Search Results (24,886)

The Janus monolayers have recently attracted substantial interest due to their unique asymmetric structures and intriguing physical properties. In this work, we explore the thermoelectric properties of the Janus monolayer ZrBrI, using first-principles calculations and Boltzmann transport theory. We demonstrate that the system maintains good dynamic and thermal stability, as evidenced by the absence of imaginary phonon modes and small lattice fluctuation at a higher temperature of 600 K. The hybrid functional calculations reveal that the monolayer exhibits a relatively small indirect gap of 1.22 eV, and the energy bands near the conduction band minimum exhibit double degeneracy with weak dispersions, which is very beneficial for enhancing the n-type power factor. Meanwhile, a relatively lower lattice thermal conductivity is found due to strong lattice anharmonicity caused by the antibonding state and the symmetry breaking of the structure. Collectively, a larger ZT value of 3.9 at 600 K can be realized for the n-type Janus monolayer ZrBrI at an optimal concentration of $1.89\times {10}^{13} {\mathrm{cm}}^{-2}$, highlighting its promising thermoelectric application in the intermediate temperature region. Full article

The recycling of waste clay bricks as raw materials for cement-based materials presents an effective solution to ecological pollution and resource shortages. Previous research has separately examined the effects of recycled brick fine aggregate and recycled brick powder on mortar or concrete, but few studies have investigated their combined use. This study aims to clarify the synergistic effect of recycled brick fine aggregate (RBA) and recycled brick powder (RBP) on mortar performance, quantify the influence of the RBP substitution rate on hydration characteristics and microstructural evolution, and determine the optimal mix proportion and curing system for fully recycled brick mortar. Mortar was prepared using 100% RBA and RBP at substitution rates of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. The physical properties, mechanical performance, and durability of the mortar were evaluated, alongside an analysis of its microstructural morphology, mineral composition, and pore structure. The results indicate that adding an appropriate amount of RBP helped maintain the flowability of the mortar. As the RBP substitution rate increased, the mortar strength generally decreased in the early stages, but long-term curing (≥90 days) effectively mitigated this decline. The inclusion of RBP improved chloride ion permeability, with the 20% substitution rate achieving a favorable balance between compressive strength, fluidity, and durability without significantly affecting carbonation resistance. Microstructural analysis revealed that RBP regulated the morphology of hydration products and optimized the pore structure of the mortar, while the mineral composition of hydration products was similar to that of natural mortar. These findings provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the high-value utilization of construction and demolition waste in cement-based materials. Full article

The multi-cycle high-rate injection and production operations in Underground Gas Storage (UGS) facilities converted from depleted fracture-pore carbonate gas reservoirs induce complex rock–fluid interactions that threaten long-term integrity and performance. This study experimentally investigates the petrophysical responses of the Xiangguosi (XGS) UGS carbonate reservoirs in China using multi-cycle stress sensitivity tests, fines migration experiments, and water evaporation–salt precipitation analyses. SEM observations distinguish the contributions of crack closure and matrix compression to permeability evolution. Results show a sharp contrast in mechanical damage: high-quality rocks present negligible permanent deformation (<8% Young’s modulus reduction), whereas poor-quality rocks suffer catastrophic deterioration (>60%). Fines migration exhibits a three-stage behavior under cyclic flow, with water saturation significantly aggravating permeability impairment. A critical salinity threshold (220,000 ppm) is identified for the transition between drying-enhanced storage and salt plugging. Permeability declines sharply despite a slight porosity increase due to selective salt clogging of key pore throats, revealing a clear porosity–permeability decoupling. Salt deposition under movable water conditions can reduce UGS capacity by up to 1.45%. Reservoir heterogeneity, microfractures, karst structures, and initial petrophysical properties dominate the storage and flow space evolution. This work provides a predictive framework for optimizing injection–production strategies and improving the performance of complex carbonate UGS. Full article

