Experimental and numerical study on compressive performance of perforated brick masonry after fire exposure

This paper discusses the compressive performance of perforated brick masonry after fire exposure. Compressive strength tests of the mortar, clay perforated brick, and perforated brick masonry specimens were performed in accordance with ISO834 fire tests of different durations. The temperature distribution of the masonry materials and specimens was simulated using the finite element software ABAQUS, with the thermal parameters of masonry materials recommended by European standard Eurocode 6 and related literature. The compressive strength reduction factors of mortar and clay perforated brick exposed to different fire durations were calculated via the layered method suggested by European standard Eurocode 1. In addition, the compressive strength reduction factors after cooldown were obtained from the experimental data of the masonry materials, and by considering further reductions in the compressive strength after cooling from high temperatures. Experimental data of the masonry specimens were compared with the numerical results obtained using the reduction factors proposed in this work. The comparison revealed an overall acceptable approximation. Thus, the method presented in this paper can be used to evaluate the residual capacity of masonry structures after fire.     

Analysis of Phytochemical Composition of Camellia oleifera Oil and Evaluation of its Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages

In China, Camellia oleifera oil (COO) is not only a common edible oil but also a traditional remedy widely applied to ameliorate a variety of illnesses associated with inflammation, such as mouth ulcers, thrush, eczema, etc. However, there has been a lack of relevant biological research on the anti-inflammatory capacity of COO, and the specific bioactive lipid phytochemicals contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect need further research. In this study, the RAW 264.7 macrophages model was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory capacity of COO. Our data showed that 33–200 μg/mL COO markedly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO.) secretion via the suppression of Nos2 and Cox-2 expression. The enzyme immunoassay confirmed that COO also exhibited a strong suppressive effect on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as Tnf-α and Il-6. To further explore the correlation between the anti-inflammatory effects and the lipid phytochemicals in COO, 10 samples were collected and screened for their chemical compositions. It was interestingly demonstrated that the polyphenol extracts of COO play a vital role in its anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion-based system was also developed to deliver the liposoluble COO into the cells, and the feasibility of this system was confirmed. Our research confirms the anti-inflammatory potential of COO and highlights that the main functional ingredient is polyphenol extracts. This may provide a scientific basis for the comprehensive utilization and development of COO and related functional foods.     

A robust control of robot manipulators for physical interaction: stability analysis for the interaction with unknown environments

Intelligent Service Robotics - A robust control designed for multiple degrees-of-freedom (DOF) robot manipulators performing complex tasks requiring frequent physical interaction with unknown...     

Large increase of Curie temperature in (110)-oriented La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films

From the perspectives of scientific researches and practical applications, it is desirable to explore high operating temperature ferromagnetic films. The effect of biaxial strain on magnetic properties of (110)-oriented La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ films was studied. High quality La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ films were grown on (110)-oriented perovskite single crystal substrates using pulsed laser deposition, varying substrate-induced misfit strains from ??2.27–0.75%. A remarkable enhancement of Curie temperature has been achieved for (110)-oriented La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ films clamped with small misfit strains (i.e., grown on LAST (110)). The enhanced Curie temperature of (110)-oriented La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ films could be attributed to the misfit strain between the films and the underlying substrates and may have technological implication for applications at high temperature environments.     

Overseas Cooperation of Chinese Oil Enterprises in 2017

This paper analyzes the status quo and progress of overseas oil and gas business cooperation built by Chinese oil enterprises in 2017. With the slow recovery of the oil and gas industries as a whole, the overseas oil and gas business of Chinese oil enterprises has continued to grow in size, and all-round cooperation progress was made along the Belt and Road. Breakthroughs were made in oil and gas cooperation between China and the United States. In the meantime, new features have emerged in the overseas cooperation of Chinese enterprises, and a pattern of diversified investors has basically taken shape.     

Preparation of biaxially textured Ce1-x(Y0.2Zr0.8)xOδ buffer layers on RABiTS NiW tapes by chemical solution deposition

Highly (100)-oriented Ce_1-x(Y_0.2Zr_0.8)_xO_δ (CYZO) films were prepared on biaxially textured NiW substrates by a chemical solution deposition approach using metal inorganic salts as starting materials. It has been found that both the preferential orientation and surface roughness of CYZO films decrease gradually with increasing of the doping percentage of Y³⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ ions. The epitaxial growth relationship of (220)_CYZO//(200)_NiW and [00?l]_CYZO//[001]_NiW was demonstrated by XRD texture measurement as well as atomic resolution STEM observation. XRD, Raman and XPS spectra results indicate that Y³⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ ions were indeed introduced into CeO₂ lattice to substitute Ce⁴⁺ ions and form cubic fluorite CYZO solid solution. Moreover, CeO₂ buffer layer can be endowed a strong enough capability to prevent element diffusion through co-doping of yttrium and zirconium, provided that an optimal doping ratio of them is adopted. This will provide a new approach to fabricating strong-barrier single buffer layer for coated conductor.     

Development of Core-Shell Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems Based on Biomimetic Mineralization

Among various drug-delivery systems, core-shell nanoparticles have many advantages. Inspired by nature, biomimetic synthesis has emerged as a new strategy for making core-shell nanoparticles in recent years. Biomimetic mineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals based on biomolecule templating that leads to the formation of hierarchically structured organic–inorganic materials. In this minireview, we mainly focus on the synthesis of core-shell nanoparticle drug-delivery systems by biomimetic mineralization. We review various biomimetic mineralization methods for fabricating core-shell nanoparticles including silica-based, calcium-based and other nanoparticles, and their applications in drug delivery. We also summarize strategies for drug loading in the biomolecule-mineralized core-shell NPs. Current challenges and future directions are also discussed.     

Detecting Cysteine in Bioimaging with a Near-Infrared Probe Based on a Novel Fluorescence Quenching Mechanism

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes are very significant for detecting cysteine in biological systems. Herein, we report a highly selective and sensitive NIR turn-on fluorescent probe (BDP-NIR) based on BODIPY with large Stokes shift (105 nm) for detecting Cys. We clarified the sensing mechanism based on the different thiol-induced S_NAr substitution/rearrangement reaction of the probe with cysteine and homocysteine/glutathione, which leads to the corresponding amino- and thiol-BODIPY dyes with distinct photophysical properties. Moreover, a novel mechanism of fluorescence quenching was demonstrated by density functional theory calculation. The reason for the fluorescence quenching of the probe might be intersystem crossing (from singlet to triplet excited state). Moreover, BDP-NIR had a high linear dynamic range of 0–500 μM, which was promising for detecting cysteine quantificationally. Significantly, BDP-NIR was capable of sensing endogenous cysteine in living cells and in vivo.