Material Process Research Articles

Constructing the Cretaceous highly silicic plutons in SE China through the magmatic plumbing system

Abstract High-silica plutons (SiO2 > 75wt.%) play a key role in deciphering the evolution and origin of the upper continental crust. Therefore, studying vertical cross sections of high-silica plutons is essential for gaining new insights into magmatic evolution and the thermal and material processes that shape the Earth's crust during pluton formation. In this study, we present extensive data on the bulk-rock geochemistry, zircon U-Pb ages, Hf isotopes, and trace elements for a range of high-silicic rocks from top-to-bottom cross-section in the Jiuzhen batholith and Yunhe pluton in southeastern China. Geochemical and zircon trace element features of the granitic rocks from the Jiuzhen batholith and Yunhe pluton indicate that these high-silica rocks originated from middle- to upper-crustal magma reservoirs via crystal-melt segregation. In the Jiuzhen batholith, the coarse-grained porphyritic granite in the upper unit originated from the reactivation of a pre-existing, highly evolved, water-rich magma reservoir with lower crystallinity, while the coarse-grained porphyritic granite in the lower unit was segregated from the same magma reservoir with higher crystallinity and involved a higher proportion of mantle material in its formation. The fine-grained granite was later extracted from the nearby magma reservoir of coarse-grained porphyritic granite in the upper unit, indicating they were formed through in-situ differentiation of the silica magma reservoir in the shallow crust. Similarly, the geochemical characteristics of granites from different units of the Yunhe pluton suggest they were produced by the solidification of high-silica melts extracted from a common water-poor magma reservoir. As the high-silica magmas accumulated to form a magma reservoir in the shallow crust and subsequently underwent further cooling and crystallization, the proportion of melt decreased, leading to an enrichment of volatiles and silica in the residual melt. The upward migration of these residual melts within the high silicic magma reservoir resulted in vertical compositional variations within the Yunhe pluton. Our research on the Jiuzhen batholith and Yunhe pluton has revealed that the composition of high-silica magmas is influenced not only by crystal-melt segregation within deep magma reservoir but also by in-situ crystal-melt segregation occurring within magma reservoirs formed through the aggregation of felsic melts in the shallow crust.

Resonant enhancement and confinement of microwave field in coupled conductive rod systems

Abstract We investigated the resonant interaction of incident microwaves with a finite linear array of equidistantly arranged conductive rods of finite height. When strong coupling is established between adjacent rods, which act as open resonators for radial waves, a series of resonances emerges, corresponding to the number of rods in the array. Each resonance exhibits distinct charge oscillation amplitudes and phases along the rods, leading to varying radiative losses. Notably, in a system of two resonantly interacting rods, antiphase charge oscillations result in a nearly 30-fold increase in localized field intensity and a quality factor of approximately 400. This study demonstrates the feasibility of creating high-quality open resonators with sub-wavelength confinement, offering the potential for microwave-to-optical conversion and enabling control over quantum processes in materials, thereby broadening their application scope.

Analysis of Causes and Consequences of Failures in Process of Andesite Crushing by Jaw Crusher

Mining and mineral processing are essential for the functioning of many economic sectors and for meeting human needs. Diagnostics and evaluations of faults are necessary to ensure the successful and responsible management of mining and processing processes for mineral raw materials. Fault-free operation contributes to increased efficiency, productivity, safety, and reliability, reduces the cost of the process under consideration, and reduces environmental impacts. This study aims to identify and analyze possible component failures associated with the jaw crusher used in the process of andesite crushing in an open-pit quarry and compare different approaches to their assessment. The benefit of this is using three different failure analysis methods to assess the criticality of individual jaw crusher components. This approach’s novelty lies in the synergy that occurs when assessing the failures’ impacts on safety, quality, and the environment.

A Study on the Fracture of Brittle Heterogeneous Materials Using Non-Extensive Statistical Mechanics and the Energy Distribution Function

The fracture process of heterogeneous materials is studied here in the framework of the discipline of Non-Extensive Statistical Mechanics. Acoustic emission data provided by an experimental protocol with concrete specimens, plain or fiber-reinforced, under bending are taken advantage of. This innovation of the study lies in the fact that the analysis of the acoustic activity is implemented in terms of the energy content of the acoustic signals rather than of their interevent time or their interevent distance. The Energy Distribution Functions were properly fitted using the expression proposed by Shcherbakov, Kuksenko and Chmelet. This study reveals that the loading and fracture processes of the specific materials are definitely non-additive and non-extensive. It is concluded that the presence of notches is crucial since it assigns non-additivity and non-extensivity from relatively low loading levels due to the early formation of the fracture process zone around the crown of the notch. The values of the Tsallis entropic index, q, that were determined are in very good agreement with the respective ones obtained in previous studies by means of different analysis tools. Finally, a clear correlation between the index q and the average energy content of the acoustic signals is highlighted for the whole range of values of the energy content of the acoustic signals.

