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In previous research simulating steelmaking ladles using cold water models, the dosage/volume of the salt tracer solution is one of the factors that has been overlooked by researchers to a certain extent. Previous studies have demonstrated that salt tracers may influence the flow and measured mixing time of fluids in water models. Based on a water model scaled down from an industrial 130-ton ladle by a ratio of 1:3, this study investigates the impact of salt tracer dosage on the transport and mixing of tracers in the water model of gas-stirred ladle with a moderate gas flow rate. A preliminary uncertainty analysis of the experimental mixing time is performed, and the standard deviations were found to be less than 15%. It was observed in the experiments that the transport paths of tracers in the ladle can be classified into two trends. A common trend is that the injected salt solution tracer is asymmetrically transported towards the left sidewall of the ladle by the main circulation. In another trend, the injected salt solution tracer is transported both by the main circulation to the left side wall and by downward flow towards the gas column. The downward flow may be accelerated and become a major flow pattern when the tracer volume increases. For the dimensionless concentration curve, the sinusoidal type, which represents a rapid mixing, is observed at the top surface monitoring points, while the parabolic type is observed at the bottom monitoring points. An exception is the monitoring point at the right-side bottom (close to the asymmetric gas nozzle area), where both sinusoidal-type and parabolic-type curves are observed. Regarding the effect of tracer volume on the curve and mixing time, the curves at the top surface monitoring points are less influenced but curves at the bottom monitoring points are noticeably influenced by the tracer volume. A trend of decreasing and then increasing as the tracer volume increases was found at the top surface monitoring points, while the mixing times at the bottom monitoring points decrease with the increase in the tracer volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we formalize the effect of mechanical shaking by using various forms of an externally exerted force, which may be constant or may be position-dependent, and we examine the changes in the potential energy surfaces that quantify the chemical reaction. We use a simple toy model to model the potential energy surfaces of a chemical reaction, and we study the effect of a constant or position-dependent externally exerted force for various forms of the force. As we demonstrate, the effect of the force can be quite dramatic on the potential energy surfaces, which acquire new stationary points and new Newton trajectories that are distinct from the original ones that were obtained in the absence of mechanochemical effects. We also introduce a new approach to mechanochemical interactions, using a dynamical systems approach for the Newton trajectories. As we show, the dynamical system attractor properties of the trajectories in the phase space are identical to the stationary points of the potential energy surfaces, but the phase space contains much more information regarding the possible evolution of the chemical reaction—information that is quantified by the existence of unstable or saddle fixed points in the phase space. We also discuss how an experimental method for a suitable symmetric liquid solution substance might formalize the effect of shaking via various forms of external force, even in the form of an extended coordinate-dependent force matrix. This approach may experimentally quantify the Epstein effect of shaking in chemical solutions via mechanochemistry methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nafion, a versatile polymer used in electrochemistry and membrane technologies, exhibits complex behaviors in saline environments. This study explores Nafion membrane's IR spectra during soaking and subsequent drying processes in salt solutions at various concentrations. Utilizing the principles of Fick's second law, diffusion coefficients for these processes are derived via exponential approximation. By harnessing machine learning (ML) techniques, including the optimization of neural network hyperparameters via a genetic algorithm (GA) and leveraging various regressors, we effectively pinpointed the optimal model for predicting diffusion coefficients. Notably, for the prediction of soaking coefficients, our model is composed of layers with 64, 64, 32, and 16 neurons, employing ReLU, ELU, sigmoid, and ELU activation functions, respectively. Conversely, for drying coefficients, our model features two hidden layers with 16 and 12 neurons, utilizing sigmoid and ELU activation functions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study synthesized and modified a semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel from polyacrylamide, N,N′-dimethylacrylamide, and maleic acid in a potassium hydroxide solution. The chemical composition, interior morphology, thermal properties, mechanical characteristics, and swelling behaviors of the initial hydrogel (SH) and modified hydrogel (SB) in water, salt solutions, and buffer solutions were investigated. Hydrogels were used as phosphate fertilizer (PF) carriers and applied in farming techniques by evaluating their impact on soil properties and the growth of mustard greens. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the chemical composition of SH, SB, and PF-adsorbed hydrogels. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that modification increased the largest pore size from 817 to 1513 µm for SH and SB hydrogels, respectively. After modification, the hydrogels had positive changes in the swelling ratio, swelling kinetics, thermal properties, mechanical and rheological properties, PF absorption, and PF release. The modification also increased the maximum amount of PF loaded into the hydrogel from 710.8 mg/g to 770.9 mg/g, while the maximum % release of PF slightly increased from 84.42% to 85.80%. In addition, to evaluate the PF release mechanism and the factors that influence this process, four kinetic models were applied to confirm the best-fit model, which included zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer–Peppas. In addition, after six cycles of absorption and release in the soil, the hydrogels retained their original shapes, causing no alkalinization or acidification. At the same time, the moisture content was higher as SB was used. Finally, modifying the hydrogel increased the mustard greens' lifespan from 20 to 32 days. These results showed the potential applications of modified semi–IPN hydrogel materials in cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To refresh your knowledge of the administration of intravenous (IV) fluids and medicines • To enhance your ability to identify and resolve issues that may occur with the administration of IV fluids and medicines • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers). Managing intravenous (IV) access is a standard proficiency for UK nurses, enabling them to administer IV injections and IV infusions and to manage injection equipment and infusion pumps and devices. In this article the author describes various types of venous access devices that are commonly seen in practice and details the preparation, checking and administration of IV fluids and medicines, including some complications that may arise. The author also discusses the calculation of fluid requirements, types of IV fluids, displacement values and ongoing care of venous access devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Alcohol ingestion influences metabolism during a subsequent exercise session, as evidenced by increased blood lactate concentration during fixed-intensity exercise. Therefore, augmented blood concentrations of alcohol may interfere with the anaerobic metabolism during high-intensity, short-duration exercise bout, thereby leading to impaired athletic performance. Objective This study investigated whether the acute ingestion of alcohol as ethanol modulates performance parameters derived from the power–duration relationship in a 3-min all-out cycling test that allows for identifying the power output related to heavy and severe exercise intensities. Methods Twenty-four recreationally active cyclists (16 men and 8 women) ingested a beverage containing either 0.4 g ethanol.kg−1 body mass (EtOH) or a placebo (PLA) solution. Thirty minutes following ingestion, they completed a 3-min all-out test to measure power output and determine the end-test power (EP) and the work done above EP (WEP). Results Alcohol ingestion decreased WEP by 16% (EtOH: 5.6 ± 2.5 kJ vs. PLA: 6.7 ± 2.4 kJ; P  = .003) but did not change EP (EtOH: 211 ± 44 W vs. PLA: 212 ± 44 W; P  = .671). The alcohol-mediated effect in WEP was not influenced when controlling for participants' sex or accuracy in identifying the beverage ingested. Conclusion Our data indicate that alcohol ingestion impaired the anaerobic work capacity, as evidenced by the reduction in WEP during the 3-min all-out test. Moreover, the ability to exercise at an intensity above the heavy domain may be decreased after ingestion of a moderate alcohol dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim. Study the properties of 20 % solutions of poloxamer 338 (P338) in water and mixed solvents water-ethanol using rotational viscometry and the spin probe method at various temperatures. Materials and methods. 