Efficient Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solutions Using Corundum-hollow-spheres Supported Caclined Hydrotalcite Porous Thin Films

Phosphate was removed from aqueous environment by corundum-hollow-spheres supported caclined hydrotalcite (cHT) thin films. Mg-Al-CO3 hydrotalcite (HT) thin films were deposited on corundumhollow-sphere substrates by hydrothermal homogeneous precipitation at 120℃for 30-240 min and cHT thin films were obtained by annealing of the HT thin films at 500℃for 180 min. Their crystal phase, morphology and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The results show that homogeneous, well-crystallized and hierarchical flower-like thin films were deposited firmly on the surface of the corundum. The mechanism of nucleation and growth of the HT thin films was fitted well with the anion coordination polyhedron growth unit model. To determine the absorption of phosphate by this adsorbent, different bed depth (10-30 cm) and flow rate (1.0-3.0 m L/min) were examined by column experiments. The highest removal efficiency of phosphate amounted to 98.5%under optimum condition (pH=7.2). The adsorption capacity increased as the bed depth increased and decreased as the flow rate increased.

The Contribution of United States Aircraft Reconnaissance Data to the China Meteorological Administration Tropical Cyclone Intensity Data:An Evaluation of Homogeneity

This paper investigates the homogeneity of United States aircraft reconnaissance data and the impact of these data on the homogeneity of the tropical cyclone(TC)best track data for the seasons 1949-1987 generated by the China Meteorological Administration(CMA).The evaluation of the reconnaissance data shows that the minimum central sea level pressure(MCP)data are relatively homogeneous,whereas the maximum sustained wind(MSW)data show both overestimations and spurious abrupt changes.Statistical comparisons suggest that both the reconnaissance MCP and MSW were well incorporated into the CMA TC best track dataset.Although no spurious abrupt changes were evident in the reconnaissance-related best track MCP data,two spurious changepoints were identified in the remainder of the best-track MCP data.Furthermore,the influence of the reconnaissance MSWs seems to extend to the best track MSWs unrelated to reconnaissance,which might reflect the optimistic confidence in making higher estimates due to the overestimated extreme wind“observations”.In addition,the overestimation of either the reconnaissance MSWs or the best track MSWs was greater during the early decades compared to later decades,which reflects the important influence of reconnaissance data on the CMA TC best track dataset.The wind-pressure relationship(WPR)used in the CMA TC best track dataset is also evaluated and is found to overestimate the MSW,which may lead to inhomogeneity within the dataset between the aircraft reconnaissance era and the satellite era.

Formation and transformation of metastable LPSO building blocks clusters in Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloys by spinodal decomposition and heterogeneous nucleation

To study the formation and transformation mechanism of long-period stacked ordered(LPSO)structures,a systematic atomic scale analysis was conducted for the structural evolution of long-period stacked ordered(LPSO)structures in the Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy annealed at 300℃~500℃.Various types of metastable LPSO building block clusters were found to exist in alloy structures at different temperatures,which precipitate during the solidification and homogenization process.The stability of Zn/Y clusters is explained by the first principles of density functional theory.The LPSO structure is distinguished by the arrangement of its different Zn/Y enriched LPSO structural units,which comprises local fcc stacking sequences upon a tightly packed plane.The presence of solute atoms causes local lattice distortion,thereby enabling the rearrangement of Mg atoms in the different configurations in the local lattice,and local HCP-FCC transitions occur between Mg and Zn atoms occupying the nearest neighbor positions.This finding indicates that LPSO structures can generate necessary Schockley partial dislocations on specific slip surfaces,providing direct evidence of the transition from 18R to 14H.Growth of the LPSO,devoid of any defects and non-coherent interfaces,was observed separately from other precipitated phases.As a result,the precipitation sequence of LPSO in the solidification stage was as follows:Zn/Ycluster+Mg layers→various metastable LPSO building block clusters→18R/24R LPSO;whereas the precipitation sequence of LPSO during homogenization treatment was observed to be as follows:18R LPSO→various metastable LPSO building block clusters→14H LPSO.Of these,14H LPSO was found to be the most thermodynamically stable structure.

