Concentration Of Mixture Research Articles

Promotive Effects of Chloride and Sulfate on the Near-Complete Destruction of Perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) in Brine via Hydrogen-tuned 185-nm UV Photolysis: Mechanisms and Kinetics.

Hydrogen-tuned 185 nm vacuum ultraviolet (VUV/H2) photolysis is an emerging technology to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in brine. This study discovered the promotive effects of two major brine anions, i.e., chloride and sulfate in VUV/H2 photolysis on the hydrated electron (eaq-) generation and perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) destruction and established a kinetics model to elucidate the promotive effects on the steady-state concentration of eaq- ([eaq-]ss). Results showed that VUV/H2 achieved near-complete defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the presence of up to 1000 mM chloride or sulfate at pH 12. The defluorination rate constant (kdeF) of PFOA peaked with a chloride concentration at 100 mM and with a sulfate concentration at 500 mM. The promotive effects of chloride and sulfate were attributed to an enhanced generation of eaq- via their direct VUV photolysis and conversion of additionally generated hydroxyl radical to eaq- by H2, which was supported by a linear correlation between the predicted [eaq-]ss and experimentally observed kdeF. The kdeF value increased from pH 9 to 12, which was attributed to the speciation of the H·/eaq- pair. Furthermore, the VUV system achieved >95% defluorination and ≥99% parent compound degradation of a concentrated PFCAs mixture in a synthetic brine, without generating any toxic perchlorate or chlorate.

Cytotoxicity of pharmaceuticals and their mixtures toward scaffold-free 3D spheroid cultures of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

Pharmaceutical residues are widely detected in surface waters all around the world, causing a range of adverse effects on environmental species, such as fish. Besides population level effects (mortality, reproduction), pharmaceutical residues can bioaccumulate in fish tissues resulting in organ-specific toxicities. In this study, we developed in vitro 3D culture models for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver cell line (RTH-149) and cryopreserved, primary rainbow trout hepatocytes (RTHEP), and compared their spheroid formation and susceptibility to toxic impacts of pharmaceuticals. The rapidly proliferating, immortalized RTH-149 cells were shown to form compact spheroids with uniform morphology in just three days, thus enabling higher throughput toxicity screening compared with the primary cells that required acclimation times of about one week. In addition, we screened the cytotoxicity of a total of fourteen clinically used human pharmaceuticals toward the 3D cultures of both RTH-149 cells (metabolically inactive) and primary RTHEP cells (metabolically active), to evaluate the impacts of the pharmaceuticals’ own metabolism on their hepatotoxicity in rainbow trout in vitro. Among the test substances, the azole antifungals (clotrimazole and ketoconazole) were identified as the most cytotoxic, with hepatic metabolism indicatively amplifying their toxicity, followed by fluoxetine, levomepromazine, and sertraline, which were slightly less toxic toward the metabolically active primary cells than RTH-149 spheroids. Besides individual pharmaceuticals, the 3D cultures were challenged with mixtures of the eight most toxic substances, to evaluate if their combined mixture toxicities can be predicted based on individual substances’ half-maximal effect (EC50) concentrations. As a result, the classical concentration addition approach was concluded sufficiently accurate for preliminarily informing on the approximate effect concentrations of pharmaceutical mixtures on a cellular level. However, direct read-across from human data was proven challenging and inexplicit for prediction of hepatotoxicity in fish in vitro.

Co-ensiled rice straw with whole sugar beet and its effect on the performance of lactating cows

This study investigated the effect of co-ensiled rice straw (RS) with whole sugar beet (SB) on lactating cows’ performance. Ensiled rice straw (ERS) as control (CGS) was incorporated with immersed corn grains (CG) for 24 h, while the 2nd and 3rd ensiled RS (LSB and HSB) contained SB substituted of 50 and 100% of CG on an energy basis (total digestible nutrients, TDN), respectively. In the experimental diets, D1, D2, and D3, which include CGS, LSB, and HSB provided ad-libitum, respectively, while a concentrated feed mixture (2% of body weight) was offered. The population of lactic acid bacteria was slightly higher with fed HSB, relative to LSB and CGS. The OM, CP, EE, NFC, and TCH contents of CGS were slightly higher than LSB and HSB, while the opposite happened with the aNDFom, and ADFom contents. The digestibility of DM, OM, aNDFom, and ADFom of the D3 group was higher (P < 0.05) than in D1 and D2. The D3 recorded the highest values (P < 0.05) of silage consumption, and palatability. Milk production, fat-corrected milk (FCM), and energy-corrected milk (ECM) were (P < 0.05) higher for cows fed D3 compared with D1 and D2. Fat, protein, lactose, and total solids were trending on the same track. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of cows fed diet D3 was better than cows fed D1 diet. The level of glucose in the blood increased (P < 0.05) significantly with feeding on HSB than LSB, which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to CGS. In conclusion, co-ensiling of RS with the whole SB plant consider a good method to improve its nutritional value.

