According to the second law of thermodynamics,spontaneous chemical processes will ultimately reach the equilibrium state with the lowest energy.However,in biological systems,there are numerous highenergy states far fr...According to the second law of thermodynamics,spontaneous chemical processes will ultimately reach the equilibrium state with the lowest energy.However,in biological systems,there are numerous highenergy states far from equilibrium.One typical example is the transmembrane ion-concentration gradient,which plays crucial roles in maintaining homeostasis,regulating cell volume,and enabling cell signaling.Transmembrane ion-concentration gradient is achieved by an active transport process that requires the input of energy and the action of pump proteins.Replicating this process with synthetic supramolecular systems is particularly challenging,requiring both the input of energy and very specific,spatiotemporal control over ion uptake and release.In nature,pump proteins,such as protein-based ion channels,have evolved highly intricate architectures to perform this function.In contrast,Aprahamian and coworkers recently developed a much simpler smallmolecule system that functions as a molecular ion pump,utilizing light energy to pump chloride ions across a hydrophobic barrier against the concentration gradient[1].展开更多
The inherent hysteresis of NiTi alloy samples is one of the key factors limiting their elastocaloric cooling performance.However,reducing hysteresis often leads to a decrease in adiabatic temperature change(ΔT_(ad)),...The inherent hysteresis of NiTi alloy samples is one of the key factors limiting their elastocaloric cooling performance.However,reducing hysteresis often leads to a decrease in adiabatic temperature change(ΔT_(ad)),thereby hindering the application of NiTi alloys in the refrigeration field.Here,NiTi alloys with alternating high-Ni and low-Ni content were fabricated by tailoring heat input during the wire-arc directed energy deposition(DED)process,which modifies the Ni concentration gradient and enables the modulation of the elastocaloric cooling performance of NiTi alloys.The coefficient of performance of material(COP_(mat))of the high-Ni NiTi alloy samples is relatively high,but theirΔT_(ad) during deformation is lower.On the other hand,the low-Ni NiTi alloy samples,while exhibiting higherΔT_(ad),show poorer stability during cycling.Due to the synergistic effect of the microstructures in the high-Ni and low-Ni region,a favorable combination of low cyclic hysteresis and highΔT_(ad) were achieved in the composite NiTi samples.Additionally,the composite NiTi samples also demonstrate excellent cyclic stability,with a degradation rate of only 4%during the cycling process under a 2%strain condition.This study proposes a feasible approach for regulating the elastocaloric effect of NiTi alloys,paving the way for additive manufacturing to prepare elastocaloric cooling materials.展开更多
The study determined the carbon stocks and litter nutrient concentration in tropical forests along the ecological gradient in Kenya.This could help understand the potential of mitigating climate change using tropical ...The study determined the carbon stocks and litter nutrient concentration in tropical forests along the ecological gradient in Kenya.This could help understand the potential of mitigating climate change using tropical forest ecosystems in different ecological zones,which are being affected by climate change to a level that they are becoming carbon sources instead of sinks.Stratified sampling technique was used to categorize tropical forests into rain,moist deciduous and dry zone forests depending on the average annual rainfall received.Simple random sampling technique was used to select three tropical forests in each category.Modified consistent sampling technique was used to develop 10 main 20 m×100 m plots in each forest,with 202 m×50 m sub-plots in each plot.Systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 10 sub-plots from each main plot for inventory study.Non-destructive approach based on allometric equations using trees’diameter at breast height(DBH),total height and species’wood specific gravity were used in estimating tree carbon stock in each forest.Soil organic carbon(SOC)and litter nutrient concentration(total phosphorus and nitrogen)were determined in each forest based on standard laboratory procedures.The results indicated that,whilst trees in rain forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)DBH(20.36 cm)and total tree height(12.1 m),trees in dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)specific gravity(0.67 kg m^(−3)).Dry zone tropical forests stored a significantly lower amount of total tree carbon of 73 Mg ha^(−1),compared to tropical rain forests(439.5 Mg ha^(−1))and moist deciduous tropical forests(449 Mg ha^(−1)).The SOC content was significantly higher in tropical rainforests(3.9%),compared to soils from moist deciduous(2.9%)and dry zone forests(1.8%).While litter from tropical rain forests recorded a significantly higher amount of total nitrogen(3.4%),litter from dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher concentration of total phosphorus(0.27%).In conclusion,ecological gradient that is dictated by the prevailing temperatures and precipitation affects the tropical forests carbon stock potential and litter nutrient concentration.This implies that,the changing climate is having a serious implication on the ecosystem services such as carbon stock and nutrients cycling in tropical forests.展开更多
The large and small sized Cu（solid）/Al（liquid） couples were prepared to investigate the directional growth behavior of primary a（Al） phase during a concentration-gradient-controlled solidification process under ...The large and small sized Cu（solid）/Al（liquid） couples were prepared to investigate the directional growth behavior of primary a（Al） phase during a concentration-gradient-controlled solidification process under various static magnetic fields（SMFs）.The results show that in the large couples,the α（Al） dendrites reveal a directional growth character whether without or with the SMF.However,the 12 T magnetic field induces regular growth,consistent deflection and the decrease of secondary arm spacing of the dendrites.In the small couples,the α（Al） dendrites still reveal a directional growth character to some extent with a SMF of ≤5 T.However,an 8.8 T SMF destroys the directional growth and induces severe random deflections of the dendrites.When the SMF increases to 12 T,the a（Al） dendrites become quite regular despite of the consistent deflection.The directional growth arises from the continuous long-range concentration gradient field built in the melt.The morphological modification is mainly related to the suppression of natural convections and the induction of thermoelectric magnetic convection by the SMF.展开更多
