Genetic variation in human NPY expression affects stress response and emotion

Understanding inter-individual differences in stress response requires the explanation of genetic influences at multiple phenotypic levels, including complex behaviours and the metabolic responses of brain regions to emotional stimuli. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is anxiolytic and its release is induced by stress. NPY is abundantly expressed in regions of the limbic system that are implicated in arousal and in the assignment of emotional valences to stimuli and memories. Here we show that haplotype-driven NPY expression predicts brain responses to emotional and stress challenges and also inversely correlates with trait anxiety. NPY haplotypes predicted levels of NPY messenger RNA in post-mortem brain and lymphoblasts, and levels of plasma NPY. Lower haplotype-driven NPY expression predicted higher emotion-induced activation of the amygdala, as well as diminished resiliency as assessed by pain/stress-induced activations of endogenous opioid neurotransmission in various brain regions. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs16147) located in the promoter region alters NPY expression in vitro and seems to account for more than half of the variation in expression in vivo. These convergent findings are consistent with the function of NPY as an anxiolytic peptide and help to explain inter-individual variation in resiliency to stress, a risk factor for many diseases.     

Research on HJ-1A/B satellite data automatic geometric precision correction design

Developed independently by China, HJ-1A/B satellites have operated well on-orbit for five years and acquired a large number of high-quality observation data. The realization of the observation data geometric precision correction is of great significance for macro and dynamic ecological environment monitoring. The paper analyzed the parameter characteristics of HJ- 1 satellite and geometric features of HJ- 1 satellite level 2 data （systematic geo-corrected data）. Based on this, the overall H J- 1 multi-sensor geometric correction flow and charge-coupled device （CCD） automatic geometric precision correction method were designed. Actual operating data showed that the method could achieve good result for automatic geometric precision correction of HJ- 1 sat- ellite data, automatic HJ- 1 CCD image geometric precision correction accuracy could be achieved within two pixels and automatic matching accuracy between the images of same satellite could be obtained less than one pixel.     

Nuclear Energy—the Strategic Role and Sustainability in China

analyzing the challenges of China’s energy supply, an excellent perspective of nuclear power development in china has been described. Taking into account the midlong term development requirements, a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable nuclear power strategic consideration and proposal is put forward. Thus our national nuclear industry can not only catch up with the world advanced level in proper time, but also possess the enough stamina of sustainability.     

Isothermal oxidation behavior and mechanism of a nickel-based superalloy at 1000℃

The oxidation behavior of a nickel-based superalloy at 1000℃ in air was investigated through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis. A series of oxides, including external oxide scales (Cr₂O₃, (TiO₂ + MnCr₂O₄)) and internal oxides (Al₂O₃,TiN), were formed on the surface or sub-surface of the substrate at 1000℃ in experimental still air. The oxidation resistance of the alloy was dependent on the stability of the surface oxide layer. The continuity and density of the protective Cr₂O₃ scale were affected by minor alloying elements such as Ti and Mn. The outermost oxide scale was composed of TiO₂ rutile and MnCr₂O₄ spinel, and the growth of TiO₂ particles was controlled by the outer diffusion of Ti ions through the pre-existing oxide layer. Severe internal oxidation occurred beneath the external oxide scale, consuming Al and Ti of the strength phase γ' (Ni₃(Al,Ti)) and thereby severely deteriorating the surface mechanical properties. The depth of the internal oxidation region was approximately 35 μm after exposure to experimental air at 1000℃ for 80 h.     

Effect of magnesia on the compressive strength of pellets

The compressive strength of MgO-fluxed pellets was investigated before and after they were reduced. The porosity and pore size of green pellets, product pellets, and reduced pellets were analyzed to clarify how MgO affects the strength of the pellets. Experimental results show that when the MgO-bearing flux content in the pellets increases from 0.0wt% to 2.0wt%, the compressive strength of the pellets at ambient temperature decreases, but the compressive strength of the pellets after reduction increases. Therefore, the compressive strength of the pellets after reduction exhibits no certain positive correlation with that before reduction. The porosity and pore size of all the pellets (with different MgO contents) increase when the pellets are reduced. However, the increase in porosity of the MgO-fluxed pellets is relatively smaller than that of the traditional non-MgO-fluxed pellets, and the pore size range of the MgO-fluxed pellets is relatively narrower. The reduction swelling index (RSI) is a key factor for governing the compressive strength of the reduced pellets. An approximately reversed linear relation can be concluded that the lower the RSI, the greater the compressive strength of the reduced pellets is.     