Structure,bioavailability and physicochemical properties of icariin-soymilk nanoparticle

Soymilk is a natural nanocarrier.However,the performance of flavonoid-soymilk nano-complex remains unclear.In this work,icariin-soymilk nano-complexes(ISNCs)were successfully fabricated and characterized.The effects of high-pressure homogenization(HPH)treatment on structure and physicochemical properties of soymilk and nano-complexes were investigated.HPH treatment could significantly improve the surface hydrophobicity and interfacial activity of soymilk.The soymilk with HPH treatment could significantly improve the water solubility(20 folds),thermal stability and bioavailability of icariin.The highest encapsulation efficiency(93.28%),loading capacity(39.09μg/mg),ζ-potentia(absolute value,31.20 mV)and bioavailability(72.14%)were observed in HSI-200(200 bar of homogenization pressure).While HSI-500(500 bar of homogenization pressure)showed the smallest particle size(183.73 nm).ISNCs showed a rougher surface and an irregular lamellar structure with large amount of fine particles by using Cryo-SEM,suggesting that icariin was encapsulated in soymilk.These data supplied a novel strategy to improve the performance of icariin in functional foods.

Modeling Method of C/C-ZrC Composites and Prediction of Equivalent Thermal Conductivity Tensor Based on Asymptotic Homogenization

This article proposes a modeling method for C/C-ZrC composite materials.According to the superposition of Gaussian random field,the original gray model is obtained,and the threshold segmentation method is used to generate the C-ZrC inclusion model.Finally,the fiber structure is added to construct the microstructure of the three-phase plain weave composite.The reconstructed inclusions can meet the randomness of the shape and have a uniform distribution.Using an algorithm based on asymptotic homogenization and finite element method,the equivalent thermal conductivity prediction of the microstructure finite element model was carried out,and the influence of component volume fraction on material thermal properties was explored.The sensitivity of model parameters was studied,including the size,mesh sensitivity,Gaussian complexity,and correlation length of the RVE model,and the optimal calculation model was selected.The results indicate that the volume fraction of the inclusion phase has a significant impact on the equivalent thermal conductivity of the material.As the volume fraction of carbon fiber and ZrC increases,the equivalent thermal conductivity tensor gradually decreases.This model can be used to explore the impact of materialmicrostructure on the results,and numerical simulations have studied the relationship between structure and performance,providing the possibility of designing microstructure based on performance.

Catalytic effect in lithium metal batteries: From heterogeneous catalyst to homogenous catalyst

Lithium metal batteries are regarded as prominent contenders to address the pressing needs owing to the high theoretical capacity.Toward the broader implementation,the primary obstacle lies in the intricate multi-electron,multi-step redox reaction associated with sluggish conversion kinetics,subsequently giving rise to a cascade of parasitic issues.In order to smooth reaction kinetics,catalysts are widely introduced to accelerate reaction rate via modulating the energy barrier.Over past decades,a large amount of research has been devoted to the catalyst design and catalytic mechanism exploration,and thus the great progress in electrochemical performance has been realized.Therefore,it is necessary to make a comprehensive review toward key progress in catalyst design and future development pathway.In this review,the basic mechanism of lithium metal batteries is provided along with corresponding advantages and existing challenges detailly described.The main catalysts employed to accelerate cathode reaction with emphasis on their catalytic mechanism are summarized as well.Finally,the rational design and innovative direction toward efficient catalysts are suggested for future application in metal-sulfur/gas battery and beyond.This review is expected to drive and benefit future research on rational catalyst design with multi-parameter synergistic impacts on the activity and stability of next-generation metal battery,thus opening new avenue for sustainable solution to climate change,energy and environmental issues,and the potential industrial economy.

