DNN-Based ADNMPC of an Industrial Pickling Cold-Rolled Titanium Process via Field Enhancement Heat Exchange

The dynamic neural network based adaptive direct nonlinear model predictive control is designed to control an industrial microwave heating pickling cold-rolled titanium process. The identifier of the direct adaptive nonlinear model identification and the controller of the adaptive nonlinear model predictive control are designed based on series-parallel dynamic neural network training by RLS algorithm with variable incremental factor, gain, and forgetting factor. These identifier and controller are used to constitute intelligent controller for adjusting the temperature of microwave heating acid. The correctness of the controller structure, the convergence, and feasibility of the control algorithms is tested by system simulation. For a given point tracking, model mismatch simulation results show that the controller can be implemented on the system to track and overcome the mismatch system model. The control model can be achieved to track on pickling solution concentration and temperature of a given reference and overcome the disturbance

Single-atom tailoring of platinum nanocatalysts for high-performance multifunctional electrocatalysis

Platinum-based nanocatalysts play a crucial role in various electrocatalytic systems that are important for renewable, clean energy conversion, storage and utilization. However, the scarcity and high cost of Pt seriously limit the practical application of these catalysts. Decorating Pt catalysts with other transition metals offers an effective pathway to tailor their catalytic properties, but often at the sacrifice of the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA). Here we report a single-atom tailoring strategy to boost the activity of Pt nanocatalysts with minimal loss in surface active sites. By starting with PtNi alloy nanowires and using a partial electrochemical dealloying approach, we create single-nickel-atom-modified Pt nanowires with an optimum combination of specific activity and ECSA for the hydrogen evolution, methanol oxidation and ethanol oxidation reactions. The single-atom tailoring approach offers an effective strategy to optimize the activity of surface Pt atoms and enhance the mass activity for diverse reactions, opening a general pathway to the design of highly efficient and durable precious metal-based catalysts

Single-atom tailoring of platinum nanocatalysts for high-performance multifunctional electrocatalysis

Platinum-based nanocatalysts play a crucial role in various electrocatalytic systems that are important for renewable, clean energy conversion, storage and utilization. However, the scarcity and high cost of Pt seriously limit the practical application of these catalysts. Decorating Pt catalysts with other transition metals offers an effective pathway to tailor their catalytic properties, but often at the sacrifice of the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA). Here we report a single-atom tailoring strategy to boost the activity of Pt nanocatalysts with minimal loss in surface active sites. By starting with PtNi alloy nanowires and using a partial electrochemical dealloying approach, we create single-nickel-atom-modified Pt nanowires with an optimum combination of specific activity and ECSA for the hydrogen evolution, methanol oxidation and ethanol oxidation reactions. The single-atom tailoring approach offers an effective strategy to optimize the activity of surface Pt atoms and enhance the mass activity for diverse reactions, opening a general pathway to the design of highly efficient and durable precious metal-based catalysts

Identification of genomic insertion and flanking sequence of G2-EPSPS and GAT transgenes in soybean using whole genome sequencing method

Molecular characterization of sequences flanking exogenous fragment insertions is essential for safety assessment and labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMO). In this study, the T-DNA insertion sites and flanking sequences were identified in two newly developed transgenic glyphosate-tolerant soybeans GE-J16 and ZH10-6 based on whole genome sequencing (WGS) method. About 21 Gb sequence data (~21× coverage) for each line was generated on Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The junction reads mapped to boundary of T-DNA and flanking sequences in these two events were identified by comparing all sequencing reads with soybean reference genome and sequence of transgenic vector. The putative insertion loci and flanking sequences were further confirmed by PCR amplification, Sanger sequencing, and co-segregation analysis. All these analyses supported that exogenous T-DNA fragments were integrated in positions of Chr19: 50543767-50543792 and Chr17: 7980527-7980541 in these two transgenic lines. Identification of the genomic insertion site of the G2-EPSPS and GAT transgenes will facilitate the use of their glyphosate-tolerant traits in soybean breeding program. These results also demonstrated that WGS is a cost-effective and rapid method of identifying sites of T-DNA insertions and flanking sequences in soybean

