Hydrogel scaffolds have numerous potential applications in the tissue engineering field.However,tough hydrogel scaffolds implanted in vivo are seldom reported because it is difficult to balance biocompatibility and hi...Hydrogel scaffolds have numerous potential applications in the tissue engineering field.However,tough hydrogel scaffolds implanted in vivo are seldom reported because it is difficult to balance biocompatibility and high mechanical properties.Inspired by Chinese ramen,we propose a universal fabricating method(printing-P,training-T,cross-linking-C,PTC&PCT)for tough hydrogel scaffolds to fill this gap.First,3D printing fabricates a hydrogel scaffold with desired structures(P).Then,the scaffold could have extraordinarily high mechanical properties and functional surface structure by cycle mechanical training with salting-out assistance(T).Finally,the training results are fixed by photo-cross-linking processing(C).The tough gelatin hydrogel scaffolds exhibit excellent tensile strength of 6.66 MPa(622-fold untreated)and have excellent biocompatibility.Furthermore,this scaffold possesses functional surface structures from nanometer to micron to millimeter,which can efficiently induce directional cell growth.Interestingly,this strategy can produce bionic human tissue with mechanical properties of 10 kPa-10 MPa by changing the type of salt,and many hydrogels,such as gelatin and silk,could be improved with PTC or PCT strategies.Animal experiments show that this scaffold can effectively promote the new generation of muscle fibers,blood vessels,and nerves within 4 weeks,prompting the rapid regeneration of large-volume muscle loss injuries.展开更多
The Red Sea-Gulf of Suez-Cairo-Alexandria Clysmic-Trend in northern Egypt is the main earthquake zone in the country,with a moderate-to-high seismic hazard and a history of significant earthquakes caused by rifting an...The Red Sea-Gulf of Suez-Cairo-Alexandria Clysmic-Trend in northern Egypt is the main earthquake zone in the country,with a moderate-to-high seismic hazard and a history of significant earthquakes caused by rifting and active faulting.To improve our understanding of the tectonic and seismic processes in this area,more comprehensive imaging of the crustal structure is required.This can be achieved by increasing the number of receiver functions(RFs)recorded by the seismic stations in northern Egypt and the southeastern Mediterranean.Data handling and processing should also be automated to increase process efficiency.In this study,we developed a capsule neural network for automated selection of RFs.The model was trained on a dataset containing RFs(both selected and unselected)from five broadband stations in northern Egypt.Stations SLM,SIWA,KOT,NBNS,and NKL are located in the unstable shelf region of Egypt,where limited knowledge of the deep crustal structure is available.The proposed capsule neural network achieved an average precision of 80%on the test set.The automated selection of RFs using a capsule neural network has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of RF analysis,as demonstrated by the stacking test.This could lead to a better understanding of crustal structure and tectonic processes in northern Egypt and the southeastern Mediterranean.展开更多
In pursuit of low cost and long life for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles,the most promising strategy is to replace the commercial LiCoO_(2)with a high-energy-density Ni-rich cathode.However,the irreversible...In pursuit of low cost and long life for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles,the most promising strategy is to replace the commercial LiCoO_(2)with a high-energy-density Ni-rich cathode.However,the irreversible redox couples induce rapid capacity decay,poor long-term cycling life,vast gas evolution,and unstable structure transformations of the Ni-rich cathode,limiting its practical applications.Element doping has been considered as the most promising strategy for addressing these issues.However,the relationships between element doping functions and redox chemistry still remain confused.To clarify this connection,this review places the dynamic evolution of redox couples(Li^(*),Ni^(2+)/Ni^(3+)/Ni^(4+)-e^(-),O^(2-)/O^(n-)/O_(2)-e^(-))as the tree trunk.The material structure,degradation mechanisms,and addressing element doping strategies are considered as the tree branches.This comprehensive summary aims to provide an overview of the current understanding and progress of Ni-rich cathode materials.In the last section,promising strategies based on element doping functions are provided to encourage the practical application of Ni-rich cathodes.These strategies also offer a new approach for the development of other intercalated electrode materials in Na and K-based battery systems.展开更多
Titanium and its alloys have been widely applied in many biomedical fields because of its excellent mechanical properties,corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility.However,problems such as rejection,shedding and ...Titanium and its alloys have been widely applied in many biomedical fields because of its excellent mechanical properties,corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility.However,problems such as rejection,shedding and infection will occur after titanium alloy implantation due to the low biological activity of titanium alloy surface.The structures with specific functions,which can enhance osseointegration and antibacterial properties,are fabricated on the surface of titanium implants to improve the biological activity between the titanium implants and human tissues.This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent developments and applications of surface functional structure in titanium and titanium alloy implants.The applications of surface functional structure on different titanium and titanium alloy implants are introduced,and their manufacturing technologies are summarized and compared.Furthermore,the fabrication of various surface functional structures used for titanium and titanium alloy implants is reviewed and analyzed in detail.Finally,the challenges affecting the development of surface functional structures applied in titanium and titanium alloy implants are outlined,and recommendations for future research are presented.展开更多
Safety remains a persistent challenge for high-energy-density lithium metal batteries(LMBs).The development of safe and non-flammable electrolytes is especially important in harsh conditions such as high temperatures....Safety remains a persistent challenge for high-energy-density lithium metal batteries(LMBs).The development of safe and non-flammable electrolytes is especially important in harsh conditions such as high temperatures.Herein,a flame-retardant,low-cost and thermally stable long chain phosphate ester based(tributyl phosphate,TBP)electrolyte is reported,which can effectively enhance the cycling stability of highly loaded high-nickel LMBs with high safety through co-solvation strategy.The interfacial compatibility between TBP and electrode is effectively improved using a short-chain ether(glycol dimethyl ether,DME),and a specially competitive solvation structure is further constructed using lithium borate difluorooxalate(LiDFOB)to form the stable and inorganic-rich electrode interphases.Benefiting from the presence of the cathode electrolyte interphase(CEI)and solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)enriched with LiF and Li_(x)PO_(y)F_(z),the electrolyte demonstrates excellent cycling stability assembled using a 50μm lithium foil anode in combination with a high loading NMC811(15.4 mg cm^(-2))cathode,with 88%capacity retention after 120 cycles.Furthermore,the electrolyte exhibits excellent high-temperature characteristics when used in a 1-Ah pouch cell(N/P=0.26),and higher thermal runaway temperature(238℃)in the ARC(accelerating rate calorimeter)demonstrating high safety.This novel electrolyte adopts long-chain phosphate as the main solvent for the first time,and would provide a new idea for the development of extremely high safety and high-temperature electrolytes.展开更多
