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A combination of experimental and simulation methods is adopted to study the relationship between micro‐stress and micro‐strain of a single spherulite upon uniaxial tensile deformation. To verify the simulation results and establish a suitable spherulite model, large‐sized isotactic polypropylene spherulite is first cultured with isothermal crystallization, whose structural deformation upon application of uniaxial tension is recorded using a polarizing optical microscope. A nanoindenter is used to measure the elastic modulus of the spherulite and amorphous region, preparing the property parameters for numerical simulation. Modeling and meshing of the single spherulite are conducted with the finite element software ABAQUS. The entire deformation of the spherulite is analyzed with fixed strain as the boundary condition, and the microscopic stress and strain distribution inside and outside of the spherulite is obtained. The higher micro‐stress region mainly locates at two poles in the equatorial direction, where might be the origin of craze. Generally, the simulation result is basically consistent with the experimental deformation process, which provides a new idea for the study of microscale structure and performance. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to determine the presence of asbestos in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas of Attica, Greece affected by wildfires between 2018 and 2021. It concerns the first major campaign that took place in Greece. The samples tested in this work were collected from prespecified buildings of the burned area. The samples included different types of building materials such as bricks, wall coatings, insulation plates etc. Soil samples nearby the buildings were also collected to examine dispersion of the fibers. The identification of asbestos was based on the optical properties of the fibrous particles and was performed with stereo microscope and Polarized Light Microscopy according to P401 provided by BOHS (Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 2021). Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy was also used to validate the presence of asbestos and determine its chemical composition. In this work, 2 different types of asbestos were determined, chrysotile and crocidolite. In some cases, fragments of asbestos containing materials were also detected in the afore-mentioned soil samples indicating dispersion of asbestos containing debris in an area around the burned spots. The presence of asbestos that was identified in this preliminary study could raise concerns to humans in the urban areas. For that reason, a risk assessment for the identified asbestos containing materials (ACMs) was conducted according to the guidelines on management and abatement of ACMs of Health and Safety Authority and the Asbestos: Survey guide, Appendix 4: Material assessment algorithm of Health and Safety Executive (HSE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As environmental problems increase, disposable products are being replaced and recommended with materials with a low environmental load when it discarded. So the demand for bioplastics for building a sustainable society is increasing. This study focuses mainly on the applicability of biodegradable plastics and rosin maleic resin (RMR, DX‐250) blends with potential use in eco‐friendly hot‐melt adhesives (HMA). Poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT), which has high dimensional stability owing to low crystallinity, is used as the main polymer of the HMA. And rosin maleic resin, which is effective for increasing adhesive properties and compatibility as a tackifier. The HMA based on PBAT and RMR blends are prepared via melt‐blend extrusion. Compatibility and wettability are increased under the influence of RMR, and adhesion properties are improved, compared to that of PBAT. In addition, as confirmed polarizing microscope (POM), the addition of RMR leads to a decrease in crystallinity, which can be expected to be effective for biodegradation. This result PBAT/RMR 7/3 blend significantly enhances the adhesion strength of PBAT from 1.8 to 7.3 MPa. Therefore, PBAT with the blends containing 30 wt.% of RMR has considerable potential application in the HMA field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organelles in cells are appropriately positioned, despite crowding in the cytoplasm. However, our understanding of the force required to move large organelles, such as the nucleus, inside the cytoplasm is limited, in part owing to a lack of accurate methods for measurement. We devised a method to apply forces to the nucleus of living Caenorhabditis elegans embryos to measure the force generated inside the cell. We used a centrifuge polarizing microscope to apply centrifugal force and orientation-independent differential interference contrast microscopy to characterize the mass density of the nucleus and cytoplasm. The cellular forces moving the nucleus toward the cell center increased linearly at ~12 pN/μm depending on the distance from the center. The frictional coefficient was ~980 pN s/μm. The measured values were smaller than the previously reported estimates for sea urchin embryos. The forces were consistent with the centrosome-organelle mutual pulling model for nuclear centration. The frictional coefficient was reduced when microtubules were shorter or detached from nuclei in mutant embryos, demonstrating the contribution of astral microtubules. Finally, the frictional coefficient was higher than a theoretical estimate, indicating the contribution of uncharacterized properties of the cytoplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrographic studies have been carried out on the Early Miocene Darnó Conglomerate Formation, which consists only of debris of ophiolitic mélange and is found today on Darnó Hill in SW Bükk, NE Hungary. The studied sediments are bounded by the Darnó line from Darnó Hill. The aim of this work was to show if it is possible to reconstruct the petrographic composition of the source area only from its debris. The rock types were determined in thin sections using a polarizing microscope, and a quantitative analysis of the different rock types was carried out using the grain counting method, the results of which were interpreted as volume ratios. The main rock types observed in the studied samples (textural varieties of basalt, dolerite/microgabbro, claystone, siltstone, and radiolarite) are similar to the rock types of the mélange assemblage of Darnó Hill. Based on the volume calculations of basaltic detrital grains with different textures characteristic for pillow basalts, it could be established that pillow basalts dominated the igneous rocks in the source area of the Darnó Conglomerate on Darnó Hill already in the Miocene. Thus, this work shows that the lithological composition of a source area can be precisely outlined by a detailed petrographic analysis of the debris eroded from the immediate vicinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a case report of a 59-year-old woman initially misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but later diagnosed with immunoglobulin light‐chain (AL) amyloidosis. The patient presented with joint symptoms, swelling, and pain, which led to the misdiagnosis. Further examinations revealed amyloid deposition in tissues, confirming AL amyloidosis. Treatment with chemotherapy resulted in complete remission. The study highlights the importance of considering systemic amyloidosis in cases of arthropathy to ensure early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. [Extracted from the article]

This study involves the synthesis of asterism compounds (D1-D6) through the reaction of 1 mole of benzene 1,3,5-triol with 3 moles of prepared pentacyclic ring ester derivatives, dissolved in absolute ethanol. The validity of the compound structures was confirmed using physical and spectroscopic methods such as infrared spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, melting points and purity were determined, and reaction progress was monitored by Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC). The liquid crystal phases of certain prepared compounds were examined using a polarizing optical microscope (POM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, phase transition temperatures of nematic liquid crystals: 4-n alkoxy benzoic acid (nOBA, where n = 4 and 6) are determined from the Legendre moments of liquid crystal textures. Here, the image analysis technique in conjunction with polarizing optical microscope is used to compute the Legendre moments from the textures of liquid crystals. As a function of temperature, Liquid crystal textures are recorded from the arthroscopic mode of optical microscope. Changes in textural features of the sample with respect to temperature bring the variations in intensity values of liquid crystal textures. The brightness image that is generated from the liquid crystal textural patterns separates the information about fluctuations in intensity. In this approach, Legendre moments are computed from the brightness images of the liquid crystal textures and are plotted as a function of temperature. Significant variations in the brightness Legendre moment curve provide insight into the liquid crystal transition temperatures. Results obtained from the present methodology are compared with gray color textures data and the experimental technique of differential scanning calorimetry and are in good agreement with each other. This method is an objective and quantitative technique whereas POM method is qualitative and subjective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To enhance students' understanding of polymer crystallization and cultivate their research and innovation skills, three traditional independent experiments, namely differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing microscope (POM), and small-angle laser scattering (SALS), have been integrated into a