Liquid-liquid phase separation-driven coacervate-derived hydrogels and their biological applications.

• Systematically integrates four core sensing mechanisms with cutting-edge material innovations (2019–2025) : For the first time, it categorizes piezoelectric, piezoresistive, triboelectric, and capacitive tactile sensors by their physicochemical principles, constructing a "material-mechanism-performance" roadmap. This framework incorporates landmark advances such as Liu et al.’s (2024) hierarchical structural design for wide-range detection, Kang et al.’s (2024) wireless integrated e-skin, and a 2025 PVDF-based hybrid piezoelectric-triboelectric platform with 200% enhanced output, addressing the fragmentation gap in existing reviews. • Critical evaluation of state-of-the-art multimodal signal decoupling strategies: Targeting the long-standing crosstalk bottleneck, it dissects two validated solutions with 2022–2025 evidence: signal decoupling (e.g., Yin et al.’s graphene-based temperature-pressure separation) and structural optimization (e.g., Xie et al.’s 2024 triboelectric-capacitive static/dynamic pressure array). It further benchmarks Yang et al.’s (2025) interference-free dual-mode sensing against emerging architectures like 2024 leather-based printed sensor arrays, providing actionable design guidelines. • Bridges e-skin and human-computer interaction (HCI) to reveal the "multimodal system" paradigm shift: Breaking disciplinary silos, it positions multifunctional tactile sensors as the "perceptual core" linking Song et al.’s (2023) collagen organogel e-skin for health monitoring and Yang et al.’s (2024) triboelectric-optical hybrid sensors for immersive HCI. This integration aligns with 2024 dual-modal e-skin for bidirectional human-robot interaction and 2025 AI-driven tactile perception systems, highlighting the field’s move beyond single-function devices. • Identifies three urgent unresolved challenges grounded in 54 recent studies: Based on critical analysis of 2019–2025 literature, it pinpoints persistent bottlenecks: unaddressed signal interference despite Yang et al.’s (2025) advances, lack of human-like pain perception in e-skins, and nascent AI-tactile integration. These insights resonate with 2025 breakthroughs like Tactile-Diffusion Policies for robotic manipulation and super-resolution sensor arrays enabled by deep learning, guiding targeted future research. In recent years, traditional unimodal sensing mechanisms have exhibited significant limitations, making it difficult to meet the growing demand for composite signal acquisition. Consequently, an increasing number of scholars have dedicated themselves to the research of multifunctional tactile sensors. Characterized by high sensitivity, a wide-range detection capability, rapid dynamic response, and excellent repeatability, multifunctional tactile sensors have evolved into a critical interface in robot-environment interaction processes. Application fields such as electronic skin systems and human-machine interaction interfaces are becoming focal points of academic attention. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of multifunctional tactile sensors in the field, focusing on the material properties, device design, and performance differences of different sensing mechanisms such as piezoelectric, piezoresistive, triboelectric, and capacitive. Through horizontal comparison, the study reveals the comparative advantages and trade-offs of these sensors in various application scenarios. It also systematically elaborates on their specific applications in electronic skin construction, health monitoring, and human-machine interaction scenarios. Finally, it summarizes the core challenges currently faced by multifunctional tactile sensors in terms of signal crosstalk, environmental stability, and integration process, and envisions future directions for breaking through bottlenecks by integrating interdisciplinary approaches such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials, and novel architectures. In recent years, traditional single sensing mechanisms have exhibited significant limitations, making it difficult to meet the growing demand for composite signal acquisition. Consequently, an increasing number of scholars have dedicated themselves to the research of multifunctional tactile sensors. Characterized by high sensitivity characteristics, wide-range detection capability, rapid dynamic response, and excellent repeatability, multifunctional tactile sensors have evolved into a critical mediating carrier in robot-environment interaction processes. Application fields such as electronic skin systems and human-machine interaction interfaces are becoming focal points of academic attention. This paper systematically reviews the research progress and significant achievements of multifunctional tactile sensors in recent years. Based on their current shortcomings, their future development paths and application potential in electronic skin construction and human-machine interaction technology are elucidated.

