Female Faculty: Why So Few and Why Care?

Despite slow ongoing progress in increasing the representation of women in academia, women remain significantly under-represented at senior levels, in particular in the natural sciences and engineering. Not infrequently, this is downplayed by bringing forth arguments such as inherent biological differences between genders, that current policies are adequate to address the issue, or by deflecting this as being “not my problem” among other examples. In this piece we present scientific evidence that counters these claims, as well as a best-practice example, Genie, from Chalmers University of Technology, where one of the authors is currently employed. We also highlight particular challenges caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, we conclude by proposing some possible solutions to the situation and emphasize that we need to all do our part, to ensure that the next generation of academics experience a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable working environment.     

婴儿湿巾缓冲能力的测试——一个贴近生活的实验

为了有效提升学生在缓冲溶液学习过程中的学习兴趣及积极性,在此推荐一个将现实中的生活用品作为实验对象引入实验课教学过程中的案例。该实验设计将性质实验扩充到婴儿湿巾,将实验内容变为对婴儿湿巾工作原理的验证,而不再是过去简单的酸碱体系的配制及相关验证实验。通过该实验的实施,学生普遍反映能够有效激发其在学习缓冲溶液相关课程中的学习积极性与兴趣,并最终促使学生认知缓冲体系内pH变化的特点及缓冲机理。     

In situ liquid SIMS analysis of uranium oxide

Trace analysis of nuclear materials in solid particles collected in the environment or particles in liquid slurry generated in nuclear material manufacturing processes can pinpoint elemental, organic, and isotopic signatures of nuclear fuel cycle activities and processes. Such information can support nuclear safeguards programs by increasing our ability to detect undeclared nuclear materials, routine activities for safeguarding at declared facilities, and illicit activities. However, trace radioactive material analysis in liquids and slurries is challenging using bulk approaches. For example, one drawback of sensitive analysis such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is that sample is consumed or destroyed as a result of the technical approach. We developed a vacuum compatible microfluidic interface to enable surface analysis of liquids and solid–liquid interactions using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). In this work, we illustrate the initial results from the analysis of liquid uranium oxide standard solutions using in situ liquid SIMS. Because the liquid SIMS analysis is almost nondestructive, the same sample can then be analyzed by other analytical techniques or saved for future reference. Consequently, multimodal analysis is possible. Our results demonstrate that in situ liquid SIMS can be used as a new approach to analyze radioactive materials in liquid and slurry forms of relevance to diverse applications.     

Influence of saddle-splay deformation on lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals confined between two coaxial cylinders

ABSTRACT

A striking feature of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals confined in cylinder model exhibit double-twist director configurations. Evidence suggests that saddle-splay deformation is among the most important factors for the distortions of director. Previous researches limit the director to distort at a fixed plane (r-? plane) by using specific boundary conditions such as degenerate planar anchoring condition. In this work, we consider lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals confined between two coaxial cylinders with free-surface boundary conditions and Rapini-Papoular-type anchoring conditions. By using finite-difference iterative method to solve the numerical solution of Euler equation, we find that saddle-splay deformation leads to double-twist director configurations under free-surface boundary conditions, which consist of the result under degenerate planar anchoring conditions. Furthermore, at Rapini-Papoular-type anchoring conditions, saddle-splay deformation has a great influence on the director in the radial direction (r direction) and the director distorts in three-dimensional space. Remarkably, our method provides a more accurate theory basis for the measured values of saddle-splay elastic constant K_24。     

悬链线竖向集中力作用下的构形分析和张力计算

目前,悬链线在竖向集中力和均布荷载共同作用下的构形分析和受力计算的理论仍不完善。针对这一问题,通过引入悬链线的几何约束方程、力平衡方程和超越方程,建立了竖向集中力与均布荷载共同作用下的非线性方程组。采用牛顿迭代法求解方程组,得到了悬链线的构形和受力情况。为了验证理论计算的正确性,进行了算例和试验验证。结果表明,算例的计算结果与文献结论保持一致,试验测得的构形和水平张力大小与理论计算的构形和水平张力大小吻合较好。本文的理论计算可以更加简单精确地计算出悬链线在竖向集中力和均布荷载共同作用下的构形和受力情况,为实际工程提供重要的理论指导。     

Hybrid nanomaterial flow and heat transport in a stretchable convergent/divergent channel:a Darcy-Forchheimer model

The flow behavior in non-parallel walls is an important factor of any physical model including cavity flow and canals, which is applicable for diverging/converging channel. The present communication explains that the flow of the hybrid nanomaterial subjected to the convergent/divergent channel has non-parallel walls. It is assumed that the hybrid nanomaterial movement is in the porous region. A Darcy-Forchheimer medium of porosity is considered to interpret the porosity features. A useful similarity function is adopted to get the strong ordinary coupled equations. Numerical solutions are achieved through the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg(RKF) fourth-fifth order method, and they are validated with the existing results. Physical nature of the involving constraints is reported with the help of plots. It is explored that the velocity of divergent channel decreases, and convergent channel enhances for the higher solid volume faction. Further, the presence of inertia coefficient and porosity parameter amplifies the velocity at the wall.     

关于不定方程x3-1=749y2

利用同余式、平方剩余、Pell方程的解的性质、递归序列证明了:不定方程x³-1=749y²仅有整数解(x,y)=(1,0).     

上海市力学学会60年

上海市力学学会成立于1959年9月20日，到今年正好是一个甲子．60个春秋真实写照了上海市力学学会的建立、成长、发展与壮大的过程．60年来，在上海市科协的领导和中国力学学会的指导下，在各团体成员单位的大力支持下，上海市力学学会一代代力学工作者薪火相传、开拓耕耘，历届理事会及下属工作委员会和专业委员会团结奋进、不断创新，广大会员踊跃参与，为上海力学大力发展、力学人才精心培养、力学知识科学普及、力学服务国家发展战略和区域经济建设中做出了重要贡献，学会持续发展壮大．在庆祝力学学会成立六十周年之际，让我们共同抒怀上海力学六十年薪火相传、回顾近10年重要发展，展望上海力学新时代．