systematic crystallization study. Our study focuses on biodegradable polymer polybutylene succinate (PBS), allowing for a comprehensive investigation of the crystallization process and characteristics from multiple perspectives. [Methods] This study investigates how the amorphous copolymer unit, butylene 2-methylsuccinate (BMS), affects the thermal properties, crystallization kinetics, and morphology of poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene 2-methylsuccinate) (PBSMS). The research was conducted collaboratively, with each team initially performing literature reviews and designing experiments tailored to their respective topics. Subsequently, each team formulated an experimental plan based on instructor feedback. During the experimental phase, they sequentially executed DSC, POM, and SALS experiments as per their assigned tasks. The data collected was then analyzed across teams working on similar topics to comprehensively assess the crystallization process. This analysis aimed to explore the impact of BMS on the crystallization behavior of PBSMS and to derive research conclusions. The findings from the study were systematically compiled into laboratory and course reports. During DSC experiments, a heating rate of 10 °C/s was chosen after eliminating the thermal history of the sample. The experiment was conducted at three set temperatures: 160 °C, 20 °C, and 160 °C. A small amount of polymer powder (about 0.3 mg) was heated between two glass slides and melted at 160 °C for 3 min, then rolled into a bubble-free film. These films were subsequently observed and photographed using POM at appropriate intervals. In the photographs, three fixed spheroids were selected, and their radii at different times were determined using the three-point method. These data were then fitted to obtain the average spheroid growth rate. Additionally, the films were observed using SALS to calculate the spheroid radius and ring spacing using the corresponding formulas. [Results] The study revealed the following: 1) As the BMS content decreased (0%-10%), the peak crystallization temperature and melting point of the polymer increased; 2) Within the 75 °C-80 °C range, the spheroid radial growth rate of PBSMS decreased as the BMS content increased at the same isothermal crystallization temperature; 3) At the same isothermal crystallization temperature, PBSMS with less amorphous copolymerization units exhibited larger, irregular zonal spherulites; 4) Different BMS concentrations (0%-10%) had different effects on the spheroid radius of PBSMS. [Conclusions] Through a series of comparative experiments and detailed analyses, we demonstrated that changes in BMS content significantly affect the peak crystallization temperature, melting point, spheroid morphology, and average growth rate during the isothermal crystallization of the PBSMS. The experimental results align with the theoretical knowledge and literature, enhancing understanding and mastery of the subject. Through these integrated experiments, students improved their skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific reasoning. Moreover, the course facilitated advanced research topics, guiding students to conduct scientific research training in teaching experiments and achieving the goal of integrating research with teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Qili Qiangxin capsule (QLQX) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used for treating MF, QLQX can affect ventricular remodeling by regulating collagen deposition; however, the specific mechanism by which QLQX modulates collagen homeostasis remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the effect of QLQX on collagen fibers and its mechanism of action in rats after myocardial infarction (MI). Rats were subjected to left anterior descending artery ligation and then were divided equally into five groups: sham, model, low-dose QLQX, high-dose QLQX and empagliflozin groups. QLQX treatment for 28 days significantly improved cardiac function, as evidenced by decreases in heart mass index, cardiac volume, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels, and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I levels and increases in left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson, and Picrosirius red staining under a light microscope indicated that QLQX treatment suppressed fibrosis and promoted angiogenesis by decreasing the protein expression levels of proteins related to cardiac remodeling including transforming growth factor-β1, metalloproteinase-9 and α-smooth muscle actin and increasing the expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 concentration. Picrosirius red staining under the polarized light microscope and western blotting showed that MI increased the contents of collagen I and III, and reduced the contents of collagen II and IV. QLQX treatment improved cardiac function and attenuated MF by modulating collagen homeostasis and promoting angiogenesis. This study provides novel insights into the mechanism of action of QLQX in preventing MF after MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PLA was melt-blended with a chain extender (CEAX8840) and a nucleating agent (ST-NAB3) by using a torque rheometer, and the microstructure, crystallization behavior, mechanical properties, and heat resistance of the modified PLA were characterized by suing scanning electron microscope, hot-plate polarizing microscope, differential scanning calorimeter, thermal deformation meter, universal testing machine, and impact tester. The results indicated that the modified PLA obtained the smallest crystal size at CEAX8840 and ST-NAB3 contents of 6 and 1 wt%, respectively; however, its crystal density was the highest. Moreover, the crystallization temperature and crystallinity degree of the modified PLA were increased to 123. 9 °C and 44. 9 %, respectively. In addition, its impact strength and thermal deformation temperature were increased to 64. 7 kJ/m² and 84. 9 °C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic amyloidosis involves the deposition of misfolded proteins in organs/tissues, leading to progressive organ dysfunction and failure. Congo red is the gold-standard chemical stain for visualizing amyloid deposits in tissue, showing birefringence under polarization microscopy. However, Congo red staining is tedious and costly to perform, and prone to false diagnoses due to variations in amyloid amount, staining quality and manual examination of tissue under a polarization microscope. We report virtual birefringence imaging and virtual Congo red staining of label-free human tissue to show that a single neural network can transform autofluorescence images of label-free tissue into brightfield and polarized microscopy images, matching their histochemically stained versions. Blind testing with quantitative metrics and pathologist evaluations on cardiac tissue showed that our virtually stained polarization and brightfield images highlight amyloid patterns in a consistent manner, mitigating challenges due to variations in chemical staining quality and manual imaging processes in the clinical workflow. Detecting amyloid deposits in tissue with Congo red can be limited by several factors, which can potentially lead to false diagnoses. Here, the authors use virtual birefringence imaging and virtual Congo red staining using autofluorescence of label-free human tissue, highlighting amyloid deposits in a consistent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased exploitation of ores leads to the generation of mining waste, which has a negative impact on the environment and human health. For this reason, it is necessary to take care of it in an adequate way by applying some of the possible treatments. In addition to protecting the environment by applying appropriate treatment, there is also the possibility of making a profit by valorizing useful elements from mining waste. In order to choose the most adequate treatment, it is necessary to perform the characterization of mining waste. This paper contains a detailed characterization of the flotation tailings deposited at the Old Flotation Tailings in eastern Serbia, originating from copper ore processing. Characterization includes physico-chemical analysis, polarizing microscope analysis, X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis analysis. The obtained results indicate that the investigated flotation tailings can be used as a secondary raw material for metal recovery, in this case primarily copper (whose content is about 0.24%), gold (with a content of about 0.43 ppm) and silver (with a content of about 1.7 ppm). Considering that the content of valuable elements is quite low, it is suggested to apply hydrometallurgical treatment for their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to freely control the polarization of X‐rays enables measurement techniques relying on circular or linear dichroism, which have become indispensable tools for characterizing the properties of chiral molecules or magnetic structures. Therefore, the demand for polarization control in X‐ray free‐electron lasers is increasing to enable polarization‐sensitive dynamical studies on ultrafast time scales. The soft X‐ray branch Athos of SwissFEL was designed with the aim of providing freely adjustable and arbitrary polarization by building its undulator solely from modules of the novel Apple X type. In this paper, the magnetic model of the linear inclined and circular Apple X polarization schemes are studied. The polarization is characterized by measuring the angular electron emission distributions of helium for various polarizations using cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy. The generation of fully linear polarized light of arbitrary angle, as well as elliptical polarizations of varying degree, are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Mineral Processing Section) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group 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.)

