Here, density functional theory (DFT) simulations and experimental studies were conducted to explore the effect and mechanism of an external electric field (EF) on the decolorization efficiency and degradation rate of malachite green (MG) in water by hydroxyl radicals generated in the discharge plasma process. The simulation results indicated that the external EF had a significant impact on the degradation rate. Under the action of the EF along the reaction axis direction, the free energy barrier of the reaction decreased and the reaction rate increased. As the EF strength increased from 0 to 0.002 a.u., the free energy barrier of reaction 1 decreased from 9.164 kcal/mol to 7.097 kcal/mol, and the reaction rate increased from 1.499 × 106 s−1M−1 to 4.764 × 107 s−1M−1; the free energy barrier of reaction 2 decreased from 2.318 kcal/mol to −1.262 kcal/mol, and the reaction rate increased from 1.313 × 1011 s−1M−1 to 5.457 × 1013 s−1M−1; the free energy barrier of reaction 3 decreased from 7.755 kcal/mol to 7.011 kcal/mol, and the reaction rate increased from 1.764 × 107 s−1 to 6.242 × 107 s−1. Under the action of the EF in the opposite direction along the reaction axis, the opposite effect was presented. In addition, we analyzed the surface electrostatic potential, dipole moment, condensed Fukui function and spin density under different-strength EFs to explore the mechanism of the influence of the external EF on the reaction and further clarified the feasibility of an external EF promoting the degradation of MG in water by hydroxyl radicals. The experimental study results showed that EF can promote the degradation of MG under a discharge plasma process. This is consistent with the trend of the results obtained from DFT simulations under the action of a positive EF with higher electric field intensity, verifying the feasibility of the method of EF-assisted discharge plasma degradation. In addition, we experimentally explored the changes in the decolorization efficiency of MG under different initial conditions.

The development of multifunctional biomaterials for bone repair requires precursors that combine bioactivity, moderate antimicrobial growth-inhibitory effect, and imaging. This study demonstrates the multifunctional versatility of a single family of rare-earth-doped β-tricalcium phosphates (β-TCPs), Ca9Eu(PO4)7 and Ca9Dy(PO4)7, across three distinct formats: bioactive thin films (for implant coatings), brushite cements (for injectable bone fillers), and radiopaque PMMA bone composites (for load-bearing applications). This work serves as a proof-of-concept that the same doped phosphate precursors can address different clinical needs while retaining bioactivity, antimicrobial properties, and radiopacity. The phosphate precursors were synthesized via solid-state reaction. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) was used to form amorphous, dense, and crack-free coatings, which exhibited excellent in vitro bioactivity through the rapid dissolution–reprecipitation of a carbonated apatite layer in simulated body fluid. The brushite-based bone cements were produced from doped β-TCPs. These cements demonstrated high cytocompatibility with mesenchymal stromal cells (>89% viability) and significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation with antimicrobial activity against common pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa). Furthermore, incorporation of these phosphates as fillers into PMMA bone cement resulted in a homogeneous particle distribution with reduced agglomeration compared to undoped β-TCPs, achieving clinically relevant radiopacity values (913 ± 22.4 HU for Dy-doped sample). Post-mortem studies by the CT method were performed on the vertebrae with PMMA–phosphate composites and brushite cements. It was shown that brushite cement in ovine lumbar vertebrae defects exhibited the highest radiopacity (1450–1550 ± 25 HU). The findings establish rare-earth-doped β-TCP as a unified multifunctional precursor that imparts bioactivity, the ability to support in vitro mineralization, antimicrobial properties, and enhanced radiopacity to thin films, phosphate cements, and polymer composite materials.

Based on the rectifying conduction principle of the Tesla valve, a self-pumping hydrodynamic mechanical seal with Tesla valve-shaped face grooves was proposed, and its corresponding computational model was established. Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the effects of the Tesla valve diversion angle and valve clearance on the sealing performance of the proposed structure. Taking the leakage rate and liquid film stiffness as the target performance indices, a predictive model was developed by combining uniform experimental design with multiple regression analysis. Subsequently, the NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) genetic algorithm was employed for bi-objective optimization to obtain the Pareto-optimal solution set, and the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method was further applied to identify the optimal combination of structural parameters under specified weighting coefficients. The results indicate that the leakage rate is not significantly affected by variations in the diversion angle or valve clearance, whereas the liquid film stiffness increases with increasing diversion angle and decreases with increasing valve clearance. Multi-objective optimization successfully identified an optimal parameter combination that improves the overall sealing performance of the proposed structure. This study provides a novel perspective and theoretical basis for innovation in face structure and for the performance optimization of self-pumping mechanical seals.

