Influence of vacuoles with gas–liquid inclusions on the thermobaric destruction conditions of natural quartz under dynamic heating in an RF-TICP torch system

In the present work,the turbulent mixing process of a polydisperse quartz particle flow with a plasma stream generated by a radio-frequency(RF)inductively coupled plasma torch was numerically studied.The thermobaric stress in the quartz particles under dynamic heating in a heterogeneous plasma flow was determined by a two-stage approximation approach.The effect of the presence of vacuoles in natural quartz on the particle thermobaric destruction conditions was studied.It was found that the equivalent thermal and baric stresses in quartz particles may significantly increase in the presence of vacuoles within a small gas volume fraction.The influence of the regime and energetic working conditions of an RF inductively coupled plasma torch system on the particle thermobaric destruction conditions was examined,and a recommendation was given to promote the degree of thermobaric destruction of quartz particles,which is of substantial importance for improving the overall enrichment efficiency of quartz concentrates.

An equivalent model of discharge instability in the discharge chamber of Kaufman ion thruster

The industrial application of the Kaufman ion thruster in its arc stage is limited owing to the instability of the discharge pulse.Presently,a complete prediction model that can predict the discharge pulse in the high-current stage does not exist.In this study,a complete prediction model for the pulse in the ion thruster is established using the zero-dimensional plasma discharge model and equivalent circuit model.The zero-dimensional plasma discharge model is used to obtain the corresponding plasma parameters by calculating the beam current,discharge current,voltage,and gas flow under actual working conditions.The input parameters of the equivalent circuit model are calculated using empirical formulae to acquire the estimated discharge waveforms.The pulse waveforms obtained using the model are found to be consistent with the experimental results.The model is used to evaluate the process of rapid changes in plasma density.Additionally,this model is employed to predict changes in the pulse waveforms when the volume of the discharge chamber and grid plate transmittance are changed.

The selective regulation of immune responses by matrix metalloproteinase MMP14 in Ostrinia furnacalis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are crucial for tissue remodeling and immune responses in insects, yet it remains unclear how MMPs affect the various immune processes against pathogenic infections and whether the responses vary among insects. In this study, we used the lepidopteran pest Ostrinia furnacalis larvae to address these questions by examining the changes of immune-related gene expression and antimicrobial activity after the knockdown of MMP14 and bacterial infections. We identified MMP14 in O. furnacalis using the rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends (RACE), and found that it was conserved and belonged to the MMP1 subfamily. Our functional investigations revealed that MMP14 is an infection-responsive gene, and its knockdown reduces phenoloxidase (PO) activity and Cecropin expression, while the expressions of Lysozyme, Attacin, Gloverin, and Moricin are enhanced after MMP14 knockdown. Further PO and lysozyme activity determinations showed consistent results with gene expression of these immune-related genes. Finally, the knockdown of MMP14 decreased larvae survival to bacterial infections. Taken together, our data indicate that MMP14 selectively regulates the immune responses, and is required to defend against bacterial infections in O. furnacalis larvae. Conserved MMPs may serve as a potential target for pest control using a combination of double-stranded RNA and bacterial infection.

Influence of extracellular polymeric substances from activated sludge on the aggregation kinetics of silver and silver sulfide nanoparticles

Extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)in activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)could affect interactions between nanoparticles and alter their migration behavior.The influence mechanisms of silver nanoparticles(Ag NPs)and silver sulfide nanoparticles(Ag_(2)S NPs)aggregated by active EPS sludge were studied in monovalent or divalent cation solutions.The aggregation behaviors of the NPs without EPS followed the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek(DLVO)theory.The counterions aggravated the aggregation of both NPs,and the divalent cation had a strong neutralizing effect due to the decrease in electrostatic repulsive force.Through extended DLVO(EDLVO)model analysis,in NaNO3 and low-concentration Ca(NO_(3))_(2)(<10 mmol/L)solutions,EPS could alleviate the aggregation behaviors of Cit-Ag NPs and Ag_(2)S NPs due to the enhancement of steric repulsive forces.At high concentrations of Ca(NO_(3))_(2)(10‒100 mmol/L),exopolysaccharide macromolecules could promote the aggregation of Cit-Ag NPs and Ag_(2)S NPs by interparticle bridging.As the final transformation form of Ag NPs in water environments,Ag_(2)S NPs had better stability,possibly due to their small van der Waals forces and their strong steric repulsive forces.It is essential to elucidate the surface mechanisms between EPS and NPs to understand the different fates of metal-based and metal-sulfide NPs in WWTP systems.

Multi‑Functional Fibrous Dressings for Burn Injury Treatment with Pain and Swelling Relief and Scarless Wound Healing

As one of the most common forms of skin injuries,skin burns are often accompanied by edema pain,suppuration of infection,slow tissue regeneration,and severe scar formation,which significantly delay wound healing as well as affect the quality of life.We prepared multifunctional electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)/gelatin(P/G)-based dressings to synergistically harness the therapeutic benefits of peppermint essential oil(T),burn ointment(B),and Oregano essential oil(O)(P/G@TBO)for skin regeneration in punch and burn injury models.The P/G@TBO can afford the sustained release of bioactive cues for up to 72 h as well as remarkably promote cell migration(ca.P/G@TBO,89%vs.control group,51%)at 24 h.The P/G@TBO membranes also showed significant angiogenic effect as well as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties than that of the control group in vitro.Moreover,P/G@TBO dressings enabled fast wound healing(ca.P/G@TBO,100%wound closure vs.control group,95%)in a full-thickness excisional defect model up to 14 days in rats.Further evaluation of membranes in different animal models,including tail wagging model,facial itch model,and hot burn injury model showed significant pain relieve effect as well as itching and swelling relief functions during earlier stages of wound healing.Membranes were next transplanted into a scalded wound model in rats and an ear punch wound model in rabbits,which manifested antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and promoted re-epithelialization to achieve scarless wound healing percentage wound closure at day 28:P/G@TBO,96%vs.control group 66%.Taken together our approach of simultaneously harnessing T,B,and O to enable multifunctionality to fibrous dressings may hold great promise for burn wound healing applications and other related disciplines.