Shell Thickness Research Articles

A trade-off between the diffusion depth, the thickness of the Tb-rich shell and the surface grain coarsening during the grain boundary diffusion of sintered Nd-Ce-Fe-B magnets

The grain boundary diffusion process (GBDP) has become one of the main methods to enhance the coercivity of Nd-Ce-Fe-B magnets. In this study, we examined how the magnetic properties of sintered Nd-Ce-Fe-B magnets are influenced by the combined impacts of diffusion depth, Tb-rich shell thickness, and surface grain coarsening after conducting grain boundary diffusion. There exists a trade-off between achieving a desired diffusion depth and avoiding excessive surface grain coarsening. To examine this trade-off, samples with varying diffusion depths were prepared through controlled diffusion time. Results revealed that compared to the original annealed magnets, the coercivity increments of the magnets diffused for 1 h and 3 h were 148 kA/m and 290 kA/m, respectively, while the coercivity of the magnet diffused for 9 h remained nearly the same as that diffused for 3 h. Microstructural analysis indicated that surface grain coarsening intensified with increasing diffusion time, leading to a reduction in the surface diffusion channels, thereby diminishing diffusion efficiency. In addition, strong mutual diffusion was observed between the magnet and the diffusion source. Furthermore, micromagnetic simulation studies revealed that severe surface grain coarsening limits the enhancement of coercivity even with increased depth of diffusion and thickness of the Tb-rich shell layer. This study offers valuable insights into the correlation between diffusion depth, Tb-rich shell thickness, surface grain coarsening, and the ultimate magnetic properties in sintered Nd-Ce-Fe-B magnets after GBDP, providing guidance for enhancing the efficiency of GBDP.

Effect of amorphous layer parameters on tensile behavior of amorphous/crystalline CuZr/Cu composites

This study investigates the mechanical behavior and deformation property of CuZr/Cu amorphous/crystalline (AC) composites subjected to uniaxial tensile loading. The results reveal significant insights by varying amorphous shell thickness and amorphous alloy composition. Reducing the amorphous shell thickness from 20Å to 5Å increases the tensile strength of the composite from 2.715GPa to 4.668GPa due to the enhanced AC interface effect. The insertion of crystalline phases in the amorphous matrix induces nucleation zones for the shear bands and dislocations, affecting the plastic flow distribution. The shear strain and residual stress predominantly manifest in the amorphous shell. A thinner amorphous shell induces substantial shear strain in crystalline phases, promoting homogeneous deformation. The dislocations prompt plastic deformation in crystalline phases, altering atomic configurations. The AC interfaces initiate deformation nucleation, generating partial dislocations, stacking faults, and twinning in the tension. Besides, the total dislocation length rises with strain increase and thinner amorphous shell. Moreover, the increase of Cu content in the amorphous CuZr shell leads to increased tensile strength and elastic modulus. The higher Cu content increases the concentration of shear strain regions in the composites. The deformation mechanism is also switched from the dominant shear band to the homogenous deformation with increasing Cu content in the amorphous shell. Finally, the phase change shows that the FCC phase decreases and the amorphous phase gain is less as the percentage of Cu in the amorphous increases.

