Dry State Research Articles

Construction and Validation of Surface Soil Moisture Inversion Model Based on Remote Sensing and Neural Network

Surface soil moisture (SSM) reflects the dry and wet states of soil. Microwave remote sensing technology can accurately obtain regional SSM in real time and effectively improve the level of agricultural drought monitoring, and it is of great significance for agricultural precision irrigation and smart agriculture construction. Based on Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Landsat-8 images, the effect of vegetation was removed by the water cloud model (WCM), and SSM was retrieved and validated by a radial basis function (RBF) neural network model in bare soil and vegetated areas, respectively. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) calculated by Landsat-8 (NDVI_Landsat-8) had a better effect on removing the influence the of vegetation layer than that of NDVI_Sentinel-2. The RBF network model, established in a bare area (R = 0.796; RMSE = 0.029 cm3/cm3), and the RBF neural network model, established in vegetated areas (R = 0.855; RMSE = 0.024 cm3/cm3), have better simulation effects on SSM than a linear SSM inversion model with single polarization. The introduction of surface parameters to the RBF neural network model can improve the accuracy of the model and realize the high-accuracy inversion of SSM in the study area.

Climate stabilizing value of oak shelterbelts in Zhytomyr Polissia

Woody forest plantations, including shelterbelts, are one of the stabilizers of the optimal ecological state of the environment in agricultural landscapes. Shelterbelts are able to sequester carbon from the atmosphere in their phytomass and generate oxygen for a long time. These processes contribute to the partial but permanent prevention of global climate change. According to the calculations, we determined the volume of tree trunks in the protective strips, the cross-sectional area of the trunk, and the phytomass of wood, bark, and crown in a completely dry state. Based on the research data, correlations were created between the main taxonomic indicators and phytomass fractions, which showed a close relationship between phytomass fractions and the height and diameter of tree trunks. In the course of the research, a regression equation was built between tree phytomass and biometric indicators such as trunk height and diameter. The amount of carbon sequestered by the oak shelterbelts was determined by determining the proportion of carbon in the phytomass in absolutely dry residue. The main soil and climatic indicators were established, which in most temporary test plots were characterized by pH=7.0 (neutral), the level of atmospheric air temperature under the forest protection strips was 2°C lower than in agroecosystems (field), and the soil temperature was 8°C lower than in the studied agroecosystems. Soil moisture was identical. According to the statistical analysis, the sample was homogeneous in terms of height, diameter, and age of the plantation. The obtained results allow for further analysis and construction of regression equations between tree phytomass and biometric parameters — height, diameter. It has been determined that an increase in tree diameter by 1.94% and height by 1.0% has a direct impact on the growth of phytomass of common oak wood. It has been established that the total phytomass of oak in linear plantations is 157.7 kg for a middle-aged tree and 275.9 kg for a mature tree. According to the established value of the conversion coefficient of the carbon-absorbing capacity of field protection strips of oak plantations, CO2 emissions into the atmosphere in the Zhytomyr Polissia zone are annually reduced by 5%. The obtained equation of the conversion coefficient, with a sufficiently high determination index, makes it possible to use the obtained dependence in further calculations.

