Atomistic Investigation of Load Transfer Between DWNT Bundles “Crosslinked” by PMMA Oligomers

The production of carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns possessing high strength and toughness remains a major challenge due to the intrinsically weak interactions between “bare” CNTs. To this end, nanomechanical shear experiments between functionalized bundles of CNTs are combined with multiscale simulations to reveal the mechanistic and quantitative role of nanotube surface functionalization on CNT‐CNT interactions. Notably, the in situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD) functionalization of CNT bundles by poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)‐like oligomers is found to enhance the shear strength of bundle junctions by about an order of magnitude compared with “bare” van der Waals interactions between pristine CNTs. Through multiscale simulations, the enhancement of the shear strength can be attributed to an interlocking mechanism of polymer chains in the bundles, dominated by van der Waals interactions, and stretching and alignment of chains during shearing. Unlike covalent bonds, such synergistic weak interactions can re‐form upon failure, resulting in strong, yet robust fibers. This work establishes the significance of engineered weak interactions with appropriate structural distribution to design CNT yarns with high strength and toughness, similar to the design paradigm found in many biological materials.     

Optimal synthesis of heat-and-power systems: the operating line method

The physical and mathematical models on which the operating line method (OLM) (H. A. Irazoqui, Chem. Engng Sci. 41, 1243–1255 (1986); P. A. Aguirre, E. O. Pavani and H. A. Irazoqui, Chem. Engng Sci. 44, 803–816 (1989)) for the optimal synthesis of heat-and-power systems is built, are discussed in depth. These models include the heat exchange ‘modes’ allowed and the general features of the type of solution sought in order to reach an optimal scheme for the total energy systems in chemical plants. A thorough development of the mathematical technique used to tackle the optimization problem is also made. This development comprises the derivation of the necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality.     

Nanofountain‐Probe‐Based High‐Resolution Patterning and Single‐Cell Injection of Functionalized Nanodiamonds

Nanodiamonds are rapidly emerging as promising carriers for next‐generation therapeutics and drug delivery. However, developing future nanoscale devices and arrays that harness these nanoparticles will require unrealized spatial control. Furthermore, single‐cell in vitro transfection methods lack an instrument that simultaneously offers the advantages of having nanoscale dimensions and control and continuous delivery via microfluidic components. To address this, two modes of controlled delivery of functionalized diamond nanoparticles are demonstrated using a broadly applicable nanofountain probe, a tool for direct‐write nanopatterning with sub‐100‐nm resolution and direct in vitro single‐cell injection. This study demonstrates the versatility of the nanofountain probe as a tool for high‐fidelity delivery of functionalized nanodiamonds and other agents in nanomanufacturing and single‐cell biological studies. These initial demonstrations of controlled delivery open the door to future studies examining the nanofountain probe's potential in delivering specific doses of DNA, viruses, and other therapeutically relevant biomolecules.     

Autonomic Coordination of Skeleton-Based Applications Over CPU/GPU Multi-Core Architectures

Widely adumbrated as patterns of parallel computation and communication, algorithmic skeletons introduce a viable solution for efficiently programming modern heterogeneous multi-core architectures equipped not only with traditional multi-core CPUs, but also with one or more programmable Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). By systematically applying algorithmic skeletons to address complex programming tasks, it is arguably possible to separate the coordination from the computation in a parallel program, and therefore subdivide a complex program into building blocks (modules, skids, or components) that can be independently created and then used in different systems to drive multiple functionalities. By exploiting such systematic division, it is feasible to automate coordination by addressing extra-functional and non-functional features such as application performance, portability, and resource utilisation from the component level in heterogeneous multi-core architectures. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to exploit the inherent features of skeleton-based applications in order to automatically coordinate them over heterogeneous (CPU/GPU) multi-core architectures and improve their performance. Our systematic evaluation demonstrates up to one order of magnitude speed-up on heterogeneous multi-core architectures.     

Effects of network communications on a class of learning controlled non-linear systems†

In this article, an iterative learning control approach is proposed for a class of sampled-data non-linear systems over network communication channels. The effects of constant time delays and stochastic packet loss are discussed and demonstrated by simulation results. The focus of this article is to study the remote control problems when the environment is periodic or repeatable over iterations in a fixed finite interval. Because of the existence of time delays and packet loss in input and output signal transmissions, it is not trivial to accomplish the remote stabilisation task of any system. Moreover, to track a desired trajectory through a remote controller is even more difficult. Previous cycle-based learning method is incorporated into the network-based control for a class of non-linear systems which satisfies a global Lipschitz condition. The convergence property of this approach is proven. Furthermore, the convergence in the iteration domain is also discussed when there exists packet loss in both transmission channels of the system. Finally, one single-link rigid robot is given as an example to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Lessons from the Ocean: Whale Baleen Fracture Resistance

Whale baleen is a keratin‐based biological material; it provides life‐long (40–100 years) filter‐feeding for baleen whales in place of teeth. This study reveals new aspects of the contribution of the baleen's hierarchical structure to its fracture toughness and connects it to the unique performance requirements, which require anisotropy of fracture resistance. Baleen plates are subjected to competing external effects of hydration and varying loading rates and demonstrate a high fracture toughness in transverse loading, which is the most important direction in the filtering function; in the longitudinal direction, the toughness is much lower since delamination and controlled flexure are expected and desirable. The compressive strength is also established and results support the fracture toughness measurements: it is also highly anisotropic, and exhibits a ductile‐to‐brittle transition with increasing strain rate in the dry condition, which is absent in the hydrated condition, conferring impact resistance to the baleen. Using 3D‐printing prototypes that replicate the three principal structural features of the baleen plate (hollow medulla, mineralized tubules, and sandwich‐tubular structure) are created, and the role of its structure in determining its mechanical behavior is demonstrated. These findings suggest new bioinspired engineering materials.     

A robust two-stage active disturbance rejection control for the stabilization of a riderless bicycle

Multibody System Dynamics - In this work we propose a two-stage observer-based feedback control approach to automatically stabilizing a riderless bicycle in its upright position when moving forward...     

Correction to: A robust two-stage active disturbance rejection control for the stabilization of a riderless bicycle

Multibody System Dynamics - Correction to: Multibody Syst Dyn (2019) 45:7–35 In the original publication the affiliation of author John Cortés-Romero was given in its translated form...