Full-Wave Analysis of Field-to-Line Coupling Effects Using 1D FDTD Method under Exciting Source with Different Bandwidths

With the aim to analyze field-to-line coupling effects based on energy spectrum, parallel finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is applied to calculate the induced voltage on overhead lines under high-power electromagnetic (HPEM) environment. Firstly, the energy distribution laws of HEMP (IEC 61000-2-9), HEMP (Bell Laboratory), HEMP (Paulino et al., 2010), and LEMP (IEC61000-4-5) are given. Due to the air-earth stratified medium, both the absorbing boundary and the connecting boundary applied to scattering by finite-length objects are separately set in aerial and underground parts. Moreover, the influence of line length on induced voltage is analyzed and discussed. The results indicate that the half-peak width is wider with the increase of the line length. But the steepness of induced voltage on the overhead line is invariable. There is no further increase in the peak of induced voltage especially when the line length increases to be equivalent to the wavelength of the frequency bands with the maximum energy

The “Regulator” Function of Viruses on Ecosystem Carbon Cycling in the Anthropocene

Viruses act as “regulators” of the global carbon cycle because they impact the material cycles and energy flows of food webs and the microbial loop. The average contribution of viruses to the Earth ecosystem carbon cycle is 8.6‰, of which its contribution to marine ecosystems (1.4‰) is less than its contribution to terrestrial (6.7‰) and freshwater (17.8‰) ecosystems. Over the past 2,000 years, anthropogenic activities and climate change have gradually altered the regulatory role of viruses in ecosystem carbon cycling processes. This has been particularly conspicuous over the past 200 years due to rapid industrialization and attendant population growth. The progressive acceleration of the spread and reproduction of viruses may subsequently accelerate the global C cycle

Clinical Characteristics of 26 Human Cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection in China

BACKGROUND: While human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection continue to increase globally, available clinical data on H5N1 cases are limited. We conducted a retrospective study of 26 confirmed human H5N1 cases identified through surveillance in China from October 2005 through April 2008. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Data were collected from hospital medical records of H5N1 cases and analyzed. The median age was 29 years (range 6-62) and 58% were female. Many H5N1 cases reported fever (92%) and cough (58%) at illness onset, and had lower respiratory findings of tachypnea and dyspnea at admission. All cases progressed rapidly to bilateral pneumonia. Clinical complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS, 81%), cardiac failure (50%), elevated aminotransaminases (43%), and renal dysfunction (17%). Fatal cases had a lower median nadir platelet count (64.5 x 10(9) cells/L vs 93.0 x 10(9) cells/L, p = 0.02), higher median peak lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level (1982.5 U/L vs 1230.0 U/L, p = 0.001), higher percentage of ARDS (94% [n = 16] vs 56% [n = 5], p = 0.034) and more frequent cardiac failure (71% [n = 12] vs 11% [n = 1], p = 0.011) than nonfatal cases. A higher proportion of patients who received antiviral drugs survived compared to untreated (67% [8/12] vs 7% [1/14], p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The clinical course of Chinese H5N1 cases is characterized by fever and cough initially, with rapid progression to lower respiratory disease. Decreased platelet count, elevated LDH level, ARDS and cardiac failure were associated with fatal outcomes. Clinical management of H5N1 cases should be standardized in China to include early antiviral treatment for suspected H5N1 cases

Mechanism of Action of IL-7 and Its Potential Applications and Limitations in Cancer Immunotherapy

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a non-hematopoietic cell-derived cytokine with a central role in the adaptive immune system. It promotes lymphocyte development in the thymus and maintains survival of naive and memory T cell homeostasis in the periphery. Moreover, it is important for the organogenesis of lymph nodes (LN) and for the maintenance of activated T cells recruited into the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). The immune capacity of cancer patients is suppressed that is characterized by lower T cell counts, less effector immune cells infiltration, higher levels of exhausted effector cells and higher levels of immunosuppressive cytokines, such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) is an ideal solution for the immune reconstitution of lymphopenia patients by promoting peripheral T cell expansion. Furthermore, it can antagonize the immunosuppressive network. In animal models, IL-7 has been proven to prolong the survival of tumor-bearing hosts. In this review, we will focus on the mechanism of action and applications of IL-7 in cancer immunotherapy and the potential restrictions for its usage

A CALPHAD thermodynamic model for multicomponent alloys under pressure and its application in pressurized solidified Al–Si–Mg alloys

