Architecture Composition Research Articles

Microstructure and Properties of TiCp/Fe Hierarchical Composites Prepared by a New Pressure Infiltration Method.

TiCp/steel composites are conventionally produced via powder metallurgy. In this paper, a liquid pressure infiltration method was developed to prepare a kind of spherical hierarchical architectured composite, in which spherical TiCp-rich hard phase regions were uniformly dispersed in TiCp-free soft phase region. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the architectured composites were carefully studied and compared with the common composite, as well as the effect of TiCp fraction on the properties. The results show that architecturual design can effectively improve both the toughness and strength of the composites. With TiCp content increasing from 30% to 50%, both the bending strength and the impact toughness of the architectured composites first increase, then decrease, and reach the highest at 40% TiCp. The highest impact toughness reaches 21.2 J/cm2, being 6.2 times that of the common composite and the highest strength being 67% higher. The pressure infiltration method possesses adaptability to varying shapes and sizes of the products, allowing for large-scale preparation. Therefore, for the first time, the combination of pressure infiltration preparation and architectural design was applied to TiCp/steel composites.

Green synthesis of MOF/CNT gels via in-situ physical mixing strategy toward quasi-solid-state Li-ion hybrid capacitor

Compositing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can effectively improve their conductivity and structural instability to achieve excellent supercapacitor performance. However, the two main traditional composite strategies of ex-situ physical mixing and in-situ chemical growth still have some limitations, such as the heterogeneous dispersity and the destruction of CNTs, etc. In this work, we propose a green in-situ physical mixing method to construct advanced MIL-100-Fe/CNT architecture. An adding content of 10 % for CNTs results in the optimal composite structure within homogeneous dispersion and favorable interactions between MOF host and CNT guest, achieving a high specific capacitance of 431.6 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1, which is much higher than of the pristine MOF (143.1 F g−1). An in-depth electrochemical study illustrates that the moderate addition of CNTs promotes the fast charge transfer dynamics of Li-ion in the composite electrode while the excessive CNTs will lead to localized aggregation and property degradation. A quasi-solid-state Li-ion hybrid capacitor device was assembled, displaying a high energy density of 20.2 W h kg−1 and a long cycle life of 89.4 % capacitance retention after 8000 cycles. The contribution has provided a new direction for constructing advanced MOF-based composite architectures for energy storage applications.

Multilayered silver nanowires and graphene fluoride-based aramid nanofibers for excellent thermoconductive electromagnetic interference shielding materials with low-reflection

Multilayered films composed of alternating layers of graphene fluoride (GF) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) in an aramid nanofiber (ANF) matrix were fabricated. The films were prepared by sequential vacuum filtration of GF@ANF and AgNWs@ANF suspensions to obtain multilayered composite architectures. The multilayered GF@ANF/AgNWs@ANF films exhibited exceptional mechanical flexibility and strength, with tensile strength up to 130 MPa and 5000 bending cycles with negligible performance deterioration. The films displayed remarkably high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness up to 54 dB in X-band frequencies, attributed to the multiple internal reflections in the multilayered structure. EMI shielding was dominated by absorption rather than reflection, enabling attenuation of incident microwaves without secondary pollution. The multilayered films also exhibited ultrahigh in-plane thermal conductivity of up to 45 W/mK, owing to the thermally conductive GF and AgNWs networks. The EMI shielding effectiveness and thermal conductivity were retained after temperature and bending cycling. The composite films also demonstrated excellent flame retardancy. This study provides an effective route toward concurrent enhancement of multi-functional properties through architectural engineering at the nanoscale. The combination of robust EMI shielding, mechanical flexibility, thermal management, and fire safety highlights the potential of rationally designed multilayered composites for practical applications in 5 G wearable electronics devices, communications systems, and radar technologies.

Atomistic Insight into the Lipid Nanodomains of Synaptic Vesicles.

