The electrical and optical properties of sol-gel derived aluminum-doped0 zinc oxide thin films containing 2 at.% Al were investigated considering the modifying effects of 1) increasing the sol H₂O content; and 2) thermal treatment procedure with high-temperature approach followed by an additional heat-treatment step under a reducing atmosphere. According to the results obtained via the TG-DTA analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction technique and four-point probe resistivity measurement, it is argued that the sol hydrolysis, decomposition of the deposited gel and crystallization of grains result in grains of larger crystallite size and stronger c-axis preferred orientation with slightly less microstrain in the modified sample. The consequent morphology and grain-boundary characteristics turn out as improved conductivity, implying higher values of concentration and mobility of charge carriers. A detailed investigation on samples optical properties, in terms of analyzing their absorption and dispersion behaviors through the UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, support our reasoning for the increase of the mobility, and to a lesser extent, the concentration of charge carriers, while causing only a slight degradation of optical transmission. Hence, an enhanced performance as a transparent conducting film is claimed for the modified sample by comparing the figure-of-merit values.

In this study, a high energy conversion efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was successfully fabricated by attaching a double anti-reflection (AR) layer which is composed of a subwavelength moth-eye structured polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) film and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film. The efficiency is up to 6.79%. The moth-eye structured PMMA film was fabricated by using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template which is simple, low-cost and scalable. The nano-pattern of AAO template has been precisely reproduced onto PMMA film. The photoanode is composed of Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) with diameter of 25 nm deposited on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate and the sensitizer N3. The double AR layer can effectively improve the short-circuit current density (JSC) and conversion efficiency from 14.77 to 15.79 mA/cm² and from 6.26% to 6.79%, respectively.

Stable suspensions of metal/metalloid oxide nanoparticles (Me-NPs) obtained by laser ablation of 99.99% pure elemental aluminum, titanium or silicon under a layer of deionized water were used separately, or in three binary combinations, or in a ternary combination to induce subchronic intoxications in rats. To this end, the Me-NPs were repeatedly injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) 18 times during 6 weeks before measuring a large number of functional, biochemical, morphological and cytological indices for the organism’s status. In many respects, the Al₂O₃-NP was found to be the most toxic species alone and the most dangerous component of the combinations studied. Mathematical modeling with the help of the Response Surface Methodology showed that, as well as in the case of any other binary toxic combinations previously investigated by us, the organism’s response to a simultaneous exposure to any two of the Me-NP species under study was characterized by a complex interaction between all possible types of combined toxicity (additivity, subadditivity or superadditivity of unidirectional action and different variants of opposite effects) depending on which outcome a given type was estimated for and on effect and dose levels. With any third MeO-NP species acting in the background, the type of combined toxicity displayed by the other two remained virtually the same or changed significantly, becoming either more or less unfavorable. Various harmful effects produced by the [Al₂O₃-NP+TiO₂-NP+SiO₂-NP]-combination, including its genotoxicity, were substantially attenuated by giving the rats per os during the entire exposure period a complex of innocuous bioactive substances expected to increase the organism’s antitoxic resistance.

In this paper we report a new development on the numerical model for aluminum-steam combustion. This model is based on diffusion flame of continuum regime and the thermal equilibrium between the particle and the flow field, which can be used to calculate the aluminum particle combustion model for two phase calculation conditions. The model prediction is in good agreement with the experimental data. A new type of vortex combustor was proposed for the combustion of aluminum and steam, and the mathematical model of the two phase reacting flow with in this combustor was established. The turbulence effects are modeled using the Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) with Linear Pressure-Strain approach, and the Eddy-Dissipation model is used to simulate the gas phase combustion. Aluminum particles are injected into the vortex combustor and form a swirling flow around the chamber and their trajectories are traced using the Discrete Phase Model (DPM). The simulation results show that the vortex combustor can achieve high efficient combustion of aluminum and steam. The influencing factors, such as the eccentric distance of the inlet of aluminum particles, particle size and steam inlet diameter, etc., are studied. The work described in this paper represents an attempt to the design of a vortex combustor in order to increase aluminum combustion efficiency.

A method for accurately determining the chemical composition of deposits at the bottom of pores during the electrocoloring (e-coloring) of aluminum anodic oxide (AAO) layers in tin-based solutions is developed. The aluminum samples were AC e-colored after DC sulfuric anodization. Free-standing, tin e-colored aluminum oxide film was obtained by selective dissolution of the metallic aluminum from the AAO in copper chloride solution to access the deposit directly at the bottom of the pore. This allowed us to take XPS analysis directly from the deposits at pore bottoms without any interference from the base material or insulating barrier layer. The results revealed the presence of a mixture of tin oxide and metal in the deposits, which were richer in oxide content. Furthermore, a cyclic voltammetry experiment mimicking real polarization conditions during AC conditions was optimized and used to gain a deeper understanding of the electrochemical reactions that occur during AC electrocoloring. The comparison of CV results in tin-free and tin-containing electrolytes indicated that the tin deposited during a cathodic cycle is oxidized in the anodic cycle. The formation of tin based deposits radically changed the CV behavior. The XPS and cyclic voltammetry results consistently show that the deposits formed during e-coloring comprised a mixture of metallic and oxidic tin species richer in oxide content.

The regulation of cell death is a fundamental issue in cell biology and continues to be intensely investigated worldwide. The significance of research in this field persists because understanding the determinants of cell lifespan directly impacts the maintenance of multicellular organism homeostasis and, consequently, is crucial for addressing biomedical challenges associated with various diseases. It is recognized that the initiation of cell death can be prompted by both specific signals (such as cytokines or hormones) and nonspecific stimuli, including radiation, temperature increase, or oxidants. When these factors affect a cell, numerous signaling pathways are triggered in the cell, leading to neutralization of the effects of their negative effects or, in case of irreparable damage, to cell elimination. This removal of damaged cells occurs through apoptosis or programmed cell death, a highly regulated process. Numerous signaling molecules participate in orchestrating the apoptotic process, many of which also govern other essential functions within the organism. Physiological factors capable of triggering the apoptotic program in cells include nitric oxide (NO), which serves as one of the key signaling molecules regulating the functions of the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems of the organism. The unique chemical nature of NO, along with its numerous intracellular targets and physiologically active redox forms, raises questions about the specific mechanisms through which NO exerts its damaging effects on cells. Utilizing pharmacological preparations- such as sources (donors) of exogenous nitric oxide- represents an approach to investigating the initiation and execution of the apoptotic program in sensitive target cells. Furthermore, this approach holds promise as a direction for discovering new selective drugs.

In order to establish the formation patterns of the Co–Mg oxide system, samples with different Co:Mg ratios and heat treatment temperatures were synthesized and studied. Study of the sam-ples confirmed the phase transition of MgxCo2–xO4 spinels into corresponding solid solutions at 800–900 °C. The similarity of formation patterns for different compositions is shown. The rock-salt oxide in low-temperature samples is an anion-modified paracrystalline phase that forms a “true” solid solution only upon spinel decomposition. TPR profiles of decomposed Co3O4 spinel show surface Co3O4 peaks and a wide peak corresponding to well-crystallized CoO, while par-tial Co3O4 TPR up to 380 °C results in dispersed and amorphous CoO. High-temperature non-stoichiometric samples are poorly reduced, indicating their low oxygen reactivity. Spinel reoxidation after heat treatment to 1100 °C by calcination at 750 °C showed complete regenera-tion for MgCo2O4–Co3O4 samples and its absence in case of an excess of MgO relative to stoi-chiometry. Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that the processes governing the formation of Co–Mg oxide systems are determined by both Co:Mg ratio and the heat treatment conditions, potentially providing the possibility of fine tuning for specific catalytic processes.

Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operation provides numerous advantages such as high combined heat and power (CHP) efficiency, potentially long-term materials stability, and the use of low-cost materials. However, due to the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction at intermediate temperature, the cathode of SOFC requires an efficient and stable catalyst. Significant progress in the development of cathode materials has been made over recent years. In this article, multiple strategies for improving the performance of cathode materials have been extensively reviewed such as A and B site doping of perovskites, infiltration of catalytic active materials, the use of core-shell composites, etc. Emphasis has been given to intrinsic properties such as thermal expansion compatibility, chemical and thermal stability, and oxygen transport number. Furthermore, to avoid any insulating phase formation at the cathode/electrolyte interface, strategies for interfacial layer modifications have also been extensively reviewed and summarized. Based on major technical challenges, future research directions have been proposed for efficient and stable intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operation.

This study investigated the relationship between aluminum adjuvant vaccines and the prevalence of 4 childhood diseases (Autism, Allergies, Asthma, ADD/ADHD) using data from the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) [1] and the Centers for Disease Control National Immunization Survey (CDC NIS) [2]. The study found an association with aluminum adjuvant dosage and the prevalence of each disease studied (Autism, Allergies, Asthma, ADD/ADHD) through a weighted regression analysis of disease prevalence against the summed likelihood of aluminum adjuvant vaccine uptake.

Our environment has been significantly impacted by man-made pollutants, primarily due to industries make substantial use of synthetic chemicals, resulting in significant environmental consequences. In this research investigation, the co-precipitation approach was employed for the synthesis of cellulose-based ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃/cellulose) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuOx-NPs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were conducted to determine the properties of the newly synthesised nanoparticles. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles were employed for eliminating chromium from aqueous media under various conditions, including temperature, contact time, adsorbent concentration, adsorbate concentration, and pH. Additionally, the synthesised materials were used to recover Cr(VI) ions from real samples, including tap water, seawater, and industrial water, and the adsorptive capacity of both materials evaluated under optimal conditions. The synthesis of Fe₂O₃/cellulose and CuOx-NPs proved to be effective, as indicated by the outcomes of the study.

Nanocrystalline silicon oxide (nc-SiOx:H) is a multipurpose material with its varied application in solar cells as a transparent front contact, intermediate reflector, back reflector layer and even tunnel layer for passivating contacts, owing to easy tailoring of its optical properties. In this work, we systematically investigate the influence of gas mixture (SiH4, CO2, PH3 and H2), RF power and process pressure on the optical, structural and passivation properties of thin n-type nc-SiOx:H films prepared in an industrial, high throughput, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reactor. We provide a detailed description of the n-type nc-SiOx:H material develop-ment using various characterization techniques (SEM, EDX, Raman spectroscopy, and spectro-scopic ellipsometry) with a focus on the relationship between the material properties and the pas-sivation they provide to n-type c-Si wafers characterized by their effective carrier lifetime (τeff). Further, we also outline the parameters to be kept in mind while developing different n-type nc-SiOx:H layers for different solar cell applications. We report a tunable optical gap (1.8 – 2.3 eV) for our n-type nc-SiOx:H films as well as excellent passivation properties with τeff up to 3.5 ms (iVoc ~ 715 mV) before annealing. Oxygen content plays an important role in determining the crystallinity and hence passivation quality of the deposited nanocrystalline silicon oxide films.

DFT calculations on the photoisomerization reactions of pyridazine N-oxide derivatives are presented. The irradiation of 3,6-diphenylpyridazine N-oxide allowed to obtain the first excited singlet state that underwent to a ring opening reaction induced to the oxygen migration to the adjacent carbon atom, with the formation of a diazo derivative. This intermediate can give a ring closure reaction to give a pyrazole derivative, or, with a higher transition energy, it can lose nitrogen allowing the formation of 2,5-diphenylfuran. The irradiation of 3-phenylpyridazine N-oxide allowed the formation only of 2-phenylfuran. In this case, calculations allowed to explain this behavior. The first excited singlet state gave a photoisomerization reaction with the formation of the corresponding diazo intermediate. This intermediate could not be converted into the corresponding pyrazole derivative because it was converted into a N-formyl pyrazole never reported in literature. The only possible reaction is the loss of nitrogen and the formation of 2-phenylfuran.

Isothermal interrupted hot compression tests of 5754 aluminum were conducted on Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator at temperature 350 °C and 450 °C, strain rate 0.1 s-1 and 1s−1. These tests simulated flat rolling to investigate how softening behaviors respond to controlled parameters, such as deformation temperature, strain rate and delay times. This data allowed the parameters for the hot rolling process to be optimized. The delay times during interrupted compression vary between 5s and 60s. The dynamic softening at each pass and metadynamic recrystallization at the intervals of deformation passes were analyzed in detail. 0.2% offset yield strength is applied to calculate the softening fraction undergoing metadynamic recrystallization. A kinetic model was developed to describe metadynamic recrystallization behaviors of the hot deformed 5754 aluminum alloy. Furthermore, the time constant for 50% recrystallization was expressed as functions related to the temperature and the strain rate. The experimental and calculated results were found to be in close agreement, which verified the developed model.

