Hybrid copper complex-derived conductive patterns printed on polyimide substrates

We synthesized new copper complexes that can be readily converted into highly conductive Cu film. Mechanochemical milling of copper (I) oxide suspended in formic acid resulted in the submicron-sized Cu formate together Cu nanoparticles. The submicrometer-sized Cu formates are reactive toward inter-particle sintering and metallic Cu seeds present in the Cu complexes assist their decomposition and the nucleation of Cu. The hybrid copper complex film printed on polyimide substrate is decomposed into dense and uniform Cu layer after annealing at 250 °C for 30 min under nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting Cu film exhibited a low resistivity of 8.2 ???·cm and good adhesion characteristics.     

基于甲基化DNA分离方法的甲基化DNA检测和全基因水平的甲基化分析

已知异常的DNA甲基化对基因表达有明显影响并且涉及包括癌症等的疾病以及正常状态,因此从非甲基化DNA中鉴定甲基化DNA的分析技术是非常必须的。本文介绍了一种利用甲基化DNA结合域对甲基化DNA的亲和性质将甲基化DNA从全基因中成功提取的甲基化DNA分离技术（MeDIA）。结合MeDIA的PCR和CpG芯片技术分别实现了局部位置甲基化DNA状态的评估以及全基因的甲基化分析。     

Atomistic Simulation of Frictional Sliding Between Cellulose Iβ Nanocrystals

Sliding friction between cellulose Iβ nanocrystals is studied using molecular dynamics simulation. The effects of sliding velocity, normal load, and relative angle between sliding surface are predicted, and the results analyzed in terms of the number of hydrogen bonds within and between the cellulose chains. We find that although the observed friction trends can be correlated with hydrogen bonding, it may not be the most significant factor in determining frictional behavior on cellulose nanocrystal surfaces.     

Grain boundary faceting and abnormal grain growth in nickel

A correlation between grain boundary faceting and abnormal grain growth has been observed in recrystallized polycrystalline Ni at varying annealing temperatures, with or without C added. Carburized Ni specimens deformed to 50 pct show faceted grain boundaries and abnormal grain growth when annealed at temperatures below 0.7 T _m, where T _m is the melting point of Ni in absolute scale. When annealed at or above 0.7 T _m, the grain boundaries are smoothly curved and, therefore, have a rough structure, and normal grain growth is observed. In the specimens annealed in vacuum without carburization, all grain boundaries are faceted at 0.55 T _m, and some of them become defaceted at higher temperatures. The specimens annealed in vacuum at temperatures between 0.55 and 0.95 T _m show abnormal grain growth. When the grain boundaries have a rough structure and are, therefore, nearly isotropic, normal grain growth is indeed expected, as shown by the simulation and analytical treatment. When all or a fraction of the grain boundaries are faceted, with the facet planes corresponding to the singular cusp directions in the variation of the boundary energy against the inclination angle, abnormal grain growth can occur either because some grain boundary junctions become immobile due to a torque effect, or the growth occurs by a step mechanism.     

Institutional, geographic, and facility factors affecting differences in prices for wastewater services

The provision of wastewater services is an important infrastructure service that affects social welfare. It improves the quality of community life by promoting sanitary conditions and minimizing the negative impact of wastewater on ecosystems. The price for this important public service, however, varies considerably across regions and localities. In this paper, we examine the physical factors and institutional characteristics that affect wastewater service prices across regions and localities. Our major concerns are the following: (1) institutional arrangements and characteristics of a wastewater utility, (2) government regulations, (3) supply factors and characteristics, and (4) natural environments and local characteristics. To analyze the price differences, we employ the demand and price equations for wastewater services using a simultaneous equations framework. For empirical estimation, we utilize a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) method to account for the correlations between the residuals in the four price equations for wastewater services. Our empirical results are that the institutional arrangement of services, including monthly charges (versus bi-monthly or quarterly charges), provision of other infrastructure services in addition to wastewater services, and long-term debt, explain much of the price difference. In addition, the wastewater prices are influenced by state environmental regulations as well as supply factors, such as the number of wastewater treatment plants and infiltration and inflow into the sewer system. Interestingly, local geographic and meteorologic factors that were hypothesized to affect the selection of treatment processes were not found to be associated with price. These findings suggest ways wastewater services might be offered at lower prices for users.     

Advanced Visualization and Accessibility to Heterogeneous Monitoring Data

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a promising tool for better management of infrastructure. However, failure to manage large amounts of SHM data properly is a big barrier for its widespread application. Data management is especially challenging when heterogeneous data are involved and combined with camera images. Various sensors based on different technologies can measure many parameters such as strain, tilt, weather, etc., whereas live cameras can visualize traffic response. In addition, all the data streams can be registered both statically and dynamically. Data management is even more complex if multiple users access the data and have diverse backgrounds and interests (e.g., the owner/manager of the structure, operator, responsible engineer, and academic). In this article, general principles for SHM data management are researched, established, and proposed by the authors, and an original solution for data management based on these principles is presented. For validation purposes, the proposed principles were implemented in novel data management software and applied to a signature bridge. Feedback from interested groups including the managers, operators, engineers of record, and academics is used for validation. Thus, this article details the researched and proposed accessibility and visualization principles, and conceptual development of novel solution for data management, which combines computer science, internet omnipresence, and structural engineering.     

Investigation of the mechanical properties of Ti-Fe-Sn ultrafine eutectic composites by dendrite phase selection

Microstructural investigation of Ti-Fe-Sn ultrafine eutectic composites reveals that β-Ti primary dendrite in eutectic matrix consists of TiFe and β-Ti for Ti₇₂Fe₂₂Sn₆ alloy. Similarly, the Ti₆₄Fe₃₂Sn₄ alloy and Ti₆₈Fe₂₃Sn₉ alloy consists of TiFe and Ti₃Sn micron-scale primary dendrites uniformly embedded in the TiFe and β-Ti eutectic structure. The β-Ti dendrite was formed in Ti₇₂Fe₂₂Sn₆ alloy, the large number of shear bands propagation and makes multiple steps on the fracture surface. The Ti₃Sn dendrite in Ti₆₈Fe₂₃Sn₉ ultrafine eutectic alloy leads slip bands which induce the work hardening that have important role in plasticity during deformation. On the other hand, TiFe dendrite in Ti₆₄Fe₃₂Sn₄ alloy was presented shear bands bypass and extinction while the propagation of shear bands. These microstructural changes lead to different deformation behavior in primary dendrite. Therefore, it is believed that the mechanical properties of Ti-Fe-Sn alloys could improve due to a different deformation behavior through the minute compositional tuning of Ti-Fe-Sn alloys.     

A New Synthesis of Highly Dispersed MoS2 Nanoparticles on Ketjenblack Carbon for Sustainable Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Catalysis Letters - In this paper, we describe a facile new synthetic method for making highly dispersed molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles (~ 3 nm) on Ketjenblack carbon (MoS2/KC)...