Regular Distribution Research Articles

Confinement effects and manipulation strategies of nanocomposite membranes towards molecular separation.

Materials featuring well-defined nanoscale channels have demonstrated inherent advantages in the selective transport of gases, liquids, and ions, making them pivotal in applications such as molecular separation, catalysis and energy storage. A crucial challenge lies in the assembly of ordered nanochannel structures and the transformation of such microscopic ordered structures into macroscopic regular distributions to achieve performance improvements. Nanocomposites provide a promising solution by incorporating nanoscale material (e.g., filler) that significantly enhance macroscale properties of matrix (e.g., polymer). In this review, we spotlight nanocomposite membranes that leverage the confinement effects between filler and matrix to construct precise nanochannels and regulate the nanochannel distribution. We discussed the underlying design principles, channel architectures, and the manipulation strategies for integrating filler and polymers into functional membranes. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental mechanisms of mass transport, and the structure-property-performance relationships within the nanocomposite membranes towards molecular separation. This work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these nanocomposite membranes can be further developed to meet the demands of industrial and environmental applications.

Analysis of Influence of Excitation Source Direction on Sound Transmission Loss Simulation Based on Alloy Steel Phononic Crystal

As a type of locally resonant phononic crystal, alloy steel phononic crystals have achieved notable advancements in vibration and noise reduction, particularly in the realm of low-frequency noise. Their exceptional band gap characteristics enable the efficient reduction of vibration and noise at low frequencies. However, the conventional transmission loss (TL) simulation of finite structures remains the benchmark for plate structure TL experiments. In this context, the TL in the XY-direction of phononic crystal plate structures has been thoroughly investigated and analyzed. Given the complexity of sound wave incident directions in practical applications, the conventional TL simulation of finite structures often diverges from reality. Taking tungsten steel phononic crystals as an example, this paper introduces a novel finite element method (FEM) simulation approach for analyzing the TL of alloy steel phononic crystal plates. By setting the Z-direction as the excitation source, the tungsten steel phononic crystal plate exhibits distinct responses compared to excitation in the XY-direction. By combining energy band diagrams and modes, the impact of various excitation source directions on the TL simulations is analyzed. It is observed that the tungsten steel phononic crystal plate exhibits a more pronounced energy response under longitudinal excitation. The TL map excited in the Z-direction lacks the flat region present in the XY-direction TL map. Notably, the maximum TL in the Z-direction is 131.5 dB, which is significantly lower than the maximum TL of 298 dB in the XY-direction, with a more regular peak distribution. This indicates that the TL of alloy steel phononic crystals in the XY-direction is closely related to the acoustic wave propagation characteristics within the plate, whereas the TL in the Z-direction aligns more closely with practical sound insulation and noise reduction engineering applications. Therefore, future research on alloy steel phononic crystal plates should not be confined to the TL in the XY-direction. Further investigation and analysis of the TL in the Z-direction are necessary. This will provide a novel theoretical foundation and methodological guidance for future research on alloy steel phononic crystals, enhancing the completeness and systematicness of studies on alloy steel phononic crystal plates. Simultaneously, it will advance the engineering application of alloy steel phononic crystal plates.

A supply-limited torrent that does not feel the heat of climate change

Debris-flow activity in the Alps is anticipated to undergo pronounced changes in response to a warming climate. Yet, a fundamental challenge in comprehensively assessing changes in process activity is the systematic lack of long-term observational debris-flow records. Here, we reconstruct the longest, continuous time series (1626-2020) of debris flows at Multetta, a supply-limited torrential system in the Eastern Swiss Alps. Relying on growth-ring records of trees that were damaged by debris flows, we do not detect significant changes in the frequency or magnitude over time. This seeming absence of a direct climatic influence on debris-flow initiation aligns with the regular distribution of repose time patterns, indicating a dependence of local process activity on sediment discharge and recharge. This stark difference in process behavior between our supply-limited site and transport-limited catchments has implications for assessing torrential hazard and risk mitigation in a context of global warming.

Deciphering Surface Ligand Density of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals: Shape Matters.

