 was found to be the best at predicting the impact force and midpoint displacements among the chosen models. It was also observed that the Aslani and Jowkarmeimandi model (M5) was found to predict acceleration better than other models. | Evaluation of Compressive and Tensile Stress–Strain Parameters of Concrete Damage Plasticity Model for Concrete Slabs Under Impact load | 10.1007/s42417-023-00966-w |
2023-09-01 | Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effect of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), cold-water immersion (CWI) and passive recovery (PAS) on tennis recovery. Methods Thirteen competitive male tennis players completed three consecutive match-like tennis protocols, followed by recovery (WBC, CWI, PAS) in a crossover design. Five tennis drills and serves were performed using a ball machine to standardize the fatiguing protocol. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) peak torque, creatine kinase activity (CK), muscle soreness, ball accuracy and velocity together with voluntary activation, low- and high-frequency torque and EMG activity were recorded before each protocol and 24 h following the third protocol. Results MVC peak torque (− 7.7 ± 11.3%; p = 0.001) and the high- to low-frequency torque ratio (− 10.0 ± 25.8%; p < 0.05) decreased on Day 1 but returned to baseline on Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4 ( p = 0.052, all p > 0.06). The CK activity slightly increased from 161.0 ± 100.2 to 226.0 ± 106.7 UA L −1 on Day 1 ( p = 0.001) and stayed at this level ( p = 0.016) across days with no differences between recovery interventions. Muscle soreness increased across days with PAS recovery ( p = 0.005), while no main effect of time was neither observed with WBC nor CWI (all p > 0.292). The technical performance was maintained across protocols with WBC and PAS, while it increased for CWI on Day 3 vs Day 1 ( p = 0.017). Conclusion Our 1.5-h tennis protocol led to mild muscle damage, though neither the neuromuscular function nor the tennis performance was altered due to accumulated workload induced by consecutive tennis protocols. The muscle soreness resulting from tennis protocols was similarly alleviated by both CWI and WBC. Trial registration IRB No. 2017-A02255-48, 12/05/2017. | Cold-water immersion and whole-body cryotherapy attenuate muscle soreness during 3 days of match-like tennis protocol | 10.1007/s00421-023-05190-8 |
2023-09-01 | The impact toughness, microstructure and break features of low-alloy steel weld samples produced by automatic submerged arc welding have been compared. It has been established that when a notch is applied along the weld axis, fracture occurs along large grains of grain-boundary ferrite 80–140 μm in size with an unfavorable cleavage planes orientation {001}. The combination of such grains with non-metallic inclusions 3–5 μm in size facilitates the transcrystalline cleavage initiation. The effect of austenite grain size, crystallographic texture, and intergranular fracture on the impact toughness value is shown. Continuous chains of grain-boundary ferrite at the front of the main crack line up along the notch-parallel boundaries of columnar grains of axial orientation, which increases the tendency to transcrystalline cleavage. At the same time, with the lateral orientation of the columnar grains of the former austenite, the front line of the main crack intersects only certain separate areas of the grain-boundary ferrite. Offset notch results in an increase in both impact toughness and plasticity of weld metal. | Impact Toughness and Microstructure of Low-Alloy Steel Weld Produced by Automatic Submerged Arc Welding | 10.1007/s11015-023-01561-w |
2023-09-01 | The development of polymerized fused-ring small molecule acceptors (FRA-PAs) has boosted the performance of all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs). However, these FRA-PAs suffer from lengthy synthesis steps and high production costs due to the high degree of synthetic complexity for fused-ring small molecule acceptors (FRAs). Furthermore, most FRA-PAs exhibit strong batch-to-batch variation, limiting further industrial applications. Herein, we designed and synthesized asymmetric non-fused electron-deficient building block TIC-Br with a simple structure (only three synthetic steps), showing a planar configuration, excellent electron affinity, and large dipole moment. A simple polymer acceptor PTIB was further developed by polymerization of TIC-Br and sensitized fluorinated-thienyl benzodithiophene (BDT-TF-Sn). PTIB exhibits a broad absorption from 300 to 800 nm, a suitable lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of −3.86 eV, and moderate electron mobility (1.02 × 10 −4 cm 2 V −1 s −1 ). When matched with PM6, the device achieved the best PCE of 10.11% with a high V OC of 0.97 V, which is one of the highest among those reported all-PSCs. More importantly, PTIB exhibits a lower synthetic complexity index (SC = 35.0%) and higher figure-of-merit values (FOM = 29.0%) than all the reported high-performance PAs. The polymer also exhibits excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility and great potential for scale-up fabrication. This study indicates that TIC-Br is a promising building block for constructing low-cost polymer acceptors for large-scale applications in all-PSCs. | An asymmetric non-fused electron-deficient building block for low-cost polymer acceptor in all-polymer solar cells | 10.1007/s11426-023-1717-y |
2023-09-01 | The corrosion behaviors of self-designed Ni-containing low-alloy steels with Mo addition in tropical marine atmosphere was investigated by surface analysis and electrochemical methods. The results showed that with the increase of Ni content, the weight gain rates of low-alloy steels gradually decreased and the composition phases of inner product films changed from γ-FeOOH to α-FeOOH. The synergistic effect of Ni and Mo on the corrosion resistance of low-alloy steel was related to the Ni content in the steel matrix. The corrosion resistance can be significantly improved by adding Mo when the Ni content was in the range of 1.72 to 2.87 wt.%. The enhanced synergistic effect of Ni and Mo could further promote the formation of more protective corrosion products, such as α-FeOOH, NiFe 2 O 4 and Mo 6+ . | Optimizing the Corrosion Resistance of Ni-Containing Low-Alloy Steels with Mo Addition in Tropical Marine Atmosphere | 10.1007/s11665-022-07678-4 |
2023-09-01 | Sustained low-efficiency dialysis is a hybrid form of kidney replacement therapy that has gained increasing popularity as an alternative to continuous forms of kidney replacement therapy in intensive care unit settings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage of continuous kidney replacement therapy equipment led to increasing usage of sustained low-efficiency dialysis as an alternative treatment for acute kidney injury. Sustained low-efficiency dialysis is an efficient method for treating hemodynamically unstable patients and is quite widely available, making it especially useful in resource-limited settings. In this review, we aim to discuss the various attributes of sustained low-efficiency dialysis and how it is comparable to continuous kidney replacement therapy in efficacy, in terms of solute kinetics and urea clearance, and the various formulae used to compare intermittent and continuous forms of kidney replacement therapy, along with hemodynamic stability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was increased clotting of continuous kidney replacement therapy circuits, which led to increased use of sustained low-efficiency dialysis alone or together with extra corporeal membrane oxygenation circuits. Although sustained low-efficiency dialysis can be delivered with continuous kidney replacement therapy machines, most centers use standard hemodialysis machines or batch dialysis systems. Even though antibiotic dosing differs between continuous kidney replacement therapy and sustained low-efficiency dialysis, reports of patient survival and renal recovery are similar for continuous kidney replacement therapy and sustained low-efficiency dialysis. Health care studies indicate that sustained low-efficiency dialysis has emerged as a cost-effective alternative to continuous kidney replacement therapy. Although there is considerable data to support sustained low-efficiency dialysis treatments for critically ill adult patients with acute kidney injury, there are fewer pediatric data, even so, currently available studies support the use of sustained low-efficiency dialysis for pediatric patients, particularly in resource-limited settings. Graphical abstract | Archetypal sustained low-efficiency daily diafiltration (SLEDD-f) for critically ill patients requiring kidney replacement therapy: towards an adequate therapy | 10.1007/s40620-023-01665-1 |
2023-09-01 | Photosystem I (PSI) catalyzes light-induced electron-transfer reactions and has been observed to exhibit various oligomeric states and different energy levels of chlorophylls (Chls) in response to oligomerization. However, the biochemical and spectroscopic properties of a PSI monomer containing Chls d are not well understood. In this study, we successfully isolated and characterized PSI monomers from the cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina MBIC11017, and compared their properties with those of the A. marina PSI trimer. The PSI trimers and monomers were prepared using trehalose density gradient centrifugation after anion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The polypeptide composition of the PSI monomer was found to be consistent with that of the PSI trimer. The absorption spectrum of the PSI monomer showed the Qy band of Chl d at 704 nm, which was blue-shifted from the peak at 707 nm observed in the PSI-trimer spectrum. The fluorescence-emission spectrum of the PSI monomer measured at 77 K exhibited a peak at 730 nm without a broad shoulder in the range of 745–780 nm, which was clearly observed in the PSI-trimer spectrum. These spectroscopic properties of the A. marina PSI trimer and monomer suggest different formations of low-energy Chls d between the two types of PSI cores. Based on these findings, we discuss the location of low-energy Chls d in A. marina PSIs. | Isolation and characterization of trimeric and monomeric PSI cores from Acaryochloris marina MBIC11017 | 10.1007/s11120-023-01025-x |
2023-09-01 | In this work, a midrib of lower bainite has been observed in an electric arc coating on low-carbon pipe steel using scanning tunnel microscopy. The midrib is a thin strip of ~50–70 nm wide along the direction of acicular bainitic subunit growth, and ~2–5 nm height above the level of surrounding ferrite. An analysis of the cross-sectional profile of the subunit and literature data made it possible to explain the mechanism of bainitic subunit formation. | Observation of a Lower Bainite Midrib in an Electric Arc Coating Using Scanning Tunnel Microscopy | 10.1007/s11182-023-02967-4 |
2023-09-01 | In recent years, we have witnessed a growing demand for GNSS receiver customization in terms of modification of signal acquisition, tracking, and processing strategies. Such demands may be addressed by software-defined receivers (SDRs) which refers to an ensemble of hardware and software technologies and allows re-configurable radio communication architectures. The crux of the SDRs is the replacement of the hardware components through software modules. In this paper, we assess the quality of GNSS observables acquired by SDR against the selected u-blox low-cost receiver. In the following, we investigate the performance level of single point positioning that may be reached with an ultra-low-cost SDR and compare it to that of the low-cost GNSS receiver. The signal quality assessment revealed a comparable performance in terms of carrier-to-noise density ratio and a significant out-performance of the u-blox over SDR in terms of code pseudorange noise. The experimentation in the positioning domain proved that software-defined receivers may offer a position solution with three-dimensional standard deviation error at the level of 5.2 m in a single point positioning mode that is noticeably poorer accuracy as compared to the low-cost receiver. Such results demonstrate that there is still room for SDR positioning accuracy improvement. | GNSS-SDR pseudorange quality and single point positioning performance assessment | 10.1007/s12518-022-00457-9 |
