bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites for hypersonic applications via reactive melt infiltration and mechanical testing under high temperature
Authors: Baier Luis , Frieß Martin , Hensch Nils , Leisner Vito 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn the ongoing development of hypersonic technologies, material advancements play a key role in meeting the ever-increasing thermomechanical demands of these applications. Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites (UHTCMCs) offer a promising solution for components operating under such extreme conditions. Their outstanding thermomechanical properties, including high temperature and thermal shock resistance, excellent thermal conductivity and mechanical strength, position them as ideal candidates for applications in fields like leading edges or inlet ramps for ramjets and scramjets. Due to their remarkable material composition, UHTCMCs are capable of operating in temperature regimes that surpass 1700 °C during their operation times under oxidizing atmospheres. At the German Aerospace Center (DLR), a UHTCMC material based on carbon fibres and a zirconium diboride matrix is being developed utilizing Reactive Melt Infiltration (RMI). With RMI, the orientation of the reinforcement fibres can be tailored, to enable the material to fulfill the demanding load requirements. The reactive melt infiltration process comprises three stages: preform fabrication, pyrolysis, and the actual melt infiltration. The foundation for important material properties of the final ceramic, including the matrix composition, is established in the preform production, which is a crucial step in the process. A boron- and zirconium diboride-based slurry is infiltrated into pitch-based carbon fibre fabric. Subsequently, the preforms are consolidated, pyrolysed, and infiltrated with molten Zr2Cu to obtain the UHTC matrix by in situ reaction with the preform elements. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) enable the examination of the microstructural features, including the arrangement and distribution of zirconium diboride within the matrix. Mechanical evaluation of the UHTCMCs is conducted via 3-point bending tests at both room temperature and at elevated temperature at 900 °C. It has been demonstrated that Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites can be produced by means of reactive melt infiltration, and that they retain their strength even at elevated temperatures.
The Impact of Computational Labs on Conceptual and Contextual Understanding in a Business Calculus Course
Authors: Spencer-Tyree Brielle , Bowen Bradley D. , Olaguro Modiu 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of computational labs on students’ conceptual understanding of calculus in a one-semester Business Calculus course. The computational labs integrated Jupyter Notebook as the modeling tool. Using the Calculus Concept Inventory, quantitative analysis was performed to measure differences in conceptual knowledge between a control and experimental group based on whether the student engaged in computational labs compared to traditional classwork. Qualitative analysis was conducted to understand student perspectives about the value of participating in computational labs during the course. The qualitative data involved student reflections at the end of each lab experience. Although the quantitative analysis did not produce statistically significant results, the qualitative analysis revealed the students perceived the computational labs as beneficial regarding their understanding of the content and practical applications of the material. Notably, the students reported the labs offered a unique way to solve problems, allowed for connections to real-life mathematical situations, and helped to visualize calculus concepts. This paper describes the research project and offers practical applications of computational labs in Business Calculus courses, as well as suggestions for future research.
Life Cycle Assessment of Cobalt Catalyst Production and Recycling
Authors: Aromaa-Stubb Riina , Rinne Marja , Lundström Mari 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCatalysts with an active phase of cobalt are crucial for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS), yet the environmental impacts of the catalyst production and the recycling of the spent catalyst remain largely unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impacts of both catalyst production as well as the recycling of spent catalyst as cobalt hydroxide, cobalt sulfate, or cobalt carbonate. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to quantify the environmental impacts of the studied processes. The life cycle inventory (LCI) was gathered based on the mass and energy balances of process simulations built on information available in the literature. The results show that compared to primary production of equivalent products, all studied recycling processes for spent catalyst decrease the environmental impacts by more than 50% in all investigated impact categories. For example, the global warming potential (GWP) of cobalt recovery from spent FTS catalyst as cobalt sulfate was 1.7 kg CO2-eq./kg CoSO4whereas the corresponding GWP for primary production was 4 kg CO2-eq./kg CoSO4. The process hotspots of recycling were found to be the production of the chemicals consumed, particularly sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid, which together contributed between 64 and 95% of the total environmental impacts. LCAs on FTS have included the consumption of cobalt catalyst in the LCI using various approximations. The impacts calculated for the production of cobalt catalyst in this study were found to be markedly higher. The largest contributors included the production of materials for the precursor and support, as well as NOx emissions and consumption of nitric acid.
Graphical Abstract
Curve progression following selective and nonselective spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: are selective fusions stable?
Authors: Campbell Richard E. , Rudic Theodore , Hafey Alexander , Driskill Elizabeth , Newton Peter O. ,   Harms Research Study Group, Bachmann Keith R. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to compare postoperative outcomes between selective and non-selective fusions longitudinally over the first five postoperative years.

