Post-Event Site Investigation,Monitoring, Stability Analysis,and Modeling of a Gas Pipeline Explosion

This paper describes the results of site investigations, monitoring, stability analyses, and soil-pipe interaction modeling of a built-up slope located near Pineto (Abruzzo Province, Central Italy), where a gas pipeline exploded on March 6th, 2015, due to heavy rains inducing slope movements. The slope is formed by OC clay, covered with an upper 10- to 14-m-thick clayey-sandy silt colluvial layer. The explosion in the upper portion of the slope caused extensive damage to existing buildings and threatened human lives. Soon after the event, a site investigation and monitoring program was carried out. A detailed topographic survey and hydrological data were analyzed in order to characterize possible critical rainfall events. The stability of the slope was analyzed both in pre- and in post-explosion conditions. The profiles of the DMT horizontal stress index K _D helped to identify multiple slip surfaces. Then, the results of the site investigation and stability analyses were used to implement a simplified finite element model aimed to describe the soil-pipeline interaction, taking into account the role of the observed wrinkle in the pipeline. The numerical simulations reveal the crucial role played by the slope movements, and by the wrinkle as well, in inducing the collapse of the pipe.     

A Novel Particle/Photon Detector Based on a Superconducting Proximity Array of Nanodots

The current frontiers in the investigation of high-energy particles demand for new detection methods. Higher sensitivity to low-energy deposition, high-energy resolution to identify events and improve the background rejection, and large detector masses have to be developed to detect even an individual particle that weakly interacts with ordinary matter. Here, we will describe the concept and the layout of a novel superconducting proximity array which show dynamic vortex Mott insulator to metal transitions, as an ultra-sensitive compact radiation-particle detector.     

Flexible Nanowire Cluster as a Wearable Colorimetric Humidity Sensor

Wearable plasmonic devices combine the advantages of high flexibility, ultrathinness, light weight, and excellent integration with the optical benefits mediated by plasmon‐enhanced electric fields. However, two obstacles severely hinder further developments and applications of a wearable plasmonic device. One is the lack of efficient approach to obtaining devices with robust antimotion‐interference property, i.e., the devices can work independently on the morphology changes of their working structures caused by arbitrary wearing conditions. The other issue is to seek a facile and high‐throughput fabrication method to satisfy the financial requirement of industrialization. In order to overcome these two challenges, a functional flexible film of nanowire cluster is developed, which can be easily fabricated by taking the advantages of both conventional electrochemical and sputtering methods. Such flexible plasmonic films can be made into wearable devices that work independently on shape changes induced by various wearing conditions (such as bending, twisting and stretching). Furthermore, due to plasmonic advantages of color controlling and high sensitivity to environment changes, the flexible film of nanowire cluster can be used to fabricate wearable items (such as bracelet, clothes, bag, or even commercial markers), with the ability of wireless visualization for humidity sensing.     

A Metal–Polyphenol Network Coated Nanotheranostic System for Metastatic Tumor Treatments

As a characteristic trait of most tumor types, metastasis is the major cause of the death of patients. In this study, a photothermal agent based on gold nanorod is coated with metal (Gd³⁺)‐organic (polyphenol) network to realize combination therapy for metastatic tumors. This nanotheranostic system significantly enhances antitumor therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo with the combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy, also can remarkably prevent the invasion and metastasis due to the presence of polyphenol. After the treatment, an 81% decrease in primary tumor volumes and a 58% decrease in lung metastasis are observed. In addition, the good performance in magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, and photothermal imaging of the nanotheranostic system can realize image‐guided therapy. The multifunctional nanotheranostic system will find a great potential in diagnosis and treatment integration in tumor treatments, and broaden the applications of PTT treatment.     

