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The maturity of tobacco leaves plays a decisive role in tobacco production, affecting the quality of the leaves and production control. Traditional recognition of tobacco leaf maturity primarily relies on manual observation and judgment, which is not only inefficient but also susceptible to subjective interference. Particularly in complex field environments, there is limited research on in situ field maturity recognition of tobacco leaves, making maturity recognition a significant challenge. In response to this problem, this study proposed a MobileNetV1 model combined with a Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) and attention mechanism for in situ field maturity recognition of tobacco leaves. By introducing the FPN structure, the model fully exploits multi-scale features and, in combination with Spatial Attention and SE attention mechanisms, further enhances the expression ability of feature map channel features. The experimental results show that this model, with a size of 13.7 M and FPS of 128.12, performed outstandingly well on the task of field maturity recognition of tobacco leaves, achieving an accuracy of 96.3%, superior to classical models such as VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, and EfficientNetB0, while maintaining excellent computational efficiency and small memory footprint. Experiments were conducted involving noise perturbations, changes in environmental brightness, and occlusions to validate the model’s robustness in dealing with the complex environments that may be encountered in actual applications. Finally, the Score-CAM algorithm was used for result visualization. Heatmaps showed that the vein and color variations of the leaves provide key feature information for maturity recognition. This indirectly validates the importance of leaf texture and color features in maturity recognition and, to some extent, enhances the credibility of the model. The model proposed in this study maintains high performance while having low storage requirements and computational complexity, making it significant for in situ field maturity recognition of tobacco leaves.

To solve the problems such as low film recovery rate and high soil content of the recovered film of the surface residual film recycling machine, the parameters of the vegetable surface residue recycling machine were optimized. After modelling and theoretical analysis of the loosening shovel and film sweeping device, the key structural parameters of the machine were determined. The Box-Behnken Design analysis test results in Design-Expert were used to establish the comprehensive effects of speed, rotational speed, and angle of membrane picking device on the recovery and soil content. Then MATLAB was adopted to analyse the law of the comprehensive influence of three factors on two responses. The most significant factor affecting pickup net rate J was rotational speed Y2, and the most significant factor affecting soil percentage was the angle Y3 of the film picking device. By optimizing the experimental results by Design-Expert, the optimum operating parameters of the machine were obtained as follows: the forward speed of the machine was 3.2 km/h, the revolution speed was 10.5 r/s, the angle of the film picking device was 65.4°, the scavenging rate J and soil rate H of the residual film recycling machine were 87.084% and 10.382%, respectively.

Objective. The effect of the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and pain of patients undergoing root canal therapy in oral clinic. Methods. 200 participants in an oral clinic from March 2020 to March 2022 were enrolled in our study. The control group ( n = 100 ) accepted ERAS-based care and the research group ( n = 100 ) accepted ERAS concept and cluster nursing. Nursing satisfaction, comfort, self-efficacy, subjective well-being, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores were compared. Results. The research group had 100% satisfaction rate; the control group had 87% satisfaction rate. After nursing, the scores of comforts and self-efficacy of the two groups increased and the scores of comforts and self-efficacy of the research group were higher than those of the control group. After nursing, the scores of subjective well-being of the two groups increased. Furthermore, the higher scores of life satisfaction, interpersonal harmony, and self-efficacy in the research group were found. There was no significant difference in the scores of SAS and SDS between the two groups before nursing ( P > 0.05 ), but after nursing, the scores of SAS and SDS in the two groups decreased, and the scores of SAS and SDS in the research group were lower than those in the control group, and there are statistically significant differences between the groups ( P < 0.05 ). The scores of visual analogue score (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS) following intervention decreased, and there are statistically significant differences between the groups ( P < 0.05 ). The less physiological, psychological, social functions, and health self-cognition in the research group were displayed, and there are statistically significant differences between groups ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. The adoption of the concept of ERAS and cluster nursing can effectively improve the psychological state and pain score of oral outpatients undergoing root canal therapy, improve comfort and self-efficacy, and enhance subjective well-being and quality of life. ERAS and cluster nursing is of great significance in relieving pain after root canal therapy in the outpatient department, reducing patients’ pain and improving patients’ quality of life.