In recent decades, the requirements for implantable medical devices increased, but the risks of implant rejection still exist. These issues are primarily associated with poor osseointegration, leading to biofilm formation on the implant surface. This study focuses on addressing these issues by developing a biomaterial for implant coatings. 45S5 Bioglass has been widely used in tissue engineering due to its ability to form a hydroxyapatite layer, ensuring a strong bond between the hard tissue and the bioglass. In this context, 45S5 bioglasses, modified by the incorporation of different amounts of copper oxide, from 0 to 8 mol%, were synthesized by the melt-quenching technique. The incorporation of Cu ions does not show a significant change in the glass structure. Since the bioglass exhibited the capacity of being polarized, and therefore promoting the osseointegration effectiveness, the electrical properties of the prepared samples were studied using the impedance spectroscopy method, in the frequency range of 102-106 Hz and temperature range of 200-400 K. The effects of CuO on charge transport mobility were investigated. Additionally, the bioactivity of the modified bioglasses was evaluated through immersion tests in simulated body fluid. The results revealed the initiation of a Ca-P-rich layer formation on the surface within 24 h, indicating the potential of the bioglasses to enhance the bone regeneration process.

The article presents the results of studies aimed to identify the effect of foliar treatments of winter wheat, sugar beets and soybeans with mineral and bioorganic fertilizers. Their positive effect on increasing the concentration of mineral forms of nitrogen in soil was revealed. The crop types have a greater influence on the size of nitrous oxide emissions: in winter wheat crops - 679 µg/m3, soybeans - 637.2 µg/m3, sugar beets - 576.8 µg/m3. The amounts of nitrous oxide emissions were lower in the variants without the use of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. The Ruter AA fertilizer showed the greatest efficiency on winter wheat crops - 42.7 c/ha. Soybean grain yield of 44.2 c/ha was also achieved by using Ruter AA, as well as Geo-humate together with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. On the background of the actual supply of phosphorus and potassium, maximum yield was obtained when using N30 on the leaf - 39.3 c/ha. Foliar feeding ensured a yield of sugar beet root crops of up to 67.1-77.4 c/ha on the backdrop of the application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers with the advantage of using Amino turbo. The largest yield of sugar beet roots without use of mineral phosphorus and potassium was ensured by N30 treatment of the leaf in the phases of 4-6 and 8 leaves - 63.2 t/ha. Of the organo-mineral fertilizers and biostimulants, the best result was shown by the use of Ruter A - 62.6 t/ha. We believe that foliar feeding of crops can be a sustainable farming method that can increase crop yields and reduce N2O emissions.

Micro satellites must survive severe mechanical conditions during their launch phase. Therefore, structural design requirements are imposed on the micro satellites. These requirements are the strength requirement and the stiffness requirement. Usually, the structural design of a micro satellite is performed using the internal stress analysis and the natural frequency analysis, which are based on a Finite Element Method (FEM). The validity of this structural design is evaluated through vibration tests. In an early stage of development, which has a FEM model of a satellite in the process of creation, presumption of the natural frequency of a satellite may be difficult. In this study, a simple method for determining the longitudinal and lateral minimum natural frequencies of the micro satellites during the ascent phase was clarified. The structure of the micro satellites used in this research is made of aluminum alloy, and they have a monocoque structure. The Young's modulus and moment of inertia of area used to calculate the minimum natural frequencies were determined using the area ratio of the monocoque structure to the entire satellite. When this method is used, the estimated minimum natural frequencies of the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction are in agreement with the measured values acquired by the vibration tests. In order to shorten the process of micro satellites development, this paper describes a practical estimation method of the minimum natural frequency for micro satellites.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) develops when the immunotolerant environment of the liver is compromised due to excessive alcohol consumption. ALD progression involves variations in the expression of multiple genes, resulting in liver inflammation and the development of a leaky gut. Molecular mechanism involved for ALD progression is still unclear, and due to that there are currently no FDA-approved drugs available for its treatment. In this study, the protective effects of Graphene oxide nanoparticles (GO) was investigated against ethanol-induced damage in the gut-liver axis in in vitro. GO was synthesized using a modified Hummer's method and characterization was done. Given the general concerns regarding nanoparticle toxicity, assessment of cell viability, lipid accumulation, DNA damage, cell death, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were conducted using various techniques. Furthermore, gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was done using RT-qPCR. The findings revealed that GOs promoted cell viability even against ethanol treatment. Additionally, lipid accumulation significantly decreased when cells were treated with GO alongside ethanol compared to ethanol treatment alone, with similar trends observed for other assays. Gene expression analysis indicated that GO treatment reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines while enhancing the expression of antioxidant genes. Moreover, GO treatment led to improvements in gut permeability and a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines in colon cells damaged by ethanol. These findings suggest that GO holds promise as a drug carrier, exhibiting no observed toxic effects. By shedding light on the protective effects of GO against ethanol-induced damage, this study contributes to the burgeoning field of nanoparticle-mediated therapy for ALD.

A field experiment was conducted for 2 years in Green Tea Laboratory of Saitama Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, Iruma, Saitama, Japan from March 2014 to December 2015. Controlled release fertilizers (CRF) or organic fertilizers (ORG) which is the mixture of chicken manure and oil cakewere applied with the amount of 450 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2014 and 397 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2015. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissionsfrom soil in green tea fields were measured by closed chamber method. The results showed that CRF has significantly lower N₂O compared to ORG. The cumulative N₂O emissions from CRF accounted for 51% of N₂O emissions from ORG fields and 138% of control with no fertilizer treatment. The N₂O flux from the row was higher than that of under the canopy, since fertilizer were applied on the row. However the total emission from the area between the rows was lower than that under the canopy because of the area ratio of row and canopy was 1:5.

Lattice structures have emerged as promising materials for aerospace structures applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratios, customizable properties, and efficient use of materials. These properties make them at-tractive for use in anti-ice systems, where lightweight and heat exchanging are essential. This paper presents an extensive experimental investigation into mechanical compression properties of lattice trusses fabricated from AlSi10Mg powder alloy, a material commonly used in casted aerospace parts. The truss structures were manufactured using additive manufacturing Selective Laser Melting technique and subjected to uniaxial compressive loading to assess their performance. The results demonstrate that AlSi10Mg lattice trusses exhibit remarkable compressive strength with strong correlations depending upon both topology and cells’ parameters setup. The finding described highlights the potential of AlSi10Mg alloy as a promising material for custom truss fabrication, offering customizable cost-effective and lightweight solutions for aerospace market. The paper also emphasizes the role of additive manufacturing in producing complex structures with pointwise tailored mechanical properties.

Biomaterials are the basis for the development of medicine because they allow safe contact with a living organism. The aim of this work was to produce innovative oxide layers with a porous microstructure on the surface of commercially pure titanium Grade 4 (CpTi G4), and to characterize their properties as drug carriers. Anodization of the CpTi G4 subjected to mechanical grinding and electrochemical polishing was carried out in a solution of 1M ethylene glycol with the addition of 40 g of ammonium fluoride at a voltage of 20 V for 2, 18, 24 and 48 hours at room temperature. It was found that the longer anodization time, the greater the number of pores formed on the CpTi G4 surface as revealed by FE-SEM method, and the greater the surface roughness determined in profilometric tests. As the anodizing time increases, the amount of the drug in the form of gentamicin sulfate incorporated into the resulting pores decreases. The most favorable drug release kinetics profile determined by UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy was found for the CpTi G4 anodized for 2 h making them the best choice when it comes to the drug carrier allowing full use of the therapeutic dose of the drug.

In the discussion on environmental policies, the notion of eco-efficiency is often used. Eco-efficiency is defined as the delivery of products and services with competitive values, while reducing the ecological impacts and satisfying human needs. In an environment of great competitiveness in which the companies operate, the improvements in the productive process is one of the differentiating factors for guaranteeing a strong competition. Also it is essential rationalizing energy consumption and natural resources. For this it is necessary to understand the main operations and dynamics of the company. This work presents an empirical study of a Portuguese company in the industrial sector. The problematic here presented is based on the company’s growing concern to reduce the amount of scrap produced. From the literature research that was performed, a strong dependence relation between the different variables in the extrusion process was found. The main objective of this work is to model the aluminium extrusion process, with the aim of minimizing the production of scrap. For this several variables involved in the process are taking into account. Using statistical techniques, in particular multiple linear regressions, it was possible to identify the importance of the variables under study for the scrap production.

Aluminum matrix nanocomposites have been the subject of much attention due to their extraordinary mechanical properties and thermal stability. This research focuses on producing and characterizing an aluminum matrix reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) nanometric particles. The conventional powder metallurgy route was used to produce the nanocomposites, and the dispersion and mixing process was carried out by ultrasonication. The conditions of the dispersion and the volume fraction of the SiC were evaluated in the production of the nanocomposites. Microstructural characterization was carried out using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Mechanical characterization was carried out using hardness and tensile tests. The dispersion agent was investigated, and isopropanol leads to better dispersion with fewer agglomerates. Increasing the volume fraction of the reinforcement improves the hardness of the nanocomposites. However, greater agglomeration of the reinforcement is observed for larger volume fractions. The greatest increase in hardness (77% increase compared to the hardness of the Al matrix) is obtained with 1.0 vol % of SiC, corresponding to the sample with the best dispersion. The mechanical characterization through tensile tests attests to the effect of the reinforcement on the Al matrix. The main strengthening mechanisms identified were the load transfer, the texture hardening, Orowan strengthening, and the increase in the density of dislocations in the nanocomposites.

Aluminum (Al), making up a third of the Earth's crust, is a widespread toxic contaminant, particularly in acidic soils. It impacts crops at multiple levels, from the cellular to the whole plant. This review delves into aluminum's reactivity, including its cellular transport, involvement in oxidative redox reactions, development of specific metabolites, and the influence of genes on the production of membrane channels and transporters, as well as its role in triggering apoptosis leading to senescence. It discusses the involvement of channel proteins in calcium influx, vacuolar proton pumping, the suppression of mitochondrial respiration, and the initiation of programmed cell death. At the cellular nucleus level, the effects of Al on gene regulation through alterations in nucleic acid modifications, such as methylation and histone acetylation, are examined. The review in addition outlines the pathways of Al induced metabolic disruption specifically citric acid metabolism, regulation of proton excretion, induction of specific transcription factors, modulation of Al-responsive proteins, changes of citrate and nucleotide glucose transporters and overall metal detoxification pathways in tolerant genotypes. It also considers the expression of phenolic oxidases in response to oxidative stress, their regulatory feedback on mitochondrial cytochrome proteins, and their consequences on root development. Ultimately, the review focuses on the selective metabolic pathways that facilitate Al exclusion and tolerance, emphasizing compartmentalization, antioxidative defense mechanisms, and the control of programmed cell death to manage metal toxicity.

This investigation explores the potential of enhancing aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) through the introduction of a novel cathode material, NH4V4O10 (NVO), combined with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Utilizing Density Functional Theory (DFT), it was hypothesized that the incorpora-tion of rGO would increase the interlayer spacing of NVO and diminish the charge transfer in-teractions, thus promoting enhanced diffusion of Zn2+ ions. These theoretical predictions were substantiated by experimental data acquired from hydrothermal synthesis, which indicated a marked increase in interlayer spacing. Significantly, the NVO-rGO composite exhibits remarkable cyclic durability, maintaining 95% of its initial specific capacity of 507 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles at a current density of 5 A g−1. The electrochemical performance of NVO-rGO not only surpasses that of pristine NVO but also outperforms the majority of existing vanadium oxide cathode materials reported in the literature. This study underscores the effective integration of theoretical insights and experimental validation, contributing to the advancement of high-performance energy storage technologies.