Laboratory validation of patient-specific templating for total knee arthroplasty

Patient-specific templating (PST), which is a sister procedure to patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) but hospital-based, is relatively less complex and less expensive than robotics and navigation. However, there are some concerns about the PST including the process of preoperative planning, 3D printing and material, positioning of PST intraoperatively, availability, and clinical value. The purpose of this study was to validate the technical accuracy and reliability of the PST technique in the lab and to report the outcomes of clinical application. To test the reliability of the PST technique, five observers positioned the PST templates five times over the distal femur and proximal tibial whilst a navigation system was used to measure the level of bone cutting, coronal and sagittal alignment, and rotation in both femur and tibia. The mean alignment error in all planes was 0.67° (maximum 2.5°). Concerning the bone (femoral and tibial) cutting, the mean error was 0.32 mm (maximum 1 mm). The qualitative and quantitative analysis showed an overall agreement between observers (p < 0.05). The laboratory part of this study showed that the positioning of the PST over the proximal tibia and distal femur during TKA is reliable. There were statistically insignificant intraobserver and interobserver variations.

Unravelling complex mechanisms in materials processes with cryogenic electron microscopy.

Investigating nanoscale structural variations, including heterogeneities, defects, and interfacial characteristics, is crucial for gaining insight into material properties and functionalities. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is developing as a powerful tool in materials science particularly for non-invasively understanding nanoscale structures of materials. These advancements bring us closer to the ultimate goal of correlating nanoscale structures to bulk functional outcomes. However, while understanding mechanisms from structural information requires analysis that closely mimics operation conditions, current challenges in cryo-EM imaging and sample preparation hinder the extraction of detailed mechanistic insights. In this Perspective, we discuss the innovative strategies and the potential for using cryo-EM for revealing mechanisms in materials science, with examples from high-resolution imaging, correlative elemental analysis, and three-dimensional and time-resolved analysis. Furthermore, we propose improvements in cryo-sample preparation, optimized instrumentation setup for imaging, and data interpretation techniques to enable the wider use of cryo-EM and achieve deeper context into materials to bridge structural observations with mechanistic understanding.

Enhancing Business Competitiveness through Accounting Digitalization

Introduction: Amid rapid changes in the external and internal environment of modern business, more and more companies are turning to the introduction of the latest digital technologies to improve their accounting systems. This helps to increase the efficiency and accuracy of processes, as well as reduce the cost of routine work. However, the use of modern digital tools in accounting also involves certain risks and limitations, as well as raises questions about the ability to use the data for further management decision-making. Given the proven relevance of the topic, the purpose of the study can be defined as identifying key digital tools for the development and improvement of accounting to ensure the competitiveness of modern business in the long term. Methods: To obtain the results, the author used general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, systematisation, processing of statistical material, generalisation and specification, as well as a specific method of hierarchy analysis, which allowed to identify the most optimal areas of accounting optimisation for a modern enterprise. Results: The study identified the main digital tools that can be used in the field of accounting and their impact on the system of accounting procedures in the company. The possibilities of applying various digital tools were identified and it was found that they are necessary to increase competitiveness in the long term. Conclusions: By applying the hierarchy analysis method, it is determined that the most promising for the development of the accounting system may be the tools for processing big data and using digital twins.

HEAT TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT OF MODIFIED SODIUM ACETATE TRIHYDRATE COMPOSITE PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL WITH METAL FOAMS

In this paper, an experimental study is performed to enhance the heat transfer ability of phase change material (PCM) using copper foam (CF). A numerical model is established to predict the melting and solidification process of composite phase change materials (CPCM) in metal foams. The step-cooling curve of CF/CPCM is ideal, with low subcooling and high thermal conductivity because of the interconnected porous structure and the high thermal conductivity of porous media, and the CF/CPCM thermophysical parameters are in line with the expected target. Therefore, a more suitable solution should be selected for practical applications. The CF/CPCM heat storage and exothermic device basically completes the exothermic solidification process at 3600 s, and basically completes the heat absorption and melting process at 4200 s, which has a more obvious effect on the overall heat transfer strengthening of the device and reducing the nonuniformity of the material. The design and construction of the CF/CPCM heat storage and exothermic device can be carried out when the application cost is possible.