With the continuous advancement in topology optimization and additive manufacturing(AM)technology,the capability to fabricate functionally graded materials and intricate cellular structures with spatially varying micr...With the continuous advancement in topology optimization and additive manufacturing(AM)technology,the capability to fabricate functionally graded materials and intricate cellular structures with spatially varying microstructures has grown significantly.However,a critical challenge is encountered in the design of these structures–the absence of robust interface connections between adjacent microstructures,potentially resulting in diminished efficiency or macroscopic failure.A Hybrid Level Set Method(HLSM)is proposed,specifically designed to enhance connectivity among non-uniform microstructures,contributing to the design of functionally graded cellular structures.The HLSM introduces a pioneering algorithm for effectively blending heterogeneous microstructure interfaces.Initially,an interpolation algorithm is presented to construct transition microstructures seamlessly connected on both sides.Subsequently,the algorithm enables the morphing of non-uniform unit cells to seamlessly adapt to interconnected adjacent microstructures.The method,seamlessly integrated into a multi-scale topology optimization framework using the level set method,exhibits its efficacy through numerical examples,showcasing its prowess in optimizing 2D and 3D functionally graded materials(FGM)and multi-scale topology optimization.In essence,the pressing issue of interface connections in complex structure design is not only addressed but also a robust methodology is introduced,substantiated by numerical evidence,advancing optimization capabilities in the realm of functionally graded materials and cellular structures.展开更多
Great attention has been paid to the development of very large floating structures. Owing to their extreme large size and great flexibility, the coupling between the structural deformation and fluid motion is signific...Great attention has been paid to the development of very large floating structures. Owing to their extreme large size and great flexibility, the coupling between the structural deformation and fluid motion is significant. This is a typical problem of hydroelasticity. Efficient and accurate estimation of the hydroelastic response of very large floating structures in waves is very important for design. In this paper, the plate Green function and fluid Green function are combined to analyze the hydroelastic response of very large floating structures. The plate Green function here is a new one proposed by the authors and it satisfies all boundary conditions for free-free rectangular plates on elastic foundations. The results are compared with some experimental data. It is shown that the method proposed in this paper is efficient and accurate. Finally, various factors affecting the hydroelastic response of very large floating structures are also studied.展开更多
Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits.The cuticular wax coating,which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells,is insoluble in water.Cuticular wax is mainly compose...Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits.The cuticular wax coating,which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells,is insoluble in water.Cuticular wax is mainly composed of very long-chain fatty acids(VLCFAs);their derivatives,including esters,primary alcohols,secondary alcohols,aldehydes,and ketones;and triterpenoids.This complex mixture of lipids is probably biosynthesized in the epidermal cells of most plants and exuded onto the surface.Cuticular wax not only makes the fruit less susceptible to microbial infection but also reduces mechanical damage to the fruit,thereby maintaining the fruit’s commodity value.To date,research has mostly focused on the changes,function,and regulation of fruit wax before harvest,while ignoring the changes and functions of wax in fruit storage.This paper reviews on the composition,structure,and metabolic regulation of cuticular wax in fruits.It also focuses on postharvest factors affecting wax composition,such as storage temperature,relative humidity(RH),gas atmosphere,and as exogenous hormones;and the effects of wax on fruit postharvest quality,including water dispersion,fruit softening,physiological disorders,and disease resistance.These summaries may be of assistance in better understanding the changes in cuticular wax in postharvest fruit and the resulting effects on fruit quality.展开更多
The time sequence of longitudinal velocity component at different vertical locations in turbulent boundary layer was finely measured in a wind tunnel. The concept of coarse_grained velocity structure functions, which ...The time sequence of longitudinal velocity component at different vertical locations in turbulent boundary layer was finely measured in a wind tunnel. The concept of coarse_grained velocity structure functions, which describes the relative motions of straining and compressing for multi_scale eddy structures in turbulent flows, was put forward based on the theory of locally multi_scale average. Based on the consistency between coarse_grained velocity structure function and Harr wavelet transformation,detecting method was presented, by which the coherent structures and their intermittency was identified by multi_scale flatness factor calculated by locally average structure function. Phase_averaged evolution course for multi_scale coherent eddy structures in wall turbulence were extracted by this conditional sampling to educe scheme. The dynamics course of multi_scale coherent eddy structures and their effects on statistics of turbulent flows were studied.展开更多
The effect of sintering dispersed and bulk,low molecular weight(M_n=50,000 Da),nano-emulsionpolytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)particles near their melting point is described.With the nascent particles consisting of ca.75 n...The effect of sintering dispersed and bulk,low molecular weight(M_n=50,000 Da),nano-emulsionpolytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)particles near their melting point is described.With the nascent particles consisting of ca.75 nm diameter,hexagonal,single crystals,sintering at,e.g.,350℃,results,initially,in merger of neighboring particles,followed by individual molecular motion on the substrate and the formation of folded chain,lamellar single crystals andspherulites,and on-edge ribbons.It is suggested these structures develop,with time,in the mesomorphic“melt”.Sintering ofthe bulk resin yields extended chain,band structures,as well as folded chain lamellae;end-surface to end-surface merger,possibly by end-to-end polymerization,occurs with increasing time.展开更多
