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In previous research simulating steelmaking ladles using cold water models, the dosage/volume of the salt tracer solution is one of the factors that has been overlooked by researchers to a certain extent. Previous studies have demonstrated that salt tracers may influence the flow and measured mixing time of fluids in water models. Based on a water model scaled down from an industrial 130-ton ladle by a ratio of 1:3, this study investigates the impact of salt tracer dosage on the transport and mixing of tracers in the water model of gas-stirred ladle with a moderate gas flow rate. A preliminary uncertainty analysis of the experimental mixing time is performed, and the standard deviations were found to be less than 15%. It was observed in the experiments that the transport paths of tracers in the ladle can be classified into two trends. A common trend is that the injected salt solution tracer is asymmetrically transported towards the left sidewall of the ladle by the main circulation. In another trend, the injected salt solution tracer is transported both by the main circulation to the left side wall and by downward flow towards the gas column. The downward flow may be accelerated and become a major flow pattern when the tracer volume increases. For the dimensionless concentration curve, the sinusoidal type, which represents a rapid mixing, is observed at the top surface monitoring points, while the parabolic type is observed at the bottom monitoring points. An exception is the monitoring point at the right-side bottom (close to the asymmetric gas nozzle area), where both sinusoidal-type and parabolic-type curves are observed. Regarding the effect of tracer volume on the curve and mixing time, the curves at the top surface monitoring points are less influenced but curves at the bottom monitoring points are noticeably influenced by the tracer volume. A trend of decreasing and then increasing as the tracer volume increases was found at the top surface monitoring points, while the mixing times at the bottom monitoring points decrease with the increase in the tracer volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a facile and accurate method for assessing catalytic activities of supported metals can significantly promote the preparation and application of supported metal catalysts. Herein, we synthesized five MCM-41 materials functionalized with Schiff-base groups, which were employed as the supports for copper cations. The chemical structures and coordination of copper cations on the supports were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The grafting densities were calculated by analyzing the results of thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and elemental analysis (EA). The microstructures of these supported copper catalysts were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The oxidation of thioanisole to methylphenyl sulfoxide was employed to determine the catalytic activities of these supported copper catalysts while their o-Ps annihilation properties were evaluated by the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. It is found that the o-Ps annihilation properties were linearly correlated with their catalytic activities. Therefore, the catalytic activities of supported copper species surrounded by different functional groups can be easily determined through o-Ps annihilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the key algorithms in supporting AV (autonomous vehicle) to complete the LC (lane changing) maneuver, the LTP (LC trajectory planning) algorithm generates safe and efficient LC trajectory for the AV. This paper proposes a novel dynamic LTP algorithm based on the quintic polynomial curve. This algorithm is capable of adjusting LC trajectory according to the state changes of the surrounding driving environment. The formulation of our proposed algorithm mainly consists the underlying form of trajectory equation, the optimization objective function, the corresponding constrains, and the SQP (sequential quadratic programming) algorithm. For each planning step, the time-based quintic polynomial function is introduced to model the trajectory equation. The problem of solving the parameters of the corresponding equation is then transformed into an optimization problem, which takes driver's safety, comfort, and efficiency into account. After that, the SQP algorithm is employed to solve this optimization problem. Finally, both numerical simulation and field-data validation are used to verify the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm. We anticipate that the research could provide certain valuable insights for developing more reliable LC algorithms for AVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a global public health problem. While some studies have noted the importance of behavioural development patterns in NSSI, most NSSI research is based on cross-sectional survey data. Few studies explore the time-series heterogeneity of trajectories of NSSI symptoms and family-related influencing factors of NSSI.Aim: The purpose of the study was to identify the heterogeneity in trajectories of adolescents' NSSI behaviour and their family-related influencing factors.Methods: The group-based trajectory model (GBTM) was used to identify the heterogeneity in the NSSI behaviour trajectories of 208 adolescents in China. Next, the decision tree model (DTM) was used to analyse which family related factors influence the trajectory type.Results: The GBTM revealed two heterogeneous trajectories of NSSI behaviour: the high–risk and low-risk NSSI behaviour groups. Next, DTM's average accuracy was 83.2%. A total of seven independent variables were used for the DTM: gender, number of NSSIs in the past month, and family economic, family structure, family conflict, parental psychological control, parental behavior control and family intimacy risks. Family conflict risk was located at the root node and was the most important factor.Conclusion: Heterogeneity within the population should be considered in the management of adolescents' NSSI behaviours. Further, from the perspective of family system theory and cumulative risk, focusing on the adverse effect of multiple risk factors on adolescents' NSSI addiction is more meaningful rather than the impact of single risk factors. Studies that use time series data should focus on the trend of dynamic changes in NSSI addiction characteristics over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Schiff‐base functional groups modified MCM‐41 materials have been synthesized and used as the supports of palladium species. The chemical structures of MCM‐41 functionalized by nine Schiff‐base functional groups were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), whereas their grafting densities of functional groups were achieved from the results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and elemental analysis (EA). Small angle powdered X‐ray (SAX) patterns demonstrate that the ordered mesoporous structures of MCM‐41 were well retained after modification of functional groups and immobilization of Pd2+ cations. Moreover, the regular mesoporous structures of supports and homogeneous dispersions of Pd2+ cations were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopic (PALS) results revealed that the electronic and steric factors of functional groups could affect the o‐Ps annihilation properties of support Pd2+ cations. Meanwhile, the catalytic activities of these supported Pd2+ cations chelated by different functional groups were determined by the Heck reaction of iodobenzene with n‐butyl acrylate. At last, the catalytic activities of these supported Pd2+ cations were linearly correlated to their o‐Ps annihilation properties. This result demonstrates that the catalytic activities of supported Pd2+ cations chelated by different functional groups can be readily determined by the o‐Ps annihilation, which can be potentially used in the design and preparation of highly active palladium catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile synthesis of novel 3-functionalized pyridine derivatives has been accomplished through the reaction of 4-hydroxy-3-benzoylpyridin-2(1H)-ones and β-nitrostyrenes in the presence of catalytic amount of pyrrolidine (10 mol%). In this process, the desired products were obtained with 72–87% yields using ethanol as solvent at 80 °C for 4 h. In addition, a total of 19 examples were obtained, which exhibited the broad substrate scope of the transformation. The reaction process may involve the formation of an unstable enamine intermediate and then undergo hydrolysis to afford 4-hydroxy-3-benzoylpyridin-2(1H)-one derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate flooding associated with the gas diffusion layer (GDL) during