Aging Phenomena Research Articles

On the kinetics of structural evolution in metallic glasses

The classic phenomenological models fail to describe the physical landscape of creep deformation for amorphous solids. In this paper, creep behavior of typical metallic glasses with chemical compositions La62Al14Ag2.34Ni10.83Co10.83, Pd20Pt20Cu20Ni20P20 and Cu46Zr39Hf8Al7 were studied. Instead, we attempt to use a modified hierarchically correlated model informed by physics to realize the creep behaviors of metallic glasses. The anelastic deformation of creep is categorized into two distinct components, i.e., the highly correlated deformation unit sensitive to annealing and the low correlated unit associated with diffusion relaxation. The correlated component diminishes with structural aging. The validity of the model is verified by these findings, and the derived parameters provide insights into the structural and kinetic characteristics of metallic glasses. Decreased characteristic times and contrasting correlation factors indicate homogeneous structure and lower energy states. Moreover, a qualitative evaluation of the relative strengths of the dual deformation mechanisms during creep enables the characterization of β relaxation forms, shedding light on the intrinsic attributes of different types of metallic glasses. This methodology additionally facilitates the detection of structural aging and rejuvenation phenomena.

Unveiling the Potential of Ultraviolet Fluorescence Imaging as a Versatile Inspection Tool: Insights from Extensive Photovoltaic Module Inspections in Multi‐MWp Photovoltaic Power Stations

UV fluorescence imaging (UVF) has the potential to grow into a powerful, informative, and economically attractive inspection method for photovoltaic (PV) power stations. UVF demonstrates the ability to indicate differences in polymer types and degradation states in backsheets and encapsulation materials of PV modules. The data acquisition rate of UVF measurements is 10 to 15 times higher than that achieved by state‐of‐the‐art near‐infrared spectroscopy, enabling the mapping of the bill of materials (BoMs) and degradation state for every module in large PV arrays. Combinations of UVF with vibrational spectroscopies allow the polymer BoMs to be recognized and correlated with aging phenomena such as metal corrosion or potential induced degradation. UVF imaging can also be used for conventional visualization of nonmaterial‐related anomalies, such as hot cells or cell cracks. The low purchase cost of the equipment makes UVF an affordable and high‐throughput diagnostic method yielding comprehensive information that would otherwise only be accessible by combining several slower and more laborious methods. Automated UVF image analysis and refinements of correlations between different BoMs and UVF pattern geometry can further unlock the potential of UVF as a straightforward tool accessible to all stakeholders and promote proactive strategies for the optimization of the reliability and performance of PV power stations.

„...dieweil er aber alt und schwach ist”. Alter und Altern in den siebenbürgisch-sächsischen Urkunden aus dem 15.-17. Jahrhundert

The aim of this article is to trace the phenomenon of age and ageing as it is reflected in the German-language documents from Transylvania. Four directions can be recognized. On the one hand, ageing is associated with frailty, weakness and illness, so that the elderly must be supported by family and descendants. On the other hand, old age is associated with experience, wisdom and tradition. Sometimes "old" is only used as an identifier in comparison to other people names. Another aspect is society's disparaging attitude towards older people, which is reflected in the documents in swear words containing the adjective "old".

Application of the first exit time stochastic model with self-repair mechanism to human mortality rates.

The purpose of this study is to construct a mortality model that reasonably explains survival curves and mortality rates in terms of the decline in biological function, which is the phenomenon of ageing. In this model, an individual organism is regarded as a collection of subsystems, and for each subsystem, the model defines human mortality by introducing positive self-repair mechanisms and stochastically generated negative external shocks. The probability density function of the time of death is derived explicitly, and the model parameters are estimated using life tables from Japan and the UK, which demonstrate the existence of multiple parameter sets that fit well with the observed data.

