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Chen, Xi

Publications and source records attributed to Chen, Xi.

At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

TMRT OBSERVATIONS OF CARBON-CHAIN MOLECULES IN SERPENS SOUTH 1a

We report Shanghai Tian Ma Radio Telescope (TMRT) detections of several long carbon-chain molecules in the C and Ku bands, including HC{sub 3}N, HC{sub 5}N, HC{sub 7}N, HC{sub 9}N, C{sub 3}S, C{sub 6}H, and C{sub 8}H toward the starless cloud Serpens South 1a. We detected some transitions (HC{sub 9}N J = 13–12, F = 12–11, and F = 14–13; H{sup 13}CCCN J = 2–1, F = 1–0, and F = 1–1; HC{sup 13}CCN J = 2–1, F = 2–2, F = 1–0, and F = 1–1; HCC{sup 13}CN J = 2–1, F = 1–0, and F = 1–1) and resolved some hyperfine components (HC{sub 5}N J = 6–5, F = 5–4; H{sup 13}CCCN J = 2–1, F = 2–1) for the first time in the interstellar medium. The column densities of these carbon-chain molecules in the range 10{sup 12}–10{sup 13} cm{sup −2} are comparable to two carbon-chain molecule rich sources, TMC-1 and Lupus-1A. The abundance ratios are 1.00:(1.11 ± 0.15):(1.47 ± 0.18) for [H{sup 13}CCCN]:[HC{sup 13}CCN]:[HCC{sup 13}CN]. This result implies that the {sup 13}C isotope is also concentrated in the carbon atom adjacent to the nitrogen atom in HC{sub 3}N in Serpens South 1a, which is similar to TMC-1. The [HC{sub 3}N]/[H{sup 13}CCCN] ratio of 78 ± 9, the [HC{sub 3}N]/[HC{sup 13}CCN] ratio of 70 ± 8, and the [HC{sub 3}N]/[HCC{sup 13}CN] ratio of 53 ± 4 are also comparable to those in TMC-1. Serpens South 1a proves to be a suitable testing ground for understanding carbon-chain chemistry.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electron Cyclotron Heating system status and upgrades on DIII-D

The Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) system on the DIII-D tokamak consists of six 110 GHz gyrotrons with corrugated coaxial 31.75 mm waveguide transmission lines and steerable launching mirrors. The system has been gradually updated, leading to increased experimental flexibility and a high system reliability of 91% in the past year. Operationally, the gyrotrons can generate up to a total of 4.8 MW of rf power for pulses up to 5 seconds in length. The maximum ECH energy injected into the DIII-D has been 16.6 MJ. The HE11 mode content is over 85% for all the lines, and the transmission coefficient is better than -1.1 dB for all the transmission lines, close to the theoretical value. A new depressed collector gyrotron was recently installed and was injecting up to 640 kW of power into the plasma during 2014-2015 tokamak operations. Three dual waveguide launchers, which can steer the RF beams ±20 degrees poloidally and toroidally, were used for real-time neoclassical tearing mode control and suppression. The launchers now have increased poloidal scanning speed and beam positioning accuracy of ~±2 mm at the plasma center. A new method of in-situ calibration of the mirror angle was used in conjunction with the upgrading of the encoders and motors for the launchers. Two more gyrotrons are expected to be installed and operational in 2015-2016. The first is a repaired 110 GHz, 1 MW gyrotron that had a gun failure after more than 11 years of operation at DIII-D. The second is a newly designed depressed collector tube in the 1.5 MW class, operating at 117.5 GHz, manufactured by Communications and Power Industries (CPI). It operates in the TE20,9 mode and has achieved 1.8 MW for short pulses during factory testing. Furthermore, this gyrotron is undergoing rework to address a high voltage standoff problem.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Influence of inserted Mo layer on the thermal stability of perpendicularly magnetized Ta/Mo/Co{sub 20}Fe{sub 60}B{sub 20}/MgO/Ta films

