An initial conditions (ICs) perturbation method was developed with the aim to improve an operational regional ensemble prediction system (REPS). Three issues were identified and investigated: (1) the impacts of...An initial conditions (ICs) perturbation method was developed with the aim to improve an operational regional ensemble prediction system (REPS). Three issues were identified and investigated: (1) the impacts of perturbation scale on the ensemble spread and forecast skill of the REPS; (2) the scale characteristic of the IC perturbations of the REPS; and (3) whether the REPS's skill could be improved by adding large-scale information to the IC perturbations. Numerical experiments were conducted to reveal the impact of perturbation scale on the ensemble spread and forecast skill. The scales of IC perturbations from the REPS and an operational global ensemble prediction system (GEPS) were analyzed. A "multi-scale blending" (MSB) IC perturbation scheme was developed, and the main findings can be summarized as follows: The growth rates of the ensemble spread of the REPS are sensitive to the scale of the IC perturbations; the ensemble forecast skills can benefit from large-scale perturbations; the global ensemble IC perturbations exhibit more power at larger scales, while the regional ensemble IC perturbations contain more power at smaller scales; the MSB method can generate IC perturbations by combining the small-scale component from the REPS and the large-scale component from the GEPS; the energy norm growth of the MSB-generated perturbations can be appropriate at all forecast lead times; and the MSB-based REPS shows higher skill than the original system, as determined by ensemble forecast verification.展开更多
Using GIS, GPS and GPRS, a dynamic management system of ore blending in an open pit mine has been designed and developed. A linear program was established in a practical application. The system is very good at automat...Using GIS, GPS and GPRS, a dynamic management system of ore blending in an open pit mine has been designed and developed. A linear program was established in a practical application. The system is very good at automatically drawing up a daily production plan of ore blending and monitors and controls the process of mining production in real time. Experiments under real conditions show that the performance of this system is stable and can satisfy production standards of ore blending in open pit mines.展开更多
The gasoline inline blending process has widely used real-time optimization techniques to achieve optimization objectives,such as minimizing the cost of production.However,the effectiveness of real-time optimization i...The gasoline inline blending process has widely used real-time optimization techniques to achieve optimization objectives,such as minimizing the cost of production.However,the effectiveness of real-time optimization in gasoline blending relies on accurate blending models and is challenged by stochastic disturbances.Thus,we propose a real-time optimization algorithm based on the soft actor-critic(SAC)deep reinforcement learning strategy to optimize gasoline blending without relying on a single blending model and to be robust against disturbances.Our approach constructs the environment using nonlinear blending models and feedstocks with disturbances.The algorithm incorporates the Lagrange multiplier and path constraints in reward design to manage sparse product constraints.Carefully abstracted states facilitate algorithm convergence,and the normalized action vector in each optimization period allows the agent to generalize to some extent across different target production scenarios.Through these well-designed components,the algorithm based on the SAC outperforms real-time optimization methods based on either nonlinear or linear programming.It even demonstrates comparable performance with the time-horizon based real-time optimization method,which requires knowledge of uncertainty models,confirming its capability to handle uncertainty without accurate models.Our simulation illustrates a promising approach to free real-time optimization of the gasoline blending process from uncertainty models that are difficult to acquire in practice.展开更多
Fuel design is a complex multi-objective optimization problem in which facile and robust methods are urgently demanded.Herein,a complete workflow for designing a fuel blending scheme is presented,which is theoreticall...Fuel design is a complex multi-objective optimization problem in which facile and robust methods are urgently demanded.Herein,a complete workflow for designing a fuel blending scheme is presented,which is theoretically supported,efficient,and reliable.Based on the data distribution of the composition and properties of the blending fuels,a model of polynomial regression with appropriate hypothesis space was established.The parameters of the model were further optimized by different intelligence algorithms to achieve high-precision regression.Then,the design of a blending fuel was described as a multi-objective optimization problem,which was solved using a Nelder–Mead algorithm based on the concept of Pareto domination.Finally,the design of a target fuel was fully validated by experiments.This study provides new avenues for designing various blending fuels to meet the needs of next-generation engines.展开更多
