Search Results (11,151)

The pitting corrosion resistance and the tribological behaviour of a ferritic stainless steel with high Mo content (AISI 436) and a commonly employed austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304) are compared. Special attention was paid to the role of Mo in improving corrosion resistance of ferritic stainless steels. Since the surface condition is an important parameter related to the onset of pitting corrosion in the presence of chlorides, three different surface finishes were tested for both steels. Two commercial finishing grades and laboratory polishing down to 1 µm were compared. Moreover, the influence of surface condition on the tribological properties for both steels was also evaluated. The study demonstrates that surface finishing plays a decisive role in both the electrochemical and mechanical response of stainless steels. A comprehensive microstructural and tribological analysis reveals not only how commercial finishing treatments modify passive film behaviour, but also how they affect friction stability and wear mechanisms. Special emphasis is placed on the synergistic effect between molybdenum content, passive film integrity and manufacturing processes. The obtained results provide valuable insight for industrial applications where durability against chloride exposure and abrasion is critical. Full article

Some cast metallic alloys for ultra-high-temperature structural applications can have better mechanical properties compared with Ni-based superalloys. Research on the directional solidification (DS) of such alloys is limited. The production of DS components of these alloys with “tailor-made” microstructures in different parts of the component has not been considered. This paper attempts to address these issues. A bar of the RCCA/RM(Nb)IC with nominal composition 3.5Al–4Crc6Ge–1Hf–5Mo–36Nb–22Si–1.5Sn–20Ti–1W (at.%) was directionally grown using OFZ processing, where the growth rate R increased from 1.2 to 6 and then to 15 cm/h. The paper studies how the macrosegregation of the elements affected the microstructure in different parts of the bar. It was shown that the synergy of macrosegregation and growth rate produced microstructures from the edge to the centre of the OFZ bar and along the length of the OFZ bar that differed in type and chemical composition as R increased. Contamination with oxygen was confined to the “root” of the part of the bar that was grown with R = 1.2 cm/h. The concentrations of elements in the bar were related (a) to each of the parameters VEC, Δχ, and δ for different sections, (i) across the thickness and (ii) along the length of the bar, or to each other for different sections of the bar, and demonstrated the synergy and entanglement of processing, parameters, and elements. In the centre of the bar, the phases were the Nb_ss and Nb₅Si₃ for all R values. In the bar, the silicide formed with Nb/(Ti + Hf) less or greater than one. There was synergy of solutes in the solid solution and the silicide for all R values, and synergy and entanglement of the two phases. Owing to the synergy and entanglement of processing, parameters, elements, and phases, properties would “emerge” in each part of the bar. The creep and oxidation properties of the bar were calculated as guided by the alloy design methodology NICE. It was suggested that, in principle, a component based on a metallic UHTM with “functionally graded” composition, microstructure and properties could be directionally grown. Full article

Multimodal emotion recognition (MER) often relies on single-scale representations that fail to capture the hierarchical structure of emotional signals. This paper proposes a Dual Routing Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) model that dynamically selects between local (fine-grained) and global (contextual) representations extracted from speech and text encoders. The framework first obtains local–global embeddings using WavLM and RoBERTa, then employs a scale-aware routing mechanism to activate the most informative expert before bidirectional cross-attention fusion. Experiments on the IEMOCAP dataset show that the proposed model achieves stable performance across all folds, reaching an average unweighted accuracy (UA) of 75.27% and weighted accuracy (WA) of 74.09%. The model consistently outperforms single-scale baselines and simple concatenation methods, confirming the importance of dynamic multi-scale cue selection. Ablation studies highlight that neither local-only nor global-only representations are sufficient, while routing behavior analysis reveals emotion-dependent scale preferences—such as strong reliance on local acoustic cues for anger and global contextual cues for low-arousal emotions. These findings demonstrate that emotional expressions are inherently multi-scale and that scale-aware expert activation provides a principled approach beyond conventional single-scale fusion. Full article

