Predicting the mechanical properties of Cu–Al2O3 nanocomposites using machine learning and finite element simulation of indentation experiments

Micromechanics model, finite element (FE) simulation of microindentation and machine learning were deployed to predict the mechanical properties of Cu–Al₂O₃ nanocomposites. The micromechanical model was developed based on the rule of mixture and grain and grain boundary sizes evolution to predict the elastic modulus of the produced nanocomposites. Then, a FE model was developed to simulate the microindentation test. The input for the FE model was the elastic modulus that was computed using the micromechanics model and wide range of yield and tangent stresses values. Finally, the output load-displacement response from the FE model, the elastic modulus, the yield and tangent strengths used for the FE simulations, and the residual indentation depth were used to train the machine learning model (Random vector functional link network) for the prediction of the yield and tangent stresses of the produced nanocomposites. Cu–Al₂O₃ nanocomposites with different Al₂O₃ concentration were manufactured using insitu chemical method to validate the proposed model. After training the model, the microindentation experimental load-displacement curve for Cu–Al₂O₃ nanocomposites was fed to the machine learning model and the mechanical properties were obtained. The obtained mechanical properties were in very good agreement with the experimental ones achieving 0.99 coefficient of determination R2 for the yield strength.     

Cellular/dendritic transition,dendritic growth and microhardness in directionally solidified monophasic Sn-2%Sb alloy

Horizontal directional solidification experiments were carried out with a monophasic Sn-2%Sb (mass fraction) alloy to analyze the influence of solidification thermal parameters on the morphology and length scale of the microstructure. Continuous temperature measurements were made during solidification at different positions along the length of the casting and these temperature data were used to determine solidification thermal parameters, including the growth rate (V_L) and the cooling rate (T_R). High cooling rate cells and dendrites are shown to characterize the microstructure in different regions of the casting, with a reverse dendrite-to-cell transition occurring for T_R>5.0 K/s. Cellular (l_c) and primary dendrite arm spacings (l₁) are determined along the length of the directionally-solidified casting. Experimental growth laws relating l_c and l₁ to V_L and T_R are proposed, and a comparative analysis with results from a vertical upward directional solidification experiment is carried out. The influence of morphology and length scale of the microstructure on microhardness is also analyzed.     

不同品种荔枝果肉细胞抗氧化及抗增殖活性评价

为明确荔枝果肉的生物抗氧化和抗肿瘤保健功能,采用HepG2人肝癌细胞模型对我国南方地区主要种植的10种代表性荔枝品种果肉的细胞抗氧化活性(CAA值)和抗肿瘤细胞增殖活性进行了评价。结果表明,10种荔枝品种中,妃子笑荔枝果肉具有最大的CAA值,淮枝则最小;妃子笑抗HepG2肿瘤细胞增殖活性最强,糯米糍则最弱。荔枝果肉的CAA值与总多酚含量、总黄酮含量、多酚化学抗氧化能力指数(ORAC值)之间都有极显著的正相关性(p0.01),且与黄酮含量之间正相关性最大,说明荔枝果肉中起生物抗氧化作用的主要成分是黄酮类化合物;但荔枝果肉对HepG2肿瘤细胞的抗增殖活性与总多酚含量、总黄酮含量、ORAC和CAA值之间均呈现较弱的负相关性(p0.05),提示某些特殊酚类单体或其协同作用在抗肿瘤细胞增殖过程中发挥主要作用。     

Cell Fuelling and Metabolic Energy Conservation in Synthetic Cells

We are aiming for a blue print for synthesizing (moderately complex) subcellular systems from molecular components and ultimately for constructing life. However, without comprehensive instructions and design principles, we rely on simple reaction routes to operate the essential functions of life. The first forms of synthetic life will not make every building block for polymers de novo according to complex pathways, rather they will be fed with amino acids, fatty acids and nucleotides. Controlled energy supply is crucial for any synthetic cell, no matter how complex. Herein, we describe the simplest pathways for the efficient generation of ATP and electrochemical ion gradients. We have estimated the demand for ATP by polymer synthesis and maintenance processes in small cell-like systems, and we describe circuits to control the need for ATP. We also present fluorescence-based sensors for pH, ionic strength, excluded volume, ATP/ADP, and viscosity, which allow the major physicochemical conditions inside cells to be monitored and tuned.     

Cellular morphology evolution of chain extended poly(butylene succinate)/organic montmorillonite nanocomposite foam

Polymer foam with complex cellular structure (CCS) possessing both large cell and small cell simultaneously has lower density as well as better mechanical and thermal properties than those with mono-porous cell structure, which could be applied in the fields of packaging and construction materials. In this article, organic montmorillonite (OMMT) was introduced into chain-extended poly(butylene succinate) (CPBS) through melt blending method. CCS in the resultant CPBS samples were generated in a stainless steel autoclave using supercritical CO₂ as physical blowing agent by a cooling and two-step depressurization method. The crystallization temperature and crystallinity of CPBS increased by 4 °C and 2% respectively, due to the introduction of OMMT. Exfoliated structure of OMMT and some fish scale-like OMMT were observed in the CPBS/OMMT nanocomposites. The optimum range of the first depressurization between 1 and 7 MPa for fabricating the CCS in the CPBS foams with different contents of OMMT was obtained. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47107     

Chemokines Up-Regulated in Epithelial Cells Control Senescence-Associated T Cell Accumulation in Salivary Glands of Aged and Sjögren’s Syndrome Model Mice

Immunosenescence is characterized by age-associated changes in immunological functions. Although age- and autoimmune-related sialadenitis cause dry mouth (xerostomia), the roles of immunosenescence and cellular senescence in the pathogenesis of sialadenitis remain unknown. We demonstrated that acquired immune cells rather than innate immune cells infiltrated the salivary glands (SG) of aged mice. An analysis of isolated epithelial cells from SG revealed that the expression levels of the chemokine CXCL13 were elevated in aged mice. Senescence-associated T cells (SA-Ts), which secrete large amounts of atypical pro-inflammatory cytokines, are involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders and autoimmune diseases. The present results showed that SA-Ts and B cells, which express the CXCL13 receptor CXCR5, accumulated in the SG of aged mice, particularly females. CD4⁺ T cells derived from aged mice exhibited stronger in vitro migratory activity toward CXCL13 than those from young mice. In a mouse model of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), SA-Ts also accumulated in SG, presumably via CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling. Collectively, the present results indicate that SA-Ts accumulate in SG, contribute to the pathogenesis of age- and SS-related sialadenitis by up-regulating chemokines in epithelial cells, and have potential as therapeutic targets for the treatment of xerostomia caused by these types of sialadenitis.     

Erstes Design und Einsatz 3D‐gedruckter Strukturen in Blasensäulenreaktoren

A new method is described, in which 3D‐printed structures are implemented in bubble column reactors to dissolve the macroscopic and the microscopic influences. The effect of these structuring method on the fluid dynamic behavior, the gas distribution, mass transfer, and fluid velocity inside bubble columns is shown in this contribution.