Development of in-situ testing equipment of rock and soil thermophysical properties

A mobile in-situ testing equipment used to detect geotechnical thermophysical properties was developed. The equipment is composed of a heat pump, frequency pumps, an electric tee joint regulator valve, some sensors, an electric control system, data acquisition and control system, which can do tests under the condition of extracting and storing subsurface heat. Applying the line source and the cylinder source heat transfer model, and combining the parameters estimation, the average thermophysieal property parameters of rock and soil will be calculated, which provides the basis for designing the ground source heat pump systems.

Random Vibration Analysis of the Electronic Equipment Cabinet

In order to understand the vibration characteristic of system structure of electronic equipment cabinet within the particular vibration frequency,the finite element analysis software-ANSYS is used to simulate the tests of random vibrations of the cabinet system and obtain the isopleths graph of deformation and stress of the cabinet.It can confirm maximum of deformation and stress of the cabinet and position happened.Through more analysis of the frequency response curve,which can confirm harm- ful consequences random vibrations caused and weak link of the cabinet structure.The numerical simulation results are in good a- greement with the experimental results.It shows that this research provides an efficient method for the anti-seismic design and the dynamic optimization design.

Preliminary results of environmental monitoring of the natural gas hydrate production test in the South China Sea

Natural gas hydrate (NGH)is considered as one of the new clean energy sources of the 21st century with the highest potential.The environmental issues of NGH production have attracted the close attention of scientists in various countries.From May 10 to July 9,2017,the first offshore NGH production test in the South China Sea (SCS)was conducted by the China Geological Survey.In addition,environmental security has also been effectively guaranteed via a comprehensive environmental monitoring system built during the NGH production test.The monitoring system considered sea-surface atmosphere methane and carbon dioxide concentrations,dissolved methane in the sea water column,and the seafloor physical oceanography and marine chemistry environment.The whole process was monitored via multiple means, in multiple layers,in all domains,and in real time.After the production test,an environmental investigation was promptly conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of the NGH production test. The monitoring results showed that the dissolved methane concentration in seawater and the near-seabed environment characteristics after the test were consistent with the background values,indicating that the NGH production test did not cause environmental problems such as methane leakage.

Coping with the environmental effects of point-source discharges

Current methods for assessing the environmental impact of point source discharges in the United States are reviewed. The emphasis of many assessments of damage from pollution is shifting from chemical or technological standards to biological standards, i.e., the protection of biological integrity in the receiving system. The importance of integrating information from chemical measurements, toxicity tests, and field surveys in impact assessment is re-emphasized. Ways in which environmental professionals can improve methods for assessing damage from pollution and its control are discussed.

Site Test of Thermal Environment of Rammed Earth Construction in Anji County of China

The scientific evaluation on heat insulation and preservation capacity of rammed earth construction can provide an effective evidence for its superiority in preserving thermal environment of the construction. By taking an eco-hotel in Zhejiang Anji County as the research object, 33 test points have been set. The indoor and outdoor air temperature of eco-hotel and the surface temperature of building envelopes had been recorded by using data acquisition instrument, temperature transmitter and other equipments from January 27 to February 2 in 2007. Then, the data of a period had been selected for comparison and analysis and the results had been obtained as follows. In January when the temperature difference between day and night in Anji was not large, without particular thermal insulation measures and equipments, the indoor temperature of eco-hotel fluctuated very little, showing that rammed earth construction was of obvious capacity for heat preservation and insulation, that its heat stability was evident and that it could ensure excellent indoor thermal environment.

Effect of large load on the wear and corrosion behavior of high-strength EH47 hull steel in 3.5wt%NaCl solution with sand

To simulate the wear and corrosion behavior of high-strength EH47 hull steel in a complicated marine environment in which seawater,sea ice,and sea sand coexist,accelerated wear and corrosion tests were performed in a laboratory setting using a tribometer.The effect of large loads on the behavior of abrasion and corrosion in a 3.5wt%NaCl solution with ice and sand to simulate a marine environment were investigated.The experimental results showed that the coefficient of friction(COF)decreases with increasing working load;meanwhile,the loading force and sand on the disk strongly influence the COF.The mechanisms of friction and the coupling effect of abrasion and corrosion in the 3.5wt%NaCl solution with sand were the wear and corrosion mechanisms;furthermore,the wear mechanism exerted the predominant effect.

