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The source–sink ratio during grain filling is a critical factor that affects crop yield in wheat, and the main objective of this study was to determine the source–sink relations at both the canopy scale and the individual culm level under two nitrogen (N) levels at the post-jointing stage. Nine widely-used cultivars were chosen for analyzing source–sink relations in southwestern China; and three typical cultivars of different plant types were subjected to artificial manipulation of the grain-filling source–sink ratio to supplement crop growth measurements. A field experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons under two N rates (N+, 150 kg ha−1; N–, 60 kg ha−1), and three manipulations were imposed after anthesis: control (Ct), removal of flag and penultimate leaves (Lr) and removal of spikelets on one side of each spike (Sr). The results showed that the single grain weights in the three cultivars were significantly decreased by Lr and increased by Sr, which demonstrated that wheat grain yield potential seems more source-limited than sink-limited during grain filling, but the source–sink balance was obviously changed by climatic variations and N deficient environments. Grain yield was highly associated with sink capacity (SICA), grain number, biomass, SPAD values, and leaf area index during grain filling, indicating a higher degree of source limitation with an increase in sink capacity. Therefore, source limitation should be taken into account by breeders when SICA is increased, especially under non-limiting conditions. Chuanmai 104, a half-compact type with a mid-sized spike and a long narrow upper leaf, showed relatively better performance in source–sink relations. Since this cultivar showed the characteristics of a lower reduction in grain weight after Lr, a larger increase after Sr, and a lower reduction in post-anthesis dry matter accumulation,then the greater current photosynthesis during grain filling contributed to the grain after source and sink manipulation.

A series of spinel LiAl xMn2- xO4(x≤ 0.1) cathode materials was synthesized by controlled crystallization and solid state route with micro-spherical Mn3O4as the precursor. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the crystal structure of the synthetic material and the microscopic morphology of the particles. It was found that Al3+doping did not change the spinel structure of the synthesized materials, and the particles had better crystallinity In the charge and discharge test of the synthesized materials, we found that Al3+doping would slightly reduce the discharge capacity, but it could effectively improve the cyclic stability of the material. The initial capacity of LiAl0.04Mn196O4is 121.6 mAh/g. After 100 cycles at a rate of 1 C (1 C = 148 mA/g), the capacity can still reach 112.9 mAh/g, and the capacity retention rate is 96.4%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) suggests that Al3+doping can effectively enhance the diffusion capacity of lithium ions in the material.

To improve the degree of freedom (DoF), and the multi-terminal power supply capability of wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, multi-DoF WPT systems for multiple pickups based on magnetic dipole coils are proposed in this paper, which can simultaneously charge multiple receivers regardless of the position degree. First, the equivalent circuit model of the magnetic dipole coils is provided. The critical factors of the proposed multi-load systems are analyzed, such as transfer efficiency, power distribution, and optimal load. Second, a multi-load wireless power transfer system with equal transmitting (TX) and receiving (RX) coil is designed, and the misalignment tolerance of lateral and rotating occasions for the RX coils is discussed. In particular, a multi-load WPT system with miniaturized step-laminated receivers is implemented based on the magnetic dipole coils. Finally, experimental prototypes are established. The obtained results indicate that the output power for the equal dual-load WPT system can reach more than 78 W with a total efficiency of more than 80% under a transfer distance of length of the receiving coil winding. In addition, the output power of the non-equal four-load WPT system can reach 30 W with a total efficiency of 86%. The proposed systems provide practical guidance for the future development of multi-DoF WPT systems for use in portable devices, unmanned intelligent systems, and smart household applications.

Lighter weight commercial vehicles facilitate faster transport, higher mobility and fuel conservation. Weight reduction and safety are mutually competing objectives. And the safety should not be compromised after weight reduction. Full size crash tests are expensive and time consuming to organize. Using a numerical simulation for predicting crash to the occupants’ safety can minimize the number of such trials. In this paper three virtual crash simulations for the three load cases: Front impact test, Roof strength test and Rear wall strength test are performed according to the European regulation ECE-R29. The explicit finite element program LS-DYNA is used for that purpose. The comparisons between simulation results and test data available in the literature are also presented in this paper.