Metal halide perovskite (MHP)-based heterojunctions have become a forefront area in the research of optoelectronic functional materials due to their unique layered crystal structure, tunable band gaps, and exceptional optoelectronic properties. Recent studies have demonstrated that interface charge transfer is a crucial factor in determining the optoelectronic performance of the heterojunction devices. By constructing heterojunctions between MHPs and two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene, MoS₂, and WS₂, efficient electron–hole separation and transport can be achieved, significantly extending carrier lifetimes and suppressing non-radiative recombination. This results in enhanced response speed and energy conversion efficiency in photodetectors, photovoltaic devices, and light-emitting devices (LEDs). In these heterojunctions, the thickness of the MHP layer, interface defect density, and band alignment significantly influence carrier dynamics. Furthermore, techniques such as interface engineering, molecular passivation, and band engineering can effectively optimize charge separation efficiency and improve device stability. The integration of multilayer heterojunctions and flexible designs also presents new opportunities for expanding the functionality of high-performance optoelectronic devices. In this review, we systematically summarize the charge transfer mechanisms in MHP-based heterojunctions and highlight recent advances in their optoelectronic applications. Particular emphasis is placed on the influence of interfacial coupling on carrier generation, transport, and recombination dynamics. Furthermore, the ultrafast dynamic behaviors and band-engineering strategies in representative heterojunctions are elaborated, together with key factors and approaches for enhancing charge transfer efficiency. Finally, the potential of MHP heterojunctions for high-performance optoelectronic devices and emerging photonic systems is discussed. This review aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical and experimental reference for future research and to offer new insights into the rational design and application of flexible optoelectronics, photovoltaics, light-emitting devices, and quantum photonic technologies. Full article

In this study, amorphous Fe₆₀Nb₃B₁₇Si₆Cr₆Ni₄Mo₄ coatings were prepared using the high-velocity air fuel method. The microstructure, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the Fe₆₀Nb₃B₁₇Si₆Cr₆Ni₄Mo₄ coatings were examined for various levels of nanocrystallization. In contrast to the as-sprayed coating, the samples that were heat-treated formed partial α-Fe and crystalline Cr₂O₃. The generated nanocrystals exerted a dispersion-strengthening effect on the coatings, leading to enhanced hardness and fracture toughness. When the annealing temperature was below the initial crystallization temperature, the wear resistance improved by approximately 1.65 times, the wear rate decreased to half of that in the as-sprayed state, and the depth of the wear scar reduced. However, the resistance of the coatings to corrosion deteriorated as the degree of crystallization increased. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that heat treatment modified the composition of the passive film, thereby influencing its corrosion resistance. These results provide crucial insights into the application of Fe-based amorphous coatings in wear- and corrosion-resistant environments. Full article

The development of versatile photocatalysts is crucial for comprehensive solutions to the intertwined challenges of the energy crisis and environmental pollution. This study presents a novel Bi₃TiNbO₉/Bi₂MoO₆ (BTNO/BMO) heterojunction fabricated via a solvothermal method. Advanced characterization techniques verified the successful synthesis of the as-integrated BTNO/BMO heterostructure. The BTNO/BMO composite exhibited superior performance in multiple applications: efficient degradation of tetracycline reaching 90.2%, removal of gaseous nitric oxide (NO), and photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to carbon monoxide (CO) with a yield of 51.3 μmol·g⁻¹. The constructed Type-II heterojunction demonstrated a remarkable ability to suppress charge recombination, thereby significantly enhancing the photocatalytic activity. This work highlights the dual-functional capability of the BTNO/BMO heterojunction for simultaneous environmental purification and fuel production, providing a promising material platform and a strategic design concept for sustainable technological development. Full article

