Time domain identification and ranking of noise sources in a pneumatic nail gun

This paper investigates the noise sources in a pneumatic nail gun. The study combines two complementary experimental approaches. The first uses simultaneous data observation, with sound, acceleration and air pressure signals simultaneously recorded in conjunction with a nail gun motion high speed video. This strategy allows the identification of the physical processes involved in the operation of the machine at different time instants, as well as the associated noise generation mechanisms. However, since multiple noise sources radiate at the same time, this observation technique is not sufficient for noise source identification and ranking. Thus, a second approach introduces a selective wrapping procedure, and the strategy assures a reliable classification of the noise sources. The investigation considers the following noise origins: the air exhaust, the machine body and the workpiece/worktable.     

Composite Polybenzimidazole Membrane with High Capacity Retention for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Currently, energy storage technologies are becoming essential in the transition of replacing fossil fuels with more renewable electricity production means. Among storage technologies, redox flow batteries (RFBs) can represent a valid option due to their unique characteristic of decoupling energy storage from power output. To push RFBs further into the market, it is essential to include low-cost materials such as new generation membranes with low ohmic resistance, high transport selectivity, and long durability. This work proposes a composite membrane for vanadium RFBs and a method of preparation. The membrane was prepared starting from two polymers, meta-polybenzimidazole (6 μm) and porous polypropylene (30 μm), through a gluing approach by hot-pressing. In a vanadium RFB, the composite membrane exhibited a high energy efficiency (~84%) and discharge capacity (~90%) with a 99% capacity retention over 90 cycles at 120 mA·cm⁻², exceeding commercial Nafion^® NR212 (~82% efficiency, capacity drop from 90% to 40%) and Fumasep^® FAP-450 (~76% efficiency, capacity drop from 80 to 65%).     

Detection of bio-constituents in complex biological tissue using Raman microscopy. Application to human nail clippings

Raman spectra of human nail clippings from various sources were collected and then deconvoluted to obtain the pure component spectra of the underlying constituents present. This blind-deconvolution was performed using a self-modeling curve resolution technique, namely band-target entropy minimization (BTEM). The aim was to simplify the complexity of the Raman spectra and hence to identify the underlying biological molecules in more detail. BTEM analysis could recover 13 pure component Raman spectral estimates from the collected 438 spectra measured from 113 nail samples. Six recovered pure component spectral estimates correspond to proteins or polypeptides that contain various amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, and cysteine. Two are associated with the secondary structures of proteins, and five are associated with two carotenoid species, lipid, ferulic acid, and calcium phosphate. Subsequently, the relative concentrations of these bio-constituents were calculated from the measured mixture spectra and the pure component BTEM estimates. These profiles indicated that the concentrations of some bio-constituents are correlated while others are not. A further analysis using target transformation factor analysis (TTFA) revealed the possible presence of curcumin in the human nails. Since the present approach and analysis is rather general, it might be extended to many other biological tissues in a rather straightforward and similar manner, thus revealing more detailed underlying biochemical information such as biomarkers that may be useful for diagnostic purposes.     

Visualization of mouse spinal cord intramedullary arteries using phase‐ and attenuation‐contrast tomographic imaging

Many spinal cord circulatory disorders present the substantial involvement of small vessel lesions. The central sulcus arteries supply nutrition to a large part of the spinal cord, and, if not detected early, lesions in the spinal cord will cause irreversible damage to the function of this organ. Thus, early detection of these small vessel lesions could potentially facilitate the effective diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. However, the detection of such small vessels is beyond the capability of current imaging techniques. In this study, an imaging method is proposed and the potential of phase‐contrast imaging (PCI)‐ and attenuation‐contrast imaging (ACI)‐based synchrotron radiation for high‐resolution tomography of intramedullary arteries in mouse spinal cord is validated. The three‐dimensional vessel morphology, particularly that of the central sulcus arteries (CSA), detected with these two imaging models was quantitatively analyzed and compared. It was determined that both PCI‐ and ACI‐based synchrotron radiation can be used to visualize the physiological arrangement of the entire intramedullary artery network in the mouse spinal cord in both two dimensions and three dimensions at a high‐resolution scale. Additionally, the two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional vessel morphometric parameter measurements obtained with PCI are similar to the ACI data. Furthermore, PCI allows efficient and direct discrimination of the same branch level of the CSA without contrast agent injection and is expected to provide reliable biological information regarding the intramedullary artery. Compared with ACI, PCI might be a novel imaging method that offers a powerful imaging platform for evaluating pathological changes in small vessels and may also allow better clarification of their role in neurovascular disorders.     