Most essential cellular functions are performed by proteins assembled into larger complexes. Fluorescence Polarization Microscopy (FPM) is a powerful technique that goes beyond traditional imaging methods by allowing researchers to measure not only the localization of proteins within cells, but also their orientation or alignment within complexes or cellular structures. FPM can be easily integrated into standard widefield microscopes with the addition of a polarization modulator. However, the extensive image processing and analysis required to interpret the data have limited its widespread adoption. To overcome these challenges and enhance accessibility, we introduce OOPS (Object-Oriented Polarization Software), a MATLAB package for object-based analysis of FPM data. By combining flexible image segmentation and novel object-based analyses with a high-throughput FPM processing pipeline, OOPS empowers researchers to simultaneously study molecular order and orientation in individual biological structures; conduct population assessments based on morphological features, intensity statistics, and FPM measurements; and create publication-quality visualizations, all within a user-friendly graphical interface. Here, we demonstrate the power and versatility of our approach by applying OOPS to punctate and filamentous structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims at developing a customized ammoxidation catalyst through optimizing the metal oxide content in CrVO4/SiO2 catalysts. Various amounts of Cr–V–O with 1:1 molar ratio of Cr/V were successfully loaded on SiO2 via spray-drying method with colloidal silica as the binder. Polarized light microscope illustrated that the CrVO4/SiO2 particles presented as well dispersed microspheres in the microsize (20–80 μm). X-ray diffraction spectra confirmed the formation of monoclinic CrVO4 phase wherein the metal oxide content was ranged from 30 to 70 weight percent. FT-IR spectra indicated that the introduction of metal oxide had no obvious effects on the skeletal structure of SiO2. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the valence state of V and Cr was hardly affected with increasing the metal oxide content. Performances of the obtained CrVO4/SiO2 catalysts with different metal oxide contents were investigated via the ammoxidation of a model compound, namely para-chlorotoluene (PCT) to para-chlorobenzonitrile (PCBN). A maximum conversion of 99.6% of PCT and 86.5% yield and 86.8% selectivity to PCBN have been obtained over the CrVO4/SiO2 catalyst with 60% weight of metal oxides at a temperature of 410 °C, n(PCT):n(NH3):n(air) = 1:3:15 and reaction load = 0.13 g/gCat·h. In addition, this catalyst was efficient and selective toward ammoxidation reactions of toluene, ortho- and meta-chlorotoluenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractOil-in-water emulsions were prepared by homogeneous emulsification using glycerol stearate (and) PEG-100 stearate (A165) as emulsifier and xanthan gum (XG) as thickener. The effects of oil and XG content on the stability and flow behavior of emulsion were studied by polarizing microscope and rheometer. The hydrogen bonding interaction between xanthan gum molecules was studied by molecular dynamics simulation, and then the interaction between xanthan gum and emulsifier was further studied. The results showed that when there is no xanthan gum and the emulsifier content is 3%, the oil content increased, the particle size decreased. When the oil content is constant, the emulsion particle size decreases at first and then increases with the XG content increasing, which is due to the accumulation of XG and emulsifier on the oil-water interface, and the interfacial film thickens. The flow behavior of O/W emulsion can be described by a power law function. The emulsion without XG is Newtonian fluid at low oil content, and when the oil content increased, it was transformed into non-Newtonian fluid. The viscosity and consistency index increased with the increase of XG, which is due to the hydrogen bond between XG and emulsifier. However, the flow behavior index decreased greatly, the degree of shear thinning of emulsion enhanced. XG increased the viscosity of the mobile phase, under shear force, the deformation degree of droplets and the degree of shear thinning were different. This study can provide a reference for further regulating the stability and flow characteristics of skin care emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a high-modulus, high-strength biodegradable thermoplastic polyester used in the packaging, textile and medical industries. Conventional plasticizers are usually non-biodegradable, the study used low molecular polyhexanediol succinate (PHS) blended with poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) to obtain a fully degradable system. The compatibility, crystallization and mechanical properties of the blended system were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing microscope and universal testing machine. The results show that the crystallinity of PLLA/PHS ratios of 100/0, 95/5, 90/10, 85/15, and 80/20 were 7.5%, 8.7%, 11.5%, 14.1%, and 14.2%, respectively. The crystallinity of the blends increased with increasing PHS content, indicating that PHS successfully promoted PLLA crystallization. In addition, the crystallization rate of 80/20 was increased 10-fold and the semi-crystallization time was halved compared to pure PLLA. The elongation at break of the blends increased from less than 10% for pure PLLA to about 60% (PHS content 20%), with a slight decrease in strength and modulus. The elastic modulus of the blends decreased continuously with the increase of the PHS content, from 2.25 GPa for pure PLLA to 1.86 GPa at 20% PHS content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) was modified by cellulose derivatives, and the effects of different kinds of cellulose derivatives on the crystallization and mechanical properties of PHBV were investigated. The crystallization and mechanical properties of PHBV/cellulose derivatives composites were measured by means of differential scanning calorimeter, polarizing microscope, and mechanical properties testing instruments. Studies show that cellulose acetate (CA) can promote the crystallization of PHBV, a small amount of CA can significantly increase the crystallization temperature of PHBV. The crystallization rate of PHBV was also accelerated by CA. However, the addition of cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) decreased the crystallization temperature of PHBV and inhibited the nucleation of PHBV. And the degree of inhibition increased with the increase of CAB and CAP content. CAB and CAP have good compatibility with PHBV, CAB, and CAP can be uniformly dispersed in PHBV. Cellulose derivatives with specific component content can enhance the tensile properties of PHBV without losing the impact strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present in vitro study is to investigate the effect of fluoride varnish and SDF on Enamel remineralization around orthodontic brackets bonded with RMGIC. Orthodontic brackets were bonded on 60 