Variational implicit surface meshing

In this paper, we propose a new algorithm to mesh implicit surfaces which produces meshes both with a good triangle aspect ratio as well as a good approximation quality. The number of vertices of the output mesh is defined by the end-user. For this goal, we perform a two-stage processing: an initialization step followed by an iterative optimization step. The initialization step consists in capturing the surface topology and allocating the vertex budget. The optimization algorithm is based on a variational vertices relaxation and triangulation update. In addition a gradation parameter can be defined to adapt the mesh sampling to the curvature of the implicit surface. We demonstrate the efficiency of the approach on synthetic models as well as real-world acquired data, and provide comparisons with previous approaches.     

基于加速度响应连续小波变换的线性时变结构瞬时频率识别

推导了函数积分运算的连续小波变换计算方法。借助此法,假设线性时变结构的质量系数为时不变常数,或者其随时间变化的规律已被经验掌握,仅利用线性时变结构自由振动的加速度响应信号,就可以计算出速度响应和位移响应信号的连续小波变换值。将一小段时刻点的线性代数方程组构造成最小二乘问题,求解最小二乘解识别出结构的时变阻尼和时变刚度,从而确定时变结构的瞬时频率。通过对5层剪切梁楼房模型和3自由度密集模态时变结构瞬时频率的识别,验证了识别方法的正确性、有效性和抗噪声能力.     

THE INFLUENCE OF N-ALKANES ON WETTABILITY DF LOW COAL RANKS

Contact angle measurements were carried out in coal / n-alkanes film - air bubble - water systems. Then theoretical an analysis of the equilibrium state of that system was carried out on the basis of the components of the surface free energy of coal of various ranks. The contact angles were measured for four ranks of Polish coal which surfaces were covered with n-alkanes film in the homological series from n-hexane to n-hexadecane. On the basis of the studies and calculations carried out we have concluded that the values of the contact angle depend on the rank of coal, a thickness of n-alkane film and its structure and the presence of water film under the air bubble. It was also found that the changes of the- values of the contact angles measured in the mentioned sytems as a function of the number of contacted air bubbles were similar to those calculated on the basis of the solution of Young equation in function of the surface free energy of coals precovered with n-alkane film.     

The Effect of Long-Lasting Swimming on Rats Skeletal Muscles Energy Metabolism after Nine Days of Dexamethasone Treatment

This study investigates the effect of Dexamethasone (Dex) treatment on blood and skeletal muscle metabolites level and skeletal muscle activity of enzymes related to energy metabolism after long-duration swimming. To evaluate whether Dex treatment, swimming, and combining these factors act on analyzed data, rats were randomly divided into four groups: saline treatment non-exercise and exercise and Dex treatment non-exercised and exercised. Animals in both exercised groups underwent long-lasting swimming. The concentration of lipids metabolites, glucose, and lactate were measured in skeletal muscles and blood according to standard colorimetric and fluorimetric methods. Also, activities of enzymes related to aerobic and anaerobic metabolism were measured in skeletal muscles. The results indicated that Dex treatment induced body mass loss and increased lipid metabolites in the rats’ blood but did not alter these changes in skeletal muscles. Interestingly, prolonged swimming applied after 9 days of Dex treatment significantly intensified changes induced by Dex; however, there was no difference in skeletal muscle enzymatic activities. This study shows for the first time the cumulative effect of exercise and Dex on selected elements of lipid metabolism, which seems to be essential for the patient’s health due to the common use of glucocorticoids like Dex.     

Active synthesis using the DVCCS/DVCVS

In the paper basic properties of a new versatile linear active element acting simultaneously as a Differential Voltage Controlled Current Source (DVCCS) and Differential Voltage Controlled Voltage Source (DVCVS) are described. This element called a DVCCS/DVCVS can be used for generation of all linear nondynamic elements and also can be applied directly in active RC synthesis models. The general synthesis model with one DVCCS/DVCVS element and two particular synthesis models derived from the general one are described. All synthesis models presented here allow for cascading the second degree sections without additional buffers.     

Promising curaua fiber‐reinforced polyester composite for high‐impact ballistic multilayered armor

A typical multilayered armor system (MAS) is composed of a harder front ceramic tile, which is able to erode heavy ammunition, such as the 7.62 mm bullet, followed by a second layer to further reduce the impact energy. Aramid fabric is a common choice for the second layer. In the present work, polyester matrix composites reinforced with 10 to 30 vol% of curaua fibers, despite having much lower strength and stiffness than aramid fabric, displayed similar trauma indentation in a standard clay witness simulating the human body. Impedance matching and scanning electron microscopy analyses suggest effective energy absorption through ceramic fragment capture by curaua composites. Additionally, because of the high cost of aramid fabric, a full MAS with curaua fiber composite is much cheaper than a MAS composed of aramid fabric. Taking into consideration, both the economical and environmental advantages of natural fibers, it is concluded that curaua fiber‐reinforced polyester composite could replace aramid fabric as the second layer in MASs for personal ballistic protection. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:947–954, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Characterization of Gold—Aluminum Nitride and Gold—Silicon Carbide Interfaces

Aluminum nitride and silicon carbide substrates were screen-printed with fritless gold and fired at 850°C in air. Interfacial diffusion zones up to 7 αm thick were observed, in which the concentrations of Au, Na impurities, and combined O varied together. Secondary ion mass and photoelectron spectroscopy revealed oxidized Al in the gold conductor supported by AIN. It is suggested that enhanced oxidation accompanies the diffusion of Au into the ceramics.     

Interfacial activity of narrow-range alcohol oxyethylates

Surface and interfacial tension isotherms for narrow-range distribution ALFOL 1214 alcohol oxyethylates were determined and compared with those obtained for broad-range alcohol oxyethylates. Various adsorption parameters were estimated. The effectiveness of surface tension reduction decreases when the length of polyoxyethylene hydrophile increases. Micellization is observed at log cmc ranging from −4.7 to −3.3. Effects of the length and distribution of the polyoxyethylene chain on cmc are very small. A minimum of A _min/N _av ^0.5 is obtained for N _av=8, where A _min and N _av denote the minimum interfacial area occupied by a statistical molecule at the saturated interface and the average degree of oxyethylation, respectively. The interface becomes saturated at pC ₂₀=−5.61±0.35, where pC ₂₀ denotes the logarithm of concentration required to obtain the surface pressure equal to 20 mNm⁻¹. The highest and lowest values of the surface excess at saturation and the free energy of adsorption, respectively, are obtained for an average degree of oxyethylation equal to 8. Parameters are correlated with the average degree of oxyethylation and the oxyethylene chain distribution parameter according to empirical second-order polynomials. Small differences in adsorption abilities at the water/air interface are only observed for narrow- and broad-range distributed oxyethylates. The differences become important for adsorption at the hexadecane/water interface. The lowest values of interfacial tension are obtained for narrow-range oxyethylates with N _av=7 and 8. The Krefeld fabric detergency tests indicated that the best detergency was observed for alcohol oxyethylates with N _av=5–7. Narrow-range oxyethylates exhibit somewhat better washing abilities than the broad-range products. No relationship between detergency of alcohol oxyethylates and their abilities to adsorb at the water/air and water/hydrocarbon interfaces is observed.