High-resolution chalcogenide fiber bundles for infrared imaging

An ordered chalcogenide fiber bundle with a high resolution for infrared imaging was fabricated using a stack-and-draw approach. The fiber bundle consisted of about 810,000 single fibers with an As2S3 glass core of 9 μm in diameter and a polyetherimide (PEI) polymer cladding of 10 μm in diameter. The As2S3 fibers showed good transparency in the 1.5–6.5 μm spectral region. It presented a resolution of ~45 lp/mm and a crosstalk of ~2.5%. Fine thermal images of a hot soldering iron tip were delivered through the fiber bundle

Discovery of Digenic Mutation, KCNH2 c.1898A >C and JUP c.916dupA, in a Chinese Family with Long QT Syndrome via Whole-Exome Sequencing

Long QT syndrome (LQTS), which is caused by an ion channel–related gene mutation, is a malignant heart disease with a clinical course of a high incidence of ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death in the young. Mutations in KCNH2 (which encodes potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2) are responsible for LQTS in many patients. Here we report the novel mutation c.1898A>C in KCNH2 in a Chinese family with LQTS through whole-exome sequencing. The c.916dupA mutation in JUP (which encodes junction plakoglobin) is also discovered. Mutations in JUP were found to be associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. The double mutation in the proband may help explain his severe clinical manifestations, such as sudden cardiac death at an early age. Sequencing for the proband’s family members revealed that the KCNH2 mutation descends from his paternal line, while the mutation in JUP came from his maternal line. The data provided in this study may help expand the spectrum of LQTS-related KCNH2 mutations and add support to the genetic diagnosis and counseling of families affected by malignant arrhythmias

History, achievements and significance of scientific exploration wells: For the 30th anniversary of the Scientific Exploration Well Program

Thirty years have past since the “scientific exploration well” program (1986−2000) was initiated in 1986. Review and summary of the exploration history, achievements and management experiences are significant for directing future onshore exploration. The program aimed to address critical and fundamental geological challenges and achieve breakthroughs through scientific exploration in new basins, new strata and new regions, on the basis of new geologic cognitions obtained by PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED). During 15 years of efforts, 14 wells were drilled, of which Well Taican 1 and Well Shaancan 1 contributed to the discovery of Tuha Oilfield and Jingbian giant gas field, opening the prelude to large-scale natural gas exploration in the Jurassic System in northwest China and the Ordos Basin. Several wells (e.g. Gaoke 1, Jiucan 1, and Qincan 1) produced low-yield oil and gas flows, laying the foundation for later large discoveries. Moreover, a series of strategic domains and targets have been ascertained. In program management, a scientific and rational exploration procedure has been established: the PetroChina headquarter assumes investment risks, RIPED proposes domains/targets, and oilfields undertake specific tasks under the supervision of RIPED, following the rules of “intensive and thorough explorations”. The significance of the “scientific exploration well” program is manifested in transforming scientific achievements into productivity, guiding and driving oil and gas exploration to achieve strategic breakthroughs, and accumulating valuable experiences for PetroChina to carry out risk exploration. Key words: scientific exploration well, “three new” fields, Tuha Basin, Ordos Basin, Shanshan Oilfield, Jingbian gas field, Well Taican 1, Well Shaancan

Specific Energy Consumption Prediction Method Based on Machine Tool Power Measurement

Accurate prediction on energy consumption in machining is helpful to evaluate process energy characteristics and choose process methods for energy saving. Specific energy consumption expresses the required energy consumption when cutting unit volume material. The Back Propagation (BP) neural network prediction method for specific energy consumption in machining is set up in the paper. The prediction method bases on machine tool power signal measurement by power analyzer and shunt sensors. In the developed BP neural network, the input layer neurons include spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut and material removal rate; and the output layer neurons includes specific energy consumption in machining. The power signal measurement system is built up in the computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine tool, and the prediction method for specific energy consumption is tested with cutting data. The prediction results show that the introduced method is effective to predict specific energy consumption in machining

Morphology and thermoelectric properties of graphene nanosheets enwrapped with polypyrrole

With the help of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), uniform polypyrrole (PPy) coatings were conveniently grown on both sides of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheet surfaces via a template-directed in situ polymerization. The rGO/PPy composites exhibited greatly enhanced thermoelectric performance with a power factor at room temperature of up to 3.01 mu W m(-1) K-2, which is 84 times greater than that of the pure PPy

A Rapid Quantitative Analysis of Bicomponent Fibers Based on Cross-Sectional In-Situ Observation

To accelerate the industrialization of bicomponent fibers, fiber-based flexible devices, and other technical fibers and to protect the property rights of inventors, it is necessary to develop fast, economical, and easy-to-test methods to provide some guidance for formulating relevant testing standards. A quantitative method based on cross-sectional in-situ observation and image processing was developed in this study. First, the cross-sections of the fibers were rapidly prepared by the non-embedding method. Then, transmission and reflection metallographic microscopes were used for in-situ observation and to capture the cross-section images of fibers. This in-situ observation allows for the rapid identification of the type and spatial distribution structure of the bicomponent fiber. Finally, the mass percentage content of each component was calculated rapidly by AI software according to its density, cross-section area, and total test samples of each component. By comparing the ultra-depth of field microscope, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and chemical dissolution method, the quantitative analysis was fast, accurate, economical, simple to operate, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly. This method will be widely used in the intelligent qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of bicomponent fibers, fiber-based flexible devices, and blended textiles

Brown carbon aerosol in two megacities in the Sichuan Basin of southwestern China: Light absorption properties and implications

The light absorption of brown carbon (BrC) makes a significant contribution to aerosol light absorption (Abs) and affects the radiative forcing. In this study, we analyzed and evaluated the light absorption and radiative forcing of BrC samples collected from December 2016 to January 2017 in Chongqing and Chengdu in the Sichuan Basin of Southwest China. Based on a two-component model, we estimated that BrC light absorption at 405 nm was 19.9 +/- 17.1 Mm(-1) and 19.2 = 12.3 Mm(-1) in Chongqing and Chengdu, contributing 19.0 +/- 5.0% and 17.8 3.7% to Abs respectively. Higher Abs(405,BrC), MAE(405.Br)(C), and AAE(405-980) values were observed during the pollution period over the dean period in both cities. The major sources of BrC were biomass burning (BB) and secondary organic aerosol in Chongqing, and coal combustion (CC) and secondary organic aerosol in Chengdu. During the pollution period, aged BrC formed from anthropogenic precursors via its aqueous reactions with NH4+ and NOx had impacts on BrC absorption in both cities. BB led to higher AbS(405,BrC), MAE(405,BrC), and AAE(405-980) values in Chongqing than Chengdu during the pollution period. The fractional contribution of radiation absorbed by BrC relative to BC in the wavelengths of 405-445 nm was 60.2 +/- 17.0% and 64.2 +/- 11.6% in Chongqing and Chengdu, significantly higher than that in the range 01405-980 nm (262 +/- 6.7% and 27.7 +/- 4.6% respectively) (p 0.001). This study is useful for understanding the characterization, sources, and impacts of BrC in the Sichuan Basin. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved