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An ordered TiO 2 nanotube array (NTA) film was first fabricated on a Ti substrate by anodization, β-Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles were then electrodeposited on the film for obtaining a heterostructured β-Bi 2 O 3 -TiO 2 NTA composite film with enhanced photocathodic protection performances. Compared to the bare TiO 2 NTA film, the composite film showed a wider light absorption region and higher charge carrier separation efficiency. Under white light illumination, the composite film as a photoanode made the potential of 403 stainless steel in a 0.5 M NaCl solution decrease by 450 mV relative to its corrosion potential, showing an effective photoelectrochemical cathodic protection effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to deal with the error of oblivious key distribution caused by quantum channel noise, a new quantum privacy query (QPQ) protocol with six-qubit with decoherence is proposed. When the error rate caused by quantum channel noise is less than 30%, the final key bit error rate of this protocol is better than that of other QPQ protocols using the same post-processing algorithm. Furthermore, the protocol is also a cheat-sensitive protocol, in which dishonesty of either party can be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Patients with a severe trauma exhibit a strong oxidative stress, an intense inflammatory response, and long-lasting hypermetabolism, all of which are proportional to the severity of injury. In this study, we investigated the impact of trace element (TE) supplementation on the inflammatory response in an animal model of major trauma. New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned as a control group (n=5) and an experimental group (n=70) that, after receiving a major trauma, was subdivided into Trauma-Control (n=35) and Trauma-TE (n=35) groups. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was observed in 40 out of 70 rabbits with a trauma, with a higher incidence in the Trauma-Control group (88.6%; 31/35) than the Trauma-TE group (28.6%; 10/35) (p<0.01). The mortality rate was significantly different between the Trauma-Control and the Trauma-TE groups; (34% vs. 8%; p<0.01). There were significant post-trauma alterations in the levels of (1) serum and spleen zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn), (2) serum AST and ALT, (3) serum interleukin-6/10, and (4) nuclear factor kappa binding (NF-κB) activity and the expression. TE supplementation: (1) improved blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr) levels, (2) stabilized IL-6/10 production, (3) decreased NF-κB p65 production. Appropriate TE supplementation can improve the TE status, mitigate SIRS, and reduce the mortality due to multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS)/multiple organ failure (MOF) after major trauma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To investigate the status of the trace elements (TEs) and related metalloenzymes activities in the injury and repair process after severe trauma, we established a rabbit model of severe trauma whose Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 22. Concentrations of blood selenium (Se) and serum copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and ferritin were measured on D0 (before injury), and day (D) 1, D2, D3, D6, D9, D14, D21, D28 after trauma, respectively. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), the contents of lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum biochemical profile were detected synchronously. In addition, the morphologic changes of major organs were observed at different time intervals. Results showed that blood Se and serum Zn, Fe contents decreased significantly within 2 weeks after injury. Serum Cu concentration was significantly reduced on D1 but normalized quickly. Serum ferritin level increased during the first week while following an obvious decrease thereafter. The blood GPx activity dropped markedly from D1 to D6, the serum Cu/Zn-SOD activity decreased on D1 and then increased significantly within 2 weeks, and the blood MPO-positive stained cells increased within a week after trauma and followed by a decrease from D14 to D21. The serum MDA increased significantly on D6. Seven of 34 rabbits died in 4–6 days after injury. Biochemistry values and pathological features revealed these rabbits died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Our experiment suggested that the circulating TEs status is dramatically modified in response to trauma, which might be a factor in MODS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Modular steel construction has become increasingly popular in recent years, owing to its superiority in construction speed and quality. Corrugated steel plates are commonly used as the surface enclosure and lateral force resisting component for the module unit. However, establishing precise finite element models considering all geometric characteristics of corrugated steel plate shear walls (CSPSWs) is complex, especially for walls that include openings. Consequently, it is necessary to develop a high efficiency analysis model (HEAM) for CSPSWs to perform the dynamic structural analysis. In this paper, the skeleton curve and hysteretic regulation of CSPSWs were proposed, and universal formulas were deduced to determine the hysteretic model of CSPSWs. In addition, equivalent cross braces were proposed to simulate the seismic performance of CSPSWs, and the design parameters of the equivalent cross braces were determined according to the equivalence of the load bearing capacity and mass. The accuracy and reasonability of the HEAM were validated against available cyclic test data on CSPSWs. Furthermore, the HEAM was verified at the structural level by comparing the dynamic response of the HEAM with the precise analysis model (PAM) for a six-story and a 20-story modular container structure, respectively. The comparisons demonstrated that the HEAM was capable of providing a conservative prediction of the dynamic response of CSPSWs under earthquake compared to the PAM. The HEAM developed in this study was helpful in improving the analysis efficiency of CSPSWs and can be adopted for the nonlinear seismic analysis of modular steel construction. • A high efficiency analysis model (HEAM) for CSPSWs was developed and verified. • The equivalent cross braces were proposed to simulate the seismic behavior of CSPSWs. • Skeleton curve and hysteretic regulation for CSPSWs were proposed and verified. • The HEAM can be used for dynamic analysis of CSPSWs both with and without openings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A platelike ZnS-Bi 2 S 3 /TiO 2 /WO 3 composite film was synthesized on an FTO substrate. • The composite film showed enhanced photoelectric effect for photocathodic protection. • The composite film had charge storage ability to maintain photocathodic protection. Abstract A novel platelike ZnS-Bi 2 S 3 /TiO 2 /WO 3 composite film was constructed on a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate through hydrothermal treatment combined with thermal hydrolysis and successive ion layer absorption and reaction. The composite film showed enhanced photoelectrochemical performances compared with a pure WO 3 film. The ZnS-Bi 2 S 3 /TiO 2 /WO 3 film under white light illumination could negatively shift the potential of the coupled 403 stainless steel in a 0.5 M NaCl solution by 540 mV relative to its corrosion potential, showing effective photocathodic protection. After the light was stopped, the composite film continuously provided the cathodic protection for 18 h owing to its charge storage ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined hydrothermal reaction and sequential chemical bath deposition method is developed for fabricating a Bi 2 S 3 modified single crystalline rutile TiO 2 nanorod array film on transparent conductive glass. The results indicate that the modification of Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles extends the photoresponse of the Bi 2 S 3 /TiO 2 composite film into the visible light region, and enhances its photoactivity. The Bi 2 S 3 /TiO 2 film can serve as a photoanode in a photoelectrochemical cell and provide more effective photogenerated cathodic protection for 403 stainless steel in a corrosion cell with a 0.5 M NaCl solution under white or visible light illumination compared with the pure TiO 2 film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cathodic Pt/C catalyst degradation for a direct dimethyl ether fuel cell (DDFC) has been investigated after a 70.5 h galvostatic operation at 60 °C under ambient pressure. The cathode electrochemical active surface (EAS) reduces from 349 to 267 cm 2 mg −1 Pt after durability test. Cathode EAS loss is associated with the growth of Pt catalyst particles. XRD and TEM results show that the particle size of cathodic Pt catalyst increases from an original value of 3.0 nm to 5.4 nm. Furthermore, the anode failure accelerates dimethyl ether (DME) crossover, and consequently, poisoning of catalyst by absorbed DME and/or intermediates aggravates the degradation of cathodic Pt/C catalyst. The effect of anode degradation on the long-term performance of DDFC has been reported in companion article (Part I). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• we concentrate on the stator vibration properties which are more close related to the exciting magnetic forces but less interfered by bearing failure signals, as a supplement to the existed rotor vibration characteristics which have been widely studied by other researchers. • we take into account not only the conventional radial rotor eccentricity, but also the axial rotor eccentricity and the combined rotor eccentricity (mixture of both radial and axial eccentricities), which may widen the view-sight on this topic. • we investigate not only the radial vibration properties which have been always paid sufficient attention by scholars, but also the axial vibration characteristics which have been rarely studied. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the stator vibration properties in synchronous generators under varied static air–gap eccentricity (SAGE) conditions. Current studies mainly focus on the electromechanical and thermal properties such as stator/rotor vibration, electromagnetic torque, phase current, stator temperature, etc., in single and combined faults composed of SAGE and winding interturn short circuit, while the dangerous position of the stator core due to the over stator vibrations caused by 3D SAGE is rarely investigated. Differently from the other researches, this work concentrates on the radial magnetic pull per unit area (MPPUA) and the axial unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) on the stator to investigate the radial and the axial vibrations, taking into account not only the conventional radial SAGE, but also the axial SAGE and the combined SAGE (mixture of radial SAGE and axial SAGE). A 5kVA two-pole prototype synchronous generator, which is designed and manufactured by the authors, is employed as the study object of the finite element analysis (FEA) and the experiment for a validation. The proposed study as well as the 3D eccentricity simulating structure scheme of the prototype generator can be used as a reference for the further/similar investigations. It is shown that the most dangerous position of the stator core is close to the minimum air gap length point. Such conclusion can be employed to detect the detailed 3D eccentricity location and specifically prevent the insulation damage of the stator core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]