Focusing on the fluid flow control in oilfield piezoelectric control layered production allocation, an identification-free adaptive control strategy with expert amendment is proposed to solve the problem that it is hard to be controlled due to large time delay, nonlinearity, time variation and difficulty in establishing mathematical model of regulation process. In this control strategy, according to the past and current process information, the process output and trend can be estimated based on expert rules to amend the output of the identification-free adaptive control. The simulation result shows that this control strategy has good robustness and perfect fluid flow control for piezoelectric control layered production allocation process.

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide particles with anatase structure and high thermal stability have been synthesized using the basic sol-gel method. The particle size and morphology were refined under hydrothermal conditions in the presence of different concentrations of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) at 210°C and 230°C. XRD and TEM analysis showed that the TiO2 particles obtained were homogeneous and monodispersive at low contents of TMAH. All intense peaks, clearly observed in the XRD patterns, were assigned to the anatase phase and no rutile phase was observed. At high contents of TMAH, nanoscale small (10–30 nm) and larger (>100 nm) TiO2 particles were one-pot synthesized. The nanocrystalline TiO2 particles synthesized by this method have good thermal stability. With the sintering temperature of up to 650°C, all the XRD peaks maintained good agreement with the anatase reference data.

The ceramic injection molding feedstock of Al2O3-SiC nanocomposite were prepared and studied in detail. Three ways of surface modification including surfactant pre-coating, surface emulsion polymerization and surface low temperature plasma polymerization were used to modify the surface of SiC powders in order to reduce the agglomeration, improve the dispersion and the compatibility with organic media. CIM feedstock with different SiC content and solid loading were prepared through mixing surface modified SiC powders with Al2O3 powders and organic binders. The effect of three ways of surface modification on the viscosity of CIM feedstock were studied and the way of surface emulsion polymerization developed the best action in increasing dispersion, reducing viscosity and improving the solid loading of CIM feedstock.

Summary: Sepsis is a major factor in the high mortality and morbidity following diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in patients with obstructive jaundice. The reasons for this increased susceptibility to infection are not fully understood. We therefore observed prospectively changes in immunological status of patients with obstructive jaundice in the perioperative period and studied immunological effects of parioperative arginine therapy. The results showed that there was a significant reduction in interleukin 2 (IL-2) production, interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) expression and lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) mitogen in patients with obstructive jaundice compared with normal controls. After operation, the immune suppression in patients with obstructive jaundice was more significant. Arginine is a known T lymphocyte stimulator. Perioperative supplement with arginine significantly enhanced tne immune function of patients with obstructive jaundice, the mechanism being related to increased IL-2 production and IL-2R expression.

Summary: To elucidate the mechanism of immunologic abnormalities induced by surgical trauma, we measured interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and IL-2 receptor expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients with cholelithiasis. Compared with preoperative levels, IL-2 production and IL-2 receptor expression were significantly reduced on postoperative day 4, and the reduction was consistent with the suppression of lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin.

Summary: Sepsis remains a major risk in the high mortality and morbidity after surgery for obstructive jaundice. The reasons for the increased susceptibility to infection are unknown. This study examined interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and the lymphocyte response to PHA mitogen in 31 patients with obstructive jaundice. Among them, 18 patients were simultaneously investigated by enumeration of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood with APAAP technique. The results showed that the patients had significantly decreased IL-2 production and lymhocyte response to PHA mitogen. The percentage of Leu 3a (helper/inducer T cell) in the patients was significantly lower than that in normal controls. Leu 3a/Leu 2a (suppressor/cytotoxic T cell) ratio was significantly lower in these patients. The reduction of IL-2 production correlated significantly with the suppression of lymphocyte proliferation but not with the percentage of Leu 3a cells. From these results, it may be suggested that the reduction of IL-2 production in the patients with obstructive jaundice is an important reason for the suppression of T lymphocyte proliferative response, not merely a reflection of the decrease of helper T cells.

