Various Conditions Of Temperature Research Articles

Diatom responses to rapid light and temperature fluctuations: adaptive strategies and natural variability

Diatoms are crucial in global primary productivity and carbon sequestration, contributing significantly to marine food webs and biogeochemical cycles. With the projected increase in sea surface temperatures, climate change poses significant threats to these essential organisms. This study investigates the photobiological responses of nine diatom species to rapid changes in light and temperature, aiming to understand their adaptability and resilience to climate-induced environmental fluctuations. Using a high-throughput phenoplate assay, we evaluated the maximum quantum yield of photosystem 2 (Fv/Fm), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and additional photosynthetic parameters under varying temperature conditions. Our results revealed significant variability in the photophysiological responses among the species, with temperature emerging as a dominant abiotic factor relative to light, accounting for 13.2%–37.5% of the measured variability. Measurements of effect size of temperature and light on Fv/Fm showed that there is additional significant innate variability in the samples when a homogeneous culture is fractioned in 384 subpopulations. Furthermore, hierarchical clustering analysis of the effect size of temperature, light and innate variability on all measured photosynthetic parameters identified two distinct diatom groups. One group exhibited strong interaction between light intensity and temperature, suggesting active synergetic mechanisms to cope with fluctuating environments, while the other showed potential limitations in this regard. These findings highlight diatoms’ diverse strategies to optimize photosynthesis and manage light and thermal stress, providing insights into their potential responses to future climate scenarios. Furthermore, we demonstrate that using the method presented in this work we can functionally cluster different diatom species.

Stretchable Blue Phase Liquid Crystal Lasers with Optical Stability Based on Small-Strain Nonlinear 3D Asymmetric Deformation.

Blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) lasers exhibit exceptional optical quality and tunability to external stimuli, holding significant promise for innovative developments in the field of flexible optoelectronics. However, there remain challenges for BPLC elastomer (BPLCE) lasers in maintaining good optical stability during stretching and varying temperature conditions. In this work, a stretchable laser is developed based on a well-designed BPLCE with a combination of partially and fully crosslinked networks, which can output a single-peak laser under small deformation (44.429nm lasing shift at 32% strain) and a broad-temperature range (from -20 to 100°C). The superior performance can be attributed to the nonlinear 3D asymmetric deformation exhibited by the BPI lattice during stretching, particularly at low deformation rates below 40% strain, which effectively maintains the stability of the body-centered cubic structure (with the maximum strain of this BPLCE up to 220%). Moreover, the BPLCE exhibits excellent thermal stability over a temperature range from -180 to 70°C with a stopband shift of less than ±10nm. As a proof-of-concept, the application of BPLCE laser for morphology sensing and 3D mechanical perception is demonstrated, which paves the way for potential applications of flexible optoelectronics.

Analysis and prediction of tensile properties based on a novel wide‐angle fabric/EPDM composite under different temperatures

AbstractThis study investigated the tensile properties of the wide‐angle fabric/ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) composite (WFRC) under varying temperature conditions based on the macro‐ and mesoscopic structural characterization. The wide‐angle fabric was modeled using an improved “cross‐sectional path” method that precisely represents the yarn geometry by integrating warp and weft orientations within a non‐orthogonal coordinate system derived from optical micrographs. Tensile tests conducted across a temperature range from 25 to 150°C revealed that both stress and strain decrease with increasing temperature. Numerical simulations closely aligned with the experimental data, exhibiting a maximum relative error of only 2.5% at 90°C, thereby demonstrating the robustness of the simulation models in capturing the mechanical responses of WFRC. The findings underscore the predominant role of the rubber matrix in determining the mechanical properties of WFRC, while also highlighting that the fabric maintains excellent shape conformity with the rubber. This paper presents an effective methodology for analyzing the mechanical properties of WFRC under varying temperatures, laying the groundwork for future studies on the long‐term durability and failure mechanisms of WFRC under cyclic thermal loads, and broadening its applications across various engineering domains.Highlights The improved “cross section path” method is employed for fabric modeling. Macro‐ and mesoscopic modeling of the wide‐angle fabric/EPDM composite. The superelasticity of the rubber is integrated into the VUMAT subroutine. The numerical simulations closely align with the experimental data.

