Enhancement Of Cohesion Research Articles

Research on the Value and Path of Family Art Education-Take Vocal Music Education as an Example

By discussing the application of vocal music education in family art education, this paper reveals the value and diversified implementation path of family art education. Family art education not only helps to improve children's cognitive, emotional and social skills, but also promotes the improvement of parent-child relationship through art forms. On the basis of relevant research at home and abroad, taking vocal music education as an example, we analyze the unique role of family art education and propose a feasible implementation path. The research believes that family art education can cultivate children's artistic literacy, innovation ability, self-confidence and social skills, contribute to the enhancement of family cohesion, and also provide theoretical and practical guidance for the promotion of art education in the family environment.

Europe vs Hong Kong partnership agreements: reversing trends

The comparison between EU cohesion policies on public works as a common good and Hong Kong’s policies on public-private participation to preserve and revitalise architectural heritage highlights cultural and operational differences. While Europe often adopts an inclusive approach, involving the communities mainly in the valorisation of public spaces, Hong Kong implements models more focused on public-private partnership to preserve the public real estate. Thus, the adaptive reuse of public works at the two different scales transforms public works into catalysts of prosperity for the community by preserving historical memory, but has a different impact on shared value generation, social cohesion enhancement, sustainable development promotion, and collective identity valorisation. The contribution analyses the two models (centrifugal and centripetal), focusing on objectives and implementation tools.

Mechanochemical Upcycling of Waste Polypropylene into Warm-Mix Modifier for Asphalt Pavement Incorporating Recycled Concrete Aggregates.

To solve the problems on resource utilization and environmental pollution of waste concrete and waste polypropylene (PP) plastics, the recycling of them into asphalt pavement is a feasible approach. Considering the high melting temperature of waste PP, this study adopted a thermal-and-mechanochemical method to convert waste PP into high-performance warm-mix asphalt modifiers (PPMs) through the hybrid use of dicumyl peroxide (DCP), maleic anhydride (MAH), and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) for preparing an asphalt mixture (RCAAM) containing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). For the prepared RCAAM containing PPMs, the mixing temperature was about 30 °C lower than that of the hot-mix RCAAM containing untreated PP. Further, the high-temperature property, low-temperature crack resistance, moisture-induced damage resistance, and fatigue resistance of the RCAAM were characterized. The results indicated that the maximum flexural strain of the RCAAM increased by 7.8~21.4% after using PPMs, while the sectional fractures of the asphalt binder were reduced after damaging at low temperature. The use of ESO in PPMs can promote the cohesion enhancement of the asphalt binder and also improve the high-temperature deformation resistance and fatigue performance of the RCAAM. Notably, the warm-mix epoxidized PPMA mixture worked better close to the hot-mix untreated PPMA mixture, even after the mixing temperature was reduced by 30 °C.

EMBRACING DIVERSITY: THE ROLE OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION IN MITIGATING ETHNIC CONFLICT & FOSTERING UNITY IN PAKISTAN

This paper aims to analyze and synthesize whether multicultural education can serve as a means of easing the ethnic conflict and cultural diversity in Pakistan. The ethnic diversity of nations, languages, and cultures has been a strength and, simultaneously, a weakness due to conflicts. This study submits that it is possible to coordinate multicultural education in schools and make it important tool for improving understanding amid different communities. This paper relies on the review of current policies concerning the education systems and proposals drawn from case studies of multicultural societies to provide an understanding of the way forward for Pakistan in responding to the multicultural realities in its education systems that how incorporating multicultural perspectives into the curriculum can help students appreciate different cultures and reduce biases. According to studies, minimization of conflict amid different forms of identities is possible by adopting presented cultural-structural model, that may boost positive attitude toward multiple Pakistani identities and promote the enhancement of the social cohesion in the country.

Training Military Units in Social Connection: A Quasi-Experimental Randomized Trial

