Material Conditions Research Articles

Distribution characteristics of photoassimilates in walnut leaves to different organs

The understanding of photoassimilate distribution serves as the fundamental basis for scientific regulation of fruit quality. Currently, there is a scarcity of research on whole-plant scale photoassimilate distribution in walnut. In order to clarify the characteristics of leaf photoassimilates translocation to various organs in 5-year-old 'Wen185' (J. regia 'Wen185') walnut during the growing season, this study used the 13C isotope pulse labeling technique to label the whole plant of walnut trees in the growing season, temporal variations of 13C abundance (δ13C), 13C partition rate (R13C), leaf source strength and fruit sink strength were analyzed in various organs at different days after tree flowering. The findings indicated that during the periods of 30–70 days and 90–110 days after flowering, there was a higher distribution of 13C in fruits and vegetative branches. However, at 110–130 days after flowering, the predominant allocation of 13C shifted towards main trunk and roots. In-depth study of source leaves and sink fruits showed that chlorophyll content in leaves increased significantly 30–50 days after anthesis, indicating that they gradually became mature functional leaves. The increase of net photosynthetic rate led to increase of source strength, and the retention of photoassimilates in leaves was higher at this time. From 30 to 70 days after flowering, the fresh weight and volume of fruit increased rapidly, which increased the capacity of the sink and enhanced the competition ability against photoassimilates. The recovery of photosynthetic capacity of leaves from 90 to 110 days promoted the output of photoassimilates. At this time, walnut entered the oil conversion period, and the demand for photoassimilates increased. All these factors jointly promoted the unloading of photoassimilates in fruit. In summary, maintaining adequate material conditions and optimizing tree structure at 30-70d and 90-110d after anthesis are important for more efficient distribution of photoassimilates to fruit.

Bioactive compounds delivery and bioavailability in structured edible oils systems.

The health benefits of bioactive compounds are dependent on the amount of intake as well as on the amount of these compounds that become bioavailable and bioaccessible. Various systems have been developed to deliver and increase the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds. This review explores the impact of gelled (oleogels, bigels, emulgels, emulsions, hydrogels, and hydrogel beads), micro-(gels, particles, spheres, capsules, emulsions, and solid lipid microparticles) and nanoencapsulated systems (nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, liposomes, and nanoliposomes) on the digestibility and bioavailability of lipophilic and hydrophilic bioactives. Structurant molecules, the oil type, antioxidants, emulsifiers, and coatings in delivery systems with promising potential in food applications are critically discussed. The release and bio-accessibility of bioactive compounds in gelled systems are influenced by various factors, such as the type and concentration of gelators, the gelator-to-oil ratio, the type of antioxidant, the network of the system, and its hydrophobicity. The stability, bioaccessibility, and controlled release of bioactives were improved in structured emulsions. Several variables, including wall material, oil/water ratios, encapsulation process, and pH conditions, can affect the bioactives release in microencapsulated systems. Factors like coating type and core-to-wall ratio impact the stability and release of core components. The encapsulating material, the encapsulation technology, and the nature of the nanomaterials all have an impact on the bioaccessibility of nanoencapsulated systems. Nanoliposomes provide enhanced stability and absorption. In general, all encapsulated systems have shown great potential in improving the distribution and availability of bioactive compounds.

Developing A Digital Twin of a TRUEX Extraction Process that Enables Non-proliferation and Safeguards Monitoring through Optical Spectroscopy and Machine Learning

Background The recycling of spent fuel can increase the longevity and decrease the waste footprint associated with the nuclear fuel cycle. However, nuclear fuel reprocessing introduces the risk of proliferation of fissile material. For example, the recycling of uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) is generally accomplished via a solvent extraction process. The separation efficiency of the process is dependent on a variety of parameters such as acid concentration, organic to aqueous (O/A) volume ratio, number of separation stages, etc. A change in any of these parameters could result in different extraction conditions of fissile material and lead to a process upset with potential safeguards and proliferation concerns. Thus, the ability to monitor the solvent extraction process in real-time would enable the rapid identification and diagnosis of process upsets. Methods In this work, we discuss the development of a digital twin of a surrogate small-scale nuclear fuel reprocessing solvent extraction process utilizing online optical spectroscopic monitoring, machine learning (ML), and chemical modeling. A cascade of centrifugal contactors was employed with the TRUEX (TransUranic Extraction) solvent and surrogate minor actinides. Spectroscopic sensors were placed at strategic locations within the contactor bank and were used to predict TRUEX surrogate analyte concentrations at those locations. Results A solvent extraction digital twin consisting of the data acquisition, chemical model, and anomaly detection, provided expected concentrations at each contactor during normal operations. The digital twin demonstrated the ability to accurately simulate the extraction behavior under ideal conditions. Furthermore, the digital twin’s ML anomaly detection algorithm was shown to be successful in identifying several non-ideal process upset conditions.

