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Our aim is to analyze the function of reinforcement elements (dowel bars) in cement concrete pavement to highlight the influence of these elements on the service life of the pavement as a whole and to find possible alternatives to existing products that are freely available on the Czech market. That is, how these elements in the form of dowel bars should work properly so that the function meets the design assumptions of a rigid pavement. We describe the procedure for inserting dowel bars during paving, which is directly related to the possibilities of using different dowel bars. Finally, we summarize the possibilities of using alternative materials, shapes, or sizes of dowel bars and the possibilities of their use in the Czech Republic.

3D printing is finding more and more applications in the industrial field and represents a modern additive manufacturing process based on a digital model. There are a number of advantages of additive manufacturing through 3D printing compared to classic manufacturing processes such as: material economy, design optimization, the possibility of rapid prototyping, shortening the design and manufacturing cycle, eliminating errors and many others. Because 3D printed elements are more and more often found in various applications, an investigation is required by material categories and printing positions of the mechanical properties and how the respective landmarks behave in terms of displacements and internal stresses. The investigation of the mechanical characteristics, displacements and internal stresses can be done through laboratory tests on samples classically subjected to traction, bending, torsion. In order to reduce the number of mechanical tests, in order to investigate displacements and internal stresses, we must use finite element analysis methods. In the present work, the finite element analysis of some tensile specimens, 3D printed from ABS+ material, in the horizontal position A, will be presented..

3D printing is finding more and more applications in the industrial field and an investigation is required by material categories and by printing positions of the mechanical properties and how the respective landmarks behave in terms of displacements and internal stresses. In order to reduce the number of mechanical tests, in order to investigate displacements and internal stresses, we can use finite element analysis methods. In the present paper, the analysis with finite elements of some tensile specimens, printed 3D from ABS+ material, in the vertical position B will be presented.

This reviewed summarized the research status of water content detection methods of plant-based food materials, analyzed the water content detection devices, advantages, disadvantages and applications, and discussed the application of water content detection in different types of plant-based food materials. The advantages of hot air drying, microwave method, Karl Fischer method, absolute dry nitrogen purge method, spectral technology and imaging technology were highlighted, and the future development direction of water content detection of plant-based food materials was prospected.

The article deals with the issues that arise when calculating the strength of the elements of the brake lever transmission of the trolley is part of the brake of the car in accordance with the requirements of the provision of which is regulated by the "Norms for the calculation and design of railcars of the MPC gauge of 1520 mm (non-self-propelled). GosNIIV-VNIIZHT." The article describes the complex of calculations, the stress-strain state of the elements of the safety devices of the brake lever transmission of the trolley of the car and draws conclusions based on the results of calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: "Lolo" is one of the eight stories from the book Otosan (2015). Written by Peruvian journalist Luis Arriola Ayala, this book gives visibility to postcolonial, transnational migrant experiences. "Lolo" tells the story of an encounter between two undocumented workers, a young Peruvian and an old Filipino, in a garbage incineration plant in Tokyo. Despite the alienating situation and not being able to speak the same language, the two manage to find temporary companionship and ways to resist. This short story is based on the author's personal experiences working in Japanese factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging has broadened the potential of CT imaging by offering multiple postprocessing datasets with a single acquisition at more than one energy level. DECT shows profound capabilities to improve diagnosis based on its superior material differentiation and its quantitative value. However, the potential of dual-energy imaging remains relatively untapped, possibly due to its intricate workflow and the intrinsic technical limitations of DECT. Knowing the clinical advantages of dual-energy imaging and recognizing its limitations and pitfalls is necessary for an appropriate clinical use. The aims of this paper are to review the physical and technical bases of DECT acquisition and analysis, to discuss the advantages and limitations of DECT in different clinical scenarios, to review the technical constraints in material labeling and quantification, and to evaluate the cutting-edge applications of DECT imaging, including artificial intelligence, qualitative and quantitative imaging biomarkers, and DECT-derived radiomics and radiogenomics.

