Effect of thinning intensity on the carbon sequestration of natural mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, China

To study the effect of thinning intensity on the carbon sequestration by natural mixed coniferous and broad-leaf forests in Xiaoxing’an Mountains,China,we established six 100 m×100 m experimental plots in Dongfanghong For-est that varied in thinning intensity:plot A(10%),B(15%),C(20%),D(25%),E(30%),F(35%),and the control sample area(0%).A principal component analysis was performed using 50 different variables,including species diversity,soil fertility,litter characteristics,canopy structure param-eters,and seedling regeneration parameters.The effects of thinning intensity on carbon sequestration were strongest in plot E(0.75),followed by D(0.63),F(0.50),C(0.48),B(0.22),A(0.11),and the control(0.06).The composite score of plot E was the highest,indicating that the carbon sequestration effect was strongest at a thinning intensity of 30%.These findings provide useful insights that could aid the management of natural mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests in Xiaoxing’an Mountains,China.This information has implications for future studies of these forests,and the methods used could aid future ecological assessments of the natural forests in Xiaoxing’an Mountains,China.

Nanoparticle‑Loaded Polarized‑Macrophages for Enhanced Tumor Targeting and Cell‑Chemotherapy

Cell therapy is a promising strategy for cancer therapy.However,its therapeutic efficiency remains limited due to the complex and immunosuppressive nature of tumor microenvironments.In this study,the“cell-chemotherapy”strategy was presented to enhance antitumor efficacy.M1-type macrophages,which are therapeutic immune cells with both of immunotherapeutic ability and targeting ability,carried sorafenib(SF)-loaded lipid nanoparticles(M1/SLNPs)were developed.M1-type macrophages were used both as therapeutic tool to provide immunotherapy and as delivery vessel to target deliver SF to tumor tissues for chemotherapy simultaneously.M1-type macrophages were obtained by polarizing macrophages using lipopolysaccharide,and M1/SLNPs were obtained by incubating M1-type macrophages with SLNP.Tumor accumulation of M1/SLNP was increased compared with SLNP(p<0.01),which proved M1/SLNP could enhance tumor targeting of SF.An increased ratio of M1-type macrophages to M2-type macrophages,and the CD3^+CD4^+T cells and CD3^+CD8^+T cell quantities in tumor tissues after treatment with M1/SLNP indicated M1/SLNP could relieve the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments.The tumor volumes in the M1/SLNP group were significantly smaller than those in the SLNP group(p<0.01),indicating M1/SLNP exhibited enhanced antitumor efficacy.Consequently,M1/SLNP showed great potential as a novel cellchemotherapeutic strategy combining both cell therapy and targeting chemotherapy.

Heterologous Expression of Camellia sinensis Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein Gene 1(CsLEA1)Confers Cold Stress Tolerance in Escherichia coli and Yeast

Late embryogenesis abundant(LEA)proteins play an important role in plant growth and development,as well as in the plant response to various abiotic stresses.In this study,CsLEA1,a novel gene encoding a LEA_3 subfamily protein,was successfully cloned froma tea plant[Camellia sinensis(L.)O.Kuntze].Bioinformatics analysis and prokaryotic expression assays showed that CsLEA1 is a typical hydrophilic protein with a molecular weight of approximately 10.4 kD.Expression analyses revealed that the transcription of CsLEA1 in C.sinensis leaves was significantly induced by cold stress.In addition,the heterologous expression of CsLEA1 increased the tolerance of Escherichia coli and yeast to cold stress,which might be closely related to the low molecular weight and high hydrophilicity of the CsLEA1.Taken together,our results suggest that CsLEA1 might have an important function in the tolerance of C.sinensis to cold stress,thus providing a potential application in molecular breeding to enhance the cold stress tolerance of tea plants.

