Logical-mathematical Evaluation Model of Blast-furnace Melting Operation

The logical-mathematical evaluation model of blast-furnace melting operation is represented. The model provides an opportunity to evaluate the normal operation mode of blast furnace and further deviations from this mode such as overdeveloped gas flows (peripheral and central), violation of thermal melting conditions (hot and cold course of melt), violation of smooth descent of burned materials in the furnace (tight furnace operation, higher and lower suspension of burden). The functional capabilities of developed software are represented. Keywords: blast-furnace production, information logical system, software development, blast-furnace melting operation diagnostic

n-Si/SiGe quantum cascade structures for THz emission

In this work we report on modelling the electron transport in n-Si/SiGe structures. The electronic structure is calculated within the effective-mass complex-energy framework, separately for perpendicular (Xz) and in-plane (Xxy) valleys, the degeneracy of which is lifted by strain, and additionally by size quantization. The transport is described via scattering between quantized states, using the rate equations approach and tight-binding expansion, taking the coupling with two nearest-neighbour periods. The acoustic phonon, optical phonon, alloy and interface roughness scattering are taken in the model. The calculated U/I dependence and gain profiles are presented for a couple of QC structures

The mechanism of caesium intercalation of graphene

Properties of many layered materials, including copper- and iron-based superconductors, topological insulators, graphite and epitaxial graphene can be manipulated by inclusion of different atomic and molecular species between the layers via a process known as intercalation. For example, intercalation in graphite can lead to superconductivity and is crucial in the working cycle of modern batteries and supercapacitors. Intercalation involves complex diffusion processes along and across the layers, but the microscopic mechanisms and dynamics of these processes are not well understood. Here we report on a novel mechanism for intercalation and entrapment of alkali-atoms under epitaxial graphene. We find that the intercalation is adjusted by the van der Waals interaction, with the dynamics governed by defects anchored to graphene wrinkles. Our findings are relevant for the future design and application of graphene-based nano-structures. Similar mechanisms can also play a role for intercalation of layered materials.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures in published form, supplementary information availabl

Assessment of Cardiorespiratory Interactions During Spontaneous and Controlled Breathing: Non-linear Model-free Analysis

In this work, nonlinear model-free methods for bivariate time series analysis have been applied to study cardiorespiratory interactions. Specifically, entropy-based (i.e. Transfer Entropy and Cross Entropy) and Convergent Cross Mapping asymmetric coupling measures have been computed on heart rate and breathing time series extracted from electrocardiographic (ECG) and respiratory signals acquired on 19 young healthy subjects during an experimental protocol including spontaneous and controlled breathing conditions. Results evidence a bidirectional nature of cardiorespiratory interactions, and highlight clear similarities and differences among the three considered measures

Optimal allocation of fuel and energy resources in the complex blast-furnace plants

The paper presents the model of optimal allocation of power resources in a blast furnace taking into account the change of smelting parameters. The optimization model allows to predict parameters of injected fuel on separate (at individual, in certain) blast furnaces in various technological situations. At problem formulation and task solution, the model considers the static characteristics describing the influence of changes of melting conditions on overall economic indicators of furnaces, the mathematical description external and internal limitations on operation of some blast furnaces and blast-furnace plant generally. Informational-modelling system optimization of allocation of natural gas in a blast-furnace plant was developed on the presented model. This model includes: input and adjustment of data; calculation module; optimization; output and the assaying of results. The results of comparative assaying of allocation of natural gas on the basis of operation data of the blast-furnace plant of OJSC “Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works ” are achieved. Analysis of the results shows that the optimization model of joint distribution of natural gas and oxygen allows to use effectively the available fuel and energy resources, taking account the technological limitations in the work of individual furnaces as well as a plant in general

Reduced dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and 12/15-lipoxygenase deficiency are protective against chronic high fat diet-induced steatohepatitis

