Pore Forming Toxins (PFTs), formed mainly by virulence factors of bacteria, belongs to Pore Forming Protein (PFP) family. Secreted as soluble monomers, they bind specific targets in membranes where their oligomerization and insertion place. Lysenin, a member of the PFTs, forms and oligomer after sphingomyelin binding, the so-called prepore, which become inserted forming a pore after a conformational change triggered by a pH decrease. In crowded conditions, oligomers tends to stay in prepore form because the prepore-to-pore transition is sterically blocked. In this study, we investigate the effect of calcium ions in those crowded conditions, finding that calcium act as a trigger for lysenin insertion. We localize the residues responsible for calcium sensitivity in a small α-helix. Our results are not only one of the few complete structural descriptions of prepore-to-pore transitions but the very first that involves a calcium triggering mechanism. The presence of glutamic or aspartic acids in the insertion domains could be an indication that calcium may be a general trigger for PFTs and more generally PFP.

Artificial membrane systems can serve as models to investigate molecular mechanisms of different cellular processes, including transport, pore formation, and viral fusion. However, the current simulacrums such as SUVs, GUVs, and the supported lipid bilayers suffer from issues, namely high curvature, heterogeneity, and surface artefacts, respectively. Freestanding membranes provide a facile solution to these issues, but current systems developed by various groups use silicon or aluminium oxide wafers for fabrication that involves access to a dedicated nanolithography facility and high cost while conferring poor membrane stability. Here, we report the development, characterization and applications of an easy-to-fabricate suspended lipid bilayer (SULB) membrane platform leveraging commercial track-etched porous filters (PCTE) with defined microwell size. Our SULB system offers a platform to study the lipid composition-dependent structural and functional properties of membranes with exceptional stability in a high throughput fashion. With dye entrapped in PCTE microwells by SULB, we show that sphingomyelin significantly augments the activity of pore-forming toxin, Cytolysin A (ClyA) and the pore formation induces lipid exchange between the bilayer leaflets. Further, we demonstrate high efficiency and rapid kinetics of membrane fusion by dengue virus in our SULB platform. Our suspended bilayer membrane mimetic offers a novel platform to investigate a large class of biomembrane interactions and processes.

Glycans play important roles as recognition molecules on cell surfaces in living organisms due to their remarkable structural diversity. Carbohydrates exist in numerous isomeric forms and can adopt diverse structures through various branching patterns. Despite their relatively small molecular weights, they exhibit extensive structural diversity. On the other hand, lectins, also known as carbohydrate-binding proteins, not only recognize and bind to the diverse structures of glycans but also induce various biological reactions based on structural differences. Initially discovered as hemagglutinins in plant seeds, lectins have been found to play significant roles in cell recognition processes in higher vertebrates. However, our understanding of lectins in marine animals, particularly marine invertebrates, remains limited. Recent studies have revealed that marine animals possess novel lectins with unique structures and glycan recognition mechanisms not observed in known lectins. Of particular interest is their role as pattern recognition receptors in the innate immune system, where they recognize glycan structures of pathogens. Furthermore, lectins serve as toxins for self-defense against foreign enemies. Recent discoveries have identified various pore-forming proteins containing lectin domains in fish venoms and skins. These proteins utilize lectin domains to bind target cells, triggering oligomerization and pore formation in the cell membrane. These findings have spurred research into the new functions of lectins and lectin domains. In this review, we present recent findings on the diverse structures and functions of lectins in marine animals.

Acidic ostreolysin A/pleurotolysin B (OlyA/PlyB, formerly known as ostreolysin (Oly), and basic 20 kDa equinatoxins (EqTs) are cytolytic proteins isolated from the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus and the sea anemone Actinia equina, respectively. Both toxins, although from different sources, share many similar biological activities: (i) colloid-osmotic shock by forming pores in cellular and artificial membranes enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin; (ii) increased vascular endothelial wall permeability in vivo and perivascular oedema; (iii) dose-dependent contraction of coronary vessels; (iv) haemolysis with pronounced hyperkalaemia in vivo; (v) bradycardia, myocardial ischemia and ventricular extrasystoles accompanied by progressive fall of arterial blood pressure and respiratory arrest in rodents. Both types of toxins are haemolytic within nanomolar range concentrations, and it seems that hyperkalaemia plays an important role in toxin cardiotoxicity. However, it was observed that the haemolytically more active EqT III is less toxic than EqT I, the most toxic and least haemolytic EqT. In mice, EqT II is more than 30 times more toxic than OlyA/PlyB when applied intravenously. These observations imply that haemolysis with hyperkalaemia is not the sole cause of the lethal activity of both toxins. Additional mechanisms responsible for lethal action of the two toxins are direct effects on heart, coronary vasoconstriction and related myocardial hypoxia. In this review, we appraise the pathophysiological mechanisms related to the chemical structure of OlyA/PlyB and EqTs, as well as their toxicity.

Hemolysin II (HlyII) – one of the pathogenic factors of Bacillus cereus, a pore-forming β-barrel toxin – possesses a C-terminal extension of 94 amino acid residues, designated as the C-terminal domain of HlyII (HlyIICTD), which plays an important role in the functioning of the toxin. Our previous work described a monoclonal antibody (HlyIIC-20), capable of strain-specific inhibi-tion of hemolysis caused by HlyII, and demonstrated the dependence of the efficiency of hemol-ysis on the presence of proline at position 324 in HlyII outside the conformational antigenic de-terminant. In this work, we studied 16 mutant forms of HlyIICTD. Each of the mutations, ob-tained by multiple site-directed mutagenesis leading to the replacement of amino acid residues lying on the surface of the 3D structure of HlyIICTD, led to a decrease in the interaction of HlyIIC-20 with the mutant form of the protein. Changes in epitope structure confirm the high conformational mobility of HlyIICTD required for the functioning of HlyII. Comparison of the effect of the introduced mutations on the effectiveness of interaction between HlyIICTD and HlyIIC-20 and a control antibody recognizing a non-overlapping epitope enabled identifying the amino acid residues N339, K340 included in the conformational antigenic determinant rec-ognized by HlyIIC-20.

The incremental sheet forming represents a relatively recent technology that guarantees high customization, thanks to the layered manufacturing principle typical of rapid prototyping, and cost-effectiveness, because it does not require dedicated equipment. Research has initially shown that this process is effective in metal materials capable of withstanding plastic deformation but, in recent years, the interest in this technique has been increasing for the manufacture of complex polymer sheet components as an alternative to the conventional technologies, based on heating-shaping-cooling manufacturing routes. Conversely, incremental formed polymer sheets can suffer from some peculiar defects, for example twisting. To reduce the risk of this phenomenon and the occurrence of failures, a viable way is to choose toolpath strategies that make the tool/sheet contact conditions less severe, and this represents the main goal of the present research. Polycarbonate sheets were worked by incremental forming; in detail, cone frusta with a fixed wall angle were manufactured with a reference and a stair toolpath strategy, and both the forming forces and the twist angle were monitored. The analysis of the results highlighted that a stair toolpath involving an alternation of diagonal up and vertical down steps represents a useful strategy to mitigate the forming forces and, with them, the occurrence of the twisting phenomenon in incremental formed thermoplastic sheets.

Correlations between the air permeability coefficient and various pore structure indicators in cementitious materials were examined to determine the pore structure indicator that best evaluated air permeability using data from previous studies of air permeabilities and pore structures. The determination coefficients of air permeability with total pore volume, critical pore diameter, and ordinary threshold pore diameter were low, although these have often been used as indicators. The median and threshold pore diameters obtained by percolation theory showed high determination coefficients. The equation using the threshold pore diameter better estimated the air permeability coefficient than the Katz–Thompson equation.

A novel process design for damage-free and highly accurate positional integration of an optical multi-axial force sensor into a hollow tube by means of rotary swaging is introduced. Numerical simulations reveal relevant process phenomena of thin disc joining inside a pre-toothed hollow tube and help to find an optimal process design. Experimental trials show a significant effect of axial material flow and the number of tools in a rotary swaging process. By taking these effects into account, a successful form- and force-fit joining of the sensor carrying discs into the tube can be achieved. A successful joining of an optical sensor for bending forces and torque measurement shows hysteresis-free sensory behavior and thus backlash-free joining of the sensor carrier discs. The paper finishes with presenting an approach for closed-loop position controlling during the joining process and numerically investigation of the process design.

The characteristics of tight sandstone, such as small pores, complex pore structures, low permeability, and low porosity, make it difficult to accurately characterize its pore structure. This represents a major challenge in the exploration and development of tight sandstone oil and gas reservoirs. This article conducts a simulation study on the impact of characteristic parameters such as pore size, coordination number, pore-throat ratio, and wettability on microscopic remaining oil after polymer flooding, thereby quantifying the types of remaining oil.

Most of the mid-high permeability sandstone oilfields in China have entered the ultra-high water cut stage, accompanied with the highly-dispersed residual oil, and the control effect of mi-cro-heterogeneity on the residual oil is increasingly prominent. Understanding the microscopic characteristics of pore structural and its evolution during the long-term waterflooding is critical for enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of oil field exploitation. While the previous insights paid more attention to the geometrical and morphological features of pore structure and ignores the relation of pore structure with the fluid flow capacity. In this study, we propose a microscopic pore structure classification method considering pore size and local permeable capacity, which realizes the physical classification and quantitative evaluation of pore structure characteristics for different permeability rocks. The micro-pore structure is classified into 6 types based on the key evaluation parameters of pore diameter and flow flux area. By taking six mid-high permea-bility sandstone core samples from Daqing oilfield in China, a series of long-term waterflooding experiments are carried out and the interior pore structure was captured using high precision CT scanning technique. The results reveals that high-permeability reservoirs exhibit concentrated pores diameters and finer throats, whereas mid-permeability reservoirs exhibit smaller pores and throats in greater quantity. With the increase of water injection volumes, the permeable ca-pacity and connectivity of the high-connectivity pore space in ultra-high- and high-permeability reservoirs are enhanced, and in mid-permeability reservoirs, the micro-heterogeneity intensifies the increase in low-connectivity small pores. These findings provide new insights for the micro-scopic heterogeneity and a solid theoretical basis for investigating the occurrence of microscopic residual oil and optimising enhanced oil recovery strategies at the late stage of ultra-high water cut.

To prevent CO2 leakage and ensure the safety of long-term CO2 storage, it is essential to investigate the flow mechanism of CO2 in complex pore structures at the pore scale. This study focuses on reviewing the experimental, theoretical, and numerical simulation studies on the microscopic flow of CO2 in complex pore structures during the last decade. For example, advanced imaging techniques, such as X-ray computed tomography (CT) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), are used to reconstruct the complex pore structures of rocks. Mathematical methods, such as Darcy's law, Young–Laplace’s law, and the Navier-Stokes equation, are used to describe the microscopic flow of CO2. Numerical methods, such as the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and pore network (PN) model, are used for numerical simulation. The application of these experimental and theoretical models and numerical simulation studies is discussed, considering the effect of complex pore structures. Finally, future research is suggested to focus on: (1) Conducting real-time CT scanning experiments of CO2 displacement combined with the developed real-time CT scanning clamping device to realize real-time visualization and provide quantitative description of the flow behavior of CO2 in complex pore structures; (2) The effect of pore structures change on the CO2 flow mechanism caused by the chemical reaction between CO2 and the pore surface, the flow theory of CO2 considering wettability and damage theory in a complex pore structures; (3) The flow mechanism of multi-phase CO2 in complex pore structures; (4) The flow mechanism of CO2 in the pore structures at multiscale and the scale upgrade from microscopic to mesoscopic to macroscopic. Generally, this study focuses on reviewing the research progress of CO2 flow mechanisms in complex pore structures at the pore scale and affords an overview of potential advanced developments to enhance the current understanding of CO2 microscopic flow mechanisms.

The use of biodegradable materials has a growing field of application due to environmental concerns, however, scientific research on incremental forming using biomaterials is scarce. Thus, this study focuses on the single point incremental forming (SPIF) process applied to a composite sheet that combines a biodegradable thermoplastic matrix (Solanyl) reinforced with natural fibres (flax). The influence of the process parameters on the final geometry is determined, evaluating the effect of the following factors: step depth, wall angle and temperature reached during the process. Additionally, a heated aqueous medium is incorporated which facilitates the formability of the composite sheets. This method is especially useful for materials that have poor formability at room temperature. The benefits of using controlled heat include the reduction of formation forces applied to the plate, improved accuracy due to the reduction of elastic recovery, and the manipulation of the samples remarkably close to the glass transition temperatures. Through this experimental study with the variables analysed, a maximum shaping depth of 310 mm is obtained. These results confirm that the single point shaping used with bioplastic materials is possible and has positive outcomes for incremental forming.

The incremental sheet forming is born as an excellent alternative to other material forming pro-cedures to deform incrementally flat metal sheets into the preferred complex three-dimensional profile. The main characteristics of this process are its versatility and cost-effectiveness; in addition, it allows for reaching greater formability, compared to conventional sheet forming processes. Re-cently, its use has been extended to polymers and composites. The following review aims to present the current state of the art of the incremental sheet forming of polycarbonate, an outstanding en-gineering plastic, starting from the first studies on the feasibility of this process applied to polymers. Attention is given to the advantages, drawbacks and main applications of the incrementally formed polycarbonate sheets, as well as the influence of the process parameters and the toolpath strategies on features like formability, forming forces, deformation and failure mechanisms, geometric accu-racy, surface quality, etc. Moreover, new hybrid forming methods for process optimization are presented. Finally, a discussion is provided on the technical challenges and research directions for incremental sheet forming of polycarbonate, and more generally thermoplastics, in the future. Therefore, this review aims to offer an extensive overview of the incremental forming of polycar-bonate sheets, useful to academic and industrial researchers who work on this topic.