Cultivated Land Information Extraction and Spatial Pattern Analysis in Beijing Based on Deep Learning

Abstract. Cultivated land is the basic resource and material condition for human survival, providing the necessary material basis for agricultural development and agricultural modernization (Tian and Shi, 2024). For this reason, this paper takes Beijing as an experimental area to study the cultivated land extraction method and analyze the distribution pattern of cultivated land and the degree of fragmentation. The results show that (1) the extraction results are evaluated by using confusion matrix and Kappa coefficient, and the Kappa coefficient is obtained to be 0.8358.(2) The cultivated land in Beijing is mainly distributed in the southeast as well as the northwest of the local area of gentle terrain, and the The range of the extremely high value of cultivated land kernel density in 2017–2022 is significantly reduced, the slope of the area with the smallest reduction in the proportion of cultivated land is less than 5°, the reduction in the area of cultivated land in water resource-rich areas is small, and the reduction in the proportion of cultivated land in road-intensive areas is large. (3) Due to various natural factors and human activities, the degree of cultivated land fragmentation in Beijing is increasing, the boundary shape of cultivated land patches tends to be irregular.

Synergetic effect of in-situ TiB2 reinforcement and nano precipitation on wear behavior of ZE41 magnesium matrix composite

The rise in carbon dioxide pollution and energy consumption has increased the demand for lightweight materials such as magnesium in automotive and aerospace industries. However, magnesium alloys face challenges like poor wear resistance and mechanical strength. To overcome these limitations, a promising approach involves developing heterogeneous hybrid microstructures through reinforcement addition and microstructural engineering. This study focuses on the tribological performance of a newly developed in-situ sub-micron sized TiB2/ZE41 composite under various microstructural conditions, comparing it to the unreinforced ZE41 Mg alloy. Wear experiments were conducted using a pin-on-disc tribometer under normal loads of 10, 20, 40, and 60 N at a sliding velocity of 1 m/s. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to analyze the worn surfaces in order to identify damage types and surface distortions. By correlating worn surface microstructures with test parameters, predominant wear mechanisms for each material condition under specific loads were determined. Results consistently showed that the presence of in-situ TiB2 reinforcements, β-phase, and rare-earth precipitates enhanced wear resistance regardless of the load conditions. Additionally, the study established a scientific understanding of the wear behavior of ZE41 Mg alloy, with and without in-situ TiB2 particles and precipitates, through analysis of dominant wear mechanisms, wear-induced subsurface deformation mechanisms, kernel average misorientation, grain orientation spread, and microhardness evaluation.

Social epidemiology of urban COVID-19 inequalities in Latin America and Canada

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has spread through pre-existing fault lines in societies, deepening structural barriers faced by precarious workers, low-income populations, and racialized communities in lower income sub-city units. Many studies have quantified the magnitude of inequalities in COVID-19 distribution within cities, but few have taken an international comparative approach to draw inferences on the ways urban epidemics are shaped by social determinants of health.MethodsGuided by critical epidemiology, this study quantifies sub-city unit-level COVID-19 inequalities across eight of the largest metropolitan areas of Latin America and Canada. Leveraging new open-data sources, we use concentration indices to quantify income- and vulnerability-related inequalities in incidence, test positivity, and deaths over the first 125 weeks of the pandemic between January 2020 and May 2022.ResultsOur findings demonstrate that incidence, deaths, and test positivity are all less concentrated in low-income sub-city units than would be expected, with incidence ranging concentration in lower income neighbourhoods in Toronto (CI = -0.07) to concentration in higher income neighbourhoods in Mexico City (CI = 0.33). Drawing on relevant studies and evaluations of data reliability, we conclude that the best available public surveillance data for the largest cities in Latin America are likely not reliable measures of the true COVID-19 disease burden. We also identify recurring trends in the evolution of inequalities across most cities, concluding that higher income sub-city units were frequent early epicentres of COVID-19 transmission across the Latin America and Canada.ConclusionsJust as critical epidemiology points to individuals biologically embodying the material and social conditions in which we live, it may be just as useful to think of cities reifying their material and social inequities in the form of sub-city unit-level infectious disease inequities. By shifting away from a typical vulnerability-based social determinants of health frame, policymakers could act to redress and reduce externalities stemming from sub-city unit-level income inequality through redistributive and equity-promoting policies to shift the centre of gravity of urban health inequalities before the next infectious disease epidemic occurs.