COMPLETE KAHLER METRICS WITH POSITIVE HOLOMORPHIC SECTIONAL CURVATURES ON CERTAIN LINE BUNDLES(RELATED TO A COHOMOGENEITY ONE POINT OF VIEW ON A YAU CONJECTURE)

In this article,we study Kahler metrics on a certain line bundle over some compact Kahler manifolds to find complete Kahler metrics with positive holomorphic sectional(or bisectional)curvatures.Thus,we apply a strategy to a famous Yau conjecture with a co-homogeneity one geometry.

Adaptive detection of range-spread targets in homogeneous and partially homogeneous clutter plus subspace interference

Adaptive detection of range-spread targets is considered in the presence of subspace interference plus Gaussian clutter with unknown covariance matrix.The target signal and interference are supposed to lie in two linearly independent subspaces with deterministic but unknown coordinates.Relying on the two-step criteria,two adaptive detectors based on Gradient tests are proposed,in homogeneous and partially homogeneous clutter plus subspace interference,respectively.Both of the proposed detectors exhibit theoretically constant false alarm rate property against unknown clutter covariance matrix as well as the power level.Numerical results show that,the proposed detectors have better performance than their existing counterparts,especially for mismatches in the signal steering vectors.

A New Distribution Method for Wet Steam Injection Optimization

A new approach and a new related distribution system are proposed to address the issue of uneven steam injection caused by the different suction capacities of the used wells during the application of steam“stimulation”methods for enhanced oil recovery.The new distribution system consists of a swirler,spiral dividing baffles,and critical flow nozzles.Numerical simulations are used to analyze the flow-field and degree of steam homogeneity obtained with such an approach.The results indicate that a higher inlet pressure leads to better results.Additionally,the internal flow field becomes more stable,and the deviation from an even distribution reduces to±4.0%even when the resistance of each branch is inconsistent.Furthermore,field tests have yielded satisfactory results.

Chemically Radiative MHD Flow of a Micropolar Nanofluid over a Stretching/ Shrinking Sheet with a Heat Source or Sink

This study examines the behavior of a micropolar nanofluidflowing over a sheet in the presence of a transverse magneticfield and thermal effects.In addition,chemical(first-order homogeneous)reactions are taken into account.A similarity transformation is used to reduce the system of governing coupled non-linear partial differ-ential equations(PDEs),which account for the transport of mass,momentum,angular momentum,energy and species,to a set of non-linear ordinary differential equations(ODEs).The Runge-Kutta method along with shoot-ing method is used to solve them.The impact of several parameters is evaluated.It is shown that the micro-rota-tional velocity of thefluid rises with the micropolar factor.Moreover,the radiation parameter can have a remarkable influence on theflow and temperature profiles and on the angular momentum distribution.

Integrated multi-scale approach combining global homogenization and local refinement for multi-field analysis of high-temperature superconducting composite magnets

Second-generation high-temperature superconducting(HTS)conductors,specifically rare earth-barium-copper-oxide(REBCO)coated conductor(CC)tapes,are promising candidates for high-energy and high-field superconducting applications.With respect to epoxy-impregnated REBCO composite magnets that comprise multilayer components,the thermomechanical characteristics of each component differ considerably under extremely low temperatures and strong electromagnetic fields.Traditional numerical models include homogenized orthotropic models,which simplify overall field calculation but miss detailed multi-physics aspects,and full refinement(FR)ones that are thorough but computationally demanding.Herein,we propose an extended multi-scale approach for analyzing the multi-field characteristics of an epoxy-impregnated composite magnet assembled by HTS pancake coils.This approach combines a global homogenization(GH)scheme based on the homogenized electromagnetic T-A model,a method for solving Maxwell's equations for superconducting materials based on the current vector potential T and the magnetic field vector potential A,and a homogenized orthotropic thermoelastic model to assess the electromagnetic and thermoelastic properties at the macroscopic scale.We then identify“dangerous regions”at the macroscopic scale and obtain finer details using a local refinement(LR)scheme to capture the responses of each component material in the HTS composite tapes at the mesoscopic scale.The results of the present GH-LR multi-scale approach agree well with those of the FR scheme and the experimental data in the literature,indicating that the present approach is accurate and efficient.The proposed GH-LR multi-scale approach can serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the risk of failure in large-scale HTS composite magnets.