Gentamicin-Coated Tibia Nail in Fractures and Nonunion to Reduce Fracture-Related Infections: A Systematic Review

The incidence of a fracture-related infection (FRI) can reach 30% of open tibia fractures (OTF). The use of antibiotic-coated implants is one of the newest strategies to reduce the risk of infection in orthopedic surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of a gentamicin-coated tibia nail in primary fracture fixation (FF) and revision surgery (RS) of nonunion cases in terms of FRI incidence. We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA checklist on Pub-Med, Cochrane, and EMBASE. Of the 32 studies, 8 were included, for a total of 203 patients treated: 114 were FF cases (63% open fractures) and 89 were RS cases, of which 43% were infected nonunion. In the FF group, four FRI were found (3.8%): three OTF (Gustilo-Anderson III) and one closed fracture; bone healing was achieved in 94% of these cases. There were four relapses of infection and one new onset in the RS group; bone healing occurred in 88% of these cases. No side effects were found. There were no significant differences in terms of FRI, nonunion, and healing between the two groups. Gentamicin-coated tibia nail is an effective therapeutic option in the prophylaxis of high-risk fracture infections and in complex nonunion cases.     

新型固定器治疗胫骨骨折的生物力学特性实验研究

研制和开发了一种治疗胫骨骨折的新型固定器—骨内外联合固定器，本文利用电阻应变技术，对其固定胫骨骨折的生物力学性能对比带锁髓内针进行轴向压缩、弯曲和扭转实验的研究，为临床应用提供了理论依据，实验结果表明骨内外联合固定器的生物力学性能优于带锁髓内针。     

铁钉锈蚀实验的新观察

常规的铁钉锈蚀反应在溶液中进行,由于扩散效应,氧化产物和还原产物很快混合,不容易观察反应过程的细节。将该反应转到含有指示剂的琼脂凝胶中进行,可以清晰地观察到金属腐蚀过程自发形成的阳极区和阴极区,结合数码设备拍摄铁钉以及铁钉与其他金属连接体的反应,能够很好地展示金属的吸氧腐蚀过程以及与之相伴的原电池结构。     

人体手部皮肤的摩擦特性实验研究

采用微观摩擦磨损试验机对20名男女志愿者双手不同部位的摩擦系数进行测试.结果表明:男性手背皮肤的摩擦系数比女性偏低(女性为0.48～0.49,男性为0.38～0.39);男、女手掌的摩擦系数相差不大(女性为0.60～0.67,男性为0.62～0.70);男、女指纹的摩擦系数比较接近(女性为0.78～0.65,男性为0.77～0.68);男、女指甲的摩擦系数分别为女性0.25～0.21,男性0.23～0.21.在人体手部的手背、手掌、指纹和指甲4个部位中,摩擦系数的高低依次为指纹＞手掌＞手背＞指甲.     

指甲元素分析的生物学基础及医学应用

指甲和头发均为皮肤附属物，它们有类似的元素谱特征，但又有所不同。指甲元素和头发元素反映不同时间尺度内的身体元素状况，指甲元素分析和头发元素分析可互为补充。本文从指甲的结构和成分、指甲的元素谱特征，以及指甲元素分析的医学应用等三个方面论述了题示主题。附16表、5图和30篇参考文献。     

The effect of the microstructure of porous alumina films on the mechanical properties of glass-fiber-reinforced aluminum laminates

The glass-fiber-reinforced aluminum laminates were obtained by anodizing aluminum alloy under anodizing voltage of 10, 20, and 30?V in the 200?g/L H₃PO₄ electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), short beam, and tensile tests were employed to determine the surface morphology, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and tensile strength of laminates, respectively. The results also show that the epoxy penetrates into the pores of the anodic films, and this is the mechanism of adhesion. The ILSS and tensile strength of the anodized specimens (under 20?V) respectively increased by approximately 50 and 15% comparing with those of the non-anodized specimens. This increase of mechanical properties results from the porous surface of aluminum providing greater mechanical interlocking to epoxy. The ILSS and tensile strengths of the anodized specimens increased with the increase of anodizing voltage from 10 to 20?V; however, it decreased when the voltage further increased to 30?V. It is considered that the microstructure evolution of the porous films has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the laminates.