Gasoline blending scheduling optimization can bring significant economic and efficient benefits to refineries.However,the optimization model is complex and difficult to build,which is a typical mixed integer nonlinear...Gasoline blending scheduling optimization can bring significant economic and efficient benefits to refineries.However,the optimization model is complex and difficult to build,which is a typical mixed integer nonlinear programming(MINLP)problem.Considering the large scale of the MINLP model,in order to improve the efficiency of the solution,the mixed integer linear programming-nonlinear programming(MILP-NLP)strategy is used to solve the problem.This paper uses the linear blending rules plus the blending effect correction to build the gasoline blending model,and a relaxed MILP model is constructed on this basis.The particle swarm optimization algorithm with niche technology(NPSO)is proposed to optimize the solution,and the high-precision soft-sensor method is used to calculate the deviation of gasoline attributes,the blending effect is dynamically corrected to ensure the accuracy of the blending effect and optimization results,thus forming a prediction-verification-reprediction closed-loop scheduling optimization strategy suitable for engineering applications.The optimization result of the MILP model provides a good initial point.By fixing the integer variables to the MILPoptimal value,the approximate MINLP optimal solution can be obtained through a NLP solution.The above solution strategy has been successfully applied to the actual gasoline production case of a refinery(3.5 million tons per year),and the results show that the strategy is effective and feasible.The optimization results based on the closed-loop scheduling optimization strategy have higher reliability.Compared with the standard particle swarm optimization algorithm,NPSO algorithm improves the optimization ability and efficiency to a certain extent,effectively reduces the blending cost while ensuring the convergence speed.展开更多
Melt extrusion-based additive manufacturing(ME-AM)is a promising technique to fabricate porous scaffolds for tissue engi-neering applications.However,most synthetic semicrystalline polymers do not possess the intrinsi...Melt extrusion-based additive manufacturing(ME-AM)is a promising technique to fabricate porous scaffolds for tissue engi-neering applications.However,most synthetic semicrystalline polymers do not possess the intrinsic biological activity required to control cell fate.Grafting of biomolecules on polymeric surfaces of AM scaffolds enhances the bioactivity of a construct;however,there are limited strategies available to control the surface density.Here,we report a strategy to tune the surface density of bioactive groups by blending a low molecular weight poly(ε-caprolactone)5k(PCL5k)containing orthogonally reactive azide groups with an unfunctionalized high molecular weight PCL75k at different ratios.Stable porous three-dimensional(3D)scaf-folds were then fabricated using a high weight percentage(75 wt.%)of the low molecular weight PCL 5k.As a proof-of-concept test,we prepared films of three different mass ratios of low and high molecular weight polymers with a thermopress and reacted with an alkynated fluorescent model compound on the surface,yielding a density of 201-561 pmol/cm^(2).Subsequently,a bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP-2)-derived peptide was grafted onto the films comprising different blend compositions,and the effect of peptide surface density on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells(hMSCs)was assessed.After two weeks of culturing in a basic medium,cells expressed higher levels of BMP receptor II(BMPRII)on films with the conjugated peptide.In addition,we found that alkaline phosphatase activity was only significantly enhanced on films contain-ing the highest peptide density(i.e.,561 pmol/cm^(2)),indicating the importance of the surface density.Taken together,these results emphasize that the density of surface peptides on cell differentiation must be considered at the cell-material interface.Moreover,we have presented a viable strategy for ME-AM community that desires to tune the bulk and surface functionality via blending of(modified)polymers.Furthermore,the use of alkyne-azide“click”chemistry enables spatial control over bioconjugation of many tissue-specific moieties,making this approach a versatile strategy for tissue engineering applications.展开更多
Objective This study aimed to explore the feasibility of enhancing image quality in computed tomography(CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and reducing radiation dose using the nonlinear blending (NLB)technique of dual-...Objective This study aimed to explore the feasibility of enhancing image quality in computed tomography(CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and reducing radiation dose using the nonlinear blending (NLB)technique of dual-energy CT.Methods A total of 61 patients scheduled for CTPA were enrolled, and 30 patients underwent dual-energyscanning. Nonlinear blending images (NLB group) and three groups of linear blending images (LB group,80 kV group, and 140 kV group) were reconstructed after scanning;31 patients underwent single-energyscanning (120 kV group). The CT values and standard deviations of the pulmonary trunk, left and rightpulmonary arteries, and ipsilateral back muscle at the bifurcation level of the left and right pulmonaryarteries were measured. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the fivegroups were calculated. The subjective image quality of the five groups was assessed. The radiation dosesof the dual- and single-energy groups were recorded and calculated.Results The CNR and SNR values of blood vessels in the NLB group were significantly higher than thosein the LB, 140 kV, and 80 kV groups (CNR of pulmonary artery trunk: t = 3.50, 4.06, 7.17, all P < 0.05;SNRof pulmonary trunk: t = 3.76, 4.71, 6.92, all P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in the CNR andSNR values between the NLB group and 120 kV group (P > 0.05). The effective radiation dose of the dualenergygroup was lower than that of the single-energy group (t = –4.52, P < 0.05). The subjective scores ofimages in the NLB group were the highest (4.28 ± 0.74).Conclusion The NLB technique of dual-energy CT can improve the image quality of CTPA and reducethe radiation dose, providing more reliable imaging data for the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.展开更多
There are numerous methods and additives available to improve the durability and quality of road bitumen. A coal tar obtained by coal coking was distilled in a laboratory into fractions of initial boiling point IBP-18...There are numerous methods and additives available to improve the durability and quality of road bitumen. A coal tar obtained by coal coking was distilled in a laboratory into fractions of initial boiling point IBP-180℃ (gasoline-like fuel), 180℃ - 360℃ (diesel-like fuel), and >360℃ (residue or coal tar pitch). The coal tar pitch was added into road bitumen by up to 1 - 5 wt% and investigated the alteration of physical and chemical properties. The physico-mechanical properties of coal tar pitch and bitumen blends, as well as the chemical group composition, were determined using standard techniques (MNS) and the SARA method, respectively. Results of 3% coal tar pitch addition into bitumen enhanced ductility by 12.4% and softening point by 1.6℃. We found that blending with bitumen coal tar pitch as a modifier could improve bitumen properties.展开更多
Internet memes,as multimodal cultural products disseminated through the Internet,usually take the form of short videos or images that express humor or satire.The creation and dissemination of humor in memes are both c...Internet memes,as multimodal cultural products disseminated through the Internet,usually take the form of short videos or images that express humor or satire.The creation and dissemination of humor in memes are both creative and complex,and the successful perception of meme humor reflects humans’universal thinking capacity.Based on the theoretical framework of conceptual blending,this paper selects a set of COVID-19 publicity posters from the official Weibo account of China Guangzhou Fabu(Guangzhou Internet Information Office),analyses the multi-level structure of Internet memes,and explores the dynamic cognitive process in the interpretation of humorous memes to reveal people’s ability to make simultaneous analogies and integration between elements in different mental spaces.展开更多
Indonesia is one of the largest coconut-producing countries in the world.The utilization of coconut shell waste into briquettes will increase the selling value and become a great export opportunity.However,the effect ...Indonesia is one of the largest coconut-producing countries in the world.The utilization of coconut shell waste into briquettes will increase the selling value and become a great export opportunity.However,the effect of adhesives on the quality of coconut shell charcoal briquettes made using screw extruder machine has not been widely studied.This study aims to determine the effect of adhesive type on the quality of coconut shell charcoal briquettes.The process of fabricating briquettes in this study included crushing,mixing,blending,pressing,and drying.In the mixing process,3 types of adhesives were used,namely tapioca flour(Briquette_1),cassava flour(Briquette_2),and modified cassava flour(Briquette_3)with a concentration of 5%of the weight of coconut shell charcoal powders.The quality of the resulting briquettes and commercial briquettes will be evaluated by moisture content,ash content,volatile matter,fixed carbon,calorific value,density,compressive,and drop test testing.The results of this research showed that the type of adhesive had a significant effect on the quality of the briquettes produced.Specimen Briquette_1 had better quality than commercial briquettes(Briquette_4)and other briquette specimens.The test results showed that Briquette_1 produced briquettes with better compressive strength and friability than the other specimens,at 6.95 N/mm^(2) and 4.44%,respectively.The moisture content,ash content,fixed carbon,and calorific value of Briquette_1 have met the requirements set by the Indonesian National Standard(SNI)number 01-6235-2000.Meanwhile,the volatile matter content and density of Briquette_1 are by the standards of Japan and the United States America(USA).展开更多