Aluminum wire is a common material for wire bonding due to its resistance to oxidation and low price. It does not melt when becoming a free air ball (FAB) during the electronic flame-off (EFO) process with wettability, and is applied by wedge bonding. This study used 20μm Zn-Coated Al-0.5wt.%Si (ZAS) wires to improve the FAB shape after the EFO process, while maintaining stability of the mechanical properties, including the interface bonding strength and hardness. In order to test circuit stability after ball bonding, the current-tensile test was performed. During the experiment, it was found that 80nm ZAS with wire bonding has lower resistance and higher fusing current. For the bias tensile test, the thicker Zn film diffused into the Al-Si matrix easily, after which the strength was reduced. The ball-bond interfaces had no change in their condition before and after the bias. Accordingly, ZAS could be a promising candidate for ball bonding in the future.

Integrating nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) into epoxy composites has significant interest due to their potential to enhance mechanical properties. This study evaluates the impact of dispersion quality on the mechanical performance of CNT/Fe₃O₄/Epoxy composites, comparing stirring and sonication methods at three different loadings: 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt.%. Tensile testing revealed that sonicated composites consistently outperformed stirred composites, with a significant increase in elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). However, fracture strain decreased in both composite types compared to pure epoxy, with sonicated composites experiencing a more significant reduction than stirred composites. These results underscore the importance of high-quality dispersion for optimizing mechanical properties.

The graphene based highly conductive and flexible devices has received momentous attraction and growth in recent years for potential multifunctional uses. The development of flexible and washable textile sensors, actuators, energy storage and energy harvesting systems. Textile fabrics coated with graphene and conductive polymers have been used for wearable self-powered e-textiles, such as tribo-electric, piezoelectric, and Thermoelectric. Herein this research, 100% woven cotton fabric is Fictionalized with graphene oxide (GO) using industrial-scale cold pad batch dyeing technique for the development of low-grade body heat into self-powered wearable e-textiles. The conductive polymer PEDOT: PSS was coated using layer by layer approach. The study demonstrates that the resultant textile electrodes showed reduced electrical sheet resistance from 2.5 MΩ to 15KΩ, with a reduced graphene oxide and further reduced to (2.5 -12.5 Ω) for conductive polymer. The sheet resistance was decreased with the number of dyeing cycles (10-15) and increased with 20 washing cycles vice versa. The study demonstrates that the sensor response and performance were improved with increasing the content percent of rGO and PEDOT: PSS. The tensile strength of as coated fabric electrodes was improved from (25.0-85.5 mPa) and fabric thickness was increased to (26-38µm) without compromising or influencing the air permeability. The resultant textile electrodes may potentially be used in smart textiles for self-powered flexible wearable generators, sensors, and energy storage. The study demonstrates that the cold pad batch dyeing method is a suitable and effective method for the fabrication of graphene-based textiles.

This study explores the enhancement of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) using ammonium-enhanced vanadium oxide cathodes. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations reveal that NH₄⁺ incorporation into V₆O₁₆ lattices significantly facilitates Zn²⁺ ion diffusion by reducing electrostatic interactions, acting as a structural lubricant. Subsequent experimental validation using (NH₄)₂V₆O₁₆ cathodes synthesized via a hydrothermal method corroborates the DFT findings, demonstrating remarkable electrochemical stability with a capacity retention of 90% after 2000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹. These results underscore the potential of NH₄⁺ in improving the performance and longevity of AZIBs, providing a pathway for sustainable energy storage solutions.

Objective: Lower extremity ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) may occur with trauma-related vascular injury and various vascular diseases, during the use of a tourniquet, temporary clamping of the aorta in aortic surgery, and acute or bilateral acute femoral artery occlusion. Mitochondrial dysfunction and increased basal oxidative stress in diabetes may cause an increase in the effects of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction due to IRI. It is of great importance to examine therapeutic approaches that can minimize the effects of IRI, especially for patient groups under chronic oxidative stress. Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles mimic the antioxidant enzymes and act as a catalyst that scavenges ROS. In this study, it was aimed to investigate whether CeO2 has protective effects on skeletal muscles in lower extremity IRI in mice with streptozocin-induced diabetes. Methods: A total of 38 Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups as follows: control group (group C, n=6), diabetes group (group D, n=8), diabetes-CeO2 (group DCO, n=8), diabetes-ischemia/reperfusion (group DIR, n=8), and diabetes-ischemia/reperfusion-CeO2 (group DIRCO, n=8). DCO and DIRCO groups were given doses of CeO2 0.5mg/kg intraperitoneally 30 minutes before the IR procedure. A 120-minute ischemia-120-minute reperfusion period with 100% O2 was performed. At the end of the reperfusion period, muscle tissues were removed for histopathological and biochemical examinations. Results: Total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were found to be significantly lower in group DIR compared with group D (p=0.047 and p=0.022, respectively). In group DIRCO and total oxidant status (TOS) levels were found to be significantly higher than in group DIR (p

A special vibration damper is proposed for material property identification through a scratching process on a vibrating object. This paper presents the design and working principle of a scratching damper based on a scratch test device. A non-contact electromagnetic shaker is used to generate the shaking force for the vibration of the tested object. The required pressure on the scratched material during the scratching process is generated by a compression spring and adjusted by changing the amount of compression of the spring. The proposed damper is designed and tested on extruded aluminum samples for the determination of its Young’s modulus and hardness and validated by using the standard test instruments. Observations of physical dimensions of the scratching tracks are determined by microscope and were utilized to compute the scratching energy factor. Load curves are obtained at different pressure of the scratching process. The hysteresis loop energy during the scratching process of the tested object is measured and used for the determination of material properties of the object. Furthermore, energy conservation law, scratch energy release rate and loop energy release rate are used to determine the Young’s modulus and hardness of the sample. The measurement accuracy of the modulus and hardness of the tested sample is evaluated. The proposed method of material testing has several advantages over the traditional methods such as low cost and high repeatability, and may be used as an alternative to the standard modulus and hardness testers.

Impure and pure casts have collected reasonable attentions over all the world. In this paper, Aluminum (Al) and Copper (Cu) cast alloys are considered to be studied. Multiple impure and pure Al-Cu cast alloys are established under the condition of very high temperatures. Then, all of the established alloys are examined by applying mechanical tests. More specifically, tests of hardness are exploited. Moreover, different quenching conditions are employed and analyzed. These are the water, air and oil. Consistent results are separately obtained for the impure and pure materials.

Lap joints were friction stir welded in AA 7075-T6 at 1320 rpm and using two welding speeds: 70 mm/min and 120 mm/min. The temperature profiles of the weld zone were registered during the process; furthermore, the microhardness, tensile strength, and microstructure of the joints produced were examined. This study brings new insights into the thermomechanical behavior of the material during the process. The peak temperature obtained with the lower welding speed (70 mm/min) is 10% higher than that obtained with the higher speed (120 mm/min). Moreover, a 5% increase in microhardness and a 6% increase in tensile strength were were observed increasing the welding speed. Addition-ally, the microstructure examination demonstrated that, by decreasing the welding speed, the larger interaction between the tool and the material results in a deeper stir zone due to the increased heat diffusion downwards to the material. This heat flow affects the thermal profile and influences the resulting mechanical properties of the welded joints.

Plasmonic sensors have great potential for widespread usage, but the prohibitive cost of noble metals restrains the wider adoption of this technology. The aim of our study is to develop a cost-effective Al-based alternative to plasmonic detectors commonly based on noble metals. We considered a structure that consists of a Si p-n junction with an overlying grating-relief aluminum layer. The investigation of the infrared plasmonic resonance dependency on the structure geometric parameters and optimization of the fabrication process allowed us to determine optimal parameters for photodetection enhancement. The resonance photoresponse of optimized aluminum-based plasmon-polariton photodetector was significantly improved and became comparable to noble metal-based analogs. Our results can be used for the creation of cost-effective high-sensitivity plasmonic sensors.

Global warming and the associated increasing frequency of heatwaves are on the rise leading to numerous health complications. Diabetic patients are more vulnerable to heat exposure than healthy individuals, owing to their impaired sweating ability, however, little is known about how heat exposure may impact the function of skin cells, commonly keratinocytes. Our recent report provided the first proof-of-concept revealing that the metabolic composition of sweat EVs is associated with metabolic changes in healthy individuals and type 2 diabetes patients. Given this and the shared cellular proprieties of eccrine sweat glands with keratinocytes, we questioned whether the metabolic changes in sweat EVs may mirror the responses of keratinocytes upon heat exposure. To this, we exposed HaCat, which were maintained in low (mimicking healthy condition) and high glucose (mimicking diabetes condition) to acute (90 min), chronic (48 h), and repetitive heat exposure at 40 ⁰C. Through conducting a set of experiments including a targeted metabolomics approach, Greiss assay, western blotting analysis, and electron microscopy studies. The data demonstrate that heat exposure results in substantial changes of metabolite levels belonging to amino acids, pyrimidine metabolism, and glycolysis pathways in high glucose maintained HaCat cells when compared to those noted in low glucose condition. Exploring the molecular mechanisms through which heat exposure may impact the metabolic composition in keratinocytes, our discoveries highlight nitric oxide (NO) as a novel biomarker that the level is correlated with heat duration and frequency. Furthermore, data reveal that the HSP-70 protein levels and mitochondrial morphology are consequently altered. This study provides evidence of shared metabolic alterations in keratinocytes and sweat EVs collected from clinical study and proposes, for the first time, NO as a novel biomarker for monitoring changes in health and diabetes upon heat exposure.

(1) Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by immune system dysregulation with frequent extraintestinal manifestations, including airways involvement. Reduction in CO diffusing capacity and functional alterations in small airways have been described. The extended analysis of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO), may distinguish the sites of production and the presence of small airways inflammation being a useful, non-invasive marker for these patient’s follow up. The aim of our study was to compare PFTs, FeNO and CANO values of UC patients with different clinical disease activity and healthy subjects to reveal lung function abnormalities and the presence of subclinical airway inflammation. (2) Methods: We enrolled 42 adult outpatients with different clinical activity stages of UC (mean age 39±13 years) and a healthy control group of 41 subjects (mean age 29±3 years). C-reactive protein (CRP) and FeNO values at different flows (50,100 and 200 ml/sec) were collected. All patients performed pulmonary function tests (PFT’s) with static volumes and diffusing capacity (DLCO). (3) Results: FENO, CANO and CRP values were significantly increased in UC patients when compared with controls (p=0.02 and p<0.0001, respectively) and proportionally to the disease activity (FeNO class 3: 27.1 ppb vs class 1-2: 6.2 ppb; CANO values class 3: 8.1 ppb vs class 1-2: 2.0 ppb (p < 0.0001). TLC and DLCO were significantly reduced in UC patients compared to controls (p=0.011 and p<0.0001, respectively). (4) The results of this study show significant lung functional abnormalities in UC patients and suggest the presence of airway inflammation directly correlated with the disease activity suggesting an integrated approach in routine assessment.

The band gap research in graphene is still a very important topic for materials application. Here, we report a band gap opening and p-type semiconducting property of the graphene by using an electrochemical doping on graphene surface. The manganese-oxide nanopar-ticles adsorbed on the graphene were used as the dopants in an electrolyte, which induce the band gap opening and the change of electronic structure. In addition, the fabricated graphene FET shows the p-type semiconductor behaviors. The temperature dependent conductivity of the p-type doped graphene at applied potential of 1.5 V during electro-chemical doping shows the formation of band gap of 0.23 eV, which is obtained from the fitting of conductivity equation. The semiconducting properties of manganese-oxide doped graphene is attributed to the formation of manganese-oxide nanoparticle on the surface of graphene.

Iron powders having average particle sizes of ~40µm are mechanically mixed thoroughly with aluminum powders ranging from 1 to 10 in wt.% with an average particle size of ~10µm. Two different powder metallurgical techniques cold and hot pressing are used to study the effect of the additive element powder on the mechanical properties, wear properties and the microstructure of the iron based alloys. The hot pressing technique was performed at a temperature up to 500°C at 445.6 MPa. The cold pressing technique was performed at 909 MPa in room temperature. By increasing the Al content to 10 wt. % in the base Fe-based matrix, the hardness was decreased from 780 to 690 MPa and the radial strength was decreased from 380 to 202 MPa with reductions of 11.5% and 40%, respectively. Improvement of the wear resistance with the increase addition of the Al powder to the Fe matrix up to 5 times was achieved compared to the alloy without Al addition for different wear parameters namely; wear time and sliding speed.

