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Highlights • A northern energy model has been developed for the Yukon Territory. • Uncertainties and complexities in the Yukon energy system are discussed. • The impact analysis of policy implementations is conducted. • Optimal strategies are obtained for energy planning and GHG mitigation. Abstract This study developed an inexact optimization modelling approach for supporting regional energy systems decision-making and greenhouse gas emission mitigation under uncertainty. The developed model integrates multiple inexact optimization programming approaches, incorporating interval linear programming, mixed-integer programming, and chance-constrained programming in an optimization framework. Uncertainties expressed as interval values and probabilistic distributions can be effectively handled. This is the first attempt that applies an optimization-based modelling approach to Yukon Territory, Canada. Three scenarios and one business-as-usual scenario are evaluated. System costs are minimized in this model. Results obtained from this model can help identify optimal patterns of renewable energy expansions in the Yukon. The interval solutions obtained could help decision makers to identify desirable renewable energy polices and emission reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compass-type anisotropy appears naturally in chiral magnets with strong spin-orbit coupling. In this work, we investigate the critical roles of compass anisotropy in modulating various spin textures of chiral magnets, by Monte Carlo simulations. The simulated results reveal a gradual helical reorientation and varying symmetry of skyrmion crystal structures as a function of compass anisotropy. Furthermore, an extended continuum spin model with the lattice discretization anisotropy is proposed to interpret the dependences of helical and skyrmion crystal structures on the compass anisotropy. It is demonstrated that specific helical propagating directions are favored by the high-order lattice anisotropy arising from spin interactions in discretized lattice. Besides that, some threshold values for the helical structures are identified by analytical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An optimal path search method (OPSM) with error control for full-field strain measurement of material is proposed. • The OPSM is implemented by optimizing the algorithm of the traditional digital image correlation method. • The validity of the OPSM is verified by two numerical model experiments and a quasi-static compression experiment of 3D printed cellular structure. • The OPSM method improves the calculation accuracy of the strain field in the boundary, hole, and zone with an abrupt change in displacement. Digital image correlation (DIC) is one of the main means of optical measurement of the strain field. However, there has been little discussion on the calculation errors at positions with abrupt change. This study seeks to address how to reduce the full-field strain calculation errors and improve the strain accuracy. An optimal path search method (OPSM) with error control for a full-field strain solution is proposed by optimizing the algorithm of the traditional DIC method, using the material displacement field with abrupt change. The strain calculation considering the calculation zone boundary, hole, and shock wave front is discussed. A comparison of the results using the proposed method with the theoretical results shows that this method can effectively obtain full-field strain information, especially at positions with abrupt change in displacement. The application of OPSM to the cellular structure in a quasi-static compression experiment again verifies the validity. This method not only is comparable with the original method in the noise suppression effect but also ensures the approximation of the results to the true values in the displacement zone with abrupt change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild species Cyr. (FF, 2 n = 16) is closely related to the cultivated Brassica species. Through interspecific reciprocal crosses between B. fruticulosa and three cultivated Brassica allotetraploids (AABB, AACC, and BBCC where A = 10, B = 8, and C = 9), four trigenomic hybrids (F.AC, 2 n = 27; F.AB, 2 n = 26; F.BC, 2 n = 25; BC.F, 2 n = 25) were produced. By chromosome doubling of respective hybrids, three allohexaploids (FF.AACC, 2 n = 54; FF.AABB, 2 n = 52; BBCC.FF, 2 n = 50) were synthesized. In pollen mother cells (PMCs) of the trigenomic hybrids, 1-2 autosyndetic bivalents were detected within A, B, and C genomes but only one within F genome; 1-3 allosyndetic bivalents between any two genomes were observed, and a closer relationship of F and B genomes than F and A genomes or F and C genomes was revealed. The allohexaploids showed a generally low but different pollen fertilities. The chromosomes in PMCs were predominantly paired as bivalents but some univalents and multivalents at variable frequencies were observed. The bivalents of homologous pairing for each genome prevailed, but allosyndetic quadrivalents and hexavalents involving any two genomes were observed, together with autosyndetic quadrivalents for A, B, and C genomes but not the F genome. The nondiploidized cytological behaviour of these allohexaploids contributed to their low fertility. The relationships between the genome affinity and meiotic behavior in these allohexaploids were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of La0.2Y0.8Ni5−x Mn x (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) alloys