Development and attestation of a standard sample of calcium nadroparin

Introduction. The widespread use of heparin preparations for the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolic complications is known. One of the low molecular weight heparin drugs successfully used in clinical practice is calcium nadroparin. The modern approach to assessing the quality of medicines involves the use of standards, in comparison with which the quality control of the drug is carried out – standard samples (SS). The most important specific parameter in assessing the authenticity of low molecular weight heparins is the characteristic of the fractional composition.Aim. The aim of the work was to develop, attestation and determine the stability during the shelf life of a secondary standard sample to determine the authenticity of calcium nadroparin as part of improving the quality control system of the enterprise with the prospect of creating a domestic pharmacopoeia standard sample.Materials and methods. The object of development and attestation was the standard sample of the enterprise – low molecular weight heparin, obtained on the basis of the Technology implementation center of Siberian state medical university. The certified standard sample was obtained by purification of calcium nadroparin by solid-phase extraction. The completeness of the purification was confirmed by comparing the chromatograms of the purified samples with the chromatograms of the international standard sample. The characteristics of the molecular weight distribution were determined chromatographically. The stability of the certified SSE (the standard sample of the enterprise) was studied under two storage conditions – at a temperature below 8 °C in a dry state for 16 months and in solution at –40 °C for 6 months by evaluating trends in molecular weight distribution.Results and discussion. For each batch of the certified standard sample, the molecular weight and molecular weight characteristics are calculated in 2 parallel definitions, and a representative chromatogram is presented. The values of the relative standard deviation of the molecular weight of the samples and the content of the controlled fractions did not exceed 2.5 %. A detailed analysis of the molecular weight distribution showed the "classical" dependence of RSD (relative standard deviation) from the average value with a significant increase up to 30 % for small fraction values (less than 0.5 %). It was found that during 16 months at a storage temperature below 8 ºC, the molecular weight and molecular weight characteristics of standard samples of low molecular weight heparin did not significantly change. However, in the SSE solution at a storage temperature of minus 40 °C for 6 months, they degraded by more than 10 %.Conclusion. According to the results of the study, a protocol has been developed for obtaining a standard sample of low-molecular-weight heparin for the standardization of the calcium nadroparin substance according to the indicator "molecular weight distribution". The established shelf life of the sample is at least 16 months at temperatures below 8 °C. The stability of solutions of the standard sample at a storage temperature of –40 °C for 3 months is shown.

Multiobjective Optimization of Hard Turning on OHNS Steel Using Desirability and TOPSIS Approaches

Machining hard materials with 45–48 HRC is difficult in turning operation because of the improvident cutting parameter selections for the operation. The OHNS (AISI/SAE-01–48HRC) steel is mainly preferred for the production of shafts, gears, cams, and press tools. The OHNS material was turned at a dry state using VP-coated carbide inserts. The seventeen experimental trials were designed by central composite design (CCD) with different levels of cutting parameters, like feed rate, cutting speed, and depth of cut. Design Expert-11 software desirability approach and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Simulating the Ideal Solution) were used to analyse the experimental results to obtain a single optimal solution that defines better results on metal removal rate (MRR) and surface finish (Ra). RSM solution with 81.3% desirability, the cutting speed of 60 m/min, feed rate of 0.08 mm/rev, and depth of cut 1 mm as the optimal cutting parameters; similarly, TOPSIS algorithm calculation identifies the cutting parameter combinations, such as 40 m/min cutting speed, 0.09 mm/rev feed rate, and 1 mm depth cut to enrich the quality of the machined steel; however, the desirability approach cutting parameter setting is better for the surface finish achievement, while TOPSIS solution is better to obtain significant MRR. The confirmation test results validated for the predicted values of both approaches; as such, the experimental results were maintained better convenience than the predicted one. For the optimum cutting parameter combinations, an MRR of 22.032 gm/min and surface roughness of 0.781 μm were obtained at 60 m/min cutting speed, 0.08 mm/rev feed rate, and 1 mm depth of cut.

Non-destructive strategy to extract sustainable helix and high-strength Musa core fibers for rapid water conduction and evaporation

The reuse and development of natural waste resources is a hotspots and challenges in the research of new fiber materials and the resolution of environmental concern globally. Herein, this study aimed to develop a simple and direct manual extraction process to extract Musa core fibers (MCFs) for rapid water conduction and evaporation. Through simple processes such as ring cutting and stretching, this green and non-destructive inside-out extraction strategy enabled Musa fibers to be naturally and harmlessly degummed from natural Musa stems, with good maintenance of the fiber structure and highly helical morphology. The extracted fibers are composed of regularly and closely arranged cellulose nanofibrils in the shape of ribbon spirally arranged multi-filaments, and the single filament is about 2.65 μm. The high-purity fibers exhibit ultra-high tensile strength under a non-destructive extraction process, and the ultimate tensile strength in dry state is as high as 742.95 MPa. The tensile strength is affected by the number of fiber bundles, which shows that tensile strength and tensile modulus is higher than those of vascular bundle fibers in dry or wet condition. In addition, the MCFs membrane indicates good water conductivity, with a water absorption height of 50 mm for the sample in only 60 s. Moreover, the water evaporation rate of MCFs reaches 1.37 kg m−2 h−1 in 30 min, which shows that MCFs have excellent water conductivity and evaporation rate compared with ordinary cotton fibers. These results indicate that MCFs have great potential in replacing the use of chemical methods to extract fibers from vascular bundles, providing an effective way to achieve sustainability in quick-drying applications, as well as in the sustainable development of natural waste resources.

