Effects of a Dehydrating Agent on Dry Matter Accumulation and Nutritional Quality of Different Maize Varieties

The high water content of corn grain at harvest is a challenge in Northeast China,where the growing season is short.Using a dehydrating agent before harvest can help corn seeds dehydrate quickly.The dry matter accumulation and nutrient quality of maize were systematically studied by field experiments and instrumental analysis using maize varieties of different maturities as test materials.The results showed that the accumulation of dry matter was enhanced by an increased dosage of a dehydrating agent.When the dehydrating agent dosage reached 1800 mL•hm-2,the dry matter accumulation of early-maturing varieties increased by 24.1 g,and the water content decreased by 8.08%.Different maize varieties were treated with the same dose;early-maturing varieties showed significant effects on grain dry matter accumulation,and kernel dry matter accumulation increased by 7%.The effects of different doses on grain dehydration were obvious,and the effects on different maize varieties varied.Medium-ripening maize varieties showed the most significant effect,with a 19.5%reduction in water content.The effects of dehydrating agent doses on maize yield,grain nutrient quality and seed germination rate were not significant.Therefore,a dehydrating agent promoted the accumulation of dry matter in grain and accelerated the rapid dehydration.

Oncologic outcomes with and without amniotic membranes in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy:A propensity score matched analysis

Objective:Placement of human placenta derived grafts during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP)hastens the return of continence and potency.The long-term impact on the oncologic outcomes remains to be investigated.Our objective was to determine the oncologic outcomes of patients with dehydrated human amnion chorion membrane(dHACM)at RARP compared to a matched cohort.Methods:In a referral centre,from August 2013 to October 2019,599 patients used dHACM in bilateral nerve-sparing RARP.We excluded patients with less than 12 months follow-up,simple prostatectomy,and unilateral nerve-sparing.Patients with dHACM(amnio group)were 529,and were propensity score matched 1:1 to 2465 patients without dHACM(non-amnio group)and a minimum follow-up of 36 months.At the time of RARP,dHACM was placed around the neurovascular bundle in the amnio group.Continuous and categorical variables in matched groups was tested by two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Fisher's exact test respectively.Outcomes measured were biochemical recurrence(BCR),adjuvant and salvage therapy rates.Results:Propensity score matching resulted in two groups of 444 patients.Cumulative incidence functions for BCR did not show a difference between the groups(p=0.3).Patients in the non-amnio group required salvage therapy more frequently than the amnio group,particularly after partial nerve-sparing RARP(6.3%vs.2.3%,p=0.001).Limitations are the absence of prospective randomization.Conclusion:The data suggest that using dHACM does not have a negative impact on BCR in patients.Outcomes of cancer specific and overall survival will require follow-up study to increase our understanding of these grafts’impact on prostate cancer biology.

Quantification of In Vivo Epidermal Keratinocyte Architecture Associated with the Signs of Skin Aging and the Skin Benefit Evaluation by Application of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (Pitera)-Containing Skin Care Product

Background: Aged skin exhibits visual alterations such as wrinkles, rough texture, pore dilation, and dull skin tone, as well as physiological aging, namely, decreased hydration and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Recent advances in coherence tomography have also revealed that skin aging affects in vivo epidermal keratinocyte architecture. However, the interconnectivity between spatial architectural aging and visual/physiological aging parameters remains largely unknown. Purpose: To elucidate whether the tomographic keratinocyte architectural aging is correlated with visual and physiological skin aging parameters and to quantitatively evaluate the improvements of the architectural, visual, and physiological aging parameters by the daily treatment of the skin care formula containing Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (GFF, 8X PiteraTM). Method: We measured the in vivo keratinocyte cellular architecture with two-photon stereoscopic tomography obtaining by-layer epidermal section images in 78 Asian females of various ages. Visual aging parameters were analyzed using a portable image capture system. Hydration and TEWL were also assessed. The anti-aging effects of GFF-containing skin moisturizer (SK-II LXP CreamTM) were also examined in two studies after twice-daily application for 2 (N = 35) and 4 (N = 32) weeks. Results: As for the keratinocyte cellular architecture, skin aging was significantly associated with decreased cell density and increased cell uniformity. These architectural aging parameters were significantly correlated with visual and physiological aging parameters, namely, rough texture, wrinkles, pore dilation, dull skin tone, dehydration, and increased TEWL. The strong interconnectivity allowed us to develop formulae to estimate the keratinocyte architecture from visual aging parameters. Moreover, twice-daily application of SK-II significantly improved the keratinocyte architecture associated with multiple skin aging visual and physiological parameters. Conclusion: Skin aging is a process involving mutual interconnections among epidermal keratinocyte cellular architecture, visual, and physiological parameters. The GFF-containing moisturizer SK-II effectively improves spatial architecture of keratinocytes in epidermis and these evaluated skin aging parameters in a new trajectory over the course of treatment. .

