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To comprehend the fatigue failure mechanism at the fiber discontinuity in fiber-reinforced composites, it is necessary to evaluate the local mechanical behaviors. The fatigue strength depends on the stress distribution at the fiber inclusion corner. An improved advanced finite element method (IAFEM) is proposed for the stress intensity factor (SIF) analysis at the fiber inclusion corner. In the IAFEM, the element stiffness matrix of singular inclusion corner element (SICE) is obtained, and the singular elastic field at the tip of the fiber inclusion is determined. The effects of load direction, fiber distribution, fiber geometry, and material properties on SIFs are analyzed numerically using the IAFEM. The difference in stress field distribution between two-dimensional and three-dimensional fiber inclusions is discussed. The IAFEIM and calculation results can provide reference for fatigue strength analysis and preparation of composite materials.

The efficient removal of 2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB), a typical odour component, in water treatment plants (WTPs), poses a great challenge to conventional water treatment technology due to its chemical stability. In this study, the combination of ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) and chlorine (UV-LED/chlorine) was exploited for 2-MIB removal, and the role of ultraviolet (UV) wavelength was investigated systematically. The results showed that UV or chlorination alone did not degrade 2-MIB effectively, and the UV/chlorine process could degrade 2-MIB efficiently, following the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The 275 nm UV exhibited higher 2-MIB degradation efficiency in this UV-LED/chlorine system than 254 nm UV, 265 nm UV and 285 nm UV due to the highest mole adsorption coefficient and quantum yield of chlorine in 275 nm UV. ·OH and ·Cl produced in the 275 nm UV/chlorine system played major roles in 2-MIB degradation. HCO3− and Natural organic matter (NOM), prevalent in water, consumed ·OH and ·Cl, thus inhibiting the 2-MIB degradation by UV-LED/chlorine. In addition, NOM and 2-MIB could form a photonic competition effect. The degradation of 2-MIB by UV-LED/chlorine was done mainly through dehydration and demethylation, and odorous intermediates, such as camphor, were produced. 2-MIB was degraded through the α bond fracture and six-membered ring opening to form saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons and aldehydes. Four DBPs, chloroform (CF), trichloroacetaldehyde (TCE), trichloroacetone (TCP) and dichloroacetone (DCP), were mainly generated, and CF was the most significant by-product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the problem that paste flux is difficult to spread uniformly on the surface of filler metal, the adhesion behavior of the different concentrations of paste flux on the surface of filler metal was studied by the equipment of OM, wetting angle tester and surface tensiometer. The results show that adhesive layer is gradually thickened with the increase of the concentration of paste flux. A small amount of shrinkage appears in the thin adhesive layer. however, mass paste flux slides off filler metal when adhesive layer is thicker, accompanying by severe aggregation and shrinkage. For the ideal surface, the adhesive tension of paste flux with different concentrations of paste flux is the same. For the actual surface, the stripe groove additional pressure is formed when paste flux wets stripe groove, and the additional pressure is the main reason for the lagging phenomenon of the shrinkage of the adhesive layer. With the increase of paste flux concentration, the additional pressure decreases, the hysteresis resistance decreases, and the shrinkage increases. A relationship is satisfied when the shrinkage takes place in thin adhesive layer, this is ΔWC ≥ A+ΔP. Whether the shrinkage occurs mainly depends on the adhesion tension and the additional pressure.

Phenotypic plasticity is observed in many animal species and it is effective for them to cope with many types of environmental threats. The multicolored Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis shows a cuticular pigmentation plasticity that can be rapidly induced by temperature changes, and in the form of changeable melanin spot patterns to adjust heat‐absorbing. Here, H. axyridis with thermal stimulation were selected for determining the molecular regulations behind it. First, we confirmed the melanin level changes of H. axyridis pupa could be induced by temperature, and then screened the efficient time window for thermal sensing of H. axyridis pre‐pupa; it is suggested that the late stage of pre‐pupa (late stage of 4th instar larva) is the critical period to sense thermal signals and adjust its pupal melanin spot area size to adapt to upcoming thermal conditions. The Ha‐ADC (aspartate decarboxylase) and Ha‐ebony (NBAD synthase) of aspartate‐β‐alanine‐NBAD pathway were then proved in regulation of cuticular melanization for pupa through RNA interference experiments; knockdown of these two genes enlarged the melanin spot size. Finally, we designed a random injection of Ha–ADC at different pre‐pupal stages, to further study the regulation window during this process. Combined with all evidence observed, we suggested the spot size determination can be regulated very close to the time point of pupation, and genes of the aspartate‐β‐alanine‐NBAD pathway play an important role at the molecular level. In brief, H. axyridis exhibits a flexible active physiological regulation through transcriptional modification to thermal changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ladybird Harmonia axyridis is an insect that exhibits pupal attachment to plants, which facilitates development and environmental adaptation. The cremaster is highly specialized for this behavior. However, the underlying molecular regulation of the cremaster remains unclear; therefore, we performed experiments to investigate the transcriptional regulation of cremaster development. First, we examined the morphological structure of the cremaster to reveal its function in pupal attachment of H. axyridis. Next, we analyzed the Hox gene Ha‐Abd‐B using RNA interference (RNAi) to determine its function in regulating cremaster formation; Ha‐Abd‐B up‐regulation promoted effective pupal attachment, whereas successful RNAi caused severe down‐regulation of this gene, and pupae were unable to attach. Furthermore, successful RNAi and subsequent Ha‐Abd‐B down‐regulation caused phenotypic changes in cremaster structure, including its complete disappearance from some individuals. Finally, we observed unique development of the cremaster and dynamic expression of Ha‐Abd‐B during pre‐pupal development; consequently, we hypothesized that there was specific pre‐pupal development of the cremaster. Overall, based on these results, the specialized cremasteric structure located on the posterior side of H. axyridis was determined to be a key organ for pupal attachment. Cremaster identification in H. axyridis is regulated by Ha‐Abd‐B and exhibits preferential development. Pupal attachment of H. axyridis reveals an environmental adaptation of this species; thus, this study and future molecular studies will help determine the role of Hox genes in regulation of insect attachment and further our understanding of the multiple functions of Hox genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]