Long-term storage under pressure in deep sea improved the microbiological safety and physical properties of whale meat.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of deep-sea pressure storage on the quality of whale meat, especially microbiological safety and physical properties, to examine the effectiveness of deep-sea storage for long-term aging of whale meat. Microbiological safety, physical properties, color and appearance, water content, water activity, and pH of whale meat were examined after storage in the deep sea at depths of 2200-6000 m (22-60 MPa) for 4 months. During storage under high pressure at a depth of >4000 m (40 MPa), the growth of aerobic bacteria was inhibited in whale meat. The toughness of whale meat stored in deep sea at a depth of >4000 m became significantly tender than that before deep-sea storage. Long-term storage of whale meat under high pressure and low-temperature conditions in the deep sea at a depth of >4000 m was clarified to improve the microbiological safety and tenderness of whale meat.

Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of pectin from Actinidia arguta Sieb.et Zucc (A. arguta) extracted by ultrasonic.

Pectin was extracted from Actinidia arguta Sieb. et Zucc (A.arguta) using the ultrasound-assisted acid method and the single acid method. The physicochemical properties, structure, and antioxidant properties of two different pectins were investigated. The results showed that the extraction yield of the ultrasound-assisted acid method is higher than that of the single acid method. The molecular structure of A. arguta pectin extracted by the ultrasound-assisted acid method belongs to a mixed structure of RG-I and HG-type domains. Through structural feature analysis, the ultrasound-assisted extraction pectin (UAP) has a more branched structure than the single acid-extracted pectin (SAP). The SAP has a higher degree of esterification than the UAP. The physical property results show that the viscosity, solubility, and water-holding capacity of the UAP are better than those of the SAP. The antioxidant test results show that the hydroxyl radical scavenging and reducing powers of the UAP are superior to those of the SAP. This study shows the composition, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity of A. arguta pectin extracted by the ultrasonic-assisted extraction method to provide a theoretical basis for its application as an antioxidant and other food additives in the food industry.

[Molding law of traditional Chinese medicine gel plaster based on physicochemical properties of raw materials and intermediates].

This paper aims to study the correlation between the physicochemical properties of raw materials and intermediates and the molding quality and law of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) gel plaster by using TCM slices and powder as raw materials. 48 TCM compounds are selected as model prescriptions to prepare gel plasters. The rotational rheometer is used to determine the rheological parameters of the plaster, including storage modulus(G'), loss modulus(G″), yield stress(τ), and creep compliance [J(t)]. The molding quality of the prepared TCM gel plaster is evaluated by subjective and objective measures. Clustering and principal component analysis are conducted to evaluate the physical properties of the plaster. By measuring the rheological properties of the plaster, the molding quality of the TCM gel plaster can be predicted, with an accuracy of 83.72% after seven days of modeling and 88.37% after 30 days of modeling. When the parameters such as G' and G″ of the plaster are large, and the [J(t)] is small, the molding quality of the plaster is better. When the plaster coating point is no less than 3, it is difficult to be coated. In addition, when the proportion of metal ions in the prescription is higher, the 30-day forming quality of the plaster is mainly affected, and the viscosity of the plaster is poor. If the prescription contains many acidic chemical components, the 7-day forming quality of the plaster is mainly affected, with many residuals. The results suggest that the rheological properties of the plaster can be used to predict the molding quality of TCM slice and powder gel plaster. It can provide a reference for the development of TCM gel plaster prescriptions.

Sustainable high-strength and dimensionally stable composites through in situ regulation and reconstitution of bamboo-derived lignin and hemicellulose contents.

