24-h Test Research Articles

Advancing aquaculture: fuzzy logic-based water quality monitoring and maintenance system for precision aquaculture

AbstractAquaculture plays a vital role in global food production, and maintaining optimal water quality is essential for the health and growth of aquatic species. This research addresses the need for an efficient, adaptive solution by introducing an innovative water quality monitoring and maintenance system for aquaculture ponds. Unlike conventional systems, our approach uniquely integrates fuzzy logic with IoT technologies to optimise the precision and adaptability of pond management. The system stands out with its continuous monitoring of critical parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), weather conditions and salinity and its ability to autonomously adjust operational controls, such as aerators and water pumps, based on dynamic environmental changes. This ensures ideal water conditions without manual intervention, providing a reliable and effective solution for aquaculture pond management. This work’s novelty lies in applying fuzzy Logic to handle the complexity and variability of aquaculture environments, allowing for nuanced control decisions that improve water quality management. The system’s efficiency was demonstrated through a 72-h operational test, where it maintained optimal DO and salinity levels, showcasing its reliability and effectiveness in real-world conditions. The fuzzy logic model has demonstrated a commendable accuracy rate of 98%. These results validate the system’s performance and underscore its practical benefits, meeting the demands of aquaculture production and significantly enhancing operational efficiency by enabling remote monitoring and rapid issue identification. This research contributes a robust technological solution for aquafarmers, offering a promising advancement in aquaculture management by improving productivity and ensuring the health and growth of aquatic species.

Deep eutectic solvent-mediated synthesis of CuCo2O4 @ Sargassum tenerrimum derived carbon heterostructure as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions

Developing bifunctional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) through simple, economical, and innovative methods is vital for sustainable energy conversion. Here, we showcase a green and sustainable approach for synthesizing CuCo₂O₄ - Sargassum Tenerrimum derived carbon composites (CCST) directly from fresh seaweed and a deep eutectic solvent (DES), marking its initial application in HER/OER. The successful transformation of seaweed and metal precursors into CCST was accomplished using a direct pyrolysis method at 900 °C in an inert atmosphere. Here, Seaweed granules acted as the carbon source, with DES employed for its multifunctional properties, including serving as a solvent, a structural template, and a catalyst for fostering material development. When these materials were assessed as electrocatalysts for OER in 1 M KOH media, the optimal catalyst (CCST-9 (1:2)) exhibited a low overpotential of 381 mV at 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 44 mV dec−1. In addition, the same material achieved low overpotential of 383 mV at 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 100 mV dec−1 when tested as an electrocatalyst for HER in 0.5 M H2SO4 media. Interestingly, CCST-9 (1:2) demonstrated excellent long-term stability in OER in 1 M KOH during a 24-h chronoamperometry test, with only a minor reduction in current density. The present study contributes new perspectives to the development of scalable and high-performance bifunctional catalysts, achieved through an environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthetic strategy.

Fabrication of tight polyamide nanofiltration membrane by using a pyridine-diamine precursor for heavy metal ions removal

Nanofiltration offers a promising solution for removing heavy metal ions from wastewater, thereby mitigating ecological and environmental risks. In this study, we synthesized a novel pyridine-diamine precursor 2,6-dipiperazine pyridine (PyBPIP), and employed it as the sole aqueous monomer to fabricate tight polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) membranes via interfacial polymerization (IP) method with trimesoyl chloride for the separation of heavy metals. The resulting membrane features an ultrathin PA functional layer (approximately 60 nm), a lower molecular weight cut-off of 251 Da, and a weakly negatively charged surface. This NF membrane exhibits competitive water permeance of approximately 7.67 LMH/bar and excellent rejection rates exceeding 98 % for various heavy metals ions including Zn2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, along with outstanding separation performance for other divalent cations. Additionally, the NF membrane also exhibits robust stability during the 72-h operational test. In summary, this study demonstrates the feasibility of designing suitable monomers for the preparation of highly perm-selective NF membranes for the removal of heavy metal ions in wastewater.

Enhanced anammox-mediated nitrogen removal in bioelectrochemical systems at prolonged negative electrode potentials.

