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Increasing heat transfer in heat exchangers remains an important research topic for industrial and residential applications. The usage of passive techniques remains a reference due to the lower costs, however, increasing the heat transfer in laminar flow with low-pressure loss remains a challenge. The objective of this paper is to perform a constrained optimisation of a twisted-tape inside a circular tube at low Reynolds number. Twisted tape pitch (P), length (L), translate (T), and twisted tape radius (R1 and R2) were submitted to optimisation. The flow is steady-state, laminar and incompressible. The NSGA-II is the method used for the optimisation procedure. The optimisation process found an optimal twisted-tape geometry with an asymmetric shape for both Reynolds numbers, corresponding to a global heat transfer increase of approximately 90% for Reynolds number 300 and 170% for Reynolds number 600, while for symmetric twisted-tape with ratio 4 (R4) is 57% and 52%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, significant changes have occurred in the field of three-dimensional printing (3D-printing) and it has been applied both in the production of prototypes and in regular production in the following sectors: architecture, construction, automotive, aircraft, biotechnology, fashion, etc. Different technologies for 3D-printing are proposed. Between them, the technology FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) has the greatest application in the industry due to the low cost and simplified operations. This technology is suitable for 3D-printing of various polymers (PET, ABS, PLA, PETG, etc.), which after preliminary treatment can be metallised by electroless deposition in order to obtain an even metal coating. The present paper describes investigations of some properties of nickel or copper coatings, electroless deposited from two kinds of solutions on 3D-printed and on cast under pressure ABS samples. For deposition of electroless nickel or copper coatings with good adhesion, the influence of the pre-treatment operations was also evaluated in both cases upon deposition on 3D-printed ABS samples with different resolutions (0.8 or 0.25 mm,) and on cast under pressure ABS samples. The thickness of the deposited layers was determined gravimetrically; the morphology and the elemental composition of the layers were examined by SEM or EDS, respectively; the surface roughness of the ABS samples was measured by AFM, and the adhesion of the metal layers was evaluated by a standard test with an adhesive tape (type Test-Method ASTM D 3359-83). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to determine the mechanical properties of the adhesive joints made with acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives. Two types of double-sided acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are used. Three construction materials are used to prepare the adhesive joints: structural steel sheet (C45), aluminium alloy sheet (EN-AW 5754), and titanium sheet (Grade 2). Strength tests of adhesive joints made with the pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are carried out both after conditioning time at room temperature (23 °C) and subjected to thermal shocks (500 cycles: +60 °C / -40 °C). Strength tests are carried out based on the DIN EN 1465 standard on a Zwick/Roell Z150 testing machine. The main conclusion from the tests carried out was the positive effect of thermal shocks on the mechanical strength of joints bonded with pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When calculating the AC loss of REBa2Cu3O7−x (REBCO, RE = rare earth) coated conductor cable with stacked geometry, it is often considered that the tapes in the cable is perfectly stacked (there is no transverse misalignment of the tapes). However, the actual stacked cable will have transverse misalignment. The influence of transverse misalignment of tapes on the AC loss of the whole cable needs to be studied in order to understand the actual situation. In this paper, the 2-D H formulation calculated the AC loss of the cable with 10 tapes stacked in three cases. In the first case, the cables are perfectly stacked without lateral misalignment between the tapes. In the second case, the tapes of the cable are oblique to one side. In the third case, the tapes are disordered with each other. The result shows that under the transport current at 50 Hz, when the transport current is less than 0.75Ic0, the transport loss of the cable with obliquely stacked cable is more than the perfectly stacked cable, and when the transport current is greater than 0.75Ic0, the transport loss of the perfectly stacked cable is slightly larger than the obliquely stacked cable. Moreover, the transport loss of disorderly stacked cable is more than perfectly stacked cable at 50 Hz. When the transport current amplitude and the misalignment distance between the tapes in the cable are constant, the transport loss of obliquely stacked cable and disorderly stacked cable relative to perfectly stacked cable both increases first and then decreases as the frequency increases. Under the 50 Hz magnetization field, the magnetization loss of the perfectly stacked cable is less than the cables with oblique misalignment and disorder misalignment. When the amplitude of the external magnetic field and the misalignment distance between the tapes in the cable are constant, the magnetization loss of obliquely stacked cable and disorderly stacked cable relative to perfectly stacked cable also increased first and then decreased as the frequency increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Government environment is the main determinant in attracting private investment into public–private partnership (PPP) projects, especially in developing countries. Red tape, an indicator of a government's efficiency, plays a critical role in private investment in PPP projects. Reasonable levels of red tape can enhance government transparency and promote private investment, while excessive red tape usually represents low governance efficiency and imposes further risk on private investors. This article explores how developing countries’ red tape affects private investment in PPP projects by examining the moderating effect of corruption. Analyzing a database of 308 PPP projects in 111 developing countries, the study reveals an inverted U-shaped relationship between red tape and private investment. Corruption weakens the positive relationship between red tape and private investment at low levels of red tape and mitigates their negative relationship at high levels. The study integrates the inconsistent results of previous research that postulated either a positive or negative relationship between red tape and private investment by proposing a nonlinear model. It also theorizes the moderating effect of corruption based on real management practice and illustrates its mechanism in absorbing private investment in PPP projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper explores the assessment of electrical property