Nanocellulose-based films and their emerging applications

Extensive research has been directed towards the reinvention of paper for advanced applications. Nanocellulose-based films, a novel class of specialty paper primarily made of nanocellulose, demonstrate an ideal combination of sustainability and enhanced or novel properties. Enormous efforts have been devoted to enhancing these intrinsic properties and/or creating novel functions to expedite and expand the use of these materials in high-end fields such as touchscreen, solar cells, and nanogenerators. We review state-of-the-art advances in nanocellulose-based films and their utilization in several emerging and promising fields. We begin with an introduction of four types of nanocellulose-based films distinguished by their functional material loads (e.g., synthetic macromolecular polymers, 0D, 1D, and 2D nanomaterials), which involves their manufacturing techniques, structure design, properties, novel functions, and underlying principles. Additionally, we summarize the value-added applications of nanocellulose-based films in flexible electronics, energy converting or harvesting devices, and water treatment. Finally, we provide a critical viewpoint on the remaining challenges and future opportunities in this field.     

Effects of temperature on creepage discharge characteristics in oil-impregnated pressboard insulation under combined AC–DC voltage

Due to the complexity of the valve side winding voltage of the converter transformer, the insulation characteristics of the oil-impregnated pressboard (OIP) of the converter transformer are different from those of the traditional AC transformer. The study on effect of temperature on the creeping discharge characteristics of OIP under combined AC–DC voltage is seriously inadequate. Therefore, this paper investigates the characteristics of OIP creepage discharge under combined AC–DC voltage and discusses the influence of temperature on creepage discharge characteristics under different temperatures from 70°C to 110 °C. The experimental results show that the partial discharge inception voltage and flashover voltage decrease with increasing temperature. The times of low amplitude discharge (LAD) decrease and amplitude of LAD increases. Simultaneously, the times of high amplitude discharge (HAD) gradually increase at each stage of creepage discharge with higher temperature. The analysis indicates that the charge carriers easily accumulate and quickly migrate directional movement along the electric field ahead of discharging. The residual charge carriers are more easily dissipated after discharging. The ‘hump’ region of LAD moves to the direction of higher discharge magnitude. The interval time between two continuous discharges is shortened obviously. The concentration of HAD accelerates the development of OIP insulation creepage discharge. The temperature had an accelerating effect on the development of discharge in the OIP under applying voltage.     

A review on coupling Green sources to Green storage (G2G): Case study on solar-hydrogen coupling

The present review paper aims to shed lights on the concept of fully green energy system which includes both the source of energy and the storage system. The objective is to propose an energy label “Green to Green” (G2G) that identifies systems involving simultaneously green source and green storage, as an efficient solution to achieve a significant reduction in the dangerous level of pollution that most countries have reached today. Green sources include mainly renewable energy systems such as solar, wind, geothermal and wave energy systems. In its turns green storage includes pumped hydroelectric, flywheel, hydrogen and compressed air. Moreover, and as a case investigation on G2G concept, the paper reviews the main solar-hydrogen coupling systems, that are categorized within four categories parabolic trough-hydrogen, solar tower-hydrogen, photovoltaic-hydrogen and solar chimney-hydrogen.     

Sustainable hydrogen roadmap: A holistic review and decision-making methodology for production,utilisation and exportation using Qatar as a case study

Hydrogen is seen as a promising and inevitable energy carrier in the transition towards a carbon-free energy era. This study reviews the potential for carbon-free hydrogen production, utilisation and exportation from the State of Qatar. The study aims to introduce a roadmap for current and future exploration of carbon-free hydrogen production and exportation from Qatar, for which an assessment of several available alternatives for the production of hydrogen in Qatar is performed. These alternatives include the use of natural gas as a feedstock for hydrogen production through steam methane reforming (SMR), solar integrated steam methane reforming with carbon capture, as well as the possibilities for hydrogen production from electrolysis using renewables and ammonia as another intermediate. The potential of each alternative is reviewed based on selected technical, economic and environmental criteria. The findings of this review study indicate that the production and exportation of blue ammonia currently present the best pathway for Qatar, while green hydrogen is expected to become as competitive as blue ammonia in the mid-future. It is widely accepted that as the technologies associated with clean hydrogen production improve, and the cost of renewable energy falls, green hydrogen will become quite competitive in the region.     