Nanotechnology-Driven Delivery of Caffeine Using Ultradeformable Liposomes-Coated Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Follicular Delivery and Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is caused by the impact of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on hair follicles, leading to progressive hair loss in men and women. In this study, we developed caffeine-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated with ultradeformable liposomes (ULp-Caf@HMSNs) to enhance caffeine delivery to hair follicles. Caffeine, known to inhibit DHT formation, faces challenges in skin penetration due to its hydrophilic nature. We investigated caffeine encapsulated in liposomes, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), and ultradeformable liposome-coated HMSNs to optimize drug delivery and release. For ultradeformable liposomes (ULs), the amount of polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 was varied. TEM images confirmed the mesoporous shell and hollow core structure of HMSNs, with a shell thickness of 25–35 nm and a hollow space of 80–100 nm. SEM and TEM analysis showed particle sizes ranging from 140–160 nm. Thermal stability tests showed that HMSNs coated with ULs exhibited a Td10 value of 325 °C and 70% residue ash, indicating good thermal stability. Caffeine release experiments indicated that the highest release occurred in caffeine-loaded HMSNs without a liposome coating. In contrast, systems incorporating ULp-Caf@HMSNs exhibited slower release rates, attributable to the dual encapsulation mechanism. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that ULs-coated particles penetrated deeper into the skin than non-liposome particles. MTT assays confirmed the non-cytotoxicity of all HMSN concentrations to human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs). ULp-Caf@HMSNs promoted better cell viability than pure caffeine or caffeine-loaded HMSNs, highlighting enhanced biocompatibility without increased toxicity. Additionally, ULp-Caf@HMSNs effectively reduced ROS levels in DHT-damaged HFDPCs, suggesting they are promising alternatives to minoxidil for promoting hair follicle growth and reducing hair loss without increasing oxidative stress. This system shows promise for treating AGA.

Effect of annatto and alfalfa on egg yolk pigmentation in Creole hens

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an alfalfa- and annatto-enriched diet on the external and internal characteristics of eggs laid by Creole hens. Design/Methodology: A set of 22 Creole hens was divided into two treatment groups. The first group (n=11 females and one male) was fed alfalfa, while the second (n=11 females and one male) consumed alfalfa and annatto. For the study, 116 eggs (alfalfa=58 and annatto=58) were collected and stored in refrigeration until further analysis. The data encompassed external physical characteristics (egg weight, length, width, and shell thickness) and internal physical characteristics (yolk weight, white weight, and yolk pigmentation). Yolk color was evaluated as per the DSM color spectrum. Study Limitations/implications: Backyard poultry farming does not use artificial pigments to color egg yolks due to their high cost and low availability. Annatto and alfalfa are low-cost, handy alternatives. Results: Adding fresh alfalfa or annatto to the Creole hens' diet did not significantly affect (P>0.05) egg weight, length, or width, nor (P>0.05) eggshell thickness. Yolk and white weight were not affected (P>0.05) either. However, supplementing the hens’ diet with annatto intensified yolk pigmentation. Conclusion: Adding annatto to the Creole hens' diet intensifies yolk color without affecting the external or internal physical characteristics of eggs. Annatto (known in Mexico as achiote) is a natural pigment with no harmful effects on human health compared to synthetic alternatives. It is also inexpensive and easily accessible.

Improvement of the magnetization and heating ability of CoFe2O4/ NiFe2O4 core/shell nanostructures

Abstract In this study, the effect of the shell thickness on the structural and magnetic properties of the CoFe2O4/NiFe2O4 core/shell is studied. A single-phase core/shell nanocomposite was prepared by the hydrothermal method. The shell thickness was found to control the magnitudes of saturation magnetization and coercive field of the prepared samples. The thickness of the NiFe2O4, which covered cubic CoFe2O4 particles of 15 nm, was 1.8 nm, leading to an increase in the saturation magnetization by 26% and a decrease in the coercive field by 50% compared to bare CoFe2O4. However, a further increase in shell thickness caused interfacial dislocations due to the lattice mismatch between the core and the shell. Finally, the heating ability at high frequency was measured for all samples. Comparing the temperature rise under the influence of AC magnetic field, which indicates power loss, relative to bare CoFe2O4, it was enhanced by 100% for a shell thickness of 26 nm. The results of this study point to potential applications for these samples in the field of magnetic hyperthermia for cancer therapy and drug delivery.