Methods
Patient parameters were retrieved from a multicenter, prospective, database. Patients with Lenke 1–6, B and C deformities were included. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: selective fusion (SF), if the last instrumented vertebra (LIV) was at or cranial to the lumbar apex, or non-selective fusion (NSF). Differences in coronal and sagittal radiographic outcomes were assessed with generalized linear models (GLMs) at 1-, 2- and 5- year postoperative outcomes. Five-year postoperative categorical radiographic outcomes, flexibility, scoliosis research society scores (SRS), and reoperation rates were compared between groups. Matched cohorts were created for subgroup analysis.

Results
416 (SF:261, NF:155) patients, including 353 females were included in this study. The mean preoperative thoracic and lumbar Cobb angles were 57.3 ± 8.9 and 45.3 ± 8.0, respectively. GLMs demonstrated greater postoperative coronal deformity in the SF group (p < 0.01); however, the difference between groups did not change overtime (p > 0.05) indicating a relatively stable postoperative deformity correction. The SF group had a greater incidence of lumbar Cobb ≥ 26 degrees (p < 0.01). The NSF group demonstrated worse forward and lateral flexibility at 5-year postoperative outcome (p < 0.05). There was no difference in postoperative SRS scores between the SF and NSF groups. Reoperation rates were similar between groups.

Conclusion
Selective fusion results in greater coronal plane deformity; however, this deformity does not progress significantly over time compared to non-selective fusion. Selective spinal fusion may be a beneficial option for a larger subset of patients than previously identified.

Level of evidence
III.
Non-canonical start codons confer context-dependent advantages in carbohydrate utilization for commensal E. coli in the murine gut
Authors: Cherrak Yassine , Salazar Miguel Angel , Näpflin Nicolas , Malfertheiner Lukas , Herzog Mathias K.-M. , Schubert Christopher , von Mering Christian , Hardt Wolf-Dietrich 
Published: August 2024

AbstractResource competition is a driver of gut microbiota composition. Bacteria can outcompete metabolically similar rivals through the limitation of shared growth-fuelling nutrients. The mechanisms underlying this remain unclear for bacteria with identical sets of metabolic genes. Here we analysed the lactose utilization operon in the murine commensal Escherichia coli 8178. Using in vitro and in vivo approaches, we showed that translation of the lactose utilization repressor gene lacI from its native non-canonical GTG start codon increases the basal expression of the lactose utilization cluster, enhancing adaptation to lactose consumption. Consequently, a strain carrying the wild type lacI GTG start codon outperformed the lacI ATG start codon mutant in the mouse intestine. This advantage was attenuated upon limiting host lactose intake through diet shift or altering the mutant frequency, emphasizing the context-dependent effect of a single nucleotide change on the bacterial fitness of a common member of the gut microbiota. Coupled with a genomic analysis highlighting the selection of non-ATG start codons in sugar utilization regulator genes across the Enterobacteriaceae family, our data exposed an unsuspected function of non-canonical start codons in metabolic competition.
Advancing the analysis of water pipe failures: a probabilistic framework for identifying significant factors
Authors: Muddassir Muhammad , Zayed Tarek , Taiwo Ridwan , Ben Seghier Mohamed El Amine 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe failure of water pipes in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) is associated with environmental, economic, and social consequences. It is essential to mitigate these failures by analyzing the historical data of WDNs. The extant literature regarding water pipe failure analysis is limited by the absence of a systematic selection of significant factors influencing water pipe failure and eliminating the bias associated with the frequency distribution of the historical data. Hence, this study presents a new framework to address the existing limitations. The framework consists of two algorithms for categorical and numerical factors influencing pipe failure. The algorithms are employed to check the relevance between the pipe’s failure and frequency distributions in order to select the most significant factors. The framework is applied to Hong Kong WDN, selecting 10 out of 21 as significant factors influencing water pipe failure. The likelihood feature method and Bayes’ theorem are applied to estimate failure probability due to the pipe materials and the factors. The results indicate that galvanized iron and polyethylene pipes are the most susceptible to failure in the WDN. The proposed framework enables decision-makers in the water infrastructure industry to effectively prioritize their networks’ most significant failure factors and allocate resources accordingly.
Conditional guided generative diffusion for particle accelerator beam diagnostics
Authors: Scheinker Alexander 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAdvanced accelerator-based light sources such as free electron lasers (FEL) accelerate highly relativistic electron beams to generate incredibly short (10s of femtoseconds) coherent flashes of light for dynamic imaging, whose brightness exceeds that of traditional synchrotron-based light sources by orders of magnitude. FEL operation requires precise control of the shape and energy of the extremely short electron bunches whose characteristics directly translate into the properties of the produced light. Control of short intense beams is difficult due to beam characteristics drifting with time and complex collective effects such as space charge and coherent synchrotron radiation. Detailed diagnostics of beam properties are therefore essential for precise beam control. Such measurements typically rely on a destructive approach based on a combination of a transverse deflecting resonant cavity followed by a dipole magnet in order to measure a beam’s 2D time vs energy longitudinal phase-space distribution. In this paper, we develop a non-invasive virtual diagnostic of an electron beam’s longitudinal phase space at megapixel resolution (1024 × 1024) based on a generative conditional diffusion model. We demonstrate the model’s generative ability on experimental data from the European X-ray FEL.
