Structural evolution-enabled BiFeO3 modulated by strontium doping with enhanced dielectric,optical and superparamagnetic properties by a modified sol-gel method

Multiferroic(BFO)nanoparticles doped with strontium with the general formula Bi1-xSrx FeO3(x=0,0.3,0.5,0.7)were synthesized using a modified sol-gel auto-combustion process.The structural,electrical,optical,and magnetic properties of the samples are discussed.The structural analysis,carried out using the x-ray powder diffraction technique,shows a structural transition from rhombohedral(R-3c)to cubic(Pm-3m)for the doping amount of strontium(Sr)equal to x=0.3.Morphological analysis of the prepared samples were carried out using scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Frequency-dependent dielectric constant and ac conductivity were studied.The doped samples,with improved dielectric properties,can be used to fabricate different optoelectronic devices.Strong dielectric dispersion and broad relaxation were exhibited by all the samples.Cole–Cole plots were employed as an effective tool to study the dispersion parameters,namely,the optical dielectric constant,static dielectric constant,relaxation time,and spreading factor.The activation energy was calculated from the relaxation peaks and Cole–Cole plots,which were found to be compatible with each other.The bandgap of the samples was calculated using diffuse reflectance spectral(DRS)analysis.Sharp and strong photoluminescence in the IR region was observed in the samples,similar to ZnO,which was reported for the first time.Room-temperature and low-temperature magnetization studies point towards the superparamagnetic nature of the samples,with an improvement in magnetic properties with doping.The antiferromagnetic behavior of bulk bismuth ferrite transforms to superparamagnetic in nature for both pure and Sr-substituted bismuth ferrite nanoparticles due to the close dimensions of crystallite size with magnetic domains leading to the break-down of the frustrated spin cycloidal moment.

Initial Study of Strontium Barium Niobate/Strontium Barium Titanium Ceramics through A Modified Sol-Gel

Barium strontium titanate niobate (BSTN) composite ceramics system following the general formula 0.5BaO·0.5SrO·0.5TiO2·0.5Nb2O6 was successfully prepared. The investigation is carried out through a modified sol-gel method. By controlling the viscosity of the sol solution to suspend the strontium barium niobate ceramic powder uniformly which had been made beforehand and the viscosity of the sol could be changed by adjusting the mixture ratio of the precursor. Powders obtained from dried gels were calcined at 800 ℃ for 3 h. The bulk ceramics obtained from the dried powders were sintered at the temperatures of 1250 and 1300 ℃ respectively. The results of the XRD and SEM indicated that the perovskite phase and the tungsten bronze phase could be coexisted stably in BSTN at both of these temperatures. The increasing of the sintering temperature was good for the crystal phase growing and the solubility of the two phases in the composite ceramics. And the theory of adulteration could be adopted to resolve the phenomena that sintering temperatures too high, which resulted in the crystalline grains growing singularly. Some problems were put forward to pay attention to this material research process.

Fast synthesis of monodisperse TiO_2 submicrospheres via a modified sol-gel approach

Monodisperse titania glycolate submicrospheres were synthesized by a modified sol-gel route, in which ultrasonic treatment was introduced to improve the reaction efficiency. The as-prepared products were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectrum （FT-IR）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, powder X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The results indicate that the as-prepared products are titania glycolate submicrospheres with diameters of 230-330 nm. The average particle diameter is estimated to be about 280 nm. Ultrasonic treatment has an important influence on the morphology of the produced titania glycolates. After calcination at 450°C for 2 h, these titania glycolates were completely converted into anatase TiO2. The morphology of TiO2 particles was well reserved during the calcination process except for a reduction of 18% in the average particle size.

Preparation of LiNbO_3 films on Si(111) substrates by a modified sol-gel process

The preparation of LiNbO 3 films on Si substrates was improved by adding CH 3CH 2OH solution containing a little water to the sol of LiNb(OC 2H 5) 6. The crystallization behavior of LiNbO 3 films on Si (111) substrates was studied and completely c axis oriented LiNbO 3 films were obtained. Such factors as the hydrogen termination of silicon surface, the RTP annealing process used, the unidirectional heat flow and the preheating temperature were taken into consideration while the crystallization of c axis oriented films was analysed. Surface morphologies of the films annealed in RTP and conventional furnaces were observed by means of AFM.