20 % m/m solutions of P338 in water and water -- ethanol mixtures were the objects of research. The solutions were studied by rotational viscometry at various temperatures; the flow behaviour, lower yield stress (τ0) and dynamic or apparent viscosity (η) were determined. Spin probes based on fatty acids, which differ in molecular structure, solubility, and radical localization, were added to the solutions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were obtained to determine their type and parameters. Results. Depending on the content, ethanol affects the rheological properties of 20 % solution of P338. The solution was demonstrated to be able to thermally induce sol→gel transition at 32 °C when ethanol content is 5 % m/m. The rheological parameters of the gel at 32 °C and 37 °C exhibit an increase (in comparison to the gel without ethanol), accompanied by a reduction in the packing density of polypropylene oxide (PPO) chains within the cores of P338 micelles. At an ethanol content of 10 % m/m, the gel formation temperature rises to 40 °C. At ethanol content of 15 % m/m and above, 20 % P338 solutions do not form gels at temperatures between 25 °C and 40 °C. The values of rotational correlation times (τ) and the order parameter (S) of fatty acid-based spin probes were observed to decrease with increasing ethanol content up to 30 % m/m; in the case of the ammonium salt of 5-doxylstearic acid (5-DSA NH4 salt), the anisotropic EPR spectra transform, becoming a superposition of two triplets and subsequently a triplet. P338 solutions retain their ability to undergo thermally induced sol↔gel transitions as long as the EPR spectra of this probe exhibit anisotropy at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 37 °C. As the concentration of ethanol in the solution increases, the solvation of the cores of P338 micelles by the dispersion medium of the solution also increases. Conclusions. It was demonstrated that ethanol, when added to the 20 % P338 solution, results in changes to the rheological properties of this solution. However, at the ethanol content of 5-10 % m/m, the ability of P338 to thermally induced sol→gel transition remains unaltered. The rheological properties of the 20 % P338 solution exhibit a correlation with the observed change in EPR spectra types for the 5-DSA NH4 salt. As the ethanol content in the solution increases, the solvation of P338 micelle cores by the dispersion medium increases, accompanied by decreased density and orderliness of the PPO chains packing in the micelle cores [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic baths and sonochemical reactors are widely used in industrial applications dealing with surface cleaning and chemical synthesis. The processes of erosion, cleaning and structuring of the surface can be typically controlled by changing relevant influential parameters. In particular, in this work, we experimentally investigate the effect of NaCl concentration (0-5.5 mol/L) on the erosion of an aluminum foil under ultrasonic exposure at a frequency of 28 kHz. Special attention is paid to the determination of cavitation zones and their visualization using heat maps. It is found that at low NaCl concentration (0.3 mol/L), the foil destruction rate is higher than in distilled water. At higher concentrations of salt, cavitation takes place mainly in the upper part of the container. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservar Património is the property of Associacao Profissional de Conservadores-Restauradores de Portugal 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.)

Copyright of Dokuz Eylul University Muhendislik Faculty of Engineering Journal of Science & Engineering / Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Fen ve Mühendislik Dergisi is the property of Dokuz Eylul Universitesi Muhendislik Fakultesi Fen ve Muhendislik Dergisi 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.)

To improve the adsorption capacity of natural zeolite for ammonia nitrogen, zeolite was modified by sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium tungstate (Na2WO4), and sodium citrate (C6H5Na3O7) solutions, and the adsorption characteristics of zeolite before and after modification for ammonia nitrogen in water were studied. The properties and structure of zeolite were characterized and analyzed. The adsorption mechanism of modified zeolite for ammonia nitrogen and the effects of environmental factors on the adsorption were studied. The results showed that the modification of NaCl, Na2WO4, and C6H5Na3O7 increased the adsorption capacity of zeolite by 60.76%, 58.23%, and 54.43%, respectively. The zeolite modified by NaCl solution had the best adsorption effect for ammonia nitrogen. The optimum concentration, temperature, and time of NaCl modifier was 1.5 mol/L, 85, and 12 h. The adsorption of ammonia nitrogen on zeolites before and after modification was more consistent with the pseudo-secondorder kinetic model. Under the conditions of particle size of 60-80 mesh, pH of 7, temperature of 30, and dosage of 10 g/L, the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen by zeolites increased from 54.89% to 90.39% after adsorption of wastewater with initial ammonia nitrogen concentration of 50 mg/L. The adsorption of ammonia nitrogen in wastewater by natural zeolite modified by salt solution is an environmentally friendly and effective method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In radioactive waste repositories and tunnel engineering, the near-field groundwater environment is extremely complex, and changes in multiple chemical components are bound to disrupt the long-term stability of soft rock and soil, thus inducing a series of environmental and engineering geological problems. In this study argillaceous slate was selected as the research object and different types of aqueous chemical solutions were prepared. Lateral constraint expansion tests, X-ray diffraction tests, nuclear magnetic resonance tests and scanning electron microscopy tests were then carried out. The expansion characteristics and evolution mechanism of argillaceous slate in a hydrochemical environment are then revealed at the multiscale level, and the internal relationship between the macroscopic expansion of argillaceous slate and the microscopic and mesoscopic structures explored. Finally, based on experimental data and the grey theory, a non-equal step GM(1, N) grey prediction model was constructed. The results indicated that: (1) the water‒rock physicochemical reactions mainly affect the microstructure evolution of the argillaceous slate expansion process through pore changes, mineral dissolution and ion exchange; (2) there is a certain correlation between the microstructure parameters and the expansion rate, and it was found that pore volume and clay mineral content are the main factors affecting the expansion of soft rocks; and (3) the model verification results show that the non-equal step GM(1, N) grey prediction model established in this study can effectively predict the expansion trend of soft rocks in different hydrochemical environments. The research findings can provide a reference for the study of the expansion mechanism of soft rocks in complex hydrochemical environments and the disposal of expansion problems. Supplementary material: the Supplementary Figures and Tables are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7095856 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood exhibits a limited elastic deformation capacity under external forces due to its small range of elastic limit, which restricts its widespread use as an elastic material. This study presents the development of a stretchable wood-based elastomer (SWE) that is highly mechanical and flexible, achieved without the use of chemical cross-linking. Balsa wood was utilized as a raw material, which was chemically pretreated to remove the majority of the lignin and create a more abundant pore structure, while exposing the active hydroxyl groups on the cellulose surface. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution was impregnated into delignified wood, resulting in the formation of a cross-linked structure through multiple freeze–thaw cycles. After eight cycles, the tensile strength in the longitudinal direction reached up to 25.68 MPa with a strain of ~463%. This excellent mechanical strength is superior to that of most wood-based elastomers reported to date. The SWE can also perform complex deformations such as winding and knotting, and SWE soaked in salt solution exhibits excellent sensing characteristics and can be used to detect human finger bending. Stretchable wood-based elastomers with high mechanical strength and toughness have potential future applications in biomedicine, flexible electronics, and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red-bed soft rocks in South China have obvious creep characteristics and are prone to engineering geological disasters such as landslide and foundation settlement under the action of rainfall, groundwater, and load. In order to reveal its creep characteristics and mechanism under complex conditions, a step-loading creep test was carried out under chemical-stress-seepage coupling, and the energy evolution law of the whole creep process was analyzed based on linear energy storage and energy dissipation theory. The results also show that the acid chemical solution has the greatest influence on the triaxial strength and creep strength, and the creep damage and energy evolution of red-bed soft rock are universal. The creep damage and total strain increase with the increase of acidity, the decrease of confining pressure, and the increase of seepage pressure. The evolution law of creep damage shows the characteristics of slow-acceleration-rapid growth, and with the increase of load level, it has obvious transfer and accumulation. After entering the constant velocity creep stage, the damage rate begins to accelerate. The proportion of instantaneous strain and creep strain in the total strain increment is about 50%, and confining pressure has little influence on their respective proportions. The instantaneous strain is more sensitive to the acidity of the chemical solution, and the proportion of creep strain increases gradually with the increase of seepage pressure. The relationship between elastic energy density and total energy density is linear. The elastic energy density and dissipated energy density in the loading stage and creep stage all increase nonlinearly with loading time. The density of dissipated energy in the creep phase is lower than that in the loading phase, but the opposite is true in the higher stress phase, and the law of energy dissipation can explain the hardening damage effect in the creep process of soft rock samples. The research results provide a new perspective for us to reveal the mechanical properties and failure mechanism of red-bed soft rocks and provide an important theoretical basis for predicting and evaluating the creep instability and long-term stability of such rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issue of inadequate interfacial adhesion in carbon fiber/poly ether ether ketone (CF/PEEK) composites, an innovative approach that combines carbene chemistry and sizing treatment was meticulously designed to achieve remarkable synergistic enhancement. Specifically, cyano groups were chemical‐grafted on CF surface via carbene reaction. Meanwhile, a water‐based self‐catalyzed cross‐linkable PENK‐NH2 sizing agent with good storage stability was prepared. Noteworthy, the presence of amino groups as blocking agents of sizing agent significantly accelerated the rate of cyano‐crosslinking, thus effectively avoiding the adverse effects of excessively prolonged cross‐linking period during composites preparation. As a result, robust interaction between cyano‐modified CF and PEEK was established by cross‐linking reaction, along with chemical bonds generated between amino groups of sizing agent and ketone groups in PEEK. The maximum interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CF‐CN‐1.5/PEEK composites was 22.0% and 57.0% higher than CF‐1.5/PEEK and CF/PEEK composites. Furthermore, the presence of cyano‐cross‐linked structure endowed interphase with outstanding solvent‐resistance, the mechanical properties of CF composites after solvent treatment were well‐preserved. The strong synergistic interfacial interactions facilitated by chemical bonds in different components provide an effective and fascinating methodology for producing high‐performance CF/composites. Highlights: Water‐based self‐catalyzed cross‐linkable PENK‐NH2 sizing agents for CF/PEEK were prepared.NH2 was introduced to avoid the adverse effects of prolonged cyano‐crosslinking.Designed carbenoid motif with cyano group was grafted on CF via carbene chemistry.The interaction between sizing agent and CF was boosted by the cyano‐crosslinking.Mechanical properties of sized composites corroded by solvent were well‐preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental requirements of self-powered hydrogels used in flexible electronic products encompass excellent mechanical performance and conductivity. However, simultaneously achieving high performance in both the aspects remains a great challenge during the fabrication of self-powered hydrogels. In this study, robust and recyclable self-powered polysaccharide-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) networks were established by modulating ionic channels using Zn2+/Li+ bimetallic salt solutions. The results indicate that the hydrogel equilibrated in a bimetallic salt solution of 1 M concentration can simultaneously achieve an impressive tensile strength of 1.36 MPa and an optimal ionic conductivity of 1.64 S m−1 since carboxyl groups on the polysaccharide chains enable the adsorption of more metal ions without restricting ionic mobility as a result of higher conductivity. By leveraging their excellent electrochemical performance, conductive hydrogels can serve not only as flexible sensing materials with enhanced sensitivity to monitor human motion and facilitate information transmission, but also as recyclable electrolytes in self-powered hydrogel batteries. Interestingly, self-powered hydrogel batteries can maintain a stable voltage of 0.82 V and show good recyclability, which can restore the original voltage output via a simple salt solution equilibration method, offering significant potential in applications such as wilderness survival. This work provides a novel strategy for the rapid and green preparation of robust, recyclable, and self-powered polysaccharide-based hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In seasonally frozen regions, concrete pavement is exposed to cycles of freeze-thaw and erosion from de-icing salt, which can lead to unfavorable service conditions and vulnerability to damage. This paper examines the compressive strength, flexural-tensile strength, abrasion resistance, permeability, and spacing factor of concrete, taking into account the impact of various curing conditions, de-icing salt solutions, and mass fractions on the concrete's freeze-thaw resistance. Two test methods, the single-face method and the fast-freezing method, were used to comparatively analyze the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete. The analysis was based on the surface scaling, water absorption rate, mass loss rate, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and relative durability index. The results indicate that the presence of salt solution significantly worsened the degree of concrete damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles. The use of freeze-thaw media, specifically sodium chloride ( N a C l ), calcium chloride ( C a C l 2 ), and potassium acetate ( K A c ) at mass fractions of 5%, 4.74%, and 5%, respectively, had the greatest impact on the surface scaling of concrete. However, their effect on the water absorption rate was inconsistent. When the freeze-thaw medium was water, the concrete's relative dynamic elastic modulus and relative durability index were 9.6% and 75.3% higher, respectively, for concrete cured in 20 °C—95% RH conditions compared to those cured in 0 °C—50% RH conditions. We propose a comprehensive relative durability index ( D F w ) by combining the results of two methods of freeze-thaw tests. The D F w of concrete cured in 0 °C—50% RH conditions was 83.8% lower than that of concrete cured in 20 °C—95% RH conditions when exposed to a freeze-thaw medium of 5% mass fraction N a C l solution. To evaluate the salt freeze-thaw resistance of concrete pavement, it is recommended to use surface scaling and D F w together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating the thermal emission of a material in the infrared (IR) range can be essential for various practical applications such as smart textiles, camouflage, and anti-counterfeiting. Although many different materials or structures have been proposed, the complex manufacturing processes are still hindering their widespread use. Herein, a facile femtosecond laser processing technology and a drop-coating method are introduced to form a patternable low emissivity film. Laser-treated polyimide films resulted in superhydrophilic structured surfaces that are uniformly coated with silver-nanowires (AgNWs) in aqueous solutions for low emissivity surfaces. Furthermore, the emissivity of the samples is as low as ∼0.2 without deterioration over 800 bending-releasing cycles. The as-prepared films also display good thermal camouflage properties, namely, the films reduced the thermal radiation temperature of an object by 35.8 °C when the object temperature was ∼69.1 °C. Additionally, this IR camouflage effect of the AgNWs coated samples shows excellent stability even in harsh environments such as immersion in water, acid, alkali, and salt solution and applied voltage. We also show that information encryption was possible by adjusting the amount of AgNWs. The design of this programmable patterned low emissivity film indicates an idea for the thermal camouflage and anti-counterfeiting technology, which can carry more abundant application scenario and disguise them more complex and sophisticated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Specific alkaline cation effects control the area per headgroup of alkylester sulphates, which modifies the spontaneous packing of the surfactants. The resulting effective packing minimizes the total