2023-09-01 | Selenium (Se) is the essential component of selenoenzymes and contributes to antioxidant defenses. The capability of Se to antagonize the toxicity of heavy metals makes it an essential trace element for human and plant health. Soils derived from black shales are naturally enriched with Se; however, these soils often contain high geological cadmium (Cd), due to the weathering of black shales rich in Cd and Se. Cadmium, as a known Group I carcinogen, could induce damage to various organs. This therefore poses a major challenge for safe cultivation of Se-rich land resources. In this study, a total of 247 paired soil-crop samples were collected from a typical farmland derived from black shales. The concentrations of Cd and Se in the samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy and atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Monte Carlo simulation was applied to evaluate potential health risks associated with Cd exposure. Cadmium was the critical pollutant in the study area, with the average value of 1.53 mg/kg. Moreover, both children and adults living in the area had a significant non-carcinogenic health risk. Additional health risk assessments revealed that diet was the main contributor for both children and adults among the four pathways (diet > soil ingestion > soil dermal adsorption > soil inhalation). Furthermore, our results revealed that leguminous vegetables and maize were ideal for this site due to their high Se and low Cd accumulation abilities. These findings provide support for adjusting planting structure by variety screening to mitigate the health risk induced by Cd. | Enrichment of cadmium and selenium in soil-crop system and associated probabilistic health risks in black shale areas | 10.1007/s11356-023-29173-6 |
2023-09-01 | The brown seaweed, Sacchairna japonica , has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over one thousand years. Oral administration of fucoidan or low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) from S. japonica could ameliorate kidney dysfunction in chronic kidney diseases and inhibit diabetic vascular complications. In many studies, LMWF was found to be more potent than fucoidan with high molecular weight. However, the pharmacokinetics of LMWF still remains unclear. The purpose of the research is to compare the pharmacokinetics of fucoidan with high molecular weight (136 kDa) with that low molecular weight (9.5 kDa) after oral administration to ICR mice. Since fucose is the main and representative monosaccharide of fucoidans, we evaluate the pharmacokinetics of fucoidan and LMWF by determining the fucose concentration in mice serum. Both fucoidan and LMWF were absorbed following oral administration. Fucoidan and LMWF were provided to mice by oral administration with 60 mg/kg and the maximum Concentration ( C max ) was found at 2.5 h (0.66±0.32 mg/L) for Fucoidan and 1.5 h (1.01±0.56 mg/L) for LMWF, respectively. It seems that LMWF had a higher area under the curve (AUC 0− t ) and was absorbed more quickly than fucoidan. The estimated bioavailability of LMWF was 28.3% in the mice treated with a single dose of 30 mg/kg. In addition, LMWF was found widely spreaded into different tissues following oral administration and the highest concentration was found in kidney at 19.93±7.02 µg/g. In this study, we first studied the pharmacokinetics of LMWF, in order to help to understand the function of LMWF. And our results shed light on the potential of development of drugs based on LMWF. | Pharmacokinetics of fucoidan and low molecular weight fucoidan from Saccharina japonica after oral administration to mice | 10.1007/s00343-022-2225-8 |
2023-09-01 | Investigating the seepage characteristics of acid leaching solution affected by surfactant in the ore-bearing layer during the in-situ leaching process can be useful for optimizing the process parameters of uranium ore. Three surfactant leaching solutions of different concentrations were prepared respectively for the agitation leaching experiment, from which the best was screened out for seepage simulation experiment using a self-developed multifunctional physical and chemical seepage test device. The influence of surfactant to seepage characteristics of leaching solution were examined based on the seepage flow mechanics and physicochemical seepage theory. Results indicated that trend of seepage characteristics of different leaching solutions were the same in rock samples with similar internal pore architectures in general, both of which were horizontal seepage processes from the unsaturated stage to the saturated stage. While the seepage process of leaching solution added surfactant reached the saturation point of the set flow rate earlier, and the addition of surfactant provided improvement in the permeability coefficient with the largest increase of 29.41% in the saturation stage, the growth of seepage pressure also decreased by up to 22.72%. | Experimental investigation on the influence of surfactant to the seepage characteristics of acid leaching solution during in-situ leaching of uranium | 10.1007/s10967-023-09038-5 |
2023-09-01 | Low-grade ores generated by mining activities can lead to resource waste and environment pollution, which is of great concern. Thus, low-grade copper sulfide ores bioleaching is investigated in this study by re-inoculating bacteria at different intervals. The highest bacteria concentration of 5.830 × 10 7 cells·mL −1 , improved attached bacteria proportion of 24.310% and copper recovery of 68.310% are obtained in sample re-inoculated bacteria both at days 1 and 4. More uniform distribution of dissolved oxygen is found in samples re-inoculated bacteria, compared with non-re-inoculated samples. 16S rDNA analysis shows that bacteria community structure is influenced significantly by re-inoculating bacteria at different intervals. Proportion of dominant species ( Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ) accounts for 97.653% when appropriate interval is applied in re-inoculating bacteria process. Based on the resulting data, possible reason for illustrating re-inoculating bacteria at appropriate interval to improve bioleaching of low-grade copper sulfide ores is put forward. Graphical Abstract | Re-inoculated Bacteria Driving Microbial Community Functional Response to Bioleaching of Low-Grade Copper Sulfide Ores: Potential to Improve Copper Recovery | 10.1007/s40831-023-00715-z |
2023-09-01 | It is crucial to understand the effect of microplastics (MPs) on plant systems with the increasing accumulation of MPs in the soil ecosystem. Earthworm potential to accumulate and degrade microplastics could modulate the toxicity of microplastics to plant growth. In this study, a pot experiment containing 1000 g soil mixed with different concentrations of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MPs with and without earthworms was performed for 45 days using the test plant Trigonella foenum-graecum . The results demonstrated that MPs affect plant growth and cause a reduction in terms of root length in all concentrations with respect to the control. In terms of shoot length, no significant differences were observed among the similar concentrations with and without earthworms. However, there is a significant difference in the number of root nodules among similar concentrations of LDPE with and without earthworms except between MP 100 and E + MP 100 . The number of root nodules decreased as the dose of microplastics increased MP 100 (8.33), MP 500 (8.11), and MP 1000 (7.33). The chlorophyll content including chlorophyll a (chl “a”), chlorophyll b (chl “b”), total chlorophyll, and carotene was decreased as the dose of LDPE increased, while the phenol and flavonoid content, as well as antioxidant activities such as ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), were increased. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were reduced when compared to the control. The plant grown in the presence of earthworms showed better results in terms of overall plant development. Therefore, it is concluded that the earthworms modulated the stress induced by microplastics on plant development. | Earthworms Modulate the Toxicity Effect of Low-Density Polyethylene on Plant Development | 10.1007/s42729-023-01319-y |
2023-09-01 | Background and aims As the immobility of inorganic phosphorus (P) in soil, the acquisition of P by sessile plants is limited. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a signal molecule and a metabolite can regulate plants to cope with various stresses. However, whether GABA could contribute to the adaption to low P stress in apple plants remains unclear. Methods This study combined different methods to detect the induction of auxin (IAA) synthesis by GABA to improve the tolerance of apple seedlings to low P stress (including growth and development analysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance effect, root structure analysis, multiple factorial analysis (MFA), gene expression analysis). Results Exogenous GABA improved the growth of apple seedlings under low P conditions, reduced the ROS accumulation, and promoted the photosynthetic capacity. GABA contributed to the root system architecture and the development of mature area of root tips. In addition, the intervention of exogenous GABA interfered with the homeostasis of endogenous IAA and activated the expression of P starvation induction (PSI) gene, leading to the significantly increase of the P uptake in apple plants. Meanwhile, transgenic roots with overexpressing MdGAD1 enhanced the tolerance of apple seedlings to low P stress, improved the root development through regulating IAA signaling pathway, and significantly improved the P uptake of apple seedlings under low P conditions. Conclusion All results suggested that GABA could contribute to the adaption of apple seedlings to low P conditions, by decreasing ROS accumulation, maintaining photosynthetic capacity, and increasing IAA level to improve the root development and the P absorption. | GABA responds to low phosphorus stress by interfering with endogenous auxin levels in apple | 10.1007/s11104-023-06088-2 |
2023-09-01 | Smart manufacturing is the convergence of Industry 4.0 technologies that modernize production systems, with a growing demand for real-time active management to maximize processes. Companies with outdated, non-communicative or non-data-transmitting machine tools urgently need new technologies to ensure competitiveness. A viable option is smart retrofitting, which involves upgrading legacy equipment to bring them into the digital age. This article presents a study on the potential of digitizing legacy machine tools to improve productivity and surface quality through low-cost instrumentation. Low-cost sensors and hardware were installed on a universal lathe for continuous and real-time monitoring of the turning process. The results confirmed the influence of cutting speed and feed rate on surface finish, while the instrumentation showed good results in monitoring rotation and feed rate. The results of this paper contributes to recent research in process monitoring and enables a solid analysis of the benefits of real-time monitoring of machining in universal mechanical lathes. | On the potential of low-cost instrumentation for digitalization of legacy machine tools | 10.1007/s00170-023-11946-5 |
2023-09-01 | Ridging South Atlantic high pressure systems (ridging highs) are often accompanied by cut-off low (COL) pressure systems aloft, but may also occur without them, in which case a linear baroclinic wave would be observed propagating across the South African domain in the upper troposphere. Using 41 years of ERA-5 reanalysis data, this study documents differences between the characteristics of the prevailing dynamical processes and associated local eddy kinetic energy generation, its downstream transfer and dissipation during these two scenarios. The study shows that when COLs are present then baroclinic conversion is strong and it is confined east of the Greenwich Meridian, whereas it is located downstream of South Africa and it is much weaker, when ridging occurs without COLs. The differences in strength and locations of the baroclinic conversion are associated with the differing jet streak configurations between the two scenarios; which lead to Rossby wave breaking and the absence thereof when there are COLs and when ridging occurs without COLs, respectively. The presence of breaking during COLs leads to trans-ridge downstream development that facilitates energy transfer from the midlatitudes into the South African domain. When there are no COLs present, the trans-trough downstream development is stronger than it is across the upstream ridge. Barotropic conversion from eddy kinetic energy to mean kinetic energy occurs in the South African domain during COLs, but occurs much further downstream when there are no COLs during ridging highs. The difference in the characteristics identified in this study can be traced back to the differences in the potential vorticity anomaly structures, which are largely due to whether the waves break or do not during the evolution of ridging events in the South African domain. | Downstream development during ridging South Atlantic Ocean anticyclones | 10.1007/s00382-023-06717-7 |