The characteristics of non-connected pores of four Longmaxi shale samples from the southern Sichuan Basin of China were investigated from the studies of pore size distribution (PSD), pore volumes, pore types using helium pycnometry [gas injection porosimetry (GIP) and GRI (Gas Research Institute) method], nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), nuclear magnetic resonance cryoporometry (NMRc), and spontaneous water and oil imbibition experiments. GRI porosity on particle sizes less than 5 mm sample and a 2 MPa helium injection pressure provides information on the total porosity, including both non-connected and connected pores. GIP porosity using core plugs only measures connected pores which extend to the surface of the sample accessible by helium. So the difference between GRI and GIP porosities is used to estimate the volumes of non-connected pores. And the volumes of non-connected pores accounts for 17.5%–40.3% of the total pore volume. For NMRc test results, total pore volume increases with sample size decrease, and the great difference of pore volume with a pore diameter range from 5 nm to 31 nm between small cylinder sample and 0.15–0.075 mm crushed sample is caused by non-connected pores opened. With a decrease of length for cubic samples, the increase in volume and rate of oil imbibition is greater than that of water imbibition, indicating that the non-connected pores are considered to be mainly oil-wet. In addition, the percentage of non-connected pores has a good correlation with TOC (total organic carbon) content. Therefore, this evidence implies that non-connected pores are mainly within the organic matter. NMR tests at different drying temperatures and a NMRc experiment provide a quantitative classification of the shale pore system which indicates that the exploitable pore diameters are larger than 4.25 nm. So non-connected pores with a diameter of 5–31 nm could be effectively exploited if connected by fracturing. The more the non-connected pores are opened, the better the pore connectivity of shale reservoir will be, with a less possibility of water blocking. In the process of shale gas development, attention should be paid to the interaction between fracturing fluid and rock components in order to release more non-connected pores. Therefore, to increase shale gas extraction efficiency, more effort should be directed towards identifying natural, and creating induced, porosity.

Despite recent advances in treatments and knowledge of biomarkers, patients with metastatic lung cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 5%. Rearranged during transfection ( RET) fusions occur in 1% to 2% of lung cancer patients. Pralsetinib has been used to treat non-small cell lung cancer with a single RET fusion; however, there have been no reports regarding its use in patients with multiple RET fusions. Genetic mutations in tumor tissues were tested using Amplification Refractory Mutation System-PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Pleural fluids obtained from a male patient with non-small cell lung cancer were also used to detect genetic aberrations by NGS. Pleural fluid-based NGS revealed three RET rearrangements: CCDC6- RET (C2:R12), RET- NRG3 (R11:N3), and CCDC6- RET (C1:R12). All three rearrangements were targeted by pralsetinib, a RET fusion inhibitor. Pralsetinib drastically improved the patient’s condition within 4 days, and a partial response was achieved 1 week after pralsetinib was administered. We report for the first time the important clinical observation of a patient with multiple RET fusions who was effectively treated with pralsetinib.

Background Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ) regulates multiple biological processes and has been found to be related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, common signaling pathways downstream after TAZ knockdown may also be important. Methods TAZ was knocked down in an HCC cell line, and its potential target genes were analyzed. A decrease in the expression of zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing protein 31 (ZSCAN31) was observed. The difference in ZSCAN31 expression was evaluated, and its effect on survival in HCC patients who received surgical resection was determined. Results ZSCAN31 was over-expressed in HCC tissues and was associated with low overall survival (OS) in HCC patients after surgical resection. Analysis of tissue samples from 83 HCC patients who underwent surgical resection in our hospital produced similar results. High ZSCAN31 expression was significantly associated with tumor size. High expression levels of both TAZ and ZSCAN31 were related to poor OS. A positive correlation was identified between ZSCAN31 expression and TAZ expression, and the protein binding of ZSCAN31 and TAZ was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay using an HCC cell line. Conclusions ZSCAN31 is associated with TAZ expression in HCC cells, and the targeting of ZSCAN31 and TAZ may represent a novel therapeutic approach in HCC.