Additive effects on tin electrodepositing in acid sulfate electrolytes

The effects of additives on the stannous reduction of an acid sulfate bath were investigated using cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and microstructure analysis. In the absence of additives, tin coatings are rough, and the tin electrodepositing is a single-step reduction process accompanied by hydrogen gas evolution. The addition of tartaric acid produces a slight reduction in the peak current of stannous reduction and has an appreciably positive effect on the stability of the acidic tin bath. Both benzylidene acetone and polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether hinder the stannous reduction and greatly suppress the hydrogen gas evolution. Formaldehyde slightly decreases the peak current density of stannous reduction and serves as an auxiliary brightener in the acid sulfate bath. The presence of mixed additives greatly suppresses the stannous reduction and hydrogen gas evolution and consequently produces a significantly smoother and denser tin coating. The (112) crystal face is found to be the dominant and preferred orientation of tin deposits.     

Role of trivalent antimony in the removal of As, Sb, and Bi impurities from copper electrolytes

The role of trivalent antimony was investigated in removing As, Sb, and Bi impurities from a copper electrolyte. Purification experiments were carried out by adding a various concentrations of Sb(III) ions in a synthetic electrolyte containing 185 g/L sulfuric acid, 45 g/L Cu2+, 10 g/L As, and 0.5 g/L Bi under stirring at 65℃ for 2 h. The electrolyte was filtered, and the structure, morphology and composition of the precipitate were analyzed by means of chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and IR spectroscopy. The precipitate is composed of irregular lumps which are agglomerated by fine dendritic and floccus particles, and it mainly consists of As, Sb, Bi, and O elements. Characteristic bands in the IR spectra of the precipitate are As-OX (X=As, Sb, Bi), Sb-OY (Y=Sb, Bi), O-As-O, As-OH, Sb-OH, and O-H. The precipitate is a mixture of microcrystalline SbAsO₄, (Sb,As)₂O₃, and amorphous phases. As, Sb, and Bi impurities are effectively removed from the copper electrolyte by Sb(III) ions attributing to these precipitates.     

Mechanism of Ag and Al on improving the glass forming ability of CuZr-based alloys

By a mean field theoretical computation, the equilibrium distributions of additional Ag and Al in the crystalline phase of CuZr-based alloys were determined to occupy the two sublattices of the B2 structure randomly. With the molecular dynamics technique, the effects of Ag and Al on the enthalpy difference (ΔH) between the supercooled melt and the crystalline phase were evaluated. The improved glass forming ability of Cu₄₅Zr₄₅Al₁₀and Cu₄₅Zr₄₅Ag₁₀ can be attributed to their remarkably smaller ΔH than that of CuZr. The calculated diffusion coefficients are more sensitive to the atomic weight of the component atoms than to their interaction strength. As the component atom with the largest mass, the additional Ag increases the viscosity of the supercooled melt significantly and the experimentally stronger glass formation ability of Cu₄₅Zr₄₅Ag₁₀ than Cu₄₅Zr₄₅Al₁₀ can be well understood.     

The development and application of silicon Neutron Transmutation Doping （NTD） technology in China

：The research and development history of silicon Neutron Transmutation Doping （NTD） technology and its applications at home and abroad are introduced in this paper. The advantages of NTD, compared with conventional technology of doping, are narrated. The principle of NTD as well as the implementation of the main procedures related to Si NTD is explained. The market demand tendency is prospected, and the advanced measures on NTD quality control are described.     

Temperature distribution and dynamic control of secondary cooling in slab continuous casting

To predict and optimize the temperature distribution of slab continuous casting in steady operational state, a three-dimensional model (named "offline model") based on the heat transfer and solidification theories was developed. Both heat transfer and flux distribution characteristics of the nozzle sprays on the slab were considered, and the complicated boundary conditions, such as spray cooling, natural convection, thermal radiation as well as contact cooling of individual rolls were involved in the model. By using the calibrated caster dependent model factors, the calculated temperature and shell thickness accorded well with the measured. Furthermore, a dynamic secondary water cooling control system was also developed on the basis of a two-dimensional transient heat transfer model (named "online model") and incremental PID control algorithm to reduce slab surface temperature fluctuation in unsteady state. Compared with the traditional spray table control method, the present online model and dynamic PID control demonstrate a higher capability and flexibility to adjust cooling water flowrate and reduce slab surface temperature fluctuation when the casting speed is changed.