Effects of submicron-MgO and nano-MgO on the expansion and microscopic properties of high-performance concrete

MgO-series expansive agents can effectively compensate for the shrinkage and deformation of concrete structures.However,few experimental studies have been conducted on MgO expansive agents,particularly concerning the difference between and effects of submicron-MgO and nano-MgO in high-performance concrete(HPC)with a low water-cement ratio,thereby limiting their application in practical engineering.To clarify the expansion effect and expansion mechanism of MgO expansive agents in HPC,the effects of submicron-MgO and nano-MgO on the strength,toughness,and expansion characteristics of HPC were examined.The test results showed that submicron-MgO and nano-MgO continued to hydrate in the cement environment to produce Mg(OH)_(2),thus improving the structural compactness and structural strength of HPC.Nano-MgO concrete was found to have more stable mechanical properties and better structural deformability than submicron-MgO concrete.This study provides effective data support and theoretical reference concerning the hydration expansion mechanisms and engineering applications of nano-expanded materials.

Expansion and Management Implications of Invasive Alien Spartina alterniflora in Yancheng Salt Marshes, China

Improved understanding of the spatial dynamics of invasive plant species is critical for effective land management and control of future invasion. The Yancheng National Nature Reserve (YNNR), an internationally important wetland, has the largest distribution of alien Spartina alterniflora in China. This alien plant was intentionally introduced for erosion prevention and dike protection in China. However, it became an aggressive competitor with native salt marsh plants in the coastal regions in China. High resolution imagery, SPOT-5, was used to map plant communities including invasive species in the south core zone of YNNR with the natural ecosystem of salt marshes in 2003, 2005 and 2008. The fuzzy set assessment method significantly improved the classification accuracies over the conventional error matrix, i.e., from 73.8%, 73.5% and 81.4% to 91.5%, 91.6% and 93.4% in 2003, 2005 and 2008, respectively. It shows a great potential for mapping invasive plant species. Phragmites australis and S. alterniflora were the most accurately mapped classes, and sparse and dense Suaeda glauca were the least accurately mapped. From 2003 to 2008, S. alterniflora increased 28.8% from 1664.1 to 2142.6 ha in area size, and more than 2.5 times from 742 to 2608 patches. The highest increase in patch number occurred within the interval between 2001 and 3000 m from the eastern baseline. This increase was dominated by small patches with area less than 200 m2. During the study period, the mean spread width was 405 ± 80.7 m in the original large patch of area over 200 ha. The eastward/seaward spread was distinctively larger than the westward/landward. The results enhance the understanding of alien plant’s invasion patterns and help improve conservation efforts.

Fluidization characteristics of different sizes of quartz particles in the fluidized bed

Fluidization characteristics of quartz particles with different sizes are experimentally investigated in a fluidized bed with an inner diameter of 300 mm and height of 8250 mm.Results show that the average solid holdup increases with the increase in superficial gas velocity and the decrease in initial solid holdup in the dense zone of the fluidized bed.The average cross-sectional solid holdup decreases with increasing bed height and superficial gas velocity.The bed expansion coefficient increases with the increase in superficial gas velocity and the decrease in solid holdup.Correlations of average solid holdup,average cross-sectional solid holdup and bed expansion coefficient are also established and discussed.These correlations can provide guidelines for better understanding of the fluidization characteristics.

CHARACTERISTIC FUNCTIONS OF BILINEAR TIME SERIES MODEL

Bilinear time series models are of importance to nonlinear time seriesanalysis.In this paper,the autocovariance function and the relation between linearand general bilinear time series models are derived.With the help of Volterra seriesexpansion,the impulse response function and frequency characteristic function of thegeneral bilinear time series model are also derived.

A Stochastic Extension of Macroscopic Stability Criterion of Nonequilibrium Steady State in Chemical Reaction Systems Governed by Master Equation

By means of both the separation of the perturbation in accordance with characteristic parnmeters and the Kramers Moyal-expansion of the master equation, it is shown that the time derivative of the partial excess quantity of stochastic entropy due to the deviation from the most probable path is related to the responsibility of a system to the external macroscopic perturbations. This evolution rate of the partial excess stochastic entropy is equivalent to the partlal excess stochastic entropy production, as well as the stochastic excess entropy production rate based on the stochastic potential npproach. It appears also as an eqivalent quantity of the Gibbs excess entropy production for the Polsson distribution. The macroscopic stability of chemical reaction systems is dominnted by this new stochastic quantity when the local equilibrium thermodynamics is broken down .

西部先发地区城市空间扩张特征及驱动因素探析——以陕西省为例

Compared with the stock-land exploitation of developed regions in eastern China,the development path in the western regions still relies on land expansion.Among them,Shaanxi stands out as an early-developing region with the highest comprehensive social and economic development level in the west,presenting a more significant and typical phenomenon of urban expansion.This paper utilizes remote sensing image data and socio-economic statistical data,employing mathematical and statistical analysis methods to examine the types and patterns of urban spatial expansion in Shaanxi over multiple years.It also summarizes the laws of expansion and subsequently delves into the driving factors of the spatial expansion.The result shows that the important driving factors of urban expansion in Shaanxi include natural geographical conditions,the economic development basis,the development of new towns and new areas,the drive of large-scale projects,and the guidance of urban and rural planning.The differences in driving factors between the east and west can be explained by the stages of regional development and the effects of administrative boundaries.This research aims to provide localized insights into the rational regulation of urban spatial evolution and efficient land use in similar regions and late-developing regions inwestern China.

Superelasticity and Tunable Thermal Expansion across a Wide Temperature Range

Materials that undergo a reversible change of crystal structure through martensitic transformation （MT） possess unusual functionalities including shape memory, superelasticity, and low/negative thermal ex- pansion. These properties have many advanced applications, such as actuators, sensors, and energy conversion, but are limited typically in a narrow temperature range of tens of Kelvin. Here we report that, by creating a nano-scale concentration modulation via phase separation, the MT can be rendered continuous by an in-situ elastic confinement mechanism. Through a model titanium alloy, we demon- strate that the elastically confined continuous MT has unprecedented properties, such as superelasticity from below 4.2 K to 500 K, fully tunable and stable thermal expansion, from positive, through zero, to negative, from below 4.2 K to 573 K, and high strength-to-modulus ratio across a wide temperature range. The elastic tuning on the MT, together with a significant extension of the crystal stability limit, provides new opportunities to explore advanced materials.

Concept and application of anaerobic suspended granular sludge bed （SGSB） reactor for wastewater treatment

Bed expansion serves an important function in the design and operation of an upflow anaerobic reactor. An analysis of the flow pattern of expanded granular sludge bed （EGSB） reactors shows that most EGSB reactors do not behave as expanded bed reactors, as is widely perceived. Rather, these reactors behave as fluidized bed reactors based on the classic chemical reactor theory. In this paper, four bed expansion modes, divided as static bed, expanded bed, suspended bed, and fluidized bed, for bioreactors are proposed. A high-rate anaerobic suspended granular sludge bed （SGSB） reactor was then developed. The SGSB reactor is an upflow anaerobic reactor, and its expansion degree can be easily controlled within a range to maintain the suspended status of the sludge bed by controlling upfiow velocity. The results of the full-scale reactor confirmed that the use of SGSB reactors is advantageous. The full-scale SGSB reactor runs stably and achieves high COD removal efficiency （about 90%） at high loading rates （average 40 kg-COD·m^-3·d^-1, maximum to 52 kg·COD·m^-3 ·d^-1） based on the SGSB theory, and its expansion degree is between 22% and 37%.