Fieldwork Test Research of the Impact on Building Physical Environment on Six Types of Atrium Space in Cold Climates

Since the research on verification to passive design strategies in sustainable building is at the initial stage,and its test method and verification conclusion are not scientific enough to validate,this paper proposes the necessity of building physical environmental monitoring to quantitative optimization of passive strategies efficiency from the perspective of architecture design and building environment. Adopting comparative research method,this research chooses six types of atrium space in cold climate in China as a prototype,focusing on building physical environmental performance difference in and between atrium and building main space. Spatial parameters of the atrium space will be divided into four factors: spatial geometry,interfacial properties,internal and external related categories. With subdividing these four factors into sub-factors,this paper makes crosscomparison among the sub-factors to clarify passive strategies effectiveness in atrium. Data comparison analysis shows that Winter atrium passive strategy in cold regions from traditional view is not obvious in practical application,and test data need to be stratified refined in atrium design in case of optimizing passive strategy from building prototype perspective.

An enriched environment increases the expression of fibronectin type Ⅲ domain-containing protein 5 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the cerebral cortex of the ischemic mouse brain

Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an environment that provides animals with multi-sensory stimulation and movement opportunities. An enriched environment has been shown to promote the regeneration of nerve cells, synapses, and blood vessels in the animal brain after cerebral ischemia;however, the exact mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine whether an enriched environment could improve neurobehavioral functions after the experimental inducement of cerebral ischemia and whether neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with the expression of FDNC5 and BDNF. This study established ischemic mouse models using permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) on the left side. On postoperative day 1, the mice were randomly assigned to either enriched environment or standard housing condition groups. Mice in the standard housing condition group were housed and fed under standard conditions. Mice in the enriched environment group were housed in a large cage, containing various toys, and fed with a standard diet. Sham-operated mice received the same procedure, but without artery occlusion, and were housed and fed under standard conditions. On postoperative days 7 and 14, a beam-walking test was used to assess coordination, balance, and spatial learning. On postoperative days 16–20, a Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. On postoperative day 15, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were analyzed by western blot assay. The results showed that compared with the standard housing condition group, the motor balance and coordination functions(based on beam-walking test scores 7 and 14 days after operation), spatial learning abilities(based on the spatial learning scores from the Morris water maze test 16–19 days after operation), and memory abilities(based on the memory scores of the Morris water maze test 20 days after operation) of the enriched environment group improved significantly. In addition, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex increased in the enriched environment group compared with those in the standard housing condition group. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that neurobehavioral functions were positively associated with the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF(r = 0.587 and r = 0.840, respectively). These findings suggest that an enriched environment upregulates FDNC5 protein expression in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia, which then activates BDNF protein expression, improving neurological function. BDNF protein expression was positively correlated with improved neurological function. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University, China(approval Nos. 20160858 A232, 20160860 A234) on February 24, 2016.

Experimental Study on Purification Efficiency of Air Purifier for the Indoor Total Volatile Organic Compounds

By using total volatile organic compounds （TVOC） as the objective volatile pollutant, the purification efficiency of some representative air purifiers bought in the market was determined under the relatively independent and stable environmental conditions supplied by the self-made multi- functional environmental test chamber. Various evaluation parameters of TVOC were calculated based on the tested results, such as purification ef- ficiency and removal rate. The results showed that the TVOC purification efficiency increased with enhancing the temperature or lessening the rela- tive humidity, but this effect is not obvious. The air purifiers which use photocatalytic technology have higher TVOC purification efficiency than those which only use some adsorption technology. The purification efficiency and removal rate can be more accurate to evaluate the purification efficiency of air purifiers.