Utility of argon as a static charge and wall fouling suppressant in atmospheric gas-solid fluidized beds

This work aimed to study the usability of argon to mitigate electrostatic charging and fouling of polyethylene resin fluidized in a stainless-steel column. Nitrogen, argon, and their binary mixtures of various concentrations were utilized to fluidize polyethylene. Successive and intermittent fluidizations with argon and nitrogen were also carried out to explore the feasibility of using argon in commercial reactors. Fluidization with pure argon resulted in the lowest specific charge and substantially reduced the fouling by 90% relative to pure nitrogen. The results for the mixture trials showed a decreasing non-linear trend as the concentration of argon increased. Even presence of 10 vol% argon in the mixture reduced the wall fouling by 50%. Successive and intermittent fluidization also yielded fouling and specific charge values comparable to pure argon. The results are attributed to argon's relatively low dielectric strength and subsequent localized gas discharge within the particle-dense section of the bed.

Simultaneous Reconstruction of Gas Concentration and Temperature Using Acoustic Tomography.

Acoustic tomography utilizes sensor arrays to collect sound wave signals, enabling non-contact measurement of physical parameters within an area of interest. Compared to optical technologies, acoustic tomography offers the advantages of low cost, low maintenance, and easy installation. Current research in acoustic tomography mainly focuses on reconstruction algorithms for temperature fields, while monitoring the composition and concentration of gases is significant for ensuring safety and improving efficiency, such as in scenarios like boiler furnaces and aviation engine nozzles. In excitable gases, the speed of sound exhibits an S-shaped curve that changes with frequency, a characteristic that could be potentially useful for acoustic tomography. Therefore, this study primarily discusses the quantitative calculation of gas concentration and temperature based on the dispersion of the speed of sound. By employing graphic processing and pattern matching methods, a coupled relationship of the dispersion of the speed of sound with gas concentration and temperature is established. The projection intersection method is used to calculate the concentration and temperature of binary and ternary gas mixtures. Combined with the inversion method, a joint reconstruction method for gas concentration fields and temperature fields based on the dispersion of the speed of sound is developed. The feasibility of the proposed simultaneous reconstruction method for temperature and concentration fields is validated using numerical simulations. Additionally, an acoustic tomography experimental system was set up to conduct reconstruction experiments for binary gas concentration fields and temperature fields, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Integrated Membrane Process in Organic Media: Combining Organic Solvent Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis to Purify and Concentrate the Phenolic Compounds from Wet Olive Pomace.

Phenolic compounds from a hydroalcoholic extract of wet olive pomace were purified and concentrated by an integrated membrane process in organic media. First, UF010104 (Solsep BV) and UP005 (Microdyn Nadir) membranes were tested to be implemented in the ultrafiltration stage, with the aim of purifying the extract and obtaining a permeate enriched in phenolic compounds. Despite the high flux observed with the UF010104 membrane (20.4 ± 0.7 L·h-1·m-2, at 2 bar), the UP005 membrane was selected because of a more suitable selectivity. Even though some secoiridoids were rejected, the permeate stream obtained with this membrane contained high concentrations of valuable simple phenols and phenolic acids, whereas sugars and macromolecules were retained. Then, the ultrafiltration permeate was subjected to a nanofiltration step employing an NF270 membrane (DuPont) for a further purification and fractionation of the phenolic compounds. The permeate flux was 50.2 ± 0.2 L·h-1·m-2, working at 15 bar. Hydroxytyrosol and some phenolic acids (such as vanillic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid) were recovered in the permeate, which was later concentrated by reverse osmosis employing an NF90 membrane. The permeate flux obtained with this membrane was 15.3 ± 0.3 L·h-1·m-2. The concentrated phenolic mixture that was obtained may have important applications as a powerful antioxidant and for the prevention of diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

