The New Materiality

In the last few decades an entirely new conception of the material world has emerged. Here, philosopher Manuel DeLanda , whose work has become synonymous with this ‘new materialism’, introduces this novel understanding of materiality. Like any other conceptual framework, it has precedents in the history of philosophy - the work of the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza is a good example - but only recently has it become coherently articulated with science and technology. Gone is the Aristotelian view that matter is an inert receptacle for forms that come from the outside (transcendent essences), as well as the Newtonian view in which an obedient materiality simply follows general laws and owes all its powers to those transcendent laws. In place of this, we can now conceptualise an active matter endowed with its own tendencies and capacities, engaged in its own divergent, open-ended evolution, animated from within by immanent patterns of being and becoming.     

Rainwater tank capacity and potential for potable water savings by using rainwater in the residential sector of southeastern Brazil

Rainwater has been used in many countries as a way of minimising water availability problems. In Brazil, it has been reported that the potential for potable water savings by using rainwater may range from 48% to 100% depending on the geographic region. In southeastern Brazil, water availability is about 4500 m³ per capita per year, but it is predicted to be lower than 1000 m³ per capita per year from about 2100 onwards. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the potential for potable water savings by using rainwater in 195 cities located in southeastern Brazil. Rainwater tank sizes are also assessed for some cities in order to evaluate the ideal tank capacity as a function of potable water demand and rainwater demand. Results indicate that average potential for potable water savings range from 12% to 79% per year for the cities analysed. Ideal rainwater tank capacities for dwellings with low potable water demand range from about 2000 to 20,000 litres depending on rainwater demand. For dwellings with high potable water demand, ideal rainwater tank capacities range from about 3000 to 7000 litres. The main conclusion drawn from the research is that the average potential for potable water savings in southeastern Brazil is 41%. It was also concluded that rainwater tank capacity has to be determined for each location and dwelling as it depends strongly on potable water demand and rainwater demand.     

Physicochemical properties and radical scavenging capacities of pepsin-solubilized collagen from sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus

Pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) was successfully prepared from the body wall of sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus. Ultraviolet–visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses showed that the PSC was a high-purity collagen that maintained the intact triple-stranded helices. Physical and chemical characterization of the PSC showed a isoelectric point of 4.14, a superior moisture-absorption and retention capacities comparing to glycerol, a minimum solubility at pH 5.0 in 0.5 M acetic acid, and a sharp decrease in solubility in the presence of low concentration of NaCl. The viscosity of PSC was shown to decrease continuously as the temperature was increased. The radical scavenging activity of the PSC was characterized with two model systems: for hydroxyl radicals, the PSC was more active than vitamin C but less active than sulfourea; for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, the PSC was more active than vitamin E.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies for the biosorption system of copper(II) ion from aqueous solution using Tectona grandis L.f. leaves powder

The biosorption of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution by Tectona grandis L.f. was studied in a batch adsorption system as a function of pH, metal ion concentration, adsorbent concentration and adsorbent size. The biosorption capacities and rates of copper(II) ions onto T. grandis L.f. were evaluated. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson and Temkin adsorption models were applied to describe the isotherms and isotherm constants. Biosorption isothermal data could be well interpreted by the Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 15.43 mg/g of copper(II) ion on T. grandis L.f. leaves powder. The kinetic experimental data properly correlated with the second-order kinetic model. Various thermodynamic parameters such as deltaG(o), deltaH(o), and deltaS(o) were calculated indicating that this system was a spontaneous and exothermic process.     

用可靠度理论确定屈曲约束支撑钢框架的设计原则

根据同济大学采用国产低碳钢Q195、Q235与宝钢新开发的低屈服点钢BLY160、BLY225研制的两种型号屈曲约束支撑(TJ-I型与TJ-II型)的大量试验结果,应用统计分析与可靠度理论,确定了屈曲约束支撑钢框架的设计原则。给出了具有明确概率意义的,在使屈曲约束支撑达到其极限承载力的外荷载下,框架柱、梁的内力与其设计承载力的比例极限。可保证在罕遇地震作用下,屈曲约束支撑能充分发挥其抗震耗能作用,同时框架柱、梁的可靠度指标β分别不低于3.2与2.7,为国产屈曲约束支撑在抗震工程中的应用提供参考。     

Influence of various levels of flaxseed gum addition on the water-holding capacities of heat-induced porcine myofibrillar protein

Abstract: As a food hydrocolloid, flaxseed gum (FG) can significantly increase the water‐holding capacity (WHC) of food, which is important to both yield and texture of related products. The main purpose of this study is to examine the WHC increase by FG in a meat product and the mechanism of the interactions between proteins and polysaccharides when FG is added into porcine myofibrillar protein (PMP). Increasing the FG concentration caused a significant increase in WHC (P < 0.001). Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed that WHC in the protein gel network was related to gel microstructure. Distributed analysis of the T₂ relaxation revealed that addition of FG significantly decreased water mobility of porcine myofibrillar protein (PMP) (P < 0.05). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) analysis suggested that the FG adding strengthened electrostatic attraction of PMP system. Improvement of WHC in heat‐induced PMP by FG is concentration dependent and achieved by a finer gel network, lower relaxation time, and stronger electrostatic attraction. Practical Application: Flaxseed gum (FG) addition significantly increased water holding capacity (WHC) of porcine myofibrillar protein (PMP). In addition, the improvement of WHC in heat‐induced PMP by FG was concentration dependent and achieved by a finer gel network, lower relaxation time, and stronger electrostatic attraction. Thus, FG has potential for use in meat products.     