Crack detection based on GMM-Wasserstein distance under variable temperature environment

Abstract Abstract: The operation of high-speed trains in dynamic temperature environments presents significant challenges for crack detection in critical aluminum alloy components. It has been demonstrated that temperature fluctuations significantly impact the performance of Lamb wave-based structural health monitoring (SHM) systems, thereby compromising the reliability of damage detection protocols. In response to these challenges, a novel crack detection methodology is introduced, leveraging GMM-Wasserstein distance metrics to address variable temperature conditions. Two innovative information entropy measures are developed: Energy Singular spectral entropy (ESE) and Power Singular spectral entropy (PSE), which are utilized to characterize the complex interactions between Lamb wave signals and crack propagation under thermal variations. To enhance feature extraction robustness, an integrated approach combining Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) and Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) has been implemented, effectively mitigating temperature-induced signal perturbations. Additionally, a sophisticated GMM-based probability migration analysis framework incorporating Wasserstein distance metrics has been developed to quantify structural damage state evolution. The efficacy of the proposed methodology has been rigorously validated through comprehensive experimentation on Al6061 aluminum plates subjected to temperatures ranging from -40°C to 80°C. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieves a classification accuracy of 95.83% in crack detection, representing a significant improvement over conventional approaches.

Effect of growth dynamics on the structural, photophysical and pseudocapacitance properties of famatinite copper antimony sulphide colloidal nanostructures (including nanosheets).

Facile phase selective synthesis of copper antimony sulphide (CAS) nanostructures is important because of their tunable photoconductive and electrochemical properties. In this study, off-stoichiometric famatinite phase CAS (fCAS) quasi-spherical and quasi-hexagonal colloidal nanostructures (including nanosheets) of sizes, 2.4-18.0 nm were grown under variable conditions of temperature (60-200 °C), time and oleylamine capping ligand concentration using copper(II) acetylacetonate and antimony(III) diethyldithiocarbamate precursors. Data from powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution scanning/transmission electron microscopy confirm the tetragonal structure of the famatinite phase. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data suggest a correlation of particle size, morphology and composition of the off-stoichiometric fCAS nanostructures with growth temperature and time, and oleylamine concentration. The off-stoichiometric Cu3-aSb1+bS4±c (a, b, c - mole fractions) nanostructures being severely copper-deficient and antimony-rich, exhibit shallow-lying acceptor copper vacancy states, deep-lying donor states of antimony interstitials, sulphur vacancies and antimony-copper antisites and shallow-lying acceptor surface trapping states. These electronic states are likely implicated in tunable UV-visible absorption and bandgaps between 2.3 and 2.8 eV, and broad visible-NIR photoluminescence with fast recombination of radiative lifetimes between 0.2 and 6.2 ns, confirmed from absorption, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopies. Additionally, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirm that electrodes of the fCAS nanostructures display slightly variable pseudocapacitance of charge-storage primarily via possible sodium ion intercalation with a high specific capacitance of ∼84 F g-1 obtained at a scan rate of 5 mV s-1. Overall, these results show the influence of composition, in particular point defects, phase quality and morphology on the optical and pseudocapacitance properties of fCAS nanostructures, suitable as solar absorbers or electrodes for energy storage devices.

Repeated Load Behavior of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements

Full-scale test sections were constructed at the University of Illinois and subjected to accelerated pavement testing in order to evaluate IDOT’s options on extended-life continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP). The CRCP test sections included two concrete thicknesses, three steel contents, and the use of single versus double layer reinforcement. Response testing was first conducted on all the test sections in order to monitor the CRCP deformations under fixed loading and variable temperature conditions. Load levels were then applied at the edge of the pavement that would create a punchout failure on the test sections. The measured variables were the vertical and horizontal deformations at cracks and transverse strain near the surface of the slab, along with the temperature profile through slab thickness. The factors controlling the repeated load behavior of the CRC sections were the crack width, the permanent deformation of the support layers, and the steel content. The performance of the CRCP test sections exceeded existing design guide predictions. The main reason for the enhanced performance was the narrow crack width achieved on the test sections and resultant high shear capacity across the transverse cracks.