The development of modern construction and transportation industries demands increasingly high requirements for thin, lightweight, high-strength, and highly tough composite materials, such as metal carbides and concrete. Bamboo is a green, low-carbon, fast-growing, renewable, and biodegradable material with high strength and toughness. However, the density of its inner layer is low due to the functional gradient (the volume fraction of vascular bundles decreases from the outer layer to the inner layer), resulting in low performance, high compressibility, and significant amounts of bamboo waste. We utilized chemical and mechanical treatments of bamboo's low-density, low-strength inner layers to create lightweight, ultra-thin, high-strength, and high-toughness composites. The treatment included the partial removal of lignin and hemicellulose to alter the chemical components, followed by mechanical drying and hot pressing. The treated bamboo had 100.8 % higher tensile strength (150.35 MPa), 47.7 % higher flexural strength (97.67 MPa), and 132.0 % higher water resistance and was approximately 68.9 % thinner than the natural bamboo. The excellent physical and mechanical properties of the treated bamboo are attributed to the contraction of parenchyma cells during delignification, the interlocking due to the collapse of parenchyma cells during mechanical drying, and an increase in the density of hydrogen bonds between cellulose molecular chains during hot pressing. Our research provides a new strategy for obtaining sustainable, ultra-thin, lightweight, high-strength, and high-toughness composite materials from bamboo for construction and transportation applications.

Effects of cooking methods on the physical properties and in vitro digestibility of starch isolated from Chinese yam.

The objective of this study was to compare the structural and functional attributes of Chinese yam starches obtained via different domestic cooking methods. Cooking changed the crystalline type from the C type to the CB type, and disrupted the short- and long-range molecular order of Chinese yam starch. The average chain length of amylopectin in BOS (boiling starch) was the smallest at 22.78, while RWS had the longest average chain length, reaching 24.24. These alterations in molecular structure resulted in variations in functional properties such as solubility, swelling power (SP), pasting characteristics, and rheological properties. Among these alterations, boiling was the most effective method for increasing the water-binding capacity and SP of starch. Specifically, its water holding capacity was 2.12 times that of RWS. In vitro digestion experiments indicated that BOS has a higher digestion rate (k = 0.0272 min-1) and lower RDS (rapidly digestible starch), which may be related to its amylopectin chain length distribution. This study can guide us to utilize yam starch through suitable cooking methods, which is relevant for the processing and application of Chinese yam starch.

A comprehensive review of the mechanisms on fish stress affecting muscle qualities: Nutrition, physical properties, and flavor.

Fish inevitably face numerous stressors in growth, processing, and circulation. In recent years, stress-related change in fish muscle quality has gradually become a research hotspot. Thus, the understanding of the mechanism regarding the change is constantly deepening. This review introduces the physiological regulation of fish under stress, with particular attention devoted to signal transduction, gene expression, and metabolism, and changes in the physiological characteristics of muscular cells. Then, the influences of various stressors on the nutrition, physical properties, and flavor of the fish muscle are sequentially described. This review emphasizes recent advances in the mechanisms underlying changes in muscle quality, which are believed to be involved mainly in physiological regulation under stress. In addition, studies are also introduced on improving muscle quality by mitigating fish stress.

Effect of super absorbent hydrogel on hydro-physical properties of soil under deficit irrigation.

Due to water scarcity challenges, efficient management of irrigation water is becoming crucial. Water use efficiency (WUE) involves increasing crop productivity without increasing water consumption. This study was carried out to study the effect of hydrogel, deficit irrigation and soil type on WUE, soil hydro-physical properties and lettuce productivity. For this purpose, four irrigation treatments (100%, 85%, 70% and 60% of full irrigation requirements), four hydrogel concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% w/w) and three soil textural classes (clay, loamy sand, and sandy-clay soil) were conducted in pot experiment at open field during two consecutive seasons. The results revealed that crop growth parameters and soil hydro-physical properties were significantly affected by hydrogel application rates. Hydrogel addition significantly enhanced head fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll content, number of leaves and WUE. Application of hydrogel at 0.3% and 85% of irrigation requirements achieved the highest WUE without significant yield reductions. Changes in the studied hydro-physical properties of soil were more dependent on soil texture and hydrogel application rate than on the amount of irrigation water. The significant decrease in soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and bulk density confirms that super absorbent hydrogels could be recommended to improve soil water retention and enhance water use efficiency under deficit irrigation conditions.

