Numerical investigation on heat transfer characterization of liquid lithium metal in pipe

Liquid Li metal is a promising nuclear reactor coolant; however, relevant research regarding its heat transfer characteristics remains insufficient. In this study, a steady-state two-dimensional mathematical model is established to describe the heat transfer process of liquid Li in a straight pipe. A numerical analysis is conducted to investigate the effects of inlet velocity, inlet temperature, and wall heat flux on heat transfer in liquid Li. The results indicate the advantage of using liquid Li for improving heat transfer at high inlet temperatures (> 1000 K) compared with using liquid sodium and lead–bismuth eutectic. Considering the mechanism of the outlet radial heat flow model, the ratio of turbulent to molecular diffusion coefficients presents a parabolic distribution along the radius of the pipe. Increasing the inlet velocity, decreasing the inlet temperature, and decreasing the wall heat flux can effectively weaken the dominant role of molecular heat transfer owing to the low Prandtl number of liquid Li. The heat transfer of liquid Li is investigated comprehensively in this study, and the results provide a basis for the practical application of liquid Li as a promising coolant.     

路基非饱和土动态回弹模量计算模型对比研究

作为路面结构设计的关键参数,对动态回弹模量的可靠计算一直是工程界不断探索的课题。本文收集并分析国内外已有关于路基土回弹模量的计算模型,根据自变量的不同属性,将计算模型归为两大类,第一类为将应力水平作为变量(I型),第二类是将表征湿度状态的基质吸力作为变量,这其中又分为两个子类,一是将基质吸力引入耦合到应力变量中(II1型)；二是将基质吸力剥离出来作为独立变量(II2型)。然后结合2种土样的循环动三轴试验数据,对3类计算模型的可靠性及适用性进行对比评价。结果表明：将基质吸力作为单独变量(II2型)的计算模型能更真实的反映非饱和路基土动态回弹模量的变化规律,拟合度较高。     

Improving the photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride by thermal treatment in a high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere

Extending visible light absorption range and suppressing the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers are always important topics in developing efficient solar-driven photocatalysts. In this study, the thermal treatment process at 400 °C in a high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere was applied to modify graphitic carbon nitride. Compared to the normal atmospheric hydrogen treatment process, this process has the merit of producing nitrogen deficient graphitic carbon nitride in high-yield. The optimal photocatalytic activity of modified graphitic carbon nitride was demonstrated by controlling the treatment duration in the hydrogen atmosphere.The changes in the crystal structure, microstructure and optical properties of carbon nitrides were investigated by several characterizations. The relationship between the photocatalytic activity and structures of graphitic carbon nitride was preliminarily established. The results obtained in this study could provide some new ways of improving the activity of graphitic carbon nitride based photocatalyst.     

A Method to Visualize the Skeleton Industrial Structure with Input-Output Analysis and Its Application in China,Japan and USA

The paper established a double filtering method (DFM) to visualize the skeleton industrial structure (SIS) of one economy and find its evolution rule. Different with the previous researches, this method is from a new view of industrial conjunctions combined by leading sectors to depict the industrial structure. It was proved that the leading sector selected by DFM must be key sector selected by Hirschman-Rasmussen method. Applied DFM to input-output tables of China, Japan and USA and MFA to Japan and USA, the results analysis showed that DFM could overtake the two main shortcomings of minimum flow analysis (MFA), scratch SIS of each economy with its own characteristics, visualize the general evolution rules of the industrial structure with crisscrossed conjunctions among leading sectors.     

Defining G protein-coupled receptor peptide ligand expressomes and signalomes in human and mouse islets

Introduction

Islets synthesise and secrete numerous peptides, some of which are known to be important regulators of islet function and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we quantified mRNAs encoding all peptide ligands of islet G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in isolated human and mouse islets and carried out in vitro islet hormone secretion studies to provide functional confirmation for the species-specific role of peptide YY (PYY) in mouse islets.

Materials and methods

GPCR peptide ligand mRNAs in human and mouse islets were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR relative to the reference genes ACTB, GAPDH, PPIA, TBP and TFRC. The pathways connecting GPCR peptide ligands with their receptors were identified by manual searches in the PubMed, IUPHAR and Ingenuity databases. Distribution of PYY protein in mouse and human islets was determined by immunohistochemistry. Insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion from islets was measured by radioimmunoassay.

