Effective elastic properties of randomly distributed void models for porous materials

Many 2D analytical models are available for estimating the effective elastic properties of porous materials. Most of these models adopt circular voids of a uniform diameter in superlattice arrays, such as unit void or periodically positioned models. There are two principal issues in a realistic representation of porous materials: the random distribution of a statistically sufficiently large number of voids in the model, and the random distribution of the size and position of the voids. Numerical schemes such as the FEM or the BEM have also been presented to cater for regular patterned circular voids. However, due to the large number of elements needed to produce sufficient accuracy for the curved boundary of circular voids or modelling a statistically sufficient number of voids with a random distribution in both the void size and the position, no such model has yet been produced.Modelling based on an FEM approach using a simplified approximation for void geometry is proposed here for the calculation of the effective elastic properties of porous solids. A plane strain model of a square geometry is adopted for a 2D array of voids. This simplified square shape allows a large number of voids to be simulated with a random distribution for both void sizes and their locations. The problem of anisotropy, which arises from the square shape, is discussed. It is verified that along the two principal directions (parallel to the sides of the square voids), the elastic properties remain the same as those predicted by using a circular void geometry. This square-shaped approximation, with its reduced requirement for FE analysis, has the potential to be extended to 3-dimensional modelling for a realistic simulation of engineering materials.     

测量不可测的:与可步行性相关的城市设计品质

本研究试图全面客观地衡量城市街道环境的与人们感受有关的品质.使用专家小组评级的方法,使得根据街道及其边缘的物质环境特征来衡量城市设计的五个品质——意象、围合空间、人的尺度、透明度和复杂性——成为可能.可操作的定义并不总与定性的定义相一致,可操作定义针对城市设计品质(urban design qualities)的性质提供了新见解.本研究的直接目的是为研究者提供(这五个城市设计品质的)可操作性定义,这样他们可以测量街道环境并测试其与步行行为之间的显著性联系.纽约市目前正在进行验证研究.最终目的是,根据本研究和其他后续研究的成果,来指导城市设计实践.     

Double-hinge modes in the dynamic response of plastic cantilever beams subjected to step loading

In this paper, double-hinge modes are introduced to analyse the response of a stepped or bent cantilever beam subjected to step loading at its free end. The material of the beams is assumed to be rigid-perfectly plastic, and complete solutions are constructed for four cases, which are summarized in tables. An analogy is found between the responses of stepped and bent cantilevers. For the bent cantilevers, the results herein provide a replacement for the ‘unstable hinge’ solutions previously derived, which violate the yield criterion. The results obtained are also useful for estimating the effects of imperfections in beams during dynamic loading.     

Bioequivalence of Docosahexaenoic Acid from Different Algal Oils in Capsules and in a DHA-Fortified Food

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid, is important for eye and brain development and ongoing visual, cognitive, and cardiovascular health. Unlike fish-sourced oils, the bioavailability of DHA from vegetarian-sourced (algal) oils has not been formally assessed. We assessed bioequivalence of DHA oils in capsules from two different algal strains versus bioavailability from an algal-DHA-fortified food. Our 28-day randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group study compared bioavailability of (a) two different algal DHA oils in capsules ("DHASCO-T" and "DHASCO-S") at doses of 200, 600, and 1,000 mg DHA per day (n = 12 per group) and of (b) an algal-DHA-fortified food (n = 12). Bioequivalence was based on changes in plasma phospholipid and erythrocyte DHA levels. Effects on arachidonic acid (ARA), docosapentaenoic acid-n-6 (DPAn-6), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were also determined. Both DHASCO-T and DHASCO-S capsules produced equivalent DHA levels in plasma phospholipids and erythrocytes. DHA response was dose-dependent and linear over the dose range, plasma phospholipid DHA increased by 1.17, 2.28 and 3.03 g per 100 g fatty acid at 200, 600, and 1,000 mg dose, respectively. Snack bars fortified with DHASCO-S oil also delivered equivalent amounts of DHA on a DHA dose basis. Adverse event monitoring revealed an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Two different algal oil capsule supplements and an algal oil-fortified food represent bioequivalent and safe sources of DHA.     

Ion Exchange of Selected Group II Metals and Lead by Crystalline Silicotitanate and Competition for Cs Exchange Sites

ABSTRACT

A series of batch contact tests were conducted to evaluate the exchange behavior of Ba, Ca, Pb, and Sr onto crystalline silicotitanate (CST) in support of an expedited Cs removal and pretreatment system at the Hanford site. Binary Na/M²⁺ and ternary Na/Cs/M²⁺ isotherms were generated to understand selectivity, capacity, and competitive impact of each analyte on Cs uptake from a simple 1 M NaOH/4.6 M NaNO₃ simulant. Analyte loading from a 0.1 M NaOH/5.5 M NaNO₃ simulant was assessed to determine the effect of hydroxide concentration on binary Na/M²⁺ isotherms. Results from binary and ternary isotherms indicated that Group II metals Ca, Sr, and Ba (and Pb) do not impact CST performance toward Cs removal at concentrations expected in Hanford tank-waste supernate.     

Elastic Properties and Microcracking Behavior of Particulate Titanium Diboride–Silicon Carbide Composites

The spontaneous microcracking of particulate TiB₂–SiC composites is studied as a function of TiB₂ volume fraction. The degree of microcracking was examined by measuring elastic properties from room temperature to 1300°C. The results showed that only one composition contains microcracks. All other compositions did not microcrack regardless of TiB₂ volume fraction. This was attributed to the difference in the sintering aids. In particular, the Al₂O₃ sintering aid needed in these compositions had reacted with SiO₂ to form an amorphous grain boundary phase that allowed residual stresses to relax by viscous flow at moderate to high temperatures. The existence of this amorphous grain boundary phase was directly observed by transmission electron microscopy.     

Bilayer-mediated assembly of cationic nanoparticles adsorbed to lipid bilayers: Insights from molecular simulations

Understanding interactions between functionalized gold nanoparticles (NPs) and lipid bilayers is essential for biomedical applications. Experiments have shown that NPs that are stable in solution can assemble into clusters when adsorbed to a lipid bilayer, suggesting that bilayer-mediated interactions facilitate assembly. In this work, we use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to study bilayer-mediated interactions between NPs adsorbed to single- and multicomponent lipid bilayers. We perform unbiased simulations and umbrella sampling calculations using an implicit solvent force field to determine the thermodynamic contributions to assembly. We show that bilayer-mediated interactions drive the assembly of NPs into linear aggregates on liquid-disordered bilayers, which we attribute to a reduction in bilayer curvature. Similar bilayer-mediated interactions induce the alignment of NP clusters with phase boundaries in phase-separated bilayers. Together, these simulation results provide new physical insight into the balance of forces that dictate the assembly of charged NPs at multicomponent lipid bilayer interfaces.