Neuropathological characteristics of abnormal white matter functional signaling in adolescents with major depression

BACKGROUND Major depression disorder(MDD)constitutes a significant mental health concern.Epidemiological surveys indicate that the lifetime prevalence of depression in adolescents is much higher than that in adults,with a corresponding increased risk of suicide.In studying brain dysfunction associated with MDD in adolescents,research on brain white matter(WM)is sparse.Some researchers even mistakenly regard the signals generated by the WM as noise points.In fact,studies have shown that WM exhibits similar blood oxygen level-dependent signal fluctuations.The alterations in WM signals and their relationship with disease severity in adolescents with MDD remain unclear.AIM To explore potential abnormalities in WM functional signals in adolescents with MDD.METHODS This study involved 48 adolescent patients with MDD and 31 healthy controls(HC).All participants were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Scale and the mini international neuropsychiatric interview(MINI)suicide inventory.In addition,a Siemens Skyra 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner was used to obtain the subjects'image data.The DPABI software was utilized to calculate the WM signal of the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations(fALFF)and regional homogeneity,followed by a two-sample t-test between the MDD and HC groups.Independent component analysis(ICA)was also used to evaluate the WM functional signal.Pearson’s correlation was performed to assess the relationship between statistical test results and clinical scales.RESULTS Compared to HC,individuals with MDD demonstrated a decrease in the fALFF of WM in the corpus callosum body,left posterior limb of the internal capsule,right superior corona radiata,and bilateral posterior corona radiata[P<0.001,family-wise error(FWE)voxel correction].The regional homogeneity of WM increased in the right posterior limb of internal capsule and left superior corona radiata,and decreased in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus(P<0.001,FWE voxel correction).The ICA results of WM overlapped with those of regional homogeneity.The fALFF of WM signal in the left posterior limb of the internal capsule was negatively correlated with the MINI suicide scale(P=0.026,r=-0.32),and the right posterior corona radiata was also negatively correlated with the MINI suicide scale(P=0.047,r=-0.288).CONCLUSION Adolescents with MDD involves changes in WM functional signals,and these differences in brain regions may increase the risk of suicide.

Reviewing Stability Criteria for Positive Homogeneous Systems and Adding One for Discrete-Time Cases with Degree Less Than One

The article synthesizes and presents the results regarding the stability of positive homogeneous systems that have been researched and published in recent years. Next, we provide a sufficient condition for global exponential stability in the case of discrete-time positive homogeneous systems with an order less than one with time-varying delays.

On Enforcing Dyadic-type Homogeneous Binary Function Product Constraints in MatBase

Homogeneous binary function products are frequently encountered in the sub-universes modeled by databases,spanning from genealogical trees and sports to education and healthcare,etc.Their properties must be discovered and enforced by the software applications managing such data to guarantee plausibility.The(Elementary)Mathematical Data Model provides 17 types of dyadic-based homogeneous binary function product constraint categories.MatBase,an intelligent data and knowledge base management system prototype,allows database designers to simply declare them by only clicking corresponding checkboxes and automatically generates code for enforcing them.This paper describes the algorithms that MatBase uses for enforcing all 17 types of homogeneous binary function product constraint,which may also be employed by developers without access to MatBase.

MAXWELL-EINSTEIN METRICS ON COMPLETIONS OF CERTAIN C* BUNDLES

In this paper,we prove that for some completions of certain fiber bundles there is a Maxwell-Einstein metric conformally related to any given Kahler class.

