Centrifuge modeling of unreinforced and multi-row stabilizing piles reinforced landslides subjected to reservoir water level fluctuation

With the construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir dam,frequent reservoir landslide events have been recorded.In recent years,multi-row stabilizing piles(MRSPs)have been used to stabilize massive reservoir landslides in China.In this study,two centrifuge model tests were carried out to study the unreinforced and MRSP-reinforced slopes subjected to reservoir water level(RWL)operation,using the Taping landslide as a prototype.The results indicate that the RWL rising can provide lateral support within the submerged zone and then produce the inward seepage force,eventually strengthening the slope stability.However,a rapid RWL drawdown may induce outward seepage forces and a sudden debuttressing effect,consequently reducing the effective soil normal stress and triggering partial pre-failure within the RWL fluctuation zone.Furthermore,partial deformation and subsequent soil structure damage generate excess pore water pressures,ultimately leading to the overall failure of the reservoir landslide.This study also reveals that a rapid increase in the downslope driving force due to RWL drawdown significantly intensifies the lateral earth pressures exerted on the MRSPs.Conversely,the MRSPs possess a considerable reinforcement effect on the reservoir landslide,transforming the overall failure into a partial deformation and failure situated above and in front of the MRSPs.The mechanical transfer behavior observed in the MRSPs demonstrates a progressive alteration in relation to RWL fluctuations.As the RWL rises,the mechanical states among MRSPs exhibit a growing imbalance.The shear force transfer factor(i.e.the ratio of shear forces on pile of the n th row to that of the first row)increases significantly with the RWL drawdown.This indicates that the mechanical states among MRSPs tend toward an enhanced equilibrium.The insights gained from this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the failure mechanisms of reservoir landslides and the mechanical behavior of MRSPs in reservoir banks.

A novel responsive stabilizing Janus nanosilica as a nanoplugging agent in water-based drilling fluids for exploiting hostile shale environments

Thermo-responsive nanocomposites have recently emerged as potential nanoplugging agents for shale stabilization in high-temperature water-based drilling fluids(WBDFs). However, their inhibitory properties have not been very effective in high-temperature drilling operations. Thermo-responsive Janus nanocomposites are expected to strongly interact with clay particles from the inward hemisphere of nanomaterials, which drive the establishment of a tighter hydrophobic membrane over the shale surface at the outward hemisphere under geothermal conditions for shale stabilization. This work combines the synergistic benefits of thermo-responsive and zwitterionic nanomaterials to synchronously enhance the chemical inhibitions and plugging performances in shale under harsh conditions. A novel thermoresponsive Janus nanosilica(TRJS) exhibiting zwitterionic character was synthesized, characterized,and assessed as shale stabilizer for WBDFs at high temperatures. Compared to pristine nanosilica(Si NP)and symmetrical thermo-responsive nanosilica(TRS), TRJS exhibited anti-polyelectrolyte behaviour, in which electrolyte ions screened the electrostatic attraction between the charged particles, potentially stabilizing nanomaterial in hostile shaly environments(i.e., up to saturated brine or API brine). Macroscopically, TRJS exhibited higher chemical inhibition than Si NP and TRS in brine, prompting a better capability to control pressure penetration. TRJS adsorbed onto the clay surface via chemisorption and hydrogen bonding, and the interactions became substantial in brine, according to the results of electrophoretic mobility, surface wettability, and X-ray diffraction. Thus, contributing to the firm trapping of TRJS into the nanopore structure of the shale, triggering the formation of a tight hydrophobic membrane over the shale surface from the outward hemisphere. The addition of TRJS into WBDF had no deleterious effect on fluid properties after hot-treatment at 190℃, implying that TRJS could find potential use as a shale stabilizer in WBDFs in hostile environments.

Stabilizing perovskite precursors with the reductive natural amino acid for printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells

Solution processability significantly advances the development of highly-efficient perovskite solar cells.However,the precursor solution tends to undergo irreversible degradation reactions,impairing the device performance and reproducibility.Here,we utilize a reductive natural amino acid,Nacetylcysteine(NALC),to stabilize the precursor solution for printable carbon-based hole-conductorfree mesoscopic perovskite solar cells.We find that I_(2) can be generated in the aged solution containing methylammonium iodide(MI) in an inert atmosphere and speed up the MA-FA^(+)(formamidinium) reaction which produces large-size cations and hinders the formation of perovskite phase.NALC effectively stabilizes the precursor via its sulfhydryl group which reduces I_(2) back to I^(-)and provides H^(+).The NALC-stabilized precursor which is aged for 1440 h leads to devices with a power conversion efficiency equivalent to 98% of that for devices prepared with the fresh precursor.Furthermore,NALC improves the device power conversion efficiency from 16.16% to 18.41% along with enhanced stability under atmospheric conditions by modifying grain boundaries in perovskite films and reducing associated defects.