Microbial resistance has now become a global public health concern,and the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria also threatens human health.Antimicrobial peptides(AMPs)are a class of small peptides with antibacteria...Microbial resistance has now become a global public health concern,and the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria also threatens human health.Antimicrobial peptides(AMPs)are a class of small peptides with antibacterial,anti-inflammatory,anti-infective,antioxidation,anti-tumor,antiviral functions and immune regulation activities.Due to the small sizes,their structures are easily studied by nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)techniques.Compared to traditional antibiotics,AMPs have specific antibacterial mechanisms,and do not easily result in the production of drug-resistant strains.Thus,the development of new antimicrobial peptides and their wide use instead of chemical antibiotics are of great significance to human health.In this review,we first summarized the relationship between the structures and functions of antimicrobial peptides.Then,we focused on examples,cathelicidins,a group of cationic antimicrobial peptides with multiple biological activities.Especially,cathelicidin BF30 or BF34,composed of 30 or 34 amino acids,were from the venom glands of the Bungarus fasciatus snake and were considered to be the most active antibacterial peptides among different cathelicidin members.Their solution structures determined by NMR are a-helixes,which are useful in designing new and stable peptides with similar framework,including stapple peptides by inducing chemical modifications in the sidechains of some residues,as well as cyclic peptides by inducing disulfide bond between cysteines in the sequences.展开更多
It is well known that plants have functional equilibrium between their above-ground parts (shoots) and below-ground parts (roots), but whether the above-ground parts of plants have functional equilibrium between their...It is well known that plants have functional equilibrium between their above-ground parts (shoots) and below-ground parts (roots), but whether the above-ground parts of plants have functional equilibrium between their photosynthetic structures (leaves) and non-photosynthetic structures (branches and stem) is unknown. The purpose of this study is to test the hypotheses that: (1) the above-ground parts of plants have functional equilibriums between their photosynthetic structures and non-photosynthetic structures; (2) the maintenance of the equilibriums is guaranteed by the alteration of biomass partitioning to photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures. To test these hypotheses, a pruning experiment with four pruning intensities (0%, 20%, 50%, and 70%) were carried out with three subtropical Chinese tree species ( Ficus microcarpa, Ficus virens, Cinnamomum camphora). Pruning treatments were conducted in two successive years. The results were in conformity with the hypothesis, i.e. above-ground parts of trees had functional equilibriums between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures. Pruning decreased instantaneously the mass ratios of photosynthetic structures to non-photosynthetic structures (P/NP) of all three tree species, the reduction in P/NP was strengthened with pruning intensity. However, one year after pruning, the P/NP of all pruned trees increased and were not smaller than those of unpruned trees. In agreement with the expectation, the biomass partitioning of pruned trees was altered, more newly produced above-ground biomass was partitioned to leaf growth and less to branch and stem growth, thus enabled the damaged trees to restore their functional equilibrium between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures. It is clear that the maintenance of functional equilibrium between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures guaranteed by the alteration of biomass partitioning provides plants a good strategy to resist external disturbance and damage.展开更多
Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely u...Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely utilized to investigate neuro biological markers after mild traumatic brain injury.This approach has emerged as a promising tool for investigating the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury.G raph theory is a quantitative method of analyzing complex networks that has been widely used to study changes in brain structure and function.However,most previous mild traumatic brain injury studies using graph theory have focused on specific populations,with limited exploration of simultaneous abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity.Given that mild traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic brain injury encounte red in clinical practice,further investigation of the patient characteristics and evolution of structural and functional connectivity is critical.In the present study,we explored whether abnormal structural and functional connectivity in the acute phase could serve as indicators of longitudinal changes in imaging data and cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.In this longitudinal study,we enrolled 46 patients with mild traumatic brain injury who were assessed within 2 wee ks of injury,as well as 36 healthy controls.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for graph theoretical network analysis.In the acute phase,patients with mild traumatic brain injury demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in the dorsal attention network.More than 3 months of followup data revealed signs of recovery in structural and functional connectivity,as well as cognitive function,in 22 out of the 46 patients.Furthermore,better cognitive function was associated with more efficient networks.Finally,our data indicated that small-worldness in the acute stage could serve as a predictor of longitudinal changes in connectivity in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural and functional connectivity in unde rstanding the occurrence and evolution of mild traumatic brain injury.Additionally,exploratory analysis based on subnetworks could serve a predictive function in the prognosis of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.展开更多
This paper evaluates the seismic vulnerability of different classes of typical bridges in California when subjected to seismic shaking or liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. The detailed structural configurations ...This paper evaluates the seismic vulnerability of different classes of typical bridges in California when subjected to seismic shaking or liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. The detailed structural configurations in terms of superstructure type, connection, continuity at support and foundation type, etc. render different damage resistant capability. Six classes of bridges are established based on their anticipated failure mechanisms under earthquake shaking. The numerical models that are capable of simulating the complex soil-structure interaction effects, nonlinear behavior of columns and connections are developed for each bridge class. The dynamic responses are obtained using nonlinear time history analyses for a suite of 250 earthquake motions with increasing intensity. An equivalent static analysis procedure is also implemented to evaluate the vulnerability of the bridges when subjected to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. Fragility functions for each bridge class are derived and compared for both seismic shaking （based on nonlinear dynamic analyses） and lateral spreading （based on equivalent static analyses） for different performance states. The study finds that the fragility functions due to either ground shaking or lateral spreading show significant correlation with the structural characterizations, but differences emerge for ground shaking and lateral spreading conditions. Structural properties that will mostly affect the bridges＇ damage resistant capacity are also identified.展开更多
