Consecutive Experiments Research Articles

Relative permeability evolution with thermo-poromechanical process during N2 and scCO2 injection in brine saturated Deadwood sandstone from Aquistore

This study delves into the intrinsic and multiphase flow properties, specifically steady-state drainage relative permeability, of a subsurface Deadwood sandstone from the Aquistore CO2 storage site in Canada. Consecutive core-flooding experiments were conducted utilizing N2- and scCO2-brine pairs across a broad range of temperatures (20–70 °C) and isotropic effective stress (0–30 MPa). Moreover, we monitored crack initiation and propagation of the sandstone during uniaxial loading at an elevated temperature using an integrated approach that combines microCT scanning with an in-situ heating/loading test. Our findings reveal a 54 % decrease and a 3 % increase in the absolute permeability of the sandstone through isothermal compaction followed by thermal expansion processes, respectively. Elevating the temperature from 20 °C to 70 °C results in a systematic 24 % increase in irreducible brine saturation and nearly doubles the end-point N2 mobility, indicating an increased tendency of the rock surface towards the brine phase with temperature. Substituting N2 with scCO2 demonstrates a leftward shift in relative permeability and a decrease in irreducible brine saturation (from 0.36 to 0.31), consistent with low interfacial tension and the de-wetting effect during cyclic scCO2-brine injections. Micro-CT image analysis reveals micro-crack initiation at 10 MPa stress and 70 °C temperature, suggesting that a mixed impact of induced cracks, dynamic wettability, and thermo-mechanical deformation is responsible for the substantial increase in well injectivity over time in Aquistore. This novel experimental program provides indispensable insight into thermo-poromechanical and wettability controls on multiphase flow at the Aquistore injection site in Canada, with potential applicability to similar scenarios globally.

Optimized ridge-furrow technology with biochar amendment for alfalfa yield enhancement and soil erosion reduction based on a structural equation model on sloping land

Water scarcity and water-related soil erosion are severely exacerbated by inappropriate human activities and global climate change. Hence, to find a suitable technology to mitigate drought and soil erosion, three consecutive field experiments were conducted to explore the impact of ridge-furrow cropping with biochar amendment on soil water storage, runoff, sediment yield, soil nutrient losses, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) fodder yield, crop water productivity (WPc), and economic benefit from 2019 to 2021. This experiment was conducted in a split-plot design, taking biochar amendment patterns (no biochar amendment and biochar amendment at a rate of 3× 104 kg ha−1) as a main plot and ridge-furrow technologies (traditional planting, open-ridging, and tied-ridging) as a split-plot. The combination of biochar amendment with ridge-furrow technology, especially tied-ridging technology, increased soil water storage, and captured runoff, sediment, and related soil nutrient losses, consequently increasing alfalfa fodder yield, WPc, and income. During this study, compared to traditional planting, open-ridging depicted an increase in soil water storage by a range of 9.8–39.6 mm, an alfalfa fodder yield boost ranging from 9.8% to 38.6%, and a WPc increase ranging from 0.1 to 16.5 kg ha−1 mm−1. On the other hand, tied-ridging showed greater improvements with soil water storage increasing by 29.1–65.1 mm, alfalfa fodder yield growing by 11.6–44.4%, and WPc advancing by 0.9–17.5 kg ha−1 mm−1. The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss for open-ridging was 17.9%-37.7%, 46.4%-75.5%, and 40.4%-75.3%, respectively, while for tied-ridging, it was 22.3%-55.5%, 62.1%-87.6%, and 49.0%-87.3%, respectively. Compared to no biochar amendment, soil water storage, alfalfa fodder yield, and WPc for biochar amendment increased by 9.1%-20.4%, 5.8%-52.7%, and 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively, while runoff, sediment, and nutrients loss for biochar amendment decreased by 32.2%-40.9%, 25.5%-55.5%, and 35.9%-53.3%, respectively. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that the significant direct effect of biochar amendment and ridge-furrow technology on WPc was 0.20 and 0.62, respectively, whereas the significant direct effect of runoff and actual crop evapotranspiration on alfalfa fodder yield was −0.40 and 0.94, respectively. Tied-ridge cropping combined with biochar addition was a highly suggested approach for addressing soil erosion and enhancing alfalfa fodder yields in the Loess Plateau in China. This technology could mitigate soil water scarcity and soil erosion, and give farmers the confidence to invest in this technology in dryland regions.

Efficient bimetallic activation of sulfite by CoFe-LDH for bisphenol A removal: Critical role of Co/Fe ratio on ROS generation

The sulfite (S(IV))-based advanced oxidation process is an emerging approach for the treatment of phenolic pollution. In this study, CoFe-layered double hydroxides (CoFe-LDHs), showing superior physicochemical properties as catalysts, were applied to activate S(IV) for bisphenol A (BPA) degradation. The results show that the Co/Fe molar ratios play a crucial role in regulating the physicochemical properties, degradation capacity, and activation mechanism of the catalysts, with Co3Fe1-LDH exhibiting the best performance in BPA degradation. The degradation of BPA is significantly influenced by pH and dissolved oxygen, and proceeds through bimetallic synergism and both radical and non-radical pathways. However, with increasing Co/Fe ratio, SO4•− gradually assumes a more prominent role in degradation by the system, and the contributions from high-valent metals and HO• gradually diminish. Additionally, the system brought about a substantial reduction in toxicity after degradation, and the catalyst demonstrated promise in consecutive recycling experiments, the degradation of other organics, and tests in actual water bodies.

Adapting Methods For Bed Level Assessment In And Around Submerged Vegetation

Coastal vegetation has the capacity to reduce flow and orbital velocities near the bed and stabilize the sediment with its root network. As a result it has an effect on sediment dynamics which gains increasing attention as ecosystem service in coastal protection. To quantify and predict this ecosystem service, laboratory experiments with live or artificial vegetation are often conducted. During these experiments the assessment of bed level change is challenged by the presence of the vegetation. Standard optical and acoustic measurement techniques cannot obtain data below vegetation canopies. Especially for submerged flexible vegetation like seagrass, this challenge is aggravated for airborne methods that require flume drainage (e.g. terrestrial laser scanning) (Follett and Nepf, 2012). Flexible blades will spread on the ground during drainage, potentially covering meadow edges and thus excluding areas of interest from the bed level analysis. Moreover, live aquatic vegetation may be stressed by air exposure, if the facility is drained for bed level measurements. This potentially leads to different, non-natural behaviour in consecutive experiments. And finally, draining and refilling the facility is time consuming, especially as it needs to be done very carefully as not to disturb any generated bedforms. This time aspect hampers the collection of time series and thus the assessment of the development of bed level changes with airborne methods. Underwater technology like sonar and echo sounder avoid shading of areas by spread-out vegetation, but are equally not capable of obtaining data below vegetation canopies. Moreover, instruments that can obtain spatially resolved data underwater often require a minimum water depth which may exceed the water depth relevant for experiments with vegetation. In intertidal areas (e.g. salt marshes) the challenge of obtaining bed level data below vegetation canopies is overcome by the use of a sediment-erosion-bar (SEB) (Cahoon et al., 2002). For this method a horizontal bar is installed at a fixed height above the ground and the distance between this bar and the ground is measured at defined locations along the bar and set time intervals to obtain information on the bed level change. SEBs have successfully been adapted to laboratory settings in the past (Spencer et al., 2016), but still required flume drainage. We applied this method in an undrained flume to assess sediment dynamics in and around an artificial seagrass meadow. Additionally, we tested underwater photogrammetry to obtain 3D-spatial information (e.g., 3D models) on bed level and bedforms at and near the vegetation edges. Photogrammetry has been successfully applied to obtain bedform information in the presence of seagrass stands, but to date still required the drainage of the facility (Meysick et al., 2022).