Supply chain management has been identified as the major constraint on the growth of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the Malaysian wood products and furniture sector. Therefore, a study to examine the characteristics of supply chain among Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the wood industry registered with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board was conducted. The results revealed that most of the respondents were micro- and small-sized enterprises, with a sales focus on the domestic and contract-market. They were predominantly wooden furniture manufacturers, who had a relatively low level of knowledge about supply chain management. The respondents also indicated that their major challenges include lack of finances, small volume of production, and the lack of government support. The factor analysis and regression analysis conducted revealed that for Bumiputera entrepreneurs to gain better supply chain management they need to improve their frequency of engagement, trust, culture, and maturity with their supply chain actors and partners. The results of this study are unique, as it implies that policymakers should take heed of improving supply chain management, to reverse the flagging fortune of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the Malaysian wood products and furniture sector.

The cost of water transport for irrigating drought-endurable plants in desertification areas makes it important to develop other water sources. Research shows that freshwater produced by dewing could satisfy the water requirement during germination of desert plants, therefore, functional materials that promote dew formation provide solutions for reduction of plant irrigation costs in desertification regions. In this review, feasibility of utilizing trace irrigation for ensuring survival of desert plants has been demonstrated. The technologies of preparing water harvesting materials with modified microstructure and wettability arrangement have been introduced, it has been shown that surface embedded with a bump array which has counter wettability compared with its plane section is a common morphology adopted by current works. After comparing climates in desertification regions with those in dewing chambers, it has been found that currently, the expected values of dew productivities of most water harvesting materials in deserted areas will not be as efficient as they performed in experiments due to low relative humidity. However, hydrophobic surface with submicron scale hydrophilic spherical cavity array produced by nanosphere lithography has shown reliable prospects in reducing the energy barrier of heterogeneous nucleation and thus become a more potential medium in dew water production. HIGHLIGHTS Water supply is the key to guarantee the survival of desert plants.; Water consumption of some desert plants can be satisfied by trace water produced from dewing.; Low moisture is an obstacle that limits the dew productivity of current dewing materials.; Nanosphere lithography has the potential for upgrading the dry-adaptation of dewing materials.; Nano-/submicron cavity is critical for realizing early nucleation.;

Introduction. Walking on a prosthesis of the lower limb is accompanied by a shock load on the artificial foot, which provokes discomfort when using the product and pain in the stump, increases the risk of trauma to the skin and the formation of arthrosis of the joints of the lower limb. These negative consequences can be reduced by the use of prosthetic modules with shock-absorbing properties. Usually, the artificial foot plays the role of a shock absorber in the prosthesis.Aim – substantiation of the choice of material for the shock-absorbing module of the artificial foot.Materials and methods. Bench tests of leaf springs made of steel, carbon and titanium alloy of different thicknesses were carried out by registering changes in their geometric characteristics under a dosed load, as well as full-scale tests of experimental artificial feet with such springs used as a load absorber. The functionality of the feet was determined by the subjective assessment of the comfort of the prosthesis by the patient and the result of the analysis of pressure dynamics under the feet. Results. The results of bench tests showed that leaf springs made of steel 2 mm thick, titanium alloy 3 mm and carbon fiber (carbon) 5.7 mm are unsuitable for use as a shock absorber in the foot of the prosthesis in terms of deflection in the longitudinal and transverse directions under load, in contrast to springs made of 3 mm steel and 4 mm titanium alloy. Field tests of experimental feet with shock-absorbing modules made of steel 3 mm thick and titanium alloy 4 mm showed their suitability for use as part of a prosthesis, which was confirmed by a positive assessment of their comfort by patients, as well as an increase in the symmetry coefficient of the duration of the roll over the artificial and intact feet when walking with experimental foot design compared to industrially manufactured.Discussion. The 4mm titanium alloy leaf spring outperforms the 3mm steel spring in terms of buckling under load, but biomechanical studies have not shown a clear preference for the experimental foot with one of these materials over the other. At the same time, each of them turned out to be more functional than the commercially manufactured foot chosen for the study. But the high corrosion resistance and low specific gravity of the titanium alloy, higher mechanical strength per unit mass compared to steel, give advantages to this material for the manufacture of shock-absorbing modules in atypical prostheses. The choice of the thickness of the elastic element can and should be calculated taking into account the weight of the disabled person.Conclusion. The manufacture of elastic elements from titanium alloys is promising when used in artificial feet for atypical prostheses that require high corrosion resistance and mechanical strength with a small mass of the product. A positive factor in the use of titanium alloys for the manufacture of foot shock absorbers in the form of leaf springs is the simplicity and low cost of the design.

