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To improve crowd evacuation efficiency in large building spaces during fires, a spatial layout optimization method using PyroSim and Pathfinder software was proposed. Disaster-causing factors that hinder safe evacuation - such as smoke spread, fire scene temperature, CO concentration, and visibility - were compared. The arrival time of danger in fire environments was analysed, the time required for crowd evacuation was calculated, structural characteristics of building space affecting evacuation efficiency were identified, and evacuation bottlenecks in large-scale buildings were revealed. Taking the super-large building of Silk Clothing City in Jiangsu Province, China as an example, a spatial layout optimization scheme focused on evacuation efficiency was proposed and its effectiveness was verified. Results show that before spatial layout optimization, the available safe evacuation time is 145 seconds, which is shorter than the required safe evacuation time of 197.8 seconds, indicating high safety risks during evacuation in a fire. After optimizing the layout of smoke exhaust equipment, the available safe evacuation time is increased to 205 seconds, substantially enhancing crowd evacuation safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an in-depth study of the assembly production variance problem through the largest supplier of General Motors China. We focus on the production variance problem in an unreliable assembly (MOBA) system with a finite inter-station buffer, focusing on two of the central issues, namely the output variance as well as the delivery schedule variance. We model every subsystem's departure procedure in the MOBA system using the Markov Arrival Process (MAP) approach. Through the approximate use of MAP, we successfully shorten the time needed to calculate the output variance as well as delivery schedule variance of a large-scale MOBA system, which improves the efficiency of the system while ensuring that it meets the customer's needs. The relationship between production variance and system parameters is also studied, which is of substantial significance for optimizing the productivity of MOBA systems and improving customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floatable photocatalysts were a new strategy towards real-world applications of photocatalytic degradation, which exhibited high utilization and recovery rate. Expand aple poly ephylene (EPE) was widely known as packaging fill materials, lots of used EPE as rubbish increased environment pollution. As it happens, EPE had the characteristics of light weight, abundant capillaries, which can be used as the carriers to prepare floatable photocatalysts. EPE/SnO2 was prepared through coprecipitation and low-temperature oxidation technique. In addition, the influence of Sn-doping amount, pH value, catalyst loading, the cationic and anionic on the photocatalytic efficiency toward rhodamine B (RhB) was investigated. Almost of the 50 mL RhB (15 mg/L) was decomposed within 50 min under visible-light. Importantly, the removal rate of the floatable photocatalysts EPE/SnO2 was fourteen times higher than pure SnO2 at 50 min. The removal efficiencies of EPE/SnO2 for RhB in tap water, river water and reservoir water were above 98% within 50 min. Moreover, the degradation efficiency of RhB still remained 96.3% after 10 recycling runs. Compared to the catalysts recently reported, the reusability of EPE/SnO2 was the highest. According to the free radical trapping experiment, 1O2, O2• − and h+ were confirmed the main reactive oxygen species participating the photocatalytic degradation over RhB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, non-fuel utilization as alternative chemical feedstocks becomes very important and significant for the efficient conversion of lignite. To reduce CO2 production, an oxy-cracking technique in weak alkaline aqueous was conducted to selectively depolymerize Xilinguole lignite (XL) into humic acid (HA) under mild condition in this paper. The results indicated that XL has high reactivity, and can be depolymerized into HA with very little CO2. Elevated temperature is favorable for cracking of XL and converting HA into small molecular water-soluble acids and CO2. KOH mainly catalyzes the oxidative depolymerization of XL macromolecular structure. Lower temperature can reduce the formation of CO2 and the usage of alkali. Under 80°C, KOH/XL = 0.33 and 2 h, HA weight yield was the highest, reaching 81%, as well as no CO2 detected. Further, the obtained HA was separated and characterized by FTIR, CPMAS 13C-NMR, TG/DTG and element analyses. Compared to XL and oxidized residue, HA contains more OH and COOH groups and aromatic rings, and less aliphatic groups. Due to low alkali usage and negligible CO2, the oxidative depolymerization of XL to produce HA shows high utilization efficiency of carbon, and is a promising clean and efficient utilization approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of thermodynamic calculations in the evaluation of external hydrostatic pressure effects on the Au-Ge binary phase diagram and on the arsenic sublimation reveals that pressure up to 7 kilobars can produce only slight modifications in the phase diagram. This is confirmed by an experimental investigation of eutectic Au-28 annealed at 7 kilobars and 500 degrees Celsius. The annealing also yields a pure Ge phase at the surface of the film in an amorphous state. Significant modifications in the phase diagram generally do not occur since Ar prevents As from undergoing sublimation.

