The fibred magnesium hydroxide from the bracite was treated with a surface active agent. The modified fibred magnesium hydroxide as flame-retardant, boric acid, barium stearate, polydimethyl siloxane fluid, vinyltrie...The fibred magnesium hydroxide from the bracite was treated with a surface active agent. The modified fibred magnesium hydroxide as flame-retardant, boric acid, barium stearate, polydimethyl siloxane fluid, vinyltriethoxysilane as synergists of the flame-retardant were added to polyene resin. The flame-resistance polyene material prepared meets the requirements of EWCZ-6287-1. (Author abstract) 2 Refs.展开更多
The systemic effects of gastrointestinal(GI)microbiota in health and during chronic diseases is increasingly recognised.Dietary strategies to modulate the GI microbiota during chronic diseases have demonstrated promis...The systemic effects of gastrointestinal(GI)microbiota in health and during chronic diseases is increasingly recognised.Dietary strategies to modulate the GI microbiota during chronic diseases have demonstrated promise.While changes in dietary intake can rapidly change the GI microbiota,the impact of dietary changes during acute critical illness on the microbiota remain uncertain.Dietary fibre is metabolised by carbohydrate-active enzymes and,in health,can alter GI microbiota.The aim of this scoping review was to describe the effects of dietary fibre supplementation in health and disease states,specifically during critical illness.Randomised controlled trials and prospective cohort studies that include adults(>18 years age)and reported changes to GI microbiota as one of the study outcomes using non-culture methods,were identified.Studies show dietary fibres have an impact on faecal microbiota in health and disease.The fibre,inulin,has a marked and specific effect on increasing the abundance of faecal Bifidobacteria.Short chain fatty acids produced by Bifidobacteria have been shown to be beneficial in other patient populations.Very few trials have evaluated the effect of dietary fibre on the GI microbiota during critical illness.More research is necessary to establish optimal fibre type,doses,duration of intervention in critical illness.展开更多
A much more sustainable,cost effective and very flexible process for manufacturing critical fibres based on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)is being launched by the UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technologies(F...A much more sustainable,cost effective and very flexible process for manufacturing critical fibres based on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)is being launched by the UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technologies(FET).展开更多
Real-time assessment of slope reinforcements to diagnose their state in all stages of service life is imperative for prompt evaluation of slope stability and establishing an efficient early warning(EW)system.Many poin...Real-time assessment of slope reinforcements to diagnose their state in all stages of service life is imperative for prompt evaluation of slope stability and establishing an efficient early warning(EW)system.Many point-based monitoring instruments have been used in the last few decades.However,these sensors suffer from a particular risk of detection failures and practical limitations.Fibre-optic sensing(FOS)technologies have been developed,tested,and validated across various geoengineering applications,including slope monitoring,as they offer exceptional advantages,such as high data-carrying capacity,precise mapping of physical parameters,durability,and immunity to electromagnetic interference.The deformation of rock/soil causes the deformation and fracture of reinforcement materials,which are subsequently transferred to the encapsulated fibre-optic(FO)sensors,providing valuable information on reinforcements'safety state and performance for early failure detection.This paper is devoted to critically analysing the application of cutting-edge FOS technologies for slope reinforcement monitoring.Firstly,a concise overview of the fundamental principles underlying discrete and distributed FOS methods is provided.The key considerations for selecting FO cables and the appropriate packaging techniques necessary to withstand the challenges posed by complex geological environments are also summarised.We delve into the details of three distinct cable installation techniques within slope reinforcement components:surface bonding,slot embedment,and clamping.The recent advancements in FOS methods for monitoring slope reinforcements such as rock bolts,soil nails,anti-slide piles,geosynthetics,and retaining walls are extensively reviewed.The paper addresses this novel sensing technique's challenges and comprehensively explores its prospects.This review is anticipated to be a valuable resource for geoengineers and researchers involved in slope monitoring through FOS technology,offering insightful perspectives and guidance.展开更多
Fibre and fabric production technologies-especially in the area of com-posite reinforcements-have played an as-yet largely unheralded role in thedevelopment of the UKs Formula One industry,but the British Textile Mach...Fibre and fabric production technologies-especially in the area of com-posite reinforcements-have played an as-yet largely unheralded role in thedevelopment of the UKs Formula One industry,but the British Textile MachineryAssociation(BTMA)aims to change that.展开更多
Background Based on observations in feral pigs,the role of dietary fibre and structure may be underestimated in suckling piglet nutrition.This study investigated the effect of grass hay offered to suckling piglets eit...Background Based on observations in feral pigs,the role of dietary fibre and structure may be underestimated in suckling piglet nutrition.This study investigated the effect of grass hay offered to suckling piglets either separately or included in their creep feed,combined with nursery diets with or without grass pellet inclusion on growth performance and gastrointestinal development.Methods Thirty-six litters(14–15 piglets per litter)were divided into three equal groups of 12 litters per treatment during the suckling phase:control group(CON)received regular creep feed;GH group received chopped grass hay as-is in separate feeders alongside regular creep feed;PGH group received regular creep feed but barley and wheat were replaced by 28%grass pellets.After weaning(d 23),each litter was split into two dietary treatments in a splitplot design(pre-wean treatment as main plot).Two of the pre-wean diets were also offered until d 14 post-weaning,i.e.,CON(CON nursery diet,CON-C,GH-C,PGH-C)and PGH(GH nursery diet,CON-GH,GH-GH,PGH-GH).Thereafter,transitioning to a diet containing 13%wheat/barley or grass pellets,respectively,until d 39 post-weaning.Gastrointestinal morphology,gene expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and barrier proteins,metabolite profile and microbiota were assessed on the day before weaning,d 10 and d 38 post-weaning.A total of 24 piglets were sacrificed at each dissection point.Results At weaning,GH group had consumed 7 g/piglet grass hay,and PGH group had consumed 46 g/piglet creep feed.One day before weaning,GH piglets showed heavier emptied small intestine(P=0.044)and colon(P=0.065),higher SCFA production in proximal segments and lower SCFA production in colon(P<0.05).Higher abundance of Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group was observed in caecal and colonic content of PGH compared to GH group(P<0.05),and PGH group showed a lower energy conversion ratio(net energy intake/gain,P=0.035).Following weaning,GH nursery group had a reduced average daily gain(226 vs.183 g,P<0.001)during d 0–14,while this group showed compensatory growth afterwards(P=0.056).Main plot effects on increased expressions of CLDN3 and FFAR2 were observed in GH and PGH by d 38 post-weaning(P<0.05).An interaction effect showed greater luminal abundance of the Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group in GH-GH and PGH-GH groups compared to CON-GH on d 38.The GH nursery diet showed a better energy conversion ratio(P=0.006)with no influence on body weight and their SCFA production shifted towards proximal segments.Conclusion In conclusion, feeding a structured and fibre-rich diet to suckling piglets enhance their digestive tractdevelopment and adapt their microbiome to fibre digestion in later life. Maintaining a fibre-rich diet from sucklingto nursery is recommended, though this come with a transient reduction in weight gain caused by lower feed intakethat, however, can be recovered afterwards accompanied with an optimized energy conversion ratio.展开更多