We propose a dimensionally consistent fractional spatio-temporal PDE framework for modelling immune-mediated demyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS). The system couples effector and regulatory T cells, M1/M2 macrophage polarisation, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, oligodendrocyte dynamics, and time-dependent therapeutic controls within a unified distributed-parameter structure. In contrast to ad hoc replacements of integerorder derivatives by Caputo fractional derivatives, the fractional extension proposed here is derived from an underlying continuous-time random walk (CTRW) process with Mittag–Leffler-distributed residence times. This stochastic derivation yields a governing system in which a single commensurate fractional order α ∈ (0, 1], together with a characteristic memory timescale τ0, ensures dimensional consistency and mass balance across all coupled components. The model is formulated as a system of nonlinear reaction–diffusion equations with cross-regulatory and multiplicative interaction terms governing immune amplification, cytokine feedback, and the demyelination–remyelination balance. Analytical interpretation shows how non-Markovian residence times induce Mittag–Leffler-type relaxation and thereby modify effective growth, decay, and stability properties. Numerical simulations compare classical and fractional dynamics, revealing that memory-driven kinetics prolong effector T-cell and M1-macrophage activity, attenuate reparative M2 and oligodendrocyte responses, and extend the effective action of bang–bang therapy inputs representing IFN-β and glatiramer acetate beyond their dosing windows. The results indicate that integer-order models may underestimate chronic inflammatory persistence and demyelination severity, while providing a mathematically and physically well-posed platform for memory-aware immune modelling and therapy evaluation in MS. Full article

Industrial synthetic and natural fibers play an indispensable role in modern manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and textile engineering. However, the enhanced mechanical performance of advanced industrial fibers has introduced significant challenges in cutting processes, since brittle, high-tensile, and viscoelastic fibers exhibit totally different fracture behaviors from conventional solid materials. At present, the complex motion coupling mechanisms between fibers and cutting tools under free-form conditions are insufficient; there is no unified framework for understanding the mechanisms of fiber cutting; it is difficult to effectively link the microscopic fracture physics of different fiber types with their macroscopic cutting properties. Furthermore, research into the dynamic interaction between the cutting tool and the fiber, cross-scale cutting characteristics, and tool wear mechanisms has not been sufficiently systematic, and non-contact cutting methods have not yet been the subject of systematic study. Through a systematic review, this review identified three primary categories of difficult-to-cut industrial fibers and summarized the distinctions in their fundamental material properties. The static, kinematic, and dynamic characteristics of fiber cutting under both free and fixed forms were discussed. The fracture mechanisms of fibers under diverse loading scenarios were also systematically revealed. Furthermore, this review summarizes the effects of cutting tool wear characteristics, geometric parameters, and material types on cutting performance. Finally, non-contact methods for cutting fiber were listed. Based on the above analysis, three critical directions for future research were proposed to bridge the existing knowledge gaps in the literature. This review of the interdisciplinary interactions among mechanics, materials science, and textile engineering provides a theoretical foundation and research directions for achieving high efficiency and a long tool life during cutting industrial fibers. Full article

We present a short review dedicated to low-lying meson states. We present all meson nonets, which consist from up, down and strange light quarks. We consider the scalar nonet as a basic nonet. We work in the framework of the massless Nambu–Jona-Lasinio $U_R\left(3\right)\times U_L\left(3\right)$ quark model. The collective meson states are described through initially bare quark–antiquark pairs, whose condensates lead simultaneously to spontaneous breaking of the chiral and the flavour symmetry. After quantisation and the spontaneous breaking of the chiral symmetry, when quarks obtain constituent nonzero masses, they become dressed. We present an explanation of the inverse mass hierarchy of the low-lying nonet of the scalar mesons. The proposed explanation is based on symmetry principles. It is shown that, due to the flavour symmetry breaking, two isodoublets of $K_0^{*}\left(700\right)$ mesons play the role of Goldstone bosons. It is also proven that there exists a solution with almost degenerate masses of the $a_0\left(980\right)$ and $f_0\left(980\right)$ mesons and a zero mass of the $f_0\left(500\right)$ meson. Short description of the physical properties of other meson nonets is provided. In particular unique mass relations among the different nonets, which are experimentally confirmed, are presented. Full article