changes resulting from damage in a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) laminate and its thermoplastic induction-welded joints. Controlled variations in electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity were achieved by incorporating square Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) adhesive tapes into both CFRP laminates and the bondline interfaces of induction-welded components. Two elementary and effective sensors, capable of measuring magnetic (Purely Magnetic sensor) and electric fields (Hybrid sensor), were employed to detect these property changes induced by a sinusoidal magnetic field generated by a nearby coil. Both sensors exhibited remarkable sensitivity in identifying variations induced by the smallest artificial defects, measuring 2×2 mm in size. Furthermore, the PM sensor displayed a discernible signal trend corresponding to changes in defect size ranging from 4 to 225 mm square, as well as variations in position within the thickness of the CFRP laminate, extending to a depth of 1.7 mm. These findings underscore the potential of electromagnetic-based structural health monitoring (ESHM) techniques for monitoring the condition of a thermoplastic composite structure and its induction-welded joints. [Display omitted] • Controlled variations of electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity by incorporating PTFE adhesive tapes • Two sensors capable of measuring defect induced magnetic and electric fields variations. • Both sensors shows discernible signal trend corresponding to changes in defect size. • A potentially effective electromagnetically based SHM method for monitoring defects in CFRTP laminates is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Accurate prediction of tape-spring folding behavior with new analytical model. • Proposed model outperforms classical models in predicting peak and steady-state moments. • Stretching and bending strain energy studied and analyzed during folding process. • Three key geometric parameters identified for optimizing tape-spring design. The tape-spring is widely used in aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering due to its unique mechanical properties and compact size. This paper aims to establish a new analytical model to more accurately predict the folding behavior of the tape-spring, including the geometric configuration, folding moment versus longitudinal curvature curve, peak moment, and propagation moment. This model comprehensively considers the influence of stretching strain energy and bending strain energy on the total strain energy, and determines the folding behavior of the tape-spring through the minimum energy principle. The proposed analytical model was compared with Wuest's model, Yee's model, and Yao's model. Experiments of tape-springs made from two different materials were utilized for validation. The study shows that the proposed model has the highest prediction accuracy compared with the classical models, with the error of approximately 10%. The reason for the significant difference in the prediction results between the proposed model and Yao's model was given, and the relationship between stretching strain energy and bending strain energy during the folding process of the tape-spring was analyzed. The proposed model has broader applicability than classical models and provides new insights and solutions for accurate prediction of the folding behavior of the tape-spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insulating structure near the slot outlet of high-voltage generator stator coils is the typical bushing structure, which is prone to corona and has a decisive impact on the safety of the generator. In engineering, nonlinear resistance anti-corona tapes are usually bound with around the main insulation surface of the stator coils near the slot, to achieve the effect of homogenizing the electric field. Usually, the resistance nonlinearity is increased by adding semi conductive or conductive materials into the anti-corona tape. However, after the process of adding semi conductive or conductive materials, the breakdown strength of anti-corona tape is often reduced, resulting in that anti-corona tapes with good nonlinear cannot be applied. In order to have both good nonlinear resistance and breakdown strength, epoxy resin (EP) is used as a matrix, which is blended with one-dimensional structured carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and zero-dimensional structured polyaniline (PANI) to obtain nonlinearly good materials in this paper. The nonlinear conductivity characteristics and breakdown characteristics were tested separately. The results show that compared to MWCNTs/EP composite materials, PANI-MWCNTs/EP composite materials have higher nonlinear coefficients and breakdown strength. The breakdown field strength of 0.5wt% MWCNTs/EP composites is 2.11 kV/mm, and the nonlinear coefficient is 1.41. In contrast, the breakdown field strength of 3wt% PANI-0.5wt% MWCNTs/EP was increased by 106.16%, and the nonlinear coefficient is as high as 5.32. In addition, with the increase in PANI doping amount, the nonlinear coefficient of PANI-MWCNTs/EP gradually increases, and the breakdown strength also gradually increases. It can be seen that doping PANI can improve the breakdown strength while maintaining the range of resistivity variation within the nonlinear material working field strength. This discovery can provide reference for the development of nonlinear anti-corona materials for subsequent high-voltage generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting devices are an interesting technological option for improvement of efficiency of energy systems. High-temperature superconducting tapes are among the best choices for power applications. Because of their high non-linearity, the design of devices with superconducting tape requires specific simulation models and methods to correctly represent the superconducting behavior. The J-A formulation has been investigated as an efficient tool to represent the electromagnetic behavior of such devices. It is based on the current density (J) and magnetic vector potential (A), and able to represent both superconducting materials and ferromagnetic materials. With regards to the tapes, the use of thin-film approximation can be successful with the J-A formulation. Usually, only representations considering the superconducting layer of tapes have been investigated. This becomes a problem for operations where the current in the superconductor surpasses the critical current, for example in transient analysis. This paper presents an analysis of the effects the inclusion of all of the tapes' layers have on simulations with the J-A formulation with thin-film approximations. By considering all layers of the tape, one represents the transition between superconducting and high-loss states of the tape. A simple system, consisting of a single tape with applied current, has been studied as benchmark and simulated with J-A and the more established T-A formulation in two cases: considering all layers; and only the