Compliance-based testing method for fatigue crack propagation rates of mixed-mode I–II cracks

Science China Technological Sciences - Mixed-mode I-II crack-based fatigue crack propagation (FCPI-II) usually occurs in engineering structures; however, no theoretical formula or effective...     

Solution-Synthesized Multifunctional Janus Nanotree Microswimmer

Synthetic active matters are perfect model systems for non-equilibrium thermodynamics and of great potential for novel biomedical and environmental applications. However, most applications are limited by the complicated and low-yield preparation, while a scalable synthesis for highly functional microswimmers is highly desired. In this paper, an all-solution synthesis method is developed where the gold-loaded titania-silica nanotree can be produced as a multi-functional self-propulsion microswimmer. By applying light, heat, and electric field, the Janus nanotree demonstrated multi-mode self-propulsion, including photochemical self-electrophoresis by UV and visible light radiation, thermophoresis by near-infrared light radiation, and induced-charge electrophoresis under AC electric field. Due to the scalable synthesis, the Janus nanotree is further demonstrated as a high-efficiency, low-cost, active adsorbent for water decontamination, where the toxic mercury ions can be reclaimed with enhanced efficiency.     

Effect of wind condition on unintended hydrogen release in a hydrogen refueling station

Ambient condition, especially the wind condition, is an important factor to determine the behavior of hydrogen diffusion during hydrogen release. However, only few studies aim at the quantitative study of the hydrogen diffusion in a wind-exist condition. And very little researches aiming at the variable wind condition have been done. In this paper, the hydrogen diffusion in different wind condition which including the constant wind velocity and the variable wind velocity is investigated numerically. When considering the variable wind velocity, the UDF (user defined function) is compiled. Characteristics of the FGC (flammable gas cloud) and the HMF (hydrogen mass fraction) are analyzed in different wind condition and comparisons are made with the no-wind condition. Results indicate that the constant wind velocity and the variable wind velocity have totally different effect for the determination of hydrogen diffusion. Comparisons between the constant wind velocity and the variable wind velocity indicate that the variable wind velocity may cause a more dangerous situation since there has a larger FGC volume. More importantly, the wind condition has a non-negligible effect when considering the HMF along the radial direction. As the wind velocity increases, the distribution of the HMF along the radial direction is not Gaussian anymore when the distance between the release hole and the observation line exceeds to a critical value. This work can be a supplement of the research on the hydrogen release and diffusion and a valuable reference for the researchers.     

Zinc doped Fe2O3 for boosting Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation to ammonia under mild conditions

Artificial nitrogen fixation is emerging as a promising approach for synthesis of ammonia at mild conditions. Inspired by biological nitrogen fixation based on bacteria containing iron, zinc doped Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are proposed as an efficient and earth abundant electrocatalyst for converting N₂ to NH₃. In neutral media, it achieves a maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 10.4% and a large NH₃ yield rate of 15.1 μg h^?1 mg^?1_cat. at ?0.5 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. This catalyst also exhibits excellent selectivity and stability. Theoretical calculations suggest the reaction follows the associative enzymatic mechanism and it has a barrier of as low as 0.68 eV.     

Doping manganese into CsPb(Cl/Br)3 quantum dots glasses: Dual-color emission and super thermal stability

CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite quantum dots (QDs) represent bright and tunable photoluminescence, it is regrettable that the air instability and poor water resistant properties prevent their application in optoelectronic devices. At the same time, the toxicity of lead is also a major factor restricting its development. As a consequence, we demonstrate the partial replacement of Pb with Mn through conventional melt-quenching and heat-treatment method preparation of Mn-doped CsPb(Cl/Br)₃ QD glass. Mn-doped CsPb(Cl/Br)₃ QD glass exhibits high luminescent intensity like QDs. It is important that Mn-doped CsPb(Cl/Br)₃ QD glass with Dual-Color maintained the same lattice structure like Mn-doped CsPb(Cl/Br)₃ QDs, and highly homogeneous spectral characteristics of Mn luminescence. The intensity and position of this Mn-related emission are also tunable by altering the experimental parameters, such as the Pb-to-Mn feed ratio, annealing temperature. More importantly, the as-prepared orange Mn-doped CsPb(Cl/Br)₃ QD glass was employed to fabricate white LEDs combined with a commercial Ce³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ phosphor-in-glass (Ce-PiG) on top of a InGaN blue chip. And the constructed WLEDs generate a warm white with an optimal luminous efficacy (LE) of 67.00 lm/W, a high CRI of 81.4, and a low CCT of 4902 K.     