Xiongwei Liu,1,* Kuizhong Shan,2,* Xiaxia Shao,1 Xianqing Shi,3 Yun He,4 Zhen Liu,1 Joe Antony Jacob,5 Lichun Deng1 1Department of Oncology, Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Medical College, Southeast University, Jiangyin, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, The Second People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Kunshan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Oncology, Liyang People’s Hospital, Liyang, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Chinese Medicine of Changshu City, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu, People’s Republic of China; 5Nanosynthesis Unit, Nanome Consulting, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lichun DengDepartment of Oncology, Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Medical College, Southeast University, No. 163 Shoushan Road, Jiangyin, 214400, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 510 8061 5131Email 18921233265@163.comJoe Antony JacobNanosynthesis Unit, Nanome Consulting, No. 11, Kannankurichi Road, Salem, 636008, Tamil Nadu, IndiaTel +91-9443861940Email joeantonyjacob@gmail.comPurpose: Biomimetic approaches for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) had created a substantial impression among the research community that focuses on nano-bio interactions. In this study, an eco-friendly method using Rhizophora apiculata aqueous leaf extract as a reductant-rich hydrosol was followed to synthesize AgNPs and test its cytotoxicity.Methods: To optimise the parameters for the synthesis of AgNPs, central composite design based on response surface methodology was used. The particles synthesized at a nano-scale were characterized in our previously published report. The present report further characterizes the nanoparticles by X-ray diffraction, SEM and TEM at varying sites and magnifications. The characterized AgNPs were tested for their cytotoxic effects on HEK-293 and HeLa cells.Results: The cytotoxicity on the cell lines was dose-dependent. At a concentration of 2.5 μL/mL of the AgNPs-containing hydrosol, 100% inhibition of HEK-293 cells and 75% inhibition of the HeLa cells were observed. The IC50 value for AgNPs on HEK-293 was 0.622 μL/mL (12.135 ng), whereas, for HeLa cells, it was 1.98 μL/mL (38.629 ng).Conclusion: The nanoparticles were three-fold toxic towards the HEK-293 cells in comparison to the HeLa cells. Therefore, the therapeutic index is low for R. apiculata derived AgNPs on HeLa cells when tested in comparison with the HEK-293 cells. The nanotoxicity profile of the synthesized AgNPs seems more prominent than the nanotherapeutic index. According to our knowledge, this is the first-ever report on the optimization of synthesis of AgNPs using response surface methodology and identifying the therapeutic index of mangrove leaf-derived AgNPs.Keywords: AgNPs, XRD, HEK-293, HeLa, nanotoxicity

Two types of the superhydrophobic/hydrophilic micro-patterned surfaces were prepared through a ultraviolet photocatalytic etching technology. One is hydrophilic dot patterned surface another is hydrophilic square patterned surface. The hydrophilic dot patterned surface is mainly composed of hydrophobic surfaces, while the hydrophilic sites are arrayed in the hydrophobic region. The hydrophilic square patterned surface is mainly composed of hydrophilic surface.The latticed hydrophobic region cut the hydrophilic area into several independent small blocks. The surfaces with the superhydrophobic/hydrophilic pattern has a good control of the distribution of the liquid, which can influence the evaporation behavior of droplets and the evaporation rate of the dispersion droplets on the surface in a nonstructural manner. The effects of the two patterned surfaces on the evaporation rate of droplets by carrying out natural evaporation experiments and forced convection experiments with 4 × 4 droplets of two patterned surfaces at normal temperature and pressure respectively and the effect of the two surfaces on the droplet evaporation rate was compared with that of the homogeneous hydrophilic surface. The gas-liquid contact area of the droplets on the hydrophilic dot patterned surface is 76.9% higher than that of the homogeneous hydrophilic surface and the gas-liquid contact area of the droplets on the hydrophilic square patterned surface is increased 61.23% relative to the homogeneous hydrophilic surface. The increased gas-liquid contact area promotes the evaporation of droplets in the early stage. The droplet evaporation rate decreased in the late stage. It is mainly due to the anisotropy of humidity. In the horizontal direction between the drops along the wall, the gradient of humidity is lower than in the vertical direction over the top point of the droplet. As a result, the vapor flow on the droplet surface is significantly heterogeneous for many droplets.