To date, artificial intelligence has been successfully applied in various fields of material science, but these applications require a large amount of high-quality data. In practical applications, many unlabeled data points but few labeled data points can be obtained directly. The reason is that data annotations require fine and expensive experiments, and the cost of time and money cannot be ignored. Active learning can select a few high-quality samples from many unlabeled data points for labeling and use as little labeling cost as possible to optimize task model performance. However, active learning methods suitable for material attribute regression are poorly understood, and the general active learning method cannot easily avoid the negative effects of noise data, resulting in decreased costs. Therefore, we propose a new active regression learning method that includes the following features: (1) outlier detection module: using the labeled data prediction from a task model trained to fit and the labeled dataset to train the auxiliary classification model for classifying outliers and then excluding the samples that are most likely to be outliers in the unlabeled dataset; (2) greedy sampling: an iterative method is adopted to select the data farthest from the data in the labeled dataset and the selected data in the geometric space to fully consider sample diversity; and (3) minimum change sampling: selecting the unlabeled data with minimum change before and after the task model, which is trained on the labeled dataset. This part of the data is relatively lacking in the feature space of the labeled dataset. We performed experiments on the concrete slump test dataset and the negative coefficient of thermal expansion dataset and compared our method with the latest active regression learning methods. The results show that other methods do not necessarily improve task model performance after labeling data in each active learning circle on noisy datasets, and the final performance cannot reach the level of the task model trained by all data. Under the same amount of data, the performance index of the task model trained by our method is improved by 15% on average compared with other models. Because of the addition of an outlier detection mechanism, our method can effectively avoid sampling outliers when selecting high-quality samples. The task model trained using only 30%–40% of the data can achieve or even exceed the accuracy of the task model trained by all data.

Abstract A nation’s customs and traditions are unique, including the appearance of its buildings. Restoring older buildings retains cultural connections and enhances sensitivity to the past. Conservation process materials must be distinguishable from originals for easy removal or change while matching features, a challenging task. The goal is to adopt materials similar in texture, scale, color, and form to the original. The increasing need for a sustainable environment attracts the scientific community towards alternative natural materials instead of traditional ones, adopting ecological principles. Eco-friendly materials from agricultural waste are less polluting. Bio-based materials, like hemp and rice, offer good thermal properties and replace traditional materials. Some are commercialized, while others are in the early production stages. Application conditions and potential adoption in heritage building conservation still need to be studied. Gaps in existing knowledge are addressed by assessing biomaterials’ physical properties in various conservation scenarios. Comparative analysis between new and conventional materials identifies vital advantages. The analysis also determines characteristics like thermal resistance, fire resistance, color, texture, environmental and health impact, and the production process. Findings indicate outstanding performance and can be developed in various colors and textures, essential for preserving the original structural appearance.

Abstract Centrifugal and shear forces are produced when solids or liquids rotate. Rotary systems and devices that use these forces, such as dynamic thin‐film flow technology, are evolving continuously, improve material structure‐property relationships at the nanoscale, representing a rapidly thriving and expanding field of research high with green chemistry metrics, consolidated at the inception of science. The vortex fluidic device (VFD) provides many advantages over conventional batch processing, with fluidic waves causing high shear and producing large surface areas for micro‐mixing as well as rapid mass and heat transfer, enabling reactions beyond diffusion control. Combining these abilities allows for a green and innovative approach to altering materials for various research and industry applications by controlling small‐scale flows and regulating molecular and macromolecular chemical reactivity, self‐organization phenomena, and the synthesis of novel materials. This review highlights the aptitude of the VFD as clean technology, with an increase in efficiency for a diversity of top‐down, bottom‐up, and novel material transformations which benefit from effective vortex‐based processing to control material structure‐property relationships.

