天津市地下水生态系统服务价值演变

基于千年生态系统评估对生态系统服务的分类方法，将天津市地下水生态系统服务功能划分为供给、调节、 支持和文化 4 个方面，以此为基础建立地下水生态系统服务价值评估指标体系，采用价值量评估方法构建货币化 的价值评估模型，对地下水生态系统服务价值进行测算，并重点分析南水北调中线工程通水前后天津市地下水生 态系统服务价值演变特征。结果表明：2008—2019 年，天津市地下水生态系统年均总服务价值为 83.71 亿元，其 中，南水北调中线工程通水前（2008—2014 年）为 69.81 亿元，通水后（2015—2019 年）为 103.18 亿元；通水后，地 下水调节服务价值、支持服务价值增大，供给服务价值减小；南水北调中线工程对地下水生态系统服务价值的贡 献呈增大趋势，由 2015 年 2.64 亿元增加至 2019 年 24.01 亿元。     

气候变化背景下滇中引水工程水源区与受水区 降水丰枯遭遇分析

基于历史实测降水数据与全球气候模型预估数据，使用 Morlet 小波方法分析滇中引水工程水源区与受水区 降水序列的周期变化和未来的降水趋势。同时，采用 Copula 函数计算历史时期（1960—2021 年）与未来时期 （2022—2100 年）水源区与受水区降水丰枯异步或丰枯同步的概率。结果表明：1960—2021 年降水序列存在 26~39?a、18~25?a、4~7?a 的 3 类时间尺度的周期变化，2022—2100 年降水序列存在 38~55?a、18~30?a、5~12?a 的 3 类时间尺度的周期变化，降水量呈现“多—少—多”的循环交替，预计未来 10~20?a 将持续处于降水较多的时期； 过去 62?a，水源区和受水区降水丰枯异步频率 36.4%，同期丰水年频率为 25.3%，同期枯水年频率小于 30%，水源区 和受水区具有水量互补的引水条件，两区域之间存在着水量补偿特征；与历史丰枯遭遇对比，未来降水量丰枯同 步频率均呈现减小的趋势，丰枯异步呈现增加的趋势，同枯和源枯受丰的频率减少，未来有利于调水的降水丰枯 组合概率平均增加 3.75%；在近、中、远期预估中，从 SSP1-2.6 情景过渡到 SSP5-8.5 情景，SSP5-8.5 情景下降水量 丰枯异步频率比 SSP1-2.6 情景大，说明水源区与受水区的降水区域差异变大，降水时空差异更加显著。通过对滇 中引水工程水源区与受水区降水量丰枯遭遇的综合分析、定量评估和模拟预测，为滇中引水工程水资源调度协同 一体化提供数据支撑及参考依据。     

Endoglin Targeting: Lessons Learned and Questions That Remain

Approximately 30 years ago, endoglin was identified as a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β coreceptor with a crucial role in developmental biology and tumor angiogenesis. Its selectively high expression on tumor vessels and its correlation with poor survival in cancer patients led to the exploration of endoglin as a therapeutic target for cancer. The endoglin neutralizing antibody TRC105 (Carotuximab^®, Tracon Pharmaceuticals (San Diego, CA, USA) was subsequently tested in a wide variety of preclinical cancer models before being tested in phase I-III clinical studies in cancer patients as both a monotherapy and in combination with other chemotherapeutic and anti-angiogenic therapies. The combined data of these studies have revealed new insights into the role of endoglin in angiogenesis and its expression and functional role on other cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we will summarize the preclinical work, clinical trials and biomarker studies of TRC105 and explore what these studies have enabled us to learn and what questions remain unanswered.     

Matrix Transformation in Boron Containing High-Temperature Co–Re–Cr Alloys

An addition of boron largely increases the ductility in polycrystalline high-temperature Co–Re alloys. Therefore, the effect of boron on the alloy structural characteristics is of high importance for the stability of the matrix at operational temperatures. Volume fractions of ε (hexagonal close-packed—hcp), γ (face-centered cubic—fcc) and σ (Cr₂Re₃ type) phases were measured at ambient and high temperatures (up to 1500 °C) for a boron-containing Co–17Re–23Cr alloy using neutron diffraction. The matrix phase undergoes an allotropic transformation from ε to γ structure at high temperatures, similar to pure cobalt and to the previously investigated, more complex Co–17Re–23Cr–1.2Ta–2.6C alloy. It was determined in this study that the transformation temperature depends on the boron content (0–1000 wt. ppm). Nevertheless, the transformation temperature did not change monotonically with the increase in the boron content but reached a minimum at approximately 200 ppm of boron. A probable reason is the interplay between the amount of boron in the matrix and the amount of σ phase, which binds hcp-stabilizing elements (Cr and Re). Moreover, borides were identified in alloys with high boron content.     