Dosing of Bacterial Phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) in Laying Hens’ Diets

Despite the acknowledged advancements in the utilization of phytase dosing, limited research has been conducted on commercial laying hens. To assess the effectiveness of doses of exogenous phytase, a total of 320 laying hens aged between 44 and 64 weeks were utilized. These hens were divided into five treatments, which were then distributed using a completely randomized design with eight replicates, each containing eight birds. The treatments consisted of phytase supplementation levels of 0, 500, 1000, 1500, and 3000 FTU/kg. Quadratic regression equations were utilized to determine the maximum and minimum values for the levels of phytase supplementation. A significant difference was observed in the levels of phytase supplementation, where a quadratic model was fitted to various variables including egg weight (g), egg mass (g/bird/day), feed conversion per egg mass (g/g), yolk concentration (%), albumen concentration (%), shell thickness (μm), shell strength (kgf), specific gravity, and yolk color. Further, an increased supplementation improved the digestive tract of the hens, thereby providing a better villus–crypt ratio. Considering the advantageous effects of phytase dosing, it is recommended to supplement corn and soybean meal-based diets with 1500 FTU/kg of bacterial phytase for laying hens during the 44- to 64-week production period.

A homogenization model for multiple buckling response of axially compressed cellular cylindrical shells

Pattern transformation in periodic cellular structures induces significant property changes under specific external stimuli, resulting in unusual mechanical behavior. This paper proposes an efficient homogenization method for predicting multiple buckling responses of cellular cylindrical shells composed of such pattern-transformation metamaterial. FEM simulations reveal four distinct buckling modes and three kinds of post-buckling processes, achieved through controlled adjustments in the ratio of cylindrical shell thickness to the radius and structural porosity. An efficient homogenization method with the local buckling in the cellular cylindrical shell modeled as an equivalent plasticity in the homogenized shell enables us to predict the critical buckling stress and the post-buckling morphology in good agreement with FEM simulations, analytical analysis, and experiments. The derived solution for the critical buckling load of the cellular cylindrical shells provides practical insights for designing and applying such cylindrical cellular structures.

Research on the Configuration Optimization of All-Metal Micro Resonant Hemisphere

As the core component of the all-metal micro resonant gyroscope, the structural parameters and form and position errors of the resonator significantly influence its vibration characteristics, and consequently, the accuracy of the gyroscope. By establishing the finite element model of an ideal hemispherical resonator and optimizing the meshing method, we refined the frequency difference to 0.1 Hz, enhancing the accuracy of the simulation model. Through finite element simulation, we examined the impact of various structural parameters and processing errors on the natural frequencies of each mode. We analyzed how form and position errors, including shell thickness error, central axis error, equatorial plane error, and edge rectangular tooth position error, affect the frequency splitting of the resonator. We provided optimization suggestions for the structural parameters, ensuring frequency splitting variations of less than 1 Hz. Theoretical modeling and simulation analysis indicated that the primary factors influencing the vibration modes and frequency splitting are the rectangular tooth structure and shell thickness. Following the optimized parameters, the frequency splitting of the All-Metal Micro Resonant Hemisphere was reduced by an order of magnitude to 14 Hz, demonstrating that these optimized conditions can significantly enhance the resonator’s performance.

Genetic characterization and mapping of the shell-strength trait in peanut.

Shell strength is an important trait in peanuts that impacts shell breakage and yield. Despite its significance, the genetic basis of shell strength in peanuts remains largely unknown, and the current methods for rating this trait are qualitative and subjective. This study aimed to investigate the genetics of shell strength using a segregating recombinant-inbred-line (RIL) population derived from the hard-shelled cultivar 'Hanoch' and the soft-shelled cultivar 'Harari'. Initially, a quantitative method was developed using a texture analyzer, focusing on the proximal part of isolated shells with a P/5 punching probe. This method revealed significant differences between Hanoch and Harari. Shell strength was then measured in 235 RILs across two distinct environments, revealing a normal distribution with some RILs exhibiting shell strength values beyond those of the parental lines, indicating transgressive segregation. Analysis of variance indicated significant effects for the RILs, with no effects of block or year, and a broad-sense heritability estimate of 0.675, indicating a substantial genetic component. Using an existing genetic map, we identified three QTLs for shell strength, with one major QTL (qSSB02) explaining 18.7% of the phenotypic variation. The allelic status of qSSB02 corresponded significantly with cultivar designation for in-shell or shelled types over four decades of Israeli peanut breeding. Physical and compositional analyses revealed that Hanoch has a higher shell density than Harari, rather than any difference in shell thickness, and is associated with increased levels of lignin, cellulose, and crude fiber. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic and compositional factors that influence shell strength in peanut, laying a foundation for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs focused on improving pod hardness in peanuts.

