High Performance Concrete and Its Typical Mixes

With the modern development of chemical and mineral admixtures, it is now possible to produce much higher performance concrete than before. Higher performance does not only mean higher strength, but also better durability, lower risk of thermal cracking and higher dimensional stability etc. The three most effective admixtures for producing high performance concrete are superplastieizer, pulverized fuel ash and condensed silica fume. This paper outlines the properties of these materials and presents some practical guidelines for their usage.

Effect of Al Addition on Properties of Al_2O_3-SiC-C Dry Ramming Mixes for BF Trough

Aluminium powders were introduced to Al2O3-SiC-C dry ramming mixes in order to improve sintering properties and oxidation resistance according to their service conditions and installation methods. Properties such as bulk density, porosity, modulus of rupture, crushing strength and hot modulus of rupture as a function of aluminium addition were investigated in the present work. The microstructure and thermodynamics for the heat treated specimens were also analyzed. The results show that as aluminium addition increasing, the bulk density of the specimen treated at 220℃ tends to decrease and the apparent porosity increases, the strength of the specimens treated at 1100℃ and 1450℃ increases markedly, the bulk density tends to increase, apparent porosity and linear shrinkage decrease. The HMOR at 1400℃ is enhanced from 1.0 MPa to 3.5 MPa with 3% aluminium. Aluminium is served as sintering agent and anti-oxidant and it will react with CO and CO2 forming Al2O3 , which is helpful to enhance the strength, densify the structure and improve the overall properties.

Application of nano silica to improve self-healing of asphalt mixes

Nano silica due to its spherical shape, tiny size and higher density compared to bitumen, may have an inherent potential to improve hot mix asphalt(HMA) self-healing. In this research scanning electron microscopy(SEM) images were used to investigate size, morphology and dispersion of nano silica particles. Additionally, HMA self-healing mechanism was also examined by SEM. Furthermore, dynamic indirect tensile test(IDT) was used to evaluate HMA self-healing index. The SEM results indicated that bitumen mortar flowing into micro cracks may be one of the most important mechanisms of HMA self-healing. The experiment results also showed that modification of bitumen by nano silica promotes the ability of the HMA self-healing.

Influence of Raw Material on the Properties of MgO-Al_2O_3-Cr_2O_3 Ramming Mixes

Mg0-Al2O3-Cr2O3 ramming mixes made of different raw materials have different mineral structure and different physical properties though with the identical particle size distribution, the same amount of binder and chemical composition . The residual carbon content of the fused magnesia-chrome material made in reducing atmosphere is very high, if this material is used in the MgO-Al203-Cr2O3 ramming mix , it would cause spalling of the furnace lining during drying-out.

Effect of Calcium Aluminate Cement Addition on Properties of Al_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2) Based Gunning Mixes

Al_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2) based gunning mixes were prepared with electric porcelain waste,silica fume,bauxite,quartz powder,and calcium aluminate cement(CAC)of different additions as raw materials firing at different temperatures to research the effect of the CAC addition on their phase change and properties.The results show that:from theoretical analysis of the phase diagram,with the CAC addition increasing from 8%to 14%,anorthite increases from 40.0%to 77.7%,by mass.With the rising CAC addition,the permanent linear change on heating of specimens increases;for the specimens dried at 110℃or hot-treated at 1000℃,the bulk density and the mechanical properties increase,and the apparent porosity decreases;and for those hottreated at 1300℃,the bulk density and the mechanical properties firstly increase,and then decrease,while the apparent porosity shows an opposite trend.Taking into account the phases at high temperatures and the properties,the optimal CAC addition of Al_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2) based gunning mixes is 12%.

