Search

An improved naturally stabilized nodal integration (NSNI) is presented for resolving displacement locking concerned with highly orthotropic and nearly incompressible materials in the linear setting. It is recognized that the original NSNI is susceptible to the locking when dealing with these types of materials. The proposed method utilizes spectral decomposition to split the elasticity matrix into stiff and nonstiff parts. The terms associated with the stiff modes in the bilinear form are sampled by nodal integration (NI) without stabilization, whereas the other terms are integrated with NSNI. This approach leads to a unified implementation to handle locking in both types of materials. The performance and convergence of the proposed formulation are verified through several two‐ and three‐dimensional numerical examples, illustrating the advantages of the presented method over its standard counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translation abstract Geogrid stabilized and reinforced base layers with bound superstructure over soft subsoil with high swelling capacityTo quantify the stabilization and reinforcement effect of geogrids over soft, expansive clay subgrade, a full‐scale pavement field trial was established in 2018 in a rural residential area, south of Brisbane, Australia. Sections with variable geogrid arrangements were constructed to allow the quantitative assessment of geogrid benefit; both in terms of their initial contribution to composite in‐situ stiffness parameters and their benefit to the long‐term performance of the pavement. On site testing was completed within all trial sections during the project's construction phase, such that the initial state of performance the subgrade and each pavement layer was adequately characterized. The article describes the soil investigations, the construction of the test sections as well as performance monitoring results, three years after the road was opened to traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the anthocyanins of red radishes (ARR) rich in polyacylated pelargonidin glucosides are used as commercial food pigment, they are unstable. We found that the anthocyanin purity of the crude ARR extract can be rapidly increased by 5 times using D101 macroporous resin (mass ratio of extract:resin = 1:2.2). Capsule constructed by chitosan (CTS), pectin (PT) and yeast glucan particles (YGP) presented a high efficiency to encapsulate ARR. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis verified that polyacylated pelargonidin glucosides in ARR were packed into the capsule. Microstructure observation and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy further confirmed the encapsulated structure. Co-encapsulation of CTS, PT and YGP showed effective protection for ARR against heat, oxygen, ascorbic acid, and physiological pH. This encapsulation also significantly improved the gastric and intestinal bioaccessibilities of ARR. These results suggested that the triplex-coated YGPs might be a promising strategy to protect and deliver polyacylated anthocyanin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant production of sewage sludge by wastewater treatment plants on a global scale and the lack of correspondence between housing development and the expansion of sanitation infrastructure indicate a genuine concern regarding environmental preservation. This study addresses the crucial issue of effective sewage sludge management and its environmental impact. In the context of searching for new drying methods that optimize energy use and effectively stabilize sewage sludge, this work investigated the drying behavior of sewage sludge from treatment plants in two northern Moroccan cities using a prototype of an indirect forced convection solar dryer. The drying experiments enabled the determination of drying kinetics as well as highlighted the influence of temperature and humidity on the drying rate. The characteristic drying curve (CDC) and its mathematical expression were determined using Van Meel’s formalism. Thermal diffusivity of wastewater sludge during drying was also investigated. Using Fick’s diffusion model, diffusion coefficients ranged between 0.59 × 10-9 m²/s and 1.43 × 10-9 m²/s, demonstrating an increase in effective diffusivity with rising temperature. The Arrhenius equation provided activation energy values of 16.80 kJ/mol for Oujda samples and 19.72 kJ/mol for Nador samples, indicating the effect of temperature on effective diffusivity. A new equation based on the Midilli-Kucuk model was proposed to predict the drying behavior under untested aerothermal conditions, considering drying temperature and the initial dryness. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the drying kinetics and effective diffusivity of sewage sludge, providing valuable insights for designing large dryers for sludge management in WWTPs. This approach presents an optimal solution for drying and stabilizing sludge, contributing to environmental preservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a degenerate/singular wave equation in lone dimension, with drift and in presence of a leading operator that is not in divergence form. We impose a homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition where the degeneracy occurs and a boundary damping at the other endpoint. We provide some conditions for the uniform exponential decay of solutions for the associated Cauchy problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT During this period of rising energy demand, scientific circles and energy stakeholders have paid close attention to electrochemical energy storage. In order to improve the functioning of charge storage systems, the BaS3:Sb2S3:LaS2 tri‐chalcogenide is produced with a diethyldithiocarbamate ligand as a chelator. The BaS3:Sb2S3:LaS2 semiconductor, which was produced sustainably, has a 3.65‐eV energy band gap and high photoactivity due to light absorption. Having heterogeneous crystalline states and a mean crystallite dimension of 17.58 nm, the resulting chalcogenide had excellent crystallinity. In addition, infrared spectroscopy was utilized to analyze metallic sulfide associations, and the results showed that they ranged from 550 to 951 cm−1. This chalcogenide expressed filiform rod‐like morphology with an abundance of the sites available for electrochemical activity. The electrochemical performance of BaS3:Sb2S3:LaS2 was assessed with a conventional three‐electrode configuration. BaS3:Sb2S3:LaS2 has been shown to have been a superior substance for electrodes for storing electricity, with a power density of 7910.18 W kg−1 with a particular capacitance of as high as 961.39 F g−1. The exceptional electrochemical performance was supported with a comparable series resistance (Rs) at 0.71 Ω. Following electrocatalysis, the electrode exhibited an OER overpotential and an equivalent Tafel slope of approximately 416 mV and 126 mV/dec, respectively. Conversely, the Tafel slope and overpotential of the HER activity were 117 mV/dec and 233 mV, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a predator-prey system with density-dependent diffusion and indirect