Correlations between silt density index,turbidity and oxidation-reduction potential parameters in seawater reverse osmosis desalination

The reverse osmosis method is one of the most widely used methods of seawater desalination at present.Hydrophilic and desalting membranes in reverse osmosis systems are highly susceptible to the input pollutants.Various contaminants,including suspended organic and inorganic matter,result in membrane fouling and membrane degradation.Fundamental parameters such as the turbidity,the amount of chlorine injection,and silt density index (SDI) are the most predominant parameters of fouling control in the membranes.In this study,the operation system included a water intake unit,a pretreatment system,and an RO system.The pretreatment system encompassed a clarifier,a gravity sand filter,pressurized sand filters,and a cartridge filter.The correlation between the amount of chlorine injection in terms of the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and the SDI value of the input water was investigated at a specified site next to the Persian Gulf.The results showed that,at certain intervals of inlet turbidity,injection of a certain amount of chlorine into the raw water has a distinct effect on the decrease of SDI.

Grey relational analysis on the relation between marine environmental factors and oxidation-reduction potential

The effects of marine environmental factors-temperature(T),dissolved oxygen(DO),salinity(S) and pH-on the oxidation-reduction potential(ORP) of natural seawater were studied in laboratory.The results show an indistinct relationship between these four factors and the ORP,but they did impact the ORP.Common mathematical methods were not applicable for describing the relationship.Therefore,a grey relational analysis(GRA) method was developed.The degrees of correlation were calculated according to GRA and the values of T,pH,DO and S were 0.744,0.710,0.692 and 0.690,respectively.From these values,the relations of these factors to the ORP could be described and evaluated,and those of T and pH were relatively major.In general,ORP is influenced by the synergic effect of T,DO,pH and S,with no single factor having an outstanding role.

Control for Modified University of Cape Town Process Using Oxidation-Reduction Potential in the Second Anoxic Zone

The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of applying the technology of oxidation-reduction potential(ORP)control on the municipal wastewater treatment system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal.Meanwhile the relation between the optimal ORP(ORP opt)and influent C/N ratio was evaluated,in which the influent chemical oxygen demand(COD)concentration was stabilized at(290±10)mg/L,the influent total phosphorus(TP)concentration was stabilized at(7.0±0.5)mg/L.The results indicated that:(1)the ORP in the second anoxic zone had effect on nitrogen and phosphorus removal capability,and the average percentages of phosphorus uptake in ANO2zone(ηa)increased with increasing ORP,i.e.,increasing from 12.0%at-143 mV to22.0%,30.0%,37.0%,and 45.0%at-123,-111,-105 and-95 mV,respectively;(2)the ORP opt as function of influent C/N ratio could be calculated by the equation:y=252.73e(-x/3.39)-131.01;the maximum percentage of phosphorus uptake in ANO2as function of the ORP opt could be calculated by the equation:y=-0.49 e(x/15.58)+1.51.The ORP opt was the important process control parameter that must be optimized for operation of enhanced biological phosphorus removal(EBPR)system.Moreover,ORP sensor is very simple,and the industrial applications of this strategy is practical.

Assessing high resolution oxidation-reduction potential and soluble reactive phosphorus variation across vertical sediments and water layers in Xinghu Lake:A novel laboratory approach

