Measurements of interface thickness of two dissimilar materials: numerical and experimental verification

Interfaces and interfacial properties have been the focus of academic and industrial research for several decades. Research shows that the interfacial fracture toughness and the adhesion strength of two dissimilar materials are governed by the interface thickness. In this study, a new testing methodology was proposed and implemented to identify the interface thickness utilizing nanoindentation. The actual interface thickness between two dissimilar materials was derived from the transition domain of a series of indents across the interface. A numerical relationship was developed utilizing a 2-D finite element simulation to correlate the true interface thickness with the experimentally estimated apparent interface thickness. A variety of bi-material property combinations were simulated with Young\u27s modulus ratio, E1/E2=1-3, yield strength ratio [sigma][subscript Y]1/[sigma][subscript Y]2=1-2.5 and interface thickness 0-100 nm. The proposed methodology and the numerically calibrated relationship are in good agreement with the true interface thickness measured by transmission electron microscopy. The developed technique provides an easy and cheap alternative to understanding the extent of diffusion interface width and thereby extend the ability to manipulate the interface properties for a variety of structural applications, such as thin films, coatings, multilayers, interpenetrating networks, and composites, in a wide range of thermal, mechanical, electrical, bioengineering technologies and Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)

Complete fabrication station of scalable microfluidic devices for sensing applications

Microfluidics has become a field of intense research in the last decades due to the interesting capabilities this type of devices have. In the sensing area, they are meant to outperform classical laboratory techniques in terms of speed, volume of sample required, resolution, handling and efficiency. However, the technology has not achieved the predicted impact on the actual sensing world. Among the issues that slow down its development, the limited scalability of the fabrication techniques used results in a poor translation from research to the market

English Interpreting Teaching from the Perspective of Interpreter Qualities

With the frequent development of the international communication and cooperation, the interpreter’s role is much more important than ever before in the modern society. In order to meet this demand, more and more China’s universities have set up undergraduate translation major, and (or) set up a professional Master of Translation and Interpretation (MTI). Under this circumstance, the universities become the main force of interpreter training. This paper mainly studies the English interpreting teaching from the perspective of interpreter qualities focusing on eight qualities: language competence, knowledge storage, interpreting quotients (communication skills, thinking consciousness, reflexes and concentration, learning ability, psychological quality, service consciousness). Through the study on the interpreters’ qualities, this paper aims at providing the references for interpreting teaching in universities both for interpreting teachers and trainers

Optimization of Coastal Cruise Lines in China

The paper analyzes the current state of the Chinese cruise market and presents the idea of building a business model of coastal cruising. The cruise demand of middle-income families, which includes the desired travel days, ports of call, is surveyed. The data of the previous non-cruise travels and the data of future cruises of middle-income families are used to develop a model designed to identify the maximum passenger volume with minimum operating costs while taking cruise itineraries and schedules into account. A matrix coding genetic algorithm was designed to solve the model. The case study found that a voyage of 4.79 days results in equilibrium, that the annual demand is 200,840 passengers, and that the daily voyage cost is 0.843 million Yuan

Optimization of Coastal Cruise Lines in China

The paper analyzes the current state of the Chinese cruise market and presents the idea of building a business model of coastal cruising. The cruise demand of middle-income families, which includes the desired travel days, ports of call, is surveyed. The data of the previous non-cruise travels and the data of future cruises of middle-income families are used to develop a model designed to identify the maximum passenger volume with minimum operating costs while taking cruise itineraries and schedules into account. A matrix coding genetic algorithm was designed to solve the model. The case study found that a voyage of 4.79 days results in equilibrium, that the annual demand is 200,840 passengers, and that the daily voyage cost is 0.843 million Yuan

Anti‐windup controller design for singularly perturbed systems subject to actuator saturation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/166157/1/cth2bf00153.pd

Total flavones of Desmodium styracifolium antagonize calcium oxalate monohydrate-triggered IL-2Rβ expression in renal epithelial cells

Purpose: To explore the effect of total flavone of Desmodium styracifolium (TFDS) on calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM)-triggered IL-2Rβ expression in human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells. Methods: Human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 was treated with COM, TFDS or both. The expression of IL-2Rβ was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) or flow cytometry. The responsiveness of HK-2 cells to IL-2 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), qPCR and western blot. The signaling mechanism underlying the effect of TFDS was studied using western blot and qPCR. The clinical relevance of IL-2Rβ to renal inflammation was investigated by re-analyzing a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. Results: Total flavones of Desmodium styracifolium (TFDS) antagonize COM-triggered IL-2Rβ expression in HK-2 cells, thus reducing the responsiveness of HK-2 cells to IL-2 stimulation. Mechanistically, TFDS dampens IL-2Rβ expression by preventing the activation of STAT3. The level of IL-2Rβ is positively correlated with the inflammatory status of the kidney. Conclusions: The total flavones of Desmodium styracifolium (TFDS) prevent the upregulation of IL2Rβ in renal epithelial cells upon COM stimulation in a STAT3-dependent manner

Social Support and Resilience as Mediators Between Stress and Life Satisfaction Among People With Substance Use Disorder in China

This study investigated the potential mediating roles of resilience and social support in the relationship between stress and life satisfaction. A total of 426 individuals, who have substance use disorder, from the Shifosi and Dalianshan rehabilitation facilities in China participated in the study. They were tested using the Perceived Stress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results showed that the serial multiple mediation of social support and resilience in the relationship between stress and life satisfaction was significant. Furthermore, the findings corroborate the important roles of perceived social support and resilience in alleviating stress. Finally, we discussed ways to enhance the life satisfaction for individuals who have substance use disorder and analyzed the limitations of this study