The Southwestern Fujian Region is one of the important Fe polymetallic metallogenic belts in China. The Makeng-Yangshan Fe skarn sub-belt within it contains several deposits that share a similar geological setting, mineralization age, and genetic type, yet exhibit significant differences in metal endowment. To investigate the poorly constrained factors responsible for these differences, this paper focused on the mineral chemistry of garnets associated with magnetite from the Makeng, Luoyang, and Yangshan Fe deposits within the sub-belt, employing in situ laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for trace element analysis. Our results reveal that garnet from all three deposits are andradite-dominated and features a chondrite-normalized REE fractionation pattern exhibiting enrichment in LREE relative to HREE, indicating crystallization from unified, mildly acidic fluids under high oxygen fugacity (f_O2) conditions. However, both the Makeng and Luoyang garnets showed a strong positive Eu anomaly, whereas the Yangshan garnets displayed the weakest Eu anomaly among the three deposits, which can likely be attributed to the highest f_O2 environment of the Yangshan deposit. Furthermore, garnet Y/Ho ratios and Y-ΣREE correlations demonstrate that the Makeng and Luoyang garnets crystallized in an open fluid system that were primarily of magmatic-hydrothermal origin with substantial external fluid (e.g., meteoric water) involvement, whereas the Yangshan garnet reflects a relatively closed fluid system that was predominantly of magmatic-hydrothermal origin with limited external fluid input. These geochemical differences have direct implications for exploration: the open-system Makeng deposit holds promise for Mo-W-Sn mineralization, as does the Luoyang deposit for W-Sn, whereas the closed-system Yangshan shows little potential for these metals. In addition, this study reveals that Pb and Zn concentrations in garnet are not reliable exploration indicators. Overall, these findings provide important mineralogical constraints on the factors controlling deposit scale and metal associations, thereby enhancing the understanding of regional metallogeny and guiding future mineral exploration. Full article

Objectives: An increasing number of older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment, are undergoing cardiac surgery. Despite strong recommendations for preoperative cognitive screening and peri-operative monitoring, routine implementation faces challenges, such as limited time in busy outpatient clinics and lack of patient motivation. To address this issue, gamification and self-administration of cognitive screening using BAMCOG were explored in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: A multi-methods prospective repeated-measures within-subject cohort study was conducted between January 2021 and December 2022 to assess usability and concurrent validity. The initial part after game development focused on qualitatively examining the usability of BAMCOG in eight patients, using the System Usability Scale (SUS). The second part, with 40 patients, evaluated concurrent validity by comparing BAMCOG with the widely used Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results: The average SUS score was 79.7, indicating good usability. In the preoperative period, the correlation between BAMCOG and MoCA scores was r = 0.33 (p < 0.05), which increased to r = 0.59 (p < 0.001) on the first postoperative day. Conclusions: In conclusion, peri-operative self-monitoring of cognition around a TAVR procedure is feasible, but the concurrent validity of the BAMCOG and the MoCA scores is moderate to low. This warrants further research on gamified cognitive screeners to optimize their use in perioperative cognitive monitoring. Full article

Pipeline steels under cyclic loading in corrosive environments are prone to wear and corrosion–wear synergy. Low-dilution, high-reliability Ni-based Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) overlays are therefore required to ensure structural integrity. In this work, three overlay architectures were deposited on L415QS pipeline steel: a single-layer ERNiFeCr-1 coating, a double-layer ERNiFeCr-1/ERNiFeCr-1 coating, and an ERNiCrMo-3 interlayer plus ERNiFeCr-1 working layer. The microstructure, interfacial composition gradients, and dry sliding wear behavior were systematically characterized to clarify the role of interlayer design. The single-layer ERNiFeCr-1 coating shows a graded transition from epitaxial columnar grains to cellular/dendritic and fine equiaxed grains, with smooth Fe dilution, Ni–Cr enrichment, and a high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries, resulting in sound metallurgical bonding and good crack resistance. The double-layer ERNiFeCr-1 coating contains coarse, strongly textured columnar grains and pronounced interdendritic segregation in the upper layer, which promotes adhesive fatigue and brittle spalling and degrades wear resistance and friction stability. The ERNiCrMo-3 interlayer introduces continuous Fe-decreasing and Ni-Cr/Mo-increasing gradients, refines grains, suppresses continuous brittle phases, and generates dispersed second phases that assist crack deflection and load redistribution. Under dry sliding, the tribological performance ranks as follows: interlayer + overlay > single-layer > double-layer. The ERNiCrMo-3 interlayer system maintains the lowest and most stable friction coefficient due to the formation of a dense tribo-oxidative glaze layer. These results demonstrate an effective hierarchical alloy-process design strategy for optimizing Ni-based CMT overlays on pipeline steels. Full article

