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The European Green Deal (EGD) has had a significant impact on EU member states. In this article, we examine the extent to which it can also have large consequences for non-members. Based on a qualitative approach comparing Norway and the UK, and drawing on a burgeoning literature on 'turbulence', we ask whether the EGD creates turbulence in non-member states, what the nature of this turbulence is, and whether the extent and nature of turbulence varies with how closely affiliated a non-member is with the EU. Despite the ambitious climate policies of both countries, we identify a significant amount of turbulence generated by the EGD. Interestingly, we also find that turbulence increases with a closer EU-affiliation. However, our analysis also reveals an impressive capacity in both countries to adapt to their turbulent conditions, and a surprising durability of climate and energy policy in the face of turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slake durability and the related deterioration mechanism of carbonaceous rocks exposed to adverse external environment are of a great importance to the stability of infrastructure. A series of laboratory tests were conducted to determine their slake durability index Idi, fractal dimension D, total organic carbon (TOC) content, and mineralogical characteristic. The results demonstrated that Idi value decreased rapidly within the first 4 cycles, and then reached a relatively stable state as the test cycle further increased, indicating that effective protective measures should be conducted at the earlier stage of wetting-drying process to minimize the durability deterioration of carbonaceous rock. The discrepancy of carbonaceous rocks in terms of mineralogical characteristic accounted for different slake durability responses at a given cycle. Carbonaceous rock with lower clay minerals content wc possessed superior slake durability performance, and a power correlation between Id6 and wc was obtained. Fractal dimension D was found to be an indicator to indirectly describe the durability characteristic of carbonaceous rock. The organic matter imposed negative impact on the slake durability, which was manifested by the carbonaceous rock with higher TOC content exhibited inferior disintegration resistance. The microstructure changes, including an increase in pore volume, pore size, layer spacing, and the presence of new crystalline-like substances, demonstrated the minerals/salts dissolution and chemical reactions within the rock matrix occurred during the slake durability test. These changes were mainly attributed to the hybrid influence of mineralogy and microstructure of carbonaceous rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents simple post-treatment methods to selectively and partially remove the Pd core of Pd–Pt core–shell (Pt@Pd/C) catalysts. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell with the post-treated Pt@Pd/C cathode (Pt loading: 0.10 mg·cm−2) delivers an impressive peak power density of 1.2 W·cm−2. The partial removal of Pd core endows an ultrahigh oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mass activity of 0.32 A·mgPGM−1 when normalized to the platinum group metal (PGM) mass, or equivalently 0.55 A·mgPt−1 at 0.9 V measured in a fuel cell. The post-treatment thickens the Pt shells and mitigates the Pd dissolution during potential cycling. As a result, the post-treated core–shell catalyst demonstrates superior durability in ORR mass activity and polarization power density retention than untreated core–shell catalyst and benchmark Pt/C. In-situ inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) results highlight that the amount of dissolved Pd in post-treated core–shell catalyst is 17-times lower than that of the untreated one. Our findings highlight the importance of structural tuning of catalysts in enhancing their mass activity and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing natural cotton textiles in personal thermal management applications is of great significance for defending human against adverse climate conditions. However, the intrinsic low optical energy conservation of cotton in terms of human mid-infrared radiation and solar spectrum prevents it from realizing high-efficient thermal retention. Herein, by leveraging a facile technique involving polydopamine (PDA)-assisted ion deposition, we firmly embed silver nanoparticles onto cotton fibers, creating silver-nanoprocessed cotton fabrics (Ag-fabric) with high human mid-infrared reflectivity and superior water/wear resistance. Meanwhile, the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of the PDA and silver nanoparticles contributes to high solar spectrum absorptivity. The as-prepared Ag-fabric demonstrates nearly 2 °C higher temperature compared to unadorned cotton fabrics due to enhanced human mid-infrared radiation, and the outdoor tests show a temperature increase of average 8 °C when covering artificial skin. Moreover, the uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles on hierarchically assembled cotton fibers endow the Ag-fabric with desirable Joule heating performance (~ 40.7 °C at 1 V), self-cleaning capacity, and antibacterial properties, while maintaining breathability and comfort. These merits of the Ag-fabric present promising advantages to transfer natural cotton into commercially available thermal management wearables and eco-textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using steel slag (SS) as cementitious material and fine aggregate in concrete is an effective and environmental method for SS consumption and cost reduction. In this paper, SS was recycled in large volumes in concrete as partial cementitious material and fine aggregate. The compressive strength and reaction mechanism of cementitious material with different SS powder contents including 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35% were presented. The results indicated that 20% of SS powder improved the compressive strength by 34.57% and the hydration products were ettringite (AFt) and calcium silica hydrate(C-(A)-S–H). Furthermore, the mechanical and durability performance of concrete with SS as fine aggregate were investigated. When the SS substitution rate was 75%, the compressive strength was increased by 37.83%. The volume shrinkage rate and 28d-carbonation depth were reduced nearly by 64% for 90 days and 2.33 mm, respectively. The chloride ion penetration resistance reached the optimal grade Q–V and abrasion resistance was improved by nearly 24%. Along with the reduced CO2 by 210–294 kg/m3 and the decreased cost by 12.61 USD/m3, it is regarded as an effective method to consume steel slag. As such, this research provided a scientific and systematic basis for the large-scale disposal and utilization of industrial waste residues as well as recycled materials preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering slope stability issues typically exhibit the impact of deteriorating durability on the susceptibility of slopes to failure. A thorough investigation was essential to explore theoretical and experimental aspects of slope durability degradation and its implications on long-term stability. Hence, a durability model was developed to accommodate slope stabilization using reinforced concrete (RC) support structures. This model was grounded in classical durability principles for RC structures. Subsequently, a model test was conducted to compare the responses of a standard slope model with a weakened counterpart subjected to environmental impacts. According to the proposed methodology for slope durability and stability, a case study involving future durability and stability predictions was performed. It was found that the theoretical solutions for the carbonation or neutralization (CN) velocity, depth, and penetration time agreed well with model test results. The slope surface displacements of the weakened slope with deteriorating coefficients between 0.6 and 0.9 were 4 to 8 times those of the standard slope, demonstrating significant degradation in stability. The case study indicated a steady reduction in the safety factor, at a rate of 2.3 to 2.4‰ per year throughout the slope's service life. Finite-element-based predictions also suggested the potential for corrosion of slope anchor bolts within 20 years and breakage within 30 years, at an average rate of 7.5‰ per year in the ultimate bearing capacity. These findings highlight the need for timely maintenance and reinforcement interventions to ensure the long-term durability of operational slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential use of wood ash as a cement additive. Four wood specimens from Yaoundé city of (Cameroon) were used namely: Sapelli, Iroko, Movingui and Padouk. Five mortar were produced, with cement substitutions of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The fresh rheological, mechanical and hardened durability properties of various mortar were obtained after 7, 14, 28 and 56 days. The results showed that cement paste consistency