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[Display omitted] • Mesoporous NiFe 2 O 4 from sludge boosted CO 2 plasma-cracking efficiency. • SiO 2 glass beads promoted CO 2 conversion by micro-reactor effects. • Plasma and catalysts synergistically lowered CO 2 -cracking barriers. • Electron recombination on the NiFe 2 O 4 surface accelerated CO 2 decomposition. An innovative, environment-friendly, and efficient method was proposed for the synergistic low-temperature plasma conversion of CO 2 by using nickel ferrite (NiFe 2 O 4) catalyst. NiFe 2 O 4 , characterised by a mesoporous spinel structure, was successfully synthesised from electroplating sludge by a single-step heat treatment. The catalyst was uniformly distributed with SiO 2 glass beads throughout the plasma discharge area, enabling an efficient transition from single filament to filament-surface coupled discharge. The outcomes were a 39.02 % increase in discharge charge and a 15 % increase in output power compared with plasma-only situation. CO 2 -conversion optimisation tests showed the formation of a 'microreaction zone' enhanced the development of gas vortices and turbulence, promoting the CO 2 -conversion ratio, CO generation ratio, and energy efficiency to 20.64 %, 15.74 %, and 1.864 %, respectively, under the NiFe 2 O 4 catalyst-facilitated low-temperature plasma conditions. The conversion route involved generating excited-state CO, O 2 , and electrons through plasma ionisation of CO 2 , alongside the creation of oxygen vacancies (V o). These vacancies regenerated by consuming lattice oxygen (O2−), facilitating CO 2 convert to CO and O 2 by electrons. Furthermore, the catalysts offered sites for adsorbing reaction intermediates, which further facilitated CO 2 dissociation and product formation. The Fe and Ni ions in the NiFe 2 O 4 catalyst reacted by redox to produce O2− and V o and maintain charge equilibrium. This study demonstrated that the NiFe 2 O 4 catalyst and synergistic plasma effectively converted CO 2 whilst reducing the reaction's energy barrier, thereby providing theoretical support for improved CO 2 utilisation as a resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, erosion tests were conducted to evaluate the abrasivity of organic particles to produce wear on a material surface with higher hardness. The novelty of this research work was that pistachio shells, which are usually waste that ends up in the garbage, were collected, ground and sieved to obtain a sufficient quantity of pistachio angular particles to be used productively to perform these wear tests. Additionally, sea shells were thought of as an alternative to organic abrasives, and these were ground, sieved and prepared to be able to carry out the testing. The erosion tests conducted based on ASTM G76 and SEM images showed typical wear mechanisms such as high plastic deformation (material displacement) characterized by micro-cutting and micro-ploughing actions, grooves with lifted lips in the edges as pistachio grits employed to run the tests. On the other hand, a conventional abrasive as glass bead particles caused huge craters, broken and smeared flakes, ploughing and circumferential cracks on the AISI 420 stainless steel surfaces. The highest erosion rates were reached as glass beads were employed to run the erosion tests. AFM technique was used to show the surface variations after the erosive impacts. The eroded scars produced by pistachio and sea shells allowed us to remark that the proposed organic abrasives could be used for polishing, surface finishing and cleaning applications on surfaces of mechanical elements that are dirty or rusty. This was due to their low density, which led to low and very superficial erosion damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface wettability is a critical factor in multi-phase flow within porous media, a processes essential in various applications e.g. in the energy sector. Traditional methods for assessing wettability of porous media by contact angle measurements, such as sessile droplet and micro-CT techniques, are limited by interface pinning, sample size or resolution impacting precision and accuracy. We hypothesized that using smaller and unconstrained probes, specifically gas molecules, to retrieve interactions along a representative sample size via inverse gas chromatography (IGC) could provide a more accurate determination of contact angles. We propose a procedure to relate IGC results with macro-scale wettability descriptions, such as the Young equation. To test the effectiveness of IGC method, glass bead samples with varying wettability, modified through a silanization process, were prepared. Contact angles for a distilled water-air-sample system were measured using the sessile droplet method and micro-CT for comparative analysis. IGC was employed to determine the surface energy components of these samples, which were then used in the extended Young-Dupré equation to calculate the contact angles. The contact angle ranges determined by IGC and micro-CT for untreated glass beads, the most hydrophilic samples, showed great alignment. This consistency is attributed to the chemical amorphous nature of the untreated beads reflected in the assumption that dispersive and specific energetic components of surface sites are uncorrelated, on which the proposed analysis is based. For treated samples, where the silanization process creates correlations between surface energetic components, the alignment between IGC and micro-CT results was less precise. This study successfully demonstrated that IGC, a molecular-scale probe-based technique, can effectively determine the contact angle range, a macroscopic property, for amorphous samples. Future work should incorporate correlations between energetic components of surface detected by IGC to extend this method's applicability to a wider material range.   • Novel IGC-based method introduced for determining contact angle ranges in porous media. • Validated IGC method by comparing contact angles with micro-CT and sessile droplet tests. • Assessed IGC's applicability across different wettability levels using silanized glass beads. • Remarkable alignment with micro-CT and sessile droplet data for unmodified glass beads. • IGC effectively detected wettability changes in silanized glass beads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic chemical analysis of large collections of archaeological glass beads is essential to better understand trade patterns at different times around the world. Glass beads' trade towards and within sub-Saharan West Africa grew exponentially over time to culminate with the establishment of the Atlantic Trade. Although these artefacts are very commonly found in archaeological contexts dating after the 15th century CE, the assemblages are generally poorly studied from a chemical point of view. We present here the study of 916 glass beads found in five archaeological sites in Ghana, Mali, and Senegal, in contexts dated between the 15th and the mid-20th century CE. Besides the techno-stylistic classification of the whole assemblage, the compositional study of a sub-group of 578 monochrome and polychrome glass beads was performed. The 798 glass samples composing the selected beads were therefore classified based on their main chemical composition. Moreover, major, minor, and trace elements analysis by Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and the statistical analysis of the results by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) led to the identification of the probable origin of the glass. Different suppliers were distinguished for the Ghanaian earlier beads and the Senegalese and Malian later ones, in relation to the different European trade partners at different times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory grown biofilms are used to simulate bacterial growth in diverse environmental conditions and screen the effectiveness of anti-biofilm therapies. Recently, we developed a glass bead biofilm reactor that utilizes low broth volume to provide high-throughput biofilm growth for testing and translation across the research continuum (e.g., benchtop assays to preclinical models). Bioburden per mm2 surface area of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms were comparable on beads and CDC Biofilm Reactor® coupons. In this study, we hypothesized that biofilms grown on beads would be more susceptible to ertapenem, moxifloxacin, and tobramycin than those grown on coupons. Results indicated a significant reduction in S. aureus bioburden on glass beads compared to glass coupons following treatment with ertapenem (p = 0.005) and tobramycin (p = 0.014). P. aeruginosa biofilms had smaller differences in antibiotic response between the two systems. There was a significantly greater reduction in bead P. aeruginosa biofilm than coupon when treated with tobramycin (p = 0.035). This work offered insight into how the bead biofilm reactor could be used as a tool for antibiotic screening and translation across the continuum of in vitro to in vivo systems that support development of antimicrobial technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser ablation combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the analysis of trace elements in specially prepared glass beads is adapted to silicate rocks of unusual compositions. The modified technique is applied to standard samples and garnet-rich combustion metamorphic rocks (paralavas) from the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Thirty-two to thirty-five minor and trace elements, including high field strength elements, rare earth elements and Y, are determined in 5–8 mg powder aliquots of samples with large ranges of major-, minor-, and trace-element contents. As the first step of the study, the composition of the NIST SRM 612, BCR-2, and AGV-2 reference materials is analyzed to assess the accuracy and precision of analytical data. The results for standard samples agree well with the compiled estimates (3.5 to 12.4% relative standard deviation) for all elements except Cu (18.1%). The following step is to analyze, with the same procedure, the glass beads of paralava, which are remarkable due to their high trace-element loading. Good agreement (70%–100%) with the compositions determined previously by aqueous nebulizer mode ICP-MS confirms that the method is a promising tool for the rapid and precise analysis of compositionally complex materials available in small amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration has garnered widespread attention as a key strategy for mitigating CO2 emissions and combating the greenhouse effect. However, the mechanisms underlying the interactions between CO2, widespread siliceous minerals and biological processes remain unclear. The present study explored the potential impacts of different CO2 concentrations on microbial activity, environmental conditions and their feedback on the fate of CO2. A total of 20 experimental conditions was created, with the variables including different natural and synthetic siliceous minerals (e.g., quartz sand and a type of commercial glass beads), the presence or absence of the iron-reducing microorganism Orenia metallireducens (strain Z6) and varying CO2 concentrations (0%, 20%, 50%, 100%) in the presence of ferrihydrite and pyruvate. Geochemical, microbial and mineralogical analyses revealed that elevated CO2 concentrations significantly inhibited microbial Fe(III) reduction and pyruvate metabolism. Interestingly, compared to cultures without mineral amendments or those with glass beads alone, the addition of quartz sand enabled strain Z6 to better withstand the environmental stress caused by elevated CO2, promoting pyruvate fermentation and iron reduction. In addition to an increased pH, the formation of siderite, hematite and vivianite was also observed in the bioactive systems. Although both glass beads and quartz sand were primarily composed of silica, differences in the mineral structure, elemental composition and