bending energy frustration and results in a Boltzmann distribution of coexisting pseudo-phases. These pseudo-phases constitute of micelles and other structures of complex morphology: cylindrical sections, end-caps, branching points, and bilayers, all in dynamic equilibrium. According to our model, excess of end-caps or excess of branching points lead to low viscosity, whereas comparable amounts of both structures lead to viscosity maxima. Relative occurrence of branching points and end-caps is the molecular mechanism at the origin of the salt-sensitive viscosity peak in the "salt-curve" (viscosity against salt concentration at fixed surfactant concentration). Up to now, and as indicated in former papers, this has been a pure model without microscopic verification. In this work, we introduce explicit counting of the number of coexisting pseudo-phases as observed by state-of-the-art cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The model system used, i.e., sodium laurylethersulfate (SLES)/salt/water, is very common as part of cosmetic formulations. As added salts, we used Li+, Na+, K+, and Cs+ chlorides. In parallel to imaging, we measured the macroscopic viscosities of the different solutions. With cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), we imaged a variety of morphologies (pseudo-phases) in the different aqueous surfactant/salt solutions: cylindrical micelles with end-caps, discs surrounded by "rims", entangled thread-like micelles with branching points, networks with gliding branching points, and bilayers. The relative chemical potentials of these morphologies could be approximated simply by counting the relative proportion of their occurrence. This simple multi-scale approach avoids any ad-hoc "specificity" assumption of ions, and is based on the bending energy model in an extended version of the Benedek "ladder model". It is capable of explaining and even quantifying the location of all viscosity peaks in the "salt-curves" for the different cations investigated, thus confirming the previously proposed model experimentally, and – thanks to cryo-TEM – for the first time on a microscopic scale. Moreover, this approach can also be applied when the added cations lead to newly observed pseudo-phases, such as discs and vesicles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that cryo-TEM is used, together with a mesoscopic model, to describe a macroscopic property such as viscosity and specific ion effects on it, without any a priori assumption about these effects. So, in total, we could a) confirm the predictions of the previously developed model, b) use cryo-TEM imaging and viscosity measurements to predict and find unusual morphologies when varying the cations of the added salt, and c) count the pseudo-phases in cryo-TEM micrographs to quantitatively explain the different nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the capillary imbibition laws of brackish water in rocks is necessary to reveal the mechanism of fluid, salt, and ion transport. In this study, we investigated the capillary imbibition laws of a Na2SO4 solution of different concentrations in sandstone by measuring the parameters of water absorption mass, water migration front height, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 spectra, and stratified moisture distribution. The results indicate the following: (1) With an increase in the salt solution concentration, the water absorption rate of samples increases, specifically manifested in an increase in the rate of absorption mass and a rising rate of the absorption front. (2) With an increase in the salt solution concentration, the total NMR signals in samples measured at the end of water absorption decreases; that is, the total amount of water absorption decreases. (3) When the solution concentration exceeds 0.50 g/L, variations in the NMR signal of samples and the absorbed water mass over time are not synchronic and are even opposite at some stages. Based on the capillary dynamic theories of liquid, the influence of salts on solution properties and the modification of the pore structure by crystallization are considered when discussing the underlying mechanism of capillary imbibition in sandstone. By calculating the physical properties such as the density, viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle of solutions with different concentrations, the imbibition process does not exhibit any significant variation with the difference in the properties of the liquid. The equivalent capillary radii of the samples at varying salt concentrations are obtained by fitting the capillary dynamics curves with the theoretically calculated values. The equivalent capillary radii of samples in higher salt concentrations are larger, i.e., the difference in capillary imbibition laws introduced by the salt concentration should be attributed to modifications to the pore structure caused by salt crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt erosion has an adverse impact on the durability of asphalt pavements. Porous asphalt concrete is particularly susceptible to the influence of salt. In this study, a finite element model was developed to investigate the fracture behavior of PAC exposed to salt erosion. The 2D heterogeneous structure of PAC was generated with an image-aided approach to computationally study the fracture behavior of PAC. Laboratory SCB tests were conducted to validate the finite element model. The simulation results of the SCB tests indicate that the peak load of the PAC decreased by 21.8% in dry-wet cycles and 26.1% in freeze-thaw cycles compared to the control group. The salt solution accelerated the degradation of the durability of PAC under both dry-wet cycles and freeze-thaw cycle conditions, which is consistent with laboratory tests. After flushing treatment before the drying phase, the peak load of the PAC in salt environments increased by 5.3% compared to that of the samples with no flushing. Salt erosion also results in a higher average value of scalar stiffness degradation (SDEG), and the damaged elements were primarily the cohesive elements in the fracture of the PAC. Additionally, the influence of crucial factors including the void content, adhesion and cohesion, and loading rate on the fracture behavior of the PAC was analyzed. As the void content increases, the average SDEG value of the cohesive elements increases and surpasses the average SDEG value of the adhesive elements at a void content of approximately 9%. The performance of the fine aggregate matrix (FAM) has a much greater impact than the FAM-aggregate interface on the durability of the PAC. And there were more damaged CZM elements with the increase in the loading rate. Salt erosion results in higher SDEG values and a larger number of cohesive damaged elements at each loading rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and sand leakage disasters are likely to occur during construction in water-rich sand layer areas, resulting in ground collapse. The stress-strain action characteristics of discontinuous graded sand under different internal erosion degrees, and the evolution mechanism of water and sand leakage disasters caused by the internal erosion need to be further explored. Therefore, this paper takes the discontinuous graded sand in a water rich sand layer area in Nanchang City of China as the research object. Considering the influence of different fine particle losses (0, 10%, 20% and 30%) under the internal erosion of sand, the salt solution method is used to realize the specified loss of fine particles in the internal erosion. The stress-strain behavior after the loss of fine particles due to internal erosion is studied by triaxial shear test. Meanwhile, the physical model test and PFC-CFD method are both used to study the evolution rules of water and sand leakage disaster considered the influence of internal erosion degrees. Results show that: (1) under the same confining pressure, the peak failure strength of sand samples decreases along with the increase of fine particle loss. (2) In the water and sand leakage test of saturated sand, a natural filter channel is formed above the observed soil arch. The greater the loss of fine particles, the steeper and wider the collapse settlement area. (3) The relationship between the cumulative amount of water and sand leakage and time is nonlinear. The total mass loss of sand increases along with the increase of internal erosion degree. (4) After the soil arch is formed around the damaged opening, the sand continues to converge above the soil arch under the action of water flow, resulting in the dense convergence of contact force chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel complexes are effective catalysts for cross-coupling reactions between alkyl Grignard reagents and alkenyl–S and alkenyl–Se compounds. In this study, various organic compounds were prepared. Ethylnyl 2-((5-chloro-8-quinolinol)oxy) acetate compound (designated as A1) was synthesized by adding potassium carbonate to quinoline and ethyl chloroacetate. The second compound 2-((5-chloro-8- quinolinol)oxy) acetohydrazide (A2) were obtained by reacting A1with hydrazide. Complex compound A3 were obtained by reacting equimolar amounts of compound A2 with the nickel salt solution, using ethanol as the solvent. Phosphinate complexes were prepared by reacting equal moles of the A3 with the various phosphines and using ethanol as a solvent. The synthesized compounds and complexes were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including (FT-IR) spectroscopy, (31P-{ 1H}- 13C-NMR) spectroscopy, and C.H.N. analysis. Additionally, their melting points, purity, molar conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility were determined. The impact of some prepared compounds and complexes on the growth of two antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, namely the Gram-negative Staphylococcus and the Gram-positive Escherichia coli, was studied. Amoxicillin was used as control antibiotics. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the tested bacterial strains. The A2 compound readily forms complexes, especially with nickel, manganese, and copper salts. The prepared compounds and complexes exhibited high stability and strength, maintaining their structure, color, and melting point even under varying laboratory temperatures between winter and summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall performance of the multilayer resulting in a sol-gel bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) film will be primarily determined by the properties of the first layer, but this has yet to receive much attention, even though chemical and morphological defects of this layer can accumulate as the number of layers increases. Here, we perform an optical, conductive, and ferroelectric study of first layer (L 1) dip-coating sol-gel BiFeO3 films using two routes that vary only in the dissolvent; the first one is based on 2-methoxyethanol (MOE), and the second one on acetic acid (AA) with some MOE (AA-MOE). Tauc plots reveal a band gap of 2.43 eV and 2.75 eV for MOE (30 ± 5 nm thick) and AA-MOE (35 ± 5 nm thick) films, respectively. MOE films showed a dielectric function with features at ∼2.5 eV, ∼3.1 eV, and ∼3.9 eV, which were associated with charge-transfer transitions, but such features are absent in AA-MOE films. Advanced atomic force microscopy techniques were used to identify the fine features or defects of the BiFeO3 films: The conductive maps show that the charge transport pathways in both film routes are controlled by nanometer defects rather than grain or grain boundary defects. Current-voltage curves reveal high conductive pathway at a lower voltage for the MOE films than for AA-MOE films. The piezoelectric coefficient for MOE films was ∼20% higher than AA-MOE films. Both deposition methods yield ferroelectric films with an electromechanical strain controlled by the piezoelectric effect and minimal contribution from electrostriction. An optimization for the AA-MOE-based route in the withdrawal speed results in a significant reduction of morphological defects and a more than twofold increase in the piezoelectric coefficient. Our results broaden the understanding of optical and ferroelectric BiFeO3 films based on a chemical solution by dip-coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study conducted to investigate the properties of alkali-activated concrete (AAC) mixtures prepared using the optimum combinations of four precursor materials (red mud, limestone powder, silicomanganese fume, and natural pozzolana) and four activation parameters (activator to precursor ratio, silica modulus, sodium hydroxide molarity, and water to precursor ratio). In order to examine the beneficial effects of inclusion of ordinary portland cement (OPC) and curing regimes on the properties of AAC, three dosages of OPC (in the range of 10% to 30% by weight) and two types of curing (steam and air curing) were considered. Tests were conducted on the mixtures of AAC to determine different properties that included the density, void ratio, water absorption, compressive and tensile strengths, modulus of elasticity, drying shrinkage, and loss of weight and strength after exposure to acid and sulfate salt solutions. Additionally, microstructural investigations (x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy) were conducted on the alkali-activated binders to justify the trends of the experimental data pertaining to different properties of the AAC mixtures. The results of the tests indicated that the properties of AAC were significantly affected by inclusion of OPC and curing regimes. It was found that almost all properties of the AAC were significantly enhanced when the OPC dosage was increased from 10% to 20%. Further, the AAC mixtures having more than 10% OPC exhibited better properties as compared to the traditional OPC concrete mixture. The use of OPC as a construction material is one of the major contributing factors to environmental damage. Multiple alternative materials have been suggested as a replacement for OPC such as alkali-activated industrial byproducts and natural minerals. However, these possible materials are not as well studied as OPC in terms of their strength development, volumetric stability, and resistance to extreme environments. In this work, the performance of different AAC made with natural minerals and industrial waste materials was evaluated, and we compared their performance to typical OPC concrete. The present investigation shows that the developed alternative concrete mixtures perform in a comparable or better manner to OPC concrete mixtures in terms of strength, volume change with age, acid resistance, and sulfate resistance while reducing the OPC content by 70% to 90%. The study scope, however, does not extend to study the economic viability and carbon footprint of the proposed AAC mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the total oil recovery from oilseeds in a multi-stage crosscurrent leaching process is presented. The model created using mass balance equations for three stages was used to analyze the factors affecting total oil recovery, To. The key performance factors (raw meal feed flow rate, solvent feed flow rate in each stage, solvent distribution factor for each stage, percent oil in the raw meal (Poil), solids to solution ratio in the underflow (N), solvent to solids ratio (SSR), solvent to oil ratio (SOR) and wash ratio (WR) were varied while assessing To. While SSRi and SORi ranged from 0.1 to 10 and from 0.1 to 100, respectively, N varied between 1 and 7. The variation of To with the key variables were fitted using polynomial functions, whose degree increased with N at fixed values of solvent feed flow rate (Vs) and raw meal flow rate (F). To was the highest when α1 and α2 ranged from 0.05 to 0.3 and 0.05 to 0.2, respectively. The highest percent contribution to To was from Stage 1 (50 - 80%) followed by Stage 3 (10 to 40%). Optimal settings for the newly introduced parameters (SSRi, SORi and -1) and solvent distribution factors are recommended for maximizing the total oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents some aspects concerning mechanical contact fatigue and corrosion wear and the links of these two kinds of wear in the common deterioration of the contact layer. The surface state, for both presented areas, is analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in order to confirm the double action of corrosion and wear during the experimental test. 2 and 3D insights were taken from the worn area, corrosion compounds were identified and analyzed. Linear and cyclic potentiometry were performed on the base materials after the OCP was established in salt solution. When the level of the thermal and the mechanical stress are located at the same depth under the contact surface the resulting stress is greater and has the opportunity to develop the first crack to the surface. The metallic material surface presents a double type of corrosion: one based on oxidation and the other one based on oxidation plus wear (tribo-corrosion), the difference is being given by the material quantity and type involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to perform a bibliographic review of the published scientific material on the use of tetrazolium test and plant bioregulator in seeds of Eugenia stipitata, as well as in the emergence of its seedlings. Research on this species could reveal and record its production potential. E. stipitata is a fruit species native to the Amazon belonging to the Myrtaceae family. Undoubtedly, a prominent species potentially provides fruits with great benefits for human health and new alternatives for production systems. According to the bibliographic survey, the emergence of E. stipitata seedlings can exceed 180 days after sowing, while in the tetrazolium test the results can be obtained between 6 and 30 hours. In relation to seed physical and physiological dormancy, the plant bioregulator has potential to promote emergence of vigorous seeds and seedlings. Thus, the tetrazolium test can be an alternative to determine viability of Eugenia stipitata seeds. Different priming periods and concentrations of the tetrazolium salt solution are required for seeds of the genus Eugenia. Using the plant bioregulator can accelerate the emergence of seedlings of the genus Eugenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented scientific research reveals the results of experiments on the precipitation of arsenic in the form of sulfide (As2S3) from the Daridag thermal water using sodium sulfide as a reagent. The main factors impacting the precipitation