With the rapid development of renewable energy,the Microgrid Coalition(MGC)has become an important approach to improving energy utilization efficiency and economic performance.To address the operational optimization p...With the rapid development of renewable energy,the Microgrid Coalition(MGC)has become an important approach to improving energy utilization efficiency and economic performance.To address the operational optimization problem inmulti-microgrid cooperation,a cooperative game strategy based on the Nash bargainingmodel is proposed,aiming to enable collaboration among microgrids to maximize overall benefits while considering energy trading and cost optimization.First,each microgrid is regarded as a game participant,and a multi-microgrid cooperative game model based on Nash bargaining theory is constructed,targeting the minimization of total operational cost under constraints such as power balance and energy storage limits.Second,the Nash bargaining solution is introduced as the benefit allocation scheme to ensure individual rationality and coalition stability.Finally,theAlternating Direction Method of Multipliers(ADMM)is employed to decompose the centralized optimization problem into distributed subproblems for iterative solution,thereby reducing communication burden and protecting privacy.Case studies reveal that the operational costs of the threemicrogrids are reduced by 26.28%,19.00%,and 17.19%,respectively,and the overall renewable energy consumption rate is improved by approximately 66.11%.展开更多
The development of an efficient dual-function catalytic-sorption system,which seamlessly integrates reaction and separation into a single step for extractant-free systems,represents a transformative advancement in oxi...The development of an efficient dual-function catalytic-sorption system,which seamlessly integrates reaction and separation into a single step for extractant-free systems,represents a transformative advancement in oxidative desulfurization(ODS)process.In this work,we introduce a novel dualfunction amphiphilic biochar(Mo/CBC)catalyst,functionalized with MoO_(3-x)featuring abundant oxygen vacancies,for highly effective extractant-free ODS.The polarity of the biochar was precisely tailored by varying the amount of KOH,leading to the creation of amphiphilic carriers.Subsequent ball milling facilitated the successful loading of MoO_(3-x)onto the biochar surface via an impregnation-calcination route leveraging carbon reduction,resulting in the synthesis of amphiphilic Mo/CBC catalysts.The amphiphilic nature of these catalysts ensures their stable dispersion within the oil phase,while also facilitating their interaction with the oxidant H2O2 and the adsorption of sulfur-containing oxidation products.Characterization techniques,including EPR,XPS,and in situ XRD,verified the existence of abundant oxygen vacancies obtained by carbon reduction on the amphiphilic Mo/CBC catalysts,which significantly boosted their activity in an extractant-free ODs system.Remarkably,the amphiphilic Mo/CBC catalyst displayed exceptional catalytic performance,achieving a desulfurization efficiency of 99.6%in just 10 min without extraction solvent.DFT theoretical calculations further revealed that H_(2)O_(2)readily dissociates into two OH radicals on the O_(vac)-MoO_(3),overcoming a low energy barrier.This process was identified as a key contributor to the catalyst's outstanding ODS performance.Furthermore,other biochar sources,such as rice straw,bamboo,rapeseed oil cake,and walnut oil cake,were investigated to produce Mo-based amphiphilic biochar catalysts,which all showed excellent desulfurization performance.This work establishes a versatile and highly efficient dual-function catalytic-sorption system by designing amphiphilic biochar catalysts enriched with oxygen vacancies,paving the way for the development of universally applicable ODS catalysts for industrial applications.展开更多
The tensile strength at the rock-concrete interface is one of the crucial factors controlling the failure mechanisms of structures,such as concrete gravity dams.Despite the critical importance of the failure mechanism...The tensile strength at the rock-concrete interface is one of the crucial factors controlling the failure mechanisms of structures,such as concrete gravity dams.Despite the critical importance of the failure mechanism and tensile strength of rock-concrete interfaces,understanding of these factors remains very limited.This study investigated the tensile strength and fracturing processes at rock-mortar interfaces subjected to direct and indirect tensile loadings.Digital image correlation(DIC)and acoustic emission(AE)techniques were used to monitor the failure mechanisms of specimens subjected to direct tension and indirect loading(Brazilian tests).The results indicated that the direct tensile strength of the rock-mortar specimens was lower than their indirect tensile strength,with a direct/indirect tensile strength ratio of 65%.DIC strain field data and moment tensor inversions(MTI)of AE events indicated that a significant number of shear microcracks occurred in the specimens subjected to the Brazilian test.The presence of these shear microcracks,which require more energy to break,resulted in a higher tensile strength during the Brazilian tests.In contrast,microcracks were predominantly tensile in specimens subjected to direct tension,leading to a lower tensile strength.Spatiotemporal monitoring of the cracking processes in the rock-mortar interfaces revealed that they show AE precursors before failure under the Brazilian test,whereas they show a minimal number of AE events before failure under direct tension.Due to different microcracking mechanisms,specimens tested under Brazilian tests showed lower roughness with flatter fracture surfaces than those tested under direct tension with jagged and rough fracture surfaces.The results of this study shed light on better understanding the micromechanics of damage in the rock-concrete interfaces for a safer design of engineering structures.展开更多
Ni3Al-based alloys are excellent candidates for the structural materials used for turbine engines due to their excellent high-temperature properties.This study aims at laser powder bed fusion and post-hot isostatic pr...Ni3Al-based alloys are excellent candidates for the structural materials used for turbine engines due to their excellent high-temperature properties.This study aims at laser powder bed fusion and post-hot isostatic pressing(HIP)treatment of Ni3Al-based IC^(-2)21 M alloy with a highγ0 volume fraction.The as-built samples exhibits unavoidable solidification cracking and ductility dip cracking,and the laser parameter optimization can reduce the crack density to 1.34 mm/mm^(2).Transmission electron microscope(TEM)analysis reveals ultra-fine nanoscaleγ0 phases in the as-built samples due to the high cooling rate during rapid solidification.After HIP treatment,a fully dense structure without cracking defects is achieved,which exhibits an equiaxed structure with grain size~120-180μm and irregularly shapedγ0 precipitates~1-3μm with a prominently high fraction of 86%.The room-temperature tensile test of as-built samples shows a high ultimate tensile strength(σUTS)of 1039.7 MPa and low fracture elongation of 6.4%.After HIP treatment,a significant improvement in ductility(15.7%)and a slight loss of strength(σUTS of 831.7 MPa)are obtained by eliminating the crack defects.Both the as-built and HIP samples exhibit retained highσUTS values of 589.8 MPa and 786.2 MPa,respectively,at 900C.The HIP samples exhibita slight decrease in ductility to~12.9%,indicating excellent high-temperature mechanical performance.Moreover,the abnormal increase in strength and decrease in ductility suggest the critical role of a highγ0 fraction in cracking formation.The intrinsic heat treatment during repeating thermal cycles can induce brittleness and trigger cracking initiation in the heat-affected zone with notable deteriorating ductility.The results indicate that the combination of LPBF and HIP can effectively reduce the crack density and enhance the mechanical properties of Ni_(3)Al-based alloy,making it a promising material for high-temperature applications.展开更多
