Search Results (13,018)

Hydrogen-enriched fuel injection in staged gas-turbine combustors is commonly achieved through jet-in-crossflow (JICF) configurations, where flame stabilization is governed by a local balance between flow-induced strain/mixing and chemical reaction rates. This work investigates turbulent reacting JICF relevant to staged combustion conditions using high-fidelity simulations with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) and differential-diffusion effects together with Lagrangian particle statistics. Chemistry model uncertainties are incorporated by using a projection method that maps uncertainty estimates from detailed mechanisms into the model used in this work. Results show that the macroscopic flame topology remains in a stable two-branch regime (lee-stabilized and lifted) and is primarily controlled by the jet momentum–flux ratio J. Visualization of the normalized scalar dissipation rate reveals that the flame front resides on the low-dissipation side of intense mixing layers, occupying an intermediate region between over-strained and under-mixed regions. While hydrogen content does not significantly change the global stabilization mode for the cases studied, uncertainty analysis reveals composition-dependent differences that are not apparent in the mean behavior alone. In particular, visualization in Eulerian (χ, T) state-space analysis and particle statistics conditioned on the stoichiometric surface demonstrate that higher-hydrogen cases observe a lower scalar dissipation rate and exhibit substantially reduced variability in OH production under kinetic-parameter perturbations, whereas lower-hydrogen blends experience higher dissipation and amplified chemical sensitivity. These findings highlight that, even in globally similar JICF regimes, the hydrogen content can modify the local response of the flame to kinetic-parameter uncertainty, motivating uncertainty-aware interpretation and design for hydrogen-fueled staging systems. Full article

High-grade non-oriented silicon steel is a critical material for new energy vehicles and energy-efficient appliances due to its superior magnetic properties. However, these properties are significantly degraded by non-metallic inclusions, particularly Ti(C,N). This study employs integrated thermodynamic and kinetic calculations to systematically analyze the formation and growth mechanisms of Ti(C,N) inclusions in high-grade non-oriented silicon steel, trace the sources of [Ti], and propose targeted theoretical control strategies. Results indicate that Ti(C,N) inclusions do not precipitate above the liquidus temperature (1779 K). During solidification, microsegregation enriches Ti, C, and N; however, only TiN precipitates in the final stage as its ion product exceeds the solubility limit, whereas TiC remains undersaturated—findings valid within the present composition window and modeling framework. Inclusion size is governed by cooling rate and initial Ti/N content, where higher cooling rates yield finer inclusions and lower Ti/N content suppresses precipitation. Titanium originates from primary sources (raw materials and alloys) and secondary sources (decomposition or reduction of TiO₂ in slag/refractories). Therefore, mitigating [Ti] requires strictly limiting primary input and suppressing secondary formation through optimized process control, such as reducing BOF slag carryover, lowering refining temperature, and controlling [Al] content. Full article

The increasing deployment of dense offshore wind turbine monopile foundations pose significant challenges for accurately simulating tidal-flow modification and energy transport at the array scale. Balancing physical realism with computational efficiency remains a key challenge in hydrodynamic modelling of offshore wind farms. In this study, an established drag-based source-term approach is implemented through a dedicated module developed within the TELEMAC-3D framework to represent the momentum-blocking effects of offshore wind-farm arrays. A representative dense 8 × 10 wind turbine monopile array configuration is constructed in a typical tidal channel to systematically examine array-induced tidal-flow responses. The results indicate that the drag-based source-term approach preserves the regional-scale tidal flow structure while effectively capturing array-induced local velocity adjustments and pronounced downstream wake attenuation and recovery. Detailed analyses further reveal distinct spatial and temporal characteristics of the velocity response, including the decay and recovery of velocity deviations downstream of the array. In addition, the monopile array induces a clear modulation of flow kinetic energy, characterized by enhanced energy dissipation and a finite array-scale redistribution of kinetic energy. These findings demonstrate that this approach efficiently simulates the array-scale hydrodynamic and energetic impacts of large offshore wind farms and contribute to a better understanding of array-induced tidal flow modification and energy redistribution. Full article

