Thick-section composites are commonly used in fixed-wing and rotary-wing fatigue-critical, flightcritical components and structure. Manufacturing imperfections in thick composite structures, such as fiber waviness and porosity/voids, remain a serious problem that leads to significant component scrap rates in production. Such defects usually result in degraded strength and fatigue performance [1...

BACKGROUND The benefit of alpha-Ketoanalogues (KA) supplementation for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients that followed low-protein diet (LPD) remains undetermined. METHODS We extracted longitudinal data for all CKD patients in the Taiwan National Health Insurance from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2010. A total of 1483 patients with anemic advanced CKD treated with LPD, who started...

The cyclic stress in lithium-ion battery electrodes induced by repeated charge and discharge cycles causes electrode degradation and fracture, resulting in reduced battery performance and lifetime. To investigate electrode mechanics as a function of electrochemical cycling, we utilize digital image correlation (DIC) to measure the strains that develop in lithium-ion battery electrodes during li...

Due to the problems of potential corrosion and thermal expansion differences between traditional metal connecting pieces and carbon fiber poles, it is difficult for them to meet the operating requirements of truss structures in the environment of stratosphere. Based on the large scale composite space truss structure of stratosphere aerostats, the carbon fiber flange connection joints were studi...

INTRODUCTION Conceptual inspiration from nature is not new, and many engineering approaches can be considered to have been inspired by observing natural systems. The healing potential and repair strategies of living organisms is increasingly of interest to designers seeking lower mass structures with increased service life who wish to progress from a conventional damage tolerance philosophy. Na...