bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Effect of Laser Welding on the Properties and Structure of TMCP Steel Butt Joints
Authors: Górka Jacek
Published: March 2020

The research work and related tests aimed to identify the effect of filler metal-free laser beam welding on the structure and properties of butt joints made of steel 700MC subjected to the TMCP (thermo-mechanically controlled processed) process. The tests involved 10-mm thick welded joints and a welding linear energy of 4 kJ/mm and 5 kJ/mm. The inert gas shielded welding process was performed in the flat position (PA) and horizontal position (PC). Non-destructive testing enabled classification of the tested welded joints as representing the quality level B in accordance with the requirements set out in standard 13919-1. Destructive tests revealed that the tensile strength of the joints was 5% lower than S700MC steel. The results of tensile tests and changes in structure were referred to joints made using the MAG (Metal Active Gas) method. The tests of thin films performed using a high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscope revealed that, during laser beam welding, an increase in dilution was accompanied by an increase in the content of alloying microadditions titanium and niobium, particularly in the fusion area. A significant content of hardening phases in the welded joint during cooling led to significant precipitation hardening by fine-dispersive (Ti,Nb)(C,N) type precipitates being of several nanometres in size, which, in turn, resulted in the reduction of plastic properties. An increase in the concentration of elements responsible for steel hardening, i.e., Ti and Nb, also contributed to reducing the weld toughness below the acceptable value, which amounts to 25 J/cm2. In cases of S700MC, the analysis of the phase transformation of austenite exposed to welding thermal cycles and the value of carbon equivalent cannot be the only factors taken into consideration when assessing weldability.
Planar Mechanical Metamaterials with Embedded Permanent Magnets
Authors: Slesarenko Viacheslav
Published: March 2020

The design space of mechanical metamaterials can be drastically enriched by the employment of non-mechanical interactions between unit cells. Here, the mechanical behavior of planar metamaterials consisting of rotating squares is controlled through the periodic embedment of modified elementary cells with attractive and repulsive configurations of the magnets. The proposed design of mechanical metamaterials produced by three-dimensional printing enables the efficient and quick reprogramming of their mechanical properties through the insertion of the magnets into various locations within the metamaterial. Experimental and numerical studies reveal that under equibiaxial compression various mechanical characteristics, such as buckling strain and post-buckling stiffness, can be finely tuned through the rational placement of the magnets. Moreover, this strategy is shown to be efficient in introducing bistability into the metamaterial with an initially single equilibrium state.
Effect of Aggregate Size on Strength Characteristics of High Strength Lightweight Concrete
Authors: Wei Hui , Liu Yang , Wu Tao , Liu Xi
Published: March 2020

Effects of aggregate size on the mechanical properties of lightweight concrete (LC) were investigated. Four gradings of lightweight aggregate (LWA) were designed and used to prepare the specimens for compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength tests. An estimating method for compressive strength of LC was then established. The compressive strength of tested LC was up to 95 MPa at 90-day curing time. The test results suggested that the absence of medium-size particles decreased the compaction of LC, therefore the density and compressive strength were negatively affected. Specimens having single size of aggregate showed lower splitting tensile and flexural strengths than that having three sizes of LWA. The parameters of the estimating model were determined according to the test results, and the compressive strength predictions of estimation model were compared with the results from other literature.
On the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of CrNx/Ag Multilayer Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Hong Chunfu , He Ping , Tian Jun , Chang Fa , Wu Jianbo , Zhang Pingshan , Dai Pinqiang
Published: March 2020

CrNx/Ag multilayer coatings and a comparative CrNx single layer were deposited via reactive magnetron sputtering. In multilayer coatings, the thickness of each CrNx layer was constant at 60 nm, while that of the Ag layer was adjusted from 3 to 10 nm. Microstructure of the films was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron spectroscopy. The results suggest that the film containing 3 nm of Ag layer presents a nanocomposite structure comprising fine nano-grains and quasi-amorphous clusters. With Ag layer thickness reaching 4.5 nm and above, Ag grains coalesce to produce continuous an Ag layer and exhibit (111) preferential crystallization. Hardness of the films was detected by nanoindentation and it reveals that with increasing the Ag layer thickness, the hardness continuously decreases from 30.2 to 11.6 GPa. Wear performance of the films was examined by the ball-on-disk test at 500 °C. The result suggests that the out-diffusion of Ag towards film surface contributes to the friction reduction, while the wear performance of films depends on the thickness of the Ag layer.
Soft Ferromagnetic Bulk Metallic Glass with Potential Self-Healing Ability
Authors: Ramasamy Parthiban , Stoica Mihai , Ababei Gabriel , Lupu Nicoleta , Eckert Jürgen
Published: March 2020