Preventing or treating infections at implantation sites where the risk of bacterial contamination is high requires the development of intelligent drug delivery systems. In this work, honeycomb structures as a potential drug carrier were obtained for the first time in a fast, one-step anodization process of titanium grade 4, lasting only 60 seconds. Fourth generation oxide nanotube layers were obtained from an aqueous solution of 0.5% AgNO3 in the voltage range from 50 to 80 at 15(1) °C. The FE-SEM method showed the length of the oxide nanotubes from 1.02(2) µm at 50 V to 230(8) nm at 80 V. The EDS analysis revealed that during anodizing, silver particles are deposited on the Ti G4 up to 2.2(5) wt.%. Electrochemical measurements by open circuit potential and anodic polarization curves methods proved the improvement of in vitro corrosion resistance as a result of Ti G4 anodizing. Assessment of the anodized Ti G4 as gentamicin sulfate carrier carried out using ATR-FTIR and UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy revealed that the obtained oxide nanotube layers can be used for application of drugs directly to the tissue around the implant. This method of application allows full use of the therapeutic dose of the antibiotic used.

This work communicates analysis of aluminum monoxide, AlO, laser-plasma emission records using line strength data and the ExoMol astrophysical database. A nonlinear fitting program computes comparisons of measured and simulated diatomic molecular spectra. Predicted cyanide spectra of the AlO, ${\rm B}\ ^2\,\Sigma^+ \longrightarrow {\rm X} \ ^2\,\Sigma^+$, $\Delta {\rm v} = 0, \pm 1, \pm 2, + 3$ sequences and progressions compare nicely with 1 nanometer resolution experimental results. The analysis discusses experiment data captured during laser ablation of Al$_2$O$_3$ with 266-nm, 6-mJ pulses. The accuracy of the AlO line strength data is better than one picometer. This work presents as well comparison of the $^{27}$Al$^{16}$O line strength and of ExoMol data for spectral resolutions of 0.1nm and 0.07nm. Accurate AlO databases show a volley of applications in laboratory and astrophysical plasma diagnosis.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) can overcome cancer treatment resistance by enhancing cell membrane permeability, facilitating drug accumulation, and promoting drug release within the tumor tissue. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have emerged as effective agents for PTT due to their unique properties and biocompatibility. Approved for the treatment of anemia, as MRI contrast agents, and as magnetic hyperthermia mediators, IONPs also offer excellent light-to-heat conversion and can be manipulated using external magnetic field for targeted accumulation in specific tissues. Optimizing parameters such as laser wavelength, power density, shape, size, iron oxidation state, functionalization, and concentration is crucial for IONPs effectiveness. In addition to PTT, IONPs enhance other cancer treatment modalities. They improve tumor oxygenation enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. IONPs can also trigger ferroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway mediated by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Their magneto-mechanical effect can exert mechanical force on cancer cells to destroy tumors, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This review outlines strategies for managing photothermal performance and PTT efficiency with iron oxide nanoparticles, as well as synergies with other cancer therapies.

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized and is involved in various physiological and developmental process regulation in all kingdoms of life. Fungi have been less explored in terms of endogenous NO biology than mammals, plants, and bacteria. In this review, we summarize and discuss the studies to date on intracellular NO biosynthesis and function in fungi. Two mechanisms for NO biosynthesis, NO synthase (NOS)-mediated arginine oxidation, and nitrate and nitrite reductase-mediated nitrite reduction, are most frequently reported. Furthermore, we summarize the multifaceted functions of NO in fungi, as well as its role as a signaling molecule in fungal growth regulation, development, abiotic stress, virulence regulation, and metabolism. Finally, we present potential directions for future research on fungal NO biology.

Abstract— In this paper, degradation effects such as the self-heating effect and the DIBL effect in 2D-MoS2-based MOSFETs are investigated through simulations. These are transistors with Al2O3 and HfO2 as the gate oxide and SiO2 and HfO2 as the back oxide (BOX). The self-heating effect (SHE) is simulated using the thermodynamic transport model. The dependence of the DIBL effect (Drain Induced Barrier Lowering) and the lattice temperature in the center of the channel on the gate length for transistors with different gate oxide and BOX materials is considered. Transistors are considered where the channel is fully and partially (just below the gate) covered by gate oxide. It is shown that the transistors with Al2O3 as gate oxide and SiO2 as BOX materials have higher immunity to DIBL effect and transistors with HfO2 as gate oxide and HfO2 as BOX materials have higher immunity to SHE.

Magnesium and Aluminum alloys continue to be important in the context of modern and lightweight technologies. With the advancement of additive manufacturing (AM), components can be produced directly in a net shape, widen up the usage of magnesium and aluminum alloys as well as holding new ideas for the application of unique physical structures made feasible by 3D printing. Laser-based approach, one of the metal additive manufacturing (AM) methods, enables the formation of arbitrary 3D structures. With promising findings, research in this area is advancing quickly, bringing up a variety of potential applications in both the scientific and industrial sectors. Complex structures can now be manufactured easily utilizing AM technologies to meet the pre-requisite objectives like reduced part numbers, greater functionality, and lightweight, among others. AM has the ability to meet demands by lowering costs and speeding up the manufacturing process. Due to their popularity in numerous high-value applications, aluminum, and magnesium alloys are one of the key material systems being researched in the laser-based additive manufacturing approaches. The review here aims to comprehensively examine the additive manufacturing of magnesium and aluminum alloys, highlighting the influence of the laser-based additive manufacturing approach on the mechanical characteristics, microstructure, and tribological performance of magnesium and aluminum alloys.

Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDP) represent a global clinical challenge, affecting 5-10% of women and leading to complications for both maternal well-being and fetal development. At the heart of these complications is endothelial dysfunction, with oxidative stress emerging as a pivotal causative factor. The reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is a vital indicator of this dysfunction, culminating in blood pressure dysregulation. In the therapeutic context, although antihypertensive medications are commonly used, they come with inherent concerns related to maternal-fetal safety, and a percentage of women do not respond to these therapies. Therefore, alternative strategies that directly address the pathophysiology of HDP are required. This article focuses on the potential of the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, abundantly present in dark leafy greens and beetroot, as an alternative approach to treating HDP. The objective of this review is to discuss the prospective antioxidant role of nitrate. We hope our discussion paves the way for using nitrate to improve endothelial dysfunction and control oxidative stress, offering a potential therapy for managing HDP.

At present, in the field of aviation industry, titanium alloy is mainly used to manufacture parts such as compressor disc, blade and casing of aircraft engine. When working, titanium alloy parts produce high temperature due to high-speed running friction, which makes the high temperature oxidation resistance and friction resistance of titanium alloy greatly reduced. When their working environment contains salt, titanium alloys are subjected to thermal corrosion, which limits their wider practical applications. This paper introduce the aluminide coating and its preparation methods. The characteristics and functional mechanism of three functional coatings for service environment, such as high temperature resistant alumina-based coating, thermal corrosion resistant alumina-based coating and wear-resistant alumina-based coating are summarized. Finally, the development direction of composite coatings of titanium and titanium alloys for complex service environment is prospected.

Background: Aluminum phosphide (AlP), also known as “rice tablet,” is widely used as an effective pesticide. However, AlP poisoning is a common cause of mortality in many countries, such as Iran. Unfortunately, there is no specific antidote for AlP toxicity to date. AlP releases phosphine gas when it is exposed to moisture and acid. Phosphine is a robust mitochondrial toxin that could significantly inhibit cellular energy metabolism. AlP poisoning is an emergency condition that needs instant and effective intervention. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a simple saccharide used for several pharmacological as well as cosmetic purposes. Previously, we found that DHA could significantly prevent mitochondrial impairment induced by toxic agents such as cyanide and phosphine in various in vitro and in vivo experimental models.Methods: Hospitalized patients (n = 111) were evaluated for eligibility criteria. Among these patients, n = 35 cases were excluded due to incomplete data (n = 11) and suspicion of poisoning rather than AlP (n = 24). Meanwhile, n = 76 cases with confirmed AlP poisoning were included in the study. AlP-poisoned patients who did not receive DHA (n =18) were used as the control group.Patients (n = 58) received at least one dose of DHA (500 ml of 5% DHA solution w/v, i.v.) in addition to routine treatment of AlP poisoning. Arterial blood gas (ABG), blood pH, bicarbonate levels, and other vital signs and biochemical measurements were monitored. Moreover, the mortality rate and time of hospitalization were evaluated in both DHA-treated (n = 58) and AlP-poisoned patients without DHA administration (n = 18). Several biomarkers were assessed before (upon hospitalization) and after DHA treatment. The routine tests for AlP-poisoned patients in this study were the measurement of electrolytes (K+ and Na+), WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, INR, carbonate (HCO3), blood pH, PaCO2, and PaO2 and SGPT, SGOT, BUN, Cr. Results: Upon patients' admission, significant decreases in blood pH (acidosis), blood PaO₂, and HCO₃ levels were the hallmarks of AlP poisoning. It was found that DHA significantly alleviated biomarkers of AlP poisoning and tremendously enhanced patients’ survival rate compared to patients treated based on hospital routine AlP poisoning protocols (no DHA). No significant adverse effects were evident in DHA-treated patients in the current study.Interpretation: These data suggest that parenteral DHA is a novel and effective antidote against AlP poisoning.Trial registration: IR.SUMS.REC.1394.102

Since the first generation of 7xxx superhard aluminum alloy was investigated in 1930, hitherto the fifth generation aluminum alloy materials with high comprehensive properties such as high static strength, high strength, heat resistance, high toughness, damage resistance, low density and low quenching sensitivity have been improved and developed. This paper reviews the progress of 7xxx aluminum alloy materials in composition, microstructure, properties, preparation methods, heat treatment strengthening and applications from 2014 to 2021. The effect of adding trace elements on microstructure and properties of 7xxx series alloy and the problems existing in aging precipitation characteristics and reinforcement mechanism are discussed. The future development direction of 7xxx superhard aluminum alloy is prospected by optimizing heat treatment technological, adding appropriate trace elements to alloy and controlling alloy microstructure.

Aluminum, a contentious trace element found in the environment, has been demonstrated to have harmful effects on both humans and animals. In contrast, Sempervivum tectorum, an evergreen plant, has been found to offer numerous beneficial effects for both humans and animals. Therefore, this study aims to assess the protective effect of S. tectorum on certain reproductive biomarkers in male rats exposed to aluminum. Thirty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: NTC (no-treatment control) received distilled water; NC (negative control) received drinking water containing 1 mg/L aluminum sulfate (AS); E1 received 1 mg/L AS along with an 8% S. tectorum extract; PC (positive control) received only 8% S. tectorum extract; E2 received 1 mg/L AS for three months followed by 8% extract for one month. The study analyzed testosterone, LH, FSH, body weight, and the histological structure of the testis, epididymis, and prostate, as well as the levels of zinc, manganese, copper, and iron in these organs. Significant decreases in body weight, testis, and epididymis size were observed in the aluminum-exposed groups compared to the control, whereas these decreases were not significant in the S. tectorum-treated groups compared to the control. Aluminum exposure led to significant decreases in testosterone and LH levels, with FSH levels showing a non-significant decrease in males, which were mitigated significantly by the administration of the plant extract. Histological analysis revealed alterations in the testis, epididymis, and prostate of the AS-exposed groups, including necrosis of seminiferous tubule epithelium and Leydig cells in the testis, and basal epithelial necrosis in the epididymis and prostate. Aluminum levels increased in all organs studied, while levels of zinc, copper, iron, and manganese decreased, showing a negative and significant correlation with aluminum levels. The aqueous extract of S. tectorum demonstrated a protective effect on certain studied biomarkers in male rats affected by aluminum exposure.

The chelating aluminum complex [2-(Me2NCH2)C2B10H10]AlX2 (X = Br 3, CH3 4) was synthesized using 2-dimethylaminomethyl-o-carboranyl lithium (2) with aluminum tribromide or dimethylaluminum bromide, resulting in a modest yield. Compound 4 was obtained by reacting compound 3 with CH3Li in toluene. All compounds were characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 1H, 11B, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. X-ray structural studies of CabNAlBr2 (3) and CabNAlMe2 (4) indicated that the Al atom was located at the center of a distorted tetrahedron. Crystal structures of the CabNAlBr2 (3) [a = 8.9360(3) Å, b = 12.0358(9) Å, c = 14.7730(4) Å, α = β = γ = 90°] and the CabNAlMe2 (4) [a = 8.9551(3) Å, b = 11.9126(9) Å, c = 14.7711(4) Å, α = β = γ = 90°] were obtained. The reactivity of aluminum complexes 3 and 4 with Lewis bases, such as H2O, pyridine, alkylamines, and arylamines, confirmed their rapid decomposition.

