Search Results (1,111)

Marital crises are common and can arise at any stage of marriage. When facing difficulties, many spouses seek support from religious communities, which provide spiritual and emotional guidance. These communities play a vital role in marriage preparation and helping couples navigate crises. In response to rising divorce rates, changing gender roles, and economic pressures, religious communities are adapting their pastoral methods. One innovative approach is storytelling, which allows couples to connect with others’ experiences, helping rebuild trust and understanding in their marriages. This article explores the role of storytelling as a tool for supporting couples in crisis, particularly in the context of religious pastoral care, focusing on its impact on communication, marital bonding, and spiritual growth. Full article

Lithium- and sodium-ion batteries (LIBs and SIBs) suffer from the significant degradation of electrochemical performance at low temperatures. This work presents promising hybrid anodes synthesized by the rapid thermolysis of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate and graphene oxide (GO) at 600 and 700 °C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of MoS₂ crystallites oriented along or perpendicular to the surface of reduced GO (rGO) layers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy found the covalent C–S bonds connecting components in the MoS₂/rGO hybrids. The MoS₂/rGO_600 hybrid showed higher specific capacities in LIBs of 1370 mAh/g, 835 mAh/g, and 711 mAh/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g and temperatures of 25 °C, 0 °C, and −20 °C, respectively, due to the presence of excess sulfur in the sample. Increasing the current density to 2 A/g retained 78 and 34% of the capacity at 25 °C and −20 °C. In SIBs, the MoS₂/rGO_700 hybrid showed more promising results, achieving 550 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and 400 mAh/g at 2 A/g, while lowering the temperature to −20 °C retained 48 and 17% of the capacity. Such good SIB performance is attributed to the enrichment of the sample with vertically oriented MoS₂ layers covalently bonded to the rGO surface. Full article

This study investigates interface sliding behavior in composite I-steel–concrete beams reinforced with a composite material plate by analyzing various connection configurations combining shear stud connectors and adhesive bonding. The degree of composite action, governed by the shear stiffness at the steel–concrete interface, plays a critical role in structural performance. An analytical model was developed based on the elasticity theory and the strain compatibility approach, assuming constant shear and normal stress across the interface. Five connection modes were considered, ranging from fully mechanical (100% shear studs) to fully adhesive (100% bonding), as well as mixed configurations. The model was validated against finite element simulations, demonstrating strong agreement with relative differences between 0.3% and 10.7% across all cases. A parametric study explored the influence of key factors such as interface layer stiffness and composite plate reinforcement material on the overall interface behavior. The results showed that adhesive bonding significantly reduces slippage at the steel–concrete interface, enhancing bond integrity, while purely mechanical connections tend to increase interface slippage. The findings provide valuable guidance for designing hybrid connection systems in composite structures to optimize performance, durability, and construction efficiency. Full article

Structural microheterogeneity arising from the cooperative nature of hydrogen bonding is a critical yet often overlooked factor in the mechanistic understanding of physicochemical and biological processes occurring in aqueous environments. MD simulations using a potential that accounts for molecular flexibility and directional interactions revealed inhomogeneity arising from patches of continuously connected, four-bonded molecules embedded within a less ordered, space-filling hydrogen-bond network. The size of these patches follows a statistical distribution that is strongly temperature-dependent. With increasing temperature, the average size of the patches decreases, whereas the contribution of molecules forming the inter-patch zones becomes more pronounced. The nature of microheterogeneity is evidenced by temperature-dependent changes in the asymmetry of calculated power spectra as well as in the measured IR absorption within the stretching, bending, and combination band regions. A novel method for band analysis incorporates the calculation of skewness and a mirroring procedure for more accurate determination of FWHM of asymmetric bands. Discontinuities in the temperature dependence of spectral parameters observed within the 5–80 °C range correspond to the thermodynamic anomalies of liquid water. We show that structural microheterogeneity persists near 100 °C, suggesting that aqueous processes are better described by statistical distributions than by uniform models. Molecular simulations and IR spectroscopy offer key insights into these distributions. Full article

