Experimental investigation on the dynamic responses of vented hydrogen explosion in a 40-foot container

To investigate the structural dynamics of a container subjected to a vented hydrogen explosion, 48 field tests were conducted in a 40-foot container with roof vents and an end vent. The effects of the hydrogen concentration, ignition position, and obstacles on the evolution of the dynamic responses were investigated. Three stages were generally observed for displacements: (1) At the stage of the vent rupture, the displacement could be approximated as a quasi-static response, and there was a linear relationship between the peaks of positive overpressure and displacement. (2) Structural deformation appeared as reciprocating vibration at the stage of Helmholtz oscillation. (3) The structure exhibited relatively weak irregular fluctuation when high-frequency acoustic oscillation occurred. Two types of the structural acceleration with low and high amplitudes resulting from Helmholtz oscillation and acoustic oscillation, respectively, were clearly observed. For the end-vented explosion, multiple peaks were observed for the displacement at the quasi-static stage due to the rupture, discharge, and external explosion. Moreover, the displacement was sensitive to hydrogen concentration, whereas the number of obstacles and the ignition position had significant influences on the peak acceleration for roof venting. This work conducted the fundamental explanation for the evolution law of structural responses induced by vented hydrogen explosions from the perspective of structural dynamics and enriched the experimental accumulation in a large-scale container with congestion in this field.     

城市典型下垫面水力学参数研究与分析

我国城市传统建设模式造成城区硬质化比例持续上升,径流规律随即发生变化导致洪灾、内涝等"城市病"日益加剧.海绵城市作为体现生态文明和缓解涉水问题在城市范围的具体抓手,其重要举措之一就是改变城市下垫面硬质属性,进而维护水系统良性循环.本文基于人工降雨和城市下垫面模拟技术,测试了七种典型透水下垫面在恒定雨强条件下的水力学参数,分析了常用透水材料在不同情境降雨条件下水力学参数的变化规律以及与降雨强度、降雨历时的关系,对海绵城市建设选材、效果评估等方面具有重要意义.研究结果显示,下垫面糙率值基本在标准值变化范围内,且随雨强增加,糙率值呈现减小趋势,并逐渐接近各自放水试验计算出的糙率标准值;阻力系数随雨强增加呈现逐渐减小变化;下垫面的平面尺寸、材质等对糙率和阻力系数影响较为明显.     

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde inhibits the growth of Aspergillus flavus via damaging cell wall,cell membrane,manipulating respiration thus creating a promising antifungal effect on corn kernels

This study investigated the antifungal activity and the potential antifungal mechanisms of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMB) against Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of HMB in preventing spore germination was 70 μg mL⁻¹. HMB at MIC disrupted cell wall integrity by reducing the number of septa by 86.66% (P < 0.05) in mycelia and increased cell membrane permeability by about 14-fold (P < 0.05) evidenced by propidium iodide (PI) staining. Furthermore, HMB at MIC inhibited respiration by 33.33%. These results revealed that the antifungal activity of HMB against A. flavus could be attributed to the damaged cell wall integrity, cell membrane permeability and respiration metabolism. What’s more, A. flavus was completely restrained in corn kernels due to HMB. Therefore, HMB could be applied as an effective antifungal agent.     

Broadband MIMO Antenna System for 5G Operations in Mobile Phones

A broadband 8‐antenna multiple‐input and multiple‐output (MIMO) system working for 5G new radio N77 (3.3‐4.2 GHz) in mobile terminals is proposed. In particular, each antenna element/unit consists of a monopole‐type meandered branch and an inverted U‐shaped self‐isolated antenna branch; and the antenna unit is fed by the meandered branch. The antenna unit has two resonances generated separately by each branch of the antenna unit. Since the monopole couples strongly with the self‐isolated antenna element that has the inherent self‐isolation characteristics, quite good isolation for the broadband 8‐antenna MIMO system can be obtained. The results such as antenna efficiency, radiation patterns, envelope correlation coefficient, and channel capacity are also presented.     

HealthSit: Designing Posture-Based Interaction to Promote Exercise during Fitness Breaks

This research was motivated by a desire to help office workers change their sedentary behavior because a prolonged sedentary posture increases the risks of developing musculoskeletal injuries and chronic diseases, thus threatening their physical and psychological well-being. Regular breaks involving low-effort physical activities are effective in reducing the adverse impacts of inactive behaviors. In this article, we present the design of a posture-based interactive system called HealthSit, which was developed to promote a short lower-back stretching exercise during work breaks. Through a within-subject study involving 30 office workers, the effectiveness of HealthSit in facilitating the stretching exercise was examined by making comparisons between an interaction-aided, a guided, and a self-directed exercise mode. We also used HealthSit as a research probe to investigate the interactivity of the system in enhancing user experience and the psychological benefits of the fitness breaks. Compared with the other two modes, the interaction-aided exercise mode significantly improved the quality of the stretching exercise and enhanced motivation and emotional state. These results confirm the effectiveness of HealthSit in supporting fitness breaks as a new workplace technology. Based on our study, a set of design implications have been derived for technology-assisted fitness work breaks.     

