Microstructural evolution in medium copper low alloy steels irradiated in a pressurized water reactor and a material test reactor

A533B steels containing 0.12% and 0.16% Cu were irradiated to 3×10²³ and 6×10²³ n/m² (E>1 MeV) at 290 °C in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and a material test reactor (MTR). Microstructural changes were examined using atom probe, small angle neutron scattering, field emission gun scanning transmission electron microscopy and post-irradiation annealing (PIA) coupled with positron annihilation (PA) and hardness testing (Hv). Cu rich precipitates had a Cu enriched core with surrounding Ni, Mn and Si rich region and the atomic composition was Fe–(7–16)Cu–(2–8)Mn–(0–4)Ni–(0–4)Si. The size and number density of Cu rich precipitates and the residual Cu concentration in matrix were almost saturated at above 3×10²³ n/m². Low flux irradiation in PWR produced slightly larger precipitates of a lower density with a higher Cu concentration in the precipitates. PIA (PA and Hv) examination showed that vacancy type matrix defects after PWR irradiation were more stable and more effective for hardening than those after MTR irradiation.     

A scenario calculator for effects of grazing land management on carbon stocks in Australian rangelands

Management of grazing lands has been included in land-based mechanisms for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This paper describes a spatial system for scenario analysis of the effect of changes in grazing management on rangeland carbon balances. The system is based on identification of alternative biophysical carbon states and incorporates the effects of management changes and socio-economic and cultural barriers to changes. The management factors include grazing pressure, fire management, control or spread of woody weeds and introduction of browse shrubs. The impact of these factors may be influenced by frequency of good and poor growth years, frequency of droughts and be discounted due to social and economic barriers to adoption. The system appeared to plausibly represent the rangeland responses to management when tested for responses to climate variability and changes in stocking rate, and the impact of prescribed burning in the Tropical Woodlands. Responses are highly sensitive to the knowledge-based estimates of proportion of area in zones for each carbon state and the value of the relative carbon index for each state. A complete and ecologically sound representation of this simple model of carbon state dynamics and climate/vegetation interactions is needed to ensure that scenario analysis is useful and valid for scoping studies.     

Ethanol reforming for hydrogen production in a hybrid electric vehicle: process optimisation

This work is focused at optimizing an ethanol reforming process over a Ni/Cu catalyst to produce a hydrogen rich stream in order to feed a solid polymer fuel cell (SPFC). The effect of the reaction temperature, H₂O/EtOH and O₂/EtOH molar ratios of the feed to the reformer was studied under diluted conditions in order to maximize the hydrogen content and the CO₂/CO_x molar ratio at the outlet of the ethanol reformer. Based on the experimental results, a detailed kinetic scheme of the ethanol reforming was discussed as a function of the temperature, special attention was paid to the role of oxygen in the reaction selectivity and coke formation. Moreover, the coke nature was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TPO and TPH experiments. The tests carried out at on-board reformer conditions allowed a hydrogen rich mixture (33%) in the outlet reformer flow that can be even increased by water gas sift reactions downstream. The high hydrogen content of the flow to the fuel cell together with the stability of the Ni/Cu catalyst, fully demonstrated by long time runs, can be considered of high interest for SPFC applications.     

Harnessing anaerobic digestion for combined cooling,heat, and power on dairy farms: An environmental life cycle and techno-economic assessment of added cooling pathways

Anaerobic digestion coupled with combined heat and power production on dairy farms is environmentally advantageous; however, high capital and operating costs have limited its adoption, especially in the United States, where renewable electricity and heat production are under-incentivized. Biogas is also at a disadvantage because it has to compete with very low natural gas prices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of integrating absorption refrigeration technology for combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP) on the farm to help bridge this economic hurdle. A combined environmental life cycle and techno-economic assessment was used to compare 2 cooling pathways with and without co-digestion. We considered using CCHP to (1) displace electricity-driven refrigeration processes (e.g., milk chilling/refrigeration, biogas inlet cooling) or (2) mitigate heat stress in dairy cattle via conductive cow cooling. All cooling scenarios reduced environmental emissions compared with combined heat and power only, with an appreciable reduction in land use impacts when employing conductive cow cooling. However, none of the cooling scenarios achieved economically viability. When using cooling power to displace electricity-driven refrigeration processes, economic viability was constrained by low electricity prices and a lack of incentives in the United States. When used for conductive cow cooling, economic viability was constrained by (1) low waste heat-to-cooling conversion efficiency; (2) limited conductive cow cooling effectiveness (i.e., heat-stress mitigation); and (3) low heat stress frequency and limited severity. However, we predict that with minor improvements in conductive cow cooling effectiveness and in hotter climates, CCHP for conductive cow cooling would be economically viable even in current US energy markets.     

黑龙江、吉林地区松茸ITS序列遗传多样性分析

提取黑龙江省5个不同产地和吉林省汪清地区不同产地松茸子实体的基因组DNA,利用ITS序列分析技术研究其遗传多样性。测序后通过和GenBank中序列比对,采用最大简约法(Maximum Parsimony,MP)、最小进化法(Minimum Evolution,ML)和邻位相接法(Neighbor Joining,NJ)构建系统发育树。结果表明,6个样品的ITS序列被分成了两大组,鸡东,汪清,东京城,东宁由于序列比较相似被分为一组,穆棱和海林被分为另一组。每组的ITS序列变化较小,相似度较高。同时,多个位点存在着差异,有转换、颠换和缺失。     

Consumers’ willingness to pay for upcycled foods

Research on food waste reduction suggests that solutions aimed at reducing waste early in the consumption cycle are the most impactful. Based on this premise, food research labs and food manufacturers have started creating and selling foods made from food ingredients that are generally discarded. Such foods, termed upcycled foods, are safe for human consumption and provide a promising solution to reduce food waste. However, the commercial success of this new category of foods will depend on consumers’ acceptance. This research examines a key indicator of acceptance – consumers’ willingness to pay. We find that although consumers are willing to pay less for upcycled foods compared to conventional alternatives, messaging increases consumers’ willingness to pay. Specifically, we find that rational messaging is more effective than emotional messaging. Overall, our findings suggest that upcycled foods may command good acceptance among consumers.