The dynamics of a delayed generalized fractional-order biological networks with predation behavior and material cycle

In this paper, a delayed generalized fractional-order biological networks with predation behavior and material cycle is comprehensively discussed. Some criteria of stability and bifurcation for the present system is presented. Moreover some results of two delays are obtained. Finally, some numerical simulations are presented to support the analytical results

Characterization of variants in the promoter of BZLF1 gene of EBV in nonmalignant EBV-associated diseases in Chinese children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diseases associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections, such as infectious mononucleosis (IM), EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) and chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) are not rare in Chinese children. The association of type 1 or type 2 EBV and variants of the EBV BZLF1 promoter zone (Zp) with these diseases is unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between EBV genotypes (Zp variants and EBV type 1 and 2) and the clinical phenotypes of EBV-associated diseases in Chinese children. The Zp region was directly sequenced in 206 EBV-positive DNA samples from the blood of patients with IM, EBV-HLH, CAEBV, and healthy controls. Type 1 or type 2 EBV was examined by PCR for EBNA2 and EBNA3C subtypes. Four polymorphic Zp variants were identified: Zp-P, Zp-V3, Zp-P4 and Zp-V1, a new variant. The Zp-V3 variant was significantly associated with CAEBV (<it>P </it>≤ 0.01). The frequency of co-infection with Zp variants was higher in patients with CAEBV and EBV-HLH, compared with IM and healthy controls, mostly as Zp-P+V3 co-infection. Type 1 EBV was predominant in all categories (81.3-95%) and there was no significant difference in the frequency of the EBV types 1 and 2 in different categories (<it>P </it>> 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Type 1 EBV and BZLF1 Zp-P of EBV were the predominant genotypes in nonmalignant EBV associated diseases in Chinese children and Zp-V3 variant may correlates with the developing of severe EBV infection diseases, such as CAEBV and EBV-HLH.</p

Mechanical Behavior of Unsaturated Soils Subjected to Impact Loading

This paper presents an experimental study on unsaturated soils. A designed test setup was used and the impact loading was applied with a drop hammer. The experimental results show that the soil properties, including water content, density, void ratio, and saturation, changed because of impact loading, and these variations of the soil properties affected the matrix suctions of the unsaturated soils. The impact hole depth increased with the increasing impact energy and gradually reached a critical value. The dynamic stress in soil increased with the increased impact loading. The results obtained in this work can be applied to optimize the effective reinforcement region of soils in the dynamic compaction construction

A strategy to introduce multi-gradient structures into iron by explosive shock wave processing

A strategy combining shock-induced phase transition, twins, and dislocations to produce a multi-gradient structure in Fe is designed and proposed by the explosive processing method. A specific emulsion explosive is designed to introduce gradient pressure into iron ranging from 8.3 to 13.4 GPa by smooth particle hydrodynamics method. The pressure range generated by explosive processing covered shock loading phase transition point, shock unloading phase transition point, twin activating point and elastoplastic dislocation point of iron, creating gradient phase transition, gradient twins, gradient dislocations and gradient grain size structures in iron. The mechanism of gradient grain size formation is illustrated based on the twins and dislocation boundaries. Due to the multi-gradient microstructure, a demonstrating gradient hardness range from 1231.3 Hv to 89.8 Hv is distributed from the surface to the internal of the iron. This method lays an experimental foundation for Fe, Ti, Mg based gradient materials that undergo phase transition under low shock pressure

Cryogel-Templated Fabrication of n-Al/PVDF Superhydrophobic Energetic Films with Exceptional Underwater Ignition Performance

The rapid heat loss and corrosion of nano-aluminum limits the energy performance of metastable intermolecular composites (MICs) in aquatic conditions. In this work, superhydrophobic n-Al/PVDF films were fabricated by the cryogel-templated method. The underwater ignition performance of the energetic films was investigated. The preparation process of energetic materials is relatively simple, and avoids excessively high temperatures, ensuring the safety of the entire experimental process. The surface of the n-Al/PVDF energetic film exhibits super-hydrophobicity. Because the aluminum nanoparticles are uniformly encased in the hydrophobic energetic binder, the film is more waterproof and anti-aging. Laser-induced underwater ignition experiments show that the superhydrophobic modification can effectively induce the ignition of energetic films underwater. The results suggest that the cryogel-templated method provides a feasible route for underwater applications of energetic materials, especially nanoenergetics-on-a-chip in underwater micro-scale energy-demanding systems