Experimental Alternative to the Determination of the Thermal Dependence of the Complex Modulus of Asphalt Mixes in Dry Tropical Areas

Current pavement design methods do not allow for the reduction of early deformation of the surface layers of bituminous pavements in the city of Ouagadougou. Weather conditions combined with traffic, particularly during heat waves, are factors. The temperature at the surface of the bituminous pavement can reach 62˚C but the complex modulus associated with this temperature is not taken into account in the design, hence the interest in proposing laws of dependence of the complex moduli is taken into account in the maximum temperatures of the pavement surface. The objective of this paper is to propose an experimental method to determine the temperature dependence of the complex moduli of asphalt mixes for temperatures between 40˚C and 70˚C. This experimental method consists of performing axial compression tests on cylindrical asphalt specimens. It was applied to three different formulas of bituminous mixes, intended for the wearing course, obtained from mixes of crushed granites, granular classes 6/10, 4/6 and 0/4, pure bitumens of grade 50/70, 35/50 and modified bitumen of grade 10/65. The comparative study of the experimental results obtained with the results of a semi-empirical methodology revealed a root mean square deviation from the mean of between 6.58% and 14.8% of the norms of the complex moduli (modulus of rigidity) of the asphalt mixes for a fixed frequency of solicitations of 10 Hz. The consistency of these results with data from the literature led to the initial conclusion that asphalt mixes formulated with 35/50 and 10/65 bitumen would have better compressive strength than those formulated with 50/70 bitumen, for exposure temperatures between 40˚C and 70˚C. This experimental approach could be an alternative to the complex modulus test for determining the modulus of rigidity for design purposes under real pavement exposure conditions in the city of Ouagadougou during heat waves.

How Will Different Types of Regional Innovation Policy and Their Mixes Affect the Innovation Performance of Enterprises: An Empirical Study Based on Shenzhen

Evaluating the functional boundary of different types of innovation policy instruments and their mixes on innovation performance of enterprises is an important but unresolved key issue.This paper,based on the systematically carding the quantization of 155 innovation policies issued by Shenzhen governmental departments from 2011 to 2019,analyzed the characteristics from different types of innovation instruments and their mixes.The results show that Shenzhen governmental has constantly enriched innovation policy instruments for encouraging enterprise innovation,but there are structural unbalances in the issued innovation policy manifested as follows:firstly supply-side policy and environmental-side policy were promulgated more than demand-side policy;secondly the specific instruments employed by Shenzhen governmental were also uneven in different type of innovation policy,like supply-side policy focused on the instruments of government procurement and R&D outsourcing,demand-side policy employed human resource training,innovation infrastructure and fiscal support most,and environmental-side policy main used target planning,intellectual property protection and financial support.This study expands and understanding empirical implementation of different reginal innovation policy instruments,and has implication for Shenzhen governmental in improving the applicability ability of policies in the enterprises innovation.

Utilization of inferior quality aggregates in asphalt mixes:A systematic review

Properties of aggregates are majorly influenced by parameters of source rocks viz.,formation process,chemical composition,impurities,volume of pores,and grain size.The study presents a review of aggregate treatment methods and its efficacy to enhance the quality of aggregate.Various aspects of aggregate treatment methods like processing temperature,the dosage of additives,adaptability in the field is studied for three treatment methods viz.,polymer coating,cementitious coating,and chemical treatments.The paper also presents an insight to understand the effect of different treatment methods on mix properties and performance parameters of asphalt mixes.The review revealed that the shape properties of aggregates can be enhanced by the incorporating suitable crushing process(two-stage or three-stage).Whereas,physical and durability properties of aggregates can be improved by various treatment methods like polymer coating,Zycosoil treatment.It was further inferred from the review that treatment methods can have moderate effects on the mechanical properties of aggregates,since,it is mostly dependent on properties of source rocks.

HIGH ACCURACY FOR MIXES FINITE ELEMENT METHODS IN RAVIART-THOMAS ELEMENT

This paper deals with Raviart-Thomas element (Q(2,1) x Q(1,2) - Q(1) element). Apart from its global superconvergence property of fourth order, we prove that a postprocessed extrapolation can globally increased the accuracy by fifth order.