and the cuing time increases with the addition of ash. At 28 days, the mortars obtained from the 5% and 15% Padouk and Movingui ash substitutes, respectively, showed optimum compressive strength (9%, 6%) and flexural strength (5%, 3%) compared with the control mortar. Due to continuous pozzolanic activity, this flexural gain is multiplied by 3 for Movingui mortar (9%) at 56 days. Compared with the 28-day and 56-day compressive strength results, there were increases of 5% and 4% respectively for the 5% and 15% ash substitutions in Padouk and Movingui mortars. Durability results were evaluated through absorption, which showed relatively identical rates in mortars containing ash from Padouk and Movingui wood, due to their water content for normal consistency. Chemical attack with H2SO2 and NaCl proved that the incorporation of ash improved the mortars' resistance to chemical attack. Thermal analyses and microscopic observations were performed with the optimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansive clays feature high compressibility and large swelling-shrinkage potential, which may cause significant damage to the infrastructures, including pavements. This study investigates the potential use of industrial waste ash generated from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) as a more sustainable treatment method to treat expansive soils compared to the use of conventional coal fly ash. A series of tests was conducted to study the mechanical, durability, and environmental performance of the MSWI fly ash in comparison with the coal fly ash. The study reveals that the compressive strength and resilient modulus of 20% MSWI fly ash treated sample increased to 0.86 MPa and 213 MPa respectively, depicting an increase of 150% and 240% of the control clay specimen. Results also indicate that MSWI treated expansive clay shows better performance during the soaked California bearing ratio (CBR) testings, moisture susceptibility and cyclic wetting–drying tests compared to coal fly ash treated samples. Microlevel investigations reveal that the influence of cation exchange is more decisive in the MSWI-treated clays due to the presence of higher Ca2+ ions, during the early stages, and the influence of hydration is stronger at the later stage of stabilisation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that gismondine, albite, calcite, portlandite, andradite, and ettringite are the main crystalline phases formed during the stabilization. Heavy metal concentrations after the stabilisation are within the allowable limit defined by state regulations. Applying MSWI fly ash as a ground treatment for expansive clays can reduce the consumption of natural resources, promoting a "zero landfill" policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of relative humidity on the formation of low-frictional interface in hydrogenated carbon nitride (CNx:H) coatings sliding against Si3N4 balls and the formation continuity was elucidated through friction tests conducted in both air and nitrogen atmospheres with controlled relative humidity levels. In air atmosphere, a carbonaceous tribolayer with a transformed structure from the initial CNx:H was formed on Si3N4 at less than the critical humidity that existed in 1.0–3.0% RH, resulting in low friction (μ < 0.05) and a low specific wear rate of the balls (< 2 × 10–9 mm3/N·m). In contrast, this tribolayer failed to form above 3.0% RH. In nitrogen atmosphere, within the 0.25–1.0% RH range, the tribolayer continued to form concurrently with wear progression, maintaining low friction for over 50,000 cycles. However, in less than this humidity range, the lifetime of low friction was limited owing to the tribolayer’s structural alteration. Thus, relative humidity influences not only the formation of the low-frictional interface but also the formation continuity. On the CNx:H friction surface, hydrogen, hydroxyl, and oxygen groups from environmental water and oxygen molecules continued to chemisorb owing to tribochemical reactions on the uppermost few nanometers during continuous low friction in a nitrogen atmosphere, while hydrogen content of CNx:H desorbed. This study experimentally confirmed the critical role of controlling relative humidity in tribological systems using CNx:H coatings to achieve low friction and improve its durability of low friction through the continuous formation of the low-frictional interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of nano-CaCO3 on the durability of concrete was investigated by simulating the attack of semi-buried concrete structures in saline soil. Different nano-CaCO3 contents were used to enhance the durability of concrete. The durability of different areas of nano-CaCO3 modified concrete, partially exposed to sulfate solution, was evaluated, and a reliability analysis was conducted. The results indicated that appropriate nano-CaCO3 content can improve the durability of concrete. In this study, concrete with a nano-CaCO3 content of 1% exhibited the highest durability. The corrosion degrees of different areas of the nano-CaCO3 modified concrete partially exposed to the sulfate solution decreased in the following order: dry–wet transition areas (M area) > fully immersed areas (D area) > exposed air areas (T area). A sulfate chemical attack occurred inside the concrete in the dry–wet transition areas, while a sulfate physical attack occurred on the surface concrete. The predicted values of the model agreed well with the test results. The bivariate Wiener process can effectively describe the whole process of performance deterioration of nano-CaCO3 modified concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers with the inclusion of waste materials, viz., fly ash and slag, have been considered for various applications as a substitute for non-eco-friendly conventional binder, i.e., cement. Nevertheless, none of the studies have focused on soil stabilization using novel alkali-activated precursors—fly ash and calcium-rich eggshell powder with different curing temperatures. The objective of the present study is to analyze the effect of alkali-activated fly ash and eggshell powder on the durability of reference soft soil mix. The sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide solution were used to activate the precursors. The specimens, with varying percentages of precursors (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%), were heated for 7 days at 25 °C, 50 °C, and 80 °C before subjecting to 12 wetting–drying cycles. The outcomes of the investigation show that the residual strength increases with the increase in geopolymer concentration following a similar pattern of 7-day compressive strength. A decrease in the weight loss of geopolymer-treated clay was detected for the specimens earlier cured at 50 °C. Further, the cost analysis suggested that the eggshell powder–fly ash geopolymer is a much cheaper binder than conventional cement concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determines how untreated recycled concrete aggregates (URA), thermally treated recycled concrete aggregates (TRA), and recycled concrete aggregates developed through an integrated thermomechanical treatment process (TmRA) perform in concrete relative to each other. A concrete composed of 100% recycled aggregates (RCA) with Portland pozzolana cement has been successfully developed in the present study. The compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, fracture energy, and modulus of elasticity of TmRC is observed higher than URC by 18.62%, 8.20%, 40.72%, 24.18%, and 54.99%, and those TRC by 7.54%, 28.57%, 29.78%, 24.12%, and 34.35%, respectively. The split tensile strength, flexural strength, fracture energy, and modulus of elasticity of these concretes are strongly correlated with their compressive strength. TmRC material properties match NAC, standard requirements, and reported values closely. URC and TRC chloride-ion penetrations are around 3.51- and 2.42-times greater than TmRC. Among these concretes, only TmRC meets corrosion protection requirements like NAC. The abrasion resistance of TmRC is observed 52.03% greater than URC and 43.07% greater than that of TRC. TmRC has substantially lower sorptivity compared to URC and TRC and is close to NAC. TmRC has around 32.65% and 16.67% less weight loss in drying than URC and TRC, respectively. URC and TRC have around 1.99- and 1.82-times less abrasion resistance than TmRC. An optimal reduced adhered-mortar volume, the minimized porosity and microcracks, dense and uniform surface texture, strengthened interfacial transition zones leads the performance of TmRA superior to URA and TRA, and close to or superior to parent aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study is performed on the self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC) combining coal bottom ash (CBA) and metakaolin (MK) as a substitution for GGBFS alone and combined for analysing the fresh properties (slump flow, V-Funnel, and T50 flow), mechanical characteristics (compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths) and