Report and Phylogeny of a Novel Euplotes Species from China:E.mazeii n.sp.,and Review of E.balteatus(Alveolata,Ciliophora)

The freshwater species,Euplotes mazeii n.sp.,and the marine species,E.balteatus(Dujardin,1841)Diesing,1850 were collected from China and investigated based on their living morphology,ciliary pattern,and small subunit ribosomal RNA(SSU rRNA)gene sequence data.Euplotes mazeii n.sp.was characterized by its small cell size((40-55)μm×(25-35)μm),nine frontoventral cirri,one marginal and two caudal cirri,seven dorsal kineties,and a double-eurystomus type of dorsal silverline system.Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data confirmed the branching position of this new taxa within the genus Euplotes,with 5.01%(84 nucleotides)sequence variation,supporting the identification of a new species.We re-examined all described and supposedly conspecific populations and give a review of Euplotes balteatus.E.balteatus has been reported frequently;however,E.balteatus sensu Agamaliev,1968 is different from other populations in the number of marginal cirri or the type of silverline system,which suggests there might be a misidentification.The SSU rRNA gene sequences of two populations of E.balteatus from the studies of Chen et al.(2013)and Pan et al.(2012)differ from each other by more than 135 nucleotides,implying that the identity of the species currently associated with the SSU rRNA gene sequence in molecular databases requires further confirmation.

Numerical analysis of hydroabrasion in a hydrocyclone

The velocity profiles and separation efficiency curves of a hydrocyclone were predicted by an Euler-Euler approach using a computational fluid dynamics tool ANSYS-CFX 14.5. The Euler-Euler approach is capable of considering the particle-particle interactions and is appropriate for highly laden liquid-solid mixtures. Pre- dicted results were compared and validated with experi- mental results and showed a considerably good agreement. An increase in the particle cut size with increasing solid concentration of the inlet mixture flow was observed and discussed. In addition to this, the erosion on hydrocyclone walls constructed from stainless steel 410, eroded by sand particles （mainly SiOz）, was predicted with the Euler-La- grange approach. In this approach, the abrasive solid particles were traced in a Lagrangian reference frame as discrete particles. The increases in the input flow velocity, solid concentration, and the particle size have increased the erosion at the upper part of the cylindrical body of the hydrocyclone, where the tangential inlet flow enters the hydrocyclone. The erosion density in the area between the cylindrical to conical body area, in comparison to other parts of the hydrocyclone, also increased considerably. Moreover, it was observed that an increase in the particle shape factor from 0.1 to 1.0 leads to a decrease of almost 70 % in the average erosion density of the hydrocyclone wall surfaces.

Isolation and Sorption Behavior of Humic Acid from Zhongdian Peat of Yunnan Province,China

The Zhongdian swamp meadow in Zhongdian,China is well known as "Shangri-la",where the peat has never been studied for its potential to interact with pollutants.Humic acid(HA) was extracted from Zhongdian peat using two methods,namely sodium pyrophosphate extraction(SPE) and dilute base extraction(DBE),and characterized for its functional groups and sorption property.The HAs extracted by both methods contained several active functional groups and had large external specific surface areas.The adsorption mechanism of methylene blue onto HAs was interpreted as Langmuir sorption.SPE-HA showed higher sorption capacity because of its larger specific surface area,whereas the extraction yield of DBE-HA was twice that of SPE-HA.Kinetics modeling indicated that the sorption of methylene blue was a two-component first order reaction.The component with the higher rate constant also showed higher sorption capacity.No pH effect was observed for methylene blue sorption on HA in our experimental design,and the sorption decreased as the temperature increased.

