Shape Memory Polymer Composite Booms with Applications in Reel-Type Solar Arrays

Solar arrays are the primary energy source for spacecraft.Although traditional rigid solar arrays improve power supply,the quality increases proportionally.Hence,it is difficult to satisfy the requirements of high-power and low-cost space applications.In this study,a shape-memory polymer composite(SMPC)boom was designed,fabricated,and characterized for flexible reel-type solar arrays.The SMPC boom was fabricated from a smart material,a shape-memory polymer composite,whose mechanical properties were tested.Additionally,a mathematical model of the bending stiffness of the SMPC boom was developed,and the bending and buckling behaviors of the boom were further analyzed using the ABAQUS software.An SMPC boom was fabricated to demonstrate its shape memory characteristics,and the driving force of the booms with varying geometric parameters was investigated.We also designed and manufactured a reel-type solar array based on an SMPC boom and verified its self-deployment capability.The results indicated that the SMPC boom can be used as a deployable unit to roll out flexible solar arrays.

Configuration synthesis of planar folded and common overconstrained spatial rectangular pyramid deployable truss units

Compared with non-overconstrained deployable units, overconstrained deployable units are widely used in space missions for their higher stiffness characteristics. Besides the performance of a three-step topological structural analysis and design of the rectangular pyramid deployable truss unit(PDTU), conducting a structural synthesis of an overconstrained deployable unit requires the determination of the relative position and direction of each kinematic axis. The structural synthesis of an overconstrained deployable unit is investigated based on screw theory and its topological structure. The possible overconstrained cases of the rectangular PDTUs are analyzed, and corresponding screw expressions are obtained. Thus, the rectangular PDTUs, which can be folded into a plane, are synthesized systemically, and a series of overconstrained rectangular PDTUs is obtained. Furthermore, the feasibility of the folded and deployed motions under one degree of freedom for those deployable units is verified in dynamical simulation by using ADAMS 2010.

Upregulation of TMCO3 Promoting Tumor Progression and Contributing to the Poor Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background and Aims:TMCO3,a member of the monovalent cation:proton antiporter-2 family,has been annotated as a Na^(+)/H^(+)antiporter,but its pathophysiological role is still unclear.We aimed to investigate the expression profile,prognostic significance,and oncogenic role of TMCO3 in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods:Bioinformatic analyses were conducted using transcriptome data from public databases to determine the expression,prognosis,and functional enrichment of TMCO3 in HCC.TMCO3 expression was further validated in an independent HCC cohort from our institution.The oncogenic role of TMCO3 in HCC was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo experiments.Results:The upregulated expression of TMCO3 was identified and verified in multiple HCC cohorts,and worse overall survival and recurrence-free survival were observed in patients with high TMCO3 expression.The overexpression and knockdown of TMCO3 could affect the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells,which might be associated with the p53-induced cell cycle regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition,respectively.Notably,significant correlations were found between dysregulated TMCO3 and various antitumor agents.Its role in sorafenib sensitivity was further identified by in vitro experiments and the potential mechanism might be related to the regulation of apoptosis.Positive correlations were also identified between upregulation of TMCO3 and the increased infiltration of various immune cells and the elevated expression of multiple immune checkpoint genes in HCC.Conclusions:Upregulated TMCO3 could act as an oncogenic mediator and promote sorafenib resistance in HCC,providing a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.