Bioassay predictive values for chemical health risks in drinking water

Bioanalytical tools can be used for assessment of the chemical quality of drinking water and its sources. For water managers it is important to know the probability that a bioassay response above an established health-based ‘effect-based trigger value’ (EBT) indeed implies a harmful chemical (mixture) concentration. This study presents and applies a framework, based on Bayes’ theorem, to derive such risk probabilities for bioassay responses. These were evaluated under varying (in silico) chemical mixture concentrations relevant to drinking water (sources), with toxicity data for six in vitro assays from the ToxCast database. For single chemicals and in silico mixtures, the negative predictive value (NPV) was 100 % for all assays. For water managers, this means that when a bioassay response is below the EBT, a chemical risk is reliably absent, and no further action is required. The positive predictive value (PPV) increased with increasing chemical concentrations (2 µg/L) up to 40–80 %, depending on the assay. For in silico mixtures of increasing numbers of chemicals, the PPV did not increase until higher sum concentrations (>2–10 µg/L). Hence, the ability to accurately signal a harmful chemical (mixture) using bioassays will be lowest for highly diverse, low-concentration chemical mixtures. For water managers, this means in practice that further investigations after an EBT exceedance will, in many cases, not reveal chemicals at harmful concentrations. A solution offered is to increase the trigger value for positive responses to achieve a higher PPV and maintain the EBT for negative responses to ensure an optimal NPV.

A novel method for quantitative determination of multiple substances using Raman spectroscopy combined with CWT

The identification of mixed solutions is a challenging and important subject in chemical analysis. In this paper, we propose a novel workflow that enables rapid qualitative and quantitative detection of mixed solutions. We use a methanol-ethanol mixed solution as an example to demonstrate the superiority of this workflow. The workflow includes the following steps: (1) converting Raman spectra into Raman images through CWT; (2) using MobileNetV3 as the backbone network, improved multi-label and multi-channel synchronization enables simultaneous prediction of multiple mixture concentrations; and (3) using transfer learning and multi-stage training strategies for training to achieve accurate quantitative analysis. We compare six traditional machine learning algorithms and two deep learning models to evaluate the performance of our new method. The experimental results show that our model has achieved good prediction results when predicting the concentration of methanol and ethanol, and the coefficient of determination R2 is greater than 0.999. At different concentrations, both MAPE and RSD outperform other models, which demonstrates that our workflow has outstanding analytical capabilities. Importantly, we have solved the problem that current quantitative analysis algorithms for Raman spectroscopy are almost unable to accurately predict the concentration of multiple substances simultaneously. In conclusion, it is foreseeable that this non-destructive, automated, and highly accurate workflow can further advance Raman spectroscopy.

Catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to hydrocarbon fuels in a potassium ion-conducting reactor

The electrochemically assisted CO2 hydrogenation directly to hydrocarbon fuels was studied, apparently for the first time, over a cheap, widespread and non-precious Fe catalyst in a potassium ion conducting (K-β-Al2O3) reactor, under atmospheric pressure, at relatively low temperatures and using representative concentrated CO2 and H2 gas mixtures and an easily scalable tubular catalyst-electrode configuration. The Fe electrocatalytic film was deposited by dip-coating on a commercial K-β-Al2O3 candle and characterized, both as prepared and after activation and testing, by TPR, TGA, XPS, XRD and SEM-EDX. The optimum operating conditions for both Fe activation (300 ºC, 75% H2, 24 hours) and electropromoted CO2 hydrogenation (300 ºC, 1.5 V, H2/CO2=3) were identified. Long-term tests on electrochemically promoted CO2 hydrogenation to hydrocarbons were performed under selected operating conditions to assess electrocatalyst stability. Both the selectivity to the target product (C5+ hydrocarbons) and the stability of the catalyst can be tuned in situ by modifying the potassium surface coverage via electrochemical pumping of potassium ions through the applied polarization. Finally, as an attempt to improve the catalyst-electrode behaviour, powdered catalysts, based on iron nanoparticles dispersed on KVO3 (a K+ and e- co-conductor) with different Fe loadings (17 and 9 wt%) were prepared and comparatively studied for CO2 hydrogenation to hydrocarbons. The catalyst with higher Fe loading was selected as the most promising, in terms of activity, selectivity and stability, for further catalyst-electrode optimisation by deposition, via dip-coating, of a Fe-KVO3 film on the K-β-Al2O3 candle.

