A Simple Surface Treatment for Improving the Adhesive Bonding Properties and Durability of an AlMg Alloy.

The structural adhesive bonding of aluminum is widely used in the aircraft and automotive industries. The surface preparation of aluminum prior to adhesive bonding plays a significant role in improving the bonding strength. Surface cleanliness, surface roughness, and surface chemistry can be controlled, primarily, by proper surface treatment methods.

Impact of Thermal, High-Pressure, and Pulsed Electric Field Treatments on the Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic-Rich Apple Pomace Extracts.

Apple pomace, a by-product of apple juice production, is typically discarded as waste. Recent approaches have focused on utilizing apple pomace by extracting beneficial bioactive compounds, such as antioxidant phenolic compounds (PCs). Before these PC-rich extracts can be used in food products, they must undergo food preservation and processing methods.

Facile Synthetic Access Towards Sulfur- and Selenium-Functionalized Boron-Based Multiresonance TADF Emitters.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials with high photoluminescence quantum yields and a fast reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) are of the highest interest for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In the past decade, triaryl boranes with multiple resonance effect (MR) have captured significant attention. The efficiency of MR-TADF emitters strongly depends on small singlet-triplet energy gaps (ΔE), but also on large reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rate constants (k).

Correction: Khazi et al. Influence of Bath Hydrodynamics on the Micromechanical Properties of Electrodeposited Nickel-Cobalt Alloys. 2021, , 3898.

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Mechanical Behavior of Hardened Printed Concrete and the Effect of Cold Joints: An Experimental Investigation.

The adaptation of 3D printing techniques within the construction industry has opened new possibilities for designing and constructing cementitious materials efficiently and flexibly. The layered nature of extrusion-based concrete printing introduces challenges, such as interlayer weaknesses, that compromise structural integrity and mechanical performance. This experimental study investigates the influence of interlayer orientation and the presence of cold joints (CJ) on mechanical properties, such as stiffness and strength.

Sustainable Alkali-Activated Self-Compacting Concrete for Precast Textile-Reinforced Concrete: Experimental-Statistical Modeling Approach.

Industrial and construction wastes make up about half of all world wastes. In order to reduce their negative impact on the environment, it is possible to use part of them for concrete production. Using experimental-statistical modeling techniques, the combined effect of brick powder, recycling sand, and alkaline activator on fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete for the production of textile-reinforced concrete was investigated.

Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of Molten Salt Fuel for the SALIENT-03 Irradiation Experiment.

This work presents the synthesis, purification, and characterization of a molten salt fuel for the irradiation experiment SALIENT-03 (SALt Irradiation ExperimeNT), a collaborative effort between the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group and the Joint Research Centre, European Commission. The primary objective of the project is to investigate the corrosion behavior of selected Ni-alloy based structural materials which are being considered for the construction of fluoride molten salt reactors. During the test, these materials will be exposed to selected liquid molten fuel salts under irradiation in the High Flux Reactor in Petten, the Netherlands.

Luminescence Properties of M(AlCl):Yb (M = Ca, Sr, Ba): Ideal Materials for the Investigation of Structure-Luminescence Relationships.

In this work, the chloride system M(AlCl) (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) doped with Yb is investigated in greater detail. The influence of the [AlCl] ion on the position of the emission band of Yb is investigated and the emission spectra are recorded. The emission spectra of the Yb-doped materials are characterized by broad 4f5d (HS) ↔ 4f transitions with maxima in the range between 416 nm (Ca) and 421 nm (Ba) (24,061-23,738 cm), whereas the Ba compound features an additional 4f5d (LS) ↔ 4f emission band at 397 nm (25,203 cm) at lower temperatures.

Liquid Structure of Magnesium Aluminates.

Magnesium aluminates (MgO)(AlO) belong to a class of refractory materials with important applications in glass and glass-ceramic technologies. Typically, these materials are fabricated from high-temperature molten phases. However, due to the difficulties in making measurements at very high temperatures, information on liquid-state structure and properties is limited.