Obtaining Nanolignin from Green Coconut Shell and Fiber by the Acetosolv Method with Subsequent Ultrasonication

This work aimed to extract nanolignin from green coconut husk and fiber using the acetosolv method, with the aim of transforming waste into high-value-added products and promoting sustainability and bioeconomy. The acetosolv pulping was carried out in two stages, varying temperature conditions and the presence or absence of extractives. Lignin was obtained by precipitation and subsequently characterized through chemical and morphological analyses. The analyses of the primary components of the coconut husk and fiber demonstrated lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents of 40%, 15.90%, and 15.86%, respectively. Then, nanolignin was produced through ultrasonication (850 W for 10 and 20 min). The characteristics of the obtained products were analyzed, considering the influence of two temperatures (100 °C and 120 °C) and the need for a pretreatment step (removal of extractives). The temperature variation between 100 °C and 120 °C, as well as the presence of extractives, did not significantly influence the lignin quality or extraction efficiency. The nanolignin produced under this condition was subjected to the DLS technique to determine the hydrodynamic diameter and polydispersity of the nanoparticles obtained, with an average diameter of 533.75 ± 15.12 nm after 20 min of ultrasonication. The purity of the lignin was confirmed by analyses such as the Klason lignin and ash content, which presented values of 78.82 ± 0.81% and 0.55 ± 0.26%, respectively. FTIR analyses revealed typical lignin characteristics, such as the presence of ketone groups, aromatic structures, and methoxylation, while thermograms confirmed the thermal stability of the lignin. Acetosolv pulping proved to be particularly interesting, preserving good quality lignin and allowing for partial recovery of the solvents used, promoting the sustainability and energy efficiency of the process.

Impact of simulated global warming on nutrient release from decomposing fish carcasses

ABSTRACT Fish biomass often represents a locus where nitrogen and phosphorus are concentrated in aquatic environments. The postmortem fate of these essential biogenic elements, sequestered by fish, and the ratios at which these become available to other organisms, can be crucial in determining ecosystem functioning and productivity. Several environmental factors affect/drive the process of carcass decay, with water temperature playing a particularly important regulatory role. Therefore, we anticipate that escalating global warming will accelerate fish carcass decomposition and, consequently, alter nutrient recycling rates in freshwater ecosystems. To investigate how elevated water temperatures impact fish decay rates and the associated internal nutrient loading, an outdoor mesocosm experiment was conducted to simulate the effects of a massive fish kill under varying temperature conditions (ambient temperature, and +3 °C warmer). Our results indicate that fish (common bleak, Alburnus alburnus) carcasses lost ∼90% of their original body mass after 6 weeks and functioned as a typical source of nitrogen and a partial sink of their original phosphorus content. Elevated temperature significantly boosted carcass decay and, together with decomposition-derived nutrients, affected both planktonic and benthic algae. A similar effect on the zooplankton community was not observed.

Dynamic heat transfer mechanisms of internal thermal mass: effects of thermal conductivity and diffusivity under varied temperature conditions

The appropriate use of internal thermal mass in buildings can reduce energy consumption while maintaining thermal comfort. A prerequisite for selecting suitable internal thermal mass is to establish its relationship with indoor air temperature and heat exchange. However, there is currently a lack of analytical models to describe this relationship. This study investigates the dynamic heat transfer performance of internal thermal mass under constant indoor air temperature, exponentially declining temperatures, and sinusoidal heating and cooling conditions. The results show that under constant indoor air temperature, materials with lower thermal conductivity (e.g., plywood with 0.17 W/m·°C) generate more thermal waves and experience faster surface temperature rises compared to materials with higher conductivity (e.g., reinforced concrete with 1.74 W/m·°C). In the case of exponentially declining indoor air temperature, heat exchange per unit area decreases with increasing thickness, with plywood (0.02 m) reaching its peak temperature at 6360 s, and reinforced concrete (0.2 m) at 9900 s. For sinusoidal temperature variations, the decrement factor for plywood and reinforced concrete decreases from 0.90 to 0.59 as thickness increases from 0.02 m to 0.06 m, while the time lag increases from 1.45 hours to 3.16 hours. The heat exchange is primarily related to the effective thermal capacity per unit area and the storage coefficient, which are determined by the physical properties of the internal thermal mass. These findings provide a quantitative basis for estimating the impact of internal thermal mass on indoor air temperature and heat exchange in the early stages of building design.

Evaluation of the induced mechanical deterioration of ASR-affected concrete under varied moisture and temperature conditions

Evaluation of the induced mechanical deterioration of ASR-affected concrete under varied moisture and temperature conditions

A Probabilistic Model-Based Framework for Damage Detection in Beam-Like Structures Considering Temperature Effects