Systemic review of commonly used hyperuricemia models: From bench to preclinical studies.

• Six bio-based composites studied with hemp, flax, and miscanthus shives. • Combined effects of biomass type and low-carbon binders (NPC, CL90-S) analyzed. • Hemp–NPC composite showed highest strength (0.81 MPa) and low thermal conductivity (λ = 0.12 W/m.K). • Flax–lime/cement blend achieved best vapor permeability (7.44 × 10⁻¹⁴ kg/m.s.Pa). • Miscanthus–lime/cement composite retained 70% of its strength after freeze–thaw cycles. • Life cycle analysis showed 70–130 kg CO₂/m³ reduction in carbon footprint. Bio-based insulation materials offer a promising solution for reducing building carbon footprints, but their mechanical and durability limitations hinder large-scale adoption. This study evaluates six composite materials made from hemp, flax, and miscanthus shives combined with low-carbon binders: natural prompt cement (NPC) and a hybrid binder in which 50% of NPC is substituted by air lime (CL90-S). A multi-scale characterization was conducted, covering physical, thermal, mechanical, hygrothermal, freeze-thaw durability, and life cycle performance. Results show that hemp’s stiffness combined with NPC reactivity enhances mechanical strength, flax’s fiber morphology improves vapor permeability, and miscanthus’ low hygroscopicity boosts freeze-thaw durability. Among the composites made exclusively of NPC (C100), hemp exhibited the highest compressive strength (0.81 ± 0.04 MPa), followed by miscanthus (0.19 ± 0.03 MPa) and flax (0.10 ± 0.02 MPa). In contrast, with the hybrid binder, the order remained the same, but the values differed: hemp reached 0.37 ± 0.034 MPa, followed by miscanthus (0.32 ± 0.04 MPa) and flax (0.17 ± 0.037 MPa). Flax-based composites had the highest vapor permeability (7.44 × 10⁻¹⁴ kg/m·s·Pa), while miscanthus maintained the best freeze-thaw resistance, retaining 70% of its strength after cycles. The simplified life cycle assessment shows that the net carbon footprint of NPC-based formulations is between 95 and 130 kg CO₂/m³, while substituting 50% of the NPC with CL90-S reduces it to a range of between 70 and 105 kg CO₂/m³.These findings underscore the critical role of biomass-binder interactions in optimizing bio-based composites for low-carbon construction applications.

The performance and design of reinforced concrete, also known as slender beams are explained in the current study by a number of international codes. Slender beams are essential in modern construction because they preserve structural integrity while allowing for efficient material use. This research conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of shear design provisions for slender reinforced concrete beams across major international standards, including ECP, ACI, Eurocode, CSA, BS, and JSCE. The innovation lies in systematically identifying differences and commonalities in methodologies related to shear capacity determination, minimum reinforcement requirements, and serviceability criteria. By addressing the current gap of exhaustive analyses needed to standardize criteria and resolve methodological discrepancies, the work aims to enhance the reliability, effectiveness, and uniformity of global shear design processes for slender beams. This comparative approach is intended to assist engineers and academics in making more informed design decisions, thereby improving the efficiency, structural integrity, and safety of slender beam applications in modern construction. In summary, the novel contribution is the exhaustive and systematic comparison of various international design codes concerning slender RC beam shear design. Identification of inconsistencies and variations that affect structural security and design efficiency. Providing insights that could aid in harmonization and standardization of shear design provisions worldwide. Offering recommendations towards achieving more consistent, safe, and economical slender beam designs in contemporary construction.