Machining Performance Analysis of Ti6-Al-4V in Powder-Mixed EDM Using Green Dielectric Oil

In this investigation, the factors were oil type ([Formula: see text]), powder type ([Formula: see text]), and powder concentration ([Formula: see text]) level, and the machining parameters were the voltage (V), capacitance (pf), pulse-on time ([Formula: see text]), and pulse-off time ([Formula: see text]). The output parameters were the material removal rate (MRR), and tool wear rate (TWR). Three types of oils and powders, along with their respective particle concentrations, were selected for this experiment. Neem, Karanja, and sesame oils were mixed with aluminum oxide (Al2O3), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) powder at 4, 6, and 8[Formula: see text]gm/l, respectively, using an overhead stirrer to investigate the conditions under which the green oil powder mixed mixture yielded a higher MRR and lower TWR during the micro-EDM process of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) using a 0.8[Formula: see text]mm tungsten carbide (WC) tool with fixed machining parameters (240[Formula: see text]V, 100[Formula: see text]pf, 20[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s [Formula: see text], and 5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s [Formula: see text]). All the powders used in this experiment had a 32-micron (450 mesh) size. The Taguchi L[Formula: see text] orthogonal array and grey relational analysis methods were used to design and optimize the input process parameters for both responses. SEM, optical microscopic analysis, and EDS analysis were performed to examine the surface morphology, characteristics of the WC tool, and elemental composition of both the tool and the workpiece material. The optimum conditions for Karanja oil with a Cr powder mixture concentration of 4[Formula: see text]g/l resulted in higher MRR and lower TWR. However, machining with neem and sesame oils resulted in higher TWR and lower MRR.

Integrated approaches for Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management: insights from laboratory studies with entomopathogenic nematodes and insecticides.

In agricultural pest management, especially in combatting the invasive red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta), significant challenges emerge as a consequence of the constraints of solely depending on chemical insecticides or entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The utilization of chemical insecticides carries environmental and ecological hazards, whereas EPNs, when applied independently, might not offer the immediate effectiveness necessary for adequate RIFA suppression. Acknowledging these hurdles, our study investigates a synergistic method that integrates EPNs with chemical insecticides, aiming to fulfill the urgent demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly pest control solutions. Our evaluation focused on the interaction between the highly pathogenic Steinernema riobrave 7-12 EPN strain and prevalent insecticides, specifically beta-cypermethrin and a mixture of bifenthrin and clothianidin, applied at highly diluted recommended concentrations. The findings revealed a notable increase in RIFA mortality rates when EPNs and these insecticides were used together, outperforming the results achieved with each method individually. Remarkably, this enhanced efficacy was especially evident at lower concentrations of the bifenthrin-clothianidin mixture, indicating a valuable approach to minimizing reliance on chemical insecticides in agriculture. Furthermore, the high survival rates of EPNs alongside the tested insecticides indicate their compatibility and potential for sustained use in integrated pest management programs. Our research underscores the effectiveness of merging EPNs with chemical insecticides as a powerful and sustainable strategy for RIFA management. This combined approach not only meets the immediate challenges of pest control in agricultural settings, but also supports wider environmental objectives by reducing the dependency on chemical insecticides. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

