Experimental study and model predictions on helium release in an enclosure with single or multiple vents

This paper presents experiments performed at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to examine the dispersion behaviour of helium in a polycarbonate enclosure that was representative of a residential parking garage. The purpose was to gain a better understanding of the effect of buoyancy- or wind-driven natural ventilation on hydrogen dispersion behaviour. Although hydrogen dispersion studies have been reported extensively in the literature, gaps still exist in predictive methods for hazard analysis. Helium, a simulant for hydrogen, was injected near the centre of the floor with a flow rate ranging from 5 to 75 standard litres per minute through an upward-facing nozzle, resulting in an injection Richardson number ranging between 10^?1 and 10². The location of the nozzle varied from the bottom of the enclosure to near the ceiling to examine the impact of the nozzle elevation on the development of a stratified layer in the upper region of the enclosure. When the injection nozzle was placed at a sufficiently low elevation, the vertical helium profile always consisted of a homogenous layer at the top overlaying a stratified layer at the bottom. To simulate outdoor environmental conditions, a fan was placed in front of each vent to examine the effect of opposing or assisting wind on the dispersion. The helium transients in the uniform layer predicted with analytical models were in good agreement with the measured transients for most tests. Model improvements are required for adequately predicting transients with primarily stratified profiles or strong opposing wind.     

中国大气田科学开发的内涵

大气田是指天然气探明地质储量超过300×10~8 m~3、天然气峰值年产量在10×10~8 m~3以上且具有一定稳产期的气田。其是中国天然气储产量快速增长和未来长期稳定发展的重要基础,也是保障我国供气安全的关键。通过对国内外260余个大气田开发实践的系统分析和典型气田的解剖模拟,综合研究了大气田科学开发的内涵、核心技术以及全生命周期指标体系。大气田科学开发的内涵包括:①提出以"识别水、控制水、治理水"为技术体系的天然气开发理念,即常规气田"控水开发"、非常规气田人工压裂"注水开发",根据气藏类型和气藏特征,确定合理的采气速度;②综合评价气田开发经济效益和社会效益,保障气田长期稳产;③根据气井生产特征和储层发育特征,选取适用的气田稳产方式;④依据对常规与非常规气藏不同开发阶段的精细描述、气藏开发特征和生产动态的监测,确定气田可采储量、气田水与人工注水开发规律、气田提高采收率技术对策、气田效益稳产期与发展战略。大气田科学开发的核心技术包括:规模优化技术、科学布井技术、均衡开采技术和深度挖潜技术。进而综合优选出产量、压降、采出程度、单位压降产量等多个参数作为评价大气田科学开发的关键指标,建立了高压、低渗透—致密、裂缝—孔隙型和页岩气等4类气藏的全生命周期指标体系。结论认为,该研究成果有助于指导不同类型大气田的科学开发,进一步促进我国天然气产业的快速发展。     

Spillover effects of distribution grid tariffs in the internal electricity market: An argument for harmonization?

In many countries, distribution grid tariffs are being reformed to adapt to the new realities of an electricity system with distributed energy resources. In Europe, legislative proposals have been made to harmonize these reforms across country borders. Many stakeholders have argued that distribution tariffs are a local affair, while the European institutions argued that there can be spillovers to other countries, which could justify a more harmonized approach. In this paper, we quantify these spillovers in a simplified numerical example to give insight and an order of magnitude. We look at different scenarios, and find that the spillovers can be both negative and positive. To be able to quantify these effects, we developed a long-run market equilibrium model that captures the wholesale market effects of distribution grid tariffs. The problem is formulated as a non-cooperative game involving consumers, generating companies and distribution system operators in a stylized electricity market.     