Анализ состояния малокомплектных школ Арктической зоны России

In the article, the authors consider the problems associated with the state and functioning of small educational institutions located in the Arctic zone of Russia, which are due to the specific climatic and national cultural characteristics of this territory. The authors note that the high rates of socio-economic development of the Arctic zone of Russia require the improvement of the educational system of the studied region. The analysis of educational organizations is carried out in the following areas: material and technical condition, equipment of subject rooms and educational spaces, staffing, completeness of classes and levels of implemented education. The presented statistical data (in the form of diagrams and tables) not only visualize the content of the article, but also focus on problem areas in the development of small schools in the region. Based on the results obtained, the causes were identified and proposals were formulated to solve the identified problems.

The Influence of Work Motivation and Work Environment on the Performance of Employees of the UKM Cooperative Office of Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta Special Region

Organizational achievement is influenced by the work environment where employees carry out activities also have an important role in improving their performance. The work environment refers to the material and psychological conditions of employees in the organization. This study aims to determine the effect of work motivation and work environment on employee performance at the Kulon Progo Regency Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperative Office. In this study, the data collection techniques used were questionnaires, observation, documentation and literature study. The analysis used is instrument test, classical assumptions, multiple regression, hypothesis testing, and R2 estimation. Sampling by distributing questionnaires directly to 37 samples. The results of data processing from motivation (X1) have a positive and significant effect on employee performance, namely tcount 2.573> ttable 2.032 with a significance of 0.015 <0.05 and the work environment (X2) has a positive and significant effect on employee performance, namely tcount 2.903> ttable 2.036 with a significance of 0.006 <0.05. Fcount value 7.803> Ftable 3.28, with a significance value of 0.002 <0.05. This means that motivation and work environment simultaneously affect employee performance. The results of the coefficient of determination test obtained an R-square value of 0.315 or 31.5%, which means that the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable and the rest is influenced by other factors outside the research variables.

Globaloney: Extended Party Networks and the Dissemination of Anti-Globalization Insults

From where does discontent against globalization originate? Current explanations emphasize material conditions and the emergence of globalization-skeptical parties. We argue that party-affiliated factions play a critical but underappreciated role. Such factions provide foundational support for elite appeals, acting entrepreneurially to construct new narratives that are later invoked by elites. We test this by studying a unique case: the “globalist” insult on Twitter. We find that “globalist” mentions co-occur with hashtags and terms associated with right-wing conspiracies, “alt-right” media figures, and Donald Trump. We further find that the most consistent correlate of the “globalist” insult is its use by the alt-right media organization Breitbart, not by traditional political elites or in response to changes in economic conditions. The results suggest that a conceptualization of political parties as organizers of political conflict, specifically ones that incorporate factions and non-elite entities like partisan media, helps make sense of anti-globalization political movements.

New hot workability prediction method under non-constant deformation conditions

The deformation conditions of metallic materials constantly change during forming and manufacturing technology. The thermomechanical processing theory cannot be applied to non-constant deformation conditions. The hot workability is a manifestation of the deformation conditions that affect the microstructure. This paper proposes a new prediction method based on artificial intelligence, considering the combined effect of microstructure state and deformation conditions. The hot deformation experiments under constant and non-constant deformation conditions validate the proposed method. Dynamic variation in deformation conditions significantly affects the hot workability. The findings indicate that reasonable control of the dynamic variation in deformation conditions during thermomechanical processing is conducive to improving the hot workability, providing new ways for equipment upgrading and process parameter optimization of some thermal processing technologies.

Application of Galvanostatic Non-Linear Impedance Spectroscopy to the Analysis of Metallic Material Degradation.

This study presents a novel application of Non-Linear Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (NLEIS) in galvanostatic mode for the rapid, non-destructive assessment of metal degradation. By using galvanostatic mode instead of traditional potentiostatic methods, polarization-related challenges are mitigated, enabling more accurate and reliable analysis. The technique allows for the determination of corrosion rates (corrosion current) and material susceptibility to oxidation (Tafel coefficient) through a single measurement with a modulated AC perturbation signal. Theoretical assumptions of the method were validated through tests on both a non-linear model system and an experimental system. The proposed research methodology is highly effective for monitoring the condition of metallic materials in various environments, covering both anodic and cathodic processes.

