Mechanics and Tunable Bandgap by Straining in Single-Layer Hexagonal Boron-Nitride

Current interest in two-dimensional materials extends from graphene to others systems like single-layer hexagonal boron-nitride (h-BN), for the possibility of making heterogeneous structures to achieve exceptional properties that cannot be realized in graphene.The electrically insulating h-BN and semi-metal graphene may open good opportunities to realize a semiconductor by manipulating the morphology and composition of such heterogeneous structures.Here we report the mechanical properties of h-BN and its band structures tuned by mechanical straining by using the density functional theory calculations.The elastic properties, both the Young's modulus and bending rigidity for h-BN, are isotropic.We reveal that there is a bi-linear dependence of band gap on the applied tensile strains in h-BN. Mechanical strain can tune single-layer h-BN from an insulator to a semiconductor, with a band gap in the 4.7eV to 1.5eV range.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Refinement for Ontology Evolution in Virtual Enterprises

Virtual enterprise is based on the premise that work should be done where it can be done most optimally. In virtual enterprises, geographical boundaries merge seamlessly. It enables organisations to act in a way of flexibility and ability to adapt to rapid changes on the fly. However, different parties in a virtual enterprise must understand each other before they go further details in business. Ontologies are such kinds of ideal baselines to assist parties to communicate. One of the essential research issues with ontology is how to deal with changes during their evolving cycle. Therefore, ontology refinement is a crucial component in ontology evolution. This paper presents a taxonomy structure focusing on the is-a relations. In particular, the concept of closeness measurement is introduced based on the “distance” estimation. An extended cluster analysis process is provided. According to the algorithm presented, a new concept is generated according to its attributes. Additionally, the refinement mechanisms for primitive operations are proposed. Unlike some other ontology refinement mechanisms which leave ontology consistency checking to human users after modification, our method emphasises the importance of consistency checking by applying description logics which is demonstrated based on the proposed ontology

E-Business Value Process Modelling

E-business development is a considerable complicated task because the underlying logics of e-business and its new processes that are originated from implementing enhanced information technologies to streamline business performance introduce many complex issues. One of the difficulties is to capture the dynamic aspects of e-business that can be used for monitoring the business performance, in a way that could be helpful for the business adaptation to meet competitive advantages. Among many dynamics of e-business, the value system is the most interested one that has recently been addressed. However a value system is at the strategic level with no formal approaches for its representation, which introduces a gap between system modelling and implementation in the e-business development. In this paper, we will investigate a so called value process that can be not only used for value system modeling, but executed for simulation of the resulted model. For the purpose of value process modelling, we will adopt the process algebra approach, which will be integrated with others such as workflow in our modelling environment

Effects of tension-compression asymmetry on bending of steels

Stainless steels (SUS) and dual-phase (DP) steels have tension-compression asymmetry (TCA) in mechanical responses to full loading cycles. This phenomenon can significantly influence sheet metal forming of such metals, however, it is difficult to describe this behaviour analytically. In this research, a novel analytical method for asymmetric elastic-plastic pure bending using the Cazacu–Barlat 2004 asymmetric yield function is proposed. It only uses material parameters in tension along with an asymmetry coefficient related to the yield function. Bending operations of SUS304 and DP980 are investigated as two case studies. In the pure bending for both SUS304 and DP980, moment–curvature diagrams are analytically obtained. Furthermore, linear and nonlinear springback behaviours of SUS304 are analytically investigated. Moreover, using the analytical model as a user-defined material, a numerical model is developed for both steels under pure bending. In the V-bending case of SUS304 with and without TCA effects, the springback behaviours of the material are investigated numerically. In addition, considering friction effects, the analytical method is further modified for predicting springback behaviours in the V-bending of 16 types of SUS304 with various strengths are determined. All the analytical and numerical results have good agreement with those experimental results from literature for validation

Distinguishing colorings of graphs and their subgraphs

In this paper, several distinguishing colorings of graphs are studied, such as vertex distinguishing proper edge coloring, adjacent vertex distinguishing proper edge coloring, vertex distinguishing proper total coloring, adjacent vertex distinguishing proper total coloring. Finally, some related chromatic numbers are determined, especially the comparison of the correlation chromatic numbers between the original graph and the subgraphs are obtained

Three dimensional printed degradable and conductive polymer scaffolds promote chondrogenic differentiation of chondroprogenitor cells