Identification of potential morpho-biochemical determinants conferring salt tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through seedling- and -reproductive stage phenotyping

To optimize a reproductive-stage-specific phenotyping protocol and isolate potential determinants conferring salinity tolerance in wheat, two consecutive experiments were conducted using salt-tolerant varieties (Binagom-1 and BARI Gom 25) and a sensitive variety (BARI Gom 20). In the first experiment, seedlings were grown hydroponically, and 14-day-old seedlings were subjected to two different levels of salt stress (EC=12 dS/m and 16 dS/m) for 7 days. Based on the results of tolerant and susceptible varieties, parameters such as root and shoot weight, shoot Na+/K+ ratio, chlorophyll content, proline content, methylglyoxal content, H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation content and the activities of enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and glyoxalase I were considered as potential determinants of salt tolerance. The second experiment employed four leaf cutting treatments under both control and salinity stress conditions. Seedlings were grown in perforated pots filled with field soil, and at the heading stage, plants were subjected to salt stress (12 dS/m) after trimming as indicated. The combined analysis of control and salt stress data obtained from setup B reflected a significant decrease in yield and yield-attributing traits; however, a lesser decrease was observed in tolerant varieties. Correlation studies revealed that grain yield per spike exhibited a significant positive correlation with the number of seeds per spike, spike weight, plant height, and days to first flowering under both stress and control conditions. Additionally, different stress tolerance indices also supported the results of reproductive stage phenotyping. However, further studies will be required to tag the genes/QTLs controlling salinity tolerance in wheat at various growth phases.

Investigation of Co3O4 modified carbon black as an efficient non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalyst in self-driven phosphorus recovery systems

Phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from urine in the form of struvite via a Mg-air fuel cell (MAFC) platform has previously been reported as a promising approach to achieving sustainable development goals. However, the applicability of this technology has been hindered by the expensive cathodic catalyst, i.e., Pt/C. In this study, an efficient and cost-effective non-precious metal catalyst, the Co3O4 doped carbon black (CB-ZIF-900), was developed to maximize nitrogen and phosphate recovery from urine while reducing investment costs. CB-ZIF-900 exhibited an oxygen reduction reaction current density of 2.95 mA cm−2 and an electron transfer number between 3.7 and 3.9 in urine solution, which approached those of commercial Pt/C at the same testing conditions. Using the MAFC, over 99 % of phosphorus was removed from urine, and >95 % of phosphorus was recovered in the precipitates. Stable phosphorus removal efficiency and precipitates composition were observed over five consecutive batch experiments. Furthermore, the MAFC with CB-ZIF-900 exhibited a maximum power density of 594.89 W m−3, surpassing that with commercial Pt/C by 9.3 %. These findings underscore the utility of the highly efficient and cost-effective CB-ZIF-900 for advancing the scalability and widespread applications of self-driven phosphorus recovery systems.

MgMnxOy-GAC particle electrode for effective peroxone oxidation: High salinity organic wastewater treatment with synergistic electrocatalytic ozonation

A three-dimensional electro-peroxone (3D-EP) system achieved efficient degradation of high salinity organic wastewater and showed significant implications for potential application. Herein, an MgMn-granule-activated carbon (GAC) particle electrode was developed through impregnation calcination and applied in multipollutant removal. The integration of electrolysis, ozone application, and MgMn-GAC in the 3D-EP system manifested strong synergy, leading to successful elimination of all phenol within 30 min due to ample hydroxyl radical production. The energy consumption of MgMn-GAC was 1.86 kWh·m−3 and the specific energy consumption was 0.033 kWh·g−1 COD, exhibiting high electrical energy utilization efficiency under low applied current and low O3 exposure conditions. After six consecutive reaction experiments, COD removal reached 95.6 %, demonstrating remarkable catalytic activity and cycling stability. The study findings indicate that this material could be used as a low-cost particle electrode for practical wastewater treatment.

Applying the Taguchi Method to Improve Key Parameters of Extrusion Vacuum-Forming Quality.

This research investigates the control of thickness and weight in plastic extrusion vacuum-thermoforming products to identify optimal key parameters for cost reduction and energy savings. The initial step involves identifying crucial influencing factors. In this step, the Delphi technique was employed through a questionnaire administered to a panel of expert scholars to ensure minimal error and maximal reliability in determining key influencing factors. Consensus was sought to establish appropriateness and consistency. Subsequently, the Taguchi method was applied for quality design and planning of the extrusion vacuum-forming process. The experimental design parameters were selected using an L18 (21 × 37) orthogonal array, and the desired quality characteristics were determined. Comparative analysis of quantitative production data from two consecutive experiments was conducted, and based on F-values and contribution analysis, the combination of control factors maximizing the Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio was identified. The objective is to seek optimal parameters for improving the quality of the plastic polypropylene (PP cup lid) manufacturing process, reducing process variability, and identifying the most robust production conditions. Through multiple actual production prediction experiments, it was determined that five control factors, "polypropylene new material ratio," "T-die lips adjustment thickness", "mirror wheel temperature stability", "molding vacuum pressure time", and "forming mold area design", contribute to the maximization of the S/N ratio, i.e., minimizing variability. Statistical validation confirms a significant improvement in product quality and weight control. Noteworthily, the quality control model and experimental design parameters established in this study are also applicable to other plastic products and bio-based materials, such as PET, HIPS, and biodegradable PLA lids with added calcium carbonate. The results of the experimental production demonstrate its ability to consistently control product weight within the range of 3.4 ± 0.1 g, approaching the specified tolerance limits. This capability results in approximately 2.6% cost savings in product weight, contributing significantly to achieving a company's KPI goals for environmental conservation, energy efficiency, and operational cost reduction. Therefore, the findings of this study represent a substantial and tangible contribution.

Removal of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin from aqueous solutions using magnetic copper ferrite nanoparticles

This study investigated the removal of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin antibiotics from an aqueous solution in a batch system using magnetic copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticles as adsorbents. Next, the effects of important parameters such as concentration, adsorbent dosage, ultrasonication time, and pH were examined on the efficiency of the tetracycline and ciprofloxacin removal process. The optimum conditions of the parameters were determined through the Box-Behnken design (BBD) based on the design of the experiment (DOE). The second-order regression coefficients were estimated following the statistical analysis of the results by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimal points were determined accurately by combining the results and drawing a second-order multivariate equation. The optimum conditions were obtained at a concentration of 30 mg L−1, a dosage of 0.021 g, a pH of 7, and an ultrasonication time of 11 min. Under the optimum conditions, the maximum removal efficiency was 96.89% and 99.03% for tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, respectively. The performance of CuFe2O4 adsorbent in five consecutive experiments did not show much decline, indicating the reusability and stability of the adsorbent. The study results showed that CuFe2O4 adsorbent could remove tetracycline and ciprofloxacin from real water samples by more than 98%.

Design of CoN/ZIS heterojunction with yolk-shell structure for impressive photocatalytic H2 evolution promoted by the photothermal effect

Non-precious metal catalysts are the best choice for efficient use of solar energy and cost reduction. In this work, a non-noble metal catalyst with a yolk-shell structure CoN/SiO2 (CNS) was prepared and recombined with ZnIn2S4 (ZIS). The H2 evolution of CNS/ZIS was 17.168 mmol/h/g, meanwhile, the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) was 20.69 %. The yolk-shell structure of CNS/ZIS greatly improves the catalytic stability, and the H2 evolution efficiency of four consecutive experiments can still reach 94 % for the first time. There are several reasons for the outstanding performance of CNS/ZIS catalysts: (1) The yolk-shell structure improves light absorption and creates numerous reaction sites. (2) The internal electric field formed by the heterostructure promotes the migration of carriers. (3) The photothermal effect accelerates catalytic kinetics and promotes H2 precipitation.

Evaluation of Pt–Rh Nanoparticle–Based Electrodes for the Electrochemical Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most used chemicals. Industrially, ammonia is produced by hydrogenation of N2 through the Haber–Bosch process, a process in which enormous amounts of CO2 are released and requires a huge energy consumption (~ 2% of the total global energy). Therefore, it is of paramount importance to explore more sustainable and environmentally friendly routes to produce NH3. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to ammonia represents a promising alternative that is receiving great attention but still needs to be significantly improved to be economically competitive. In this work, the NRR is studied on Pt–Rh nanoparticle–based electrodes. Carbon-supported Pt–Rh nanoparticles (2–4 nm) with different Pt:Rh atomic compositions were synthesized and subsequently airbrushed onto carbon Toray paper to fabricate electrodes. The electrochemical NRR experiments were performed in a H-cell in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution. The results obtained show interesting faradaic efficiencies (FE) towards NH3 which range between 5 and 23% and reasonable and reliable NH3 yield values of about 4.5 µg h−1 mgcat−1, depending on the atomic composition of the electrocatalysts and the metal loading. The electrodes also showed good stability and recyclability (constant FE and NH3 yield in five consecutive experiments).Graphical Pt–Rh nanoparticle–based electrodes were employed for the NRR to NH3 in 0.1 M Na2SO4. Interesting FE towards NH3 and reasonable and reliable NH3 yield values were observed depending on atomic composition and metal loading. Good stability and recyclability (constant FE and NH3 yield in five consecutive experiments) were also observed.

