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Date palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) contain a significant amount of carbohydrates with substantial nutritional content, making them an alternative source of sugar for diabetic patients. In this study, the effect of moderate electric field (MEF) on the extraction of soluble sugars from date fruit powder (DFP) was investigated. MEF treatments were performed in a custom-designed batch reactor by applying a constant electric field strength (EF) of 10 V/cm across the platinized coated titanium electrodes (surface area = 2 cm2) using a frequency generator. The operating conditions were optimized by varying the extraction time (5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min), applied frequency (20–100 Hz with 20 units difference), and operating temperature (25 to 65 ± 2 °C with a difference of 10°). The soluble sugar was also hauled out by processing the DFP with the conventional hot-water extraction (CHW) technique. The MEF-based extraction technique resulted in an increased sugar yield of 74.5%, which is 14% more than the total sugar yield obtained by the CHW method. Low frequencies (40 Hz), optimized time (30 min), and high temperatures (55 °C) resulted in higher extraction yields for DFP. In addition, a microscopic examination of MEF residues was performed to analyze the effect of electric field on the pore formation and surface rupturing of DFP during soluble sugar extraction. The MEF extraction technique showed higher sugar extraction yield due to electroporation and permeabilization, which enables improved diffusion and has the potential to be effectively used for juice extraction compared to the conventional energy-intensive and advanced extraction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cognitive ability of older adults declines with age, while the language processing experience becomes more abundant. Word recognition is one of the most fundamental abilities in language processing, but how the interaction of cognitive aging and language experience affects word recognition in older adults is still a complex issue. This study focuses on the influence of two factors, age of acquisition (AoA) and parts of speech on Chinese word recognition in older adults. In Experiment 1, we employed a context-free lexical decisions task to compare the differences of word recognition between young and older adults at the conditions of different AoAs and parts of speech. In Experiment 2, participants were required to perform a sentence reading task in order to examine the above effects with contextual involvement, and their eye movements were tracked and analyzed. Combining the results of the two experiments, we found a greater AoA effect in older adults compared to young adults. This effect primarily manifested as a decline in processing efficiency for late-acquired words and was already evident in the early stage of word recognition. In addition, only the older adults exhibit differences in the processing of distinct word components, indicating a progressive pattern of increasing difficulty from nouns to verbs and subsequently to adjectives. The findings suggest that older adults experience a heightened exacerbation of word processing difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters are advanced cryogenic detectors that use a superconducting film for particle or photon detection. We are establishing a new production line for TES detectors to serve as cryogenic anticoincidence (i.e., veto) devices. These detectors are made with a superconducting bilayer of titanium (Ti) and gold (Au) thin films deposited via electron beam evaporation in a high vacuum condition on a monocrystalline silicon substrate. In this work, we report on the development of such sensors, aiming to achieve stable sensing performance despite the effects of aging. For this purpose, patterned and non-patterned Ti/Au bilayer samples with varying geometries and thicknesses were fabricated using microfabrication technology. To characterize the detectors, we present and discuss initial results from repeated resistance–temperature (R–T) measurements over time, conducted on different samples, thereby augmenting existing literature data. Additionally, we present a discussion of the sensor's degradation over time due to aging effects and test a potential remedy based on an easy annealing procedure. In our opinion, this work establishes the groundwork for our new TES detector production line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the reduction in energy dependence and aging effect of the lithium salt of pentacosa−10,−12-diynoic acid (LiPCDA) films with additives including aluminum oxide (Al2O3), propyl gallate (PG), and disodium ethylenediaminetetracetate (EDTA). Approach. LiPCDA films exhibited energy dependence on kilovoltage (kV) and megavoltage (MV) photon energies and experienced deterioration over time. Evaluations were conducted with added Al2O3 and antioxidants to mitigate these issues, and films were produced with and without Al2O3 to assess energy dependence. The films were irradiated at doses of 0, 3, 6, and 12 cGy at photon energies of 75 kV, 105 kV, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 15 MV. For the energy range of 75 kV to 15 MV, the mean and standard deviation (std) were calculated and compared for the values normalized to the net optical density (netOD) at 6 MV, corresponding to identical dose levels. To evaluate the aging effect, PG and disodium EDTA were incorporated into the films: sample C with 1% PG, sample D with 2% PG, sample E with 0.62% disodium EDTA added to sample D, and sample F with 1.23% disodium EDTA added to sample D. Main results. Films containing Al2O3 demonstrated a maximum 15.8% increase in mean normalized values and a 15.1% reduction in std, reflecting a greater netOD reduction at kV than MV energies, which indicates less energy dependence in these films. When the OD of sample 1–4 depending on the addition of PG and disodium EDTA, was observed for 20 weeks, the transmission mode decreased by 8.7%, 8.3%, 29.3%, and 27.3%, respectively, while the reflection mode was 5.4%, 3.0%, 37.0%, and 34.5%, respectively. Significance. Al2O3 effectively reduced the voltage and MV energy dependence. PG was more effective than disodium EDTA in preventing the deterioration of film performance owing to the aging effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed to validate the trend between thermal-related parameters and field-measured thermal cracking. Field thermal cracking is collected from four projects with twelve pavement sections. The material properties include creep compliance m-value and tensile strength of mixture, and asphalt low-temperature performance grade (PG). A lower value of m-value and tensile strength leads to a higher thermal cracking, while the low-temperature PG has the contrary trend. One or even several material properties cannot fully characterize field thermal cracking for all projects. Then the change of material properties, pavement structures, and climatic conditions are considered in three-dimensional finite element models (FEM). The aging effect of material properties attributes to the increase of thermal stress. The placement of chip seal could greatly reduce the aging rate, and the thicker pavement result in less thermal stress. Both material property and thickness are important design factors for thermal cracking resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an assessment of bias temperature instability (BTI) in high−κ/vacuum$$ \mathsf{high}-\kappa /\mathsf{vacuum} $$ based dual gate dopingless JLFET (HKV‐DLJLFET) is carried out at 15 nm technology node. For this, the gate dielectric of HKV‐DGDLJLFET is made of asymmetric combination of high−κ$$ \mathsf{high}-\kappa $$hfO2$$ \left({hfO}_2\right) $$ and vacuum dielectrics near the source/drain (S/D) side, which significantly minimizes the leakage current and enhances the reliability. Our simulation study have shown that the n‐type HKV‐DGDLJLFET exhibits 2.28 and 2.45 times less deterioration in drain current ID$$ \left({I}_D\right) $$ and transconductance gm$$ \left({g}_m\right) $$ respectively, than n‐type HKV‐DGJLFET due to positive BTI (PBTI) for 2000 seconds at 150oC$$ {150}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C} $$. Further, we have found that n‐type HKV‐DGDLJLFET has less deterioration in Vth$$ {V}_{th} $$ and gm$$ {g}_m $$ due to BTI stress for different time spans. Hence, adding vacuum dielectric to the drain side lowers the BTI stress at high temperatures and makes it last longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Mapping of microscopic changes in the perivascular space (PVS) of the cerebral cortex, beyond magnetic resonance‐visible PVS in white matter, may enhance our ability to diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD) early. METHODS: We used the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) water fraction (CSFF), a magnetic resonance imaging–based biomarker, to characterize brain parenchymal CSF water, reflecting microscopic PVS in parenchyma. We measured CSFF and amyloid beta (Aβ) using 11C Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography to investigate their relationship at both the subject and voxel levels. RESULTS: Our research has demonstrated a positive correlation between the parenchymal CSFF, a non‐invasive imaging biomarker indicative of parenchymal glymphatic clearance, and Aβ deposition, observed at both individual and voxel‐based assessments in the posterior cingulate cortex. DISCUSSION: This study shows that an increased parenchymal CSFF is associated with Aβ deposition, suggesting that CSFF could serve as a biomarker for brain glymphatic clearance, which can be used to detect early fluid changes in PVS predisposing individuals to the development of AD. Highlights: Cerebrospinal fluid fraction (CSFF) could be a biomarker of parenchymal perivascular space.CSFF is positively associated with amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition at subject level.CSFF in an Aβ+ region is higher than in an Aβ– region in the posterior cingulate cortex.Correspondence is found between Aβ deposition and glymphatic clearance deficits measured by CSFF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1960s Europe saw a large number of residential neighborhoods built to house those migrating from the countryside. Today, more than 50 years later, these neighborhoods suffer high levels of functional, social, and technical obsolescence. In response to this, the University of Seville developed the Aura Strategy as an intervention methodology to find global solutions to issues in outdated neighborhoods. To provide visibility to this aspect of the Aura Strategy, the retrofit proposal presented in this article provides a solution to improve the roofing of buildings in a case study neighborhood (Polígono de San Pablo, Seville) and an analysis of the results in terms of energy and financial savings for local residents. The results show that for a population of roughly 18,000 (in 2018), net savings, including energy and retrofitting costs, ranging from nearly € 6.5 to over € 8.6 million can be made over the 20-year life-cycle span. Likewise, the results obtained on the reduction of thermal loads indicate a 72% decrease in energy consumption, equivalent to a saving of close to 4500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions for the district and the entire life-cycle time period, with the consequent benefits on the impact on air quality and the fight against climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature dependence of the aging effect of permittivity in the paraelectric phase of 95.5%Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–4.5%PbTiO3 (PZN–4.5%PT) and BaTiO3 (BT) single crystals has been investigated. The time dependence of the Re of permittivity at constant temperatures has been found in the paraelectric phase not only in the relaxor ferroelectric PZN–4.5%PT, but also in the typical oxide ferroelectric BT. Such time dependence of permittivity can be empirically analyzed using the Kohlausch–Williams–Watts relaxation function. We discuss the relationship between the aging effect and the relaxation process of the collective motion of polar nanoregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the atmospheric pressure air gliding arc discharge has been produced for the generation of plasma-activated water (PAW) and studying its effect on the chlorophyll retention and greenness of Tejpat (Cinnamomum tamala) leaves. The discharge is characterized via electrical and optical methods to calculate the electron excitation temperature (1.38 eV) and density (3.46×1017 cm−3) of the plasma. The influence of plasma exposure time on the physico-chemical properties of PAW and the aging effect of electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, oxidation-reduction potential, and concentration of nitrite and nitrate are presented. It is found that the modification in physico-chemical properties of water has a considerable effect on chlorophyll retention and the greenness of detached leaves. The chlorophyll retention is highest for the leaves that are treated with 12 minutes of PAW as compared to the other plasma exposure time as well as untreated water. Moreover, the greenness of leaves for 12 minutes of plasma treatment remains for a longer duration (576±34 hrs) as compared to treatment times of 0, 4, 8, and 16 minutes due to prolonged activeness of the physical parameters. This work is significant in that PAW plays an important role in maintaining greenness in detached green leaves.

Transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters are advanced cryogenic detectors that use a superconducting film for particle or photon detection. We are establishing a new production line for TES detectors to serve as cryogenic anticoincidence (i.e., veto) devices. These detectors are made with a superconducting bilayer of titanium (Ti) and gold (Au) thin films deposited via electron beam evaporation in a high vacuum condition on a monocrystalline silicon substrate. In this work, we report on the development of such sensors, aiming to achieve stable sensing performance despite the effects of aging. For this purpose, patterned and non-patterned Ti/Au bilayer samples with varying geometries and thicknesses were fabricated using microfabrication technology. To characterize the detectors, we present and discuss initial results from repeated resistance–temperature (R–T) measurements over time, conducted on different samples, thereby augmenting existing literature data. Additionally, we present a discussion of the sensor’s degradation over time due to aging effects and test a potential remedy based on an easy annealing procedure. In our opinion, this work establishes the groundwork for our new TES detector production line.

