Predictive process mapping for laser powder bed fusion: A review of existing analytical solutions

One of the main challenges in the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process is making dense and defect-free components. These porosity defects are dependent upon the melt pool geometry and the processing conditions. Power-velocity (PV) processing maps can aid in visualizing the effects of LPBF processing variables and mapping different defect regimes such as lack-of-fusion, under-melting, balling, and keyholing. This work presents an assessment of existing analytical equations and models that provide an estimate of the melt pool geometry as a function of material properties. The melt pool equations are then combined with defect criteria to provide a quick approximation of the PV processing maps for a variety of materials. Finally, the predictions of these processing maps are compared with experimental data from the literature. The predictive processing maps can be computed quickly and can be coupled with dimensionless numbers and high-throughput (HT) experiments for validation. The present work provides a boundary framework for designing the optimal processing parameters for new metals and alloys based on existing analytical solutions.     

Sugar-Pucker Force-Induced Transition in Single-Stranded DNA

The accurate knowledge of the elastic properties of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is key to characterize the thermodynamics of molecular reactions that are studied by force spectroscopy methods where DNA is mechanically unfolded. Examples range from DNA hybridization, DNA ligand binding, DNA unwinding by helicases, etc. To date, ssDNA elasticity has been studied with different methods in molecules of varying sequence and contour length. A dispersion of results has been reported and the value of the persistence length has been found to be larger for shorter ssDNA molecules. We carried out pulling experiments with optical tweezers to characterize the elastic response of ssDNA over three orders of magnitude in length (60–14 k bases). By fitting the force-extension curves (FECs) to the Worm-Like Chain model we confirmed the above trend:the persistence length nearly doubles for the shortest molecule (60 b) with respect to the longest one (14 kb). We demonstrate that the observed trend is due to the different force regimes fitted for long and short molecules, which translates into two distinct elastic regimes at low and high forces. We interpret this behavior in terms of a force-induced sugar pucker conformational transition (C3′-endo to C2′-endo) upon pulling ssDNA.     

A tool for mass transfer evaluation in packed-bed columns for chemical engineering students

This paper presents a Microsoft Excel tool to calculate liquid-gas mass transfer coefficients in packed towers to support numerical design activities in the courses of Unit Operations for Industrial Process and Sustainable Process Design for the Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering of the University of Naples Federico II (Italy).The Mass Transfer Solver Tool (MT Solver Tool) uses several available models to estimate, separately, the values of liquid and gas mass-transfer coefficients and the wet surface area for 144 random and structured packings of interest for absorption/stripping and distillation processes. In addition, a separate spreadsheet can be used in a user-defined mode, to evaluate the mass transfer coefficients with new packing types or to interpret experimental data when the geometrical and physical characteristics of the packing are known. Eventually, the tool is supplied with a data library, where packing geometry and model fitting parameters can be retrieved.The software is aimed to support students and educators in the Unit Operations for Industrial Process and Sustainable Process Design courses. In particular, this is meant to be an example on how the accuracy of design algorithms adopted in unit operation processes is affected by the use of the underpinning correlations for mass transfer rate or pressure drops. Besides, this is aimed to encourage comparison of different correlations when exact field data are not available. Besides, chemical engineers and researchers interested in packed columns design and modelling data may also benefit from the utilization of the software. The MT Solver Tool was introduced to students in a dedicated tutorial lesson after lecturers on packed column design algorithms for distillation, absorption and stripping. Most of the students of the course participated to a group training aimed to simulate the design of an absorption column supported by the MT Solver Tool providing feedback on its application.After the training, an anonymous survey was proposed to the students to monitor the approval rating of the proposed activity and the use of the MT Solver Tool software to support numerical calculations.     

A Comprehensive Review of Genetically Engineered Mouse Models for Prader-Willi Syndrome Research

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurogenetic multifactorial disorder caused by the deletion or inactivation of paternally imprinted genes on human chromosome 15q11-q13. The affected homologous locus is on mouse chromosome 7C. The positional conservation and organization of genes including the imprinting pattern between mice and men implies similar physiological functions of this locus. Therefore, considerable efforts to recreate the pathogenesis of PWS have been accomplished in mouse models. We provide a summary of different mouse models that were generated for the analysis of PWS and discuss their impact on our current understanding of corresponding genes, their putative functions and the pathogenesis of PWS. Murine models of PWS unveiled the contribution of each affected gene to this multi-facetted disease, and also enabled the establishment of the minimal critical genomic region (PWScr) responsible for core symptoms, highlighting the importance of non-protein coding genes in the PWS locus. Although the underlying disease-causing mechanisms of PWS remain widely unresolved and existing mouse models do not fully capture the entire spectrum of the human PWS disorder, continuous improvements of genetically engineered mouse models have proven to be very powerful and valuable tools in PWS research.     