Electrochemical performance and distribution of relaxation times analysis of tungsten stabilized La0·5Sr0·5Fe0·9W0·1O3-δ electrode for symmetric solid oxide fuel cells

W-doped La_0·5Sr_0·5Fe_0·9W_0·1O_3-δ (LSFW) was prepared and evaluated as a symmetric electrode for solid oxide fuel cells (SSOFCs). Phase and structural stability of LSFW under both reducing and oxidizing atmospheres was studied. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) mechanisms were investigated by using electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and distribution of relaxation times (DRT). Electrode polarization resistance (R_p) of LSFW are 0.08 and 0.16 Ω cm² in air and wet hydrogen at 800 °C, respectively. DRT results indicate that the rate-limiting step of LSFW at 800 °C in cathodic conditions and anodic conditions are related to oxygen diffusion and hydrogen adsorption/diffusion, respectively. A La_0·8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0·2O_3-δ (LSGM) electrolyte-supported single cell using LSFW electrodes shows a maximum power density of 617.3 mW cm⁻² at 800 °C with considerable stability and reversibility, which enables LSFW a promising SOFCs symmetric electrode material.     

Role of NEU3 Overexpression in the Prediction of Efficacy of EGFR-Targeted Therapies in Colon Cancer Cell Lines

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), through the MAP kinase and PI3K-Akt-mTOR axis, plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. The membrane-associated NEU3 sialidase interacts with and desialylates EGFR by promoting its dimerization and downstream effectors’ activation. Among the targeted therapies against EGFR, the monoclonal antibody cetuximab is active only in a subgroup of patients not carrying mutations in the MAP kinase pathway. In order to better understand the EGFR-NEU3 interplay and the mechanisms of pharmacological resistance, we investigated the role of NEU3 deregulation in cetuximab-treated CRC cell lines transiently transfected with NEU3 using Western blot analysis. Our results indicate that NEU3 overexpression can enhance EGFR activation only if EGFR is overexpressed, indicating the existence of a threshold for NEU3-mediated EGFR activation. This enhancement mainly leads to the constitutive activation of the MAP kinase pathway. Consequently, we suggest that the evaluation of NEU3 expression cannot entirely substitute the evaluation of EGFR because EGFR-negative cases cannot be stimulated by NEU3. Furthermore, NEU3-mediated hyperactivation of EGFR is counterbalanced by the administration of cetuximab, hypothesizing that a combined treatment of NEU3- and EGFR-targeted therapies may represent a valid option for CRC patients, which must be investigated in the future.     

A quantitative risk assessment of a domestic property connected to a hydrogen distribution network

The increased reliance on natural gas for heating worldwide makes the search for carbon-free alternatives imperative, especially if international decarbonisation targets are to be met. Hydrogen does not release carbon dioxide (CO₂) at the point of use which makes it an appealing candidate to decarbonise domestic heating. Hydrogen can be produced from either 1) the electrolysis of water with no associated carbon emissions, or 2) from methane reformation (using steam) which produces CO₂, but which is easily captured and storable during production. Hydrogen could be transported to the end-user via gas distribution networks similar to, and adapted from, those in use today. This would reduce both installation costs and end-user disruption. However, before hydrogen can provide domestic heat, it is necessary to assess the ‘risk’ associated with its distribution in direct comparison to natural gas. Here we develop a comprehensive and multi-faceted quantitative risk assessment tool to assess the difference in ‘risk’ between current natural gas distribution networks, and the potential conversion to a hydrogen based system. The approach uses novel experimental and modelling work, scientific literature, and findings from historic large scale testing programmes. As a case study, the risk assessment tool is applied to the newly proposed H100 demonstration (100% hydrogen network) project. The assessment includes the comparative risk of gas releases both upstream and downstream of the domestic gas meter. This research finds that the risk associated with the proposed H100 network (based on its current design) is lower than that of the existing natural gas network by a factor 0.88.     

First genetically verified occurrence of Ligula pavlovskii outside its native range and characteristics of its infection in Neogobius fluviatilis

In this study, we provide the first genetically verified distribution record beyond its native range of Ligula pavlovskii, a high-impact endoparasite of Ponto-Caspian gobies. According to parasitological surveys, ligulosis was detected for the first time in monkey goby individuals collected from Lake Balaton in 2004, 34 years after the first record of monkey goby in the lake. During a Lake Balaton survey in 2018, we detected tapeworms in 44.4% of the sampled monkey gobies. This prevalence is about two to ten times higher than it was reported from within the native range of the fish hosts. The same survey revealed an uneven spatial distribution of the ligulosis in the monkey gobies inhabiting different shoreline sections of the lake. We assume that the occurrence and recent distribution data of this high-impact endoparasite may provide useful information for potential biocontrol measures of invasive Ponto-Caspian gobies in the future.     