High‐strength, electrically insulated industrial meta‐aramid paper reinforced with polyethylene terephthalate microfibre pulp in a sandwich structure
Authors: Chen Meijun , Yao Songjun , Zhu Guobin , Wu Mengyun , Li Zhiying , Xiong Siwei , Yang Shiwen , Wang Hua , Zhu Liangbo , Wang Luoxin 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe weak interfacial strength and porous structure of the meso‐aramid paper cause mechanical and insulating deficiencies. Enhancing density, regulating pore structure, and improving interfacial interactions of meso‐aramid are crucial for promoting the performance of meso‐aramid papers. A PMIA/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composite paper was prepared using the wet method with meso‐aramid short cut fibres (PMIA) and PET pulp as raw materials. The sandwich‐structured PMIA/PET paper was achieved by covering PET microfiber non‐wovens served as the surface layer while the PMIA/PET composite paper acted as the core layer. During the high‐temperature hot pressing process, the PET pulp transformed into a viscous melt that coated on aramid fibres in between layers, forming a typical ‘reinforced concrete’ interface structure within the core layer of the PMIA/PET composite paper. The PET non‐wovens on top and bottom surfaces were converted into a dense PET film that filled and covered the holes and defects in the PMIA/PET composite paper. This unique structure enabled the sandwich‐structured PMIA/PET composite paper to exhibit excellent tensile strength (80.41 N/cm) and breakdown strength (56.35 kV/mm), surpassing most reported performances of meso‐aramid papers in literature. This work not only provides novel insights for preparing high‐performance meso‐aramid papers, but also shows potential applications for other materials and structures.
Role of the coupling of the electronic transitions on the order of the metal-to-insulator phase transition in nickelates
Authors: Varbaro Lucia , Korosec Lukas , Hsu Chih-Ying , Alexander Duncan T. L. , Jaouen Nicolas , Triscone Jean-Marc 
Published: August 2024

Rare-earth nickelates (chemical formula RNiO3, R being a rare-earth cation) display a temperature-dependent metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) together with a breathing distortion of the NiO6 octahedra units at a temperature ranging from 0 to 600 K depending on the size of the R cation. Their rich phase diagram is also characterized by a paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition that occurs at the same temperature as the MIT for R = Pr, Nd, while it arises at lower temperatures for all the other members of the series. In this work, we have investigated the order of the MIT in a portion of the phase diagram spanning from SmNiO3 to NdNiO3 by means of temperature dependent transport measurements and resonant elastic x-ray scattering performed on high quality epitaxial SmxNd1−xNiO3 solid solution thin films. Our results show that the order of the metal-to-insulator transition does not depend on whether or not the MIT is coupled with the magnetic transition.
Exploring maize proteins: Resistance to storage fungi and postharvest insects
Authors: Cervantes-Macedo Elizabeth , González-Rodríguez Tzitziki , Winkler Robert , García-Lara Silverio 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Maize is among the most essential crops produced worldwide. It goes through multiple stages of processing before becoming edible or consumed. During storage, maize is exposed to the attack of different biological agents, such as fungi and insects, which often result in significant quantitative and qualitative losses. Several physical, chemical, and biological strategies have been developed to combat this problem, and the study and identification of proteins with activity correlated to maize resistance becomes relevant. However, most of these studies are focused on the preharvest stages of the crop. Our review summarizes the latest knowledge of maize proteins associated with fungal and insect resistance during storage and the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we provide future perspectives on postharvest proteomics and the challenges of breeding storage-resistant maize.
Study on mechanical properties and durability of C40 polymer concrete
Authors: Kong Xiangze , Liu Guoxing , Li Gang , Wang Xilong , Wang Huiru , Wang Yanmin 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The present study investigates the mechanical properties and frost resistance of C40 polymer concrete, and examines the impact of different epoxy resin mixing methods on concrete properties. Experimental findings demonstrate that polymer concrete enhances mechanical physical properties as well as frost resistance. However, variations in incorporation methods reveal that the mechanical and physical properties of C40 concrete-added epoxy resin are better than those of C40 concrete-impregnated epoxy resin, but the frost resistance is poorer.
