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Strategic minerals are the cornerstone of national security and stable development. China’s strategic mineral imports are highly dependent on maritime transport, and ensuring smooth maritime routes is crucial for safeguarding the security of strategic mineral imports. This study analyzes the overall pattern of China’s strategic mineral imports and maritime routes. Taking the iron ore maritime import network as an example, the study evaluates the importance and failure impacts of key maritime routes, summarizes the risk sources of important maritime routes, and proposes corresponding security strategies. The research finds that China’s strategic mineral imports are highly dependent on maritime routes. Based on the case study of iron ore maritime transport, the importance and failure impacts of maritime routes are identified. It is suggested to build differentiated and refined response strategies, focus on the protection of the Cape of Good Hope and the Lombok Strait transport corridor network, and pay attention to the safe navigation of large vessels. The risks of maritime routes for China’s strategic minerals mainly come from three aspects: navigational passages, international disputes and war threats, and non-traditional security issues. In response, multi-domain response strategies can be implemented, including building multiple strategic pivot nodes, constructing a multidimensional early warning system and an alternative route response mechanism, strengthening the construction of cross-border rail – sea intermodal transport corridors, conducting preventive diplomatic work, improving the maritime security system, and implementing hierarchical and differentiated risk-response measures.

The capability to predict catastrophic failures and anticipate challenges relating to trafficability enables quadruped robots to adjust their planned trajectory in time to prevent any damages. In this paper, an estimation‐based method is proposed to describe the validity of the trajectory from the viewpoint of the traction performance of the terrain. The main contribution of this study lies in equipping quadruped robots with the ability to comprehend the strength characteristics of the terrain and assess the validity of trajectory planning by anticipating potential catastrophic motion failures. To this end, a novel perception method of the foot terrain interface based on proprioception is proposed to estimate terrain strength parameters. The vehicle–terrain traction model is extended to a legged locomotion pattern to estimate the traction limits of the terrain. The trafficability anticipation is driven by combining the traction limits of the terrain and the expected ground reaction force, as obtained by the model‐based predictive methods. The validity of this method is verified using a quadruped robot test platform. Results highlight the potential of the presented approach, in which the anticipation of trafficability, grounded in the understanding of the terrain strength, serves as the explicit foundation for altering trajectories to avert motion failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) have lengthy seasonal migrations on land and their feet possess excellent locomotor characteristics that can adapt to complex terrains. In this study, the kinematics and vertical ground reaction force (GRF) of reindeer forelimb joints (interphalangeal joint b, metacarpophalangeal joint c, and wrist joint d) under walk, trot 1, and trot 2 were measured using a motion tracking system and Footscan pressure plates. Significant differences among different locomotor activities were observed in the joint angles, but not in changes of the joint angles (αb, αc, αd) during the stance phase. Peak vertical GRF increased as locomotor speed increased. Net joint moment, power, and work at the forelimb joints were calculated via inverse dynamics. The peak joint moment and net joint power related to the vertical GRF increased as locomotor speed increased. The feet absorbed and generated more energy at the joints. During different locomotor activities, the contribution of work of the forelimbs changed with both gait and speed. In the stance phase, the metacarpophalangeal joint absorbed more energy than the other two joints while trotting and thus performed better in elastic energy storage. The joint angles changed very little (∼5°) from 0 to 75% of the stance phase, which reflected the stability of reindeer wrist joints. Compared to typical ungulates, reindeer toe joints are more stable and the stability and energy storage of forelimb joints contribute to locomotor performance in reindeer.

To reduce the structural deterioration of mass concrete structures from temperature cracks, and lower energy consumption caused by the traditional mass concrete hydration heat cooling process, this paper reports the preparation of concrete temperature-controlled phase change aggregate (PCA) by a vacuum compaction method using light and high-strength black ceramite and No. 58 fully refined paraffin wax as phase change material (PCM), and the encapsulation technology of the aggregate by using superfine cement and epoxy resin. Further, through laboratory tests, the cylinder compressive strength, thermal stability and mixing breakage rate of the encapsulated PCA were tested, and the differences in mechanical properties such as compressive strength, flexural strength and splitting tensile strength between phase change aggregate concrete (PCAC) and ordinary concrete were studied. A test method was designed to test the heat storage effect of PCA, and the temperature control effect of PCAC was analyzed based on the law of conservation of energy. The research conclusions are as follows: (1) Both superfine cement and epoxy resin shells increase the strength of the aggregate, with the epoxy resin increasing it more than the superfine cement. The thermal stabilization of the PCA is good after encapsulation of superfine cement and epoxy resin. However, PCA encapsulated in superfine cement is more easily crushed than that encapsulated in epoxy resin. (2) Under the condition of water bath heating and semi-insulation, when the water bath temperature reaches 85 °C, the temperature difference between the PCA and the common stone aggregate can be up to 6 °C. Based on the law of energy conservation, the test results will be converted to mass concrete with the same volume of aggregate mixture;, the difference of PCAC and ordinary concrete temperature can be up to 10 °C, so the temperature control effect is significant. (3) The mechanical properties of PCAC with 100% aggregate replacement rate compared to ordinary concrete are reduced to varying degrees, and the performance decline of the epoxy-encapsulated PCA is smaller than that encapsulated with superfine cement; in an actual project, it is possible to improve the concrete grade to make up for this defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) have become a promising alternative for peripheral nerve regeneration; however, the outcome of nerve regeneration and functional recovery is greatly affected by the physical, chemical, and electrical properties of NGCs. In this study, a conductive multiscale filled NGC (MF‐NGC) consisting of electrospun poly(lactide‐co‐caprolactone) (PCL)/collagen nanofibers as the sheath, reduced graphene oxide /PCL microfibers as the backbone, and PCL microfibers as the internal structure for peripheral nerve regeneration is developed. The printed MF‐NGCs presented good permeability, mechanical stability, and electrical conductivity, which further promoted the elongation and growth of Schwann cells and neurite outgrowth of PC12 neuronal cells. Animal studies using a rat sciatic nerve injury model reveal that the MF‐NGCs promote neovascularization and M2 transition through the rapid recruitment of vascular cells and macrophages. Histological and functional assessments of the regenerated nerves confirm that the conductive MF‐NGCs significantly enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, as indicated by improved axon myelination, muscle weight increase, and sciatic nerve function index. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using 3D‐printed conductive MF‐NGCs with hierarchically oriented fibers as functional conduits that can significantly enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-efficiency formation of personalized stent by additive manufacturing (3D printing) has gained deal of attention and research in interventional and personalized medicine. In this article, the structural characteristics of vascular scaffolds and the application and innovation of additive manufacturing technology in the process of angioplasty are reviewed. In the future, with the continuous maturity of additive manufacturing technology, it is expected to be an important part of interventional precision medicine to manufacture personalized vascular stent.