In this paper, we dive into the exciting world of wireless communication, focusing on how millimeter-wave technology and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output phased array antennas are shaping the future of 5G and the upcoming 6G technologies. We cover the latest advancements in millimeter-wave and beam-forming technologies, emphasizing their role in enhancing network security and efficiency in automotive vehicles through dual radar communication. Our discussion spans the benefits, applications, challenges, and solutions of these technologies individually from millimeter-wave to beam-forming technology and joint radar communications, alongside a look at their theoretical and practical implementations. We emphasize the integration of beam-forming technology in joint radar communications for future automotive vehicles and its impact on automotive systems, smart cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Looking ahead, we discuss the potential of these technologies to transform future tech landscapes, while also addressing the security implications of merging communication and radar capabilities. This paper aims to provide a clear view of the advancements and prospects of millimeter-wave, beam-forming, and dual radar communication technologies.

A proposed low-temperature forging method aims to enhance stainless steel bearings by creating a martensitic subsurface layer, significantly boosting bearing fatigue life due to increased surface hardness. This technique induces beneficial residual stresses, particularly in axial bearings, streamlining their construction and improving machine elements. Challenges persist, especially with radial bearings, but simplicity in axial bearing forging promotes compact, resource-efficient facility construction. Future research will focus on applying this technique to axial bearing washers, potentially replicating success in other bearing components. Despite the energy ex-penditure for cooling during forging, the substantial increase in bearing fatigue life offsets this, enhancing overall longevity and reliability of critical machine components. Integration of this forging technique into bearing fabrication appears seamless, offering a promising trade-off be-tween energy use and enhanced performance.

Multilayered metallic sheets fabricated by hot metal forming processes are attractive structural components in the aerospace and automobile industry. The strength of the mechanical bond between the different layers is critical to the applicability of such components in load bearing applications. While it is well understood that the process conditions such as temperature, deformation and rate of deformation influence the bond strength, a clear functional relationship between these conditions and the bond strength has yet to be established. The objective of the current study is to investigate the joining of Aluminum-6061 alloy specimens by hot compression bonding. Hot compression tests of beam specimen pairs were conducted at different temperatures (300-500℃), with different strains and strain rates (10-2-10-1 [1sec]). Coupled thermo-mechanical finite element models were utilized to compute the time dependent thermo-mechanical fields that develop along the specimen interface. The computed values were used to map the spatial distribution of a scalar parameter J which is hypothesized to govern bond formation. Mechanical tensile tests were used to determine the bond strength and expose the bonded surfaces. It is demonstrated that the computed J distribution can be correlated well with SEM observations of the debonded surface. It is also shown that the actual bonded area can be predicted from the computations for a certain range of critical J values.

Hemoconcentration membranes used in cardiopulmonary bypass require a pore structure design with high pure water permeability, and which does not allow protein adsorption and useful protein loss. However, studies on hemoconcentration membranes have not been conducted yet. The purpose of this study was to analyze three-dimensional pore structures and protein fouling before and after blood contact with capillary membranes using the tortuous pore diffusion model and a scanning probe microscope system. We examined two commercially available capillary membranes of similar polymer composition that are successfully used in hemoconcentration clinically. Assuming the conditions of actual use in cardiopulmonary bypass, we perfused these membranes with bovine blood. Pure water permeability before and after bovine blood perfusion was measured using the dead-end filtration. The scanning probe microscopy system was used for analysis. High-resolution three-dimensional pore structures on the inner surface of the membranes were observed before blood contact. On the other hand, pore structures after blood contact could not be observed due to protein fouling. The pore diameters calculated by the tortuous pore diffusion model and scanning probe microscopy were mostly similar and could be validated reciprocally. Achievable pure water permeabilities showed no difference despite protein fouling, leading to low values of albumin SC. This is due to the mechanism that protein fouling occurs on the membrane surface, while there is little internal pore blocking. Therefore, controlling the fouling is essential for membranes in medical use. These characteristics of the hemoconcentration membranes examined in this study are suitable for clinical use.

K+ channels do play a role in cell shape changes observed during cell proliferation and apoptosis. Research suggested that the dynamics of aggregation of Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) into AQP4-OAPs isoforms can trigger cell shape changes in malignant glioma cells. Here, we investigated the relationship between AQP4 and some K+ channels in the malignant glioma U87 line. The U87 cells transfected with the human M1-AQP4 and M23-AQP4 isoforms were investigated for morphology, gene expression of KCNJ8, KCNJ11, ABCC8, ABCC9, KCNMA1, and Cyclin genes by RT-PCR, recording the whole-cell K+ ions currents by patch-clamp experiments. AQP4 aggregation into OAPs increases the plasma membrane functional expression of the Kir6.2 and SUR2 subunits of the KATP channels, and of the KCNMA1 of the BK channels in U87 cells leading to a large increase in inward and outward K+ ion currents. These changes were associated with changes in morphology with a decrease in cell volume in the U87 cells and an increase in the ER density. These U87 cells accumulate in the mitotic and G2 cell cycle. The KATP channel blocker zoledronic acid reduced cell proliferation in either M23 AQP4-OAPs and M1 AQP4-tetramers transfected cells leading to early and late apoptosis, respectively. BK channel sustains the efflux of K+ ions associated with the M23 AQP4-OAPs expression in the U87 cells, but it is downregulated in the M1 AQP4-tetramers cells; KATP channels are effective in the M1 AQP4-tetramers and M23 AQP4-OAPs cells. Zoledronic acid can be effective in targeting pathogenic M1 AQP4-tetramers cell phenotype inhibiting KATP channels and inducing early apoptosis.

This research aims to propose a novel approach to evaluate and minimize the scrap rate in the industrial production of premium food cans with distortion printing. Beyond cost considerations, a critical aspect of modern food can manufacturing is the aesthetic quality of the graphical display. In addition to traditional formability requirements, a waving requirement is defined. Detailed real production conditions are provided and discussed. The material of interest is a double cold-reduced (DR) low-carbon steel sheet and chromium-coated tin-free steel with a thickness of 0.16 mm. These sheets are laminated on both sides with PET film before distortion printing on the exterior. A material parameter identification method is proposed and illustrated to address the challenges in characterizing such a thin sheet. The thickness profile and flange length are key criteria for this identification. Digital image correlation (DIC) and a microscope are used to measure the thickness distribution and flange length. Within the manufacturing system, uncertainties arising from material properties and forming processes can lead to scraps or defects. Finite element analysis (FEA) is adopted for process analysis and validated with experiment. Uncertainty propagation via metamodeling, employing radial basis function (RBF) neural networks, is adopted for the scrap rate evaluation. The study concludes with process optimization recommendations to reduce scrap.

For deep-penetrating geochemistry, there is a frontier issue as to how to explore ore-bearing information deep in covered areas, while it is, too, important to investigate the geochemical migration of ore-forming elements for the development of exploration geochemistry. In this study, a 380-day migration column experiment was conducted with surface soil and pure Cu powder collected from the Yujiashan study area in Wuhan City, Hubei Province taken as the object of research to simulate the migration process of ore-forming elements under natural conditions. The results showed obvious vertical migration of the ore-forming elements and conversion of mobile metal forms in the process; further, according to 6 groups of simulation experiments that took 45 days to conduct on migration column samples and the surface oil and Cu powder collected from the Pulang mining area in Yunnan Province, the vertical migration of the ore-forming element was still visible, and the exogenous substance (pure Cu powder) could enhance the anomaly without changing the basic migration mechanism. This indicates that Cu might migrate in a stable manner in soil cover in the Pulang mining area, and its migration was mostly driven by the transformation of Fe-Mn oxide bound state and organic bound state; finally, a multifractal analysis was conducted, revealing that the ore-forming elements presented a nonlinear and complex structure during their upward migration, which caused anomalies in the covered area, and multiple parameters exerted a certain indicative effect on different source intensities and properties of soil. In this study, laboratory simulations were performed to summarize the active-state evolution pattern and migration mechanism of ore-forming elements with a view to providing technical support and theoretical guidance for geochemical prospecting in the covered region.

Reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) are ubiquitous technologies in modern water treatment, finding applications across various sectors. However, the availability of high-quality water suitable for RO/NF feed is diminishing due to droughts caused by global warming, increasing demand, and water pollution. As concerns grow over the depletion of precious freshwater resources, a global movement is gaining momentum to utilize previously overlooked or challenging water sources, collectively known as “marginal water.” Fouling is a serious concern when treating marginal water. In RO/NF, biofouling, organic and colloidal fouling, and scaling are particularly problematic. Of these, organic fouling, along with biofouling, has been considered difficult to manage. The major organic foulants studied are natural organic matter (NOM) for surface water and groundwater and effluent organic matter (EfOM) for municipal wastewater reuse. Polymeric substances such as sodium alginate, humic acid, and proteins have been used as model substances of EfOM. Fouling by low molecular weight organic compounds (LMWOCs) such as surfactants, phenolics, and plasticizers is known, but there have been few comprehensive reports. This review aims to shed light on fouling behavior by LMWOCs and its mechanism. LMWOC foulants reported so far are summarized, and the role of LMWOCs is also outlined for other polymeric membranes, e.g., UF, gas separation membranes, etc. Regarding the mechanism of fouling, it is explained that the fouling is caused by the strong interaction between LMWOC and the membrane, which causes the water permeation to be hindered by LMWOCs adsorbed on the membrane surface (surface fouling) and sorbed inside the membrane pores (internal fouling). Adsorption amounts and flow loss caused by the LMWOC fouling were well correlated with the octanol-water partition coefficient (log P). In part 2, countermeasures to solve this problem and applications using the LMWOCs will be outlined.

Wastewaters containing synthetic dyes, namely molecules with large aromatic structure which can produce harmful effects on the aquatic environment, are difficult to treat. Accordingly, and based on the adsorption technology, this work proposes the use of porous carbons as adsorbents of a red dye used in the wood industry. Three porous carbonaceous materials with relatively high porosity and tunable pore size were prepared by transformation of a nitrogen-rich precursor, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), at high temperature: N doped carbon (PAN-C), N-doped activated carbon with potassium hydroxide (PAN-C-Act) and N, S-co doped carbon with sulphur (PAN-S-C). Different experiments were planned to study the influence of pH (1.9-2.3, 6-6.8 and 11.8-12.6), solid/liquid ratio (S/L, 0.43-0.53 and 1.73-1.91 g L−1) and initial concentration (24 – 28 mg L−1 and 231 – 285 mg L−1) on the dye removal from aqueous solutions. The best results were found for the activated carbon (PAN-C-Act) at all concentrations and pH essayed. Specifically, the maximum adsorption capacity of 602.3 mg g−1 (99.9%, adsorption yield) was obtained at S/L of about 0.5 g L−1, acid pH, 285 mg L−1 and 48 h. Adsorption kinetics was better explained by the pseudo-second order model. Also, the existence of external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion was confirmed.

The initial valves of two Cymbella species are observed under the scanning electron microscope and the perizonium ultrastructure of Cymbella is revealed for the first time. The perizonium is composed of alternate nodes and internodes and lacks transverse perizonium bands. Four new species, Cymbella apiculatophora sp. nov., C. hunanensis sp. nov., C. juglandis sp. nov. and C. menyuanensis sp. nov., are described using light and scanning electron microscope from epilithon samples collected in rivers from Hunan and Qinghai Provinces, China. Cymbella menyuanensis is a typical Cymbella species that closely resembles species in the group around C. cymbiformis Agardh, the lectotype species of the genus. Cymbella apiculatophora is similar to C. sinensis Metzeltin & Krammer while Cymbella hunanensis is closer to the C. hustedtii Krasske group. The last species, C. juglandis, has a cymbelloid valve outline, obscured intermissio, internal occlusions of areolae, dorsally deflected distal raphe fissures, and a divided APF at each apex, and does not appear to belong to any group. In addition, new observations on C. cf. excisiformis Krammer and C. hustedtii are reported. The current concept of the genus Cymbella does not represent a monophyletic group as shown by molecular phylogenetic analyses. However, these analyses are still at the preliminary stage and are not yet sufficient to support a complete revision of the genus. Thus, although extremely diverse ultrastructural features are observed in the six Cymbella species investigated in this paper, we prefer to keep them within Cymbella at this moment for the sake of nomenclatural stability.

Pore structure characterization and fractal analysis have great significance for understanding and evaluating tight limestone reservoirs. In this work, the pore structure of tight limestone is characterized combined with low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the fractal dimension of tight limestone pore structure is discussed based on LTNA and NMR data. The results indicate that the pores of tight limestone have H3 and H4 types, the pore size distribution (PSD) of H3 type is a wave distribution ranging from 2 to 10 nm, and the PSD of H4 type is a unimodal distribution ranging from 2 to 10 nm. The transverse relaxation time (T2) spectrum of tight limestone shows single peak (DF), double peak (SF) and three peak (TF), and the T2 spectrums for micropores, mesopores and macropores range from 0.1 to 10 ms, from 10 to 100 ms, and greater than 100 ms, respectively. The LTNA fractal dimension of tight limestone (DL) ranges between 2.4446 and 2.7688, with an average of 2.5729, and the NMR fractal dimensions of micropores (DNMR1), mesopores (DNMR2) and macropores (DNMR3) are distributed between 0.3744 to 1.1293, 2.4263 to 2.9395 and 2.6582 to 2.9989, respectively. Moreover, there is no correlation between fractal dimension and permeability and porosity, a negative correlation between DL and average pore radius, a positive correlation between DL and specific surface area, and a positive correlation between DNMR2 and DNMR3 and micropore content, while DNMR2 and DNMR3 are negatively correlated with the content of mesopores and macropores.

