Enhanced supercontinuum generation (SCG) is experimentally demonstrated in integrated silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) waveguides incorporating highly nonlinear graphene oxide (GO) in the form of two-dimensional (2D) films. On-chip integration of the 2D GO films with precise control of their thickness is realized by using a transfer-free and layer-by-layer coating method. The control of the film length and coating position is achieved via window opening in the upper silica cladding of the photonic integrated chips. Detailed SCG measurements are performed using the fabricated devices with different waveguide geometries and GO film thicknesses, and the results are compared with devices without GO. Significantly improved spectral broadening of ultrashort optical pulses with ultrahigh peaks powers exceeding 1000 W is observed for the hybrid devices, achieving up to 2.4 times improvement in the spectral bandwidth relative to devices without GO. Theoretical analyses for the influence of GO film thickness, coating length, coating position, and waveguide geometry are also provided by fitting the experimental results with theory, showing that there is still significant room for further improvement. This work opens up a promising new avenue towards improving the SCG performance of photonic integrated devices by incorporating functional 2D materials.

Efficient heat management and control in optical devices, facilitated by advanced thermo-optic materials, is critical for many applications such as photovoltaics, thermal emitters, mode-locked lasers, and optical switches. Here, we investigate the thermo-optic properties of 2D graphene oxide (GO) films by precisely integrating them onto microring resonators (MRRs) with control over the film thicknesses and lengths. We characterize the refractive index, extinction coefficient, thermo-optic coefficient, and thermal conductivity of for the GO films with different layer numbers and degrees of reduction, including reversible reduction and enhanced optical bistability induced by photo-thermal effects. Experimental results show that the thermo-optic properties of 2D GO films vary widely with the degree of reduction, with significant polarization anisotropy, enabling efficient polarization sensitive devices. The versatile thermo-optic response of 2D GO substantially expands the scope of functionalities and devices that can be engineered, making it promising for a diverse range of thermo-optic applications.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors like Transitional Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted strong research interest in the last decade. Unlike the more celebrated 2D material graphene, TMDCs like molybdenum disulfide(MoS₂) possess bandgap. The number of layers critically depends on the band structure of MoS₂. For example, it is indirect for bulk MoS₂. However, it becomes direct bandgap material for a monolayer MoS₂. Monolayer MoS₂, therefore, becomes an important material for photoelectronic devices. An essential aspect of such devices is the metal-semiconductor junction. Metal-TMDC junction is, therefore, a well-studied interface due to its importance for 2D materials-based photoelectronic devices. Most importantly, it can be flexible, stretchable to it’s length, and bent to a large angle. We used metals like Au and Al to interface with TMDs like MoS₂. We used silicon and PDMS as substrates. So, we have to focus on investigating the relative properties of various TMDCs. We see change in band energy and vibrational modes via Photoluminiscence and Raman spectroscopy as shown in the article. However, certain aspects are yet to be explored, for example, how this interface behaves in the presence of strain.

Graphene is a two-dimensional carbon atom with a hexagonal honeycomb-like structure in which the sp2 hybridization occurs. GO sheets are highly oxidized and have oxygen-containing groups. Properties of electronics, mechanicals, magnetics, and optics, Oxidized Methods for Brodies, Staudenmaier, Hofmann, Hummers, Improved Hummers, and Tour's Methods Reduction of Graphene oxide methods Chemical Reduction using sodium borohydride, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, Hydrazine hydrate, Thermal Reduction, Hydrothermal Reduction, Exfoliation Reduction, Catalytic Reduction, and the green synthesis route for reduction, The reduction of graphene oxide has a wide range of applications, including its use in energy storage devices for Solar cells, Supercapacitors, LIG-based sensors, River Water sensors, Battery, hydrovoltaic generators, OLED Screen, and Graphene Shielding. This review will determine the future of a few applications.

Optical polarizers are essential components for the selection and manipulation of light polarization states in optical systems. Over the past decade, the rapid advancement of photonic technologies and devices has led to the development of a range of novel optical polarizers, opening avenues for many breakthroughs and expanding applications across diverse fields. Particularly, two-dimensional (2D) materials, known for their atomic thin film structures and unique optical properties, have become attractive for implementing optical polarizers with high performance and new features that were not achievable before. This paper reviews recent progress in 2D-material-based optical polarizers. First, an overview of key properties of various 2D materials for realizing optical polarizers is provided. Next, the state-of-the-art optical polarizers based on 2D materials, which are categorized into spatial-light devices, fiber devices, and integrated waveguide devices, are reviewed and compared. Finally, we discuss the current challenges of this field as well as the exciting opportunities for future technological advances.

This paper describes a new approach that can be used to determine the mechanical properties of unknown materials and complex material systems. The approach uses inverse finite element modelling (FEM) accompanied with a designed algorithm to obtain the modulus of elasticity, yield stress and strain hardening material constants of an isotropic hardening material model, as well as the material constants of the Drucker-Prager material model (modulus of elasticity, cap yield stress and angle of friction). The algorithm automatically feeds the input material properties data to finite element software and automatically runs simulations to establish a convergence between the numerical loading-unloading curve and the target data obtained from continuous indentation tests using common indenter geometries. A further module was developed to optimise convergence using an inverse FEM analysis interfaced with a non-linear MATLAB algorithm. A sensitivity analysis determined that the dual Spherical and Berkovich (S&B) approach delivered better results than other dual indentation methods such as Berkovich and Vickers (B&V) and Vickers and Spherical (V&S). It was found that better convergence values can be achieved despite a large variation in the starting parameter values and / or material constitutive model and such behaviour reflects the uniqueness of the dual S&B indentation in predicting complex material systems. The study has shown that a robust optimization method based on a non-linear least-squares curve fitting function (LSQNONLIN) within MATLAB and ABAQUS can be used to accurately predict a unique set of elastic plastic material properties and Drucker-Prager material properties. This is of benefit to the scientific investigation of properties of new materials or obtaining the material properties at different location of a part which might be not be similar due to manufacturing processes (e.g. different heating and cooling rates at different locations).

In this paper a perspective on the application of spatially- and Angle- Resolved PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (ARPES) for the study of two-dimensional (2D) materials is presented. ARPES allows the direct measurement of the electronic band structure of materials generating extremely useful insights into their electronic properties. The possibility to apply this technique to 2D materials is of paramount importance because these ultrathin layers are considered fundamental for future electronic, photonic and spintronic devices. In this review an overview of the technical aspects of spatially localized ARPES is given along with a description of the most advanced setups for laboratory and synchrotron-based equipment. This technique is sensitive to the lateral dimensions of the sample, therefore a discussion on the preparation methods of 2D material is presented. Some of the most interesting results obtained by ARPES are reported in three sections including: graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and 2D heterostructures. Graphene has played a key role in ARPES studies because it inspired the use of this technique with other 2D materials. TMDCs are presented for their peculiar transport, optical and spin properties. Finally, the section featuring heterostructures highlights a future direction for research into 2D material structures.

The exfoliation of graphene has opened a new frontier in material science with a focus on 2D materials. The unique thermal, physical and chemical properties of these materials have made them one of the choicest candidates in novel mechanical and nano-electronic devices. Notably, 2D materials such as graphene, MoS2, WS2, h-BN, and Black Phosphorus have shown outstanding lowest frictional coefficients and wear rates, making them attractive materials for high-performance nano-lubricants and lubricating applications. The objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview of the most recent developments in the tribological potentials of 2D materials. At first, the essential physical, wear, and frictional characteristics of the 2D materials including their production techniques are discussed. Subsequently, the experimental explorations and theoretical simulations of the most common 2D materials are reviewed in regards to their tribological applications such as their use as solid lubricants and surface lubricant nano-additives. The effects of micro/nano textures on friction behavior are also reviewed. Finally, the current challenges in tribological applications of 2D materials and their prospects are discussed.

Image compression is a top priority today due to the need for faster encoding and decoding. To achieve this, the present study has proposed the use of Canonical Huffman Coding (CHC) as an entropy coder, which has a lower decoding time complexity than binary Huffman codes. For image compression, combining of the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and CHC with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been recommended. The lossy method has been introduced by using PCA, followed by DWT and CHC to enhance compression efficiency. By using DWT and CHC instead of PCA alone, the reconstructed image has been found to have a better peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) value. This study has developed a hybrid compression model combining the advantages of DWT, CHC and PCA. With the increasing use of image data, better image compression techniques are necessary for efficient use of storage space. The proposed technique has achieved up to 60% compression while maintaining high visual quality. This method has also outperformed the currently available techniques in terms of both PSNR (in dB) and bit-per-pixel (bpp) scores. This approach has been tested on various color images, including Peppers 512×512 and Couple 256×256, showing improvement by 17 dB and 22 dB, respectively, while reducing bpp by 0.56 and 0.10, respectively. For grayscale images, i.e., Lena 512×512 and Boat 256×256, the proposed method has shown an improvement by 5 dB and 8 dB, respectively, with a decrease of 0.02 bpp in both cases.

This article illustrates a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted role of hydrocarbons in the field of material science, bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and practical applications, also providing acumens into future perceptions. Hydrocarbons, which consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms, play a critical role in numerous sectors due to their extensive presence in both natural and synthetic environments. The study categorizes hydrocarbons into diverse categories such as alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, each owning unique features that influence their physical properties and applications. This inclusive review comprehends the fundamental aspects of hydrocarbons, their indispensable compounds and elements, and their substantial contributions to material science, including their utilization in coatings, composites, and polymers. Besides, the article investigates into case studies that demonstrate the theoretical advancements and practical applications of hydrocarbons, as well as their latent in addressing future energy and environmental encounters. By investigative the role of hydrocarbons in the expansion of innovative materials and their implications for sustainability and technological progress, the article accentuates the significance of hydrocarbons in evolving the field of material science and technology.

Two-dimensional layered coordination polymers based on the hetero-substituted 3-chloro-6-cyano-2,5-dihydroxybenzoquinone ligand, hereafter ClCNAn2- anilate, and LnIII ions (Tb and Eu) are reported. Compounds 1, 2, formulated as Ln2(ClCNAn)3(DMSO)6 (LnIII = Tb, 1; Eu, 2) and their related intermediates 1’ and 2’, formulated as Ln2(ClCNAn)3(H2O)x.yH2O (x+y likely = 12, Ln = Tb, 1’; and Eu, 2’) were prepared by a conventional one-pot reaction (the latter) and recrystallized from DMSO solvent (the former). Polyhydrated intermediates 1’ and 2’ show very similar XRPD patterns, while, despite their common stoichiometry, 1 and 2 are not isostructural. 1 consists of a 2D coordination framework of 3,6 topology, where [Tb(DMSO)3]3+ moieties are bridged by three bis-chelating ClCNAn2- ligands, forming distorted hexagons. Ultrathin nanosheets of 1 were obtained by exfoliation, via liquid assisted sonication method and characterized by atomic force microscopy, confirming the 2D nature of 1. The crystal structure of 2, still showing the presence of 2D sheets with “hexagonal” mesh and a common (3,6) connectivity, is based onto flat, non-corrugated slabs. Indeed, at a larger scale, the different “rectangular tiles” show a clear roofing in 1, which is totally absent in 2. The magnetic behavior of 1 very likely indicates depopulation of the highest crystal-field levels, as expected for TbIII compounds.