Highly defective HKUST-1 with excellent stability and SO_(2) uptake: The hydrophobic armor effect of functionalized ionic liquids

Water stability is one of the most important factors restricting the practical application of metal organic frameworks (MOFs). In this work, wefabricate a highly defective HKUST-1 framework with a mixed valence of CuI/CuIIby mechanical ball milling method. This defective HKUST-1is embellished by functionalized ionic liquids as hydrophobic armor, making the hybrid HIL1@HKUST-1 exhibits outstanding water stability,remarkable SO_(2) adsorption (up to 5.71 mmol g^(-1)), and record-breaking selectivity (1070 for SO_(2)/CO_(2) and 31,515 for SO_(2)/N_(2)) at 25 ℃ and0.1 bar, even in wet conditions.

Optimal parameter space for stabilizing the ferroelectric phase of Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2) thin films under strain and electric fields

Hafnia-based ferroelectric materials, like Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2)(HZO), have received tremendous attention owing to their potentials for building ultra-thin ferroelectric devices. The orthorhombic(O)-phase of HZO is ferroelectric but metastable in its bulk form under ambient conditions, which poses a considerable challenge to maintaining the operation performance of HZO-based ferroelectric devices. Here, we theoretically addressed this issue that provides parameter spaces for stabilizing the O-phase of HZO thin-films under various conditions. Three mechanisms were found to be capable of lowering the relative energy of the O-phase, namely, more significant surface-bulk portion of(111) surfaces, compressive c-axis strain,and positive electric fields. Considering these mechanisms, we plotted two ternary phase diagrams for HZO thin-films where the strain was applied along the in-plane uniaxial and biaxial, respectively. These diagrams indicate the O-phase could be stabilized by solely shrinking the film-thickness below 12.26 nm, ascribed to its lower surface energies. All these results shed considerable light on designing more robust and higher-performance ferroelectric devices.

Experimental Investigation of a Phase-ChangeMaterial’s Stabilizing Role in a Pilot of Smart Salt-Gradient Solar Ponds

Faced with the world’s environmental and energy-related challenges,researchers are turning to innovative,sustainable and intelligent solutions to produce,store,and distribute energy.This work explores the trend of using a smart sensor to monitor the stability and efficiency of a salt-gradient solar pond.Several studies have been conducted to improve the thermal efficiency of salt-gradient solar ponds by introducing other materials.This study investigates the thermal and salinity behaviors of a pilot of smart salt-gradient solar ponds with(SGSP)and without(SGSPP)paraffin wax(PW)as a phase-change material(PCM).Temperature and salinity were measured experimentally using a smart sensor,with the measurements being used to investigate the stabilizing effects of placing the PCM in the solar pond’s lower convective zone.The experimental results show that the pond with the PCM(SGSPP)achieved greater thermal and salinity stability,with there being a lesser temperature and salinity gradient between the different layers when compared to a solar pond without thePCM(SGSP).The use of the PCM,therefore,helped control the maximum and minimum temperature of the pond’s storage zone.The UCZ has been found to operate approximately 4 degrees above the average ambient temperature of the day in the SGSPP and 7 degrees in SGSP.Moreover,an unstable situation is generated after 5 days from starting the operation and at 1.9 m from the bottom,and certain points have the tendency to be neutral from the upper depths in 1,3 m of the bottom.

Effects of stabilizing heat treatment on microstructures and creep behavior of Zn-10Al-2Cu-0.02Ti alloy

The microstructures of as-extruded and stabilizing heat-treated Zn-10Al-2Cu-0.02Ti alloys were observed by scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction analysis techniques.The change in structure after heat treatment and its effects on room temperature creep behavior were investigated by creep experiments at constant stress and slow strain rate tensile tests.The results show that after stabilizing heat treatment（（350℃,30 min,water-cooling）＋（100℃,12 h,air-cooling））,the amount of α＋η lamellar structure decreases,while the amount of cellular and granular structure increases.The heat-treated Zn-10Al-2Cu-0.02Ti alloy exhibits better creep resistance than the as-extruded alloy,and the rate of steady state creep decreases by 96.9% after stabilizing heat treatment.