The textile industry has long relied on various additives to enhance the properties of fabrics,making them more durable,resistant to stains,and even antimicrobial.These additives include dyes,coatings,flame retardants...The textile industry has long relied on various additives to enhance the properties of fabrics,making them more durable,resistant to stains,and even antimicrobial.These additives include dyes,coatings,flame retardants,and water-repellent finishes.While they offer significant functional benefits,they pose a serious challenge when it comes to recycling textiles.Since many of these additives are chemically bonded to fibres,they make the separation and recovery of pure materials incredibly difficult.展开更多
The Lycra Company has announced its participation in Milano Unica, taking place from 8 to 10 July 2025, reaffirming its role as a leader in sustainable textile innovation. The Lycra Brand Lounge will unveil the world&...The Lycra Company has announced its participation in Milano Unica, taking place from 8 to 10 July 2025, reaffirming its role as a leader in sustainable textile innovation. The Lycra Brand Lounge will unveil the world's first commercially available elastane fibre made from renewable resources, the bio-derived Lycra Eco Made.展开更多
Curved geostructures,such as tunnels,are commonly encountered in geotechnical engineering and are critical to maintaining structural stability.Ensuring their proper performance through field monitoring during their se...Curved geostructures,such as tunnels,are commonly encountered in geotechnical engineering and are critical to maintaining structural stability.Ensuring their proper performance through field monitoring during their service life is essential for the overall functionality of geotechnical infrastructure.Distributed Brillouin sensing(DBS)is increasingly applied in geotechnical projects due to its ability to acquire spatially continuous strain and temperature distributions over distances of up to 150 km using a single optical fibre.However,limited by the complex operations of distributed optic fibre sensing(DFOS)sensors in curved structures,previous reports about exploiting DBS in geotechnical structural health monitoring(SHM)have mostly been focused on flat surfaces.The lack of suitable DFOS installation methods matched to the spatial characteristics of continuous monitoring is one of the major factors that hinder the further application of this technique in curved structures.This review paper starts with a brief introduction of the fundamental working principle of DBS and the inherent limitations of DBS being used on monitoring curved surfaces.Subsequently,the state-of-the-art installation methods of optical fibres in curved structures are reviewed and compared to address the most suitable scenario of each method and their advantages and disadvantages.The installation challenges of optical fibres that can highly affect measurement accuracy are also discussed in the paper.展开更多
A novel steel–carbon fibre/polyetheretherketone(CF/PEEK)hybrid shaft is proposed,considering the thermal stability,negative coefficient of thermal expansion in fibre orientation,and high stiffness of CF/PEEK,which is...A novel steel–carbon fibre/polyetheretherketone(CF/PEEK)hybrid shaft is proposed,considering the thermal stability,negative coefficient of thermal expansion in fibre orientation,and high stiffness of CF/PEEK,which is expected to suppress the thermal deformation of shafts.A laser-assisted in-situ consolidation(LAC)process,together with its equipment,was developed to manufacture the hybrid shaft.Firstly,the optimal process parameters,including the laser-heated temperature and placement speed,were investigated.A maximum short-beam shear strength of 80.7 MPa was achieved when the laser-heated temperature was 500°C and the placement speed was 100 mm/s.In addition,the failure modes and the effect of environmental temperature on the CF/PEEK samples were analyzed.Both interlayer cracks and inelastic deformation failure modes were observed.The formation and propagation of cracks were further investigated through digital image correlation(DIC).Furthermore,internal defects of the CF/PEEK sample were detected using X-ray tomography scans,and a minimum porosity of 0.23%was achieved with the optimal process parameters.Finally,two steel–CF/PEEK hybrid shafts,with different fibre orientations,were manufactured based on the optimal process parameters.The surface temperature distributions and thermal deformations were investigated using a self-established deformation/temperature measurement platform.The hybrid shaft showed an 85.7%reduction in radial displacement with hoop fibre orientation and an 11.5%reduction in axial displacement with cross fibre orientation compared with the steel shaft.The results indicate that the proposed method has great potential to improve the thermal stability of hybrid shafts and the accuracy of machine tools.展开更多
Adhesively Bonded Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic(CFRP)and titanium alloy have been extensively used as a hybrid structure in modern aircrafts due to their excellent combination of mechanical properties and chemical s...Adhesively Bonded Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic(CFRP)and titanium alloy have been extensively used as a hybrid structure in modern aircrafts due to their excellent combination of mechanical properties and chemical stabilities.This study utilised NaOH anodising method to create micro-rough titanium surfaces for enhancing adhesive bonding between titanium alloy and CFRP laminates.A special and simple technique named Resin Pre-Coating(RPC)was also employed to improve the surface wetting of anodised titanium and grinded CFRP substrates.The influences of anodising temperature and duration on the surface morphology,wettability and adhesive bond strength were investigated.The single lap shear test results showed that the bond strength of specimens anodised at 20℃for 15 min improved by 135.9%and 95.4%,respectively,in comparison with that of acid pickled and grinded specimens(without RPC treatment).Although increasing the anodising temperature and duration produced rougher titanium surfaces,the adhesively bonded joints were not strong enough due to relatively friable titanium oxide layers.展开更多
