As one of the most widely used personal protective equipment(PPE),body armors play an important role in protecting the human body from the high-velocity impact of bullets or projectiles.The body torso and critical org...As one of the most widely used personal protective equipment(PPE),body armors play an important role in protecting the human body from the high-velocity impact of bullets or projectiles.The body torso and critical organs of the wear may suffer severe behind-armor blunt trauma(BABT)even though the impactor is stopped by the body armor.A type of novel composite material through incorporating shear stiffening gel(STG)into ethylene-vinyl acetate(EVA)foam is developed and used as buffer layers to reduce BABT.In this paper,the protective performance of body armors composed of fabric bulletproof layers and a buffer layer made of foam material is investigated both experimentally and numerically.The effectiveness of STG-modified EVA in damage relief is verified by ballistic tests.In parallel with the experimental study,numerical simulations are conducted by LS-DYNA®to investigate the dynamic response of each component and capture the key mechanical parameters,which are hardly obtained from field tests.To fully describe the material behavior under the transient impact,the selected constitutive models take the failure and strain rate effect into consideration.A good agreement between the experimental observations and numerical results is achieved to prove the validity of the modelling method.The tests and simulations show that the impact-induced deformation on the human body is significantly reduced by using STG-modified EVA as the buffering material.The improvement of protective performance is attributed to better dynamic properties and more outstanding energy absorption capability of the composite foam.展开更多
A high-frequency radar system has been deployed in Galway Bay, a semi-enclosed bay on the west coast of Ireland. The system provides surface currents with fine spatial resolution every hour. Prior to its use for model...A high-frequency radar system has been deployed in Galway Bay, a semi-enclosed bay on the west coast of Ireland. The system provides surface currents with fine spatial resolution every hour. Prior to its use for model validation, the accuracy of the radar data was verified through comparison with measurements from acoustic Doppler current profilers(ADCPs) and a good correlation between time series of surface current speeds and directions obtained from radar data and ADCP data. Since Galway Bay is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, it is subject to relatively windy conditions, and surface currents are therefore strongly wind-driven. With a view to assimilating the radar data for forecasting purposes, a three-dimensional numerical model of Galway Bay, the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code(EFDC), was developed based on a terrain-following vertical(sigma) coordinate system. This study shows that the performance and accuracy of the numerical model, particularly with regard to tide- and wind-induced surface currents, are sensitive to the vertical layer structure. Results of five models with different layer structures are presented and compared with radar measurements. A variable vertical structure with thin layers at the bottom and the surface and thicker layers in the middle of the water column was found to be the optimal layer structure for reproduction of tide- and wind-induced surface currents. This structure ensures that wind shear can properly propagate from the surface layer to the sub-surface layers, thereby ensuring that wind forcing is not overdamped by tidal forcing. The vertical layer structure affects not only the velocities at the surface layer but also the velocities further down in the water column.展开更多
Due to the components at twice the fundamental frequency of output voltage in the instantaneous output power of a two-stage single-phase inverter(TSI),the second harmonic current(SHC)is generated in the frontend dc-dc...Due to the components at twice the fundamental frequency of output voltage in the instantaneous output power of a two-stage single-phase inverter(TSI),the second harmonic current(SHC)is generated in the frontend dc-dc converter(FDC).To reduce the SHC,optimizing the control strategy of the FDC is an effective and costless approach.Fromthe view of visual impedance,this paper conducts an intensive study on the SHC reduction strategies.Origin of the SHC is illustrated first.Then,the equivalent circuit models of the FDC under different control strategies are proposed to analyse the SHC propagation characteristic.The derived model can offer a better insight into how the inductor SHC is affected by the control parameters.According to the derived models,a synthesis of different control strategies is presented and the relevant parameters are listed for control design to achieve better suppression effect.The benefits and limitations of these control strategies are also discussed.Based on the proposed equivalent circuit models,several optimization methods are proposed to enhance the effect.A 1500 VA TSI prototype is built and simulated on MATLAB/Simulink,verifying the effectiveness of the proposed optimization methods.This paper is aimed to provide a guideline for the control design and control optimization of the TSIs.展开更多
Lung rehabilitation is safe and feasible,and it has positive benefits in weaning the machine as soon as possible,shortening the time of hospitalization and improving the prognosis of children with mechanical ventilati...Lung rehabilitation is safe and feasible,and it has positive benefits in weaning the machine as soon as possible,shortening the time of hospitalization and improving the prognosis of children with mechanical ventilation.However,at present,the traditional medical concept is deep-rooted,and doctors'understanding of early rehabilitation is inadequate.It is necessary to make in-depth exploration in the relevant guidelines and expert consensus to formulate standardized early rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment procedures and standards for mechanically ventilated children.In the paper,a structured graded lung rehabilitation program is constructed for children with mechanical ventilation to improve their respiratory function,shorten the time of mechanical ventilation and pediatric intensive care unit(PICU)hospitalization,and reduce their anxiety,based on the principal component analysis of functional pneumonia data.Scientific evaluation and dynamic monitoring ensure the safety of the implementation of the program and promote the prognosis and prognosis of the disease.The proposed lung reha-bilitation program provides a reference basis for the formulation of lung rehabilitation guidelines for children with mechanical ventilation.And It has important reference significance for clinical pulmonary rehabilitation to alleviate the concerns of clinicians and lay the foundation for the large-scale promotion of early lung rehabilitation.展开更多