Surface chemistry of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) is of paramount importance because it profoundly impacts their physical and chemical properties, processing, and performance. Herein, we report the effect of the shape of ZnS NCs in terms of nanodots, nanorods, and nanoplatelets (NPL) on the surface ligand density (LD) of the commonly used oleylamine (OLA) ligand by combining three experimental quantification techniques (e.g., thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry) with the semiempirical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Consistent results on the surface LD derived by the aforementioned three independent techniques were obtained, presenting an ascending order of LDdots < LDrods < LDNPLs. MD simulations reveal that the highest LD for ZnS NPLs can be attributed to their extremely flat and uniform surfaces with regular distribution of surface Zn atoms for the OLA molecules to achieve parallel and tight stacking, while for ZnS nanodots and nanorods, their surfaces may have staggered arrangement and multisteps, making it unlikely for the OLA ligand to adopt the tight ligand stacking mode. The finding revealed in this work not only sheds light on the constitution of the molecule ligand shell of NCs, which is helpful for their rational morphology control, but also provides an additional and important knob for tuning their chemical functionality.

CPDet: Circle-Permutation-Aware Object Detection for Heat Exchanger Cleaning

Shell–tube heat exchangers are commonly used equipment in large-scale industrial systems of wastewater heat exchange to reclaim the thermal energy generated during industrial processes. However, the internal surfaces of the heat exchanger tubes often accumulate fouling, which subsequently reduces their heat transfer efficiency. Therefore, regular cleaning is essential. We aim to detect circle holes on the end surface of the heat exchange tubes to further achieve automated positioning and cleaning tubes. Notably, these holes exhibit a regular distribution. To this end, we propose a circle-permutation-aware object detector for heat exchanger cleaning to sufficiently exploit prior information of the original inputs. Specifically, the interval prior to the extraction module extracts interval information among circle holes based on prior statistics, yielding prior interval context. The following interval prior fusion module slices original images into circle domain and background domain maps according to the prior interval context. For the circle domain map, prior-guided sparse attention using prior a circle–hole diameter as the step divides the circle domain map into patches and performs patch-wise self-attention. The background domain map is multiplied by a hyperparameter weak coefficient matrix. In this way, our method fully leverages prior information to selectively weigh the original inputs to achieve more effective hole detection. In addition, to adapt the hole shape, we adopt the circle representation instead of the rectangle one. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method achieves state-of-the-art performance and significantly boosts the YOLOv8 baseline by 5.24% mAP50 and 5.25% mAP50:95.

Bio-mechanical analysis of porous Ti-6Al-4V scaffold: a comprehensive review on unit cell structures in orthopaedic application.

A scaffold is a three-dimensional porous structure that is used as a template to provide structural support for cell adhesion and the formation of new cells. Metallic cellular scaffolds are a good choice as a replacement for human bones in orthopaedic implants, which enhances the quality and longevity of human life. In contrast to conventional methods that produce irregular pore distributions, 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is characterized by high precision and controlled manufacturing processes. AM processes can precisely control the scaffold's porosity, which makes it possible to produce patient specific implants and achieve regular pore distribution. This review paper explores the potential of Ti-6Al-4V scaffolds produced via the SLM method as a bone substitute. A state-of-the-art review on the effect of design parameters, material, and surface modification on biological and mechanical properties is presented. The desired features of the human tibia and femur bones are compared to bulk and porous Ti6Al4V scaffold. Furthermore, the properties of various porous scaffolds with varying unit cell structures and design parameters are compared to find out the designs that can mimic human bone properties. Porosity up to 65% and pore size of 600 μm was found to give optimum trade-off between mechanical and biological properties. Current manufacturing constraints, biocompatibility of Ti-6Al-4V material, influence of various factors on bio-mechanical properties, and complex interrelation between design parameters are discussed herein. Finally, the most appropriate combination of design parameters that offers a good trade-off between mechanical strength and cell ingrowth are summarized.

Geochemical Characteristics and Significance of Molecular Markers in the Paleogene-Neogene Crude Oils of the Northwest Qaidam Basin.

