Extended finite element-based cohesive zone method for modeling simultaneous hydraulic fracture height growth in layered reservoirs

In this study,a fully coupled hydromechanical model within the extended finite element method(XFEM)-based cohesive zone method(CZM)is employed to investigate the simultaneous height growth behavior of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures in layered porous reservoirs with modulus contrast.The coupled hydromechanical model is first verified against an analytical solution and a laboratory experiment.Then,the fracture geometry(e.g.height,aperture,and area)and fluid pressure evolutions of multiple hydraulic fractures placed in a porous reservoir interbedded with alternating stiff and soft layers are investigated using the model.The stress and pore pressure distributions within the layered reservoir during fluid injection are also presented.The simulation results reveal that stress umbrellas are easily to form among multiple hydraulic fractures’tips when propagating in soft layers,which impedes the simultaneous height growth.It is also observed that the impediment effect of soft layer is much more significant in the fractures suppressed by the preferential growth of adjoining fractures.After that,the combined effect of in situ stress ratio and fracturing spacing on the multi-fracture height growth is presented,and the results elucidate the influence of in situ stress ratio on the height growth behavior depending on the fracture spacing.Finally,it is found that the inclusion of soft layers changes the aperture distribution of outmost and interior hydraulic fractures.The results obtained from this study may provide some insights on the understanding of hydraulic fracture height containment observed in filed.

Drilling-based measuring method for the c-φ parameter of rock and its field application

The technology of drilling tests makes it possible to obtain the strength parameter of rock accurately in situ. In this paper, a new rock cutting analysis model that considers the influence of the rock crushing zone(RCZ) is built. The formula for an ultimate cutting force is established based on the limit equilibrium principle. The relationship between digital drilling parameters(DDP) and the c-φ parameter(DDP-cφ formula, where c refers to the cohesion and φ refers to the internal friction angle) is derived, and the response of drilling parameters and cutting ratio to the strength parameters is analyzed. The drillingbased measuring method for the c-φ parameter of rock is constructed. The laboratory verification test is then completed, and the difference in results between the drilling test and the compression test is less than 6%. On this basis, in-situ rock drilling tests in a traffic tunnel and a coal mine roadway are carried out, and the strength parameters of the surrounding rock are effectively tested. The average difference ratio of the results is less than 11%, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method for obtaining the strength parameters based on digital drilling. This study provides methodological support for field testing of rock strength parameters.

A robust method for performance evaluation of the vapor cell for magnetometry

A robust performance evaluation method for vapor cells used in magnetometers is proposed in this work.The performance of the vapor cell determines the sensitivity of the magnetic measurement,which is the core parameter of a magnetometer.After establishing the relationship between intrinsic sensitivity and the total relaxation rate,the total relaxation rate of the vapor cell can be obtained to represent the intrinsic sensitivity of the magnetometer by fitting the parameters of the magnetic resonance experiments.The method for measurement of the total relaxation rate based on the magnetic resonance experiment proposed in this work is robust and insensitive to ambient noise.Experiments show that,compared with conventional sensitivity measurement,the total relaxation rate affected by magnetic noise below 0.9 n T,pump light frequency noise below 1.5 GHz,pump light power noise below 9%,probe light power noise below 3%and temperature fluctuation of 150±3℃deviates by less than 2%from the noise-free situation.This robust performance evaluation method for vapor cells is conducive to the construction of a multi-channel high-spatial-resolution cardio-encephalography system.

A method for predicting the water-flowing fractured zone height based on an improved key stratum theory

In the process of using the original key stratum theory to predict the height of a water-flowing fractured zone(WFZ),the influence of rock strata outside the calculation range on the rock strata within the calculation range as well as the fact that the shape of the overburden deformation area will change with the excavation length are ignored.In this paper,an improved key stratum theory(IKS theory)was proposed by fixing these two shortcomings.Then,a WFZ height prediction method based on IKS theory was established and applied.First,the range of overburden involved in the analysis was determined according to the tensile stress distribution range above the goaf.Second,the key stratum in the overburden involved in the analysis was identified through IKS theory.Finally,the tendency of the WFZ to develop upward was determined by judging whether or not the identified key stratum will break.The proposed method was applied and verified in a mining case study,and the reasons for the differences in the development patterns between the WFZs in coalfields in Northwest and East China were also fully explained by this method.