INERTIAL INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF NORTH SEEKING/SIGHT STABILIZING ON VEHICLE

A brand new method of automatic north seeking/sight stabilizing is introduced for usage in land fighting vehicles such as tank, etc. Some inertial devices are installed additionally on the platform along with relative control circuits to make its function of North seeking possible. Double position calculation is adopted in this method, and by alignment at two sites the azimuth angle can be figured out. Also the orientation and the horizontal shifts of the gyro are simultaneously measured and compensated so as to improve the accuracy of north seeking. The system can automatically seek north when the vehicle is immobile. And the time consumption is no more than 5.5 min. Besides, the system can keep azimuth angle and provide tilt angle and pitch angle of the vehicle.

Advancements and Challenges in Organic–Inorganic Composite Solid Electrolytes for All‑Solid‑State Lithium Batteries

To address the limitations of contemporary lithium-ion batteries,particularly their low energy density and safety concerns,all-solid-state lithium batteries equipped with solid-state electrolytes have been identified as an up-and-coming alternative.Among the various SEs,organic–inorganic composite solid electrolytes(OICSEs)that combine the advantages of both polymer and inorganic materials demonstrate promising potential for large-scale applications.However,OICSEs still face many challenges in practical applications,such as low ionic conductivity and poor interfacial stability,which severely limit their applications.This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent research advancements in OICSEs.Specifically,the influence of inorganic fillers on the main functional parameters of OICSEs,including ionic conductivity,Li+transfer number,mechanical strength,electrochemical stability,electronic conductivity,and thermal stability are systematically discussed.The lithium-ion conduction mechanism of OICSE is thoroughly analyzed and concluded from the microscopic perspective.Besides,the classic inorganic filler types,including both inert and active fillers,are categorized with special emphasis on the relationship between inorganic filler structure design and the electrochemical performance of OICSEs.Finally,the advanced characterization techniques relevant to OICSEs are summarized,and the challenges and perspectives on the future development of OICSEs are also highlighted for constructing superior ASSLBs.

Effect of external and internal cues on core muscle activation during the Sahrmann five-level core stability test

BACKGROUND Pain in the back or pelvis or fear of back pain may affect the timing or cocontraction of the core muscles.In both static and dynamic movements,the Sahrmann core stability test provides an assessment of core muscle activation and a person's ability to stabilize the lumbopelvic complex.Preparatory cues and images can be used to increase the activation of these muscles.To attain optimal movement patterns,it will be necessary to determine what cueing will give the most effective results for core stability.AIM To investigate the effects of external and internal cues on core muscle activation during the Sahrmann five-level core stability test.METHODS Total 68 participants(21.83±3.47 years)were randomly allocated to an external(n=35)or internal cue group(n=33).Participants performed the Sahrmann fivelevel core stability test without a cue as baseline and the five-level stability exercises with an internal or external cue.External cue group received a pressure biofeedback unit(PBU),and the internal cue group received an audio cue.A Delsys Trigno^(TM)surface electromyography unit was used for muscle activation from the rectus abdominis,external oblique,and transverse abdominis/internal oblique muscles.RESULTS Linear mixed effects model analysis showed that cueing had a significant effect on core muscle activation(P=0.001);however,there was no significant difference between cue types(internal or external)(P=0.130).CONCLUSION Both external and internal cueing have significant effects on core muscle activation during the Sahrmann five-level core stability test and the PBU does not create higher muscle activation than internal cueing.

A field experimental study of lignin sand stabilizing material(LSSM) extracted from spent-liquor of straw pulping paper mills

A new technique was introduced for sand stabilization and re-vegetation by use of lignin sand stabilizing material(LSSM). LSSM is a reconstructed organic compound with lignin as the most dominant component from the extracts of black-liquor issued by straw pulp paper mills. Unlike the polyvinyl acetate or foamed asphalt commonly used for dune stabilization, the new material is plant-friendly and can be used with virescence actions simultaneously. The field experimental study was conducted since 2001 in China's Northwest Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and has been proved that LSSM is effective in stabilizing the fugitive dunes, making the arenaceous plants survive and the bare dune vegetative. The advisable solution concentration is 2% and the optimal field spraying quantity is 2 5 L/m^2 The soil nutrients of the stabilized and greened dune, such as organic matter, available phosphorous and total nitrogen are all increased compared with the control treatment, which is certainly helpful to the growth of arenaceous plants. The technique is worthwhile to be popularized because it is provided not only a new method for desertification control but also an outlet for cleaning contaminants issued from the straw paper mills.

