Mechanical Properties of Boehmite Evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy Experiments and Molecular Dynamic Finite Element Simulations

Boehmite nanoparticles show great potential in improving mechanical properties of fiber reinforced polymers. In order to predict the properties of nanocomposites, knowledge about the material parameters of the constituent phases, including the boehmite particles, is crucial. In this study, the mechanical behavior of boehmite is investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments and Molecular Dynamic Finite Element Method (MDFEM) simulations. Young's modulus of the perfect crystalline boehmite nanoparticles is derived from numerical AFM simulations. Results of AFM experiments on boehmite nanoparticles deviate significantly. Possible causes are identified by experiments on complementary types of boehmite, that is, geological and hydrothermally synthesized samples, and further simulations of imperfect crystals and combined boehmite/epoxymodels. Under certain circumstances, the mechanical behavior of boehmite was found to be dominated by inelastic effects that are discussed in detail in the present work. The studies are substantiated with accompanying X-ray diffraction and Raman experiments.DFG/FOR/202

Strong negative self regulation of Prokaryotic transcription factors increases the intrinsic noise of protein expression

Background Many prokaryotic transcription factors repress their own transcription. It is often asserted that such regulation enables a cell to homeostatically maintain protein abundance. We explore the role of negative self regulation of transcription in regulating the variability of protein abundance using a variety of stochastic modeling techniques. Results We undertake a novel analysis of a classic model for negative self regulation. We demonstrate that, with standard approximations, protein variance relative to its mean should be independent of repressor strength in a physiological range. Consequently, in that range, the coefficient of variation would increase with repressor strength. However, stochastic computer simulations demonstrate that there is a greater increase in noise associated with strong repressors than predicted by theory. The discrepancies between the mathematical analysis and computer simulations arise because with strong repressors the approximation that leads to Michaelis-Menten-like hyperbolic repression terms ceases to be valid. Because we observe that strong negative feedback increases variability and so is unlikely to be a mechanism for noise control, we suggest instead that negative feedback is evolutionarily favoured because it allows the cell to minimize mRNA usage. To test this, we used in silico evolution to demonstrate that while negative feedback can achieve only a modest improvement in protein noise reduction compared with the unregulated system, it can achieve good improvement in protein response times and very substantial improvement in reducing mRNA levels. Conclusions Strong negative self regulation of transcription may not always be a mechanism for homeostatic control of protein abundance, but instead might be evolutionarily favoured as a mechanism to limit the use of mRNA. The use of hyperbolic terms derived from quasi-steady-state approximation should also be avoided in the analysis of stochastic models with strong repressors

KLEIN: A New Family of Lightweight Block Ciphers

Resource-efficient cryptographic primitives become fundamental for realizing both security and efficiency in embedded systems like RFID tags and sensor nodes. Among those primitives, lightweight block cipher plays a major role as a building block for security protocols. In this paper, we describe a new family of lightweight block ciphers named KLEIN, which is designed for resource-constrained devices such as wireless sensors and RFID tags. Compared to the related proposals, KLEIN has advantage in the software performance on legacy sensor platforms, while in the same time its hardware implementation can also be compact

Invariant Based Transversely-Isotropic Material and Failure Model for Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

In this article, a constitutive formulation of a transversely-isotropic material and failure model for fiber-reinforced polymers is presented comprising pre-failure material nonlinearities, a novel invariant based quadratic failure criterion (IQC) as well as post failure material softening. The failure surface of the IQ criterion is assumed to take the influence of triaxiality on fracture into account. Further, a distinction between fiber failure and inter-fiber failure is conducted. Material softening is governed by a fracture energy formulation and the introduction of an internal length. The constitutive model is implemented into a programming user interface of the commercial finite element program Abaqus. As results, different laminate lay-ups are modelled and exposed to different stress states in an FE analysis. The obtained failure surfaces and stress strain curves for each laminate lay-up are compared to experimental data. As further applications of the material model presented, a curved composite beam, showing delamination, and a 0 /90 /0 -rod, showing the characteristic damage state in the 90 layer, are simulated and compared to tests

