To meet the International Maritime Organization’s requirements for carbon dioxide emissions from ships, a cost-effective and practical ship decarbonization tower was autonomously designed based on the marine diesel engine model 6135G128ZCa. The tower is internally filled with structured packing, and a slot-type liquid distributor at the top of the packing evenly distributes the NaOH solution to absorb carbon dioxide from the ship’s exhaust gas. Experimental research was conducted to investigate the influence of factors such as liquid-to-gas ratio and NaOH concentration on the performance of the decarbonization tower. The results confirmed that the use of NaOH solution can effectively absorb CO2 from ship exhaust gas, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 81.59% and meeting the EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) requirements specified by the IMO.

Background: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis has become a promising tool for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of lymphoma cases. Until now, research in this area has mainly focused in aggressive lymphomas with scanty information from other lymphoma subtypes. Methods: We selected 256 patients diagnosed with lymphomas including a large variety of B-cell and T-cell non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas and quantified cfDNA from plasma at the time of diagnosis. We further selected 49 large B cell lymphomas (LBCL) and analyzed cfDNA levels at diagnosis (pre-therapy) and after therapy. In addition, we performed NGS in cfDNA and tissue in this cohort of LBCL. Results: Lymphoma patients showed a statistically significant higher cfDNA concentration than healthy controls (mean 53.0 ng/mL vs 5.6 ng/mL, p <0.001). The cfDNA concentration correlated with lymphoma subtype, lactate dehydrogenase, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, Ann Arbor (AA) and B-symptoms. In 49 LBCL cases, the cfDNA concentration decreased after therapy in cases who achieved complete response (CR), and increased in non-responders. The median cfDNA at diagnosis of patients who achieved CR and later relapsed was higher (81.5 ng/mL) compared with levels of those who did not (38.6 ng/mL). A concordance of 84% was observed between NGS results in tumor and cfDNA samples. Higher VAF in cfDNA correlated with advanced stage and bulky disease. Conclusions: cfDNA analysis can be easily performed in almost all lymphoma cases. The cfDNA concentration correlated with the characteristics of aggressiveness of the lymphomas and in LBCL with the response achieved after therapy. These results support the utility of cfDNA analysis as a complementary tool in the management of lymphoma patients.

Fungi belong to the species with the highest biodiversity and high potential for use in biotechnology and industry. Therefore, their long-term quality conservation is very important and it is necessary to continuously develop new methods and improve existing methods. Currently, cryopreservation appears to be the best available technique for the preservation of fungi. This study summarises the latest trends and advances in fungal cryopreservation over the last 7 years, i.e. findings from scientific publications from 2017 to 2023 dealing with cryopreservation of both basidiomycetes and non-basidiomycete fungi. The work analyzed the studied organisms and the cryopreservation method used, focused on the use of new procedures and modifications of existing methods; summarized the conditions for successful cryopreservation, such as cryopreservation time and temperature, as well as the substrate and cryoprotectant used.

Sodium-phosphate-based glass-ceramics (GCs) are promising materials for a wide range of applications, including solid-state sodium-ion batteries, microelectronic packaging substrates, and humidity sensors. This study investigates the impact of 24-hour heat-treatments at varying temperatures on Na-Ge-P glass, with a focus on (micro)structural, electrical, and dielectric properties of prepared GCs. Various techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflection (IR-ATR), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) are employed. With the elevation of heat-treatment temperature, crystallinity progressively rises; at 450 °C, the microstructure retains amorphous traits featuring nanometric grains, whereas at 550 °C, heat-treatment results in fully crystallized structures characterized by square-shaped micron-scale grains of NaPO3. The insight into the evaluation of electrical and dielectric properties is provided by Solid-State Impedance Spectroscopy (SS-IS), revealing a strong correlation with the conditions of controlled crystallization and observed (micro)structure. The glass-ceramic heat-treated at 450 °C achieves the highest DC conductivity of 2.30×10–8 Ω–1 cm–1 at 393 K. As the heat-treatment temperature rises, the crystallization of the NaPO3 phase depletes the glass matrix of mobile Na+ ions, resulting in a reduction in DC conductivity. Dielectric parameters also decrease with rising heat-treatment temperature, with the glass-ceramic heat-treated at 550 °C displaying the lowest permittivity of 19.37 and the dielectric loss of 0.008. This research uncovers the intricate relationship between heat-treatment conditions and material properties, emphasizing that controlled crystallization allows for precise modifications to microstructure and phase composition within remaining glassy phase, ultimately facilitating fine-tuning of material properties.

Microbial competition within plant tissues affects invading pathogens' fitness. Metabolomics is a great tool for studying their biochemical interactions by identifying accumulated metabolites. Xylella fastidiosa, a Gram-negative bacterium causing Pierce's disease (PD) in grapevines, secretes various virulence factors including cell wall degrading enzymes, adhesion proteins, and quorum sensing molecules. These factors, along with outer membrane vesicles, contribute to its pathogenicity. Previous studies demonstrated that co-inoculating X. fastidiosa with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN suppressed PD symptoms. Here, we further investigated the interaction between the phytopathogen and the endophyte by analyzing the exometabolome of wild-type X. fastidiosa and a diffusible signaling factor (DSF) mutant lacking quorum sensing, cultivated with 20% P. phytofirmans spent media. LC-MS and MAGI were used to detect and map metabolites to genomes revealing a total of 121 metabolites, of which 25 were further investigated. These metabolites potentially relate to host adaptation, virulence, and pathogenicity. Notably, this study presents the first comprehensive profile of X. fastidiosa in the presence of P. phytofirmans spent media. The results highlight that P. phytofirmans and the absence of a functional quorum sensing affect the ratios of glutamine to glutamate (Gln:Glu) in X. fastidiosa. Additionally, two compounds with plant metabolism and growth properties, 2-Aminoisobutyric acid and Gibberellic Acid, were downregulated when X. fastidiosa interacted with P. phytofirmans. These findings suggest that P. phytofirmans-mediated disease suppression involves modulation of the exometabolome of X. fastidiosa, impacting plant immunity.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the most common causes of childhood disability. Hypothermic therapy is currently the only approved neuroprotective approach. However, early diagnosis of HIE can be challenging, especially in the first hours after birth when the decision to treat with hypothermic therapy is critical. Differentiating HIE from other neonatal conditions, such as sepsis, further complicates the diagnosis. This study investigated the utility of a metabolomic-based approach using the NeoBase 2 MSMS kit to diagnose HIE using dry blood stains in a Rice-Vannucci model of HIE in rats. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of this method between 3 and 6 hours after the onset of HIE, including in the context of systemic inflammation and concomitant hypothermic therapy. Discriminant analysis revealed several metabolite patterns associated with HIE. A logistic regression model using glycine levels achieved high diagnostic accuracy with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.94 at 3 hours and 0.96 at 6 hours after the onset of HIE. In addition, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, which included five metabolites, achieved 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity within 3 hours of HIE. These results highlight the significant potential of the NeoBase 2 MSMS kit for the early diagnosis of HIE and could improve patient management and outcomes in this serious illness.

We report a simple and high-performance flexible strain sensor based on liquid metal nanoparticles (LMNPs) on polyimide substrate by laser induced deposition. The LMNPs were prepared by ultrasonic method, and then the femtosecond laser direct writing technology was used to induce the assembly and deposition of the LMNPs to form liquid metal microwires. Laser local sintering enhances the connection between particles, and a wearable strain sensor was fabricated with the high sensitivity as high as 76.18, the good linearity (a correlation coefficient of 0.999) in a wide sensing rage, the fast response/recovery time of 159 ms/120 ms. Attributed to these extraordinary strain sensing performances, the sensor can sense various dynamic strains in real time, monitor both subtle physiological activities and large human motions. It can be adhered to human skin, and well reflect the change of facial expression and realize real-time monitoring of facial expression. And the vocal cord vibration can be detected for speech recognition while the sensor attached to the outside of the throat.

This study focuses on the synthesis, characterization and study of a new perovskite-type materials as cathode in SOFC. The synthesized doped perovskites have been successfully synthesized with high purity. The electrochemical performance of these materials was extensively examined through the characterization of I-V-P and EIS curves at the three temperatures: 750, 800 and 850 °C. Where it is revealing a substantial reduction of total resistances by approximately 50% and 70%, accom-panied by an impressive increase in power densities by around 200% and 300%, respectively. The cell featuring Sm0.01Sr0.99Fe0.5Co0.5O3 exhibited the most commendable electrochemical properties at each temperature, following closely were Pr0.01Sr0.99Fe0.5Co0.5O3 and La0.01Sr0.99Fe0.5Co0.5O3.

Background: The liver has emerged as a frequent transplanted organ which can transmit T. gondii between seropositive donors and seronegative recipients. Associated with the immunosuppressive therapy of recipients, the presence of cysts in donor livers elevate the risk of severe toxoplasmosis in recipients. Objectives: The objective of the study was to verify the frequencies of positive serology in liver graft donors and their respective recipients, as well as to verify whether their clinical signs presented post-transplant are associated with the serological status of recipients. Patients and methods: All data on liver transplant recipients from 2008 to 2018 were obtained from the MVPeP electronic medical records of the Liver Transplant Service of FUNFARME/FAMERP. IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibody serology was investigated by chemiluminescence. According to the serological profile, four groups of recipients were assessed (G1: IgG-/IgM-; G2: IgG+/IgM-; G3: IgG+/IgM+, G4: IgG-/IgM+). Results: The numbers of recipients according to the serological profile groups were: G1: 20 (41.7%), G2: 26 (54.1%; G3: 2 (4.2%). No cases were found for G4. Post-transplant clinical manifestations such as fever without defined cause, lung nodules, headache, hepatosplenomegaly, encephalopathy and hepatitis (A, B and C) were reported in all groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there is a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in liver recipients and, therefore, screening should be intensified. Furthermore, a high incidence of co-infection with hepatitis A was identified especially in patients who died in the post-transplant period.

Abstract: In the past years, lithium-ion solid-state batteries demonstrated significant advancements regarding such properties as safety, long-term endurance, and energy density. The properties of these depend on solid-state electrolytes and especially ionic transport interfacial transport with cathode or anode materials. Solid-state electrolytes based on lithium halides offer new opportunities due to their unique features such as broad electrochemical stability window, high lithium-ion conductivity, and elasticity at close to melting point temperatures that help to improve lithium-ion transport at interfaces. A comparative study of lithium indium halide (Li3InCl6) electrolytes syn-thesized by a mechano-thermal method using different optimization parameters revealed a signif-icant effect of ball-milling time, temperature, and pressure on lithium-ion transport. Based on the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) data in the temperature range of 25-100 °C, the optimized Li3InCl6 electrolyte phase demonstrates high ionic conductivity reaching 0.98 mS cm−1 at room temperature. However, at 70 °C, phase transformation was observed leading to significant changes in the activation energy for lithium-ion transport. In-situ X-ray diffraction and in-situ/operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques confirmed the tempera-ture-dependent behavior of Li3InCl6 synthesized. These observations provide critical information for practical applications of solid-state electrolytes and nanocomposites based on Li3InCl6 within the broad temperature range for lithium-ion solid-state batteries with improved morphology, chemical interactions, and structural integrity.

Sr4Al6O12SO4 samples were obtained from the compound mixture formed by a solid–state reaction of Al2O3, SrSO4, and SrCO3. Samples were compacted at 100MPa to form pellets of 1 and 4cm in diameter and were sintered at 1400°C for 4 hours. The compound was analyzed by X–ray diffraction. Static immersion and wettability tests were performed to evaluate corrosion resistance in contact with Al–Si. Corrosion tests were carried out by immersion at 800, 900, and 1000°C for 24, 50, and 100 hours, while wettability was carried out at 900, 1000, and 1100°C for 2 hours. Subsequently, the samples were prepared metallographically. Samples were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and image analysis. In general, reaction products consisting of alumina, spinel, oxides, and sulfates were found. The contact angles obtained were 124° to 135°. It is concluded that ceramic substrate Sr4Al6O12SO4 is resistant to corrosion by Al–Si alloy, since the slight thickness of the reaction products found in the samples (100μm) considering the severe conditions of the experiment: 1000°C and 100 hours of isothermal temperature. Furthermore, it can be said that Sr4Al6O12SO4 is not wettable by Al–Si alloys.

Although the potential of natural minerals for purification of liquid radioactive wastes (LRW) from radionuclides has been widely studied, the use of hybrid polymer composites made of zeolite is still rather scarce. This article reports on the preparation of zeolite based hybride polymer composites using the in-situ polymerization technique in the body of mineral matrix and its intercalated with copper ferrocyanide (CuFC) forms. This hybrid polymer composites have shown unique and enhanced properties as compared to the individual mineral. The change in conventional properties of two mixed minerals such as zeolite and bentonite and their intercalated with CuFC forms were probed using technics such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mossbauer spectroscopy (MS) and FT-IR analysis. The totality of analysis showed a coexistence of intercalated and percolated zeolite phases. The hybrid polymer composites exhibited both adsorption and ion-exchangr properties in removal of radionuclides from LRW.