Owing to the immobility of traditional reactors and spallation neutron sources,the demand for compact thermal neutron radiography(CTNR)based on accelerator neutron sources has rapidly increased in industrial applicati...Owing to the immobility of traditional reactors and spallation neutron sources,the demand for compact thermal neutron radiography(CTNR)based on accelerator neutron sources has rapidly increased in industrial applications.Recently,thermal neutron radiography experiments based on a D-T neutron generator performed by Hefei Institutes of Physical Science indicated a significant resolution deviation between the experimental results and the values calculated using the traditional resolution model.The experimental result was up to 23%lower than the calculated result,which hinders the achievement of the design goal of a compact neutron radiography system.A GEANT4 Monte Carlo code was developed to simulate the CTNR process,aiming to identify the key factors leading to resolution deviation.The effects of a low collimation ratio and high-energy neutrons were analyzed based on the neutron beam environment of the CTNR system.The results showed that the deviation was primarily caused by geometric distortion at low collimation ratios and radiation noise induced by highenergy neutrons.Additionally,the theoretical model was modified by considering the imaging position and radiation noise factors.The modified theoretical model was in good agreement with the experimental results,and the maximum deviation was reduced to 4.22%.This can be useful for the high-precision design of CTNR systems.展开更多
Gamma-emitting radionuclide ^(99m)Tc is globally used for the diagnosis of various pathological conditions owing to its ideal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) characteristics.However,the short half-l...Gamma-emitting radionuclide ^(99m)Tc is globally used for the diagnosis of various pathological conditions owing to its ideal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) characteristics.However,the short half-life of ^(99m)Tc (T_(1/2)=6 h)makes it difficult to store or transport.Thus,the production of ^(99m)Tc is tied to its parent radionuclide ^(99)Mo (T_(1/2)=66 h).The major production paths are based on accelerators and research reactors.The reactor process presents the potential for nuclear proliferation owing to its use of highly enriched uranium (HEU).Accelerator-based methods tend to use deuterium–tritium(D–T) neutron sources but are hindered by the high cost of tritium and its challenging operation.In this study,a new ^(99)Mo production design was developed based on a deuterium–deuterium (D–D) gas dynamic trap fusion neutron source (GDT-FNS) and a subcritical blanket system (SBS) assembly with a low-enriched uranium (LEU) solution.GDT-FNS can provide a relatively high-neutron intensity,which is one of the advantages of ^(99)Mo production.We provide a Monte Carlo-based neutronics analysis covering the calculation of the subcritical multiplication factor (k_(s)) of the SBS,optimization design for the reflector,shielding layer,and ^(99)Mo production capacity.Other calculations,including the neutron flux and nuclear heating distributions,are also provided for an overall evaluation of the production system.The results demonstrated that the SBS meets the nuclear critical safety design requirement (k_(s)<0.97) and maintained a high ^(99)Mo production capacity.The proposed system can generate approximately 157 Ci ^(99)Mo for a stable 24 h operation with a neutron intensity of 1×10^(14) n/s,which can meet 50%of China’s demand in 2025.展开更多
The human skin has the ability to sense tactile touch and a great range of pressures.Therefore,in prosthetic or robotic systems,it is necessary to prepare pressure sensors with high sensitivity in a wide measurement r...The human skin has the ability to sense tactile touch and a great range of pressures.Therefore,in prosthetic or robotic systems,it is necessary to prepare pressure sensors with high sensitivity in a wide measurement range to provide human-like tactile sensation.Herein,we developed a flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor that is highly sensitive in a broad pressure range by using lotus leaf micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane and multilayer superposition.By superposing four layers of micropatterned constructive substrates,the multilayer piezoresistive pressure sensor achieves a broad pressure range of 312 kPa,a high sensitivity of 2.525 kPa^(−1),a low limit of detection(LOD)of<12 Pa,and a fast response time of 45 ms.Compared with the traditional flexible pressure sensor,the pressure range of this sensor can be increased by at least an order of magnitude.The flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor also shows high robustness:after testing for at least 1000 cycles,it shows no sign of fatigue.More importantly,these sensors can be potentially applied in various human motion detection scenarios,including tiny pulse monitoring,throat vibration detection,and large under-feet pressure sensing.The proposed fabrication strategy may guide the design of other kinds of multifunctional sensors to improve the detection performance.展开更多
Betavoltaic nuclear batteries offer a promising alternative energy source that harnesses the power of beta particles emitted by radioisotopes.To satisfy the power demands of microelectromechanical systems(MEMS),3D str...Betavoltaic nuclear batteries offer a promising alternative energy source that harnesses the power of beta particles emitted by radioisotopes.To satisfy the power demands of microelectromechanical systems(MEMS),3D structures have been proposed as a potential solution.Accordingly,this paper introduces a novel 3D^(63)Ni–SiC-based P^(+)PNN^(+)structure with a multi-groove design,avoiding the need for PN junctions on the inner surface,and thus reducing leakage current and power losses.Monte Carlo simulations were performed considering the fully coupled physical model to extend the electron–hole pair generation rate to a 3D structure,enabling the efficient design and development of betavoltaic batteries with complex 3D structures.As a result,the proposed model produces the significantly higher maximum output power density of 19.74μW/cm^(2) and corresponding short-circuit current,open-circuit voltage,and conversion efficiency of 8.57μA/cm^(2),2.45 V,and4.58%,respectively,compared with conventional planar batteries.From analysis of the carrier transport and collection characteristics using the COMSOL Multiphysics code,we provide deep insights regarding power increase,and elucidate the discrepancies between the ideal and simulated performances of betavoltaic batteries.Our work offers a promising approach for the design and optimization of high-output betavoltaic nuclear batteries with a unique 3D design,and serves as a valuable reference for future device fabrication.展开更多
Accurate knowledge of the kinematics of the in vivo Ankle Joint Complex(AJC)is critical for understanding the biomechanical function of the foot and assessing postoperative rehabilitation of ankle disorders,as well as...Accurate knowledge of the kinematics of the in vivo Ankle Joint Complex(AJC)is critical for understanding the biomechanical function of the foot and assessing postoperative rehabilitation of ankle disorders,as well as an essential guide to the design of ankle–foot assistant devices.However,detailed analysis of the continuous 3D motion of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints during normal walking throughout the stance phase is still considered to be lacking.In this study,dynamic radiographs of the hindfoot were acquired from eight subjects during normal walking.Natural motions with six Degrees of Freedom(DOF)and the coupled patterns of the two joints were analyzed.It was found that the movements of the two joints were mostly in opposite directions(including rotation and translation),mainly in the early and late stages.There were significant differences in the Range of Motion(ROM)in Dorsiflexion/Plantarflexion(D/P),Inversion/Eversion(In/Ev),and Anterior–Posterior(AP)and Medial–Lateral(ML)translation of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints(p<0.05).Plantarflexion of the tibiotalar joint was coupled with eversion and posterior translation of the subtalar joint during the impact phase(R^(2)=0.87 and 0.86,respectively),and plantarflexion of the tibiotalar joint was coupled with inversion and anterior translation of the subtalar joint during the push-off phase(R^(2)=0.93 and 0.75,respectively).This coordinated coupled motion of the two joints may be a manifestation of the AJC to move flexibly while bearing weight and still have stability.展开更多