To understand the transfer process of soluble reactive phosphorus （SRP） on the lake sediment-water interface in a mesotrophic shallow lake in South China, the SRP concentrations and the oxidation-reduction potential （ORP） across the sediment-water interfaces were continually monitored. Sediment samples were collected from Xinghu Lake in Guangdong Province. The ORP dynamics at different layers of overlying water was similar for six experimental systems, whereas those in porewater were significantly different. The ORP in overlying water was 200-300 mV higher than those in sediments. The oxygen penetration depth ranged from 2 to 10 mm in Xiannu Lake sediments. The variation amplitudes of ORP increased with sediment depth, but the mean ORP values were all about 218 mV. The SRP concentrations in porewater maintained at a low level of about 0.049 mg/L because of high atom ratio of total iron and total manganese to total phosphorus. The SRP concentrations and variation amplitudes in porewater increased with sediment depth. The SRP in overlying water mainly originated from S RP transference of the porewater of middle and bottom sediments （3-15 cm）. The ORP variation and SRP transfer in porewater played important roles in changing SRP concentrations. A distinct SRP concentration gradient appeared in overlying water when intense exchange occurred at the sediment-water interface; therefore, it was necessary to monitor the SRP concentration profiles to accurately estimate the internal loading.

Probing the electric double layer structure at nitrogen-doped graphite electrodes by constant-potential molecular dynamics simulations

Electric double layer(EDL)is a critical topic in electrochemistry and largely determines the working performance of lithium batteries.However,atomic insights into the EDL structures on heteroatom-modified graphite anodes and EDL evolution with electrode potential are very lacking.Herein,a constant-potential molecular dynamics(CPMD)method is proposed to probe the EDL structure under working conditions,taking N-doped graphite electrodes and carbonate electrolytes as an example.An interface model was developed,incorporating the electrode potential and atom electronegativities.As a result,an insightful atomic scenario for the EDL structure under varied electrode potentials has been established,which unveils the important role of doping sites in regulating both the EDL structures and the following electrochemical reactions at the atomic level.Specifically,the negatively charged N atoms repel the anions and adsorb Li~+at high and low potentials,respectively.Such preferential adsorption suggests that Ndoped graphite can promote Li~+desolvation and regulate the location of Li~+deposition.This CPMD method not only unveils the mysterious function of N-doping from the viewpoint of EDL at the atomic level but also applies to probe the interfacial structure on other complicated electrodes.

Krüppel-like factor 2(KLF2),a potential target for neuroregeneration

Neurological disorders and injuries lead to the impairment or depletion of neurons in terms of quantity,structure,or function,resulting in the loss of cognitive,emotional,and physical abilities in human beings.This,in turn,accompanies the shortfall of valuable human resources and economic potential,causing a detriment to society.Addressing these challenges,therefore,becomes imperative not only from a humanitarian perspective but also as a means of preserving human capital and bolstering economic prosperity.

Mitochondria–cGAS–STING axis is a potential therapeutic target for senescence-dependent inflammaging-associated neurodegeneration

The word “senescence” comes from the Latin senescens, meaning “to begin to age”, and is characterized by a long-lasting but reversible block in proliferation, resulting from stress-induced cell cycle arrest of previously replication-competent cells.

Median Nerve Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Patients with Chiari Malformation

Abnormal SEP reflects dysfunction of the medial lemniscus and posterior cervical cord. These structures are likely to be affected in Chiari malformation. Therefore, SEP abnormalities may provide valuable information in patients with CM. However, the consistency of SEP abnormality or normality with the damage is a matter of research. Knowing whether median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) is useful in revealing subclinical damage in patients with Chiari malformation is important in the treatment and follow-up plan of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between median nerve SEP values and the severity of cerebellar ectopia in patients with Chiari type 1 malformation. Median nerve SEP values were obtained from 30 healthy individuals and 146 individuals with Chiari malformation. The cerebellar ectopia degree and McRae line length were measured. SEP values were not significantly different between groups. The McRae line was found to be significantly shorter in the control group than in the Chiari malformation group (p = 0.031). There was no correlation between the degree of cerebellar ectopia and the length of the McRae line (r = 0.002, p = 0.979). Neither cerebellar ectopy degree nor McRae line length had a relationship with SEP values (r = -0.153, p = 0.066;r = -0.056, p = 0.500, respectively). There was no difference in cerebellar ectopy degree or SEP values between the groups with cerebellar ectopy with and without a syrinx (p = 0.899;p = 0.080, respectively). Likewise, McRae line length was not found to be related to the presence of a syrinx (p = 0.139). Median nerve SEP examination was not beneficial for diagnosing asymptomatic-oligosymptomatic Chiari malformation as a subclinical injury, whether accompanied by syringomyelia or not.