Plastic waste is an underutilized resource that has the potential to be transformed into value-added materials.However,its chemical diversity leads to cost-intensive sorting techniques,limiting recycling and upcycling...Plastic waste is an underutilized resource that has the potential to be transformed into value-added materials.However,its chemical diversity leads to cost-intensive sorting techniques,limiting recycling and upcycling opportunities.Herein,we report an open-loop recycling method to produce graded feedstock from mixed polyolefins waste,which makes up 60%of total plastic waste.The method uses heat flow scanning to quantify the composition of plastic waste and resolves its compatibility through controlled dissolution.The resulting feedstock is then used to synthesize blended pellets,porous sorbents,and superhydrophobic coatings via thermally induced phase separation and spin-casting.The hybrid approach broadens the opportunities for reusing plastic waste,which is a step towards creating a more circular economy and better waste management practices.展开更多
Frothers facilitate the reduction of bubbles size by preventing bubbles coalescence and produce more stable froths.The collision probability of the bubbles and particles substantially increases by decreasing bubble si...Frothers facilitate the reduction of bubbles size by preventing bubbles coalescence and produce more stable froths.The collision probability of the bubbles and particles substantially increases by decreasing bubble size.For the same volume system,fewer bubbles result from a distribution of large-sized bubbles,and more bubbles result from a distribution of small-sized bubbles.In this research,fundamental two-phase frother characterization parameters were aimed to link with three-phase coal and talc flotation behavior.For this purpose,the effect of single and dual frother systems on inhibiting bubble coalescence was investigated with methyl isobutyl carbinol(MIBC),isooctanol(2 ethyl hexanol),pine oil,and Dowfroth 250.Based on the results of single frothers,isooctanol at the lowest critical coalescence concentration(CCC)value of 6×10^(−6) achieved the smallest bubbles with Sauter mean diameter of 0.80 mm.By blending Dowfroth 250 and pine oil,the bubbles size decreased significantly,reaching 0.45 mm.While the highest recoveries in coal flotation were obtained in single and frother blends where the bubbles size was measured as the smallest in two-phase system,and such a relationship was not found for talc flotation.展开更多
In this study,umami taste intensity(UTI)and umami taste components in chicken breast(CB)and chickenspices blends were characterized using sensory and instrumental analysis.Our main objective was to assess the aroma-um...In this study,umami taste intensity(UTI)and umami taste components in chicken breast(CB)and chickenspices blends were characterized using sensory and instrumental analysis.Our main objective was to assess the aroma-umami taste interactions in different food matrices and reconcile the aroma-taste perception to assist future product development.The impact of key aroma,including vegetable-note"2-pentylfuran",meaty"methional",green"hexanal",and spicy-note-estragole and caryophyllene"on UTI was evaluated in monosodium glutamate and chicken extract.We found that spices significantly decreased UTI and umami taste components in CB.Interestingly,the perceptually similar odorants and tastants exhibited the potential to enhance UTI in food matrices.Methional was able to increase the UTI,whereas spicy and green-note components could reduce the UTI significantly.This information would be valuable to food engineers and formulators in aroma selection to control the UTI perceived by consumers,thus,improving the quality and acceptability of the chicken products.展开更多
With the rapid development of information technology in contemporary times,the blended teaching mode that blends online and offline courses has become an international trend in higher education.Taking blended tourism ...With the rapid development of information technology in contemporary times,the blended teaching mode that blends online and offline courses has become an international trend in higher education.Taking blended tourism management courses at Chongqing Three Gorges University as an example,we explored the impact of such teaching reform on student satisfaction based on the SERVPERF model.Empirical analysis of 179 valid questionnaires revealed that five elements of the reform,namely,reliability,assurance,valuableness,responsiveness,and empathy,have a significant positive impact on students’learning satisfaction.Specifically,in the context of blended courses,factors such as a stable and reliable teaching environment,comprehensively guaranteed educational conditions,teaching content that highly aligns with students’demands and value expectations,prompt responses to students’needs and feedback,and empathetic consideration of students’perspectives are critical for enhancing student satisfaction.Based on these conclusions,we propose several strategies and methods for improving the effectiveness of blended teaching in the hope of propelling its continuous improvement and optimization,thus further elevating the quality of higher education.展开更多