A new concept of soft ferromagnetic bulk metallic glass (BMG) with self-healing ability is proposed. The specific [Fe36Co36B19.2Si4.8Nb4]100−x(Ga)x (x = 0, 0.5, 1 and1.5) BMGs prepared by copper mold casting were investigated as a function of Ga content. The Ga-containing BMGs still hold soft magnetic properties and exhibit large plastic strain of 1.53% in compression. Local melting during shearing produces molten droplets of several µm size throughout the fracture surface. This concept of local melting during shearing can be utilized to produce BMGs with self-healing ability. The molten regions play a vital role in deflecting shear transformation zones, thereby enhancing the mechanical properties.
The Influence of Selected Test Conditions on the Impact Strength of Adhesively Bonded Connections
Authors: Godzimirski Jan , Komorek Andrzej
Published: March 2020

The conditions of adhesive connections testing can significantly affect the recorded findings. The standards, under which the investigations are conducted, do not take into account numerous factors that can greatly influence the outcome of the tests. Moreover, the research parameters in the standards are not specified. It is not defined in what manner their change, or any failure to comply with the standards, will affect test results. This article presents the results of experimental research, completed with numerical simulations, designed to test to what extent the recorded impact strength of adhesive connections is affected by the stiffness of the test stand, and the speed and energy of the impactor. In the experimental research, the authors used block samples whose substrates were made of an aluminum alloy. The elements of the samples were bonded by means of three different epoxy adhesives. The models used in numerical calculations were built on the basis of the real dimensions of the specimens used in this experimental research. As a result of the performed tests and conducted calculations, it was found that the use of test stands of lesser stiffness resulted in an increased registered impact strength due to an increased energy value of elastic deformations.
Effects of Feed per Tooth and Radial Depth of Cut on Amplitude Parameters and Power Spectral Density of a Machined Surface
Authors: Zhang Qing , Zhang Song
Published: March 2020

Surface topography and roughness significantly affect the functional properties of engineering parts. In this study, a mathematical model simulating the surface topography in end milling is presented and verified by milling experiments. The three dimensional (3D) surface amplitude parameters (arithmetic average deviation Sba and root mean square deviation Sq) of the milled surface were calculated by using the model and the effects of the product (p) and ratio (r) of radial depth of cut ae and feed per tooth fz on amplitude parameters were researched. To evaluate the lateral characteristics of the milled surface, one dimensional (1D) power spectral densities (PSD) along both feed and step-over direction were calculated and investigated. It was found that fz affects 1D PSD along both directions, whereas ae affects 1D PSD along the step-over direction. An angular spectrum, derived from the area power spectral density (APSD), was employed to research the spatial distribution of spectral energy on the milled surface. Furthermore, the influences of p and r on the PSD properties were researched. It was found that r is the significant factor that influences the direction of surface energy spectrum distribution.
Transverse Circular Holes in Cylindrical Tubes Loaded in Traction and in Flexion: A New Analytical Approximation of the Stress Concentration Factor
Authors: Rebora Alessandro U. , Vernassa Gianluca
Published: March 2020

This paper presents an analytic formula for the theoretical stress concentration factor kt for cylindrical tubes with transverse circular holes, loaded in traction or in flexion. The study is based on modern finite element (FEM) techniques, which allow for appreciating with great accuracy the phenomenon of stress concentration. A comparison between the FEM results of this paper and those that were obtained by the existing analytic formulas shows the need of an update, as some discrepancies may be noticed. Our results are the fruit of a wide campaign of numerical FEM simulations that have been conducted analyzing numerous geometric configurations of the tube. Moreover, these configurations are defined in a wider two-dimensional (2-D) domain than the one valid for previous analytic formulas published in literature. Finally, these FEM results have been approximated with great accuracy by means of a fourth degree double polynomial regression that led to the new analytic formula that is proposed in this paper.
The Effect of Synovial Fluid Composition, Speed and Load on Frictional Behaviour of Articular Cartilage
Authors: Furmann Denis , Nečas David , Rebenda David , Čípek Pavel , Vrbka Martin , Křupka Ivan , Hartl Martin
Published: March 2020

Articular cartilage ensures smooth motion of natural synovial joints operating at very low friction. However, the number of patients suffering from joint diseases, usually associated with cartilage degradation, continuously increases. Therefore, an understanding of cartilage tribological behaviour is of great interest in order to minimize its degradation, preserving the reliable function of the joints. The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive comparison of frictional behaviour of articular cartilage, focusing on the effect of synovial fluid composition (i), speed (ii), and load (iii). The experiments were realized using a pin-on-plate tribometer with reciprocating motion. The articular cartilage pin was loaded against smooth glass plate while the tests consisted of loading and unloading phases in order to enable cartilage rehydration. Various model fluids containing albumin, γ-globulin, hyaluronic acid, and phospholipids were prepared in two different concentrations simulating physiologic and osteoarthritic synovial fluid. Two different speeds, 5 mm/s and 10 mm/s were applied, and the tests were carried out under 5 N and 10 N. It was found that protein-based solutions exhibit almost no difference in friction coefficient, independently of the concentration of the constituents. However, the behaviour is considerably changed when adding hyaluronic acid and phospholipids. Especially when interacting with γ-globulin, friction coefficient decreased substantially. In general, an important role of the interaction of fluid constituents was observed. On the other hand, a limited effect of speed was detected for most of the model fluids. Finally, it was shown that elevated load leads to lower friction, which corresponds well with previous observations. Further study should concentrate on specific explored phenomena focusing on the detailed statistical evaluation.
Deterioration Process of Concrete Exposed to Internal Sulfate Attack
Authors: Chen Weifeng , Huang Bei , Yuan Yuexue , Deng Min
Published: March 2020

Damage to concrete structures with gypsum-contaminated aggregate occurs frequently. Aggregates in much of the southern part of China are contaminated with gypsum. Therefore, in this study, the effects of using different quantities of gypsum-contaminated aggregate on the expansion and compressive strength of concrete were investigated over a period of one year. Two groups of concrete were designed with the gypsum-contaminated aggregate containing different parts of fine and coarse aggregate, respectively. The SO3 contents were 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 3%, 5%, and 7% by weight of aggregate. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to analyze the change in mineral composition over time. The microstructure was also studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The results showed that significant expansion and great loss in compressive strength did not occur in concrete if the content of SO3 lay below 1.5% and 3% in fine and coarse aggregates, respectively. The concentration of sulfate ions in concrete was not enough to form new a phase of gypsum. During the process of internal sulfate attack, the content of gypsum decreased and the content of ettringite increased. Ettringite was the main reason for the expansion damage of concrete. Additionally, the fracture mode of internal sulfate attack on concrete was the crack extension from gypsum to paste; finally, the aggregate separated from the paste.
Bioinspired Thermosensitive Hydrogel as a Vitreous Substitute: Synthesis, Properties, and Progress of Animal Studies
Authors: Laradji Amine , Shui Ying-Bo , Karakocak Bedia Begum , Evans Lynn , Hamilton Paul , Ravi Nathan
Published: March 2020

In many vitreal diseases, the surgeon removes the natural vitreous and replaces it with silicone oils, gases, or balanced salt solutions to fill the eyeball and hold the retina in position. However, these materials are often associated with complications and have properties that differ from natural vitreous. Herein, we report an extension of our previous work on the synthesis of a biomimetic hydrogel that is composed of thiolated gellan as an analogue of type II collagen and poly(methacrylamide-co-methacrylate-co-bis(methacryloyl)cystamine), a polyelectrolyte, as an analogue of hyaluronic acid. This thermosensitive hydrogel can be injected into the eye as a viscous solution at 45 °C. It then forms a physical gel in situ when it reaches body temperature, and later forms disulfide covalent crosslinks. In this article, we evaluated two different formulations of the biomimetic hydrogels for their physical, mechanical, and optical properties, and we determined their biocompatibility with several cell lines. Finally, we report on the progress of the four-month preclinical evaluation of our bio-inspired vitreous substitute in comparison to silicone oil or a balanced salt solution. We assessed the eyes with a slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurements, electroretinography, and optical coherence tomography. Preliminary results are very encouraging for the continuing evaluation of our bio-inspired hydrogel in clinical trials.
Recent Achievements in Development of TiO2-Based Composite Photocatalytic Materials for Solar Driven Water Purification and Water Splitting
Authors: Perović Klara , dela Rosa Francis M. , Kovačić Marin , Kušić Hrvoje , Štangar Urška Lavrenčič , Fresno Fernando , Dionysiou Dionysios D. , Loncaric Bozic Ana
Published: March 2020

Clean water and the increased use of renewable energy are considered to be two of the main goals in the effort to achieve a sustainable living environment. The fulfillment of these goals may include the use of solar-driven photocatalytic processes that are found to be quite effective in water purification, as well as hydrogen generation. H2 production by water splitting and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water both rely on the formation of electron/hole (e−/h+) pairs at a semiconducting material upon its excitation by light with sufficient photon energy. Most of the photocatalytic studies involve the use of TiO2 and well-suited model compounds, either as sacrificial agents or pollutants. However, the wider application of this technology requires the harvesting of a broader spectrum of solar irradiation and the suppression of the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. These limitations can be overcome by the use of different strategies, among which the focus is put on the creation of heterojunctions with another narrow bandgap semiconductor, which can provide high response in the visible light region. In this review paper, we report the most recent advances in the application of TiO2 based heterojunction (semiconductor-semiconductor) composites for photocatalytic water treatment and water splitting. This review article is subdivided into two major parts, namely Photocatalytic water treatment and Photocatalytic water splitting, to give a thorough examination of all achieved progress. The first part provides an overview on photocatalytic degradation mechanism principles, followed by the most recent applications for photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides with a critical insight into removal mechanism, while the second part focuses on fabrication of TiO2-based heterojunctions with carbon-based materials, transition metal oxides, transition metal chalcogenides, and multiple composites that were made of three or more semiconductor materials for photocatalytic water splitting.
Initial Field Validation of Poroelastic Pavement Made with Crumb Rubber, Mineral Aggregate and Highly Polymer-Modified Bitumen
Authors: Jaskula Piotr , Ejsmont Jerzy , Stienss Marcin , Ronowski Grzegorz , Szydlowski Cezary , Swieczko-Zurek Beata , Rys Dawid
Published: March 2020