Thinning intensity aff ects carbon sequestration and release in seasonal freeze–thaw areas

To explore how to respond to seasonal freeze–thaw cycles on forest ecosystems in the context of climate change through thinning,we assessed the potential impact of thinning intensity on carbon cycle dynamics.By varying the number of temperature cycles,the eff ects of various thinning intensities in four seasons.The rate of mass,litter organic carbon,and soil organic carbon(SOC)loss in response to temperature variations was examined in two degrees of decomposition.The unfrozen season had the highest decomposition rate of litter,followed by the frozen season.Semi-decomposed litter had a higher decomposition rate than undecomposed litter.The decomposition rate of litter was the highest when the thinning intensity was 10%,while the litter and SOC were low.Forest litter had a good carbon sequestration impact in the unfrozen and freeze–thaw seasons,while the converse was confi rmed in the frozen and thaw seasons.The best carbon sequestration impact was identifi ed in litter,and soil layers under a 20–25%thinning intensity,and the infl uence of undecomposed litter on SOC was more noticeable than that of semi-decomposed litter.Both litter and soil can store carbon:however,carbon is transported from undecomposed litter to semi-decomposed litter and to the soil over time.In summary,the best thinning intensity being 20–25%.

Formation Process and Mechanical Deformation Behavior of a Novel Laser-Printed Compression-Induced Twisting-Compliant Mechanism

A novel compression-induced twisting(CIT)-compliant mechanism was designed based on the freedom and constraint topology(FACT)method and manufactured by means of laser powder bed fusion(LPBF).The effects of LPBF printing parameters on the formability and compressive properties of the laserprinted CIT-compliant mechanism were studied.Within the range of optimized laser powers from 375 to 450 W and with the densification level of the samples maintained at above 98%,changes in the obtained relative densities of the LPBF-fabricated CIT-compliant mechanism with the applied laser powers were not apparent.Increased laser power led to the elimination of residual metallurgical pores within the inclined struts of the CIT mechanism.The highest dimensional accuracy of 0.2% and the lowest surface roughness of 20μm were achieved at a laser power of 450 W.The deformation behavior of the CIT-compliant mechanism fabricated by means of LPBF exhibited four typical stages:an elastic stage,a heterogeneous plastic deformation stage,a strength-destroying stage,and a deformation-destroying stage(or instable deformation stage).The accumulated compressive strain of the optimally printed CIT mechanism using a laser power of 450 W went up to 20% before fracturing,demonstrating a large deformation capacity.The twisting behavior and mechanical properties were investigated via a combination of finite-element simulation and experimental verification.An approximately linear relationship between the axial compressive strain and rotation angle was achieved before the strain reached 15% for the LPBF-processed CIT-compliant mechanism.

A novel model to evaluate spatial structure in thinned conifer-broadleaved mixed natural forests

In order to ensure the effective analysis and reconstruction of forests,it is key to ensure the quantitative description of their spatial structure.In this paper,a distance model for the optimal stand spatial structure based on weighted Voronoi diagrams is proposed.In particular,we provide a novel methodological model for the comprehensive evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands in natural mixed conifer-broadleaved forests and the formulation of management decision plans.The applicability of the rank evaluation and the optimal solution distance model are compared and assessed for different standard sample plots of natural mixed conifer-broadleaved forests.The effect of crown width on the spatial structure unit of the trees is observed to be higher than that of the diameter at breast height.Moreover,the influence of crown length is greater than that of tree height.There are nine possible spatial structure units determined by the weighted Voronoi diagram for the number of neighboring trees in the central tree,with an average intersection of neighboring crowns reaching 80%.The rank rating of natural forest sample plots is correlated with the optimal solution distance model,and their results are generally consistent for natural forests.However,the rank rating is not able to provide a quantitative assessment.The optimal solution distance model is observed to be more comprehensive than traditional methods for the evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands.It can effectively reflect the trends in realistic stand spatial structure factors close to or far from the ideal structure point,and accurately assesses the forest spatial structure.The proposed optimal solution distance model improves the integrated evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands and provides solid theoretical and technical support for sustainable forest management.

