Driver Safe Speed Model Based on BP Neural Network for Rural Curved Roads

Part 1: Simulation, Optimization, Monitoring and Control TechnologyInternational audienceIn order to improve the safety and comfort of the vehicles on rural curved roads, the paper proposed a safe curve speed model based on the BP Neural Network. A series of drivers’ manual operation state data during cornering were gathered and observed according to the driver experiments under real traffic conditions. Three factors, referring to the speed calculated based on road trajectory parameters, the adhesion workload and the yaw rate computed from the processed data, were used as inputs of the model to obtain the target vehicle speed. Finally, tests verify the applicability of the modified model. It indicates that the developed speed model can adjust to the individual curve speed behavior of each driver

Influence of Ligand Backbone Structure and Connectivity on the Properties of Phosphine-Sulfonate Pd(II)/Ni(II) Catalysts

Phosphine-sulfonate based palladium and nickel catalysts have been extensively studied in ethylene polymerization and copolymerization reactions. Previously, the majority of the research works focused on the modifications of the substituents on the phosphorous atom. In this contribution, we systematically demonstrated that the change of the ligand backbone from benzene to naphthalene could greatly improve the properties of this class of catalysts. In the palladium system, this change could increase catalyst stability and polyethylene molecular weights. In the nickel system, this change could dramatically increase the polyethylene molecular weights. Most interestingly, the change in the connectivity of phosphine and sulfonate moieties to the naphthalene backbone could also significantly influence the catalyst properties

Py-GC/MS study of lignin pyrolysis and effect of catalysts on product distribution

Fast pyrolysis is one of the most promising methods to convert lignin into fuels and chemicals. In the present study, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was used to evaluate vapor phase product distribution of lignin fast pyrolysis. During the non-catalytic pyrolysis process, lignin was pyrolyzed at 400 degrees C, 500 degrees C and 600 degrees C respectively, finding that the highest yield of aromatic hydrocarbons was obtained at 600 degrees C. Catalytic pyrolysis experiments were also conducted to investigate the effects of catalyst pore structure and acidity on the product distributions. Five different catalysts (HZSM-5, MCM-41, TiO2, ZrO2 and Mg(Al) O) were applied to lignin catalytic pyrolysis, and the catalytic performance was estimated by analyzing the pyrolytic products. The catalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction ( XRD), BET, and NH3 (CO2) temperature programmed desorption. Based on these characterizations, discussion was carried out to explain the formation of the produc distributions. Among the five catalysts, HZSM-5 exhibited the best performance on the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons

Conversion of bio-derived phenolic compounds into aromatic hydrocarbons by co-feeding methanol over gamma-Al2O3

In the present study, a novel route of upgrading lignin pyrolysis vapor to aromatic hydrocarbons was investigated. Guaiacol was used as model compound to investigate the coupling conversion of pyrolysis vapor and methanol. Co-feeding methanol obviously facilitated the conversion of guaiacol to aromatic hydrocarbons and inhibited coke formation. HZSM-5, Al-MCM-41 and gamma-Al2O3 catalysts were screened, and gamma-Al2O3 showed the best catalytic activity for the catalytic co-cracking reaction due to the appropriate acid property. The effects of methanol to guaiacol molar ratio, reaction temperature and W/F-guaiacol on product distribution over gamma-Al2O3 were studied in a fixed bed reactor to reveal the reaction mechanism. As hydrogen donor, the co-fed methanol promoted the deoxygenation of guaiacol. The water formed through methanol dehydration was an efficient agent for attenuating coke deposition. The highest yield of aromatic hydrocarbons was 81.2% when the methanol to guaiacol molar ratio was 25 at 400 degrees C. The investigation of W/F-guaiacol indicated that the synergistic effect of co-feeding was sensitive at lower W/F-guaiacol. Co-feeding methanol with phenol, anisole and the phenolic mixture were also investigated, and high yields of aromatic hydrocarbons were obtained, which demonstrated that co-feeding methanol was a promising process for upgrading complicated pyrolysis products

Available Resources for Algal Biofuel Development in China

Microalgal biofuel research in China has made noticeable progress, and algae cultivation for biofuel production is considered to be an important contribution to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) mitigation and energy security. In this paper, the algal biofuel potentiality in China was reviewed from the points of view of algal biodiversity, algal culture collection, GHGs (especially CO2) mitigation, and the availability of the required sunlight, wastewater and land resources. The cultivation of microalgae utilizing power plants gas with large amounts of CO2 and wastewaters from urban households, industry and animal husbandry are suitable for large scale production in China. Land is hardly a limitation for algae cultivation

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field