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This study aimed to evaluate the bonding abilities and long-term durability of different repair agents when applied to lithium disilicate ceramics (LDS). Blocks of IPS e.max CAD were prepared and divided into four groups according to the surface treatment: Monobond EtchPrime (ME), K-etchant GEL+Clearfil Universal Bond (UB), Bondmer Lightless (BL), and K-etchant GEL+G-Multi Primer (GMP). All treated ceramic specimens were bonded to resin composite and light-cured. The micro-shear bond strength was measured after 24 h of water storage or 5,000 thermocycles. ME and BL showed significantly higher initial bond strengths than UB and GMP (p0.05). After 5,000 thermocycles, there was no significant difference in ME (p0.05), but BL and GMP showed considerable reduction in bond strength (p0.05); moreover, the samples of UB were all de-bonded before testing. ME and BL proved to be effective surface treatment materials for LDS.

In this article, we investigate the use of laser processing to create effective surface contacts on multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polyethylene composites. Due to the photothermal conversion effect induced by laser radiation, MWCNTs can enhance thermal destruction and removal of the polymer from the composite surface. The structure of pristine and lasermodified composites is characterized by Raman spectroscopy, optical and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that in pristine composites only a small part of MWCNTs is located directly on the surface of the film, which is associated with the high work of polymer adhesion to the nanotube surface and the surface tension forces of the polymer matrix melt. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman scattering demonstrate that in the surface contacts formed under the action of laser radiation, the polymer matrix is removed from the near-surface layer. The presence of MWCNTs with an unchanged structure and a small amount of amorphous carbon material was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The conductivity of pristine and modified composites was characterized by a series of current-voltage characteristic measurements with the through-plane 4-point probe. It was found that laser treatment of the composite surface leads to an increase in the measured volume conductivity by 1–2 orders of magnitude, depending on the content of MWCNTs. At the same time, the removal of the near-surface layer of the polymer by laser treatment makes it possible to reduce the contribution of the contact resistance to the resistance of the composite measured by 2-point probe from 55–77 to 0.18–5.3% for composites with an MWCNT content of 2.5–4 wt%.

Statistical methods are employed to assess the extent to which measurements of temperature using downward looking infrared thermometry (T0) are indicative of the effective boundary between the air and the subsurface environment. An effective interfacial surface temperature (Te) is determined from consideration of in-air (Ta) and subsurface (Ts) temperature data, being that which best satisfies the multi-media (air and soil) flux relationships. Using data obtained in studies conducted in Ohio in 2015, it is shown that during the daytime measured values of T0 exceeded Te by an amount reaching a near-noon maximum of about 2 °C when the crop (maize) was fully grown. Night-time observations indicated a near equality of T0 and Te, although often equality appears threatened by the presence of strongly stable layers in air near the surface. Ramifications of the observed differences are discussed, with particular attention to implications regarding determination of the thermal roughness length associated with the sensible heat flux.

The catalyst has a significant role in gas processing applications such as reforming technologies for H2 and syngas production. The stable catalyst is requisite for any industrial catalysis application to make it commercially viable. Several methods are employed to synthesize the catalysts. However, there is still a challenge to achieve a controlled morphology and pure catalyst which majorly influences the catalytic activity in reforming applications. The conventional methods are expansive, and the removal of the impurities are major challenges. Nevertheless, it is not straightforward to achieve the desired structure and stability. Therefore, significant interest has been developed on the advanced techniques to take control of the physicochemical properties of the catalyst through non-thermal plasma (NTP) techniques. In this review, the systematic evolution of the catalyst synthesis using NTP technique is elucidated. The emerging DBD plasma to synthesized and effective surface treatment is reviewed. DBD plasma synthesized catalyst performance in reforming application for H2 and syngas production is summarised. Furthermore, the status of DBD plasma for catalyst synthesis and proposed future avenues to design environmentally suitable and cost-effective synthesis techniques are discussed.

Understanding the physical properties of dust aggregates is of great importance in planetary science. In this study, we revisited the sticking property of submillimetre-sized aggregates. We revealed that the "effective surface energy" model used in previous studies underestimates the critical pulling force needed to separate two sticking aggregates. We also derived a new and simple model of the critical pulling force based on the canonical theory of two contacting spheres. Our findings indicate that we do not need to consider the "effective surface energy" of dust aggregates when discussing the physical properties of loose agglomerates of submillimetre-sized aggregates., 4 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Surface roughening of hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) is a necessary step determining their adhesion ability with the following electroless plated metallization coating. In this paper, a new KF roughening and alkali washing strategy was proposed to replace HF roughening as a surface pretreatment for the following electroless plating metallization. In order to remove the byproduct of K2SiF6 from the roughening reaction of KF with HGMs, NaOH washing and KOH washing were conducted, the former of which was found to dissolve K2SiF6 effectively. The effects of KF roughening temperature, alkali concentration and HGMs loading on the recovery ratio, phase composition, surface morphology and performance of HGMs were investigated, through which such a pretreating strategy was found to not only decrease the damage ratio of HGMs compared to that by HF roughening, but also render the metallized HGMs a competitive absorbing ability for the electromagnetic wave in X-band and Ku-band. Finally, the related surface treatment and electroless plating mechanism were discussed. This paper illustrates successfully a new pretreatment strategy for development of lightweight HGMs-supported functional materials.