Individual susceptibility to pulmonary oxygen toxicity (PO2tox) is highly variable and currently lacks a reliable biomarker for predicting pulmonary hyperoxic stress. As nitric oxide (NO) is involved in many respiratory system processes and functions, we aimed to determine if expired nitric oxide (FENO) levels can provide an indication of PO2tox susceptibility in humans. Eight U.S. Navy trained divers volunteered as subjects. The hyperoxic exposures consisted of six- and eight-hour hyperbaric chamber dives conducted on consecutive days in which subjects breathed 100% oxygen at 202.65 kPa. Subjects’ individual variability in pulmonary function and FENO was measured twice daily over five days and compared with their post-dive values to assess susceptibility to PO2tox. Only subjects who showed no decrements in pulmonary function following the six-hour exposure conducted the eight-hour dive. FENO decreased by 55% immediately following the six-hour oxygen exposure (n=8, p<0.0001) and by 63% following the eight-hour exposure (n=4, p<0.0001). Four subjects showed significant decreases in pulmonary function immediately following the six-hour exposure. These subjects had the lowest baseline FENO and the lowest post-dive FENO and had clinical symptoms of PO2tox. Individuals with low FENO were the first to develop PO2tox symptoms and deficits in pulmonary function from the hyperoxic exposures. These data suggest that endogenous levels of NO in the lung may protect against the development of PO2tox.

In recent years, the nanoparticles applications have been well recognized in various fields. It is known that nanoparticles as an active ingredient in sunscreens are widely used. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide nanoparticles are common nanoparticles utilized in sunscreens. In this study, we aimed to suggest new nanoparticles for this purpose. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) were synthesized by using Musa sapientum fruit peel extract. Synthesized nanoparticles were identified through Raman, Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Field Energy Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed that size of synthesized nanoparticles are in range 4-13 nm. The cytotoxic activity of synthesized nanoparticles on lung (A549) cancer cell line was performed through MTT assay. The results showed that synthesized nanoparticles are non-toxicity against A549 cell line to below 500 μg/mL of nanoparticles concentration. The Sun protection factor (SPF) was estimated ~ 40 for synthesized CeO2-NPs. So, synthesized nanoparticles can be a good option for use in the cosmetics industry.

Toxic metal wastewater is a challenge for exposed terrestrial, aquatic environments and the recyclability of the water, prompting inputs for the development of promising treatment methods. Consequently, the rGO/ZnONP nanocomposite was synthesized at room temperature for four hours and was tested for adsorption of cadmium and lead in wastewater. The optimized nanocomposite had the lowest band gap energy (2.69 eV) and functional group interactions were at 516, 1220, 1732, 3009, and 3460 cm-1. The nanocomposite showed saturation of ZnO nanoparticles on rGO with a weight percentage of zinc (60.02 %), oxygen (22.96 %), and carbon (16.58 %), and the micrograph showed slight agglomeration on the sheet surface. The nanocomposite’s D and G band intensities were almost the same constituting the ZnO presence on rGO from the raman spectrum. The adsorption equilibrium time for cadmium and lead was reached within 10 and 90 minutes with efficiencies of ~ 100 %. Sips and Freundlich were best fitting the cadmium and lead adsorption data (R2 ~ 1), therefore the adsorption was a multilayer coverage for lead and a mixture of heterogenous and homogenous coverage for cadmium adsorption. Both adsorptions were best fitted by the pseudo first order model, suggesting the multilayer coverage dominance. The adsorbent was reused for three and seven times for cadmium and lead. The nanocomposite showed selectivity towards lead (95 %) and cadmium (100 %) in the interfering wastewater matrix. Conclusively, the nanocomposite may be embedded within upcoming lab-scale treatment plants which could lead to further upscaling and serving as industrial wastewater treatment material.

Swarf of aluminum alloy with high corrosion resistance and ductility was successfully converted into fine hydroreactive powders via its ball milling with silver powder and either lithium chloride or gallium. The later substances significantly intensified particle size reduction, while silver formed ‘cathodic’ sites (Ag, Ag2Al) promoting Al corrosion in aqueous saline solutions with hydrogen generation. The diffraction patterns, microphotographs, and elemental analysis results demonstrated partial aluminum oxidation in the samples and their contamination with tungsten carbide from milling balls. Those effects were responsible for obtaining hydrogen yields lower than expected. For AlCl3 solution at 60 °C, Al–LiCl–Ag, Al–LiCl, Al–Ga–Ag, and Al–Ga composites delivered (84.6±0.2), (86.8±1.4), (80.2±0.5), and (76.7±0.7)% of the expected hydrogen respectively. Modification with Ag promoted Al oxidation thus providing higher hydrogen evolution rates. The samples with Ag were tested in CaCl2 solution as well, for which the reaction proceeded much slower. At a higher temperature (80 °C) after 3 h of experiment, the hydrogen yields for Al–LiCl–Ag and Al–Ga–Ag powders were (46.7±2.1) and (31.8±1.9)%. The tested Ag-modified composite powders were considered promising for hydrogen generation and had a potential for further improvement to provide higher performance.

Sodium-potassium (NaK) liquid alloy is a promising candidate for use as anode material in sodium batteries because of its fluidity, which effectively suppresses the growth of sodium or potassium dendrites. However, the poor wettability of the NaK liquid alloy on conventional metal substrates is unfavorable for cell fabrication due to its strong surface tension. In this paper, low-density and low-cost fluorinated aluminum foam is used as a substrate support material for NaK liquid alloy. By combining low surface tension NaK@C with fluorinated aluminum foam, we obtain a uniformly distributed and structurally stable electrode material. The composite electrode has a cycling stability of more than 3000 hours in a symmetrical cell. Furthermore, when coupled with a sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathode in carbonate electrolyte, it maintains excellent stability even after 800 cycles, with 72% of capacity retention.

Turbulent flow is the first and fundamental physical phenomena to evaluate when optimising cost and reducing emissions from an Anode Baking Furnace (ABF). Gas flow patterns, velocity field, pressure drop, shear stress, and turbulent dissipation rate variables are the main operational parameters to be optimised, considering a specific geometry. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) allows simulating physical phenomena using numerical methods with computer resources. In particular, the finite element method is one of the most used methods to solve the flow equations. This method requires a discretisation of the geometry of the ABF, called mesh. Hence, mesh is the main input to the finite element method. A suitable mesh for applying a discretisation method determines whether the problem can be simulated or not. Generating an appropriate mesh remains a challenge to perform accurate simulations. In this work, a comparison between meshes generated using two mesh generation tools is presented. Results of different study cases are included.

This paper reports the effect of silicon substrate orientation and aluminum nitride buffer layer deposited by molecular beam epitaxy on the growth of aluminum nitride thin films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering technique at low temperature. The structural analysis has revealed a strong (0001) fiber texture for both substrates Si (100) and (111) and a hetero-epitaxial growth on few nanometers AlN buffer layer grown by MBE on Si (111) substrate. SEM images and XRD characterization have shown an enhancement in AlN crystallinity thanks to AlN (MBE) buffer layer. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the AlN film was relaxed when it deposited on Si (111), in compression on Si (100) and under tension on AlN buffer layer grown by MBE/Si (111) substrates, respectively. The interface between Si (111) and AlN grown by MBE is abrupt and well defined; contrary to the interface between AlN deposited using PVD and AlN grown by MBE. Nevertheless, AlN hetero-epitaxial growth was obtained at low temperature (<250°C).

Large aluminum alloy ring forgings are the core components of heavy-duty rocket fuel storage tanks, and the large residual stress inside the rings leads to poor shape accuracy of large thin-walled parts. The initial stress of the 2219 aluminum alloy ring blank was tested using the drilling method, and the creep constitutive coefficient of the 2219 aluminum alloy was determined through stress relaxation tests. The numerical simulation processes of thermal stress relief (TSR), vibration stress relief (VSR), and thermal-vibration stress relief (TVSR) were compared and established. Through the correlation analysis between the actual measurement results of residual stress and the simulation results, it can be seen that the strong correlation in three directions at each measurement point accounts for over 37.5%, and the moderate correlation accounts for over 62.5%. This indicates that the numerical simulation model of 2219 aluminum alloy ring containing initial residual stress can accurately reflect the size and distribution of residual stress inside the actual ring. The simulation results show that the derived constitutive model can describe the stress relaxation process of TVSR by combining a single thermal time effect stress relaxation constitutive theory with a VSR plastic deformation material model. The simulation models established above were used to calculate the residual stress homogenization ability of three types of aging. The results showed that VSR, TSR, and TVSR can homogenize and reduce the residual stress field inside the ring, improve the distribution of residual stress inside the ring, and have a better overall homogenization ability of TVSR. The VSR control has a certain effect on reducing and homogenizing residual stress, but compared with TSR and TVSR, the reduction and homogenization ability of residual stress control is limited. The homogenization control effect TVSR>TSR>VSR, and the maximum equivalent stress homogenization rates of VSR, TSR, and TVSR are 52.8%, 80.6%, and 82.2%, respectively. Then, numerical simulation technology is used to study how the initial residual stress in the blank will cause the deformation of the ring during the thin-walled machining process. The roundness error theory of the minimum containment area method is applied to evaluate the deformation degree during the thin-walled numerical machining process, and the TVSR method is used for stress regulation. The deformation law of the thin-walled machining of the ring under different aging parameters is studied.

Recently, resistive random access memory (RRAM) has been an outstanding candidate among various emerging nonvolatile memories for high density storage and in-memory computing applications. However, the traditional RRAM, which accommodates two states depending on applied voltage, cannot meet the high density requirement in the era of big data. Many research groups have demonstrated that RRAM possesses the possibility of multi-level cell to overcome the demand of mass storage. Among numerous semiconductor materials, gallium oxide, as the fourth-generation semiconductor material, is highly-profile due to its excellent material proper-ties, and already be widely used in optoelectronics, high-power, resistive switching device and so on, due to its wide bandgap and transparent properties. In this study, we have successfully demonstrated the Al/GO/Ga2O3/ITO RRAM to achieve the possibility of two-bit storage. Compared to the single-layer counterpart, the bilayer structure has excellent electrical properties and stable reliability. The endurance characteristics could be enhanced above 100 switching cycles with an ON/OFF ratio of over 103. Moreover, the filament models are also described in this thesis to clarify the transport mechanisms.

Aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) toxicity are the top two constraints to crop production in acid soil. Crops have evolved common and specific mechanisms to tolerate the two stresses. In the present study, the responses (toxicity and tolerance) of wheat near-isogenic lines (ET8 and ES8) and their parents (Carazinho and Egret) to Al and Mn were compared by determining physiolog-ical parameters and transcriptome profiling of roots. The results showed that: (1) Carazinho and ET8 exhibited dual tolerance to Al and Mn as compared with Egret and ES8, indicated by higher relative root elongation and SPAD; (2) After entering into roots, Al was mainly distributed in the root and fixed in the cell wall, while Mn was mainly distributed in the cell sap and then trans-ported to leaves. Both Al and Mn stresses decreased the contents of Ca, Mg, and Zn; Mn stress al-so inhibited the accumulation of Fe, while Al showed an opposite effect; (3) Transcriptomic analy-sis identified 5581 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under Al stress and 4165 DEGs under Mn stress. Among these, 2774 DEGs were regulated by both Al and Mn stresses, while 2280 and 1957 DEGs were exclusively regulated by Al and Mn stress, respectively. GO and KEGG analyses indi-cated that cell wall metabolism responds exclusively to Al, while nicotianamine synthesis exclu-sively responds to Mn. Pathways such as signaling, phenylpropanoid metabolism, and metal ion transport showed commonality and specificity to Al and Mn. TFs, such as MYB, WRKY, and AP2 families, were also regulated by Al and Mn, and WGCNA identified PODP7, VATB2, and ABCC3 as the hub genes for Al tolerance and NAS for Mn tolerance. The identified genes and pathways can be used as targets for pyramiding genes and breeding multi-tolerant varieties.