In the military, team cohesion and communication are essential. The present study examined the impact of training in social connection on loneliness, cohesion, communication, and connection-promoting behaviors. U.S. Army platoons were assigned to receive Team Cohesion and Organizational Readiness Enhancement (TeamCORE) training (n = 118; k = 11) or training-as-usual (n = 135; k = 15). TeamCORE consisted of 2.5 h of training for unit members and 1 h of training for platoon leadership teams. TeamCORE trainees completed a baseline survey, post-training survey, and two-month follow-up survey. Training-as-usual completed a baseline survey and two-month follow-up survey. Measures assessed loneliness, cohesion, team communication, connection-promoting behaviors, and shared mealtime. While there was substantial attrition between the baseline and follow-up survey, more than 80% of team members and leaders gave TeamCORE training high acceptability ratings. Multilevel models revealed significant time-by-condition interactions on 1 of 10 cohesion items, 1 of 11 team communication items, 2 out of 12 connection-promoting behaviors and 1 of 2 shared mealtime items; no significant time-by-condition interaction was found for loneliness. For each significant interaction, higher levels of improvement or sustainment were observed in the TeamCORE condition relative to training-as-usual. There were no comparisons in which the training-as-usual condition changed more positively than the TeamCORE condition. TeamCORE resulted in selected improvements in cohesion, communication, connection-promoting behaviors, and shared mealtime. While quite modest, findings demonstrated that brief, scalable training can demonstrate high levels of acceptability and slightly shift some attitudes, potentially improving the team’s capacity for social connection over time.

Study on Shear Characteristics of Herbs Plant Root–Soil Composite System in Beiluhe Permafrost Regions under Freeze–Thaw Cycles, Qinghai–Tibet Highway, China

In order to study the root–soil composite system shear characteristics under the action of freeze–thaw cycles in the permafrost regions along the Qinghai–Tibet Highway (QTH) from the Beiluhe–Tuotuohe (B-T) section, the slopes in the permafrost regions along the QTH from the B-T section were selected as the object of the study. The direct shear test of root–soil composite systems under different amounts of freeze–thaw (F-T) cycles and gray correlations were used to analyze the correlation between the number of F-T cycles, water content, root content, and the soil shear strength index. The results show that the cohesion of the soil in the area after F-T cycles exhibits a significant stepwise decrease with an increase in F-T cycles, which can be divided into three stages: the instantaneous stage (a decrease of 46.73–56.42%), the gradual stage (a decrease of 14.80–25.55%), and the stabilization stage (a decrease of 0.61–2.99%). The internal friction angle did not exhibit a regular change. The root–soil composite system showed significant enhancement of soil cohesion compared with soil without roots, with a root content of 0.03 g/cm3 having the most significant effect on soil cohesion (increasing amplitude 65.20–16.82%). With an increase in the number of the F-T cycles, while the water content is greater than 15.0%, the greater the water content of the soil, the smaller its cohesion becomes. Through gray correlation analysis, it was found that the correlation between the number of F-T cycles, water content, root content, and soil cohesion after F-T cycles were 0.63, 0.72, and 0.66, respectively, indicating that water content had the most significant impact on soil cohesion after F-T cycles. The results of this study provide theoretical support for further understanding the variation law of the shear strength of root–soil composite systems in permafrost regions under F-T cycles and the influencing factors of plant roots to enhance soil shear strength under F-T cycles, as well as for the scientific and effective prevention and control of retrogressive thaw slump in the study area, the QTH stretches across the region.

The value and implementation path of smart media technology application in the cultural heritage of ethnic traditional sports

This study analyses the value of embedding smart media technology in the protection and inheritance of traditional Chinese national sports culture, explores the logical relationship between smart media technology and traditional sports culture inheritance, and proposes innovative development paths based on the basic principles and development trends in an attempt to provide useful references for the living inheritance and sustainable development of traditional Chinese national sports culture. The rational use of smart media technology can effectively drive the high-quality development of various fields. The application of smart media technology in the inheritance and development of traditional ethnic sports culture is expected to reflect the diversified values, based on which it is important to point out that the implementation path of the new smart media technology to accelerate the promotion of traditional ethnic sports culture is of great significance in practical development. This study uses the PDCA cycle theory to establish a research idea based on the main line of “value analysis-proposed path-path evaluation-continuous optimization”, whereby the smart media technology drives the innovation of the development situation, and pushes the dissemination of Chinese traditional national sports culture into the smart media era. It is found that the integration of the two helps to innovate the way of cultural inheritance, is conducive to better excavation and collation of the essence of excellent traditional sports culture, and can better promote diversified development. It is conducive to promoting the sustainable development of the traditional sports culture industry. It is conducive to the promotion of national cultural exchanges, exchanges, intermingling and the enhancement of national cohesion, and helps to effectively excavate and reasonably use the deep value of smart media technology; it should be based on the needs of development and innovative communication and development of smart sports culture mode. The development of traditional sports short video platform, the construction of intelligent traditional sports into the campus system, the construction of a diversified system of communication mode; from the “traditional inheritance mode” to the “intelligent leadership”, the integration of content, innovative inheritance mode. From “cultural inheritance” to “resource sharing”, precise positioning and integration of resources. Eventually, a system will be formed that is led by intelligent innovation, optimizes the mode, improves the content, and strengthens the evaluation and feedback.

