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.     

模拟研究和设计高强度低生热聚合物复合材料

利用分子动力学模拟方法研究聚合物复合材料中填料分布、聚合物链性质和体系微观结构对力学强度和动态滞后生热性能的影响.研究结果表明,提高填料分散程度和减少聚合物链末端数量都能有效降低聚合物复合材料的动态滞后生热,聚合物复合材料的力学强度和动态滞后生热随分子链刚性的增加而增加.但是,刚柔嵌段共聚体系的力学强度,在高拉伸状态下,甚至会优于全刚性聚合物体系.在前述研究基础上,笔者设计了一款以填料颗粒为交联点、刚/柔环状链段互穿的三维网络结构复合体系.研究结果表明,新型复合材料与传统聚合物相比,力学性能最高提升640％,生热性能降低40％.模拟研究结果期望能为分析聚合物复合材料的生热机制、设计兼具高力学强度和低生热性能的聚合物复合材料提供理论指导和新的思路.     

三维AoA目标跟踪的二次约束卡尔曼滤波算法

在基于到达角(angle of arrival, AoA)的三维目标跟踪中, 伪线性卡尔曼滤波具有稳定性高和计算复杂度低的优点, 但是严重的偏差问题使其跟踪精度迅速下降。针对该问题, 提出一种二次约束卡尔曼滤波(quadratic constraint Kalman filter, QCKF)算法。首先引入涉及所有观测噪声项的增广矩阵, 然后建立与线性卡尔曼滤波等价的目标函数并且附加含有二次项的约束条件, 以此降低偏差影响, 实现更准确的状态更新。QCKF算法采用广义特征值分解求解约束优化问题, 无法直接通过状态更新表达式推导其协方差矩阵, 因此利用约束条件以及矩阵扰动方法完成协方差矩阵更新。仿真分析表明, QCKF算法相较于其他非线性滤波算法具有更优的跟踪性能, 不仅在低噪声条件下可达到后验克拉美罗下界, 而且当噪声严重时能够显著降低跟踪误差, 并且计算开销不高。     

烃族组成对柴油储存安定性影响研究

针对柴油储存过程中质量衰变问题，利用典型柴油样品，开展烃化合物对中国成品柴油储存安定性影响规律研究。烃组成分析测定结果表明，柴油中总芳烃和链烷烃之间存在很强的相关性（相关系数为0.90）。综合采用相关分析、逐步线性回归等方法，建立了安定性指标与烃组成的关联模型，拟合验证表明模型可靠，可以直接用于柴油储存安定性预测；研究确定了柴油储存安定性的主要影响物质，按照对储存安定性指标影响的严重程度将烃类物质分为三个等级，其中苊烯和三环芳烃对柴油质量衰变影响最大，链烷烃对十六烷值和热值影响最大。     

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.

     

Blockage of the NLRP3 inflammasome by MCC950 improves anti-tumor immune responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical innate immune pathway responsible for producing active interleukin (IL)-1β, which is associated with tumor development and immunity. However, the mechanisms regulating the inflammatory microenvironment, tumorigenesis and tumor immunity are unclear. Herein, we show that the NLRP3 inflammasome was over-expressed in human HNSCC tissues and that the IL-1β concentration was increased in the peripheral blood of HNSCC patients. Additionally, elevated NLRP3 inflammasome levels were detected in tumor tissues of Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO HNSCC mice, and elevated IL-1β levels were detected in the peripheral blood serum, spleen, draining lymph nodes and tumor tissues. Blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation using MCC950 remarkably reduced IL-1β production in an HNSCC mouse model and reduced the numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Moreover, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation increased the numbers of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in HNSCC mice. Notably, the numbers of exhausted PD-1⁺ and Tim3⁺ T cells were significantly reduced. A human HNSCC tissue microarray showed that NLRP3 inflammasome expression was correlated with the expression of CD8 and CD4, the Treg marker Foxp3, the MDSC markers CD11b and CD33, and the TAM markers CD68 and CD163, PD-1 and Tim3. Overall, our results demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway promotes tumorigenesis in HNSCC and inactivation of this pathway delays tumor growth, accompanied by decreased immunosuppressive cell accumulation and an increased number of effector T cells. Thus, inhibition of the tumor microenvironment through the NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway may provide a novel approach for HNSCC therapy.     

