The Effect of Indium Concentration on the Structure and Properties of Zirconium Based Intermetallics: First-Principles Calculations

The phase stability, mechanical, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of In-Zr compounds have been explored using the first-principles calculation based on density functional theory (DFT). The calculated formation enthalpies show that these compounds are all thermodynamically stable. Information on electronic structure indicates that they possess metallic characteristics and there is a common hybridization between In-p and Zr-d states near the Fermi level. Elastic properties have been taken into consideration. The calculated results on the ratio of the bulk to shear modulus (B/G) validate that InZr3 has the strongest deformation resistance. The increase of indium content results in the breakout of a linear decrease of the bulk modulus and Young’s modulus. The calculated theoretical hardness of α-In3Zr is higher than the other In-Zr compounds

The Influence of Carrier's Attitude and the Position Reduction in Multibeam Echosounding and Airborne Laser Depth Sounding

Having finished the development of the multibeam echosounding system, China is making a great effort to develop an airborne laser depth sounding system. According to the principle of the two kinds of sounding system mentioned above, a series of position reduction formulas and their error equations are developed in this paper. The dynamic effect of marine sounding, i.e., the influence of carrier's attitude, is taken into full account in developing the equations. Finally, the real parameters of the two sounding systems developed by China are used to calculate the position reductions and their accuracies at different heading angles. The results show that the accuracies of depths and positions in multibeam echosounding and airborne laser depth sounding are dependent not only on their own sensors but also on the additional sensors

Special Issue on “Multi-Period Optimization of Sustainable Energy Systems”

Sustainable energy systems are an essential response to climate change challenges [...

Novel Reassortant Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N5) Viruses in Domestic Ducks, China

In China, domestic ducks and wild birds often share the same water, in which influenza viruses replicate preferentially. Isolation of 2 novel reassortant highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N5) viruses from apparently healthy domestic ducks highlights the role of these ducks as reassortment vessels. Such new subtypes of influenza viruses may pose a pandemic threat