Bioelectrochemical anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) systems allow eco-friendly removal of nitrogen from reject wastewater coming from biogas processing as the anammox bacteria have previously shown to have c-type cytochromes acting in the extracellular electron transport (EET) mechanism between the bacteria and electrode. The anammoxosome compartment present in anammox bacteria features a highly curved membrane and contains tubular structures along with electron-dense particles that contain iron, which could enhance the process of EET and enhance nitrogen removal by properly applied potentials. In this study, nitrogen removal was investigated in the electrostimulated anammox nitrogen removal (EANR) cells operated comparatively at open circuit and at applied potentials of - 300mV, - 500mV, and - 700mV vs. Ag/AgCl. At peak performance (at - 700mV vs. Ag/AgCl), the EANR showed up to 140% higher specific nitrogen removal rate (11.2 ± 0.3g N/m2/day) compared to the control reactors without applied potential (8.3 ± 0.2g N/m2/day). The microbial community on the cathode with the applied potential had a higher relative proportion of unclassified Candidatus Brocadia (7.5%) compared to inoculum (> 0.01%), in contrast to cathode without potential (0.74%) and control (0.2%). The EANR system demonstrated to achieve ammonium and nitrite removal efficiencies of 91% and 53%, respectively, during a 24-h test cycle from an initial TN concentration of ~ 100mg N/L. After 150h, it achieved complete removal of all nitrogen compounds, reaching a 100% removal efficiency. The EANR would be very useful in the establishment of field-scale bilateral anammox-bioelectrochemical technology combining microbial fuel cell bioanodes and EANR biocathodes for wastewater treatment.

Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Metallocene Polyalphaolefins (mPAO) Base Oil with Anti-Friction and Anti-Wear Properties

Anti-wear and anti-oxidation abilities are two key properties of lubricants that play a crucial role in ensuring long-term stable equipment operation. In this study, we aimed to develop a base oil with good anti-oxidation and anti-wear properties for use under extreme pressure. The as-prepared metallocene polyalphaolefin (mPAO) was chemically modified using the trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) catalysis through an alkylating reaction with triphenyl phosphorothioate (TPPT). During the experiments, when the reaction temperature exceeded 70 °C or the concentration of TfOH exceeded 2.67%, the β-scission reaction in the alkylation process became significantly more pronounced. The physical and chemical properties of TPPT-modified mPAO (T-mPAO) were evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier trans-form infrared spectroscopy, gel–permeation chromatography, and ASTM standards. T-mPAO showed significantly improved antioxidant capacity, with the initial oxidation temperature increasing by 32 °C compared to the base oil, and it exhibited the slowest increase in acid number in the 96-h oven oxidation test. The tribological tests showed that T-mPAO had the lowest friction coefficient, wear track, and wear rate (72.7% lower than that of mPAO) as well as the highest PB (238 kg) and PD (250 kg) among all tested samples. Compared to mPAO, the average friction coefficient of TPPT-modified mPAO in the four-ball friction test was reduced by 30.5%, and by 16.4% in the TE77 reciprocating friction test. Based on the experimental results, T-mPAO had strong anti-oxidation ability and excellent lubricating performance.The successful synthesis of multifunctional mPAO has enabled lubricant base oil additization, making it possible to use it in more demanding work scenarios, greatly broadening its application scope and making lubricant formulation blending more flexible.

A high-performance all-day vertical thermoelectric generator based on a double-sided reflective structure

Harvesting environmental energy sources is crucial for achieving renewable energy generation and net-zero emissions. However, ensuring uninterrupted electricity generation from environmental energy sources remains challenging. In this study, we present a simple, compact, and expandable all-day vertical passive thermoelectric generator (V-TEG) with a double-sided reflective structure that simultaneously harnesses solar and space cold energy. Outdoor experimental measurements, combined with finite element simulation analysis, revealed that the optimal angles of the solar reflector relative to the TEG range from 30° to 50°. Additionally, the TEG placed in the north–south orientation was found to enhance its daytime performance. The use of low-cost black paint combined with the solar reflector achieved equivalent spectral selectivity, effectively minimizing the infrared heat loss of the hot end of the TEG. During a 48-h outdoor test, the V-TEG achieved an average daytime power of 112.00 mW/m2 and a peak of 363.42 mW/m2. Comparative experiments demonstrated that the V-TEG outperformed horizontally placed TEG during the daytime. Furthermore, scaling the system by connecting three TEGs in series significantly increased the daily power output. This compact V- TEG system offers a promising solution for long-term power generation in low-power sensors and off-grid communities, supporting renewable energy and carbon neutrality goals.