The western Qaidam Basin is rich in oil and gas resources, constituting over 90% of the total oil and gas resources in the whole basin. However, the regional distribution characteristics of molecular markers of crude oil and the petroleum system elements relevant to the distribution of oil and gas in the northwest Qaidam Basin are still unclear, which restricts further exploration of oil and gas reservoirs. A total of 38 crude oils were collected from the Xiaoliangshan Sag and Mangya Sag in the northwest Qaidam Basin and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The indicators of sedimentary environment, organic matter source, and thermal maturity show regular changes from the west to the east in the Xiaoliangshan Sag and Mangya Sag. The nC21 -/nC22 +, n(C21 + C22)/n(C28 + C29), and C27-C28-C29 regular sterane distribution characteristics indicate that the input proportion of lower aquatic organisms in source rocks (E3-N1) gradually increases, while the input proportion of terrigenous organic matter gradually decreases. The triaromatic dinosterane index (TDSI) and methyltriaromatic steroid index (MTDSI) indicate that the input proportion of dinoflagellates gradually increases. The gradual increase in the Pr/Ph ratio indicates a decrease in the reducibility of the sedimentary environment of source rocks. The gammacerane index (Ga/C30H) and methylated-2-methyltrimethyltride-cylchromans (MTTCs) indicate that the degree of stratification and salinity of water body gradually decrease. A total of 23 thermal maturity parameters indicate that crude oil is in a mature evolution stage, and the thermal maturity of crude oil increases with depth, indicating that there are the characteristics of hydrocarbon accumulation close to source rocks. The variation features of sedimentary environment, organic matter origin, and thermal maturity indicators from the west to the east in the Xiaoliangshan Sag and Mangya Sag are controlled by the sedimentary structure characteristics of the study area.

Toroidal distribution of heat load on castellated plasma facing components for lower divertor target in EAST

In tokamak devices, the performance of plasma facing components (PFCs) under high heat loads is a key challenge for achieving long-pulse and high-performance plasma operations. The lower divertor of EAST adopts an ITER-like cassette modules (CMs) structure. However, regular distribution of damage along the toroidal direction have been observed on the divertor target plates, which not only affects the lifespan of PFCs but also limits the long-pulse and high-performance plasma operations. Therefore, investigating the toroidal distribution of the heat load on the divertor target in EAST is crucial for understanding the mechanism of damage on the target plate surface. The toroidal characteristics of heat loads on CMs of the lower divertor in EAST was analyzed using a three-dimensional magnetic field line tracing program (PFCFlux). For the inner vertical target (IVT) and outer vertical target (OVT) within a single CM, the heat load varies monotonically along the toroidal direction. In contrast, the heat load distribution on the outer horizontal target (OHT) is uniform, except at the chamfers, which is directly correlated with the target’s geometric structure and the magnetic field configuration. The surface heat load distribution exhibits toroidal non-uniformity, with the heat deposition pattern being generally consistent and displaying periodic variations. The toroidally uneven heat load distribution is attributed to the change in the magnetic field’s tilt angle. Additionally, the peak heat load is observed at the chamfer positions between cassettes, and an analysis is conducted on the relationship between peak heat load and the size of the chamfer. Smaller tilt angles result in lower surface heat load. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of peak heat loads at the chamfer under different plasma current conditions reveals that higher plasma currents generally result in increased peak heat loads. This investigation into the toroidal heat load distribution on the divertor surface contributes to understanding of the damage mechanism of W PFC as the target plate and provides valuable data for divertor design of future fusion devices.

Recovery of vanadium element from wastewater of petroleum refineries using effective adsorbent: Mathematical approach via isothermal, kinetics and thermodynamic simulation

Adsorption behavior can be determined using different essential studies such as adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics. In this study, adsorption isotherm models, and kinetic, and thermodynamics studies are used to describe the use of alumina as an effective adsorbent and a remover of vanadium (V+5) ions from aqueous solutions contaminated by this metal. The aqueous solutions used simulate the wastewater of most traditional oil refineries. Efficiency can be determined by comparing the correlation coefficients of the linear relationships used with each model. Using alumina, the perfect removal of vanadium ions was achieved. Vanadium removal increases with an increase in the operating conditions, which are time temperature, agitation speed, pH, and adsorbent’s media dose. However, it also increases with the elimination of the initial concentration. This study shows that the vanadium’s adsorption based on the Langmuir isotherm model gives a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, while when it is based on the Temkin and Freundlich isotherms the correlation coefficient is less. Hence, adsorption on the surface of alumina takes place in monolayer surfaces with a regular distribution of particle’s binding energy and a narrow quantity of identical sites on the surface of alumina. Subsequently, the kinetic study shows that the adsorption behavior matched the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with R2 equaling 0.9999. Also, thermodynamics studies approves that the adsorption is a spontaneous endothermic process of enthalpy change.

