Enlargement Of Area Research Articles

Improved hydrodynamic properties and enhanced resistance to particle deposition and membrane fouling by millimeter-scale patterned membranes

Membrane fouling is considered a persistent challenge in membrane technology for water and wastewater treatment. Membrane surface patterning is a chemical-free means of controlling membrane fouling. Previous studies mainly focused on nano- and micro-scale patterns, with little attention paid on millimeter-scale patterns on the membrane surface. In this study, the millimeter-scale patterned microfiltration membranes with different pattern heights (PM50, PM55 and PM60) were fabricated, the performances in resisting particle deposition and membrane fouling with synthetic wastewater were examined compared with flat-sheet membrane (FM), and the underlying hydrodynamic mechanism was unveiled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD simulation results reveal that compared to micro- and nano-scale patterns, millimeter-scale patterns exert a notable increase in maximum velocity, average shear stress and maximum shear stress. All the three millimeter-scale patterned membranes exhibit superior resistance to both particle deposition and membrane fouling than FM, owing to the improvement of hydrodynamic properties instead of enlarged membrane area. PM55 shows the lowest flux decline ratios and least particle/foulant deposition among the three millimeter-scale patterned membranes in both particle deposition and membrane fouling experiments. Pattern height plays a crucial role, as small pattern height cannot generate significant vortices, while high pattern height leads to flow separation. For PM55, the vortices form in the valley regions and locate close to bulk flow, which help transport the deposited particles or foulants back to the bulk flow. The design of pattern configuration is suggested to be tailored based on particle size. Future research can focus on the pilot testing of millimeter-scale patterned membranes, as well as the long-term stability with actual influent.

Role of plasma process gas on permeate flux augmentation of cellulose nitrate membrane for mud water treatment

A comparative study between Nitrogen (N2) and Argon (Ar) plasma is carried out to investigate its effect on surface morphology, hydrophilicity, permeate flux and ageing of cellulose nitrate polymeric membranes in the present work. Langmuir probe and Optical Emission Spectroscopy are used to characterize the plasma. The SEM analysis reveals the noticeable macro-void creations and pore enlargement for both N2 and Ar plasma. The AFM analysis shows a higher surface roughness for Ar plasma treatment as compared to N2 plasma treatment. XPS analysis confirms the changes in the polymer matrix along with the incorporation of various functional groups on the membrane surface as a result of the plasma treatment. A better hydrophilic nature with prolonged plasma treatment is observed for Ar plasma as compared to N2 plasma treatment. The present results show a higher permeate flux with a high rejection rate for Ar plasma treatment in comparison to N2 plasma, which might be due to the pore size and pore area enlargement of the membrane. The hydrophobic recovery for both the plasma-treated membranes is found significant for the initial ageing period of 7 days and found almost stable in nature after 7 days. A diffusion-based theoretical model is developed to study the hydrophobic recovery of plasma-treated membranes. A strong alignment between experimental and theoretical results is observed in the present work. The Cake Filtration model, derived from the Hermia model, is identified as the most suitable model for describing the fouling mechanisms for the present work.

Effect of Female Genital Mutilation on Sexual Function in Ibadan, Nigeria

Objective: Female genital mutilation, which harms women physically and psychologically, also causes serious problems in sexual life that continue throughout life. This study aimed to determine the impact of female genital mutilation on sexual outcomes in Ibadan, Nigeria. Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data from 161 women who agreed to participate in the study. After the data were collected, the sample group was divided into two groups those with female genital mutilation (84) and those without (77), and they were compared in terms of sexual outcomes. Results: Type I (77.3%) and type II (22.7%) mutilations were found in women with female genital mutilation. It was determined that women with FGM experienced statistically significantly more pain and bleeding during vaginal penetration than uncircumcised women. At the same time, the orgasm rate was found to be statistically significantly lower in this group. Conclusions: Our study revealed that female genital mutilation and enlargement of the incision area negatively affect sexual health.

