bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Benzalkonium Chloride Contents on Structures, Properties, and Ultrafiltration Performances of Chitosan-Based Nanocomposite Membranes
Authors: Khoerunnisa Fitri , Nurhayati Mita , Annisa Noor Azmi Aulia , Fatimah Siti , Nashrah Nisa , Hendrawan Hendrawan , Ko Young-Gun , Ng Eng-Poh , Opaprakasit Pakorn
Published: February 2022

The effects of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) contents on the structure, properties, and ultrafiltration performance of chitosan-based nanocomposite membranes containing poly(ethylene glycol) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (chitosan/BKC/PEG/CNT) were examined. The membranes were prepared by a mixing solution method and phase inversion before being characterized with microscopic techniques, tensile tests, thermogravimetric analysis, water contact angle, and porosity measurements. The performance of the nanocomposite membranes in regard to permeability (flux) and permselectivity (rejection) was examined. The results show that the incorporation of BKC produced nanocomposite membranes with smaller pore structures and improved physico-chemical properties, such as an increase in porosity and surface roughness (Ra = 45.15 to 145.35 nm and Rq = 53.69 to 167.44 nm), an enhancement in the elongation at break from 45 to 109%, and an enhancement in the mechanical strength from 31.2 to 45.8 MPa. In contrast, a decrease in the membrane hydrophilicity (water contact angle increased from 56.3 to 82.8°) and a decrease in the average substructure pore size from 32.64 to 10.08 nm were observed. The membrane rejection performances toward Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) increased with the BKC composition in both dead-end and cross-flow filtration processes. The chitosan/BKC/PEG/CNT nanocomposite membranes have great potential in wastewater treatments for minimizing biofouling without reducing the water purification performance.
Carbon Nanofibers Based on Potassium Citrate/Polyacrylonitrile for Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Wang , Zhang Ludan , Guo Junqiang , Lee Jeongyeon , Lin Liwei , Diao Guowang
Published: February 2022

Wearable supercapacitors based on carbon materials have been emerging as an advanced technology for next-generation portable electronic devices with high performance. However, the application of these devices cannot be realized unless suitable flexible power sources are developed. Here, an effective electrospinning method was used to prepare the one-dimensional (1D) and nano-scale carbon fiber membrane based on potassium citrate/polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which exhibited potential applications in supercapacitors. The chemical and physical properties of carbon nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the Brunnauer–Emmett–Teller method. The fabricated carbon nanofiber membrane illustrates a high specific capacitance of 404 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. The good electrochemical properties could be attributed to the small diameter and large specific surface area, which promoted a high capacity.
Membrane Bioreactors for Produced Water Treatment: A Mini-Review
Authors: Asante-Sackey Dennis , Rathilal Sudesh , Tetteh Emmanuel Kweinor , Armah Edward Kwaku
Published: February 2022

Environmentalists are prioritizing reuse, recycling, and recovery systems to meet rising water demand. Diving into produced water treatment to enable compliance by the petroleum industry to meet discharge limits has increased research into advanced treatment technologies. The integration of biological degradation of pollutants and membrane separation has been recognized as a versatile technology in dealing with produced water with strength of salts, minerals, and oils being produced during crude refining operation. This review article presents highlights on produced water, fundamental principles of membrane bioreactors (MBRs), advantages of MBRs over conventional technologies, and research progress in the application of MBRs in treating produced water. Having limited literature that specifically addresses MBRs for PW treatment, this review also attempts to elucidate the treatment efficiency of MBRs PW treatment, integrated MBR systems, general fouling, and fouling mitigation strategies.
Study on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Ti/Mg Alloy Clad Plate Produced by Explosive Welding
Authors: Zhao Hui , Zhao Chaochao , Yang Yang , Wang Yizhuo , Sheng Liyuan , Li Yixu , Huo Miao , Zhang Keren , Xing Liwei , Zhang Ge
Published: February 2022

In this paper, the microstructure and properties of a Ti/Mg alloy clad plate manufactured by explosive welding were studied. The bonding interface was inspected by ultrasonic examination (US). The microstructure and the composition of the clad were characterized by OM and SEM. Properties were inspected by tensile test, shearing test, microhardness test and electrochemical corrosion. The results showed that the bonding interface of the clad plate was made up of straight areas and wavy areas. In straight areas, element diffusion occurred across the bonding interface. Additionally, in wavy areas, a melting zone occurred in the Mg alloy layer near to the bonding interface. Lots of light particles embedded on the melting zone. Tensile test results were comparable with the Ti sheet and the ultimate tensile strength of the clad plate demonstrated an 18% increase. The shearing strength of the clad plate was about 68–87 MPa. The microhardness of the clad plate was higher than that of the original sheets from the interface to 300 μm away. At over 300 μm, the microhardness of the clad plate decreased and approached the original sheets. Compared with the straight area, the hardness of the Mg alloy layer in the wavy area close to the interface increased by 12%. Corrosion results showed that the corrosion potential (Ecorr) absolute value of the clad plate increased by 24%, and the corrosion current density (icorr) value was 4 orders of magnitude lower, compared with the Mg alloy sheet. It was clear that the corrosion resistance of the clad plate was higher than that of the Mg alloy sheet. Cladding Mg alloy and Ti by explosive welding would improve the industrial applications of magnesium materials.
Tribocorrosion Behavior of CoCrNi Medium Entropy Alloy in Simulated Seawater
Authors: Wang Xian-Zong , Wang Yanfei , Huang Zhuobin , Zhou Qing , Wang Haifeng
Published: February 2022