A Convenient Synthesis of 2-Oxazolines and 2-Benoxazoles with PPh3-DDQ as the Dehydrating Reagent

2-Oxazolines and 2-benoxazoles were synthesized in high yields from acylamino alcohols and acylaminophenols, respectively, with triphenylphosphine-2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone （PPh3-DDQ） as the dehydrating and activating reagent. The synthesis was accomplished under neutral conditions.

Time-resolved multiomics analysis of the genetic regulation of maize kernel moisture

Maize kernel moisture content(KMC)at harvest greatly affects mechanical harvesting,transport and storage.KMC is correlated with kernel dehydration rate(KDR)before and after physiological maturity.KMC and KDR are complex traits governed by multiple quantitative trait loci(QTL).Their genetic architecture is incompletely understood.We used a multiomics integration approach with an association panel to identify genes influencing KMC and KDR.A genome-wide association study using time-series KMC data from 7 to 70 days after pollination and their transformed KDR data revealed respectively 98and 279 loci significantly associated with KMC and KDR.Time-series transcriptome and proteome datasets were generated to construct KMC correlation networks,from which respectively 3111 and 759 module genes and proteins were identified as highly associated with KMC.Integrating multiomics analysis,several promising candidate genes for KMC and KDR,including Zm00001d047799 and Zm00001d035920,were identified.Further mutant experiments showed that Zm00001d047799,a gene encoding heat shock 70 kDa protein 5,reduced KMC in the late stage of kernel development.Our study provides resources for the identification of candidate genes influencing maize KMC and KDR,shedding light on the genetic architecture of dynamic changes in maize KMC.

A thermodynamic-based model for modeling thermo-elastoplastic behaviors of saturated clayey soils considering bound water dehydration

The non-isothermal deformation of soft mudrocks or clay soils is one of the most critical issues in energy and environmental related geotechnics.Clay-related geomaterials hold complex microstructure and mineral composition,which brings difficulty in investigating their thermo-mechanical behaviors.Previous studies pay little attention to the difference between a thermal plastic strain and the strain from clay dehydration.In this study,a new constitutive model is proposed for describing the thermoelastoplastic behaviors of clayey soils under water-saturated condition.The effect of temperature variation and mechanical loading on elastoplastic strains and dehydration are investigated.The thermodynamics laws and the unconventional plasticity are applied to quantify the thermo-mechanical behavior.The irreversible strain is captured by using Cam-Clay plasticity and subloading yield surface concept.The dehydration strain is described by utilizing a novel method based on generalized thermodynamics approach and Helmholtz free energy function.The internal variables,and the first and second laws of thermodynamics are applied in the model.The hardening rule is established by implementing the laws of physical conservation,energy dissipation,and plastic flow.The proposed model is validated using specially designed thermal consolidation tests on laboratory prepared heavily consolidated clayey soils and some published data of clayey soils with different geological origins.