Natural air diffusion electrode modified with metal-organic frameworks derived Fe doped porous carbon for sulfamethazine degradation by heterogeneous electro-Fenton

A novel and efficient heterogeneous electro-Fenton process has been developed, utilizing a modified natural air diffusion electrode (NADE) as a bifunctional cathode. This cathode is based on Fe-doped porous carbon (Fe-PC(800)), which is derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). This cathode has the unique ability to simultaneously generate and activate H2O2 in-situ without the need for aeration. Fe-PC(800) synthesized at a pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C exhibited the optimal catalytic efficiency for sulfamethazine (SMT) degradation over a wide pH between 3 and 11, attributed to the production of Fe0 and Fe3C which improved electron transfer efficiency. The presence of Fe0 facilitated the regeneration of Fe2+ and thus increased the activity of the bifunctional cathode in the Hetero-EF process. The co-action mechanism of •OH and 1O2 was confirmed by the radical quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigations. NADE modified with Fe-PC(800) demonstrated broad applicability towards diverse contaminants and exceptional stability in ten consecutive cycling experiments. This study shed light on the viability of a straightforward and economically viable cathode utilizing NADE without the need of aeration in a Hetero-EF system, offering novel perspectives on bifunctional electrode design and the activation mechanism involving in-situ production and catalysis of H2O2.

Shovel point optimization for unmanned loader based on pile reconstruction

AbstractThis study details an advanced shovel point optimization system for unmanned loaders, crucial for efficient shovelling operations. First, the shovel point evaluation index is established with reference to the driver's experience. Second, a novel method for pile profile reconstruction is proposed, utilizing a trained neural network to detect piles and extracting the point cloud using LiDAR and camera fusion. Subsequently, the system employs optimization algorithm to identify the best shovel point. Finally, 62 consecutive working experiments are successfully conducted. The system's performance closely approximates the driver's choices and achieves an average bucket fill factor of 97.7% for four materials. Results demonstrate the proposed method is reliable and efficient and contributes to the development of automated construction machinery.

High-performance of ZnO/TiO2 heterostructured thin-film photocatalyst fabricated via atomic layer deposition

Oxide semiconductor is one of the most promising candidates for photocatalysts due to its light absorption ability, electronic properties, and stability. It is used in various applications such as solar-energy conversion, CO2 reduction, and water splitting. In this research, ZnO, TiO2, and ZnO/TiO2 heterostructured thin films are fabricated via atomic layer deposition (ALD), and their photocatalytic performances are evaluated. The film thickness can be controlled using ALD, and surface reactions can easily occur in thin films owing to the short distances between the active sites and charge carriers. In addition, unlike a powder catalyst, the bilayer photocatalyst is fixed in the solution; therefore, it does not make the solution turbid or disturb the light penetration. Diethylzinc and titanium tetraisopropoxide are used as precursors for Zn and Ti, and the thin films are deposited on soda-lime glass substrates at 150 °C using H2O as the reactant gas. The photocatalytic activity and stability are evaluated through photodegradation tests using methylene blue aqueous solution. The ZnO single-substance thin film exhibits a high degradation rate, but its performance significantly decreases after three consecutive experiments. The TiO2 single-substance thin film exhibits a relatively low degradation rate, but high reusability, exhibiting characteristics opposite to that of ZnO. Therefore, a TiO2 thin film is coated on ZnO to leverage both these advantages. The thin films are heat-treated at 400 °C for 10 min after deposition in a vacuum atmosphere. The surface morphology, crystal structure, and electrical characteristics of the photocatalyst specimens are analyzed through high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. Their photocatalytic performances under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are measured through UV–visible spectroscopy. The heat-treated ZnO/TiO2 heterostructured thin film exhibits a photodegradation rate exceeding 80%, with little degeneration after three cycles, indicating enhanced photodegradation performance and stability.