We studied the thermal stability of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in Ta/Mo/CoFeB/MgO/Ta films with and without inserted Mo layers. In the absence of a Mo layer, the films show PMA at annealing temperatures below 300 °C. On the other hand, the insertion of a Mo layer preserves PMA at annealing temperatures of up to 500 °C; however, a higher annealing temperature leads to the collapse of PMA. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to study the microstructure of the films to understand the deterioration of PMA. The XPS results show that the segregation of Ta is partly suppressed by inserting a Mo layer. Once inserted, Mo does not remain at the interface of Ta and CoFeB but migrates to the surface of the films. The HRTEM results show that the crystallization of the MgO (001) texture is improved owing to the higher annealing temperature of the Mo inserted sample. A smooth and clear CoFeB/MgO interface is evident. The inserted Mo layer not only helps to obtain sharper and smoother interfaces but also contributes to the crystallization after the higher annealing temperature of films.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS2016

Have GRACE Satellites Overestimated Groundwater Depletion in the Northwest India Aquifer?

The Northwest India Aquifer (NWIA) has been shown to have the highest groundwater depletion (GWD) rate globally, threatening crop production and sustainability of groundwater resources. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites have been emerging as a powerful tool to evaluate GWD with ancillary data. Accurate GWD estimation is, however, challenging because of uncertainties in GRACE data processing. We evaluated GWD rates over the NWIA using a variety of approaches, including newly developed constrained forward modeling resulting in a GWD rate of 3.1 plus or minus 0.1 centimeters per acre (or 14 plus or minus 0.4 cubic kilometers per acre) for Jan 2005-Dec 2010, consistent with the GWD rate (2.8 centimeters per acre or 12.3 cubic kilometers per acre) from groundwater-level monitoring data. Published studies (e.g., 4 plus or minus 1 centimeter per acre or 18 plus or minus 4.4 cubic kilometers per acre) may overestimate GWD over this region. This study highlights uncertainties in GWD estimates and the importance of incorporating a priori information to refine spatial patterns of GRACE signals that could be more useful in groundwater resource management and need to be paid more attention in future studies.

Long, Di↗
DOE OSTI2016

Diverse wave-particle interactions for energetic ions that traverse Alfvén eigenmodes on their first full orbit

Neutral-beam ions that are deflected onto loss orbits by Alfvén eigenmodes (AE) on their first bounce orbit and are detected by a fast-ion loss detector (FILD) satisfy the “local resonance” condition proposed by Zhang et al. [Nucl. Fusion 55, 22002 (2015)]. This theory qualitatively explains FILD observations for a wide variety of AE-particle interactions. When coherent losses are measured for multiple AE, oscillations at the sum and difference frequencies of the independent modes are often observed in the loss signal. The amplitudes of the sum and difference peaks correlate weakly with the amplitudes of the fundamental loss-signal amplitudes but do not correlate with the measured mode amplitudes. In contrast to a simple uniform-plasma theory of the interaction [Chen et al., Nucl. Fusion 54, 083005 (2014)], the loss-signal amplitude at the sum frequency is often larger than the loss-signal amplitude at the difference frequency, indicating a more detailed computation of the orbital trajectories through the mode eigenfunctions is needed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Charge ordering in stoichiometric FeTe: Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy

In this study, we use scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to reveal a unique stripy charge order in a parent phase of iron-based superconductors in stoichiometric FeTe epitaxy films. The charge order has unusually the same—usually half—period as the spin order. We also found highly anisotropic electron band dispersions being large and little along the ferromagnetic (crystallographic b) and antiferromagnetic (a) directions, respectively. Our data suggest that the microscopic mechanism is likely of the Stoner type driven by interatomic Coulomb repulsion V ij , and that V ij and charge fluctuations, so far much neglected, are important to the understanding of iron-based superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Mechanical properties of phosphorene nanoribbons and oxides

Mechanical properties of phosphorene nanoribbons and oxides are investigated by using density functional theory. It is found that the ideal strength of nanoribbon decreases in comparison with that of 2D phosphorene. The Young's modulus of armchair nanoribbon has a remarkable size effect because of the edge relaxations. The analysis of the stress-strain relation indicates that, owing to chemisorbed oxygen atoms, the ideal strength and Young's modulus of 2D phosphorene oxide are greatly reduced along the zigzag direction, especially upon high oxidation ratios. In addition, strain and oxidation have significant impacts on phonon dispersion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Impact of central ECCD on steady-state hybrid scenario in DIII-D