The exploration of performance and prediction of environmentally friendly refrigerant physical properties represents a critical endeavor.Equilibriummolecular dynamics simulationswere employed to investigate the densit...The exploration of performance and prediction of environmentally friendly refrigerant physical properties represents a critical endeavor.Equilibriummolecular dynamics simulationswere employed to investigate the density and transport properties of propane and ethane at ultra-low temperatures under evaporative pressure conditions.The results of the density simulation of the evaporation conditions of the blends proved the validity of the simulation method.Under identical temperature and pressure conditions,increasing the proportion of R170 in the refrigerant blends leads to a density decrease while the temperature range in which the gas-liquid phase transition occurs is lower.The analysis of simulated results pertaining to viscosity,thermal conductivity,and self-diffusion coefficient reveals heightened deviation levels within the phase transition temperature zone.This increase in deviation attributed to intensified molecular activity.In terms of uncovering the physical mechanism of gas-liquid phase transition,the work illustrates the macroscopic phenomenon of the intensified existing disorder during phase transitions at the molecular level.Molecular dynamics simulations analyzing the thermophysical properties of refrigerant blends from a microscopic point of view can deepen the comprehension of the thermal optimization of refrigeration processes.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 91437113)the Special Fund for Meteorological Scientific Research in the Public Interest (Grant Nos. GYHY201506007 and GYHY201006015)+1 种基金the National 973 Program of China (Grant Nos. 2012CB417204 and 2012CB955200)the Scientific Research & Innovation Projects for Academic Degree Students of Ordinary Universities of Jiangsu (Grant No. KYLX 0827)
文摘An initial conditions (ICs) perturbation method was developed with the aim to improve an operational regional ensemble prediction system (REPS). Three issues were identified and investigated: (1) the impacts of perturbation scale on the ensemble spread and forecast skill of the REPS; (2) the scale characteristic of the IC perturbations of the REPS; and (3) whether the REPS's skill could be improved by adding large-scale information to the IC perturbations. Numerical experiments were conducted to reveal the impact of perturbation scale on the ensemble spread and forecast skill. The scales of IC perturbations from the REPS and an operational global ensemble prediction system (GEPS) were analyzed. A "multi-scale blending" (MSB) IC perturbation scheme was developed, and the main findings can be summarized as follows: The growth rates of the ensemble spread of the REPS are sensitive to the scale of the IC perturbations; the ensemble forecast skills can benefit from large-scale perturbations; the global ensemble IC perturbations exhibit more power at larger scales, while the regional ensemble IC perturbations contain more power at smaller scales; the MSB method can generate IC perturbations by combining the small-scale component from the REPS and the large-scale component from the GEPS; the energy norm growth of the MSB-generated perturbations can be appropriate at all forecast lead times; and the MSB-based REPS shows higher skill than the original system, as determined by ensemble forecast verification.
文摘Using GIS, GPS and GPRS, a dynamic management system of ore blending in an open pit mine has been designed and developed. A linear program was established in a practical application. The system is very good at automatically drawing up a daily production plan of ore blending and monitors and controls the process of mining production in real time. Experiments under real conditions show that the performance of this system is stable and can satisfy production standards of ore blending in open pit mines.
基金supported by National Key Research & Development Program-Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project (2021YFE0112800)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key Program: 62136003)+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (62073142)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (222202417006)Shanghai Al Lab
文摘The gasoline inline blending process has widely used real-time optimization techniques to achieve optimization objectives,such as minimizing the cost of production.However,the effectiveness of real-time optimization in gasoline blending relies on accurate blending models and is challenged by stochastic disturbances.Thus,we propose a real-time optimization algorithm based on the soft actor-critic(SAC)deep reinforcement learning strategy to optimize gasoline blending without relying on a single blending model and to be robust against disturbances.Our approach constructs the environment using nonlinear blending models and feedstocks with disturbances.The algorithm incorporates the Lagrange multiplier and path constraints in reward design to manage sparse product constraints.Carefully abstracted states facilitate algorithm convergence,and the normalized action vector in each optimization period allows the agent to generalize to some extent across different target production scenarios.Through these well-designed components,the algorithm based on the SAC outperforms real-time optimization methods based on either nonlinear or linear programming.It even demonstrates comparable performance with the time-horizon based real-time optimization method,which requires knowledge of uncertainty models,confirming its capability to handle uncertainty without accurate models.Our simulation illustrates a promising approach to free real-time optimization of the gasoline blending process from uncertainty models that are difficult to acquire in practice.