electroreduction of CO2, we report a hydrophobicity‐graded hydrophobic GDL (HGGDL). Coating uniformly dispersed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binders on the carbon fiber skeleton of a hydrophilic GDL uniformizes the hydrophobicity of the GDL and also alleviates the gas blockage of pore channels. Further adherence of the PTFE macroporous layer (PMPL) to one side of the hydrophobic carbon fiber skeleton was aided by sintering. The introduced PMPL shows an appropriate pore size and enhanced hydrophobicity. As a result, the HGGDL offers spatial control of the hydrophobicity and hence water and gas transport over the GDL. Using a nickel‐single‐atom catalyst, the resulting HGGDL electrode provided a CO faradaic efficiency of over 83 % at a constant current density of 75 mA cm−2 for 103 h operation in a membrane electrode assembly, which is more than 16 times that achieved with a commercial GDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate flooding associated with the gas diffusion layer (GDL) during electroreduction of CO2, we report a hydrophobicity‐graded hydrophobic GDL (HGGDL). Coating uniformly dispersed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binders on the carbon fiber skeleton of a hydrophilic GDL uniformizes the hydrophobicity of the GDL and also alleviates the gas blockage of pore channels. Further adherence of the PTFE macroporous layer (PMPL) to one side of the hydrophobic carbon fiber skeleton was aided by sintering. The introduced PMPL shows an appropriate pore size and enhanced hydrophobicity. As a result, the HGGDL offers spatial control of the hydrophobicity and hence water and gas transport over the GDL. Using a nickel‐single‐atom catalyst, the resulting HGGDL electrode provided a CO faradaic efficiency of over 83 % at a constant current density of 75 mA cm−2 for 103 h operation in a membrane electrode assembly, which is more than 16 times that achieved with a commercial GDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a series of CuPd catalysts for electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of furfural to 2‐methylfuran (MF or FurCH3 where Fur=furyl) in aqueous 0.1 M acetic acid (pH 2.9). The highest faradaic efficiency (FE) for MF reached 75 % at −0.58 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode with an average partial current density of 4.5 mA cm−2. In situ surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopic and kinetic isotopic experiments suggested that electrogenerated adsorbed hydrogen (Hads) was involved in the reaction and incorporation of Pd enhanced the surface coverage of Hads and optimized the adsorption pattern of furfural, leading to a higher FE for MF. Density functional theory calculations revealed that Pd incorporation reduced the energy barrier for the hydrogenation of FurCH2* to FurCH3*. Our study demonstrates that catalyst surface structure/composition plays a crucial role in determining the selectivity in ECH and provides a new strategy for designing advanced catalysts for ECH of bio‐derived oxygenates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a series of CuPd catalysts for electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of furfural to 2‐methylfuran (MF or FurCH3 where Fur=furyl) in aqueous 0.1 M acetic acid (pH 2.9). The highest faradaic efficiency (FE) for MF reached 75 % at −0.58 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode with an average partial current density of 4.5 mA cm−2. In situ surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopic and kinetic isotopic experiments suggested that electrogenerated adsorbed hydrogen (Hads) was involved in the reaction and incorporation of Pd enhanced the surface coverage of Hads and optimized the adsorption pattern of furfural, leading to a higher FE for MF. Density functional theory calculations revealed that Pd incorporation reduced the energy barrier for the hydrogenation of FurCH2* to FurCH3*. Our study demonstrates that catalyst surface structure/composition plays a crucial role in determining the selectivity in ECH and provides a new strategy for designing advanced catalysts for ECH of bio‐derived oxygenates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MoS 2 /MoO 3 nanocomposites are prepared in view of the layered structure of molybdenite (MoS 2). • MoO 3 and intercalated (Li x MoO 3) have strong chemisorption characteristics and improve the sulfur conversion kinetics. • Inhibit sulfur loss in the system. • the MoS 2 /MoO 3 anode achieves a remarkable specific capacity (1255.7 mAh g−1) and long cycling life (1300 cycles). • Methods to improve the electrochemical performance of TMOs is provided. Current commercial Li-ion batteries (LIBs) with graphite anode are unable to meet the actual demand due to their low energy density. Recently, MoO 3 possesses 1117 mAh g−1 high theoretical specific capacity has received a wide attention and is regarded as a promising anode material. However, the low intrinsic electronic conductivity and the large volume effect of MoO 3 limited the practical application. Given the typical MoS 2 anode materials with high electron conductivity and discharge capacity, in this work, we designed a 2D hierarchical MoS 2 /MoO 3 nanocomposite. As expected, the large exposed edges and layered MoS 2 provide sufficient channels for rapid ion diffusion while improving the volume variation and conductivity of MoO 3. Nevertheless, as an anode material, MoS 2 suffers from severe and undesired sulfur loses during cycling, resulting in rapid capacity degradation. It is found that MoO 3 and intercalation state (Li x MoO 3) characters a strong chemical adsorption property that have been demonstrated to be effectively promoting the conversion of soluble lithium polysulfides, thereby enhancing the kinetics of sulfur conversion. Inspired with such multifunction structural design strategy, the MoS 2 /MoO 3 anode achieves a remarkable specific capacity (1255.7 mAh g−1) and long cycling life (1300 cycles). Subsequently, coupled with LiFePO 4 cathode, the full cells achieved a 129 mAh g−1 competitive capacity and the retention rate is as high as 99.3% after 100 cycles. This work provides an inspired strategy and routes to realize a high energy density LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of Human Factors (HF) into the mathematical car-following (CF) models has always been the research hotspot. Ignorance of such inclusion would inevitably hinder us from acquiring a comprehensive understanding of traffic flow phenomena. This paper proposed a novel CF model in order to bridge three existing research gaps: the demand for more inclusion of HF into the Longitudinal Control Model (LCM); the requirement for a more desirable underlying CF model for the Task Capability Interface (TCI) model; the ignorance of the fuzziness of human brains when modeling Task Difficulty (TD). Specifically, in order to imitate driver's natural or subjective uncertainty and ambiguity of his TD, the fuzzy logic approach is introduced, and the TD is then incorporated into the LCM. Thereafter, both numerical simulation and field-data validation have been performed. Results indicate that our proposed model is more capable of accommodating HF and exhibits better performance than its predecessor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater nanosecond-pulse discharges have been widely utilized in numerous industrial applications. However, the physical processes before nanosecond discharge ignition are still not well understood. In this paper, we investigate the full processes incorporating cavitation, nanopores expansion and subsequent electron multiplication based on an electrostriction mechanism. We modify the energy barrier of cavitation to avoid the overestimation of nucleation rate at highly negative pressure. A varying hydrostatic pressure instead of a fixed pressure adopted by previous models is considered to restrain the unlimited expansion of nanopores. We estimate the electron generation rate by the product of the generation rate of incident electrons and the number density of nanopores. The simulation results using real experimental conditions are in accordance with the experimental data. It is inferred that the electrostriction can be responsible for the underlying mechanism of underwater nanosecond discharge. This work provides a quantitative solution to calculating electron generation rate in liquid water under fast-pulse voltages (nanosecond or even picosecond), and can be referred in future 2D and 3D modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper explored the general phenomenon and psychological experience of the special background communication in night shift medical staff and provides better reference for night shift communication between doctors and nurses. Background: Physician–nurse communication has always been an important agenda for health care work and an important concept in nursing theory. During night shifts, effective doctor and nurse communication can enhance mutual trust, provide timely and appropriate medical services to patients, reduce adverse events and enhance patient safety. Design: A qualitative study was conducted. Methods: Husserl's descriptive phenomenology method and semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were used to collect data from 8 nurses and 5 doctors. Colaizzi's method was used to analyse data using MAXQDA 12. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist was followed (see Appendix S1). Results: Three themes were extracted after sorting out and refining: the need to achieve goals in night‐time physician–nurse communication; obstacles in night‐time physician–nurse communication; and relationship culture in night‐time physician–nurse communication. Conclusion: Attention should be paid to the particularity of night shift and efficiency of achieving the goal of communication between doctors and nurses on night shift, and the hidden obstacles behind communication between doctors and nurses. Managers should pay attention to the cultural construction of night shift communication in the system, form a good night shift communication process and regularly train doctors' and nurses' related communication skills. And they should also study relationship culture rationally to improve the communication efficiency of night shift. Implications for nursing management: The experiences described in this study contribute to a better understanding of obstacles hidden behind night shift physician–nurse communication. This also provides valuable information to professional managers who develop good doctor–nurse relationship culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary fiber, polysaccharides and phenols are the representative functional components in wheat bran, which have important nutritional properties and pharmacological effects. However, the most functional components in wheat bran exist in bound form with low bioaccessibility. This paper reviews these functional components, analyzes modification methods, and focuses on novel solid-state fermentation (SSF) strategies in the release of functional components. Mining efficient microbial resources from traditional fermented foods, exploring the law of material exchange between cell populations, and building a stable self-regulation co-culture system are expected to strengthen the SSF process. In addition, emerging biotechnology such as synthetic biology and genome editing are used to transform the mixed fermentation system. Furthermore, combined with the emerging physical-field pretreatment coupled with SSF strategies applied to the modification of wheat bran, which provides a theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of wheat bran and the development of related functional foods and drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroreduction using a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) provides an efficient method for high rate conversion of CO 2 to value-added chemicals. However, long term production with high yields remains challenging due to rapid electrolyte flooding through the hydrophobic gas diffusion layer (GDL). Here, we report a universal strategy to convert a commercial GDL into a hydrophobicity graded GDL (HGGDL) that resists electrolyte flooding. The CO 2 electroreduction performance of a family of tandem catalysts consisting of a nickel-single-atom catalyst and Cu nanoparticles immobilized on GDLs and HGGDLs is compared with respect to ethylene production. In situ Raman studies reveal that the HGGDL increases the CO intermediate coverage as a result of the higher differential pressure across the electrodes. Lower carbonate formation also is observed. Enhanced ethylene production efficiency and an order of magnitude improvement in long term stability is achieved in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer. [Display omitted] • A hydrophobicity-graded gas diffusion layer (HGGDL) is developed. • The HGGDL has a narrower pore size distribution for stable CO 2 electrolysis. • The HGGDL based gas diffusion electrode (GDE) mitigates carbonate formation. • The GDE increases the CO intermediate coverage. • The GDE shows a stable and improved production of ethylene for 62 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We develop a bi-level programming model for the location of TOD stations. • The value capture mechanism and transit priority are the objectives of the upper level of the model. • The lower-level mode a modified multimodal network equilibrium that assumes interdependence between transport modes. • We propose explanations for some traffic paradoxes from the perspective of a multimodal network equilibrium. • A proper location of TOD stations can motivate the development of public transport. The unique relationship between the value capture mechanism (VCM) and transit-oriented development (TOD) stations and their peripheral areas, which progressively develops an expanded multimodal network, is well acknowledged in the transport industry. However, in regards to the location of TOD stations, insufficient attention has been paid to user travel behaviours and the operating mechanism of the multimodal network. To bridge this research gap, we develop a bi-level programming model for the location of TOD stations that analyses user travel behaviour in the multimodal network. The VCM and transit priority are the objectives of the upper level of this multi-objective optimization model. And the lower level of the model is a modified multimodal network equilibrium based on the Davidson function. Using a simple numerical simulation, this study proposes explanations for some traffic paradoxes from the perspective of a multimodal network equilibrium. We also illustrate competition and collaboration between rail and bus transport systems. Finally, this study uses an empirical case to describe the feasibility and applicability of the model. The results demonstrate that the location of TOD stations is not only one of the keys to the competitiveness of public transport but is also relevant to implementing its VCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from a revealed preference survey conducted in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration of China, two sets of latent attitudinal variables, hypothesised to affect cumulative mode choices, were generated through factor analysis. A fractional multinomial logit model was adopted to estimate the allocation of trips across three main intercity modes over the previous year. The results showed that intercity business travellers would use a certain mode more frequently if they considered it to be the most convenient and reliable. In addition, the general attitudinal factors 'travel utility' and 'car affinity' were found to affect positively the proportions of annual intercity high-speed train trips and car trips, respectively. Business travellers with a fun-oriented attitude were found more likely to take an intercity bus, whereas those under travel pressure or holding an overall positive perception towards intercity travel would use an intercity bus less. Car ownership and city type were also found to be impact factors. Based on the results of the study, attitudinal variables in the full model help to explain the proportions of annual mode trips and some market strategies could be applied to enhance services for intercity business travellers in the YRD urban agglomeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of this study is to identify those factors that influence public transportation (PT) competitiveness through an analysis of current passenger loyalty. To accomplish this goal, a structural equation model (SEM) is introduced to construct the theoretical model. A comprehensive set of hypotheses is tested to explore the relationships between service quality, passenger satisfaction, switching costs, attraction of alternatives, and passenger loyalty. This study uses the Shanghai PT in China as the case study to apply the theoretical model. The results reveal that PT service quality is the most important factor that influences a passenger’s willingness to remain loyal. In addition, both switching costs and the attractiveness of cars are significantly related to passenger loyalty. Furthermore, this study proposes some critical suggestions as to how to improve the competitiveness of the Shanghai PT in its ongoing development. Decision makers assisting in the formation of PT policies and strategies will find this information useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two important concepts of accessibility are proposed and measured in this paper: the