Analyzing the Corrosion Wastage over Some of the Bulk Carriers＇ Member Locations

In this paper, well-known and structured Monte Carlo simulation technique has been employed in predicting the amounts of the corrosion wastage over some bulk carriers＇ structural elements in different points of time during their exploitation life. As a base for the realization of the simulations, the appropriate statistical data collected over the group of ten bulk carriers have been used. Both longitudinal and transversal ships＇ hull structural elements have been taken into the consideration. Due to some experts＇ knowledge in this domain, the critical hull zones are identified and certain interventions are done in the pre-processing of the input data to the Monte Carlo simulations, all with the aim of achieving better convergence between simulation results and the experts＇ expectations in this field.

Thermogravimetric characteristics of corn straw and bituminous coal copyrolysis based the ilmenite oxygen carriers

Herein,the co-pyrolysis reaction characteristics of corn straw(CS)and bituminous coal in the presence of ilmenite oxygen carriers(OCs)are investigated via thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry.The results reveal that the participation of OCs weakens the devolatilization intensity of co-pyrolysis.When the CS blending ratio is<50%,the mixed fuel exhibits positive synergistic effects.The fitting results according to the Coats-Redfern integral method show that the solid-solid interaction between OCs and coke changes the reaction kinetics,enhancing the co-pyrolysis reactivity at the high-temperature zone(750-950C).The synergistic effect is most prominent at a 30%CS blending ratio,with copyrolysis activation energy in the range of 26.35-40.57 kJ·mol^(-1).

Clinical Analysis and Mental Health Survey of Hemophilia Carriers:a Cross-sectional Study

Objective:Hemophilia carriers(HCs),who are heterozygous for mutations in the clotting factor VIII/clotting factor IX gene(F8 or F9),may have a wide range of clotting factor levels,from very low,similar to afflicted males,to the upper limit of normal,and may experience mental health issues.The purpose of this study was to provide genetic information on mothers of hemophilia patients and to understand the clotting factor activity and phenotype of HCs.Additionally,we aimed to investigate the mental health status of HCs in China.Methods:A total of 127 hemophilia mothers,including 93 hemophilia A(HA)mothers and 34 hemophilia B(HB)mothers,were enrolled in this study.Long distance PCR,multiplex PCR,and Sanger sequencing were used to analyze mutations in F8 or F9.Coagulation factor activity was detected by a one-stage clotting assay.The Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90,China/Mandarin version)was given to HCs at the same time to assess their mental health.Results:A total of 90.6%of hemophilia mothers were diagnosed genetically as carriers,with inversion in intron 22 and missense mutations being the most common mutation types in HA and HB carriers,respectively.The median clotting factor level in carriers was 0.74 IU/mL(ranging from 0.09 to 1.74 IU/mL)compared with 1.49 IU/mL(ranging from 0.93 to 1.89 IU/mL)in noncarriers,of which 14.3%of HCs had clotting factor levels of 0.40 IU/mL or below.A total of 53.8%(7/13)of HA carriers with low clotting factor levels(less than 0.50 IU/mL)had a history of bleeding,while none of the HB carriers displayed a bleeding phenotype.The total mean score and the global severity index of the SCL-90 for surveyed HCs were 171.00(±60.37)and 1.78(±0.59),respectively.A total of 67.7%of the respondents had psychological symptoms,with obsessive-compulsive disorder being the most prevalent and severe.The pooled estimates of all nine factors were significantly higher than those in the general population(P<0.05).Conclusions:The detection rate of gene mutations in hemophilia mothers was 90.6%,with a median clotting factor level of 0.74 IU/mL,and 14.3%of HCs had a clotting factor level of 0.40 IU/mL or below.A history of bleeding was present in 41.2%of HCs with low clotting factor levels(less than 0.50 IU/mL).Additionally,given the fragile mental health status of HCs in China,it is critical to develop efficient strategies to improve psychological well-being.