Membrane curvature, once regarded as a passive consequence of membrane composition and cellular architecture, has been shown to actively modulate various properties of the cellular membrane. These changes could also lead to segregation of the constituents of the membrane, generating nanodomains with precise biological properties. Proteins often linked with neurodegeneration (e.g., tau, alpha-synuclein) exhibit an unintuitive affinity for synaptic vesicles in neurons, which are reported to lack distinct, ordered nanodomains based on their composition. In this study, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are used to study a full-scale synaptic vesicle of realistic Gaussian curvature and its effect on the membrane dynamics and lipid nanodomain organization. Compelling indicators of nanodomain formation, from the perspective of composition, surface areas per lipid, order parameter, and domain lifetime, are identified in the vesicle membrane, which are absent in a flat bilayer of the same lipid composition. Therefore, our study supports the idea that curvature may induce phase separation in an otherwise fluid, disordered membrane.

Robust and sensitive conductive nanocomposite hydrogel with bridge cross-linking-dominated hierarchical structural design.

Conductive hydrogels have a remarkable potential for applications in soft electronics and robotics, owing to their noteworthy attributes, including electrical conductivity, stretchability, biocompatibility, etc. However, the limited strength and toughness of these hydrogels have traditionally impeded their practical implementation. Inspired by the hierarchical architecture of high-performance biological composites found in nature, we successfully fabricate a robust and sensitive conductive nanocomposite hydrogel through self-assembly-induced bridge cross-linking of MgB2 nanosheets and polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels. By combining the hierarchical lamellar microstructure with robust molecular B─O─C covalent bonds, the resulting conductive hydrogel exhibits an exceptional strength and toughness. Moreover, the hydrogel demonstrates exceptional sensitivity (response/relaxation time, 20 milliseconds; detection lower limit, ~1 Pascal) under external deformation. Such characteristics enable the conductive hydrogel to exhibit superior performance in soft sensing applications. This study introduces a high-performance conductive hydrogel and opens up exciting possibilities for the development of soft electronics.

Harmony of Combining of Architectural Ideas: Light Oculus and Stalactite Muqarnas Tent

The origin of the common type of overlap of the Armenian monastic fore-churches or narthex (zhamatun or gavit) – a stone muqarnas tent with a light oculus at the top – has not yet been fully disclosed. Denying the absolute autochthonous nature of this architectural idea, the author of the article develops a point of view about the transformation by Armenian architects of the form of a brick tent, known from the mausoleums of Muslim rulers, which were built since the 11th century in Mesopotamia and Syria. At the same time, the rich local context of the early forms of the high tent with an oculus and the architectural compositions associated with it are analysed anew. At the same time, in 1038 in the Horomos monastery the king Hovhannes Smbat Bagratuni has constructed the multi-column zhamatun with eight-side tent and an oculus. Intended for the repose of the king, this zhamatun could embody in its architecture both the forms of a residential building and, to a greater extent, the idea represented in Rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre. Since the second half of the 12th century, when many monastic vestibules were built, about a dozen such structures with a stalactite tent were also erected. It seems acceptable that in the process of creative processing of the idea of Muslim tents, Armenian architects embodied their formal features in the stone structure of the false vault, preserving the traditional light oculus for the local culture. Identified with the divine light, the stream looked spectacular against the background of a stalactite sculptural form resembling a cave. The key role in the creation of a new type of tent in the monastic buildings could be played by the masters of the Ani school of architecture.

Stereo matching of binocular laparoscopic images with improved densely connected neural architecture search.

Stereo matching is a crucial technology in the binocular laparoscopic-based surgical navigation systems. In recent years, neural networks have been widely applied to stereo matching and demonstrated outstanding performance. however, this method heavily relies on manual feature engineering meaning that professionals must be involved in the feature extraction and matching. This process is both time-consuming and demands specific expertise. This paper introduces a novel stereo matching framework DCStereo that realizes a fully automatic neural architecture design for the stereo matching of binocular laparoscopic images. The proposed framework utilizes a densely connected search space which enables a more flexible and diverse architecture composition. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm leverages the channel and path sampling strategies to reduce memory consumption during searching. Empirically, our searched DCStereo on the SCARED training dataset achieves a mean absolute error of 3.589mm on the test dataset, which outperforms hand-crafted stereo matching methods and other approaches. Furthermore, when directly testing on the SERV-CT dataset, our DCStereo demonstrates better generalization ability than other methods. Our proposed approach leverages the neural architecture search technique and a densely connected search space for automatic neural architecture design in stereo matching of binocular laparoscopic images. Our method delivers advanced performance on the SCARED dataset and promising results on the SERV-CT dataset. These findings demonstrate the potential of our approach for improving clinical surgical navigation systems.

