A procedure to join the force and volume ensemble statistical descriptions of granular media

Granular media consist of a large number of discrete particles interacting mostly through contact forces that, being dissipative, jeopardizes a classical statistical equilibrium approach based on energy. Instead, two independent equilibrium statistical descriptions have been proposed: the Volume Ensemble and the Force Network Ensemble. Hereby, we propose a procedure to join them into a single description, using Discrete Element simulations of a granular medium of monodisperse spheres in the limit state of isotropic compression as testing ground. By classifying grains according to the number of faces of the Voronoï cells around them, our analysis establishes an empirical relationship between that number of faces and the number of contacts on the grain. In addition, a linear relationship between the number of faces of each Voronoï cell and the number of elementary cells proposed by T. Aste and T. Di Matteo in 2007 is found. From those two relations, an expression for the total entropy (volumes plus forces) is written in terms of the contact number, an entropy that, when maximized, gives an equation of state connecting angoricity (the temperature-like variable for the force network ensemble) and compactivity (the temperature-like variable for the volume ensemble). So, the procedure establishes a microscopic connection between geometry and mechanics and, constitutes a further step towards building a complete statistical theory for granular media in equilibrium.

Dual-Functionalized Pesticide Nanocapsule Delivery System with Improved Spreading Behavior and Enhanced Bioactivity

The prevention and control of pests and diseases are becoming increasingly difficult owing to extensive pesticide resistance. The synergistic use of pesticides for disease control is an effective way of slowing pesticide resistance, reducing the number of pesticide applications, and protecting the environment. In this study, a dual-functionalized pesticide nanocapsule delivery system loaded with two active ingredients (AIs)—validamycin and thifluzamide—was developed to prevent and control rice sheath blight; the nanocapsule system was based on a water–oil–water double emulsion method combined with high-pressure homogenization technology. Our results showed that the dual-functionalized pesticide nanocapsules were monodisperse spheres with a mean particle size of ~260 nm and had good storage stability. Compared with commercial formulations, the dual-functionalized pesticide nanocapsules exhibited good foliar spread owing to their small size, which is beneficial for reducing the loss of pesticides on the leaves. The 50% median effect concentration and synergistic ratio against Rhizoctonia solani of the dual-functionalized pesticide nanocapsules and commercial formulation were 0.0082 and 0.0350 μg/mL, and 2.088 and 0.917, respectively. These findings indicate that the bioactivity of the dual-functionalized system was significantly better than that of the commercial formulations and that the dual-functionalized system demonstrated a clear synergistic effect between the two AIs. The system presented here is simple, fast, and capable of dual-pesticide loading with significant synergistic effects. Our findings could help to facilitate the improvement of pesticides efficiency and the slowing of pesticide resistance.