High pressure technology has been utilized as an important means to regulate phase structure and improve the properties/performance of alloys. The CALPHAD approach based on accurate databases has great advantages in efficient alloy design. However, the application of CALPHAD in high pressure field is hindered by the lack of reliable thermodynamic model/database for multicomponent alloys under pressure. In this paper, a phenomenologically thermodynamic model for multicomponent alloys under pressure is first developed by separating the contribution into two parts, one is at atmosphere pressure and the other is caused by an increase in pressure, and then successfully applied to establish the pressure-dependent thermodynamic database of ternary Al–Si–Mg system. The calculated phase equilibria/thermodynamic properties of pressure dependence in related alloys are in good agreement with the limited experimental data in the literature, validating the reliability of the obtained thermodynamic database. After that, a CALPHAD design framework for pressurized solidified alloys is proposed by integrating the present pressure-dependent thermodynamic model/database, CALPHAD-type calculations/simulations, and previously developed high-throughput calculation platform Malac-Distmas. Such a framework is finally applied to predict the pressurized solidification and high pressure heat treatment behaviors in different Al–Si–Mg alloys. The predicted microstructure, phase transitions and phase equilibria after pressurized solidification and high pressure heat treatment are consistent with the experimental data. Furthermore, the insights into effect of pressure on the thermodynamic essence of alloys are gained, which may definitely facilitate the advancement of alloy design under high pressure technology

Boosting for concept design of casting aluminum alloys driven by combining computational thermodynamics and machine learning techniques

Casting aluminum alloys are commonly used in industries due to their excellent comprehensive performance. Alloying/microalloying and post-solidification heat treatments are the most common measures to tune the microstructure for enhancing their mechanical properties. However, it is very challenging to achieve accurate and efficient development of novel casting aluminum alloys using the traditional trial-and-error method. With the rapid development of computer technology, the computational thermodynamics (CT) in the framework of the CALculation of PHAse Diagram approach, the data-driven machine learning (ML) technique, and also their combinations have been proved to be effective approaches for the design of casting aluminum alloys. In this review, the state-of-the-art computational alloy design approaches driven by CT and ML techniques, as well as their combinations, were comprehensively summarized. The current status of the thermodynamic database for aluminum alloys, as the core for CT, was also briefly introduced. After that, a variety of successful case studies on the design of different casting aluminum alloys driven by CT, ML, and their combinations were demonstrated, including common applications, CT-driven design of Sc-additional Al-Si-Mg series casting alloys, and design of Srmodified A356 alloys driven by combing CT and ML. Finally, the conclusions of this review were drawn, and perspectives for boosting the computational design approach driven by combining CT and ML techniques were pointed out

Novel fault current-limiting scheme for MMC-based flexible HVDC system

Currently, the flexible direct current transmission technique becomes a research focus around the world, and be applied in power engineering projects gradually. However, due to the topology of the modular multi-level converter (MMC), a rapidly rising fault current will appear in case of the fault on the DC side, which constraints the development of MMC-based flexible high-voltage direct current (MMC–HVDC) system. To restraint the fault current, this paper proposes a novel fault current-limiting scheme for symmetrical bipolar MMC–HVDC system, which consists of a current-limiting resistance and dozens of serial controllable power electronics in parallel with the current-limiting resistance. The current-limiting resistance is designed to reduce the fault current and the requirement for the direct current circuit breaker (DCCB) capacity. The novel current-limiting scheme configuration and operation principles are analysed. Finally, a symmetric bipolar MMC–HVDC system model is constructed, and simulation results show the feasibility of the proposed fault current-limiting scheme

Mechanism of Action of IL-7 and Its Potential Applications and Limitations in Cancer Immunotherapy

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a non-hematopoietic cell-derived cytokine with a central role in the adaptive immune system. It promotes lymphocyte development in the thymus and maintains survival of naive and memory T cell homeostasis in the periphery. Moreover, it is important for the organogenesis of lymph nodes (LN) and for the maintenance of activated T cells recruited into the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). The immune capacity of cancer patients is suppressed that is characterized by lower T cell counts, less effector immune cells infiltration, higher levels of exhausted effector cells and higher levels of immunosuppressive cytokines, such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) is an ideal solution for the immune reconstitution of lymphopenia patients by promoting peripheral T cell expansion. Furthermore, it can antagonize the immunosuppressive network. In animal models, IL-7 has been proven to prolong the survival of tumor-bearing hosts. In this review, we will focus on the mechanism of action and applications of IL-7 in cancer immunotherapy and the potential restrictions for its usage

Effect of Co, Pd and Pt ultra-thin films on the Ni-silicide formation: investigating the sandwich configuration

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