extracted premolars and they were divided into three groups of control, fluoride varnish group and SDF group. Then all the teeth were kept in thermocycling machine for 35 days and then premolars's lingual section of teeth were taken and were evaluated under polarized light microscope. Photomicrographs were made at 20x magnification. In control group, we saw microleakage in the area surrounding orthodontic brackets. White spot lesions were seen. In fluoride varnish group, we saw less amount of microleakage compared to control group and additionally we saw surface roughness and overhanging of material and because of acid etching, surface roughness was increased which may be because of caries in future due to improper cleaning and food lodgment. In silver diamine fluoride group, there was no microleakage compared to the control group and fluoride varnish group as there was no surface roughness surrounding orthodontic brackets. An overall strong positive outcome was observed, indicating that SDF was sufficient enough to reduce the incidence and depth of enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets. Hence advance considerations are required to be done in this prospect to toss more accentuation on SDF and its successful quality to inhibit demineralization and subsequently on dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical materials with non‐π‐conjugated units usually can exhibit large bandgaps, which are conducive to a wide ultraviolet (UV) transparency window. However, the relatively small structural anisotropy hinders the application of these materials as nonlinear optical (NLO) and birefringent materials. Herein, a universal strategy of dissimilating non‐π‐conjugated units is proposed to enhance birefringence, optimize phase‐matching (PM) wavelength, and maintain a large bandgap. The functionality of the series of hetero‐anionic units is distinguished in terms of optimizing birefringence and PM wavelength. In particular, the dimeric hetero‐anionic unit N(SO2F)2− with the dual‐heteroatom dissimilation is found to be a novel superior optical hereto‐gene. In addition, AN(SO2F)2 (A = Li, Na‐I, K‐I/II, H) and Ba(SO3CF3)2 are identified with large birefringence of approximately 0.051–0.106 at 546 nm, which are much larger than those of corresponding sulfates. HN(SO2F)2 exhibits a short PM wavelength (208 nm), a large NLO coefficient (≈ 2 × KDP), and an extremely short UV cutoff edge (149 nm). Experimental polarizing microscope measurement confirms that the birefringence of Pbca‐KN(SO2F)2 is significantly enhanced to 0.06 at 546.1 nm, which is 12 times higher than that of K2SO4. Finally, this strategy offers direction for the design and synthesis of novel NLO or birefringent materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries 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.)

Oleogel is a special gel system, regarded as an effective alternative to plastic fats in the food industry.Different gelation factors lead to different structural properties of oleogels due to their specific crystallization behavior.Here, the effects of four different esterification degrees of stearic acid including stearic acid(SA),glyceryl monostearate(GMS),glyceryl distearate(GDS),and glycerol tristearate(GTS) on the crystallization behavior in oleogels were investigated.The effects of esterification degree and concentrations of gelation factors on the crystallization behavior were explored by using rheology, X-ray diffraction,and polarized light microscope methods.The oleogels with SA, GMS, GDS and GTS exhibited solid-like behavior and formed strong gels.The oleogels with GMS has high oil-binding capacity.Thermodynamic performance results indicated that the oleogels with GMS exhibited superior thermal stability.They also were observed the most stable β-polymorphic structure and small needle-like crystals.FTIR spectroscopy revealed hydrogen bonding was observed in the oleogels with GMS, while it was not observed in the oleogels with SA, GDS, and GTS.Overall, the formation of hydrogen bonds between the two additional free hydroxyl end groups of GMS and the fatty acid carbonyl groups promoted the formation of a denser network structure in the oleogels with GMS, which can be effectively immobilized liquid oil.These findings provide strong theoretical support for the application of oleogels as substitutes for plastic fats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiferroics refer to materials with two or more ferroic orders in one phase within a specific temperature range, including ferroelectricity, ferroelasticity, and ferromagnetism which have been widely used in sensors, actuators, and memory devices. Among them, hybrid perovskites exhibiting multiferroicity are generally limited to low dimensions (0D–2D). Designing 3D lead‐free perovskite multiferroics remains a challenge due to Goldschmidt's tolerance factor limitation. Here, a multiferroic perovskite (R‐3AP)RbBr3 (1; 3AP = 3‐ammoniopyrrolidinium) is successfully synthesized by introducing homochirality to the 3D ferroelectric (Rac‐3AP)RbBr3, achieving both ferroelasticity and ferroelectricity. Compound 1 undergoes a structure phase transition at 401 K belonging to Aizu notation 432F2(s), which has 12 ferroelectric equivalent polarization directions and 6 polar axes. Furthermore, 1 exhibits reversible second harmonic generation switching effects. Moreover, while the temperature varies, the reversible and rapid changes of ferroelastic domains in 1 are observed using a polarizing microscope, indicating that it is a ferroelastic material. This work provides a practical method for designing and synthesizing molecule‐based multiferroics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the first F-containing iodate-phosphate, namely Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4), was prepared via a hydrothermal reaction, in which HPF6 (70 wt% solution in water) was used as the source of both fluoride and phosphate anions for the first time. Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) features an unprecedented 1D [Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4)]4− helix chain, composed of a 1D Ga(1)(IO3)O4F chain via the bridging of 0D Ga(2)(PO4)F5. The UV-Vis spectrum shows that Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) has a wide bandgap with a short-UV absorption edge (4.35 eV; 253 nm). Birefringence measurement under a polarizing microscope shows that Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) displays a moderate birefringence of 0.072@550 nm, which is consistent with the value (0.070@550 nm) obtained by DFT calculations, indicating that Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) has potential applications as a short-UV birefringent material. This study highlights the crucial role played by the incorporation of specific functional groups into compounds, shedding light on their contribution to promising inorganic functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polymer Materials Science & Engineering is the property of Sichuan University, Polymer Research Institute 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.)