To improve the assessment outcomes of structural health monitoring systems, it has been acknowledged that the damage diagnostics process is associated with a considerable amount of uncertainties from operational and environmental sources such as temperature. This study presents a probabilistic framework for structural health monitoring aimed at identifying common defects such as cracks and corrosion in beam-like structures under varying temperature conditions. The framework utilizes optimization methods integrated with a probabilistic approach, comprising two levels of damage identification: first, determining the optimal probability mass function for the damage location ratio, followed by the optimal conditional for the damage depth ratio. A simply supported beam divided into four segments was modeled to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm across various damage scenarios using frequency response signals. Structural damage was simulated by manipulating the length and depth ratios of specific beam segments. The modeling procedure for defects in the simply supported beam was validated through comparison with experimental measurements, achieving a maximum difference of less than 1%. The proposed algorithm consistently yielded improved damage detail outcomes in the second level, characterized by higher probabilities and lower uncertainties for both damage location and depth ratios. Identifying cracks and corrosion with a 0.1 depth ratio at low temperatures proved challenging, but the algorithm effectively addressed such scenarios, achieving identification probabilities exceeding 90%. The analysis outcomes demonstrate the advantages of the proposed framework for structural health monitoring that accounts for temperature effects, thereby improving the fidelity of damage assessment in real-world conditions.

Study on interfacial mechanical properties and structural detail damage of CRTS II slab ballastless track

The CRTS (China Railway Track System) II slab ballastless track is widely utilized in high-speed railway construction owing to its excellent structural integrity. However, its interfacial performance deteriorates under high-temperature conditions, leading to significant damage in structural details. Furthermore, the evolution of its performance under these conditions has not been comprehensively studied. In this study, a bilinear cohesive damage model was developed using positive tensile and push-out model tests to describe the interfacial mechanical behavior of the track structure. A three-dimensional refined numerical simulation model of the CRTS II slab ballastless track was developed and validated using existing test data to analyze the distribution of structural damage and its evolution under varying temperature conditions. The results demonstrate that the proposed bilinear cohesive damage model effectively characterizes the interlayer damage evolution in the track structure. As the overall temperature increases, interlayer separation initiates at the wide-narrow joints and propagates from the slab ends toward the center. At a temperature rise of 60 °C, the interface becomes fully separated, and the vertical displacement of the wide-narrow joints and the track slab reaches 1.09 cm. The middle and end sections of the wide joints are particularly susceptible to compressive damage, with the top section being more sensitive to temperature changes. These results provide critical insights into the damage mechanisms and performance evolution of ballastless tracks under thermal loading, offering a foundation for improved design and maintenance strategies.

Atomistic Study on the Mechanical Properties of HOP-Graphene Under Variable Strain, Temperature, and Defect Conditions.

HOP-graphene is a graphene structural derivative consisting of 5-, 6-, and 8-membered carbon rings with distinctive electrical properties. This paper presents a systematic investigation of the effects of varying sizes, strain rates, temperatures, and defects on the mechanical properties of HOP-graphene, utilizing molecular dynamics simulations. The results revealed that Young's modulus of HOP-graphene in the armchair direction is 21.5% higher than that in the zigzag direction, indicating that it exhibits greater rigidity in the former direction. The reliability of the tensile simulations was contingent upon the size and strain rate. An increase in temperature from 100 K to 900 K resulted in a decrease in Young's modulus by 7.8% and 2.9% for stretching along the armchair and zigzag directions, respectively. An increase in the concentration of introduced void defects from 0% to 3% resulted in a decrease in Young's modulus by 24.7% and 23.1% for stretching along the armchair and zigzag directions, respectively. An increase in the length of rectangular crack defects from 0 nm to 4 nm resulted in a decrease in Young's modulus for stretching along the armchair and zigzag directions by 6.7% and 5.7%, respectively. Similarly, an increase in the diameter of the circular hole defect from 0 nm to 4 nm resulted in a decrease in Young's modulus along both the armchair and zigzag directions, with a corresponding reduction of 11.0% and 10.4%, respectively. At the late stage of tensile fracture along the zigzag direction, HOP-graphene undergoes a transformation to an amorphous state under tensile stress. Our results might contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of HOP-graphene under different test conditions, helping to land it in potential practical applications.

A new approach to the static bending problem of organic nanoplates

Scientists are growing interested in organic panels because of its effective use in harnessing solar energy for many applications in life and technology. This research used two innovative plate theories to investigate the static bending behavior of organic nanoplates under varying temperature conditions based on analytical solutions, the organic plate consists of five layers of materials including Glass, ITO (indium-doped tin oxide), and PEDOT: PSS (Poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene: poly styrenesulfonate), P3HT: PCBM (Poly 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) and Aluminum. The captivating feature of this study is in the identification of the equilibrium equation for organic nanoplates, which is dependent only on a single unidentified factor. This is possible because the produced displacement field only shows one component of bending displacement. Furthermore, the temperature parameter is also included, demonstrating the influence of the thermal environment on the bending behavior of the organic plate. The innovative approach used in this work has yielded a distinct and accurate formulation for the motion of the plate, leaving just one variable still to be determined. The accuracy and dependability of this formulation are confirmed by comparing it with established analytical and numerical techniques that have been published. The static bending response of organic panels was influenced by various geometric, material, and temperature characteristics, as shown by a series of numerical findings. The calculation results have shown that the two plate theories used in this study provide comparable outcomes for the bending issue of organic naoplates.