Chemical modification is the frequently-adopted strategy to enhance the electromechanical properties of piezoelectric ceramics. However, chemically modified piezoelectric materials will inevitably produce point defects, such as dopant ions, oxygen vacancies, etc. In this study, we investigated the properties of defect-engineered Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (denoted by PSZT–Fe) polycrystals after aging, quenching, poling, and de-aging processes. At the same time, a general mechanism on the strength of defect dipole is also put forward to explain the corresponding changes. After aging, the spontaneous polarization of PSZT-Fe can be changed instantly upon application of external electric field, but the defect dipole and its defect symmetry can’t change simultaneously. Therefore, after the external electric field is removed, the defective dipole would drive the electric domain back to its original state, resulting in restorable strain effect and macroscopic pinch polarization. Bipolar electric field cycling can effectively redistribute oxygen vacancies to a random state, so that the aged PSZT-Fe can recover the electrical properties of typical ferroelectrics, similar to quenched samples. The spontaneous polarization and defect dipole in the poled PSZT-Fe ceramics are driven by an external electric field parallel to each other, which results in the emergence of internal bias field, accounting for the asymmetric hysteresis loop.

The parameters affecting the hydrophilicity and its aging effect on the polymer surface treated with atmospheric pressure plasma were investigated. A series of experimental procedures were performed according to various parameter combinations using the DoE method. The main factors having the most impact were found by quantifying the effect of each process parameter in plasma treatment. In addition, based on the results, multiple regression analysis was conducted to optimize the parameters of the experiment under conditions that maximize the hydrophilicity of the polymer surface. Finally, process capability analysis showed the superiority of optimized conditions statistically, physically, and chemically. A series of experiments and analytical procedures were characterized with the Minitab 20 program, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscope (AFM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gasoline engine vehicle emissions, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), CO and hydrocarbons (HCs), are a major source of air pollution, and require improved emission control systems. By-product NH3 and N2O emissions, which come from low N2 selectivity in the emission control system, are also a major concern. The current study has comprehensively investigated the impact of the Pt-substitution in commercial Pd/Rh-based three-way catalyst (TWC) formulations with respect to catalytic performance. TWC performance was systematically evaluated with respect to the warm-up catalytic converter (WCC) and the under-floor catalytic converter (UCC). This included evaluating TWC activity under realistic simulated exhaust conditions including fuel-rich, stoichiometric and fuel-lean (0.99≤λ≤1.01). Pt-substituted TWCs outperformed Pd-based counterparts, regardless of the converter type (WCC or UCC), in CO, C3H6 and C3H8 oxidation and NO reduction reactions under the simulated exhaust conditions tested. Moreover, Pt-substituted TWCs exhibited significant stability upon hydrothermal aging at 1,050 °C. The results show that after aging the Pt-substituted catalyst retained higher N2 selectivity than the Pd-based TWC. Over Pd-based TWCs, N2 selectivity drastically dropped from 70–80% to 15–35% after aging, while Pt-substituted TWCs N2 selectivity dropped from 80–100% to only 60–80%. The key finding from this study is that Pt incorporation in a Pd/Rh TWC improves the emission control from gasoline vehicles in terms of both CO and HC oxidation and NOx reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychological Science is the property of Psychological Science 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.)

This study analyzes the material deformation of electrical steel with aging and its effects on the electromagnetic and thermal characteristics of a Brushless Wound-Field Synchronous Generator (BL-WFSG). First, in order to confirm the material deformation of electrical steel applied to the BL-WFSG, magnetic property tests are performed on the core sheets of the old and new generators. Those two generators are made of the same material, so there was no difference except for their usage time. Based on the results of the magnetic property tests, an electromagnetic field analysis is performed on the old and new generators, and analysis results are compared in order to confirm the effects of material deformation on the electromagnetic characteristics of BL-WFSG. Then, a thermal analysis is performed on the old and new generators using losses calculated by electromagnetic field analysis as heat sources, and analysis results are compared in order to confirm the effects of material deformation on the thermal characteristics of BL-WFSG. Finally, an additional electromagnetic analysis is performed on both the old and new generators, using the exact winding resistances that were calculated in the thermal analysis for each respective generator in order to calculate and compare the efficiency of the old and new generators. Through this process, the authors confirmed the effects of material deformation of the rotor and stator cores due to aging on the electromagnetic and thermal characteristics of the BL-WFSG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence suggests a significant impact of higher psychological well‐being (PWB) on health outcomes; however, such associations have been studied exclusively in middle‐aged to older adults. This study examined the aging effect on PWB measures as well as the moderating effect of age on the link between PWB and inflammation, using salivary markers by comparing the younger adults (n = 127; Mage = 22.98 years) versus older adults (n = 75; Mage = 75.60 years). Older adults showed significantly lower levels of PWB, particularly regarding purpose in life and personal growth. Moreover, higher purpose in life was associated with lower salivary IL‐1ß and IL‐6 (b = 0.83, p <.001; b = 0.81, p <.01) only in the older adult group but not in younger adults. These findings highlight the potential buffering effect of the sense of living well on physiological pathways in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphalt aging is one of the main causes of asphalt pavement cracking, loosening and other issues. On a macro level, the asphalt hardens and becomes more brittle, while on a micro level, the chemical composition and molecular weight distribution change. This is a very complicated physicochemical process. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is a powerful technical tool for understanding the mechanism of asphalt aging and expressing the asphalt aging process. GPC can be used to measure the distribution and content of each component in the asphalt aging process. The mechanism of action of crumb rubber modified asphalt has not been fully elucidated due to its complex composition. This study investigated the molecular weight of crumb rubber modified asphalt before and after aging, and filtered asphalt based on gel permeation chromatography. The results indicated that crumb rubber itself experiences severe degradation following PAV aging and that a significant number of macromolecular materials are incorporated into the asphalt phase, causing changes in key parameters. The average molecular weight (Mw) and dispersion (D) of crumb rubber modified asphalt are directly related. At the same time, the Mw of crumb rubber modified asphalt has a positive correlation with LMS content, while SMS content has a negative correlation with Mw. The increase in crumb rubber content has a positive impact on the material interaction, and the molecular weight distribution of crumb rubber modified asphalt is affected by the reaction degree of the crumb rubber in asphalt. The complex physical and chemical reaction of crumb rubber in asphalt has a direct impact on the external macro rheological properties of asphalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 (BNT-6BT) films are deposited on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrates for various thicknesses by pulsed laser deposition. The effects of thickness on the microstructure, Raman spectra, dielectric behavior, and ferroelectric properties are investigated in detail. The BNT-6BT films with a polycrystalline structure, as well as an increase in grain size and crystallinity, a decrease in strain, and the appearance of columnar crystals with increasing film thickness are confirmed by x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Obvious aging behavior with an abnormal double-butterfly shape of dielectric constant–electric field curves is observed in aged BNT-6BT films. Both the dielectric tunability and dielectric constant increase with increasing film thickness, with 950 nm film exhibiting the highest dielectric tunability of 36.7% and dielectric constant and loss of 572 and 0.032 at 1 kHz, respectively. Moreover, an increase in the maximum polarization (Pmax) and remanent polarization (Pr) with the increase in film thickness is also observed. The enhanced dielectric and ferroelectric properties of BNT-6BT films are strongly depended on thickness, which suggest the potential application of BNT-6BT films in film tunable capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Engineering Mechanics / Gongcheng Lixue is the property of Engineering Mechanics Editorial Department 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.)

Many physiologic parameters fluctuate on a diurnal basis following the circadian rhythm function. The purpose of the study was to investigate if postural performance is interdependent of time of day and age. 19 young (22.63 ± 3.43 y.o.) and 19 older male adults (60.21 ± 3.67 y.o.) performed three balance tests (quiet stance with open and closed eyes and bipedal balance on a Togu ball) at 12:00 AM and at 12:00 PM. Time and frequency domain variables of the center of pressure were analyzed. At eyes closed test, the younger had significant less distance traveled by the Center of Pressure (CoP) at night compared to day. At open eyes test, the younger had significant less CoP sway in the anterior-posterior (AP) axis at night compared to day. At Togu ball test the older showed increased peak-to-peak amplitude of CoP in both axes compared to younger. They also had lower frequency in the medial-lateral (ML) axis but higher in the AP axis compared to the younger. Younger seem to function better at night. There is also an indication that the older are better at day. The results on unstable surface indicate different control strategies between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquefaction resistance is known to increase concomitantly with the increase in time after construction or sedimentation. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of its aging effect on liquefaction have not been completely elucidated. To clarify the mechanisms of aging in sandy soils, the liquefaction resistance (CRR), initial and secant shear moduli (G0 and Gsec), and laboratory penetration resistance of long-term consolidated sand specimens were examined using cyclic undrained triaxial tests, local small strain (LSS) tests equipped with bender elements (BEs), and penetration index tests, respectively. Based on the existing reports, the CRR was inferred from G0, Gsec, and the laboratory penetration resistance. In the case of Toyoura sand of Dr = 40%, the CRR increased by about 14% with a 360-day consolidated specimen in the cyclic undrained triaxial tests. However, increases in the CRR evaluated from G0 and the laboratory penetration resistance were nothing and only 2%, respectively. Gsec started to degrade at greater shear strain in the long-term consolidated specimens. An increase in the CRR, evaluated from the Gsec of 0.01% shear strain, had a much better agreement with that obtained from the cyclic undrained triaxial tests.

1960s Europe saw a large number of residential neighborhoods built to house those migrating from the countryside. Today, more than 50 years later, these neighborhoods suffer high levels of functional, social, and technical obsolescence. In response to this, the University of Seville developed the Aura Strategy as an intervention methodology to find global solutions to issues in outdated neighborhoods. To provide visibility to this aspect of the Aura Strategy, the retrofit proposal presented in this article provides a solution to improve the roofing of buildings in a case study neighborhood (Polígono de San Pablo, Seville) and an analysis of the results in terms of energy and financial savings for local residents. The results show that for a population of roughly 18,000 (in 2018), net savings, including energy and retrofitting costs, ranging from nearly €6.5 to over €8.6 million can be made over the 20-year life-cycle span. Likewise, the results obtained on the reduction of thermal loads indicate a 72% decrease in energy consumption, equivalent to a saving of close to 4500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions for the district and the entire life-cycle time period, with the consequent benefits on the impact on air quality and the fight against climate change.