Short-Term Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Patients Treated With Expandable and Static Interbody Spacers Following Lumbar Lateral Interbody Fusion

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to evaluate, using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), patients who underwent oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) using either expandable or static interbody spacers. MethodsThirty-five patients with degenerative disc disease were surgically treated with one-level OLIF and were followed up for more than six months. The Static group consisted of 22 patients, and 13 patients were in the Expandable group. Intraoperative findings included operative time (min), blood loss (ml), and cage size.Low back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness were measured using the Japanese Orthopedic Association score, visual analogue score, and the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire. Radiological evaluation using CT and MRI allowed measurement of cage subsidence, cross-sectional area (CSA) of the dural sac, disc height, segmental lordosis, foraminal height, and foraminal CSA preoperatively and six months postoperatively. ResultsThe Expandable group had significantly larger cage height and lordosis than the Static group (p < 0.05). The Expandable group also had greater dural sac area expansion and enlargement of the intervertebral foramen, as well as better correction of vertebral body slip (p < 0.05). Cage subsidence was significantly lower in the Expandable group (p < 0.05). JOA score and VAS for leg numbness were significantly better in the Expandable group (p < 0.05). ConclusionsCompared with static spacers, expandable spacers significantly enlarged the dural sac area, corrected vertebral body slippage, expanded the intervertebral foramen, and achieved good indirect decompression while reducing cage subsidence, resulting in improvement in clinical symptoms.

Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation: pathophysiology, definition, diagnosis, and treatment.

Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation (A-STR) is a distinct phenotype of secondary tricuspid regurgitation with predominant dilation of the right atrium and normal right and left ventricular function. Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation occurs most commonly in elderly women with atrial fibrillation and in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in sinus rhythm. In A-STR, the main mechanism of leaflet malcoaptation is related to the presence of a significant dilation of the tricuspid annulus secondary to right atrial enlargement. In addition, there is an insufficient adaptive growth of tricuspid valve leaflets that become unable to cover the enlarged annular area. As opposed to the ventricular phenotype, in A-STR, the tricuspid valve leaflet tethering is typically trivial. The A-STR phenotype accounts for 10%-15% of clinically relevant tricuspid regurgitation and has better outcomes compared with the more prevalent ventricular phenotype. Recent data suggest that patients with A-STR may benefit from more aggressive rhythm control and timely valve interventions. However, little is mentioned in current guidelines on how to identify, evaluate, and manage these patients due to the lack of consistent evidence and variable definitions of this entity in recent investigations. This interdisciplinary expert opinion document focusing on A-STR is intended to help physicians understand this complex and rapidly evolving topic by reviewing its distinct pathophysiology, diagnosis, and multi-modality imaging characteristics. It first defines A-STR by proposing specific quantitative criteria for defining the atrial phenotype and for discriminating it from the ventricular phenotype, in order to facilitate standardization and consistency in research.

Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Pars Planitis and Multiple Sclerosis Associated Intermediate Uveitis in Remission

Purpose To evaluate the microvasculature during remission in patients with pars planitis (PP-IU) and multiple sclerosis-associated intermediate uveitis (MS-IU) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods Single-center, descriptive, case-control study was conducted. Adult patients (≥16 years) with IU in remission (PP-IU and MS-IU) and healthy age-sex matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled to the study. Demographic/clinical features, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular findings, neurological symptoms and preferred treatments were recorded. The presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) during follow-up was recorded. All IU patients in remission and HC subjects were scanned with OCT-A. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) areas of superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP/DCP) and vascular densities of SCP, DCP and choriocapillaris were obtained from OCT-A and compared between the groups. Results Sixty-nine eyes of 37 IU patients in remission and 20 HC were included (44 eyes/23 patients in PP-IU, 25/14 in MS-IU, 40/20 in HC). No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of demographic or clinical characteristics of the patients. The vascular density in the SCP was significantly reduced in the PP-IU and MS-IU groups compared to the HC group (p < .05). Nevertheless, there were no significant changes in any of the OCTA parameters between the IU groups. Uveitis duration was found to be correlated with enlargement of the FAZ area in PP-IU (p = .039). Conclusion OCTA may not be useful in differentiating between PP-IU and MS-IU. Nevertheless, the primary implication in SCP potentially elucidates the pathogenesis of these two subtypes of IU, which are characterized by a shared pathogenesis. The monitoring of the FAZ area in the PP-IU group is valuable in terms of chronicity.