Three-dimensional(3 D)frameworks have received much attention as an effective modification strategy for next-generation high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.However,the top-growth mode of lithium(Li)on the 3 D ...Three-dimensional(3 D)frameworks have received much attention as an effective modification strategy for next-generation high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.However,the top-growth mode of lithium(Li)on the 3 D framework remains a tough challenge.To achieve a uniform bottom-up Li growth,a scheme involving Ag concentration gradient in 3 D PVDF framework(C-Ag/PVDF)is proposed.Ag nanoparticles with a concentration gradient induce an interface activity gradient in the 3 D framework,and this gradient feature is still maintained during the cycle.As a result,the C-Ag/PVDF framework delivers a long lifespan over 1800 h at a current density of 1 mA cm^(-2) with a capacity of 1 mAh cm^(-2),and shows an ultra-long life(>1300 h)even at a high current density of 4 mA cm^(-2) with a capacity of 4 mAh cm^(-2).The advantage of concentration gradient provides further insights into the optimal design of the 3 D framework for stable Li metal anode.展开更多
Lithium nickel oxide(LiNiO_(2)) cathode materials are featured with high capacity and low cost for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries but suffer from severe interface and structure instability.Here we report that rati...Lithium nickel oxide(LiNiO_(2)) cathode materials are featured with high capacity and low cost for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries but suffer from severe interface and structure instability.Here we report that rationally designed LiNiO_(2) via concentration-gradient yttrium modification exhibits alleviative side reactions and improved electrochemical performance.The LiNiO_(2) cathode with LiYO_(2)-Y_(2) O_(3) coating layer delivers a discharge capacity of 225 mAh g^(-1) with a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 93.4%.These improvements can be attributed to the formation of in-situ modified hybrid LiYO_(2)-Y_(2 O3) coating layer,which suppresses phase transformation,electrolyte oxidation and salt dissociation due to the formation of protective cathode electrolyte interface.The results indicate promising application of concentration-gradient yttrium coating as a facile approach to stabilize nickel-rich cathode materials.展开更多
Full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides are catching lots of interest as the next generation cathode for lithium-ion batteries due to their high discharge voltage,reduced voltage decay and enhanced rat...Full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides are catching lots of interest as the next generation cathode for lithium-ion batteries due to their high discharge voltage,reduced voltage decay and enhanced rate performance,whereas the high lithium residues on its surface impairs the structure stability and long-term cycle performance.Herein,a facile multifunctional surface modification method is implemented to eliminate surface lithium residues of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides by a wet chemistry reaction with tetrabutyl titanate and the post-annealing process.It realizes not only a stable Li_(2)TiO_(3)coating layer with 3D diffusion channels for fast Li^(+)ions transfer,but also dopes partial Ti^(4+)ions into the sub-surface region of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides to further strengthen its crystal structure.Consequently,the modified full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides exhibit improved structure stability,elevated thermal stability with decomposition temperature from 289.57℃to 321.72℃,and enhanced cycle performance(205.1 mAh g^(-1)after 150 cycles)with slowed voltage drop(1.67 mV per cycle).This work proposes a facile and integrated modification method to enhance the comprehensive performance of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides,which can facilitate its practical application for developing higher energy density lithium-ion batteries.展开更多
The rise of antibiotic resistance as one of the most serious global public health threats has necessitated the timely clinical diagnosis and precise treatment of deadly bacterial infections.To identify which types and...The rise of antibiotic resistance as one of the most serious global public health threats has necessitated the timely clinical diagnosis and precise treatment of deadly bacterial infections.To identify which types and doses of antibiotics remain effective for fighting against multi-drug-resistant pathogens,the development of rapid and accurate antibiotic-susceptibility testing(AST)is of primary importance.Conventional methods for AST in well-plate formats with disk diffusion or broth dilution are both labor-intensive and operationally tedious.The microfluidic chip provides a versatile tool for evaluating bacterial AST and resistant behaviors.In this paper,we develop an operationally simple,3D-printed microfluidic chip for AST which automatically deploys antibiotic concentration gradients and fluorescence intensity-based reporting to ideally reduce the report time for AST to within 5 h.By harnessing a commercially available,digital light processing(DLP)3D printing method that offers a rapid,high-precision microfluidic chip-manufacturing capability,we design and realize the accurate generation of on-chip antibiotic concentration gradients based on flow resistance and diffusion mechanisms.We further demonstrate the employment of the microfluidic chip for the AST of E.coli to representative clinical antibiotics of three classes:ampicillin,chloramphenicol,and kanamycin.The determined minimum inhibitory concentration values are comparable to those reported by conventional well-plate methods.Our proposed method demonstrates a promising approach for realizing robust,convenient,and automatable AST of clinical bacterial pathogens.展开更多