Hydrophobic legacy contaminants like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned almost half a century ago. While their residues still remain in many environmental compartments, they have undergone extensive aging and likely have lower bioaccessibility (the available fraction) compared to fresh residues. However, risk assessment relies heavily on the use of total chemical concentration, rather than accounting for age-diminished bioaccessibility, likely leading to overestimated risks. In this study, we used 24 h Tenax desorption to measure the potential bioaccessibility of DDTs and PCBs in two sediment cores taken from the Palos Verdes Shelf Superfund site in the Pacific Ocean. The total concentrations of DDTs and PCBs from the core located at the sewage outfall (8C) were as high as 41,000-15,700 μg/kg (dry weight, dw) and 530-2600 μg/kg dw, respectively, while those from a location 7 km northeast of the outfall (3C) were 2-3 orders of magnitude lower. Bioaccessibility estimated by 24-h Tenax-aided desorption (F24h) decreased in the order of DDD > DDE > DDT for DDT derivatives, and PCB 52 > PCB 70 > PCB 153 for PCB congeners, showing a negative correlation with their log Kow. Due to the extensive aging, F24h values were

The conventional Arrhenius equation that estimates the heat generation of coal in numerical simulation has been widely applied. However, the aging effect markedly influences the exothermic behavior of coal at low temperature and cannot be achieved using the conventional Arrhenius equation. In this paper, an improved wire-mesh basket test was performed to measure the temperature and concentrations of CO and CO2 emitted from coal piles. The aging effect model based on the theory of equivalent oxidation exposure time successfully matched the experimental results. Then, a two-dimensional (2D) multifield coupling model of coal stockpiles was developed considering the aging effect to investigate the developments on values and moving paths of temperature and O2 concentration. Effects of decay-power factor, which determines the diminishing coal oxidation, and other main variables on spontaneous combustion of coal stockpiles were systematically investigated. The results indicated a unique critical value of 1.25 × 10–6 s−1 for decay-power factor. Increasing decay-power factor enlarged the safe storage time and hardly affected the moving paths of the hotspot. There are two critical values for particle size (0.7 mm, 9 mm) and porosity (0.18, 0.58), and one critical value for wind velocity (8.5 m s−1) and stockpile width (9 m). Porosity and stockpile width have significant effects on the self-ignition of coal stockpiles when their values are lower than the base ones (0.33 and 15 m). The model considering aging effect is expected to reliably predict the spontaneous combustion of coal stockpile and become the tool for inspecting the reasonability of the relative preventing measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the factors controlling fluid distribution in porous media is wettability, which is ranging from water-wet to oil wet. Wettability could be changed due to the long-time contact with hydrocarbon liquids. Wettability alteration resulting from the aging of core samples in hydrocarbon liquids becomes a widely used technique. The aging of Core samples from different locations in different types of liquids had been studied. The aging periods used in these studies range from hours to 110 days. In this work, synthetic core samples were aged for a period ranging from 205 to 824 days into two different hydrocarbon liquids (heavy crude from the East Baghdad oil field and gas oil). Results show that long time aging periods dramatically alter wettability; also, heavy crude oil alters wettability higher than that of light hydrocarbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the impact of sex and typical aging on visuospatial working memory (VSWM), mental rotations, and navigational strategies using behavioral information. Fifty healthy participants regrouped in older (OA) and young adults (YA) performed the Walking Corsi test (WalCT) and the Redrawn Mental Rotation Test (MRT) to explore mental rotation abilities. We recorded kinematic data such as locomotion trajectories, and spatial orientations during navigation. We created a new method of data analysis for the WalCT performances and compared it with the classical approach. This original method allowed us to identify cognitive strategies based on errors analysis. Our data suggested that VSWM and mental rotation capacities in locomotion were modulated by age (YA scored higher than OA), and sex (Young Adult Males (YA-M) having higher performance than Young Adult Females (YA-F). We observed a preferential use of cognitive strategies related to sex; YA-F relied more on egocentric strategies whereas YA-M relied more on allocentric strategies. The preferential use of cognitive strategies in the YA group was not observed in the OA group producing more random errors per sequence. The results suggest the effects that age and sex have on VSWM, cognitive strategies, and mental rotation during navigation and highlight the importance of navigational strategies training. • Spatial cognitive abilities were impacted by age and sex in spatial navigation. • The old adult group produced more random errors than the young adult group. • Preferential use of strategies was associated with sex. • Mental rotation of spatial maps during navigation was affected by aging. • Allocentric strategies were related to higher performances during navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a single machine scheduling problem with slack due date assignment in which the actual processing time of a job is determined by its position in a sequence, its resource allocation function, and a rate-modifying activity simultaneously. The problem is to determine the optimal job sequence, the optimal common flow allowance, the optimal amount of the resource allocation, and the position of the rate-modifying activity such that the two constrained optimization objective cost functions are minimized. One is minimizing the total penalty cost containing the earliness, tardiness, common flow allowance subject to an upper bound on the total resource cost, the other is minimizing the total resource cost subject to an upper bound on the total penalty cost. For two optimization problems, we show that they can be solved in optimal time, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propylene/propane separations are generally performed by distillation which are energy intensive and costly to build and operate. There is therefore high interest to develop new separation technologies like membrane modules. In our previous paper, we collected, analyzed and reported data for neat polymers and mixed matrix membranes (MMM) based on flat and hollow fiber configurations for propylene/propane separations. In this second part, we collected the data for carbon molecular sieving (CMS) membranes from polymer pyrolysis reaction and metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes from different fabrication methods, as well as data on facilitated transport membrane-polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM). CMS membranes show great potential for C3H6/C3H8 separation with an optimum pyrolysis temperature around 500–600 ℃. However, physical aging is a concern as the micro-pores shrink over time leading to lower permeability. The performance of MOF membranes are above the 2020 upper bound of polymer-based membranes, but have limited commercial application because they are fragile and difficult to produce. Finally, facilitated transport membranes show excellent propylene/propane separation performance, but are less stable compared to commercial polymeric membranes limiting their long-term operation and practical applications. As usual, there is no universal membrane and the selection must be made based on the operating conditions.