LatticeOpt: An automatic tool for planning optimisation of spatially fractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy

PurposeLattice radiotherapy (LRT) is a three dimensional (3D) implementation of spatially fractionated radiation therapy, based on regular spatial distribution of high dose spheres (vertices) inside the target. Due to tumour shape heterogeneity, finding the best lattice arrangement is not trivial.The aim of this study was to develop the LatticeOpt tool to generate the best lattice structures on clinical cases for treatment planning. MethodsDeveloped in MATLAB, LatticeOpt finds the 3D-spatial configurations that maximize the number of vertices within the gross target volume (GTV). If organs at risk (OARs) are considered, it chooses the solution that minimizes the overlapping volume histograms (OVH). Otherwise, the lattice structure with the minimum Hausdorff distance between vertices and GTV boundary is chosen to avoid unpopulated regions.Different lattice structures were created for 20 patients, with (OVHopt) and without (OVHunopt) OVH minimization. Imported into TPS (Eclipse, Varian), corresponding plans were generated and evaluated in terms of OAR mean and maximum doses, GTV vertex coverage and dose gradients, as well as pre-clinical plan dosimetry. ResultsPlans based on an optimized lattice structure (OVHopt, OVHunopt) had similar dose distributions in terms of vertex coverage and gradient index score. OAR sparing was observed in all patients, with a 4 % and 9 % difference for mean and max dose (both p-values <0.01), respectively. The best vertices dimensions and their relative distances were patient dependent. ConclusionsLatticeOpt was able to reduce the time-consuming procedures of LRT, as well as to achieve standardized and reproducible results, useful for multicentre studies.

Impact of Regular and Irregular Pore Distributions on the Elasticity of Porous Materials: A Microstructure-Free Finite Element Study.

Conventional analytical formulas for predicting the effective Young's modulus of porous materials often rely on simplifying assumptions and do not explicitly incorporate microstructural information. This study investigates the impact of regular versus irregular pore distributions on the stiffness of porous materials using microstructure-free finite element modeling (MF-FEM). After conducting a convergence study, MF-FEM predictions were validated against experimental data and used to assess the accuracy of commonly employed analytical models. The results demonstrate that materials with irregular microstructures exhibit a rapid decrease in Young's modulus, approaching zero at porosities slightly greater than 50%. In contrast, regular microstructures show a more gradual decline, maintaining significant stiffness until the porosity exceeds 90%. Additionally, the study reveals that some analytical formulas align better with irregular microstructures while others are more suited to regular ones, attributable to the underlying assumptions of these models. These findings underscore the necessity of considering pore distribution patterns in modeling to accurately predict the mechanical behavior of porous materials.

The Cenozoic Abanico rift system: Implications of increased southward extension in the southern central Andes, in Chile

The late Eocene-Early Miocene intra-arc Abanico extensional basin represents a major feature in central Chile (∼31°-42°S). Such basin system concentrated the magmatic activity along this Andean region and hosted locally more than 3.000 m of volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits (Abanico Formation) over a southward thinning crust (<35 km thick). South of 34°30′S, major changes occur in and out of the basin realm that modify the rather regular distribution of the geological features observed northwards, namely: 1. Southward termination of the exposures of the Farellones Formation, 2. Increased presence of pre-Abanico volcanic and plutonic exposures in the basin realm, 3. Southward width increase of the basin, 4. Abrupt end in the Maule region of the Cretaceous plutonic swaths exposed in the eastern Coastal Cordillera and westward bend of the swaths of Mesozoic units, 5. Increased presence of primitive volcanic rocks in the west-side of the basin, and 6. Presence, south of 36°S, of the Cura-Mallín Formation on the east-side of the basin. These changes are caused by the oblique orientation of the Abanico basin relative to the Mesozoic structural and paleogeographic trends and are enhanced by the increased southward opening of the basin. This opening would have occurred through a westward scissors-like rotation of the block of continental crust located west of the basin, which corresponds to the present-day Coastal Cordillera south of 34°30′S. The eastern border, which is represented by the El Diablo fault, remained essentially fixed. The westward rotation is supported by the north-northeast orientation of the Mesozoic plutonic and stratified swaths south of 34°30′S. Additionally, the swaths of Mesozoic rocks are obliquely interrupted by the similarly oriented western border of the basin. Previous analogue models designed to understand the opening and closure mechanisms of an extensional basin show that greater extension and subsidence in the basin occur next to the mobile border, which in the Abanico basin was located on its west side. This observation aligns with the increased southward presence of primitive volcanic rocks, like the Colbún Formation, in the region where crustal thinning would have been greater. Analogue models show that the increased southward extension allowed the development of wider depocenters. In the Maule region, an eastern depocenter near the El Diablo fault, hosted the Early to Middle Miocene deposits of the Cura-Mallín Formation. During contraction, deeply rooted reverse faults can involve basement rocks of the basin and bring them up to the surface as observed in the Abanico basin realm in the Tinguiririca and Maule regions. This study also highlights the continuity and importance of the El Diablo fault in the configuration of the basin. It is shown that, notwithstanding the existence of major changes south of 34°30′S, this fault represents a major structural element that remained unchanged along the Andean segment comprised between ∼32° and 36°30′S separating the Cenozoic deposits to the west from Mesozoic deposits to the east. This fault can be traced continuously from, at least, the Aconcagua valley (33°S) to the Maule region (36°30′S), and most probably extends further south. Apart from separating the Cenozoic Abanico basin deposits from the Mesozoic units involved in the east-vergent Andean fold-thrust belt, its trace forms an almost straight line that connects the Palomo, Tinguiririca, Planchón-Peteroa, Descabezados, San Pedro and Rezago volcanic centers and complexes, hot-springs, and hydrothermal alterations.