A Metal Ion and Thermal-Responsive Bilayer Hydrogel Actuator Achieved by the Asymmetric Osmotic Flow of Water between Two Layers under Stimuli

Shape-morphing hydrogels have drawn great attention due to their wide applications as soft actuators, while asymmetric responsive shape-morphing behavior upon encountering external stimuli is fundamental for the development of hydrogel actuators. Therefore, in this work, bilayer hydrogels were prepared and the shrinkage ratios (LA/LN) of the AAm/AAc layer to the NIPAM layer immersed in different metal ion solutions, leading to bending in different directions, were investigated. The difference in the shrinkage ratio was attributed to the synergistic effect of the osmolarity difference between the inside and outside of the hydrogels and the interaction difference between the ion and hydrogel polymer chains. Additionally, under thermal stimuli, the hydrogel actuator would bend toward the NIPAM layer due to the shrinkage of the hydrogel networks caused by the hydrophilic–hydrophobic phase transition of NIPAM blocks above the LCST. This indicates that metal ion and thermal-responsive shape-morphing hydrogel actuators with good mechanical properties could be used as metal ion or temperature-controllable switches or other smart devices

Establishment of the integrated applied core collection and its comparison with mini core collection in soybean (Glycine max)

The concept of core collection (CC) provides a new way of management and utilization of plant germplasm resources. In this study, an integrated applied core collection (IACC) of soybean was developed based on evaluation data for desirable agronomic and nutritional traits of available soybean germplasm resources including accessions with cold tolerance, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, soybean cyst nematode resistance, soybean mosaic virus resistance, high protein content, and high fat content. The newly formed collection encompasses accessions with high genetic diversity and desirable agronomic traits. The genetic diversity of the newly formed IACC was compared with that of the established mini core collection (MCC) of soybean with the aid of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and phenotypic traits. The results showed that at the molecular level, soybean IACC harbored a similar level of genetic diversity as the established MCC, and that at the phenotypic level the IACC encompasses more accessions with desirable traits than does the established MCC. The development of soybean IACC lays a foundation for breeding projects to meet different objectives in different eco-regions

Numerical Simulation Study on Cooling Characteristics of a New Type of Film Hole

A new type of film cooling hole with micro groove structure is presented in this paper. Based on the finite volume method and the Realizablek-epsilon model, the film cooling process of the hole in a flat plate structure is simulated. The surface temperature distribution and film cooling effect of different film cooling holes were analyzed. The effects of micro-groove structure on wall attachment and cooling efficiency of jet were discussed. The results show that under the same conditions, the transverse coverage width and overall protective area of the new micro-groove holes are larger than those of the ordinary cylindrical holes and special-shaped holes. Compared with ordinary holes, the new micro-groove holes can better form the film covering on the surface and enhance the overall film cooling efficiency of the wall. For example, when the blowing ratioM=1.5, the effective coverage ratio of micro-groove holes is 1.5 times the dustpan holes and is 8 times the traditional cylindrical holes. It provides reference data and experience rules for the optimization and selection of advanced cooling structure of high performance aero-gas engine hot-end components

A novel intumescent flame retardant with nanocellulose as charring agent and its flame retardancy in polyurethane foam

Ammonium polyphosphate (APP) is microencapsulated with nanocellulose and dicyandiamide-formaldehyde using in situ polymerization and flocculation method. The presence of nanocellulose and dicyandiamide-formaldehyde significantly affects the thermal behavior and flame retardancy of microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (DFNAPP). DFNAPP is much more stable from 524 to 637 degrees C than that of APP because of the charred formation. Rigid polyurethane foam (PU) composites added DFNAPP obtain higher limiting oxygen index (LOI) values than that with the same loading of APP. Due to the presence of shell, experimental results indicate that DFNAPP obtains better compatibility and water resistance in PU matrix, resulting in the improved mechanical properties of the PU composites and the water durability. LOI value of PU/APP composite added 16.7 wt% additives has a decrement of 3.0% after water treatment. By comparison, that of PU/DFNAPP composite with the same loading of DFNAPP is only 0.3%. Compression strength of PU composite is increased from 195 kPa to 213 kPa when the DFNAPP (16.7 wt%) additive substitutes for APP (16.7 wt%). POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2762-2770, 2017. (c) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineer