Effect of In doping on the evolution of microstructure,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of NdFeB magnets

The grain boundary phase affects the magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of sintered NdFeB magnets.In this work,a small amount of In was added to NdFeB magnets by induction melting to systematically investigate its effect on the evolution of the microstructure,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of NdFeB magnets.Microstructural analysis illustrated that minor In addition generated more grain boundary phases and an abundant amorphous phase at the triple-junction grain boundary.While the addition of In failed to enhance the magnetic isolation effect between adjacent matrix grains,its incorporation fortuitously elevated the electrochemical potential of the In-containing magnets.Besides,during corrosion,an In-rich precipitate phase formed,hindering the ingress of the corrosive medium into the magnet.Consequently,this significantly bolstered the corrosion resistance of the sintered NdFeB magnets.The phase formation,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of In-doped NdFeB magnets are detailed in this work,which provides new prospects for the preparation of high-performance sintered NdFeB magnets.

GPa-level pressure-induced enhanced corrosion resistance in TiZrTaNbSn biomedical high-entropy alloy

TiZrTaNb-based high-entropy alloys(HEAs)are research frontier of biomedical materials due to their high hardness,good yield strength,excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance.Sn,as an essential trace element in the human body that plays a significant role in physiological process.It has stable chemical properties and a low elastic modulus.In this study,a new material,TiZrTaNbSn HEAs,was proposed as a potential biomedical alloy.The Ti_(35)Zr_(25)Ta_(15)Nb_(15)Sn_(10)biomedical high-entropy alloys(BHEAs)were successfully prepared through an arc melting furnace and then remelted using a German high-temperature and high-pressure apparatus under GPa-level(4 GPa and 7 GPa).The precipitation behavior of the needle-like HCP-Zr_(5)Sn_(3)phase that precipitates discontinuously at the grain boundary was successfully controlled.The phase constitution,microstructure,and corrosion resistance of the alloy were studied.The results show that the needle-like HCP-Zr_(5)Sn_(3)phase is eliminated and the(Zr,Sn)-rich nano-precipitated phase is precipitated in the microstructure under high pressure,which leads to the narrowing of grain boundaries and consequently improves the corrosion resistance of the alloy.In addition,the formation mechanisms of(Zr,Sn)-rich nanoprecipitates in BHEAs were discussed.More Zr and Sn dissolve in the matrix due to the effect of high pressure,during the cooling process,they precipitate to form a(Zr,Sn)-rich nano-precipitated phase.

Enhanced corrosion resistance of epoxy resin coating via addition of CeO_(2) and benzotriazole

The use of fillers to enhance the corrosion protection of epoxy resins has been widely applied.In this work,cerium dioxide(CeO_(2))and benzotriazole(BTA)were introduced into an epoxy resin to enhance the corrosion resistance of Q235 carbon steel.Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the CeO_(2) grains were rod-like and ellipsoidal in shape,and the distribution pattern of BTA was analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscope.The dynamic potential polarization curve proved the excellent corrosion resistance of the composite epoxy resin with CeO_(2) and BTA co-addition,and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test analysis indicated the significantly enhanced long-term corrosion protection performance of the composite coating.And the optimal protective performance was provided by the coating containing 0.3%(mass)CeO_(2) and 20%(mass)BTA,which was attributed to the barrier performance of CeO_(2) particles and the chemical barrier effect of BTA.The formation of corrosion products was analyzed using X-ray diffraction.In addition,the corrosion resistance mechanism of the coating was also discussed in detail.

Greatly enhanced corrosion/wear resistances of epoxy coating for Mg alloy through a synergistic effect between functionalized graphene and insulated blocking layer

The poor corrosion and wear resistances of Mg alloys seriously limit their potential applications in various industries.The conventional epoxy coating easily forms many intrinsic defects during the solidification process,which cannot provide sufficient protection.In the current study,we design a double-layer epoxy composite coating on Mg alloy with enhanced anti-corrosion/wear properties,via the spin-assisted assembly technique.The outer layer is functionalized graphene(FG)in waterborne epoxy resin(WEP)and the inner layer is Ce-based conversion(Ce)film.The FG sheets can be homogeneously dispersed within the epoxy matrix to fill the intrinsic defects and improve the barrier capability.The Ce film connects the outer layer with the substrate,showing the transition effect.The corrosion rate of Ce/WEP/FG composite coating is 2131 times lower than that of bare Mg alloy,and the wear rate is decreased by~90%.The improved corrosion resistance is attributed to the labyrinth effect(hindering the penetration of corrosive medium)and the obstruction of galvanic coupling behavior.The synergistic effect derived from the FG sheet and blocking layer exhibits great potential in realizing the improvement of multi-functional integration,which will open up a new avenue for the development of novel composite protection coatings of Mg alloys.

