[en] Purpose: To develop a model of radiation-induced behavioral dysfunction. Methods and Materials: A course of whole brain radiation therapy (30 Gy/10 fractions/12 days) was administered to 26 Wistar rats ages 16-27 months, while 26 control rats received sham irradiation. Sequential behavioral studies including one-way avoidance, two-way avoidance, and a standard operant conditioning method (press-lever avoidance) were undertaken. In addition, rats were studied in a water maze 7 months postradiation therapy. Results: Prior to radiation therapy, both groups were similar. No difference was found 1 and 3 months postradiation therapy. At 6-7 months postradiation therapy, irradiated rats had a much lower percentage of avoidance than controls for one-way avoidance (23% vs. 55%, p ≤ 0.001) and two-way avoidance (18% vs. 40%, p ≤ 0.01). Seven months postradiation therapy the reaction time was increased (press-lever avoidance, 11.20 s vs. 8.43 s, p ≤ 0.05) and the percentage of correct response was lower (water maze, 53% vs. 82%) in irradiated rats compared with controls. Pathological examination did not demonstrate abnormalities of the irradiated brains at the light microscopic level. Conclusion: Behavioral dysfunction affecting mainly memory can be demonstrated following conventional radiation therapy in old rats. This model can be used to study the pathogenesis of radiation-induced cognitive changes

[en] In this paper, we examine the superadditivity of convex roof coherence measures. We put forward a theorem on the superadditivity of convex roof coherence measures, which provides a sufficient condition to identify the convex roof coherence measures fulfilling the superadditivity. By applying the theorem to each of the known convex roof coherence measures, we prove that the coherence of formation and the coherence concurrence are superadditive, while the geometric measure of coherence, the convex roof coherence measure based on linear entropy, the convex roof coherence measure based on fidelity, and convex roof coherence measure based on -entropy are non-superadditive. (paper)

[en] The reflector system of Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is designed as 4450 rigid panels supported by a flexible cable-net structure. We use 10 total stations to measure 2225 nodes of the cable-net and then control the shape of the reflectors. Every time, it takes at least 35 minutes to finish the calibration of the whole cable-net once. It is indeed far too inefficient. Thus, we developed a set of highly efficient instrument CRRS (CCD Rotation Ranging System). It is based on photogrammetry and can finish the measurement in 1 minute. However, the target we used in CRRS is active target, and it has serious electromagnetic interference problems to affect the use of FAST. Take the above reasons into consideration, we plan to identify the nodes by taking the gap between the reflector panels as the feature condition. The new method can take the place of active targets to finish the measuring task. The present work focuses on the following aspects. First, combined with the characteristics of FAST reflector images, the representative algorithms of image edge detection are discussed. Second, the process of node extraction is introduced in detail so that we know that it works. In addition, experimental results are given to draw a conclusion so that Canny algorithm was used for continuous research of reflector edge detection. (paper)

[en] The charging behavior of PS (polystyrene) particles dispersed in nonpolar solvent containing surfactant AOT (sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate) was researched by phase angle light scattering (PALS). The effects of the AOT concentration, the particle concentration and the particle size on the zeta potential of the particles were analyzed systemically. The results showed, at different particle concentrations (expressed in the volume fraction of 10^-5-10^-3), that the zeta potential could be adjusted by surfactant AOT over a wide concentration range of 0.001-100 mM. An obvious difference of zeta potential on particle concentration was revealed between the high AOT concentrations (beyond 10 mM) and the low ones (below 1 mM). Meantime, it was found that the relationship of particle size to zeta potential showed a great discrepancy between the dilute particle concentrations (below 10^-4) and the concentrated ones (beyond 6 x 10^-4). These findings were consistent with the mechanism of preferential adsorption of the charged micelles in nonpolar solvent.

[en] The reflector of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) consists of 4450 reflector units. Installation of the reflector faces the challenges of large span, complex terrain, serious interference, complex processes, high position and inability to use conventional equipment. The installation technology for the flexible reflector with a large span was specially studied and designed. Two half-span arc-moving cable cranes and two transfer trucks were jointly operated along a path that follows a circular beam. After installation of the reflector was completed, two half-span cable cranes were merged into a set of full-span cable cranes for maintenance of the reflector. Installation of the reflector combines features of unit and site topography of FAST. The installation technology follows scientific and reasonable practices, and is highly efficient and convenient. It represents a breakthrough in many key technologies in construction and maintenance techniques. It has promoted related technical progress in the construction and maintenance of complex projects. It has also provided an important reference for the construction and maintenance of similar projects, and has strong significance and applicability. (paper)

[en] The relationship between polymorphisms in the promoter region of mannose binding lectin (MBL) gene and the serum levels of MBL in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was investigated. The polymorphism of alleles-550(H/L) and-221(X/Y) in the promoter region of MBL gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (SSP-PCR) in 62 patients with SLE and 54 healthy controls. The serum level of MBL was also determined by ELISA. The results showed that three haplotypes, HY, LY and LX, were presented in both groups. The frequency of haplotype LX in SLE patients were significantly higher than that in healthy control(OR, 2.23; 95% CI,1.09-4.55; P=0.02). The serum level of MBL in SLE patients with genotype HY/HY was significantly higher than that in the patients with other genotypes (LY/LY, LX/LX, HY/LY, HY/LX and LY/LX, P<0.05). There was a significant difference for the percentage of subjects with MBL level in serum lower than 1000 μg/L between SLE patients (40.32%) and controls (14.81%) (OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.57-9.62; P=0.002). Therefore, low serum level of MBL in SLE patients may be associated with increased frequency of haplotype LX. (authors)

