Preparation of anthocyanin-rich mulberry juice by microwave-ultrasonic combined pretreatment

Food Science and Biotechnology - The work aims to study the process of microwave-ultrasonic combined treatment to obtain anthocyanin-rich mulberry juice. A Box-Behnken design was employed to...     

Highly Stable n–i–p Structured Formamidinium Tin Triiodide Solar Cells through the Stabilization of Surface Sn2+ Cations

Improving the performance, reproducibility, and stability of Sn-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with n–i–p structures is an important challenge. Spiro-OMeTAD [2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)9,9′-spirobifluorene], a hole transporting material (HTM) with n–i–p structure, requires the oxygen exposure after addition of Li-TFSI [Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] as a dopant to increase the hole concentration. In Sn-based PSC, Sn²⁺ is easily oxidized to Sn⁴⁺ under such a condition, resulting in a sharp decrease in efficiency. Herein, a formamidinium tin triiodide (FASnI₃)-based PSCs fabricated using DPI-TPFB [4-Isopropyl-4′-methyldiphenyliodonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate] instead of Li-TFSI are reported as a dopant in Spiro-OMeTAD. The DPI-TPFB enables the fabrication of PSCs with an efficiency of up to 10.9%, the highest among FASnI₃-based PSCs with n–i–p structures. Moreover, ≈80% of the initial efficiency is maintained even after 1,597 h under maximum power point tracking conditions. In particular, the encapsulated device does not show any decrease in efficiency even after holding for 50 h in the 85 °C/85% RH condition. The high efficiency and excellent stability of PSCs prepared by doping with DPI-TPFB are attributed to not only increasing electrical conductivity by acting as a Lewis acid, but also stabilizing Sn²⁺ through coordination with Sn²⁺ on the surface of FASnI₃.     

Modeling and analysis for the development of Lightweight Piezoceramic Composite Actuators (LIPCA)

This paper focuses on the modeling and analysis of Lightweight Piezoceramic Composite Actuators (LIPCA) for developmental purposes. A simple analytical model and a numerical model for predicting the displacement of the actuators due to both an applied input voltage and transverse load to the piezoelectric ceramic layer are presented. The analytical model describing the laminated beam actuation results in two primary design parameters, an actuation coefficient of a laminated beam C_ulb and the bending stiffness of a laminated beam EI_lb. The C_ulb is a parameter when maximum displacement is required. The bending stiffness affects the displacement performance when a transverse load is applied to the actuators. An experiment was performed to verify the proposed laminated beam model. The numerical model, a NASTRAN finite element model, is used to assess the effect of initial dome heights of actuators on the displacement. An increase in the initial dome height produces a positive effect for the low anisotropic actuators and gives a negative effect for the high anisotropic actuators. In conclusion, the results indicate that designing to maximize the C_ulb, the EI_lb, and the initial dome height of the low anisotropic actuators could generate LIPCA-type actuators with larger displacement and higher force.     

基于玻璃化转变理论的蓝莓粉吸湿机制

以‘珠宝’和‘海岸’这两个品种蓝莓为原料制作蓝莓粉,研究吸湿前后蓝莓粉的品质差异;采用静态称量法测定两种蓝莓粉在不同温度（5、15、25、35、45℃）下的吸湿等温线,并构建状态图;探讨了水分吸附过程净等量吸附热、微分熵、熵焓互补等热力学特性。结果表明,两种蓝莓粉吸湿后品质下降,粉体颗粒黏聚,流动性降低;水分吸湿等温线均呈典型的“J”型曲线,GAB模型为描述蓝莓粉水分吸附特性的最适模型。从状态图可知,‘珠宝’和‘海岸’分别在水分含量小于等于0.104 5、0.107 7 g/g（干基）,贮藏温度小于等于-30.30、-32.66℃时,有较好的稳定性。熵焓互补理论表明,两品种蓝莓粉水分吸附过程均为熵驱动的非自发过程。研究结果可为蓝莓粉加工和贮藏条件的选择提供理论依据。     