Durable concrete has emerged as a key material strategy for enhancing the performance and extending the service life of infrastructure in chloride-containing environments, owing to its resistance to chloride ingress and corrosion-induced deterioration. This paper presents a systematic review of recent advances in durable concrete, establishing a comprehensive technical framework encompassing material design, transport mechanisms, and lifecycle durability management. Research demonstrates that supplementary cementitious materials, corrosion inhibitors, and non-metallic reinforcements significantly mitigate chloride penetration and corrosion while improving durability performance in various structures, including marine, coastal, and transportation infrastructures. The effectiveness of these approaches is fundamentally attributed to pore structure refinement, electrochemical regulation, and the elimination of corrosion-prone components. However, transitioning durability technologies from “effective” to “reliable and designable” still faces critical challenges: the mechanisms of multi-factor coupling under complex environments remain unclear, transport models under non-steady conditions require further development, and inconsistencies persist among international durability design codes. Accordingly, this paper highlights that future research should focus on developing multi-scale coupled models, refining environmental classification and prediction methods, integrating intelligent sensing technologies, and establishing unified lifecycle-based design frameworks. These advancements are essential to promote durable concrete from material-level optimization toward system-level, intelligent durability design, thereby supporting the development of sustainable infrastructure.

Subgrade collapse threatens coastal infrastructure under harsh environments, where deterioration accelerates deformation and failure risk. Accurate prediction is essential, yet traditional monitoring suffers from low informatization and delayed response. Thus, this paper presents a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based intelligent perception-driven method for subgrade collapse deformation prediction to improve the level of intelligence in subgrade collapse monitoring and prediction. Firstly, a hierarchical prediction framework is established based on subgrade deformation monitoring scenarios, consisting of an intelligent perception layer, a collapse deformation prediction layer, and a functional application layer, with the functions of each layer systematically defined. Secondly, two key technologies involved in the proposed framework, including MEMS data cleaning and time-series feature extraction, as well as the deformation prediction model, are identified and corresponding solutions are developed. Finally, a linear sliding rail experiment and a subgrade collapse model test are conducted to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The results indicated that effective MEMS data cleaning was achieved through Leave-One-Out Encoding (LOOE) encoding, missing value imputation, and normalization. Accurate time-series feature representation was obtained by combining seismic parameter extraction with a sliding window strategy. The improved the improved Long Short-Term Memory–Back Propagation (LSTM-BP) model model achieved accurate prediction of collapse displacement, with an accuracy of 95.56%. The proposed MEMS-based intelligent perception method accurately captured the evolution trend and spatial heterogeneity of subgrade collapse deformation, and the results can be used to support and guide early warning of subgrade collapse, providing technical support for the safety and durability management of coastal and offshore infrastructure under harsh environmental conditions.

Four groups of Ti-based amorphous composites with a nominal composition of Ti48Zr27Cu6Be14TM5 (at.%, TM = Ta, Nb, V and Co) were prepared and investigated. They were studied to explore the effect of transition metal elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-based amorphous composites. The results reveal that V and Nb are predominantly distributed within the crystalline phase, while Ta exhibits no obvious elemental segregation behavior. In contrast, Co is predominantly concentrated within the amorphous matrix. These alloying elements exert a remarkable influence on the mechanical properties, including strength, plasticity and hardness. The Co-doped specimen achieved the highest yield strength and compressive strength, reaching 1942 MPa and 1977 MPa, respectively. Meanwhile, its crystalline and amorphous phases achieved maximum hardness of 566.9 HV0.005 and 451.8 HV0.005, respectively. However, it delivered the lowest plasticity, with the plastic strain nearly approaching zero. The Nb-containing specimen achieved the highest plasticity, with a percent elongation of 6.3%. Furthermore, the strength of amorphous composites is strongly correlated with the characteristics of both the crystalline phase and the amorphous matrix. Their plasticity is predominantly governed by the stress concentration factor of the crystalline phase. This study demonstrates that synergistic regulation of characteristics pertaining to the crystalline phase and amorphous matrix serves as a promising strategy to simultaneously enhance the strength and plasticity of amorphous composites.