Integrated photonic devices operating via optical nonlinearities offer a powerful solution for all-optical information processing, yielding processing speeds that are well beyond that of electronic processing as well as providing the added benefits of compact footprint, high stability, high scalability, and small power consumption. The increasing demand for high-performance nonlinear integrated photonic devices has facilitated the hybrid integration of novel materials to address the limitations of existing integrated photonic platforms, such as strong nonlinear optical absorption or an inadequate optical nonlinearity. Recently, graphene oxide (GO), with its large optical nonlinearity, high flexibility in altering its properties, and facile fabrication processes, has attracted significant attention, enabling many hybrid nonlinear integrated photonic devices with improved performance and novel capabilities. This paper reviews the applications of GO to nonlinear integrated photonics. First, an overview of GO’s optical properties and the fabrication technologies needed for its on-chip integration is provided. Next, the state-of-the-art GO nonlinear integrated photonic devices are reviewed, together with comparisons of the nonlinear optical performance of different integrated platforms incorporating GO. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of this field are discussed.

As a novel layered noble metal dichalcogenide material, palladium diselenide (PdSe₂) has attracted wide interest due to its excellent optical and electronic properties. In this work, a strong third-order nonlinear optical response of 2D PdSe₂ films is reported. We conduct both open-aperture (OA) and closed-aperture (CA) Z-scan measurements with a femtosecond pulsed laser at 800 nm to investigate the nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction, respectively. In the OA experiment, we observe optical limiting behaviour originating from large two photo absorption (TPA) in the PdSe₂ film of β = 3.26 ×10^-8 m/W. In the CA experiment, we measure a peak-valley response corresponding to a large and negative Kerr nonlinearity of n₂ = -1.33×10^-15 m²/W – two orders of magnitude larger than bulk silicon. In addition, the variation of n₂ as a function of laser intensity is also characterized, with n₂ decreasing in magnitude when increasing incident laser intensity, becoming saturated at n₂ = -9.96×10^-16 m²/W at high intensities. Our results show that the extraordinary third-order nonlinear optical properties of PdSe₂ have strong potential for high-performance nonlinear photonic devices. Keywords: 2D materials, PdSe₂ films, Z-scan technique, Kerr nonlinearity, nonlinear photonics.

Advanced composite materials have drawn significant interest in the last years as an alternative to traditional materials due to their higher performance. However, industry struggle to provide low-cost, higher occupational safety, lower footprint with composites, making them suitable for holistic analyses. Therefore, the material design becomes an essential element that can impact the competitiveness, particularly in terms of productivity, circularity, safety, sustainability, and quality of the value chain. The Material Design-for-eXcellence is a state-of-art methodology for material performance multi-dimensional assessment along its life cycle phases, either useful to support ma-terial selection for new products or also to new material design support optimizing resource effi-ciency. In this methodology, the material behaviour and its multiple characteristics assessment, and the manufacturing processes efficiency are evaluated. The framework considers the analogy of product design holistic approaches, as Lean Design-for-X, to organize and assess the mul-ti-dimensional performance for each “X” Material Property. In this work, it was possible to observe that the bio-based composites solutions could be a good sustainable alternative for several sectors. Every day researchers are creating more new materials, having a diversity of properties at different scales, Material Design-for-eXcellence must also in the near future consider other factors. Hence, additional studies are thus foreseen to explore and develop this new tool.

In this study, literature on pore structure and chloride ion diffusivity was collected to investigate the correlation of pore structure indicators with diffusivity. Good correlation between total porosity and chloride ion diffusivity was found when the samples did not contain admixture materials and diffusion test was conducted without acceleration. Pore diameter indicators did not correlate with diffusivity. The diffusivity of cement paste was reduced by admixture materials compared to that without admixture materials even if the total porosity is the same. On the other hand, the diffusivity of concrete was not reduced by admixture materials.

Background: Despite the fact that bone reconstructive surgeries are widely practiced worldwide, the search for an ideal bone replacement matetrial is still an open issue. We aimed to provide an overview of the current status of research and developments in this field with a focus on sapphire materials; Methods: A literature search and review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. We searched for literature using the following keywords: bone implants; biocompatible materials; bone replacement material; sapphire implants; Results: Sapphire has a unique combination of mechanical, physical and chemical characteristics thanks to wich it has an excelent biocompatability and biointegrity.Unlike other materials it is incredibly strong and has a high endurance. The successful experience of using this material in medical instrument engineering, dentistry and cardiac surgery shows its benefits; Conclusions: We consider that sapphire is a perspective material for bone replacement implants and researchers should look in this direction.

Dampers provide safety by control of unwanted motion, due to conversion of mechanical work into another form of energy (e.g., heat). State of the art materials are elastomers including thermoplastic-elastomers. For polymer-appropriate replacement of multi-component shock absorbers comprising mounts, rods, hydraulic fluids, pneumatic devices, or electro-magnetic devices, among others, deep insights of the dynamic thermo-mechanical characteristics of damper materials have to be gained. The ultimate objective is to reduce complexity by utilizing inherent material damping rather than structural (multi-component) damping properties. The objective of this work was to compare the damping behavior of different elastomeric materials including thermoplastic poly(urethane) (TPU), and silicone rubber blends (mixtures of different poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)). Therefore, the materials were hyper- and viscoelastic characterized, a finite element calculation of a ball-drop test was performed, and for validation the rebound resilience was measured experimentally. In an attempt, the coil-over shock absorber of a model car was replaced by a damper made of the examined and modeled materials. The results revealed that the material parameter determination methodology is reliable, and the data applied for simulation lead to realistic predictions. Interestingly, the rebound resilience of the mixture of soft and hard PDMS (50:50)w% is the highest and the lowest values were measured for TPU.

Hydrodynamic modeling and hazard mapping are essential tools for urban flood mitigation and spatial planning. Leveraging software like HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center - River Analysis System) and ArcGIS, this study aimed to map flood-prone areas along the Jijia River in the Ungheni administrative unit of Iasi County. Human-induced environmental changes and global climate shifts have heightened flood risks worldwide, particularly in urbanized areas. Hydrological and hydraulic modeling anticipate and assess flood events, while hydrodynamic modeling accurately simulates flow propagation, in-forming flood extent, timing, and volume. Flood hazard maps offer essential insights into flooded areas, water depths, and velocities, assisting in risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Through the use of different scenarios, river modeling aims to accurately replicate real-world conditions. This study focuses on Ungheni commune in Iasi County, Romania, situated along the Prut River's eastern bank. Utilizing a combination of fixed-grid and irregular mesh elements in modeling al-lows for fine-tuning of flow details and optimization of simulation times. Model accuracy, particularly regarding peak river levels, hinges on hydrograph duration. While a 30-minute error is typically accepted, greater tolerances may apply to river basins with longer response times. The extraction and processing of model results, including maximum water depths, flood extents, and velocity maps, are facilitated by ArcGIS, providing valuable data for effective flood management strategies.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been a research hot topic in the passed decades due to their unique and fascinating properties. Among them, mechanical properties plays an important role for their application. However, there lacks an effective tool for high-throughput calculating, analysing and visualizing the mechanical properties of 2D materials. In this work, we present, mech2d package, a highly automated toolkit for calculating and analysing second-order elastic constants (SOECs) tensor and relevant properties of 2D materials with considering their symmetry. In the mech2d, the SOECs can be fitted by both strain-energy and stress-strain approach, where the energy or strain can be calculated by first-principles engine, such as VASP. As a key feature, the mech2d package can automatically submit and collect the tasks from local or remote machine with robust fault-tolerant ability, make it suitable for high-throughput calculation. The present code has been validated by several common 2D materials, including graphene, black phosphorene, GeSe2 and so on.

With compact footprint, low energy consumption, high scalability, and mass producibility, chip-scale integrated devices are an indispensable part of modern technological change and development. Recent advances in two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with their unique structures and distinctive properties have motivated their on-chip integration, yielding a variety of functional devices with superior performance and new features. To realize integrated devices incorporating 2D materials, it requires a diverse range of device fabrication techniques, which are of fundamental importance to achieve good performance and high reproducibility. This paper reviews the state-of-art fabrication techniques for the on-chip integration of 2D materials. First, an overview of the material properties and on-chip applications of 2D materials is provided. Second, different approaches used for integrating 2D materials on chips are comprehensively reviewed, which are categorized into material synthesis, on-chip transfer, film patterning, and property tuning / modification. Third, the methods for integrating 2D van der Waals heterostructures are also discussed and summarized. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are highlighted.

A finite-difference approach with non-uniform meshes was presented for simulating magnetotelluric responses in 2D structures. We presented the formulation of this scheme and gave some sights into its successful implementation, and compared finite-difference solution with known numerical results and simple analytical solutions. First, a homogeneous half-space model was tested and the finite-difference approach can provide very good accuracy for 2D magnetotelluric modeling. Then we compared to the analytical solutions for the two-layered model, the relative errors of the apparent resistivity and the impedance phase were both increased when the frequency was increased. In the end, we compare our finite-difference simulation results with COMMEMI 2D-0 model with the finite-element solutions. Both results are in close agreement to each other. These comparisons confirm the validity and reliability of our finite-difference algorithm.

Four methods in two different families have been constructed to derive the exact solutions to Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation in two space dimensions. Simply defined hyperbolic tangent, hyperbolic secant and hyperbolic cosecant ansatzes and the expansion method based on the Sine-Gordon equation in two dimensions are directly substituted into the governing ODE reduced from the two dimensional BBM equation. Classical algebraic method is used to find the relations among the target parameters representing the nonzero coefficients in the predicted solutions and the wave transform parameters. Some complex and real solutions have been constructed in explicit forms.

In the case of solid slabs made of reinforced concrete that are usually subjected to bending, large areas of the structure are stressed well below their load-bearing capacity or remain stress-free. Contrary to this are shell structures, which can bridge large spans with little material if designed well. To improve the efficiency of ceiling slabs, we want to utilize the shell load-bearing behaviour on a smaller scale by dissolving the solid interior accordingly. In order to be able to study a wide range of such constructions virtually, a parametric multiobjective simulation environment is to be developed in an ongoing research project, basic analysis approaches of which are presented in this paper. In addition to the basic workflow and the programs used, the material models used, and their calibration are described on the basis of tests on textile reinforced concrete (TRC) samples. Initial tests on two individual TRC served to verify the model.

The material derivative is important in continuum physics. This Letter shows that the expression $\frac{d }{dt}=\frac{\partial }{\partial t}+(\bm v\cdot \bm \nabla)$, used in most literature and textbooks, is incorrect. The correct expression $ \frac{d (:)}{dt}=\frac{\partial }{\partial t}(:)+\bm v\cdot [\bm \nabla (:)]$ is formulated. The solution existence condition of Navier-Stokes equation has been proposed from its form-solution, the conclusion is that "\emph{The Navier-Stokes equation has a solution if and only if the determinant of flow velocity gradient is not zero, namely $\det (\bm \nabla \bm v)\neq 0$.}"

On-chip integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique structures and distinctive properties endow integrated devices with new functionalities and improved performance. With a high flexibility in modifying its properties and a strong compatibility with various integrated platforms, graphene oxide (GO) becomes an attractive 2D material for implementing functional hybrid integrated devices. Here, we demonstrate novel functionalities that go beyond the capabilities of conventional photonic integrated circuits, by harnessing the photo-thermal effects in 2D GO films integrated onto them. These include all-optical control and switching, optical power limiting, and non-reciprocal light transmission. The 2D layered GO films are on-chip integrated with precise control of their thicknesses and sizes. Benefitting from the broadband response of 2D GO films, all the three functionalities feature a very wide operational bandwidth. By fitting the experimental results with theory, we also extract the changes in material properties induced by the photo-thermal effects, which reveal interesting insights about 2D GO films. These results highlight the versatility of 2D GO films in implementing functional integrated photonic devices for a range of applications.