acid neutralization capacity rendered quartz sand more chemically active and unexpectedly led to greater CO2 sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using glass beads as an ideal material analogous to soil particles makes it feasible to explore the effects of particle interactions on the mechanical behavior of the material. In this study, 2 mm high-precision spherical glass beads were selected as the raw material, and three test samples with varying surface roughness were produced using sandblasting technology. After quantifying the surface roughness of the particles, samples were prepared, and a series of laboratory triaxial consolidation drainage tests were conducted to investigate the shear behavior of particle materials with varying roughness levels. This investigation explores the effects of variations in particle surface roughness on the stress–strain characteristics, shear strength, critical state, and stick–slip behavior of triaxial samples. The experimental results indicate that an increase in particle surface roughness significantly raises the peak deviatoric stress, and the stress–strain curves predominantly exhibit strain softening behavior. Additionally, the slope of the critical state line increases, and the stick–slip behavior becomes less pronounced. The variation trend of the roughness index is similar to peak friction angle (φmax), peak deviatoric stress growth rate, slope (k) of the critical state line, and the maximum deviatoric stress drop (Δqmax) during stick–slip process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure loss due to the hydraulic transport of large solid particles should be predicted for the design of subsea mining systems. The mixture flow in a flexible jumper is expected to be unsteady during lifting operations in an actual mining system. The authors develop a one-dimensional mathematical model that predicts such pressure loss under pulsating mixture flows in a static inclined pipe assuming that the flow in the jumper is fully developed. An experiment is performed on the hydraulic transport of solid particles to obtain data for model validation. In this experiment, several kinds of solid particles are used: alumina beads, glass beads, and gravel. The experimental parameters are mixture velocity, solid concentration, pulsation period and amplitude of water velocity, and pipe inclination angle. The proposed model is validated through a comparison with experimental data. The validation confirms that the model is applicable for the prediction of the pressure loss in inclined pipes under pulsating flow conditions. Furthermore, we calculate the pressure loss due to the hydraulic transport of polymetallic sulfide ores using the proposed model. The calculation results show that the time-averaged pressure loss drastically varies with the pipe inclination angle, reaching its maximum value between the pipe inclination angles of 30 deg and 60 deg, at which the flow is inclined upward. The results also show that the amplitude of pressure loss pulsation differs little between pipe inclination angles and that the pulsation component of pressure loss should be considered in designing lifting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packed bed microreactors offer a promising platform for intensifying heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. To understand hydrodynamics therein, N2 or water flow was investigated experimentally through microreactors packed with glass beads in this work, corresponding to a microreactor to particle diameter ratio (D/d) of 1.29–25.12. The porosity of a single pellet string microreactor (D/d < 1.866) agrees with the literature's theoretical equation. For microreactors with larger D/d ratios, an empirical porosity correlation is proposed to address the dense packing nature of the bed. The existing correlations are inadequate to describe the pressure drop data in microreactors within the entire D/d ratios and modified Reynolds numbers (Rem < 291). At D/d ≥ 3, the measured pressure drop is described by the modified Ergun equation using properties of the bulk bed zone to exclude the wall effect. At D/d < 3, it can be predicted by introducing a correction term for the wall effect into the Ergun equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of additive-free extraction techniques to produce a proteolytically active yeast extract for use in the food industry. Brewer's spent yeast, a by-product of the brewing industry, is utilized as a feedstock, and thus a new route for its valorization is proposed. Four methods of releasing these components while maintaining their intrinsic bioactivity are investigated: thermal autolysis, ultrasonication, cell milling and high-pressure homogenization. Thermal yeast autolysis resulted in the highest release of protease activity, with 2.45 ± 0.05 U/gdm after 3 h incubation at 45 °C. However, autolysis poses challenges for automation, and thus a stop criterion, due to the lack of in-line enzyme activity assays,. While glass bead treatment gave the highest reproducibility, ultrasonication and high-pressure homogenization resulted in comparably high protease activities in the BSY extracts produced. Both methods, in the form of a cell mill and high-pressure homogenizer, are cell disruption methods that are already employed on an industrial scale. It has now been demonstrated that these methods can be used to produce proteolytically active yeast extracts from a previously considered waste stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compression behaviour of the mixture of glass beads (representing rigid particles) and EPS beads (representing deformable particles) during the loading-unloading process is systematically examined through performing two sets of large-size oedometer experiments, including incremental step-by-step and one-step loading scenarios. At each step during the loading-unloading cycle, the void ratio (e) and the at-rest coefficient of lateral earth pressure (K0) are measured for pure