Evaluation of humic acid removal by a flat submerged membrane photoreactor

A flat submerged membrane combined with a TiO 2 /UV photocatalytic reactor (FSMPR) was employed in batch mode to remove humic acid (HA). HA removal efficiency was characterized by UV 254 absorbance, UV-vis spectra, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, specific UV absorbance (SUVA), and trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP). The FSMPR process was effective in removing more than 86% of DOC and nearly 100% of UV 254 absorbance, while the THMFPs of samples were reduced to < 19 μ g/L after 150 min of treatment. In addition, changes in transmembrane pressure (TMP) with and without UV were evaluated; TiO 2 /UV was effective at controlling membrane fouling by HA. Analysis of the molecular weight (MW) distributions and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra of HAs revealed that the effectiveness in membrane fouling control is a result of changes in HA molecular characteristics. The TiO 2 /UV photocatalytic reactor caused the degradation of high MW, hydrophobic humic-like molecules to low MW, hydrophilic protein-like molecules, although this fraction was not completely removed during 150 min of treatment and was less responsible for membrane fouling.     

Optimization of flue gas turbulent heat transfer with condensation in a tube

Conservation equations for sensible and latent entransy are established for flue gas turbulent heat transfer with condensation in a tube, and the entransy dissipation expression is deduced. The field synergy equation is obtained on the basis of the extremum entransy dissipation principle for flue gas turbulent heat transfer with condensation. The optimal velocity field is numerically obtained by solving the field synergy equation. The results show that the optimal velocity field contains multiple longitudinal vortices near the tube surface. These improve the synergy not only between the velocity and temperature fields but also between the velocity and vapor concentration fields. Therefore, the turbulent heat and mass transfers are significantly enhanced.     

Atomic packing and short-to-medium range order evolution of Zr-Pd metallic glass

A larger-scale Zr₇₀Pd₃₀ alloy system has been simulated using molecular dynamics (MD) to investigate structure evolution in Zr₇₀Pd₃₀ metallic glass. The simulated pair distribution function of Zr₇₀Pd₃₀ metallic glass agrees well with the experimental results. Voronoi polyhedron analysis indicates that the icosahedra are not randomly distributed in space, but form characteristic intercrossed icosahedral clusters with medium-range order. Intercrossed icosahedral clusters are the dominant local configurations in Zr₇₀Pd₃₀ metallic glass and probably cause the quasicrystalline phase discovered in Zr₇₀Pd₃₀ metallic glass.     

Surface pollen assemblages of human-disturbed vegetation and their relationship with vegetation and climate in Northeast China

Pollen assemblages of 53 surface pollen samples from farmlands and wastelands in Northeast China were analyzed. Tree pollen percentages were usually higher than 30%, with Pinus (26.9%), Quercus (0.9%), Betula (0.9%) and Populus (0.7%) as the major types, and herb pollen percentages were usually higher than 50%, with weedy Poaceae (8.7%), Chenopodiaceae (7.1%), Artemisia (1.9%) and Compositae (3.5%) as the major taxa. Thus, the pollen assemblages were consistent with the regional vegetation compositions. However, there were differences in pollen assemblages among regions, especially among different geomorphological units. For example, in the mountains, there were more types of tree pollen and higher total percentages (average 42%) than in other areas, while cereal pollen percentages were lowest (11.2%). In the hills and high plains, herbs made up more than 60% of the pollens, with cereals (average 53.6%) the dominant type. In the low plains, pollen types were similar to those in the hills and high plains, but total pollen concentrations and the proportion of Concentricystes were much higher, while cereal pollen percentages were slightly lower (average 41.6%). Pollen assemblages in different land use types also differed. For example, in farmland, cereal pollen percentages were more than 40% and Chenopodiaceae was usually less than 2.5%, while in wasteland, weedy Poaceae was usually less than 10% and Chenopodiaceae was usually higher than 25%. Total pollen concentrations in farmland (average 3909 grains/g) were much lower than in wasteland (average 15074 grains/g). Redundancy analysis revealed that pollen assemblages were significantly negatively correlated with mean annual temperature (-0.73) and July mean temperature (-0.81) and significantly positively correlated with mean annual precipitation (0.48), indicating that pollen assemblages in the artificial or human-disturbed vegetation reflect regional climate well. Comparison of pollen assemblages in different areas of northern China showed that pollen concentrations reflect the intensities of human impact to some degree. For example, pollen concentrations decrease as human impacts increase in intensity. The cereal pollen proportions in farmland differed by area. In Northeast China, cereal pollen proportions were distinctly higher than in most other areas of northern China, suggesting differences in planting habits and climate.     

