The interactive bending wrinkling behaviour of inflated beams

ArticleA model is proposed based on a Fourier series method to analyse the interactive bending wrinkling behaviour of inflated beams. The whole wrinkling evolution is tracked and divided into three stages by identifying the bifurcations of the equilibrium path. The critical wrinkling and failure moments of inflated beam are then able to be predicted. The global-local interactive buckling pattern is elucidated by the proposed theoretical model and also verified by non-contact experimental tests. The effects of geometric parameters, internal pressure and boundary conditions on the buckling of inflated beams are investigated in the end. Results reveal that the interactive buckling characteristics of inflated beam under bending are more sensitive to the dimensions of the structure and boundary conditions. We find that beams which are simply supported at both ends or clamped and simply supported boundary conditions may prevent the wrinkling formation. The results provide significant support for our understanding of the bending-wrinkling behaviour of inflated beams.This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, 11172079 and 11572099; Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, NCET-11-0807; Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China, A2015002; the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, HIT.BRETIII.201209 and HIT.MKSTISP.2016 29

Review and selection of recycling technology for lithium-ion batteries made for EV application - A life cycle perspective

The lithium-ion battery is the source of renewable energy and the battery-operated vehicles are gradually replacing fossil fuel-based automobiles. Though Electric Vehicles (EVs) do not produce emissions through tailpipes, yet the issues pertaining to recycling of the lithium-ion batteries employed in EVs lead to environmental burdens. The EVs sale in global market exceeds a million per year. It is estimated that there will be a huge amount of unprocessed waste of lithium-ion battery packs when these vehicles retire after the service life. The re-use of batteries can reduce the waste generation, however the cumulative burden of the battery wastes will be substantial considering the increasing trend of the electric-vehicle market. There are various methods employed for recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The existing literature reports that their environmental impact is significant. The challenge is to choose a method which causes minimal disruptions to the environment in terms of cost, pollution and energy consumption, which can be effectively addressed by a life cycle analysis based selection method. In this paper, a review is conducted on the current recycling technologies and WPM (Weighted Product Method) based Multi-Criteria Approach is employed to optimally choose the best recycling process for lithium-ion batteries from life cycle perspective

Ultrasonic songs and stridulum anatomy of Asiophlugis crystal predatory katydids (Tettigonioidea: Meconematinae: Phlugidini)

The behavioural ecology of ultrasonic-singing katydids is not well understood, and the general bioacoustics, barely known for a few Neotropical Meconematinae, tends to be overlooked for species from Southeast Asia. These include Asiatic species of Phlugidini, commonly known as crystal predatory katydids. One of its genera, Asiophlugis consists of 16 species for which acoustic signals and stridulum anatomy are broadly unknown. These characters can be used to understand species boundaries. Here, we sampled Asiophlugis from five sites in Malay Peninsula and Borneo Island, recorded the acoustic signals of five species plus one subspecies using ultrasound sensitive equipment, and examined their stridulum anatomy. The calling songs of the taxa involved were documented for the first time. We found that the stridulum anatomy (e.g., tooth distributions, tooth length and tooth density) is distinct between species but less so between subspecies. In contrary, songs of different taxa are different based on acoustic parameters (e.g., pulse duration, peak frequency) and descriptive patterns, even between the subspecies. We also did not observe that song signals are more different in sympatry than in allopatry. Whether this can be generalised requires further sampling, highlighting the need for more research on the ultrasonic acoustic communication in Asiatic katydids

Treatment of insomnia in myasthenia gravis-A prospective study on non-benzodiazepine hypnotics in the treatment of myasthenia gravis patients with insomnia

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with insomnia. Methods: This is a prospective longitudinal study. Outpatients who met the criteria for stable MG and insomnia diagnosis according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (third edition) were included in the study. They took a regular dose of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (zolpidem 10 mg per night or zopiclone 7.5 mg per night) based on their own preferences. Patients received psychotherapy (including sleep health education) and were followed up for 4–5 weeks. Cases with lung diseases, respiratory disorders, or inappropriate use of hypnotic medications were excluded. The primary outcome is the difference in total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score between baseline and the end of follow-up period. Secondary outcomes include the difference in Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) between baseline and the end of follow-up period and the safety of medication. Results: A total of 75 MG patients with insomnia were included in this study. After 4–5 weeks of treatment, the total PSQI score and MG-ADL score were lower than baseline (p < 0.01). No patients had an increased MG-ADL score. The incidence rate of adverse events was 16.0% (12 cases), including dizziness (6 cases, 8.0%), drowsiness (3 cases, 4.0%), fatigue (2 cases, 2.7%), and nausea (1 case, 1.3%), all of which were mild. No patients had new onset breathing disorders. Conclusion: Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics are safe and effective for stable MG patients who need insomnia treatment

