The Chinese Image in Sino-Hollywood Co-Produced Blockbusters During the Era of Globalization

This thesis explores the global-local interplay among three key players, which are Hollywood, the Chinese government, and Chinese film industry, by analyzing representations of China and Chinese culture in three kinds of modes of film cooperation between Hollywood and China in the era of globalization. Drawing on both the analysis of three factors respectively and the elaboration of tripartite push-and-pull, a spectrum of film collaboration has been built to find out how the leveraging powers work, indicating that the images of China in selected films manifest a shared cultural identity that is hybridized and market-friendly. By further discussing China’s position in the global competition, it reveals China’s ambition to brand itself as a global media power instead of a media capital

Automated Runtime Testing to Identify Regression-Causing Features via Method Tracing

Degradation of performance between different release versions of a software is termed as regression. Establishing the specific feature(s) that cause regression requires time-consuming manual work of sifting through numerous code change requests. This disclosure describes techniques to enable testing for regression in a given software version based on dynamic analysis of traces of end-to-end method-level call stacks of the software at runtime. Iterative automated tests can be set up on real devices to mimic critical user journeys to ensure that the regression testing captures the features of interest during runtime tracing of the call stack. Analysis of the granular method-level data can serve to profile every feature in the code and help readily identify the feature(s) causing regression. The described techniques described in this disclosure can be employed for regression testing in a variety of ways, such as feature analysis, daily checking, and release comparison. Implementation of the techniques can avoid or minimize the time-consuming manual work required to identify regression-causing features, and can save substantial time, helping speed up the software development pipeline

Enhanced Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation by Bioactive Glass Functionalized Graphene Oxide Substrates

An unmet need in engineered bone regeneration is to develop scaffolds capable of manipulating stem cells osteogenesis. Graphene oxide (GO) has been widely used as a biomaterial for various biomedical applications. However, it remains challenging to functionalize GO as ideal platform for specifically directing stem cell osteogenesis. Herein, we report facile functionalization of GO with dopamine and subsequent bioactive glass (BG) to enhance stem cell adhesion, spreading, and osteogenic differentiation. On the basis of graphene, we obtained dopamine functionalized graphene oxide/bioactive glass (DGO/BG) hybrid scaffolds containing different content of DGO by loading BG nanoparticles on graphene oxide surface using sol-gel method. To enhance the dispersion stability and facilitate subsequent nucleation of BG in GO, firstly, dopamine (DA) was used to modify GO. Then, the modified GO was functionalized with bioactive glass (BG) using sol-gel method. The adhesion, spreading, and osteoinductive effects of DGO/BG scaffold on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) were evaluated. DGO/BG hybrid scaffolds with different content of DGO could influence rBMSCs’ behavior. The highest expression level of osteogenic markers suggests that the DGO/BG hybrid scaffolds have great potential or elicit desired bone reparative outcome

Modification of Iron-Tailings Concrete with Biochar and Basalt Fiber for Sustainability

Currently, less than 15% of waste iron tailings are utilized. Iron tailings can be used as fine aggregate in concrete, but this kind of concrete has no coarse aggregate, resulting in low strength. Additionally, iron tailings contain some heavy metals, which will cause environmental pollution if improperly treated. In this study, the mechanical properties, sulfate resistance, and pore structure distribution of basalt fiber-biochar-concrete (PFB) were studied. Where basalt is to enhance the mechanical properties of samples, and biochar is to adsorb heavy metals in iron tailings, to prepare environmentally friendly materials. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test, flexural strength (FS), sulfate immersion test, leaching behavior, and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test were used to study the performance of the samples, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize the samples, explaining the change mechanism of the macroscopic test. The results show that the compressive strength of PFB increased by 2.5% but the flexural strength increased by 12%. The basalt and biochar improve the pore size distribution of samples, that is, the pore size greater than 10 nm is reduced while the pore size between 2 and 6 nm is increased. Biochar can effectively adsorb heavy metals of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd, and their leaching concentration is reduced by 50–70%. Basalt fiber improves the mixing performance of concrete, while biochar with a small particle size fills the micro pores in concrete; this paper provides a new idea of sustainability for the preparation of environmentally friendly materials and the utilization of waste iron tailings