rigid samples and rigid-soft particle mixtures. To consider the creep effect, the overburden pressure at the final loading step is maintained on the sample for 24 h prior to unloading. The results show that at a given overburden pressure, with the addition of soft particles to the pure rigid aggregates, the values of e and K0 decrease. Additionally, for both pure rigid samples and rigid-soft particle mixtures, with increasing the overburden pressure, e decreases whereas K0 augments. Moreover, due to the creep behaviour during the constant loading step, K0 decreases over time for both samples; a phenomenon which is observed to be more pronounced for pure rigid aggregates compared to rigid-soft particle mixtures. Finally, a well-established creep model is used to simulate the creep behaviour of pure rigid samples and rigid-soft particle composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrites are crucial for receiving information into neurons. Sensory experience affects the structure of these tree-like neurites, which, it is assumed, modifies neuronal function, yet the evidence is scarce, and the mechanisms are unknown. To study whether sensory experience affects dendritic morphology, we use the Caenorhabditis elegans’ arborized nociceptor PVD neurons, under natural mechanical stimulation induced by physical contacts between individuals. We found that mechanosensory signals induced by conspecifics and by glass beads affect the dendritic structure of the PVD. Moreover, developmentally isolated animals show a decrease in their ability to respond to harsh touch. The structural and behavioral plasticity following sensory deprivation are functionally independent of each other and are mediated by an array of evolutionarily conserved mechanosensory amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channels (degenerins). Calcium imaging of the PVD neurons in a micromechanical device revealed that controlled mechanical stimulation of the body wall produces similar calcium dynamics in both isolated and crowded animals. Our genetic results, supported by optogenetic, behavioral, and pharmacological evidence, suggest an activity-dependent homeostatic mechanism for dendritic structural plasticity, that in parallel controls escape response to noxious mechanosensory stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mixing zone, where submarine groundwater carrying ferrous iron [Fe(II)] meets seawater with dissolved oxygen (DO), the oxidative precipitation of Fe(II) occurs at the pore scale (nm~μm), and the resulting Fe precipitation significantly influences the seepage properties at the Darcy scale (cm~m). Previous studies have presented a challenge in upscaling fluid dynamics from a small scale to a large scale, thereby constraining our understanding of the spatiotemporal variations in flow paths as porous media evolve. To address this limitation, this study simulated subsurface mixing by injecting Fe(II)-rich freshwater into a DO-rich saltwater flow within a custom-designed syringe packed with glass beads. Micro-computed tomography imaging at the representative elementary volume scale was utilized to track the development of Fe precipitates over time and space. Experimental observations revealed three distinct stages of Fe hydroxides and their effects on the flow dynamics. Initially, hydrous Fe precipitates were characterized by a low density and exhibited mobility, allowing temporarily clogged pathways to intermittently reopen. As precipitation progressed, the Fe precipitates accumulated, forming interparticle bonding structures that redirected the flow to bypass clogged pores and facilitated precipitate flushing near the syringe wall. In the final stage, a notable reduction in the macroscopic capillary number from 3.0 to 0.05 indicated a transition from a viscous- to capillary-dominated flow, which led to the construction of ramified, tortuous flow channels. This study highlights the critical role of high-resolution imaging techniques in bridging the gap between pore-scale and continuum-scale analyses of multiphase flows in hydrogeochemical processes, offering valuable insights into the complex groundwater–seawater mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow dynamics of dry granular flows is significantly affected by a prominent feature of a granular mass known as dilatancy. Although their rheological behaviour has been characterised by way of friction and dynamic dilatancy laws, the role of dilatancy in a granular flow has not been much appreciated. In this study, using a vane rheometer, an experimental investigation was conducted on uniform glass beads of d = 3 mm at different initial relative densities (15 ≤ Dr ≤ 66%) and shear rates that spanned over four orders of magnitude. The flow characteristics in terms of effective friction, volume change and velocity field were obtained and evaluated. The effective friction shows a descending–ascending pattern corresponding to a transitional behaviour from a velocity-weakening solid-like behaviour to a velocity-strengthening liquid-like behaviour. The volume-change measurements show that all specimens dilate and reach almost the same density at each shear rate. The velocity field follows a Gaussian pattern characterised by the slipping velocity at the boundary, the interlayer slippage between particles and the interlayer disorder of the particles. A new non-monotonic friction law and a dynamic dilatancy law are presented as governing rheological laws based on the inertial number and by introducing an effective dilation coefficient. This effective dilation coefficient successfully captures the role of dilation-induced secondary vortex flows in the dry granular flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durable and stable phantoms for verifying and validating the new magnetomotive ultrasound technique are lacking. Here we propose a phantom design to address this need. A mixture of styrene-butylene/ethylene-styrene (SEBS) in mineral oil and glass beads as a scattering material