Long‐Term Estimation of SoH Using Cascaded LSTM‐RNN for Lithium Batteries Subjected to Aging and Accelerated Degradation

ABSTRACTAccurate estimation of state of health (SoH) of the battery over long‐term is a critical challenge for the battery management systems in electric vehicles. This is due to the challenges in accurately modeling the accelerated aging and degradation phenomena caused by diverse operating conditions of the battery. This paper presents a cascaded recurrent neural networks (RNN) with long short‐term memory (LSTM) to estimate the internal resistance and SoH, taking account of various abnormal operating conditions of the battery. A datasheet‐based degradation model of the battery is developed using fade equations. The training and validation data set for LSTM‐RNN are generated by subjecting the battery model to various factors that cause accelerated degradation, such as fast charging, varying operating temperatures, overutilization, and cell imbalance. The cascaded LSTM‐RNN is trained to estimate SoH only once after the completion of every charge–discharge cycle. The training error index parameters of the proposed SoH estimator are well within 1%, demonstrating the reliability and robustness of the estimator to diverse operating conditions of the battery.

Extending Shelf‐Life of Two‐Step Method Precursor Solutions through Targeted Regulation for Highly Efficient and Reproducible Perovskite Solar Cells

AbstractPrecursor solution aging process can cause significant influence on the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Notably, we first observe that the aging phenomenon is more severe in the precursor of two‐step sequential method compared to that in one‐step method due to that the protic solvent isopropanol facilitates amine‐cation side reaction and iodide ions oxidation. Herein, we report a novel approach for selectively stabilizing both organic amine salt and lead iodide (PbI2) precursor solutions in two‐step method. The introduction of benzene‐1,3‐dithiol into organic amine salt solution can mitigate amine‐cation side reactions due to the formation of an acidic and reducing environment. Simultaneously, decamethylferrocene (FcMe10/FcMe+10) pair can act as a redox shuttle in PbI2 solution to concurrently oxidize Pb0 and reduce I2 in cyclic manner. Consequently, the PVSCs device fabricated from ameliorative precursor solutions demonstrates superior power conversion efficiency of 25.31 %, retaining 95 % of its efficiency after 21 days of solution aging. Moreover, the unencapsulated devices maintain 85 % of primitive efficiency for 1500 h at maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination. This work establishes a fundamental guidance and scientific direction for the stabilization of two‐step perovskite precursor solutions.

Construction of Smart Clothing Service System for the Health and Well-Being of the Aging Community in a Sustainable Society

Objective: The phenomenon of global aging is becoming more and more severe, and security services such as nursing and guardianship for the elderly have become the focus of social attention. According to the data released by the World Health Organization, by 2030, one out of every six people will be over 60 years old. By 2050, the world population will be 2.1 billion over 60 years old, and the number of people over 80 years old will reach 460 million. This paper aims to monitor the health and services of aging clothing intelligently for the health and well-being of the aging community in a sustainable society, starting from the physiological and psychological needs of the new elderly. Theoretical Framework: In the age-appropriate smart clothing service system, the critical link is to construct the human-computer interaction mode of clothing and wearable devices, establish a design paradigm from single interaction to multi-interaction, and form a service terminal based on smart wearable. Method: This paper designs an aging smart clothing design system using field research, questionnaires, interviews, etc., analyzes the aging smart wearable clothing evaluation system, and constructs aging smart clothing that meets the actual needs of health and well-being for the elderly in a sustainable society. Results and Discussion: In this research, The results obtained sustainable design theories and methods combined with interdisciplinary research tools as the basis of data analysis from the aging intelligent clothing product design system, age-appropriate smart clothing service system, and age-appropriate smart clothing evaluation system. Research Implications: Population aging has been the basic national condition of our country for quite a long time in the future, and "healthy aging" is a strategic measure put forward by the government around the intelligent care service system for the elderly, communities, and institutions. Important direction. Among them, how to build an age-appropriate smart wearable product service system has become the main development content. Therefore, its intelligence and synergistic combination with terminals such as communities, caregivers, and hospitals will become the trend of smart elderly care. Originality/Value: This study contributes to Construct a systematic design of a new intelligent wearable clothing service system for the elderly, which is a great of significance for improving the service quality index of the health and well-being of the elderly. At the same time, it is of great value to expand and deepen the concept of sustainable design.