Development and Evaluation of a Novel Antibacterial Wound Dressing: A Powder Preparation Based on Cross-Linked Pullulan with Polyhexamethylene Biguanide for Hydrogel-Transition in Advanced Wound Management and Infection Control.

As antibiotic resistance increasingly undermines traditional infection management strategies, there is a critical demand for innovative wound care solutions that address these emerging challenges. This study introduces a novel antibacterial wound dressing based on Cross-Linked Pullulan (Pul) and Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) for enhanced wound management and infection control. The dressing's adsorption rate reached 200% of its original weight within 30 min, exceeded 300% after 5 h, and exhibited significant non-Newtonian fluid properties. The dressings were able to release the loaded medication completely within 20 min; additionally, the dressing demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria. Significantly, the therapeutic effects of the Pul-PHMB/GP dressing were evaluated in a mouse model. Compared to untreated wounds, wounds treated with Pul-PHMB/GP exhibited a significant gelation process within 5 min post-treatment and showed a significant increase in wound healing rate within 12 days. This powder preparation overcomes the limitations associated with liquid and gel dressings, notably in storage and precise application, preventing the premature expansion or dissolution often caused by PHMB in high-humidity environments. The powder form can transform into a gel upon contact with wound exudate, ensuring accurate coverage of irregular wounds, such as those from burns or pressure sores, and offers excellent chemical and physical stability in a dry state, which facilitates storage and transport. This makes the dressing particularly suitable for emergency medical care and precision therapy, significantly improving the efficiency and adaptability of wound treatment and providing robust support for clinical treatments and emergency responses.

Striving for Sustainable Solutions: Optimizing Utility Properties of Recycled Paper with the Addition of Wet Strength Resin

Paper producers are increasingly challenged to meet customer demands for high-quality sanitary papers amidst rising price pressures and diminishing quality of recycled fibers. One promising avenue for enhancing paper quality involves augmenting wet strength. For this purpose, synthetic wet strength resins are used, among other things. This study explores the efficacy of utilizing a polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin-based agent for the internal sizing of white wastepaper. Such chemicals, when added to cellulosic fibers in proper amounts before the paper is made, can not only improve water resistance and air permeability of the finished product but also significantly affect both the dry and wet strength paper, which is a crucial aspect for sanitary papers. This study shows that the appropriate addition of resin allows the wetted recycled paper to retain even more than 30% of its dry strength, while in the dry state, the breaking strength of the paper is improved by approximately 46%. As the demand for more sustainable and resistant paper products continues to grow, the use of wet strength agents is expected to increase in the coming years, as well as the need for research in this field. This research therefore undoubtedly contributes to advancing sustainable practices within the paper industry, aligning with the principles of circular economy by optimizing the utility of recycled fibers while maintaining product quality.

Understanding the drying mechanism of straw substrate culture block: Physicochemical properties, pore structure, and drying optimization

As a new type of agricultural waste block substrate utilization, the initial wet base state of the substrate culture block needs to be dried. Therefore, studying the drying mechanism of substrate culture block is critical. In this study, the substrate culture block in a dry state was taken as the research object. Based on physical and chemical properties, the internal section of the substrate culture block was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and the pore condition of the particles was quantified. The results showed that the internal pore structure was uniform and favorable for plant root growth. Based on the pore structure, pore channel modeling was constructed to investigate the distribution of the internal multiphase medium and to distinguish between channels and pore-blind channels. The applicability of the modeling was verified and discussed. By measuring the drying rate of the substrate culture block and classifying its drying stages as fast speed, constant speed, and slow speed, it is clarified that the forms of moisture existence are bound-state water and free-state water, and the moisture migration is prioritized as surface adsorption water, interparticle water, particle attached water, and capillary water. Innovate a method to quantify the change of pore space in the drying process by pore coefficient ratio to evaluate the drying quality. The results show that when the pore coefficient ratio is about 40 %, its moisture content is 20 %∼30 %, and the drying effect is best at this time. The physical drying test further confirmed the correctness of the conclusion of the drying stage division and water loss law. This study can provide a theoretical reference for the modeling study of the pore structure of the block matrix and the exploration of its drying mechanism.

Applicability of Single-Layer Graphene as a Hydrogen-Blocking Interlayer in Low-Temperature PEMFCs.