A variety of prosthetic ankles have been successfully developed to reproduce the locomotor ability for lower limb amputees in daily lives. However, they have not been shown to sufficiently improve the natural gait mec...A variety of prosthetic ankles have been successfully developed to reproduce the locomotor ability for lower limb amputees in daily lives. However, they have not been shown to sufficiently improve the natural gait mechanics commonly observed in comparison to the able-bodied, perhaps due to over-simplified designs of functional musculoskeletal structures in prostheses. In this study, a flexible bionic ankle prosthesis with joints covered by soft material inclusions is developed on the basis of the human musculoskeletal system. First, the healthy side ankle–foot bones of a below-knee amputee were reconstructed by CT imaging. Three types of polyurethane rubber material configurations were then designed to mimic the soft tissues around the human ankle, providing stability and flexibility. Finite element simulations were conducted to determine the proper design of the rubber materials, evaluate the ankle stiffness under different external conditions, and calculate the rotation axes of the ankle during walking. The results showed that the bionic ankle had variable stiffness properties and could adapt to various road surfaces. It also had rotation axes similar to that of the human ankle, thus restoring the function of the talocrural and subtalar joints. The inclination and deviation angles of the talocrural axis, 86.2° and 75.1°, respectively, as well as the angles of the subtalar axis, 40.1° and 29.9°, were consistent with the literature. Finally, dynamic characteristics were investigated by gait measurements on the same subject, and the flexible bionic ankle prosthesis demonstrated natural gait mechanics during walking in terms of ankle angles and moments.展开更多
Morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles are all fiber-mediated composites, in which fibers play a passive and active role, respectively. Herein, inspired by the mechanism of fibers functioning in morphing botani...Morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles are all fiber-mediated composites, in which fibers play a passive and active role, respectively. Herein, inspired by the mechanism of fibers functioning in morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles, we propose two sorts of fiber-dominated composite actuators. First, inspired by the deformation of awned seeds in response to humidity change, we fabricate passive fiber-dominated actuators using non-active aligned carbon fibers via 4D printing method. The effects of process parameters, structural parameters, and fiber angles on the deformation of the printed actuators are examined. The experimental results show that the orientation degree is enhanced, resulting in a better swelling effect as the printing speed increases. Then, motivated by the actuation mechanism of skeletal muscle, we prepare active fiber-dominated actuators using active polyurethane fibers via 4D printing and pre-stretching method. The effect of fiber angle and loading on the actuation mode is experimentally analyzed. The experimental results show that the rotation angle of the actuator gradually decreases with the angle from 45° to 60°. When the fiber angle is 0° and 90°, the driver basically stops rotating while shrinking along the loading direction. Based on the above actuation mechanisms, identical contraction behaviors are realized both in passive and active fiber-dominated soft actuators. This work provides a validation method for biologically actuation mechanisms via 4D printing technique and smart materials and adds further insights to the design of bioinspired soft actuators.展开更多
The biomechanical effects of acetabular revision with jumbo cups are unclear.This study aimed to compare the biomechanical effects of bionic trabecular metal vs.titanium jumbo cups for the revision of acetabular bone ...The biomechanical effects of acetabular revision with jumbo cups are unclear.This study aimed to compare the biomechanical effects of bionic trabecular metal vs.titanium jumbo cups for the revision of acetabular bone defects.We designed and reconstructed American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons(AAOS)type I–III acetabular bone defect models using computed tomography scans of a man without acetabular bone defects.The implantation of titanium and trabecular metal jumbo cups was simulated.Stress distribution and relative micromotion between the cup and host bone were assessed using finite element analysis.Contact stress on the screws fixing the cups was also analyzed.The contact stress analysis showed that the peak contact stress between the titanium jumbo cup and the host bone was 21.7,20.1,and 23.8 MPa in the AAOS I–III models,respectively;the corresponding values for bionic tantalum jumbo cups decreased to 4.7,6.7,and 11.1 MPa.Analysis of the relative micromotion showed that the peak relative micromotion between the host bone and the titanium metal cup was 10.2,9.1,and 11.5μm in the AAOS I–III models,respectively;the corresponding values for bionic trabecular metal cups were 17.2,18.2,and 31.3μm.The peak contact stress on the screws was similar for the 2 cup types,and was concentrated on the screw rods.Hence,acetabular reconstruction with jumbo cups is biomechanically feasible.We recommend trabecular metal cups due to their superior stress distribution and higher relative micromotion,which is within the threshold for adequate bone ingrowth.展开更多
In this article,a new optimization system that uses few features to recognize locomotion with high classification accuracy is proposed.The optimization system consists of three parts.First,the features of the mixed me...In this article,a new optimization system that uses few features to recognize locomotion with high classification accuracy is proposed.The optimization system consists of three parts.First,the features of the mixed mechanical signal data are extracted from each analysis window of 200 ms after each foot contact event.Then,the Binary version of the hybrid Gray Wolf Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization(BGWOPSO)algorithm is used to select features.And,the selected features are optimized and assigned different weights by the Biogeography-Based Optimization(BBO)algorithm.Finally,an improved K-Nearest Neighbor(KNN)classifier is employed for intention recognition.This classifier has the advantages of high accuracy,few parameters as well as low memory burden.Based on data from eight patients with transfemoral amputations,the optimization system is evaluated.The numerical results indicate that the proposed model can recognize nine daily locomotion modes(i.e.,low-,mid-,and fast-speed level-ground walking,ramp ascent/decent,stair ascent/descent,and sit/stand)by only seven features,with an accuracy of 96.66%±0.68%.As for real-time prediction on a powered knee prosthesis,the shortest prediction time is only 9.8 ms.These promising results reveal the potential of intention recognition based on the proposed system for high-level control of the prosthetic knee.展开更多
