Mechanical properties and densification mechanism of powder-in-tube BaxK1-xFe2As2 superconductors

BaxK1-xFe2As2 (BaK-122) iron-based superconductors (IBSs) have been considered to be promising for high-field applications. The transport J c performance of BaK-122 wires and tapes is continuously enhanced by introducing advanced fabricating methods. The mass density of BaK-122 superconducting core in wires and tapes is important to the transport J c performance and related to the mechanical behavior during preparation. In this work, the mechanical property parameters including Poisson's ratio-density, yield strength-density, and elastic modulus-density of BaK-122 IBS powder were examined via uniaxial compression experiments. The density-dependent mechanical constitutive of BaK-122 was obtained for the first time. The relationship function between density and Vickers hardness of BaK-122 was established as HV0.05=0.0249ρ5.332 based on the numerical simulation of hardness testing, and a method for characterizing the BaK-122 core density was developed. It had been found the sheath materials and preparation method have great influences on the stress state of the BaK-122 core, and then affect the density. The densification mechanism and corresponding improvement method were revealed to provide guidance for preparing high-density BaK-122 wires and tapes. Finally, the generalized relationship between density and the superconducting transport J c was established according to lots of experimental data from multiple BaK-122 samples, which has confirmed the positive correlation of ρcore and J c. We comparatively discussed the various cold-work and heat-treatment processes used in our team for preparing the BaK-122 wires and tapes, and the critical factors affecting the transport performance were summarized.

Stability Improvement Method for Embankment Dam with Respect to Conduit Cracks

In recent years, as the number of reservoir embankments constructed has increased, embankment failures due to cracks in aging conduits have also increased. In this study, a crack in a conduit was modeled based on the current conduit design model, and the risk of internal erosion was analyzed using a large-scale model test and three-dimensional deformation–seepage analysis. The results show that when cracks existed in the conduit, soil erosion and cavitation occurred near the crack area, which made the conduit extremely vulnerable to internal erosion. Herein, a model is proposed that can reduce internal erosion by applying a layer of sand and geotextiles on the upper part of the conduit located close to the downstream slope. In the proposed model, only partial erosion occurred inside the conduit, and no cavitation appeared near the crack in the conduit. The results suggest that internal erosion can be suppressed when the water pressure acting intensively on the crack in the conduit is dispersed by the drainage layer. To validate these results, the pore water pressure, seepage line, and hydraulic gradient were investigated to confirm the erosion phenomenon and reinforcement effect.

Enabling User Relaying In MCM-NOMA Under Doubly Selective Channels Using Iterative Interference Cancellation Schemes For Wireless IoT Networks

<div>Cell-edge users of the future cellular internet of things (IoT) with massive IoT sensors can suffer from extremely severe channel conditions, especially under very high-speed scenarios. In this paper, we present a performance improvement method for cell-edge users of multi-carrier modulation (MCM)-based non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) downlink systems. To this end, we consider the implementation of cooperative user relaying NOMA (CUR-NOMA) and derive its lower bound end-to-end bit error rate (E2E-BER) under doubly selective channels. In addition, the imperfect successive interference cancellation (SIC) process is analyzed, wherein two interference cancellation schemes are combined to remove the NOMA induced inter-user interference (IUI) and the doubly selective channel induced inter-carrier interference (ICI). Furthermore, numerical simulations are performed to prove the efficiency of the introduced schemes with imperfect channel state information (CSI) when compared to the theoretical perfect SIC with a perfect CSI case. </div>

Enabling User Relaying In MCM-NOMA Under Doubly Selective Channels Using Iterative Interference Cancellation Schemes For Wireless IoT Networks

<div>Cell-edge users of the future cellular internet of things (IoT) with massive IoT sensors can suffer from extremely severe channel conditions, especially under very high-speed scenarios. In this paper, we present a performance improvement method for cell-edge users of multi-carrier modulation (MCM)-based non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) downlink systems. To this end, we consider the implementation of cooperative user relaying NOMA (CUR-NOMA) and derive its lower bound end-to-end bit error rate (E2E-BER) under doubly selective channels. In addition, the imperfect successive interference cancellation (SIC) process is analyzed, wherein two interference cancellation schemes are combined to remove the NOMA induced inter-user interference (IUI) and the doubly selective channel induced inter-carrier interference (ICI). Furthermore, numerical simulations are performed to prove the efficiency of the introduced schemes with imperfect channel state information (CSI) when compared to the theoretical perfect SIC with a perfect CSI case. </div>

Strain Improvement and Strain Maintenance Revisited. The Use of Actinoplanes teichomyceticus ATCC 31121 Protoplasts in the Identification of Candidates for Enhanced Teicoplanin Production

Multicellular cooperation in actinomycetes is a division of labor-based beneficial trait where phenotypically specialized clonal subpopulations, or genetically distinct lineages, perform complementary tasks. The division of labor improves the access to nutrients and optimizes reproductive and vegetative tasks while reducing the costly production of secondary metabolites and/or of secreted enzymes. In this study, we took advantage of the possibility to isolate genetically distinct lineages deriving from the division of labor, for the isolation of heterogeneous teicoplanin producer phenotypes from Actinoplanes teichomyceticus ATCC 31121. In order to efficiently separate phenotypes and associated genomes, we produced and regenerated protoplasts. This approach turned out to be a rapid and effective strain improvement method, as it allowed the identification of those phenotypes in the population that produced higher teicoplanin amounts. Interestingly, a heterogeneous teicoplanin complex productivity pattern was also identified among the clones. This study suggests that strain improvement and strain maintenance should be integrated with the use of protoplasts as a strategy to unravel the hidden industrial potential of vegetative mycelium.

Evaluation of Discharging Surplus Soils for Relative Stirred Deep Mixing Methods by MPS-CAE Analysis

Most of the ground in Japan is soft, leading to great damage in the event of liquefaction. Various ground-improvement measures are being taken to suppress such damage. However, it is difficult to carry out ground-improvement work while checking the internal conditions of the ground during the construction. Therefore, a visible and measurable evaluation of the performance of the ground-improvement work was conducted in this study. The authors performed a simulation analysis of the relative stirred deep mixing method (RS-DMM), a kind of ground-improvement method, using a computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis based on particle-based methods (PBMs). In the RS-DMM, the “displacement reduction type (DRT)” suppresses displacement during construction. Both the DRT and the normal type (NT) were simulated, and a visible and measurable evaluation was performed on the internal conditions during each construction, the quality of the improved body, and the displacement reduction performance. As an example of these results, it was possible to visually evaluate the discharge of surplus soil by the spiral rod attached to the stirring wing of the DRT. In addition, the authors succeeded in quantitatively showing that more surplus soil was discharged when the stirring wing of the DRT was used than when the stirring wing of the NT was used.

ISSUES AND COUNTERPLAN OF EVACATION CENTER AT NIGHT - CASE STUDY OF NORTHEN GYMNASIUM IN SUZAKA CITY AFFECTED BY TYPHOON HAGIBIS IN 2019 -

The living environment at the evacuation center is very important for ensuring the health, safety and security of the evacuees, but at present, preparations for providing a satisfactory living environment are not enough. In order to improve that, we have to consider various conditions, such as "ensure the lighting environment for the safe and secure and sleep," "toilet ensure," "ensure the thermal environment". In this study, we investigated the actual condition of glare in the nighttime lighting environment of evacuation center and examined the improvement method. Regarding the glare improvement method, the effectiveness of indirect lighting was shown based on the results of brightness distribution simulation with Radiance.