First-principles study of Re-W interactions and their effects on the mechanical properties of γ/γ′ interface in Ni-based single-crystal alloys

The distribution of solutes and their interactions play a crucial role in determining the mechanical properties of the γ/γ′ interface in Ni-based single-crystal alloys. In this study, atomic interactions between Re and W and their alloying effects on the inter-phase cohesion of the γ/γ′ interface are investigated by first-principles calculations. Our results show that W atom exhibits a preference for partitioning into the γ phase, while the stability of the γ/γ′ interface can be enhanced due to the partitioning of W to the γ′ phase. Moreover, our results reveal that partitioned W atoms in the γ′ phase contribute to the strengthening of the γ/γ′ interface. Conversely, the dissolution of W atoms in the γ phase weakens the inter-phase cohesion. However, this detrimental effect can be mitigated by introducing of Re into the γ/γ′ interface. Partitioning of Re and W into separate phases yields minimal alterations in interaction energies, resulting in a notable enhancement of inter-phase cohesion when compared to the partitioning of Re and W within γ phase of the γ/γ′ interface. Additionally, the partitioning of solute atoms at the γ/γ′ interface leads to local lattice distortion and interfacial energy reduction, which contribute to the enhancement of inter-phase cohesion of the γ/γ′ interface. As a result, a model is proposed for interpretation of crack propagation at the γ/γ′ interface at the threshold region with the presence of tensile stress in Ni-based single-crystal alloys.

Peptide/glycyrrhizic acid supramolecular polymer: An emerging medical adhesive for dural sealing and repairing

Medical adhesives have emerged as potential materials for sealing, hemostasis and wound repairing in modern clinical surgery. However, most of existing medical adhesives are still far away from the clinical requirements for simultaneously meeting desirable tissue adhesion, safety, biodegradability, anti-swelling property, and convenient operability. Here, we present an entirely new kind of peptide-based underwater adhesives, which are constructed via cross-linked supramolecular copolymerization between cationic short peptides and glycyrrhizic acid (GA) in an aqueous solution. We revealed the unique molecular mechanism of the peptide/GA supramolecular polymers and underlined the importance of arginine residues in the enhancement of the bulk cohesion of the peptide/GA adhesive. We thus concluded a design guideline that the peptide sequence has to be encoded with multiple arginine termini and hydrophobic residues. The resulting adhesives exhibited effective tissue adhesion, robust cohesion, low cell cytotoxicity, acceptable hemocompatibility, inappreciable inflammation response, appropriate biodegradability, and excellent anti-swelling property. More attractively, the dried peptide/GA powder was able to rapidly self-gel into adhesives by absorbing water, suggesting conveniently clinical operability. Animal experiments showed that the peptide/GA supramolecular polymers could be utilized as reliable medical adhesives for dural sealing and repairing.

Strategies for Enhanced Cohesion and Performance: Lessons from Military Training and Team Building

This paper delves into the realm of military training and team building to glean valuable lessons applicable too enhancing team cohesion and performance within business context. Through a comprehensive literature review complimented by personal observations, we explore the methodologies employed by the military institutions to foster cohesion and optimize team performance. Drawing parallels between military strategies and business operations, we identify key insights that can be seamlessly integrated into corporate environments. The findings in this study underscore the significance of cohesive teamwork in achieving organizational objectives. From structured training programs to strategic leadership initiatives, the military offers a plethora of lessons for businesses seeking to cultivate high-performing teams. We highlight the importance of shared purpose, effective communication, and adaptive leadership as foundational elements for fostering cohesion and driving success. Furthermore, this research not only elucidates the theoretical frameworks underpinning military strategies but also offers practical applications for businesses at various stages of development. Whether in the formulation strategic plans or the implementation of operational tactics, the principles derived from military training are invaluable assets for navigating complex business landscapes. Overall, the insights gleaned from military practice offer a holistic approach to team cohesion and performance enhancement, providing actionable strategies for businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape of competition and innovation.

Multi-crosslinked hydrogels with strong wet adhesion, self-healing, antibacterial property, reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, and on-demand removability for seawater-immersed wound healing.

