Early and late rice identification from Tiangong- 2 wide band images based on CNN

The wide band images acquired from the Tiangong-2 space laboratory covers many spectral bands such as visible light, shortwave infrared and thermal infrared. These high-quality images can be used for space science experiments such as earth observation. In this paper, we use CNN (convolutional neural networks) to extract the spectral features of different landcover from the wide band images, then identify the early rice and the late rice accurately in Huarong County, Hunan Province, China. With advanced techniques such as deep learning, the spatial distribution information of crops can be effectively obtained from the wide band images which can provide data services for agricultural production management

A Bacterial Acetyltransferase Destroys Plant Microtubule Networks and Blocks Secretion

The eukaryotic cytoskeleton is essential for structural support and intracellular transport, and is therefore a common target of animal pathogens. However, no phytopathogenic effector has yet been demonstrated to specifically target the plant cytoskeleton. Here we show that the Pseudomonas syringae type III secreted effector HopZ1a interacts with tubulin and polymerized microtubules. We demonstrate that HopZ1a is an acetyltransferase activated by the eukaryotic co-factor phytic acid. Activated HopZ1a acetylates itself and tubulin. The conserved autoacetylation site of the YopJ / HopZ superfamily, K289, plays a critical role in both the avirulence and virulence function of HopZ1a. Furthermore, HopZ1a requires its acetyltransferase activity to cause a dramatic decrease in Arabidopsis thaliana microtubule networks, disrupt the plant secretory pathway and suppress cell wall-mediated defense. Together, this study supports the hypothesis that HopZ1a promotes virulence through cytoskeletal and secretory disruption

Nanocellulose and Metal-Organic Framework-Based Composites : Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

Nanocellulose is one of the most promising of the green materials available for use in a sustainable economy because of its natural abundance and renewability. Compared to petroleum‒derived synthetic polymers, nanocellulose has many unparalleled advantages such as its unique nanofibrous structure, high thermal stability, mechanical flexibility, rich surface chemistry, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The tremendous potential of nanocellulose has recently been realised in its use as a building block substrate for multifunctional applications such as energy storage devices, flexible electronic devices, and advanced filtration units. In future, more insight will be gained into the fundamental structure−function relationships of nanocellulose‒based functional materials, with subsequent advantages for the materials industry. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging family of coordination polymers with unique crystalline porous features. Because of their diverse design principles and facile chemical synthesis processes, thousands of MOFs are currently under development. MOFs have found huge application value in many fields, including gas separation and storage, energy storage, industrial catalysis, and so on. However, control of the microscopic dimensions and crystal alignments of MOFs remains a big challenge. The insolubility and brittleness of MOF crystals have also resulted in problems with shaping and processing these substances. These problems have restricted the broader application of MOFs.  This thesis explores the concept of nano‒composition with a focus on a previously little explored pathway for processing MOFs with the assistance of Cladophora cellulose (CC) extracted from green algae. Firstly, interfacial synthesis was developed through collaborative coordination of metal ions between the carboxyls on CC and the ligands in MOFs (Paper I). This approach enabled the continuous growth of MOF crystals along the CC to form core–shell hybrid CC@MOF nanofibers. These nanofibers were processable in aqueous solution, enabling facile fabrication of various bulk materials such as films (Paper I) and aerogels (Paper II). The CC@MOF composites had hierarchical porosity, good mechanical flexibility, low thermal conductivity, and high thermal stability. Various applications of the CC@MOF composites have subsequently been demonstrated; these include thermal insulation and fire retardancy (Paper II), electrochemical energy storage (Paper III), photothermal conversion evaporation for efficient water desalination (Paper IV), and solar‒driven ionic power generation (Paper V). This thesis covers the synthesis, structural characterization, and proof‒of‒concept applications of the CC@MOF composites, providing a basic understanding of the relationships between the structure and performance of composite materials