A long term operation of Multi-Strip Multi-Gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MSMGRPC) with gas mixtures based on C 2 H 2 F 4 and SF 6 leads to aging effects observed as depositions on the surface of the resistive electrodes, especially in the region of the spacers used for defining the gas gaps between the resistive electrodes. The observed higher noise rate and dark current has a negative impact on the performance of the chamber and leads to an increase of the data volume in a free running readout mode operation. MSMGRPC prototypes designed with a direct gas flow through the gas gaps and minimization of the number of spacers in the active area were developed as mitigation solution. Three new prototypes of different granularities were assembled using fishing line as spacers and investigated for aging effects. Although a significant reduction in the dark current and dark counting rate was evidenced, noise rate localized around the fishing line spacers, even though reduced, still remains. In this paper, a new generation of direct flow chambers based on discrete spacers is presented. The results of their aging investigations show that, even at lower gas flows, the aging effects become negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-Vessel Retention (IVR) is designed as one of the key mitigation strategies for Chinese Advanced Passive pressurized water reactor (CAP1400), to keep melt corium retaining in reactor pressure vessel (RPV) under severe accidents situations. External Reactor Vessel Cooling (ERVC) is selected as the main measure to achieve the purpose of IVR. The key safety evaluation criteria for the effectiveness of IVR is that the heat flux on the RPV outer wall surface is less than the Critical Heat Flux (CHF). In order to investigate the CHF limit values, the relevant experimental projects had been conducted for CAP1400 plants, and we obtained the preliminary data. However, the CHF limit values are influenced by many factors, but current researches about these factors are not enough. Based on the full-height experimental facility, we conducted the CHF experiments, it is found that the system pressure, the surface characteristics of RPV (e.g. surface aging, etc.), different heat flux distributions, above 90° heating could have different influence on CHF limit values. In this paper, the experiment results and the preliminary analysis of these different influence factors are given. In these factors, some influence is complicated, for the factor of system pressure, there are two aspects of influence, and the overall enhancement of CHF limit values is about 10%, and for the surface aging effect, the experiment results show that the surface aging effect can enhance CHF limit values by more than 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar adsorption of heavy metals was greatly affected by the pH of the environment, and using conventional unbuffered system to estimate the adsorption capacity of biochar for heavy metal could lead to inaccurate results. In this study, we investigated the application of MES buffer system to evaluate adsorption capacity of biochar for three kinds of divalent metal cations (Cu, Zn, Cd), as well as the aging effect (freeze-thaw cycle aging and soil aging) on the adsorption behavior. Results showed that the pH of unbuffered system changed 3~5 units during the adsorption experiment, and the saturated adsorption capacity of biochar for Zn(II) and Cd(II) increased by 1.51~1.58 times with the pH of system increased from 5.5 to 7.3, which proved that the evaluation accuracy of unbuffered system was insufficient. Otherwise, the pH of MES buffer system kept steady (±0.2). When the pH of adsorption systems was similar (5.5±0.1), there was no significant difference in the adsorption capacity between two adsorption systems for Cu, indicating that MES had no direct reaction with neither biochar nor heavy metals cations. In addition, the aging effects on the adsorption of heavy metals at different pH conditions are quite different, which may be related to the different critical adsorption effect under different pH conditions. In general, MES buffer system can accurately evaluate the adsorption performance of biochar for heavy metals under specific pH conditions, and is more suitable for guiding biochar remediation of heavy metal pollution in soil environment which generally have strong buffer capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the single-group scheduling models with Pegels' and DeJong's learning effect and the single-group scheduling models with Pegels' and DeJong's aging effect. In a classical scheduling model, Pegels' and DeJong's learning effect is a constant or position-dependent, while the learning effect and aging effect are job-dependent in this paper. Compared with the classical learning model and aging model for scheduling, the proposed models are more general and realistic. The objective functions are to minimize the total completion time and makespan. We propose polynomial time methods to solve all the studied problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquefaction damage from earthquakes frequently indicates effects of sand aging on liquefaction resistance: Liquefaction damage in natural or aged reclaimed ground has been much less than that in young reclaimed ground. However, the mechanisms underlying aging effects remain unclear. Cementation and stress history of sand strongly influence aging effects: Cementation raises liquefaction resistance, whereas liquefaction history sometimes reduces liquefaction resistance. Small cyclic shear strain, from which the induced density change is almost negligible, was adopted as representing the stress history. To evaluate liquefaction resistance, initial shear modulus, and deformation characteristics of sand, we prepared specimens by adding cement and by applying a small cyclic shear strain. In cementitious sand, liquefaction resistance increased when cement contents exceeded 0.3% by mass. The initial shear modulus apparently increased at the same degree of cement addition as that which increased the liquefaction resistance. For sand with a small cyclic shear strain, the liquefaction resistance increased when the applied cyclic axial strain exceeded 0.01%. Application of small cyclic shear strain only slightly increased the initial shear modulus, but the linear elastic region tended to expand to greater shear strain. Shear properties of sand with small cyclic shear strain resembled those found for sand that had been consolidated for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics aging reduces resistance to microbial degradation. Plastivore Tenebrio molitor rapidly biodegrades polystyrene (PS, size: < 80 μm), but the effects of aging on PS biodegradation by T. molitor remain uncharacterized. This study examined PS biodegradation over 24 days following three pre-treatments: freezing with UV exposure (PS1), UV exposure (PS2), and freezing (PS3), compared to pristine PS (PSv) microplastic. The pretreatments deteriorated PS polymers, resulting in slightly higher specific PS consumption (602.8, 586.1, 566.7, and 563.9 mg PS·100 larvae -1 ·d -1 , respectively) and mass reduction rates (49.6 %, 49.5 %, 49.2 %, and 48.7 %, respectively) in PS1, PS2, and PS3 compared to PSv. Improved biodegradation correlated with reduced molecular weights and the formation of oxidized functional groups. Larvae fed more aged PS exhibited greater gut microbial diversity, with microbial community and metabolic pathways shaped by PS aging, as supported by co-occurrence network analysis. These findings indicated that the aging treatments enhanced PS biodegradation by only limited extent but impacted greater on gut microbiome and bacterial metabolic genes, indicating that the T. molitor host have highly predominant capability to digest PS plastics and alters gut microbiome to adapt the PS polymers fed to them., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Landslides are common hazards in reservoir areas and significantly affect dam operation and human lives. For the prevention and management of landslides, accurate assessment of the factors influencing their generation is essential. This study evaluated the key external factors influencing horizontal and vertical displacements of Luobogang Reservoir Slope in Hanyuan County, China. Displacements had been monitored by a surface-displacement-monitoring system consisting of 118 GPS stations during 2012–2015. To identify the external driving factors, their influence zones, and slope responses, we analyzed 32 months of displacement measurements and other multi-source datasets using the empirical orthogonal function. Overall, the results show that slope aging effect, rainfall, and reservoir water levels are three main driving factors. For horizontal displacement, aging effect is the most critical factor and predominantly affects the edges of landslides, the gob cave, and the public building zones. The secondary factor is the reservoir water level, which mainly acts on the boundary between the slope and reservoir water surface. The closer the slope zone is to the reservoir water, the more significant the impact is. Regarding vertical displacement, the most important factor is rainfall. The vertical displacement caused by rainfall accounts for 56.76% of the total vertical displacements. However, rainfall induces elastic displacements that generally cause less damage to the slope. The secondary factor is aging effect, and the vertical displacement caused by aging effect accounts for 9.42%. However, seven individual zones are highly affected by slope aging effect, which is consistent with the distribution of public buildings.