[en] As an alternative power solution for low-power devices, harvesting energy from the ambient mechanical vibration has received increasing research interest in recent years. In this paper we study the transient dynamic characteristics of a piezoelectric energy harvesting system including a piezoelectric energy harvester, a bridge rectifier, and a storage capacitor. To accomplish this, this energy harvesting system is modeled, and the charging process of the storage capacitor is investigated by employing the in-phase assumption. The results indicate that the charging voltage across the storage capacitor and the gathered power increase gradually as the charging process proceeds, whereas the charging rate slows down over time as the charging voltage approaches to the peak value of the piezoelectric voltage across the piezoelectric materials. In addition, due to the added electrical damping and the change of the system natural frequency when the charging process is initiated, a sudden drop in the vibration amplitude is observed, which in turn affects the charging rate. However, the vibration amplitude begins to increase as the charging process continues, which is caused by the decrease in the electrical damping (i.e., the decrease in the energy removed from the mechanical vibration). This electromechanical coupling characteristic is also revealed by the variation of the vibration amplitude with the charging voltage. (electromagnetism, optics, acoustics, heat transfer, classical mechanics, and fluid dynamics)

[en] Highlights: • Both compounds 1 and 2 show 3D open framework constructed by B₉O₁₉ clusters. • Alkali/alkaline earth metal mixed borates can improve the NLO performance. • Compounds 1 and 2 are promising nonlinear optical materials in deep-UV regions. Two non-centrosymmetric barium borates with acs-type net, namely Ba₃ [B₉O₁₆][B(OH)₄]·2H₂O (1) and NaBa₃(OH)[B₉O₁₆][B(OH)₄] (2) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Compound 1 is type-I phase matchable with second-harmonic generation (SHG) response of approximately 1.6 times than that of KDP (KH₂PO₄). After Na⁺ cation has been successfully introduced into the oxoboron cluster backbone, compound 2 displays a larger SHG response about approximately 2.0 times of KDP. The calculations show that the large local dipole moments of distorted NaO₇ polyhedrons make 2 exhibits a relatively larger SHG response. The ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) diffuse reflectance spectra show that both 1 and 2 have a wide transparency range with UV cutoff edge below 200​nm. These properties reveal that the introduction of different size and charge alkali metal on the basis of alkaline earth metal borate is beneficial to obtain a promising deep-ultraviolet nonlinear optical (NLO) material with a larger SHG response.

[en] The flotation of hemimorphite using the S(II)–Pb(II)–xanthate process, which includes sulfidization with sodium sulfide, activation by lead cations, and subsequent flotation with xanthate, was investigated. The flotation results indicated that hemimorphite floats when the S(II)–Pb(II)–xanthate process is used; a maximum recovery of approximately 90% was obtained. Zeta-potential, contact-angle, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS), and diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) measurements were used to characterize the activation products on the hemimorphite surface and their subsequent interaction with sodium butyl xanthate (SBX). The results showed that a ZnS coating formed on the hemimorphite surface after the sample was conditioned in an Na2S solution. However, the formation of a ZnS coating on the hemimorphite surface did not improve hemimorphite flotation. With the subsequent addition of lead cations, PbS species formed on the mineral surface. The formation of the PbS species on the surface of hemimorphite significantly increased the adsorption capacity of SBX, forming lead xanthate (referred to as chemical adsorption) and leading to a substantial improvement in hemimorphite flotation. Our results indicate that the addition of lead cations is a critical step in the successful flotation of hemimorphite using the sulfidization–lead ion activation–xanthate process.

[en] Carbonic composite materials and ceramics appear to be excellent structural materials for parts subjected to very high temperatures in molten salt reactors (MSRs), in which the reactor core outlet temperature is normally above 700 °C. Because of the high temperature, there are major challenges in the sealing of flanged connections for tubes made of alloys and nonmetallic materials. In this study, an improved method for sealing bolted flange connections for tubes made of dissimilar materials at high temperature is analyzed. The study focuses on the compensation mechanism for the difference in thermal expansion between the bolts and the flanges. An angle is introduced for the sealing surface in the flanged connection to provide effective sealing. The arctangent of the angle is the ratio of the thickness between the theoretical core of the sealing surface and the outside end face of the flange to the distances between the axis of the flanged joint and the theoretical core of the sealing surface of the flange; the sealing surface of the flange, which is made of the same material as the fastening assemblies, faces the fastening assemblies. To ensure effective sealing, the frictional coefficient between the two sealing surfaces should not exceed the tangent of the angle. This result does not agree well with the solution given by previous researchers. Further, in the modified flanged connection, the compression of each bolt in the clamped condition is increased to maintain the compaction force unchanged without increasing the number of bolts on the flanged joint.