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This is an article in the field of metallurgical engineering. Titanium gypsum is an industrial waste residue mainly composed of calcium sulfate dehydrate when the titanium dioxide is produced by the sulfuric acid method. At present, the utilization rate of titanium gypsum is relatively low due to its high impurity content , difficulty in dehydration and poor mechanical properties of the subsequent products. A large amount of titanium gypsum stored in the open air has caused great environmental and economic stress on the titanium dioxide enterprises, which is a serious waste of land resources. In this article, the current situation and research progress of global titanium gypsum in building materials, chemical industry, agriculture and climate change were summarized. The suggestions and prospects for the effective reduction and high-quality resource utilization of titanium gypsum from the aspects of structure adjustment, technological innovation, green development, standard formulation and policy support were provided.

ABSTRACT: Wenchang chicken, a prized local breed in Hainan Province of China renowned for its exceptional adaptability to tropical environments and good meat quality, is deeply favored by the public. However, an insufficient understanding of its population architecture and the unclear genetic basis that governs its typical attributes have posed challenges in the protection and breeding of this precious breed. To address these gaps, we conducted whole-genome resequencing on 200 Wenchang chicken samples derived from 10 distinct strains, and we gathered data on an array of 21 phenotype traits. Population genomics analysis unveiled distinctive population structures in Wenchang chickens, primarily attributed to strong artificial selection for different feather colors. Selection sweep analysis identified a group of candidate genes, including PCDH9, DPF3, CDIN1, and SUGCT, closely linked to adaptations that enhance resilience in tropical island habitats. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) highlighted potential candidate genes associated with diverse feather color traits, encompassing TYR, RAB38, TRPM1, GABARAPL2, CDH1, ZMIZ1, LYST, MC1R, and SASH1. Through the comprehensive analysis of high-quality genomic and phenotypic data across diverse Wenchang chicken resource groups, this study unveils the intricate genetic backgrounds and population structures of Wenchang chickens. Additionally, it identifies multiple candidate genes linked to environmental adaptation, feather color variations, and production traits. These insights not only provide genetic reference for the purification and breeding of Wenchang chickens but also broaden our understanding of the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity in chickens.

Understanding and further regulating the degradation of mandrel materials is a key aspect of target fabrication in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Here, a quasi-one-dimensional confinement model is developed using a series of single-walled carbon nanotubes with varying diameters (Dm), and the degradation of poly-α-methylstyrene (PAMS) as a typical mandrel material is investigated under such confined conditions by using the combined method of quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics. In comparison to the isolated system, the calculations show that confinement can decrease or increase the energy barriers of PAMS degradation, which directly depends on Dm. Following which a clear exponential relationship between the degradation rate of PAMS and its own density is derived, indicating that the density of PAMS can be used to regulate mandrel degradation. This work highlights the important effects of confinement on degradation and provides a valuable reference for further development of polymer degradation technologies in ICF target fabrication and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of electrolyte additives shows significant effect on the low temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but the underlying mechanism remains to be further elucidated and understood. Here, we take methyl acetate (MA) as an example to explore the mechanism of low-temperature additives on the graphite interface. The effects of the MA additive, demonstrated by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and atomic force microscopy, optimize the electron insulating properties and mechanical properties of the graphite anode. This optimized electrolyte improves the graphite performance with a capacity of 343.8 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at room temperature and 302.9 mA h g−1 at low temperature (−10 °C), while the capacity decreases sharply without MA, and at the same time improves the rate performance which increases the capacity retention at 4C from 18% to 55%. The reinforced electronic insulation SEI is observed in the first discharge process with MA addition in SECM feedback mode and remains stable in the next cycles. The results show that a stable ultrathin SEI with an inorganic/organic bilayer structure rapidly forms in the first cycle with MA addition, the outer organic layer provides mechanical suppression and the inner inorganic layer promotes the interface mechanical strength with excellent ion transport, which suppresses the continuous decomposition of electrolytes and improves the mechanical properties of the SEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volume parameters such as the volume of voids (VV), voids filled with asphalt (VFA), and voids in mineral aggregates (VMA) all have significant impact on asphalt mixtures. In this study, the vertical vibration compaction method (VVCM) was employed to produce a large-particle-size asphalt mixture (LSAM-50). The correlations between the mechanical strengths of VVCM specimens, static compression test (PCT) specimens, and in situ core samples were verified. Additionally, the influence of volumetric parameters on the mechanical properties of VVCM specimens was assessed. Based on the principle of optimal mechanical properties, volume parameter design standards for the LSAM-50 asphalt mixture were proposed. Results indicated that the mechanical properties correlation between VVCM specimens and in situ core samples was substantial, reaching over 90%. With increasing VV and VFA, the compressive strength, splitting strength, and dynamic stability of the LSAM-50 asphalt mixture initially increased and then decreased. The design standards for VV were proposed to be between 3.5% and 4.8%, and for VFA between 49.7% and 52.9%. There was no clear correlation between VMA and the mechanical properties of the mixture; hence, based on the standards, the minimum design value for VMA was set at 7.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]