The Neogene eolian deposits in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) are one of the most useful continental deposits for understanding climatic changes. To decipher Late Neogene paleoclimatic changes in the CLP, we present a terrestrial mollusk record spanning the time interval between 7.1 and 3.5 Ma from the western CLP. The results indicate four stages of paleoclimatic evolution: From 7.1 to 6.2 Ma...

Mitochondria generate most of the heat in endotherms. Given some impedance of heat transfer across protein-rich bioenergetic membranes, mitochondria must operate at a higher temperature than body temperature in mammals and birds. But exactly how much hotter has been controversial, with physical calculations suggesting that maximal heat gradients across cells could not be greater than 10-5 K. Us...

A generalized thermo-elastic diffusion problem in a functionally graded isotropic, unbounded, rotating elastic medium due to a periodically varying heat source in the context of fractional order theory is considered in our present work. The governing equations of the theory for a functionally graded material with GNIII model are established. Analytical solution of the problem is derived in Lapl...

The formation of a TSV for three-dimensional interconnects using SF6/O2 plasma is explored. Adjusting the O2 gas concentration to 45 sccm, while the SF6 concentration is set to 35 sccm, produced the best combination of chemical and physical etching to provide sidewall angles of 88◦. Three TSV aspect ratios are etched (5/58, 10/100, and 20/100 μm) and subsequently analyzed using the finite eleme...

A theory of solid-state fusion based on the interaction between D and He ion band states within a host lattice is presented. Formation of ion band-state deuterium is thermo-dynamically favored when lattice strain energy is greater than the incremental chemical potential of the band state. The key fusion step is a coalescence fluctuation that converts a twofold occupation state of electrostatic ...

Under high pressure, krypton, one of the most inert elements is predicted to become sufficiently reactive to form a new class of krypton compounds; krypton oxides. Using modern ab-initio evolutionary algorithms in combination with Density Functional Theory, we predict the existence of several thermodynamically stable Kr/O species at elevated pressures. In particular, our calculations indicate t...

In the present study three dimensional steady state thermo-chemical simulation of a pultrusion process is investigated by using the finite element/nodal control volume (FE/NCV) technique. Pultrusion simulation of a composite having a C-shaped cross section is performed as a validation case. The obtained cure degree profiles for specific points match well with those in the literature. Following ...

The present review aims to give a closer look of hydrogels based on chitosan and poly (vinyl alcohol) and to discuss their potential biomedical applications in drug delivery system. Various investigations based on chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) carried out recently by researchers have been reported in this review. Moreover different chemical and physical crosslinking methods used for hydrogels f...

The aim of the “ARTEMIS” project is to investigate the ageing mechanisms for cross-linked polyethylene under thermo-electrical stress and to identify ageing markers, which can be used to carry out diagnostic procedures. A carefully selected set of techniques which can give cross-correlated information on space charge phenomenology and material degradation were used to investigate specimens peel...

High temperature superconducting (SC) nanocomposites based on SC ceramics and various polymeric binders were prepared. Regardless of the size of the ceramics’ grains, the increase of their amount leads to an increase of resistance to rupture and modulus and a decrease in limiting deformation, whereas an increase in the average ceramic grain size worsens resistance properties. The SC, thermo-che...