In this letter, we construct an effective field theory of gravity at large distances. We obtain to the leading order for large distances: a cosmological constant term and a logarithmic term in addition to the usual General Relativistic terms. The novel logarithmic term has important implications in explaining phenomena such as flat galactic rotation curves and stronger gravitational lensing than predicted that are generally attributed to the presence of dark matter.

As a rapidly expanding family of two-dimensional (2D) materials, MXenes have recently gained considerable attention due to their appealing properties. Here, by developing a solution-based coating method that enables transfer-free and layer-by-layer film coating, we investigate the layer-dependent nonlinear optical absorption of Ti₃C₂T_x films ‒ an important member of the MXene family. By using the Z-scan technique, we characterize the nonlinear absorption of the prepared MXene films consisting of different numbers of monolayers. The results show that there is a strong and layer-dependent nonlinear absorption behavior, transitioning from revisable saturable absorption (RSA) to saturable absorption (SA) as the layer number increases from 5 to 30. Notably, the nonlinear absorption coefficient β varies significantly within this range, changing from ~7.13 × 10² cm/GW to ~-2.69 × 10² cm/GW. We also characterize the power-dependent nonlinear absorption of the MXene films at various incident laser intensities, and a decreasing trend in β is observed for increasing laser intensity. These results reveal the intriguing layer-dependent nonlinear optical properties of 2D MXene films, highlighting their versatility and potential for implementing high-performance nonlinear photonic devices.

All-optical signal processing based on nonlinear optical devices is promising for ultrafast information processing in optical communication systems. Recent advances in two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with unique structures and distinctive properties have opened up new avenues for nonlinear optics and the fabrication of related devices with high performance. This paper reviews the recent advances in research on third-order optical nonlinearities of 2D materials, focusing on all-optical processing applications in the optical telecommunications band near 1550 nm. First, we provide an overview of the material properties of different 2D materials. Next, we review different methods for characterizing the third-order optical nonlinearities of 2D materials, including the Z-scan technique, third-harmonic generation (THG) measurement, and hybrid device characterization, together with a summary of the measured n₂ values in the telecommunications band. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are discussed.

The Kerr nonlinear optical performance of silicon nanowire waveguides integrated with 2D layered graphene oxide (GO) films is theoretically studied and optimized based on experimentally measured linear and nonlinear optical parameters of the GO films. The strong mode overlap between the silicon nanowires and highly nonlinear GO films yields a significantly enhanced Kerr nonlinearity for the hybrid waveguides. A detailed analysis for the influence of waveguide geometry and GO film thickness on the propagation loss, nonlinear parameter, and nonlinear figure of merit (FOM) is performed. The results show that the effective nonlinear parameter and nonlinear FOM can be increased by up to ≈52 and ≈79 times relative to bare silicon nanowires, respectively. Self-phase modulation (SPM)-induced spectral broadening of optical pulses is used as a benchmark to evaluate the nonlinear performance, examining the trade-off between enhancing Kerr nonlinearity and minimizing loss. By optimizing the device parameters to balance this, a high spectral broadening factor of 27.6 can be achieved ‒ more than 6 times that achieved in previous experiments. Finally, the influence of pulse chirp, material anisotropy, and the interplay between saturable absorption and SPM is also discussed. These results provide useful guidance for optimizing the Kerr nonlinear optical performance of silicon waveguides integrated with 2D layered GO films.

With superior optical properties, high flexibility in engineering its material properties, and strong capability for large-scale on-chip integration, graphene oxide (GO) is an attractive solution for on-chip integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials to implement functional integrated photonic devices capable of new features. Over the past decade, integrated GO photonics, representing an innovative merging of integrated photonic devices and thin GO films, has experienced significant development, leading to a surge in many applications covering almost every field of optical sciences. This paper reviews the recent advances in this emerging field, providing an overview of the optical properties of GO as well as methods for the on-chip integration of GO. The main achievements made in GO hybrid integrated photonic devices for diverse applications are summarized. The open challenges as well as the potential for future improvement are also discussed.

We study the effect of polymer coating, pressure, temperature and light on the electrical characteristics of monolayer WSe₂ back-gated transistors with quasi-ohmic Ni/Au contacts. We prove that the removal of a layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) or a decrease of the pressure change the device conductivity from p to n-type. We demonstrate a gate-tunable Schottky barrier at the contacts and measure a barrier height of ~70 meV in flat-band condition. We report and discuss a temperature-driven change in the mobility and the subthreshold slope which we use to estimate the trap density at the WSe₂/SiO₂ interface. We study the spectral photoresponse of the device, that can be used as a photodetector with a responsivity of ~0.5 AW^-1 at 700 nm wavelength and 0.37 mW/cm² optical power.

We discuss the electrodeposition of two-dimensional (2D) Pt-nanostructures on HOPG achieved under constant applied potential versus a Pt counter electrode (Eappl = ca. - 2.2 V vs RHE). The deposition conditions are discussed in terms of the electrochemical behavior of the electrodeposition precursor (H2PtCl6). We performed cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the electrochemical Pt deposit on HOPG and on Pt substrates to study the relevant phenomena that affect the morphology of Pt deposition. Under conditions where the Pt deposition occurs and H2 evolution is occurring at the diffusion-limited rate (- 0.3 V vs RHE), Pt forms larger structures on the surface of HOPG, and the electrodeposition of Pt is not limited by diffusion. This indicates the need for large overpotentials to direct the 2D growth of Pt. Investigation of the possible effect of Cl- showed that Cl- deposits on the surface of Pt at low overpotentials, but strips from the surface at potentials more positive than the electrodeposition potential. The CV of Pt on HOPG is a strong function of the nature of the surface. We propose that during immersion of HOPG in the electrodeposition solution (3 mM H2PtCl6, 0.5 M NaCl, pH 2.3) Pt islands are formed spontaneously, and these islands drive the growth of the 2D nanostructures.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery has been regarded as an important candidate for the next-generation energy storage system due to its high theoretical capacity (1675 mAh g-1) and high energy density (2600 Wh kg-1). However, the shuttle effect of polysulfide seriously affects the cycling stability of the Li-S battery. Here, a novel Fe3C decorated folic acid-derived graphene-like N-doped carbon sheet (Fe3C@N-CS) was successfully prepared as the polysulfide catalyst to modify the separator of Li-S battery. The porous layered structures can successfully capture polysulfide as a physical barrier, and the encapsulated Fe3C catalyst can effectively trap and catalyze the conversion of polysulfide, thus accelerating the redox reaction kinetics. Together with the highly conductive networks, the cell with Fe3C@N-CS modified separator evinces superior cycling stability with 0.06% capacity decay per cycle at 1 C rate over 500 cycles and excellent specific capacity with an initial capacity of 1260 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C. Besides, at a high sulfur loading of 4.0 mg cm-2, the batteries also express superb cycle stability and rate performance.

We experimentally investigate power-sensitive photo-thermal tuning (PTT) of two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO) films coated on integrated optical waveguides. We measure the light power thresholds for reversible and permanent GO reduction in silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides integrated with 1 and 2 layers of GO. Raman spectra at different positions of a hybrid waveguide with permanently reduced GO are characterized, verifying the inhomogeneous GO reduction along the direction of light propagation through the waveguide. The differences between the PTT induced by a continuous-wave laser and a pulsed laser are also compared, confirming that the PTT mainly depend on the average input power. These results reveal interesting features for 2D GO films coated on integrated optical waveguides, which are of fundamental importance for the control and engineering of GO’s properties in hybrid integrated photonic devices.

We theoretically investigate and optimize the performance of four-wave mixing (FWM) in microring resonators (MRRs) integrated with two-dimensional (2D) layered graphene oxide (GO) films. Owing to the interaction between the MRRs and the highly nonlinear GO films as well as to the resonant enhancement effect, the FWM efficiency in GO-coated MRRs can be significantly improved. Based on previous experiments, we perform detailed analysis for the influence of the GO film parameters and MRR coupling strength on the FWM conversion efficiency (CE) of the hybrid MRRs. By optimizing the device parameters to balance the trade-off between the Kerr nonlinearity and loss, we achieve a high CE enhancement of ~18.6 dB relative to the uncoated MRR, which is ~8.3 dB higher than previous experimental results. The influence of photo-thermal changes in the GO films as well as variations in the MRR parameters such as the ring radius and waveguide dispersion on the FWM performance is also discussed. These results highlight the significantly improved FWM performance that can be achieved in MRRs incorporating GO films

An ability of different molecular potentials to reproduce the properties of 2D molybdenum disulphide polymorphs is examined. Structural and mechanical properties, as well as phonon dispersion of the 2H, 1T and 1T’ single-layer MoS2 (SL MoS2) phases, were obtained using density functional theory (DFT) and molecular statics calculations (MS) with Stillinger-Weber, REBO, SNAP, and ReaxFF interatomic potentials. Quantitative systematic comparison and discussion of the results obtained are reported.

Layered two-dimensional (2D) GO films are integrated with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) nanowire waveguides to experimentally demonstrate an enhanced Kerr nonlinearity, observed through self-phase modulation (SPM). The GO films are integrated with SOI nanowires using a large-area, transfer-free, layer-by-layer coating method that yields precise control of the film thickness. The film placement and coating length are controlled by opening windows in the silica cladding of the SOI nanowires. Owing to the strong mode overlap between the SOI nanowires and the highly nonlinear GO films, the Kerr nonlinearity of the hybrid waveguides is significantly enhanced. Detailed SPM measurements using picosecond optical pulses show significant spectral broadening enhancement for SOI nanowires coated with 2.2-mm-long films of 1−3 layers of GO, and 0.4-mm-long films with 5−20 layers of GO. By fitting the experimental results with theory, the dependence of GO’s n₂ on layer number and pulse energy is obtained, showing interesting physical insights and trends of the layered GO films from 2D monolayers to quasi bulk-like behavior. Finally, we show that by coating SOI nanowires with GO films the effective nonlinear parameter of SOI nanowires is increased 16 fold, with the effective nonlinear figure of merit (FOM) increasing by about 20 times to FOM > 5. These results reveal the strong potential of using layered GO films to improve the Kerr nonlinear optical performance of silicon photonic devices.

specific finite detail modeling of the human body gives a capability primary enhancement to the prediction of damage risk all through automobile impacts. currently, car crash protection coun-termeasure improvement is based on an aggregate of testing with installed anthropomorphic check devices (i.e., ATD or dummy) and a mixture of multibody (dummy) and finite element de-tail (vehicle) modeling. If an incredibly easy finite element detail version can be advanced to cap-ture extra statistics beyond the abilities of the multi-body structures, it might allow advanced countermeasure improvement thru more targeted prediction of overall performance. Numerous research have been done on finite element analysis of broken femurs. However, there are two missing pieces of information: 1- choosing the right material properties and 2- designing a precise model including the inner structure of the bone. In this research, most of the chosen material properties for femur bone will be discussed and evaluated.

One century ago, ferroelectricity and then piezoelectricity were discovered using Rochelle salt crystals. Today, modern societies are invited to switch towards a resilient and circular economy model. In this context, this work proposes a method to manufacture piezoelectric devices made from agro-resources such as tartric acid and polylactide significantly reducing the energy budget without requiring any sophisticated equipement. These piezoelectric devices are manufactured by liquid phase epitaxy grown Rochelle salt (RS) crystals into a 3D printed poly(Lactic acid) (PLA) matrix being the artificial squared meshes which mimic the natural wood anatomy. This composite material can easily be produced in any fablab with renewable materials and at low processsing temperatures, reducing then the total energy consumed. Manufactured biodegradable samples are fully recyclable and have good piezoelectric properties without any pooling step. The measured piezoelectric coefficients of manufactured samples are higher than many piezoelectric polymers such as PVDF-TrFE.

