A Family of Lanthanide Noncentrosymmetric Superconductors La4_4TXTX (TT = Ru, Rh, Ir; XX = Al, In)

We report the discovery of superconductivity in a series of noncentrosymmetric compounds La$_4$$TX$ ($T$ = Ru, Rh, Ir; $X$ = Al, In), which have a cubic crystal structure with space group $F\bar{4}3m$. La$_4$RuAl, La$_4$RhAl, La$_4$IrAl, La$_4$RuIn and La$_4$IrIn exhibit bulk superconducting transitions with critical temperatures $T_c$ of 1.77 K, 3.05 K, 1.54 K, 0.58 K and 0.93 K, respectively. The specific heat of the La$_4$$T$Al compounds are consistent with an $s$-wave model with a fully open superconducting gap. In all cases, the upper critical fields are well described by the Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg model, and the values are well below the Pauli limit, indicating that orbital limiting is the dominant pair-breaking mechanism. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the degree of band splitting by the antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling (ASOC) shows considerable variation between the different compounds. This indicates that the strength of the ASOC is highly tunable across this series of superconductors, suggesting that these are good candidates for examining the relationship between the ASOC and superconducting properties in noncentrosymmetric superconductors.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Electronic band reconstruction across the insulator-metal transition in colossal magnetoresistive EuCd2P2

While colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in Eu-based compounds is often associated with strong spin-carrier interactions, the underlying reconstruction of the electronic bands is much less understood from spectroscopic experiments. Here using angle-resolved photoemission, we directly observe an electronic band reconstruction across the insulator-metal (and magnetic) transition in the recently discovered CMR compound EuCd2P2. This transition is manifested by a large magnetic band splitting associated with the magnetic order, as well as unusual energy shifts of the valence bands: both the large ordered moment of Eu and carrier localization in the paramagnetic phase are crucial. Our results provide spectroscopic evidence for an electronic structure reconstruction underlying the enormous CMR observed in EuCd2P2, which could be important for understanding Eu-based CMR materials, as well as designing CMR materials based on large-moment rare-earth magnets.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

A Policy Effect Analysis of China’s Energy Storage Development Based on a Multi-Agent Evolutionary Game Model

Energy storage technology plays a significant role in the pursuit of the high-quality development of the electricity market. Many regions in China have issued policies and regulations of different intensities for promoting the popularization of the energy storage industry. Based on a variety of initial conditions of different regions, this paper explores the evolutionary process of electricity market players considering energy storage technology. The trilateral evolutionary game model is adopted to analyze the strategies of the power plant, the power grid, and the government. After assigning the model according to an actual situation, each equilibrium point corresponds to a real electricity market situation. The results indicate the following: (1) In the process of stabilizing, the role of “Advanced Imitators” leading the strategy of building energy storage changes between the power plant and the power grid. (2) In Eastern, Middle, and Southern China, the power plants and power grids on a greater-than-medium scale will choose to build energy storage without governmental regulations, due to the abundant net profit. (3) In the northeast of China, power plants with a medium-or-lower scale will choose not to build energy storage because of the relatively low on-grid price, and small power grids can make enough profits by operating energy storage facilities. (4) In Northern China, the large power plants and the medium power grids will choose to build energy storage due to the high electricity sale price and the resulting high profit. (5) In Western China, the small power plants and power grids cannot afford to build energy storage due to the low electricity price. The results lead to valuable policy suggestions for the local governments of China in promoting energy storage in the future. To meet the goal of energy storage popularization, regional electricity market plans need relevant policies based on its existing conditions, offering suitable external conditions for adding energy storage

Study on surface integrity of DD5 nickel-based single crystal super-alloy in creep-feed grinding

In order to control the forming surface quality of signal crystal turbine blade tenon teeth in the creep feed grinding, the influence of the creep feed grinding parameters on the grinding surface integrity of DD5 nickel-based single crystal superalloy was investigated via orthogonal experiment. The results showed that the surface roughness along vertical grinding direction was ranged at 0.56-0.74 μm at the grinding wheel speed range of 15-30 m/s, feeding velocity range of 120-210 mm/min and grinding depth range of 0.1-0.7 mm, and the surface roughness in the grinding direction is about 1/5 of that in the vertical grinding direction. The surface topography and texture results showed that there were the obvious grooves and ridges on the grinding surface caused by the grain ploughing and scratching, the length and height of grooves and ridges on the grinding surface changed obviously under different processing parameters, and the three-dimensional topography of the grinding surface fluctuated obviously. The length of grooves and ridges along the grinding direction were sensitive to the speed of grinding wheel, waviness of grooves and ridges along the vertical grinding direction were sensitive to the grinding depth and workpiece feed rate. The different degrees of work hardening effect were presented at the grinding surface, the biggest work hardening effect achieved at 11.6%, and the maximum depth of work hardening effect was 110 μm. The distinct plastic deformation appeared at the grinding surface. The γ phase presented slip deformation along the grinding direction with various degrees, and the γ' phase presented skewing, twisting, broken and fracture, the maximum depth of plastic deformation was 2.92 μm. The work hardening effect of DD5 creep feed grinding mainly due to the plastic deformation degree at the grinding surface. The experimental conclusions provided theoretical guidance for DD5 signal crystal turbine blade tenon teeth