Concentration gradient and fluid shear stress(FSS)for cell microenvironment were investigated through microfluidic technology.The Darcy–Weisbach equation combined with computational fluid dynamics modeling was exploi...Concentration gradient and fluid shear stress(FSS)for cell microenvironment were investigated through microfluidic technology.The Darcy–Weisbach equation combined with computational fluid dynamics modeling was exploited to design the microfluidic chip,and the FSS distribution on the cell model with varying micro-channels(triangular,conical,and elliptical).The diffusion with the incompressible laminar flow model by solving the time-dependent diffusion–convection equation was applied to simulate the gradient profiles of concentration in the micro-channels.For the study of single cell in-depth,the FSS was investigated by the usage of polystyrene particles and the concentration diffusion distribution was studied by the usage of different colors of dyes.A successful agreement between model simulations and experimental data was obtained.Finally,based on the established method,the communication between individual cells was envisaged and modeled.The developed method provides valuable insights and allows to continuously improve the design of microfluidic devices for the study of single cell,the occurrence and development of tumors,and therapeutic applications.展开更多
In this study, production of ct-linoleic acid concentrated from crude perilla oil by gradient cooling urea inclusion was optimized. The fatty acid composition was determined after ethyl esterification by gas chromatog...In this study, production of ct-linoleic acid concentrated from crude perilla oil by gradient cooling urea inclusion was optimized. The fatty acid composition was determined after ethyl esterification by gas chromatography （GC）. In this process, orthogonal experiment was carried out. Under optimum conditions, the maximum amount of α-linoleic acid （91.5%） was obtained at a urea to fatty acid ratio of 3, a solvent to fatty acids ratio of 7, a reaction temperature of 348 K and a crystallization time of 690 min. A simple method of gradient cooling urea inclusion was used to purify α-linolenic acid by using urea to form inclusion complexes with the saturated and the less unsaturated fatty acids, which enhanced the purity of α-linoleic acid ethyl ester by above 90%.展开更多
This paper describes a simple method of generating concentration gradients with linear and parabolic profiles by using a Christmas tree-shaped microfluidic network.The microfluidic gradient generator consists of two p...This paper describes a simple method of generating concentration gradients with linear and parabolic profiles by using a Christmas tree-shaped microfluidic network.The microfluidic gradient generator consists of two parts：a Christmas tree-shaped network for gradient generation and a broad microchannel for detection.A two-dimensional model was built to analyze the flow field and the mass transfer in the microfluidic network.The simulating results show that a series of linear and parabolic gradient profiles were generated via adjusting relative flow rate ratios of the two source solutions（R_L^2≥0.995 and _PR^2≥0.999）,which could match well with the experimental results（R_L^2≥0.987 and _PR^2≥0.996）.The proposed method is promising for the generation of linear and parabolic concentration gradient profiles,with the potential in chemical and biological applications such as combinatorial chemistry synthesis,stem cell differentiation or cytotoxicity assays.展开更多
In this paper we consider the initial boundary value problem of Cahn-Hilliard equation with concentration dependent mobility and gradient dependent potential. By the L^P type estimates and the theory of Morrey spaces,...In this paper we consider the initial boundary value problem of Cahn-Hilliard equation with concentration dependent mobility and gradient dependent potential. By the L^P type estimates and the theory of Morrey spaces,we prove the Holder continuity of the solutions.Then we obtain the existence of global classical solutions.The present work can be viewed as an extension to the previous work on the Cahn-Hilliard equation with concentration dependent mobility and potential.展开更多
The effect of non-uniform basic concentration gradient on the onset of double diffusive convection in a micropolar fluid layer heated and saluted from below and cooled from above has been studied. The linear stability...The effect of non-uniform basic concentration gradient on the onset of double diffusive convection in a micropolar fluid layer heated and saluted from below and cooled from above has been studied. The linear stability analysis is performed. The eigen value of the problem is obtained using Galerkian method. The eigen values are obtained for 1) free-free 2) rigid-free 3) rigid-rigid velocity boundary combination with isothermal temperature condition on spin-vanishing permeable boundaries. The influence of various micropolar parameters on the onset of convection has been analyzed. One linear and five non linear concentration profiles are considered and their comparative influence on onset is discussed and results are depicted graphically. It is observed that fluid layer with suspended particles heated and soluted from below is more stable compare to the classical fluid without suspended particles.展开更多
To achieve the utilization of the abandoned ultrafine ilmenite(-20 μm) produced in the titanium magnetite processing plant in Panzhihua,the superconducting high-gradient magnetic separation(SMS) technology was propos...To achieve the utilization of the abandoned ultrafine ilmenite(-20 μm) produced in the titanium magnetite processing plant in Panzhihua,the superconducting high-gradient magnetic separation(SMS) technology was proposed in this study.After optimizing the conditions of magnetic intensity,feeding and pulsation,an SMS concentrate with TiO_(2) grade of 16.03% and TiO_(2) recovery of 66.39% was obtained through one roughing-one cleaning pre-concentration flowsheet.The specific magnetic force and magnetic force were calculated and analysed to illustrate the pre-concentration mechanism,and the results revealed that the combination of high magnetic field and strong pulsating resulted in the effective preconcentration of the ultrafine ilmenite in the SMS process.In addition,the magnetic force analysis indicated that the high magnetic intensity and high magnetic gradient are the key factors of the SMS technology.Furthermore,the EDS-Mapping detection certified that the ultrafine ilmenite was concentrated from the gangue minerals using SMS technology.展开更多
A well-ordered and spherical LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode material was successfully synthesized from Ni and Mn concentration-gradient precursors via co-precipitation. The crystal structure, morphology and electrochemic...A well-ordered and spherical LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode material was successfully synthesized from Ni and Mn concentration-gradient precursors via co-precipitation. The crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical properties of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and charge-discharge tests. The material delivered an initial discharge capacity of 174.3 mAh/g at 180 mA/g （1 C rate） between 2.8 and 4.3 V and more than 93.1% of that was retained after 100 cycles. In addition, it also exhibited excellent rate capability, high cut-off voltage and temperature performance.展开更多
Surface monitoring, vertical atmospheric column observation, and simulation using chemical transportation models are three dominant approaches for perception of fine particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers(...Surface monitoring, vertical atmospheric column observation, and simulation using chemical transportation models are three dominant approaches for perception of fine particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers(PM2.5) concentration. Here we explored an imagebased methodology with a deep learning approach and machine learning approach to extend the ability on PM2.5 perception. Using 6976 images combined with daily weather conditions and hourly time data in Shanghai(2016), trained by hourly surface monitoring concentrations, an end-to-end model consisting of convolutional neural network and gradient boosting machine(GBM) was constructed. The mean absolute error, the root-mean-square error and the R-squared for PM2.5 concentration estimation using our proposed method is 3.56, 10.02, and 0.85 respectively. The transferability analysis showed that networks trained in Shanghai, fine-tuned with only 10% of images in other locations, achieved performances similar to ones from trained on data from target locations themselves. The sensitivity of different regions in the image to PM2.5 concentration was also quantified through the analysis of feature importance in GBM. All the required inputs in this study are commonly available, which greatly improved the accessibility of PM2.5 concentration for placed and period with no surface observation. And this study makes an exploratory attempt on pollution monitoring using graph theory and deep learning approach.展开更多
The uncontrolled dendrite growth of lithium metal anodes(LMAs)caused by unstable anode/electrolyte interface and uneven lithium deposition have impeded the practical applications of lithium metal batteries(LMBs).Const...The uncontrolled dendrite growth of lithium metal anodes(LMAs)caused by unstable anode/electrolyte interface and uneven lithium deposition have impeded the practical applications of lithium metal batteries(LMBs).Constructing a robust artificial solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)and regulating the lithium deposition behavior is an effective strategy to address these issues.Herein,a three-dimensional(3D)lithium anode with gradient Li_(3)N has been in-situ fabricated on carbon-based framework by thermal diffusion method(denoted as CC/Li/Li_(3)N).Density functional theory(DFT)calculations reveal that Li_(3)N can effectively promote the transport of Li^(+)due to the low energy barrier of Li^(+)diffusion.As expected,the Li_(3)N-rich conformal artificial SEI film can not only effectively stabilize the interface and avoid parasitic reactions,but also facilitate fast Li^(+)transport across the SEI layer.The anode matrix with uniformly distributed Li3N can enable homogenous deposition of Li,thus preventing Li dendrite propagation.Benefiting from these merits,the CC/Li/Li_(3)N anode achieves ultralong-term cycling for>1000 h at a current density of 2 m A cm^(-2)and dendrite-free Li deposition at an ultrahigh rate of 20 m A cm^(-2).Moreover,the full cells coupled with LiFePO4cathodes show extraordinary cycling stability for>300 cycles in liquidelectrolyte-based batteries and display a high-capacity retention of 96.7%after 100 cycles in solid-state cells,demonstrating the promising prospects for the practical applications of LMBs.展开更多
Inspired by biological systems that have the inherent skill to generate considerable bioelectricity from the salt content in fluids with highly selective ion channels and pumps on cell membranes, herein, a fully abiot...Inspired by biological systems that have the inherent skill to generate considerable bioelectricity from the salt content in fluids with highly selective ion channels and pumps on cell membranes, herein, a fully abiotic, single glass conical nanopores energy-harvesting is demonstrated. Ion current rectification （ICR） in negatively charged glass conical nanopores is shown to be controlled by the electrolyte concentration gradient depending on the direction of ion diffusion. The degree of ICR is enhanced with the increasing forward concentration difference. An unusual rectification inversion is observed when the concentration gradient is reversely applied. The maximum power output with the individual nanopore approaches 10^4pW. This facile and cost-efficient energy-harvesting system has the potential to power tiny biomedical devices or construct future clean-energy recovery plants.展开更多
A two-dimensional detonation in H2–O2 system is simulated by a high-resolution code based on the fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory(WENO)scheme in the spatial discretization and the 3th-order additive R...A two-dimensional detonation in H2–O2 system is simulated by a high-resolution code based on the fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory(WENO)scheme in the spatial discretization and the 3th-order additive Runge–Kutta schemes in the time discretization,by using a detailed chemical model.The effect of a concentration gradient on cellular detonation is investigated.The results show that with the increase of the concentration gradient,the cell instability of detonation increases and gives rise to the oscillation of average detonation velocity.After a long time,for the case of the lower gradient the detonation can be sustained,with the multi-head mode and single-head mode alternating,while for the higher gradient it propagates with a single-head mode.展开更多
The electron concentration horizontal gradient vector of the ionosphere and its south-north and east-west components over Chongqing station are analyzed and calculated, using the first approximation, time correlation ...The electron concentration horizontal gradient vector of the ionosphere and its south-north and east-west components over Chongqing station are analyzed and calculated, using the first approximation, time correlation and space correlation and another approach introduced. And then, the validity of the two methods is analyzed and compared.展开更多
基金financial supports of National Natural Science Foundation of China(22171226)Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi(2022JC-06).
