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Recent experiments established pure graphene as the strongest material known to mankind, further invigorating the question of how graphene fails. Using density functional theory, we reveal the mechanisms of mechanical failure of pure graphene under a generic state of tension at zero temperature. One failure mechanism is a novel soft-mode phonon instability of the K1 mode, whereby the graphene s...

Abnormalities of diastole are common to most forms of congestive heart failure (HF). Diastolic function is broadly defined as the ability of the heart to fill adequately and at normal pressure to charge the ventricular pump for each subsequent contraction. It is determined by both active and passive processes occurring at the level of the myocyte, extracellular matrix, and left ventricular cham...

Over the last few years, considerable effort has gone into the study of the failure mechanisms and reliability of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Although still very incomplete, our knowledge of the reliability issues relevant to MEMS is growing. This paper provides an overview of MEMS failure mechanisms that are commonly encountered. It focuses on the reliability issues of micro-scale d...

The emergence of size-dependent mechanical strength in nanosized materials is now well-established, but no fundamental understanding of fracture toughness or flaw sensitivity in nanostructures exists. We report the fabrication and in situ fracture testing of ∼70 nm diameter Ni-P metallic glass samples with a structural flaw. Failure occurs at the structural flaw in all cases, and the failure st...

This paper reviews the main failure mechanisms occurring in modern power modules paying special attention to insulated gate bipolar transistor devices for high-power applications. This compendium provides the main failure modes, the physical or chemical processes that lead to the failure, and reports some major technological countermeasures, which are used for realizing the very stringent relia...

The syndrome of heart failure may arise from different causes but there are features that are common to all: myocardial fibrosis, desensitization of b-adrenergic receptor signalling, excitation-contraction uncoupling, myosin isoform switch, altered energy utilization and ‘‘cell loss’’. These unifying features imply that the molecular pathways that underpin them are activated in most, if not all...

It has been established for centuries that body wasting and changes in body composition play important roles in patients with chronic diseases. This is also true for patients with heart failure (HF).1 For clinicians not actively involved in this area of research, however, it may be difficult to decipher the complex and sometimes confusing terminology used in this context. Cachexia, body wasting...