Cloning and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">UL</Emphasis>34 gene of pseudorabies virus HB isolate

In this study, China isolate HB of pseudorabies virus (PRV) was confirmed and genotypically characterized by amplifying and sequencing of partial UL34, a conservative gene involved in the egress of nucleocapsids from the nucleus, for phylogenetic analysis. The open reading frame (orf) of UL34 of PRV HB isolate is composed of 786 nucleotides, which encoded 262 amino acids. In addition, a potential transmembrane domain (241-260 aa) and 11 potential phosphorylation sites were also found in the UL34 of PRV HB isolate. Multiple amino acids alignment indicated that UL34 proteins of PRV strains derived from different geographic origins were highly conservative, but some mutations were also found. Phylogenetic analysis based on UL34 protein indicated that PRV HB strain was evolutionarily distinct from other recent China strains sequenced so far, forming a single clade within the phylogeny. Moreover, PRV HB isolate had close evolutionary relationship with BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 within the Alphaherpesvirinae. Taken together, these results indicated that PRV strains were in the progress of evolution. This study has expanded the knowledge of genetic profiles of PRV strains.     

Reaction mechanism for in-situ β-SiAlON formation in Fe3Si-Si3N4-Al2O3 composites

In this work, Fe₃Si-Si₃N₄-Al₂O₃ composites were prepared at 1300℃ in an N₂ atmosphere using fused corundum and tabular alumina particles, Al₂O₃ fine powder, and ferrosilicon nitride (Fe₃Si-Si₃N₄) as raw materials and thermosetting phenolic resin as a binder. The effect of ferrosilicon nitride with different concentrations (0wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wt%, 20wt%, and 25wt%) on the properties of Fe₃Si-Si₃N₄-Al₂O₃ composites was investigated. The results show that the apparent porosity varies between 10.3% and 17.3%, the bulk density varies from 2.94 g/cm3 and 3.30 g/cm3, and the cold crushing strength ranges from 67 MPa to 93 MPa. Under the experimental conditions, ferrosilicon nitride, whose content decreases substantially, is unstable; part of the ferrosilicon nitride is converted into Fe₂C, whereas the remainder is retained, eventually forming the ferrosilicon alloy. Thermodynamic assessment of the Si₅AlON₇ indicated that the ferrosilicon alloy accelerated the reactions between Si₃N₄ and α-Al₂O₃ fine powder and that Si in the ferrosilicon alloy was nitrided directly, forming β-SiAlON simultaneously. In addition, fused corundum did not react directly with Si₃N₄ because of its low reactivity.     

Improved hemimorphite flotation using xanthate as a collector with S(Ⅱ) and Pb(Ⅱ) activation

The flotation of hemimorphite using the S(Ⅱ)–Pb(Ⅱ)–xanthate process, which includes sulfidization with sodium sulfide, activation by lead cations, and subsequent flotation with xanthate, was investigated. The flotation results indicated that hemimorphite floats when the S(Ⅱ)–Pb(Ⅱ)–xanthate process is used; a maximum recovery of approximately 90% was obtained. Zeta-potential, contact-angle, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS), and diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) measurements were used to characterize the activation products on the hemimorphite surface and their subsequent interaction with sodium butyl xanthate (SBX). The results showed that a ZnS coating formed on the hemimorphite surface after the sample was conditioned in an Na₂S solution. However, the formation of a ZnS coating on the hemimorphite surface did not improve hemimorphite flotation. With the subsequent addition of lead cations, PbS species formed on the mineral surface. The formation of the PbS species on the surface of hemimorphite significantly increased the adsorption capacity of SBX, forming lead xanthate (referred to as chemical adsorption) and leading to a substantial improvement in hemimorphite flotation. Our results indicate that the addition of lead cations is a critical step in the successful flotation of hemimorphite using the sulfidization–lead ion activation–xanthate process.     

Leaching behavior of V,Pb, Cd,Cr, and As from stone coal waste rock with different particle sizes

This paper investigates the leaching behavior of heavy metals (V, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As) from stone coal waste rocks with various particle sizes using dynamic leaching experiments. The results show that the dissolved concentrations of V and As initially increased and then slightly decreased as time progressed and that the dissolved concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr were high in the early stage before decreasing. The particle size of the stone coal waste rocks strongly influenced the heavy metal concentration in the leaching solutions. The effects of the particle size of the stone coal waste rocks on the dissolved concentrations of V, Pb, and As decreased in the order fine fraction > medium fraction > coarse fraction, and the effects of particle size on the dissolved concentrations of Cr and Cd decreased in the order medium fraction > coarse fraction > fine fraction and coarse fraction > medium fraction > fine fraction, respectively. The quantities of heavy metals dissolved from the stone coal waste rock with fine particle sizes were observed to decrease in the order V (17104.36 μg/kg) > As (609.41 μg/kg) > Pb (469.24 μg/kg) > Cr (56.35 μg/kg) > Cd (27.52 μg/kg), and the dissolution rates decreased in the order As (2.96%) > Pb (0.93%) > V (0.35%) > Cd (0.25%) > Cr (0.01%). The specific surface area, pore size of the stone coal waste rocks, and chemical forms of heavy metals also influenced the release of heavy metals from the stone coal waste rocks. Kinetic analysis showed that the dissolution of heavy metals fundamentally agreed with the rate equation controlled by the shrinking core model. The results of this study are expected to serve as a reference for the evaluation of heavy metals contamination from stone coal waste rocks.     