Flexible materials are essential in bionic fields such as soft robots.However,the lack of stiffness limits the mechanical performance of soft robots and makes them difficult to develop in many extreme working conditio...Flexible materials are essential in bionic fields such as soft robots.However,the lack of stiffness limits the mechanical performance of soft robots and makes them difficult to develop in many extreme working conditions,such as lifting and excavation operations.To address this issue,we prepared a stiffness-tunable composite by dispersing low-melting-point alloy into thermosetting epoxy resin.A dramatic and rapid change in stiffness was achieved by changing the state of matter at lower temperatures,and accurate control of the composite modulus was achieved by controlling the temperature.When the alloy content is at 30vol%,the tensile modulus changes 41.6 times,while the compressive modulus changes 58.9 times.By applying the composite to a flexible actuator,the initial stiffness of the actuator was improved by 124 times,reaching 332 mN/mm.In addition,the use of stiffness-tunable materials in the wheel allowed for timely changes in the grounding area to improve friction.These flexible materials with manageable mechanical properties have wide applicability in fields including bionics,robotics,and sensing.Our findings provide a new approach to designing and developing flexible materials with improved stiffness and controllability.展开更多
In nature,organisms widely use the interaction of muscle contraction and biological pipelines to form an efficient fluid control mechanism.Herein,a pneumatically powered,Bioinspired Soft Switching valve(BSS valve)with...In nature,organisms widely use the interaction of muscle contraction and biological pipelines to form an efficient fluid control mechanism.Herein,a pneumatically powered,Bioinspired Soft Switching valve(BSS valve)with short response time and low-energy consumption is described.The BSS valve is composed of flexible walls,a flexible tube and symmetrically arranged Snapping Membrane actuator(SM actuator).It functions based on tube deformation throttling caused by instability of SM actuator membrane.To realize rapid preparation of customized BSS valve,the modular manufacturing method suitable for different materials and structures based on 3D printing and mold forming was developed.Using the membrane flip rate as indicators,the displacement transient response characteristics of three structures actuators were studied,The results proved that spherical and spherical cap membrane SM actuator achieved rapid displacement response under the low critical pressure threshold.Furthermore,with critical buckling pressure and capacity utilization efficiency as indicators,we analyzed the characteristics of SM actuators with different radius and wall thickness to obtain reasonable structural parameters configuration of SM actuators.The influence of radius and thickness on SM actuator is revealed,and theoretical model formulas were formed.Two different configurations are presented.(1)Customized BSS valve structures can achieve sequential motion of flexible gripper.(2)BSS valve embedded in soft pump.The performance tests confirmed it has significant advantages in energy consumption,specific pressure,specific flow,high-frequency cycle load life,and valve can be integrated into the soft pump fluid system as a throttling unit,and provides an idea for fluid drive control integration.展开更多
As one of the most important daily motor activities, human locomotion has been investigated intensively in recent decades. The locomotor functions and mechanics of human lower limbs have become relatively well underst...As one of the most important daily motor activities, human locomotion has been investigated intensively in recent decades. The locomotor functions and mechanics of human lower limbs have become relatively well understood. However, so far our understanding of the motions and functional contributions of the human spine during locomotion is still very poor and simul- taneous in-vivo limb and spinal column motion data are scarce. The objective of this study is to investigate the delicate in-vivo kinematic coupling between different functional regions of the human spinal column during locomotion as a stepping stone to explore the locomotor function of the human spine complex. A novel infrared reflective marker cluster system was constructed using stereophotogrammetry techniques to record the 3D in-vivo geometric shape of the spinal column and the segmental position and orientation of each functional spinal region simultaneously. Gait measurements of normal walking were conducted. The preliminary results show that the spinal column shape changes periodically in the frontal plane during locomotion. The segmental motions of different spinal functional regions appear to be strongly coupled, indicating some synergistic strategy may be employed by the human spinal column to facilitate locomotion. In contrast to traditional medical imaging-based methods, the proposed technique can be used to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the spinal column, hence providing more insight into the functional biomechanics of the human spine.展开更多
The utilization of neutrons markedly affects the medical isotope yield of a subcritical system driven by an external D-T neutron source.The general methods to improve the utilization of neutrons include moderating mul...The utilization of neutrons markedly affects the medical isotope yield of a subcritical system driven by an external D-T neutron source.The general methods to improve the utilization of neutrons include moderating multiplying,and reflecting neutrons,which ignores the use of neutrons that backscatter to the source direction.In this study,a stacked structure was formed by assembling the multiplier and the low-enriched uranium solution to enable the full use of neutrons that backscatter to the source direction and further improve the utilization of neutrons.A model based on SuperMC was used to evaluate the neutronics and safety behavior of the subcritical system,such as the neutron effective multiplication factor,neutron energy spectrum,medical isotope yield,and heat deposition.Based on the calculation results,when the intensity of the neutron source was 59×10^(13)n/s,the optimized design with a stacked structure could increase the yield of ^(99)Mo to182 Ci/day,which is approximately 16% higher than that obtained with a single-layer structure.The inlet H_(2)O coolant velocity of 1.0 m/s and initial temperature of 20℃ were also found to be sufficient to prevent boiling of the fuel solution.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12072356 and 12232020)the Science and Technology on Transient Impact Laboratory(Grant No.6142606221105)the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission(Grant No.Z221100005822006).