Three species of subfamily Cultrinae currently live in Korea, but Erythroculter erythropterus has been introduced into the Nakdonggang River and has taken over the habitat, reducing the habitat of Culter brevicauda. Only the endangered species C. brevicauda still lives in the Yeongsangang River, and it is necessary to be careful not to introduce E. erythropterus in the future. And Hemiculter eigenmanni is also found throughout the country. In order to effectively manage and conserve the species in its various habitats and against invasions, this study was initiated. The ultrastructure of the egg envelopes of three species of Cultrinae— E. erythropterus, C. brevicauda, and H. eigenmanni, inhabiting the Geumgang and Yeongsangang Rivers were observed. It was found that the zona radiata of the egg envelopes of all three species were divided into two layers–an outer and inner layer, with the outer surface having a non-structural form. This form is characteristic of fishes with muddy, stagnant habitats or spawning grounds. The number of pore canals on the surface of the egg envelopes was 83 for E. erythropterus, 75 for C. brevicauda, and 58 for H. eigenmanni per 10 ㎛2, and the thickness was 7.89±0.34 ㎛, 12.27±0.46 ㎛, and 7.42±0.24 ㎛, respectively. The shape of the micropyle demonstrated a funnel shape narrowing toward the inner diameter in all three species, and the size of the inner diameter was 6.62±0.29 (6.09~7.10) ㎛ in E. erythropterus, 4.19±0.39 (3.39~4.58) ㎛in C. brevicauda, and 3.98±0.46 (3.47~4.93) ㎛in H. eigenmanni. The differences between species were identified in the number of pore canals, thickness, and micropyle inner diameter of egg envelopes, which were species-specific. Our study revealed a morphological mechanism in the egg envelope that prevents the formation of interspecific hybrids, and these features can be taxonomic traits that clarify species names. It also provided useful data for the production (breeding) of the second generation in aquaculture.

The principal main of this research work was the study the influence of Cu addition on the wear behavior (WB) of eutectic Al-12.6Si alloy developed by spray forming (SF) method and compared with as-cast (AC) alloys. The phases of chemical compositions and microstructure were studied by optical microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The microstructure of SFAl-12.6Si (SF1) alloy reside — of fine primary and eutectic Si phases evenly distributed in the equiaxed α-Al matrix and SF Al-12.6Si-2Cu (SF2) alloy lie of uniformly distributed fine eutectic Si particulates and spherical form θ-Al2Cu precipitates in α-Al matrix. On other hand, the AC Al-12.6Si alloy (AC1) alloy involve of eutectic Si needles in the dendrite α-Al matrix, whereas AC Al-12.6Si-2Cu (AC2) alloy consisted of eutectic Si needles and Chinese script form θ phase distributed randomly in the α-Al matrix. The microhardness and wear properties were analyzed using Vickers hardness (VH) and dry sliding WT. The SF alloys exhibit superior hardness compared to the AC alloys. The wear properties of SF alloys exhibited significantly superior compared to the AC alloys. The SF2 alloy showed high wear resistance (WR) than the SF1 alloy in the entire sliding velocities and applied loads. The results indicate that the spray deposited alloys have a lower coefficient of friction (CF(µ)) than the AC alloys under varying load and sliding velocity conditions. The high WR in the SF alloy was due to microstructural modification during SF and precipitation of fine Al2Cu intermetallic and solid solubility effects. The SF2 depicts increased transition from oxidative to abrasive. In other ways, AC alloys demonstrate wear mechanisms that change from oxidative to abrasive and delamination with an increase in sliding velocity and load.

Advanced manufacturing techniques, aimed at implants with high dependability, flexibility, and low manufacturing costs, are crucial in meeting the growing demand for high-quality products like biomedical implants. Incremental sheet forming is a promising flexible manufacturing approach for rapidly prototyping sheet metal components using low-cost tools. Titanium and its alloys are used to shape most biomedical implants because of its superior mechanical qualities, biocompatibility, low weight, and great structural strength. The poor formability of titanium sheets at room temperature, however, limits their widespread use. The goal of this research is to show that gradual sheet formation of a titanium biomedical implant is possible. The possibility of creative and cost-effective concepts for the manufacturing of such complicated shapes with significant wall angles is explored in this study. A numerical simulation based on finite element modeling as well as a design process tailored to metal forming is used to complete the development. The mean of uniaxial tensile tests with a constant strain rate was used to study the flow behavior of the studied material. To forecast the crack, the obtained flow behavior was modeled using the behavior model and failure model.

To improve the effect of multi-point stretch forming of sheet metal, it is proposed in this paper to replace fixed ball head with swinging ball head. According to the multi-point dies with different arrangements, this research establishes the finite element models of the following stretch forming, i.e. fixed ball heads with conventional arrangement, swinging ball heads with conventional arrangement, swinging ball heads with declining staggered arrangement, and swinging ball heads with parallel staggered arrangement and then numerical simulation is performed. The simulation results show that by replacing fixed ball head with swinging ball head, the surface indentation of the formed part was effectively suppressed, the stress and tension strain distribution of the formed part was improved and the forming quality was improved; that the thickness of the elastic pad was reduced, the springback was reduced and the forming accuracy was improved; and that when the ball head was applied to multi-point die with staggered arrangement, better forming result was achieved, where the best forming result was achieved in combining the swinging ball heads with the multi-point die with parallel staggered arrangement. The forming experiments were carried out, and the experimental results were consistent with the trend of numerical simulation results, which verified the correctness of the numerical simulation.

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the main etiological bacteria present in the oral cavity that leads to dental caries. All of the S. mutans in the oral cavity form biofilms that adheres to the surfaces of teeth. Dental caries are infections facilitated by the development of biofilm. An esterified derivative of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin-3-gallate-sterate (EGCG-S) was used in this study to assess its ability to inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans. The effect of EGCG-S on bacterial growth was evaluated with colony forming units (CFU) and log reduction; biofilm formation was qualitatively determined by Congo red assay, and quantitatively determined by crystal violet assay, fluorescence-based LIVE/DEAD assays to study the cell viability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the morphological changes. The results indicated that EGCG-S was able to completely inhibit growth and biofilm formation at concentrations of 250 µg/ml. Its effectiveness was also compared with a commonly prescribed mouthwash in the United States, chlorhexidine gluconate. EGCG-S was shown to be equally effective in reducing S. mutans growth as chlorhexidine gluconate. In conclusion, EGCG-S is potentially a natural anticariogenic agent by reducing bacterial presence in the oral cavity.

Stess in laser cladding coating is an important factor affecting the safe operation of remanufacturing components. Ultrasonic testing has become a hot direction in nondestructive evaluation of stress, because it has the advantages of safety, non-destructive and on-line detection. This paper provides a review of ultrasonic testing for stress in remanufacturing laser cladding coating. It summarizes the recent research outcomes on ultrasonic testing for stress, analyzes mechanism of ultrasonic testing for stress. Remanufacturing laser cladding coating shows typical anisotropic behaviors, the ultrasonic testing signal in laser cladding coating is influenced by many complex factors, such as microstructure, defect, temperature and surface roughness, etc. At present, ultrasonic testing for stress in laser cladding coating can only be done roughly. The paper discusses active mechanism of micro / macro factors to the reliability of stress measurement and the impact of stress measurement to the quality and safety of remanufacturing components. Base on the discussion, the paper proposes strategies for acquisition of nondestructive, rapid and accurate measurement of stress in remanufacturing laser cladding coating.

To clarify effects of weathered coal humic acid on water-stable aggregates and pore characteristics of reclaimed cambisol, this research analyzed the evolution characteristics of soil aggregates and pores. Effects of different humic acid dosages (0, 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight) and application period (1 year, 2 years, and 3 years) on soil aggregates and organic carbon components in soil water-stable aggregates were investigated. The results showed that water-stable macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) had the highest content in the first year; but in the third year, water-stable microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm) had the highest content, and silt and clay (<0.053 mm) were at a maximum. In the third year of 5% treatment, mean weight and geometric mean diameters were the largest, soil structure was the most stable, and TOC and water-stable microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm) in soil had the highest proportions. For 5% treatment, the majority of irregular pores were independent in the first year, and number of pores decreased in the second year, but average pore volume increased, forming robust connected pores. In the third year, the number of elongated and irregular pores increased. In the third year of 5% treatment, most pores were irregular and of size >100 μm, and soil structure was the most stable.

Formaldehyde (HCHO), an indoor volatile organic compound, is seriously harmful to human health. Therefore, green and effective decomposition of HCHO is essential. TiO2 has been employed for the degradation of HCHO via photocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (O2-, ·OH), yet the low specific surface area of crystalline TiO2 depressed the catalytic performance. Herein, we prepared TiO2 aerogels with high specific surface area and high porosity by sol-gel method, and added PVA to introduce flexible molecular chains for pore size regulation. The photocatalytic performance test verifies that the pore size of TiO2 aerogel is one of the important factors for HCHO decomposition. Notably, through the establishment of theoretical model and calculation, we validated that the efficiency of HCHO decomposition is related to the oxygen pressure in the pores of TiO2 aerogel, and the oxygen pressure is inversely proportional to the pore size. Accordingly, the optimal pore size of TiO2 aerogel for the photocatalytic HCHO decomposition is 2 nm-10 nm. This study provides a theoretical idea for TiO2 aerogels in the decomposition reaction of HCHO, which is expected to inspire more breakthroughs in the study of TiO2 aerogels for green chemistry.

It is widely reported that the mitochondrial membrane potential, ∆Ψm, is reduced in aging animals. It was recently suggested that the lower ∆Ψm in aged animals modulate mitochondrial bioenergetics and that this effect is a major cause of aging since artificially increased ∆Ψm in C. elegans increased lifespan. Here I review, critically, studies that reported reduction of ∆Ψm in aged animals, including worms, and conclude that many of these observations are best interpreted as evidence that the fraction of depolarized mitochondria is increased in aged cells because of the enhanced activation of the mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore, mPTP. Activation of the voltage-gated mPTP depolarizes the mitochondria, inhibits oxidative phosphorylation, releases large amounts of calcium and mROS, and depletes cellular NAD+, thus accelerating degenerative diseases and aging. Since the inhibition of mPTP was shown to restore ∆Ψm and retard aging, the reported lifespan extension by artificially generated ∆Ψm in C. elegans is best explained by inhibition of the voltage-gated mPTP. Similarly, the reported activation of the mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response by reduction of ∆Ψm, and the reported preservation of ∆Ψm in dietary restriction treatment in C. elegans are best explained as a resulting from activation or inhibition of the voltage-gated mPTP, respectively.

With the development of free trade port in Hainan Island, the construction of tourist roads around the island is also in full swing. Under the weather conditions of strong typhoon and rainstorm in Hainan, the highway cutting slope built on the coastal weak sandy terraces has strong sand loss and is easy to be scour by rainfall. MICP green spray irrigation solidification technology is used to strengthen the sandy cutting, and pore water pressure monitoring is carried out on the slope model during MICP solidification and rainfall scour. Combined with the model pore water pressure and flow slip failure pattern, dynamic analysis was carried out. The results show that MICP sprinkler irrigation technology can solidified the surface of the slope model in a short time, and the cementation depth of the model reaches 4cm after three sets of rotation reinforcement. The surface reinforcement effect is good, and the sand samples are closely connected. Under the erosion effect of simulated rainfall intensity, the sand loss of the slope is weakened, and no sand binding damage occurs, and the integrity is enhanced. Due to the cementation between sand grains, most of the rainfall was converted into runoff, and the slope slid after 150s. When the slope began to slip, the leading edge of the slope model lost sand and unloaded, and the failure mode was graded creep slip failure. Finally, the slope was divided into several blocks due to the continuous expansion of cracks after the slope failure. The erosion stability of the sandy slope under heavy rains is optimized and the sand loss is prevented effectively. In this study, a new method of MICP remediation techniques is proposed, which provides a new test basis for the application of MICP technology in practical engineering.

This work describes a method to carry out 2-D inversion of gravity data in terms of porosity and matrix density distribution using previous DC resistivity inversion results to constraint the fractional pore-water content in the rocks. The inversion is carried out using a controlled random search (CRS) algorithm for global optimization. The method was tested on synthetic data generated from a model representing a graben, and the results show that it can estimate accurate values of contrast-density and porosity. The method was also applied to gravity and dc experimental data collected in NE Portugal, showing results that agree quite well with the known geological information.

In this work, the transport equations of ionic species in concrete are studied. First, the equations at the porescale are considered, which are then averaged over a representative elementary volume. The so obtained transport equations at the macroscopic scale are thoroughly examined and each term is interpreted. Furthermore, it is shown that the tortuosity-connectivity does not slow the average speed of the ionic species down. The transport equations in the representative elementary volume are then compared with the equations obtained in an equivalent pore. Lastly, comparing Darcy’s law and the Hagen-Poiseuille equation in a cylindrical equivalent pore, the tortuosity-connectivity parameter is obtained for four dierent concretes. The proposed model provides very good results when compared with the experimentally obtained chloride profiles for two additional concretes.

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.

The determination of the parameters that characterise the air-void system in hardened concrete elements becomes crucial for structures under freezing and thawing cycles. The ASTM C457 standard describes some procedures to accomplish this task, but they are not easy to apply, require specialised equipment such as a stereoscopic microscope and result in highly tedious tasks to be performed. This paper describes an alternative procedure to the modified point-count method described in the Standard that makes use of macro photography. This alternative procedure is successfully applied to a large set of samples and presents some advantages over the traditional method, since the required equipment is less expensive and provides a more comfortable and less tedious procedure for the operator.

