Effect Of Different Sizes Research Articles

Study of electric field distribution on plasma and plasma catalysis reactor for different electrode configurations and pellet sizes

In various non thermal plasma based applications, the dynamics of electric fields and charged particle interactions are crucial. In order to find an efficient plasma reactor, the effects of different electrode configurations for the plasma approach and pellet packaging & optimal sizing for the plasma catalysis approach were studied for 6 different types of volume discharge and surface discharge reactor using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0. The different electrode configurations viz. concentric cylindrical, square and helical as volume discharged reactors and floating & 2 types of non-floating electrodes as surface discharge reactors are considered. The effect of different size (diameter 1/3/5 mm) of pellets were studied for helical and cylindrical plasma reactors for plasma catalysis. The simulated results were then experimentally verified and validated for production of ozone and the conversion or reduction of NOx from diesel exhaust.

New Insights into the Toxic Effects of Different Sizes of Nanosilica Particles in Food on the Mouse Bladder: Involving Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

Animals are widely exposed to nanosilica as a food additive. However, the negative effects of such nanosilica particles on animals' bladders are unclear. In the present study, we investigated the impact of MPs-SiO2 on mouse bladder and the underlying mechanisms. Mouse and MBEC cell models exposed to MPs-SiO2 with different particle sizes were established. At the same time, aminoguanidine hydrochloride (RNS inhibitor) and NF-κB activator were used to further explore its mechanism in vitro. We found that MPs-SiO2 of three sizes could induce RNS-induced pyroptosis causing EMT both in vitro and in vivo. After inhibiting RNS, the expression of related proteins in downstream pathways was decreased, and fibrosis was alleviated. The above situation was reversed by the addition of NF-κB activator. Furthermore, our data suggest that 300 nm MPs-SiO2 particles have a greater impact on the bladder than 50 nm particles. This study revealed the potential health risks of MPs-SiO2 and provided new insights into the toxicology of MPs-SiO2.

Analysis of the load‐bearing characteristics of hydraulic supports for top‐coal caving under the impact of coal and gangue

AbstractTo study the effect of different sizes and speeds of coal gangue falling on hydraulic supports for top‐coal caving discharge hydraulic support on the bearing characteristics of the hydraulic support, the ADAMS hydraulic support rigid‐flexible coupling analysis model was established. HyperMesh is used to flexibly process the hydraulic support, and the column and jack are equivalently replaced by spring damping system. By applying step loads of different sizes and speeds to simulate the impact force generated when the coal gangue falls on different positions of the cover beam, the dynamic response characteristics of the column, balance jack and other articulation points are obtained. Analyses show that: when the impact load is closer to the roof beam, the articulation point of the roof beam‐cover beam and the balancing jack are easy to be damaged. When the same impact load is applied to the cover beam, the faster the load is applied, the hydraulic support column and balancing jack may not be able to absorb and disperse the pressure effectively in time, resulting in the articulation points being subjected to a larger impact force, which is easy to cause damage or destruction. When different sizes and speeds of impact loads are applied to the cover beam, the latter has a greater impact on the dynamic response of the front and rear connecting rod articulation points and the cover beam‐roof beam articulation point than the former, and the hydraulic bracket will be more prone to vibration, deformation, and stress concentration, thus affecting the stability and safety of the bracket. The article is of guiding significance for designing and optimizing the structure and parameters of the hydraulic support, and improving the support performance and stability of the hydraulic support in the comprehensive release working face.

Effect of Different Sizes and Heights on the Removal Efficiency of Composite Clay Filter for Gold Mine Site Wastewater Remediation

Wastewater from mining-related activities contains toxic elements that require remediation, and most available wastewater filters have inconsistent flow rates and removal efficiency due to their thickness. This study, therefore, examined the effect of height and size on the flow rate and removal efficiency of a clay composite filter for wastewater remediation. The developed clay filter and its composites were characterized using various techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRF analysis showed that the clay contained 91.38% major minerals, including iron oxide (Fe2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and silica (SiO2), which could enhance the filtration process. Additionally, FTIR revealed that both the clay and the filter are rich in functional groups, including kaolinite and illite, which could promote the filtration process. Further analysis showed that the filters had an average adsorption rate of 87.32%, an average flow rate of 0.891 L/hr, and an average removal efficiency of 99.6%. An increase in the height of a small-diameter filter resulted in a 0.21% increase in removal efficiency, while for larger diameters, the removal efficiency decreased by 0.11%. Conversely, increasing the diameter of a short filter increased the efficiency by 0.25%, while for taller filters, the removal efficiency decreased by 0.07%. Therefore, this work demonstrated that both height and diameter have noticeable effects on flow rate: as height increases, flow rate decreases, and as diameter increases, flow rate increases. The filter's efficiency is somewhat affected by both height and diameter, with a small increase in efficiency noted at greater heights and a slight decrease in efficiency noted at larger diameters.