文摘As one of the most widely used personal protective equipment(PPE),body armors play an important role in protecting the human body from the high-velocity impact of bullets or projectiles.The body torso and critical organs of the wear may suffer severe behind-armor blunt trauma(BABT)even though the impactor is stopped by the body armor.A type of novel composite material through incorporating shear stiffening gel(STG)into ethylene-vinyl acetate(EVA)foam is developed and used as buffer layers to reduce BABT.In this paper,the protective performance of body armors composed of fabric bulletproof layers and a buffer layer made of foam material is investigated both experimentally and numerically.The effectiveness of STG-modified EVA in damage relief is verified by ballistic tests.In parallel with the experimental study,numerical simulations are conducted by LS-DYNA®to investigate the dynamic response of each component and capture the key mechanical parameters,which are hardly obtained from field tests.To fully describe the material behavior under the transient impact,the selected constitutive models take the failure and strain rate effect into consideration.A good agreement between the experimental observations and numerical results is achieved to prove the validity of the modelling method.The tests and simulations show that the impact-induced deformation on the human body is significantly reduced by using STG-modified EVA as the buffering material.The improvement of protective performance is attributed to better dynamic properties and more outstanding energy absorption capability of the composite foam.
基金supported by the China Scholarship Council(Grant No.2011671057)the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF)through the Atlantic Area Transnational Programme(INTERREG IV)the National University of Ireland
文摘A high-frequency radar system has been deployed in Galway Bay, a semi-enclosed bay on the west coast of Ireland. The system provides surface currents with fine spatial resolution every hour. Prior to its use for model validation, the accuracy of the radar data was verified through comparison with measurements from acoustic Doppler current profilers(ADCPs) and a good correlation between time series of surface current speeds and directions obtained from radar data and ADCP data. Since Galway Bay is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, it is subject to relatively windy conditions, and surface currents are therefore strongly wind-driven. With a view to assimilating the radar data for forecasting purposes, a three-dimensional numerical model of Galway Bay, the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code(EFDC), was developed based on a terrain-following vertical(sigma) coordinate system. This study shows that the performance and accuracy of the numerical model, particularly with regard to tide- and wind-induced surface currents, are sensitive to the vertical layer structure. Results of five models with different layer structures are presented and compared with radar measurements. A variable vertical structure with thin layers at the bottom and the surface and thicker layers in the middle of the water column was found to be the optimal layer structure for reproduction of tide- and wind-induced surface currents. This structure ensures that wind shear can properly propagate from the surface layer to the sub-surface layers, thereby ensuring that wind forcing is not overdamped by tidal forcing. The vertical layer structure affects not only the velocities at the surface layer but also the velocities further down in the water column.
基金This work was supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province under Grant BK20200969(L.Z.,http://std.jiangsu.gov.cn/).
文摘Due to the components at twice the fundamental frequency of output voltage in the instantaneous output power of a two-stage single-phase inverter(TSI),the second harmonic current(SHC)is generated in the frontend dc-dc converter(FDC).To reduce the SHC,optimizing the control strategy of the FDC is an effective and costless approach.Fromthe view of visual impedance,this paper conducts an intensive study on the SHC reduction strategies.Origin of the SHC is illustrated first.Then,the equivalent circuit models of the FDC under different control strategies are proposed to analyse the SHC propagation characteristic.The derived model can offer a better insight into how the inductor SHC is affected by the control parameters.According to the derived models,a synthesis of different control strategies is presented and the relevant parameters are listed for control design to achieve better suppression effect.The benefits and limitations of these control strategies are also discussed.Based on the proposed equivalent circuit models,several optimization methods are proposed to enhance the effect.A 1500 VA TSI prototype is built and simulated on MATLAB/Simulink,verifying the effectiveness of the proposed optimization methods.This paper is aimed to provide a guideline for the control design and control optimization of the TSIs.
基金This work is supported by Science and Technology Development Fund of Nanjing Medical University(No.NJMUB2019188).
文摘Lung rehabilitation is safe and feasible,and it has positive benefits in weaning the machine as soon as possible,shortening the time of hospitalization and improving the prognosis of children with mechanical ventilation.However,at present,the traditional medical concept is deep-rooted,and doctors'understanding of early rehabilitation is inadequate.It is necessary to make in-depth exploration in the relevant guidelines and expert consensus to formulate standardized early rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment procedures and standards for mechanically ventilated children.In the paper,a structured graded lung rehabilitation program is constructed for children with mechanical ventilation to improve their respiratory function,shorten the time of mechanical ventilation and pediatric intensive care unit(PICU)hospitalization,and reduce their anxiety,based on the principal component analysis of functional pneumonia data.Scientific evaluation and dynamic monitoring ensure the safety of the implementation of the program and promote the prognosis and prognosis of the disease.The proposed lung reha-bilitation program provides a reference basis for the formulation of lung rehabilitation guidelines for children with mechanical ventilation.And It has important reference significance for clinical pulmonary rehabilitation to alleviate the concerns of clinicians and lay the foundation for the large-scale promotion of early lung rehabilitation.
基金supported by the Nuclear Energy Development Project of China (No.[2019]1342)the Presidential Foundation of HFIPS (No.YZJJ2022QN40)。
文摘Owing to the immobility of traditional reactors and spallation neutron sources,the demand for compact thermal neutron radiography(CTNR)based on accelerator neutron sources has rapidly increased in industrial applications.Recently,thermal neutron radiography experiments based on a D-T neutron generator performed by Hefei Institutes of Physical Science indicated a significant resolution deviation between the experimental results and the values calculated using the traditional resolution model.The experimental result was up to 23%lower than the calculated result,which hinders the achievement of the design goal of a compact neutron radiography system.A GEANT4 Monte Carlo code was developed to simulate the CTNR process,aiming to identify the key factors leading to resolution deviation.The effects of a low collimation ratio and high-energy neutrons were analyzed based on the neutron beam environment of the CTNR system.The results showed that the deviation was primarily caused by geometric distortion at low collimation ratios and radiation noise induced by highenergy neutrons.Additionally,the theoretical model was modified by considering the imaging position and radiation noise factors.The modified theoretical model was in good agreement with the experimental results,and the maximum deviation was reduced to 4.22%.This can be useful for the high-precision design of CTNR systems.