Effect of low concentration electrolytes on the formation and corrosion resistance of PEO coatings on AM50 magnesium alloy

In this paper,the formation process,morphology,and electrochemical performance of PEO coatings on AM50 magnesium alloy prepared in low concentration phosphate,aluminate,and phosphate-aluminate electrolytes were systematically studied.The results show that the coatings prepared from the phosphate electrolytes have a higher thickness and better corrosion resistance properties compared to the other electrolytes.The coatings prepared from low concentration phosphate-aluminate mixed electrolytes have slightly thinner thickness,a similar coating structure and an order of magnitude lower value of electrochemical impedance compared with phosphate electrolyte coatings.The Coatings prepared from low concentration aluminate electrolytes have the lowest thickness and the worst corrosion resistance properties which gets close to corrosion behavior of the bare AM50 under the same test conditions.Considering application,coatings prepared from single low concentration phosphate electrolytes and low concentration phosphate-aluminate electrolytes have greater potential than single low concentration aluminate coatings.However,reducing the electrolyte concentrations of coating forming ions too much has negative influence on the coating growth rate.

Improving corrosion resistance of additively manufactured WE43 magnesium alloy by high temperature oxidation for biodegradable applications

Laser powder bed fusion(L-PBF)has been employed to additively manufacture WE43 magnesium(Mg)alloy biodegradable implants,but WE43 L-PBF samples exhibit excessively rapid corrosion.In this work,dense WE43 L-PBF samples were built with the relativity density reaching 99.9%.High temperature oxidation was performed on the L-PBF samples in circulating air via various heating temperatures and holding durations.The oxidation and diffusion at the elevated temperature generated a gradient structure composed of an oxide layer at the surface,a transition layer in the middle and the matrix.The oxide layer consisted of rare earth(RE)oxides,and became dense and thick with increasing the holding duration.The matrix was composed ofα-Mg,RE oxides and Mg_(24)RE_(5) precipitates.The precipitates almost disappeared in the transition layer.Enhanced passivation effect was observed in the samples treated by a suitable high temperature oxidation.The original L-PBF samples lost 40%weight after 3-day immersion in Hank’s solution,and broke into fragments after 7-day immersion.The casted and solution treated samples lost roughly half of the weight after 28-day immersion.The high temperature oxidation samples,which were heated at 525℃ for 8 h,kept the structural integrity,and lost only 6.88%weight after 28-day immersion.The substantially improved corrosion resistance was contributed to the gradient structure at the surface.On one hand,the outmost dense layer of RE oxides isolated the corrosive medium;on the other hand,the transition layer considerably inhibited the corrosion owing to the lack of precipitates.Overall,high temperature oxidation provides an efficient,economic and safe approach to inhibit the corrosion of WE43 L-PBF samples,and has promising prospects for future clinical applications.

New insights on the high-corrosion resistance of UHP Mg-Ge alloys tested in a simulated physiological environment

UHP Mg-Ge alloys was recently found to provide excellent corrosion resistance.This paper provides new insights on the mechanism of improved corrosion resistance of UHP Mg-Ge alloys in Hanks’solution.The studied UHP Mg-0.5Ge and UHP Mg-1Ge alloys showed superior corrosion resistance compared to UHP Mg and WE43,with the Mg-1Ge exhibiting the best corrosion performance.The exceptional corrosion resistance of the UHP alloy is attributed to(i)Mg_(2)Ge’s ability to suppress cathodic kinetics,(ii)Ge’s capability to accelerate the formation of a highly passive layer,and the(iii)low amounts of corrosion-accelerating impurities.

Synergistic enhancement on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of biodegradable Mg-Zn-Y alloy via V-microalloying

For the sake of improving the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of biodegradable Mg alloy synergistically,various content of element V(0,0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20 wt.%)are introduced into an Mg-Zn-Y alloy with long-period stacking ordered(LPSO)structure,and the effects of V on its microstructure,mechanical properties and corrosion resistance are investigated systematically.The results indicate that the grains are effectively refined by V addition,and the primaryα-Mg in Mg-Zn-Y-V0.1 alloy is most significantly refined,with grain size being decreased by 62%.The amount of 18R LPSO structure is increased owing to the V addition.The growth mode of the second phase(W-phase and 18R LPSO structure)is transformed to divorced growth pattern,which ascribes to the thermodynamic drive force of V to promote the nucleation of LPSO phase.Thus,18R LPSO structure presents a continuous distribution.Due to grains refinement and modification of second phase,the tensile strength and strain of alloys are both enhanced effectively.Especially,the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation of V0.1 alloy are 254 MPa and 15.26%,which are 41%and 61%higher than those of V-free alloy,respectively.Owing to the continuously distributed 18R LPSO structure with refined grains and stable product film,the weight loss and hydrogen evolution corrosion rates of V0.1 alloy are 7.1 and 6.2 mmy^(-1),respectively,which are 42.6%and 45.4%lower than those of V-free alloy.