Exploration of chemical changes in bituminous mastics induced by aging: insights from FTIR spectroscopy, DSR measurements, and machine learning

ABSTRACT The aging phenomenon in bituminous mastics leads to distinct chemical changes that affect their mechanical and rheological properties. Experimental testing like Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) often require advanced post-processing to reveal underlying patterns. This research employs advanced pattern recognition algorithms and chemometric analyses to investigate aging-induced chemical changes in bituminous mastics. The study seeks to establish a rational relationship between their chemical and rheological properties. FTIR data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Regression-Linear Discriminant Analysis (PLSR-LDA) to derive normalised Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) scores. Post-processing of PLSR-LDA results, including Pearson correlation testing and classification through data mining algorithms, identified carbonyl groups, alcohols, and carboxylic acids as key indicators of aging. Significant mineral vibrations in the Si-O band and carbonate-related vibrations were also important for differentiating various mineral compositions in the mastics. The study demonstrated that combining PLSR with CatBoost regression analysis effectively predicts rheological behaviour based on chemical composition. These findings underscore the non-linear relationship between their chemical and rheological properties and provide a framework for predicting material performance based on chemical characteristics.

Inhibiting mtDNA transcript translation alters Alzheimer's disease-associated biology.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) features changes in mitochondrial structure and function. Investigators debate where to position mitochondrial pathology within the chronology and context of other AD features. To address whether mitochondrial dysfunction alters AD-implicated genes and proteins, we treated SH-SY5Y cells and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons with chloramphenicol, an antibiotic that inhibits mtDNA-generated transcript translation. We characterized adaptive, AD-associated gene, and AD-associated protein responses. SH-SY5Y cells and iPSC neurons responded to mtDNA transcript translation inhibition by increasing mtDNA copy number and transcription. Nuclear-expressed respiratory chain mRNA and protein levels also changed. There were AD-consistent concordant and model-specific changes in amyloid precursor protein, beta amyloid, apolipoprotein E, tau, and α-synuclein biology. Primary mitochondrial dysfunction induces compensatory organelle responses, changes nuclear gene expression, and alters the biology of AD-associated genes and proteins in ways that may recapitulate brain aging and AD molecular phenomena. In AD, mitochondrial dysfunction could represent a disease cause or consequence. We inhibited mitochondrial translation in human neuronal cells and neurons. Mitochondrial and nuclear gene expression shifted in adaptive-consistent patterns. APP, Aβ, APOE, tau, and α-synuclein biology changed in AD-consistent patterns. Mitochondrial stress creates an environment that promotes AD pathology.

Antiaging in a Bottle: Bioactive Competency of Plasma-Generated Nitric Oxide Water for Modulation of Aging-Related Signature in Human Dermal Cells.

Nitric oxide (NO), a potential therapeutic antiaging molecule, modulates various physiological and cellular processes. However, alterations in endogenous NO levels brought on by aging impact multiple organ systems and heighten susceptibility to age-related skin diseases. This correlation underscores the importance of investigating NO-based antiaging interventions. Nonthermal plasma-generated NO is a promising avenue for cosmetic and regenerative medicine due to its capacity to stimulate cellular growth. Herein, we examine the potential of plasma-generated nitric oxide water (NOW) as a bioactive agent in human dermal fibroblasts, emphasizing gene expression patterns linked to extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown and cellular senescence. The findings of our study indicate that administering NOW at lower dosages enhances cell migration and proliferation. Moreover, the genetic signatures associated with ECM synthesis, antioxidant defense, and antisenescence pathways have been analyzed in NOW-exposed cells. Notably, the downregulation of ECM-degrading enzyme transcripts─collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase─suggests NOW's potential in mitigating the intrinsic skin aging phenomena, emphasizing the promise of NO-based interventions in advancing antiaging strategies within regenerative medicine.

On the thermo-visco-elastic behaviour of neat and aged PPS composites

Reinforced PPS thermoplastics exposed to variations in temperature and humidity are subject to aging and interface degradation. These phenomena can lead to ruptures due to the interphase weakening. In this study, a micromechanical model based on the equivalent inclusion model is implemented using the viscoelastic behaviours of the neat and aged grades identified by spectrometric analyses. The presented coated inclusion model allows to extract the viscoelastic behavior of the interphase in the dry-as-molded composite and in the aged composite by inverse method conducted for viscoelastic behavior. The presence of the interphase testifies to the degradation of the thermomechanical properties in the vicinity of the reinforcements. In the aged composite, the interphase also undergoes an aging phenomenon. Thus, the model compares the behavior of the interphase in the dry-as-molded and aged grades of the composite and separates the effects linked to the degradation of adhesion of the fibers from the effects linked to specific hydroscopic aging.