Fibre reinforced polymer composites have become a new generation of structural materials due to their unique advantages such as high specific strength,designability,good dimensional stability and ease of large-area mo...Fibre reinforced polymer composites have become a new generation of structural materials due to their unique advantages such as high specific strength,designability,good dimensional stability and ease of large-area monolithic forming.However,the problem of interfacial bonding between the resin matrix and the fibres limits the direct use of reinforcing fibres and has become a central difficulty in the development of basalt fibre-epoxy composites.This paper proposes a solution for enhancing the strength of the fibre-resin interface using maize starch nanocrystals,which are highly yield and eco-friendly.Firstly,in this paper,corn starch nanocrystals(SNC)were prepared by hydrolysis,and were deposited on the surface of basalt fibers by electrostatic adsorption.After that,in order to maximize the modification effect of nano-starch crystals on the interface,the basalt fiber-epoxy resin composite samples were prepared by mixing in a pressureless molding method.The test results shown that the addition of basalt fibers alone led to a reduction in the strength of the sample.Deposition of 0.1 wt%SNC on the surface of basalt fibers can make the strength consistent with pure epoxy resin.When the adsorption amount of SNC reached 0.5 wt%,the tensile strength of the samples was 23.7%higher than that of pure epoxy resin.This is due to the formation of ether bond homopolymers between the SNC at the fibre-epoxy interface and the epoxy resin,which distorts the originally smooth interface,leading to increased stress concentration and the development of cracks.This enhances the binding of basalt fibers.The conclusions of this paper can provide an effective,simple,low-cost and non-polluting method of interfacial enhancement modification.展开更多
Due to the growing need for sustainable and ultra-high-strength construction materials,scientists have created an innovative ultra-high-performance concrete called Geopolymer based ultra-highperformance concrete(GUHPC...Due to the growing need for sustainable and ultra-high-strength construction materials,scientists have created an innovative ultra-high-performance concrete called Geopolymer based ultra-highperformance concrete(GUHPC).Besides,in the last few decades,there have been a lot of explosions and ballistic attacks around the world,which have killed many civilians and fighters in border areas.In this context,this article reviews the fresh state and mechanical properties of GUHPC.Firstly,the ingredients of GUHPC and fresh properties such as setting time and flowability are briefly covered.Secondly,the review of compressive strength,flexure strength,tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of fibrous GUHPC.Thirdly,the blast and projectile impact resistance performance was reviewed.Finally,the microstructural characteristics were reviewed using the scanning electron microscope and X-ray Powder Diffraction.The review outcome reveals that the mechanical properties were increased when 30%silica fume was added to a higher dose of steel fibre to improve the microstructure of GUHPC.It is hypothesized that the brittleness of GUHPC was mitigated by adding 1.5%steel fibre reinforcement,which played a role in the decrease of contact explosion cratering and spalling.Removing the need for cement in GUHPC was a key factor in the review,indicating a promising potential for lowering carbon emissions.However,GUHPC research is still in its early stages,so more study is required before its full potential can be utilized.展开更多
The poor interfacial stability not only deteriorates fibre lithium-ion batteries(FLBs)performance but also impacts their scalable applications.To efficiently address these challenges,Prof.Huisheng Peng team proposed a...The poor interfacial stability not only deteriorates fibre lithium-ion batteries(FLBs)performance but also impacts their scalable applications.To efficiently address these challenges,Prof.Huisheng Peng team proposed a generalized channel structures strategy with optimized in situ polymerization technology in their recent study.The resultant FLBs can be woven into different-sized powering textiles,providing a high energy density output of 128 Wh kg^(-1) and simultaneously demonstrating good durability even under harsh conditions.Such a promising strategy expands the horizon in developing FLB with particular polymer gel electrolytes,and significantly ever-deepening understanding of the scaled wearable energy textile system toward a sustainable future.展开更多
To solve the problems of a few optical fibre line fault samples and the inefficiency of manual communication optical fibre fault diagnosis,this paper proposes a communication optical fibre fault diagnosis model based ...To solve the problems of a few optical fibre line fault samples and the inefficiency of manual communication optical fibre fault diagnosis,this paper proposes a communication optical fibre fault diagnosis model based on variational modal decomposition(VMD),fuzzy entropy(FE)and fuzzy clustering(FC).Firstly,based on the OTDR curve data collected in the field,VMD is used to extract the different modal components(IMF)of the original signal and calculate the fuzzy entropy(FE)values of different components to characterize the subtle differences between them.The fuzzy entropy of each curve is used as the feature vector,which in turn constructs the communication optical fibre feature vector matrix,and the fuzzy clustering algorithm is used to achieve fault diagnosis of faulty optical fibre.The VMD-FE combination can extract subtle differences in features,and the fuzzy clustering algorithm does not require sample training.The experimental results show that the model in this paper has high accuracy and is relevant to the maintenance of communication optical fibre when compared with existing feature extraction models and traditional machine learning models.展开更多
The disposal of discarded E-cigarette butts(E-CBs) presents significant environmental challenges due to their detrimental impacts on ecosystems. To find an environmentally sustainable method for managing this waste, t...The disposal of discarded E-cigarette butts(E-CBs) presents significant environmental challenges due to their detrimental impacts on ecosystems. To find an environmentally sustainable method for managing this waste, the potential for recycling E-CBs in asphalt pavements was investigated in this study. By focusing on the two primary components of E-CBs, namely cellulose fibre and polylactic acid(PLA), this research introduced a novel approach for recycling E-CBs in stone mastic asphalt(SMA) as a fibre additive in engineered pellet form. The prepared fibre pellets were directly added to aggregates to produce the SMA mixture. The resulting mixtures underwent a comprehensive evaluation through a series of standardized laboratory tests, including assessments of volumetric properties, indirect tensile strength(ITS), stiffness modulus, moisture susceptibility, and rutting resistance. The results were compared with SMA mixtures containing conventional cellulose fibres. Additionally, to examine the potential influence of PLA, a third mixture was prepared, incorporating both cellulose fibre and PLA. The findings indicate that the SMA using pelletized fibre can satisfy the technical specifications regarding the tests performed in this study, showing higher ITS and rutting resistance compared to the reference mixture. Moreover, the incorporation of PLA plastic reduced air void content and improved tensile strength, stiffness, and rutting resistance. This study highlights the potential for recycling E-CBs in asphalt mixtures, offering technical support for further development of sustainable recycling methods for this waste.展开更多