In order to better apply starch as a polymer material in the material industry, it is necessary to modify starch. In this study, cassava starch was used as raw material, and it was pretreated and acetylated in an anhydrous medium. By controlling the change in reaction time, acetylated starch with different degrees of substitution was prepared. And the effects of pretreatment on the physicochemical properties of acetylated starch particles, as well as the differences in physicochemical properties between high degree of substitution starch and low degree of substitution starch, were investigated through characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction, polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope, contact angle measurement, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The results showed that pre-treatment could shorten the time required for acetylation of raw starch. The crystal diffraction peak of high degree of substitution acetylated starch disappeared, the polarized cross disappeared, and the morphology changed from circular to porous. It could be dissolved in organic solvents such as acetone. After 0.5 hours of acetylation reaction, the hydrophobic contact angle of pretreated starch could reach 69.006°±0.520°, the starch melting temperature decreased to 155 °C, and the decomposition temperature increased from 280 °C to 340 °C, enhanced the thermal stability of starch and possessed thermoplastic properties. This study can prepare acetylated starch with a degree of substitution of 2.5 within half an hour, which can be dissolved in organic solvents, providing new ideas for accelerating the application of starch in the material industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose liquid crystal solutions have been extensively studied, and the methylene length of mesogenic units has a significant influence on the properties of cellulose liquid crystal solutions. In this study, 4-(ω-(methylimidazole)alkyloxy)-4'-(cyano)-biphenyl (CBP-n) with 4–7 methylene lengths were synthesized as mesogenic units to prepare cellulose side chain liquid crystal in 1-Allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AMIMCl). And their liquid crystal properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in-situ infrared spectrometer (IR), torque rheometer, and polarizing microscope (POM). The results showed that CBP-n with 4–7 methylene lengths were thermotropic liquid crystal, and the cellulose/CBP-n/AMIMCl solutions were lyotropic liquid crystal when the concentration of cellulose is 6wt% and the concentration of CBP-n with methylene length 4 and 6 is 3wt%. In-situ IR proved that the liquid crystal formation of cellulose/CBP-n/AMIMCl solution was caused by the hydrogen bonding formed between cellulose and CBP-n. And the solutions have a fewer entanglement number and lower viscosity than those of methylene length 5 and 7, indicating that the hydrogen bonding interaction between CBP-n with even methylene length and cellulose molecule is stronger than that of odd methylene length. This study provides a new approach to produce cellulose fibers using cellulose/CBP-n/AMIMCl as a new renewable resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature's influence on the physical and mechanical properties of rocks is a crucial concern for the rational design of deep rock engineering structures and the assurance of their long-term stability. To systematically comprehend the impact of the evolution of mineral composition and micro characteristics on the physical and mechanical behavior of thermally damaged granite, we observed the microscopic structural defects inside the rocks with a polarizing microscope and revealed the thermal damage mechanism of granite from a microscopic perspective by combining ultrasound detection and XRD phase characteristic analysis. The results show that the physical properties of the specimens changed significantly at three characteristic temperature points: 400 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C. Under high temperature conditions, the diffraction intensity of all minerals in granite, except for quartz, generally decreased, and stable minerals decomposed. Albite and potash feldspar decomposed to form anorthoclase, thereby reducing the structural stability of the rock material. In addition, the peak width of various minerals decreased to varying degrees with increasing temperature. The increase in mineral volume further damaged the internal structure of the rock material while promoting the transformation from grain boundary to intergranular cracks and from intragranular cracks to transgranular cracks, ultimately forming a interconnected crack network. Thermal damage significantly reduced the longitudinal wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, and elastic modulus of the specimens, while the stress–strain curve relationship indicated that the specimens underwent two opposite processes of transformation from brittleness to ductility and then from ductility to brittleness. The thermal damage threshold of granite in this study was 600 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diagnostic investigation was carried out on twelfth century Byzantine wall paintings preserved in the Museum of Byzantine and Norman Culture and Figurative Arts of San Marco d'Alunzio (Messina, Italy) on the occasion of recent restoration works. First, the wall paintings were analyzed using portable X-Ray Fluorescence (p-XRF) and Fiber Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) to obtain a non-invasive preliminary identification of the original palette. Then, five fragments were sampled for a micro-stratigraphy study using Digital Optical Microscope (DOM), Polarizing Optical Microscope (POM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS) to characterize the mortars and the blue and black pigments non unequivocally identified through non-invasive techniques. The palette included mainly earthen pigments like red and yellow ochres, green earth, and more valuable lapis lazuli blue applied on a bone black layer; while the analysis of mortars found on the different apses showed the same manufacturing technique and constitutive materials: lime-based binder with the addition of quartz, and rare calcareous lithic fragments as aggregate. The obtained results shed light on the pictorial technique used for the wall paintings and allowed us to compare the Sicilian pictorial cycle with the coeval Byzantine wall paintings preserved in Sardinia and Southern Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] With the rapid increase in construction projects in the western regions in recent years, the impact of seasonal freeze-thaw cycles in the high-altitude areas of western China has become more pronounced. Conducting research on the microscopic characteristics and strength degradation properties of rocks under freeze-thaw cycles is crucial for guiding engineering construction in these cold, high-altitude regions. [Methods] To study the influence of freeze-thaw cycles on rock structure and mechanical properties, we collected diorite samples from a tunnel in the Kangding area and examined the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on their microstructure and mechanical characteristics. Firstly, thin rock sections were observed under a polarizing microscope to obtain mineral compositions and microstructures. Then, CT scanning technology was used to scan the granite samples after freeze-thaw cycles, and the scanned layers were binarized using threshold segmentation. The scanning images of different layers were binarized using threshold segmentation, and highresolution 3D data and images of the internal and external structures of the samples were obtained by stacking the binary image layers. Fractal theory was applied to calculate the box-counting dimension of the images and quantitatively assess their complexity. This analysis allowed us to examine the evolution and distribution characteristics of the internal structure of granite under freeze-thaw cycles. [Results] Under a polarizing microscope' the rock exhibits a block-like structure with a patchy, coarse-grained, and unequal-grained granite texture, with locally visible metasomatic worm structures. The main phenocryst minerals are alkaline feldspar. Other minerals range in size from 0.25 to 4.0 mm and primarily include quartz, plagioclase, and alkaline feldspar. Secondary minerals include biotite and epidote, while accessory minerals comprise apatite, zircon, and pyrite. Microscopically, the rock is identified as porphyritic, coarse-grained, and unequal-grained biotite diorite granite. Freeze-thaw cycles were applied to