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This study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic, clinical, pathological characteristics, and treatment of patients with Castleman disease (CD) in a single center in China. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 65 Chinese CD patients, divided into unicentric CD (UCD) and multicentric CD (MCD) groups, and also microscopic subtypes as hypervascular (HV), plasmacytic (PC) and Mixed. Based on whether HHV-8 infection existed, MCD was subdivided into HHV-8-associated MCD and idiopathic Castleman disease (iMCD). Detailed epidemiologic, clinicopathological, and treatment data were analyzed and discussed. Of total 65 patients (UCD 33, MCD 32), HV (81.8%) accounted for the most of UCD and total. More females in UCD (60.6%) and more males in MCD (65.6%) were observed. CD occurred in all age groups, most commonly in 40–49 years. The mean age of onset of total was 38.5 years with PC higher than HV (45.5 vs. 35.1 years, P = 0.0413). The median diagnosis delay of MCD was longer than that of UCD (3.00 vs. 1.25 months, P = 0.0436). Abdomen (39.4%) and neck (30.3%) were the most-seen locations of lymphadenopathy in UCD, with neck (65.6%) being predominant in MCD. Mean major diameter of specimens of UCD was greater than MCD (6.4 vs. 3.1 cm, P < 0.0001). These results provided the featured and detailed profile of Castleman disease in Henan province in China with a considerable number of cases, which presented distinct evidence with other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As biological studies become more expensive to conduct, it is a frequently encountered question that how to take advantage of the available auxiliary covariate information when the exposure variable is not measured. In this paper, we propose an induced cure rate mean residual life time regression model to accommodate the survival data with cure fraction and auxiliary covariate, in which the exposure variable is only assessed in a validation set, but a corresponding continuous auxiliary covariate is ascertained for all subjects in the study cohort. Simulation studies elucidate the practical performance of the proposed method under finite samples. As an illustration, we apply the proposed method to a heart disease data from the Study of Left Ventricular Dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among recent measures for risk management, value at risk (VaR) has been criticized because it is not coherent and expected shortfall (ES) has been criticized because it is not robust to outliers. Recently, [Math. Oper. Res., 38, 393–417 (2013)] proposed a risk measure called median shortfall (MS) which is distributional robust and easy to implement. In this paper, we propose a more generalized risk measure called quantile shortfall (QS) which includes MS as a special case. QS measures the conditional quantile loss of the tail risk and inherits the merits of MS. We construct an estimator of the QS and establish the asymptotic normality behavior of the estimator. Our simulation shows that the newly proposed measures compare favorably in robustness with other widely used measures such as ES and VaR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of well-defined and uniform pore-structure (WDUPS) TiO2/SiO2 supports with various percentages of rutile TiO2 was developed. Then Fe was introduced into the as-prepared WDUPS supports by incipient wetness impregnation to obtain WDUPS Fe/TiO2/SiO2 catalysts for the Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Due to a similar surface OH density in the supports and the same pore structure and Fe loading, the catalytic performance of WDUPS catalysts dominated by percentages of rutile TiO2. Based on the catalytic performance for FT synthesis and the characterization of the H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the results suggested that rutile TiO2 acted as a structure promoter in titania-supported iron catalysts and led to an increase in the catalytic activity during FT synthesis. The C5+ selectivity had an increase as the percentage of the rutile phase increased, which was also probably because of rutile TiO2 as a structure promoter for enhancing chain growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Hepatic steatosis that occasionally results in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many studies have shown that autophagy exerts protective effects on liver damage caused by various diseases and melatonin exhibits hepatoprotective properties. However, the mechanisms of liver injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and the effect of melatonin on the regulation of liver injury remain unclear. Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the role of CIH in steatohepatitis progression and the regulatory function of melatonin on fatty liver sensitivity to CIH injury, mainly focusing on autophagy signaling. Methods: A high-fat diet (FD)-induced obesity mouse model was subjected to intermittent hypoxia/normoxia events for approximately 8 h per day using an autophagy agonist, rapamycin, or an inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), and SRT1720, a sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activator, or sirtinol, a SIRT1 inhibitor, with or without melatonin for a total of six successive weeks, followed by assessment of expression of autophagy-related genes and activity of serum aminotransferase as well as histological evaluation of tissue morphology. Results: Neither FD nor CIH alone causes significant liver injury; however, the combination yielded higher serum aminotransferase activities and more severe histological changes, accompanied by a decrease in autophagy activity. Melatonin markedly inhibited FD/CIH-stimulated liver injury by enhancing autophagy. In contrast, SIRT1 inhibition resulted in a decrease in the expression of melatonin-induced autophagy-related genes as well as diminished its protective effects on FD/CIH-induced liver injury. Conclusion: These results suggest that melatonin could ameliorate FD/CIH-induced hepatocellular damage by activating SIRT1-mediated autophagy signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is known to play key roles in the development of endothelial cell apoptosis induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), and the angiotensin II-phospholipase C-inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (AngII-PLC-IP3) pathway has been demonstrated to induce ER stress. To explore whether the AngII-PLC-IP3 pathway is involved in the vascular damage induced by CIH, we examined whether the AngII-PLC-IP3 pathway is involved in ER stress induced by CIH and whether losartan, a selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blocker, could suppress endothelial cell apoptosis induced by CIH. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to 8 h/day of intermittent hypoxia/normoxia, with or without losartan, a selective AT1R blocker, and/or U73122, a selective PLC inhibitor, for 8 weeks. Endothelial cell apoptosis, ER stress markers, and levels of PLC-γ1 and IP3R expression were determined. Results: Losartan prevented increases in PLC-γ1 and IP3R protein levels and inhibited ER stress markers induced by CIH. Addition of U73122 reproduced all the protective effects of losartan. Losartan administration before CIH significantly ameliorated CIH-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. Conclusions: This study showed that the AngII-PLC-IP3 pathway is involved in ER stress induced by CIH and that pre-losartan administration ameliorates endothelial cell apoptosis following CIH partly via inhibition of the AngII-PLC-IP3 pathway and ER stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the occurrence, seasonal-spatial distribution characteristics, and attenuation process of 15 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in riverside sections of Beiyun River of Beijing. The overall PPCP levels both in surface water and riverside groundwater were moderate on the global scale, and showed higher concentrations in the dry season mainly caused by water temperature variation. Caffeine (CF), carbamazepine (CBZ), metoprolol (MTP), N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), diclofenac (DF), bezafibrate (BF), and gemfibrozil (GF) were seven representative PPCPs, because the rest eight studied compounds occurred in low concentrations and less than 15% of the total concentration of PPCPs. Caffeine and bezafibrate, respectively, was the most abundant compound in surface water and riverside groundwater, with median concentrations of 3020.0 and 125.0 ng L. Total concentrations of PPCPs in surface water were much higher than those in the riverside groundwater spatially. Attenuation of PPCPs during riverbank filtration was largely depending on the sources, site hydrogeological conditions, and physical-chemical properties of PPCPs, also was influenced by dissolved organic matter and environmental physicochemical parameters. CF, MTP, DEET, and CBZ were potential groundwater attenuation contaminants; DF, BF, and GF were groundwater-enriched contaminants based on their removal rates. Predominant removal mechanism of PPCPs like CF was biodegradation. Attenuation simulation showed that the one-way supply between Beiyun River and riverside groundwater, and further confirmed Beiyun River, was the main source of pharmaceutical compounds in the riverside groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-dimensional Rayleigh-Taylor instability problem is simulated with a multiple-relaxation-time discrete Boltzmann model with a gravity term. Viscosity, heat conductivity, and Prandtl number effects are probed from macroscopic and nonequilibrium viewpoints. In the macro sense, both viscosity and heat conduction show a significant inhibitory effect in the reacceleration stage, which is mainly achieved by inhibiting the development of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Before