Understanding the fundamental behaviors of tribocorrosion for metals is critical for their possible application in seawater. For the recently emerging medium entropy alloys (MEAs), while mechanical wear and corrosion phenomena have been established, such experimental exploration is still lacking regarding the tribocorrosion behavior. In this work, the tribocorrosion behavior of CoCrNi MEA was investigated on a reciprocating sliding friction testing machine. Although a significant increase of current density formed due to sliding, CoCrNi exhibits superior passivity when compared with 316L and Inconel 600. In addition, the total tribocorrosion volume loss increases with positive shifting of the applied potential for CoCrNi. Specifically, the total material loss at an applied potential more positive than the pitting potential is one order in magnitude larger than that under pure mechanical wear, confirming the synergy between wear and corrosion. The generated pits on the worn surface became the preferred locations of wear and tear, leading to accelerated materials’ loss rate. Through detecting the morphologies of the contact surfaces, the features of abrasive wear, adhesive wear, delamination, and plastic deformation were revealed for CoCrNi during tribocorrosion at different potentials.
Dynamic Hardening of AISI 304 Steel at a Wide Range of Strain Rates and Its Application to Shot Peening Simulation
Authors: Lee Sungbo , Yu Kwanghyun , Huh Hoon , Kolman Radek , Arnoult Xavier
Published: February 2022

The hardening behavior of AISI 304 steel is investigated at various strain rates, from the quasi-static state to ultra-high strain rates, because it is necessary for numerical simulation of high-speed deformation problems. This kind of testing at a wide range of strain rates has not been yet reported in the literature although it is indispensable for accurate numerical analyses where deformation takes place with a wide spectrum of strain rates. AISI 304 steel is a kind of austenitic stainless steel used in various engineering fields, which does not harden by heat treatment, but by cold working such as shot peening. In order to obtain hardening properties at each strain rate, tensile tests were carried out using a universal testing machine of the INSTRON 5583 for the quasi-static state, a high speed material testing machine of a servo-hydraulic type for intermediate strain rates, and a tensile split-Hopkinson bar for high strain rates with a digital image correlation method. The hardening properties at the ultra-high strain-rate region were obtained from Taylor impact test results by calibration with an experimental–numerical hybrid inverse optimization for reliable extrapolation results. Finally, the hardening flow stress curves were obtained at various strain rates from the quasi-static state to ultra-high strain rates by interpolating the data with the extended Lim–Huh model. The result shows that the yield stress of 759 MPa at the quasi-static state increased to 1429 MPa at a strain rate of 106 s−1, which is about 1.9 times of the quasi-static yield stress. As a demonstration example, the dynamic hardening properties obtained were applied to a shot peening simulation that required hardening curves at a wide range of strain rates from the static state to 106 s−1. The simulation result with the dynamic hardening properties is compared to that with the quasi-static properties. The comparison shows a notable difference in the maximum compressive residual stress by 32%, demonstrating that it is important to consider the dynamic hardening properties in such high strain rate simulation as shot peening for accurate simulation results.
Ti-6Al-4V Octet-Truss Lattice Structures under Bending Load Conditions: Numerical and Experimental Results
Authors: Di Caprio Francesco , Franchitti Stefania , Borrelli Rosario , Bellini Costanzo , Di Cocco Vittorio , Sorrentino Luca
Published: February 2022

Metal lattice structures produced by means of additive techniques are attracting increasing attention thanks to the high structural efficiency they can offer. In order to achieve the maximum structural performance, numerical design techniques are used almost exclusively, thus based on CAE-FEM codes. Nevertheless, the current manufacturing facilities do not yet guarantee defect-free components, and, therefore, such imperfections need to be introduced in the numerical models too. The present work aims to describe a FE modelling technique for lattice structures based on the use of beam and shell elements, and therefore with a very reduced computational cost. The main structural parameters, such as weight and stiffness and strength, are used to drive the model calibration. Simple mathematical relationships, based on Experimental-CAD-FEM comparisons, are provided to estimate the error related to the numerical model in a simple and fast way. The validation was performed by three-point bending test on flat specimen with regular octet-truss microstructure both with and without external skin. The test articles were produced in Ti6Al4V and by means of the electron beam melting (EBM) technology. The results obtained are in excellent agreement with the experimental ones, indeed the maximum error is about 3%. All this indicates these methodologies as possible tools for evaluating the performance of such kinds of high-tech structures.
A Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Microstructure and Crystallographic Data on Stress-Oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking Susceptibility of API 5L X70 Pipeline Steel
Authors: Mohtadi-Bonab Mohammad Ali , Ariza-Echeverri Edwan Anderson , Masoumi Mohammad
Published: February 2022

