Contact Area Research Articles

Fast stiffness variation gripper with efficient adhesion control

The mushroom-shape gecko-inspired adhesive has been extensively studied and applied in a wide range of fields. However, current research primarily focuses on enhancing its adhesion properties, necessitating further exploration in strategies of detachment and adaptation, which significantly constrain its practical applications. In this study, a stiffness variable gripper with controllable adhesion and fast response is developed by integrating mushroom-shape adhesive with granular jamming technology. A theoretical model for the detachment of the gripper is established, indicating the effect of backing stiffness on adhesion performance, which is verified through contact area observations and adhesion experiments. The proposed modulation method demonstrates an impressive adhesion-to-detachment ratio of 92.8, with adhesion capacity of up to 41.023 N and detachment force of only 0.442 N. The switch time is remarkably fast at just 0.5 s. Additionally, the designed gripper, under pressure difference of 60 kPa, is able to stably grasp smooth objects with various shapes weighing over 2 kg, with a load-to-weight ratio of approximately 8, and a minimal power consumption of only 4.404 W. The work here presents a comprehensive understanding of adhesion modulation of fibrillar adhesive through granular jamming, and provides new insights into robust reversible adhesion design for related technologies.

Strategies for Reducing the Ohmic Resistance in a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Cell

Ohmic polarization caused by the contact resistance between components and their own bulk resistance is the main polarization loss in proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells. To investigate this, we adopted an electrolysis cell with an active area of 25 cm2 and explored methods of reducing ohmic resistance. First, two kinds of polar plate were designed to investigate the contact area between transport layer and catalytic layer. The results showed that the polar plate with the higher ridge area made the transport layer and catalytic layer achieve good contact, resulting in an ohmic resistance decreases of 17.5 mΩ cm2 when the contact area increases from 16.85 to 21.6 cm2. Second, Pt coating was used to prevent oxidation of the titanium felt and improve electrolytic performance. Sputtering titanium felt exhibits the best performance with the electrolysis voltage of 1.814 V at 2 A cm−2. Finally, we studied different proton exchange membranes and analyzed the performance and hydrogen permeation rate with the self-made membrane electrode, finding that the electrolytic voltage of the Solvay E98–05 S reaches 1.733 V at 2 A cm−2 due to the minimum thickness and the highest conductivity, and the H2 permeation current density is only 2.184 mA cm−2.

Modeling and characterization of contact behavior of asperities with irregular shapes

This paper introduces a model for characterizing the contact behavior of irregular asperities, transforming it into a superposition of sinusoidal asperity contact behaviors. A new sinusoidal asperity model is developed for bilinear hardening under plane strain conditions. Empirical equations are proposed, considering geometric shapes, tangent modulus, and Young’s modulus. The frequency of asperity height is extracted through Fourier transform for irregular asperities. Contact area and pressure are predicted using the sinusoidal asperity model, and the behavior of irregular asperities is obtained by superimposing those with the first three frequencies. Experimental validation is conducted with milling and knurling-formed asperities, showing good alignment between the model and experimental results. In rough surface models, the proposed irregular asperity model exhibits greater accuracy in predicting contact behavior than a single sinusoidal asperity when interference exceeds 10% of the amplitude.

An ex vivo sequential ligament transection model of flatfoot

BackgroundThe ligaments implicated in the earliest stages of developing a progressive collapsing foot deformity are poorly understood. Commonly employed cadaveric flatfoot models are created from simultaneous transection of multiple ligaments, making it difficult to assess early changes in pressure distribution from ligaments critical for maintaining load distribution. A serial transection of ligaments may provide insight into changes in pressure distribution under the foot to identify a potential combination of ligaments that may be involved in early deformities. MethodsSpecimens were loaded using a custom designed axial and tendon loading system. Plantar pressure data for the forefoot and hindfoot were recorded before and after six sequential ligament complex transections. FindingsSectioning the plantar fascia (first) and short/long plantar ligaments (second) failed to generate appreciable differences in load distribution. Dividing the spring ligament (third) led to changes in hindfoot load distribution with a shift towards the lateral column indicative of hindfoot valgus angulation. All subsequent conditions resulted in similar patterns in hindfoot plantar load distribution. An anterior shift in the center of pressure only occurred after transection of all six ligament complexes. InterpretationLoss of the plantar fascia and short/long plantar ligaments are not critical in maintaining plantar load distribution or contact area. However, the additional loss of the spring ligament caused notable changes in hindfoot load distribution, indicating the combination of these three ligament complexes is particularly critical for preventing peritalar subluxation. Minimal changes in load distribution occurred when performing additional transections to reach a complete flatfoot deformity.