pursuit-evasion interaction under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. By providing appropriate conditions, the asymptotic stability of solution is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep infection is the second most common complication of arthroplasty following loosening of the implant. Antibiotic-loaded bone cements (ALBCs) and high concentrations of systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics are commonly used to prevent infections following injury and surgery. However, clinical data fails to show that ALBCs are effective against deep infection, and negative side effects can result following prolonged administration of antibiotics. Additionally, the rise of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria provides an urgent need for alternatives to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Phage therapy, or the use of bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) to target pathogenic bacteria, might offer a safe alternative to combat MDR bacteria. Application of phage therapy in the setting of deep infections requires formulation strategies that would stabilize bacteriophage against chemical and thermal stress during bone-cement polymerization, that maintain bacteriophage activity for weeks or months at physiological temperatures, and that allow for sustained release of phage to combat slow-growing, persistent bacteria. Here, we demonstrate the formulation of three phages that target diverse bacterial pathogens, which includes spray-drying of the particles for enhanced thermal stability at 37 °C and above. Additionally, we use atomic layer deposition (ALD) to coat spray-dried powders with alumina to allow for delayed release of phage from the dry formulations, and potentially protect phage against chemical damage during bone cement polymerization. Together, these findings present a strategy to formulate phages that possess thermal stability and sustained release properties for use in deep infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a predator–prey model with indirect prey-taxis and predator-taxis u t = ∇ ⋅ (D 1 (u) ∇ u) − χ ∇ ⋅ (S 1 (u) ∇ z) + u (α v − a 1 − b 1 u) , x ∈ Ω , t > 0 , v t = ∇ ⋅ (D 2 (v) ∇ v) + ξ ∇ ⋅ (S 2 (v) ∇ w) + v (a 2 − b 2 v − u) , x ∈ Ω , t > 0 , 0 = Δ w + β u − γ w , x ∈ Ω , t > 0 , 0 = Δ z + δ v − ρ z , x ∈ Ω , t > 0 , under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions in a smoothly bounded domain Ω ⊂ ℝ n (n ≥ 1) , where the parameters χ , ξ , α , β , γ , δ , ρ , a 1 , a 2 , b 1 , b 2 are positive, D 1 (u) and D 2 (v) are nonlinear diffusion functions, S 1 (u) and S 2 (v) are nonlinear sensitivity functions. First, under certain suitable conditions for D i and S i with i = 1 , 2 , the system admits a unique globally bounded classical solution, provided that b 1 ≥ 4 α and b 2 > 0. Additionally, by constructing appropriate Lyapunov functionals, we investigate the asymptotic stability of the globally bounded solutions and provide the exact convergence rates based on the different parameter choices: When a 1 b 2 < α a 2 , it is shown that the global bounded solution (u , v , w , z) exponentially converges to a 2 α − a 1 b 2 α + b 2 b 1 , a 1 + a 2 b 1 α + b 2 b 1 , β (a 2 α − a 1 b 2) γ (α + b 2 b 1) , δ (a 1 + a 2 b 1) ρ (α + b 2 b 1) as t → ∞ ; When a 1 b 2 > α a 2 , it is shown that the global bounded solution (u , v , w , z) exponentially converges to 0 , a 2 b 2 , 0 , δ a 2 ρ b 2 as t → ∞ ; When a 1 b 2 = α a 2 , it is shown that the global bounded solution (u , v , w , z) algebraically converges to 0 , a 2 b 2 , 0 , δ a 2 ρ b 2 as t → ∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized the mechanical and thermophysical properties of the compressed earth bricks (CEB) incorporating cotton waste ash. The obtained values of compressive strength are acceptable, as they are well above the limits set by the standards for CEB in Cameroon. Regarding the thermophysical properties, the measured heat capacity decreases by 17% compared to cement stabilization, which is an improvement in the material's ability to store heat. Thermal conductivity is reduced by 28% compared to the cement formulation. Therefore, the incorporated material improves the natural thermal comfort of buildings. Water absorption tests have shown that these materials absorb less water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays new soil stabilization techniques are being sought to reduce the cost of road and highway construction, and therefore increase their lifetime. One of such techniques is the utilization of geosynthetic materials, particularly geotextiles. This paper specifically focuses on the application of non-woven geotextiles. Their selection is underpinned by their commendable mechanical and physical attributes, as well as their substantial potential for reinforcing and bolstering the bearing capacity of subsoils. In the pursuit of this investigation, two distinct soil types were sampled: one from the Missabougou district in Bamako, Mali, and the other from the Sariçam district in Adana, Turkey. Rigorous advanced laboratory tests, including particle size analysis, Atterberg limits, moisture content, specific gravity, compaction test, and California bearing ratio test were conducted. A total of 48 CBR experiments were carried out under unsoaked conditions, both with and without non-woven geotextiles. The geosynthetic materials were strategically placed at various depths within the CBR mold (H/5, 2H/5, 3H/5, 4H/5) in both single and multiple layers, with three compaction efforts applied to each sample. The findings revealed a significant enhancement in soil sample strength, particularly 100% compaction at H/5 for both Missabougou and Sariçam specimens. The CBR values for Missabougou soil were notably elevated from 12 to 76 with the presence of the geotextile. Similarly, the CBR outcome of Sariçam soil exhibited improvement from 45 to 75. The investigational results underscored a robust improvement in CBR values for the analyzed subsoils as a direct consequence of the effect of the reinforcement elements. The present study contributes to the pursuit of cost-effective soil stabilization techniques by highlighting the benefits of non-woven geotextiles. Using these materials strategically improves soil strength, emphasizing their potential application in highway and road construction, thus resulting in a longer lasting and more durable infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the global production and industrialization of avocados has led to the generation of large numbers of peel, seeds, and leaf by-products with significant environmental implications. Current efforts, including the Sustainable Development Goals, aim towards the development of sustainable operations through the valorization of waste. Previous research has focused on studying the rich chemical composition of these avocado by-products. Current studies are working on the isolation of polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids and other bioactive compounds found in avocado peel, seeds and leaves for applications in nutraceutical products in the