The Clinical Symptoms and Psychological Status of Biofeedback Electrical Stimulation Combined with Pelvic Floor Muscle Training during the Treatment of Mild Stress Urinary Incontinence after Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

Introduction: To study the clinical symptoms and psychological status of biofeedback electrical stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle training during the treatment of mild stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Methods: Group A was treated by biofeedback and electrical stimulation; Group B was treated by pelvic floor muscle training; and Group C was treated by biofeedback and electrical stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle training. Patients in the 3 groups had follow-up evaluations every 8, 16, and 24 weeks. Clinical symptoms of urinary incontinence were assessed using the 24-h urinary pad test, the Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF); and psychological status was evaluated using the modified Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Results: The results of ICIQ-UI-SF showed that there were differences within and between the three groups at 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks (p < 0.05). The results of the 24-h pad tests were similar (p < 0.05), except for no difference between group B and group C at 8 weeks (p > 0.05). In the study with the score of HADS >35, the differences among the three groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the three groups at 0 and 8 weeks (p > 0.05). There were differences in the results between group C and the other two groups at 16 and 24 weeks of treatment (p < 0.05). For patients with HADS <35 at week 0, the results were basically the same except for the difference between groups at week 8. HADS of all patients were no statistical difference (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Biofeedback electrical stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle training is an efficient nonsurgical combination therapy for the symptoms of SUI after HoLEP for benign prostatic hyperplasia. In addition, the recovery of the patient’s psychological state does not coincide with the recovery of urinary incontinence; therefore, we propose that patients still need additional psychological treatment after SUI disappears.

Clinical efficacy of a rehabilitation management protocol for urinary incontinence after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the application of a rehabilitation management protocol for urinary incontinence after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 114 patients who underwent RALP between August 2021 and November 2021 as the control group and a prospective analysis of 114 patients who underwent RALP between May 2022 and August 2022 as the experimental group. The rehabilitation management protocol focused on preoperative stage, postoperative care, day of catheter removal, 1 month postoperative, 3 months postoperative, 6 months postoperative, and 12 months or more postoperative.ResultsThe 24-h pad test was significantly lower in the experimental group compared with the control group at 2 and 6 months after RALP (both P < 0.01). The scores of the international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICIQ-SF) in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1 month after RALP (P < 0.01).The scores of quality of life in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group at 1, 2, and 6 months after RALP (all P < 0.01).The scores of Broome Pelvic Muscle Self-efficacy Scale (BPMSES) were lower than those of the control group at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after RALP (all P < 0.01).ConclusionThe application of the rehabilitation management protocol had significant beneficial effects on urinary functions and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer after RALP.

Outcomes of the Victo™ adjustable artificial urinary sphincter in the treatment of male incontinence.

To report the clinical outcomes of the Victo™ (Promedon, Cordoba, Argentina) adjustable artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in a cohort of patients with severe urinary incontinence (UI) after prostate surgery. This study enrolled patients with UI following prostate surgery who underwent a Victo implantation between May 2018 and December 2023. Patients were prospectively evaluated at baseline, and at 3 and 12 months after device activation, and thereafter annually. The 24-h pad-weight test (24hPWT) was used to assess severity of UI, while the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) and patient satisfaction according to a Likert scale were used to measure patient-reported outcomes. A total of 96 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 68 (65-72) years were included in the final analysis. The median (IQR) follow-up was 3 (1-4) years. In all, 10 patients completed the 5-year follow-up. After the treatment, we observed a significant reduction in 24hPWT by the median of 83% (P < 0.001) at 3 months and by a median of 79% (P < 0.001) at 3 years. According to the PGI-I, a total of 87%, 92%, 87%, 81%, 83%, and 50% (five of 10) of patients rated their condition/incontinence as 'very much improved', 'much improved' or 'little improved' at 3 months, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year follow-up visits, respectively. The proportion of patients, who were 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the treatment outcome was 79%, 80%, 75%, 69%, 80%, and 60% (six of 10) at 3 months, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-years, respectively. There were a total of 13 (14%) device failures during the follow-up period. In conclusion, our data suggest that Victo AUS significantly reduces the severity of UI after prostate surgery and provides a reasonably high patient-reported satisfaction with treatment outcomes at mid-term follow-up.

Urine Protein to Creatinine Ratio for the Assessment of Bevacizumab-Associated Proteinuria in Patients with Gynecologic Cancers: A Diagnostic and Quality Improvement Study.