The Expanding of Proglacial Lake Amplified the Frontal Ablation of Jiongpu Co Glacier since 1985

In High Mountain Asia, most glaciers and glacial lakes have undergone rapid variations throughout changes in the climate. Unlike land-terminating glaciers, lake-terminating glaciers show rapid shrinkage due to dynamic interactions between proglacial lakes and glacier dynamics. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of the changes in the surface elevation, velocity, and especially frontal ablation on Jiongpu Co lake-terminating glacier. The results show that the Jiongpu Co glacier has twice as much negative mass balance compared to other glaciers, and the annual surface velocity has anomalously increased (3.6 m a−1 per decade) while other glaciers show a decreased trend. The frontal ablation fraction in the net mass loss of the Jiongpu Co glacier increased from 26% to 52% with the accelerated expansion of the proglacial lake. All available evidence indicates the presence of positive feedback between the proglacial lake and its host glacier. Our findings highlight the existence of proglacial lake affects the spatial change patterns of the lake-terminating glacier. Furthermore, the ongoing enlargement of the lake area amplifies the changes associated with the evolution of the lake-terminating glacier.

Enhancing the performance of quasi-solid-state flexible supercapacitors with Ag and MnO2 co-decorated carbon nanofibrous electrodes

Flexible supercapacitors are gaining increasing popularity due to their potential in powering portable, wearable, and lightweight electronic devices. In this study, we have successfully developed a high-performance flexible electrode for quasi-solid-state supercapacitors by incorporating Ag into carbon nanofibers (CNF) through electrospinning, and growing MnO2 as an active material on the electrode using an in-situ redox method. The Ag and MnO2 co-decorated CNF electrode offers several advantages over conventional CNF electrodes, including an enlarged reaction area, higher charge storage capacity, and improved resistance to brittleness issues. Among all the quasi-solid-state supercapacitors tested, the MnO2-decorated electrode with an optimized Ag incorporation exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 184 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, representing a remarkable 17-fold increase compared to the reference CNF electrode. Furthermore, the Ag and MnO2 co-decorated electrode demonstrated an energy density of 16.3 Wh/kg and a power density of 400 W/kg at the same current density. Notably, the electrode exhibited excellent flexibility, with a capacitance retention rate of 87 % when subjected to bending with a curvature ranging from 5 to 1.25 cm. Our results suggest that the Ag and MnO2 co-decorated CNF electrode holds great promise for flexible energy storage applications.

Neuromuscular ultrasound findings in gunshot wounds.

A spectrum of peripheral nerve injuries is associated with gunshot wounds (GSWs). Due to Wallerian degeneration, distal nerve lesions may go undetected on electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing. In patients with GSW undergoing high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) for evaluation of neurological deficits, we have observed distal nerve morphological changes, but these have not been systematically studied. The aim of this study was to characterize changes on HRUS in nerves at and distal to gunshot injuries and to identify the frequency with which these changes occur. A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients referred for HRUS with peripheral nerve injuries from GSW. The primary injured nerve(s) were assessed along with distal segments of the same nerve and those of adjacent nerves. Findings were also compared to EDX studies. Twenty-two of the 28 nerves injured proximally by GSW were evaluated distally and of these, 68% showed abnormal ultrasound findings, including enlarged cross sectional area (59%), fascicular enlargement (50%), and decreased nerve echogenicity (59%). In 17 patients, adjacent nerves were evaluated and 8 of the patients (47%) showed abnormalities in at least one distal adjacent nerve, including enlarged cross sectional area (41%), fascicular enlargement (41%), and decreased nerve echogenicity (35%). This study demonstrated morphological changes at the site of the GSW but also in distal nerve segments including nerve enlargement, fascicular enlargement, and changes in nerve echogenicity. The complementary use of HRUS with EDX was highlighted in evaluation of GSW victims to assess the extent of peripheral nerve injury.