NUMERICAL JUSTIFICATION OF THE LABORATORY TECHNIQUE FOR TESTING OF FIRE-EXTINGUISHING POWDERS

Improvement of firefighting means and methods for measuring their effectiveness are important tasks in the field of fire safety. The paper presents the results of experimental measurements of the minimum extinguishing concentration of powder mixtures that can be applied as effective explosion-suppressing barriers. Measurements of the minimum extinguishing concentration of the investigated powders were carried out using a laboratory method with their pulsed delivery to a microfire of class B using compressed air. In order to justify and assess possible errors of the mentioned laboratory method for measuring extinguishing efficiency, numerical 3D modeling of the interaction of a multiphase flow with a model combustion focus was performed. The analysis of the numerical modeling results has shown that, for the applied laboratory method, almost the entire portion of the investigated powder enters the combustion zone. Additionally, the numerical calculations indicate that under the specified experimental conditions, the particle size of the powder has no noticeable effect on their loss into the surrounding flame space. Thus, these results justified the use of the mentioned laboratory method for he comparative evaluation of fire-extinguishing powders with a wide range of dispersity. The application of this laboratory method for assessing the effectiveness of the fire-extinguishing powder allowed for the development of an optimal powder composition for explosion suppression, incorporating inert mineral particles as the main component and an additive of a chemically active potassium-containing combustion inhibitor.

Sample-to-answer salivary miRNA testing: New frontiers in point-of-care diagnostic technologies.

MicroRNA (miRNA), crucial non-coding RNAs, have emerged as key biomarkers in molecular diagnostics, prognosis, and personalized medicine due to their significant role in gene expression regulation. Salivary miRNA, in particular, stands out for its non-invasive collection method and ease of accessibility, offering promising avenues for the development of point-of-care diagnostics for a spectrum of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. Such development promises rapid and precise diagnosis, enabling timely treatment. Despite significant advancements in salivary miRNA-based testing, challenges persist in the quantification, multiplexing, sensitivity, and specificity, particularly for miRNA at low concentrations in complex biological mixtures. This work delves into these challenges, focusing on the development and application of salivary miRNA tests for point-of-care use. We explore the biogenesis of salivary miRNA and analyze their quantitative expression and their disease relevance in cancer, infection, and neurodegenerative disorders. We also examined recent progress in miRNA extraction, amplification, and multiplexed detection methods. This study offers a comprehensive view of the development of salivary miRNA-based point-of-care testing (POCT). Its successful advancement could revolutionize the early detection, monitoring, and management of various conditions, enhancing healthcare outcomes. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices.

Sulphide stress corrosion in SAE 1070 steel wire used in the tensile armour of flexible pipelines: Effect of induced superficial defects

This research aims to investigate and quantify potential damage resulting from induced superficial defects on the surface of wires use on tensile armor of flexible pipes. Different values of kt factors and H2S concentration in aggressive gas mixtures with CO2, were analysed to determine the operational conditions that do not result in rupture of the tensile reinforcement during service, under the conditions studied. The tests were based on NACE TM0316 standard, using a 4-point bend test. Two superficial notches were created, which generated known stress concentration factor Kt values of 1.5 and 2.0, and three gaseous concentrations (220, 700, and 1100 ppm of H2S in CO2) were used. After bending tests, the samples were evaluated by metallographic and fractographic analysis, weight loss and liquid penetrant inspection. The results were then analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Only the samples exposed to 220 ppm of H2S in CO2 did not rupture at both Kt values. However, for the Kt value of 2.0, cracks were observed in the longitudinal direction of the wires, originating from the machined notch. Additionally, the samples exposed to 700 ppm and 1100 ppm of H2S had a significantly higher damage score (approximately 15x) than the samples exposed to 220 ppm, regardless of the Kt value.

Numerical simulation of fingering in the underground hydrogen storage

Underground hydrogen storage has garnered interest in recent years owing to the considerable demand for clean energy. Hydrogen is more diffusive than air and has relatively low density and viscosity. These unique properties induce distinct hydrodynamic phenomena during hydrogen storage. Cushion gas has been proven to be a potential remedy for attenuating the adverse impacts of underground hydrogen storage. To investigate the influence of the cushion gas, a microscopic numerical simulation was performed with Fluent software using the Eulerian multi-fluid model. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and methane are usually used as the preferred candidates for cushion gases in underground hydrogen storage systems. In this study, nitrogen was used as the cushion gas and was injected along with hydrogen into heterogeneous porous media with volume fractions ranging from 0% to 70%. A parameterization study was then performed to elucidate the influences of the injection rate and viscosity of the fluid on the fingering pattern. Two representative types of fingering, viscous fingering and capillary fingering, were observed under different gas mixtures and boundary conditions. After the simulation, an image analysis was performed to capture the evolution of the fingering pattern. The specific fingering area, number of branches, and fractal dimensions are proposed as geometric indices to describe the shape of the fingering pattern. The results showed that there was a remarkable enhancement in saturation due to the injection of the cushion gas, depending on the concentration of the gas mixture. This study offers insight on the design of gas mixture injection in underground hydrogen storage and can be further extended to the hydrochemo–mechanical coupled numerical simulation of multiphase gas injection in porous media.