Effect of aspect ratio of elliptical stirred vessel on mixing time and flow field characteristics in the absence of baffles

Elliptical tanks were used as an alternative to circular tanks in order to improve mixing efficiency and reduce mixing time in unbaffled stirred tanks(USTs). Five different aspect ratios of elliptical vessels were designed to compare their mixing time and flow field. Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) simulations were performed using the k–ε model to calculate the mixing time and simulate turbulent flow field features, such as streamline shape, velocity distribution, vortex core region distribution, and turbulent kinetic energy(TKE) transfer. Visualization was also carried out to track the tinctorial evolution of the liquid phase. Results reveal that elliptical stirred tanks can significantly improve mixing performance in USTs. Specifically, the mixing time at an aspect ratio of 2.00 is only 45.3% of the one of a circular stirred tank. Furthermore, the secondary flow is strengthened and the vortex core region increases with the increase of aspect ratio. The axial velocity is more sensitive to the aspect ratio than the circumferential and radial velocity. Additionally, the TKE transfer in elliptical vessels is altered. These findings suggest that elliptical vessels offer a promising alternative to circular vessels for enhancing mixing performance in USTs.

Competitive effect, but not competitive response, varies along a climatic gradient depending on tree species identity

Background: Understanding the role of species identity in interactions among individuals is crucial for assessing the productivity and stability of mixed forests over time. However, there is limited knowledge concerning the variation in competitive effect and response of different species along climatic gradients. In this study, we investigated the importance of climate, tree size, and competition on the growth of three tree species: spruce(Picea abies), fir(Abies alba), and beech(Fagus sylvatica), and examined their competitive response and effect along a climatic gradient.Methods: We selected 39 plots distributed across the European mountains with records of the position and growth of 5,759 individuals. For each target species, models relating tree growth to tree size, climate and competition were proposed. Competition was modelled using a neighbourhood competition index that considered the effects of inter-and intraspecific competition on target trees. Competitive responses and effects were related to climate.Likelihood methods and information theory were used to select the best model.Results: Our findings revealed that competition had a greater impact on target species growth than tree size or climate. Climate did influence the competitive effects of neighbouring species, but it did not affect the target species? response to competition. The strength of competitive effects varied along the gradient, contingent on the identity of the interacting species. When the target species exhibited an intermediate competitive effect relative to neighbouring species, both higher inter-than intraspecific competitive effects and competition reduction occurred along the gradient. Notably, species competitive effects were most pronounced when the target species' growth was at its peak and weakest when growing conditions were far from their maximum.Conclusions: Climate modulates the effects of competition from neighbouring trees on the target tree and not the susceptibility of the target tree to competition. The modelling approach should be useful in future research to expand our knowledge of how competition modulates forest communities across environmental gradients.

Evaluation of Nonbreaking Wave-Induced Mixing Parameterization Schemes Based on a One-Dimensional Ocean Model

Surface waves have a considerable effect on vertical mixing in the upper ocean.In the past two decades,the vertical mixing induced through nonbreaking surface waves has been used in ocean and climate models to improve the simulation of the upper ocean.Thus far,several nonbreaking wave-induced mixing parameterization schemes have been proposed;however,no quantitative comparison has been performed among them.In this paper,a one-dimensional ocean model was used to compare the performances of five schemes,including those of Qiao et al.(Q),Hu and Wang(HW),Huang and Qiao(HQ),Pleskachevsky et al.(P),and Ghantous and Babanin(GB).Similar to previous studies,all of these schemes can decrease the simulated sea surface temperature(SST),increase the subsurface temperature,and deepen the mixed layer,thereby alleviating the common thermal deviation problem of the ocean model for upper ocean simulation.Among these schemes,the HQ scheme exhibited the weakest wave-induced mixing effect,and the HW scheme exhibited the strongest effect;the other three schemes exhibited roughly the same effect.In particular,the Q and P schemes exhibited nearly the same effect.In the simulation based on observations from the Ocean Weather Station Papa,the HQ scheme exhibited the best performance,followed by the Q scheme.In the experiment with the HQ scheme,the root-mean-square deviation of the simulated SST from the observations was 0.43℃,and the mixed layer depth(MLD)was 2.0 m.As a contrast,the deviations of the SST and MLD reached 1.25℃ and 8.4 m,respectively,in the experiment without wave-induced mixing.