Flexible Denture: A Literature Review.

Careful consideration of material properties used to construct denture base material in removable partial dentures (RPDs) is required for a successful outcome. Because of nylon's flexible nature, nylon denture bases are a widely used alternative material to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in RPDs. Flexible dentures help with retention by creating a seal around the denture's border. In this study, we review current evidence on flexible dentures and provide an overview of their uses, advantages, and disadvantages. We conducted electronic research of English-language articles written between 2018 and 2023 that addressed the different physical and mechanical properties of flexible dentures. Flexible dentures' water sorption did not exceed ISO standards. Other physical properties we investigated, such as color stability and polymerization shrinkage, were lower in flexible dentures than in PMMA. Mechanical properties showed a lower value compared to PMMA, such as surface roughness and hardness, and impact strength. However, flexural strength was controversial. Retention was better in PMMA compared to flexible dentures. Finally, the retention of acrylic teeth compared to flexible dentures was better with the provision of extra mechanical retention means. Therefore, it is important to examine flexible dentures' properties, indications, advantages, and disadvantages when offering patients this solution.

Exploring the influence of pressure-induced semiconductor-to-metal transition on the physical properties of cubic perovskites FrXCl3 (X = Ge and Sn).

Even though lead halide perovskites have outstanding physiochemical properties and improved power conversion efficiency, most of these compounds threaten their future commercialization because of their instability and highly toxic nature. Thus, it is preferable to use stable alternative elements rather than lead to make environmentally friendly perovskite material that will have comparable optical and electronic properties to those constructed from Pb-based perovskites. However, devices constructed from lead-free perovskites typically display a lower power conversion efficiency. Applying hydrostatic pressure could be deemed an effective method to alter the physical properties of these compounds. This not only improves their performance in application but also reveals significant correlations between structure and properties. This work uses DFT to investigate the structural, electronic, optical, and elastic properties of non-toxic, francium-based halide perovskites FrXCl3 (X = Ge, Sn) at different levels of hydrostatic pressures that vary from 0 to 10 GPa. The estimated structural parameter's strong correlation with the data from earlier studies ensures the accuracy of the current findings. Pressure causes the Fr-Cl and Ge (Sn)-Cl bonds to shorten and become stronger. The electronic property calculations demonstrated that both compounds are direct band-gap semiconductors. The application of pressure leads to a linear reduction in the band gap (semiconducting to metallic state) and raises the electronic density of states around the Fermi level by forcing the valence band electrons upward, indicating that the optoelectronic device's performance can be tuned and improved. The values of the dielectric constant, absorptivity and reflectivity showed an increasing tendency with pressure. As the pressure applied to the compounds increases, the absorption spectra show a redshift. These findings suggested that the FrXCl3 (X = Ge and Sn) compound becomes more appropriate for usage in optoelectronic applications under pressure. Furthermore, our examination of the mechanical properties indicates that both FrGeCl3 and FrSnCl3 exhibit mechanically stability, and ductility. Interestingly, we observe an increase in ductility as pressure levels rise.

Physical properties and mass models of Deglet Noor and Arichti semi-dry Algerian date fruits: A comparative study.

For thousands of years, date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) has been a popular diet in arid and semi-arid locations. It has religious importance for Muslims and is especially important during the holy month of Ramadan. The global output of date fruits has been continuously expanding, with Arab nations accounting for a sizable portion. The emphasis of this research is on two popular semi-dry Algerian date fruit types, Deglet Noor and Arechti, which are grown in the Ziban region. These fruits' physical parameters, such as size, sphericity, surface area, volumes, and density, were determined. The goal of this study was to create a mass model based on these physical attributes to help in the grading and sorting of date fruits. Fruit mass was shown to be closely connected to linear dimensions, arithmetic and geometric mean diameters, surface area, and volumes. Correlations between mass and physical attributes were established using a variety of mathematical models, including linear, quadratic, S-curve, and power models. The results demonstrated the applicability of specific factors for mass modeling, offering useful insights for the development of system sizing and conservation. With good correlation, multivariate data analysis was employed to correctly estimate the mass of both kinds. This research advances our understanding of the physical features of Algerian date fruits and their connection to mass, allowing for better handling, sorting, and packing processes in the worldwide date market.

