Stress field and damage evolution in C/SiC woven composites: Image-based finite element analysis and in situ X-ray computed tomography tests

The construction and examination of meso-structural finite element models of a Chemical-Vapor-Infiltrated (CVI) C/SiC composite is carried out based on X-ray microtomography digital images (IB-FEM). The accurate meso-structural features of the C/SiC composites, which are consisted of carbon fiber tows and CVI-SiC matrix, in particular the cavity defects, are reconstructed. With the IB-FEM, the damage evolution and fracture behaviors of the C/SiC composite are investigated. At the same time, an in situ tensile test is applied to the C/SiC composite under a CT real-time quantitative imaging system, aiming to investigate the damage and failure features of the material as well as to verify the IB-FEM. The IB-FEM results indicate that material damage initially occur at the defects, followed by propagating toward the fiber-tow/SiC-matrix interfaces, ultimately, combined into macro-cracks, which is in good agreement with the in situ CT experiment results.     

In Vivo Electrophysiology of Peptidergic Neurons in Deep Layers of the Lumbar Spinal Cord after Optogenetic Stimulation of Hypothalamic Paraventricular Oxytocin Neurons in Rats

The spinal ejaculation generator (SEG) is located in the central gray (lamina X) of the rat lumbar spinal cord and plays a pivotal role in the ejaculatory reflex. We recently reported that SEG neurons express the oxytocin receptor and are activated by oxytocin projections from the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVH). However, it is unknown whether the SEG responds to oxytocin in vivo. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of the brain–spinal cord neural circuit that controls male sexual function using a newly developed in vivo electrophysiological technique. Optogenetic stimulation of the PVH of rats expressing channel rhodopsin under the oxytocin receptor promoter increased the spontaneous firing of most lamina X SEG neurons. This is the first demonstration of the in vivo electrical response from the deeper (lamina X) neurons in the spinal cord. Furthermore, we succeeded in the in vivo whole-cell recordings of lamina X neurons. In vivo whole-cell recordings may reveal the features of lamina X SEG neurons, including differences in neurotransmitters and response to stimulation. Taken together, these results suggest that in vivo electrophysiological stimulation can elucidate the neurophysiological response of a variety of spinal neurons during male sexual behavior.     

In vivo Targeting of DNA Vaccines to Dendritic Cells via the Mannose Receptor Induces Long-Lasting Immunity against Melanoma

Herein, we report effective, C-type lectin mannose receptor (MR)-selective, in vivo dendritic cell (DC)-targeting lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) of a novel lipid-containing mannose-mimicking di-shikimoyl- and guanidine head group and two n-hexadecyl hydrophobic tails (DSG). Subcutaneous administration of LNPs of the DSG/p-CMV-GFP complex showed a significant expression of green fluorescence protein in the CD11c⁺ DCs of the neighboring lymph nodes compared to the control LNPs of the BBG/p-CMV-GFP complex. Mannose receptor-facilitated in vivo DC-targeted vaccination (s.c.) with the electrostatic complex of LNPs of DSG/pCMV-MART1 stimulated long-lasting (270 days post B16F10 tumor challenge) antimelanoma immunity under prophylactic conditions. Remarkably, under therapeutic settings, vaccination (s.c.) with LNPs of the DSG/pCMV-MART1 complex significantly delayed melanoma growth and improved the survival of mice with melanoma. These findings demonstrate that this nonviral delivery system offers a resilient and potential approach to deliver DNA vaccines encoding tumor antigens to DCs in vivo with high efficacy.     