acted as a bulk material, in which a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) inclusion containing magnetic nanoparticles in water solution and graphite was embedded. The design mimics nanoparticle-laden lymph nodes embedded in mesorectal fat, as would be the clinical scenario for diagnostic support of staging rectal cancer using magnetomotive ultrasound. The estimated reflection between the insert and bulk material was 10%, matching the clinical case of a lymph node within fat (9%). Speed of sound, attenuation, and Young's modulus of the bulk material were matched with those of body fat. The insert also matched the acoustic and elastic properties of lymph node tissue except for attenuation, which was lower than that given in the literature. Glass beads and graphite were used to control backscatter levels in the respective tissue mimics, providing a contrast of -3.8 dB that was consistent with clinical image appearance. The magnitude of magnetomotion remained stable in three separate samples over the course of 3 weeks. We have developed a phantom for magnetomotive ultrasound that combines the stability of an oil-based bulk material with the necessity of using a water-based material for the insert. The production procedure may be applied to other phantoms where one tissue type needs to be embedded within another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of varying permeability and sinusoidal wall temperature fluctuations on the temporal heat transfer flow driven by natural convection inside a rectangular enclosure filled with a glass bead porous medium under local thermal nonequilibrium conditions for both the working fluid and the porous medium. The fluid's thermal conductivity is assumed to be variable, and a Darcy–Brinkman–Forchheimer model is used to describe the fluid flow. The Galerkin-type finite element method simulates the constitutive equations governing the flow and heat transfer. The simulation explores the influence of different model parameters on the flow and thermal fields. The results indicate that at a steady state ( τ = 1.0 ), when glass bead diameter Dp increased from 0.01 to 1.0, the values of Nu f ¯ and Nu s ¯ decreased by 48.8% and 26%, respectively. Besides, the value of the Nusselt number for the fluid increased by 280.61%, whereas the Nusselt number for the solid increased by 266.55% with the increase of the wave frequency n from 1 to 4. Furthermore, these physical quantities increased by 629.71% and 91.405% when the wave amplitude B rose from 0.1 to 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the influence of various concentrations of BaTiO3 nanofluid on adsorption energy and improved oil recovery. BaTiO3 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a Sol-gel approach at temperatures of 400 °C, 500 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C and characterized for their structural and morphological properties and interfacial tension (IFT)/Wettability measurement. The study focuses on using ferroelectric nanofluid in combination with an electromagnetic field to enhance oil recovery mechanisms. Three concentrations of BaTiO3 nanofluid were prepared, and their effects on pressure and recovery factors were examined. The results demonstrate that BaTiO3 nanofluids increase the reservoir fluid's ionic conductivity, leading to environmental polarization. Applying BaTiO3 nanofluid on glass bead samples resulted in a significant 42.15% increase in the recovery factor at a 0.3% concentration in various measurements, including interfacial tension, core-flooding, and wettability. The nanofluid caused a reduction in interfacial tension and a shift in wettability from oil-wet to water-wet. The higher adsorption energy of the nanofluid corresponded to more significant oil recovery. The optimal concentration for maximum adsorption energy (−2.566331 × 104) and oil recovery (22.5%) was 0.3wt%. At 0.1% concentration, the IFT value was 0.023 mN/m, at 0.3% concentration the IFT was 0.017 mN/m and at 0.5% concentration IFT value was 0.032 mN/m. The contact angle of the brine with the oil was 89.39% compared to the contact angle of 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% which were 64.25%, 10.57%, and 44.63%, respectively. It was revealed from the result that 0.3% of nanofluid decreased the contact angle from 89.39% to 10.57 at a 0.3% concentration of BaTiO3 nanofluid. This shows that the wettability of the rock surface changed from oil-wet to water-wet with the novel application of BaTiO3 nanoparticles. This improvement in recovery can be attributed to the modification of wettability and reduction of interfacial tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in a three-phase reactor with a rectangular cross-section, the effects of liquid circulation rates and solid particle concentration on gas holdup and bubble size distribution (BSD) were investigated. Air, water, and glass beads were used as the gas, liquid, and solid phases, respectively. Different liquid circulation velocities and different solid loads were applied. The results demonstrate that increasing solid content from 0% to 6% can decrease gas holdup by 50% (due to increased slurry phase viscosity and promotion of bubble coalescence). Also, increasing the liquid circulation rate showed a weak effect on gas holdup, although a slight incremental effect was observed due to the promotion of bubble breakup and the extension of bubble residence time. The gas holdup in counter-current slurry bubble columns (CCSBCs) was predicted using a novel correlation that took into account the combined effects of solid concentration and liquid circulation rate. These findings are crucial for the design and optimization of the three-phase reactors used in industries such as mining and wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micromechanical behavior of two fine-grained soil mixtures, i.e., RS-C containing river sand grains and GB-C containing glass beads, was investigated using X-ray microtomography (µCT). The