FRACTAL DIMENSIONS OF A POROUS CONCRETE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CONCRETE’S STRENGTH

All mechanical properties of a porous medium depend upon its fractal dimensions, however, how to measure the fractal dimensions is still an open issue. This paper adopts the two-scale fractal theory to calculate fast and effectively the fractal dimensions of a porous concrete. Of the concrete's properties that have been fascinating engineers and scientists, by far the most perplexing is the effects of its porosity and pore size on concrete's strength. Though there were many ad hoc empirical formulae for predicting the strength, much deviation arose for practical applications. Here a dimensionless model and the fractal theory are adopted to insight theoretically into the effects, and for the first time ever, some physically relative and mathematically reliable formulations are proposed. Additionally nano/micro particles’ size and distribution can also be used for theoretical prediction of the concrete’s strength, it shows that the boundary-induced force occurs when the particles tend to micro/nanoscales. The present theory sheds new light on the optimal design of various functional concretes

A GOOD INITIAL GUESS FOR APPROXIMATING NONLINEAR OSCILLATORS BY THE HOMOTOPY PERTURBATION METHOD

A good initial guess and an appropriate homotopy equation are two main factors in applications of the homotopy perturbation method. For a nonlinear oscillator, a cosine function is used in an initial guess. This article recommends a general approach to construction of the initial guess and the homotopy equation. Duffing oscillator is adopted as an example to elucidate the effectiveness of the method

Solar cell with MXene electrode.

A solar cell (100) includes a p-type silicon layer (105) having a first side and a second side and an n-type silicon layer (110) having a first side and a second side. The first side of the n-type silicon layer is arranged on the second side of the p-type silicon layer. The solar cell also includes a first metal electrode (115) arranged on the first side of the p-type silicon layer and a second metal electrode (120) arranged on the second side of the n-type silicon layer. The second metal electrode includes an MXene

Poly[bis­(μ4-benzene-1,4-dicarboxyl­ato)(μ4-succinato)diterbium(III)]

In the title compound, [Tb2(C4H4O4)(C8H4O4)2]n, the coord­in­ation around each Tb atom is distorted square-anti­prismatic. The benzene-1,4-dicarboxyl­ate and succinate anions bridge the anti­prisms, forming a three-dimensional network. The succinate anion is located on a centre of inversion. The structure is isomorphous with the Dy, Gd, Er and Nd complexes

Characterization of a Novel ArsR-Like Regulator Encoded by Rv2034 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, encodes a large number of putative transcriptional regulators. However, the identity and target genes of only a few of them have been clearly identified to date. In a recent study, the ArsR family regulator Rv2034 was characterized as a novel positive regulator of phoP. In the current study, we characterized the auto-repressive capabilities of Rv2034 and identified several residues in the protein critical for its DNA binding activities. We also provide evidence that Rv2034 forms dimers in vitro. Furthermore, by using DNaseI footprinting assays, a palindromic sequence was identified as its binding site. Notably, we found that the dosR promoter region contains the binding motif for Rv2034, and that Rv2034 positively regulates the expression of the dosR gene. The potential roles of Rv2034 in the regulation of lipid metabolism and hypoxic adaptation are discussed

PULL-DOWN INSTABILITY OF THE QUADRATIC NONLINEAR OSCILLATORS

A nonlinear vibration system, over a span of convincing periodic motion, might break out abruptly a catastrophic instability, but the lack of a theoretical tool has obscured the prediction of the outbreak. This paper deploys the amplitude-frequency formulation for nonlinear oscillators to reveal the critically important mechanism of the pseudo-periodic motion, and finds the quadratic nonlinear force contributes to the pull-down phenomenon in each cycle of the periodic motion, when the force reaches a threshold value, the pull-down instability occurs. A criterion for prediction of the pull-down instability is proposed and verified numerically

THERMAL OSCILLATION ARISING IN A HEAT SHOCK OF A POROUS HIERARCHY AND ITS APPLICATION

A building or a bridge might collapse after a heat shock. This paper shows that a porous hierarchy of a coating can effectively prevent a building or a bridge from such damage. A cocoon’s geometrical structure is studied and its resistance to the heat shock is revealed by a thermal oscillator. The theoretical model reveals an extremely low frequency of the thermal oscillator, which is very important for cocoons’ biomechanism, especially in the heat insulation function. At the same time, it shows that the cocoons have the best thickness to protect the pupa from the environment. In addition, surface temperature measurement of hierarchical mulberry leaves is performed. This work provides new insights into biomimetic design of the protective building and coatings

Single atom catalyst having a two dimensional support material.

A method for forming a single atom catalyst on a two-dimensional support material involves providing the two-dimensional support material. The two-dimensional support material is combined with at least two heteroatoms and a metal to form a solution. Liquid is removed from the solution to form a material that includes the two-dimensional support material, the at least two heteroatoms, and the metal. The material including the two-dimensional support material, the at least two heteroatoms, and the metal is heated to form the single atom catalyst that includes single atoms of the metal. The at least two heteroatoms bind the single atoms of the metal to, and stabilize the single atoms of the metal on, the two-dimensional support material

PASSIVE ATMOSPHERIC WATER HARVESTING UTILIZING AN ANCIENT CHINESE INK SLAB

Extraction of atmospheric water using a passive mechanism instead of a complex and advanced equipment has become an emerging subject. There is a clear record in MengxiBitan by Shen Kuo(1031~1095) that an ink slab has the ability to collect water from the air. Its mechanism is exactly similar to the Fangzhu [1], a recently investigated device for atmospheric water harvesting (AWH). Based on the Fangzhu device, a mathematical model for the AWH mechanism in ink slab-like materials is suggested. Using He’s frequency formulation and two-scale fractal derivatives the possible working mechanism of ink slab-like materials is investigated. The potential applications of ink slab-like structures for AWH in interior and exterior architecture are also presented and discussed. It is revealed that efficiency of the slabs highly depends on velocity and temperature of the flowing air and also its low-frequency characteristics

Triple bottom-line consideration of sustainable plant disease management: From economic, sociological and ecological perspectives

Plant disease management plays an important role in achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations (UN) such as food security, human health, socio-economic improvement, resource conservation and ecological resilience. However, technologies available are often limited due to different interests between producers and society and lacks of proper understanding of economic thresholds and the complex interactions among ecology, productivity and profitability. A comprehensive synergy and conflict evaluation of economic, sociological and ecological effects with technologies, productions and evolutionary principles as main components should be used to guide sustainable disease management that aims to mitigate crop and economic losses in the short term while maintaining functional farm ecosystem in the long term. Consequently, there should be an increased emphasis on technology development, public education and information exchange among governments, researchers, producers and consumers to broaden the options for disease management in the future