Building Model as a Service to support geosciences

Modeling is a fundamental methodology for simulating the past, understanding the present and predicting the future of the geospatial systems and phenomena. However, modeling in the geospatial science poses several challenges, including complex model setup, repetition in model setup, requirement for large, scalable computing resources, and management of a large amount of model output. To address these challenges, we propose Model as a Service (MaaS) by leveraging the latest advancement of cloud computing. MaaS enables various geoscience models to be published as services, and these services can be accessed through a simple web interface. MaaS automates the processes of configuring machines, setting up and running models, and managing model outputs. The computing resources are automatically provisioned by MaaS in a cloud environment. A proof-of-concept MaaS prototype is presented using a global climate change model (ModelE). Experimental results show that the MaaS prototype significantly simplifies model setup, accelerates model simulation and enhances model output by providing a web-based, on-demand, scalable modeling environment.     

3D ECT reconstruction by an improved Landweber iteration algorithm

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is a relatively mature non-invasive imaging technique that attempts to map dielectric permittivity of materials. Recently, 3D ECT has gained interest because of its potential to generate volumetric images. The study of a fast and accurate image reconstruction algorithm is a challenge task, especially for 3D reconstruction. In this paper, we propose an improved Landweber iteration algorithm. We incorporate an additional acceleration term into the cost function and apply an adaptive threshold operation to the image obtained in each iteration for reducing artefacts. The algorithm proposed is tested by the noise-free and noise-contaminated capacitance data. Sensitivity matrixes and capacitance data of a 3D ECT sensor are obtained by using the finite element (FE) method. Extensive simulations in 3D reconstruction are carried out. The results verify the effectiveness of these improvements. Both the reconstruction time and the artefacts in the reconstructed image are reduced obviously. The experimental results of 3D reconstruction of objects in the shape of letters U and L confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm further.     

Capacitance-based liquid holdup measurement of cryogenic two-phase flow in a nearly-horizontal tube

Liquid holdup measurement of cryogenic fluids is an area of considerable significance because of its inevitable occurrence in LNG transportation, rocket propellant delivery and superconducting equipment cooling, etc. To measure the liquid holdup of cryogenic two-phase flow, a capacitance sensor was carefully designed, which consists of a pair of optimized concave-electrode form with the electric circuit for the small capacitance detection. Four flow patterns were realized to evaluate the performance of the sensor in visualization experiments with liquid nitrogen and vaporous nitrogen. An image method was employed to calibrate the capacitance sensor, which led to a mathematical relationship between the capacitance and the liquid holdup. The results indicated that the obtained correlation between liquid holdup and capacitance satisfactorily coincided with the measured data.     

In vitro and in silico (IVIS) flow characterization in an idealized human airway geometry using laser Doppler anemometry and computational fluid dynamics techniques

The air flow in idealized human airway geometry was studied using computational and experimental methods. A computational fluid dynamics model developed to determine the air flow characteristics in airways was validated by comparison of the experimental velocity profiles obtained with laser Doppler anemometric measurements with numerical data. A good correlation was found between the values obtained with the two methods. Both the measurements and the calculations showed the flow to be laminar in the trachea region of the airway model, but it is affected by the airway geometry in subsequent airways.     

Design of a field programmable gate array based test launch and control system for hybrid vehicle

In order to satisfy the throttling and multiple restart characteristics of the hybrid rocket engine and guarantee the controllability and security of hybrid rocket, the test launch and control system for hybrid vehicle needs to achieve ground power control, serial communication with the flight control computer and the telemetry system, onboard thermal battery activation, battery voltage acquisition, power conversion, pressure monitoring, valve control, booster ignition, power-off and remote pressure relief in emergency. Considering the complexity of the test launch and control system for hybrid system and the advantages of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), such as, a large number of I/O ports, ability to efficiently implement large-scale systems and programmability, a FPGA based test launch and control system for a type of hybrid vehicle was designed. Many conducted ground and flight experiments have proved that the system has superior performance in integration, universalization, miniaturization, automation and can perfectly meet the needs of the hybrid vehicle.     

Sectored Compact Space Reactor (SCoRe) concepts with a supplementary lunar regolith reflector

Design concepts of the Sectored Compact Space Reactor for Small power (SCoRe-S) have been developed for the avoidance of single-point failures in reactor cooling and energy conversion and a wide range of thermal powers. These modular, fast neutron spectrum, lithium cooled reactors with 16.0 cm thick BeO radial reflector are designed for at least +$2.00 hot-clean excess reactivity, and with a sufficient reactivity shutdown margin. They employ ¹⁵⁷GdN additives in the UN fuel and a 0.10 mm thick coating of ¹⁵⁷Gd₂O₃ on the outer surface of the reactor vessel to ensure that the bare reactors, when submerged in wet sand and flooded with seawater following a launch abort accident, remain at least ?$1.00 subcritical. In addition to identifying the smallest SCoRe-S concept that satisfies the design reactivity requirements, the benefit of using a lunar regolith as a supplementary reflector to decrease the thickness of the BeO radial reflector and hence, the launch mass of the SCoRe-S concepts for a lunar outpost is investigated. Calculations performed using MCNP5 confirmed that SCoRe-S₇ with a 16 cm thick BeO reflector is the smallest to satisfy the stated reactivity requirements. Results also show that a lunar regolith reflector alone is inadequate for this reactor to achieve a critical state at the beginning of life. However, when the regolith is used in conjunction with a BeO reflector of a reduced thickness, this reactor not only becomes critical, but also satisfies the reactivity design requirements at a significantly reduced launch mass. Using a supplementary reflector of regolith decreases the thickness of the BeO reflector for the SCoRe-S₇ from 16 cm to 8.0 cm, and to 5.7 cm for the SCoRe-S₁₁ of the largest core. The resulting decreases in the launch mass of the SCoRe-S concepts are ～34% or 150–200 kg.     