Low temperature synthesis and luminescence properties of YAG:Eu nanopowders prepared by modified sol-gel method

Europium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet nanopowders were synthesized through an aqueous sol-gel method. The structure, morphology and luminescence spectra were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements. The results show that YAG：Eu with an average particle size of 50 nm is formed. The activation energy of YAG：Eu nanocrystallite growth during calcination is 24.1 kJ/mol. The crystalline YAG：Eu nanopowders show an orange-red emission with 5D0–7F1 as the most prominent group.

Preparation and Properties of Modified Sol-Gel Sensing Membrane for Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor

Modified sensing membranes based on fluorescence quenching were prepared by the sol-gel method,using formamide as the drying control chemical additive,tetraethoxysilane as the main material,Ru(phen) 3Cl 2 as the indicator.The membrane with the optimum thickness of 20-50μm is uniform and crack-free,in which the indicator has a very small leaking rate.The membrane is immersed in water for 50h,the membrane sensing parameter M decreases by less than 5%.The fiber optic oxygen sensor with the sensing membrane has a detection limit of 5×10 -6M(ppm),a response time of less than 30s,excellent reproducibility and stability.

Comparison of Acidic and Polymeric Agents in Synthesis of TiO₂Nanoparticles via a Modified Sol-Gel Method

TiO2 nano particles were synthesized in Rutile and Anatase phases by sol-gel method using two kind of complex agents, acidic (Citric Acid) and organic complex agent (acetyl acetone) at 400°C, 500°C, 650°C sintering temperatures. The structural analysis by XRD diffraction confirmed phase formation of titanium oxide. Particles sizes were determined by using Scherrer formula. TEM was employed to confirm nano particles formation. The size of nano particles as well as Phase formation can be controlled by the type of complex agent and sintering temperature. Acetyl Acetone causes a more crystalline structure and more uniformity of size distribution in 400°C sintering temperatures. Moreover, it results in obtaining single phase TiO2 nanoparticles at 400°C and 650°C sintering temperature. On the other hand, at high sintering temperature, the particles obtained from polymeric agent tend to agglomerate larger in size than the acidic product.

Development of Modified Glasses by Transparent, Functional Hybrid Sol-Gel Nano-Ceramic Coatings, a Comparative Study

This paper concentrates on the development of glasses with self-cleaning surfaces exhibiting high water contact angles. In this study, we prepared super-hydrophobic nano-ceramic coated glass based on titania & silica using simple sol-gel & dip coating methods and studied the best composition of the coatings by altering ratios of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP)/tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with different homogenizing agents. We characterized the coatings by surface roughness measurement, percentage of optical transmission, static contact angle, near-infrared (NIR) transmission, and diffuse reflectance. The fabrication of coatings on glass substrates played an important role in increasing the water contact angle of about 95° and visible & NIR transmission of about 90%. We compared our modified glass substrate with commercial low emissivity (Low E) glass using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, which showed pure amorphous surface claiming excellent wettability and thus the prepared glass substrate could have a variety of applications in different fields.

Modelling of the elastoplastic behaviour of the bio-cemented soils using an extended Modified Cam Clay model

An elastoplastic constitutive model based on the Modified Cam Clay(MCC)model is developed to describe the mechanical behaviour of soils cemented via microbially induced calcite precipitation(MICP).It considers the increase of the elastic stiffness,the change of the yield surface due to MICP cementation and the degradation of calcium carbonate bonds during shearing.Specifically,to capture the typical contraction-dilation transition in MICP soils,the original volumetric hardening rule in the MCC model is modified to a combined deviatoric and volumetric hardening rule.The model could reproduce a series of drained triaxial tests on MICP-treated soils with different calcium carbonate contents.Further,we carry out a parametric study and observe numerical instability in some cases.In combination with an analytical analysis,our numerical modelling has identified the benefits and limitations of using MCCbased models in the simulation of MICP-cemented soils,leading to suggestions for further model development.