superconducting layers. Results show that results for the J-A and T-A formulations are compatible and the inclusion of all layers improves the stability of the simulation and provides correct assessment of the electric field in the tapes. • J-A formulation. • HTS tape second generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing interfacial adhesion between functional coatings and target surfaces facilitates long‐term stable service by mitigating interferences of mechanical mismatches. Design of mechanical interlocks affords an effective strategy to strengthen the interfacial bonding with durability and compatibility, but the in‐depth investigations are still lacked. Herein, a gecko‐inspired hierarchical strategy realized by hybrid laser direct writing is proposed, which incorporates an armored frame scale for surface protection and a riveted anchor scale for interlocks. Such dual‐scale configurations endow the functional coatings with the stronger adhesion to the targets than the pristine and mono‐scale cases, resulting in 2 orders of magnitude enhancement resistant to tape peeling tests. Utilizing this scheme, a laser‐induced integrated deicing system is in situ manufactured on thermoplastics, primarily comprising superhydrophobic structures, carbon‐based sensors as well as adhesive copper (Cu) interconnects and heaters, where Cu‐based devices exhibit superior resistance to water impacts and stress fatigue. Interfacing with signal processing modules, such an all‐in‐one system demonstrates real‐time temperature monitoring and high efficiency in deicing (4.24 folds faster than the control group). The facile route for intensified adhesion holds promise in the interfaces within advanced equipment and under harsh scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case series involving eight patients who underwent patch testing for suspected cyanoacrylate contact allergy post-surgery. The patients were tested using a conventional patch testing method as well as a modified method called tape stripping. The results showed that tape stripping increased the sensitivity of patch testing to cyanoacrylates, particularly in cases where the conventional method yielded negative or doubtful reactions. The study also found that ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) was positive in five cases, suggesting potential cross-reactivity or co-sensitization. The authors conclude that tape stripping prior to patch testing can be a useful and pragmatic method for testing with medical adhesives when the suspected allergens are not commercially available. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the use of LEGO bricks as a tool for modeling physics phenomena in laboratory courses. The author provides examples of how LEGO bricks can be used to represent various concepts in physics, such as parabolic trajectories and oscillation graphs. The article also discusses the benefits of using LEGO bricks for inquiry-based learning and fostering students' comprehension and creativity in physics. While the author emphasizes the pedagogical value of LEGO bricks in physics education, they acknowledge the need for further research in this area. The article concludes by clarifying that it is not funded or sponsored by the LEGO company. [Extracted from the article]

Background:Objective:Methods:Results:Conclusion:Trial registration:Fatigue is a common problem following the acute phase of COVID-19. Potential interventions to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life are appropriate.The study aimed to investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on persistent fatigue in recovered patients from acute phase COVID-19.This double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 2022 in Kashan, Iran on 52 recovered patients reporting persistent fatigue following acute phase COVID-19. A convenience sample was selected and randomly assigned to sham and intervention groups. The intervention group received four weeks of auriculotherapy with Vaccaria seeds attached to six fatigue-related auriculotherapy points on both ears. In the sham group, adhesive tapes were attached to the same points. Fatigue was assessed by the Chalder Fatigue Scale before (T0), after (T1), and four weeks after (T2) the intervention. Both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses were used.The two groups differed on financial status and hospitalization history (p < 0.05). The time-group interaction effect was significant for fatigue after adjusting for confounders (p < 0.0001). Fatigue scores of the intervention group were significantly lower than the sham group at T1 and T2 (p < 0.0001). In addition, fatigue scores in the intervention group decreased significantly over time, while in the sham group, fatigue first decreased briefly and then increased (p < 0.05).This initial trial suggested that auriculotherapy may reduce intensity of fatigue and therefore could potentially be integrated into rehabilitation programs for patients with prolonged COVID-19.Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20100211003329N9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hypothesis/Objectives Animals Materials and Methods Results Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Potential contagion and zoonotic risk make rapid diagnosis of dermatophytosis important amongst companion animals.To compare the adhesive tape impression (ATI), trichogram, Wood's lamp (WL) examination and fungal culture for diagnosis of dermatophytosis, and the ATI and trichogram for ease of use.Five dogs and 15 cats with consistent lesions, history and at least two positive dermatophyte test results.After WL examination, one representative lesion per patient was sampled for ATI, trichogram and fungal culture. Microscopic detection of fungal elements on ATI and trichogram were objectively and subjectively compared. The ability of all tests to correctly detect dermatophytosis, and the ability of ATI and trichogram to detect fungal elements in >20 high‐powered fields (HPF) were compared using Fisher's exact tests.ATI, trichogram, fungal culture and WL were positive in 100% (20 of 20), 90% (18 of 20), 95% (19 of 20) and 65% (13 of 20) of patients, respectively, with a significant difference between WL and ATI (p = 0.0499). Fungal culture revealed Microsporum. canis (n = 16), Nannizzia gypsea (n = 1), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (n = 1) and T. rubrum (n = 1). Fungal elements were detected in >20 HPF more frequently with ATI (18 of 20) than trichogram (11 of 20) (p = 0.017), and detection required careful scanning to distinguish from background debris more often with trichogram. Fungal elements were located with neutrophil clusters and keratinocyte rafts in addition to abnormal hair fragments more frequently on ATI.ATI had the highest ability to correctly diagnose dermatophytosis, and increased ease of detecting fungal elements compared to trichogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent materials widely used in applications such as eyewear, solar cells, and optical devices, often suffer from environmental