Simulation of Suppression of Gamma Sensitivity of 'Fission Electron-Collection' Neutron Detector

The fission electron-collection neutron detector （FECND） is a current-type neutron detector. Based on the analysis of the generation process of the gamma signals of the FECND, a mechanism utilizing symmetrical structure is proposed and discussed to suppress the gamma signals. According to this mechanism, tile electrons generated from the gamma rays can be well compensated for by the adjustment of the electrodes＇ thickness and distance. In this study, based on the Monte-Carlo simulation of the gamma signals of the FECND, the varying patterns are obtained between the gamma signals and the detector parameter settings. As indicated by the simulation results, the gamma electrons can be compensated for completely by simply adjusting the coated electrode substrate thickness and distance. Moreover, with a proposed optimal parameter setting, the gamma sensitivity can be as low as 3.39×10-23 C.cm2, while the signal-to-noise ratio can be higher than 200：1. The compensation results of the γ-rays in the FECND will be slightly affected by the manufacturing error or the assembly error.

Studies on sensitivity to tension and gating pathway of MscL by molecular dynamic simulation

Mechanosensitive（MS） ion channels play an important role in various physiological processes.Although the determination of the structure of mechanosensitive channel of large conductance（MscL） makes the simulation study possible,it has not so far been possible to directly simulate the gating mechanism of MscL in atomic detail.In this article,MscL has been studied via molecular dynamic（MD） simulations to gain a detailed description of the sensitivity to lateral tension and the gating pathway.MscL undergoes conformational rearrangement in sustaining lateral tension,and the open state is obtained when 2.0 MPa lateral tension is directly applied on the pure protein.During the opening process,Loop region responds to tension first,and the mechanical sensitivity is followed by S1 domain.Transmembrane（TM） bundle is the key position for channel opening,and the motion of TM1 helices finally realizes the significant expansion of the constricted gating pore.C-terminus domain presents expansion later during the TM opening.In our study,return of the whole protein to the initial closed state is achieved only in the early opening stage.During the relaxation from the open state,the TM helices are the most mobile domain,which is different from the opening process.

Initiation and Evolution of Long-Lived Eastward-Propagating Mesoscale Convective Systems over the Second-Step Terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley

Based on the previous statistical analysis of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)over the second-step terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley,eight representative long-lived eastward-propagating MCSs are selected for model-based sensitivity testing to investigate the initiation and evolution of these types of MCSs as well as their impact on downstream areas.We subject each MCS to a semi-idealized(CNTL)simulation and a sensitivity(NOLH)simulation that neglects condensational heating in the formation region.The CNTL experiment reveals convection forms in the region downstream of a shortwave trough typified by persistent southwesterly winds in the low-to midtroposphere.Upon merging with other convective systems,moist convection develops into an MCS,which propagates eastward under the influence of mid-tropospheric westerlies,and moves out of the second-step terrain.The MCS then merges with pre-existing local convection over the plains;the merged convection reinforces the cyclonic wind perturbation into a mesoscale vortex at 850 hPa.While this vortex moves eastward to regions with local vortex at 850 hPa,another vortex at 925 hPa is also intensified.Finally,the vortices at 850 and 925 hPa merge together and develop into a mesoscale convective vortex(MCV).In contrast,MCSs fail to form and move eastward in the NOLH experiment.In the absence of eastward-propagating MCSs,moist convection and mesoscale vortices still appear in the plains,but the vortex strength and precipitation intensity are significantly weakened.It is suggested the eastward-propagating MCSs over the second-step terrain significantly impact the development and enhancement of moist convection and vortices in the downstream areas.

Probabilistic Analysis and Design of HCP Nanowires:An Efficient Surrogate Based Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approach

We investigate the dependency of strain rate,temperature and size on yield strength of hexagonal close packed（HCP） nanowires based on large-scale molecular dynamics（MD） simulation.A variance-based analysis has been proposed to quantify relative sensitivity of the three controlling factors on the yield strength of the material.One of the major drawbacks of conventional MD simulation based studies is that the simulations are computationally very intensive and economically expensive.Large scale molecular dynamics simulation needs supercomputing access and the larger the number of atoms,the longer it takes time and computational resources.For this reason it becomes practically impossible to perform a robust and comprehensive analysis that requires multiple simulations such as sensitivity analysis,uncertainty quantification and optimization.We propose a novel surrogate based molecular dynamics（SBMD）simulation approach that enables us to carry out thousands of virtual simulations for different combinations of the controlling factors in a computationally efficient way by performing only few MD simulations.Following the SBMD simulation approach an efficient optimum design scheme has been developed to predict optimized size of the nanowire to maximize the yield strength.Subsequently the effect of inevitable uncertainty associated with the controlling factors has been quantified using Monte Carlo simulation.Though we have confined our analyses in this article for Magnesium nanowires only,the proposed approach can be extended to other materials for computationally intensive nano-scale investigation involving multiple factors of influence.

A semi-idealized modeling study on the long-lived eastward propagating mesoscale convective system over the Tibetan Plateau

Based on a 16-warm-season statistical study on the mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)that were generated over the Tibetan Plateau(TP),11 long-lived eastward propagating MCSs of the same type were selected for a composite semiidealized simulation and a corresponding no-latent-heating sensitivity run by using the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)model.Common evolutionary features and associated mechanisms of this type of long-lived eastward propagating MCS were investigated.Main results are as follows:(i)This type of MCS was generated in a favorable background environment which was characterized by a notable upper-tropospheric divergence south of an upper-level jet,a strong warm advection around a middle-level shortwave trough’s central area,and an instable convective stratification below the trough.Development of the MCS featured rapid increase of cyclonic vorticity in the middle and lower troposphere.The convergence-related vertical stretching and tilting were key factors for the cyclonic-vorticity’s production,and convection-related upward cyclonic-vorticity transport contributed to the upward extending of the MCS.(ii)During the vacating stage of the MCS,it first coupled with a quasistationary Tibetan Plateau vortex(TPV)over the TP’s eastern section,and then decoupled from the vortex.In the former stage,the MCS contributed to maintaining ascending motions and convergence associated with the TPV,which favored its persistence;whereas,in the latter stage,decoupling weakened the TPV-associated convection significantly.This reduced the upward transport of cyclonic vorticity notably,which,together with the negative tilting effect,finally led to the vortex’s dissipation.(iii)After vacating TP,the MCS first weakened due to the disappearance of strong direct sensible heating from the TP on its bottom,and then,under the favorable conditions associated with the shortwave trough over the eastern section of the TP,the MCS redeveloped rapidly.Convergence-related cyclonic-vorticity production in the middle and lower troposphere and upward transport of cyclonic vorticity due to convection governed the MCS’s redevelopment.(iv)Sensitivity simulation shows that latent heating was a necessary condition for the formation and development of the long-lived eastward propagating MCS.On the one hand,this MCS affected the TP’s eastern section and downstream regions directly by inducing precipitation;and on the other hand,it exerted effects on the precipitation over a wider range in the downstream regions by modulating large-scale circulations over and around the TP.