Asphalt aging is one of the main causes of asphalt pavement cracking, loosening and other issues. On a macro level, the asphalt hardens and becomes more brittle, while on a micro level, the chemical composition and molecular weight distribution change. This is a very complicated physicochemical process. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is a powerful technical tool for understanding the mechanism of asphalt aging and expressing the asphalt aging process. GPC can be used to measure the distribution and content of each component in the asphalt aging process. The mechanism of action of crumb rubber modified asphalt has not been fully elucidated due to its complex composition. This study investigated the molecular weight of crumb rubber modified asphalt before and after aging, and filtered asphalt based on gel permeation chromatography. The results indicated that crumb rubber itself experiences severe degradation following PAV aging and that a significant number of macromolecular materials are incorporated into the asphalt phase, causing changes in key parameters. The average molecular weight (Mw) and dispersion (D) of crumb rubber modified asphalt are directly related. At the same time, the Mw of crumb rubber modified asphalt has a positive correlation with LMS content, while SMS content has a negative correlation with Mw. The increase in crumb rubber content has a positive impact on the material interaction, and the molecular weight distribution of crumb rubber modified asphalt is affected by the reaction degree of the crumb rubber in asphalt. The complex physical and chemical reaction of crumb rubber in asphalt has a direct impact on the external macro rheological properties of asphalt.

This paper deals with the facile approach to the synthesis of different metal oxide nanoparticles and their comparative study for humidity sensing application at room temperature. The synthesis of these metal oxide nanoparticles is through co-precipitation method for nickel oxide and tin ferrite and hydrothermal route for cuprous oxide. The SEM and EDX reveal the porous morphology and confirmed composition of the synthesized metal oxides. FTIR detects the presence of functional groups like –OH and confirms the inverse spinal structure in tin ferrite. The optical band gap was determined by UV spectroscopy: 3.86 eV for NiO, 4.13 eV for Cu2O, and 4.07 eV for SnFe2O4. XRD gives the information about the average crystallite size for tin ferrite 2.42 nm, cuprous oxide 12.88 nm and nickel oxide 22.51 nm as the size comes to nano range the surface area increases, which is a good indication for humidity sensing. The humidity sensing of materials was detected by electrical modes. The deposited thin films were prepared by spin coater and observed sensitivity of these films was 0.72 M Ω /%RH for NiO, 1.59 M Ω /%RH for Cu2O, and 2.07 M Ω /%RH for SnFe2O4. The experiments were repeated after few weeks and the aging effects of samples were found negligible which makes the sensor stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the pathological aging effect on caudate functional connectivity among mild cognitive impairment (MCI) participants and examine whether and how sex and amyloid contribute to this process. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and seventy-seven functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions from 163 cognitive normal (CN) older adults and 309 sessions from 139 participants with MCI were included as the main sample in our analysis. Pearson's correlation was used to characterize the functional connectivity (FC) between caudate nuclei and each brain region, then caudate nodal strength was computed to quantify the overall caudate FC strength. Association analysis between caudate nodal strength and age was carried out in MCI and CN separately using linear mixed effect (LME) model with covariates (education, handedness, sex, Apolipoprotein E4, and intra-subject effect). Analysis of covariance was conducted to investigate sex, amyloid status, and their interaction effects on aging with the fMRI data subset having amyloid status available. LME model was applied to women and men separately within MCI group to evaluate aging effects on caudate nodal strength and each region's connectivity with caudate nuclei. We then evaluated the roles of sex and amyloid status in the associations of neuropsychological scores with age or caudate nodal strength. An independent cohort was used to validate the sex-dependent aging effects in MCI. Results: The MCI group had significantly stronger age-related increase of caudate nodal strength compared to the CN group. Analyzing women and men separately revealed that the aging effect on caudate nodal strength among MCI participants was significant only for women (left: P = 6.23 × 10−7, right: P = 3.37 × 10−8), but not for men (P > 0.3 for bilateral caudate nuclei). The aging effects on caudate nodal strength were not significantly mediated by brain amyloid burden. Caudate connectivity with ventral prefrontal cortex substantially contributed to the aging effect on caudate nodal strength in women with MCI. Higher caudate nodal strength is significantly related to worse cognitive performance in women but not in men with MCI. Conclusion: Sex modulates the pathological aging effects on caudate nodal strength in MCI regardless of amyloid status. Caudate nodal strength may be a sensitive biomarker of pathological aging in women with MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cluster analysis of occupancy patterns of urban and rural residents in China based on TUS data. • Typical indoor occupancy patterns of urban and rural residents in China were extracted. • Occupancy patterns among urban and rural residents in China in different room types were compared. • Main influencing factors of occupancy patterns between urban and rural residents were explored. Occupancy behavior plays a crucial role in residential community planning, building design, and energy system optimization for sustainable development, particularly in the face of climate change. Research on residential occupancy behavior often lacks comprehensive empirical data and fails to account for the diversity of influencing factors such as demographic features and urban–rural