Biocalcification crisis in the continental shelf under ocean acidification

Ocean acidification (OA) is a persistent challenge for humans and is predicted to have deleterious effects on marine organisms, especially marine calcifiers such as coral and foraminifera. Benthic foraminifera is an important component of sediment in the continental shelf, while little is known about the impact of ocean acidification on benthic foraminifera both at the community and individual level and associated calcium carbonate deposition. We conducted eight months continued culture experiment under the scenario of 400, 800, 1200 and 1600 ppm pCO2 gradients on living benthic foraminifera from four stations in the continental shelf of the West Pacific Ocean. Statistic results showed OA had a negative effect on the abundance of benthic foraminifera. In contrast, the diversity increased roughly under OA conditions implying OA might stimulate the emergence of rare species and promote community diversity to some extent. In addition, we confirmed that the offshore area wasn’t the refuge for benthic foraminifera while the nearshore one had more resistance to moderate acidification. Calcareous species Protelphidium tuberculatum was the dominant species occupying on average 75% in all treatments and its shell diameter, weight and thickness showed a decrease, indicating the decrease of calcification of benthic foraminifera. A relationship between the weight of P. tuberculatum and pCO2 (R2 = 0.96) was established. Based on the present work, calcareous benthic foraminifera deposited 8.57 × 104 t calcium carbonate per year and this might reduce by nearly half and 90% under 800 and 1200 ppm scenarios, which indicates a biocalcification crisis under ongoing OA. This work shows an analogy for palaeoceanic OA and also provides new insights into the sediment of calcium carbonate in the future

Quality Characteristics and Clinical Relevance of In-House 3D-Printed Customized Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Implants for Craniofacial Reconstruction

Additive manufacturing (AM) of patient-specific implants (PSIs) is gradually moving towards in-house or point-of-care (POC) manufacturing. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been used in cranioplasty cases as a reliable alternative to other alloplastic materials. As only a few fused filament fabrication (FFF) printers are suitable for in-house manufacturing, the quality characteristics of the implants fabricated by FFF technology are still under investigated. This paper aimed to investigate PEEK PSIs fabricated in-house for craniofacial reconstruction, discussing the key challenges during the FFF printing process. Two exemplary cases of class III (Group 1) and class IV (Group 2) craniofacial defects were selected for the fabrication of PEEK PSIs. Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array was selected for the following nonthermal printing process parameters, i.e., layer thickness, infill rate, number of shells, and infill pattern, and an assessment of the dimensional accuracy of the fabricated implants was made. The root mean square (RMS) values revealed higher deviations in Group 1 PSIs (0.790 mm) compared to Group 2 PSIs (0.241 mm). Horizontal lines, or the characteristic FFF stair-stepping effect, were more perceptible across the surface of Group 1 PSIs. Although Group 2 PSIs revealed no discoloration, Group 1 PSIs displayed different zones of crystallinity. These results suggest that the dimensional accuracy of PSIs were within the clinically acceptable range; however, attention must be paid towards a requirement of optimum thermal management during the printing process to fabricate implants of uniform crystallinity

Spatiotemporal Variations of Chinese Terrestrial Ecosystems in Response to Land Use and Future Climate Change

Terrestrial ecosystems in China are threatened by land use and future climate change. Understanding the effects of these changes on vegetation and the climate-vegetation interactions is critical for vegetation preservation and mitigation. However, land-use impacts on vegetation are neglected in terrestrial ecosystems exploration, and a deep understanding of land-use impacts on vegetation dynamics is lacking. Additionally, few studies have examined the contribution of vegetation succession to changes in vegetation dynamics. To fill the above gaps in the field, the spatiotemporal distribution of terrestrial ecosystems under the current land use and climate baseline (1970–2000) was examined in this study using the Comprehensive Sequential Classification System (CSCS) model. Moreover, the spatiotemporal variations of ecosystems and their succession under future climate scenarios (the 2030s–2080s) were quantitatively projected and compared. The results demonstrated that under the current situation, vegetation without human disturbance was mainly distributed in high elevation regions and less than 10% of the national area. For future vegetation dynamics, more than 58% of tundra and alpine steppe would shrink. Semidesert would respond to climate change with an expansion of 39.49 × 104 km2, including the succession of the steppe to semidesert. Although some advancement of the temperate forest at the expense of substantial dieback of tundra and alpine steppe is expected to occur, this century would witness a considerable shrinkage of them, especially in RCP8.5, at approximately 55.06 × 104 km2. Overall, a warmer and wetter climate would be conducive to the occurrence and development of the CSCS ecosystems. These results offer new insights on the potential ecosystem response to land use and climate change over the Chinese domain, and on creating targeted policies for effective adaptation to these changes and implementation of ecosystem protection measures