Tire/road noise in most driving conditions dominates other sources of traffic noise. One of the most efficient ways of reducing tire/road noise is to use the so-called “low noise pavement”. According to numerous studies, at present, poroelastic road pavement that is composed of rubber and mineral aggregate and polyurethane or bituminous binder gives the best noise reduction up to 12 dB. Unfortunately, there are many problems with making durable poroelastic pavements. This article presents the first results of a project that is executed in Poland and aims at the development of a durable, low noise poroelastic pavement based on polymer-modified asphalt binder called Safe, Eco-friendly POroelastic Road Surface (SEPOR). Two test sections were built in 2019 to test the production technology and performance of the SEPOR pavement. It is observed that some of the problems with previous poroelastic materials were mainly eliminated (especially delamination from the base layer and raveling) but noise reduction is a little less than expected (up to 9 dB). Rolling resistance for car tires is acceptable and fire properties (damping of spill fuel fires, toxic gas emission) are very good.
Developing an Analytical Model and Computing Tool for Optimizing Lapping Operations of Flat Objects Made of Alloyed Steels
Authors: Deaconescu Tudor , Deaconescu Andrea
Published: March 2020

Lapping is a finishing process where loose abrasive grains contained in a slurry are pressed against a workpiece to reduce its surface roughness. To perform a lapping operation, the user needs to set the values of the respective lapping conditions (e.g., pressure, depth of cut, the rotational speed of the pressing lap plate, and alike) based on some material properties of the workpiece, abrasive grains, and slurry, as well as on the desired surface roughness. Therefore, a mathematical model is needed that establishes the relationships among the abovementioned parameters. The mathematical model can be used to develop a lapping operation optimization system, as well. To this date, such a model and system are not available mainly because the relationships among lapping conditions, material properties of abrasive grains and slurry, and surface roughness are difficult to establish. This study solves this problem. It presents a mathematical model establishing the required relationships. It also presents a system developed based on the mathematical model. In addition, the efficacy of the system is also shown using a case study. This study thus helps systematize lapping operations in regard to real-world applications.
Grain Growth Behavior of 0.95(Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3–0.05BaTiO3 Controlled by Grain Shape and Second Phase
Authors: Jeon Sang-Chae , Fisher John G. , Kang Suk-Joong L. , Moon Kyoung-Seok
Published: March 2020

The grain growth behavior of 0.95(Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 –0.05BaTiO3 (mole fraction, NBT–5BT) grains was investigated with excess Bi2O3 addition. The powder compacts of NBT–5BT were sintered at 1200 °C for various sintering times and with various amounts of Bi2O3 (0.1, 1.5, 4.0 and 10.0 mol%). When Bi2O3 was added to round-edged cubic NBT–5BT, the grain shape changed to a more faceted cube and the amount of liquid phase increased during sintering. A more faceted cubic grain shape indicates an increase in the critical driving force for appreciable growth of grains. However, obvious abnormal grain growth did not appear in any of the NBT–5BT samples with excess Bi2O3. The amount of liquid phase increased as the amount of Bi2O3 increased. Therefore, the rate of grain growth could be decreased by the increasing the distance for the diffusion of atoms. These observations allowed us to conclude that the growth of Bi2O3-excess NBT–5BT grains is governed by the growth of facet planes via the two-dimensional nucleation grain growth mechanism during changing grain shape and amount of liquid.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Diclofenac Using Al2O3-Nd2O3 Binary Oxides Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method
Authors: Casillas José Eduardo , Campa-Molina Jorge , Tzompantzi Francisco , Carbajal Arízaga Gregorio Guadalupe , López-Gaona Alejandro , Ulloa-Godínez Sandra , Cano Mario Eduardo , Barrera Arturo
Published: March 2020

This paper reports the sol-gel synthesis of Al2O3-Nd2O3 (Al-Nd-x; x = 5%, 10%, 15% and 25% of Nd2O3) binary oxides and the photodegradation of diclofenac activated by UV light. Al-Nd-based catalysts were analyzed by N2 physisorption, XRD, TEM, SEM, UV-Vis and PL spectroscopies. The inclusion of Nd2O3 in the aluminum oxide matrix in the 10–25% range reduced the band gap energies from 3.35 eV for the γ-Al2O3 to values as low as 3.13–3.20 eV, which are typical of semiconductor materials absorbing in the UV region. γ-Al2O3 and Al-Nd-x binary oxides reached more than 92.0% of photoconverted diclofenac after 40 min of reaction. However, the photocatalytic activity in the diclofenac degradation using Al-Nd-x with Nd2O3 contents in the range 10–25% was improved with respect to that of γ-Al2O3 at short reaction times. The diclofenac photoconversion using γ-Al2O3 was 63.0% at 10 min of UV light exposure, whereas Al-Nd-15 binary oxide reached 82.0% at this reaction time. The rate constants determined from the kinetic experiments revealed that the highest activities in the aqueous medium were reached with the catalysts with 15% and 25% of Nd2O3, and these compounds presented the lowest band gap energies. The experimental results also demonstrated that Nd2O3 acts as a separator of charges favoring the decrease in the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nitrogen-doped Carbon Nanotubes Derived from g-C3N4
Authors: Maślana Klaudia , Kaleńczuk Ryszard J. , Zielińska Beata , Mijowska Ewa
Published: March 2020