the granite samples in the laboratory to study the strength evolution and explore the relationship between structural evolution and strength. The results indicate that the freeze-thaw cycle effect leads to an overall increase in the internal porosity of the granite's microstructure, though the rock's permeability changes minimally, with an increase of only 0.003x10-3 µm² The internal pore development is uneven, primarily due to the emergence of new micropores, causing changes in the overall structure of the sample. After freeze-thaw cycles, the complexity of the internal structure of the rock decreases, but the overall integrity remains good, with the fractal dimension staying at a high level. Fractal analysis shows that 20 freeze-thaw cycles do not cause significant changes in the structural complexity of granite. However, the overall mechanical properties of the sample decline, viscosity increases, and long-term strength shows significant attenuation, raising the strain threshold for entering the creep test stage. [Conclusion] When evaluating the safety of rocks with dense primary structures, considering only their structure may lead to deviations from the actual situation. It is essential to combine necessary strength indicators for a comprehensive evaluation. After undergoing freeze-thaw cycles, rocks tend to exhibit more significant deformation while maintaining lower strength. Therefore, appropriate treatments are required for construction in high-altitude areas. [Significance] This study provides a reference for applying fractal theory to the evolution of rock microstructure and the relationship between rock microstructure and strength evolution. It also offers valuable guidance for engineering construction in high-altitude and cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study focuses on elucidating the interaction mechanisms between ZnCuGaS2 quantum dots (QDs) and nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) (5CB), intending to comprehend how this interaction leads to the alteration of electro-optical properties of the host material. Various concentrations of QDs were incorporated into NLCs and investigated to examine their emission and transmittance characteristics. Remarkably, an enhancement (~68%) in photoluminescence was observed for the concentration of 0.04 wt. %, adding an intriguing aspect to the findings. A notable decrease in the threshold voltage, from 1.5 V (in pure NLC) to 0.5 V, was observed for the optimised concentration (0.04 wt. %) calculated using transmittance-voltage measurement. This sample exhibited a noteworthy improvement in optical transmission, showing an increase by 2.7 times compared to pure NLC. Fundamentally, the introduction of QDs leads to a reduction in light leakage centres and ionic impurities, consequently enhancing radiative recombination. Moreover, the memory effect of the sample was evident in the capacitance-voltage data, revealing that the NLC with QDs significantly increased the capacitance value from 290 pF to 466 pF when compared to the pure NLC. The objective of the present research is to examine the impact of QDs on NLC concerning key parameters such as mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligodontia can be isolated or syndromic, associated with other ectodermal abnormalities. The aim of the study was to perform hair examination in orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia with a low clinical expression of symptoms of ectodermal origin. All available orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia in the permanent dentition were enrolled. Hair examination included clinical evaluation of the patients' hair, trichoscopy, trichogram and evaluation of the hair shafts under a polarized light microscope. In total, 25 patients, 18 males and 7 females, aged 6 to 24 years were evaluated for the presence of dental and hair abnormalities. The number of congenitally absent teeth ranged from 6 to 24 teeth and diastemas, microdontia, taurodontism and altered tooth shape were found in 23 patients. Hair disorders were found in 68% of the subjects. Hypotrichosis, the heterogeneity of shaft color and loss of pigment, androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, trichoschisis, pili canaliculi, trichorrhexis nodosa and pseudomoniletrix were observed. Trichoscopy and trichogram are valid non-invasive diagnostic tests which could be used to differentiate between isolated and syndromic oligodontia in patients with a low clinical expression of ectodermal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of temperature (22, 24, 26, 28, and 30°C) and strain (0.1%, 1%, and 5%) on cocoa butter (CB) crystallization were investigated by oscillatory test, and the four‐parameter Gompertz model was used to interpret the effect of parameters on pre‐crystallization, nucleation, and crystal growth stages of CB. Lag time and growth rate were calculated using the Gompertz model using time‐dependent storage modulus (G′) data. According to the results, CB crystallization at 26°C with a 1% strain value had the highest growth rate value, the shortest lag time, and the formation of βv polymorph type. Followingly, polymorphic types of the CB crystals were determined based on the melting points of polymorphs via the temperature ramp step, and the results obtained were correlated with a polarized light microscope. In conclusion, using a rheometer in both the observation of the pre‐crystallization process and the determination of polymorph types is very important for research and development studies in the chocolate industry for process and formulation optimization. Practical Application: This study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel approach for investigating crystallization and oscillatory shear of CB using a rheometer, both for observing crystallization kinetics and determining polymorph type, accompanied by the Gompertz equation to model the crystallization kinetics. According to the results, the effect of process parameters (temperature and shear) on the crystallization behavior of CB can be observed by rheometer, which can provide a detailed perspective for chocolate manufacturers and researchers in research and development studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/starch composites were prepared. The effects of several surfactants on the mechanical properties of the composites were compared, and the best surfactants were selected to study the effects of their dosage on the properties of the composites. The mechanical properties, melt flow, hydrophilic and thermal properties of PBAT/starch composites were analyzed, and the molecular structure and microstructure morphology of the composites were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and polarization microscope. The results show that sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) has a better modification effect on starch. When the dosage of SDBS is 15 g, the tensile strength of the composite is 10.15 MPa, and the elongation at break is 639.49%. With the increase of SDBS, the melt flow rate of composites first decreases and then changes little, the hydrophilicity increases, and the crystallization temperature increases, but the effect on the melting temperature is not significant. Polarization microscopy shows that the crystal refinement and the size decreases. Infrared characterization shows an increasing trend in the intensity of the response peak at 3 340 cm-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to develop optical films that can be applied to window films and high-brightness films, self-produced A masterbatch, B masterbatch and film-grade polyester were used to prepare biaxially oriented polyester (BOPET) films by extrusion casting machine and tensile test machine. The microstructure, roughness, optical properties, friction coefficient and mechanical properties of BOPET films were studied by polarizing microscope, line roughness meter, non-contact 3D surface profiler, transmission fog shadowgraph, gloss meter, friction coefficient meter and material tensile machine. The results show that the opening agent is a spherical structure, the size is in the submicron level, showing a monodisperse state. When the content of the opening agent (B masterbatch) is 0.012 5%, the roughness of the film surface Ra≤23 μm, Sa≤17 μm, haze, transmittance, clarity, gloss can reach 0.88%, 90.8%, 99.6% and 136 GU, respectively. The static friction coefficient/dynamic friction coefficient is 0.36/0.30. The anti-bonding effect is good and the mechanical properties are excellent. The prepared BOPET film is a kind of low fog and high definition BOPET film with good