this, the Prandtl number effect is not sensitive. Viscosity, heat conductivity, and Prandtl number effects on nonequilibrium manifestations and the degree of correlation between the nonuniformity and the nonequilibrium strength in the complex flow are systematically investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structures of complexes [Tb(3-Br-4-MBA)phen]( 1), [Ho(3-Br-4-MBA)(phen)HO]( 2) and [Er(3-Br-4-MBA)(phen)HO]( 3) (3-Br-4-MBA=3-bromine-4-methylbenzoate, phen=1,10-phenanthroline) have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. All obtained products were examined and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, IR, UV and XRD techniques. The thermogravimetric analysis of 1 to 3 was studied, indicating that the decomposition processes of 2 and 3 are different from 1. The mass loss of the first step for 2 and 3 is attributed to the HO molecules. The three-dimensional IR accumulation spectra of gaseous of 1 to 3 were also recorded. Complex 1 emits strong and bright green fluorescence under UV light at the room temperature. The bacteriostatic activities of the three complexes against bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and fungus (Candida albicans) were tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Competition between intercropped species is important for yield advantage, but little attention has been given to interspecific competitive dynamics in intercropping. Methods: A field experiment with five cropping systems (wheat/maize, barley/maize intercropping, wheat, maize and barley sole cropping), two N levels (0 and 225 kg N ha) and two maize mulching treatments (with and without) were performed. Sequential harvest of subplots was performed between 7 and 10 times, and the data were fitted to a logistic growth model. Results: Intercropping significantly increased the maximum biomass and maximum growth rates of wheat and barley, but suppressed the early and maximum growth rate of intercropped maize. Maize growth recovered after the wheat or barley was harvested. In the presence of film mulch and/or fertilization, maximum biomass of intercropped maize was close to or significantly higher than that of maize alone. Fertilization and film mulching had much stronger effects on growth of maize than on wheat and barley. Conclusions: Interspecific competitive dynamics regulated by fertilization and film mulching can be quantified by the logistic model, which is helpful to understand the yield advantage of intercropping. This has important implications for managing interspecific competition through agronomic practices at field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidences revealed that the alteration of microRNAs (miRNAs) might be associated with neuroplasticity induced by voluntary running wheel (RW) exercise in mice suffered from traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the present study, we explored the possible role of miR21 involved in the cognitive improvement following voluntary RW in TBI mice. Firstly, in situ hybridization and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were employed to determine the hippocampal expression and location of miR21 in TBI mice with or without spontaneous RW. Either miR21-mimics/plenti-miR21 or miR21-agomir/miR21-sponge was employed to regulate the miR21 expression in vivo and in vitro. Acquisition of spatial learning and memory retention was assessed by Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Golgi stain was also performed to evaluate the alteration of hippocampal dendrite. Our finding confirmed that the elevated miR21 level in hippocampal post-TBI was significantly reduced by spontaneous RW. Overexpression of miR21 in TBI mice with spontaneous RW induced deteriorations in spatial learning and memory retention by significant decreases in the somata size and branch points of the hippocampus neurons. In vitro transduction with miR21 also reduced the neurite extension and the area of cultured hippocampal neuron. However, miR21 down-regulation reversed these effects. The present data strongly suggest that miR21 is an important molecule that has been involved in neuroprotection induced by voluntary RW exercise post-TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbon ceramic electrode was modified with a thin film composed of overoxidized polypyrrole, CuO and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The surface morphology, electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of glucose of the modified electrode were studied in detail. Benefiting from the high electrocatalytic activity of CuO, the selectivity of OPpy film, and the fast electron transfer rate promoted by MWCNTs, this modified electrode displays good stability, selectivity, high electrocatalytic activity and a low detection limit for the determination of glucose in pH 13 solution. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range for the determination of glucose by cyclic voltammetry is from 20 μM to 10 mM, and the detection limit is 4.0 μM (at an SNR of 3). The amperometric calibration plot covers the 0.20 μM to 2.0 mM concentration range, and the detection limit is 50 nM. The highest sensitivity for the determination of glucose is 3922.6 μA mM cm. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous theoretical and experimental efforts have been paid to describe and understand the dislocation and void nucleation processes that are fundamental for dynamic fracture modeling of strained metals. To date an essential physical picture on the self-organized atomic collective motions during dislocation creation, as well as the essential mechanisms for the void nucleation obscured by the extreme diversity in structural configurations around the void nucleation core, is still severely lacking in literature. Here, we depict the origin of dislocation creation and void nucleation during uniaxial high strain rate tensile processes in face-centered-cubic (FCC) ductile metals. We find that the dislocations are created through three distinguished stages: (i) Flattened octahedral structures (FOSs) are randomly activated by thermal fluctuations; (ii) The double-layer defect clusters are formed by self-organized stacking of FOSs on the close-packed plane; (iii) The stacking faults are formed and the Shockley partial dislocations are created from the double-layer defect clusters. Whereas, the void nucleation is shown to follow a two-stage description. We demonstrate that our findings on the origin of dislocation creation and void nucleation are universal for a variety of FCC ductile metals with low stacking fault energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholinesterases (ChEs) have been identified in vertebrates and invertebrates. Inhibition of ChE activity in invertebrates, such as bivalve molluscs, has been used to evaluate the exposure of organophosphates, carbamate pesticides, and heavy metals in the marine system. The golden apple snail ( Pomacea canaliculata) is considered as one of the worst invasive alien species harmful to rice and other crops. The ChE(s) in this animal, which has been found recently, but poorly characterized thus far, could serve as biomarker(s) for environmental surveillance as well as a potential target for the pest control. In this study, the tissue distribution, substrate preference, sensitivity to ChE inhibitors, and molecular species of ChEs in P. canaliculata were investigated. It was found that the activities of both AChE and BChE were present in all test tissues. The intestine had the most abundant ChE activities. Both enzymes had fair activities in the head, kidney, and gills. The BChE activity was more sensitive to tetra-isopropylpyrophosphoramide (iso-OMPA) than the AChE. Only one BChE molecular species, 5.8S, was found in the intestine and head, whereas two AChE species, 5.8S and 11.6S, were found there. We propose that intestine ChEs of this snail may be potential biomarkers for manipulating pollutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous work, we have pointed out that the shock-induced phase transition in iron occurs with the help of interface energy which reduces the potential barrier between two phases. Here, through studying the nucleation and growth mechanisms of hcp domains in compressed iron, we find that the flatted-octahedral-structure (FOS) is the primary structural unit of the embryo nucleus and phase interface of hcp domains, and the interfacial energy is reduced via formation of FOSs. The phase transition process can be described by the following four stages: (i) Some atoms deviate from their equilibrium positions with the aid of thermal fluctuations to form FOSs with two different deformation directions in the local region; (ii) FOSs with different deformation directions aggregate to form a thin stratified structure like twin-crystal configuration; (iii) The thin stratified structure undergoes a relative slip to form the new hcp phase; (iv) The hcp phase domain grows up through the formation of new FOSs along the phase boundary. In addition, through comparing the time evolution curves of initial single phase domain, we find that the growth rate of single phase domain depends on the loading way and its occurrence time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper we extend the Multiple-Relaxation-Time (MRT) Lattice Boltzmann (LB) model proposed in [ Europhys. Lett., 2010, 90: 54003] so that it is suitable also for incompressible flows. To decrease the artificial oscillations, the convection term is discretized by the flux limiter scheme with splitting technique. A new model is validated by some well-known benchmark tests, including Riemann problem and Couette flow, and satisfying agreements are obtained between the simulation results and analytical ones. In order to show the merit of LB model over traditional methods, the non-equilibrium characteristics of system are solved. The simulation results are consistent with the