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Selective labeling of distinct bacteria and biofilm is poised for the fundamental understanding of bacterial activities, interactions, and coupled phenomena occurring at the microscale. However, a simple and effective way to achieve selective bacterial labeling is still lacking. Herein, we report a fluorescence probe with core-shell nanostructure that has polydopamine (PDA) coating on the surface of fluorescent silicon quantum dots (SiQDs@PDA). The surface of the SiQDs@PDA can be functionalized by various molecules (2-mercaptoethylamine hydrochloride, PEG, d-alanine, glucose amide) through different strategies (Michael addition, π-π interaction, and ion–ion interaction). Importantly, the d-alanine (D-Ala)- and gluconamide (Glc)-functionalized SiQDs@PDA fluorescence probes are capable of selectively labeling gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as their biofilms. The excellent performance in universal functionalization and selective labeling and imaging of bacteria and their biofilms demonstrate that SiQDs@PDA are a promising fluorescence tool in microbe research.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRI-guided HIFU) is a non-invasive strategy of diagnosis and treatment that is applicable in tumor ablation. Here, we prepared a multifunctional nanotheranostic agent (SSPN) by loading perfluorohexane (PFH) and superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) in silica lipid for MRI-guided HIFU ablation of tumors. PFH was introduced to improve the ablation effect of HIFU and the ultrasound (US) contrast performance. Due to its liquid-to-gas transition characteristic, it is sensitive to temperature. SPIOs were used as an MRI contrast agent. Silica lipid was selected because it is a more stable carrier material compared with normal lipid. Previous studies have shown that SSPNs have good biocompatibility, stability, imaging, and therapeutic effects. Therefore, this system is expected to develop an important therapeutic agent for MRI-guided HIFU therapy against tumors.

It is necessary to install a damping energy absorbing structure for a certain type of naval gun test shell without projectile belt. Applicable high-performance dampers currently include viscoelastic colloidal damper and magnetorheological damper, and two kinds of special dampers for test shells have been designed and manufactured. In order to evaluate the mechanical properties of these two dampers under dynamic impact, a one-way coupling numerical method was proposed for simulation and analysis. Quasi-static experiments were used to verify the model based on magnetic field finite element (FE) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The model is also characterized by passive dynamic mesh and user-defined functions (UDF) based on C language. The results showed that the CFD models of both dampers were accurate. Though the colloidal damper is simpler in structure and lower in the cost, the MR damper has more significant damping and higher energy absorption ratio under impact. Compared with colloidal damper, MR damper is characterized by long working time, multiple vortices, chaotic streamlines and more uniform temperature distribution. When the power was continuously applied, the velocity of the impacted MR damper dropped to zero within 80ms, and the piston finally stopped at a stroke of 1.3mm. The colloidal damper reset within 8ms, and the reset velocity was 1.1m/s. In this study, the performance evaluation results of the two dampers were obtained, and the latest numerical methods for the mechanical performance analysis of colloidal dampers and MR dampers under dynamic impact were provided.

Snapping shrimp produces a high-speed jet through the rapid closure of the snapper claw, which stimulates the formation of cavitation bubbles of various shapes. In order to explore the fast motion characteristics of snapper claw, the formation and change process of cavitation, and the physical principles underlying the biological phenomena, the equivalent model of snapper claw was constructed through CT scanning technology. A high-speed camera was used to capture the claw’s motion characteristics, thereby simulating the production of cavitation bubbles by snapping shrimp. The results show that the rotation speeds of different species of snapping shrimps are different, as well as their motion characteristics. Cavitation is formed by the interaction of the pressure drop caused by the vortex at the nozzle with the inertia of the liquid inside the socket. Under the influence of the jet, the shapes of bubbles change from ring to cone, and eventually collapse into bubble clouds.

