The increase in steady-state force after active lengthening in skeletal muscle, termed force enhancement (FE), has been observed for nearly one century. Although demonstrated experimentally at various structural levels, the underlying mechanism(s) remain unknown. We recently showed that the Drosophila jump muscle is an ideal model for investigating mechanisms behind muscle physiological propert...

Antiferroelectrics (AFE) can exhibit a “shape memory function controllable by electric field”, with huge isotropic volumetric expansion (0.26%) associated with the AFE to Ferroelectric (FE) phase transformation. Small inverse electric field application can realize the original AFE phase. The response speed is quick (2.5 ms). In the Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.6Sn0.4)1-yTiy]0.98O3 (PNZST) system, the shap...

Novel nanocomposite films based on amylose (AM) and Fe3+-montmorillonite (Fe3+–MMT) in the matrix of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) were fabricated by using a solution casting method. The X-Ray diffractional analysis indicated that an ion-exchange process occurred between Fe3+–MMT and PVP. Thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA), differential termogravivetrical analy...

Dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor, possess strongly recurved, hypertrophied and hyperextensible ungual claws on the pes (digit II) and manus. The morphology of these unguals has been linked to the capture and despatching of prey. However, the mechanical properties or, more importantly, the mechanical potential of these structures have not been explored. Generation of a 3D f...

This study addresses the fabrication of nanocrystalline Fe–Co–Ni alloy using two operations: mechanical alloying (MA) of elemental powders and hot pressing (HP). The evolution of the phase composition and structure of the powder particles after MA was investigated. Ball milling with rotation speed 700 rpm for 15–20 min allows the production of a bcc Fe-based supersaturated solid solution. Durin...

BACKGROUND Osteoporotic hip fractures represent major cause of disability, loss of quality of life and even mortality among the elderly population. Decisions on drug therapy are based on the assessment of risk factors for fracture, from BMD measurements. The combination of biomechanical models with clinical studies could better estimate bone strength and supporting the specialists in their deci...

In this article, the influence of various vacancy defects on the Young’s modulus of carbon nanotube (CNT) - reinforcement polymer composite in the axial direction is investigated via a structural model in ANSYS software. Their high strength can be affected by the presence of defects in the nanotubes used as reinforcements in practical nanocomposites. Molecular structural mechanics (MSM)/finite ...

In this research, the production of Fe-TiN and Fe-Ti(N,C) composite powders by mechanical alloying was investigated and evaluated. Ferrotitanium (containing 70%Ti), titanium and graphite were used as the raw materials. Initial mixtures were milled in different time durations under the pure nitrogen atmosphere with the pressure of 5atm. The results showed that when N2 pressure is 5 at...

The densification behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties of bulk TiB₂-based ceramic composites, fabricated using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique with elements of (Fe-Ni-Ti-Al) sinter-aid were investigated. Comparing the change of shrinkage displacement of pure TiB₂ and TiB₂-5 wt% (Fe-Ni-Ti-Al), the addition of elements Fe-Ni-Ti-Al into TiB₂ can facilitate sintering of the...