In this study, chicken bone biochar (CBC) was prepared from waste chicken bones via oxygen-limited pyrolysis. A magnetic component (Fe₃O₄) was introduced, and the composite was embedded in a sodium alginate (SA) gel network, successfully constructing magnetic chicken bone biochar/sodium alginate composite gel beads (M-CBC/SA). The experimental results showed that under the conditions of pH = 4.5, 25 °C, and an adsorbent dosage of 0.5 g/L, the removal efficiency of M-CBC/SA toward 50 mg/L U(VI) reached 91.67%, corresponding to an adsorption capacity of 91.67 mg/g. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model, with a theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 322.58 mg/g, indicating that the adsorption was dominated by monolayer chemisorption. The material exhibited excellent magnetic separability and good anti-interference ability against coexisting ions such as K⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻, and its adsorption behavior was only weakly affected by ionic strength. Characterization by XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS and other techniques revealed that the immobilization mechanism of U(VI) involved the synergistic effects of dissolution–precipitation (the formation of a new autunite phase), surface complexation (involving hydroxyl and phosphate groups), ion exchange (exchange with Ca²⁺), and electrostatic attraction. Using waste chicken bones as the raw material, this composite achieves both efficient uranium immobilization and convenient magnetic separation, fully embodying the environmental concept of “treating waste with waste”, and shows promising application prospects in the treatment of uranium-containing wastewater. Full article

Hydrogen (H₂) was produced from recycled aluminum microparticles (180–250, 300–425, and 425–500 μm) via alkaline hydrolysis using a 1.0 M NaOH solution to enhance oxide layer removal and aluminum dissolution. Maximum hydrogen flow rates of approximately 13, 15, and 19 mL·min⁻¹ were obtained, confirming that smaller particle sizes promote faster reaction rates due to increased specific surface area. The hydrogen evolution exhibited two-stage kinetic behavior: an initial stage characterized by rapid aluminum dissolution and increasing H₂ production, followed by a gradual decline associated with the formation of a passivating Al(OH)₃ layer. Despite the higher reaction rates observed for smaller particles, the maximum cumulative hydrogen production was obtained for the intermediate particle size (363 µm, 132 mL), compared to 106 mL and 102 mL for 215 µm and 463 µm, respectively, indicating a trade-off between surface area and passivation effects. Kinetic analysis based on the shrinking core model showed excellent agreement (R² = 99.94–99.97%), with rate constants of 0.137, 0.064, and 0.050 min⁻¹. The relationship k ∝ d⁻ⁿ (n ≈ 1.4) suggests a mixed kinetic regime involving both surface reaction and diffusion through the Al(OH)₃ layer. These findings indicate that hydrogen generation can be modulated by particle size; however, the relatively low flow rates and yields limit its immediate practical applicability. Full article

Vacuum drying is a promising alternative to conventional dehydration for heat-sensitive vegetables, although process temperature can significantly affect both drying behavior and product quality. In this study, vacuum drying of cauliflower florets (Brassica oleracea) was evaluated at 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C under 10 kPa, using freeze-drying as a reference. Desorption isotherms were determined at 50 and 70 °C and fitted to common models, where the GAB model provided excellent fits (R² = 0.9999 and 0.9997, respectively). The drying kinetics were successfully described by four thin-layer models, with the Midilli–Kucuk and Weibull models performing best overall. Color was significantly affected, with total color differences (ΔE) ranging from 15.9 to 20.6 and higher browning indices at elevated temperatures. Bioactive compounds (total phenols, flavonoids, and glucosinolates) and antioxidant potential (by DPPH and ORAC assays) were quantified to assess changes in functional quality across treatments. Bioactive compounds showed the highest values at the highest temperatures (60–80 °C). The DPPH assay remained stable between 50 and 80 °C, but ORAC assay decreased with increasing temperature, suggesting that vacuum drying at 60–70 °C offers the best balance between overall bioactive retention and functionality for producing cauliflower powder. Full article