The structures and properties of benzoxazines were investigated by virtue of molecular modeling at a molecular level. By means of Cerius software(version 4.0) supplied by Molecular Simulations Inc., the molecular mech...The structures and properties of benzoxazines were investigated by virtue of molecular modeling at a molecular level. By means of Cerius software(version 4.0) supplied by Molecular Simulations Inc., the molecular mechanics and the molecular dynamics were performed under a PCFF force field. Five kinds of the polymeric chains of benzoxazines were created by using polymer builder and energy minimization. The relaxation process was conducted with both energy minimization and molecular dynamics.展开更多
A radial basis function collocation method based on the nonlocal elastic continuum theory is developed to compute the band structures of nanoscale multilayered phononic crystals. The effects of nonlocal imperfect inte...A radial basis function collocation method based on the nonlocal elastic continuum theory is developed to compute the band structures of nanoscale multilayered phononic crystals. The effects of nonlocal imperfect interfaces on band structures of transverse waves propagating obliquely or vertically in the system are studied. The correctness of the present method is verified by comparing the numerical results with those obtained by applying the transfer matrix method in the case of nonlocal perfect interface. Furthermore, the influences of the nanoscale size, the impedance ratio and the incident angle on the cut-off frequency and band structures are investigated and discussed in detail. Numerical results show that the nonlocal interface imperfections have significant effects on the band structures in the macroscopic and microscopic scale.展开更多
In recent years, supply chain management （SCM） has been in popularity as a new management philosophy for all industries, including textile and apparel industries. The textile-apparel supply chain is relatively compl...In recent years, supply chain management （SCM） has been in popularity as a new management philosophy for all industries, including textile and apparel industries. The textile-apparel supply chain is relatively complex because it encompasses many participants such as yarn manufacturers, fabric manufacturers, garment manufacturers and retailers. Although many scholars are engaged in researching SCM in textile and apparel industries, a systematic classification of textile-apparel chain does not exist. The paper proposes three types of textile-apparel chain, nominated vertical integration chain, traditional sourcing chain and 3P-hub （third party as the hub） chain. Different coordinators exist in different types of chain. Three Hong Kong headquartered companies, Esquel Group, TAL Apparel Ltd., and Li ＆ Fang （Trading） Ltd. are used as cases responding to each type of the structures respectively.展开更多
Aiming at the rapid growth of network services,which leads to the problems of long service request processing time and high deployment cost in the deployment of network function virtualization service function chain(S...Aiming at the rapid growth of network services,which leads to the problems of long service request processing time and high deployment cost in the deployment of network function virtualization service function chain(SFC)under 5G networks,this paper proposes a multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient optimization algorithm for SFC deployment(MADDPG-SD).Initially,an optimization model is devised to enhance the request acceptance rate,minimizing the latency and deploying the cost SFC is constructed for the network resource-constrained case.Subsequently,we model the dynamic problem as a Markov decision process(MDP),facilitating adaptation to the evolving states of network resources.Finally,by allocating SFCs to different agents and adopting a collaborative deployment strategy,each agent aims to maximize the request acceptance rate or minimize latency and costs.These agents learn strategies from historical data of virtual network functions in SFCs to guide server node selection,and achieve approximately optimal SFC deployment strategies through a cooperative framework of centralized training and distributed execution.Experimental simulation results indicate that the proposed method,while simultaneously meeting performance requirements and resource capacity constraints,has effectively increased the acceptance rate of requests compared to the comparative algorithms,reducing the end-to-end latency by 4.942%and the deployment cost by 8.045%.展开更多
The structural stabilities and electronic structures of Ga atomic chains are studied by the first-principles plane wave pseudopotential method based on the density functional theory. The present calculations show that...The structural stabilities and electronic structures of Ga atomic chains are studied by the first-principles plane wave pseudopotential method based on the density functional theory. The present calculations show that gallium can form planar chains in linear-, zigzag- and ladder-form one-dimensional structures. The most stable one among the studied structures is the zigzag chain with a unit cell rather close to equilateral triangles with four nearest neighbors, and all the other structures are metastable. The relative structural stability, the energy bands and the charge densities are discussed based on the ab initio calculations and the Jahn-Teller effect.展开更多
By analyzing the results of compliance minimization of thermoelastic structures,we observed that microstructures play an important role in this optimization problem.Then,we propose to use a multiple variable cutting(M...By analyzing the results of compliance minimization of thermoelastic structures,we observed that microstructures play an important role in this optimization problem.Then,we propose to use a multiple variable cutting(M-VCUT)level set-based model of microstructures to solve the concurrent two-scale topology optimization of thermoelastic structures.A microstructure is obtained by combining multiple virtual microstructures that are derived respectively from multiple microstructure prototypes,thus giving more diversity of microstructure and more flexibility in design optimization.The effective mechanical properties of microstructures are computed in an off-line phase by using the homogenization method,and then a mapping relationship between the design variables and the effective properties is established,which gives a data-driven model of microstructure.In the online phase,the data-driven model is used in the finite element analysis to improve the computational efficiency.The compliance minimization problem is considered,and the results of numerical examples prove that the proposed method is effective.展开更多
基金supported by the Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(T2121004)Key Programme(52235007)National Outstanding Youth Foundation of China(52325504).