Non-destructive characterization of electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation properties in drill cores is gaining prominence as a foundation for reliable geophysical inversion, improved rock-physics modeling, and increasingly data-driven mineral exploration workflows. Lab-based rock characterization requires benchmarks that link the density, elastic, electrical, magnetic, and EM properties of studied cores to lithology and mineralization, enabling more accurate interpretation of geophysical data. This study develops a robust high-frequency EM (HFEM) wave velocity measurement technique and incorporates it within a standardized non-destructive framework validated across multiple mineral systems in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The developed method derives EM velocities from two-way travel time through drill cores positioned above a metallic reflector, supported by finite-difference time-domain simulations to optimize antenna frequency and test geometry. A repeatable signal-processing workflow was implemented to enhance reflection picking. Results reveal systematic EM velocity contrasts among host rocks and oxide or sulfide-bearing systems, with oxide-rich and massive sulfide intervals exhibiting higher density, elevated conductivity and susceptibility with strong EM attenuation. The integrated dataset shows that conductivity and magnetic susceptibility significantly influence EM velocity response and detectability limits. The proposed multi-parameter benchmark enables enhanced discrimination of lithological and mineralization controls in mineral exploration workflows and supports more accurate time–depth conversion in HFEM geophysical and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods. Full article

Chronic skin inflammatory diseases including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis affect millions worldwide, imposing substantial physical, psychological, and economic burdens. Despite advances in topical therapies, conventional formulations suffer from poor skin penetration, rapid clearance, local and systemic side effects, and suboptimal patient adherence. Polymeric nanogels, internally crosslinked three-dimensional polymer networks with dimensions of 10–200 nm, emerged as promising platforms to overcome these limitations. Their unique properties including high water content, tunable porosity, biocompatibility, deformability, and stimulus-responsive behavior enhance skin penetration allowing for targeted therapeutic action. This review examines nanogel synthesis methods optimized for targeting skin inflammatory diseases, including biopolymer-based approaches utilizing chitosan and hyaluronic acid, offering insights into how different methods and advanced architecture provide multifunctional capacities and bioactivities. Translation challenges including manufacturing scalability, long-term safety assessment, and regulatory compliance are critically discussed alongside emerging opportunities in personalized medicine and smart microneedle integrated systems for adaptive therapy. Full article

The Zircaloy-4 alloy is a key structural material for nuclear reactor cores. However, its behavior under warm deformation conditions and during phase transformations requires in-depth investigation to improve technologies for producing ultrafine-grained (UFG) structures using severe plastic deformation methods. This work presents a comprehensive study of the rheological properties, phase stability, and microstructural evolution of the alloy in the temperature range from 20 to 950 °C at strain rates of 0.5 and 15 s⁻¹. The experimental part included plastometric testing, dilatometric analysis, and microstructural characterization. It was established that the optimal window for plastic deformation corresponds to warm deformation at 650 °C. Dilatometric analysis confirmed that heating to 650 °C ensures the preservation of a stable initial α-phase structure, since the formation of secondary phases and the α→β transformation are initiated at higher temperatures, namely 694 °C (onset) and 847 °C (completion). At 650 °C, the deformation resistance decreases by approximately 70% compared to cold processing, while the strain-rate sensitivity of the flow stress is minimized. EBSD analysis showed that deformation under these conditions leads to intensive grain fragmentation via mechanisms of dynamic recovery and the initial stages of continuous dynamic recrystallization. The decisive role of the kinetic factor was demonstrated: reducing the strain rate to 0.5 s⁻¹ promotes the formation of a finer and more homogeneous grain structure. In contrast, high strain-rate deformation (15 s⁻¹) results in coarser grains and increased non-relaxed intragranular residual stresses. The obtained results provide a physical basis for optimizing thermomechanical processing regimes and can be used to produce UFG structures in zirconium alloys without the risk of phase degradation. Full article

