The present paper provides an overview of key coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes in clay formations that would result from the development of a high-level radioactive waste repository. ...Here, in this paper, clay formations include plastic clay such as the Boom Clay of Belgium, as well as more indurated clay such as the Callovo-Oxfordian and Upper Toarcian of France and Opalinus Clay of Switzerland. First, we briefly introduce and describe four major Underground Research Laboratories (URLs) that have been devoted to clay repository research over the last few decades. Much of the research results in this area have been gained through investigations in these URLs and their supporting laboratory and modeling research activities. Then, the basic elements in the development of a waste repository in clays are presented in terms of four distinct stages in repository development. For each of these four stages, key processes and outstanding issues are discussed. A summary of the important areas of research needs and some general remarks then conclude this paper.
► Clay formations are considered suitable host rocks for radioactive waste repositories. ► Complex thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes occur in the clay host rock. ► This paper discusses key THM processes in different clay formation types. ► Four major underground research laboratories for clay formations are introduced. ► Summary of outstanding research issues is provided.
Wind energy development in built environment is important for the future sustainable cities. The effects of corner modifications (benchmark, recessed, chamfered, and rounded roofs) and wind angles ...(θ = 0°, 22.5°, and 45°) over the flat rooftops of tall buildings were investigated through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The velocity, turbulence intensity, skew angle, wind energy, and installation of wind turbines over roofs were also examined. The vertical wind profiles over the rooftops showed similar patterns at various corner modifications. The rounded and chamfered roofs showed higher velocities and lower turbulence intensities than the benchmark and recessed roofs, which can be attributed to the smooth flow separation from leading edges and the flow reattachment over the rounded and chamfered roofs. The hub heights were significantly lower at θ = 45° than those at 0° and 22.5°, due to the thinner boundary layer over roofs at θ = 45°. The highest wind energy amplification factor of 2.0 occurred over the rounded roof. The rounded roof was found to be ideal for the installation of wind turbines, due to the high velocity (more energy), low turbulence (small fatigue loads of wind turbines), and low installation height (low cost).
•Flow features and energy over roofs of tall buildings are investigated by CFD.•Effect of corner modification (sharp, recess, chamfer, and round) is examined.•larger wind angles induce larger zones of higher velocity and lower hub height.•Rounded roofs have a great potential for high energy yield and are idea for turbines.•Smooth flow separation and reattachment occur on rounded and chamfered roofs.
ABSTRACT
Apolipoprotein M (ApoM) transports sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) in plasma, and ApoM‐deficient mice (Apom–/–) have ~50% reduced plasma S1P levels. There are 5 known S1P receptors, and S1P ...induces adherens junction formation between endothelial cells through the S1P1 receptor, which in turn suppresses vascular leak. Increased vascular permeability is a hallmark of inflammation. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between vascular leakage in ApoM deficiency and S1P1 function in normal physiology and in inflammation. Vascular permeability in the lungs was assessed by accumulation of dextran molecules (70 kDa) and was increased ~40% in Apom–/– mice compared to WT (C57Bl6/j) mice. Reconstitution of plasma ApoM/S1P or treatment with an S1P1 receptor agonist (SEW2871) rapidly reversed the vascular leakage to a level similar to that in WT mice, suggesting that it is caused by decreased plasma levels of S1P and reduced S1P1 stimulation. In a carrageenan‐induced model of inflammation, Apom–/– mice had increased vascular leakage compared with that in WT mice. Adenoviral overexpression of ApoM in Apom–/– mice decreased the vascular leakage compared to adenoviral overexpression of green fluorescent protein. The study suggests that vascular leakage of albumin‐sized particles in ApoM deficiency is S1P‐ and S1P1‐dependent and this dependency exacerbates the response to inflammatory stimuli.—Christensen, P. M., Liu, C. H., Swendeman, S. L., Obinata, H., Qvortrup, K., Nielsen, L B., Hla, T., Di Lorenzo, A., Christoffersen, C. Impaired endothelial barrier function in apolipoprotein M‐deficient mice is dependent on sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor 1. FASEB J. 30, 2351–2359 (2016). www.fasebj.org
