Investigating the NCQ scaling of elliptic flow at LHC with a multiphase transport model

The number of constituent quark (NCQ) scaling behavior of elliptic flow has been systematically studied at the LHC energy within the framework of a multiphase transport model (AMPT) in this work. We find that the parameters used to generate the initial states and the collision centrality are important for the existence of NCQ scaling even when hadronic rescattering contribution is off in Pb-Pb collisions of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=2.76$ TeV. By turning on the hadron rescattering process, the hadronic evolution impacts are also found to be significant. Extending the analysis to Pb-Pb collsions of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV, one would observe similar qualitative features

Committed emissions from existing energy infrastructure jeopardize 1.5 °C climate target.

Net anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) must approach zero by mid-century (2050) in order to stabilize the global mean temperature at the level targeted by international efforts1-5. Yet continued expansion of fossil-fuel-burning energy infrastructure implies already 'committed' future CO2 emissions6-13. Here we use detailed datasets of existing fossil-fuel energy infrastructure in 2018 to estimate regional and sectoral patterns of committed CO2 emissions, the sensitivity of such emissions to assumed operating lifetimes and schedules, and the economic value of the associated infrastructure. We estimate that, if operated as historically, existing infrastructure will cumulatively emit about 658 gigatonnes of CO2 (with a range of 226 to 1,479 gigatonnes CO2, depending on the lifetimes and utilization rates assumed). More than half of these emissions are predicted to come from the electricity sector; infrastructure in China, the USA and the 28 member states of the European Union represents approximately 41 per cent, 9 per cent and 7 per cent of the total, respectively. If built, proposed power plants (planned, permitted or under construction) would emit roughly an extra 188 (range 37-427) gigatonnes CO2. Committed emissions from existing and proposed energy infrastructure (about 846 gigatonnes CO2) thus represent more than the entire carbon budget that remains if mean warming is to be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) with a probability of 66 to 50 per cent (420-580 gigatonnes CO2)5, and perhaps two-thirds of the remaining carbon budget if mean warming is to be limited to less than 2 °C (1,170-1,500 gigatonnes CO2)5. The remaining carbon budget estimates are varied and nuanced14,15, and depend on the climate target and the availability of large-scale negative emissions16. Nevertheless, our estimates suggest that little or no new CO2-emitting infrastructure can be commissioned, and that existing infrastructure may need to be retired early (or be retrofitted with carbon capture and storage technology) in order to meet the Paris Agreement climate goals17. Given the asset value per tonne of committed emissions, we suggest that the most cost-effective premature infrastructure retirements will be in the electricity and industry sectors, if non-emitting alternatives are available and affordable4,18

The FEM-Prediction on tensile performance of woven membrane materials under uni and Bi-axial loads

In this study, the mechanical model of the woven PVC-coated membrane materials has been built. By the FEM analysis, it was found out that when tensioned under uni-axial loads, the tensile modulus in the warp and fill direction of woven membrane materials could be predicted nicely, especially after the revision of the properties for the fiber materials. The effect of the tensile moduli of the fiber and the PVC coating materials on the modulus of the woven membrane fabrics has been discussed. It could be consulted that with the proper improvement of the modulus of the fiber materials in the fill direction, the discrepancy between the modulus of woven membrane materials in the warp and fill direction could be reduced to a certain extent. When it comes to the prediction of the modulus of the woven membrane materials under bi-axial loads, large difference could be noticed between the predicted results and the experimental results, especially in warp direction. This was due to the fact that the mechanical analysis model could only show the differences of the geometry configuration between the warp and fill directions. However, the reinforcement of membrane materials in warp direction during weaving and coating processes has been ignored

Effects of triazolodiazepine on the production of interleukin-6 from murine spleen cells and rabbit synovial cells in vitro

