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In this work, the functionalization of SnO2 nanowires with grafted hydroxyl (OH) groups was introduced by changing the post-synthetic treatment and by growth in a vapor phase. Besides, the present paper describes two types of growth methods: (i) the vapor–solid one with post-synthesis treatment under NaOH solutions with different pH, and (ii) the direct growth using the vapor–liquid–solid one under water vapor. Structural characterizations demonstrated that OH groups were successfully anchored. Notably, band gap changes in the presence of OH groups are revealed. This kind of surface state engineering precisely opens new avenues of SnO2 nanowire applications in sensors and semiconductor uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluate three identifiers of continental mantle earthquakes (CMEs) motivated by surface‐wave normal‐mode theory: the amplitude ratio of Sn to Lg, and the frequency content of Sn and of Lg, after wave propagation through continental crustal thinning. These flexible and easily applicable methods allow for potential new discoveries of CMEs. They rely on guided waves whose propagation is dependent on the uniformity of their waveguides. For a range of Moho models, we perform 2.5D axisymmetric simulations that reach the conventional distance and frequency ranges of observational studies; we compare results from four different source depths straddling the Moho. Our synthetics, and six south‐Tibet earthquakes recorded by an array in Bangladesh, show our Sn/Lg identifier is robust in the presence of crustal thinning, but the identifying frequency contents of Sn and Lg are easily obscured. These results strengthen the utility of Sn/Lg methods for global studies of CMEs. Plain Language Summary: That continental mantle earthquakes (CMEs) occur is at last widely accepted, but the tectonic settings in which they occur remain conjectural. Systematic mapping of CMEs has been impossible because of the difficulty of distinguishing the depth of small earthquakes relative to the Moho, hence whether these earthquakes occur in crust or mantle. Our new method separates CMEs from conventional crustal earthquakes using amplitude and frequency ratios of early and late arriving waves known as Sn and Lg. The basic wave physics requires uniform waveguides for Sn (the curvature of the crust‐mantle boundary, i.e., the Moho) and for Lg (the crust), so changing waveguide shapes could influence these discriminants. Here we focus on the effect of crustal thinning. Our advanced computer simulations, and real data from earthquakes in South Tibet that cross the major crustal‐thinning Himalayan Moho ramp, demonstrate that the amplitude‐ratio metric is robust but frequency‐ratio metrics are less resilient. Our synthetic results deviate from a flat‐Moho model only due to crustal‐thinning, so we can isolate this effect, enabling our results to be quickly adaptable to other regions/applications utilizing Sn and Lg waves. Our guided‐wave‐based discriminants may permit a shift from reporting individual CMEs to mapping their world‐wide distribution. Key Points: Amplitude ratio of Sn and Lg is a robust discriminant for continental mantle earthquakes (CMEs) even across extreme crustal thinningFrequency content of Sn and Lg for CME discrimination is less robust than Sn/Lg amplitudes, with or without crustal thinningBy comparing nearby earthquakes recorded on the same stations, Sn/Lg may illuminate the as‐yet‐unknown world‐wide distribution of CMEs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous studies have primarily focused on promoting the (002) crystal plane of electrodeposited zinc (Zn) to grow thin Zn plates parallel to the electrode surface and thus achieving the dendrite‐suppressed Zn anodes. In contrast, this work adopts a novel approach. In situ construct a tin (Sn) modification layer on Zn foil. Through in‐depth cross‐sectional morphological analyses, the as‐designed Sn interface is observed to induce (101)‐preferred electrodeposition of Zn, leading to well‐ordered alignment of Zn thin plates “standing‐up” against the electrode surface at a universal angle of 65°. Such crystallographic characteristic consequently guarantees a flat and compact morphology of the electrochemically deposited Zn layer, thus suppressing the notorious problems of dendritic Zn growth and hydrogen generation. Consequently, the dendrite‐free Sn–Zn anode exhibits long‐term cycling stability of 4000 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 0.5 mAh cm−2, a significant improvement in comparison to the 50 h stability observed for unmodified Zn anode. The findings in this study offer a deep understanding of interface mechanisms and are instructive for innovative interface design for metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine suitable tree species to monitor and reduce Sn concentrations in the environment of Düzce province in Türkiye. A further goal was to test the hypothesis that, possibly due to air transport, the uptake of Sn in tree rings would show a significant and consistent dependency on compass direction. The timber samples were from the trunks of Tilia tomentosa (linden), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), Cedrus atlantica (cedar), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir), and Fraxinus excelsior (European ash), which are commonly used in landscaping in Düzce province. Levels of Sn concentrations in annual rings were determined. Cedrus atlantica and F. excelsior were found to be suitable biomonitors that can be used to monitor changes in annual amounts of Sn contamination. Among the studied tree species, R. pseudoacacia had the highest average values and C. atlantica had the second-highest levels of Sn uptake. However, no consistent dependency on compass direction was found. It follows that rather than depending on the direction of prevailing winds, the uptake of metals to the xylem of trees must be due to direction-independent processes, such as transport via roots and xylem or absorption