Polypropylene(PP) fibres have primarily used to control shrinkage cracks or mitigate explosive spalling in concrete structures exposed to fire or subjected to impact/blast loads, with limited investigations on capacit...Polypropylene(PP) fibres have primarily used to control shrinkage cracks or mitigate explosive spalling in concrete structures exposed to fire or subjected to impact/blast loads, with limited investigations on capacity improvement. This study unveils the possibility of using PP micro-fibres to improve the impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete(FRUHPC) columns. Results show that the addition of fibres significantly improves the impact behaviour of FRUHPC columns by shifting the failure mechanism from brittle shear to favourable flexural failure. The addition of steel or PP fibres affected the impact responses differently. Steel fibres considerably increased the peak impact force(up to 18%) while PP micro-fibres slightly increased the peak(3%-4%). FRUHPC significantly reduced the maximum midheight displacement by up to 30%(under 20°impact) and substantially improved the displacement recovery by up to 100%(under 20° impact). FRUHPC with steel fibres significantly improved the energy absorption while those with PP micro-fibres reduced the energy absorption, which is different from the effect of PP-macro fibre reported in the literature. The optimal fibre content for micro-PP fibres is 1% due to its minimal fibre usage and low peak and residual displacement. This study highlights the potential of FRUHPC as a promising material for impact-resistant structures by creating a more favourable flexural failure mechanism, enhancing ductility and toughness under impact loading, and advancing the understanding of the role of fibres in structural performance.展开更多
Solid waste recycling is an economically sound strategy for preserving the environment,safeguarding natural resources,and diminishing the reliance on raw material consumption.Geopolymer technology offers a significant...Solid waste recycling is an economically sound strategy for preserving the environment,safeguarding natural resources,and diminishing the reliance on raw material consumption.Geopolymer technology offers a significant advantage by enabling the reuse and recycling of diverse materials.This research assesses how including silica fume and glass powder enhances the impact resistance of ultra-high-performance geopolymer concrete(UHPGC).In total,18 distinct mixtures were formulated by substituting ground granulated blast furnace slag with varying proportions of silica fume and glass powder,ranging from 10%to 40%.Similarly,for each of the mixtures above,steel fibre was added at a dosage of 1.5%to address the inherent brittleness of UHPGC.The mixtures were activated by combining sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution to generate geopolymer binders.The specimens were subjected to drop-weight impact testing,wherein an examination was carried out to evaluate various parameters,including flowability,density at fresh and hardened state,compressive strength,impact numbers indicative of cracking and failure occurrences,ductility index,and analysis of failure modes.Additionally,the variations in the impact test outcomes were analyzed using the Weibull distribution,and the findings corresponding to survival probability were offered.Furthermore,the microstructure of UHPGC was scrutinized through scanning electron microscopy.Findings reveal that the specimens incorporating glass powder exhibited lower cracking impact number values than those utilizing silica fume,with reductions ranging from 18.63%to 34.31%.Similarly,failure impact number values decreased from 8.26%to 28.46%across glass powder contents.The maximum compressive and impact strength was recorded in UHPGC,comprising 10%silica fume with fibres.展开更多
In order to predict the damage behaviours of 3D-printed continuous carbon fibre(CCF)reinforced composites,when additional short carbon fibre(SCF)composite components are employed for continuous printing or special fun...In order to predict the damage behaviours of 3D-printed continuous carbon fibre(CCF)reinforced composites,when additional short carbon fibre(SCF)composite components are employed for continuous printing or special functionality,a novel path-dependent progressive failure(PDPF)numerical approach is developed.First,a progressive failure model using Hashin failure criteria with continuum damage mechanics to account for the damage initiation and evaluation of 3D-printed CCF reinforced polyamide(PA)composites is developed,based on actual fibre placement trajectories with physical measurements of 3D-printed CCF/PA constituents.Meanwhile,an elastic-plastic model is employed to predict the plastic damage behaviours of SCF/PA parts.Then,the accuracy of the PDPF model was validated so as to study 3D-printed CCF/PA composites with either negative Poisson's ratio or high stiffness.The results demonstrate that the proposed PDPF model can achieve higher prediction accuracies in mechanical properties of these 3D-printed CCF/PA composites.Mechanism analyses show that the stress distribution is generally aggregated in the CCF areas along the fibre placement paths,and the shear damage and matrix tensile/compressive damage are the key damage modes.This study provides a new approach with valuable information for characterising complex 3D-printed continuous fibre-matrix composites with variable mechanical properties and multiple constituents.展开更多
Recent decades have seen a substantial increase in interest in research on natural fibres that is aligned with sustainable development goals(SDGs).Due to their renewable resources and biodegradability,natural fiberrei...Recent decades have seen a substantial increase in interest in research on natural fibres that is aligned with sustainable development goals(SDGs).Due to their renewable resources and biodegradability,natural fiberreinforced composites have been investigated as a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials to reduce the usage of hazardous waste and environmental pollution.Among the natural fibre,jute fibre obtained from a bast plant has an increasing trend in the application,especially as a reinforcement material.Numerous research works have been performed on jute fibre with regard to reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic composites.Nevertheless,current demands on sustainable materials have required new developments in thermoplastic composites.In this paper,the author reviews jute plants as reinforcement materials for thermoplastic matrix polymers.This review provides an overview of the sustainability of jute plants as reinforcement material for thermoplastic matrix polymers.The overview on jute based thermoplastic composites focused on the thermal behavior and mechanical properties.Apart from physical,chemical,and mechanical properties,the study also covers the current and perspectives for future research challenges faced by the researchers on jute fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites.展开更多
文摘The fibred magnesium hydroxide from the bracite was treated with a surface active agent. The modified fibred magnesium hydroxide as flame-retardant, boric acid, barium stearate, polydimethyl siloxane fluid, vinyltriethoxysilane as synergists of the flame-retardant were added to polyene resin. The flame-resistance polyene material prepared meets the requirements of EWCZ-6287-1. (Author abstract) 2 Refs.