Cellular immune activation in cerebrospinal fluid from ugandans with cryptococcal meningitis and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is characterized by high fungal burden and limited leukocyte trafficking to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The immunopathogenesis of CM immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after initiation of antiretroviral therapy at the site of infection is poorly understood. METHODS: We characterized the lineage and activation status of mononuclear cells in blood and CSF of HIV-infected patients with noncryptococcal meningitis (NCM) (n = 10), those with CM at day 0 (n = 40) or day 14 (n = 21) of antifungal therapy, and those with CM-IRIS (n = 10). RESULTS: At diagnosis, highly activated CD8(+) T cells predominated in CSF in both CM and NCM. CM-IRIS was associated with an increasing frequency of CSF CD4(+) T cells (increased from 2.2% to 23%; P = .06), a shift in monocyte phenotype from classic to an intermediate/proinflammatory, and increased programmed death ligand 1 expression on natural killer cells (increased from 11.9% to 61.6%, P = .03). CSF cellular responses were distinct from responses in peripheral blood. CONCLUSIONS: After CM, T cells in CSF tend to evolve with the development of IRIS, with increasing proportions of activated CD4(+) T cells, migration of intermediate monocytes to the CSF, and declining fungal burden. These changes provide insight into IRIS pathogenesis and could be exploited to more effectively treat CM and prevent CM-IRIS

Implementing U.S. Foreign Policy: A Framework for Applying American Foreign Policy

The following thesis portfolio addresses the overarching research question of “How should U.S. foreign policy be implemented?” To answer this question, the thesis examines three areas of study: (1) how policy is sold, (2) how it should be crafted, and (3) finally, how it could be implemented. Chapter one examines how U.S. presidents sell foreign policy to the American public, focusing on the tool that religion and religious speech play in the process. While a powerful political force, the chapter sought to determine how religion can drive policy. Examining presidential speeches and decisions pertaining to foreign policy in two case studies, the research determined that religion can play a number of roles in any given presidency, and that it can be used to secure political capital for momentous policy initiatives or significant shifts in policy. Chapter two asked “What should be the fundamental/theoretical underpinnings of American foreign policy?” This chapter addressed this question in the hope of learning what core considerations should always be contemplated when devising policy. After analyzing various geopolitical theories, we set out how to describe the utility conservative geopolitical thought brings to current foreign policy issues and why certain hard-truths to include culture, geography and history must always be consulted in formulating policy. Chapter three was dedicated to completing the foreign policy process, exploring the topic of application or implementation. Having explored how policy can be sold and how it should be crafted, it was natural to examine how it would successfully be put into action. Specifically, the research goal in this chapter was to determine the most critical component required to successfully implement U.S. foreign policy and then construct a prospective policy to demonstrate implementation of a policy aimed at preserving a vital national interest. To demonstrate this, a threat analysis was conducted on the possibility of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) terror attack on the American homeland

Optimization-based calibration of hydrodynamic drag coefficients for a semisubmersible platform using experimental data of an irregular sea state

For the simulation of the coupled dynamic response of floating offshore wind turbines, it is crucial to calibrate the hydrodynamic damping with experimental data. The aim of this work is to find a set of hydrodynamic drag coefficients for the semisubmersible platform of the Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration, Continuation, with Correlation and unCertainity (OC6) project which provides suitable results for an irregular sea state. Due to the complex interaction of several degrees of freedom (DOF), it is common to calibrate drag coefficients with the time series of decay tests. However, applying these drag coefficients for the simulation of an irregular sea state results in misprediction of the motions. By using numerical optimization, it is possible to calibrate multiple drag coefficients simultaneously and effectively, while also considering several DOF. This work considers time series of structural displacements from wave tank tests of the OC6 project and from simulations of the same load cases in OpenFAST. Results are transferred into the frequency domain and the deviation between power spectral densities of surge, pitch and heave from experiment and numerical simulation is used as an objective function to obtain the best fitting drag coefficients. This novel numerical optimization approach enables finding one set of drag coefficients for different load cases, which is a major improvement compared to decay-test-tuned drag coefficients. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Eine einfache Methode zur Ermittlung aller Querspannungen in Faserverbundplatten als Voraussetzung einer verbesserten Versagensanalyse

  &nbsp

Design Optimization of Composite Cylindrical Shells under Uncertainty

Four different approaches for the design of axially compressed cylindrical shells are presented, namely (1) the knockdown factor (KDF) concept, (2) the single perturbation load approach, (3) a probabilistic design procedure and (4) the convex anti-optimization approach. The different design approaches take the imperfection sensitivity and the scatter of input parameters into account differently. In this paper, the design of a composite cylinder is optimized considering the ply angles as design variables. The KDF concept provides a very conservative design load and in addition an imperfection sensitive design, whereas the other approaches lead to a significantly less conservative design load and to a less imperfection sensitive design configuration. The ways in which imperfection sensitivity is treated by the different approaches and how these influence the optimal design configuration is discussed