Tribological behavior of graphene reinforced chemically bonded ceramic coatings

To investigate tribological behavior of graphene reinforced chemically bonded ceramic coatings at different temperatures, tribological tests at room temperature, 200 °C and 500 °C were carried out. Results show that the fracture toughness and the hardness of the coating are improved with the introduction of graphene. Besides, the friction coefficient of the coating decreases with the addition of graphene at the room temperature and 200 °C. The coating without graphene achieves the similar friction coefficient at all temperatures. However, the coating with graphene achieves the lowest friction coefficient at 200 °C, and achieves the highest at 500 °C. In addition, the wear rate of the coating decreases with the increase of graphene. Besides, the wear rate at 200 °C is almost similar with that at room temperature. In contrast, the wear rate at 500 °C is much larger than those at room temperature and 200 °C. The mechanisms for graphene to decrease the friction coefficient and improve the wear resistance of chemically bonded ceramic coatings at evaluated temperatures are clarified.     

An engineering method for complex structural optimization involving both size and topology design variables

This work presents an engineering method for optimizing structures made of bars, beams, plates, or a combination of those components. Corresponding problems involve both continuous (size) and discrete (topology) variables. Using a branched multipoint approximate function, which involves such mixed variables, a series of sequential approximate problems are constructed to make the primal problem explicit. To solve the approximate problems, genetic algorithm (GA) is utilized to optimize discrete variables, and when calculating individual fitness values in GA, a second-level approximate problem only involving retained continuous variables is built to optimize continuous variables. The solution to the second-level approximate problem can be easily obtained with dual methods. Structural analyses are only needed before improving the branched approximate functions in the iteration cycles. The method aims at optimal design of discrete structures consisting of bars, beams, plates, or other components. Numerical examples are given to illustrate its effectiveness, including frame topology optimization, layout optimization of stiffeners modeled with beams or shells, concurrent layout optimization of beam and shell components, and an application in a microsatellite structure. Optimization results show that the number of structural analyses is dramatically decreased when compared with pure GA while even comparable to pure sizing optimization.     

具有光照鲁棒的图像匹配方法

针对现有的基于局部特征的图像匹配算法对光照变化敏感、匹配正确率低等问题，提出一种具有光照鲁棒性的图像匹配算法。首先使用实时对比保留去色（RTCP）算法灰度化图像，然后利用对比拉伸函数模拟不同光照变换对图像的影响从而提取抗光照变换特征点，最后采用局部强度顺序模式建立特征点描述符，根据待匹配图像局部特征点描述符的欧氏距离判断是否为成对匹配点。在公开数据集上，所提算法与尺度不变特征变换（SIFT）算法、加速鲁棒特征（SURF）算法、"风"（KAZE）算法和ORB算法在匹配速度和匹配正确率上进行了对比实验。实验结果表明：随着图像亮度差异的增加，SIFT算法、SURF算法、"风"（KAZE）算法和ORB算法匹配正确率下降迅速，所提算法下降缓慢并且正确率均高于80%；所提算法特征点检测较慢和描述符维数较高，平均耗时为23.47 s，匹配速度不及另外四种算法，但匹配质量却远超过它们。对实时性要求不高的系统中，所提算法可以克服光照变化对图像匹配造成的影响。     

Systematic convergence of nonlinear stochastic estimators on the Special Orthogonal Group SO(3)

This paper introduces two novel nonlinear stochastic attitude estimators developed on the Special Orthogonal Group with the tracking error of the normalized Euclidean distance meeting predefined transient and steady‐state characteristics. The tracking error is confined to initially start within a predetermined large set such that the transient performance is guaranteed to obey dynamically reducing boundaries and decrease smoothly and asymptotically to the origin in probability from almost any initial condition. The proposed estimators produce accurate attitude estimates with remarkable convergence properties using measurements obtained from low‐cost inertial measurement units. The estimators proposed in continuous form are complemented by their discrete versions for the implementation purposes. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed estimators against uncertain measurements and large initialization error, whether in continuous or discrete form.     

Cell Sheet Comprised of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Overexpressing Stem Cell Factor Promotes Epicardium Activation and Heart Function Improvement in a Rat Model of Myocardium Infarction

Cell therapy of the post-infarcted myocardium is still far from clinical use. Poor survival of transplanted cells, insufficient regeneration, and replacement of the damaged tissue limit the potential of currently available cell-based techniques. In this study, we generated a multilayered construct from adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) modified to secrete stem cell factor, SCF. In a rat model of myocardium infarction, we show that transplantation of SCF producing cell sheet induced activation of the epicardium and promoted the accumulation of c-kit positive cells in ischemic muscle. Morphometry showed the reduction of infarct size (16%) and a left ventricle expansion index (0.12) in the treatment group compared to controls (24–28%; 0.17–0.32). The ratio of viable myocardium was more than 1.5-fold higher, reaching 49% compared to the control (28%) or unmodified cell sheet group (30%). Finally, by day 30 after myocardium infarction, SCF-producing cell sheet transplantation increased left ventricle ejection fraction from 37% in the control sham-operated group to 53%. Our results suggest that, combining the genetic modification of MSCs and their assembly into a multilayered construct, we can provide prolonged pleiotropic effects to the damaged heart, induce endogenous regenerative processes, and improve cardiac function.     