distinctions. This study utilizes a national time-use survey to examine occupancy patterns in urban and rural households, aiming to identify key factors influencing these patterns. A K-shaped cluster analysis was applied to extract typical occupancy patterns for weekdays and weekends, with a subsequent comparison between urban and rural data. The study also analyzed the impact of demographic and social factors on total hours spent at home. The results indicate that urban residents tend to concentrate their occupancy on weekdays, while weekends show more dispersed patterns. Furthermore, time spent at home by urban residents is positively correlated with the age of family members and negatively correlated with working status and education level. Given the aging demographic, older urban families are likely to spend more time at home on weekdays. These findings contribute to a better understanding of residential occupancy behavior in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo assess the pathological aging effect on caudate functional connectivity among mild cognitive impairment (MCI) participants and examine whether and how sex and amyloid contribute to this process.Materials and MethodsTwo hundred and seventy-seven functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions from 163 cognitive normal (CN) older adults and 309 sessions from 139 participants with MCI were included as the main sample in our analysis. Pearson's correlation was used to characterize the functional connectivity (FC) between caudate nuclei and each brain region, then caudate nodal strength was computed to quantify the overall caudate FC strength. Association analysis between caudate nodal strength and age was carried out in MCI and CN separately using linear mixed effect (LME) model with covariates (education, handedness, sex, Apolipoprotein E4, and intra-subject effect). Analysis of covariance was conducted to investigate sex, amyloid status, and their interaction effects on aging with the fMRI data subset having amyloid status available. LME model was applied to women and men separately within MCI group to evaluate aging effects on caudate nodal strength and each region's connectivity with caudate nuclei. We then evaluated the roles of sex and amyloid status in the associations of neuropsychological scores with age or caudate nodal strength. An independent cohort was used to validate the sex-dependent aging effects in MCI.ResultsThe MCI group had significantly stronger age-related increase of caudate nodal strength compared to the CN group. Analyzing women and men separately revealed that the aging effect on caudate nodal strength among MCI participants was significant only for women (left: P = 6.23 × 10−7, right: P = 3.37 × 10−8), but not for men (P > 0.3 for bilateral caudate nuclei). The aging effects on caudate nodal strength were not significantly mediated by brain amyloid burden. Caudate connectivity with ventral prefrontal cortex substantially contributed to the aging effect on caudate nodal strength in women with MCI. Higher caudate nodal strength is significantly related to worse cognitive performance in women but not in men with MCI.ConclusionSex modulates the pathological aging effects on caudate nodal strength in MCI regardless of amyloid status. Caudate nodal strength may be a sensitive biomarker of pathological aging in women with MCI.

The Beijing Spectrometer III (BESIII) on the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II (BEPCII) is a unique facility operating in the τ -charm region. The multilayer drift chamber (MDC), which plays a crucial role in the measurements of momentum and dE/dx for charged particles generated during electron-positron collisions, has been operating for around 15 years. Hit efficiency is a fundamental performance criterion of the MDC. To analyze the spatial distribution of the hit efficiency and the stability during the operation over the past decade, a track-based analysis was performed using Bhabha events collected from 2012 to 2023. Decreasing in hit efficiency due to the aging effect was observed in the first three layers. A position-dependent behavior was studied, which may be related to beam-induced background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low dielectric loss value under large AC electric fields is highly desired for piezoelectric ceramics in high‐power applications. However, only a few reports have focused on studying or revealing the dielectric loss behavior and mechanism of piezoelectric ceramics under an AC electric field. In this work, x (Ca, Fe) co‐doped Pb0.96Sr0.04Zr0.53Ti0.47O3 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mol.%) hard piezoelectric ceramics (PSZT‐xCF) were selected for investigation. The lowest dielectric loss (@ E = 500 V mm−1) was 0.8% at x = 1.5 mol.% after aging for 30 days, which was a decrease by an order of magnitude compared with the counterpart pure PSZT. The origin of ultra‐low dielectric loss was thoroughly analyzed. Combined with Rayleigh's law, we investigated the reason behind the changes in dielectric permittivity under AC electric fields with aging time. The significant reduction in the contribution of extrinsic effect of domain wall motion dominated the reduction in dielectric loss because of the introduction of defect dipoles. This work provides a fundamental understanding of low dielectric loss piezoelectric ceramics under AC electric fields for high‐power applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it is aimed to consider whether the strain energy could evaluate the mechanical durability of wood. To investigate the aging effects on the mechanical properties of bulk wood and cellulose microfibrils in the cell walls of wood, XRD measurements were taken under tensile loading. Specimens were recent wood and wood used for 250 years (aged wood). Thermal modifications were further applied for additionally aging treatment of both specimens. The standardized strain energy of the bulk wood and cellulose microfibrils was exponentially reduced with increasing mass loss of specimens. The reduction degree of aged wood was smaller than that of recent wood. Using this phenomenon, it was proposed that the aging effect can be quantitatively evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]