Spreading of an active region of semi-insulating GaAs detectors after radiation degradation

The radiation hardness of GaAs detectors against high-energy electrons goes up to a few MGy. Their degradation is mainly connected to the decrease of the charge collection efficiency and the increase of the reverse current. On the other hand, an improvement in detection efficiency was observed at low degradation doses. The explanation that this could be caused by an enlargement of the detector active area due to spreading of the collecting electric field caused by radiation-induced defects is studied in this paper. We have used the alpha particles of 241Am, which interact in the GaAs surface layer, to study the enlargement of the detector active region after its degradation by 5 MeV electrons with doses ranging from 24 to 2000 kGy. The results show that the electric field spreads behind the Schottky contact metallization edges not only with increasing applied reverse bias but also with rising cumulative dose of radiation degradation in the dose range from 24 up to 100 kGy, followed by a slight reduction in area size. The electric collecting field keeps larger dimensions than before detector degradation for doses up to 600 kGy. For higher doses than 1000 kGy, the active area of the detector was reduced below its initial size before degradation. Moreover, the improvement of detection efficiency with increasing bias applied becomes weaker with increasing degradation dose. Radiation degradation affects the electric field distribution in semi-insulating GaAs detectors and the results obtained may provide useful knowledge to preparation of multi-pixel GaAs structures for imaging and particle tracking.

Efficient conversion of propane in a microchannel reactor at ambient conditions

The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane, primarily sourced from shale gas, holds promise in meeting the surging global demand for propylene. However, this process necessitates high operating temperatures, which amplifies safety concerns in its application due to the use of mixed propane and oxygen. Moreover, these elevated temperatures may heighten the risk of overoxidation, leading to carbon dioxide formation. Here we introduce a microchannel reaction system designed for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane within an aqueous environment, enabling highly selective and active propylene production at room temperature and ambient pressure with mitigated safety risks. A propylene selectivity of over 92% and production rate of 19.57 mmol mCu−2 h−1 are simultaneously achieved. This exceptional performance stems from the in situ creation of a highly active, oxygen-containing Cu catalytic surface for propane activation, and the enhanced propane transfer via an enlarged gas-liquid interfacial area and a reduced diffusion path by establishing a gas-liquid Taylor flow using a custom-made T-junction microdevice. This microchannel reaction system offers an appealing approach to accelerate gas-liquid-solid reactions limited by the solubility of gaseous reactant.

Mean Ocular Perfusion Pressure Effect During Pars Plana Vitrectomy on the Foveal Avascular Zone: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of mean ocular perfusion pressure on the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in eyes with successful retinal detachment (RD) surgery. Methods: This prospective pilot fellow eye-controlled study measured the intraoperative mean ocular perfusion pressure in eyes having surgery for rhegmatogenous RD (RRD). Postoperatively, the FAZ area was measured; the change was calculated as the difference in the FAZ area between the operated eye and the contralateral control eye. Results: The study comprised 8 patients with a mean age (±SD) of 53.38 ± 13.92 years. The mean superficial FAZ area was not different between operated eyes and control eyes, while the deep FAZ area was significantly larger in operated eyes. There was a strong negative correlation between the mean ocular perfusion pressure and the change in the deep FAZ area (Spearman ρ, -0.73; P = .04); the correlation between the mean ocular perfusion pressure and the change in the superficial FAZ area was not significant (Spearman ρ, -0.24; P = .57). A significant linear regression was found between the mean ocular perfusion pressure and the change in the deep FAZ area (R2 = 0.388). The predicted enlargement of the deep FAZ area was 0.03 mm with every 1 mm Hg decrease in the mean ocular perfusion pressure. Conclusions: Lower intraoperative mean ocular perfusion pressure is associated with enlargement of the deep FAZ area in eyes having successful RRD surgery.