Structural,magnetic and antibacterial properties of manganese-substituted magnetite ferrofluids

Manganese-substituted magnetite ferrofluids(FFs)Mnx Fe_(1-x)Fe_(2)O_(4)(x=0–0.8)were prepared in this work through a chemical coprecipitation reaction.The controlled growth of FF nanomaterials for antibacterial activities is challenging,and therefore,very few reports are available on the topic.This research focuses on stabilizing aqueous FFs with the tetramethylammonium hydroxide surfactant to achieve high homogeneity.Morphological characterization reveals nanoparticles of 5–11 nm formed by the chemical reaction and nanocrystalline nature,as evident from structural investigations.Mn-substituted magnetic FFs are analyzed for their structural,functional,and antibacterial performance according to the Mn-substituent content.Optical studies show a high blue shift for Mn^(2+)-substituted Mnx Fe_(1-x)Fe_(2)O_(4)with the theoretical correlation of optical band gaps with the Mn content.The superparamagnetic nature of substituted FFs causes zero coercivity and remanence,which consequently influence the particle size,cation distribution,and spin canting.The structural and functional performance of the FFs is correlated with the antibacterial activity,finally demonstrating the highest inhibition zone formation for Mnx Fe_(1-x)Fe_(2)O_(4)FFs.

Speciesα-diversity promotes butβ-diversity restricts aboveground biomass in tropical forests,depending on stand structure and environmental factors

Forest plays a vital role in the global biogeochemical cycles through a high rate of carbon sequestration and harboring biodiversity.However,local species diversity is declining while also becoming increasingly homogenized across communities.Although eff ects of local biotic processes(e.g.,speciesα-diversity and stand structural heterogeneity)and environmental factors on aboveground biomass(AGB)have been widely tested,there is a huge knowledge gap for the eff ect of regional biotic processes(i.e.,taxonomic and functionalβ-diversity)in forests.Here,we hypothesized that regional and local environmental factors along with biotic processes jointly regulate AGB through species shifts in tropical forests.Using piecewise structural equation modeling(pSEM),we linked climatic water availability,soil fertility,stand structural heterogeneity(either tree DBH inequality,height inequality,or stand density),speciesα-diversity,taxonomic or functionalβ-diversity(and its two components;β-turnover andβ-richness),and AGB across 189 inventory plots in tropical forests of Sri Lanka.Soil fertility and climatic water availability shaped local and regional biotic processes.Stand structural heterogeneity promoted speciesα-diversity but declinedβ-diversity(but increasedβ-taxonomic turnover).Speciesα-diversity and stand structural heterogeneity promoted AGB whereas taxonomic and functionalβ-diversity declined(butβ-taxonomic turnover increased)AGB.The relationships of AGB with speciesα-diversity andβ-diversity varied from signifi cant to nonsignifi cant positive depending on the specifi c combinations of stand structural heterogeneity metrics used.This study shows that local biotic processes could increase AGB due to the local and regional niche complementarity eff ect whereas the regional biotic processes could restrict AGB due to the regional selection or functional redundancy eff ect under favorable environmental conditions.We argue that biotic homogenization,as well as drought conditions,may have strong divergent impacts on forest functions and that the impacts of tree diversity loss may greatly reduce carbon sequestration.

Towards a unified nonlocal, peridynamics framework for the coarse-graining of molecular dynamics data with fractures