挡土墙后EPS板减压性能模型试验研究

在刚性挡土墙后设置柔性垫层能有效减小墙背土压力。聚苯乙烯土工泡沫（EPS）是一种常见的柔性材料,具有受力易压缩的特性。通过开展室内挡土墙模型箱试验,对铺设不同弹性模量以及不同厚度的EPS板的各工况下墙背土压力分布规律进行了研究,详细分析了弹性模量和厚度对EPS板在不同填土表面荷载作用下的减压性能的影响;并通过FLAC^3D建立有限差分数值模型,对不同压缩量情况下土压力分布规律进行了分析。研究结果表明：EPS板能有效地减小挡土墙墙后土压力;EPS板的弹性模量越小、厚度越大、墙后填土表面的外荷载越大,EPS板的减压效果越明显;EPS板厚增加到一定程度后,EPS板的减压效果不会再有明显提升,EPS板厚达到0.1倍墙高即可获得最佳减压效果。     

The effects of early osseointegration in different implant sites in rabbit tibias

The aim of this study was to evaluate the early osseointegration of implants with the same surface treatment in different implant sites in rabbit tibias after 4 weeks. A total of 42 acid-etched implants were implanted in three different sites in the tibia: group A was 2.08 ± 0.18 mm below epiphyseal line; group B was 7.00 ± 0.61 mm below the epiphyseal line; group C was 13.01 ± 1.26 mm below the epiphyseal line. After 4 weeks, the average bone-to-implant contact (BIC) values were as follows: group A, 40.02 ± 4.82 %; group B, 28.20 ± 5.41 %; group C, 20.76 ± 3.10 %. The BIC measurements yielded statistically significant differences among group A, group B and group C (P < 0.01); group A demonstrated the best osseointegration. In the present study, the different implantation sites in the selected 20-mm area demonstrated different early osseointegration; the sites located 7 ± 1.5 mm below the epiphyseal line were best suited for observing the effectiveness of early osseointegration among the three sites. The statistical results of the early osseointegration of implants are therefore affected by the location of the implant sites in this 20-mm area.     

Navigational Measures for Managing Defective Designs

Defective designs have been acknowledged as important risks in construction projects. For effective management of these risks, it is important to understand how and why the defects happen. Part of an ongoing research program, this paper aims to propose two navigational measures, with an emphasis on human elements, for managing defective designs. It starts with outlining a mechanism of defective designs causation based on the systems approach to human errors as the basis of the two measures. The first measure is a reactive measure, which works as an investigative tool after defective designs occurrence. It is proposed to give step-by-step guidance in the identification of primary causes of past defect events. The second measure is proactive process measure, which is intended to operate prior to occurrences of defective design. It periodically assesses influencing factors and indicates those most needing correction. A guideline for practical use of the measures is presented in the paper. At the center of the discussion, critical roles of management at higher levels are kept in mind.     

Durability assessment of alkali activated slag (AAS) concrete

The environmental impact from the production of cement has prompted research into the development of concretes using 100% replacement materials activated by alkali solutions. This paper reports research into the durability of AAS concrete. The durability properties of AAS have been studied for a range of sodium oxide dosages and activator modulus. Properties investigated have included measurements of workability, compressive strength, water sorptivity, depth of carbonation and rapid chloride permeability. Microstructure studies have been conducted using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It was concluded that an activator modulus of between 1.0 and 1.25 was identified as providing the optimum performance for a sodium oxide dosage of 5% and that AAS concretes can exhibit comparable strength to concrete currently produced using Portland cement (PC) and blended cements. However, with regards to the durability properties such as water sorptivity, chloride and carbonation resistance; the AAS concretes exhibited lower durability properties than PC and blended concretes. This, in part, can be attributed to surface microcracking in the AAS concretes.