In this paper, we propose a Bayesian Deep Learning (BDL) framework to model uncertainty and predict the performance of terahertz (THz) biosensors with a graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) coating for AML biomarker detection. Although there have been studies on the individual advantage of these 2D materials for biosensing, a comparative analysis taking into account predictive uncertainty is still insufficient. To this end, we have generated a high-fidelity simulation dataset from full-wave EM simulations of DSSRR structures over the 0.1–2.5 THz frequency range. Realistic geometrical and dielectric modifications have been incorporated to mimic bio-sensing conditions. An approach based on a Bayesian Neural Network (BNN) with Monte Carlo dropout was employed for predicting sensitivity, Q-factor, resonance shift, and absorption, along with the estimation of aleatoric, as well as epistemic, uncertainty. Our results demonstrated a trade-off between material types: MoS₂ sensors showed higher sensitivity (3548 GHz/RIU) but with a larger prediction uncertainty range of ±118 GHz/RIU; on the other hand, graphene-based sensors exhibited a better spectral resolution (Q = 48.5) and a more reliable QV prediction range of ±42 GHz/RIU. The uncertainty study further revealed that graphene demonstrated a predominance for aleatoric uncertainty (68%), classifying them as predictable physical characteristics, while MoS₂ presents a higher epistemic one (55%), indicating sensitivity towards underrepresented design cases. We present a material selection algorithm based on utility that balances sensitivity, resolution, and uncertainty, demonstrating that MoS₂ is the best choice for early screening, while graphene is more suitable for high-precision diagnostics. This study offers a scalable and reliable AI framework for quick, uncertainty-aware optimization of THz biosensors, which is directly applicable to clinical diagnostics and 2D-material-based photonic design. Full article

In this study, the feasibility of tetracycline (TC) degradation in water using Fe–Mo co–supported biochar (FeMoBC) as catalyst combined with ozone and peroxymonosulfate (O₃/PMS) system is discussed. The experiment showed that the mineralization rate of TC by O₃/PMS/FeMoBC process reached 60.1% within 60 min, which was significantly higher than the treatment effect of O₃ or O₃/PMS system alone. Meanwhile, this process showed higher degradation efficiency under the background of raw water, and the loss of FeMoBC cycle attenuation performance was small. Twelve intermediates in the degradation of TC were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS), and the possible degradation paths were inferred by quantum chemical calculation. In addition, the toxicity of intermediate products was evaluated by ecological structure–activity relationships (ECOSAR) and toxicity estimation software tool (T.E.S.T.) software, and the results showed that with the degradation of TC, its toxicity showed a downward trend as a whole. Therefore, this study confirmed that O₃/PMS/FeMoBC had high efficiency in degrading TC in actual water, which provided a new idea for the treatment of high concentration organic wastewater. Full article