Solubility effect of deep eutectic solvent and ethanol concentration on corncob lignin extraction

This research investigates the solubility effect of deep eutectic solvent (DES) mass ratio and ethanol–water solution concentration on corncob lignin extraction. The objective is to propose a solubility matching technique based on like-dissolves-like theory to optimize lignin extraction conditions. The choline chloride (ChCl):lactic acid (LA) mass ratio that maximized lignin extraction was determined by varying DES mass ratio between 1:2 and 1:5, and ethanol–water solution (5–95 % (v/v)) was added to precipitate lignin. By using the solubility matching technique, the maximum lignin extraction was achieved at 1:4 ChCl:LA mass ratio, and 70 % (v/v) ethanol–water concentration yielded the highest lignin precipitation. Lignin is highly soluble where the solubility (δ-values) of lignin, DES, and precipitant are similar. Unlike conventional trial-and-error methods, the solubility matching technique relies on δ-values calculated by the Hildebrand and Scott equation. The proposed technique can also be applied to optimize the extraction conditions of other biomass materials.

An adaptive acceleration scheme for phase-field fatigue computations

Abstract Phase-field models of fatigue are capable of reproducing the main phenomenology of fatigue behavior. However, phase-field computations in the high-cycle fatigue regime are prohibitively expensive due to the need to resolve spatially the small length scale inherent to phase-field models and temporally the loading history for several millions of cycles. As a remedy, we propose a fully adaptive acceleration scheme based on the cycle jump technique, where the cycle-by-cycle resolution of an appropriately determined number of cycles is skipped while predicting the local system evolution during the jump. The novelty of our approach is a cycle-jump criterion to determine the appropriate cycle-jump size based on a target increment of a global variable which monitors the advancement of fatigue. We propose the definition and meaning of this variable for three general stages of the fatigue life. In comparison to existing acceleration techniques, our approach needs no parameters and bounds for the cycle-jump size, and it works independently of the material, specimen or loading conditions. Since one of the monitoring variables is the fatigue crack length, we introduce an accurate, flexible and efficient method for its computation, which overcomes the issues of conventional crack tip tracking algorithms and enables the consideration of several cracks evolving at the same time. The performance of the proposed acceleration scheme is demonstrated with representative numerical examples, which show a speedup reaching up to four orders of magnitude in the high-cycle fatigue regime with consistently high accuracy. Graphical abstract

Climate Displacement and Territorial Justice

This article develops an account of territorial justice to understand what is owed to people at risk of climate displacement. I argue that the aim of territorial justice is to secure a globally recognized status, the status of being an equal common possessor of the earth. As a common possessor, every inhabitant of the globe has a claim to a “place” in the world where they can access minimally just material conditions and political institutions, securely pursue their located practices, and exercise self-determination together with others. I apply this theory to generate prescriptions for a just policy response to the risk of climate displacement. Where possible, I argue that a just response should focus on mandatory global taxation to support in situ adaptation. In cases where relocation becomes inevitable, I outline the implications for how just relocation regime should be structured.

Multi-platform metabolic profiling of the stages of production of locally made lambanog, a traditional Philippine alcoholic beverage

Traditional alcoholic beverages contain a diverse range of metabolites that determine their taste and aroma profiles, as well as potential health benefits and possible toxicities. Furthermore, the metabolite levels can vary with the growing conditions of the raw materials and the production process, giving distinct profiles to products from different sources. Thus, the profiling of metabolites present in traditional alcoholic beverages is important for quality control, safety, and authentication purposes. In this study, the various metabolites that can be found in lambanog, a traditional Filipino coconut wine, are profiled using a multi-platform approach, together with the raw material and intermediates across the production process. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), were used to tentatively identify the metabolites present in samples from the different stages of lambanog production. 1H NMR spectroscopy has revealed the presence of ethanol, pyruvate, uracil, and sugars such as glycerol, fructose, mannitol, and glucose. GC–MS studies revealed potential compounds that may influence organoleptic properties in the different stages of lambanog production. Identifying and monitoring the identified metabolite components along the production process can aid future product and process developments, quality control, and authentication of lambanog and other traditional alcoholic beverages.

Beyond Frontiers: ‘Curzonic’ order, frontier expansion and the 1907 Romanes lecture

ABSTRACT George Curzon’s 1907 Romanes lecture, delivered soon after his tenure as Viceroy of India, articulated a vision of geopolitical order at a moment of British imperial decline. Curzon, however, argued that he lived at a historical zenith of frontier competition characterised by British India’s land power and complex frontiers. He invoked ancient precedents to assert the inevitability of modern imperial expansion, obscuring the specific geopolitical and historical material conditions of India’s colonialised frontier spaces. Nonetheless, the lecture illustrates how India’s ‘walling’ proceeded through the projection of the Government of India’s border power and through imperialist ‘protection’, client rule and commerce.

