A meta-modelling framework for knowledge consistency in collaborative design

The design of complex system requires a lot of interactions between experts and then between numerous Computer Aided X software (CAX) (where X can be Design (CAD), Engineering (CAE), Manufacturing (CAM), etc.). In order to improve the consistency of the whole system design and the related data and information, knowledge crossing the expertises must be tracked and formalized regarding a shared reference. That means that instead of defining a large reference models to which each expert refers to, a light collaborative model is defined enabling to connect data from each expert model to adhoc data from other expert models, following the least commitment principle. In this topic, a new meta-model is proposed in a Model-Driven Engineering approach to manage the integration of heterogeneous experts’ knowledge models in a collaborative process. The structure of the proposed knowledge meta-model is defined taking into account the complexity of knowledge definition and the properties of its components. This meta-model is split in a meta-model of data on one hand and a Collaboration Meta-Model in the other hand, to represent the distinction between the core concepts of knowledge and additional elements serving to represent the relation between these concepts, and between concepts of heterogeneous experts’ models. The proposed meta-model is illustrated on an industrial case study to highlight the way to put it in use, and its interests to enable collaboration between experts throughout the design process.     

In Situ Management of Ions Migration to Control Hysteresis Effect for Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells

As one of the most promising photovoltaic materials, the efficiency of inorganic–organic hybrid halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has reached 25.5% in 2020. However, the stability and hysteresis remain primary challenges before it can become a commercial photovoltaic technology. Therefore, those issues have drawn significant attention for photovoltaic applications. In this work, a study of the PSCs hysteresis improvement is presented based on a combination of first-principles simulations, scanning electron microscopy images, and time-dependent photocurrent measurements. It indicates the hysteresis led by the ion migration and accumulation is mainly localized at the two interfaces: one is between electron transport layer and active layer, and the other is between active layer and hole transport layer. Considering the massive defects at the grain boundaries (GBs), they lower the potential barriers significantly. The defect density at GBs is therefore reduced via the in situ passivation of PbI₂ crystals. The hysteresis index is decreased from 22.43% down to 1.04%, and results in an improvement in efficiency from 17.12% up to 20.10%. Following the understanding of defect-induced hysteresis, an approach to improve the hysteresis is provided, which can be integrated into the fabrication process and widely applied to enhance the performance of PSCs.     

Preparation of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Rich Diacylglycerol-Rich Oil by Lipase-Catalyzed Glycerolysis of Microbial Oil from Schizochytrium sp. in a Solvent-Free System

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich diacylglycerol (DAG)-rich oil was prepared by lipase-catalyzed glycerolysis of microbial oil from Schizochytrium sp. in a solvent-free system. The reaction parameters including lipase type, substrate molar ratio, temperature, lipase concentration, and reaction time were screened. The selected conditions were determined as follows: Novozym® 435 (Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) as biocatalyst at 8 wt%, substrate ratio (DHA-rich microbial TAG/glycerol) of 1:1 mol/mol, temperature of 50 °C, and reaction time of 12 hours. Under these conditions, the triacylglycerol (TAG), DAG, and monoacylglycerol (MAG) contents in the product were 36.4%, 48.2%, and 15.4%, respectively. The lipase was reused successively for 18 cycles without significant loss of activity under the conditions given above. Fatty acid composition analysis of the final product showed that the contents of DHA in TAG, DAG, and MAG were 53.9%, 44.9%, and 34.8%, respectively. DHA-rich DAG has the potential to be used as an ingredient in infant formula to increase the bioavailability of DHA.     

Ferromagnetic shape memory flapper

A new method for propulsion using a Ni₂MnGa ferromagnetic shape memory flapper is introduced. We optically examine the magnetic field induced strain of pure shear by means of a state of the art generator that provides alternating magnetic fields of 7000 Oe at frequencies of up to 100 Hz. Preliminary measurements show local shear deformation of about 5%, which open new frontiers in propulsion mechanisms.     

p-/n-Type modulation of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides for electronic and optoelectronic devices

Two-dimensional layered transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs)have demonstrated a huge potential in the broad fields of optoelectronic devices,logic electronics,electronic integration,as well as neural networks.To take full advantage of TMDC characteristics and efficiently design the device structures,one of the most key processes is to control their p-/n-type modulation.In this review,we summarize the p-/n-type modulation of TMDCs based on diverse strategies consisting of intrinsic defect tailoring,substitutional doping,surface charge transfer,chemical intercalation,electrostatic modulation,and dielectric interface engineering.The modulation mechanisms and comparisons of these strategies are analyzed together with a discussion of their corresponding device applications in electronics and optoelectronics.Finally,challenges and outlooks for p-/n-type modulation of TMDCs are presented to provide references for future studies.     

Repeatability of Pheromone Blend Composition in Individual Males of the Southern Green Stink Bug, Nezara viridula

The males of Nezara viridula (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) produce a blend of four terpenoid compounds. The proportion of these four compounds varies among different populations. The terpenoid content of the volatile emission from individual males of a French population was monitored for several days with headspace solid-phase microextraction. The total amount of terpenoid compounds collected on an SPME fiber from one virgin male bug emitting over the course of 1 hr was very variable between samples. More than 50% of males released pheromone, at least during one part of the observation period. The relative percentages of bisabolene, nerolidol, trans-bisabolene epoxide, and cis-bisabolene epoxide were calculated and compared. The proportion of nerolidol in the blend showed a large dispersion between samples and a high coefficient of variation. The percentage values for bisabolene and its trans and cis epoxides were less dispersed, and the coefficients of variation for both epoxides were low. The proportion of trans epoxide relative to the two epoxides, which has been considered characteristic of pheromone strains of N. viridula, showed the smallest coefficient of variation. The repeatability index (RI) varied between 0.57 and 0.85 for the four compounds. Repeatability was particularly high for the two epoxide isomers. Stability in epoxide production was confirmed by statistical analysis (ANOVA), which revealed significant differences in the percentages of cis and trans epoxides between individuals. Correspondingly, the RI of the ratio of trans to cis + trans epoxides was over 0.8. Our study confirms the existence of an interindividual variation of the trans to cis epoxide ratio within populations of Nezara viridula but indicates that each individual reproducibly emits both isomers in the same proportion day after day.