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons,resulting in muscle weakness and spasticity,eventually leading to death due to respir...Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons,resulting in muscle weakness and spasticity,eventually leading to death due to respiratory failure.Analyses by our group of a casecontrol cohort from an isolated island population have found that genetics plays a significant role in disease etiology(Farrugia Wismayer et al.,2023).展开更多
This paper evaluates different characteristics for earthquake early warning. The scaling relationships between magnitude, epicenter distance and calculated parameters are derived from earthquake event data fi＇om USGS...This paper evaluates different characteristics for earthquake early warning. The scaling relationships between magnitude, epicenter distance and calculated parameters are derived from earthquake event data fi＇om USGS. The standard STA/LTA method is modified by adding two new parameters to eliminate the effects of the spike-type noise and small pulsetype noise ahead of the onset of the P-wave. After the detection of the P-wave, the algorithm extracts 12 kinds of parameters from the first 3 seconds of the P-wave. Then stepwise regression analysis of these parameters is performed to estimate the epicentral distance and magnitude. Six different parameters are selected to estimate the epicentral distance, and the median error for all 419 estimates is 16.5 krn. Four parameters are optimally combined to estimate the magnitude, and the mean error for all events is 0.0 magnitude units, with a standard deviation of 0.5. Finally, based on the estimation results, additional work is proposed to improve the accuracy of the results.展开更多
Composites are composed of multiphase materials, where each phase has specific properties that differ from those of the other phases which can effect on the whole properties of composite. Nanocomposites are class of m...Composites are composed of multiphase materials, where each phase has specific properties that differ from those of the other phases which can effect on the whole properties of composite. Nanocomposites are class of materials that contain at least one phase in the nanometric size range and can be produced by any suitable technique for preparing nanomaterials. Composites are an interesting class of materials that have recently been used in numerous applications, including structural, biomedical, electronics, and environmental applications. In composites, reinforcements might be fibers, particulates, or whiskers. Mechanical alloying(MA) is a promising technique for producing nanocomposite materials that are difficult or impossible to prepare via conventional techniques. In this review, we provide an overview of nanocomposites prepared by the MA process. The mechanism of milling and other milling parameters are overviewed, and insights into sintering categories and parameters are also presented.展开更多
In this paper, a new probabilistic analytical approach, the minimal cut-based recursive decomposition algorithm （MCRDA）, is presented to evaluate the seismic reliability of large-scale lifeline systems. Based on the...In this paper, a new probabilistic analytical approach, the minimal cut-based recursive decomposition algorithm （MCRDA）, is presented to evaluate the seismic reliability of large-scale lifeline systems. Based on the minimal cut searching algorithm, the approach calculates the disjoint minimal cuts one by one using the basic procedure of the recursive decomposition method. At the same time, the process obtains the disjoint minimal paths of the system. In order to improve the computation efficiency, probabilistic inequality is used to calculate a solution that satisfies the prescribed error bound. A series of case studies show that MCRDA converges rapidly when the edges of the systems have low reliabilities. Therefore, the approach can be used to evaluate large-scale lifeline systems subjected to strong seismic wave excitation.展开更多
Markov decision processes （MDPs） and their variants are widely studied in the theory of controls for stochastic discrete- event systems driven by Markov chains. Much of the literature focusses on the risk-neutral cr...Markov decision processes （MDPs） and their variants are widely studied in the theory of controls for stochastic discrete- event systems driven by Markov chains. Much of the literature focusses on the risk-neutral criterion in which the expected rewards, either average or discounted, are maximized. There exists some literature on MDPs that takes risks into account. Much of this addresses the exponential utility （EU） function and mechanisms to penalize different forms of variance of the rewards. EU functions have some numerical deficiencies, while variance measures variability both above and below the mean rewards; the variability above mean rewards is usually beneficial and should not be penalized/avoided. As such, risk metrics that account for pre-specified targets （thresholds） for rewards have been considered in the literature, where the goal is to penalize the risks of revenues falling below those targets. Existing work on MDPs that takes targets into account seeks to minimize risks of this nature. Minimizing risks can lead to poor solutions where the risk is zero or near zero, but the average rewards are also rather low. In this paper, hence, we study a risk-averse criterion, in particular the so-called downside risk, which equals the probability of the revenues falling below a given target, where, in contrast to minimizing such risks, we only reduce this risk at the cost of slightly lowered average rewards. A solution where the risk is low and the average reward is quite high, although not at its maximum attainable value, is very attractive in practice. To be more specific, in our formulation, the objective function is the expected value of the rewards minus a scalar times the downside risk. In this setting, we analyze the infinite horizon MDP, the finite horizon MDP, and the infinite horizon semi-MDP （SMDP）. We develop dynamic programming and reinforcement learning algorithms for the finite and infinite horizon. The algorithms are tested in numerical studies and show encouraging performance.展开更多