Design optimization of mid-frequency vibro-acoustic systems using a statistical modal energy distribution analysis model

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - In the past decades, many researches have been done on the design optimization of low- and high-frequency vibro-acoustic systems. However, the work...     

Thermal and pH dual‐responsive hydrogels based on semi‐interpenetrating network of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and collagen nanofibrils

Hydrogels with environment‐sensitive properties have great potential applications in the controlled drug release field. In this paper, hybrid hydrogels with semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs), composed of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) as the thermo‐sensitive component by in situ polymerization and self‐assembled collagen nanofibrils as the pH‐sensitive framework, were prepared for controlled release of methyl violet as a model drug. From Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, it was indicated that the crosslinking of PNIPAM in the presence of collagen nanofibrils led to the formation of semi‐IPNs with homogeneous porous structure, and the semi‐IPNs showed improved thermal stability and elastic properties compared with the native collagen as determined using differential scanning calorimetry and rheologic measurements. Furthermore, the semi‐IPNs possessed swelling behaviors quite different from those of neat collagen or PNIPAM hydrogel under various pH values and temperatures. Correspondingly, as expected, the drug release behavior in vitro for semi‐IPNs performed variously compared with that for single‐component semi‐IPNs, which revealed the tunable performance of semi‐IPNs for release ability. Finally the thermo‐ and pH‐responsive mechanism of the semi‐IPNs was illuminated to provide guidance for the application of the thermo‐ and pH‐sensitive collagen‐based hybrid hydrogels in controlled drug delivery systems. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of an abrupt change in pulling rate on microstructures of directionally solidified Al2O3-Er3Al5O12 eutectic and off-eutectic composite ceramics

Directionally solidified microstructures of Al₂O₃-Er₃Al₅O₁₂ eutectic and off-eutectic in situ composite ceramics were explored under abrupt-change pulling rate conditions. Corresponding temperature distributions and interface locations were studied. In eutectic composition, fluctuation of eutectic spacing occurred when the pulling rate increased abruptly. A gradually increase or abrupt increase in eutectic spacing was observed when the pulling rate decreased abruptly. In hypoeutectic and hypereutectic compositions, formation of the primary phases were suppressed when the pulling rate increased abruptly from 10?µm/s to 100?µm/s, while primary phases precipitated when the pulling rate decreased abruptly from 100?µm/s to 10?µm/s. The interface altitude decreased after the pulling rate increased abruptly, but increased after the pulling rate decreased abruptly. The liquid composition restriction (around the eutectic composition) at the eutectic interface plays an important role in the suppression of the primary dendrite and coupled eutectic oxides can be obtained in off-eutectic compositions even under higher solidification rate conditions.     

Combating Biofilm Associated Infection In Vivo: Integration of Quorum Sensing Inhibition and Photodynamic Treatment based on Multidrug Delivered Hollow Carbon Nitride Sphere

Recently, quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors (QSIs) have been combined with antibiotics to enhance antibiofilm efficacy in vitro and in vivo. However, targeting QS signals alone is not enough to prevent bacterial infections. Drug resistance and recurrence of biofilms makes it difficult to eradicate. Herein, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is selected to unite QSIs and antibiotics. A synergistically antibiofilm system, which combines QSIs, antibiotics, and PDT based on hollow carbon nitride spheres (HCNSs) is envisaged. First, HCNS provides the multidrug delivering ability, enabling QSIs and antibiotics to be released in sequence. Subsequently, multistage releases sensitize bacteria effectively, potentiating the chemotherapeutic effects of the antibiotics. Finally, the integration of QSIs and PDT not only minimizes the possibility of drug resistance, but also overcomes the problem of limited mass and extension of PDT. Even after 48 h of incubation, the bacterial biofilm is obviously inhibited. And its biofilm disperse efficiency exceeds 48% (compared with QSI‐potentiated chemotherapy group) and 40% (compared with PDT group). Besides, the inhibition of the QS system influences phenotypes related to virulence factor production and surface hydrophobicity, which weaken biofilm invasion and formation. Eventually, this system is applied to disperse bacterial biofilm in vivo. Overall, PDT and QS modulation are devoted to eradicate drug resistance and recurrence of the biofilm.     

Inclusion Capture Probability Prediction Model for Bubble Floatation in Turbulent Steel Flow

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - The turbulent flow around bubbles is simulated for the fixed turbulent kinetic energy. Inclusion motion through the flow field is studied by considering...