The 1060 aluminium alloy is widely applied to electronic industry, construction area, aerospace field, traffic engineering, decoration and consumption goods market for its good chemical, physical and mechanical properties. In general, excellent processing property is necessary and important for manufacturing of complicated panels. In this paper, a special 2D ultrasonic vibration incremental forming method is designed to improve its plasticity and mechanical properties. Three kind of processing methods including traditional single point incremental forming, longitudinal ultrasonic vibration incremental forming and 2D ultrasonic vibration incremental forming are conducted for flexible manufacture of conical parts of 1060 aluminium alloy sheet. Then micro-hardness tests, residual stress tests and scanning electron microscopy tests are carried out to probe its revolution of micro-structure and mechanical properties and to analysis the effects of different types of ultrasonic vibration on plasticity and fracture characteristic of 1060 aluminium alloy. It is proved that 2D ultrasonic vibration is facilitated to improvement of plasticity and surface qualities of 1060 aluminium alloy than the other two processing methods. So, the novel 2D ultrasonic vibration incremental forming possesses substantial application values on flexible and rapid manufacturing of complicated thin-walled component of aluminium alloy.

Recent developments in artificial nucleic acid and drug delivery systems (DDS) present possibilities for the symbiotic engineering of oligonucleotide therapeutics, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and small interfering RNA (siRNA). These technologies can also be applied for triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) to develop symbiotic genome-targeting tools and a new class of oligonucleotide drugs. Many reports have described the functionalization of TFOs and the enhancement of TFO activities. In particular, the tethering of crosslinking groups to TFOs enables irreversible triplex formation and is frequently exploited for antigene and genome-editing experiments. These crosslinkable TFOs have shown considerable potential for therapeutic application. In this review, we revisit these crosslinking techniques and explore the combination of these techniques with recent artificial oligonucleotide and DDS technologies.

The use of metal oxide nanoparticles as an alternative antimicrobial agent has gained attention due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance. Understanding its properties and potential benefits can contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable treatments in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to characterize TiO2-NP formulations and evaluate their antibacterial and wound healing abilities. The diameters and zeta potentials were determined using the Zetasizer in conjunction with dynamic light scattering. The agar-well diffusion method, time-kill kinetic assay and crystal violet assay were used to evaluate their antimicrobial activities. Wound healing assays were conducted both in-vitro and in-vivo. The study demonstrated that TiO2-NP formulations exhibit significant antimicrobial properties against various bacterial strains such as S. aureus and E. coli. No measurable E. coli growth was observed within a 15-mins period following exposure to TiO2-NP formulations. The TiO2-NP formation can improve wound healing by enhancing cell migration and collagen formation in both in-vitro and in-vivo conditions. In summary, our study suggests that TiO2-NP has the potential for use as an antimicrobial agent for animal wound treatment due to its ability to suppress bacterial growth and biofilm formation, as well as to enhance wound healing.

Bio-based packaging materials and efficient drug delivery systems are gaining attention, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is one of the most soluble cellulose derivatives, is a good candidate material due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and reproducibility. However, CMC-based films are lack of sufficient mechanical properties, limiting its widespread application. In this paper, the molecular interactions between CMC and additives with different molecular structures have been studied with rheological method. The additives are chitosan and cellulose derivatives including O-carboxymethylated chitosan (O-CMCh), N-2-hydroxypropyl-3-trimethylammonium-O-carboxymethyl chitosan (HTCMCh), hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC), cellulose nanofibers (CNC), and cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The influencing factors, such as molecular structure, concentration of additives and temperature on the rheological properties were studied, which results revealed the information intermolecular interactions. Based on the rheological properties, several systems were selected to prepare films, which show very good transparency, wettability, mechanical properties, biodegradability, and cytotoxicity. These good characteristics of the selected films also proved the good biocompatibility of CMC and chitosan and cellulose derivatives. This work will provide an idea to prepare CMC-based food packaging and effective drug delivery materials with specific properties.

This study investigated the breakdown trend in an automated production with an aim to recommend the application of Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) for an improved productivity via a new preventive maintenance (PM) program. Individual Section-forming machine (ISM): a glass blowing machine for making glass bottles was used as the case study of an automated production system. The machine parts and the working mechanisms were analysed with a special focus on methods of processes and procedures that will enable the ISM maintenance department run more effective and achieve its essential goal of ensuring effective machine operation and reducing machine downtime. In this work, information is provided on the steps and procedures to identify critical components of the ISM using Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) as a tool to develop an optimal maintenance program based on the reliability data of the equipment’s functional components. A relationship was established between the failure rate of the machine components and the maintenance costs such that using the recommended PM program, an evidence of improvement in the machine’s availability, safety and cost-effectiveness will result into an increase in the company’s profit margin.

Among all the processing technologies of heat-treatable aluminum alloys like 2219 aluminum alloy, using friction stir welding (FSW) as the joining technology and using electromagnetic forming (EMF) for plastic forming technology both have obvious advantages and successful applications. Therefore, there is a broad prospect for the compound technologies which can be used on the 2219 aluminum alloy to manufacture the large-scale thin-wall parts in the astronautic industry. The microstructure and mechanical properties of 2219 aluminum alloy under the process compounded of FSW, heat treatment, and EMF were investigated by means of tensile test, optical microscope (OM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the reduction of strength, which was caused during the FSW process, can be recovered effectively by the post-welding heat treatment composed of solid solution and aging, while the ductility was still reduced after heat treatment. Under the compound technology of FSW, heat treatment, and EMF, the forming limit of 2219 aluminum alloy decreased distinctly due to the poor ductility of the welding joint. A ribbon-pattern, which was formed due to the banded structure caused by FSW process, was found on the fracture surface of welded 2219 aluminum alloy after EMF treatment. During the EMF process, because of the effects of induced eddy current, a unique structure, which was manifested as a molted-surface appearance under the SEM observation, was formed as the material fractured.

Interpore hydrates are the main occurrence forms of marine gas hydrates. Pore characteristics are a vital factor affecting the thermodynamic properties of hydrates and their distribution in sediments. Currently, the characterization of the pore system for hydrate-bearing reservoirs are little reported. Therefore this paper focus on the Krishna-Godavari Basin, via varies methods to characterize the hydrate-bearing sediments in the region. The results showed that X-ray Diffraction(XRD) combined with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)and Cast Thin Section (CTS) can better characterize the mineral composition in the reservoir, High Pressure Mercury Injection (HPMI) focused on the contribution of pore size to permeability, Constant Rate Mercury Injection(CRMI) had the advantage of distinguishing between pore space and pore throat, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Cryoporometry (NMRC) technique can not only obtain the pore size distribution of nanopores with a characterization range greater than Nitrogen Gas Adsorption (N2GA), but also quantitatively describe the trend of fluids in the pore system with temperature. As for pore system, Samples 58 and 68 all developed nanopores, the mineral distribution was relatively scattered, and they were rich in paleontological shells such as foraminifera, among which Sample 68 had more pyrite content, and abundant pyrite framboid was observed, which made the intergranular pore develop and provide more nanopores. Sample 58 has a high concentration of pore and throat, high pore connectivity, low pore curvature, and pores with a diameter of 10μm contributing to the main permeability, with an average pore radius of 2.495μm, whereas Sample 68 has poor pore connectivity, high curvature, and pores with a diameter of 1μm contributing to the main permeability, with an average pore diameter of 60 nm, which explains the obvious difference in permeability between the two samples.

The cellular behavior of Voronoi tessellation has generated interest due to its applicability in various fields and its notable structural properties. Controlling factors such as the gradient of the cells, the position of seed points and the thickness of the arms allows for adjusting rigidity and flexibility according to specific needs. This article analyzes the state of the art of this technique, exploring its modification for applications in engineering and design, complemented with information on natural structural properties. This comprehensive analysis provides a complete overview of Voronoi tessellation and its potential in engineering and design, categorizing methodologies according to selected processing methods and highlighting techniques for altering structural behavior. Additionally, it emphasizes the integration of biomimetic approaches, connecting nature with technology to foster continuous innovation. Finally, the article addresses encountered limitations, offering future perspectives for the cellular technique and highlights the complexity of reproducibility due to reserved or generalized steps, despite the significant diversity in implemented techniques.

The continental shale layers are more complex in matrix pore-microfracture interactions and connectivity characteristics under the influence of tuff devitrification, which limits the explicit understanding of the coupling relationship between wettability and pore structure, as well as hydrocarbon flow behavior. Therefore, the influence of tuffaceous components on the reservoir formation mechanism and oil-rich effect of the continental shale formation system is a critical issue to be solved. The Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation tuffaceous shale in Ordos Basin and the Middle Permian Jingjingzigou Formation tuffaceous shale in the southern margin of Junggar Basin is taken as the research objects, using whole-rock mineral composition analysis, FE-SEM observation and digital image processing and extraction, as well as wettability angle determination and spontaneous imbibition experiments to illustrate the influence of the difference of devitrification extent on reservoir pore connectivity and interfacial wettability in two different environments of freshwater and saline lacustrine basins, and summarize the reservoir formation differential pattern under the influence of devitrification. The results show that the saline lacustrine is significantly modified by devitrification. The pore plane porosity of the devitrified tuffaceous shales in the saline lacustrine is higher than that of the tuffaceous shales in the freshwater; the oleophilic of the saline lacustrine tuffaceous shales is better than that of the tuffaceous shales in the freshwater, moreover, the pore connectivity of the saline lacustrine tuffaceous shales is better than that of the tuffaceous shales in the freshwater. Wettability and connectivity control the storage performance of shale oil in the tuffaceous shales formation system. The more oleophilic the reservoir wettability is, the better the pore connectivity is, and the better the reservoir of tuffaceous shale formation system is. According to the different extents of devitrification, two different reservoir formation models of freshwater and saline lacustrine are established, which are of great theoretical and practical significance to enrich the theory of shale oil enrichment and reservoir formation in the continental shale formation system and to guide the exploration of continental shale oil benefits.

The research on calcium leaching of 3D printed cement pastes (3DPC) exposed in aggressive water is limited, and the mechanism underlying its effect needs to be better understood. The performance anisotropy of degraded 3DPC due to calcium leaching is investigated in this paper. Samples with aggregate micro fines (AMF) and fly ash (FA) were prepared. A 6 mol/L NH₄Cl solution was used in the accelerated experiment. At specific leaching durations, performances were tested on the samples in different leaching directions. Results show that the performances of 3DPC in aggressive water have a significant anisotropic behavior. The evolution of pore defects and hydration products mainly governs the performance anisotropy of degraded 3DPC. The remaining hydration products of the surface of 3DPC leached in the Z direction are less than the other two directions because calcium ions leached in the Z direction are difficult to be compensated through weak interfaces between layers.

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria contains a variety of pore-forming structures collectively referred to as porins. Some of these are voltage-dependent, but weakly so, closing at high voltages. Triplin, a novel bacterial pore-former, is a three-pore structure, highly voltage dependent, with a complex gating process. The three pores close sequentially: pore 1 at positive potentials, 2 at negative and 3 at positive. A positive domain containing 14 positive charges (the voltage sensor) translocates through the membrane during the closing process and the translocation is proposed to take place by the domain entering the pore and thus blocking it resulting in the closed conformation. This mechanism of pore closure is supported by kinetic measurements that show that in the closing process the voltage sensor travels through most of the transmembrane voltage before reaching the energy barrier. Voltage-dependent blockage of the pores by polyarginine but not by a 500 fold higher concentrations of polylysine, is consistent with the model of pore closure, with the sensor consisting mainly of arginine residues, and with the presence, in each pore, of a complementary surface that serves as a binding site for the sensor.

One of the most broadly used models for membrane fouling is the Hermia model, which separates this phenomenon into four blocking mechanisms, each with an associated parameter n. These mechanisms are complete blocking (n=2), intermediate blocking (n=1), standard blocking (n=3/2), and cake formation (n=3/2). The original model, which was obtained through experimental data, is given by an Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) dependent on n. At the time, this ODE was only solved for these four values of n, which limits the effectiveness of the model when adjusted to experimental data. This paper aims to not only mathematically prove the original Hermia model but also to broaden the scope of this model for any real number n by using the original ODE, the equations of fluid mechanics, and the properties of single and multivariable calculus. The extended Hermia model (EHM) is given by a power law for any n≠2 and is given by an exponential function at n=2. To better test the model, we have performed the model fitting of the EHM and compared its performance to the original four pore-blocking mechanisms in 6 micro- and ultrafiltration examples. In all examples, the EHM performed consistently better than the four original pore-blocking mechanisms. Changes in the blocking mechanisms concerning transmembrane pressure (TMP), crossflow rate (CFR), crossflow velocity (CFV), membrane composition, and pretreatments are also discussed.

Landslides are serious geological hazards that become a disaster worldwide, causing a large number of casualties and economic losses every year. There are many factors affecting landslide susceptibility, such as rainfall, soil and slope. Each of them has an important role in the process of slope losing stability. In this paper, the effects of rainfall intensity, rainfall pattern, slope gradient and soil type on landslide susceptibility are studied. In the process of rainfall-induced landslide, the relevant physical quantities of soil changes continuously. Their values and processes are closely related to the time of landslide occurrence. Hence, the variation of soil volumetric water content, matrix suction, pore water pressure and total stress throughout the rainfall are measured. As the results, soil type, slope gradient and rainfall intensity have a large influence on landslide susceptibility. The occurrence of landslides has a prerequisite that the slope is greater than or equal to 15°. The rainfall intensity needs to be not less than 80 mm/h. The difference of rainfall pattern also affects the landslide susceptibility. The rainfall pattern with rainfall intensity peak at the later stage is more likely to induce landslide. Coarser soils with gravels are prone to landslides when other conditions are the same. Steeper slopes, stronger rainfall, and coarser soils can all increase the amount of sediment yield.