into leaves and subsequent transport via the phloem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Fe2AlB2 material with a high purity was synthesized through a thermal explosion reaction using Fe/Al/B mixed powders as raw materials. The synthesis of Fe2AlB2 by the thermal explosion reaction in a tubular furnace and spark plasma sintering furnace was studied, respectively. The results indicated that the thermal explosion reaction occurred in the tubular furnace. However, due to the anti-densification behavior of the Fe-Al system and the low heat release of the Fe-Al-B system reaction, the green body might explode into powders after the reaction, leading to an incomplete reaction of raw materials. Accordingly, a large number of binary compounds such as FeB, Fe2B, FeAl, Fe3Al and AlB2 were synthesized while the content of Fe2AlB2 in the product remained very low. It was found that Sn additives could effectively inhibit and avoid powder formation during synthesis, ensuring successful progress of the thermal explosion reaction and significantly promoting the formation of Fe2AlB2. Furthermore, spark plasma sintering could induce a thermal explosion reaction to achieve rapid densification and realize the synthesis with a high content of Fe2AlB2. Without heat preservation at 980 °C, sample with main phases consisting of FeB and Fe2AlB2 could be obtained. The content of Fe2AlB2 bulk material in the sample was high (94.5 wt%). Finally, a reaction mechanism for the synthesis of Fe2AlB2 by thermal explosion reaction was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhalation of nanosized metal oxides may occur at the workplace. Thus, information on potential hazardous effects is needed for risk assessment. We report an investigation of the genotoxic potential of different metal oxide nanomaterials. Acellular and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were determined for all the studied nanomaterials. Moreover, mice were exposed by intratracheal instillation to copper oxide (CuO) at 2, 6, and 12 μg/mouse, tin oxide (SnO2) at 54 and 162 μg/mouse, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) at 18 and 54 μg/mouse, zinc oxide (ZnO) at 0.7 and 2 μg/mouse, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and the benchmark carbon black at 162 μg/mouse. The doses were selected based on pilot studies. Post‐exposure time points were 1 or 28 days. Genotoxicity, assessed as DNA strand breaks by the comet assay, was measured in lung and liver tissue. The acellular and intracellular ROS measurements were fairly consistent. The CuO and the carbon black bench mark particle were potent ROS generators in both assays, followed by TiO2. Al2O3, ZnO, and SnO2 generated low levels of ROS. We detected no increased genotoxicity in this study using occupationally relevant dose levels of metal oxide nanomaterials after pulmonary exposure in mice, except for a slight increase in DNA damage in liver tissue at the highest dose of CuO. The present data add to the body of evidence for risk assessment of these metal oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine suitable tree species to monitor and reduce Sn concentrations in the environment of Düzce province in Türkiye. A further goal was to test the hypothesis that, possibly due to air transport, the uptake of Sn in tree rings would show a significant and consistent dependency on compass direction. The timber samples were from the trunks of Tilia tomentosa (linden), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), Cedrus atlantica (cedar), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir), and Fraxinus excelsior (European ash), which are commonly used in landscaping in Düzce province. Levels of Sn concentrations in annual rings were determined. Cedrus atlantica and F. excelsior were found to be suitable biomonitors that can be used to monitor changes in annual amounts of Sn contamination. Among the studied tree species, R. pseudoacacia had the highest average values and C. atlantica had the second-highest levels of Sn uptake. However, no consistent dependency on compass direction was found. It follows that rather than depending on the direction of prevailing winds, the uptake of metals to the xylem of trees must be due to direction-independent processes, such as transport via roots and xylem or absorption into leaves and subsequent transport via the phloem.

Low temperature heating process of the slab has become the mainstream process for producing high quality oriented silicon steel due to its environmental protection, low cost, and high yield. For this process, the number of inhibitors is less and the size is large, resulting in insufficient inhibition, coarsen grains during primary recrystallization, and insufficient driving force for secondary recrystallization, which reduces the magnetic properties of the product. These shortcomings can be improved by optimizing the inhibitors and normalizing processes. The effects of normalizing processes on the microstructure, texture, and precipitations of low-temperature oriented silicon steel containing Sn were studied by OM, SEM, TEM, and EBSD with Fe–3%Si hot-rolled plate as initial material. The experimental results show that the sample has the best performance in terms of microstructure, texture, and precipitations with the two-stage boiling water cooling normalizing process that the heating temperature is 1150 °C, and the normalizing intermediate temperature is 850 °C. With the above parameters, the microstructure is inhomogeneous along thickness. There are more {111} textures, which are favorable to the growth of Goss texture. The proportion of high energy grain boundary reached 54.2%. The precipitates are significantly refined, which enhances the ability to inhibit primary recrystallization. The sub-surface thickness of the hot rolled plate increases from 40.6% to 62.1% with increasing Sn content from 0.01% to 0.11%. The degree of tin segregation at grain boundary increases with the increase of normalizing temperature and the decrease of medium soaking temperature.