In this paper, we developed a rapid and safe method based on packed-fiber solid-phase extraction (PFSPE) system coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of four phthalate esters (PAEs), diethyl-o-phthalate (DEP), dibutyl-o-phthalate (DBP), di (2-ethylhexyl) phathalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), in urine samples. The PAEs in urine samples (500μL) were rapidly cleaned up from urines using polystyrene (PS) nanofibers packed micro-columns fitted on a PFSPE pretreatment device, which can process up to 12 samples simultaneously in 5min. Under optimum conditions, satisfied recovery and relative standard deviation values (RSDs) were in the range of 80.4-111.7% and 1.5-10.9%, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were ranged from 0.1 to 0.5ngmL-1 and 0.5-2ngmL-1, respectively. The well controlled matrix effect was also evaluated by comparing the signal response of the pure PAEs standards dissolved in methanol with the signal response of PAEs in the urine matrix. This new method was successfully applied to determine four PAEs in urine samples of overweight and normal-weight children, and an association between phthalates in urines and obesity was observed. Thus, the method seems to be a useful tool for monitoring of the level of urinary phthalate esters and also to support an evidence for further reasearch of obesity.

It is extremely difficult to establish the existence of almost periodic solutions for delay differential equations via methods that need the compactness conditions such as Schauder's fixed point theorem. To overcome this difficulty, in this paper, we employ a novel technique to construct a contraction mapping, which enables us to establish the existence of almost periodic solution for a delay differential equation system with time-varying coefficients. When the system's coefficients are periodic, coincide degree theory is used to establish the existence of periodic solutions. Global stability results are also obtained by the method of Liapunov functionals.

Liquid loading is a serious problem in hydrocarbon production from gas wells in the Yakela-Dalaoba deep condensate gas reservoir. The applicability of frequently-used methods for predicting liquid loading still needs to be demonstrated. For this purpose, the applicabilities of critical flow rate methods and the kinetic energy factor method are evaluated and optimized. The fundamental principles of each method for predicting liquid loading and differences among them are discussed. Different distributions of the critical flow rate and surface tension along the wellbore are considered in order to improve original critical flow rate models. For the Yakela-Dalaoba gas reservoir, the modified pseudo single-phase coupling model used for calculating the pressure and temperature distribution in high gas-liquid ratio wellbores is established, and methods suitable for calculating the pressure and temperature distribution in low gas-liquid ratio wellbores are optimized through error analysis. Results show that the modified pseudo single-phase coupling model is suitable for calculating the pressure and temperature distribution in high gas-liquid ratio wells, while Hagedorn-Brown's method and Hasan's method are suitable for low gas-liquid ratio wells. The modified critical flow rate models increase precision of liquid loading prediction compared to original models. The modified Li's model and the kinetic energy factor method which sets threshold value as 6 are of highest precision. Both of them are suitable for predicting liquid loading of gas wells in the Yakela-Dalaoba deep condensate gas reservoir.

The assessment of image compression result can not only evaluate the quality of image compression results and to a certain extent, can also find the advantages and drawbacks of various compression methods. At the same time, it can provide a reference for the compressed image restoration. Firstly, the classification and shortages of image quality assessment methods are presented. Then, several objective assessment methods usually used for image compression quality are introduced and the recent research progresses are shown. Finally, in view of the shortages of traditional image assessment methods and the existing blind assessment methods, based on image invariance, we propose a blind assessment method of image compression quality by considering the edge detail recovery and artifact removing. Compared with the traditional blind assessment methods, our method is simple in form and evaluation system is easily implemented. The experimental results also show that it is reasonable and effective.

The paper is concerned with a reduced SIR model for migrant workers. By using differential inequality technique and a novel argument, we derive a set of conditions to ensure that the endemic equilibrium of the model is globally exponentially stable. The obtained results complement with some existing ones. We also use numerical simulations to demonstrate the theoretical results.