This study explores the dynamics of liquid holdup in a lab-scale co-current two-phase upflow moving packed bed reactor, specifically examining how superficial gas velocity influences the line average external liquid holdup at a fixed superficial liquid velocity. Utilizing Gamma-ray Densitometry (GRD) for precise measurements, this research extends to determining line average internal porosity within catalyst particles and the overall external bed porosity. Conducted with an air-water system within a bed packed with 3 mm extrudate porous particles, the study presents a novel methodology to calculate liquid holdup, grounded in Beer–Lambert's law. Findings reveal a decrease in liquid holdup corresponding with increased superficial gas velocity across axial and radial locations, with a notable transition from bubbly to pulse flow regime at a critical velocity of 3.8 cm/sec. Additionally, the lower sections of the packed bed exhibited higher external liquid holdup compared to the middle sections at varied gas velocities. The liquid holdup distribution appeared uniform at lower flow rates, whereas higher flow rates favored the middle sections.

Flexible energy storage devices, such as solid-state supercapacitors, are becoming increasingly attractive due to their characteristics of high electrochemical performance, reliability, light weight, flexibility, absence of electrolyte leakage, high power density, and long lifetime. For the optimization of the solid-state symmetrical supercapacitor proposed in this work, it was employed in sodium and lithium form Aquivion electrolyte membrane, which serves as the separator and electrolyte. As electrode materials, carbon xerogels, synthesized by microwave-assisted sol-gel methodology, with designed and controlled properties were obtained. Commercial activated carbon (YP-50F, 'Kuraray Europe' GmbH) was used for comparison. Specifically, the developed solid-state symmetrical supercapacitors deliver sufficient high specific capacitances of 105−110 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1, along with an energy density of 4.5 Wh kg−1 at 300 W kg−1, and in a voltage window of 0-1.2 V in an aqueous environments, also demonstrating excellent cycling stability up to 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. These results can demonstrate the potential applications of carbon xerogel as an active electrode material and cation exchange membrane as the electrolyte in the development of solid-state supercapacitor devices

Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) struggles with significant policy and operational challenges, particularly concerning recyclables collection routes and fleet composition. Within the European Union, phasing out traditional fuel-based vocational vehicles, like garbage trucks, in favor of zero-emission alternatives is mandatory to achieve sustainable development objectives. Integrating electric solid waste collection vehicles into municipal fleets presents challenges due to differences in range, capacity, and noise levels. The emission is even more crucial in the systems where recyclables are collected separately, which requires a greater number of trips to be performed. This study addresses MSWM’s strategic aspect by minimizing the total cost of replacing waste collection vehicles while meeting emission constraints. The Fleet Transition Problem (FTP) was formulated and solved using a MARKAL-based approach. The objective of the FTP and a mixed integer linear program used to solve it is minimizing the overall cost of fleet modernization throughout a multi-phase planning horizon so that the sustainable transition of the fleet can be assured. Computational experiments affirmed the model’s effectiveness in strategizing fleet transition. This research outlines a multi-period model for transitioning to a zero-emission fleet and demonstrates the FTP’s potential for strategic decision-making. Notably, the study observes a consistent reduction in permissible emissions across the planning horizon.

A gas-hydrate method of CO₂ gas storage is one of the modern technology for reducing it emissions into the atmosphere. The breakup of gas bubbles by a shock wave is an actual area of scientific and technological research. However, it is little known that such research began in the late 1950s in the USSR. The article presents the main discoveries related to the destruction of gas bubbles in a liquid under the influence of a shock wave, made more than 60 years ago. Looking back: study the past to understand the present.

Pt modified BaZr_0.76Y_0.2Ni_0.04O₃ (BZYN) is fabricated and characterized as a stable electrolyte for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (H-SOFC). The utilization of X-ray diffraction method (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) enables the identification of the presence of platinum (Pt) in both the crystal lattice sites and the grain interface. This occurrence contributes to a reduction in grain boundary resistance. Consequently, this phenomenon improves the conductivity of the electrolyte. The electrochemical performance of the single cell with Pt modified BZY electrolyte is improved by the reduction of ohmic resistance and enhancement of ion migration. This signifies a noteworthy advancement in the creation of more efficient and durable proton-conducting SOFCs.

Lithium-ion batteries with improved energy densities have made understanding the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) generation mechanisms that cause mechanical, thermal, and chemical failures more complicated. SEI processes reduce battery capacity and power. Thus, a review of this area's understanding is important. It is essential to know how batteries degrade in EVs to estimate battery lifespan as it goes, predict, and minimize losses, and determine the ideal time for a replacement. Lithium-ion batteries used in EVs mainly suffer two types of degradation: calendar degradation and cycling degradation. Despite the existence of several existing works in the literature, several aspects of battery degradation remain unclear or have not been analyzed in detail. This work presents a systematic review of existing works in the literature. The results of the present investigation provide insight into the complex relationships among various factors affecting battery degradation mechanisms. Specifically, this systematic review examined the effects of time, side reactions, temperature fluctuations, high charge/discharge rates, depth of discharge, mechanical stress, thermal stress, and the voltage relationship on battery performance and longevity. The results revealed that these factors interact in complex ways to influence the degradation mechanisms of batteries. For example, high charge currents and deep discharges were found to accelerate degradation, while low temperatures and moderate discharge depths were shown to be beneficial for battery longevity. Additionally, the results showed that the relationship between cell voltage and State-of-Charge (SOC) plays a critical role in determining the rate of degradation. Overall, these findings have important implications for the design and operation of battery systems, as they highlight the need to carefully manage a range of factors to maximize battery performance and longevity. The result is an analysis of the main articles published in this field in recent years. This work aims to present new knowledge about fault detection, diagnosis, and management of lithium-ion batteries based on battery degradation concepts. The new knowledge is presented and discussed in a structured and comprehensive way.

In the research we consider a structure-fluid interaction of oscillating piezodevice and acoustic liquid. Such problem requires finding resonance or anti-resonance frequencies of the solid structure to use them in the latter frequency-response analyses step. After finite element discretization of the issue, we need to solve a generalized eigenvalue problem (GEP). The most efficient numerical method for solving the partial GEP is the shift-and-invert Lanczos method. Each step of this algorithm requires solving a large scale system of linear algebraic equations (SLAEs) with special properties. Various ways of ordering grid nodes lead to coefficient matrices with different structure. Several methods are compared in terms of efficiency. The results of the numerical experiments are presented.

Speciation analysis is a relevant topic since the (eco)toxicity, bioavailability, bio (geo)chemical cycles, and mobility of a given element depend on its chemical forms (oxidation state, organic ligands, etc.). Reliability of analytical results for chemical species of elements depends mostly on the maintaining of their stability during sample pretreatment step and on the selectivity of further separation step. Solid phase extraction (SPE) is a matter of choice as most suitable and widely used procedure for both enrichment of chemical species of elements and their separation. Features of sorbent material are of great importance to ensure extraction efficiency from one side and selectivity from other side of SPE procedure. This review presents an update on the application of polymeric materials in solid-phase extraction used in non-chromatographic methods for speciation analysis.

We propose that the coexistence of gapless Fermi arcs with the metal-insulator crossover of in-plane resistivity in strongly underdoped cuprates can be explained by the FL* fractionalized Fermi liquid nature of these systems and it is not due simply to disorder effects. The particle excitations of this FL* system derived from variants of the t-J model are: the gapless holon carrying charge with small Fermi momentum proportional to the doping, the gapful spinon carrying spin 1/2, gauge fluctuations coupling them and the hole as a spinon-holon bound state or resonance due to gauge binding with a Fermi surface respecting the topological Luttinger theorem. In our proposal Fermi arcs are determined by the hole resonance, whereas the metal-insulator crossover is dominated by spinon-spinon (with subleading holon-holon) gauge interactions and this dichotomy is able to explain their coexistence.

Spraying various liquids (primarily aqueous solutions of various substances) is widely used in various technological processes. For most of them, high dispersibility and narrow droplet size distribution are essential. This facilitates ultrasonic spray technique. However, the higher the dispersity of droplets produced by ultrasonic spray, the lower the spray productivity. To solve this problem, we proposed a method of multistage spraying, consisting in generation of a large number of particles of large initial size (to ensure high productivity) and their subsequent destruction by propagation in a periodic ultrasonic field (to ensure small droplet sizes at high productivity). To experimentally determine the capabilities of this technique, a tubular emitter in the shape of a cylinder of stepped-variable cross-section was designed. Configuration of the ultrasonic field inside the emitter (22.2 kHz; 182 dB) implements three-stage spraying (the number of sputtering stages corresponds to the number of anti-nodes along the emitter axis). The effectiveness of proposed and developed technique suitable for generation of droplets sized less than 40 µm with performance exceeding the known ultrasonic spray techniques at least 10 times has been confirmed in the course of conducted research.

At the molecular level, aging is often accompanied by dysfunction of stress-induced membrane-less organelles (MLOs) and changes in their material state. In this work, we analyzed the proteins included in the proteome of stress granules (SGs) and P-bodies for their tendency to transform the material state of these MLOs. Particular attention was paid to proteins whose gene expression changes during replicative aging. It was shown that the proteome of the studied MLOs practically does not differ in the analyzed characteristics and consists of completely or partially intrinsically disordered proteins, 30 - 40% of which are potentially capable of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). At the same time, the proportion of proteins capable of spontaneous LLPS is relatively small, which indicates the leading role of nucleic acids in the biogenesis of these membrane-less organelles. Proteins whose gene expression changes during the transition of human cells to a senescent state make up about 20% of the studied proteomes. There is a statistically significant increase in the number of positively charged proteins in both datasets studied compared to the complete proteomes of these organelles. An increase in the relative content of DNA-, but not RNA-binding proteins, was also found in the stress-granules dataset with senescence-related processes. Among SG proteins potentially involved in senescent processes, there is an increase in the abundance of potentially amyloidogenic proteins compared to the whole proteome. The hnRPDL protein has the highest degree of disorder and highest propensity for LLPS among such proteins, which allows us to consider it as “potentially dangerous.” Proteins common to SGs and P bodies, potentially involved in processes associated with senescence, form clusters of interacting proteins. The largest cluster is represented by RNA-binding proteins involved in RNA processing and translation regulation. These data indicate that SG proteins, but not proteins of P-bodies, are more likely to transform the material state of MLOs. Furthermore, these MLOs can participate in processes associated with aging in a coordinated manner.

This study examines the impact of the impregnation of fireclay-based conventional (CC) and medium cement castables (MCC) with liquid sodium silicate glass under vacuum conditions. The goal is to assess how this treatment affects physical, mechanical properties, and durability (alkali and thermal shock resistance) of these castables used in biomass combustion boilers, where they are exposed to temperatures up to 1100°C. The research work employs standard test methods to evaluate physical and mechanical properties. Additionally, advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and specific tests for alkali resistance and thermal shock resistance are used. The research findings suggest that impregnation with sodium silicate glass under vacuum significantly enhances the alkali resistance of both CC and MCC castables. This improvement is primarily due to the reduction in porosity and the increase in density. SEM images reveal that impregnated samples are coated with a glassy layer and the pores are partially filled with sodium silicate. Tests for alkali resistance demonstrate the formation of a protective glassy layer (with a thickness of 0.9-1.5 mm) on the castables surfaces, thereby reducing further penetration of alkali into deeper layers of the samples. However, it is important to mention that impregnated refractory castables have reduced resistance to thermal shock cycles.

This work presents the synthesis and self-organization of the calamitic fluorinated mesogen, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-4-iodobutoxy)ethanesulfonic acid, a potential model for perfluorosulfonic acid membranes (PFSA). The compound is derived in three steps from 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-iodoethoxy)ethanesulfonyl fluoride, achieving an 78% overall yield. The resulting compound exhibits intricate thermal behavior. At 150 °C, a crystal-to-crystal transition is observed due to the partial disordering of calamitic molecules, which is followed by isotropization at 218 °C. Upon cooling, sample ordering occurs through the formation of large smectic liquid crystalline phase domains. This thermotropic state transforms into a layered crystal phase at lower temperatures, characterized by alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers. Using X-ray diffraction, crystalline unit cell models at both room temperature and 170 °C were proposed. Computer simulations of the molecule across varying temperatures support the idea that thermal transitions correlate with a loss of molecular orientation. Importantly, the study underscores the pivotal role of precursor self-organization in aligning channels during membrane fabrication, ensuring controlled and oriented positioning.