food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries. The inclusion of these extracts in industrial matrices often requires stabilization technologies such as encapsulation emulsions to ensure the delivery and bioactivity of these target compounds. This review will discuss the global production volumes of avocado and its by-products as well as the potential inclusion in various industries based on their chemical compositions. Additionally, this work addresses the various applications that have been previously proposed for the wastes and their extracts. This review also covers the stabilization techniques previously employed in avocado extract treatment, their applications, and the current challenges and opportunities associated with avocado by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has highlighted the need of maintaining financial and economic stabilization to mitigate the negative effects of the health crisis. In the context of a currency area, national governments count on national fiscal and macroprudential instruments to stabilize their own economy. Through a DSGE model for a monetary union I assess the welfare implications of different macroprudential‐fiscal policy combinations, that are set with stabilization purposes. The findings confirm that for a supply and a demand shock, as the ones responsible for the economic crisis of 2020, the stabilizing policy mix might deteriorate welfare. By contrast, after a financial shock, similar to that of the Great Recession, the stabilizing policy combination strategies always achieve welfare gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linearization remodeling and state-feedback control for a class of autonomous nonlinear systems based on equilibrium manifold expansion (EME) are visited and explicated in this paper, including linearization approximation, state-feedback stabilization and state estimation. More precisely, firstly, EME linearized remodels of nonlinear systems are explained and their existence is validated rigorously; secondly, EME-based state-feedback control and observer design are developed analytically with EME remodeling and gain scheduling; thirdly, stabilization under EME-based state feedback and observers are tackled, respectively; finally, feasibility and efficiency of the EME approach are illustrated by numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For continuous‐time complex‐valued neural networks, this paper addresses the state‐feedback stabilization issue via dynamic event‐triggered protocol. Aiming at random parameters' switching, semi‐Markov jump model surpasses the Markov jump model in terms of its generality, enabling us to effectively capture the occurrence of random abrupt alterations in both the structure and parameters of complex‐valued neural networks. To optimize packet transmission, a new dynamic event‐based protocol is introduced to judge whether the previous signal transmission continues. The design of this protocol takes into full consideration the imaginary part characteristics of the system, while also integrating the system modes and dynamic variables. Utilizing an appropriate Lyapunov functional that contains auxiliary internal dynamical variables, the desired stability is proposed. Eventually, the effectiveness of theoretical findings is ultimately validated through two numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the optimal output‐feedback control and stabilization of a networked control system, where both time delay and packet loss are involved. Different from most previous work, the packet loss is Markovian, and the time delay occurs between the actuator and controller. The difficulty is rooted in the failure of the separation principle. The main tools are solving the delayed forward‐backward stochastic difference equations (D‐FBSDEs) and convergent analysis. Resorting to solving D‐FBSDEs and completing the square, we acquire the analytical solution, including the necessary and sufficient solvability condition and the explicit controller, of the finite‐horizon optimal control problem. Based on the finite‐horizon result and convergent analysis, we then obtain the analytical solution of the infinite‐horizon optimal control and stabilization problems. In addition, by analyzing the convergence of the optimal estimator, we establish a constraint relationship between the packet loss probability q$$ q $$ and the system matrix A$$ A $$. The results are evaluated by numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is considered with the asymptotic stabilization of coupled delayed nonlinear time fractional reaction diffusion systems (FRDSs) governed by fractional parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) with space‐dependent coefficients under sampled‐data in space control. It is assumed that state measurements can be averaged measurements (AMs) or point measurements (PMs), and a finite number of sensing and actuation devices are located in a spaced manner along the spatial domain of the interest. With the proposed sampled‐data in space controller, the closed‐loop H1$$ {H}&#x0005E;1 $$ stability is obtained. Tuning rules of system parameters and control parameters are derived using the fractional Halanay's inequality and the fractional Lyapunov method. Subsequently, the dual problem of observer design is formulated. Fractional examples are used to valid the theoretical result. Discussions on the extension of sampled‐data boundary feedback stabilization are provided finally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) provides a novel idea to solve the problem of reduction and stabilization of Cr(VI) in contaminated soil. In this study, the remediation of Cr(VI) in severely polluted soil (total Cr = 5530.00 ± 120.21 mg/kg) by MICP technology combined with the Cr(VI)-reducing bacterium Sporosarcina saromensis W5 was systematically investigated. The results indicated that in W5 and CaCl2 treatment after 35 d of remediation, the Cr in exchangeable fraction could be converted into the oxidizable fraction (F3) and the proportion was 41.49%. Compared to original Cr(VI)-contaminated soil, the content of organic matter and soil urease were enhanced after remediation, indicating the improvement of soil quality. The increase in pH also facilitated the formation and stabilization of carbonate precipitation. In addition, the characterization results showed that Cr(VI) in soil was first reduced to Cr(III), and then formed Ca10Cr6O24(CO3) coprecipitation with CaCO3. The stabilization mechanism of Cr(VI) contained bioreduction, adsorption/complexation, and coprecipitation. The results of this study proposed an efficient and reliable strategy of Cr(VI)-reducing bacterium combined with MICP technology to reduce and stabilize Cr(VI) in high concentration Cr(VI) contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High pressure processing (HPP) offers the benefits of safety, uniformity, energy-efficient, and low waste, which is widely applied for microbial inactivation and shelf-life extension for foods. Over the past forty years, HPP has been extensively researched in the food industry, enabling the inactivation or activation of different enzymes in