Effective surface tension (γeff) is a fundamental property of liquid marbles, i.e., particle-covered drops in an air environment. Recently, studies of monolayer nanoparticle-covered (mNPc) liquid marbles produced with a sol-gel film have significantly updated previous understandings regarding γeff. Examining the derived explanations with the most common powder-derived liquid marbles should be meaningful. Here, the maximum height and pendant drop methods were employed for γeff measurements of liquid marbles produced with a polytetrafluoroethylene powder. Following the methodology proposed in mNPc liquid marble studies, the measurement processes were addressed in detail with the uncertainties in parameter identification as the main concerns, and the results were analyzed by highlighting the effective surface tension's equivalence nature and liquid marbles' surface solidity. By combining the present findings and conclusions related to both mNPc and powder liquid marbles, the key issues in measuring and understanding liquid marble γeff were summarized.

Burnishing is well known as a very economical and effective surface enhancement method. It not only improves surface finish but also surface hardness. This work proposes a novel approach for proces...

We studied homogeneity in the microwave surface resistance of Au-coated YBa2Cu3O7−δ (Au/YBCO) films. The Au/YBCO film with 4-inches in diameter was prepared in-situ with the thicknesses of 68 nm and 365 nm for the Au layer and the YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) layer, respectively. We measured the effective surface resistance (RS,eff) of the Au/YBCO film at temperatures of 25 K, 60 K, 70 K, and 77 K, respectively, at 29 different positions on the film. The RS,eff values were analyzed with the finite thicknesses of the Au and the YBCO layers taken into consideration. The local RS,eff values of the Au/YBCO film appeared to be almost uniform at 25 K. Meanwhile significant positional dependences were observed for the RS,eff of the Au/YBCO film at 60 K, 70 K and 77 K, respectively, which seemed to be due to non-uniform local penetration depth (λ) of the YBCO layer rather than due to variations in the local real-part conductivity of the YBCO layer. The observed results could not be attributed to the properties of the Au layer. At temperatures below the critical temperature of YBCO, the observed RS,eff values of the Au/YBCO film were significantly lower than those estimated using the surface resistance of Au and YBCO, which reflected proximity effects of the normal-metal Au layer in contact with the superconducting YBCO layer. Homogeneity in the RS,eff of the Au/YBCO film might be correlated with the distributions in the local λ of the YBCO layer, providing valuable information needed for designing microwave filters.

Results are presented from molecular dynamics modeling of the crystallization of a supercooled Lennard-Jones liquid. Calculations are made for three isobars at positive and negative pressures. The height of the crystallization activation barrier is determined via metadynamics, and the size dependence is calculated for the effective surface free energy at the liquid–critical crystal nucleus interface.

The lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) has attracted tremendous research interest because it meets both the requirement on high energy and power densities. The balance between effective surface areas and mass transport is highly desired to fabricate the optimized electrode material for LIC. Now, triple-shelled (3S) Nb2 O5 hollow multi-shelled structures (HoMSs) were synthesized for the first time through the sequential templating approach and then applied for the anode of LIC. The unique structure of HoMSs, such as large efficient surface area, hierarchical pores, and multiple shells, provides abundant reaction sites, decreases the electron transport resistance, and increases the diffusion rate for ion transport. In this case, the best combination performance has been achieved among all the reported Nb2 O5 -based materials, which delivered an excellent energy and power densities simultaneously, and superb cycling stability.

In both natural and applied contexts, investigating cell self-assembly and aggregation within controlled 3D environments leads to improved understanding of how structured cell assemblies emerge, what determines their shapes and sizes, and whether their structural features are stable. However, the inherent limits of using solid scaffolding or liquid spheroid culture for this purpose restrict experimental freedom in studies of cell self-assembly. Here we investigate multi-cellular self-assembly using a 3D culture medium made from packed microgels as a bridge between the extremes of solid scaffolds and liquid culture. We find that cells dispersed at different volume fractions in this microgel-based 3D culture media aggregate into clusters of different sizes and shapes, forming large system-spanning networks at the highest cell densities. We find that the transitions between different states of assembly can be controlled by the level of cell-cell cohesion and by the yield stress of the packed microgel environment. Measurements of aggregate fractal dimension show that those with increased cell-cell cohesion are less sphere-like and more irregularly shaped, indicating that cell stickiness inhibits rearrangements in aggregates, in analogy to the assembly of colloids with strong cohesive bonds. Thus, the effective surface tension often expected to emerge from increased cell cohesion is suppressed in this type of cell self-assembly.