文摘Hydrogel scaffolds have numerous potential applications in the tissue engineering field.However,tough hydrogel scaffolds implanted in vivo are seldom reported because it is difficult to balance biocompatibility and high mechanical properties.Inspired by Chinese ramen,we propose a universal fabricating method(printing-P,training-T,cross-linking-C,PTC&PCT)for tough hydrogel scaffolds to fill this gap.First,3D printing fabricates a hydrogel scaffold with desired structures(P).Then,the scaffold could have extraordinarily high mechanical properties and functional surface structure by cycle mechanical training with salting-out assistance(T).Finally,the training results are fixed by photo-cross-linking processing(C).The tough gelatin hydrogel scaffolds exhibit excellent tensile strength of 6.66 MPa(622-fold untreated)and have excellent biocompatibility.Furthermore,this scaffold possesses functional surface structures from nanometer to micron to millimeter,which can efficiently induce directional cell growth.Interestingly,this strategy can produce bionic human tissue with mechanical properties of 10 kPa-10 MPa by changing the type of salt,and many hydrogels,such as gelatin and silk,could be improved with PTC or PCT strategies.Animal experiments show that this scaffold can effectively promote the new generation of muscle fibers,blood vessels,and nerves within 4 weeks,prompting the rapid regeneration of large-volume muscle loss injuries.
文摘The Red Sea-Gulf of Suez-Cairo-Alexandria Clysmic-Trend in northern Egypt is the main earthquake zone in the country,with a moderate-to-high seismic hazard and a history of significant earthquakes caused by rifting and active faulting.To improve our understanding of the tectonic and seismic processes in this area,more comprehensive imaging of the crustal structure is required.This can be achieved by increasing the number of receiver functions(RFs)recorded by the seismic stations in northern Egypt and the southeastern Mediterranean.Data handling and processing should also be automated to increase process efficiency.In this study,we developed a capsule neural network for automated selection of RFs.The model was trained on a dataset containing RFs(both selected and unselected)from five broadband stations in northern Egypt.Stations SLM,SIWA,KOT,NBNS,and NKL are located in the unstable shelf region of Egypt,where limited knowledge of the deep crustal structure is available.The proposed capsule neural network achieved an average precision of 80%on the test set.The automated selection of RFs using a capsule neural network has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of RF analysis,as demonstrated by the stacking test.This could lead to a better understanding of crustal structure and tectonic processes in northern Egypt and the southeastern Mediterranean.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22209055)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M721330)+2 种基金the Foshan Postdoctoral Science Foundation(X221081MS210)the Innovation Team of Universities of Guangdong Province(2022KCXTD030)the“Targeted Technology Innovation Initiative”Project at the Foshan National Institute of Innovation(JBGS2024002)。
文摘In pursuit of low cost and long life for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles,the most promising strategy is to replace the commercial LiCoO_(2)with a high-energy-density Ni-rich cathode.However,the irreversible redox couples induce rapid capacity decay,poor long-term cycling life,vast gas evolution,and unstable structure transformations of the Ni-rich cathode,limiting its practical applications.Element doping has been considered as the most promising strategy for addressing these issues.However,the relationships between element doping functions and redox chemistry still remain confused.To clarify this connection,this review places the dynamic evolution of redox couples(Li^(*),Ni^(2+)/Ni^(3+)/Ni^(4+)-e^(-),O^(2-)/O^(n-)/O_(2)-e^(-))as the tree trunk.The material structure,degradation mechanisms,and addressing element doping strategies are considered as the tree branches.This comprehensive summary aims to provide an overview of the current understanding and progress of Ni-rich cathode materials.In the last section,promising strategies based on element doping functions are provided to encourage the practical application of Ni-rich cathodes.These strategies also offer a new approach for the development of other intercalated electrode materials in Na and K-based battery systems.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.52235011,51905352)Shenzhen Municipal Excellent Science and Technology Creative Talent Training Program (Grant No.RCBS20210609103819021)+1 种基金Guangdong Provincial Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant No.2023B1515120086)Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Planning Project (Grant No.CJGJZD20230724093600001)。
文摘Titanium and its alloys have been widely applied in many biomedical fields because of its excellent mechanical properties,corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility.However,problems such as rejection,shedding and infection will occur after titanium alloy implantation due to the low biological activity of titanium alloy surface.The structures with specific functions,which can enhance osseointegration and antibacterial properties,are fabricated on the surface of titanium implants to improve the biological activity between the titanium implants and human tissues.This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent developments and applications of surface functional structure in titanium and titanium alloy implants.The applications of surface functional structure on different titanium and titanium alloy implants are introduced,and their manufacturing technologies are summarized and compared.Furthermore,the fabrication of various surface functional structures used for titanium and titanium alloy implants is reviewed and analyzed in detail.Finally,the challenges affecting the development of surface functional structures applied in titanium and titanium alloy implants are outlined,and recommendations for future research are presented.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No.52072322)the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (CN) (grant no.23GJHZ0147,23ZDYF0262,2022YFG0294)Research and Innovation Fund for Graduate Students of Southwest Petroleum University (No.:2022KYCX111)。
文摘Safety remains a persistent challenge for high-energy-density lithium metal batteries(LMBs).The development of safe and non-flammable electrolytes is especially important in harsh conditions such as high temperatures.Herein,a flame-retardant,low-cost and thermally stable long chain phosphate ester based(tributyl phosphate,TBP)electrolyte is reported,which can effectively enhance the cycling stability of highly loaded high-nickel LMBs with high safety through co-solvation strategy.The interfacial compatibility between TBP and electrode is effectively improved using a short-chain ether(glycol dimethyl ether,DME),and a specially competitive solvation structure is further constructed using lithium borate difluorooxalate(LiDFOB)to form the stable and inorganic-rich electrode interphases.Benefiting from the presence of the cathode electrolyte interphase(CEI)and solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)enriched with LiF and Li_(x)PO_(y)F_(z),the electrolyte demonstrates excellent cycling stability assembled using a 50μm lithium foil anode in combination with a high loading NMC811(15.4 mg cm^(-2))cathode,with 88%capacity retention after 120 cycles.Furthermore,the electrolyte exhibits excellent high-temperature characteristics when used in a 1-Ah pouch cell(N/P=0.26),and higher thermal runaway temperature(238℃)in the ARC(accelerating rate calorimeter)demonstrating high safety.This novel electrolyte adopts long-chain phosphate as the main solvent for the first time,and would provide a new idea for the development of extremely high safety and high-temperature electrolytes.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Number 2021YFB1714600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Number 52075195)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China through Program No.2172019kfyXJJS078.