Mesoporous N-doped hierarchical porous materials derived from core-shell MOFs: A promising strategy for eliminating sulfamethoxazole using 1O2

Slfamethoxazole (SMX) has been considered as one kind of important micropollutants in water which need to be removed effectively. Developing one kind of material for effectively removing SMX in water is crucial in treatment process. In this study, core–shell structured metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with increasing shell thickness (5, 10, and 20-ZIF-8@ZIF--67 s) were selected as an ideal platform to develop water-stable hierarchical porous carbons (HPCs) using one-step calcination, showing the dual functionals of both adsorption and catalysis by producing large amount of acitve species (1O2). These novel HPCs systematically optimized at increasing temperatures and ratios of two metals. The 10-Co-NHPC-900 at optimal conditions shows highest adsorption capacities and initial adsorption rates, which are 4.56 and 10.35 times higher than those of calcinated ZIF-67 s. The decomposition mechanisms based on PMS were systematically studied by analyzing oxidant consumption, reactive oxygen species and by-products of SMX. In addition, Co ions leached amount of 10-Co-NHPC-900 was 63.6 times lower than that of MOF precursor, indicating that the cobalt-based porous carbon have higher water stabilities. This study offers an efficient approach for reducing micropollutants risk using water-stable hierarchical porous carbons.

The effect of season on internal quality of backyard turkey eggs using discriminant canonical analysis

This study is aimed to define the effect of season on internal turkey eggs produced in backyard systems. To this goal, a total of 197 turkey eggs from Andalusian hens were continuously collected throughout 15 months to study internal quality attributes. A discriminant canonical analysis was performed considering season as the dependent variable and these quality attributes as independent variables. Yolk weight was discarded from analysis due to multicollinearity problems (VIF > 5), and then, statistically explanatory variables were obtained (p < .05). All colour yolk traits, including yolk colorimetric (lightness, redness and yellowness axes) and DSM® fan performed as discriminating variables. Moreover, the yield of egg components (yolk diameter and albumen weight) and almost every shell trait (shell strength, thickness and resistance area) were powerful explanatory variables as well. Albumen height and pH were reported explanatory variables, but possibly due to the effect of the environment from laying to egg collection. Results obtained show a great adaptation of this genotype to its traditional environment and rearing conditions. This study provides the first description of the effect of season on internal food quality attributes of turkey eggs and would provide a better understanding of egg production in organic-like systems. Moreover, the results of this study represent a step forward in the procedures for the institutional recognition of the breed. Highlights Internal egg quality attributes in turkey species vary throughout seasons and serve as explanatory variables in the discriminant canonical analysis. Eggs laid in different seasons can be successfully classified attending to the variance of their internal egg characteristics. Yolk colour attributes, particularly yolk yellowness (b*), showed great explanatory properties, which evidences different trends in pasture availability and consumption during the year. General internal quality did not decline during the summer, which evidences the great adaptation of the Andalusian turkey breed to its environment. Effects of climate change are visible in egg quality in organic-like rearing systems.

Surface engineering of Fe3O4@SiO2 Core–Shell nanoparticles: Role of CTAB/TEOS ratio

Core– shell Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles with tunable SiO2 shell thickness and porosity were successfully synthesized using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the crosslinking agent and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the silica precursor. The increase in the O-H stretching peak intensity observed in the Fe3O4/CTAB and Fe3O4/CTAB/SiO2 nanoparticles was attributable to the increased number of hydroxyl groups resulting from hydrogen bonding between the head of CTAB and water molecules and the increased exposure of the SiO2 surface owing to CTAB dissolution. The shell thickness and porosity of the nanoparticles were controlled by adjusting the TEOS/CTAB ratio. Increasing the CTAB content while maintaining a fixed amount of TEOS resulted in a constant shell thickness but increased porosity. Conversely, increasing the TEOS content while fixing the amount of CTAB led to the formation of a double-shell structure with a new dense silica layer on top of the existing shell at concentrations exceeding a certain threshold. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and application of SiO2-coated nanoparticles tailored for various applications.

Three-dimensional elastic Rayleigh–Taylor instability at the cylindrical interface

This paper presents a linear analysis of elastic Rayleigh–Taylor instability at both cylindrical column and cylindrical shell interfaces. By considering the rotational part of the disturbance flow field, an exact solution is derived, revealing that the most unstable mode is two-dimensional in the cross section. As the column radius decreases, the maximum growth rate increases, while the corresponding azimuthal wave number decreases incrementally until it reaches 1. Thinning the cylindrical shell is found to be a destabilizing effect, leading to an increase in both the cutoff wave number and the most unstable azimuthal wave number. The maximum growth rate usually increases as the shell becomes thinner, except in cases with small radii where feedthrough effects occur. For thin shells with small radii, the cutoff axial wave number is determined by the radius rather than the shell thickness. Comparisons between the growth rates derived from the potential flow theory and the exact solution show significant discrepancies in cylindrical shells, mainly due to substantial deviations in the cutoff wave number.

Rheology, shrinkage, mechanical properties and microstructure of ultra-light-weight concrete with fly ash cenospheres

Cenospheres are low-density and hollow microspheres derived from coal-fired power plant fly ash waste. This study aims to prepare ultra-light-weight (<1000 kg/m3 wet density) concrete using fly ash cenospheres (FAC). To begin with, FAC’s shell thickness and the water absorption and desorption were characterized. A mixing procedure was designed to avoid the segregation between the FAC and cement slurry. FAC can affect the rheological properties of fresh mixture over time through absorption and desorption of free water. The presented ultra-light-weight concrete has several advantages compared to the ones prepared using foaming methods. First, shrinkage is significantly reduced due to FAC’s internal restraint and curing effects. Secondly, it has good mechanical performance, especially in bending and is more environmentally friendly due to use of less cement. X-ray computed tomography illustrates that FAC ultra-light-weight concrete has smaller pores of more uniform size compared with those prepared using foaming methods. X-Ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry-derivative thermal gravimetry, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy are employed for the hydration products and microstructure characterization. Outcomes prove that FAC can combine well with the cement matrix, and react with calcium hydroxide to produce C-A-S-H through pozzolanic reaction.

Infection status of Baylisascaris transfuga in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) from three bile farms in South Korea, with molecular analyses