[Effect of printing orientation on physical and mechanical properties of 3D printing prosthodontic base resin materials].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of forming direction on the surface characteristics, elastic modulus, bending strength and fracture toughness of printed parts and the relationship between forming direction and force direction, and to provide scientific basis and guidance for the clinical application of oral denture base resin materials. METHODS: The 3D printing technology was used to print denture base resin samples. The shape and size of the samples referred to the current standard for testing conventional denture base materials. The samples used for physical performance testing were cylindrical (with a diameter of 15 mm and a thickness of 1 mm) and printed at different angles along the Z axis (0°, 45°, 90°). Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the microscopic topography of the different samples. The color stability of different samples was observed by color stabilizer. The surface roughness of the samples was analyzed by using surface roughness tester. The Vickers hardness was measured to analyze the hardness of the samples. The samples used for mechanical performance testing were rectangular (elastic modulus and bending strength: A length of 64 mm, a width of 10 mm, and a height of 3.3 mm; fracture toughness: A length of 39 mm, a width of 8 mm, and a height of 4 mm), divided into two groups: W group and H group. The W group was printed from the bottom up along the Z axis with the length × width as the bottom surface parallel to the X, Y axis plane, while the H group printed from the bottom up along the Z axis with the length × height as the bottom surface parallel to the X, Y axis plane. The forming angles of both groups were equally divided into 0°, 45°, and 90°. The elastic modulus, bending strength and fracture toughness of different samples were studied through universal mechanical testing machine. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The microscopic topography and roughness of different samples were closely related to the printing direction, with significant differences between the 0°, 45°, and 90° specimens. The 0° specimens had the smoothest surface (roughness < 1 µm). The surface of the 45° specimen was the roughest (roughness>3 µm). The microhardness of the 0° sample was the best [(196.13±0.20) MPa], with a significant difference compared with the 90° sample [(186.62±4.81) MPa, P < 0.05]. The mechanical properties of different samples were also closely related to the printing direction. The elastic modulus, bending strength, and fracture toughness of the 45° samples in the W group were the highest compared with the other groups. The results of elastic modulus showed that in the H group, the 45° specimens had the highest elastic mo-dulus, which was significantly different from the 0° and 90° specimens (P < 0.05). The elastic modulus of 0° and 45° specimens in the W group were higher than those in 90° specimens (P < 0.05). The bending strength results showed that there was no significant difference between the specimens from dif-ferent angles in the H group. The bending strength of the 90° specimens in the W group was the smallest, and there was a significant difference between 90° and the 0° and 45° specimens (P < 0.05); And the bendind strength of the 0° and 45° specimens in the W group was significantly higher than that of the 0° and 45° specimens in the H group (P < 0.05). The fracture toughness results showed that the fracture toughness of the H group specimens was lower than 1.9 MPa m1/2, which was specified in the denture base standard. The 45° samples in the W group were the highest, with significant differences compared with the 0° and 90° samples (P < 0.05). And the 90° samples of the W group specimens were lower than 1.9 MPa m1/2. And the fracture toughness of the 45° specimen in the W group was significantly higher than that of all the specimens in the H group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The 0° samples had relatively better physical properties. The 45° samples had the best mechanical properties. But the fracture toughness of specimens (H group and 90° samples of W group) did not yet meet clinical requirements. That indicated that the characteristics of the 3D printing denture base resin were affected by the printing direction. Only when the performance of the printed samples in all directions met the minimum requirements of the standard, they could be used in clinical practice.