The grain-to-grain stress vertically in sediments is given by the overburden less the pore fluid pressure, σ, divided by the fraction of the horizontal area which is the supporting matrix , (1 − φ), where φ is the porosity. It is proposed that the fractional reduction of this ratio, Λ, with time is given by the product of φ 4m/3 , (1 − φ) 4n/3 , and one or more Arrhenius functions A exp(−E/RT ) with m and n close to 1. This proposal is tested for shale sections in six wells from around the world for which porosity-depth data are available. Good agreement is obtained above 30-40 C and porosities less than 0.5. Single activation energies for each well are obtained in the range 15-33 kJ/mole, close to pressure solution of quartz, 24 kJ/mol. Values of m and n are in the range 1 to 0.8, indicating nearly fractal pore-matrix spaces and water-wet interfaces. Results are independent of over- or under-pressure of pore water. This model explains shale compaction quantitatively. Given porosity-depth data and accurate activation energy, E, one can infer paleo-geothermal-gradient and from that organic maturity, thus avoiding unnecessary drilling.

Since electrical resistivity of concrete can be measured in a more rapid and simple way than chloride diffusivity, it should be primarily regular quality control of the electrical resistivity of concrete which provides the basis for indirect of quality control of concrete durability during the concrete construction. If this is realized, the electrical resistivity of concrete can be a crucial parameter to establish maintenance strategy for marine concrete structures. Electrical resistivity of concrete is important to estimate two processes involved in corrosion of reinforcement: initiation (chloride penetration) and propagation (corrosion rate). The resistivity of concrete structure exposed to chloride indicates the risk of early corrosion damage, because a low resistivity is related to rapid chloride penetration and to high corrosion rate. Concrete resistivity is a geometry-independent material property that describes the electrical resistance, which is the ratio between applied voltage and resulting current in a unit cell. The current is carried by ions dissolved in the pore liquid. While some data exist on the relationship between moisture content on electrical resistivity of concrete, very little research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of chloride on the conduction of electricity through concrete. The purpose of this study is to examine and quantify the effect of pore water and chloride content on surface electrical resistivity measurement of concrete. It was obvious that chloride content had influenced the resistivity of concrete and the relationship showed a linear function. That is, concrete with chloride ions had a comparatively lower resistivity. Chloride can lead to underestimate the electrical resistivity of concrete. Conclusively, this paper suggested the quantitative solution to depict the electrical resistivity of concrete with various chloride contents.

To understand the relationship between water permeability and the pore structure of cementitious materials, literature that studied both water permeability and the pore structure are reviewed, and their correlation is studied. Although the majority of this data is for cement paste, mortar, concrete, and cemented soil are also included. Based on this study, it is established the determination coefficient between water permeability and the total pore volume is very low; however, those between water permeability and the critical, threshold, and median pore diameters, respectively, are moderate. On the other hand, the threshold pore diameter, derived based on the percolation theory, exhibits a very high determination coefficient. The calculated water permeability, using the Katz and Thompson equation, agrees with the reported water permeability quantitatively to a certain level, but is overestimated.

Microscale laser dynamic forming, as a novel high-speed microforming technique, can overcome the shortcomings of traditional microforming methods. However, in practical applications, laser dynamic microforming technology is often affected by the rebound behavior of the workpiece surface, limiting the further improvement of processing quality and efficiency. This paper aims to reduce the rebound effect in laser dynamic microforming by using multi-pulse laser shock loading. The forming results of workpieces under different laser energies and laser impact numbers were studied using experimental and numerical simulation methods. Numerical simulations of the forming results after multiple laser shocks were conducted using ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. These numerical simulation results were then experimentally validated and compared. Surface morphology and microstructure of the workpieces were characterized using a confocal microscope and scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to analyze the chemical element content changes in the collision regions at the bottoms of the workpieces after multi-pulse loading, revealing the collision behavior patterns during the forming process. Finally, the forming laws of workpieces under multiple laser shocks were summarized.

The paper presents the numerical and experimental results of research aimed at determining the influence of hardness in the range of 50-90 Shore A of layered tools made of elastomeric materials on the possibility of forming Inconel 625 nickel-based alloy sheets. A stamping die made of 90MnCrV8 steel (hardness 60HRC) was designed for forming embosses in drawpieces, ensuring various stress states on the cross-section of the formed element. The principle of operating the stamping die was based on the Guerin method. Finite element-based numerical modelling of the forming process for various configurations of polyurethane inserts was also carried out. The drawpieces obtained by sheet forming were subjected to geometry tests using optical 3D scanning. The results confirm that in the case of forming difficult-to-deform Inconel 625 Ni-based alloy sheets, the hardness of the polyurethane inserts significantly affects the geometric quality of the obtained drawpieces. The assumptions made in numerical simulations were verified in experimental studies. Based on the test results, it was concluded that the selection of polyurethane hardness should be determined by the shape of the formed element. Significant non-uniform sheet metal deformation was also found, which may pose a problem in the process of designing forming tools and technology of plastic forming of Inconel 625 Ni-based alloy sheets.

Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) is one of the key approaches for treating diseases, avoiding first-pass effects, reducing systemic adverse drug reactions and improving patient compliance. Microneedling, iontophoresis, electroporation, laser ablation and ultrasound facilitation are often used to improve the efficiency of TDD. Among them, microneedling is a relatively simple and efficient means of drug delivery. Microneedles usually consist of micron-sized needles (50-900 μm in length) in arrays that can successfully penetrate the stratum corneum and deliver drugs in a minimally invasive manner below the stratum corneum without touching the blood vessels and nerves in the dermis, improving patient compliance. Hydrogel-forming microneedles (HFMNs) are safe, non-toxic, no residual matrix material, high drug loading capacity, controlled drug release and are suitable for long-term, multiple drug delivery. This work reviewed the characteristics of skin structure and transdermal drug delivery; introduced TDD strategies based on hydrogel microneedles; summarised the characteristics of HFMNs TDD systems and the evaluation methods of HFMNs; and the application of HFMNs drug delivery systems in disease treatment. The HFMNs drug delivery system has a wide scope for development, but the translation to clinical application still has more challenges.

Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant that our cells utilize to prevent damage done by reactive oxygen species, free radicals, peroxides, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals [1]. Due to its immune role in tuberculosis (TB), GSH is hypothesized to play an important part in the immune response against M. tb. Furthermore, one of the hallmark structures of TB is granuloma formation, which involves many types of immune cells. T cells specifically are a major component and are involved in the release of cytokines and activation of macrophages. GSH acts as an important function in macrophages, natural killer cells, and T cells in modulating their activation, their metabolism, the proper cytokine release, the proper redox activity, and free radical levels. For more susceptible patients with HIV and Type 2 Diabetes, the demand for higher GSH levels is increased. This review compiles reports demonstrating the benefits of GSH in improving the immune cell responses against M. tb infection and the use of GSH as adjunctive therapy for TB.

The development of numerical simulations is potentially useful in predicting the most suitable manufacturing process and ultimately improving product quality. Seamless pipes are manufactured by rotary piercing process in which round bars are fed between two rolls and pierced by a stationary plug. During this process, the material undergoes severe deformation which renders it impractical to be modelled and analysed with conventional finite element methods. In this paper, three dimensional numerical simulations of the piercing process are performed with Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) Formulation in LS DYNA software. Details about the material model as well as the elements formulations are elaborated here and mesh sensitivity analysis was performed. The results of the numerical simulations are in good agreement with experimental data found in the literature and the validity of the analysis method is confirmed. The effects of varying workpiece velocity, process temperature, and wall thickness on the maximum stress levels of the product material/pipes are investigated by performing simulations of sixty scenarios. Three dimensional surface plots are generated which can be utilized to predict the maximum stress value at any given combination of the three parameters.

The possibility of using additive manufacturing (AM) in the medicine area has created a new opportunities in health care. This has contributed to a sharp increase in demand for 3D printers, their systems and materials that are adapted to strict medical requirements. We described herein a medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane (S-TPU), which was developed and then formed into a filament for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers during a melt-extrusion process. S-TPU consisting of aliphatic hexamethylene 1,6-diisocyanate (HDI), amorphous α,ω-dihydroxy(ethylene-butylene adipate) (PEBA) and 1,4 butandiol (BDO) as a chain extender, was synthesized without the use of a catalyst. The filament properties were characterized by rheological, mechanical, physico-chemical and in vitro biological properties. The tests showed biocompatibility of the obtained filament as well as revealed no significant effect of the filament formation process on its properties. This study may contribute to expanding the range of medical-grade flexible filaments for standard low-budget FDM printers.

Recent advances in synthetic membranes allow their use in fields as diverse as food and agriculture, biotechnology, industrial wastewater treatment, and potable water production. Among the newly developed technologies, nanofiltration for liquids and more particularly for desalination of seawater or saline aquifers are actively pursued. However, current solid-state membranes performance is limited, which calls for the development of novel formulations for membranes offering both high permeability (ion and water flux) and ion differentiation (selectivity), usually considered antagonist features. We report the development of hybrid nanoporous membranes made of solid-state polymeric carbonate track-etched (PCTE) thin films in which biological ion channels such as Gramicidin A (GA), alpha-hemolysin (α-HL), and outer-membrane protein F (OmpF) aquaporin are confined and graphene oxide (GO) conjugated cobalt ion selective binding peptide motifs (Copep) are adsorbed, referring as bioinspired and biomimetic approaches, respectively. These solid-state nanoporous membranes are attracting widespread attention since they offer scalability, mechanical robustness, selectivity, controlled pore dimension and shape, for water sustainability. The ion permeability, ion diffusion coefficient and selective ion recognition are evaluated via nanofiltration, cell diffusion kinetics, and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy to gain insights into the role of key performance parameters including effective ion confinement in track-etched pores, rich surface chemistry, and peptide-induced channel for selective ion transport. These findings provide new avenues for artificial ion channels by synergistic combination of eco-friendly material design such as GO enabled by bio-molecular recognition chemistry.

By means of X-ray computed microtomography (XCMT) the existence of a developed microporous structure having an average pore diameter of ~3.5 μm and pore content of ~1.1 vol.% has been revealed in unirradiated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It has been found that the combined action of gamma radiation (absorbed dose per PTFE of ~170 kGy) and high temperatures (327-350 °C) leads to the disappearance of the microporous structure and the formation of several large pores with sizes from 30 to 50 μm in the bulk of thermal-radiation modified PTFE (TRM-PTFE). It has been established by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis that the thermal-radiation modification of PTFE leads to an increase in the interplanar spacings, the degree of crystallinity and volume of the unit cell, as well as to a decrease in the size of crystals and the X-ray density of the crystalline phase in comparison with the initial polymer. It is assumed that the previously established effect of improving the deformation-strength and tribological properties of the TRM-PTFE can be due not only to the radiation cross-linking of polymer chains but also to the disappearance of the micropore system and to the ordering of the crystalline phase of PTFE.

Reinforcement corrosion due to chloride attack is of major economic significance for reinforced concrete structures. Pozzolans are known to inhibit corrosion initiation mainly by reducing concrete permeability. However, there is evidence in the literature that changes in the chemical environment in the concrete due to the pozzolans may be creating improved corrosion resistance, by themselves. In this study, the composition of a pore solution of mature hydrated cement paste containing silica-fume at different ratios was analyzed. The electrochemical behavior of reinforcing steel was studied in simulated pore solutions with silicate concentrations ranging from 0 to 35.6 mM, which are within the concentration range found by pore solution extraction to be up to 49 mM. Polished reinforcing steel specimens were used for cyclic voltammetry in simulated pore solutions with chloride concentrations of 10-20%. Better corrosion protection was found with increasing silicate concentration up to 3.56 mM. This was indicated by lower corrosion currents both in the passive state and after anodic activation. Anodic activation of steel in a 35.6 mM silicate solution with 20% NaCl yielded a higher potential than the anterior potential.

Pore-fractures network play a key role in coalbed methane (CBM) accumulation and production, while the impacts of coal facies on the pore-fractures network performance are still poorly understood. In this work, the research on the pore-fracture occurrence of 38 collected coals from Sangjiang-Muling coal-bearing basins with multiple techniques including mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), micro-organic quantitative analysis, and optic microscopy, and its variation controlling of coal face were studied. The MIP curves of 38 selected coals indicating pore structures were subdivided into three typical types including type I of predominant micropores, type Ⅱ of predominant micropores and macropores with good connectivity and type Ⅲ of predominant micropores and macropores with poor connectivity. For coal facies, there are three various coal facies were distinguished, which include lake shore coastal wet forest swamp, the upper delta plain wet forest swamp, tidal flat wet forest swamp with Q-cluster analysis and tissue preservation index - gelification index (TPI-GI) and Wood index - groundwater influence index (WI -GWI). The results show there is positive relationship between tissue preservation index (TPI), wood index (WI) and mesopores (102nm-103nm), while a negative relationship between TPI, WI and macropores/fractures. In addition, groundwater level fluctuations can control the development of type C and D fractures, and the frequency of type C and D fractures shows an ascending trend with increasing GWI, which may be caused by the mineral hydration of the coal. Finally, from the perspective of the pore-fractures occurrence in CBM reservoirs, the wet forest swamp of upper delta plain is considered to be the optimization areas for Sanjiang-Mulinghe coal-bearing basins by a comparative study of various coal facies.