Liquid sloshing in moving containers including the effect of free surface wave

Sloshing refers to less frequent vibration of free liquid surface within a specific stuffed vessel. The study mainly aims to contribute to forecast as well as sloshing monitoring. There are a number of applied factors involved in stimulation of this complicated problem, including littoral safeguard as well as coastwise structural designing for LNG/oil sloshing in containers. The forecast and monitoring of sloshing play a significant role in ensuring secured operating of applied engineering foundation. ANSYS-FLUENT can be used for flowing condition. Liquid sloshing behaviour in a 2-D rectangular tank was simulated using ANSYS-FLUENT software subject to single or multiple-coupled external excitations. The volume of fluid (VOF) method was used to track the free surface of sloshing. External excitation was imposed through the motion of the tank by using the dynamic mesh technique. The complete setting procedures for rotation tank are present in this research through ANSYS-FLUENT and simulating outcomes for density, stress and variational speed as time goes by. Keywords: liquid sloshing; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); dynamic mesh technique; Volume of fluid (VOF).Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering

Nanocellulose and Metal-Organic Framework-Based Composites : Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

Nanocellulose is one of the most promising of the green materials available for use in a sustainable economy because of its natural abundance and renewability. Compared to petroleum‒derived synthetic polymers, nanocellulose has many unparalleled advantages such as its unique nanofibrous structure, high thermal stability, mechanical flexibility, rich surface chemistry, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The tremendous potential of nanocellulose has recently been realised in its use as a building block substrate for multifunctional applications such as energy storage devices, flexible electronic devices, and advanced filtration units. In future, more insight will be gained into the fundamental structure−function relationships of nanocellulose‒based functional materials, with subsequent advantages for the materials industry. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging family of coordination polymers with unique crystalline porous features. Because of their diverse design principles and facile chemical synthesis processes, thousands of MOFs are currently under development. MOFs have found huge application value in many fields, including gas separation and storage, energy storage, industrial catalysis, and so on. However, control of the microscopic dimensions and crystal alignments of MOFs remains a big challenge. The insolubility and brittleness of MOF crystals have also resulted in problems with shaping and processing these substances. These problems have restricted the broader application of MOFs.  This thesis explores the concept of nano‒composition with a focus on a previously little explored pathway for processing MOFs with the assistance of Cladophora cellulose (CC) extracted from green algae. Firstly, interfacial synthesis was developed through collaborative coordination of metal ions between the carboxyls on CC and the ligands in MOFs (Paper I). This approach enabled the continuous growth of MOF crystals along the CC to form core–shell hybrid CC@MOF nanofibers. These nanofibers were processable in aqueous solution, enabling facile fabrication of various bulk materials such as films (Paper I) and aerogels (Paper II). The CC@MOF composites had hierarchical porosity, good mechanical flexibility, low thermal conductivity, and high thermal stability. Various applications of the CC@MOF composites have subsequently been demonstrated; these include thermal insulation and fire retardancy (Paper II), electrochemical energy storage (Paper III), photothermal conversion evaporation for efficient water desalination (Paper IV), and solar‒driven ionic power generation (Paper V). This thesis covers the synthesis, structural characterization, and proof‒of‒concept applications of the CC@MOF composites, providing a basic understanding of the relationships between the structure and performance of composite materials

Efficient Solar Thermal Energy Conversion and Utilization by a Film of Conductive Metal–Organic Framework Layered on Nanocellulose

Developing materials for efficient solar thermal energy conversion (STEC) is currently a promising field in energy research. Traditional STEC materials such as carbon and plasmonic nanomaterials have limited efficiency of solar heat utilization, despite their high photothermal conversion efficiency. This paper describes a film composed of hybrid nanofibers of a metal–organic framework layered on cellulose (MC film), resulting in both high photothermal conversion and heat utilization efficiency. The mechanically strong and flexible film can be designed as a solar-driven actuator, enabling large-angle actuation and high contractile power up to 2.5 times greater than that of human muscle. Furthermore, the gathered heat by a MC film-based apparatus can be manipulated to drive solar steam generation for highly efficient seawater desalination, generating clean water at rate of 2.25 kg m–2 h–1 under one-sun irradiation without surface salt accumulation. This work may provide a design rule for developing high-performance STEC systems