Modular Combination Research Articles

Experimental and theoretical study on axial compression behaviour of the modular combined column

Between the modular units of the modular steel building, there exists a combination of the adjacent modular columns. Due to the gaps between the modular columns and the lack of horizontal connections, the integrity of the modular steel structure is weak, which limits the use of modular steel structures in high-rise buildings. This paper proposes a kind of modular combined column realized the connection of modular single columns through the connectors and concrete, which can improve the integrity of the modular steel building. The assembly process of this new modular combined column is described. For axial compressive performance tests, four modular combined column specimens were designed, each with different height or different number of connecting plates. The axial compressive bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness, and other mechanical parameters of the specimens were analyzed according to the phenomena and load-displacement curves of the test. Then, the axial compression failure mode of the modular combined column specimens is compared and analyzed in conjunction with the finite element model. The results indicate that the axial compressive performance and ductility of the combined column suggested in this research are exceptional. The connector can enhance the overall mechanical qualities of the combined column by augmenting the restraining impact of concrete. Finally, the theoretical equation of the axial compression bearing capacity of the modular combined column is obtained by employing the superposition principle, and the equation's reliability is confirmed, along with the test results and the results of the numerical analysis.

Customizable gradient MXene/polyurethane modules for electromagnetic interference shielding with low reflection and thermal management

The conductive polymer composites (CPC) with elevated levels of conductivity typically exhibit enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE), however, this enhancement is often paralleled by an augmented risk of secondary electromagnetic (EM) pollution, attributable to the increased EM reflection. Developing a facile method to construct an eco-friendly CPC for EMI shielding that simultaneously exhibits low reflection and high shielding performance remains a promising yet challenging pursuit. Moreover, excellent shielding materials should possess exceptional thermal management capabilities to protect individuals or equipment under extreme conditions. Herein, we have engineered the MXene/polyurethane (MXene/PU) sponge (MPS) modules characterized by the hierarchical porous structure. Through the strategic modular combination of impedance-matching and impedance-mismatching modules tailored for different application contexts, the customizable gradient MXene/PU sponge (GMPS) facilitates achieving a balance of exceptional average EMI SE (44.6 dB), a low reflection coefficient (R = 0.18), and superior photo/electrothermal conversion capability. Furthermore, both experimental results and finite element analyses are adopted to explore the effect of the arrangement order of GMPS on EMI shielding performance. Leveraging the green, health-conscious, and flexibly customizable approach, it manifests tremendous potential across various areas, including intelligent residences and multifunctional integrated systems.

Performance comparison and enhancement of the thermal energy storage units under two expansion methods

To improve the performance of the basic thermal energy storage unit, two expansion methods, modular combination and linear structural expansion, are proposed and compared through numerical simulations. The impacts of the two expansion methods on the performance of the storage units are compared by investigating the thermal storage and release processes. Following the numerical study, both expansion methods can increase the heat storage capacity and airflow rates compared to a basic phase change material (PCM) storage unit linearly. However, the linear structural expansion method will increase the PCM melting time from 147 min to 367 min when the heat storage capacity of the basic unit is increased two times, which is about 2.5 times longer duration than using the modular expansion method. As for the heat release process, the results indicate that thermal release performance using linear structural expansion is lower than that of the modular combination along with a decrease in heat release efficiency of about 32.53 %. In conclusion the modular combination method is proved to be more efficient compared to the linear structural expansion method for improving the performance of the PCM storage units.