Currently, sustainable and environmentally friendly building materials are in high demand in the construction sector, driving the development of new cement-based composites to address significant material shortages in certain regions. Among the proposed alternatives is the incorporation of natural and renewable resources into concrete and mortar. In this context, the present study focuses on enhancing the thermal and acoustic performance of sand concrete, which is typically lightweight and durable, by incorporating natural Alfa fibers and wood shavings, while maintaining acceptable mechanical properties. Ordinary Portland cement, natural sand, treated Alfa fibers and wood shavings were used to produce several concrete mixtures with varying Alfa fibers and wood shavings contents. An experimental program was conducted to evaluate the compressive strength (Rc), flexural strength (Rf), thermal conductivity (λ), specific heat capacity (C), as well as the acoustic properties including sound absorption coefficient (α), sound pressure level (SPL), noise reduction coefficient (NRC), and sound attenuation (A). The results show that the incorporation of Alfa fibers and wood shavings significantly reduces concrete density and therefore improves its thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Although an increase in bio-based content led to a reduction in compressive strength, the mechanical performance remained suitable for certain structural and non-structural building applications at specific proportions of wood shavings and Alfa fibers. In conclusion, the proposed lightweight sand concrete demonstrates strong potential as a sustainable building material, combining enhanced thermal and acoustic performance with acceptable mechanical properties. It represents a promising solution for energy-efficient and environmentally responsible construction applications.

Phosphorus‑nitrogen synergistic crosslinking in cellulose acetate-based macromolecular networks: A multifunctional flame-retardant bio-adhesive with enhanced durability.

The enforced carbonation of by-product sands offers the dual opportunity for carbon capture and increased circularity by material valorization in construction applications. A range of recycled sands from construction and demolition waste were investigated for their CO2 uptake capacity. The materials were subjected to controlled enforced carbonation treatments, addressing the influence of critical process parameters such as initial moisture content, treatment duration, and sample mass. Results reflect the degree to which pre-conditioning and particle size may affect CO2 uptake. Prior environmental exposure to natural carbonation during storage did not impede recycled sands demonstrating considerable additional CO2 uptake capacity under enforced carbonation. Tailored carbonation strategies for each material type are needed, while considerations into the decalcification and carbonation of silicate phases in sand-like precursors must be addressed. The findings support the development of efficient carbon capture techniques in construction recycling streams, advancing the circular economy and low-carbon material technologies.

Construction and potential application of metal oxide framework-graphene oxide for selective and efficient remediation of strontium from simulated liquid radioactive waste.

Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Lightweight Concrete with EPS and Perlite: Density-Driven Mechanical and Structural Performance, Schmidt Hammer Calibration, and Microplane Modeling for Construction Applications

The development of digital humanities and intelligent audio analysis technology provides a new computational path for the emotional research of multi-ethnic folk songs. Taking the multi-ethnic Spring Festival ballads of Gansu Province as the object, this paper constructs a sentiment classification model by focusing on corpus collection, audio preprocessing, MFCC parameter extraction and LSTM neural network training. A total of 526 valid samples were sorted out, with a cumulative duration of 1149.2 minutes. The samples were labeled as four types of emotions: celebration, blessing, thinking and expressing, and narrative peace, and 39 dimensional MFCC temporal features were extracted as model input. Experimental results show that the model training loss decreases from 1.31 to 0.11, the training accuracy reaches 91.9%, and the validation accuracy reaches 85.4%. In the test set of 104 samples, the model correctly identified 90 samples, and the overall accuracy was 86.5%, the Precision, Recall and F1-score were 86.5%, 86.6% and 86.6%, respectively, which were better than SVM, CNN, RNN and GRU. The results show that the combination of MFCC and LSTM can effectively represent the emotional acoustic features in the Spring Festival songs, which provides technical support for the digital protection, emotional label construction and intelligent retrieval application of multi-ethnic Spring Festival songs in Gansu province.