文摘The systemic effects of gastrointestinal(GI)microbiota in health and during chronic diseases is increasingly recognised.Dietary strategies to modulate the GI microbiota during chronic diseases have demonstrated promise.While changes in dietary intake can rapidly change the GI microbiota,the impact of dietary changes during acute critical illness on the microbiota remain uncertain.Dietary fibre is metabolised by carbohydrate-active enzymes and,in health,can alter GI microbiota.The aim of this scoping review was to describe the effects of dietary fibre supplementation in health and disease states,specifically during critical illness.Randomised controlled trials and prospective cohort studies that include adults(>18 years age)and reported changes to GI microbiota as one of the study outcomes using non-culture methods,were identified.Studies show dietary fibres have an impact on faecal microbiota in health and disease.The fibre,inulin,has a marked and specific effect on increasing the abundance of faecal Bifidobacteria.Short chain fatty acids produced by Bifidobacteria have been shown to be beneficial in other patient populations.Very few trials have evaluated the effect of dietary fibre on the GI microbiota during critical illness.More research is necessary to establish optimal fibre type,doses,duration of intervention in critical illness.
文摘A much more sustainable,cost effective and very flexible process for manufacturing critical fibres based on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)is being launched by the UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technologies(FET).
基金funding support from JSPS KAKENHI(Grant Nos.21H01593 and 21K18794)through Tetsuya KogureThis work was also partially supported by the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant(2023e2026)from the Japan Science Society(JSS)through Ashis Acharya.
文摘Real-time assessment of slope reinforcements to diagnose their state in all stages of service life is imperative for prompt evaluation of slope stability and establishing an efficient early warning(EW)system.Many point-based monitoring instruments have been used in the last few decades.However,these sensors suffer from a particular risk of detection failures and practical limitations.Fibre-optic sensing(FOS)technologies have been developed,tested,and validated across various geoengineering applications,including slope monitoring,as they offer exceptional advantages,such as high data-carrying capacity,precise mapping of physical parameters,durability,and immunity to electromagnetic interference.The deformation of rock/soil causes the deformation and fracture of reinforcement materials,which are subsequently transferred to the encapsulated fibre-optic(FO)sensors,providing valuable information on reinforcements'safety state and performance for early failure detection.This paper is devoted to critically analysing the application of cutting-edge FOS technologies for slope reinforcement monitoring.Firstly,a concise overview of the fundamental principles underlying discrete and distributed FOS methods is provided.The key considerations for selecting FO cables and the appropriate packaging techniques necessary to withstand the challenges posed by complex geological environments are also summarised.We delve into the details of three distinct cable installation techniques within slope reinforcement components:surface bonding,slot embedment,and clamping.The recent advancements in FOS methods for monitoring slope reinforcements such as rock bolts,soil nails,anti-slide piles,geosynthetics,and retaining walls are extensively reviewed.The paper addresses this novel sensing technique's challenges and comprehensively explores its prospects.This review is anticipated to be a valuable resource for geoengineers and researchers involved in slope monitoring through FOS technology,offering insightful perspectives and guidance.
文摘Fibre and fabric production technologies-especially in the area of com-posite reinforcements-have played an as-yet largely unheralded role in thedevelopment of the UKs Formula One industry,but the British Textile MachineryAssociation(BTMA)aims to change that.