Fabric electromagnetic actuators

Soft electromagnetic actuators have important applications in fields, such as soft robots, human–machine interaction, and biomedicine, owing to their fast response speed, high driving efficiency, and large driving force. However, there are persistent challenges in the development of high-performance soft electromagnetic actuators that are light, thin, low-cost, controllable, and efficient. In this study, we propose a fabric electromagnetic actuator (FEMA) based on copper-mesh hot-pressing technology, which exhibits the advantages of simple processing, fast preparation speed, low cost, thinness and flexibility, and strong reliability and repeatability. This process is suitable for the preparation of electromagnetic actuators for various fabrics, such as cotton, nylon, terylene, and silk. Furthermore, the static and dynamic control characteristics of one and two actuators were tested and analyzed. The FEMA exhibits excellent flexibility, shape controllability, and high-speed driving ability. The results of the correlation analysis provide theoretical support for the controlling of FEMAs. Finally, we developed a 3 × 1 array actuator and 2 × 2 array actuators based on a modular combination of FEMA units and achieved multi-mode motion control. Furthermore, a large-area FEMA was developed, demonstrating excellent shape adaptability and gripping ability. Our findings have significant implications for the advancement of lightweight electromagnetic actuators, and further studies on design concepts and multi-mode control could unveil even more potential applications.

A modular design approach for porous green sound-absorbing concrete for the noise barrier on high-speed railway

Recycled aggregate porous concrete is a new type of concrete that saves natural aggregates, realizes the utilization of waste, and has the advantages of environmental protection and sustainability. However, the poor sound absorption coefficient (SAC) and the noise distribution of high-speed railway is not concentrated hinders its application to sound barriers. This study introduces a method of modular design, which includes adjusting the thickness, surface holes design, and modular combination, and the combination strategy of the modules is investigated. In this study, the porous concrete was mainly comprised of tiny and middle ceramsite recovered from waste as aggregate and cement as cementitious material. In order to investigate the effect of holes and modular combination, specimens were drilled holes on the surface, and the diameter of the holes was divided 10 mm and 5 mm. The depth of the holes is varied. The SAC of the sample in the range from 50 Hz to 1700 Hz is tested by the impedance tube and the average SAC of the sample is calculated. In addition, this study applies artificial neural networks to predict the result of the combination strategy. The results show that increasing thickness can improve the SAC of the material at low frequencies, the single module can improve the sound absorption coefficient at specific frequencies by 75%, and the combination of modules can achieve an average SAC of 0.73. The combinations with continuous holes connecting the surface have the best effect. Artificial neural networks can predict this effect accurately. The modular design method in this study provides a solution to the limited application of porous concrete with recycled aggregates.

A laboratory-based multifunctional near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy system for electrochemical, catalytic, and cryogenic studies.

A versatile multifunctional laboratory-based near ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) instrument is presented. The entire device is highly customized regarding geometry, exchangeable manipulators and sample stages for liquid- and solid-state electrochemistry, cryochemistry, and heterogeneous catalysis. It therefore delivers novel and unique access to a variety of experimental approaches toward a broad choice of functional materials and their specific surface processes. The high-temperature (electro)catalysis manipulator is designed for probing solid state/gas phase interactions for heterogeneous catalysts including solid electrolyzer/fuel cell electrocatalysts at pressures up to 15mbar and temperatures from room temperature to 1000 °C. The liquid electrochemistry manipulator is specifically designed for in situ spectroscopic investigations of polarized solid/liquid interfaces using aqueous electrolytes and the third one for experiments for ice and ice-like materials at cryogenic temperatures to approximately -190 °C. The flexible and modular combination of these setups provides the opportunity to address a broad spectrum of in situ and operando XPS experiments on a laboratory-based system, circumventing the limited accessibility of experiments at synchrotron facilities.

Dynamics Modeling and Redundant Force Optimization of Modular Combination Parallel Manipulator

The limb-driving force mutation of the modular combination parallel manipulator (MCPM) affects the alignment process of optical axis. In this paper, a novel optimization method based on the force mutation penalty term is proposed to solve the problem of driving force mutation. The kinematics and dynamics models of the manipulator are established using a modularization idea, reducing the complexity of the modeling process, and verified using co-simulation. Moreover, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is applied as an optimization tool. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by comparing it with the minimize-the-maximum and Moore–Penrose (M–P) methods, which are widely used to solve parallel manipulators with redundant drives.