P019 Development of hydrogel systems for targeted rectal delivery of intestinal cells to injured mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Background Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) affecting over 6.8 million people worldwide. CD and UC are chronic and progressive diseases, characterised by destructive inflammation of the intestinal tract. IBD management consists of drugs such as steroids, aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, and biologics that aim to induce disease maintenance and remission. However, frequent, and systemic drug administration leads to limited local effects, severe side effects, and low patient compliance. Ultimately, about 20% of UC and up to 80% of CD patients require surgical colon removal. Thus, new approaches to locally restore the inflamed mucosa and initiate colonic wound repair are required. Human intestinal organoids (HIOs) are 3D cell aggregates derived from primary tissue or stem cells grown in vitro. They demonstrate a similar composition architecture to the primary intestinal tissue. Studies showed that HIOs can engraft into injured colonic mucosa resulting in wound repair. Thus, delivery of HIOs to damaged intestinal epithelium represents a promising therapeutic option in IBD treatment. The project aims to develop hydrogel systems with embedded HIOs and obtain human-relevant information on their efficacy in the restitution of injured colonic mucosa using an improved and human-relevant organ-on-a-chip technology. Methods A series of thermoresponsive hydrogels were fabricated (based on methylcellulose/hyaluronic acid polymers) and characterised. Following the embedment of HIOs into hydrogels, the morphology and viability of HIOs were determined using microscopy and MTT assays. Inflammation was induced through the administration of LPS to the basolateral side of the gut chip. Hydrogel/HIO systems were applied to the apical chip compartment via flow for 24 hours. Subsequently, hydrogel/HIO systems were removed from the chip, and HIO engraftment into injured mucosa was determined utilising permeability (4 kDa dextran) and cytokine release assays (ELISA IL-8). Results Our findings show that the gels were liquid at 25 °C and solidified at 37 °C and demonstrated low cytotoxicity. Additionally, our results suggest that the hydrogel systems had a restorative and possibly protective effect on the villi structures in the gut chip. Microscopy results clearly demonstrated the presence of fully differentiated villi structures in the chips that were treated with the hydrogel/cell systems (Figure 1B). These villi structures were absent in the not-treated chips (Figure 1A). Conclusion This study suggests that development of organoid-based hydrogels that can serve as a safe, effective, and inexpensive therapy (compared to surgery) and significantly improve the treatment of IBD.

Scale‐up of electrochemical flow cell towards industrial CO2 reduction to potassium formate

AbstractThe CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR) presents a pathway to decarbonize the manufacturing industry by using clean electricity and CO2 as feedstocks instead of relying on fossil fuels. Although known for over 100 years, this technology has yet only been developed at bench‐top scale (1–100 cm2). In this manuscript, we report CO2 electroreduction to potassium formate (HCOOK) in a stack of two 1526‐cm2 three‐compartments electrochemical cells with gas diffusion electrode (GDE) cathodes. In this stack, we achieved over 60 % current selectivity towards HCOOK at current densities of 200 mA cm−2 and under cell voltages of ~4.0 V. We reached these performance metrics by tuning electrolyte composition and cell architecture. We also show that a minimum of +10‐14 kPa of pressure difference must be applied between gaseous and catholyte compartments to enable the CO2RR to take place. We emphasize the challenges associated with scaling‐up a CO2 electrochemical cell, specifically by demonstrating that optimal operation parameters are strongly correlated to cell architecture. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing CO2RR electrochemical cells to an industrial scale.