The Early Cretaceous Sembar Formation, Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan: Biomarkers and Trace Element Distributions to Investigate the Sedimentary Palaeoenvironment and Organic Matter Input.

The Early Cretaceous clay-rich facies of the Sembar Formation represent the most significantly occurring organic-rich sediments in the Southern Indus Basin of Pakistan. In this study, detailed geochemical research of total organic carbon, biomarker, mineralogy and trace elemental compositions, together with kerogen microscopic analysis, were carried out and used to understand the organic matter input and the dispositional environmental setting of the organic-rich Sembar shale. The Sembar shales have high organic matter, as indicated by the total organic carbon (TOC) content of up to 2.31 wt %. These shales contain a high abundance of liptinites (i.e., alginite and bituminite), with significant reactive vitrinite maceral, reflecting a mixed-organic matter with a high contribution of marine-derived input. The biomarker distributions evidence the finding of mainly marine organic matter. The biomarker characteristics such as Pr/Ph, Pr/n-C17, Ph/n-C18, and tricyclic terpane ratios together with C27-C29 regular sterane distributions show that the source of organic matter was primarily marine-derived from mainly phytoplankton algae, along with amounts of land plant input, and accumulated under a low oxygenated environment. The Sembar shale facies are characterized by high Mo trace element content and high V/Ni and Mo/TOC ratios, suggesting anoxic and nonsulfidic environmental conditions during time deposition. The geochemical proxies such as the Sr/Ba ratio and gammacerane/C30 hopane (G/C30) index suggest that the Sembar shale facies were deposited in a relatively low moderate stratified water column. The higher gallium (Ga) than rubidium (Rb), with high Ga/Rb ratios, indicates a high abundance of the kaolinite mineral, thereby deducing the subaerial weathering during the warm and humid climatic conditions. In this case, these warm and humid climatic conditions cause an influx of masses of nutrients, which could be attributed to increasing marine primary bioproductivity. These large masses of nutrients into the photic zone are also attributed to the presence of the upwelling system during the deposition time. Therefore, such conditions of bioproductivity and preservation of organic matter (OM) resulted in the accumulation of organic carbon in the shale facies of the Early Cretaceous Sembar Formation.

Spatiotemporal transcriptome atlas reveals gene regulatory patterns during the organogenesis of the rapid growing bamboo shoots.

Bamboo with its remarkable growth rate and economic significance, offers an ideal system to investigate the molecular basis of organogenesis in rapidly growing plants, particular in monocots, where gene regulatory networks governing the maintenance and differentiation of shoot apical and intercalary meristems remain a subject of controversy. We employed both spatial and single-nucleus transcriptome sequencing on 10× platform to precisely dissect the gene functions in various tissues and early developmental stages of bamboo shoots. Our comprehensive analysis reveals distinct cell trajectories during shoot development, uncovering critical genes and pathways involved in procambium differentiation, intercalary meristem formation, and vascular tissue development. Spatial and temporal expression patterns of key regulatory genes, particularly those related to hormone signaling and lipid metabolism, strongly support the hypothesis that intercalary meristem origin from surrounded parenchyma cells. Specific gene expressions in intercalary meristem exhibit regular and dispersed distribution pattern, offering clues for understanding the intricate molecular mechanisms that drive the rapid growth of bamboo shoots. The single-nucleus and spatial transcriptome analysis reveal a comprehensive landscape of gene activity, enhancing the understanding of the molecular architecture of organogenesis and providing valuable resources for future genomic and genetic studies relying on identities of specific cell types.