Synthetic Biology: Bottom-Up Assembly of Molecular Systems.

The bottom-up assembly of biological and chemical components opens exciting opportunities to engineer artificial vesicular systems for applications with previously unmet requirements. The modular combination of scaffolds and functional building blocks enables the engineering of complex systems with biomimetic or new-to-nature functionalities. Inspired by the compartmentalized organization of cells and organelles, lipid or polymer vesicles are widely used as model membrane systems to investigate the translocation of solutes and the transduction of signals by membrane proteins. The bottom-up assembly and functionalization of such artificial compartments enables full control over their composition and can thus provide specifically optimized environments for synthetic biological processes. This review aims to inspire future endeavors by providing a diverse toolbox of molecular modules, engineering methodologies, and different approaches to assemble artificial vesicular systems. Important technical and practical aspects are addressed and selected applications are presented, highlighting particular achievements and limitations of the bottom-up approach. Complementing the cutting-edge technological achievements, fundamental aspects are also discussed to cater to the inherently diverse background of the target audience, which results from the interdisciplinary nature of synthetic biology. The engineering of proteins as functional modules and the use of lipids and block copolymers as scaffold modules for the assembly of functionalized vesicular systems are explored in detail. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring the controlled assembly of these components into increasingly complex vesicular systems. Finally, all descriptions are presented in the greater context of engineering valuable synthetic biological systems for applications in biocatalysis, biosensing, bioremediation, or targeted drug delivery.

Research on the Creative Application of Origami Performance Techniques in Clothing

Abstract Origami has various manifestations and rich production techniques, and it is regarded as one of the indispensable contemporary art forms. In order to enrich the creative expressions of fashion design, this paper summarises the creative application forms of origami art in fashion design from the external and moulding characteristics of origami, studies the fabric characteristics through experimental verification, and summarises the applicable techniques of expression. The results show that the folding application forms of origami art and clothing modelling can be realised by using the expression methods of ironing and crimping, stitching texture moulding and repeated combination moulding, that is, pattern deformation folding application, fabric transformation folding application and modular combination folding application. The application of the folding form in clothing three-dimensional modelling and surface texture can give full play to the unique modelling beauty and artistic style of origami art and provide a reference for creative ideas in clothing design.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of All Rugulovasine Stereoisomers and Preliminary Evaluation of Their Biological Properties

AbstractA unified enantioselective synthesis and the biological evaluation of all rugulovasine stereoisomers are reported. The syntheses are centered on the divergent and stereochemical modular combination of each enantiomer of 4‐amino Uhle's ketone and a methacrylate derivative to build the unsaturated oxaspirolactone moiety by the Dreiding‐Schmidt reaction, followed by Fukuyama alkylation to afford the required N‐methyl secondary amine in excellent yield. The modularity of this divergent approach, the diastereoselectivities of the reactions, and the late‐stage site‐selective methylation permit the rapid asymmetric syntheses of all rugulovasine stereoisomers, including the first total syntheses of optically pure (+)‐ and (−)‐rugulovasine B and their trideuteromethylated derivatives. All enantiopure stereoisomers of rugulovasine were tested for their binding affinities to dopamine, serotonin, and adrenergic neuroreceptors, revealing their preferred selectivity for the serotonin 1 A receptor.