Pathogenic microorganisms can cause a range of infectious diseases and are often treated with antimicrobial agents. The rise of antimicrobial resistance caused by inappropriate use of these agents in various settings has become a global health threat. There is, therefore, a need to find new and effective agents to combat infections caused by resistant pathogens. Nanotechnology has seen significant growth and development in recent years and has a wide range of applications in various fields, including health, agriculture, and industry. This novel area offers the potential for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) with antimicrobial activity, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The use of IONPs is a promising way to overcome antimicrobial resistance or pathogenicity because of their ability to interact with several biological molecules and to inhibit microbial growth. This review focuses on the most common green synthesis methods for producing IONPs using bacteria, fungi, plants, and organic waste, as well as the most common methods for the characterization of these IONPs. Finally, it summarizes their application as promising antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral agents.

As a derivative of graphene, graphene oxide (GO) was initially developed by chemists to emulate some of the key properties of graphene, but it was soon recognized as a unique material in its own right, addressing an application space that is not accessible to chemical vapor deposition based materials. Over the past decade, GO has emerged as a new frontier material with tremendous advances in its material fabrication and quality control over its properties. These in turn have led to rapid progress in GO based photonics, electronics, and optoelectronics concepts and devices, evoking new science and paving the way for many technological breakthroughs with exceptional performance. Here, we review the unique fundamental characteristics of GO, its thin film fabrication methods, patterning techniques, and mechanisms for tuning its material properties. This latter capability in particular has enabled novel advanced functional photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. Understanding these insights is essential for designing and tailoring GO properties for state-of-the-art applications including solar energy harvesting, energy storage, medical diagnosis, image displays, and optical communications. We conclude by discussing the open challenges and exciting opportunities of this field, together with future prospects for major technological advancements and breakthroughs.

Background:Boom in nanotechnology in current era has sketched unforeseen transformations in number of fields, such as medicine, health care, food, space, agriculture, etc. The synthesis of nanoparticles with different chemical compositions, sizes, shapes and controlled disparities is an important area of research in this field. Over the last decade, the biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles has received considerable attention due to their unusual and fascinating properties, with various applications, over their bulk counterparts.Hypothesis: The nanoparticle can have huge application in the field of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries and thus become a major area of research. Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using plant extracts offers an eco-friendly and promising substitute to the conventional methods of chemical synthesis. Conclusion: In the arena of nanoparticle phytosynthesis, novel materials have been produced that are eco-friendly, cost-effective and stable. In the current situation, nanotechnology inspires progress in all spheres of life, and therefore the phytosynthetic path of nanoparticle synthesis has emerged as a safe and best alternative to conventional methods. This review summarizes the recent work in the field of zinc nanoparticle phytosynthesis and critically discusses the mechanism proposed behind it.

Graphene-oxide (G) was prepared by the Hummers’ method. A G-COOH layer was synthesised using chloroacetic acid and G. To fabricate carboxylated graphene-RuO2 (G-COORu) nano¬¬-composites, RuO2 nano particles were grown on graphene layers using a one-step thermal method, -COOH(G-COOH), and RuCl3. All materials were characterised using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance as well as X-ray photoelectron, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman. The electrochemical characteristics of the G-COORu supercapacitors were analysed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, constant current charge–discharge tests, and Nyquist impedance plots. The supercapacitors exhibit a specific capacitance of ~125 F g-1 at 100 mA cm-2 within the potential range of 0–1.0 V. The method used here provides a simple approach for the deposition of RuO2 nano particles on graphene layers and can be widened to the fabrication of other classes of hybrids based on G layers for specific technical applications.

The wealth of data obtained during the past 20 years using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) indicates that the technique is very promising to detect small chemical contents of alloying elements. The potential of LIBS was looked more seriously during the past two decades or so as more data were obtained on Aluminum and steel to study the phenomena in the condition of local thermodynamic equilibrium and time-delay between a Q-switch laser and an intensified CCD camera. Since the past decade, some data on compounds were also shown to be useful in determining small concentrations of harmful elements. This manuscript is intended to show that the technique of LIBS performance is very promising in fields such as micro-machining, in alloying element analysis, surface cleaning and environmental applications even with lightweight spectrometers having a relatively low resolution, which can potentially be air-borne.

To obtain a given structure in 3D building-up modes, it is necessary to use optimal surfacing modes that determine the amount of heat input in local areas. For this purpose, aluminum bronze was surfacing onto a deformed base and the structure and its characteristics in the surfacing and heat-affected zones were studied by the EBSD method. The heterogeneity of the formation of the structure in each selected zone is established, which indicates the heterogeneity of heat input in local areas of the material in one mode of surfacing. For typical cases of crystallization, a molecular dynamics simulation of crystallization processes with different heat input to the base with characteristics specified based on experimental data was carried out. It has been established that the amount of heat input determines the degree of melting and the inherited defectiveness of growing crystals. The formation of misorientation boundaries and crystallization centers of new grains is determined by the conditions of joint growth of grains with given crystallographic parameters of the computational model. Numerical calculations agree with the experimentally observed results.

Sugarcane is an important sugar-source crop. As any other plant, it can be exposed to several abiotic stress conditions. Though some metals contribute to critical physiological processes in plants, the presence of aluminum ions (Al3+) can be very toxic. In order to develop plants that flourish in acidic soils, it is critical to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms of sugarcane response to aluminum stress. To determine the genes involved in sugarcane response to aluminum stress we generated 372 million paired-end RNA sequencing reads, from roots of CTC-2 and RB855453 two contrasting cultivars. Data normalization resulted in 162,161 contigs and 97,335 trinity genes. After the read cutoff, the differentially expressed genes were 4,858 in CTC-2 and 1,307 in the RB855453, Treatment Vs Control, respectively. The differentially expressed genes were annotated into 34 functional categories. The majority of the genes were upregulated in the CTC-2 (tolerant cultivar) and down regulated in RB855453 (sensitive cultivar). Here, we present the first root-transcriptome of sugarcane under aluminum stress. The results and conclusions of this study provide a valuable resource for future genetic and genomic studies in sugarcane. This transcriptome analysis points out that sugarcane tolerance to aluminum may be explained by an efficient detoxification mechanism combined with the lateral root formation and activation of redox enzymes. Following our results, we present here, a hypothetical model for the aluminum tolerance in CTC-2 cultivar.

MgAl oxide coatings containing MgO and MgAl2O4 phases were doped with CeO2 particles using plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of AZ31 magnesium alloy in 5 g/L NaAlO2 water solution, with CeO2 particles added at concentrations up to 8 g/L. They underwent extensive inve-stigation into their morphology, chemical and phase compositions, and most importantly, photoluminescent (PL) properties and photocatalytic-activity (PA) in photodegradation of methyl orange (10 cm3 of 8 mg/L). The concentration of CeO2 particles in the aluminate electrolyte influences the amount of CeO2 particles incorporated into MgAl oxide coatings, but CeO2 particles have no signi-ficant effect on the surface morphology, thickness, or phase structure of the coatings. The PL emi- ssion spectrum of MgAl oxide coating is divided into two bands: one in the 350-600 nm range related to structural defects in MgO, and another much more intense in the 600-775 nm range attributed to F+ centres in MgAl2O4. Incorporated CeO2 particles do not have a significant effect on the PL intensity of the band in the red spectral region, but the PL intensity of the first band increases with the concentration of CeO2 particles. PA of MgAl/CeO2 oxide coatings is higher than that of pure MgAl oxide coatings. The highest PA was observed for MgAl/CeO2 oxide coatings formed in aluminate electrolytes with the addition of 2 g/L of CeO2 particles. The MgAl/CeO2 oxide coatings remained chemically and physically stable across multiple cycles, indicating their potential for applications.

The increasing deployment of intermittent renewable energy sources necessitates effective methods for balancing the electrical grid to ensure stability and safety. Energy storage systems that can store excess electrical power during periods of low demand and release it during high demand are crucial for both short-term and long-term applications. Power-to-Gas is an innovative energy storage solution that converts surplus renewable electricity into gas fuels, such as hydrogen, which can be stored and used later. This hydrogen can serve multiple purposes, including energy storage and as fuel for transportation modes like cars, trams, trains, and buses. While most hydrogen today is derived from fossil fuels, solid-oxide electrolysis (SOE) offers a cleaner alternative by producing hydrogen without harmful emissions. SOE is also the most efficient method of electrolysis. This study aims to determine the operational parameters for an SOE system, including lower heating value (LHV)-based efficiency and total input power, using a mathematical model. Results are presented for three different operating temperatures and four different steam utilization ratios. The paper is structured as follows: the introduction provides the context and motivation for the study; the second section outlines the fundamentals of electrolysis and its various types; the third section delves into solid-oxide electrolysis and electrolyser systems; the fourth section describes the methodology, including the mathematical formulation and simulation software used; the fifth section presents the calculation results and conclusions; and the final section summarizes the findings.

Finishing coatings in the wood-based composites industry not only influence the final appearance of the product but also serve to protect against fungi, and molds, and reduce the release of harmful substances, particularly formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Carbon-rich materials, such as those derived from birch bark extraction, specifically suberin acids, can fulfil this role. Previous research has demonstrated that adding suberin acid residues (SAR) at 20% and 50% by weight significantly enhances the gas barrier properties of surface finishing materials based on poly(lactide) (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), particularly in terms of Total VOC (TVOC) and formaldehyde emissions. This study aims to explore whether these properties can be further improved through the incorporation of nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO). Previous research has shown that these nanoparticles possess strong resistance to biological factors and can positively affect the characteristics of nanofilms applied as surface protection. The study employed PLA and PCL finishing layers blended with SAR powder at 10% w/w and included 2% and 4% nano-zinc oxide nanoparticles. The resulting blends were milled to create a powder, which was subsequently pressed into 1 mm thick films. These films were then applied to raw particleboard surfaces. TVOC and formaldehyde emission tests were conducted. Additionally, the fungal resistance of the coated surfaces was assessed. The results showed that PLA/SAR and PCL/SAR composites with the addition of nano-zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited significantly improved barrier properties, offering a promising avenue for developing biodegradable, formaldehyde-free coatings in the furniture industry with enhanced features. Furthermore, by utilizing SAR as a post-extraction residue, this project aligns perfectly with the concept of upcycling.

Safety assessment of structures can be obtained employing limit design to overcome uncertainties concerning actual response due to inelastic constitutive behavior and more generally to non-linear structural response and loads’ random variability. The limit analysis is used for evaluating the safety of the structures directly starting from load level without any knowledge of the load history. In the paper, the lower bound calculation is proposed where a new strain-based approach is used that allowed describing the residual stress and displacement in terms of permanent strain. The strategy used the permanent strain as the effective parameters of the procedure so that it was possible to assess the ductility requirements for the complete load program developed till collapse or shakedown. The procedure is compared to experimental results obtained on aluminum beams in shakedown.

The cubic nonlinearity of graphene oxide (GO) monolayer was characterized by open and closed Z-scan using a nano-second laser of 10 Hz repetition rate with a Gaussian spatial beam profile. The reverse saturable absorption or positive nonlinearity from open Z-scan and valley-peak traces or positive nonlinearity from closed Z-scan was displayed. The reverse saturable absorption could be from a two-photon or two-step excitation process due to the larger absorption in the lower visible and upper UV wavelength region compared with the excitation source. The nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction coefficient were estimated to be ~ 2.62x10-8 m/W and 3.9x10-15 m2/W, respectively. This study also reveals the effect of nonlinear absorption on nonlinear refraction traces.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the most common factor limiting the growth of alfalfa in acidic soil conditions. Melatonin (MT), a significant pleiotropic molecule present in both plants and animals, has shown promise in mitigating Al toxicity in various plant species. This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which melatonin alleviates Al toxicity in alfalfa through a combined physiological and transcriptomic analysis. The results reveal that 5 μM MT significantly alleviates Al-induced growth inhibition and preserves the morphology of root tip cells. Moreover, MT application reduces Al accumulation in alfalfa roots and shoots by 28.6% and 27.6%, respectively. Additionally, MT plays a crucial role in scavenging Al-induced excess H2O2 by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), consequently reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The RNA-seq results reveal that MT application significantly upregulates the expression of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) and carbon metabolism-related genes, including those involved in the glycolysis process, as well as sucrose and starch metabolism, suggesting that MT application may mitigate Al toxicity by facilitating the binding of Al to the cell walls, thereby reducing intracellular Al accumulation, and by improving respiration and the content of sucrose and trehalose. Taken together, our study demonstrates that MT alleviates Al toxicity in alfalfa by restoring redox homeostasis, enhancing Al binding to the cell wall, and modulating carbon metabolism. This research advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MT's effectiveness in mitigating Al toxicity, offering potential strategies for reducing Al accumulation in alfalfa.