The long-term durability of natural fibre-reinforced bio-composites under hygrothermal environments remains a major barrier to their deployment in building and construction. This study provides a methodical evaluation of the mechanical, viscoelastic, and chemical degradation mechanisms of bio-epoxy composites reinforced with alkali-treated sunn hemp fibres (SHFs) under accelerated hygrothermal ageing (60°C, 98% RH, up to 3,000h). Fibre modification was performed using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations of 6%, 8%, and 10% for 2h to investigate the influence of treatment severity on durability. Moisture uptake followed Fickian diffusion behaviour, with the 8% NaOH condition exhibiting the lowest equilibrium moisture content (13.5%) due to controlled removal of amorphous constituents and improved fibre-matrix compatibility. While tensile and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) decreased with exposure time, a treatment-dependent trade-off was identified: 8% NaOH maximised initial mechanical performance, whereas 10% NaOH provided comparatively superior long-term strength retention. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) demonstrated sustained viscoelastic stability, with the 8% system retaining a storage modulus of 7 GPa at ~ 25°C (glassy region) and a glass transition temperature of 83°C after prolonged exposure. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed moderated carbonyl development in optimally treated systems, linking chemical stability to mechanical retention. These results establish a conceptual framework describing the balance between interfacial strengthening and ageing resistance in SHF-reinforced bio-composites, offering predictive insights for service-life design in low-carbon construction applications.

The development of sustainable lightweight composites with reliable structural integrity is important for transportation and construction applications. This study investigates a bio-hybrid sandwich composite comprising carbon fibre skins and Oil Palm Frond Fibre (OPFF) as a natural porous core, with emphasis on improving interfacial integrity through chemical modification. The primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of sequential NaOH and H₂O₂ treatment in enhancing mechanical performance, interfacial bonding, and thermal stability of the composite system. Hybrid composites were fabricated using an epoxy matrix, combining carbon fibre reinforcements with untreated and chemically treated OPFF cores in various fibre configurations. Mechanical properties were assessed under tensile, flexural, and impact loading, while interfacial morphology and thermal behaviour were examined using microscopy and thermal analysis. The results demonstrate that NaOH + H₂O₂ treatment improves composite performance, with treated unidirectional hybrids exhibiting the highest tensile and flexural strengths. Microscopic observations reveal a substantial reduction in fibre pull-out, debonding, and skin–core delamination, indicating enhanced interfacial integrity and more efficient load transfer. In addition, treated composites show improved thermal stability. The novelty of this work lies in demonstrating that chemically treated OPFF can function as a sustainable sandwich core, where improved interfacial bonding plays a decisive role in suppressing delamination and enhancing overall composite performance.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and despite major advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, important therapeutic limitations persist, including systemic toxicity, therapeutic resistance, and poor drug penetration into hypoxic tumor regions. These challenges have renewed interest in alternative biological strategies, particularly the use of bacteria and bacterial toxins as antitumor agents. Certain bacterial species possess intrinsic tumor-targeting properties, including the ability to selectively colonize hypoxic and necrotic regions of solid tumors that are poorly accessible to conventional therapies. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms underlying bacteria-mediated anticancer activity, including selective tumor colonization, direct oncolysis, immune activation, and toxin-mediated cytotoxicity. Both obligate anaerobes (e.g., Clostridium and Bifidobacterium) and facultative anaerobes (e.g., Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes) are examined for their tumor-targeting potential. In addition, we discuss the oncological applications of several bacterial toxins and toxin-derived therapeutic constructs, including Cytolysin A (ClyA), Clostridium difficile toxin B (TcdB), diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A, and Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). Emerging strategies such as recombinant immunotoxins and bacterial-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (BDEPT) are also reviewed. Finally, current translational challenges, including pharmacokinetic limitations, immune clearance, and biosafety considerations, are analyzed, highlighting future directions for integrating bacteria-based platforms into next-generation cancer therapies. This approach reflects the growing interest in microbial strategies for oncology and underscores the potential of bacteria and their toxins as innovative tools in the development of targeted anticancer therapies.