文摘Background Based on observations in feral pigs,the role of dietary fibre and structure may be underestimated in suckling piglet nutrition.This study investigated the effect of grass hay offered to suckling piglets either separately or included in their creep feed,combined with nursery diets with or without grass pellet inclusion on growth performance and gastrointestinal development.Methods Thirty-six litters(14–15 piglets per litter)were divided into three equal groups of 12 litters per treatment during the suckling phase:control group(CON)received regular creep feed;GH group received chopped grass hay as-is in separate feeders alongside regular creep feed;PGH group received regular creep feed but barley and wheat were replaced by 28%grass pellets.After weaning(d 23),each litter was split into two dietary treatments in a splitplot design(pre-wean treatment as main plot).Two of the pre-wean diets were also offered until d 14 post-weaning,i.e.,CON(CON nursery diet,CON-C,GH-C,PGH-C)and PGH(GH nursery diet,CON-GH,GH-GH,PGH-GH).Thereafter,transitioning to a diet containing 13%wheat/barley or grass pellets,respectively,until d 39 post-weaning.Gastrointestinal morphology,gene expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and barrier proteins,metabolite profile and microbiota were assessed on the day before weaning,d 10 and d 38 post-weaning.A total of 24 piglets were sacrificed at each dissection point.Results At weaning,GH group had consumed 7 g/piglet grass hay,and PGH group had consumed 46 g/piglet creep feed.One day before weaning,GH piglets showed heavier emptied small intestine(P=0.044)and colon(P=0.065),higher SCFA production in proximal segments and lower SCFA production in colon(P<0.05).Higher abundance of Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group was observed in caecal and colonic content of PGH compared to GH group(P<0.05),and PGH group showed a lower energy conversion ratio(net energy intake/gain,P=0.035).Following weaning,GH nursery group had a reduced average daily gain(226 vs.183 g,P<0.001)during d 0–14,while this group showed compensatory growth afterwards(P=0.056).Main plot effects on increased expressions of CLDN3 and FFAR2 were observed in GH and PGH by d 38 post-weaning(P<0.05).An interaction effect showed greater luminal abundance of the Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group in GH-GH and PGH-GH groups compared to CON-GH on d 38.The GH nursery diet showed a better energy conversion ratio(P=0.006)with no influence on body weight and their SCFA production shifted towards proximal segments.Conclusion In conclusion, feeding a structured and fibre-rich diet to suckling piglets enhance their digestive tractdevelopment and adapt their microbiome to fibre digestion in later life. Maintaining a fibre-rich diet from sucklingto nursery is recommended, though this come with a transient reduction in weight gain caused by lower feed intakethat, however, can be recovered afterwards accompanied with an optimized energy conversion ratio.
文摘The textile industry has long relied on various additives to enhance the properties of fabrics,making them more durable,resistant to stains,and even antimicrobial.These additives include dyes,coatings,flame retardants,and water-repellent finishes.While they offer significant functional benefits,they pose a serious challenge when it comes to recycling textiles.Since many of these additives are chemically bonded to fibres,they make the separation and recovery of pure materials incredibly difficult.
文摘The Lycra Company has announced its participation in Milano Unica, taking place from 8 to 10 July 2025, reaffirming its role as a leader in sustainable textile innovation. The Lycra Brand Lounge will unveil the world's first commercially available elastane fibre made from renewable resources, the bio-derived Lycra Eco Made.
基金support provided by Science Foundation Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme,21/FFP-P/10090.
文摘Curved geostructures,such as tunnels,are commonly encountered in geotechnical engineering and are critical to maintaining structural stability.Ensuring their proper performance through field monitoring during their service life is essential for the overall functionality of geotechnical infrastructure.Distributed Brillouin sensing(DBS)is increasingly applied in geotechnical projects due to its ability to acquire spatially continuous strain and temperature distributions over distances of up to 150 km using a single optical fibre.However,limited by the complex operations of distributed optic fibre sensing(DFOS)sensors in curved structures,previous reports about exploiting DBS in geotechnical structural health monitoring(SHM)have mostly been focused on flat surfaces.The lack of suitable DFOS installation methods matched to the spatial characteristics of continuous monitoring is one of the major factors that hinder the further application of this technique in curved structures.This review paper starts with a brief introduction of the fundamental working principle of DBS and the inherent limitations of DBS being used on monitoring curved surfaces.Subsequently,the state-of-the-art installation methods of optical fibres in curved structures are reviewed and compared to address the most suitable scenario of each method and their advantages and disadvantages.The installation challenges of optical fibres that can highly affect measurement accuracy are also discussed in the paper.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.52175440)the Aeronautics Science Foundation of China(No.2023Z049076001)+3 种基金the Science and Technology Innovation Fund of Shanghai Aerospace(No.SAST2022-058)the Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions(No.SKLMT-MSKFKT-202202)the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang Province(No.2023C01058)the Experimental Technique Project of Zhejiang University(No.SYBJS202302),China.
文摘A novel steel–carbon fibre/polyetheretherketone(CF/PEEK)hybrid shaft is proposed,considering the thermal stability,negative coefficient of thermal expansion in fibre orientation,and high stiffness of CF/PEEK,which is expected to suppress the thermal deformation of shafts.A laser-assisted in-situ consolidation(LAC)process,together with its equipment,was developed to manufacture the hybrid shaft.Firstly,the optimal process parameters,including the laser-heated temperature and placement speed,were investigated.A maximum short-beam shear strength of 80.7 MPa was achieved when the laser-heated temperature was 500°C and the placement speed was 100 mm/s.In addition,the failure modes and the effect of environmental temperature on the CF/PEEK samples were analyzed.Both interlayer cracks and inelastic deformation failure modes were observed.The formation and propagation of cracks were further investigated through digital image correlation(DIC).Furthermore,internal defects of the CF/PEEK sample were detected using X-ray tomography scans,and a minimum porosity of 0.23%was achieved with the optimal process parameters.Finally,two steel–CF/PEEK hybrid shafts,with different fibre orientations,were manufactured based on the optimal process parameters.The surface temperature distributions and thermal deformations were investigated using a self-established deformation/temperature measurement platform.The hybrid shaft showed an 85.7%reduction in radial displacement with hoop fibre orientation and an 11.5%reduction in axial displacement with cross fibre orientation compared with the steel shaft.The results indicate that the proposed method has great potential to improve the thermal stability of hybrid shafts and the accuracy of machine tools.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China(No.52102115)the Natural Science Foundations of Sichuan Province,China(No.2023NSFSC0961)the Fundamental Research Funds of Jiangsu University of Science and Technology,China(No.1022932318)。
文摘Adhesively Bonded Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic(CFRP)and titanium alloy have been extensively used as a hybrid structure in modern aircrafts due to their excellent combination of mechanical properties and chemical stabilities.This study utilised NaOH anodising method to create micro-rough titanium surfaces for enhancing adhesive bonding between titanium alloy and CFRP laminates.A special and simple technique named Resin Pre-Coating(RPC)was also employed to improve the surface wetting of anodised titanium and grinded CFRP substrates.The influences of anodising temperature and duration on the surface morphology,wettability and adhesive bond strength were investigated.The single lap shear test results showed that the bond strength of specimens anodised at 20℃for 15 min improved by 135.9%and 95.4%,respectively,in comparison with that of acid pickled and grinded specimens(without RPC treatment).Although increasing the anodising temperature and duration produced rougher titanium surfaces,the adhesively bonded joints were not strong enough due to relatively friable titanium oxide layers.
