Electrochemical hydrogen storage performance of as-cast and as-spun RE-Mg-Ni-Co-Al-based alloys applied to Ni/MH battery

The La-Mg-Ni-Co-Al-based AB₂-type La_0.8–xCe_0.2Y_xMgNi_3.4Co_0.4Al_0.1 (x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) alloys were prepared via melt spinning. The analyses of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved that the experimental alloys contain the main phase LaMgNi₄ and the second phase LaNi₅. Increasing Y content and spinning rate lead to grain refinement and obvious change of the phase abundance without changing phase composition. Y substitution for La and melt spinning make the life-span of the alloys improved remarkably, which is attributed to the improvement of anti-oxidation, anti-pulverization and anti-corrosion abilities. In addition, the discharge capacity visibly decreases with increasing the Y content, while it firstly increases and then decreases with increasing spinning rate. The electrochemical kinetics increases to the optimum performance and then reduces with increasing spinning rate. Moreover, all the alloys achieve to the highest discharge capacities just at the initial cycle without activation.     

In Silico Study on Tumor-Size-Dependent Thermal Profiles inside an Anthropomorphic Female Breast Phantom Subjected to Multi-Dipole Antenna Array

Electromagnetic hyperthermia as a potent adjuvant for conventional cancer therapies can be considered valuable in modern oncology, as its task is to thermally destroy cancer cells exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic fields. Hyperthermia treatment planning based on computer in silico simulations has the potential to improve the localized heating of breast tissues through the use of the phased-array dipole applicators. Herein, we intended to improve our understanding of temperature estimation in an anatomically accurate female breast phantom embedded with a tumor, particularly when it is exposed to an eight-element dipole antenna matrix surrounding the breast tissues. The Maxwell equations coupled with the modified Pennes’ bioheat equation was solved in the modelled breast tissues using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) engine. The microwave (MW) applicators around the object were modelled with shortened half-wavelength dipole antennas operating at the same 1 GHz frequency, but with different input power and phases for the dipole sources. The total input power of an eight-dipole antenna matrix was set at 8 W so that the temperature in the breast tumor did not exceed 42 °C. Finding the optimal setting for each dipole antenna from the matrix was our primary objective. Such a procedure should form the basis of any successful hyperthermia treatment planning. We applied the algorithm of multi for multi-objective optimization for the power and phases for the dipole sources in terms of maximizing the specific absorption rate (SAR) parameter inside the breast tumor while minimizing this parameter in the healthy tissues. Electro-thermal simulations were performed for tumors of different radii to confirm the reliable operation of the given optimization procedure. In the next step, thermal profiles for tumors of various sizes were calculated for the optimal parameters of dipole sources. The computed results showed that larger tumors heated better than smaller tumors; however, the procedure worked well regardless of the tumor size. This verifies the effectiveness of the applied optimization method, regardless of the various stages of breast tumor development.     

阶梯溢流坝面坡度对一体化消能工水力特性的影响

为探求高水头、大单宽流量下坝面坡度对一体化消能工水力特性的影响,以阿海水电站为原型,采用三维k-ε双方程紊流模型,引入水气两相流VOF计算方法,利用几何重建格式来迭代生成自由水面,对1∶0.80、1∶0.75、1∶0.65三种阶梯面坡比进行数值模拟研究。结果表明:①最大负压值均位于首级阶梯立面凸角下1/4附近,并随坡度增加而增大。坡度为56.98°时,最大负压值为61.02 kPa,超过了6×9.81 kPa。②水流空化数在宽尾墩水舌出口位置出现最小值,空化数随坡度变陡而减小。坡度为56.98°时,空化数最小为0.358。坡度为51.34°时,空化数最大,为0.381。③随着阶梯溢流坝坝面坡度变缓,消力池最大临底流速增大。当坡度为51.34°时,消力池最大临底流速最大,达到26.84 m/s,超过了25 m/s,易发生冲磨破坏。当坡度为56.98°时,消力池最大临底流速最小,为24.00 m/s。消力池尾坎前最大临底流速随坡度增加而减小,坡度为56.98°时最小,为9.63 m/s;坡度为51.34°时,消力池尾坎前最大临底流速最大,为9.96 m/s。④坡度的变化对一体化消能工消能率的影响不大,坡度从51.34°增加到56.98°,消能率只提升0.15%。     

影响干式磁选机在石英除铁过程中的因素研究

本文通过对陕西某地石英矿进行干式磁选试验研究,介绍了给料速度、尾矿抛尾率、矿样含水率及含泥量等几个因素对干式磁选作用的影响,分析了干式磁选各因素在石英除铁过程中的规律,为后续工业应用提供一定的理论基础。     