Centrifugal compressor impeller operates at stochastic boundary conditions. The operational uncertainties cause performance deviation from design value and consequently affect the reliability of the compressor. Considering the stochastic operational uncertainties in the early design stage, this paper presents an uncertainty quantification based optimization of centrifugal compressor impeller with splitter blades for aerodynamic robustness. The nonlinear response relation between the design variables, the aerodynamic boundary uncertainties and the impeller performance is modelled by a combination of the Latin Hypercube Sampling, the three dimensional CFD, the Kriging surrogate model and the Non-intrusive Probability Collocation method. A sensitivity analysis with single and multiple random geometry variations is carried out to identify the most sensitive parameters. The effects of rotor speed uncertainty on pressure ratio and efficiency are quantified. A case study is conducted to search for optimal impellers with higher performance and lower sensitivity to boundary uncertainty using NSGA-II. The optimization is verified by the Monte Carlo method. The results demonstrate that the aerodynamic robustness of the compress impeller with splitter blades is enhanced by the proposed approach, which provides references for compressors, turbines and other turbo machinery.

A wind turbine tower supports the main components of the wind turbine (e.g. rotor, nacelle, drive train components, etc.). The structural properties of the tower (such as stiffness and natural frequency) can significantly affect the performance of the wind turbine, and the cost of the tower is a considerable portion of the overall wind turbine cost. Therefore, an optimal structural design of the tower, which has a minimum cost and meets all design criteria (such as stiffness and strength requirements), is crucial to ensure efficient, safe and economic design of the whole wind turbine system. In this work, a structural optimisation model for wind turbine towers has been developed based on a combined parametric FEA (finite element analysis) and GA (genetic algorithm) model. The top diameter, bottom diameter and thickness distributions of the tower are taken as design variables. The optimisation model minimises the tower mass with six constraint conditions, i.e. deformation, ultimate stress, fatigue, buckling, vibration and design variable constraints. After validation, the model has been applied to the structural optimisation of a 5MW wind turbine tower. The results demonstrate that the proposed structural optimisation model is capable of accurately and effectively achieving an optimal structural design of wind turbine towers, which significantly improves the efficiency of structural optimisation of wind turbine towers. The developed framework is generic in nature and can be employed for a series of related problems, when advanced numerical models are required to predict structural responses and to optimise the structure.

The performance of a wind turbine rotor depends on the wind characteristics of the site and the aerodynamic shape of the blades. The blade geometry determines the torque and the power generated by the rotor. From aerodynamic point of view, an economic and efficient blade design is attained by the maximization of rotor power coefficient. For small wind turbine blade design, there are some factors different from large blade. Such as, the small ones experience much lower Reynolds number flow than the large ones, thus large wind turbine airfoils may perform very poorly in small applications. The small turbines are self-started at lower wind speed, thus the hub and tip parts are vital for the starting-up torque which should be able to conquer the resistance of the generator and the mechanical system. This paper presents a direct method for small wind turbine blade design and optimization. A unique aerodynamic mathematical model was developed to obtain the optimal blade chord and twist angle distributions along the blade span. The airfoil profile analysis was integrated in this approach. The Reynolds number effects, tip and hub effects, and drag effects were all considered in the design optimization. The optimal chords and twist angles were provided with series of splines and points and three-dimensional blade models. This approach integrates blade design and airfoil analysis process, and enables seamless link with computational fluid dynamics analysis and CNC manufacturing.

A unified reproducing kernel method for solving linear differential equations with functional constraint is provided. We use a specified inner product to obtain a class of piecewise polynomial reproducing kernels which have a simple unified description. Arbitrary order linear differential operator is proved to be bounded about the special inner product. Based on space decomposition, we present the expressions of exact solution and approximate solution of linear differential equation by the polynomial reproducing kernel. Error estimation of approximate solution is investigated. Since the approximate solution can be described by polynomials, it is very suitable for numerical calculation.

Cortisol and cortisone are two important glucocorticoids in human body, their interconversion is controlled by two isotypes of 11β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2). The ratio of urinary cortisol to cortisone can be used to assess the activity of 11β-HSDs. An analytical method to quantify urinary cortisol and cortisone using high performance liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry following a packed-fiber solid-phase extraction (PFSPE) was developed. The proposed method was validated and applied to determine the urinary cortisol and cortisone concentrations in infants. Linearity was observed in the range of 0.6-150ng/mL for cortisol and 0.8-200ng/mL for cortisone. The intra-day RSD was 2.4-4.5% for cortisol and 3.3-6.2% for cortisone. Inter-day RSD was 3.7-6.6% for cortisol and 4.3-8.2% for cortisone. The recovery was 97.8±4.6% for cortisol and 98.9±4.4% for cortisone. The established method is simple and efficient for the quantification of urinary cortisol and cortisone and for indirectly assessing the activity of 11β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase.

Downhole vortex drainage gas recovery is a new gas production technology. So far, however, the forces and motions of liquid phase in the swirling flow field of wellbores during its field application have not been figured out. In this paper, the forces of liquid droplets in the swirling flow field of wellbores were analyzed on the basis of two-phase fluid dynamics theories. Then, the motion equations of fluid droplets along axial and radical directions were established. Magnitude comparison was performed on several typical acting forces, including Basset force, virtual mass force, Magnus force, Saffman force and Stokes force. Besides, the formula for calculating the optimal helical angle of vortex tools was established according to the principle that the vertical resultant force on fluid droplets should be the maximum. And afterwards, each acting force was comprehensively analyzed in terms of its origin, characteristics and direction based on the established force analysis model. Magnitude comparison indicates that the forces with less effect can be neglected, including virtual mass force, Basset force and convection volume force. Moreover, the vertically upward centrifugal force component occurs on the fluid droplets in swirling flow field instead of those in the conventional flow field of wellbores, which is favorable for the fluid droplets to move upward. The reliability of optimal helical angle calculation formula was verified by means of case analysis. It is demonstrated that with the decrease of well depth, the fluid-carrying capability of gas and the optimal helical angle increase. The research results in this paper have a guiding significance to the optimization design of downhole vortex tools and the field application of downhole vortex drainage gas recovery technology.

Calvera is a $59\,\mathrm{ms}$ isolated pulsar, being unique due to its non-detection in radio, optical and gamma-rays but the purely thermal emission in soft X-rays. It is suggested that Calvera could be an ordinary middle-aged pulsar with significant magnetospheric activity at a large distance. Alternatively, it is proposed in this paper that Calvera is a low-mass strangeon star with inactive magnetosphere (dead). In this scenario, we jointly fit the spectra obtained by the {\it XMM-Newton} Observatory and the {\it Chandra} X-ray Observatory with the strangeon star atmosphere model. The spectral model is successful in explaining the radiation properties of Calvera and X-ray Dim Isolated Neutron Stars, both showing similar observation features. Within the dead pulsar picture, Calvera might be of high temperature at $0.67\,\mathrm{keV}$, possessing a small stellar radius $R\la4\,\mathrm{km}$ and a presumably small magnetic field $B\la10^{11}\,\mathrm{G}$ and is probably braked by the fall-back disk accretion. Future advanced facilities may provide unique opportunities to know the real nature of Calvera.

Due to the increasing size and flexibility of large wind turbine blades, accurate and reliable aeroelastic modelling is playing an important role for the design of large wind turbines. Most existing aeroelastic models are linear models based on assumption of small blade deflections. This assumption is not valid anymore for very flexible blade design because such blades often experience large deflections. In this paper, a novel nonlinear aeroelastic model for large wind turbine blades has been developed by combining BEM (blade element momentum) theory and mixed-form formulation of GEBT (geometrically exact beam theory). The nonlinear aeroelastic model takes account of large blade deflections and thus greatly improves the accuracy of aeroelastic analysis of wind turbine blades. The nonlinear aeroelastic model is implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics and validated with a series of benchmark calculation tests. The results show that good agreement is achieved when compared with experimental data, and its capability of handling large deflections is demonstrated. Finally the nonlinear aeroelastic model is applied to aeroelastic modelling of the parked WindPACT 1.5 MW baseline wind turbine, and reduced flapwise deflection from the nonlinear aeroelastic model is observed compared to the linear aeroelastic code FAST (Fatigue, Aerodynamics, Structures, and Turbulence).