challenges including fogging, surface contamination, and mechanical deformation. However, a universal strategy that resolves all these issues in a single platform remains to be resolved. Herein, a monolithic micropillar structure based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer is prepared followed by subsequent assembly of hydrogel micropatterns in between the micropillar array using inkjet printing to achieve flexible wet‐style superhydrophobic antifogging tapes that are applicable to various transparent materials and curvatures. The monolithic micropillar structure with low‐surface‐energy characteristics facilitates easy removal of surface contaminants by rinsing with water while granting mechanical durability. In addition, micropatterning of hydrogels via inkjet printing not only enables to maintain optical transparency in a fogging environment but also makes the fabrication procedure more scalable. Furthermore, the strong adhesion between the hydrogel and the elastomer is shown to provide enhanced stability under repeated stretching cycles and long‐term exposure to water while the presence of a loosely cross‐linked PDMS at the bottom of the tape made it applicable to a wide range of transparent substrates without using additional adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass production of µLEDs requires an upscaling approach on 200 mm wafers, which implies the deployment of a technology that achieves zero defectivity without liftoff. In this report, Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) processing is successfully optimized for nanostructuring GaN‐based Silicon‐On‐Insulator (SOI) substrates. The etching of SiO2/GaN/AlN/Si/SiO2 layers using different plasmas is conducted and multi‐layer nanopillars 100–200 mm in diameter are fabricated. This approach generates zero‐defect arrays of pillars, which is particularly advantageous for the growth process. In addition, the SiO2 at the bottom of the pillar allows it to twist during the subsequent GaN regrowth, as this layer becomes soft at the growth temperature >1000 °C. This ability to deform enables a coalescence of pillars into layers with reduced dislocation density. As a result, high‐quality GaN microplatelets and µLEDs are grown via a bottom‐up approach based on pendeoepitaxy using metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). The fabricated µLEDs have a very smooth surface with a roughness of 0.6 nm which facilitated the implementation of an easy and simple transfer protocol. Adhesive tape and metalmetal bonding, are used to bond the µLEDs onto a metal‐coated silicon substrate. The reported findings offer exciting new insights into the development of high‐performance displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tape is a type of trace evidence commonly seen in forensic science. Little to no research has been published regarding the optimal storage material for pressure‐sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape. The purpose of this project was to determine the substrate with the least amount of interference for storing PSA tape. Interferences such as difficulty removing tape from the substrate or substrate components leaching into the adhesive can affect the analysis. This was a long‐term study in which samples were stored on various substrates for nearly 10 years. Ten different tape samples were placed on eight different substrates for a total of 80 samples. The substrates included typical materials currently used for tape storage as well as other, less common materials. The tape samples were evaluated for ease of removal at various time intervals. The adhesives from each tape were analyzed at similar time intervals by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the adhesives were analyzed by pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (PyGC‐MS), scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS), and x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) at the last time interval (112 months) and compared to the adhesive tape samples from the original rolls of tape to determine if there was any adverse effect from the substrates during storage. The FedEx backing was the only substrate that had no adverse effects regarding ease of removal. The substrates that had the least effect on the adhesive for both short‐term and long‐term storage included FedEx backings, adhesive sheet backings, and polyester transparency sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes the novel manufacturing method of adhesively bonded joint with double-sided tapes by following the concept of bi-adhesive bondline. The stress concentration at the ends of the bondline for a single-lap joint can be suppressed by utilizing flexibility of the double-sided tapes. The double-sided tapes also make it easy to control the bondline thickness and to hold the adherends with their stickiness until complete cure. A tensile-shear test of the aluminum/acrylic joint verified that replacing both ends of the 30 mm bondline by the 3 mm double-sided tape improved the maximum load by more than 20%. The observation on the bonded area through the transparent acrylic plate revealed the suppression of the debonding initiation. On the other hand, the aluminum/aluminum joint did not show the significant increase in the maximum load, but suppressed the unstable interfacial debonding. The strain distribution obtained by digital image correlation method proved that the double-sided tape has the same effect of compressive strain generated in the flexible adhesive in bi-adhesive bondline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoropolymer films were treated by atmospheric pressure nitrogen plasma in a roll-to-roll configuration. This treatment aimed to modify the surface properties of the fluoropolymer and assess its adhesion with commercial silicone, rubber, and acrylic adhesive tapes. Fluoropolymer films and adhesives were characterized using contact angle measurements, Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and T-peel tests. The plasma treatment resulted in increased wettability of the films, defluorination of the fluoropolymer surface, the introduction of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups on the surface, and a reduction in surface roughness. Peel strength increased at different levels, depending on the treatment speed and adhesive employed. Silicone adhesives did not present a significant increase on plasma-treated fluoropolymer films; however, they presented the higher peel strength against the untreated substrate. Acrylic adhesives are sensitive to fluoropolymer surface chemistry and can be used to evaluate different plasma treatments, while the highest adhesion was obtained with rubber adhesives. The results presented herein provide information about the appropriate selection of the type of adhesive for a specific application, as well as the evaluation of surface modifications by T-peel test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article numerically investigates the impact of twisted tapes and extended surfaces (fins) on enhancing high-temperature