Energy Efficiency of a Simulated Synthetic Natural Gas Combined Cycle (SNGCC)

The objective of this investigation is to analyze the impact of the flue gas recirculation (FGR) ratio on the different energy inputs and outputs of a SNGCC power plant as well as its overall efficiency. Simulation results indicate that increasing flue gas recirculation increases the energy consumed by the recirculation compressor and the energy produced by the gas turbine. On the other hand, it decreases the production of energy of the steam turbine and the energy consumed by the pump of the steam cycle. The overall energy efficiency of the SNGCC power plant is highest (41.09%) at a value of 0.20 of the flue gas recirculation. However, the flue gas composition with a FGR ratio of 0.37 is more suitable for effective absorption of carbon dioxide by amine solutions. Based on the low heating value (LHV) of hydrogen, the corresponding overall efficiency of the power plant is 39.18% and the net power output of the plant is 1273 kW for consumption of 97.5 kg/hr. of hydrogen.

35 Ma－An Important Natural Periodicity in Geological History： Concept of Natural Crisis and Its Possible Cause

Among the cyclicity shown by the geologic evolution of the earth, the periodicity of ca 35 Ma is expressed most distinctly, which is evidenced not only by global sea-level changes, biotic mass extinctions, tectonic episodes, magmatic cycles and climatic changes. but also by magnetic reversals and impact craterings. It is suggested that the periodicity of ca 35 Ma may represent a natural stage by which the earth has evolved, and can be taken as an objective criterion of determining the 2nd-order eustatic cycles and their sedimentary records-the mesosequences. Major geologic events in the earth's history are apparently clustered at some specific periods, suggesting natural crises. They are thought to have been controlled mainly by astronomic cycles. especially related to the crossing of the Solar system through the Calactic plane.

Microwave-induced Apoptosis and Cytotoxicity of NK Cells through ERK1/2 Signaling

Objective To investigate microwave-induced morphological and functional injury of natural killer（NK） cells and uncover their mechanisms. Methods NK-92 cells were exposed to 10, 30, and 50 m W/cm^2 microwaves for 5 min. Ultrastructural changes, cellular apoptosis and cell cycle regulation were detected at 1 h and 24 h after exposure. Cytotoxic activity was assayed at 1 h after exposure, while perforin and NKG2 D expression were detected at 1 h, 6 h, and 12 h after exposure. To clarify the mechanisms, phosphorylated ERK（p-ERK） was detected at 1 h after exposure. Moreover, microwave-induced cellular apoptosis and cell cycle regulation were analyzed after blockade of ERK signaling by using U0126. Results Microwave-induced morphological and ultrastructural injury, dose-dependent apoptosis（P 〈 0.001） and cell cycle arrest（P 〈 0.001） were detected at 1 h after microwave exposure. Moreover, significant apoptosis was still detected at 24 h after 50 m W/cm^2 microwave exposure（P 〈 0.01）. In the 30 m W/cm^2 microwave exposure model, microwaves impaired the cytotoxic activity of NK-92 cells at 1 h and down regulated perforin protein both at 1 h and 6 h after exposure（P 〈 0.05）. Furthermore, p-ERK was down regulated at 1 h after exposure（P 〈 0.05）, while ERK blockade significantly promoted microwave-induced apoptosis（P 〈 0.05） and downregulation of perforin（P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion Microwave dose-dependently induced morphological and functional injury in NK-92 cells, possibly through ERK-mediated regulation of apoptosis and perforin expression.

Simulation of a NGCC Power Generation Plant for the Production of Electricity from CO2 Emissions Part II: SNGCC Power Plant

