Hydrodynamic drag constrains head enlargement for mouthbrooding in cichlids

Presumably as an adaptation for mouthbrooding, many cichlid fish species have evolved a prominent sexual dimorphism in the adult head. Since the head of fishes serves as a bow during locomotion, an evolutionary increase in head volume to brood more eggs can trade-off with the hydrodynamic efficiency of swimming. Here, the differences between males and females in three-dimensional shape and size of the external head surfaces and the effect thereof on drag force during locomotion was analysed for the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a maternal mouthbrooder. To do so, three-dimensional body surface reconstructions from laser scans and computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed. After scaling the scanned specimens to post-cranial body volume, in order to theoretically equalize propulsive power, the external volume of the head of females was 27% larger than that of males (head length + 14%; head width + 9%). These differences resulted in an approximate 15% increase in drag force. Yet, hydrodynamics imposed important constraints on the adaptation for mouthbrooding as a much more drastic drop in swimming efficiency seems avoided by mainly enlarging the head along the swimming direction.     

Underwater image quality enhancement through integrated color model with Rayleigh distribution

The physical properties of water cause light-induced degradation of underwater images. Light rapidly loses intensity as it travels in water, depending on the color spectrum wavelength. Visible light is absorbed at the longest wavelength first. Red and blue are the most and least absorbed, respectively. Underwater images with low contrast are captured due to the degradation effects of light spectrum. Therefore, the valuable information from these images cannot be fully extracted for further processing. The current study proposes a new method to improve the contrast and reduce the noise of underwater images. The proposed method integrates the modification of image histogram into two main color models, Red–Green–Blue (RGB) and Hue-Saturation-Value (HSV). In the RGB color model, the histogram of the dominant color channel (i.e., blue channel) is stretched toward the lower level, with a maximum limit of 95%, whereas the inferior color channel (i.e., red channel) is stretched toward the upper level, with a minimum limit of 5%. The color channel between the dominant and inferior color channels (i.e., green channel) is stretched to both directions within the whole dynamic range. All stretching processes in the RGB color model are shaped to follow the Rayleigh distribution. The image is converted into the HSV color model, wherein the S and V components are modified within the limit of 1% from the minimum and maximum values. Qualitative analysis reveals that the proposed method significantly enhances the image contrast, reduces the blue-green effect, and minimizes under- and over-enhanced areas in the output image. For quantitative analysis, the test with 300 underwater images shows that the proposed method produces average mean square error (MSE) and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) of 76.76 and 31.13, respectively, which outperform six state-of-the-art methods.     

Size-controlled synthesis of Mo powders via hydrogen reduction of MoO2 powders with the assistance of Mo nuclei

The size-controlled preparation of Mo powders is always a challenge and important task in the molybdenum metallurgy. In the current study, Mo powders with controllable sizes are synthesized by hydrogen reduction of MoO₂ powders with the assistance of Mo nuclei in the range of 900–1100 °C. The influences of the particle sizes of Mo nuclei, the additive amount as well as reaction temperature on the morphology and particle sizes of the final products are studied. For the hydrogen reduction of MoO₂ without any additive, the obtained Mo powders always have large particle sizes. However, the addition of small amounts of nuclei in MoO₂ can help Mo nucleate dispersedly, and the growth of Mo could be also controlled by adjusting the sizes of added nuclei, amount of addition and the reaction temperature. With the addition of Mo nuclei, the different sizes of Mo powders with the good dispersity can be prepared. As adding commercial Mo powders with the particle size of about 2.03 μm, the micron-sized Mo powders ranged from 2.11 μm to 3.25 μm could be prepared. While for the case of adding ultrafine Mo nuclei of about 170 nm, Mo powders from 0.28 μm to 0.88 μm can be obtained. Moreover, the more the amounts of nuclei added and the lower the reaction temperature (in the range of 900–1100 °C) is, the smaller the particle size of the prepared Mo powder will be. The current method is a facile and feasible method, and is potential to be used for industrial production of Mo powder with controllable particle sizes.     

Composite fibers of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ-LaSrCoO4±δ with high catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction

To promote catalytic activity toward oxygen-reduction reaction in the intermediate temperature solid-oxide fuel cells, we prepared a dual-phase composite cathode material 75 mol%La0.5Sr0.5CoO_3-δ-LaSrCoO_4±δ with a fibrous structure via one-pot electrospinning of a polymer containing solution. We then investigated the micro-structure and electrochemical performance of this fibrous composite. The results confirm that the fibrous composite is composed of intimately mixed nano-crystalline grains and that the compositional phases are compatible with each other. Compared with the corresponding single-phase fibers, the nano-crystalline size of the composite is more stable, and the fine nano-crystalline grains are more resistant to growth and coarsening, indicating the mutual dispersion and suppression between the constituent phases. Furthermore, compared with the corresponding single-phase fibers, the electrochemical performance of this fibrous composite cathode is more favorable. At 800 °C, its area specific resistance (ASR) is as low as 0.03 Ω cm², and maximum output power density is as high as 960 mW cm⁻², which is achieved from an electrolyte-supported single cell that was developed using this cathode. After aging this cathode for a long time, ASR is less worsened and the output power density decreases only slightly, indicating that the prolonged electrochemical performance in the running cells is more stable.     