We synthesized size-controllable nanoparticles with homogeneous distribution of carbon and Sn/SnO2 by a solvothermal method. The effects of different carbon content and hydrothermal time on the composition, morphology and electrochemical properties of the materials were investigated. Compared with bulk materials, nanoparticles materials not only have high specific surface area, but also can provide abundant reaction sites, thus enhancing the electrochemical activity of electrode materials. More importantly, the optimized microspheres Sn/8C-24 delivers a superior electrochemical performance, achieving a specific discharge capacity of 700.4 mAh·g−1 after 150 cycles at 0.5 A·g−1, and the Coulomb efficiency reaches 98.65%, which is promising for anode of LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most spheroidal graphite irons (SGIs) have a matrix consisting of ferrite, pearlite, or a mix of the two. To achieve the desired matrix composition, pearlite promoters such as Mn, Cu, or Sn, are added to the molten metal. Among these elements, Sn is the most potent pearlite promoter. However, each has a different impact on the solidification, graphite precipitation, eutectoid transformation, and ultimately the final structure of the material. Research has shown that B promotes ferrite in fully pearlitic grades where Cu and Mn were used to promote pearlite. The present work investigates the effect of B in SGI with additions of Sn, Cu, and Mn, and the effects of varying amounts of the different pearlite promoters on the matrix composition. The results show that Mn alone at levels of approximately 0.9 wt% is not enough to promote a fully pearlitic matrix, while 0.5 wt% Cu combined with 0.67 wt% Mn is sufficient. Likewise, a fully pearlitic microstructure can be obtained by alloying with 0.06 wt% Sn and 0.67 wt% Mn. B was found to promote ferrite in fully pearlitic SGI alloyed with Sn or Cu. However, in the absence of those elements, B promoted pearlite when alloyed with just Mn. Graphite protrusions were observed on the graphite nodule surface only for B-added alloys with Sn and Cu. In these cases, it is believed B promotes ferrite by changing the growth mechanism of graphite after solidification from spherical to lamellar. However, a different graphite morphology is observed when B is added with just Mn. Thermal analysis data is in agreement with the microstructural observations regarding the ferrite promoting effect of B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal anode is one of the ideal anodes with high energy density. However, the problems of lithium dendrite growth and infinite volume expansion lead to safety and cycling stability problems in lithium metal anode batteries, which became the biggest obstacle to the commercial application of lithium metal anodes. This paper reports a three-dimensional nanostructured TiO2 flexible lithium metal anode scaffold loaded with Sn. Three-dimensional nanostructured TiO2 has a high specific surface area that can accommodate lithium deposition with high capacity while suppressing lithium dendrite growth. At a current density of 1 mA cm−2 and a deposition volume of 5 mAh cm−2, the 35th circulate coulomb efficiency of the lithium metal anode scaffold is still 98%. The nano-Sn metal with better pro-lithium properties loaded on the lithium metal anode scaffold composed of TiO2 skeleton, which can sufficiently reduce the nucleation potential barrier of Li+ and enable the uniform deposition of lithium on the support, assembled into a full coin cell using a LiFeO4 (LFP)-based positive electrode exhibit high-capacity retention and high energy density (443 Wh kg−1) after 200 cycles at 1C (= 170 mA g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though there is a strong tendency to develop DSSCs based on natural dyes, while these reach a sufficiently high level of development to be commercialized, cells based on inorganic synthetic dyes, such as Ruthenium, will continue to be analyzed and improved. These improvements include new dyes, such as Black Dye N749 (BD), one of the most used synthetic dyes. A comparative analysis of the current output profiles of cells based on cochineal and black dye is reported. It was observed that BD has to be catalyzed to produce a high output current: by itself, this dye showed low output currents, but when it is catalyzed, its performance significantly improves. Cochineal shows, when used alone, a high output current. Different additives were tested: Alum and Sn as a mordant and mineral carbon as a catalyst, which contains ions of Fe2+ and Fe3+; these significantly modify the shape (rising or decreasing) and intensity of the output current profiles. Unstable oscillations appear in the current profile when the cell is abruptly illuminated; a model was included to fit the experimental data.

Abstract We evaluate three identifiers of continental mantle earthquakes (CMEs) motivated by surface‐wave normal‐mode theory: the amplitude ratio of Sn to Lg, and the frequency content of Sn and of Lg, after wave propagation through continental crustal thinning. These flexible and easily applicable methods allow for potential new discoveries of CMEs. They rely on guided waves whose propagation is dependent on the uniformity of their waveguides. For a range of Moho models, we perform 2.5D axisymmetric simulations that reach the conventional distance and frequency ranges of observational studies; we compare results from four different source depths straddling the Moho. Our synthetics, and six south‐Tibet earthquakes recorded by an array in Bangladesh, show our Sn/Lg identifier is robust in the presence of crustal thinning, but the identifying frequency contents of Sn and Lg are easily obscured. These results strengthen the utility of Sn/Lg methods for global studies of CMEs.