Interface modification is an important means for improving the performance of almost all optoelectronic devices. In quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs), effective surface modification of pho...

Heavy metals (HMs) pose serious threat to both human and environmental health and therefore, effective and low-cost techniques to remove HMs are urgently required. Because HMs are difficult to be biodegraded and transformed, adsorption is a most promising treatment method in recent times. Biochar (BC), a low-cost and sustainable adsorbent material, has recently attracted much research attention due to its broad application prospects. While BC has many merits, it has a lower HMs adsorption efficiency than traditional activated carbon, limiting its practical applications. Furthermore, the HMs retained by BC are difficult to be desorbed, making the used sorbent material hazardous wastes if not well disposed of under natural conditions. Therefore, it is critical to seek effective surface modifications for BC, to improve its ability to HMs removal ability and the recyclability of BC loaded with HMs. This review represents and evaluates the reported modification methods for BC, the corresponding HMs removal mechanisms and the potential for reutilization of BC loaded with HMs. This review provides a basis for the effective practical application of BC in the treatment of HMs containing wastewater.

Au@Ag@Ag2S heterogeneous nanorods (NRs) with two strong plasmonic absorptive bands were developed for boosting the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells, and the remarkably enhanced plasmonic devices were achieved. By doping different concentrations of the Au@Ag@Ag2S NRs within the TiO2 photoanode layers, various enhanced effects of the plasmonic devices were obtained. With the incorporation of the typical Au@Ag@Ag2S NRs (their aspect ratios: 2.7) into the TiO2 photoanodes, the top efficiency of 6.51% of the fabricated plasmonic photovoltaic devices at their doped concentrations of the 2.31% was observed, exhibiting dramatic 40% enhancement than that of the conventional dye-sensitized solar cells (bare device: 4.65%). Benefiting from effective surface plasmon effects of the Au@Ag@Ag2S NRs, the light-harvesting abilities of photoanodes and dyes in devices are dramatically enhanced, which in return boost the whole performance of photovoltaic devices significantly.

An innovative concept of floating nanoarrays (FNAs) as promising new-generation surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors was proposed for the first time and has been successfully realized via a facile triblock-copolymer-assisted chemical route. At least two categories of the complicated highly uniform Pt–Pd FNAs with a fairly small assembled diameter of less than 100 nm respectively consisted of quasi-orderly assembled spherical and petal-like nanocrystals with unique radially distributed compositions were evidently classified and reproducibly fabricated. The synthesized Pt–Pd FNAs were found to exhibit unusually strong surface plasmon resonance bands in the visible region and have been successfully demonstrated as practical SERS sensors with remarkably low analytical limits of detection.

Background Daylight-activated PDT has seen increased support in recent years as a treatment method for actinic keratosis and other non-melanoma skin cancers. The inherent variability observed in broad-spectrum light used in this methodology makes it difficult to plan and monitor light dose, or compare to lamp light doses. Methods The present study expands on the commonly used PpIX-weighted effective surface irradiance metric by introducing a Monte Carlo method for estimating effective fluence rates into depths of the skin. The fluence rates are compared between multiple broadband and narrowband sources that have been reported in previous studies, and an effective total fluence for various treatment times is reported. A dynamic estimate of PpIX concentration produced during pro-drug incubation and treatment is used with the fluence estimates to calculate a photodynamic dose. Results Even when there is up to a 5x reduction between the effective surface irradiance of the broadband light sources, the effective fluence below 250 μm depth is predicted to be relatively equivalent. An effective threshold fluence value (0. 70 J e f f / c m 2 ) is introduced based on a meta-analysis of previously published ALA-PpIX induced cell death. This was combined with a threshold PpIX concentration (50 nM) to define a threshold photodynamic dose of 0.035 u M J e f f / c m 2 . Conclusions The threshold was used to generate lookup tables to prescribe minimal treatment times to achieve depth-dependent cytotoxic effect based on incubation times and irradiance values for each light source.

Herein, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (CD-MNPs, CM-CD-MNPs and MA-CD-MNPs) surface-modified with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and its derivatives, carboxymethyl-β-CD (CM-β-CD) and maleated-β-CD (MA-β-CD), respectively, were successfully synthesized via a layer-by-layer method, and the resulting nanocarriers possessed good magnetic character and biocompatibility. Using carmofur as a model drug, the results of loading and release experiments indicate that these magnetic nanocarriers can serve as targeted drug delivery systems in the future, and the loading capacity and release behaviour are highly dependent on the surface properties of the nanocarriers. Based on the molecular docking technique, for the first time, the correlation between the lowest binding energy (ΔGbinding) of the inclusion complex and the loading and release performances of the corresponding magnetic nanocarriers was investigated to establish a method to fast select an effective β-CD-based surface coating for the construction of high-performance magnetic nanocarriers. The results revealed a ΔGbinding-dependent manner demonstrating that the magnetic nanocarriers surface modified with the cyclodextrin unit with a larger absolute value of ΔGbinding would possess better loading and release performances. This encouraging result suggested that the ΔGbinding obtained from molecular docking could provide a significant reference for the fast selection of an effective surface coating during the construction of high-performance β-CD-based magnetic nanocarriers. Although it is clear that the present study should be considered only as a preliminary study, the good results obtained herein demonstrate the feasibility of this new type of approach.