In this research, stress-oriented hydrogen induced cracking (SOHIC) test was carried out on a 50 mm thickness of a commercial API 5L X70 steel plate. The evolution of microscopic features such as phase, boundary, interface, grain, and crystallographic data was analyzed before and after SOHIC, in order to comprehend the effect of crystallographic orientation on SOHIC propagation. Chemical composition and previous thermomechanical processing even finish rolling temperature and cooling rate determine the ferrite matrix microstructure. A recrystallized ultrafine ferrite grain with about 3–5% degenerated pearlite dispersed in the microstructure was characterized, called as-received specimen. The average lattice strain and dislocation density was calculated first using multiple Gaussian peak-fitting method from XRD pattern. Electrochemically charged combination mixed H2S-CO2 solution, constant hydrogen injection, and external loading were applied to tensile specimen, in order to simulate the H2S and CO2 environment. The results show that local misorientation and Taylor factor analyses predicted the possibility of hydrogen crack nucleation especially at boundaries and interfaces. Moreover, SOHIC crack propagation occurred along the mid-thickness of the cross section of steel plate along the ferritic boundaries, pearlitic colonies, and ferrite-cementite interfaces. Moreover, the crack propagated along distorted {110} and {001} grains, indicating a strong strain gradient towards the boundaries. The analysis of XRD patterns of SOHIC tested specimen by multiple Gaussian peak-fitting method estimated about 68% increment in micro-deformation and approximately 170% increase in dislocation density.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-Cu-Mg Alloy Fabricated by Double-Wire CMT Arc Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Fan Siyue , Guo Xinpeng , Tang Yan , Guo Xuming
Published: February 2022

The high cracking sensitivity of Al-Cu-Mg alloy limits its application in wire + arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). In this paper, a double-wire cold metal transfer (CMT) arc additive manufacturing system was applied. ER2319 and ER5183 wires were selected as feedstocks and a new type of high-strength, crack-free Al-Cu-Mg alloy was manufactured. T6 (solution and artificial aging) heat treatment was conducted to further improve the mechanical properties. The microstructure, the second phase, distribution of main alloy elements and fracture morphology of Al-Cu-Mg alloys in both as-deposited and T6 heat-treated conditions were analyzed by optical micrographs (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The micro-hardness and tensile properties of WAAM Al-Cu-Mg alloy in both as-deposited and T6 heat-treated conditions were tested. The results demonstrated that the microstructure of the as-deposited Al-Cu-Mg alloy was composed of short rod-shaped columnar grains, equiaxed grains in the inter-layer region, and coarsen equiaxed grains in the inner-layer region; most of the second phases were continuously distributed along the grain boundaries. After the T6 heat treatment, α(Al) grains became coarsened, most of second phases were dissolved, and the Cu and Mg elements were distributed homogeneously in the aluminum matrix. The micro-hardness and strength were significantly improved but the elongation was reduced.
Process Parameters Optimisation for Mitigating Residual Stress in Dual-Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Zhang Wenyou , Abbott William M. , Sasnauskas Arnoldas , Lupoi Rocco
Published: February 2022

Laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) additive manufacturing (AM) is an advanced manufacturing technology that manufactures metal components in a layer-by-layer manner. The thermal residual stress (RS) induced by the repeated heating–melting–cooling–solidification processes of AM is considered to limit the wider uptake of PBF-LB. A dual-laser beam PBF-LB strategy, with an additional auxiliary laser and reduced power, working in the same powder bed simultaneously, was recently proposed to lower RS within the manufactured components. To provide insights into the optimum PBF-LB AM configurations and process parameters for dual-laser PBF-LB, this study proposed three different coordinated heating strategies (i.e., parallel heating, post-heating, and preheating) of the auxiliary heat source. The temperature fields and RS of dual-laser beam PBF-LB, for Ti-6Al-4V with different process parameters, were computationally investigated and optimized by the thermo-mechanically coupled 3D models. Compared with the single beam PBF-LB, parallel heating, post-heating, and post-heating strategies were proved as effective approaches to reduce RS. Among these, the preheating scanning is predicted to be more effective in mitigating RS, i.e., up to a 10.41% RS reduction, compared with the single laser scanning. This work could be beneficial for mitigating RS and improve the mechanical properties of additively manufactured metal components.
Shear Localization and Mechanical Properties of Cu/Ta Metallic Nanolayered Composites: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Wang Chuanbin , Wang Junjie , Hu Jianian , Huang Shanglin , Sun Yi , Zhu Youlin , Shen Qiang , Luo Guoqiang
Published: February 2022