Contextualização: Apesar de a Lei nº 14.470/2022 endereçar algumas das dificuldades enfrentadas no âmbito do private enforcement no direito concorrencial brasileiro, trouxe consigo novas dúvidas sobre aplicabilidade da nova lei no tempo, pois não consagrou em seu texto uma norma de direito intertemporal que regulasse essa questão. Em quais hipóteses, em que momento e como aplicar a Lei nº 14.470/2022 ou a lei antiga nas ações indenizatórias por danos concorrenciais (ARDCs) já extintas, ainda pendentes, e que ainda não foram iniciadas? A resposta a tais perguntas sobre a aplicabilidade imediata da Lei nº 14.470/2022 poderá determinar a viabilidade das ARDCs ou tornará o processo menos oneroso/mais compensatório para as vítimas. Objetivo: O artigo tem como objetivo analisar como se dará a aplicabilidade das disposições novas da Lei nº 14.470/2022. Método: As autoras analisaram a natureza das novas normas trazidas pela Lei nº 14.470/2022, classificando-as como de direito material e processual. A partir disso, examinaram as hipóteses de aplicação dessas disposições nas ARDCs já extintas, ainda pendentes, e que ainda não foram iniciadas. Resultado: Verificou-se que as ARDCs pendentes são o foco das maiores controvérsias de aplicabilidade da Lei nº 14.470/2022, em suma, devido à incerteza sobre a existência de situação jurídica pendente, o que permitiria a aplicação da nova lei, ou de formação de ato jurídico perfeito/direito adquirido nos processos ainda em curso, obrigando a observância à lei antiga.

Copyright of China Mechanical Engineering is the property of Editorial Board of China Mechanical Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Featured Application: An alginate-based impression material with bacteriostatic properties for application in the production of dental prosthetics, requiring a less labour-intensive process of disinfection. Disinfection of alginate impressions used in dental prosthetics is a very problematic procedure, during which the dimensions of the obtained model can change, and it can be easily mechanically damaged. Therefore, it would be beneficial to create a material with bacteriostatic properties for this application. In this work, we investigated alginate materials with the addition of 0.25–1.0 wt% of zirconium phosphate-based ion exchange resin containing silver and compared them with commercial alginate impression products. The obtained materials passed the normative requirements of ISO 21563:2021 (setting time, elastic recovery, strain in compression, compatibility with gypsum, detail reproduction, tearing strength, and linear dimensional change) as well as bacteriostatic properties in relation to Streptococcus mutans. The newly developed alginate materials met all the properties required by the standards. Their setting time was comparable to the commercial materials, and their 24 h contraction did not exceed 1.3%. Furthermore, the tearing strength was 0.42–0.48 MPa, less than that of the comparative commercial materials (0.52–0.56 MPa). From the point of view of clinical practice, it will be possible to create an alginate material with bacteriostatic properties that will prevent the transmission of cross-infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Revascularization plays an important role in tissue engineering. Dental pulp chamber has its unique anatomy structure, which is surrounded by hard dentin. The blood supply of dental pulp only comes from the narrow apical opening, which makes revascularization more difficult in dental pulp regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To conclude the research advances focusing on the designs of signal molecules, scaffolds and cells in promoting vascularization in dental pulp regeneration. METHODS: We searched the articles on PubMed and CNKI databases with the keywords of “dental pulp regeneration, revascularization, growth factor, material, scaffold, dental pulp stem cell, prevascularization, coculture” in Chinese and English, respectively. Finally, 69 articles met the criteria for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and fibroblast growth factor are the most studied proangiogenic factors, which promote angiogenesis by promoting the proliferation and migration of endothelial and perivascular cells, the recruitment of stem cells and their differentiation to endothelial cells. (2) To maintain the appropriate concentration of pro-angiogenic factors in the microenvironment, the addition of heparin, laponite and cellulose nanocrystals to the scaffolds can solubilize, encapsulate, adsorb, and covalently cross-link signal molecules, which mimic in vivo storage and release mechanisms. Natural materials including decellularized dental pulp matrix, platelet-rich plasma, and platelet-rich fibrin are rich in bioactive molecules and their structures can protect and control the release of these signal molecules. (3) Different cell sub-populations of dental pulp stem cells have different angiogenic potentials. Moreover, stem cells can be transfected by biological and chemical vectors to improve the cells’ ability to secrete signal molecules and to promote the transformation of stem cells to endothelial cells. Therefore, the angiogenic capacity of transfected cells is significantly enhanced. Co-implantation of stem cells and endothelial cells can also enhance angiogenic capacity. (4) Prevascularization may be the most