Obesity is associated with metabolic perturbations including liver and adipose tissue inflammation, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Omega-6 fatty acids (ω6) promote and omega-3 fatty acids (ω3) reduce inflammation as they can be metabolized to pro- and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, respectively. 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) enzymatically produces some of these metabolites and is induced by high fat (HF) diet. We investigated the effects of altering dietary ω6/ω3 ratio and 12/15-LO deficiency on HF diet-induced tissue inflammation and insulin resistance. We examined how these conditions affect circulating concentrations of oxidized metabolites of ω6 arachidonic and linoleic acids and innate and adaptive immune system activity in the liver. For 15 weeks, wild-type (WT) mice were fed either a soybean oil-enriched HF diet with high dietary ω6/ω3 ratio (11∶1, HFH), similar to Western-style diet, or a fat Kcal-matched, fish oil-enriched HF diet with a low dietary ω6/ω3 ratio of 2.7∶1 (HFL). Importantly, the total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat content was matched in the two HF diets, which is unlike most published fish oil studies in mice. Despite modestly increased food intake, WT mice fed HFL were protected from HFH-diet induced steatohepatitis, evidenced by decreased hepatic mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes and genes involved in lymphocyte homing, and reduced deposition of hepatic triglyceride. Furthermore, oxidized metabolites of ω6 arachidonic acid were decreased in the plasma of WT HFL compared to WT HFH-fed mice. 12/15-LO knockout (KO) mice were also protected from HFH-induced fatty liver and elevated mRNA markers of inflammation and lymphocyte homing. 12/15-LOKO mice were protected from HFH-induced insulin resistance but reducing dietary ω6/ω3 ratio in WT mice did not ameliorate insulin resistance or adipose tissue inflammation. In conclusion, lowering dietary ω6/ω3 ratio in HF diet significantly reduces steatohepatitis.Fil: Lazic, Milos. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Inzaugarat, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Povero, Davide. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Zhao, Iris C.. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Chen, Mark. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Nalbandian, Madlena. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Miller, Yury I.. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Cherñavsky, Alejandra Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Feldstein, Ariel E.. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Sears, Dorothy D.. University of California at San Diego; Estados Unido

Antioksidativna aktivnost etanolnih ekstrakata Solanum Retroflexum

In this paper the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts from Solanum retroflexum Dun fruits were investigated. The extracts were obtained by classical technique and by Soxhlet extraction. In order to investigate the possibilities of future utilization of Solanum retroflexum fruits, the antioxidant activity, by FRAP and DPPH method was determined. Results showed the extract obtained by 75% ethanol and classic extraction during 45 minutes at 60°C, had the highest antioxidant activity, both for DPPH and FRAP method (EC50 was 60,67 μg/mL and 1,55 μmol Fe2+/mg, respectively). There was good correlation of results for antioxidant activity obtained by both methods and for all analyzed extracts.Rad se bavi ispitivanjem antioksidativne aktivnosti etanolnih ekstrakata ploda biljke Solanum retroflexum Dun. Ekstrakti su dobijeni tehnikama klasične i Soxhlet extrakcije. Potencijalna antioksidativna aktivnost je ispitana FRAP i DPPH metodama. Rezultati su pokazali da ekstrakt dobijen klasičnom ekstrakcijom sa 75% rastvorom etanola na 60°C i za vreme 45 minuta, ima najveću antioksidativnu aktivnost (EC50 = 60,67 μg/ml, 1,55 μmol Fe2+/mg), kao i da postoji dobra korelacija rezultata dobijenih obema metodama u slučaju svih analiziranih ekstrakata

Large-area epitaxial monolayer MoS2

Two-dimensional semiconductors such as MoS2 are an emerging material family with wide-ranging potential applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and energy harvesting. Large-area growth methods are needed to open the way to applications. Control over lattice orientation during growth remains a challenge. This is needed to minimize or even avoid the formation of grain boundaries, detrimental to electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of MoS2 and other 2D semiconductors. Here, we report on the growth of high-quality monolayer MoS2 with control over lattice orientation. We show that the monolayer film is composed of coalescing single islands with limited numbers of lattice orientation due to an epitaxial growth mechanism. Optical absorbance spectra acquired over large areas show significant absorbance in the high-energy part of the spectrum, indicating that MoS2 could also be interesting for harvesting this region of the solar spectrum and fabrication of UV-sensitive photodetectors. Even though the interaction between the growth substrate and MoS2 is strong enough to induce lattice alignment via van der Waals interaction, we can easily transfer the grown material and fabricate devices. Local potential mapping along channels in field-effect transistors shows that the single-crystal MoS2 grains in our film are well connected, with interfaces that do not degrade the electrical conductivity. This is also confirmed by the relatively large and length-independent mobility in devices with a channel length reaching 80um

Studies of the Response of the Prototype CMS Hadron Calorimeter, Including Magnetic Field Effects, to Pion, Electron, and Muon Beams

We report on the response of a prototype CMS hadron calorimeter module to charged particle beams of pions, muons, and electrons with momenta up to 375 GeV/c. The data were taken at the H2 and H4 beamlines at CERN in 1995 and 1996. The prototype sampling calorimeter used copper absorber plates and scintillator tiles with wavelength shifting fibers for readout. The effects of a magnetic field of up to 3 Tesla on the response of the calorimeter to muons, electrons, and pions are presented, and the effects of an upstream lead tungstate crystal electromagnetic calorimeter on the linearity and energy resolution of the combined calorimetric system to hadrons are evaluated. The results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations and are used to optimize the choice of total absorber depth, sampling frequency, and longitudinal readout segmentation.Comment: 89 pages, 41 figures, to be published in NIM, corresponding author: P de Barbaro, [email protected]