基金supported by Anhui Provincial Key R&D Program (202104g0102007)Hefei Municipal Natural Science Foundation (2022011)+2 种基金Collaborative Innovation Program of Hefei Science CenterChinese Academy of Sciences(2022HSC CIP024)International Partnership Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (116134KYSB20200001)。
文摘Gamma-emitting radionuclide ^(99m)Tc is globally used for the diagnosis of various pathological conditions owing to its ideal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) characteristics.However,the short half-life of ^(99m)Tc (T_(1/2)=6 h)makes it difficult to store or transport.Thus,the production of ^(99m)Tc is tied to its parent radionuclide ^(99)Mo (T_(1/2)=66 h).The major production paths are based on accelerators and research reactors.The reactor process presents the potential for nuclear proliferation owing to its use of highly enriched uranium (HEU).Accelerator-based methods tend to use deuterium–tritium(D–T) neutron sources but are hindered by the high cost of tritium and its challenging operation.In this study,a new ^(99)Mo production design was developed based on a deuterium–deuterium (D–D) gas dynamic trap fusion neutron source (GDT-FNS) and a subcritical blanket system (SBS) assembly with a low-enriched uranium (LEU) solution.GDT-FNS can provide a relatively high-neutron intensity,which is one of the advantages of ^(99)Mo production.We provide a Monte Carlo-based neutronics analysis covering the calculation of the subcritical multiplication factor (k_(s)) of the SBS,optimization design for the reflector,shielding layer,and ^(99)Mo production capacity.Other calculations,including the neutron flux and nuclear heating distributions,are also provided for an overall evaluation of the production system.The results demonstrated that the SBS meets the nuclear critical safety design requirement (k_(s)<0.97) and maintained a high ^(99)Mo production capacity.The proposed system can generate approximately 157 Ci ^(99)Mo for a stable 24 h operation with a neutron intensity of 1×10^(14) n/s,which can meet 50%of China’s demand in 2025.
基金the Project of National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2018YFC2001300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52175271,51822504,52021003,52105299,51905207,and 91948302)+2 种基金Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Jilin Province(No.20210508057RQ)Program for JinlinUniversity Science and Technology Innovative Research Team(No.2017TD-04)Scientific Research Project of EducationDepartment of Jilin Province(No.JJKH20211084KJ).
文摘The human skin has the ability to sense tactile touch and a great range of pressures.Therefore,in prosthetic or robotic systems,it is necessary to prepare pressure sensors with high sensitivity in a wide measurement range to provide human-like tactile sensation.Herein,we developed a flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor that is highly sensitive in a broad pressure range by using lotus leaf micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane and multilayer superposition.By superposing four layers of micropatterned constructive substrates,the multilayer piezoresistive pressure sensor achieves a broad pressure range of 312 kPa,a high sensitivity of 2.525 kPa^(−1),a low limit of detection(LOD)of<12 Pa,and a fast response time of 45 ms.Compared with the traditional flexible pressure sensor,the pressure range of this sensor can be increased by at least an order of magnitude.The flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor also shows high robustness:after testing for at least 1000 cycles,it shows no sign of fatigue.More importantly,these sensors can be potentially applied in various human motion detection scenarios,including tiny pulse monitoring,throat vibration detection,and large under-feet pressure sensing.The proposed fabrication strategy may guide the design of other kinds of multifunctional sensors to improve the detection performance.
基金supported by Anhui Provincial Key R&D Program(No.202104g0102007)Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education Science and Technology Research Youth Project(GJJ200763)+3 种基金Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.2022CFB575)Hefei Municipal Natural Science Foundation(No.2022011)Ministry of Education Industry-Education Cooperation Project(No.202102647014)Science Island Graduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund Project(No.KY-2022-SC-04)。
文摘Betavoltaic nuclear batteries offer a promising alternative energy source that harnesses the power of beta particles emitted by radioisotopes.To satisfy the power demands of microelectromechanical systems(MEMS),3D structures have been proposed as a potential solution.Accordingly,this paper introduces a novel 3D^(63)Ni–SiC-based P^(+)PNN^(+)structure with a multi-groove design,avoiding the need for PN junctions on the inner surface,and thus reducing leakage current and power losses.Monte Carlo simulations were performed considering the fully coupled physical model to extend the electron–hole pair generation rate to a 3D structure,enabling the efficient design and development of betavoltaic batteries with complex 3D structures.As a result,the proposed model produces the significantly higher maximum output power density of 19.74μW/cm^(2) and corresponding short-circuit current,open-circuit voltage,and conversion efficiency of 8.57μA/cm^(2),2.45 V,and4.58%,respectively,compared with conventional planar batteries.From analysis of the carrier transport and collection characteristics using the COMSOL Multiphysics code,we provide deep insights regarding power increase,and elucidate the discrepancies between the ideal and simulated performances of betavoltaic batteries.Our work offers a promising approach for the design and optimization of high-output betavoltaic nuclear batteries with a unique 3D design,and serves as a valuable reference for future device fabrication.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52175270,91848204)the Project of Scientific and Technological Development Plan of Jilin Province(20220508130RC).