powerful means to promote rapid vascularization of dental pulp regeneration. In vitro co-culture of endothelial cells and stem cells with a certain ratio can form microtissues containing vascular structures. Microvascular fragments can be obtained by enzymatic digestion of adipose tissue, in which tubular structures and functional cells can promote the development of new blood vessels and anastomosis with host vessels. (5) Current clinical studies on revascularization of dental pulp are limited to dental pulprevascularization, where signal molecules are added while stimulating the formation of blood clots in the root canal and the effects are observed. While other research directions mainly involve in vivo trials in small and large animals, and further clinical trials are still needed to observe regenerative effects, mitigate side effects, and optimize the preparation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on developing cost-efficient engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) with glass and polypropylene fibers, using local materials for sustainable construction in developing countries. The ECC exhibits unique properties such as strain hardening, enhancing structural resilience and crack mitigation. The composite utilizes 1–2% volume of 6mm fibers, with fly ash as a supplementary cementitious material and a superplasticizer. The PPGF-ECC surpasses PC in mechanical properties, making it suitable for various applications, including rigid pavements in developing countries. This research recommends 2% PPGF-ECC for various applications in developing countries, including rigid pavements, due to its superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality construction contributes to the overall sustainability of the built environment, especially for infrastructure projects. High-quality housing infrastructure projects benefit individuals, communities, and the economy. Most studies are concerned with identifying the reasons for the quality of a construction project. However, only a few of them have been concerned with housing infrastructure. In addition, no studies have considered the interdependencies among the factors affecting the quality of housing infrastructure projects, leading to these causes not being evaluated effectively. This paper aims to specify and organize the significant factors affecting the quality of housing infrastructure projects. These projects suffer from the availability of all infrastructure services simultaneously before their execution. A comprehensive literature review was implemented to collect all the factors affecting their quality. Construction sector experts designed and filled out a questionnaire based on the collected data. The survey data were then statistically analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to organize the causes and examine the interdependencies among the quality of each cause. Our main finding revealed that based on the PLS-SEM, the top three factors affecting the construction quality were the skill and experience of supervisory staff, errors and omissions in design documents, and the lack of communication between supervisors and laborers. Based on the PLS-SEM ranking, labor, equipment, and site staff were responsible for more than half of the top 10 causes. The PLS-SEM results showed that the contractor material (CM) and project design (PD) percentages were 20% and 30%.. In addition, there is an interaction influence between the labor/equipment/site staff (LES) causes and PD causes. This study assists stakeholders in understanding how to use Six Sigma construction concepts to enhance performance in the nation's construction industry, which helps contractors make improvements in variability reduction and save costs in construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain management has been identified as the major constraint on the growth of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the Malaysian wood products and furniture sector. Therefore, a study to examine the characteristics of supply chain among Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the wood industry registered with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board was conducted. The results revealed that most of the respondents were micro- and small-sized enterprises, with a sales focus on the domestic and contract-market. They were predominantly wooden furniture manufacturers, who had a relatively low level of knowledge about supply chain management. The respondents also indicated that their major challenges include lack of finances, small volume of production, and the lack of government support. The factor analysis and regression analysis conducted revealed that for Bumiputera entrepreneurs to gain better supply chain management they need to improve their frequency of engagement, trust, culture, and maturity with their supply chain actors and partners. The results of this study are unique, as it implies that policymakers should take heed of improving supply chain management, to reverse the flagging fortune of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the Malaysian wood products and furniture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following Fechner's (1876) "aesthetics from below," this study examines the conceptual structure of the aesthetics of various materials (Werkstoffe)—for instance, leather, metal, and