[en] The thermal-hydraulic computer code ATHLET (Analysis of Thermal-Hydraulics of Leaks and Transients) is developed by the GRS (Gesellschaft fuer Anlagen-und Reaktorsicherheit) for the analysis of anticipated and abnormal plant transients, small and intermediate leaks as well as large breaks in light water reactors. Besides conventional and advanced PWR and BWR, the range of applicability is being extended to the Russian reactor types VVER and RBMK and Canadian CANDU. The PC-based version of ATHELT MOD 1.2 A code was introduced and the analysis results of steady-state natural circulation for 5 MW low temperature heating reactor of Tsinghua University was reported. The comparison has shown that the calculation results agree satisfactorily well with the operational test data of 5 MW heating reactor

[en] Purpose: To evaluate and compare the clinical value of ¹³¹I-MIBG and ^99mTc-Octreotide in diagnosing pheochromocytoma. Methods: Both ¹³¹I-MIBG and ^99mTc-Octreotide imagings were performed in 18 patients suspicious of pheochromocytoma using a SPECT/CT. Pathological results were obtained in 15 cases by operation or biopsy (12 pheochromocytomas, 2 metastatic paraganglionomas, and 1 adrenal lipoma). The remaining 3 cases of pheochromocytoma were not proved pathologically, but the diagnoses were supported by clinical signs, biochemical measurements and CT findings. All patients also underwent CT study. Results: In 7 cases both ^99mTc-Octreotide and ¹³¹I-MIBG imagings were positive. 2 of them were ectopic pheochromocytomas located at para-abdominal aorta and had multiple lesions in which ^99mTc-Octreotide detected more lesions than ¹³¹I-MIBG. 6 cases were positive in ^99mTc-Octreotide imaging but negative in ¹³¹I-MIBG. Among them 4 had multiple lesions, and 2 were ectopic pheochromocytomas originated from or near the heart(One of the cases was shown in Fig 1). There were 3 cases with negative ^99mTc-Octreotide but positive ¹³¹I-MIBG. Of the 2 cases with both ^99mTc-Octreotide and ¹³¹I-MIBG negative findings, one was a pheochromocytoma with cystic change and the other was an adrenal lipoma. The detective rates of ^99mTc-Octreotide and ¹³¹I-MIBG were 80.2% (13/17) and 64.7% (11/17) respectively. Conclusion: ^99mTc-Octreotide is superior in ¹³¹I-MIBG in diagnosing pheochromocytoma especially with multiple lesions and ectopic in location, ¹³¹I-MIBG might be the first choice in case of normally located pheochromocytoma. However, a negative finding off ¹³¹I-MIBG cannot rule out the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and a ^99mTc-Octreotide study must be performed. (authors)

[en] Highlights: • A panel dataset is used comprising 284 Chinese cities from 2007 to 2016. • The STIRPAT model and the environment Kuznets curve are introduced. • Spatial difference-in-difference approach and causal mediation analysis are used. • The impacts and two causal mediations of high-speed rail on smog are proved. • The non-linear impacts of per capita GDP and population on smog are discussed. Smog pollution poses a severe threat to residents' health and economic development in China. High-speed rail (HSR) is a new and efficient infrastructure that is expected to provide economic and environmental benefits. Based on the STIRPAT model and the environment Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, this study employs a spatial difference-in-difference approach using 284 prefecture-level cities' panel data from 2007 to 2016 to explore the impacts of HSR on urban smog pollution. The results demonstrate that urban smog pollution shows strong spatial correlations and that HSR can significantly reduce smog pollution. Causal mediation analysis is used to test two mechanisms related to HSR: sector structure upgrading, which can reduce smog pollution, and real estate market development, which tends to increase smog pollution. After controlling for the two opposite mechanisms, HSR is proven to have positive environmental benefits. Besides HSR, the impacts of per capita GDP and population on smog pollution are further discussed. The relationship between per capita GDP and urban smog pollution follows an N-shaped curve, and smog is proved to reduce to a certain extent as per capita GDP increases. The relationship between population and smog pollution shows a U-shaped curve, provided with a new interpretation relating to economies of scale. The findings have implications for policy-making, as they enrich the EKC hypothesis and provide evidence for the environmental benefits of HSR.