of the As2S3 compound were determined: the amount of precipitant (Na2S), the ratio of solid and liquid phases (S:L), pH of the initial solution, precipitation time and temperature, also optimal parameters were obtained. According to the results obtained, the yield during precipitation of arsenic tri-sulfide from from thermal water under certain temperature conditions (t=30-450°, pH=1-2; S:L - 1:1000; t = 30-50 min.) were 99.6 %. The properties of the samples were studied by physicochemical research methods (X-Ray, SEM/EDS). X-ray phase analysis showed that the sediment sample obtained under these conditions is X-ray amorphous. The composition and morphology of the obtained sample was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the increasing volume of waste in the Putri Cempo TPA causes the emergence of pollutants in the form of liquid, gas or solid. Gas is a dangerous pollutant because it can cause respiratory disease and even death. methane gas (CH4), sulfurdioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), so that it can be the cause of respiratory (respiratory)-related diseases cardiovascular, and physiological changes such as pulmonary function and blood pressure. This study tries to identify pollutant gases that arise in the Putri Cempo TPA and the detection method uses ZnO-TiO2-GO Material which previously used an adsorbent solution. The use of this material has the advantages of being practical, safer and easier to recycle. The gas identification carried out includes SO2, O3, NO2, H2S and NH3 gases. ZnO-TiO2 and GO materials were varied into variation A, B, C, D And E. The results showed that The results show that the composition of TiO2; ZnO Graphene C (45%; 45%, 10%) shows better results for detecting NO2 gas than the p-aminodimethylaniline working solution used for laboratory measurements. The results show that the composition of TiO2; ZnO Graphene E (60%; 30%, 10%) shows the composition's ability to detect 10 times more H<2S gas than the p-aminodimethylaniline working solution but the ability to detect NH3 is lower than the p-aminodimethylaniline working solution. composition variations in TiO2; ZnO; Graphene B (30%; 60%, 10%), and D (80%; 15%, 5%) can detect exposure to SO2 and O3 gases 6 times more than p-aminodimethylaniline solution. From various compositions, it shows that TiO2, ZnO, Graphene materials are more dominant than aminodimethylaniline solution except for the detection of NH3 pollutant. The results of the research recommendations need to be developed prototypes for the detection of the five pollutant gases without having to go through laboratory testing. The development of a prototype of the pollutant gas detection tool can speed up the measurement of gas pollutants. So that it is easier for analysts to measure gas pollutants. It is necessary to develop the effect of the concentration of adsorbed pollutant gas on the composition of materials with various conductivity of material compositions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Synthetic Fiber Industry is the property of Sinopec Baling Petrochemical Company 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 article "Effect of Different Cleaning Procedures on the Surface Roughness of Vacuum-Formed Retainer Materials" explores the impact of various cleaning methods on the surface roughness of vacuum-formed retainer materials. The study involved distributing a questionnaire to individuals who use vacuum-formed retainers and conducting experiments using a toothbrush simulator to simulate brushing for 30 days. The findings showed that different cleaning protocols had varying effects on the retainer materials, with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) samples generally exhibiting a reduction in surface roughness and polypropylene (PP) samples showing an elevation in roughness. The study emphasizes the importance of choosing appropriate cleaning procedures to preserve the integrity and hygiene of vacuum-formed retainer materials. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture 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.)

A portable and non-invasive sensor presents an innovative way to measure inflammation biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). This research is focused on developing a miniaturized bipolar electrochemical sensor that can be connected to a smartphone app. This device will be able to detect adding known amounts of nitrite (spikes) to a salt solution and small amounts of nitrite ions in collected real samples in EBC. The sensor was fabricated and tested for its rapid electron transfer capability and ability to detect nitrite ions even at very low concentrations and low real sample levels. In the proposed setup, when the required potential was applied by using a direct power supply, the nitrite ions were oxidized electrocatalytically at amine-functionalized graphene oxide (AGO) decorated with gold nanoparticles on a carbon paper anodic pole. On the other hand, the reduction reaction of Prussian blue occurred at the cathodic pole of the bipolar electrode simultaneously. This strategy led to a change in color from blue to white as a result of the reduction process and the color change is proportional to the concentration of nitrite ions in the analytical solution. The combination of smartphones with the colorimetric method has resulted in a platform for the detection of test strips that is more visual and convenient. The amperometry and voltammetric methods of nitrite detection showed a linear range of up to 1230 μM. The bipolar electrochemical sensor was able to detect the clinically relevant range of nitrite from 0.5 to 85 μM in a buffer with an ultralow detection limit (LOD) of 250 nM (S/N = 3), fast response and excellent selectivity. It was benchmarked by utilizing pre-characterized real EBC samples to differentiate patients with respiratory diseases from healthy volunteers. By tracking the results of nitrite measurements over time, it has become possible to detect trends and changes in an individual's nitrite ion concentration and to potentially identify lung inflammation earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most common filler in stormwater treatment, zeolite (NZ-Y) has good cation exchange capability and stabilization potential for the removal of heavy metal from aqueous solutions. In this study, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and NZ-Y were selected to preparing new adsorbent (SDS-NZ) by using a simple hydrothermal method. The sorption–desorption performance and mechanism of Cu(II) onto SDS-NZ were investigated. The results showed that the sorption of Cu(II) on SDS-NZ was in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with an equilibrium time of 4 h. The sorption behavior fitted Langmuir isotherm with a saturation sorption capability of 9.03 mg/g, which was three times higher than that of NZ-Y. The modification of SDS increases the average pore size of NZ-Y by 3.96 nm, which results in a richer internal pore structure and more useful sorption sites for Cu(II) sorption. There was a positive correlation between solution pH values and sorption capability of Cu(II) in the range of 3.0–6.0. With the ionic strength increased, the sorption capability of Cu(II) onto SDS-NZ first decreased and then increased, which may be attributed to competitive sorption and compression of the electronic layer. The desorption of Cu(II) on SDS-NZ was favored by the increase in SDS concentration and ionic strength and decrease in solution pH values. The application of SDS-NZ in runoff improved the leaching risk of Cu(II). After several cycles, the ability of reused SDS-NZ to efficiently adsorb most heavy metals was verified with removal rates above 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the synthesis of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (PAMAA/CMC-Na) hydrogels, and subsequent fabrication of dual-network polymer hydrogels (PAMAA/CMC-Na/Fe) using as-prepared via the salt solution (FeCl3) immersion method. The created dual-network polymer hydrogels exhibit anti-swelling properties, frost resistance, high conductivity, and good mechanical performance. The hydrogel swells sightly when immersed in solution (pH = 2~11). With the increase in nAA:nAM, the modulus of elasticity experiences a rise from 1.1 to 1.6 MPa, while the toughness undergoes an increase from 0.18 to 0.24 MJ/m3. Furthermore, the presence of a high concentration of CMC-Na also contributes to the enhancement of mechanical strength in the resulting hydrogels, ascribing to enhanced physical network of the hydrogels. The minimum freezing point reaches −21.8 °C when the CMC-Na concentration is 2.5%, owing to the dissipated hydrogen bonds by the coordination of Fe3+ with carboxyl (-COO−) in CMC-Na and PAMAA. It is found that the conductivity of the PAMAA/CMC-Na/Fe hydrogels gradually decreased from 2.62 to 0.6 S/m as the concentration of CMC-Na rises. The obtained results indicates that the dual-network hydrogels with high mechanical properties, anti-swelling properties, frost resistance, and electrical conductivity can be a competitive substance used in the production of bendable sensors and biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce-doped gadolinium gallium aluminum oxide (Ce: GGAG) precursors were first prepared by the