future food by altering their molecular structure and active site conformation. Such activation or inactivation of enzymes effectively hinders the spoilage of food and the production of beneficial substances, which is crucial for improving food quality. This paper reviews the mechanism in which high pressure affects the stability and activity of enzymes, concludes the roles of key enzymes in the future food processed using high pressure technologies. Moreover, we discuss the application of modified enzymes based on high pressure, providing insights into the future direction of enzyme evolution under complex food processing conditions (e.g. high temperature, high pressure, high shear, and multiple elements). Finally, we conclude with prospects of high pressure technology and research directions in the future. Although HPP has shown positive effects in improving the future food quality, there is still a pressing need to develop new and effective combined processing methods, upgrade processing modes, and promote sustainable lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the preparation of activated carbon using a petroleum-residue-based pitch, as well as the HCl gas adsorption properties of the resulting activated carbon pellets relative to their specific surface area and pore structure. Activated carbon was prepared under various oxidation and chemical activation conditions using pitch with a softening point of 220 °C. The activated carbon was mixed with distilled water, an acrylic binder, and carboxymethyl cellulose in a specific ratio to form pellets. These pellets were then dried in an oven at 80 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses were performed to evaluate the surface structure and specific surface area of the finalized pellets. HCl gas was adsorbed at a concentration of 50 ppm while examining the adsorption characteristics relative to the pore structure and specific surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of trivalent metal-modified biochar on the stability and mitigation of fluoride ions (F-) in contaminated soils remains largely unexplored, despite biochar's extensive application in F--contaminated soil. The mineral metal-modified biochar has the potential to serve as an efficient solution for soil contaminated with F-. In this study, pristine-pinecone biochar (P-BC) and AlCl3-modified pinecone biochar (A-BC) were synthesized and then utilized to remediate the soil that had been contaminated with F-. Both P-BC and A-BC efficiently immobilized F- within the contaminated soil. Further examinations through sequential extraction procedure and subsequent analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and elemental dot mapping demonstrated a transformation of F- into a more stable state by A-BC treatment of the contaminated soil. This implies that A-BC may possess the capacity to function as an efficient ameliorant for immobilizing F- within the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we analyze Parametrized Advection-Dominated distributed Optimal Control Problems with random inputs in a Reduced Order Model (ROM) context. All the simulations are initially based on a finite element method (FEM) discretization; moreover, a space-time approach is considered when dealing with unsteady cases. To overcome numerical instabilities that can occur in the optimality system for high values of the Péclet number, we consider a Streamline Upwind Petrov–Galerkin technique applied in an optimize-then-discretize approach. We combine this method with the ROM framework in order to consider two possibilities of stabilization: Offline-Only stabilization and Offline-Online stabilization. Moreover we consider random parameters and we use a weighted Proper Orthogonal Decomposition algorithm in a partitioned approach to deal with the issue of uncertainty quantification. Several quadrature techniques are used to derive weighted ROMs: tensor rules, isotropic sparse grids, Monte-Carlo and quasi Monte-Carlo methods. We compare all the approaches analyzing relative errors between the FEM and ROM solutions and the computational efficiency based on the speedup-index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The unclear clinical outcomes of two different zero‐profile implants with different number of screws in hybrid surgery restricts the choice of patient‐specific implants. This study aims to compare two different implants on its postoperative subsidence, motion stabilization and clinical outcomes. It also provides references to the most reasonable implant choice in fusion surgery. Methods: This was a retrospective study. From February 2014 to March 2022, 173 patients who underwent hybrid surgery were included. Among them, 122 received surgery with a four screw implant, while 51 received a two screw implant. We analyzed the significance of patient‐specific factors, radiographic factors and clinical outcomes. The Wilcoxon rank sum test, t tests/analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and stepwise multivariate logistic regression were adopted for statistical analysis. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between the two screw and four screw groups in terms of immediate, middle, and long‐term stability and fusion rate (p > 0.05). However, the two screws group had higher FSU height subsidence at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and higher rates of significant subsidence at three and 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). Both groups showed significant clinical improvements at the final follow‐up. Conclusion: Two screw and four screw implants provide comparable stability, fusion rates and clinical outcomes. However, the two screw implant was inferior to the four screw implant in subsidence prevention. Therefore, the two‐screw implant is non‐inferior to the four‐screw implant in most patients. It can be used as the priority choice in the fusion segment by its easy manageability. However, the patients with a high risk of subsidence such as multilevel surgery, the elderly, lower BMD, bad cervical alignment should receive a four screw implant rather than a two screw implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, medical waste ash was used as an aluminosilicate precursor to produce a geopolymer binder with stabilised heavy metals. The ash was initially calcined at a temperature of 800 °C for two hours to reduce the organic content. Calcined kaolin and medical waste ash were used as precursors to produce the geopolymer binder and sodium silicate and calcium oxides were used as alkaline activators. The effect of curing temperature (23, 60, and 100 °C) and the calcium oxide addition (0, 5, and 10%) on the geopolymer properties were evaluated. Eighteen geopolymer samples were prepared and evaluated for immobilizing heavy metals through the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). When compared to raw materials, TCLP results indicated that geopolymerization can significantly reduce the concentration of heavy metals in the medical waste ash leachate. The metal fixation percentages of the geopolymers ranged from 70 to 100%. The sequential extraction test