A Computational Analysis of the Influence of Anastomosis Angle on Stenosis-Prone Locations during Radio-Cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation

In dialysis treatment, the radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula (RCAVF) is a commonly used fistula, yet its low maturation rate remains a challenge. To enhance surgical outcomes, the relationship between stenosis-prone locations and RCAVF anastomosis angle is studied during maturation by developing two sets of RCAVF models for early (non-mature) and mature RCAVFs at five anastomosis angles. The impact of hemodynamics and wall shear stress (WSS) is examined to determine optimal anastomotic angles. Results indicate that acute angles produce more physiological WSS distributions and fewer disturbed regions, with early stenosis-prone regions located near the anastomosis that shift to the bending venous segment during remodeling. A pilot study comparing clinical and numerical results is conducted for validation.

阻燃剂多尺度结构设计与绿色火安全材料研发

通用聚合物具有易燃性,遇火迅速燃烧并释放大量有毒烟气,严重威胁着人类的生命财产安全.因此,绿色火安全材料的研发是符合国家战略发展需求的重要课题之一.运用多元素杂化改性、超分子自组装等前沿新方法、新技术,从不同尺度对无卤阻燃剂的结构进行设计,可以实现对高性能聚合物材料的阻燃改性,构筑绿色火安全材料.本文主要介绍厦门大学及其合作单位在防火阻燃材料领域的研究工作,包括分子水平上的P/N阻燃体系与多面体低聚倍半硅氧烷(POSS)基多元素阻燃体系设计、纳米尺度的无机材料表面有机功能化阻燃剂体系设计等方面的研究,以及在环氧树脂、聚氨酯发泡材料、防火涂料的应用研究,并提出防火阻燃材料的发展趋势.

锆基非晶合金的动态弛豫机制和高温流变行为

非晶合金的动态弛豫机制对于理解其塑性变形,玻璃转变行为,扩散机制以及晶化行为都至关重要.非晶合金的力学性能与动态弛豫机制的本征关联是该领域当前重要科学问题之一.本文借助于动态力学分析(DMA),探索了Zr50Cu40Al10块体非晶合金从室温到过冷液相区宽温度范围内的动态力学行为.通过单轴拉伸实验,研究了玻璃转变温度附近的高温流变行为.基于准点缺陷理论(quasi-point defects theory),对两种力学行为的适用性以及宏观力学行为变化过程中微观结构的演化规律进行描述.研究结果表明,准点缺陷理论可以很好地描述非晶合金损耗模量α弛豫的主曲线.基于非晶合金的内耗行为,玻璃转变温度以下原子运动的激活能Uβ为0.63 eV.与准点缺陷浓度对应的关联因子χ在玻璃转变温度以下约为0.38,而在玻璃转变温度以上则线性增大.Zr50Cu40Al10块体非晶合金在玻璃转变温度附近,随温度和应变速率的不同而在拉伸实验中显示出均匀的或不均匀的流变行为.非晶合金的高温流变行为不仅可以通过扩展指数函数和自由体积理论来描述,还可以通过基于微剪切畴(shear micro-domains,SMDs)的准点缺陷理论来描述.

熔融沉积法制备纤维素纳米纤维增强聚乳酸基复合材料的拉伸性能

生物可降解聚合物可以在保持结构力学性能的同时可以实现碳中性,是石油基聚合物的潜在替代品。在这些聚合物中,聚乳酸(Polylactic acid,PLA)因其良好的力学性能、生物相容性和热塑性而特别有发展前景。本文利用机械脱脂纤维素纳米纤维(Cellulose nanofiber,CNF)来提高聚乳酸的力学性能,该纤维具有显著的力学性能和生物降解性。熔融沉积建模(Fused deposition modeling,FDM)是热塑性聚合物的三维打印方法之一,可以降低制造成本。本研究采用FDM法制备了机械脱脂CNF增强PLA基复合材料,并在两个打印方向(0°/90°和+45°/-45°)上研究了它们的拉伸性能,梳理了机械制备CNF增强PLA基复合材料的印刷方向与拉伸行为之间的关系。此外,利用扫描电镜研究了机械脱脂CNF增强PLA基复合材料的显微组织和断口。

Physico-Chemical and Thermal Characterization of Some Lignocellulosic Fibres: <i>Ananas comosus</i>(AC), <i>Neuropeltis acuminatas</i>(NA) and <i>Rhecktophyllum camerunense</i>(RC)