A wide tuning range electro-optic filter based on long-period waveguide grating

We present the design of an electro-optic filter with polarization insensitivity based on a long period waveguide grating. The filter exhibits an ultra-large wavelength tuning range of exceeding 35 nm and covering the whole C band (1530 to 1565 nm) in a bias voltage range from −84 to 84 V. In the whole tuning range, the transmission coefficients for quasi TE modes are over 97% and the 3 dB bandwidths are below 0.8 nm. The wavelength sensitivity to the tunable voltage is about 0.208 nm/V. This electro-optic filter can be used in dynamic WDM networks for fast wavelength scanning/selection, communication channel reconfiguration, and optical switching.     

Generalized Intersection Bodies with Parameter

AIn 2005, the classical intersection bodies and L_p intersection bodies were extended. Afterwards, the concept of general L_p intersection bodies and the generalized intersection bodies was introduced. In this paper, we define the generalized bodies with parameter. Besides, we establish the extremal values for volume, Brunn-Minkowski type inequality for radial combination and L_p harmonic Blaschke combination of this notion.     

A Time-Domain Electromagnetic Transmitter with Great Power and Large Current by Using a Closed-Loop Phase Shifting Control Strategy

A time-domain electromagnetic transmitter (TDET) with great power and large current was designed by using a closed-loop phase shifting control strategy. A clamping voltage source circuit was applied in this system to improve the falling edge of emission current and shorten the turn-off time. The simulated results showed that this TDET exhibited the advantages including a large current, strong capability for rapid turn-off, stably output voltage, preferably dynamic performance, a widely adjustable range in transmitting voltage, accurate measurement precision.     

A survey of next generation mobile communications research in China

With the rapid development of wireless communication networks, the fourth generation (4G) has emerged to move beyond the limitations of the third generation (3G), with increased bandwidth, enhanced quality of services, and reduced costs of resources. In this paper, we discuss the key technologies of 4G and focus on surveying the ongoing research in 4G communications in China. The 4G technologies under investigation include multicarrier transmission, multiple antenna techniques, carrier aggregation, relays, cognitive radio, distributed antenna systems, network convergence, and network self-optimization. These technologies are the building blocks of 4G and contribute largely to the requirements of International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMT-Advanced). For each technology, its benefits, research topics, and some existing approaches are examined. Finally, we briefly discuss the challenges and future research issues in 4G systems.     

Erratum to: <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> induction of mouse meningeal-derived iPS cells into neural-like cells

The authors report that incorrect figures were included as Figures 4 and 5 in the original publication of this paper. This error occurred during the figure editing process of the publishing company. This information should have been presented as follows:     

Mineralogical and geochemical features of sulfide chimneys from the 49°39′E hydrothermal field on the Southwest Indian Ridge and their geological inferences

During January–May in 2007,the Chinese research cruise DY115-19 discovered an active hydrothermal field at 49°39′E/37°47′S on the ultraslow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR).This was also the first active hydrothermal field found along an ultraslow-spreading ridge.We analyzed mineralogical,textural and geochemical compositions of the sulfide chimneys obtained from the 49°39′E field.Chimney samples show a concentric mineral zone around the fluid channel.The mineral assemblages of the interiors consist ...