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms in gastroenteropancreatic tract

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms(MiNENs)are a hetero-geneous group of malignant neoplasms that can settle in the gastroenteropan-creatic tract.They are composed of a neuroendocrine(NE)and a non-NE compo-nent in at least 30%of each tumour.The non-NE component can include different histological combinations of glandular,squamous,mucinous and sarcomatoid phenotypes,and one or both of the components can be low-or high grade malignant.Recent changes in the nomenclature of these neoplasms might lead to great deal of confusion,and the lack of specific clinical trials is the main reason why their management is difficult.The review aims to clarify the definition of MiNEN and analyze available evidence about their diagnosis and treatment options according to their location and extension through careful analysis of the available data.It would be important to reach a general consensus on their diagnosis in order to construct a classification that remains stable over time and facilitates the design of clinical trials that,due to their low incidence,will require long recruitment periods.

Soil properties and not plant factors affect both abundant and rare microbial taxa after thinning in a mixed stand of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Sassafras tzumu

Thinning is an effective management step for sustainable forest development,yet less attention is paid to the restoration of soil microbiota after thinning.In this study,both abundant and rare soil microbial communities(i.e.,bacterial,fungal),were evaluated under various thinning treatments in a mixed stand of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Sassafras tzumu using Mi Seq sequencing.Thinning did not significantly change either abundant or rare bacterial and fungal community composition,but affected their alpha diversity.The Shannon–Wiener indexes of rare fungal taxa under medium thinning were significantly lower than in the light thinning(P<0.05 level).Xanthobacteraceae dominated the abundant bacterial taxa,and Saitozyma and Mortierlla the abundant fungal taxa.The most common rare bacterial taxa varied;there was no prevalent rare fungal taxa under different thinnings.In addition,soil available nitrogen,total phosphorus,and p H had significant effects on rare bacterial taxa.Nutrients,especially available phosphorus,but not nitrogen,affected abundant and rare soil fungi.The results indicate that soil properties rather than plant factors affect abundant and rare microbial communities in soils of mixed stands.Thinning,through mediating soil properties,influences both abundant and rare bacterial and fungal communities in the mixed C.lanceolata and S.tzumu stand.

Assessing mixing uniformity in microreactors via in-line spectroscopy

Mixing behavior is critical for enhancing the selectivity of fast chemical reactions in microreactors.A high Reynolds number(Re)improves the mixing rate and selectivity of the reactions,but some exceptions of increasing side product yield with the higher Re have been reported.This study investigated the mixing uniformity in microreactors with in-line UV-vis spectroscopy to clarify the relationship between reaction selectivity and chaotic mixing with the higher Re.A colorization experiment of thymolphthalein in an acidic solution was conducted with an excess acid amount to the base to indicate a non-uniformly mixed region.Non-uniformity significantly increased with Re.At the same time,the degree of mixing,which was measured by a usual decolorization experiment,showed that the mixing rate increased with Re.The in-line analysis of the Villermaux-Dushman reaction during the mixing clarified that side product yield significantly increased with Re at around 300 and then decreased at around 1100.These results suggest the compensation effect between the mixing uniformity and mixing rate on the selectivity of the mixing-sensitive reactions.Faster mixing,characterized by a larger Re,can disturb mixing uniformity and,in some cases,decrease reaction selectivity.