With their excellent mechanical properties, Cu/Ta metallic nanolayered composites (MNCs) are extensively applied in aerospace and nuclear industry facilities. However, shear localization severely disrupts the ability of these materials to deform uniformly, attracting many researchers. The necessary time and length conditions of experiments limit the investigation of shear localization; thus, relevant studies are insufficient. The molecular dynamics simulation perfectly corresponds to the short duration and high strain rate of the deformation process. Therefore, in this study, we used molecular dynamics simulations to explore the effect of layer thickness on the shear localization of Cu/Ta MNCs with Kurdjumov–Sachs (KS) orientation–related interfaces. Our research demonstrates that shear localization occurs in samples with layer thicknesses below 2.5 nm, resulting in an inverse size effect on the flow strength. The quantitative analysis indicates that the asymmetry of dislocations in the slip transmission across the interface causes interface rotation. This activates dislocations parallel to the interface to glide beyond the distance of individual layer thicknesses, eventually forming shear bands. Both interface rotation and sliding dominate the plastic deformation in the shear band region. In addition, the dislocation density and amorphous phase increase with decreasing layer thickness.
Lipidomic Profiling Identifies Serum Lipids Associated with Persistent Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain
Authors: Ma Canchen , Liu Ming , Tian Jing , Zhai Guangju , Cicuttini Flavia , Schooneveldt Yvette L. , Meikle Peter J. , Jones Graeme , Pan Feng
Published: February 2022

Lipid mediators have been suggested to have a role in pain sensitivity and response; however, longitudinal data on lipid metabolites and persistent multisite musculoskeletal pain (MSMP) are lacking. This study was to identify lipid metabolic markers for persistent MSMP. Lipidomic profiling of 807 lipid species was performed on serum samples of 536 participants from a cohort study. MSMP was measured by a questionnaire and defined as painful sites ≥4. Persistent MSMP was defined as having MSMP at every visit. Logistic regression was used with adjustment for potential confounders. The Benjamini–Hochberg method was used to control for multiple testing. A total of 530 samples with 807 lipid metabolites passed quality control. Mean age at baseline was 61.54 ± 6.57 years and 50% were females. In total, 112 (21%) of the participants had persistent MSMP. Persistent MSMP was significantly associated with lower levels of monohexosylceramide (HexCer)(d18:1/22:0 and d18:1/24:0), acylcarnitine (AC)(26:0) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)(18:1 [sn1], 18:2 [sn1], 18:2 [sn2], and 15-MHDA[sn1] [104_sn1]) after controlling for multiple testing. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, and physical activity, HexCer(d18:1/22:0 and d18:1/24:0) and LPC(15-MHDA [sn1] [104_sn1]) were significantly associated with persistent MSMP [Odds Ratio (OR) ranging from 0.25–0.36]. Two lipid classes—HexCer and LPC—were negatively associated with persistent MSMP after adjustment for covariates (OR = 0.22 and 0.27, respectively). This study identified three novel lipid signatures of persistent MSMP, suggesting that lipid metabolism is involved in the pathogenesis of persistent pain.
Plasma Metabolite Profiles Following Consumption of Animal Protein and Soybean-Based Diet in Hypercholesterolemic Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Huang Neil K. , Matthan Nirupa R. , Matuszek Gregory , Lichtenstein Alice H.
Published: February 2022

Subjective reporting of food intake can be unreliable. No objective method is available to distinguish between diets differing in protein type. To address this gap, a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled cross-over feeding trial was conducted. Assessed were fasting plasma metabolite profiles and their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). Hypercholesterolemic post-menopausal women (N = 11) were provided with diets containing predominantly animal protein (AP) and soy protein (SP). Untargeted metabolomics were used to determine the plasma metabolite profiles at the end of each diet phase. Concentrations of identified metabolites (N = 829) were compared using paired t-tests adjusted for false discovery rate, partial least square-discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) and receiver operating characteristics (ROC). Among the identified metabolites, 58 differed significantly between the AP and SP diets; the majority were phospholipids (n = 36), then amino acids (n = 10), xenobiotics (n = 7), vitamin/vitamin-related (n = 3) and lipids (n = 2). Of the top 10 metabolites, amino acid-derived metabolites, phospholipids and xenobiotics comprised the main categories differing due to dietary protein type. ROC curves confirmed that the top 10 metabolites were potential discriminating biomarkers for AP- and SP-rich diets. In conclusion, amino acid-derived metabolites, phosphatidylethanolamine-derived metabolites and isoflavones were identified as potential metabolite biomarkers distinguishing between dietary protein type.
JPA: Joint Metabolic Feature Extraction Increases the Depth of Chemical Coverage for LC-MS-Based Metabolomics and Exposomics
Authors: Guo Jian , Shen Sam , Liu Min , Wang Chenjingyi , Low Brian , Chen Ying , Hu Yaxi , Xing Shipei , Yu Huaxu , Gao Yu , Fang Mingliang , Huan Tao
Published: February 2022