steam flow in a circumferential rectangular channel, akin to the external jacket cavity of a tyre cure press. The passive enhancement techniques for improving the mold warm-up time of the tyre curing process have received limited attention in previous studies, which have primarily focused on enhancing heat transfer in configurations and working conditions typical of heat exchanger applications. The objective of this article is to enhance the condensation heat and mass transfer rate by geometrically modifying the internal flow path of the circumferential rectangular channel, resembling an external jacket cavity of a tyre cure press, using twisted tapes and extended surfaces. Four configurations are simulated: i) conventional circumferential rectangular channel, ii) channel with twisted tapes, iii) channel with surface extension, and iv) channel with both twisted tapes and surface extension. The heat transfer performance of all the modified channel configurations derived from the simulation results is assessed in comparison to the conventional channel. The channel, featuring a design that includes five twisted tapes with a twist ratio of 8 and 54 extended surfaces, records a substantial 36.85% rise in heat flux along with a notable 24% increment in the condensation mass flux. The simulation results are validated using an in-house experimental study. The tyre cure press in the experimental setup is modified to align with the design proposed by the simulation results, and a warm-up study is conducted. The warm-up time for the modified mold to attain the desired temperature is reduced by 33%, with no accompanying increase in steam consumption, compared to the warm-up time for the conventional mold. This significant reduction in mold warm-up time holds immense potential in enhancing the productivity rate, an ongoing requirement of the automobile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severity of hallux valgus (HV) deformity is associated with recurrence after corrective surgery because of the degenerative change of the medial capsule including the medial collateral ligament (MCL) at the metatarsophalangeal joint. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the MCL augmentation using a suture tape anchor of the recurrence of HV and to evaluate the histological changes of the medial joint capsule in HV patients. Thirty-four feet with severe hallux valgus were included and divided into 2 groups. Seventeen feet had the MCL reconstruction using suture tape anchor with a combination of the corrective osteotomy as the suture tape group (mean age, 64.0 years), and other seventeen feet had the corrective osteotomy without MCL reconstruction as the control group (mean age, 62.0 years). HV angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) on the weight-bearing radiograms and the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) score in both groups were compared at the final follow-up. The medial capsule was harvested from other 20 feet with HV and the relationship between the severity of HV and the histological findings was analyzed. HVA, IMA, and JSSF scores in both groups were significantly improved from preoperatively to the final follow-up (P < 0.01). At the final follow-up, HVA in the suture tape group (9.2°) was significantly smaller than that in the control (15.4°) (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the IMA and the JSSF score at the final follow-up between both groups. Histological scores in HV with ≥40° HVA was significantly worse than those in <40°. The medial joint capsule in severe HV deformity showed the degenerative change and the MCL reconstruction using suture tape combined with osteotomy provides a strong medial constraint to prevent the recurrence of the deformity in severe hallux valgus. 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superhydrophobic surface is an ideal choice to enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminum (Al) and Al-based alloys which are widely used in various industrial fields. However, there are limitations in the complex fabrication process, high cost, and easy damage of micro-nano structures for processing superhydrophobic Al surface. To address the aforementioned limitations, we presented an efficient and facile method via acid wet blasting method to fabricate micro-nano composite structures on the Al substrate and subsequently low surface energy modification to obtain superhydrophobic Al surface (SHP-AWBM-Al), which had a water contact angle of 162° and rolling angle of 3°. The fabricated SHP-AWBM-Al had excellent self-cleaning performance, anti-fouling ability, and good fog collection ability. Tape peeling test, sandpaper friction test, acidic solution corrosion test, alkaline solution corrosion test, and natural environment corrosion test showed that the SHP-AWBM-Al had good mechanical stability and chemical stability compared with the superhydrophobic Al surface (SHP-H-Al) obtained by chemical etching. In addition, the electrochemical corrosion test showed that the SHP-AWBM-Al was more corrosion-resistant than the SHP-H-Al. This finding could enhance the technology for fabricating superhydrophobic Al surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of attachment techniques have been used to track birds with electronic tags, with glue, tape, leg rings, neck collars and harnesses being the most common methods. In general, the choice of attachment method should strive to minimize tagging effects, but ensure that sufficient data are collected to address the research question at hand. The aim of our study was to develop and evaluate tag attachment methods to track Sandwich Terns Thalasseus sandvicensis during the last part of the incubation and the chick‐rearing period of one breeding season. Tag attachments had to stay on for the duration of the chick‐rearing period (5–6 weeks) and be non‐restraining and flexible, but strong enough to withstand the forces and submersion associated with their plunge‐diving foraging technique. We first experimentally tested the durability of flexible material under various environmental conditions with the aim of developing a self‐releasing harness. Then, in field studies, we compared three different attachment methods on terns during the breeding seasons, attaching tags to dorsal feathers using (1) tape, (2) glue or (3) a newly developed harness made specifically for short‐term deployments of one chick‐rearing period and constructed from degradable material. Assessment of the performance of attachment methods was based on retention time of the loggers and on annual survival rates of tagged individuals in comparison with non‐tagged individuals. The use of tape and glue led to premature loss of tags (median minimum retention time (range) of 3 (1–4) days and 15 (5–26) days, respectively), whereas the self‐releasing harness had a median minimum retention time of 42 (18–91) days, which is sufficient to track Sandwich Terns during the entire chick‐rearing period. The apparent annual survival of birds tagged using glue or tape did not differ from that observed in non‐tagged