Prediction of liquid circulation flow rate in RH degasser:improvement of decarburization at low atmospheric pressure

The two-fluid model coupled with population balance model was used for simulating the gas-liquid flow in the Ruhrstahl-Heraeus(RH)degasser.The predicted circulation flow rate was compared with that measured from a water model experiment to validate the mathematical model.Then,influence of snorkel immersion depth on liquid circulation flow rate was numerically investigated under an atmospheric pressure of 101 and 84 kPa,respectively.Predicted result indicates that the circulation flow rate of the RH degasser in the high-altitude area was severely reduced because of the decrease in atmospheric pressure.However,increasing the snorkel immersion depth from 0.5 to 0.7 m can compensate for the decrease in atmospheric pressure.Industrial test result indicates that decarburization rate is significantly enhanced by increasing the snorkel immersion depth.Through optimization,the percentage of heats with a final carbon content less than 0.002 wt.%is significantly increased from 22.0%to 96.4%.

Grain-filling characteristics and yield differences of maize cultivars with contrasting nitrogen efficiencies

To investigate the effect of nitrogen management on the grain-filling characteristics and yield formation of maize cultivars with contrasting nitrogen efficiencies,and to identify differences in grain-filling characteristics and yield of maize cultivars in response to nitrogen management,a two-year field experiment was conducted in southwest China in2015–2016.The grain-filling rate and duration of the N-inefficient cultivar XY 508 were higher than those of the N-efficient cultivar ZH 311.The 100-kernel weight of XY 508 was significantly higher than that of ZH 311.The kernel number per ear of ZH 311 was significantly higher than that of XY 508,making the population filling rate of ZH 311 significantly higher than that of XY 508.The higher population filling rate of the N-efficient maize cultivar led to a significant yield advantage over the N-inefficient maize cultivar.Nitrogen management effectively improved maize grain yield,but the response of maize cultivars with contrasting nitrogen efficiencies to nitrogen management was inconsistent.A basal fertilizer ratio 60.43%with a topdressing ratio 39.57%effectively increased grainfilling rate,delayed the time to maximum filling rate,prolonged the active filling period and effective grain-filling time,increased the 100-kernel weight,and maintained higher kernels per ear,thereby improving the population filling rate and maximizing the yield advantage of the N-efficient cultivar.A 100%basal fertilizer ratio not only increased the number of kernels per ear,but also maintained high grain filling characteristics to obtain a higher 100-kernel weight and increased the population filling rate,leading to a high grain yield in the N-inefficient cultivar.Thus,the 100%basal fertilizer ratio partially compensated for the deficient grain yield of the N-inefficient cultivar.

GLOBAL DYNAMICS OF AN SEIR EPIDEMIC MODEL WITH IMMIGRATION OF DIFFERENT COMPARTMENTS

The SEIR epidemic model studied here includes constant inflows of new susceptibles, exposeds, infectives, and recovereds. This model also incorporates a population size dependent contact rate and a disease-related death. As the infected fraction cannot be eliminated from the population, this kind of model has only the unique endemic equilibrium that is globally asymptotically stable. Under the special case where the new members of immigration are all susceptible, the model considered here shows a threshold phenomenon and a sharp threshold has been obtained. In order to prove the global asymptotical stability of the endemic equilibrium, the authors introduce the change of variable, which can reduce our four-dimensional system to a three-dimensional asymptotical autonomous system with limit equation.

A four-compartment model for the COVID-19 infection—implications on infection kinetics,control measures,and lockdown exit strategies

Objective:To analyse the impact and repercussions of the surge in healthcare demand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,assess the potential effectiveness of various infection/disease control measures,and make projections on the best approach to exit from the current lockdown.Design:A four-compartment model was constructed for SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the Wuhan data and validated with data collected in Italy,the UK,and the US.The model captures the effectiveness of various disease suppression measures in three modifiable factors:(a)the per capita contact rate(β)that can be lowered by means of social distancing,(b)infection probability upon contacting infectious individuals that can be lowered by wearing facemasks,personal hygiene,etc.,and(c)the population of infectious individuals in contact with the susceptible population,which can be lowered by quarantine.The model was used to make projections on the best approach to exit from the current lockdown.Results:The model was applied to evaluate the epidemiological data and hospital burden in Italy,the UK,and the US.The control measures were identified as the key drivers for the observed epidemiological data through sensitivity analyses.Analysing the different lockdown exit strategies showed that a lockdown exit strategy with a combination of social separation/general facemask use may work,but this needs to be supported by intense monitoring whichwould allowre-introduction/tightening of the controlmeasures if the number of newinfected subjects increases again.Conclusions and relevance:Governments should act early in a swift and decisive manner for containment policies.Any lockdown exit will need to be monitored closely,with regards to the potential of lockdown reimplementation.This mathematical model provides a framework for major pandemics in the future.

Petroleum hydrocarbons and their effects on fishery species in the Bohai Sea, North China

Systematic studies on the changes in concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons （PHs） and their effects on fishery species in the Bohai Sea during 1974–2004 are presented. Changes in PHs concentrations were closely related to Yellow River runoff. Concentrations of PHs accumulated in fish and shrimp increased by about 0.712 mg/kg dry weight when trophic level of fish and shrimps increased by 1. Attention should also be paid to the high PHs concentrations in mollusks along the coastal waters of the Bohai Sea. Average concentration of PHs in the adjacent coastal waters of Tianjin City during 1996–2005 decreased the population growth rates of fish, crustaceans and mollusks in the Bohai Sea by 2.58%, 6.59% and 2.33%, respectively. Therefore, PHs have significantly contributed to the decline in fisheries in the Bohai Sea, and they must be reduced to realize the sustainable fisheries.

Effects of oxygen and water content on microbial distribution in the polyurethane foam cubes of a biofilter for SO_2 removal

The performance of a biofilter for off-gas treatment relies on the activity of microorganisms and adequate O_2 and H_2O. In present study, a microelectrode was applied to analyze O_2 in polyurethane foam cubes（PUFCs） packed in a biofilter for SO_2 removal. The O_2 distribution varied with the density and water-containing rate（WCR） of PUFCs. The O_2 concentration dropped sharply from 10.2 to 0.8 mg/L from the surface to the center of a PUFC with 97.20%of WCR. The PUFCs with high WCR presented aerobic–anoxic–aerobic areas.Three-dimensional simulated images demonstrated that the structure of PUFCs with high WCR consisted of an aerobic ＂shell＂ and an anoxic ＂core＂, with high-density PUFCs featuring a larger anoxic area than low-density PUFCs. Moreover, the H_2O distribution in the PUFC was uneven and affected the O_2 concentration. Whereas aerobic bacteria were observed in the PUFC surface, facultative anaerobic microorganisms were found at the PUFC core, where the O_2 concentration was relatively low. O_2 and H_2O distributions differed in the PUFCs, and the distribution of microorganisms varied accordingly.