This paper presents a Gaussian Adaptive Resonance Theory Map (gARTMAP) incorporated to a multi-agent system (MAS) for building intelligent heat management system (IHMS), or the gARTMAP-MAS IHMS. The gARTMAP aims to maintain the desired space temperature defined by the building occupants (thermal comfort management) and improve energy efficiency by intelligently controlling the energy flow and usage in the building (building energy control) with minimal waste. The gARTMAP-MAS IHMS is a three-layer MAS, consisting of an agent in the Source Layer responsible for building energy control, agents in the User Layer for thermal comfort management, and an agent in the Mediator Layer which mediates the communication between the other two layers. Existing MAS typically uses a rule-based approach for its agents, and the rules are generally pre-defined. The incorporation of the gARTMAP to the agents provides additional adaptive capabilities via the use of its online learning mechanism. Simulation results demonstrated that the gARTMAP-MAS IHMS provides better (automated) energy control and thermal comfort management for a building environment in comparison to the existing rule-based MAS approach.

A wind turbine blade generally has complex structures including several layers of composite materials with shear webs. It is essential but also inherently difficult to accurately and rapidly calculate the cross-sectional properties of a complex composite blade for the structural dynamics and aeroelasticity analysis of the blade. In this paper, a novel mathematical model for calculating the cross-sectional properties of composite blades has been developed by incorporating classical lamination theory (CLT) with extended Bredt-Batho shear flow theory (EBSFT). The mathematical model considers the shear web effects and warping effects of composite blades thus greatly improves the accuracy of torsional stiffness calculation compared with the results from direct use of 3D laminate theories. It also avoids complicated post-processing of force-displacement data from computationally expensive 3D finite-element analysis (FEA) thus considerably improves the computational efficiency. A Matlab program was developed to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the mathematical model and a series of benchmark calculation tests were undertaken. The results show that good agreement is achieved comparing with the data from experiment and FEA, and improved accuracy of torsional stiffness calculation due to consideration of the shear web effects is observed comparing with an existing cross-sectional analysis code PreComp.

Based on restoration theories, this paper mainly studies the blind restoration method of motion-blurred image, including a joint identification method and a priori fuzzy identification method. For the halfblind restoration problem, a total variation model is provided and a alternate iteration method based on split-Bregman algorithm is proposed to solve this model. By this new model, the parameters in PSF and the real image can be estimated simultaneously. Our method is demonstrated effective with numerical simulations by the restoration of a motion-blurred building image.

The chord and twist angle radial profiles of a fixed-pitch fixed-speed (FPFS) horizontal-axis wind turbine blade are based on a particular design wind speed and design tip speed ratio. Because the tip speed ratio varies with wind speed, the originally optimized chord and twist angle radial profiles for a preliminary blade design through optimum rotor theory do not necessarily provide the highest annual energy production (AEP) for the wind turbine on a specific site with known wind resources. This paper aims to demonstrate a novel optimal blade design method for an FPFS wind turbine through adopting linear radial profiles of the blade chord and twist angle and optimizing the slope of these two lines. The radial profiles of the blade chord and twist angle are linearized on a heuristic basis with fixed values at the blade tip and floating values at the blade root based on the preliminary blade design, and the best solution is determined using the highest AEP for a particular wind speed Weibull distribution as the optimization criteria with constraints of the top limit power output of the wind turbine. The outcomes demonstrate clearly that the proposed blade design optimization method offers a good opportunity for FPFS wind turbine blade design to achieve a better power performance and low manufacturing cost. This approach can be used for any practice of FPFS wind turbine blade design and refurbishment.

Intelligent energy system refers to the use of intelligent control strategies with the energy system, which can help minimise energy waste and loss, optimise load control, increase and improve energy efficiency and/or maximise the benefits of renewable energy. Renewable energy and intelligent controls are interlinked and correlated with each other. Without intelligent controls, the full benefits of renewable energy technologies may not be achievable, specifically the ground source heat pump (GSHP) technologies. This was observed, especially by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) that had incorporated a GSHP to one of its building. The GSHP is under performing due to the inefficient controls implemented with the GSHP. This paper proposes an intelligent multi-agent building management system (MAS BMS) that aims to tackle this issue. Intelligence is provided by an ARTMAP, a type of artificial neural network that provides incremental learning inspired by how human process memory. Simulation results show the proposed intelligent MAS BMS is able to maximise the use of the GSHP effectively by profiling, predicting and coordinating its usage with other energy resources. The proposed method has performed better than the existing control strategies for the GSHP.