for high-pressure hydrogen compression application were investigated systematically. The Pressure–Composition isotherms and absorption kinetics were measured at 293, 303 and 313 K by the volumetric method. XRD analyses showed that all the investigated alloys presented CaCu5 type hexagonal structure and the unit cell volume increased in both a and c lattice axes with Mn substitution. Hydrogen absorption/desorption measurements revealed that Mn could lower the plateau pressure effectively, improve the hydrogen storage capacity and absorption kinetics but slightly increase the slope of the pressure plateau and hysteresis. The study results suggest that La0.2Y0.8Ni4.8Mn0.2 is suitable for the high-pressure stage compression of the hydrogen compressor and the other two alloys, La0.2Y0.8Ni4.7Mn0.3 and La0.2Y0.8Ni4.6Mn0.4, for the preliminary stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new data on the Bjorken sum Γ ‾ 1 p − n (Q 2) at 4-momentum transfer 0.021 ≤ Q 2 ≤ 0.496 GeV2. The data were obtained in two experiments performed at Jefferson Lab: EG4 on polarized protons and deuterons, and E97110 on polarized 3He from which neutron data were extracted. The data cover the domain where chiral effective field theory (χ EFT), the leading effective theory of the Strong Force at large distances, is expected to be applicable. We find that our data and the predictions from χ EFT are only in marginal agreement. This is somewhat surprising as the contribution from the Δ (1232) resonance is suppressed in this observable, which should make it more reliably predicted by χ EFT than quantities in which the Δ contribution is important. The data are also compared to a number of phenomenological models with various degrees of agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The traditional Chinese medication Shugansanjie Tang (SGT), whose active component is Akebia Trifoliate Koidz, possesses potential anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effects especially for breast cancer. The invasive processes of such cancers have been attributed to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which may be the key factor mediating this process. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) catalyze the lengthening of telomeres, which prolongs cell life and interrupts natural cell death. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of Shugansanjie Tang on MMP levels and TERT activity using breast cancer cell lines. Materials and methods: We used the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and BT-483. Cell inhibition rate was measured by WST-1 reagent, cell apoptosis by Apoptotic DNA Ladder Kit, mRNA expression of MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 by PCR and TERT by immunohistochemistry stain. Results: Comparing to the control group, the test group showed lower cell growth rate, decreased mRNA expression of MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 production and less intense staining of MMPs with diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Shugansanjie Tang inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells by apoptosis and lowers the level of certain matrix metalloproteinases and activity of telomerase reverse transcriptase in breast cancer in vitro. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The stability of carotenoids in Taiwanese mango as affected by different drying treatments was studied. Mangoes were soaked in 1% sodium hydrogen sulfite solution or 1% ascorbic acid solution, prior to hot-air drying and freeze-drying. Results showed that in most cases, the highest yield of the epoxy-containing carotenoids was achieved by freeze-drying plus soaking in 1% sodium hydrogen sulfite solution. However, freeze-drying plus soaking in 1% ascorbic acid solution resulted in the highest retention of all-trans-β-carotene and its cis isomers, all-trans-zeaxanthin and its cis isomers, as well as cis-lutein. Nevertheless, for hot-air drying, with or without soaking, a mango product of deep orange colour was produced. On freeze-drying, mango could generate yellow colour, while a lighter color was observed when soaked in antioxidants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An HPLC method was developed to determine the various carotenoids in Taiwanese mango (Mangifera indica L.). Initially, the peel and seed of mangoes were removed, the pulps were cut into pieces, freeze-dried, ground into powder, extracted and subjected to HPLC analysis. A mobile phase of methanol–isopropanol (99:1, v/v) (A) and methylene chloride (100%) (B) with the following gradient elution was developed: 100% A and 0% B in the beginning, maintained for 15min, decreased to 70% A in 45min, maintained for 15min and returned to 100% A in 65min. A total of 25 carotenoids were resolved within 53min by using a C-30 column with flow rate at 1mL/min and detection at 450nm. α-Carotene was used as an internal standard to quantify all the carotenoids. All-trans-β-carotene was present in largest amount (29.34μg/g), followed by cis isomers of β-carotene (9.86μg/g), violaxanthin and its cis isomers (6.40μg/g), neochrome (5.03μg/g), luteoxanthin (3.6μg/g), neoxanthin and its cis isomers (1.88μg/g), zeaxanthin (1.16μg/g) and 9- or 9′-cis-lutein (0.78μg/g). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In trans-critical R744 refrigeration system, the flow of refrigerant through a short tube orifice is greatly different from that of a conventional refrigerant such as R134a. A specially designed short tube orifice was used to investigate the two-phase flow inside tube. Experimental results indicated that choked flow existed in all cases. The location of flashing inception within the tube would move to the exit as the upstream pressure increased.The relationships between the mass flow rate and the independent variables such as upstream pressure, upstream temperature, short-tube diameter and length were also examined. The R744 mass flow rate was strongly dependent on the diameter, and was proportional to the upstream pressure. A correlation that could be used to predict the mass flow rate was developed based on a large of experimental data. Approximately 95% of the measured data were within ±6% of the prediction. The maximum error between the measured data and the calculated results was within 16%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates the hydrolytic activities and specificities of gel-entrapped Candida cylindracea lipase and Rhizopus arrhizus lipase toward olive oil and tributyrin. Activity of lipases in hydrophobic gels with the longest chain lengths; General characteristics of immobilized lipases; Increase in the ratio of the activity on tributyrin to that of olive oil.

A model for full-size vehicle climate chamber was established based on Matlab/Simulink to study the transient thermal performance and to improve the heating/cooling rate. The model consists of the chilled water system model, chamber air model, building envelope model, and the control system model. Finite difference approach was employed. The model has been verified by experiments conducted in the full-size vehicle climate chamber. Thermal analyses were conducted for both heating and cooling tests, and several main factors that affect energy consumption were considered. It is concluded that the heat loss through building envelope accounted for only 4%, which is much less than the heat loss caused by air tightness and improper control strategy, which accounted for more than 10% and 60%. For zero air leakage case, the average heating and cooling rates improved by 15.1% and 7.7%, respectively compared to the case with air leakage. In the end, a new control strategy was developed for the heating test based on the analysis results and this new control strategy reduced the total heating time by 27%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy, water and carbon are closely intertwined. The conflicts among increasing energy demand, declining water resource and tightening emission target have put tremendous pressures on the regional sustainable development, particularly for the metropolitan areas. This study aims at developing an integrated modelling system for supporting the energy-water-carbon nexus system planning in Shanghai. A variety of policy scenarios associated with carbon emission cap and renewable power ratio under multiple uncertainties are examined. To deal with uncertainties expressed as interval values and probability distributions in the nexus system, a mixed-integer interval chance-constrained two-stage stochastic programming method is developed. The obtained results disclose that the electricity generation scheme and the power mix would gradually transit from a high water-intensity and fossil-fuel dominated structure to a low water-intensity and renewable-energy based one over the planning period (2021–2035). Compared with the business- as -usual scenario, peak carbon emissions would decrease by [5.48, 9.26] × 106t under introduction of the emission cap constraint. These findings would address the issue of the tradeoff between economic objective and system sustainability, and thus provide reasonable insights into the coordinated planning and management of the energy-water-carbon nexus system. • Energy-water-carbon nexus optimization model is developed for Shanghai, China. • Inexact optimization method is introduced to tackle multiple uncertainties. • Impacts of policy scenarios on the energy-water-carbon system are examined. • Tradeoffs between economic objective and system sustainability are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A macroscopic yield criteria for isotropic porous materials with spherical voids as the represent unit cell modeled by elliptic-equation yield function was derived by considering the matrix as compressible rigid-perfectly plastic. From the yield function, plastic dissipation work of the material was derived for plastic normality flow, and plastic limit analysis on micro-deformation mechanism of the medium was established. The relationship between macroscopic stress or strain rate and meso-structural parameters was deduced by upper-bound theorem. In addition, the macroscopic yield criteria of containing macro equivalent stress versus macro mean stress was established by theoretical derivation, and it could be reduced to a macroscopic yield criteria or Mises criteria at some special cases. Numerical results show that the yield criteria is dependent not only the macro-stresses but also meso-structural parameters, and reasonable agreement between the calculated and the experimental model are obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A chance-constrained fractional programming method is developed. • Dual objectives and multiple uncertainties are examined. • A case study of Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration is evaluated. • The tradeoff between system sustainability and economic benefit is analyzed. • The proportion of local renewable electricity would increase by 12.44% by 2035. In this study, a chance-constrained fractional programming model is developed for energy-water-carbon nexus systems in Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, China. The developed model can tackle the ratio objectives and multiple uncertainties expressed as interval numbers and probability distributions, and provide desired decision alternatives under different constraint-violation levels. Then, the developed model is applied to the strategic planning of the energy-water-carbon nexus system in Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration for addressing issues of energy-related water resource shortage and carbon emission reduction. Two different development patterns are designed in this strategic planning. One is to maximize the renewable electricity generation per unit of system cost corresponding to the system efficiency-oriented development pattern, while the other is to minimize the total system cost with respect to the economic benefit-oriented development pattern. The obtained comparative results show that the energy-water-carbon nexus system under the system efficiency-oriented development pattern would increase 21.71% of renewable electricity generation and 16.29% of system efficiency, save 8.95% of water resource, reduce 14.61% of carbon emission, but increase 4.07% of imported electricity and 7.85% of system cost over the planning horizon. These findings can provide profound solutions and insights for decision makers considering different policy implications. The application to Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration energy-water-carbon nexus system shows the practicability of the extension to other regions under severe situations of energy supply limitation, water resource shortage and carbon emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The pulverization, expansion characteristics of and their influences in horizontal and vertical thin-wall reactors were investigated. Granulometric and SEM results revealed particle decay history and the transform from polydisperse to monodisperse state, then the reactor strain in both longitudinal and tangential directions was tested with packing fractions being 20–58.5vol%. Results indicated that the longitudinal strain was less than the hoop strain; both increased with cycle numbers, initial packing fractions and hydrogen contents, while decreased from the lower to the upper positions. Horizontal reactors exhibited less strain than vertical ones; the former mainly bended and swelled while the latter bulged angularly. The strain increments were approximate linear along with cycles, while the absorption strain increments grew exponentially along with hydrogen contents. It is suggested that the optimal hydrogen contents for in the fully packed thin-wall reactors be less than 0.6mol H/mol alloy whereas the packing fractions should not exceed 35vol% for the case of hydrogen contents around 1.0mol H/mol alloy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a first attempt to experimentally extract an effective strong coupling constant that we define to be a low extension of a previous definition by S. Brodsky et al. following an initial work of G. Grunberg. Using Jefferson Lab data and sum rules, we establish its -behavior over the complete -range. The result is compared to effective coupling constants inferred from different processes and to calculations based on Schwinger–Dyson equations, hadron spectroscopy or lattice QCD. Although the connection between the experimentally extracted effective coupling constants and the calculations is not established it is interesting to note that their behaviors are similar. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Refrigerant-744 flow through a short-tube orifice was investigated. The flow of R744 through a short-tube orifice is greatly different from that of a conventional refrigerant such as R134a. R744 flow depending upon upstream pressure, upstream superheating, downstream pressure, and short-tube geometries were examined. A correlation for mass flow rate prediction was developed based on a large amount of experimental data.Ten sharp-edged short tubes and three chamfered tubes with lengths between 8.02 and 25.42 mm and diameters between 0.83 and 1.53 mm were tested to investigate the flowing characteristics of R744. The dependence upon upstream temperature was examined for condensing temperatures ranging from 35.3 to 45.5 °C. The effects of upstream pressure and downstream pressure were tested respectively. The high pressure was varied from 7.55 to 10.24 MPa, and the low pressure ranged from 3.03 to 5.02 MPa. A specially designed short tube was used in the tests to study the flow inside the tube. Experimental results indicated that choked flow existed in all cases. The R744 flow was strongly affected by the diameter of the tube; it was proportional to the upstream pressure but was insensitive to the inlet and exit chamfering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Polyacrylonitrile fiber (PANF) was hydrolyzed in a solution of sodium hydroxide and the hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile fiber (HPANF) was used as an adsorbent to remove copper ions from aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the hydrolysis process made the surface of HPANF rougher than that of PANF. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the HPANF contained conjugated imine (&z.sbnd;C&z.dbnd;N&z.sbnd;) sequences. Batch adsorption results indicated that the HPANF was very effective in adsorbing copper, and the adsorption equilibrium could be reached within 10–20 min. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that some aggregates formed on the surface of the HPANF after copper ion adsorption and the average surface roughness (Ra) value of the HPANF changed from 0.363 to 3.763 nm due to copper adsorption. FTIR analysis indicated that copper adsorption caused a decrease of the light adsorption intensity of the imine (&z.sbnd;C&z.dbnd;N&z.sbnd;) groups at 1573 and 1406 cm−1 wavenumbers, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the binding energy (BE) of some of the nitrogen atoms in the HPANF increased to a greater value due to copper adsorption. The FTIR and XPS results suggest that the adsorption of copper ions to the HPANF is attributed to the imine groups on the surface of the HPANF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The antioxidant activity of mycelia extracts produced from the submerged cultures of Aspergillus candidus CCRC 31543 was investigated. Inhibition of peroxidation (IP%) of mycelia acetone extracts (MAE) in linoleic acid peroxidation was equal to that of BHA and significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of α-tocopherol. As measured by the Rancimat method in lard, MAE showed marked antioxidant activity with an induction time of 8.4 h at a concentration of 200 μg/mL. MAE also exhibited strong scavenging effect on α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl radicals and marked reducing power. HPLC-DAD analysis suggested that MAE possessed the antioxidant components 3,3″-dihydroxyterphenyllin, 3-hydroxyterphenyllin, and candidusin B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of climate change need to be mitigated by controlling the emissions of carbon dioxide. The restriction of carbon dioxide emissions will limit fossil-fuel-fired electricity and affect water consumption in energy-related industries. In this study, a chance-constrained urban agglomeration energy model is developed to plan a cooperative energy-water nexus system with carbon dioxide emission constraints at the regional scale. The model can not only reflect uncertainties expressed as random variables and interval values but also manage energy-water nexus systems under cooperation mechanism effectively. The model is applied to the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Dongguan region, wherein two scenarios with/without cooperative carbon dioxide emission strategies under different water resource risks are analyzed. Results reveal that the system cost of the study region would decrease under the cooperative carbon dioxide emission strategy. Compared with the case without mitigation cooperation, the cost of those with cooperation would reduce by [4.3, 4.8] % (with 6.2% more carbon dioxide emission) in Shenzhen. The results also demonstrate that water consumption would increase as constraint-violation level decreases from 0.2 to 0. The developed model is efficient for facilitating regional dynamic analyses of carbon dioxide emission mitigation and the associated economic cost under different policy scenarios and system risks. • A chance-constrained urban agglomeration energy model is developed. • The model can address interregional carbon cooperation and diminish the uncertainty. • The model is formulated for Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Dongguan of Pearl River Delta, China. • Tradeoffs between economic sustainability and environmental cost are analyzed. • Results are used for policymaker to generate cost-effective energy-water plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present a new extraction of the effective strong coupling constant . The result agrees with a previous determination and extends the measurement of the low and high behavior of that was previously deduced from sum rules. In particular, it experimentally verifies the lack of -dependence of in the low limit. This fact is necessary for application of the AdS/CFT correspondence to QCD calculations. We provide a parameterization of that can equivalently be used to parameterize the -dependence of the generalized Gerasimov–Drell–Hearn and Bjorken sums. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The inter-regional power trade inevitably leads to transmissions of carbon and air pollutant emissions (CAEs), which is unfair for energy-dependent regions. Therefore, this study develops an indeterministic fractional two-stage inter-regional energy system (IFTS-IRES) optimization model for planning the energy system in Shanxi Province. The developed model can deal with uncertain parameters expressed as interval values and modify the pre-made policies, which could be an effective method to solve multi-objective optimization problems. Multiple mitigation-policy scenarios are analyzed based on imposing CAEs compensation taxes on electricity consumption regions (ECRs), adjusting renewable energy power targets, and upgrading traditional power plants with carbon capture and storage technology (CCS). The comparison results show that IFTS-IRES is able to detailly reflect the tradeoff between economic development and environmental protection, and the maximal amount of CO 2 mitigation will be [1.80, 3.34] K tonne/million RMB. By 2040, wind and biomass would account for [24.55%, 29.02%] and [33.38%, 35.48%] of the power generation capacity, and renewable energy will gradually substitute traditional fossil fuels. Therefore, Shanxi's power system should develop renewable energy rather than upgrade with CCS to realize the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. In addition, the future electricity export will keep increasing, among which the share of wind and biomass power will be [50.86%, 51.69%] and [21.25%, 