A biofilm is a group of bacterial cells in the polysaccharide matrix bonded to the surface (biotic or abiotic). Clinicians now realize that most infections are biofilm-related. Biofilm infections are often induced by more than one bacterial species. The aim of this study is to characterize a mixed biofilm composed of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis strains. Forty-six isolates derived from chronic wound infections were cultivated to establish mature biofilms. The biofilm biomass and cell viability were measured by colorimetric assays. P. aeruginosa strains were tested for the presence of virulence and biofilm-related genes. The quorum sensing assay using the biosensor strain was also performed. A mixed biofilm of P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis was visualized using fluorescence microscopy. Four groups of P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis pairs, also visualized with fluorescence microscopy, were distinguished based on the biofilm biomass growth and metabolic activity loss. The exoY gene observed among P. aeruginosa isolates was connected to the metabolic activity loss of the biofilm. Generally, the interactions between P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis species are not uniform. It is crucial to further research the interactions between microorganisms in biofilms. This may provide information on the mechanisms of biofilm formation in the complicated chronic wound environment. Full article

Vibration control is a critical aspect of engineering, particularly in structures and mechanical systems where excessive oscillations can lead to fatigue, noise, or failure. Vibration suppression is essential in aerospace, automotive, civil, and industrial applications to enhance performance and longevity of systems. Piezoelectric shunt circuits (PSCs) offer a passive or semi-active approach to damping vibrations by leveraging the electromechanical properties of piezoelectric materials. Traditional passive damping methods, such as viscoelastic materials, are effective but lack adaptability. Active control systems, while tunable, require external power and complex electronics, increasing cost and weight. Piezoelectric shunt circuits provide a middle ground, utilizing piezoelectric transducers bonded to a structure and connected to an electrical circuit to dissipate vibrational energy as heat or store it electrically. This review synthesizes the fundamental mechanisms, circuit designs, and practical applications of this technology. It also presents the modeling of lumped and distributed parameter systems coupled with PSCs. It complements the recent reviews and primarily focuses on the period from 2019 to date in addition to the earlier seminal works on the subject. It explores the principles, configurations, advantages, and limitations of piezoelectric shunt circuits for vibration control, alongside recent advancements and potential future developments. It sheds light on the research gaps in the literature that future work may tackle. Full article

Zoharite (IMA 2017-049), (Ba,K)₆ (Fe,Cu,Ni)₂₅S₂₇, and gmalimite (IMA 2019-007), ideally K₆□Fe²⁺₂₄S₂₇, are two new sulfides of the djerfisherite group. They were discovered in an unusual gehlenite–wollastonite paralava with pyrrhotite nodules located in the Hatrurim pyrometamorphic complex, Negev Desert, Israel. Zoharite and gmalimite build grained aggregates confined to the peripheric parts of pyrrhotite nodules, where they associate with pentlandite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, digenite, covellite, millerite, heazlewoodite, pyrite and rudashevskyite. The occurrence and associated minerals indicate that zoharite and gmalimite were formed at temperatures below 800 °C, when sulfides formed on external zones of the nodules have been reacting with residual silicate melt (paralava) locally enriched in Ba and K. Macroscopically, both minerals are bronze in color and have a dark-gray streak and metallic luster. They are brittle and have a conchoidal fracture. In reflected light, both minerals are optically isotropic and exhibit gray color with an olive tinge. The reflectance values for zoharite and gmalimite, respectively, at the standard COM wavelengths are: 22.2% and 21.5% at 470 nm, 25.1% and 24.6% at 546 nm, 26.3% and 25.9% at 589 nm, as well as 27.7% and 26.3% at 650 nm. The average hardness for zoharite and for gmalimite is approximately 3.5 of the Mohs hardness. Both minerals are isostructural with owensite, (Ba,Pb)₆(Cu,Fe,Ni)₂₅S₂₇. They crystallize in cubic space group Pm$\overline{3}$m with the unit-cell parameters a = 10.3137(1) Å for zoharite and a = 10.3486(1) Å for gmalimite. The calculated densities are 4.49 g·cm⁻³ for the zoharite and 3.79 g·cm⁻³ for the gmalimite. The primary structural units of these minerals are M₈S₁₄ clusters, composed of MS₄ tetrahedra surrounding a central MS₆ octahedron. The M site is occupied by transition metals such as Fe, Cu, and Ni. These clusters are further connected via the edges of the MS₄ tetrahedra, forming a close-packed cubic framework. The channels within this framework are filled by anion-centered polyhedra: SBa₉ in zoharite and SK₉ in gmalimite, respectively. In the M₈S₁₄ clusters, the M atoms are positioned so closely that their d orbitals can overlap, allowing the formation of metal–metal bonds. As a result, the transition metals in these clusters often adopt electron configurations that reflect additional electron density from their local bonding environment, similar to what is observed in pentlandite. Due to the presence of shared electrons in these metal–metal bonds, assigning fixed oxidation states—such as Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ or Cu⁺/Cu²⁺—becomes challenging. Moreover, modeling the distribution of mixed-valence cations (Fe²⁺/³⁺, Cu⁺/²⁺, and Ni²⁺) across the two distinct M sites—one located in the MS₆ octahedron and the other in the MS₄ tetrahedra—often results in ambiguous outcomes. Consequently, it is difficult to define an idealized end-member formula for these minerals. Full article