Foam concrete is a construction material with controllable low strength and untraditional physical properties. Its highly crushable nature leaves it a niche as an engineered energy-absorbing material in many value-added applications; however, fundamental understanding of the material properties is crucial. As foam concrete is highly cellularized and ductile, conventional concrete testing methods such as compression test are insufficient to characterize the key material attributes of foam concrete, especially when the foam density is low. The resonant frequency test (ASTM C215) is specified for evaluating dynamic Young’s modulus of normal concrete. Inspired by the non-destructive feature of this test, we investigate the possibility of using the resonant frequency test to continuously monitor the modulus build-up of foam concrete with age. For the representativeness of the samples, three variables are considered in material design—bulk density ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 g/cm3, water to cementitious materials ratio of 0.42 and 0.47, and fly ash replacement of 10 and 30% by weight of cement. After examining the different vibration modes, the fundamental transverse frequency is determined most suitable for interpreting the foam modulus. The experimental results demonstrate good accuracy of using this approach for the measurement of different samples. It is also confirmed that, for a given foam concrete, the foam modulus can be predicted by knowing the foam density and solid modulus of its base cement paste, which provides an important insight for the further studies and real applications of foam concrete.

During the last decade, smart materials have increasingly impacted on several niches, among which that of one-off/limited edition experimental fashion. Thanks to their performativity, due to the implementation of Smart Materials Systems, they have reached indeed catwalks as well as museums and galleries. As boundaries between what-is-art and what traditionally was not supposed to be art are now turning into osmotic membranes, zooming on how smart materials are highly contributing to outline the new creative landscape can provide with interesting and compelling issues. Introducing three different areas of experimental fashion, named Multi-sensory dresses, Empathic dresses, and Bio-smart dresses and accessories, respectively covering the world of in-Lab experiments and design collaborations in relation to the application of advanced smart materials systems, the article discuss some of the implications in term of Design Thinking and Design Aesthetics.

Rectenna is the key component in radio-frequency circuits for receiving and converting electromagnetic waves into direct current. However, it is very challenging for the conventional semiconductor diode switches to rectify high-frequency signals for 6G telecommunication (>100 GHz), medical detection (>THz) and rectenna solar cells (optical frequencies). Such a major challenge can be resolved by replacing the conventional semiconductor diodes with tunneling diodes as the rectenna switches. In this work, metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunneling diodes based on 2D insulating materials were designed, and their performance was evaluated using a comprehensive simulation approach which includes density-function-theory simulation of 2D insulator materials, modeling of the electrical characteristics of tunneling diodes, and circuit simulation for rectifiers. It is found that novel 2D insulators such as monolayer TiO2 can be obtained by oxidizing sulfur-metal layered materials. The MIM diodes based on such insulators exhibit fast tunneling and excellent current rectifying properties. Such tunneling diodes effectively convert the received high-frequency electromagnetic waves into direct current.

In this research, a computation algorithm is established for a fractional order 2D fuzzy heat equation. In this study, Elzaki transform and HPM fusion is produced. Computing the desired outcome in series yields a fast convergence on an appropriate response. Examples are provided to support the conclusions, which are then compared with a particular approach to show the effectiveness and potential of the suggested approach. Two crisp equations—one for the lower bound solution and one for the upper bound solution are constructed from the input fuzzy fractional heat equation. The contour and surface representations of the approximate and exact results are offered for the lower and upper-bound solutions. The l∞-error norm is used in this study to validate the numerical convergence aspect. Together with the absolute inaccuracy, the approximate and exact solutions are matched. It has been demonstrated that the proposed regime will make it feasible to work with fuzzy fractional partial differential equations in a wide range of dimensions.

Two-dimensional (2D) bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX) have attracted much attention as potential optoelectronic materials. Expecting for their application diversity, we herewith systematically investigate the tunable properties of 2D BiOX by using first principles calculations. Their electronic and optical properties can be modulated by changing the number of monolayers, applying strain, and/or varying the halogen composition. The bandgap shrinks monotonically and approaches the bulk value, the optical absorption coefficient increases, and the absorption spectrum redshifts, as the layer number of 2D BiOX increases. Carrier transport property can be improved by applying tensile strain, and the ability of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution can be obtained by applying compressive strain. General strain engineering will be effective in linearly tune the bandgap of BiOX in a wide strain range. Strain together with halogen composition variation can tune the optical absorption spectrum to be on demand in the range from visible to ultraviolet. It suggests that that 2D BiOX materials have potential serving as tunable novel photodetectors, can be used to improve clean energy techniques, and are prospective in the field of flexible optoelectronics.

The increasing popularity of carbon-reinforced concrete (CRC) is attributed to its exceptional tensile properties, low density, no corrosion phenomenon, and remarkable flexibility, allowing it to be easily shaped into various forms. This research investigates the feasibility of using a special 2D Netzgitterträger (NetzGT) reinforcement system, featuring a net-shaped fabricated textile made of multiple diagonally offset rovings with overlapping edge strands, as a viable alternative to traditional steel reinforcement in concrete beams. This reinforcement is manufactured from carbon rovings with three different diagonal angles of 50⁰, 60⁰, and 70⁰ respectively. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the mechanical behavior of beams reinforced with the 2D NetzGT reinforcement. Bending and shear tests were performed on beams with varying numbers of overlapped edge roving and roving angles to evaluate the tensile capacity and failure characteristics of beams. The increase in the number of overlapped edge rovings led to a noticeable increase in the maximum tensile force. Tensile tests on strands were also performed with the increasing number of overlapped rovings to analyze their tensile strength. Additionally, single yarn pull-out tests were also conducted to examine the influence of the roving angle on the bond strength between the carbon textile roving and the concrete matrix

Still, the most common in vitro model for absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) purposes is the Caco-2 cell line. However, clear differences in gene- and protein expression towards the small intestine and an at best fair prediction accuracy of intestinal drug absorption restrict the usefulness as model for intestinal epithelial cells. To overcome these limitations, we evaluated a panel of low-passaged patient-derived colorectal cancer cell lines of the HROC collection concerning similarities to small intestinal epithelial cells and their potential to predict intestinal drug absorption. After initial screen of a larger panel, ten cell lines with confluent outgrowth and long-lasting barrier forming potential were further characterized in close detail. Tight junctional complexes and microvilli structures were detected in all lines, differentiated epithelial cells were abundant in 7/10. All lines expressed multiple transporter molecules, with expression levels in three lines being close to those of small intestinal epithelial cells. Compared to the Caco-2 model, three HROC lines demonstrated both higher similarity to jejunal epithelial tissue cells and higher regulatory potential of relevant drug transporters. In sum, these lines would be better suited human small intestinal epithelium models for basic and translational research; especially for ADME studies.

Compared to other 2D materials, MBenes are at an early stage in both experimental and theoretical approaches. However, the wide range of possible 2D structures leads to novel and challenging properties and their consequent applications. From all the possible stoichiometries, we have performed a theoretical study of orthorhombic and hexagonal M2B2 MBenes in the framework of the Density Functional Theory. We have found that both symmetries of Cr2B2, Fe2B2, and Zr2B2 show a metallic behavior and could be grown under certain conditions, as they are demonstrated to be dynamically stable. Moreover, the values of the magnetic moment, in specific ferromagnetic cases exceeding 2.5 μB/M2B2, make them suitable as robust 2D magnets. All our findings represent an important step in the understanding of MBenes and open several windows to future research in fields like energy conversion and storage, sensing, catalysis, biochemistry, or nanotechnology, among others.

River renaturation can be an effective management method for restoring the floodplain's natural capacity and minimizing the effects during high flow periods. A 1D-2D HEC-RAS model, in which the flood plain was considered as 2D and the main channel as 1D, was used to simulate flooding in the restored reach of the Spree River. When computing in this model, finite volume and finite difference approximations using the Preissmann approach are used for the 1D and 2D models, respectively. To comprehend the sensitivity of the parameters and model, several scenarios were simulated using different time steps and grid sizes. Additionally, dykes, dredging, and changes to the vegetation pattern have been used to simulate flood mitigation measures. The model predicted that flooding would occur mostly in the downstream portion of the channel in the majority of the scenarios without mitigation measures, whereas with mitigation measures, flooding in the floodplain would be greatly reduced. By preserving the natural balance on the channel's floodplain, the restored area needs to be kept in good condition. Therefore, mitigating measures that balance the area's economic and environmental aspects must be considered in light of the potential for floods.

Surface passivation, which has been intensively studied recently, is essential for the perovskite solar cells (PSCs), due to the intrinsic defects in perovskite crystal. A series of chemical or physical methods have been published for passivating the defects of perovskite, which effectively suppressed the charge recombination and enhanced the photovoltaic performance. In this study, the n-type semiconductor of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is dissolved in chlorobenzene (CB) for the surface passivation during the spin-coating process for depositing the two-dimensional (2D) perovskite film. This approach simplifies the fabrication process of 2D PSCs and benefits the film quality. As a result, the defects of perovskite film are effectively passivated by this method. A better perovskite/PCBM heterojunction is generated, exhibiting an increased film coverage and improved film morphology of PCBM. It is found that this technology results in an improved electron transporting performance as well as suppressed charge recombination for electron transport layer. As a result, PSCs based on the one-step formed perovskite/PCBM heterojunctions exhibit the optimized power conversion efficiency of 15.69% which is about 37% higher than that of regular perovskite devices. The device environmental stability is also enhanced due to the quality-improved electron transport layer.

Crystallization is a significant procedure in the manufacturing of many pharmaceutical and solid food products. In-situ Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) is a novel Process Analytical Tool (PAT) to provide a cheap and quick way to test, visualize, and evaluate the progress of crystallization processes. In this work, the spatial accuracy of the non-conductive phantoms in low conductivity solutions was evaluated. Gauss-Newton, Linear Back Projection, and iterative Total Variation reconstruction algorithms were used to compare the phantom reconstructions for tap water, industrial-grade saturated sucrose solution, and demineralized water. Cylindrical phantom measuring 10 mm in diameter and a cross-section area of 1.5 % of the total beaker area was detected at the center of the beaker. Two phantoms with a 10 mm diameter were visualized separately in non-central locations. The quantitative evaluations were done for the phantoms with radii ranging from 10 mm to 50 mm in demineralized water. Multiple factors such as ERT device and sensor development, FEM mesh density and simulations, image reconstruction algorithms, number of iterations, segmentation methods, and morphological image processing methods were discussed and analyzed to achieve spatial accuracy. The development of ERT imaging modality for the purpose of monitoring crystallization in low conductivity solutions was performed satisfactorily.

Layered 2D graphene oxide (GO) films are integrated with silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides to experimentally demonstrate an enhanced Kerr nonlinearity via four-wave mixing (FWM). Owing to the strong light–matter interaction between the SiN waveguides and the highly nonlinear GO films, the FWM performance of the hybrid waveguides is significantly improved. SiN waveguides with both uniformly coated and patterned GO films are fabricated based on a transfer-free, layer-by-layer GO coating method together with standard photolithography and lift-off processes, yielding precise control of the film thickness, placement and coating length. Detailed FWM measurements are carried out for the fabricated devices with different numbers of GO layers and at different pump powers. By optimizing the trade-off between the nonlinearity and loss, we obtain a significant improvement in the FWM conversion efficiency of ≈7.3 dB for a uniformly coated device with 1 layer of GO and ≈9.1 dB for a patterned device with 5 layers of GO. We also obtain a significant increase in FWM bandwidth for the patterned devices. A detailed analysis of the influence of pattern length and position on the FWM performance is performed. Based on the FWM measurements, the dependence of GO’s third-order nonlinearity on layer number and pump power is also extracted, revealing interesting physical insights about the 2D layered GO films. Finally, we obtain an enhancement in the effective nonlinear parameter of the hybrid waveguides by over a factor of 100. These results verify the enhanced nonlinear optical performance of SiN waveguides achievable by incorporating 2D layered GO films.

