Failure Behaviours of Steel Projectiles with Localised Melting Against Armour Plates

The surface remelting technology of high energy beam can locally weaken the case for controlled fragmentation, which may affect the survivability of the impacting projectiles. Failure behaviours of steel projectiles with melted layers grid normally perforating armour plates was investigated. The results reveal that shear fracture mainly occurs in the nose region of projectiles due to high loading, and the melting zone of projectiles can keep integrity with no damage, which means the survivability of projectile can be assured. Furthermore, an analytical model was proposed to the structural analysis of projectile, which is in accordance with the test results

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Analysis of Power Loss for Crystalline Silicon Solar Module during the Course of Encapsulation

During the course of solar module encapsulation, the output power of crystalline silicon solar module is less than the sum of the maximum output power of the constituents because of power loss. So it is very important to investigate the power loss caused by encapsulation materials and module production process. In this paper, the power loss of crystalline silicon solar module is investigated by experiments systematically for the first time. It is found that the power loss is mainly caused by the resistance of ribbon and mismatch of solar cells; the total power loss is as high as 3.93% for solar module composed of 72 cells (125 mm × 125 mm) connected in series. Analyzing and reducing the power losses are beneficial to optimizing encapsulation process for the solar module. The results presented in this study give out a direction to decreasing power loss and optimizing encapsulation process of crystalline silicon solar module

Research on Steer-by-Wire System in Electric Vehicle

This paper is under in-depth investigation due to suspicion of possible plagiarism on a high similarity indexSteer-by-wire (SBW) system in electric vehicle replaces the mechanical connection between steering wheel and front wheels with cable in the traditional steering system, which overcomes the limitations of the traditional steering system for the drivers. It is a hot research topic in the field of new energy vehicles in the future. The proposed new structure of SBW in electric vehicle is introduced; its integrated control strategy consists of three modules. A coordinated control determines the body forces/moment required to achieve electric vehicle motion objectives. The body forces/moment are allocated to braking and steering subsystems based on phase plane notion. The coordination of these actuators is achieved through the controller of the feedback gains with respect to electric vehicle speed. The gain scheduled steering controller provides the desired yaw rate damping while keeping the yaw-lateral motion decoupled. The simulation test results show the effectiveness of the proposed architecture and steering control system when the SBW in electric vehicle is subject to critical driving situations. Our work provided a reference for further research of SBW system. 

RESEARCH ON PLUG-IN FILLET WELD FLAW DETECTING BY USING FLEXIBLE PHASED ARRAY TECHNIQUE

According to the common structure characteristics of the plug-in fillet weld, a new weld defect detecting method was presented in this paper. The flexible phased array probe was inserted into the internal surface of the tube under water immersion during the detection process. The beam focusing model of convex flexible phased array was theoretically analyzed. Meanwhile, the acoustic focus beam with CIVA software were simulated. The typical flaws were added to the model of plug-in fillet weld, and defect response were obtained. The sample of the plug-in fillet weld with artificial flaws is manufactured, the system was calibrated in the laboratory. The experiment results indicated that this technique can successfully detect the typical flaws of crack, slag and porosity. Finally, the technique was applied to the manufacture quality inspection of the products, one incomplete penetration and one porosity were detected. The detecting system can effectively ensure the general welding flaws of the product were detected

Genome-wide analyses of genes encoding FK506-binding proteins reveal their involvement in abiotic stress responses in apple

Abstract Background The FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) play diverse roles in numerous critical processes for plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, the FKBP gene family in the important fruit crop apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) has not been studied as thoroughly as in other species. Our research objective was to investigate the mechanisms by which apple FKBPs enable apple plants to tolerate the effects of abiotic stresses. Results Using bioinformatics-based methods, RT-PCR, and qRT-PCR technologies, we identified 38 FKBP genes and cloned 16 of them in the apple genome. The phylogenetic analysis revealed three major groups within that family. The results from sequence alignments, 3-D structures, phylogenetics, and analyses of conserved domains indicated that apple FKBPs are highly and structurally conserved. Furthermore, genomics structure analysis showed that those genes are also highly and structurally conserved in several other species. Comprehensive qRT-PCR analysis found various expression patterns for MdFKBPs in different tissues and in plant responses to water-deficit and salt stresses. Based on the results from interaction network and co-expression analyses, we determined that the pairing in the MdFKBP62a/MdFKBP65a/b-mediated network is involved in water-deficit and salt-stress signaling, both of which are uniformly up-regulated through interactions with heat shock proteins in apple. Conclusions These results provide new insight for further study of FKBP genes and their functions in abiotic stress response and multiple metabolic and physiological processes in apple

Data extraction instrument.

The ability to retain and remember information (memory) is essential to caregiving tasks. There is evidence that caregivers are at greater risk for experiencing deteriorations in cognitive status than non-caregivers, especially memory; however, we have a limited understanding of factors that are related to changes in caregiver memory. This scoping review intends to comprehensively map factors related to caregiver memory reported in the literature within the chronic caregiving context. Specific aims include (1) identifying factors related to caregiver memory; (2) examining how caregiver memory has been measured; and (3) describing changes in caregiver memory during their caregiving period. This review will be conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and reported using the PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies will be included if (1) the studies focus on home-based unpaid long term family caregiving; (2) study participants (patients), of any age, have one (or more) chronic illness or disability and receive care from a caregiver for 6 months or more; (3) caregivers are adults (> = 18 years of age). Any chronic disease or condition will be included. The search will encompass gray literature and peer-reviewed literature in MEDLINE (via Ovid), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (via EBSCOhost), Embase (via Elsevier), APA PsycINFO (via EBSCOhost), Sociology Source Ultimate (via EBSCOhost), and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Data extraction will include specific details about the participants, concept, context, study methods, and key caregiver-related findings. The Caregiver Health Model will provide a framework to categorize factors that impact caregivers’ memory including caregiver health promotion activities, caregiver attitudes and beliefs, caregiver task, and caregiver needs. Factors that do not fall into the Caregiver Health Model domains will be organized by emerging themes.</div

Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

The ability to retain and remember information (memory) is essential to caregiving tasks. There is evidence that caregivers are at greater risk for experiencing deteriorations in cognitive status than non-caregivers, especially memory; however, we have a limited understanding of factors that are related to changes in caregiver memory. This scoping review intends to comprehensively map factors related to caregiver memory reported in the literature within the chronic caregiving context. Specific aims include (1) identifying factors related to caregiver memory; (2) examining how caregiver memory has been measured; and (3) describing changes in caregiver memory during their caregiving period. This review will be conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and reported using the PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies will be included if (1) the studies focus on home-based unpaid long term family caregiving; (2) study participants (patients), of any age, have one (or more) chronic illness or disability and receive care from a caregiver for 6 months or more; (3) caregivers are adults (> = 18 years of age). Any chronic disease or condition will be included. The search will encompass gray literature and peer-reviewed literature in MEDLINE (via Ovid), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (via EBSCOhost), Embase (via Elsevier), APA PsycINFO (via EBSCOhost), Sociology Source Ultimate (via EBSCOhost), and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Data extraction will include specific details about the participants, concept, context, study methods, and key caregiver-related findings. The Caregiver Health Model will provide a framework to categorize factors that impact caregivers’ memory including caregiver health promotion activities, caregiver attitudes and beliefs, caregiver task, and caregiver needs. Factors that do not fall into the Caregiver Health Model domains will be organized by emerging themes.</div

PRISMA flow chart for the scoping review process.

Adapted from: Moher, Liberati, Tetzlaff, and Altman [25].</p