Ethane Chemical Looping Oxidative Dehydrogenation to Ethylene over Co_(2)O_(3)(Fe_(2)O_(3),NiO)/LaCoO_(3) Oxygen Carriers

Ethane chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation(CL-ODH)to ethylene is a new technology for converting ethane to ethylene.In the current study MeO/LaCoO_(3)(MeO=Fe_(2)O_(3),NiO or Co_(2)O_(3))composite metal oxides were prepared via citrate gel and impregnation methods,and used as oxygen carriers for CL-ODH.X-ray diffraction results indicated that all oxygen carriers had a perovskite structure even after eight redox cycles.Under a reaction temperature of 650°C,a reaction pressure of 0.1 MPa,and a weight hourly space velocity(WHSV)of 7500 mL/(g·h),ethane conversion over Co_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3) reached 100%and ethylene selectivity reached 60%,both of which were better than corresponding values attained over Fe_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3) and NiO/LaCoO_(3).Ethylene selectivity remained stable for 80 cycles over Co_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3),then decreased gradually after 80 cycles.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results and evaluation results indicated that lattice oxygen and O_(2)2-had a direct relationship with ethane conversion and ethylene selectivity.Co_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3) exhibited a strong capacity to release and absorb oxygen,mainly due to interaction between Co_(2)O_(3) and LaCoO_(3).

Advancements in biomass gasification research utilizing iron-based oxygen carriers in chemical looping:A review

Biomass,recognized as renewable green coal,is pivotal for energy conservation,emission reduction,and dualcarbon objectives.Chemical looping gasification,an innovative technology,aims to enhance biomass utilization efficiency.Using metal oxides as oxygen carriers regulates the oxygen-to-fuel ratio to optimize synthesis product yields.This review examines various oxygen carriers and their roles in chemical looping biomass gasification,including natural iron ore types,industrial by-products,cerium oxide-based carriers,and core-shell structures.The catalytic,kinetic,and phase transfer properties of iron-based oxygen carriers are analyzed,and their catalytic cracking capabilities are explored.Molecular interactions are elucidated and system performance is optimized by providing insights into chemical looping reaction mechanisms and strategies to improve carrier efficiency,along with discussing advanced techniques such as density functional theory(DFT)and reactive force field(ReaxFF)molecular dynamics(MD).This paper serves as a roadmap for advancing chemical looping gasification towards sustainable energy goals.

Advances in the development of amorphous solid dispersions:The role of polymeric carriers

Amorphous solid dispersion(ASD)is one of the most effective approaches for delivering poorly soluble drugs.In ASDs,polymeric materials serve as the carriers in which the drugs are dispersed at the molecular level.To prepare the solid dispersions,there are many polymers with various physicochemical and thermochemical characteristics available for use in ASD formulations.Polymer selection is of great importance because it influences the stability,solubility and dissolution rates,manufacturing process,and bioavailability of the ASD.This review article provides a comprehensive overview of ASDs from the perspectives of physicochemical characteristics of polymers,formulation designs and preparation methods.Furthermore,considerations of safety and regulatory requirements along with the studies recommended for characterizing and evaluating polymeric carriers are briefly discussed.

Advances in Research on Cellulose-based Drug Carriers

Traditional drug delivery methods are prone to large fluctuations in drug concentration and require multiple frequent doses.As a green material with excellent properties,cellulose has been widely used as a drug carrier for the development and preparation of drug controlled-release system.Based on the mechanisms of slow drug release,such as dissolution-diffusion release,degradation release,and nanochannel-controlled release,the preparation methods of cellulose-based drug carriers are introduced in this paper.The applications of cellulose-based drug carriers in the fields of antitumor therapy,antibacterial therapy,chronic disease treatment,and viral disease treatment are summarized with the aim of providing a useful reference for research on cellulose-based drug carriers.

