Exploring the impact of Nafion modifier on electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction over Cu catalyst

Nafion as a universal polymer ionomer was widely applied for nanocatalysts electrode preparation.However,the effect of Nafion on electrocatalytic performance was often overlooked,especially for CO_(2)electrolysis.Herein,the key roles of Nafion for CO_(2)RR were systematically studied on Cu nanoparticles(NPs)electrocatalyst.We found that Nafion modifier not only inhibit hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)by decreasing the accessibility of H_(2)O from electrolyte to Cu NPs,and increase the CO_(2)concentration at electrocatalyst interface for enhancing the CO_(2)mass transfer process,but also activate CO_(2)molecule by Lewis acid-base interaction between Nafion and CO_(2)to accelerate the formation of^(*)CO,which favor of C–C coupling for boosting C_(2)product generation.Owing to these features,the HER selectivity was suppressed from 40.6%to 16.8%on optimal Cu@Nafion electrode at-1.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),and as high as 73.5%faradaic efficiencies(FEs)of C_(2)products were achieved at the same applied potential,which was 2.6 times higher than that on bare Cu electrode(~28.3%).In addition,Nafion also contributed to the long-term stability by hinder Cu NPs morphology reconstruction.Thus,this work provides insights into the impact of Nafion on electrocatalytic CO_(2)RR performance.

Effects of binder components and PVA modifier on bonding performance of phosphate binder for sand core-making

A type of heat-curing phosphate binder was proposed,and orthogonal experiments based on the tensile strength of sand samples determined that the optimal composition of the binder was phosphoric acid:water:aluminum hydroxide:magnesium oxide:boric acid=300:70:60:9:8.Adding 10%polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)solution during the sand mixture process can significantly improve the 24 h tensile strength of sand samples.When adding 30 g phosphate binder and 8 g 10%PVA solution,the initial tensile strength of the sample is 0.76 MPa,the room temperature tensile strength is 2.29 MPa,and the 24 h tensile strength is 1.73 MPa.The heat-curing modified phosphate sand mold has high tensile strength and low gas generation,which can meet general casting production requirements.

Breath-by-breath measurement of exhaled ammonia by acetonemodifier positive photoionization ion mobility spectrometry via online dilution and purging sampling

Exhaled ammonia(NH_(3))is an essential noninvasive biomarker for disease diagnosis.In this study,an acetone-modifier positive photoionization ion mobility spectrometry(AM-PIMS)method was developed for accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of exhaled NH_(3)with high selectivity and sensitivity.Acetone was introduced into the drift tube along with the drift gas as a modifier,and the characteristic NH_(3)product ion peak of(C_(3)H_(6)O)_(4)NH_(4)^(+)(K_(0)=1.45 cm^(2)/V·s)was obtained through the ion-molecule reaction with acetone reactant ions(C_(3)H_(6)O)_(2)H^(+)(K_(0)=1.87 cm^(2)/V·s),which significantly increased the peak-to-peak resolution and improved the accuracy of exhaled NH_(3)qualitative identification.Moreover,the interference of high humidity and the memory effect of NH_(3)molecules were significantly reduced via online dilution and purging sampling,thus realizing breath-by-breath measurement.As a result,a wide quantitative range of 5.87-140.92μmol/L with a response time of 40 ms was achieved,and the exhaled NH_(3)profile could be synchronized with the concentration curve of exhaled CO_(2).Finally,the analytical capacity of AM-PIMS was demonstrated by measuring the exhaled NH_(3)of healthy subjects,demonstrating its great potential for clinical disease diagnosis.

Modelling of the elastoplastic behaviour of the bio-cemented soils using an extended Modified Cam Clay model

An elastoplastic constitutive model based on the Modified Cam Clay(MCC)model is developed to describe the mechanical behaviour of soils cemented via microbially induced calcite precipitation(MICP).It considers the increase of the elastic stiffness,the change of the yield surface due to MICP cementation and the degradation of calcium carbonate bonds during shearing.Specifically,to capture the typical contraction-dilation transition in MICP soils,the original volumetric hardening rule in the MCC model is modified to a combined deviatoric and volumetric hardening rule.The model could reproduce a series of drained triaxial tests on MICP-treated soils with different calcium carbonate contents.Further,we carry out a parametric study and observe numerical instability in some cases.In combination with an analytical analysis,our numerical modelling has identified the benefits and limitations of using MCCbased models in the simulation of MICP-cemented soils,leading to suggestions for further model development.

