Large-scale Use Research Articles

Comparing Conventional and Advanced Approaches for Heavy Metal Removal in Wastewater Treatment: An In-Depth Review Emphasizing Filter-Based Strategies.

Various industrial activities release heavy metal ions into the environment, which represent one of the major toxic pollutants owing to their severe effects on the environment, humans, and all living species. Despite several technological advances and breakthroughs, wastewater treatment remains a critical global issue. Traditional techniques are dedicated to extracting heavy metal ions from diverse wastewater origins, encompassing coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, flotation, and ion exchange. Their cost, side toxicity, or ineffectiveness often limit their large-scale use. Due to their adaptable design, simple operation, and reasonable cost, membrane filtration and adsorption have proven their efficiency in removing metals from wastewater. Recently, adsorption-based filters have appeared promising in treating water. Within this range, filters incorporating natural, synthetic, or hybrid adsorbents present an appealing alternative to conventional approaches. This review aims to list and describe the conventional and advanced wastewater treatment methods by comparing their efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. Adsorption-based filters were highlighted due to the significant advantages they can provide.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing to Erythromycin and Azithromycin of Clinical Isolates of Bordetella pertussis Circulating in Russia

Relevance. Antibacterial drugs are widely used to treat and prevent infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. The large-scale and unjustified use of antimicrobials to treat these infections has led to the emergence of resistance in most pathogens. The aim. To study antimicrobial susceptibility testing to erythromycin and azithromycin of strains of B. pertussis isolated in Russia. Materials & Methods. The research included 165 strains of B. pertussis isolated in January 2014 to June 2020. Antimicrobial susceptibility to erythromycin and azithromycin was determined by disk diffusion method and MIC test (HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. Limited, India). The A2047G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene was detected by PCR and subsequent sequencing. Results. Disk diffusion zone diameters for erythromycin in the studied strains ranged from 25 to 62 mm (median 44 mm) and disk diffusion zone diameters for azithromycin ranged from 22 to 80 mm (median 50 mm). Isolates with growth inhibition of more than 42 mm in diameter after 7 days of incubation were considered as susceptible. Among the studied strains, 57 (34.5%) were resistant to erythromycin and 23 (13.9%) to azithromycin. Then, MIC of erythromycin and MIC of azithromycin, respectively, were determined for these 57 and 23 strains using the MIC test. The comparison group included 79 isolates that were classified as sensitive to erythromycin (n = 31) and azithromycin (n=48) according to the results of the previous study. A MIC value of 0.12 μg/ml was considered as the cut-off for susceptible strains. All isolates were fully susceptible to erythromycin (MIC ≤ 0.01 μg/ml, median MIC 0.001 μg/ml) and azithromycin (MIC ≤ 0.01 μg/ml, median MIC 0.0001 μg/ml). An A-to-G mutation was not found at position 2047 in the 23S rRNA gene in 80 isolates that had a diameter of growth inhibition zone less than 42 mm. Conclusion. This study demonstrates no significant decrease in the susceptibility to erythromycin and azithromycin among B. pertussis strains isolated in Russia in 2014–2020. The studied B. pertussis strains exhibit a homozygous phenotype for macrolide resistance.

A utility and easily fabricated dual-mode fiber film for efficient and comfortable thermal management

Nowadays, the global climate is constantly being destroyed and the fluctuations in ambient temperature are becoming more frequent. However, conventional single-mode thermal management strategies (heating or cooling) failed to resolve such dynamic temperature changes. Moreover, developing thermal management devices capable of accommodating these temperature variations while remaining simple to fabricate and durable has remained a formidable obstacle. To address these bottlenecks, we design and successfully fabricate a novel dual-mode hierarchical (DMH) composite film featuring a micro-nanofiber network structure, achieved through a straightforward two-step continuous electrospinning process. In cooling mode, it presents a high solar reflectivity of up to 97.7% and an excellent atmospheric transparent window (ATW) infrared emissivity of up to 98.9%. Noted that this DMH film could realize a cooling of 8.1 °C compared to the ambient temperature outdoors. In heating mode, it also exhibits a high solar absorptivity of 94.7% and heats up to 11.9 °C higher than black cotton fabric when utilized by individuals. In practical application scenarios, a seamless transition between efficient cooling and heating is achieved by simply flipping the film. More importantly, the DMH film combining the benefits of composites demonstrates portability, durability, and easy-cleaning, promising to achieve large-scale production and use of thermally managed textiles in the future. The energy savings offered by film applications provide a viable solution for the early realization of carbon neutrality.

