Theoretical study of the structural,elastic and thermodynamic properties of chalcopyrite ZnGeP2

The structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of ZnGeP₂ with chalcopyrite structure are investigated using the pseudo-potentials plane wave method based on the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. The lattice parameters (a, c and u) are directly calculated and agree well with previous experimental and theoretical results. The obtained negative formation enthalpy shows that ZnGeP₂ crystal has strong structural stability. We have also calculated the bulk modulus B and the elastic parameters (C₁₁, C₁₂, C₁₃, C₃₃, C₄₄, and C₆₆) which have not been measured yet. The accuracy and reliability of the calculated elastic constants of ZnGeP₂ crystal are discussed. In addition, the pressure and temperature dependencies of the lattice parameters, bulk modulus, Debye temperature, Grüneisen parameter, entropy, volume thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heat capacity are obtained in the ranges of 0–20 GPa and 0–1200 K using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. To our knowledge this is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the thermodynamic properties for ZnGeP₂ compound and still awaits experimental confirmations.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly (linoleic acid)-g-poly(methyl methacrylate) graft copolymer with applying in Au/PLiMMA/n-Si diode

Poly (linoleic acid)-g-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PLiMMA) graft copolymer was synthesized and characterized. PLiMMA graft copolymer was synthesized from polymeric linoleic acid peroxide (PLina) possessing peroxide groups in the main chain by free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Later, PLiMMA was characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Furthermore, Au/PLiMMA/n-Si diode was fabricated for the purpose of investigating PLiMMA׳s conformity in diodes. The main electrical characteristics of this diode were investigated using experimental current–voltage (I–V) measurements in dark and at room temperature. Obtained results, such as sufficiently high rectifying ratio of 4.5×10⁴, indicate that PLiMMA is a promising organic material for electronic device applications.     

Homogenization with uncertainty in Poisson ratio for polymers with rubber particles

The main aim of this work is dual computer analysis of probabilistic coefficients for the homogenized tensor of the polymer filled with the rubber particles having randomized Poisson ratios of both constituents. The major issue is to verify an influence of a randomness in rubber Poisson ratio close to the compressibility limit on the uncertainty of the effective tensor probabilistic characteristics. Probabilistic analysis presented here is carried out using mainly the stochastic perturbation technique provided by the common application of the traditional FEM commercial code ABAQUS and the symbolic computations package MAPLE. This FEM-based technique employs polynomial response function of the optimum order recovered from the weighted least squares method and following a set of deterministic solutions obtained for various values of the randomized input parameter. Optimization procedure is released entirely into a symbolic environment, where maximization of the correlation factor together with minimization of the fitting variance and approximation error are applied. Homogenization technique consists in equating of deformation energies for the real composite and the artificial one characterized by the effective elasticity tensor with uncertainty.     

An approach to measure infill matric suction of irregular infilled rock joints under constant normal stiffness shearing

Rock joints infilled with sediments can strongly influence the strength of rock mass. As infilled joints often exist under unsaturated condition, this study investigated the influence of matric suction of infill on the overall joint shear strength. A novel technique that allows direct measurement of matric suction of infill using high capacity tensiometers (HCTs) during direct shear of infilled joints under constant normal stiffness (CNS) is described. The CNS apparatus was modified to accommodate the HCT and the procedure is explained in detail. Joint specimens were simulated by gypsum plaster using three-dimensional (3D) printed surface moulds, and filled with kaolin and sand mixture prepared at different water contents. Shear behaviours of both planar infilled joints and rough joints having joint roughness coefficients (JRCs) of 8–10 and 18–20 with the ratios of infill thickness to asperity height (t/a) equal to 0.5 were investigated. Matric suction shows predominantly unimodal behaviour during shearing of both planar and rough joints, which is closely associated with the variation of unloading rate and volumetric changes of the infill material. As expected, two-peak behaviour was observed for the rough joints and both peaks increased with the increase of infill matric suction. The results suggest that the contribution of matric suction of infill on the joint peak normalised shear stress is relatively independent of the joint roughness.     

LTE系统多小区上行联合功控算法

针对传统的小区内开环功率控制算法通常以提升本小区的吞吐量性能为目标，忽略了当前小区用户对邻小区用户同频干扰的问题，为提升边缘用户性能的同时兼顾系统整体性能，提出了一种LTE系统小区间上行联合功率控制（UJPC）算法。该算法采用单基站三扇区为系统模型，以最优化系统吞吐量比例公平函数为目标，首先根据最小信干噪比（SINR）约束值和用户最大发射功率这两个约束条件得到相应的数学优化模型，然后采用连续凸近似的方法求解优化问题得出各个基站所管辖的小区内所有用户的最优发射功率。仿真结果表明，与基准的开环功控方案相比，联合功控方案在保证系统平均频谱利用率的情况下能够较大幅度地提高小区边缘频谱利用率，其最佳性能增益能达到50%。     