Summary: An experimental study of the effect of acute biliary hypertension on hemodynamics and activity of the major splanchnic nerve was conducted in Japanese big ear white rabbits. A catheter with an inflatable rubber bag fixed to its anterior end Was inserted into the extrahepatic biliary duct via the duodenum, and a biliary high pressure of 20 kPa (150 mmHg) was created and maintained for 2 h by inflating the bag with water. The right major splanchnic nerve was isolated and the impulse frequencies of the nerve were recorded during the study. Arterial blood pressure was also dynamically monitored. A significant fall of the arterial blood pressure (P< 0.0l) and an increase in impulse frequency of the nerve (P< 0.01) were found in this “simple type” acute biliary high pressure without infection. Biliary decompression immediately eliminated these abnormalities (P< 0.0l). The drop in blood pressure Was much less prominent if the right splanchnic nerve Was blocked prior to biliary high pressure.

Summary: Sepsis is a common and occasionally lethal complication of obstructive jaundice. The reasons for the increased susceptibility to infection are not fully understood. This study was conducted to examine lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells of patients with obstructive jaundice in perioperative period. In these patients, when compared with normal controls, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of Leu 4 (pan T lymphocytes), Leu 3a (T helper cells) and Leu 7 (natural killer cells) before operation, and the immune suppression induced by surgical operation was more marked and persistent.

Summary: In this study we used an experimental model produced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats to demonstrate relation between immune function and susceptibility to infection associated with obstructive jaundice and immunoregulatory effect of arginine in BDL rats. Our experimental results showed that thymus weight, content of lymphocytes in thymus and responsiveness to Con A in vitro were dramatically reduced in BDL rats as compared to rats with sham operation and that the impairment of lymphocyte function was significantly related to the susceptibility to infection. Arginine, as a T cell stimulator, markedly improved immune function and decreased susceptibility to infection of BDL rats.

Summary: Patients with obstructive jaundice have a high susceptibility to infection in the process of treatment and the reason for this is not fully understood. It was postulated that it may bear some relations to abnormalities of immune function. In this article, 28 cases of obstructive jaundice were selected to investigate alternation of monocyte immune function with the purpose of exploring mechanism of high susceptibility to infection from the perspective of immunology. The results showed that interleukin 1 production by monocytes significantly decreased and prostaglandin E2 increased, HLA-DR expression of monocytes was markably depressed. HLA-DR expression of monocytes was further decreased with recovery slower than non-jaundiced patients after operation. All this may be responsible for high susceptibility to infection in the process of treatment of obstructive jaundice.

Using the moment method, the general solution of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation for the spatially uniform binary mixture of Maxwellian gases for isotropic initial conditions is obtained in Laguerre series. Its general properties and asymptotic behaviors are investigated. For the mixture with arbitrary parameters, a class of similarity solutions is derived. Two BKW solutions for the isotropic scattering model first found by Krook and Wu, are extended to including nonisotropic scattering models.

An experimental study of the effect of acute biliary hypertension on hemodynamics and activity of the major splanchnic nerve was conducted in Japanese big ear white rabbits. A catheter with an inflatable rubber bag fixed to its anterior end Was inserted into the extrahepatic biliary duct via the duodenum, and a biliary high pressure of 20 kPa (150 mmHg) was created and maintained for 2 h by inflating the bag with water. The right major splanchnic nerve was isolated and the impulse frequencies of the nerve were recorded during the study. Arterial blood pressure was also dynamically monitored. A significant fall of the arterial blood pressure (P< 0.0l) and an increase in impulse frequency of the nerve (P< 0.01) were found in this “simple type” acute biliary high pressure without infection. Biliary decompression immediately eliminated these abnormalities (P< 0.0l). The drop in blood pressure Was much less prominent if the right splanchnic nerve Was blocked prior to biliary high pressure.

Summary: Susceptibility to infection in patients with obstructive jaundice is much more higher than non-jaundiced patients. The reasons for this are not completely understood. It is postulated that this may have some relation to changes of patients’ immune function. This article reported the changes of splenocyte IL-2 production and T Suppressor cell activity in rats with obstructive jaundice. Meanwhile, we also investigated effects of cimetidine on immune function in rats with bile duct ligation. The results show that IL-2 production in obstructive jaundiced rats significantly decreased and T suppressor cell activity markably increased. Cimetidine could remarkably enhance IL-2 production and suppress T Suppressor cell activity. Abmormaility of immune function may be one reason for high susceptibility to infection in patients with obstructive jaundice in perioperative period. Cimetidine, which could clearly improve immune function in rats with obstructive jaundice, might be a valuable agent for strengthening the capacity of fighting infection in patients with obstructive jaundice.