Resource recovery and regeneration strategies for spent lithium-ion batteries: Toward sustainable high-value cathode materials

Traditional cathode recycling methods have become outdated amid growing concerns for high-value output and environmental friendliness in spent Li-ion battery (LIB) recycling. Our study presents a closed-loop approach that involves selective sulfurization roasting, water leaching, and regeneration, efficiently transforming spent ternary Li batteries (i.e., NCM) into high-performance cathode materials. By combining experimental investigations with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we elucidate the mechanisms within the NCM-C-S roasting system, providing a theoretical foundation for selective sulfidation. Utilizing in situ X-ray diffraction techniques and a series of consecutive experiments, the study meticulously tracks the evolution of regenerating cathode materials that use transition metal sulfides as their primary raw materials. The Li-rich regenerated NCM exhibits exceptional electrochemical performance, including long-term cycling, high-rate capabilities, reversibility, and stability. The closed-loop approach highlights the sustainability and environmental friendliness of this recycling process, with potential applications in other cathode materials, such as LiCoO2 and LiMn2O4. Compared with traditional methods, this short process approach avoids the complexity of leaching, solvent extraction, and reverse extraction, significantly increasing metal utilization and Li recovery rates while reducing pollution and resource waste.

Diluted bitumen weathered under warm or cold temperatures is equally toxic to freshwater fish

Canada is one of the main petroleum producers in the world. Through its oil sands exploitation, a viscous bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay is being produced. This bitumen is so viscous that approximatively 20%–30% of diluent needs to be added to ease transportation, resulting in a mixture called diluted bitumen (dilbit). The transport of dilbit through North America comes with a potential risk for oil spills in freshwater ecosystems at any time of the year. In this study, a mesoscale spill tank was used to study dilbit spills in freshwater to understand the effect of cold (winter-like) vs. warmer (spring- and fall-like) water temperatures on its natural weathering and their toxicity to fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) embryos. Water samples were collected weekly during two consecutive 35-day experiments ran at either 2 or 15 °C. Each week, fish larvae were exposed for 7 days, and water analysis was performed. Chemical analysis showed that the volatile organic compound, total organic carbon, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations decreased in both experiments with time, while fish larvae exposed to both temperature settings yielded increased abnormalities, EROD activity, CYP1A, and glutathione S-transferase mRNA expression levels, and decreased heart rate. Importantly, there were no major differences between the temperature regimes on dilbit weathering, highlighting that if a spill occurs in colder waters, it would be equally toxic to organisms. This work provides new data on the potential risk of oil spill for use during response planning and modelling.

Systematic adaptation and investigation of the understandability of a formal pattern language

Formal pattern languages are used in industry to communicate and analyse requirements, as they are said to be both machine-readable and intuitively understandable for humans. The questions arise to what extent this intuitive understanding of a pattern language is in agreement with its formal semantics and whether this understanding can be increased systematically. We present two consecutive empirical experiments to address these questions. The formal semantics serves as an objective judge on the intuitive understanding. Our experiments confirm the practical usefulness of HanforPL insofar the intuition matches the formal semantics in most practically relevant cases. They also reveal a number of edge cases where even a prior exposure to formal logic is not a guarantee for correct understanding. We present and validate systematic adjustments to the patterns, leading to several large increases in understandability but come at the cost of new, but less impactful ambiguities. We demonstrate how an inquiry on the alignment of the intuitive and formal semantics of a pattern language can help to understand and improve the language. While results regarding the understandability of HanforPL are favourable in commonly used cases, there is potential for improvement. The systematic adaption of patterns shows that small modifications may have large effects on the alignment of formal and intuitive semantics, and that modification must be considered with caution in the context of the respective pattern to avoid unintentionally adding new ambiguities. This article is an extension of our published REFSQ paper.

