Responses Of Strips Research Articles

Transient response of a finite thickness strip with thermoelectric effects loaded by an electrode

Thermoelectric (TE) materials exhibiting energy converting and storing capabilities connected with an electrode are increasingly applied in engineering sciences. The contact interfaces of the TE devices are prone to gradual degradation or even failure under thermal shock loading. The investigation of the dynamic contact problem of the TE materials loaded by an electrode is significant for designing reliable TE devices. The transient frictionless contact model of the TE materials with a finite thickness indented by a rigid flat punch is proposed and investigated in this paper. The considered thermal-mechanical coupling problem is converted into the corresponding singular integral equations by the Laplace transform and the Fourier transform techniques, which are solved numerically by a collocation method. Then, the numerical inverse Laplace transform is employed to obtain the time-domain solutions. The time-dependent and thickness-dependent surface normal energy flux and surface normal contact stress, which are significant for the transient contact behavior, are computed and analyzed. The magnitudes of the transient normal energy flux and normal contact stress differ from that in the steady-state. Specifically, the normal contact stress in the transient state is higher than that in the steady-state.

Load-settlement response of strip footing overlaid fine sand strengthened with different arrangements of geogrid inclusions

ABSTRACT This study reports the results of experiments conducted on strip foundations with and without reinforced geogrids over fine sand and with a wraparound geogrid arrangement. A load up to 25 kN was applied to the strip foundations to determine the loading-settlement response. These tests examined the number of planar and folded geogrid sheets, the placement of folded geogrids in the soil bed, the thickness of folded geogrid sheets, the length of wraps and overlaps, and the spacing between folded and planar geogrid sheets. The results indicate that the performance of the foundations due to static loading is better for folded geogrid-reinforced sand than for planar geogrid-reinforced sand. Overall, the results demonstrate that reinforced soil foundations with sufficiently folded geogrid layers behave much stiffer and thus can support higher loads with a lower settlement than planar reinforced soils. Moreover, the results indicate that the values of the embedment depth of the overlap element (d), the lower part (D), and the thickness (x) of the folded geogrid are 0.2, 0.4, and 0.2 of the foundation widths (B), respectively. As a result, by increasing the number of geogrid layers, the settlement rate is reduced significantly, and it is recommended that these layers be placed vertically without vertical spacing (h/B = 0).

Vinpocetine Ameliorates Metabolic-Syndrome-Associated Bladder Overactivity in Fructose-Fed Rats by Restoring Succinate-Modulated cAMP Levels and Exerting Anti-Inflammatory Effects in the Bladder Detrusor Muscle

Succinate and its receptor, the G protein-coupled receptor 91 (GPR91), have pathological implications in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated bladder dysfunction, particularly in decreasing bladder cAMP levels and promoting proinflammation. Using fructose-fed rats (FFRs), a rat model of MetS, we investigate the effects of vinpocetine (a phosphodiesterase-1 inhibitor) and celecoxib (a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) on MetS-associated bladder overactivity. Phenotypes of the overactive bladder, including increased micturition frequency and a shortened intercontractile interval in cystometry, were observed in FFRs, together with elevated succinate levels in the liver and serum and the downregulation of GPR91 in the liver and urinary bladder. Treatments with vinpocetine and celecoxib improved tissue fibrosis and ameliorated the overexpression of the inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, in the liver and bladder. In bladder organ bath studies, vinpocetine, but not celecoxib, treatment restored the contraction and relaxation responses of the detrusor muscle strip in response to KCl, carbachol, and forskolin stimulation. At a molecular level, vinpocetine and celecoxib treatments modulated the downstream messengers of GPR91 (i.e., ERK1/2 and JNK), suppressed NF-κB and IL-1β expressions in the bladder, and prevented the fibrogenesis observed in FFRs. The exogenous application of succinate to a bladder organ bath significantly reduced the forskolin-induced cAMP production by the detrusor muscle, which was notably restored in the presence of vinpocetine. Together, these results suggest that vinpocetine may alleviate the MetS-associated bladder overactivity by restoring the succinate-modulated detrusor cAMP production and exerting the anti-inflammatory effects in the bladder detrusor muscle.