Temporal and Spatial Factors Affecting the Nature of Genotype x Environment Interaction in Sugarcane (<i>Saccharum officinarum L.</i>) under Ethiopian Agro-Climatic Conditions: An Integrated Approach

Analytical approaches are important for identification the causes of Genotype x environment interaction (GEI) in multi-environment trials (MET). The objectives of this investigation were to explore the nature and causes of the GEI in sugarcane under Ethiopian agro ecological conditions. Data of Cane yield, recoverable sucrose% and sugar yield obtained from 13 test environments were subjected to Additive Main and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI2) for empirical study. For environmental characterization, mean values of twenty seven temporal and spatial factors were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Moreover, to identify the environmental factors affecting the patterns of GEI and its components, mean values of these factors were correlated with environment AMMI2 IPCA scores of the yield traits studied. Results of the present study indicated that the GEI accounted for larger variation than the genotypic effects which suggested its importance and complexity. The PCA bi-plot successfully identified the environmental factors that most discriminated the test environments (crop years and locations). The correlation analysis between the environmental factors and environmental AMMI2 IPCA scores adequately identified the environmental factors affecting GEI and its components. Soil organic matter% and soil clay%, pan evaporation at establishment, relative humidity at growth stage and harvesting month were the major factors that substantially affect the GEI interaction patterns in cane yield while maximum relative humidity recorded during the growing season, all temperature regimes recorded during the entire growing season and at different crop stages were the major factors that affect GEI in recoverable sucrose%. Moreover, the pattern of GEI in sugar yield was significantly affected by harvest age, percent of clay in soil, altitude, relative humidity at harvest and pan evaporation at establishment. For efficient environmental selection and networks, genotype evaluations and formulation of appropriate sugarcane breeding strategy, f METs should adopt the inclusion of these environmental factors identified as major factors influencing the patterns of GEI. Moreover, more information will be generated if other physiological and soil moisture stress indices are included in future GEI studies in sugarcane.

The Application of GGE Biplot Analysis for Evaluating Test Locations and Mega-Environment Investigation of Cotton Regional Trials

In the process to the marketing of cultivars, identification of superior test locations within multi-environment variety trial schemes is of critical relevance. It is relevant to breeding organizations as well as to governmental organizations in charge of cultivar registration. Where competition among breeding companies exists, effective and fair multi-environment variety trials are of utmost importance to motivate investment in breeding. The objective of this study was to use genotype main effect plus genotype by environment interaction（GGE） biplot analysis to evaluate test locations in terms of discrimination ability, representativeness and desirability, and to investigate the presence of multiple mega-environments in cotton production in the Yangtze River Valley（YaRV）, China. Four traits（cotton lint yield, fiber length, lint breaking tenacity, micronaire） and two composite selection indices were considered. It was found that the assumption of a single mega-environment in the YaRV for cotton production does not hold. The YaRV consists of three cotton mega-environments： a main one represented by 11 locations and two minor ones represented by two test locations each. This demands that the strategy of cotton variety registration or recommendation must be adjusted. GGE biplot analysis has also led to the identification of test location superior for cotton variety evaluation. Although test location desirable for selecting different traits varied greatly, Jinzhou, Hubei Province, China, was found to be desirable for selecting for all traits considered while Jianyang, Sichuan Province, China, was found to be desirable for none.

Can environmental sustainability be decoupled from economic growth? Empirical evidence from Eastern Europe using the common correlated effect mean group test

The European Union(EU) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) aim to develop long-term policies for their respective member countries. Having observed increasing dangers to the environment posed by rising economic growth, they are seeking pathways to enable policy action on economic growth and environmental sustainability. Given the facts in theoretical and empirical studies, this study assessed the validity of the decoupling hypothesis by investigating asymmetricity in the relationship between environmental sustainability and economic growth in nine Eastern European countries from 1998 to 2017 using the cross-section augmented Dickey-Fuller(CADF) unit root, panel corrected standard error(PCSE), common correlated effect mean group(CCEMG), and Dumitrescu Hurlin causality approaches. Both population growth and drinking water are used as controlled variables. The outcomes establish strong cointegration among all the variables of interest. According to the results of CCEMG test, economic growth exerts short-term environmental degradation but has long-term environmental benefits in Eastern Europe;and population growth and drinking water exert a positive effect on environmental sustainability in both the short-and long-run. The results of Dumitrescu Hurlin causality test indicate that environmental sustainability is unidirectionally affected by economic growth. Based on these outcomes, we suggest the following policies:(1) the EU and OECD should implement member-targeted policies on economic growth and fossil-fuel use towards regulating industrial pollution, water use, and population control;and(2) the EU and OECD member countries should invest in environmental technologies through green research and development(R&D) to transform their dirty industrial processes and ensure productive energy use.