A single-crystal of ytterbium-doped “mixed” yttrium-lutetium aluminium garnet with a stoichiometric composition of (Y0.601Lu0.233Yb0.166)3Al5O12 was grown by the Czochralski method and its structure, vibronic, spectroscopic and laser properties were studied. The stimulated-emission cross-section for Yb3+ ions was maximized to 2.53×10-20 cm2 at 1031 nm, the emission bandwidth is ~8 nm and the reabsorption-free luminescence lifetime of the 2F5/2 state is 1.063 ms. Pumped at 941 nm, the Yb-laser generated a maximum output power of 1.04 W at 1.03 and 1.05 μm with a high slope efficiency of 76.4% and a laser threshold of 76 mW. A continuous wavelength tuning over a range of 51.6 nm (1026.4 - 1078.0 nm) was also achieved. Power scaling is achieved using a 969 nm-diode pumped microchip cavity. A maximum output power of ~9 W is obtained at 1.05 μm with a slope efficiency of 76% and with an almost circular laser beam profile.

Hexakis(2-alkoxy-1,5-phenyleneimine) macrocycles were synthesized using a simple one−pot procedure through by precipitation−driven cyclization. The acetal−protected AB−type monomers, 2-alkoxy-5-aminobenzaldehyde diethyl acetals, underwent polycondensation in water or acid−containing tetrahydrofuran. The precipitation−driven cyclization based on imine dynamic covalent chemistry and π−stacked columnar aggregation played a decisive role in the one−pot synthesis. The progress of the reaction was analyzed by MALDI−TOF mass spectrometry. The macrocycles with alkoxy chains were soluble in specific organic solvents such as chloroform, allowing their structures to be analyzed by NMR. The shape−anisotropic, nearly planar, and persistent macrocycles aggregated into columnar assemblies in polymerization solvents, driven by aromatic π−stacking. The octyloxylated macrocycle OcO−Cm6 exhibited an enantiotropic columnar liquid crystal−like mesophase between 165°C and 197°C. In the SEM image of (S)-(−)-3,7-dimethyloctyloxylated macrocycle (−)BCO-Cm6, columnar substances with a diameter of 100−200 nm were observed. The polymerization solution for 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxylated macrocycle (TEGO−Cm6) gelled and showed thixotropic properties by forming a hydrogen bond network.

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) can provide unique insights into the cycling of elements including carbon and nitrogen. One approach for CSIA is the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to separate compounds of interest, followed by analysis of these compounds using an elemental analyzer coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. A key component of this technique is the fraction collector, which automatically collects compounds as they are separated by HPLC. Here we present a fraction collector which is a simple adaptation of a 3D printer, and thus can be easily adopted by any laboratory already equipped for HPLC. In addition to the much lower cost compared to commercial alternatives, this adaptation has the advantage for CSIA that the 3D-printer is able to heat the collected fractions, which is not true for many commercial fraction collectors. Heating allows faster evaporation of the solvent, so that the dried compounds can be measured by EA-IRMS immediately. The procedure can be repeated consecutively so that dilute solutions can have the compounds concentrated for analysis. Any computer-controlled HPLC can be integrated to the fraction collector used here by means of AutoIt.

Spray technology is widely used in various industries, including medicine, food production, mechanical engineering, and nanopowder manufacturing. Achieving high dispersion and a narrow particle size distribution is crucial for many applications. Ultrasonic spraying is commonly used to achieve this. On other hand, hydraulic nozzles provide high atomization performance. Combining these two technologies promises to offer significant benefits, but the complex processes that occur simultaneously in such a device require careful study. This work proposes a fundamental design for an acoustic-hydraulic nozzle and investigates the physical processes when a liquid is sprayed using this nozzle, both theoretically and experimentally. The study identifies the critical modes of spraying and confirms that the simultaneous use of ultrasound and hydraulic pressure can produce a fine spray (droplet size less than 50 μm) with high productivity (5-10 ml/s). This approach has significant potential for modern industries and technologies.

As the global community shifts away from fossil fuels towards more environmentally friendly energy alternatives, there is an escalating demand for sophisticated energy storage solutions. Solid-State Batteries (SSBs) have emerged as a promising advancement, presenting a superior substitute to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This review provides an in-depth examination of SSBs, emphasizing their enhanced energy density, safety, and longevity. We evaluate conventional cathode materials, including lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). Additionally, we introduce emerging materials such as sulfides, oxides, and air-based cathodes, discussing their benefits, limitations, and their congruence with solid electrolytes. Special attention is devoted to the structural fine-tuning of cathode ma-terials, investigating approaches like nanostructuring, surface coatings, and composite strategies to counteract issues such as restricted conductivity and structural volatility. The review critically analyzes the electrical and thermal properties of these materials, which are essential for battery safety and efficacy. Moreover, we present a comparative assessment of cathode materials based on performance indicators and identify prevailing research voids and hurdles in the commerciali-zation of SSB cathodes. Concluding, we suggest prospective research directions and innovations, underscoring the revolutionary potential of SSB technologies in paving the way for a sustainable energy horizon.

In this study, the objective is to analyze the economic viability of municipal household solid waste (organic matter + paper) for the production of gas, coke and biofuel through the pyrolysis and distillation process. The waste was collected in the city of Belém do Pará-Brazil and pre-treated at UFPA. The analyzed fraction (organic matter + paper) was subjected to pre-treatment of drying, crushing, sieving and was subsequently subjected to proximate characterization and finally pyrolysis of the organic fraction (organic matter + paper) in a fixed bed reactor. Initially, it was necessary to review the literature and with the yields obtained by pyrolysis of the frac-tion, economic feasibility analyzes were carried out. The economic indicators for evaluating the most viable pyrolysis process were: simple payback, discounted payback, net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and profitability index (IL). The analysis of the indicators showed the economic viability considering an analysis horizon of 10 years, of materials based on organic material and paper. The break-even point obtained was 0.96 US$/L and the minimum biofuel sales price (MFSP – “Minimum Fuel Sale Price”) obtained in this work was 1.30 US$/L. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that material costs (organic matter + paper), bio-oil yield, total project investment and electricity, respectively, are the variables that most affect the mini-mum biofuel sales price (MFSP).

In recent years, the use of solid waste fillers to partially replace natural fillers in asphalt mixtures to produce high-performance asphalt mixtures has received widespread attention. However, differences in the material properties of solid waste fillers remain a problem for this recycling method. To address this issue, limestone powder in asphalt mixtures was replaced by three solid waste fillers (steel slag powder, tailings powder and calcium carbide slag powder) in this study. The chemical composition of the fillers was first characterized to assess the homogeneity of the material. Then, AC and SMA asphalt mixtures were designed and produced and characterized for wet stability. The results showed that asphalt mixtures with solid waste fillers were superior to LP asphalt mixtures in terms of resistance to water damage, and steel slag powder showed the best improvement in moisture stability of asphalt mixtures. The optimum substitution of solid waste filler for limestone filler was 25%. In addition, the moisture stability of asphalt mixture with limestone filler was significantly improved with the addition of anti-stripping agents. In contrast, the moisture stability of asphalt mixtures with solid waste filler was slightly improved. Solid waste fillers could be used in asphalt mixtures and have a similar function as the anti-stripping agent. In summary, the use of solid waste fillers to replace mineral fillers in asphalt mixtures is a reliable, value-added, recycling option.

A new mesogenic non-symmetric dimeric monomer with a terminal olefin function, forming a twist bend nematic (Ntb) as well as a nematic (N) phase was synthesized, using an enhanced synthetic methodology, which avoids isomerization of the terminal double bond in the preparation of the dimer. This monomer was attached to a pentamethyldisiloxane group, resulting in SmA LC phase behaviour of the ensuing material. Linking the monomer to a siloxane main chain resulted in nematic phase behaviour. Detailed studies with the Ntb phase forming dimer DTC5C7 show full miscibility of the dimer and the new LC polymer in the LC state, suggesting that the side-chain LC polymer forms a Ntb phase as the low temperature nematic phase. Copolymerizing the monomer with a cyanobiphenyl based monomer allows to tune the glass transition and phase behavior further.

This study focused on the precise detection and concordant analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to verify the usefulness of CTCs as promising clinical markers. CTCs are traditionally achieved using immune-fluorescence and morphological techniques. By combining two prostate cancer-specific genes (PSA and PSMA) and two epithelial-specific genes (EpCAM and KRT19), the CTC detection efficiency can be enhanced. The detection rates of localized prostate cancer (LPC), locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPC), metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), and metastatic castration-resistive prostate cancer (mCRPC) were 63.04 % (29/46), 70.59% (34/51), 94.34% (50/53), and 90% (126/140), respectively. Subsequent correlation analysis between the four genes, baseline PSA, and CTC count revealed that only the CTC count correlated with baseline PSA in the localized stages of prostate cancer, whereas all four genes were correlated with baseline PSA and CTC count in the metastatic stages of prostate cancer. The precise detection of CTCs using both numerical and transcriptomic analyses can improve the accuracy of biomarker investigations. This study provides valuable insights into the limitations of serum PSA testing and offers a promising alternative to diagnose and manage prostate cancer via the CTC number and specific genes for prostate cancer.

Currently, most plastic waste stems from packaging materials, with a large proportion of this waste either discarded or used to derive fuel. Accordingly, there is growing interest in the use of pyrolysis in the context of chemically recycling non-recyclable (i.e., via mechanical means) plastic waste into petrochemical feedstock. The aim of this study is to use kinetic analyses to elucidate the pyrolytic properties of solid recovered fuel (SRF) produced using two types of reactors, namely, fixed bed and fluidized bed reactors. From the kinetic analysis, the activation energy corresponding to the rate of pyrolysis reaction conversion was obtained. In conclusion, we found that the pyrolysis occurs more vigorously in fluidized bed reactors compared to fixed bed reactors.

In this paper we report on the use of an in-house developed solid-state hybrid microwave and radiofrequency generator operating at frequencies of 2.45 GHz and/or 480 kHz for cancer ablation in various tissues. The generator has demonstrated increased accuracy due to its custom-designed hardware, which incorporates the latest technologies and algorithms to control the emitted power versus temperature profile of the treated sample. In particular, the hybrid generator incorporates control systems based on impedance or reflected power measurements that allow controlled ablation without causing unwanted carbonisation and without including areas where tissue damage is not desired. Tests performed ex-vivo on chicken breast and bovine liver show that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is very effective for performing controlled ablations with minimally invasive probes, such as cardiac pathologies, small lesions, tissues with particular composition, while microwave ablation (MWA) is optimal for performing large ablations in highly vascularised tissues, such as liver cancer, where it is necessary to achieve higher temperatures.

Chromium poisoning strongly influences the performance of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks. A three-dimensional, time-dependent, computational fluid dynamics model of a single channel of a F10 SOFC stack in Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH is developed to investigate chromium poisoning for different stack designs, temperatures and absolute air humidities. The model takes into account both chemical and electrochemical mechanisms of chromium poisoning and is able to predict the spatial distribution of SrCrO4 and Cr2O3. The voltage degradation over 100 kh can be simulated quantitatively. According to the simulation results, chromium poisoning is almost eliminated by the application of the protective coating fabricated by the atmospheric plasma-spraying (APS) technology. Besides, with the help of the APS protective coating, operating a SOFC stack with less dehumidified air at 650 oC is possible according to the simulation.

Personal Information Management Systems (PIMS) are acquiring a prominent role in the data economy by promoting services that help individuals to have more control over the processing of their personal data, in line with the European data protection law. One of the highlighted solutions in this area is Solid, a new protocol that is decentralizing the storage of data, through the usage of interoperable Web standards and semantic vocabularies, to empower its users to have more control over the processing of data by agents and applications. However, to fulfill this vision and gather widespread adoption, Solid needs to be aligned with the law governing the processing of personal data in Europe, the main piece of legislation being the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). To assist with this process, we analyze the current efforts to introduce a policy layer in the Solid ecosystem, in particular, related to the challenge of obtaining consent for processing personal data, focusing on the GDPR. Furthermore, we investigate if, in the context of using personal data for biomedical research, consent can be expressed in advance, discuss the conditions for valid consent and how it can be obtained in this decentralized setting, namely through the matching of privacy preferences, set by the user, with requests for data and whether this can signify informed consent. Finally, we discuss the technical challenges of an implementation that caters to the previously-identified legal requirements.

This study employs the FLACS code to analyze hydrogen leakage, vapor dispersion, and subsequent explosions. Utilizing pseudo-source models, a liquid pool model, and a hybrid model combining both, we investigate dispersion processes for varying leak mass flow rates (0.225 kg/s and 0.73 kg/s) in a large open space. We also evaluate explosion hazards based on overpressure and impulse effects on humans. The computational results, compared with experimental data, demonstrated reasonable hydrogen vapor cloud concentration predictions, especially aligned with the wind direction. For higher mass flow rate of 0.73 kg/s, the pseudo-source model and hybrid model proved appropriate, while the liquid pool model was more suitable for lower mass flow rate of 0.225 kg/s. Regarding explosion analyses using overpressure-impulse diagram, higher mass flow rates leaded to potentially fatal overpressure and impulse effects on humans. However, lower mass flow rates may cause severe eardrum damage at the maximum overpressure point.