attraction accessibility and the radiation accessibility. The attraction accessibility means the ease of reaching a given station by using certain modes of transport such as walking, bicycle, bus or taxi. The radiation accessibility represents the ease of reaching other stations from the given station. The metro transit system in Xi’an, China was used as a case study to elaborate the proposed concepts of accessibility. It has been found that the station attraction accessibility depends mainly on the walking connection accessibility, so the improvement of walking environment is a key factor in improving the station’s overall accessibility. The transfer stations exhibit the highest level of radiation accessibility while the first/last stations have the lowest. The radiation accessibility of other stations varies widely and depends on their location in the network and the topological depth from the transfer stations. In general, the closer to the middle of the line, the higher the radiation accessibility, whereas the closer to the end of the line, the lower the accessibility. The findings provide decision makers with evidence on how to improve the metro stations’ travel environment and the layout of the metro network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the serum level of glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related protein ligand (GITRL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and investigate its clinical significance. GITRL levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 88 RA patients, 20 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and 20 healthy controls (HCs). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor immunoglobulin G (RF-IgG) were also tested by ELISA. RF-IgM, anti-keratin antibody (AKA), and anti-perinuclear factor (APF) antibodies and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and immunoglobulins were measured by standard laboratory techniques. The disease activity was evaluated by the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28). GITRL concentrations were significantly elevated in both serum and synovial fluid (SF) of RA patients. GITRL levels in RA sera were significantly higher than those in matched SFs. Positive correlations were found between serum GITRL levels and inflammation parameters or autoantibody production. GITRL levels are significantly elevated in RA serum and SF and are positively correlated with autoantibody production in RA, suggesting a role of GITRL in the development of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uneven pore structure and sluggish transport kinetics of the separator will accelerate the growth of dendrites and directly deteriorate the performance of zinc metal battery. Herein, we present a simple and unique interface engineering strategy to anchor persimmon branch carbon (PBC) material onto a cellulose-filter (CF) paper separator to address these issues. The novel PBC material demonstrates a hierarchical pore structure, uniform distribution of carbon dots, and rich N, and O functional groups, and an efficient ion transport modulator PBC@CF separator is designed to serve the dual function of promoting ions transfer and suppressing dendrite growth. Owing to the anchoring of PBC on CF and uniform filling of the surface interspace, the PBC modified separator not only greatly facilitates Zn2+ transport between the fiber-electrolyte interface, but also evenly redistributes the ion transport on the anode interface. As a result, highly reversible Zn plating/stripping is achieved in the symmetric Zn-Zn cell with the PBC@CF separator. Meanwhile, the modified Zn-LiFePO 4 dual ion full battery can retain a specific capacity of 109.4 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 1 C with an excellent capacity retention of 86 %. The unique PBC material and facile separator engineering provide a new perspective to designing advanced separators for high-performance aqueous Zn dual ion full battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythm proteins participate in regulating multiple physiological activities, including immune responses. The day-night shift rotation (DNSR) affects the circadian rhythm. The influence of circadian rhythm disturbance associated with DNSR on the regulatory functions of B cells remains to be studied. In this study, Blood samples were collected from 30 nurses engaging DNSR. The B cells were isolated from blood samples through magnetic cell separation. The regulatory function of IL-10 B cells (B10 cells) was evaluated using immunological assays. The results showed that the IL-10 expression was significantly reduced in B10 cells in nurses after DNSR. The capacity of inducing type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells) in B10 cells was down regulated. The circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) was increased in B10 cells, which was negatively correlated with the reduction of IL-10 expression in B10 cells. CLOCK formed a complex with c-Maf inducing protein (CMIP) to induce CMIP degradation; this restricted the IL10 gene transcription in B10 cells. B10 cells collected from nurses after DNSR were ineffective in suppressing T-cell proliferation and inducing Tr1 cells. In summary, DNSR affects the immune regulating function of B10 cells by disturbing the circadian rhythm. • Day–night-shift rotation increases the expression of the circadian rhythm CLOCK protein in B10 cells. • CLOCK physically contactes CMIP (c-Maf inducing protein) to induce CMIP degradation • Day–night-shift rotation attenuates IL-10 expression in B10 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an Fe 3+ -functionalized carbon quantum dots (Fe 3+ -functionalized CQDs) for the highly sensitive and selective detection of ascorbic acid (AA) in rat brain microdialysates based on the specific redox reaction between iron(III) ions and AA. The carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized by one-step pyrolysis of a small organic molecules i.e. tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris). Fe 3+ can tightly chelate to the surface of CQDs by the hydroxyl group to form Fe 3+ -functionalized CQDs while the fluorescence of CQDs can be effectively quenched by Fe 3+ via Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The fluorescence of the Fe 3+ -functionalized CQDs can be sensitively turned on by AA to give an “on–off–on” fluorescence response through the oxidation–reduction between Fe 3+ and AA since the produced Fe 2+ has much lower chelating ability to CQDs and the fluorescence of CQDs can be restored. This Fe 3+ -functionalized CQDs based nanoprobe shows high selective and sensitive response in the concentration of AA ranging from 0.1 μM to 50 μM with the detection limit as lower as 9.1 nM, which is lower than other assays. Finally, the proposed fluorescent probe was successfully applied to direct analysis of AA in biological fluids, i.e. rat brain microdialysates, and may pave a new route to the design of effective carbon quantum dots-based fluorescence probes for other bioassay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Th17 cells have been demonstrated to play an important role in the onset and development of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). In this study, we evaluated the expansion and clinical significance of circulating CD4+CD161+ T cell and its "effector" (CD4+CD25-CD161+ T cell) and "regulatory" (CD4+CD25+CD161+ T cell) subpopulations.Methods: Fifty-eight pSS patients and 16 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in our study. The cell populations and intracellular IL-17 expression were analyzed by flow cytometry. The disease activity was evaluated by the EULAR-SS Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI). Autoantibodies were measured by ELISA or indirect immunofluorescence assay.Results: The CD161+ T cell fractions showed higher proportions of IL-17-producing cells. The frequencies of the overall CD4+CD161+ T cell population and its effector subset were positively correlated with disease activity parameters and more severe disease manifestations. A significant elevation of the CD4+CD25+CD161+ T cell subpopulation was observed in the peripheral blood of pSS patients compared to HCs and this subset showed decreased regulatory functions compared with the CD4+CD25+CD161- population.Conclusion: Circulating CD4+CD161+ T cell populations associated with pSS disease activity and severity. These cells might be involved in the development of pSS and could be potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of pSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant collagen and gelatin have been applied in biomedical materials field because of products from genetically engineered microorganisms with improved safety, traceability, reproducibility, and homogeneous quality. To obtain high-level secretory expression of single-chain full-length human collagen α1(III) chain (COL3A1) without the N and C telopeptides, the cDNA coding for the human COL3A1 gene was cloned into the secretory expression vector pPIC9K and integrated into Pichia pastoris GS115. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting analysis of culture supernatant from the recombinant methylotrophic yeast suggested that the unhydroxylated recombinant human COL3A1 (rhCOL3A1) was secreted into the culture medium, and exhibited an apparent molecular mass of approximately 130 kDa, which is 1.4 times higher than the theoretical one. Finally, the unhydroxylated rhCOL3A1 was purified to greater than 90% purity using a four-step approach. In addition, methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide experiments indicated that low concentration of rhCOL3A1 could promote Baby hamster kidney cell (BHK21) proliferation effectively. The production and purification of rhCOL3A1 described in this study offer a new method for obtaining high level of rhCOL3A1 in relatively pure form, which is suitable for biomedical materials application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a single-step thermolysis strategy to prepare highly luminescent nitrogen-doped and amino acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots (NA-GQDs) by using glycine as both carbon and nitrogen source. The NA-GQDs display an excitation wavelength-dependent fluorescence with maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of 380 and 450 nm, respectively, and a quantum yield of ~16 %. Fluorescence is quenched by Fe(III) and Hg(II), and the effect was used to develop a method for the determination of Fe(III). Quenching by Fe(III) is attributed to its higher thermodynamic affinity (compared to other transition-metal ions) for the ligands on the GQDs in which nitrogen atoms mainly act as the chelating atoms. A linear relationship was observed between fluorescence intensity and the concentration of Fe(III) over the 0.5 μM to 0.5 mM range. The detection limit is 0.1 μM. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report highly efficient carbon supported Ni−MoO2 heterostructured catalysts for the electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of phenol in 0.10 M aqueous sulfuric acid (pH 0.7) at 60 °C. Highest yields for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone of 95 % and 86 % with faradaic efficiencies of ∼50 % are obtained with catalysts bearing high and low densities of oxygen vacancy (Ov) sites, respectively. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that the enhanced phenol adsorption strength is responsible for the superior catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, 1‐cyclohexene‐1‐ol is an important intermediate. Its hydrogenation route and hence the final product are affected by the Ov density. This work opens a promising avenue to the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts for the upgrading of phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report highly efficient carbon supported Ni−MoO2 heterostructured catalysts for the electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of phenol in 0.10 M aqueous sulfuric acid (pH 0.7) at 60 °C. Highest yields for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone of 95 % and 86 % with faradaic efficiencies of ∼50 % are obtained with catalysts bearing high and low densities of oxygen vacancy (Ov) sites, respectively. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that the enhanced phenol adsorption strength is responsible for the superior catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, 1‐cyclohexene‐1‐ol is an important intermediate. Its hydrogenation route and hence the final product are affected by the Ov density. This work opens a promising avenue to the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts for the upgrading of phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lane-changing trajectories are extracted from the HighD dataset. • Both comparative survival univariate and regression analysis has been conducted. • The Generalized Gamma function has similar performance with non-parametric methods. • LoglogisticAFT exhibits more credible results than other regression models. Lane-changing duration (LCD) measures the total time it takes for a vehicle to travel from the current lane to the target lane. However, there is still a paucity research on LCD up to now. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of LCD from the perspective of survival analysis. Naturalistic vehicle trajectory HighD dataset is employed in this paper, which contains of 16.5 h of measurement and over 11,000 vehicles. Both comparative univariate and regression analysis has been conducted to research the characteristic of the whole survival function and the influencing factors of LCD. Results indicate that Generalized Gamma distribution has high degree of coincidence with the non-parametric method in estimating the survival function, and LoglogisticAFT model exhibits more credible results than other regression models. Furthermore, the results and modeling implications have been discussed. We hope this paper could contribute to our further understanding of LCD and LC behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced-rank minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) multiuser detectors using asymptotic weights have been shown to reduce receiver complexity while maintaining good performance in long-sequence code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems. In this paper, we consider the design of reduced-rank MMSE receivers in a general framework which includes fading, single and multiantenna receivers, as well as direct-sequence CDMA (DS-CDMA) and multicarrier CDMA (both uplink and downlink). In all these cases, random matrix results are used to obtain explicit expressions for the asymptotic eigenvalue moments of the Interference autocorrelation matrix and for the asymptotic weights used in the reduced-rank receiver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The shortage of nurses threatens the entire healthcare system, and nursing professionalism can improve nurse retention and enhance the quality of care. However, nursing professionalism is dynamic, and the factors influencing its development are not fully understood. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Using maximum variation and purposive sampling, 14 southern and northern China participants were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from May 2022 to August 2023 in face-to-face conversations in offices in the workplace or via voice calls. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes emerged: (1) nourishment factors: promoting early sprouting; (2) growth factors: the power of self-activation and overcoming challenges; and (3) rootedness factors: stability and upward momentum. Participants described the early acquisition of nursing professionalism as derived from personality traits, family upbringing, and school professional education, promoting the growth of nursing professionalism through self-activation and overcoming challenges, and maintaining the stable and upward development of nursing professionalism through an upward atmosphere and external motivation. Conclusion: We revealed the dynamic factors that influence the development of nursing professionalism, including "nourishment factors", "growth factors", and "rootedness factors". Our findings provide a foundation for future development of nursing professionalism cultivation strategies. Nursing administrators can guide the development of nurses' professionalism from many angles according to the stage they are in, and the development of professionalism deserves more attention. In the future, we can no longer consider the development of nursing professionalism solely as the responsibility of individual nurses; the power of families, organizations, and society is indispensable to jointly promoting nursing professionalism among nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Cu dendrites constructed on the surface of copper foam were induced by the potential oscillation generated. • The formation process and morphology control method of copper dendrites are demonstrated. • The geometrical confinement effect induces uniform lithium deposition. • The electrochemical performance of copper foam was significantly improved only by structural modification. Dendrite-free lithium is the ultimate goal in achieving the commercial application of lithium metal anode. In this paper, Dendritic Copper Foam Current Collector (DCFC) is prepared by an electrometallurgy method to realize the homogeneous deposition of lithium metal. The deposition behavior of Cu and Li on different