Stroh formalism based boundary integral equations for 2D magnetoelectroelasticity

This paper presents a novel approach for obtaining boundary integral equations of 2D anisotropic magnetoelectroelasticity. This approach is based on the holomorphy theorems and the Stroh formalism and allows developing of the integral equations for the aperiodic, singly and doubly periodic problems of magnetoelectroelasticity. Obtained equations contain the unknown discontinuities of displacement, electric and magnetic potentials and also traction, electric displacement and magnetic induction that allow adopting the existing boundary element procedures for their solution. Analytical solutions for systems of collinear permeable or impermeable cracks are obtained. Numerical boundary element solutions are obtained for the singly and doubly periodic sets of permeable and impermeable cracks in the magnetoelectroelastic medium and a half-plane. Comparison with analytical solutions and other available results validate the present formulations and numerical computation.     

Rational parameters of profiled workpieces for an upsetting process

An upsetting process of specially profiled workpieces was proposed. Modeling of a workpiece upsetting, profiled as a cylinder with conical and cylindrical ledges was done using a finite element method. During the upsetting of these workpieces, buckling occurs. Schemes of upsetting a workpiece with conical ledges result in a decrease in the irregularity of the equivalent strain distribution in the longitudinal section. This scheme produces a zone of minimal equivalent strain decrease in the workpiece. It was found that during the upsetting process of the workpiece with a conical ledge on the lateral surface and in the center, compressive stresses appear. These stresses contribute to the closure of voids in an ingot during the upsetting process. Rational workpiece parameters were found which allow the production of forgings with minimal irregularity of equivalent strain distribution, minimal formation of a barrel, and a favorable stress state in the workpiece. Experimental research, which confirms the advantages of upsetting specially profiled workpieces, was done.     

Heat Transfer Through the Interface and Flow Regimes in Liquid Bridge Subjected to Co-Axial Gas Flow

We present results of an extensive numerical study on the thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection and a heat transfer through the interface in a liquid bridge of Pr?=?68. The geometry of the physical problem is a cylindrical and non-deformable liquid bridge concentrically surrounded by an annular gas channel under conditions of zero gravity. The gas flow is co- or counter-directed with respect to the Marangoni flow. The forced gas flow along the interface provides two actions: via shear stresses and heat exchange. Usually the cooling of the interface enhances the flow while the heating slows down. This general trend may not hold when shear and thermocapillary stresses are comparable. The results show that when gas enters from the cold side the heat transfer through the interface is considerably larger than that when gas enters from the hot side.     

The structure of monomeric components of self-assembling CXCR4 antagonists determines the architecture of resulting nanostructures

Self-assembling peptides play increasingly important roles in the development of novel materials and drug delivery vehicles. Understanding mechanisms governing the assembly of nanoarchitectures is essential for the generation of peptide-based nanodevices. We find that a cone-shaped derivative of the second transmembrane domain of CXCR4 receptor, x4-2-6 self-assembles into nanospheres, while a related cylindrical peptide, x4-2-9 forms fibrils. Stronger intermolecular interactions in nanospheres than in fibrils result in slow rates of particle disassembly and protection against proteolytic degradation.     

Terbium photoluminescence in yttrium aluminum garnet xerogels

Based on a colloidal solution containing terbium, yttrium, and aluminum metal ions, a powder was synthesized and films of terbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Tb_0.15Y_2.85Al₅O₁₂ were grown on single-crystal silicon and porous anodic alumina. Annealing of the sample in a temperature range from 200–1100°C results in an increase in the photoluminescence intensity in the wavelength range from 480–640 nm, which is caused by Tb³⁺ ion intra-atomic transitions ⁵ D ₄→⁷ F _j (j = 3, 4, 5, 6). Annealing at 900°C and higher temperatures gives rise to low-intensity photoluminescence bands in the region of 667 and 681 nm, which correspond to transitions ⁵ D ₄→⁷ F ₀, ⁵ D ₄→⁷ F ₁, and room-temperature Stark term splitting, which suggests the existence of a crystalline environment of Tb³⁺ ions. The FWHM of spectral lines in the region of 543 nm decreases from ～10 to ～(2–3) nm as the xerogel annealing temperature is increased from 700 to 900°C and higher. Three bands with maxima at 280, 330, and 376 nm, which correspond to Tb³⁺ ion transitions ⁷ F ₆→⁵ I ₈, ⁵ L ₆, ⁵ G ₆, ⁵ D ₃, are observed in the photoluminescence excitation spectra of the studied structures for the emission wavelength at 543 nm. X-ray diffraction detected the formation of a crystalline phase for a terbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet powder after annealing at 1100°C.     

Polarization Properties of Photoluminescence of Anisotropic Polymer Films Containing Aligned Au Nanorods and Semiconductor Nanoparticles of Various Shape

Semiconductors - Anisotropic polymer films containing aligned Au nanorods and semiconductor nanoparticles of various shape were fabricated. The photoluminescence of semiconductor nanoparticles in...     

Copper Chloride Nonlinear Optical Absorption under Quantum Confinement

Abstract

With the aid of two independently tunable lasers the influence has been studied of optical excitation on light absorption in the Z₃-band of CuCl crystals with size 25–75 Å in a glass matrix. It has been found that resonance pumping leads to a significant blue shift of the band caused by the interaction of excitations under quantum confinement. Interband excitation with intensity up to 0·3 GW cm^?2 does not affect the exciton absorption.     

Analysis of Stiffness and Positioning Accuracy of a Tripod Robot

This paper considers a method of determining the stiffness and displacement of the output link of a tripod robot that is a part of a robotic system with relative manipulation modules based on a Jacobian matrix. It shows that the stiffness maps reveal the maximum and minimum stiffness in the robot workspace. An algorithm for calculating the error caused by the displacement of the output link under the action of the cutting force is given. The modeling results are presented.     

Isopentenol Utilization Pathway for the Production of Linalool in Escherichia coli Using an Improved Bacterial Linalool/Nerolidol Synthase

Linalool is a monoterpenoid used as a fragrance ingredient, and is a promising source for alternative fuels. Synthetic biology offers attractive alternative production methods compared to extraction from natural sources and chemical synthesis. Linalool/nerolidol synthase (bLinS) from Streptomyces clavuligerus is a bifunctional enzyme, producing linalool as well as the sesquiterpenoid nerolidol when expressed in engineered Escherichia coli harbouring a precursor terpenoid pathway such as the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. Here we identified two residues important for substrate selection by bLinS, L72 and V214, where the introduction of bulkier residues results in variants with reduced nerolidol formation. Terpenoid production using canonical precursor pathways is usually limited by numerous and highly regulated enzymatic steps. Here we compared the canonical MVA pathway to the non-canonical isopentenol utilization (IU) pathway to produce linalool using the optimised bLinS variant. The IU pathway uses isoprenol and prenol to produce linalool in only five steps. Adjusting substrate, plasmid system, inducer concentration, and cell strain directs the flux towards monoterpenoids. Our integrated approach, combining enzyme engineering with flux control using the artificial IU pathway, resulted in high purity production of the commercially attractive monoterpenoid linalool, and will guide future efforts towards efficient optimisation of terpenoid production in engineered microbes.     

Polarized Retroreflection from Nanoporous III–V Semiconductors

Semiconductors - “Retroreflected light with strong linear polarization coinciding with that of the incident beams is detected from strongly absorbing nanoporous III–V semiconductors....