Conductive core–shell superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are emerging as multifunctional additives for cementitious materials, combining moisture management with electrical functionality. In cement-based systems, a swellable polymeric core enables internal curing and crack-sealing through controlled water uptake and release, while a conductive shell introduces ionic and/or electronic charge transport, addressing key limitations of conventional non-conductive SAPs. This dual functionality provides a pathway toward smart cementitious composites with enhanced durability, self-sensing capability, and moisture-responsive behavior. This review focuses on the physical chemistry mechanisms governing conductive core–shell SAPs in cementitious environments, with emphasis on swelling thermodynamics, water transport kinetics, interfacial phenomena, and charge transport mechanisms. The roles of osmotic pressure, elastic network constraints, ionic effects, and pore solution chemistry are critically discussed, together with their impact on conductivity, hydration processes, microstructure development, and long-term performance. The relative contributions of ionic and electronic conduction are examined in relation to hydration state, shell morphology, and percolation of conductive networks. In addition, the relevance of core–shell SAP architectures to sustainable packaging is briefly discussed as a secondary application, illustrating how similar physicochemical principles—such as moisture buffering and functional coatings—apply beyond construction materials. Finally, key knowledge gaps are identified, including long-term stability in highly alkaline environments, trade-offs between swelling capacity and conductivity, environmental impacts of conductive phases, and the need for integrated experimental and modeling approaches. Addressing these challenges is essential for the rational design and practical implementation of conductive core–shell SAPs in next-generation cementitious materials. Full article

Fully compressible two-phase flow configurations present many challenges for numerical modelling, requiring the development of Real Fluid Models (RFMs) able to simulate flows in subcritical, transcritical and supercritical regimes. Such an RFM has been recently developed at IFPEN based on physical properties lookup tables, mainly for binary and ternary chemical systems. This paper proposes an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach to overcome the limitations of lookup tables of thermodynamic properties and to apply RFM to multi-species combustion. A methodology for generating an optimized data set by combining a vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) thermodynamic solver and the in situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) method is developed. It aims to improve the neural network training process for two-phase combustion simulations where many species are present. This ANN methodology has been implemented in the CONVERGE CFD solver and validated using a mixing layer (LOX/GH₂) benchmark from the literature relevant to rocket conditions, and an academic gaseous (H₂/O₂) case relevant to hydrogen combustion. The results show that this ANN approach makes H₂ combustion simulation possible when coupled to the RFM framework and using a 10-species kinetic mechanism. Full article

Improving the dissolution and solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs remains a major challenge in drug development. Solid dispersion (SD) techniques offer an effective strategy by which to enhance the bioavailability of BCS Class II drugs such as ivermectin (IVM). This study aimed to develop and validate stability-indicating analytical methods for the quantification of IVM and to evaluate the performance of the formulated SDs. A novel RP-HPLC and a UV spectrophotometric method were developed and validated in accordance with ICH guidelines. IVM SDs were prepared via physical mixing (PM), solvent evaporation (SE), and melt fusion (MF) using Poloxamer 188, Kollicoat^® IR, and PEG 6000 at respective ratios of 1:1, 1:3, and 1:5. Dissolution studies showed a marked enhancement in drug release from SDs prepared by SE and MF methods compared with pure IVM. Among all formulations, the Poloxamer 188-based binary SD prepared by the SE method at a 1:5 ratio exhibited the highest dissolution (98.55% at 60 min), with release kinetics following anomalous (non-Fickian) transport (n = 0.681) according to the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. Solid-state characterization evidenced by FTIR, DSC, TGA, and SEM confirmed the transformation of IVM from its crystalline form to an amorphous state. Future studies will focus on the in vivo evaluation of the optimized IVM SD formulations. Full article