THE SMOOTHING EFFECT IN SHARP GEVREY SPACE FOR THE SPATIALLY HOMOGENEOUS NON-CUTOFF BOLTZMANN EQUATIONS WITH A HARDPOTENTIAL

In this article, we study the smoothing effect of the Cauchy problem for the spatially homogeneous non-cutoff Boltzmann equation for hard potentials. It has long been suspected that the non-cutoff Boltzmann equation enjoys similar regularity properties as to whose of the fractional heat equation. We prove that any solution with mild regularity will become smooth in Gevrey class at positive time, with a sharp Gevrey index, depending on the angular singularity. Our proof relies on the elementary L^(2) weighted estimates.

Evaluation of Hydrocarbon Potential Using AVO Analysis in the FORMAT Field, Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

The study involved the evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential of FORMAT Field, coastal swamp depobelt Niger delta, Nigeria to obtain a more efficient reservoir characterization and fluid properties identification. Despite advances in seismic data interpretation using traditional 3D seismic data interpretation, obtaining adequate reservoir characteristics at the finest level had proved very challenging with often disappointing results. A method that integrates the amplitude variation with offfset (AVO) analysis is hereby proposed to better illuminate the reservoir. The Hampson Russell 10.3 was used to integrate and study the available seismic and well data. The reservoir of interest was delineated using the available suite of petrophysical data. This was marked by low gamma ray, high resistivity, and low acoustic impedance between a true subsea vertical depth (TVDss) range of 10,350 - 10,450 ft. The AVO fluid substitution yielded a decrease in the density values of pure gas (2.3 - 1.6 g/cc), pure oil (2.3 - 1.8 g/cc) while the Poisson pure brine increased (2.3 to 2.8 g/cc). Result from FORMAT 26 plots yielded a negative intercept and negative gradient at the top and a positive intercept and positive gradient at the Base which conforms to Class III AVO anomaly. FORMAT 30 plots yielded a negative intercept and positive gradient at the top and a positive intercept and negative gradient at the Base which conforms to class IV AVO anomaly. AVO attribute volume slices decreased in the Poisson ratio (0.96 to - 1.0) indicating that the reservoir contains hydrocarbon. The s-wave reflectivity and the product of the intercept and gradient further clarified that there was a Class 3 gas sand in the reservoir and the possibility of a Class 4 gas sand anomaly in that same reservoir.

Thermal conductivity of GeTe crystals based on machine learning potentials

GeTe has attracted extensive research interest for thermoelectric applications.In this paper,we first train a neuroevolution potential(NEP)based on a dataset constructed by ab initio molecular dynamics,with the Gaussian approximation potential(GAP)as a reference.The phonon density of states is then calculated by two machine learning potentials and compared with density functional theory results,with the GAP potential having higher accuracy.Next,the thermal conductivity of a GeTe crystal at 300 K is calculated by the equilibrium molecular dynamics method using both machine learning potentials,and both of them are in good agreement with the experimental results;however,the calculation speed when using the NEP potential is about 500 times faster than when using the GAP potential.Finally,the lattice thermal conductivity in the range of 300 K-600 K is calculated using the NEP potential.The lattice thermal conductivity decreases as the temperature increases due to the phonon anharmonic effect.This study provides a theoretical tool for the study of the thermal conductivity of GeTe.