durability tests (permeability and sulfate attack test). Though, total 195 SCGC samples were made and tested for 28 days. It has been revealed that the consumption of CBA and MK as a substitution for GGBFS alone and combine in the production of SCGC is decreased the workability of SCGC while mechanical characteristics of SCGC are enhanced by utilizing CBA and MK as a substitution for GGBFS alone and combine up to 10%. In addition, the compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths were calculated by 59.40 MPa, 5.68 MPa, and 6.12 MPa while using the 5CBA5MK as a substitution for GGBFS in the production of SCGC after 28 days correspondingly. Furthermore, the permeability is decreased by growing the quantity of CBA and MK by the weight of GGBFS alone and jointly in the production of SCGC after 28 days. Besides, the minimum change in length of the SCGC specimen is recorded by 0.062 mm at 7.5MK7.5CBA while the maximum change in length is calculated by 0.11 mm at 10CBA10MK as a substitution for GGBFS at 180 days correspondingly. In addition, the embodied carbon is recorded reduce as the addition of CBA while it is getting higher when the accumulation of MK alone or combined with CBA in SCGC. Besides, response models for prediction were constructed and confirmed using ANOVA at an accuracy rate of 95%. The models' R2 fluctuated from 88 to 99%. It has been observed that the utilization of CBA and MK alone and together up to 10% as substitution for GGBFS in geopolymer concrete provides the best results therefore it is suggested for structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of a thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer has been identified as a major driving force for the failure of environmental barrier coatings (EBCs). It is always desirable to reduce the TGO growth rate in order to achieve a highly durable EBC system. In this study, an Al2O3-modified Si bond coat was developed for EBC applications. Both a Yb2Si2O7/Si baseline EBC and a Yb2Si2O7/(Si-Al2O3)-modified EBC were deposited using the air plasma spray process. The TGO growth behavior and cycling life of the EBCs were evaluated at 1316 °C in a 90% H2O (g) + 10% air environment. The TGO growth rate in the baseline EBC is over four times faster than that of the modified EBC. The modified EBC survived 1000 cycles of steam testing without failure, while the baseline EBC has an average life of 576 cycles under identical conditions. The superior durability of the modified EBC can be attributed to the significantly reduced TGO growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a method for increasing the operating time of a cyclic unit by combining the operations of torch and gas-dynamic gunning through addition of magnesium briquetted flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Power output at the moderate-to-heavy-intensity transition decreases during prolonged exercise, and resilience to this has been termed 'durability'. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between durability and the effect of prolonged exercise on severe-intensity performance, and explore intramuscular correlates of durability. Methods: On separate days, 13 well-trained cyclists and triathletes (V̇O2peak, 57.3 ± 4.8 mL kg−1 min−1; training volume, 12 ± 2.1 h week−1) undertook an incremental test and 5-min time trial (TT) to determine power output at the first ventilatory threshold (VT1) and severe-intensity performance, with and without 150-min of prior moderate-intensity cycling. A single resting vastus lateralis microbiopsy was obtained. Results: Prolonged exercise reduced power output at VT1 (211 ± 40 vs. 198 ± 39 W, ∆ -13 ± 16 W, ∆ -6 ± 7%, P = 0.013) and 5-min TT performance (333 ± 75 vs. 302 ± 63 W, ∆ -31 ± 41 W, ∆ -9 ± 10%, P = 0.017). The reduction in 5-min TT performance was significantly associated with durability of VT1 (rs = 0.719, P = 0.007). Durability of VT1 was not related to vastus lateralis carnosine content, citrate synthase activity, or complex I activity (P > 0.05). Conclusion: These data provide the first direct support that durability of the moderate-to-heavy-intensity transition is an important performance parameter, as more durable athletes exhibited smaller reductions in 5-min TT performance following prolonged exercise. We did not find relationships between durability and vastus lateralis carnosine content, citrate synthase activity, or complex I activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aims of this study were to: (i) describe the time course of the decrease in power output at the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition during prolonged exercise; (ii) investigate the association between durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition and exercise capacity; and (iii) explore physiological correlates of durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition. Methods: Twelve trained cyclists (age: 40 ± 8 y, V ˙ O2peak: 52.3 ± 5.2 mL·min−1·kg−1) performed an exhaustive cycling protocol involving alternating incremental exercise tests to determine power output at the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition via the first ventilatory threshold (VT1), and 30-min bouts at 90% of the power output at the previously estimated VT1 in the rested state. The individual time course of VT1 was modelled using linear and second-order polynomial functions, and time to a 5% decrease in VT1 (Δ5%VT1) was estimated using the best-fitting model. Results: Power output at VT1 decreased according to a second-order polynomial function in 11 of 12 participants. Time-to-task failure (234 ± 66 min) was correlated with Δ5%VT1 (139 ± 78 min, rs = 0.676, p = 0.016), and these were strongly correlated with absolute and relative rates of fat oxidation at specific exercise intensities measured during the incremental test performed in the rested state. Conclusions: These data: (i) identify a non-linear time course of decreases in the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition during prolonged exercise; (ii) support the importance of durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition in prolonged exercise capacity; and (iii) suggest durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition is related to fat oxidation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of waste tires are discarded every year. These waste tires will have a great impact on the environment. If they can be recycled, environmental and economic benefits can be obtained. In this paper, rubber powder is added to concrete, and a variety of analytical methods are used to study the effect of rubber powder on the performance of concrete. Experiments show that the slump of concrete decreases with the increase of rubber powder substitution rate, and the rheological performance results show that the friction force increases with the increase of rubber powder substitution rate. The compressive strength of concrete decreases with the increase of substitution rate. The results of ICP show that rubber powder will adsorb cations to affect cement hydration. Nanoindentation shows that the addition of rubber powder leads to the decrease of high-density hydration products. The results of SEM-EDS show that rubber powder will affect the Si/Ca of hydration products. The results of UPV and MIP are similar. The hydrophobicity of rubber powder and the poor compatibility with hydration products are the key factors affecting the durability of concrete. Because the rubber powder only needs to be ground to avoid the related process of cement, it can obtain good economic and environmental benefits. In practical engineering, rubber powder can be added appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: IncobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®) is used in the treatment of dynamic wrinkles and the aesthetic repositioning of facial structures. The duration of its muscular effect typically extends for around 4 months. However, the residual aesthetic benefit can be observed for a longer period. To date, the long-term aesthetic benefit of incobotulinumtoxinA in facial aesthetics has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate longitudinally the duration and aesthetic benefits of incobotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of the upper face in adult women. Methods: A quasi-experimental, evaluator-blind, clinical trial involving 28 adult women (30–60 years old) with facial movement lines, undergoing treatment of the upper face with incobotulinumtoxinA by two injectors, following an individualized protocol (ONE21 and glabellar contraction patterns) was performed. Participants were evaluated on the day of the intervention (day 0) and days 30, 120, 180, and 240, and subjected to standardized photographs. The following outcomes were evaluated blindly at each visit: Merz Aesthetics Facial Contraction Scale (MAS), GAIS (Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale), and patient satisfaction. Adverse effects were evaluated at each visit. Results: Participants ranged in age from 30 to 60 years, 93% were self-declared white, and most of their baseline MAS scores for dynamic lines were moderate and severe. All the parameters presented significative reduction from baseline until day 180. At day 240, the dynamic MAS scores were lower than baseline for forehead lines in 15.