Facile synthesis of black phosphorus directly grown on carbon paper as an efficient OER Electrocatalyst: Role of Interfacial charge transfer and induced local charge distribution

Black phosphorus (BP), as a new 2D material, is normally synthesized by a high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method from white and red phosphorus, which severely hinders the further development of BP for any potential applications and leads to search for other potential applications of BP with big challenge. Herein, we develop a facile and efficient Thermal-Vaporization-Transformation (TVT) approach to prepare a highly active BP directly grown on carbon paper as the electrode for Oxygen evolution reaction (OER), showing a low onset potential of 1.45 V versus RHE. Simultaneously, the current density of BP-CP illustrates the excellent electro-catalysis stability only decreases by 3.4% after continuous operation for 10000 s. Meanwhile, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations further illustrates the P-doped carbon layer in the upper side of BP layer is actually responsible for its enhanced OER property, and the adjacent carbon atoms of the embedded P atoms are actually the active sites due to the induced local change distribution by intramolecular change transfer. Considering the facile, but efficient and scalable, TVT approach can directly synthesize BP-CP with excellent OER performance, which is promising for BP electrocatalysts used for OER in metal-air batteries, fuel cells, water-splitting devices, even other key renewable energy.     

Weighted regularized extreme learning machine to model the discharge coefficient of side slots

In the current research, a modern learning machine algorithm named “Weighted Regularized Extreme Learning Machine (WRELM)" is implemented for the first time for the simulation of the coefficient of discharge of side slots. For this purpose, an effective variable on the coefficient of discharge of side slots is firstly introduced, then five distinctive WRELM models are produced by it for the estimation of the coefficient. In the next stage, a database is created for verification of WRELM results. it should be mentioned that 70% of the data are utilized for training the WRELM models, while the rest (i.e. 30%) for testing them. After that, the optimal number of hidden layer neurons as well as the best activation function of the WRELM algorithm are chosen. In addition, the best regularization parameter and also the weight function of the WRELM are achieved. By conducting a sensitivity analysis, the most effective variable for the simulation of the coefficient of discharge along with the WRELM superior model is introduced. The WRELM superior model estimates values of the coefficient of discharge with the maximum exactness and the highest correlation. For instance, the estimations of the correlation coefficient and scatter index for this model are computed to be 0.930 and 0.051, respectively. The sensitivity analysis shows that the ratio of the side slot crest height to its length and the Froude number should be considered as the most important input variables. A comparison between the WRELM with the ELM displays that the former works much better. Furthermore, an uncertainty analysis is executed for both models. Eventually, an equation is suggested for the estimation of the coefficient of discharge and a partial derivative sensitivity analysis is performed on it.     

Validation of qPCR method for enterococci quantification at Toronto beaches: Application for rapid recreational water monitoring

Rapid quantitative PCR-based methods for enterococci monitoring can allow public health authorities to make more timely beach posting decisions. However, qPCR methods must be assessed for proposed sites as locale-specific factors may affect DNA recovery or qPCR inhibition. We assessed the feasibility of the USEPA 1609.1 qPCR-based (Enterococcus) method at two urban Toronto beaches and three recreational areas at nearby river mouths in parallel with culture-based methods on the same water samples. A strong positive correlation was observed between the Enterococcus qPCR method and culturing-based quantification methods for E. coli and enterococci at both beaches and two river mouth areas. One river, known to be highly sewage-impacted, did not yield DNA suitable for qPCR analyses. qPCR results from biological replicates were strongly correlated and showed coefficients of variation as low as or lower than culture-based methods. With respect to Beach Action Value exceedances, the USEPA 1609.1 qPCR method provided an 80–90% level of agreement with E. coli enumeration results and >90% with enterococci enumeration. Results indicated that if recreational water locations and sampling conditions met the requirements of the USEPA 1609.1 qPCR method, the method can meet or exceed all quality control requirements and provide water quality results within 3.5 h for diverse recreational water settings around the City of Toronto.     

Realizing fragment spawning and fragment growth in the parallelized Discrete Element Method (DEM) during modelling of comminution

The particle based Discrete Element Method (DEM) can be applied to examine comminution processes. In this study, a DEM framework has been extended to model particle breakage without mass loss. After a breakage event occurs, spherical particles, as often considered in the DEM, are replaced by size reduced spherical fragments. During the following time steps, the fragments grow to their desired sizes, so that the mass loss can be counterbalanced. Previously defined overlaps with adjacent unbroken and broken particles (fragments) as well as walls are allowed. The breakage model has been realized in a parallelized DEM framework because comminution processes are often attributed to large numbers of particles and by parallelization the computational time can be reduced efficiently. An oedometer (one-dimensional compression in axial direction of a confined particle bed) has been modelled to investigate the parallelization efficiency and the influence of the permitted overlaps during the growth process on the growth duration. A simplified roller mill has been considered to examine the applicability of the breakage procedure considering parallelization. The results show that parallelization reduces computational time considerably. The breakage procedure is suitable to model comminution processes involving even densely packed particle systems and is superior to existing approaches.     

基于多尺度高斯核的分布式正则化回归学习算法

针对工业、信息等领域出现的基于较大规模、非平稳变化复杂数据的回归问题,已有算法在计算成本及拟合效果方面无法同时满足要求.因此,文中提出基于多尺度高斯核的分布式正则化回归学习算法.算法中的假设空间为多个具有不同尺度的高斯核生成的再生核Hilbert空间的和空间.考虑到整个数据集划分的不同互斥子集波动程度不同,建立不同组合系数核函数逼近模型.利用最小二乘正则化方法同时独立求解各逼近模型.最后,通过对所得的各个局部估计子加权合成得到整体逼近模型.在2个模拟数据集和4个真实数据集上的实验表明,文中算法既能保证较优的拟合性能,又能降低运行时间.     

针对多种处理痕迹的数字语音取证算法

现有的数字语音取证研究主要集中于对单一的某种操作进行检测，无法对不相关的操作进行判断。针对该问题，提出了一种能够同时检测经过变调、低通滤波、高通滤波和加噪这四种操作的数字语音取证方法。首先，计算语音的归一化梅尔频率倒谱系数（MFCC）统计矩特征；然后通过多个二分类器对特征进行训练，并组合投票得到多分类器；最后使用该多分类器对待测语音进行分类。在TIMIT以及UME语音库上的实验结果表明，归一化MFCC统计矩特征在库内实验中均达到了97%以上的检测率，且在对MP3压缩鲁棒性测试的实验中，检测率仍能保持在96%以上。     

基于测录井曲线的致密砂岩储层产能评价方法

强烈的非均质性、较差的储层连通性以及复杂的微观孔隙结构是致密砂岩气产能评价难度大和准确率不高的原因，基于此，利用多口井测录井曲线资料，归纳总结典型的曲线形态类型，并采用数学方法对形态进行了定量表征，提出了基于测录井曲线形态的产能评价方法。研究表明：①气测全烃曲线可以分为箱形、半箱形、正三角形、倒三角形、锯齿状和单尖峰状等6种形态，分别与油气层显示程度紧密相关，可以利用幅度、相对质心、相对锯齿、方差及自相关函数的参数值极性量化表征。其中，箱形气测全烃曲线峰形饱满，跨度较大；半箱形，气测全烃峰形跨度明显小于储层厚度；三角形，气测全烃曲线形态呈现正三角形或倒三角形；锯齿状，气测全烃曲线形态呈忽高忽低的趋势，呈现若干尖峰；单尖峰状，气测全烃曲线峰形跨度较小，呈单尖峰状。②6种气测全烃曲线形态与致密砂岩油气储层产能具有较好的对应关系。高、中产层主要为箱形、三角形，低产层主要为（半）箱形、三角形及锯齿状，特低产主要为锯齿状，不产层主要以单尖峰状为主。利用气测曲线形态及产能特征进行权重赋值，建立了解释关系图版。③录井全烃曲线与测井电阻率曲线综合解释可以更加准确判别致密砂岩储层产能。最后，利用定量化模型进行自动解释，通过数据验证发现，产层符合率为80.95%，产能区间符合率为78.05%。实践证明，基于测录井曲线形态可以较好地评价预测致密砂岩储层产气能力。     

Effects of hydrogen direct injection on engine stability and optimization of control parameters for a combined injection engine

As engine stability is a crucial issue for engine performance and toxic emissions, an experimental research has been conducted to analyze the effects of hydrogen direct injection on engine stability. The experiments have been divided into two parts. The first set is aimed to analyze different parameter characteristics with and without hydrogen direct injection, and the second set tries to find optimal control regions. Excess air ratios, spark timings, engine speeds and engine loads are chosen as primary parameters in the study. The results show hydrogen addition can increase brake thermal efficiency by a range from 6% to 13%, enhancing the lean burn performance. Combustion duration has been shortened to about 80% by adding 10% hydrogen mixture into gasoline. Besides, Hydrogen addition makes the mixture further insensitive to ignition timings, and narrows the optimal regions with higher excess air ratios. Under medium engine speeds, the highest CoV_IMEP locates in the low load region for pure gasoline, while this maximum value appears in the medium load region for 10% hydrogen mixture. In addition, the specific value of CoV_IMEP with 10% hydrogen is rather small compared to pure gasoline. Thus, hydrogen direct injection can significantly improve engine stability and reduce controlling difficulties.