Evaluation of effects of different sizes and shapes of attachments during rotation, tipping, and torquing in clear aligner therapy - A finite element study.

To evaluate the effect of different shapes and sizes of attachments used for rotation, tipping, and torquing tooth movement in clear aligner therapy. Using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology, 15 replicas of the upper right human canines were produced. Finite element analysis (FEA) was utilized to mimic tooth movement by applying a constant force of 2.942 N to these models, which contained various forms and sizes of composite attachments. Analysis was done on the stress on different dental structures and the displacement of the attachments. The outcomes demonstrated that tooth movement during clear aligner treatment was considerably impacted by attachment size and shape. Rectangular beveled attachments with dimensions of 3.5 mm × 1.2 mm × 3.5 mm showed the greatest rotating mobility. Triangular beveled attachments with dimensions of 5 mm by 0.8 mm by 2 mm produced the most displacement during tipping motion. For torquing motions, rectangular power ridge attachments with dimensions of 0.5 mm × 0.5 mm × 5 mm worked well. The size and geometry of composite attachments were shown to be extremely important in regulating tooth movement during clear aligner treatment, according to this FEA research. Greater displacement is produced when smaller attachments with less surface area dissipate more force. When using clear aligner therapy, orthodontists may optimize treatment plans, shorten treatment times, and provide more predictable results by having a better understanding of the biomechanics of various attachment designs.

Effect of reinforcement particle size on the corrosion and mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered aluminium matrix composites.

In this study, the effects of different sizes of reinforcing particles on the corrosion behaviour and mechanical properties of aluminium (Al)-based composites produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS) are analysed. In the study, the effects of SPS parameters, including electrical power, applied pressure and sintering temperature, on the consolidation process and microstructure evolution of the composite are closely investigated. The results reveal a nuanced relationship between the sintering conditions and the properties of the particles, which in turn determine the sintering dynamics and the formation of the microstructural features. The evaluation of mechanical properties indicates a remarkable influence of particle size distribution on the hardness of the composites, showing an initial improvement with the introduction of nanoparticles, followed by a slight decrease as the balance between nano- and micron-sized Al2O3 particles shifts. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study demonstrates the influence of particle dimensions on the change of grain boundaries and the spatial arrangement of the composite matrix. Electrochemical experiments in a 0.1M NaCl solution show a consistent corrosion potential (Ecorr) across all samples, while the current densities associated with corrosion (icorr) show considerable variation. The presence of nano-sized Al2O3 particles was found to increase corrosion resistance, in contrast to the detrimental effects observed with larger microparticles. In particular, composites with a bimodal distribution of particle sizes showed a 3.5-fold increase in corrosion resistance compared to pure Al. The specific Al-2n8mAl2O3 composite that exhibited active electrochemical properties at elevated potentials without a defined passivation range emphasises the significant role of particle size. This study draws attention to bimodal microstructures as a promising route to achieving uniformity and improved corrosion resistance in Al matrix composites, while pointing to the need for further research to fully elucidate the operative mechanisms.

Dual-scale shifted window attention network for medical image segmentation

Swin Transformer is an important work among all the attempts to reduce the computational complexity of Transformers while maintaining its excellent performance in computer vision. Window-based patch self-attention can use the local connectivity of the image features, and the shifted window-based patch self-attention enables the communication of information between different patches in the entire image scope. Through in-depth research on the effects of different sizes of shifted windows on the patch information communication efficiency, this article proposes a Dual-Scale Transformer with double-sized shifted window attention method. The proposed method surpasses CNN-based methods such as U-Net, AttenU-Net, ResU-Net, CE-Net by a considerable margin (Approximately 3% ∼\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sim$$\\end{document} 6% increase), and outperforms the Transformer based models single-scale Swin Transformer(SwinT)(Approximately 1% increase), on the datasets of the Kvasir-SEG, ISIC2017, MICCAI EndoVisSub-Instrument and CadVesSet. The experimental results verify that the proposed dual scale shifted window attention benefits the communication of patch information and can enhance the segmentation results to state of the art. We also implement an ablation study on the effect of the shifted window size on the information flow efficiency and verify that the dual-scale shifted window attention is the optimized network design. Our study highlights the significant impact of network structure design on visual performance, providing valuable insights for the design of networks based on Transformer architectures.

Study on Mechanical Properties of Moso Bamboo in Jian'ou City, Fujian Province, China

The original bamboo material of 3 to 4-year-old moso bamboo in Jian'o City, Fujian Province, was used as the research object. Study the change of mechanical properties such as axial compressive strength, bending strength, tensile strength, shear strength, and hardness test. The main work and results of this paper include:Forty-five longitudinal compression specimens on moso bamboo tubes were tested to investigate the effects of different sizes and bamboo knots on the axial compressive strength of the moso bamboo tubes. The mean tensile strength of moso bamboo was found to be 165.13 N/㎟. A total of 27 shear specimens of 5cm moso bamboo tubes were tested, and their average shear strength was 2.61Mpa; he average flexural strength of moso bamboo was 172.48N/㎟. The hardness of moso bamboo specimens was tested using the Janka hardness method. The hardness of each part of Moso bamboo was significantly different.Comparing the mechanical properties of moso bamboo with other wood timber, moso bamboo showed better mechanical properties, the research hoped to provide a theoretical basis and scientific evidence for a comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanical properties of Fujian moso bamboo and the use of moso bamboo in high value-added applications.

Size and polarity fractions of mobile organic matter from manure affect the sorption of sulfadiazine, caffeine and atenolol in soil

Waste-derived organics introduced to soils along with pharmaceutical active compounds (PhAC) are a crude mixture of compounds occurring in various size and polarity fractions. They affect the sorption of PhACs to soil; however, the relevant knowledge is still insufficient. The effects of different size and polarity fractions of manure-derived mobile organic matter (<63 µm) on the sorption of sulfadiazine, caffeine and atenolol to five topsoils were investigated. Mobilization of the PhACs was strongest in the presence of dissolved organic matter (mDOM, <0.45 µm), with a reduction of Kd of sulfadiazine, caffeine and atenolol by mean factors of 0.66, 0.57 and 0.41, respectively. The mobilizing effects of colloidal organic matter (0.45–10 µm) were slightly smaller. Fine particulate organic matter (10–63 µm) reduced the sorption of the PhACs in slightly acidic soils (pH 6.0), but increased it in strongly acidic soil (pH 4.3). Furthermore, hydrophobic (HO-mDOM) and hydrophilic (HI-mDOM) fractions of mDOM reduced the sorption capacity but increased the sorption nonlinearity of PhACs in soils. Effects of HO-mDOM and HI-mDOM were PhAC specific. It is suggested to consider the varying impacts of mobile fractions in animal manure and/or treated wastewater in evaluating the fate and environmental relevance of associated PhACs.

Response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv.) to the coexistence of micro-/nanoplastics and phthalate esters alters its growth environment

Micro- and nano-plastics (MPs/NPs) have emerged as a global pollutant, yet their impact on the root environment of plants remains scarcely explored. Given the widespread pollution of phthalate esters (PAEs) in the environment due to the application of plastic products, the co-occurrence of MPs/NPs and PAEs could potentially threaten the growth medium of plants. This study examined the combined effects of polystyrene (PS) MPs/NPs and PAEs, specifically dibutyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, on the chemical properties and microbial communities in a wheat growth medium. It was observed that the co-pollution with MPs/NPs and PAEs significantly increased the levels of oxalic acid, formic acid, and total organic carbon (TOC), enhanced microbial activity, and promoted the indigenous input and humification of dissolved organic matter, while slightly reducing the pH of the medium solution. Although changes in chemical indices were primarily attributed to the addition of PAEs, no interaction between PS MPs/NPs and PAEs was detected. High-throughput sequencing revealed no significant change in microbial diversity within the media containing both PS MPs/NPs and PAEs compared to the media with PS MPs/NPs alone. However, alterations in energy and carbohydrate metabolism were noted. Proteobacteria dominated the bacterial communities in the medium solution across all treatment groups, followed by Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia. The composition and structure of these microbial communities varied with the particle size of the PS in both single and combined treatments. Moreover, variations in TOC, oxalic acid, and formic acid significantly influenced the bacterial community composition in the medium, suggesting they could modulate the abundance of dominant bacteria to counteract the stress from exogenous pollutants. This research provides new insights into the combined effects of different sizes of PS particles and another abiotic stressor in the wheat root environment, providing a critical foundation for understanding plant adaptation in complex environmental conditions.