哈尔滨典型街谷空间PM2.5分布场与绿色界面指数相关性 研究

在城市化快速进程的背景下，城市 街区PM2.5污染日益严重，本文选取哈尔滨 在不同季节的典型街谷空间，对以叶面积密 度（LA D）、叶面积指数（LAI）为实测要素 的绿色界面指数以及PM2.5浓度进行实测对 比研究。通过对实测数据的分析和挖掘，最 终得出如下结论：首先，典型街谷空间PM2.5 时段浓度呈现上午比下午平均高37.75%，冬 季比夏季高4.7倍的特征；其次，街谷空间的 灌木界面对PM2.5浓度场平均积极贡献率为 18.62%；最后，对PM2.5的衰减率与实测街 谷绿色界面的叶面积密度（LAD）与叶面积 指数（LAI）进行相关性分析，结果显示街谷 绿色界面对PM2.5浓度的衰减作用与叶面积 密度（LAD）呈显著负相关关系，与叶面积指 数（LAI）的相关性程度较弱。     

Movement and distribution of Sitophilus zeamais adults and relationship between their density and trapping frequency in wheat bulks under different grain temperatures and moisture contents

Movement and distribution of Sitophilus zeamais adults and relationship between their trapping frequency and insect density were determined in one tonne wheat with 11.5 ± 0.2, 12.5 ± 0.1 and 13.5 ± 0.2% moisture contents (wet basis) inside cylindrical bins at 20, 25 and 30 °C. The introduced adult densities were 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 adults/kg wheat (A/kg). Inside each bin, 15 probe traps were vertically installed in three layers. In each layer, five traps were installed at the center and half radii of the bin individually. The trapped adults were counted daily up to 7 d, and then 15 kg wheat was sampled at each trap location. The insect number in each sample was counted.The recovered adults in the top layer were less than that in the middle layer, while no significant difference between at middle and bottom layers. In each layer, adults preferred the center location at 0.5 A/kg, while this trend was unidentified at other densities. There was an autocorrelation of insect densities at adjacent locations at ≥ 1.0 A/kg, while no autocorrelation in the vertical direction. The adults had an aggregation distribution at any temperature, moisture content and adult density. The normal and Poisson model could not be used to describe the distribution of the count frequency of the adults in the samples, while the negative binomial model could describe this distribution in 18 out of 27 sampling sets at ≤ 1.0 A/kg. The trapping frequency was strongly influenced by the trapping period and increased with the increase of insect densities. The relationship between adult densities and trapping frequencies at the sampling locations had a significant difference at different grain temperatures, while no difference at different moisture contents, grain depths, and locations.     

Balancing of parallel U-shaped assembly lines

A new hybrid assembly line design, called parallel U-shaped assembly line system, is introduced and characterised along with numerical examples for the first time. Different from existing studies on U-shaped lines, we combine the advantages of two individual line configurations (namely parallel lines and U-shaped lines) and create an opportunity for assigning tasks to multi-line workstations located in between two adjacent U-shaped lines with the aim of maximising resource utilisation. Utilisation of crossover workstations, in which tasks from opposite areas of a same U-shaped line can be performed, is also one of the main advantages of the U-shaped lines. As in traditional U-shaped line configurations, the newly proposed line configuration also supports the utilisation of crossover workstations. An efficient heuristic algorithm is developed to find well-balanced solutions for the proposed line configurations. Test cases derived from existing studies and modified in accordance with the proposed system in this study are solved using the proposed heuristic algorithm. The comparison of results obtained when the lines are balanced independently and when the lines are balanced together (in parallel to each other) clearly indicates that the parallelisation of U-shaped lines helps decrease the need for workforce significantly.