Electrophoretically deposited Asphaltum punjabianum (Shilajit) coatings on polyvinylalcohol/carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels

The present study aims to develop Asphaltum punjabianum (namely Shilajit) coated Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogels and examine their structural, morphological, degradation, and biological properties. Hydrogels were produced at two different concentrations: 70:30 PVA/CMC and 90:10 PVA/CMC. Following that, Shilajit was applied to the synthesized hydrogels using electrophoretic deposition for a duration of 3 min at 30 V. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that the hydrogel's surface had a regular distribution of irregular Shilajit particles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis demonstrated the presence of hydrogen bonding between PVA and CMC hydrogels and Shilajit, indicating the successful deposition of Shilajit on the hydrogel. The hydrogels coated with Shilajit exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, resulting in an inhibition zone measuring 34 mm against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 41 mm against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The hydrogels exhibited a cell viability of 80 % with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and the release of collagen II also increased. Furthermore, the PVA/CMC/Shilajit hydrogel exhibited a lower degradation rate compared to the PVA/CMC hydrogel. The results of the swelling, degradation, and drug release studies indicate that the shilajit coating is appropriate for the long-term process of tissue and cartilage regeneration.

Phosphorus doped Li2FeSiO4 thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering as high-performance thin-film cathode materials

Polycrystalline Li2FeSiO4 (LFS) and Li2FePxSi1-xO4 (LFSP) thin film cathode materials tested in quasi-solid thin-film Li-ion cells have been synthesized using radio frequency magnetron sputtering in combination with rapid thermal annealing. The thin films were characterized for their phase and morphology using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The charge transport properties and electrochemical performance of the films were evaluated through constant current charge-discharge tests, cyclic voltammetry, rate performance testing, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT). The research findings revealed that after the sputtering growth process, during rapid annealing at 850 °C, the as prepared amorphous Li2FeSiO4 thin film showed selective crystalline growth, while crystallized grains on the surface of Li2FeSi0.95P0.05O4 thin films exhibited a fusion like and relatively regular distribution. The electronic conductivity and ionic conductivity of Li2FeSi0.95P0.05O4 thin films were measured at 6.60 × 10−7 S·cm−1 and 4.87 × 10−7 S·cm−1, respectively. The Li2FeSi0.95P0.05O4 thin film displayed an initial discharge specific capacity of 224.05 mAh g−1 at a rate of 0.1 C, with a capacity retention of 73.5 % after 100 cycles in half-cell structure. The assembled Li2FeSi0.95P0.05O4/Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3/Li quasi-solid-state battery presented an initial discharge specific capacity of 195.62 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, with a capacity retention of 55.03 % after 100 cycles. This study offers a valuable reference for the fabrication and doping modification of poly-anion-type Li2FeSiO4 cathode thin film materials, thus aiding the progress of next-generation thin-film quasi-solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

Experimental and numerical analysis of structural inhomogeneity of grooved compacts

Structural inhomogeneity developed within compacted powders using punches with grooved surfaces, is a critical issue due the cracking tendency. This study aims to provide a better understanding of the structural inhomogeneity according to the design of the punch surfaces using a finite element modelling. Two case studies are compared. In this modelling, the Drucker-Prager Cap model with density-dependent parameters is considered while the density distributions of manufactured grooved compacts are determined using X-ray tomography. The structural inhomogeneity is then analysed with the goal to determine which punch design is likely to improve the homogeneity.The contact-stress, stress and density distributions within the compact are computed. Predictions of the density distributions are validated from the measurements and show high densified regions localized essentially under the grooves and decreases drastically towards the compact center. The inhomogeneity of structure generated by each punch design is explained by the resulting contact-stress and the wall friction. A notable improvement of the homogeneity is qualitatively showed using the design of five instead of two grooves which was confirmed by X-ray tomography images and modelling thanks to the regular distribution of contact-pressure over the powder bed, even though this last is not uniform.

Polyampholytes with Various Charge Distributions: Conformation States via Computer Simulation.