Evaluation of the Physicochemical Properties of Spray-Dried Coconut Flower Nectar Powder

This study aimed to determine the physicochemical properties of coconut flower nectar (CFN) powder produced by spray drying. The powder product of the best sample (with maltodextrin–CFN ratio of 26%, w/v) appeared as white, spherical, or oval particles. Its physicochemical properties were as follows: recovery yield (42 ± 2 %), moisture content (3.1 ± 0.6 %), particle size (3–12 μm), bulk density (0.380 ± 0.006 g mL-1), hygroscopicity (22 ± 2 %), water solubility index (97 ± 1 %), angle of repose (42.2 ± 0.7°), and wettability (366 ± 11 s). The obtained results offer valuable insights for future research on spray drying of food products and pave the way for potential large-scale use of spray-dried CFN in a great variety of products due to easier preservation and longer shelf life.

Propiedades de un hormigón de alto desempeño fabricado con un proceso de producción convencional

Among cement-based composites, materials that show a growing interest are the High Performance Concrete (HPC) and Ultra-hi-gh Performance Concrete (UHPC), which are categorized by an effective screening of granular elements, and an elevated quantity of fiber reinforcement [1]. HPC is produced through the particle packing methodology to enhance its matrix density and reduce its porosity [2]. Because of this producing me-thod, this material has a lower water content than conventional concrete, and better me-chanical performance and durability [3]-[5]. It is thus suitable to build several structural elements [6], [7] thanks to its enhanced pro-perties. On the other hand, the manufacture of HPC is not straightforward: expensive raw materials, impact on the environment, labo-rious fabrication and curing tasks [8], [9] are among the most important obstacles to its large-scale use. It is therefore relevant and recommended to simplify its production process. This work present new HPC mixtu-res that are produced in a straightforward manner, without requiring elevated tempe-rature curing conditions, mixers with high power or temperature controlled chambers, as commonly used for current HPC sold in the market. The mixtures described here showed a split tensile strength of 5 MPa, a compressive strength of over 70 MPa, and a virtual packing density of 0.86.

BRAF Detection in FNAC Combined with Semi-Quantitative 99mTc-MIBI Technique and AI Model, an Economic and Efficient Predicting Tool for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules.

Technology allows us to predict a histopathological diagnosis, but the high costs prevent the large-scale use of these possibilities. The current liberal indication for surgery in benign thyroid conditions led to a rising frequency of incidental thyroid carcinoma, especially low-risk papillary micro-carcinomas. We selected a cohort of 148 patients with thyroid nodules by ultrasound characteristics and investigated them by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)and prospective BRAF collection for 70 patients. Also, we selected 44 patients with thyroid nodules using semi-quantitative functional imaging with an oncological, 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) radiotracer. Following a correlation with final histopathological reports in patients who underwent thyroidectomy, we introduced the results in a machine learning program (AI) in order to obtain a pattern. For semi-quantitative functional visual pattern imaging, we found a sensitivity of 33%, a specificity of 66.67%, an accuracy of 60% and a negative predicting value (NPV) of 88.6%. For the wash-out index (WOind), we found a sensitivity of 57.14%, a specificity of 50%, an accuracy of 70% and an NPV of 90.06%.The results of BRAF in FNAC included 87.50% sensitivity, 75.00% specificity, 83.33% accuracy, 75.00% NPV and 87.50% PPV. The prevalence of malignancy in our small cohort was 11.4%. We intend to continue combining preoperative investigations such as molecular detection in FNAC, 99mTc-MIBI scanning and AI training with the obtained results on a larger cohort. The combination of these investigations may generate an efficient and cost-effective diagnostic tool, but confirmation of the results on a larger scale is necessary.

Silver nanoparticle-decorated cellulose beads: Eco-friendly catalysts for efficient 4-nitrophenol reduction and antibacterial performance

This study presents an innovative and environmentally friendly method to produce fibrous cellulose beads by mechanically stirring natural fibers in an aqueous medium. Date palm fibers are transformed into uniform beads with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 mm through chemical treatment and mechanical agitation. These beads are then decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag0 NPs) in a one-step synthesis, giving them catalytic capabilities for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and antibacterial activities. Characterization techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and TGA confirmed the successful synthesis and deposition of Ag0 NPs on the cellulose beads. Tests showed complete conversion of 4-NP to 4-AP in just 7 min, with pseudo-first-order kinetics and a Kapp of 0.590 min-1. Additionally, Ag0@CB demonstrated exceptional recyclability and stability over five cycles, with minimal silver release. The beads also showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, effectively eradicating bacterial colonies in 30 min. In summary, Ag0@CB exhibits multifunctional capabilities for degrading organic pollutants and biomedical applications, offering promising potential for large-scale production and practical use in water treatment and antibacterial coatings.