Deposits of insoluble protein plaques, which are mostly composed of fibrils from disease-specific amyloid proteins, are histological markers of various human disorders. These range from non-neuropathic amyloidosis such as light chain amyloidosis or type II diabetes to well-known neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. There are indications that these types of fibrillar suprastructures display biological activity distinct from the individual fibrils they are composed of. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the assembly of fibrillar suprastructures. An understanding of secondary fibril self-assembly into mesoscopic and macroscopic suprastructures is also critical for their application as novel biomaterial. The paucity of experimental data and theoretical models on fibrillar supra-assembly likely relates to the experimental and conceptual challenges in following this type of assembly on multiple length- and timescales, and in characterizing the distinct morphologies formed. Here, we report that the amyloid dye thioflavin T (ThT) is augmented during self-assembly of isolated lysozyme fibrils. We provide evidence that this augmentation of ThT fluorescence results from the unquenching of fibril-bound ThT during fibril binding. Combining ThT fluorescence, optical density, and fluorescence quenching kinetics with optical and electron microscopy, we propose that fibril self-assembly is driven by a transition from reaction-limited ordered assembly to diffusion-limited random cross-linking of fibrils. Full article

Gluten allergy is linked to high risk of anaphylaxis. The relative allergenicity of glutens (alcohol-soluble gliadin and acid-soluble glutenin) from the three commercially grown wheat species (diploid Triticum monococcum, tetraploid Triticum durum, hexaploid Triticum aestivum) is unknown. A comparative gluten allergenicity map (CGAM) from these species will enable the identification of potentially hyper-/hypo-/iso-allergenic species/varieties of wheat as well as the determination of substantial equivalence of genetically engineered (GE) or other novel wheat lines. Here, using a recently described novel mouse model, we tested the hypothesis that the three different wheat species will exhibit natural variation in their gluten allergenicity. Groups of Balb/c mice were transdermally sensitized to alcohol-soluble or acid-soluble gluten extracts followed by elicitation of systemic anaphylaxis. Initial studies were performed to validate the model for glutens from the three wheat species. Both glutens from all three wheat species elicited robust specific IgE responses, as well as systemic anaphylaxis. However, comparative mapping analysis revealed differences in capacity to elicit specific IgE among the three wheat species with T. aestivum being the most potent in both gluten extracts. Hypothermic shock response analysis revealed that the three species elicited similar kinetics and intensity of anaphylaxis. Nevertheless, when analyzing mucosal mast cell response, it was revealed that the glutens from T. aestivum emerged as the most potent elicitor. Collectively, these results yield the first CGAM that may be utilized for preclinical testing of the allergenic potential of glutens from novel (e.g., GE) wheats and processed wheat products against existing wheat glutens. Full article

In this paper, we utilized sodium titanate as a substrate to fabricate a supported antifungal repair agent capable of inhibiting fungi through the release of silver ions, and applied it to the preservation and restoration of wooden materials. The structural and material properties of sodium titanate were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and adsorption kinetic modeling. Furthermore, its effectiveness in wood restoration as well as its antifungal performance were evaluated. Results indicate that the synthesized sodium titanate exhibits a distinctive tubular structure, with a diameter of approximately 12 nm, a pore size of 7 nm, and a specific surface area as high as 310.91 m²/g. The abundant ion exchange active sites on the material surface provide conditions for the loading of silver ions. At 25 °C, the maximum adsorption capacity for silver ions reaches 515.5 mg/g, with an adsorption amount accounting for 34.0 wt.%. When combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for reinforcing wooden materials, it significantly increases the packing density of the reinforcing agent, ultimately enhancing the compressive strength of wood from 155.0 MPa to 412.2 MPa. Furthermore, owing to the antifungal effect of silver ions, the treated wood demonstrates effective resistance against the growth of Aspergillus niger. Full article