Results

We have quantified GPCR peptide ligand mRNA expression in human and mouse islets and created specific signalomes mapping the pathways by which islet peptide ligands regulate human and mouse GPCR signalling. We also identified species-specific islet expression of several GPCR ligands. In particular, PYY mRNA levels were ~ 40,000-fold higher in mouse than human islets, suggesting a more important role of locally secreted Pyy in mouse islets. This was confirmed by IHC and functional experiments measuring insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion.

Discussion

The detailed human and mouse islet GPCR peptide ligand atlases will allow accurate translation of mouse islet functional studies for the identification of GPCR/peptide signalling pathways relevant for human physiology, which may lead to novel treatment modalities of diabetes and metabolic disease.

     

A method for recovery of iron,titanium, and vanadium from vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite

An innovative method for recovering valuable elements from vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite is proposed. This method involves two procedures: low-temperature roasting of vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite and water leaching of roasting slag. During the roasting process, the reduction of iron oxides to metallic iron, the sodium oxidation of vanadium oxides to water-soluble sodium vanadate, and the smelting separation of metallic iron and slag were accomplished simultaneously. Optimal roasting conditions for iron/slag separation were achieved with a mixture thickness of 42.5 mm, a roasting temperature of 1200°C, a residence time of 2 h, a molar ratio of C/O of 1.7, and a sodium carbonate addition of 70 wt%, as well as with the use of anthracite as a reductant. Under the optimal conditions, 93.67% iron from the raw ore was recovered in the form of iron nugget with 95.44% iron grade. After a water leaching process, 85.61% of the vanadium from the roasting slag was leached, confirming the sodium oxidation of most of the vanadium oxides to water-soluble sodium vanadate during the roasting process. The total recoveries of iron, vanadium, and titanium were 93.67%, 72.68%, and 99.72%, respectively.     

Facile synthesis of flake-like dihydrate zinc oxalate particles

Monodispersed dihydrated zinc oxalate(ZnC_2O_4·2H_2O) particles with characteristic morphology were synthesized by aging a mixed solution of zinc nitrate(Zn(NO_3)_2) and sodium oxalate(Na_2C_2O_4) in the presence of a citrate ligand, with an average flat size of approximately 10–15 μm. The important parameters, including the solution pH values and the concentration of the zinc ions and citrate ligand, were investigated using a series of experiments. It is verified that the citrate ligand significantly affects the morphology of zinc oxalate particles, probably via its multiple roles of chelating, dispersing, and selective absorption. Thermodynamic equilibrium of the distribution of zinc species in an aqueous solution of Zn(Ⅱ)-citrate-oxalate-H_2O was estimated to explain the experimental results and to clarify the size and morphological evolution mechanism of the precipitated particles.     

一种新型复合探雷系统的设计和实现

为了解决传统探雷器易受复杂土壤环境和各种干扰物的影响造成误报率过高的问题,提出了一种基于电磁感应(EMI)和探地雷达技术(GPR)的复合探测系统及其设计方案,通过将两种完全不同探测机理的传感器数据进行融合处理,协同工作,提取地雷目标特征信号,结果表明:可有效提高地雷的探知率并降低误报率,克服采用单一探测技术探雷器难以解决的原理性虚警问题;通过样机试验结果验证了设计方案的有效性。     

中国现代公园声景研究进展

由于兼具人文性和自然性,现代公园越来越成为人们回归自然、放松心态的绝佳场所,其声环境的质量成为实现公园潜在功能的重要保障,中国现代公园声景的研究内容大致表现为对不同类型公园自身声景的研究及其与周边环境影响关系的研究。从公园声景研究中的三个运用阶段对常用的研究方法进行归纳,总结了各自的利弊,并分别以森林、水和人为公园主体的声景进行归纳,凝练出各类公园的声景特征,指出中国现代公园声景构成不良和人声互动不足的问题,对目前公园声景设计中采取的策略进行总结,就此提出相应的优化措施,以一种可持续的声景发展理念为以后相关研究提供指引。