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates the immune response, acute phase anaphylactic reaction, and haematopoiesis. Lipopolysaccharide (6–24 μg/ml) significantly induced IL-6 release from murine spleen cells. In cultured rabbit synovial cells interleukin-1 (IL-1, 1–10 U/ml) induced IL-6 production in a concentration-dependent manner. Triazolodiazepine (Tri) is a hetrazepine platelet-activating factor antagonist. In this study we found that Tri (0.1–10 μmol/l) exerted strong inhibitory effects on LPS stimulated IL-6 production in murine spleen cells. Kinetic studies showed that the inhibition of IL-6 release was time-independent. In rabbit synovial cells Tri also reduced IL-6 release induced by IL-1 and tumour necrosis factor. Inhibition of cytokine production by Tri may partially explain its wide and strong anti-inflammatory effects

Potpuno iskorištavanje taloga preostalog nakon priprave zeolitskog katalizatora

A novel utilization method of filter residue from the preparation process of zeolite-based catalysts was investigated. Y zeolite and a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst were synthesized from filter residue. Compared to the Y zeolite synthesized by the conventional method, the Y zeolite synthesized from filter residue exhibited better thermal stability. The catalyst possessed wide-pore distribution. In addition, the pore volume, specific surface area, attrition resistance were superior to those of the reference catalyst. The yields of gasoline and light oil increased by 1.93 and 1.48 %, respectively. At the same time, the coke yield decreased by 0.41 %. The catalyst exhibited better gasoline and coke selectivity. The quality of the cracked gasoline had been improved.Proučena je upotreba taloga preostalog nakon priprave katalizatora baziranog na zeolitima. Od taloga su pripravljeni zeolit Y i katalizator za katalitičko krekiranje u fluidiziranom sloju (FCC). Ovako sintetiziran zeolit Y termički je stabilniji u odnosu na zeolit Y sintetiziran konvencionalnom metodom. Katalizator ima široku distribuciju veličine pora. U odnosu na referentni katalizator pokazuje veći obujam pora i specifičnu površinu te bolju otpornost na atriciju. Iskorištenje benzina i lakog ulja povećalo se za 1,93 i 1,48 %, a koksa smanjilo za 0,41 %. Katalizator je pokazao bolju selektivnost s obzirom na benzin i koks, a poboljšala se kvaliteta krekiranog benzina

Effects of esculentoside A on turnour necrosis factor production by mice peritoneal macrophages

Esculentoside A (EsA) is a saponin isolated from the roots of Phytolacca esculenta. Previous experiments showed that it had strong anti-inflammatory effects. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is an important inflammatory mediator. In order to study the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of EsA, it was determined whether TNF production from macrophages was altered by EsA under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated conditions. EsA was found to decrease both extracellular and cell associated TNF production in a dose dependent manner at concentrations higher than 1 μmol/l EsA. Previous studies have showed that EsA reduced the releasing of platelet activating factor (PAF) from rat macrophages. The reducing effects of EsA on the release of TNF and PAF may explain its anti-inflammatory effect

Cobrotoxin from Naja naja atra

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) becomes a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Adriamycin- (ADR-) induced rodent chronic nephropathy is a classic experimental model of human minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome. The present study investigated the effect of cobrotoxin (CTX) on ADR-induced nephropathy. Rats were given 6 mg/kg ADR once through the tail vein to replicate ADR nephropathy model. CTX was administered to rats daily by placing a fast dissolving CTX membrane strip under the tongue starting from 5 days prior to ADR administration until the end of experiment. The results showed that CTX ameliorated the symptoms of ADR nephropathy syndrome with reduced body weight loss, proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, dyslipidemia, serum electrolyte imbalance, oxidative stress, renal function abnormities, and kidney pathological lesions. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 expression was elevated after CTX administration in ADR nephropathy model. CTX inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Meanwhile, CTX upregulated the protein level of podocyte-specific nephrin and downregulated the level of fibrosis-related TGF-β. These findings suggest that CTX may be a potential drug for chronic kidney diseases