The Extended Hybrid Carrier-Based Multiple Access Technology for High Mobility Scenarios

The hybrid carrier(HC)system rooted in the carrier fusion concept is gradually garnering attention.In this paper,we study the extended hybrid carrier(EHC)multiple access scheme to ensure reliable wireless communication.By employing the EHC modulation,a power layered multiplexing framework is realized,which exhibits enhanced interference suppression capability owing to the more uniform energy distribution design.The implementation method and advantage mechanism are explicated respectively for the uplink and downlink,and the performance analysis under varying channel conditions is provided.In addition,considering the connectivity demand,we explore the non-orthogonal multiple access(NOMA)method of the EHC system and develop the EHC sparse code multiple access scheme.The proposed scheme melds the energy spread superiority of EHC with the access capacity of NOMA,facilitating superior support for massive connectivity in high mobility environments.Simulation results have verified the feasibility and advantages of the proposed scheme.Compared with existing HC multiple access schemes,the proposed scheme exhibits robust bit error rate performance and can better guarantee multiple access performance in complex scenarios of nextgeneration communications.

Optimizing the sulfur-resistance and activity of perovskite oxygen carrier for chemical looping dry reforming of methane

Perovskite oxides has been attracted much attention as high-performance oxygen carriers for chemical looping reforming of methane,but they are easily inactivated by the presence of trace H_(2)S.Here,we propose to modulate both the activity and resistance to sulfur poisoning by dual substitution of Mo and Ni ions with the Fe-sites of LaFeO_(3)perovskite.It is found that partial substitution of Ni for Fe substantially improves the activity of LaFeO_(3)perovskite,while Ni particles prefer to grow and react with H_(2)S during the long-term successive redox process,resulting in the deactivation of oxygen carriers.With the presence of Mo in LaNi_(0.05)Fe_(0.95)O_(3−σ)perovskite,H_(2)S preferentially reacts with Mo to generate MoS_(2),and then the CO_(2)oxidation can regenerate Mo via removing sulfur.In addition,Mo can inhibit the accumulation and growth of Ni,which helps to improve the redox stability of oxygen carriers.The LaNi_(0.05)Mo_(0.07)Fe_(0.88)O_(3−σ)oxygen carrier exhibits stable and excellent performance,with the CH_(4)conversion higher than 90%during the 50 redox cycles in the presence of 50 ppm H_(2)S at 800℃.This work highlights a synergistic effect in the perovskite oxides induced by dual substitution of different cations for the development of high-performance oxygen carriers with excellent sulfur tolerance.

Regulation of the quantum barrier and carrier transport toward high-efficiency quasi-2D Dion-Jacobson tin perovskite solar cells

Quasi-2D Dion-Jacobson(DJ)tin halide perovskite has attracted much attention due to its elimination of Van der Waals gap and enhanced environmental stability.However,the bulky organic spacers usually form a natural quantum well structure,which brings a large quantum barrier and poor film quality,further limiting the carrier transport and device performance.Here,we designed three organic spacers with different chain lengths(ethylenediamine(EDA),1,3-propanediamine(PDA),and 1,4-butanediamine(BDA))to investigate the quantum barrier dependence.Theoretical and experimental characterizations indicate that EDA with short chain can reduce the lattice distortion and dielectric confinement effect,which is beneficial to the effective dissociation of excitons and the inhibition of trap-free non-radiative relaxation.In addition,EDA cation shows strong interaction with the inorganic octahedron,realizing large aggregates in precursor solution and high-quality films with improved structural stability.Furthermore,femtosecond transient absorption proves that EDA cations can also weaken the formation of small n-phases with large quantum barrier to achieve effective carrier transport between different nphases.Finally,the quasi-2D DJ(EDA)FA_(9)Sn_(10)I_(31)solar cells achieves a 7.07%power conversion efficiency with good environment stability.Therefore,this work sheds light on the regulation of the quantum barrier and carrier transport through the chain length of organic spacer for qua si-2D DJ lead-free perovskites.