wood. Adopting a technique used by Jacobsen et al. (2004), we asked 1,956 students to write down adjectives that could be used to describe the aesthetics of materials within a given time limit. A second subsample of a broader cross-section of the population (n = 496) replicated the findings obtained with the first subsample. A joint analysis of both subsamples identified the term "smooth" as by far the most relevant term, followed by the other core terms "hard," "rough," "soft," and "glossy." Furthermore, sensorial qualities (e.g., "warm" and "see-through") constituted the main elements of the aesthetics of materials, and the great majority of these were haptic qualities (e.g., "cold" and "heavy"). The terms offered were mostly descriptive and of rather neutral valence, according to an additional valence rating study that we conducted with 94 participants. Comparisons between the terms offered for different materials revealed commonalities as well as material specificity of the conceptual structure of the aesthetics. In addition, the word "beautiful," although by no means representing one of the most relevant terms in this study, still proved its preeminence in aesthetics in general. The results of this study contribute to the corpus of existing studies of the conceptual structure of aesthetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimizing the negative effects of the manufacturing process on the environment, employees, and costs while maintaining machining accuracy has long been a pursuit of the manufacturing industry. Currently, the nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (NMQL) used in cutting and grinding has been studied as a useful technique for enhancing machinability and empowering sustainability. Previous reviews have concluded the beneficial effects of NMQL on the machining process and the factors affecting them, including nanofluid volume fraction and nanoparticle species. Nevertheless, the summary of the machining mechanism and performance evaluation of NMQL in processing different materials is deficient, which limits preparation of process specifications and popularity in factories. To fill this gap, this paper concentrates on the comprehensive assessment of processability based on tribological, thermal, and machined surface quality aspects for nanofluids. The present work attempts to reveal the mechanism of nanofluids in processing different materials from the viewpoint of nanofluids' physicochemical properties and atomization performance. Firstly, the present study contrasts the distinctions in structure and functional mechanisms between different types of base fluids and nanoparticle molecules, providing a comprehensive and quantitative comparative assessment for the preparation of nanofluids. Secondly, this paper reviews the factors and theoretical models that affect the stability and various thermophysical properties of nanofluids, revealing that nanoparticles endow nanofluids with unique lubrication and heat transfer mechanisms. Finally, the mapping relationship between the parameters of nanofluids and material cutting performance has been analyzed, providing theoretical guidance and technical support for the industrial application and scientific research of nanofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the College Of Basic Education is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The consideration of environmental sustainability has permeated both conscious and subconscious realms throughout history. In the context of Boushehr city's historical architecture from the Qajar period, a myriad of sustainable residential structures attuned to the regional climate, ensuring occupants' thermal comfort, are evident. This sustainability, devoid of adherence to a specific theoretical framework, adeptly caters to the pragmatic needs of the building users. The primary objective of this study is to conceptualize the historical architectural composition of Boushehr, focusing on materials, and to conduct a thermal assessment of two structures, one historic and the other contemporary, within the city. To achieve this goal, a comparative analysis of traditional and modern building materials in Boushehr was executed through the utilization of Ecotect and Energy Plus simulation software, complemented by extensive survey and on-site investigations. The findings of this analysis reveal that traditional building materials, beyond their inherent harmony with the regional climate, exhibit superior physical properties compared to their modern counterparts. While advancements in technology have enhanced the chemical and mechanical attributes of contemporary building materials over time, amalgamating the advantageous physical attributes of traditional materials renders the latter more environmentally sustainable. Despite the fact that rooms constructed with older materials exhibit a higher average monthly temperature than those utilizing modern materials, the diminished heating and cooling loads of the former contribute to positioning older residential structures as closer approximations to a more sustainable archetype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Zhejiang University: Science B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present work addresses the impact of die design (flat die or pip die) and sheet placement on the self-piercing riveting (SPR) of automotive