Here, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CNT-N) were synthesized using exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride functionalized with nickel oxides (ex-g-C3N4-NixOy). CNT-N were produced at 900 °C in two steps: (1) ex-g-C3N4-NixOy reduction with hydrogen and (2) ethylene assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The detailed characterization of the produced materials was performed via atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The possible mechanism of nanotubes formation is also proposed.
Measurement of the Thermophysical Properties of Anisotropic Insulation Materials with Consideration of the Effect of Thermal Contact Resistance
Authors: Han Dongxu , Yue Kai , Cheng Liang , Yang Xuri , Zhang Xinxin
Published: March 2020

A novel method involving the effect of thermal contact resistance (TCR) was proposed using a plane heat source smaller than the measured samples for improving measurement accuracy of the simultaneous determination of in-plane and cross-plane thermal conductivities and the volumetric heat capacity of anisotropic materials. The heat transfer during the measurement process was mathematically modeled in a 3D Cartesian coordinate system. The temperature distribution inside the sample was analytically derived by applying Laplace transform and the variables separation method. A multiparameter estimation algorithm was developed on the basis of the sensitivity analysis of the parameters to simultaneously estimate the measured parameters. The correctness of the algorithm was verified by performing simulation experiments. The thermophysical parameters of insulating materials were experimentally measured using the proposed method at different temperatures and pressures. Fiber glass and ceramic insulation materials were tested at room temperature. The measured results showed that the relative error was 1.6% less than the standard value and proved the accuracy of the proposed method. The TCRs measured at different pressures were compared with those obtained using the steady-state method, and the maximum deviation was 8.5%. The thermal conductivity obtained with the contact thermal resistance was smaller than that without the thermal resistance. The measurement results for the anisotropic silica aerogels at different temperatures and pressures revealed that the thermal conductivity and thermal contact conductance increased as temperature and pressure increased.
Improvement of AZ91 Alloy Corrosion Properties by Duplex NI-P Coating Deposition
Authors: Wasserbauer Jaromír , Buchtík Martin , Tkacz Jakub , Fintová Stanislava , Minda Jozef , Doskočil Leoš
Published: March 2020

The corrosion behavior of duplex Ni-P coatings deposited on AZ91 magnesium alloy was studied. The electroless deposition process of duplex Ni-P coating consisted in the preparation of low-phosphorus Ni-P coating (5.7 wt.% of P), which served as a bond coating and high-phosphorus Ni-P coating (11.5 wt.% of P) deposited on it. The duplex Ni-P coatings with the thickness of 25, 50, 75 and 100 µm were deposited on AZ91 magnesium alloy. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of coated AZ91 magnesium alloy was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization method in 0.1 M NaCl. Obtained results showed a significant improvement in the corrosion resistance of coated specimens when compared to uncoated AZ91 magnesium alloy. From the results of the immersion tests in 3.5 wt.% NaCl, 10% solution of HCl and NaOH and 5% neutral salt spray, a noticeable increase in the corrosion resistance with the increasing thickness of the Ni-P coating was observed.
Pulsed Laser Deposition of Bismuth Vanadate Thin Films—The Effect of Oxygen Pressure on the Morphology, Composition, and Photoelectrochemical Performance
Authors: Trzciński Konrad , Szkoda Mariusz , Gazda Maria , Karczewski Jakub , Cenian Adam , Grigorian Galina M. , Sawczak Mirosław
Published: March 2020

Thin layers of bismuth vanadate were deposited using the pulsed laser deposition technique on commercially available FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide) substrates. Films were sputtered from a sintered, monoclinic BiVO4 pellet, acting as the target, under various oxygen pressures (from 0.1 to 2 mbar), while the laser beam was perpendicular to the target surface and parallel to the FTO substrate. The oxygen pressure strongly affects the morphology and the composition of films observed as a Bi:V ratio gradient along the layer deposited on the substrate. Despite BiVO4, two other phases were detected using XRD (X-ray diffraction) and Raman spectroscopy—V2O5 and Bi4V2O11. The V-rich region of the samples deposited under low and intermediate oxygen pressures was covered by V2O5 longitudinal structures protruding from BiVO4 film. Higher oxygen pressure leads to the formation of Bi4V2O11@BiVO4 bulk heterojunction. The presented results suggest that the ablation of the target leads to the plasma formation, where Bi and V containing ions can be spatially separated due to the interactions with oxygen molecules. In order to study the phenomenon more thoroughly, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy measurements were performed. Then, obtained electrodes were used as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The highest photocurrent was achieved for films deposited under 1 mbar O2 pressure and reached 1 mA cm−2 at about 0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl). It was shown that V2O5 on the top of BiVO4 decreases its photoactivity, while the presence of a bulk Bi4V2O11@BiVO4 heterojunction is beneficial in water photooxidation.
Experimental Study on Basic Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Zhou Hao , Jia Bin , Huang Hui , Mou Yanling
Published: March 2020