Microfluidic technologies are increasingly used as upstream structuring tools in the development of edible films and coatings. This review examines how flow-focusing, T-junction, co-flow, step-emulsification, and related microfluidic platforms generate emulsions, double emulsions, hydrogel microparticles, and multicompartment carriers that are relevant to coating design. Rather than treating microfluidics as an end in itself, the review evaluates how microfluidically generated structures influence carrier protection, matrix compatibility, controlled release, and the final functionality of edible films and coatings. Particular attention is paid to whether carrier architecture survives matrix incorporation, deposition, drying, and end use, because these downstream steps determine whether structural advantages translate into barrier, mechanical, optical, and preservation-related performance. The review also discusses the principal factors that currently limit industrial implementation, including throughput, fouling, sanitation, thermoplastic manufacturing, bonding, and integration into hygienic food-processing environments. Overall, microfluidics offers a highly controlled route for mechanism-oriented formulation development, but its practical value for edible coatings depends on whether this structural control can be translated into robust, scalable, and food-compliant manufacturing routes.

CuO thin layers were synthesized using the sol–gel method and deposited onto glass substrates through the dip-coating technique. The impact of annealing temperatures on the structural, optical, and electrical characteristics of the developed CuO thin layers was comprehensively assessed through X-ray diffraction, UV–visible spectrophotometry, and four-point techniques, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of CuO thin layers with a distinctive monoclinic tenorite phase structure. The UV–visible spectrophotometer results demonstrated a decrease in transmittance from approximately 30% to about 7% as the annealing temperature increased from 200 °C to 400 °C. The semiconducting properties exhibited temperature-dependent variations, with the band gap narrowing from 1.70 to 1.48 eV as the temperature increased from 200 to 400 °C. Additionally, the electrical conductivity of the CuO layers exhibited a significant increase from 48 to 61 S.m−1 over the same temperature range. Collectively, the findings suggest that an annealing temperature of 400 °C is optimal for achieving well-crystallized CuO layers with desirable characteristics, including high absorbance, low transmittance, a reduced energy band gap, and enhanced electrical conductivity. These results underscore our ability to manipulate CuO properties, offering insights for tailoring them to meet specific requirements, particularly in the context of gas sensor applications.

A three-factor, four-level orthogonal design was employed to optimize the overall forming quality of powder bed fusion with a laser beam (PBF-LB)-fabricated TC4 alloy containing 0.3 wt.% YH2. Sixteen process-parameter combinations were established, and two specimens were fabricated for each combination. Laser power, scanning speed, and hatch spacing were selected as the investigated variables. Relative density, surface roughness, and Vickers hardness were evaluated using the entropy weight method combined with the weighted-sum method. On this basis, the microstructure of the specimens produced under the optimal process parameters was systematically characterized. The results showed that the influence of the investigated factors on overall forming quality followed the order: hatch spacing > laser power > scanning speed. The optimal process parameters were a laser power of 200 W, a scanning speed of 1100 mm/s, and a hatch spacing of 0.10 mm, under which the specimens exhibited superior overall forming quality. The addition of 0.3 wt.% YH2 did not significantly alter the dominant phase constitution of the alloy, but promoted α′ martensite refinement and weakened the texture through the in situ formation of Y2O3 nano-oxide particles.

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum sp. isolate XCC1, is a major postharvest disease causing significant quality deterioration and economic losses in ‘Cat Chu’ mango during storage. This study evaluated the effectiveness of sodium alginate–carboxymethyl cellulose (SA-CMC) coating with natamycin for controlling anthracnose and maintaining postharvest fruit quality. Mango fruits were treated with the SA-CMC-Natamycin coating and stored under controlled conditions (25 ± 2 °C; RH = 60 ± 5%) to assess disease development, plant defense enzyme activities, and fruit quality attributes. Natamycin inhibited spore germination of Colletotrichum sp. isolate XCC1 with a Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 6.25 µg mL−1. The SA-CMC-Natamycin coating significantly reduced anthracnose development, resulting in a three-fold decrease in disease incidence and a 3.86-fold reduction in disease severity compared with the control on day 9 of storage. However, the persistence of the treatment was limited since no significant disease incidence reduction was observed after 15 days. The treatment also enhanced chitinase (CHI) and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU) activities and increased phenolic compound accumulation. In addition, the coating delayed fruit ripening by maintaining firmness, titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, and chlorophyll while suppressing increases in color change and total soluble solids (TSS). These results demonstrate that SA-CMC-Natamycin coating is a promising eco-friendly strategy for controlling anthracnose and preserving postharvest quality of ‘Cat Chu’ mango.