Gas crossover is critical in proton exchange membrane (PEM)-based electrochemical systems. Recently, single-layer graphene (SLG) has gained great research interest due to its outstanding properties as a barrier layer for small molecules like hydrogen. However, the applicability of SLG as a gas-blocking interlayer in PEMs has yet to be fully understood. In this work, two different approaches for transferring SLG from a copper or a polymeric substrate onto PEMs are compared regarding their application in low-temperature PEM fuel cells. The SLG is sandwiched between two Nafion XL membranes to form a stable composite membrane. The successful transfer is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and in ex situ hydrogen permeation experiments in the dry state, where a reduction of 50% upon SLG incorporation is achieved. The SLG composite membranes are characterized by their performance and hydrogen-blocking ability in a fuel cell setup at typical operating conditions of 80 °C and with fully humidified gases. The performance of the fuel cell incorporating an SLG composite membrane is equal to that of the reference cell when avoiding the direct etching process from a copper substrate, as remnants from copper etching deteriorate the performance of the fuel cell. For both transfer processes, the hydrogen crossover reduction of SLG composite membranes is only 15-19% (1.5 barabs) in the operating fuel cell. Further, hydrogen pumping experiments suggest that the barrier function of SLG impairs the water transport through the membrane, which may affect water management in electrochemical applications. In summary, this work shows the successful transfer of SLG into a PEM and confirms the effective hydrogen-blocking capability of the SLG interlayer. However, the hydrogen-blocking ability is significantly reduced when running the cell at the typical humidified operating conditions of PEM fuel cells, which follows from a combination of reversible interlayer alteration upon humidification and irreversible defect formation upon PEM fuel cell operation.

Effects of freeze-drying bovine pericardium using a combination of polyethylene glycol and trehalose

The freeze-drying is a technology that preserves biological samples in a dry state, which is beneficial for storage, transportation, and cost saving. In this study, the bovine pericardium was treated with a freeze-drying protectant composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and trehalose (Tre), and then freeze-dried. The results demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the pericardium treated with PEG + 10% w/v Tre were superior to those of the pericardium fixed with glutaraldehyde (GA). The wet state water content of the rehydrated pericardium, determined using the Karl Fischer method, was (74.81 ± 1.44)%, which was comparable to that of the GA-fixed pericardium. The dry state water content was significantly reduced to (8.64 ± 1.52)%, indicating effective dehydration during the freeze-drying process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing revealed that the thermal shrinkage temperature of the pericardium was (84.96 ± 0.49) ℃, higher than that of the GA-fixed pericardium (83.14 ± 0.11) ℃, indicating greater thermal stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results showed no damage to the protein structure during freeze-drying. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining demonstrated that the freeze-drying process reduced pore formation, prevented ice crystal growth, and resulted in a tighter arrangement of tissue fibers. The frozen-dried bovine pericardium was subjected to tests for cell viability and hemolysis rate. The results revealed a cell proliferation rate of (77.87 ± 0.49)%, corresponding to a toxicity grade of 1. Additionally, the hemolysis rate was (0.17 ± 0.02)%, which is below the standard of 5%. These findings indicated that the frozen-dried bovine pericardium exhibited satisfactory performance in terms of cytotoxicity and hemolysis, thus meeting the relevant standards. In summary, the performance of the bovine pericardium treated with PEG + 10% w/v Tre and subjected to freeze-drying could meet the required standards.

Robust Enhancement of Direct Air Capture of CO2 Efficiency Using Micro-Sized Anion Exchange Resin Particles

