Bioactivity analysis of the Ta (V) doped SiO2–CaO–Na2O–P2O5 ceramics prepared by solid state sintering method

The main objective of the study was to control the degradation rate of material at a higher degradation rate improving the chemical stability of the material. Ta is known to have good chemical resistance, biocompatibility and show no adverse biological response. In the present study, SiO2–Na2O–CaO–P2O5 bioceramics with different Ta2O5 contents was prepared by solid state sintering method at 1000 °C. The as-sintered ceramics were subjected to immersion studies in stimulated body fluid (SBF) for 21 days under static condition and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and AAS. The findings of the research indicate that the addition of Ta2O5 controlled degradability, and all samples showed sufficient bioactivity.     

Improved hybrid position/force controller design of a flexible robot manipulator using a sliding observer

An improved hybrid position/force controller design of a flexible robot manipulator is presented using a sliding observer. The friction between the end effector and the environment is considered and compensated. For systematic reasons the controller is designed taking into consideration the rigid link subsystems and the flexible joints. The proposed control system satisfies the stability of the two subsystems and copes with the uncertainty of robot dynamics. A sliding observer is designed to estimate the time derivative of the torque applied as input to the rigid part of the robot. For the stability of the observer, it is assumed that the uncertainty of the observed system is bounded. A MRAC algorithm is used for the estimation of the friction forces at the contact point between the end effector and the environment. Finally simulation and experimental results are given, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

Synthesis of crystalline perovskite-structured SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles using an alkali hydrothermal process

We report an experimental route for synthesizing perovskite-structured strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) nanocubes using an alkali hydrothermal process at low temperatures without further heating. Furthermore, we studied the influence of heating time (at 180℃) on the crystallinity, morphology, and perovskite phase formation of SrTiO₃. The SrTiO₃ powder, which is formed via nanocube agglomeration, transforms into cubic particles with a particle size of 120–150 nm after 6 h of hydrothermal sintering. The crystallinity and percentage of the perovskite phase in the product increased with heating time. The cubic particles contained 31.24at% anatase TiO₂ that originated from the precursor. By varying the weight ratio of anatase TiO₂ used to react with the strontium salt precursor, we reduced the anatase-TiO₂ content to 18.8at%. However, the average particle size increased when the anatase-TiO₂ content decreased.     

Predicting multistage financial distress: Reflections on sampling,feature and model selection criteria

This research proposes a prediction model of multistage financial distress (MSFD) after considering contextual and methodological issues regarding sampling, feature and model selection criteria. Financial distress is defined as a three‐stage process showing different nature and intensity of financial problems. It is argued that applied definition of distress is independent of legal framework and its predictability would provide more practical solutions. The final sample is selected after industry adjustments and oversampling the data. A wrapper subset data mining approach is applied to extract the most relevant features from financial statement and stock market indicators. An ensemble approach using a combination of DTNB (decision table and naïve base hybrid model), LMT (logistic model tree) and A2DE (alternative N dependence estimator) Bayesian models is used to develop the final prediction model. The performance of all the models is evaluated using a 10‐fold cross‐validation method. Results showed that the proposed model predicted MSFD with 84.06% accuracy. This accuracy increased to 89.57% when a 33.33% cut‐off value was considered. Hence the proposed model is accurate and reliable to identify the true nature and intensity of financial problems regardless of the contextual legal framework.     

华南地块中三叠统巴东组红层磁倾角浅化效应

对华南地块中三叠统巴东组红层样品进行系统的岩石磁学和古地磁学研究, 采用高场等温剩磁各向异性(hf-AIR)方法, 识别出巴东组红层的磁倾角浅化因子f = 0.63。岩石磁学研究结果显示, 巴东组红层的主要载磁矿物为赤铁矿和少量磁铁矿; 磁化率和高场等温剩磁各向异性组构均指示其具有典型沉积组构特征, 表明未遭受后期构造应力改造。高温特征剩磁分量为碎屑赤铁矿所携带, 具有单一负极性, 并在95%置信水平上通过褶皱检验, 与前人在同一剖面不同位置获得的以正极性为主的古地磁方向一致。该特征剩磁方向在地层校正后的平均方向为D_s = 222.1°, I_s = ?27.2° (α₉₅ = 8.7°), 对应古地磁极为48.1°N, 215.5°E (A₉₅ = 8.4°)。对包括本文数据在内的华南中三叠世红层高质量古地磁极数据(Q≥5)用f = 0.63 进行统一校正后, 获得平均古地磁极为48.5°N, 207.6°E (A₉₅ = 10.7°)。对比华北地块同样经hf-AIR方法浅化校正后的早三叠世古地磁极, 两者在其东部参考点上的古纬度完全一致, 验证了前人提出的华南华北中生代剪刀式旋转拼合模型。     

磁控溅射用于细微颗粒涂镀功能薄膜的新技术

磁控溅射是一项成熟的技术,可用在各种基体上沉积高质量金属及陶瓷涂层。然而,此项技术一般并不适于涂镀微粒粒度为nm或μm到100μm的细微粒涂层。本文详述了一种可涂镀微粒粒径在上述范围的均匀功能薄膜的技术。在磁场下面安放的一个碗状容器内放有微粒子,容器可以振动可使粒子均匀地振出碗边沉落到真空腔,薄膜沉积工艺为反应或非反应脉冲磁控溅射。Ti,Ti O2,Sn及Sn O2从单磁场源沉积,而Bi/W的氧化物从双磁场源沉积。用SEM,TEM和EDX,以及其它与应用相关的技术表征所沉积的微粒,以表明此项技术的潜在功能。     

扩散方程导数边界条件的一种数值处理

以一维和二维扩散方程为例,构造导数边界条件一种二阶处理方法,并数值验证了这种处理方法对数值解的影响.数值结果表明,这种处理方法不但简单.而且已有的二阶处理方法有明显的改进.     

Structure and conserved RNA binding of the PAZ domain

The discovery of RNA-mediated gene-silencing pathways, including RNA interference, highlights a fundamental role of short RNAs in eukaryotic gene regulation and antiviral defence. Members of the Dicer and Argonaute protein families are essential components of these RNA-silencing pathways. Notably, these two families possess an evolutionarily conserved PAZ (Piwi/Argonaute/Zwille) domain whose biochemical function is unknown. Here we report the nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of the PAZ domain from Drosophila melanogaster Argonaute 1 (Ago1). The structure consists of a left-handed, six-stranded beta-barrel capped at one end by two alpha-helices and wrapped on one side by a distinctive appendage, which comprises a long beta-hairpin and a short alpha-helix. Using structural and biochemical analyses, we demonstrate that the PAZ domain binds a 5-nucleotide RNA with 1:1 stoichiometry. We map the RNA-binding surface to the open face of the beta-barrel, which contains amino acids conserved within the PAZ domain family, and we define the 5'-to-3' orientation of single-stranded RNA bound within that site. Furthermore, we show that PAZ domains from different human Argonaute proteins also bind RNA, establishing a conserved function for this domain.