This article presents a review of resources for batteries with a specific focus on sustainability aspects related to raw materials, electrode and electrolyte chemistries suitable for the automobile industry. We emphasize the importance of prioritizing sustainability in battery technology evolution, which is expected to shift towards earth-abundant materials. One notable advancement in this direction is the utilization of glass solid-state electrolytes, known for their high ionic conductivity, low electronic conductivity, and high dielectric constant. However, our review suggests that further research should explore synthesis methods to modify anisotropic properties, enhancing the performance of solid-state electrolytes, particularly in facilitating the flow of ions.

Environmental perception is a powerful tool for identifying community needs and potential within their surroundings. This study assessed tourists' environmental perception regarding solid waste and its impact on the Hurtado balneary, located in Valledupar, Colombia. From May to July 2023, the investigation delved into the environmental attitudes and behaviors of 769 balneary users by employing a combination of observation, photographic documentation, and a comprehensive 21-question online survey. The findings unveiled compelling insights: an overwhelming 98.8% of participants acknowledged the adverse effects of solid waste on the environment, with an impressive 98% demonstrating a willingness to participate in waste management efforts. Alarmingly, 42.13% exhibited limited awareness of waste management practices, reflecting a lack of public interest and commitment (41.61%). Statistically significant disparities emerged: 59% of waste items were not appropriately disposed of in designated receptacles. Reasons for this included a lack of a sense of belonging (50.2%) and inadequate environmental education (45.6%). 96% expressed the need for river conservation signage, while 59.8% had not engaged in environmental training. The implications of these results extend beyond the Hurtado balneary, potentially informing solid waste management strategies in other aquatic environments. Furthermore, this investigation aligns with three critical Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 12, emphasizing responsible consumption and production; SDG 13, addressing climate action; and SDG 15, advocating for life on land and below water. Keywords: Tourism; solid waste; surface water; environmental management.

This article presents the results of studies of the structure and conductive properties of Na3Fe2(PO4)3 polycrystals synthesized by solid-phase and melt (using concentrated optical radiation) methods. It has been established that with the melt method, the synthesis of the material occurs under significantly nonequilibrium temperature-gradient conditions, which leads to the creation of deformations in the sample that contribute to an increase in ionic conductivity. The ability of the Na3Fe2(PO4)3 structure to adapt to anomalous deformations that occur under temperature-gradient conditions indicates the elasticity of the crystalline framework {[Fe2(PO4)]3-}3∞. Through a comparative assessment of the structural parameters and conductive properties of these materials, it is shown that polycrystals obtained by the melt method have a better texture and greater ionic conductivity. The advantage of this method is that the duration of the synthesis of α-Na3Fe2(PO4)3 is halved. It is concluded that this method is applicable to obtain effective polycrystals of other compositions.

An inorganic solid electrolyte is the most favorable candidate for replacing flammable liquid electrolytes in lithium batteries. Lithium Lanthanum Zirconium Oxide (LLZO) is considered as a promising solid electrolyte due to its safe operating potential window (0-5V) combined with its good electrochemical stability. In this work, 250 g batches of pre-sintered Tadoped (Li7La3Zr1.6Ta0.4O12, TaLLZO) were synthesized for bulk production of dense LLZO electrolyte. A simple two-step thermal treatment process was developed. The first thermal step at 950 °C initiates nucleation of LLZO carefully controlling process parameters such as heating atmosphere, temperature and dopant concentration. In the second thermal step at 1150 °C, sintered discs were obtained as solid electrolytes, with relative densities of 96%. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the phase purity of the sintered TaLLZO disc, and refined data was used to calculate the lattice parameter (12.944 Å). Furthermore, the presence of the Ta dopant in the disc was confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The ionic and electronic conductivity values of TaLLZO disc were 104 S cm-1 and 10-10 S cm-1, respectively. These values confirm that the prepared (Ta-LLZO) discs exhibit ionic conductivity while being electronically insulating, being suitable for use as solid electrolytes with the requisite electrical properties.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has been proving suitable to support or even replace traditional manufacturing in several industries, offering many advantages such as delivery time and reduction in terms of material waste, energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aimed to carry out a comparative assessment of the life cycle, from gate to gate, in the production of a low alloy carbon steel flange part using ER-90 wire. The methods utilized were Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and conventional manufacturing (CM) by forging, and comparative factors were energy demands, GHG emissions and generated solid waste. The total energy consumption in WAAM was 10,239.40 MJ, total carbon footprint in CO2 equivalent (CO2e) was 714.1 kgCO2e kg-1, and generated solid waste was 68.6 kg, respectively, 90%, 95% and 76% lower than consumption calculated in conventional manufacturing.

In this paper we demonstrate first ever dual-period diffraction gratings that do not require electrical tuning to obtain the effect of period change. Our method allows for multiplication of the base period by proper modification of the subsequent slits of the grating. The proposed elements are fabricated by selective photopolymerization of a composite based on nematic liquid crystal. The gratings are formed by polymer stabilization of liquid crystal in different orientations of the molecules in selected grating slits to allow for period manipulation. The operating principle is based on changing the phase delay introduced by the slits depending on polarization direction of incident light with respect to the director in each type of slit, which allows to change the grating’s period. The proposed technique was successfully utilized to obtain diffraction gratings with either doubling or tripling of the period.

Oxide additive-free α- ⇀ β-Si3N4 phase transformation of a high-purity commercial α-Si3N4 powder was investigated at 1600 to 1900 ℃ under nitrogen pressure of 980 kPa. The XRD analysis revealed that the α- ⇀ β-Si3N4 phase transformation proceeded mainly at 1900 ℃, and was completed by the extensive 1900 ℃-heat treatment for 20 h. This phase transformation temperature was 33 ℃ lower than the theoretical α-Si3N4 dissociation temperature and confirmed as completely different from that often discussed for the liquid phase sintering of α-Si3N4 powder by direct comparison with the phase transformation behavior of a reference powder, α-Si3N4 powder doped with 1 mol% Y2O3. The unique α- ⇀ β-Si3N4 phase transformation was further studied by a set of characterization techniques including elemental analysis, HAADF-STEM and STEM-EDS analyses. The results strongly suggested that the oxide additive-free α- ⇀ β-Si3N4 phase transformation was governed by the for-mation of metastable solid solution between α-Si3N4 and impurity oxygen of approximately 0.6 wt%, which promoted the dissociation below the theoretical α-Si3N4 dissociation temperature to afford thermodynamically favorable β-Si3N4. Along with the β-Si3N4 formation, the impurity oxygen was concentrated at the Si3N4 crystal grain boundaries and subsequently released from the sample via the grain boundary diffusion.

The management and classification of solid waste is one of the most important challenges around the world, in order to sustain economic growth and preserve the environment. The objective is to propose the use of Smart Ecological Points as a strategy to address the problem related to the solid waste management system at the source, which has become one of the biggest problems globally and Colombia is no exception. The article describes the current state of the problem in the country and in turn, presents the possibility of developing a prototype corresponding to a low-cost Smart Ecological Point supported by the use of an experimental capacitive sensor and Machine Learning algorithms, which will reduce the time necessary for the classification of recyclable and non recyclable waste, minimizing the health risks and increasing the percentage of waste that can be reused, by reducing the probability of being contaminated at the source, an aspect that is very common when done manually. According to the results obtained, it was evident that the proposed prototype made an adequate classification of waste, generating the possibility of being manufactured with existing technology in the environment, in order to promote adequate waste classification at the source.

The efficient extraction of phthalate acid esters (PAEs) is challenging due to their extremely low concentration, complicated matrices and hydrophilicity. Herein, hol-low microspheres, as an ideal coating, possesses significant potential for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) due to their fascinating properties. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes hollow microspheres (MWCNTs-HMs) were utilized as a fiber coating for the SPME of PAEs from tea beverages. MWCNTs-HMs were ob-tained by dissolving the polystyrene (PS) cores with organic solvents. Interestingly, MWCNTs-HMs well maintain the morphology of the precursors MWCNTs@PS. The layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of MWCNTs on PS microsphere templates was ac-quired through electrostatic interactions. Six PAEs, di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), were se-lected as target analytes for assessing the efficiency of the coating for SPME. The stirring rate, sample solution pH and extraction time were optimized by using the Box-Behnken design. Under optimal working conditions, the proposed MWCNTs-HMs/SPME was coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spec-trometry (GC-MS/MS) to achieve high enrichment factors (118–2137), wide linearity (0.0004-10 μg L-1), low limits of detection (0.00011-0.0026 μg L-1) and acceptable recovery (80.2%-108.5%) for the detection of PAEs. Therefore, the MWCNTs-HMs coated fibers are promising alternatives in the SPME method for the sensitive detec-tion of PAEs at trace levels in tea beverages.

Current Li battery technology employs graphite anode and flammable organic liquid electrolytes. Thus, current Li battery is always facing the problems of low energy density and safety. Additionally, sustainable supply of Li due to scarce abundance of Li sources is another problem. All-solid-state Mg battery is expected to solve the problems owing to non-flammable solid-state electrolytes, high capacity/safety of divalent Mg metal anode and high abundance of Mg sources. Therefore, solid-state electrolytes and all-solid-state Mg battery have been researched intensively last two decades. However, realization of all-solid-state Mg battery is still far. In this article, we review recent research progress on all-solid-state Mg battery so that researchers can pursue recent research trend of all-solid-state Mg battery. At first, solid-state electrolyte research is described briefly in the categories of inorganic, organic and inorganic/organic composite electrolytes. After that, the recent research progress of all-solid-state Mg battery is summarized and analyzed. To help readers, we tabulate electrode materials, experimental conditions and performances of all-solid-state Mg battery so that the readers can find necessary information at a glance. In the last, challenges to realize the all-solid-state Mg batteries are visited.

SPME analysis of the scent Ophrys orchids gave the following results: O. apifera: benzyl benzoate, -copaene, caryophyllene, and cyclosativene. O. crabronifera subsp. biscutella: pentadecene, pentadecane, heptadecane, nonadecane, and heinecosane. O. bertolonii subsp. bertolonii: pentadecane, heptadecane and nonadecane. O. passionis subsp. garganica: i-propyl palmitate, caryophyllene, pentadecane, and heptadecane. O. holosericea subsp. apulica: -copaene, pentadecane, caryophyllene, and heptadecane. O. lacaitae: -copaene, pentadecane, heptadecane, and caryophyllene. O. bombyliflora: cyclosativene, pentadecane, and ethyl dodecanoate. O. insectifera: 8-heptadecene, pentadecane, and heptadecane. O. lutea: heptadecane, 8-heptadecene, nonadecane, and docosane. O. tenthredinifera subsp. neglecta: -copaene, caryophyllene, and i-propyl palmitate.

To study and monitor the adverse health consequences from using electronic cigarettes, a user’s puff topography, which are quantification parameters of the user’s vaping habits, plays a central role. In this work, we introduce a topography sensor to measure the mass of total particulate matter generated in every puff and to estimate the nicotine yield. The sensor is compact and low-cost, and is integrated into the electronic cigarette device to promptly and conveniently monitor the user’s daily puff topography. The topography sensor is comprised of a photometric sensor and a pressure sensor. The photometric sensor measures the mass concentration of the aerosol, based on scattering of near-infrared light from airborne particles, while the pressure sensor measures the flow rate. The topography sensor was experimented under various conditions with a wide range of atomizer power, puff duration, and inhalation pressure. The sensor’s accuracy was validated by comparing the sensor’s readings with reference measurements, and the results matched closely with the trends reported by existing studies on electronic cigarettes. An example application of tracking a user’s puff topography was also demonstrated. Our topography sensor holds great promise in mitigating health risks of vaping, and in promoting quality control of electronic cigarette products.

The pharmacokinetic profile of fat-soluble vitamins A, E, K1, and D3 co-administered with liquid paraffin or water in an experimental rat model was investigated. Animals received a solution of the four vitamins orally through a probe, followed 10 minutes later by the administration of either the liquid paraffin product dissolved in water (Emuliquen Simple®) or water (control). Vitamin formulations were 20, 50, 0.30 and 0.10 mg/kg for vitamins A, E, K1, and D3, respectively. Blood samples were collected before dosing and at 0.17, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours post-dosing. Vitamin concentrations were quantified by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. No relevant differences in the absorption of vitamins in terms of AUC0-last (area under the curve up to the last measurable concentration) or Cmax in the absence or presence of co-administration of the liquid paraffin product were observed. The difference of these parameters between the treatment groups for all vitamins was in the range of bioequivalence (≤ 20%). The liquid paraffin-based laxative product did not interfere with the absorption of vitamins A, E, K1, and D3 that are ingested in the diet, which is clinically relevant due to the high prevalence of functional constipation in children and adults.