Despite the existence of several highly effective and well-characterized passivating materials for crystalline silicon surfaces, the topic of surface passivation and the investigation of new passivating materials remain of considerable interest for silicon photovoltaics research. However, the question of whether and under what circumstances a particular material will provide effective surface passivation remains difficult to answer. In this work, we provide an overview of recent insights relating to this question, drawing from our own work on novel passivation materials including MoOx, Nb2O5, TiOx, ZnO, and POx, and illustrated with experimental results. Factors that strongly influence the passivation performance include the use of pre-grown interfacial oxides, the film thickness, the annealing conditions, and the presence of capping layers. The impact of these factors on the surface passivation can vary widely from material to material. Therefore, all of these factors should be taken into account when investigating potential new surface passivation materials.

Liquid marble is a suitable candidate for transporting and targeted releasing of reagents and analytes. The moment of the disruption of liquid marble are controlled by using external stimuli nowadays. This work aims to achieve a disruption of liquid marbles by an internal stimulus. Liquid marbles containing triton X-100 were prepared by rolling method. The influence of the concentration of triton X-100 in droplets on the stability and the life time of the liquid marbles was investigated. The mass of the silica nanoparticles coating liquid marbles and the effective surface tension of liquid marbles were measured. The resulted showed that the life time of liquid marbles could be tuned on time scales of several minutes to hours by controlling the concentration of triton X-100 in the droplets. The number of the layers of the silica particles coating the liquid marble was about 168. The decrease of the amount of silica nanoparticles at the surface of the droplet did not affect the effective surface tension of the liquid marbles significantly. By controlling the concentration of triton X-100 in the droplets, the timed coalescing of two liquid marbles also could be achieved. A mechanism for the disintegrating of liquid marbles triggered by the adsorption of triton X-100 was proposed.

A novel analysis method for reflectarray antenna elements is proposed in this letter, which is derived from generalized boundary conditions. First, the effective surface susceptibilities of the patch layer are extracted from two sets of simulations of given incident angles and polarizations. Then, the effective surface impedances of reflectarray antenna elements are analytically computed for arbitrary incident angles and polarizations, from which the reflection coefficients can be readily obtained. The detailed analysis procedure is presented, and its effectiveness is validated through several representative examples of reflectarray antenna elements.

The aim of this research is to identify the operational conditions and performance of low cost tubular digesters producing biogas from the slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. Three full scale sequenced tubular digesters (of more than 8 m3 each), operating in a slaughterhouse in Cochabamba (Bolivia), have been monitored during one year. The Organic Load Rate (OLR) varied from 0.04 to 1.13 kgSV/m3d (0.04–1.07 kgCOD/m3d), and the Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) from 3.2 to 87.4 days. The passive solar heating design considered drove the slurry temperature to 27 °C, 8 °C more than mean ambient temperature. The first digester has been filled with soda bottle plastic rings in order to increase the internal effective surface and evaluate, obtaining that an increment in 67% of the internal effective surface, more than doubles the biogas production and enables higher OLRs. A Biogas Production Rate (BPR) peak of 0.2 m3/m3d was observed for OLR = 0.37 kgSV/m3d, HRT = 9.7d and Specific Biogas Production (SBP) = 0.55 m3/kgSV. COD removal achieves values above 70% from HRT>19 d. A comparison with other anaerobic digestion technologies demonstrates that low cost tubular digesters with biofilm carriers, are competitive for OLR

An atmospheric pressure surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) was used for surface treatment of Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) nonwoven fabrics which are widely used in filtration media, oil adsorbents, biomedical textiles, etc. The SDBD reactor has been built using the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) which is an inexpensive material available in the local market. The use of the PCB led to the ease of fabrication of a low-cost discharge electrode system that can be scaled up without difficulty. The effect of the plasma treatment on the hydrophilic behavior of the treated samples was studied using water contact angle (WCA) measurements. The microstructure of the PP and PE nonwoven fabrics before and after plasma treatment was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the plasma treatment converted the fiber surface from smooth to textured surface. This resulted in enhancing the wettability of both materials but with more pronounced effect on the PP.