An ex vivo sequential ligament transection model of flatfoot

BackgroundThe ligaments implicated in the earliest stages of developing a progressive collapsing foot deformity are poorly understood. Commonly employed cadaveric flatfoot models are created from simultaneous transection of multiple ligaments, making it difficult to assess early changes in pressure distribution from ligaments critical for maintaining load distribution. A serial transection of ligaments may provide insight into changes in pressure distribution under the foot to identify a potential combination of ligaments that may be involved in early deformities. MethodsSpecimens were loaded using a custom designed axial and tendon loading system. Plantar pressure data for the forefoot and hindfoot were recorded before and after six sequential ligament complex transections. FindingsSectioning the plantar fascia (first) and short/long plantar ligaments (second) failed to generate appreciable differences in load distribution. Dividing the spring ligament (third) led to changes in hindfoot load distribution with a shift towards the lateral column indicative of hindfoot valgus angulation. All subsequent conditions resulted in similar patterns in hindfoot plantar load distribution. An anterior shift in the center of pressure only occurred after transection of all six ligament complexes. InterpretationLoss of the plantar fascia and short/long plantar ligaments are not critical in maintaining plantar load distribution or contact area. However, the additional loss of the spring ligament caused notable changes in hindfoot load distribution, indicating the combination of these three ligament complexes is particularly critical for preventing peritalar subluxation. Minimal changes in load distribution occurred when performing additional transections to reach a complete flatfoot deformity.

Friction and Wear Mathematical Modeling and Optimization Design of Surface Microstructure Parameters of Unfolding Wheel based on Experiment and Numerical Simulation

Objective: In order to improve the friction-increasing and wear-reducing performance of the unfolding wheel surface, the surface microstructure of the unfolding wheel used in the detection of 8 kinds of steel balls was optimized by parameter matching. Method: Firstly, based on Hertz's theory, the contact area between steel balls of different sizes and the unfolding wheel are analyzed. The wear depth model is established based on Archard adhesive wear model. Secondly, the appropriate microstructure parameters for friction and wear experiments were selected. The finite element analysis software is used to simulate the stress on the surface of the microstructure unfolding wheel and calculate the wear depth. According to the experimental results, the relationship between friction coefficient, wear depth and microstructure parameters is obtained by data fitting, and the objective function of optimization design is established. Finally, based on the genetic algorithm DNSGA-II and Python, the parameters are optimized, and the optimal solution is obtained by using the TOPSIS method. Results: The feasibility of the simulation method is verified by friction and wear experiments, and the correctness of the optimization method is verified. Some existing patents on friction and wear of microstructure surfaces are introduced, and the future development of this field is prospected Conclusion: The research shows that the optimal parameters matching of microstructure for steel ball diameters of Ф16.6688 mm~Ф22.2250 mm: the shape is rhombus; the area of a single pit is close to the contact area, which is 0.0319 mm2 ~ 0.0554 mm2; the pit depth is 145 μm~150 μm, and the surface density of microstructure is (5.4~5.6) /mm2.

One-step construction of MWCNTs@MoS2@Chitosan film for ciprofloxacin sensing and its oxidation mechanism

Ciprofloxacin (CIP), extensively used in medical, agricultural, and forestry sectors as an antibiotic, poses risks of water contamination due to misuse or improper disposal, highlighting the pressing necessity for accelerated detection methods. Hydrophilic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) were co-dispersed in a chitosan (CS) solution, which facilitates film formation. The high specific surface area of MWCNTs, coupled with the excellent semiconducting properties of MoS2 and the overall hydrophilicity of the composite nanomaterial film, markedly increases the active sites and reaction contact area. Subsequently, a drop-coating method was used to fabricate a MWCNTs@MoS2@Chitosan film onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for CIP detection spanning from 0.50 to 1200.00 µmol/L using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV), achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 µmol/L. Simultaneously, the sensor demonstrates excellent reproducibility, stability, and selectivity. In several real water samples, the sensor performance was verified using a spiked recovery method. And in three water samples the recoveries ranged from 98.38 to 113.53 %, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 4.80 %. Meanwhile, the accuracy of these result was verified using UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. Furthermore, we proposed an electrooxidation mechanism for CIP that involves a reaction with two electrons and two protons.