基金the support from the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFC2103701)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22178248)the Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations。
文摘Fuel design is a complex multi-objective optimization problem in which facile and robust methods are urgently demanded.Herein,a complete workflow for designing a fuel blending scheme is presented,which is theoretically supported,efficient,and reliable.Based on the data distribution of the composition and properties of the blending fuels,a model of polynomial regression with appropriate hypothesis space was established.The parameters of the model were further optimized by different intelligence algorithms to achieve high-precision regression.Then,the design of a blending fuel was described as a multi-objective optimization problem,which was solved using a Nelder–Mead algorithm based on the concept of Pareto domination.Finally,the design of a target fuel was fully validated by experiments.This study provides new avenues for designing various blending fuels to meet the needs of next-generation engines.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Basic Science Center Program:61988101)Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology(22DZ1101500)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(61973124,62073142)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘Gasoline blending scheduling optimization can bring significant economic and efficient benefits to refineries.However,the optimization model is complex and difficult to build,which is a typical mixed integer nonlinear programming(MINLP)problem.Considering the large scale of the MINLP model,in order to improve the efficiency of the solution,the mixed integer linear programming-nonlinear programming(MILP-NLP)strategy is used to solve the problem.This paper uses the linear blending rules plus the blending effect correction to build the gasoline blending model,and a relaxed MILP model is constructed on this basis.The particle swarm optimization algorithm with niche technology(NPSO)is proposed to optimize the solution,and the high-precision soft-sensor method is used to calculate the deviation of gasoline attributes,the blending effect is dynamically corrected to ensure the accuracy of the blending effect and optimization results,thus forming a prediction-verification-reprediction closed-loop scheduling optimization strategy suitable for engineering applications.The optimization result of the MILP model provides a good initial point.By fixing the integer variables to the MILPoptimal value,the approximate MINLP optimal solution can be obtained through a NLP solution.The above solution strategy has been successfully applied to the actual gasoline production case of a refinery(3.5 million tons per year),and the results show that the strategy is effective and feasible.The optimization results based on the closed-loop scheduling optimization strategy have higher reliability.Compared with the standard particle swarm optimization algorithm,NPSO algorithm improves the optimization ability and efficiency to a certain extent,effectively reduces the blending cost while ensuring the convergence speed.
基金the European Research Council starting grant “Cell Hybridge” for financial support under the Horizon2020 framework program (Grant#637308)the Province of Limburg for support and funding
文摘Melt extrusion-based additive manufacturing(ME-AM)is a promising technique to fabricate porous scaffolds for tissue engi-neering applications.However,most synthetic semicrystalline polymers do not possess the intrinsic biological activity required to control cell fate.Grafting of biomolecules on polymeric surfaces of AM scaffolds enhances the bioactivity of a construct;however,there are limited strategies available to control the surface density.Here,we report a strategy to tune the surface density of bioactive groups by blending a low molecular weight poly(ε-caprolactone)5k(PCL5k)containing orthogonally reactive azide groups with an unfunctionalized high molecular weight PCL75k at different ratios.Stable porous three-dimensional(3D)scaf-folds were then fabricated using a high weight percentage(75 wt.%)of the low molecular weight PCL 5k.As a proof-of-concept test,we prepared films of three different mass ratios of low and high molecular weight polymers with a thermopress and reacted with an alkynated fluorescent model compound on the surface,yielding a density of 201-561 pmol/cm^(2).Subsequently,a bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP-2)-derived peptide was grafted onto the films comprising different blend compositions,and the effect of peptide surface density on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells(hMSCs)was assessed.After two weeks of culturing in a basic medium,cells expressed higher levels of BMP receptor II(BMPRII)on films with the conjugated peptide.In addition,we found that alkaline phosphatase activity was only significantly enhanced on films contain-ing the highest peptide density(i.e.,561 pmol/cm^(2)),indicating the importance of the surface density.Taken together,these results emphasize that the density of surface peptides on cell differentiation must be considered at the cell-material interface.Moreover,we have presented a viable strategy for ME-AM community that desires to tune the bulk and surface functionality via blending of(modified)polymers.Furthermore,the use of alkyne-azide“click”chemistry enables spatial control over bioconjugation of many tissue-specific moieties,making this approach a versatile strategy for tissue engineering applications.
基金Supported by a grant from the Science and Technology Plan of Sichuan Province(No.2021YFS0225)the Science and Technology Plan of Chengdu(No.2021-YF05-01507-SN).
