Coexistent Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A and type 2 diabetes mellitus neuropathies in a Chinese family

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A（CMT1A） is caused by duplication of the peripheral myelin protein 22（PMP22） gene on chromosome 17. It is the most common inherited demyelinating neuropathy. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder that frequently causes predominantly sensory neuropathy. In this study, we report the occurrence of CMT1 A in a Chinese family affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this family, seven individuals had duplication of the PMP22 gene, although only four had clinical features of polyneuropathy. All CMT1 A patients with a clinical phenotype also presented with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The other three individuals had no signs of CMT1 A or type 2 diabetes mellitus. We believe that there may be a genetic link between these two diseases.

Ozone concentrations, flux and potential effect on yield during wheat growth in the NorthwestShandong Plain of China

Ozone（O3） concentration and flux（Fo） were measured using the eddy covariance technique over a wheat field in the Northwest-Shandong Plain of China. The O3-induced wheat yield loss was estimated by utilizing O3exposure-response models. The results showed that：（1） During the growing season（7 March to 7 June, 2012）, the minimum（16.1 ppb V） and maximum（53.3 ppb V）mean O3 concentrations occurred at approximately 6：30 and 16：00, respectively. The mean and maximum of all measured O3 concentrations were 31.3 and 128.4 ppb V, respectively. The variation of O3 concentration was mainly affected by solar radiation and temperature.（2） The mean diurnal variation of deposition velocity（V d） can be divided into four phases, and the maximum occurred at noon（12：00）. Averaged V d during daytime（6：00–18：00） and nighttime（18：00–6：00） were 0.42 and 0.14 cm/sec, respectively. The maximum of measured V d was about1.5 cm/sec. The magnitude of V d was influenced by the wheat growing stage, and its variation was significantly correlated with both global radiation and friction velocity.（3） The maximum mean F o appeared at 14：00, and the maximum measured F o was-33.5 nmol/（m^2·sec）. Averaged F o during daytime and nighttime were-6.9 and-1.5 nmol/（m^2·sec）, respectively.（4） Using O3 exposure-response functions obtained from the USA, Europe, and China, the O3-induced wheat yield reduction in the district was estimated as 12.9% on average（5.5%–23.3%）. Large uncertainties were related to the statistical methods and environmental conditions involved in deriving the exposure-response functions.

Modelling of finger-like channelled anode support for SOFCs application

This paper established a numerical model for a solid oxide fuel cell （SOFC） button cell, focusing on the effects of finger-like channels on the gas transport process in the anode support. The current densities of channelled button cell and un-channelled button cell are compared at different operating temperature and voltage with H2 as the fuel. The H2 transport is discussed in detail, such as the mole fraction distribution of H2 in the porous layer, the diffusion flux and convective flux of Ha. It is found that the performance of SOFC can be improved by 2.60 % at 800 ~C, 0.5 V, com- pared with un-channelled SOFC due to the improved gas transport by the finger-like channels. Then, the model is further extended to study 2D-planar SOFC fuelled with syngas. The mole fraction gradients of H2, CO, CH4 and CO are all substantially reduced by the finger-like channels compared to un-channelled planar cell. It is found that the SOFC performance is improved by 5.93 % at 800℃, 0.5 V, when syngas fuel is used. The present study clearly demonstrated that the use of finger-like channels in the anode support is effective in improving the gas transport and the SOFC performance. The present model can be employed for subsequent optimization of the channel configuration for further performance improvement.

Simplified mathematical model of proton exchange membrane fuel cell based on horizon fuel cell stack

This paper presents a simplified zero-dimensional mathematical model for a self-humidifying proton exchange membrane(PEM)fuel cell stack of 1 k W.The model incorporates major electric and thermodynamic variables and parameters involved in the operation of the PEM fuel cell under different operational conditions.Influence of each of these parameters and variables upon the operation and the performance of the PEM fuel cell are investigated.The mathematical equations are modeled by using Matlab-Simulink tools in order to simulate the operation of the developed model with a commercial available 1kW horizon PEM fuel cell stack(H-1000),which is used for the purposes of model validation and tuning of the developed model.The model can be extrapolated to higher wattage fuel cells of similar arrangements.New equation is presented to determine the impact of using air to supply the PEM fuel cell instead of pure oxygen upon the concentration losses and the output voltage when useful current is drawn from it.

A simulation study of airborne wear particles from laboratory wheel-rail contacts

Laboratory measurements of airborne particles from sliding contacts are often performed using a tri- bometer located in a ventilation chamber. Although knowledge of particle transport behavior inside the chamber is required because it can influence the analysis of measurements, this knowledge is lacking. A numerical model was built based on the same geometry as a pin-on-disc measurement system to explain particle transport behavior inside the chamber and to determine the deviation between real amounts of generated and measured particles at the outlet. The effect of controlled flow conditions on the airflow pattern and particle transport inside the chamber was studied for different experimental conditions. Cal- culations show that a complex airflow pattern is formed by the spinning disc, and that it differs for each rotational speed. Simulation results reveal that particle transport in the chamber is governed mainly by the airflow pattern. The deposition velocity in the chamber was estimated and the possibility that part of the generated particles would remain in the chamber was studied. This led to an approximate estima- tion of particle loss rate. A comparison between experimental and simulated results with respect to the particle mass flow rate close to the outlet yields a reference factor of 0.7, which provides an indication of the difference between measured and real values.