Extracting metabolic features from liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) data has been a long-standing bioinformatic challenge in untargeted metabolomics. Conventional feature extraction algorithms fail to recognize features with low signal intensities, poor chromatographic peak shapes, or those that do not fit the parameter settings. This problem also poses a challenge for MS-based exposome studies, as low-abundant metabolic or exposomic features cannot be automatically recognized from raw data. To address this data processing challenge, we developed an R package, JPA (short for Joint Metabolomic Data Processing and Annotation), to comprehensively extract metabolic features from raw LC-MS data. JPA performs feature extraction by combining a conventional peak picking algorithm and strategies for (1) recognizing features with bad peak shapes but that have tandem mass spectra (MS2) and (2) picking up features from a user-defined targeted list. The performance of JPA in global metabolomics was demonstrated using serial diluted urine samples, in which JPA was able to rescue an average of 25% of metabolic features that were missed by the conventional peak picking algorithm due to dilution. More importantly, the chromatographic peak shapes, analytical accuracy, and precision of the rescued metabolic features were all evaluated. Furthermore, owing to its sensitive feature extraction, JPA was able to achieve a limit of detection (LOD) that was up to thousands of folds lower when automatically processing metabolomics data of a serial diluted metabolite standard mixture analyzed in HILIC(−) and RP(+) modes. Finally, the performance of JPA in exposome research was validated using a mixture of 250 drugs and 255 pesticides at environmentally relevant levels. JPA detected an average of 2.3-fold more exposure compounds than conventional peak picking only.
Amperometric Monitoring of Dissolution of pH-Responsive EUDRAGIT® Polymer Film Coatings
Authors: Mestres Júlia , Leonardi Francesca , Mathwig Klaus
Published: February 2022

Electrochemical sensors are powerful tools for the detection and real-time monitoring of a wide variety of analytes. However, the long-term operation of Faradaic sensors in complex media is challenging due to fouling. The protection of the electrode surface during in vivo operation is a key element for improving the monitoring of analytes. Here, we study different EUDRAGIT® controlled release acrylate copolymers for protecting electrode surfaces. The dissolution of these polymers—namely EUDRAGIT® L 30 D-55 and EUDRAGIT® FS 30 D—is triggered by a change in pH of the environment, and it is electrochemically monitored by detecting electrode access by means of a redox probe. The full dissolution of the polymer is achieved within 30 min and the electrode response indicates a complete recovery of the original electrochemical performance. We demonstrate that amperometric sensing is a practical and straightforward technique for real-time and in situ sensing of EUDRAGIT® dissolution profiles. It will find future applications in determining the protection of polymer electrode coating in real matrices and in vivo applications.
High-Resolution Separation of Nanoparticles Using a Negative Magnetophoretic Microfluidic System
Authors: Zeng Lin , Chen Xi , Zhang Rongrong , Hu Shi , Zhang Hongpeng , Zhang Yi , Yang Hui
Published: February 2022

The separation and purification of a sample of interest is essential for subsequent detection and analysis procedures, but there is a lack of effective separation methods with which to purify nano-sized particles from the sample media. In this paper, a microfluidic system based on negative magnetophoresis is presented for the high-resolution separation of nanoparticles. The system includes on-chip magnetic pole arrays and permalloys that symmetrically distribute on both sides of the separation channel and four permanent magnets that provide strong magnetic fields. The microfluidic system can separate 200 nm particles with a high purity from the mixture (1000 nm and 200 nm particles) due to a magnetic field gradient as high as 10,000 T/m being generated inside the separation channel, which can provide a negative magnetophoretic force of up to 10 pN to the 1000 nm particle. The overall recovery rate of the particles reaches 99%, the recovery rate of 200 nm particles is 84.2%, and the purity reaches 98.2%. Compared with the existing negative magnetophoretic separation methods, our system not only exhibits high resolution on particle sizes (800 nm), but also improves the sample processing throughput, which reaches 2.5 μL/min. The microfluidic system is expected to provide a new solution for the high-purity separation of nanoparticles, as well as nanobiological samples.
Dependence of Creep Strain and Fatigue Behavior on Surface Characteristics of Resistive Strain Gauges
Authors: Zhao Yinming , Tan Siyang , Zhang Chaofan , Liu Yang , Wang Linglu , Li Yongqian , Hao Qun
Published: February 2022

Creep behavior and fatigue life are important performance indexes that affect the long-term stability of resistive strain gauges. The resistive strain gauges, fabricated with wet etching and resistance trimming, present micro-morphology such as textures and uneven edges on the surface and side-wall profile of sensitive grids. This paper observed the micro-morphology of the sensitive grids by microscope and analyzed its range of geometric dimensions. A sine function was used to establish equivalent geometric models for the surface textures and side-wall profile. Based on time hardening theory and the S–N curve, the dependence of micro-morphology of metal resistive strain gauges on creep behavior and fatigue life was studied. The results indicate that the roughness of micro-morphology has an influence on creep behavior and fatigue life. The surface textures and side-wall profile lead to the increase of creep strain and the decrease of fatigue life in varying degrees. When 60% of the ultimate stress of the strain gauges is loaded, the average creep strain in steady-state calculated by the maximum roughness of the side-wall profile reaches up to 6.95 times that of the perfect flat surface. Under the condition of loading 70% of the ultimate stress and the same roughness, the fatigue life led by side-wall profile could be reduced to 1/25 of the textured surface. The obtained achievements promote an understanding for optimizing the fabrication process of resistive strain gauges as well as developing high-precision and long-life force sensors.
The Influence of the Unit Junction on the Performance of a Repetitive Structure Micromixer
Authors: Zhang He , Yang Shuang , Chuai Rongyan , Li Xin , Mu Xinyu
Published: February 2022