We calculated electron energy loss and angular distributions for electrons transmitted through masks for electron projection lithography by a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method. After comparing the improved continuous slowing down approximation model, the direct MC model, and the intensive direct MC model, the last model was used. The energy loss distributions calculated by the latter two models are much better than by the first model and the intensive direct MC model can be applied to more materials than the direct MC model. The effect of mask thickness on energy loss, transmission, and contrast was analyzed. We found that, for a W/Cr/Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] mask, the thicker the scattering layer the wider the angular distribution, the lower the transmission, and the higher the contrast. But the thickness of the membrane Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] layer has less effect on the contrast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of endostatin on the proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cells (A431). PATIENTS AND METHODS: CCK-8 assay and transwell chamber assay were performed to detect cell proliferation and invasion abilities, respectively. Western blot was performed for the detection of the expressions of EMT-related proteins levels. The therapeutic effect of endostatin on tumor formation was tested using a mouse xenograft model. RESULTS: After endostatin treatment, transwell assay showed that the number of invasive cells in the observation group and control group were (38.25±8.13) and (98.25±9.14), respectively; the relative expression level of E-cadherin protein in the observation group was (0.34±0.03), which was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.14±0.01); the relative expression levels of N-cadherin protein in the observation group was (0.18±0.05), which was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.43±0.03), (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expression levels of Vimentin and Fibronectin proteins were significantly lower, while the expression levels of α-smooth muscle Actin (α-SMA) were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group. Treatment with endostatin significantly inhibited tumor growth in the mouse xenograft model. Therefore, endostatin can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and EMT in BCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As people's awareness of environmental protection continues to increase, human beings pay close attention to the living environment and the extensive global environment for their own survival and development. Under this background, the field of mechanical processing is no exception, one adapts to environmental protection requirements and reduces the environment. The new machining technology that is being burdened is quietly emerging. It is a new processing technology that reduces resource consumption, saves energy, reduces processing costs, and conducive to environmental protection. It is also known as ecomechanical processing technology and is showing great its vitality, vitality and application prospects, and bring a revolution to traditional processing technology. Ecosystem processes, such as primary production, pedogenesis, nutrient cycling, and niche construction, regulate the flux of energy and matter through an environment. Aiming at problems such as rusting breakage and loosening of traction orchard transporter ropes, the design of a rope breaking brake device with self-locking function and capable of reducing the rigid impact, and the design parameters are given. Self-locking angle ? and wedge angle d were used to analyze the movement of the brake lock during the braking process. The virtual prototype technology is used to obtain the braking performance parameters of the vehicle under no-load conditions: the average deceleration during the braking action stage of the rope is 3.43m/s2, the braking time is 0.4s, and the maximum total distance for breaking the rope brake under full load for 1.05m, the braking time is 0.1s. ANSYS software is used to simulate the collision impact between the locking clamp and the cross beam. Under the maximum load, the maximum stress value of the surface of the locking pincer clamp is s=231.64Mpa less than the yield stress [s] =355Mpa. By carrying out real-scale impact tests under different loads, the brake locker shows good crashworthiness. The virtual simulation data and the actual test data are compared and analyzed, and the average error is 7.3%, verifying the reliability of the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarwood, precious resinous trunks or branches derived from Aquilaria plants, is widely used in incense and perfume. However, due to its low yield and high production cost, a novel stimulating method is required to produce agarwood rapidly and effectively. We studied the biologically agarwood-inducing technique (Agar-Bit) that achieved high yield and qualified production. In this study the gene expressions and chemical compositions in agarwood obtained from Aquilaria sinensis trees using Agar-Bit were characterised. Mechanically-stimulated agarwood was used as control. Some characteristic synthase genes expressed degrees and times differently compared with control. For Agar-Bit group expressions of biological synthase genes were upregulated in 12 hours, then downregulated except CHS1 (chalcone synthase genes) after stimulation. For mechanically-stimulated agarwood they were upregulated in 24 hours, then downregulated except HMGR (3-hydroxy-3-mythlglutaryl-CoA reductase). The chemical compositions of agarwood by Agar-Bit and control were investigated by total chromone and essential oil contents. Therefore, we concluded that Agar-Bit can markedly motivate some characteristic synthase gene expressions and produce unique and identical chromone chemicals in agarwood. These findings may supplement information on agarwood formation theories and provide genetic varieties during the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study that examined the texture structure and the intermetallic compound formation in the unannealed and annealed tantalum/aluminum multilayer samples using two kinds of x-ray diffraction methods. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion on the study.