Effects of cross-Kerr coupling on transmission spectrum of double-cavity optomechanical system

We theoretically study the transmission spectrum of the cavity field in a double-cavity optomechanical system with cross-Kerr(CK) effect. The system consists of two tunneling coupling optomechanical cavities with a mechanical resonator as a coupling interface. By doping CK medium into the mechanical resonator, CK couplings between the cavity fields and the mechanical resonator are introduced. We investigate the effects of CK coupling strength on the transmission spectrum of the cavity field, including the transmission rate, nonreciprocity and four-wave mixing(FWM). We find that the transmission spectrum of the probe field can show two obvious transparent windows, which can be widened by increasing the CK coupling strength. For the transmission between the two cavity fields, the perfect nonreciprocity and reciprocity are present and modulated by CK coupling and phase difference between two effective optomechanical couplings. In addition, the effects of the optomechanical and CK couplings on FWM show that the single peak of FWM is split into three symmetrical peaks due to the introduction of the CK effect.

Dendroclimatological study of Sabina saltuaria and Abies faxoniana in the mixed forests of the Qionglai Mountains,eastern Tibetan Plateau

Tree-ring chronologies were developed for Sabina saltuaria and Abies faxoniana in mixed forests in the Qionglai Mountains of the eastern Tibetan Plateau.Climate-growth relationship analysis indicated that the two co-exist-ing species reponded similarly to climate factors,although S.saltuaria was more sensitive than A.faxoniana.The strong-est correlation was between S.saltuaria chronology and regional mean temperatures from June to November.Based on this relationship,a regional mean temperature from June to November for the period 1605-2016 was constructed.Reconstruction explained 37.3%of the temperature variance during th period 1961-2016.Six major warm periods and five major cold periods were identified.Spectral analysis detected significant interannual and multi-decadal cycles.Reconstruction also revealed the influence of the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation,confirming its importance on climate change on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Amino-functionalized UiO-66-doped mixed matrix membranes with high permeation performance and fouling resistance

For the reduction of bovine serum proteins from wastewater,a novel mixed matrix membrane was prepared by functionalizing the substrate material polyaryletherketone(PAEK),followed by carboxyl groups(C-SPAEKS),and then adding amino-functionalized UiO-66-NH_(2)(Am-UiO-66-NH_(2)).Aminofunctionalization of UiO-66 was accomplished by melamine,followed by an amidation reaction to immobilize Am-UiO-66-NH_(2),which was immobilized on the surface of the membrane as well as in the pore channels,which enhanced the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface while increasing the negative potential of the membrane surface.This nanoparticle-loaded ultrafiltration membrane has good permeation performance,with a pure water flux of up to 482.3 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1) for C-SPAEKS/AmUiO-66-NH_(2) and a retention rate of up to 98.7%for bovine serum albumin(BSA)-contaminated solutions.Meanwhile,after several hydrophilic modifications,the flux recovery of BSA contaminants by this series of membranes increased from 56.2%to 80.55%of pure membranes.The results of ultra-filtration flux time tests performed at room temperature showed that the series of ultrafiltration membranes remained relatively stable over a test time of 300 min.Thus,the newly developed mixed matrix membrane showed potential for high efficiency and stability in wastewater treatment containing bovine serum proteins.

Mixed neuroendocrine and adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal tract:A complex diagnosis and therapeutic challenge

In this editorial we comment on the manuscript describing a case of adenocarcinoma mixed with a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction.Mixed neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gastrointestinal system are rare heterogeneous group of tumors characterized by a high malignant potential,rapid growth,and poor prognosis.Due to the rarity of these cancers,the standard therapy is poorly defined.The diagnosis of these tumors is based on combination of morphological features,immunohistochemical and neuroendocrine and epithelial cell markers.Both endocrine and epithelial cell components can act independently of each other and thus,careful grading of each component separately is required.These cancers are aggressive in nature and the potential of each component has paramount importance in the choice of treatment and response.Regardless of the organ of origin,these tumors portend poor prognosis with increased proportion of neuroendocrine component.Multidisciplinary services and strategies are required for the management of these mixed malignancies to provide the best oncological outcomes.The etiopathogenesis of these mixed tumors remains obscure but poses interesting question.We briefly discuss a few salient points in this editorial.