In-situ measurements of contact evolution for fractal rough surfaces under normal compression

The contact interface plays a key role in the overall functionality and stability of structures. Understanding the evolution of the contact interface over time and its dependency on materials and load is crucial for functional integrity and operational safety assessment. In this study, we employ in-situ three-dimensional X-ray computed tomography (3DXRCT) to examine the creep behavior of 3D-printed surfaces exhibiting various roughness under constant normal compression. We observe that the overall contact area enlargement during the contact creep decreases with roughness amplitude and fractal dimension. The variation of interfacial separation distance is found to increase with roughness amplitude and decrease with fractal dimension. Correlation analysis reveals that the microcontact size played a more important role than the asperity shape in determining the microcontact enlargement. By examining the calculated interfacial strains extracted from XRCT measurements, significant deformations are found to occur at the non-contacting zones, indicating strong asperity interactions. This study offers high-resolution experimental measurements and unravels the asperity micromechanics for contact creep on rough surfaces, providing insights into understanding and optimizing the performance of rough interfaces.

The synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic activity by Fe3O4–TiO2 nanosheets for rhodamine B degradation

As an advanced oxidation material, Fe3O4-TiO2 nanocomposites have been widely used in wastewater treatment. However, conventional Fe3O4 nanoparticles suffer from drawbacks such as carrier recombination and aggregation, which seriously affect the catalytic activity. In this study, Fe3O4-TiO2 nanosheets with different TiO2 loading rates were synthesized by sol-gel method and solvothermal method. The unique two-dimensional nanostructure of Fe3O4 nanosheets facilitated the deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles, resulting in Fe3O4-TiO2 nanosheets with a high BET specific surface area of 121.67 m2·g−1. Under optimal experimental conditions, the degradation rate of RhB dye in the photocatalytic synergistic Fenton-like system constructed with Fe3O4-TiO2 nanosheets reached 98.12 % within 120 min, significantly surpassing that of single photocatalysis and Fenton-like systems. It was attributed to the unique surface structure of Fe3O4 nanosheets, which provided a larger contact area for TiO2 nanoparticles. It facilitated the effective reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ by photogenerated electrons in TiO2, inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and consequently enhanced the degradation rate of RhB dye. Furthermore, Fe3O4-TiO2 magnetic nanosheets exhibited excellent reusability and stability, with the recovery rate and degradation rate of RhB dye remaining above 90 % even after five cycles. More importantly, the catalytic mechanism of Fe3O4-TiO2 nanosheets was elucidated, and •OH identified as the primary reactive species responsible for degrading RhB dye. This work provides a novel research direction for designing and preparing advanced catalytic degradation materials, offering a practical solution to the challenging issue of wastewater treatment.

Hydrophobic C60-modified PVDF membrane with micro-nano structures for mitigating CaSO4 scaling in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD)