Swimming using surface acoustic waves

Microactuation of free standing objects in fluids is currently dominated by the rotary propeller, giving rise to a range of potential applications in the military, aeronautic and biomedical fields. Previously, surface acoustic waves (SAWs) have been shown to be of increasing interest in the field of microfluidics, where the refraction of a SAW into a drop of fluid creates a convective flow, a phenomenon generally known as SAW streaming. We now show how SAWs, generated at microelectronic devices, can be used as an efficient method of propulsion actuated by localised fluid streaming. The direction of the force arising from such streaming is optimal when the devices are maintained at the Rayleigh angle. The technique provides propulsion without any moving parts, and, due to the inherent design of the SAW transducer, enables simple control of the direction of travel

Borneo Vortices in a warmer climate

This is the final version. Available from Nature Research via the DOI in this record. DATA AVAILABILITY: The CMIP6 HighResMIP data are downloaded from the data node website of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (https://esgf-node.llnl.gov/projects/cmip6/). The ERA5 climate reanalysis datasets can be downloaded from the website of the Copernicus Programme (https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/cdsapp#!/dataset/ reanalysis-era5-pressure-levels?tab=overview). The TRACK outputs for the identified BV features based on the datasets above are available upon request from the corresponding author Ju Liang: [email protected] Vortices (BVs) are weather systems that are responsible for devastating hydro-climatic extremes and significant losses of life and property in Southeast Asia. The typical resolution of most current climate models is insufficient to resolve these high-impact, synoptic-scale weather systems. Here, an ensemble of high-resolution models projects that future BVs may become less frequent and more stationary, driven by the weakening of the Northeast monsoon flow and associated cold surges across North Borneo. However, substantial increases in both the intensity and the total amount of precipitation from BVs are projected. Such changes are driven by the more humid and convectively unstable lower troposphere. As a result, the contribution of BVs to the accumulation of both total precipitation and extreme precipitation is projected to increase considerably in the vicinity of the southern South China Sea, making individual BVs more threatening to the adjacent coastal regions.Natural Environment Research CouncilMinistry of Higher Education MalaysiaMinistry of Higher Education Malaysi

Bioacoustics and biophysical analysis of a newly described highly transparent genus of predatory katydids from the Andean cloud forest (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae: Phlugidini)

Transparency is a greatly advantageous form of camouflage, allowing species to passively avoid detection regardless of the properties of the surface which they occupy. However, it is uncommon and poorly understood in terrestrial species. In one tribe of predacious katydids (Phlugidini), transparency is paired with highly ultrasonic communication for increased predator evasion, yet little is known about the singing capabilities of these species, with only one genus of Phlugidini acoustically well described to date. Here, we describe Speculophlugis hishquten new genus and species of highly transparent crystal katydid species from the Andean cloud forest, discussing the potential use of this species for non-invasive studies of internal anatomy, and analysing its ultrasonic call. Using laser Doppler vibrometry and light microscopy techniques, we found the transparency of the cuticle around the hearing apparatus to be 85-87 % at the wavelength of the laser beam (633 nm), making S. hishquten a candidate for the highest recorded cuticle transparency of any insect. The male song has a fundamental frequency of 50 kHz, matching both the ultrasonic call range and rapid call structure of other Phlugidini species. However, the extent of ultrasonic communication and the level of transparency across the Phlugidini tribe requires more attention

The impact of hyperhidrosis on patients' daily life and quality of life : A qualitative investigation

Background: An understanding of the daily life impacts of hyperhidrosis and how patients deal with them, based on qualitative research, is lacking. This study investigated the impact of hyperhidrosis on the daily life of patients using a mix of qualitative research methods. Methods: Participants were recruited through hyperhidrosis patient support groups such as the Hyperhidrosis Support Group UK. Data were collected using focus groups, interviews and online surveys. A grounded theory approach was used in the analysis of data transcripts. Data were collected from 71 participants, out of an initial 100 individuals recruited. Results: Seventeen major themes capturing the impacts of hyperhidrosis were identified; these covered all areas of life including daily life, psychological well-being, social life, professional /school life, dealing with hyperhidrosis, unmet health care needs and physical impact. Conclusions: Psychosocial impacts are central to the overall impacts of hyperhidrosis, cutting across and underlying the limitations experienced in other areas of life.Peer reviewe

Papillary renal cell carcinoma with metastatic laparoscopic port site and vaginal involvement: a case report

10.1186/1752-1947-5-131Journal of Medical Case Reports513