Determination of atomistic deformation of tricalcium silicate paste with high-volume fly ash

We examined the effect of incorporating high-volume fly ash on the atomic arrangement and interatomic deformation behavior of calcium silicate hydrates in tricalcium silicate paste upon exposure to external forces. The interatomic structural changes and strains under compressive load were assessed using synchrotron in situ high-energy X-ray scattering-based atomic pair distribution function analysis. Three different types of strains, which were (a) macroscopic strains from gauges on the surfaces of specimen, (b) strains in a reciprocal space (Bragg peak shift), and (c) strains in real space (PDF peak shift), were compared to each other. All monitored and calculated strains for tricalcium silicate-fly ash (50 wt% fly ash) paste were compared with the counterparts of the pure tricalcium silicate paste. Pair distribution function analysis in the range of r < 10 Å indicated that the atomic arrangement of tricalcium silicate-fly ash was similar to that of synthetic calcium silicate hydrates followed by that of pure tricalcium silicate paste. Moreover, the pair distribution function refinement results revealed that the calcium silicate hydrate structure in tricalcium silicate-fly ash paste was similar to tobermorite 11 Å, unlike that in pure tricalcium silicate paste. The interatomic strain of tricalcium silicate-fly ash in the real space (r < 20 Å) was smaller than that of tricalcium silicate under compression, which suggested that the incompressibility of calcium silicate hydrates at atomistic scale was enhanced by the incorporation of fly ash into it. This was likely to be caused by the increased silicate polymerization of calcium silicate hydrates, which was attributed to the increase in the amount of silicate in their structure via the addition of fly ash.     

Improvement and further investigation on Hoffman-function-based dynamic contact angle model

Dynamic contact angle (DCA) plays a critical role in the numerical investigation of gas-liquid two-phase flow problem in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In our previous study, an advancing-receding DCA (AR-DCA) model was developed based on Hoffman function and has been successfully validated. This study aims to further modify the contact line velocity evaluation method in the AR-DCA model and an improved-AR-DCA (i-AR-DCA) model is proposed. The simulations of droplet impact on inclined surface and liquid water behaviors in microchannel are conducted based on these two models and the results show that the improved methodology has no significant effects on general droplet spreading process on inclined surface; whereas it can facilitate the liquid water detachment in the microchannel. In addition, the Hoffman function is modified into three different forms based on the original experimental data points in order to test the sensitivity of different formulae on the numerical results. It is indicated that the modified forms of Hoffman function can induce notable changes in the liquid water slug elongation in the microchannel.     

Effect of sintering temperature on the transport properties of La2Ce2O7 ceramic materials

La₂Ce₂O₇ (LCO) based materials are of a paramount importance since they can be utilized for ammonium production, thermal barrier application, catalysts, hydrogen production and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this work, a nano crystalline LCO powder was prepared using glycine-nitrate combustion method and then its properties were comprehensively characterized. The structural analysis of the synthesized LCO was carried out using conventional X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. In a disordered phase, LCO is a biphasic mixture composed of C- and F-type phases. Densification studies were performed by sintering LCO pellets at different sintering temperatures. A densification of ≥95% was observed in all the samples with a very little variation. Sintering temperature had a marked effect on the electrical conductivity of LCO. The LCO sintered at 1100 °C showed the highest conductivity (3.68 mS/cm at 700 °C in air). The electrical conductivity was found to be decreasing with an increase in sintering temperature from 1100 to 1400 °C. To understand the behavior, the analysis of distribution function of relaxation times (DFRTs) utilized for correct separation of grain and grain boundary resistances. The presence of C- and F- type phases calculated from Raman spectra plays a crucial role in deciding conduction behavior of LCO. The results suggest a strong relationship between history of the ceramics preparation and their electrical properties.     

System identification with measurement noise compensation based on polynomial modulating function for fractional-order systems with a known time-delay

This study presents a system identification method based on polynomial modulating function for fractional-order systems with a known time-delay involving input and output noises in the time domain. Based on the polynomial modulating function and fractional-order integration by parts, the identified fractional-order differential equation is transformed into an algebraic equation. By using the numerical integral formula, the least squares form for the system identification is obtained. In order to reduce the effect of noises existing in the input and output measurements, the compensation method for the input and output noises is also studied by introducing an auxiliary high-order fractional-order system in the revised identification algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by the simulation result of an illustrative example and the experimental result of temperature identification for a thermal system.     

