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The nitrile-containing insecticides sulfoxaflor, flonicamid, thiacloprid, and acetamiprid are used widely in agriculture, polluting the environment and harming animals. The Co2+-dependent enzyme nitrile hydratase (NHase) is a powerful tool for the degradation of nitrile-containing insecticides. Here, the NHase activities of Escherichia coli pET28a- Ps NHase, harboring Pseudomonas stutzeri CGMCC 22915 (Ps) NHase gene, and E. coli pET28a- Ps NHase- Ps CbiM, harboring genes of Ps NHase and a cobalt transporter Ps CbiM, were compared. The presence of Ps CbiM promoted Ps NHase activity. E. coli pET28a- Ps NHase- Ps CbiM was immobilized using calcium alginate, which increased the tolerance of its NHase to acidic, alkaline, and high-temperature environments. Immobilized E. coli pET28a- Ps NHase- Ps CbiM was applied to degrade sulfoxaflor, flonicamid, thiacloprid, and acetamiprid. These insecticides were both substrates and inhibitors of immobilized E. coli pET28a- Ps NHase- Ps CbiM. Substrate inhibition model assays showed that the optimum initial concentrations of sulfoxaflor, flonicamid, thiacloprid, and acetamiprid for degradation by immobilized cells were 455.01, 195.50, 139.20, and 410.26 μmol/L, respectively. Degradation of nitrile-containing insecticides by immobilized engineered E. coli cells was reported here for the first time. This study provides a novel and excellent bioremediation agent for treatment of wastewater contaminated with nitrile-containing insecticides. [Display omitted] • Nitrile-containing insecticides were degraded by immobilized engineering E. coli. • The degradation activity of immobilized cells was inhibited by high concentrations of insecticides. • Cell immobilization increased the tolerance of its NHase to environmental stress. • Ps CbiM transport Co2+ to Ps NHase and promoted its activity. • Ps CbiM had less than 30 % amino acid sequence similarity to other Co2+ transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin sheets of bean curd (TSBC), a favorite food in China, is mostly vacuum packed to maintain the shelf life. However, the vacuum packing processing will cause adhesion between sheets, which is difficult to peel. To solve this problem, a rapid dehydration technique for the TSBC using cold plasma was developed. The surface structure and physicochemical properties of the TSBC treated by cold plasma were evaluated. The results indicated that water contact angle increased from 0° to 66.37° and 66.94°, and adhesion between sheets decreased from 2.81 g. sec to 0.01 g.sec. It was due to the removal of the bulk-phase water from the TSBC. And scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of a dense structure on the TSBC surface. Moreover, surface structure determination revealed that the cold plasma etching led to the depolymerization of protein and the exposure of hydrophobic points without any effect on the primary structure. • TSBC treated by cold plasma formed a dense surface structure, reducing the adhesion between sheets. • The etching effects of cold plasma led to the depolymerization of protein of TSBC. • More hydrophobic groups of protein in TSBC were exposed, improving the surface hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We unify the diffusion and seepage process for nonlinear gas transport in multiscale porous media via a proposed new general transport equation. A coherent theoretical derivation indicates the wall-molecule and molecule-molecule collisions drive the Knudsen and collective diffusive fluxes, and constitute the system pressure across the porous media. A new terminology, nominal diffusion coefficient can summarize Knudsen and collective diffusion coefficients. Physical and numerical experiments show the support of the new formulation and provide approaches to obtain the diffusion coefficient and permeability simultaneously. This work has important implication for natural gas extraction and greenhouse gases sequestration in geological formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compositional reservoir simulation depicts the complex behaviors of all the components in gaseous, liquid, and oil phases. It helps to understand the dynamic changes in reservoirs. Parallel computing is implemented to speed up simulation in large scale fields. However, there is still many challenges in obtaining efficient and cost-effective parallel reservoir simulation. Load imbalance on processors in the parallel machine is a major problem and it severely affects the performance of parallel implementation in compositional reservoir simulators. This article presents a new approach to the reduction of load imbalance among processors in large scale parallel compositional reservoir