A dual-RPA based lateral flow strip for sensitive,on-site detection of CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab/Ac genes in genetically modified crops

Traditional transgenic detection methods require high test conditions and struggle to be both sensitive and efficient.In this study,a one-tube dual recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA)reaction system for CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab/Ac was proposed and combined with a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay,named“Dual-RPA-LFD”,to visualize the dual detection of genetically modified(GM)crops.In which,the herbicide tolerance gene CP4-EPSPS and the insect resistance gene Cry1Ab/Ac were selected as targets taking into account the current status of the most widespread application of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance traits and their stacked traits.Gradient diluted plasmids,transgenic standards,and actual samples were used as templates to conduct sensitivity,specificity,and practicality assays,respectively.The constructed method achieved the visual detection of plasmid at levels as low as 100 copies,demonstrating its high sensitivity.In addition,good applicability to transgenic samples was observed,with no cross-interference between two test lines and no influence from other genes.In conclusion,this strategy achieved the expected purpose of simultaneous detection of the two popular targets in GM crops within 20 min at 37°C in a rapid,equipmentfree field manner,providing a new alternative for rapid screening for transgenic assays in the field.

Nucleoside modified mRNA-lipid nanoparticles as a new delivery platform for the repair of the injured spinal cord

Spinal cord injury and treatment opportunities:The adult mammalian spinal cord has a very limited capacity for spontaneous regeneration due to various intrinsic molecular and cellular factors.Although the spinal cord neurons have the capacity to regenerate their axons,the expression of growth inhibitory factors,lack or suppression of proper guidance cues,and profound inflammatory responses do not permit successful regeneration(Khyeam et al.,2021).

Effect of Modified Biochar with Organic Fertiliser on the Growth and Development of Chinese Rose

In order to reduce the waste of resources and environmental pollution caused by excessive application of chemical fertilizers, improve the utilization rate of fertilizers, and promote the large-scale and high-quality development of the Chinese rose industry. In this experiment, corn stover biochar, phosphoric acid modified biochar and organic fertilizer were used as test materials, and the effects of mixed application of modified biochar and organic fertilizer on the growth and development of Chinese rose as well as soil physicochemical properties were investigated by using the method of pot planting test. The results showed that modified biochar with organic fertilizer had the most significant effect on the enhancement of soil pH, organic matter content and soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. After 120 d of planting, modified biochar with organic fertilizer had the most significant effect on the enhancement of plant height and crown width of Chinese rose;both organic fertilizer and modified biochar with organic fertilizer significantly increased the chlorophyll content of Chinese rose. The number of flowers and the number of branches were the highest in the modified biochar with organic fertilizer treatment. In conclusion, the application of modified biochar with organic fertilizer can better improve the soil pH, and increase the soil organic matter content and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio to change the biological traits of Chinese rose. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the reduction of chemical fertilizers and the resource utilization of agricultural wastes and guarantee the sustainable development of the cut flower industry.

Multi-soliton solutions, breather-like and bound-state solitons for complex modified Korteweg–de Vries equation in optical fibers

Under investigation in this paper is a complex modified Korteweg–de Vries(KdV) equation, which describes the propagation of short pulses in optical fibers. Bilinear forms and multi-soliton solutions are obtained through the Hirota method and symbolic computation. Breather-like and bound-state solitons are constructed in which the signs of the imaginary parts of the complex wave numbers and the initial separations of the two parallel solitons are important factors for the interaction patterns. The periodic structures and position-induced phase shift of some solutions are introduced.

Investigation of granite failure precursor under axial load using modified LSTM framework

Granite is usually composed of quartz,biotite,feldspar,and cracks,and the variation characteristics of these components could reflect the deformation and failure process of rock well.Taking granite as an example,the video camera was used to record the deformation and failure process of rock.The distribution of meso-components in video images was then identified.The meso-components of rock failure precursors were also discussed.Moreover,a modified LSTM(long short-term memory method)based on SSA(sparrow search algorithm)was proposed to estimate the change of meso-components of rock failure precursor.It shows that the initiation and expansion of cracks are mainly caused by feldspar and quartz fracture,and when the quartz and feldspar exit the stress framework,rock failure occurs;the second large increase of crack area and the second large decrease of quartz or feldspar area may be used as a precursor of rock failure;the precursor time of rock failure based on meso-scopic components is about 4 s earlier than that observed by the naked eye;the modified LSTM network has the strongest estimation ability for quartz area change,followed by feldspar and biotite,and has the worst estimation ability for cracks;when using the modified LSTM network to predict the precursors of rock instability and failure,quartz and feldspar could be given priority.The results presented herein may provide reference in the investigation of rock failure mechanism.