results showed that geopolymerization (stabilization/solidification) is very beneficial in reducing the bioavailable fraction in the solid waste and maximizing the difficulty of fraction extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, an abundant biopolymer derived from plants, is a green binder for stabilizing soil. This study investigates the thermal conductivity of lignin [e.g., sodium ignosulfonate (SL), calcium lignosulfonate (CL), and lignin fiber (LF)] and lignin-stabilized loess. The effects of the source of loess samples, lignin content, curing time, water content, and dry density on the thermal conductivity of the stabilized soils were experimentally evaluated. Furthermore, mineralogy and microstructure of the stabilized loess were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests to provide insights into the mechanisms of lignin-based soil stabilization. The test results showed that lignin had a lower thermal conductivity than water and soil minerals. The addition of lignin reduced the thermal conductivity of loess, with CL and SL causing a slightly greater reduction than LF. Mixing lignin with loess did not generate new crystalline material. The incorporation of CL and SL altered the microstructure of loess, resulting in a densely packed structure with distinct particle bonds and intra-aggregate pores. In contrast, LF provide microscale reinforcement for the soil particles, presenting a loose structure with dominant interaggregate pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces an adaptive version of the stabilized Trace Finite Element Method (TraceFEM) designed to solve low-regularity elliptic problems on level-set surfaces using a shape-regular bulk mesh in the embedding space. Two stabilization variants, gradient-jump face and normal-gradient volume, are considered for continuous trace spaces of the first and second degrees, based on the polynomial families Q 1 and Q 2. We propose a practical error indicator that estimates the 'jumps' of finite element solution derivatives across background mesh faces and it avoids integration of any quantities along implicitly defined curvilinear edges of the discrete surface elements. For the Q 1 family of piecewise trilinear polynomials on bulk cells, the solve-estimate-mark-refine strategy, combined with the suggested error indicator, achieves optimal convergence rates typical of two-dimensional problems. We also provide a posteriori error estimates, establishing the reliability of the error indicator for the Q 1 and Q 2 elements and for two types of stabilization. In numerical experiments, we assess the reliability and efficiency of the error indicator. While both stabilizations are found to deliver comparable performance, the lowest degree finite element space appears to be the more robust choice for the adaptive TraceFEM framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend the method of controlled Lagrangians to nonholonomic Euler–Poincaré equations with advected parameters, specifically to those mechanical systems on Lie groups whose symmetry is broken not only by a potential force but also by nonholonomic constraints. We introduce advected-parameter-dependent quasivelocities in order to systematically eliminate the Lagrange multipliers in the nonholonomic Euler–Poincaré equations. The quasivelocities facilitate the method of controlled Lagrangians for these systems, and lead to matching conditions that are similar to those by Bloch, Leonard, and Marsden for the standard holonomic Euler–Poincaré equation. Our motivating example is what we call the pendulum skate, a simple model of a figure skater developed by Gzenda and Putkaradze. We show that the upright spinning of the pendulum skate is stable under certain conditions, whereas the upright sliding equilibrium is always unstable. Using the matching condition, we derive a control law to stabilize the sliding equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Early intervention after trauma is needed for reduction in clinical distress and prevention of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study describes findings from an open pilot trial of a brief stabilization psychotherapy based on imagery techniques for adults with acute PTSD (i.e., within 3 months of onset). Materials and Methods: Four sessions of 60-minute individual psychotherapy were conducted on 18 participants with PTSD within 3 months alter accidents, 15 of whom completed the treatment. The clinician-administered PTSD scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales, and self-questionnaires were administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. Results: Eight (53.3%) of the 15 patients at post-treatment and 8 of the 9 patients at 6-month follow-up did not meet the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. Reliable change of PTSD symptoms after treatment was observed in 6 of 15 (45.0%) patients at post-treatment and in 4 of 9 (45.0%) patients after 6 months. There was a significant decrease in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life scores after treatment, and these gains were maintained after 6 months. No cases of exacerbated PTSD symptoms were observed among completers and non-completers. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that brief stabilization sessions are safe treatment options for acute PTSD (KCT0001918). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the behavior of stabilized Incinerated Bottom Ash (BA) reinforced with fiber when tested under Triaxial conditions. A number of lab-based Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) tests were performed on BA specimens with changing cement content (0–10%) and fiber length (6–18 mm). Cement stabilization enhances shear strength, while fiber inclusion shifts behavior from brittle to ductile. Initially, unconsolidated-undrained strength increases with fiber addition, then decreases. Optimal results were achieved with 0.5% 12 mm fibers and 7% cement, showing a 71.43% strength improvement after 28 days. Prediction of shear strength using a Back Propagation neural network and Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy system yields stronger correlations than regression analysis. The properties of stabilizer and reinforcement on compaction, shear strength, and secant modulus of elasticity (E50) were investigated. PP fiber inclusion enhances shear strength and ductility, with cement content and curing period as dominant factors. Scanning electron microscopy shows stabilizer addition leads to cementitious compounds binding bottom particles, increasing interaction between ash and fiber, thus affecting overall shear strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department 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.)