Fracture Toughness Behaviour of Nickel Alloy Steel 1.5662.

Nickel significantly increases the toughness of steel and makes it ideal for use in applications that require high impact and fracture resistance at low temperatures. These inherent advantages position nickel steel as indispensable material in various domains, with a pronounced presence in stationary Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanks and in the shipbuilding industry, particularly for tanks in vessels intended for the transport of liquefied ethane and LNG. The presented study focuses on assessing the fracture toughness behaviour of nickel alloy steel 1.

Hydrogen Diffusion in Deformed Austenitic TRIP Steel-A Study of Mathematical Prediction and Experimental Validation.

This study focuses on the effect of pre-deformation on hydrogen diffusion and hydrogen embrittlement of the high alloy austenitic TRIP steel X3CrMnNiMo17-8-4. Different cold-rolled steel sheets with thicknesses of ≤400 µm were electrochemically charged on both sides in 0.1 M sodium hydroxide with hydrogen for two weeks.

Experimental Validation of Hydrogen Affinity as a Design Criterion for Alloys.

This study introduces an innovative approach to alloy design by experimentally validating the semi-empirical concept of Griessen and Driessen, which predicts the hydrogen affinity of solid solutions. The work focuses on designing and synthesizing four equiatomic high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with compositions tailored to exhibit highly endothermic enthalpies of solution and formation, resulting in resistance to hydrogen absorption. Unlike conventional studies that prioritize hydrogen storage capacity, this research uniquely targets alloys optimized for minimal hydrogen interaction, addressing critical needs in hydrogen storage and transportation technologies prone to hydrogen embrittlement.

Graph-Based Analysis for the Characterization of Corrugated Board Compression.

This paper proposes a novel approach to represent the geometry of the corrugated board profile during compression using graphs. Graphs are lighter than images, and the computational time of compression analysis is then significantly reduced compared to using the original image data for the same analysis. The main goal of using such graphs is to gain more knowledge about the mechanical behavior of corrugated boards under compression compared to the current load-deformation curve approach.

Characterization of the Optical Properties of Photoluminescent Turbid Media Using an Integrating Sphere and Monte Carlo Simulations.

In this paper, we report on the measurement of the optical properties (absorption and scattering coefficients) of photoluminescent turbid media using a homemade integrating sphere setup equipped with a tunable monochromatic light source. The hemispherical reflectance and transmission data are analyzed with the radiative transfer equation using a Monte Carlo simulation-based lookup table to obtain the optical properties of the sample. The results are compared with the optical properties received from a classical integrating sphere setup equipped with a broadband white light source.

Insect Decline-Evaluation of Potential Drivers of a Complex Phenomenon.

The decline of insects is a global concern, yet identifying the factors behind it remains challenging due to the complexity of potential drivers and underlying processes, and the lack of quantitative historical data on insect populations. This study assesses 92 potential drivers of insect decline in West Germany, where significant declines have been observed. Using data from federal statistical offices and market surveys, the study traces changes in landscape structure and agricultural practices over 33 years.

Expression of V-ATPases in Olfactory Sensillum Support Cells.

V-ATPases are ubiquitous and evolutionarily conserved rotatory proton pumps, which are crucial for maintaining various biological functions. Previous investigations have shown that a V-ATPase is present in the support cells of moth trichoid sensilla and influences their olfactory sensory neuron performance. Generally, V-ATPases are thought to regulate the pH value within the sensillum lymph, and aid K homeostasis within the sensillum.

The Effect of Cropping Systems on the Dispersal of Mycotoxigenic Fungi by Insects in Pre-Harvest Maize in Kenya.