Three treatments, sediment plus lake water （S＋W）, sterilized sediment plus lake water （SS＋W）, and sediment plus filtered lake water （S＋FW）, were recruited to investigate the growth characteristics of algae du...Three treatments, sediment plus lake water （S＋W）, sterilized sediment plus lake water （SS＋W）, and sediment plus filtered lake water （S＋FW）, were recruited to investigate the growth characteristics of algae during pre-bloom and the importance of algal inocula in the water column and sediment. The results showed that in the water column, biomass of all algae increased in all treatments when recruitment was initiated, whereas this tendency differed among treatments with further increment of temperature. The process of algal growth consisted of two stages： Stage I, the onset of recruitment and Stage II, the subsequent growth of algae. Compared with S＋W, in Stage I, SS＋W significantly increased the biomass of cyanophytes by 178.70%, and decreased the biomass of non-cyanophytes by 43.40%; In Stage II, SS＋W notably stimulated the growth of all algae, thus incurring the occurrence of phytoplankton bloom. Further analyses revealed that both metabolic activity and photochemical activity of algae were enhanced in SS＋W, which resulted from the releasing of nutrients from sediment. These results suggest that algal growth in Stage II and algal inocula in the water column can be important factors for the formation of phytoplankton bloom. In addition, possible mechanisms promoting algal recruitment and subsequent growth of algae were explored.展开更多
An approach to analyze the seismic reliability of water distribution networks by combining a hydraulic analysis with a first-order reliability method （FORM）, is proposed in this paper. The hydraulic analysis method ...An approach to analyze the seismic reliability of water distribution networks by combining a hydraulic analysis with a first-order reliability method （FORM）, is proposed in this paper. The hydraulic analysis method for normal conditions is modified to accommodate the special conditions necessary to perform a seismic hydraulic analysis. In order to calculate the leakage area and leaking flow of the pipelines in the hydraulic analysis method, a new leakage model established from the seismic response analysis of buried pipelines is presented. To validate the proposed approach, a network with 17 nodes and 24 pipelines is investigated in detail. The approach is also applied to an actual project consisting of 463 nodes and 767 pipelines. The results show that the proposed approach achieves satisfactory results in analyzing the seismic reliability of large-scale water distribution networks.展开更多
An online hybrid test was carried out on a 40-story 120-m high concrete shear wall structure. The structure was divided into two substructures whereby a physical model of the bottom three stories was tested in the lab...An online hybrid test was carried out on a 40-story 120-m high concrete shear wall structure. The structure was divided into two substructures whereby a physical model of the bottom three stories was tested in the laboratory and the upper 37 stories were simulated numerically using ABAQUS. An overlapping domain method was employed for the bottom three stories to ensure the validity of the boundary conditions of the superstructure. Mixed control was adopted in the test. Displacement control was used to apply the horizontal displacement, while two controlled force actuators were applied to simulate the overturning moment, which is very large and cannot be ignored in the substructure hybrid test of high-rise buildings. A series of tests with earthquake sources of sequentially increasing intensities were carried out. The test results indicate that the proposed hybrid test method is a solution to reproduce the seismic response of high-rise concrete shear wall buildings. The seismic performance of the tested precast high-rise building satisfies the requirements of the Chinese seismic design code.展开更多
At least 25 genes,many involved in trafficking,localisation or shaping of membrane organelles,have been identified as causative genes for the neurodegenerative disorder hereditary spastic paraplegia（HSP）.One of the ...At least 25 genes,many involved in trafficking,localisation or shaping of membrane organelles,have been identified as causative genes for the neurodegenerative disorder hereditary spastic paraplegia（HSP）.One of the most commonly mutated HSP genes,atlastin-1, encodes a dynamin-like GTPase that mediates homotypic fusion of endoplasmic reticulum（ER） membranes.However,the molecular mechanisms of atlastin-1-related membrane fusion and axonopathy remain unclear.To better understand its mode of action,we used affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry to identify protein interactors of atlastin in Drosophila.Analysis of 72 identified proteins revealed that the atlastin interactome contains many proteins involved in protein processing and transport,in addition to proteins with roles in mRNA binding,metabolism and mitochondrial proteins.The highest confidence interactor from mass spectrometry analysis, the ubiquitin-selective AAA-ATPase valosin-containing protein（VCP）,was validated as an atlastin-interacting protein,and VCP and atlastin showed overlapping subcellular distributions.Furthermore,VCP acted as a genetic modifier of atlastin：loss of VCP partially suppressed an eye phenotype caused by atlastin overexpression,whereas overexpression of VCP enhanced this phenotype.These interactions between atlastin and VCP suggest a functional relationship between these two proteins,and point to potential shared mechanisms between HSP and other forms of neurodegeneration.展开更多
The design of a new adaptive version of the multiple dependent state(AMDS)sampling plan is presented based on the time truncated life test under the Weibull distribution.We achieved the proposed sampling plan by apply...The design of a new adaptive version of the multiple dependent state(AMDS)sampling plan is presented based on the time truncated life test under the Weibull distribution.We achieved the proposed sampling plan by applying the concept of the double sampling plan and existing multiple dependent state sampling plans.A warning sign for acceptance number was proposed to increase the probability of current lot acceptance.The optimal plan parameters were determined simultaneously with nonlinear optimization problems under the producer’s risk and consumer’s risk.A simulation study was presented to support the proposed sampling plan.A comparison between the proposed and existing sampling plans,namely multiple dependent state(MDS)sampling plans and a modified multiple dependent state(MMDS)sampling plan,was considered under the average sampling number and operating characteristic curve values.In addition,the use of two real datasets demonstrated the practicality and usefulness of the proposed sampling plan.The results indicated that the proposed plan is more flexible and efficient in terms of the average sample number compared to the existing MDS and MMDS sampling plans.展开更多
A novel adaptive multiple dependent state sampling plan(AMDSSP)was designed to inspect products from a continuous manufacturing process under the accelerated life test(ALT)using both double sampling plan(DSP)and multi...A novel adaptive multiple dependent state sampling plan(AMDSSP)was designed to inspect products from a continuous manufacturing process under the accelerated life test(ALT)using both double sampling plan(DSP)and multiple dependent state sampling plan(MDSSP)concepts.Under accelerated conditions,the lifetime of a product follows the Weibull distribution with a known shape parameter,while the scale parameter can be determined using the acceleration factor(AF).The Arrhenius model is used to estimate AF when the damaging process is temperature-sensitive.An economic design of the proposed sampling plan was also considered for the ALT.A genetic algorithm with nonlinear optimization was used to estimate optimal plan parameters to minimize the average sample number(ASN)and total cost of inspection(TC)under both producer’s and consumer’s risks.Numerical results are presented to support the AMDSSP for the ALT,while performance comparisons between the AMDSSP,the MDSSP and a single sampling plan(SSP)for the ALT are discussed.Results indicated that the AMDSSP was more flexible and efficient for ASN and TC than the MDSSP and SSP plans under accelerated conditions.The AMDSSP also had a higher operating characteristic(OC)curve than both the existing sampling plans.Two real datasets of electronic devices for the ALT at high temperatures demonstrated the practicality and usefulness of the proposed sampling plan.展开更多