Photophysical Properties of Sinapic Acid and Ferulic Acid and Their Binding Mechanism with Caffeine.

Sinapic acid (SA) and ferulic acid (FA) are bioactive compounds used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries due to their antioxidant properties. In this work, we studied the photophysical properties of SA and FA in different solvents and concentrations and their interactions with caffeine (CF), using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The findings show that the quantum yield, fluorescence lifetime, radiative decay rates, and non-radiative decay rates of SA and FA are influenced by the concentrations and solvent polarity. The interaction between SA and FA with CF was also studied using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that the CF quenched the fluorescence intensity of SA and FA by static quenching due to the formation of a non-fluorescent complex. The van't Hoff equation suggests that the van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds force were responsible for the interaction between SA and CF, as indicated by a negative change in enthalpy ( Δ H o  < 0) and a negative change in entropy ( Δ S o  < 0). On the other hand, the interaction between FA and CF was primarily controlled by electrostatic force, as indicated by a negative change in enthalpy ( Δ H o < 0) and a positive change in entropy ( Δ S o > 0). The negative change in Gibbs free energy ( Δ G o ) indicates that both compounds underwent a spontaneous binding process.

Distinctive physical properties of DNA shared by RNA polymerase II gene promoters and 5'-flanking regions of tRNA genes.

Numerous noncoding (nc)RNAs have been identified. Similar to the transcription of protein-coding (mRNA) genes, long noncoding (lnc)RNA genes and most of micro (mi)RNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). In the transcription of mRNA genes, core promoters play an indispensable role; they support the assembly of the preinitiation complex (PIC). However, the structural and/or physical properties of the core promoters of lncRNA and miRNA genes remain largely unexplored, in contrast with those of mRNA genes. Using the core promoters of human genes, we analyzed the repertoire and population ratios of residing core promoter elements (CPEs) and calculated the following five DNA physical properties (DPPs): duplex DNA free energy, base stacking energy, protein-induced deformability, rigidity and stabilizing energy of Z-DNA. Here, we show that their CPE and DPP profiles are similar to those of mRNA gene promoters. Importantly, the core promoters of these three classes of genes have two highly distinctive sites in their DPP profiles around the TSS and position -27. Similar characteristics in DPPs are also found in the 5'-flanking regions of tRNA genes, indicating their common essential roles in transcription initiation over the kingdom of RNA polymerases.

Quality Characteristics and Storage Stability of Frying Steak Utilizing Wax-Based Korean Pine Seed Oil.

To investigate the disparities in product quality and storage stability between wax-based Korean pine seed oil gel and butter when used for frying steak, a comparative analysis was conducted on cooking loss, color, texture characteristics, sensory evaluation, and volatile flavor substances using headspace solid phase microextraction combined with GM-MS. Furthermore, the storage stability was assessed. The findings revealed that the cooking loss rate of steaks significantly increased with doneness, with butter steak exhibiting a significantly higher loss rate compared to the three oil gel steaks. Hardness, chewiness, and adhesiveness greatly increased as doneness progressed; however, cohesiveness, elasticity, and resilience showed minimal variation. The L* value and b* value of steaks initially increased before stabilizing with increasing doneness levels while the a* value first rose before gradually declining. Medium rare steak received the highest sensory score among all categories tested and 69 volatile flavor compounds were detected. Multivariate data analysis indicated similarities in volatile compounds between butter steak and BW (wax-based Korean pine seed oil gel) steak groups. Additionally, during storage at 4 °C temperature conditions pH level retention water content TVB-N (total volatile basic nitrogen), TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) were evaluated to determine advantages or disadvantages within each group: Beeswax (BW) > Carnauba wax (CW) > Rice bran wax (RBW) > butter based on these parameters' values. It can be concluded that utilizing wax-based Korean pine seed oil gel for frying steaks not only effectively retains significant amounts of unsaturated fatty acids but also preserves steak quality while extending shelf life-a healthier cooking method resulting in reduced oil absorption.