simulation. The approach is based on graph partitioning techniques: Metis partitioning and spectral partitioning. These techniques treat the simulation grid, or the mesh, as a graph constituted by vertices and edges, and then partition the graph into smaller domains. Metis and spectral partitioning techniques are advantageous because they take into account the potential computational load of each grid block in the mesh and generate smaller partitions for heavy computational load areas and larger partitions for light computational load areas. In our case, the computational load is represented by transmissibility. After new partitions are generated, each of them is assigned to a processor in the parallel machine and new parallel reservoir simulation can be conducted. Traditionally, the intuitive 2D decomposition is frequently used to partition the simulation grid into small rectangles, and this is a major source of load imbalance. The performance of parallel compositional simulation based on our partitioning techniques is compared with the most commonly used 2D decomposition and it is found that load imbalance in our new simulations is reduced when compared with the traditional 2D decomposition. This study improves the efficiency of compositional simulation and eventually makes it more cost-effective for hydrocarbon simulation on mega-scale reservoir models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing attention being paid to the development of unconventional reservoirs, such as shale gas or tight gas reservoirs with nanoscale pores, over the last few years, there is a great demand to develop a coherent theoretical framework that explains the transport mechanisms that take place in a nanoporous medium. In this paper, a complete modelling workflow that spans the mesoscale to the macroscale, including the lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) and Navier–Stokes equations, is introduced to reflect these transport characteristics. Gas flow for different pore diameters and Knudsen numbers is simulated by LBM. Comparison between physical experimental measurements and the LBM simulation results shows that the general transport equation is most appropriate for describing gas flow in nanoporous media and that the values of the diffusion coefficient and intrinsic permeability can be obtained simultaneously using this equation. Intrinsic permeability decreases faster than the diffusion coefficient with the decreasing average pore diameters in nanoporous media. The general transport equation has been verified to reflect the mechanisms of flow and diffusion in nanoporous media, and it also provides a theoretical basis to assess the results attained from numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease which remains a main cause of death worldwide, and arises more and more concerns in recent years. CytochromeP450 (CYP450) is involved in the metabolism of many exogenous and endogenous compounds, and its polymorphism is associated with many diseases. The objective of our study was to explore the relationship between CYP450 polymorphisms and TB susceptibility in Northwest Chinese Han population. 506 TB patients and 506 controls were recruited for our study, and their DNA were extracted. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected for genotype. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the correlation between SNPs and TB risk. The genotype "TA" of CYP2C8 rs2275620 was related to an increased risk of TB in the co-dominant model (OR = 1.33, 95%CI =1.00–1.76, p = 0.049). In females, CYP2E1 rs2070672 was related to an increased TB susceptibility (co-dominant: OR = 1.62, 95%CI = 1.04–2.52, p = 0.032; dominant: OR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.08–2.56, p = 0.020; additive: OR = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.08–2.36, p = 0.018), and CYP2E1 rs2515641 was also associated with an increased risk of TB (co-dominant: OR = 1.90, 95%CI = 1.19–3.04, p = 0.007; dominant: OR = 1.94, 95%CI = 1.23–3.05, p = 0.004; additive: OR = 1.80, 95%CI = 1.20–2.71, p = 0.005) in women. But there was no statistical significance between haplotypes and TB risk (p > 0.05). Our research showed CYP2C8 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of TB in Northwest Chinese Han population, which may provide a crucial help on defining new therapeutic strategies for chemoprevention. • A case-control study explored the relationship between CYP2C8 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms with TB risk in Northwest Chinese Han population. • Genotype "TA" of CYP2C8 rs2275620 is related to an increased risk of TB. • In females, CYP2E1 rs2070672 and rs2515641 are associated with an increased risk of TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Desulfurization of JP-5 jet fuel (1172ppmw S) was investigated by π-complexation adsorption with AgNO3 supported on mesoporous silica SBA-15 and MCM-41. The average pore sizes of AgNO3/SBA-15 and AgNO3/MCM-41 were 48.8 and 19.1Å, respectively. The results of JP-5 desulfurization showed that significant sulfur breakthrough occurred at ∼10.0 and ∼15.0mL/g by AgNO3/SBA-15 and AgNO3/MCM-41, respectively, at a space velocity of 1.25h−1. The spent AgNO3/MCM-41 was regenerated by a simple process (heating in air at 200°C) and ∼50% of the sulfur capacity was recovered after the first cycle. Molecular orbital calculations show that Cu+ (as that in CuY zeolite) formed stronger π-complexation bonding with the thiophenic compounds than Ag+ (in AgNO3), as evidenced by experimental heats of adsorption. However, pore diffusion limitation of the large sulfur molecules (alkylated benzothiophenes) became an important factor for desulfurization of high sulfur jet fuels such that the AgNO3-supported mesoporous sorbents yielded substantially better results than Cu(I)Y, although Cu(I)Y was better for a model fuel that contained only small sulfur molecules. Among all sorbents that have been investigated, the AgNO3/MCM-41 sorbent showed the best desulfurization performance for high sulfur jet fuels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Desulfurization of a JP-5 light fraction (841ppmw S) for fuel cell applications was achieved by -complexation adsorption with CuCl and supported on the MCM-41 and SBA-15 mesoporous materials. CuCl/MCM-41, , CuCl/SBA-15 and sorbents were prepared with spontaneous monolayer dispersion of metal halides onto surfaces of supports. These sorbents were characterized with XRD, physical adsorption and CO chemisorption. The results showed that the mesoporous structures remained in the supported sorbents. Desulfurization of JP-5 light fraction with these sorbents was investigated at room temperature. showed by far the highest capacity of selective sulfur adsorption among all known sorbents, and the significant breakthrough occurred at about 50.0ml/g for desulfurization of JP-5 light fraction. The total sulfur content of JP-5 light fraction can be reduced from 841ppmw S to below 50.0ppmw S. The spent was regenerated by purge with benzene at 70°C, and the regenerated was tested again for the desulfurization. The results showed that about 44% and 48% of the sulfur capacity were recovered at breakthrough and saturation, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Total factor productivity (TFP) is a sustainable driver of economic growth, and TFP-driven growth is of great importance for a knowledge- and technology-intensive industry. However, there is a massive gap between theoretical research and practical observations on the role that TFP has played in driving construction growth since the global financial crisis. The understanding of this TFP role may shake and even change the traditional notion that the Chinese construction industry is a typical labor-intensive industry. To fulfill this gap, this paper presents an analysis on the driving effects of growth drivers in the industry. From the perspective of neoclassical growth theory, the Solow residual approach is applied to perform this analysis, where the growth drivers are decomposed into TFP, labor and capital. The data are collected from the China Statistical Yearbook on Construction and China Statistical Yearbook for the period of 2008–2016. Interestingly, the results indicate that during the surveyed period, the average driving effects of TFP, labor and capital were 45.08%, 39.95% and 14.97%, respectively. TFP was the first and foremost growth driver, but its driving effect has been facing a rigorous challenge from labor-driven effect. From an evolutionary perspective, the growth mostly driven by TFP occurred over 4 years (2008/09, 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14), which accounted for 50% of the whole study period; the growth mainly driven by labor occurred in only 3 years (2009/10, 2014/15 and 2015/16). Given this situation, the Chinese construction industry can no longer be considered a labor-intensive industry; instead, it is believed to be moving from a labor-intensive industry to a knowledge- and technology-intensive industry. • TFP-driven growth is of great importance for a knowledge- and technology-intensive industry. • The Chinese construction industry has long been regarded as a typical labor-intensive industry. • The average driving effect of TFP during the period 2008-2016 was much larger than that of labor. • The Chinese construction industry is thus considered to be moving towards a knowledge- and technology-intensive industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable and carbon free energy relates to the sustainable development of human beings while hydrogen production by renewables and hydrogen underground storage ensure the stable and economic renewable energy supply. A hybrid energy system combining hydrogen production by offshore wind power with hydrogen storage in depleted oil reservoirs was constructed along with a mathematical model where the Weibull distribution, Wind turbine power function, Faraday's law, continuity equation, Darcy's law, state equation of real gas, Net Present Value (NPV) and the concept of leveling were adopted to clarify the system characteristics. For the case of a depleted oil field in the Bohai Bay, China, the annual hydrogen production, annual levelized cost of hydrogen and payback period are 2.62 × 106 m³, CNY 34.6/kgH 2 and 7 years, respectively. Sensitivity analysis found that the wind speed impacted significantly on system NPV and LCOH, followed by hydrogen price and stratum pressure. • A novel hybrid energy system for hydrogen production and storage was built. • The hydrogen was produced by offshore wind while stored in the depleted reservoir. • The H 2 production and CO 2 reduction were 2.6 × 106 m³ and 6.9 × 105 kg annually. • The system NPV and payback period were CNY 1.1 × 108 and 7 years. • Wind speed, H 2 price and stratum static pressure impacted the most on system NPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common urological diseases is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with a high prevalence in the middle-aged and elderly male population. Patient's mental and physical health is affected significantly by this condition, causing them considerable discomfort. During the development of BPH, a synergistic effect occurs in response to inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis induced by the activation of macrophages. The nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway can mediate macrophage activation and inhibit prostate hyperplasia by suppressing pro-inflammatory factors, anti-oxidative stress disorder, and initiating apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to review the mechanism of action of Nrf2 signaling pathway-mediated macrophage activation on the immune microenvironment of BPH and to summarize the Chinese medicine based on Nrf2 to provide an overview of BPH treatment options. • This article reviews the Nrf 2 signaling -mediated macrophage activation mechanism on the BPH immune microenvironment. • The Nrf 2 signaling mediates macrophage activation and inhibits BPH by inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors. • The Nrf 2 signaling mediates macrophage activation and inhibits BPH by inhibiting oxidative stress disorders. • The Nrf 2 signaling mediates macrophage activation and inhibits BPH by initiating apoptosis. • The traditional Chinese medicine based on Nrf 2 were summarized to provide ideas for the BPH treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the coupling effects of temperature and ratio of steam to carbon on the methane steam reforming process, the characterizations of methane steam reforming at different temperature and ratio of steam to carbon in term of distribution of H 2 and CO, and the elementary reaction rate were investigated. Meanwhile, the formation mechanisms of H 2 and CO via sensitivity analysis and reaction path analysis were obtained. The results showed that the coupling effects of temperature and ratio of steam to carbon on the methane steam reforming were higher than that of individual factor. The effects of temperature on the methane steam reforming were higher than that of the ratio of steam to carbon. The adsorption and desorption reaction of CH 4 on the surface of Ni-based catalyst had the most obvious effect on the sensitivity of H 2 , CH 4 and CO. Besides, the effects of adsorption and desorption reaction of H 2 O on the sensitivity of H 2 were higher than that of CH 4 and CO. Hydrogen was generated by the desorption reaction of H(s) in the adsorbed state and from three generating paths: a) CH 4 (s) dissociated directly or reacted with O(s) to form H(s); b) The dissociation reaction of H 2 O(s) produced H(s); c) OH(s) dissociated directly or reacted with C(s) to form H(s). Carbon monoxide was generated from single path: CH 4 (s)→CH 3 (s)→CH 2 (s)→CH(s)→C(s)→CO(s)→CO(g). • The coupling effects of temperature and the ratio of steam to carbon on methane steam reforming mechanism were investigated. • The hydrogen and carbon monoxide reaction path route was obtained. • The methane conducted a direct decomposition reaction on the surface of catalyst which showed as following: CH 4 (s)→CH 3 (s)→CH 2 (s)→CH(s)→C(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]