Purpose Bond strength of resilient lining materials with denture base materials is continuously under development. The purpose of this systematic review is to perform a meta-analysis to find out which form of resilient lining bonds better to the denture base, what surface treatments have the highest efficacy to increase the bonding, and what is the most commonly preferred test method to measure bond strength. Materials and methods Based on a search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, 57 articles were included in this study. A meta-analysis was performed on the results of the 57 articles. Results The most commonly used test method was the tensile test. Effective surface treatments for bond strength vary depending on the type of the test applied and the type of the attached resilient lining material. Silicone-based resilient lining materials are more commonly preferred than acrylic-based resilient lining materials. While chemical agents and chemicals of resilient lining materials were the most commonly applied surface treatments, a very limited number of studies preferred applying CoJet and laser. Conclusions The efficacy of surface treatments varies depending on the resilient lining materials and the test type. More successful results can be achieved by selecting the appropriate surface treatment according to the type of the resilient lining material to increase the bond strength. In particular, when used alone, laser appears to be more effective. Chemical agents and laser are the most effective surface treatments for both silicone- and acrylic-based liners. Moreover, new studies are required to determine the efficacy of CoJet. These findings should help clinicians select a suitable surface treatment to increase the bond strength of resilient lining materials to denture base materials.

Functional nanoparticles possess great potential for precise diagnosis and optimum therapy of serious diseases. However, their application is limited by structural heterogeneity and physical properties, low drug-loading efficiency, the absence of effective drug release, and some undetermined physiological and biochemical properties. Effective surface modification is able to overcome these limitations and largely improve the application performance of functional nanoparticles in biomedicine. Nevertheless, chemical or physical surface modifications using conventional surfactants are difficult to ensure homogeneous construction and normal metabolism of nanoparticles in vivo. Recent progress in this field has demonstrated that nucleic acid-modified nanoparticles can attain efficient transport, steady state and rational metabolism, as well as clear targeting and controllable drug release. All of these advantages are attributed to the special steric structure, homology, and biological functions of nucleic acids. Moreover, abundant active sites on the nucleic acid skeleton not only facilitate the direct or indirect connection of nanoparticles, but also support retention of the functions of both nanoparticles themselves and nucleic acids. In this review, we summarize the outstanding respective characteristics and prospects of nucleic acid-modified nanoparticles. In addition, primary surface modification techniques for preparing nucleic acid-modified nanoparticles, including non-scaffold-mediated modification and scaffold-mediated modification, were highlighted. Furthermore, interactions between nanoparticles and nucleic acids, as well as the effects of modification techniques on the properties of nucleic acid modified nanoparticles, are discussed in detail.

Polymer brushes have been demonstrated as versatile and effective surface modification method to achieve unparalleled control over surface properties and functionality. Here, this review mainly highlights the intriguing performance and functionalities of zwitterionic polymer brushes with anti-polyelectrolyte property for a variety of applications in protein resistance, antibacterial activity, surface wetting, and surface frication. Different from other hydrophilic polymer brushes, zwitterionic brushes exhibit the unique zwitterionic-induced anti-polyelectrolyte effect, allowing for the development of new smart polymers and polymer-coated surfaces.

In addition to the traditional existed static model, the dynamic model is proposed to investigate the thickness ( ${d}$ ) dependence of tribo-dielectric layer (TDL) with the device performance in the triboelectric nanogenerators (Tengs) in this work. With the involvement of one material parameter, i.e., electron-hole recombination rate ( ${r}$ ) near the TDL in our developed dynamic model, the d dependence of TDL for the effective surface charge ( ${Q}_{s}$ ) and output current ( ${I}$ ) in the Tengs is derived. The maximum ${I}$ ( ${I}_{{\text {max}}}$ ) with the optimized TDL thickness ( ${d}_{{\text {max}}}$ ) is further obtained with the consideration of different r. It can be found that the larger value of ${r}$ in the material results in the smaller value of ${I}_{{\text {max}}}$ and the larger value of ${d}_{{\text {max}}}$ . At the same time, the theoretical dynamic model is compared with the experimental data. With the designed spin coating speed and time for the TDL deposition, the Tengs with different ${d}$ is demonstrated and studied experimentally. The experimental data and the theoretical dynamic model agree very well with each other.

A schematic model of a natural molecular motor is proposed. It uses the change of the free energy surface to an effective surface as long as the enzyme is active. This effective surface acts as a trapdoor and explains the power stroke in biomotors, as well as its unidirectional movement. Then a thermal relaxation can do the energy transduction of the motor. The model uses Newton trajectories to explain the movement of stationary points on the effective surface.

