Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System and a Multilayer Perceptron Model Trained with Grey Wolf Optimizer for Predicting Solar Diffuse Fraction

The accurate prediction of the solar diffuse fraction (DF), sometimes called the diffuse ratio, is an important topic for solar energy research. In the present study, the current state of Diffuse irradiance research is discussed and then three robust, machine learning (ML) models are examined using a large dataset (almost eight years) of hourly readings from Almeria, Spain. The ML models used herein, are a hybrid adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), a single multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and a hybrid multi-layer perceptron grey wolf optimizer (MLP-GWO). These models were evaluated for their predictive precision, using various solar and DF irradiance data, from Spain. The results were then evaluated using frequently used evaluation criteria, the mean absolute error (MAE), mean error (ME) and the root mean square error (RMSE). The results showed that the MLP-GWO model, followed by the ANFIS model, provided a higher performance in both the training and the testing procedures.     

水硬性石灰合成及拉破坏特性试验研究

水硬性石灰在欧洲石质文物修复和加固中获得了很大成功。我国的石质文物主要是砂岩,水硬性石灰的修复效果不好。为满足我国石质文物修复和加固的需求,本文以石灰石和黏土为原料,在950℃煅烧不同时间,制备出水硬性石,对试样的成分、微观形貌、收缩率、抗拉强度和拉破坏过程等进行了研究。结果表明:(1)试样中含有水硬性成分2CaO·SiO2(C2S);煅烧8h时,成分与欧洲水硬性石灰NHL5接近;1.5CaO·SiO2·xH2O(C-S-H)和CaCO3的含量随龄期的增加逐渐增加。(2)龄期1~3d,收缩率较小;龄期4~6d,收缩率以线性规律增加;7d以后,收缩率趋于稳定。(3)局部变形区随拉应力的增加而变大,邻近局部变形区逐渐合并,形成面积更大的应变局部化带;载荷超过峰值后,产生微裂隙;随载荷进一步增加,微裂隙扩展,贯穿整个试件,发展成宏观裂隙,使试件破坏。(4)抗拉强度随龄期的增加而增加,水硬性石灰中C-S-H、CaCO3等相互交织,构成空间致密体,使试件力学强度提高。合成的水硬性石灰物理力学性能与欧洲水硬性石灰NHL5相近,并且成分均匀、可控,在石质文物修复和加固工程中具有良好应用前景。     

Structure of Amido Pyridinium Betaines: Persistent Intermolecular C−H⋅⋅⋅N Hydrogen Bonding in Solution

A hydrogen bond of the type C?H???X (X=O or N) is known to influence the structure and function of chemical and biological systems in solution. C?H???O hydrogen bonding in solution has been extensively studied, both experimentally and computationally, whereas the equivalent thermodynamic parameters have not been enumerated experimentally for C?H???N hydrogen bonds. This is, in part, due to the lack of systems that exhibit persistent C?H???N hydrogen bonds in solution. Herein, a class of molecule based on a biologically active norharman motif that exhibits unsupported intermolecular C?H???N hydrogen bonds in solution has been described. A pairwise interaction leads to dimerisation to give bond strengths of about 7 kJ mol^?1 per hydrogen bond, which is similar to chemically and biologically relevant C?H???O hydrogen bonding. The experimental data is supported by computational work, which provides additional insight into the hydrogen bonding by consideration of electrostatic and orbital interactions and allowed a comparison between calculated and extrapolated NMR chemical shifts.     

溶剂去除速度对于溶剂退火薄膜相形貌的影响

以聚苯乙烯-聚4-乙烯基吡啶(PS-b-P4VP)嵌段共聚物作为研究对象,采用DMF作为退火溶剂,以原子力显微镜(AFM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)为表征手段,研究了溶剂退火后期溶胀薄膜中溶剂的去除速度对于薄膜相形貌的影响,发现通过改变溶剂去除速度可以有效的调控薄膜中的形貌.当薄膜厚度为35 nm时,DMF的快速挥发会导致薄膜中形成以PS为分散相的反转柱状相结构,当降低溶剂的挥发速度时,薄膜中形成了以PS为分散相的环状形貌,当进一步减缓挥发速度时,薄膜中将形成台阶状的片层结构;然而当薄膜厚度为55 nm时,溶剂退火后期薄膜中形成的是以P4VP为分散相的正常柱状相结构,在相同溶剂去除速度条件下薄膜相形貌变化较小.     

