Dehiscent organs used for defensive behavior of kamikaze termites of the genus Ruptitermes (Termitidae,Apicotermitinae) are not glands

During Isoptera evolution, the caste of soldiers disappeared in some Apicotermitinae termites as in the Neotropical Ruptitermes. Paired dorsolateral structures located between the metathorax and abdomen of foraging workers of Ruptitermes were previously denominated dehiscent glands, and are responsible for releasing an adhesive secretion that immobilizes enemies, causing their death. In this study, we investigated the morphology of dehiscent organs of workers of Ruptitermes reconditus, Ruptitermes xanthochiton, and Ruptitermes pitan and also second instar larvae of R. reconditus using light, laser scanning confocal, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, we performed a preliminary protein analysis using SDS-PAGE to further characterize the secretion of Ruptitermes dehiscent organs. Our results showed that the dehiscent organs do not exhibit the typical characteristics of the exocrine glandular cells class I, II or III of insects, suggesting that they constitute a new type of defensive organ. Thus, the denomination dehiscent gland was not used but dehiscent organ. Dehiscent organs in larvae are formed by fat body cells. In workers, dehiscent organs are composed by compact masses of cells that accumulate a defensive secretion and are poor in organelles related to the production of secretion. Since the dehiscent organs are not glands, we hypothesize that the dehiscent organs originate from larval fat body. The defensive secretion may have been produced at younger developmental stages of worker or the defensive compounds were absorbed from food and accumulated in the worker fat body. Histochemical techniques and SDS-PAGE revealed that the secretion of Ruptitermes dehiscent organs is constituted mainly by a protein of high molecular weight (200 kDa). In conclusion, the dehiscent organs are extremely different from the exocrine glands of termites and other insects described until now. In fact, they seem to be a specialized fat body that is peculiar and exclusive of Ruptitermes termites.     

Polyamide 6,6 fibers: Tensile deformation behavior and chain scission

The strain dependence of the elastic, anelastic and plastic components of deformation energy was determined by means of cyclic stress-strain experiments for a set of polyamide 6,6 fibers obtained by different processing techniques. Small angle X-ray scattering experiments revealed that the deformation of the supermolecular lattices of the fibers, consisting of crystalline lamellae and amorphous regions, was identical to the macroscopic deformation of the sample.ESR experiments showed that deformation gives rise to chain rupture events obviously occurring in the amorphous regions in all fibers above a critical strain level. The strain dependence of the free radical concentration was found to agree closely with the corresponding behavior of the plastic deformation energy. This indicates that chain rupture events influence stress-strain properties, particularly at large strains. The absolute values of the experimentally determined plastic deformation energy and of the theoretical value, however, calculated from the number and energy balance of ruptured chains, disagree strongly. Possible explanations are free radical recombinations and secondary dissipative processes resulting from chain rupture.     

Electrospun Heparin‐Loaded Core–Shell Nanofiber Sutures for Achilles Tendon Regeneration In Vivo

Achilles tendon reconstruction surgery is the primary clinical method for repairing acute Achilles tendon ruptures. However, the efficacy of the postoperative healing process and the recovery of physiological function are inadequate. This study examines the healing mechanism of ruptured rat Achilles tendons seamed with heparin‐loaded core–shell fiber sutures fabricated via near‐field electrospinning. High‐heparin‐concentration sutures (PPH3.0) perform better than the low‐heparin‐concentration sutures and commercial sutures (CSs). The PPH3.0 suture recruits fewer inflammatory cells and shows good histocompatibility in peritoneal implantation experiments. Staining of the Achilles tendon rupture repair zone demonstrates that a high heparin concentration in sutures reduces immune‐inflammatory responses. Immunohistochemical analysis reveals that the transforming growth factor‐β staining scores of the PPH3.0 sutures are not significantly different from those of the corresponding control group but are significantly different from those of the CSs and non‐heparin‐loaded‐suture groups. According to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) analysis, the concentration of VEGF in the group treated with the PPH3.0 suture increases by 37.5% compared with that in its control group. No significant difference in tension strength is observed between the PPH3.0 group and healthy Achilles tendons. These findings illustrate that this novel method effectively treats Achilles tendon rupture and promotes healing and regeneration.     

基于声发射岩体压裂损伤演化特征研究

非常规油气储层体积压裂是油气开采的主要技术手段,准确地描述缝网压裂裂缝的演化规律是研究体积压裂的核心问题,运用声发射信号参数特征定义了岩体损伤变量,基于能量守恒原理,建立压裂岩体破裂与裂缝演化的折迭突变模型.通过选取吉林德惠菜园子页岩岩心开展了相关研究,理论计算与室内试验结果表明,岩体压裂具有突变破裂行为特征,理论计算结果与室内试验结果吻合较好.为后续裂缝演化研究奠定了科学基础.     

