Numerical Study on the Influence of Profile Shape on the Stability of a Nonhomogeneous Slope

To study the influence of profile shape on the stability of nonhomogeneous slopes, strip mechanical models of slopes with different profile shapes were established following the simplified Bishop method. Three hundred and seventy slope models with different profile shapes and strata sequences were simulated and analyzed with FLAC3D. The results show that slopes with weaker-to-stronger (WtS) strata sequences are, in most cases, more stable than slopes with stronger-to-weaker (StW) strata sequences when all other conditions are the same. Slopes with linear shapes are the most stable. With increasing arch height, the stability of convex slopes decreases, and the stability of concave slopes first increases slightly and then decreases. When the strata sequences are WtS, the factors of safety (FoSs) of slopes with convex and exterior polyline shapes decrease more slowly. However, when the strata sequences are StW, the FoSs of slopes with concave and interior polyline shapes decrease more slowly. The greatest X-displacements are concentrated in the steeper areas of the slopes. For different strata sequences, the higher the rock strength at the steeper position is, the more stable the slope is, and the opposite trend is also observed. For the same strata sequence, the stability of a polyline-shaped slope is always better than that of a curved slope with the same inflection point.

Machine Vaping of Electronic Cigarettes - A Comparison of Puffing Regimes#

Summary Several machine-based puffing regimes for collection of e-cigarette aerosol were evaluated with the objective of recommending one regime for standardization. The study involved a comparison of several candidate regimes for which puff volume, duration, interval, profile shape, and puff number were defined and varied. Testing was conducted at four laboratories using seven e-cigarette test products. Each participating laboratory generated and analyzed aerosol from the test products for glycerin, propylene glycol, water, and nicotine using the candidate regimes. Results were compared within each product’s data set to understand the impact of the regimes on product yield, consistency of results, and reliability of the testing equipment. Each of the regimes evaluated was determined to be fit for purpose for the range of products tested. Based on specific selection criteria, the recommended collection parameters are a square-shaped 55-mL puff of 3 s duration with a puff frequency of one puff every 30 s. Standardized reporting parameters include aerosol collected mass (ACM), puff count, and e-cigarette weight loss along with analyte yield on a per-puff basis and total-puffs basis.

Kinematic Prediction and Experimental Demonstration of Conditioning Process for Controlling the Profile Shape of a Chemical Mechanical Polishing Pad

The uniformity of the wafer in a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is vital to the ultra-fine and high integration of semiconductor structures. In particular, the uniformity of the polishing pad corresponding to the tool directly affects the polishing uniformity and wafer shape. In this study, the profile shape of a CMP pad was predicted through a kinematic simulation based on the trajectory density of the diamond abrasives of the diamond conditioner disc. The kinematic prediction was found to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured pad profile shape. Based on this, the shape error of the pad could be maintained within 10 μm even after performing the pad conditioning process for more than 2 h, through the overhang of the conditioner.

Light-induced manipulation of passive and active microparticles

We consider sedimented at a solid wall particles that are immersed in water containing small additives of photosensitive ionic surfactants. It is shown that illumination with an appropriate wavelength, a beam intensity profile, shape and size could lead to a variety of dynamic, both unsteady and steady state, configurations of particles. These dynamic, well-controlled and switchable particle patterns at the wall are due to an emerging diffusio-osmotic flow that takes its origin in the adjacent to the wall electrostatic diffuse layer, where the concentration gradients of surfactant are induced by light. The conventional nonporous particles are passive and can move only with already generated flow. However, porous colloids actively participate themselves in the flow generation mechanism at the wall, which also sets their interactions that can be very long ranged. This light-induced diffusio-osmosis opens novel avenues to manipulate colloidal particles and assemble them to various patterns. We show in particular how to create and split optically the confined regions of particles of tunable size and shape, where well-controlled flow-induced forces on the colloids could result in their crystalline packing, formation of dilute lattices of well-separated particles, and other states. Graphic Abstract

Incisor Occlusion Affects Profile Shape Variation in Middle-Aged Adults

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of overjet and overbite on profile shape in middle–aged individuals. Methods: The study population comprised 1754 46-year-old individuals, members of the 1966 Northern Finland Birth Cohort. Their profile images were digitized using 48 landmarks and semi-landmarks. The subsequent landmark coordinates were then transformed to shape coordinates through Procrustes Superimposition, and final data were reduced into Principal Components (PCs) of shape. Overjet and overbite values were measured manually, during a clinical examination. A multivariate regression model was developed to evaluate the effect of overjet and overbite on profile shape. Results: The first nine PCs described more than 90% of profile shape variation in the sample and were used as the shape variables in all subsequent analyses. Overjet predicted 21.3% of profile shape in the entire sample (η2overjet = 0.213; p < 0.001), while the effect of overbite was weaker (η2overbite = 0.138; p < 0.001). In males, the equivalent effects were 22.6% for overjet and 14% for overbite, and in females, 25.5% and 13.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Incisor occlusion has a noteworthy effect on profile shape in middle-aged adults. Its impact becomes more significant taking into consideration the large variety of genetic and environmental factors affecting soft tissue profile.