Cationic and temperature-sensitive liposomes loaded with eugenol for the application to silk

Silk has been widely used in the clothing industry due to their soft and smooth features, good biocompatibility, good heat dissipation, warmth and ultraviolet resistance. The application of fragrance to silk can significantly improve the performance of silk. However, there are two key scientific problems that need to be solved: slowing down the release rate of fragrances and increasing the scent lasting time of silk. In this study, cationic and temperature-sensitive liposomes were designed and prepared to encapsulate eugenol. These fragrance-loaded liposomes significantly slowed down the release rate of the fragrance and controlled the release rate of the fragrance in a thermo-sensitive manner. The liposomes adhered to the silk through electrostatic adsorption interaction. The positive charge on the fragrance-loaded liposomes neutralized much negative charge on silk and thereby increasing the adhesion efficiency.     

Influence of Neem oil pretreatment on the dyeing and antimicrobial properties of wool and silk fibers with some natural dyes

Wool and silk fibers pretreated with neem oil and dyed with chlorophyll, saffron red and yellow natural dyes using economic methods such as microwave heating and ultrasonic energy. The effect of neem oil concentrations on color strength (K/S) was measured. The results indicated that, wool and silk fibers pretreated with neem oil recorded higher color strength values than the untreated fibers. Fastness properties and the color yield of the dyes under investigation on wool and silk fibers were evaluated. The results indicated that, color fastness to rubbing, washing and perspiration of all dyes are excellent to good and are approximately the same in microwave and ultrasonic method. The antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi were tested, and the results indicated that the samples pretreated exhibited higher inhibition percent than the untreated fibers. The morphologies structure of the untreated and treated wool fibers were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The untreated samples have a rough surface. The pretreated samples of wool fibers were swelling compared to the untreated fibers .The diameter of the fibers increased and have smooth and even surfaces. The changes in the surface morphology due to the effect of active ingredients of treatment with neem oil. This behavior as swelling and increase in diameter of the fibers leads to high penetration of the dyes in the fibers.     

Magnesium-containing silk fibroin/polycaprolactone electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for accelerating bone regeneration

Bone tissue engineering has become one of the most effective methods for treating bone defects. In this study, an electrospun tissue engineering membrane containing magnesium was successfully fabricated by incorporating magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles into silk fibroin and polycaprolactone (SF/PCL)-blend scaffolds. The release kinetics of Mg²⁺ and the effects of magnesium on scaffold morphology, and cellular behavior were investigated. The obtained Mg-functionalized nanofibrous scaffolds displayed controlled release of Mg²⁺, satisfactory biocompatibility and osteogenic capability. The in vivo implantation of magnesium-containing electrospun nanofibrous membrane in a rat calvarial defect resulted in the significant enhancement of bone regeneration twelve weeks post-surgery. This work represents a valuable strategy for fabricating functional magnesium-containing electrospun scaffolds that show potential in craniofacial and orthopedic applications.     

逆透视映射公式的误差分析及准确度验证

从数学上分析了目前普遍使用的逆透视映射公式的误差,给出重新推导的逆透视映射数学公式.设计实验验证了采用本文公式进行逆透视映射的效果,并与现有两公式的效果进行了比较.实验结果表明:无论相机内外参量如何变化,本文推导出的公式其IPM变换效果均好于现有公式.在相机架设高度等参量确定的条件下,采用改进后的公式,逆透视映射变换的相对误差平均为0.85%,较现有的公式准确度有较大提高,能更好地满足智能导航和路面状况勘测等对近距离图像的逆透视映射变换应用要求.     