In order to investigate the influence of the unit junction on the micromixer performance, a repetitive structure micromixer with a total length of 12.3 mm was proposed. This micromixer consists of a T-shape inlet channel and six cubic mixing units, as well as junctions between them. Numerical simulations show that, when the junctions are all located at the geometric center of the cubic mixing unit, the outlet mixing index is 72.12%. At the same flow velocity, the best mixing index achieved 97.15% and was increased by 34.68% when the junctions were located at different corners of the cubic mixing unit. The improvement in the mixing index illustrated that the non-equilibrium vortexes generated by changing the junction location to utilize the restricted diffusion by the mixing unit’s side wall could promote mixing. Visual tests of the micromixer chip prepared by 3D printing were consistent with the simulation results, also indicating that the junction location had a significant influence on the mixer’s performance. This article provides a new idea for optimizing the structural design and improving the performance of micromixers.
Characterization of Alistipes montrealensis sp. nov., Isolated from Human Feces of a Patient with Metastatic Melanoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Routy Bertrand , Richard Corentin , Benlaïfaoui Myriam , Lapierre Simon Grandjean , Armstrong Nicholas , Al-Saleh Afnan , Boko Mélodie , Jacq Maxime , Watson Ian R. , Mihalcioiu Catalin , Elkrief Arielle , Tidjani Alou Maryam , Messaoudene Meriem , Diop Khoudia
Published: February 2022

Fecal microbiome culturomics of a cancer patient treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors led to the identification of a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain kh20T, which was phylogenetically assigned to the genus Alistipes. Strain kh20T demonstrated a 98.61% 16S rRNA sequence similarity with A.shahii WAL 8301T. The bacteria cells generated catalase but no oxidase. Iso-C15:0 (26.6%), anteiso-C15:0 (19.9%), and iso-C17:0 (17.2%) were the major cellular fatty acids identified in its composition. The G+C content of its genome was 57.2%. Strain kh20T showed significantly low values for DNA-DNA Hybridation (DDH ≤ 33.70%) and Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI ≤ 86.35%) compared with other Alistipes species. Based on these findings, we concluded that strain kh20T represented a novel bacterium, and we proposed the name Alistipes montrealensis sp. nov. (CECT 30384 and CSUR Q6005).
Clay Minerals and Sr-Nd Isotope Compositions of Core CG 1601 in the Northwest Pacific: Implications for Material Source and Rare Earth Elements Enrichments
Authors: Qiu Zhongrong , Ma Weilin , Tao Chunhui , Koschinsky Andrea , Hu Siyi
Published: February 2022

Deep-sea sediments generally refer to the sediments distributed on the seafloor with a depth of more than 2000 m. Many rare earth elements and yttrium (REY)-rich sediments were recently discovered in the sea area of Minamitorishima Island, Northwest Pacific. To understand the material source and REY enrichments of sediments in this area, here, we performed clay minerals and Sr-Nd isotopes analyses on gravity core GC1601 gained in the Southeast Sea area of Minamitorishima Island. The clay mineral composition of the core is very similar to that of terrigenous materials, and its montmorillonite/illite (M/I) ratio ranges from 0.09 to 0.20 with an average of 0.15, indicating that the sediments in the study area should be mainly dominated by terrestrial sources, consistent with the results of Sr-Nd isotope study. Considering that the study area is far away from the mainland and in the downwind direction of the East Asian monsoon, we propose that the terrigenous material of the sediments in the study area is likely East Asian dust. The εNd values of GC1601 show a positive correlation with P2O5, Co, Ni, and Cu, and have an increasing trend with increasing depth, approaching that of the seawater, indicating that the sedimentary environment in the area is relatively stable. Although the total REY content (ΣREY) of the core increases with depth, due to the large supply of terrigenous materials for the sediments, it is difficult for the study area to form high-grade REY-rich muds.
Dynamic Mechanics and Crystal Structure Fracture Characteristics of Rock-like Materials in Coal Mines
Authors: Gao Pengfei , Wang Mengxiang , Lei Xiaolei , Zong Qi
Published: February 2022

Deep rock bears dynamic loads such as machinery, blasting and disturbance in the mining process. The dynamic fracture mechanism of deep rock is a necessary prerequisite for engineering design and analysis. To study the dynamic fracture mechanism of rock under high in situ stress, deep mudstone and sandstone were selected as research objects. The dynamic mechanical properties and energy dissipation of mudstone sandstone were assessed by using a 50 mm diameter separated Hopkinson test device. According to the similarity criterion, the similarity of strength was assumed as primary factor to prepare similar model materials. Then, dynamic mechanical tests of these similar materials were carried out under dynamic compression splitting and active confining pressure. The results show that materials similar to mudstone and sandstone mainly show axial fracture tensile failure and crushing failure. Both the average strain rate dynamic strength and peak strain of these similar materials increase with increasing impact pressure, and the dynamic strength of similar materials increases exponentially with increasing strain rate. This result is consistent with the regularity of original rock. The dynamic splitting of mudstone-like materials is dominated by the failure of intermediate cracks, and sandstone-like materials also show secondary cracks in addition to intermediate splitting cracks. The dynamic peak strength of mudstone-like materials increases with increasing active confining pressure, and the dynamic peak strength of sandstone-like materials increases nearly twofold under the action of active confining pressure.
Creep Constitutive Model and Numerical Realization of Coal-Rock Combination Deteriorated by Immersion
Authors: Li Xuebin , Liu Xuesheng , Tan Yunliang , Ma Qing , Wu Baoyang , Wang Honglei
Published: February 2022

