Search

In this paper, a novel three-dimensional (3D) cellular structure with negative Poisson's ratio was designed by alternating cuboid surface indents on the vertical ribs of the unit cells. The Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus of structures with different geometric parameters were determined using the finite element method (FEM) as a function of these parameters. Samples with identical geometric variables were fabricated via 3D printing, and their through-thickness direction Poisson's ratios were measured and compared with simulation results. Results showed that the Poisson's ratio of the 3D cellular structures can be tuned from positive to negative and can reach a minimal value of −0.958. Good agreement was found between the experimental results and the simulation. This lattice structure is considerably stiffer than re-entrant negative Poisson's ratio foam with the same solid phase. The design concept developed here can be optimized for specific applications via geometric parameters manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three 3D models with negative compressibility have been presented in our previous paper [X. Q. Zhou et al., Phys. Status Solidi B 2016, 253, 1977]. However, the 2D mechanism (i.e., wine‐rack mechanism) which we used to design 3D models is so symmetrical that the axial properties of it are equivalent, so we have only focused on geometry features. In this work, an extended study is conducted in order to find a more efficient method to design 3D structures with evident negative compressibility. Through theoretical modeling, the compressibility properties of three 3D models made from hinging hexagonal truss mechanism are analyzed and the conditions for negative compressibility to be exhibited are discussed. The study shows that in addition to the geometry features, negative compressibility effects can also be significantly affected by the arrangement of the framework and layout orientations of 2D mechanism. The compressibility properties of three 3D models made from hinging hexagonal truss mechanism are analyzed and the conditions for the negative compressibility to be exhibited are discussed. It is shown that in addition to the geometry features which have already been widely discussed, the arrangement of the framework and the layout orientations of 2D mechanisms can also have a great influence on the negative compressibility effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose In brain tumor dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC)-MRI studies, multiecho acquisition methods are used to quantify the dynamic changes in T1 and T2* that occur when contrast agent (CA) extravasates. Such methods also enable the estimation of the effective tissue CA transverse relaxivity. The goal of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the transverse relaxivity at tracer equilibrium (TRATE) to tumor cytoarchitecture. Methods Computational and in vitro studies were used to evaluate the biophysical basis of TRATE. In 9L, C6, and human brain tumors, TRATE, the apparent diffusion coefficient ( ADC), the CA transfer constant ( Ktrans), the extravascular extracellular volume fraction ( ve), and histological data were compared. Results Simulations and in vitro results indicate that TRATE is highly sensitive to variations in cellular properties such as cell size and density. The histologic cell density and TRATE values were significantly higher in 9L tumors as compared to C6 tumors. In animal and human tumors, a voxel-wise comparison of TRATE with ADC, ve, and Ktrans maps showed low spatial correlation. Conclusion The assessment of TRATE is clinically feasible and its sensitivity to tissue cytoarchitectural features not present in other imaging methods indicate that it could potentially serve as a unique structural signature or 'trait' of cancer. Magn Reson Med 74:772-784, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here the development of instruments and protocols for carrying out high numerical aperture immersion light microscopy on cryogenic specimens. Imaging by this modality greatly increases the lifetimes of fluorescence probes, including those commonly used for protein localization studies, while retaining the ability to image the specimen with high fidelity and spatial resolution. The novel use of a cryogenic immersion fluid also minimizes the refractive index mismatch between the sample and lens, leading to a more efficient coupling of the light from the sample to the image forming system. This enhancement is applicable to both fluorescence and transmitted light microscopy techniques. The design concepts used for the cryogenic microscope can be applied to virtually any existing light-based microscopy technique. This prospect is particularly exciting in the context of ‘super-resolution’ techniques, where enhanced fluorescence lifetime probes are especially useful. Thus, using this new modality it is now possible to observe dynamic events in a live cell, and then rapidly vitrify the specimen at a specific time point prior to carrying out high-resolution imaging. The techniques described can be used in conjunction with other imaging modalities in correlated studies. We have also developed instrumentation to perform cryo-light imaging together with soft X-ray tomography on the same cryo-fixed specimen as a means of carrying out high content, quantifiable correlated imaging analyses. These methods are equally applicable to correlated light and electron microscopy of frozen biological objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Origami designs offer extreme reconfigurability due to hinge rotation and facet deformation. This can be exploited to make lightweight metamaterials with controlled deployability and tunable properties. Here, we create a family of origami‐inspired cellular metamaterials which can be programmed to have various stability characteristics and mechanical responses in three independent orthogonal directions. The cellular metamaterials were constructed from their origami unit cell that can have one or two admissible closed‐loop configurations. The presence of the second closed‐loop configuration leads to the emergence of bi‐stability in the cellular metamaterial. We show that the stability and reconfigurability of the origami unit cell, and thus the constructed cellular metamaterials, can be programmed by manipulating the characteristic angles inherited from the origami pattern. Two examples of such programmable metamaterial with bi‐stability in out‐of‐plane direction and anisotropic multi‐stability in orthogonal directions are presented. Our study provides a platform to design programmable three‐dimensional metamaterials significantly broadening the application envelope of origami. We introduced a family of origami‐inspired cellular metamaterials which can be programmed to have various stability characteristics and mechanical responses in three independent orthogonal directions. The building blocks of these cellular metamaterial can be tuned to have one or two admissible zero energy configurations which is the source of multi‐stability in the metamaterial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]