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–30.0%) of the participants, for glabellar lines in 38.5% (95% CI 18.8–58.1%), and for crow's feet lines in 26.9% (95% CI 9.0–44.8%). Aesthetic improvement compared to baseline was identified in 35% (CI 95% 23‒50%) of the participants at day 240, and 62% (CI 95% 42‒81%) of the sample kept reporting some satisfaction with the procedure. Conclusion: The aesthetic treatment of the upper face with incobotulinumtoxinA demonstrates enduring clinical benefits, and patient satisfaction lasting up to 180 days in most participants. The length of efficacy, which exceeded those reported in the literature, may be attributed to the use of techniques based on individualized assessment such as ONE21 and glabellar patterns of contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate 2-year efficacy, durability, and safety of faricimab in the TENAYA Japan subgroup and pooled global TENAYA/LUCERNE cohort of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods: Subgroup analysis of TENAYA/LUCERNE (NCT03823287/NCT03823300): phase III, multicentre, randomised, active comparator–controlled, double-masked, non-inferiority trials. Treatment-naïve patients aged ≥ 50 years with nAMD were randomised (1:1) to intravitreal faricimab (6.0 mg up to every 16 weeks [Q16W] after 4 initial Q4W doses) or aflibercept (2.0 mg Q8W after 3 initial Q4W doses). Outcomes were assessed through year 2 for the TENAYA Japan subgroup (N = 133) and global pooled TENAYA/LUCERNE cohort (N = 1329). Results: Vision and anatomic improvements achieved with faricimab at year 1 were maintained over 2 years and were generally comparable between the TENAYA Japan subgroup and pooled TENAYA/LUCERNE cohort. Adjusted mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change from baseline at year 2 for the TENAYA Japan subgroup and global pooled TENAYA/LUCERNE cohort was +7.1 (3.7–10.5) and +4.4 (3.2–5.5) letters in the faricimab arm, respectively, and +5.2 (1.9–8.6) and +4.3 (3.1–5.4) letters in the aflibercept arm, respectively. At week 112, the proportion of faricimab-treated patients on Q16W dosing was 61.0% and 63.1% in the TENAYA Japan subgroup and pooled TENAYA/LUCERNE cohort. Faricimab was well tolerated through year 2. Conclusion: Year 2 TENAYA Japan subgroup findings for faricimab were generally consistent with the pooled global TENAYA/LUCERNE results in patients with nAMD. Vision and anatomical benefits with faricimab were similar to those with aflibercept but with fewer injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide nanostructures (MONSTRs) have become popular in various fields. This study investigates the durability of MONSTRs synthesized through hot water treatment (HWT) using copper, aluminum, and zinc as the source metals of choice. The physical durability tests include pressure, scratch, and scotch tape adhesion tests, and chemical durability tests such as corrosion resistance tests, heat resistance, and solar exposure tests. Results showed that MONSTRs synthesized from HWT are highly durable under the tested conditions except for NaOH and HCl immersion tests for copper oxide and zinc oxide. The study concluded that HWT is a sustainable synthesis method for MONSTRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodology has been developed for the probabilistic assessment of durability indicators of metallurgical equipment according to strength criteria based on microstructural modeling of the stressed state of the material, the distinctive feature of which is the ability to consider its anisotropy and structural defects in the form of nonmetallic inclusions or the consequences of poor-quality heat treatment. This methodology can be used to make a reasonable choice of material for parts when designing equipment or developing the structure of repair cycles at the renovation stage for objects put in operation for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to 1.5wt% of Cr(III) salts (CrCl3, and Cr2O3) and Cr(VI) salts (Na2CrO4, and CaCr2O7) were incorporated into red mud-based geopolymers, respectively. The solidification/stabilization, compressive strength, and durability of the Cr-containing geopolymers were investigated. The experimental results indicate that the red mud-based geopolymer could effectively solidify/stabilize different types of Cr salts with solidification/stabilization rates of above 99.61%. Geopolymers are environmentally safe when the dosage of CaCr2O7 is ⩽ 1.0wt%, or the dosage of CrCl3, Cr2O3, and Na2CrO4 is ⩽ 1.5wt%, respectively. The effects of Cr salts on the compressive strength varies with the type and content of Cr salts. The freeze-thaw cycle is more destructive to geopolymer properties than sulfate attack or acid rain erosion. The solidification/stabilization of Cr is mainly attributed to the following reasons: a) The chemical binding of Cr is related to the formation of Cr-containing hydrates (eg, magnesiochromite ((Mg, Fe)(Cr, Al)2O4)) and doping into N-A-S-H gel and C-A-S-H gel framework; b) The physical effect is related to the encapsulation by the hydration products (e g, N-A-S-H gel and C-A-S-H gel). This study provides a reference for the treatment of hazardous Cr-containing wastes by solid waste-based geopolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sealing cup selection procedure for shaft surfaces during repairs is substantiated theoretically and tested practically. The procedure consists of justifying the diameters of the repair dimensions of the shafts based on wear data and selecting sealing cups for these dimensions according to the internal diameter in order to ensure the same tightness as for new connections. The practical application of the procedure is considered on a transmission output shaft connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coatings serve as ideal protective films for mechanical systems, providing dependable as well as efficient lubrication because of their unique structure along with outstanding tribological characteristics. Inspired by the "bricks-and-mortar" structure, we prepared layered graphene oxide (GO) composite finishes strengthened with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and borax. Our study demonstrates that the tribological properties of the GO-based coating on 304 stainless steel (SS304) are potentially greatly affected through PVA, GO, and annealing. By optimizing the composition, we achieved the PVA40 wt%/GO0.01 wt%/borax composite coating, which exhibited the lowest average coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.021±0.003 (a 97.86% reduction compared to control SS304) with minimal wear and abrasion even in a water environment. We found that the enhanced mechanical characteristics as well as elastic recovery within the coating were attributed to the hydrogen bonds and cross-linking between PVA and borax, which led to stress distribution. Reduced friction was further aided by the formation of a hydrated layer at the friction interface. As a result, the coating demonstrated remarkable durability, maintaining a low COF during long sliding distances (576 m, 28,800 cycles, significantly longer than previously reported) without breaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems have been proven in their capacity as a crucial component of energy grids relying on renewable sources. An established sensible heat storage technology is a packed-bed TES, employing a granular filling material as a heat storage medium, which is subjected to repeated heating-cooling cycles. As a result of the recurring particle expansion and contraction, excessive stresses and strains can develop and cause material damage. This leads to the increasing need for reliable numerical tools in order to improve the TES design and increase their durability. For this purpose, we propose a continuous thermo-mechanical approach, within the framework of the theory of hypoplasticity, that can accurately predict the single as well as cyclic loading behavior of the filling material. This work focuses on the stress–strain relations and compaction mechanisms of the granular bed in contact with a storage wall with variable inclination and friction coefficient. Furthermore, the important aspect of the wall expansion under the temperature change is also taken into account as well as the specific case when the wall expands more than the granular material. By conducting comprehensive simulations, we demonstrate that our novel numerical model adheres to existing experimental investigations and mitigates shortcomings in the predictive capabilities of previous continuous approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densification of biomass can significantly raise its volumetric calorific value, reduce its transportation costs, and create a more unified and stable biomass shape. Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis shrub is a desert-adapted shrub, and its cake is the solid byproduct of processing jojoba seeds for oil extraction and has a heating value of 15.344 MJ/kg. The study aimed to investigate the main and interaction effects of applied axial compression pressure, dwell time, and moisture content, on the relaxed density, dimensional stability or relaxation ratio, and durability of jojoba cake briquettes. The pure jojoba cake was compressed in a closed-end cylindrical die at room temperature of 27 ± 2 ∘ C at three levels of preset axial compression stress, P, 30, 35, and 40 MPa, two levels of dwell time, t, 5, and 10 s and four levels of material moisture content, mc, 20, 25, 30, and 35%wb. The findings showed that the applied axial compression pressure and moisture content significantly affected the relaxation ratio, relaxed density, and durability. Dwell time slightly affected the relaxed density and relaxation ratio but did not affect the briquette durability. Relaxed density was achieved within the range of 1001.353 and 1279.07 kg/m3, and the highest value was obtained at an applied pressure of 40 MPa, moisture content of 35%wb, and dwell time of 10 s. The desired lower relaxation ratio can be obtained with the optimal combinations of moisture content within the range of 30–35%wb and applied pressure within the range of 35–40 MPa. The high-quality briquette with an acceptable value of durability was found at the moisture content within the range of 30 and 35%wb at 40 MPa applied pressure. Stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the main and interaction effect of P, t, and mc on briquette durability, relaxation ratio, and relaxed density, and satisfying results were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to characterize the statistical durability under random strain loads for fatigue reliability prediction of a heavy leaf spring. Characterizing random data involving a probabilistic approach needs to be addressed in terms of defining applicable distribution as the strain data are random cyclic loading that leads to fatigue damage. In this study, random strain loads were extracted repetitively at a sampling rate of 500 Hz for 300 s per block of various road load profiles to obtain the probabilistic features (i.e., the parameters of location and scale, kurtosis, and root-mean-square values). The rainflow cycle counting technique was used to determine the strain-based fatigue life based on the linear damage rule. The load sequence effects computed the highest fatigue life with an estimated range of 1.66×104–3.16×104 cycles/block. The Akaike information criterion proposed that the Gumbel distribution is the most appropriate distribution to be used to model the durability of the leaf spring based on the captured strain signals. From the Gumbel distribution plot, the highest probability of fatigue failure was identified for the highway data in the range of 1.06×106–1.71×107 cycles/block with the probability of 0.72–0.99 since a smooth road surface produced low amplitudes in the strain data. In the reliability assessment, a mean cycle to failure was obtained in the range of 3.07×107–3.57×107 cycles/block, which is the highest value among other data. Hence, the probabilistic approach using the Gumbel probability plot for analyzing fatigue failure under random strain loads provides better statistical characterization in terms of the mean cycle to failure in reliability assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the devastating effects of climate change, the need for sustainable building materials that are both durable and environmentally friendly increases. Geopolymer and alkali-activated materials formed by a chemical reaction between an alkaline activator solution and an aluminosilicate source have gained popularity in recent years. The alkaline activator solution dissolves the aluminosilicate source, which then undergoes a polycondensation reaction to form a three-dimensional geopolymeric gel network. The development of this network ensures the strength and durability of the material. Today, this phenomenon of durability has been studied in detail to enable the development of superior construction materials, taking into account degradation mechanisms such as carbonation, leaching, shrinkage, fire, freezing and thawing, and exposure to aggressive environments (chlorides, acids, and sulphates). Although there are many unsolved problems in their engineering applications, slag-based alkali-activated materials appear to be more advantageous and are promising as alternative materials to ordinary Portland cement. First of all, it should not be ignored that the cure sensitivity is high in these systems due to compressive strength losses of up to 69%. Loss of strength of alkali-activated materials is considered an important indicator of degradation. In binary precursors, the presence of fly ash in slag can result in an improvement of over 10% in compressive strength of the binary-based alkali-activated materials after undergoing carbonation. The binary systems can provide superior resistance to many degradation mechanisms, especially exposure to high-temperature. The partial presence of class F fly ash in the slag-based precursor can overcome the poor ability of alkali-activated materials to withstand high temperatures. Due to the desired pore structure, alkali-activated materials may not be damaged even after 300 freeze–thaw cycles. Their superior permeability compared to cementitious counterparts can extend service life against chloride corrosion by more than 20 times. While traditional (ordinary Portland cement-based) concrete remains the most widely used material in construction, geopolymer concrete's superior performance makes it an increasingly emerging option for sustainable and long-lasting infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of prolonged intermittent cycling exercise on peak power output (PPO) and 6-min time-trial (6 min-TT) performance in elite and professional road cyclists. Moreover, the study aimed to determine whether changes in performance in the fatigued state could be predicted from substrate utilization during exercise and laboratory measures obtained in a fresh state. Methods: Twelve cyclists (age: 23 years [21;25]; body mass: 71.5 kg [66.7;76.8]; height: 181 cm [178;185]; V ˙ O2peak: 73.6 ml kg−1 min−1 [71.2;76.0]) completed a graded submaximal cycling test to determine lactate threshold (LT1), gross efficiency (GE), and maximal fat oxidation (MFO) as well as power output during a maximal 6 min-TT (MPO6 min) in a fresh condition. On a separate day, the cyclists completed a 4-h intermittent cycling protocol with a high CHO intake (100 g h−1). Substrate utilization and PPO was measured hourly during the protocol, which was followed by another 6 min-TT. Results: MPO6 min and PPO was reduced by 10% [4;15] and 6% [0;6], respectively, after the cycling protocol. These reductions were accompanied by reductions in the anaerobic energy contribution and V ˙ O2peak, whereas the average V ˙ O2 during the 6 min-TT was unchanged. Correlation analyses showed no strong associations between reductions in MPO6 min and PPO and laboratory measures (i.e., LT1, GE, MFO, V ˙ O2peak) obtained in the fresh condition. Additionally, fat oxidation rates during the cycling protocol were not related to changes in neither PPO nor MPO6 min. Conclusion: PPO and MPO6 min were reduced following prolonged intermittent cycling, but the magnitude of these reductions could not be predicted from laboratory measures obtained in the fresh condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Presently, the proper disposal of E-waste is a major challenge for all nations. Portland cement and aggregates continue to play a major role in the construction industry's operations. Meanwhile, natural resources like gravel (aggregates) are becoming scarce. Thus, E-waste is now offering the building industry a chance to replace traditional aggregates. The main goal of the current study is to determine the highest amount of E-waste that may be replaced with 10-mm coarse aggregates with a nano-silica associated ternary blend in M-60 grade high-strength concrete while still maintaining the designed concrete's mechanical, durability, microstructural and workability characteristics. Results: When compared to normal concrete, concrete with 15% E-waste replacement maintained the design-required compressive, flexural and tensile strength properties. When the E-waste plastic component percentage is considerably high (15–30%), there is a significant decremental performance regarding the mechanical properties and the decremental rate is found to be in the range of 13–23%. Even the microstructure characteristics of concrete validate the mechanical performance of concrete. Nevertheless, the durability characteristics of E-waste incorporated concrete were found to be promising. Conclusions: The overall outcome of the study recommends 15% as the optimal replacement percentage of E-waste for conventional concrete, and it is recommended to adopt for real-time practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of low-quality coarse aggregates and exposure to aggressive conditions are the two major problems with the durability of concrete. Therefore, an alternative concrete with enhanced properties to prevent fluid and ionic mobility compared to conventional concrete is needed. This study investigated the effects of main mix parameters on the transport characteristics and corrosion behavior of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). A set of 27 UHPFRC mixtures with different combinations of w/b ratio, cement, and silica fume contents, based on a 33-factorial experiment design, were prepared and tested for water permeability, chloride penetrability, electrical resistivity, chloride profile, and corrosion current density. The results showed that UHPFRC mixtures exhibited excellent durability properties characterized by negligible water penetration (< 15 mm), negligible and very low chloride permeability when the w/b ratio was 0.15 (< 100 Coulombs) and up to 0.2 (< 300 Coulombs), respectively, and very low chloride concentrations at the rebar level (0.03–0.18 wt.