Unsteady responses and correlation characteristics of propeller blades under turbulence excitation

The turbulence ingestion force acting on the propeller is the primary source of noise and vibration for an underwater vehicle. This paper aims to quantitatively investigate the unsteady responses and blade-to-blade correlation characteristics of the rotating blades, which are two critical factors determining the consequent spectra of broadband unsteady forces. The ingested turbulence and unsteady loading of a 10-blade propeller downstream a turbulence-generating grid are numerically predicted based on Large Eddy Simulation. A theoretical approach of the correlation method is adopted to expound better the physical mechanism for the turbulence ingestion force. Through the partition of blade surface meshes in simulation, the extracted unsteady responses of separate blade strips reveal the broadband loadings varying with radii and blade sections. The distributions of flow field and fluctuating pressure demonstrate the cause of this spanwise discrepancy, as well as the relative contributions of different blade strips to the resultant unsteady loading. The correlation analysis on fluctuating velocity by the rotating sampling of simulated incoming turbulence shows the deviation of ingested flow from homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Additionally, the correlation analysis of unsteady forces distinguishes the sources of different broadband loadings. All of this in turn facilitates the modification of lift-curve slopes of blade strips and stretching factors in turbulence correlation tensors, ultimately improving the prediction accuracy of predominant broadband components by the correlation method. This work provides novel ideas for the mechanism study on turbulence ingestion force and beneficial references to the engineering design of noise-reduced propellers.

Three-Dimensional Finite-Element Modeling of the Thermomechanical Response of GFRP-Reinforced Concrete Slab Strips Subjected to Fire

The fire design of reinforced concrete (RC) members with glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars comprising lap splices and cold anchoring zones requires the explicit consideration of the GFRP–concrete bond degradation with temperature; however, few studies in the literature have addressed this issue. This paper presents numerical investigations in which three-dimensional finite-element models were developed to simulate fire resistance tests performed in GFRP-RC slab strips subjected to a fire load and current standards. The slabs comprised continuous and spliced reinforcements, as well as different concrete cover thicknesses and concrete strengths. In the models, the GFRP–concrete interaction was simulated by means of previously calibrated local bond stress–slip laws at different temperatures. This study provided new insights into the fire behavior of GFRP-RC flexural members, confirming that their fire resistance can be drastically reduced when lap splices, designed for ambient temperature conditions, are directly exposed to heat and that even adopting relatively low concrete cover, fire endurances above 120 min can be attained provided that the bars’ anchors remain sufficiently cold.

Dog and human bladders have different neurogenic and nicotinic responses in inner versus outer detrusor muscle layers.

The aim of this study was to investigate layer and species variations in detrusor muscle strip responses to myogenic, neurogenic, and nicotinic, and muscarinic receptor stimulations. Strips from bladders of 9 dogs and 6 human organ transplant donors were dissected from inner and outer longitudinal muscle layers, at least 1 cm above urethral orifices. Strips were mounted in muscle baths and maximal responses to neurogenic stimulation using electrical field stimulation (EFS) and myogenic stimulation using potassium chloride (KCl, 120 mM) determined. After washing and re-equilibration was completed, responses to nicotinic receptor agonist epibatidine (10 μM) were determined followed by responses to EFS and muscarinic receptor agonist bethanechol (30 μM) in continued presence of epibatidine. Thereafter, strips and full-thickness bladder sections from four additional dogs and three human donors were examined for axonal density and intramural ganglia. In dog bladders, contractions to KCl, epibatidine, and bethanechol were 1.5- to 2-fold higher in the inner longitudinal muscle layer, whereas contractions to EFS were 1.5-fold higher in the outer (both pre- and post-epibatidine). Human bladders showed 1.2-fold greater contractions to epibatidine in the inner layer and to EFS in the outer, yet no layer differences to KCl or bethanechol were noted. In both species, axonal density was 2- to 2.5-fold greater in the outer layer. Dogs had more intramural ganglia in the adventitia/serosa layer, compared with more internal layers and to humans. These findings indicate several layer-dependent differences in receptor expression or distribution, and neurogenic responses in dog and human detrusor muscles, and myogenic/muscarinic differences between dog versus humans.