By means of molecular dynamics computer simulation, the conformational space of polyampholyte macromolecules with various distributions of the charged groups along the chain is studied. A coarse-grained model where each monomer unit of the chain is presented as a non-charged group in the backbone of the macromolecule connected with a charged side pendant is considered. A limiting case of fully charged chains in the isoelectric point is investigated. The oppositely charged monomer units are distributed in various patterns: regular alternating, multiblock, or random sequences. It is found that the chains with random unit distribution adopt much more compacted conformations than the chains with regular distributions with comparable block lengths. Calculating the chain size and its fluctuation along with the spatial density distribution, coil, and globular conformations are distinguished and arranged on the diagrams in terms of chain length, block length, and Bjerrum length.

Reinforcement mechanisms and current research status of silicon carbide whisker-reinforced composites: A comprehensive review

Abstract In recent decades, with the advancement of micro-electro-mechanical systems technology, traditional materials have become insufficient to meet the demands of cutting-edge technology for various material properties. Composites have attracted widespread attention as an effective and viable solution. Silicon carbide whiskers (SiCw) have emerged as excellent reinforcements due to their high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion coefficient, high melting point, superior mechanical properties, and high chemical stability. This article provides a comprehensive review of the reinforcement mechanisms and current research state of SiCw-reinforced composites. The reinforcement mechanisms include mainly grain refinement, load transfer, and crack bridging. The composites are categorized based on the type of the matrix: ceramic-based, metal-based, and polymer-based composites. The influence and parameter performance of the reinforcement mechanism on SiCw-reinforced composite materials with different matrices vary. However, the key to improving SiCw-reinforced composites lies in understanding the interplay of properties between the matrix and the reinforcement, as well as the ordered and regular distribution and binding at the interface. Finally, the current state and limitations of SiCw-reinforced composites are summarized, and future development trends are discussed. This article represents a great contribution to the future applications of SiCw-reinforced composite materials.

Red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio associates with prevalence and long-term diabetes mellitus prognosis: an overview of NHANES 1999-2020 data.

Erythrocyte dysfunction is a characteristic of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, erythrocyte-associated biomarkers do not adequately explain the high prevalence of DM. Here, we describe red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio (RAR) as a novel inflammatory biomarker for evaluating an association with DM prevalence and prognosis of all-cause mortality. Data analyzed in this study were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2020. A total of 40,558 participants (non-DM and DM) were enrolled in the study; RAR quartiles were calibrated at Q1 [2.02,2.82] mL/g, Q2 (2.82,3.05] mL/g, Q3 (3.05,3.38] mL/g, and Q4 (3.38,12.08] mL/g. A total of 8,482 DM patients were followed (for a median of 84 months), of whom 2,411 died and 6,071 survived. The prevalence and prognosis associated with RAR and DM were analyzed; age and sex were stratified to analyze the prevalence of RAR in DM and the sensitivity of long-term prognosis. Among non-DM (n=30,404) and DM (n=10,154) volunteers, DM prevalence in RAR quartiles was 8.23%, 15.20%, 23.92%, and 36.39%. The multivariable odds ratio (OR) was significant for RAR regarding DM, at 1.68 (95% CI 1.42, 1.98). Considering Q1 as a foundation, the Q4 OR was 2.57 (95% CI 2.11, 3.13). The percentages of DM morbidity varied across RAR quartiles for dead (n=2,411) and surviving (n=6,071) DM patients. Specifically, RAR quartile mortality ratios were 20.31%, 24.24%, 22.65%, and 29.99% (P<0.0001). The multivariable hazard ratio (HR) for RAR was 1.80 (95% CI 1.57, 2.05). Considering Q1 as a foundation, the Q4 HR was 2.59 (95% CI 2.18, 3.09) after adjusting for confounding factors. Sensitivity analysis revealed the HR of male DM patients to be 2.27 (95% CI 1.95, 2.64), higher than females 1.56 (95% CI 1.31, 1.85). DM patients who were 60 years of age or younger had a higher HR of 2.08 (95% CI1.61, 2.70) as compared to those older than 60 years, who had an HR of 1.69 (95% CI 1.47, 1.94). The HR of RAR in DM patients was optimized by a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model; 3.22 was determined to be the inflection point of an inverse L-curve. DM patients with a RAR >3.22 mL/g suffered shorter survival and higher mortality as compared to those with RAR ≤3.22 mL/g. OR and HR RAR values were much higher than those of regular red blood cell distribution width. The predictive value of RAR is more accurate than that of RDW for projecting DM prevalence, while RAR, a DM risk factor, has long-term prognostic power for the condition. Survival time was found to be reduced as RAR increased for those aged ≤60 years among female DM patients.