A service flow model for the liner shipping network design problem

Global liner shipping is a competitive industry, requiring liner carriers to carefully deploy their vessels efficiently to construct a cost competitive network. This paper presents a novel compact formulation of the liner shipping network design problem (LSNDP) based on service flows. The formulation alleviates issues faced by arc flow formulations with regards to handling multiple calls to the same port. A problem which has not been fully dealt with earlier by LSNDP formulations. Multiple calls are handled by introducing service nodes, together with port nodes in a graph representation of the problem, and by introducing numbered arcs between a port and a novel service node. An arc from a port node to a service node indicate whether a service is calling the port or not. This representation allows recurrent calls of a service to a port, which previously could not be handled by LSNDP models. The model ensures strictly weekly frequencies of services, ensures that port-vessel draft capabilities are not violated, respects vessel capacities and the number of vessels available. The profit of the generated network is maximized, i.e. the revenue of flowed cargo subtracted operational costs of the network and a penalty for not flowed cargo. The model can be used to design liner shipping networks to utilize a container carrier’s assets efficiently and to investigate possible scenarios of changed market conditions. The model is solved as a Mixed Integer Program. Results are presented for the two smallest instances of the benchmark suite LINER-LIB-2012 presented in Brouer, Alvarez, Plum, Pisinger, and Sigurd (2013).     

A review of recent research on green road freight transportation

Road freight transportation is a major contributor to carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Reducing these emissions in transportation route planning requires an understanding of vehicle emission models and their inclusion into the existing optimization methods. This paper provides a review of recent research on green road freight transportation.     

Minimum measurement time interval to estimate a reliable sound pressure level of road traffic noise using two types of dynamic statistics

A new method to determine the minimum measurement time interval needed to obtain the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level with a designated reliability is presented. This method considers variations in the noise emission from passing vehicles. To verify the validity and availability, simulation experiments based on our dynamic model are examined under various traffic conditions. A statistic quantity, the mean time interval between two maximum sound pressure levels consecutively observed during the reference measurement time interval, is introduced in the experimental analysis. Additionally, the theoretical analysis includes another statistic quantity corresponding to the mean time interval, the mean recurrence time of the maximum sound pressure level, when the transition probability, rate of heavy vehicles, and probability distribution of vehicles passing the observation point during the reference measurement time interval are known.     

Tractor cabin’s passive suspension parameters optimization via experimental and numerical methods

Reduction of transmitted vibrations of tractor cabin which is caused by road roughness is the major objective of this study; consequently operator health can be achieved. This objective is carried out via experimental measurements and finite element modeling. For this purpose the vertical acceleration of the cabin as well as the rear axle of the tractor is measured in different road conditions and forward speeds. However, it should be mentioned that tests were carried out according to the ISO 2631-1985 but no measurements were done on the driver’s seat. Then the finite element model of the cabin’s tractor is developed and the dynamic response of the cabin interior (with the measured axle acceleration as input dynamic force) is obtained. At the third step the suspension parameters are calculated by comparing the accelerations obtained from the model and measurements. Finally the suspension parameters are optimized according to ISO 2631-1985 via iterative method.     

高烈度区浸水高填石路堤变形和稳定性的数值模拟研究

填石路堤已经成为山区高等级公路较普遍的路堤形式,但对填石路堤的地震稳定性研究较少。汶川地震以后,我国已处于地震活跃期,因此对西部高烈度山区修建的浸水高填石路堤进行地震作用下的稳定性研究具有十分重要的意义。本文以雅泸高速公路K112+908.16~K113+675段的浸水高填石路堤为研究对象,对在折线地基上填筑的高填石路堤在各种工况下的变形和稳定性情况进行了三维数值仿真。研究结果表明,加强侧向约束,减少侧向变形是保证路堤稳定及在车载作用下不发生开裂的前提; 路堤在浸水条件下,由于填石和下覆土体渗透性能良好,计算后发现稳定性未有太大改变,但要注意波浪的淘蚀破坏作用; 高填方路堤在Ⅷ度地震作用下将以单纯侧滑方式发生破坏,潜在滑动面为路堤与基底的交界面,只有提高界面强度才能有效提高路堤的抗震性能; 提高填石路堤压实度可以有效提高强度,减小变形,但是并非越大越好,应展开压实度与基底承载力之间关系的研究。