基金Supported by National Key Research and Development Project of China (Grant Nos.2018YFA0703300,52105300)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.52075215)+2 种基金Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Jilin Province of China (Grant No.20200201061JC)Science and Technology Research Project of Jilin Provincial Education Department of China (Grant No.JJKH20221021KJ)Changchun Municipal Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No.21ZGN22)。
文摘Fibre reinforced polymer composites have become a new generation of structural materials due to their unique advantages such as high specific strength,designability,good dimensional stability and ease of large-area monolithic forming.However,the problem of interfacial bonding between the resin matrix and the fibres limits the direct use of reinforcing fibres and has become a central difficulty in the development of basalt fibre-epoxy composites.This paper proposes a solution for enhancing the strength of the fibre-resin interface using maize starch nanocrystals,which are highly yield and eco-friendly.Firstly,in this paper,corn starch nanocrystals(SNC)were prepared by hydrolysis,and were deposited on the surface of basalt fibers by electrostatic adsorption.After that,in order to maximize the modification effect of nano-starch crystals on the interface,the basalt fiber-epoxy resin composite samples were prepared by mixing in a pressureless molding method.The test results shown that the addition of basalt fibers alone led to a reduction in the strength of the sample.Deposition of 0.1 wt%SNC on the surface of basalt fibers can make the strength consistent with pure epoxy resin.When the adsorption amount of SNC reached 0.5 wt%,the tensile strength of the samples was 23.7%higher than that of pure epoxy resin.This is due to the formation of ether bond homopolymers between the SNC at the fibre-epoxy interface and the epoxy resin,which distorts the originally smooth interface,leading to increased stress concentration and the development of cracks.This enhances the binding of basalt fibers.The conclusions of this paper can provide an effective,simple,low-cost and non-polluting method of interfacial enhancement modification.
文摘Due to the growing need for sustainable and ultra-high-strength construction materials,scientists have created an innovative ultra-high-performance concrete called Geopolymer based ultra-highperformance concrete(GUHPC).Besides,in the last few decades,there have been a lot of explosions and ballistic attacks around the world,which have killed many civilians and fighters in border areas.In this context,this article reviews the fresh state and mechanical properties of GUHPC.Firstly,the ingredients of GUHPC and fresh properties such as setting time and flowability are briefly covered.Secondly,the review of compressive strength,flexure strength,tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of fibrous GUHPC.Thirdly,the blast and projectile impact resistance performance was reviewed.Finally,the microstructural characteristics were reviewed using the scanning electron microscope and X-ray Powder Diffraction.The review outcome reveals that the mechanical properties were increased when 30%silica fume was added to a higher dose of steel fibre to improve the microstructure of GUHPC.It is hypothesized that the brittleness of GUHPC was mitigated by adding 1.5%steel fibre reinforcement,which played a role in the decrease of contact explosion cratering and spalling.Removing the need for cement in GUHPC was a key factor in the review,indicating a promising potential for lowering carbon emissions.However,GUHPC research is still in its early stages,so more study is required before its full potential can be utilized.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFA1203304)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20220288)+1 种基金Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Start-up grant E1552102)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2023M732553).
文摘The poor interfacial stability not only deteriorates fibre lithium-ion batteries(FLBs)performance but also impacts their scalable applications.To efficiently address these challenges,Prof.Huisheng Peng team proposed a generalized channel structures strategy with optimized in situ polymerization technology in their recent study.The resultant FLBs can be woven into different-sized powering textiles,providing a high energy density output of 128 Wh kg^(-1) and simultaneously demonstrating good durability even under harsh conditions.Such a promising strategy expands the horizon in developing FLB with particular polymer gel electrolytes,and significantly ever-deepening understanding of the scaled wearable energy textile system toward a sustainable future.
基金This paper is supported by State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company Science and Technology Project(20220515003).
文摘To solve the problems of a few optical fibre line fault samples and the inefficiency of manual communication optical fibre fault diagnosis,this paper proposes a communication optical fibre fault diagnosis model based on variational modal decomposition(VMD),fuzzy entropy(FE)and fuzzy clustering(FC).Firstly,based on the OTDR curve data collected in the field,VMD is used to extract the different modal components(IMF)of the original signal and calculate the fuzzy entropy(FE)values of different components to characterize the subtle differences between them.The fuzzy entropy of each curve is used as the feature vector,which in turn constructs the communication optical fibre feature vector matrix,and the fuzzy clustering algorithm is used to achieve fault diagnosis of faulty optical fibre.The VMD-FE combination can extract subtle differences in features,and the fuzzy clustering algorithm does not require sample training.The experimental results show that the model in this paper has high accuracy and is relevant to the maintenance of communication optical fibre when compared with existing feature extraction models and traditional machine learning models.
基金the funding support from China Scholarship Council under the grant CSC No. 202106150028。
文摘The disposal of discarded E-cigarette butts(E-CBs) presents significant environmental challenges due to their detrimental impacts on ecosystems. To find an environmentally sustainable method for managing this waste, the potential for recycling E-CBs in asphalt pavements was investigated in this study. By focusing on the two primary components of E-CBs, namely cellulose fibre and polylactic acid(PLA), this research introduced a novel approach for recycling E-CBs in stone mastic asphalt(SMA) as a fibre additive in engineered pellet form. The prepared fibre pellets were directly added to aggregates to produce the SMA mixture. The resulting mixtures underwent a comprehensive evaluation through a series of standardized laboratory tests, including assessments of volumetric properties, indirect tensile strength(ITS), stiffness modulus, moisture susceptibility, and rutting resistance. The results were compared with SMA mixtures containing conventional cellulose fibres. Additionally, to examine the potential influence of PLA, a third mixture was prepared, incorporating both cellulose fibre and PLA. The findings indicate that the SMA using pelletized fibre can satisfy the technical specifications regarding the tests performed in this study, showing higher ITS and rutting resistance compared to the reference mixture. Moreover, the incorporation of PLA plastic reduced air void content and improved tensile strength, stiffness, and rutting resistance. This study highlights the potential for recycling E-CBs in asphalt mixtures, offering technical support for further development of sustainable recycling methods for this waste.
