Growth simulation and yield prediction for perennial jujube fruit tree by integrating age into the WOFOST model

peer reviewedMathematical models have been widely employed for the simulation of growth dynamics of annual crops, thereby performing yield prediction, but not for fruit tree species such as jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba). The objectives of this study were to investigate the potential use of a modified WOFOST model for predicting jujube yield by introducing tree age as a key parameter. The model was established using data collected from dedicated field experiments performed in 2016–2018. Simulated growth dynamics of dry weights of leaves, stems, fruits, total biomass and leaf area index (LAI) agreed well with measured values, showing root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.143, 0.333, 0.366, 0.624 t ha−1 and 0.19, and R2 values of 0.947, 0.976, 0.985, 0.986 and 0.95, respectively. Simulated phenological development stages for emergence, anthesis and maturity were 2, 3 and 3 days earlier than the observed values, respectively. In addition, in order to predict the yields of trees with different ages, the weight of new organs (initial buds and roots) in each growing season was introduced as the initial total dry weight (TDWI), which was calculated as averaged, fitted and optimized values of trees with the same age. The results showed the evolution of the simulated LAI and yields profiled in response to the changes in TDWI. The modelling performance was significantly improved when it considered TDWI integrated with tree age, showing good global (R2≥0.856, RMSE≤0.68 t ha−1) and local accuracies (mean R2≥0.43, RMSE≤0.70 t ha−1). Furthermore, the optimized TDWI exhibited the highest precision, with globally validated R2 of 0.891 and RMSE of 0.591 t ha−1, and local mean R2 of 0.57 and RMSE of 0.66 t ha−1, respectively. The proposed model was not only verified with the confidence to accurately predict yields of jujube, but it can also provide a fundamental strategy for simulating the growth of other fruit trees

Numerical Simulation of Effect of Eccentricity on Annulus Pressure of Aerated Drilling

Aerated drilling can effectively solve the mud leakage, reservoir pollution and the critical question of the effect of productivity. It also can protect, find and correctly evaluate oil and gas resources. The technology of aerated drilling is applied to detailed exploration and step-out well of oil and gas field of low pressure, this technology has wide applications. Based on the previous researches, the effect of drill string under the condition of eccentricity on annulus pressure is considered in this paper. After in-depth investigations, annulus pressure of concentric and eccentric conditions are analyzed through the CFD numerical simulation, the distribution law of pressure of eccentric annulus along well depth is expounded. The following conclusions can be showed through the CFD numerical simulation: the annulus pressure of aerated drilling follows curve, the pressure decreases gradually from the bottom to wellhead. The pressure does not vary abruptly in the position of changing area of annulus cross-section, the reason is that the gravitational pressure drop plays the leading position in the annulus pressure drop. Liquid is incompressible fluid, although the gas volume is changed, the density of gas is small relative to the density of liquid, so the density of drilling fluid changes little in the variable cross-section. Under the same conditions, the flow pressure drop of eccentric annulus is less than concentric annulus.Key words: Aerated drilling; Concentric annulus; Eccentric annulus; Annulus pressure; CFD numerical simulatio

A system-level mechanistic investigation of traditional Chinese medicine, Yinlai Decoction, for related diseases

Purpose: To systemically explore the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, Yinlai Decoction (YD), used in the clinical management of pediatric diseases such as pneumonia and recurrent respiratory tract infections.Methods: An ingredient-target-disease database of YD was constructed using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). First, the molecular targets related to lung and stomach diseases were searched and screened to avoid duplication. Second, the associations between these molecular targets were evaluated via Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) and Gene Ontology (GO) and Pathway enrichment analysis in STRING.Results: A total of 627 chemical ingredients and 654 protein targets in YD were obtained. After further screening, 38 molecular targets linked to respiratory diseases, inflammatory responses and various infections were identified. Finally, 576 GO terms and 75 KEGG pathway terms were obtained by analyzing gene functional annotation clusters and abundance value of these targets. Most of these terms were closely related to the inflammatory response.Conclusion: Based on these in silico findings, the use of YD for treating respiratory diseases, inflammation and various infections, most probably via the suppression of inflammation, has been established. The approach adopted in this study can serve as a model methodology to develop an innovative TCM candidate drug at a network pharmacology level.Keywords: Yinlai Decoction, Network (System) pharmacology, Inflammation, Interacting genes/proteins, Gene ocntology, Pathway enrichment analysi