This paper investigates the effects of air void topology on hydraulic conductivity in asphalt mixtures with porosity in the range 14%-31%. Virtual asphalt pore networks were generated using the Intersected Stacked Air voids (ISA) method, with its parameters being automatically adjusted by the means of a differential evolution optimisation algorithm, and then 3D printed using transparent resin. Permeability tests were conducted on the resin samples to understand the effects of pore topology on hydraulic conductivity. Moreover, the pore networks generated virtually were compared to real asphalt pore networks captured via X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scans. The optimised ISA method was able to generate realistic 3D pore networks corresponding to those seen in asphalt mixtures in term of visual, topological, statistical and air void shape properties. It was found that, in the range of porous asphalt materials investigated in this research, the high dispersion in hydraulic conductivity at constant air void content is a function of the average air void diameter. Finally, the relationship between average void diameter and the maximum aggregate size and gradation in porous asphalt materials was investigated.

Introduction: The environmentally acquired aerobic spore-forming (EAS-Fs) bacteria that are ubiquitous in nature (e.g. soil) are transient colonisers of the mammalian gastro-intestinal tract. Without regular exposure, their numbers quickly diminish. These species of bacteria have been suggested to be essential to the normal functioning of metabolic and immunogenic health. The modern Western lifestyle restricts exposure to these EAS-Fs, possibly explaining part of the pathogenesis of many Western diseases. To date, the only animal studies that address specific microbiome modelling are based around germ-free animals. We have designed a new animal model that specifically restricts exposure to environmental sources of bacteria. Methodology: A new protocol, termed Super Clean, that involves housing mice in autoclaved individually ventilated cages (IVCs), with autoclaved food / water, and strict ascetic handling practice was first experimentally validated. The quantification of EAS-Fs was assessed by heat-treating faecal samples and measuring colony forming units (CFUs). This was then compared to mice in standard-conditions. Mice were housed in their respective groups from birth until 18 months. Stool samples were taken throughout the experiment to assess for abundance in transiently acquired environmental bacteria. Clinical, biochemical, histological, and gene expression markers were analysed for diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (the “diseases of the West”). Results: Our results show that stringent adherence to the Super Clean protocol produces a significantly decreased abundance of aerobic spore-forming Bacillota after 21 days. This microbiomic shift was correlated with significantly increased levels of obesity and impaired glucose metabolism. There was no evidence of colitis, liver disease or hypercholesterolaemia. Conclusion: This new murine model successfully isolates EAS-Fs, and has the potential utility for future research allowing for the investigation into the clinical impact living in relative hygienic conditions.

This experimental study probes the dynamic behaviour of a 3mm ABS sheet during positive mould vacuum-assisted thermoforming. In this process, the sheet undergoes large and fast deformations, caused by the applied vacuum and mechanical stretching by the mould. The objective is to elucidate the complexities of these large, rapid and non-isothermal deformations. The non-isothermal conditions are caused by the radiative heating of the sheet, convective heat loss to the surrounding air and conductive heat transfer from the sheet to the mould. Utilizing stereo Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in tandem with thermal imaging, the present study accurately maps the occurring displacement, strain and strain rate field in relation to real-time temperature variation of the material. The study progresses to observe the ABS material from the moment it contacts the mould until it conforms to a positive 250mm diameter semi-sphere cast aluminium mould. The DIC methods are validated by comparing thickness values derived from DIC’s principal strain directions to ultrasonic thickness gauge readings. This knowledge not only broadens the understanding of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the material but also aids in optimizing process parameters for improved thickness uniformity in thermoformed products.

Orogenic antimony-gold deposits contribute significantly to the global antimony resource base. China's orogenic antimony-gold deposits are primarily in southern Tibet. Investigations indicate that antimony combines and migrates with sulfur hydroxides in ore-forming fluids. Previous research on fluid inclusions in orogenic antimony-gold ores with sedimentary rock accommodation revealed the presence of organic inclusions, including liquid hydrocarbons, alongside common components such as CO2, H2O, CH4, and NaCl. However, the impact of liquid hydrocarbons on antimony migration and mineralization is still de-batable. To investigate the transportability of antimony by liquid hydrocarbons in orogenic antimony ores, we selected n-dodecanethiol and n-dodecane as the subjects. We measured the solubility and occurrence form of antimony in these compounds at various temperatures and durations. The results indicate that after 5 and 10 days of reaction at 100 °C, the antimony concentrations in the n-dodecanethiol and n-dodecane groups were 67.44±7.62 ppm, 75.15±16.74 ppm, 1.40±1.02 ppm, and 3.02±3.09 ppm, respectively. At 150 °C for 5 and 10 days, the respective concentrations were 50.58±5.39 ppm, 77.26±45.20 ppm, 2.66±3.08 ppm, and 2.41±2.03 ppm. At 200 °C for 5 and 10 days, the corresponding concentrations were 339.76±71.94 ppm, 218.97±25.03 ppm and 6.53±7.17 ppm, 2.27±0.82 ppm (n=3). The measured solubility of antimony in the n-dodecanethiol group increased gradually with rising temperature. The solubility of antimony in the n-dodecane group was low and notably inferior to that observed in the n-dodecanethiol group. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrated a distinct thiol (R-SH) peak at 163.31 eV and compound peaks of antimony reacting with thiols at 162.06 and 160.87 eV. This suggests that antimony predominantly forms complexes with thiols for migration. Our findings suggest that specific liquid hy-drocarbon components, predominantly thiols, can interact with antimony at metallogenic temperatures and persist in ore-forming fluids, facilitating migration and mineral enrichment. Earlier experimental studies on gold and crude oil have indicated that liquid hydrocarbons also play an essential role in the transportation and enrichment of gold during the formation of gold deposits, thus indicating that liquid hydrocarbons possess the considerable potential to act as an ore-forming fluid during orogenic antimony-gold deposit formation in southern Tibet.

The Colony-Forming Unit (CFU) counting problem remains a complex issue without a universal solution in biomedical and food safety domains. A multitude of sophisticated heuristics and segmentation-driven approaches have been proposed by numerous researchers. Among those, U-Net is the most frequently cited and popular Deep Learning method. The latter approach provides a segmentation output map and requires an additional counting procedure which accounts for unique segmented regions and detected microbial colonies. However, because of pixel-based targets it tends to generate irrelevant artifacts or errant pixels, leading to inaccurate and mixed post-processing results. In response to these challenges, we propose a novel hybrid counting approach, incorporating a multi-loss U-Net reformulation and a post-processing Petri dish localization algorithm. First of all, our unique innovation lies in the multi-loss U-Net reformulation. We introduce an additional loss term at the bottleneck U-Net layer, focusing on delivering an auxiliary signal indicating where to look for distinct CFUs. Second, our novel localization algorithm accurately incorporates an agar plate and its bezel into the CFU counting routines. Finally, our proposition is further enhanced by the integration of a fully automated solution. This comprises a specially designed uniform Petri dish illumination system and a counting web application. The latter application is capable of directly receiving images from the camera, which are subsequently processed, and the segmentation results are sent back to the user. This feature provides an opportunity to correct the CFU counts, offering a feedback loop that contributes to the continued development of the Deep Learning model. Through extensive experimentation, we have found that all probed multi-loss U-Net architectures incorporated in our hybrid approach consistently outperform their single-loss counterparts which utilize exclusively the combination of Tversky and Cross-Entropy training losses at the output U-Net layer. We report further significant improvements by the means of our novel localization algorithm. This reaffirms the effectiveness of our proposed hybrid solution in addressing contemporary challenges of the precise in-vitro CFU counting.

Use of rhizosphere microorganisms provides an alternative or supplement to conventional plant breeding to improve water deficit tolerance of tomato plants. Experiment was carried out to explore the effect of two microbial species, AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis) and Bacillus subtilis, in single and co-application, on growth, colonization, and molecular aspects of tomato plants under drought stress. Co-inoculated plants showed less reduction in growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, colonization rate, and increased compatible solutes like proline which help in sustaining relative water content than non-inoculated plants. Inoculation considerably enhanced proline dehydrogenase activity, and significantly reduced both Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase activity causing lower proline accumulation in inoculated plants under drought stress. Co-inoculated plants showed obvious upregulation of antioxidant system, thus facilitating amelioration of oxidative stress through exclusion of reactive oxygen species. No inoculation under drought stress upregulated abscisic acid related genes expression but have no effect in plants inoculated either sole or mixed inoculation. Expression of aquaporin genes was upregulated in plants co-inoculated and with AMF alone under normal condition. However the expression of aquaporin genes were decreased or unaffected in plants inoculated with Bacillus subtilis but increased in non-inoculated plants. Co-applied AMF and bacillus subtilis substantially increase drought tolerance by upregulating proline metabolism, antioxidant enzymes and aquaporin genes. Therefore our results suggest that co-inoculation mediated drought tolerance is linked with increased proline accumulation, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and differential regulation of ABA biosynthetic and aquaporin genes, which is vital for osmotic adjustment of host plant.

K417G Ni-based superalloy is widely used in aeroengine turbine blade for its excellent properties. However, the aeroengine rotor blade zigzag crown appears early failure frequently, which is because of the wear problems occurring in the working process. Laser forming repairing (LFR) is a promising technique to repair these damaged blades. Unfortunately, the laser formed Ni-based superalloys with high content of (Al + Ti) have a high cracking sensitivity. In this paper, the crack characterization of the LFRed K417G, the microstructure, microhardness and tribological properties of the coating before and after laser remelting are presented. The results show that the microstructure of as-deposited K417G consists of γ phase, γ′ precipitated phase, γ + γ′ eutectic and carbide. Cracking mechanisms including solidification cracking, liquation cracking and ductility dip cracking are proposed based on the composition of K417G and processing characteristics to explain the cracking behavior of the K417G superalloy during LFR. After laser remelting, the microstructure of the coating has been refined, and the microhardness and tribological properties has been improved. Laser remelting can decrease the size of the cracks in the LFRed K417G but not the number. Therefore, laser remelting can be applied as an effective method for strengthening coating and as an auxiliary method for controlling cracking.

Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) such as Kevlar reinforced aluminum laminate (ARALL), Carbon reinforced aluminum laminate (CARALL), and Glass reinforced aluminum laminate (GLARE) offer great potential for weight reduction applications in automobile and aerospace construction. In order to investigate the feasibility for utilizing such materials in the form of laminates, sheet hydro-bulging tests are studied under the condition of uniform blank holder force for three-layered aluminum and aluminum-composite laminates using orthogonal carbon and Kevlar as well as glass fiber in the middle. The experimental results validate the finite element results and they exhibited that the forming limit of glass fiber in the middle is the highest among the studied materials, while carbon fiber material performs the worst. Furthermore, the crack modes are different for the three kinds of fiber materials investigated in the research. This study provides fundamental guidance for the selection of multi-layer sheet materials in the future manufacturing field.

Soil compaction is a major environmental stress to root development and plant growth. Meanwhile, drought always results in increasing soil mechanical impedance, which in turn aggravates soil compaction stress. In this study, a column experiment with three levels of compaction stress (low, moderate, and severe, respectively) and two levels of soil water content (well-watered and drought, respectively) was established to investigate the effects of soil compaction combined with drought on soil pore structure, root development and maize growth properties. Results showed that soil compaction combined with soil water stress significantly affected the characteristics of soil pore structure. With the increase of soil compaction, the porosity, larger pores (> 500 μm), and the maximum pore diameter significantly decreased (P < 0.05) regardless of soil water status. Additionally, pore morphology and network parameters were also deteriorated under soil compaction with drought conditions. Soil compaction substantially affected root length, root volume, root surface area and root average diameter in the whole profile (p < 0.05). Compared to well-watered conditions, the effects of soil compaction on root characteristics under drought conditions was more obvious, which indicated that appropriate soil water content could alleviate compaction stress. Aboveground biomass and plant height showed a consistent trend with root traits under soil compaction stress regardless of water status. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations between most soil pore parameters and maize growth traits. In addition, soil compaction showed a significant effect on stomatal conductance and transpiration rate while soil water showed a significant effect on SPAD.

Formaldehyde (HCHO), an indoor volatile organic compound, is seriously harmful to human health. Therefore, green and effective decomposition of HCHO is essential. TiO₂ has been employed for the degradation of HCHO via photocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (O^2-, ·OH), yet the low specific surface area of crystalline TiO₂ depressed the catalytic performance. Herein, we prepared TiO₂ aerogels with high specific surface area and high porosity by sol-gel method, and added PVA to introduce flexible molecular chains for pore size regulation. The photocatalytic performance test verifies that the pore size of TiO₂ aerogel is one of the important factors for HCHO decomposition. Notably, through the establishment of theoretical model and calculation, we validated that the efficiency of HCHO decomposition is related to the oxygen pressure in the pores of TiO₂ aerogel, and the oxygen pressure is inversely proportional to the pore size. Accordingly, the optimal pore size of TiO₂ aerogel for the photocatalytic HCHO decomposition is 2 nm~10 nm. This study provides a theoretical idea for TiO₂ aerogels in the decomposition reaction of HCHO, which is expected to inspire more breakthroughs in the study of TiO₂ aerogels for green chemistry.

Baculovirus is a type of virus with a double stranded, circular, and super helical DNA structure, whose transcription, replication and assembly of offspring virus occur in the nucleus of the cell. However, due to the natural barrier of the cellular nuclear membrane, macromolecular substances larger than 40-60 kDa cannot directly penetrate the nuclear membrane. Therefore, baculovirus have evolved various strategies to achieve transmembrane transport of viral proteins. This article attempts to review the recent literature on mechanisms by which the DNA baculoviruses of insects transport proteins into the infected host cell nucleus. In this article, we summarise the studies of nuclear localisation signals(NLSs) in baculovirus, which are involved in the classical nuclear import pathways and review the non-classical nuclear transport pathways independent on NLS derived from baculovirus. Moreover, during the protein nuclear transport process, viruses will regulate the nuclear pathway through protein modifications. Host structure changes and other methods will create a favorable environment for the nuclear transport of viral proteins.