In general, seawater-immersed wounds are associated with tissue necrosis, infection, prolonged healing period, and high mortality because of high salinity, hyperosmosis, and the presence of various pathogenic bacteria in seawater. However, current wound dressings can hardly achieve strong and stable wet adhesion and antibacterial properties, thus limiting their application to seawater-immersed wounds. Here a multifunctional hydrogel (OD/EPL@Fe) comprising catechol-modified oxidized hyaluronic acid (OD), ε-poly-L-lysine (EPL), and Fe3+ was prepared primarily through Schiff-base reaction, metal chelation, cation-π, and electrostatic interaction. The hydrogel with high wet adhesion (about 78 kPa) was achieved by combining the mussel-inspired strategy, dehydration effect, and cohesion enhancement, which is higher than that of commercial fibrin glues and cyanoacrylate glues. Meanwhile, the hydrogel can eliminate Marine bacteria (V. vulnificus and P. aeruginosa) and inhibit their biofilm formation. In addition, the hydrogel demonstrated injectability, self-healing, reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, photothermal effect, seawater isolation, on-demand removal, and hemostatic properties. In vivo results showed that the hydrogel had good adhesion to dynamic wounds in a rat neck full-thickness skin wound model. In particular, the hydrogel exhibited antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in a rat seawater-immersed infected wound model and accelerated the reconstruction of skin structure and functions. The results demonstrated that the OD/EPL@Fe would be a potential wound dressing for seawater-immersed wound healing. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A multifunctional OD/EPL@Fe hydrogel has been prepared for the treatment of seawater-immersed wounds. The hydrogel with high wet adhesion was achieved by combining the mussel-inspired strategy, dehydration effect, and cohesion enhancement. The results revealed that the wet adhesion value of hydrogel was about eight times greater than commercial fibrin glues and 1.5 times greater than commercial cyanoacrylate glues. The hydrogel can be easily removed after being sprayed with deferoxamine mesylate. Notably, the inherent antimicrobial material of the hydrogel combined with the photothermal effect can eliminate marine bacteria and inhibit their biofilm formation. Moreover, the hydrogel can accelerate the healing of seawater-immersed infected wound on mice.

Adhesive Composite Hydrogel Patch for Sustained Transdermal Drug Delivery To Treat Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Continuous administration of steroids often causes undesired side effects; hence, drug delivery systems with high loading capacities and sustained release profiles are required. Herein, adhesive hydrogels for sustained transdermal delivery of dexamethasone (DEX), a potent corticosteroid, have been suggested for AD treatment. The adhesive composite hydrogels comprise a double network of polyacrylamide (PAM) and polydopamine (PDA) embedded with extra-large-pore mesoporous silica nanoparticles (XL-MSNs). The intrinsic skin adhesiveness of the dopamine-derived PAM/PDA hydrogels is further enhanced by XL-MSN incorporation that contributes to the simultaneous enhancement of cohesion and adhesion of the hydrogel. The resulting adhesive hydrogels exhibit a high water content and strong adhesion to porcine skin. A sustained release of DEX is obtained when DEX is loaded within the pores of XL-MSNs in PAM/PDA hydrogels compared to the rapid release from the direct loading of DEX in hydrogels. Application of DEX-loaded MSN@PAM/PDA hydrogels on an AD mouse model led to the significant suppression of AD symptoms, including the restoration of the thickened epidermal layer, decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration in the skin, recovery of collagen deposition, and decreased levels of immunoglobulin E. XL-MSN-embedded adhesive hydrogels could be a potential platform for topical drug delivery to treat inflammatory skin diseases.

Suppression of Chromosome Instability Limits Acquired Drug Resistance.

Numerical chromosome instability, or nCIN, defined as the high frequency of whole chromosome gains and losses, is prevalent in many solid tumors. nCIN has been shown to promote intratumor heterogeneity and corresponds with tumor aggressiveness, drug resistance, and tumor relapse. Although increased nCIN has been shown to promote the acquisition of genomic changes responsible for drug resistance, the potential to modulate nCIN in a therapeutic manner has not been well explored. Here we assess the role of nCIN in the acquisition of drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. We show that the generation of whole chromosome segregation errors in non-small cell lung cancer cells is sensitive to manipulation of microtubule dynamics and that enhancement of chromosome cohesion strongly suppresses nCIN and reduces intratumor heterogeneity. We demonstrate that suppression of nCIN has no impact on non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation in vitro nor in tumor initiation in mouse xenograft models. However, suppression of nCIN alters the timing and molecular mechanisms that drive acquired drug resistance. These findings suggest mechanisms to suppress nCIN may serve as effective cotherapies to limit tumor evolution and sustain drug response.