Stability of Couette flow past a gel film

We study instability of a Newtonian Couette flow past a gel-like film in the limit of vanishing Reynolds number. Three models are explored including one hyperelastic（neo-Hookean） solid, and two viscoelastic（Kelvin–Voigt and Zener） solids. Instead of using the conventional Lagrangian description in the solid phase for solving the displacement field, we construct equivalent ‘‘differential＇＇ models in an Eulerian reference frame, and solve for the velocity, pressure, and stress in both fluid and solid phases simultaneously. We find the interfacial instability is driven by the first-normal stress difference in the basestate solution in both hyperelastic and viscoelastic models. For the neo-Hookean solid, when subjected to a shear flow, the interface exhibits a short-wave（finite-wavelength） instability when the film is thin（thick）. In the Kelvin–Voigt and Zener solids where viscous effects are incorporated, instability growth is enhanced at small wavenumber but suppressed at large wavenumber, leading to a dominant finitewavelength instability. In addition, adding surface tension effectively stabilizes the interface to sustain fluid shear.

盘点气候风险机遇,展望健康繁荣未来

气候变化带来的健康风险与日俱增,煤炭消费及相关碳排放量的反弹,再度敲响了中国气候变化警钟.2022年,中国面临了严峻的气候挑战.极端天气事件发生的频率和强度不断上升,许多地区气温纪录屡创新高,全国平均气温攀升至历史第二高位,同时降水量自2012年以来创新低,南方地区遭遇夏秋连旱,而湖南和东北地区则出现了极端降雨和洪涝灾害.采取及时、充分的措施不仅能减轻气候变化对健康的影响,还将保护基础设施不被极端天气破坏.

基于先进激光加工技术的下一代航空发动机跨尺度整体式承力薄壁构件设计方法与应用

由宏观骨架-细观点阵-微观表面构成的多尺度整体式结构是一类极具高性能、多功能、轻量化潜力的新型结构形式,日渐成熟的先进激光加工技术不仅极大提升了高性能结构的制造能力,也为新型复杂结构的制造提供了可能。在简要总结宏观骨架、细观点阵、微观表面设计与制造现状基础上,提出了以先进激光加工技术为制造手段的多尺度整体式结构设计方法。以中介机匣为例,采用拓扑优化技术设计了主承力骨架结构,通过在拓扑优化低密度区域或低应力区域填充可制造点阵的方式完成了轻量化点阵设计,与实壁铸造件相比减重20%以上;在流道表面设计了导流减阻微沟槽结构,采用超快激光表面刻蚀加工,仿真模拟表明微沟槽减阻效果超过10%。采用先进激光加工技术开展了多尺度整体式结构设计的应用探索,为下一代航空发动机结构研制提供了可供借鉴的新途径。

Topology optimization of modular structures with multiple assemblies and applications to airborne shelves

This work is devoted to the aeronautical application of topology optimization for modular structures with multiple assemblies that consist of repeated standard modules and optional reinforcements.These kinds of structures are widely used owing to their transportability,reconfigurability,low manufacturing and service costs.In this work,the design of airborne shelves with modular structures characterized by the standard module configuration is formulated for the first time as a topology optimization problem of multiple assemblies and multiple load cases subjected to the volume constraint.It is shown that the weighted compliance design of multiple assemblies is a compromising solution compared to the optimization result of each individual assembly of standard modules.Meanwhile,the performance of optimized airborne shelves with the modular structures can effectively be ameliorated with the help of reinforcements.

Property evolution and service life prediction of novel metallic materials for future lunar bases

While lunar bases have been a focus of development in recent years,the complex and extreme environment of the lunar surface remains a considerable challenge for lunar exploration.Unlike those on Earth,lunar day and night temperature variations cause the properties of materials,especially metallic materials,to evolve in completely different manners.In this study,we investigated the property evolution of nine typical highperformance metallic materials using laboratory simulations of the extremely long-period lunar temperature environment.While lunation treatment improves the properties of all metallic materials,the microscopic mechanisms vary for amorphous and crystalline alloys with different structures.The treatment reduces both the loosely packed regions and heterogeneity in amorphous alloys while causing significant phase changes in crystalline alloys.Furthermore,a conservative prediction of the service life of metallic materials on lunar bases is provided based on analyzing microplastic events,followed by the practical material selection recommendations in various lunar application scenarios.