This paper focuses on the study of the physical, biochemical, structural, and thermal properties of plant fibres of Rhecktophyllum camerunense (RC), Neuropeltis acuminatas (NA) and Ananas comosus (AC) from the equatorial region of Cameroon. The traditional use of these fibres inspired researchers to investigated their properties. This study aims at improving the state of knowledge with a view to diversifying applications. The fibres are extracted by retting. Then, their apparent density was measured following the ASTM D792 standard and their water moisture absorption and moisture content were also evaluated. Their molecular structure was studied by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. A quantitative analysis of the biochemical composition was performed according to the analytical technique for the pulp and paper industry (TAPPI). A TGA/DSC analysis was also performed. The results reveal that the AC, NA and RC fibres have densities of 1.26 ± 1.06, 0.846 ± 0.13 and 0.757 ± 0.08 g·cm-3 respectively. They are also hydrophilic with a water absorption rate of 188.64 ± 11.94%, 276.16% ± 8.07% and 198.17% ± 20%. They have a moisture content of 12.21%, 10.36% and 9.37%. The studied fibres exhibit functional groups that are related to the presence of hemicellulose, pectin, lignin and cellulose. The cellulose crystallinity index was found to be 67.99%, 46.5% and 59.72% respectively. The fibres under study have the following chemical composition: an extractive content of 3.07%, 14.77% and 8.74%;a pectin content of 4.15%, 7.69% and 3.45%;a hemicellulose content of 4.90%, 15.33% and 7.42%;a cellulose content of 68.11%, 36.08% and 65.15%;a lignin content of 12.01%, 25.15% and 16.2%;and an ash content of 0.27%, 1.53% and 0.47% respectively. The thermal transitions observed on the thermograms correlate with the TAPPI chemical composition. It is observed that these fibres are thermally stable up to temperatures of 200°C, 220°C and 285°C. These results make it possible to envisage uses similar to those of sisal, hemp and flax fibres.

Secondary relaxation and dynamic heterogeneity in metallic glasses：A brief review

Understanding mechanical relaxation, such as primary（α） and secondary（β） relaxation, is key to unravel the intertwined relation between the atomic dynamics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics in metallic glasses. At a fundamental level, relaxation, plastic deformation, glass transition, and crystallization of metallic glasses are intimately linked to each other, which can be related to atomic packing, inter-atomic diffusion, and cooperative atom movement. Conceptually, βrelaxation is usually associated with structural heterogeneities intrinsic to metallic glasses. However, the details of such structural heterogeneities, being masked by the meta-stable disordered long-range structure, are yet to be understood. In this paper, we briefly review the recent experimental and simulation results that were attempted to elucidate structural heterogeneities in metallic glasses within the framework of β relaxation. In particular, we will discuss the correlation amongβ relaxation, structural heterogeneity, and mechanical properties of metallic glasses.

Zr_(55)Cu_(30)Ni_5Al_(10)大块金属玻璃的等时和等温晶化(英文)

采用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)和X射线衍射仪(XRD)研究Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10大块金属玻璃的非等温晶化转变动力学和在过冷液相区的等温晶化动力学行为。在非等温过程中,采用不同方法(Kissinger,Flynn-Wall-Ozawa和Augis-Bennett)得到的Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10大块金属玻璃平均激活能彼此之间吻合很好。此外,采用Johnson-Mehl-Avrami(JMA)模型描述Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10大块金属玻璃的等温转变动力学。研究结果表明:Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10大块金属玻璃的Avrami指数n介于2.2和2.9之间,表明其晶化机制主要是扩散控制过程。在等温晶化的过程中,晶核长大主要是三维的长程有序扩散控制的过程,平均激活能为469kJ/mol。

Optimization of Maturation of Radio-Cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula Using a Model Relating Energy Loss Rate and Vascular Geometric Parameters

The main reason for the early failure of radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula (RCAVF) is non-maturity, which means that the blood flow rate in the fistula cannot increase to the expected value for dialysis. From a mechanical perspective, the vascular resistance at the artificially designed anastomosis causes an energy loss that affects blood flow rate growth and leads to early failure. This research studied how to maximize the RCAVF maturity and primary patency by controlling the energy loss rate. We theoretically analyzed and derived a model that evaluates the energy loss rate Eavf in RCAVF as a function of its blood vessel geometric parameters (GPs) for given flow rates. There was an aggregate of five controllable GPs in RCAVF: radial artery diameter (Dra), cephalic vein diameter (Dcv), blood vessel distance between artery and vein (h), anastomotic diameter (Da), and anastomotic angle (θ). Through this analysis, it was found that Eavf was inversely proportional to Dra, Dcv, Da, and θ, whereas proportional to h. Therefore, we recommended surgeons choose the vessels with large diameters, close distance, and increase the diameter and angle of the anastomosis to decrease the early failure of RCAVF. Simultaneously, we could explain the results of many clinical empiricisms with our formula. We found that increasing Dcv and θ was more significant in reducing Eavf than increasing Dra and Da. Based on our model, we could define two critical energy loss rates (CELa, CELb) to help surgeons evaluate the blood vessels and choose the ideal range of θ, and help them design the preoperative RCAVF plan for each patient to increase the maturity and the primary patency of RCAVF.