Membrane scaling is a non-negligible problem for membrane distillation (MD) in the treatment of high-salinity wastewater (e.g., calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate). In this study, fullerene (C60) was adhered to a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) solution to create a micro-nano structure, fabricating the C60/PDMS-PVDF membrane. This membrane was then re-immersed in a PDMS solution to further reinforce the C60 nanoparticles on the surface, forming the PDMS/C60/PDMS-PVDF membrane. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the membrane surface morphology. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) was used to explore the membrane chemical composition. Liquid entry pressure (LEP) and water contact angle (WCA) measurements were employed to assess the membrane wettability. The results showed that C60-modification created the micro-nano structure on the membrane surface. The WCA of the PVDF membrane was 112.7 ± 2.4°, with a sliding angle far greater than 90°, whereas the PDMS/C60/PDMS-PVDF membrane exhibited a WCA of 147.9 ± 3.2° and a sliding angle of 6.3°. Compared to the virgin PVDF membrane, the LEP value of the PDMS/C60/PDMS-PVDF membrane increased from 68.4 ± 2.7 kPa to 87.2 ± 3.3 kPa. In direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD), a CaSO4 solution (2g/L) was used to test the membrane performance. After 48hours of operation, the flux of the PDMS/C60/PDMS-PVDF membrane remained at approximately 3.57kg/(m2·h), and the salt rejection rate was over 99.96%. This could be attributed to the C60 modification forming a micro-nano structure on the membrane surface, which trapped an air layer. This air layer could reduce the contact area between the crystal and the membrane, decrease nucleation probability, and shorten the residence time of liquid on the membrane surface. Additionally, the PDMS/C60/PDMS-PVDF membrane exhibited superior stability during the ultrasonic destruction experiment due to the encapsulation of PDMS. In summary, a novel hydrophobic membrane with a micro-nano structure was fabricated through C60 modification, offering superior anti-scaling properties and stability in treating high-salinity wastewater.

Stabilization of porosity in reaction bonded aluminum oxide (RBAO) by coarsening in a reactive atmosphere

A coarsening treatment in an HCl containing atmosphere was performed to stabilize the porosity of Al2O3/ZrO2 composites up to elevated temperatures. There is minimal shrinkage during the reactive coarsening treatment and the porous microstructure is stable during subsequent heat treatments. The reaction bonding of aluminum oxide (RBAO) process was used to fabricate the samples. Coarsening was investigated as a function of initial density (40–60 % TD) and coarsening temperatures (1250–1400 °C). After the HCl coarsening step, samples were sintered in air to determine the effect of coarsening treatment on pore stability. Up to the temperature of the coarsening treatment no further densification is observed. Above the HCl coarsening temperature densification is significantly retarded. Thus, it is shown that the porosity in RBAO can be stabilized by heat treatment in a 10 vol % HCl containing atmosphere. During the coarsening treatment in HCl at 1300 °C, 1350 °C and 1400 °C little densification was observed (Δ ρ ≤ 2 % TD) in comparison with the densities that result from sintering reaction bonded samples in air at 1350 °C (Δ ρ ∼ 5–8 % TD). Therefore, the HCl coarsening is a promising approach to adjust a desired level of porosity for high temperature applications of porous materials. It is postulated that at a given density, the coarsened materials should exhibit increased strength compared to un-coarsened materials due to increased contact area between the particles.

Fretting fatigue in dovetail assembly and bridge-flat model: Verification of a life prediction model based on stress gradient

The dovetail assembly and the bridge-flat model are two typical fretting fatigue tests. This article concentrates on the fretting fatigue of the dovetail assembly, utilizing a sub-scaled specimen tested under cyclic loading. Simultaneously, fretting tests on the bridge-flat and combined high and low cycle fatigue tests on the dovetail assembly were conducted. These tests were analyzed in conjunction with the dovetail assembly to understand the stress state characteristics in the contact region. The results from both tests and finite element analysis highlight that fretting leads to a significant reduction in fatigue life, primarily attributed to stress concentration at the edges of the contact area. Building upon the method of stress gradient correction, a life prediction model for fretting fatigue is proposed, demonstrating good accuracy in predicting fretting fatigue life.

Effect of complex void structures on flow channeling and heterogeneous heat transfer in fractured rocks

Natural or hydraulic fractures in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) typically have complex void structures due to the presence of surface contact. In this study, fluid flow and heat transfer processes in three-dimensional rough fractures with different contact ratios are investigated. Stronger flow channeling and heterogeneous heat transfer are observed in fracture voids with increasing surface contacts, and the fluid flow exhibits nonlinear characteristics due to the complex fracture void structures. Parts of fracture voids with large apertures and void areas contribute negligibly to the overall flow due to their weak connectivity to the main flow channels. Removing the low-flow regions does not significantly impact the flow channeling and heterogeneous heat transfer in the fracture voids. However the heat exchange in the low-flow regions results in differences in the overall heat transfer coefficient and heat extraction rate between the reconstructed and original fractures. An empirical model is proposed to describe the overall heat transfer coefficient in fractures with complex void structures. Furthermore, the flow and heat transfer processes in the highly contacted fractures are not significantly affected by the change in flow direction, indicating that the anisotropic degree of the fracture void structures decreases as the contact areas increases. This study may further deepen the understanding of fluid flow and heat transfer in realistic fractured rocks at high temperatures, which is critical for geothermal energy extraction.