因地而异的气候变化健康影响需要因地而异的应对措施

气候变化的趋势正在对全球的人群健康造成巨大的威胁,迫切需要各国密切协作,积极应对气候变化,为此《柳叶刀》(The Lancet)杂志成立了"柳叶刀健康与气候变化委员会"(以下简称柳叶刀委员会),评估气候变化对人群健康的影响,并寻找保障人群健康的应对气候变化措施.柳叶刀委员会在2015年报告基础上,启动了"柳叶刀倒计时:追踪健康与气候变化进展"项目(以下简称柳叶刀倒计时)[1],每年在《柳叶刀》上发表全球应对气候变化和保护人群健康的最新进展.

把握机会窗口期减缓气候变化对中国居民健康影响

随着中国总人口的不断增加以及改革开放以来经济的飞速发展,中国面临来自气候变化的健康威胁也在不断上升.与此同时,中国也处于一个独特的机遇窗口期,如果能够有效应对气候变化带来的健康风险,将造福今后几代人的健康.反之,如果没有及时、充分的应对措施,气候变化对中国居民健康和生命的威胁将与日俱增.为了推动更及时且有利于改善人群健康的气候应对行动,由清华大学牵头建立的柳叶刀倒计时亚洲中心在全球柳叶刀倒计时工作的基础上[1,2],从2020年开始,聚焦气候变化对中国人群健康的影响进行全面且系统的评估[3,4].

以气候行动助力健康老龄化

在中国宣布碳中和目标以及频繁遭受极端气候事件的背景下,2021年以来中国社会对气候变化的关注度持续高涨.与此同时,随着中国人口老龄化趋势愈加明显,气候变化所带来的健康风险问题日益突出.采取健康友好型的气候变化应对策略及碳中和实现路径,将可以有效减少人类(尤其是老年人群)的空气污染暴露情况.这方面的行动不仅有助于改善人类健康和福祉,还能够促进经济社会的高质量发展.

An aerospace bracket designed by thermo-elastic topology optimization and manufactured by additive manufacturing

Combination of topology optimization and additive manufacturing technologies provides an effective approach for the development of light-weight and high-performance structures.A heavy-loaded aerospace bracket is designed by topology optimization and manufactured by additive manufacturing technology in this work.Considering both mechanical forces and temperature loads,a formulation of thermo-elastic topology optimization is firstly proposed and the sensitivity analysis is derived in detail.Then the procedure of numerical optimization design is presented and the final design is additively manufactured using Selective Laser Melting(SLM).The mass of the aerospace bracket is reduced by over 18%,benefiting from topology and size optimization,and the three constraints are satisfied as well in the final design.This work indicates that the integration of thermo-elastic topology optimization and additive manufacturing technologies can be a rather powerful tool kit for the design of structures under thermal-mechanical loading.

A novel heat-resistant Al–Si–Cu–Ni–Mg base material synergistically strengthened by Ni-rich intermetallics and nano-AlN_p microskeletons

In this work, nano-AlN particle(nano-AlN_p) microskeletons were introduced into an Al–Si–Cu–Ni–Mg alloy by Al–8 AlN master alloy in which the nano-AlN_p reinforcements connect with each other to form three-dimensional networks. It is found that these nano-AlN_p microskeletons mainly distribute in the binary Al–Si eutectic zones resulting in flaky eutectic Si phases being modified to particulates. Meanwhile,the microskeletons strengthen the matrix synergistically with semi-continuous Ni-rich intermetallics in three dimensions. The tensile mechanical properties, micro-hardness and thermal expansion properties of the alloy at different temperatures are significantly improved. Especially, the ultimate tensile strength(UTS) at 350℃ increases from 85MPa to 106MPa, rising by 24.7%, which is ascribed to nano-AlN_p microskeletons assisting intermetallics with undertaking mechanical loading, and to the modification of eutectic Si phases to reduce the stress concentration at elevated temperatures.