Numerical investigation of geostress influence on the grouting reinforcement effectiveness of tunnel surrounding rock mass in fault fracture zones

Grouting is a widely used approach to reinforce broken surrounding rock mass during the construction of underground tunnels in fault fracture zones,and its reinforcement effectiveness is highly affected by geostress.In this study,a numerical manifold method(NMM)based simulator has been developed to examine the impact of geostress conditions on grouting reinforcement during tunnel excavation.To develop this simulator,a detection technique for identifying slurry migration channels and an improved fluid-solid coupling(FeS)framework,which considers the influence of fracture properties and geostress states,is developed and incorporated into a zero-thickness cohesive element(ZE)based NMM(Co-NMM)for simulating tunnel excavation.Additionally,to simulate coagulation of injected slurry,a bonding repair algorithm is further proposed based on the ZE model.To verify the accuracy of the proposed simulator,a series of simulations about slurry migration in single fractures and fracture networks are numerically reproduced,and the results align well with analytical and laboratory test results.Furthermore,these numerical results show that neglecting the influence of geostress condition can lead to a serious over-estimation of slurry migration range and reinforcement effectiveness.After validations,a series of simulations about tunnel grouting reinforcement and tunnel excavation in fault fracture zones with varying fracture densities under different geostress conditions are conducted.Based on these simula-tions,the influence of geostress conditions and the optimization of grouting schemes are discussed.

Lattice Boltzmann simulation study of anode degradation in solid oxide fuel cells during the initial aging process

For present solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs),rapid performance degradation is observed in the initial aging process,and the dis-cussion of the degradation mechanism necessitates quantitative analysis.Herein,focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy was em-ployed to characterize and reconstruct the ceramic microstructures of SOFC anodes.The lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)simulation of multiphysical and electrochemical processes in the reconstructed models was performed.Two samples collected from industrial-size cells were characterized,including a reduced reference cell and a cell with an initial aging process.Statistical parameters of the reconstructed microstructures revealed a significant decrease in the active triple-phase boundary and Ni connectivity in the aged cell compared with the reference cell.The LBM simulation revealed that activity degradation is dominant compared with microstructural degradation during the initial aging process,and the electrochemical reactions spread to the support layer in the aged cell.The microstructural and activity de-gradations are attributed to Ni migration and coarsening.

Selection of Water Transmission Method and Analysis of Pipe Network Zoning in Municipal Water Supply and Drainage Design

With the acceleration of urbanization,the demand for water supply and drainage pipe networks has increased significantly.In the planning of urban construction,it is necessary to optimize the design of the water supply and drainage system pipe network to effectively save energy while providing residents with more accessible water resources.Therefore,the municipal water supply and drainage system and the water transmission methods should be designed according to the geographical conditions of the city.In this paper,we mainly analyze the design of municipal water supply and drainage systems and the selection of water transmission methods.Besides,the optimization of the water supply and drainage network zoning process and pipe network maintenance is also discussed,so as to provide a reference for municipal water supply and drainage work.

A Cell Screening Algorithm Integrating Genetic and Numerical Differentiation

The consistency of the cell has a significant impact on battery capacity,endurance,overall performance,safety,and service life extension.However,it is challenging to identify cells with high consistency and no loss of battery energy.This paper presents a cell screening algorithm that integrates genetic and numerical differentiation techniques.Initially,a mathematical model for battery consistency is established,and a multi-step charging strategy is proposed to satisfy the demands of fast charging technology.Subsequently,the genetic algorithm simulates biological evolution to efficiently search for superior cell combinations within a short time while evaluating capacity,voltage consistency,and charge/discharge efficiency.Finally,through experimental validation and comparative analysis with similar algorithms,our proposed method demonstrates notable advantages in terms of both search efficiency and performance.

Modeling One Dimensional Two-Cell Model with Tumor Interaction Using Krylov Subspace Methods

A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells grow, sometimes very rapidly, into an abnormal mass of tissue. The tumor can infect normal tissue, so there is an interaction between healthy and infected cell. The aim of this paper is to propose some efficient and accurate numerical methods for the computational solution of one-dimensional continuous basic models for the growth and control of brain tumors. After computing the analytical solution, we construct approximations of the solution to the problem using a standard second order finite difference method for space discretization and the Crank-Nicolson method for time discretization. Then, we investigate the convergence behavior of Conjugate gradient and generalized minimum residual as Krylov subspace methods to solve the tridiagonal toeplitz matrix system derived.