%). All resistivity values were within the range of 26.7–78.8 kΩ cm (> 20 kΩ cm) and pH values were 12.41–13.01, indicating the implausible likelihood of corrosion in the UHPFRC mixtures. This was confirmed through the corrosion current density measurements of reinforced UHPFRC specimens after 450 days of chloride exposure, which were below the critical limit for the corrosion initiation of reinforcing steel. Finally, the experimental data were statistically analyzed and fitted for all the listed tests, and models were developed for them using the regression analysis such that regression coefficients were within 0.90–0.99. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineered Cementitious Composites are a type of advanced building materials, which have excellent ductility and can significantly enhance structural resistance. However, the expensive material cost of ECC limits its engineering applications. This study investigated the potential of replacing commonly used silica (river) sand and imported PVA fibers with the local desert sand and PVA fibers, aiming at reducing the preparation cost of ECC and improving its economic benefits and sustainability. The mixture proportion was first optimized to obtain favorable strength and ductile enhancement, using a combination of single-factor test and theoretical calculation which mentioned the slurry coating thickness of fibers and desert sand. The potential of desert sand in preparing ECC was experimentally evaluated by comparing the uniaxial tension (compression) properties and microstructures of desert sand-based ECC (DS-ECC) and those of ordinary ECC. The results indicate that optimized DS-ECC can achieve satisfactory performance even when 100% fine aggregates are replaced by desert sand. It has comparable uniaxial tensile (compression) strengths to ordinary ECC but a significantly improved tensile ductility, with the ultimate tensile strain of about 5–8% and 3% at 7d and 28d curing ages, respectively. Meanwhile, the utilization of desert sand and local PVA fibers alone in ECC can substantially deliver a reduction of about 20–30% in material cost and an improvement in environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies the mechanical properties and durability of the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) binary system incorporated with metakaolin. Several tests are carried out to investigate the compressive and flexural strength, fresh performance including setting time and fluidity, resistance to sulfate attack, mass loss rate after 100 freeze-thaw cycles, and strength loss rate of the cement system with different ratios. The test results show that when the OPC and SAC are mixed with 7.5:2.5 and then the mixture is added with 10% metakaolin, the repairing and strengthening material with higher bonding strength can be prepared. After adding metakaolin, the interface accumulation form of the hydration product phase of SAC can be improved to combine with the existing hardened mortar to meet the requirements of repair and reinforcement. The system which has a short setting time, can be quickly repaired and strengthened and overcomes the defect of late strength shrinkage of SAC. At the same time, the sulfate attack resistance and frost resistance of composite mortar systems mixed with SAC and OPC can be enhanced by the added metakaolin. By referring to the ratio design method, the gradient design of the strength and setting time of the structural repairing reinforcing material can be performed to improve the strength and durability of the system of OPC and SAC, and realize the ecological design of cement materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large amount of natural aggregate and cement in concrete production caused the exhaustion of natural resources and environmental impacts. Replacing the natural aggregate and cement using alternative materials in concrete production is necessary. The study aims to present the mechanical properties and durability of high-performance concrete produced with high-volume ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and river sand/sea sand blended (S-HPC). The concrete mixtures were designed with a constant ratio of river sand and sea sand blending at 60:40 and various GGBFS content as partial cement replacement of 30%, 50%, and 70%. The mechanical strength and durability properties were observed up to 365 days of curing age. According to the findings, the S-HPC presented a good compressive strength achievement in a range of 73.2–83.9 MPa and UPV value of 4662–4860 m/s at 365 days of curing age. The washed sea sand concrete mixture presented a higher compressive strength and better durability performance than non-washed sea sand. Incorporating with GGBFS into S-HPC by up to 50% significantly improved concrete samples' mechanical performance, durability, and microstructure. Using GGBFS reduced the current records and delayed the initiation corrosion time of concrete samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium contamination of soils is a worldwide issue because of the risks related to such a heavy metal as it presents elevated carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic characteristics. This highlights the importance of developing feasible remediation strategies for chromium-contaminated sites. The present research employs the adjusted porosity/cement index (η /(Civ)0.28 = 18, 20, and 23) to define the dosages for stabilizing a hexavalent chromium-contaminated silty soil, considering stabilization and solidification S/S approach. Mechanical (unconfined compressive strength, small strain stiffness, and durability) and environmental (solubility and leachability tests) were conducted on different compacted silty sand-Portland cement mixtures contaminated with hexavalent chromium considering a seven-day curing period. The main findings indicate the usefulness of the porosity/cement index approach in defining the dosage for S/S applications, particularly when considering the mechanical aspects. Also, the tested dosages were helpful in substantially reducing the solubility and leachability of chromium. Still, they were not capable of reducing to the toxicity and potability levels preconized by some agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their electrochromic performance, hierarchically structured transition-metal oxides have promising energy-saving device applications. In this study, nanosheet-structured nickel-cobalt (Ni-Co) oxide thin films were prepared via facile processes under simple solution conditions and were used as energy-saving electrochromic materials. As the growth time increased from 1.5 h to 8 h, the film thickness increased from ~ 0.7 μm to ~ 1.3 μm, and the porous nanosheet-like structures were more uniformly distributed throughout the thin film. At the 1000th cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycle (scan rate = 50 m/V), the in situ transmittance variation ( Δ T ) and optical density ( Δ OD ) of an Ni-Co oxide thin film grown for 8 h were ~ 49% and ~ 0.71 at a wavelength of 700 nm, respectively, which were better than those of samples grown for 1.5 h ( Δ T of ~ 26%, Δ OD of ~ 0.19) and 3 h ( Δ T of ~ 46%, Δ OD of ~ 0.61). However, the Ni-Co oxide thin-film samples grown for 1.5 h and 3 h had good electrochromic durability over 1000 cycles, with reversibility of 0.99. These Ni-Co oxide thin films exhibited tunable color modulation in the bleached and colored states, along with fast switching time (< 4 s) and excellent coloration memory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the durability performance of mortars with varying replacement levels of dolostone or limestone filler (0–30% by mass) and the stability of mortars with dolostone filler for 2 years. Compressive strength, total porosity, capillary water absorption, and chloride migration coefficients were determined. Results show that compressive strength decreases and the total porosity increases with increasing filler content due to a dilution effect, regardless of the filler composition. The capillary water absorption and the chloride migration coefficients rise significantly for mortars with 20–30% filler. However, the dolostone filler cements have lower chloride coefficients than those with limestone blended cement. Volumetric stability assessments reveal no significant expansion, and XRD and FT-IR analyses suggest the formation of hydrotalcite-like phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cementitious materials, which are extensively utilized in contemporary construction projects, exhibit a vulnerability to deterioration attributed to their inherently porous architecture. The application of surface treatment methodologies presents a practical, efficient, and user-friendly strategy to significantly augment the durability of these materials. Among the diverse surface protection agents utilized, silane and siloxane materials are extensively utilized for hydrophobically modifying and sealing cementitious pore structures. This review provides an overview of the current progress on the application of silane and siloxane materials. It encompasses the hydrophobicity mechanism, various material types, and highlights the advantages and disadvantages associated with each type. Moreover, the effects of silane and siloxane surface treatment on cementitious material properties are examined, including hydrophobicity, resistance to chlorine, freeze–thaw cycles, and salt freezing. While observing substantial effects, the role they play in carbonation resistance remains a topic of debate. Lastly, this review outlines future research directions, aiming to enhance carbonation resistance mechanisms and address the long-term effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers are amorphous aluminosilicate inorganic polymers synthesized by alkaline activation characterized by a lower carbon footprint, greater durability, and excellent mechanical properties compared to traditional concrete, making them promising building materials for sustainable construction. To develop sustainable lightweight geopolymer-based building materials useful as fire resistant thermal insulation materials, we added 5 and 10 wt% of discarded cork dust, a readily available industrial by-product, to metakaolin before and after the alkaline activation with sodium hydroxide 8 M and sodium silicate solutions. We followed the chemical, microstructural, antibacterial, and physical properties of the resulting composites for up to 90 days in order to monitor their long-term durability. The presence of cork does not interfere with the geopolymerization process and in fact reduces the density of the composites to values around 2.5 g/cm3, especially when added after alkaline activation. The composites resulted in chemically stable matrices (less than 10 ppm of cations release) and filler (no hazardous compounds released) with a bacterial viability of around 80%. This study provides valuable insights into the tailoring of discarded cork-based composites obtained by geopolymerization with a porosity between 32 and 48% and a mechanical resistance to compression from 15 to 5 MPa, respectively, suggesting their potential as durable interior panels with low environmental impact and desirable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effect of coarse recycled aggregates (CRAs) and processed coarse recycled aggregates (PCRAs) on the behaviour of alkali-activated concrete (AAC) before and after exposure to marine seawater and acidic environments (5% HCl and 5% H2SO4 solutions). Measurements of compressive strength and the microstructure changes were conducted over periods of 56 and 90 days to assess these effects. The experimental design included varying the replacement levels of NAs with CRAs and PCRAs from (0–100%) and using ground-granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash as constant components. In addition to durability tests, sorptivity assessments were conducted to gauge the material's porosity and water absorption capabilities. Advanced microstructure techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were employed to detail the pre and post-exposure mineralogical and microstructural transformations within the AAC blends. The AAC mixtures incorporating PCRAs emerged as durable, showcasing better strength and a denser, more compact matrix facilitated by the synergistic formation of NASH and CASH gels after exposure to aggressive agents compared to untreated CRAs. In addition, the results show that the samples exposed to marine seawater exhibited improved mechanical performance compared to those exposed to acidic environments. The novelty of this study lies in its exploration of the effects of recycling plant-based CRAs and PCRAs on AAC for marine and acid exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, toughened glass has become widely used in architectural applications due to its high structural strength, shatter resistance, soundproofing, heat resistance, and durability. However, despite its strong capabilities, toughened glass can explode completely when subjected to heavy impact, causing security-related constraints in areas prone to smash-and-grab attempts. This issue can only be prevented by enhancing the quality of toughened glass, particularly its tensile strength, compressive strength, and durability. To achieve this goal, a novel technique called the "fuzzy hybrid arithmetic war strategy" (FHAWS) approach is proposed in this paper. The approach utilizes the "hybrid arithmetic war strategy" (HAWS) algorithm to determine the optimal solution with a faster convergence rate. The HAWS algorithm integrates the standard Arithmetic Optimization (AO) algorithm and War Strategy Optimization (WSO) algorithm. The fuzzy rule concept is introduced for regulating the improper searching algorithm. The proposed FHAWS approach optimizes toughened glass characteristics such as splitting strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, compressive strength, stress, temperature, fragmentation, heating time, cooling time, visual light, durability, and production cost. The experimental analysis illustrates that the proposed FHAWS approach is more efficient and robust in enhancing the quality of toughened glass than other compared state-of-the-art approaches. Overall, the paper proposes a novel approach to optimize the characteristics of toughened glass, addressing a critical issue in the architectural industry. However, the specific details of the approach and experimental results should be examined in the paper to assess the method's effectiveness comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stabilizer-bracket, one of the parts constituting the suspension, is mainly manufactured through welding due to its complicated shape. Shape fabrication through welding has residual stress due to mechanical defects or thermal stress, which are important factors in the design of automotive parts that prioritize safety in the early stages of manufacturing. As a result, it receives various types of repetitive loads. Since these factors are one of the factors that have a great influence on the fatigue life of parts, various life evaluation methods that take them into account have been proposed. Therefore, in this study, the reliability of parts was verified by predicting the fatigue life through fatigue test and CAE (computer aided engineering) analysis in consideration of the residual stress and various cyclic loads of the stabilizer-bracket using the finite element method. According to the results of fatigue life analysis, the value using S-W-T and Morrow's formula had a longer life than the result of the method without considering the average stress. From this, considering the design criteria to guarantee vehicle durability of 200000 km, it was calculated that the fatigue life was 11.4 times more than the design criteria, excluding the case in which the average stress was not considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the chronic nature of psoriasis (PsO), more studies are needed that directly compare the effectiveness of different biologics over long observation periods. This study compares the effectiveness and durability through 12 months of anti-interleukin (IL)-17A biologics relative to other approved biologics in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in a real-world setting. Methods: The Psoriasis Study of Health Outcomes (PSoHO) is an ongoing 3-year, prospective, non-interventional cohort study of 1981 adults with chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis initiating or switching to a new biologic. The study compares the effectiveness of anti-IL-17A biologics with other approved biologics and provides pairwise comparisons of seven individual biologics versus ixekizumab. The primary outcome was defined as the proportion of patients who had at least a 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI90) and/or