Exploring Formation and Control of Hazards in Thermal Processing for Food Safety.

Thermal-processed foods like baked, smoked, and fried products are popular for their unique aroma, taste, and color. However, thermal processing can generate various contaminants via Maillard reaction, lipid oxidation, and thermal degradation, negatively impacting human health. This review summarizes the formation pathways, influencing factors, and tracing approaches of potential hazards in thermally processed foods, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), furan, acrylamide (AA), trans fatty acids (TFAs), advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), sterol oxide.

Study on particle deposition and flow characteristics of edible chili oil in bending pipe conveyance in industrial production.

This study develops a coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) two-phase flow model to investigate particle deposition behaviors in industrial pipeline transportation of edible chili oil, a high-viscosity fluid widely used in food industries. Due to its complex rheological properties and the presence of suspended solids, chili oil pipelines frequently face significant challenges, including excessive particle deposition at pipe bends, increased pressure drops, and energy inefficiency. To address these critical issues, simulations were systematically conducted using the Realizable k-ε turbulence model, examining the effects of different inlet velocities (0.

Droplet Trapping in Oil Phase via Optically Driven Thermocapillary Convection.

Herein, we propose a novel optical strategy for stable water droplet trapping in an immiscible oil phase by using a 1550 nm focused laser beam. Distinct from conventional optical strategies, this approach leverages a local photothermal effect-induced flow field surrounding the water droplet in the oil phase to achieve stable droplet trapping without prolonged interaction between the laser and the water droplet, allowing for low-temperature operation. This feature effectively minimizes potential thermal damage risks and thereby preserves the viability of samples within the droplet, which is particularly promising for biological applications.

Decoupling thermal stability and insulation in dielectric polymers via donor-acceptor rearrangement.

Polymer dielectrics with enhanced thermal stability and electrical insulation are urgently needed for capacitive energy storage applications in electric power systems. There is a persistent challenge to break the contradictory correlation between high heat resistance and low electrical conduction in polymers. Here, we employ benzyl-induced crosslinking to rearrange short-range structural units in polyimide chains, reducing electrical conduction loss.

Inverse Design of Manufacturable Infrared Metasurfaces Based on Multimodal Deep Learning Methods.

Neural networks have emerged as an effective method for inverse design of metasurfaces. Despite significant progress in inverse design for photonic structures, the inherent complexity from high-dimensional parameter spaces and the nonlinear mapping between structural parameters and optical responses still pose major challenges for the on-demand design of complex photonic systems. In this paper, we propose a multimodal neural network framework for the inverse design of composite periodic microstructures.

Tuning the thermal conductivity of lithium intercalated graphite through temperature, strain, and interlayer twist angles.

Lithium-intercalated graphite has drawn much attention due to its enormous potential for application in microelectronic devices and lithium-ion batteries. A deep understanding of the thermal transport processes in lithium-intercalated graphite not only provides effective ways to precisely tune its thermal conductivity but also offers hope for improving thermal management efficiency in devices. In this study, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations were applied to investigate the effects of temperature, strain, and interlayer twist angles on the thermal conductivity of lithium-intercalated graphite (graphite, LiC, LiC, and LiC).

First-principles study of the structural, electronic, elastic, and high-pressure properties of the (VZr)AlC i-MAX phase and MAlC (M = V, Zr) MAX phases.

Structural materials are crucial in energy and power generation, transportation, infrastructure, and space exploration. A thorough understanding of their mechanical and high pressure behavior is critical to tuning their properties for extreme environment applications. We employed density functional theory to investigate the structural, electronic, and mechanical properties, as well as high pressure behavior of a Zr-based i-MAX phase, (VZr)AlC, alongside its precursor MAX phases, MAlC (M = V, Zr).

Influence of Initial Velocity and Lateral Sliding Angle on Coalescence-Induced Jumping of Nanodroplets on Superhydrophobic Surfaces.

This study employs molecular dynamics simulations to comprehensively investigate nanoscale droplet coalescence-induced jumping dynamics on superhydrophobic surfaces, focusing on the coupled effects of initial Weber numbers () and lateral sliding angles (). The research systematically analyzes dimensionless jumping velocity, jumping time, droplet centroid trajectories, droplet deformation (length-to-height ratio), and average liquid bridge growth rates under varying conditions. Results reveal that smaller lateral angles (0°, 30°) favor higher vertical jumping velocities and stable droplet trajectories at lower Weber numbers, with clear adherence to inertia-capillary scaling laws.