Fatigue Resistance of RCA Modified Asphalt Based on Dielectric Properties

In order to study the anti-fatigue performance of RCA modified asphalt (RMA),the performance of RMA and 90#matrix asphalt with different modifier content were measured by asphalt penetration,ductility,softening point,Brookfield viscosity,rheological index,infrared spectrum and dielectric constant test.This paper discusses the changes of asphalt basic indexes,fatigue properties and asphalt components based on dielectric properties under different modifier contents,and analyzes the grey correlation degree between components and asphalt pavement performance indexes.The results show that the optimum content of RCA modifier is 16.7%of the asphalt quality according to the penetration,ductility,softening point,Brockfield viscosity,viscosity temperature curve and fatigue life.In the phase angle-strain curve,there is disorder in the latter part of the curve.According to the strain (ε_(d)) corresponding to the disorder point,a new fatigue failure criterion is proposed and proved.Based on the new asphalt fatigue failure criterion,the fatigue prediction model of asphalt mixture is improved,and the fatigue life predicted by the improved fatigue model is compared with the fatigue life obtained by four-point bending fatigue test.The results show that the proposed new asphalt fatigue failure criterion is reasonable,and the fatigue life predicted by the improved asphalt mixture fatigue prediction model is accurate.The research method of classifying asphalt components based on dielectric properties is simple and effective,and the components have a high correlation with the road performance of base asphalt and modified asphalt.

Modified Xiaoyao powder for postpartum depression:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of modified Xiaoyao powder for postpartum depression(PPD)by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials(RCTs).Methods:The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases(CNKI),the Chinese Scientific Journals Database(VIP),Wanfang,Google Scholar,the SinoMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and PubMed databases were searched from their inception to April 25,2023.The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of the trials.We applied the risk ratio to present dichotomous data and the mean difference to present continuous data.Data with similar characteristics were pooled for meta-analysis and heterogeneity was assessed using I2.Results:This review included 35 trials involving 2848 participants.The quality of the included studies was low(unclear randomization processes and insufficient reporting of blinding).Participants treated with modified Xiaoyao powder plus Western medicine showed lower Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)depression score than those who used Western medicine alone(mean difference=-2.15;95%confidence interval:-2.52 to 1.78;P<.00001),and higher effective rate(relative risk=1.19;95%confidence interval:1.15 to 1.24;P<.00001),When comparing modified Xiaoyao alone with Western medicine,the HAMD depression score remained low,however,the efficacy rate was higher in the modified Xiaoyao group.Regarding adverse events,the modified Xiaoyao group reported weight gain,nausea,and diarrhea,but no severe adverse events were reported.Conclusion:Modified Xiaoyao may help relieve depression in PPD when used alone or in combination with Western medicine,with minor side effects.Therefore,future high-quality,large-sample size RCTs are warranted.

Preparation of Modified UiO-66 Catalyst and Its Catalytic Performance for NH_(3)-SCR Denitration

Zirconium-based metal-organic framework UiO-66 was successfully prepared by solvothermal method,and UiO-66 was modified by adding regulators such as formic acid,acetic acid,and hydrochloric acid.The NH_(3)-SCR reactivity of the samples was evaluated by the denitration activity evaluation system,and the UiO-66 and the regulator-modified UiO-66 were characterized by XRD,SEM,BET,FTIR,TG,NH_(3)-TPD,etc.,the effects of regulator types on the structure and properties of UiO-66 were investigated.The experimental results show that,after adding the modifier,the morphology of UiO-66 changes from irregular quadrilateral with serious agglomeration to particles with regular crystal shape and good dispersibility,and the crystal morphology of the catalyst is improved.In addition,after adding the modifier,UiO-66 has a larger specific surface area and stronger surface acidity,which optimizes the catalytic performance of UiO-66.The catalytic performance test results of NH_(3)-SCR show that the low-temperature activity of UiO-66 is poor,and it only shows a certain catalytic activity at higher temperatures.The catalytic activity of UiO-66 was significantly improved after adding the regulator.Among them,the UiO-66-HCl modified with hydrochloric acid had the best catalytic activity,and the denitration rate reached 70%when the denitration temperature was 380℃.