We fabricate large-area atomically thin MoS₂ layers through the direct transformation of crystalline molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) by sulfurization at relatively low temperatures. The obtained MoS₂ sheets are polycrystalline (~10-20 nm single-crystal domain size) with areas of up to 300×300 µm² with 2-4 layers in thickness and show a marked p-type behaviour. The synthesized films are characterized by a combination of complementary techniques: Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electronic transport measurements.

In two-dimensional materials research, oxidation is usually considered as a common source for the degradation of electronic and optoelectronic devices or even device failure. However, in some cases a controlled oxidation can open the possibility to widely tune the band structure of 2D materials. In particular, we demonstrate the controlled oxidation of titanium trisulfide (TiS₃), a layered semiconductor that attracted much attention recently thanks to its quasi-1D electronic and optoelectronic properties and its direct bandgap of 1.1 eV. Heating TiS₃ in air above 300 °C gradually converts it into TiO₂, a semiconductor with a wide bandgap of 3.2 eV with applications in photo-electrochemistry and catalysis. In this work, we investigate the controlled thermal oxidation of individual TiS₃ nanoribbons and its influence on the optoelectronic properties of TiS₃-based photodetectors. We observe a step-wise change in the cut-off wavelength from its pristine value ~1000 nm to 450 nm after subjecting the TiS₃ devices to subsequent thermal treatment cycles. Ab-initio and many-body calculations confirm an increase of the bandgap of titanium oxysulfide (TiO_2-xS_x) when increasing the amount of oxygen and reducing the amount of sulfur.

Despite the long and extensive history of 3D technology, it has recently attracted the attention of researchers. This technology has become the center of interest of young people because of the real feelings and sensations it creates. People see their environment as 3D because of their eye structure. In this study, it is hypothesized that people lose their perception of depth during sleepy moments and that there is a sudden transition from 3D vision to 2D vision. Regarding these transitions, the EEG signal analysis method was used for deep and comprehensive analysis of 2D and 3D brain signals. In this study, a single-stream anaglyph video of random 2D and 3D segments was prepared. After watching this single video, the obtained EEG recordings were considered for two different analyses: the part involving the critical transition (transition-state) and the state analysis of only the 2D versus 3D or 3D versus 2D parts (steady-state). The main objective of this study is to see the behavioral changes of brain signals in 2D and 3D transitions. To clarify the impacts of the human brain’s power spectral density (PSD) in 2D-to-3D (2D_3D) and 3D-to-2D (3D_2D) transitions of anaglyph video, 9 visual healthy individuals were prepared for testing in this pioneering study. Spectrogram graphs based on Short Time Fourier transform (STFT) were considered to evaluate the power spectrum analysis in each EEG channel of transition or steady-state. Thus, in 2D and 3D transition scenarios, important channels representing EEG frequency bands and brain lobes will be identified. To classify the 2D and 3D transitions, the dominant bands and time intervals representing the maximum difference of PSD were selected. Afterward, effective features were selected by applying statistical methods such as standard deviation (SD), maximum (max), and Hjorth parameters to epochs indicating transition intervals. Ultimately, k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) algorithms were applied to classify 2D_3D and 3D_2D transitions. The frontal, temporal, and partially parietal lobes show 2D_3D and 3D_2D transitions with a good classification success rate. Overall, it was found that Hjorth parameters and LDA algorithms have 71.11% and 77.78% classification success rates for transition and steady-state, respectively.

We show how the excitonic features of biaxial MoS₂ flakes are very sensitive to biaxial strain. We find a lower bound for the gauge factors of the A exciton and B exciton of (-41 ± 2) meV/% and (-45 ± 2) meV/% respectively, which are larger than those found for single-layer MoS₂. Interestingly, the interlayer exciton feature also shifts upon biaxial strain but with a gauge factor that is systematically larger than that found for the A exciton, (-48 ± 4) meV/%. We attribute this larger gauge factor for the interlayer exciton to the strain tunable van der Waals interaction due to the Poisson effect (the interlayer distance changes upon biaxial strain).

A conventional 2D numerical model is improved by incorporating three submodels to consider different effects of secondary flow and a module for cohesive sediment transport. The model is applied to a meandering reach of Yangtze River to investigate secondary flow effects on cohesive sediment deposition, and a preferable submodel is selected based on the flow simulation results. Sediment simulation results indicate that the improved model predictions are in better agreement with the measurements in planar distribution of deposition as the increased sediment deposits caused by secondary current on the convex bank have been well predicted. Secondary flow effects on predicted amount of deposition become more obvious during the period when the sediment load is low and velocity redistribution induced by the bed topography is evident. Such effects vary with the settling velocity and critical shear stress for deposition of cohesive sediment. The bed topography effects can be reflected by the secondary flow submodels.

This work presents datasets that can be used for getting a good understanding of an essential geoscience content knowledge that describe earth’s coordinate systems. This include coordinate system used for spherical/spheroidal earth with latitudes and longitudes and their subsequent transformations to 2d maps on a variety of media (paper as well as digital) using the process of map projections. The datasets include PDF documents that are embedded with 3d models, animations and mathematical equations. The dataset has separate PDF documents for geographic (for spherical earth) and projected (2d) coordinate systems. Additionally, the data set include individual 3d models that can be used in various digital systems (including apps) and the animations in mp4 format that can be watched on most of the modern digital devices.

The early generative phase of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) curd ripening is sensitive to the water deficit. Mitochondrial responses under drought within Brassica genus are poorly understood. The main goal of this study was to investigate the mitochondrial biogenesis of three cauliflower cultivars varying with drought tolerance. Diverse quantitative changes (down-regulations mostly) in the mitochondrial proteome were assayed by 2D PAGE coupled with LC-MS/MS. Respiratory (e.g. CII, CIV and ATP synthase subunits), transporter (including diverse porin isoforms) and matrix multifunctional proteins (e.g. components of RNA editing machinery) appeared diversely affected in their abundance under two drought levels. Western immunoassays showed also cultivar-specific responses of selected mitochondrial proteins. Dehydrin-related tryptic peptides found in few 2D spots that appeared immunopositive with dehydrin-specific antisera highlighted the relevance of mitochondrial dehydrin-like proteins for the drought response. The level of selected messengers participating in drought response was also determined. We conclude that the mitochondrial biogenesis was strongly, but diversely affected in various cauliflower cultivars and associated with drought tolerance on the proteomic and functional levels. However, transcriptomic and proteomic regulations were largely uncoordinated due to the suggested altered availability of messengers for translation, mRNA/ribosome interactions and/or miRNA impact on transcript abundance and translation.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) into a production brick mixture in order to mitigate difficulties encountered in the production environment. Three distinct tests were conducted to assess the preparation process. The first test served as a reference, utilizing 100% clay material without RDF. The second test involved the inclusion of 10% RDF, obtained from a waste factory, with a grain size less than 20mm. In the third test, the RDF was mixed with silica sand after undergoing hammer milling with a 2mm sieve, followed by a 10% incorporation into the mixture. The primary objective was to comprehend the behavior of these mixtures in two critical stages: extrusion and drying. Extrusion performance was evaluated by examining the shaping process from the mold, vacuum conditions within the extruder, and the cutting of wet sample bricks. Furthermore, the drying procedure was assessed in terms of shrinkage, drying sensitivity, and appearance. Comparisons were made among the three test scenarios to identify the influence of RDF on these key parameters. Preliminary results indicate that the inclusion of RDF impacted the extrusion process. The addition of RDF resulted in variations in the flow characteristics of the mixture, affecting the shape formation from the mold and the vacuum conditions within the extruder. Additionally, the cutting of wet sample bricks exhibited some differences compared to the reference test. Concerning the drying phase, the presence of RDF influenced shrinkage behavior and drying sensitivity. The mixture with RDF showed different shrinkage patterns compared to the reference, and its drying sensitivity was altered. Moreover, the appearance of the bricks after drying exhibited notable variations due to the incorporation of RDF. In conclusion, incorporating RDF in the brick mixture introduces changes in both the extrusion and drying stages. The alteration in flow characteristics and vacuum conditions during extrusion, as well as the variations in shrinkage, drying sensitivity, and appearance during drying, suggest that further investigation is necessary to optimize the incorporation of RDF for improved brick production. These findings contribute to the understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the utilization of RDF in brick manufacturing processes.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) ethanol fermentation has left an indelible trace in human history. It is regarded as the original beverage synthesis, and has developed into an essential energy supply for mankind today. However, the history of ethanol synthesis using S. cerevisiae, including the mechanism analysis process, has not been carefully and succinctly reported. In this paper, we review the history of ethanol synthesis using S. cerevisiae. In addition, we also review the substrates that drive S. cerevisiae ethanol synthesis, including the utilization of glucose, sucrose, starch and molasses, in order to summarize the current development status and to contribute to the further improvement of this field.

Ultrasonic based inspection of thin-walled structures often requires prior knowledge of their mechanical properties. Their accurate estimation could be achieved in a non-destructive manner employing, e.g., elastic guided waves. Such procedures require efficient approaches for experimental data extraction and processing, which is still a challenging task. An advanced automated technique for material properties identification of an elastic waveguide is proposed in this investigation. It relies on the information on dispersion characteristics of guided waves, which are extracted by applying the matrix pencil method to the measurements obtained via laser Doppler vibrometry. Two objective functions have been successfully tested, and the advantages of both approaches are discussed (accuracy vs computational costs). The numerical analysis employing the synthetic data generated via the mathematical model as well as experimental data shows that both approaches are stable and accurate. The influence of the presence of various modes in the extracted data is investigated. One can conclude that the influence of the corruptions related to the extraction of dispersion curves is not critical if the majority of guided waves propagating in the considered frequency range are presented. Possible extensions of the proposed technique for damaged and multi-layered structures are also discussed.

During the explosion of energetic materials, obvious electromagnetic interference will be generated, which will affect the normal operation of surrounding electronic equipment. Experiments are still an important means to study this issue. A set of electromagnetic radiation measurement device based on short-wave omnidirectional antenna and ultra-wideband omnidirectional antenna is designed to measure the electromagnetic radiation generated by the explosion of energetic materials of different masses, and the electromagnetic radiation characteristics are obtained through data processing. The results show that the mass of the energetic material has a significant effect on the time-domain characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the explosion: the higher the mass of the energetic material, the shorter the delay response of the electromagnetic signal, the longer the duration, and the earlier the peak appears. The frequency of electromagnetic radiation signals generated by the explosion of energetic materials is mainly concentrated below 100 MHz, and the energy is most concentrated in the frequency band of 0~50 MHz. The composition of energetic materials has the greatest influence on the spectral distribution, and the spectral distribution of electromagnetic radiation produced by the explosion of explosives with different compositions has obvious specificity. The electromagnetic radiation intensity generated by the explosion of energetic materials has a strong correlation with the distance from the explosion center, and it decreases with the increase of the distance, and the decreasing range is large. The structure and detonation method of energetic materials can change the geometrical motion mode during the explosion, resulting in the non-uniformity of electromagnetic radiation propagation.