Reflections on the Challenges of Old-age Security and Policy Options for an Ageing Population

The global phenomenon of population aging is advancing at an unprecedented pace, particularly in China, where the accelerating aging process poses substantial challenges to the existing pension security system. The issue of elderly care has emerged as a critical topic in the realms of society, economy, and politics, impacting national sustainability and social stability. The challenges brought about by an aging society extend beyond the pressures of pension payments and insufficient elderly care services, encompassing risks related to funding sources and management, as well as concerns over the fairness of the security system. In the face of these challenges, there is an urgent need to optimize pension policies, advance pension system reforms, enhance the elderly care service system, and strengthen the coordination between social and medical security to construct a more equitable and sustainable pension security framework. Measures must be collaboratively advanced through top-level institutional design, policy execution efficiency, and societal involvement to provide robust support in addressing the challenges of aging. This paper will delve into the impact of population aging on the pension security system, analyze the current state and shortcomings of policies, and propose strategies to enhance the system's resilience, offering insights and recommendations for strengthening the pension security framework.

Population aging management from the perspective of the health field of Iran and other countries: A scoping review

Population aging is one of the challenging phenomena where due to health changes and the importance of different levels of prevention, the country’s health system is most responsible for it. Therefore, it is responsible for providing responsible service and dealing with challenges and obstacles to successfully face the aging phenomenon. In this regard, the study was conducted aiming to identify inefficiencies and solutions to face the phenomenon of population aging from the perspective of the health field in Iran and other countries. The study is a domain review that was conducted by searching for specialized words in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Mbase, and ProQuest databases and the Persian databases of the National Journals Information Bank, the Islamic Jihad Scientific Database, Irandoc, and the World of Islam Citation Database. The findings were analyzed based on 57 articles. In order to validate the findings, the opinions of five experts in the fields of health care management, social medicine, psychology, and health policy were used in the classification and completion of data. According to the findings, the challenges of the health system in facing the aging phenomenon were “inefficiencies of the health system”, “medication and treatment problems”, “costs and financing of the health system”, “inefficiencies related to health system employees”, “information and technology challenges”, “service challenges”, “health literacy and unfavorable lifestyle”, and “individual and social obstacles”, and the solutions to successfully face the aging phenomenon include “formulating laws and executive policies”, “prevention and treatment”, “supplying and developing resources”, “development of knowledge and technological performance”, “development of stakeholders’ participation”, “elderly centered”, and “social determinants of health”. The breadth and diversity of the findings indicate that the health system should be updated and strengthened in various social, economic, political, legislative, and executive dimensions in order to successfully tackle the aging phenomenon, and it should consider empowerment and attitude improvement programs of managers and health staff as well as the elderly.

Ratcheting assessment of additively manufactured SS316 alloys at elevated temperatures within the dynamic strain aging domain

The present study has evaluated the accumulation of plastic strain in additively manufactured (AM) stainless steel 316 samples undergoing asymmetric loading cycles at elevated temperature range where the dynamic strain aging (DSA) phenomenon occurred. The ratcheting response of AM steel samples were assessed through the use of the combined isotropic-kinematic hardening framework. The dynamic strain aging was introduced into the dynamic recovery term of the Ahmadzadeh-Varvani (A-V) kinematic hardening rule by an exponential function ψ(p, T). This function enabled the hardening framework to evaluate the ratcheting of AM steel samples at operating temperatures within the DSA domain. The DSA temperature range for AM SS316 samples fell between 700 K to 1140 K. Within this temperature domain, the interaction between solute atoms and dislocations led to an increase in material strength and suppressed the magnitude of ratcheting over the loading cycles. The influence of DSA on the backstress evolution and the yield surfaces translated in the deviatoric stress space and their subsequent influence on the ratcheting of samples using the A-V model were further discussed. The predicted ratcheting curves at the DSA temperature domain were found in close agreement with those of measured values.