基金the financial support from Australian Research Council(ARC)(Grant No.DP220100307).
文摘Polypropylene(PP) fibres have primarily used to control shrinkage cracks or mitigate explosive spalling in concrete structures exposed to fire or subjected to impact/blast loads, with limited investigations on capacity improvement. This study unveils the possibility of using PP micro-fibres to improve the impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete(FRUHPC) columns. Results show that the addition of fibres significantly improves the impact behaviour of FRUHPC columns by shifting the failure mechanism from brittle shear to favourable flexural failure. The addition of steel or PP fibres affected the impact responses differently. Steel fibres considerably increased the peak impact force(up to 18%) while PP micro-fibres slightly increased the peak(3%-4%). FRUHPC significantly reduced the maximum midheight displacement by up to 30%(under 20°impact) and substantially improved the displacement recovery by up to 100%(under 20° impact). FRUHPC with steel fibres significantly improved the energy absorption while those with PP micro-fibres reduced the energy absorption, which is different from the effect of PP-macro fibre reported in the literature. The optimal fibre content for micro-PP fibres is 1% due to its minimal fibre usage and low peak and residual displacement. This study highlights the potential of FRUHPC as a promising material for impact-resistant structures by creating a more favourable flexural failure mechanism, enhancing ductility and toughness under impact loading, and advancing the understanding of the role of fibres in structural performance.
基金SASTRA Deemed University,India for its generous research support。
文摘Solid waste recycling is an economically sound strategy for preserving the environment,safeguarding natural resources,and diminishing the reliance on raw material consumption.Geopolymer technology offers a significant advantage by enabling the reuse and recycling of diverse materials.This research assesses how including silica fume and glass powder enhances the impact resistance of ultra-high-performance geopolymer concrete(UHPGC).In total,18 distinct mixtures were formulated by substituting ground granulated blast furnace slag with varying proportions of silica fume and glass powder,ranging from 10%to 40%.Similarly,for each of the mixtures above,steel fibre was added at a dosage of 1.5%to address the inherent brittleness of UHPGC.The mixtures were activated by combining sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution to generate geopolymer binders.The specimens were subjected to drop-weight impact testing,wherein an examination was carried out to evaluate various parameters,including flowability,density at fresh and hardened state,compressive strength,impact numbers indicative of cracking and failure occurrences,ductility index,and analysis of failure modes.Additionally,the variations in the impact test outcomes were analyzed using the Weibull distribution,and the findings corresponding to survival probability were offered.Furthermore,the microstructure of UHPGC was scrutinized through scanning electron microscopy.Findings reveal that the specimens incorporating glass powder exhibited lower cracking impact number values than those utilizing silica fume,with reductions ranging from 18.63%to 34.31%.Similarly,failure impact number values decreased from 8.26%to 28.46%across glass powder contents.The maximum compressive and impact strength was recorded in UHPGC,comprising 10%silica fume with fibres.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.12302177)Guangdong Provincial Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of China (Grant No.2024A1515010203)+1 种基金Shenzhen Science and Technology Program of China (Grant No.JCYJ20230807093602005)Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing for Continuous Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites of China (Grant No.ZDSYS20220527171404011)。
文摘In order to predict the damage behaviours of 3D-printed continuous carbon fibre(CCF)reinforced composites,when additional short carbon fibre(SCF)composite components are employed for continuous printing or special functionality,a novel path-dependent progressive failure(PDPF)numerical approach is developed.First,a progressive failure model using Hashin failure criteria with continuum damage mechanics to account for the damage initiation and evaluation of 3D-printed CCF reinforced polyamide(PA)composites is developed,based on actual fibre placement trajectories with physical measurements of 3D-printed CCF/PA constituents.Meanwhile,an elastic-plastic model is employed to predict the plastic damage behaviours of SCF/PA parts.Then,the accuracy of the PDPF model was validated so as to study 3D-printed CCF/PA composites with either negative Poisson's ratio or high stiffness.The results demonstrate that the proposed PDPF model can achieve higher prediction accuracies in mechanical properties of these 3D-printed CCF/PA composites.Mechanism analyses show that the stress distribution is generally aggregated in the CCF areas along the fibre placement paths,and the shear damage and matrix tensile/compressive damage are the key damage modes.This study provides a new approach with valuable information for characterising complex 3D-printed continuous fibre-matrix composites with variable mechanical properties and multiple constituents.
文摘Recent decades have seen a substantial increase in interest in research on natural fibres that is aligned with sustainable development goals(SDGs).Due to their renewable resources and biodegradability,natural fiberreinforced composites have been investigated as a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials to reduce the usage of hazardous waste and environmental pollution.Among the natural fibre,jute fibre obtained from a bast plant has an increasing trend in the application,especially as a reinforcement material.Numerous research works have been performed on jute fibre with regard to reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic composites.Nevertheless,current demands on sustainable materials have required new developments in thermoplastic composites.In this paper,the author reviews jute plants as reinforcement materials for thermoplastic matrix polymers.This review provides an overview of the sustainability of jute plants as reinforcement material for thermoplastic matrix polymers.The overview on jute based thermoplastic composites focused on the thermal behavior and mechanical properties.Apart from physical,chemical,and mechanical properties,the study also covers the current and perspectives for future research challenges faced by the researchers on jute fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites.