CFD aided investigation of single droplet coalescence

This article describes the development of a coalescence model using various CFD work packages,and is validated using as toluene water model system.Numerical studies were performed to describe droplet interactions in liquid–liquid test systems.Current models use adjustable parameters to describe these phenomena.The research in the past decades led to different correlations to model coalescence and breakage depending on the chemical system and the apparatus geometry.Especially the complexity of droplet coalescence requires a detailed investigation of local phenomena during the droplet interaction.Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) studies of single droplet interactions were performed and validated with experimental results to improve the understanding of the local hydrodynamics and film drainage during coalescence.The CFD simulations were performed for the interaction of two differently sized droplets at industrial relevant impact velocities.The experimental verification and validation of the numerical results were done with standardized high-speed imaging studies by using a special test cell with a pendant and a free rising droplet.An experimental based algorithm was implemented in the open source code OpenF OAM to account for the contact time and the dimple formation.The standard European Federation of Chemical Engineering(EFCE) test system toluene/water was used for the numerical studies and the experimental investigations as well.The results of the CFD simulations are in good accordance with the observed coalescence behavior in the experimental studies.In addition,a detailed description of local phenomena,like film rupture,velocity gradients,pressures and micro-droplet entrainment could be obtained.

A Machine Learning Method for Prediction of Multipath Channels

A machine learning method for predicting the evolution of a mobile communication channel based on a specific type of convolutional neural network is developed and evaluated in a simulated multipath transmission scenario.The simulation and channel estimation are designed to replicate real-world scenarios and common measurements supported by reference signals in modern cellular networks.The capability of the predictor meets the requirements that a deployment of the developed method in a radio resource scheduler of a base station pos es.Possible applications of the method are discussed.

Local climate changes and the spread of malaria in Rwanda

A population’s health makes it possible to draw conclusions about a country’s general development level. In connection with local climatic changes, for example, we can assess how well a society adjusts to the new conditions. To that effect, it has been observed during the last few years that global climate change can also affect human health in various ways. We can differentiate direct health impacts (e.g. extreme weather events, natural catastrophes caused by the weather) from indirect ones. However, the indirect consequences cause by far the greater damages to health. They are being spread increasingly by vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, etc.). Especially when a vector-carried infectious disease (e.g. malaria) migrates into areas where it is not endemic, considerable societal problems can result. The people living there would be immunologically unprepared.

Analysis of Flow Models for Aerostatic Thrust Bearings with Porous Material

The numerical determination of static characteristics of bearings allows a cost-efficient and fast pre-design.In this study,two flow models for aerostatic thrust bearings with pressurized porous material are presented and analyzed.The models are based on the coupling of the Reynolds equation for lubricants(REL)and the determination of pressure drop through porous material by Darcy’s law.The simplified model is based on the assumption of a one-dimensional axial flow through porous media.The extended model considers the three-dimensional flow in the porous body.The analysis includes pressurized air from 4 to 9 bar(a)with nominal clearance of 5 to 60μm,Commercial CFD(computational fluid dynamics)software was used to verify the results.The extended model allows a more accurate prediction about the performance in the critical gap range.In total,the results show good agreement with CFD within a short computation time.

Tracing the formation of oxygen vacancies at the conductive LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface via photoemission

The two-dimensional electron gas(2DEG)generated at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface has been in the focus of oxides re-search since its first discovery.Although oxygen vacancies play an important role in the generation of the insulator-to-metal transition of the SrTiO3 bare surface,their contribution at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface remains unclear.In this work,we investigated a LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructure with regional distribution of defect-based localized polar sites at the interface.Using static and time-resolved threshold photoemission electron microscopy,we prove that oxygen vacan-cies are induced near those polar sites,resulting in the increase of carrier density of the 2DEG states.In addition,oxy-gen-related surface states were uncovered,which we attributed to the release of lattice oxygen during the formation of oxygen vacancies.Such effects are mainly found spatially located around the defect sites at the buried interface,while other regions remain unaffected.Our results confirm that the itinerant electrons induced by oxygen vacancies can coex-ist with the charge transfer mechanism in the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructure,together leading to the formation of the metallic interface.These observations provide fundamental insights into the nature of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface based 2DEG and unique perspectives for potential applications.

Simulation of size effects by a phase field model for fracture

In phase field fracture models the value of the order parameter distin- guishes between broken and undamaged material. At crack faces the order param- eter interpolates smoothly between these two states of the material, which can be regarded as phases. The crack evolution follows implicitly from the time inte- gration of an evolution equation of the order parameter, which is coupled to the mechanical field equations. Among other phenomena phase field fracture mod- els are able to reproduce crack nucleation in initially sound materials. For a 1D setting it has been shown that crack nucleation is triggered by the loss of stability of the unfractured, spatially homogeneous solution, and that the stability point depends on the size of the considered structure. This work numerically investi- gates to which extend size effects are reproduced by the 2D phase field model. Exemplarily, a finite element study of the hole size effect is performed and the simulation results are compared to exnerimental data.