Effect of different sizes of nanocopper particles on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.) spermatozoa motility kinematics

In recent years, nanocopper (Cu NPs) has gained attention due to its antimicrobial properties and potential for industrial, agricultural, and consumer applications. But it also has several effects on the aquatic environment. Widespread use of various nanoproducts has raised concerns about impacts of different nanoparticle size on environment and biological objects. Spermatozoa is a model for studying the ecotoxic effects of pollutants on cells and organisms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different sizes of copper nanoparticles on rainbow trout spermatozoa motility, and to compare their effects with copper ionic solution. Computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to detect movement parameters at activation of gametes (direct effect) with milieu containing nanocopper of primary particle size of 40–60, 60–80 and 100 nm. The effect of the elements ions was also tested using copper sulfate solution. All products was prepared in concentration of 0, 1, 5, 50, 125, 250, 350, 500, 750, and 1000 mg Cu L−1. Six motility parameters were selected for analysis.The harmful effect of Cu NPS nanoparticle was lower than ionic form of copper but the effect depends on the motility parameters. Ionic form caused complete immobilization (MOT = 0 %, IC100) at 350 mg Cu L−1 whilst Cu NPs solution only decreased the percentage of motile sperm (MOT) up to 76.4 % at highest concentration tested of 1000 mg Cu L−1 of 40–60 nm NPs. Cu NPs of smaller particles size had more deleterious effect than the bigger one particularly in percentage of MOT and for curvilinear velocity (VCL). Moreover, nanoparticles decrease motility duration (MD). This may influence fertility because the first two parameters positively correlate with fertilization rate. However, the ionic form of copper has deleterious effect on the percentage of MOT and linearity (LIN), but in some concentrations it slightly increases VCL and MD.

Effects of different sizes of microplastic particles on soil respiration, enzyme activities, microbial communities, and seed germination

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants of terrestrial ecosystems. The impacts of MP particle size on terrestrial systems remain unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of six particle sizes (i.e., 4500, 1500, 500, 50, 5, and 0.5 μm) of polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on soil respiration, enzyme activity, bacteria, fungi, protists, and seed germination. MPs significantly promoted soil respiration, and the stimulating effects of PE were the strongest for medium and small-sized (0.5–1500 μm) particles, while those of PVC were the strongest for small particle sizes (0.5–50 μm). Large-sized (4500 μm) PE and all sizes of PVC significantly improved soil urease activity, while medium-sized (1500 μm) PVC significantly improved soil invertase activity. MPs altered the soil microbial community diversity, and the effects were especially pronounced for medium and small-sized (0.5–1500 μm) particles of PE and PVC on bacteria and fungi and small-sized (0.5 μm) particles of PE on protists. The impacts of MPs on bacteria and fungi were greater than on protists. The seed germination rate of Brassica chinensis decreased gradually with the decrease in PE MPs particle size. Therefore, to reduce the impact of MPs on soil ecosystems, effective measures should be taken to avoid the transformation of MPs into smaller particles in soil environmental management.

Thermal performance of packed-bed latent heat storage tank integrated with flat-plate collectors under intermittent loads of building heating

Packed-bed latent heat storage (PBLHS) system has been widely studied in the solar energy application area due to its properties of solving the time-space mismatch of energy supply and demand. The paper delves into the cyclic thermal performance of PBLHS tanks, seamlessly integrated with flat-plate collectors, to manage building heat loads effectively. A 1D transient mathematic model of PBLHS integrated with the solar collector for a building is established using MATLAB which is validated with the experimental results from the literature. Based on this model, the effect of different sizes, flow rates, inlet temperature thresholds and different heating months are discussed. The results show that: 1). Building heat load can have a significant influence on the thermal performance of the PBLHS system. 2). The optimal size of the tank for a 96 m2 house is 1.0*1.0 m and the optimal flow rate is 0.05 kg/s 3). The weather data can significantly affect the thermal performance of PBLHS, the storage tank heating durations for one week in different heating months are 108.4h, 73.6h,70.8h and 81.7h. These insights are pivotal for the optimal design of PBLHS tanks, paving the way for more efficient building heating solutions.

