This study aims the physico-chemical characterization of surface water of the Bir M'Cherga reservoir and its effluents which are located in Zaghouan governorate of Tunisia. It required measures in situ of physicochem...This study aims the physico-chemical characterization of surface water of the Bir M'Cherga reservoir and its effluents which are located in Zaghouan governorate of Tunisia. It required measures in situ of physicochemical parameters and chemical analysis at laboratory of major element and nutritive salts. The results of this study revealed the presence of pollutants in the Miliane river at El Fahs area and the eutrophication of water in the Bit M'Cherga reservoir. According to the classification of Stuyfzand and Piper, water in the wadis of Melah, Hdada, Miliane and Boudebbane respectively is brackish, salty, extremely hard, chlorinated, sulphated, calcic, and magnesic. Water in the Bir M'Cherga reservoir is characterized by calcic facies chlorinated sulphated and sodic. Thus, the Bir M'Cherga reservoir presents a worrying situation and a risk of qualitative degradation of its water.展开更多
Mango is a widely cultivated and consumed fruit in Brazil and one of the most important alternatives to take advantage of the production excess is dehydration. Therefore, this work aims at establishing better operatio...Mango is a widely cultivated and consumed fruit in Brazil and one of the most important alternatives to take advantage of the production excess is dehydration. Therefore, this work aims at establishing better operational conditions for "spray-drying" processes, in order to obtain the powder of mango pulp by means of a rotational central compounded planning, and also at carrying out the physicochemical characterization of both the integral mango pulp and the powder obtained from the operational conditions mentioned above. Both integral mango pulp and powder were analyzed as for the following physicochemical characteristics: humidity, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids (~Brix), vitamin C and color--through parameters L*, a*, b* and h0, Chrome (C*) and color difference (AEL*a*b*). The experimental planning used presented significant differences at 5% of probability, showing that the model was adjusted to the data in accordance to F test, thus being possible to determine the best process conditions. In addition, the average results of the physicochemical parameters pointed out that the pulp used was in accordance with the patterns established by the quality and identity patterns for mango pulp. Moreover, it showed that the powder obtained had good physicochemical quality.展开更多
Accurate physical and chemical properties of adsorbents are required for the efficient design of fixed bed adsorbers. The bed void and particle void are significant physical properties. One of the experimentally deter...Accurate physical and chemical properties of adsorbents are required for the efficient design of fixed bed adsorbers. The bed void and particle void are significant physical properties. One of the experimentally determination technique for the bed void is a breakthrough curve method. In the present paper, experimental conditions for determining the bed void from breakthrough curve were investigated because complex conditions are required. The values of bed void were determined from theoretical elution curve at the point of c/c0 = 0.5 under the condition of negligible amount adsorbed. The bed void value determined from elution curve was clearly affected by particle void and fluid velocity, and regarded as "apparent" bed void values. For large porosity particles, it was difficult to determine the true bed void value due to the effect of penetration into macro pores. Then, the bed void fraction can be determined safely from breakthrough curve when particles possessing small particle void are used.展开更多
With the growing interest in the applications of gold nanoparticles in biotechnology and their physiological effects, possible toxicity of gold nanoparticles is becoming an increasingly important issue. A large number...With the growing interest in the applications of gold nanoparticles in biotechnology and their physiological effects, possible toxicity of gold nanoparticles is becoming an increasingly important issue. A large number of studies carried out over the past few years under a variety of experimental conditions and following different protocols have produced conflicting results, leading to divergent views about the actual safety of gold nanoparticles in human applications. This work is intended to provide an overview of the most recent experimental results and thereby summarize current state-of-the-art. Rather than presenting a comprehensive review of the available literature in this field, which would be impractically broad, we have selected representative examples of both in vivo and in vitro studies, which clearly demonstrate the need for urgent and rigorous standardization of experimental protocols. Despite their significant potential, the safety of gold nanoparticles is highly controversial at this time, and important concerns have been raised that need to be properly addressed. Factors such as shape, size, surface charge, coating, and surface functionalization are expected to influence the interactions of particles with biological systems to a different extent, resulting in different outcomes and influencing the potential of gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Moreover, despite continuous attempts to establish a correlation between structure of the particles and their interactions with biological systems, we are still far from elucidating the toxicological profile of gold nanoparticles in an indisputable manner. This review is intended to contribute towards this goal, offering a number of suggestions on how to achieve the systematization of data on the most relevant physico-chemical parameters, which govern and control the toxicity of ~old nanot^articles at cellular and whole-organism levels.展开更多
