A Simple One-Scale Constitutive Model for Static Liquefaction of Sand-Silt Mixtures

Instability of liquefaction is one of the major reasons which results in the failure of earth structure such as dam. The present study focuses on the simulation of static liquefaction behavior for granular materials such as sand and sand-silt mixtures. Based on micromechanical analysis of inter-particle behavior, a simple one-scale model is proposed to simulate the stress-strain response of sand; then the proposed model is extended to simulate the sand-silt mixtures using the mixture theory combining the properties of sand and silt according to their proportions. Empirical expressions are introduced to fit the critical state strength and the location of the critical state line for each mixture. Parameters of the model can be divided into two categories: the first seven parameters have the same values either with pure sand or pure silt for silt-sand with any given fines content; the other three parameters are the function of fines content and three more parameters are required to estimate their values. The predicted results of triaxial test of sand and sand-silt mixtures with different fine content, which has a good agreement with the results of laboratory tests, suggest that the proposed model can simulate static liquefaction behavior of sand and sand-silt mixtures

A Method for Improving Production Management Training by Integrating an Industry 4.0 Innovation Center in China

Production Management is an important issue for organizations that spend considerable amounts of investment annually on personnel training. Especially in the era of Industry 4.0 and Intelligent Manufacturing, considering the exponential growth of new knowledge and information, personnel need to update and supplement the necessary knowledge. Nevertheless, there is a lack of adequate methodology for executing trainings in the field of production management. This paper aims to develop a method for executing production management training which combines online learning and offline training as well as practical parts by using an Industry 4.0 Innovation Center equipped with model devices. A procedure is to first starting with an E-Learning module containing basic knowledge, accessible on the Learning Platform Moodle. Secondly, an on-line survey is created to collect expectations and requirements. Then the training schedule is carried out for execution of professional training. The training part in the innovation center will contribute to build up the basis for adaptions of the training knowledge to practical need of a company. Lastly the test and evaluation is conducted via virtual team room (Vitero). A case study based on training service provider is used to validate the feasibility of the approach. The derived results are presented and conclusions are discussed

Solar Distillation System Based on Multiple-Effect Diffusion Type Still

The present study intends to develop a high-performance solar-assisted desalination system (SADS) using multi-effect diffusion type still (MEDS) and the vacuum tube solar collector (VTSC). A MEDS prototype was designed and built. The measured result is very close to the estimation. The 10-effect MEDS will produce pure water at about 13.7 L/day/m2 collector area at a solar irradiation of 600 W/m2 and 19.7 L/day/m2 collector area at solar irradiation 800 W/m2. For 20-effect still, the yield rate increase is 32% compared to 10-effect still

A novel endurance prediction method of series connected lithium-ion batteries based on the voltage change rate and iterative calculation.

High-power lithium-ion battery packs are widely used in large and medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles and other fields, but there is a safety hazard problem with the application that needs to be solved. The generation mechanism and prevention measurement research is carried out on the battery management system for the unmanned aerial vehicles and the lithium-ion battery state monitoring. According to the group equivalent modeling demand of the battery packs, a new idea of compound equivalent circuit modeling is proposed and the model constructed to realize the accurate description of the working characteristics. In order to realize the high-precision state prediction, the improved unscented Kalman feedback correction mechanism is introduced, in which the simplified particle transforming is introduced and the voltage change rate is calculated to construct a new endurance prediction model. Considering the influence of the consistency difference between battery cells, a novel equilibrium state evaluation idea is applied, the calculation results of which are embedded in the equivalent modeling and iterative calculation to improve the prediction accuracy. The model parameters are identified by the Hybrid Pulse Power Characteristic test, in which the conclusion is that the mean value of the ohm internal resistance is 20.68mΩ. The average internal resistance is 1.36mΩ, and the mean capacitance value is 47747.9F. The state of charge prediction error is less than 2%, which provides a feasible way for the equivalent modeling, battery management system design and practical application of pack working lithium-ion batteries

HSP90 Inhibitors, Geldanamycin and Radicicol, Enhance Fisetin-Induced Cytotoxicity via Induction of Apoptosis in Human Colonic Cancer Cells

We revealed the cytotoxic effect of the flavonoid, fisetin (FIS), on human COLO205 colon cancer cells in the presence and absence of the HSP90 inhibitors, geldanamycin (GA) and radicicol (RAD). Compared to FIS treatment alone of COLO205 cells, GA and RAD significantly enhanced FIS-induced cytotoxicity, increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 and the PAPR protein, and produced a greater density of DNA ladder formation. GA and RAD also reduced the MMPs with induction of caspase-9 protein cleavage in FIS-treated COLO205 cells. Increased caspase-3 and -9 activities were detected in COLO205 cells treated with FIS+GA or FIS+RAD, and the intensity of DNA ladder formation induced by FIS+GA was reduced by adding the caspase-3 inhibitor, DEVD-FMK. A decrease in Bcl-2 but not Bcl-XL or Bax protein by FIS+GA or FIS+RAD was identified in COLO205 cells by Western blotting. A reduction in p53 protein with increased ubiquitin-tagged proteins was observed in COLO205 cells treated with FIS+GA or FIS+RAD. Furthermore, GA and RAD reduced the stability of the p53 protein in COLO205 cells under FIS stimulation. The evidence supports HSP90 inhibitors possibly sensitizing human colon cancer cells to FIS-induced apoptosis, and treating colon cancer by combining HSP90 inhibitors with FIS deserves further in vivo study

Probing two driven double quantum dots strongly coupled to a cavity

We experimentally and theoretically study a driven hybrid circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) system beyond the dispersive coupling regime. Treating the cavity as part of the driven system, we develop a theory applicable to such strongly coupled and to multi-qubit systems. The fringes measured for a single driven double quantum dot (DQD)-cavity setting and the enlarged splittings of the hybrid Floquet states in the presence of a second DQD are well reproduced with our model. This opens a path to study Floquet states of multi-qubit systems with arbitrarily strong coupling and reveals a new perspective for understanding strongly driven hybrid systems.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

An iron detection system determines bacterial swarming initiation and biofilm formation

Iron availability affects swarming and biofilm formation in various bacterial species. However, how bacteria sense iron and coordinate swarming and biofilm formation remains unclear. Using Serratia marcescens as a model organism, we identify here a stage-specific iron-regulatory machinery comprising a two-component system (TCS) and the TCS-regulated iron chelator 2-isocyano-6,7-dihydroxycoumarin (ICDH-Coumarin) that directly senses and modulates environmental ferric iron (Fe3+) availability to determine swarming initiation and biofilm formation. We demonstrate that the two-component system RssA-RssB (RssAB) directly senses environmental ferric iron (Fe3+) and transcriptionally modulates biosynthesis of flagella and the iron chelator ICDH-Coumarin whose production requires the pvc cluster. Addition of Fe3+, or loss of ICDH-Coumarin due to pvc deletion results in prolonged RssAB signaling activation, leading to delayed swarming initiation and increased biofilm formation. We further show that ICDH-Coumarin is able to chelate Fe3+ to switch off RssAB signaling, triggering swarming initiation and biofilm reduction. Our findings reveal a novel cellular system that senses iron levels to regulate bacterial surface lifestyle