文摘According to the second law of thermodynamics,spontaneous chemical processes will ultimately reach the equilibrium state with the lowest energy.However,in biological systems,there are numerous highenergy states far from equilibrium.One typical example is the transmembrane ion-concentration gradient,which plays crucial roles in maintaining homeostasis,regulating cell volume,and enabling cell signaling.Transmembrane ion-concentration gradient is achieved by an active transport process that requires the input of energy and the action of pump proteins.Replicating this process with synthetic supramolecular systems is particularly challenging,requiring both the input of energy and very specific,spatiotemporal control over ion uptake and release.In nature,pump proteins,such as protein-based ion channels,have evolved highly intricate architectures to perform this function.In contrast,Aprahamian and coworkers recently developed a much simpler smallmolecule system that functions as a molecular ion pump,utilizing light energy to pump chloride ions across a hydrophobic barrier against the concentration gradient[1].
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52275374 and 52205414)the Key Research and Development Projects of Shaanxi Province(No.2023-YBGY-361)+1 种基金the Xi’an Jiaotong University Basic Research Funds for Freedom of Exploration and Innovation-Student Programs(No.xzy022024099)the Taihu Lake Innovation Fund for the School of Future Technology of Xi’an Jiaotong University.
文摘The inherent hysteresis of NiTi alloy samples is one of the key factors limiting their elastocaloric cooling performance.However,reducing hysteresis often leads to a decrease in adiabatic temperature change(ΔT_(ad)),thereby hindering the application of NiTi alloys in the refrigeration field.Here,NiTi alloys with alternating high-Ni and low-Ni content were fabricated by tailoring heat input during the wire-arc directed energy deposition(DED)process,which modifies the Ni concentration gradient and enables the modulation of the elastocaloric cooling performance of NiTi alloys.The coefficient of performance of material(COP_(mat))of the high-Ni NiTi alloy samples is relatively high,but theirΔT_(ad) during deformation is lower.On the other hand,the low-Ni NiTi alloy samples,while exhibiting higherΔT_(ad),show poorer stability during cycling.Due to the synergistic effect of the microstructures in the high-Ni and low-Ni region,a favorable combination of low cyclic hysteresis and highΔT_(ad) were achieved in the composite NiTi samples.Additionally,the composite NiTi samples also demonstrate excellent cyclic stability,with a degradation rate of only 4%during the cycling process under a 2%strain condition.This study proposes a feasible approach for regulating the elastocaloric effect of NiTi alloys,paving the way for additive manufacturing to prepare elastocaloric cooling materials.
基金funded by the Kenya National Research Fund(NRF-Kenya,2018).
文摘The study determined the carbon stocks and litter nutrient concentration in tropical forests along the ecological gradient in Kenya.This could help understand the potential of mitigating climate change using tropical forest ecosystems in different ecological zones,which are being affected by climate change to a level that they are becoming carbon sources instead of sinks.Stratified sampling technique was used to categorize tropical forests into rain,moist deciduous and dry zone forests depending on the average annual rainfall received.Simple random sampling technique was used to select three tropical forests in each category.Modified consistent sampling technique was used to develop 10 main 20 m×100 m plots in each forest,with 202 m×50 m sub-plots in each plot.Systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 10 sub-plots from each main plot for inventory study.Non-destructive approach based on allometric equations using trees’diameter at breast height(DBH),total height and species’wood specific gravity were used in estimating tree carbon stock in each forest.Soil organic carbon(SOC)and litter nutrient concentration(total phosphorus and nitrogen)were determined in each forest based on standard laboratory procedures.The results indicated that,whilst trees in rain forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)DBH(20.36 cm)and total tree height(12.1 m),trees in dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)specific gravity(0.67 kg m^(−3)).Dry zone tropical forests stored a significantly lower amount of total tree carbon of 73 Mg ha^(−1),compared to tropical rain forests(439.5 Mg ha^(−1))and moist deciduous tropical forests(449 Mg ha^(−1)).The SOC content was significantly higher in tropical rainforests(3.9%),compared to soils from moist deciduous(2.9%)and dry zone forests(1.8%).While litter from tropical rain forests recorded a significantly higher amount of total nitrogen(3.4%),litter from dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher concentration of total phosphorus(0.27%).In conclusion,ecological gradient that is dictated by the prevailing temperatures and precipitation affects the tropical forests carbon stock potential and litter nutrient concentration.This implies that,the changing climate is having a serious implication on the ecosystem services such as carbon stock and nutrients cycling in tropical forests.