control birds. In contrast, birds fitted with the self‐releasing harnesses might have experienced a lower survival rate than control birds. Entanglement of birds in the harness material was incidentally observed in three cases, which may have contributed to the lower survival rates observed in this group. The risk of entanglement can potentially be mitigated with a leg‐loop harness instead of a full‐body harness. Our results highlight the necessity of careful consideration when selecting appropriate attachment methods. Specifically, there is a need to address whether the research questions and desired tracking duration justify the use of a harness and the higher impact that it entails, or whether a tape or glue‐mount is sufficient. More broadly, sharing field expertise in tag attachments across studies is essential to successful deployments while minimizing the impact on animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Forensic-voice-comparison systems that output numeric likelihood ratios. • Guidance on how to validate in the context of a case. • Developed via a consensus process. Since the 1960s, there have been calls for forensic voice comparison to be empirically validated under casework conditions. Since around 2000, there have been an increasing number of researchers and practitioners who conduct forensic-voice-comparison research and casework within the likelihood-ratio framework. In recent years, this community of researchers and practitioners has made substantial progress toward validation under casework conditions becoming a standard part of practice: Procedures for conducting validation have been developed, along with graphics and metrics for representing the results, and an increasing number of papers are being published that include empirical validation of forensic-voice-comparison systems under conditions reflecting casework conditions. An outstanding question, however, is: In the context of a case, given the results of an empirical validation of a forensic-voice-comparison system, how can one decide whether the system is good enough for its output to be used in court? This paper provides a statement of consensus developed in response to this question. Contributors included individuals who had knowledge and experience of validating forensic-voice-comparison systems in research and/or casework contexts, and individuals who had actually presented validation results to courts. They also included individuals who could bring a legal perspective on these matters, and individuals with knowledge and experience of validation in forensic science more broadly. We provide recommendations on what practitioners should do when conducting evaluations and validations, and what they should present to the court. Although our focus is explicitly on forensic voice comparison, we hope that this contribution will be of interest to an audience concerned with validation in forensic science more broadly. Although not written specifically for a legal audience, we hope that this contribution will still be of interest to lawyers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothesis: To test the efficacy of adhesive paper tape in the closure of clean-contaminated wounds following elective colorectal resection. Design: A prospective, nonrandomized controlled study. Setting: A medical center that offers a mixture of primary, secondary, and tertiary care services. Patients: The group undergoing skin closure with paper tape (PT group) consisted of 150 patients. The group undergoing skin closure with interrupted suture (IS group) also comprised 150 patients. All 300 patients underwent elective colorectal resection in 1997. Main Outcome Measures: The duration of skin closure, wound complication rate, and cosmetic appearance of the scar at 6 months after operation were compared using the χ[sup 2]test or t test. Results: The mean ± SD average duration of skin closure was 116 ± 23 seconds for the PT group and 457 ± 64 seconds for the IS group (P<.01). The wound complication rate was 3.3% (3 cases with wound infection; 2 with wound separation) for the PT group and 3.3% (5 cases with wound infection) for the IS group (P = 1.0). No significant differences were found between the narrowest width (mean ± SD, 2.2 ± 0.9 mm vs 2.3 ± 1.0 mm) and widest width (mean ± SD, 4.7 ± 2.0 mm vs 4.3 ± 1.8 mm) of scar formation between the 2 groups at 6 months after the operation. Ninety-eight percent of patients in the PT group reported satisfaction with their scar, compared with 92% in the IS group (P = .03). Conclusion: Compared with the traditional suture method, paper tape closure in the treatment of clean-contaminated wounds was less time consuming and produced greater patient satisfaction with no increased rate of wound complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate peeling off and transferring of microchips play a critical role in LED die sorting technology. Generally, sorting efficiency of more than 36 KUPH, and an alignment deviation less than 1 mil ($25.4~\mu \text{m}$) is required. High precision position control and cooperation of multifactors should be implemented precisely. Among all the factors, the film deformation is an important one. As the sorting proceeds, dies are peeled off from substrates one by one, and the adhesive substrate is penetrated through a hole each time. As the number of stripped chips increases, viscoelastic deformation of tape surface takes place and tiny position shift of die adhered on tape arises. This shift may cause a negative impact on the peeling process. In this paper, linear viscoelastic deformation impact is tested with well-designed experiments. To evaluate the effect of tape deformation accurately for sorting the performance, stochastic Petri net model of the transferring system with dual-independent arms is formulated to analyze the influence of factors. On this basis, strategy on coordinating motion control and scheduling is proposed, rational velocity section is planned, and the active position compensation of supply platform is set, so that the die can be peeled off correctly and efficiently. Finally, to improve sorting performance, methods on active compensation of aligning platform are proposed and proven effective by an experimental validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With current developments underway at the University of Houston, 4× high‐temperature superconducting (HTS) yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) tapes are expected to reach a fourfold critical current density improvement at 30 K and 3 T as part of an Advanced Research Projects Agency‐Energy (ARPA‐E)‐sponsored project. The impetus for this project is to develop and deploy cost‐effective direct drive HTS generators for large offshore wind turbine generators. The improved conductor performance of 4× tapes over 1× tapes is projected to allow for a significant reduction in the amount of HTS tapes required to generate the excitation field and, thus, lead to a reduction of the overall generator cost. It was, however, deduced from simulation results that conventional methods of rotor