The objective of the first part of the investigation was to use Aspen Plus software and the Redlich-Kwong-Soave equation of state in order to simulate an adiabatic methanation reactor for the production of synthetic natural methane (SNG) using 1 kg/hr of carbon dioxide. In this paper, we define the Synthetic Natural Gas Combined Cycle (SNGCC) as a combined cycle power plant where the fuel is synthetic natural gas (SNG) produced by a methanation reactor. The feed of the methanation reactor is the recycled stream of carbon dioxide of a CO2 capture unit treating the flue gas of the SNGCC power plant. The objective of the second part of the investigation is the utilization of Aspen plus software with SRK equation of state for the simulation of the SNGCC power plant. The metallurgical limitation of the gas turbine was fixed at 1300°C in this investigation. For effective absorption by amine solutions, the molar percentage of CO2 in the flue gas should be higher than 10%. Moreover, in order to reduce technical problems linked to oxidative degradation of amine in the CO2 capture plant, the percentage of O2 in the flue gas should also be lower than 5%. To reach this goal, the primary air for combustion has 10% excess air (compared to stoichiometric air) and 37% of the flue gas leaving the SNGCC is recirculated as the secondary air for cooling the turbine. As a result, the concentration of CO2 and O2 of the flue gas entering the CO2 capture unit were respectively equal to 10.2% and 2.01%. The simulation results of the SNGCC power plant indicate that 6.6 MJ of electricity are produced for each kg of carbon dioxide recycled from the CO2 capture unit of the power plant. In other terms, the production of the 24.88 kg/hr of synthetic natural gas (SNG) consumes 62.36 kg/hr of recycled carbon dioxide and 16.4 kg/hr of hydrogen. The SNG produced by the methanation reactor of the power plant generates 114 kW of electricity. It is assumed in this paper that the hydrogen needed for the methanation of carbon dioxide is a product of a catalytic reforming plant that produces gasoline from heavy naphta fraction of an atmospheric distillation unit of crude oil.

Pregnancy outcomes of four different cycle protocols for frozen embryo transfer: a large retrospective cohort study

Objective:To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of the four endometrial preparation protocols for people undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer(FET),including natural cycle(NC),hormone replacement therapy cycle(HRT),gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist artificial cycle(GAC),and ovarian stimulation cycle(OC).Methods:This retrospective cohort study enrolled 10,333 cycles of frozen embryo transfer performed at Xinan Gynecological Hospital in Sichuan,China,from January 2018 to December 2018.The patient's baseline characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were extracted from the medical record system.Pregnancy outcomes were compared among the four groups and multiple logistic regression models were used to adjust for the confounding factors.Results:After adjusting for covariates,multiple logistic regression analysis showed no statistical significance in pregnancy outcomes in the HRT group,GAC group,and OC group compared to the NC group in the entire population.The adjusted odds ratio of live birth was 0.976(95%)confidence interval[Cl](0.837-1.138)for the HRT group,0.959(95%confidence interval 0.797-1.152)for the GAC group,and 0.909(95%confidence interval 0.763-1.083)for the OC group.Conclusions:The natural protocol had comparable pregnancy outcomes compared to the other three endometrial preparation protocols in the overall FET population.More high-quality prospective randomized controlled trials are required to assess the efficacy of the four protocols and explore the optimal one.

A review of cryogenic power generation cycles with liquefied natural gas cold energy utilization

Liquefied natural gas （LNG）, an increasingly widely applied clean fuel, releases a large number of cold energy in its regasification process. In the present paper, the existing power generation cycles utilizing LNG cold energy are introduced and summarized. The direction of cycle improvement can be divided into the key factors affecting basic power generation cycles and the structural enhancement of cycles utilizing LNG cold energy. The former includes the effects of LNG-side parameters, working fluids, and inlet and outlet thermodynamic parameters of equipment, while the latter is based on Rankine cycle, Brayton cycle, Kalina cycle and their compound cycles. In the present paper, the diversities of cryogenic power generation cycles utilizing LNG cold energy are discussed and analyzed. It is pointed out that further researches should focus on the selection and component matching of organic mixed working fluids and the combination of process simulation and experi- mental investigation, etc.

Comment： Closing phosphorus cycle from natural waters： re-capturing phosphorus through an integrated water-energy-food strategy

Phosphorus （P） reserve, largely derived from phosphate rock, is essential for crop growth to support the growing world population. However, a significant proportion of phosphorus used as a fertilizer runs into natural waters, causing eutro- phication and ecological damage. Moreover, most P in the food is eventually discharged as waste after being digested by human and animals. Thus, industrial activities have created a one-way flow of non-renewable P from rocks to farms to lakes, rivers and oceans.