The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) rules are the significant foundation for the effective control of DRX behavior, consequently achieving fine grains and qualified microstructure in the needle piercing extrusion for AISI304 stainless steel pipe. A reliable multi-scale FE model was developed for the extrusion process of seamless AISI304 stainless steel pipe (d29 mm×4.5 mm) under the DEFORM-2D software environment, and then the influence rules of the key extrusion parameters were numerically unfolded, namely the initial billet temperature and extrusion speed, on the DRX volume fraction, average grain size and their distributions by comprehensive simulations. The outcome establishes the basis and guidelines for the optimal design and steady control of the extrusion process in terms of the microstructure of the extruded pipe.

With the continuous increasing size and flexibility of large wind turbine blades, aeroelasticity has been becoming a significant subject for wind turbine blade design. There have been some examples of commercially developed wind turbines experiencing aeroelastic instability problems in the last decade, which spokes for the necessity of aeroelastic modelling of wind turbine blades. This paper presents the state-of-the-art aeroelastic modelling of wind turbine blades, provides a comprehensive review on the available models for aerodynamic, structural and cross-sectional analysis, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these models, and outlines the current implementations in this field. This paper is written for both researchers new to this research field by summarising underlying theory whilst presenting a comprehensive review on the latest studies, and experts in this research field by providing a comprehensive list of relevant references in which the details of modelling approaches can be obtained.

Critical flow rate models are widely used for liquid loading prediction in gas wells, take Turner's model as representative, but these models only analyze critical flow rate under wellhead or bottom hole condition, and take surface tension as constant, which results in a relatively large deviation between prediction result and actual liquid loading condition in condensate gas wells. In order to increase precision of liquid loading prediction, critical flow rate models are improved, aiming at solving above-mentioned problems. Different distribution of critical flow rate and surface tension along wellbore are considered, and the largest value of critical flow rate is taken as criterion of liquid loading condition, surface tensions under different temperature and pressure conditions are also calculated. Besides, on the basis of analyzing temperature and pressure distribution in dry gas wellbore by using temperature and pressure coupling method, a reasonable temperature and pressure coupling calculation model for condensate gas well is established, which considers the actual situation that both condensate and formation water exist in wellbore and revises relative density and flow rate of gas accordingly. Through verification by field case, it can be seen that precision of liquid loading prediction of improved critical flow rates models increases compared to that of original models, amongst which the precision of and the increased range of precision of liquid loading prediction of improved Li Min's model is highest. Therefore, the improved Li Min's model is the most suitable model for liquid loading prediction in condensate gas well.

The packed nanofiber solid-phase extraction of crude extracts of a mass viscous sample is challenging because the interference and recalcitrant particulates in the sample may attach to the nanofiber and block the column, which leads to insufficient sample extraction. A novel concentric layered nanofiber solid-phase extraction (SPE) column using polystyrene-based electrospun nanofiber as the stationary phase has been employed for the pretreatment of mass viscous crude extracts. The layered column was fabricated by using untouched nanofiber with its natural morphology rather than hand-packing of spoiled fiber to the control packing density of the column. In the novel column, the SPE packed bed was divided into a multi-layer structure to provide uniform radial and axial packing and to part the mobile phase stream by the isolated layer with great superiority in aspects such as lower column pressure and faster elution speed. The feasibility and efficiency of the LFSPE column were then evaluated via determination of rhodamine B (RB) from spiked chili samples. Based on the LFSPE column, a linear spiked calibration curve in the range of 0.02-5 mg/kg was obtained. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were 0.001 and 0.004 mg/kg, respectively; recoveries at 0.1, 1, and 2 mg/kg (n = 3) were all up to 95 %; and the RSD values of inter-day and intra-day were all below 5 %. This novel LFSPE column overcame heterogeneous packing and exploited the wall effect in subtle ways, and exhibited great superiority by comparison with some existing methods. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.