Recent advances in In2S3-based nanocomposites for gas and electrochemical sensors: Mechanisms and developments

Due to their superior sensing characteristics, In2S3-based nanocomposites have emerged as attractive materials in gas and electrochemical sensors in recent years. This review article gives an in-depth look at the most recent advancements in using In2S3 as a fundamental component in sensor applications. The discussion begins with an overview of In2S3 as a sensor material, including its intrinsic features and gas and electrochemical detection possibilities. The study digs into In2S3′s gas and electrochemical sensing methods, clarifying the processes that underpin its sensitivity to specific analytes. It investigates the interaction of In2S3 with target gases or ions, emphasizing the significance of surface chemistry, charge transfer, and structural alterations in the sensing process. This review paper focuses on recent gas and electrochemical sensing advances made by In2S3-based nanocomposites. Researchers improved sensor performance by integrating In2S3 into diverse composite architectures. It also includes case studies and effective examples of In2S3-based nanocomposites in real-world sensing applications. These examples illustrate the sensors' usefulness and adaptability in detecting a wide range of gases and ions with great sensitivity and selectivity. In summary, this review paper provides an in-depth look at the most recent advancements in In2S3-based nanocomposites for gas and electrochemical sensors. It provides an excellent resource for academics, engineers, and professionals by illuminating sensing mechanisms, stressing essential parameters, highlighting current discoveries, supporting further innovation, and the broader application of In2S3-based nanocomposite sensors.

Sparse Grid Imputation Using Unpaired Imprecise Auxiliary Data: Theory and Application to PM2.5 Estimation

Sparse grid imputation (SGI) is a challenging problem, as its goal is to infer the values of the entire grid from a limited number of cells with values. Traditionally, the problem is solved using regression methods such as KNN and kriging, whereas in the real world, there is often extra information—usually imprecise—that can aid inference and yield better performance. In the SGI problem, in addition to the limited number of fixed grid cells with precise target domain values, there are contextual data and imprecise observations over the whole grid. To solve this problem, we propose a distribution estimation theory for the whole grid and realize the theory via the composition architecture of the Target-Embedding and the Contextual CycleGAN trained with contextual information and imprecise observations. Contextual CycleGAN is structured as two generator–discriminator pairs and uses different types of contextual loss to guide the training. We consider the real-world problem of fine-grained PM2.5 inference with realistic settings: a few (less than 1%) grid cells with precise PM2.5 data and all grid cells with contextual information concerning weather and imprecise observations from satellites and microsensors. The task is to infer reasonable values for all grid cells. As there is no ground truth for empty cells, out-of-sample mean squared error and Jensen–Shannon divergence measurements are used in the empirical study. The results show that Contextual CycleGAN supports the proposed theory and outperforms the methods used for comparison.

Tunable mechanics of architectured composites from particle assemblies

Architectured materials with tunable mechanical properties and geometrical configurations hold significant promise for emulating biological organisms' behaviors, which have diverse applications in areas such as soft robotics and deployable structures. In contrast, existing architectured materials are largely restricted by the inherently fixed mechanical properties and geometries once fabricated. To address this challenge, we herein draw inspiration from the non-monolithic structures in biological organisms to design architectured composites via particle assemblies under confining stress. We utilize analytical, FEM and experimental methods to delve into the mechanical behaviors of the composite structure consisting of discrete rigid particles confined by soft prestressed ligaments. We investigate the effects of the particle geometries and the prestress in the ligaments on the mechanical tunability of our composite. Furthermore, we introduce the integration of electrothermal actuators, facilitating real-time modulation of mechanical responses. Our work aims to establish a fundamental understanding of mechanical behaviors of the architectured composites from particle assemblies confined by prestressed ligaments, which may lead to promising applications such as deployable structures and protective wearables.