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection presents a wide spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from mild self-limiting disease to severe and fatal manifestations, which are influenced by both host and viral factors. Animal models are essential for elucidating CHIKV pathogenesis and for preclinical evaluation of antiviral strategies; however, a well-characterized model evaluating the effect of different viral doses in AG129 mice remains limited. In this study, we investigated the clinical, virological, and pathological outcomes of CHIKV infection in male AG129 mice inoculated intraperitoneally with different viral doses (10, 100, and 1000 PFU/mL) of a Brazilian strain belonging to the East/Central/South African (ECSA) lineage. Lower-dose inoculation (10 PFU/mL) resulted in a milder disease course, characterized by transient viremia, limited tissue viral dissemination, minimal histopathological alterations, partial survival, and viral clearance. In contrast, higher doses (≥100 PFU/mL) led to rapid systemic viral dissemination, severe histopathological damage in the spleen, liver, and kidneys, and uniform lethality. Viral RNA was detected in serum and multiple organs in a time-dependent manner, with limited differences among inoculum doses in most tissues. Notably, dose-related differences were observed in specific compartments and time points, particularly in hind-limb muscles at early time points and in serum at later stages. Full article

This research evaluates the feasibility of using a lignocellulosic biosorbent prepared from mature leaves of Asplenium scolopendrium (produced through simple mechanical processing of the leaves, without applying any chemical modification or heat treatment) for the removal of methylene blue from water. Before and after adsorption the material was characterized using SEM technique and color analysis. Subsequently, the adsorption behavior was analyzed by examining equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic aspects of the process. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Sips isotherm model, while the adsorption rate followed the Avrami model. Thermodynamic evaluation indicated that the retention of the dye occurs predominantly through a physical adsorption mechanism, while a minor contribution from chemisorption may be present, slightly enhancing the overall dye uptake. Process optimization was performed using the Taguchi experimental design, which also allowed the identification of the most significant operational variable. In addition, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to quantify the contribution of each factor affecting dye removal efficiency. Among the investigated variables, time showed the strongest influence (72.65%), whereas temperature had a negligible effect (1.33%). The maximum adsorption capacity reached 174.1 mg/g, surpassing the performance of several comparable biosorbents reported in the literature. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Asplenium scolopendrium (hart’s-tongue fern) leaves represent an inexpensive, sustainable, and efficient material for eliminating methylene blue from aqueous solutions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a major pathophysiological barrier to effective chemotherapy based on anthracyclines, including daunorubicin (DNR), in the treatment of leukemia. However, conventional population-level measurements of drug uptake do not resolve variability in uptake kinetics among individual leukemia cells, which may influence intracellular drug accumulation and therapeutic response. Methods: In this study, real-time DNR uptake was quantified at the single-cell level using a microfluidic biochip that enabled long-term cellular retention and continuous monitoring. Both wild-type drug-sensitive leukemia cells and a multidrug-resistant mutant overexpressing the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux pump were examined. Results: Kinetic analysis revealed that DNR uptake in drug-sensitive cells was well described by a single dominant uptake process, whereas uptake in MDR cells required a model incorporating two kinetically distinct processes. In both cell populations, pronounced cell-to-cell variation was observed in uptake rates and intracellular drug retention, indicating substantial functional heterogeneity within phenotypically similar cells. This variability persisted following the treatment with an MDR inhibitor and obscured the differences between inhibitor-treated and untreated cells when the uptake was compared across different single cells. To overcome this limitation, a same-single-cell analysis (SASCA) approach was employed, enabling direct comparison of DNR uptake in the same individual cell before and after inhibitor exposure, thereby revealing enhanced intracellular DNR retention and accelerated uptake kinetics following inhibition. Conclusions: Together, these results demonstrate that real-time single-cell kinetic analysis reveals functionally relevant heterogeneity in multidrug-resistant leukemia cells and provides insight into the pathophysiology of MDR that cannot be obtained from population-averaged measurements. Full article