文摘Objective This study aimed to explore the feasibility of enhancing image quality in computed tomography(CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and reducing radiation dose using the nonlinear blending (NLB)technique of dual-energy CT.Methods A total of 61 patients scheduled for CTPA were enrolled, and 30 patients underwent dual-energyscanning. Nonlinear blending images (NLB group) and three groups of linear blending images (LB group,80 kV group, and 140 kV group) were reconstructed after scanning;31 patients underwent single-energyscanning (120 kV group). The CT values and standard deviations of the pulmonary trunk, left and rightpulmonary arteries, and ipsilateral back muscle at the bifurcation level of the left and right pulmonaryarteries were measured. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the fivegroups were calculated. The subjective image quality of the five groups was assessed. The radiation dosesof the dual- and single-energy groups were recorded and calculated.Results The CNR and SNR values of blood vessels in the NLB group were significantly higher than thosein the LB, 140 kV, and 80 kV groups (CNR of pulmonary artery trunk: t = 3.50, 4.06, 7.17, all P < 0.05;SNRof pulmonary trunk: t = 3.76, 4.71, 6.92, all P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in the CNR andSNR values between the NLB group and 120 kV group (P > 0.05). The effective radiation dose of the dualenergygroup was lower than that of the single-energy group (t = –4.52, P < 0.05). The subjective scores ofimages in the NLB group were the highest (4.28 ± 0.74).Conclusion The NLB technique of dual-energy CT can improve the image quality of CTPA and reducethe radiation dose, providing more reliable imaging data for the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
文摘There are numerous methods and additives available to improve the durability and quality of road bitumen. A coal tar obtained by coal coking was distilled in a laboratory into fractions of initial boiling point IBP-180℃ (gasoline-like fuel), 180℃ - 360℃ (diesel-like fuel), and >360℃ (residue or coal tar pitch). The coal tar pitch was added into road bitumen by up to 1 - 5 wt% and investigated the alteration of physical and chemical properties. The physico-mechanical properties of coal tar pitch and bitumen blends, as well as the chemical group composition, were determined using standard techniques (MNS) and the SARA method, respectively. Results of 3% coal tar pitch addition into bitumen enhanced ductility by 12.4% and softening point by 1.6℃. We found that blending with bitumen coal tar pitch as a modifier could improve bitumen properties.
文摘Internet memes,as multimodal cultural products disseminated through the Internet,usually take the form of short videos or images that express humor or satire.The creation and dissemination of humor in memes are both creative and complex,and the successful perception of meme humor reflects humans’universal thinking capacity.Based on the theoretical framework of conceptual blending,this paper selects a set of COVID-19 publicity posters from the official Weibo account of China Guangzhou Fabu(Guangzhou Internet Information Office),analyses the multi-level structure of Internet memes,and explores the dynamic cognitive process in the interpretation of humorous memes to reveal people’s ability to make simultaneous analogies and integration between elements in different mental spaces.
文摘Indonesia is one of the largest coconut-producing countries in the world.The utilization of coconut shell waste into briquettes will increase the selling value and become a great export opportunity.However,the effect of adhesives on the quality of coconut shell charcoal briquettes made using screw extruder machine has not been widely studied.This study aims to determine the effect of adhesive type on the quality of coconut shell charcoal briquettes.The process of fabricating briquettes in this study included crushing,mixing,blending,pressing,and drying.In the mixing process,3 types of adhesives were used,namely tapioca flour(Briquette_1),cassava flour(Briquette_2),and modified cassava flour(Briquette_3)with a concentration of 5%of the weight of coconut shell charcoal powders.The quality of the resulting briquettes and commercial briquettes will be evaluated by moisture content,ash content,volatile matter,fixed carbon,calorific value,density,compressive,and drop test testing.The results of this research showed that the type of adhesive had a significant effect on the quality of the briquettes produced.Specimen Briquette_1 had better quality than commercial briquettes(Briquette_4)and other briquette specimens.The test results showed that Briquette_1 produced briquettes with better compressive strength and friability than the other specimens,at 6.95 N/mm^(2) and 4.44%,respectively.The moisture content,ash content,fixed carbon,and calorific value of Briquette_1 have met the requirements set by the Indonesian National Standard(SNI)number 01-6235-2000.Meanwhile,the volatile matter content and density of Briquette_1 are by the standards of Japan and the United States America(USA).
基金NPRP grant number NPRP12S-0325-190443 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of the Qatar Foundation)
文摘Plastic waste is an underutilized resource that has the potential to be transformed into value-added materials.However,its chemical diversity leads to cost-intensive sorting techniques,limiting recycling and upcycling opportunities.Herein,we report an open-loop recycling method to produce graded feedstock from mixed polyolefins waste,which makes up 60%of total plastic waste.The method uses heat flow scanning to quantify the composition of plastic waste and resolves its compatibility through controlled dissolution.The resulting feedstock is then used to synthesize blended pellets,porous sorbents,and superhydrophobic coatings via thermally induced phase separation and spin-casting.The hybrid approach broadens the opportunities for reusing plastic waste,which is a step towards creating a more circular economy and better waste management practices.