Blending a certain proportion of basalt fiber into concrete improves the toughness of concrete, which prevents cracking and avoids the brittle behaviors. In this paper, the compressive, tensile, and flexural tests of concrete with different basalt fiber contents were carried out. Then the test phenomena, failure modes, and mechanical properties were compared and analyzed to derive the relationship between the basalt fiber contents and mechanical properties. The toughness and crack resistance performance of basalt fiber reinforced concrete were evaluated by the fracture energy, advanced toughness parameters, and characteristic length proposed by Hillerborg. The correlation coefficient of basalt fiber was introduced to establish the calculation formula for mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced concrete. The results indicated that basalt fiber significantly improved the toughness and crack resistance performance of concrete. The enhancing effect of the basalt fiber on the compressive strength of concrete is lower than that of tensile strength and flexural strength. Moreover, the improvement effect was the highest with the basalt fiber content was 0.3% and 0.4%.
Influence of Anion Structure on Thermal, Mechanical and CO2 Solubility Properties of UV-Cross-Linked Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Iongels
Authors: Martins Ana P. S. , Fdz De Añastro Asier , Olmedo-Martínez Jorge L. , Nabais Ana R. , Neves Luísa A. , Mecerreyes David , Tomé Liliana C.
Published: March 2020

Iongel-based CO2 separation membranes were prepared by fast (< 1 min) UV-initiated polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) in the presence of different ionic liquids (ILs) with the [C2mim]+ cation and anions such as [TFSI]−, [FSI]−, [C(CN)3]− and [B(CN)4]−. The four ILs were completely miscible with the non-ionic PEGDA network. Transparent and free-standing iongels containing between 60 and 90 %wt of IL were obtained and characterized by diverse techniques (FTIR, TGA, DSC, DMTA, SEM, CO2 solubility and pure gas permeability). The thermal and mechanical stability of the iongels, as well as CO2 solubility, were found to be strictly dependent on the IL content and the anion’s nature. The TGA results indicated that the iongels mostly follow the thermal profile of the respective neat ILs. The DMTA analysis revealed that the iongels based on fluorinated anions have higher storage modulus than those of cyano-functionalized anions. Conversely, the PEGDA–C(CN)3 iongels presented the highest CO2 solubility values ranging from 72 to 80 mmol/g. Single CO2 permeabilities of 583 ± 29 Barrer and ideal CO2/N2 selectivities of 66 ± 3 were obtained with the PEGDA–70 C(CN)3 iongel membrane. This work demonstrates that the combination of PEGDA with high contents of the best performing ILs is a promising and simple strategy, opening up new possibilities in the design of high-performance iongel membranes for CO2 separation.
Effect of the Rare Earth Oxide CeO2 on the Microstructure and Properties of the Nano-WC-Reinforced Ni-Based Composite Coating
Authors: Shu Da , Cui Xiangxiang , Li Zhuguo , Sun Jichao , Wang Jianbing , Chen Xu , Dai Sichao , Si Wudong
Published: March 2020

In this study, the addition of the rare earth oxide CeO2 was investigated to alter the microstructural properties of the nano-WC-reinforced Ni-based composite coatings. The reinforced composite was prepared on the 42CrMo steel surface using a semiconductor laser. The morphology and microstructure of coatings were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Further, the digital microhardness tester and high-temperature friction and wear tester were used to observe the mechanical properties. The results indicated that the addition of CeO2 eliminated the cracks from the surface of the coatings and effectively reduced the number of pores. The phases were mainly observed as γ-Ni(Fe) in a solid solution, and some residual WC and W2C phases were observed. In addition, Fe3C, Cr23C6, M6C (M = W, Fe, and Ni), SiC and Cr7C3 composite carbides, Si2W and NiW tungsten compounds, and CeFe2- and CeNi2-containing Ce complex compounds were formed on the coating. The rare earth oxide CeO2 composite-modified coating mainly comprised dendrites, crystal cells, strips, and massive microstructures. The reinforced phases of the modified coating presented uniform dispersion distribution with the addition of 1% CeO2, and the structures were significantly refined. The maximum microhardness of the modified coating was approximately 1560 HV0.2, which was approximately 20% higher than that of the unmodified composite coating. The minimum wear loss of the modified coating was 6.1 mg and the minimum frictional coefficient was approximately 0.23, which were better than those of the unmodified coating. The wear mechanism of the nano-WC-reinforced Ni-based coating was primarily adhesive, whereas that of the CeO2 composite modified coating was mainly abrasive particle wear, which accompanied adhesive wear.
Food Sources of Dietary Potassium in the Adult Japanese Population: The International Study of Macro-/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP)
Authors: Okuda Nagako , Okayama Akira , Miura Katsuyuki , Yoshita Katsushi , Miyagawa Naoko , Saitoh Shigeyuki , Nakagawa Hideaki , Sakata Kiyomi , Chan Queenie , Elliott Paul , Ueshima Hirotsugu , Stamler Jeremiah
Published: March 2020