DC/DC变换器稳定性的分析方法

DC/DC变换器属线性混合系统一类.其稳定性分析必须考虑到它们的切换特性.本文介绍一种简单的稳定性分析方法,它可预测被控制的DC/DC变换器在参数变化条件下可能出现的不稳定性及混沌现象.由于它很容易被加入到集成电路的设计流程中,为集成DC/DC变换器设计师提供了一个有效的辅助设计工具.

A Mathematical Model of COVID-19: Analysis and Identification of Parameters for Better Decision Making

Since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, the world has been impressed by two things: The number of people infected and the number of deaths. Here, we propose a mathematical model of the spread of this disease, analyze this model mathematically and determine one or more dominant factors in the propagation of the COVID-19 epidemic. We consider the S-E-I-R epidemic model in the form of ordinary differential equations, in a population structured in susceptibles S, exposed E as caregivers, travelers and assistants at public events, infected I and recovered R classes. Here we decompose the recovered class into two classes: The deaths class D and the class of those who are truly healed H. After the model construction, we have calculated the basic reproduction number R0, which is a function of certain number of parameters like the size of the exposed class E. In our paper, the mathematical analysis, which consists in searching the equilibrium points and studying their stability, is done. The work identifies some parameters on which one can act to control the spread of the disease. The numerical simulations are done and they illustrate our theoretical analysis.

Theoretical and Numerical Comparison of Limit Point Bifurcation and Maximum Force Criteria. Application to the Prediction of Diffuse Necking

A large number of criteria has been developed to predict material instabilities, but their choice is limited by the lack of existing comparison of their theoretical basis and application domains. To overcome this limitation, a theoretical and numerical comparison of two major models used to predict diffuse necking is present in this paper. Limit Point Bifurcation criterion is first introduced. An original formulation of the Maximum Force Criterion (MFC), taking into account the effects of damage and isotropic and kinematic hardenings, is then proposed. Strong connections are shown between them by comparing their theoretical basis. Numerical Forming Limit Diagrams at diffuse necking obtained with these criteria for different metallic materials are given. They illustrate the theoretical link and similar predictions are shown for both models.

POD Analysis and Low-Dimensional Model Based on POD-Galerkin for Two-Dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard Convection

Direct numerical simulation based on OpenFOAM is carried out for two-dimensional RayleighBénard( RB) convection in a square domain at high Rayleigh number of 107 and Pr = 0.71. Proper orthogonal decomposition( POD) is used to analyze the flow and temperature characteristics from POD energy spectrum and eigenmodes. The results show that the energy spectrum converges fast and the scale of vortex structures captured by eigenmodes becomes smaller as the eigenmode order increases. Meanwhile,a low-dimensional model( LDM) for RB convection is derived based on POD eigenmodes used as a basis of Galerkin project of Navier-Stokes-Boussinesq equations. LDM is built based on different number of eigenmodes and through the analysis of phase portraits,streamline and isothermal predicted by LDM,it is suggested that the error between LDM and DNS is still large.

Modeling Water Adsorption and Retention of Building Materials From Pore Size Distribution

Water adsorption and capillarity are key phenomena involved during heat and moisture transfer in porous building materials.They account for interaction between solid matrix,liquid water and moist air.They are considered through Water Vapor Adsorption Isotherm(WVAI)and Retention Curve(RC)functions which are constitutive laws characterizing water activity within a porous medium.The objective of this paper is to present a water vapor adsorption and retention models built from multimodal Pore Size Distribution Function(PSDF)and to see how its parameters modify moisture storage for hygroscopic and near saturation ranges.The microstructure of the porous medium is represented statistically by a bundle of tortuous parallel pores through its PSDF.Firstly,the influence of contact angle and temperature on storage properties were investigated.Secondly,a parametric study was performed to see the influence of the PSDF shape on storage properties.Three cases were studied considering the number of modalities,the weight of each modality and the dispersion around mean radius.Finally,as a validation,the proposed model for WVAI were compared to existing model from literature showing a good agreement.This study showed that the proposed models are capable to reproduce various shapes of storage functions.It also highlighted the link between microstructure and adsorption-retention phenomena.