The Effects of 1,1-Dimethylbiguanide Hydrochloride (Metformin) on Detrusor Muscle Contractile Response in Ovariectomized Female Rats

Aim: Menopause is defined as the depletion of the ovarian follicular reserve followed by the cessation of menstrual cycles. It has been
 reported that gonadal steroid hormones play an important role in bladder function in women. Changes in urine pattern including
 overactive bladder, stress incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infections occur as a result of menopause. 1,1-dimethylbiguanide
 hydrochloride, metformin, (MET) is an oral anti-diabetic drug used to reduce hepatic glucose production and peripheral insulin
 resistance. Recent studies have revealed that MET has a protective effects in diabetes induced bladder dysfunction. The aim of this
 study was to test the therapeutic potential of MET in detrusor contractile function of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats.
 Material and Methods: Bilateral ovariectomy was performed to eliminate endogenous gonadal steroids secretion. Four groups are
 designed with 8 animals in each group: Control, MET-administered control, OVX, and MET-administered OVX groups. MET (25 mg/
 kg) was administered daily by oral gavage for 14 days. Contractile activity of isolated bladder muscle strips were evaluated in vitro organ
 bath. The contractile responses of detrusor strips were determined using different doses of carbachol (10-8-10-2M) and purinergic
 agonist ATP. The relaxation response of strips were determined by isoproterenol
 Results: The contractile responses of detrusor muscle strips to carbachol at doses 10-5-10-2 M were decreased in the OVX group
 compared to control and MET treated control groups. MET treatment partially reversed the reduction in OVX-induced contractile
 responses at 10-2 and 10 -3 M carbachol doses. There were no statistically significant difference in relaxation response between the
 experimental groups.
 Conclusion: Our findings suggest that treatment with MET could be the new potential therapeutic agent against bladder dyfunction
 in postmenopausal women. Further studies are needed for the therapeutic potential of MET in detrusor dysfunction induced by
 menopause.

Transient settlement estimation of shallow foundation under eccentrically inclined static and cyclic load on granular soil using artificial intelligence techniques

ABSTRACT The present study focuses on estimating the transient response of shallow strip footing on granular soil using soft computing techniques. A shallow foundation is numerically modelled using Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation model. Then the footing is subjected to a combination of allowable static and cyclic load depending on the ultimate bearing capacity of the footing. The eccentricity and angle of load inclination of static load are varied to simulate more practical conditions. The cyclic load is rectangular pulse load. One cycle of rectangular pulse load is applied to observe the immediate response of the foundation, referred as the transient response. Apart from the loading parameters, three granular soils of three different relative densities (D r = 35%, 51% and 69%) are considered. Based on numerical simulation of 1728 conditions, soft computing models are developed using five techniques, viz. Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines, Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Interface System and Multi Gene Genetic Programming. It is found that the static load on the foundation is the most important parameter controlling the transient response of the footing.

Evidence that resistin acts on the mechanical responses of the mouse gastric fundus

Resistin, among its several actions, has been reported to exert central anorexigenic effects in rodents. Some adipokines which centrally modulate food intake have also been reported to affect the activity of gastric smooth muscle, whose motor responses represent a source of peripheral signals implicated in the control of the hunger-satiety cycle through the gut-brain axis. On this basis, in the present experiments, we investigated whether resistin too could affect the mechanical responses in the mouse longitudinal gastric fundal strips. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) elicited tetrodotoxin- and atropine-sensitive contractile responses. Resistin reduced the amplitude of the EFS-induced contractile responses. This effect was no longer detected in the presence of L-NNA, a nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor. Resistin did not influence the direct muscular response to methacholine. In the presence of carbachol and guanethidine, EFS elicited inhibitory responses whose amplitude was increased by resistin. L-NNA abolished the inhibitory responses evoked by EFS, indicating their nitrergic nature. In the presence of L-NNA, resistin did not have any effect on the EFS-evoked inhibitory responses. Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis revealed a significant increase in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in neurons of the myenteric plexus following resistin exposure. In conclusion, the present results offer the first evidence that resistin acts on the gastric fundus, likely through a modulatory action on the nitrergic neurotransmission.