This paper aims to formulate a class of nonlinear hybrid stochastic time-delay neural networks (STDNNs) with Lévy noise. Specifically, the coefficients of networks grow polynomially instead of linearly, and the time delay of given neural networks is non-differentiable. In many practical situations, nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise are unstable. Hence, this paper uses feedback control based on discrete-time state and mode observations to stabilize the considered nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise. Then, we establish stabilization criteria of H ∞ stability, asymptotic stability, and exponential stability for the controlled nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise. Finally, a numerical example illustrating the usefulness of theoretical results is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of rancidity of rice polishing powder and improve its physicochemical properties, the effects of twin-screw extrusion under different extrusion temperatures on the storage stability and nutritional properties of rice polishing powder were studied. Under the optimum extrusion temperature, the rice polishing powder (SR-1, SR-2, SR-3, and SR-4) with different particle sizes was prepared by low temperature impact mill (LTIM) under different air classifier speeds (300, 600, 1200, and 1800 r/min). The effects of the air classifier speed on volatile aroma compounds and physicochemical properties of rice polishing powder were studied. The results showed that the lipase activity of rice polishing powder decreased significantly from 12.94 mg/g to 2.18 mg/g after extrusion treatment. Stored at the 150th day, the fatty acid value of untreated rice polishing powder was 255.57 mg KOH/100 g, while the fatty acid value of the extruded sample was only 121.90 mg KOH/100 g. After extrusion treatment, dietary fiber, γ-aminobutyric acid, and γ- oryzanol in rice polishing powder were also well retained. LTIM promoted the release of volatile aroma compounds in rice polishing powder, and SR-3 had the highest concentration. Based on the partial least square discriminant, 9 differentially labeled components were screened according to the importance projection of variables, and it was confirmed that SR-3 had the strongest flavor. With the decrease of particle size, the specific surface area of rice polishing powder gradually increased, and the bulk density showed a decreasing trend. The whiteness index increased significantly from 66.08 to 76.61. Water absorption ability and solubility increased significantly from 1.77 g/g and 24% to 2.37 g/g and 31%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that LTIM destroyed hydrogen bonds in starch particles, resulting in more free hydroxyl group exposure. The results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the processing of high-quality rice polishing powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oyster shell has been studied as effective stabilizer for heavy metals that exist as cationic forms in soil-aqueous system, but its stabilization capacity for arsenic was very low because of its anionic existence forms. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) shows excellent oxyanion As fixation capacity in soil because of interlayer anion (or complex) exchange, but has relatively low fixation capabilities for other heavy metals. Because of different main mechanism to fix arsenic in the stabilizer compared to other heavy metals, there are limitations in applying only a single stabilizer to the site contaminated with both the arsenic and other heavy metals. The use of a powdered type stabilizer in the field could also be limited because of the risk of suffering mass loss, fugitive dust generation, and low sustainability of the stabilization effect. To overcome these problems, the granular and the slurry type of Mg-Fe LDH mixed with oyster shell were manufactured as the stabilizer to fix As, Pb, and Cu in the soil at the same time and their stabilization efficiencies were investigated by field scale demonstration tests in this study. Results from experiments confirmed that when a mixed granular type stabilizer was added into the soil, the extraction reducing efficiency for all three, As, Pb and Cu, from soil was more than 75%, which indicated that the mixed stabilizer has great potential to fix all of them in soil at the same time. In field demonstration tests (a total of 3 test beds; each bed: 3 m × 3 m × 2 m), the concentration of As and Pb in groundwater from treated test beds decreased by more than 60%, and their extraction reducing efficiencies were higher than 40%. Both As and Pb fractionation transition to more stable phases in test beds by the mixed stabilizer was clearly observed, supporting the Mg-Fe LDH mixed with oyster shell could be successfully used as a single stabilizer for sites contaminated with both heavy metals and As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental Geochemistry & Health is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Sewage sludge (SS), a byproduct of wastewater treatment plants, poses significant environmental and health risks if not properly handled. Conventional approaches for SS stabilization often involve costly and energy-consuming processes. This study investigated the effect of promoting native microalgae growth in SS on its stabilization, pathogen bacteria removal, and valuable biomass production. The effect on settleability, filterability, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) was examined as well. Experiments were conducted in photobioreactors (PBRs) without O2 supply and CO2 release under controlled parameters. The results show a significant improvement in SS stabilization, with a reduction of volatile solids (VSs) by 47.55%. Additionally, fecal coliforms and E. coli were efficiently removed by 2.25 log and 6.72 log, respectively. Moreover, Salmonella spp. was not detected after 15 days of treatment. The settleability was improved by 71.42%. However, a worsening of the sludge filterability properties was observed, likely due to a decrease in floc size following the reduction of protein content in the tightly bound EPS fraction. Microalgae biomass production was 16.56 mg/L/day, with a mean biomass of 0.35 g/L at the end of the batch treatment, representing 10.35% of the total final biomass. These findings suggest that promoting native microalgal growth in SS could be sustainable and cost-effective for SS stabilization, microalgal biomass production, and the enhancement of sludge-settling characteristics, notwithstanding potential filtration-related considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan, a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from chitin, has emerged as a highly promising instrument for the production and application of metal nanoparticles. The present review delves into the several functions of chitosan in the development and operation of metal nanoparticles, emphasizing its aptitudes as a green reducing agent, shape-directing agent, size-controlling agent, and stabilizer. Chitosan's special qualities make it easier to manufacture metal nanoparticles and nanocomposites with desired characteristics. Furthermore, there is a lot of promise for chitosan-based nanocomposites in a number of fields, such as metal removal, water purification, and photoacoustic, photothermal, antibacterial, and photodynamic therapies. This thorough analysis highlights the potential application of chitosan in the advancement of nanotechnology and the development