[en] Fe-doped mesoporous anatase TiO_2/amorphous carbon composites (FC–TiO_2) are synthesized by a wet chemistry process. With Fe-doping concentration increasing, the microstructures of FC-TiO_2 change from prism to nanoparticle, and finally turns block structure. When used as anode materials for sodium ion batteries, the FC-TiO_2 electrodes exhibit a maximum capacity of 304 mA h g"−"1 at 0.1 A g"−"1 after 50 cycles with good rate capability (198 mA h g"−"1 at 2 A g"−"1). Three synergic effects can be attributed to the improved electrochemical performance of FC-TiO_2: (1) the high iron doping could largely narrow the band gap and restrain the growth of TiO_2 crystallite; (2) the carbon coating offers a beneficial conductivity environment; (3) the porous structure can shorten the electronic sodium ion pathway during cycling. Moreover, this synthesis method is very easy for mass production. Therefore, FC-TiO_2 should be an attractive and promising candidate for anode material of SIBs. - Graphical abstract: Fe-Doped Mesoporous Antanse TiO_2/Amorphous Carbon composites (FC–TiO_2) are synthesized using a wet chemistry process. Due to the existence of iron and carbon, as well as porous structure, the FC-TiO_2 electrodes exhibit high capacity and outstanding rate capability. - Highlights: "• Fe-doped antanse TiO_2/carbon composite is synthesized by a wet chemistry process. "• The composite possesses porous structure and improved conductivity. "• The obtained anodes delivers great cycle performance and rate-performance. "• The synthesis method is easy for large-lot production.

[en] Objective: To evaluate and compare the clinical value of ⁹⁹Tc^m-hydrazinonicotinamide-³trysinoctreotide (HTOC) and ¹³¹I-meta-iodobenzyl guanidine (MIBG) in diagnosing pheochromocytoma. Methods: Whole body imaging was performed in 28 patients suspected pheochromocytoma with both ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC and ¹³¹I-MIBG. SPECT and CT fusion imaging was performed in patients with ectopic lesions. All patients also underwent CT study. There were 19 of 28 cases confirmed by operation or biopsy, and 1 by other imaging modality techniques. Results: In 9 cases both ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC and ¹³¹I-MIBG imaging indicated positive finding. The lesions were 3 in adrenal gland, 1 in heart, 3 in para-abdominal aorta, and multi-position in 2. ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC detected more lesions than ¹³¹I-MIBG. Among the 5 cases who were positive in ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC imaging but negative in ¹³¹I-MIBG, 2 cases were multiple malignant lesions, and 3 originated from the heart. There were 4 cases with negative ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC but positive in ¹³¹I-MIBG, all were in adrenal gland. In 10 cases while both ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC and ¹³¹I-MIBG findings were negative, one was a pheochromocytoma of adrenal gland with cystic change and the other 9 were ruled out of pheochromocytoma. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC were 73.2% , 100% and 82.1%,respectively, while those of ¹³¹1-MIBG were 68.4%, 100%, 78.5% respectively. ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC was superior to ¹³¹I-MIBG in diagnosing malignant pheochromocytoma with multiple lesions and those located in heart. Conclusions: ¹³¹I-MIBG remains to be the first choice in detecting pheochromocytoma. However, a negative finding of ¹³¹I-MIBG cannot rule out the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, and ⁹⁹Tc^m-HTOC imaging must be performed. (authors)

[en] There is a refined and complicated regulatory network between immune cells, and between immune cells and secretory factors. The immune system is kept in a homeostasis and equilibrium by positive activation and negative inhibition. In recent years, the mechanisms of immunosuppression in depth for successful allograft transplantation were studied, and many immunosuppressants and immunosuppressive drugs have been developed for clinical use. Most of them are targeting T cell receptors and three kinds of singnal pathways. The receptors of the immunosuppression were either found highly expressed in immune cells after irradiation. To relieve the suppression by regulating the receptors could help the immune reconstruction out of radiation damage. Many new immunoenhancers have been discovered to improve the immune system function for radiation by Toll-like receptors. The search for new immunoenhancers and agents for relieving immunosuppression is of great importance to immune construction for radiation sickness. (authors)