2023-09-01 | The effect of low voltage electrostatic field (LVEF, 2500 V, 0.2 mA) on oxidative denaturation of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) in repeatedly freeze–thaw (F-T, both 24 h) lamb was investigated in this study. F-T cycles intensified MP oxidative denaturation and structural destruction, with the influences becoming more severe after 1, 3, and 5 F-T cycles. The samples of the LVEF-assisted F-T cycles (LFT) exhibited lower carbonyl/dityrosine content, “r” value, and surface hydrophobicity, higher sulfhydryl content, solubility, Ca 2+ -ATPase activity, α -helix content, and fluorescence intensity under the identical F-T cycles ( P < 0.05) in comparison with the common F-T cycles (CFT). Although the suppression of LVEF on protein oxidation decreased with the boost in the amount of F-T cycles, the effectiveness was still remarkable compared to samples without LVEF treatment. These original study findings would assist supply theoretical proof for the usage of LVEF in the freezing, storing, and transporting of frozen meat. | Effect of Low-Voltage Electrostatic Field on Oxidative Denaturation of Myofibrillar Protein from Lamb-Subjected Freeze–Thaw Cycles | 10.1007/s11947-023-03041-0 |
2023-09-01 | It is well established that chemical-peptide conjugation represents the molecular initiating event (MIE) in skin sensitization. This MIE has been successfully exploited in the development of in chemico peptide reactivity assays, with the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) being validated as a screening tool for skin sensitization hazard as well as an OECD test guideline. This test relies on the use of a high-performance liquid chromatography/ultraviolet detection method to quantify chemical-peptide conjugation through measurement of the depletion of two synthetic peptides containing lysine or cysteine residues, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming. To improve assay throughput, sensitivity, and accuracy, we have developed a spectrophotometric assay for skin sensitization potential based on MIE measurement—the ProtReact assay. ProtReact is also a cheaper, faster, simpler, and more accessible alternative for the DPRA, giving comparable results. A set of 106 chemicals was tested with ProtReact and the peptide depletion values compared with those reported for the DPRA. The predictive capacity of both assays was evaluated with human reference data. ProtReact and DPRA assays show similar predictive capacities for hazard identification (75% and 74%, respectively), although ProtReact showed a higher specificity (86% versus 74%, respectively) and lower sensitivity (69% versus 73%). Overall, the results show that ProtReact assay described here represents an efficient, economic, and accurate assay for the prediction of skin sensitization potential of chemical haptens. | Development of an in chemico high-throughput screening method for the identification of skin sensitization potential | 10.1007/s00204-023-03550-z |
2023-09-01 | In this paper, the dynamics of drop formation at low Weber numbers (We = $$\rho V^{2} D/\sigma$$ ρ V 2 D / σ ) were investigated experimentally. Deionized (DI) water drops dripping from nozzles were photographed using a high-speed camera. The studied drop parameters mainly include the limit length of the filament, the thickness of the neck, the position of the neck, the size of the drop and the satellite droplet, and the movement trend of the satellite droplet. We found that the wettability of the needle nozzle mainly influences the dynamic dripping process of drops by changing the diameter of the contact circle of the three phases of gas, liquid, and solid. The transition of the satellite droplet behavior with the flow velocity and the diameter of the contact circle was further explored, and it was found that there are multiple critical transition states in the experimental parameter space. The change in the movement trend of satellite droplets is the result of the competition between surface tension and gravity. It is also affected by the flow rate, droplet oscillation, and interaction time. | Experimental investigation of dynamics of primary and satellite droplet formation | 10.1007/s40430-023-04367-8 |
2023-09-01 | The finding of minimal laryngeal dysfunctions in professional voice users is essential to prevent the onset of organic vocal pathologies. The purpose of this study is to identify an objective parameter that supports the phoniatric evaluation in detecting minimal laryngeal dysfunctions in singers. 54 professional and non-professional singers have been evaluated with laryngostroboscopy, Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP), Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI), maximum phonation time (TMF), minimum intensity of sound emission (I-min), maximum frequency (F-max), voice handicap index (VHI), singing voice handicap index (SVHI), manual phonogram and audiometric examination. The SVHI of all the “healthy” singers was on average 23.7 ± 22.5, while that of the “dysfunctional” 20.9 ± 18. No statistically significant difference was found between the SVHI scores of the total of healthy singers compared to the scores of the dysfunctional ones on the VSL ( p = 0.6). The between-group comparison of the means of individual parameter values of DSI, TMF, F-max, Jitter, Shimmer, NHR, and SPI was not statistically significant (respectively p = 0.315, 0.2, 0.18, 0.09, 0.2, 0.08, 0.3). The only parameter analyzed that was statistically significant was the I-min ( p < 0.05). SVHI is a valid instrument for the evaluation after a therapy but in our experience, it is not useful in distinguishing healthy from dysfunctional patients. The minimum intensity of sound emission measured with the sound level meter (I-low2) resulted a reliable parameter to identify minimal laryngeal dysfunctions and a useful tool in supporting the phoniatric diagnostic-therapeutic process in singers. | Looking for an Objective Parameter to Identify Early Vocal Dysfunctions in Healthy Perceived Singers | 10.1007/s12070-023-03726-0 |
2023-09-01 | Plant roots can sense the nitrogen level in the environment and change the expression of related genes to maintain normal life activities. However, their regulatory mechanism in Chrysanthemum has not been fully clarified. In this study, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor CmMYB42 was isolated from Chrysanthemum ‘Jinba.’ Tissue expression analysis showed that the gene was mainly expressed in the root and could rapidly up-regulate the expression of CmMYB42 under low-nitrogen conditions. Subcellular localization analysis showed that CmMYB42 was located in the nucleus. Under low-nitrogen stress, overexpressing CmMYB42 Chrysanthemum ’s total root length, lateral root number, plant height, and biomass accumulation were significantly higher than wild type and slowed down the damage to photosynthetic system and improved NO 3 − content and nitrogen metabolism assimilation enzyme activity. In addition, we also found that CmMYB42 increased the expression of nitrogen stress-related genes. These results indicated that CmMYB42 acts as a positive regulator to improve the tolerance of Chrysanthemum to low-nitrogen stress, providing a theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular mechanism of low-nitrogen tolerance in Chrysanthemum . | An R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor CmMYB42 Improves Low-Nitrogen Stress Tolerance in Chrysanthemum | 10.1007/s00344-023-10940-1 |
2023-09-01 | Infants with low birth weight (LBW) are more likely to have health problems than normal weight infants. In studies examining the associations between particulate matter (PM) exposures and LBW, there is a tendency to focus on PM 2.5 as a whole. However, insufficient information is available regarding the effects of different components of PM 2.5 on birth weight. This study identified the associations between maternal exposure to 10 metal components of PM 2.5 and LBW in offspring based on small area (divided by population size) level data in New Mexico, USA, from 2012 to 2016. This study used a pruned feed-forward neural network (pruned-FNN) approach to estimate the annual average exposure index to each metal component in each small area. The linear regression model was employed to examine the association between maternal PM 2.5 metal exposures and LBW rate in small areas, adjusting for the female percentage and race/ethnicity compositions, marriage status, and educational level in the population. An interquartile range increase in maternal exposure to mercury and chromium of PM 2.5 increased LBW rate by 0.43% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18–0.68%) and 0.63% (95% CI: 0.15–1.12%), respectively. These findings suggest that maternal exposure to metal components of air pollutants may increase the risk of LBW in offspring. With no similar studies in New Mexico, this study also posed great importance because of a higher LBW rate in New Mexico than the national average. These findings provide critical information to inform further epidemiological, biological, and toxicological studies. | Maternal exposure to metal components of PM2.5 and low birth weight in New Mexico, USA | 10.1007/s11356-023-29291-1 |
2023-09-01 | CO 2 geological storage and utilization (CGSU) is considered a far-reaching technique to meet the demand of increasing energy supply and decreasing CO 2 emissions. For CGSUs related to shale gas reservoirs, experimental investigations have attracted variable methodologies, among which low-field NMR (LF-NMR) is a promising method and is playing an increasingly key role in reservoir characterization. Herein, the application of this nondestructive, sensitive, and quick LF-NMR technique in characterizing CGSU behavior in shale gas reservoirs is reviewed. First, the basic principle of LF-NMR for 1 H-fluid detection is introduced, which is the theoretical foundation of the reviewed achievements in this paper. Then, the reviewed works are related to the LF-NMR-based measurements of CH 4 adsorption capacity and the CO 2 -CH 4 interaction in shale, as well as the performance on CO 2 sequestration and simultaneous enhanced gas recovery from shale. Basically, the reviewed achievements have exhibited a large potential for LF-NMR application in CGSUs related to shale gas reservoirs, although some limitations and deficiencies still need to be improved. Accordingly, some suggestions are proposed for a more responsible development of the LF-NMR technique. Hopefully, this review is helpful in promoting the expanding application of the LF-NMR technique in CGSU implementation in shale gas reservoirs. | Low-field NMR application in the characterization of CO2 geological storage and utilization related to shale gas reservoirs: a brief review | 10.1007/s11707-022-1007-0 |
2023-09-01 | Skeletonization algorithms are used as basic methods to solve tracking problems, pose estimation, or predict animal group behavior. Traditional skeletonization techniques, based on image processing algorithms, are very sensitive to the shapes of the connected components in the initial segmented image, especially when these are low-resolution images. Currently, neural networks are an alternative providing more robust results in the presence of image-based noise. However, training a deep neural network requires a very large and balanced dataset, which is sometimes too expensive or impossible to obtain. This work proposes a new training method based on a custom-generated dataset with a synthetic image simulator. This training method was applied to different U-Net neural networks architectures to solve the problem of skeletonization using low-resolution images of multiple Caenorhabditis elegans contained in Petri dishes measuring 55 mm in diameter. These U-Net models had only been trained and validated with a synthetic image; however, they were successfully tested with a dataset of real images. All the U-Net models presented a good generalization of the real dataset, endorsing the proposed learning method, and also gave good skeletonization results in the presence of image-based noise. The best U-Net model presented a significant improvement of 3.32% with respect to previous work using traditional image processing techniques. | Skeletonizing Caenorhabditis elegans Based on U-Net Architectures Trained with a Multi-worm Low-Resolution Synthetic Dataset | 10.1007/s11263-023-01818-6 |