Multi-response kinetic modelling of the formation of five Strecker aldehydes during kilning of barley malt

Control of aroma formation during production of barley malt is critical to provide consistent and high-quality products for the brewing industry. Malt quality can be affected by the inherent variability of raw material and processing conditions, leading to inconsistent and/or undesirable profiles. Dried green malts were cured isothermally at 65, 78 and 90 °C for 8.4 h, and characteristic aroma compounds (Strecker aldehydes), precursors and intermediate compounds were analysed over time. By kinetic modelling of Strecker aldehydes, based on fundamental chemical pathways, we showed that degradation of Amadori rearrangement products and short-chain dicarbonyls was more sensitive to temperature change due to their higher activation energies compared to other kinetic steps. This study can help maltsters to manipulate formation of Strecker aldehydes, via raw material screening and process control, and hence optimise the organoleptic quality of malts and their products, such as non-alcoholic beers, where these aldehydes play a key role.

Evaluation of a Sustainable Production of Encapsulated Chili Pepper Powder (Capsicum pubescens) through Convective and Vacuum Drying

Throughout the world, chili and chili powders are spices of considerable economic importance. Rocoto (Capsicum pubescens R. & P.) is a chili pepper used in Andean cuisine. Fresh chili is perishable and therefore it is convenient to protect the capsaicin, color and other bioactive compounds through preservation methods such as encapsulation. The present study systematically evaluates the technical and environmental aspects of producing encapsulated Rocoto red chili powder using three different wall materials—maltodextrin, rice protein and rice flour—in conjunction with two drying methods, namely convection drying and vacuum drying. Our technical objectives focused on developing an encapsulated product with high heat and vibrant red color, key attributes that significantly influence consumer purchasing behavior. In addition, the study aimed to mitigate the loss of polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. After identifying the optimal conditions for each wall material and drying process, a comprehensive environmental assessment was conducted to identify the most efficient and sustainable production methods. The results demonstrate that rice flour encapsulation (20%) in conjunction with hot air drying (40 °C) represents the most efficacious method for the preservation of chili powder’s pungency. This approach resulted in a mere 24% reduction in Scoville units while maintaining the powder’s vibrant red coloration. This method not only preserved key bioactive compounds, including capsaicin, polyphenols and flavonoids, but also significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the product. From an environmental perspective, this approach offers significant sustainability benefits, reducing the overall environmental impact by approximately 72% compared to vacuum drying of unencapsulated chili. The use of rice flour as an encapsulant aligns with sustainability goals, making it the most efficient option for balancing product quality and environmental performance.

THE SITUATION OF COMMITTING FRAUD UNDER EXTRAORDINARY LEGAL REGIMES

In the article, based on the analysis of forensic literature, the situation of committing criminal offenses is defined as a system of physical, material and social conditions of the environment chosen by the criminal or objectively surrounding him, in which the criminal offense occurs. It was noted that the quantitative and qualitative composition of the structural elements of the situation of committing criminal offenses depend on the types of criminal offenses. It is noted that fraudsters often adapt to typical factors in a similar environment, as a result of which a typical pattern of criminal activity appears. Regarding the situation and conditions of criminal offenses committed by fraud, it is noted that they are committed under the influence of certain economic, legal, social, political, psychological and other factors that create the basis for the unimpeded implementation of deception and contribute to the concealment of illegal actions. It was emphasized that the effectiveness of the entire investigation in the criminal proceedings as a whole often depends on how the investigator correctly analyzes the spatio-temporal characteristics and conditions in which the fraudsters operated.

Non-Destructive Methods for Assessing the Condition of Reinforcement Materials in Soil

A reinforced earth wall is a structure in which reinforcement materials are placed in an embankment to build a vertical or nearly vertical wall surface. Such walls have been widely used in roads and in developed land since around 1960. Reinforcement materials have a set service life of 100 years and fall into two types: steel and geosynthetics. To ensure long-term durability, steel reinforcement materials are plated, while geosynthetics are designed with a limit strength designed to resist fracture for 100 years under the conditions of a given load placed on the reinforcement materials. However, owing to the difficulty of assessing the condition of reinforcement materials in soil, this paper proposes solutions based on non-destructive methods. Specifically, it proposes a method of assessing the amount of strain through an embedded optical fiber in the case of geosynthetic reinforcement materials, or magnetic surveying to investigate the degree of corrosion in the case of steel reinforcement materials. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to non-destructively assess the state of either type of reinforcement material.