“Steady-state” hybrid plasmas in DIII-D with zero surface loop voltage have been maintained for up to two current relaxation times using 3.4 MW of central electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD). In addition to driving ≈0.2 MA of plasma current, central ECCD leads to significant changes in Alfvén eigenmode (AE) activity and thermal transport. For neutral-beam-only heating, strong AE activity is observed that causes a ∼35% degradation in the neutron rate. With central ECCD this AE activity is suppressed, replaced by a bursty energetic particle mode that appears more benign as the neutron rate is closer to the classical value. The electron thermal diffusivity increases by ≈50% for 2.4 MW of ECCD compared to neutral-beam-only cases. Fortunately, the global thermal confinement factor remains the same (H{sub 98y2}=1.4) as the higher thermal transport for P{sub EC}=2.4 MW hybrids is offset by the decreased fast ion transport resulting from AE suppression.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ancestral TCDD exposure promotes epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of imprinted gene Igf2: Methylation status and DNMTs

Ancestral TCDD exposure could induce epigenetic transgenerational phenotypes, which may be mediated in part by imprinted gene inheritance. The aim of our study was to evaluate the transgenerational effects of ancestral TCDD exposure on the imprinted gene insulin-like growth factor-2 (Igf2) in rat somatic tissue. TCDD was administered daily by oral gavage to groups of F0 pregnant SD rats at dose levels of 0 (control), 200 or 800 ng/kg bw during gestation day 8–14. Animal transgenerational model of ancestral exposure to TCDD was carefully built, avoiding sibling inbreeding. Hepatic Igf2 expression of the TCDD male progeny was decreased concomitantly with hepatic damage and increased activities of serum hepatic enzymes both in the F1 and F3 generation. Imprinted Control Region (ICR) of Igf2 manifested a hypermethylated pattern, whereas methylation status in the Differentially Methylated Region 2 (DMR2) showed a hypomethylated manner in the F1 generation. These epigenetic alterations in these two regions maintained similar trends in the F3 generation. Meanwhile, the expressions of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B) changed in a non-monotonic manner both in the F1 and F3 generation. This study provides evidence that ancestral TCDD exposure may promote epigenetic transgenerational alterations of imprinted gene Igf2 in adult somatic tissue. - Highlights: • Ancestral TCDD exposure induces epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. • Ancestral TCDD exposure affects methylation status in ICR and DMR2 region of Igf2. • DNMTs play a role in TCDD induced epigenetic transgenerational changes of Igf2.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

MicroRNA-130a and -130b enhance activation of hepatic stellate cells by suppressing PPARγ expression: A rat fibrosis model study

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary sources of extracellular matrix (ECM) in normal and fibrotic liver. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) maintains HSCs in a quiescent state, and its downregulation induces HSC activation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can induce PPARγ mRNA degradation, but the mechanism by which miRNAs regulate PPARγ in rat HSCs is unclear. This study aimed to investigate some miRNAs which putatively bind to the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of PPARγ mRNA, and increase expression of ECM genes in rat HSCs. In carbon tetrachloride injection (CCl{sub 4}) and common bile duct ligation (CBDL) liver fibrosis models, miRNAs miR-130a, miR-130b, miR-301a, miR-27b and miR-340 levels were found to be increased and PPARγ expression decreased. Overexpression of miR-130a and miR-130b enhanced cell proliferation by involving Runx3. MiR-130a and miR-130b decreased PPARγ expression by targeting the 3′-UTR of PPARγ mRNA in rat HSC-T6 cells. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) may mediate miR-130a and miR-130b overexpression, PPARγ downregulation, and ECM genes overexpression in cell culture. These findings suggest that miR-130a and miR-130b are involved in downregulation of PPARγ in liver fibrosis. - Highlights: • MiR-130a and miR-130b are increased and PPARγ is decreased in liver fibrosis models. • MiR-130a and miR-130b decreased PPARγ by targeting the 3′-UTR of PPARγ mRNA. • MiR-130a and miR-130b enhanced HSC cell proliferation by involving Runx3. • TGF-β1 may mediate miR-130a and miR-130b overexpression.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