Majority of the highly populated regions of the United States are susceptible to multiple natural hazards.In such regions,the design and construction of structures under multiple hazards are critical to achieve the ap...Majority of the highly populated regions of the United States are susceptible to multiple natural hazards.In such regions,the design and construction of structures under multiple hazards are critical to achieve the appropriate structural performance and infrastructure resilience.Multi-hazard reliability analysis of structural systems evaluates the system response under multiple random loads,some of which may occur simultaneously,or the effect of one may weaken the structural system before the occurrence of the next event.This paper studies the combined effects of scouring and earthquakes,as two uncorrelated extreme events,on the performance of reinforced concrete highway bridges.In a continuous effort to support future improvement in understanding the impact of multi-hazard loading scenario on bridges and to develop mitigation actions,this paper assesses the seismic vulnerability of a reinforced concrete highway bridge experiencing the effect of erosion due to the increase in frequency of flood events.The analytical fragility approach uses a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model of the bridge cases with various levels of scouring.Because a bridge is system of components,a component level fragility curve is used to track the response of the components for a given ground motion intensity.The system fragility curves are developed to consider the vulnerability of critical components to assess the probability of bridge damage.The results indicate that under multi-hazard scenarios,the component governing the fragility of the bridge system varies depending on the level of scour sustained by the structure.展开更多
The hydrochloric acid recovery from rare earth chloride solutions by continuous vacuum membrane distillation was first experimentally studied, then material balance of the process was calculated, and the equations whi...The hydrochloric acid recovery from rare earth chloride solutions by continuous vacuum membrane distillation was first experimentally studied, then material balance of the process was calculated, and the equations which mathematically stimulate the process were lastly achieved. The results indicate a given RE concentration in circular solutions means its constant HCl concentration during the continuous VMD process, furthermore, increasing RE concentration in feed solutions increases the processing capacity per membrane of the experimental set-up. When keeping constant RE concentration in feed solutions, increasing RE concentration in circular solutions decreases its HCl concentration, and HCl recovery ratio increases accordingly, however, processing capacity per membrane of the experimental set-up decreases at the same time. The mathematical results are in accordance with experimental results.展开更多
Cape Dyer (DYE-M), located on the easternmost point of Baffin Island, is a former DEW line radar station built in 1956-57 which was upgraded in 1993 as part of the current North Warning System. Environmental studies i...Cape Dyer (DYE-M), located on the easternmost point of Baffin Island, is a former DEW line radar station built in 1956-57 which was upgraded in 1993 as part of the current North Warning System. Environmental studies in the late 1990s and early 2000s determined that extensive soil contamination existed across the site, and excavation of six landfills and subsequent reshaping of the area in 2008 disturbed approximately 19,700 m2. A four-year pilot project was conducted between 2009 and 2012 to investigate feasibility of, and determine methods to, accelerate revegetation of the disturbed area through assisted seed dispersal of native and non native species and selective transplantation of slow-growing shrub species. Prior to revegetation efforts, plant surveys conducted in July 2009 determined that 15 species were present in the undisturbed areas, of which Salix arctica (~11%), Vaccinium uliginosum L. (~8%), and Empetrum nigrum L. (~5%) were the predominant species. A total of 14 species (three new) were observed growing on the disturbed areas between 2010 and 2012. The majority of Lolium multiflorum (annual ryegrass) seeds planted as a nurse species in 2009 grew in 2010, but most were stunted and only observed in furrows or sheltered areas at a low density. Salix arctica Pall. (willow) cuttings planted in “islands” of 20-30 cuttings in fall 2009 had a three-year survival rate of 82%, while a second set of cuttings planted in fall 2011 had a one-year survival rate of 93%. Visual observations indicate that patches of new vegetation are becoming more predominant on the disturbed area, especially around the willow islands, indicating the importance of microtopography for successful reclamation in arctic environments. Monitoring over ten or more years will be required to determine the long term success of this project.展开更多
Modelling is a tool used to simulate the performance of any type of WWTP(wastewater treatment plant)which empowers the user to optimize the response of works by changing influent loads and operational conditions with ...Modelling is a tool used to simulate the performance of any type of WWTP(wastewater treatment plant)which empowers the user to optimize the response of works by changing influent loads and operational conditions with minimum effort and low cost.STOAT(sewage treatment operational analysis over time)software is used to simulate the performance of wastewater treatment plants dynamically.In this paper,a model was built by STOAT software for the Hannoville WWTP allowing to analyze and study the enquiries in a shorter period of time associated with laboratory analysis.Additionally,the model can be used to estimate the response of the system to a diversity of problems.The hydraulic shock load was tested for the entire WWTP consequently allowing the application of strategies that guarantee a better performance by presenting the analysis for the entire plant.Through the aid of STOAT software,a model was built for the whole plant with daily sewage volume entering the treatment plant in a year.The study showed whether the plant can accept a higher flow than that it regularly receives or not.This proved to be successful and the plant has the possibility to accept double the hydraulic shock load,meanwhile,the variations of resulting data were acceptable when compared to the Egyptian environmental requirements.展开更多
基金funded by StateGrid Beijing Electric PowerCompany Technology Project,grant number 520210230004.