Impact of short‐ and long‐duration thermal stress on antioxidant enzyme activity in Parthenium beetles

AbstractInsects encounter variable temperature conditions in their natural habitats. Under non‐optimal temperatures, they experience thermal stress and oxidative damage, which are mitigated by antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). While short‐term effects of thermal stress on antioxidant enzyme activities in insects are well understood, the long‐term effects are less explored. We investigated both short‐term (3 and 6 h) and long‐term (24 h) effects of thermal stress on SOD, CAT and LPO activities in the Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister at cold (15°C), control/optimal (25°C) and hot (35°C) temperatures. Although Z. bicolorata is an effective biocontrol agent for noxious Parthenium weed, no prior study assessed the impact of thermal stress on antioxidant enzyme activities in this beetle. Our results revealed that antioxidant enzymes activities increased above control levels in both larvae and adults when exposed to thermal stress for short durations. Under long‐term thermal stress, CAT and LPO activities decreased below control levels, while SOD activity increased. Regardless of temperature conditions, early larval instars exhibited higher enzyme activities compared to later instars. In adults, males showed higher SOD and CAT activities, whereas LPO activity did not differ significantly between sexes. Our findings suggest that short‐term thermal stress can stimulate protective enzyme activity in these beetles and help them adapt to suboptimal temperatures. However, prolonged exposure may lead to excessive stimulation, potentially inhibiting protective enzyme activity and causing the beetles to activate alternative pathways to manage thermal stress. Moreover, fourth instars and adult females are the most thermal stress‐tolerant stages for Parthenium biocontrol.

Sensitivity calibration method of FBG strain sensor in high and low temperature conditions

Abstract Strain and temperature sensitivity coefficients of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are of vital importance to measuring accuracy, especially in varying temperature conditions. To improve the measurement accuracy of the FBG strain sensor, its strain and temperature sensitivity coefficients must be calibrated before use. In this study, we designed a substrate FBG strain sensor using the metal packaging method and illustrated its packaging process. A sensitivity calibration method for FBG strain sensors under different high-low temperatures was proposed. Additionally, an equal-intensity cantilever beam with the same material as the application structures of the FBG strain sensor, which affords loads within the range of −2500 to 3000 μϵ was designed and manufactured. A modified coefficient of strain δ was introduced to modify the strain results according to the calibration principle of an equal-intensity cantilever beam. Furthermore, a FBG unstressed temperature compensation method was proposed to compensate for the temperature of the FBG strain sensor. To verify the performance of the proposed sensitivity calibration method, a series of calibration experiments under −55 °C, −20 °C, 0 °C, 20 °C, 50 °C, and 70 °C were implemented, which proved the excellent performance of the proposed calibration method. Finally, the temperature and strain sensitivity coefficients of the FBG strain sensor in the temperature range of −55 °C to 70 °C are achieved at 0.3022 nm °C−1 and 0.5039 pm μϵ −1. The proposed sensitivity calibration method in high-low temperatures is simple and easy to implement. Meanwhile, the calibrated FBG strain sensor has prospective applications for strain measurement in structural health monitoring of aircraft, especially under varying temperature conditions.

Improvement of Rheological Properties of Modified Asphalt Treated with Residues of Recycled Rubber from Waste Tires and Oxidized by Air