The seaming of geomembranes (GMBs) is a critical aspect of their successful functioning as barriers to liquid, with bonding and welding being the commonly employed methods. Due to the limitations of conventional welding methods at the connection points between the geomembrane and the structure, extrusion welding often results in damage at the seams. The bonding method, which has lower requirements for construction conditions, has emerged as a currently viable alternative seaming technique. Bonding techniques are widely applied in small reservoirs and embankments. This study investigates the performance of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) GMB seams bonded using asphalt-based adhesive (ABA) and non-asphalt-based adhesive (NABA). Seam tensile tests were conducted under wetting and freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) conditions to evaluate the mechanical properties of the seamed GMBs. The results indicated that the seam strength of specimens bonded with ABA increased as wetting time and FTCs increased (with a maximum increase of 113.8%). In contrast, specimens bonded with NABA exhibited decreased seam strength under similar conditions (with a maximum decrease of 93.4%). Both types of specimens exhibited enhanced seam strength with increasing seam width. Due to wetting and FTCs, the seam efficiency of NABA-bonded specimens decreased, while that of ABA-bonded specimens showed slight improvement. However, the improved seam efficiency remained below 1.2%, an extremely small value. The axial tensile strength of bonded specimens was significantly lower than that of seamless specimens, failing to fulfill long-term safety operation requirements. Therefore, bonding method should be used cautiously at non-critical structural components where the welding is impractical but repair and replacement are relatively simple. The findings provide insight for GMB installers and design engineers in order to improve the performance of HDPE GMB seams. Full article

In the present work, we describe the use of the potentially tridentate ligand pyridine-2-amidoxime (NH₂paoH) in Fe-Co chemistry. The 1:1:3 Fe^III(NO₃)₃·9H₂O/Co^II(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O/NH₂paoH reaction mixture in MeOH gave complex [Co^III₂Fe^III(NH₂pao)₆](ClO₄)₂(NO₃) (1) in ca. 55% yield, the cobalt(II) being oxidized to cobalt(III) under the aerobic conditions. The same complex was isolated using cobalt(II) and iron(II) sources, the oxidation now taking place at both metal sites. The structure of 1 contains two structurally similar, crystallographically independent cations [Co^III₂Fe^III(NH₂pao)₆]³⁺ which are strictly linear by symmetry. The central high-spin Fe^III ion is connected to each of the terminal low-spin Co^III ions through the oximato groups of three 2.1110 (Harris notation) NH₂pao⁻ ligands, in such a way that the six O atoms are bonded to the octahedral Fe^III center ({Fe^IIIO₆} coordination sphere). Each terminal octahedral Co^III ions is bonded to six N atoms (three oximato, three 2-pyridyl) from three NH₂pao⁻ groups ({Co^IIIN₆} coordination sphere). The IR and Raman spectra of the complex are discussed in terms of the coordination mode of the organic ligand, and the non-coordinating nature of the inorganic ClO₄⁻ and NO₃⁻ counterions. The UV/VIS spectrum of the complex in EtOH shows the two spin-allowed d-d transitions of the low-spin 3d⁶ cobalt(III) and a charge-transfer NH₂pao⁻ → Fe^III band. The δ and ΔΕ_Q ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer parameter of 1 at 80 K show the presence of an isolated high-spin Fe^III center. Variable-temperature (1.8 K–300 K) and variable-field (0–7 T) magnetic studies confirm the isolated character of Fe^III. A critical discussion of the importance of NH₂paoH and its anionic forms (NH₂pao⁻, NHpao²⁻) in homo- and heterometallic chemistry is also attempted. Full article