interfaces was studied. Firstly, the Cu dendrites constructed on the surface of Cu foam are induced and formed by the potential oscillation generated by the hydrogen evolution reaction. Secondly, the heterogeneous nucleation model reveals that the reason for the dendrite-free lithium deposition on the dendritic copper foam is the geometrical confinement effect. Compared with commercial copper foam, DCFC with hierarchical structure significantly reduces the nucleation energy and deposition overpotential of lithium metal. The in situ optical microscope observation and finite element simulation results confirm our ideas. Electrochemically, DCFC works stably after 1200 h at a lower potential of 36 mV in a DCFC@Li symmetric battery, which is much superior to 75 mV for just 340 h in Cu foam. The ideal collector with a dendritic structure has broad prospects for the practical application of lithium metal anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experimental investigations on the formation, propagation and termination of bubble-induced discharges in deionized water. Time-resolved visualization and electrical measurements are performed to investigate bubble deformation behaviour and ionization development. The distribution of delay in bubble formation indicates that bubble formation can be categorized into two classes, explained by pre-existing microbubbles and Joule heating, respectively. The weak luminance in bubbles suggests the initiation of ionization, which is verified by calculation of the ionization coefficient. The influence of the charges deposited on the bubble surface on the evolution of bubble morphology and luminance is investigated with time-resolved imaging methods. Observations of strong light emission at the falling edge of voltage as well as termination of the discharges are reported, and the underlying mechanisms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The angle-dependent sensitivity of rotationally symmetric thick pinholes used for gamma imaging was investigated using a geometric algorithm and Monte Carlo numerical simulations for the thick pinholes with different structural parameters. The effect of the pinhole diameter, the thickness of the straight-hole portion, and the half conical angle were analyzed. The point source was demonstrated to be a feasible replacement for the homogeneous plane source through theoretical deduction, numerical calculations, and experimental measurements of the angle-dependent sensitivity. A small quasi-point source was established based on a 10K curie level 60Co gamma ray source in the experimental measurement of the angle-dependent sensitivity. The image position remained unchanged and image distortion was avoided by rotating the thick pinhole around the pinhole center. The experimental result was in good agreement with the theoretical calculation, indicating the potential of this measurement method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) is an important transportation facility connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao. Thus, analyzing the characteristics of cross-border behavior becomes crucial for enhancing the smart travel experience of the HZMB. Discrete choice models (e.g., logit models) are commonly used to describe travel mode choice behavior. Multinomial logit (MNL) is subjected to the independence of irrelevant alternatives (IIA) assumption. Nested logit (NL) model does not consider the heterogeneity of travel individuals. Mixed logit (MXL) model can overcome the above limitations, but it may neglect model uncertainty. Therefore, a Bayesian model averaging (BMA) approach is applied to model travel mode choice behavior considering using revealed preference/stated preference (RP/SP) fusion data collected by questionnaires online. A structural equation model (SEM) is adopted to explore the potential relationship between latent variables, and two travel modes (i.e., cross-border bus and cross-border private car) are selected to analyze the cross-border travel mode choice of the HZMB. The results reveal that the MXL-BMA approach can better explain the cross-border travel mode choice behavior. And the transportation modes arriving and departing the HZMB have a significant impact on the travel mode choice of the HZMB. The findings of this study can provide suggestions for designing personalized travel services for travelers across the HZMB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic responses of high temperature superconducting bulk to inhomogeneous magnetic field distribution of permanent magnet guideway, as well as enlarged amplitude of magnetic field obtained by partially covering the permanent magnet guideway (PMG) with iron sheets in different thickness, are investigated. Experiments show that the instantaneous levitation force increases with the increase of the variation rate of magnetic field ( dB / dt ). Meanwhile, inhomogeneous magnetic field from PMG causes the decay of levitation force. The decay of levitation force almost increases linearly with the increase of alternating magnetic field amplitude. It should be very important for the application of high-speed maglev system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel DES based on phenylphosphinic acid was used to leach NCM cathode materials. • Leaching efficiencies for Li, Ni, Co, and Mn were>93%. • The coordination configurations of metals in the leaching solution were revealed. • Compared to the other DESs, the leaching conditions were milder and safer. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) play an important role in efficient recovery of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, we proposed an efficient and safe method by using a choline chloride-phenylphosphinic acid DES as a lixiviant for the leaching of LiNi x Co y Mn z O 2 (NCM) cathode active materials of spent LIBs. The leaching conditions were optimized based on the leaching time, liquid–solid ratio, and leaching temperature. Under optimal experimental conditions, the leaching efficiencies of Li, Co, Ni, and Mn reached 97.7 %, 97.0 %, 96.4 %, and 93.0 %, respectively. The kinetics of the leaching process were well-fitted using the logarithmic law equation. The apparent activation energies for Li, Co, Ni, and Mn have been reported to be 60.3 kJ/mol, 78.9 kJ/mol, 99.3 kJ/mol, and 82.1 kJ/mol, respectively. UV–visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed that the coordination configurations of Ni and Co in the leaching solution were octahedral and tetrahedral, respectively. In addition, the P O bond in phenylphosphinic acid was involved in coordination during leaching. This finding may provide an effective and safe approach for leaching valuable metals from spent LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design and preparation of highly active and stable supported palladium catalysts have garnered increased attention for their easy separation and reusability. Herein, MCM-41 mesoporous materials functionalized by four different amino functional groups were synthesized by using four commercially available siloxanes and then used to support palladium catalysts. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to analyze the chemical structures of functionalized MCM-41 supports. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and element analysis (EA) were employed to determine the grafting densities of functional groups on MCM-41 supports. The mesoporous structures of functionalized MCM-41 supports and dispersion of palladium species were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD). A study of the materials using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) reveals the different ortho-positronium (o -Ps) annihilation properties of the supported palladium species on the four supports. Meanwhile, the catalytic activities of supported palladium species on the four supports were evaluated by the Heck reactions of iodobenzene with n-butyl acrylate. At last, the annihilation properties of the supported palladium species on the four supports were successfully correlated with their catalytic activities. The result suggests a facile method to determine and predict the catalytic activities of supported palladium species by using PALS, which may hold great potential in the preparation of rationally designed and highly active supported palladium catalysts. [Display omitted] • The o -Ps annihilation constants of palladium species were measured by PALS. • The catalytic activities of palladium species were determined by Heck reaction. • The catalytic activities were well correlated with the o -Ps annihilation constants. • A novel method was developed to predicate the catalytic activities of palladium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of multilayer aluminum foam can have high sound absorption