The phosphogypsum (PG) pile of solid waste is of immense proportions and poses a grave threat to the ecological environment, with its reserves steadily increasing year after year. The urgent need for large-scale consumption and high-quality utilization of PG in industrial production has become apparent. The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the correlation be-tween the macroscopic mechanical properties and microstructure of PG, elucidating the crystal morphology characteristics in different phases and outlining the crystallization preparation pro-cess. By integrating the physical and chemical properties of diverse PG phases with the intricacies associated with its preparation process, it is imperative to explore avenues for its high-value utili-zation, investigate possibilities for industrial-scale production, and analyze and predict the appli-cation trends and developmental directions in comprehensive PG utilization. These endeavors hold immense significance in guiding the realization of resource utilization potential inherent in PG.

The creation of mitochondria-targeted vector systems is a new tool for the treatment of socially significant diseases. Phosphonium groups provide targeted delivery of drugs through biological barriers to organelles. For this purpose, a new class of alkyl(diethylamino)(phenyl) phosphonium iodides (bromides) 1 containing one, two, or three diethylamino groups were obtained by the reaction of alkyl iodides (bromides) with (diethylamino)(phenyl)phosphines under mild conditions and high yields. The structure of compounds 1 was established by NMR and XRD. In vitro a high cytotoxicity against the lines M-Hela, HuTu 80, PC3, DU-145, PANC-1 and MCF-7 was found. Selectivity index are in the range of 0.06-4.0 M (SI 17-277) for the most active compounds. ROS production, mitochondrial localization and the process of cellular apoptosis were investigated. Decorated by 1 of lipid systems (liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles) improve the cytotoxicity and a decrease in toxicity against normal cell lines. Compounds 1 induce apoptosis proceeding along the mitochondrial pathway. Aminophosphonium salts 1 also exhibit a high selective activity against the Gram-positive bacteria strains S. aureus 209P, B. segeus 8035, including methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus (MRSA-1, MRSA-2), comparable to the activity of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic norfloxacin. A moderate in vivo toxicity in CD-1 mice was established for the lead compounds.

Clinical management in neuro-oncology has changed to an integrative approach that incorporates molecular profile alongside histopathology and imaging findings. While the WHO guideline recommends genotyping of informative alterations as a routine clinical practice for central nervous system (CNS) tumors, acquisition of tumor tissue in the CNS is invasive and not always possible. Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive approach that provides the opportunity to capture the complex molecular heterogeneity of the whole tumor through detection of circulating tumor biomarkers in body fluids, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Despite all the advantages, the low abundance of tumor-derived biomarkers, particularly in CNS tumors, as well as their short half-life has limited the application of liquid biopsy in clinical practice. Thus, it is crucial to identify factors that are associated with the presence of these biomarkers and explore possible strategies that can increase the shedding of these tumoral components into biological fluids. In this review, we first describe the clinical applications of liquid biopsy in CNS tumors including its roles in early detection of recurrence and monitoring of treatment response. We then discuss the utilization of imaging in identifying factors that affect the detection of circulating biomarkers as well as how image-guided interventions such as focused ultrasound can help enhance the presence of tumor biomarkers through blood-brain barrier disruption.

The extraction method for simultaneously analyzing fatty acids (Myristic acid, cis-Palmitvaccenic acid, Palmitic acid, Palmitic-9,9-d2 acid, Oleic acid, Stearic acid and Stearic-2,2-d2 acid) related to biodiesel fuel in large algae was developed. The introduction of trimethylaminoethyl (TMAE) derivatives into the hydroxyl group (-OH) functional group of the analyte was able to improve ionization and obtain high sensitivity. Liquid Chromatography (LC) was used to investigate the optimal mobile phase composition and flow rate for the separation of five derived fatty acids. In this study, a solid phase extraction (SPE) column was introduced for efficient extraction of fatty acids, and the optimal conditions for SPE were set by comparing the recovery rate according to the solvent for each step (loading, washing, and elution) of SPE from macroalgae.

Extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) technologies (i.e., fused filament fabrication, FFF) mostly produce thermoplastic parts. However, producing metallic or ceramic parts by FFF is also a sintered-based AM process. FFF for metallic parts can be divided into five steps: (1) raw materials selection and feedstock mixture (including palletization), (2) filament production (extrusion), (3) production of AM components using the filament extrusion process, (4) debinding, and (5) sintering. These steps are interrelated, where the parameters interact with the other ones and have a key role in the integrity and quality of the final metallic parts. FFF can produce high-accuracy and complex metallic parts, potentially revolutionizing the manufacturing industry and taking AM components to a new level. In the FFF technology for metallic materials, material compatibility, production quality, and cost-effectiveness are the challenges to overcome to make it more competitive compared to other AM technologies, like the laser processes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in FFF for metallic materials, including the metals and binders used, the challenges faced, potential applications, and the impact of FFF on the manufacturing (prototyping and end parts), design freedom, customization, sustainability, supply chain, among others.

This study presents the encapsulation of two amino acid-based ionic liquids (AAILs), 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycine [Emim][Gly] and 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium alanine [Emim][Ala], in a highly porous metal organic framework (MOF-177), to generate state-of-the-art composites for post-combustion CO2 capture. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated a successful encapsulation of the AAILs, consequently dramatically reducing the composites' surface area and pore volume. Both [Emim] [Gly]@MOF-177 and [Emim][Ala]@MOF-177 had close to 3 times the CO2 uptake of MOF-177 at 20 wt.% loading, 0.2 bar, and 303 K. Additionally, 20-[Emim][Gly]@MOF-177 and 20-[Emim] [Ala]@MOF-177 enhanced their CO2/N2 selectivity from 5 (pristine MOF-177) to 13 and 11, respectively.

The generalized dynamic model of the rotor system, presented in the paper, is the first model that takes into account the interconnected oscillations of the “rotor - weakly conductive fluid – foundation” system under the action of such parameters as fluid and rotor motion, linear eccentricity, friction forces, foundation vibration and nonlinear characteristics of rolling bearings, as well as the action of a magnetic field on the fluid. Consistent equations of motion for the system “rotor - weakly conductive fluid – foundation” were derived and solved analytically. Forced and natural oscillations of the system were analyzed, and the distinctive features of the rotor system dynamics were revealed. The values of frequencies and amplitudes, which are one of the main factors determining the dynamic behavior of the system, were obtained and studied.

Using straightforward and cost-effective methods, persimmon leaves were converted into a high-quality powder. This powder was applied as an adsorbent for the removal of Cu(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the presence of particles with non-homogeneous sizes and rough texture. Elemental analysis and the EDX technique confirmed the presence of elements such as sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, and oxygen. The results of ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C-NMR), obtained through the cross-polarization technique, suggest the presence of groups containing sulfur and oxygen. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated the existence of amine and hydroxyl groups. The material was used in solid-phase extraction of Cu(II) and Cd(II) in batch experiments, and its adsorption capacity was evaluated as a function of time, pH, and analyte concentration. Kinetic equilibrium was reached within 5 minutes, and the experimental data were fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The optimum pH for adsorption of both metal species was observed to be around 5.0. The adsorption isotherms were adjusted using the modified Langmuir equation, and the maximum amount of metal species extracted from the solution was determined to be 0.213 mmol g^-1 for Cu(II) and 0.215 mmol g^-1 for Cd(II), with high linear correlation coefficients for both metals. The persimmon leaves are typically abundant during the growing season, and since they are seasonal, the Diospyros kaki L.f. tree undergoes the natural process of leaf abscission, ensuring the availability of leaves for application.

This study explores the potential of titanium disulfide (TiS2) as an active material for aqueous calcium-ion batteries (CIBs). We investigate the electrochemical redox reactions of calcium ions within TiS2 and assess its suitability for use in aqueous CIBs. Additionally, we examine the im-pact of different electrolyte concentrations on TiS2 electrode reactions. Our findings reveal that TiS2 exhibits distinct charge-discharge behaviors in various aqueous calcium-ion electrolytes. Notably, at higher electrolyte concentrations, TiS2 effectively suppresses the hydrogen genera-tion reaction caused by water decomposition, demonstrating its potential as an active material for aqueous CIBs. In-situ X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the intercalation of Ca2+ ions be-tween TiS2 layers during charging. This confirmation is groundbreaking, as it represents the first experimental evidence of calcium ions being electrochemically inserted between TiS2 layers from aqueous solutions, signifying a previously unreported achievement and strongly suggesting TiS2's applicability in aqueous CIBs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis further supports the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the TiS2 electrode surface, contributing to the suppression of electrolyte decomposition reactions. Furthermore, we investigate the influ-ence of anions in the electrolyte on charge-discharge behavior. Our findings suggest that the choice of anion coordinated with Ca2+ ions affects SEI formation and cycling performance. Un-derstanding the role of anions in SEI formation is crucial for optimizing aqueous CIBs. In con-clusion, this research underscores TiS2's potential as an active material for aqueous calcium-ion batteries and emphasizes the importance of electrolyte composition in influencing SEI formation and battery performance. These findings contribute to the development of more sustainable and efficient energy storage technologies.

Although 4Ce4YSZ has high corrosion resistance, it faces challenges concerning sinterability and ionic conductivity. Therefore, we studied destabilization behavior caused by corrosion and oxygen vacancy ordering according to ZnO doping. The powders of (4Ce4YSZ)1-x(ZnO)x (x=0.5, 1, 2, 4 mol%) were synthesized through the sol-gel method. With the addition of ZnO, the cubic phase increased, and secondary phases were not observed. The (111) peak showed a higher angle shift in ZnO-doped 4Ce4YSZ compared to 4Ce4YSZ, and TEM-SAED revealed a reduction in the spacing of the (011)t plane, suggesting lattice contraction due to the substitution of the smaller Zn2+ (60 Å) for Zr4+ (84 Å) in the lattice. The local atomic structure analysis was conducted using EXAFS to investigate the oxygen vacancy ordering behavior. Zr K-edge Fourier-transform data revealed a decrease in the Zr-O1 peak intensity with an increasing amount o ZnO doping, indicating an increase in oxygen vacancies. The Zr-O1 peak position shifted to the right, leading to an increase in the Zr-O1 interatomic distance. In the Y K-edge Fourier-transform data, the Y-O1 peak intensity did not decrease, and there was little variation in the Y-O1 interatomic distance. These results suggest that the oxygen vacancies formed due to ZnO doping are located in the neighboring oxygen shell of Zn, rather than in the neighboring oxygen shells of Y and Zr. Impedance measurements were conducted to measure the conductivity, and as the amount of ZnO doping increased, the total conductivity increased, while the activation energy decreased. The increase in oxygen vacancies by ZnO doping contributed to the enhancement of conductivity and it is considered that these created oxygen vacancies did not interact with Zn2+ and did not form defect associations. Fluoride-based molten salts were introduced to the specimens to assess corrosion behavior in a molten salt environment. Yttrium depletion layers (YDLs) were formed on the surfaces of all specimens due to the leaching of yttrium. However, Ce remained relatively stable at the interface according to EDS line scans, suggesting a reduction in the phase transformation (cubic, tetragonal to monoclinic) typically associated with yttrium leaching in YSZ.

Rollover prevention of partially-filled tank trucks is an industry teaser, with the core challenge being real-time perception and observation of the liquid state inside the tank. In order realize re-liable observation of sloshing liquid, this article firstly proposes a sloshing modeling method based on multi-degree-of-freedom pendulum model, and derives the double mass trammel pendulum model (DMTP, 2DOF) accordingly, which accurately reflects the sloshing dynamics under more pervasive working conditions. Secondly, a free surface fluctuation sensor is designed based on magnetostriction, capable of measuring the inclination and height of the liquid level inside tanks filled with hazardous chemical. Finally, the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is utilized to synthesize the information of the two, establishing a credible real-time observation of the sloshing liquid. Verified through vehicle-fluid coupled co-simulation, under condition of con-secutive double lane change, observation error of the proposed method is only 25.9% that of the open-loop calculation, providing a secure guarantee for the observation of the state variables of the single pendulum model (SP) used for most kinds of anti-rollover controller.

An analytical method was established by HPLC-DAD-ELSD with C18-NH2 column tandem for the simultaneous determination of hydrophobic components atractylenolide I, II, III, atractylone and hydrophilic compounds glucose, fructose and sucrose in the dried rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (a natural raw material for health foods, Bai-Zhu aka. in Chinese). The method combines different separation capabilities of reversed-phase liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, can provide a new choice for the simultaneous determination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds in traditional Chinese medicines and health foods. It provided a reference method for the quality control of Bai-Zhu. The results showed that the linear correlation coefficients of the established column tandem chromatographic method were all greater than 0.9990, the relative standard deviation was 0.1%-2.8%, and the average recovery was 96.7%-103.1%. The contents of atractylenolide I, II, III, atractylone, fructose, glucose, and sucrose in 17 batches of Baizhu were 172.3-759.8 μg/g, 201.4-612.8 μg/g, 160.3-534.2 μg/g, 541.4-8723.1 μg/g, 6.9-89.7 mg/g, 0.7-7.9 mg/g, and 1.2-21.0 mg/g, respectively.

