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We present version 3.0 of the atmospheric chemistry box model CAABA/MECCA. In addition to a complete update of the rate coefficients to the most recent recommendations, a number of new features have been added: chemistry in multiple aerosol size bins; automatic multiple simulations reaching steady-state conditions; Monte-Carlo simulations with randomly varied rate coefficients within their experimental uncertainties; calculations along Lagrangian trajectories; mercury chemistry; more detailed isoprene chemistry; tagging of isotopically labeled species. Further changes have been implemented to make the code more user-friendly and to facilitate the analysis of the model results. Like earlier versions, CAABA/MECCA-3.0 is a community model published under the GNU General Public License.

Flow analysis during injection molding is crucial for dimensional control in micro powder injection molding. Numerical simulation of injection molding of ZrO2 microarray based on in-house feedstock was conducted. A powder-binder two fluid model was developed to analyze temperature, viscosity and powder volume fraction of the feedstock for micro pillars of different dimensions with diameters of 0.2, 0.5 and 1 mm, respectively. In general the binder temperature decreased with size reduction of the micro cavity caved on the silicon wafer and increased with mold temperature. The micro pillars of φ0.2 mm exhibited the highest viscosity, which indicated difficulty for filling during injection molding. An increase in mold temperature facilitated the decrease of the feedstock viscosity, which improved the filling of the micro cavities. Powder-binder segregation became evident as the size of the micro cavities reduced to 0.2 mm.

Fibrosis in peripheral airways is responsible for airflow limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Annexin A1 modulates several key biological events during inflammation. However, little is known about its role in airway fibrosis in COPD. We investigated whether levels of Annexin A1 were upregulated in patients with COPD, and whether it promoted airway fibrosis. We quantified serum Annexin A1 levels in never-smokers (n=12), smokers without COPD (n=11), and smokers with COPD (n=22). Correlations between Annexin A1 expression and clinical indicators (eg, lung function) were assessed. In vitro, human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and Annexin A1 expression was assessed. Primary human lung fibroblasts were isolated from patients with COPD and effects of Annexin A1 on fibrotic deposition of lung fibroblasts were evaluated. Serum Annexin A1 was significantly higher in patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines stage III or IV than in those with GOLD stages I or II (12.8±0.8 ng/mL versus 9.8±0.7 ng/mL; =0.016). Annexin A1 expression was negatively associated with airflow obstruction (forced expiratory volume in one second % predicted; =-0.72, <0.001). In vitro, Annexin A1 was significantly increased in CSE-exposed HBE cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Annexin A1 promoted lung fibroblasts proliferation, migration, differentiation, and collagen deposition via the ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Annexin A1 expression is upregulated in patients with COPD and affects lung fibroblast function. However, more studies are needed to clarify the role of Annexin A1 in airway fibrosis of COPD.

The objective of this paper is to develop a finite element model for 3D elastic–plastic frictional contact problem of Cosserat materials. Because 3D elastic–plastic frictional contact problems belong to the unspecified boundary problems with nonlinearities in both material and geometric forms, a large number of calculations are needed to obtain numerical results with high accuracy. Based on the parametric variational principle and the corresponding quadratic programming method for numerical simulation of frictional contact problems, a finite element model is developed for 3D elastic–plastic frictional contact analysis of Cosserat materials. The problems are finally reduced to linear complementarity problems (LCP). Numerical examples show the feasibility and importance of the developed model for analyzing the contact problems of structures with materials which have micro-polar characteristics.