A dual-RPA based lateral flow strip for sensitive,on-site detection of CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab/Ac genes in genetically modified crops

Traditional transgenic detection methods require high test conditions and struggle to be both sensitive and efficient.In this study,a one-tube dual recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA)reaction system for CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab/Ac was proposed and combined with a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay,named“Dual-RPA-LFD”,to visualize the dual detection of genetically modified(GM)crops.In which,the herbicide tolerance gene CP4-EPSPS and the insect resistance gene Cry1Ab/Ac were selected as targets taking into account the current status of the most widespread application of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance traits and their stacked traits.Gradient diluted plasmids,transgenic standards,and actual samples were used as templates to conduct sensitivity,specificity,and practicality assays,respectively.The constructed method achieved the visual detection of plasmid at levels as low as 100 copies,demonstrating its high sensitivity.In addition,good applicability to transgenic samples was observed,with no cross-interference between two test lines and no influence from other genes.In conclusion,this strategy achieved the expected purpose of simultaneous detection of the two popular targets in GM crops within 20 min at 37°C in a rapid,equipmentfree field manner,providing a new alternative for rapid screening for transgenic assays in the field.

Nucleoside modified mRNA-lipid nanoparticles as a new delivery platform for the repair of the injured spinal cord

Spinal cord injury and treatment opportunities:The adult mammalian spinal cord has a very limited capacity for spontaneous regeneration due to various intrinsic molecular and cellular factors.Although the spinal cord neurons have the capacity to regenerate their axons,the expression of growth inhibitory factors,lack or suppression of proper guidance cues,and profound inflammatory responses do not permit successful regeneration(Khyeam et al.,2021).

Effect of Modified Biochar with Organic Fertiliser on the Growth and Development of Chinese Rose

In order to reduce the waste of resources and environmental pollution caused by excessive application of chemical fertilizers, improve the utilization rate of fertilizers, and promote the large-scale and high-quality development of the Chinese rose industry. In this experiment, corn stover biochar, phosphoric acid modified biochar and organic fertilizer were used as test materials, and the effects of mixed application of modified biochar and organic fertilizer on the growth and development of Chinese rose as well as soil physicochemical properties were investigated by using the method of pot planting test. The results showed that modified biochar with organic fertilizer had the most significant effect on the enhancement of soil pH, organic matter content and soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. After 120 d of planting, modified biochar with organic fertilizer had the most significant effect on the enhancement of plant height and crown width of Chinese rose;both organic fertilizer and modified biochar with organic fertilizer significantly increased the chlorophyll content of Chinese rose. The number of flowers and the number of branches were the highest in the modified biochar with organic fertilizer treatment. In conclusion, the application of modified biochar with organic fertilizer can better improve the soil pH, and increase the soil organic matter content and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio to change the biological traits of Chinese rose. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the reduction of chemical fertilizers and the resource utilization of agricultural wastes and guarantee the sustainable development of the cut flower industry.

Trends in the global commercialization of genetically modified crops in 2023

The commercialization of genetically modified(GM)crops has increased food production,improved crop quality,reduced pesticide use,promoted changes in agricultural production methods,and become an important new production strategy for dealing with insect pests and weeds while reducing the cultivated land area.This article provides a comprehensive examination of the global distribution of GM crops in 2023.It discusses the internal factors that are driving their adoption,such as the increasing number of GM crops and the growing variety of commodities.This article also provides information support and application guidance for the new developments in global agricultural science and technology.

Multi-soliton solutions, breather-like and bound-state solitons for complex modified Korteweg–de Vries equation in optical fibers

Under investigation in this paper is a complex modified Korteweg–de Vries(KdV) equation, which describes the propagation of short pulses in optical fibers. Bilinear forms and multi-soliton solutions are obtained through the Hirota method and symbolic computation. Breather-like and bound-state solitons are constructed in which the signs of the imaginary parts of the complex wave numbers and the initial separations of the two parallel solitons are important factors for the interaction patterns. The periodic structures and position-induced phase shift of some solutions are introduced.

Fatigue Resistance of RCA Modified Asphalt Based on Dielectric Properties

In order to study the anti-fatigue performance of RCA modified asphalt (RMA),the performance of RMA and 90#matrix asphalt with different modifier content were measured by asphalt penetration,ductility,softening point,Brookfield viscosity,rheological index,infrared spectrum and dielectric constant test.This paper discusses the changes of asphalt basic indexes,fatigue properties and asphalt components based on dielectric properties under different modifier contents,and analyzes the grey correlation degree between components and asphalt pavement performance indexes.The results show that the optimum content of RCA modifier is 16.7%of the asphalt quality according to the penetration,ductility,softening point,Brockfield viscosity,viscosity temperature curve and fatigue life.In the phase angle-strain curve,there is disorder in the latter part of the curve.According to the strain (ε_(d)) corresponding to the disorder point,a new fatigue failure criterion is proposed and proved.Based on the new asphalt fatigue failure criterion,the fatigue prediction model of asphalt mixture is improved,and the fatigue life predicted by the improved fatigue model is compared with the fatigue life obtained by four-point bending fatigue test.The results show that the proposed new asphalt fatigue failure criterion is reasonable,and the fatigue life predicted by the improved asphalt mixture fatigue prediction model is accurate.The research method of classifying asphalt components based on dielectric properties is simple and effective,and the components have a high correlation with the road performance of base asphalt and modified asphalt.