A Simulation Method for Analyzing and Evaluating Rail System Performance Based on Speed Profile

This paper presents and discusses a simulation method for analyzing and evaluating system performance on a rail line from the perspective of speed profile. Dynamic analysis for train motions is introduced, and a discrete time-operation graph is proposed to represent the relation between speed profile and energy consumption. Based on them, an analytical model is formulated to provide a quick insight into the system performance. The discrete-time simulation (DTS) method is then implemented to study the system in detail. Compared to the existing simulations, two innovations are included in the DTS: (1) the analytical lookup tables that can simplify the dynamic computation and, (2) the speed profile adjustment process that forecasts and avoids future conflicts based on practical constraints. The numerical results show that the DTS speed profile has advantages over existing methods. Finally, the DTS method is used to analyze and evaluate the system performance of the current timetable on Beijing Yizhuang Metro Line. The results suggest that the current timetable is not robust enough, and thus possible improvements are discussed at both scheduling and operating stages. The proposed method is verified to be effective and reliable for practical uses.     

Quantitative Analysis of Multi-Recovery-Based Intrusion Tolerance Model

Quantitative analysis has always been a difficult problem in security analysis of intrusion tolerance systems. An intrusion tolerance model based on multiple recovery mechanisms is introduced in this paper and how to quantify the security attributes of the model is proposed. A state transition model with recovery states more accurately describes the dynamic behavior of the system. Considering that recovery mechanisms have a great impact on the security performance of the system, we set up the cost models corresponding to different recovery mechanisms. We propose a feasible security measure based on mean cost to security failure in order to evaluate the system cost during the recovery phase. The experimental results confirmed the feasibility of the proposed methods.     

Mechanical and corrosion properties of low-carbon steel prepared by friction stir processing

Low-carbon steel plates were successfully subjected to normal friction stir processing(NFSP) in air and submerged friction stir processing(SFSP) under water, and the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of the NFSP and SFSP samples were investigated. Phase transformation and dynamic recrystallization resulted in fine-grained ferrite and martensite in the processed zone. The SFSP samples had smaller ferrites(5.1 μm), finer martensite laths(557 nm), and more uniform distribution of martensite compared to the NFSP samples. Compared to the base material(BM), the microhardness of the NFSP and SFSP samples increased by 19.8% and 27.1%, respectively because of the combined strengthening effects of grain refinement, phase transformation, and dislocation. The ultimate tensile strengths(UTSs) of the NFSP and SFSP samples increased by 27.1% and 38.7%, respectively. Grain refinement and martensite transformation also improved the electrochemical corrosion properties of the low-carbon steel. Overall, the SFSP samples had better mechanical properties and electrochemical corrosion resistance than the NFSP samples.     

基于空地协同采样的植被覆盖度随机森林估算方法

基于无人机高光谱影像, 建立地形复杂地区植被覆盖度的非参数随机森林回归估算模型。为获得构建随机森林模型所需的足够数量的训练样本, 利用低空无人机搭载的光学相机, 在从地面难以到达的山地、水域和植被茂密区, 通过垂直拍摄获得厘米分辨率的航拍影像, 作为对地面样方采样的补充。首先计算地面数码相机照片和无人机可见光影像的红绿蓝植被指数(red-green-blue vegetation index, RGBVI), 然后使用大津分割法提取样方的植被覆盖信息, 得到构建模型所需的训练样本。在此基础上, 基于2018年8月16—18日在内蒙古自治区察右中旗油娄沟矿区获取的GaiaSky-mini2无人机高光谱影像数据, 利用递归特征消除算法优选参与随机森林回归的特征变量集, 利用空地协同获取的训练样本构建植被覆盖度的随机森林回归估算模型。该模型在测试集上的确定系数R2为0.923, 均方根误差为0.087, 优于常用的像元二分模型, 可用于矿区植被动态信息的精细化监测。