The effects of the dielectric constant of the powder phase on lead zirconate titanate (PZT)/PZT sol-gel composite films were investigated to tailor their electrical properties. Three types of PZT powders were used to fabricate three different PZT/PZT sol-gel composite films. The PZT powders had the same electromechanical coupling coefficient but different relative dielectric constants. The PZT/PZT films were fabricated on a 3 mm-thick titanium substrate using an automatic spray coating system, and their properties were investigated. The relative dielectric constants of the PZT/PZT films were successfully controlled by tailoring the properties of the PZT powder phase. However, the piezoelectric constants showed a tendency different to those of the raw powders, because of the poor poling degree. This was overcome by conducting poling at a high temperature.

The hydrodynamic results obtained from the permeability of porous materials not only affect the assessment of the stream of the gas flow through those materials but they also refer to the loss of pressure energy in that flow. The direct measure of that loss is flow resistances.The results of experimental research upon the assessment of the flow resistances of porous materials with respect to gas flow. The research conducted applied to natural materials with an anisotropic gap-porous structure. The tests were carried out on a gas permeability measuring system, adapted to different shapes of porous material samples. The process issue of the total pressure drop on a porous deposit was considered in the Reynolds number category. The coefficient of flow resistance for anisotropic materials was defined and the value of this coefficient was compared to the gas stream and the total pressure drop on the porous bed was experimentally evaluated.

Simulation programs contain Computational Fluid Dynamics - CFD codes and are a useful tool used for gas flow through porous materials. Conducting numerical simulations allows for detailed analysis of hydrodynamic phenomena. The results of numerical modeling should always be verifiable based on experimental data. Only their compliance with the results of experimental tests is a determinant of the correctness of the applied method. As part of the work, experimental studies of hydrodynamics of gas flow through an isotropic porous material were carried out and numerical simulation for material of the same shape was used. In the CFD modeling Kolmogorov's hypothesis for the transport of kinetic energy of turbulence k and transport of dissipation rate of kinetic energy of turbulence ε was used.

The one-dimensional MoS₂/carbon nanofibers (1D MoS₂/CNFs) are synthesized by electrospinning using exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets and polyacrylonitrile as raw materials. The exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets with size of about 150 nm are encapsulated in carbon nanofibers, and the free-standing MoS₂/CNFs can be easily cut into flexible tablet and directly used as binder-free anode for lithium storage. The resultant 1D MoS₂/CNFs exhibit a very high reversible capacity of 700 mAh g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 after 50 cycles, high rate capacity (450 mAh g^-1 at 1000 mA g^-1 after 200 cycles) and good cycle stability.

Foam concrete is a highly cellularized cementitious material that undergoes extensive plastic deformation when loaded to failure. Under compression, the foam structure gets progressively crushed at a steady stress stage such that a substantial amount of energy is dissipated. Understanding foam concrete crushing behavior is of special importance for its engineering applications such as energy absorber, but the current studies are insufficient to define material properties for design of field applications. This study characterizes the crushing strength and foam modulus of samples with penetration test and resonant frequency test, respectively. A four-phase crushing behavior is observed. The yield strength and plateau strength are identified to characterize the foam crushing. Using the experimental inputs, the modulus-strength constitutive equations are then established. These findings are useful for expanding the knowledge of normal concrete to studies on foam concrete, as well as design of applications.Foam concrete is a highly cellularized cementitious material that undergoes extensive plastic deformation when loaded to failure. Under compression, the foam structure gets progressively crushed at a steady stress stage such that a substantial amount of energy is dissipated. Understanding foam concrete crushing behavior is of special importance for its engineering applications such as energy absorber, but the current studies are insufficient to define material properties for design of field applications. This study characterizes the crushing strength and foam modulus of samples with penetration test and resonant frequency test, respectively. A four-phase crushing behavior is observed. The yield strength and plateau strength are identified to characterize the foam crushing. Using the experimental inputs, the modulus-strength constitutive equations are then established. These findings are useful for expanding the knowledge of normal concrete to studies on foam concrete, as well as design of applications.

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are aggressive and invasive cancers of the brain, associated with high rates of tumor recurrence and poor patient outcomes despite initial treatment. Targeting cell migration is therefore of interest in highly invasive cancers such as GBMs, to prevent tumor dissemination and regrowth. One current aim of GBM research focusses on assessing anti-migratory properties of novel or repurposed inhibitors, including plant-based drugs which display anti-cancer properties. We investigated the potential anti-migratory activity of plant-based products with known cytotoxic effects in cancers, using a range of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) migration and invasion assays as well as immunofluorescence microscopy to determine specific anti-migratory and phenotypic effects of three plant-derived compounds, Turmeric, Indigo and Magnolia bark, on established glioma cell lines. Migrastatic activity was observed in all three drugs, with Turmeric exerting the most inhibitory effect on GBM cell migration into scratches and from the spheroid edge at all timepoints investigated (p < 0.001). We also observed novel cytoskeletal phenotypes affecting actin and focal adhesion dynamics. By determining the migrastatic activity of Turmeric, Indigo and Magnolia on GBM cell migration, we demonstrate a potential role for Turmeric as a novel GBM anti-migratory therapeutic, in combination with the current standard of care, to prevent tumor recurrence and promote patient survival.

The studies of laminar unsteady boundary layer flows is crucial for understanding laminar-turbulence transition and origins of turbulence. However, the task of finding its solutions poses a significant challenge. In this paper, we propose a novel approach by introducing a similar transformation to convert the 2D unsteady laminar boundary layer equations into a single partial differential equation. By applying this transformation, we are able to obtain the "exact" similarity solutions for the 2D unsteady laminar boundary layer equations, specifically for the case of flat plate boundary flow. Notably, this is the first time that such an exact solution has been obtained. Application of this exact solution is being used to solve Stokes' first problem in 2D boundary layer. Perspectives on the transition fron Rayleigh solution to Blasius solution is provided.

The current study presents a computational fluid dynamics model designed to simulate the isolation of 2D graphene components from their dispersion using a microfiltration hollow fiber membrane unit. The model utilizes Navier-Stokes and mass conservation equations to predict the flow and concentration behaviors in the system, and it employs the resistance-in-series approach to couple the fouling of the non-exfoliated graphites in the dispersion to the model. Specifically, the model accounts for the effects of the concentration polarization and cake formation of the fouling component, resulting in the increment of the transmembrane pressure (TMP) of the system. Additionally, we assumed the wettability of polymeric membrane’s inner wall enhances upon fouling by the flat layered structure material, leading to the reduction of the transmemrabe pressure. This approach demosntrates accurate reproduction of the exceptional experimental TMP behavior corresponding to the fouling of the graphite.

Abstract— In this paper, degradation effects such as the self-heating effect and the DIBL effect in 2D-MoS2-based MOSFETs are investigated through simulations. These are transistors with Al2O3 and HfO2 as the gate oxide and SiO2 and HfO2 as the back oxide (BOX). The self-heating effect (SHE) is simulated using the thermodynamic transport model. The dependence of the DIBL effect (Drain Induced Barrier Lowering) and the lattice temperature in the center of the channel on the gate length for transistors with different gate oxide and BOX materials is considered. Transistors are considered where the channel is fully and partially (just below the gate) covered by gate oxide. It is shown that the transistors with Al2O3 as gate oxide and SiO2 as BOX materials have higher immunity to DIBL effect and transistors with HfO2 as gate oxide and HfO2 as BOX materials have higher immunity to SHE.

As a derivative of graphene, graphene oxide (GO) was initially developed by chemists to emulate some of the key properties of graphene, but it was soon recognized as a unique material in its own right, addressing an application space that is not accessible to chemical vapor deposition based materials. Over the past decade, GO has emerged as a new frontier material with tremendous advances in its material fabrication and quality control over its properties. These in turn have led to rapid progress in GO based photonics, electronics, and optoelectronics concepts and devices, evoking new science and paving the way for many technological breakthroughs with exceptional performance. Here, we review the unique fundamental characteristics of GO, its thin film fabrication methods, patterning techniques, and mechanisms for tuning its material properties. This latter capability in particular has enabled novel advanced functional photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. Understanding these insights is essential for designing and tailoring GO properties for state-of-the-art applications including solar energy harvesting, energy storage, medical diagnosis, image displays, and optical communications. We conclude by discussing the open challenges and exciting opportunities of this field, together with future prospects for major technological advancements and breakthroughs.

Hyperaccumulator plant species growing on metal-rich soils can accumulate high quantity of metals and metalloids in aerial tissues and several proteomic studies on the molecular mechanisms at the basis of metals resistance and hyperaccumulation have been published. Hyperaccumulator are also at the basis of phytoremediation strategy to remove more efficiently metals from polluted soils or water. Arabidopsis halleri and Noccea caerulescens are both hyperaccumulators of metals and nano-metals. In this study it was assessed the change in some proteins in A. halleri and N. caer-ulescens after the growth in soil with cadmium and zinc, provided as sulphate salts (CdSO4 and ZnSO4) or sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs and ZnS QDs). The protein extracts obtained from plants after 30 days of growth were analyzed by 2D-gel electrophoresis (2D SDS-PAGE) and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. A bioinformatics analysis was carried out on quantitative protein differences between control and treated plants. In total, 43 proteins resulted significatively modulated in A. halleri, while 61 resulted modulated in N. caerulescens. Though these two plants are hyperaccumulator of both metals and nano-metals, at protein levels the mechanisms involved do not proceed in the same way but at the end bring to a similar physiological result.

Using first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD), we performed numerical simulations at 300 K to explore the interaction of a 2D MoS2 surface and a platinum atom, calculating the optical properties of the resulting material. The pristine MoS2 is a semiconductor with a gap of around 1.8 eV. The Pt atom is chemisorbed by the surface with an adsorption energy of −1.718 eV. With the adsorption of the Pt atom, the material remains a semiconductor, and its energy band gap reduces to 1.04 eV. But changes in the material's energy band structure imply substantial changes in its optical properties. The energy band structure of the 2D MoS2 with a sulfur vacancy VS shows that the material becomes a conductor, and there are significant changes in its optical properties. We also found that the Pt atom chemisorbs in a sulfur vacancy of the material, with an adsorption energy of −4.1164 eV. After the adsorption of Pt atoms in the sulfur vacancy, the material becomes a semiconductor with a band gap of 1.06 eV, and the changes in the optical absorption and reflectivity are significant.

Electronic devices are sensitive to electromagnetic (EM) emissions requiring electromagnetic shielding protection to assure good operation, preventing noise, malfunctioning, or even burning. To assure protection, it is important to develop suitable material and design solutions for electronic enclosures. Most common enclosures are made with metal alloys by traditional manufacturing methods. However, resourcing to thermoplastic composites combined with additive manufac-turing (AM) technologies emerges as an alternative that enables to fabricate complex parts that are lightweight, consolidated and oxidation and corrosion resistant. In this research, an AM technique based in material extrusion was used to print 2 mm thick specimens with a multi-material made of micro-carbon fiber (CF) filled polyamide, reinforced, at specific layers, by continuous carbon fibers stacked with a 90° rotation to each other. Specimens electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) was evaluated in the frequency band of 0.03 – 3 GHz by coaxial transmission line method. De-pending on the number of CF layers, the EM shielding obtained can up to 70 dB, with a specific shielding up to 60 dB.cm3/g, predominantly by absorption mechanism, being 22 times higher that without the CF layers. These findings fundament this innovative approach for lightweight cus-tomizable solutions for EM shielding applications.

Based on the dynamic strength variation mechanism of concrete under complex loading conditions, two approaches were devised: numerical testing and CT scanning, guided by the principle of minimizing energy dissipation. A methodology for calculating concrete's failure area and measuring its strength was developed. The analysis delves into the mechanisms behind failure patterns and variations in concrete specimen strength, focusing on crack initiation, development, and the resultant failure surface formed by crack propagation, along with the stress distribution in concrete specimens subjected to diverse loading conditions. Through evaluating the strength and computed failure area of concrete specimens, it is evident that the loading method influences both the strength and failure area of concrete specimens. In general, a larger failure area correlates with a higher measured strength.