Мавзолеи восточных районов Золотой Орды

The purpose of the study: To consider the composition of architecture in the eastern regions of the Golden Horde, using the example of monuments of memorial architecture. As well, to trace regional differences and the influence of various architectural schools and building traditions on the emergence and development of mausoleum forms. Research materials: Mausoleums which are the most numerous type of monumental architecture explored throughout the territory of the Golden Horde. The paper considers both archaeological sites and various images of mausoleums: drawings of the 18th–19th centuries and photographs of the early 20th century. Results and scientific novelty: The work collects and examines all the mausoleums of the eastern regions of the Golden Horde. The review shows that among all the buildings, based on construction technology, two directions of architecture can be distinguished – construction from stone and construction from brick (burnt and adobe). An analysis of the types of planning, construction techniques, and architectural details of mausoleums and construction equipment leads to the conclusion that several directions can be traced in the composition of memorial architecture. In their architectonics, the stone mausoleums of the Urals are closely related to the architecture of Volga Bulgaria which, in turn, arose under the strong influence of Seljuk Asia Minor and to some extent Transcaucasia. Most of the mausoleums are built of baked and mud bricks. Among them, a group of cubic mausoleums with a hipped dome on a drum and a massive portal stands out. These buildings find direct analogies among the monuments of Central Asia, primarily Khorezm. A group of tower or pyramidal mausoleums are buildings of an archaic appearance that replicate the memorial monuments of the Turks. Also in the eastern regions, two-chamber mausoleums were built, consisting of a room for rituals (ziyarat-khane) and a tomb (gur-khane). Mausoleums of this type have no direct analogues outside the Golden Horde and are a creative reworking of already known schemes.

Biomimetic mineralization of positively charged silica nanoparticles templated by thermoresponsive protein micelles: applications to electrostatic assembly of hierarchical and composite superstructures.

High information content building blocks offer a path toward the construction of precision materials by supporting the organization and reconfiguration of organic and inorganic components through engineered functions. Here, we combine thermoresponsiveness with biomimetic mineralization by fusing the Car9 silica-binding dodecapeptide to the C-terminus of the (VPGVG)54 elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). Using small angle X-ray scattering, we show that the short Car9 cationic block is sufficient to promote the conversion of disordered unimers into 30 nm micelles comprising about 150 proteins, 5 °C above the transition temperature of the ELP. While both species catalyze self-limiting silica precipitation, micelles template the mineralization of highly monodisperse (62 nm) nanoparticles, while unimers yield larger polydisperse species. Strikingly, and unlike traditional synthetic silica, these particles exhibit a positive surface charge, likely due to cationic Car9 sidechains projecting from their surface. Capitalizing on the high monodispersity and positive charge of the micelle-templated products, we use smaller silica and gold particles bearing a native negative charge to create a variety of superstructures via electrostatic co-assembly. This simple biomimetic route to positively charged silica eliminates the need for multiple precursors or surface modifications and enables the rapid creation of single-material and composite architectures in which components of different sizes or compositions are well dispersed and integrated.

Effect of ceramic particle shape on wear resistance mechanism of zirconia toughened alumina ceramic reinforced high chromium cast iron architectural composite

Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA)/high chromium cast iron (HCCI) architectural composites are widely used in many fields, and several factors can affect their wear resistance. The objective of this study was to examine the three-body abrasive wear characteristics of an irregularly shaped ZTA/HCCI composite in comparison with conventional HCCI and crushing ZTA/HCCI composites. Irregularly shaped ZTA was prepared in this study, and ZTA/HCCI composites were fabricated with different ZTA shapes. The mass loss rates of crushed and irregularly shaped ZTA/HCCI composites were observed 0.29 % and 0.26 %, respectively, when subjected to the three-body abrasive wear process. These results indicated the improved wear resistance of the ZTA/HCCI composite. Because the irregularly shaped ZTA ceramic particles did not have sharp edges, which suppressed the tendency for stress concentration, the internal stress was significantly reduced. Therefore, the likelihood of crack formation was substantially reduced, reducing the probability of failure and increasing the wear resistance. In this study, this approach provided a new idea to enhance the wear resistance.

Creation of three-dimensional composite architectures via high-intensity focused ultrasound inside of foams

Free-form creation of 3-dimensional (3D) structures, such as in additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing (3DP), typically requires a direct line-of-sight or physical contact between an energy source and a...