Direct data-driven forecast of local turbulent heat flux in Rayleigh–Bénard convection

A combined convolutional autoencoder–recurrent neural network machine learning model is presented to directly analyze and forecast the dynamics and low-order statistics of the local convective heat flux field in a two-dimensional turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection flow at Prandtl number Pr=7 and Rayleigh number Ra=107. Two recurrent neural networks are applied for the temporal advancement of turbulent heat transfer data in the reduced latent data space, an echo state network, and a recurrent gated unit. Thereby, our work exploits the modular combination of three different machine learning algorithms to build a fully data-driven and reduced model for the dynamics of the turbulent heat transfer in a complex thermally driven flow. The convolutional autoencoder with 12 hidden layers is able to reduce the dimensionality of the turbulence data to about 0.2% of their original size. Our results indicate a fairly good accuracy in the first- and second-order statistics of the convective heat flux. The algorithm is also able to reproduce the intermittent plume-mixing dynamics at the upper edges of the thermal boundary layers with some deviations. The same holds for the probability density function of the local convective heat flux with differences in the far tails. Furthermore, we demonstrate the noise resilience of the framework. This suggests that the present model might be applicable as a reduced dynamical model that delivers transport fluxes and their variations to coarse grids of larger-scale computational models, such as global circulation models for atmosphere and ocean.

Type Synthesis Based on Modular Combination with Virtual Rotation Center and Application

Type synthesis of mechanical structure is of great significance to the realization of mechanism target function, systematization, and stability of mechanical device. The type synthesis method of multilinkage robot has been given high demands with increasing number of degrees of freedom and high flexibility in special occasions. In order to improve the workspace and flexibility of mechanism, this paper studies the existing type synthesis theory and proposes a type synthesis method of modular combination with virtual rotation centers. Firstly, modular units are built. Secondly, modular units are expanded according to the needed paths. In the end, the expanded modular units are combined to form the kinematic linkages. Based on the proposed method, the configuration design of the aerial working platform and the self-adaptive levelling platform is completed. The stabilities of two platforms are checked by modal analysis. The prototype products are manufactured, respectively, for further verifying validity of the method. The designed aerial working platform with virtual rotation centers can achieve 360° rotating large workspace, more compact mechanical structure, and short arrival time at the same height than the common scissor-type and mast-type aerial working platforms. The designed adaptive levelling platform is tested that ensures the levelling of the upper surface at different inclinations. The method can provide new idea for the mechanism configuration and expand the application scope of new mechanisms.

Concerted variation in melanogenesis genes underlies emergent patterning of plumage in capuchino seedeaters.

Coloration traits are central to animal communication; they often govern mate choice, promote reproductive isolation and catalyse speciation. Specific genetic changes can cause variation in coloration, yet far less is known about how overall coloration patterns-which involve combinations of multiple colour patches across the body-can arise and are genomically controlled. We performed genome-wide association analyses to link genomic changes to variation in melanin (eumelanin and pheomelanin) concentration in feathers from different body parts in the capuchino seedeaters, an avian radiation with diverse colour patterns despite remarkably low genetic differentiation across species. Cross-species colour variation in each plumage patch is associated with unique combinations of variants at a few genomic regions, which include mostly non-coding (presumably regulatory) areas close to known pigmentation genes. Genotype-phenotype associations can vary depending on patch colour and are stronger for eumelanin pigmentation, suggesting eumelanin production is tightly regulated. Although some genes are involved in colour variation in multiple patches, in some cases, the SNPs associated with colour changes in different patches segregate spatially. These results suggest that coloration patterning in capuchinos is generated by the modular combination of variants that regulate multiple melanogenesis genes, a mechanism that may have promoted this rapid radiation.

A General Framework for Visualization of Sound Collections in Musical Interfaces

While audio data play an increasingly central role in computer-based music production, interaction with large sound collections in most available music creation and production environments is very often still limited to scrolling long lists of file names. This paper describes a general framework for devising interactive applications based on the content-based visualization of sound collections. The proposed framework allows for a modular combination of different techniques for sound segmentation, analysis, and dimensionality reduction, using the reduced feature space for interactive applications. We analyze several prototypes presented in the literature and describe their limitations. We propose a more general framework that can be used flexibly to devise music creation interfaces. The proposed approach includes several novel contributions with respect to previously used pipelines, such as using unsupervised feature learning, content-based sound icons, and control of the output space layout. We present an implementation of the framework using the SuperCollider computer music language, and three example prototypes demonstrating its use for data-driven music interfaces. Our results demonstrate the potential of unsupervised machine learning and visualization for creative applications in computer music.

