Models are primary artifacts in model-based, and especially, in model-driven software development processes. Due to their central role, the quality of models must be high to lead to software products of high quality. A common technique for improving the quality of software artifacts is refactoring. Originally developed for code structure improvement, the concept of refactoring has been raised t...

Interfaces are known to be crucial in a variety of fields and the interfacial volume fraction dramatically affects physical properties of composite media. However, it is an open problem with great significance how to determine the interfacial property in composite media with inclusions of complex geometry. By the stereological theory and the nearest-surface distribution functions, we first prop...

-Composite materials combine properties of the individual components in a synergetic manner to produce a variety of materials in an efficient and cost effective manner. Thus, composite materials are being used in various applications from automotive to furniture industries. Materials reinforced with nanoscale components are adding new dimensions to composite materials and enable further major i...

A three-dimensional multi-scale computational homogenisation framework is developed for the prediction of nonlinear micro/meso-mechanical response of the fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Two dominant damage mechanisms, i.e. matrix elasto-plastic response and fibre-matrix decohesion are considered and modelled using a non-associative pressure dependent paraboloidal yield criterion and ...

Porous carbon/cobalt (C/Co) composite nanofibers with diameters of 200-300 nm were prepared by electrospinning and subsequent carbonization processes. Two polymer solutions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and Co (CH3COOH) 2 (Co (OAc) 2) were used as C/Co composite nanofiber precursors. The study revealed that C/Co composite nanofibers were successfully prepared and coba...

A variety of therapeutic modalities, from implants to conventional Maryland bridges, can be used for the replacement of a traumatically missing anterior tooth. The reinforcement of composite resins by fibers improves their fracture toughness and resistance. Fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) bridges can be a good alternative to conventional prosthetic techniques. The purpose of this article was t...

A rapid screening technique utilizing a modified scanning electrochemical microscope has been used to screen photocatalysts and determine how metal doping affects its photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties. We now extend this rapid screening to the examination of photocatalyst (semiconductor/semiconductor) composites: by examining a variety of ZnWO4/WO3 composites, a 9% Zn/W ratio produced an in...

Electrospinning is a versatile technique, which can be used to generate nanofibers from a rich variety of materials. We investigate the variation of a zinc oxide (ZnO)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite structure in morphology by electrospinning from a series of mixture solutions of ZnO sol-gel and PVP. Calcination conditions for the crystallization of ZnO nanofibers and removal of the PVP co...

A number of experimental models of blast brain injury have been implemented in rodents and larger animals. However, the variety of blast sources and the complexity of blast wave biophysics have made data on injury mechanisms and biomarkers difficult to analyze and compare. Recently, we showed the importance of rat position toward blast generated by an external shock tube. In this study, we furt...