Residue cross sections of 50^{50}Ti-induced fusion reactions based on the two-step model

$^{50}$Ti-induced fusion reactions to synthesize superheavy elements are studied systematically with the two-step model developed recently, where fusion process is divided into approaching phase and formation phase. Furthermore, the residue cross sections for different neutron evaporation channels are evaluated with the statistical evaporation model. In general, the calculated cross sections are much smaller than that of $^{48}$Ca-induced fusion reactions, but the results are within the detection capability of experimental facilities nowadays. The maximum calculated residue cross section for producing superheavy element $Z=119$ is in the reaction $^{50}$Ti+$^{247}$Bk in $3n$ channels with $\sigma_{\rm res}(3n)=0.043$ pb at $E^{*}$ = 37.0 MeV.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Food and habitat provisions jointly determine competitive and facilitative interactions among distantly related herbivores

Interactions between distantly related herbivores exert powerful influences on ecosystems, but most studies to date have only considered unidirectional effects. Few have simultaneously examined the mutual effects that vertebrate herbivores and insect herbivores have on one another. We conducted a set of manipulative experiments to evaluate the potential competition and facilitation between two pairs of distantly related herbivore taxa: an insect caterpillar (Gynaephora alpherakii) and two large vertebrate herbivores, yak (Bos grunniens) and Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries tibetica). We found that these large herbivores consistently increased the density of caterpillars likely by improving the habitat for caterpillars. The caterpillars, in turn, decreased yak but increased Tibetan sheep foraging time and intake bites by differently changing available food resources of the two large herbivores. Diet preferences of herbivores modified the habitat and food resources, thereby causing a diet‐mediated competition between yak and caterpillars, and facilitation between sheep and caterpillars. The vertebrate herbivores non‐feeding upon Lamiophlomis rotata and Gentiana straminea, the caterpillars preferred habitat, increased densities of the two plant species, thus favouring the caterpillars. In turn, the caterpillar preference for Kobresia pygmaea significantly reduced food resources for yak, while promoting food resources (multiple forbs) for sheep. Synthesis. Our study indicates that two different mechanisms (the changes in habitat and food availability) induced by herbivore foraging jointly determine competitive and facilitative interactions between distantly related herbivore species. We also suggest that examining the bi‐directional effects between herbivores offers a better understanding of competition and facilitation in terrestrial animal communities. </ol

Genomic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 uncovers an Nsp1 deletion variant that modulates type I interferon response

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19, is undergoing constant mutation. Here, we utilized an integrative approach combining epidemiology, virus genome sequencing, clinical phenotyping, and experimental validation to locate mutations of clinical importance. We identified 35 recurrent variants, some of which are associated with clinical phenotypes related to severity. One variant, containing a deletion in the Nsp1-coding region (D500-532), was found in more than 20% of our sequenced samples and associates with higher RT-PCR cycle thresholds and lower serum IFN-beta levels of infected patients. Deletion variants in this locus were found in 37 countries worldwide, and viruses isolated from clinical samples or engineered by reverse genetics with related deletions in Nsp1 also induce lower IFN-beta responses in infected Calu-3 cells. Taken together, our virologic surveillance characterizes recurrent genetic diversity and identified mutations in Nsp1 of biological and clinical importance, which collectively may aid molecular diagnostics and drug design.Peer reviewe

Effect of B2O3 Content on the Sintering Basic Characteristics of Mixed Ore Powder of Vanadium-Titanium Magnetite and Hematite

The sintering basic characteristics of iron ore play a key role in the process of sintering. In this study, the effects of B2O3 on the assimilation characteristics, softening temperature, fluidity of liquid phase, compressive strength of bonding phase, and microstructure of the mixed fine powder of hematite and vanadium-titanium magnetite (H-VTM) are studied. Results show that B2O3 content from 0%–5% (wt%) could improve the assimilation characteristics of the H-VTM and increase the amount of the liquid phase. The liquidity of the bonding phase index (LBPI) of the H-VTM increases from 3.7 to 24.2. When B2O3 content exceeds 2%, the diameter of the pore in the H-VTM sintered samples enlarges. However, the compressive strength gradually decreases. Boron and calcium-magnesium-aluminium elements are abundant in the bonding phase, which can reduce the formation of calcium silicate and perovskite in H-VTM sintered samples