physical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergence and time evolution of micro-structured new-phase domains play a crucial role in determining the macroscopic physical and mechanical behaviors of iron under shock compression. Here, we investigate, through molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical modelings, shock-induced phase transition process of iron from body-centered-cubic (bcc) to hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) structure. We present a central-moment method and a rolling-ball algorithm to calculate and analyze the morphology and growth speed of the hcp phase domains, and then propose a phase transition model to clarify our derived growth law of the phase domains. We also demonstrate that the new-phase evolution process undergoes three distinguished stages with different time scales of the hcp phase fraction in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavity growth in ductile metal materials under dynamic loading is investigated via the material point method. Two typical cavity effects in the region subjected to rarefaction wave are identified: (i) part of material particles flow away from the cavity in comparison to the initial loading velocity, (ii) local regions show weaker negative or even positive pressures. Neighboring cavities interact via coalescence of isobaric contours. The growth of cavity under tension shows staged behaviors. After the initial slow stage, the volume and the dimensions in both the tensile and transverse directions show linear growth rate with time until the global tensile wave arrives at the upper free surface. It is interesting that the growth rate in the transverse direction is faster than that in the tensile direction. The volume growth rate linearly increases with the initial tensile velocity. After the global tensile wave passed the cavity, both the maximum particle velocity in the tensile direction and the maximum particle velocity in the opposite direction increase logarithmically with the initial tensile speed. The shock wave reflected back from the cavity and compression wave from the free surface induce the initial behavior of interfacial instabilities such as the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability, which is mainly responsible for the irregularity in the morphology of deformed cavity. The local temperatures and distribution of hot spots are determined by the plastic work. Compared with the dynamical process, the heat conduction is much slower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a lattice Boltzmann model for combustion and detonation. In this model the fluid behavior is described by a finite-difference lattice Boltzmann model by Gan et al. [Physica A, 2008, 387: 1721]. The chemical reaction is described by the Lee-Tarver model [Phys. Fluids, 1980, 23: 2362]. The reaction heat is naturally coupled with the flow behavior. Due to the separation of time scales in the chemical and thermodynamic processes, a key technique for a successful simulation is to use the operator-splitting scheme. The new model is verified and validated by well-known benchmark tests. As a specific application of the new model, we studied the simple steady detonation phenomenon. To show the merit of LB model over the traditional ones, we focus on the reaction zone to study the non-equilibrium effects. It is interesting to find that, at the von Neumann peak, the system is nearly in its thermodynamic equilibrium. At the two sides of the von Neumann peak, the system deviates from its equilibrium in opposite directions. In the front of von Neumann peak, due to the strong compression from the reaction product behind the von Neumann peak, the system experiences a sudden deviation from thermodynamic equilibrium. Behind the von Neumann peak, the release of chemical energy results in thermal expansion of the matter within the reaction zone, which drives the system to deviate the thermodynamic equilibrium in the opposite direction. From the deviation from thermodynamic equilibrium, Δ*, defined in this paper, one can understand more on the macroscopic effects of the system due to the deviation from its thermodynamic equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study indicates suspended water films, driven by crossed square-wave electric fields, may act as 'washers', 'centrifuges' and 'mixers'. Based on our recent model successfully describing experimentally observed electro-hydrodynamical flows in water films, we derive conditions for generating specific rotational flows. Our main findings, which are advantageous for microfluidic devices and basic research, are as follows: (1) the film's rotational patterns depend on the phase difference $$\Updelta\varphi$$ and frequencies f of the applied fields. (2) For $$\Updelta\varphi=\pi/2$$ and $$f\sim10^{-1}-10^{0}$$ Hz, the film exhibits symmetrical reciprocating rotations, i.e. it constitutes a washer. (3) For $$\Updelta\varphi=0$$ and any f, it exhibits an ordinary anticlockwise (or clockwise) rotation, i.e. it constitutes a centrifuge or motor. (4) For $$\Updelta\varphi$$ with other values and f below 1 Hz, it exhibits asymmetrical reciprocating rotations, it constitutes an asymmetrical mixer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this mini-review we summarize the progress of Lattice Boltzmann (LB) modeling and simulating compressible flows in our group in recent years. Main contents include (i) Single-Relaxation-Time (SRT) LB model supplemented by additional viscosity, (ii) Multiple-Relaxation-Time (MRT) LB model, and (iii) LB study on hydrodynamic instabilities. The former two belong to improvements of physical modeling and the third belongs to simulation or application. The SRT-LB model supplemented by additional viscosity keeps the original framework of Lattice Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (LBGK). So, it is easier and more convenient for previous SRT-LB users. The MRT-LB is a completely new framework for physical modeling. It significantly extends the range of LB applications. The cost is longer computational time. The developed SRT-LB and MRT-LB are complementary from the sides of convenience and applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present paper are threefold. First, we further study the fast Fourier transform thermal lattice Boltzmann (FFT-TLB) model for van der Waals (VDW) fluids proposed in Phys. Rev. E, 2011, 84(4): 046715. We analyze the merits of the FFT approach over the traditional finite difference scheme and investigate the effects of smoothing factors on accuracy and stability in detail. Second, we incorporate the VDW equation of state with flexible parameters into the FFT-TLB model. As a result, the revised model may be used to handle multiphase flows with various critical densities and temperatures. Third, we design appropriate boundary conditions for systems with solid walls. These improvements, from the views of numerics and physics, significantly extend the application scope of the model in science and engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) has been identified as the main pathogenic factors of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer, and the Class I carcinogen of gastric cancer by WHO. Vaccine has become the most effective measure to prevent and cure H. pylori infection. The UreB is the most effective and common immunogen of all strains of H. pylori and may stimulate the immunoresponse protecting the human body against the challenge of H. pylori. UreB antigen gene was cloned into the binary vector pBI121 which contains a seed-specific promoter Oleosin of peanut and a kanamycin resistance gene, and then UreB gene was transformed into peanut embryo leaflets by Agrobacter-mediated method. The putative transgenic plants were examined for the presence of UreB in the nuclear genome of peanut plants by PCR analysis. Expression of UreB gene in plants was identified by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. These results suggest that the UreB transgenic peanut can be potentially used as an edible vaccine for controlling H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antimicrobial resistance and the character of integrons were determined in 58 Shigella flexneri strains isolated from China. All isolates were multi-drug resistant and found to carry integrons of class 1 (94.8%), class 2 (100%), or both (94.8%). No intI3 was detected. The typical class 1 integrons were found in conjugative plasmids and could be transferred to the recipient E. coli DH5α. The gene cassettes of typical class 1 integrons dfrA17- aadA5 and dfrA12- orfF- aadA2 were detected in 54 strains (93.1%) and 1 strain, respectively. Atypical class 1 integrons located on the chromosome with gene cassettes bla- aadA1 were detected in 55 isolates (94.8%). All the intI2 positive isolates carried gene cassettes dfrA1- sat1- aadA1. To our knowledge, this is the first report that atypical and typical class 1 integrons coexisted with class 2 integron in multi-drug resistant S. flexneri strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on statistical damage mechanics, the constitutive model of a rock under three-dimensional stress was established by the law that the statistical strength of rock micro-element obeys Weibull distribution. The acoustic emission (AE) evolution model of rock failure was put forward according to the view that rock damage and AE were consistent. Moreover, in the failure process of rock under three-dimensional stress, the change in relationship between stress condition parameter and the characteristic parameters of AE, such as the event number and its change rate, were studied. Also, the rock AE characteristic under uniaxial compression was analyzed in theory and verified with examples. The results indicate that the cumulative event number and change rate of AE in rock failure are determined by stress state parameter F. Along with the gradual increase of F, first the cumulative event number increases gradually, then rapidly, and then slowly after the stress peak. The form of change rate of an event by increasing F is consistent with the distribution form of rock micro-element strength. The model explained the phenomenon that a relatively quiet period of AE appears before rock rupture that is observed by many researchers in experiments. Verification examples indicate that the AE evolution model is consistent with the test results, so the model is reasonable and correct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using self-developed gas-seepage experimental installation, under the same effective stress conditions, coal permeability experiments on different adsorption characteristics of gases, different temperatures and different gas adsorption contents were performed, and the influence law of adsorption on coal permeability was studied. At the same time, experimental analogy showed clearly that gas drawing plucks the permeability variation law. The results show that adsorption has a major impact on coal permeability. The greater the adsorption, the more the gas adsorption capacity and the coal permeability becomes smaller. Permeability becomes smaller along with confining of pressure and temperature, and this is in accord with local practice results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sap flow and environmental conditions were monitored at two Eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake) plantations at Hetou and Jijia, located in Leizhou, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province. It was found that daily sap flux density (SFD) of Eucalyptus was closely related to daily atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) ( R 2=0.76, P=0.01 at Hetou and R 2=0.7021, P=0.01 at Jijia) at both sites. No significant relationship existed between daily SFD and mean daily air temperature at both sites. Daily SFD varied with wind speed Y=−17585 X 3+15147 X 2−1250.7 X+2278.4 ( R 2=0.68; P=0.01) at Hetou and Y=−101.67 X 3−1.65 X 2−376.4 X+1914.8 ( R 2=0.40, P=0.05) at Jijia, where Y was daily SFD, X was daily wind speed. Experimental observations yielded the following data: (1) the critical lower and upper daily VPD threshold were 0 and 2 kPa, within which daily SFD varied from 540±70 L/(m2·d) to 4739±115 L/(m2·d) at Hetou site, from 397±26 L/(m2·d) to 3414±191 L/(m2·d) at Jijia site; (2) Diurnal SFDs at Hetou site were much higher under low relative humidity (<30%) and slightly lower under high relative humidity (>80%) compared with those at the Jijia site; (3) The upper and lower threshold of daily and diurnal RAD for the optimal water use of E. urophylla plantations were 18±2.7 and 2±1 MJ/(m2·d), 669 and 0 J/(cm2·h) during the observation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the optimization of the operation condition, a general numerical method for calculating pulverized coal combustion in a full-scale furnace fired tangentially at four corners is adopted. “ κ- ɛ” turbulence model is used for the gas phases and a stochastic approach based on the Lagrangian technique is used for particle phases. Two-competing reactions model for the coal devolatilization and PDF (the probability density function) method for the combustion of the gas phases are employed. In the numerical simulations, assuming the air distribution of second port level is of pagoda, waist drum and uniform type. The results show that pagoda type air distribution is advantageous to ignition and smooth combustion of pulverized coal, and suitable to inferior coal combustion in practice. In the present furnace, the igniting distance at 1st and 3rd corner is longer than that at 2nd and 4th corner. The results from numerical calculations are in good agreement with those of observed in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To kinetically model implosion- and explosion-related phenomena, we present a theoretical framework for constructing a discrete Boltzmann model (DBM) with spherical symmetry in spherical coordinates. To achieve this goal, a key technique is to use local Cartesian coordinates to describe the particle velocity in the kinetic model. Therefore, geometric effects, such as divergence and convergence, are described as a “force term”. To better access the nonequilibrium behavior, even though the corresponding hydrodynamic model is one-dimensional, the DBM uses a discrete velocity model (DVM) with three dimensions. A new scheme is introduced so that the DBM can use the same DVM regardless of whether or not there are extra degrees of freedom. As an example, a DVM with 26 velocities is formulated to construct the DBM at the Navier-Stokes level. Via the DBM, one can study simultaneously the hydrodynamic and thermodynamic nonequilibrium behaviors in implosion and explosion processes that are not very close to the spherical center. The extension of the current model to a multiple-relaxation-time version is straightforward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]