基金Projects(51201029,51071042,51374067)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProjects(N130409002,N130209001)supported by the Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesProject(2012M520637)supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
文摘The large and small sized Cu（solid）/Al（liquid） couples were prepared to investigate the directional growth behavior of primary a（Al） phase during a concentration-gradient-controlled solidification process under various static magnetic fields（SMFs）.The results show that in the large couples,the α（Al） dendrites reveal a directional growth character whether without or with the SMF.However,the 12 T magnetic field induces regular growth,consistent deflection and the decrease of secondary arm spacing of the dendrites.In the small couples,the α（Al） dendrites still reveal a directional growth character to some extent with a SMF of ≤5 T.However,an 8.8 T SMF destroys the directional growth and induces severe random deflections of the dendrites.When the SMF increases to 12 T,the a（Al） dendrites become quite regular despite of the consistent deflection.The directional growth arises from the continuous long-range concentration gradient field built in the melt.The morphological modification is mainly related to the suppression of natural convections and the induction of thermoelectric magnetic convection by the SMF.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(ZYGX2019Z008)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52072061)the Open Fund of the Key Laboratory for Renewable Energy,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing Key Laboratory for New Energy Materials and Devices。
文摘Three-dimensional(3 D)frameworks have received much attention as an effective modification strategy for next-generation high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.However,the top-growth mode of lithium(Li)on the 3 D framework remains a tough challenge.To achieve a uniform bottom-up Li growth,a scheme involving Ag concentration gradient in 3 D PVDF framework(C-Ag/PVDF)is proposed.Ag nanoparticles with a concentration gradient induce an interface activity gradient in the 3 D framework,and this gradient feature is still maintained during the cycle.As a result,the C-Ag/PVDF framework delivers a long lifespan over 1800 h at a current density of 1 mA cm^(-2) with a capacity of 1 mAh cm^(-2),and shows an ultra-long life(>1300 h)even at a high current density of 4 mA cm^(-2) with a capacity of 4 mAh cm^(-2).The advantage of concentration gradient provides further insights into the optimal design of the 3 D framework for stable Li metal anode.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFA0202503)the SINOPEC Project (129015-1)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21835004 and21925503)the 111 Project from the Ministry of Education of China(B12015)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘Lithium nickel oxide(LiNiO_(2)) cathode materials are featured with high capacity and low cost for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries but suffer from severe interface and structure instability.Here we report that rationally designed LiNiO_(2) via concentration-gradient yttrium modification exhibits alleviative side reactions and improved electrochemical performance.The LiNiO_(2) cathode with LiYO_(2)-Y_(2) O_(3) coating layer delivers a discharge capacity of 225 mAh g^(-1) with a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 93.4%.These improvements can be attributed to the formation of in-situ modified hybrid LiYO_(2)-Y_(2 O3) coating layer,which suppresses phase transformation,electrolyte oxidation and salt dissociation due to the formation of protective cathode electrolyte interface.The results indicate promising application of concentration-gradient yttrium coating as a facile approach to stabilize nickel-rich cathode materials.
基金financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2022QB166,ZR2020KE032)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA22010600)+3 种基金the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(2021210)the Foundation of Qingdao Postdoctoral Application Program(Y63302190F)the Natural Science Foundation of Qingdao Institute ofBioenergy and Bioprocess Technology(QIBEBT SZ202101)support from the Max Planck-POSTECH-Hsinchu Center for Complex Phase Materials
文摘Full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides are catching lots of interest as the next generation cathode for lithium-ion batteries due to their high discharge voltage,reduced voltage decay and enhanced rate performance,whereas the high lithium residues on its surface impairs the structure stability and long-term cycle performance.Herein,a facile multifunctional surface modification method is implemented to eliminate surface lithium residues of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides by a wet chemistry reaction with tetrabutyl titanate and the post-annealing process.It realizes not only a stable Li_(2)TiO_(3)coating layer with 3D diffusion channels for fast Li^(+)ions transfer,but also dopes partial Ti^(4+)ions into the sub-surface region of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides to further strengthen its crystal structure.Consequently,the modified full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides exhibit improved structure stability,elevated thermal stability with decomposition temperature from 289.57℃to 321.72℃,and enhanced cycle performance(205.1 mAh g^(-1)after 150 cycles)with slowed voltage drop(1.67 mV per cycle).This work proposes a facile and integrated modification method to enhance the comprehensive performance of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides,which can facilitate its practical application for developing higher energy density lithium-ion batteries.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51908467)and by institutional funds from the Westlake University。
文摘The rise of antibiotic resistance as one of the most serious global public health threats has necessitated the timely clinical diagnosis and precise treatment of deadly bacterial infections.To identify which types and doses of antibiotics remain effective for fighting against multi-drug-resistant pathogens,the development of rapid and accurate antibiotic-susceptibility testing(AST)is of primary importance.Conventional methods for AST in well-plate formats with disk diffusion or broth dilution are both labor-intensive and operationally tedious.The microfluidic chip provides a versatile tool for evaluating bacterial AST and resistant behaviors.In this paper,we develop an operationally simple,3D-printed microfluidic chip for AST which automatically deploys antibiotic concentration gradients and fluorescence intensity-based reporting to ideally reduce the report time for AST to within 5 h.By harnessing a commercially available,digital light processing(DLP)3D printing method that offers a rapid,high-precision microfluidic chip-manufacturing capability,we design and realize the accurate generation of on-chip antibiotic concentration gradients based on flow resistance and diffusion mechanisms.We further demonstrate the employment of the microfluidic chip for the AST of E.coli to representative clinical antibiotics of three classes:ampicillin,chloramphenicol,and kanamycin.The determined minimum inhibitory concentration values are comparable to those reported by conventional well-plate methods.Our proposed method demonstrates a promising approach for realizing robust,convenient,and automatable AST of clinical bacterial pathogens.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21804045)Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology(No.2019I0014)Promotion Program for Young and Middle-aged Teachers in Science and Technology Research of Huaqiao University(No.ZQN-PY612)。