specimens were uniaxially compressed within a miniature loading apparatus with in situ X-ray µCT scanning, from which full-field high spatial-resolution CT images of the specimens were acquired for analysis. Both specimens experienced an initial increase of axial stress accompanied by the generation of small-sized isolated cracks and a subsequent decrease of axial stress associated with the gradual formation of a major inclined crack as the loading progressed. The crack connectivity for both specimens exhibited a gradual reduction, followed by an increase. The generated isolated cracks displayed a higher likelihood of orienting along the vertical direction rather than the horizontal direction. This was found to be associated with the lateral dilation of the specimens during the early loading stage. Both specimens displayed a significant increase in crack volume, correlating exponentially with axial strain. RS-C demonstrated higher initial stiffness and peak strength, attributed to a superior interlocking effect at the fine–coarse grain interface compared to GB-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle shape, size, and size distribution (gradation) significantly influence the mechanical response of granular soils. This research introduces a thermodynamic model based on granular thermodynamics theory, validated by predicting triaxial shearing tests of packed glass beads and crushed glass assemblies. The model reveals the microscopic mechanisms influencing granular system behavior by incorporating particle shape and size factors into both the elasticity and plasticity. The state-dependent hyperelasticity extended from Hertzian contact theory clarifies how particle morphology affects the mechanical behavior of granular soil, emphasizing how particle shape determines stacking structure. Variations in particle shape significantly affect the mechanical response of granular systems to changes in particle size and size distribution. Irregular particles show heightened particle-size sensitivity of the strength and energy dissipation in a granular system. Elevated confining pressures mitigate the influence of particle size and reduce the kinetic granular fluctuation described by the concept of granular temperature. In conclusion, integrating particle morphology into the thermodynamic framework provides a deeper understanding of granular soil behavior, offering insights for optimizing material design and application in engineering fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise in the immunohematological investigations can be described as a false reactivity of red blood cells (RBCs) in serologic testing that is not related to the interaction of RBC antigens and antibodies that the test system is intended to detect. These false-positive reactions can cause confusion during the cross-matching and RBC antibody screening and may result in delays in patient transfusion. Although these antibodies are predominantly clinically insignificant, proper laboratory work-up is indicated to avoid misidentification of a clinically significant antibody as a noise. In this report, we describe the three rare cases where the reactivity was found against the ingredients of the column matrix (glass beads). It is imperative that such reactivity is recognized and resolved during the investigation of blood group discrepancies, positive RBC antibody screens and in cases of positive cross-matches.

To operationalise the heterogeneous photocatalysis process, the present study investigated the efficiency of TiO2-P25 nanoparticles immobilised on glass beads using the heat attachment method to remove cefazolin (CEF) as an antibiotic contaminant. The characteristics of the glass beads coated with TiO2-P25 nanoparticles were probed by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique. The immobilised TiO2-P25 nanoparticles manifested considerable efficiency in CEF removal in different operational conditions. The impact of various parameters, such as the ultraviolet light radiation time, initial concentration of CEF, light source power, inlet liquid volumetric flow rate, and pH of the solution, on the efficiency of CEF removal were examined. The results reveal that the removal percentage goes up as the irradiation time, volumetric flow rate, pH of the solution, and light source power increase while declining with a rise in the initial concentration of CEF. According to the findings, an initial CEF concentration of 20 mg L−1 is entirely removed by 40 min UV irradiation with a 16 W light source, the volumetric flow rate of 300 mL min−1, and the pH of 9.5. The reaction rate constant and adsorption coefficient of CEF on immobilised TiO2 were estimated at 0.622 mg L−1 min−1 and 0.095 mg−1 L via Langmuir- Hinshelwood kinetics. The outcomes of the mineralisation studies also display a considerable reduction of TOC and evolution of significant mineralisation products, like $$NO_3^ - $$ N O 3 − , $$NO_2^ - $$ N O 2 − , $$NH_4^ + $$ N H 4 + , and $$SO_4^{2 - }$$ S O 4 2 − . The experimental results were modelled by artificial neural networks (ANN). Comparing the experimental results with the ANN-predicted data shows the acceptable efficiency of modelling with ANN. The minimum MSE, R2 value for all data (validation, training, and test), and R2 value for simulated data were obtained at 0.00027811, 0.9971, and 0.9809, respectively. The relative importance of the parameters affecting the process evaluated by the ANN weights indicates that the irradiation time is the most important factor in the photocatalytic removal of CEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the traditional open mixing process used for the production of the rubber composites, wet mixing process is a lower shear force mixing method. This article revealed the influence of the open mixing process and the wet mixing process on the microstructure, density, mechanical properties, and ablation performance of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber/fiber/hollow glass microsphere