Thermodynamic Analysis For Improving Understanding And Performance Of Hybrid Power Cycles Using Multiple Heat Sources Of Different Temperatures

Past studies on hybrid power cycles using multiple heat sources of different temperatures focused mainly on case studies and almost no general theory about this type of systems has been developed. This dissertation is a study of their general thermodynamic performance, with comparisons to their corresponding single heat source reference systems. The method used in the dissertation was step-wise: to first analyze the major hybrid power cycles (e.g. Rankine, Brayton, Combined Cycles, and their main variants) thermodynamically, without involving specific operation parameter values, and develop some generalized theory that is at least applicable to each type of system. The second step was to look for commonalities among these theories and develop the sought generalized theory based on these commonalities. A number of simulation case studies were performed to help the understanding and confirm the thermodynamic results. Exergo-economic analysis was also performed to complement the thermodynamic analysis with consideration of externalities, and was compared to the conventional economic analysis method. The generalized expressions for the energy/exergy efficiency differences between the hybrid and the corresponding single heat source systems were developed. The results showed that the energy and exergy efficiencies of the hybrid systems are higher than those of their corresponding single heat source reference systems if and only if the energy/exergy conversion efficiency (defined in the dissertation) of the additional heat source (AHS, can be any heat source that has lower temperature) is larger than that of the original heat source. Sensitivity analysis results showed the relations between the temperature and heat addition rate of the AHS and the energy/exergy efficiency of the hybrid systems. Other big advantages of hybrid systems, i.e. the effects on replacement of fossil fuel by renewable, nuclear and waste energy, lower emissions and depletion of fossil fuel, were revealed in the economic analysis, by considering the cost reduction from fuel saving and carbon tax. Simple criteria were developed to help compare the hybrid and reference systems and determine under which conditions the hybrid systems will have better thermodynamic or economic performance than the reference ones. The results and criteria can be used to help design the hybrid systems to achieve higher energy and/or exergy efficiencies and/or lower levelized electricity cost (LEC) before detailed design or simulation or experiment. So far, 3 archival journal papers and 3 conference papers were published from this dissertation work

Targeting STAT3 in Cancer with Nucleotide Therapeutics.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a critical role in promoting the proliferation and survival of tumor cells. As a ubiquitously-expressed transcription factor, STAT3 has commonly been considered an "undruggable" target for therapy; thus, much research has focused on targeting upstream pathways to reduce the expression or phosphorylation/activation of STAT3 in tumor cells. Recently, however, novel approaches have been developed to directly inhibit STAT3 in human cancers, in the hope of reducing the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. Several of these agents are nucleic acid-based, including the antisense molecule AZD9150, CpG-coupled STAT3 siRNA, G-quartet oligodeoxynucleotides (GQ-ODNs), and STAT3 decoys. While the AZD9150 and CpG-STAT3 siRNA interfere with STAT3 expression, STAT3 decoys and GQ-ODNs target constitutively activated STAT3 and modulate its ability to bind to target genes. Both STAT3 decoy and AZD9150 have advanced to clinical testing in humans. Here we will review the current understanding of the structures, mechanisms, and potential clinical utilities of the nucleic acid-based STAT3 inhibitors

The scalars from the topcolor scenario and the spin correlations of the top pair production at the LHC

The topcolor scenario predicts the existences of some new scalars. In this paper, we consider the contributions of these new particles to the observables, which are related to the top quark pair ($t\bar{t}$) production at the LHC. It is found that these new particles can generate significant corrections to the $t\bar{t}$ production cross section and the $t\bar{t}$ spin correlations.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures; discussions and references added; agrees with published versio

The anomalous top quark coupling tqg and tW production at the LHC

Many new physics models beyond the standard model ($SM$) can give rise to the large anomalous top couplings $tqg$ ($q=u$ and $c$). We focus our attention on these couplings induced by the topcolor-assisted technicolor ($TC2$) model and the littlest Higgs model with $T$-parity (called $LHT$ model), and consider their contributions to the production cross section and the charge asymmetry for $tW$ production at the $LHC$. We find that the anomalous top coupling $tqg$ induced by these two kinds of new physics models can indeed generate sizable charge asymmetry. The correction effects of the $LHT$ model on the production cross sections of the processes $pp\rightarrow tW^-+X$ and $pp\rightarrow \bar{t}W^++X$ are significant large, which might be detected at the $LHC$.Comment: Typos corrected, a few discussions adde