Structural evolution, mechanical and tribological properties of Al-Mg alloy admixed with 5, 10 and 15 vol.% of iron powder using multi-pass friction stir processing (FSP) have been studied. Homogeneous distribution of intermetallic compound (IMC) particles were achieved after 4 FSP passes what resulted in increasing the stir zone hardness and ultimate tensile stress with simultaneous loss in the ductility. The reinforcement of the aluminum alloy matrix with IMCs allowed reducing wear at the same magnitude of friction. Subsurface composite tribological layer was formed on the FSPed samples as a result of rubbing against a steel counterbody.

In recent years, in addition to the commonly known wire-based processes of Directed Energy Deposition using lasers, a process variant using the electron beam has also developed to industrial market maturity. The process offers particular potential for processing highly conductive, reflective or oxidation-prone materials. However, for industrial usage there is a lack of comprehensive data on performance, process limits and possible applications. The present study deals with this problem using the example of the high-strength aluminum bronze CuAl8Ni6. Multi-stage test welds are used to determine the physically possible process limits and draw conclusions about the suitability of the parameters for additive manufacturing. For this purpose, optimal ranges for energy input, possible welding speeds and the scalability of the process were investigated. Finally, additive test specimens in the form of cylinders and walls are produced and the hardness profile, microstructure and mechanical properties are investigated. It is found that the material CuAl8Ni6 can be well processed by wire electron beam additive manufacturing. The microstructure is similar to a cast structure, the hardness profile over the height of the specimens is constant and the tensile strength and elongation at fracture values achieved correspond to the specification of the raw material.

Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy has high specific strength, good corrosion resistance, fracture toughness and fatigue resistance. It is one of the most important structural materials in the fields of aviation, aerospace, weapons, transportation and so on, which plays a huge role in the field of aerospace.In order to optimize the strength, toughness and corrosion properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy, alloying has always been the focus of research on Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. The effects of main alloying elements, trace alloying elements and rare earth elements on the microstructure and properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloy were briefly introduced in the paper, and the future research directions were prospected.

Epoxy was blended with benzoxazine resin and aluminum trihydrate (ATH) additive to render flame retardancy while maintaining mechanical properties. The ATH was modified using three different silane coupling agents and then added to 60/40 epoxy/benzoxazine mixtures. The effect of blend compositions and surface modification on flame retardant and mechanical properties of the composites was investigated by UL94, tensile, and shear tests. Resin mixtures containing more than 40 wt% benzoxazine revealed a UL94 V-1 rating with enhanced tensile and shear strength. Upon addition of 20 wt% ATH to 60/40 epoxy/benzoxazine, a V-0 rating was achieved. The lowered tensile and adhesive properties of the composites in the presence of ATH were improved by modifying the ATH surface using silane coupling agents.

The supramolecular aggregation processes occurring on metallic (aluminum and gold) surfaces in aqueous solutions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) during drying were studied using advanced scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The possible mechanism for the formation of amazing intricate fractal structures on metallic surfaces was proposed based on the analysis of SEM images, size distribution diagrams and EDX-scanning elements distribution maps.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) coatings have been investigated in a wide range of bio-applications due to their biodegradation and biocompatibility properties, that are key parameters for their use in the food packaging and biomedical devices fields. The present study evaluates and compares the electrochemical behavior of the non-coated, commercial resin-coated, TiO2-coated and Al2O3-coated aluminum in commercial beer electrolyte. For this, TiO2 and Al2O3 thin films were deposited on aluminum (Al) substrates using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The evaluation of the corrosion barrier layer properties was performed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In addition, profilometry, grazing incidence X-ray diffractometry (GIXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses were performed to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the pristine and / or corroded samples. TiO2 and Al2O3 films presented an amorphous structure, a morphology that follows Al substrate surface, and a thickness of around 100 nm. Analysis of LSV data showed that ALD coatings promoted a considerable increase in corrosion barrier efficiency being 86.3% for TiO2-coated Al and 80% for Al2O3-coated Al in comparison with 7.1% of commercial resin-coated Al. This is mainly due to the lower electrochemical porosity, 11.4% for TiO2-coated Al and 20.4% for Al2O3-coated Al in comparison with 96% of the resin-coated Al, i.e. an increase of up to twofold in the protection of Al when coated with TiO2 compared to Al2O3 coated. The EIS results allow us to complement the discussions about the reduced corrosion barrier efficiency of the Al2O3 film for beer electrolyte once SEM and FT-IR analyzes did not show drastic changes in both investigated ALD films after the corrosion assays. The above results indicate that ALD TiO2 and Al2O3 films may be a viable alternative to replace the synthetic resin coatings frequently used in aluminum cans of use in the food industry.

Aluminum is a strategic mineral resource, and China’s aluminum production and consumption is fairly large. However, its supply guarantee is uncertain because of a high dependency on external raw materials. This uncertainty may expand, so finding a way to reduce the uncertainty of aluminum resource supply is especially important. This paper applies the SFA method to analyze the aluminum flows in mainland China from 1996 to 2014, and establishes a supply structure model to measure its supply guarantee degree. The results claim that: (1) China’s aluminum production can satisfy demand and even create a surplus; (2) Domestic self-productive primary and secondary aluminum increased at an annual rate of 12% and 24%; (3) The proportion of self-productive secondary aluminum in the supply structure increased from 7.7% in 1996 to 12.8% in 2014, while that of primary aluminum decreased from 79.6% to 42.8%; (4) The total supply guarantee degree decreased from 87.3% to 55.6% in this period. These results provide a feasible way to solve this plight: the proportion of secondary aluminum in the supply structure should be enhanced, and an efficient aluminum resource recycling system needs to be established as soon as possible to ensure its sustainable supply.

We present a simple strategy to generate a family of carbon dot/iron oxide nanoparticles (C/Fe-NPs) that relies on the thermal decomposition of iron (III) acetylacetonate in the presence of a highly fluorescent carbon-rich precursor, while polyethylene glycol serves as the passivation agent. By varying the molar ratio of the reactants, a series of C/Fe-NPs have been synthesized with tuneable elemental composition in terms of C, H, O, N, Fe. The quantum yield is enhanced from 6% to 9% as the carbon content increases from 27% to 36%, while the room temperature saturation magnetization is improved from 4.1 emu/g to 17.7 emu/g as the iron content is enriched from 17 to 31%. In addition, the C/Fe-NPs show excellent antimicrobial properties, minimal cytotoxicity and demonstrate promising bioimaging capabilities, thus showing great potential for the development of advanced diagnostic tools.

We have investigated the effect of electron-beam irradiation by a forevacuum-pressure plasma-cathode electron source on the surface roughness and hardness of Al2O3- and AlN-based ceramics. The roughness increases with increasing temperature of the processed surface, while the hardness slightly decreases. For aluminum nitride ceramic, we find that the thermal conductivity increases by a factor of 1.5 to 2 depending on the electron-beam irradiation regime.

In this article, it is proposed to use aluminum breakage scraps to obtain Green Hydrogen through the aluminum-water reaction with caustic soda as a catalyst. From this exothermic reaction, both hydrogen and the heat generated can be used. Due to the low price of aluminum chips, this allows us to produce Green hydrogen below the current price that is obtained using renewable energy sources and electrolyzers. On the other hand, we have developed a process that is sustainable since it is obtained as alumina and caustic soda waste that can be reused. This alumina obtained, once filtered, has high purity which allows us to produce high-quality primary aluminum without the need to use bauxite and reducing the production of red sludge. A comparative study-analysis has been carried out of two of the types of forms in which the most common aluminum is presented in the industry to analyze which one performs better by studying key factors such as the hydrogen produced, and the waste generated during the process. Finally, the mathematical model has been defined to be able to control the flow based on different key parameters such as temperature, molarity, and geometry. Undoubtedly, the study that we present represents a milestone for the recovery of metallic aluminum waste and may be of great interest to industries that use aluminum in their processes, such as recuperators, but also the vehicle or aerospace industry.

The aims of this work were to examine the new electrode, based on polymer bacteria modified aluminum electrode for simultaneous production of electricity and degradation of phenol. This electrode is based aluminum modified by bacteria inserted in the polymer matrix, developed in situ on the surface. This electrode, designated subsequently by bacteria-polymer-aluminum, Showed stable response and was characterized with voltametric methods, as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental results revealed that the prepared electrode could be a feasible for degradation of hazardous phenol pollutants. The sensor was successfully applied to the determination of phenol in a real sample with satisfactory results.

Several challenges stand in the way of production of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) such as higher processing temperatures, particulate mixing, particulate-matrix interface bonding issues and ability to process into desired geometrical shapes. Although there are many literatures showing composites with single particulate reinforcements, the studies on composites with multiple reinforcing agents (hybrid composites) are found to be limited. Development of a hybrid particulate composite with optimized mechanical and tribological properties is very significant to suit modern engineering applications. In this study, Al-Si hypereutectic alloy (A390) is used as the matrix and Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Graphite (Gr) and Molybdenum di-Sulphide (MoS₂) are used as particulates. Particulate volume (wt%) is varied and sample test castings are made using squeeze casting process through stir casting processing route. The evaluation of mechanical properties indicates that presence of both the hard phase (SiC) and the soft phase has distinct effect on the properties of Hybrid Composite. Composite samples were characterized to understand the performance and to meet the tribological applications. Fractography study indicated an intra-granular brittle fracture for hybrid composites. Wear study shows that Hybrid MMCs has better tribological performance compared to that of A390 alloy.

The effects of 1%~5% cold compression on the mechanical properties, microstructure and residual stress of 7050 aluminum alloy were investigated, and the results were applied to the complex die forging with stiffener structure. The results show that with the increase of cold compression, the tensile strength of forging decreases gradually, but the conductivity and fracture toughness of the forging have little change. TEM microstructure shows that with larger cold compression (5%), the dislocation density was relatively higher, which promoted the precipitation and growth of precipitated phases at positions with higher dislocation density during aging process. The ultrasonic tests of residual stress show that with the increase of cold compression, the residual stress in the forging decreases first, and then increases when cold compression reaches 5%. The results of the die forging of 7050 aluminum alloy with bar structure show that the residual stress of the die forging is obviously eliminated after 2-4% cold compression, and the deformation after machining is obviously less than of the uncompressed forgings. The combination of bar and web is more beneficial to the uniform distribution of residual stress of the die forging with bar structure.

This study utilized electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to investigate the impact of inter-annealing temperature and heating rate of final annealing on the microstructure of high-voltage anode aluminum foils. The findings indicate that the formation of cube texture in the final products is significantly influenced by the inter-annealing temperature, as low inter-annealing temperatures retain a considerable amount of deformation stored energy, providing a strong driving force for nucleation. The cube texture is observed to deviate from the ideal position at lower inter-annealing temperatures. Additionally, an increase in heating rate during final annealing leads to a gradual decrease in the fraction and grain size of recrystallization. This is attributed to the fact that a higher heating rate (below the critical heating rate) reduces the time available for grain boundary migration, thereby slowing the recrystallization process.

Enhanced supercontinuum generation (SCG) is experimentally demonstrated in integrated silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) waveguides incorporating highly nonlinear graphene oxide (GO) in the form of two-dimensional (2D) films. On-chip integration of the 2D GO films with precise control of their thickness is realized by using a transfer-free and layer-by-layer coating method. The control of the film length and coating position is achieved via window opening in the upper silica cladding of the photonic integrated chips. Detailed SCG measurements are performed using the fabricated devices with different waveguide geometries and GO film thicknesses, and the results are compared with devices without GO. Significantly improved spectral broadening of ultrashort optical pulses with ultrahigh peaks powers exceeding 1000 W is observed for the hybrid devices, achieving up to 2.4 times improvement in the spectral bandwidth relative to devices without GO. Theoretical analyses for the influence of GO film thickness, coating length, coating position, and waveguide geometry are also provided by fitting the experimental results with theory, showing that there is still significant room for further improvement. This work opens up a promising new avenue towards improving the SCG performance of photonic integrated devices by incorporating functional 2D materials.