A lower-than-recommended potassium intake is a well-established risk factor for increased blood pressure. Although the Japanese diet is associated with higher sodium intake and lower potassium intake, few studies have examined the source foods quantitatively. Studies on dietary patterns in association with potassium intake will be useful to provide dietary advice to increase potassium intake. Twenty-four-hour (hr) dietary recall data and 24-hr urinary potassium excretion data from Japanese participants (574 men and 571 women) in the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) were used to calculate food sources of potassium and compare food consumption patterns among quartiles of participants categorized according to 24-hr urinary potassium excretion per unit of body weight (UK/BW). The average potassium intake was 2791 mg/day per participant, and the major sources were vegetables and fruits (1262 mg/day), fish (333 mg/day), coffee and tea (206 mg/day), and milk and dairy products (200 mg/day). Participants in the higher UK/BW quartile consumed significantly more vegetables and fruits, fish, and milk and dairy products, and ate less rice and noodles. Conclusion: Advice to increase the intake of vegetables and fruits, fish, and milk may be useful to increase potassium intake in Japan.
Effect of Synthetic Vitamin A and Probiotics Supplementation for Prevention of Morbidity and Mortality during the Neonatal Period. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies from Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Imdad Aamer , Rehman Faseeha , Davis Evan , Attia Suzanna , Ranjit Deepika , Surin Gamael Saint , Lawler Sarah , Smith Abigail , Bhutta Zulfiqar A.
Published: March 2020

Background: Suboptimal nutritional status of a newborn is a risk factor for short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this review were to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of neonatal synthetic vitamin A supplementation, dextrose gel and probiotic supplementation for prevention of morbidity and mortality during infancy in low and middle-income countries. Methods: We included randomized trials. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. We conducted electronic searches on multiple databases. Data were meta-analyzed to obtain relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Studies for vitamin A and Probiotics were analyzed separately. No studies were found for dextrose gel supplementation during neonatal period. The overall rating of evidence was determined by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: Sixteen studies assessed the effect of vitamin A supplementation during the neonatal period. Based on pooled data from community-based studies only, there was no significant effect of vitamin A on all-cause mortality at age 1 month (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.90, 1.08), 6 months (RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.89–1.08) and 12 months (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.94, 1.14) but increased risk of bulging fontanelle (RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.12, 2.09). The overall quality of evidence was high for the above outcomes. Thirty-three studies assessed the effect of probiotic supplementation during the neonatal period and were mostly conducted in the hospital setting. Probiotics reduced the risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66, 0.96), necrotizing enterocolitis (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.35, 0.59) and neonatal sepsis (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.70, 0.86). The grade ratings for the above three outcomes were high. Conclusions: Vitamin A supplementation during the neonatal period does not reduce all-cause neonatal or infant mortality in low and middle-income countries in the community setting. Probiotic supplementation during the neonatal period seems to reduce all-cause mortality, NEC, and sepsis in babies born low birth weight and/or preterm in the hospital setting.
Composition of Gut Microbiota in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Iglesias-Vázquez Lucía , Van Ginkel Riba Georgette , Arija Victoria , Canals Josefa
Published: March 2020

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a public health problem and has a prevalence of 0.6%–1.7% in children. As well as psychiatric symptoms, dysbiosis and gastrointestinal comorbidities are also frequently reported. The gut–brain microbiota axis suggests that there is a form of communication between microbiota and the brain underlying some neurological disabilities. The aim of this study is to describe and compare the composition of gut microbiota in children with and without ASD. Methods: Electronic databases were searched as far as February 2020. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan5.3 to estimate the overall relative abundance of gut bacteria belonging to 8 phyla and 17 genera in children with ASD and controls. Results: We included 18 studies assessing a total of 493 ASD children and 404 controls. The microbiota was mainly composed of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, all of which were more abundant in the ASD children than in the controls. Children with ASD showed a significantly higher abundance of the genera Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Clostridium, Faecalibacterium, and Phascolarctobacterium and a lower percentage of Coprococcus and Bifidobacterium. Discussion: This meta-analysis suggests that there is a dysbiosis in ASD children which may influence the development and severity of ASD symptomatology. Further studies are required in order to obtain stronger evidence of the effectiveness of pre- or probiotics in reducing autistic behaviors.
New Development of Disaster-Related and Tropical Infectious Diseases Control
Authors: Bai Gaowa , Niki Toshiro , Kikuchi Haruhisa , Sumi Ayako , Kobayashi Nobuyuki , Haruyama Takahiro , Zhang Jing , Chagan-Yasutan Haorile , Hattori Toshio
Published: March 2020