Experimental and numerical studies of Ca(OH)_(2)/CaO dehydration process in a fixed-bed reactor for thermochemical energy storage

The Ca(OH)_(2)/CaO thermochemical energy storage(TCES)system based on calcium looping has received extensive attention owing to its high energy storage density,prolonged energy storage time,and environmental friendliness.The heat storage process of the Ca(OH)_(2)/CaO TCES system in a mixed heating reactor was evaluated in this study,by employing a combination of direct and indirect heating modes.The dehydration process was studied experimentally,and a numerical model was established and verified based on the experimental results.The dehydration behavior of 500 g of Ca(OH)_(2) powder was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor with mixed heating.The experimental and simulation results indicated that mixed heating causes combined centripetal and horizontal propulsion.Heat input is the main limiting factor in the heat storage process,because the radial advance of the reaction is hindered by the low thermal conductivity of the solid reactant particles.Heat transmission partitions were added to enhance the performance of the reactor.The performance of the modified reactor was compared with that of a conventional reactor.The radial heat transmission partitions in the modified reactor effectively enhance the energy storage rate and reduce the reaction time by 59.5%compared with the reactor without partitions.

Role of Calcination Temperature on Isosorbide Production from Sorbitol Dehydration over the Catalyst Derived from Ce(IV)Sulfate

Isosorbide is a multi-purpose chemical that can be produced from renewable resources.Specifically,it has been investigated as a replacement for toxic bisphenol A(BPA)in the production of polycarbonate(PC).In this study,the synthesis of isosorbide by sorbitol dehydration using a cerium-based catalyst derived from calcined cerium(IV)sulfate(300°C,400°C,450°C,500°C,and 650°C)was investigated.The reaction occurred in a high-pressure reactor containing nitrogen gas.Advanced instrumental techniques were applied to analyze the characteristics of the calcined catalyst.The results showed that the calcined catalysts demonstrated different crystalline structures and sulfate species at different temperatures.However,the acidic properties(strength and amount)of the catalyst did not change with the calcination temperature.The cerium(IV)sulfate calcined at 400°C exhibited the best catalytic performance,achieving the highest isosorbide yield(55.7%)and complete conversion of sorbitol at 180°C,20 bar of N2,and 6 h using CeSO-400.The presence of a sulfate group on the catalyst was the most important factor in determining the catalytic performance of sorbitol dehydration to isosorbide.This work suggests that CeSO-400 catalysts may play an important role in reducing reaction conditions.

Pediatric thermal burn injury:A retrospective analysis from pediatric care institutes,Eastern India

Objective:Pediatric burns pose difficult healthcare issues in underdeveloped nations.Due to the scarcity of pediatric burn care facilities and qualified burn‑care staff,patients are frequently referred from a rural hospital.This study explores the burn‑treatment approach that could be used in rural hospitals in the absence of a dedicated pediatric burn care facility.Materials and Methods:A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 199 children who received treatment for burn‑injury in an isolated general surgical ward.Wound debridement under anesthesia at the earliest was the cornerstone of the treatment plan for this cohort.Until the wounds healed,the treatment was repeated every alternate day.The patient’s demographic data,number of surgical dressings,length of hospital stay,and outcome were analyzed.Results:The mean age of the patients was 51.68±23.79 months.The male‑female ratio was 1.45:1.The survival rate was 99.00%.The disability rate was 4.52%.Univariate logistic regression identified the age group,total body surface area affected,depth of the wound,and time of intervention as statistically significant variables(P<0.05)predicting the disfigurement.Multivariate logistic regression identified the time intervals between surgical intervention and injury as an important predictor of morbidity.In addition,delayed presentation and delayed intervention led to a longer hospital stay,and more interventions than the early intervention cohort.Conclusions:Early debridement accelerates recovery and lessens the need for future skin grafts or contracture procedures.This approach can be used in rural hospitals as well because pediatric burns can be manageable in an isolated general ward.