Artificial composite stones have recently attracted attention as multifunctional materials for construction and defense-related applications. In this study, a novel composite stone was developed using waste limestone as the primary mineral filler, combined with an unsaturated polyester resin matrix and reinforced with glass powder and chopped glass fibers. The influence of binder content and reinforcement type on physico-mechanical and microstructural behavior was investigated. Experimental characterization included water absorption, compressive strength, abrasion resistance, acid resistance, and optical microscopy. The results demonstrated that fine fillers improved matrix densification and reduced porosity, while short glass fiber reinforcement enhanced load-bearing capacity. Abrasion resistance and durability were found to depend on binder content and particle packing characteristics. Overall, the developed composite material exhibits promising mechanical performance, low water absorption, and improved durability, suggesting its potential as a candidate material for applications requiring environmental resistance, including potential use in defense-related camouflage applications.

ABSTRACT The environmental impact associated with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production necessitates the development of sustainable concrete materials that maintain structural performance while reducing carbon emissions. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as Metakaolin, Alccofine, and Biocement have demonstrated potential for improving concrete properties; however, comprehensive studies integrating structural behavior, durability performance, microstructural characteristics, and environmental assessment across multiple cement sources remain limited. This study presents an experimental and analytical investigation on the mechanical properties, durability, flexural behavior, microstructural characteristics, and carbon footprint of reinforced concrete incorporating SCMs as partial replacements for OPC at replacement levels of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Concrete mixes of grades M25–M75 were evaluated through compressive strength, split tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity tests, while structural performance was assessed using flexural testing of reinforced concrete beams under two-point loading conditions. Durability performance was examined through water absorption and carbonation resistance tests, and microstructural characterization was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). A cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed using OpenLCA in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards to quantify embodied carbon emissions. Results indicated that Alccofine-based concrete achieved higher compressive strength (28.2 MPa), lower water absorption (0.565%), and approximately 35–40% greater load-carrying capacity compared to Metakaolin-based concrete, while increasing SCM replacement levels resulted in consistent reductions in CO₂ emissions across all concrete grades. The study establishes an integrated performance–environment framework for the development of sustainable and high-performance reinforced concrete suitable for modern construction applications. Keywords: Supplementary cementitious materials; Reinforced concrete; Flexural behavior; Durability; Life cycle assessment; Carbon footprint; Sustainable concrete.

Achieving structural materials that combine high strength, toughness, and sustainability remains a significant challenge in materials science and engineering. Wood, as a renewable and widely available natural resource, presents promising potential but is limited by its intrinsic anisotropy and mechanical property variations across directions. Inspired by the Bouligand architecture─composed of helicoidally stacked layers of aligned fibers─we developed a straightforward and effective approach to overcome these limitations. By exploiting the natural orientational alignment of wood fibers, we chemically treated the wood to expose hydroxyl groups of cellulose and then densified the wood by helicoidal stacking to obtain Bouligand wood. This bioinspired design yielded a wood-based material exhibiting in-plane isotropy alongside exceptional strength (∥235.2 MPa, ⊥203.9 MPa) and toughness (∥10.8 MPa·m1/2, ⊥15.3 MPa·m1/2), outperforming many commonly used polymers and metals. The helicoidal architecture facilitates crack deflection and bridging mechanisms, substantially enhancing toughness, while hydrogen bonding strengthens the cellulose network and improves interfacial adhesion. Integrating structural design with cellulose's inherent molecular interactions enabled us to significantly reduce wood's anisotropy and realize a novel, high-performance wood-based structural material with well-balanced mechanical properties. This sustainable, mechanically isotropic material offers considerable promise for applications in construction, automotive, aerospace, and other engineering fields.