Bearing capacity of strip footings with horizontal confinementLa capacité portante des fondations superficielles en présence de parois rigides

For a strip footing under axial loading, the bearing capacity is influenced by the presence of rigid walls confining the foundation soil. This problem is investigated within the framework of the theory of yield design, considering both a perfectly rough and a frictionless contact condition at the interfaces with the walls in the case of a purely cohesive soil. Upper bounds for the correction factor to be applied to the classical value of the bearing capacity are determined, as functions of the non-dimensional geometric parameter of the problem, through the kinematic approach, implementing virtual velocity fields inspired from the solution to the problem of inverted extrusion. In the perfectly rough case, it appears that the new upper bound is a significant improvement of those already available. A very simple relationship is established, which derives the upper bound for the frictionless walls from the upper bound for the rough walls. A general conclusion of the analysis is that, for the values of the geometric parameter that are likely to be encountered in practice, the increase in the bearing capacity due to the presence of the rigid walls remains very small. To cite this article: J. Salençon, C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

双曲面摩擦摆支座典型桥梁的地震响应研究

为研究不同因素对粤东高烈度地区双曲面摩擦摆支座高速公路典型桥梁工程地震响应的影响,选取潮安韩江特大桥主桥(55+4×90+55)m为研究对象,该桥所有墩梁之间均采用双曲面摩擦摆支座。采用ANSYS有限元软件建立全桥模型,基于时程分析法研究了多种因素下桥梁结构的地震响应。研究表明,在纵桥向地震动激励下,桩土的相互作用对各桥墩墩底地震响应影响显著;栓钉全部剪断比栓钉全部不剪断的各桥墩墩底弯矩和剪力分布更均匀,桥墩上的固定支座栓钉不剪断将会增加该桥墩的弯矩、剪力以及支座剪力,但对其他桥墩的影响较小;该研究成果可应用于带栓钉的摩擦摆支座桥梁的地震响应分析。     

含水率对砂岩渐进破裂过程影响的试验研究

为了研究含水率对砂岩渐进破裂过程的影响,采用MTS-815岩石力学试验系统,考虑不同围压及含水率条件下砂岩的三轴试验,对其渐进破裂坏过程进行试验研究,分析不同含水率条件下砂岩的渐进破裂指标及其扩容特性的演化规律。研究结果表明,含水率对砂岩的渐进破裂过程存在促进作用;随着含水率的增加,砂岩的闭合应力、起裂强度、损伤强度和峰值强度均逐渐减小;且当砂岩饱水系数在0.7左右时,岩石损伤强度和峰值强度减少量超过20%;砂岩含水率对岩石强度的弱化作用较明显,而砂岩含水率的变化对扩容速率影响不明显,但随着含水率的增大,岩石压缩极限减小,扩容提前发生。     

Mechanics of formation and rupture of human aneurysm

The mechanical response of the human arterial wall under the combined loading of inflation, axial extension, and torsion is examined within the framework of the large deformation hyper-elastic theory. The probability of the aneurysm formation is explained with the instability theory of structure, and the probability of its rupture is explained with the strength theory of material. Taking account of the residual stress and the smooth muscle activities, a two layer thick-walled circular cylindrical tube model with fiber-reinforced composite-based incompressible anisotropic hyper-elastic materials is employed to model the mechanical behavior of the arterial wall. The deformation curves and the stress distributions of the arterial wall are given under normal and abnormal conditions. The results of the deformation and the structure instability analysis show that the model can describe the uniform inflation deformation of the arterial wall under normal conditions, as well as formation and growth of an aneurysm under abnormal conditions such as the decreased stiffness of the elastic and collagen fibers. From the analysis of the stresses and the material strength, the rupture of an aneurysm may also be described by this model if the wall stress is larger than its strength.     

Damage of ductile materials deforming under multiple plastic or viscoplastic mechanisms

This work presents a model to represent ductile failure (i.e. failure controlled by nucleation, growth and coalescence) of materials whose irreversible deformation is controlled by several plastic or viscoplastic deformation mechanisms. In addition work hardening may result from both isotropic and kinematic hardening. Damage is represented by a single variable representing void volume fraction. The model uses an additive decomposition of the plastic strain rate tensor. The model is developed based on the definition of damage dependant effective scalar stresses. The model is first developed within the generalized standard material framework and expressions for Helmholtz free energy, yield potential and dissipation potential are proposed. In absence of void nucleation, the evolution of the void volume fraction is governed by mass conservation and damage does not need to be represented by state variables. The model is extended to account for void nucleation. It is implemented in a finite element software to perform structural computations. The model is applied to three case studies: (i) failure by void growth and coalescence by internal necking (pipeline steel) where plastic flow is either governed by the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman model or the Thomason model, (ii) creep failure (Grade 91 creep resistant steel) where viscoplastic flow is controlled by dislocation creep or diffusional creep and (iii) ductile rupture after pre-compression (aluminum alloy) where kinematic hardening plays an important role.     

Structure, Mechanical Properties, and Mechanics of Intracranial Saccular Aneurysms

Intracranial saccular aneurysms remain an enigma; it is not known why they form, why they enlarge, or why only some of them rupture. Nonetheless, there is general agreement that mechanics plays an essential role in each aspect of the natural history of these potentially deadly lesions. In this paper, we review recent findings that discount limit point instabilities under quasi-static increases in pressure and resonance under dynamic loading as possible mechanisms of enlargement of saccular aneurysms. Indeed, recent histopathological data suggest that aneurysms enlarge due to a stress-mediated process of growth and remodeling of collagen, the primary load-bearing constituent within the wall. We submit that advanced theoretical, experimental, and numerical studies of this process are essential to further progress in treating this class of pathologies. The purpose of this review is to provide background and direction that encourages elasticians to contribute to this important area of research. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.