文摘With the continuous advancement in topology optimization and additive manufacturing(AM)technology,the capability to fabricate functionally graded materials and intricate cellular structures with spatially varying microstructures has grown significantly.However,a critical challenge is encountered in the design of these structures–the absence of robust interface connections between adjacent microstructures,potentially resulting in diminished efficiency or macroscopic failure.A Hybrid Level Set Method(HLSM)is proposed,specifically designed to enhance connectivity among non-uniform microstructures,contributing to the design of functionally graded cellular structures.The HLSM introduces a pioneering algorithm for effectively blending heterogeneous microstructure interfaces.Initially,an interpolation algorithm is presented to construct transition microstructures seamlessly connected on both sides.Subsequently,the algorithm enables the morphing of non-uniform unit cells to seamlessly adapt to interconnected adjacent microstructures.The method,seamlessly integrated into a multi-scale topology optimization framework using the level set method,exhibits its efficacy through numerical examples,showcasing its prowess in optimizing 2D and 3D functionally graded materials(FGM)and multi-scale topology optimization.In essence,the pressing issue of interface connections in complex structure design is not only addressed but also a robust methodology is introduced,substantiated by numerical evidence,advancing optimization capabilities in the realm of functionally graded materials and cellular structures.
文摘Great attention has been paid to the development of very large floating structures. Owing to their extreme large size and great flexibility, the coupling between the structural deformation and fluid motion is significant. This is a typical problem of hydroelasticity. Efficient and accurate estimation of the hydroelastic response of very large floating structures in waves is very important for design. In this paper, the plate Green function and fluid Green function are combined to analyze the hydroelastic response of very large floating structures. The plate Green function here is a new one proposed by the authors and it satisfies all boundary conditions for free-free rectangular plates on elastic foundations. The results are compared with some experimental data. It is shown that the method proposed in this paper is efficient and accurate. Finally, various factors affecting the hydroelastic response of very large floating structures are also studied.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31772042)Ramóny Cajal grant(RYC2020-030365-I)+1 种基金Xunta de Galicia for supporting the program(Excelencia-ED431F2022/01)the Key Research&Development Program of Zhejiang Province(2021C02015).
文摘Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits.The cuticular wax coating,which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells,is insoluble in water.Cuticular wax is mainly composed of very long-chain fatty acids(VLCFAs);their derivatives,including esters,primary alcohols,secondary alcohols,aldehydes,and ketones;and triterpenoids.This complex mixture of lipids is probably biosynthesized in the epidermal cells of most plants and exuded onto the surface.Cuticular wax not only makes the fruit less susceptible to microbial infection but also reduces mechanical damage to the fruit,thereby maintaining the fruit’s commodity value.To date,research has mostly focused on the changes,function,and regulation of fruit wax before harvest,while ignoring the changes and functions of wax in fruit storage.This paper reviews on the composition,structure,and metabolic regulation of cuticular wax in fruits.It also focuses on postharvest factors affecting wax composition,such as storage temperature,relative humidity(RH),gas atmosphere,and as exogenous hormones;and the effects of wax on fruit postharvest quality,including water dispersion,fruit softening,physiological disorders,and disease resistance.These summaries may be of assistance in better understanding the changes in cuticular wax in postharvest fruit and the resulting effects on fruit quality.
文摘The time sequence of longitudinal velocity component at different vertical locations in turbulent boundary layer was finely measured in a wind tunnel. The concept of coarse_grained velocity structure functions, which describes the relative motions of straining and compressing for multi_scale eddy structures in turbulent flows, was put forward based on the theory of locally multi_scale average. Based on the consistency between coarse_grained velocity structure function and Harr wavelet transformation,detecting method was presented, by which the coherent structures and their intermittency was identified by multi_scale flatness factor calculated by locally average structure function. Phase_averaged evolution course for multi_scale coherent eddy structures in wall turbulence were extracted by this conditional sampling to educe scheme. The dynamics course of multi_scale coherent eddy structures and their effects on statistics of turbulent flows were studied.
文摘The effect of sintering dispersed and bulk,low molecular weight(M_n=50,000 Da),nano-emulsionpolytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)particles near their melting point is described.With the nascent particles consisting of ca.75 nm diameter,hexagonal,single crystals,sintering at,e.g.,350℃,results,initially,in merger of neighboring particles,followed by individual molecular motion on the substrate and the formation of folded chain,lamellar single crystals andspherulites,and on-edge ribbons.It is suggested these structures develop,with time,in the mesomorphic“melt”.Sintering ofthe bulk resin yields extended chain,band structures,as well as folded chain lamellae;end-surface to end-surface merger,possibly by end-to-end polymerization,occurs with increasing time.