Epoxy polymers modified with nanoparticles are increasingly employed due to their enhanced performance in aggressive environments, characterized by mechanical stress, radiation exposure, and extreme temperatures. The mechanical failure of these polymers is attributed to the fracturing of atomic and molecular bonds, that subsequently excites electrons having the capability to be emitted from the nanolayer of the material. The present study demonstrates that the relationship between mechanical loading and electron emission over time serves as an indicator of surface loading and durability. By utilizing the Kinetic Nature of Solid Material Strength (KSMS) theory alongside near-threshold electron emission measurements, the article presents the behavior of epoxy polymers modified with SiO₂ nanoparticles under tensile loading. The results indicate that as mechanical load is applied, photoelectron emission (PE) pulses emerge. Notably, the pulse spectrum highest frequency (fmax) correlates with the time of atomic fluctuations (τ), defined by τ = 1/fmax. Furthermore, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of the nanoparticles prior to mixing with the polymer is shown to influence the parameter of KSMS responsible for local stress concentration. This suggests that PE is connected with the homogeneity of the composite too. The achieved results demonstrate that PE contactless measurements can be used to detect mechanical destruction of the epoxy polymer composite surface nanolayer, as well as to assess its durability and corresponding activation energy. The results presented in the article may contribute to the development of more reliable epoxy polymer composites and durability measurements of their mechanically loaded surface layer or nanofilms. Full article

Representatives of the hexasubstituted benzene derivatives, also known as hexa-hosts, have been the subject of extensive studies in solution and in the solid state, including the investigation of their ability to act as artificial receptors for various substrates, as well as detailed conformational analyses. In this paper, we describe the X-ray crystal structure of hexakis(acetoxymethyl)benzene (1), a member of the above class of compounds. The molecules of 1 adopt an aaabbb conformation, in which three side-arms point to the same face of the central benzene ring, while the other three point in the opposite direction. As the compound lacks strong hydrogen bond donors, C–H···O hydrogen bonds connect the molecules to a three-dimensional supramolecular network. According to the Hirshfeld surface analysis, the H∙∙∙O/O∙∙∙H interactions represent the major contribution of the molecular Hirshfeld surface. Full article

A polyoxometalate-based metal–organic complex with the ability to treat pollutants in water was obtained under hydrothermal conditions, namely [Ni(H₂L)(HL)₂](PMo₁₂O₄₀)·3H₃O·4H₂O (1) (H₂L = 4,4′-(1H,1′H-[2,2′-biimidazole]-1,1′-diyl)dibenzoicacid). Structural analysis reveals that the [Ni(H₂L)(HL)₂] units are interconnected into a 2D layer via hydrogen bonds between adjacent carboxyl groups and water molecules of crystallization. [PMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ anions are embedded within the larger pores of the layer and are connected to the adjacent layers through hydrogen bonds, ultimately expanding the structure into a 3D supramolecular architecture. The intermolecular interactions were studied via Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis. Electrochemical performance tests reveal that 1 exhibits electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation and reduction of diverse pollutants in water, including NO₂⁻, Cr(VI), BrO₃⁻, Fe(III), and ascorbic acid (AA). Additionally, it can also serve as an amperometric sensor for the detection of BrO₃⁻ and Cr(VI). Photocatalytic studies reveal that compound 1 functions as a bifunctional photocatalyst, which not only achieves efficient degradation of organic dyes but also demonstrates remarkable reduction efficiency for toxic Cr(VI). Compound 1 demonstrates significant potential for practical water remediation applications. Full article