Surgical treatment of tricuspid regurgitation after mitral valve surgery: a retrospective study in China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) occurs in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease even after mitral valve surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze surgical results of TR after previous successful mitral valve surgery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From September 1996 to September 2008, 45 patients with TR after previous mitral valve replacement underwent second operation for TR. In those, 43 patients (95.6%) had right heart failure symptoms (edema of lower extremities, ascites, hepatic congestion, etc.) and 40 patients (88.9%) had atrial fibrillation. Twenty-six patients (57.8%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III, and 19 (42.2%) in class IV. Previous operations included: 41 for mechanical mitral valve replacement (91.1%), 4 for bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (8.9%), and 7 for tricuspid annuloplasty (15.6%).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The tricuspid valves were repaired with Kay's (7 cases, 15.6%) or De Vega technique (4 cases, 8.9%). Tricuspid valve replacement was performed in 34 cases (75.6%). One patient (2.2%) died. Postoperative low cardiac output (LCO) occurred in 5 patients and treated successfully. Postoperative echocardiography showed obvious reduction of right atrium and ventricle. The anterioposterior diameter of the right ventricle decreased to 25.5 ± 7.1 mm from 33.7 ± 6.2 mm preoperatively (P < 0. 05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>TR after mitral valve replacement in rheumatic heart disease is a serious clinical problem. If it occurs or progresses late after mitral valve surgery, tricuspid valve annuloplasty or replacement may be performed with satisfactory results. Due to the serious consequence of untreated TR, aggressive treatment of existing TR during mitral valve surgery is recommended.</p

Study on ventilation and noise reduction in the main transformer room in indoor substation

The noise emission should be considered in the ventilation and cooling design for the main transformer room of indoor substation. In this study, based on Soundplan software, effects of four common ventilation and cooling schemes on the cooling and sound insulation were compared. The research showed that the region with low noise requirement, the ventilation could be set on the outer wall or on the door of the main transformer room, while the region with high noise requirement, air inlet muffler or ventilation through the cable interlayer under the main transformer room must be used. All of the four kinds of ventilation schemes, ventilation through the cable interlayer is the best in cooling and noise reduction

Research on the application of active sound barriers for the transformer noise abatement

Sound barriers are a type of measure most commonly used in the noise abatement of transformers. In the noise abatement project of substations, the design of sound barriers is restrained by the portal frames which are used to hold up outgoing lines from the main transformers, which impacts the noise reduction effect. If active sound barriers are utilized in these places, the noise diffraction of sound barriers can be effectively reduced. At a 110kV Substation, an experiment using a 15-channel active sound barrier has been carried out. The result of the experiment shows that the mean noise reduction value (MNRV) of the noise measuring points at the substation boundary are 1.5 dB (A). The effect of the active noise control system is impacted by the layout of the active noise control system, the acoustic environment on site and the spectral characteristic of the target area

Research on the application of active sound barriers for the transformer noise abatement

Sound barriers are a type of measure most commonly used in the noise abatement of transformers. In the noise abatement project of substations, the design of sound barriers is restrained by the portal frames which are used to hold up outgoing lines from the main transformers, which impacts the noise reduction effect. If active sound barriers are utilized in these places, the noise diffraction of sound barriers can be effectively reduced. At a 110kV Substation, an experiment using a 15-channel active sound barrier has been carried out. The result of the experiment shows that the mean noise reduction value (MNRV) of the noise measuring points at the substation boundary are 1.5 dB (A). The effect of the active noise control system is impacted by the layout of the active noise control system, the acoustic environment on site and the spectral characteristic of the target area

Research on the application of active sound barriers for the transformer noise abatement

Sound barriers are a type of measure most commonly used in the noise abatement of transformers. In the noise abatement project of substations, the design of sound barriers is restrained by the portal frames which are used to hold up outgoing lines from the main transformers, which impacts the noise reduction effect. If active sound barriers are utilized in these places, the noise diffraction of sound barriers can be effectively reduced. At a 110kV Substation, an experiment using a 15-channel active sound barrier has been carried out. The result of the experiment shows that the mean noise reduction value (MNRV) of the noise measuring points at the substation boundary are 1.5 dB (A). The effect of the active noise control system is impacted by the layout of the active noise control system, the acoustic environment on site and the spectral characteristic of the target area