This study presents an innovative approach for the utilization of industrial by-products and municipal waste in the production of sustainable and environmentally friendly cement mortar. We explored stabilized stainless-steel reduced slag (SSRS) and polyethylene (PE) plastic waste as partial replacements for aggregates. Various engineering properties of the resulting cement mortar specimens, including slump, slump flow, compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, water absorption, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), were investigated through comprehensive experimental tests. The influence of different water-cement (w/c) ratios and substitution amounts on the engineering properties of the cement mortar samples was thoroughly examined. The findings revealed that an increase in PE substitution adversely affected the overall workability of the cement mortar mixtures, whereas an increase in SSRS amount contributed to enhanced workability. As for the hardened properties, a consistent trend was observed for both cases, with higher w/c ratios and substitution amounts leading to reduced mechanical properties. Water absorption and UPV test results validated the increased formation of porosity with higher w/c ratios and substitution amounts. This study proposes a promising method to effectively repurpose industrial by-products and municipal wastes, transforming them into sustainable construction and building materials. Additionally, a comparative analysis of transportation costs and carbon footprint emissions between SSRS-cement mortar and PE-cement mortar was conducted to assess their environmental impact and sustainability. Generally, higher w/c ratios and replacement levels corresponded to reduced carbon footprint. The geographical location of the source of SSRS and PE remains a challenge and studies to overcome this challenge must be further explored.

Since the implementation of the Materials Genome Project by the Obama administration in the United States, the development of various computational materials databases has fundamentally expanded the choices of industries such as materials and energy. In the field of thermoelectric materials, the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT quantifies the performance of the material. From the viewpoint of calculations for vast materials, the ZT values are not easily obtained due to their computational complexity. Here, we show how to build a database of thermoelectric materials based on first-principles calculations for the electronic and heat transport of materials. Firstly, the initial structures are classified according to the values of bandgap and other basic properties using the clustering algorithm K-means in machine learning, and high-throughput first principles calculations are carried out for narrow-bandgap semiconductors which exhibiting potential thermoelectric application. The present framework of calculations mainly includes deformation potential module, electrical transport performance module, mechanical and thermodynamic properties module. We have also set up a search webpage for the calculated database of thermoelectric materials, providing searching and viewing the related physical properties of materials. Our work may inspire the construction of more computational databases of first-principle thermoelectric materials and accelerate research progress in the field of thermoelectrics.

Due to satisfactory mechanical properties, low specific weight and other advantages, a substantial utilization of laminated structural composites in many components and equipments of several industry sectors, especially in the past two decades, has been made. This class of materials has a good potential to be an important ally to support scientists and engineers with the main current world challenge: an energy transition process that must occur with sustainability, eco-friendly materials and based on an efficient reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, a microanalysis (scale length: 10μm to 1mm) of mechanical behavior that considers the multiphase characteristics, at leastwise a matrix and a reinforcement phase, of this kind of composites must be explored, i. e., a heterogeneous material is assumed to predict, for example, the effective tensors of stiffness or compliance by a homogenization process, modeling to damage analyses, studies about progressive delamination and other specific aspects of a composite can be previously investigated using micromechanical approaches. Therefore, the understanding of fundamental micromechanics as well as some advanced models are essential to apply these materials in structural industry components. In this sense, this systematic literature review is designed to investigate the main basic and advanced models of laminated composites micromechanics and using this overall study, have been developed, in the end, an analysis of research trends to the topic, in which, lines to future researches are indicated.

This paper aims to study and analyze a new Peltier cell layout using a PCM in biphasic mode, with the liquid phase encapsulating the p-n junctions and the solid one playing the role of heat sink. The selected PCM is an organic compound that operates within a temperature range corresponding to the melting process. The phase change zone encompasses the working temperature of the Peltier cell, avoiding thermal gradient variation across the cell section and maintaining the operating conditions and the cell efficiency. PCM encapsulates the Peltier cell thermocouples, creating a layer that increases the power generation as the thickness reduces. We simulated the performance of the new configuration for different temperature gaps between both sides of the cell, obtaining an improvement in power generation from 1.65 to 7.93. This power increase ratio depends on the temperature gap and transient time to reach the steady working temperature. The control of the layer thickness, transient time, and working temperatures resides in the external heating power source, which varies the operating conditions regulating the heat power and the airflow. Maximum output power from the cell prototype is 36.5 W, while conventional Peltier cells operating in similar conditions produce 7.3 W, which represents a power gain of 500%.

In Ecuador, particularly in the El Oro province, gold mining has been historically hampered by arsenic contamination in the ores. This research addresses the persistent issue of arsenic in gold-bearing ores from Miraflores Mine in Cerro Azul, Atahualpa Canton, and the challenges it presents to mining operations. The study's purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of an alkaline leaching process for arsenic removal. The ore underwent thorough characterisation, employing advanced techniques like fire assay and atomic absorption. Once the ore's nature was discerned, an arsenic extraction experiment using a leaching solution was conducted. The implemented process achieved an arsenic removal efficiency of 90.54%. This enhanced ore quality facilitates efficient metallurgical applications and, more notably, reduces the environmental footprint by diminishing the need for harmful reagents like sodium cyanide. However, a significant implication of this method is the added cost due to the need for heat during the leaching test, amounting to an approximate $30 per ton increase. The alkaline leaching process emerges as a promising solution for arsenic challenges in El Oro’s mining sector. While the findings are encouraging, further expansive tests are recommended to validate the results and underscore the urgency for sustainable and hazard-conscious mining practices.

The massive use of electronic equipment has raised concerns about electromagnetic (EM) pollution, leading to increased attention to EM shielding in both civil and military applications. EM absorption materials play a crucial role in reducing the energy of microwaves projected onto their surface. In this work, we propose a novel OTA (over-the-air) antenna test method to evaluate and analyze the functionality of EM absorption materials. This method offers a new and practical way to assess the effectiveness of these materials. Measured results indicate that the presence of the EM absorption material led to a decrease in antenna gain of approximately 2-3 dB, a reduction in efficiency of more than 10-15%, and a smaller radiation pattern during the actual testing process. These findings highlight the impact of EM absorption materials on antenna performance. Compared to the traditional S-parameter testing method, the gain comparison testing method exhibits the advantages of higher accuracy and simpler operation in the lower frequency experiment.

The hard-shelled seed industry plays an important role in the global agricultural economy. As a result of nut industrialization, considerable amounts of by-products and residues are produced year by year, burnt as fuel or discarded as non-valued waste, by-passing a potential source of valuable compounds or features. Over the last decade nutshells have received great interest due to their lignin concentration and their antioxidant, physical and mechanical features. It was found that these properties vary among cultivars, latitude and localities of plantation. On the other hand, there is inconsistences regarding to mechanical and some biochemical properties of both nutshells, which aimed to explore the status of potential hazelnut and walnut shells appli-cations into sustainable circular bio-economy chains. Hence, this review deals with the recent scientific literature on their chemical composition as well as their functional applications as an approach to sustain the utilization of the main by-product derived from the nut-industry.

Solar concentration is the ability to harness solar radiation to increase the temperature of a receiver. The receiver is the component into which a heat transfer fluid can be flowed for an ORC system and produce electricity, or it can be used for high-temperature thermal storage, or even to implement thermochemical cycles. The choice of material is critical to ensure optimal performance and long-lasting operation. It is also essential that such material can operate at high temperatures and high thermal gradients. In short, material identification involves high thermal stresses that result in structural deformation. Different metal alloys were used to verify that the yield strength limit was not exceeded due to thermal stress induced by concentrated solar radiation. The problem was implemented in Matlab starting from the general heat equation. The purpose is to test whether thermal stress exceeds the yield strength, which is the condition in which elastic bonds in the material are changed, causing deformation. The best material identified was Inconel 740H, which had a high yield strength value and the lowest temperature difference. Under extreme working conditions, it can withstand thermally induced shocks.

This study endeavors the preparation and evaluation of Phenol Furfural Resin (PFR) from bagasse and its nanocomposites for Electrically Conductive Adhesives (ECAs) application. PFR was prepared with the furfural extracted from bagasse using modified acid digestion method. Three different formulations of PFR nanocomposites with conductive nanoparticles i.e., PFR-silver, PFR-graphite, and PFR-silver + graphite were prepared using 20-60 w/w% of fillers via impregnation method. Resultant products were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, EDS and XRD spectroscopy. Electrical conductivity was measured using four probe technique while band gap was calculated via Tauc plot. Virgin PFR has shown poor conductivity up to 2.6 × 10^-4 Scm^-1 while the highest conductivity achieved was 8.2 × 10^-1 Scm^-1 for nanocomposite constituted silver, graphite, and PFR with 40:30:20 ratios respectively. This synergism was exhibited because graphite and Ag NPs supply excellent junctions for building networks. Both tend to coalesce due to van der Waals forces and high surface energies, therefore conductive pathways numbers can be increased, and contact area can be effectively enlarged. This ternary composite has exhibited the lowest bandgap energy value i.e., 3.1 eV. Thermogravimetric temperatures T₀ and T_deg values were increased up to 120 °C and 484 °C respectively, showing significant increase in thermal stability. Therefore, the resultant nanocomposite material has good potential to be employed as ECAs in electronic industry.

This study endeavors the preparation and evaluation of Phenol Furfural Resin (PFR) from bagasse and its nanocomposites for Electrically Conductive Adhesives (ECAs) application. PFR was prepared with the furfural extracted from bagasse using modified acid digestion method. Three different formulations of PFR nanocomposites with conductive nanoparticles i.e., PFR-silver, PFR-graphite, and PFR-silver + graphite were prepared using 20-60 w/w% of fillers via impregnation method. Resultant products were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, EDS and XRD spectroscopy. Electrical conductivity was measured using four probe technique while band gap was calculated via Tauc plot. Virgin PFR has shown poor conductivity up to 2.6 × 10-4 Scm-1 while the highest conductivity achieved was 8.2 × 10-1 Scm-1 for nanocomposite constituted silver, graphite, and PFR with 40:30:20 ratios respectively. This synergism was exhibited because graphite and Ag NPs supply excellent junctions for building networks. Both tend to coalesce due to van der Waals forces and high surface energies, therefore conductive pathways numbers can be increased, and contact area can be effectively enlarged. This ternary composite has exhibited the lowest bandgap energy value i.e., 3.1 eV. Thermogravimetric temperatures T0 and Tdeg values were increased up to 120 °C and 484 °C respectively, showing significant increase in thermal stability. Therefore, the resultant nanocomposite material has good potential to be employed as ECAs in electronic industry.

Mining is an important industry, accounting for 6.9% of global GDP. However, global development promotes accelerated demand, resulting in the accumulation of hazardous waste in land, sea, and air environments. It reached 7 billion tonnes of mine tailings generated yearly worldwide, and 19 billion solid tailings will be accumulated by 2025. Adding to this, the legacy of environmental damage from abandoned mines is worrying; in Canada there are around 10,000 abandoned mines, 50,000 in Australia, 6,000 in South Africa, and 9,500 coal mines in China, reaching 15,000 by 2050. In this scenario, restoration techniques from mining tailing have become increasingly discussed among scholars due to their potential to offer benefits towards reducing tailings levels, thereby reducing environmental pressure for the correct management and adding value to previously discarded waste. This review paper explores available literature on the main techniques of mining tailing recycling and reuse and discusses leading technologies, including the benefits and limitations, as well as emerging prospects. The findings of this review serve as a supporting reference for decision-makers concerning the related sustainability issues associated with mining, mineral processing, and solid waste management.