基金National Science Foundation of China(NSFC)under No.22174155,22177127 and 21977110.
文摘Microbial resistance has now become a global public health concern,and the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria also threatens human health.Antimicrobial peptides(AMPs)are a class of small peptides with antibacterial,anti-inflammatory,anti-infective,antioxidation,anti-tumor,antiviral functions and immune regulation activities.Due to the small sizes,their structures are easily studied by nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)techniques.Compared to traditional antibiotics,AMPs have specific antibacterial mechanisms,and do not easily result in the production of drug-resistant strains.Thus,the development of new antimicrobial peptides and their wide use instead of chemical antibiotics are of great significance to human health.In this review,we first summarized the relationship between the structures and functions of antimicrobial peptides.Then,we focused on examples,cathelicidins,a group of cationic antimicrobial peptides with multiple biological activities.Especially,cathelicidin BF30 or BF34,composed of 30 or 34 amino acids,were from the venom glands of the Bungarus fasciatus snake and were considered to be the most active antibacterial peptides among different cathelicidin members.Their solution structures determined by NMR are a-helixes,which are useful in designing new and stable peptides with similar framework,including stapple peptides by inducing chemical modifications in the sidechains of some residues,as well as cyclic peptides by inducing disulfide bond between cysteines in the sequences.
文摘It is well known that plants have functional equilibrium between their above-ground parts (shoots) and below-ground parts (roots), but whether the above-ground parts of plants have functional equilibrium between their photosynthetic structures (leaves) and non-photosynthetic structures (branches and stem) is unknown. The purpose of this study is to test the hypotheses that: (1) the above-ground parts of plants have functional equilibriums between their photosynthetic structures and non-photosynthetic structures; (2) the maintenance of the equilibriums is guaranteed by the alteration of biomass partitioning to photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures. To test these hypotheses, a pruning experiment with four pruning intensities (0%, 20%, 50%, and 70%) were carried out with three subtropical Chinese tree species ( Ficus microcarpa, Ficus virens, Cinnamomum camphora). Pruning treatments were conducted in two successive years. The results were in conformity with the hypothesis, i.e. above-ground parts of trees had functional equilibriums between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures. Pruning decreased instantaneously the mass ratios of photosynthetic structures to non-photosynthetic structures (P/NP) of all three tree species, the reduction in P/NP was strengthened with pruning intensity. However, one year after pruning, the P/NP of all pruned trees increased and were not smaller than those of unpruned trees. In agreement with the expectation, the biomass partitioning of pruned trees was altered, more newly produced above-ground biomass was partitioned to leaf growth and less to branch and stem growth, thus enabled the damaged trees to restore their functional equilibrium between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures. It is clear that the maintenance of functional equilibrium between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures guaranteed by the alteration of biomass partitioning provides plants a good strategy to resist external disturbance and damage.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81671671(to JL),61971451(to JL),U22A2034(to XK),62177047(to XK)the National Defense Science and Technology Collaborative Innovation Major Project of Central South University,No.2021gfcx05(to JL)+6 种基金Clinical Research Cen terfor Medical Imaging of Hunan Province,No.2020SK4001(to JL)Key Emergency Project of Pneumonia Epidemic of Novel Coronavirus Infection of Hu nan Province,No.2020SK3006(to JL)Innovative Special Construction Foundation of Hunan Province,No.2019SK2131(to JL)the Science and Technology lnnovation Program of Hunan Province,Nos.2021RC4016(to JL),2021SK53503(to ML)Scientific Research Program of Hunan Commission of Health,No.202209044797(to JL)Central South University Research Program of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,No.2023Q YJC020(to XK)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,No.2022JJ30814(to ML)。
文摘Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely utilized to investigate neuro biological markers after mild traumatic brain injury.This approach has emerged as a promising tool for investigating the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury.G raph theory is a quantitative method of analyzing complex networks that has been widely used to study changes in brain structure and function.However,most previous mild traumatic brain injury studies using graph theory have focused on specific populations,with limited exploration of simultaneous abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity.Given that mild traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic brain injury encounte red in clinical practice,further investigation of the patient characteristics and evolution of structural and functional connectivity is critical.In the present study,we explored whether abnormal structural and functional connectivity in the acute phase could serve as indicators of longitudinal changes in imaging data and cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.In this longitudinal study,we enrolled 46 patients with mild traumatic brain injury who were assessed within 2 wee ks of injury,as well as 36 healthy controls.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for graph theoretical network analysis.In the acute phase,patients with mild traumatic brain injury demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in the dorsal attention network.More than 3 months of followup data revealed signs of recovery in structural and functional connectivity,as well as cognitive function,in 22 out of the 46 patients.Furthermore,better cognitive function was associated with more efficient networks.Finally,our data indicated that small-worldness in the acute stage could serve as a predictor of longitudinal changes in connectivity in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural and functional connectivity in unde rstanding the occurrence and evolution of mild traumatic brain injury.Additionally,exploratory analysis based on subnetworks could serve a predictive function in the prognosis of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
基金Supported by:Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center Lifelines Program Under Project Task No.9C
文摘This paper evaluates the seismic vulnerability of different classes of typical bridges in California when subjected to seismic shaking or liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. The detailed structural configurations in terms of superstructure type, connection, continuity at support and foundation type, etc. render different damage resistant capability. Six classes of bridges are established based on their anticipated failure mechanisms under earthquake shaking. The numerical models that are capable of simulating the complex soil-structure interaction effects, nonlinear behavior of columns and connections are developed for each bridge class. The dynamic responses are obtained using nonlinear time history analyses for a suite of 250 earthquake motions with increasing intensity. An equivalent static analysis procedure is also implemented to evaluate the vulnerability of the bridges when subjected to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. Fragility functions for each bridge class are derived and compared for both seismic shaking （based on nonlinear dynamic analyses） and lateral spreading （based on equivalent static analyses） for different performance states. The study finds that the fragility functions due to either ground shaking or lateral spreading show significant correlation with the structural characterizations, but differences emerge for ground shaking and lateral spreading conditions. Structural properties that will mostly affect the bridges＇ damage resistant capacity are also identified.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 5 95 730 0 8) .