Construction of ZIF-67-Derived Cobalt Sulfide@Carbon Aerogel toward Interface-Enhanced Electrochemical Activities for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Developing low-cost and high-efficiency OER electrocatalysts holds the key to hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting. In this study, cobalt sulfide hollow nanospheres derived from ZIF-67 were immobilized on a potato starch-derived carbon aerogel (Co-S@CA) using a solvothermal method followed by annealing. The synergistic effects of Co-S and three-dimensional carbon aerogel (CA) facilitate rapid charge transfer, high electrochemical surface area, and better electronic structure, enhancing the electrochemical activity of the composite.

Detection of radioactive ions: current status of nanomaterial-based sensors.

Effective detection of radioactive ions is crucial for protecting the environment and safeguarding human health from radioactive threats. Conventional methods for radioactive ion detection are usually complex, time-consuming, and unsuitable for on-site detections. This paper provides a comprehensive review of novel nanomaterial-based detection systems for sensing radioactive ions.

Hybrid dual-electrolyte electrochemical cells for glycerol oxidation upgradation.

Integrating the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) into aqueous electrochemical systems, such as fuel cells and electrolyzers, offers a promising strategy for utilizing the oxidized energy of glycerol to generate electricity and valuable chemicals. However, challenges remain in optimizing GOR selectivity, reducing electrolysis energy consumption, and enhancing fuel cell voltage and energy density. Recent advancements in GOR electrocatalysis have demonstrated its potential to efficiently convert glycerol into valuable products or electrical energy, even achieving dual functionality in some cases.

Si─O Molecular Engineering Enhances Cathode-Anode Interface Stability for High-Loading and High-Voltage Layered Cathode-Lithium Metal Batteries.

Nickel-rich layered cathodes and lithium metal anode are promising for the next generation high-energy-density batteries. However, the unstable electrode-electrolyte interface induces structural degradation and battery failure under high-voltage and high-loading conditions. Herein, we report a fluorosilane-coupled electrolyte stabilizer with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (PFOTMS), which presents higher adsorption energy with LiNiCoMnO cathode than solvents through the conjugation of Si─O bonds and therefore is oxidized on its surface to derive an interfacial layer rich in F and Si─O species.

Selection of High-Performance Sorbent for HS Removal and Regulation of Reaction Products via Thermodynamic Simulation.

Thermodynamic simulations of the HS removal from blast furnace gas by metal oxides were conducted to select a suitable metal desulfurizer. Notably, the Mn oxides demonstrated themselves as the optimal HS removal agents. They are characterized by the absence of radioactive pollution, high cost-effectiveness, high sulfur fixation potential, and non-reactivity with CO, CO, and CH.

Understanding the Synthesis of Turbostratic/Flash Graphene via Joule Heating.

The introduction of the Joule heating (JH) method for synthesizing turbostratic graphene has attracted considerable attention from researchers due to its promising potential for commercialization compared to earlier techniques. Numerous studies have outlined the technology's basic operation and how parameters such as electric field, operating time, and temperature influence the quality and type of graphene produced. Despite this, there is still a lack of concise and comprehensive studies that exclusively focus on the JH method with turbostratic graphene as the target product.

Review of Research Progress on Dry Granulation Technology for Blast Furnace Slag.

Blast furnace slag, a high-temperature molten by-product generated during the ironmaking process in the metallurgical industry, has garnered significant attention for its resource utilization technologies. Compared to the traditional water-quenching method, dry granulation offers notable advantages. This paper systematically compares and analyzes the performance parameters of three typical dry treatment processes: mechanical crushing, air-quenching granulation, and centrifugal granulation.

Dynamic Migration Characteristics of Potassium During Agricultural Waste Combustion and the Mechanism of Combined Chlorine-Sulfur Action.

Alkali metals in fuel seriously affect the normal operation of generator sets. Using agricultural waste (AW) from a corn field as raw material, the dynamic change of alkali metal K migration and transformation and the effect of competition between chlorine and sulfur on the behavior of AW were studied systematically. The results showed that transformation between different forms of K, especially water-soluble K, occurred.