Molecular dynamics(MD)has served as a powerful tool for designing materials with reduced reliance on laboratory testing.However,the use of MD directly to treat the deformation and failure of materials at the mesoscale is still largely beyond reach.In this work,we propose a learning framework to extract a peridynamics model as a mesoscale continuum surrogate from MD simulated material fracture data sets.Firstly,we develop a novel coarse-graining method,to automatically handle the material fracture and its corresponding discontinuities in the MD displacement data sets.Inspired by the weighted essentially non-oscillatory(WENO)scheme,the key idea lies at an adaptive procedure to automatically choose the locally smoothest stencil,then reconstruct the coarse-grained material displacement field as the piecewise smooth solutions containing discontinuities.Then,based on the coarse-grained MD data,a two-phase optimizationbased learning approach is proposed to infer the optimal peridynamics model with damage criterion.In the first phase,we identify the optimal nonlocal kernel function from the data sets without material damage to capture the material stiffness properties.Then,in the second phase,the material damage criterion is learnt as a smoothed step function from the data with fractures.As a result,a peridynamics surrogate is obtained.As a continuum model,our peridynamics surrogate model can be employed in further prediction tasks with different grid resolutions from training,and hence allows for substantial reductions in computational cost compared with MD.We illustrate the efficacy of the proposed approach with several numerical tests for the dynamic crack propagation problem in a single-layer graphene.Our tests show that the proposed data-driven model is robust and generalizable,in the sense that it is capable of modeling the initialization and growth of fractures under discretization and loading settings that are different from the ones used during training.

Peridynamic Shell Model Based on Micro-Beam Bond

Peridynamics(PD)is a non-localmechanics theory that overcomes the limitations of classical continuummechanics(CCM)in predicting the initiation and propagation of cracks.However,the calculation efficiency of PDmodels is generally lower than that of the traditional finite elementmethod(FEM).Structural idealization can greatly improve the calculation efficiency of PD models for complex structures.This study presents a PD shell model based on the micro-beam bond via the homogenization assumption.First,the deformations of each endpoint of themicro-beam bond are calculated through the interpolation method.Second,the micro-potential energy of the axial,torsional,and bending deformations of the bond can be established from the deformations of endpoints.Finally,the micro moduli of the shellmodel can be obtained via the equivalence principle of strain energy density(SED).In addition,a new fracture criterion based on the SED of the micro-beam bond is adopted for crack simulation.Numerical examples of crack propagation are provided,and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed PD shell model.

Influence of second phase precipitates on mechanical and in-vitro corrosion behaviour of Mg-4Zn-0.5Ca-0.8Mn alloy in optimum homogenized conditions

The present study investigates the mechanical and in-vitro corrosion behavior of Mg-4Zn-0.5Ca-0.8Mn alloy in optimum homogenized conditions.The optimization of the homogenization parameters has been carried out employing thermodynamic calculations and kinetic modeling.The model utilizes the inter-diffusivity of the solute elements and predicts that∼6–24 h of homogenization at 633 K effectively redistributes the elements in the Mg matrix.Based on the insights obtained from the simulations,the as-cast Mg-4Zn-0.5Ca-0.8Mn alloy was subjected to homogenization heat treatment process for 6–24h.The microstructural study through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)revealed that the interconnected network of second phase precipitates substantially dissolve within 24 h,implying adequate homogenization.Moreover,fine Mg-Zn based precipitates with varied morphology and phase fractions also evolved during homogenization treatment,as confirmed through SEM and transmission electron microscopy.In the 12 h homogenized specimen,the highest fraction of uniformly dispersed fine precipitates resulted in the highest strength(∼225 MPa).On the other hand,a substantial disruption in coarse precipitate network and lower aspect ratio of fine Mg-Zn precipitates led to the highest ductility(∼8%)in this specimen.In the 24 h homogenized specimen,the ductility reduced marginally owing to higher aspect ratio of fine precipitates.The immersion and electrochemical tests(viz.,potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy)carried out in Hank’s solution revealed that the 24 h homogenized specimen exhibits the best corrosion properties.The least fraction of Ca_(2)Mg_(6)Zn_(3)phase with maximum disruption in interconnectivity,in combination with a small fraction of fine equilibrium MgZn_(2)precipitates,resulted in suppression of localized corrosion in this specimen.This promotes the formation of the most stable and compact product layer over the specimen,resulting in the highest corrosion resistance.