Conductive polymers have been used for various biomedical applications including biosensors, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, the poor processability and brittleness of these polymers hinder the fabrication of three-dimensional structures with desirable geometries. Moreover, their application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has been so far limited to excitable cells such as neurons and muscle cells. To enable their wider adoption in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, new materials and formulations that overcome current limitations are required. Herein, a biodegradable conductive block copolymer, tetraaniline-b-polycaprolactone-b-tetraaniline (TPT), is synthesised and 3D printed for the first time into porous scaffolds with defined geometries. Inks are formulated by combining TPT with PCL in solutions which are then directly 3D printed to generate porous scaffolds. TPT and PCL are both biodegradable. The combination of TPT with PCL increases the flexibility of the hybrid material compared to pure TPT, which is critical for applications that need mechanical robustness of the scaffolds. The highest TPT content shows the lowest tensile failure strain. Moreover, the absorption of a cell adhesion-promoting protein (fibronectin) and chondrogenic differentiation of chondroprogenitor cells are found to be dependent on the amount of TPT in the blends. Higher content of TPT in the blends increases both fibronectin adsorption and chondrogenic differentiation, though the highest concentration of TPT in the blends is limited by its solubility in the ink. Despite the contradicting effects of TPT concentration on flexibility and chondrogenic differentiation, a concentration that strikes a balance between the two factors is still available. It is worth noting that the effect on chondrogenic differentiation is found in scaffolds without external electric stimulation. Our work demonstrates the possibility of 3D printing flexible conductive and biodegradable scaffolds and their potential use in cartilage tissue regeneration, and opens up future opportunities in using electric stimulation to control chondrogenesis in these scaffolds

ER81 Expression in Breast Cancers and Hyperplasia

ER81 is a transcription factor that may contribute to breast cancer; however, little known about the role of ER81 in breast carcinogenesis. To investigate the role of ER81 in breast carcinogenesis, we examined ER81 expression in IDC, DCIS, ADH, HUT, and normal breast tissues by immunohistochemical staining. We found that ER81 overexpression was detected in 25.7% (9/35) of HUT, 41.2% (7/17) of ADH, 54.5% (12/22) of DCIS, and 63.0% (51/81) of IDC. In 20 of breast cancer tissues combined with DCIS, ADH, and HUT, ER81 expression was found in 14/20 (70%) IDC. In these 14 cases all cases were ER81 positive expression in DCIS, 13 of 14 cases were positively expressed of ER81 in ADH and 8 of 14 were positive for ER81 in HUT components. A statistical significance was found between NBT and HUT (P < .05) and HUT and ADH (P < .05). Clinical-pathological features analysis of breast cancer revealed that ER81 expression was significantly associated with Her2 amplification and was negatively associated with ER and PR expression. Our results demonstrated that ER81 overexpression was present in the early stage of breast development that suggested that ER81 overexpression may play an important role in breast carcinogenesis

Electrostimulated release of neutral drugs from polythiophene nanoparticles: smart regulation of drug-polymer interactions

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanoparticles are loaded with curcumin and piperine by in situ emulsion polymerization using dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid both as a stabilizer and a doping agent. The loaded drugs affect the morphology, size, and colloidal stability of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, kinetics studies of nonstimulated drug release have evidenced that polymer···drug interactions are stronger for curcumin than for piperine. This observation suggests that drug delivery systems based on combination of the former drug with PEDOT are much appropriated to show an externally tailored release profile. This is demonstrated by comparing the release profiles obtained in presence and absence of electrical stimulus. Results indicate that controlled and time-programmed release of curcumin is achieved in a physiological medium by applying a negative voltage of -1.25 V to loaded PEDOT nanoparticles.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Assessment of the Impacts of Land Use Changes on Nonpoint Source Pollution Inputs Upstream of the Three Gorges Reservoir

In recent years, land use upstream of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) has changed significantly because of the TGR project. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was examined for its ability to assess relationships between land use changes and nonpoint pollutant indexes upstream of the TGR. Results indicated that the SWAT model, calibrated with the adjusted parameters, could successfully reproduce the nonpoint indexes at the water quality monitoring sites in the two rivers. The different land use change types were shown to be sensitive to nonpoint pollutants in the study area. The land use change type from upland to water was the strongest influence on changes in total nitrogen and total phosphorus. An empirical regression equation between nonpoint indexes and different land use change types was developed for the study area by partial least squares regression (PLSR) as follows: Y=b0+∑i=1mbiXi. This regression equation was useful for evaluating the influence of land use change types on changes in nonpoint pollutants over a long time period. The results from this study may be useful for the TGR management and may help to reduce nonpoint pollutant loads into downstream water bodies