Boosting Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation via Regulating Surface Electronic Structure by CeO2 Hybridization.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) paves a sustainable way to produce NH3 but suffering from the relatively low NH3 yield and poor selectivity. High-performance NRR catalysts and a deep insight into the structure-performance relationship are higher desired. Herein, a molten-salt approach is developed to synthesize tiny CeO2 nanoparticles anchored by ultra-thin MoN nanosheets as advanced catalysts for NRR. Specifically, a considerably high NH3 yield rate of 27.5µgh-1mg-1 with 17.2% Faradaic efficiency (FE) can be achieved at -0.3V vs (RHE) under ambient conditions. Experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further point out that the incorporation of MoN with CeO2 can promotes the enlargement of the electron deficient area of nitrogen vacancy site. The enlarged electron deficient area contributes to the accommodation of lone pair electrons of N2, which dramatically improves the N2 adsorption/activation and the key intermediates (*NNH and *NH3) generation, thus boosting the NRR performance.

Vapor-phase dehydration of glycerol to acetol over Cu/SiO2 prepared with organic additives

Silica-supported Cu (Cu/SiO2) catalysts prepared with organic additives showed excellent activity for the dehydration of glycerol to acetol. Among eight organic additives tested, 12-crown-4-ether (12C4) contributed the highest improvement in the activity of Cu/SiO2 catalyst. The catalytic dehydration of glycerol to acetol was accompanied by the formation of glyceraldehyde via dehydrogenation. The enlargement of Cu surface area was limited by the pore volume of SiO2 support. Acetol was the dominant product over Cu catalysts at high glycerol conversions, and the highest acetol yield of 94.3% was achieved over 12C4-Cu/SiO2 at 270 °C. The Cu surface area was proportional to the formation rate of acetol in the dehydration of glycerol at 200 °C. Consequently, we concluded that the glycerol dehydration was not catalyzed by the Lewis acid sites but catalyzed by Cu0 nanoparticles dispersed on SiO2 support.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings after silicone oil tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Aim: To describe retinal structural and microvascular changes using Swept source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT‐A) in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) treated by vitrectomy (PPV) and silicone oil (SO) tamponade and to identify the final visual acuity (VA) prognostic factors.Methods: In this retrospective study, patients were treated with PPV and SO tamponade for uncomplicated DRR. After SO removal, retinal thickness was assessed by SS‐OCT. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, the fractal dimension (FD), the lacunarity (LAC) and the macular capillary vessel density (VD) in the superficial (PCS) and deep plexuses (PCP) and in the choriocapillaris (CC) were analysed.Results: Thirty‐one eyes were included in this study; 20 eyes (65%) had macula ‘OFF’ RRD. The mean post‐operative final VA was 3.2/10. Outer retinal defect was observed in 74.1% of the operated eyes. Central macular thickness (CMT) and parafoveal thickness were significantly decreased compared with healthy fellow eyes (p = 0.048; p = 0.029). Outer nuclear layer (ONL) and subfoveal choroid were significantly thinned in the operated eyes (p = 0.003; p = 0.017). The FAZ in PCS and PCP and was larger (p = 0.042; p = 0.032), the VD (total, parafoveal and parafoveal) in the PCP were significantly lower (p = 0.004; p = 0.012; p = 0.049) and the lacunarity (LAC) at the PCP level was significantly higher (p = 0.040) in the operated eyes than in the fellow eyes. The final VA was correlated with the defect of the outer retina (p &lt; 0.002) and the VD in PCP (p = 0.0199). The duration of SO tamponade was signifcantly correlated with the outer retinal defect (p = 0.011), the enlargement of FAZ area (p = 0.001) and the VD in DCP (p = 0.002).Conclusion: SIO can lead to structural and vascular retinal ischaemic defect such as enlargement and irregularity of the FAZ and predominant PCP capillary abnormalities. These changes could reflect vascular hypoperfusion in eyes with SO tamponade and may represent a potential cause of retinal thinning and unexplained visual loss.