a score of 0 or 1 in static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA). Secondary objective comparisons included the proportion of patients who achieved PASI90, PASI100, a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score of 0 or 1, and three different measures of durability of treatment response. Unadjusted response rates are presented alongside the primary analysis, which uses frequentist model averaging (FMA) to evaluate the adjusted comparative effectiveness. Results: Compared to the other biologics cohort, the anti-IL-17A cohort had a higher response rate (68.0% vs. 65.1%) and significantly higher odds of achieving the primary outcome at month 12. The two cohorts had similar response rates for PASI100 (40.5% and 37.1%) and PASI90 (53.9% and 51.7%) at month 12, with no significant differences between the cohorts in the adjusted analyses. At month 12, the response rates across the individual biologics were 53.5–72.6% for the primary outcome, 27.6–48.3% for PASI100, and 41.7–61.4% for PASI90. Conclusions: These results show the comparative effectiveness of biologics at 6 and 12 months in the real-world setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of commercial solar panels is directly correlated with the amount of light absorbed. The purpose of this study was to create a spray-coated self-cleaning coating utilizing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for glass surfaces. The coated substrates were thoroughly analyzed using several techniques, such as contact angle, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmittance measurements. The AFM analysis substantiated the presence of flake-like particles, contributing to a surface roughness of 0.052 µm (root-mean-square roughness, Rq = 0.069 µm). The findings demonstrated that the concentration of PDMS solutions had a direct impact on the hydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties of the coated surfaces. As the concentration of PDMS varied from 0 to 1.5%, there was a corresponding increase in the contact angle from 74.8° to 135.58°. Throughout this concentration range, the transmittance exhibited consistent behavior. The coating underwent rigorous UV exposure and peel tests, affirming its excellent stability and durability on glass substrates. The peel test indicated a slight decrease in the contact angle from 133 to 131°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials can improve the performance of cement-based materials. This article discusses the influence of graphene with different substitution rates on the performance of concrete. The addition of graphene will have an adverse effect on slump. The zeta-potential test shows that the addition of graphene leads to the adsorption of cations, which leads to the precipitation of particles. Therefore, the water absorption and cation of graphene are the main reasons for the decrease in fluidity. The strength of concrete increases first and then decreases with the increase of substitution rate, but the flexural strength increases all the time. The nanoindentation shows that graphene changes the properties of hydration products. The results of ultrasonic pulse velocity and mercury intrusion porosimetry show that the incorporation of graphene can improve the pore structure of cement-based materials. The chloride ion test shows that graphene can absorb chloride ions, and the addition of graphene can improve the performance of cement-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restraining the expansion of expansive concrete with embedded rebars can exert chemical prestressing, which may affect the durability of concrete structures. This study aims to investigate the durability performance of expansive concrete by understanding the mechanism of air permeability changes while considering the variations in reinforcement arrangements and concrete dimensions. The Torrent's air permeability test was used to non-destructively evaluate the disparity in air permeability changes of expansive and normal concrete during the drying processes from 28 to 182 days. Additionally, expansive strain changes were continuously monitored to investigate chemical prestress. The experimental test results suggest the immense effect of the change in expansive strain on the air permeability of concrete. This study proposes that the change in microstructure owing to the loss of expansive strain may cause an increase in air permeability. The loss of expansive strain is a distinguished feature that differentiates the mechanism of air permeability changes in expansive and normal concrete. These findings suggest the possible improvement in the durability performance of expansive concrete in cases where the loss of its expansive strain can be controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random Cu meshes are a promising candidate to replace indium tin oxide as flexible transparent conductors (FTCs). However, the poor stability hinders the application of Cu meshes FTCs. Developing feasible random Cu meshes with good mechanical durability, strong adhesion and high stability is still a great challenge. In this paper, high-performance FTCs composed of Cu meshes/Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate with synchronously improved flexibility, adhesion and stability, is prepared without deterioration of optical-electric performance. The sheet resistance of Cu meshes is 1.53 Ω/□ and the transmittance is 83.22%. After coating PEDOT: PSS, the sheet resistance is 1.47 Ω/□, and the transmittance is decreased to 81.11%, which shows that the covering of PEDOT: PSS enables the preservation of high transparency and conductivity of Cu meshes. Moreover, the sheet resistance does not show great change after taping and bending tests, indicating the strong adhesion and good mechanical flexibility of PEDOT: PSS/Cu mesh FTCs. In addition, the PEDOT: PSS/Cu mesh FTCs shows a good stability to resist long-term storage, ultrasonication, high temperature and strong oxidizing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research on self-healing concrete has shown some drawbacks and conflicts between the different techniques such as difficulty in casting, healing agent release, preparation complexity, high safety requirements against bacteria protection, undesirable expansion, and uncertainty in healing product generation. Despite these limitations, the hybrid technique was suggested and showed promising results. This paper explores the hybridization of the two techniques; autonomous and autogenous by utilizing the B. subtilis bacteria, mineral admixtures like fly ash, and polyvinyl alcohol fibers (PVA) together. The experimental program involves assessing the self-healing efficiency when coupling the bacteria, fly ash, and PVA fiber by assigning six mixtures, including a control OPC. The six mixtures encountered the bacteria addition at certain concentrations and varying PVA fiber percentages; 1, 1.5, and 2% while partially replacing the cement replacement with 20% fly ash, while the last mixture combines both the bacteria, fly ash, and 1% PVA fiber. Mechanical properties such as compressive and flexural strength, in addition to, water absorption and sorptivity as transport properties were examined for concrete repair and restoration purposes. The results reveal that the B. subtilis bacteria significantly enhance the compressive and flexural strength recovery along with lowering sorptivity and absorption rate compared to those with PVA addition when exposed to wet and dry cycles of curing at 28 days of age. The coupling effect, on the other hand, provides a substantial gain in strength of 63% at a longer age (56 days), indicating the potential of this approach for long-term concrete repair. Despite the challenges of the B. subtilis survival bacteria, the coupling of both bacteria and PVA fiber demonstrates superior performance in maintaining the durability of repaired concrete in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito-repellent textiles are in high demand as a disease-prevention solution for mosquito bites as mosquito-borne diseases proliferate over the world. In, this study selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) conjugated by synthesized pyridotriazolprymidine derivative VI were utilized to treat 100% cotton, 65/35% cotton/PET, viscose and gauzy cotton fabrics, for mosquito repellency application. The synthesized triazole derivative and the nanoparticles were confirmed by different instrumental techniques. The presence of SeNPs@triazole derivative on the fabrics surface was examined using FT-IR, SEM and EDX. The modified fabrics were tested for repellency to Culex pipiens mosquitoes and the results indicated 100% repellency for 2 h and complete mortality after 1 day, the samples of fabrics are more durable by the ratio of 100% after the 9th washing but decreased for the 10th washing. The cytotoxicity of the treated fabrics showed enhanced compatibility with the human normal fibroblast cell line (BJ1) with no toxic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]