Response of a poroelastic semi-infinite strip to the compression acting upon its lateral sides

Response of a poroelastic semi-infinite strip to the compression acting upon its lateral sides

Suo Quan Wan ameliorates bladder overactivity and regulates neurotransmission via regulating Myosin Va protein expression

BackgroundAncient prescriptions of Suo Quan Wan (SQW) have therapeutic effects on diabetic bladder dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we hypothesized that SQW ameliorates bladder overactivity and regulates neurotransmission via regulating Myosin Va protein expression. MethodsAfter diabetic rats were induced by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg), the model of diabetic bladder dysfunction was established by detecting fasting blood glucose, urodynamic test, in vitro muscle strip experiments, and histological examination. One week after induction, SQW was given to observe the therapeutic effect. The expression levels of Myosin Va in control, Model, SQW L and SQW H groups were detected by RT-qPCR, RNAscope and immunofluorescence assay. The expression levels of ChAT, SP, nNOS and VIP proteins were observed by immunofluorescence assay. After knockdown and overexpression of Myosin Va, the expression changes of ChAT, SP, nNOS and VIP and the regulatory role of SQW were observed. ResultsSTZ-induced DM rats had significantly higher serum glucose levels and lower body weight. Compared with the diabetic rats, SQW treatment significantly improved urination function with decreased residual volume (RV), bladder compliance (BC), non-voiding contractions (NVCs), and increased voided efficiency (VE). In addition, contractile responses of muscle strips to electrical-field stimulation (EFS), carbachol (CCh), KCl were significantly lower in the SQW H and SQW L groups than those in the model group. RT-qPCR found that the expression of Myosin Va in the bladder tissue or bladder neurons in model group was significantly increased compared with the control group, and SQW treatment significantly decreased the levels of Myosin Va. In DM rats, ChAT and SP expression were significantly increased, while nNOS and VIP expression were significantly decreased, and SQW improved this phenomenon. Interestingly, SQW ameliorated the abnormal expression of ChAT, SP, nNOS and VIP caused by myosin Va knockdown, and Myosin Va overexpression results are consistent with these. ConclusionsSQW ameliorates overactive bladder and regulate neurotransmission via regulating Myosin Va mRNA and protein expression.

Pandemic Cartoons for the #Draw Challenge: Sisyphus as Key Worker and The Toad and the Scorpion

The political cartoon, by its nature, provides comment as events unfold and part of its power can be understood by ‘the satisfaction the successful cartoon gives us simply by its neat summing up, “a momentary focus”’ (Gombrich 1994: 131). This submission contains two cartoon series produced in response to a call on Twitter as part of the #Draw Twitter challenge by political cartoonist Martin Rowson. They were both constructed at the time of the 2020 lockdowns, imposed in the UK as a result of the developing events around the global spread of the then little-understood COVID-19 virus. This graphic submission includes my own work that was created in response to the #DrawTheCoronaVirus in collaboration with The Cartoon Museum, London, UK. In late@font-face{font-family:Cambria;panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face{font-family:font491;panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;mso-font-alt:Cambria;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-format:other;mso-font-pitch:auto;mso-font-signature:99592203 597701894 0 0 524289 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-parent:"";margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.MsoFootnoteText, li.MsoFootnoteText, div.MsoFootnoteText{mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-link:"Footnote Text Char";margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}span.MsoFootnoteReference{mso-style-noshow:yes;vertical-align:super;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink{mso-style-noshow:yes;color:blue;text-decoration:underline;text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed{mso-style-noshow:yes;color:purple;text-decoration:underline;text-underline:single;}span.FootnoteTextChar{mso-style-name:"Footnote Text Char";mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-locked:yes;mso-style-link:"Footnote Text";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}div.Section1{page:Section1;}

3D printing of polyvinylidene fluoride composite films with enhanced electroactive beta-phase for flexible wearable pressure sensors