Global stabilizing controller design for linear time-varying systems and its application on BTT missiles

A parametric method for the gain-scheduled controller design of a linear time-varying system is given. According to the proposed scheduling method, the performance between adjacent characteristic points is preserved by the invariant eigenvalues and the gradually varying eigenvectors. A sufficient stability criterion is given by constructing a series of Lyapunov functions based on the selected discrete characteristic points. An important contribution is that it provides a simple and feasible approach for the design of gain-scheduled controllers for linear time-varying systems, which can guarantee both the global stability and the desired closed-loop performance of the resulted system. The method is applied to the design of a BTT missile autopilot and the simulation results show that the method is superior to the traditional one in sense of either global stability or system performance.

Hetero Nucleus Growth Stabilizing Zinc Anode for High‑Biosecurity Zinc‑Ion Batteries

Biocompatible devices are widely employed in modernized lives and medical fields in the forms of wearable and implantable devices,raising higher requirements on the battery biocompatibility,high safety,low cost,and excellent electrochemical performance,which become the evaluation criteria toward developing feasible biocompatible batteries.Herein,through conducting the battery implantation tests and leakage scene simulations on New Zealand rabbits,zinc sulfate electrolyte is proved to exhibit higher biosecurity and turns out to be one of the ideal zinc salts for biocompatible zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs).Furthermore,in order to mitigate the notorious dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution in mildly acidic electrolyte as well as improve their operating stability,Sn hetero nucleus is introduced to stabilize the zinc anode,which not only facilitates the planar zinc deposition,but also contributes to higher hydrogen evolution overpotential.Finally,a long lifetime of 1500 h for the symmetrical cell,the specific capacity of 150 mAh g^(-1)under 0.5 A g^(-1)for the Zn-MnO_(2)battery and 212 mAh g^(-1)under 5 A g^(-1)for the Zn—NH4V4O10 battery are obtained.This work may provide unique perspectives on biocompatible ZIBs toward the biosecurity of their cell components.

Robust Control Based on Feedback Linearization for Roll Stabilizing of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Under Wave Disturbances

In the case of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle （AUV） navigating with low speed near water surface, a new method for design of roll motion controller is proposed in order to restrain wave disturbance effectively and improve roll stabilizing performance. Robust control is applied, which is based on uncertain nonlinear horizontal motion model of AUV and the principle of zero speed fin stabilizer. Feedback linearization approach is used to transform the complex nonlinear system into a comparatively simple linear system. For parameter uncertainty of motion model, the controller is designed with mixed-sensitivity method based on H-infinity robust control theory. Simulation results show better robustness improved by this control method for roll stabilizing of AUV navigating near water surface.

Improved plane layout of stabilizing piles based on the piecewise function expression of the irregular driving force

The paper presents an improved plane layout for stabilizing piles based on a proposed piecewise function expression for the irregular driving force. Based on the specific morphological characteristics of a highway landslide, the piecewise function is used to calculate the irregular driving force by dividing the landslide into several sub-areas.Furthermore, the reasonable layout range and pile spacing can be obtained based on the piecewise function expression of the irregular driving force and on relevant research results of the plane layout for stabilizing piles. Therefore, an improved plane layout of stabilizing piles is presented in consideration of a piecewise function expression of the irregular driving force. A highway landslide located in eastern Guizhou Province, China, is analyzed as a case study using the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the theory presented in this paper provides improved economic benefits and can reduce the requirednumber of stabilizing piles by 28.6% compared with the conventional plane layout scheme.

NF-E2:a Novel Regulator of Alpha-hemoglobin Stabilizing Protein Gene Expression

Objective To investigate whether α-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP), the α-globin-specific molecular chaperone, is regulated by erythroid transcription factor NF-E2. Methods We established the stable cell line with NF-E2p45 (the larger subunit of NF-E2) short hairpin RNA to silence its expression. Western blot, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis were performed to detect the expression of AHSP, the histone modifications at AHSP gene locus, and the binding of GATA-1 at the AHSP promoter with NF-E2p45 deficiency. ChIP was also carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced DS19 cells and estrogen-induced G1E-ER4 cells to examine NF-E2 binding to the AHSP gene locus and its changes during cell erythroid differentiation. Finally, luciferase assay was applied in HeLa cells transfected with AHSP promoter fragments to examine AHSP promoter activity in the presence of exogenous NF-E2p45. Results We found that AHSP expression was highly dependent on NF-E2p45. NF-E2 bound to the regions across AHSP gene locus in vivo, and the transcription of AHSP was transactivated by exogenous NF-E2p45. In addition, we observed the decrease of H3K4 trimethylation and GATA-1 occupancy at the AHSP gene locus in NF-E2p45-deficient cells. Restoration of GATA-1 in G1E-ER4 cells in turn led to increased DNA binding of NF-E2p45. Conclusion NF-E2 may play an important role in AHSP gene regulation, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the erythroid-specific expression of AHSP as well as new possibilities for β-thalassemia treatment.