Qinqin Huang,1– 3 Yun Wang,1– 3 Xiaobao Wang,1 Zhenhua Xiang,1 Haixia Wang,1,2 Aiju Wang,1 Weiguo Liu,1 Yuming Gu1– 3 1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, 261042, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261000, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, 261042, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yuming Gu, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Weicheng District, Weifang City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China, Email guym@wfmc.edu.cnPurpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Snap Needles (SN) in the management of Postoperative Hemorrhoidal Pain (POHP).Patients and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in various databases, including EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, WanFang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), spanning from their inception to August 2023, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on SN for POHP. The primary outcome measure was the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while secondary outcomes encompassed the Total Effective Rate (TER), Wound Healing Time (WHT), Pain Relief Time (PRT), Pain Disappearance Time (PDT), and Adverse Events (AEs). The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was employed to assess the quality of individual studies. A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4.1 software.Results: The meta-analysis included 11 RCTs involving 1188 POHP patients, with an overall assessment of study quality ranging from very low to moderate. The findings revealed that the SN group exhibited significant improvements in treatment outcomes when compared to the control group (CG). These improvements were reflected in reduced VAS scores (mean difference [MD] = − 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: − 1.31, − 0.89, P < 0.05), shorter WHT (MD = − 2.55, 95% CI: − 3.02, − 2.09, P < 0.05), quicker PRT (MD = − 7.99, 95% CI: − 8.48, − 7.49, P < 0.05), fewer AEs (risk ratio [RR] = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.67, P < 0.05), improved TER (RR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.27, P < 0.05), and faster PDT (MD = 19.24, 95% CI: 14.17, 24.31, P < 0.05).Conclusion: The use of SN appears to yield favorable outcomes in the treatment of POHP, and is potentially an alternative therapy to western drug therapy.Keywords: snap needles, SN, postoperative hemorrhoidal pain, POHP, auricular acupuncture, systematic review, meta-analysis

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Physics is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The composition of Nb, Sn, Ta, and W in rutile can serve as a highly sensitive indicator for the mineralization of these elements. This information could also be utilized to discriminate different stages of ore deposition or distinct types of deposits. Precise and accurate measurement of trace-level concentrations of these elements in rutile is imperative for such investigations, and can be effectively achieved using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). In this study, we employed a CAMECA SX5 field emission EPMA to develop an optimal approach for precise and accurate analysis of trace-level Nb, Sn, Ta, and W in rutile. The analytical conditions include an accelerating voltage of 25 kV, a beam current of 200 nA, a beam diameter of 1 μm, optimized background positions for Nb Lα, Sn Lα, Ta Lα, and W Lα, and aggregate intensity counting with a peak counting time of 240 s for each element per spectrometer. The detection limits (3σ) for Nb, Sn, Ta, and W ranged from 22 to 53 ppm. The highest achievable spatial resolution was approximately 4.3 μm. Analytical results obtained from potential rutile standards R10 and R632 were consistent with previous studies within the errors. The precision of these results varied from 1% to 10% (1σ), excluding W in R10 and Nb and Ta in R632, which exceeds the precision achieved in previous EPMA studies. We recommend using R10 as a reference standard for analyses of trace-level Nb, Sn, and Ta, and R632 as an appropriate reference standard for Sn and W when quantifying rutile using EPMA.

Biomass is a renewable alternative to fossil fuels and a valuable source of chemicals. In this study, a facile and efficient method was established to improve the selectivity of methyl lactate (MLA) for the homogeneous Lewis acid catalyzed chemical conversion of glucose and methanol. The effects of catalyst dosage, reaction temperature, and reaction time were systematically investigated, with an emphasis on the variation trends of MLA and other by-products. Through process optimization, the best catalyst molar ratio was 0.075 to 0.1, the reaction temperature was 170 to 180 °C, and the reaction time was 3 h. Under these conditions, the conversion of glucose in methanol exceeded 98%, and the yield of MLA was greater than 40%.

Highlights Sn-based MAX/MXene hybrids with abundant Sn vacancies, Sn@Ti2CT X /Ti2SnC–V, fabricated by controlled etching method, are demonstrated to be an excellent electrocatalyst for N2 electroreduction. An economic “NH3 farm” has been developed based on Sn@Ti2CT X /Ti2SnC–V electrode, demonstrated by a commercial electrochemical photovoltaic cell, which may open a novel avenue for solar energy-driven synthesis of ammonia directly from air and water. The potential of the “NH3 farm” was demonstrated by a systematic technical economic analysis.

Cobalt, nickel, copper, and tin nanosized particles were synthesized through a borohydride reduction method with a reducing agent of NaBH4. The reductive precipitation was carried out at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The nanoparticle powders were synthesized from water solutions of sulfate salts. The obtained nanosized particles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XRD analyses. The SEM micrographs showed the nanoparticles’ morphology and structure. The chemical elements’ distribution was determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis determined the phase composition and state (amorphous or crystalline). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-induced electroless bi-layered Co/Sn coating was fabricated on a mild steel substrate by plating the Co layer as a primer and the Sn as an outer layer. This Co/Sn bi-layer coating was prepared by using a dual bath (chloride-based electroless Co and Sn bath) with varying single-layer thickness. The growth rate of the primer and outer layers was evaluated in a temperature range of 60° to 90°C. The morphology, composition, and phase structure of the coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. The bi-layer coating showed a significant improvement in corrosion resistance in terms of a reduction in corrosion current and corrosion rate and an increase in polarization resistance compared to the single-layer coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal deposition with cryogenic cooling is a common technique in the condensed matter community for producing ultra-thin epitaxial superconducting layers on semiconductors. However, a significant challenge arises when these films return to room temperature, as they tend to undergo dewetting. This issue can be mitigated by capping the films with an amorphous layer. In this study, we investigate the influence of different in situ fabricated caps on the structural characteristics of Sn thin films deposited at 80 K on InSb substrates. Regardless of the type of capping, we consistently observe that the films remain smooth upon returning to room temperature and exhibit epitaxy on InSb in the cubic Sn (α -Sn) phase. Notably, we identify a correlation between alumina capping using an electron beam evaporator and an increased presence of tetragonal Sn (β -Sn) grains. This suggests that heating from the alumina source may induce a partial phase transition in the Sn layer. The existence of the β -Sn phase induces superconducting behavior of the films by percolation effect. This study highlights the potential for tailoring the structural properties of cryogenic Sn thin films through in situ capping. This development opens avenues for precise control in the production of superconducting Sn films, facilitating their integration into quantum computing platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous Sn (PSn) has aroused extensive attention as an advanced anode for sodium‐ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity and small volume expansion. However, as a low‐melt metal, the preparation of PSn at room temperature is a difficult problem. Herein, universal chemical prelithiation/presodiation strategies are reported to rapidly synthesize PSn from commercial Sn powders at ambient temperature. The recyclable pre‐metallation solvents are selected by redox potential analysis to react with Sn to form alloy precursors in a short time. Benefiting from the application of delithiation/desodiation agents with suitable proton concentrations, PSn perfectly inherits the Sn skeleton from precursors. With this method, porous Al, Pb, Bi, and Sb are successfully produced. Finally, the half‐cell with PSn anode prepared by presodiation strategy achieves a great rate property (663 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and prominent cycling performance with 71% capacity retention after 7500 cycles (502 mAh g−1) at 5 A g−1. This work may contribute to the controllable synthesis of other porous metals at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverters play a prominent role in the power train system of electric vehicles (EVs). Devices in EV connected power system are threatened by faults due to the continuous working and varying speed range of motors in EVs. Hence, in the EV connected application, the detection of fault is essential since it secures the system from severe damage and dangerous operating conditions. This paper deals with fault detection in inverter‐fed EV using a dual‐tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT) based squeeze net (SN) and optimized support vector machine (SVM). Due to the simple structure and high power density, most EV models on the market are equipped with induction motors. In the proposed work, the voltage, current, and speed signals are measured at different faulty conditions, and then the features are extracted through the DTCWT‐based SN. Extracted data are processed and classified through the sucker‐vulture optimization algorithm (SVOA) based SVM. In the proposed SVOA, the exploration phase of remora optimization algorithm is used for the exploitation phase of African vulture optimization algorithm (AVOA). Thus, the convergence speed of AVOA is improved. The proposed method is implemented in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and the results are used for different scenarios. The accuracy and F1‐score for the proposed methodology are attained as 99.92441% and 99.92441%. From the obtained results, it is clear that the proposed DTCWT‐based SN effectively detects the faults in the inverter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over a wide and partly overlapping energy range, the single-electron capture cross-sections for collisions of metastable Sn 2 + (5 s 5 p   P o 3) ( Sn 2 + ∗ ) ions with H 2 molecules were measured (0.1–10 keV) and calculated (0.3–1000 keV). The semi-classical calculations use a close-coupling method on a basis of electronic wavefunctions of the (SnH2)2+ system. The experimental cross-sections were extracted from double collisions in a crossed-beam experiment of Sn 3 + with H 2 . The measured capture cross-sections for Sn 2 + ∗ show good agreement with the calculations between 2 and 10 keV, but increase toward lower energies, whereas the calculations decrease. Additional Landau–Zener calculations were performed and show that the inclusion of spin-orbit splitting cannot explain the large cross-sections at the lowest energies which we now assume to be likely due to vibrational effects in the molecular hydrogen target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impacts of bismuth and tin on the production of CH4 and volatile fatty acids in a microbial electrosynthesis cell with a continuous CO2 supply. First, the impact of several transition metal ions (Ni2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Sn2+, Mn2+, MoO42−, and Bi3+) on hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenic microbial activity was evaluated in a series of batch bottle tests incubated with anaerobic sludge and a pre-defined concentration of dissolved transition metals. While Cu is considered a promising catalyst for the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to short chain fatty acids such as acetate, its presence as a Cu2+ ion was demonstrated to significantly inhibit the microbial production of CH4 and acetate. At the same time, CH4 production increased in the presence of Bi3+ (0.1 g L−1) and remained unchanged at the same concentration of Sn2+. Since Sn is of interest due to its catalytic properties in the electrochemical CO2 conversion, Bi and Sn were added to the cathode compartment of a laboratory-scale microbial electrosynthesis cell (MESC) to achieve an initial concentration of 0.1 g L−1. While an initial increase in CH4 (and acetate for Sn2+) production was observed after the first injection of the metal ions, after the second injection, CH4 production declined. Acetate accumulation was indicative of the reduced activity of acetoclastic methanogens, likely due to the high partial pressure of H2. The modification of a carbon-felt electrode by the electrodeposition of Sn metal on its surface prior to cathode inoculation with anaerobic sludge showed a doubling of CH4 production in the MESC and a lower concentration of acetate, while the electrodeposition of Bi resulted in a decreased CH4 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential growth of online information has necessitated effective solutions to combat information overload and optimize network resources. Recommender systems (RS) have emerged as critical tools in this context, opening new avenues for research. However, RS