Following the notable rise of three-dimensional (3D) printing in recent years, its use for the fabrication of functional devices derived from piezoelectric polymers such as poly (vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, has become an active area of research. However, there is still a lot to understand about the structure–property-processing relationship regarding the 3D printing of PVDF-based polymers with an enhanced piezoelectric property, which is closely related to the β-phase crystal structure of the polymer. This paper presents the preliminary results of investigations into the extrusion-based 3D printing of poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene), PVDF-HFP, a PVDF copolymer. Towards the enhancement of the β-phase content of this copolymer, the study analyzed the influence of two fillers in the form of barium titanate (BaTiO3) and untreated activated carbon (UAC) and considered the effect of two printing parameters on the piezoelectric crystalline structure of the PVDF-HFP. First, composite films of the PVDF-HFP with the fillers were formed via the solvent evaporation casting method. From the characterization of the solvent-cast samples using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FTIR), a composite consisting of 10.55 wt% BaTiO3 and 0.45 wt% UAC with the matrix of PVDF-HFP was found to produce a superior β-phase content (67%) and it was deployed for syringe-based extrusion-assisted 3D printing. Post-fabrication characterization of the extruded samples was carried out to examine the influence of the 3D printing conditions in the form of printing bed temperature (50, 75, 95) and extrusion speed (10, 15, 25). It was found that the combination of a higher printing bed temperature and a low printing speed further enhanced the β-phase content for the PVDF-HFP composites, yielding a β-phase content of 79.6%. Confirmation of the electromechanical/piezoelectric response of the unpoled strips of printed samples revealed a positive correlation between the externally applied pressure on the printed strips and generated voltage.

Formulation of a truss element for modelling the tensile response of FRCM strips

Modelling the tensile behaviour of Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) is not a straightforward task due to the inner complexity of the mechanics of this kind of composite materials. In fact, after that the matrix is cracked, the compatibility between the fibre and the surrounding mortar is lost and the system behaves as two separate elements connected by a brittle interface. For this reason, several research studies proposed computational approaches for evaluating the tensile behaviour of FRCM composites, usually referring to brick-based 3D Finite Element Models (FEM) or to complex numerical procedures. This paper shows the formulation of a simplified coupled truss element for modelling the tensile behaviour of FRCM composites. The proposed element includes the interface slip between fibre and matrix and the brittle failure of the fabric and allows to describe the response of the system between the cracks in closed form. The proposed element is also adopted for assessing the tensile constitutive response of FRCMs through a simplified assembly procedure, proving to be reliable and computationally efficient.

Dynamic response of a cracked thermopiezoelectric strip under thermoelectric loading using fractional heat conduction

This study is concerned with the dynamic behavior of a piezoelectric material strip with a parallel crack under thermal shock and transient electric loading. The governing thermal and electromechanical equations are exactly reduced to a system of Cauchy-type singular integral equations by applying Laplace and Fourier transforms and the dislocation density functions. Numerical examples are discussed in detail to show the effects of the applied heat conduction model, cracked strip configuration, and electrical load variables on the dynamic thermal results and the stress-electric displacement intensity factors. The results reveal that the overshooting phenomenon would be more evident with the longer relaxation time and higher fractional order, while the wave behavior becomes weaker and stronger, respectively. There are apparent inflection points on the dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) and the dynamic electric displacement intensity factor (DEDF) curves for different configurations of the strip and the coefficients of the heat conduction model. In addition, the stress intensity factors are insensitive to the electric load which has a dominant influence on the electric displacement intensity factor.

Transient behavior of an orthotropic layer with imperfect FGM coating containing multiple interfacial and embedded cracks under anti-plane shear impact load

This paper investigates the transient response of an orthotropic strip with functionally graded (FG) coating weakened by multiple embedded and interfacial cracks. The first part of this paper is concerned with the dynamic response of embedded cracks in the orthotropic substrate with imperfect FG coating. In the second part, the solution of interfacial crack is obtained analytically to extract the dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs). In the third part, the proposed method is developed to examine the dynamic fracture behavior of coating–substrate system with an orthotropic FGM coating bonded to an orthotropic substrate through a layer of a bond-coat. In all parts, Laplace and Fourier transforms are used to reduce the problems to a set of singular integral equations with Cauchy kernels which are solved numerically in the Laplace transform domain. The dynamic stress intensity factors are obtained by the numerical Laplace inversion technique. Several examples are solved to obtain DSIFs with various crack lengths and the spring constant of imperfect bonding and material properties of the layers.