Tuning ferroelectric domains and polarization properties of flexible BiFeO3 thin films by phase transition engineering

In the present investigation, thin films of flexible (Bi1-xSmx)(Fe0.95Mn0.05)O3 (denoted as BSFM0, BSFM4, BSFM8, and BSFM12 for x=0 %, 4 %, 8 %, and 12 %, respectively) were synthesized on metallic Ni-Cr substrates via the sol-gel technique. A comprehensive examination was conducted to elucidate the influence of varying concentrations of Sm3+ substitution on the phase constitution, oxygen vacancy concentration, and leakage behavior of the (Bi1-xSmx)(Fe0.95Mn0.05)O3 films. Utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectrometry, it was ascertained that all films exhibited a composite structure comprising orthorhombic (Pnma) and rhombohedral (R3c) phases. An augmentation in Sm3+ doping led to a non-monotonic variation in the R3c phase content, initially increasing and subsequently decreasing, while the nonpolar Pnma phase demonstrated a progressive enhancement. The distorted R3c phase was found to promote the flipping of the domain architecture, thereby augmenting the polarization attributes. Notably, at a Sm doping level of 4 %, the maximum polarization (Pmax) attained was 95 μC/cm2, with a remnant polarization (Pr) of 78 μC/cm2. The incorporation of a judicious amount of Sm was observed to curtail film leakage and decelerate the aging phenomenon. The compositional stability of this doping level was evaluated across a frequency spectrum of 0.1–12 kHz and a temperature gradient of 25–200 °C, revealing no propensity for degradation under conditions of polarization, a holding duration of 104 s, or fatigue scenarios involving a curvature of 5 mm and 108 switching cycles subjected to 103 instances of bending. These findings provide innovative insights for the development of next-generation lead-free transducer apparatus and flexible information storage mediums.

Extending Shelf-Life of Two-Step Method Precursor Solutions through Targeted Regulation for Highly Efficient and Reproducible Perovskite Solar Cells.

Precursor solution aging process can cause significant influence on the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Notably, we first observe that the aging phenomenon is more severe in the precursor of two-step sequential method compared to that in one-step method due to that the protic solvent isopropanol facilitates amine-cation side reaction and iodide ions oxidation. Herein, we report a novel approach for selectively stabilizing both organic amine salt and lead iodide (PbI2) precursor solutions in two-step method. The introduction of benzene-1,3-dithiol into organic amine salt solution can mitigate amine-cation side reactions due to the formation of an acidic and reducing environment. Simultaneously, decamethylferrocene (FcMe10/FcMe+ 10) pair can act as a redox shuttle in PbI2 solution to concurrently oxidize Pb0 and reduce I2 in cyclic manner. Consequently, the PVSCs device fabricated from ameliorative precursor solutions demonstrates superior power conversion efficiency of 25.31 %, retaining 95 % of its efficiency after 21 days of solution aging. Moreover, the unencapsulated devices maintain 85 % of primitive efficiency for 1500 h at maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination. This work establishes a fundamental guidance and scientific direction for the stabilization of two-step perovskite precursor solutions.

Land use policy implications of demographic shifts: Analyzing the impact of aging rural populations on agricultural carbon emissions in China

China is facing a unique demographic challenge with its population entering a phase of negative growth, alongside the growing issue of Rural Population Aging (RPA). This has brought significant attention to the broader population challenges the country is encountering. While the aging of rural populations has been a focal point of discussion, there remains a need for deeper insights into how it specifically impacts Agricultural Carbon Emissions (ACE). To address this knowledge gap, this study has devised a research framework grounded in the human-land relationships theory. This framework seeks to analyze the influence of RPA on ACE. Empirical tests have been carried out using provincial (municipal) panel data spanning from 2002 to 2019. The study's findings indicate that RPA exacerbates ACE, particularly in regions with a pronounced aging rural demographic. However, this adverse effect is lessened in coastal areas and placed with a lighter rural aging phenomenon. Additionally, the negative impact gradually diminishes in the long term. From a land utilization perspective, RPA contributes to Land Misallocation (LM), serving as a critical conduit through which RPA influences ACE. Nevertheless, mitigating factors such as Land Transfer (LT) and Land Scale (LS) help alleviate this negative influence. This mitigation is more pronounced in the long run. In the context of smallholder farmers, the study suggests that a moderate-scale expansion and the promotion of new agricultural models can be instrumental in achieving broader agricultural carbon reduction targets.