文摘With the rapid development of renewable energy,the Microgrid Coalition(MGC)has become an important approach to improving energy utilization efficiency and economic performance.To address the operational optimization problem inmulti-microgrid cooperation,a cooperative game strategy based on the Nash bargainingmodel is proposed,aiming to enable collaboration among microgrids to maximize overall benefits while considering energy trading and cost optimization.First,each microgrid is regarded as a game participant,and a multi-microgrid cooperative game model based on Nash bargaining theory is constructed,targeting the minimization of total operational cost under constraints such as power balance and energy storage limits.Second,the Nash bargaining solution is introduced as the benefit allocation scheme to ensure individual rationality and coalition stability.Finally,theAlternating Direction Method of Multipliers(ADMM)is employed to decompose the centralized optimization problem into distributed subproblems for iterative solution,thereby reducing communication burden and protecting privacy.Case studies reveal that the operational costs of the threemicrogrids are reduced by 26.28%,19.00%,and 17.19%,respectively,and the overall renewable energy consumption rate is improved by approximately 66.11%.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22162008)the Science and Technology Supporting Project of Guizhou Province([2022]208)+1 种基金the Guizhou Province Local Government Overseas Study Programthe open project of Guizhou Provincial Double Carbon and Renewable Energy Technology Innovation Research Institute.
文摘The development of an efficient dual-function catalytic-sorption system,which seamlessly integrates reaction and separation into a single step for extractant-free systems,represents a transformative advancement in oxidative desulfurization(ODS)process.In this work,we introduce a novel dualfunction amphiphilic biochar(Mo/CBC)catalyst,functionalized with MoO_(3-x)featuring abundant oxygen vacancies,for highly effective extractant-free ODS.The polarity of the biochar was precisely tailored by varying the amount of KOH,leading to the creation of amphiphilic carriers.Subsequent ball milling facilitated the successful loading of MoO_(3-x)onto the biochar surface via an impregnation-calcination route leveraging carbon reduction,resulting in the synthesis of amphiphilic Mo/CBC catalysts.The amphiphilic nature of these catalysts ensures their stable dispersion within the oil phase,while also facilitating their interaction with the oxidant H2O2 and the adsorption of sulfur-containing oxidation products.Characterization techniques,including EPR,XPS,and in situ XRD,verified the existence of abundant oxygen vacancies obtained by carbon reduction on the amphiphilic Mo/CBC catalysts,which significantly boosted their activity in an extractant-free ODs system.Remarkably,the amphiphilic Mo/CBC catalyst displayed exceptional catalytic performance,achieving a desulfurization efficiency of 99.6%in just 10 min without extraction solvent.DFT theoretical calculations further revealed that H_(2)O_(2)readily dissociates into two OH radicals on the O_(vac)-MoO_(3),overcoming a low energy barrier.This process was identified as a key contributor to the catalyst's outstanding ODS performance.Furthermore,other biochar sources,such as rice straw,bamboo,rapeseed oil cake,and walnut oil cake,were investigated to produce Mo-based amphiphilic biochar catalysts,which all showed excellent desulfurization performance.This work establishes a versatile and highly efficient dual-function catalytic-sorption system by designing amphiphilic biochar catalysts enriched with oxygen vacancies,paving the way for the development of universally applicable ODS catalysts for industrial applications.
文摘The tensile strength at the rock-concrete interface is one of the crucial factors controlling the failure mechanisms of structures,such as concrete gravity dams.Despite the critical importance of the failure mechanism and tensile strength of rock-concrete interfaces,understanding of these factors remains very limited.This study investigated the tensile strength and fracturing processes at rock-mortar interfaces subjected to direct and indirect tensile loadings.Digital image correlation(DIC)and acoustic emission(AE)techniques were used to monitor the failure mechanisms of specimens subjected to direct tension and indirect loading(Brazilian tests).The results indicated that the direct tensile strength of the rock-mortar specimens was lower than their indirect tensile strength,with a direct/indirect tensile strength ratio of 65%.DIC strain field data and moment tensor inversions(MTI)of AE events indicated that a significant number of shear microcracks occurred in the specimens subjected to the Brazilian test.The presence of these shear microcracks,which require more energy to break,resulted in a higher tensile strength during the Brazilian tests.In contrast,microcracks were predominantly tensile in specimens subjected to direct tension,leading to a lower tensile strength.Spatiotemporal monitoring of the cracking processes in the rock-mortar interfaces revealed that they show AE precursors before failure under the Brazilian test,whereas they show a minimal number of AE events before failure under direct tension.Due to different microcracking mechanisms,specimens tested under Brazilian tests showed lower roughness with flatter fracture surfaces than those tested under direct tension with jagged and rough fracture surfaces.The results of this study shed light on better understanding the micromechanics of damage in the rock-concrete interfaces for a safer design of engineering structures.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China[grant numbers 2019YFA0705300,2021YFB3702502]National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant numbers 52001191,52127807,52271035]+3 种基金Independent Research Project of State Key Laboratory of Advanced Special Steel,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced FerrometallurgyShanghai University,China[grant numbers SKLASS 2022-Z10]the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai,China[grant.23ZR1421500]SPMI Project from Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology,China[grant.SPMI2022-06].