Sintered porous materials present challenges for any modeling approach applied to simulate their damage evolution because of their complex microstructure, which is crucial for the initialization and propagation of microcracks. This paper presents discrete element simulations of the damage evolution of a NiAl-based material reconstructed by micro-CT imaging. A novel geometry reconstruction procedure based on micro-CT images and the adapted advancing front algorithm fills the solid phase using well-connected irregular and highly dense sphere packing, which directly represents the microstructure of the porous material. Uniaxial compression experiments were performed to identify the behavior of the NiAl sample and validate the discrete element model. Discrete element simulations based on micro-CT imaging revealed a realistic representation of the damage evolution and stress–strain dependency. The stress and strain of the numerically obtained curve peak differed from the experimentally measured values by 0.1% and 4.2%, respectively. The analysis of damage evolution was performed according to the time variation rate of the broken bond count. Investigation of the stress–strain dependencies obtained by using different values of the compression strain rate showed that the performed simulations approached the quasi-static state and achieved the acceptable accuracy within the limits of the available computational resources. The proposed stress scaling technique allowed a seven times increase of the size of the time step, which reduced the computing time by seven times. Full article

The prefabricated concrete channel, constructed by integrating factory-based prefabrication with on-site assembly, offers enhanced quality, reduced construction time, and minimized environmental impact. To promote its application in water conservancy projects, an innovative concrete joint combining semi-grouting sleeves and shear-resistant steel plates was proposed. Its seismic performance was assessed through a 1:3 scale low-cycle reversed loading test, focusing on failure mode, hysteretic behavior, skeleton curves, stiffness degradation, ductility, and energy dissipation. Results show that the joint primarily exhibits bending–shear failure, with cracks initiating at the sidewall–base slab interface. Also, the sidewall and base slab are interconnected through semi-grouting sleeves, while the concrete bonding is achieved via grouting and surface chiseling at the joint interface. The results indicated that the innovative concrete joint connection exhibits satisfied seismic performance. The shear-resistant steel plate significantly improves shear strength and enhances water sealing. Compared with cast-in-place specimens, the prefabricated joint shows a 16.04% lower equivalent viscous damping coefficient during failure due to reinforcement slippage, while achieving 16.34% greater cumulative energy dissipation and 52.00% higher ductility. These findings provide theoretical and experimental support for the broader adoption of prefabricated channels in water conservancy engineering. Full article

UV radiation can change the internal molecular composition, macroscopic rheological properties, and microscopic chemical composition of asphalt. To study the effect of ultraviolet aging on asphalt and its structure–activity relationship, its rheological properties were measured by dynamic shear rheology and multiple stress recovery creep tests, its chemical compositions were measured by component composition, elemental composition, and infrared spectrum tests, and its molecular weight, distribution, and molecular structure were determined by gel permeation chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance tests. Then, the molecular weight and molecular structure, rheological properties, and microchemical aging behavior of asphalt after UV aging were characterized by correlation analysis, and the structure–activity relationship was analyzed. The results show that the deformation resistance and elastic recovery ability of asphalt after UV aging are enhanced, and the flow performance is decreased. The ultraviolet radiation caused the aromatic hydrocarbons containing naphthenes and long alkyl chains in the asphalt to break and connect with asphaltenes with a ring structure. The asphaltene content in each bitumen sample exceeded 46%, and that in KL reached 55%, indicating that the bitumen changed into a gel structure. UV aging causes the aggregation of asphalt molecules, and the aggregation of molecules narrows the molecular distribution boundary and moves in the direction of macromolecules, resulting in the reduction of the dispersion coefficient by 2–10%. Hydrogen atoms will undergo condensation and substitution reactions due to long-chain breaking, cyclization, or aromatization under UV action, and the breaking of C=C bonds in carbon atoms will increase the stable aromatic ring, strengthen the stiffness of the molecular backbone, and make it difficult for the backbone to spin. Through correlation analysis, it was found that the molecular composition index could characterize the aging behavior index of asphalt, and that the aromatic structure was the most critical molecular change. Further, it was found that the sulfoxide group and carbonyl group could be used as evaluation criteria for the UV aging of asphalt because the correlation between them was above 0.7. This study provides an essential index reference for evaluating the performance change of asphalt under ultraviolet aging to save testing time. Moreover, the molecular structure characterization revealed the changes in internal molecular composition that were behind the observed aging properties, providing a theoretical basis for research on asphalt anti-aging technology. Full article