In the process of deflagration of energetic materials, strong electromagnetic radiation is to be generated, which causes the surrounding electronic equipment to fail to work normally. To solve this problem, it is necessary to clarify the mechanism of electromagnetic radiation generated by energetic materials. The mechanism of plasma changed by the deflagration of energetic materials is an important topic in the aerospace and geophysics fields. The academic community holds two main viewpoints on the mechanism of electromagnetic radiation generated by energetic materials: one is that the solid material is squeezed and deformed during the deflagration of energetic materials, and the charges of different polarities rub in space to form effective electric dipoles, which eventually generate electromagnetic radiation. Another view is that the deflagration of energetic materials causes the temperature of the medium to rise sharply, and bremsstrahlung is formed during the compression and diffusion of the high-temperature wave front, resulting in the generation of electromagnetic radiation. This paper, based on theoretical analysis and experimental data, holds the view that electromagnetic radiation is generated by the high-temperature thermal effect. It studies the relationship between temperature and electromagnetic radiation and obtains quantitative analysis conclusions.

The contribution deals with the joining of various types of materials by technology of thermal drilling. In various branches of industries, also in the automotive industry must be joining operations, service, repairing, substitution or protection workpieces, components with various types of materials. Equally, the important role as joint, is also used material, and a product preparation by assembly and disassembly operations. By utilization of new friction hybrid joining technologies we can shortage the production time, provide automation in operations, increase the quality of joints, spare of economical expenses and also we can protect the environment. In this paper authors have investigated the effect of friction drilling on the tested material, aluminium alloy AlMgSi, which was used for material testing. The created joints were evaluated visually and by microscopy methods. The errors of tested joining were documented and described, too. This contribution was made with cooperation of Technical University of Kosice and with U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o.

There are some controversies about 2G bioethanol and it is in need of a reliable test data in order to make a further analysis and proof. In collecting basic data from three classes of typical raw materials, such as wheat, maize stalk juice, and straw, it was found that 4.32 tons straw or 3.358 tons wheat is needed to produce 1-ton bioethanol. Using the coefficient of variation calculation and analysis method, it is able to obtain the C.V. value of straw fermentation efficiency 0.08932<0.15, indicating the fermentation technology and process of 2G bioethanol is already quite mature and reliable, without risk, and also with a raw material cost advantage. There is a problem in that the C.V. value of straw volume is 1.2648>0.95, indicating 2G bioethanol is in an extremely high-risk area. Using the straw volume calculation method, building and its costs – capital expenditure of 2G bioethanol plant is approximately seven times that of a wheat ethanol plant. This should be some of the important reasons why it is noncompetitive, extremely high price, and requiring government subsidies. Straw volume data study has caused the 2G bioethanol plant to require more cement, steel, equipment, and other materials. Thus, there are ample reasons to question the CO2 emissions and its carbon footprint of 2G bioethanol plant. Actually, the volume is not the only existing problem, it is necessary to re-evaluate and discuss the definition of 2G bioethanol and its future.

By using the particle swarm optimization algorithm for crystal structure prediction, we reveal a newly orthorhombic Cmcm structure of HfB4, which is more energetically superior to the previously proposed YB4-, ReP4-, FeB4-, CrB4-, and MnB4-type structures in the considered pressure range. The phonon dispersion and elastic constants calculations confirm that the new phase is dynamically and mechanically stable. The calculated large shear modulus (240 GPa) and high hardness (45.7 GPa) imply that the predicted Cmcm-HfB4 is a potential superhard material. Meanwhile, the directional dependences of the Young's modulus, bulk modulus, and shear modulus for HfB4 are systematically investigated. Further analyses of the density of states and electronic localization function indicate that the strong B-B and B-Hf covalent bonds greatly contribute to its high hardness and stability.

Current industrial trends bring new challenges in energy absorbing systems. Polymer materials as the traditional packaging material seem to be promising due to their low weight, structure and production price. Based on the review, the linear low-density polyethylene material was identified as the most promising material for absorbing impact energy. The current paper addresses the identification of the material parameters and the development of a Constitutive material model to be used in future design by virtual prototyping. The paper deals with the experimental measurement of the stress-strain relations of the linear low-density polyethylene under static and dynamic loading. The quasi-static measurement is realized in two perpendicular principal directions and is supplemented by a test measurement in the 45 degrees direction, i.e. exactly between the principal directions. The quasi-static stress-strain curves are analyzed as an initial step for dynamic strain rate dependent material behavior. The dynamic response is tested in the drop tower using a spherical impactor hitting the flat material multi-layered specimen at two different energy levels. The strain rate dependent material model is identified by optimizing the static material response obtained in the dynamic experiments. The material model is validated by the virtual reconstruction of the experiments and by comparing the numerical results to the experimental ones.

Rhenium Disulfide (ReS2) has evolved as a novel 2D transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) material which has promising applications in optoelectronics and photonics because of its distinctive anisotropic attributes. In this review, we emphasize on formulating saturable absorbers (SAs) based on ReS2 to produce Q-switched and mode-locked pulsed lasers of diverse operation wavelengths like 1 μm, 1.5 μm, 2 μm, and 3 μm. We outline ReS2 synthesis techniques and integration platforms concerning solid-state and fiber-type lasers. We discuss the laser performance based on SAs attributes. Lastly, we draw conclusions and outlook by recommending additional improvements for SA devices so as to advance the domain of ultrafast photonic technology.

In the search for new 2D materials beyond graphene with similar exemplary properties Stanene the new graphene relative was successfully synthesized and characterized in 2016 [14]. This new material which consists of atomically thin tin (Sn) atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice has shown great promise in gas sensing applications in its pristine, doped and functionalized forms as evidenced by the recent research outputs following its discovery. Researchers have discovered that with its exotic properties it is highly efficient in the detection of the environmentally harmful gases like SO2, NO2, CO2, NH3 and can serve as a multifunctional gas sensor. In this focused and up-to-date review we aim to group the literature on first principles studies of stanene regards to its application for gas sensing and critically examine the success/failures of its multifunctional gas sensing properties as compared to graphene. We systematically present and discusses how structural deformations, defects and doping effect the gas sensing performance. Despite the impressive progress in the field of gas sensing with stanene shown by first principles calculations, many challenges in large scale synthesis, device fabrication and commercialization need to be addressed. The current review can help understand the current status and drawbacks of stanene and identify future directions in this field.

Tropical storm Nate, which was a powerful hurricane prior to landfall along the Alabama coast, traversed north towards our instrumented site in Hunstville, AL. The rain bands lasted 18 h and the 2D-video disdrometer (2DVD) captured the event which was shallow and indicative of pure warm rain processes. Measurements of raindrop size, shape and velocity distributions are quite rare in pure warm rain and are expected to differ from cold rain processes. In particular, asymmetric shapes due to drop oscillations and their impact on polarimetric radar signatures in warm rain have not been studied so far. Recently, the 2DVD data has been used for 3D reconstruction of asymmetric raindrop shapes but their fraction (relative to the more common oblate shapes) in warm rain has yet to be ascertained. Here we compute the scattering matrix drop-by-drop using Computer Simulation Technology integral equation solver for drop sizes>2.5 mm. From the scattering matrix elements, the polarimetric radar observables are simulated by integrating over 1 minute consecutive segments of the event. These simulated values are compared with dual-polarized C-band radar data located at 15 km range from the 2DVD site to evaluate the contribution of the asymmetric drop shapes.

The research field of two dimensional (2D) materials strongly relies on optical microscopy characterization tools to identify atomically thin materials and to determine their number of layers. Moreover, optical microscopy-based techniques also opened the door to study the optical properties of these nanomaterials. We present a comprehensive study of the differential reflectance spectra of 2D semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂ and WSe₂, with thickness ranging from one layer up to six layers. We analyze the thickness-dependent energy of the different excitonic features, indicating the change in the band structure of the different TMDC materials with the number of layers. Our work provides a route to employ differential reflectance spectroscopy for determining the number of layers of MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂ and WSe₂.

For multi-sensor integrated systems, such as a mobile mapping system (MMS), data fusion at sensor-level, i.e., the 2D-3D registration between optical camera and LiDAR, is a prerequisite for higher level fusion and further applications. This paper proposes a line-based registration method for panoramic images and LiDAR point cloud collected by a MMS. We first introduce the system configuration and specification, including the coordinate systems of the MMS, the 3D LiDAR scanners, and the two panoramic camera models. We then establish the line-based transformation model for panoramic camera. Finally, the proposed registration method is evaluated for two types of camera models by visual inspection and quantitative comparison. The results demonstrate that the line-based registration method can significantly improve the alignment of the panoramic image and LiDAR datasets under either the ideal spherical or the rigorous panoramic camera model, though the latter is more reliable.

The sensitivity of macroscopic mechanical and thermal properties of grey cast iron is computationally investigated for a variety of graphite microstructures over a wide temperature range. In order to represent common graphite microstructures according to DIN EN ISO 945-1, a synthetic approach is used to algorithmically generate simulation domains. The developed mechanical and thermal model is applied in a large simulation study. The study includes statistical volume elements of the graphite microstructures classes GG-15 and IA2 to IA5, with 10 v.-%, 11 v.-% and 12 v.-% graphite, respectively, for a temperature range from 20 °C to 750 °C. Homogenized macroscopic quantities such as the Young's moduli, Poisson's ratios, yield strengths and thermal conductivities are predicted for the different microstructure classes by applying simulation and data analysis tools of the research data infrastructure Kadi4Mat.

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors using a polarization-diverse receiver are able to capture polarimetric information about the target under measurement. This information can be used in a classifier to make an instantaneous assessment of the type of material present, enabling a shot-by-shot prediction of the material type and distance to the target.

The Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM), conceptualized by Architect Kengo Kuma and inaugurated in 2019 in Eskişehir, stands as a testament to the historical significance of the timber trade in the region. The deliberate choice of wood as the primary construction material serves as a tribute to this historical narrative. The conspicuous incorporation of wooden lath materials into both the external and internal spaces signifies a conscious reference to the region's historical heritage and aligns with sustainability principles in design. The timber used to construct OMM was sourced from exhausted industrial pine forests. The creation of exhibition spaces at diverse scales involved the assembly of boxes of varying dimensions, illustrating OMM's inclination towards a formative structure characterized by “Addition and Integration.” This architectural methodology involves juxtaposing two or more primary forms to achieve a partial amalgamation. Factors such as form characteristics, dimensional distinctions, spatial arrangements, and extent of surface interactions collectively contribute to the compelling effect of this integrative approach. Within the confines of the museum, unconventional partitioning is implemented, and the strategic arrangement of masses results in multiple façades, even in the absence of overt wooden surfaces. The discernible visibility of the building's façade from an internal vantage point underscores the pivotal role played by wood in the architectural design of the OMM. The exterior impact of the wooden shell complements its interior application. The voluminous void at the heart of the structure allows for the infiltration of natural light into the internal spaces, and the wooden facade facilitates the transmission of light. The use of glass to segregate the cafeteria area from the museum entrance preserves a visual continuity between these spaces. The fundamental research inquiry in this study revolves around the user experience of wood, a material that actively influences diverse facets, including structural elements, contextual considerations, interior arrangements, and external aesthetics. To address this inquiry, a comprehensive case study and survey were conducted with the objective of elucidating the functional, sensory, perceptual, and psychological impacts of wood, the primary material in the museum's spatial configuration, on the overarching user experience.