文摘Ni3Al-based alloys are excellent candidates for the structural materials used for turbine engines due to their excellent high-temperature properties.This study aims at laser powder bed fusion and post-hot isostatic pressing(HIP)treatment of Ni3Al-based IC^(-2)21 M alloy with a highγ0 volume fraction.The as-built samples exhibits unavoidable solidification cracking and ductility dip cracking,and the laser parameter optimization can reduce the crack density to 1.34 mm/mm^(2).Transmission electron microscope(TEM)analysis reveals ultra-fine nanoscaleγ0 phases in the as-built samples due to the high cooling rate during rapid solidification.After HIP treatment,a fully dense structure without cracking defects is achieved,which exhibits an equiaxed structure with grain size~120-180μm and irregularly shapedγ0 precipitates~1-3μm with a prominently high fraction of 86%.The room-temperature tensile test of as-built samples shows a high ultimate tensile strength(σUTS)of 1039.7 MPa and low fracture elongation of 6.4%.After HIP treatment,a significant improvement in ductility(15.7%)and a slight loss of strength(σUTS of 831.7 MPa)are obtained by eliminating the crack defects.Both the as-built and HIP samples exhibit retained highσUTS values of 589.8 MPa and 786.2 MPa,respectively,at 900C.The HIP samples exhibita slight decrease in ductility to~12.9%,indicating excellent high-temperature mechanical performance.Moreover,the abnormal increase in strength and decrease in ductility suggest the critical role of a highγ0 fraction in cracking formation.The intrinsic heat treatment during repeating thermal cycles can induce brittleness and trigger cracking initiation in the heat-affected zone with notable deteriorating ductility.The results indicate that the combination of LPBF and HIP can effectively reduce the crack density and enhance the mechanical properties of Ni_(3)Al-based alloy,making it a promising material for high-temperature applications.
基金supported by the Malta Council for Science&Technology Fusion R&I Research Excellence Programmethe Malta Council for Science&Technology Internationalisation Partnership Awardthe Anthony Rizzo Memorial ALS Research Fund facilitated by the Research Trust(RIDT)of the University of Malta(to RJC)。
文摘Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons,resulting in muscle weakness and spasticity,eventually leading to death due to respiratory failure.Analyses by our group of a casecontrol cohort from an isolated island population have found that genetics plays a significant role in disease etiology(Farrugia Wismayer et al.,2023).
文摘This paper evaluates different characteristics for earthquake early warning. The scaling relationships between magnitude, epicenter distance and calculated parameters are derived from earthquake event data fi＇om USGS. The standard STA/LTA method is modified by adding two new parameters to eliminate the effects of the spike-type noise and small pulsetype noise ahead of the onset of the P-wave. After the detection of the P-wave, the algorithm extracts 12 kinds of parameters from the first 3 seconds of the P-wave. Then stepwise regression analysis of these parameters is performed to estimate the epicentral distance and magnitude. Six different parameters are selected to estimate the epicentral distance, and the median error for all 419 estimates is 16.5 krn. Four parameters are optimally combined to estimate the magnitude, and the mean error for all events is 0.0 magnitude units, with a standard deviation of 0.5. Finally, based on the estimation results, additional work is proposed to improve the accuracy of the results.
文摘Composites are composed of multiphase materials, where each phase has specific properties that differ from those of the other phases which can effect on the whole properties of composite. Nanocomposites are class of materials that contain at least one phase in the nanometric size range and can be produced by any suitable technique for preparing nanomaterials. Composites are an interesting class of materials that have recently been used in numerous applications, including structural, biomedical, electronics, and environmental applications. In composites, reinforcements might be fibers, particulates, or whiskers. Mechanical alloying(MA) is a promising technique for producing nanocomposite materials that are difficult or impossible to prepare via conventional techniques. In this review, we provide an overview of nanocomposites prepared by the MA process. The mechanism of milling and other milling parameters are overviewed, and insights into sintering categories and parameters are also presented.
基金the Natural Science Fundation of China for the Innovative Research Group of China Under Grant No. 50621062
文摘In this paper, a new probabilistic analytical approach, the minimal cut-based recursive decomposition algorithm （MCRDA）, is presented to evaluate the seismic reliability of large-scale lifeline systems. Based on the minimal cut searching algorithm, the approach calculates the disjoint minimal cuts one by one using the basic procedure of the recursive decomposition method. At the same time, the process obtains the disjoint minimal paths of the system. In order to improve the computation efficiency, probabilistic inequality is used to calculate a solution that satisfies the prescribed error bound. A series of case studies show that MCRDA converges rapidly when the edges of the systems have low reliabilities. Therefore, the approach can be used to evaluate large-scale lifeline systems subjected to strong seismic wave excitation.
文摘Markov decision processes （MDPs） and their variants are widely studied in the theory of controls for stochastic discrete- event systems driven by Markov chains. Much of the literature focusses on the risk-neutral criterion in which the expected rewards, either average or discounted, are maximized. There exists some literature on MDPs that takes risks into account. Much of this addresses the exponential utility （EU） function and mechanisms to penalize different forms of variance of the rewards. EU functions have some numerical deficiencies, while variance measures variability both above and below the mean rewards; the variability above mean rewards is usually beneficial and should not be penalized/avoided. As such, risk metrics that account for pre-specified targets （thresholds） for rewards have been considered in the literature, where the goal is to penalize the risks of revenues falling below those targets. Existing work on MDPs that takes targets into account seeks to minimize risks of this nature. Minimizing risks can lead to poor solutions where the risk is zero or near zero, but the average rewards are also rather low. In this paper, hence, we study a risk-averse criterion, in particular the so-called downside risk, which equals the probability of the revenues falling below a given target, where, in contrast to minimizing such risks, we only reduce this risk at the cost of slightly lowered average rewards. A solution where the risk is low and the average reward is quite high, although not at its maximum attainable value, is very attractive in practice. To be more specific, in our formulation, the objective function is the expected value of the rewards minus a scalar times the downside risk. In this setting, we analyze the infinite horizon MDP, the finite horizon MDP, and the infinite horizon semi-MDP （SMDP）. We develop dynamic programming and reinforcement learning algorithms for the finite and infinite horizon. The algorithms are tested in numerical studies and show encouraging performance.