Direct View on the Origin of High Li+ Transfer Impedance in All-Solid-State Battery

Large interfacial resistance plays a dominant role in the performance of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. However, the mechanism of interfacial resistance has been under debate. Here, the Li⁺ transport at the interfacial region is investigated to reveal the origin of the high Li⁺ transfer impedance in a LiCoO₂(LCO)/LiPON/Pt all-solid-state battery. Both an unexpected nanocrystalline layer and a structurally disordered transition layer are discovered to be inherent to the LCO/LiPON interface. Under electrochemical conditions, the nanocrystalline layer with insufficient electrochemical stability leads to the introduction of voids during electrochemical cycles, which is the origin of the high Li⁺ transfer impedance at solid electrolyte-electrode interfaces. In addition, at relatively low temperatures, the oxygen vacancies migration in the transition layer results in the formation of Co₃O₄ nanocrystalline layer with nanovoids, which contributes to the high Li⁺ transfer impedance. This work sheds light on the mechanism for the high interfacial resistance and promotes overcoming the interfacial issues in all-solid-state batteries.     

伊拉克A油田Asmari组混积型碳酸盐岩储层隔夹层研究

伊拉克A油田Asmari组为大型混积型碳酸盐岩油藏,发育灰岩、白云岩、砂岩、泥岩和硬石膏等多种岩性,储层复杂、非均质性强,存在多种类型的隔夹层。基于岩心、薄片、测井和分析测试等资料,对研究区隔夹层类型及特征展开综合分析,识别出了泥岩、硬膏岩和泥-微晶碳酸盐岩3类隔夹层。泥岩和硬石膏致密无孔隙、基本不具有渗流能力,对流体流动可以起到阻挡作用;泥-微晶碳酸盐岩属于细粒碳酸盐岩沉积,孔隙度低,但一般裂缝较发育,具有一定渗流能力,不能对流体起到有效的隔挡作用。硬石膏主要在油田中部及北部A段发育,其对油田北部储层纵向连通起到一定隔挡作用,导致纵向压力衰竭不一致。泥岩主要在C段顶部、B4和B1层发育,平面上主要在油田南部较发育。C段顶部发育一套厚度较大、稳定分布的泥岩隔层,将C段和上部B段及A段分隔为两个独立的油水系统,并有效阻挡了C段水层锥进到B段;B4和B1层泥岩较发育,但由于油田南部区域断层和裂缝较发育,导致泥岩隔夹层未能起到有效隔挡作用。搞清研究区隔夹层类型、分布及是否起隔挡作用,对A油田各区域各小层有效动用开发、见水规律研究具有很好的指导意义。     

Hydrodynamics study of a fast liquid–liquid oxidation process with in situ gas production in microreactors

Hydrodynamics characteristics of a fast and highly exothermic liquid–liquid oxidation process with in situ gas production in microreactors were studied using a newly developed experimental method. In the adipic acid synthesis through the K/A oil (the mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone) oxidation with nitric acid, bubble generation modes were divided into four categories. The gas production became more intensive, unstable, even explosive with increasing the oil phase feed rate and the temperature. A novel automatic image processing method was developed to monitor the instantaneous velocity online by tracking the gas–liquid interface. The axial velocity at the same location was unstable due to the changing gas production rate. Furthermore, the actual residence time was obtained easily with being only 36% of the space–time minimally, beneficial for establishing accurate kinetics and mass transfer models with time participation. Finally, an empirical correlation was developed to predict the actual residence time under different conditions.     

基于现代审美下的赣傩艺术元素分析与设计应用

目的 赣傩艺术元素内容丰富并保存完整,是研究我国古代赣傩地区文化与艺术的珍贵史料.研究赣傩艺术元素的提取及衍生图案的设计方法,在设计应用中表达赣傩傩面具、选取傩舞形和构筑傩庙魂,能给当代赣傩艺术元素的产品设计以指引.方法 通过直接引用、形意结合和局部强化的设计方法,增厚其丰富内涵、设计个性和主题意蕴.通过现代化审美中"绿色化、感性化、地域化"的要求,遵循"以退为进,化繁为简""多元并存,个性体现"的原则,强化赣傩艺术元素的独特风格.结论 用现代的手法,将特色的赣傩艺术元素植入到理性的产品设计中去,使赣傩艺术元素与现代设计思想有机结合.在继承传统文化与现代流行中找到契合点,深入挖掘赣傩艺术元素蕴含的文化精神、文化胸怀和文化自信,使中华传统文化在现代审美下进行创新再现.     