comprehensive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polarized light microscope (PLM) was utilized to examine the optical textures of mesophase pitch (MP) and MP-derived fibers, which aimed to reveal the arrangement and orientation characteristics of pitch molecules and to clarify the evolution and transformation mechanism of carbonaceous microcrystalline from pitch fibers to graphitized fibers. The results found that there were distinct optical textures in MP, where one side exhibited a transition from a flattening plane to a mountain-like undulating plane. This transition corresponded to the arrangement of pitch molecules, resembling stacked lamellar structures reminiscent of curved paper. Meanwhile, the optical textures of fibers revealed that the blue substance was wrapped around the red grain-like domains in the longitudinal section and confirmed that the red part belonged to the pyridine insoluble fraction of MP and the blue part belonged to its pyridine-soluble fraction. After graphitization, the red part was transformed into graphite sheets and the blue part was transformed into an amorphous carbon layer which was wrapped around the graphite sheets, forming a carbonaceous microcrystalline package-like bag. Therefore, this study provided a comprehensive interpretation of the structural evolution mechanism of MP and MP-derived fibers based on their macro-optical textures and micro-nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The present paper reports the results of the analyses performed on the wall paintings of Room E of the Domus delle Pitture (Room of the Paintings) in the Roman archaeological site of Volsinii Novi (Bolsena, Viterbo, Central Italy) aimed at supporting the recently concluded restoration. (2) Methods: ultraviolet fluorescence photography was conducted to evaluate the conservation state. Painting materials were investigated via portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (p-XRF), µ-Raman spectroscopy, cross-section analysis under polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. (3) Results: This analysis revealed the presence of traditional pigments used in Roman wall paintings, such as ochres, earths, and Egyptian blue. Additionally, it identified pigments from previous restoration containing titanium and chromium, along with other materials present in the surface and interface of the wall painting containing arsenic, copper, lead, and vanadium, where a bluish alteration was observed. In these samples, µ-Raman spectroscopy detected calcium oxalates but also copper arsenates, likely conichalcite and/or duftite. (4) Conclusions: This result is highly relevant from an analytical point of view and in relation to the restoration decisions. Addressing the irregular bluish stains on the wall paintings poses challenges in understanding, requiring a decision on whether to remove or retain them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between fluoride concentration and mineral distribution within the dentinal lesion body. Methods. Remineralization of artificial deep dentinal lesions with various levels of fluoride was studied using a scanning electron microscope, microhardness tests, and polarized light microscope. Human molars were exposed to demineralization at pH 5.0 for 2 weeks. Then, they were divided into different groups for remineralization with different fluoride concentrations (0.1–10.0 ppm) for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Results. The results indicated a proportional relationship between fluoride concentration and dentinal lesion remineralization from 0.1 to 10.0 ppm. In the present study, the formation of a well-remineralized surface layer inhibited remineralization at the lesion front. On the other hand, the lesion front remineralization was found to be independent of fluoride concentration. Conclusion. Our results stated that for effective remineralization of dentinal lesions to the innermost part, fluoride levels from 1.0 to 5.0 ppm have the highest efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal morphology and conformational changes during crystallization of a polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) are the basis for understanding its crystallization process. In this work, novel rare-earth β-nucleating agent WBN-28 was directly added into PPR to induce β-crystallization. The results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that it has an excellent β-crystal-induced effect. The β-crystal content could surpass 85%, calculated from wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) data. The morphology of the β-crystal and α-crystal was intuitively observed via a polarizing optical microscope (POM). The β-crystallites were interconnected to naturally develop plate-like crystalline regions possessing a certain size, and the α-crystallites with sufficient thicknesses possessed a cross-hatched phenomenon. The bundle-like supramolecular structure of the β-crystal induced by WBN-28 was further observed via a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The conformational changes in the crystallization process of PPR were resolved via high-resolution infrared spectroscopy to understand its β-crystallization in depth. The conformational changes during the crystallization of PPR were found to be different from those of the isotactic polypropylene homopolymer (PPH); they had their own characteristics. This will provide guidance for understanding the β-crystallization of PPR in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AgNbO3 (AN) lead-free antiferroelectric material has attracted great attention in recent years. However, little focus has been directed toward a single crystal that can provide more basic information. In this study, we successfully grew high-quality AN single crystals, using a flux method, with dimensions of 5 × 5 × 3 mm3. A systematic investigation into the crystal structure, domain structure, and electrical properties of a [001]-oriented AN single crystal was conducted. X-ray diffraction and domain structure analysis revealed an orthorhombic phase structure at room temperature. Stripe-like 90° domains aligning parallel to the [110] direction with a thickness of approximately 10–20 μm were observed using a polarized light microscope. The temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity showed M1-M2, M2-M3, and M3-O phase transitions along with increasing temperature, but the phase transition temperatures were slightly higher than those of ceramic. The AN single crystal also exhibited double polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops, which enabled good recoverable energy-storage density and efficiency comparable to ceramic. Additionally, double P-E loops were kept stable at various temperatures and frequencies, demonstrating robust stability and confirming typical antiferroelectric characteristics. Our work provides valuable insights into understanding the fundamental antiferroelectric properties of AN-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of cryopreservation, recrystallization during rewarming is a significant factor leading to cryo-injury, causing ice crystal-induced mechanical injury to biological samples. Currently, methods, such as adding ice recrystallization inhibiting agents and increasing warming rates, have been adopted to reduce recrystallization injury. These methods also greatly increase the potential toxicity risk and engineering difficulty of cryopreservation. Accumulating research has progressively demonstrated that application of an electromagnetic field during cryopreservation can influence the preservation efficacy. However, the mechanism of action of the electric field has remained a subject of ongoing debate. We observed the recrystallization phenomenon of cryoprotectant solutions under a polarized light microscope and discovered promising experimental results. The electric field strength did not exhibit a discernible impact on the ice crystal size, while electric field frequency exerted a more significant impact. We found that at specific frequencies, the ice crystal size and growing rate were significantly affected during annealing. Compared to no electric field, an alternating electric field with a voltage of 10 V and a frequency of 5 × 104 Hz increased the recrystallization areas of a 15% (w/v) propylene glycol solution by 57%. And an alternating electric field with a voltage of 3 V and a frequency of 5 × 108 Hz decreased the recrystallization area of a 0.9% (w/v) NaCl aqueous solution by 9.9%. Different types of cryoprotectants exhibit varying responses to alternating electric fields frequency. These findings prompt us to reevaluate