文摘Accurate knowledge of the kinematics of the in vivo Ankle Joint Complex(AJC)is critical for understanding the biomechanical function of the foot and assessing postoperative rehabilitation of ankle disorders,as well as an essential guide to the design of ankle–foot assistant devices.However,detailed analysis of the continuous 3D motion of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints during normal walking throughout the stance phase is still considered to be lacking.In this study,dynamic radiographs of the hindfoot were acquired from eight subjects during normal walking.Natural motions with six Degrees of Freedom(DOF)and the coupled patterns of the two joints were analyzed.It was found that the movements of the two joints were mostly in opposite directions(including rotation and translation),mainly in the early and late stages.There were significant differences in the Range of Motion(ROM)in Dorsiflexion/Plantarflexion(D/P),Inversion/Eversion(In/Ev),and Anterior–Posterior(AP)and Medial–Lateral(ML)translation of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints(p<0.05).Plantarflexion of the tibiotalar joint was coupled with eversion and posterior translation of the subtalar joint during the impact phase(R^(2)=0.87 and 0.86,respectively),and plantarflexion of the tibiotalar joint was coupled with inversion and anterior translation of the subtalar joint during the push-off phase(R^(2)=0.93 and 0.75,respectively).This coordinated coupled motion of the two joints may be a manifestation of the AJC to move flexibly while bearing weight and still have stability.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2018YFC2001300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52005209,91948302,No.91848204,No.52021003)the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(No.20210101053JC,No.20220508130RC).
文摘A variety of prosthetic ankles have been successfully developed to reproduce the locomotor ability for lower limb amputees in daily lives. However, they have not been shown to sufficiently improve the natural gait mechanics commonly observed in comparison to the able-bodied, perhaps due to over-simplified designs of functional musculoskeletal structures in prostheses. In this study, a flexible bionic ankle prosthesis with joints covered by soft material inclusions is developed on the basis of the human musculoskeletal system. First, the healthy side ankle–foot bones of a below-knee amputee were reconstructed by CT imaging. Three types of polyurethane rubber material configurations were then designed to mimic the soft tissues around the human ankle, providing stability and flexibility. Finite element simulations were conducted to determine the proper design of the rubber materials, evaluate the ankle stiffness under different external conditions, and calculate the rotation axes of the ankle during walking. The results showed that the bionic ankle had variable stiffness properties and could adapt to various road surfaces. It also had rotation axes similar to that of the human ankle, thus restoring the function of the talocrural and subtalar joints. The inclination and deviation angles of the talocrural axis, 86.2° and 75.1°, respectively, as well as the angles of the subtalar axis, 40.1° and 29.9°, were consistent with the literature. Finally, dynamic characteristics were investigated by gait measurements on the same subject, and the flexible bionic ankle prosthesis demonstrated natural gait mechanics during walking in terms of ankle angles and moments.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 52005209,Grant 91948302,Grant 52021003,Grant No 52105295in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province under Grant 20210101053JCThis work also supported in part by the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52021003).
文摘Morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles are all fiber-mediated composites, in which fibers play a passive and active role, respectively. Herein, inspired by the mechanism of fibers functioning in morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles, we propose two sorts of fiber-dominated composite actuators. First, inspired by the deformation of awned seeds in response to humidity change, we fabricate passive fiber-dominated actuators using non-active aligned carbon fibers via 4D printing method. The effects of process parameters, structural parameters, and fiber angles on the deformation of the printed actuators are examined. The experimental results show that the orientation degree is enhanced, resulting in a better swelling effect as the printing speed increases. Then, motivated by the actuation mechanism of skeletal muscle, we prepare active fiber-dominated actuators using active polyurethane fibers via 4D printing and pre-stretching method. The effect of fiber angle and loading on the actuation mode is experimentally analyzed. The experimental results show that the rotation angle of the actuator gradually decreases with the angle from 45° to 60°. When the fiber angle is 0° and 90°, the driver basically stops rotating while shrinking along the loading direction. Based on the above actuation mechanisms, identical contraction behaviors are realized both in passive and active fiber-dominated soft actuators. This work provides a validation method for biologically actuation mechanisms via 4D printing technique and smart materials and adds further insights to the design of bioinspired soft actuators.
基金This work was supported by funding from China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No:2020M670863)Jilin Scientific and Technological Development Program(No:20230203089SF).
文摘The biomechanical effects of acetabular revision with jumbo cups are unclear.This study aimed to compare the biomechanical effects of bionic trabecular metal vs.titanium jumbo cups for the revision of acetabular bone defects.We designed and reconstructed American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons(AAOS)type I–III acetabular bone defect models using computed tomography scans of a man without acetabular bone defects.The implantation of titanium and trabecular metal jumbo cups was simulated.Stress distribution and relative micromotion between the cup and host bone were assessed using finite element analysis.Contact stress on the screws fixing the cups was also analyzed.The contact stress analysis showed that the peak contact stress between the titanium jumbo cup and the host bone was 21.7,20.1,and 23.8 MPa in the AAOS I–III models,respectively;the corresponding values for bionic tantalum jumbo cups decreased to 4.7,6.7,and 11.1 MPa.Analysis of the relative micromotion showed that the peak relative micromotion between the host bone and the titanium metal cup was 10.2,9.1,and 11.5μm in the AAOS I–III models,respectively;the corresponding values for bionic trabecular metal cups were 17.2,18.2,and 31.3μm.The peak contact stress on the screws was similar for the 2 cup types,and was concentrated on the screw rods.Hence,acetabular reconstruction with jumbo cups is biomechanically feasible.We recommend trabecular metal cups due to their superior stress distribution and higher relative micromotion,which is within the threshold for adequate bone ingrowth.
基金This research was supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2018YFC2001300in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 91948302,Grant 91848204,and Grant 52021003the Project of Scientific and Technological Development Plan of Jilin Province under Grant 20220508130RC.