68Ga-based radiopharmaceuticals are routinely used for PET imaging of multiple types of tumors tumours. Gallium-68 is commonly obtained from 68Ge/68Ga generators, which are limited in the quantity of activity produced. Alternatively, gallium-68 can easily be produced on a cyclotron using liquid targets. In this study we optimized the GMP production of [68Ga]GaFAPI-46 using gallium-68 produced from a standard medical cyclotron using liquid targets. Starting from the published synthesis and quality control procedures described for other 68Ga-based radiopharmaceuticals, we have validated the synthesis process and the analytical methods to test the quality parameters of the final product to be used for routine clinical studies. [68Ga]GaFAPI-46 was successfully produced with high radiochemical purity and yield using an IBA Synthera® Extension module. Gallium chloride was cyclotron produced on a medical cyclotron using a liquid target with an activity of 4.31 ± 0.36 GBq at the end-of-purification (EOP). Analytical methods were established and validated meeting Ph. Eur. standards. Fully GMP production was also validated in three consecutive batches, producing 2.50 ± 0.46 GBq of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 at the end-of-synthesis (EOS), with 98.94 ± 0.72% radiochemical purity by radio-HPLC. Quality was maintained for up to 3 h after the EOS. Production of [68Ga]GaFAPI-46 was performed and validated using a standard medical cyclotron with liquid targets. Quality control parameters (e.g. sterility, purity, and residual solvents) conform to Eur. Phar. and shelf life of 3 h was established. Activity of [68Ga]GaFAPI-46 produced is substantially higher than the one obtained with generators enabling a better response to the clinical need for this radiopharmaceutical.

Effective solid waste management is crucial for protecting public health and the environment. Global concentration on finding sustainable methods of handling waste continue to top the list of most governmental-related project checklists. This paper provides a case study on the management of municipal solid waste in the cities of Karlsruhe, Germany and Navrongo, Ghana as developed and developing countries respectively. This study aimed at comparing and drawing lessons from how these two different cities manage their solid waste. The waste management system in Karlsruhe prioritizes waste separation, recycling, and a pay-as-you-throw system has led to an efficient and sustainable waste management system that minimizes waste and protects the environment. Karlshrue's adoption of a continual developmental plan structure focused on integrated WM concepts is credited with safeguarding the long-term viability of waste management in the city. In contrast, Navrongo's waste management system faces several challenges, including inadequate resources and infrastructure, traditional waste disposal practices, and the lack of well-planned waste management strategies. To improve effective solid waste management systems in Ghana, a collaborative approach involving the government, local organizations, and the community is necessary. This can include investing in infrastructure, implementing waste separation and recycling programs, and educating the public on the benefits of sustainable waste management practices. Learning from successful models like Karlsruhe can help accelerate the development of sustainable waste management practices in Ghana, and ultimately protect public health and the environment.

A hydrophilic silica-based stationary phase with surface bound N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc-silica) was prepared in house and characterized physically via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and chromatographically over a wide range of mobile phase compositions. While both FTIR and TGA confirmed the attachment of the GlcNAc ligands to the silica surface, the chromatographic evaluation of the GlcNAc-silica with polar and slightly polar standard solutes (e.g., sugars, nucleic acid fragments, phenolic and benzoic acid derivatives) yielded the typical hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) behaviors in the sense that retention increased with increased solute’s polarity and the organic content (i.e., acetonitrile) of the hydro-organic mobile phase (i.e., ACN-rich mobile phase). Sugars derivatized with 1-naphthylamine (1-NA) and 2-aminoanthrcene (2-AA) such as xylose, glucose and short chains maltooligosaccharides constituted the most polar species for HILIC retention evaluation, and in addition the maltooligosaccharides offered a polar homologous series for gauging the hydrophilicity of the GlcNAc-silica in analogy with alkylbenzene homologous series and other nonpolar homologous for evaluating the hydrophobicity of non-polar stationary phases. On the other hand, the benzoic acid and phenolic acid derivatives were the probe solutes for evaluating the HILIC retention dependence of ionizable solutes on the pH of the mobile phase. Similarly, the nucleobase and nucleoside weak basic solutes as well as some typical cyclic nucleotide acidic solutes allowed the examination of the dependence of solute retention on the pH of the mobile as well as the polarity of the species.

Abstract：Objective: To compare the effects of fermentation on the chemical composition of Gastrodia Tuder Halimasch Powder, and to provide a basis for the processing, processing and clinical application of this medicinal material. Methods: UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS was used to identify compound structure by comparing excimer ions, characteristic fragment ions and reference substances, and referring to relevant literature and database search. The main differential components were screened by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and the differential components were quantitatively studied by high performance liquid chromatography, and the differences in the types and contents of chemical components before and after fermentation were compared. Results: A total of 77 compounds were identified or preliminarily derived after fermentation, including 21 terpenes, 18 organic acids, 9 flavonoids, 7 nucleosides, 6 amides, 4 amino acids, 2 pyrrolidone derivatives, 2 sterols, 2 alkaloids and 6 others.Through high performance liquid chromatography, it was found that the content of daidzein genistein and ergosterol was significantly increased after fermentation, and a new component ergosterol was produced. Compared with Gastrodia Tuder Halimasch Powder before fermentation, the content of genistin and other components was significantly reduced, and there may be a process of genistin conversion to genistein.Conclusion: The fermentation process will have a certain influence on the types and contents of the chemical components of Gastrodia Tuder Halimasch Powder, and ergosterol, genistein and .daidzein may be the main pharmacodynamic components, which can provide a useful reference for the clinical rational application, quality control and mechanism of action of Gastrodia Tuder Halimasch Powder.

Solid waste has become a tenacious issue worldwide. It has been increasing exponentially due to urbanization and the increase in the population. Since the twentieth-century technological revolution, there have been significant changes in the composition of solid waste. It poses significant challenges for waste management systems worldwide. Waste management is the process of handling waste right from its creation to its final disposal, including transport, collection, treatment, and monitoring. The present solid waste management (SWM) system is affected by unfavorable institutional, economic, technical, legislative, and operational constraints. Poor waste management is affecting ecosystems and human health, damaging our finite natural resources, impeding human economic progress, and harming people's quality of life. Now, researchers are concerned about the environment's degradation, a decline in quality of life, and risks related to waste management grow as the volume of solid waste. So, they are focusing on sustainable waste management practices which will be crucial for creating a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. This chapter focuses on the concept of solid waste, its types, management, and its effect on the health of humans and the environment.

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a viable alternative for tackling the problems caused by rising consumption, including solid waste (SW). The present study conducted a meta-analysis of research published between 2012 and 2022 on CE and solid waste management (SWM). A bibliometric analysis was used from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. By studying the articles, we briefly discussed the connections between them and how one contributes to the evolution of the other. Some findings point to greater collaboration between Italy and Bolivia, followed by China and Malaysia. However, they move away from the traditional axes as the United States and Canada. In addition, it was found that the adoption of reuse and selective collection, in fact, allow the reduction of the volume of discarded materials. In this way, it was possible to conclude that a greater connection between CE and GRS makes it possible to optimize the useful life of landfills through the treatment of organic waste and recycling, to encourage waste picker cooperatives and selective collection programs, and to reduce the financial costs of the system as a whole, making it more durable and sustainable.

Screening and early diagnosis of diseases are crucial for a patient's treatment to be successful and to improve their survival rate, especially in cancer. The development of non-invasive analytical methods able to detect biomarkers of pathologies is a critical point to define a successful treat-ment and a good outcome. This study extensively reviews electrochemical methods used for the development of biosensors in liquid biopsy, owing to their ability to provide rapid response, pre-cise detection, and low detection limits. We also discuss new developments in electrochemical biosensors, which can improve the specificity and sensitivity of standard analytical procedures. Electrochemical biosensors demonstrate remarkable sensitivity in detecting minute quantities of analytes, encompassing proteins, nucleic acids, and circulating tumor cells, even within challeng-ing matrices such as urine, serum, blood, and various other body fluids. Among the various de-tection techniques used for the detection of cancer biomarkers, even in the picogram range, volt-ammetric sensors are deeply discussed in this review because of their advantages and technical characteristics. This widespread utilization stems from their ability to facilitate quantitative de-tection of ions and molecules with exceptional precision. The comparison of each electrochemical technique is discussed to provide the selection of appropriate analytical methods.

An investigation of pair partial radial distribution functions and molecular pair potentials within a system has established that the existing potential functions are rooted in the assumption of a static arrangement of atoms, overlooking their distribution and vibration. In this study, Hill’s proposed radial distribution function polynomials are applied for the pure gaseous state to a binary liquid alloy system to derive the pair potential energy. The partial radial distribution functions of 36 binary liquid alloy systems reported in literature were examined and then validated using four thermodynamic models. Results show that the molecular interaction volume model (MIVM) and regular solution model (RSM) outperform other models when an asymmetric method is used to calculate the partial radial distribution function. The MIVM exhibits a mean standard deviation (SD) of 0.095 and a mean absolute relative difference (ARD) of 32.2%. Similarly, the RSM demonstrates a mean SD of 0.078 and an ARD of 32.2%. The Wilson model yields a mean SD of 0.124 and a mean ARD of 226%. The nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model exhibits a mean SD of 0.225 and a mean ARD of 911%. On applying the partial radial distribution function symmetry method, the MIVM and RSM outperform the other approaches, with a mean SD of 0.143 and a mean ARD of 165.9% for the MIVM. The RSM yields a mean SD of 0.117 and an ARD of 208.3%. The Wilson model exhibits the mean values of 0.133 and 305.6% for SD and ARD, respectively. The NRTL model shows an average SD of 0.200 and an average ARD of 771.8%. Based on this result, the influence of the symmetry degree on the thermodynamic model is explored by examining the symmetry degree as defined by the experimental activity curves of the two components.

In this study, robust composite solid electrolytes were developed and employed them to enhance the performance of Li-metal batteries significantly. The robust composite solid electrolytes are composed of a soft polymer, poly(ethylene oxide), a Li salt, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and super ionic conductive ceramic fillers such as Li1.5Al0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 (LATP), and Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO). The main goal of this study is to enhance the electrochemical stability and ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivities of the composite solid electrolytes were found to be 2.08 × 10-4 and 1.64 × 10-4 S cm-1 with the introduction of LATP and LLZTO fillers, respectively. The results prove that the fabricated solid electrolyte was electrochemical stable at voltage exceeding 4.25 V vs. Li/Li+. The internal resistance of the solid electrolyte significantly reduced as compare to gel electrolyte. This reduction can be attributed owing to the alleviation of bulk electrolyte, charge-transfer, and interfacial electrolyte/electrode impedance. When LiFePO4 cathode sheets are coated with a composite solid electrolyte containing LATP powders, the resulting Li-metal battery displays high capacity at 5 C (with a capacity retention of 65.2% compared to the original capacity at 0.2 C) as well as superior cyclic stability and excellent Coulombic efficiency (&gt; 99.5%, over 200 cycles). These results confirm that the composite solid electrolyte acts as a protective layer which have ability to prevent the growth of Li dendrites. Consequently, the fabricated electrolyte configuration can be engineered to enable high energy/power density and electrochemical stable cyclability in Li-metal batteries.

Since there are no morphological clues capable of making a pathologist suspect a possible mammary origin of a metastatic lesion without adequate clinical information, the histologic diagnosis of brain metastasis from BC is still based on the immunohistochemical expression of mammary gland markers such as GATA-3, ERs, PgRs and HER-2. The present retrospective study aimed to select purely morphological features capable to suggest the mammary origin of a metastatic carcinoma to the brain. The following histological features were collected on a series of 30 cases of brain metastases from breast cancer:(i) solid growth pattern; (ii) presence of comedonecrosis; (iii) glandular differentiation. Our results showed that most cases histologically exhibited solid growth pattern with at least focal comedonecrosis, producing an overall morphology closely reminiscent of mammary high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ. Although the above-mentioned morphological parameters are not strictly specific to a mammary origin, they may have an important diagnostic utility in leading pathologists to suspect a possible breast primary tumor and to include GATA-3, ERs, PgRs and HER-2 to the immunohistochemical panel.

Currently, efficient utilization of low-grade thermal energy is a great challenge. Thermoelectricity is an extremely promising method of generating electrical energy from temperature differences. As a promising energy conversion technology, thermo-electrochemical cells (TECs) have attracted much attention in recent years for their ability to convert thermal energy directly into electricity with high thermal power. Within TECs, anions and cations gain and lose electrons, respectively at the electrodes using the potential difference between the hot and cold terminals of the electrodes by redox couples. Additionally, the anions and cations therein are constantly circulating and mobile via concentration diffusion and thermal diffusion, providing an uninterrupted supply of power to the exterior. This review article focuses mainly on the operation of TECs, recent ad-vances in redox couples, electrolytes, and electrodes. The outlook for optimization strategies re-garding TECs is also presented in this paper.

Bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are increasingly used as substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA) in the plastic industry, driven by concerns over the adverse effects of BPA. However, there is a lack of infor-mation on the extent of exposure to these chemicals in children. This study aims to assess the extent of BPA, BPF, and BPS exposure and determine factors that influence such exposure. A group of Thai children (age 6-13 years, n=358) were recruited between October 2019-2020. Two first morning void was collected one week apart. Demographic and exposure-related information was gathered. Urinary concentrations of bisphenols were analyzed by liquid-chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Correlation between bisphenol concentrations and various factors was determined using generalized estimating equations with linear model. BPA, BPF, and BPS were detected at 79.6%, 31.0%, and 16.8%, with geometric mean (GM) concentrations of 1.41, 0.013, and 0.014 ng/mL respectively. Younger children aged < 10 years exhibited 1.3-1.6 times higher GM levels of all bisphenols compared to older children. Exposure to food stored in plas-tic containers were associated with higher levels of BPF and BPS. In conclusion, BPA was the most fre-quently detected bisphenol in urine samples from Thai children, followed by BPF and BPS.

Abstract: The ability to detect several types of cancer using a non-invasive, blood-based test holds the potential to revolutionize oncology screening. We mined tumor methylation array data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) covering 14 cancer types and identified two novel, broadly oc-curring methylation markers at TLX1 and GALR1. To evaluate their performance as a general-ized blood-based screening approach, along with our previously reported methylation bi-omarker, ZNF154, we rigorously assessed each marker individually or combined. Utilizing the TCGA methylation data and applying logistic regression models within each individual cancer type, we found that the three-marker combination significantly increased the average area under the ROC curve (AUC) across the 14 tumor types compared to single markers (p= 1.158e-10; Friedman test). Furthermore, we simulated dilutions of tumor DNA into healthy blood cell DNA and demonstrated increased AUC of combined markers across all dilution levels. Finally, we evaluated assay performance in bisulfite sequenced DNA from patient tumors and plasma, in-cluding early-stage samples. When combining all three markers the assay achieved 100% sensi-tivity and specificity, as demonstrated in lung cancer plasma samples. In patient plasma from hepatocellular carcinoma, ZNF154 alone yielded the highest combined sensitivity and specificity values averaging 68% and 72%, whereas multiple markers could achieve higher sensitivity or specificity, but not both. Altogether this study presents a comprehensive pipeline for the identifi-cation, testing and validation of multi-cancer methylation biomarkers with a considerable poten-tial for detecting a broad range of cancer types in patient blood samples.

In this study, we presented a simple highly sensitive sensor based on commercially available solid core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for measuring the refractive index (RI) of analytes. The numerical simulation based on the finite element method (FEM) has been examined to compute the optical properties such as confinement loss, power spectrum, and transmission intensity of the sensor. The most sensitive and inert plasmonic materials (gold and silver) have been assumed to be coated inside the fiber with the range of analytes RI from 1.32 to 1.40. The performance of the proposed sensor has been evaluated by tracing the several optical features like wavelength sensitivity, amplitude sensitivity, resolution of the sensor, and figure of merit. As a result, the comparative study between silver and gold elements has been carried out in which the maximum sensitivity received as 1.15 μm/RIU and 1.10 μm/RIU respectively. Whereas, on the base of power spectrum the obtained sensitivity was 513 μm/RIU for the gold layer. Moreover, the effect of other structural parameters (air holes and plasmonic layers thickness) on the sensing performance has been taken into an account. According to the simulation analysis and results, this sensor would have a great potential in various sensing applications of biomedical and liquid refractive index.

A large body of evidence, replicated in many mouse models of Alzheimer Disease (AD), demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of oral rapamycin. Administration of m-TOR inhibitors (mTOR-Is), early after the clinical onset, greatly diminished cognitive impairment, amyloid angiopathy, intracellular beta Amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles load. The daily intake of rapamycin has always been 2.24g/Kg/24h. In humans the maximal tolerated oral dose is a few milligrams/day, and at this dosage patients are severely immunosuppressed. Thanks to rapalogs’ scarce CNS-related side effects, we administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) high doses of the mTOR-I everolimus in a mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD) without significant systemic effects. The instability of the liquid formulation at body temperature (BT) made the treatment very short. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the treatment was high and much longer lasting than expected. In order to set up a thermostable, translational liquid formulation of mTOR-Is, we loaded everolimus in distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000 (DSPE-PEG2000) micelles by the thin layer method. The formulation we obtained maintained over 95% of activity after 14 days at BT. We can envision short, potentially periodic ICV treatments in AD patients which replicate results obtained on animal models. The treatment could benefit also Tuberous Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis patients.

Effective management of retinoblastoma (RB), the most prevalent childhood eye cancer, depends on reliable monitoring and diagnosis. A promising candidate in this context is the secreted trefoil family factor peptide 1 (TFF1), recently discovered as a promising new biomarker in patients with a more advanced subtype of retinoblastoma. The present study investigated TFF1 expression within aqueous humor (AH) of enucleated eyes and compared TFF1 levels in AH and corresponding blood serum samples from RB patients undergoing intravitreal chemotherapy (IVC). TFF1 was consistently detectable in AH, confirming its potential as a biomarker. Crucially, our data confirmed that TFF1 secreting cells within the tumor mass originate from RB tumor cells, not from surrounding stromal cells. IVC therapy responsive patients exhibited remarkably reduced TFF1 levels post-therapy. By contrast, RB patients` blood serum displayed low to undetectable levels of TFF1 even after sample concentration and no therapy-dependent changes were observed. Our findings suggest that compared to blood serum AH represents the more reliable source for TFF1 if used for liquid biopsy RB marker analysis in RB patients. Thus, analysis of TFF1 in AH of RB patients potentially provides a minimal invasive tool for monitoring RB therapy efficacy, suggesting its importance for effective treatment regimens.

This review provides an overview of the biotransformation of limonene and α-pinene, which are commonly found in wood residues and citrus fruit by-products, to produce high-value-added products. Essential oils derived from various plant parts contain monoterpene hydrocarbons, such as limonene and pinenes which are often considered waste due to their low sensory activity, poor water solubility, and tendency to autoxidize and polymerise. However, these terpene hydrocarbons serve as ideal starting materials for microbial transformations. Moreover, agro-industrial byproducts can be employed as nutrient and substrate sources, reducing fermentation costs, and enhancing industrial viability. Terpenes, being secondary metabolites of plants, are abundant in byproducts generated during fruit and plant processing. Microbial cells offer advantages over enzymes due to their higher stability, rapid growth rates, and genetic engineering potential. Fermentation parameters can be easily manipulated to enhance strain performance in large-scale processes. The economic advantages of biotransformation are highlighted by comparing the prices of substrates and products. For instance, R-limonene, priced at US$34/L, can be transformed into carveol, valued at around US$530/L. This review emphasises the potential of biotransformation to produce high-value products from limonene and α-pinene molecules, particularly present in wood residues and citrus fruit by-products. The utilisation of microbial transformations, along with agro-industrial byproducts, presents a promising approach to extract value from waste materials and enhance the sustainability of the antimicrobial, the fragrance and flavour industry.

Cellular biomolecular condensates termed ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules often are enriched in messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules relative to the surrounding cytoplasm. Yet, the spatial localization and diffusion of mRNAs in close proximity to phase separated RNP granules is not well understood. In this study, we performed single molecule fluorescence imaging experiments of mRNAs in live cells in the presence of two types of RNP granules, stress granules (SG) and processing bodies (PB), which are distinct in their molecular composition and function. We developed a photobleaching- and noise-corrected colocalization imaging algorithm that was employed to determine the accurate positions of individual mRNAs relative to the granule’s boundaries. We found that mRNAs are often localized at granule boundaries, an observation consistent with recently published data. We suggest that mRNA molecules become spontaneously confined at the RNP granule boundary similar to the adsorption of polymer molecules at liquid-liquid interfaces, which is observed in various technological and biological processes. We also suggest that this confinement could be due to a combination of intermolecular interactions associated with, first, the screening of a portion of the RNP granule interface by the polymer and, second, electrostatic interactions due to a strong electric field induced by a Donnan potential generated across the thin interface.

We demonstrate the use of a nanotechnology-based approach for the investigation of enzymatic activity of a single molecule of horseradish peroxidase with a solid-state nanopore. The artificial 5 nm solid-state nanopore has been formed in a 40-nm-thick silicon nitride structure. Single molecule of HRP has been entrapped into the nanopore. The activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme molecule inserted in the nanopore has been monitored by recording the time dependence of the ion current through the nanopore in the course of the reaction of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) oxidation reaction. We have found that in the process of ABTS oxidation in the presence of 2.5 mM hydrogen peroxide, individual HRP enzyme molecules are able to retain activity for approximately 700 seconds before a decrease in the ion current through the nanopore, which can be explained by structural changes of the enzyme.

Poor interlaminar fracture toughness has been a major issue in glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin (GF/EP) laminate composites. In this paper, soft carboxy-terminated liquid nitrile (CTBN) rubber particles and rigid nano-SiO2 are used to toughen the epoxy resin (EP) matrix to improve the interlayer properties of GF/EP laminate composites. The effects of adding two toughening agents on the mechanical and interlayer properties of GF/EP laminates were studied. The results showed that adding the two kinds of particles improved the mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix. When the additional amount of flexible CTBN rubber particles was 8wt%, and the rigid nano SiO2 was 0.5wt%, the fracture toughness of the matrix resin was increased by 215.8%, and the tensile strength was only decreased by 2.3% compared with the pure epoxy resin. On this basis, the effects of two kinds of particles on the interlayer properties of GF/EP composites were studied. Compared with the unmodified GF/EP laminates, the interlayer shear strength and mode Ⅰ interlayer fracture toughness is significantly improved by toughening agent, and the energy release rate GIC of interlayer shear strength and interlayer fracture toughness is increased by 109.2%, and 86.8%, respectively.

Rheocasting is getting more and more attention from the electronics and automotive industries. Mechanical properties and thermophysical properties such as thermal and electrical conductivity are affected by the amount of solid phase generated in the slurry process. The RheoMetal process specifically has a significant deviation from the expected solid fraction. This deviation is discussed, explained and a way to control the excess generation of solid phase is proposed.

Evaporating liquid sessile drop deposited on horizontal surface is an important object of applications (printing technologies, electronics, sensorics, medical diagnostics, hydrophobic coatings, etc.) and theoretical investigations (microfluidics, self-assembly of nanoparticle, crystallization of the solute, etc.). The arsenal of formulas for calculating the slow evaporation of an axisymmetric drop of capillary dimensions deposited on a flat solid surface is reviewed. Such characteristics as vapor density, evaporation flux density, total evaporation rate are considered. Exact solutions obtained in the framework of the Maxwellian model, in which the evaporation process of the drop is limited by vapor diffusion from the drop surface to the surrounding air, are presented. The summary covers both well-known results obtained during the last decades and new results published by us in the last few years, but practically unknown to the wide scientific community. The newest formulas, not yet published in refereed publications, concerning exact solutions for a number of specific contact angles are also presented. In addition, new approximate solutions are presented for the first time (total evaporation rate and mass loss per unit surface area per unit time in the whole range of contact angles ), which can be used in modeling without requiring significant computational resources.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the citric acid on the properties of solid pine wood, which were submitted to thermomechanical treatment. A preliminary test was performed in a previous study to evaluate the influence of different temperatures of pressing and concentrations of citric acid over the physical properties of wood. After choosing the best treatments (170°C and 5% and 10% of citric acid) it was evaluated the effect of these on the chemical properties (SEM, FTIR and pH), on the density profile using an X-ray microtomography, and on the resistance to ageing through abrasion test. The result of the chemical analysis allowed to observe an increase of the presence of ester functional groups, as well as a better coverage and higher acidity of the surface. The density profile technique allowed to observe the formation of peaks of density on the surface where the acid was applied. Lastly, it was also possible to verify an increase in the resistance to abrasion because of the application of the citric acid.

This scoping review examines global strategies and enterprises for sustainable solid waste management, with a focus on alternative landfilling approaches. The study collected and analyzed a significant number of documents from different regions, revealing Asia as the major contributor (for the collected documents) (48.7%), followed by North America (24.3%) and Europe (15.8%). Recycling emerged as the most effective alternative waste treatment method, representing 52.3% of the documented approaches, with industrial recycling (22.6%) and residential/non-residential recycling (20.2%) as prominent categories. Food waste was a significant concern across regions, constituting 21.4% of the collected documents. Composting was widely adopted (15.4%) due to its simplicity and benefits for gardening and soil improvement. Other methods like biogas extraction, reusing, raising awareness, incinerating, redistributing, reducing, and fermentation accounted for 13.1% cumulatively. The study highlights the need for tailored waste management solutions based on regional challenges and successful practices. Promoting recycling infrastructure, composting, and waste reduction approaches are crucial to achieving sustainable waste management aligned with SDGs. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing between regions are essential to improve inefficient waste management mechanisms. Integrating the findings into policymaking and industry practices can lead to a more sustainable future with reduced environmental impact.