Effects of different sizes of ambient particulate matter and household fuel use on physical function: National cohort study in China

BackgroundImpact of outdoor and household air pollution on physical function remains unelucidated. This study examined the influence of various ambient particulate sizes (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) and household fuel usage on physical function. MethodsData from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) spanning 2011 and 2015 were utilized. The physical functional score was computed by summing scores from four tests: grip strength, gait speed, chair stand test, and balance. Multivariate linear and linear mixed-effects models were used to explore the separate and combined effects of PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and household fuel use on physical function in the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, respectively, and to further observe the effects of fuel cleanup on physical function in the context of air pollution exposure. ResultsBoth cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses revealed negative correlations between PM1 (β = −0.044; 95% CI: −0.084, −0.004), PM2.5 (β = −0.024; 95% CI: −0.046, −0.001), PM10 (β = −0.041; 95% CI: −0.054, −0.029), and physical function, with a more pronounced impact observed for fine particulate matter (PM1). Cleaner fuel use was associated with enhanced physical function compared to solid fuels (β = 0.143; 95% CI: 0.070, 0.216). The presence of air pollutants and use of solid fuels had a negative impact on physical function, while cleaner fuel usage mitigated the adverse effects of air pollutants, particularly in areas with high exposure. ConclusionThis study underscores the singular and combined detrimental effects of air pollutants and solid fuel usage on physical function. Addressing fine particulate matter, specifically PM1, and prioritizing efforts to improve household fuel cleanliness in regions with elevated air pollution levels are crucial for preventing physical disability.

Exploring the dietary and therapeutic potential of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) sprouts.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis research substantiates the traditional use of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. for liver health, with scientific evidence of the non-toxic and lipid-lowering properties of licorice sprout extracts. The sprouts' rich mineral and amino acid content, along with their strong antioxidant activity, reinforce their value in traditional medicine. These findings bridge ancient herbal practices with modern science, highlighting licorice's potential in contemporary therapeutic applications. Aim of the studyThe study aimed to investigate the dietary and medicinal potential of G. uralensis sprouts by assessing their safety, nutritional content, and antioxidant properties using both plant and animal models. Specifically, the study sought to determine the effects of different sizes of licorice sprouts on lipid metabolism in human liver cancer cells and their overall impact on rat health indicators. Materials and methodsThe study examined the effects of aqueous and organic extracts from G. uralensis sprouts of varying lengths on the cytotoxicity, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant activity in HepG2 cells, alongside in vivo impacts on Sprague-Dawley rats, using MTT, ICP, and HPLC. It aimed to assess the potential health benefits of licorice sprouts by analyzing their protective effects against oxidative stress and their nutritional content. ResultsLicorice sprout extracts from G. uralensis demonstrated no cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells, significantly reduced lipid levels, and enhanced antioxidant activities, with the longest sprouts (7 cm) showing higher mineral, sugar, and arginine content as well as increased glycyrrhizin and liquiritigenin. In vivo studies with Sprague-Dawley rats revealed weight gain and improved antioxidant enzyme activities in blood plasma and liver tissues after consuming the extracts, highlighting the sprouts' dietary and therapeutic potential. ConclusionsThis study is the first to demonstrate that G. uralensis sprouts, particularly those 7 cm in length, have no cytotoxic effects, reduce lipids, and have high mineral and antioxidant contents, offering promising dietary and therapeutic benefits.

Effect of coarse second-phase particles on mechanical properties of large-scale 2219 Al alloy rings

Large-scale 2219 Al alloy rings are widely used as important parts on launch vehicles and thus have high requirements for the mechanical properties of rings in different direction, which are associated with coarse second-phase particles. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive and systematic quantitative analysis of the effect degree of the coarse second-phase particles characteristics on the mechanical properties of 2219 Al alloy rings in different direction, so as to guide the design and optimization of the global process based on the relationship between each process and the coarse second-phase particles. Firstly, according to the features of the coarse second-phase particles characteristics in the experimental results, a reliable research scheme with the particles size, percentage and distribution as the study variable was designed. Then, based on the experimental characterization results, a representation volume element modeling method incorporating coarse second-phase particles characteristics was developed. The representation volume element finite element models for different research schemes were established in the ABAQUS/EXPLICIT platform respectively. Next, the comparison of experimental and numerical simulation results verifies that the finite element model with coarse second-phase particles developed in this paper can accurately predict ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the tested specimen. Finally, based on the numerical simulation results of the different research schemes, the effects of different sizes, percentages and distributions of coarse second-phase particles on the mechanical properties of the ring are analyzed to determine the extent to which the mechanical properties can be improved with different coarse second-phase particles characteristics. By exploring the relationship between the manufacture process, coarse second-phase particles characteristics and mechanical properties, the design and optimization of the manufacture process for different mechanical properties requirements are guided. This study is valuable in achieving comprehensive regulation of the mechanical properties of large-scale 2219 Al alloy rings.