This study aimed to develop an effective surface pre-treatment method for recycled rubber particles to improve the sound insulation properties of rubberized lightweight aggregate concrete. In this study, the control lightweight aggregate concrete mixture was prepared using lightweight expand clay aggregate as the coarse aggregate and furnace bottom ash (FBA) as the fine aggregate. The results showed that when all the FBA was replaced by the recycled rubber aggregate, the overall sound reduction level was 32.5 dB (A), which was already significantly higher than the 15.5 dB (A) achieved by the control concrete mixture prepared without rubber aggregates. A simple cement slurry coating pre-treatment method was developed to modify the surface of the recycled rubber aggregate. 10.9 dB (A) and 14.8 dB (A) further noise reduction were achieved when FBA was replaced by 50% and 75% of the pre-treated rubber aggregates, respectively. The dynamic Young's Modulus of the concrete mixtures was tested and the surface bonding of the concrete mixtures prepared with the pre-treated/un-treated rubber aggregate was also investigated. The results suggested that the pre-treatment method resulted in weaker bonding between the rubber aggregates and the cement paste, and thus increased the vibration absorption capacity and enhanced the noise insulation properties of the concrete.

A new type of wound dressing that can be easily peeled from a wound during frequent changes is essential in clinical applications to reduce secondary trauma and relieve the pain suffered by patients. Here, we discover that a phase-transitioned lysozyme nanofilm (PTLF) composed of self-assembled protein nanoparticles with an amyloid-like internal structure can be disassembled and detached from a substrate surface under the stimulus of vitamin C solution. Accordingly, stimuli-responsive gauze coated with this phase-transitioned lysozyme nanofilm (PTLF@gauze) was developed. This novel wound dressing, PLTF@gauze, was fabricated through a simple, universal and environmentally benign approach by immersing pristine gauze in the lysozyme phase transition aqueous solution for minutes. In comparison with pristine gauze, the PTLF@gauze can be peeled from a mouse wound with less strength, causing less secondary trauma. This is due to the disassembly and detachment of the PTLF from the gauze in the presence of vitamin C, which is entirely different from normal low-adherent wound dressings based on anti-fouling. Additionally, the PTLF@gauze was shown to accelerate wound closure using a murine wound healing model owing to the anti-infection properties of PTLF. This work thus provides an effective surface modification method for medical devices and suggests the great potential applications of self-assembled proteinaceous coatings in wound care.

The liquid marble covered with a xerogel-derived nanoparticle monolayer is emerging as a simple and ideal physical model for fundamental study. In this work, the effective surface tension, γeff, of this kind of water marble was studied by employing an optimized capillary rise method. This method is distinctive as it can reveal γeff at a specific point rather than the average γeff over the entire marble. γeff at the maximum lateral diameter position was investigated with particle coverage varying from 100% to 10%, showing a quite slow increasing trend from ∼64 to 72 mN m-1. The delay in the evolution of the γeff was attributed to the slow decline in the areal particle density on the side area of the marble. For comparative purposes, the maximum height method was also employed to determine γeff. The results of the two methods supported the position that a liquid marble's γeff depended on very specific conditions including the measurement method and all marble parameters.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have already attracted significant attention due to their potential to offer high energy density and excellent safety as compared to the currently used lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. The use of a lithium anode in SSBs is extremely important to realize these advantages. Starting from the synthesis of a highly conductive cubic garnet solid electrolyte (Li6.375La3Zr1.375Nb0.625O12, LLZNO) using Nb as a structure stabilizer, in this study, we demonstrated the resolution of interfacial problems between the garnet electrolyte and lithium anode and the integration of the lithium anode into garnet-based SSBs by modifying the as-synthesized LLZNO with a Sn thin film. Due to the Sn modification, the interfacial resistances between the garnet electrolyte and the lithium anode decreased approximately 20 times to only 46.6 Ω cm2. The fast and reversible lithium plating/stripping under high current densities and the excellent battery performance of Li/Sn-LLZNO/LiFePO4 full cells were achieved. This improvement is ascribed to the formation of a Li–Sn alloy interlayer, which severs as a self-limited stable and conductive interface, bridging the garnet electrolyte and the lithium anode and enabling fast and stable lithium transport. As a proof-of-concept, this effective surface modification method will offer inspirations to researchers for overcoming the interfacial problems and promoting the development of high-performance SSBs.

The Cu-Co deposits of the Katangan Copperbelt are affected by a deep chemical weathering regime. Meteoric fluids leached mobile elements from the near-surface environment and have redistributed them further down, forming remobilised supergene Cu deposits at a depth of ~ 30–50 m which are highly economic. The same process has caused residual enrichment of less mobile elements such as Co, forming ‘cobalt caps’ in the near-surface above such supergene Cu deposits. Elements which are associated with hypogene Cu-Co mineralisation, but which are relatively immobile during supergene alteration, can make effective surface vectors to buried supergene Cu deposits; especially where these deposits have experienced a high degree of leaching and where high regional background Cu concentrations obscure surface Cu anomalies. This study uses an average-normalisation technique, applied to a large whole-rock-geochemistry database, to assess the variation in geochemistry between different depth intervals at the Mashitu South Cu-Co deposit. Geochemical variation by depth acts as an empirical proxy for element mobility during weathering, with the average concentrations of more mobile elements being depleted in the near surface profile. Of the major and trace elements which are known to be associated with hypogene mineralisation at Mashitu South, Cu, Ni, S and Zn are depleted in the near-surface environment, whereas Co, Bi, V, Mo, As and Fe experienced residual enrichment due to supergene alteration. Indeed, Bi and V exhibit an even greater degree of residual enrichment than Co, which is known as a surface pathfinder to Cu deposits in Katanga. It is suggested that Bi, V and Co would make effective surface vectors to Katangan Cu-Co deposits that have experienced a high degree of leaching; deposits which may evade detection by exploration solely for Cu surface anomalies. The average-normalisation technique utilised by this study can be used to identify immobile surface vectors to any polymetallic deposit which has been significantly affected by chemical weathering.