the role and mechanism of alternating electric fields in the cryopreservation of biological materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New benzidine-based oligomers containing four Schiff base arms with terminal alkoxy chains CnH2n+1 (n = 6–12) were characterized by elemental, spectroscopic (UV, FT-IR, and NMR) and DFT techniques. The thermal-optical behaviors were observed using differential calorimetry and polarized optical microscope. Upon heating the molecules with n = 8, 10, and 12 exhibited endothermic peaks characteristic of the crystal-soft crystal B transition in addition to crystal-crystal subphases. It can be generalized that all oligomers showed unusual curing temperature of which the compounds with odd alkoxy chain carbon numbers possess lower curing temperatures in comparison with the analogous compounds of even parity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In last few decades, polymer electrolyte is the most promising candidate for the fabrication of electrochemical devices. In current work, the influence of adding the room‐temperature ionic liquid (trifluoromethanesulfonic chloride – CClF3O2S) in polyethylene oxide (PEO): ammonium iodide (NH4I) polymer electrolyte has been studied. The IL‐doped polymer electrolyte films are synthesized by solution casting method with varying stoichiometric ratios. Several experimental techniques including optical polarizing microscope, impedance spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Linear sweep voltammetry, Ionic transference number thermal analysis, and electrical conductivity measurements at room temperature have been studied in detail. The complex material's maximum conductivity has been determined to be 3.3 × 10−5 S cm−1 at room temperature. The POM images show the increase in amorphous region which further confirm the improvement in ionic conductivity. Ionic transference number 0.96 shows the system is purely ionic in nature. The ESW of the IL doped polymer electrolyte is also sawed to be 3.32 V which is suitable for the fabrication of electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degree of homogeneity of the sintered ore phase structure directly determines its quality index. A sinter ore quality evaluation method based on the quantification of the homogeneity of the mineral phase structure is proposed. First, the magnetite particle size characteristics in the ore phase structures with different degrees of homogeneity were summarized under a polarized light microscope, and a criterion for evaluating the uniformity of the sintered ore phase structure based on the magnetite content of different particle size grades was determined. Second, a multiple regression model was established for the raw material composition ratio of magnetite with varying particle size grades. Finally, the multiple regression model was optimized using the second-generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA2). The results show that mineral phase structure analysis categorized the magnetite particle sizes into <30 μm, 30~60 μm, and >60 μm. The adjusted R2 of the multiple regression model of the chemical composition of raw materials and the proportion of magnetite of each particle size grade were all greater than 0.95, and the p values were all <0.05, indicating a high degree of model fitting. Using model analysis, the single factor and the interaction between the multiple factors that significantly influence the proportion of magnetite in the three particle size grades were determined. The multivariate regression model was optimized using the NSGA2 algorithm to determine the ratios of Al2O3 mass% = 1.82, MgO mass% = 1.50, and R(CaO mass%/SiO2 mass%) = 1.84 for the highest degree of uniformity of the sintered ores. Under this sintering condition, the micro-mineral phase structure became more homogeneous, confirming the model's reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the lightweight production requirements of automobiles and achieve high strength, reinforced thermoplastic composite materials are gradually replacing metal materials. Injection molding is the preferred manufacturing method to enable the production of complex‐shaped parts, facilitate production, and reduce costs. In this study, carbon fiber (CF) was added to the commonly used resin‐reinforcing material, polyamide (nylon) PA6, to create a CF‐reinforced thermoplastic composite (polyamide 6 [PA6]/CF) that was welded using injection molding. This study not only investigates the impact of different welding conditions on shear strength but also discusses the sequence of welding. Achieving 85% of the shear strength of the PA6 base material under ideal circumstances. The CF distribution and reinforcement mechanism were analyzed by observing the connection interface and cross section using a polarizing microscope and a scanning electron microscope. When PA6/CF was used as the secondary molded body, the welding results were better. The addition of CF had a significant strengthening effect on the strength of the PA6 injection welding. Highlights: Carbon fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composite materials were prepared, and welding with PA6 was achieved using the injection molding method.The optimal welding parameters were determined by varying the mold, injection speed, injection temperature, and order of injection. The maximum welding shear strength reached 85% of the base material shear strength.The positive effect of specific fiber distribution on welding strength was analyzed by observing the interface using a scanning electron microscope and a polarizing microscope.This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of welding processes for carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials, offering possibilities for connecting dissimilar materials with poor compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fabric/polyphenylene sulfide (CF/PPS) composite has been used in the aircraft industry, which might suffer moisture and high temperature in service, leading to degradation and even failure. Therefore, knowledge of hydrothermal aging behavior and effects is needed to ensure service life. This work explores the water diffusion behavior, crystallization, and interfacial properties of CF/PPS composite under hydrothermal aging in continuous 3 months and periodical cycles. Diffusion coefficients were calculated through the Fickian model, crystallization behaviors were measured through differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscope, and interfacial properties were characterized by interfacial shear strength, and interlaminar shear strength. The results demonstrate the crystal morphology transforms from transverse crystals to spherulites at the CF/PPS interface after recrystallization through hydrothermal aging, revealing water has a significant impact on the nucleation performance of T300 carbon fiber in the PPS matrix. Hydrothermal aging affects the crystallinity and crystal morphology of CF/PPS composite after recrystallization, and impacts the micro and macro interfacial properties. Highlights: Transverse crystals transform to spherulites at CF/PPS interface after water uptake.Water impacts on nucleation performance of T300 carbon fiber in PPS matrix.Hydrothermal aging effect can be accumulated and promotes water uptake.ILSS drop is related to water uptake content, crystallization and IFSS changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, oxazolones have shown promising results due to their biological behavior. The purpose of this study is to synthesize novel oxazolone derivatives possessing antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. In the present study, two novel series of oxazolone derivatives were synthesized. In Scheme-1, p-substituted benzoyl glycines was fused with 4-n-octyloxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde to yield corresponding oxazolone derivatives (1–6). In Scheme-2, 4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxybenzaldehydes were fused with 4-n-butyloxybenzoylglycine to yield the novel oxazolone (azlactone) compounds (1′-4′). The TLC was used to assess the purity of the synthesized compounds. All the compounds were characterized using elemental analysis, FT-IR and 1H NMR. All the compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus showing good to moderate antibacterial activity as compared to the standard streptomycin. The cytotoxicity of the prepared compounds was assessed using a seed-infusion technique. All the synthesized compounds are non-mesogenic in nature as observed using a polarizing optical microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]