Proteinuria is a common adverse event arising from treatment with bevacizumab, requiring diagnostic testing via 24-h urine collection. However, this method is cumbersome. We assessed urine screenings in gynecologic cancer patients from February 2021 to May 2022. Along with a simple urine dipstick (UD), the urine microalbumin, total protein, and creatinine were measured and calculated as the urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) and the urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR), which were further adjusted through the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations to be estimated and correlated with 24-h urine total protein content. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was used for cost analysis. There were 129 urine samples from 36 patients. The sensitivity and specificity for the UACR were 0.56 and 0.97, and for the UPCR, 0.71 and 0.88, respectively. The 24-h TP correlated strongly with the UACR (r = 0.75; p < 0.001) and UPCR (r = 0.79; p < 0.001) and fair for the simple UD (r = 0.35; p < 0.001). The UPCR saves one unnecessary 24-h urine test for less than a dollar compared to a simple UD. The results indicate that using the UPCR could enhance diagnostic accuracy, lower costs, and reduce unnecessary 24-h urine sampling.

Nickel-cobalt alloy nanosheet-decorated three-dimensional titanium dioxide nanobelts electrodeposited on titanium meshes for boosting selective nitrate electroreduction to ammonia

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction presents a promising avenue for environmentally friendly ammonia (NH3) synthesis and wastewater treatment. An essential aspect to consider is the meticulous design of electrocatalysts. This study explores the utilization of a Ni-Co alloy nanosheet-decorated three-dimensional titanium dioxide (3D-TiO2) nanobelts electrodeposited on titanium meshes (NixCoy@TiO2/TM) for efficient electrocatalytic NH3 production. The optimized Ni1Co3@TiO2/TM electrode achieves a significant NH3 yield of 676.3 ± 27.1 umol h−1 cm−2 with an impressive Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 95.1 % ± 2.1 % in a 0.1 M KOH solution containing 0.1 M NO3− at −0.4 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. Additionally, the electrode demonstrates exceptional electrochemical activity for NH3 synthesis in simulated wastewater, delivering an outstanding NH3 yield of 751.6 ± 44.3 umol h−1 cm−2 with a FE of 96.8 % ± 0.4 % at the same potential of −0.4 V. Moreover, the electrode exhibits minimal variation in current density, NH3 yields and FEs throughout the 24-h stability test and the 20-cycle test, demonstrating its excellent stability and durability. This study offers a straightforward electrodeposited approach for the development of 3D-nanostructured alloys as catalysts for NH3 electrosynthesis from nitrates at room temperature.

Reasonable construction of low migration energy barrier and continuous proton transfer channels via bimetallic MOFs nanofibers (MIL-(Cr Al)–NH2) for its composite proton exchange membrane

Reasonable construction of low migration energy barrier and continuous proton transfer channel is the key to improving the performance of composite proton exchange membranes. In this paper, we prepared a novel bimetallic MOFs (MIL-(Cr Al)–NH2) nanofibers (MCANs) consisting of Cr and Al elements by electro-blown spinning method (EBS) and hydrothermal synthesis, and subsequently introduced them into non-fluorinated sulfonic acid polymer sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) matrix to obtain composite proton exchange membranes (MCANs@SPSF). Importantly, MCANs successfully constructed relatively long-range continuous unsaturated metal site proton transfer channels provided by the Cr-based MOFs, thereby reducing the proton migration energy barrier in the MCANs@SPSF, which confirmed by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. In detail, DFT studies indicated that the migration energy barrier between H+ and MCANs was 1.677 eV, while that of single Al-based MOF (MAN) and single Cr-based MOF (MCN) were 1.879 eV and 1.762 eV respectively. The existence of efficient low migration energy barrier and continuous proton transfer channels made the proton conduction efficiency of MCANs@SPSF greatly improved, that was under the condition of 80 °C and 100 % RH, the proton conductivity of MCANs@SPSF reached the maximum value of 0.358 S cm−1 and the power density reached 104 mW cm−2. Moreover, MCANs@SPSF-5 displayed best DMFC durability performance with only 14.65 % voltage loss under 24h test. In addition, due to the acid-base pair interaction between MCANs and SPSF enhanced the interface binding force between the two phases, meanwhile, the pore structure of MOFs also had a certain adsorption effect on methanol, thus reducing the methanol permeability, and the addition of 5 wt% MCANs in SPSF was tested to reduce the methanol permeability to 5.53 × 10-7 cm2 s−1. Overall, this work provided a new strategy for construction of low migration energy barrier and continuous proton transfer channels, which was beneficial for the development of high performance proton exchange membranes.