[en] Tissue cells can sense mechanical properties of their surroundings, which, in vitro, generally refer to substrates coated with proteins. The elastic moduli of soft polymers used as substrates have been proved to affect many cellular processes, such as migration, development, and even differentiation. In this note, we present a cost-effective experimental design by using multi-sphere indentations to find the relation between indentation depth and sphere radius, and then apply the Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) contact theory with consideration of adhesive work to fit the experimental results so as to assess the value of Young's modulus. Two compliant polymeric materials, polyacrylamide gels and polydimethylsiloxane elastomers, are tested with this method. The results are in good agreement with those reported by previous experiments. Comparisons between JKR and traditional Hertz fittings highlight the demand for taking adhesive forces into account to measure Young's modulus of soft sticky polymeric substrates in cell–substrate interaction studies. (technical design note)

[en] We consider the problem of the two-point resistance on an m × n cobweb network with a 2r boundary, which has never been solved before. Up to now researchers just only solved the cases with free boundary or null resistor boundary. This paper gives the general formulae of the resistance between any two nodes in both finite and infinite cases using a method of direct summation pioneered by Tan [Z. Z. Tan, et al., J. Phys. A 46 (2013) 195202], which is simpler and can be easier to use in practice. This method contrasts the Green' function technique and the Laplacian matrix approach, which is difficult to apply to the geometry of a cobweb with a 2r boundary. We deduce several interesting results according to our general formula. In the end we compare and illuminate our formulae with two examples. Our analysis gives the result directly as a single summation, and the result is mainly composed of the characteristic roots. (general)

[en] Highlights: • Robust superhydrophobic surfaces were facilely constructed with a water-based formula. • Low free energy particles were incorporated into an aqueous system without surfactant. • The coatings can stand abrasion up to 1200 cycles even with a rough sand paper. • Good water resistance and promising oil/water separation function were achieved. • Content of low free energy particles were reduced to form superhydrophobic coatings. Resin based superhydrophobic coatings are effective to construct robust superhydrophobic surfaces on large scale without limitation of substrates. However, for most of the common resin based superhydrophobic coatings, it is inevitable to deteriorate environmental or health problems due to release of a large amount volatile solvents. In this work, a kind of water-based organic/inorganic hybrid consisted of acrylate copolymers and superhydrophobic silica nanoparticles were synthesized. The highly water-repellent silica nanoparticles were successfully involved into the aqueous dispersion of acrylate copolymers without additional surfactants. The as-synthesized hybrids simultaneously retain the excellent film-forming property of acrylate resins and amplify the contributions of low surface energy nanoparticles to the superhydrophobicity. Robust superhydrophobic coatings (CA > 160°, CA < 7°) with high adhesion strength, good scratch-resistance and excellent abrasion-resistance were constructed using the synthesized hybrids with significantly reduced content of low surface energy particles and organic solvent. The hybrid coating can stand abrasion up to 300 cycles with a fine sand paper and up to 1200 cycles under rough sand paper abrasion. Benefited from its good water-repellence property, the hybrid coating with a water-based formula not only showed improved water-resistance in comparison with commercial products; but also displayed attractive performances in self-cleaning and oil/water separation processes.

[en] The mechanical durability, especially wear-resistance seriously restricts the practical application of superhydrophobic surfaces. Lots of efforts have been put to improve the mechanical durability of superhydrophobic surfaces. However, due to the lack of a standard evaluation criterion, it is inaccurate to evaluate the mechanical durability of superhydrophobic surfaces by merely comparing the abrasion cycles or distance it can stand before losing superhydrophobicity. In this paper, the wear-resistance of superhydrophobic surfaces against sandpaper abrasion was evaluated based on a typical resin-hydrophobic filler formula. The mechanical strength, coefficient of friction and evolution of superhydrophobicity with growing abrasion cycles of as-prepared superhydrophobic surfaces were carefully studied by considering the hydrophobic filler sizes. In spite that superhydrophobic surfaces can all be achieved with hydrophobic fillers from nano-meter scale particles to micro-meter scale clusters at a certain content, the larger the filler size, the better the wear-resistance. For superhydrophobic coatings with a given surface roughness, its superhydrophobicity can be preserved when abraded against items which were rougher than coating itself. Furthermore, drag reduction performance of the developed superhydrophobic surfaces was evaluated against the polymer solution. This work will provide useful clues for establishing the standard to evaluate the wear-resistance of superhydrophobic coatings.