Solar Thermal Energy Storage in a Photochromic Macrocycle

The conversion and efficient storage of solar energy is recognized to hold significant potential with regard to future energy solutions. Molecular solar thermal batteries based on photochromic systems exemplify one possible technology able to harness and apply this potential. Herein is described the synthesis of a macrocycle based on a dimer of the dihydroazulene/vinylheptafulvene (DHA/VHF) photo/thermal couple. By taking advantage of conformational strain, this DHA–DHA macrocycle presents an improved ability to absorb and store incident light energy in chemical bonds (VHF–VHF). A stepwise energy release over two sequential ring‐closing reactions (VHF→DHA) combines the advantages of an initially fast discharge, hypothetically addressing immediate energy consumption needs, followed by a slow process for consistent, long‐term use. This exemplifies another step forward in the molecular engineering and design of functional organic materials towards solar thermal energy storage and release.     

Influence of Polarity and Activation Energy in Microwave–Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS)

The aim of this work was to determine the parameters that have decisive roles in microwave-assisted reactions and to develop a model, using computational chemistry, to predict a priori the type of reactions that can be improved under microwaves. For this purpose, a computational study was carried out on a variety of reactions, which have been reported to be improved under microwave irradiation. This comprises six types of reactions. The outcomes obtained in this study indicate that the most influential parameters are activation energy, enthalpy, and the polarity of all the species that participate. In addition to this, in most cases, slower reacting systems observe a much greater improvement under microwave irradiation. Furthermore, for these reactions, the presence of a polar component in the reaction (solvent, reagent, susceptor, etc.) is necessary for strong coupling with the electromagnetic radiation. We also quantified that an activation energy of 20–30 kcal mol⁻¹ and a polarity (μ) between 7–20 D of the species involved in the process is required to obtain significant improvements under microwave irradiation.     

UHMWPE纤维的超临界CO_2辅助渗透预处理研究

利用Minitab软件设计实验,以超高分子量聚乙烯纤维(UHMWPE)为原料,研究了在不同的超临界CO_2流体状态下,处理压力、温度和时间等因素对三羟甲基丙烷三甲基丙烯酸酯(TMPTMA)渗入率的影响,确定了最佳因素设置范围;通过单因子实验优化了超临界CO_2处理工艺,并对经过电子束辐照的UHMWPE纤维凝胶含量和蠕变率进行了测试。研究结果表明:处理温度对TMPTMA的渗入率影响最大,其次为压力,时间的影响最小,确定了最优工艺条件为处理压力25MPa,温度80℃,时间30min;TMPTMA渗入率越高,电子束辐照后UHMWPE纤维的增感辐照交联效应和抗蠕变效果越好。     

A paper-based resonance energy transfer nucleic acid hybridization assay using upconversion nanoparticles as donors and quantum dots as acceptors

Monodisperse aqueous upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) were covalently immobilized on aldehyde modified cellulose paper via reduction amination to develop a luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET)-based nucleic acid hybridization assay. This first account of covalent immobilization of UCNPs on paper for a bioassay reports an optically responsive method that is sensitive, reproducible and robust. The immobilized UCNPs were decorated with oligonucleotide probes to capture HPRT1 housekeeping gene fragments, which in turn brought reporter conjugated quantum dots (QDs) in close proximity to the UCNPs for LRET. This sandwich assay could detect unlabeled oligonucleotide target, and had a limit of detection of 13 fmol and a dynamic range spanning nearly 3 orders of magnitude. The use of QDs, which are excellent LRET acceptors, demonstrated improved sensitivity, limit of detection, dynamic range and selectivity compared to similar assays that have used molecular fluorophores as acceptors. The selectivity of the assay was attributed to the decoration of the QDs with polyethylene glycol to eliminate non-specific adsorption. The kinetics of hybridization were determined to be diffusion limited and full signal development occurred within 3 min.     

Imaging and tracking an electrostatic charge micro-domain by Kelvin force microscopy as evidence of water adsorption on mica surface

Muscovite mica is a widely accepted substrate for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) investigations. However, mica has intrinsic properties that alter samples and obstruct their analysis due to free charges build-up, ionic exchange and water adsorption taking place at the surface. In addition to interfacial phenomena, there is a growing interest in electrostatic charges on insulators as they are crucial in diverse applications. Despite the high demand for studies of this nature, experimental set-ups capable of resolving charge build-up at the micro-scale are still scarce and technically limited. Here, we report the imaging of surface charge dissipation on freshly cleaved mica by Kelvin-probe Force Microscopy (KPFM). A local electrostatic charge micro-domain was generated by friction between an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and mica, and its decay was tracked by two-dimensional mapping using KPFM. We found time-dependent charge dissipation, which is attributed to the adsorption of water molecules on mica surface.