Improvement of Flow Properties of Highly Waxy Crude Oil with the application of SiO2 and Graphene Oxide nanoparticles aided by Light Crude Oil

The rheological behaviour of crude oil mixtures comprising both heavy and light components along with chemical additives is of significant interest due to its relevance in the petroleum industry. Understanding the flow properties of these mixtures is crucial for efficient transportation, processing, and refining operations. This study investigates the effectiveness of incorporating light crude oil and nanoparticles as additives to mitigate wax-related flow issues. The test involves six different waxy/heavy and light crude oil mixture concentrations along with Graphene Oxide and Silicon Dioxide nanoparticles. Rheological tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of these additives on the flow behaviour of waxy crude oil. The rheological characterization involved measuring the viscosity, yield stress, and shear rate dependencies of waxy crude oil samples with varying concentrations of light crude oil and nanoparticles. Nano-materials have emerged as promising candidates for mitigating wax deposition issues and enhancing the fluidity of crude oil. Nevertheless, the intricate nature of crude oil has made it challenging to elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing wax resolution, crystal modification, and flow improvement. The results revealed notable improvements in the rheological properties of the treated crude oil, including reduced viscosity and enhanced flowability, even at low temperatures. The incorporation of light crude oil and nanoparticles proved to be a promising strategy for modifying the rheological behaviour of waxy crude oil, ensuring improved flow assurance. This study contributes to understanding innovative approaches to address flow challenges in waxy crude oil systems, thereby offering potential solutions for the oil and gas industry.

Efficient Anthocyanin Recovery from Black Bean Hulls Using Eutectic Mixtures: A Sustainable Approach for Natural Dye Development.

There is a growing interest in exploring new natural sources of colorants. This study aimed to extract anthocyanins from broken black bean hulls (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by modifying water with a eutectic mixture (choline chloride:citric acid (ChCl:Ca)). Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was employed and optimized in terms of temperature (30-70 °C), ultrasound power (150-450 W), and eutectic mixture concentration in water (1-9% (w/v)), resulting in an optimal condition of 66 °C, 420 W, and 8.2% (w/v), respectively. The main quantified anthocyanins were delphinidin-3-O-glycoside, petunidin-3-O-glycoside, and malvidin-3-O-glycoside. The half-life of the anthocyanins at 60 °C increased twelvefold in the eutectic mixture extract compared to the control, and when exposed to light, the half-life was 10 times longer, indicating greater resistance of anthocyanins in the extracted eutectic mixture. Additionally, the extracts were concentrated through centrifuge-assisted cryoconcentration, with the initial cycle almost double the extract value, making this result more favorable regarding green metrics. The first concentration cycle, which showed vibrant colors of anthocyanins, was selected to analyze the color change at different pH levels. In general, the technology that uses eutectic mixtures as water modifiers followed by cryoconcentration proved to be efficient for use as indicators in packaging, both in quantity and quality of anthocyanins.

Enhanced Durability and Antireflective Performance of Ag-Based Transparent Conductors Achieved via Controlled N-Doping.

Ag-based transparent conductors (TCs) are often proposed as an alternative to ITO coatings. However, while their performance has been widely demonstrated, their environmental durability is frequently overlooked or addressed with the use of highly specific encapsulating layers. In this work, the durability and antireflective performance of Ag-based TCs are simultaneously enhanced. To do so, a transfer matrix modeling approach is used to determine the general requirements for high performance antireflective properties as a function of Ag thickness and dielectric refractive indices, offering more widely applicable insight into stack optimization. Coating durability is investigated as a function of the Ag microstructure, which is modified by altering the N2 concentration used for doping of the Ag layer and the selection of the seed layer. Increasing N2 concentration during Ag deposition was found to decrease grain size and durability of Ag coatings deposited on Si3N4 whereas all coatings on ZnO(Al) showed higher stability. Significantly higher durability is found when specifically combining intermediate N2 concentrations in the sputtering gas mixture (Ag(N):5%, compared to 0% and 50%) and a ZnO(Al) seed layer, and a mechanism accounting for this increased durability is proposed. The addition of NiCrNx protective coatings increases the system durability without altering these trends. These findings are combined to fabricate a highly performant Ag-based TC (TV = 89.2%, RVFS = 0.23%, 21.4 Ω), which shows minimal property changes following corrosion testing by immersion in a heated and highly concentrated aqueous NaCl solution (200 g/L, 50 °C).