A test method for evaluating the thermal environment of underground coal mine refuge alternatives

Since 2009,the Mine Safety and Health Administration(MSHA)has required mines to install refuge alternatives(RAs)in underground coal mines.One of the biggest concerns with occupied RAs is the possible severity of the resulting thermal environment.In 30 CFR 7.504,the maximum allowable apparent temperature(AT)for an occupied RA is specified as 35℃(95°F).Manufacturers must conduct heat/humidity tests to demonstrate that their RAs meet the 35℃(95°F)AT limit.For these tests,heat input devices are used to input the metabolic heat of actual miners.A wide variety of test methods,sensors,and heat input devices could be used when conducting such tests.Since 2012,the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)has conducted over thirty 96-hour heat/humidity tests on four different RAs.This paper discusses the test equipment and procedures used during these investigations.This information is useful for RA manufacturers conducting RA heat/humidity tests,for other researchers investigating RA heat/humidity buildup,and for those who need to assess the thermal environment of any confined space where people may be trapped or are seeking refuge.

Genotoxicity Tests and Their Contributions in Aquatic Environmental Research

As many chemicals with genotoxic potential are emitted to surface water, genotoxicity tests are gaining importance which led to the development of several techniques to detect directly DNA damage. The relevance of detecting the genotoxic risks associated with water pollution was firstly perceived in the late 1970s. Since that time several tests have been developed for evaluating DNA alterations in aquatic animals. These tests rely on the premise that any changes to DNA may have long-lasting and profound consequences. Sister chromatid test, chromosome aberrations, comet assay, and micronucleus test are currently the most widely employed methods to detect DNA lesions in ecotoxicology. Chromosomal aberration and sister chromatid exchanges are time consuming, resource intensive and require proliferating cell population. Hence, Comet assay and Micronucleus test as cost effective and more sensitive test systems have now been introduced for assessing the genotoxicity of chemicals. This review presents a synthesis of the state of the art in the methodologies of comet assay and micronucleus test and their contributions in aquatic environmental research. The text explores the latest knowledge and thinking on these very important approaches for the assessment of environmental health, management, and conservation. The primary concern of the present review is the measurement of genotoxic potential in aquatic organisms under field and laboratory conditions, where effects of chemicals at different levels of biological organization can be examined.

Study on the Stability of World Diversity of Cultured Species <i>G. hirsutum</i>L. to Salination

The paper presents the results of a study of salt tolerance in some different eco-geographical samples of the cotton germplasm collection of the Institute of Genetics and Experimental Biology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to the results obtained, the studied samples were divided into several groups depending on their salt tolerance. Salt tolerant and unstable samples were found in all studied ecological and geographical groups, but differed in the frequency of distribution.

Physical characteristics of high concentrated gas hydrate reservoir in the Shenhu production test area,South China Sea

High concentrated and heterogeneous distribution of gas hydrates have been identified in the gas hydrate production test region in the Shenhu area,South China Sea.The gas hydrate-bearing sediments with high saturation locate at two ridges of submarine canyon with different thickness and saturations just above the bottom simulating reflection.The crossplots of gamma ray,acoustic impedance(P-impedance)and porosity at four sites show that the sediments can be divided into the upper and lower layers at different depths,indicating different geotechnical reservoir properties.Therefore,the depositional environments and physical properties at two ridges are analyzed and compared to show the different characteristics of hydrate reservoir.High porosity,high P-wave velocity,and coarse grain size indicate better reservoir quality and higher energy depositional environment for gas hydrate at Sites W18 and W19 than those at Sites W11 and W17.Our interpretation is that the base of canyon deposits at Sites W18 and W19 characterized by upward-coarsening units may be turbidity sand layers,thus significantly improving the reservoir quality with increasing gas hydrate saturation.The shelf and slope sliding deposits compose of the fine-grained sediments at Sites W11 and W17.The gas hydrate production test sites were conducted at the ridge of W11 and W17,mainly because of the thicker and larger area of gas hydrate-bearing reservoirs than those at Sites W18 and W19.All the results provide useful insights for assessing reservoir quality in the Shenhu area.