Recent advances in fire-retardant rigid polyurethane foam

Driven by global environmental concerns, many efforts have been made to develop halogen-free flame retardants for rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF). These environmentally benign flame retardants are mainly divided into (i) reactive, (ii) additive, and (iii) coating types. The last decade has witnessed great progress of these three strategies, which enhance the fire safety of RPUF and maintain even improve the thermal insulation properties. This comprehensive review focuses on the up-to-date design of the reactive, additive, and coating flame retardants, and their effects on flame retardancy and thermal conductivity of RPUF. Moreover, the practical applications of the as-prepared flame-retardant RPUFs are highlighted. Finally, key challenges associated with these three kinds of flame retardants are discussed and future research opportunities are also proposed

Recent advances in nacre-inspired anisotropic thermally conductive polymeric nanocomposites

The rapid development of miniaturized, highly integrated, and multifunctional modern electronic devices has generated a growing demand for anisotropic heat dissipation in polymer nanocomposites for thermal management applications. These anisotropic thermally conductive multifunctional polymer nanocomposites use bio-inspired structural design based on natural nacre, which is the gold standard for biomimetics. However, to date, a comprehensive review and critique on the highly-anisotropic thermal conduction of nacre-mimetic nanocomposites is nonexistent. As such, this extensive review of the nacre-inspired highly anisotropic thermal management nanocomposites summarizes the current design strategies, and explains the thermal conduction mechanisms, and factors affecting anisotropic thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the practical applications of the as-prepared nacre-inspired highly anisotropic nanocomposites are highlighted. Finally, the key challenges and potential solution strategies associated with these nacre-inspired highly anisotropic nanocomposites are discussed and outlooks for future research opportunities are also proposed

Scalable, Robust, Low-Cost, and Highly Thermally Conductive Anisotropic Nanocomposite Films for Safe and Efficient Thermal Management

Recently, soaring developments in microelectronics raise an urgent demand for thermal management materials to tackle their overheating concerns. Polymer nanocomposites are promising candidates but often suffer from their inability of mass production, high-cost, poor mechanical robustness, and even flammability. Hence, it is desirable to scalably fabricate low-cost, robust polymeric nanocomposites that are highly thermally conductive and fire-retardant to ensure safe and efficient thermal management. Herein, the scalable production of nacre-like anisotropic nanocomposite films using the layer-by-layer assembly of phenylphosphonic acid@graphene nanoplatelets (PPA@GNPs)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) layer and GNPs layers, is demonstrated. The PPA serves as interfacial modifiers and fire retardants for flammable PVA (film-forming agent) and GNPs (inexpensive conductive nanofillers) via hydrogen-bonding and π–π stacking. The resultant nanocomposite exhibits a high flexibility, high tensile strength of 259 MPa, and an ultrahigh in-plane thermal conductivity of 82.4 W m-1 K-1, making it effectively cool smartphone and high-power light emitting diode modules, outperforming commercial tinfoil counterparts. Moreover, the as-designed nanocomposites are intrinsically fire-retardant and can shield electromagnetic interference. This work offers a general strategy for mass production of thermally conductive nanocomposites holding great promise as thermal management materials in electronic, military, and aerospace fields

A highly fire-retardant rigid polyurethane foam capable of fire-warning

Fabrication of flame-retardant coatings as a real-time fire-alarm sensor has been proved to be an effective method to improve the fire safety of polymeric foams. Herein, we reported a three-layer 'sandwich-like' fire-retardant coating for rigid polyurethane (PU) foam by using phytic acid (PA), flame retardant copolymer (PVH), graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and boron nitride (BN) as building blocks. The resultant PU foam demonstrates a rapid fire-alarm response of ∼8 s and displays a continuing fire warning at high temperatures even exposed to flame. In addition, this foam exhibits a self-extinguishing behavior with a high limited oxygen index of 58.0 vol%. Meanwhile, the peak heat release rate, total smoke release, and peak CO production rate are decreased by 49%, 41%, and 67% respectively. This work provides an innovative strategy for creating fire-retardant foam materials that can detect fire hazards, holding great promise for extensive applications in industries, such as construction and transportation areas