Electrosynthesis of Unusual Nonfcc Palladium Hydride Nanoparticles.

Intercalation of hydrogen into the palladium atomic layers during the growth of Pd nanoparticles can lead to the synthesis of unique palladium hydride phases. Here, we discover an unusual nonfcc palladium hydride nanoparticle, a structure that is not face-centered cubic (fcc), formed through coreduction of water molecules and Pd ions in solution. Crystal structure determination based on atomic electron tomography points to potential triclinic unit cells, indicating the presence of more than one nonfcc phase, with some of those being a stack of loosened and distorted close-packed layer of atoms. The probability of finding the nonfcc phase in single-crystalline particles varies depending on the number and distribution of contact area with other particles. Roughly half of the isolated and one side-coalesced single-crystal particles exhibit a nonfcc structure, while fcc dominates multiple side-coalesced single crystals as well as polycrystal particles. These observations suggest a coalescence-induced phase transition from a nonfcc to a stable fcc structure, due to the metastable nature of the nonfcc phases. While hydrogen is proven to be a key component for the synthesis of the nonfcc structure, there was limited formation of the unusual phase in a H2 gas bubbling system. Thus, electrochemical pathways can be promising for the in situ creation and study of unique metastable nanomaterials.

Startup characteristics of a water loop heat pipe with dual heat sources for battery thermal management system in electric vehicle

Abstract The usage of electric vehicles has significantly reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. However, the high heat release generated by the electric vehicle batteries poses a challenge. To solve this problem, scientists have created a passive cooling thermal management system specifically for electric vehicle based on heat pipes, particularly loop heat pipes. A battery pack often consists of several battery modules, which results in multiple heat sources being dispersed according to their power capacity. Startup behavior of loop heat pipe has been investigated extensively in the literature. However, most of the studies use only one heat source. This paper aims to fill the research gap, particularly when the system is implemented in dual heat sources managed by only one evaporator. To achieve the research objectives, a custom loop heat pipe was constructed. This cooling system’s design is briefly described. The evaporator is made of copper, deionized water was selected as the working fluid because of its high merit number, which indicates strong performance as a heat pipe working fluid and the stainless-steel wire mesh serves as the porous wick. Battery simulator was built using aluminum material and a cartridge heater to mimic the heat produced by the battery. Two case studies were done. First, only one battery simulator was used. Second, two battery simulators were placed on both sides of the evaporator. A type-K thermocouple attached to the NI DAQ 9214 module was used to measure the temperature while the electric heat load varied between 10 W and 50 W. The study investigated the interaction between the heat load distribution and the startup behavior of the loop heat pipe. Startup behavior is crucial for the performance of the loop heat pipe. Based on the experimental results, the loop heat pipe demonstrates outstanding startup performance. It can effectively initiate operation even at a minimal heat load as low as 30 W for the first and second case study. The findings of the study indicate that the dual heat source arrangement effectively mitigates overshoot temperatures and enhances heat transfer performance by increasing the contact area.

Applications of high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in proteomics