Investigation of granite failure precursor under axial load using modified LSTM framework

Granite is usually composed of quartz,biotite,feldspar,and cracks,and the variation characteristics of these components could reflect the deformation and failure process of rock well.Taking granite as an example,the video camera was used to record the deformation and failure process of rock.The distribution of meso-components in video images was then identified.The meso-components of rock failure precursors were also discussed.Moreover,a modified LSTM(long short-term memory method)based on SSA(sparrow search algorithm)was proposed to estimate the change of meso-components of rock failure precursor.It shows that the initiation and expansion of cracks are mainly caused by feldspar and quartz fracture,and when the quartz and feldspar exit the stress framework,rock failure occurs;the second large increase of crack area and the second large decrease of quartz or feldspar area may be used as a precursor of rock failure;the precursor time of rock failure based on meso-scopic components is about 4 s earlier than that observed by the naked eye;the modified LSTM network has the strongest estimation ability for quartz area change,followed by feldspar and biotite,and has the worst estimation ability for cracks;when using the modified LSTM network to predict the precursors of rock instability and failure,quartz and feldspar could be given priority.The results presented herein may provide reference in the investigation of rock failure mechanism.

Modified Xiaoyao powder for postpartum depression:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of modified Xiaoyao powder for postpartum depression(PPD)by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials(RCTs).Methods:The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases(CNKI),the Chinese Scientific Journals Database(VIP),Wanfang,Google Scholar,the SinoMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and PubMed databases were searched from their inception to April 25,2023.The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of the trials.We applied the risk ratio to present dichotomous data and the mean difference to present continuous data.Data with similar characteristics were pooled for meta-analysis and heterogeneity was assessed using I2.Results:This review included 35 trials involving 2848 participants.The quality of the included studies was low(unclear randomization processes and insufficient reporting of blinding).Participants treated with modified Xiaoyao powder plus Western medicine showed lower Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)depression score than those who used Western medicine alone(mean difference=-2.15;95%confidence interval:-2.52 to 1.78;P<.00001),and higher effective rate(relative risk=1.19;95%confidence interval:1.15 to 1.24;P<.00001),When comparing modified Xiaoyao alone with Western medicine,the HAMD depression score remained low,however,the efficacy rate was higher in the modified Xiaoyao group.Regarding adverse events,the modified Xiaoyao group reported weight gain,nausea,and diarrhea,but no severe adverse events were reported.Conclusion:Modified Xiaoyao may help relieve depression in PPD when used alone or in combination with Western medicine,with minor side effects.Therefore,future high-quality,large-sample size RCTs are warranted.

Preparation of Modified UiO-66 Catalyst and Its Catalytic Performance for NH_(3)-SCR Denitration

Zirconium-based metal-organic framework UiO-66 was successfully prepared by solvothermal method,and UiO-66 was modified by adding regulators such as formic acid,acetic acid,and hydrochloric acid.The NH_(3)-SCR reactivity of the samples was evaluated by the denitration activity evaluation system,and the UiO-66 and the regulator-modified UiO-66 were characterized by XRD,SEM,BET,FTIR,TG,NH_(3)-TPD,etc.,the effects of regulator types on the structure and properties of UiO-66 were investigated.The experimental results show that,after adding the modifier,the morphology of UiO-66 changes from irregular quadrilateral with serious agglomeration to particles with regular crystal shape and good dispersibility,and the crystal morphology of the catalyst is improved.In addition,after adding the modifier,UiO-66 has a larger specific surface area and stronger surface acidity,which optimizes the catalytic performance of UiO-66.The catalytic performance test results of NH_(3)-SCR show that the low-temperature activity of UiO-66 is poor,and it only shows a certain catalytic activity at higher temperatures.The catalytic activity of UiO-66 was significantly improved after adding the regulator.Among them,the UiO-66-HCl modified with hydrochloric acid had the best catalytic activity,and the denitration rate reached 70%when the denitration temperature was 380℃.