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of flavones of sea buckthorn fruits (FSBF) on growth performance, carcass quality, fat deposition, and lipometabolism for ...broilers. 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments (0, 0.05%, 0.10%, and 0.15% FSBF) with 6 replicates of 10 birds. Broilers were reared for 42 d. Results showed FSBF quadratically improved average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and final body weight (BW) (P = 0.002, P = 0.019 and P = 0.018, respectively). The abdominal fat percentage in 0.05%, 0.10%, and 0.15% FSBF supplementation groups was decreased by 21.08%, 19.12%, and 19.61% with respect to the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). The intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the breast muscle of the broilers was increased by 7.21%, 23.42% and 6.30% in 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.15% FSBF groups, and that in the thigh meat was raised by 4.43%, 24.63% and 12.32%, compared with the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). FSBF had a quadratic effect on the abdominal fat percentage and IMF in the breast muscle (P < 0.05). Dietary FSBF also modified fatty acids of muscular tissues, resulting in a higher ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P < 0.05). Supplementing FSBF in the diet greatly decreased the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05). Moreover, the quadratic responses were also observed in the levels of insulin and adiponectin in serum (P = 0.020 and P = 0.037, respectively). Abdominal fat percentage was correlated negatively with insulin and positively with adiponectin (P < 0.05). IMF content in the breast and thigh muscles were correlated positively with insulin, and negatively with adiponectin (P < 0.05). A positive correlation existed between breast muscle, IMF, and leptin (P < 0.05). In conclusion, adding FSBF into the diets affected growth performance and fat deposition of broilers by regulating lipometabolism. Fat deposition and distribution of broilers were closely associated with concentrations of insulin and adiponectin. The optimal level of FSBF supplemented in diet was 0.05 to 0.10% in this study.
Resonators have been used in a wide range of fields, such as biochemical detection and microscale lasers. In recent years, optofluidic resonators have attracted a significant amount of attention ...owing to their unique liquid environments. Liquids containing biochemical samples can be designed to pass through the ring resonators or to directly form droplets, for sample sensing. Liquid diffusion is an important property in optofluidic applications, such as gradient refractive index lenses and waveguides. However, liquid diffusion has not been used in the study of optofluidic resonators, for both possible sensing characteristics, and unidirectional emission that is mostly acted as light sources. Here, we introduce a gradient refractive index profile formed by liquid diffusion in annular channels into a circular resonator, forming a gradient-index resonator with a tunable unidirectional emission. For both simulations and experiments, the squeezed and non-rotationally symmetrical light intensity profile was first obtained in a circular resonator. The squeezed light profile enables unidirectional emission in circular resonators, which is difficult to achieve in conventional ones. The squeezed light profile and unidirectional emission are determined by the refractive index difference of the liquids used, the dimension of the circular channels, and the working wavelengths. In experiments, different dimensions of bending radii were demonstrated and a tunable squeezed light intensity profile and unidirectional emission were exhibited. Interestingly, the squeezed coefficient of light, which was about 1.8 for a bending radius of 100 μm, enabled emission with a divergence angle as small as 14 degrees, which could be used for laser emission applications in the future. This work reveals the significant potential of the novel liquid gradient refractive index resonator, which provides a practicable approach for optofluidic resonator emission applications and also has potential for use in optofluidic sensing based on the squeezed light profile.
Optofluidic gradient refractive index resonators based on liquid diffusion were demonstrated for tunable unidirectional emission.
ABSTRACT
We report on the Insight-HXMT observations of the new black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst. Detailed spectral analysis via the continuum fitting method shows an ...evolution of the inferred spin during its high soft sate. Moreover, the hardness ratio, the non-thermal luminosity and the reflection fraction also undergo an evolution, exactly coincident to the period when the inferred spin transition takes place. The unphysical evolution of the spin is attributed to the evolution of the inner disc, which is caused by the collapse of a hot corona due to condensation mechanism or may be related to the deceleration of a jet-like corona. The studies of the inner disc radius and the relation between the disc luminosity and the inner disc radius suggest that, only at a particular epoch, did the inner edge of the disc reach the innermost stable circular orbit and the spin measurement is reliable. We then constrain the spin of MAXI J1820 + 070 to be $a_*=0.2^{+0.2}_{-0.3}$. Such a slowly spinning black hole possessing a strong jet suggests that its jet activity is driven mainly by the accretion disc rather than by the black hole spin.