Nanostructured carriers have been widely used in pharmaceutical formulations for dermatological treatment. They offer targeted drug delivery, sustained release, improved biostability, and low toxicity, usually presenting advantages over conventional formulations. Due to its large surface area, small size and photothermal properties, graphene oxide (GO) has the potential to be used for such applications. Nanographene oxide (GOn) presented average sizes of 197.6 ± 11.8 nm, and a surface charge of -39.4 ± 1.8 mV, being stable in water for over 6 months. 55.5 % of the mass of GOn dispersion (at a concentration of 1 mg mL-1) permeated the skin after 6 h of exposure. GOn dispersions have been shown to absorb near-infrared radiation, reaching temperatures up to 45.7 °C, within mild photothermal therapy temperature range. Furthermore, GOn in amounts superior to those which could permeate the skin were shown not to affect human skin fibroblasts (HFF-1) morphology or viability, after 24 h of incubation. Due to its large size, no skin permeation was observed for graphite particles in aqueous dispersions stabilized with Pluronic P-123 (Gt-P-123). Altogether, for the first time, GOn potential as a topic administration agent and for delivery of photothermal therapy has been demonstrated.

Water deficit caused by drought is a significant threat to crop growth and production. Nitric oxide (NO), a water- and lipid-soluble free radical, plays an important role in cytoprotection. Apart from a few studies supporting the role of NO in drought responses, little is known about this pivotal molecular amendment in the regulation of abiotic stress signaling. In this review, we highlight the knowledge gaps in NO roles under drought stress and the technical challenges underlying NO detection and measurements, and we provide recommendations regarding potential avenues for future investigation. The modulation of NO production to alleviate abiotic stress disturbances in higher plants highlights the potential of genetic manipulation to influence NO metabolism as a tool with which plant fitness can be improved under adverse growth conditions.

The cast grains of the 7055 aluminum alloy were refined by adding Sm + Er, and the proper heat treatment procedure was utilized to further precipitate the rare earth phase in order to increase the alloy's strength and toughness. The grain size, microstructure and phase were characterized by optical microscopes (OM), Scanning electron microscopy - energy spectrum (SEM-EDS), XRD diffractometer (XRD). The macroscopic hardness, yield strength and tensile strength of alloy materials were measured by hardness meter and universal electronic tensile machine. The results shown that the as-cast sample and the heat treatment sample all exist Al10Cu7Sm2 and Al8Cu4Er rare earth phase; But after heat treatment, the volume percentage of the rare earth phase dramatically increased and the dispersion was more unified. When 0.3wt.%Sm and 0.1wt.%Er were added, the grain size could be refined to 53μm. With the increase of the total content of rare earth elements, the refining effect first increased and then decreased. Under 410 oC solid solution for 2h + 150oC aging for 12h, the macroscopic hardness, yield strength, tensile strength and elongation of 0.3wt.%Sm + 0.1wt.%Er+7055 as-cast sample were 155.8HV, 620.5Mpa, 658.1Mpa, and 11.90%, respectively.

Green synthesis offers a superior alternative to traditional methods for producing metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. This approach is not only benign and safe but also cost-effective, scalable, and straightforward, operating under ambient conditions. Notable metals and metal oxide nanoparticles, such as manganese oxides, iron oxides, silver, and gold, have been produced using various bio-reductants derived from plant extracts. These biological agents not only expedite the reduction process but also stabilize the nanoparticles, serving dual roles as reducing and capping agents. This review presents the green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) obtained from biogenic wastes and plant extracts. The green-synthesized nanostructured MnO2 are evaluated as a potential photocatalyst for water treatment and as an electrode material in lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. The green-derived iron oxide nanoparticles are examined as promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic agents. Additionally, this review discusses the green synthesis of precious metal nanoparticles, specifically silver (Ag NPs) and gold (Au NPs), highlighting their potential medical applications in areas like antiviral treatments and cancer therapy.

The master molecular regulators and mechanisms determining longevity and health span include nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion radicals (SOR). L-arginine, the NO synthase (NOS) substrate, can restore a healthy ratio between the dangerous SOR and the protective NO radical to promote healthy aging. Antioxidant supplementation orchestrates protection against oxidative stress and damage—L-arginine and antioxidants such as vitamin C increase NO production and bioavailability. Uncoupling of NO generation with the appearance of SOR can be induced by asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). L-arginine can displace ADMA from the site of NO formation if sufficient amounts of the amino acid are available. Antioxidants such as ascorbic acids can scavenge SOR and increase the bioavailability of NO. The topics of this review are the complex interactions of antioxidant agents with L-arginine, which determine NO bioactivity and protection against age-related degeneration.

The master molecular regulators and mechanisms determining longevity and health span include nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion radicals (SOR). L-arginine, the NO synthase (NOS) substrate, can restore a healthy ratio between the dangerous SOR and the protective NO radical to promote healthy aging. Antioxidant supplementation orchestrates protection against oxidative stress and damage—L-arginine and antioxidants such as vitamin C increase NO production and bioavailability. Uncoupling of NO generation with the appearance of SOR can be induced by asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). L-arginine can displace ADMA from the site of NO formation if sufficient amounts of the amino acid are available. Antioxidants such as ascorbic acids can scavenge SOR and increase the bioavailability of NO. The topics of this review are the complex interactions of antioxidant agents with L-arginine, which determine NO bioactivity and protection against age-related degeneration.

A chronically stable electrode material with low impedance for recording neural activity and high charge-injection capacity for functional electro-stimulation is desirable for the fabrication of implantable microelectrode arrays that aims to restore impaired or lost neurological functions in humans. For this purpose, we have investigated the electrochemical properties of sputtered ruthenium oxide (RuOx) electrode coatings, deposited on planar microelectrode arrays, using an inorganic model of interstitial fluid (model-ISF) at 37o C as the electrolyte. Through a combination of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) modelling study we have established the contribution of faradaic reaction as the major charge-injection contributor within the safe neural stimulation potential window of 0.6 V vs Ag|AgCl. We have also established the reversibility of the charge-injection process for sputtered RuOx film by applying constant charge-per-phase current stimulations at different pulse widths and by comparing the magnitudes of leading and trailing access voltages during voltage transient measurements. Finally, the impedance of the sputtered RuOx film was found to be reasonably comparable in both its oxidized and reduced states, although electronic contribution from capacitive double-layer was found to be slightly higher for the completely oxidized film around 0.6 V than its reduced counterpart around -0.6V.

Two once-through steam generators and a combination of a steam generator and a gas preheater for supplying feed gases to solid-oxide electrolysis stacks were evaluated for their carryover characteristics of contaminants from the feed-water into the steam phase. The concentrations of various trace impurities in the steam were determined by sampling the steam condensates and screening them with inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry for 19 elements and liquid ion chromatography and continuous flow analysis for chloride and ammonium. Steam soluble species like boric acid undergo complete volatilization and transfer into the steam phase. During unstable evaporation in the steam generators an extensive physical carryover of alloying metal species was observed. At realistic operation conditions for steam electrolysis, the gas preheater caused a considerable release of silicon into the steam phase. Two stack experiments were performed with common preheater temperatures and showed largely increased cell voltage degradation at higher operation temperatures. The post-test chemical analysis of cell samples revealed significant concentrations of silicon in the samples that are regarded as primary cause for increased degradation. These findings could partially explain the wide spread of degradation rates reported for solid-oxide steam electrolysis experiments.

: The paper presents the results of uniaxial tensile tests of samples of hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloy A319. According to the results of which the influence of surface treatment by a pulsed electron beam on the mechanical properties of the material was determined. The peculiarities of localization of deformation in the material, caused by grinding of the surface layer material structure due to rapid crystallization during electron beam treatment were revealed. The surface treatment up to 100 µm depth leads to the formation of a fine dendritic columnar structure of silumin and to an increase in the plasticity of the samples. The influence of surface treatment affects the increase of deformation localization in the region of stable concentrator before failure. The largest increase in ductility and localization of deformation occurs during processing with energy density of 15 J/cm2. In the process of specimen deformation, unstable, metastable, and stable areas of plastic deformation localization are formed and replaced, and the formation of stable areas of localized plastic deformation, in which the specimen fails at the end of the test, can be detected at the initial stages of testing. In specimens, during testing in the zone of localized plastic deformation, bands are formed that pass through the entire surface of the specimen at an angle from 35 to 55 degrees to the axis of tension, their evolution leads to the formation of stable zones of localized plastic deformation and to the failure of the specimen.

Aluminum profile surface defects can greatly affect the performance, safety and reliability of products. Traditional human-based visual inspection is low accuracy and time consuming, and machine vision-based methods depend on hand-crafted features which need to be carefully designed and lack robustness. To recognize the multiple types of defects with various size on aluminum profiles, a multiscale defect detection network based on deep learning is proposed. Then, the network is trained and evaluated using aluminum profile surface defects images. Results show 84.6%, 48.5%, 96.9%, 97.9%, 96.9%, 42.5%, 47.2%, 100%, 100%, 43.3% average precision(AP) for the ten defect categories, respectively, with a mean AP of 75.8%, which illustrate the effectiveness of the network in aluminum profile surface defects detection. In addition, saliency maps also show the feasibility of the proposed network.

Lightweight composite sandwich structures are laminated composite structures that are composed of thin stiff face sheets bonded to a thicker lightweight core in between. These structures have high potential to be used in marine, aerospace, defense and civil engineering applications due to their high strength to weight ratios and energy absorption capacity.In this study, composite sandwich structures were developed with carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite face sheets and aluminum honeycomb core materials with various thicknesses. Carbon fiber/epoxy composite face sheets were fabricated with lamination of [0/90]_s carbon fabrics by vacuum infusion technique. Al honeycomb layers were sandwiched together with the face sheets using a thermosetting adhesive. Mechanical tests were carried out to determine the mechanical behavior of face sheets, Al cores and the composite structure. Effect of core thickness on the mechanical properties of the sandwich was investigated.

This study involved the fabrication of a set of Aluminum ion-grafted SBA-15 utilizing ethylene-diamine and trimethylamine ionic liquids. The primary objective was to examine the impact of the fabrication environment on the physicochemical characteristics of the catalysts. Comprehensive characterization of the Al-SBA-15 catalysts was conducted using various techniques, including XRD, FTIR, surface area, pyridine FTIR, 27Al-NMR, TGA, HRTEM, and FESEM, to analyze their physicochemical characteristics. Furthermore, the acidic characteristics were examined by con-ducting potentiometric titration in a nonaqueous solvent and employing FTIR spectroscopy to an-alyze the chemisorbed pyridine. The effectiveness of the fabricated acid materials was evaluated by testing their performance in the acetic acid esterification with butanol. The findings obtained reveal that the mesostructured of SBA-15 remains intact following the successful inclusion of Al3+ ions into the silica frameworks. Additionally, a remarkable enhancement in the existence of both Bronsted and Lewis acid centers is noted due to the grafting process of Al3+ ions. At temperatures of 80°C and 100°C, the reaction in Al-SBA-15(T-120) proceeds swiftly, reaching approximately 32% and 38% conversion, respectively, within a span of 110 minutes. The excellent catalytic performance observed in the esterification reaction can be attributed to two factors: the homogeneous distribution of Al3+ ions within the SBA-15 frameworks and the acidic character of Al-SBA-15. The findings further indicate that the grafting process for incorporating Al3+ ions into the silica matrix is more efficient.

Modified aluminum slag (MAS) was applied as an adsorbent for Congo red (CR) prepared by the hydrothermal treatment of Ca (OH) 2. At 25 ℃, with a MAS dosage of 0.3g, initial CR concentration of 100 mg/L and initial pH=5, and the adsorption time was 40 min, the CR removal efficiency was 98.41%. The adsorption trend of CR conformed to the second-order kinetics, and the adsorption isotherm follows the Freundlich isotherm model. Compared with RAS, MAS has a larger pore volume and specific surface area. The mechanism of action of MAS on CR was the interaction between membrane diffusion and internal diffusion, and the adsorption rate during the membrane diffusion was the fastest.