基金Financial support from Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (No.2008ZX07103-005)the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China(No.2007BAC26B01)
文摘Three treatments, sediment plus lake water （S＋W）, sterilized sediment plus lake water （SS＋W）, and sediment plus filtered lake water （S＋FW）, were recruited to investigate the growth characteristics of algae during pre-bloom and the importance of algal inocula in the water column and sediment. The results showed that in the water column, biomass of all algae increased in all treatments when recruitment was initiated, whereas this tendency differed among treatments with further increment of temperature. The process of algal growth consisted of two stages： Stage I, the onset of recruitment and Stage II, the subsequent growth of algae. Compared with S＋W, in Stage I, SS＋W significantly increased the biomass of cyanophytes by 178.70%, and decreased the biomass of non-cyanophytes by 43.40%; In Stage II, SS＋W notably stimulated the growth of all algae, thus incurring the occurrence of phytoplankton bloom. Further analyses revealed that both metabolic activity and photochemical activity of algae were enhanced in SS＋W, which resulted from the releasing of nutrients from sediment. These results suggest that algal growth in Stage II and algal inocula in the water column can be important factors for the formation of phytoplankton bloom. In addition, possible mechanisms promoting algal recruitment and subsequent growth of algae were explored.
基金Natural Science Funds for the Innovative ResearchGroup of China Under Grant No.50321803
文摘An approach to analyze the seismic reliability of water distribution networks by combining a hydraulic analysis with a first-order reliability method （FORM）, is proposed in this paper. The hydraulic analysis method for normal conditions is modified to accommodate the special conditions necessary to perform a seismic hydraulic analysis. In order to calculate the leakage area and leaking flow of the pipelines in the hydraulic analysis method, a new leakage model established from the seismic response analysis of buried pipelines is presented. To validate the proposed approach, a network with 17 nodes and 24 pipelines is investigated in detail. The approach is also applied to an actual project consisting of 463 nodes and 767 pipelines. The results show that the proposed approach achieves satisfactory results in analyzing the seismic reliability of large-scale water distribution networks.
基金State Key Research Project in 13th Five-Year under Grant No.2016YFC0701901the Beijing Science and Technology Program under Grant No.Z161100001216015the Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants Nos.51422809 and 51778342
文摘An online hybrid test was carried out on a 40-story 120-m high concrete shear wall structure. The structure was divided into two substructures whereby a physical model of the bottom three stories was tested in the laboratory and the upper 37 stories were simulated numerically using ABAQUS. An overlapping domain method was employed for the bottom three stories to ensure the validity of the boundary conditions of the superstructure. Mixed control was adopted in the test. Displacement control was used to apply the horizontal displacement, while two controlled force actuators were applied to simulate the overturning moment, which is very large and cannot be ignored in the substructure hybrid test of high-rise buildings. A series of tests with earthquake sources of sequentially increasing intensities were carried out. The test results indicate that the proposed hybrid test method is a solution to reproduce the seismic response of high-rise concrete shear wall buildings. The seismic performance of the tested precast high-rise building satisfies the requirements of the Chinese seismic design code.
基金supported by Marie Curie Individual Fellowship 236777
文摘At least 25 genes,many involved in trafficking,localisation or shaping of membrane organelles,have been identified as causative genes for the neurodegenerative disorder hereditary spastic paraplegia（HSP）.One of the most commonly mutated HSP genes,atlastin-1, encodes a dynamin-like GTPase that mediates homotypic fusion of endoplasmic reticulum（ER） membranes.However,the molecular mechanisms of atlastin-1-related membrane fusion and axonopathy remain unclear.To better understand its mode of action,we used affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry to identify protein interactors of atlastin in Drosophila.Analysis of 72 identified proteins revealed that the atlastin interactome contains many proteins involved in protein processing and transport,in addition to proteins with roles in mRNA binding,metabolism and mitochondrial proteins.The highest confidence interactor from mass spectrometry analysis, the ubiquitin-selective AAA-ATPase valosin-containing protein（VCP）,was validated as an atlastin-interacting protein,and VCP and atlastin showed overlapping subcellular distributions.Furthermore,VCP acted as a genetic modifier of atlastin：loss of VCP partially suppressed an eye phenotype caused by atlastin overexpression,whereas overexpression of VCP enhanced this phenotype.These interactions between atlastin and VCP suggest a functional relationship between these two proteins,and point to potential shared mechanisms between HSP and other forms of neurodegeneration.
基金This research was supported by Thailand ScienceResearch and Innovation(TSRI)and Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi(RMUTT)under National Science,Research and Innovation Fund(NSRF)BasicResearch Fund:Fiscal year 2022(ContractNo.FRB650070/0168 and under Project number FRB65E0634 M.3).
文摘The design of a new adaptive version of the multiple dependent state(AMDS)sampling plan is presented based on the time truncated life test under the Weibull distribution.We achieved the proposed sampling plan by applying the concept of the double sampling plan and existing multiple dependent state sampling plans.A warning sign for acceptance number was proposed to increase the probability of current lot acceptance.The optimal plan parameters were determined simultaneously with nonlinear optimization problems under the producer’s risk and consumer’s risk.A simulation study was presented to support the proposed sampling plan.A comparison between the proposed and existing sampling plans,namely multiple dependent state(MDS)sampling plans and a modified multiple dependent state(MMDS)sampling plan,was considered under the average sampling number and operating characteristic curve values.In addition,the use of two real datasets demonstrated the practicality and usefulness of the proposed sampling plan.The results indicated that the proposed plan is more flexible and efficient in terms of the average sample number compared to the existing MDS and MMDS sampling plans.