文摘In this article,a new optimization system that uses few features to recognize locomotion with high classification accuracy is proposed.The optimization system consists of three parts.First,the features of the mixed mechanical signal data are extracted from each analysis window of 200 ms after each foot contact event.Then,the Binary version of the hybrid Gray Wolf Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization(BGWOPSO)algorithm is used to select features.And,the selected features are optimized and assigned different weights by the Biogeography-Based Optimization(BBO)algorithm.Finally,an improved K-Nearest Neighbor(KNN)classifier is employed for intention recognition.This classifier has the advantages of high accuracy,few parameters as well as low memory burden.Based on data from eight patients with transfemoral amputations,the optimization system is evaluated.The numerical results indicate that the proposed model can recognize nine daily locomotion modes(i.e.,low-,mid-,and fast-speed level-ground walking,ramp ascent/decent,stair ascent/descent,and sit/stand)by only seven features,with an accuracy of 96.66%±0.68%.As for real-time prediction on a powered knee prosthesis,the shortest prediction time is only 9.8 ms.These promising results reveal the potential of intention recognition based on the proposed system for high-level control of the prosthetic knee.
基金This work was supported by the Project of National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFA0703300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52105299,52175271,52021003,91948302)+1 种基金Science and technology development plan project of Jilin Province(20210509047RQ,20210508057RQ)Program for JLU Science and Technology Innovative Research Team(2017TD-04).
文摘Flexible materials are essential in bionic fields such as soft robots.However,the lack of stiffness limits the mechanical performance of soft robots and makes them difficult to develop in many extreme working conditions,such as lifting and excavation operations.To address this issue,we prepared a stiffness-tunable composite by dispersing low-melting-point alloy into thermosetting epoxy resin.A dramatic and rapid change in stiffness was achieved by changing the state of matter at lower temperatures,and accurate control of the composite modulus was achieved by controlling the temperature.When the alloy content is at 30vol%,the tensile modulus changes 41.6 times,while the compressive modulus changes 58.9 times.By applying the composite to a flexible actuator,the initial stiffness of the actuator was improved by 124 times,reaching 332 mN/mm.In addition,the use of stiffness-tunable materials in the wheel allowed for timely changes in the grounding area to improve friction.These flexible materials with manageable mechanical properties have wide applicability in fields including bionics,robotics,and sensing.Our findings provide a new approach to designing and developing flexible materials with improved stiffness and controllability.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(nos.52075216,91948302,and 91848204).
文摘In nature,organisms widely use the interaction of muscle contraction and biological pipelines to form an efficient fluid control mechanism.Herein,a pneumatically powered,Bioinspired Soft Switching valve(BSS valve)with short response time and low-energy consumption is described.The BSS valve is composed of flexible walls,a flexible tube and symmetrically arranged Snapping Membrane actuator(SM actuator).It functions based on tube deformation throttling caused by instability of SM actuator membrane.To realize rapid preparation of customized BSS valve,the modular manufacturing method suitable for different materials and structures based on 3D printing and mold forming was developed.Using the membrane flip rate as indicators,the displacement transient response characteristics of three structures actuators were studied,The results proved that spherical and spherical cap membrane SM actuator achieved rapid displacement response under the low critical pressure threshold.Furthermore,with critical buckling pressure and capacity utilization efficiency as indicators,we analyzed the characteristics of SM actuators with different radius and wall thickness to obtain reasonable structural parameters configuration of SM actuators.The influence of radius and thickness on SM actuator is revealed,and theoretical model formulas were formed.Two different configurations are presented.(1)Customized BSS valve structures can achieve sequential motion of flexible gripper.(2)BSS valve embedded in soft pump.The performance tests confirmed it has significant advantages in energy consumption,specific pressure,specific flow,high-frequency cycle load life,and valve can be integrated into the soft pump fluid system as a throttling unit,and provides an idea for fluid drive control integration.
基金supported by the Key Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50635030)the National Basic Research Program ("973" Program) of China (No. 2007CB616913)+2 种基金was also supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC)We also would like to thank Karin Jespers and Sharon Warner of the Structure and Motion Laboratory for their support of the experimental workJRH’s con-tributions were supported by research grants BB/C516844/1 and BB/F01169/1 from the BBSRC, whom we thank.
文摘As one of the most important daily motor activities, human locomotion has been investigated intensively in recent decades. The locomotor functions and mechanics of human lower limbs have become relatively well understood. However, so far our understanding of the motions and functional contributions of the human spine during locomotion is still very poor and simul- taneous in-vivo limb and spinal column motion data are scarce. The objective of this study is to investigate the delicate in-vivo kinematic coupling between different functional regions of the human spinal column during locomotion as a stepping stone to explore the locomotor function of the human spine complex. A novel infrared reflective marker cluster system was constructed using stereophotogrammetry techniques to record the 3D in-vivo geometric shape of the spinal column and the segmental position and orientation of each functional spinal region simultaneously. Gait measurements of normal walking were conducted. The preliminary results show that the spinal column shape changes periodically in the frontal plane during locomotion. The segmental motions of different spinal functional regions appear to be strongly coupled, indicating some synergistic strategy may be employed by the human spinal column to facilitate locomotion. In contrast to traditional medical imaging-based methods, the proposed technique can be used to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the spinal column, hence providing more insight into the functional biomechanics of the human spine.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province(No.1808085MA10)Anhui Provincial Key R&D Program(No.202104g0102007)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21805283)。
文摘The utilization of neutrons markedly affects the medical isotope yield of a subcritical system driven by an external D-T neutron source.The general methods to improve the utilization of neutrons include moderating multiplying,and reflecting neutrons,which ignores the use of neutrons that backscatter to the source direction.In this study,a stacked structure was formed by assembling the multiplier and the low-enriched uranium solution to enable the full use of neutrons that backscatter to the source direction and further improve the utilization of neutrons.A model based on SuperMC was used to evaluate the neutronics and safety behavior of the subcritical system,such as the neutron effective multiplication factor,neutron energy spectrum,medical isotope yield,and heat deposition.Based on the calculation results,when the intensity of the neutron source was 59×10^(13)n/s,the optimized design with a stacked structure could increase the yield of ^(99)Mo to182 Ci/day,which is approximately 16% higher than that obtained with a single-layer structure.The inlet H_(2)O coolant velocity of 1.0 m/s and initial temperature of 20℃ were also found to be sufficient to prevent boiling of the fuel solution.