A large number of low-resistivity and low-permeability reservoirs have been discovered in the deep Paleogene strata of the Wenchang Sag. These reservoirs are characterized by complex porosity–permeability relationships and difficulties in fluid property identification, which restrict the progress of exploration and development operations. However, existing reservoir studies mostly focus on either low-permeability or low-resistivity reservoirs, with relatively few investigations targeting this specific type. Using petrological analysis and physical property testing as the main methods, combined with sedimentary and diagenetic studies, this paper examines the characteristics and genesis of low-resistivity and low-permeability reservoirs in the Paleogene of the Wenchang Sag. The results show that the Paleogene reservoirs are dominated by lithic quartz sandstones, with secondary pores as the main reservoir space, consisting of medium–small pores and fine throats. Samples of the same grain size exhibit a favorable porosity–permeability correlation. Based on capillary pressure curve morphology, the reservoirs can be classified into three types: high mercury intrusion saturation with low displacement pressure, medium mercury intrusion saturation with medium displacement pressure, and medium mercury intrusion saturation with medium–high displacement pressure. The low porosity and permeability are mainly attributed to the fact that the reservoir rocks are primarily deposited in near-source braided fluvial delta underwater distributary channels, resulting in low compositional and textural maturity of sandstones. Strong compaction resistance leads to a significant reduction in primary pores during burial, and intergranular cement filling further deteriorates physical properties. On the other hand, rapid lithological changes and complex pore structures give rise to abundant isolated pores and poor connectivity, leading to high irreducible water saturation. Coupled with high formation water salinity, these factors collectively give rise to low-resistivity reservoirs in the study area. This study clarifies the formation mechanism of low-permeability and low-resistivity reservoirs in the Paleogene of the Wenchang Sag, providing guidance for reservoir evaluation in subsequent oil and gas exploration and serving as a reference for analogous areas. Full article

This paper presents a probabilistic–statistical approach to the analysis of diffusion processes in randomly nonhomogeneous multilayered bodies under conditions of incomplete experimental information on the boundary. The boundary condition is reconstructed from experimental data using linear regression, while the solution of the corresponding contact initial-boundary value problem is obtained in the form of a Neumann series and averaged over an ensemble of phase configurations. A system of statistical estimates for the solution is developed, including confidence intervals and two-sided critical regions, which provide complementary characteristics of uncertainty. Numerical experiments are performed for six representative samples differing in sample size, variance, and observation interval. It is shown that, despite significant differences in the statistical properties of the input data, the averaged concentration field preserves a qualitatively stable spatio-temporal structure. The results of the article address gaps in existing research by applying a probabilistic-statistical approach that consistently integrates two key elements for the analysis of diffusion processes in multilayer media. The first of these is the reconstruction of boundary conditions using linear regression to recover the conditions at the body boundary based on incomplete experimental data. The second key point is the analysis of uncertainty propagation by combining the regression model with a probabilistic analysis of the corresponding contact initial-boundary value problem, which allows us to quantitatively assess how the errors in the experimental data affect the final solution. From the point of view of mathematical modeling methods, the novelty of the approach lies in the creation of a structural-hierarchical scheme that synthesizes the approaches of mathematical statistics and the theory of random fields. The developed method is a theoretical and computational innovative basis for the analysis of specific physical and technological processes. Full article

This work examines the influence of the Ce/Fe ratio in Pt/CeO₂-Fe₂O₃ catalysts on the peculiarities of metal–support interaction and catalytic properties in the total oxidation of toluene. The physical-chemical properties of the Pt/CeO₂-Fe₂O₃ catalysts are studied using low-temperature N₂ adsorption–desorption, XRD, TPR-H₂, Raman, and TEM. The citrate method to synthesize the mixed CeO₂-Fe₂O₃ supports makes it possible to obtain dispersed defective oxide particles that actively interact with the supported Pt species. An increase in the oxygen mobility of CeO₂-Fe₂O₃ after the Pt deposition and the cooperation of active oxidative species with the active site of Pt is a key to the catalytic activity in the total oxidation of toluene. This effect is the highest for the Pt/3Ce2Fe catalyst, and the temperature of 50% toluene conversion over this catalyst is 167 °C. Full article