Design and Application of Multiple Adaptability Evaluation Algorithms Based on UHVDC Digital Simulation Operating System

The digitally simulated UHVDC system provides an all-round, full-process, and full-scenario high-fidelity training and teaching platform for the switching operation of the UHVDC system, which can fully meet the training requirements of the operation and maintenance personnel of the converter station. In order to solve the problem of inaccurate evaluation due to the existence of multiple operation procedures for an operation target, an improved digital simulation system based on multiple adaptive evaluation algorithms was designed: the teacher uses a modular combination method to generate a standard operating procedure as the main line, and then uses the trainee’s simulated operating procedure as a supplement to jointly form a standard answer to adapt to the different operating procedures of the same operating task for the trainees. Based on this system, it can solve the problem of inaccurate evaluation caused by millions of answers in the simulation operation evaluation process. It provides fast, efficient and accurate evaluation results for the digital simulated UHVDC system switching operation procedure.

Synthetic Protein Condensates That Inducibly Recruit and Release Protein Activity in Living Cells.

Compartmentation of proteins into biomolecular condensates or membraneless organelles formed by phase separation is an emerging principle for the regulation of cellular processes. Creating synthetic condensates that accommodate specific intracellular proteins on demand would have various applications in chemical biology, cell engineering, and synthetic biology. Here, we report the construction of synthetic protein condensates capable of recruiting and/or releasing proteins of interest in living mammalian cells in response to a small molecule or light. By a modular combination of a tandem fusion of two oligomeric proteins, which forms phase-separated synthetic protein condensates in cells, with a chemically induced dimerization tool, we first created a chemogenetic protein condensate system that can rapidly recruit target proteins from the cytoplasm to the condensates by addition of a small-molecule dimerizer. We next coupled the protein-recruiting condensate system with an engineered proximity-dependent protease, which gave a second protein condensate system wherein target proteins previously expressed inside the condensates are released into the cytoplasm by small-molecule-triggered protease recruitment. Furthermore, an optogenetic condensate system that allows reversible release and sequestration of protein activity in a repeatable manner using light was constructed successfully. These condensate systems were applicable to control protein activity and cellular processes such as membrane ruffling and ERK signaling in a time scale of minutes. This proof-of-principle work provides a new platform for chemogenetic and optogenetic control of protein activity in mammalian cells and represents a step toward tailor-made engineering of synthetic protein condensate-based soft materials with various functionalities for biological and biomedical applications.

Design of combined lower limb elastic compression device and comparative study with elastic bandage

To compared with the modified Robert Jones bandage of 3M elastic bandage, to evaluate the fitness, convenience, safety and comfort of the modular combination lower limb elastic compression device. Forty healthy adult college students, including 28 males and 12 females, aged 16 to 25 (20.3±2.2) years old and weighing 40 to 81 (60.4±20.2) kg, were randomly divided into two groups with 40 samples in each group. According to the body surface parameters of Chinese lower limbs and guided by the concept of modularization, a group of modular combined lower limb elastic compression device was designed. Each module was combined to evaluate the fitness of the modular combined compression device in thelength and circumference of the lower limbs. The left and right lower limbs were randomly paired and divided into groups, with 40 samples in each group. The convenience of the operation time, adjustment times and required time were compared between two groups. The safety of the two groups after 24 hours of application of pressure injury was compared. The subjective pain feeling changes within 24 hours were recorded by visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate the comfort. The device was composed of several elastic compression outer lining modules with different length and width of 15 cm, an inner lining module for buffering, positioning and attaching the main body, and an elastic ankle compression module. The length of the elastic compression outer lining module covers the circumference of the human lower limbs. The length of a single outer lining module increased from 15 cm to 80 cm every 5 cm interval, and the length of a single inner lining module increased from 62 cm to 83 cm every 3 cm interval. After the modules were selected and combined, the length and circumference of the lower limbs can reach 100% fitness. The operation time of the first placement(118.23±7.33) s and re operation(60.08±5.88) s of experimental group were significantly shorter than those of control group (164.68±8.93) s and re operation (131.23±7.91) s. The adjustment times (3) and operation time (3.50±0.71) s of experimental group were significantly shorter than those of control group(11)and operation time(139.00±5.66) s (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). The VAS score of experimental group was significantly lower than that of control group at each time point (P<0.01). The modular combined elastic compression device has good fitness, better placement and flexible adjustment, convenience and safety, and better comfort than modified Robert Jones bandage of 3M elastic bandage.