Chloride migration in concrete with superabsorbent polymers

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) can be used as a means for internal curing of concrete. In the present study, the development of transport properties of concrete with SAP is investigated. The chloride migration coefficient according to NT BUILD 492 is used as a measure of this. Twenty concrete mixtures are tested 7, 14, and 28 days after casting. The development of degree of hydration is followed for 20 corresponding paste mixtures.Both when SAP is added with extra water to compensate the SAP water absorption in fresh concrete and without extra water, the internal curing water held by SAP may contribute to increase the degree of hydration. No matter if SAP is added with or without extra water, it appears that the so-called gel space ratio can be used as a key parameter to link age and mixture proportions (water-to-cement ratio and SAP dosage) to the resulting chloride migration coefficient; the higher the volume of gel solid relative to the space available for it, the lower the chloride migration coefficient, because the pore system becomes more tortuous and the porosity becomes less.     

Multiplex PCR system to track authorized and unauthorized genetically modified soybean events in food and feed

A diverse range of genetic elements has been used to develop genetically modified organisms (GMOs) over the last 18 years. Screening methods that target few elements, such as the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter (P-35S) and Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline terminator (T-nos), are not sufficient to screen GMOs. In the present study, a multiplex PCR system for all globally commercialized GM soybean events was developed to easily trace the events. For this purpose, screening elements of 24 GM soybean events were investigated and 9 screening targets were selected and divided into three individual triplex PCR systems: P-35S, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit promoter of Arabidopsis thaliana, T-nos, T-35S, pea E9 terminator, open reading frame 23 terminator of A. tumefaciens, proteinase inhibitor II terminator of potato, acetohydroxy acid synthase large subunit terminator of A. thaliana, and the revealed 3′ flanking sequences of DP-305423-1. The specificity of the assays was confirmed using thirteen GM soybean events as the respective positive/negative controls. The limit of detection of each multiplex set, as determined using certified reference materials of specific GM events, ranged from 0.03 to 0.5%, depending upon target. Furthermore, 26 food samples that contained soybean ingredients, which were purchased from the USA, China, Japan, and Korea, were analyzed, 17 of which contained one or more GM soybean events. These results suggest that the developed screening method can be used to efficiently track and identify 24 GM soybean events in food and feed.     

Measuring changing strain fields in composites with Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing using the optical backscatter reflectometer

Background/purposeMeasurements of strains in critical components are often required in addition to finite element calculations when evaluating a structure.MethodsThis paper describes how standard optical fibers, bonded to the surface or embedded in a laminate, can measure strain fields along the entire length of the fiber, using the optical backscatter reflectometer.ResultsA strain field measurement can be much better compared to simulations than the more common single point measurements with strain gauges or Bragg Gratings. Changes of the strain field can be related to damage development and can be used for structural health monitoring. Practical aspects of using the fibers are also discussed.ConclusionDistributed Fiber-Optic Sensing was successfully embedded and bonded to a composite joint. Adhesive damage was identified and the strain field agreed well with FE-Analysis.     

Systematic convergence of nonlinear stochastic estimators on the Special Orthogonal Group SO(3)

This paper introduces two novel nonlinear stochastic attitude estimators developed on the Special Orthogonal Group with the tracking error of the normalized Euclidean distance meeting predefined transient and steady‐state characteristics. The tracking error is confined to initially start within a predetermined large set such that the transient performance is guaranteed to obey dynamically reducing boundaries and decrease smoothly and asymptotically to the origin in probability from almost any initial condition. The proposed estimators produce accurate attitude estimates with remarkable convergence properties using measurements obtained from low‐cost inertial measurement units. The estimators proposed in continuous form are complemented by their discrete versions for the implementation purposes. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed estimators against uncertain measurements and large initialization error, whether in continuous or discrete form.     

Multicellular Tumor Spheroids (MCTS) as a 3D In Vitro Evaluation Tool of Nanoparticles

Multicellular tumor spheroid models (MCTS) are often coined as 3D in vitro models that can mimic the microenvironment of tissues. MCTS have gained increasing interest in the nano‐biotechnology field as they can provide easily accessible information on the performance of nanoparticles without using animal models. Considering that many countries have put restrictions on animals testing, which will only tighten in the future as seen by the recent developments in the Netherlands, 3D models will become an even more valuable tool. Here, an overview on MCTS is provided, focusing on their use in cancer research as most nanoparticles are tested in MCTS for treatment of primary tumors. Thereafter, various types of nanoparticles—from self‐assembled block copolymers to inorganic nanoparticles, are discussed. A range of physicochemical parameters including the size, shape, surface chemistry, ligands attachment, stability, and stiffness are found to influence nanoparticles in MCTS. Some of these studies are complemented by animal studies confirming that lessons from MCTS can in part predict the behaviour in vivo. In summary, MCTS are suitable models to gain additional information on nanoparticles. While not being able to replace in vivo studies, they can bridge the gap between traditional 2D in vitro studies and in vivo models.