Molecular dynamics investigation on the interfacial thermal resistance between annealed pyrolytic graphite and copper.

Modern highly integrated microelectronic products often face the challenge of internal heat dissipation, leading to a significant decrease in their operational efficiency. Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite (APG), due to its superior thermal conductivity, has garnered attention from researchers. The interface thermal resistance between APG and supporting materials like copper significantly affects heat transfer during APG's operation. Existing studies rarely delve into the influence of factors such as the shape of APG material interfaces on thermal resistance from a microscopic perspective. In this paper, utilizing transient thermo-reflectance method and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, the interface thermal resistance of the APG-Cu structure was investigated under different conditions. The impact of parameters such as copper thickness, interface micro-surface morphology, and APG thickness on the calculated interface thermal resistance was examined. Simulation results revealed that copper thickness had a minor effect on the interface thermal resistance. This is because the phonon participation ratio remains unaffected by changes in the thickness of the copper layer. The interfacial thermal resistance beneath microscopically cylindrical copper surfaces was considerably lower than that of rectangular copper surfaces. This is because beneath the cylindrical surface, the enlarged interface contact area facilitates enhanced thermal transport between the interfaces. The computed results of the radial distribution function in the paper also indirectly validate this viewpoint. The magnitude of interfacial thermal resistance for different APG layers was influenced by the coupling effect of intermolecular forces and the layered stacking structure of APG. The interfacial thermal resistance under the condition of three layers of APG reaches its minimum value, which is 2.2 × 10-9 (K m2 W-1). Furthermore, from the phonon perspective, it is found that the interfacial thermal resistance with different numbers of APG layers is closely related to the localization or delocalization state of phonons. As the number of APG layers increased, the interface thermal resistance showed a trend of initial decrease followed by an increase, this is because the average phonon participation ratio increases and then decreases with the number of APG layers. The average phonon participation ratio reaches its maximum value of 0.45778 under the condition of three layers of APG.

Correlation between conventional ultrasound features combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound patterns and pathological prognostic factors in malignant non-mass breast lesions.

To investigate the correlation between ultrasound performance and prognostic factors in malignant non-mass breast lesions (NMLs). This study included 106 malignant NMLs in 104 patients. Different US features and contrast enhancement patterns were evaluated. Prognostic factors, including histological types and grades, axillary lymph node and peritumoral lymphovascular status, estrogen and progesterone receptor status and the expression of HER-2 and Ki-67 were determined. A chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyse possible associations. Lesion size (OR: 3.08, p = 0.033) and posterior echo attenuation (OR: 8.38, p < 0.001) were useful in reflecting malignant NMLs containing an invasive carcinoma component. Posterior echo attenuation (OR: 7.51, p = 0.003) and unclear enhancement margin (OR: 6.50, p = 0.018) were often found in tumors with axillary lymph node metastases. Peritumoural lymphovascular invasion mostly exhibited posterior echo attenuation (OR: 3.84, p = 0.049) and unclear enhancement margin (OR: 8.68, p = 0.042) on ultrasound images. Perfusion defect was a comparatively accurate enhancement indicator for negative ER (OR: 2.57, p = 0.041) and PR (OR: 3.04, p = 0.008) expression. Calcifications (OR: 3.03, p = 0.025) and enlarged enhancement area (OR: 5.36, p = 0.033) imply an increased risk of positive HER-2 expression. Similarly, Calcifications (OR: 4.13, p = 0.003) and enlarged enhancement area (OR: 11.05, p < 0.001) were valid predictors of high Ki-67 proliferation index. Ultrasound performance is valuable for non-invasive prediction of prognostic factors in malignant NMLs.