A Modified Iterative Learning Control Approach for the Active Suppression of Rotor Vibration Induced by Coupled Unbalance and Misalignment

This paper proposes a modified iterative learning control(MILC)periodical feedback-feedforward algorithm to reduce the vibration of a rotor caused by coupled unbalance and parallel misalignment.The control of the vibration of the rotor is provided by an active magnetic actuator(AMA).The iterative gain of the MILC algorithm here presented has a self-adjustment based on the magnitude of the vibration.Notch filters are adopted to extract the synchronous(1×Ω)and twice rotational frequency(2×Ω)components of the rotor vibration.Both the notch frequency of the filter and the size of feedforward storage used during the experiment have a real-time adaptation to the rotational speed.The method proposed in this work can provide effective suppression of the vibration of the rotor in case of sudden changes or fluctuations of the rotor speed.Simulations and experiments using the MILC algorithm proposed here are carried out and give evidence to the feasibility and robustness of the technique proposed.

Enhancing the Tribological Performance of Conductive Grease Through the Modification of Polypyrrole with Ionic Liquids

This study prepared four types of ionic liquid-modified polypyrrole(IL-modified PPy)as conductive additives and investigated their tribological performance and conductivity in polytetrafluoroethylene lubricating grease.The results indicated that IL-modified PPy effectively enhanced the anti-wear performance and conductivity of the base grease.Among the additives,1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([OMIm][BF4])modified PPy showed superior performance compared to the other three additives,with the best effect observed at a mass fraction of 0.5%.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that IL-modified PPy forms a stable friction chemical film during the friction process,effectively enhancing the lubrication performance and conductivity of the base grease.This indicates broad potential applications in the field of conductive lubrication.

Modified intratympanic steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss via tympanic tube and gelfoam as a salvage treatment

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) is a prevalent emergency in ear, nose, and throat practice. Previous studies have demonstrated that intratympanic steroid therapy(IST) can serve as a salvage treatment for SSNHL after the failure of systemic steroid therapy(SST).Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of modified IST involving the insertion of a tympanic tube and gelfoam as a salvage treatment for patients with SSNHL, and to explore its associated factors.Methods: Totally, 74 patients who were aged 22–81 years with SSNHL were enrolled and allocated to either the control group(n = 25) or the treatment group(n = 49) based on their treatment modalities. All patients received SST lasting for at least 7 days. Subsequently, patients in the treatment group, after SST failure, underwent IST twice a week for 2–6 weeks, while the control group did not. Efficacy was assessed by the improvement in pure tone average at the affected frequency at the beginning and end of IST.Results: Hearing improvement in all patients after IST in the treatment group was 9.71 ± 14.84 dB, with significant improvement at affected frequencies(250-8000 Hz) compared with the control group(P < 0.05). The findings indicated the duration from the onset of SSNHL to the beginning of IST as an independent factor for pure tone average improvement after treatment(P = 0.002), whereas age, duration of SST, and time of IST were not(P > 0.05).Conclusion: The modified IST was demonstrated to be a safe and effective method as a salvage treatment for SSNHL. This study explored the efficacy of a modified IST approach, incorporating the utilization of tympanic tubes and gelfoam as key components. The findings underscore the advantages of gelfoam as a strategic drug carrier placed in the round window niche. By minimizing drug loss, extending action time, and increasing perilymph concentration, gelfoam enhances the therapeutic impact of IST, contributing to improved hearing outcomes in patients with SSNHL.

Clinical efficacy of modified Kamikawa anastomosis in patients with laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy

BACKGROUND With the increasing incidence of proximal gastric cancer,laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy has been applied.However,reflux esophagitis often occurs after traditional esophagogastric anastomosis.In order to solve this problem,several methods of digestive tract reconstruction have emerged,but the most satisfying method remains to be discussed.Therefore,we modified traditional Kamikawa anastomosis to investigate the appropriate digestive tract reconstruction in laparo-scopic proximal gastrectomy.All the patients were successfully operated on without conversion to laparotomy.The duration of operation and digestive tract reconstruction were 203.500(150-224)min and 87.500(73-111)min,respectively.The intraoperative amount of bleeding was 20.500 mL±0.696 mL.The time of postoperative first flatus,the first postoperative fluid intake,and the postoperative length of stay were 2(1-3)d,4(3-5)d,and 9(8-10)d,respectively.All the patients were followed up for 12-23 months.The body mass index at 6 and 12 months after surgery were 22.577 kg/m2±3.098 kg/m2 and 22.594 kg/m2±3.207 kg/m2,respectively.The nutrition risk screening 2002 score,the patient-generated subjective global assessment score,and the gastroesophageal reflux disease scale score were good at 6 and 12 months after surgery.Reflux esophagitis and anastomotic stenosis were not observed in any of the patients during their 12-month postoperative gastroscopy or upper gastrointestinal tract visits.All the patients exhibited no tumor recurrence or metastasis.CONCLUSION The modified Kamikawa anastomosis is safe and feasible for laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and has good antireflux effects and nutritional status.

A Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Cellulose Nanofibrils from Ammophila arenaria for the Sensitive Detection of L-Trytophan

L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid for human health. Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) from marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) extracted from plants harvested in the center of Tunisia was used for the first time for the modification of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), for the sensitive detection of L-tryptophan (Trp). After spectroscopic and morphological characterization of the extracted NFC, the GC electrode modification was monitored through cyclic voltammetry. The NFC-modified electrode exhibited good analytical performance in detecting Trp with a wide linear range between 7.5 × 10−4 mM and 10−2 mM, a detection limit of 0.2 µM, and a high sensitivity of 140.0 µA∙mM−1. Additionally, the NFC/GCE showed a good reproducibility, good selectivity versus other amino acids, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and good applicability to the detection of Trp in urine samples.

Novel wood-plastic composite fabricated via modified steel slag:Preparation,mechanical and flammability properties

A novel method was developed to enhance the utilization rate of steel slag(SS).Through treatment of SS with phosphoric acid and aminopropyl triethoxysilane(KH550),we obtained modified SS(MSS),which was used to prepare MSS/wood-plastic composites(MSS/WPCs)by replacing talcum powder(TP).The composites were fabricated through melting blending and hot pressing.Their mechanical and combustion properties,which comprise heat release,smoke release,and thermal stability,were systematically investigated.MSS can improve the mechanical strength of the composites through grafting reactions between wood powder and thermoplastics.Notably,MSS/WPC#50(16wt%MSS)with an MSS-to-TP mass ratio of 1:1 exhibited optimal comprehensive performance.Compared with those of WPC#0 without MSS,the tensile,flexural,and impact strengths of MSS/WPC#50 were increased by 18.5%,12.8%,and 18.0%,respectively.Moreover,the MSS/WPC#50 sample achieved the highest limited oxygen index of 22.5%,the highest vertical burning rating at the V-1 level,and the lowest horizontal burning rate at 44.2 mm/min.The formation of a dense and stable char layer led to improved thermal stability and a considerable reduction in heat and smoke releases of MSS/WPC#50.However,the partial replacement of TP with MSS slightly compromised the mechanical and flame-retardant properties,possibly due to the weak grafting caused by SS powder agglomeration.These findings suggest the suitability of MSS/WPCs for high-value-added applications as decorative panels indoors or outdoors.

Arterial Duct Stenting Versus Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt in Patient with Ductal-Dependent Pulmonary Circulation: Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Objective:Patients with ductal-dependent pulmonary circulation require alternative bloodflow to provide and maintain adequate oxygenation.Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt(MBTS)has been the standard for providing such a result.Currently,less invasive methods such as Arterial Duct(AD)stenting have been performed as alter-natives.This study aims to compare the outcome of AD stenting and MBTS.Method:Systematic research was performed in online databases using the PRISMA protocol.The outcomes measured were 30-day mortality,com-plication,unplanned intervention,oxygen saturation,duration of hospital,and ICU length of stay.Any compara-tive study provided with full text is included.The outcome of each study was analyzed using a trandom effects model with relative risk and mean difference as the effect size.Bias risk assessment was conducted using the New-castle-Ottawa Scale.All analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4.1.Result:A total of 11 studies with 3154 samples included in this study.There is no significant difference in 30-day mortality between the two groups(p-value=0.10).However,there is significantly less complication(RR 0.53[0.35,0.82];p-value=0.004)and unplanned intervention(RR 0.59[0.38,0.92];p-value=0.02)in the AD stent group.Comparison of the Nakata index showed no significant difference(p-value=0.88).Post-operative oxygen saturation was measured signifi-cantly higher in the AD stenting(MD 1.80[0.85,2.74];p-value=0.0002).However,AD stent group shows sig-nificantly lower long-term oxygen saturation(MD-8.43[-14.38,-2.48];p-value=0.005).Both hospital and ICU length of stay was significantly shorter in the AD stent group(MD-8.30[-11.13,-5.48];p-value<0.00001;MD-5.09[-7.79,-2.38];p-value=0.0002).Conclusion:AD stenting provides comparable outcomes relative to MBTS as it provides less complication and unplanned intervention and higher post-procedural O2 saturation.However,MBTS proved its superiority in maintaining higher long-term oxygen saturation and still became the preferred option to manage complex cases where stenting is either challenging or unsuccessful.