Enhanced age-hardening behavior in Al–Cu alloys induced by in-situ synthesized TiC nanoparticles

The influence of in-situ synthesized TiC nanoparticles on age-hardening behavior of Al–Cu alloys was investigated in Al–4.5 Cu–1.5 TiC alloy. It was found that TiC nanoparticles decrease the peak-age time effectively, from about 20 h for Al–4.5 Cu alloy decreasing to about 12 h for the Al–4.5 Cu–1.5 TiC. Mechanical property test shows that the age-hardening effect has been improved by the TiC nanoparticles. The increment of yield strength before and after aging is about 84 MPa for Al–4.5 Cu, while, it reaches to about113 MPa for the Al–4.5 Cu–1.5 TiC. After aging heat treatment, precipitates have been observed both in matrix and around TiC nanoparticles. Due to the difference of coefficient of thermal expansion between TiC and Al, high density dislocations in the Al–4.5 Cu–1.5 TiC were generated during water quenching after solution. Dislocations play a role of diffusion path for Cu atoms during aging, which reduces the peak-age time. Alpha-Al lattice distortion resulted from lattice mismatch of TiC/Al interface induces the precipitation of θ' phase around TiC nanoparticles, which increases the number density of θ' and improves the age-hardening effect. This finding is supposed to be also applicable to alloy systems of Al–Cu–Mg,Al–Cu–Mg–Li, Al–Cu–Mg–Ag, etc.

Layout design of thin-walled structures with lattices and stiffeners using multi-material topology optimization

In this paper,the thin-walled structures with lattices and stiffeners manufactured by additive manufacturing are investigated.A design method based on the multi-material topology optimization is proposed for the simultaneous layout optimization of the lattices and stiffeners in thin-walled structures.First,the representative lattice units of the selected lattices are equivalent to the virtual homogeneous materials whose effective elastic matrixes are achieved by the energy-based homogenization method.Meanwhile,the stiffeners are modelled using the solid material.Subsequently,the multi-material topology optimization formulation is established for both the virtual homogeneous materials and solid material to minimize the structural compliance under mass constraint.Thus,the optimal layout of both the lattices and stiffeners could be simultaneously attained by the optimization procedure.Two applications,the aircraft panel structure and the equipment mounting plate,are dealt with to demonstrate the detailed design procedure and reveal the effect of the proposed method.According to numerical comparisons and experimental results,the thin-walled structures with lattices and stiffeners have significant advantages over the traditional stiffened thin-walled structures and lattice sandwich structures in terms of static,dynamic and anti-instability performance.

Influence of Deformation on the Microstructure and Low-temperature Refining Behavior of Al-3.5P Master Alloy

In this paper,the influence of deformation on the microstructure and low-temperature refining behavior of Al-3.5P master alloy was investigated.The results show that the average size of AIP particles can be reduced obviously from 15.3 μm to about 2.1 μm by deformation.However,it exhibits entirely opposite influence on refining performance when A1-3.5P master alloy was deformed at room temperature and high temperature,respectively.Only when Al-3.5P master alloy was subjected to thermal deformation,can an improvement of low-temperature refining performance be obtained.In this condition,primary Si in A390 alloy can be refined from 137 to 21 μm,making it a potential candidate for die casting production.A mechanism associated with the transformation of particle-matrix interface during deformation has been proposed and further experiment has been designed to validate it.

Integrated batteries layout and structural topology optimization for a solar-powered drone

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate an integrated optimization scheme for a solar-powered drone structure.Consider a primary beam in the wing of large aspect ratio,where 100 lithium batteries are assembled.In the proposed integrated optimization,the batteries are considered here as parts of the load-carrying structure.The corresponding mechanical behaviors are simulated in the structural design and described with super-elements.The batteries layout and the structural topology are then introduced as mixed design variables and optimized simultaneously to achieve an accordant load-carrying path.Geometrical nonlinearity is considered due to the large deformation.Different periodic structural configurations are tested in the optimization in order to meet the structural manufacturing and assembly convenience.The optimized designs are rebuilt and tested in different load cases.Maintaining the same structural weight,the global mechanical performances are improved greatly compared with the initial design.