Coal-rock combination refers to the coal and rock as a whole, and the failure of the whole structure of the combination is the main cause for the instability of the deep underground engineering. In deep underground engineering, the coal-rock combination is usually under certain hydrogeological conditions, and it is prone to seepage and rheological failure instability accidents due to the long-term action of water and stress. In this study, the creep constitutive model of coal-rock combination considering the influence of moisture content was established based on the Burgers creep model. According to the experimental results of triaxial creep of rock, the relationship between the moisture content and the parameter of the Burgers creep model was derived, and the correctness of the constitutive model in this study was verified. Then, through the C++ language, the core equation of the model was modified, and the numerical calculation of the model was realized by introducing the coal-rock combination creep model considering the influence of moisture content into FLAC3D numerical simulation software. Finally, the model was used to simulate and study the creep characteristics of coal-rock combination with different moisture contents under triaxial loading. The results showed that the stress environment and moisture content have significant effects on the creep characteristics of the coal-rock combination. Under the same stress state, with the increased of moisture content, the strain rate of the coal-rock combination exhibited a non-linear rapid increase in the constant-velocity creep stage, the limit creep deformation and the instantaneous elastic deformation increased, and the viscosity coefficient was significantly decreased. For example, when the axial stress was 5 MPa and the moisture content increased from 0% to 1.5%, the strain rate increased by 44.06%, the limit creep deformation increased by 20%, the instantaneous elastic deformation increased 10.53%, and the viscosity coefficient decreased by about 50%. When the moisture content is 0%, the axial stress increased from 5 to 14 MPa, and the limit creep deformation increased nearly four times. With the increase of moisture content, this value will further expand. The research conclusions can provide a certain reference basis for the long-term stability control of surrounding rock in underground engineering affected by the water.
Geometallurgy of Cobalt Black Ores in the Katanga Copperbelt (Ruashi Cu-Co Deposit): A New Proposal for Enhancing Cobalt Recovery
Authors: Mambwe Pascal , Shengo Michel , Kidyanyama Théophile , Muchez Philippe , Chabu Mumba
Published: February 2022

Copper-cobalt deposits in the Central African Copperbelt belong to the Sediment-Hosted Stratiform Copper (SHSC) type and are situated in the Neoproterozoic Katanga Supergroup. This paper describes in detail the geology, geochemistry and hydrometallurgy of cobalt, with a special focus on the Black Ore Mineralised Zone (BOMZ) unit from the Ruashi Cu-Co deposit as a case study. Based on results from fieldwork and laboratory testing, it was concluded that the BOMZ consists of a succession of massive and stratified dolostones, which are weathered into carbonaceous clay dolostones and clays. The Lower “Calcaire à Minéreaux Noirs Formation” (Lower CMN Formation) consists of stratified and finely laminated dolostones, which are weathered at the surface into clayey to siliceous dolostones. The cobalt concentration in the weathering zone is due to supergene enrichment, a process that is linked to the formation of a cobalt cap. The ore consists of heterogenite associated with minor amounts of chrysocolla and malachite. Minor carrollite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite and bornite are present in unweathered fragments. The cobalt grade in both the BOMZ and Lower CMN decreases within depth while the copper grade increases. These grade changes reflect the variation in mineralogy with depth from heterogenite with minor amounts of malachite and chrysocolla to malachite, chrysocolla with traces of heterogenite, spherocobaltite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, carrollite and bornite. Based on the Cu (100xAS Cu/TCu) and Co ratio (100 xAS Co/TCo), which is related to the ore mineralogy, oxide ores (Cu ratio ≥ 75%) and oxide dominant mixed ores (Cu ratio < 75%, containing the copper sulphide chalcocite) can be differentiated in both the BOMZ and Lower CMN. The absence of talc and the low concentration of Ni, Mn and Fe, on the one hand, and the high-grade Cu in the BOMZ, on the other hand, facilitate the hydrometallurgy of cobalt but require a specific processing. Consequently, the recovery of Co from the BOMZ requires the application of a processing method that is based on sulphuric acid (30 g/L) leaching under reducing conditions (300–350 mV) and the removal of impurities (Cu > 95% and Mn ≈ 99%) from the pregnant leach solution (PLS) by solvent extraction (SX) prior to the precipitation of cobalt as a high-grade hydroxide (40.5%). The sulphuric acid leaching of the BOMZ enabled achieving, after 8 h of magnetic stirring (500 rpm), a highest yield of 93% Co, with other major elements Mn (84%) and Cu (40%). The latter forms a main co-product of the Co exploitation. In contrast, the highest leaching yield for Fe remained smaller than 5%.
Experimental Study of CO2-ECBM by Injection Liquid CO2
Authors: Liu Mingyang , Wen Hu , Fan Shixing , Wang Zhenping , Fei Jinbiao , Wei Gaoming , Cheng Xiaojiao , Wang Hu
Published: February 2022