coefficients (SAC) at low and medium frequencies, and predicting its absorption coefficient can help the optimal structural design. In this study, a hybrid EO-GRNN model was proposed for predicting the sound absorption coefficient of the three-layer composite structure of the aluminum foam. The generalized regression neural network (GRNN) model was used to predict the sound absorption coefficient of three-layer composite structural aluminum foam due to its outstanding nonlinear problem-handling capability. An equilibrium optimization (EO) algorithm was used to determine the parameters in the neuronal network. The prediction results show that this method has good accuracy and high precision. The calculation result shows that this proposed hybrid model outperforms the single GRNN model, the GRNN model optimized by PSO (PSO-GRNN), and the GRNN model optimized by FOA(FOA-GRNN). The prediction results are expressed in terms of root mean square error (RMSE), absolute error, and relative error, and this method performs well with an average RMSE of only 0.011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-based hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSC) are widely used because of their safety, high capacity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness. However, the serious dendrite growth, low cycle life, and poor safety of zinc metal anodes greatly hinder their practical application. Additionally, the lack of excellent cathode materials also restricts further development of high-efficiency aqueous ZHSC. Herein, we report a novel persimmon-branch biomass carbon-based material with a naturally graded pore structure. Persimmon branch activated carbon (PBAC) was used as the cathode, and the anode was constructed using a zinc foil coated with one-step carbonized persimmon branch carbon (PBC). A new type of high-performance ZHSC was assembled using the porous structure of a carbon-based material and Cu2+-electrolyte additive. The hierarchical pore structure endowed the activated carbon with excellent electric double-layer capacitance characteristics as well as superb zinc ions storage ability. The artificial carbon-coated zinc metal anodes could homogenize the electric fields, and the Cu2+ from the electrolyte induced zinc metal deposition, which improved the cycle stability of the ZHSC. Therefore, the assembled ZHSC (PBAC 4 |ZnSO 4 +CuSO 4 |PBC@Zn) exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, high discharge capacity (182.8 mAh g−1), good rate performance (51.4 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1), high energy density (27.1 W h kg−1 at 5 kW kg−1 based on the weight of the active material) and demonstrated a long cycle life with 73.8% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles at 5 A g−1 high current density. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are presenting an electrochemical method for the determination of pyrophosphate ions (PPi) that is based on the competitive coordination of Cu(II) ion to a nanofilm of cysteine (Cys) and dissolved PPi. Cys was immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode by self-assembly. The Cys-modified gold electrode was loaded with Cu(II) ion which is released from the surface on addition of a sample containing PPi. The sensor shows an unprecedented electrochemical response to PPi, and the reduction peak currents is linearly related to the logarithm of the concentration of PPi in the 100 nM to 10 mM range (with an R or 0.982). The limit of detection is ~10 nM which is lower than the detection limits hitherto reported for PPi. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and common anions give a much weaker response. The method demonstrated here is simple, effective, highly sensitive, hardly interfered, and does not require the addition of a reagent. The method was applied to the determination of PPi in (spiked) serum samples. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• N -doped graphene is prepared from mechanical exfoliation process and nitrogen plasma irradiation. • MnO 2 nanoflakes are successfully electrodeposited on hydrothermal prepared NiCo 2 O 4 nanowires. • Asymmetric supercapacitor based on NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 nanowires and N -doped graphene exhibits competitive performance. The design and fabrication of scalable energy storage systems are crucial for portable applications, demanding advanced materials through large-scale and facile processing. In this report, an asymmetric solid-state pseudocapacitor (ASPC) is assembled using a core–shell NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 composite and solution-processed nitrogen-doped graphene (N -GP) as the positive and negative electrodes, respectively. With interconnected porous structures, the electrodes based on N -GP and NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 offer high specific capacitance and rate capability, broad operation voltage, and a binder-free design with no added conductive agent. With these benefits, the ASPC with a PVA-KOH electrolyte exhibits a specific capacitance of 103.3F g−1 at 1 A/g and exceptional energy density of 36.73 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 792 W kg−1. In addition, the specific capacitance retention reaches 90.9 % after 5000 cycles, indicating excellent cycling stability. In the broader context of solid-state supercapacitors based on solution-processed graphene, this ASPC exhibits highly competitive performance, establishing it as a promising candidate for advanced energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Magnetite (Fe 3 O 4) and hematite (Fe 2 O 3) were formed during CO 2 and steam co-activation. • Iron in coal favors micropore formation and C=O, COO and π–π* increment. • Iron in coal promotes the enhancement of CO 2 adsorption. • The mechanism of iron in coal on the improvement of MB adsorption was clarified. • This methodology indicates the future research path for AC production by utilizing high-iron coal. Pore-tailoring by utilizing the inherent iron mineral in coal for highly microporous activated carbon (AC) preparation for boosting adsorption ability is a promising strategy. In this work, AC-XFeS 2 (X indicates the contents of pyrite in coal, 0–3 wt.%) was prepared via blending demineralized Taixi coal and pyrite and followed by CO 2 and steam co-activation. The iron minerals transformation, AC physicochemical textural development and performance were investigated by various analyses. The results indicate that: (1) Pyrite (FeS 2) can transform into magnetite (Fe 3 O 4) and hematite (Fe 2 O 3) during CO 2 and steam co-activation. Pyrite declines the graphitization degree and enhances the increment of AC's C=O, COO, and π–π* content. Pyrite favors the increase of AC's micropore porosity. High S BET and S mic of 1587 m2/g and 949 m2/g of AC-1FeS 2 were achieved, which is higher by 13.5% and 83.6% than AC of 1398 m2/g and 517 m2/g, respectively. (2) The CO 2 adsorption capacity of AC-1FeS 2 is up to 2.06 mmol/g at 25 °C and 1.0 bar, which is higher by 11.3% than 1.85 mmol/g of AC. The enhancement of micropore by pyrite is the main aspect of improving CO 2 capture. (3) AC-1FeS 2 presents maximum MB adsorption capacity, reaching 63.3 mg/g, which is higher by 19.3% than 53.3 mg/g of AC. A serious of kinetics models was studied and the MB adsorption process could be better reflected by Pseudo second-order kinetics (R2=0.9538). The enhanced pore-filling, π–π* stacking and C=O complexation are one aspect of improving MB removal. In addition, the effect of Fe-O bonds or magnetic particles including Fe 3 O 4 also enhances MB removal. The results of this investigation could provide new avenues and theoretical support for cost-effective AC with highly microporous production by utilizing high-iron-sulfur coal, to some extent, guide the actual industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium sulfide (CaS) is transformed from the interaction between inherent pyrite and calcite in coal during activated carbon (AC) preparation by vapor activation, which could impact AC's textural and performance. For elucidating the contribution of in situ transformed CaS on the AC structure and SO 2 /NO removal, as-obtained AC-XCaS (X is the CaS content) were produced by Taixi coal and calcium sulfide (0–4 wt.