Effects of Ca2+ →Mg2+ substitution on the properties of cementitious tobermorite

Using density-functional-theory calculations we assess the effects of the isovalent ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{Mg}}^{2+}$ substitutions on the mineral structure of tobermorite, a major analog of the main hydrated cement phase, calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH). From the structural point of view, due to its smaller ionic radius, Mg substitution leads to an overall decrease of the lattice parameters for the 9 \AA{} (dry) and 11 \AA{} (hydrated) tobermorite structures used in the study. Furthermore, Mg doping at intralayer sites leads to a considerable distortion of the unit cell due to a changing oxygen coordination number. With the increasing amount of Mg doping, chemical bond analysis shows an overall increase in the bond strength with the crystal cohesion enhancement. In addition, Mg sites in the dry and hydrated tobermorite are characterized by an enhanced reactivity, which may be useful in capturing $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. With regard to the elastic properties, Mg doping leads to an overall stiffening of the elastic moduli. However, depending on the particular site, Mg doping may give rise to an increased elastic anisotropy. Overall, the present results indicate that Mg-based tobermorite structures may be useful prospects in the search for alternative components toward the development of high-performance, environmentally friendly cementitious materials.

Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles with a Cohesion Enhancer for Robust Flexible Electrodes.

The development of conductive inks is required to enable additive manufacturing of electronic components and devices. A gold nanoparticle (AuNP) ink is of particular interest due to its high electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. However, a printed AuNP film suffers from thermally induced microcracks and pores that lead to the poor integrity of a printed electronic component and electrical failure under external mechanical deformation, hence limiting its application for flexible electronics. Here, we employ a multifunctional thiol as a cohesion enhancer in the AuNP ink to prevent the formation of microcracks and pores by mediating the cohesion of AuNPs via strong interaction between the thiol groups and the gold surface. The inkjet-printed AuNP electrode exhibits an electrical conductivity of 3.0 × 106 S/m and stable electrical properties under repeated cycles (>1000) of mechanical deformation even for a single printed layer and in a salt-rich phosphate-buffered saline solution, offering exciting potential for applications in flexible and 3D electronics as well as in bioelectronics and healthcare devices.

Can multiple pathways link urban residential greenspace to subjective well-being among middle-aged and older Chinese adults?

In recent years, there is a growing interest in the benefits of green spaces on individuals’ subjective well-being in developed countries; however, few studies have examined the underlying mechanisms for these benefits and differentiated the cognitive from the emotional component of subjective well-being, especially in the rapidly urbanizing and ageing China. This study aims to disentangle bio-socio-behavioural pathways linking greenery surrounding residential spaces to subjective well-being among middle-aged and older adults in eight Chinese cities using data from the World Health Organisation’s Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (WHO-SAGE). We employ multilevel structural equation modelling to estimate the mediating roles of physical activity, air pollution, and neighbourhood social cohesion in the relationships between residential greenery and the tripartite components of subjective well-being (life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect). Results indicate that residential greenery is positively associated with life satisfaction and is not significantly directly related to either positive or negative affect. Results further suggest that middle-aged and older adults living in greener neighbourhoods experience a higher level of life satisfaction due to the enhancement of neighbourhood social cohesion and the mitigation of air pollution, but not the encouragement of physical activity; however, alleviating air pollution enhances their life satisfaction through encouraging physical activity and facilitating social cohesion in serial mediation. Our findings provide a deeper insight into the salutogenic effect of urban green space for middle-aged and older adults and can aid the development of guidelines for enabling ageing in place through land-use planning and landscape architecture.

Ceramide NPs derived from natural oils of Korean traditional plants enhance skin barrier functions and stimulate expressions of genes for epidermal homeostasis.

New ceramide (CER) NPs were prepared by linking fatty acids derived from oils of Korean traditional plants to phytosphingosine (PHS). The oils of Korean traditional plants were extracted from the seeds of Panax ginseng, Camellia sinensis, Glycine max napjakong, Glycine max seoritae, and Camellia japonica as sources of diverse fatty acids. The aim of this study was to investigate signaling bioactivities of HP-C.sinensis ceramide NP that was column purified to remove any residual PHS and to evaluate the skin barrier functions of the HP-C. sinensis ceramide NP in human skin. The expressions of genes related to epidermal differentiation were analyzed in vitro by qPCR. Human studies were also performed to determine the skin barrier functions with respect to TEWL and SC cohesion. The HP-C. sinensis CER NP significantly enhanced the expressions of FLG, CASP14, and INV indicates that the signaling biological activities of oil-derived ceramide NPs could be different depend on the natural oils. The control ceramide, C18-CER NP, had no effect on the expression of the three genes. HP-C. sinensis CER NP was selected for the in vivo human studies. Application of 0.5% HP-C. sinensis CER NP cream stimulated significantly faster recovery of a disrupted skin barrier than that of the control C18-CER NP. A significant enhancement of SC cohesion of the skin treated with 0.5% HP-C. sinensis CER NP was also observed. Taken all together, our results clearly demonstrate that HP-C. sinensis CER NP, P. ginseng CER NP, and other oil-derived CER NP could be a better choice for developing moisturizers to improve skin barrier function as they more closely mimic the endogenous CER composition of the actual human skin barrier.

