Fucoidans as Potential Therapeutics for Age-Related Macular Degeneration—Current Evidence from In Vitro Research

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major reason for blindness in the industrialized world with limited treatment options. Important pathogenic pathways in AMD include oxidative stress and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. Due to their bioactivities, fucoidans have recently been suggested as potential therapeutics. This review gives an overview of the recent developments in this field. Recent studies have characterized several fucoidans from different species, with different molecular characteristics and different extraction methods, in regard to their ability to reduce oxidative stress and inhibit VEGF in AMD-relevant in vitro systems. As shown in these studies, fucoidans exhibit a species dependency in their bioactivity. Additionally, molecular properties such as molecular weight and fucose content are important issues. Fucoidans from Saccharina latissima and Laminaria hyperborea were identified as the most promising candidates for further development. Further research is warranted to establish fucoidans as potential therapeutics for AMD.     

[数据驱动的智能服务]数据驱动的复杂产品智能服务技术与应用

随着传感器、数据采集装置和其他具备感知能力的模块在复杂产品服务运行阶段的应用，复杂产品运维系统的数字化和智能化程度越来越高，具有实时、多源、异构、海量等特性的数据成为提高复杂产品系统可靠和低成本运行的决策依据，数字孪生技术提供了一种有效途径。介绍了数据驱动的复杂产品智能服务研究进展；分析了数据驱动的智能服务基本特征与框架模型；提出了数据驱动的复杂产品智能服务方法，主要包括面向服务的复杂产品建模与仿真方法、数据驱动的服务需求获取与精准分析预测方法、基于数字孪生的设备故障识别与动态性能预测方法、数据驱动的装备视情维修与备件库存联合多目标决策优化方法、基于数字孪生的复杂产品辅助维修技术、多要素协同的复杂装备能效精准分析预测方法、基于数据挖掘的复杂产品运行优化控制方法等；给出了智能服务系统的应用案例。所提出的框架和方法可为现代制造服务的智能化转型升级提供参考。     

磁流变减振器魔术公式模型在悬架控制中的应用

基于某款磁流变减振器特性实验数据，辨识了磁流变减振器魔术公式模型的各项参数，模型误差在8%以内。在适当简化磁流变减振器魔术公式模型的条件下，通过直接逆推得到磁流变减振器魔术公式逆模型。仿真中，磁流变减振器魔术公式正、逆模型实现加速度驱动阻尼控制策略期望阻尼力的误差平均值为3.67%。台架实验中，磁流变减振器魔术公式逆模型的应用使车身加速度降低了6.27%，实现了加速度驱动阻尼控制策略的控制效果。磁流变减振器魔术公式模型在半主动控制悬架系统仿真及台架实验中的成功应用对磁流变半主动悬架控制系统的研究有较强的实际意义。     

基于深度语义分割的多源遥感图像海面溢油监测

针对遥感图像海面溢油区域通常受到斑噪声以及强度不均等因素的影响,从而导致溢油区域监测效果较差的问题,本文引入了深度语义分割的方法,将深度卷积神经网络与全连接条件随机场相结合,形成端对端连接。以Resnet结构为基础,首先通过深度卷积神经网络对多源遥感图像粗分割并作为输入,然后经过改进的全连接条件随机场,利用高斯成对势和平均场近似定理,建立条件随机场形成递归神经网络作为输出。通过多源遥感图像对海面溢油区域进行监测,并利用可见光图像估计溢油区域面积。实验在所建立的多源遥感图像数据集上与其它先进模型进行对比,结果表明本文方法提高了溢油区域的分割精度以及精细细节程度,平均交并比为82.1%,监测效果具有明显地改善。     

原子及近原子尺度制造——制造技术发展趋势

探讨了制造技术发展趋势，论述了制造历史发展的三个阶段，指出原子及近原子尺度制造（ACSM）是下一代制造技术的主流发展趋势，对未来科技发展和高端元件制造具有重要意义。详细分析阐述了ACSM的主要研究内容及关键科学问题，并提出了相应的建议和措施。     