With unique physical and chemical properties, aqueous solutions in the mantle may play important roles for a number of geochemical and geodynamical processes. However, since experimental data available are very limite...With unique physical and chemical properties, aqueous solutions in the mantle may play important roles for a number of geochemical and geodynamical processes. However, since experimental data available are very limited, people still know little about the aqueous solutions and their interactions with surrounding rocks and melts. From the perspective of thermodynamics, equation of state(EOS) is the key to push forward the modeling of aqueous solutions. Nevertheless, up to now accurate EOSs suitable for the mantle conditions are still in shortage. With discussions over several recognized EOSs, we summarize several ways to enhance the predictability of EOS: utilizing high quality data from molecular simulations, choosing functions with sound physical background, and improving the regression procedures for the empirical parameters. In the meantime, we find that the ion-bearing systems are still the focus of challenges in this area. New developments of experiments and computer simulations effectively deal with these challenges and in-depth understandings of aqueous solutions in the mantle are expected in the near future.展开更多
The Severn Estuary has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world and has long been the subject of consideration for tidal energy generation.Whilst plans to build a tidal barrage across the estuary have existed in v...The Severn Estuary has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world and has long been the subject of consideration for tidal energy generation.Whilst plans to build a tidal barrage across the estuary have existed in various forms since the 1920s,the 1989Severn Tidal Power Group(STPG)proposal is commonly referred to as the original Severn Barrage.The UK government abandoned this ebb generation scheme as a public investment project in 2010.However,plans to build a two-way generation scheme were more recently put forward by a private consortium,namely Hafren Power.To assess the impact that a barrage would have on the hydro-environment in the estuary a number of numerical modelling studies have previously been conducted for the STPG scheme.As this design has now been superseded by the Hafren Power proposal,new studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of a two-way scheme.In this study the hydro-environmental impacts of both ebb-only and two-way schemes were assessed using physical and numerical modelling techniques.Scale model barrages were constructed and testing was carried out using a physical model of the Severn Estuary,located in the hydraulics laboratory at Cardiff University.A depth integrated numerical model,namely DIVAST,was applied to the physical model geometry and modifications were made to simulate the effects of the barrage structures.The numerical model predictions showed good agreement with the corresponding laboratory data.The results were consistent with conclusions from previous studies,relating to the ebb-only scheme.These included an increase in the minimum water levels upstream of the barrage,a reduction in the mean water levels downstream of the barrage and a general reduction in tidal velocities.For a two-way scheme changes in the tidal elevations and velocities depended on the exact operating conditions of the barrage.It was found that with no starting head the tidal regime was similar to the natural state,with little change in the elevations and a slight reduction in the mean velocities.As a starting head was introduced there was still little change in elevations downstream of the barrage,however,there was an increase in the minimum water levels upstream of the barrage,and a further reduction in the mean velocities.展开更多
文摘This study aims the physico-chemical characterization of surface water of the Bir M'Cherga reservoir and its effluents which are located in Zaghouan governorate of Tunisia. It required measures in situ of physicochemical parameters and chemical analysis at laboratory of major element and nutritive salts. The results of this study revealed the presence of pollutants in the Miliane river at El Fahs area and the eutrophication of water in the Bit M'Cherga reservoir. According to the classification of Stuyfzand and Piper, water in the wadis of Melah, Hdada, Miliane and Boudebbane respectively is brackish, salty, extremely hard, chlorinated, sulphated, calcic, and magnesic. Water in the Bir M'Cherga reservoir is characterized by calcic facies chlorinated sulphated and sodic. Thus, the Bir M'Cherga reservoir presents a worrying situation and a risk of qualitative degradation of its water.
文摘Mango is a widely cultivated and consumed fruit in Brazil and one of the most important alternatives to take advantage of the production excess is dehydration. Therefore, this work aims at establishing better operational conditions for "spray-drying" processes, in order to obtain the powder of mango pulp by means of a rotational central compounded planning, and also at carrying out the physicochemical characterization of both the integral mango pulp and the powder obtained from the operational conditions mentioned above. Both integral mango pulp and powder were analyzed as for the following physicochemical characteristics: humidity, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids (~Brix), vitamin C and color--through parameters L*, a*, b* and h0, Chrome (C*) and color difference (AEL*a*b*). The experimental planning used presented significant differences at 5% of probability, showing that the model was adjusted to the data in accordance to F test, thus being possible to determine the best process conditions. In addition, the average results of the physicochemical parameters pointed out that the pulp used was in accordance with the patterns established by the quality and identity patterns for mango pulp. Moreover, it showed that the powder obtained had good physicochemical quality.