Simultaneous Measurement of Two-Trace Two-Dimensional (2T2D) Near-Infrared (NIR) Asynchronous Correlation Spectra and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) to Characterize Thermally Aged Polypropylene (PP).

In this study, a new system was developed to carry out simultaneous near-infrared (NIR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. Aged polypropylene (PP) was examined with the NIR-SAXS system to demonstrate how it can be utilized to derive pertinent information about the polymer structure. Pairs of SAXS profiles and NIR spectra of PP in its initial state and after aging were measured to derive an in-depth understanding of the aging phenomenon. The SAXS profiles of the PP samples showed a clear shift of the SAXS peak to the lower q direction induced by the thermal aging, indicating an increase in the length of the long-period structure. Two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) asynchronous correlation spectra derived from NIR spectra clearly revealed that the aging treatment leads to a substantial increase in the spectral intensity of the regularity bands representing the longer helix present in a folded lamellar structure. In other words, it suggests that the long helix structure is more abundantly present than the short helix structure in the aged PP than in the initial PP. By combining the information derived from the SAXS profiles and NIR spectra, the details of the aging-induced variation were clearly determined. Namely, aging causes additional crystallization of the PP by developing more helical structures, which involves an increase in the lamellar thickness as well as a decrease in the amorphous region. The growth of the rigid crystalline phase restricts the elastic deformation in the amorphous structure, which eventually induces the deterioration of PP by making the polymer hard but brittle. Such observation, in turn, implies that retarding or accelerating the crystallized structure of PP substantially works to control the progress of aging.

Material parameters affecting Li plating in Si/graphite composite electrodes

Silicon is a frequently used active material in the negative electrode of lithium-ion batteries which provides significant improvements in the energy density. Due to large volume changes during cycling, it is typically mixed with graphite. Understanding the interactions of composite materials during battery operation is key to optimizing battery performance and predicting aging phenomena. Even though lithium plating is a critical degradation process, which influences both lifetime and safety, a systematic analysis of electrochemical material parameters affecting plating in composite electrodes is missing. Therefore, a parameter study is performed using 3D microstructure-resolved simulations. We investigate the influence of critical material parameters such as open-circuit potential, electronic conductivity, chemical diffusion coefficient, and exchange current density in simple and interpretable model geometries. The simulations reveal the importance of chemical diffusion and exchange current density, as well as their ratio, in predicting plating. Finally, we apply the set of material parameters to a complex electrode geometry reconstructed from FIB/SEM tomography data of commercial anode material. The analysis shows that preferential plating on the electrode surface dominates all other factors.

Radiation Chemistry as a Tool to Accelerate and Predict Calendar Ageing in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Electrochemical energy storage systems such as batteries are in a resting mode most of the time. Even when no current is passing through them, they undergo ageing phenomena, more or less detrimental to their lifespan, known as calendar ageing. Limiting these ageing processes requires a better understanding of them, but studies on calendar ageing are generally time-consuming. Here, we show that radiolysis, i.e. chemistry induced by ionizing radiation, generates similar degradation compounds and can significantly accelerate calendar ageing phenomena (by a factor of 30 under our experimental conditions). Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), we studied symmetrical coin cells containing an electrolyte between two identical electrodes, with or without various additives commonly used in batteries. EIS makes it possible to monitor the change in resistance in the device over time and therefore the formation of the electrode/electrolyte interphase and the charge transfer kinetics. Among the various additives tested (vinylene carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate and ethyl acetate), the first two proved to be those with the best properties for the cell as a whole. In all cases, just a few hours of irradiation were sufficient to simulate the equivalence of several weeks of calendar ageing.