Design, construction and field testing of a manually feeding semiautomatic sugarcane dud chipper.

Sugarcane is the main sugar crop, and sugar is an important agricultural product in Egypt. There are many problems with the technology used in the current planting method of sugarcane, which has a great impact on the planting quality of sugarcane, which have a series of problems, such as low cutting efficiency and poor quality. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to design, construct, and field testing of a semiautomatic sugarcane bud chipper assisted with pivot knives for cutting sugarcane buds and germinating them in plastic trays inside a greenhouse until they reached an average length of 35 cm, and then planting them in the field. In the field tests five cutting speeds (35, 40, 45, 50, and 56 rpm. (Revolution Per minute), three cutting knives (1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mm) were used for cutting sugarcane stalks with four different diameters (1.32, 1.82, 2.43, and 2.68 cm). The obtained results showed that the values of the damage index and invisible losses were within acceptable limits (ranging between - 1.0 and 0.0) for all the variables under the test. Still, the lowest damage index and invisible losses were recorded with the buds that were cut with a knife of 1.5 mm thickness and cutting speeds less than 50 rpm. The skipping rate increases with the increase in cutting speed and stalk diameter, ranging between 0.0 to 13%. The maximum machine productivity was 110 Buds per minute at a cutting speed of 35 rpm and stalk diameter of 1.32 cm. The paper's findings have important application values for promoting the designing and development of sugarcane bud chipper and sugarcane planting technology in the future.

Exploring the Utilization of Activated Volcanic Ash as a Substitute for Portland Cement in Mortar Formulation: A Thorough Experimental Investigation.

The manufacture of natural pozzolans as cement products is economically affordable and contributes to CO2 mitigation in the cement-based materials industry. Through two experimental stages, this study evaluates the feasibility of using volcanic ash (VA) to partially substitute portland cement (PC) in mortar production. In Stage 1, the effectiveness of different activation methods, such as calcination, alkali activation, and lime addition, in enhancing VA reactivity was assessed when the mortars were produced using 35% VA. The compressive strength (fcm) and physical properties of the mortars produced were determined at 7 and 28 days and compared with those of mortars without activated VA. In Stage 2, the most effective treatments obtained from Stage 1 were applied to produce mortars with 50% and 75% of VA replacements, focusing on their physical and mechanical properties. The findings revealed promising results, particularly when mortars were produced with up to 50% calcined VA (CVA) at 700 °C and 20 wt% lime addition, reaching a higher fcm than 45 MPa. Chemical activation with 2% CaCl or 1% NSi enhanced early-age strength in 35% VA-based mortars. Additionally, NSi-activated CVA-lime-based mortar at 50% VA achieved a notable fcm of 40 MPa at 28 days. Even mortars with 75% VA replacement achieved an adequate compressive strength of 33MPa at 28 days. This study determined that VA-based mortars have the potential for construction applications.

Mechanism of Strength Formation of Unfired Bricks Composed of Aeolian Sand-Loess Composite.

Aeolian sand and loess are both natural materials with poor engineering-related properties, and no research has been devoted to exploring aeolian sand-loess composite materials. In this study, we used aeolian sand and loess as the main raw materials to prepare unfired bricks by using the pressing method, along with cement, fly ash, and polypropylene fiber. The effects of different preparation conditions on the physical properties of the unfired bricks were investigated based on compressive strength, water absorption, and softening tests and a freeze-thaw cycle test combined with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis to determine the optimal mixing ratio for unfired bricks, and finally, the effects of fibers on the durability of the unfired bricks were investigated. The results reveal that the optimal mixing ratio of the masses of aeolian sand-loess -cement -fly ash-polypropylene fiber-alkali activator-water was 56.10:28.05:9.17:2.40:0.4:0.003:4.24 under a forming pressure of 20 MPa. The composite unfired bricks prepared had a compressive strength of 14.5 MPa at 14 d, with a rate of water absorption of 8.8%, coefficient of softening of 0.92, and rates of the losses of frozen strength and mass of 15.93% and 1.06%, respectively, where these satisfied the requirements of environmentally protective bricks with strength grades of MU10-MU15. During the curing process, silicate and sodium silicate gels tightly connected the particles of aeolian sand and the loess skeleton, and the spatial network formed by the addition of the fibers inhibited the deformation of soil and improved the strength of the unfired bricks.