microwave-assisted homogeneous precipitation method (MAHP). Thermal gravity-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area analysis (BET) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were employed to investigate the crystal structure, phase evolution and morphologies of the Ce: GGAG precursors and powders. The influence of Ga ion concentration in the salt solution on the properties of Ce: GGAG powders was investigated. All the precursors were transformed into single-phase GGAG after being calcined at 950 °C in a furnace for 3 h. Monodispersed Ce: GGAG powders were obtained as the Ga ion concentration was lower than 0.06 mol/L. Single-phase and dense Ce: GGAG ceramics were obtained after sintering at 1600 °C in a flowing oxygen atmosphere for 10 h. Specifically, the Ce: GGAG ceramic reached its maximum density of ~6.68 g/cm3, which was close to its theoretical density of 6.70 g/cm3, and exhibited the highest optical transmittance of 65.2% at 800 nm after hot isostatic pressing sintering (HIP) as the Ga ion concentration was 0.02 mol/L. The decay time and light yield of the GGAG ceramic were 35 ns and 35,000 ± 1250 ph/MeV, respectively, suggesting that Ce: GGAG ceramics prepared using MAHP-synthesized nanopowders are promising for scintillation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is a need for new sources of noble metals due to their dwindling natural resources. This paper presents studies on the sorption of noble metals such as Au(III), Pt(IV), Pd(II) and Rh(III) from model chloride solutions on a newly prepared Amberlite XAD-16–Aliquat 336 sorbent. A "warm impregnation" method without the use of toxic organic solvents was applied to impregnate the polymer matrix. The influence of such factors as hydrochloric acid concentration, sorbent mass and phase contact time was investigated. Kinetic as well as adsorption isotherm studies were carried out. The sorption capacity of the synthesized sorbent was Au(III)—94.34 mg/g, Pt(IV)—45.35 mg/g and Pd(II)—46.03 mg/g. Based on thermodynamic considerations, their sorption proved to be endothermic, as the values of ΔH° > 0. Sorption was spontaneous and favourable (ΔG° < 0). After leaching the RAM module, there was obtained a real solution, in which the metal contents were determined: 38.10 mg/g of gold and 1.76 mg/g of palladium. Totals of 99.9% of gold and 45.4% of palladium were removed from the real leaching solution, with other elements in the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experimental flow and heat transfer characteristics of salt solution is carried out. • A simulation model of salt solution ice slurry was proposed based on CFD-PBM. • Flow velocity and ice volume fraction have great influence on flow and heat transfer. As a phase change material, ice slurry allows the storage of thermal energy in the form of latent heat. This has great advantages in terms of reducing energy consumption and environmental protection, and is being widely used. In this study, based on the Eulerian-Eulerian CFD model and the Population Balance Model (PBM), the flow and heat transfer characteristic of salt solution ice slurry was simulation studied, which included the pressure drop, friction coefficient, volume fraction, distribution of ice crystals and local heat transfer coefficient during the flow and solidification of salt solution ice slurry in different conditions. And the experimental system is set up to verify the results of the model and analyze the variation rules of these parameters. The results showed that in salt solutions with different concentrations, when the flow rate and solid phase volume fraction increase, the pressure drop and local heat transfer coefficient of the ice slurry will increase. The surface heat transfer coefficient reached to 2.5 × 103 W m-2 K-1, 2.9 × 103 W m-2 K-1, and 3.2 × 103 W m-2 K-1 when ice crystal volume fraction was 5 %, 10 %, and 15 %, respectively. The study will contribute to understanding of the changes in basic characteristics of salt solution slurry during the flow and phase transition processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work presents a "green" strategy of weed valorization for developing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with promising interesting applications. Two types of AgNPs were phyto-synthesized using an aqueous leaf extract of the weed Andropogon halepensis L. Phyto-manufacturing of AgNPs was achieved by two bio-reactions, in which the volume ratio of (phyto-extract)/(silver salt solution) was varied. The size and physical stability of Andropogon—AgNPs were evaluated by means of DLS and zeta potential measurements, respectively. The phyto-developed nanoparticles presented good free radicals-scavenging properties (investigated via a chemiluminescence technique) and also urease inhibitory activity (evaluated using the conductometric method). Andropogon—AgNPs could be promising candidates for various bio-applications, such as acting as an antioxidant coating for the development of multifunctional materials. Thus, the Andropogon-derived samples were used to treat spider silk from the spider Pholcus phalangioides, and then, the obtained "green" materials were characterized by spectral (UV-Vis absorption, FTIR ATR, and EDX) and morphological (SEM) analyses. These results could be exploited to design novel bioactive materials with applications in the biomedical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service life predictions of reinforced concrete structures are underpinned by the passivation film chemistry, structure, and thickness. In this work, we present how the formation of passive films at the steel–concrete interface of reinforced alkali‐ and salt‐activated slag materials can be affected by the pore solution chemistry, namely, pH, Eh, and chemical composition. Thermodynamic simulations are used to illustrate the time‐dependent changes to the pore solution chemistry, where estimated electrical conductivities of the pore solution are used as a single‐value parameter to understand the solution complexity and capacity for charge transfer. A set of passivation reactions are proposed to understand the effects of OH− and HS− (reduced sulfur species) competition on the passivation pathways. These passivation reactions become more complex considering that a reducing pore solution might not establish until 3 days into the curing process—a crucial factor explaining the significant differences in the phase composition of passive films of activated slag materials (FeOOH, FeS). This study sheds light on recent progress in understanding these initial passivation reactions, emphasizing the essential role of material design and, therefore, the pore solution chemistry of these cements, along with significant insights for vital research and development concerning the corrosion durability of activated slag materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the crack resistance of steel slag crumb rubber modified asphalt mixture (CR-steel slag) under salt freeze–thaw cycles, we selected styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-steel slag and CR-basalt as the reference group. The relationship between CR-steel slag interfacial adhesion properties and crack resistance under salt freeze–thaw (FT) cycles was investigated through semicircular bending (SCB), pull-out, and contact angle tests. The results show that the salt FT will accelerate the process of micro-cracks in the mixture to macro-cracks. With the increase of FT cycles, the crack resistance will gradually deteriorate, and significant damage will occur in the mixture at 15 freeze–thaw cycles. The mutation point of freeze–thaw times will move forward in different degrees under the action of salt solution. At the same time, with the increase of salt solution concentration, its anticracking performance first decreases and then increases, reaching an extreme value of 8%. The magnitude of the crack resistance of the three asphalt mixtures is CR-steel slag > SBS-steel slag > CR-basalt. The macroscopic cracking index of asphalt mixtures has an excellent positive correlation with the matching index, and the matching index model has sufficient accuracy in evaluating the cracking resistance of three asphalt mixtures under the action of salt freeze–thaw cycles. Based on the surface energy theory to evaluate the crack resistance of the mixture from a microscopic perspective, combined with macroscopic evaluation indexes, the evaluation results are accurate and more reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted during spring and summer 2022 at Mare Savin garden centre (Trappes, France) to confirm plant protection properties of some dairy products. Indeed, for crop protection, the search for new non-chemical fungicides useful, durable, affordable and efficient as active substances (a.s.). These suitable products, especially from natural origin called BioControl Agents (BCA) are acceptable to civil society (i.e., low-concern profile, and absence of residues of concern) are of paramount importance as the number of chemical solutions has drastically decreased in recent years. When natural substances from the plant origin are plethoric in literature and some are approved as Plant Protection Product (PPP), natural substances from the animal origin repertoire are sparsely represented in PPP a.s., but