Propolis has long been recognized for its biological properties, but its availability is increasingly threatened by apiary losses in agricultural areas. One response to this problem is the development of urban apiaries, located in urbanized environments and often established for educational and promotional purposes. In this study, edible pullulan films were prepared with the addition of 10, 20, and 30% propolis extract obtained from an urban apiary located in Toruń, Poland. The effect of these coatings applied to cherries on fruit spoilage, the growth inhibition of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum, and changes in pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids content, and fruit color were evaluated. The films showed both antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The biological evaluation demonstrated dose-dependent antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 7.27 to 17.23 mm for fungi and from 7.09 to 16.22 mm for bacteria, with the strongest effects observed against L. monocytogenes, C. krusei, and P. chrysogenum. Antioxidant activity, determined using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, increased with propolis concentration and reached 29.44% for films containing 30% urban propolis extract. Moreover, pullulan coatings enriched with propolis reduced mold counts on cherries after 96 h of storage to 2.82 log CFU/g for P. chrysogenum and 2.72 log CFU/g for A. niger, compared with 7.02 and 7.17 log CFU/g, respectively, in uncoated fruit. The influence of urban propolis extract on the thickness and color of the obtained films was also demonstrated. It was found that pullulan coatings with urban propolis extract applied on cherries showed fungistatic properties against P. chrysogenum and A. niger. The developed films and coatings show potential for use in food technology to support the preservation of perishable raw materials; however, further studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness under broader storage conditions. Full article

Multilingual learning is key in natural language processing, but is challenged by the transfer–interference trade-off, where positive transfer benefits certain languages, while negative interference affects others. Prior methods, including linguistic-based and embedding-based language clustering, have attempted to address this; yet, they remain constrained by their static design and lack of task-specific feedback. In this study, we propose a novel computational strategy inspired by molecular design that constructs molecules with targeted properties. Languages are modeled as nodes in an undirected graph, with edges representing the transfer strength. This language molecule is optimized via Reinforcement Learning to adjust edge connections and weights to enhance positive transfer and minimize interference, where graph clustering is applied, and clusters are then evaluated on the Named Entity Recognition and POS tagging tasks using 25 languages from the WikiANN dataset and 12 typologically diverse languages from the UDPOS dataset. Compared to linguistic and embedding-based language clustering baselines, our method yields substantial improvements, especially for low-resource languages, with some showing over 35% increase in F1 score, while high-resource languages benefit moderately, confirming reduced transfer–interference trade-off. Our atom–language model offers a novel path for multilingual learning, inspired by molecular principles from physical sciences. Full article

Pitch-based foam carbon, a novel lightweight material, boasts excellent mechanical and thermoelectric properties, and tantalum film deposition on its surface can further enhance its performance. However, this deposition process often suffers from non-uniform deposition and suboptimal coating quality. To address these issues, this study systematically optimized the furnace structure by tuning pipe diameter, tilt angle, and porous media height. Numerical simulations of 216 models were conducted to evaluate the effects of these parameters on axial velocity, turbulence intensity (quantified by the vortex criterion Q > 1), and reactant concentration uniformity. The results showed that pipe diameters below 70 mm increased the mean axial velocity by 8-fold compared to larger diameters, whereas tilt angles of 15° and porous media heights of 60–80 mm yielded limited velocity enhancements of only 2%. Pipe diameter was identified as the dominant factor governing flow stability, inducing up to a 300% variation in the volume fraction of Q > 1, with minimal turbulence observed at the maximum diameter. In contrast, adjustments to tilt angle and porous media height had weaker effects, altering the Q > 1 volume fraction by 26% and 5%, respectively. Smaller pipe diameter (70–80 mm) also optimized TaCl₅ concentration uniformity; tilt angles between 0° and 30° showed negligible influence, while porous media height exhibited no definitive trend. Guided by the practical priorities of process evaluation, a multi-objective optimization was performed. The globally optimal structural parameters were determined to be a pipe diameter of 70 mm, a tilt angle of 15°, and a porous media height of 60 mm, which comprehensively balance deposition uniformity, process stability, and deposition efficiency. These findings establish pipe diameter as the pivotal factor for deposition homogeneity and provide a reference scheme for the structural design of industrial tantalum deposition furnaces and lay a foundation for subsequent multi-physics coupling studies and experimental validation. Full article