Proteomics profiling plays an important role in biomedical studies. Proteomics studies are much more complicated than genome research, mainly because of the complexity and diversity of proteomic samples. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) is a fundamental tool in proteomics research owing to its high speed, resolution, and sensitivity. Proteomics research targets from the peptides and individual proteins to larger protein complexes, the molecular weight of which gradually increases, leading to sustained increases in structural and compositional complexity and alterations in molecular properties. Therefore, the selection of various separation strategies and stationary-phase parameters is crucial when dealing with the different targets in proteomics research for in-depth proteomics analysis. This article provides an overview of commonly used chromatographic-separation strategies in the laboratory, including reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), ion-exchange chromatography (IEC), and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), as well as their applications and selectivity in the context of various biomacromolecules. At present, no single chromatographic or electrophoretic technology features the peak capacity required to resolve such complex mixtures into individual components. Multidimensional liquid chromatography (MDLC), which combines different orthogonal separation modes with MS, plays an important role in proteomics research. In the MDLC strategy, IEC, together with RPLC, remains the most widely used separation mode in proteomics analysis; other chromatographic methods are also frequently used for peptide/protein fractionation. MDLC technologies and their applications in a variety of proteomics analyses have undergone great development. Two strategies in MDLC separation systems are mainly used in proteomics profiling: the "bottom-up" approach and the "top-down" approach. The "shotgun" method is a typical "bottom-up" strategy that is based on the RPLC or MDLC separation of whole-protein-sample digests coupled with MS; it is an excellent technique for identifying a large number of proteins. "Top-down" analysis is based on the separation of intact proteins and provides their detailed molecular information; thus, this technique may be advantageous for analyzing the post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins. In this paper, the "bottom-up" "top-down" and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses of proteome samples are briefly reviewed. The diverse combinations of different chromatographic modes used to set up MDLC systems are described, and compatibility issues between mobile phases and analytes, between mobile phases and MS, and between mobile phases in different separation modes in multidimensional chromatography are analyzed. Novel developments in MDLC techniques, such as high-abundance protein depletion and chromatography arrays, are further discussed. In this review, the solutions proposed by researchers when encountering compatibility issues are emphasized. Moreover, the applications of HPLC-MS combined with various sample pretreatment methods in the study of exosomal and single-cell proteomics are examined. During exosome isolation, the combined use of ultracentrifugation and SEC can yield exosomes of higher purity. The use of SEC with ultra-large-pore-size packing materials (200 nm) enables the isolation of exosomal subgroups, and proteomics studies have revealed significant differences in protein composition and function between these subgroups. In the field of single-cell proteomics, researchers have addressed challenges related to reducing sample processing volumes, preventing sample loss, and avoiding contamination during sample preparation. Innovative methods and improvements, such as the utilization of capillaries for sample processing and microchips as platforms to minimize the contact area of the droplets, have been proposed. The integration of these techniques with HPLC-MS shows some progress. In summary, this article focuses on the recent advances in HPLC-MS technology for proteomics analysis and provides a comprehensive reference for future research in the field of proteomics.

Quantitative 3D electron microscopy characterization of mitochondrial structure, mitophagy, and organelle interactions in murine atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical arrhythmia, however there is limited understanding of its pathophysiology including the cellular and ultrastructural changes rendered by the irregular rhythm, which limits pharmacological therapy development. Prior work has demonstrated the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of AF. Mitochondrial structure, interactions with other organelles such as sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and T-tubules (TT), and degradation of dysfunctional mitochondria via mitophagy are important processes to understand ultrastructural changes due to AF. However, most analysis of mitochondrial structure and interactome in AF has been limited to two-dimensional (2D) modalities such as transmission electron microscopy (EM), which does not fully visualize the morphological evolution of the mitochondria during mitophagy. Herein, we utilize focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and perform reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) EM from murine left atrial samples and measure the interactions of mitochondria with SR and TT. We developed a novel 3D quantitative analysis of FIB-SEM in a murine model of AF to quantify mitophagy stage, mitophagosome size in cardiomyocytes, and mitochondrial structural remodeling when compared with control mice. We show that in our murine model of spontaneous and continuous AF due to persistent late sodium current, left atrial cardiomyocytes have heterogenous mitochondria, with a significant number which are enlarged with increased elongation and structural complexity. Mitophagosomes in AF cardiomyocytes are located at Z-lines where they neighbor large, elongated mitochondria. Mitochondria in AF cardiomyocytes show increased organelle interaction, with 5X greater contact area with SR and are 4X as likely to interact with TT when compared to control. We show that mitophagy in AF cardiomyocytes involves 2.5X larger mitophagosomes that carry increased organelle contents. In conclusion, when oxidative stress overcomes compensatory mechanisms, mitophagy in AF faces a challenge of degrading bulky complex mitochondria, which may result in increased SR and TT contacts, perhaps allowing for mitochondrial Ca2+ maintenance and antioxidant production.