The influence of Nano-composite metal oxides on the thermal decomposition performance of RDX
Authors: Liu Junhong , Liu Zhitao , Yang Jing , Xu Bin , Chen Feiyun 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of nano-composite metal oxides on the thermal decomposition performance of hexogen (RDX), this study prepared nano nickel-iron (NFO), nickel-cobalt (NCO), and nickel-iron-cobalt (NFCO) composite oxides by liquid-phase co-precipitation method. The precursor of Prussian blue analogs was synthesized and then calcined in air at 600°C. The addition of nano nickel-iron (NFO), nickel-cobalt (NCO), and nickel-iron-cobalt (NFCO) composite oxides to RDX has a significant impact on its thermal decomposition process. The peak exothermic temperatures were delayed by 8.4°C, 8.5°C, and 8.3°C, respectively, after adding the nano-composite metal oxides, and the heat release also increased to a certain extent. Among them, the addition of NCO nano-composite metal oxides had the greatest impact on the exothermic peak temperature of RDX, while the addition of NFCO nano-composite metal oxides resulted in the largest increase in heat release. This indicates that the addition of NFO, NCO, and NFCO to RDX altered the thermal decomposition reaction process to some extent.
The measurement method of solvent evaporation rate of photoresist liquid film based on monochromatic light interference
Authors: Zhang Zhengyu , Liu Qiuyu , Yan Ying , Zhou Ping 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The solvent evaporation rate of the photoresist is a crucial parameter in the spin coating process, influencing process conditions and product quality. When the thickness of the film changes rapidly, the difference between the evaporation obtained through static testing and the actual evaporation during the process becomes significant. Therefore, there is a pressing need for an in-situ method to measure evaporation in situ. This study proposed a method for measuring the solvent evaporation rate of photoresist liquid film based on monochromatic light interference. The hardware of the measurement system consists of an image receiver, a lens assembly, and a light source. The software code for calculating the evaporation rate is based on the principle of relative light intensity. Experimental measurements of the evaporation rate during the drying stage of the spin coating process were conducted using this system. The evaporation rate gradually decreases during the drying process of the liquid film, which is consistent with the characteristics of interfacial evaporation. The experiment demonstrates that this method is convenient and feasible for evaporation rate measurement in the spin coating process.
Synthesis and performance study of new polycarboxylate superplasticizer
Authors: Lin Yanmei , Shen Qiang 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Acrylic acid, oxidant, and reducing agent are essential raw materials for the synthesis of the polycarboxylate superplasticizer. Adjusting their amounts can change the molecular weight and structure of the polycarboxylate superplasticizer. This article studies the effects of the amounts of acrylic acid, oxidant, and reducing agent on the dispersibility of the polycarboxylate superplasticizer. It characterizes the structure of the synthesized polycarboxylate superplasticizers. The results show that when the amounts of acrylic acid, oxidant, and reducing agent account for 9.0%, 1.00%, and 0.15% of the mass of the polyether macromonomer, respectively, the dispersibility of the polycarboxylate superplasticizer is optimal.
Customized machining of internal structure of droplet based on laser injection and templated self-assembly
Authors: Chang Fengjiao , Guo Jinkun 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The machining of micro- and nanostructures of droplets holds significant scientific and practical importance. A major challenge lies in customizing the internal architecture of droplets. In this work, we introduce a method that employs laser injection and templated self-assembly to precisely engineer the internal structures of droplets. Laser injection breaks the droplet’s inherent confinement, enabling the injection of any desired number of inner cores. The diverse topological defects of cholesteric liquid crystal droplets facilitate the templated self-assembly of these injected cores into ordered substructures, thus achieving the customization of the droplet’s internal structure. This study explores our capabilities in machining soft matter micro- and nanostructures within closed interfaces and promises potential applications in the development of functional materials, pharmaceuticals, and sensors.
Design and experimental study of copper bars for high voltage equipment boxes of rail trains
Authors: Gao Chao , Xia Changkai , Cheng Zhaolu , Guo Jishun , Sun Chenkai 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
This article describes the theoretical design and selection of copper bars, simulation of electric field theory for different structural copper bars, and vibration anti loosening tests for different fasteners, providing theoretical and data support for the forward design of high-voltage copper bars, and providing certain guidance for subsequent projects. The design and selection of copper bars have been verified to meet the requirements through vibration tests and impulse withstand voltage tests.
Research on the application of high-speed EMU driver’s cab console based on new composite materials
Authors: Jiao Mingli , Jin Xin , Lin Xiangli , Xia Changkai , Yu Deguang , Ding Mingpeng , Zou Youwei 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
This paper mainly introduces the design and verification of the driver’s cab console for high-speed EMU based on new composite materials and molding technology. The structure of the driver’s cab console is divided into 5 functional modules, and the main body of the structure is made of carbon fiber. The electrical layout follows the relevant standards such as UIC 651 and UIC 612, and is arranged according to the dimensions of importance, frequency, and accessibility. Through ergonomics simulation analysis, finite element simulation analysis, and prototype trial verification, the design scheme proposed in this paper has been significantly improved in many aspects such as function realization, lightweight, and ergonomics comfort.