The Influence of Allergic Rhinitis Treatment on Asthma

Background: Rhinopathy, a dysfunction or inflammation of the nasal mucosal lining, presents with symptoms of nasal obstruction, posterior and anterior rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, and hyposmia, with variations in symptom intensity in each subtype. Asthma originates from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Objective: This study aimed to treat allergic rhinitis in patients with controlled asthma and to verify the behavior of the variables. Methods: In this prospective study, quantitative and qualitative assessment of rhinopathy in asthma was performed. Patients with symptoms of rhinopathy and controlled asthma, who were controlled with treatment at the pulmonology outpatient clinic of the Center for Medical Specialties at [hospital], were included. Patients were treated for 2 months according to the IV Rhinopathy Consensus. They underwent a pulmonary function test and completed a questionnaire before and after treatment for rhinopathy. Results: In total, 47 patients aged 7 - 12 years (9.30 ± 1.70 years;median 9 years) were evaluated, including 29 (61.7%) males and 18 (38.3%) females. Patients were evaluated at two timepoints, with an interval of 12 days to 14 months (3.81 ± 3.21 months;median 3 months), and were evaluated regarding the various characteristics of their allergy. Conclusion: The treatment of allergic rhinitis in patients with asthma resulted in an improvement in variables related to nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, cough, dyspnea, wheezing, and dyspnea on exertion, and maintaining physical activities without dyspnea.

Research Reports on the 12^(th) Five-Year Plan for Electric Power Industry Equipment Manufacturing

China Electricity Council organized competent authorities across the industry of electric power to work out the "Research Reports on the 12 th Five-Year Plan for Electric Power Industry" in nearly one year, which provides a reference for governmental departments to formulate the 12 th Five-Year Plan on energy ad electric power industry. The magazine should publish the serial reports including power sources, power grids, equipment manufacture, energy and environment, and power economics. This paper presents the part of "equipment manufacturing," in which the strategies and targets of enhancing equipment manufacturing capability are put forward.

Application of Using Standard Equipment for Dental Scaler Tip Testing according to ISO 18397

The objective of this work was to study the use of standard equipment in amplitude and frequency tests of dental scaler tip according to ISO 18397.Four types of standard equipment:a laser displacement sensor,a microscope,a tachometer,and an ultrasonic frequency meter,were experimentally investigated to test a tip.The standard laser displacement sensor and the standard microscope were used to test the unloaded amplitude of the scaler tip.It was found that two types of standard equipment were able to measure the unloaded amplitude of the tip.The standard microscope was also employed for the loaded amplitude test.This test was performed by pressing the scaler tip with a load of 1 N,which was measured by a load cell set.The peak-to-peak amplitude found from the test was 116.7 m.The frequency test of the scaler tip was conducted using the standard laser displacement sensor,the tachometer and the ultrasonic frequency meter.All three types of standard equipment were found to be able to test the frequency of the tip without cooling liquid.Nevertheless,only the standard tachometer was capable of measuring the frequency of the tip with cooling liquid applied.

Determination of the Persistence in Soil of the Herbicide Indaziflam Applied on Sugarcane Crop under Brazilian Conditions

The sugar beet,Beta vulgaris L.(cv.Early Wonder),was selected as a plant test for the herbicide indaziflam and used to determine the persistence of this herbicide under field conditions in the sugarcane crop under Brazilian conditions.A randomized block design with four treatments was used:weeded control and Indaziflam 75,100 and 200 g/ha,arranged in a randomized block design with four repetitions.For the determination of persistence,soil samples were taken at sixteen times:0,30,74,99,134,167,195,224,264,295,327,365,406,454,491 and 522 DAT(Days After Treatments).To determine the persistence,the bioassay methodology was used with sugar beet plant test.The persistence in the soil of Indaziflam,as a function of the treatments was,respectively:365 DAT,150 g/ha;454 DAT,200 g/ha and 491 DAT,400 g/ha.