In the quest to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions, it becomes essential to address the existing atmospheric CO2. Effective and economical methodologies, particularly those without additional energy consumption, are crucial. Currently, a leading method is the direct capture of CO2 using ion exchange resins, which achieve the adsorption and desorption of carbon dioxide simply by using the humidity variations. This technology, though minimizing additional energy cost, still needs improvement in its efficiency in CO2 capture capacity and compared to other methods. In this work, we develop low-cost techniques to reduce the AmberLite™ IRA900 Cl (IRA-900) anion exchange resin to micro size, and observe significant performance enhancement on CO2 capture efficiency contingent on reducing the particle diameters. This performance disparity is attributed to the differential water adsorption capacities inherent in particles of diverse diameters. Our results reveal that smaller resin particles outperform their larger counterparts, exhibiting accelerated adsorption rates and expedited transitions from wet to dry states. Notably, these smaller particles display a quintupled enhancement in adsorption efficacy relative to non-treated particles and a marked increase in relative adsorption capacity. Upon treatment, IRA-900 demonstrates robust CO2 processing efficiency, achieving a peak adsorption rate of 1.28 g/mol·h and a maximum desorption rate of 1.18 g/mol·h. Also, the material is subjected to almost 100 cycles of testing, and even after 100 cycles, the resin particles maintain a capacity of 100%. Moreover, our material can be fully regenerated to 100% efficiency by simply immersing it in water. Simultaneously, storing it in water allows for the long-term maintenance of its performance without other treatment methods. A key observation is the resin’s sustained performance stability post extended exposure to humid conditions. These outcomes offer substantial practical implications, emphasizing the relevance of our study in practical environmental applications.

A flexible and deep peak shaving scheme for combined heat and power plant under full operating conditions

Improving the flexible and deep peak shaving capacity of combined heat and power (CHP) plant under full operating conditions to facilitate renewable energy consumption is the main choice of novel power system. Accordingly, a dry/wet state automatic conversion control scheme fuses the precise mechanism structure, reinforcement learning and multi-objective model predictive control (MPC) algorithms is designed to promote the deep peak shaving ability of CHP plant in this paper. Firstly, the detailed mechanism models of once-through boiler at dry and wet state are presented by analyzing the dynamic characteristics of steam-water flow. Secondly, the large-scale unknown parameters in mechanism models are identified via the Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy modeling, reinforcement learning algorithms and actual dry/wet state conversion data. Thanks to the proposed hybrid modeling strategy, the high-precision boiler-steam unit models at dry and wet state are rapid obtained. Then, to meet different peak shaving demands, the multi-objective MPC algorithm is respectively constructed under dry and wet state with the comprehensive consideration of operational constraints, load tracking error, algorithm stability, power generation cost, CO2 and NOx emission costs. Aiming at maximizing the peak shaving efficiency and flexible operation ability of plant, a dry/wet automatic control scheme combined the designed multi-objective MPC algorithms and identified dry/wet state models is proposed. Finally, the load variation rate of 5 % and 2 % RCM/min is respectively achieved in the dry/wet state conversion tests on a 350 MW CHP plant based on the proposed control scheme. Thus, the rapid and thorough dry/wet state conversion performance of once-through boiler has successfully improved the operational flexibility of CHP plant under full operating conditions.

Twisted integration of high-efficiency photothermal/water-transported yarns for boosting solar-powered fabric evaporator

Positioned as high-efficiency low-cost desalination technology, solar interfacial vapor generation still remains challenging in precisely managing interfacial photothermal behaviors. Here, an integral solar-heating yarn twisted by both carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers and cotton yarns processed via carbon black slurry is developed for architecting high-efficiency fabric evaporators, where modified CNT and cotton serve as the solar-heating unit and water-supply unit, respectively. The unique structure of hybrid yarns features pronounced gradient photothermal difference of 5 °C between CNT and cotton regions in dry state, and meanwhile enables robust Marangoni vapor flows and weak hydration state. As a result, the crafted fabric evaporator has a superior evaporation rate of 2.83 kg m−2 h−1, which is the highest value reported among 2D fabric evaporators. This work introduces an innovative strategy for high-efficiency interfacial solar heating, significantly boosting evaporation performance of flexible and portable evaporators.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Moisture Content of Recycled Concrete Aggregate on the Compressive Strength of Concrete

To reduce the environmental impact of concrete, recycled aggregates are of significant interest. Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) presents a significant resource opportunity, although its performance as an aggregate in concrete is variable. This study presents a meta-analysis of the published literature to refine the understanding of how the moisture content of RCA, as well as other parameters, affects the compressive strength of concrete. Seven machine learning models were used to predict the compressive strength of concrete with RCA, including linear regression, support vector regression (SVR), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) as single models, and decision tree, random forest, XGBoost, and LightGBM as ensemble models. The results of this study demonstrate that ensemble models, particularly the LightGBM model, exhibited superior prediction accuracy compared to single models. The LightGBM model yielded the highest prediction accuracy with R2 = 0.94, RMSE = 4.16 MPa, MAE = 3.03 MPa, and Delta RMSE = 1.4 MPa, making it the selected final model. The study, employing feature importance with LightGBM as the final model, identified age, water/cement ratio, and fine RCA aggregate content as key factors influencing compressive strength in concrete with RCA. In an interaction plot analysis using the final model, lowering the water–cement ratio consistently improved compressive strength, especially between 0.3 and 0.4, while increasing the fine RCA ratio decreased compressive strength, particularly in the range of 0.4 to 0.6. Additionally, it was found that maintaining moisture conditions of RCA typically between 0.0 and 0.8 was crucial for maximizing strength, whereas extreme moisture conditions, like fully saturated surface dry (SSD) state, negatively impacted strength.