Scientific advancements in the food industry have resulted in the discovery of natural substances that can serve various functions in food. Essential oils, in particular, can act as food preservatives or flavoring agents due to their abundance of natural antioxidants, which possess preservative properties. In this study, the composition of Thymus vulgaris essential oil was determined using GC-MS and HS-SPME. The essential oil obtained from Thymus vulgaris L. through hydro-distillation yielded approximately 4%. GC/MS analysis of the essential oil identified 11 components, with a predominant presence of oxygenated monoterpenes (56.97%). Notably, carvacrol (37.63%) and thymol (17.35%) were present in significant amounts, accounting for 54.98% of the overall composition. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil was evaluated using three methods. The DPPH free radical scavenging test yielded an IC50 of 0.51±0.11 mg mL-1. The β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching test resulted in an IC50 of 2.58±0.10 mg mL-1. Finally, the ABTS assay indicated relatively lower antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid.

The relaxation processes induced by an exposure of the Ar matrices doped with CH4 (0.1 – 10%) to an electron beam were studied with a focus on the dynamics of radiolysis products – H atoms, H2 molecules, CH radicals, and energy transfer processes. Three channels of energy transfer to dopant and radiolysis products were discussed: by free charge carriers, free excitons and photons from the “intrinsic source” provided by emission of the self-trapped excitons. Radiolysis products along with the total yield of desorbing particles were monitored in a correlated manner. Analysis of methane transformation reactions induced by free excitons showed that the CH radical can be considered as a marker of the CH3 species. The competition between exciton self-trapping and energy transfer to the dopant and radiolysis products has been demonstrated. A nonlinear concentration behavior of the H atoms in doped Ar matrices has been established. Real-time correlated monitoring of optical emissions (H atom and CH3 radicals), particle ejection, and temperature revealed a nonmonotonic behavior of optical yields with a strong luminescence flash after almost an hour of exposure, which correlated with explosive pulse of particle ejection and temperature. The connection of this phenomenon with the processes of energy transfer and radical-radical recombination is discussed.

Accurate measurement of solid precipitation (S) has a critical importance for proper understanding of the Earth’s hydrological cycle, validation of emerging technologies and weather prediction models, and developing parameterizations of severe weather elements such as visibility (Vis). However, measuring S is still a challenging problem mainly because of wind effects. The wind effects are normally mitigated by using a Double-Fence Automated Reference (DFAR) system to reduce the wind speed (Ug). To contribute towards addressing some of these issues we have analyzed data sets collected at a site located in Southern Ontario, Canada using several instruments. The instruments include two Geonor gauges, one placed inside a DFAR (SDFAR) and the other inside a double Alter shield (DASG), a Pluvio2 gauge inside a single Alter shield (SASP), a HotPlate, a PARSIVEL2 Disdrometer that measures S and fall velocity (V), and a FD12P senor that measures S and type and Vis. The results show that for the Ug observed in this study (Ug &lt; 6 ms-1), both DASG and SASP have similar collection efficiency (CE) of near 70%. The transfer functions (TF) for DASG and SASP as a function of Ug and also Ug, and V have been derived. The TF for the DASG that includes both Ug and V showed better agreement with observation than just Ug alone. The S measured using all the other instruments were correlated well with SDFAR, but the PARSIVEL2 and FD12P overestimated and underestimated the snow amount respectively as compared the SDFAR. However, the HotPlate captured similar amount of S as the SDFAR. According to this study, the SDFAR showed good correlation with Vis.

: This article reports on polymer (PLLA, poly(L-lactic acid)) nanosheets incorporated with Fe-ion nanoparticles, aiming at using the latter nanoparticles as source to release Fe ions to facilitate burn wound healing when such nanosheets are applied on skin as biomedical tissue. Laser ablation in liquid phase was used to produce Fe-containing nanoparticles that after incorporation into PLLA nanosheets would release Fe ions when in immersed in water. Such nanoparticles prepared in chloroform are shown by XPS to be based on iron chloride and oxide phases. After incorporation into PLLA nanosheets, the ion –release test demonstrated that Fe ions could be released successfully into water at pH 7.4, which implies that such polymer nanosheets show promise for biomedical applications as potential patches for healing burn wounds. Incorporation with two different metal ions (Fe and Zn) is shown to be efficient and both types of ions were demonstrated to be released simultaneously and with comparable release rates.

Diseases caused by arboviruses are on the increase worldwide. In addition to arthropod bites, most arboviruses can be transmitted via accessory routes. Products of human origin (labile blood products, solid organs, hematopoietic stem cells, tissues) present a risk of contamination for the recipient if the donation is made when the donor is viremic. This narrative review describes the risks of acquiring certain arboviral diseases from human products, mainly solid organs and hematopoietic stem cells, in the French context. Mainland France and its overseas territories are exposed to a complex array of imported and endemic arboviruses, which differ according to their respective location. The main risks considered in this study are infections by West Nile virus, dengue virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus. The ancillary risks represented by Usutu virus infection, chikungunya and Zika are also addressed more briefly. For each disease, the guidelines issued by the French High Council of Public Health, which is responsible for issuing guidelines to mitigate the risks associated with products of human origin and for supporting public health policy decisions, are briefly outlined. The aim of this review is also to contribute to the standardization of recommendations at international level in areas with the same viral epidemiology.

The two-phase flow of water and reactive gas in the channel of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) plays an important role in high-quality water management. In this study, the removal effect of 3D wave channel and 2D straight channel for liquid water was studied by volume of fluid method. The dynamic behavior of droplet emerge from the gas diffusion layer (GDL) into the channel under the influence of gas flow was investigated. The effects of droplet growth, deformation, detachment, force, pore size on water critical behavior and water content in the channel are discussed. The results show that the 3D wave channel is superior to the removal of liquid water than the 2D straight channel. The increase of velocity is conducive to the discharge liquid water. While infinite increase of velocity will cause more parasitic power loss. The larger pore size of GDL is not advantageous to the performance of PEMFC, but the appropriate increase of pore size is conducive to the discharge of liquid water. The basic knowledge obtained in this study will help to deepen the understanding of droplet dynamics in PEMFC gas channels, and help to optimize the design and working conditions of these channels.

: The effects of the main parameters on the air entrainment rate, Qa, were investigated experimentally in a confined plunging liquid jet reactor CPLJR. Various downcomer diameters (Dc), jet lengths (Lj), liquid volumetric flow rates (Qj), nozzle diameters (dn), and jet velocity (Vj) were used to measure air entrainment, Qa. The non-linear relationship between the air entrainment ratio and confined plunging jet reactor parameters suggests that applying unconventional regression algorithms to predict the air entrainment ratio is appropriate. This study applied machine learning algorithms to the confined plunging jet reactor parameters to predict Qa. The obtained results showed that K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) gave the best prediction abilities, R2 = 0.900, RMSE = 0.069, and MAE = 0.052. The sensitivity analysis was applied to determine the most effective predictor. The liquid volumetric flow rate (Qj) and jet velocity (Vj) were the most influential among all the input variables. Our findings support using machine learning algorithms to accurately forecast the CPLJR system’s experimental results.

: Two-dimensional instability of a horizontal layer of boiling liquid with a finite height is experimentally studied. In this layer, “vapor columns” rose at the corners of a square rectangular grid. The symmetry of “vapor column” location on the heating surface is considered. The model considers the approach to the boiling crisis in terms of both developed nucleate boiling and transitional boiling (the Zuber problem). When dealing with developed nucleate boiling, the layer of boiling liquid is considered in calculations as an isotropic homogeneous system (foam). It is shown how the conditions on the heating surface (capillary-porous coating) affect external hydrodynamics of the liquid layer and, ultimately, the value of the critical heat flux. The calculation ratio obtained by approaching the boiling crisis with regard to developed nucleate boiling takes into account the dependence of the critical heat flux on the void fraction of the boiling liquid layer. A new solution to the boiling crisis problem is proposed when approaching the crisis from the point of transitional boiling (the Zuber problem). This new solution eliminates some shortcomings of the classical problem (in particular, the void fraction of the layer corresponds to the experiments).

In this paper the application of the solid-state cooling based on barocaloric effect in the cold food supply chain is investigated. Barocaloric solid-state technology is applied to the final chain links of the cold food supply chain, regarding the steps of retail and domestic conservation. In this context a barocaloric cooler with regard to food needing to be kept at 5°C (273 K), in order to operate with a promising cooling technology that result energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The categories of food interested in the investigation are meets and fresh food products like soft cheese, yogurt, milk. The energy performances of the barocaloric system have been carried out and compared with a commercial vapor compression refrigerator of a similar size, both operating with R600a under the same working conditions. Basing on the following consideration one can conclude that barocaloric cooling is a favourable technology to be employed in the last link chains of the cold food supply chain if the system operates in ABR cycle at frequencies between 1.25 and 1.50 Hz with a regenerator made of acetoxy silicone rubber as solid-state refrigerant and 50%EG-50%water mixture as heat transfer fluid flowing at the optimal velocity of 0.15 m s-1 that guarantees an appropriate trade-off between the temperature span, the cooling power and the coefficient of performances. Under these conditions the barocaloric system overperforms the domestic vapor compression cooler operating with R600a.

Bifidobacterium is the most beneficial flora of the human gastrointestinal tract, but there is a concentration threshold for Bifidobacterium to exert its beneficial properties. In this work, the effect of several simple culture methods on the number of viable bifidobacteria was discussed to improve its viable concentrations, and we unexpectedly discovered that bifidobacteria have inert growth. The concentration of viable bacteria of two isolated Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, BZ11 and BZ25 and Lactobacillus plantarum SQ-4 were investigated using solid-liquid-liquid circulation subculture, solid-liquid-liquid subculture and solid-liquid-liquid circulation subculture. These 3 subculture methods increase the viable cell concentration, and the best is the solid-liquid-liquid subculture. The highest concentrations of third-generation BZ11 and BZ25 were 9.62 × 109 CFU/mL and 1.21 × 1010 CFU/mL in order by solid-liquid-liquid subculture method, which was 10.38 times and 42.31 times higher (P<0.05) than those of the first generation, respectively. However, none of these three subculture methods increased the concentration of SQ-4. These results suggested that Bifidobacterium has growth inertia and Solid-liquid-liquid passage culture inhibiting the growth inertia. This finding is valuable in promoting the industrial application of probiotic bifidobacteria to potential probiotic food production.

Hybrid reverse osmosis electrodialysis systems make it possible to obtain solutions with a higher concentration of components compared to single electrodialysis treatment, i.e. more efficient separation of brine and pure water. The article proposes experimental and pilot-industrial studies of a hybrid membrane system operation using industrial wastewater for the disposal of liquid waste from an ion-exchange chemical-desalting water treatment plant of a thermal power plant, followed by a calculation of economic efficiency and an analysis of the environmental feasibility of their use. The developed technological scheme offers separate processing of acidic and alkaline waste regeneration solutions using calcium carbonate reagent and desalination on baromembrane and electromembrane units to obtain clean water and dry residue. The hybrid system includes a booster filter press and an evaporator. The hybrid system makes it possible to provide a thermal power plant with a "zero discharge" with a minimum consumption of reagents and electricity, as well as return all water from wastewater to the power plant cycle.

This study evaluated various solid-liquid separation (SLS) processes used in pig farms for wastewater and livestock manure. SLS is crucial for recycling and purifying pig manure. Seven SLS processes were tested on 11 farms: centrifuge, centrifuge with coagulation agent, belt press with coagulation agent, drum screen, inclined screen, vibration screen, and screw press. Samples collected included raw manure, separated liquid, and solid manure after SLS processing, analyzed for pH, EC, moisture, COD_Mn, BOD₅, TN, TP, K, TS, SS, NaCl, and heavy metals. Belt press with coagulation agent showed highest TS and SS reduction (78.8% and 96.9%). For TN and TP removal, belt press and centrifuge with coagulation agents achieved 41.0% and 94.2%, respectively. Belt press with coagulation agent removed 59.4% BOD₅ and 66.0% COD_Mn. Centrifuge with coagulation agent removed 100% Zn and 98.6% Cu. Drum screen, inclined screen, vibration screen, screw press, and centrifuge without coagulation showed lower removal efficiency for nutrients, solids, Zn, and Cu compared to centrifugal and belt press with coagulation. Centrifugal and belt press with coagulation showed higher efficiency in removing nutrients, solids, and metals. Further studies are needed to understand its impact on linked biological or chemical processes.