From a rare freshwater lake characteristic of alkalescence, named \"Cattle Pond\", on the Dongdao Island of South China Sea (16°39'-16°41' N, 112°43'-112°45' E), we collected two undisturbed sediment cores that contain seabird droppings. In this paper, we determined the concentration-versus-depth profiles of the geochemical elements in the ornithogenic sediment layers of the two cores, analyzed these profiles by various statistical methods, and studied their geochemical characteristics. The concentration profiles of As, Cd, Cu, Se, Zn, P and S are significantly correlated with each other and with loss on ignition (LOI) at 550°C, the measure for the abundance of organic matter. Similar geochemical characteristics, however, were not observed in the upper sediment layer of the Cattle Pond notably affected by cattle excrements, as well as in the bottom sediment layer compositionally dominated by coral sand and gravel. This shows that these \"bio-elements\" are mainly derived from seabird feces and their geochemical composition is an important geochemical characteristic of the lacustrine ornithogenic sediments. By Q-mode factor analysis (QFA) on the concentration profiles of these bio-elements, we reconstructed the historical seabird population on Dongdao Island between 1350 and 350 year B.P., and observed significant fluctuations in the calculated population. The fluctuations seem to be related to the change of sea surface temperature (SST) in the Southern China Sea. This study provides new paleoenvironmental information of past seabird population changes in low latitude areas using an indirect geochemical method.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Abstract This article describes the development of modelling techniques and simulation tools for the electromagnetic (EM) analysis of aircraft. It is shown that hybrid solvers and multi-scale techniques can be used effectively to analyse the EM response of aircraft. The importance of supplementing models with appropriate measurement and characterization techniques for parameter extraction and for validation is also demonstrated.

Reflectance of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) is an important aspect to understand the large scale SiPM-based detector systems and evaluate the performance of SiPMs. We report the reflactance of two SiPMs, NUV-HD-lowCT and S14160-60-50HS manufactured by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (HPK) respectively, in linear alkylbenzene (LAB) and in air at visible wavelengths. Our results show that the reflectance of the FBK SiPM in air varies in the range of 14% to 23% , depending on wavelengths and angle of incidence, which is 2 time larger than that of the HPK device. This indicates that the two manufacturers are using different designs of anti-reflective coating on SiPMs' surfaces. The reflectance is reduced by about 10% when SiPMs are immersed in LAB, compared with that measured in air. The profiles of reflected light beams are also measured by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera for the two SiPMs.

Cathaya argyrophylla, a critically endangered conifer, is found to grow at four isolated areas located in subtropical mountains of China. To examine the involvement and usefulness of mycorrhizas for sustaining the population of this tree, we compared the root system, morphology, and structure of mycorrhizal roots of C. argyrophylla, which were collected from a natural stand and an artificial stand, each grown at a different location. More mycorrhizal roots were found for trees from an artificial stand. The presence of extramatrical mycelium, mantle, and Hartig net revealed that C. argyrophylla formed an ectomycorrhizal association in both sampling sites. Starch granules were found in mycorrhizal roots collected only from a natural stand. The aseptic synthesis of C. argyrophylla and Cenococcum geophilum was established for the first time in vitro. Typical ectomycorrhizas formed on seedlings on RM medium containing 0.1 g/l glucose, 5 weeks after inoculation. By light microscopy, the synthesized mycorrhizas showed a thin mantle from which emanated extramatrical hyphae and highly branched Hartig net. A simple, rapid, and convenient mycorrhiza synthesis system was developed, which facilitates further studies on ectomycorrhizal development of C. argyrophylla.

Habitat fragmentation has been generally recognized as the primary cause of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. China's Three-Gorges Dam, the largest and most dangerous dam in the world, presents an extraordinary opportunity for a grand-scale fragmentation experiment from which invaluable lessons can be learned.

The objective of this paper is to develop a finite element model for 3D elasticaplastic frictional contact problem of Cosserat materials. Because 3D elasticaplastic frictional contact problems belong to the unspecified boundary problems with nonlinearities in both material and geometric forms, a large number of calculations are needed to obtain numerical results with high accuracy. Based on the parametric variational principle and the corresponding quadratic programming method for numerical simulation of frictional contact problems, a finite element model is developed for 3D elasticaplastic frictional contact analysis of Cosserat materials. The problems are finally reduced to linear complementarity problems (LCP). Numerical examples show the feasibility and importance of the developed model for analyzing the contact problems of structures with materials which have micro-polar characteristics.