Acute and chronic effects of the antifouling booster biocide Irgarol 1051 on the water flea Moina macrocopa revealed by multi-biomarker determination

Irgarol 1051 is an herbicide extensively utilized in antifouling paint due to its ability to inhibit photosynthesis. Irgarol and its photodegradation products are highly persistent in waters and sediments, although they are present in low concentrations. However, our understanding of the harmful effects of Irgarol on non-target organisms remains limited. In this study, we assessed the effects of acute (24 h) and chronic (14 days across three generations) exposure to different concentrations (including the 1/10 NOEC, NOEC, and 1/10 LC50 calculated from the 24-h acute toxicity test) of Irgarol using the water flea Moina macrocopa. Acute exposure to 1/10 LC50 significantly decreased survival, feeding rate, thoracic limb activity, heart rate, and acetylcholinesterase activity. Elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, along with a significant increase in catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, suggested the induction of oxidative stress in response to 1/10 LC50. An initial boost in glutathione level and the enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, followed by a plunge, implies some compromise in the antioxidant defense system. Upon chronic exposure to the NOEC value, both generations F1 and F2 displayed a significant decrease in survival rate, body length, number of neonates per brood, and delayed sexual maturation, suggesting maternal transfer of potential damage through generations. Taken together, Irgarol induced acute toxicity through physiological and cholinergic damage, accompanied by the induction of oxidative stress, in the water flea. Even its sub-lethal concentrations can induce detrimental effects across generations when consistently exposed.

Silk sericin-coated polyamide thin-film composite membranes to simultaneously improve anti-scaling properties, long-term storage, and waste-to-resource recovery

A polyamide thin-film composite (PA-TFC) membrane, which is one of the widely used for desalination and water softening processes, features a lot of carboxyl groups inevitably formed by hydrolysis of unreacted acyl chlorides after interfacial polymerization. However, since carboxyl groups interact with multivalent cations and thereby cause membrane scaling, it is desirable to reduce the density of carboxyl groups on the membrane surface. In this regard, silk sericin (SS) can be an excellent alternative to modifying the surface characteristics to mitigate scaling because it has various hydrophilic amino acids with a much lower density of carboxyl groups per unit mass. Given the properties, we prepared anti-scaling TFC membranes by coating SS on the PA active layer. According to the result, the SS-PA-TFC (16.4% decrease) significantly reduced the flux decline to half of the PA-TFC (36.7% decrease) during the 48-h scaling test under the condition for heterogeneous gypsum crystal nucleation. More importantly, the comparison of operation duration until cleaning obviously revealed the anti-scaling properties of the SS-PA-TFC, which was evidenced by about 7.5 times longer duration than the PA-TFC. Furthermore, the cyclic scaling test in 19 mM CaSO4 showed that the SS-PA-TFC (3.6%) could decrease the irreversible fouling to about one-fifth of the PA-TFC (15.9%). This outstanding anti-scaling performance of the SS-PA-TFC stemmed from the less negatively charged (‐40.8 and ‐28.1 mV for the PA-TFC and SS-PA-TFC, respectively) and much more hydrophilic surface (52.2° and 18.2° for the contact angles of the PA-TFC and SS-PA-TFC, respectively). Suprisingly, the above-mentioned anti-scaling properties of the SS-PA-TFC membrane were achieved without the trade-off between water flux and salt rejection thanks to a very thin SS coating layer (ca. 16 nm). Apart from the anti-scaling properties, SS coating also improved long-term storage and waste-to-resource recovery.

Inducing oxygen vacancies using plasma etching to enhance the oxygen evolution reaction activity of the CoMn2O4 catalyst

Spinel-type AB2O4 material has considerable potential as an efficient electrocatalyst in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, developing spinel-type catalysts with higher catalytic activity still faces significant challenges. Herein, we reported an effective strategy to construct abundant oxygen vacancies into the CoMn2O4 (CMO) catalyst using plasma etching, and those oxygen vacancies were capable of enhancing the OER activity of the CMO catalyst. The results showed that the etched CMO catalyst possessed an overpotential of 367 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2, and the change overpotential of the etched CMO catalyst was only about half compared to that of the pristine CMO catalyst in a 24-h stability test. The charge transfer ability and reaction kinetic characteristic of the etched CMO catalyst were dramatically improved. Furthermore, the mechanism of oxygen vacancies inducing enhancement of the OER catalytic activity in CMO catalysts has also been elucidated. This work successfully used a defect engineering strategy for modifying the spinel-type catalyst to enhance its OER activity, thereby providing a new idea and method for developing more efficient OER catalysts.