Fungal Diversity in Wet and Dry Ripe Plantains: Isolation, Identification, and Implications for Public Health

The persistent inadequacy of storage facilities in in globally and more prevalent in developing nations leads to substantial annual losses of harvested agricultural produce, severely impacting the economic stability of local farmers. This investigation focuses on the critical public health implications arising from the fungal contamination of stored plantain chips, a delicacy snack in Nigeria, West Africa. Notably, the fungal species isolated, which are Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium spp., Rhizopus stolonifer, and Mucor spp. are critical from a public health perspective. Species such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger are particularly concerning due to their capacity to produce aflatoxins, which are among the most carcinogenic substances known and have been linked to liver cancer and immune system suppression. The prevalence of these mycotoxins not only compromises the nutritional integrity and safety of the plantain chips but poses severe risks to consumers, highlighting a broader issue of food security and safety. This study brings to the fore the pressing need for interventions that enhance the storage conditions and decrease fungal contamination, thereby reducing the exposure of the population to mycotoxins. The implications of this research extend beyond the economic damage to encompass significant public health concerns, emphasizing the critical need for regulatory, technical, and infrastructural developments to uphold the microbial quality of plantain both in wet and dry states, ensuring safe consumption.

PA 10.10 and PA 6 composites with glass or basalt fibre: mechanical properties in dry and wet state

The effect of basalt and glass fibres and moisture on the impact strength, tensile mechanical properties and heat resistance of PA 10.10 and PA 6 was examined. It was shown that PA 10.10 composites can compete with PA 6 composites in terms of mechanical properties, in a humid environment. Their heat resistance was lower than that of PA 6 composites. Regardless of the type of polyamide, composites with glass fibre had better properties than those with basalt fibre.

The Use of Lightweight Aggregates in Geopolymeric Mortars: The Effect of Liquid Absorption on the Physical/Mechanical Properties of the Mortar.

Geopolymers have been proposed as a green alternative to Portland cement with lowered carbon footprints. In this work, a geopolymeric mortar obtained using waste materials is studied. Fly ash, a waste generated by coal combustion, is used as one of the precursors, and waste glass as lightweight aggregates (LWAs) to improve the thermal performance of the mortar. The experimental study investigates the effect of varying the alkali activating solution (AAS) amount on the workability, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of the mortar. Indeed, AAS represents the most expensive component in geopolymer production and is the highest contributor to the environmental footprint of these materials. This research starts by observing that LWA absorbs part of the activating solution during mixing, suggesting that only a portion of the solution effectively causes the geopolymerization reactions, the remaining part wetting the aggregates. Three mixes were investigated to clarify these aspects: a reference mix with a solution content calibrated to have a plastic consistency and two others with the activating solution reduced by the amount absorbed by aggregates. In these cases, the reduced workability was solved by adding the aggregates in a saturated surface dry state in one mix and free water in the other. The experimental results evidenced that free water addiction in place of a certain amount of the solution may be an efficient way to improve thermal performance without compromising the resistance of the mortar. The maximum compressive strength reached by the mortars was about 10 MPa at 48 days, a value in line with those of repair mortars. Another finding of the experimental research is that UPV was used to follow the curing stages of materials. Indeed, the instrument was sensitive to microstructural changes in the mortars with time. The field of reference of the research is the rehabilitation of existing buildings, as the geopolymeric mortars were designed for thermal and structural retrofitting.