抗血小板治疗实验室监测之我见

抗血小板药物在各种动脉血栓性疾病防治中具有重要地位。虽然目前抗血小板药物多采用固定剂量给药,但不同患者对抗血小板治疗的反应性存在明显差异。治疗后的血小板高反应性或低反应性可能与血栓事件或出血事件风险相关。基于血小板功能检测的个体化抗血小板治疗方案可能有助于预防血栓或出血不良事件的发生,但目前仍缺乏上述治疗策略能够最终改善患者预后的确切临床证据。迄今为止,对于接受抗血小板治疗的患者是否应常规进行实验室监测仍存在诸多争议。本文对抗血小板治疗反应多样性的成因及血小板功能检测是否可用于指导个体化抗血小板治疗进行讨论。     

High-speed,two-dimensional digital image correlation algorithm using heterogeneous (CPU-GPU) framework

Two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC) is an experimental technique used to measure in-plane displacement of a test specimen. Real-time measurement of full-field displacement data is challenging due to enormous computational load of the algorithm. In order to improve the computational speed, the focus of recent research works has been on the approach of parallelization across subsets within image pairs using graphics processing unit (GPU). But alternate GPU-based parallelization approaches to improve the performance of this algorithm as per the order of data processing have not been explored. To address this research gap, our method utilizes parallelism within a subset as well as across subsets for each computation step in an iteration cycle. A heterogeneous (CPU-GPU) framework in combination with a pyramid-based initial values estimation for subsets (in parallel) is proposed in this work. The precompute steps of the proposed framework are implemented using CPU, whereas the main iterative steps are realized using GPU. It is demonstrated that the overall computational speed of the proposed heterogeneous framework improves by compared to a sequential CPU-based implementation for a pair of gray-scale images with a resolution of pixels. As an important milestone, feasibility to measure deformations in real time ( 1 s) is manifested in this study.     

Implementation of pseudo-linear feedback shift register-based physical unclonable functions on silicon and sufficient Challenge–Response pair acquisition using Built-In Self-Test before shipping

We implemented pseudo-linear feedback shift-register-based physical unclonable functions (PL-PUFs) on silicon and analyzed their performances in terms of reproducibility, uniqueness, and resistance to machine-learning attacks. A PL-PUF is compact and high-throughput PUF, slightly oversensitive to voltage fluctuations. To overcome this drawback, we developed a capturing signal generation circuit that was tolerant to the reproducibility degradation caused by supply voltage changes. We also implemented a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) circuit with an irreversible destruction mechanism to enable exceedingly fast challenge–response pairs (CPRs) for the PUFs before shipping. After the CPRs were evaluated, the BIST circuit became invulnerable to exploitation by attackers.     

传统村落码头空间改造的适宜性评价研究

综合运用Yaahp软件分析、层次分析法、Delphi法、文献解析与问卷调研等方法,对功能改造活动的调研数据建立判断矩阵,选取22个指标并计算推演指标权重,建立传统村落码头的功能改造的适宜性评价模型,并提出相应的量化评价方法,推导出传统村落码头空间功能改造适应性的七个关键要素。为传统村落的文化传承与功能提升提供决策依据。     

二甲双胍联合糖皮质激素治疗伴糖耐量异常的系统性红斑狼疮患者的临床研究

目的: 探究二甲双胍联合糖皮质激素治疗伴糖耐量异常(IGT)的系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者的临床疗效及对胰岛功能、Th17/Treg细胞失衡的影响。方法: 本院84例伴IGT的SLE患者随机分为联用组和对照组各42例,均给予生活、饮食指导,对照组给予糖皮质激素治疗,联用组联合二甲双胍治疗,1个月后观察疗效,并评估胰岛功能和Th17/Treg细胞失衡情况。结果: 联用组总有效率明显高于对照组(90.48% vs. 71.43%,P<0.05),SLE活动指数评分为(2.6±0.3)分,红细胞沉降率(ESR)为(18±4)mm/h,显著低于对照组的(3.9±0.8)分、(23±4)mm/h(P<0.05)。治疗后联用组空腹血糖(FBG)、空腹胰岛素(Fins)、稳态模型-胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)、胰岛β功能细胞指数(HOMA-β)显著改善(P<0.05),且与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);联用组正常糖耐量(NGT)占比明显高于对照组(73.81% vs. 30.95%,P<0.05)。治疗后联用组Th17、Treg细胞比例为(6.2±0.9)个/μL、(31±7)个/μL,Th17/Treg为(0.20±0.05),与对照组的(7.4±1.3)个/μL、(28±7)个/μL、(0.26±0.06)相比有统计学差异(P<0.05)。治疗后SLE活动指数评分与HOMA-IR、HOMA-β及Th17细胞、Treg细胞、Th17/Treg明显相关(P<0.05),且HOMA-IR、HOMA-β与Th17细胞、Treg细胞、Th17/Treg也明显相关(P<0.05)。2组不良反应均轻微,发生率无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论: 二甲双胍联合糖皮质激素治疗伴IGT的SLE患者疗效显著,可控制疾病活动性,降低血糖水平、改善胰岛功能及纠正Th17/Treg细胞失衡,且安全性高。