故事性建构 ——Sky Joy Club早教中心空间设计

文章以Sky Joy Club早教中心设计为例,阐述如何突破对幼儿空间的片面化认知,避免幼稚化的表象设计.以建筑化设计手法介入幼儿空间,构建有故事可发生的空间结构,为幼儿创建符合成长规律的空间环境,让空间成为成长的一部分,成为教育的第三位老师.     

Control of viscous fingering and mixing in miscible displacements with time-dependent rates

In miscible displacements encountered in enhanced oil recovery processes, the unfavorable viscosity contrast between injected solvent and oil usually leads to viscous fingering (VF), a hydrodynamic instability which may result in a lower sweep efficiency and oil recovery. This phenomenon can be observed in a wide range of flows in subsurface porous media. This study examined a simple cyclic time-dependent displacement rate and its effects on the onset and longer development of VF. It is found that such varying displacement rate can either stabilize or destabilize VF, depending on the cycle period, amplitude, and displacement scenarios. The most important mechanism is that such time-dependent rate can effectively change the competition between convection (destabilizing effect) and dispersion (stabilizing effect). This is different from the widely used constant injection rate where the flow instability is actually determined by the Peclet number and mobility contrast for a given scenario. This study therefore provided a new aspect to control VF, either enhance or reduce, with low additional costs. It is therefore both scientifically and practically important for a wide range of flows in subsurface porous media. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 360–371, 2019     

0?1膨胀负二项回归模型在COVID?19疫情分析中的应用

在公共卫生等应用领域，经常会同时出现零观测值、一观测值较多的情况. 为更好地拟合这类数据，采用0?1膨胀负二项分布及其回归模型进行分析. 在数据扩充基础上，结合Pólya?Gamma潜变量对模型参数进行贝叶斯推断. 最后，对我国湖北省2019冠状病毒病(COVID?19)死亡数据集进行分析. 研究表明，0?1膨胀负二项回归模型能够达到更好的拟合效果.     

Opportunities and Challenges in Tunneling Nanotubes Research: How Far from Clinical Application?

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are recognized long membrane nanotubes connecting distance cells. In the last decade, growing evidence has shown that these subcellular structures mediate the specific transfer of cellular materials, pathogens, and electrical signals between cells. As intercellular bridges, they play a unique role in embryonic development, collective cell migration, injured cell recovery, cancer treatment resistance, and pathogen propagation. Although TNTs have been considered as potential drug targets for treatment, there is still a long way to go to translate the research findings into clinical practice. Herein, we emphasize the heterogeneous nature of TNTs by systemically summarizing the current knowledge on their morphology, structure, and biogenesis in different types of cells. Furthermore, we address the communication efficiency and biological outcomes of TNT-dependent transport related to diseases. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of TNTs as an exciting therapeutic approach by focusing on the development of efficient and safe drugs targeting TNTs.     

Synergy of Immunostimulatory Genetherapy with Immune Checkpoint Blockade Motivates Immune Response to Eliminate Cancer

Normalizing the tumor-induced immune deficiency in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) through increasing the efficient infiltration and activation of antitumoral immunity in TME is the core of promising immunotherapy. Herein, a Cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-d -Phe-Lys) (RGD) peptides-modified combinatorial immunotherapy system based on the self-assembly of the nanoparticles named RGD-DMA composed of RGD-PEG-PLA, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) (MPEG-PLA) and 1,2-Dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) is used to codeliver the immunostimulatory chemokine CCL19-encoding plasmid DNA (CCL19 pDNA) and immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1 inhibitor (BMS-1). The RGD-DMA/pCCL19-BMS-1 system not only exhibited significant inhibition of tumor progression but also induced locally high concentrations of immunostimulatory cytokines at tumor sites without causing an obviously systemic inflammatory response. The immunosuppressive TME is efficaciously reshaped by the coadministration of RGD-DMA/pCCL19 and BMS-1, as indicated by the activated T lymphocytes, increased intratumoral-infiltration of mature dendritic cells (DCs), and the repolarization of macrophages from pro-tumoral M2-phenotype toward tumoricidal M1-phenotype. The upregulated PD-L1 expression at tumor sites caused by the increased IFN-γ levels after immunostimulatory gene therapy further demonstrated the synergistic effects of BMS-1 in counteracting the inhibitory role of PD-L1 expression in antitumor immunity. Therefore, the combination of immunostimulating therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor that synergistically target multiple immune regulatory pathways demonstrates significant potential as a novel immunotherapy approach.