Exploring Attentional Bias toward Alcohol Content: Insights from Eye-Movement Activity

Introduction: Attentional bias (AB) is an implicit selective attention toward processing disorder-significant information while neglecting other environmental cues. Considerable empirical evidence highlights the clinical implication of AB in the onset and maintenance of substance use disorder. An innovative method to explore direct measures of AB relies on the eye-movement activity using technologies like eye-tracking (ET). Despite the growing interest regarding the clinical relevance of AB in the spectrum of alcohol consumption, more research is needed to fully determine the AB patterns and its transfer from experimental to clinical applications. The current study consisted of three consecutive experiments. The first experiment aimed to design an ad-hoc visual attention task (VAT) consisting of alcohol-related and neutral images using a nonclinical sample (n = 15). The objective of the second and third experiments was to analyze whether the effect of type of image (alcohol-related vs. neutral images) on AB toward alcohol content using the VAT developed in the first experiment was different for type of drinker (light vs. heavy drinker in the second experiment [n = 30], and occasional social drinkers versus alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients in the third experiment [n = 48]). Methods: Areas of interest (AOIs) within each type of image (neutral and alcohol-related) were designed and raw ET-based data were subsequently extracted through specific software analyses. For experiment 1, attention maps were created and processed for each image. For experiments 2 and 3, data on ET variables were gathered and subsequently analyzed through a two-way ANOVA with the aim of examining the effects of the type of image and drinker on eye-movement activity. Results: There was a statistically significant interaction effect between type of image and type of drinker (light vs. heavy drinker in experiment 2, F(1, 56) = 13.578, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.195, and occasional social drinker versus AUD patients in the experiment 3, F(1, 92) = 35.806, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.280) for “first fixation” with large effect sizes, but not for “number of fixations” and “dwell time.” The simple main effect of type of image on mean “first fixation” score for AUD patients was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The data derived from the experiments indicated the importance of AB in sub-clinical populations: heavy drinkers displayed an implicit preference for alcohol-related images compared to light drinkers. Nevertheless, AB fluctuations in patients with AUD compared to the control group were found. AUD patients displayed an early interest in alcohol images, followed by an avoidance attentional processing of alcohol-related images. The results are discussed in light of recent literature in the field.

Amino-functionalized iron-based MOFs for Rhodamine B degradation in heterogeneous photo-Fenton system

Amino-functionalized iron-based MOFs were successfully synthesized and used for the photo-Fenton-catalyzed degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The degradation efficiency of NH2-MIL-53(Fe) towards RhB (95.0%) exceeded that of NH2-MIL-88B(Fe) (87.0%) and NH2-MIL-101(Fe) (88.0%), which might be mainly because that NH2-MIL-53(Fe) had the most suitable specific surface area and pore volume, and the best light absorption properties. Additionally, NH2-MIL-53(Fe) exhibited higher degradation efficiency than MIL-53(Fe) (84.0%), possibly owing to the incorporation of amino functional groups that inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and enhanced visible light responsiveness. Remarkably, NH2-MIL-53(Fe) had a good degradation effect on RhB in a wide range of pH (3.0–7.0), and the degradation rate was still as high as 90.0% after 5 consecutive degradation experiments. The degradation process was predominantly influenced by the involvement of ·OH and 1O2, as evidenced by the outcomes of free radical capture experiments. Possible degradation pathways of RhB were proposed by mass spectrometry.

Co-Localized Infrared-Raman Spectroscopy: An Innovative Approach for the Quantitative In Situ Analysis of Gas Mixtures at High Pressures.

This article spotlights the interest in using co-localized infrared (IR)-Raman spectroscopy as an innovative approach for the in situ monitoring of complex gas mixtures, e.g., hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4), at elevated pressures. Thus, by combining the IR and Raman spectra of CH4, we proposed a new methodology for the calibration of the Raman spectra to circumvent the fact that Raman intensities are arbitrary (laser power, instrument response, integration time, and fluorescence). Applying our methodology to scale several consecutive experiments, the concentrations of all gases were determined with a relative uncertainty lower than 10%. These original results highlight the interest in co-localized IR-Raman spectroscopy analysis in a single cell for the quantitative analysis of solutes by Raman spectroscopy without the use of an internal standard.