Prediction of process parameters of water-assisted injection molding based on inverse radial basis function neural network

Because of the introduction of new processing parameters in water-assisted injection molding (WAIM), processes control has become more difficult. First, design of experiment (DOE) was carried out by using optimized Latin hypercubes (Opt LHS). On the basis of this, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to simulate and calculate hollowed core ratios and wall thickness differences of cooling water pipe at different positions. Then inverse radial basis function (RBF) neural network model reflecting the fitting relationship between processing parameters and molding quality was established, and accuracy of the model was detected by cross validation. Finally, expected molding quality was applied to predict processing parameters, and the obtained molding quality under the predicted processing parameters was verified by computer aided engineering (CAE) simulation and experimental methods. The results showed that mean relative precisions of processing parameters such as melt temperature, delay time, short shot size, water pressure, and mold temperature for inverse RBF model were 98.6%, 93.6%, 98.5%, 93.9%, and 97.9%, respectively, which met the accuracy requirements. Furthermore, compared with expected values of hollowed core ratios and wall thickness differences, the average errors of CAE and experiment were 2.3% and 4.9%, respectively.     

自动捕捉平衡系数试验电流工具设计

在电梯平衡系数传统测量方法中,存在电梯轿厢和对重平衡点难以判断、人为因素导致测量误差偏大、测量不准导致效率低等问题,为解决这些问题,设计出一款基于光电传感器和霍尔传感器的电流自动捕捉工具,除能够高效准确识别电梯轿厢和对重平衡点的位置外,还能通过无线信号传输处理,利用钳形电流表精确捕捉平衡点位置的电流值。经测试使用,该工具系统消除了在平衡系数测量过程中捕捉电流值的人为因素影响,并解决了无机房不能准确判断平衡点问题,有效的提高了检验工作的准确性和效率。     

二甲双胍联合糖皮质激素治疗伴糖耐量异常的系统性红斑狼疮患者的临床研究

目的: 探究二甲双胍联合糖皮质激素治疗伴糖耐量异常(IGT)的系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者的临床疗效及对胰岛功能、Th17/Treg细胞失衡的影响。方法: 本院84例伴IGT的SLE患者随机分为联用组和对照组各42例,均给予生活、饮食指导,对照组给予糖皮质激素治疗,联用组联合二甲双胍治疗,1个月后观察疗效,并评估胰岛功能和Th17/Treg细胞失衡情况。结果: 联用组总有效率明显高于对照组(90.48% vs. 71.43%,P<0.05),SLE活动指数评分为(2.6±0.3)分,红细胞沉降率(ESR)为(18±4)mm/h,显著低于对照组的(3.9±0.8)分、(23±4)mm/h(P<0.05)。治疗后联用组空腹血糖(FBG)、空腹胰岛素(Fins)、稳态模型-胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)、胰岛β功能细胞指数(HOMA-β)显著改善(P<0.05),且与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);联用组正常糖耐量(NGT)占比明显高于对照组(73.81% vs. 30.95%,P<0.05)。治疗后联用组Th17、Treg细胞比例为(6.2±0.9)个/μL、(31±7)个/μL,Th17/Treg为(0.20±0.05),与对照组的(7.4±1.3)个/μL、(28±7)个/μL、(0.26±0.06)相比有统计学差异(P<0.05)。治疗后SLE活动指数评分与HOMA-IR、HOMA-β及Th17细胞、Treg细胞、Th17/Treg明显相关(P<0.05),且HOMA-IR、HOMA-β与Th17细胞、Treg细胞、Th17/Treg也明显相关(P<0.05)。2组不良反应均轻微,发生率无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论: 二甲双胍联合糖皮质激素治疗伴IGT的SLE患者疗效显著,可控制疾病活动性,降低血糖水平、改善胰岛功能及纠正Th17/Treg细胞失衡,且安全性高。     

水文序列相依变异识别的RIC定阶准则——以自回归模型为例

水文过程相依性是水文变异的主要表现形式之一,应用自回归模型对其进行拟合时合理确定模型阶数是一个难点问题。本文在分析AIC和BIC准则的基础上,提出了一种以原序列与其相依成分的相关系数作为拟合度指标,同时借用信息熵形式的函数式,作为模型不确定性度量指标的自回归模型定阶准则(简称RIC准则)。以AR(1)、AR(2)、AR(3)和AR(4)模型为例进行统计试验,将不同序列长度下该准则的定阶准确率与其他定阶准则进行比较,试验结果表明,RIC准则对于上述模型均具有较好的适应性,且定阶准确率远高于AIC准则,其中对于前三阶模型RIC准则优于BIC准则,但四阶模型略低于BIC准则。RIC准则的优势是可以同时满足模型定阶、相依程度分级与模型检验的需求,将其应用于实测水文序列分析,结果显示,该准则能较准确地识别自回归模型的阶数,且符合提出的"相依有变异而残差无变异的最小阶数"的检验标准。