Tumor formation of prostate cancer cells influenced by stromal cells from the transitional or peripheral zones of the normal prostate

This study was designed to investigate the different involvements of prostatic stromal cells from the normal transitional zone(TZ)or peripheral zone(PZ)in the carcinogenesis of prostate cancer(PCa)epithelial cells(PC-3)in vitro and in vivo co-culture models.Ultra-structures and gene expression profiles of primary cultures of human prostatic stromal cells from the normal TZ or PZ were analyzed by electron microscopy and microarray analysis.In vitro and in vivo co-culture models composed of normal TZ or PZ stromal cells and human PCa PC-3 cells were established.We assessed tumor growth and weight in the in vivo nude mice model.There are morphological and ultra-structural differences in stromal cells from TZ and PZ of the normal prostate.In all,514 differentially expressed genes were selected by microarray analysis;483 genes were more highly expressed in stromal cells from TZ and 31 were more highly expressed in those from PZ.Co-culture with PZ stromal cells and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)increased the tumor growth of PC-3 cells in vitro and in vivo,as well as Bcl-2 expression.On the other hand,stromal cells of TZ suppressed PC-3 cell tumor growth in the mouse model.We conclude that ultra-structures and gene expression differ between the stromal cells from TZ or PZ of the normal prostate,and stroma-epithelium interactions from TZ or PZ might be responsible for the distinct zonal localization of prostate tumor formation.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment promotes neural stem cell proliferation in the subventricular zone of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage has been used clinically for many years, but its effectiveness remains controversial. In addition, the mechanism of this potential neuroprotective effect remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of hyperbaric oxygen on the proliferation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats （7 days old） subjected to hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Six hours after modeling, rats were treated with hyperbaric oxygen once daily for 7 days. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of 5-bromo-2＇-deoxyuridine positive and nestin positive cells in the subventricular zone of neonatal rats increased at day 3 after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and peaked at day 5. After hyperbaric oxygen treatment, the number of 5-bromo-2＇- deoxyuddine positive and nestin positive cells began to increase at day 1, and was significantly higher than that in normal rats and model rats until day 21. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that hyperbaric oxygen treatment could attenuate pathological changes to brain tissue in neonatal rats, and reduce the number of degenerating and necrotic nerve cells. Our experimental findings indicate that hyperbaric oxygen treatment enhances the proliferation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, and has therapeutic potential for promoting neurological recovery following brain injury.

Highly efficient solution-processed CZTSSe solar cells based on a convenient sodium-incorporated post-treatment method

In CZTSSe solar cells,a simple sodium-incorporation post-treatment method toward solution-processed Cu2Zn Sn S4precursor films is presented in this work.An ultrathin NaCl film is deposited on Cu2Zn Sn S4precursor films by spin-coating NaCl solution.In subsequent selenization process,the introduction of Na Cl is found to be benefacial for the formation of Cu2-xSe,which can further facilitate the element transportation,leading to dense and smooth CZTSSe films with large grains and less impurity Cu2Sn(S,Se)3phase.SIMS depth profiles confirm the gradient distribution of the sodium element in Na-doped absorbers.Photoluminescence spectra show that the introduction of appropriate sodium into the absorber can inhibit the band tail states.As high as 11.18% of power conversion efficiency(PCE)is achieved for the device treated with 5 mg mL^-1 NaCl solution,and an average efficiency of Na-doped devices is 10.71%,13%higher than that of the control groups(9.45%).Besides,the depletion width and the charge recombination lifetime can also have regular variation with sodium treatment.This work offers an easy modification method for high-quality Na-doped CZTSSe films and high-performance devices,in the meantime,it can also help to further understand the effects of sodium in CZTSSe solar cells.

A circular zone counting method of identifying a Duffing oscillator state transition and determining the critical value in weak signal detection

Identifying state transition and determining the critical value of the Duffing oscillator are crucial to indicating external signal existence and have a great influence on detection accuracy in weak signal detection. A circular zone counting （CZC） method is proposed in this paper, by combining the Duffing oscillator＇s phase trajectory feature and numerical calculation for quickly and accurately identifying state transition and determining the critical value, to realize a high- efficiency weak signal detection. Detailed model analysis and method construction of the CZC method are introduced. Numerical experiments into the reliability of the proposed CZC method compared with the maximum Lyapunov exponent （MLE） method are carried out. The CZC method is demonstrated to have better detecting ability than the MLE method, and furthermore it is simpler and clearer in calculation to extend to engineering application.

Subcellular distribution of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor subunit 1 in neural stem cells within subventricular zone of adult rats

The subcellular localization of N-methyI-D-aspartic acid receptor subunit 1 in neural stem cells of the subventricular zone of adult rats was detected using electron microscopy, following immunohistochemistry and immunogold-silver double staining. Results confirmed the presence of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone, which is a key neurogenic region in the central nervous system of adult mammals. The expression of N-methyI-D-aspartic acid receptor subunit 1 was higher than that of nestin and mainly distributed in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex of neural stem cells.