Research on the 3D printing process and filament shape of cementitious materials in low gravity

Research on the 3D printing process and filament shape of cementitious materials in low gravity

Multi-scale quantitative investigation of the early structural transformation mechanism in alkali-activated materials: insights from molecular dynamics and first-principles calculations

The polycondensation process of alkali-activated materials has been evaluated in real-time at the molecular level.

A review on hydroxyapatite fabrication: from powders to additive manufactured scaffolds.

Hydroxyapatite (HA), the main inorganic bone component, is the most widely researched bioceramic for bone repair. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in HA synthesis methods and their integration into additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Synthesis methodologies discussed include wet, dry, and biomimetic routes, emphasizing their impact on tailoring the physicochemical properties of HA for biomedical applications. The incorporation of dopants and additives during synthesis is explored for optimizing the mechanical, biological, and osteogenic characteristics of HA-based materials. Moreover, the evolution of AM technologies from conventional 3D printing to advanced 4D and 5D printing is detailed, covering material selection, process parameters, and post-processing strategies vital for fabricating intricate, patient-specific scaffolds, implants, and drug delivery systems utilizing HA. The review underscores the importance of achieving precise control over microstructure and porosity to mimic native tissue architectures accurately. Furthermore, emerging applications of HA-based constructs in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and orthopedic implants are discussed, highlighting their potential to address critical clinical needs. Despite the glimmer of hope provided by the advent and progress of such AM capabilities, several aspects need to be addressed to develop efficient HA-based bone substitutes, which are explored in detail in this review.

Analisis Kemampuan Penalaran Statistis Siswa pada Materi Penyajian Data Berkelompok Ditinjau dari Self Confidence Siswa

This research aims to analyze students' statistical reasoning processes in group data presentation material in terms of students' self-confidence. This research is a type of research, namely descriptive qualitative. Because this research will describe students' statistical reasoning processes in group data presentation material in terms of students' self-confidence. The subjects of this research were 29 students of class XII MIPA 4 SMA Negeri 4 Tanjungpinang who were then narrowed down to 2 students representing each self-confidence categori, namely high self-confidence, medium self-confidence, and low self-confidence. The results of this research were that there were 5 students who had high self-confidence, 20 students who had moderate self-confidence, and 4 students who had low self-confidence. Students who have high self-confidence and moderate self-confidence meet all indicators of statistical reasoning, while students who have low self-confidence do not meet all indicators of statistical reasoning.

Additive Manufacturing with Cellulose‐Based Composites: Materials, Modeling, and Applications

AbstractRecent advances in large‐scale additive manufacturing (AM) with polymer‐based composites have enabled efficient production of high‐performance materials. Cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs) have emerged as bio‐based feedstocks due to their exceptional strength and sustainability. However, challenges such as hornification and poor dispersion in polymer matrices still limit large‐scale CNM–polymer composite manufacturing, requiring novel strategies. This review outlines an approach starting with atomic‐level simulations to link molecular composition to key parameters like bulk density, viscosity, and modulus. These simulations provide data for finite element analysis (FEA), which informs large‐scale experiments and reduces the need for extensive trials. The strategy explores how atomic interactions impact the morphology, adhesion, and mechanical properties of CNM‐based composites in AM processes. The review also discusses current developments in AM, along with predictions of mechanical and thermal properties for structural applications, packaging, flexible electronics, and hydrogel scaffolds. By integrating experimental findings with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and finite element modeling (FEM), valuable insights for material design, process optimization, and performance enhancement in CNM‐based AM are provided to address ongoing challenges.