Why do the eyes remain comparatively large whereas the cornea is reduced in most troglobiont mysids? Are there any important organ size-dependent functions served by non-visual eye rudiments? This issue was approached by measuring eye structures in five troglobiont species of Mysida and two Stygiomysida compared with 14 troglophile and 49 trogloxene Mysida species. The Organ of Bellonci (OB) was found in all Mysida and as first records also in Stygiomysida. The length of OBs increased with individual body length and eye length in four examined species: from postnauplioid larvae to adult stage in a troglophile and a trogloxene mysid species examined; and from juveniles to adults in a troglobiont mysid and a troglobiont stygiomysid. At the interspecific level, eye length was on average 26% shorter at a given body length while the OB was 40% longer at a given body length and 54% longer at a given eye length, respectively, in adult troglobionts compared with trogloxene mysids. The OB is clearly proliferating while the cornea is reduced in troglobionts. This points to sensory functions (possibly together with other functions). The sensory pore organ was found in all 15 Mysida species whose eyes were mounted on slides, and a first record of this organ was also found in Stygiomysida.

Sulfate attack is one of the main factors affecting the durability of concrete structures. In recent years, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have attracted the attention of scholars for their excellent mechanical properties and durability performance. In this paper, the influence of sulfate attack and dry-wet cycles on the performance of multi-walled carbon nanotube-lithium slag concrete (MWCNTs-LSC) with varied MWCNTs content (0wt%, 0.05wt%, 0.10wt% and 0.15wt%) and varied water-cement ratios (0.35, 0.40 and 0.45) were investigated. Besides, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) tests were conducted to analyze the microstructure and pore structure of the concrete. The results show that concrete incorporated with MWCNTs could effectively mitigate sulfate attack The resistance to sulfate attack of concrete is negatively related to the water-cement ratio when the dry-wet cycle is fixed. The MWCNTs-LSC showed the best compressive strength at the water-cement ratio of 0.35 and 0.10 wt% MWCNTs. The SEM test results showed that the MWCNTs both filled the pores and cracks within the specimen and formed bridges between the cracks, enhancing the resistance to sulfate attack. The CT test results also showed that the addition of MWCNTs could reduce the porosity of concrete, refine the pore size and inhibit the generation and development of cracks, thus optimizing the internal structure of concrete and improving its resistance to sulfate attack.

It is important to distinguish between natural earthquakes and those induced by CO2 injection at carbon capture and storage sites. For example, the 2004 Mw 6.8 Chuetsu earthquake occurred close to the Nagaoka CO2 storage site during gas injection, but we could not quantify whether the earthquake was due to CO2 injection or not. Here we simulated changes of pore pressure during CO2 injection at the Nagaoka site and compared them with estimated natural seasonal fluctuations of pore pressure due to rainfall and snowmelt as well as estimated pore pressure increases related to remote earthquakes. We clearly distinguished changes of pore pressure due to CO2 injection from those due to rainfall and snowmelt. The simulated local increase in pore pressure at seismogenic fault area was much less than the seasonal fluctuations related to precipitation and increases caused by remote earthquakes, and the lateral extent of pore pressure increase was insufficient to influence seismogenic faults. We also demonstrated that pore pressure changes due to distant earthquakes are capable of triggering slip on seismogenic faults. The approach we developed could be used to distinguish natural from injection-induced earthquakes and will be useful for that purpose at other CO2 sequestration sites.

We fabricated the nano-aperture plasmonic platforms for single molecule detection and other various applications such as infrared thermal emission device. The nano-apertures including the nanopores on the pyramid, and the nano-slits on the Au flat membrane were fabricated using a Ga ion focused ion beam drilling technique, followed by high energy electron beam irradiations dependent upon the electron beam current density. The nanopores with a few nanometer size and the nanoslit array with order of ~ 100 nm width were fabricated. Optical characteristics for the various nanoslits were examined dependent upon the slit opening width and sample thickness. The broad emission spectra from the (7x 7) slit array are obtained from spp-mediated emission in the visible and infrared region. A sharp strong infrared emission peak is also obtained due to Au nanoparticle. The fabricated Au platform can be utilized as single molecule sensor and infrared thermal emission device.

Impact load was applied to hardened cement paste (HCP) specimens using a gas gun to investigate microscopic changes in the specimens and develop a better response model of concrete subjected to impact load. Plasma emission was observed at the moment of impact at 420 m/s and the colour of the portion near the impact point turned brighter. This brighter portion was analysed, and it was observed that the pore structure was coarser compared to the other portion; however, the results of thermogravimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis were similar. A possible reason is that the generated heat was instantaneous and the rate of the temperature increase in the HCP decreased due to evaporation of water in the HCP. These results indicate that during impact at a few hundred m/s, porosity increase due to heat effect is more dominant than porosity decrease due to mechanical compaction.

Most of the pore-scale imaging and simulations of non-Newtonian fluid are based on the simplifying geometry of network modeling and overlook the fluid rheology and heat transfer. In the present paper, we developed a non-isothermal and non-Newtonian numerical model of the flow properties at pore-scale by direct simulation of the 3D micro-CT images using a Finite Volume Method (FVM). The numerical model is based on the resolution of the momentum and energy conservation equations. Owing to an adaptive meshing technique and appropriate boundary conditions, rock permeability and mobility are accurately computed. A temperature and concentration-dependent power-law viscosity model in line with the experimental measurement of the fluid rheology is adopted. The model is first applied at isothermal condition to 2 benchmark samples, namely Fontainebleau sandstone and Grosmont carbonate, and is found to be in good agreement with the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). Finally, at non-isothermal conditions, an effective mobility is introduced that enables to perform a numerical sensitivity study to fluid rheology, heat transfer, and operating conditions. While the mobility seems to evolve linearly with polymer concentration, the effect of the temperature seems negligible by comparison. However, a sharp contrast is found between carbonate and sandstone under the effect of a constant temperature gradient. Besides concerning the flow index and consistency factor, a good master curve is derived when normalizing the mobility for both the carbonate and the sandstone.

Addressing the significant challenge in high-speed cotton dibbling operations in Xinjiang—specifically, the duck bill’s ("Duck bill" is a type of duck-billed bunch planting mechanism or component). shortened opening duration leading to seed throwing and floating—a new crawler-type delayed hole-forming mechanism has been designed. This mechanism extends the duck bill horizontally, thereby prolonging its opening time, enabling cotton sowing speeds of up to 6 km/h. Following agronomic principles for cotton planting, the overall layout of the crawler-type hole-forming mechanism, the structural parameters of the key components and the trajectory of the hole-forming are determined. We use the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and multi-body dynamics coupling method to simulate and analyze the motion process of the device. The fixed the tilt angle of the duck bill α(A), the depth of the duck bill hole-forming into the soil h(B), and the angle of rotation of the moving duck bill β(C) were taken as the experimental factors, with the longitudinal length of cotton seed hole (Y1) and the hole-forming depth of cotton seed hole (Y2) as the response values. The parameter range of each factor and the preliminary influence on the response value were determined through pre-experiments and single-factor simulation test. Based on RecurDyn-EDEM coupling, a quadratic regression orthogonal rotation combination simulation test was carried out. The results show that the order of the primary and secondary factors affecting the Y1 of the time-lapse hole-forming device was: A > C > B. The order of primary and secondary factors affecting the Y2 of the delayed hole forming device was: B > C > A. When the A was 2.4 °, the B was 42.4 mm, and the C was 30.5 °, the performance of the hole-forming was the best, and the Y1 was 26.4 mm, and the Y2 was 25.0 mm. The bench verification test results show that under the optimized combination of operating parameters, the average Y1 was 29.1 mm, and the average Y2 was 23.2 mm. Compared with the results of the previous coupled simulation model, the average relative errors of the two are 7.23 % and 4.36 %, respectively, indicating the accuracy and effectiveness of the established DEM simulation model and virtual test analysis. The hole-forming area and the opening time of the duck bill after the stable operation of the machine were recorded and measured. The calculated hole dislocation rate Hc was 4.33 %, which did not exceed the national standard requirement of 6 %. The qualified rate of hole distance Hx was 94.33 %, which was much higher than the national standard requirement of 80 %. The average opening time of the duck bill at a speed of 6 km/h is 0.45 s, which is much longer than the time required for cotton seeds to fall from the duck bill 0.11 s. It meets the requirements of high-speed cotton planting in China and facilitating advancements in future high-speed planter technology.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are of great interest in the field of materials science and engineering. Unlike conventional alloys, which contain a maximum of two base metals, this new category of materials consists of multi-principle elements and the possible number of alloy compositions, in case of HEAs, is outstandingly higher than that for conventional alloys. Here, a review on the high-entropy alloys, has been provided, on the issue whether the earliest definition of High- Entropy alloys, proposed in 2004^{[2, 4]}, is consistent with one of the four-component equiatomic Compositionally complex alloys exhibiting a “High-entropy” effect.

The formability and failure behavior of TRIP steel blanks were investigated through various stress states. The forming limit diagram (FLD) at fracture is constructed both experimentally and numerically. Numerical studies are performed to evaluate the applicability of different damage criteria in predicting the FLD as well as complex cross-die deep drawing process. The fracture surface and numerical results revealed that the material failed in a different mode for different strain path. Therefore, Tresca model which is based on shear stress accurately predicted the conditions where shear had the profound effect on the damage initiation, whereas Situ localized necking criterion was able to calculate the conditions which localization was dominant.

Ferrite body is the origin of crack and corrosion initiation of steels. Distribution and density of ferrite in seven steel ingots were examined by light optical microscopy and computational modeling in the study to explore the correlation of ferrite formation to chemical composition and mushy zone temperature in ingot forming. The central segregation phenomenon in ferrite distribution was observed in all the examined steel specimens except 0Cr17Ni4Cu4Nb stainless steel. No significant difference was found in distribution and density of ferrite amongst zones of the surface, ½ radius and core in neither risers nor tails of 0Cr17Ni4Cu4Nb ingots. Additionally, fewer ferrite was found in 0Cr17Ni4Cu4Nb compared to other examined steels. The difference of ferrite formation in 0Cr17Ni4Cu4Nb elicited a debate on the traditional models explicating ferrite formation. Considering the compelling advantages in mechanical strength, plasticity and corrosion resistance, further investigation on the unusual ferrite formation in 0Cr17Ni4Cu4Nb would help understand the mechanism to improve steel quality. In summary, we observed that ferrite formation in steel was correlated with mushy zone temperature. The advantages of 0Crl7Ni4Cu4Nb in corrosion resistance and mechanical stability could be resulted from that fewer ferrites formed and distributed in a scattered manner in microstructure of the steel.

This study primarily investigates the effect of fly ash (FA) content on the mechanical properties and hydration performance of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag cements (AAGC), and compares the related properties with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Additionally, the study examined the hydration products, thermal analysis, MIP, SEM, chemically bound water, and pH values of AAGC. The compressive strength of AAGC showed a retrogression phenomenon from 3 to 28 days, with the 14-day and 28-day compressive strengths of AAGC being higher than those of OPC. The AAGC with 20% FA content exhibits the highest 28-day compressive strength (75 MPa). The hydration heat release rate curved of OPC and AAGC can be divided into the initial induction period, induction period, acceleration period, deceleration period and steady period. As FA content increases, the 28-day pore volume of AAGC increased while pH values and chemically bound water decrease. SEM images of AAGC with low FA content showed more microcracks.

Rapid draw-down in an earthfill dam has serious implications for dam safety regarding slope stability. The evaluation of reservoir draw-down impact on slope stability was carried out considering the case study of 8 hours of rapid draw-down of the Middle Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Power Project (MMHPP) rock-fill dam using the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and stress-based Finite Element Method (FEM). The time-dependent factor of safety (FOS) was evaluated and found that the 8 hours of rapid draw-down undertaken in October 2012 for reservoir flushing was unsafe with a draw-down rate of 1.91m/h. The resulting FOS of 1.28 and 1.27 using LEM and FEM was classified as unsafe as per the US Army Corps of Engineers’ guideline, the minimum required factors of safety should be greater than 1.3. The minimum safe allowable draw-down rate of 0.76m/h for 20 hours was identified. Applying three layers of horizontal filter materials and increasing the upstream dam’s permeability provided adequate FOS results for all cases by increasing seepage discharge to reduce the destabilizing excess pore water pressure. Several gradual draw-down rates were also tested and found that FOS increases with decreased draw-down rates, as it reduces the excess pore water pressure controlled with stabilizing existing water load.

This study employs the phase-field regularized cohesion model (PF-CZM) to simulate crack propagation and damage behavior in porous granite. We investigate how pore radius (r), initial crack-pore distance (D), and pore-crack angle (θ) impact crack propagation. The simulation findings reveal that, with a fixed deflection angle and initial crack-pore distance, larger pores are more likely to induce crack extension under identical loading conditions. Moreover, with r and θ keeping constant, the crack extension can be divided into two stages: from its initiation to the lower edge of the pore and then from the lower edge to the upper boundary of the model. By varying the values of D and r, we derive multiple combinations of different D/r ratios and pore radii. These results demonstrate that with constant r, cracks tend to deflect toward the pore closer to the initial crack. Conversely, when D is maintained constant, cracks will preferentially deflect toward pores with a larger r. In summary, the numerical simulation of rock pores and initial cracks, based on the PF-CZM, exhibits remarkable predictive capabilities and holds significant potential in advancing rock fracture analysis.