lately a few substances have obtained a European Union (EU) active substance approval (i.e. sheep fat, blood meal, fish oil, chitosan hydrochloride from crab shell). Dairy products may also exhibit crop protection properties like whey and cow milk are two of these new BCAs. The corresponding applications under EU PPP regulation (EC) n° 1107/2009 were granted as basic substance according Article 23, respectively in 2016 for whey and 2020 for cow milk for protection of vegetable against mildew and agricultural tools disinfection. These basic substances are approved for an unlimited period of time with no Market Authorisation, for all Europe without zone or Member State consideration, and with no Maximum Residue Limits (MRL). Later, an extension of use for vineyards protection against diseases was granted for whey in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether or not quantum physics can account for molecular structure is a matter of considerable controversy. Three of the problems raised in this regard are the problems of molecular structure. We argue that these problems are just special cases of the measurement problem of quantum mechanics: insofar as the measurement problem is solved, the problems of molecular structure are resolved as well. In addition, we explore one consequence of our argument: that claims about the reduction or emergence of molecular structure cannot be settled independently of the choice of a particular resolution to the measurement problem. Specifically, we consider how three standard putative solutions to the measurement problem inform our understanding of a molecule in isolation, as well as of chemistry's relation to quantum physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), a solid waste material generated by power plants, offers a cost-effective solution for preparing backfill materials. Concurrently, given that most backfill materials are exposed to mine water erosion, an investigation into the mechanical performance degradation and damage mechanisms of FGDG backfill materials subjected to prolonged chloride salt erosion is crucial for ensuring the stability of goaf backfills (by goaf, we mean the area or space that remains underground after the extraction of valuable minerals). This study explores the mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of backfill samples treated with varying concentrations of chloride. The findings indicate that over time, the mass of the sample initially decreases, experiences a slight increase, and then gradually declines. Simultaneously, the strength and structure of the sample deteriorate rapidly, followed by a partial recovery. The rebound in sample mass is attributed to an incomplete hydration reaction that continuously transforms free water into bound water. Microstructure analysis techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), reveals that the degradation in mechanical strength and structure is a consequence of chloride salt erosion. Subsequent reuse is facilitated by the formation of Friedel's salt resulting from the reaction between hydration products and chloride ions, filling voids in the sample and impeding further chloride ion erosion into the deeper regions. Notably, FGDG exhibits outstanding reuse performance in prolonged and high-concentration chloride ion environments. This study serves as a reference for understanding the deterioration mechanism and practical application of backfills in chloride-rich environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of saline on the shear strength of compacted bentonite is important to investigate the safety assessment of engineering barriers of deep geological repositories. Different methods used for saturating compacted specimens yield inconsistent relationships between shear strength and salt solution concentration. In this study, we performed direct shear tests on compacted Na–bentonite saturated with distilled water and Na solutions using the constant-vertical stress (CP) method and the constant-volume (CV) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements were conducted to investigate the microstructural characteristics of compacted bentonite. The results show that the measured shear strength increases with increasing vertical stress or solution concentration. Furthermore, the shear strength of specimens prepared through the CV method is larger when distilled water is used for saturation; at the same time, when salt solutions are used for saturation, CP samples show greater shear strength. On the microscale, both SEM images and NMR results show that specimens become increasingly aggregated with increasing pore-water salinity and that saline solution has a greater effect on the microstructure of the compacted bentonite when using the CP method for saturation because of the change in volume during saturation. The intergranular stress equation, which considers physicochemical effects, is introduced to theoretically characterize the mechanical behavior of compacted bentonite. It is found that the relationship between intergranular stress and shear strength is unique, independent of the saturation method. In other words, the salt solution concentration affects the microstructure, thereby affecting the interparticle stress of compacted bentonite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olefinic dithioether (Z)-1,4-bis(pyridin-2-ylthio)but-2-ene Z-PyS(CH2CH=CHCH2)SPy (L) was prepared by the treatment of cis-ClCH2CH=CHCH2Cl with in situ generated potassium pyridine-2-thiolate Py-SK and analyzed by IR and NMR spectroscopy. To investigate the chemistry of polynuclear iodobismuthate complexes, two equivalents of BiI3 were reacted with L in the MeOH solution to afford the anionic tetranuclear title compound (C14H15S2N2)2(C9H10SN)2[Bi4I116] with a N-protonated (Z)-1,4-bis(pyridin-2-ylthio)but-2-ene as a counterion. Compound 1 was characterized by IR and UV spectroscopy; the formation of a tetranuclear framework was ascertained by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study performed at 100 K. Furthermore, an unusual Bi(III)-meditated cyclization of one Z-PyS(CH2CH=CHCH2)SPy ligand occurred, affording the bicyclic pyridinium salt 3-vinyl-2,3-dihydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyridinium bearing a terminal vinyl group, compensating the second negative charge of the Bi4I164− cluster anion. The SCXRD characterization was completed by a Hirshfeld surface analysis, revealing some secondary interactions occurring in the crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain rapeseed protein with low phytic acid (PA), soy protein isolate (SPI) was used to investigate the interactions between SPI and PA. The influence of pretreatment (soaking using salt solution and dialysis) of the defatted rapeseed meal on the PA and protein content in the final rapeseed proteins was also studied. The results showed that electrostatic interactions dominated the protein–PA interaction, which was affected by pH and ionic strength. Accordingly, the pH and ionic strength in the soaking medium also influenced the PA remained in the rapeseed proteins. The PA content decreased with the ionic strength (400–800 mM) and relatively low PA was obtained at pH 6.0 (soaking environment). Finally, 52.8 % of the PA have been removed and PA content remained in rapeseed protein isolate (RPI) reached about 0.84 mg/g, at the same time, the protein content was maintained around 86.70 %. Overall, soaking using salt solution and dialysis could be an effective method to achieve high quality rapeseed protein with low PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bauxite tailings slurry is a type of solid waste produced in the process of bauxite washing and beneficiation. It has poor engineering properties, that is, self-consolidation settlement unusually cannot be completed during several decades. To investigate the sedimentation properties of bauxite tailings, bauxite tailings slurry, phyllite residual soil, and kaolinite, we conduct sedimentation tests on these materials in varying pH and salt solution environments. The influence mechanism of the surface electrical properties of clay particles on the settlement of tailings slurry is investigated using the zeta potential test. The findings reveal that increases in the cation concentration and valence state lead to compression of the electric double layer on the surface of three types of soil particles, resulting in a decline in the repulsive potential energy and an increase in the gravitational potential energy. This in turn contributes to a reduction in the settling stable void ratio. As the pH increases, the zeta potentials of the three soils gradually decrease from positive to negative. A change in the pH at the isoelectric point, PZCedge, triggers the transformation of the kaolinite mineral arrangement. When the pH is either greater than or less than the isoelectric point, an increase or decrease in the pH results in expansion of the electric double layer of the clay particles and an increase in the pore content. The results of this study suggest that bauxite tailings mud is more likely to settle in an acidic environment than in an alkaline environment, thus an acidic settling environment should be utilized for bauxite tailings produced in industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]