grade CR210 and CR340 galvanized steel sheets. Actual rivet head height, interlock distance, bottom sheet thickness, maximum riveting force, lap-shear fracture load, and fracture modes are monitored. Later, the lap-shear tensile performance of SPR joints is compared with joints made using resistance spot welding (RSW) and friction stir spot welding (FSSW). Both die design and sheet placement impact the SPR outputs significantly. Flat die results in improved rivet penetration irrespective of sheet placement. Maximum riveting force in the case of pip die is higher irrespective of sheet placement. Pip die results in better interlocking than the flat die, irrespective of sheet placement. The effect of die design on lap-shear fracture load and fracture mode is marginal for the sheet combination. However, optimization of sheet placement is critical for SPR. Locating the CR210 (weaker, thinner) sheet at the top would be beneficial if riveting force and interlock distance are referred to. However, if the bottom sheet thickness and tensile-shear fracture load are considered, placing the CR340 (stronger, thicker) sheet on top would be acceptable. Sheet placement has a marginal influence on RSW joint formation and tensile-shear performance. Sheet placement is also critical for FSSW in terms of joint formation. The lap-shear fracture load of RSW joints was higher than that of SPR and FSSW joints. However, SPR joints exhibited significantly higher displacement at fracture than RSW and FSSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was the protection of the turbine blades from corrosion in an acid medium using different nanotubes as surface corrosion protectors. The plan of this article was to study the anticorrosion properties of zirconium doped titanate nanotubes materials. Inhibitors were prepared using hydrothermal method at different zirconium contents (2; 5 and 10 wt%). The obtained powders were characterized using different techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), electronic transmission microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption–desorption, ICP analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed a hollow tubular structure of nanotubes having lengths around 120 nm. The anticorrosion efficiency results showed a significant inhibitory rates of the titanate nanotubes which increases with the increase in the Zr content. The working conditions were evaluated using the modeling based on ANOVA studies. The results proved that the inhibition rate is considerably influenced by a positive individual effect of the acid contact time, the temperature of the environment and the mass of the inhibitor. The most favorable conditions were achieved under 100 mg of inhibitor, during 3 h at 15 °C which leaded to reach 100% of inhibition rate. Finally, the adsorption kinetics of the nanotubes on the Ni-alloy surface followed the Langmuir model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In part responding to our increasingly material world, this article presents scenographic strategies as a highly appropriate and effective means for cultivating an attentiveness towards everyday objects, or stuff. The centrality of physical matter within performances is garnering more credit, in correspondence with a growing critical, new materialist interest in the potential of non-human entities. In such discourse, objects usually perceived as passive or inert are instead recognised for their affectivity. This article takes a specific look at everyday objects that, caught up within capitalist commodification, are often solely valued for their ability to assist human action and yet can be seen to demonstrate aesthetic-affective potential – a potential that, as illustrated here, can be appreciated through scenography. Drawing on the philosophies of Jane Bennett’s vibrant matter, Maurizia Boscagli’s unruly stuff and Yuriko Saito’s everyday aesthetics, an original conceptual framework is developed and tested out on three examples of performance practice. This process of critical analysis foregrounds scenographic sensibilities – that orient spectators towards the latent vitalities, hybridity and ecologies of stuff – and reveals how alternative, attuned experiences, that interrupt consumer capitalist logic, can be fostered through performances as well as filtering out beyond them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun nanofiber membranes (NFMs) have high porosity and a large specific surface area, which provide a suitable environment for the complex and dynamic wound healing process and a large number of sites for carrying wound healing factors. Further, the design of the nanofiber structure can imitate the structure of the human dermis, similar to the natural extracellular matrix, which better promotes the hemostasis, anti-inflammatory and healing of wounds. Therefore, it has been widely studied in the field of wound dressing. This review article overviews the development of electrospinning technology and the application of electrospun nanofibers in wound dressings. It begins with an introduction to the history, working principles, and transformation of electrospinning, with a focus on the selection of electrospun nanofiber materials, incorporation of functional therapeutic factors, and structural design of nanofibers and nanofiber membranes. Moreover, the wide application of electrospun NFMs