Safety of Empagliflozin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia: A Post-Authorisation Safety Study

Background: Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor is used as a monotherapy or in combination for lowering the elevated blood glucose level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is often associated with certain adverse reactions (urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA), and genital infections). Thus, the Saudi Food and Drug Administration requested a post-authorisation safety study to monitor the safety of empagliflozin during the defined observation period. Methodology: The local, comparator, non-interventional, regulatory post-marketing study using “new user” design was conducted in patients with T2DM, treated with empagliflozin (10 or 25 mg) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (NCT03764631). Study was conducted from 2018 to 2020, wherein each patient was followed up for 12 months after the index period. Incidence and occurrence of DKA, severe UTIs, volume depletion and dehydration were observed along with metformin, insulin and treatment complexity status and adverse events in the index and Ramadan period. All data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among the 1502 patients enrolled (empagliflozin [n = 751] and DPP-4 inhibitors [n = 751]), 0.1% patients (n = 1) in each group and Conclusion: Empagliflozin was well tolerated over a period of 12 months, with no safety concerns and a favourable benefit/risk ratio.

Expanded Follicle-Sulcus-Crack Complex Is an Early Warning Sign of Facial Skin Aging: Improvement by Application of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate-Containing Skin Product

Background: Wrinkles, pigmented spots, and roughness are representative parameters reflecting facial skin aging. Sulci cutis connecting to follicular orifices frequently form perifollicular cracks, which join together adjacent sulci. This follicle-sulcus-crack complex (FSCC) is exacerbated by dehydration. Purpose: Although dehydration is associated with facial skin aging, FSCC’s implications in facial skin aging remain unresolved. Method: We measured facial skin parameters in 1999 and 2010 in 108 Japanese women, and in 2006 and 2016 in 182 Chinese women. We addressed whether expansion of FSCC is associated with other skin aging parameters. We also examined whether skin moisturizer can reverse the expanded FSCC. Results: In both clinical studies, FSCC severity as well as wrinkles, spots, and roughness significantly deteriorated with age. Notably, FSCC significantly increased as early as in subjects in their 20s, whereas wrinkles, spots, and roughness became conspicuous in those in their 40s or older. Moreover, subjects with more severe FSCC in the initial measurement exhibited significantly worse wrinkles, spots, and roughness in the second measurement a decade later. Dehydration was significantly correlated with expanded FSCC. Furthermore, FSCC expansion was reversed after appropriate moisturization by daily application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate (GFF)-containing skincare product (SK-II Skin Power Cream) for 4 weeks in 37 women. Conclusion: The expanded FSCC is likely to be an early indicator of facial skin aging. Appropriate moisturization may reduce FSCC formation and decelerate facial skin aging.

The Influence of Several Doped Ions on Gas Sensitivity of Hematite

The dehydrating activation energies of the hematite with several doped ions used for the alcohol sensor were determinated by thermogravimetric differential thermal analyzer (TG DTA) and the grain size of the samples were observed with TEM. The hematites with different doping amounts of Sn 4+ were investigated by Mssbauer spectrometer. It shows that the different doped ion is of influence for grain growth of the hematite. The decrease of grain size stemmed from the doped ion causes gas sensitivity for alcohol to increase and the dehydrating activation energy to decrease correspondingly. When the different amounts of Sn 4+ is doped in hematite, the microstructure of the hematite can be influenced.

Grain dehydration rate is related to post-silking thermal time and ear characters in different maize hybrids

Mechanized grain harvest of maize becomes increasingly important with growing land plot size in Northeast China. Grain moisture is an important factor affecting the performance of mechanized grain harvest. However, it remains unclear what influences grain dehydration rate. In this study, maize grain dehydrating process was investigated in a two-year field experiment with five hybrids under two planting densities in 2017 and 2018. It was found that damaged-grain ratio was the main factor affecting mechanized harvest quality, and this ratio was positively correlated with grain moisture content at harvest(R^(2)=0.6372, P<0.01). To fulfill the national standard of <5% damaged-grain ratio for mechanized grain harvest, the optimal maize grain moisture content was 22.3%. From silking to physiological maturity, grain dehydrating process was mostly dependent on the thermal time(growing degree days, GDDs)(r=-0.9412, P<0.01). The average grain moisture content at physiological maturity was 29.4%. Thereafter, the linear relationship between GDDs and grain moisture still existed, but the correlation coefficient became smaller(r=-0.8267, P<0.01). At this stage, grain dehydrating process was greatly affected by genotypes. Grain dehydrated faster when a hybrid has a smaller husk area(r=0.6591, P<0.05), larger ear angle(r=-0.7582, P<0.05), longer ear peduncle(r=-0.9356, P<0.01) and finer ear(r=0.9369, P<0.01). These parameters can be used for breeders and farmers to select hybrids suitable for mechanized grain harvest.