A Modified Iterative Learning Control Approach for the Active Suppression of Rotor Vibration Induced by Coupled Unbalance and Misalignment

This paper proposes a modified iterative learning control(MILC)periodical feedback-feedforward algorithm to reduce the vibration of a rotor caused by coupled unbalance and parallel misalignment.The control of the vibration of the rotor is provided by an active magnetic actuator(AMA).The iterative gain of the MILC algorithm here presented has a self-adjustment based on the magnitude of the vibration.Notch filters are adopted to extract the synchronous(1×Ω)and twice rotational frequency(2×Ω)components of the rotor vibration.Both the notch frequency of the filter and the size of feedforward storage used during the experiment have a real-time adaptation to the rotational speed.The method proposed in this work can provide effective suppression of the vibration of the rotor in case of sudden changes or fluctuations of the rotor speed.Simulations and experiments using the MILC algorithm proposed here are carried out and give evidence to the feasibility and robustness of the technique proposed.

Clinical efficacy of modified Kamikawa anastomosis in patients with laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy

BACKGROUND With the increasing incidence of proximal gastric cancer,laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy has been applied.However,reflux esophagitis often occurs after traditional esophagogastric anastomosis.In order to solve this problem,several methods of digestive tract reconstruction have emerged,but the most satisfying method remains to be discussed.Therefore,we modified traditional Kamikawa anastomosis to investigate the appropriate digestive tract reconstruction in laparo-scopic proximal gastrectomy.All the patients were successfully operated on without conversion to laparotomy.The duration of operation and digestive tract reconstruction were 203.500(150-224)min and 87.500(73-111)min,respectively.The intraoperative amount of bleeding was 20.500 mL±0.696 mL.The time of postoperative first flatus,the first postoperative fluid intake,and the postoperative length of stay were 2(1-3)d,4(3-5)d,and 9(8-10)d,respectively.All the patients were followed up for 12-23 months.The body mass index at 6 and 12 months after surgery were 22.577 kg/m2±3.098 kg/m2 and 22.594 kg/m2±3.207 kg/m2,respectively.The nutrition risk screening 2002 score,the patient-generated subjective global assessment score,and the gastroesophageal reflux disease scale score were good at 6 and 12 months after surgery.Reflux esophagitis and anastomotic stenosis were not observed in any of the patients during their 12-month postoperative gastroscopy or upper gastrointestinal tract visits.All the patients exhibited no tumor recurrence or metastasis.CONCLUSION The modified Kamikawa anastomosis is safe and feasible for laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and has good antireflux effects and nutritional status.

Modified intratympanic steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss via tympanic tube and gelfoam as a salvage treatment

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) is a prevalent emergency in ear, nose, and throat practice. Previous studies have demonstrated that intratympanic steroid therapy(IST) can serve as a salvage treatment for SSNHL after the failure of systemic steroid therapy(SST).Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of modified IST involving the insertion of a tympanic tube and gelfoam as a salvage treatment for patients with SSNHL, and to explore its associated factors.Methods: Totally, 74 patients who were aged 22–81 years with SSNHL were enrolled and allocated to either the control group(n = 25) or the treatment group(n = 49) based on their treatment modalities. All patients received SST lasting for at least 7 days. Subsequently, patients in the treatment group, after SST failure, underwent IST twice a week for 2–6 weeks, while the control group did not. Efficacy was assessed by the improvement in pure tone average at the affected frequency at the beginning and end of IST.Results: Hearing improvement in all patients after IST in the treatment group was 9.71 ± 14.84 dB, with significant improvement at affected frequencies(250-8000 Hz) compared with the control group(P < 0.05). The findings indicated the duration from the onset of SSNHL to the beginning of IST as an independent factor for pure tone average improvement after treatment(P = 0.002), whereas age, duration of SST, and time of IST were not(P > 0.05).Conclusion: The modified IST was demonstrated to be a safe and effective method as a salvage treatment for SSNHL. This study explored the efficacy of a modified IST approach, incorporating the utilization of tympanic tubes and gelfoam as key components. The findings underscore the advantages of gelfoam as a strategic drug carrier placed in the round window niche. By minimizing drug loss, extending action time, and increasing perilymph concentration, gelfoam enhances the therapeutic impact of IST, contributing to improved hearing outcomes in patients with SSNHL.