2023-09-01 | The impressive role of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is well identified for cancer therapy. However, safety concerns have been raised about the adverse effects of high-doses of chemically-synthesized-AgNPs that release many hazardous residues and in turn diminish the anticancer property of AgNPs. Hence, to overcome these side effects and to maintain the anticancer effectiveness of AgNPs at relatively low-doses, the present study utilizes a natural antitumor product Ferula asafoetida (FA) in the preparation of green synthesis of AgNPs and further focuses on its cytotoxic effects, against Lung and Cervical cancer cells. The successful green-synthesis of FA-AgNPs was confirmed via UV–Vis-spectroscopy, TEM, DLS, FTIR and IR. Based on cytotoxicity assay, the average low (6.25 µl) and high (25 µl) doses of FA-AgNPs were observed to cause severe cytotoxic effects on studied cancer cells. Furthermore, our study was also directed to check any possible antitumorigenic-modulatory-effects of low and high doses of FA-AgNPs on the expression of four oncogenes ( PIK3CA , KRAS , EGFR and ERBB3 ). In RT-qPCR analysis, the low and high doses of FA-AgNPs caused significant( p < 0.01) downregulation effects on the expression of PIK3CA and KRAS oncogenes, in treated-cancer cells. This is the first-report on the role of FA-AgNPs that induce strong cytotoxicity with its low-doses. | Low Dose of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles is Sufficient to Cause Strong Cytotoxicity via its Cytotoxic Efficiency and Modulatory Effects on the Expression of PIK3CA and KRAS Oncogenes, in Lung and Cervical Cancer Cells | 10.1007/s10876-022-02395-3 |
2023-09-01 | A complex of physicochemical methods determined the relationship between the non-monotonic concentration dependencies of the size, ζ-potential of the dispersed phase, surface tension, fluorescence intensity (λ ex = 230 nm, λ em = 340 nm) of diluted aqueous systems of malic acid (MA) and their effect on the population of green algae Chlorella vulgaris and root growth of wheat Triticum vulgare . It was shown that the non-toxic, selective effect of MA systems on plant organisms occurs in the range of calculated concentrations, at which the greatest changes in the parameters of the dispersed phase, the surface tension, and the fluorescence intensity of the systems are observed. | Self-organization, physicochemical, and biological properties of diluted aqueous systems of malic acid | 10.1007/s11172-023-4012-x |
2023-09-01 | Injecting external CO 2 into soft and low-permeability coal seams can improve CH 4 extacctinn efficiency, and also benefit in CO 2 sequestration. However, the distribution law of damage zone around borehole in soft coal seam and its effect on the efficiency of CO 2 injection promoted CH 4 extraction are not clear. In this paper, a multi-physics coupling mathematical model considering damage effect is established for simulating the process of CO 2 injection promoted CH 4 extraction in soft and low-permeability coal seam. The distribution of damage zone and permeability around boreholes under different diameters and coal strengths are analyzed. The gas pressure and gas content in coal seam during CO 2 injection promoted CH 4 extraction when the model considered damage effect are compared with that of ignored. The results show that small borehole diameter corresponds to narrow damage zone around the borehole in coal seam. The damage zone expands with the increase of the borehole diameter. The damage zone increases exponentially with the borehole diameter, while decreases exponentially with the compressive strength of coal seam. The highest permeability in the damage zone has increased by nearly 300 times under the condition of simulated case. CH 4 pressure around the extraction borehole reduces, and the reduction area expands with the increase of time. Compared with the result of considering the damage effect, the reduction area of ignoring it is smaller, and the reducing speed is slower. The integrated effect of CO 2 injection and CH 4 extraction leads to rapid decrease of CH 4 content in coal seam near the boreholes. The CO 2 pressure and content increase around the injection borehole, and the increasing area gradually extends to the whole coal seam. In soft coal seams, failure to consider the damage effect will underestimate the efficiency of CH 4 extraction and CO 2 sequestration, resulting conservative layout of boreholes. | Effect of damage zone around borehole on carbon dioxide injection promoted gas extraction in soft and low-permeability coal seam | 10.1007/s11707-022-1036-8 |
2023-09-01 | Low phosphorus (P) soils in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a major constraint for rice production. This study employed two methods, calcination and partial acidulation, to determine low-grade phosphate of rocks and evaluate the fertilization effects of calcinated and partially acidulated phosphate rocks (CPR and PAPR, respectively). A field experiment was conducted involving four farmers’ fields with different ground-water levels (GWLs) during 2019 and 2020 in the Centre West region of Burkina Faso. CPR, PAPR, and single superphosphate (SSP) were applied at the rates of 0, 7.6, 15.3, and 30.5 kg P ha −1 , with the SSP mainly consisting of the water-soluble P fraction (WP), PAPR of the WP, the alkaline ammonium citrate-soluble P fraction (SP), CPR of the SP, and a 2% citric acid-soluble P fraction. The average grain yield (mean ± standard deviation Mg ha –1 ) in P application at 0, 7.6, 15.3, and 30.5 kg P ha −1 was 1.64 ± 0.59, 2.87 ± 0.94, 3.33 ± 1.06, and 3.95 ± 1.18, respectively, which confirms the significant increase expected by P fertilization. On the contrary, significant positive relationships between GWL and grain yield were found in CPR and PAPR treatments at a low P application rate, but not in SSP treatments. These results suggest a positive effect of slow-release P in fields with high GWL. Therefore, GWL should be considered when selecting P fertilizer types to maximize the fertilization effect. Both CPR and PAPR can replace conventional high-cost P fertilizer. These findings contribute significantly to the efficient use of local P resources and addressing food shortages in SSA. | Effect of Slow-Release Phosphorus Components in Calcined and Acidulated Phosphate Rock Significantly Correlated with Ground-Water Levels in Lowland Rice Cultivation in Centre West Burkina Faso | 10.1007/s42106-023-00258-z |
2023-09-01 | Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) represents an atypical tumor composed of myofibroblasts with a variety of histological patterns and with a high tendency to local recurrence and a low probability of distant metastases. LGMS has predilection for the head and neck regions, especially the oral cavity. This study aimed to report 13 new cases of LGMS arising in the oral and maxillofacial region. This study included LGMS cases from five oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratories in four different countries (Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, and South Africa). Their clinical, radiographic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings were evaluated. In this current international case series, most patients were females with a mean age of 38.7 years, and commonly presenting a nodular lesion in maxilla. Microscopically, all cases showed a neoplasm formed by oval to spindle cells in a fibrous stroma with myxoid and dense areas, some atypical mitoses, and prominent nucleoli. The immunohistochemical panel showed positivity for smooth muscle actin (12 of 13 cases), HHF35 (2 of 4 cases), β-catenin (3 of 5 cases), desmin (3 of 11 cases), and Ki-67 (range from 5 to 50%). H-caldesmon was negative for all cases. The diagnosis of LGMS was confirmed in all cases. LGMS shows predominance in young adults, with a slight predilection for the female sex, and maxillary region. LGMS should be a differential diagnosis of myofibroblastic lesions that show a proliferation of spindle cells in a fibrous stroma with myxoid and dense areas and some atypical mitoses, supporting the diagnosis with a complementary immunohistochemical study. Complete surgical excision with clear margins is the treatment of choice. However, long-term follow-up information is required before definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the incidence of recurrence and the possibility of metastasis. | Low-Grade Myofibroblastic Sarcoma of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region: An International Clinicopathologic Study of 13 Cases and Literature Review | 10.1007/s12105-023-01577-3 |
2023-09-01 | Human papilloma virus (HPV infection) plays a important role in causing cervical cancer. Out of 184 different HPV genotypes, 40 diverse types only can cause anogenital infection. HPV present in >99% of cervical cancers with high risk types (16, 18) associated with cancer and Low risk types (6, 11) are associated with genital warts. Aim of the study is to determine the epidemiology of HPV infection in Indian women’s population. Three hundred and thirty four liquid based cytology (LBC) samples were collected across India from the different age groups of Indian women. Pap smear, PCR and gene sequencing tests were performed for the collected LBC samples. Low risk serotype 6 (16.7%) were detected compared to other high risk serotypes. Majority of positive cases were observed in the age group between 19 and 39 groups. Northern part of India contributes high (7.1%) in HPV infection compared to other regions of India. Reports from these studies covered few regions of India showing a wide range in the prevalence of HPV infection and serotype distribution due to diversified socio economic and geo climatic conditions. This study aims to identify the epidemiology of HPV in the Indian population and concludes that early and periodic screening of women for HPV can avoid the risk of cervical cancer at the early stage of infection. | Genotypic characterization of HPV serotypes in cervical samples from Indian women: a multi centric study | 10.1007/s13337-023-00838-7 |
2023-09-01 | A compact sized ingestible antenna is presented at 3.3 GHz for lower ultra-wide band (UWB) wireless capsule endoscope system, by taking the stomach part of human body model presence into consideration. The proposed novel design is based on microstrip feed model and consists of three unique strip lines at center, The tuning of strip lines length and gaps between them achieved the intended frequency band of operation. This unique design helped in reducing the size of the antenna significantly and can maintain the operational band in flexible condition which proves advantage while integrating the antenna inside the capsule. The dimension of the antenna excluding the superstrate are 5.4 mm × 7 mm × 0.36 mm. The size is compact enough to be placed in cap part of capsule to avoid overlapping and coupling losses with surrounding circuitry. Initially the ingestible antenna along with circuitry and capsule were designed and placed inside homogenous stomach box using Ansys HFSS tool for the analysis, later the capsule system is placed inside different parts of the realistic virtual human phantom model and the comparative analysis is presented using the reflection coefficient curves and specific absorption rate (SAR). The SAR analysis is carried as per the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over 1 g volume tissue, and it is 0.74 W/Kg for the proposed ingestible antenna for input power of 1 mW. The proposed antenna maintained its operational band with good impedance matching and S11 below − 10 dB making to robust and insensitive towards the variation of tissues dielectric properties in gastrointestinal tract (GI). The presented coupling strength analysis from endoscopy antenna to outside antenna proved its ability to communicate. The link budget analysis for the GI tissues proved that the margin between the actual link and the required strength is good for up to 5 m distance between the Tx and Rx antennas. Moreover, the fabricated model is measured under minced pork condition and compared analysis between the simulated and measured showed that proposed antenna-maintained impedance matching below − 10 dB in the operational band from almost 2.7 to 3.8 GHz showing significant agreement for without circuit case. The overall measured bandwidth is 1100 MHz, at operating frequency 3.3 GHz the measured return loss is − 18 dB. | Compacted conformal antenna at lower-UWB for wireless capsule endoscope system | 10.1007/s12652-022-04318-6 |