Efficient selenate removal from impaired waters with TiO2-assisted electrocatalysis

Aquatic selenium (Se) oxyanions have profound ecosystem and human health impacts, necessitating their conversion and immobilization into elemental Se(0) to mitigate the aquatic Se pollution. While thermodynamically favorable, this transformation encounters kinetic limitations, especially for selenate (SeO42−) or Se(VI). To lower the activation barrier, we investigated the electrocatalytic Se(VI) transformation using five affordable catalysts on graphite cathodes, including TiO2, underpotentially deposited Cu (UPD Cu), underpotentially deposited Cd (UPD Cd), Co, and CuFe. Among these five catalysts, we identified characteristic Se(VI) reduction peaks for TiO2 through cyclic voltammetry. Other catalysts removed less than 5% of 1-mM Se(VI) in 24-h chronoamperometry tests while leaching ppm-level metal cations in the treated water. In contrast, TiO2 as the electrocatalyst could remove more than 80% of 1-mM Se(VI) with negligible catalyst dissolution. Mechanistic investigations revealed a six-electron Se(VI)/Se(0) reduction pathway at -0.30 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), resulting in red Se(0) deposits on the TiO2-coated graphite cathode. Further potential decrease to more negative than -0.45 V led to Se(-II) formation, triggering cathodic Se(0) dissolution and surface regeneration. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that Se(VI) reduction was optimal with a moderate TiO2 loading of 0.55 mg cm−2 and acidic environments (pH=1.0∼2.5), achieving an optimized removal of 88.7 ± 2.3% under -0.70 V and an energy input of 3.6 kWh kg−1 Se. These findings lay the foundation for efficient selenate removal from impaired waters. Future efforts should evaluate catalyst performance over time and refine electrode and reactor designs to improve efficiency.

Waste derived polysulphide coating on fly ash as fillers in plastic composite

Modifying fly ash (FA) for filler application can facilitate a cleaner, high volume and high value-application of FA. One of the major hurdles of utilizing unencapsulated FA as fillers is due to its hydrophilicity and tendency to leach out metals. The current study aims to develop a surface-modified FA (SuMo FA) as a suitable filler by coating it with a cross-linked polysulfide polymer from waste sulphur and oil derivatives. A Class F FA was coated with an in-house developed polysulfide polymer and was followed by a series of physicochemical analysis and 24-h batch leaching tests. This SuMo FA was compounded within PP and PE matrix and its thermo-mechanical properties were evaluated. The novel SuMo FA was ideal for filler application as it exhibited suitable spherical shape and size, hydrophobicity (contact angle ≅120°), and reduced leaching potential. Major contaminants (B, Cr, Pb, and Sr) in leachate of SuMo FA decreased by more than one order. Compounding the SuMo FA in polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) at 20 % (by weight) increased the onset temperature as compared to virgin polymers as well as filler-based polymers (with uncoated FA and CaCO3). Similarly, the SuMo FA filled polymers exhibited the best overall mechanical properties (under flexural and tensile loading) as well as notch impact strength. The Shore D hardness implies that SuMo FA filled polymers were almost identical to the conventionally used CaCO3 filled polymers. The leachate concentration of final PP composites with FA and SuMo FA fillers were lower than the regulatory limit for B, Ba, Cr and Sr. The developed filler material from the SuMo FA can potentially reduce dependence on relatively costly CaCO3 fillers in polymer production thus adhering to United Nation sustainable development goals (6 and 12).

Atypical presentation of Cushing's disease with weight loss and hypokalemia.

ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas causing Cushing's disease (CD) typically present with weight gain, whereas weight loss and hypokalemia in endogenous Cushing's patients are suggestive of ectopic ACTH production. We report a case of CD presenting with atypical features of marked weight loss and hypokalemia. A 75-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with a history of profound weight loss, associated with uncontrolled hypertension, hyperglycemia, severe proximal muscle weakness, and hypokalemia. Subsequent investigations, including 24-h urinary free cortisol, 48-h low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, MRI of the sella, and bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling, confirmed CD without any evidence of ectopic ACTH production. She became eucortisolemic with medical therapy of ketoconazole and cabergoline, subsequently regained her weight, and became normokalemic. This case illustrates that patients with CD may present with symptoms and biochemical findings that would otherwise suggest ectopic ACTH production. Patients with CD do not always present with classical clinical features and may present with symptoms and biochemical findings that would otherwise suggest ectopic ACTH production. While most patients with CD typically lose weight after biochemical remission, some patients gain weight after the normalization of cortisol levels. This case highlights the need to entertain a broad differential in patients presenting with hypokalemia and weight loss and the need to exclude hypercortisolemia.

Comparative evaluation of continence and potency after radical prostatectomy: Robotic vs. laparoscopic approaches, validating LAP-01 trial

BackgroundMinimally invasive techniques have demonstrated several advantages over the open approach. In the field of prostate cancer, the LAP-01 trial demonstrated the superiority of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) over laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) when comparing continence at 3-month after surgery, with no statistically significant differences at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. ObjectivesExternally validate the LAP-01 study and compare functional outcomes between the two minimally invasive approaches. Material and methodsThis retrospective study, conducted by a single surgeon (MRB), utilized data from a prospectively collected database, which included patients who underwent both RARP or LRP. Data regarding baseline characteristics, continence (assessed through the 24-h Pad test and ICIQ questionnaire) and potency were collected at multiple time points: 1 and 6 weeks after catheter removal, 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-surgery. ResultsThe study encompasses 601 patients, 455 who underwent LRP and 146 RARP. The median age at diagnosis was 64 for LRP and 62 for RARP, while the median PSA levels at diagnosis were 6.7 ng/mL for LRP and 6.5 ng/mL for RARP. Bilateral nerve-sparing procedures were performed in 34.07 % of LRP cases and 51.37 % of RARP cases.RARP exhibited a significant advantage over LRP both in continence and potency. Continence rates at 3-, 6- and 9-month after radical prostatectomy (RP) were 36.43 %, 61.86 % and 79.87 % for LRP, compared to 50.98 %, 69.87 % and 91.69 % for RARP. Potency rates at the same intervals were 0.90 %, 3.16 % and 6.39 % for LRP, and 6.19 %, 9.16 % and 18.96 % for RARP. These rates were more pronounced in patients with bilateral nerve-sparing. ConclusionOur study demonstrates that RARP results in significantly better continence recovery and superior potency outcomes throughout the entire follow-up period compared to LRP, even at the beginning of the robotic approach learning curve.

Left ventricular structure and function following renal sympathetic denervation in patients with HFpEF: an echocardiographic 9-year long-term follow-up.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiac remodeling and left ventricular hypertrophy, increasing cardiovascular risk and leading to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Since renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) reduces blood pressure in the long term, we aimed to investigate the long-term effect of RDN in patients with HFpEF in the present analysis. Patients previously enrolled in a local RDN registry who underwent high-frequency RDN with the use of the Symplicity Flex® renal denervation system between 2011 and 2014 were followed up. The patients were assessed by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement, transthoracic echocardiography, and laboratory tests. We used the echocardiographic and biomarker criteria of the Heart Failure Association (HFA)-PEFF (Pre-test assessment, Echocardiography and Natriuretic Peptide Score, Funkctional testing, and Final aetiology) score to identify patients with HFpEF. Echocardiographic assessment was available for 70 patients at a 9-year long-term follow-up. Of these patients, 21 had HFpEF according to the HFA-PEFF score. We found a significant reduction of the HFA-PEFF score from 5.48 ± 0.51 points at baseline to 4.33 ± 1.53 points at the 9-year follow-up (P < 0.01). This decrease was due to a greater reduction in morphological and biomarker subcategories [from 1.95 ± 0.22 to 1.43 ± 0.51 points (P < 0.01) and from 1.52 ± 0.52 to 0.90 ± 0.63 points (P < 0.01), respectively] than in the functional one. Morphologically, there was a reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial dilation. The present analysis suggests that RDN may lead to a regression of the extent of HFpEF beyond a reduction in blood pressure and thus possibly contribute to an improvement in prognosis. More detailed information will be provided by ongoing randomized sham-controlled trials.