PBAT‒PLA膜袋受控需氧堆肥条件下的降解研究

目的 通过对广泛使用的PBAT–PLA生物降解膜袋在受控需氧堆肥条件下的降解机制研究，为生物降解塑料的大规模推广提供重要理论基础。方法 根据GB/T 19277.1—2011，在(58±2)℃需氧条件下，对PBAT–PLA膜袋进行为期160 d的生物降解测试(即工业堆肥)，并以常见的可降解材料微晶纤维素作为参比样品。对降解前后的材料进行红外、扫描电镜、能谱分析，并结合其所在堆肥样本的脂肪酶活性，从多角度探寻降解机制。结果 PBAT–PLA膜袋与微晶纤维素所在的堆肥脂肪酶活性都达到空白堆肥的3倍以上。红外显示由微晶纤维素水分子吸附、糖环打开、基团氧化形成的吸收峰加强，PBAT–PLA膜袋中的酯键峰明显减弱;扫描电镜发现降解的PBAT–PLA膜袋表面覆盖了微生物膜;能谱分析发现，碳元素大幅减少，氧元素增加。结论 微生物在PBAT–PLA膜袋表面生长形成生物膜，分泌大量脂肪酶，水解PBAT–PLA的酯键，使聚合物降解为不同链长的中间体或小分子，同时伴随着氧化，随后被作为碳源，在相关微生物体内被代谢利用，形成最终产物。     

Morphological study of thin films: Simulation and experimental insights using horizontal visibility graph

We studied the morphological nature of various thin films such as silicon carbide (SiC), diamond (C), germanium (Ge), and gallium nitride (GaN) on silicon substrate Si(100) using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method and Monte Carlo simulation. We, for the first time, systematically employed the visibility algorithm graph to meticulously study the morphological features of various PLD grown thin films. These thin-film morphologies are investigated using random distribution, Gaussian distribution, patterned heights, etc. The nature of the interfacial height of individual surfaces is examined by a horizontal visibility graph (HVG). It demonstrates that the continuous interfacial height of the silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, and gallium nitride films are attributed to random distribution and Gaussian distribution in thin films. However, discrete peaks are obtained in the brush and step-like morphology of germanium thin films. Further, we have experimentally verified the morphological nature of simulated silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, and gallium nitride thin films were grown on Si(100) substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at elevated temperature. Various characterization techniques have been used to study the morphological, and electrical properties which confirmed the different nature of the deposited films on the Silicon substrate. Decent hysteresis behavior has been confirmed by current-voltage (IV) measurement in all the four deposited films. The highest current has been measured for GaN at ～60 nA and the lowest current in SiC at ～30 nA level which is quite low comparing with the expected signal level (μA). The HVG technique is suitable to understand surface features of thin films which are substantially advantageous for the energy devices, detectors, optoelectronic devices operating at high temperatures.     

Enhanced mechanical properties of porous titanium implants via in-situ synthesized titanium carbide in lamellar pore walls

Directional lamellar porous titanium scaffolds are widely used as bone implant bearing materials because of their anisotropic pore structure. Their mechanical properties can be effectively improved by enhancing the strength of pore walls through the introduction of ceramics. In this work, porous titanium implants were prepared by freeze casting combined with TiH₂ decomposition. The graphene was introduced into the pore walls of porous titanium, which could transform into titanium carbide (TiC) in situ upon sintering. TiC was evenly distributed in the lamellar pore walls, and the interface was well bonded. The compression strength of the fabricated implants was up to 389.94 MPa when the graphene content was 3 wt%, which was 377.8% times as high as the porous titanium. The crack propagation was resisted by TiC because of the “pinning” effect on the pore wall. Some of TiC were pulled out from the matrix, and others were fractured. The strength of the fabricated implants was improved significantly by the large consumption of fracture energy. Also, fabricated porous titanium implants with TiC are suitable for bone implantation.