Nonlinear static characteristics of piezoelectric unimorph bending micro actuators

The nonlinear static characteristic of a piezoelectric unimorph cantilever micro actuator driven by a strong applied electric field is studied based on the couple stress theory.The cantilever actuator consists of a piezoelectric layer,a passive（elastic）layer and two electrode layers.First,the nonlinear static characteristic of the actuator caused by the electrostriction of the piezoelectric layer under a strong applied electric field is analyzed using the Rayleigh-Ritz method.Secondly,since the thickness of the cantilever beam is in micro scale and there exists a size effect,the size dependence of the deformation behavior is evaluated using the couple stress theory.The results show that the nonlinearities of the beam deflection increase along with the increase of the applied electric field which means that softening of the micro beam rigidity exists when a strong external electric field is applied.Meanwhile,the optimal value of the thickness ratio for the passive layer and the piezoelectric layer is not around 1.0 which is usually adopted by some previous researchers.Since there exists a size effect of the micro beam deflection,the optimal value of this thickness ratio should be greater than 1.0 in micro scale.

Channel Response to Gravel Mining Activities in Mountain Rivers

s: The removal of bed material from active river channels usually affects the bed profile of the streambed, causing progressive degradation upstream and downstream of the extraction site. These effects can extend for kilometers affecting hydraulic structures located in the vicinity of the river reach. In this paper, the geomorphic effects of gravel mining are reviewed and summarized. Some cases in Venezuelan streams are presented to illustrate the problem. To describe the processes of erosion and sedimentation in a gravel extraction pit, a recent developed mathematical model for the simulation of flow and sediment transport in gravel-cobble bed streams is applied to a hypothetical case of gravel mining in a river channel. A simple rectangular dredge pit is imposed as initial condition in the channel bed, and changes in bed elevations and grain size distribution of bed material are calculated by using the numerical model. The process of deposition within the pit, and the downstream and upstream migration of the erosion wave are well simulated by the model and closely resemble the phenomena observed in laboratory experiments. The response of the friction coefficient to the changes in flow and bed elevations shows the importance in modeling adequately flow resistance and sediment transport in gravel-cobble bed streams.

UTES （Underground Thermal Energy Storage）---Applications and Market Development in Sweden

The market for shallow geothermal solutions has been continuously growing in Sweden and is recognized as a cost effective and environmental sound way for space heating. In later years, UTES （underground thermal energy storage） systems have become fTequently installed for combined heating and cooling of commercial and institutional buildings. After 20 years, operational experiences of these systems are proved to be energy efficient, technically safe and profitable. In this paper, the current statistics of UTES applications are given as well as market trends and technical development. The goal is to encourage designers and installers in other counties to use this promising technology.

Mixing Zone Guidelines Application in a Smelter in Northern Sweden with Discharge to the Baltic Sea

This pilot study intended to investigate the application of Mixing Zone Guidelines in northern Sweden. The EC （European Commission）-Mixing Zone Guidelines were applied to seven effluent discharges. The effluents were from industrial processes used in the Ronnskar smelter, in northern Sweden. Each outlet in the smelter area discharges water into the Bothnian bay of the Baltic Sea. Cadmium （Cd）, mercury （Hg）, nickel （Ni） and lead （Pb） were the primary substances present in the effluents. A ＂Tiered Approach＂ was followed for mixing zone assessments in each of the discharge points. Discharge Test was used at Tier 2 and CORMIX （Cornell Mixing Zone Expert System model）, version 7, at Tier 3. At each discharge point, the AA-EQS （annual average-environmental quality standard） for each metal was met within a distance of 500 m from the outfalls. This distance was exceeded to meet the MAC-EQS （maximum allowable concentration-environmental quality standard） criteria at points 1 and 3 for total Hg concentrations. However, for the proper application of Mixing Zone Guidelines, a version of the Discharge Test for coastal waters should be developed and used. The decision at which tier the dissolved metal concentration should be compared with EQS values could depend on the effluent characteristics. For Swedish coastal waters, some consideration should be given to the background concentration of metals.

JUNCTION BETWEEN GANJIANG FAULT AND TANLU FAULT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO MINERALIZATION

The concept of fault junction is proposed to describe the relationship between the two faults by the authors. The junction relationship between Ganjiang and Tanlu faults is analyzed in this paper, and this has been elucidated through numerical simulation about the tectonic stress field analysis. Numerical simulation of the tectonic stress field conducted for the major mineralization stage of the Jiujiang-Ruichang junction area reveals that the stress field of the junction structure at the major mineralization stage shows a relatively close relationship with the formation of the ore deposits (occurrences).

Inhibitory effect of toremifene monotherapy or combined with gemcitabine on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells

Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of toremifene on A549 human lung adenocarci- noma cells, and its sensibilization with gemcitabine, so that to provide a new clinical approach for non-small-cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods： A549 cells were seeded into 96-well plates and exposed to different agents （gemcitabine or gemcitabine with toremifene）. The cytotoxicity of each agent was evaluated by MTT, cell cycle and apoptotic rate were detected by flow cytometry （FCM）. Results： 1. By using FCM, we found A549 cells in S and G2/M phases with toremifene decreased but increased in G0/G1 phase. The higher concentration of toremifene, the more decreased was when compared with the control group. 2. FCM showed toremifene＇s apoptosis effect on A549 cells increased with its increasing dose. 3. By MTT, toremifene had no cytotoxic effect on A549 cells at the concentration of 5 or 2.5 pmol/L. The IC5o of gemcitabine to A549 was 34.51 tJmol/L, and the combined group was 13.59 pmol/L. Conclusion： Toremifene could inhibit the growth of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Toremifene combined with gemcitabine showed significantly remarkable chemotherapy sensibilization on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Study of Optical Fibers Strain-Temperature Sensitivities Using Hybrid Brillouin-Rayleigh System

In this paper, the most recent progress as well as challenges of distributed optical fiber sensing （DOFS） in industrial applications is discussed. Compared to the vast market of sensors used to measure strain or temperature, the success of distributed optical fiber sensing （DOFS） at the industrial level is very limited, at best. One of the reasons for this lack of the wider acceptance is the mismatch between the commercially available systems and actual industrial requirements, especially for the spatial resolution and precision. These requirements are organized and clarified in the paper. It also describes the hybrid Brillouin-Rayleigh system, which exhibits capabilities surpassing those of strain gauges. The principles of the system are illustrated considering the fiber calibration methodology. Formulas required for determining strain, temperature, and hydro-pressure are derived and discussed. Finally, the examples of applications are presented.

Interface dipole enhancement effect and enhanced Rayleigh scattering

The optical effect of a nanometer or sub-nanometer interfacial layer of condensed molecules surrounding individual nanomaterials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes （SWCNTs） has been studied theoretically and experimentally. This interfacial layer, when illuminated by light, behaves as an optical dipole lattice and contributes an instantaneous near field which enhances the local field on neighboring atoms, molecules, or nanomaterials, which in turn may lead to enhanced Rayleigh scattering, Raman scattering, and fluorescence. The theory of this interface dipole enhanced effect （IDEE） predicts that a smaller distance between the nanomaterials and the plane of the interracial layer, or a larger ratio of the dielectric constants of the interfacial layer to the surrounding medium, will result in a larger field enhancement factor. This prediction is further experimentally verified by several implementations of enhanced Rayleigh scattering of SWCNTs as well as in situ Rayleigh scattering of gradually charged SWCNTs. The interface dipole enhanced Rayleigh scattering not only enables true-color real-time imaging of nanomaterials, but also provides an effective means to peer into the subtle interfacial phenomena.