Coal mine gas disasters have severely restricted production safety. Improving gas extraction efficiency can effectively reduce disasters. Scholars have confirmed that CO2 successfully displaces coal seam CH4. This study conducted displacement and in situ experiments and compared gas drainage under different injection pressures. The displacement experiments indicated that CH4 production rates increased under increased pressures while the displacement ratios decreased. The pressure had a positive effect on sweep efficiency. The in situ experiment showed that CH4 and CO2 concentration trends in the inspection hole remained consistent. Through observing the data of the original and inspection holes, the average gas drainage concentration during low- and medium-pressure injections increased by 0.61 times and 1.17 times, respectively. The low-pressure average gas drainage scalar was increased by 1.08 times. During the medium-pressure injection, the average gas drainage purity increased by 1.94 times. The diffusion ranges of CO2 under low- and medium-pressure injections were 20–25 m and 25–30 m, respectively. The sweep efficiency of medium-pressure injection was 26% better than that of the low-pressure injection, with average pressures of 2.8 MPa and 1.4 MPa, respectively, for sweep efficiency. This study proposes an effective method for improving coal mine gas drainage efficiency.
First U-Pb Detrital Zircon Ages from Kamlial Formation (Kashmir, Pakistan): Tectonic Implications for Himalayan Exhumation
Authors: Qasim Muhammad , Tanoli Javed Iqbal , Ahmad Luqman , Ding Lin , Rehman Qasim Ur , Umber Umbreen
Published: February 2022

This study reports the first-ever detrital zircon provenance investigation of sandstones of the Kamlial Formation, exposed in Kashmir Basin along the Kohala–Bagh road section (Muzaffarabad, Pakistan). Analysis of probability density plots of detrital U-Pb zircon ages displayed a major age population clustered around ≈400–1200 Ma and a minor age population clustered around ≈1600–1900 Ma. In addition, scattered ages existed between ≈2000 and 3000 Ma. This age pattern resembled strongly the Himalayan sources, including the Tethys Himalaya, Greater/Higher Himalaya, and Lesser Himalaya. The younger ages (<150 Ma) present in the studied samples indicated the Asian provenance. The Lesser Himalayan component (≈166–1900 Ma) was more pronounced in the 2015KM03 and 2015KM04 samples, representing the middle to the upper portion of the formation. The recycled orogen provenance of the Kamlial Formation as deduced from the sandstone petrography supports the mixed detrital zircon provenance. Considering the provenance, we propose a tectonic model that suggests that large-scale exhumation occurred in the Himalaya as a result of Panjal thrust activation during 25–14 Ma (age of Kamlial Formation), which uplifted the hinterland zone that acted as a source area that fed the foreland basin, where the Kamlial Formation deposited.
Clays and Clay Minerals in the Construction Industry
Authors: Singh Nakshatra Bahadur
Published: February 2022

Clay is a naturally occurring material that can be converted to different clay minerals through thermal treatments, and can be used for the development of different products. Clays and clay minerals have been used for different applications in different sectors. Detailed information regarding the applications of these materials in the construction industry are described. Clay has been used as a supplementary cementitious material in Portland cement (OPC) mortars and concretes. These minerals decrease raw materials and CO2 emissions during the production of Portland cement clinker and, at the same time, increase the compressive strength of concrete at a later age. Therefore, they are conducive to the sustainability of construction materials. A new type of cement, Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), and a binding material geopolymer cement have also been developed using clay minerals. The properties of these binders have been discussed. Applications of clay products for making bricks have are also described in this article.
Influence of Particle Size on the Low-Temperature Nitrogen Adsorption of Deep Shale in Southern Sichuan, China
Authors: Zhan Hongming , Li Xizhe , Hu Zhiming , Duan Xianggang , Guo Wei , Li Yalong
Published: February 2022

Pore characteristics are one of the most important elements in the study of shale reservoir properties and are a key parameter for the evaluation of the potential of shale oil and gas resources. Low-temperature nitrogen adsorption is a common laboratory method that is used to characterize the pore structure of shale. However, the effect of shale’s particle size on the experimental results of the nitrogen adsorption of deep shale samples is still unclear. In this paper, using deep shale samples of different mesh sizes from the Luzhou Block as an example, we studied the effect of particle size on the pore structure of deep shale, as characterized by nitrogen adsorption experiments. The results showed that the pore volume of deep shale is mainly distributed in the mesoporous range, with a pore size ranging from 2 to 20 nm. The pore volume, as measured by nitrogen adsorption, increases slowly as the particle size decreases and then it increases rapidly. The particle size of shale has no obvious effect on the measurement of the specific surface area. The fractal dimension of deep shale gradually increases as the particle size of the shale samples increases and the smaller the particle size, the higher the correlation coefficient, R2, of the fractal dimension fitting. In this paper, different recommended sizes are given for selecting suitable particle sizes in nitrogen adsorption experiments on deep shale with different structural parameters, which will increase the accuracy of the study of the pore structure of deep shale.