composite system. The results showed that the wet mixing process increased the fiber length by more than 300% compared to the open mixing process, while the fragmentation rate of the hollow glass beads was reduced by 94.4%, these effectively maintained the structural integrity of the fibers and the hollow glass microsphere filler. By using the wet mixing process, the density of EPDM composite materials can be reduced by about 20%, and the tensile strength and ablation resistance of these composites were also significantly improved. Compared to polyimide fiber and aramid fiber short fibers, the wet mixing process of solution‐based rubber had a more significant effect on improving the length and ablation resistance of phenolic fiber and carbon fiber fibers which having poor shear strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass fiber‐reinforced resin matrix composites are widely used and studied for their good mechanical and impact resistance properties. In this paper, five glass fiber reinforced nylon 6 (PA6)‐based composites were prepared by mechanical blending combined with the molding process. The flexural strength, shear strength, pendulum impact strength, and low‐velocity impact properties of five composites were comparatively investigated. The crack extension modes of the composites were characterized and analyzed by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and computerized X‐ray tomography (XCT), and the effects of different crack extension modes on the mechanical and impact resistance properties of the composites were researched. Experimental results show that: (1) Cracks in the composite material mainly exist in two expansion modes: transverse propagation parallel to the direction of fiber layup and longitudinal propagation perpendicular to the direction of fiber layup; (2) Different crack extension modes will cause different damage situations to the composites, however, the crack extension mode has minimal impact on the flexural, shear and pendulum impact strength of the composites; (3) The flexural and shear strengths of the composites co‐reinforced using fly ash and glass fibers were preferably 484.5 and 46.1 MPa; (4) The crack extension mode has a significant impact on low‐velocity impact performances of the composite material. The composite co‐reinforced with glass beads (GB) and glass fibers had the best impact resistance, with maximum impact force (Pmax), residual impact force (Pr), and absorbed energy (Ea) of 7015.2 N, 6273.6 N and 15.4 J, respectively. Highlights: The propagation of cracks inside the composites was observed using SEM and XCT etc.A relationship between crack propagation mode and low‐velocity impact resistance of composites was established.The low‐velocity impact properties of composites are carefully analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An excavation carried out by H. Ziegert in Assel, Stade district in the 1980s brought to light seven graves, which are presented in detail in this article. There are a total of eight inhumations, some of which were furnished with previously unknown, outstanding grave goods. Grave 1 stands out in particular- the buried woman was given a lavish necklace consisting of over 200 individual glass and amber beads in various colours and shapes as well as 21 amber pendants of unusual size and shape, with her grave. There are also objects made of notched and gilded silver Pressblech with a composed bowl brooch and an equal-armed brooch, as well as a glass nub cup, among other things. This combination creates an unusual ensemble that has only a few parallels and on the one hand emphasises the special status that the woman buried here must have had, but on the other hand also provides a new aspect with regard to the question of the regional and supra-regional significance and the integration of the site in the trade and communication system of the Roman Iron Age and migration period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study emphasizes the significance of understanding groundwater flow behavior for effective contaminant transport and heat storage. Aquifers, with their irregular shapes and variable permeability, exhibit anisotropic flow resistances that affect mass and heat transfer, posing challenges for modeling. The dual-porosity model is used as a numerical approach to calculate macroscopic heat transfer without explicitly resolving the structure. By solving equations for mobile and immobile phases and coupling relevant equations for heat conservation, this model was applied to transient numerical experiments simulating heat transfer and storage in a desktop model filled with glass beads. Results indicate alignment with experimental and numerical models resolving porous structures on the microstructure scale. This methodology offers a comprehensive digital toolbox for solving large-scale heat storage problems in aquifers, contributing to digital and sustainability transformations with reasonable computational demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines beads' cultural and material significance, focusing on their roles in trade, identity, and sensory experiences, highlighting their durability, tactile nature, and diverse uses across time and space.