Transitivity Patterns in English Native and Non-Native Students Research Articles: A Functional Analysis

This study explores the transitivity patterns in academic writing of English native and Pakistani non-native students by analyzing the process types from a functional point of view based on Halliday’s (1985) framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). The research describes and compares the process types used by English native and non-native students to transmit their experiences/ideations and fulfill intended purposes. A corpus of research articles written by English native and Pakistani non-native students was compiled and analyzed in terms of clauses and process types (material, mental, relational, verbal, existential, and behavior. The analysis reveals that both student groups prioritize material and relational processes, focusing on physical actions and linking them to associated actors with corresponding qualities. However, the subsequent processes show differences between the two groups. In the native research article corpus (NRAC), verbal, mental, and existential processes are prominent, while in the non-native research article corpus (NNRAC), mental, existential, and verbal processes prevail. Behavior processes are less frequently used in both corpora, indicating a minimal focus on physiological responses. Variation in process type rates reflects students' choices for conveying experiences. This study contributes to understanding how linguistic choices in research articles vary between native and non-native students, shedding light on differences in communication strategies and rhetorical approaches within academic discourse.

Unpacking linguistic features in EFL textbooks using systemic functional linguistics: Transitivity, Mood, and nominal group structure analysis

Systemic functional linguistics provides a systematic and comprehensive approach to examining language use, offering valuable information about the construction of meaning in the context of experiential, interpersonal, and textual metafunctions. This framework can be used to examine linguistic features and discourse patterns of the EFL textbooks. This study analyzes the linguistic features that go into creating the metafunctions in question found in EFL textbooks using systemic functional linguistics. The study specifically focused on process types of Transitivity patterns, Mood structures, and nominal group structures. Data were taken from two secondary EFL textbooks published in 2013 by two Indonesian publishers from which samples of reading passages were purposefully chosen based on the topic, genre and difficulty, and they were modified into clauses for analysis. After transitivity analysis, material process type was found to be predominantly used signifying a focus on tangible actions. Furthermore, the mood structure predominantly employs declarative structures, indicating comprehensible and direct information exchanges. Nominal group analysis indicates that T (Thing) and DT (Deictic Thing) types are frequently used, increasing vocabulary with physical references. The pedagogical implications of the linguistic feature analysis provide tailored teaching-learning activities and the useful information for instructional design. Acknowledgments The author would like to express their sincere gratitude to the team, editors, and anonymous reviewers for their valuable insights and constructive feedback. Their input has greatly contributed to the improvement and refinement of this manuscript. Disclosure Statement The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.

Exploring Materiality and Stakeholder Engagement in European Water Utilities' Sustainability Strategies, Organizational Practices, and Reporting

ABSTRACTMateriality is a key principle enabling organizations to determine what information to disclose, serving as both a filtering mechanism and a strategic tool shaped by institutional dynamics. Institutional logics, which inform and legitimize organizational practices, significantly influence accountability and reporting processes, including the application of materiality. Effective water management is essential for sustainable development, making the water industry a key sector for exploring materiality and stakeholder engagement within sustainability strategies. This study explores the integration of the materiality principle, stakeholder engagement, and related organizational practices into the sustainability strategies and reporting of the European water industry between 2020 and 2022. Through content analysis of sustainability reports from 26 European water utilities, the study identifies three primary stakeholder engagement approaches: one‐way communication, dialogic interaction, and multi‐directional dialog. The prevailing trend is a dialogic approach that has evolved over time, though concerns about its relevance and effectiveness remain. Additionally, the study examines disclosed material topics, noting a dominant focus on environmental concerns and health and safety, with economic and governance issues receiving comparatively less attention. It emphasizes the need to improve the materiality process by integrating insights from accounting research into organizational practices and underscores the importance of effective stakeholder engagement for fostering trust and collaboration, particularly in vital sectors like water management. The findings offer valuable perspectives for policymakers, emphasizing the need to design robust mechanisms that promote stakeholder engagement. While progress in this area in recent years is evident, as demonstrated by this research, it must quickly evolve into a fundamental component of effective water management to avoid the risk of becoming merely an organizational façade.

Film discourse: A resource for creating a dialect dictionary

The Arabic language is a linguistic phenomenon marked by its various dialectal forms coexisting with a unified literary form, which calls for innovative lexicographic and sourcing approaches. Aiming to create a new type of dictionary, we examine the film text of Syrian series as a source of dialectal vocabulary, recorded in the speech of the characters. The recording of dialectal lexical units in the film text occurs, among other things, in the form of subtitles with equivalents in literary Arabic provided by the film makers. The research material consists of historical series in the Syrian dialect; the methodology involves a comprehensive sampling of lexical and paremical units followed by comparative, semantic, componential, etymological and linguocultural analysis. The novelty of the research lies in the proposed methodology for using film discourse as a source of dialectal vocabulary in the Arabic language, with subsequent processing of the lexical material: 1) distinguishing between dialectal and literary words; 2) creating phonetic, grammatical and etymological commentary; 3) interpreting; and 4) giving illustrations based on the materials from the series; analyzing paremical units. An additional block of the dictionary entry may include equivalents of the headword from other Arabic dialects (lexical network) with possible indications of their connection to the literary source.