Damage due to age or accumulated effects from hazards on existing structures poses a worldwide problem. In order to evaluate the current status of aging, deteriorating and damaged structures, it is vital to accurately assess the present conditions. It is possible to capture the in situ condition of structures by using laser scanners that create dense three-dimensional point clouds. This paper investigates the use of high resolution three-dimensional terrestrial laser scans coupled with images to capture geometric range data of complex scenes for surface damage detection and quantification. Although using images with varying resolution to detect cracks is an extensively researched topic, damage detection using laser scanners with and without color images is a new research area that holds many opportunities for enhancing the current practice of visual inspections. Thus, this paper mainly focuses on combining the best features of laser scans and images to create an automatic and effective surface damage detection method, which will reduce the need for skilled labor during visual inspections and allow automatic documentation of related information. A novel surface normal-based damage detection and quantification method that uses the local surface properties extracted from laser scanner data along with color information is presented. Color data provides information in the fourth dimension that enables detecting damage types such as cracks, corrosion, and related surface defects that are generally difficult to identify using only laser scanner.

Molecular-beam-epitaxy (MBE) and atomic-layer-deposition (ALD) high-κ HfO 2 dielectrics have been in - situ deposited on MBE-grown pristine p - and n -In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As(0 0 1). The HfO 2 /In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (MOSCAPs) from both methods all exhibit excellent capacitance-voltage ( C - V ) characteristics with true inversion and low leakage current densities. Moreover, interfacial trap densities ( D it ’s) with no discernible peaks at the mid-gap were measured using the temperature-dependent conductance method. Both HfO 2 /InGaAs hetero-structures have exhibited outstanding thermal stabilities to 800 °C.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of acid etching treatment on surface characteristics and biological response of glass-infiltrated zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS A hundred zirconia specimens were divided into four groups depending on surface treatments: untreated zirconia (group Z); acid-etched zirconia (group ZE); glass-infiltrated zirconia (group ZG); and glass-infiltrated and acid-etched zirconia (group ZGE). Surface roughness, surface topography, surface morphology, and Vickers hardness of specimens were evaluated. For biological response test, MC3T3-E1 cell attachment and proliferation on surface of the specimens were examined. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS Group ZGE showed the highest surface roughness (Ra = 1.54 µm) compared with other groups (P < .05). Meanwhile, the hardness of group Z was significantly higher than those of other groups (P < .05). Cell attachment and cell proliferation were significantly higher in group ZGE (P < .05). CONCLUSION We concluded that effective surface roughness on zirconia could be made by acid etching treatment after glass infiltration. This surface showed significantly enhanced osteoblast cell response.

BACKGROUND The efficacy of a Beauveria bassiana-based formulation (Bb38) with Entostat, an electrostatically charged powder, was investigated as surface treatment against Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Oryzaephilus surinamensis and Sitophilus granarius adults. In lab bioassays, the efficacy of Bb38 against the aforementioned species was examined on concrete, plywood, steel and ceramic, whereas its residual efficacy against the same species was assessed on concrete and steel in the presence or absence of illumination. Finally, the efficacy of Bb38 against O. surinamensis and S. granarius adults was assessed in a commercial grain storage facility under realistic field conditions. RESULTS In the lab trials, O. surinamensis and C. ferrugineus were much more susceptible to Bb38 than S. granarius, on all types of surfaces. Moreover, Bb38 was, at least for O. surinamensis and C. ferrugineus, as effective as the chemical standard (deltamethrin) for at least two months after the application, regardless of the presence or absence of illumination. Finally, in the field trial Bb38 provided a satisfactory level of control against O. surinamensis. CONCLUSION Bb38 is an effective surface treatment, but its efficacy varies according to the target species, the type of surface and the time post-application. This is the first published report that examines the efficacy of Bb38 as a surface treatment for wider uses in empty warehouses and related storage facilities.

Ultrasonic shot peening (USP) is acknowledged as an effective surface treatment method to enhance the mechanical performance of materials by inducing compressive residual stress in solid metals and...