Dietary multi-strains Bacillus spp. enhanced growth performance, blood metabolites, digestive tissues histology, gene expression of Oreochromis niloticus, and resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection

The present study tested the symbiotic effects of dietary multi-strain Bacillus probiotics (MSB) (Bacillus licheniformis, B. pumilus, and B. subtilis) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to Aspergillus flavus infection. Furthermore, this study investigated water quality, growth performance, blood metabolites, histological morphology, immune regulatory genes, and resistance to A. flavus infection. For 70 days, fish (n = 240) were divided into four groups in triplicate: T0 (control group; MSB0), T1 (1 g/kg, MSB1), T2 (2 g/kg, MSB2), and T3 (3 g/kg, MSB3). The immune response was then assessed by challenging all fish groups with the A. flavus pathogen. The results showed that the rearing water quality, fish growth, and blood parameters, as well as total proteins, albumin, globulins, and amylase activity were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in all MSB-treated groups with the best results in MSB2 and MSB3 groups. Meanwhile, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, and glucose levels were significantly (P < 0.05) modulated, particularly at higher concentrations of the probiotic mixture (MSB3 group). Fish fed with various levels of MSB showed a maintained histological structure of the hepatopancreas, intestine, and spleen tissues. The mRNA expression of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGF-1R), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were increased in a dose-dependent manner due to MSB dietary inclusion (P < 0.05). Conversely, the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) gene was significantly decreased in MSB groups compared to untreated group (P < 0.05). Surprisingly, supplemented groups in Bacillus spp. probiotics exhibited significant modulations in all computed parameters. MSB supplementation improved the pathogenic tolerance of tilapia after change with A. flavus. The integration of growth performance, biochemical, and transcriptomic results confirms that the dietary intervention of multi-strain Bacillus spp. is symbiotic and enhances the benefits for the maintenance of O. niloticus’ health, growth, and digestion. This is achieved by supporting growth genes, reducing inflammatory genes, and enhancing immune-antioxidant resistance to combat A. flavus infection.

Solubility and degradability of feed protein and the effectiveness of use of nitrogen in rations when feeding cows during the period of increasing the milk yield

Protein solubility significantly affects the efficiency of nitrogen absorption by ruminants. Easily soluble proteins are intensively converted into microbial protein in the forestomach, and less soluble proteins pass to the small intestine where they are digested. For highly productive animals, rations should be created that contain both easily soluble (60 %) and poorly soluble proteins (40 %). The purpose of the research was to study the solubility and degradability of feed protein and the effi ciency of using nitrogen in rations when feeding cows during the period of increasing the milk yield. Under the conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals the effi ciency of milking of cows was studied and a scientifi c basis was given for rations for holsteinized Black-and-White cattle with a daily milk yield of 20–25 kg based on traditional bulk feeds and concentrated mixtures enriched with locally produced rubsen presscake. In green feed, hay, silage, haylage, straw and concentrates, the solubility, degradability and amino acid composition of protein have been established. Comparing the tabulated data on the amino acid composition of the rubsen presscake protein and the data of our research we observed a diff erence in lysine (by 4,66 %), arginine (by 3,3 %), histidine (by 0,75 %) in favor of the rubsen presscake prepared under the conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals. Higher milk yields for the fi rst 100 days as well as for the entire lactation were obtained from the cows of the experimental group, whose ration included a concentrated mixture prepared on the basis of oats, wheat, and rubsen presscake. Thus, in the fi rst 100 days of lactation, 6,27 % more milk was obtained from animals in the experimental group than from cows of the same age in the control group, and in 305 days of lactation by 7,06 % more.