Aiming at the quantitative evaluation requirements of radar second-order intermodulation false alarm (SIFA) effect, a radar SIFA effect model is established from the field-circuit coupling mechanism, and the parameter test method of the model is given. Taking a certain type of radar as the test object, the SIFA effect test is carried out by using the method of electromagnetic injection equivalent substitution irradiation. The results show that the tested radar will produce a SIFA signal higher than the selected sensitive level when the frequency difference of dual-frequency electromagnetic interference (EMI) is within 3 MHz and the frequency offset is within ±200 MHz. Using the model parameters of the SIFA interference effect measured in the experiment, it is assumed that they do not change with the interference field strength. Combined with the SIFA interference field strength of the tested radar and the single frequency blocking critical interference field strength, the effect model can evaluate the degree of radar SIFA interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active cooling technology is widely used in naval gun. The composite cooling system with external circulating water cooling technology and internal spray cooling technology is adopted for 100mm medium caliber naval gun. In order to optimize the cooling efficiency of barrel and improve the combat effectiveness and safety performance of naval gun, it is of great significance to study the internal fluid field and barrel temperature field under the condition of composite cooling. Regarding 100mm naval gun as the object of the research, this paper proposed to use numerical analysis method combining classical interior ballistics with computational fluid dynamics to establish the transient CFD three-dimensional model based on multiphase flow. Physical quantities such as temperature, velocity, species distribution, and interphase mass transfer in the calculation domain were calculated through simulation, and the temperature changes of the barrel with and without the cooling system were compared and analyzed. Finally, the laws of the gun barrel were obtained, which provided references for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil pressure bearing characteristics is used to calculate the sinkage, running resistance, vibration characteristic and traction characteristic when the vehicle travel on the soft road. The soil pressure-sinkage models take the Bekker's model as the representative used now are usually got with the low loading speed to the plate range from two centimeters per second to five centimeters per second and lack of research of soil pressure-sinkage characteristic under high loading speed. The paper studied the influence of high loading speed to the soil pressure-sinkage characteristic by plate sinkage test combined the numerical simulation and physical experiment. The numerical simulation considered the soil rate dependent constitutive model and inertial effect. The research results show that the higher loading speed can increase the soil pressure-sinkage characteristic and this influence reflect on the increase of soil deformation modulus. The pressure-sinkage model that considered the loading speed based with soil rate dependent coefficient  on the Bekker's model was built. For the general soil, the value of soil rate dependent coefficient  ranges from 0.07 to 0.18. The research conclusion can provide reference to the calculation of sinkage when the vehicle travels on the soft road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the interfacial energy of nanoparticles is very challenging via traditional methods that first require measuring the contact angle of several liquids of a sessile drop on pellets or capillary rise in powder beds. In this work, we propose an alternative way to model the interfacial energy of nanoparticles directly from emulsion phase inversion data in Pickering emulsions. This could establish itself as a universal and facile way to determine the polarity of nanoparticles relative to a series of standard particles without the need to measure contact angles. Pickering emulsions of several oils in water were generated with a series of snowman-like Janus nanoparticles (JNPs), whose polarity gradually increased with the size of the more polar lobe. Depending on the oil to water ratio and the JNPs lobe size, oil-in-water (o/w) or water-in-oil (w/o) Pickering emulsions were obtained and the affinity of the JNPs to either water or oil can be inferred from the evolution of the emulsion phase inversion curves with these parameters. We further demonstrate that by adopting a simple model for the work of adhesion of JNPs with the water and oil phases, one can quantitatively calculate the relative interfacial energy change of the JNPs with the liquid. In addition, a knowledge of the interfacial energy of nanoparticles is useful for employing these in suspension polymerization to create surface nanostructured materials. The o/w and w/o Pickering emulsions obtained from monomers, such as styrene, could be polymerized, resulting in colloidosomes or hollow-like materials. The hollow materials exhibited a rather high volume storage capacity for the aqueous phase for extended periods of time, which could be released upon microwaving, making them ideal for use in long-term storage applications of various water-soluble actives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrids composed of amphiphilic block copolymers and lipids constitute a new generation of biological membrane-inspired materials. Hybrid membranes resulting from self-assembly of lipids and polymers represent adjustable models for interactions between artificial and natural membranes, which are of key importance, e.g., when developing systems for drug delivery. By combining poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) amphiphilic copolymers (PDMS-b-PMOXA) with various phospholipids, we obtained hybrid films with modulated properties and topology, based on phase separation, and the formation of distinct domains. By understanding the factors driving the phase separation in these hybrid lipid-polymer films, we were able to use them as platforms for directed insertion of membrane proteins. Tuning the composition of the polymer-lipids mixtures favored successful insertion of membrane proteins with desired topological distributions (in polymer or/and lipid regions). Controlled insertion and location of membrane proteins in hybrid films make these hybrids ideal candidates for numerous applications where specific spatial functionality is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt-tungsten (Co-W) film is widely used as the protective layer on steel substrates because of its excellent properties. To further improve a certain aspect of such film, it was necessary to study the relationship between its structure and performance. Co-W film was prepared by electro deposition and the film tungsten content changed by varying the duty cycle. Based on the single primary battery principle, it was difficult to show the film’s microstructure, due to galvanic protection by the PCrNi3MoVA steel substrate during the corrosion process. Thus, a new corrosive method for the Co-W film was proposed based on double primary batteries principle. Based on this method, corrosion effects with different tungsten contents and two corrosive methods were studied. The results showed that the corrosive method based on the double primary batteries principle successfully displayed the Co-W film structure and the effects of the wiping corrosive method better than the direct corrosive method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]