Mechanisms of Reduced Surface Mobility in Liquid Silicon.

The surface diffusion properties of liquid silicon play a critical role in applications, such as semiconductor manufacturing and nanotechnology. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on two different popular empirical potentials, this study investigates the surface and bulk diffusion coefficients of liquid silicon. First-principle molecular dynamics simulation is also applied to provide validations.

Medulla-free barb rami highlight the morphological diversity of early feathers.

Recent advances have deepened our understanding of the evolutionary and developmental origins of feather branching architectures. However, the internal tissue differentiation within these branches has received limited attention. This study examined eight fossilized feathers preserved in early Late Cretaceous Burmese amber, characterized by barb rami composed entirely of cortical tissue with no internal medulla.

Au-Ag Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Detection of Food Contaminants: A Review.

Food contaminants, including harmful microbes, pesticide residues, heavy metals and illegal additives, pose significant public health risks. While traditional detection methods are effective, they are often slow and require complex equipment, which limits their application in real-time monitoring and rapid response. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology has gained widespread use in related research due to its hypersensitivity, non-destructibility and molecular fingerprinting capabilities.

Morphological and nanostructural characteristics of aircraft-emitted soot particles during taxiing condition: A comparative study based on TAPS combustor.

Soot particles emitted by aircraft during taxiing are significant anthropogenic pollutants around airports, posing substantial risks to local environment and public health. Therefore, understanding the emission characteristics and factors influencing soot particle formation during taxiing is crucial for environmental protection around airports. This study investigated the emission characteristics, microscopic morphology, and nanostructural features of soot particles during taxiing, based on the Twin Annular Premixing Swirler (TAPS) combustor, which is widely employed in modern aero-engines.

Understanding the mechanism of CO mineralization and carbon sequestration performance in carbide slag: Effects of liquid-solid ratio and gas flow rate.

Emissions of CO and industrial solid waste are rising year by year, threatening human survival and development. Wet mineralization of alkaline solid waste is an effective method to mineralize CO. To study the carbon sequestration performance and reaction characteristics of CO fixation by direct wet mineralization of carbide slag, based on a semi-closed reaction test setup.

Experimental Investigation of Temperature Polarization near Membrane Surface During Air Gap Membrane Distillation Processes.

Temperature polarization is a critical factor influencing the performance of membrane distillation. The presence of temperature polarization causes the temperature of the fluid near the membrane surface to be different from that in the bulk region, reducing the effective temperature difference across the membrane and thus diminishing the transmembrane mass transfer driving force. This study investigates the monitoring of temperature polarization and its effects on the transmembrane mass transfer performance in a typical air gap membrane distillation system.

Tensile Resistance and Fracture Mechanisms of Silica Aerogels Reinforced by Nanotube-Graphene Hybrid Networks.

Despite their outstanding thermal insulation and ultralight structure, silica aerogels suffer from inherent mechanical fragility, making the investigation of their mechanical behavior crucial for expanding their practical utility in advanced applications. To enhance their mechanical performance, this study introduces a dual-phase reinforcement strategy by anisotropically incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) sheets into the aerogel matrix. Using molecular dynamic simulations, we systematically investigate the tensile behavior and pore structure evolution of these hetero-structured composites.

Ce-UiO-66 Loaded Composite Membrane for Enhanced Proton Conductivity and Performance in Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps via Recasting Method.

Electrochemical hydrogen pump (EHP) holds significant promise for industrial byproduct hydrogen purification, where efficient proton conduction is critical. In this study, a cerium-based metal-organic framework-doped composite membrane is successfully prepared via a recasting method. Compared to the Nafion membrane, the composite membrane exhibits a slight decrease in ion-exchange capacity but a significant improvement in water uptake, leading to enhanced membrane hydration.

A zero-wastewater-discharge noncontact solar desalter for saline-alkali soil remediation and grain yield increase using brackish water.

Over one billion hectares of land worldwide are at risk of salinization, posing a significant threat to global agriculture. Soil washing is the major remediation method, but freshwater dependence and high-salinity wastewater discharge remain formidable challenges, making this technology unsustainable. We regulate soil salinity directly using brackish water by constructing zero-wastewater-discharge noncontact solar soil desalters, minimizing freshwater dependence and negative environmental impacts, thus promoting agricultural production.