52,062 research outputs found
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On the exceptional damage-tolerance of gradient metallic materials
An experimental study is described on the fracture toughness and micro-mechanisms associated with the initiation and propagation of cracks in metallic nickel containing marked gradients in grain size, ranging from ā¼30 nm to ā¼4 Ī¼m. Specifically, cracks are grown in a gradient structured (GS) nickel with grain-size gradient ranging from the coarse macro-scale to nano-scale (CG ā NG) and vice versa (NG ā CG), with the measured crack-resistance R-curves compared to the corresponding behavior in uniform nano-grained (NG) and coarse-grained (CG) materials. It is found that the gradient structures display a much-improved combination of high strength and toughness compared to uniform grain-sized materials. However, based on J-integral measurements in the gradient materials, the crack-initiation toughness is far higher for cracks grown in the direction of the coarse-to-nano grained gradient than vice versa, a result which we ascribe primarily to excessive crack-tip blunting in the coarse-grained microstructure. Both gradient structures, however, display marked rising R-curve behavior with exceptional crack-growth toughnesses exceeding 200 MPa.mĀ½
Opinion diversity and community formation in adaptive networks
It is interesting and of significant importance to investigate how network
structures co-evolve with opinions. The existing models of such co-evolution
typically lead to the final states where network nodes either reach a global
consensus or break into separated communities, each of which holding its own
community consensus. Such results, however, can hardly explain the richness of
real-life observations that opinions are always diversified with no global or
even community consensus, and people seldom, if not never, totally cut off
themselves from dissenters. In this article, we show that, a simple model
integrating consensus formation, link rewiring and opinion change allows
complex system dynamics to emerge, driving the system into a dynamic
equilibrium with co-existence of diversified opinions. Specifically, similar
opinion holders may form into communities yet with no strict community
consensus; and rather than being separated into disconnected communities,
different communities remain to be interconnected by non-trivial proportion of
inter-community links. More importantly, we show that the complex dynamics may
lead to different numbers of communities at steady state with a given tolerance
between different opinion holders. We construct a framework for theoretically
analyzing the co-evolution process. Theoretical analysis and extensive
simulation results reveal some useful insights into the complex co-evolution
process, including the formation of dynamic equilibrium, the phase transition
between different steady states with different numbers of communities, and the
dynamics between opinion distribution and network modularity, etc.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, Journa
Exploration and Research on the Mixed Mode Curriculum of āCompetition, Training and Teachingā
In response to the many problems encountered in the teaching of the āSSM Frameworkā course, a project-driven hybrid teaching model is proposed. The reform integrates āCompetition, Training and Teachingā into one, utilizes online teaching platforms to arrange pre-class activities, carry out interactive teaching in class, and improve post-class practice. In teaching, the roles of teachers and students should be exchanged to fully mobilize studentsā learning initiative and cultivate their ability to solve and analyze problems. In the assessment, a process evaluation mechanism is introduced to incorporate project construction into the assessment scope and improve practical application capabilities. The practical results indicate that the application of the new model in curriculum significantly enhances studentsā learning interest and practical abilities, which is feasible for promotion
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In situ loading and delivery of short single- And double-stranded dna by supramolecular organic frameworks
Short DNA represents an important class of biomacromolecules that are widely applied in gene therapy, editing, and modulation. However, the development of simple and reliable methods for their intracellular delivery remains a challenge. Herein, we describe that seven water-soluble, homogeneous supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) with a well-defined pore size and high stability in water that can accomplish in situ inclusion of single-stranded (ss) and double-stranded (ds) DNA (21, 23, and 58 nt) and effective intracellular delivery (including two noncancerous and six cancerous cell lines). Fluorescence quenching experiments for single and double endlabeled ss- and ds-DNA support that the DNA sequences can be completely enveloped by the SOFs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry reveal that five of the SOFs exhibit excellent delivery efficiencies that, in most of the studied cases, outperform the commercial standard Lipo2000, even at low SOF-nucleic acid ratios. In addition to high delivery efficiencies, the watersoluble, self-assembled SOF carriers have a variety of advantages, including convenient preparation, high stability, and in situ DNA inclusion, which are all critical for practical applications in nucleic acid delivery
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