Metallurgical Coke Combustion with Different Reactivity under Nonisothermal Conditions: A Kinetic Study

The combustion characteristics and kinetics of high- and low-reactivity metallurgical cokes in an air atmosphere were studied by thermogravimetric instrument. The Coats–Redfern, FWO, and Vyazovkin integral methods were used to analyze the kinetics of the cokes, and the kinetic parameters of high- and low-reactivity metallurgical cokes were compared. The results show that the heating rate affected the comprehensive combustion index and combustion reaction temperature range of the cokes. The ignition temperature, burnout temperature, combustion characteristics, and maximum weight-loss rate of low-reactivity coke (L-Coke) were better than high-reactivity coke (H-Coke). Low-reactivity coke had better thermal stability and combustion characteristics. At the same time, it was calculated via three kinetic analysis methods that the combustion activation energy gradually decreased with the progress of the reaction. The coke combustion activation energy calculated by the Coats–Redfern method was larger than the coke combustion activation energy calculated by the FWO and Vyazovkin methods, but the laws were consistent. The activation energy of L-Coke was about 4~8 kJ/mol more than that of H-Coke

Research and improvement of ant colony algorithm based on TSP

Conference Name:2011 6th IEEE Joint International Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Conference, ITAIC 2011. Conference Address: Chongqing, China. Time:August 20, 2011 - August 22, 2011.IEEE Beijing Section; Chongqing Computer Federation; Chongqing University; Southwest University; Chongqing Three Gorges UniversityAnt colony algorithm is a new algorithm of heuristic bionic calculation. Now, it has been widely applied in many fields of combinatorial optimization. This paper elaborates the basic principle and mathematical model of typical ant colony algorithm for solving the traveling salesman problem, and analyzes impact of the optimal parameters to the performance of algorithm. Based on its shortages, an improved algorithm by dynamically adjusting parameters is proposed. Finally, the paper gives the simulation result, and it indicates the improved algorithm has a better performance. ? 2011 IEEE

Effect of Oily Sludge Treatment with Molten Blast Furnace Slag on the Mineral Phase Reconstruction of Water-Quenched Slag Properties

Blast furnace slag, which is the main by-product of the ironmaking process discharged at 1450 &deg;C, contains high-quality sensible heat, while oily sludge is the main solid waste produced in the process of gas exploration, storage, and transportation. The energy and resource utilization of blast furnace slag is complementary to the environmentally friendly treatment of oily sludge, which has provided a new idea for the multi-factor synergistic cycle and energy transformation of the two wastes. The pyrolysis of the oily sludge with the molten blast furnace slag was conducted in the current paper. Results showed that the oily sludge was rapidly pyrolyzed, and the heavy metal elements in the oily sludge were solidified. The solidification rate of the heavy metals exceeds 90%, except for vanadium. The reconstituted water-quenched blast furnace slag still has good activity, and it will not affect the further use of the slag after pyrolysis (BFS-P)

A survey of application-level protocol identification based on machine learning

Conference Name:4th International Conference on Information Management, Innovation Management and Industrial Engineering, ICIII 2011. Conference Address: Shenzhen, China. Time:November 26, 2011 - November 27, 2011.Application-level protocol identification has attracted great interests in academia and become a relatively independent research realm. With the rapid development of Internet and the protocols complicated day by day, the traditional port-based application-level protocol identification algorithms become inaccurate. Machine learning is a hot research in the hour. Many researchers have taken the method into consideration in application protocol recognition. The high correct rate and wide applicability make it promising. In the paper, some basic conceptions of protocol identification are introduced and some important algorithms of machine learning used in application-level protocol identification are summarized in three main way. The applicability is summarized by comparison. In the end, some disadvantages in the method and future research directions are posed. ? 2011 IEEE