Compositional and structural evolution of the titanium dioxide formation by thermal oxidation

Titanium oxide films were prepared by annealing DC magnetron sputtered titanium films in an oxygen ambient. X-ray diffraction （XRD）, Auger electron spectroscopy （AES） sputter profiling, MCs^＋-mode secondary ion mass spectrometry （MCs^＋-SIMS） and atomic force microscopy （AFM） were employed, respectively, for the structural, com- positional and morphological characterization of the obtained films. For temperatures below 875 K, titanium films could not be fully oxidized within one hour. Above that temperature, the completely oxidized films were found to be rutile in structure. Detailed studies on the oxidation process at 925K were carried out for the understanding of the underlying mechanism of titanium dioxide （TiO2） formation by thermal oxidation. It was demonstrated that the formation of crystalline TiO2 could be divided into a short oxidation stage, followed by crystal forming stage. Relevance of this recognition was further discussed.

Use of Augmented Reality Methods to Support Legal Conflicts in the Planning Process for Wind Turbines Using the Example of the Landscape Conservation Area “Eulenkopf and Surroundings”

The world’s growing energy demand poses a serious problem. At the same time fossil fuels are finite, which we must work against. Therefore, the Federal Government of Germany has set itself the goal to push forward the use of renewable energy in order to completely do without the generation of nuclear energy by 2023. There are, however, no specific guidelines from the European Directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources for the internal electricity market regarding how high each share of the different production method should be and, above all, which specific aim should be achieved by the share of wind energy. Nevertheless, it presents a crucial step toward a nuclear phaseout and a concomitant change of course of the Federal Government of Germany in the spring of 2011 regarding the expansion of renewable energy, taking the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima into account. Using new legal planning approaches, also including the area of Rhineland-Palatinate, opportunities should be provided to make previously protected land available for setting up facilities for the generation of renewable energy. However, it is important to examine the legal situation regarding the installation of these kinds of constructions more detailed, as no general statements can be made. This will be illustrated using the example of the landscape conservation area “Eulenkopf and surrounding area” in the district of Kaiserslautern. The stated goal of the Social Democrat/Green coalition of the federal state government of Rhineland-Palatinate is to considerably expand the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources so that by 2030 at least the entire electricity demand can be covered by those. Due to the enormous potential of wind power, it is therefore necessary to quintuple its share of electricity generation by 2020, compared to 2011 numbers. In order to achieve the desired political objectives, by 2030 the number of turbines has to be increased to around 2650, representing a capacity of 7500 MW. This increase gives reason for boundary conditions to manage the generation of wind energy to be adjusted. This is intended to facilitate management and simultaneously minimise negative effects, such as the “sprawling” of wind turbines.

Progress on band structure engineering of twisted bilayer and two-dimensional moiré heterostructures

Artificially constructed van der Waals heterostructures(vdWHs)provide an ideal platform for realizing emerging quantum phenomena in condensed matter physics.Two methods for building vdWHs have been developed:stacking two-dimensional(2D)materials into a bilayer structure with different lattice constants,or with different orientations.The interlayer coupling stemming from commensurate or incommensurate superlattice pattern plays an important role in vdWHs for modulating the band structures and generating new electronic states.In this article,we review a series of novel quantum states discovered in two model vdWH systems—graphene/hexagonal boron nitride(hBN)hetero-bilayer and twisted bilayer graphene(tBLG),and discuss how the electronic structures are modified by such stacking and twisting.We also provide perspectives for future studies on hetero-bilayer materials,from which an expansion of 2D material phase library is expected.