TRANSITIVITY AND MOOD RESOURCES REALISING EXPERIENTIAL AND INTERPERSONAL MEANINGS IN “A TALE OF TWO CITIES”: A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS ANALYSIS

This paper examines in depth how transitivity and mood resources are employed to construct experiential and interpersonal meanings in a literary text – a topic that has received limited attention in English literature teaching, learning and research, particularly at tertiary EFL (English as a Foreign Language) departments or faculties. The data for analysis is “Chapter 1 – “The Period” of “Book the First” of the three-book novel “A Tale of Two Cities” by the eminent British novelist Charles Dickens. The theoretical framework adopted for analysis is SFL (Systemic Functional Linguistics). The units of analysis are major clause simplexes. Findings of the study exhibit a number of noticeable transitivity and mood features employed in the text. In terms of transitivity resources, the writer represents experiential meanings in “The Period” by employing a very high frequency of material and relational processes, no behavioural process, all represented participants, a relatively small number of Circumstances, and a very high proportion of the past simple tense. As regards mood resources, the writer constructs interpersonal meanings in “The Period” by employing one hundred per cent of declarative mood, a predominant proportion of explicit Subjects, all non-interactive Subjects, and a predominant proportion of first participant Subjects. The study ends with a summary of the salient findings found in the text, a recommendation affirming the relevance of SFL as a theoretical framework for analysing and interpreting experiential and interpersonal meanings of texts in general and literary texts in particular for literature teaching, learning and research, and some suggestions for further study.

Capital Accumulation Through Labor Exploitation as Determinant of Health: CKDnT in Guanacaste

Employing the dialectical method Marx developed in his critique of political economy, this work seeks to advance beyond an understanding of the proliferation of chronic kidney disease of nontraditional etiology (CKDnT) in Guanacaste, Costa Rica as a purely epidemiological development and towards its understanding as a concrete manifestation of capitalist accumulation. This research aims to display the form determinations of a material process such as CKDnT through a critical, descriptive analysis of the production and reproduction of the temporary migrant labor force at the El Viejo, Taboga and CATSA mills. This is contextualized through an analysis of the transformations suffered by Costa Rica’s national sphere of accumulation between 1970–2022. We conclude that, despite expanding the minimum scale of production–a condition necessary to displace small capitals in the sector and thus the brutalized forms of exploitation that they promote–the sugarcane sector still requires a seasonally exploited and overall degraded workforce: a need that posits the conditions for CKDnT proliferation.

ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONAL POSSIBILITIES OF AUTOMATED DOSING SYSTEMS FOR FINISHED MEDICINES

In many modern productions, it is necessary to implement the process of dosing certain materials, liquids, reagents, etc. When automating such lines, the parameters of the dosing process can be very important. For example, in automated lines for dosing liquids into containers, the dosing process determines the efficiency of the entire production. The dosing process is essential in producing finished medicines (FM). Particularly, the advantages and disadvantages of methods of vacuum, syringe, weight dosing of finished medicines, and dosing with the use of flow meters were analyzed. A dosing machine for FM is one of the components of finished medicines production. Therefore, the overall productivity of the production facilities depends on the dosing parameters, particularly the accuracy and time of filling the container. The quantitative output of the produced products will depend on the accuracy of dosing, which affects the economic indicators of the enterprise. In this paper, the authors have analyzed the dosing methods, features of the dosing process and automated FM dosing systems. Based on the analysis, we proposed a weight dosing method for dosing pharmaceutical solutions into vials with 100 - 300 ml volume. It has been established that this method has many advantages, particularly high dosing accuracy, relatively low cost of implementation, and high equipment productivity. We carried out an analysis of the stages of the dosing process using the weight-filling method and proposed to develop an algorithm for choosing the duration of each stage based on the criteria of achieving the minimum filling time and the minimum filling error. We also proposed implementing an adaptive control algorithm with self-learning elements based on previous dosing cycles to control the dosing process. The proposed algorithm aims to optimize the dosing process parameters and achieve the best possible quality indicators, namely high dosing accuracy and minimum dosing time.