We investigate with molecular dynamics simulations the dependences of thermal conductivity (κ) of polycrystalline graphene on grain boundary (GB) energy and grain size. Hexagonal grains and grains ...with random shapes and sizes are explored, and their thermal properties and phonon densities of states are characterized. It is found that κ decreases exponentially with increasing GB energy, and decreasing grain size reduces κ. GB-induced phonon softening and scattering, as well as reduction in the number of heat conducting phonons, contribute to the decrease in thermal conductivity.
In this multicentre study, we examined 60 cases of Type II enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) from the Asia-Pacific region by histological review, immunohistochemistry and molecular ...techniques. Patients were mostly adult males (median age: 58 years, male:female 2.6:1), presenting with abdominal pain (60%), intestinal perforation (40%) and weight loss (28%). None had a history of coeliac disease and the median survival was only 7 months. Histologically, these tumours could be divided into (i) central tumour zone comprising a monotonous population of neoplastic lymphocytes, (ii) peripheral zone featuring stunted villi and morphologically atypical lymphocytes showing epitheliotropism, and (iii) distant mucosa with normal villous architecture and cytologically normal intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs). Characterized by extensive nuclear expression of Megakaryocyte-associated tyrosine kinase (MATK) (87%) and usually a CD8(+)CD56(+) (88%) cytotoxic phenotype, there was frequent aberrant expression of CD20 (24%). T-cell receptor (TCR) expression was silent or not evaluable in 40% but of the remainder, there was predominant expression of TCRαβ over TCRγδ (1.6:1). In keeping with the normal ratio of IEL subsets, CD8(+) cases showed predominant CD8αα homodimer expression (77%), regardless of TCR lineage. These tumours constitute a distinct entity from classical EATL, and the pathology may reflect tumour progression from IEL precursors, remnants of which are often seen in the distant mucosa.
While the influence of spatial scale in ecology is well established, few studies have evaluated the impact of spatial scale on hotspot analysis of biological resources. Using data obtained from the ...KRILLBASE-ABUNDANCE database, this study aimed to investigate the effects of spatial scale on hotspot analysis of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) density distribution in the Antarctic Peninsula. Krill density data from 1929 to 2018 were interpolated at 10-year intervals into 10 spatial scales as follows: 10' * 10', 20' * 20', 30' * 30', 40' * 40', 50' * 50', 1degrees * 1degrees, 2degrees * 2degrees, 3degrees * 3degrees, 4degrees * 4degrees and 5degrees * 5degrees. Linear, logarithmic, exponential, power-law and parabolic functions were used to determine the relationship between spatial scale and krill density distribution in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Additionally, variations in centroid and area of hotspots at various spatial scales were analysed. The results revealed a strong scaling relationship between spatial scale, number of patches and indices of krill density. The hotspot area increased with an increase in the coarseness of the spatial scale and the calculated location of the centroid showed that the hotspot locations were markedly affected by the spatial scale of analysis, with coarser spatial scales resulting in larger spatial shifts in centroid location. Thus, based on the KRILLBASE-ABUNDANCE database, it is not recommended to use a spatial scale greater than 1degrees * 1degrees to identify the local spatial pattern for hotspot analysis of krill density. The effects of spatial scale on other types of krill density data (e.g. catch data, acoustic data from research surveys or acoustic data from fishing vessels) remain to be investigated. Si l'influence de l'echelle spatiale en ecologie est bien etablie, peu d'etudes ont en revanche evalue l'impact de l'echelle spatiale sur l'analyse des zones de concentration de ressources biologiques. S'appuyant sur les donnees