Microstructures,corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-6Zn-2X(Fe/Cu/Ni)alloys for plugging tool applications

Mg-6Zn-2X(Fe/Cu/Ni)alloys were prepared through semi-continuous casting,with the aim of identifying a degradable magnesium(Mg)alloy suitable for use in fracturing balls.A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the impacts of adding Cu and Ni,which result in finer grains and the formation of galvanic corrosion sites.Scanner electronic microscopy examination revealed that precipitated phases concentrated at grain boundaries,forming a semi-continuous network structure that facilitated corrosion penetration in Mg-6Zn-2Cu and Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloys.Pitting corrosion was observed in Mg-6Zn-2Fe,while galvanic corrosion was identified as the primary mechanism in Mg-6Zn-2Cu and Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloys.Among the tests,the Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloy exhibited the highest corrosion rate(approximately 932.9 mm/a)due to its significant potential difference.Mechanical testing showed that Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloy possessed suitable ultimate compressive strength,making it a potential candidate material for degradable fracturing balls,effectively addressing the challenges of balancing strength and degradation rate in fracturing applications.

Corrigendum to“GmTOC1b negatively regulates resistance to Soybean mosaic virus”.[Crop J.11(2023)1762-1773]

The authors regret to report a mistake in the text and an associated change necessary to section 3.6 of the paper.On page 1766 in the right-hand column,line 4,the heading of subsection 3.6“GmWRKY40 represses the expression of PR genes”should be changed to“GmWRKY40 promotes the expression of PR genes”.The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Salmonella Strains Isolated at the National Clinical Biology and Public Health Laboratory in Bangui, Central African Republic

In Africa, each year, there are estimated to be more than 91 million cases of salmonellosis and 137,000 cases of death. The problem of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella strains is a threat to public health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella strains isolated in biological products analyzed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health (NLCBPH) in Bangui. This is, therefore, a cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim, running from January to December 2022. It focused on the strains of Salmonella isolated and identified in stools, urines, and blood samples. For each strain of Salmonella isolated, an antibiogram was carried out following the recommendations of the French Society of Microbiology (CASFM, 2022). A total of 93 strains of Salmonella have been recorded. The age group 0 - 9 years was 29% and that of >50 years was 11%. The median age of patients was 30 years with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 78 years. The female gender was more represented at 52.69% than the male gender at 47.31%, i.e. a sex ratio of 0.89 (M/F). Salmonella strains were much more isolated in stools at 62% followed by urines at 29% and blood at 6%. Salmonella arizonae strains were more represented with 52%. Salmonella strains have a resistance rate to Tetracycline of 62.37% followed by Penicillins of 50%. The rate of multi-antibiotic resistance of the Salmonella strains isolated represented 48.38%. Salmonella spp. strains were multi-resistant at 58.69% followed by Salmonella arizonae strains at 47.91%. There is a significant association between the different families of antibiotics and Salmonella strains (p < 0.05). According to the results obtained, Penicillins, Phenicoles, and Cyclins had a high rate of resistance on Salmonella strains. No strain-producing Broad Spectrum Beta-lactamase has been isolated. Salmonella strains represent a zoonotic health danger, constitute a public health problem and remain a current subject. This germ is resistant to the antibiotics used. It is, therefore, essential to emphasize monitoring the resistance of these germs in the Central African Republic (CAR) to improve the health of the population.

Graphene-calcium carbonate coating to improve the degradation resistance and mechanical integrity of a biodegradable implant

Biodegradable implants are critical for regenerative orthopaedic procedures,but they may suffer from too fast corrosion in human-body environment.This necessitates the synthesis of a suitable coating that may improve the corrosion resistance of these implants without compromising their mechanical integrity.In this study,an AZ91 magnesium alloy,as a representative for a biodegradable Mg implant material,was modified with a thin reduced graphene oxide(RGO)-calcium carbonate(CaCO_(3))composite coating.Detailed analytical and in-vitro electrochemical characterization reveals that this coating significantly improves the corrosion resistance and mechanical integrity,and thus has the potential to greatly extend the related application field.