2023-09-01 | Burgeoning urbanization is a defining challenge for global carbon emissions mitigation in the coming decades. In this context, achieving low-carbon urbanization remains an urgent issue that demands prompt solutions. The coupling and decoupling relationships between urbanization and carbon emissions play an important role in the coordination of urbanization development and carbon emissions reduction, which has rarely been explored in existing studies, especially in China at the county level. To address this gap, the coupling and decoupling relationship between the urbanization level (UL) and carbon emissions density (CED) was explored using an improved coupling degree model and the Tapio decoupling method in China at the county level from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that the UL and CED of China both exhibited increasing trends, and the spatial distribution was quite similar, with the UL increasing from 0.018 in 2000 to 0.028 in 2020 and the CED increasing from 95.163 ton/km 2 in 2000 to 295.746 ton/km 2 in 2020. The spatial distribution of hotspots in the UL change differed with time, whereas that in the CED change was relatively stable. However, both of them were concentrated in eastern China. The coupling degrees of the UL and CED in China were 0.348, 0.355, 0.369, 0.370, and 0.338 in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, respectively, with the moderately unbalanced type (>35%) being dominant at the county level and mainly scattered in eastern China. The changes in the spatial distribution patterns of the 10 subcategories were quite limited, with the systematically balanced type being dominant (89%). The decoupling types of the UL and CED during 2000–2005, 2005–2010, and 2010–2015 were weak decoupling, while those in 2015–2020 were expansive negative decoupling. At the county level, the most significant transition occurred between expansive negative decoupling, strong decoupling, and strong negative decoupling. The proportion of strong decoupling type counties peaked in 2015–2020 (70.86%), whereas that of the strong negative decoupling type counties remained high (17.55%), scattering the country. These findings can advance policy enlightenment of low-carbon urbanization and green development for China against the backdrop of “30·60 dual carbon” goal. | Exploring the coupling and decoupling relationship of urbanization and carbon emissions in China | 10.1007/s11356-023-29111-6 |
2023-09-01 | Objective It has been reported that low-dose total body irradiation techniques can be applied to blood cancers such as leukemia. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of low-dose radiation-induced cell death via ferroptosis phenomenon in doxorubicin-sensitive leukemic K562 and resistant leukemic K562/Dox cancer cells. Method The cells were irradiated with X-rays at total doses of 0, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.1 Gy. The cell viability was determined at 48 h post-irradiation. Other biological endpoints related to ferroptosis included intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) that were determined at 5, 10, and 30 min post-irradiation. Also, intracellular iron, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined at 1, 4, and 24 h post-irradiation. Results The results showed that cell viability significantly decreased in irradiated cells when compared to non-irradiated cells. Intracellular ROS, intracellular iron, and lipid peroxidation increased in irradiated cells at all harvest time points compared to non-irradiated cells. GSH-Px decreased in irradiated cells at all harvest time points compared to non-irradiated cells. Conclusion These findings suggest that low-dose radiation can induce cell death in doxorubicin-sensitive leukemic K562 and resistant leukemic K562/Dox cancer cells through ferroptosis pathways. | Low-dose radiation-induced cell death in doxorubicin-sensitive leukemic K562 and resistant leukemic K562/Dox cancer cells associated with ferroptosis induction | 10.1007/s13530-023-00178-5 |
2023-09-01 | This paper concerns the application of the monotone iterative technique in conjunction with the lower and upper solution techniques to investigate the existence of mild solutions and their uniqueness for fractional impulsive differential systems of the Sobolev type with fractional order nonlocal conditions. To obtain the adequate requirements, noncompactness estimates and the generalized Gronwall inequality are utilized. | On mild solutions of fractional impulsive differential systems of Sobolev type with fractional nonlocal conditions | 10.1007/s40096-022-00469-x |
2023-08-31 | This paper presents the empirical correlations to predict the phase transition temperatures of CuAlMn based shape memory alloy thermal/heat switches. The correlations can precisely predict the start and finish phase transition temperatures of austenite and martensite lattice structures within the error range of ±18% at different Cu/Al and Cu/Mn compositions in CuAlMn shape memory alloy. Moreover, for the first time, contours on the effect of Cu/Al ratio on phase transition temperatures are analyzed in detail. It has been found that ‘Mn’ compassions in CuAlMn alloy play a critical role, and should be at the higher end of composition to achieve low-temperature actuation (<123 K), enhanced switching ratio, and overall performance improvement in shape memory alloy-based heat switches. The precise performance prediction of CuAlMn based shape memory alloy will be helpful in the design of effective mechanical heat switches for low-temperature space applications. | Development of empirical correlations for assessing the CuAlMn based shape memory alloy thermal switch phase transition temperatures | 10.1007/s12046-023-02248-3 |
2023-08-31 | The rapid development of artificial intelligence poses an urgent need for low-energy-consumption and small-sized artificial photonic synapses. Here, it is pretty novel to demonstrate a light-stimulated synaptic device based on a single (Al,Ga)N nanowire successfully. Thanks to the presence of vacancy defects in the single nanowire, the artificial synaptic device can simulate multiple functions of biological synapses under stimulation of both 310 and 365 nm light photons, including paired-pulse facilitation, spike timing dependent plasticity, and memory learning capabilities. The energy consumption of artificial synaptic device can be reduced as little as 5.58 × 10 −13 J, which is close to that of the biological synapse in human brain. Furthermore, the synaptic device is demonstrated to have the high stability for both long-time stimulation and long-time storage. Based on the experimental conductance of long-term potentiation and long-term depression, the simulated three-layer neural network can achieve a high recognition rate of 92% after only 10 training epochs. With a brain-like behavior, the single-nanowire-based synaptic devices can promote the development of visual neuromorphic computing technology and artificial intelligence systems requiring ultralow energy consumption. | Realize ultralow-energy-consumption photo-synaptic device based on a single (Al,Ga)N nanowire for neuromorphic computing | 10.1007/s12274-023-6069-0 |
2023-08-31 | There are various definitions of the concept of complexity in Quantum Field Theory as well as for finite quantum systems. For several of them there are conjectured holographic bulk duals. In this work we establish an entry in the AdS/CFT dictionary for one such class of complexity, namely Krylov or K-complexity. For this purpose we work in the double-scaled SYK model which is dual in a certain limit to JT gravity, a theory of gravity in AdS 2 . In particular, states on the boundary have a clear geometrical definition in the bulk. We use this result to show that Krylov complexity of the infinite-temperature thermofield double state on the boundary of AdS 2 has a precise bulk description in JT gravity, namely the length of the two-sided wormhole. We do this by showing that the Krylov basis elements, which are eigenstates of the Krylov complexity operator, are mapped to length eigenstates in the bulk theory by subjecting K-complexity to the bulk-boundary map identifying the bulk/boundary Hilbert spaces. Our result makes extensive use of chord diagram techniques and identifies the Krylov basis of the boundary quantum system with fixed chord number states building the bulk gravitational Hilbert space. | A bulk manifestation of Krylov complexity | 10.1007/JHEP08(2023)213 |
2023-08-31 | Pollution from vehicular emissions is a major cause of poor air quality observed in many urban and semi-urban towns and cities. As such, this study was conducted to assess air quality and the spatiotemporal distribution of vehicular and traffic-related pollutants in several air sheds of Lagos megacity, the economic nerve centre of Nigeria. A setup of low-cost air quality sensors comprising five (5) units was deployed between November 2018 and February 2019 within traffic corridors in the heart of the city. Diurnal variation of pollutants indicated that carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) peaked during the early hours of the day, total oxide (O x = NO 2 +O 3 ) peaked at mid-day while carbon monoxide (CO) had two distinct peaks which correspond to morning and evening rush hours. Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentration peaked during evening hours. Average concentrations are NO 2 (97.1 ± 9.7) ppb, O x (78.6 ± 27.2) ppb, CO 2 (450.1 ± 31.2) ppm, and CO (2285.63 ± 743.7) ppb. Average concentrations of pollutants were above thresholds set by the World Health Organization (WHO) except for NO 2 which was within the range permissible limits. The implication of this is that the atmosphere is polluted due to elevated concentrations of airborne pollutants, an indication which is of both health and environmental concern. The air quality index (AQI) indicates that the quality of ambient air varies from good to very unhealthy for O x , and unhealthy to very unhealthy for CO, while AQI for PM 2.5 and PM 10 showed hazardous at all the sampling locations except at UNILAG where it is unhealthy for the sensitive group. For all of the sampling sites, conditional bivariate probability function (CBPF) plots show a significant agreement with the location of known pollution sources. | Spatiotemporal distribution of pollutants and impact of local meteorology on source influence on pollutants’ level in a traffic air-shed in Lagos megacity, Nigeria | 10.1007/s10661-023-11757-x |
2023-08-31 | The tensile properties of the electroforming deposits with traditional high-concentration sulfate copper are poor, and its tensile strength is only approximately 180 MPa. To improve the mechanical and physical properties of electroforming copper, the influences of copper sulfate concentrations and current densities on the tensile properties of free beads-friction-assisted electroforming copper are investigated. In the experiment, low copper sulfate concentrations of 40, 80 and 120 g/L are selected, and ceramic beads are used to grind the surface of the cathode. The results show that when reducing the copper sulfate concentration or increasing the current density, the tensile strength and elongation ratio can be improved. The electroforming deposit of highest tensile property is obtained with copper sulfate concentration of 80 g/L and current density of 4 A/dm 2 , and the microhardness is 146.3 HV, the tensile strength is 308.5 MPa and the elongation ratio is 19.6%. Compared with the result of traditional high-concentration sulfate electroforming copper, the tensile strength increases by approximately 70%. Moreover, the fracture section appears dimple fracture, approving the electroforming copper is uniform and dense in microstructure. However, for 40 g/L ultra-low-concentration sulfate electroforming copper, the cathode limit current density is approximately 3 A/dm 2 , and when the current density increases to 4 A/dm 2 , the excessive current density increases the degree of concentration polarization. The hydrogen evolution is so serious that the electroforming deposit undergoes hydrogen embrittlement fracture, so the tensile properties decrease. The microhardness is 102.3 HV, the tensile strength is only 130.4 MPa and the elongation ratio is 6.1%. | Investigation of the Tensile Properties of Friction-Assisted Electroforming Copper with Free Beads | 10.1007/s11665-023-08634-6 |
2023-08-30 | The low-temperature (α-/β-/γ-/δ-MnO 2 /CeO 2 -Nanorod) catalysts have been synthesized using the hydrothermal method followed by wet-impregnation and anaylzed in the Inconel reactor for selective catalytic reduction of NO using NH 3 as a reducing agent. The catalysts were characterized by the Brunauer-Emmett characterized catalysts–Teller, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The characterization analysis of the catalysts revealed that the α-MnO 2 /CeO 2 -Nanorod has the highest specific surface area, surface Ce 3+ and Mn 4+ , and oxygen storage capacity among all the catalysts. The activity results exhibited that in the 50–450 °C temperature range, the α-MnO 2 /CeO 2 -Nanorod has the maximum NO conversion and N 2 selectivity. It showed the highest NO conversion (75%) and N 2 selectivity (86%) at 250 °C. As the amount of α-MnO 2 increased in the α-MnO 2 /CeO 2 -Nanorod catalyst, the NO conversion with N 2 selectivity exceeded 94.25% and 95%, respectively. Graphical Abstract | Effects of MnO2 Crystal Phases in MnO2/CeO2 Catalyst for NO Reduction by NH3-SCR | 10.1007/s10562-023-04438-4 |