provenant de la base de donnees KRILLBASE-ABUNDANCE, cette etude a pour objectif d'etudier les effets de l'echelle spatiale sur l'analyse de la repartition de la densite de krill antarctique dans les zones de concentration (Euphausia superba) dans la peninsule antarctique. Les donnees de densite du krill de 1929 a 2018 sont interpolees par intervalles de 10 ans a 10 echelles spatiales comme suit : 10' * 10', 20' * 20', 30' * 30', 40' * 40', 50' * 50', 1degrees * 1degrees, 2degrees * 2degrees, 3degrees * 3degrees, 4degrees * 4degrees et 5degrees * 5degrees. Des fonctions lineaires, logarithmiques, exponentielles, de loi de puissance et paraboliques sont utilisees pour determiner la relation entre l'echelle spatiale et la repartition de la densite de krill dans la region de la peninsule antarctique. En outre, les variations du centroide et de l'aire des zones de concentration a differentes echelles spatiales sont analysees. Les resultats revelent une forte relation d'echelle entre l'echelle spatiale, le nombre de regroupements et les indices de densite du krill. Plus l'echelle spatiale est approximative, plus la superficie de la zone de concentration augmente, et la position calculee du centroide montre que l'echelle spatiale de l'analyse a une influence marquee sur la position des zones de concentration, le manque de precision des echelles spatiales ayant pour resultat de plus grands changements spatiaux de la position du centroide. Ainsi, d'apres la base de donnees KRILLBASE-ABUNDANCE, il n'est pas recommande d'utiliser une echelle spatiale superieure a 1degrees * 1degrees pour identifier le schema spatial local dans l'analyse des zones de concentration de la densite de krill. Les effets de l'echelle spatiale sur les autres types de donnees de densite du krill (p. ex. les donnees de capture, les donnees acoustiques issues des campagnes de recherche ou les donnees acoustiques des navires de peche) doivent encore faire l'objet de recherches. phrase omitted Si bien la influencia de la escala espacial en ecologia esta bien establecida, ha habido pocos estudios sobre el impacto de la escala espacial en el analisis de focos de abundancia de recursos biologicos. Utilizando datos obtenidos de la base de datos KRILLBASEABUNDANCE, el objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar los efectos de la escala espacial en el analisis de la distribucion y la densidad de los focos de abundancia de kril antartico (Euphausia superba) en la peninsula Antartica. Los datos de la densidad del kril desde 1929 hasta 2018 se agruparon por intervalos de 10 anos en 10 escalas espaciales (10' * 10', 20' * 20', 30' * 30', 40' * 40', 50' * 50', 1degrees * 1degrees, 2degrees * 2degrees, 3degrees * 3degrees, 4degrees * 4degrees y 5degrees * 5degrees). Se utilizaron funciones lineales, logaritmicas, exponenciales, potenciales y de parabolas para determinar el vinculo entre la escala espacial y la distribucion de la densidad del kril en la region de la peninsula Antartica. Ademas, se analizaron las variaciones en el centroide y en el area de los focos de abundancia en funcion de las escalas espaciales. Los resultados revelaron una fuerte relacion escalar entre la escala espacial, el numero de agrupaciones y los indices de la densidad del kril. El area de los focos de abundancia aumentaba en relacion directa con la escala espacial, mientras que la ubicacion calculada del centroide mostraba que las ubicaciones de los focos de abundancia se veian seriamente afectadas por la escala espacial del analisis; asi, las escalas espaciales mayores resultaban en mayores desplazamientos espaciales de las ubicaciones del centroide. Por lo tanto, los datos de KRILLBASE-ABUNDANCE llevan a no recomendar la utilizacion de escalas espaciales superiores a 1degrees * 1degrees para identificar las pautas espaciales locales en el analisis de la densidad del kril en focos de abundancia. Quedan pendientes de investigacion los efectos de la escala espacial en otros tipos de datos de la densidad del kril (p. ej., datos de captura, datos acusticos de prospecciones de investigacion o datos acusticos de barcos de pesca).
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