Bears harbor various endoparasites that pose risks to humans and other animals. However, information on parasitic infections in Asiatic black bears in Korea is limited, and potential hazards still exist because of the close contact between bears and humans on bile farms. The present study was conducted to assess the gastrointestinal parasite infection status in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) at bile farms in South Korea (Korea). Additionally, we aimed to characterize the molecular aspects of Baylisascaris transfuga (Nematoda: Ascarididae), the sole species investigated throughout the study. Fecal examinations were performed on a total of 84 fecal samples collected from three bear farms in Hwacheon-gun (gun = County) and Donghae-si (si = City), Gangwon-do (do = Province), and Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do. Eggs were identified morphologically, and an adult worm expelled in the feces was analyzed molecularly using the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 2 (cox1 and cox2) gene markers. The prevalence of helminthic eggs was 10.7 %, identified as Baylisascaris transfuga based on morphological characteristics. The eggs, which were oval and brown with thick shells, had a mean length of 87.3 ± 8.9 μm on the long axis and 70.7 ± 6.1 μm on the short axis (n = 30). An adult female roundworm found in the feces of one individual, measuring 27 cm in length and 0.4 cm in width, was also identified as same species through genetic methods. Herein, we described the prevalence of B. transfuga in captive bears in Korea and its molecular characteristics for the first time. Additionally, we reviewed the sequences of the genus Baylisascaris available in The International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collection, noting that many of these sequences often have ambiguous or potentially incorrect identifications, complicating the understanding of their phylogenetic status. This investigation is part of disease screening efforts aimed at enhancing the welfare of captive bears prior to their imminent relocation to sanctuaries. Health monitoring and endoparasite control in farmed bears should be carried out in both veterinary and public health contexts.

Facile synthesis of Fe3O4 photothermal nanoparticles coated with poly-3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde for improved photothermal therapy of cancer cells

Given the significant rise in the number of individuals diagnosed with cancer, the management of cancer therapy has become a prominent concern in society and a formidable task in human health care. Photothermal therapy has garnered significant interest in cancer treatment because of its exceptional efficacy and minimal invasiveness. Thus, current research mainly focuses on developing biocompatible materials with excellent photothermal properties. Therefore, we synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with poly-3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (Fe3O4@PDBA) where 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde was covalently polymerized onto the surface of Fe3O4. The induction of PDBA leads to a dramatical improvement in the photothermal properties of Fe3O4. Besides, the thickness of the PDBA shell layer is also a key factor in the photothermal performance and various physicochemical properties of Fe3O4@PDBA and the photothermal performance of Fe3O4@PDBA increases with increasing thickness of the PDBA shell. Additional structural characterization of the products, DFT calculations of the UV-Vis absorption spectra and the HOMO-LUMO gap under the simple model of the polymer, and product identification by the use of H1NMR, MS, and other techniques were performed. Through multiple characterizations, the reaction solution color and UV-Vis absorption spectra were essentially consistent with the computed findings. The calculations confirm that the polymerization process of PDBA is progressively red-shifted and the absorption is gradually enhanced in the NIR region. Fe3O4@PDBA exhibited strong cytotoxicity against cancer cells (Hela, 98.0%) in vitro photothermal treatment. Hence, Fe3O4@PDBA exhibits superior photothermal characteristics, targeting, biocompatibility (99.0%), and degradability, which brings about significant potential for photothermal cancer therapy.

Size-dependent optical properties and thermal response of Fe/Co/Ni@Au and Fe/Co/Ni@Ag core-shell nanospheres

In this work, Mie theory is employed to study the opto-thermal response of magneto plasmonic Fe/Co/Ni@Au and Fe/Co/Ni@Ag core-shell nanostructures of different sizes in the presence of dielectric media (i.e., water) is investigated numerically. The optical and thermal characteristics from the Fe, Co, and Ni as core material with noble metal Au and Ag as coating (shell) material are susceptible to being well-tuned by controlling the dimensions of both core and shell, based on the research being conducted at the moment. The SPR wavelength spectra of magnetic core Fe /Co /Ni (radii ranging from 10-40 nm) with Au and Ag coating (fixed shell thickness of 5, 10, and 15 nm), nanostructures are tuned from 231-528 nm and 364-420 nm, respectively. The maximum temperature obtained near the surface of Fe/Co/Ni@Au and Fe/Co/Ni@Ag nanospheres with the optimized size is 2.09℃ / 2.09 ℃ / 2.23 ℃ and 2.30 ℃ / 2.33 ℃ / 2.33 ℃, respectively. It can be observed that the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is located in the vicinity of the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) domains of the electromagnetic (EM) spectra. The temperature rise noticed in the nanoparticle (NP) has been attributed to enhanced absorbance efficiency.