Glass beads are among the celebrated archaeological finds along the Swahili coast in eastern Africa. These cultural materials have been used as evidence of mercantile trade between the Swahili coast and other communities globally. Glass beads are also chronological markers of archaeological sites and deposits at many Swahili sites. Although archaeologists recover glass beads from almost every excavation, only a few studies have reported on their meaning and consumption. Building on the increasing number of studies and the ongoing discussion of glass beads as 'prestige goods', this paper discusses the meaning and consumption of glass beads at the historic trading port town of Kilwa Kisiwani, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Tanzania. It combines the results of the physical attributes recorded in the analysis of glass beads stored in the National Museum of Tanzania, as well as those from recent excavations around historic water wells, with ethnographic insights from the inhabitants of Kilwa Kisiwani today. With these datasets, we examine the cultural meanings and routine practices that shaped consumption patterns of glass beads in Swahili cities. Against the prestige goods theory that regards glass beads as élite goods and a symbol of power, we argue that function and cultural logic determined beads access and consumption patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beads are a prominent category of material culture in the African past. Crosscutting their study across temporal periods and geographical areas are some general methodological and theoretical convergences: the categorisation of beads in terms of materials and methods of manufacture, an emphasis on provenance and distribution, and the analysis of beads as 'social signals' in relation to identity, networks and status. This paper outlines the conceptual framework of 'making' and discusses how such a framework can expand on existing analyses and provide new avenues for studying beads in the African past. Beads, like all forms of material culture, are the culmination of a dynamic process between materials and makers: the intermixing of ideas, substances and tools in time and space. A focus on making draws our attention to exploring the processes of bead composition in deeper focus, examining not only recycling and reuse but also the ways in which beads were made into composite items, such as garments or adornments. At the same time, a focus on making brings to light a concern for the encounters between material properties, knowledge, memory and sensory affects, encouraging an exploration of bead making as an assemblage of material and non-material things. We draw on a range of case studies from various regions across the African continent to illustrate the relevance of our approach for developing new insights into beads in the archaeological record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mechanical properties of Polyurethane Bark Gum (PBG) reinforced with Solid Glass Beads (SGBs) of varying diameters and content. The tensile analysis demonstrates that a 1% SGB volume fraction maximizes tensile stress and fracture elongation due to synergic composite effects, with smaller SGBs enhancing interfacial adhesion and reducing microcrack formation. The impact analysis revealed that the addition of SGB reduced the impact strength due to interface delamination and energy dissipation mechanisms, with optimal impact resistance observed at a particle size of 0.4–0.6 mm and a content of 5%. Morphological characterization was conducted using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and synchrotron radiation CT scanning techniques, highlighting the role of SGB in toughening, crack bridging, and stress shielding. This study provides insights into the performance of PBG/SGB composite materials and guides the material design for specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Understanding the hydrodynamics of the bed layer in a fluidized bed is essential for optimizing and improving fluidized bed flotation units. This study proposes a fluidized bed flotation column that incorporates auxiliary particles into the gas–liquid two‐phase system to address the shortcomings of traditional flotation units. Stainless steel particles (glass beads), tap water, and compressed air were used as the solid, liquid, and gas phases, respectively. Key factors affecting the bed hydrodynamics (such as bed fluctuation, minimum fluidization velocity, bed expansion, and porosity) in the fluidized column include gas and liquid flow rates as well as the initial bed height. Experimental results show that selecting appropriate filling particles can effectively enhance the fluidization performance of the bed, while appropriately increasing the gas flow rate can achieve fluidization at lower liquid velocities, thus reducing energy consumption during the flotation mineralization process. Theoretical analysis combined with extensive data reveals that the expansion characteristics of the fluidized bed and the use of high‐density filling particles can effectively mitigate bed layer fluctuations and stabilize the flow field environment. Additionally, based on a wide range of data, this study employs model factor analysis, dimensionless analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis to propose a standard dimensionless parameter model for the fluidized bed flotation column, which can effectively predict bed layer fluctuations and expansion characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Iranian Journal of Wood & Paper Science Research is the property of Research Institute of Forests & Rangelands 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.)

Uniquely modified synthetic proteins are difficult to produce in large quantities, which could limit their use in various in vitro settings and in cellular studies. In this study, we developed a method named "suspension bead loading" (SBL), to deliver protein molecules into suspended living cells using glass beads, which significantly reduces the amount of protein required for effective delivery. We investigated the delivery efficiency of functionally different proteins and evaluated the cytotoxic effect of our method and the chemical and functional integrity of the delivered protein. We utilized SBL to address questions related to ubiquitin‐related modifier 1 (URM1). Employing minimal protein quantities, SBL has enabled us to study its behavior within live cells under different redox conditions, including subcellular localization and conjugation patterns. We demonstrate that oxidative stress alters both the localization and conjugation pattern of URM1 in cells, highlighting its possible role in cellular response to such extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]