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.

Ultrafast carrier dynamics in GeSn thin film based on time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy

We measure the time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy of GeSn thin film and studied the ultrafast dynamics of its photo-generated carriers.The experimental results show that there are photo-generated carriers in GeSn under femtosecond laser excitation at 2500 nm,and its pump-induced photoconductivity can be explained by the Drude–Smith model.The carrier recombination process is mainly dominated by defect-assisted Auger processes and defect capture.The firstand second-order recombination rates are obtained by the rate equation fitting,which are(2.6±1.1)×10^(-2)ps^(-1)and(6.6±1.8)×10^(-19)cm^(3)·ps^(-1),respectively.Meanwhile,we also obtain the diffusion length of photo-generated carriers in GeSn,which is about 0.4μm,and it changes with the pump delay time.These results are important for the GeSn-based infrared optoelectronic devices,and demonstrate that Ge Sn materials can be applied to high-speed optoelectronic detectors and other applications.

Atomic Ni directional-substitution on ZnIn_(2)S_(4) nanosheet to achieve the equilibrium of elevated redox capacity and efficient carrier-kinetics performance in photocatalysis

It is a challenge to coordinate carrier-kinetics performance and the redox capacity of photogenerated charges synchronously at the atomic level for boosting photocatalytic activity.Herein,the atomic Ni was introduced into the lattice of hexagonal ZnIn_(2)S_(4) nanosheets(Ni/ZnIn_(2)S_(4))via directionalsubstituting Zn atom with the facile hydrothermal method.The electronic structure calculations indicate that the introduction of Ni atom effectively extracts more electrons and acts as active site for subsequent reduction reaction.Besides the optimized light absorption range,the elevation of Efand ECBendows Ni/ZnIn_(2)S_(4) photocatalyst with the increased electron concentration and the enhanced reduction ability for surface reaction.Moreover,ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy,as well as a series of electrochemical tests,demonstrates that Ni/ZnIn_(2)S_(4) possesses 2.15 times longer lifetime of the excited charge carriers and an order of magnitude increase for carrier mobility and separation efficiency compared with pristine ZnIn_(2)S_(4).These efficient kinetics performances of charge carriers and enhanced redox capacity synergistically boost photocatalytic activity,in which a 3-times higher conversion efficiency of nitrobenzene reduction was achieved upon Ni/ZnIn_(2)S_(4).Our study not only provides in-depth insights into the effect of atomic directional-substitution on the kinetic behavior of photogenerated charges,but also opens an avenue to the synchronous optimization of redox capacity and carrier-kinetics performance for efficient solar energy conversion.

Hot carrier cooling in lead halide perovskites probed by two-pulse photovoltage correlation spectroscopy

The next-generation hot-carrier solar cells,which can overcome the Shockley-Queisser limit by harvesting excessenergy from hot carriers,are receiving increasing attention.Lead halide perovskite(LHP)materials are considered aspromising candidates due to their exceptional photovoltaic properties,good stability and low cost.The cooling rate of hotcarriers is a key parameter influencing the performance of hot-carrier solar cells.In this work,we successfully detected hotcarrier dynamics in operando LHP devices using the two-pulse photovoltage correlation technique.To enhance the signalto-noise ratio,we applied the delay-time modulation method instead of the traditional power modulation.This advancementallowed us to detect the intraband hot carrier cooling time for the organic LHP CH_(3)NH_(3)PbBr_(3),which is as short as 0.21 ps.In comparison,the inorganic Cs-based LHP CsPbBr_(3)exhibited a longer cooling time of around 0.59 ps due to differentphonon contributions.These results provide us new insights into the optimal design of hot-carrier solar cells and highlightthe potential of LHP materials in advancing solar cell technology.