Measurement of residual stresses in dissimilar friction stir-welded aluminium and copper plates using the contour method

The longitudinal residual stresses in the friction stir-welded plates of 5A06 aluminium and pure copper were determined using the contour method. The results revealed the presence of high tensile and compressive residual stresses on the aluminium and copper sides, respectively. The residual stresses were detected on the weld zone as well as the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) of the aluminium plate. In contrast, the compressive residual stresses in the copper plate had a much narrower width along the weld line. Peak tensile stresses up to 240?MPa were found in the TMAZ of the aluminium plate.     

葵花籽粕综合利用研究进展

葵花籽粕是葵花籽提油后的副产品。葵花籽粕蛋白品质优,各氨基酸组成平衡,此外葵花籽粕中还含有绿原酸、黄酮等多种活性物质,营养价值高,具有广阔的应用前景。从葵花籽粕作为原料提取有效成分及作为饲料用原料两方面对葵花籽粕资源的综合利用情况进行了阐述,以期为葵花籽粕的进一步开发利用提供参考。     

基于主动学习的离群点集成挖掘方法研究

离群点检测任务通常缺少可用的标注数据，且离群数据只占整个数据集的很小一部分，相较于其他的数据挖掘任务，离群点检测的难度较大，尚没有单一的算法适合于所有的场景。因此，结合多样性模型集成和主动学习思想，提出了一种基于主动学习的离群点集成检测方法OMAL（Outlier Mining based on Active Learning）。在主动学习框架指导下，根据各种基学习器的对比分析，选择了基于统计的、基于相似性的、基于子空间划分的三个无监督模型作为基学习器。将各基学习器评判的处于离群和正常边界的数据整合后呈现给人类专家进行标注，以最大化人类专家反馈的信息量；从标注的数据集和各基学习器投票产生的数据集中抽样，基于GBM（Gradient BoostingMachine）训练一个有监督二元分类模型，并将该模型应用于全数据集，得出最终的挖掘结果。实验表明，提出方法的AUC有了较为明显的提升，且具有良好的运行效率，具备较好的实用价值。     

A hidden Markov model to detect regime changes in cryptoasset markets

The objective of this work is to understand the dynamics of cryptocurrency prices. Specifically, how prices switch between different regimes, going from “bull” to “stable” and “bear” times. For this purpose, we propose a hidden Markov model that aims at explaining the evolution of Bitcoin prices through different, unobserved states. The implementation of the proposed model includes a likelihood ratio test that allows to compare models with different states and with different covariance structures. Our empirical findings show that the time movements of Bitcoin prices across different exchange markets are well-described by the proposed model. In particular, a parsimonious model with a diagonal covariance matrix leads to better predictions, compared with a model with a full covariance matrix.     

综采工作面活性磁化水防尘技术研究

煤矿生产是环境较为封闭的井下作业，具有一定的特殊性，作业空间湿度高、生产环境复杂，其中粉尘是危害最大的因素之一，会对机器和人体造成不同程度的损害。粉尘的危害主要由两方面决定:煤尘能够燃烧，在浓度较高时还会爆炸；粉尘会危害人的身体健康。以平煤股份十矿-320 m水平己四采区东翼下段的己_15-16-24130工作面为研究对象，研究磁化水除尘的方法及原理，通过对比分析优选出活性磁化水添加剂，在该工作面试验后具有良好的除尘效果，大大增加了可见度、降低了空气中悬浮的煤尘。研究对该矿井其他工作面除尘工作具有指导意义。     

微间隙共形圆柱接触力模型的适用性分析

针对目前间隙铰接副接触力模型无法有效表述不同材料耗散阻尼效应,以及不适用于微间隙共形接触的问题,分析各种接触力模型中弹性接触力和耗散阻尼力计算方法的优缺点,提出一种普适性的圆柱内接触力分析模型。该模型将接触力描述为接触深度的显式函数,并将其适用范围有效地扩展至微间隙和低恢复系数工况。采用含间隙铰接副的曲柄-滑块机构进行动力学分析,对所提出接触力进行验证,计算结果表明:所提出的普适性接触力模型体现了微间隙时更高的接触刚度和低恢复系数时显著的阻尼效应,从而可为不同材料和间隙尺寸的间隙铰接副力学分析提供更为完备的计算模型。