ABSTRACT This research investigated an environmentally improved MF resin formulation achieved by incorporating sodium chloride for use in highly transparent decorative paper in building and construction applications. Herein, for the first time, a novel eco‐friendly MF composite was designed through the use of sodium chloride. The results indicated that sodium chloride increased the viscosity and solid content of the resin while reducing its storage stability and formaldehyde emission. The modified resins exhibited shorter curing times and enhanced laminated surfaces' glossiness and abrasion resistance. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that sodium chloride altered the chemical structure of the resin, which was further supported by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showing changes in the thermal degradation process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed an increase in the glass transition temperature ( T g ) of the resin, suggesting altered curing dynamics. Sodium chloride is not only harmless and cost‐effective, but it has also improved the surface properties of melamine paper, including surface gloss and abrasion resistance. The results indicated that sodium chloride‐modified MF resin had considerable potential as a cost‐effective reinforcing filler. This makes it a viable option for industrial applications in decorative paper impregnation and lamination, where surface quality is prioritized.

Soil stabilization has emerged as a critical aspect of modern geotechnical engineering, particularly in the face of increasing infrastructure demands and the urgent need for sustainable construction practices. Traditional methods involving cement, lime, or bitumen-based additives often pose environmental challenges due to high carbon emissions and energy consumption. This research investigates the efficacy of polymer-based composite materials as eco-friendly alternatives for enhancing soil strength and stability, particularly for applications in road construction, foundation systems, and slope stabilization. The study explores the formulation and application of a novel polymeric blend comprising biodegradable polymers reinforced with natural fibers and industrial by-products. Laboratory experiments were conducted on clayey and silty soils subjected to varying dosages of the composite materials. Key geotechnical parameters including unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), permeability, and Atterberg limits were evaluated before and after treatment. Results indicate that polymer-based composites significantly improved the mechanical properties of treated soils, with a recorded increase of over 60% in UCS and a notable reduction in the plasticity index. Additionally, water retention capacity and erosion resistance were enhanced, indicating long-term durability under varying environmental conditions. The microstructural analysis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) provided insights into the bonding mechanisms and interactions between polymer chains and soil particles. These interactions contribute to improved cohesion, reduced void ratio, and higher resistance to cyclic loading. The findings affirm that polymeric soil stabilizers not only meet but often exceed the performance of conventional stabilizing agents, while significantly reducing environmental footprint. Moreover, a cost-benefit assessment was carried out to evaluate the economic viability of deploying polymer-based solutions on a larger scale. The results support the integration of such composites into mainstream construction practices, especially in regions prone to soil instability and moisture fluctuations. This study underscores the potential of polymerbased composites in transforming soil stabilization from a conventional engineering challenge into a sustainable and innovative solution, aligning with green building goals and circular economy principles.

This study assesses transformer-based 3D semantic segmentation models for detecting structural components in terrestrial laser scans, given that no training data currently exists for shell construction sites. Manual annotation of 3D point clouds is expensive, yet high-quality labels remain essential for supervised computer vision and validation. Automated pre-labeling can cut down annotation effort by shifting human tasks from exhaustive labeling to targeted verification and correction, assuming models can robustly identify the most common structural elements. We designed a three-stage evaluation protocol covering (i) supervised learning, (ii) cross-domain generalization, and (iii) transfer learning with limited labeled data in the target domain to test model generalization in this context. Three transformer architectures (Point Transformer V2, Point Transformer V3, and Swin3D) are evaluated using four established indoor datasets (S3DIS, ScanNetV2, Structured3D, and VASAD) and a custom domain-specific dataset of annotated construction scenes. Training only on the limited construction dataset results in weak generalization. In contrast, pretraining on loosely related synthetic data and fine-tuning on a minimal number of labeled construction scenes enable reliable segmentation of core building components. A sensitivity analysis also showed that just 12 samples are sufficient to calibrate a pretrained model to a specific building type. The models perform well despite differences between synthetic training data and noisy real-world scans. Among the evaluated architectures, Swin3D delivers the best performance, with +18% mIoU improvement through general pretraining, while PTv3 converges faster with fewer target-domain samples. These findings suggest that transfer learning with limited labeled construction data offers a practical foundation for scalable pre-labeling workflows and human-in-the-loop applications in architecture, engineering, and construction.