Experimental Study on Gas Flow Uniformity in a Diesel Particulate Filter Carrier

A Diesel Particulate Filter(DPF)is a critical device for diesel engine exhaust products treatment.When using active-regeneration purification methods,on the one hand,a spatially irregular gas flow can produce relatively high local temperatures,potentially resulting in damage to the carrier;On the other hand,the internal temperature field can also undergo significant changes contributing to increase this risk.This study explores the gas flow uniformity in a DPF carrier and the related temperature behavior under drop-to-idle(DTI)condition by means of bench tests.It is shown that the considered silicon carbide carrier exhibits good flow uniformity,with a temperature deviation of no more than 2%with respect to the same radius measurement point at the outlet during the regeneration stage.In the DTI test,the temperature is relatively high within r/2 near the outlet end,where the maximum temperature peak occurs,and the maximum radial temperature gradient is located between r/2 and the edge.Both these quantities grow as the soot load increases,thereby making the risk of carrier burnout greater.Finally,it is shown that the soot load limit of the silicon carbide DPF can be extended to 11 g/L,which reduces the frequency of active regeneration by approximately 40%compared to a cordierite DPF.

CO_(2)capture costs of chemical looping combustion of biomass:A comparison of natural and synthetic oxygen carrier

Chemical looping combustion has the potential to be an efficient and low-cost technology capable of contributing to the reduction of the atmospheric concentration of CO_(2) in order to reach the 1.5/2°C goal and mitigate climate change.In this process,a metal oxide is used as oxygen carrier in a dual fluidized bed to generate clean CO_(2) via combustion of biomass.Most commonly,natural ores or synthetic materials are used as oxygen carrier whereas both must meet special requirements for the conversion of solid fuels.Synthetic oxygen carriers are characterized by higher reactivity at the expense of higher costs versus the lower-cost natural ores.To determine the viability of both possibilities,a techno-economic comparison of a synthetic material based on manganese,iron,and copper to the natural ore ilmenite was conducted.The synthetic oxygen carrier was characterized and tested in a pilot plant,where high combustion efficiencies up to 98.4%and carbon capture rates up to 98.5%were reached.The techno-economic assessment resulted in CO_(2) capture costs of 75 and 40€/tCO_(2) for the synthetic and natural ore route respectively,whereas a sensitivity analysis showed the high impact of production costs and attrition rates of the synthetic material.The synthetic oxygen carrier could break even with the natural ore in case of lower production costs and attrition rates,which could be reached by adapting the production process and recycling material.By comparison to state-of-the-art technologies,it is demonstrated that both routes are viable and the capture cost of CO_(2) could be reduced by implementing the chemical looping combustion technology.

Comprehensive study of the ultrafast photoexcited carrier dynamics in Sb_(2)Te_(3)–GeTe superlattices

Chalcogenide superlattices Sb_(2)Te_(3)-GeTe is a candidate for interfacial phase-change memory(iPCM) data storage devices.By employing terahertz emission spectroscopy and the transient reflectance spectroscopy together,we investigate the ultrafast photoexcited carrier dynamics and current transients in Sb_(2)Te_(3)-GeTe superlattices.Sample orientation and excitation polarization dependences of the THz emission confirm that ultrafast thermo-electric,shift and injection currents contribute to the THz generation in Sb_(2)Te_(3)-GeTe superlattices.By decreasing the thickness and increasing the number of GeTe and Sb_(2)Te_(3) layer,the interlayer coupling can be enhanced,which significantly reduces the contribution from circular photo-galvanic effect(CPGE).A photo-induced bleaching in the transient reflectance spectroscopy probed in the range of~1100 nm to~1400 nm further demonstrates a gapped state resulting from the interlayer coupling.These demonstrates play an important role in the development of iPCM-based high-speed optoelectronic devices.

Mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 increases malignant phenotype of human gastric epithelial cells and promotes proliferation,invasion,and migration of gastric cancer cells

BACKGROUND The precise role of mitochondrial carrier homolog 2(MTCH2)in promoting malignancy in gastric mucosal cells and its involvement in gastric cancer cell metastasis have not been fully elucidated.AIM To determine the role of MTCH2 in gastric cancer.METHODS We collected 65 samples of poorly differentiated gastric cancer tissue and adjacent tissues,constructed MTCH2-overexpressing and MTCH2-knockdown cell models,and evaluated the proliferation,migration,and invasion of human gastric epithelial cells(GES-1)and human gastric cancer cells(AGS)cells.The mito-chondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial permeability transformation pore(mPTP)and ATP fluorescence probe were used to detect mitochondrial function.Mitochondrial function and ATP synthase protein levels were detected via Western blotting.RESULTS The expression of MTCH2 and ATP2A2 in gastric cancer tissues was significantly greater than that in adjacent tissues.Overexpression of MTCH2 promoted colony formation,invasion,migration,MMP expression and ATP production in GES-1 and AGS cells while upregulating ATP2A2 expression and inhibiting cell apoptosis;knockdown of MTCH2 had the opposite effect,promoting overactivation of the mPTP and promoting apoptosis.CONCLUSION MTCH2 can increase the malignant phenotype of GES-1 cells and promote the proliferation,invasion,and migration of gastric cancer cells by regulating mitochondrial function,providing a basis for targeted therapy for gastric cancer cells.

Hepatitis B surface antigen clearance in inactive hepatitis B surface antigen carriers treated with peginterferon alfa-2a

AIM: To examine the association between interferon(IFN) therapy and loss of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag) in inactive HBs Ag carriers. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in inactive HBs Ag carriers, who were treatment-naive, with a serum HBs Ag level < 100 IU/m L and an undetectable hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA level(< 100 IU/m L). All the 20 treated patients received subcutaneous PEG-IFN alfa-2a 180 μg/wk for 72 wk and were then followed for 24 wk. There were 40 untreated controls matched with 96 wk of observation. Serum HBs Ag, HBV DNA, and alanine aminotransferases were monitored every 3 mo in the treatment group and every 3-6 mo in the control group. RESULTS: Thirteen(65.0%) of 20 treated patients achieved HBs Ag loss, 12 of whom achieved HBs Ag seroconversion. Mean HBs Ag level in treated patients decreased to 6.69 ± 13.04 IU/m L after 24 wk of treatment from a baseline level of 26.22 ± 33.00 IU/m L. Serum HBV DNA level remained undetectable(< 100 IU/m L) in all treated patients during the study. HBs Ag level of the control group decreased from 25.72 ± 25.58 IU/m L at baseline to 17.11 ± 21.62 IU/m L at week 96(P = 0.108). In the control group, no patient experienced HBs Ag loss/seroconversion, and two(5.0%) developed HBV reactivation.CONCLUSION: IFN treatment results in HBs Ag loss and seroconversion in a considerable proportion of inactive HBs Ag carriers with low HBs Ag concentrations.

Distribution of carriers in gradient-doping transmission-mode GaAs photocathodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy

The gradient-doping structure is first applied to prepare the transmission-mode GaAs photocathode and the integral sensitivity of the sealed image tube achieves 1420μA/lm. This paper studies the inner carrier concentration distribution of the gradient-doping transmission-mode GaAs photocathode after molecular beam epitaxy （MBE） growth using the electrochemical capacitance-voltage profiling. The results show that an ideal gradient-doping structure can be obtained by using MBE growth. The total band-bending energy in the gradient-doping GaAs active-layer with doping concentration ranging from 1×10^19 cm-3 to 1×1018 cm-3 is calculated to be 46.3 meV, which helps to improve the photoexcited electrons movement toward surface for the thin epilayer. In addition,by analysis of the band offsets, it is found that the worse carrier concentration discrepancy between GaAs and GaA1As causes a lower back interface electron potential barrier which decreases the amount of high-energy photoelectrons and affects the short-wave response.