Upscaling earth formworks: 3D printing strategies for material optimised reinforced concrete structures

There is a growing need to understand how locally sourced earthen materials can be processed to build more efficiently and sustainably. Earthen formworks combined with 3D printing technologies present a unique opportunity for the concrete construction sector to address the wastefulness and complexity of custom formworks. The current state-of-the-art projects in academia and industry demonstrate that earthen formwork strategies effectively address this challenge, but remain burdened by upscaling issues such as production speed. This research bridges the gap by exploring strategies for 3D Printed earth formworks to efficiently produce structural elements using custom self-compacting and set-on-demand concrete mixtures. A first base earth mix is developed for reduced shrinkage and later modified via a plasticizer for increased green strength, forming the final mix. Two mix iterations are deployed in two corresponding strategies where concrete is cast into the earth formwork in a dry or plastic state. The methods highlighting the setups for 3D printing and procedures for appropriate material processing such as slump flow, shrinkage and rheology are presented. The results are explored via two column prototypes leading to a final demonstrator for a 2 m high reinforced concrete column. Conclusions are drawn on the implications of the two casting strategies, the current persisting challenges and the crucial next steps for development. Thus, the research provides a foundation for how clay formworks can be upscaled effectively for more sustainable production of complex concrete structures.

Highly water-resistant paper via infiltration with polymeric microspheres from nanocellulose-stabilized plant oil-derived monomer

Sustainable strategies to improve the water resistance of cellulose paper are actively sought. In this work, polymeric microspheres (PMs), prepared through emulsion polymerization of cellulose nanofibers stabilized rubber seed oil-derived monomer, were investigated as coatings on corrugated medium paper (CMP). After infiltrating porous paper with PMs, the water-resistant corrugated papers (WRCPn) with enhanced mechanical properties were obtained. When 30 wt% PMs were introduced, WRCP30 turned out to be highly compacted with an increased water contact angle of 106.3° and a low water vapor transmission rate of 81 g/(m2 d) at 23 °C. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of WRCP30 increased to 22.2 MPa, a 4-fold increase from CMP. When tested in a well-hydrated state, 71% of its mechanical strength in the dry state was maintained. Even with a low content of 10 wt% PMs, WRCP10 also exhibited stable tensile strength and water wettability during the cyclic soaking-drying process. Thus, the plant oil based sustainable emulsion polymers provide a convenient route for enhancing the overall performance of cellulose paper.

Evolution And Its Misinterpretation By The Scientific Community

Allah has created the heavens and the earth in stages as he declares in the Holy Quran. It is Allah Who creates, develops and sustains life, and ensures harmony and diversity in all things, living and non-living. The verses from the Quran make it obvious that the conditions required for God’s ultimate creation to exist and survive are only possible if the universe contains matter, energy, water, and other entities as they are. The total measure of these entities cannot be altered, which means the total energy and matter in the universe is constant. These values are actually the result of the fine-tuned universe, where any deviation from it will lead to its instability and hence its extinction. This balance is maintained by the eternal and extremely intelligent being through His commands, and these commands, by observers, are conceived as laws of nature or scientific laws. This universe is solely meant for the trial of the ultimate creation, hence puzzling, brain-teasing, and other sorts of entangled phenomena in the observable universe are inevitable. This kind of nature is intentionally imparted to the universe by God to test mankind (God’s ultimate creation). The definition of biological evolution in modern science is actually an illusion and hence a trial for humans, since God calls this universe by the word "Garoor," meaning illusion or unreal. In conclusion, the misinterpretation of evolution by the scientific community can be attributed to the lack of understanding of the true nature of human existence and the purpose of life on Earth. By examining religious scriptures, we can see that humans are sent on Earth for minor and major trials by God, with minor trials such as evolutionary theory and other incomplete sciences being part of this category. It is evident that God initially formed the shape of a human from stagnant dark mud and then preserved it in a dry state. He did not breathe life into the mould until all the necessary conditions for human existence on Earth were ensured. After God infused life or spirit into the mould of Adam (AW), He taught Adam (AW) the names of things. Thus, it can be inferred that life on Earth was created by God in stages, and these stages are designed in a way that life and the species on Earth may appear to disbelievers as a result of natural selection or random evolution. However, as Muslims, it is important to remember that everything we observe in the universe is intended to test us by God, so it is best to avoid engaging in vague discussions on this matter. Know well that the life of this world is but an amusement and diversion, and adornment and boasting to one another, and competition in increase of wealth and children. This worldly life is no more than play and amusement. But the Hereafter is indeed the real life, if only they knew.(The Quran 29:64)