Additional deepwater sampling of prey fish in Lake Michigan annual bottom trawl survey reveals new insights for depth distribution dynamics

Beginning in 2013, sites at the 128-m bottom depth contour were added to the sampling design of the annual Lake Michigan bottom trawl survey for prey fish, which has been conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) each fall since 1973, to better assess fish depth distributions in a changing ecosystem. The standard sampling design included bottom depths from 9 to 110 m, although the GLSC also sporadically conducted bottom trawl tows at the 128-m bottom depth contour during 1973–1988. Enactment of this new sampling design in 2013 revealed that mean biomass density of deepwater sculpins (Myoxocephalus thompsonii) at the 128-m depth exceeded the sum of mean biomass densities at shallower depths, indicating that the bulk of the deepwater sculpin population is residing in waters deeper than 110 m. Thus, our findings supported the hypothesis that the depth distribution of the deepwater sculpin population had shifted to deeper waters beginning in 2007, thereby explaining, at least in part, the marked decline in deepwater sculpin abundance since 2006 based on the standard sampling design. In contrast, our results did not support the hypothesis that the slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) population had shifted to deeper waters sometime after 2000. A portion of the burbot (Lota lota) population may have also shifted in depth distribution to waters deeper than 110 m after 2007, based on our results. Our findings have served as an impetus to further expand the range of depths sampled in our bottom trawl survey.     

Influence of thermal runaway in styrene–acrylonitrile bulk copolymerization revealed by computational fluid dynamics modeling

The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and kinetic-based moment methods coupled approach is adopted to simulate the bulk copolymerization of styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) in a stirred tank reactor. Numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the impacts of impeller speed, monomer ratio, initiator ratio, and initial reaction temperature on the copolymerization process and product properties. Particularly, the Chaos theory is selected as a criterion for evaluating the occurrence of the thermal runaway. The Flory's and Stockmayer's distributions are employed to calculate chain length distribution and copolymer composition distribution of copolymer. The simulation results highlight that the appearance of thermal runaway can be postponed by properly increasing the rotation speed, decreasing the initiator loadings, initial acrylonitrile contents and initial reactor temperature. Furthermore, significant differences exist in the product properties that predicted by the ideal and non-ideal models, which demonstrates that the temperature heterogeneity plays a crucial role in SAN copolymerization. This study could offer references for the safe operation and design of polymerization processes.     

基于GIS单线图的配网停电单模拟操作应用研究

配电网停电会造成电力系统供配电可靠性以及服务质量下降,研究基于地理信息系统(GIS)单线图的配网停电单模拟操作应用。利用网格长度作为基本单位建立坐标系,以选取起始点与终止点为基础,通过四参数法将GIS坐标映射至图纸网格内,实现配网内设备初步布局,将杆塔、站房和整体均匀分布作为优化目标,设置多目标优化目标函数实现GIS单线图最终优化。选取某电力公司配网作为单模拟操作应用对象,模拟结果表明,单模拟操作配网停电后,该配网各负荷点年故障率、次平均停电时间以及年停电时间均有所减少,可有效提升配网的供配电可靠性。     

某会议室夏季工况不同送风方式下的气流组织数值模拟研究

采用数值模拟软件对××大学科技馆某小型会议室进行数值模拟,以实际测量的数据为边界条件,建立合适的数学和物理模型,得到温度场、速度场以及空气品质场等模拟结果,通过对模拟结果的对比分析,得到了最佳的气流组织设计方案,相关结论可以为室内气流组织方案设计与优化提供参考依据。     

Solvothermal synthesis of zirconia nanomaterials: Latest developments and future

Due to excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability and catalytic characteristics, zirconia is considered as the most important ceramic materials. Different crystal forms make zirconia play a huge role in solid electrolyte fuel cells, catalysts, thermal barrier coatings, denture materials, mobile phone backplanes, etc. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review about solvothermal synthesis of nano-zirconia. Firstly, the reactors and systems of solvothermal synthesis in recent years are introduced. Especially, the advancement of continuously flowing microreactors and field-coupled systems are analyzed. Secondly, influencing factors of zirconia solvothermal synthesis are discussed. In addition, solvent effects on the synthesis of nano-zirconia products are clarified, and suggestions for solvent selection are given. Furthermore, the design and mechanism of solvothermal synthesis of zero-, one-, two-and three-dimensional zirconia nanostructures are revealed. Simultaneously, experimental methods and kinetic studies are summarized. Finally, potential applications and challenges are presented for future research directions.     

Mechanisms of Reciprocal Regulation of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)-Producing and Immune Systems: The Role of GnRH,Cytokines and Their Receptors in Early Ontogenesis in Normal and Pathological Conditions

Different aspects of the reciprocal regulatory influence on the development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-producing- and immune systems in the perinatal ontogenesis and their functioning in adults in normal and pathological conditions are discussed. The influence of GnRH on the development of the immune system, on the one hand, and the influence of proinflammatory cytokines on the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system, on the other hand, and their functioning in adult offspring are analyzed. We have focused on the effects of GnRH on the formation and functional activity of the thymus, as the central organ of the immune system, in the perinatal period. The main mechanisms of reciprocal regulation of these systems are discussed. The reproductive health of an individual is programmed by the establishment and development of physiological systems during critical periods. Regulatory epigenetic mechanisms of development are not strictly genetically controlled. These processes are characterized by a high sensitivity to various regulatory factors, which provides possible corrections for disorders.