基金This research was supported by The Science,Research and Innovation Promotion Funding(TSRI)(Grant No.FRB650070/0168)This research block grants was managed under Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi(FRB65E0634M.3).
文摘A novel adaptive multiple dependent state sampling plan(AMDSSP)was designed to inspect products from a continuous manufacturing process under the accelerated life test(ALT)using both double sampling plan(DSP)and multiple dependent state sampling plan(MDSSP)concepts.Under accelerated conditions,the lifetime of a product follows the Weibull distribution with a known shape parameter,while the scale parameter can be determined using the acceleration factor(AF).The Arrhenius model is used to estimate AF when the damaging process is temperature-sensitive.An economic design of the proposed sampling plan was also considered for the ALT.A genetic algorithm with nonlinear optimization was used to estimate optimal plan parameters to minimize the average sample number(ASN)and total cost of inspection(TC)under both producer’s and consumer’s risks.Numerical results are presented to support the AMDSSP for the ALT,while performance comparisons between the AMDSSP,the MDSSP and a single sampling plan(SSP)for the ALT are discussed.Results indicated that the AMDSSP was more flexible and efficient for ASN and TC than the MDSSP and SSP plans under accelerated conditions.The AMDSSP also had a higher operating characteristic(OC)curve than both the existing sampling plans.Two real datasets of electronic devices for the ALT at high temperatures demonstrated the practicality and usefulness of the proposed sampling plan.
基金supported by the Iowa Department of Transportation and Midwest Transportation Center.
文摘Majority of the highly populated regions of the United States are susceptible to multiple natural hazards.In such regions,the design and construction of structures under multiple hazards are critical to achieve the appropriate structural performance and infrastructure resilience.Multi-hazard reliability analysis of structural systems evaluates the system response under multiple random loads,some of which may occur simultaneously,or the effect of one may weaken the structural system before the occurrence of the next event.This paper studies the combined effects of scouring and earthquakes,as two uncorrelated extreme events,on the performance of reinforced concrete highway bridges.In a continuous effort to support future improvement in understanding the impact of multi-hazard loading scenario on bridges and to develop mitigation actions,this paper assesses the seismic vulnerability of a reinforced concrete highway bridge experiencing the effect of erosion due to the increase in frequency of flood events.The analytical fragility approach uses a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model of the bridge cases with various levels of scouring.Because a bridge is system of components,a component level fragility curve is used to track the response of the components for a given ground motion intensity.The system fragility curves are developed to consider the vulnerability of critical components to assess the probability of bridge damage.The results indicate that under multi-hazard scenarios,the component governing the fragility of the bridge system varies depending on the level of scour sustained by the structure.
文摘The hydrochloric acid recovery from rare earth chloride solutions by continuous vacuum membrane distillation was first experimentally studied, then material balance of the process was calculated, and the equations which mathematically stimulate the process were lastly achieved. The results indicate a given RE concentration in circular solutions means its constant HCl concentration during the continuous VMD process, furthermore, increasing RE concentration in feed solutions increases the processing capacity per membrane of the experimental set-up. When keeping constant RE concentration in feed solutions, increasing RE concentration in circular solutions decreases its HCl concentration, and HCl recovery ratio increases accordingly, however, processing capacity per membrane of the experimental set-up decreases at the same time. The mathematical results are in accordance with experimental results.
文摘Cape Dyer (DYE-M), located on the easternmost point of Baffin Island, is a former DEW line radar station built in 1956-57 which was upgraded in 1993 as part of the current North Warning System. Environmental studies in the late 1990s and early 2000s determined that extensive soil contamination existed across the site, and excavation of six landfills and subsequent reshaping of the area in 2008 disturbed approximately 19,700 m2. A four-year pilot project was conducted between 2009 and 2012 to investigate feasibility of, and determine methods to, accelerate revegetation of the disturbed area through assisted seed dispersal of native and non native species and selective transplantation of slow-growing shrub species. Prior to revegetation efforts, plant surveys conducted in July 2009 determined that 15 species were present in the undisturbed areas, of which Salix arctica (~11%), Vaccinium uliginosum L. (~8%), and Empetrum nigrum L. (~5%) were the predominant species. A total of 14 species (three new) were observed growing on the disturbed areas between 2010 and 2012. The majority of Lolium multiflorum (annual ryegrass) seeds planted as a nurse species in 2009 grew in 2010, but most were stunted and only observed in furrows or sheltered areas at a low density. Salix arctica Pall. (willow) cuttings planted in “islands” of 20-30 cuttings in fall 2009 had a three-year survival rate of 82%, while a second set of cuttings planted in fall 2011 had a one-year survival rate of 93%. Visual observations indicate that patches of new vegetation are becoming more predominant on the disturbed area, especially around the willow islands, indicating the importance of microtopography for successful reclamation in arctic environments. Monitoring over ten or more years will be required to determine the long term success of this project.
文摘Modelling is a tool used to simulate the performance of any type of WWTP(wastewater treatment plant)which empowers the user to optimize the response of works by changing influent loads and operational conditions with minimum effort and low cost.STOAT(sewage treatment operational analysis over time)software is used to simulate the performance of wastewater treatment plants dynamically.In this paper,a model was built by STOAT software for the Hannoville WWTP allowing to analyze and study the enquiries in a shorter period of time associated with laboratory analysis.Additionally,the model can be used to estimate the response of the system to a diversity of problems.The hydraulic shock load was tested for the entire WWTP consequently allowing the application of strategies that guarantee a better performance by presenting the analysis for the entire plant.Through the aid of STOAT software,a model was built for the whole plant with daily sewage volume entering the treatment plant in a year.The study showed whether the plant can accept a higher flow than that it regularly receives or not.This proved to be successful and the plant has the possibility to accept double the hydraulic shock load,meanwhile,the variations of resulting data were acceptable when compared to the Egyptian environmental requirements.
