IEC 62059 Standards' Application in Reliability Prediction and Verification of Smart Meters

This article introduces the current situation of the smart then describes the relationship of meter reliability characteristics meter＇s reliability and the failure mechanisms at first, and combined with its Bathtub Curve. It also introduces both the feasible failure tree model for meter lifecycle prediction based on actual experiences and meter reliability prediction methodology by SN 29500 norms based on this model. This article also brings forward that it is necessary that the ＂Learning Factor＂ shall be adopted in meter reliability prediction for new materials, new process, and customized parts by referring to GJB/Z299C. Thereafter, this article also tries to apply IEC 62059 and JB/T 50070 to introduce the feasible method for the lifecycle prediction result verification by accelerated lifecycle test. Furthermore, the article also explores ways to increase the firmware reliability in smart meter.

Effect of a Traditional Chinese Medicine combined therapy on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis:a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) therapy versus conventional treatment on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.METHODS:One hundred twenty outpatients with mild and moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were randomly divided into a TCM group(TCMG)and a brace group(CG).TCMG patients underwent Daoyin,Tuina,and acupotomology therapies.CG patients were treated with a Milwaukee brace.Each patient's Cobb angle was measured after 12 and 24 months of treatment,and pulmonary function was determined after 12 months of treatment.Average electromyogram(AEMG) ratio of the surface electromyogram was measured after 6 and 12 months of treatment and followed-up after 18 and 24 months.RESULTS:The Cobb angle significantly decreased in both groups after 12 months of treatment compared with before treatment(P< 0.05).The percentages of original Cobb angle in TCMG and CG were51.4%and 47.8%(P > 0.05) after 12 months and62.5%and 34.7%(P < 0.05) after 24 months,respectively.Pulmonary function significantly improved after 12 months in TCMG(P < 0.05) but significantly decreased in CG(P < 0.05).The AEMG ratio was significantly lower(P < 0.01) and tended to remain at1 after stopping treatment in TCMG,but increased in CG(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:TCM combined therapy can prevent the progression of scoliosis.The AEMG ratio is a promising index that could replace radiography in the evaluation of treatment effect and progression in scoliosis.

Evaluation of the Potential Inhibitory Activity of A Combination of L.Acidophilus,L.Rhamnosus and L.Sporogenes on Helicobacter Pylori：A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective： To investigate whether three strains of probiotics, L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. sporogenes, had significant inhibitive effects on Helicobacter pylori（H. pylori）. Methods： This is a 4-week, randomly assigned, parallel-group, doubled-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Fifty patients with a positive H. pylori infection urea breath test（△UBT） result 〉 10% and without ulcer symptoms were randomized into a treatment group and a placebo group by a computer generated allocation sheet with 1：1. These subjects took one capsule of probiotics or placebo twice daily. The primary measurement was the change in △UBT values. Results： The △UBT values during the 4-week treatment period and the 2-week follow-up period were not significantly different between the treatment group and the placebo group, indicating that the inhibitive effects on H. pylori were comparable between both groups. The monocyte count（%） was 5.77±1.11 in the treatment group versus 5.09±1.12 in the placebo group（P=0.044）, and the basophile count was 0.55±0.32 in the treatment group versus 0.36±0.23 in the placebo group（P=0.024） at week 2 of the treatment period, both of which reached statistical significance. The monocyte count was 5.75±1.26 in the treatment group and 4.72±0.99 in the placebo group at the end of the follow-up period（P=0.003）. Conclusions： There was no significant inhibitive effects of the three probiotic strains（L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. sporogenes） on H. pylori. Probiotics can not play the same role as antibiotics in the eradication of H. pylori, the role of probiotics is likely to be important as adjuvant to the triple or quadruple therapy for H. pylori, especially in resistance cases.

A Mathematical Model to Characterize RH Desulfurization Process

A physical model based on similarity principles was built to simulate RH desulfurization process. In order to quantitatively analyze RH desulfurization process, a mathematical model was proposed. By analyzing experimental results with the mathematical model, an empirical formula whose determination coefficient was 0.98 was given to express the relationship between transient desulfurization efficiency and time. All the determination coefficients of four fitted curves based on four repeated experiments with different gas flow rates were more than 0.94, which was the exact evidence of the rationality of the empirical formula. Meanwhile, it was found that transient desulfurization ability increased firstly and then decreased with increasing gas flow rate and reached the maximum value when the gas flow rate was 1.8 m^3/h. A plenty of repeated trials showed the same rule, which validated the mathematical model and the conclusions obtained from physical experiments.

A metallic anti-biofouling surface with a hierarchical topography containing nanostructures on curved micro-riblets

Metallic surface finishes have been used in the anti-biofouling,but it is very difficult to produce surfaces with hierarchically ordered structures.In the present study,anti-biofouling metallic surfaces with nanostructures superimposed on curved micro-riblets were produced via top-down fabrication.According to the attachment theory,these surfaces feature few attachment points for organisms,the nanostructures prevent the attachment of bacteria and algal zoospores,while the micro-riblets prohibit the settlement of macrofoulers.Anodic oxidation was performed to induce superhydrophilicity.It forms a hydration layer on the surface,which physically blocks foulant adsorption along with the anti-biofouling topography.We characterized the surfaces via scanning electron and atomic force microscopy,contact-angle measurement,and wear-resistance testing.The contact angle of the hierarchical structures was less than 1°.Laboratory settlement assays verified that bacterial attachment was dramatically reduced by the nanostructures and/or the hydration layer,attributable to superhydrophilicity.The micro-riblets prohibited the settlement of macrofoulers.Over 77 days of static immersion in the sea during summer,the metallic surface showed significantly less biofouling compared to a surface painted with an anticorrosive coating.