二维层状Ni/β-Ni(OH)2纳米复合材料的制备及其摩擦学性能研究

采用水热反应制备出β-Ni(OH)2,然后通过水热还原得到Ni/β-Ni(OH)2纳米复合粉体材料,采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对复合材料的相结构、成分及形貌进行表征分析。采用四球摩擦磨损试验机评价制备的Ni/β-Ni(OH)2作为润滑油添加剂的摩擦学性能,基础油为PAO6。摩擦试验后,采用SEM分析典型试验钢球磨斑的表面形貌,利用能谱仪(EDS)研究磨斑表面化学元素的组成,探讨Ni/β-Ni(OH)2纳米复合润滑添加剂的减摩抗磨机制。结果表明:Ni/β-Ni(OH)2纳米复合材料作为润滑添加剂具有极好的减摩抗磨性能,显著优于基础油PAO6和未负载纳米Ni的二维β-Ni(OH)2层状材料;与基础油相比,添加0.1%质量分数Ni/β-Ni(OH)2添加剂的油样的摩擦因数和磨斑直径分别降低了17.6%和41.5%;Ni/β-Ni(OH)2纳米复合粉体综合了纳米Ni及层状β-Ni(OH)2两部分结构特性,在摩擦过程中,复合材料中的纳米金属粒子Ni与层状结构材料β-Ni(OH)2能够相互增强起到协同润滑作用。     

Microstructural and microwave dielectric properties of LZT (Li2ZnTi3O8) ceramics sintered in presence of bismuth borate glass for LTCC applications

In the present research, the Li₂ZnTi₃O₈(LZT) ceramics were synthesized throughout solid-state ceramic processing, then mixed with bismuth borate (BiBO) glass prepared based on conventional melt quenching method. Wetting behavior of BiBO glass on the LZT ceramic substrate was monitored by hot stage microscopy. Afterward, dielectric LZT ceramics containing different amounts of BiBO glass (0.25–6 wt%) were sintered at various temperatures. X-ray diffraction and electron back scatter diffraction examinations revealed the presence of two crystalline phases of Li₂ZnTi₃O₈ and Bi₂Ti₂O₇. The maximum value of relative density (above 95%) was obtained in the case of specimens contained more than 5 wt% glass. The microwave dielectric properties of the finally sintered BiBO glass containing LZT ceramics were as follows: dielectric constant (ε_r) = 21.44–25.09, quality factor (Q × f) = 10839–54708 GHz and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f) = (? 15.58) ? (? 12.86)ppm/°C.     

Porous ceramics with tailored pore size and morphology as substrates for coral larval settlement

The growing demand for stony corals as ornamental aquarium animals requires defined aquacultural breeding strategies. For the sexual propagation of corals, material substrates are needed, that attract larvae and support their settlement and development. In this study, five types of highly porous ceramic materials were developed following the example of coral skeleton. The applicability of these settlement substrates was tested using larvae of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis. Partial sintering of pressed clay pellets, freeze casting of clay and alumina-mullite based slurries and direct foaming of high alkane phase emulsified suspensions (HAPES) using alumina were employed. By the addition of mm-sized spherical polystyrene beads as sacrificial templates during freeze casting (alumina-mullite), superficial pores in the size of the larvae were created. The inorganic substrates featured open porosities between 35% (pressed clay) and 83% (foamed alumina), pore sizes ranging from nm to mm-scale and pore morphologies dominated by interparticle porosity (pressed), lamellar pores (freeze casting) and cellular pore types (direct foaming). The ceramic substrates were incubated in artificial sea water for 3 months to induce necessary biofilm formation and algae growth. Afterwards, individual substrates were exposed to 5 coral larvae, and their settlement behavior was monitored over 14 days. At the end of this period, all ceramic materials were successfully accepted as settlement substrates, with a mean settlement rate of 46.2%, and no significant differences between the substrate types. On samples with large surface superficial pores, a significantly reduced survival of settled larvae (79%) compared to the other porous materials (93–98%) was determined, suggesting a non-ideal surface topography. While alumina foam samples (HAPES) exhibit the most promising results in terms of settlement and survival of larvae, clay-based substrates provide a more economic solution for the sexual propagation of corals in aquaculture.     

Impact performances of steel tube-confined recycled aggregate concrete (STCRAC) after exposure to elevated temperatures

The impact behaviours of steel tube-confined recycled aggregate concrete (STCRAC) following exposure to elevated temperatures of 20 °C, 200 °C, 500 °C and 700 °C were experimentally investigated using a 100 mm-diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement ratios were set as 0, 50% and 100%. The effect of RCA replacement ratio and exposure temperature on the impact properties of STCRAC were analysed in terms of failure modes, stress-strain time history curve and dynamic increase factor (DIF). The results show that the fire-damaged STCRAC can maintain its integrity during impact load. However, there were evident degradations in the dynamic behaviour of STCRAC after exposure to high temperatures of 500 °C and 700 °C. The ultimate impact strength, impact secant modulus and residual impact strength of STCRAC obviously decreased because of the damage due to high temperature exposure. But the degradations of both the ultimate impact strength and impact secant modulus of STCRAC under impact loading were less severe than those under quasi-static loading. The remaining strength factor and the DIF tended to increase with the raise of the elevated temperatures. Overall, during the impact loading, the fire-deteriorated STCRAC exhibited excellent impact behaviour.