encounters formidable challenges in understanding user behavior and preferences, reducing redundancy in recommendations within social networks (SN), and ensuring scalability and accuracy. To address these issues, this study introduces a novel approach that harnesses the power of two neural networks: Bidirectional long short-term memory (BILSTM) for SN behavior analysis and graph neural network (GNN) for modelling consumer behaviour, both represent a powerful Neuroevolution network. The proposed RS, tailored for SNs, demonstrates significant performance enhancements when compared to traditional deep learning and deep reinforcement learning algorithms. The methodology involves a rigorous training process with a 70% training set and 10% validation set to mitigate overfitting, with final evaluation on a previously unseen 20% testing set. Optimization techniques, including momentum and adaptive learning rates, are applied to GNN-BiLSTM, ensuring computational efficiency. The results unequivocally showcase the effectiveness of this approach in generating more precise and contextually relevant recommendations. By leveraging BILSTM and GNN, the RS gains a deeper understanding of user preferences and item relationships, resulting in superior recommendation quality. Performance metrics such as root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) unequivocally demonstrate the superiority of the proposed model over traditional deep learning and deep reinforcement learning algorithms. In conclusion, the integration of BILSTM and GNN in RS offers a promising solution to the pressing challenges faced by existing systems. This hybrid approach significantly elevates the accuracy and efficiency of recommendations in SNs, paving the way for valuable insights and potential enhancements in future recommendation systems which depends on Neuroevolution approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution, a pressing global issue, encompasses various harmful elements, with heavy metals being particularly significant pollutants affecting all forms of life. Effective monitoring and regulation of heavy metal concentrations, especially in the atmosphere, is pivotal. Employing trees as biomonitors emerges as a potent tool, particularly in retrospectively assessing long-term heavy metal contamination trends. This study aims to furnish insights into both tin (Sn) pollutants and the most suitable species for monitoring and mitigating such pollution. Within this study's ambit, samples were collected from Pinus pinaster, Cupressus arizonica, Picea orientalis, Cedrus atlantica, and Pseudotsuga menziesii species in Duzce Province. This area, ranked as the fourth-most air-polluted in Europe according to the World Air Pollution Report, was examined to discern changes in Sn concentration across species, organs, orientations, and age groups over the last four decades. The findings revealed varying potentials for Sn accumulation among the species. Specifically, Pinus pinaster and Picea orientalis were identified as suitable species for monitoring Sn pollution, while Cupressus arizonica, Cedrus atlantica, and Pseudotsuga menziesii exhibited potential for reducing Sn pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the propagation velocity of the refracted waves on the upper surface of the lithospheric mantle is one of the best methods used to model the lithological composition and mantle structure. The velocity determination method was proposed by PRESS & EWING (1954) and we have added a method to correct the effects of the earth crust. Based on this study capitalizing data from the stations on the territory of Romania and on the territory of the neighbouring states, we were able to identify a significant variation of the propagation velocity of the seismic waves in the lithospheric mantle, which suggests an important variation of its lithology. Emplacement of the volcanic area in Persani on a zone of minimal seismic wave velocities in the mantle implies the possibility of having in this area magmatic basins that can be reactivated in the future. The maximum velocity portion of the seismic waves at the centre of the Vrancea seismogenic area suggests the existence in this place of mantle formations with totally different physical properties and lithology compared to the adjacent areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restriction enzyme-based digital methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (RE-dMSP) assay is useful for diagnosing sentinel lymph node (SN) metastasis in patients with breast cancer, by detecting tumor-derived methylated Ras association domain-containing protein 1 (RASSF1A). In addition, this assay has high concordance (95.0%) with one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA). The present study aimed to perform RE-dMSP using OSNA lysate from more patients and to re-evaluate its clinical usage. Overall, 418 SNs from 347 patients were evaluated using both OSNA and RE-dMSP. The concordance rate was 83.3% (348/418). RASSF1A methylation of the primary tumors was negative in 36 patients. When these patients were excluded, the concordance rate improved to 88.2% (330/374). Of the 79 OSNA-negative cases, 19 were RE-dMSP-positive, although all were positive for cytokeratin 19 expression in the primary tumor, suggesting that RE-dMSP can detect tumor-derived DNA with a higher sensitivity. The percent of methylated reference of the breast tumors showed a wide variety in the 16 OSNA-positive/RE-dMSP-negative cases, and such variability of methylation could have affected the results in these patients. In conclusion, although RE-dMSP can diagnose SN metastasis with high sensitivity and accuracy, and can be a supplementary tool to OSNA in breast cancer, RE-dMSP showed certain discordance with OSNA and critically depended on the absence or heterogeneity of DNA methylation in breast tumors. Further research is expected to develop an assay targeting other DNA alterations, such as mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A flocculation and in-situ solidification strategy for soluble polysulfides is proposed by using antistatic agent SN. • SN shows strong charge and bonding interactions with soluble polysulfides to inhibit the shuttle effect. • Multifunctionalities of catalytic effect and enhanced lithium-anode protection are demonstrated. • With 0.1 wt% SN addition, an ultra-low capacity decay rate of 0.014 % per cycle is obtained for cells cycled at 2C. Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are among the most promising next-generation high energy density energy-storage systems. However, practical application has been hindered by fundamental problems, especially shuttling by the higher-order polysulfides (PSs) and slow redox kinetics. Herein, a novel electrolyte-based strategy is proposed by adding an ultrasmall amount of the low-cost and commercially available cationic antistatic agent octadecyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium nitrate (SN) into a routine ether electrolyte. Due to the strong cation–anion interaction and bridge-bonding with SN, rapid flocculation of the soluble polysulfide intermediates into solid-state polysulfide-SN sediments is found, which significantly inhibited the adverse shuttling effect. Moreover, a catalytic effect was also demonstrated for conversion of the polysulfide-SN intermediates, which enhanced the redox kinetics of Li–S batteries. Encouragingly, for cells with only 0.1 % added SN, an initial specific capacity of 783.6 mAh/g and a retained specific capacity of 565.7 mAh/g were found at 2C after 200 cycles, which corresponded to an ultralow capacity decay rate of only 0.014 % per cycle. This work may provide a simple and promising regulation strategy for preparing highly stable Li–S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a metal functional material, the Mn–Cu‐based alloys are regarded to be able to cope with the vibration and noise from machines. In particular, the as‐cast alloys often exhibit an excellent damping capacity, which is attributed to the Mn segregation in the alloys. Herein, to amplify the kind of segregation, a trace of Sn is added in as‐cast Mn–Cu–Al alloys. The phase structures of the as‐cast Mn–44Cu–1.5Al alloys are analyzed in detail through X‐Ray diffraction (XRD). The distribution characteristics of face‐centered cubic (FCC) phases and face‐centered tetragonal (FCT) phases are observed using electron backscatter diffraction (BSE). The alloys' dynamic mechanical spectra and internal friction (IF) are measured using an inverted torsion pendulum device. It is found that the addition of Sn promotes the Mn segregation in the as‐cast Mn–44Cu–1.5Al alloys. A large amount of FCT phases appears in the dendritic trunks, enhancing the damping capacity of the alloys. In the meantime, the Sn atoms enhance the twin boundary mobility in Mn‐rich dendritic trunks. As a result, the alloy containing 1 wt% Sn has the highest damping capacity in the alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cast defects are common in cast alloys and they are difficult to eliminate without deformation. They strongly degrade the mechanical properties of cast alloys. The addition of some elements can affect the number of cast defects. In this work, the deleterious effect of Sn addition on the mechanical properties of Al-Si alloys has been investigated via 3D-computed tomography, SEM and TEM. Amorphous Sn oxides were found near the alumina film or formed enclosures with alumina film. The melt containing high Sn content was trapped by enclosures, causing more shrinkage pores during solidification. Cracks likely initiated and expanded along these pores and brittle amorphous Sn oxides, deteriorating the mechanical properties. This work suggests not adding Sn to various Al alloys when used in a cast state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objectives of this study were to prepare, mechanically characterize, and evaluate the dry sliding wear behaviour of AZ31/(0.5, 1.5, and 2.5) wt% TiO2 metal matrix composites and hybrid AZ31/1.5 wt% TiO2/(3, 6, 9, and 12) wt% Sn metal matrix composites. The microstructural characteristics of the synthesized composites reveal the uniform distribution of the reinforcement particles. When the amount of reinforcement was increased, the tensile characteristics improved up to 1.5 wt% of TiO2 in single-reinforcement composites and 6 wt% of Sn in hybrid composites and then started to decline. A similar pattern was also shown by the microhardness and compressive properties. From the study of the mechanical behaviour of AZ31 composites reinforced with TiO2, the composite with 1.5 wt% of TiO2 had better mechanical characteristics, and the reinforcement amount was chosen to fabricate hybrid composites additionally reinforced with Sn microparticles. For the AZ31 alloy, AZ31/1.5TiO2, and the hybrid composites, dry wear experiments were carried out using a pin-on-disc tribometer at the normal loads of 10 N, 20 N, 30 N, and 40 N, a sliding speed of 0.5 m/s, and for a total distance of 1000 m. In comparison to other composite samples, the hybrid composite with specimens containing 6 wt% of Sn showed a notable improvement in mechanical and wear characteristics. Through FESEM and EDS, the morphological examination of the worn surfaces identified various wear mechanisms, including abrasion, adhesion, and delamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this publication, we report about the selectivity and stability of bismuth (Bi)- and tin (Sn)-based electrocatalysts for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) for formate production. Bismuth and tin were successfully electrodeposited using the pulse plating technique on top of and inside of the gas diffusion layers (GDLs). The distribution of the catalyst throughout the thickness of the gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) was investigated by using scanning electron microscopy and computer tomography; it was found that the catalyst morphology determines the performance of the electrode. Inhomogeneous deposits, with their enlarged catalyst surface area, provide more active centres for the eCO2RR, resulting in increased Faraday efficiency (FE) for formate. The initial electrochemical characterisation tests of the bismuth- and tin-loaded GDEs were carried out under laboratory operating conditions at an industrially relevant current density of 200 mA·cm−2; complete Sn dissolution with a subsequent deformation of the GDL was observed. In contrast to these results, no leaching of the electrodeposited Bi catalyst was observed. An FE of 94.2% towards formate was achieved on these electrodes. Electrodes based on an electrodeposited Bi catalyst on an in-house prepared GDL are stable after 23 h time-on-stream at 200 mA·cm−2 and have very good selectivity for formate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin tailings are a common type of solid waste containing Sn, Pb, Zn, Fe, Si, and Ca. Currently, most tin tailings are being stored in piles or landfills. This study proposes the co-roasting of tin tailings and waste cathode carbon(WCC) to allow for proper waste disposal. The result shows that ZnCO3 was transformed into ZnS-FeS eutectic, which restricted the formation Fe-Sn alloy. Simultaneous separations and recoveries of Sn, Pb, and Zn from tin tailings was realized under strong reducing atmosphere. Under optimal experimental conditions, the Sn, Pb and Zn recovery ratios were 95%, 98% and 95%, respectively. Additionally, NaF in the WCC was mainly transformed to CaF2, and 98% F can be solidified. The F, Pb, Zn, As, and Cu leached contents of the roasted residue in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP) met the national allowable emission standards. Iron phase could be reduced to high value metallic Fe, and its contents reached 88.75 wt% after magnetic separation. The tailings of magnetic separation can be reused as building materials, and CaF2 can enhance material properties, minimizing environmental risks. In industrial production, WCC can act as a fuel and reducant, which can significantly reduce tin tailings processing costs.