Fabrication of Fe3O4 Dots Embedded in 3D Honeycomb‐Like Carbon Based on Metallo–Organic Molecule with Superior Lithium Storage Performance

A novel metallo–organic molecule, ferrocene, is selected as building block to construct Fe₃O₄ dots embedded in 3D honeycomb‐like carbon (Fe₃O₄ dots/3DHC) by using SiO₂ nanospheres as template. Unlike previously used inorganic Fe₃O₄ sources, ferrocene simultaneously contains organic cyclopentadienyl groups and inorganic Fe atoms, which can be converted to carbon and Fe₃O₄, respectively. Atomic‐scale Fe distribution in started building block leads to the formation of ultrasmall Fe₃O₄ dots (≈3 nm). In addition, by well controlling the feed amount of ferrocene, Fe₃O₄ dots/3DHC with well‐defined honeycomb‐like meso/macropore structure and ultrathin carbon wall can be obtained. Owing to unique structural features, Fe₃O₄ dots/3DHC presents impressive lithium storage performance. The initial discharge and reversible capacities can reach 2047 and 1280 mAh g^?1 at 0.05 A g^?1. With increasing the current density to 1 and 3 A g^?1, remarkable capacities of 963 and 731 mAh g^?1 remain. Moreover, Fe₃O₄ dots/3DHC also has superior cycling stability, after a long‐term charge/discharge for 200 times, a high capacity of 1082 mAh g^?1 can be maintained (80% against the capacity of the 2nd cycle).     

Quantification of different effects occurring during fatigue tests on bituminous mixtures

Quantification of different effects (nonlinearity, heating, thixotropy, and fatigue) occurring during fatigue tests on bituminous mixtures is presented in this paper. A focus is given on the nonlinearity phenomenon. Continuous fatigue tests and a test with specific protocol (called fatigue tests to estimate biasing effects) were performed in tension/compression mode on cylindrical samples of the same material. The analysis of results reveals that reversible effects (nonlinearity, heating, and thixotropy) are important (more than 90% decrease at 100,000 cycles for a strain amplitude of 100 μm/m at 10 Hz) and cannot be ignored when interpreting classical fatigue tests. The nonlinearity effects respect the time‐temperature superposition principle, and they are more pronounced at “high” temperature (at the same frequency). Direction of nonlinearity curve in the Cole‐Cole axes is shown to be independent of temperature and frequency for the considered range.     

Avoiding negative elastic moduli when using Lagrange interpolation for material grading in finite element analysis

Polynomial interpolations, one of the most common interpolations used in finite element methods (FEMs), are a workhorse of many FEM codes. These interpolations are readily available for all kinds of elements, and using them for modeling the variation of elastic moduli in graded elements is thus both convenient and natural. Yet, like all polynomial interpolations, they can be prone to oscillations that can result in regions of negative elastic modulus in the element, even with only positive nodal values of elastic moduli. The result of these negative modulus regions, even if the region is small, can be unexpected singularities in the solution. This defeats the purpose of using polynomial interpolations for capturing material grading in the element. We demonstrate the issue using three-node quadratic Lagrange interpolations of material grading in otherwise isoparametric p-type elements and show how to avoid this problem.     

Integration of SPC and performance maintenance for supply chain system

In this paper, a supply chain system is viewed as a maintainable system, and the economic-statistical design of a likelihood ratio control chart with a maintenance application is considered for this system. The supply chain system is described by a three-state: normal state, warning state and failure state. A likelihood ratio control chart is used to monitor the system given that only categorical observations can be obtained. When the chart signals, a full inspection is performed to determine the actual system state (normal or warning), and preventive maintenance is immediately performed in the warning state. In addition, the supply chain system must be corrected upon failure (i.e. corrective maintenance), and should be maintained in a scheduled time (i.e. planned maintenance). A mathematical model is developed for the joint optimisation of the control chart parameters and planned maintenance time based on renewal theory. An example is presented to illustrate how to determine the optimal design parameters. We also investigate the effect of coefficients and statistical constraints on the decision variables and the expected cost.     

Enhanced-fluorescence of europium–copper nanoclusters for cell imaging

Herein, a facile way to synthesize Cu nanoclusters (CuNCs) has been proposed while insulin played the role as a stabilizer. Specifically, this type of CuNCs existed in tunable diameters of 4–5 nm, and exhibited bright reddish-orange fluorescence with a quantum yield of 7.4 %. Interestingly, the fluorescence intensity of CuNCs could be obviously enhanced and more stable by introducing Eu³⁺. Moreover, this proposed Eu³⁺@CuNCs with low toxicity and near-infrared fluorescence may provide potential to broaden avenues for various applications in bioimaging and beyond.