Plasma potential measurements using an emissive probe made of oxide cathode

A novel emissive probe consisting of an oxide cathode coating is developed to achieve a low operating temperature and long service life.The properties of the novel emissive probe are investigated in detail,in comparison with a traditional tungsten emissive probe,including the operating temperature,the electron emission capability and the plasma potential measurement.Studies of the operating temperature and electron emission capability show that the tungsten emissive probe usually works at a temperature of 1800 K-2200 K while the oxide cathode emissive probe can function at about 1200 K-1400 K.In addition,plasma potential measurements using the oxide cathode emissive probe with different techniques have been accomplished in microwave electron cyclotron resonance plasmas with different discharge powers.It is found that a reliable plasma potential can be obtained using the improved inflection point method and the hot probe with zero emission limit method,while the floating point method is invalid for the oxide cathode emissive probe.

Hepatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumors:Benign,malignant,and uncertain malignant potential

In 2013,the World Health Organization defined perivascular epithelioid cell tumor(PEComa)as“a mesenchymal tumor which shows a local association with vessel walls and usually expresses melanocyte and smooth muscle markers.”This generic definition seems to better fit the PEComa family,which includes angiomyolipoma,clear cell sugar tumor of the lung,lymphangioleiomyomatosis,and a group of histologically and immunophenotypically similar tumors that include primary extrapulmonary sugar tumor and clear cell myomelanocytic tumor.Clear cell tumors with this immunophenotypic pattern have also had their malignant variants described.When localizing to the liver,preoperative radiological diagnosis has proven to be very difficult,and most patients have been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma,focal nodular hyperplasia,hemangioma,or hepatic adenoma based on imaging findings.Examples of a malignant variant of the liver have been described.Finally,reports of malignant variants of these lesions have increased in recent years.Therefore,we support the use of the Folpe criteria,which in 2005 established the criteria for categorizing a PEComa as benign,malignant,or of uncertain malignant potential.Although they are not considered ideal,they currently seem to be the best approach and could be used for the categorization of liver tumors.

A study of the soil water potential threshold values to trigger irrigation of ‘Shimizu Hakuto’ peach at pivotal fruit developmental stages

Water management is an important practice that affects fruit size and quality.Effective implementation of irrigation scheduling requires knowledge of the appropriate indicators and thresholds,which are established manly based on the effects of water deficits on final fruit quality.Few studies have focused on the real-time effects of water status on fruit and shoot growth.To establish soil water potential (ψ_(soil)) thresholds to trigger irrigation of peach at pivotal fruit developmental stages,photogrammetry,^(13)C labelling,and other techniques were used in this study to investigate real-time changes in stem diameter,fruit projected area,net leaf photosynthetic rate (P_(n)),and allocation of photoassimilates to fruit under soil water potential conditions ranging from saturation to stress in 6-year-old Shimizu hakuto’peach.Stem growth,fruit growth,and P_n exhibited gradually decreasing sensitivity to water deficits during fruit developmental stages I,II,and III.Stem diameter growth was significantly inhibited whenψ_(soil)dropped to-8.5,-7.6,and-5.4 k Pa,respectively.Fruit growth rate was low,reaching zero when theψ_(soil)was-9.0 to-23.1,-14.9 to-21.4,and-16.5 to-23.3 k Pa,respectively,and P_ndecreased significantly when theψ_(soil)reached-24.2,-22.7,and-20.4 kPa,respectively.In addition,more photoassimilates were allocated to fruit under moderateψ_(soil)conditions (-10.1 to-17.0 k Pa) than under otherψ_(soil)values.Our results revealed threeψ_(soil)thresholds,-10.0,-15.0,and-15.0 kPa,suitable for triggering irrigation during stages I,II,and III,respectively.These thresholds can be helpful for controlling excessive tree vigor,maintaining rapid fruit growth and leaf photosynthesis,and promoting the allocation of more photoassimilates to fruit.