High resolution melting curve analysis with MATLAB-based program

High resolution melting curve analysis (HRM) is an emerging new method for interrogating and characterizing DNA samples. It has been used as a powerful tool for gene mutation and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection with high throughput and low cost. Commercially available HRM analysis systems are mostly proprietary and expensive. It lacks the flexibility for the end users and researchers to incorporate new analysis algorithms into the existing system. This paper presents the development of a MATLAB-based open software program for high resolution melting curve analysis. Key analysis functions, such as to obtain the first derivative curve using Savitzky–Golay filter, to identify the melt region, subtraction of background fluorescence and curve normalization, are introduced, followed by case studies of HRM analysis using the developed software program.     

纳米晶复合涂层应用于火星玻璃盖片防尘的探索

目的制备超微结构的纳米晶复合涂层,降低火星环境中灰尘颗粒在玻璃表面的粘附,并通过翻转操作,最大限度地清除沉积的灰尘,恢复太阳能电池的发电能力。方法采用水热法和表面修饰,制备了纳米晶复合防尘涂层。通过电子显微镜、分光光度计、接触角仪和翻转除尘试验分别对涂层的微观结构、可见-近红外光透过率、表面性质和除尘效率进行了分析。结果由直径大约为27nm的ZnO纳米棒构成的独特涂层结构,使灰尘颗粒与涂层表面的接触面积相比于普通玻璃减小了一个数量级,可见光区的透过率提高了1.1%,近红外区透过率提高了0.4%。用氟化物进行表面修饰后,涂层的水接触角由25°～45°升高至155°～165°。经90°缓慢翻转,纳米晶复合涂层对50～100μm和30～50μm灰尘颗粒的清除效率分别为80%～90%和60%～70%;而在相同测试条件下,普通玻璃的防尘效率仅为37.5%和6.3%。由翻转后涂层表面灰尘的分布情况和倾斜表面上单颗粒的受力分析发现,灰尘颗粒的脱落存在滑落和滚落两种模式,高位落下的颗粒将部分动能传递给低位静止的颗粒,促使更多静止颗粒的滑落或滚落,形成"雪崩"状的特殊形貌。结论 ZnO纳米晶复合涂层不仅可以提高可见光和近红外光的透过率,还可以极大地减小与灰尘颗粒的接触面积,降低颗粒的粘附力,在不使用高压电能的情况下,经过翻转操作,清除效率可达80%以上,这将为火星上灰尘的清除提供一种安全的方式。     

A high-throughput maize kernel traits scorer based on line-scan imaging

Maize kernel traits such as kernel length, kernel width and kernel number determine kernel weight and, consequently, maize yield. Therefore, the measurement of kernel traits is important for maize breeding and the evaluation of maize yield. The conventional method for measuring kernel traits is still manual, which is time consuming, costly and subjective. In this study, a novel maize kernel traits scorer (MKTS) was developed for the automatic measurement of 12 maize kernel traits based on line-scan imaging, image processing, and automatic control techniques. Here, total of 615 samples were measured to evaluate the system performance. The results showed that the MKTS was capable of evaluating maize kernel traits with the mean absolute percentage error of the manual and automatic measurements less than 5% and the measurement efficiency of approximately 72 s for the measurement of 6 ears. In conclusion, this high-throughput scorer will provide maize scientists with a novel tool to assist in maize functional genetics and maize breeding.     

The implementation methodology of the real effects in a NOI nanostructure,aided by simulation and modelling

The SOI transistors permanently offer new candidates as nanodevices. The nothing on insulator NOI transistor was recently derived from the nano SOI–MOSFET family. Their output characteristics were theoretical modelled with an exponential law, validated by simulations. The transfer characteristics presented sometimes increasing and others times decreasing monotony. This phenomenon was put directly into a relationship with the gate tunnelling breakdown. This paper has three final targets: the breakdown limitation through the back-gate terminal, the real effects including in the NOI transistor architecture – like interface charges or metal-semiconductor work function and quantum effects corrections in simulations, in order to produce a better correlation between simulations and a real behaviour. These simulations represent a milestone in the NOI nanotransistor manufacturing, establishing some parameters that link the device to the real work regime.