Stabilizing CuO photocathode with a Cu_(3)N protection shell

CuO,as a promising photocathode material,suffers from severe photocorrosion in photoelectrochemical water splitting applications.Herein,a Cu_(3)N protection shell was used to protect the CuO photocathode for the first time to effectively suppress the photocorrosion of CuO.Consequently,the Cu_(3)N‐protected CuO photocathode shows improved stability,retaining 80% of its initial current density in a 20‐min test,while only 10%of the initial current density can be retained for the bare photocathode.This work may provide an important strategy for using Cu_(3)N shells to stabilize unstable photocathodes.

Effect of stabilizing elements Nb and Ti on the microstructure and properties of low carbon ferritic stainless steel

The effect of stabilizing elements, such as Nb and Ti, on the microstructure and properties of low carbon ferritic stainless steel （FSS） has been investigated. The results of the Thermo-calc simulation have shown that the interstitial elements, such as C and N, may be completely stabilized by the addition of Nb and Ti. With the increase of Nb and Ti contents ,the α ＋ γ two phases gradually transfer to a single α-phase under a high temperature condition ,and the content of the carbide M23 C6 gradually decreases. The microstructure has indicated that the combined addition of Nb and Ti can promote the recrystallization of the band structure and form more uniform equiaxed grains. Also, with the increase of Nb and Ti contents,the elongation, the r-value and the corrosion resistance of cold-rolled and annealed sheets are improved prominently. In comparison with the effect of Ti ,the addition of Nb is more beneficial to the increase of r-value and the corrosion resistance.

Stabilizing Energy Consumption in Unequal Clusters of Wireless Sensor Networks

In the past few decades,Energy Efficiency(EE)has been a significant challenge in Wireless Sensor Networks(WSNs).WSN requires reduced transmission delay and higher throughput with high quality services,it further pays much attention in increased energy consumption to improve the network lifetime.To collect and transmit data Clustering based routing algorithm is considered as an effective way.Cluster Head(CH)acts as an essential role in network connectivity and perform data transmission and data aggregation,where the energy consumption is superior to non-CH nodes.Conventional clustering approaches attempts to cluster nodes of same size.Moreover,owing to randomly distributed node distribution,a cluster with equal nodes is not an obvious possibility to reduce the energy consumption.To resolve this issue,this paper provides a novel,Balanced-Imbalanced Cluster Algorithm(B-IBCA)with a Stabilized Boltzmann Approach(SBA)that attempts to balance the energy dissipation across uneven clusters in WSNs.B-IBCA utilizes stabilizing logic to maintain the consistency of energy consumption among sensor nodes’.So as to handle the changing topological characteristics of sensor nodes,this stability based Boltzmann estimation algorithm allocates proper radius amongst the sensor nodes.The simulation shows that the proposed B-IBCA outperforms effectually over other approaches in terms of energy efficiency,lifetime,network stability,average residual energy and so on.

Ubiquitinspecific protease 34 regulates tooth root morphogenesis by stabilizing nuclear factor I/C

Tooth root morphogenesis involves two biological processes,root elongation and dentinogenesis,which are guaranteed by downgrowth of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath(HERS)and normal odontoblast differentiation.Ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation has been reported to precisely regulate various physiological processes,while its role in tooth development is still elusive.Here we show ubiquitinspecific protease 34(USP34)plays a pivotal role in root formation.Deletion of Usp34 in dental mesenchymal cells leads to short root anomaly,characterized by truncated roots and thin root dentin.The USP34-deficient dental pulp cells(DPCs)exhibit decreased odontogenic differentiation with downregulation of nuclear factor I/C(NFIC).Overexpression of NFIC partially restores the impaired odontogenic potential of DPCs.These findings indicate that USP34-dependent deubiquitination is critical for root morphogenesis by stabilizing NFIC.