field enhancement using rotor iron makes 1× conductor competitive enough compared with 4× conductors; hence, commercially available YBCO tapes can provide all the energy density requirements to make wind turbines a competitive energy resource based on energy forecasts. This paper is a presentation of design and optimization work to find the best generator topology from the point of view of both machine design and electricity supply. The generators are numerically modeled and simulated using 1× and 4× YBCO HTS conductors on either or of both the rotor and stator side of the generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes strongly rely on the substrate material, in many cases Hastelloy C276 (“H-C276”). In order to ameliorate performance (and reduce the price) of superconducting tapes, replacement of H-C276 has been investigated. In this paper, the potential of the readily available austenitic stainless steels X2CrNiMo17-12-2 (“CrNiMo”) and X11CrNiMnN19-8-6 (“CrNiMnN”) as substrates is assessed. It was found that CrNiMnN is not suitable as a replacement for H-C276. Tensile stresses occurring at elevated temperatures during the HTS tape production result in plastic deformation of the CrNiMnN substrate. In the case of CrNiMo, however, plastic deformation was not observed after processing of the HTS tape. Electrical losses as a result of alternating currents beyond those of H-C276 did not occur due to the paramagnetic nature of CrNiMo. It is demonstrated that, for the very same processing parameters, HTS films deposited on electrochemically polished and buffered CrNiMo substrates exhibit similarly high critical current densities as on polished and buffered H-C276 substrates. The application of CrNiMo stainless steel reduces substrate costs considerably. More importantly, tapes processed on CrNiMo substrates withstand higher tension strains with respect to the reduction of the critical current compared to H-C276 substrates. This effect is interpreted to be a result of the matching coefficients of thermal expansion of the HTS layer and CrNiMo, resulting in lower residual tensile stress in the HTS layer after processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In DC systems, DC resistive type superconducting fault current limiters (R-SFCLs) can respond within a few hundred milliseconds and limit the fault current to a very low level to protect the power equipment in DC systems. The main part of R-SFCLs are superconducting tapes. When short-circuit faults occur in the system, the superconducting tapes will quench and become a large quenched resistor to limit the fault current. The surrounding magnetic fields and the magnetic fields caused by the superconducting tapes itself influence the quench characteristics of the superconducting tapes of R-SFCLs. Thus, the current limiting characteristics of R-SFCLs will also be affected. Until present, very few studies have investigated the effects of magnetic fields on quench characteristics of superconducting tapes for DC R-SFCL. The objective of this paper is to obtain the effects of magnetic fields on quench characteristics of superconducting tapes for DC R-SFCL. Two different kinds of YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) tapes are studied under a permanent magnetic field of 0, 42.4, 75.9, 122.9 mT, respectively. One is from Shanghai Superconductor Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China, type ST-12-L (named SC_SH) and the other is from American Superconductor Inc. Boston, MA, USA, type 8602 (named SC_8602). The research results show that the magnetic fields influence both the amplitude and the rising rate of the quenched resistance of an SC_SH tape. Under the same magnetic field, both the speed of quenching and the quenching resistance of SC_SH tape are larger than them of SC_8602 when the prospective current exceeds 800 A. Thus SC_SH tape can limit the fault current faster and to a lower level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quench and recovery characteristics are the most important characteristics of dc resistive type superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs). In the normal state, the superconducting tapes of SFCLs stay in superconducting state without power loss. However, if there is a thermal disturbance energy impact to the superconducting tapes, the tapes may be quenched, and sometimes even break once their temperature is too high. After the thermal disturbance, the tapes may recover to superconducting state again. A numerical analysis method was proposed to analyze quench propagation and recovery characteristics of the YBa2Cu3O7-δ tapes based on thermal conduction theory. The objective of this paper is to obtain the influencing factors such as magnitude of thermal disturbance, transport current, material of the stabilized layer and cooling on quench, and recovery properties of dc resistive type SFCL. Numerical analysis results show that the temperature and voltage of the tape increased while the transport current through the tape and the magnitude of thermal disturbance increased. The quench propagation velocity was higher and the recovery time was shorter for copper stabilized layers than stainless steel stabilized layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetization loss is an important parameter in the design of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) power devices. It is produced under the external alternating magnetic fields. In previous work, for the purpose of reducing the loss, our group proposed and fabricated a novel soldered-stacked-square (3S) HTS wire with a cross-section of 1 mm × 1 mm. In this paper, the magnetization losses of the 3S wire are investigated numerically. First, numerical and theoretical losses in single HTS tapes are compared and their consistence proves the reliability of the numerical model. Also, the losses in tapes of different widths are evaluated, which shows the 1-mm tapes have less magnetization losses under perpendicular field. Moreover, the numerical model for estimating losses in 3S wires has also been built. According to a series of calculation and comparison, the 1-mm stacked wires have less losses than those wider stacked wires under perpendicular field. Besides, considering the practical application of HTS power devices, angular dependence of the loss in 3S wires containing one HTS tape is studied as well. The results indicate the loss increases with the increase of the angle with respect to the wire surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the current limiting behavior based on an air-core high-temperature superconducting transformer (HTST) and a group of inductor–capacitor series resonant limiters. The air-core HTST is composed of four same double-pancake type high-temperature superconducting coils made up of Bi-2333/Ag tape, and both of primary and secondary windings include two series superconducting coils. It plays the roles of inductive fault current limiting and transformation impedance; in addition, the magnetic flux saturation can also be avoided. Meanwhile, the inductor and capacitor