TiC–high Mn steel-bonded carbide with a cellular structure was designed and fabricated by powder metallurgy techniques using coarse and fine TiC particles as the hard phase. This preparation process was carefully investigated and optimized. The microstructure of the TiC steel-bonded carbide was observed using a scanning electron microscope. Results showed that there are two types of microstructures in the TiC steel-bonded carbide: the coarse-grained TiC and fine-grained TiC. The transverse rupture strength and impact toughness of the alloy reach maximum values 2231 MPa and 12.87 J/cm2, respectively when the starting weight ratio of MP-A (containing coarse TiC particles) to MP-B (containing fine TiC particles) is 60:40. Hence, this study serves as a feasible example of how to prepare a high-strength and high-toughness TiC–high Mn steel-bonded carbide.

Mitochondria play a significant role in the functioning of the cell, acting both as an intracellular energy source and a signaling organelle. In the heart, mitochondria produce more than 95% of the ATP in addition to regulating the redox state, calcium homeostasis, apoptosis, and lipid synthesis. However, there is also evidence that mitochondria exist outside of cells where they have been observed to mediate cell-to-cell communication, repair, and participate in the immune response. Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) has a complex pathogenesis closely associated with mitochondrial dysregulation, inflammation, and metabolic abnormalities. Because of this metabolic interdependence between the myocardium and the intracellular mitochondria, circulating extracellular mitochondria (CEMI) are being identified as possible regulators of CMD. Outside of the cell, mitochondrial functions are determined by the mitochondrial form, either as whole functional structures (e.g., small extracellular mitochondria) or as mitochondrial components with or without membrane encapsulation. Here, we explore the different forms of CEMI, their role in CMD pathogenesis, their potential therapeutic utility in treating diseases, and their role as biomarkers.

This paper presents experimental identification and vibration suppression of a flexible manipulator with non-collocated piezoelectric actuators and strain sensors using optimal multi-poles placement control. To precisely identify the system model, a reduced order transfer function with relocated zeros is proposed, and a first-order inertia element is added to the model to compensate the non-collocation. Comparisons show the identified model match closely with the experimental results both in the time and frequency domains, and a fit of 97.2% is achieved. Based on the identified model, a full-state multi-poles placement controller is designed, and the optimal locations of the closed loop poles are determined. The feasibility of the proposed controller is validated by simulations. Moreover, the controller is tested for different locations of the closed loop poles, and an excellent performance of the optimal locations of the closed loop poles is shown. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed controller is demonstrated by experiments. Results show that the vibrations of the expected modes are significantly diminished. Besides, vibrations of the higher modes are also slightly suppressed. Accordingly, multi-mode vibrations of the manipulator are well attenuated, and the tip displacement converges quickly with the proposed method.