Over a wide and partly overlapping energy range, the single-electron capture cross-sections for collisions of metastable Sn2+(5s5p Po3) (Sn2+∗) ions with H2 molecules were measured (0.1–10 keV) and calculated (0.3–1000 keV). The semi-classical calculations use a close-coupling method on a basis of electronic wavefunctions of the (SnH2)2+ system. The experimental cross-sections were extracted from double collisions in a crossed-beam experiment of Sn3+ with H2. The measured capture cross-sections for Sn2+∗ show good agreement with the calculations between 2 and 10 keV, but increase toward lower energies, whereas the calculations decrease. Additional Landau–Zener calculations were performed and show that the inclusion of spin-orbit splitting cannot explain the large cross-sections at the lowest energies which we now assume to be likely due to vibrational effects in the molecular hydrogen target.

This study investigates the impacts of bismuth and tin on the production of CH4 and volatile fatty acids in a microbial electrosynthesis cell with a continuous CO2 supply. First, the impact of several transition metal ions (Ni2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Sn2+, Mn2+, MoO42−, and Bi3+) on hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenic microbial activity was evaluated in a series of batch bottle tests incubated with anaerobic sludge and a pre-defined concentration of dissolved transition metals. While Cu is considered a promising catalyst for the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to short chain fatty acids such as acetate, its presence as a Cu2+ ion was demonstrated to significantly inhibit the microbial production of CH4 and acetate. At the same time, CH4 production increased in the presence of Bi3+ (0.1 g L−1) and remained unchanged at the same concentration of Sn2+. Since Sn is of interest due to its catalytic properties in the electrochemical CO2 conversion, Bi and Sn were added to the cathode compartment of a laboratory-scale microbial electrosynthesis cell (MESC) to achieve an initial concentration of 0.1 g L−1. While an initial increase in CH4 (and acetate for Sn2+) production was observed after the first injection of the metal ions, after the second injection, CH4 production declined. Acetate accumulation was indicative of the reduced activity of acetoclastic methanogens, likely due to the high partial pressure of H2. The modification of a carbon-felt electrode by the electrodeposition of Sn metal on its surface prior to cathode inoculation with anaerobic sludge showed a doubling of CH4 production in the MESC and a lower concentration of acetate, while the electrodeposition of Bi resulted in a decreased CH4 production.

Spray pyrolysis was used in this work to create un-doped ZnO and Sn-doped films with varying mass fractions (2, 4, 6, and 8wt.%) of doping on a glass substrate. The effect of Sn doping on the optical and structural characteristics of the produced thin films was investigated. All of the films were polycrystalline and possessed a structure of hexagonal wurtzite with a preference for orientation along the (002) plane, according to XRD investigations. The peak intensity (002) for 6 wt% is higher than all of the chosen doping ratios. Except for the 8% that was (21) nm, the grain size (D) increased from (22-26) nm as the percentage of Sn doping increased. In order to evaluate the optical characteristics, the absorption and transmittance spectra were recorded in different wavelength ranges of 380-900 nm. This shows that, compared to the un-doped film, the absorbance decreases as the amount of doped tin increases. When the doping ratio ranged from (0 - 8) wt%, the optical energy gap was (3.23-3.59) eV. The transmittance increases with the percentage of Sn doping, reaching its maximum value (72%) at (8%) doping.

The applications of alloy‐type anode materials for Na‐ion batteries are always obstructed by enormous volume variation upon cycles. Here, K+ ions are introduced as an electrolyte additive to improve the electrochemical performance via electrostatic shielding, using Sn microparticles (μ‐Sn) as a model. Theoretical calculations and experimental results indicate that K+ ions are not incorporated in the electrode, but accumulate on some sites. This accumulation slows down the local sodiation at the "hot spots", promotes the uniform sodiation and enhances the electrode stability. Therefore, the electrode maintains a high specific capacity of 565 mAh g−1 after 3000 cycles at 2 A g−1, much better than the case without K+. The electrode also remains an areal capacity of ≈3.5 mAh cm−2 after 100 cycles. This method does not involve time‐consuming preparation, sophisticated instruments and expensive reagents, exhibiting the promising potential for other anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal injection molding (MIM) is a metal forming technique that combines powder metallurgy with plastic injection molding. MIM is very efficient in manufacturing small and complex products in large quantities. The MIM process has four steps: mixing, debinding, injection molding, and sintering. This research was conducted to determine the effect of variations in Sn addition, temperature, and holding time on the density of Al-PP products after the sintering process. Density is mass per volume so to find out the volume of Al-PP products, the use of a 3D scanner was attempted along with the EinScan application and a mesh mixer. The Taguchi method was used for data processing to determine the influence of variations in Sn addition, temperature, and holding time on density. The calculation of the percentage contribution showed that variations in Sn addition, temperature, and holding time affected density by 47%, 21%, and 3%. Also, 2% Sn addition yielded a reasonably good microstructure formation compared to without Sn addition and 1% Sn addition, where many voids remained in the specimen (the more significant the voids, the lower the density). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]