series with the secondary winding of the air-core HTST in series resonance state are the conventional devices. The influence of them on the circuit can almost be ignored, because they are in series resonant state in normal operation. While the fault current appeared in the primary circuit, it will be limited by the impedance of the air-core HTST and the inductor without quench (the inductor and capacitor would quit the series resonant state). According to the preliminary experiment carried out in our laboratory, this superconducting current limiting module can operate as expected, and its behavior is satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cable-in-conduit conductors comprised of twisted stacks of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes constitute a very promising technology by virtue of their easy manufacturing process, flexibility capabilities, and high current densities. In a cable, the current distribution among tapes is one of the key parameters affecting the cable performances. The distribution of current is affected mainly by the self-field configuration (ultimately related to the cable layout) and the termination resistances. In this paper we present a 2D finite element (FE) model, based on the T-A formulation, which computes the magnetic field and current distribution in stacked tapes. This model has been used to describe the experimental V–I results obtained in cables in which different current distributions among tapes are expected. The first case refers to V–I curves of stacks of HTS tapes inserted into ducts formed in the extruded aluminium cylindrical core for a straight cable. The excellent agreement between the experimental findings and the simulation results can be explained in terms of uniform current distribution within the tapes stack, up to the superconducting to normal transition. The second sample, an Al-slotted core Cable-In-Conduit-Conductor, has been bent down to a radius of 0.15 m, and from the measured V–I characteristic of each individual tape, a different tape degradation depending on the tape position within the stack was recorded. The model is able to reconstruct the V–I of the stacks from the characteristic curves of the individual tapes with a satisfactory agreement. The finite element analysis reveals non-uniform current distribution among the tapes, which could expose the cable to a potentially irreversible damage during operation. The proposed FE model constitutes a useful tool for the analysis and predictions of HTS CIC conductor performances and represents a suitable basis for the implementation of more complex models aimed at the design of specific and large applications of this conductor in the next future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies of test coils have demonstrated the high thermal and electrical stability of no-insulation (NI) high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils thanks to the presence of turn-to-turn current paths. These turn-to-turn current paths in a NI coil are significantly influenced by the contact resistivity. In practice, it is very challenging to measure the contact resistivity of a NI coil by direct experiments of short samples, since the contact resistivity of superconducting tapes is influenced by surface roughness and tolerance, stress, temperature etc. A proper simulation model is needed to investigate the contact resistivity of the NI coils with dedicated experiments. Hence, in this paper a distributed circuit model is employed. This model, implemented in Matlab 2018a, considers the local contact resistivity, self and mutual inductance, and HTS resistance, which depends on the supplied current, magnetic field and temperature. To validate the model, experimental results from literature, including sudden discharge, and charge–discharge processes, are employed and the results from simulations are consistent with experimental results. Then the model is used to investigate the equivalent contact resistivity of a 157-turn NI coil. Through the comparison of simulated and experimental results, it is found that the contact resistivity of the NI coil has an inhomogeneous distribution. When the current changes with different speeds, ramping rates or frequency, a different number of turn-to-turn contacts carries radial current. Since the turn-to-turn contacts have different contact resistivity, the equivalent contact resistivity calculated from sudden discharge cannot be used in simulations to reproduce all the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike conventional forensics, digital forensics does not at present generally quantify the results of its investigations. It is suggested that digital forensics should aim to catch up with other forensic disciplines by using Bayesian and other numerical methodologies to quantify its investigations' results. Assessing the plausibility of alternative hypotheses (or propositions, or claims) which explain how recovered digital evidence came to exist on a device could assist both the prosecution and the defence sides in criminal proceedings: helping the prosecution to decide whether to proceed to trial and helping defence lawyers to advise a defendant how to plead. This paper reviews some numerical approaches to the goal of quantifying the relative weights of individual items of digital evidence and the plausibility of hypotheses based on that evidence. The potential advantages enabling the construction of cost-effective digital forensic triage schemas are also outlined. The absence of quantified results from digital forensic investigations, unlike those of conventional forensics, is highlighted. A number of approaches towards quantitative evaluation of the results of digital forensic investigations are reviewed. The significant potential benefits accruing from such approaches are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the production and the characterization of the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) printed flexible temperature sensors for high-precision reading in temperature sensing applications. The temperature sensor was fabricated using the inkjet printing method by depositing carbon nanotube (CNT) ink on soft taffeta fabric. An aqueous CNT-based conductive ink was formulated for the inkjet printing process. A translucent polyurethane (PU) welding tape was used as an encapsulation layer on the surface of the sensors to protect sensors from various environmental effects during usage and testing. The fabricated sensors function as thermistors, as the conductivity increases with temperature linearly. The performances of differently patterned three temperature sensors were compared. The highest obtained temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and the thermal index are −1.04%/°C and 1135 K, respectively. The fabricated sensors possess a high-temperature sensitivity between room temperature and 50 °C and perform better than the typical commercial platinum temperature sensors and most of the recently reported CNT-based temperature sensors in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]