Proton nanomodulators for enhanced Mn2+-mediated chemodynamic therapy of tumors via HCO3− regulation

BackgroundMn2+-mediated chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has been emerged as a promising cancer therapeutic modality that relies heavily on HCO3− level in the system. Although the physiological buffers (H2CO3/HCO3−) provide certain amounts of HCO3−, the acidity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) would seriously affect the HCO3− ionic equilibrium (H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3−). As a result, HCO3− level in the tumor region is actually insufficient to support effective Mn2+-mediated CDT.ResultsIn this study, a robust nanomodulator MnFe2O4@ZIF-8 (PrSMZ) with the capability of in situ self-regulation HCO3− is presented to enhance therapeutic efficacy of Mn2+-mediated CDT. Under an acidic tumor microenvironment, PrSMZ could act as a proton sponge to shift the HCO3− ionic equilibrium to the positive direction, significantly boosting the generation of the HCO3−. Most importantly, such HCO3− supply capacity of PrSMZ could be finely modulated by its ZIF-8 shell thickness, resulting in a 1000-fold increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Enhanced ROS-dependent CDT efficacy is further amplified by a glutathione (GSH)-depletion ability and the photothermal effect inherited from the inner core MnFe2O4 of PrSMZ to exert the remarkable antitumor effect on mouse models.ConclusionsThis work addresses the challenge of insufficient HCO3− in the TME for Mn2+-mediated Fenton catalysts and could provide a promising strategy for designing high-performance Mn2+-mediated CDT agents to treat cancer effectively.

Copper based high temperature heat storage macrocapsules with optimized inner cavity

The development of practical high temperature metallic phase change macrocapsules still faces difficulties, because metallic phase change materials undergo volume expansion during phase transformations, which can lead to outer shell rupture. When a core made of stacked metal powders is used, a cavity is eventually formed inside the capsule that acts as a cushion for volume expansion, thus reducing the risk of capsule rupture. However, the cavity will weaken the thermal storage capacity of the capsule, and in order to obtain a capsule with good thermal storage capacity and long-time cycling stability, it is necessary to find a suitable cavity volume of the capsule. In this paper, Cu powders are used as the core raw material, which are spherelized into millimeter level spheres, and the Cu powder spheres are isostatically pressed using an isostatic presser under different pressures to achieve the optimization of the cavity volume by reducing the gap between the powders. The high strength α-Al2O3 is selected as the shell, and sintering additives MgO and SiO2 are doped into the raw material, and the Cu@MgO-SiO2/Al2O3 capsules are prepared after two-step sintering treatment. The material properties and thermal storage properties of the capsules are investigated in detail, which have strong thermal storage properties, for example, in the temperature interval of 1000-1100 ℃, capsules with a core-shell structure (named as 9@1.5-100MPa, prepared with initial diameter of Cu core of 9mm, shell thickness of 1.5mm, and isostatic pressing under 100MPa to the core precursor) exhibit a high heat storage density of 222J/g and 841 MJ/m³. In addition, we conduct melting-solidification cycle tests, which confirms the excellent durability of the capsules. The comprehensive results show that the Cu@MgO-SiO2/Al2O3 macrocapsules possess strong thermal storage capacity and can be used as effective thermal storage materials, especially in advanced high temperature thermal storage systems.

Weak form quadrature shell elements based on absolute nodal coordinate formulation

Weak form quadrature elements for moderately thick shells with arbitrary initial configurations are developed under the framework of continuum mechanics and the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF). Locking problems of shell analysis are discussed. Nonlinear analysis of various shell structures is conducted. The joint constraint equations for shells with discontinuous slopes are established. Five examples encompassing static and dynamic shell analysis, post-buckling analysis of shells, as well as analysis of shells with discontinuous mid-surface slopes are examined to assess the performance of the proposed elements. Satisfactory results are obtained, validating the efficacy of the proposed elements.