Synthetic sheets are increasing in popularity due to its ease in application, and very high tensile strength characteristics. Previous studies on the utilization of wraps for concrete flexural members resulted in a shear-bond loss in the sheets-to-concrete interface. Although the preparation of concrete surface prior to wrap attachment was in accordance with the product manual, the result was not optimal. Improving the bond could result in an increase of the member's load carrying capacity, so that the capacity of the FRP warp could be optimized. To obtain the most effective surface preparation method, two sets of tests were conducted; firstly to study the tensile-bond behavior, and secondly to investigate the shear-bond response. Four concrete surface preparation methods were explored, consisting of grove configurations with respect to the line of loading. In this research, an independent tensile and shear behavior was assumed. It was found that the commonly used surface preparation was sufficient in tensile, but could lead to de-bonding in shear. The research also concluded that all four proposed methods enhanced the shear-bond; the choice of method is thus influenced by economic aspects, time and application ease. The shear-bond testing method as proposed by the fib code needs to be perfected, since a variation in errors was detected.

Analysis of the effect of modified kaolins on the formation of properties of water­dispersed paints was conducted. It was determined that, as a result of the kaolin modification by 3­aminopropyltriethoxysilane, their adsorption and physical and chemical properties (wettability and specific effective surface by water and benzene) were changed. Specific effective surface of kaolin from Glukhovetskiy deposit was increased by benzene by 26.47 %, from Prosianivskiy deposit – by 5.9 %. The same indicator by water was decreased by 26.1 % for the kaolin from Glukhovetskiy deposits and 3.4 % for the kaolin from Prosianivskiy deposit. The adsorption of acrylic­styrene polymer by respective kaolins was increased by 32.1 % and 23.8 %. The processes of interaction of kaolins with a modifier and styrene­acrylic film former were studied; the parameters of the main characteristic bands responsible for valence fluctuations of reactive capable groups of kaolins and film former were analyzed. The results of the study demonstrated that, due to the modification of kaolins by 3­aminopropyltriethoxysilane, their polymeric philicity was increased. The pre­modified kaolins, characterized by the most complete interaction with styrene­acrylic film former, are proposed to use as fillers for water­dispersion paints. This will ensure the higher performance properties of paints and coatings: elasticity at the level of 2–4 mm, the edge angle of wetting at the level of 89–95 degrees, tensile strength in the range of 5.53–6.81 MPa, which is by 18–51 % larger than when using non­modified fillers. It was determined that improving the compatibility of kaolins with the film former of water­dispersion paints allow forming coatings more resistant to corrosive liquids, with low water absorption at the level of 8.1–9.7 % mass %, i. e., by 17.9 % – 10.4 lower than when adding non­modified kaolins.

We report characterization of the interface trap distribution (Dit(E)) over the bandgap in III–V metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) on insulator. Based only on the experimental subthreshold current data and differential coupling factor, we simultaneously obtained Dit(E) and a nonlinear mapping of the gate bias (VGS) to the trap level (Et) via the effective surface potential (ψS,eff). The proposed technique allows direct extraction of the interface traps at the In0.53Ga0.47As-on insulator (-OI) MOSFETs only from the experimental subthreshold current data. Applying the technique to the In0.53Ga0.47As channel III–V-OI MOSFETs with the gate width/length W/L = 100/50, 100/25, and 100/10 μm/μm, we obtained Dit(E) ≅ 1011–1012 eV−1 cm−2 over the bandgap without the dimension dependence.

Unlike conventional multi-wire sawn (CMWS) multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers, diamond wire sawn (DWS) mc-Si wafers textured by conventional acidic solution of HF/HNO3 are not suitable for solar cells because visible saw marks set significant barriers in both cell performance and surface appearance. In this work, we have employed versatile strategies based on metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) technique to eliminate the saw marks and realize effective surface textures on DWS mc-Si wafers, including nano-texture (N-T), micro-texture (M-T) and nano/micro-texture (N/M-T). Especially, benefiting from the tradeoff between optical gain and electrical loss, the efficiency of 18.45% for N/M-T based DWS mc-Si solar cells with a standard wafer size of 156×156 mm2 is reported to be higher by an absolute 0.57% compared with that of CMWS mc-Si solar cells (17.88%). Our work provides ways of fabricating DWS mc-Si solar cells with high efficiencies and satisfactory visual appearance.

This paper presents a compact analytical model for the static and dynamic electrical characteristics of Junctionless Nanowire Transistors. The static drain current model formulation is derived from the 2D solution of the Poisson equation with appropriate boundary conditions and long-channel devices, leading to a continuous effective surface potential that accounts for the conduction in partial depletion and accumulation regimes. The long-channel model is modified to account for short-channel effects by using the coupled solution of 3D Laplace equation with the 2D Poisson equation. The substrate bias influence on the drain current is also included in the model formulation. The charges at the device terminals are differentiated with respect to the applied biases leading to an analytical description of the transconductances and transcapacitances. The proposed model is validated using experimental data at different bias conditions and temperatures, showing very good agreement.