Asphalt materials loaded with polymer additives have gained particular importance in recent years due to their close association with modification processes and the creation of a clean environment, mainly from plastic wastes in paving and other areas, and they have also caused significant improvement in asphalt properties. It was observed through the research that the rheological properties of the asphalt were improved significantly as added residues of recycled rubber (RRR) from waste tire percentages increased. The observations are apparent from the decrease in permeability of the asphalt and enhance its ductility and elongation. The study focused on modifying the rheological properties of asphalt materials using the residues of the recycled process of rubber (RRR) from waste tires (mainly carbon black, containing residues of rubber extracted from waste tires). The asphalt materials were oxidized in the open system under various conditions of temperature and oxidation time in the presence of a 0.25% (w/w) anhydrous aluminum chloride (AlCl3) catalyst. After determining the optimal conditions for the oxidation process, the added anhydrous AlCl3 catalyst was adjusted to determine its optimal ratio. The modified asphalt samples after oxidation at optimal conditions in the presence of anhydrous AlCl3 catalyst and the recycled rubber (RRR) residues were tested using appropriate measurements. The following measurements of ductility, permeability, softening point, Marshall stability and flow, aging resistance (thin film oven test (TFOT)) and the asphalt content percentages were done, and their results show that the modified asphalt exhibits completely different rheological properties from the original asphalt. The studied N19 and N20 models show availability in paving applications.

Development of Piezoelectric Inertial Rotary Motor for Free-Space Optical Communication Systems.

This paper presents the design, development, and investigation of a novel piezoelectric inertial motor whose target application is the low Earth orbit (LEO) temperature conditions. The motor utilizes the inertial stick-slip principle, driven by the first bending mode of three piezoelectric bimorph plates, and is compact and lightweight, with a total volume of 443 cm3 and a mass of 28.14 g. Numerical simulations and experimental investigations were conducted to assess the mechanical and electromechanical performance of the motor in a temperature range from -20 °C to 40 °C. The results show that the motor's resonant frequency decreases from 12,810 Hz at -20 °C to 12,640 Hz at 40 °C, with a total deviation of 170 Hz. The displacement amplitude increased from 12.61 μm to 13.31 μm across the same temperature range, indicating an improved mechanical response at higher temperatures. The motor achieved a maximum angular speed up to 1200 RPM and a stall torque of 13.1 N·mm at an excitation voltage amplitude of 180 Vp-p. The simple and scalable design, combined with its stability under varying temperature conditions, makes it well suited for small satellite applications, particularly in precision positioning tasks such as satellite orientation and free-space optical (FSO) communications.

Stability/instability analysis of advanced nanocomposite-reinforced bridge asphalt mixtures at low temperatures: Verification of the results via AI-driven approach

This study investigates the stability/instability analysis of advanced nanocomposite-reinforced bridge asphalt mixtures under low-temperature conditions, incorporating a fractional viscoelastic plate model for more accurate simulation of time-dependent material behavior. The nanoclay reinforcement is introduced into the asphalt matrix to enhance its mechanical properties, particularly improving the stiffness and thermal stability, which are critical for the long-term performance of bridge structures. The fractional viscoelastic plate formulation captures the complex viscoelastic behavior of the reinforced asphalt at low temperatures, where traditional models may fall short in accounting for the intricate time-dependent response of the material. The stability/instability analysis is conducted to assess the behavior of the nanocomposite asphalt mixtures under varying temperature conditions. The analysis identifies critical conditions leading to structural instability, ensuring the durability of bridge decks exposed to severe thermal environments. The results are validated using an AI-driven approach, leveraging machine learning algorithms to model the response of the nanocomposite asphalt mixtures more effectively. The AI model is trained using experimental data and computational simulations, with hyperparameters, such as learning rates, neural network architectures, and optimization techniques carefully selected to optimize prediction accuracy. The findings offer valuable insights into the performance of nanoclay-reinforced asphalt mixtures for bridge applications, with the AI-driven verification enhancing the reliability and applicability of the proposed models in practical engineering scenarios.

Application of a Screen-Printed Ion-Selective Electrode Based on Hydrophobic Ti3C2/AuNPs for K+ Determination Across Variable Temperatures.

Monitoring potassium ion (K+) concentration is essential in veterinary medicine, particularly for preventing hypokalemia in dairy cows, which can severely impact their health and productivity. While traditional laboratory methods like atomic absorption spectrometry are accurate, they are also time-consuming and require complex sample preparation. Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) provide an alternative that is faster and more suitable for field measurements, but their performance is often compromised under variable temperature conditions, leading to inaccuracies. To address this, we developed a novel screen-printed ion-selective electrode (SPE) with hydrophobic Ti3C2 Mxene and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), integrated with a temperature sensor. This design improves stability and accuracy across fluctuating temperatures by preventing water layer formation and enhancing conductivity. The sensor was validated across temperatures from 5 °C to 45 °C, achieving a linear detection range of 10-⁵ to 10-1 M and a response time of approximately 15 s. It also demonstrated excellent repeatability, selectivity, and stability, making it a robust tool for K+ monitoring in complex environments. This advancement could lead to broader applications in other temperature-sensitive analytical fields.