ID-Based Public Auditing Protocol for Cloud Storage Data Integrity Checking with Strengthened Authentication and Security

Cloud storage service reduces the burden of data users by storing users’ data files in the cloud. But, the files might be modified in the cloud. So, data users hope to check data files integrity periodically. In a public auditing protocol, there is a trusted auditor who has certain ability to help users to check the integrity of data files. With the advantages of no public key management and verification, researchers focus on public auditing protocol in ID-based cryptography recently. However, some existing protocols are vulnerable to forgery attack. In this paper, based on ID-based signature technology, by strengthening information authentication and the computing power of the auditor, we propose an ID-based public auditing protocol for cloud data integrity checking. We also prove that the proposed protocol is secure in the random oracle model under the assumption that the Diffie-Hellman problem is hard. Furthermore, we compare the proposed protocol with other two ID-based auditing protocols in security features, communication efficiency and computation cost. The comparisons show that the proposed protocol satisfies more security features with lower computation cost.     

Complementation in the composition of steel slag and red mud for preparation of novel ceramics

A method for preparing novel ceramics was developed in this study. Different ratios red muds were added to steel slags to optimize the preparation of novel ceramics by a traditional ceramic preparation process. The sintering mechanism, microstructure, and performance were studied by X-ray diffraction techniques, scanning electron microscopy, and combined experiments of linear shrinkage, water absorption, and flexural strength. The results confirmed that red mud can reduce the volumetric instabilities through the complementarity of red mud and ferroalloy slag. The crystal phases in the ceramics are all pyroxene group minerals, including diopside ferrian, augite, and diopside. The flexural strength of the ceramic that contains 40wt% red mud and was prepared at the optimal sintering temperature (1140℃) is greater than 93 MPa; its corresponding water absorption is less than 0.05%.     

Mineral-phase evolution and sintering behavior of MO-SiO2-Al2O3-B2O3 (M=Ca,Ba) glass-ceramics by low-temperature liquid-phase sintering

In this work, network former SiO₂ and network intermediate Al₂O₃ were introduced into typical low-melting binary compositions CaO·B₂O₃, CaO·2B₂O₃, and BaO·B₂O₃ via an aqueous solid-state suspension milling route. Accordingly, multiple-phase aluminosilicate glass-ceramics were directly obtained via liquid-phase sintering at temperatures below 950℃. On the basis of liquid-phase sintering theory, mineral-phase evolutions and glass-phase formations were systematically investigated in a wide MO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-B₂O₃ (M=Ca, Ba) composition range. The results indicate that major mineral phases of the aluminosilicate glass-ceramics are Al₂₀B₄O₃₆, CaAl₂Si₂O₈, and BaAl₂Si₂O₈ and that the glass-ceramic materials are characterized by dense microstructures and excellent dielectric properties.     

Precipitation behaviors of X80 acicular ferrite pipeline steel

The precipitation behaviors of X80 acicular ferrite pipeline steel were investigated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that dendritic precipitates in the as-cast steel slabs precipitate mainly in grain boundaries, and these dendritic precipitates dissolve and re-precipitate to two kinds of carbonitrides: Ti- and Nb-rich (Ti, Nb)(C, N) carbonitrides during reheating. Four types of precipitates mainly exist in the hot rolled plate: Ti-rich carbonitrides resulted from the dendritic carbonitrides undissolved during the reheating process; Ti-rich carbonitrides re-precipitated along austenite grain boundaries during the reheating process; NbC carbides mainly heterogeneously nucleated on the small pre-existing Nb-rich carbonitrides in the hot rolling process; and NbC carbides precipitated on dislocations during hot rolling.     

Predicting the spread of nuclear radiation from the damaged Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

Japan suffered a M9.0 earthquake and massive tsunami on March 11, 2011, which seriously damaged the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and caused a nuclear crisis. The spread of nuclear radiation from the power plant through the atmosphere and ocean was predicted with a short-term climate forecasting model and an ocean circulation model under some idealized assumptions. If nuclear matter were leaked in the near-ground layer of 992 hPa, the climate model results show that the nuclear radiation would cover North America 10 days after the initial leakage, with the concentration at the forefront dramatically reduced to 10 millionths of the initial model concentration at the source. The radiation would span Europe in 15 days and cover much of the Northern Hemisphere in 30 days. If the initial leakage was assumed to occur in the layer 5000-m above the ground, the radiation would cover Europe in 10 days and cover much of the Northern Hemisphere in 15 days. Moreover, under the assumption that the nuclear matter leaked in the 10000-m layer, the radiation would affect much of China after 10 days. The ocean circulation model indicates that the nuclear material would be slowly transported northeast of Fukushima and reach 150°E in 50 days, and the nuclear debris in the ocean would be confined to a narrow band. Compared with the spread in the ocean, the area affected by leaked nuclear radiation in the atmosphere would be very large. Atmospheric monitors in North America and Europe will be helpful for estimating the effect in China of any leaked nuclear material.     

Inclusion variations and calcium treatment optimization in pipeline steel production

SiCa line and SiCaBaFe alloy were injected into liquid pipeline steel at the end of LF refining as calcium treatment, and samples were taken from the ladles, mould, and slabs. Analysis of Ca content and inclusions shows that Ca content in steel decreases obviously in the following process after calcium treatment; the compositions, morphology, and sizes of inclusions also vary much in the production; primary inclusions in the ladles prior to calcium treatment are mainly Al₂O₃ inclusions, but they turn to fine irregular CaS-CaO-Al₂O₃ compound inclusions after the treatment, then become fine globular CaO-Al₂O₃ inclusions in the mould, and finally change to a few larger irregular CaS-CaO-Al₂O₃ complex inclusions in the slabs. Thermodynamic study reveals that inclusion variations are related with the preferential reactions among Ca, Al₂O₃, and S and the precipitation of S in CaO-Al₂O₃ inclusions with high sulfur capacity. New evaluation standards for calcium treatment in high-grade pipeline steel were put forward according to the inclusion variations and requirements of pipeline steel on inclusion controlling, and the calcium process was studied and optimized.