Multi-crosslinking hydrogels with robust bio-adhesion and pro-coagulant activity for first-aid hemostasis and infected wound healing

Bio-adhesive polysaccharide-based hydrogels have attracted much attention in first-aid hemostasis and wound healing for excellent biocompatibility, antibacterial property and pro-healing bioactivity. Yet, the inadequate mechanical properties and bio-adhesion limit their applications. Herein, based on dynamic covalent bonds, photo-triggered covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds, multifunctional bio-adhesive hydrogels comprising modified carboxymethyl chitosan, modified sodium alginate and tannic acid are developed. Multi-crosslinking strategy endows hydrogels with improved strength and flexibility simultaneously. Owing to cohesion enhancement strategy and self-healing ability, considerable bio-adhesion is presented by the hydrogel with a maximal adhesion strength of 162.6 kPa, 12.3-fold that of commercial fibrin glue. Based on bio-adhesion and pro-coagulant activity (e.g., the stimulative aggregation and adhesion of erythrocytes and platelets), the hydrogel reveals superior hemostatic performance in rabbit liver injury model with blood loss of 0.32 g, only 54.2% of that in fibrin glue. The healing efficiency of hydrogel for infected wounds is markedly better than commercial EGF Gel and Ag+ Gel due to the enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Through the multi-crosslinking strategy, the hydrogels show enhanced mechanical properties, fabulous bio-adhesion, superior hemostatic performance and promoting healing ability, thereby have an appealing application value for the first-aid hemostasis and infected wound healing.

The cohesive behavior of granular solids at high temperature in solar energy storage

Solar technology has shown a keen interest in thermochemical storage to extend its operational timespan beyond a daily basis. Thermochemical solutions are operated by fine powders. Unlike regular granular media, fine powders become cohesive. However, despite the paramount importance of controlling powder flowability to integrate these solutions in solar technology, little research has focused on how powder cohesiveness shapes the flow regime through the storage circuit. This paper investigates two critical factors governing the granular flow through the storage route: temperature and consolidation. The experimental setup emulates the transition powders undergo from silos to reactors. Powders were consolidated before being fluidized at a given temperature, ranging from ambient to 500 °C. Tensile yield strength was then measured for different powders. The results exhibit the expected rising trend in the tensile yield strength of powders as temperature increases. But, interestingly, tensile yield strength skyrocketed when powders were subjected to higher consolidations. Backed by theoretical estimations based on mechanical models, the analysis unveils a cross effect between temperature and consolidation. A combined action that reinforces cohesion by promoting a plastic deformation; worsening, thus, powder flowability. In conclusion, consolidation introduces a multiplying effect on the powder cohesiveness as temperature increases, which represents a serious caveat to solar energy storage technology. To mitigate potential flowability issues, this work explores the use of nanoparticles of silica to layer limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO3) particles. The nanosilica coatings turned out to be a very promising solution to preclude the enhancement of cohesion induced at high temperatures. Coated samples showed powder cohesiveness at high temperatures similar to the values obtained at room temperature. A solution that offers a simple and reliable alternative to smooth the flow regime in solid-based energy storage technologies at production environments.

Sustainable Development and the Practice of Spatial Planning: A Proposal of Criteria for Measuring the Overall Sustainability of Planning Actions in Open Public Urban Spaces

The sustainable city debate is gaining ground in recent years, featuring as a prominent issue in several policy documents of the European Commission, and enjoying support by the main organisations and institutions at international level. At the same time, improving local governance standards by involving citizens in local decision-making is a recurring issue in the debate on local democracy and enhancement of community cohesion. This paper presents an analysis of the European experience and best practice relating sustainable development to the day-to-day practice of spatial planning. The overall purpose is creating a proposal of indicators for measuring the sustainability of planning actions in urban environments.