As described in Japanese essay (Hojoki), written around 1200, various disasters such as big fires, earthquakes, and famines have occurred in Japan. Asian countries have been suffering from the disasters; furthermore, natural disasters are increasing due to global warming. Because tropical-infectious diseases are often disaster-related infectious diseases (DRIDs), the strategies against the former kind of disease could be applicable to DRIDs. Meteorological analysis of the occurrence of DRIDs using a method of time series analysis is important. In situations of disasters, it is desirable if you can identify the pathogen and identify disease severity simultaneously. A dipstick DNA chromatography assay termed as Single-Tag Hybridization—Printed Array Strip (STH—PAS) system was developed based on the DNA sequences of various mosquito-borne diseases. The plasma levels of matricellular proteins including galectin-9 (Gal-9) and osteopontin (OPN) were found to reflect the disease severities in the dengue virus and other DIRDs. Because both proteins have been reported to be immune-check molecules, their inhibition might enhance the immune system against pathogens. We found that brefelamide derivatives could inhibit OPN and other inflammatory molecules synthesis. Very recently, different derivatives were found to inhibit PD-L1 transcription. Applications of these agents should be considered as multi-step strategies against DRIDs.
Evaluating Gravimetric Polar Motion Excitation Estimates from the RL06 GRACE Monthly-Mean Gravity Field Models
Authors: Śliwińska Justyna , Nastula Jolanta , Dobslaw Henryk , Dill Robert
Published: March 2020

Over the last 15 years, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission has provided measurements of temporal changes in mass redistribution at and within the Earth that affect polar motion. The newest generation of GRACE temporal models, are evaluated by conversion into the equatorial components of hydrological polar motion excitation and compared with the residuals of observed polar motion excitation derived from geodetic measurements of the pole coordinates. We analyze temporal variations of hydrological excitation series and decompose them into linear trends and seasonal and non-seasonal changes, with a particular focus on the spectral bands with periods of 1000–3000, 450–1000, 100–450, and 60–100 days. Hydrological and reduced geodetic excitation series are also analyzed in four separated time periods which are characterized by different accuracy of GRACE measurements. The level of agreement between hydrological and reduced geodetic excitation depends on the frequency band considered and is highest for interannual changes with periods of 1000–3000 days. We find that the CSR RL06, ITSG 2018 and CNES RL04 GRACE solutions provide the best agreement with reduced geodetic excitation for most of the oscillations investigated.
Optical Water Type Guided Approach to Estimate Optical Water Quality Parameters
Authors: Uudeberg Kristi , Aavaste Age , Kõks Kerttu-Liis , Ansper Ave , Uusõue Mirjam , Kangro Kersti , Ansko Ilmar , Ligi Martin , Toming Kaire , Reinart Anu
Published: March 2020

Currently, water monitoring programs are mainly based on in situ measurements; however, this approach is time-consuming, expensive, and may not reflect the status of the whole water body. The availability of Multispectral Imager (MSI) and Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) free data with high spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution has increased the potential of adding remote sensing techniques into monitoring programs, leading to improvement of the quality of monitoring water. This study introduced an optical water type guided approach for boreal regions inland and coastal waters to estimate optical water quality parameters, such as the concentration of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and total suspended matter (TSM), the absorption coefficient of coloured dissolved organic matter at a wavelength of 442 nm (aCDOM(442)), and the Secchi disk depth, from hyperspectral, OLCI, and MSI reflectance data. This study was based on data from 51 Estonian and Finnish lakes and from the Baltic Sea coastal area, which altogether were used in 415 in situ measurement stations and covered a wide range of optical water quality parameters (Chl-a: 0.5–215.2 mg·m−3; TSM: 0.6–46.0 mg·L−1; aCDOM(442): 0.4–43.7 m−1; and Secchi disk depth: 0.2–12.2 m). For retrieving optical water quality parameters from reflectance spectra, we tested 132 empirical algorithms. The study results describe the best algorithm for each optical water type for each spectral range and for each optical water quality parameter. The correlation was high, from 0.87 up to 0.93, between the in situ measured optical water quality parameters and the parameters predicted by the optical water type guided approach.
Wind-Forced Delayed Action Oscillator in Tropical Oceans with Satellite Multi-Sensor Observations
Authors: Pan Jiayi , Devlin Adam T. , Lin Hui
Published: March 2020

This study investigates correlations among interannual variabilities of sea surface wind, sea surface temperature (SST), and sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) in the tropical region from latitude 15°S to 15°N. Sea surface winds were derived from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s European Remote-Sensing Satellite (ERS)-1/2 scatterometer and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s QuickSCAT observations; SST data were obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) missions; and the SSHA data were acquired from the NASA TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 altimeter measurements. All these datasets were resampled into 1° × 1° grids between 15°S and 15°N. The annual cycles were removed from all datasets and an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis was applied to extract the major modes of spatial and temporal variability. The first EOF modes of the wind, SST, and SSHA revealed the interannual variability of each data source, reflecting spatio-temporal signatures related to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The correlation results suggested that, during the strong El Nino period of 1997–1998, the wind variability led the variability of SST. A wind-forced delayed action oscillator (WDAO) system was proposed and analyzed using the ENSO modes of wind and SST data, covering the period from October 1995 to June 2002. The results show that the delayed SST mechanism is the strongest forcing factor in the WDAO system, and the wind forcing is the second strongest forcing factor. The correlations among SST change rate, the wind, and delayed/un-delayed SST also confirm the WDAO analysis’ results.