Finite cell method compared to h-version finite element method for elasto-plastic problems

The finite cell method （FCM） combines the high-order finite element method （FEM） with the fictitious domain approach for the purpose of simple meshing. In the present study, the FCM is used to the Prandtl-Reuss flow theory of plasticity, and the results are compared with the h-version finite element method （h-FEM）. The numerical results show that the FCM is more efficient compared to the h-FEM for elasto-plastic problems, although the mesh does not conform to the boundary. It is also demonstrated that the FCM performs well for elasto-plastic loading and unloading.

ONE-CELL-STATE METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS

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Methods to produce induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells: Mesenchymal stem cells from induced pluripotent stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have received significant attention in recent years due to their large potential for cell therapy.Indeed,they secrete a wide variety of immunomodulatory factors of interest for the treatment of immune-related disorders and inflammatory diseases.MSCs can be extracted from multiple tissues of the human body.However,several factors may restrict their use for clinical applications:the requirement of invasive procedures for their isolation,their limited numbers,and their heterogeneity according to the tissue of origin or donor.In addition,MSCs often present early signs of replicative senescence limiting their expansion in vitro,and their therapeutic capacity in vivo.Due to the clinical potential of MSCs,a considerable number of methods to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)into MSCs have emerged.iPSCs represent a new reliable,unlimited source to generate MSCs(MSCs derived from iPSC,iMSCs)from homogeneous and well-characterized cell lines,which would relieve many of the above mentioned technical and biological limitations.Additionally,the use of iPSCs prevents some of the ethical concerns surrounding the use of human embryonic stem cells.In this review,we analyze the main current protocols used to differentiate human iPSCs into MSCs,which we classify into five different categories:MSC Switch,Embryoid Body Formation,Specific Differentiation,Pathway Inhibitor,and Platelet Lysate.We also evaluate common and method-specific culture components and provide a list of positive and negative markers for MSC characterization.Further guidance on material requirements to produce iMSCs with these methods and on the phenotypic features of the iMSCs obtained is added.The information may help researchers identify protocol options to design and/or refine standardized procedures for large-scale production of iMSCs fitting clinical demands.

Study on the packed volume and the void ratio of idealized human red blood cells using a ?nite-discrete element method

Numerical simulations are performed to examine the packing behavior of human red blood cells(RBCs). A combined ?nite-discrete element method(FDEM) is utilized, in which the RBCs are modeled as no-friction and no-adhesion solid bodies. The packed volume and the void ratio of a large number of randomly packed RBCs are clari?ed,and the effects of the RBC shape, the mesh size, the cell number, and the container size are investigated. The results show that the packed human RBCs with normal shape have a void ratio of 28.45%, which is slightly higher than that of the ?at or thick cells used in this study. Such information is bene?cial to the further understanding on the geometric features of human RBCs and the research on RBC simulations.

Adult neural stem cell dysfunction in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle leads to diabetic olfactory defects

Sensitive smell discrimination is based on structural plasticity of the olfactory bulb,which depends on migration and integration of newborn neurons from the subventricular zone.In this study,we examined the relationship between neural stem cell status in the subventricular zone and olfactory function in rats with diabetes mellitus.Streptozotocin was injected through the femoral vein to induce type 1 diabetes mellitus in Sprague-Dawley rats.Two months after injection,olfactory sensitivity was decreased in diabetic rats.Meanwhile,the number of Brd U-positive and Brd U＋/DCX＋double-labeled cells was lower in the subventricular zone of diabetic rats compared with agematched normal rats.Western blot results revealed downregulated expression of insulin receptorβ,phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β,and β-catenin in the subventricular zone of diabetic rats.Altogether,these results indicate that diabetes mellitus causes insulin deficiency,which negatively regulates glycogen synthase kinase 3β and enhances β-catenin degradation,with these changes inhibiting neural stem cell proliferation.Further,these signaling pathways affect proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone.Dysfunction of subventricular zone neural stem cells causes a decline in olfactory bulb structural plasticity and impairs olfactory sensitivity in diabetic rats.

Preparation of Se-based solar cell using spin-coating method in ambient condition

A new hybrid organic-inorganic structure of FTO/TiO2/Se/HTL/Au based selenium solar cell has been fabricated through a low-cost spin-coating process in air. In this process, selenium is completely dissolved in hydrazine, to fk）rm a homogeneous precursor solution. After spin-coating the precursor solution on the TiO2 substrates, following by sintering at 200 ℃ for 5rain, a uniform selenium film with crystalline grains is formed. The selenium based solar cell exhibits an efficiency of 1.23% under AM1.5 illumination （100 mW.cm-2）, short-circuit current density of 8 mA.cm 2, open-circuit voltage of 0.55 V, and fill factor of 0.37. Moreover, the device shows a stable ability with almost the same performance alter 60 days.