工艺因素对MH-Ni电池性能影响的研究

利用化学模式识别方法对不同电极制备工艺条件的MH Ni电池的放电容量和循环寿命进行了分析 ,并得出了提高电池相应性能的判据。对于放电容量 ,粘结剂和导电剂均为影响的主要因素 ,两者的作用为互相牵制 ,其中粘结剂为最主要影响因子 ;对循环寿命的影响添加剂上升为最主要的因素 ,粘结剂和导电剂之间的作用仍为互相牵制。适当地减小添加剂和导电剂的比例、提高粘结剂的粘结强度对提高电池的综合性能有好处。     

Low Hysteresis Hydrogel Induced by Spatial Confinement

Stress concentration and hysteresis often occur in polymer hydrogels under large deformation, affecting their mechanical properties, and durability. Here, a new spatial confinement gelation strategy is proposed for fabrication of hysteresis-free polymer hydrogels, and stress concentration is avoided. Experimental results and theoretical calculations confirm that the hydratability difference between salts and polymer chains leads to spatial confinement of the polymer chains by control over the ratio of bound to free water. Spatial confinement acts in place of physical cross-linking of polymer chains, which slide to dissipate energy and effectively avoid stress concentration and hysteresis, resulting in ultra-tough hydrogels with fatigue resistance. This is also a universal strategy for preparing polymer hydrogels with different monomers and salts. Taking the prepared PAM-CaCl₂ hydrogel, it displays a hysteresis of only 0.13% during load-unload cycles, even under 1000% strain. This is the lowest value among hydrogels reported to date. Along with excellent fatigue resistance, water retention, antifreeze, and water-assisted healing ability, this hydrogel shows good performance in fatigue resistant capacitive strain sensors. Moreover, a fishtail-shaped PAM-CaCl₂ hydrogel operates as a bionic muscle to drive a bionic fish at a forward speed of 16.3 cm s⁻¹, when a voltage of 0.1 V is applied.     

Exceeding Theoretical Capacity in Exfoliated Ultrathin Manganese Ferrite Nanosheets via Galvanic Replacement-Derived Self-Hybridization for Fast Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries

Mixed transition metal oxides are promising anodes to meet high-performance energy storage materials; however, their widespread uses are restrained owing to limited theoretical capacity, restricted synthesis methods and templates, low conductivity, and extreme volume expansion. Here, Mn_3-xFe_xO₄ nanosheets with interconnected conductive networks are synthesized via a novel self-hybridization approach of a facile, galvanic replacement-derived, tetraethyl orthosilicate-assisted hydrothermal process. An exceptionally high reversible capacity of 1492.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ is achieved by producing Li-rich phase through combined synergistic effects of amorphous phases with interface modification design for fully utilizing highly spin-polarized surface capacitance. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that large surface area can effectively facilitate Li-ion kinetics, and the formation of interconnected conductive networks improves the electrical conductivity and structural stability by alleviating volume expansion. This leads to a high rate capability of 412.3 mAh g⁻¹ even at an extremely high current density of 10 A g⁻¹ and stable cyclic stability with a capacity up to 921.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹ after 500 cycles. This study can help to overcome theoretically limited electrochemical properties of conventional metal oxide materials, providing a new insight into the rational design with surface alteration to boost Li-ion storage capacity.     

Modeling hydrogen storage capacities,injection and withdrawal cycles in salt caverns: Introducing the GeoH2 salt storage and cycling app

Salt caverns have been used as hydrogen (H₂) storage solutions in four locations worldwide with refineries and the petrochemical industry relying on these supplies as strategic back-up. The viability of storing H₂ within salt caverns is advantageous given their large volumetric capacities, their flexible operation with large injection and withdrawal rates, and for being a proven technology for the underground storage of a wide variety of gases and liquids. However, to our knowledge, there are no open-source web-based software tools to assess the technical potential of salt caverns for H₂ storage. This work aims to fill that gap by introducing the GeoH₂ Salt Storage and Cycling App, a computer program that models H₂ storage capacities, and injection/withdrawal cycles in salt caverns.The GeoH₂ Salt Storage and Cycling App is a web-based thermodynamic simulator, which consists of the following modules: (a) H₂ physical properties, (b) volumetric, (c) production, (d) injection, and (e) cycling. The physical properties module provides the user with the main thermodynamic, transport, and thermal properties of H₂. The volumetric module allows the user to estimate H₂ storage capacities in salt caverns. The production and the injection modules simulate the withdrawal and the injection of H₂, respectively. Finally, the cycling module models sequential withdrawal and injection processes.This study validates the results of the physical properties and the volumetric modules with real data. We validate the results of the production and the injection modules for synthetic cases using an open-source thermodynamic simulator.This work presents a novel tool suitable to assess the technical potential of H₂ storage, injection, withdrawal, and cycling operations in salt caverns. This application can also be used, along with subsurface geological information, as a first order screening tool to assess H₂ storage capacity at a regional or hub scale.