Analysis of the Fertilizing and Bioremediation Potential of Leaf Litter Compost Amendment in Different Soils through Indexing Method

This research study explored the efficacy of leaf litter compost as a sustainable soil amendment with the objective of promoting soil health and mitigating the accumulation of potentially toxic elements. The investigation encompassed the impact of various organic compost amendments, including leaf compost, cow dung manure, kitchen waste compost, municipal organic waste compost, and vermicompost. The study employed Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate soil nutrient levels and concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, and lithium. The fertilization and bioremediation potential of these compost amendments are quantified using an indexing method. Results indicated a substantial increase in overall nutrient levels (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur) in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic composts. Fertility indices (FI) are notably higher in compost-amended soils (ranging from 2.667 to 3.938) compared to those amended with chemical fertilizers (ranging from 2.250 to 2.813) across all soil samples. Furthermore, the mean concentrations of PTEs were significantly lower in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic compost amendments compared to those treated with chemical fertilizers amendments. The assessment through the indexing method revealed a high clean index (CI) for leaf compost amendment (ranging from 3.407 to 3.58), whereas the chemical fertilizer amendment exhibits a relatively lower CI (ranging from 2.78 to 3.20). Consequently, leaf compost and other organic composts exhibit the potential to enhance sustainable productivity, promoting soil health and environmental safety by improving nutrient levels and remediating potentially toxic elements in the soil.

Vertical plane depth-resolved surface potential and carrier separation characteristics in flexible CZTSSe solar cells with over 12% efficiency

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4(CZTSSe)solar cells have resource distribution and economic advantages.The main cause of their low efficiency is carrier loss resulting from recombination of photo-generated electron and hole.To overcome this,it is important to understand their electron-hole behavior characteristics.To determine the carrier separation characteristics,we measured the surface potential and the local current in terms of the absorber depth.The elemental variation in the intragrains(IGs)and at the grain boundaries(GBs)caused a band edge shift and bandgap(Eg)change.At the absorber surface and subsurface,an upward Ec and Ev band bending structure was observed at the GBs,and the carrier separation was improved.At the absorber center,both upward Ec and Ev and downward Ec-upward Ev band bending structures were observed at the GBs,and the carrier separation was degraded.To improve the carrier separation and suppress carrier recombination,an upward Ec and Ev band bending structure at the GBs is desirable.

A Comprehensive Review of Exosomes with Therapeutic Potential in Cancer and Coeliac Disease

The aim of this review was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of exosomes, extracellular vesicles secreted by cells. They have emerged as potential therapeutic transporters for several diseases. This review provides an overview of exosomes’ therapeutic potential in cancer therapy and autoimmune conditions such as Coeliac Disease. The therapeutic effect is that the phospholipid-binding protein ANXA1 improves its anti-inflammatory properties. The review also analyzes the intricate processes of exosome production and composition ability to transport biomolecules such as proteins, microRNAs, and lipids, which promote intercellular communication and alter recipient cell behavior. Exosomes, linked to neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, present the means of targeted drug administration due to their innate specificity. Through genetic engineering and chemical modifications, exosomes can be tailored for specific purposes, demonstrating their versatility in targeted therapy. With ongoing research uncovering their therapeutic potential, exosomes present a promising frontier in novel medical treatments across various health conditions.

Modelling analysis embodies drastic transition among global potential natural vegetations in face of changing climate