板栗壳黄酮结构分析及其对胰脂肪酶活力的抑制作用

在分析板栗壳黄酮结构的基础上，研究其对胰脂肪酶的抑制作用及类型。采用醇提法提取板栗壳中的黄酮，并用AB-8大孔吸附树脂进行纯化，冻干后得到的黄酮含量为（107.50±1.00）mg/g，提取得率为（5.66±0.05）%。利用超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱质谱联用技术对板栗壳黄酮进行结构分析，鉴定出8 种黄酮类化合物。采用对硝基苯酚法测定胰脂肪酶活力，分别考察板栗壳黄酮对胰脂肪酶的抑制效果及不同反应条件下板栗壳黄酮对胰脂肪酶活性的影响，结果表明，板栗壳黄酮对胰脂肪酶有较好的抑制作用，半抑制浓度（half maximal inhibitory concentration，IC50）为0.074 mg/mL，且使胰脂肪酶最适pH值向碱性偏移。通过Lineweaver-Burk双倒数作图法确定其抑制类型为非竞争性抑制，抑制常数Ki＝53.19 mg/mL。由此可见，板栗壳黄酮是一种效果良好的胰脂肪酶抑制剂。     

Ontology-based approach for the provision of simulation knowledge acquired by Data and Text Mining processes

Numerical simulation techniques such as Finite Element Analyses are essential in today's engineering design practices. However, comprehensive knowledge is required for the setup of reliable simulations to verify strength and further product properties. Due to limited capacities, design-accompanying simulations are performed too rarely by experienced simulation engineers. Therefore, product models are not sufficiently verified or the simulations lead to wrong design decisions, if they are applied by less experienced users. This results in belated redesigns of already detailed product models and to highly cost- and time-intensive iterations in product development.Thus, in order to support less experienced simulation users in setting up reliable Finite Element Analyses, a novel ontology-based approach is presented. The knowledge management tools developed on the basis of this approach allow an automated acquisition and target-oriented provision of necessary simulation knowledge. This knowledge is acquired from existing simulation models and text-based documentations from previous product developments by Text and Data Mining. By offering support to less experienced simulation users, the presented approach may finally lead to a more efficient and extensive application of reliable FEA in product development.     

基于Kӧtter方程的盾构掘进面上被切削土体受力研究

为了计算不同土体性质与不同掘进参数下盾构刮刀与土体之间的作用力以及由此带来的切削扭矩,引入了修正后的Kӧtter方程作为补充方程,求解出开挖面上土体在被动切削至破坏时滑动面上的应力分布,建立了被切削土体受力模型,求解出刮刀刃面与土体之间的正压力p、摩擦力Q与侧向土体间抗剪阻力U,进而推导出刀盘切削扭矩T的计算公式。分析得到特定刀盘上刮刀的p,Q,U值随土体c,φ值增大而增大,通过适当提高刮刀刃面粗糙度来增大摩擦可使土体更易被切至破坏;p,Q,U值随刀盘转速ω增大而减小,p,Q随支护荷载p线性增大且p对于被切削土体受力的影响在砂性土中较大,最终给出特定刀盘掘进至部分种类土体中的切削扭矩值作为工程参考。     

一种改进的最小二乘回归子空间分割方法

最小二乘回归(LSR)算法是一种常见的子空间分割方法，由于LSR具有解析解，因此它的聚类性能较高。然而LSR算法是应用谱聚类方法聚类数据，谱聚类方法初始化聚类中心是随机的，会影响后面的聚类效果。针对这一问题，提出一种基于聚类中心局部密度和距离这2个特点的改进的LSR算法（LSR-DC）。在Extended Yale B数据集上进行实验，结果表明，该算法有较高的聚类精度，具有一定的鲁棒性，优于现有LSR等子空间分割方法。     

高速率通信网络下时变系统的有限时域H∞控制

针对高速率通信网络和Round-Robin（RR）协议影响下网络化时变系统的有限时域[H∞]控制问题，考虑到系统中存在乘性噪声、随机时滞和量化效应，提出了一种基于观测器的有限时域[H∞]控制器的设计方法。利用李雅普诺夫稳定性理论和线性矩阵不等式（Linear Matrix Inequality，LMI）技术得到有限时域[H∞]控制器存在的充分条件。基于锥补线性化（Cone Complementarity Linearization，CCL）方法通过求解一组递归矩阵不等式得到观测器和控制器参数。所设计的控制器保证闭环网络化时变系统在给定的时域内稳定，且满足预定的[H∞]性能指标。数值仿真验证了所提方法的有效性。     

Environmental Enrichment Enhances Cav 2.1 Channel-Mediated Presynaptic Plasticity in Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a devastating neonatal brain condition caused by lack of oxygen and limited blood flow. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a classic paradigm with a complex stimulation of physical, cognitive, and social components. EE can exert neuroplasticity and neuroprotective effects in immature brains. However, the exact mechanism of EE on the chronic condition of HIE remains unclear. HIE was induced by a permanent ligation of the right carotid artery, followed by an 8% O₂ hypoxic condition for 1 h. At 6 weeks of age, HIE mice were randomly assigned to either standard cages or EE cages. In the behavioral assessments, EE mice showed significantly improved motor performances in rotarod tests, ladder walking tests, and hanging wire tests, compared with HIE control mice. EE mice also significantly enhanced cognitive performances in Y-maze tests. Particularly, EE mice showed a significant increase in Ca_v 2.1 (P/Q type) and presynaptic proteins by molecular assessments, and a significant increase of Ca_v 2.1 in histological assessments of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These results indicate that EE can upregulate the expression of the Ca_v 2.1 channel and presynaptic proteins related to the synaptic vesicle cycle and neurotransmitter release, which may be responsible for motor and cognitive improvements in HIE.