Maize productivity has remained low and has worsened in the wake of a changing climate, resulting in new invasive pests, with pests that were earlier designated as minor becoming major and with pathogens being transported by pests and/or entering their feeding sites. A study was conducted in 2021 in the Kisumu and Makueni counties, Kenya, to determine how different maize cropping systems affect insect diversity, insect damage to maize, and insects' ability to spread mycotoxigenic fungi in pre-harvest maize. The field experiments used a randomized complete block design, with the four treatments being maize monocrop, maize intercropped with beans, maize-bean intercrop with the addition of at planting, and push-pull technology.

A Comparative Analysis of Mitogenomes in Species of the Complex and Other Species of the Genus (Formicidae, Dolichoderinae).

Using next-generation sequencing data, the complete mitogenomes of six species from the genus were assembled. This study explores the mitochondrial genomes of species, among them the five species from the complex, comparing them with each other and with other species from Dolichoderinae subfamily to understand their evolutionary relationships and evolution. mitochondrial genomes contain the typical set of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and the A + T-rich control region.

Current Status of Biology-Biotechnic, Agronomic, and Biological Control of : A Review.

(Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the red palm weevil (RPW), is a concealed voracious pest of different ornamental and economically important palm species, particularly the date palm. It can cause huge losses in ornamental and commercial palm plantations. RPW has spread rapidly from its original distribution in Southeast Asia to date palm-growing countries worldwide.

Positive Effect of Elevated Thawing Rate for Cryopreservation of Human Ovarian Tissue: Transcriptomic Analysis of Fresh and Cryopreserved Cells.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has been gradually applied. It is essential to elucidate the differences between cryopreserved and fresh ovarian tissue and to refine cryopreservation protocols for improved outcomes. To explore the transcriptomic differences between fresh ovarian tissue and tissue cryopreserved with an elevated thawing rate.

Metabolic Biomarkers of Liver Failure in Cell Models and Patient Sera: Toward Liver Damage Evaluation In Vitro.

Recent research has concentrated on the development of suitable in vitro cell models for the early identification of hepatotoxicity during drug development in order to reduce the number of animal models and to obtain a better predictability for hepatotoxic reactions in humans. The aim of the presented study was to identify translational biomarkers for acute liver injury in human patients that can serve as biomarkers for hepatocellular injury in vivo and in vitro in simple cell models. Therefore, 188 different metabolites from patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure before and after liver transplantation were analyzed with mass spectrometry.

Mode of Metal Ligation Governs Inhibition of Carboxypeptidase A.

Carboxypeptidase is a Zn-dependent protease that specifically recognises and hydrolyses peptides with a hydrophobic side chain at the C-terminal residue. According to hydrolysis mechanisms proposed in the literature, catalysis requires a water molecule to be close to the Zn ion so as to be activated as a nucleophile. Among small molecules that resemble the slowly hydrolysed Gly-Tyr peptide, which have been previously designed as inhibitors and characterised structurally, a variant with the terminal amino acid in a D-configuration has been the most effective.

Altered Protein Kinase A-Dependent Phosphorylation of Cav1.2 in Left Ventricular Myocardium from Haploinsufficient Rat Hearts.

encodes the α1c subunit of the L-type Ca channel, Cav1.2. Ventricular myocytes from haploinsufficient () rats exhibited reduced expression of Cav1.

Finerenone in Heart Failure-A Novel Therapeutic Approach.

This review will discuss heart failure, introduce a new drug finerenone, and discuss clinical studies with a focus on its effects on heart failure. Heart failure is a condition or syndrome characterized by an impairment of the pumping ability of the heart, thus no longer keeping up with the demands of the body. There are several types of heart failure; among them are heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, with mildly reduced ejection fraction and with preserved ejection fraction.

Current Non-Viral-Based Strategies to Manufacture CAR-T Cells.

The successful application of CAR-T cells in the treatment of hematologic malignancies has fundamentally changed cancer therapy. With increasing numbers of registered CAR-T cell clinical trials, efforts are being made to streamline and reduce the costs of CAR-T cell manufacturing while improving their safety. To date, all approved CAR-T cell products have relied on viral-based gene delivery and genomic integration methods.