Properties of Cementitious Materials Utilizing Seashells as Aggregate or Cement: Prospects and Challenges.

Nowadays, the sustainable development of the construction industry has become a focus of attention. Crushing and grinding waste seashells originating from the fishery industry, such as oyster shells, cockle shells, mussel shells, and scallop shells, into different particle sizes for usage as aggregate and cement in concrete or mortar provides an effective and sustainable solution to environmental problems by reducing natural resource dependence. Numerous studies have attempted to analyze the suitability of waste seashell as a possible alternative to natural aggregates and cement in concrete or mortar. This paper presents an up-to-date review of the characteristics of different types of waste seashell, as well as the physical, mechanical, durability, and other notable functional properties of seashell concrete or mortar. From the outcome of the research, waste seashell could be an inert material, and it is important to conduct a series of proper treatment for a better-quality material. It is also seen from the results that although the mechanical properties of seashell concrete have been reduced, they all meet the required criteria set by various international standards and codes. Therefore, it is recommended that the replacement of seashells as aggregate and cement should not exceed 20% and 5%, respectively. Seashell concrete or mortar would then have sufficient workability and strength for non-structural purposes. However, there is still a lack of investigation concerning the different properties of reinforced concrete members using seashells as the replacement of aggregate or cement. Further innovative research can solidify its utilization towards sustainable development.

BEC Defender: QR Code-Based Methodology for Prevention of Business Email Compromise (BEC) Attacks.

In an era of ever-evolving and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, protecting sensitive information from cyberattacks such as business email compromise (BEC) attacks has become a top priority for individuals and enterprises. Existing methods used to counteract the risks linked to BEC attacks frequently prove ineffective because of the continuous development and evolution of these malicious schemes. This research introduces a novel methodology for safeguarding against BEC attacks called the BEC Defender. The methodology implemented in this paper augments the authentication mechanisms within business emails by employing a multi-layered validation process, which includes a MAC address as an identity token, QR code generation, and the integration of timestamps as unique identifiers. The BEC-Defender algorithm was implemented and evaluated in a laboratory environment, exhibiting promising results against BEC attacks by adding an extra layer of authentication.

Advancing material property prediction: using physics-informed machine learning models for viscosity.

In materials science, accurately computing properties like viscosity, melting point, and glass transition temperatures solely through physics-based models is challenging. Data-driven machine learning (ML) also poses challenges in constructing ML models, especially in the material science domain where data is limited. To address this, we integrate physics-informed descriptors from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to enhance the accuracy and interpretability of ML models. Our current study focuses on accurately predicting viscosity in liquid systems using MD descriptors. In this work, we curated a comprehensive dataset of over 4000 small organic molecules' viscosities from scientific literature, publications, and online databases. This dataset enabled us to develop quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR) consisting of descriptor-based and graph neural network models to predict temperature-dependent viscosities for a wide range of viscosities. The QSPR models reveal that including MD descriptors improves the prediction of experimental viscosities, particularly at the small data set scale of fewer than a thousand data points. Furthermore, feature importance tools reveal that intermolecular interactions captured by MD descriptors are most important for viscosity predictions. Finally, the QSPR models can accurately capture the inverse relationship between viscosity and temperature for six battery-relevant solvents, some of which were not included in the original data set. Our research highlights the effectiveness of incorporating MD descriptors into QSPR models, which leads to improved accuracy for properties that are difficult to predict when using physics-based models alone or when limited data is available.