文摘Concentration gradient and fluid shear stress(FSS)for cell microenvironment were investigated through microfluidic technology.The Darcy–Weisbach equation combined with computational fluid dynamics modeling was exploited to design the microfluidic chip,and the FSS distribution on the cell model with varying micro-channels(triangular,conical,and elliptical).The diffusion with the incompressible laminar flow model by solving the time-dependent diffusion–convection equation was applied to simulate the gradient profiles of concentration in the micro-channels.For the study of single cell in-depth,the FSS was investigated by the usage of polystyrene particles and the concentration diffusion distribution was studied by the usage of different colors of dyes.A successful agreement between model simulations and experimental data was obtained.Finally,based on the established method,the communication between individual cells was envisaged and modeled.The developed method provides valuable insights and allows to continuously improve the design of microfluidic devices for the study of single cell,the occurrence and development of tumors,and therapeutic applications.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20871061)the National 973 Program of China (2008CB617512) for the financial support
文摘In this study, production of ct-linoleic acid concentrated from crude perilla oil by gradient cooling urea inclusion was optimized. The fatty acid composition was determined after ethyl esterification by gas chromatography （GC）. In this process, orthogonal experiment was carried out. Under optimum conditions, the maximum amount of α-linoleic acid （91.5%） was obtained at a urea to fatty acid ratio of 3, a solvent to fatty acids ratio of 7, a reaction temperature of 348 K and a crystallization time of 690 min. A simple method of gradient cooling urea inclusion was used to purify α-linolenic acid by using urea to form inclusion complexes with the saturated and the less unsaturated fatty acids, which enhanced the purity of α-linoleic acid ethyl ester by above 90%.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81372358,81527801,51303140,and 81602489)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(2014CFA029)+1 种基金the Colleges of Hubei Province Outstanding Youth Science and Technology Innovation Team(T201305)the Applied Foundational Research Program of Wuhan Municipal Science and Technology Bureau(2015060101010056)
文摘This paper describes a simple method of generating concentration gradients with linear and parabolic profiles by using a Christmas tree-shaped microfluidic network.The microfluidic gradient generator consists of two parts：a Christmas tree-shaped network for gradient generation and a broad microchannel for detection.A two-dimensional model was built to analyze the flow field and the mass transfer in the microfluidic network.The simulating results show that a series of linear and parabolic gradient profiles were generated via adjusting relative flow rate ratios of the two source solutions（R_L^2≥0.995 and _PR^2≥0.999）,which could match well with the experimental results（R_L^2≥0.987 and _PR^2≥0.996）.The proposed method is promising for the generation of linear and parabolic concentration gradient profiles,with the potential in chemical and biological applications such as combinatorial chemistry synthesis,stem cell differentiation or cytotoxicity assays.
基金The NSF(11001103)the SRFDP(200801831002) of China
文摘In this paper we consider the initial boundary value problem of Cahn-Hilliard equation with concentration dependent mobility and gradient dependent potential. By the L^P type estimates and the theory of Morrey spaces,we prove the Holder continuity of the solutions.Then we obtain the existence of global classical solutions.The present work can be viewed as an extension to the previous work on the Cahn-Hilliard equation with concentration dependent mobility and potential.
文摘The effect of non-uniform basic concentration gradient on the onset of double diffusive convection in a micropolar fluid layer heated and saluted from below and cooled from above has been studied. The linear stability analysis is performed. The eigen value of the problem is obtained using Galerkian method. The eigen values are obtained for 1) free-free 2) rigid-free 3) rigid-rigid velocity boundary combination with isothermal temperature condition on spin-vanishing permeable boundaries. The influence of various micropolar parameters on the onset of convection has been analyzed. One linear and five non linear concentration profiles are considered and their comparative influence on onset is discussed and results are depicted graphically. It is observed that fluid layer with suspended particles heated and soluted from below is more stable compare to the classical fluid without suspended particles.
基金financial support from the Joint Fund (Key program U2067201) for Nuclear Technology Innovation Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the China National Nuclear CorporationNational key research and development program (2019YFC1907702) Sponsored by MOSTthe Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (N2001013) for supporting this research。
文摘To achieve the utilization of the abandoned ultrafine ilmenite(-20 μm) produced in the titanium magnetite processing plant in Panzhihua,the superconducting high-gradient magnetic separation(SMS) technology was proposed in this study.After optimizing the conditions of magnetic intensity,feeding and pulsation,an SMS concentrate with TiO_(2) grade of 16.03% and TiO_(2) recovery of 66.39% was obtained through one roughing-one cleaning pre-concentration flowsheet.The specific magnetic force and magnetic force were calculated and analysed to illustrate the pre-concentration mechanism,and the results revealed that the combination of high magnetic field and strong pulsating resulted in the effective preconcentration of the ultrafine ilmenite in the SMS process.In addition,the magnetic force analysis indicated that the high magnetic intensity and high magnetic gradient are the key factors of the SMS technology.Furthermore,the EDS-Mapping detection certified that the ultrafine ilmenite was concentrated from the gangue minerals using SMS technology.