Совершенствование транспортировки АХОВ на автомобильном транспорте

Purpose: The issue of hazardous chemicals transportation by motor vehicles is especially crucial nowadays, given recent geopolitical situation. Transportation inside the country has become a key task for the Russian Federation. The improvement of motor vehicle construction is required in order to provide security of the transportation process. Methods: The tool for research and analysis of the issue of choosing the optimal crosssection of the relief valve on a tank car is the flow section diameter of the tank car’s relief valve. Results: The article proposes calculations for the cross-section of the relief valve of a tank with a larger diameter than those currently installed on tank cars in Russia. The article also provides statistical data on accidents in road transport from 2018 to 2020. Practical significance: Semi-empirical models of thermophysical processes inside a tank during the occurrence of excess pressure have been described by numerous authors. The level of development of the topic of this research is relatively low, unlike topics dedicated to excess pressure in pressure-relief tanks and thermodynamic processes. The article discusses the improvement of designs of tank cars used for the transportation of light petroleum products. The authors have offered a way to improve the construction of a tank with the help of installation of a relief valve of a bigger section. The results of the calculations of the optimal section in the relief valve are presented in a tabular form. The calculation has practical significance as in the case of integration of the data on relief (breather) valves there exists a possibility of increasing the stability of the thin shell of a tank and so of increasing the security during the transportation by motor vehicles. The enlargement of flow area of the tank relief valve is a technically efficient and economically profitable way to increase the degree of transportation process security.

A deep-insight into the relation between structure of graphene oxide-based interfacial catalyst and fuel oil desulfurization performance in Pickering emulsion

Based on the high stability, easy demulsification and formed large interphase contact area of the Pickering emulsion, its corresponding catalytic oxidative desulfurization (CODS) system has exhibited satisfactory desulfurization results and recycling performance. However, the relation between the interfacial catalyst structure and desulfurization performance in Pickering emulsion systems has rarely been reported. Herein, a stable Pickering emulsion CODS system was established using H3PW12O40 (HPW)-supported graphene oxide (GO) as an interfacial catalyst. Some important structural parameters, including catalyst size, surface porosities and wettability, were adjusted, and their effect on desulfurization performance was analysed in detail. Additionally, the reaction conditions, selectivity and recyclability of the studied system were systematically evaluated. The small catalyst size and high surface porosities could facilitate mass reaction transfer to improve desulfurization performance, but the effect of wettability was most prominent. The Pickering emulsion formed by the amphiphilic catalyst exhibited the optimum distribution state of emulsion droplets with an enlarged interphase contact area. After the optimized design of the catalyst structure, ultradeep fuel oil desulfurization was achieved under mild conditions without stirring. This work provides a useful reference to further mine the mechanism behind the improvement of desulfurization performance in Pickering emulsion systems.

A paper-based microfluidic aluminum–Air battery with intrinsic migration of electrolyte

The aluminum-air battery is one of the most promising candidates for next-generation miniaturized energy storage devices due to its high theoretical energy and capacity density. However, anodic self-corrosion and bulky liquid transportation systems have severely limited its practical energy density, hindering its usage for miniaturized applications. Here, we developed a microfluidic aluminum-air battery with zinc oxide (ZnO) as the inhibitor to overcome the abovementioned hurdles. The ZnO embedded alkaline electrolyte and microfluidic structure gain a maximum power density of 18.94 mW/cm2, an open circuit voltage of over 1.6 V, and a specific capacity of 2335.25 mAh/g (at 20 mA/cm2), while maintaining a low self-corrosion rate of 0.3043 mL/(cm2 min). In addition, the microfluidic design and ZnO embedment support the batteries to continuously work at 20 mA/cm2 for 120 min, 6.0 times the non-microfluidic ones and 1.18 times the microfluidic ones without ZnO. The performance of the battery can be improved by series connection or enlargement of the geometric active area. The design and method analogy proposed in this work can be readily migrated to the construction of miniaturized aluminum-air cell as reliable power sources.