21.78%]. It is suggested that the mitigation responsibility of inter-regional CAEs should be shouldered by ECRs through paying for compensation taxes. These findings could help decision makers analyze economic and environmental effects with multiple objectives under uncertainties. It provides new insight into regulating the mitigation responsibility existing in inter-regional power transmission grid. The developed model is expected to be applied to other regions heavily dependent on energy resources. • An indeterministic fractional two-stage energy system optimization model is developed. • Inter-regional energy trades features are reflected. • Dual objectives and multiple uncertainties are examined. • Carbon/air pollutant emissions compensation taxes and related policies are investigated. • The tradeoff between system sustainability and economic benefit is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a multi-reservoir based water-hydroenergy management (MWH) model is developed for planning water allocation and hydroenergy generation (WAHG) under uncertainties. A mixed fuzzy-stochastic risk analysis method (MFSR) is introduced to handle objective and subjective uncertainties in MWH model, which can couple fuzzy credibility programming and risk management within a general two-stage context, with aim to reflect the infeasibility risks between expected targets and random second-stage recourse costs. The developed MWH model (embedded by MFSR method) can be applied to a practical study of WAHG issue in Jing River Basin (China), which encounters conflicts between human activity and resource/energy crisis. The construction of water-energy nexus (WEN) is built to reflect integrity of economic development and resource/energy conservation, as well as confronting natural and artificial damages such as water deficit, electricity insufficient, floodwater, high sedimentation deposition contemporarily. Meanwhile, the obtained results with various credibility levels and target-violated risk levels can support generating a robust plan associated with risk control for identification of the optimized water-allocation and hydroenergy-generation alternatives, as well as flood controls. Moreover, results can be beneficial for policymakers to discern the optimal water/sediment release routes, reservoirs’ storage variations (impacted by sediment deposition), electricity supply schedules and system benefit plans with an effective/sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a copula-based fuzzy chance-constrained programming (CFCCP) model and applied it to electric power generation systems planning under multiple uncertainties. The CFCCP model was formulated by incorporating existing joint-probabilistic constrained programming and generalized fuzzy linear programming techniques within a general mixed-integer linear programming framework. The CFCCP model can not only effectively reflect uncertain interactions among random variables even when the random variables follow different probability distributions and have previously unknown correlations, but can also provide information about the membership grades for the decision variables and objective-function values. Thus, it would have a wider application scope than existing optimization models for power generation systems planning. Its applicability has been demonstrated through a case study of electric power generation planning within a region of North China. As a result, fuzzy interval solutions related to power generation and capacity expansion patterns of electricity-generation facilities, and primary energy supply structures were generated within six scenarios of constraint-violation levels under different α-cut levels. The results are helpful to investigate dynamic features of the regional power generation system, identify desired decision alternatives, and analyze the influences of interactions among multiple uncertainties on system outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interval type-2 fuzzy fractional programming (IT2FFP) method is developed for planning the renewable energy in electric power system for supporting sustainable development under uncertainty. IT2FFP can tackle output/input ratio problems where complex uncertainties are expressed as type-2 fuzzy intervals (T2FI) with uncertain membership functions. The IT2FFP method is then applied to planning Beijing electric power system, where issues of renewable energy utilization, electricity supply security, and pollutant/greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation are incorporated within the modeling formulation. The obtained results suggest that the coal-fired power would continue to decrease and the share of renewable energy in gross electricity supply would maintain an increasing trend. Results also reveal that imported electricity plays a significant role in the city’s energy supply. A number of decision alternatives are also analyzed based on the interval solutions as well as the projected applicable conditions, which represent multiple options with sustainable and economic considerations. The optimal alternative that can give rise to the desirable sustainable option under the maximization of the share of renewable power generation has been suggested. The findings can help decision makers identify desired alternatives for managing such a mixed energy system in association with sustainable development. Compared with the conventional optimization methods that optimize single criterion, it is proved that IT2FFP is advantageous in balancing conflicting objectives and reflecting complicated relationships among multiple system factors as well as in tackling various subjective judgments of decision makers with different interests and preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High precision measurements of induced and transferred recoil proton polarization in have been performed for photon energies of 277–357 MeV and . The measurements were motivated by a longstanding discrepancy between meson–baryon model calculations and data at higher energies. At the low energies of this experiment, theory continues to fail to reproduce the data, indicating that either something is missing in the calculations and/or there is a problem with the accuracy of the nucleon–nucleon potential being used. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A full-length cDNA clone of duck hepatitis virus type 1 (DHV-1) isolated from duck was assembled in the plasmid vector pBluescript II SK+. RNA synthesized in vitro by means of a Sp6 promoter inserted in front of the cDNA produced infectious particles after transfection of BHK-21 cells, as shown by the appearance of cytopathic effect. The rescued virus was also found to be highly pathogenic to young ducks by intradermal injection and resulted in a fatal disease indistinguishable from that of wild-type virus. The availability of the first cDNA clone of DHV-1 will allow examination of the molecular mechanisms behind DHV-1 virulence and attenuation, which could in turn lead to the production of second-generation, genetically engineered DHV-1 vaccines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

From dual-color genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis of three trigenomic hybrids, Brassica maurorum (MM, 2n = 16) × B. juncea (AABB, 2n = 36) (M.AB), B. maurorum × B. carinata (BBCC, 2n = 34) (M.BC), and B. carinata × B. maurorum (BC.M), the three genomes of each hybrid were distinguished and autosyndesis and allosyndesis were evaluated. In M.AB, up to two autosyndetic bivalents occurred among the chromosomes of each genome; a maximum of three allosyndetic bivalents appeared between A-B, A-M, and B-M genomes. The similar pairings in M.BC and BC.M suggested that the cytoplasm of B. maurorum or B. carinata had no obvious effect on chromosome pairing. In M.BC and BC.M, a maximum of one autosyndetic bivalent was found for B and M genomes, but two were found for the C genome; from 0 to 2 allosyndetic bivalents were observed between B-C, B-M, and C-M genomes. The B-M allosyndesis frequency was higher than the A-M or C-M allosyndesis frequency in these hybrids, revealing the closer relationship of B and M genomes. The allosyndesis frequency was higher than the autosyndesis frequency among A, B, and C genomes in these combinations, suggesting that intergenomic homoeology was higher than intragenomic homoeology. The implications for genome evolution and crop breeding are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thermal treatments including oxidative stabilization, carbonization, and activation were performed on poly(acrylonitrile)-based carbon fibers (PAN-CFs) to enhance their supercapacitive performances. In the oxidative stabilization and carbonization process, only the thermal treatment duration was controlled while in the activation process, both thermal treatment duration and pressure of carrier gas were varied to investigate their effects on the morphology and electrochemical performances of PAN-CFs. The activation process is found to favor the formation and dispersion of pores on the surface of the activated PAN-CFs, which increases the specific surface areas and subsequently improves the specific capacitances from 0.25 mF/cm2 for the pristine PAN-CFs to 34.7 mF/cm2 for the activated PAN-CFs, operated at 100 mV/s scan rate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report the most precise measurement to date of a parity-violating asymmetry in elastic electron–proton scattering. The measurement was carried out with a beam energy of 3.03 GeV and a scattering angle , with the result . From this we extract, at , the strange form factor combination where the first two errors are experimental and the last error is due to the uncertainty in the neutron electromagnetic form factor. This result significantly improves current knowledge of and at . A consistent picture emerges when several measurements at about the same value are combined: is consistent with zero while positive values are favored for , though is compatible with the data at 95% C.L. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The estrogenic activity of 70% EtOH extracts of 32 traditional Chinese medicinal plants, selected according to their reported efficacy for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, was assessed using a recombinant yeast system with both a human estrogen receptor expression plasmid and a reporter plasmid. Among them, 11 (34%) species proved to be active. Polygonum cuspidatum had the highest estrogenic relative potency (RP) (3.28×10−3), followed by Rheum palmatum (3.85×10−4), Cassia obtusifolia (3.49×10−4), Polygonum multiflorum (2.87×10−4), Epimedium brevicornum (2.30×10−4), Psoralea corylifolia (1.90×10−4), Cynomorium songaricum (1.78×10−4), Belamcanda chinensis (1.26×10−4), Scutellaria baicalensis (8.77×10−5), Astragalus membranaceus (8.47×10−5) and Pueraria lobata (6.17×10−5). The EC50 value of 17β-estradiol used as the positive control was 0.205±0.025ng/ml (RP=100). This study gave support to the reported efficacy of Chinese medicines used for hormone replacement therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]