文摘A well-ordered and spherical LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode material was successfully synthesized from Ni and Mn concentration-gradient precursors via co-precipitation. The crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical properties of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and charge-discharge tests. The material delivered an initial discharge capacity of 174.3 mAh/g at 180 mA/g （1 C rate） between 2.8 and 4.3 V and more than 93.1% of that was retained after 100 cycles. In addition, it also exhibited excellent rate capability, high cut-off voltage and temperature performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41822505 , 42061130213 )the Royal Society-Newton Advanced Fellowship (No. NAF\R1\201166)+1 种基金Beijing Nova Program (No. Z181100006218077)the TsinghuaUniversity Initiative Scientific Research Program。
文摘Surface monitoring, vertical atmospheric column observation, and simulation using chemical transportation models are three dominant approaches for perception of fine particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers(PM2.5) concentration. Here we explored an imagebased methodology with a deep learning approach and machine learning approach to extend the ability on PM2.5 perception. Using 6976 images combined with daily weather conditions and hourly time data in Shanghai(2016), trained by hourly surface monitoring concentrations, an end-to-end model consisting of convolutional neural network and gradient boosting machine(GBM) was constructed. The mean absolute error, the root-mean-square error and the R-squared for PM2.5 concentration estimation using our proposed method is 3.56, 10.02, and 0.85 respectively. The transferability analysis showed that networks trained in Shanghai, fine-tuned with only 10% of images in other locations, achieved performances similar to ones from trained on data from target locations themselves. The sensitivity of different regions in the image to PM2.5 concentration was also quantified through the analysis of feature importance in GBM. All the required inputs in this study are commonly available, which greatly improved the accessibility of PM2.5 concentration for placed and period with no surface observation. And this study makes an exploratory attempt on pollution monitoring using graph theory and deep learning approach.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22078251)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFB2012000)+1 种基金the Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education,Jianghan University(JDGD-202211)the Graduate Innovation Fund of Wuhan Institute of Technology(CX2021014)。
文摘The uncontrolled dendrite growth of lithium metal anodes(LMAs)caused by unstable anode/electrolyte interface and uneven lithium deposition have impeded the practical applications of lithium metal batteries(LMBs).Constructing a robust artificial solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)and regulating the lithium deposition behavior is an effective strategy to address these issues.Herein,a three-dimensional(3D)lithium anode with gradient Li_(3)N has been in-situ fabricated on carbon-based framework by thermal diffusion method(denoted as CC/Li/Li_(3)N).Density functional theory(DFT)calculations reveal that Li_(3)N can effectively promote the transport of Li^(+)due to the low energy barrier of Li^(+)diffusion.As expected,the Li_(3)N-rich conformal artificial SEI film can not only effectively stabilize the interface and avoid parasitic reactions,but also facilitate fast Li^(+)transport across the SEI layer.The anode matrix with uniformly distributed Li3N can enable homogenous deposition of Li,thus preventing Li dendrite propagation.Benefiting from these merits,the CC/Li/Li_(3)N anode achieves ultralong-term cycling for>1000 h at a current density of 2 m A cm^(-2)and dendrite-free Li deposition at an ultrahigh rate of 20 m A cm^(-2).Moreover,the full cells coupled with LiFePO4cathodes show extraordinary cycling stability for>300 cycles in liquidelectrolyte-based batteries and display a high-capacity retention of 96.7%after 100 cycles in solid-state cells,demonstrating the promising prospects for the practical applications of LMBs.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21375111,21127005,20975084)the Ph.D.Programs Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China(No.20110121110011)
文摘Inspired by biological systems that have the inherent skill to generate considerable bioelectricity from the salt content in fluids with highly selective ion channels and pumps on cell membranes, herein, a fully abiotic, single glass conical nanopores energy-harvesting is demonstrated. Ion current rectification （ICR） in negatively charged glass conical nanopores is shown to be controlled by the electrolyte concentration gradient depending on the direction of ion diffusion. The degree of ICR is enhanced with the increasing forward concentration difference. An unusual rectification inversion is observed when the concentration gradient is reversely applied. The maximum power output with the individual nanopore approaches 10^4pW. This facile and cost-efficient energy-harvesting system has the potential to power tiny biomedical devices or construct future clean-energy recovery plants.
基金Natural National Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11972090,11732003,and U1830139)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation,China(Grant No.8182050)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2017YFC0804700).
文摘A two-dimensional detonation in H2–O2 system is simulated by a high-resolution code based on the fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory(WENO)scheme in the spatial discretization and the 3th-order additive Runge–Kutta schemes in the time discretization,by using a detailed chemical model.The effect of a concentration gradient on cellular detonation is investigated.The results show that with the increase of the concentration gradient,the cell instability of detonation increases and gives rise to the oscillation of average detonation velocity.After a long time,for the case of the lower gradient the detonation can be sustained,with the multi-head mode and single-head mode alternating,while for the higher gradient it propagates with a single-head mode.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(6 95 710 2 0 ) and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of H
文摘The electron concentration horizontal gradient vector of the ionosphere and its south-north and east-west components over Chongqing station are analyzed and calculated, using the first approximation, time correlation and space correlation and another approach introduced. And then, the validity of the two methods is analyzed and compared.