基金Project(ID42787)supported by the Istanbul Technical University,BAP(Scientific Research Project)Department,Turkey。
文摘Frothers facilitate the reduction of bubbles size by preventing bubbles coalescence and produce more stable froths.The collision probability of the bubbles and particles substantially increases by decreasing bubble size.For the same volume system,fewer bubbles result from a distribution of large-sized bubbles,and more bubbles result from a distribution of small-sized bubbles.In this research,fundamental two-phase frother characterization parameters were aimed to link with three-phase coal and talc flotation behavior.For this purpose,the effect of single and dual frother systems on inhibiting bubble coalescence was investigated with methyl isobutyl carbinol(MIBC),isooctanol(2 ethyl hexanol),pine oil,and Dowfroth 250.Based on the results of single frothers,isooctanol at the lowest critical coalescence concentration(CCC)value of 6×10^(−6) achieved the smallest bubbles with Sauter mean diameter of 0.80 mm.By blending Dowfroth 250 and pine oil,the bubbles size decreased significantly,reaching 0.45 mm.While the highest recoveries in coal flotation were obtained in single and frother blends where the bubbles size was measured as the smallest in two-phase system,and such a relationship was not found for talc flotation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31622042)。
文摘In this study,umami taste intensity(UTI)and umami taste components in chicken breast(CB)and chickenspices blends were characterized using sensory and instrumental analysis.Our main objective was to assess the aroma-umami taste interactions in different food matrices and reconcile the aroma-taste perception to assist future product development.The impact of key aroma,including vegetable-note"2-pentylfuran",meaty"methional",green"hexanal",and spicy-note-estragole and caryophyllene"on UTI was evaluated in monosodium glutamate and chicken extract.We found that spices significantly decreased UTI and umami taste components in CB.Interestingly,the perceptually similar odorants and tastants exhibited the potential to enhance UTI in food matrices.Methional was able to increase the UTI,whereas spicy and green-note components could reduce the UTI significantly.This information would be valuable to food engineers and formulators in aroma selection to control the UTI perceived by consumers,thus,improving the quality and acceptability of the chicken products.
基金funded by the 2021 Chongqing Three Gorges University Higher Education Reform Project“Research on the Improvement of Teaching Quality in Blended Courses for Tourism Management”(JGZC2146)the Science and Technology Research Plan Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission“Research on the Effectiveness and Intrinsic Mechanisms of Virtual Spokespersons in Tourism Marketing in the Context of Digital Economy”(KJQN202301240)the Project of Chengdu-Chongqing Research Center for Coordinated Development of Education and Economic Society“Research on the Implementation Effect of the‘Double Reduction’Policy in Ethnic Regions in Sichuan and Chongqing:Based on the Parents’Perspective”(CYJXF23022).
文摘With the rapid development of information technology in contemporary times,the blended teaching mode that blends online and offline courses has become an international trend in higher education.Taking blended tourism management courses at Chongqing Three Gorges University as an example,we explored the impact of such teaching reform on student satisfaction based on the SERVPERF model.Empirical analysis of 179 valid questionnaires revealed that five elements of the reform,namely,reliability,assurance,valuableness,responsiveness,and empathy,have a significant positive impact on students’learning satisfaction.Specifically,in the context of blended courses,factors such as a stable and reliable teaching environment,comprehensively guaranteed educational conditions,teaching content that highly aligns with students’demands and value expectations,prompt responses to students’needs and feedback,and empathetic consideration of students’perspectives are critical for enhancing student satisfaction.Based on these conclusions,we propose several strategies and methods for improving the effectiveness of blended teaching in the hope of propelling its continuous improvement and optimization,thus further elevating the quality of higher education.
基金supported by the Open Project of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer in Power Engineering and the Central Guidance on Local Science and Technology Development Fund of Shanghai City(No.YDZX20213100003002)the Special Project of Independent Innovation of Qingdao City(21-1-2-6-NSH).
文摘The exploration of performance and prediction of environmentally friendly refrigerant physical properties represents a critical endeavor.Equilibriummolecular dynamics simulationswere employed to investigate the density and transport properties of propane and ethane at ultra-low temperatures under evaporative pressure conditions.The results of the density simulation of the evaporation conditions of the blends proved the validity of the simulation method.Under identical temperature and pressure conditions,increasing the proportion of R170 in the refrigerant blends leads to a density decrease while the temperature range in which the gas-liquid phase transition occurs is lower.The analysis of simulated results pertaining to viscosity,thermal conductivity,and self-diffusion coefficient reveals heightened deviation levels within the phase transition temperature zone.This increase in deviation attributed to intensified molecular activity.In terms of uncovering the physical mechanism of gas-liquid phase transition,the work illustrates the macroscopic phenomenon of the intensified existing disorder during phase transitions at the molecular level.Molecular dynamics simulations analyzing the thermophysical properties of refrigerant blends from a microscopic point of view can deepen the comprehension of the thermal optimization of refrigeration processes.