2023-08-29 | The efficient conversion of low-grade acidic oils to biodiesel is still a great challenge due primarily to the presented free fatty acids (FFAs) and moisture that significantly activate the used catalysts . In this premise, the acidic aluminosilicates (AAS) were employed as catalyst supports for loading of molybdenum and zirconium metals to synthesize the solid acid catalysts of molybdenum and zirconium doped aluminosilicates (ZrMo-AAS). The so-synthesized composite catalysts were characterized by various physicochemical techniques, and their catalytic activities were evaluated for the efficient biodiesel production by using acidic soybean oils as feedstocks. Results revealed that the targeted solid catalysts featured dual Bronsted-Lewis acidic sites and mesoporous structure with the acidity of 719 μmol/g and surface area of 459.7 m 2 /g, displaying high catalytic performances for the concurrent transesterification of triglycerides and esterification of FFAs with 92.3% of oil conversion and full FFA conversion to biodiesel at a reaction temperature of 130 °C for 12 h with a methanol/oil molar ratio of 30. This solid catalyst had good water and FFA-resistance capacity even with water content to 1% and FFA content of 40%, and moreover could be easily recovered by filtration with a steady reusability with a slight attenuation in the activity after five time reuses, rendering it to have the potential of cost-effective production of biodiesel from the low-grade oils. | Improved Biodiesel Production from Soybean Oil Using Molybdenum-Zirconium Doped Aluminosilicates as Heterogeneous Catalysts | 10.1007/s12155-023-10662-y |
2023-08-29 | Objective To evaluate the effects of different warm-up methods on the acute effect of lower limb explosive strength with the help of a reticulated meta-analysis system and to track the optimal method. Methods R software combined with Stata software, version 13.0, was used to analyse the outcome metrics of the 35 included papers. Mean differences (MD) were pooled using a random effects model. Results 1) Static combined with dynamic stretching [MD = 1.80, 95% CI: (0.43, 3.20)] and dynamic stretching [MD = 1.60, 95% CI: (0.67, 2.60)] were significantly better than controls in terms of improving countermovement jump height (cm), and the effect of dynamic stretching was influenced by the duration of stretching (I 2 = 80.4%), study population (I 2 = 77.2%) and age (I 2 = 75.6%) as moderating variables, with the most significant effect size for dynamic stretching time of 7–10min. 2) Only dynamic stretching [MD = -0.08, 95% CI: (-0.15, -0.008)] was significantly better than the control group in terms of improving sprint time (s), while static stretching [MD = 0.07, 95% CI: (0.002, 0.13)] showed a significant, negative effect. 3) No results were available to demonstrate a significant difference between other methods, such as foam axis rolling, and the control group. Conclusion The results of this review indicate that static stretching reduced explosive performance, while the 2 warm-up methods, namely dynamic stretching and static combined with dynamic stretching, were able to significantly improve explosive performance, with dynamic stretching being the most stable and moderated by multiple variables and dynamic stretching for 7–10min producing the best explosive performance. In the future, high-quality studies should be added based on strict adherence to test specifications. | A systematic review and net meta-analysis of the effects of different warm-up methods on the acute effects of lower limb explosive strength | 10.1186/s13102-023-00703-6 |
2023-08-28 | Background Plastic materials have a significant impact on the entire environment. Very relevant ideas in different areas with the aim of enhancing these materials and making them effective in our daily lives. In this context, our work in this article by using plastic materials in the manufacture of hydrophobic membranes realized in our Laboratory LEEP Enig Gabes Tunisia, followed by various analyses. These membranes are made of a Recycled Low-Density Polyethylene polymer by means of the Thermal Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) method by using solvents such as Butyl Acetate, non-solvent Hexane with the addition of Alumina at different concentrations to increase porosity. Results Hydrophobic membranes are coupled to the vacuum still to test their performance. An analytical study by FTIR was done. Contact angle, pore size, porosity, mechanical test, bubble point pressure, AFM and SEM analysis. The results revealed that the addition of alumina had an important role in improving the structure, properties and therefore the performance of the membrane. Conclusions The membrane already prepared admits according to the analyzes tested a good porosity, hydrophobicity. | Novel composite membrane based on recycled low-density polyethylene-alumina used for vacuum membrane distillation | 10.1186/s42269-023-01103-z |
2023-08-26 | The increased energy demand and decreasing fossil resources have driven the research community to look into a sustainable, green process to meet the energy demands. India being one of the top producers of sugarcane derived sucrose, and conversion of surplus sucrose to value chemicals is always an advantage. 5%Ni-15%Ce/TiO 2 catalyst is found to produce high yield of 1,2-PDO (~ 74%) under very mild reaction condition of 180 °C, 30 bar H 2 for 3-h reaction time. The characterization of the catalyst by using various physicochemical methods indicates the synergy between Ni-Ce bimetal which enhances the selective production of glycol. The low temperature and pressure requirement and the advantage of being the one-pot process will always attract the future scope of commercialization. Graphical Abstract | One-pot catalytic conversion of sucrose to 1,2-propanediol over titania supported Ni-Ce metal catalyst under milder reaction conditions | 10.1007/s13399-023-04781-x |
2023-08-25 | In this study, we explored the feasibility of using the beaks of the African cuttlefish Sepia bertheloti for age estimation and growth analysis. The rostrum sagittal section (RSS) of the lower beak was the most suitable region in the species. It was applied in samples caught off Morocco and Guinea-Bissau between June 2018 and January 2020. A maximum life expectancy of around 14 months was observed (specifically 419 days for cuttlefishes from Morocco and 433 from Guinea-Bissau). The males presented greater longevity, as the maximum age of the females was between 9 and 11 months. Sepia bertheloti showed a negative allometric growth; however, the exponential model better describes each population growth. By sexes, the males of both locations followed an asymptotic growth model while the females exhibited a non-asymptotic growth. The growth rates were different between locations, with the highest values in Guinea-Bissau. The males, in turn, grew faster for both study locations. In Guinea-Bissau, these growth differences were influenced by the hatching season since individuals born between autumn and winter were the fastest-growing. Samples from Morocco did not show growth differences between the hatching season and other seasons. These results indicate that the RSS of lower beaks are suitable for estimating the age, growth pattern, and population structure of Sepia bertheloti . | Age, growth, and population structure of the African cuttlefish Sepia bertheloti based on beak microstructure | 10.1007/s00227-023-04272-7 |
2023-08-25 | Background Immunotoxins are antibody-toxin conjugates that bind to surface antigens and exert effective cytotoxic activity after internalization into tumor cells. Immunotoxins exhibit effective cytotoxicity and have been approved by the FDA to treat multiple hematological malignancies, such as hairy cell leukemia and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. However, most of the internalized immunotoxin is degraded in lysosomes, and only approximately 5% of free toxin escapes into the cytosol to exert cytotoxicity. Many studies have improved immunotoxins by engineering the toxin fragment to reduce immunogenicity or increase stability, but how the antibody fragment contributes to the activity of immunotoxins has not been well demonstrated. Methods In the current study, we used 32A9 and 42A1, two anti-GPC3 antibodies with similar antigen-binding capabilities and internalization rates, to construct scFv-mPE24 immunotoxins and evaluated their in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities. Next, the antigen-binding capacity, trafficking, intracellular protein stability and release of free toxin of 32A9 scFv-mPE24 and 42A1 scFv-mPE24 were compared to elucidate their different antitumor activities. Furthermore, we used a lysosome inhibitor to evaluate the degradation behavior of 32A9 scFv-mPE24 and 42A1 scFv-mPE24. Finally, the antigen-binding patterns of 32A9 and 42A1 were compared under neutral and acidic pH conditions. Results Although 32A9 and 42A1 had similar antigen binding capacities and internalization rates, 32A9 scFv-mPE24 had superior antitumor activity compared to 42A1 scFv-mPE24. We found that 32A9 scFv-mPE24 exhibited faster degradation and drove efficient free toxin release compared to 42A1 scFv-mPE24. These phenomena were determined by the different degradation behaviors of 32A9 scFv-mPE24 and 42A1 scFv-mPE24 in lysosomes. Moreover, 32A9 was sensitive to the low-pH environment, which made the 32A9 conjugate easily lose antigen binding and undergo degradation in lysosomes, and the free toxin was then efficiently produced to exert cytotoxicity, whereas 42A1 was resistant to the acidic environment, which kept the 42A1 conjugate relatively stable in lysosomes and delayed the release of free toxin. Conclusions These results showed that a low pH-sensitive antibody-based immunotoxin degraded faster in lysosomes, caused effective free toxin release, and led to improved cytotoxicity compared to an immunotoxin based on a normal antibody. Our findings suggested that a low pH-sensitive antibody might have an advantage in the design of immunotoxins and other lysosomal degradation-dependent antibody conjugate drugs. | Improving the cytotoxicity of immunotoxins by reducing the affinity of the antibody in acidic pH | 10.1186/s12967-023-04210-7 |
2023-08-24 | In recent years, low-temperature plasma-assisted processes, featuring high reaction efficiency and wide application scope, have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional methods for biomass valorization. It is well established that charged species, chemically energetic molecules and radicals, and highly active photons playing key roles during processing. This review presents the major applications of low-temperature plasma for biomass conversion in terms of (i) pretreatment of biomass, (ii) chemo fractionation of biomass into value-added chemicals, and (iii) synthesis of heterogeneous catalyst for further chemo-catalytic conversion. The pretreatment of biomass is the first and foremost step for biomass upgrading to facilitate raw biomass transformation, which reduces the crystallinity, purification, and delignification. The chemo-catalytic conversion of biomass involves primary reactions to various kinds of target products, such as hydrolysis, hydrogenation, retro-aldol condensation and so on. Finally, recent researches on plasma-assisted chemo-catalysis as well as heterogeneous catalysts fabricated via low-temperature plasma at relatively mild condition were introduced. These catalysts were reported with comparable performance for biomass conversion to other state-of-the-art catalysts prepared using conventional methods. Graphical Abstract | Recent progress of low-temperature plasma technology in biorefining process | 10.1186/s40580-023-00386-2 |