Review of the characteristics and graded utilisation of coal gasification slag

The characteristics of the energy structure of rich coal,less oil and less gas,coupling with a high external dependence on oil and natural gas and the emphasis on the efficient and clean utilisation of coal,have brought opportunities for coal chemical industry.However,with the large-scale popularisation of coal gasification technology,the production and resulting storage of coal gasification slag continue to increase,which not only result in serious environmental pollution and a waste of terrestrial resources,but also seriously affect the sustainable development of coal chemical enterprises.Hence,the treatment of coal gasification slag is extremely important.In this paper,the production,composition,morphology,particle size structure and water holding characteristics of coal gasification slag are introduced,and the methods of carbon ash separation of gasification slag,both domestically and abroad,are summarised.In addition,the paper also summarises the research progress on gasification slag in building materials,ecological restoration,residual carbon utilisation and other high-value utilisation,and ultimately puts forward the idea of the comprehensive utilisation of gasification slag.For large-scale consumption to solve the environmental problems of enterprises and achieve high-value utilisation to increase the economic benefits of enterprises,it is urgent to zealously design a reasonable and comprehensive utilisation technologies with simple operational processes,strong adaptability and economic benefits.

Mass transfer model,preparation and applications of zeolite membranes for pervaporation dehydration:A review

Pervaporation(including vapor permeation) is a kind of new membrane separation technology, possessing the advantages of high efficiency, energy saving and convenient operation. It has promising application in the separation and purification of organic solvents. Dehydration is an important step in the production and recovery of organic solvents. Zeolite membranes have attracted wide attention for pervaporation dehydration due to their high separation performance and good thermal/chemical stability. So far, zeolite membranes have been preliminarily industrialized for dehydration of organic solvents. This paper reviews the recent development of zeolite membranes for pervaporation dehydration, including mass transfer models, preparation and applications of zeolite membranes. The review also discusses the current industrial applications of zeolite membranes and their future development in pervaporation.

Comparison of three methods for natural gas dehydration

This paper compares three methods for natural gas dehydration that are widely applied in industry：（1） absorption by triethylene glycol, （2） adsorption on solid desiccants and （3） condensation. A comparison is made according to their energy demand and suitability for use. The energy calculations are performed on a model where 105 Nm3/h water saturated natural gas is processed at 30 °C. The pressure of the gas varies from 7 to 20 MPa. The required outlet concentration of water in natural gas is equivalent to the dew point temperature of -10 °C at gas pressure of 4 MPa.

Chemical dehydration coupling multi-effect evaporation to treat waste sulfuric acid in titanium dioxide production process

In order to concentrate the diluted sulfuric acid from the titanium dioxide(TiO2)production of sulphate process,a new concentration process was proposed by coupling chemical dehydration and multi-effect evaporation.The ferrous sulfate monohydrate(FeSO4·H2O),as the dehydrant,was added to the diluted sulfuric acid to form ferrous sulfate heptahydrate(FeSO4·7H2O)according to the H2SO4-FeSO4-H2O phase diagrams,which partially removes the water.This process was named as Chemical Dehydration Process.The residual water was further removed by two-effect evaporation and finally 70 wt%sulfuric acid was obtained.The FeSO4·H2O can be regenerated through drying and dehydration of FeSO4·7H2O.The results show that FeSO4·H2O is the most suitable dehydrant,the optimal reaction time of chemical dehydration process is 30 min,and low temperature is favorable for the dehydration reaction.45.17%of the entire removed water can be removed by chemical dehydration from the diluted sulfuric acid.This chemical dehydration process is also energy efficient with 24.76%saving compared with the direct evaporation process.Furthermore,51.21%of the FeSO4 dissolved originally in the diluted sulfuric acid are precipitated out during the chemical dehydration,which greatly reduces the solid precipitation and effectively alleviates the scaling in the subsequent multi-effect evaporation process.