Potential natural vegetation(PNV)is a valuable reference for ecosystem renovation and has garnered increasing attention worldwide.However,there is limited knowledge on the spatio-temporal distributions,transitional processes,and underlying mechanisms of global natural vegetation,particularly in the case of ongoing climate warming.In this study,we visualize the spatio-temporal pattern and inter-transition procedure of global PNV,analyse the shifting distances and directions of global PNV under the influence of climatic disturbance,and explore the mechanisms of global PNV in response to temperature and precipitation fluctuations.To achieve this,we utilize meteorological data,mainly temperature and precipitation,from six phases:the Last Inter-Glacial(LIG),the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM),the Mid Holocene(MH),the Present Day(PD),2030(20212040)and 2090(2081–2100),and employ a widely-accepted comprehensive and sequential classification sy–stem(CSCS)for global PNV classification.We find that the spatial patterns of five PNV groups(forest,shrubland,savanna,grassland and tundra)generally align with their respective ecotopes,although their distributions have shifted due to fluctuating temperature and precipitation.Notably,we observe an unexpected transition between tundra and savanna despite their geographical distance.The shifts in distance and direction of five PNV groups are mainly driven by temperature and precipitation,although there is heterogeneity among these shifts for each group.Indeed,the heterogeneity observed among different global PNV groups suggests that they may possess varying capacities to adjust to and withstand the impacts of changing climate.The spatio-temporal distributions,mutual transitions and shift tendencies of global PNV and its underlying mechanism in face of changing climate,as revealed in this study,can significantly contribute to the development of strategies for mitigating warming and promoting re-vegetation in degraded regions worldwide.

Tetrathiafulvalene esters with high redox potentials and improved solubilities for non-aqueous redox flow battery applications

The exploitation of high performance redox-active substances is critically important for the development of non-aqueous redoxflow batteries.Herein,three tetrathiofulvalene(TTF)derivatives with different substitution groups,namely TTF diethyl ester(TTFDE),TTF tetramethyl ester(TTFTM),and TTF tetraethyl ester(TTFTE),are prepared and their energy storage properties are evaluated.It has been found that the redox potential and solubility of these TTF derivatives in conventional carbonate electrolytes increases with the number of ester groups.The battery with a catholyte of 0.2 mol L^(-1) of TTFTE delivers a specific capacity of more than 10 Ah L^(-1) at the current density of 0.5 C with two discharge voltage platforms locating at as high as 3.85 and 3.60 V vs.Li/Liþ.Its capacity retention can be improved from 2.34 Ah L^(-1) to 3.60 Ah L^(-1) after 100 cycles by the use of an anion exchange membrane to block the crossover of TTF species.The excellent cycling stability of the TIF esters is supported by their well-delocalized electrons,as revealed by the density function theory calculations.Therefore,the introduction of more and larger electron-withdrawing groups is a promising strategy to simultaneously increase the redox-potential and solubility of redox-active ma-terials for non-aqueous redoxflow batteries.

Seedling potential of trees species along the elevational gradient in temperate hill forest of central Nepal

Regeneration status of tree species along elevation gradient in temperate hill forest was not understood greatly.Present research examined the tree diversity and its regeneration patterns along an elevation gradient in temperate hill forest,central Nepal.Data were collected from 300 sample plots within vertical elevation bands of 10,ranging from 1365 to 2450 m asl.A random sampling method was used for data collection in three seasons,winter,pre-monsoon and post monsoon seasons.Diameter at breast height(DBH)was used to broadly categorize the plant individual into trees,saplings and seedlings.The tree species richness ranged from 12 to 25 with density of 350 to 1200 individuals per hectare.Species richness of tree and sapling showed statistically significant unimodal pattern,which peaked at mid-elevation.Elevation showed a strong and positive linear correlation with the seedling density(Deviance=0.99,p<0.001)and a significant hump-shaped relationship with sapling density(Deviance=0.95,p<0.001).Similarly,elevations showed a statistically significant negative hump-shaped relationship with all trees,saplings and seedling stages(Deviances=0.89,0.87 and 0.57).The highest values of the Shannon-Wiener index and the lowest value of the Simpson index were found at mid-elevation for all growth forms.Nearly 92%of tree species were found at regenerating stage;49%in a good renewal regeneration status,32%in fair renewal regeneration,and 11%at a poor regenerating condition.Nevertheless,4%of tree species were reported as non-regenerating stages and 4%were newly introduced species.Hence,the regeneration status of the study area was considered fairly well since sapling(78.5%)>seedling(10.6%)≤mature(10.9%).Among tested environmental variables,elevation and annual mean rainfall were the most influential factors in the regeneration of tree species.