A novel biomimetic approach to the design of high-performance ceramic–metal composites

The prospect of extending natural biological design to develop new synthetic ceramic–metal composite materials is examined. Using ice-templating of ceramic suspensions and subsequent metal infiltration, we demonstrate that the concept of ordered hierarchical design can be applied to create fine-scale laminated ceramic–metal (bulk) composites that are inexpensive, lightweight and display exceptional damage-tolerance properties. Specifically, Al₂O₃/Al–Si laminates with ceramic contents up to approximately 40 vol% and with lamellae thicknesses down to 10 µm were processed and characterized. These structures achieve an excellent fracture toughness of 40 MPa√m at a tensile strength of approximately 300 MPa. Salient toughening mechanisms are described together with further toughening strategies.     

DVB-S2:Newtec新产品部署卫星业界

在全球各地,几乎每个与卫星通信有关的广播、电信、交互式系统等新项目皆以DVB-S2作为关键要求之一。这种快速增长的狂热甚至连这新标准的最坚定支持者也感到惊讶。原因其实很简单：现有设备已可证明DVB-S2具备了超过业界期待的性能,而且设备推出的时机极为恰当。 Newtec优质价廉 2005年3月推出专业级DVB-S2调制器NTC／2280之后,Newtec已成为最先向广播运营商交付DVB-S2设备的厂家之一。NTC／2280的成功是立竿见影的,如南非的领先付费电视运营商MultiChoice就选择了NTC／2280来升级其直播卫星系统。尽管现阶段可供选择的DVB-S2解调器、IRD及机顶盒仍然有限,但是NTC／2280仍然能够以DVB-S或DVB-SNG传输信     

Earthen construction: an increase of the mechanical strength by optimizing the dispersion of the binder phase

Although of interest for its low embodied energy content for construction, earth is usually not used for modern construction due to the expensive, artisanal and complicated process and the high variability of the raw material. The transfer of techniques dedicated to cement concrete could help the industrialization of this material. The use of dispersant for an improved dispersion of the earth powder has been investigated for both dispersion of earth fine fraction and water (here named the binding phase) and mortar made with calibrated sand. An improvement of the rheology is observed with lower viscosity and yield stress. This leads to a very small improvement of the density however concomitant with a marked increase of the mechanical properties, Young modulus and compressive strength. The analysis of the microstructure of the mortar shows an increase of the largest pores, and a decrease of the clay platelets flocs. The evolutions of these properties are analyzed in terms of the Rumpf model at two different scales. The dispersant mainly acts on the platelet arrangement that defines the forces between particles, but also simultaneously decreases the permeability of this binding phase, therefore entrapping more air during the mixing of the powder and water. Clearly the use of a dispersant may be of interest for the processing of earth material on liquid state, decreasing the viscosity and/or allowing the reduction of the water content, and finally improving strength.     

Cellular automata and finite groups

Natural Computing - For a finite group G and a finite set A, we study various algebraic aspects of cellular automata over the configuration space $$A^G$$ . In this situation, the set $$\mathrm...     

Exploring Indigenous Landscape Classification across Different Dimensions: A Case Study from the Bolivian Amazon

Decisions on landscape management are often dictated by government officials based on their own understandings of how landscape should be used and managed, but rarely considering local peoples’ understandings of the landscape they inhabit. We use data collected through free listings, field transects and interviews to describe how an Amazonian group of hunter-horticulturalists, the Tsimane’, classify and perceive the importance of different elements of the landscape across the ecological, socioeconomic, and spiritual dimensions. The Tsimane’ recognise nine folk ecotopes (i.e. culturally recognised landscape units) and use a variety of criteria (including geomorphological features and landscape uses) to differentiate ecotopes from one another. The Tsimane’ rank different folk ecotopes in accordance with their perceived ecological, socioeconomic, and spiritual importance. Understanding how local people perceive their landscape contributes towards a landscape management planning paradigm that acknowledges the continuing contributions to management of landscape by its inhabitants, as well as their cultural and land use rights.     

Large sliding contact along branched discontinuities with X-FEM

The extended finite element method (X-FEM) has been developed to minimize requirements on the mesh in a problem with a displacement discontinuity. We present the development carried out to take advantage of the X-FEM approach in simplifying the meshing of complex 3D networks of discontinuities with junctions. Contact with large sliding along the branched discontinuities is discussed. Solutions are proposed and discussed to solve some matrix conditioning issues. Several examples are presented in this paper in order to prove the efficiency of the proposed approach.     

A framework and ontology for dynamic Web services selection

Current Web services standards lack the means for expressing a service's nonfunctional attributes - namely, its quality of service. QoS can be objective (encompassing reliability, availability, and request-to-response time) or subjective (focusing on user experience). QoS attributes are key to dynamically selecting the services that best meet user needs. This article addresses dynamic service selection via an agent framework coupled with a QoS ontology. With this approach, participants can collaborate to determine each other's service quality and trustworthiness.     

Neutrophils’ Extracellular Trap Mechanisms: From Physiology to Pathology

Neutrophils are an essential part of the innate immune system and the first line of defense against invading pathogens. They phagocytose, release granular contents, produce reactive oxygen species, and form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to fight pathogens. With the characterization of NETs and their components, neutrophils were identified as players of the innate adaptive crosstalk. This has placed NETs at the center not only of physiological but also pathological processes. Aside from their role in pathogen uptake and clearance, NETs have been demonstrated to contribute to the resolution of inflammation by forming aggregated NETs able to degrade inflammatory mediators. On the other hand, NETs have the potential to foster severe pathological conditions. When homeostasis is disrupted, they occlude vessels and ducts, serve as sources of autoantigens and danger or damage associated molecular patterns, directly damage tissues, and exaggerate complement activity and inflammation. This review focusses on the understanding of NETs from their formation to their functions in both physiological and pathological processes.