船舶水润滑尾轴承结构设计研究进展

水润滑轴承的结构优化可以有效提高轴承的承载能力、冷却散热、减振降噪和摩擦学性能。在概述船舶水润滑尾轴承的优势和存在问题的基础上,分析归纳水润滑尾轴承内衬结构、内衬的厚度和硬度、轴承间隙、长径比、内衬表面粗糙度等结构设计参数的研究进展;以轴位水润滑尾轴承、内衬多层复合水润滑尾轴承和闭式水润滑尾轴承为例,介绍近年来几种新型水润滑尾轴承的结构设计,指出闭式水润滑尾轴承在内河及沿海船舶上具有广阔的应用前景,是未来的研究重点和发展趋势;建议水润滑尾轴承的研究应从以下方面着手,一是从微纳米尺度研究轴承微观界面润滑机制,二是在考虑轴承参数间耦合作用的基础上对轴承进行多目标优化,三是进一步研究闭式水润滑尾轴承及密封装置材料、结构和辅助装置以及水润滑添加剂,四是研究船舶水润滑尾轴承的设计规范,建立一定范围内精度满足工程需要的轴承设计计算经验公式,以简化轴承设计程序。     

煤与不同原料重整气化制甲醇对CO2排放的影响

通过介绍煤制甲醇对整个煤化工行业CO2排放的影响,选择以煤制甲醇工艺CO2排放为研究对象,分别叙述了煤气化制合成气,煤与天然气、煤与焦炉气以及煤与重质油重整气化制合成气联合生产甲醇过程中,吨甲醇产品工艺CO2排放情况,探讨不同煤气化形式对工艺CO2排放的影响因素,为如何通过气化工艺选型,降低煤制甲醇生产过程中工艺CO2排放量提供理论判断依据。     

电催化氮气还原合成氨催化材料研究进展

氨是纺织、制药、化肥等领域重要的化工原料，也是一种清洁的能源载体，需求量大。目前氨的工业生产主要为Haber-Bosch法，反应条件严苛，能源消耗大且碳排放较高。电催化氮气还原(NRR)合成氨是一种在常温常压下进行的反应，工作电位低，且电能可通过清洁能源提供，是一种很有潜力的合成氨新工艺。但目前电催化NRR材料的产氨速率和法拉第效率低、工作稳定性不够高、溶液中痕量氨的定量检测困难及检测标准不统一等都为其发展带来了巨大挑战。本文首先介绍了电催化NRR的反应机理和常用研究方法，然后重点梳理了2019年以来NRR催化材料的最新研究进展，最后对该领域研究面临的挑战和机遇进行了展望。     

用SiO2微粉制备碳化硅粉体的研究

为回收利用SiO2微粉,探究了以SiO2微粉为原料通过碳热还原法制备碳化硅粉体的最佳工艺条件;研究了分别以石油焦、活性炭和石墨粉为还原剂对冶炼效果的影响。在最佳碳质还原剂的基础上,研究了不同配碳比(还原剂与SiO2微粉的质量比为1∶3.5、1∶3、1∶2.5、1∶2、1∶1.5)和不同冶炼时间(15、30、45、60 min)对冶炼效果的影响。结果表明:石油焦、活性炭、石墨粉3种碳质还原剂中,石油焦的冶炼效果最佳;将石油焦与原料SiO2微粉以质量比1∶2进行混合,在中频感应炉中以1650℃冶炼45 min为最佳冶炼工艺条件;以此能够得到晶粒生长较好、品质较高的碳化硅粉体,碳化硅含量高达93.50%(w)。     

NiMn2O4尖晶石氧化物阴极的制备及电化学性能研究

高性能阴极材料的开发对推动中温固体氧化物燃料电池（intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells, IT-SOFCs）的发展具有重要意义。本文采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了尖晶石型NiMn₂O₄（NMO）电子-离子混合导体材料，并作为IT-SOFCs阴极进行了系统的研究，通过X射线衍射表征确定NMO材料呈稳定的立方相结构，并采用电导弛豫方法对其氧离子传导能力进行了研究。发现NMO具有优秀的氧离子传导能力，为其电化学性能提供了保障。对称电池的电化学阻抗谱测试结果表明，800℃时NMO阴极材料的界面电阻值为0.27 Ω·cm^-2，同时作为阳极支撑型SOFC的阴极材料进行放电时的最大功率密度可以达到864.9 mW·cm^-2。上述结果表明，NiMn₂O₄是一种极具潜力的IT-SOFCs阴极材料。     

节能减排的颜料印染与助剂(一)

颜料印染对当前印染行业节能减排,降低能耗很有意义,但要做到对纤维没有亲和力的颜料印染,必需制备润湿性、分散性良好的超细颜料粒子。重点阐述利用各种表面活性剂和助剂制备出一种包覆阴离子的超细粒子的稳定分散液,包括各种润湿剂、分散剂、黏合剂和纤维阳离子改性剂,还概述了相关基础理论。