Global Burden of Fungal Infections and Antifungal Resistance from 1961 to 2024: Findings and Future Implications

Background: Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a global public health problem with devastating effects, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Addressing AFR requires a One Health approach including Antifungal Stewardship (AFS). This study aimed to comprehensively review global studies published on fungal infections and AFR and to recommend solutions to address this growing problem. Materials and Methods: This was a narrative review that was conducted using published papers on fungal infections, AFR, and AFS between January 1961 and March 2024. The literature was searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results: This found that there has been an increase in fungal infections globally, especially among immunocompromised patients. Due to this increase in fungal infections, there has been a proportionate increase in the use of antifungal agents to prevent and treat fungal infections. This increased use of antifungal agents has worsened the problem of AFR contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Globally, fungal infections have contributed to 150 million infections annually and 1.7 million deaths per year. By the year 2023, over 3.8 million people died from fungal infections. Addressing AFR remains a challenge because the treatment of antifungal-resistant infections is difficult. Finally, the treatment of fungal infections is a global challenge exacerbated by the limited number of antifungal agents to treat invasive fungal infections. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that fungal infections and AFR are prevalent across humans, animals, agriculture, and the environment. Addressing this problem requires the provision of solutions such as improving the awareness of AFR, conducting further research on the discovery of new antifungal agents, and implementing AFS programs. If this global problem is not addressed, the morbidity and mortality associated with AFR will continue to rise in the future.

First identification of the oxazolidinone/phenicol resistance gene optrA in Streptococcus pluranimalium worldwide

Oxazolidinones are highly effective antimicrobial agents for the treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-positive organisms,including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),vancomycin-resistant enterococci(VRE),multidrug-resistant(MDR)pneumococci and MDR mycobacteria(Brenciani et al.2022).However,the emergence and prevalence of acquired oxazolidinone resistance genes.

Corrosion and in vitro cytocompatibility investigation on the designed Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses for biomedical application

In the present work,seven Mg-Zn-Ag alloys with the nominal composition of Mg_(96-x)Zn_(x)Ag_(4)(x=17,20,23,26,29,32,35 in at.%)were prepared by induction melting and single-roller melt-spinning.The X-ray diffraction(XRD)analyses indicate the metallic glasses with three composition of Mg_(73)Zn_(23)Ag_(4),Mg_(70)Zn_(26)Ag_(4),and Mg_(67)Zn_(29)Ag_(4)were obtained successfully.The differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)measurement was used to obtain the characteristic temperature of Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses for the glass-forming ability analysis.The maximum glass transition temperature(Trg)was found to be 0.525 with a composition close to Mg_(67)Zn_(29)Ag_(4),which results in the best glass-forming ability.Moreover,the immersion test in simulated body fluid(SBF)demonstrate the relative homogeneous corrosion behavior of the Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses.The corrosion rate of Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses in SBF solution decreases with the increase of Zn content.The sample Mg_(67)Zn_(29)Ag_(4)has the lowest corrosion rate of 0.19mm/yr,which could meet the clinical application requirement well.The in vitro cell experiments show that the Madin-Darby canine kidney(MDCK)cells cultured in sample Mg_(67)Zn_(29)Ag_(4)and its extraction medium have higher activity.However,the Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses exhibit obvious inhibitory effect on human rhabdomyosarcoma(RD)tumor cells.The present investigations on the glass-forming ability,corrosion behavior,cytocompatibility and tumor inhibition function of the Mg-Zn-Ag based metallic glass could reveal their biomedical application possibility.

miR-125b reverses cisplatin resistance by regulating autophagy via targeting RORA/BNIP3L axis in lung adenocarcinoma

The platinum-based chemotherapy is one of the most frequently used treatment protocols for lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD),and chemoresistance,however,usually results in treatment failure and limits its application in the clinic.It has been shown that microRNAs(miRNAs)play a significant role in tumor chemoresistance.In this study,miR-125b was identified as a specific cisplatin(DDP)-resistant gene in LUAD,as indicated by the bioinformatics analysis and the real-time quantitative PCR assay.The decreased serum level of miR-125b in LUAD patients was correlated with the poor treatment response rate and short survival time.MiR-125b decreased the A549/DDP proliferation,and the multiple drug resistance-and autophagy-related protein expression levels,which were all reversed by the inhibition of miR-125b.In addition,xenografts of human tumors in nude mice were suppressed by miR-125b,demonstrating that through autophagy regulation,miR-125b could reverse the DDP resistance in LUAD cells,both in vitro and in vivo.Further mechanistic studies indicated that miR-125b directly repressed the expression levels of RORA and its downstream BNIP3L,which in turn inhibited autophagy and reversed chemoresistance.Based on these findings,miR-125b in combination with DDP might be an effective treatment option to overcome DDP resistance in LUAD.