of medicinal and environmental solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of dams and levees is an increasing concern for both infrastructure integrity and environmental sustainability. The extensive repercussions, including the displacement of communities, underscore the imperative for sustainable interventions. This study addresses these challenges by investigating the stabilization of dredged material (DM) for diverse applications. Seven mixtures incorporating fly ash, lime, and cement were formulated. The Standard Compaction Test was used to determine optimal density–moisture conditions, which helped with brick fabrication. Bricks were tested for compressive strength over various curing periods, and the durability of the 28-day-cured samples was evaluated by performing water immersion tests following the New Mexico Code specifications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess microstructural bonding. Results confirm that the inclusion of cementitious stabilizers modifies the material's microstructure, resulting in enhancements of both strength and water resistance. Notably, the stabilized material demonstrates potential for use in non-fired brick manufacturing and as bridge stones for waterway erosion control. This dual-function application offers a sustainable and economically feasible approach to managing dredged materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk posed by expansive soils can be lessened by placing foundations at a more deep level below the surface. Structures are able to withstand uplift forces because overburden pressure partially suppresses swelling pressure. In order to transfer the forces to a sufficiently deep depth, this study suggests introducing shafts of a low-expansion overburden material. Soil improved with cement is chosen for this purpose. This study suggests using sand with added excavated natural clay and cement. The expansive clay is added to sand in ratios of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60%. The clay–sand mixture is then enhanced by cement of 1, 2, 4 and 8% by the weight of the mixture under four curing periods of 1, 7, 28, and 90 days. This material is recommended for use under lean concrete to transfer the loads to lower levels below the foundation depth. The thickness of this material depends on the stresses exerted, the type and the properties of the subsurface soils. The cement-enhanced clay–sand shaft's properties are examined in this work with regard to the swelling potential, compressibility, and the unconfined compressive strength for different clay contents and curing conditions. Stiff shafts were formed and found to support stresses from 600 to 3500 kPa at cement additions in the range of 1% to 8%. Clay content above 30% is found to be not suitable for Al-Qatif clay due to the compressibility and low strength of the mixture. When two percent or more of cement is added, the swelling potential is significantly reduced. This is reliant on the pozzolanic interactions of soils and cement as well as the clay mineralogy. Determining how cement affects clay–sand combinations in regions with expansive soils would facilitate the introduction of a novel, inexpensive technology to support loads applied by the superstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office 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.)

Arsenic contamination of various environmental components poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Soil As contamination is particularly hazardous, as soil is a vital pathway to the food chain. We conducted experiments on soil from a typical pharmaceutical and chemical industry relocation site in Hubei Province, focusing on modification using fly ash through mechanical and chemical mechanisms. We subjected varying proportions of lime, ferrous sulfate, and fly ash to mechanical ball milling and used these mixtures to perform remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil and site restoration. Our findings are as follows: in soil culture experiments, the As stabilization efficiency reached 90% within 90 days with ferrous salt-modified fly ash. In actual site restoration, As-stabilization efficiency exceeded 95% across different soil depths within 30 days, demonstrating significant stabilization effects. Optimal modified dosages were determined as 2% ferrous sulfate and 2% fly ash. After stabilization, As in the soil primarily existed in amorphous iron-aluminum oxide-bound (F3) and crystalline iron-aluminum oxide-bound (F3 + F4) and residual (F5) states. Fluctuations in the moisture content and pH mainly activated F3 and F4, transitioning them into exchangeable (F1) and surface-adsorbed (F2) states. Arsenic leaching was predominantly associated with the F1 form. Fly ash-based restoration technology demonstrates promising capabilities in waste treatment and pollution control, offering significant potential for widespread application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalysts, which are important in increasing the efficiency of fuel cells, still have disadvantages such as low stability and high cost. To overcome these disadvantages, research on the synthesis of low-cost nanoparticle (NP) catalysts has been carried out. In this study, a new approach to develop a low-cost, high electrocatalytic activity and more stable catalyst was realized. In this context; kaolin ((Al 2 O 3 (SiO 2) 2 (H 2 O) 2)) and zinc oxide (ZnO) supported palladium-copper (PdCl 2 –CuCl 2) nanostructures were synthesized by chemical reduction technique. The particle sizes of the synthesized PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs were found to be 12.02 nm and 23.02 nm, respectively, according to the Debye Scherrer formula. The PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs obtained within the scope of the study were also used in the anodic oxidation of methanol (CH₃OH), a one-carbon organic compound. According to the results obtained, the current density for methanol oxidation peaks of PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs were found to be 27.77 mA cm−2 and 41.52 mA cm−2, respectively. It was observed that the ZnO-supported nanoparticles provided 1.49 times higher electrocatalytic activity compared to the other one. The 500-cycle results showed that the ZnO-supported catalyst exhibited a continuously increasing current density. The tests also proved that the catalysts are diffusion-controlled systems and have high stability. Within the scope of the study, ZnO and Kaolin support not only decreased the cost of the catalyst but also significantly affected the electrocatalytic activity, offering better results than the commercial Pd/C catalyst. Cost-effective ceramic structures such as kaolin and ZnO were crucial to show high stability and electroactive behavior close to the literature. The current study has performed an important contribution to the literature on the use of ceramic materials in electrochemistry. • Synthesis of PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs by chemical reduction. • High electrocatalytic activity of PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs against methanol oxidation. • Cost-effective and highly stable catalysts. • Efficient anode catalysts for methanol fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil contamination with heavy metals presents a substantial environmental peril, necessitating the exploration of innovative remediation approaches. This research aimed to investigate the efficiency of nano-silica in stabilizing heavy metals in a calcareous heavy metal-contaminated soil. The soil was treated with five nano-silica levels of 0, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg and incubated for two months. The results showed that nano-silica had a specific surface area of 179.68 m 2 / g . At 1000 mg/kg, the DTPA-extractable concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr decreased by 12%, 11%, 11.6%, 10%, and 9.5% compared to the controls, respectively. Additionally, as the nano-silica application rate increased, both soil pH and specific surface area increased. The augmentation of nano-silica adsorbent in the soil led to a decline in the exchangeable (EX) and carbonate-bound fractions of Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cr, while the distribution of heavy metals in fractions bonded with Fe–Mn oxides, organic matter, and residue increased. The use of 1000 mg/kg nano-silica resulted in an 8.0% reduction in EX Pb, 4.5% in EX Cu, 7.3% in EX Zn, 7.1% in EX Ni, and 7.9% in EX Cr compared to the control treatment. Overall, our study highlights the potential of nano silica as a promising remediation strategy for addressing heavy metal pollution in contaminated soils, offering sustainable solutions for environmental restoration and ecosystem protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspecific density dependence (CDD) in plant populations is widespread, most likely caused by local‐scale biotic interactions, and has potentially important implications for biodiversity, community composition, and ecosystem processes. However, progress in this important area of ecology has been hindered by differing viewpoints on CDD across subfields in ecology, lack of synthesis across CDD‐related frameworks, and misunderstandings about how empirical measurements of local CDD fit within the context of broader ecological theories on community assembly and diversity maintenance. Here, we propose a conceptual synthesis of local‐scale CDD and its causes, including species‐specific antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. First, we compare and clarify different uses of CDD and related concepts across subfields within ecology. We suggest the use of local stabilizing/destabilizing CDD to refer to the scenario where local conspecific density effects are more negative/positive than heterospecific effects. Second, we discuss different mechanisms for local stabilizing and destabilizing CDD, how those mechanisms are interrelated, and how they cut across several fields of study within ecology. Third, we place local stabilizing/destabilizing CDD within the context of broader ecological theories and discuss implications and challenges related to scaling up the effects of local CDD on populations, communities, and metacommunities. The ultimate goal of this synthesis is to provide a conceptual roadmap for researchers studying local CDD and its implications for population and community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ATTR-CM is becoming more prevalent, and disease-modifying therapy has been investigated in recent years with promising results. Diflunisal has shown TTR-stabilizing properties assessed by biomarkers and echocardiography, but there are no trials addressing the evolution of morphological changes with CMR. Methods and Results: AMILCA-DIFLU is an exploratory pilot study prospective, single-center, non-randomized, open-label clinical trial. Patients diagnosed with ATTR-CM underwent clinical, functional, biochemical and imaging assessment before and one year after diflunisal therapy initiation. Of the twelve ATTR-CM patients included, only nine patients completed treatment and study protocol in 12 months. To increase the sample size, we included seven real-world patients with one year of diflunisal treatment. Among the group of patients who completed treatment, diflunisal therapy did not show improvement in cardiac disease status as assessed by many cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers, 6MWT and CMR parameters after one year of treatment. However, a non-significant trend towards stabilization of CMR parameters such as LVEF, ECV and T2 at one year was found. When comparing the group of patients who completed diflunisal therapy and those who did not, a significant decrease in the distance performed in the 6MWT was found in the group of patients who completed treatment at one year (−14 ± 81.8 vs. −173 ± 122.2; p = 0.032). Diflunisal was overall well tolerated, showing only a statistically significant worsening in renal function in the group of diflunisal-treatment patients with no clinical relevance or need for treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: In patients with ATTR-CM, treatment with diflunisal was overall well tolerated and tended to stabilize or slow down amyloid cardiac disease progression assessed by CMR parameters, cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers and functional capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, individuals have begun to pay more attention to non-traditional stabilizers due to the problems connected with traditional stabilizers. Traditional stabilizers have undergone extensive investigation, and the mechanisms by which they act are well understood. This paper presents findings of the effect of sugarcane vinasse wastewater (VI) and sodium alginate (SA) polymer on the compressibility behavior, and microstructural evolution of clay soil using mixing method. The premise of this paper is to eliminate waste material from nature and compare the performance of this material against the use of polymers that have recently been used in improvement. The additives were dissolved in water and then introduced to the dried stratified soil to produce improved soil samples using the mixing technique. Transported unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was examined for 1, 14, and 28 days of treatments with additive ranges of 3–15% for VI and 0.25–1.25% for SA. In clay with high plasticity, the findings show that VI significantly influences increasing the UCS. With the addition of 9% vinasse to the soil at the age of 28 days, the UCS has increased by 78.8%. Additionally, the introduction of 1.25% SA to the soil has increased by 261.9% for the 28-day treatment efficiency significantly. Microstructural and chemical examination revealed that the mineralogical and morphological contents of the stabilized soil were influenced due to the pozzolanic reaction. The results showed that waste by-product liquid was able to significantly increase the strength and compressibility of the clay soil. Using a large volume of waste by-product liquid to stabilize soil, the researchers discovered a straightforward application method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]