文摘Accurate physical and chemical properties of adsorbents are required for the efficient design of fixed bed adsorbers. The bed void and particle void are significant physical properties. One of the experimentally determination technique for the bed void is a breakthrough curve method. In the present paper, experimental conditions for determining the bed void from breakthrough curve were investigated because complex conditions are required. The values of bed void were determined from theoretical elution curve at the point of c/c0 = 0.5 under the condition of negligible amount adsorbed. The bed void value determined from elution curve was clearly affected by particle void and fluid velocity, and regarded as "apparent" bed void values. For large porosity particles, it was difficult to determine the true bed void value due to the effect of penetration into macro pores. Then, the bed void fraction can be determined safely from breakthrough curve when particles possessing small particle void are used.
文摘With the growing interest in the applications of gold nanoparticles in biotechnology and their physiological effects, possible toxicity of gold nanoparticles is becoming an increasingly important issue. A large number of studies carried out over the past few years under a variety of experimental conditions and following different protocols have produced conflicting results, leading to divergent views about the actual safety of gold nanoparticles in human applications. This work is intended to provide an overview of the most recent experimental results and thereby summarize current state-of-the-art. Rather than presenting a comprehensive review of the available literature in this field, which would be impractically broad, we have selected representative examples of both in vivo and in vitro studies, which clearly demonstrate the need for urgent and rigorous standardization of experimental protocols. Despite their significant potential, the safety of gold nanoparticles is highly controversial at this time, and important concerns have been raised that need to be properly addressed. Factors such as shape, size, surface charge, coating, and surface functionalization are expected to influence the interactions of particles with biological systems to a different extent, resulting in different outcomes and influencing the potential of gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Moreover, despite continuous attempts to establish a correlation between structure of the particles and their interactions with biological systems, we are still far from elucidating the toxicological profile of gold nanoparticles in an indisputable manner. This review is intended to contribute towards this goal, offering a number of suggestions on how to achieve the systematization of data on the most relevant physico-chemical parameters, which govern and control the toxicity of ~old nanot^articles at cellular and whole-organism levels.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41590620 & 41473060)
文摘With unique physical and chemical properties, aqueous solutions in the mantle may play important roles for a number of geochemical and geodynamical processes. However, since experimental data available are very limited, people still know little about the aqueous solutions and their interactions with surrounding rocks and melts. From the perspective of thermodynamics, equation of state(EOS) is the key to push forward the modeling of aqueous solutions. Nevertheless, up to now accurate EOSs suitable for the mantle conditions are still in shortage. With discussions over several recognized EOSs, we summarize several ways to enhance the predictability of EOS: utilizing high quality data from molecular simulations, choosing functions with sound physical background, and improving the regression procedures for the empirical parameters. In the meantime, we find that the ion-bearing systems are still the focus of challenges in this area. New developments of experiments and computer simulations effectively deal with these challenges and in-depth understandings of aqueous solutions in the mantle are expected in the near future.
基金supported by the LCRI projectpart funded by the Welsh Government+2 种基金the Higher Education Funding Council for Walesthe Welsh European Funding Officethe European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme
文摘The Severn Estuary has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world and has long been the subject of consideration for tidal energy generation.Whilst plans to build a tidal barrage across the estuary have existed in various forms since the 1920s,the 1989Severn Tidal Power Group(STPG)proposal is commonly referred to as the original Severn Barrage.The UK government abandoned this ebb generation scheme as a public investment project in 2010.However,plans to build a two-way generation scheme were more recently put forward by a private consortium,namely Hafren Power.To assess the impact that a barrage would have on the hydro-environment in the estuary a number of numerical modelling studies have previously been conducted for the STPG scheme.As this design has now been superseded by the Hafren Power proposal,new studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of a two-way scheme.In this study the hydro-environmental impacts of both ebb-only and two-way schemes were assessed using physical and numerical modelling techniques.Scale model barrages were constructed and testing was carried out using a physical model of the Severn Estuary,located in the hydraulics laboratory at Cardiff University.A depth integrated numerical model,namely DIVAST,was applied to the physical model geometry and modifications were made to simulate the effects of the barrage structures.The numerical model predictions showed good agreement with the corresponding laboratory data.The results were consistent with conclusions from previous studies,relating to the ebb-only scheme.These included an increase in the minimum water levels upstream of the barrage,a reduction in the mean water levels downstream of the barrage and a general reduction in tidal velocities.For a two-way scheme changes in the tidal elevations and velocities depended on the exact operating conditions of the barrage.It was found that with no starting head the tidal regime was similar to the natural state,with little change in the elevations and a slight reduction in the mean velocities.As a starting head was introduced there was still little change in elevations downstream of the barrage,however,there was an increase in the minimum water levels upstream of the barrage,and a further reduction in the mean velocities.