Searching for plant NLR immune receptors conferring resistance to potyviruses

To fight against invasion by pathogens,plants have evolved an elaborate innate immune system,of which the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor(NLR)acts as the sensor and immune executor.Potyviruses,comprising one of the largest genera of plant viruses,cause severe crop yield losses worldwide.Inherited crop resistance to potyviruses can be used in breeding and plant transgenesis to control disease development.This review summarizes achievements in mapping and cloning NLR genes conferring dominant resistance against potyvirus in the families Fabaceae,Solanaceae,Brassicaceae,and Cucurbitaceae.It compares mechanisms of potyviral protein recognition and downstream signaling employed by NLRs and discusses strategies for exploiting NLRs to better control diseases caused by potyviruses.

High-throughput calculations combining machine learning to investigate the corrosion properties of binary Mg alloys

Magnesium(Mg)alloys have shown great prospects as both structural and biomedical materials,while poor corrosion resistance limits their further application.In this work,to avoid the time-consuming and laborious experiment trial,a high-throughput computational strategy based on first-principles calculations is designed for screening corrosion-resistant binary Mg alloy with intermetallics,from both the thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives.The stable binary Mg intermetallics with low equilibrium potential difference with respect to the Mg matrix are firstly identified.Then,the hydrogen adsorption energies on the surfaces of these Mg intermetallics are calculated,and the corrosion exchange current density is further calculated by a hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)kinetic model.Several intermetallics,e.g.Y_(3)Mg,Y_(2)Mg and La_(5)Mg,are identified to be promising intermetallics which might effectively hinder the cathodic HER.Furthermore,machine learning(ML)models are developed to predict Mg intermetallics with proper hydrogen adsorption energy employing work function(W_(f))and weighted first ionization energy(WFIE).The generalization of the ML models is tested on five new binary Mg intermetallics with the average root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.11 eV.This study not only predicts some promising binary Mg intermetallics which may suppress the galvanic corrosion,but also provides a high-throughput screening strategy and ML models for the design of corrosion-resistant alloy,which can be extended to ternary Mg alloys or other alloy systems.

Revisiting aluminum current collector in lithium-ion batteries:Corrosion and countermeasures

With the large-scale service of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),their failures have attracted significant attentions.While the decay of active materials is the primary cause for LIB failures,the degradation of auxiliary materials,such as current collector corrosion,should not be disregarded.Therefore,it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive review in this field.In this review,from the perspectives of electrochemistry and materials,we systematically summarize the corrosion behavior of aluminum cathode current collector and propose corresponding countermeasures.Firstly,the corrosion type is clarified based on the properties of passivation layers in different organic electrolyte components.Furthermore,a thoroughgoing analysis is presented to examine the impact of various factors on aluminum corrosion,including lithium salts,organic solvents,water impurities,and operating conditions.Subsequently,strategies for electrolyte and protection layer employed to suppress corrosion are discussed in detail.Lastly and most importantly,we provide insights and recommendations to prevent corrosion of current collectors,facilitate the development of advanced current collectors and the implementation of next-generation high-voltage stable LIBs.

Effect of bipolar-plates design on corrosion,mass and heat transfer in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells and water electrolyzers:A review

Attaining a decarbonized and sustainable energy system,which is the core solution to global energy issues,is accessible through the development of hydrogen energy.Proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers(PEMWEs)are promising devices for hydrogen production,given their high efficiency,rapid responsiveness,and compactness.Bipolar plates account for a relatively high percentage of the total cost and weight compared with other components of PEMWEs.Thus,optimization of their design may accelerate the promotion of PEMWEs.This paper reviews the advances in materials and flow-field design for bipolar plates.First,the working conditions of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs)and PEMWEs are compared,including reaction direction,operating temperature,pressure,input/output,and potential.Then,the current research status of bipolar-plate substrates and surface coatings is summarized,and some typical channel-rib flow fields and porous flow fields are presented.Furthermore,the effects of materials on mass and heat transfer and the possibility of reducing corrosion by improving the flow field structure are explored.Finally,this review discusses the potential directions of the development of bipolar-plate design,including material fabrication,flow-field geometry optimization using threedimensional printing,and surface-coating composition optimization based on computational materials science.