Influence of Fresh Water on Microbubble Generation in an Airlift Column Applied to Aquaculture: Extraction Capacity

Bubble flows consist a liquid phase and a gaseous phase dispersed as bubbles. They occur in nature and in many industrial applications, such as oil transportation in pipelines and steam generators for power generation. Due to large difference in density between gas and liquid, the flottability force causes bubbles to rise, which in turn can generate overall motion and agitation in liquid. This use of gravity as a flow driver, which is specific to disperse phase systems, is used in process engineering (bubble columns and gasosiphon) to sparingly promote mixing and exchange between gas and liquid. In many applications, bubbles are used to agitate a liquid in order to promote mixing and transfers. This work is devoted to study of hydrodynamics of a bubble column. Experimentally, we have determined properties fluctuations of velocities inside the aquarium of rising homogeneous bubbles for different bubble sizes and vacuum rates. The interfacial area between gas and liquid phase is a crucial factor for mass transfer in bubble columns. The molecular exchange between a given volume of gas and water can be enhanced by formation of smaller bubbles, leading to a larger gas-liquid interface. This work presents the various physical phenomena that apply to bubbles, as well as associated dimensionless numbers. A state art of Micro-Bubble Generators (MBG) is then presented, presenting systems using various phenomena such as cavitation, electrolysis, or shear.

Comparative Study on Geopolymer Binders Based on Two Alkaline Solutions (NaOH and KOH)

This study specifically investigated the influence of the composition of aluminosilicate material i.e. the substitution of metakaolin by rice husk ash and the nature of alkaline activators (Na+/K+) on mineralogical, structural, physical and mechanical properties of geopolymer binders. This influence was evaluated based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM analyses, apparent density, water accessible porosity, compressive strength and thermal properties. Two types of geopolymer binder were synthesized according to the type of alkali activator used, the NaOH-based geopolymer and the KOH-based geopolymer. The results of characterization performed after 14 days of curing of geopolymer samples showed that the activation of the aluminosilicate powder using alkaline solution led to change in their microstructure. The highest compressive strength was obtained with the NaOH-based geopolymer.

Thermophysical Characterization and Crystallization Kinetics of Semi-Crystalline Polymers

Final properties and behavior of polymer parts are known to be directly linked to the thermomechanical history experienced during their processing. Their quality depends on their structure, which is the result of the interactions between the process and the polymers in terms of thermomechanical kinetics. To study the actual behavior of a polymer during its transformation, it is necessary to take into account all the thermal dependencies of their thermophysical properties. In this paper, a complete experimental thermal characterization of a semi-crystalline polymer is performed. Thermal conductivity is measured using the hot wire method. The PVT diagram is obtained by means of an isobaric piston type dilatometer. Heat capacity is characterized versus temperature by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A modification of the Schneider rate crystallization equations is proposed, allowing to identify in a simple way all the crystallization kinetics parameters, using only DSC measurements. Finally, a multiphysical coupled model is built in order to numerically simulate the cooling of a polypropylene plate, as in the cooling stage of the injection molding process. Calculated evolutions of temperature, crystallinity, pressure and specific volume across the plate thickness are presented and commented.

Improvement of the Microalgae Harvest by the “Foaming-Scumming” Function of an Airlift Column

The aim of this research work is to valorize the microalgae grown-up in an Airlift column. The system of fluid circulation and mass transfer is based on the principle of interaction between gas bubbles and a liquid. Thus, this study focuses on the phenomenon of the determination of the vacuum rate, the size and the speed of the bubbles including the optimization of microalgae development within the culture process. In addition, this study tries to understand the close relationship between these phenomena, its environment and the microalgae cell. These studies were conducted on the operation of an Airlift column in aquaculture, mainly in freshwater [1]. However, other researchers [2] are interested in studying saline water. In conclusion, a series of experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the profitability of the Microflotation technique, as a method of separation and concentration in microalgae. These results are very interesting since they reveal that the efficiency of the column, for the foaming-skimming function, is greater by working with less significant air injections, which lead to a reduction in energy cost.

TEM and STEM Observations of a Flat Continuous Silicon-Germanium Thin Film Epitaxially Grown on Porous Silicon

Strain-relaxed SiGe is an attractive material for use as a substrate of strained Si, in which carrier mobility is higher than that of bulk Si. The concept of this study is the use of porous Si as a sponge like substrate so that a SiGe lattice can relax without introducing dislocations. We produced porous Si specimens by electrochemical anodization and annealed them under a H2 atmosphere. Then, SiGe thin films were grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. We observed the microstructure of the specimens using transmission electron microscopy. The result showed that we succeeded in producing a single-crys- tal continuous Si0.73Ge0.27 film with a 10% relaxation ratio and a low dislocation density on porous Si.