Microstructural transformation impact on mechanical and tribological performance of different temperature heat-treated carbon/carbon composites

Due to the harsher application environments of C/C composites, optimizing the internal structure of C/C materials through high-temperature treatments (HTT), specifically above 2300 °C, has become an effective method to enhance their properties. The current study investigates the influence of microstructural evolution on the mechanical and tribological behavior of carbon/carbon composites after heat treatments at 2300 °C and 2700 °C. The C/C composites experience a reduction in mechanical properties as the heat treatment temperature is raised. This may be due to the rearrangement of carbon atomic layers at high temperatures, resulting in increased orientation in pyrolytic carbon. However, fibers parallel to the friction surface are relatively less affected, while fibers perpendicular to the friction surface and PyC are more significantly affected. The average coefficient of friction increases from 0.19 to 0.42 as heat treatment temperature from 2300 °C to 2700 °C under the brake pressure of 1 MPa with 25 m/s brake speeds. This phenomenon is attributed to the samples with high graphitization degree (2700 °C) producing a large number of flaky chips under shear stress during friction, which can be easily ground and compacted to form a complete friction film. Additionally, the more easily deformable z-axis fiber asperities increase the contact area, resulting in an increase in the coefficient of friction and friction stability.

Polydopamine-coated matchstick-like mesoporous silica carriers for improving foliar retention and responsive pesticide release

Intelligent responsive pesticide delivery systems have gained extensive interest in enhancing utilization efficiency of pesticides and relieving environmental hazards. Herein, we developed a novel matchstick-like mesoporous silica (mSiO2) nanocarriers for pesticide delivery. The asymmetric matchstick-like mSiO2 carriers were composed by a spherical dendritic silica (SiO2) head (300 nm) and a rod-shaped tail (90 nm in length). This asymmetric structure would improve foliar retention by increasing contact area and forming topological effect between the carriers and the leaves surface. The prepared mSiO2 carriers possessed a high loading content for the insecticide dinotefuran (DNF) (23.7 %). Subsequently, polydopamine (PDA) was utilized to seal the DNF-loaded mSiO2 (DNF@mSiO2@PDA). The foliar affinity and adhesion properties of the mSiO2@PDA were enhanced due to the introduction of the hydrophilic PDA layer. The DNF@mSiO2@PDA exhibited pH-responsive release performance and the anti-UV property of loaded DNF was improved by about 10 times. Additionally, the DNF@mSiO2@PDA also exhibited high insecticidal activity due to the improving foliar wetting and affinity. Therefore, this work provides a promising strategy to increase pesticide retention on leaves and reduce pesticide chemical usage.

Study on the mechanism of CO2 huff-n-puff enhanced oil recovery and storage in shale porous media considering heterogeneous structure

CO2 possesses several advantages, including strong solubility, effective viscosity reduction ability, and low miscible pressure, making it a promising candidate for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Additionally, due to its adsorption capture mechanism, shale formations are considered ideal environments for CO2 storage. However, the influence of heterogeneity of shale multi-scale structure on CO2 migration mechanism, EOR, and storage mechanism is not clear. In this study, a heterogeneous shale structure model containing fractures and matrix was designed based on scanning electron microscope. The multiphase–multicomponent–multirelaxation model was used to study the fluid migration mechanism in the process of miscible CO2 huff-n-puff in shale reservoir. By analyzing density variations, velocity changes, and pressure distributions, the effects of diffusion coefficient, adsorption parameters, and fracture size were studied. Furthermore, by changing the matrix structure, the influence of heterogeneity on the law of oil and gas migration was explored. Additionally, a comparison between CO2 and water was performed. Finally, the influence of reservoir heterogeneity on fluid transport mechanism was studied. The results show that EOR and CO2 storage rate (CSR) are proportional to the diffusion coefficient. The main factor affecting the CSR is the adsorption capacity of rock to CO2. The larger CO2–oil contact area between the fracture and the matrix leads to a larger CSR, highlighting the importance of induced fractures. In addition, it was found that CO2 huff-n-puff was superior to water flooding, showing an EOR performance advantage of about 15%. This study is helpful for the practical application of CO2 huff-n-puff technology in the field of unconventional oil and gas development and CO2 storage.