不同镀层结构钢的耐盐雾腐蚀性能比较

通过盐雾试验模拟潮湿环境,对裸钢试片、电镀锌钢试片、化学镀镍-磷钢试片和化学镀镍-钴-磷钢试片进行了宏观形貌、微观形貌和腐蚀产物成分分析,比较了四个试片的耐盐雾腐蚀性能。结果表明:在盐雾环境中,四个试片均会发生电化学腐蚀,生成不同的腐蚀产物;在盐雾腐蚀周期内,裸钢试片的腐蚀速率最高,化学镀镍-磷钢试片和化学镀镍-钴-磷钢试片的腐蚀速率较低;四个试片在腐蚀过程中的阳极反应和阴极反应不同,腐蚀后的微观形貌存在明显差异。     

Antioxidant Activity of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) Peel Extract in Soybean Oil during Storage and Deep Frying

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) peel (RBP) is discarded as the main by‐product during processing of the fruit. Increasing attention is now paid to the valorization of RBP for the recovery of valuable compounds. Geraniin, ellagic acid, quercetin, and rutin are the main phenolic compounds found in methanolic RBP extract. Extracted rambutan peel powder (ERPP) is used to evaluate the oxidative stability of soybean oil stored at 4 and 30 °C in the dark and light and deep fried with potatoes at 160 °C. Tert‐butylhydroquinone (100 µg g^?1 oil, TBHQ) serves as positive control. Oil supplemented with ERPP of 1000 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) g^?1 of oil shows positive effects on the retardation of the oxidation process during storage in comparison with oil without addition. During deep frying, either ERPP (1000 µg GAE g^?1) or TBHQ retards the lipid oxidation of oil. Levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of potatoes fried in oil fortified with the extract and TBHQ (0.4–0.59 µg g^?1) are much lower than those without the extract (1.31 ± 0.10 µg g^?1) (p < 0.05). Therefore, RBP extract exhibits favorable antioxidant effects and can be used for effectively inhibiting lipid oxidation in oil during storage and deep frying. Practical Applications: An extract from rambutan fruit peel containing phenolic compounds, that is, geraniin, ellagic acid, rutin, and quercetin showed promising results to be used as potential antioxidants in soybean oil during deep frying. Both oxidation of the frying oil as well as the oxidation of the food product, that is, potatoes were inhibited. These results demonstrated that rambutan fruit peel extract can be used as a natural antioxidant in frying oil to replace synthetic antioxidants, that is, TBHQ.     

7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanosine Lesions Inhibit the Theophylline Aptamer or Change Its Selectivity

Aptamers are attractive constructs due to their high affinity/selectivity towards a target. Here 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine (8-oxoG) has been used, due in part to its unique H-bonding capabilities (Watson–Crick or Hoogsteen), to expand the “RNA alphabet”. Its impact on the theophylline RNA aptamer was explored by modifying its binding pocket at positions G11, G25, or G26. Structural probing, with RNases A and T₁, showed that modification at G11 leads to a drastic structural change, whereas the G25-/G26-modified analogues exhibited cleavage patterns similar to that of the canonical construct. The recognition properties towards three xanthine derivatives were then explored through thermophoresis. Modifying the aptamer at position G11 led to binding inhibition. Modification at G25, however, changed the selectivity towards theobromine (K_d≈160 μm ), with a poor affinity for theophylline (K_d>1.5 mm ) being observed. Overall, 8-oxoG can have an impact on the structures of aptamers in a position-dependent manner, leading to altered target selectivity.     

Comparison between lipid and protein oxidation progress in the tail and claw muscles of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)

Microbial activity and then oxidation progress are the most important freshness indicators during post-mortem. In this study, we monitored proteomic and microbial changes, as well as biochemical degradation, in the tail and claw muscles of crayfish stored for 12 days at +4 °C. One specified protein band at 107 kDa in the claw muscle and two specified protein bands in the tail muscle at 140 and 36–40 kDa were identified. Western blotting indicated a higher amount of oxidised proteins in the tail compared to the claw muscle. Tail muscle showed higher oxidation progress and calpain activity than claw one. Both muscles were spoiled after 12 days with respect to total viable counts. In the first days, calpain activity is the main reason for protein degradation, while protein oxidation dominates for the rest of the time. Lipid–protein oxidation progress showed probably, protein oxidation started earlier than lipid oxidation in both muscles.