Robust Metallic Actuators Based on Nanoporous Gold Rapidly Dealloyed from Gold–Nickel Precursors

Dealloyed nanoporous gold (np-Au) has applications as oxygen reduction catalysis in Li-air batteries and fuel cells, or as actuators to convert electricity into mechanical energy. However, it faces the challenges of coarsening-induced structure instability, mechanical weakness due to low relative densities, and slow dealloying rates. Here, monolithic np-Au is dealloyed from a single-phase Au₂₅Ni₇₅ solid-solution at a one-order faster dealloying rate, ultra-low residual Ni content, and importantly, one-third more relative density than np-Au dealloyed from conventional Au₂₅Ag₇₅. The small atomic radius and low dealloying potential of the sacrificing element Ni are intrinsically beneficial to fast produce high relative density np-Au, as predicted by a general model for dealloying of binary alloys and validated by experiments. Stable, durable, and reversible actuation of np-Au takes place under cyclic potential triggering in alkaline and acidic electrolytes with negligible coarsening-induced strain-shift. The thermal and mechanical robustness of bulk np-Au is confirmed by two-order slower ligament coarsening rates during annealing at 300 °C and 45 MPa macroscopic yielding strength distinctive from the typical early onset of plastic yielding. This article opens a rich direction to achieve high relative density np-Au which is essential for porous network connectivity, mechanical strength, and nanostructure robustness for electrochemical functionality.     

南水北调中线水源区浮游植物群落结构 及其生物多样性

为探究南水北调中线水源区丹江口水库浮游植物群落结构变化及其生物多样性，于 2014—2015 年对丹江 口水库进行为期 1 年的调查和分析。发现浮游植物共 8 门 76 属 101 种，其中，绿藻门、蓝藻门及硅藻门占总种数 90.10%，绿藻门种类数最多（45 种），其次是蓝藻门（26 种）和硅藻门（20 种）。浮游植物群落结构随季节变化有所 不同：夏秋季节生物量明显高于冬春季节；优势种在冬季以颗粒直链藻、颗粒直链藻极狭变种、铜绿微囊藻和小 环藻为主，春季以球衣藻、薄甲藻属及小环藻为主，夏季以简单颤藻、单胞衣藻原变种和球衣藻为主，秋季以类颤 藻鱼腥藻、简单颤藻、球衣藻和小环藻为主。应用 Shannon-Wiener 多样性指数 H′、Pielou 均匀度指数 J′、Margalef 丰富度指数 Dm评价水质结果表明：丹江口水库夏秋季水体营养化程度更高。典型对应分析表明：水温、透明度、 总氮、总磷等是影响浮游植物群落结构的主要环境因子，夏秋季受温度影响蓝藻、绿藻数量逐渐增多，一定程度 上增加了受水区生态变化风险。本研究可为南水北调中线水源区丹江口水库生态环境变化及生物迁移风险提供 数据支持。     

Diversity of Biogas Plant Realizations

A techno‐economic analysis for four different types of biogas plant realizations was performed, including one biogas biorefinery concept. For each concept detail, a process flow diagram was created. Mass and energy balances were estimated. The net present value and payback were calculated for each concept for a better feasibility understanding. The results showed that with the used expensive substrate, namely, wheat straw, the obtained paybacks appeared to be more than 100 years. Sensitivity analysis was done for the price range of a substrate. Critical factors were defined to improve feasibility.     

Measuring Local Crystallization Fouling in a Double-Pipe Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Although fouling is a problem varying in space and time, sizing and assessment of a process apparatus is almost always based on one single integral fouling resistance value. Furthermore, the integral fluid dynamic behavior, e.g. the development of time-dependent pressure drop in a heat exchanger, can be influenced by local constrictions. While it is generally possible to determine the time dependency of the integral fouling behavior, local differences are not taken into consideration at present. Therefore, this paper introduces a metrological, an incremental and a segmental approach to study the local development of crystallization fouling by calcium sulfate in a countercurrent double-pipe heat exchanger. The consecutive approaches allow for thermal, volumetric, gravimetric, and optical fouling investigations, aiming to examine the axial distribution of deposit as well as local differences in the deposit morphology. All methods provided congruent results and local fouling could be described properly. An almost clean surface at the colder end of the heat exchanger and an exponential increase of deposit thickness were observed towards the hot end. Hence, the section near to the hot water inlet turned out to be a key area with regards to increasing fouling mass and structural changes of the layer.     

Extracellular Vesicles and Asthma—More Than Just a Co-Existence

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous structures, which are secreted by almost every cell type analyzed so far. In addition to their importance for cell-cell communication under physiological conditions, EVs are also released during pathogenesis and mechanistically contribute to this process. Here we summarize their functional relevance in asthma, one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases. Asthma is a complex persistent inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by reversible airflow obstruction and, from a long-term perspective, airway remodeling. Overall, mechanistic studies summarized here indicate the importance of different subtypes of EVs and their variable cargoes in the functioning of the pathways underlying asthma, and show some interesting potential for the development of future therapeutic interventions. Association studies in turn demonstrate a good diagnostic potential of EVs in asthma.