文摘The structures and properties of benzoxazines were investigated by virtue of molecular modeling at a molecular level. By means of Cerius software(version 4.0) supplied by Molecular Simulations Inc., the molecular mechanics and the molecular dynamics were performed under a PCFF force field. Five kinds of the polymeric chains of benzoxazines were created by using polymer builder and energy minimization. The relaxation process was conducted with both energy minimization and molecular dynamics.
基金supports by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 11002026, 11372039)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Grant 3133039)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned (Grant 20121832001)
文摘A radial basis function collocation method based on the nonlocal elastic continuum theory is developed to compute the band structures of nanoscale multilayered phononic crystals. The effects of nonlocal imperfect interfaces on band structures of transverse waves propagating obliquely or vertically in the system are studied. The correctness of the present method is verified by comparing the numerical results with those obtained by applying the transfer matrix method in the case of nonlocal perfect interface. Furthermore, the influences of the nanoscale size, the impedance ratio and the incident angle on the cut-off frequency and band structures are investigated and discussed in detail. Numerical results show that the nonlocal interface imperfections have significant effects on the band structures in the macroscopic and microscopic scale.
文摘In recent years, supply chain management （SCM） has been in popularity as a new management philosophy for all industries, including textile and apparel industries. The textile-apparel supply chain is relatively complex because it encompasses many participants such as yarn manufacturers, fabric manufacturers, garment manufacturers and retailers. Although many scholars are engaged in researching SCM in textile and apparel industries, a systematic classification of textile-apparel chain does not exist. The paper proposes three types of textile-apparel chain, nominated vertical integration chain, traditional sourcing chain and 3P-hub （third party as the hub） chain. Different coordinators exist in different types of chain. Three Hong Kong headquartered companies, Esquel Group, TAL Apparel Ltd., and Li ＆ Fang （Trading） Ltd. are used as cases responding to each type of the structures respectively.
基金The financial support fromthe Major Science and Technology Programs inHenan Province(Grant No.241100210100)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.62102372)+3 种基金Henan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Research Project(Grant No.242102211068)Henan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Research Project(Grant No.232102210078)the Stabilization Support Program of The Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission(Grant No.20231130110921001)the Key Scientific Research Project of Higher Education Institutions of Henan Province(Grant No.24A520042)is acknowledged.
文摘Aiming at the rapid growth of network services,which leads to the problems of long service request processing time and high deployment cost in the deployment of network function virtualization service function chain(SFC)under 5G networks,this paper proposes a multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient optimization algorithm for SFC deployment(MADDPG-SD).Initially,an optimization model is devised to enhance the request acceptance rate,minimizing the latency and deploying the cost SFC is constructed for the network resource-constrained case.Subsequently,we model the dynamic problem as a Markov decision process(MDP),facilitating adaptation to the evolving states of network resources.Finally,by allocating SFCs to different agents and adopting a collaborative deployment strategy,each agent aims to maximize the request acceptance rate or minimize latency and costs.These agents learn strategies from historical data of virtual network functions in SFCs to guide server node selection,and achieve approximately optimal SFC deployment strategies through a cooperative framework of centralized training and distributed execution.Experimental simulation results indicate that the proposed method,while simultaneously meeting performance requirements and resource capacity constraints,has effectively increased the acceptance rate of requests compared to the comparative algorithms,reducing the end-to-end latency by 4.942%and the deployment cost by 8.045%.
基金ACKN0WLEDGMENT This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No.10374076） and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province （No.E0320001）.
文摘The structural stabilities and electronic structures of Ga atomic chains are studied by the first-principles plane wave pseudopotential method based on the density functional theory. The present calculations show that gallium can form planar chains in linear-, zigzag- and ladder-form one-dimensional structures. The most stable one among the studied structures is the zigzag chain with a unit cell rather close to equilateral triangles with four nearest neighbors, and all the other structures are metastable. The relative structural stability, the energy bands and the charge densities are discussed based on the ab initio calculations and the Jahn-Teller effect.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12272144).
文摘By analyzing the results of compliance minimization of thermoelastic structures,we observed that microstructures play an important role in this optimization problem.Then,we propose to use a multiple variable cutting(M-VCUT)level set-based model of microstructures to solve the concurrent two-scale topology optimization of thermoelastic structures.A microstructure is obtained by combining multiple virtual microstructures that are derived respectively from multiple microstructure prototypes,thus giving more diversity of microstructure and more flexibility in design optimization.The effective mechanical properties of microstructures are computed in an off-line phase by using the homogenization method,and then a mapping relationship between the design variables and the effective properties is established,which gives a data-driven model of microstructure.In the online phase,the data-driven model is used in the finite element analysis to improve the computational efficiency.The compliance minimization problem is considered,and the results of numerical examples prove that the proposed method is effective.