LDA Study of Particulate Flow in a Channel with Deformed Surface Locations and with Flow Conditioner

Hydroabrasion in particulate flows plays an important role in various industrial and natural processes. To predict the effects of particulate flow and the resulting phenomena such as erosion/abrasion in a pipeline, channel or a fitting, it is essential to characterize the effects in a simple standardized geometry. For this purpose, it is vital to initially understand the particulate flow behavior and motion in such geometries. In the present work, two series of experimental works by application of the LDA measurement technique were successfully conducted. First, the particulate flow behavior at downstream of a flow conditioner inside a channel with square cross-section was investigated. Shorter lengths for fully development of velocity profile by using the self-constructed flow conditioner were observed. Moreover, the flow at downstream of the conditioner was modeled with the CFD tool (ANSYS-CFX V. 14.57) and the simulation results were compared and validated by the LDA experimental data. Better agreement between the simulation results and experimental data was observed in the fully developed region. However, there are some deviations due to the actual pressure loss through the experimental loop and the calculated pressure loss value, which includes some assumptions for the loss coefficients. Furthermore, the particulate flow behavior and vortex generation inside the deformed locations of a channel surface were studied in detail. With the help of the Matlab program, it was possible to calculate and visualize the velocity vectors for each measured point inside the channel accurately.

Numerical Investigation of Particle Rebound Characteristics with Finite Element Method

In this work, investigation of particle rebound characteristics due to impact with surface of a target material is presented. The rebound of a spherical particle after impact on a planar surface was analyzed in detail. Specifically, the coefficient of restitution of the particle under various impact conditions was investigated numerically. This study has been conducted by carrying out a series of FEM-based (finite element method) simulations using ANSYS Autodyn software. First, a summary about the state of the art and the theoretical models for the elastic collisions were reviewed. Afterwards, the impact of an aluminum oxide particle on an aluminum alloy target surface was modeled. Using the Autodyn tool, the results were compared and validated by the experimental results of Gorham and Kharaz [1]. Selection of an appropriate equation of state (EOS) and a strength model for each material had a strong effect on the results. For both materials, the Shock EOS was applied for the final simulations. As the strength model, the Johnson-Cook and the elastic model were used, respectively. The agreement of the obtained numerical results with the experimental data confirmed that the proposed model can precisely predict the real behavior of the particle after the impact, when the material models are properly chosen. Furthermore, the effects of impact velocity and impact angle on the rebound characteristics of the particle were analyzed in detail. It was found that the selection of the exact value of friction coefficient has a drastic effect on the prediction of restitution coefficient values, especially the tangential restitution coefficient.

表面接枝改性纳米二氧化硅填充聚丙烯的结晶行为

应用差示扫描量热方法研究了纳米二氧化硅 (SiO2 )及其表面接枝改性对聚丙烯 (PP)结晶过程、等温与非等温结晶动力学的影响 ,并研究了上述等温结晶的熔融行为和平衡熔点 .研究发现纳米SiO2 具有明显的异相成核效应 ,能够提高PP的结晶温度、熔融温度、结晶度和结晶速率 ,但降低聚丙烯结晶的完善程度 .粒子的表面接枝处理 ,因改善了粒子与基体的亲和性而有利于粒子成核效应的提高 。

纳米碳化硅填充环氧树脂复合材料的摩擦磨损特性

以提高环氧树脂的摩擦磨损性能为目的,研究了纳米碳化硅粒子填充环氧树脂复合材料的滑动干摩擦磨损特性,着重探讨纳米粒子表面接枝改性、纳米粒子含量、摩擦条件等对复合材料摩擦学性能的影响。通过对复合材料磨损表面的形貌分析,以及复合材料的热变形性能和表面硬度的测定,探讨了复合材料的磨损机理。结果表明,纳米碳化硅粒子能在很低的含量下提高环氧树脂耐磨性、并降低其摩擦系数,而经过接枝处理后的纳米碳化硅粒子填充复合材料的上述性能改善更为明显,耐磨性比环氧树脂提高近4倍,摩擦系数降低36%。这说明在SiC纳米粒子表面引入聚丙烯酰胺接枝链后,由于界面的强相互作用(包括化学键合与链纠缠),有效地提高了复合材料的抵抗裂纹引发能力等性能,从而有利于改善其摩擦学性能。