This study investigates the effects of multiple laser shock peening (LSP) treatments on the low-cycle fatigue performance and fracture mechanisms of laser-melted, additive-manufactured Ti-6.5Al-1Mo-1V-2Zr (TA15) titanium alloy. The primary objective is to systematically evaluate how different LSP impact numbers (0, 1, and 2 impacts) enhance fatigue life and alter fracture behavior. Low-cycle fatigue life was determined via tensile-compression fatigue testing. Microfracture morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface residual stresses were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and microhardness tests were conducted concurrently. Results indicate that LSP significantly enhances fatigue life: fatigue life increased by 2.34 times and 2.56 times after one and two LSP impacts, respectively, compared to the untreated state. As impact cycles increased, the microhardness of the material surface rose by 8.51% and 14.53%, respectively, with residual compressive stresses reaching −145 MPa and −183 MPa. Concurrently, LSP-2 treatment formed a refined microstructure featuring coexisting lamellar α and acicular martensite in the surface layer. This strengthening effect is attributed to LSP-induced surface residual compressive stress, grain refinement, and the resulting migration of fatigue crack initiation from the surface to subsurface regions. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing fatigue-resistant designs of additively manufactured titanium alloy components. Full article

Insomnia and depression are severe sequelae of COVID-19 and often occur simultaneously. Our study examined associations of insomnia and/or depression with cognitive impairments, white matter changes, and serum biomarkers. In total, 76 long COVID patients and 22 healthy controls were examined using neuropsychiatric (ISI, HADS, and HDRS) and cognitive (MoCA, Stroop, WMT, and TMT) tests, with their blood biomarkers (anti-SARS-CoV-2, BDNF, anti-S100, anti-MBP, and anti-PLP) investigated, and underwent MRI using macromolecular proton fraction (MPF) mapping to quantify myelination. The Insomnia (n = 14), Depression (n = 12), InsDep (comorbid insomnia–depression, n = 13), and PostCovid (long COVID without depression and insomnia, n = 32) groups were identified based on psychiatric/neurological diagnoses and neuropsychiatric assessment. Cognitive performance was most affected in the Insomnia group in the MoCA and CW Stroop tests. The Depression group underperformed in the TMT and W Stroop task; the InsDep group underperformed in the WMT. The Insomnia group showed the greatest demyelination, affecting commissural (CC and tapetum), projection (CR, IC, CST, cerebral peduncles, CP, and ML), and some association pathways (SLF, SFOF), as well as most juxtacortical regions, the thalamus, and the midbrain; these changes correlated with insomnia severity. The Depression and InsDep groups showed smaller but significant overall demyelination correlated with depression severity. The Depression group exhibited the highest MPF decrease in the globus pallidus, putamen, and external capsule, while the InsDep group demonstrated the highest demyelination of the association pathways IFOF, UF, and cingulum. The anti-PLP levels were the highest in the Insomnia group and correlated with both the persistence of insomnia/depression symptoms and demyelination. Demyelination in long COVID is associated with high levels of myelin-specific autoantibodies, but symptoms of insomnia and/or depression are associated with demyelination of a different set of brain structures. Full article

Johne’s disease (JD) is a chronic infection of cattle that undermines herd productivity and profitability. While test-and-cull programs are commonly proposed for control, their effectiveness and economic feasibility remain uncertain in beef production systems. This study used an updated agent-based model (ABM) to simulate JD transmission in a representative 300-cow Western Canadian beef herd, coupled with a partial budget model to evaluate net present value (NPV) over a 10-year time horizon. Seven diagnostic test-and-cull strategies were compared, varying in test type (ELISA, individual PCR, and pooled PCR), sampling frequency (6, 12, or 24 mo), and risk-based sampling protocols. Results showed that, under baseline assumptions (6% starting prevalence; 1% prevalence in purchased stock), all strategies reduced JD prevalence relative to no testing, and six of seven yielded higher NPVs. Annual individual PCR testing provided the best balance between prevalence reduction and profitability, whereas semi-annual PCR most effectively reduced prevalence but at greater economic cost. Failure to implement control measures resulted in increasing prevalence and long-term economic losses. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that strategy performance was consistent across variations in market conditions, cost of production, and replacement female management, although profitability declined substantially when JD prevalence in externally sourced stock was high (i.e., 10%). Collectively, these findings indicate that JD can be controlled economically in beef herds, with long-term application of various test-and-cull strategies offering robust options adaptable to management preferences. Full article