Fungi: A Neglected Candidate for the Application of Self-Healing Concrete

Self-healing mechanism in concrete has been so far achieved mainly by three approaches: autogenous healing, encapsulation of polymeric material, and biologically induced mineralization of calcium carbonate. The microbial approach prevails over the other two approaches due to the high compatibility between the filler material and the concrete compositions. Although the term “microbe” refers to many different types of organisms, research work on self-healing concrete has been so far restricted to bacteria. In this perspective article, we review the current status of bacteria-mediated self-healing concrete and summarize the prospects for future advances. In particular, we point out that fungi may have distinctive advantages over other microbes to be used as self-healing agents

Graph-tree-based software control flow checking for COTS processors on pico-satellites

AbstractThis paper proposes a generic high-performance and low-time-overhead software control flow checking solution, graph-tree-based control flow checking (GTCFC) for space-borne commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) processors. A graph tree data structure with a topology similar to common trees is introduced to transform the control flow graphs of target programs. This together with design of IDs and signatures of its vertices and edges allows for an easy check of legality of actual branching during target program execution. As a result, the algorithm not only is capable of detecting all single and multiple branching errors with low latency and time overheads along with a linear-complexity space overhead, but also remains generic among arbitrary instruction sets and independent of any specific hardware. Tests of the algorithm using a COTS-processor-based on-board computer (OBC) of in-service ZDPS-1A pico-satellite products show that GTCFC can detect over 90% of the randomly injected and all-pattern-covering branching errors for different types of target programs, with performance and overheads consistent with the theoretical analysis; and beats well-established preeminent control flow checking algorithms in these dimensions. Furthermore, it is validated that GTCGC not only can be accommodated in pico-satellites conveniently with still sufficient system margins left, but also has the ability to minimize the risk of control flow errors being undetected in their space missions. Therefore, due to its effectiveness, efficiency, and compatibility, the GTCFC solution is ready for applications on COTS processors on pico-satellites in their real space missions

Quantum-squeezing effects of strained multilayer graphene NEMS

Quantum squeezing can improve the ultimate measurement precision by squeezing one desired fluctuation of the two physical quantities in Heisenberg relation. We propose a scheme to obtain squeezed states through graphene nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) taking advantage of their thin thickness in principle. Two key criteria of achieving squeezing states, zero-point displacement uncertainty and squeezing factor of strained multilayer graphene NEMS, are studied. Our research promotes the measured precision limit of graphene-based nano-transducers by reducing quantum noises through squeezed states

A Sensor-Shift Image Motion Compensation Method for Aerospace Remote Sensing Cameras Based on Image Motion Velocity Field Calculations

The calculation and analysis of the image motion velocity (IMV) field holds significant importance in the image motion compensation (IMC) of aerospace remote sensing cameras (ARSCs). Thus, this article puts forward a method for calculating the IMV field based on the rigorous imaging model, which takes into account the camera distortion characteristics. The proposed technique is applied to both a virtual and a real remote sensor to analyze the spatial and temporal features of the IMV field and the influence of camera distortion on it. Our experiments revealed that the additional IMV caused by camera distortion should not be disregarded when calculating IMV field due to its relative magnitude and the decrease in IMC performance caused by it. Additionally, we discussed the selection of the sensor-shift IMC strategy and found that for the real remote sensor considered in this article, the 2-D local compensation is already sufficient to achieve the desired compensation effect

Structural Performance Optimization and Verification of an Improved Thin-Walled Storage Tank for a Pico-Satellite

This paper presents an improved mesh storage tank structure obtained using 3D metal printing. The storage tank structure is optimized using a multi-objective uniform design method. Each parameter influencing the storage tank is considered as the optimization factor, and the compression stress ( σ ), volume utilization ratio ( v ), and weight ( m , are considered as the optimization objectives. Regression equations were established between the optimization factors and targets, the orders of the six factors affecting three target values are analyzed, and the relative deviations between the regression equation and calculation results for σ , v , and m were 9.72%, 4.15%, and 2.94%, respectively. The optimization results showed that the regression equations can predict the structure performance of the improved storage tank, and the values of the influence factors obtained through the optimization are effective. In addition, the compression stress was improved by 24.98%, the volume utilization ratio was increased by 26.86%, and the weight was reduced by 26.83%. The optimized storage tank was developed through 3D metal printing, and the compressive stress was improved by 58.71%, the volume utilization ratio was increased by 24.52%, and the weight was reduced by 11.67%