Modular Combination of Proteolysis-Responsive Transcription and Spherical Nucleic Acids for Smartphone-Based Colorimetric Detection of Protease Biomarkers

Sensitive and facile detection of biomarkers is essential for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. To this end, we here proposed a colorimetric protease assay by the modular combination of proteolysis-responsive transcription and spherical nucleic acids (SNAs). In this assay, target protease-mediated proteolysis triggers the synthesis of RNAs by in vitro transcription, which subsequently results in the aggregation of SNAs with remarkable redshifts in the wavelength of surface plasmon resonance-related absorption. As a proof of concept, this assay achieved the sensitive and specific detection of matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) with a limit of detection of 3.3 pM. Moreover, the applicability of this colorimetric assay can be expanded to other protease biomarkers (e.g., thrombin and hepatitis C virus NS3/4A) by tuning the target-responsive RNA polymerase module. Furthermore, by the immobilization of SNAs on a glass fiber membrane, a test strip that enables the portable detection of target protease with a smartphone was developed. With the use of a mobile application to capture and process the colorimetric signals, this portable detection system allowed for sensitive evaluation of MMP-2 levels in biological and clinical specimens, highlighting its potential in point-of-care diagnosis of diseases.

Strategic design and synthesis of star-shaped organic linkers for mesoporous MOFs.

In the process of designing new MOFs with the aim of having a specific morphology, the shape of the linkers and the choice of coordinating metals have major importance. In this study, the aim to create novel hnb non-interpenetrating MOFs led us to choose tritopic linkers. Novel star-shaped molecules, presenting trigonal geometry and based on aromatic rings, were synthesized. For more convenient synthesis of the library, C-C coupling reactions via a direct arylation methodology were performed. This new synthetic tool, together with the idea of a molecule as a modular combination of smaller building blocks, made possible the fast, cheap and reproducible production of this class of compounds and also its scale-up. With one of the compounds, a MOF was synthesized and characterised via its specific surface area, which varies between 1681 and 3770 m2 g-1.

Recent Advances in Asymmetric Organomulticatalysis

AbstractAsymmetric multi‐catalysis, designed to mimic catalytic processes in nature, is a powerful instrument to fulfil fascinating transformations. As a result, this area of research has attracted considerable interests within chemistry communities. Although there are numerous reviews involving multi‐catalysis, reviews describing asymmetric organomulticatalysis remain rare. Taking into consideration that organocatalysts possess the superiorities of effortless availability, inexpensiveness, hypotoxicity, facile handling and hyposensitivity to moisture and oxygen, they have definite advantage in their own distinct modes of activation when utilized in multi‐catalytic reactions. Organomulticatalysis refers to the synthetic strategies of modular combination of organo‐catalyzed reactions into one synthetic operation with minimum workup or change in conditions. It is apparent that a variety reports utilizing the concept of enantioselective organomulticatalysis have substantially surfaced in the past few years. Hence, it is indispensable to succinctly present all such reports by means of disclosing the mechanistic analysis, as well as the challenges and issues associated in the development of the asymmetric catalytic system. Additionally, this review will introduce some of the unsettled conundrums and possible innovations in this field.magnified image