Indirect fracturing from roof rock to coal using a horizontal well is a new and promising technology for coalbed methane surface exploitation in soft and low-permeability coal seams. In order to study the propagation law of hydraulic fracture across the coal-rock interface, a pore pressure cohesive element is used to establish a numerical model for indirect fracturing. Combined with practical engineering in 3# coal seam in Xinjing mine in China, the propagation behavior of hydraulic fracture across the coal-rock interface was researched, and the range of horizontal well position for indirect fracturing was determined. The results show that: (1) the pore pressure cohesive element can be used to simulate accurately the interaction between hydraulic fracture and natural fracture, and the propagation of hydraulic fracture across the coal-rock interface. (2) As the vertical distance between the horizontal well and coal-rock interface decreases, the breakdown pressure of perforation decreases; while the injection pressure increases when the hydraulic fracture crosses the coal-rock interface. (3) For the indirect fracturing engineering in 3# coal seam in Xinjing mine, the vertical distance between the horizontal well and coal-rock interface should not be larger than 2.0m to make the hydraulic fracture propagate into the coal seams.

Different types of pockmarks, including single pockmarks, circular pockmarks, elongated pockmarks, chain-type pockmarks and compound pockmarks, were identified in coastal areas around Fujian, China. The sediments associated with pockmarks were mainly silty clay to clay, with a small quantity of silt with fine sand. The sulfate content in the pore water in the sedimentary layers associated with pockmarks decreased with depth from the surface, whereas the free methane content increased with depth. The interaction between sulfate and methane is well known, but differences in the sulfate-methane transitional zone (SMTZ) were observed in different areas with different hydrologic characteristics. The sedimentary SMTZ of the offshore Zhe-min mud wedge was shallow, at 50–70 cm below the seafloor. The sedimentary SMTZ was moderately deep (90–115 cm) in the central bay area and deep (180–200 cm) in the sandy area offshore. This variability in SMTZ depth reflects different amounts of free methane gas in the underlying formations, with a shallower SMTZ indicating a higher free methane content. The free methane had δ13C values of -26.47‰ to -8.20‰ and a biogenic-hybrid genetic type. The flux of sedimentary gas from the pockmark surfaces, calculated according to Fick’s formula, was 2.89 to 18.85 l/m2·a. The shape, size and scale of the pockmarks are directly related to the substrate type and the gas production of the underlying strata and thus vary with the sedimentary environment and development stage. Therefore, different types of pockmarks, in various phases of development, are associated with different sedimentary and dynamical conditions. A single circular pockmark forms by strong methane flux. As the intensity of methane flux weakens, the pockmark becomes elongated in the direction of the water flow because of long-term erosion induced by regular hydrodynamic forces. Finally, under weak intensity of methane flux and the influence of complex hydrodynamic conditions, pockmarks merge to form large-scale, compound pockmarks.

An experimental series of shearing tests with water infiltration were performed on compacted unsaturated soil to simulate the behavior of shallow slope failures. Soil samples were compacted at moisture contents from dry to wet of optimum moisture content with the degree of saturation varying from 24.0% to 59.5% while maintaining the degree of compaction at 80%. Two series of shearing with infiltration tests were performed in this study. In Series-I, just before the start of shearing, matric suction was decreased by increasing pore water pressure to start water infiltration i.e. shearing is carried simultaneously with water infiltration. In Series-II, the soil was first sheared with drained pore air and undrained pore water to pre-defined value of deviatoric stress, after which matric suction was decreased by increasing pore water pressure to start water infiltration and shearing is performed by keeping deviatoric stress constant on the specimen. The test results showed that the decrease in matric suction has an effect on the volume of infiltrated water and degree of saturation. The soil slopes compacted on the dry side of optimum moisture content showed better performance than other soils, they require more decrease in matric suction to start water infiltration and showed higher deviatoric stress. In addition to this, water infiltration alone can cause the failure of shallow slopes without having to have any further loading.

Research on early stages of corrosion of steel bars, together with the formation and development of cracks induced in the surrounding concrete and caused by chloride penetration, is relevant in improving the durability of reinforced concrete structures. This paper uses integration of the analytical models examined in the published literature, combined with experimental research in corrosion induced at the concrete/steel interface, in estimating the time-to-crack initiation of reinforced concrete subjected to corrosion. This work studies the influence of the porous network and electric current density on the cracking process at early ages. The experimental campaign was performed by using an accelerated corrosion test on a conventional concrete (CC) and a concrete with silica fume (SFC) by submitting them to a current density of 50μA/cm² and 100μA/cm². Examination performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) provided both qualitative and quantitative information on the penetration of the rust layer in the surrounding concrete porous network. Strain gauges were used to measure corrosion-induced deformations between steel and concrete matrices, as well as the formation of corrosion-induced cracks. A good correlation between the rate of penetration of the rust products in the surrounding pores and the delay of the cracking pressure in concrete was observed from the experimental results. This phenomenon is incorporated into the analytical model by using a reduction factor, which mainly depends on the pore size of the concrete. The crack width obtained exhibited a significant dependency on electric current density at the beginning of the test, depending mainly on the pore size of the concrete later.

The 1884 Andalusia Earthquake, with an estimated Magnitude between 6.2 and 6.7, is one of the most destructive events that shook the Iberian Peninsula, causing around 1200 casualties. Ac-cording to paleoseismology studies and intensity maps, the earthquake source relates to the nor-mal Ventas de Zafarraya Fault (Granada, Spain). Diverse studies registered and later analyzed hydrological effects, such as landslides, rockfalls, soil liquefaction, all-around surge and loss of springs, alterations in the phreatic level, discharge in springs and brooks, and well levels, along with changes in water properties. Further insight into these phenomena found an interplay be-tween hydro-geomechanical processes and crust surface deformations, conditions, and properties. This study focuses on analyzing and simulating the features involved in the major 1884 event and aims at elucidating the mechanisms concerning the mentioned effects. This ex-post analysis builds on the qualitative effects and visible alterations registered by historical studies. It encompasses conceptual geological and kinematic models, and a 2D finite element simulation to account for the processes undergone by the Zafarraya Fault. The study focuses on the variability of hy-dro-geomechanical features and the time evolution of the ground pore-pressure distribution in both the preseismic and coseismic stages, matching some of the shreds of evidence found by field studies. This methodology can be applied to other events registered in the National Catalogues of Earth-quakes to achieve a deeper insight, further knowledge, and a better understanding of past earth-quakes.

Liquefaction risk assessment is critical for the safety and economics of structures. As the soil strata of Ramsar area in north Iran is mostly composed of poorly graded clean sand and the ground water table is found at shallow depths, it is highly susceptible to liquefaction. In this study, a series of isotropic and anisotropic consolidated undrained triaxial tests are performed on reconstituted specimens of Ramsar sand to identify the liquefaction potential of the area. The specimens are consolidated isotropically to simulate the level ground condition, and anisotropically to simulate the soil condition on a slope and/ or under a structure. The various states of soil behavior are studied by preparing specimens at different initial relative densities and applying different levels of effective stress. The critical state soil mechanics approach for identifying the liquefaction susceptibility is adopted and the observed phenomena are further explained in relation to the micro-mechanical behavior. As only four among the 27 conducted tests did not exhibit liquefactive behavior, Ramsar sand can be qualified as strongly susceptible to liquefaction. Furthermore, it is observed that the pore pressure ratio is a good indication of the liquefaction susceptibility

The epithelial cell tight junction structure is the site of the transepithelial movement of solutes and water between epithelial cells (paracellular permeability). Paracellular permeability can be divided into two distinct pathways, the Pore Pathway mediating the movement of small ions and solutes and the Leak Pathway mediating the movement of large solutes. Claudin proteins form the basic paracellular permeability barrier and mediate the movement of small ions and solutes via the Pore Pathway. The Leak Pathway remains less understood. Several proteins have been implicated in mediating the Leak Pathway, including occludin, ZO proteins, tricellulin, and actin filaments, but the proteins comprising the Leak Pathway remain unresolved. The properties of the Leak Pathway, such as its molecular mechanism, its regulation, and whether or not it has a size limit, remain controversial. This review will trace the evolution of the Leak Pathway concept from its origins, will discuss the current information about the properties of the Leak Pathway, and will discuss recent research suggesting a possible molecular basis for the Leak Pathway. Based on these findings, we propose a model for the molecular mechanism underlying the Leak Pathway and its regulation.

This paper presents the latest developments in microCT, both globally and locally, for supporting the additive manufacturing industry. There are a number of recently developed capabilities which are especially relevant to the non-destructive quality inspection of additive manufactured parts; and also for advanced process optimization. These new capabilities are all locally available but not yet utilized to their full potential, most likely due to a lack of knowledge of these capabilities. The aim of this paper is therefore to fill this gap and provide an overview of these latest capabilities, showcasing numerous local examples.

Background/Objectives: This review examines the evolution of lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) in ocular drug delivery, focusing on their ability to address the challenges associated with traditional ophthalmic formulations. The study aims to underscore the enhanced bioavailability, prolonged retention, and controlled release properties of LLCs that significantly improve therapeutic outcomes; Methods: The review synthesizes data from various studies on both bulk-forming LLCs and liquid crystal nanoparticles (LCNPs). It also considers advanced analytical techniques, including the use of machine learning and AI-driven predictive modeling, to forecast the phase behavior and molecular structuring of LLC systems. Emerging technologies in biosensing and real-time diagnostics are discussed to illustrate the broader applicability of LLCs in ocular health; Results: LLCs are identified as pivotal in promoting targeted drug delivery across different regions of the eye, with specific emphasis on the tailored optimization of LCNPs. The review highlights principal categories of LLCs used in ocular applications, each facilitating unique interactions with physiological systems to enhance drug efficacy and safety. Additionally, novel applications in biosensing demonstrate LLCs' capacity to improve diagnostic processes; Conclusions: Lyotropic liquid crystals offer transformative potential in ocular drug delivery by overcoming significant limitations of conventional delivery methods. The integration of predictive technologies and biosensing applications further enriches the utility of LLCs, indicating a promising future for their use in clinical settings. This review points to continued advancements and encourages further research in LLC technology to maximize its therapeutic benefits.

In the modern power grid, characterized by the increased penetration of power electronics and extensive utilization of renewable energy, inverters-based power plants play a pivotal role as the principal interface of renewable energy sources (RESs) and the grid. Considering the stability characteristics of grid-following (GFL) inverters when the grid is relatively weak, the application of grid-forming (GFM) controls becomes imperative to enhance the stability of the entire power plant. Thus, there is an urgent need for suitable and effective models to study the interaction and stability of the paralleled inverters employing GFL and GFM controls. Thus, the small-signal modeling with full-order state space model and eigenvalues analysis is presented in this paper. First, the small-signal state-space model of the individual GFL and GFM inverters is obtained considering the control loop, interaction, reference frame, transmissions, and time delays. Then, the models of the individual inverter are extended to the hybrid inverters to study the effects of the GFM inverters on the small- signal stability of the entire system. And, the impacts of the inertia and damping are analyzed by the eigenvalues of the state-transition matrix. Case comprising three parallel GFL inverters and two GFL inverters with one GFM inverter, respectively, are studied to examine the effectiveness and accuracy of the model. Finally, the stability margin obtained from the eigenvalue analysis of the entire system is verified by time-domain simulations.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising solution to tackle bacterial infections and combat antibiotic resistance. However, their clinical application has been hindered by their vulnerability to protease degradation and toxicity towards mammalian cells. To overcome these challenges, our study aims to develop a method to enhance the stability and safety of AMPs, applicable to effective drug-device combination products. KR12 antimicrobial peptide was chosen and in order to further enhance its delivery and efficacy, HIV TAT protein-derived cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) was fused to form CPP-KR12. A new product, CPP-KR12@Si, was developed by forming silica nanoparticles with self-entrapped CPP-KR12 peptide using the biomimetic silica precipitability due to its cationic nature. Peptide delivery from CPP-KR12@Si to bacteria and cells was delivered at a slightly delayed rate with improved stability against trypsin treatment and a reduction in cytotoxicity over CPP-KR12. Finally, the antimicrobial potential of CPP-KR12@Si/bone graft substitute (BGS) combination product was demonstrated, which is coated with CPP-KR12 in the form of nanoparticles on the surface of BGS. Self-entrapped AMP in silica nanoparticles is a safe and effective AMP delivery method that will be useful for developing a drug/device combination product for tissue regeneration.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) comprises a group of heart and circulatory disorders, which are regarded as a global medical issue with high prevalence and mortality rates. Currently, vascular regenerative surgery represents the most employed therapeutic option to treat ischemic disorders, even though not all the patients are amenable to surgical revascularization. Therefore, more efficient therapeutic approaches are urgently required to promote neovascularization. Therapeutic angiogenesis represents an emerging strategy that aims at reconstructing the damaged vascular network by stimulating local angiogenesis and/or promoting de novo blood vessel formation according to a process known as vasculogenesis. Circulating endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs), in turn, represent truly endothelial precursors able to aggregate into bidimensional tube networks and to originate patent vessels. Accordingly, ECFCs provide the most rationale and promising cellular candidate for therapeutic purposes. The current review provides a brief outline on the origin and characterization of ECFCs and a summary of the progress in preclinical studies aiming at assessing their efficacy in a variety of ischemic disorders, including AMI, PAD, ischemic brain disease and retinopathy. We also describe how to enhance the vasoreparative potential of ECFCs by boosting specific pro-angiogenic signalling pathways either pharmacologically or through gene manipulation. Taken together, these observations suggest that ECFCs represent a useful strategy to treat ischemic diseases.