2023-08-24 | Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a condition associated with high morbidity and mortality, and glia-mediated inflammation is a major contributor to neurological deficits. However, there is currently no proven effective treatment for clinical ICH. Recently, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), a non-invasive method, has shown potential for neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects and potential mechanisms of LIPUS on glia-mediated inflammation in ICH. Methods This study used 289 mice to investigate the effects of LIPUS on ICH. ICH was induced by injecting bacterial collagenase (type VII-S; 0.0375 U) into the striatum of the mice. LIPUS was applied noninvasively for 3 days, including a 2-h-delayed intervention to mimic clinical usage. The study evaluated neurological function, histology, brain water content, hemoglobin content, MRI, and protein expression of neurotrophic factors, inflammatory molecules, and apoptosis. In vitro studies investigated glia-mediated inflammation by adding thrombin (10 U/mL) or conditioned media to primary and cell line cultures. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was used to confirm the effects of PI3K/Akt signaling after LIPUS treatment. Results LIPUS treatment improved neurological deficits and reduced tissue loss, edema, and neurodegeneration after ICH. The protective effects of LIPUS resulted from decreased glia-mediated inflammation by inhibiting PI3K/Akt-NF-κB signaling, which reduced cytokine expression and attenuated microglial activation-induced neuronal damage in vitro. Conclusions LIPUS treatment improved neurological outcomes and reduced glia-mediated inflammation by inhibiting PI3K/Akt-NF-κB signaling after ICH. LIPUS may provide a non-invasive potential management strategy for ICH. | Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound ameliorates glia-mediated inflammation and neuronal damage in experimental intracerebral hemorrhage conditions | 10.1186/s12967-023-04377-z |
2023-08-24 | Background Human rabies outbreak transmitted by bats continues to be a relevant public health problem not only in the Amazon region. The disease has affected one of the areas with the greatest poverty in southeastern Brazil, a region inhabited by the Maxakali indigenous people. Case presentation We describe four cases of rabies among indigenous children that occurred in the indigenous village of Pradinho, municipality of Bertópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Cases were notified between April and May 2022, all of whom died on average eight days after the first symptoms. All cases were observed in rural residents under 12 years of age. The probable form of exposure was through bat bites. The predominant symptoms were prostration, fever, dyspnea, sialorrhea, tachycardia, and altered level of consciousness. Half of the cases underwent late and/or incomplete post-exposure rabies prophylaxis, however, the other half underwent pre-exposure rabies prophylaxis, with only one case completing the scheme and another undergoing the adapted Milwaukee Protocol (Recife Protocol). All cases ended in death. Conclusions This was the first rabies outbreak among indigenous people in Brazil. Among the manifested clinical forms in the series, there was a disease atypical presentation in at least one case. We suggest active surveillance and an intercultural educational campaign to prevent new cases. Graphical abstract | Rabies outbreak in Brazil: first case series in children from an indigenous village | 10.1186/s40249-023-01130-y |
2023-08-23 | The detailed investigation of the microstructure evolution in the Al–3.4Si–0.6Mg–0.5Mn alloy, solution-treated at 530, 545, and 560 °C for 4 h, and its corresponding mechanical properties at the T6 heat-treated state, is presented in this study. It was found that the as-cast microstructure of the experimental alloys comprised α-Al, eutectic Si, π-Al 8 Mg 3 FeSi 6 (Mn), and α-Al 15 (Fe, Mn) 2 Si 3 intermetallics. Throughout the solution treatment, the dissolution of blocky π-Fe intermetallics transpired, accompanied by the spheroidization of eutectic Si and precipitation of Mn-enriched dispersoids. As the solution temperature increased, the dissolution of π-Fe intermetallics became more pronounced, leading to their gradual transformation into spherical α-Al 15 (Fe, Mn) 2 Si 3 intermetallics. The alloy subjected to T6 heat treatment, which had been solution-treated at 545 °C for 4 hours, effectively mitigated the deleterious effects of blocky π-Fe intermetallics and eutectic Si, resulting in a commendable elongation to fracture (7.4%). Furthermore, the precipitation kinetics of Mn-containing dispersoids in the Al–Si–Mg–Mn alloy were markedly influenced by the solution temperature. The elevating solution temperature bolstered the nucleation, growth, and coarsening of dispersoids. The increase in the precipitation of fine dispersoids augmented the resistance to dislocation movement during the strain process, thereby enhancing the yield strength of the alloy. | The Effect of Solution Temperature on Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of a Low-Silicon Cast Aluminum Alloy Containing Mn | 10.1007/s40962-023-01138-y |
2023-08-23 | The corrosion behavior of high-strength low-alloy 921A steel in a simulated marine atmospheric environment was studied using a high-throughput experimental method. The corrosion behavior, corrosion morphology, and corrosion products of 921A steels were analyzed using various techniques, including corrosion mass loss method, polarization curve, white-light interferometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, microbeam X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction technique, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The test results indicated that 921A steel exhibits better corrosion resistance than Q450NQR1 steel in simulated harsh atmospheric environments, as evidenced by a lower corrosion mass loss rate throughout the corrosion tests. The corrosion products of both steels consisted of α-FeOOH, Fe 3 O 4 , and γ-FeOOH, with α-FeOOH being more prevalent in the rust layer of 921A steel than in Q450NQR1 steel. The inner rust layer of 921A steel also exhibited an appositional enrichment region of Cr, Ni, Mo, and V, leading to its superior corrosion resistance compared to that of Q450NQR1 steel. The efficacy of high-throughput accelerated corrosion experimental methods was highlighted for evaluating the corrosion resistance of steel materials in harsh environmental conditions. The findings suggest that 921A steel exhibits better corrosion resistance compared to Q450NQR1 steel and has the potential to be more suitable in harsh marine atmospheric environments. The characterization of the rust layer structures and composition reveals the parallel enrichment of certain elements in the inner rust layer of 921A steel, which enhances its corrosion resistance. | Multi-performance evaluation of high-throughput accelerated corrosion test for high-strength low-alloy 921A steel | 10.1007/s42243-023-01058-5 |
2023-08-23 | Background Anlotinib has demonstrated encouraging clinical outcomes in the treatment of lung cancer, soft tissue sarcoma and thyroid carcinoma. Several clinical studies have shown a relationship between anlotinib treatment and the occurrence of hyperlipidemia. The fundamental mechanisms, however, are still largely unclear. Here, the effect of anlotinib on lipid metabolism in an animal model and human cancer cells was evaluated and the role of lipid metabolism in the antitumor efficacy of anlotinib was investigated. Methods The C57BL/6 J mouse model as well as A549 and H460 human lung cancer cell lines were used to examine the impact of anlotinib on lipid metabolism both in vivo and in vitro. Levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol in serum or cell samples were determined using assay kits. The expression levels of crucial genes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism were measured by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. Furthermore, exogenous LDL and knockdown of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) were used in H460 cells to investigate the relevance of lipid metabolism in the anticancer efficacy of anlotinib. Results Anlotinib caused hyperlipidemia in C57BL/6 J mice, possibly by downregulating hepatic LDLR-mediated uptake of LDL cholesterol. AMP-activated protein kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition may also be involved. Additionally, anlotinib enhanced sterol response element binding protein 1/2 nuclear accumulation as well as upregulated LDLR expression in A549 and H460 cells, which may be attributable to intracellular lipid accumulation. Knockdown of LDLR reduced intracellular cholesterol content, but interestingly, anlotinib significantly improved intracellular cholesterol accumulation in LDLR-knockdown cells. Both exogenous LDL and LDLR knockdown decreased the sensitivity of cells to anlotinib. Conclusions Anlotinib modulates host lipid metabolism through multiple pathways. Anlotinib also exerts a significant impact on lipid metabolism in cancer cells by regulating key transcription factors and metabolic enzymes. In addition, these findings suggest lipid metabolism is implicated in anlotinib sensitivity. | Anlotinib affects systemic lipid metabolism and induces lipid accumulation in human lung cancer cells | 10.1186/s12944-023-01907-y |
2023-08-22 | The environment in Antarctica is characterized by low temperature, intense UVB and few vegetation types. The Pohlia nutans M211 are bryophytes, which are the primary plants in Antarctica and can thrive well in the Antarctic harsh environment. The transcriptional profiling of Pohlia nutans M211 under low temperature and high UVB conditions was analyzed to explore their polar adaptation mechanism in the extreme Antarctic environment by third-generation sequencing and second-generation sequencing. In comparison to earlier second-generation sequencing techniques, a total of 43,101 non-redundant transcripts and 10,532 lncRNA transcripts were obtained, which were longer and more accurate. The analysis results of GO, KEGG, AS (alternative splicing), and WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis) of DEGs (differentially expressed genes), combined with the biochemical kits revealed that antioxidant, secondary metabolites pathways and photosynthesis were the key adaptive pathways for Pohlia nutans M211 to the Antarctic extreme environment. Furthermore, the low temperature and strong UVB are closely linked for the first time by the gene HY5 (hlongated hypocotyl 5) to form a protein interaction network through the PPI (protein–protein interaction networks) analysis method. The UVR8 module, photosynthetic module, secondary metabolites synthesis module, and temperature response module were the key components of the PPI network. In conclusion, this study will help to further explore the polar adaptation mechanism of Antarctic plants represented by bryophytes and to enrich the polar gene resources. | Extreme environmental adaptation mechanisms of Antarctic bryophytes are mainly the activation of antioxidants, secondary metabolites and photosynthetic pathways | 10.1186/s12870-023-04366-w |
2023-08-22 | Background Genital tract infections pose a public health concern. In many low-middle-income countries, symptom-based algorithms guide treatment decisions. Advantages notwithstanding, this strategy has important limitations. We aimed to determine the infections causing lower genital tract symptoms in women, evaluated the Kenyan syndromic treatment algorithm for vaginal discharge, and proposed an improved algorithm. Methods This cross-sectional study included symptomatic non-pregnant adult women presenting with lower genital tract symptoms at seven outpatient health facilities in Nairobi. Clinical, socio-demographic information and vaginal swabs microbiological tests were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to find predictive factors for the genital infections and used to develop an alternative vaginal discharge treatment algorithm (using 60% of the dataset). The other 40% of data was used to assess the performance of each algorithm compared to laboratory diagnosis. Results Of 813 women, 66% had an infection (vulvovaginal candidiasis 40%, bacterial vaginosis 17%, Neisseria gonorrhoea 14%, multiple infections 23%); 56% of women reported ≥ 3 lower genital tract symptoms episodes in the preceding 12 months. Vulvovaginal itch predicted vulvovaginal candidiasis (odds ratio (OR) 2.20, 95% CI 1.40–3.46); foul-smelling vaginal discharge predicted bacterial vaginosis (OR 3.63, 95% CI 2.17–6.07), and sexually transmitted infection ( Neisseria gonorrhoea, Trichomonas vaginalis , Chlamydia trachomatis , Mycoplasma genitalium ) (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.06–2.55). Additionally, lower abdominal pain (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.07–2.79) predicted sexually transmitted infection. Inappropriate treatment was 117% and 75% by the current and alternative algorithms respectively. Treatment specificity for bacterial vaginosis/ Trichomonas vaginalis was 27% and 82% by the current and alternative algorithms, respectively. Performance by other parameters was poor to moderate and comparable between the two algorithms. Conclusion Single and multiple genital infections are common among women presenting with lower genital tract symptoms at outpatient clinics in Nairobi. The conventional vaginal discharge treatment algorithm performed poorly, while the alternative algorithm achieved only modest improvement. For optimal care of vaginal discharge syndrome, we recommend the inclusion of point-of-care diagnostics in the flowcharts. | Evaluation and optimization of the syndromic management of female genital tract infections in Nairobi, Kenya | 10.1186/s12879-023-08442-2 |