%) through steam activation. The textural evolution and denitrification and/or desulfurization were also investigated. The results indicated that: (1) Calcium sulfide declined the burn-off linearly. The graphitization degree of ACs presents first enhancing and then decreasing trend with the CaS content increased. Calcium sulfide promotes the AC's micropore porosity development by catalyzing the corrosion of steam on the carbon surface. The specific surface area including total BET and micropore from 954 m2/g and 894 m2/g (AC) first raised to 1017 m2/g and 962 m2/g (AC-1CaS) and then decreased to 808 m2/g and 768 m2/g (AC-4CaS), respectively. Meanwhile, calcium sulfide improves the AC's amounts of C–O and C=O. (2) Calcium sulfide strengthens AC's removal ability of NO and SO 2 evidently. The maximum desulfurization capacity is up to 67.1 mg/g of AC-4CaS, which is higher by 50.8% than 44.5 mg/g of AC. Calcium sulfide enhances AC's surface chemical feature and finally favors the adsorption of SO 2 /O 2 /H 2 O. Meanwhile, calcium sulfide catalyzes the desulfurization reaction. The AC-3CaS's NO conversion is up to 22.7%, which is higher 39.3% than 16.3% of AC. Calcium sulfide favors oxygen dissociation to form intermediate C(O), which could strengthen the adsorption of NH 3 and NO. (3) During simultaneous removal of SO 2 and NO, calcium sulfide shows that anti-SO 2 poisoning ability is promising. The results of this research could complement the reference by utilizing coal with high-inorganic-iron/calcium/sulfur for high-performance AC preparations. [Display omitted] • Revealed the role of in situ transformed CaS on AC texture and performance. • Calcium sulfide mainly promotes the micropore development of AC. • Calcium sulfide favors the increment of C=O and C–O of AC. • Calcium sulfide improves AC's SO 2 or NO removal clearly due to its catalytic role. • CaS shows anti-SO 2 poisoning ability during SO 2 and NO simultaneous removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess biogenic amines (BAs) bring off-odor to wine and are harmful to human health. Mixed fermentation by non- Saccharomyces yeasts with Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been widely used to improving sensory properties of wine in winemaking. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to the effects of mixed fermentation on BAs in wine. We reviewed the composition of BAs in grape and wine, as well as their changes during grape development and winemaking process. The effects of spontaneous fermentation, non- Saccharomyces yeasts fermentation and non- Saccharomyces yeasts with S. cerevisiae mixed fermentation on BAs are analyzed. The strategies for using non- Saccharomyces yeasts to reduce the safety risk of BAs in wine are also discussed. Grape information, winemaking techniques, and aging conditions affect the composition and level of BAs in wine. BAs are mainly formed by microbial amino acid decarboxylation. The ability of non- Saccharomyces yeasts to produce BAs is species-specific. Presently, the non- Saccharomyces yeasts such as Hanseniaspora spp., Torulaspora delbrueckii , Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Lachancea thermotolerans are commonly used in co-fermentation with S. cerevisiae , which influence BAs and their precursors amino acids in wine. The combination of S. pombe and L. thermotolerans can significantly reduce BAs levels in wine. Further, the rational utilization of non- Saccharomyces yeasts is proposed based on the differences in yeast assimilable nitrogen sources in grape must, as well as the difference of nitrogen uptake between non- Saccharomyces yeasts and S. cerevisiae , which provides a reliable reference for the safe application of non- Saccharomyces yeasts in winemaking industry. • Factors impacted the BAs composition and their metabolic mechanism are reviewed. • The effect of non- Saccharomyces yeasts on BAs in wine is species-specific. • The co-fermentation of non- Saccharomyces yeasts and S. cerevisiae affects BAs. • Using non- Saccharomyces yeasts to reduce the risk of BAs is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N,N′-dioctyl-N,N′-di-dodecyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide ((DdO)2DGA) is a novel unsymmetrical diglycolamide. Herein, we analyzed the third phase formation and extraction behavior of trivalent actinides and lanthanides with (DdO)2DGA in kerosene. Moreover, FT-IR and UV/Vis spectra of the extracted phase of Nd(III) with (DdO)2DGA were analyzed. The third phase is not formed by the extraction of Nd(III) with 0.10 mol/L (DdO)2DGA at 298 K. The metal ion distribution ratios increase with increased acidity and extractant concentration. Moreover, thermodynamic analysis demonstrates that the extraction is an exothermic reaction with ΔH = − 64.94 kJ/mol and ΔS = − 144.42 J/(mol·K). Both slope and spectroscopic analysis suggest that the extracted species is Nd(NO3)3·3(DdO)2DGA and the change in the acidity or extractant concentration will not change the extracted species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Utilization of red mud (RM) partial substitution of coal for AC production. • RM addition enhanced SO 2 removal and inhibited NO removal. • The presence of SO 2 promoted NO removal. • Related mechanisms were proposed. • Suggest an approach for waste RM's high-value utilization. Red mud (RM) was used as additive for activated carbon (AC) production and the results show that RM could adjust its physiochemical texture and performance. RM promotes the development of AC's pore structure and surface chemistry. The as-derived granular 10RM/AC' surface area of micropore, total specific area, and total pore volume is up to 451 m2/g, 848 m2/g, 0.49 cm3/g, which are 11%, 49%, and 88% higher than AC, respectively. Meanwhile, O/C and π-π* group significantly increased with the addition of RM. RM's addition promotes desulfurization activity and lowers denitrification efficiency. 10RM/AC shows maximum sulfur capacity (65.1 mg/g), which is 17.9% higher than that of AC (55.2 mg/g). However, ACs' nitrate capacity has declined from 0.86 mg/g to 0.40 mg/g due to the poisoning effect of RM's high CaO/Na 2 O content, etc. The presence of SO 2 obviously promoted the nitrate capacity from 0.94 mg/g to 1.16 mg/g due to the new acid site's formation by sulfate species through SO 2 and NH 3. Meanwhile, the inorganic components (Fe-, Ca- and Na-containing species) in ACs from RM catalyze SCR reaction and the related mechanism was proposed. The results of this research provided an approach and preliminary information for utilizing industrial waste RM for cost-effective AC preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of F− concentration in groundwater in humid areas is limited although there are lots of research on high-fluoride groundwater in arid areas. In this paper, with controlling factors of F− concentrations in humid areas as the focus, 130 groundwater samples, obtained from four subsystems in Northwest Xingguo County, Jiangxi Province, China, were investigated to demonstrate the controlling factors of F− concentrations in humid areas. According to analytical results, the following hydrogeochemical characteristics of the fluorine in humid mountainous areas were determined: (1) F− concentration is positively correlated with total dissolved solids (TDS), Ca2+, HCO 3 − , and pH; (2) the groundwater features a high flow rate and low TDS; (3) the equilibrium constant of CaF2 is less than its solubility product constant, and the fluorine-bearing minerals in rocks are in a dissolved state; and (4) the dissolved fluoride-bearing minerals constitute the main sources of F− in the groundwater. Fluorine mainly comes from groundwater fluorine-bearing minerals in metamorphic rocks. Moreover, the low F− concentration in the groundwater mainly results from the fast flow rate of groundwater. Fluoride in groundwater has great potential hazards in humid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of the initiation and propagation-mode transitions of negative streamers are essential to develop a thorough understanding of underwater pulsed discharges. This paper presents experimental observations of negative streamers in deionized water performed using time-resolved visualization and electrical measurements. Based on the distributions of discharge inception delay and quantitative calculations of the ionization initiation fields, a streamer initiation model combining Zener ionization and field emission processes is proposed to account for discharges with short inception delays (<200 ns). Joule heating is the main mechanism responsible for discharges with an inception delay on the order of microseconds. The evolutions of bushy streamer morphology show that streamers exhibit more uniform structures under higher voltages, as most of the streamer branches grow simultaneously. A large-area discharge of bushy streamers is observed and is speculated to be closely related to the charge dynamics at the gas/liquid interface. The propagation of filamentary streamers and the transitions from filamentary to bushy streamers are presented. The redistribution of deposited charge and mitigation of the electric field during branching are the main causes for the mode transitions of streamers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]