FEM modeling of structure and properties of diamond-SiC-(Al) composites developed for thermal management applications

Thermal management materials frequently have multi-phase composite character with complex architecture of the constituents. As a result, design rules are needed which can be used in selection of the phases and optimizing their volume fractions. The study shows that such are provided by finite element modeling of these composites. This is demonstrated for a diamond-SiC-Si-(Al) composites, which have been optimized in terms of the volume fraction of SiC, contact area between the components and presence of open porosity

Age Affects the Expression of Maternal Care and Subsequent Behavioural Development of Offspring in a Precocial Bird

Variations of breeding success with age have been studied largely in iteroparous species and particularly in birds: survival of offspring increases with parental age until senescence. Nevertheless, these results are from observations of free-living individuals and therefore, it remains impossible to determine whether these variations result from parental investment or efficiency or both, and whether these variations occur during the prenatal or the postnatal stage or during both. Our study aimed first, to determine whether age had an impact on the expression of maternal breeding care by comparing inexperienced female birds of two different ages, and second, to define how these potential differences impact chicks’ growth and behavioural development. We made 22 2-month-old and 22 8-month-old female Japanese quail foster 1-day-old chicks. We observed their maternal behaviour until the chicks were 11 days old and then tested these chicks after separation from their mothers. Several behavioural tests estimated their fearfulness and their sociality. We observed first that a longer induction was required for young females to express maternal behaviour. Subsequently as many young females as elder females expressed maternal behaviour, but young females warmed chicks less, expressed less covering postures and rejected their chicks more. Chicks brooded by elder females presented higher growth rates and more fearfulness and sociality. Our results reveal that maternal investment increased with age independently of maternal experience, suggesting modification of hormone levels implied in maternal behaviour. Isolated effects of maternal experience should now be assessed in females of the same age. In addition, our results show, for first time in birds, that variations in maternal care directly induce important differences in the behavioural development of chicks. Finally, our results confirm that Japanese quail remains a great laboratory model of avian maternal behaviour and that the way we sample maternal behaviour is highly productive

Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and metabolic syndrome in adolescents: A cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In adults, there is a substantial body of evidence that physical inactivity or low cardiorespiratory fitness levels are strongly associated with the development of metabolic syndrome. Although this association has been studied extensively in adults, little is known regarding this association in adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness levels with metabolic syndrome in Brazilian adolescents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A random sample of 223 girls (mean age, 14.4 ± 1.6 years) and 233 boys (mean age, 14.6 ± 1.6 years) was selected for the study. The level of physical activity was determined by the Bouchard three-day physical activity record. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated by the Leger 20-meter shuttle run test. The metabolic syndrome components assessed included waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting plasma glucose levels. Independent Student <it>t</it>-tests were used to assess gender differences. The associations between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with the presence of metabolic syndrome were calculated using logistic regression models adjusted for age and gender.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A high prevalence of metabolic syndrome was observed in inactive adolescents (males, 11.4%; females, 7.2%) and adolescents with low cardiorespiratory fitness levels (males, 13.9%; females, 8.6%). A significant relationship existed between metabolic syndrome and low cardiorespiratory fitness (OR, 3.0 [1.13-7.94]).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high among adolescents who are inactive and those with low cardiorespiratory fitness. Prevention strategies for metabolic syndrome should concentrate on enhancing fitness levels early in life.</p

Analysis of stresses, cod and energy released rate G for symmetrically branching cracks

W pracy analizowano pola naprężeń i względne przemieszczenia brzegów niewielkich symetrycznych pęknięć powstałych w wierzchołku płaskiej szczeliny pod pewnym kątem do jej płaszczyzny. Zaproponowano analityczno-numeryczną metodę wyznaczania uogólnionej wartości współczynnika uwalniania energii G. Dla płaskiego i antypłaskiego stanu odkształcenia wyznaczono względne przemieszczenia brzegów odgałęzionych szczelin w zależności od kierunku nachylenia odgałęzionego pęknięcia i rodzaju obciążenia zewnętrznego. W obliczeniach wykorzystano metodę elementów skończonych MES. Względne rozwarcie brzegów odgałęzień szczeliny opisano odpowiednimi funkcjami uwzględniającymi charakter osobliwości pola naprężeń w okolicy wierzchołkowej umożliwiającymi obliczenie współczynników G.Mutual interactions between two neighboring singular stress fields for symmetrically branching cracks are analyzed. Using the finite element method and ANSYS program, relative crack opening displacements and range of validity of the singular stress fields have been obtained. Some special functions were chosen for describing crack face opening and calculating the ener- gy release rate G and its particular components. Numerical results made it possible to explain the influence and applicability of stress intensity factors for such cracks and show qualitatively additional effects and cracking conditions around the crack tip for plane and anti-plane crack problems

Analysis of stresses, cod and energy released rate g for branching cracks

W pracy analizowano pola naprężeń i względne przemieszczenia brzegów niewielkiego pęknięcia powstałego w wierzchołku płaskiej szczeliny pod pewnym kątem do jej płaszczyzny. Wykorzystując metodę elementów skończonych MES zbadano charakter, zasięg oraz wzajemne oddziaływanie sąsiadujących osobliwych pól naprężeń – w okolicy wierzchołkowej odgałęzienia i w ostrym narożu. Dla płaskiego i antypłaskiego stanu odkształcenia określono ilościowe i jakościowe różnice tych oddziaływań w zależności od kierunku nachylenia odgałęzionego pęknięcia i rodzaju obciążenia zewnętrznego. Względne rozwarcie brzegów odgałęzionej szczeliny opisano odpowiednimi funkcjami uwzględniającymi charakter obu osobliwości oraz porównano kształty rozwarcia z przybliżonym rozwiązaniem wynikającym z lokalnych wartości współczynników intensywności naprężeń. Zaproponowano analityczno-numeryczną metodę wyznaczania uogólnionej warto- ści współczynnika uwalniania energii G w takich przypadkach.Mutual interactions between two neighboring singular stress fields for branching cracks are analyzed. Using the finite element method and ANSYS program, relative crack opening and range of validity of the singular stress fields have been obtained. Some special functions were chosen for describing crack face opening, including two different singular stress field exponents. Numerical results make it possible to explain the influence and applicability of stress intensity factors for such cracks and show qualitatively additional effects and cracking conditions around the crack tip for plane and anti-plane crack problems

FEM Modeling of Structure and Properties of Diamond-SiC-(Al) Composites Developed for Thermal Management Applications

score: 0collation: 173-17