2023-08-19 | In this paper, a highly sensitive surface plasmon resonance-based photonic crystal fiber sensor for low refractive index (RI) sensing and detection is proposed. To excite the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode, Au and TiO 2 were coated on the top and bottom of the sensor in the shape of notched rings. The utilization of TiO 2 has the potential to augment the interplay between the core and surface SPP modes, leading to an enhancement of the sensitivity of the sensor. The finite element method was applied for evaluating the sensor's performance. The attainment of optimal wavelength sensitivity of 21,500 nm/RIU and matching resolution of 4.65 × 10 –6 RIU was achieved through the refinement of structural parameters within the low RI detection range of 1.18–1.28. The findings of the study hold promise for potential applications in the fields of medical diagnostics and identification of low RI environments. | A high-sensitivity D-shaped photonic crystal fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor for low refractive index detection | 10.1007/s12596-023-01358-9 |
2023-08-19 | Wastewater with low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio is a challenging problem for denitrification. Agricultural wastes as carbon sources to enhance low C/N wastewater have attracted much attention due to the high carbon release characteristics. In order to study the effect of pretreatment on carbon release performance of corncobs, the physical and chemical properties, carbon release performance and denitrification potential (DP) of corncobs after pretreatment were investigated, and the denitrification performance of alkali pretreated corncobs was tested in MBBR. The SEM showed the corncob’s smooth surface was destroyed, causing cellulose and hemicellulose to be exposed for microorganisms. Acid treatment reduced the hemicellulose content by 15.2%, alkali treatment increased the cellulose content by 18.58%, and reduced lignin by 9.55%. Infrared spectroscopy explained that the reason of the increase of cellulose content in corncobs was that alkali pretreatment destroyed the hydrogen and ester bonds between cellulose and lignin. Corncob’s carbon release capacity significantly improved after pretreatment. The cumulative COD release of corncobs with acid and alkali pretreatment increased by 30.93% and 46.41%, respectively. Alkali pretreated corncobs were added to the MBBR, the removal rates of TN, NH 4 + -N, and NO 3 − -N were stable at 92%, 96%, and 89%, respectively after 11 days of start-up period. These results indicated that the alkali pretreated corncobs enhanced nitrogen removal performance effectively for low C/N ratio wastewater. | Effect of Pretreatment on Carbon Release Performance of Corncobs as a Solid Carbon Source | 10.1007/s11270-023-06564-6 |
2023-08-18 | High-pressure low-temperature rocks from Svalbard are an excellent target for studying metamorphic reactions in Phanerozoic subduction zones. This study reveals the presence of monazite in an eclogite and a blueschist from the Vestgötabreen Complex, southwestern Svalbard. In order to investigate the monazite-forming reaction, we obtained pressure–temperature estimates coupled with U–Pb and Lu–Hf dating. Combined geothermobarometry allows to constrain three evolutionary stages of garnet growth in the eclogite: nucleation (1.6 ± 0.3 GPa at 460 ± 60 °C), peak-pressure (2.3 ± 0.3 GPa at 507 ± 60 °C), and peak-temperature (2.1 ± 0.3 GPa at 553 ± 60 °C). A zircon age of 482 ± 10 Ma is interpreted to belong to the prograde part of the pressure–temperature path. Monazite forms inclusions within garnet rims, or it is surrounded by allanite and apatite, altogether forming pseudomorphs of a tabular shape in the matrix. Textures, geothermobarometry and geochronology support the conclusion the monazite formed under high-pressure conditions at 471 ± 6 Ma. We propose that the monazite crystallization in the eclogite happened due to a decomposition of accessory phases during the decompression after peak-pressure of the metamorphic cycle. Monazite in the blueschist occurs as inclusions in garnet cores and gives an indicative age of 486 ± 6 Ma, which is interpreted to reflect the prograde growth of the garnet. Lu–Hf garnet dating resolves an age of peak-pressure metamorphism in the blueschist at 471.1 ± 4 Ma under conditions of 2.0 ± 0.03 GPa and 500 ± 30 °C. The Vestgötabreen Complex provides evidence for an early Ordovician modern-style subduction system in the proximity of the Baltica margin. Hence, this study also supports the tectonic models that favour a mixed Baltican and Laurentian provenance of south-western Svalbard. | Monazite in the eclogite and blueschist of the Svalbard Caledonides: its origin and forming-reactions | 10.1007/s00410-023-02045-5 |
2023-08-17 | Development of suitable hole transport materials is vital for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to diminish the energy barrier and minimize the potential loss. Here, a low-cost hole transport molecule named SFX-POCCF3 (23.72 $/g) is designed with a spiro[fluorene-9,9'-xanthene] (SFX) core and terminated by trifluoroethoxy units. Benefiting from the suitable energy level, high hole mobility, and better charge extraction and transport, the PSCs based on SFX-POCCF3 exhibit improved open-circuit voltage by 0.02 V, therefore, the PSC device based on SFX-POCCF3 exhibits a champion PCE of 21.48%, which is comparable with the control device of Spiro-OMeTAD (21.39%). More importantly, the SFX-POCCF3 based PSC possesses outstanding light stability, which retains 95% of the initial efficiency after about 1,000 h continuous light soaking, which is in accordance with the result continuous output at maximum power point. Whereas, Spiro-OMeTAD witnesses a rapid decrease to 80% of its original efficiency after 100 h light soaking. This work demonstrated that an efficient alignment of energy levels between HTL and perovskite will lead to significant highly efficient PSCs with remarkably enhanced light stability. | Improving the light stability of perovskite solar cell with new hole transport material based on spiro[fluorene-9,9′-xanthene] | 10.1007/s43979-023-00061-9 |
2023-08-17 | Background One of the drawbacks of lower-limb prostheses is that they do not provide explicit somatosensory feedback to their users. Electrotactile stimulation is an attractive technology to restore such feedback because it enables compact solutions with multiple stimulation points. This allows stimulating a larger skin area to provide more information concurrently and modulate parameters spatially as well as in amplitude. However, for effective use, electrotactile stimulation needs to be calibrated and it would be convenient to perform this procedure while the subject is seated. However, amplitude and spatial perception can be affected by motion and/or physical coupling between the residual limb and the socket. In the present study, we therefore evaluated and compared the psychometric properties of multichannel electrotactile stimulation applied to the thigh/residual limb during sitting versus walking. Methods The comprehensive assessment included the measurement of the sensation and discomfort thresholds (ST & DT), just noticeable difference (JND), number of distinct intervals (NDI), two-point discrimination threshold (2PD), and spatial discrimination performance (SD). The experiment involved 11 able-bodied participants (4 females and 7 males; 29.2 ± 3.8 years), 3 participants with transtibial amputation, and 3 participants with transfemoral amputation. Results In able-bodied participants, the results were consistent for all the measured parameters, and they indicated that both amplitude and spatial perception became worse during walking. More specifically, ST and DT increased significantly during walking vs. sitting (2.90 ± 0.82 mA vs. 2.00 ± 0.52 mA; p < 0.001 for ST and 7.74 ± 0.84 mA vs. 7.21 ± 1.30 mA; p < 0.05 for DT) and likewise for the JND (22.47 ± 12.21% vs. 11.82 ± 5.07%; p < 0.01), while the NDI became lower (6.46 ± 3.47 vs. 11.27 ± 5.18 intervals; p < 0.01). Regarding spatial perception, 2PD was higher during walking (69.78 ± 17.66 mm vs. 57.85 ± 14.87 mm; p < 0.001), while the performance of SD was significantly lower (56.70 ± 10.02% vs. 64.55 ± 9.44%; p < 0.01). For participants with lower-limb amputation, the ST, DT, and performance in the SD assessment followed the trends observed in the able-bodied population. The results for 2PD and JND were however different and subject-specific. Conclusion The conducted evaluation demonstrates that electrotactile feedback should be calibrated in the conditions in which it will be used (e.g., during walking). The calibration during sitting, while more convenient, might lead to an overly optimistic (or in some cases pessimistic) estimate of sensitivity. In addition, the results underline that calibration is particularly important in people affected by lower-limb loss to capture the substantial variability in the conditions of the residual limb and prosthesis setup. These insights are important for the implementation of artificial sensory feedback in lower-limb prosthetics applications. | The impact of walking on the perception of multichannel electrotactile stimulation in individuals with lower-limb amputation and able-bodied participants | 10.1186/s12984-023-01234-4 |
2023-08-16 | Conventional MgO–C bricks (graphite content > 14 wt.%) produce a great deal of greenhouse gas emission, while low-carbon MgO–C bricks have serious thermal shock resistance during high-temperature service. To enhance the high-temperature mechanical property and thermal shock resistance of low-carbon MgO–C bricks, a novel route of introducing ZrSiO 4 powder into low-carbon MgO–C bricks was reported in such refractories with 2 wt.% flaky graphite. The results indicate that the low-carbon MgO–C brick with 0.5 wt.% ZrSiO 4 addition has the maximum hot modulus of rupture at 1400 °C and the corresponding specimen fired in the carbon embedded atmosphere has the maximum residual strength ratio (98.6%) after three thermal shock cycles. It is found that some needle-like AlON and plate-like Al 2 O 3 –ZrO 2 composites were in situ formed in the matrices after the low-carbon MgO–C bricks were coked at 1400 °C, which can enhance the high-temperature mechanical property and thermal shock resistance due to the effect of fiber toughening and particle toughening. Moreover, CO 2 emission of the newly developed low-carbon MgO–C bricks is reduced by 58.3% per ton steel after using them as the working lining of a 90 t vacuum oxygen decarburization ladle. | A novel route to enhance high-temperature mechanical property and thermal shock resistance of low-carbon MgO–C bricks by introducing ZrSiO4 | 10.1007/s42243-023-01063-8 |
2023-08-16 | Previous studies have demonstrated the remarkable resistance of bdelloid rotifers to ionizing radiation, making them an interesting model system for studying radiation effects on living organisms. In this study, we use simulations, instead of direct experimental exposures, to examine whether all bdelloids are affected equally by radiation exposure and to explore the relationship between biological data and energy deposition patterns induced by low and high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation. To this end, tool for particle simulation (TOPAS) a simulation tool, widely used in the field of medical physics and radiation therapy, was utilized. Using simulations for proton, iron ions, and X-ray exposure, our findings showed that all individuals, cells, and nuclei were effectively hit by the administered doses of 4 MeV protons, 0.5 GeV/n 56 Fe, and X-ray radiation. The results support that the impact on survival and fertility rate measured in Adineta vaga is caused by radiation-induced damage rather than the absence of hits in certain individuals or germinal cells. Notably, simulations revealed significant differences between low- and high-LET radiation concerning irradiated individuals' nuclei. Specifically, for an equivalent dose, high-LET radiation requires fewer incident particles compared to low-LET radiation, resulting in a sparser distribution of radiation hits on the nucleus surface. In conclusion, the study supports the idea that reduced fertility described in high-LET exposed samples is associated with complex DNA damage caused by the condensed energy deposition pattern of high-LET radiation compared to low-LET. | Adineta vaga under fire: simulating the impact of radiation | 10.1007/s10750-023-05324-1 |
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