Optimization of Lift-Plus-Cruise Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft with Electrified Propulsion

Conventional aircraft sizing methods face challenges in analyzing all-electric or hybrid-electric novel aircraft configurations, such as those for urban air mobility applications. The vast design space containing both continuous and discrete design variables and competing design objectives necessitates searching for not necessarily a unique optimal design but rather an array of Pareto-optimal designs. This paper uses the Parametric Energy-Based Aircraft Configuration Evaluator, an aircraft sizing framework for novel aircraft and propulsion system architectures, to pursue multi-objective optimization of a lift-plus-cruise urban air mobility aircraft with all-electric, hybrid-electric, and turbo-electric propulsion system architectures using Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II. The optimization cases considered include multiple objective functions, such as maximum takeoff mass, mission time, energy and propulsion mass fraction, and energy used per unit distance per unit payload. Optimization was performed for trip distances of 80, 120, and 150 km and battery specific energy levels of 350 and 400 Wh/kg. Except when mission time was an objective function, Pareto-optimal designs occurred near the lower bound of the velocity range. Raising that bound had an impact on the architectural composition of the final generation. All-electric architectures appeared exclusively for lower trip distances, hybrid-electric designs appeared for longer trip distances, and turbo-electric designs only appeared for combinations of longer trip distances, a higher minimum cruise speed, and a lower battery specific energy level. The sizing results were sensitive to assumptions regarding the overload capacity of lift propulsor motors in postfailure conditions.

Hierarchical architecture composites of N-doped hollow polyhedra anchored on Ti3C2Tx nanosheets for advanced lithium-ion and sodium-ion capacitors

2D-Ti3C2Tx conductive thin films and N-doped hollow polyhedra are tightly anchored by strong electrostatic adsorption, ensuring high electron conductivity and fast ion transport channels in multilevel composite structures.

A Discourse on Brutalism Architecture: The Forgotten Architecture Style in Architecture Revolution

This paper explores the Brutalism architectural style. This style became popular in the 1950-1970s with the start of experimentation with building materials in line with the social movements of that time. This research uses an exploratory approach based on a longitudinal study of similar studies. The discussion focused on the architects' revolutionary thinking towards unique designs through form manipulation and material exploration. The results of his work show the determination of form seekers, material experimentation, and the enthusiasm of young architects for monumental architecture. Massive and unadorned reinforced concrete frames, simplicity, minimal ornamentation, small windows, and rough surfaces are usually used for government buildings, institutions, and high-rise housing. The popularity of Brutalism spread to the Far East. The formation of Brutalist architecture in Malaysia left its mark on the urban landscape, but developed into a combination of architectural compositions in architectural pedagogy.

Ислам и пережитки доисламских верований в Золотой Орде по материалам архитектуры погребальных сооружений

The purpose of the study: To consider how monumental architecture, in particular memorial buildings, reflected the changes in society associated with the adoption of Islam in the Golden Horde and ties with other Muslim states. Research materials: Mausoleums which are the most numerous objects of monumental architecture explored throughout the territory of the Golden Horde. The paper considers both archaeological sites and various images of mausoleums: drawings of the 18th–19th centuries, and photographs of the late 19th – early 20th centuries. Results and scientific novelty: On the basis of building technology in the Golden Horde, two areas of architecture are distinguished – building from brick (fired and raw) and building from stone. An analysis of the planning, construction techniques, architectural details of the mausoleums, and construction equipment leads to the conclusion that several directions can be traced in the composition of the Golden Horde memorial architecture. The influence of the Central Asian school associated with the construction of fired and raw bricks was very significant. The architectural forms of brick mausoleums, distributed mainly in the steppe zone, find direct analogies among the monuments of Central Asia, primarily Khorezm. In the monuments made in the technique of stone construction, the influence of Asia Minor and Transcaucasia can be traced. It is expressed both in the architectonics of buildings and in the use of certain building techniques. The Golden Horde tower mausoleums, most likely, were exact copies of those in Asia Minor and Azerbaijan. Along with the forms of memorial buildings typical for the Muslim world, there were buildings of archaic appearance in the ulus of Jochi. Pyramidal mausoleums were built there, the shape of which the researchers deduce from the tomb structures in the form of barrows; these can be associated with the Turkic memorial buildings of the 9th–11th centuries.