The effect of pterygium on front and back corneal astigmatism and aberrations in natural-light and low-light conditions

BackgroundTo investigate the effect of different sizes of pterygium on the front and back corneal topography, refractive changes and aberrations in natural-light and low-light conditions.MethodsSixty subjects with unilateral primary nasal pterygium were enrolled in this study. All the patients’ uncorrected, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, corneal topographic aberration data in 3 mm and 7 mm areas were collected. The pterygium size was evaluated by the slit-lamp photography and Sirius Scheimpflug Analyzer.ResultsThe front topographic astigmatism values, corneal total aberrations, and higher-order aberrations in 3 mm and 7 mm areas were higher in the pterygium group than those in the control group. The pterygium horizontal length and thickness were moderately to strongly correlated with astigmatism and RMS of aberrations, while pterygium vertical length showed no or just mild correlation with the corneal astigmatism and aberrations. Compared to the readings in 3 mm area, the front and back corneal astigmatism and aberrations were larger in 7 mm area.ConclusionsPterygium led to visual impairment by inducing astigmatism and aberrations. In low-light condition, the visual function worsened due to increased corneal astigmatism values and aberrations.

Differences in organic carbon accumulation in mangrove soils due to foraging by herbivorous crabs

Crabs in mangroves could enhance the transfer of organic carbon (OC) from leaf litter to soils, whose variation with the difference in crab size is, however, not well known. A 32-day laboratory feeding experiment was conducted to explore the effects of different sizes of the crabs Parasesarma plicatum foraging on leaf litter of Kandelia obovata on OC accumulation in mangrove soils. Mean rates of soil OC accumulation due to leaf foraging by large, medium, and small crabs were 21.11, 16.11, and 0.77 mg C ind−1 d−1, corresponding to the rates of OC removal from leaf litter of 62.60%, 51.37%, and 2.19%, respectively. Large and medium crabs ingested larger amounts of leaf litter, and soil OC accumulation rates resulting from leaf foraging by large and medium crabs were approximately 8 times higher than those by leaf litter decomposition and triple those by non-leaf foraging. Small crabs ingested the smallest amount of leaf litter, which was almost used for their growth and metabolism. These results underline the key ecological roles of leaf foraging by crabs, especially those with large and medium sizes, in OC accumulation in mangrove soils, which is conducive to estimating carbon sequestration in mangrove soils.

Theoretical model of energy absorption for square tubes under transverse loading with variable axial constraint condition

Thin-walled tubes in the actual engineering structure (e.g., autobody) are usually connected to other structure, and the boundary constraint condition at both ends of tubes are usually very complex when bending deformation occurs under transverse loading. This paper aims at the effect and mechanism of axial constraint on the bending energy absorption effect of thin-walled tube under limited and variable axial constraint condition at both ends. A typical of thin-walled tube, square tube, is taken as an example. Firstly, we compare the experiment results of square tube under transverse loading with three-point-bending condition and fully clamped condition, revealing that the axial constraint force has a significant effect on the energy absorption effect. After that, a FE model of the square tube under variable axial constraint condition at both ends is established and validated based on experiment. Based on the validated FE model, the effect of different sizes of axial constraint stiffness on the bending energy absorption of square tube are investigated, and it is found that it has a significant effect on the deformation mode and bending energy absorption. With the increase of axial constraint stiffness, it will mainly affect the latter segment of the force–displacement curve in the bending process, which increases the bending energy absorption. Finally, theoretical models are developed to predict the force–displacement curves and bending energy absorption of the square tube under three different types of variable axial constraint properties: linear axial constraint, unequal linear axial constraint and nonlinear axial constraint.

Materno-Fetal and Teratogenic Effects of Different Size Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) in Pregnant Rats

The widespread use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in many fields has increased; however, their potential effects on embryofetal development have not been explored. This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of different sizes of gold nanoparticles