containing therapeutic factors in wound healing is classified based on their special functions, such as hemostasis, antibacterial and cell proliferation promotion. This article also highlights the structural design of electrospun nanofibers in wound dressing, including porous structures, bead structures, core-shell structures, ordered structures, and multilayer nanofiber membrane structures. Finally, their advantages and limitations are discussed, and the challenges faced in their application for wound dressings are analyzed to promote further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that digital literature started to address the reader's bodily dimension since the 2000's, we suggest that this state of affairs has its provenance in a development line of the material aspect of the literary works. To speculate on the literary-historic sense of this, Giambattista Vico's, Northrop Frye's and Maurice Merleau-Ponty's thoughts are considered, as well as a short journey through the history of digital literature is made, looking on works said to be highlights of this history by researchers of the field. We conclude that digital literature went through an inverted course than the one suggested by Frye for non digital literature when it comes to its formal and material aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction and management of large-scale projects have the characteristics of complexity, dynamic and offline, and how to evaluate it is a research problem accurately. This study addresses this question through multidisciplinary cross-applied research. The research analyses and optimizes the environmental impact of the construction stage of superlarge bridges by establishing a theoretical model system of environmental impact resilience. The analysis shows that industrialized construction can save 56.31% of materials compared with traditional construction but increase the consumption of machinery and personnel by 11.18%. Ultimately, environmental pollution can be significantly reduced. This study breaks through the difficulty of accurately evaluating discrete dynamic factors. It has realized the application of multidisciplinary research to solve management optimization and design problems in the elastic and dynamic changes of super-large bridges during construction. This research provides rich theoretical models and advanced analytics experience data for environmental resilience impacts and project resilience management models, laying a solid scientific foundation for dynamic control and sustainable development assessment of statically indeterminate structures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the Christian incorporation and transformation of the philosophical understanding of the relation between the material and immaterial. This transformation centers on the Incarnation of Christ, which changes both the relation or contact between the material and immaterial realms, and human knowledge concerning the immaterial divine presence in material reality. More than a descriptive, historical account, the paper is primarily a conceptual presentation that retrieves the historically early thought of Irenaeus of Lyons and Athanasius of Alexandria to argue for a theological account of sacramental reality. Drawing on the metaphysical function of sacraments—themselves "visible signs of invisible grace"—which convey that there is more to material reality than meets the eye, I argue that this "more" implies what I call "a theology of abundance" that pertains to the whole of created reality, in the abundant nature of creation and of the human being in particular, and especially apparent in human knowing. The implication of such a theology of abundance is a comprehensive reorientation of human being, knowing, and expression in response to the invisible presence of the divine in visible, sacramental reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) can be used to realize holes of any size and shape in difficult-to-machine ductile materials with negligible heat-affected zone by simply changing the jet path. In this study, the influence of various process parameters, such as waterjet pressure (P), jet traverse speed ( ν f ), abrasive mass flow rate (ma) on the AWJ-trepanned hole's geometrical features (diameter, taper angle, profile), form characteristics (circularity error, cylindricity error), quality measures (damage region, edge radius, burr formation, uncut material, surface morphology), and material removal mechanism in Al-6061 alloy is studied. The results show that higher P and ma at lower ν f are desirable for achieving nominal geometrical features, minimal form error, burr length, and uncut material. Damage region reduces with the decrease in P and ma at higher ν f . Edge radius reduces with the increase in P at lower ν f and ma. The micrographs showed that the initial damage region is uniform at higher P and lower ν f . Better surface quality is obtained at higher P and ma as lip formation and material pile-up are minimum. Material fracture and cracks in the vicinity of the burr are observed. Based on the mean response analysis, near-optimal parameters are suggested for efficient trepanning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS) / Uluslararasi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of International Journal of Social Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)