Quadruple plasmon-induced transparency of polarization desensitization caused by the Boltzmann function.

This study proposes a graphene metamaterial desensitized to the polarized angle to produce tunable quadruple plasmon-induced transparency (PIT). As a tool employed to explain the PIT, n-order coupled mode theory (CMT) is deduced for the first time and closely agrees with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations according to the quadruple PIT results in the case of n = 5. Additionally, the response of the proposed structure to the angle of polarized light is investigated. As a result, the Boltzmann function satisfied by the response of graphene strips to the polarization direction of incident light is proposed for the first time. Its property of polarization desensitization can be attributed to structural centrosymmetry, and conjugated variety which the Boltzmann functions result in. Therefore, a quintuple-mode modulation based on simultaneous electro-optical switch is realized by tuning Fermi levels within graphene. Its modulation degrees of amplitude and dephasing times are obtained. Given that the slow-light property is an important application of PIT, the n-order group index is thereby obtained. Hence, not only do the insights gained into polarization-desensitization structure provide new ideas for the design of novel optoelectronic devices, but also the results from the n-order CMT offer new research progress and references in theory.

Effect of fabric anisotropy on bearing capacity and failure mode of strip footing on sand: An anisotropic model perspective

Soils are inherently anisotropic, which may significantly influence their mechanical behavior and the performance of related geostructures. In this study, the response of strip footing on anisotropic sand was investigated using a J2-type deformation model coupled with state-dependent dilatancy and fabric evolution. The capability of the model was validated by simulating several element tests and a centrifuge test of strip footing. Footing tests with varying fabric orientations and relative densities were numerically simulated, revealing the influence of fabric anisotropy on the bearing capacity and its mobilization mechanism. Additionally, the effect of fabric on the failure mode of strip footing, including the pattern of the shear band, displacement field within the sand mass, and progressive failure characteristics, was also investigated. The simulation results obtained using an isotropic model indicate that neglecting the fabric anisotropy may cause severe overestimation of the bearing capacity of the strip footing.

Experimental investigation on the physical parameters of ionic polymer metal composites sensors for humidity perception

Ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) is one of typical electromechanical transducing materials integrating actuation and sensing functions. In this work, we systematically investigate the evolutions of the capacitance, surface resistance and ionic electrical response of strip shaped IPMC under different humidity conditions. For each parameter, we have performed a set of static and dynamic humidity sensing tests, considering the change of the thickness, cations type and impregnation-reduction plating (IRP) times. Through conducting a series of experiments, it is concluded that the humidity-capacitance sensing has achieved a much wider sensing range (22 % RH - 100 %RH in this work, comparing with 40 % RH - 90 %RH in previous work) and an increased sensitivity (256μF in this work, comparing with140nF in previous work). In the meantime, humidity-surface resistance sensing has the perception of the full humidity range. While the humidity-ionic electrical response sensing can only respond to dynamic humidity changes but showing a very fast response time less than 0.5 s, which will be of great significance in some special humidity detection scenarios, such as the rapid detection and alarm for leakage of equipment with constant humidity. For each case, it implies a fact that the water absorption capacity of surface electrode and inter layer determines the humidity sensing abilities, such as response speed, amplitude and so on.

Ascorbic acid treatment inhibits wound healing of fresh-cut potato strips by controlling phenylpropanoid metabolism

In this study, we investigated the ability of ascorbic acid (AA) to regulate the wound-healing response in fresh-cut potato strips during storage. The results demonstrated that treatments of AA could delay browning, decrease hardening, improve taste, as well as reduce weight loss and respiration rate. Furthermore, AA treatment inhibited wound healing by modulating the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS) and coumarate-3-hydroxylase (C3H), increasing total phenolics and flavonoid content, and decreasing monomeric phenolic acid content, including caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid. The accumulation of lignin and the polyphenolic component of suberin was also reduced. Overall, our results provided information on wound healing and revealed the potential benefits of AA in regulating the process of suberization in potato strips.