Catalytic performance of hierarchical H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 for methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether

Micro-mesoporous composite molecular sieves H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 were prepared by the hydrothermal technique with alkali-treated H-ZSM-5zeolite as the source and characterized by scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,energy dispersive spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,N2 adsorption-desorption measurement and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption.The catalytic performances for the methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether over H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 were evaluated.Among these catalysts,H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 prepared with NaOH dosage (nNa/nSi) varying from 0.4 to 0.47 presented excellent catalytic activity with more than 80%methanol conversion and 100%dimethyl ether selectivity in a wide temperature range of 170—300℃,and H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 prepared with nNa/nSi=0.47 showed constant methanol conversion of about 88.7%,100% dimethyl ether selectivity and excellent lifetime at 220℃.The excellent catalytic performances were due to the highly active and uniform acidic sites and the hierarchical porosity in the micro-mesoporous composite molecular sieves.The catalytic mechanism of H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 for the methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether process was also discussed.

Preparation of nanocrystalline γ-Al_2O_3 catalyst using different procedures for methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether

A series of nanocrystalline γ-alumina are synthesized by different procedures, namely, thermal decomposition method （sample A）, precipita-tion method （sample B） and sol-gel method using sucrose and hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide （CTAB） as templates （samples C and D, respectively）. Textural and acidic properties of γ-alumina samples are characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption and NH3-TPD techniques. Vapor-phase dehydration of methanol into dimethyl ether is carried out over these samples. Among them, sample C shows the highest catalytic activity. NH3-TPD analysis reveals that the sample with smaller crystallite size possesses higher concentration of medium acidic sites and consequently higher catalytic activity. Thermal decomposition method leads to decrease in both surface area and moderate acidity, therefore it is the cause of lower catalytic activity.

Detection of Internal Leaf Structure Deterioration Using a New Spectral Ratio Index in the Near-Infrared Shoulder Region

Spectral reflectance in the near-infrared （NIR） shoulder （750-900 nm） region is affected by internal leaf structure, but it has rarely been investigated. In this study, a dehydration treatment and three paraquat herbicide applications were conducted to explore how spectral reflectance and shape in the NIR shoulder region responded to various stresses. A new spectral ratio index in the NIR shoulder region （NSRI）, defined by a simple ratio of reflectance at 890 nm to reflectance at 780 nm, was proposed for assessing leaf structure deterioration. Firstly, a wavelength-independent increase in spectral reflectance in the NIR shoulder region was observed from the mature leaves with slight dehydration. An increase in spectral slope in the NIR shoulder would be expected only when water stress developed sufficiently to cause severe leaf dehydration resulting in an alteration in cell structure. Secondly, the alteration of leaf cell structure caused by Paraquat herbicide applications resulted in a wavelength-dependent variation of spectral reflectance in the NIR shoulder region. The NSRI in the NIR shoulder region increased significantly under an herbicide application. Although the dehydration process also occurred with the herbicide injury, NSRI is more sensitive to herbicide injury than the water-related indices （water index and normalized difference water index） and normalized difference vegetation index. Finally, the sensitivity of NSRI to stripe rust in winter wheat was examined, yielding a determination coefficient of 0.61, which is more significant than normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI）, water index （WI） and normalized difference water index （NDWI）, with a determination coefficient of 0.45, 0.36 and 0.13, respectively. In this study, all experimental results demonstrated that NSRI will increase with internal leaf structure deterioration, and it is also a sensitive spectral index for herbicide injury or stripe rust in winter wheat.