A retrospective study of the MDS criteria for prodromal Parkinson’s disease in the general population

The Movement Disorder Society developed research criteria for the detection of the prodromal phase of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Accurate identification of this phase is essential for early interventions. Therefore, we investigated the diagnostic value of these research criteria in the general population. Lifelines is an ongoing cohort study of 167,000 participants from the general population of the Northern Netherlands. 160 participants self-reported to have developed PD during three rounds of follow-up of five years each. Data were available to infer six out of eleven risk markers, and six out of twelve prodromal markers. We retrospectively compared the criteria in the prodromal stage of a group of 160 ‘converters’ with 320 age- and sex-matched controls. The overall incidence rate of PD was 0.20 per 1.000 person-years (95% CI: 0.049−0.36), increasing with age and rates were higher in men. The median probability for prodromal PD in PD-converters was 1.29% (interquartile range: 0.46−2.9), compared to 0.83% (0.39−1.8) for controls (P = 0.014). The MDS set of criteria for prodromal PD had an ROC-AUC of 0.577, and was therefore not sufficient to adequately predict conversion to PD. We were unable to predict conversion to PD in the general population using a selection of the prodromal PD research criteria. Ancillary investigations are required to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the criteria, but most are precluded from large-scale use. Strategies, including olfactory tests or alpha-synuclein seeding amplification assays may improve the detection of prodromal PD in the general population.

Artificial Intelligence – Illusions and Reality

Some aspects of the “artificial intelligence” phenomenon are considered, including possible political and economic reasons for its appearance. The directions for the development of artificial intelligence are outlined, which can bring real benefits to the state and society at the moment, first of all, the further development of digitalization of public administration and the improvement of devices to increase labor productivity. Signs are given that, according to the author, indicate the participation of a chatbot in preparing the text. To inform readers about the use of the chatbot, it is proposed to place special labels next to such texts. It has been suggested that the use of a chatbot in the preparation of scientific articles is an illusion that the lack of abilities, experience and professionalism can be replaced by technical competence and material resources, which in the future, with large-scale use, can lead to a distortion of the meaning of not only educational activities, but also to the changes in the researcher's activities.

Związek między wzorem krajobrazu a zakłóceniami powodowanymi przez człowieka w latach 1990-2018 w Portugalii kontynentalnej

The land use/land cover pattern of landscapes as the main element of the landscape structure has an important role in landscape management, nature conservation, and preservation, considering its ability to provide valuable information about the spatial distribution and changes in land cover that occur on the Earth's surface. On the other hand, human activities have caused significant impacts on ecosystems, resulting in a loss of biodiversity, increased risks of erosion and soil degradation, and wildfires. In the last few decades, the growing trend of occurrence of negative effects on land use/land cover has not contributed to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), considering that the relationship between humankind and the environment is an extremely fragile equilibrium. In recent decades, large-scale land use and land cover (LULC) patterns have shown stability, but there have been significant dynamics observed specifically in forest areas and agricultural land. Among these changes, the conversion of maritime pine to eucalyptus stands out as the most relevant transition in terms of forest and agroforestry use classes. This conversion is a result of economic incentives available, which have contributed to the gain in forested areas. This study intends to verify how the alteration of the landscape configuration, represented by different metrics of configuration and diversity, is related to the intensity of human disturbance. The objectives of the study are: (1) to quantify the change in land use/land cover (LULC) patterns and the degree of human disturbance in Mainland Portugal between 1990 and 2018, and (2) to study the relationship between LULC configuration and the impact resulting from human disturbance under different levels of intensity, to understand how changing trends in landscape pattern can serve as indicators to estimate landscape changes resulting from human actions. The Hemeroby index (HI) was calculated to quantify the impacts on ecosystems resulting from disturbance caused by human actions. Based on the Hemeroby index value analysis for the period between 1990 and 2018, the level of naturalness increased in 58% of the country, mainly in the south and east of Portugal. The landscape pattern was quantified using a set of metrics, namely Mean Patch Size (MPS), Mean Shape Index (MSI), Total Edge (TE), Mean Patch Fractal Dimension (MPFD), and Mean Perimeter-Area Ratio (MPAR). To identify the existing statistical correlations between the geometric parameters of the landscape and the HIs values, the Spearman method was used. At the landscape level, the metrics TE and MSI have a strong negative correlation with HI. This suggests that landscapes with greater structural complexity are good indicators of low levels of hemeroby. At the class level, edge density (ED) and mean patch size (MPS) showed a significant correlation with the Hemeroby index for seminatural areas (all metrics), artificial surfaces and forests (TE, MSI, and MPS), agricultural areas (TE, MPS, and MPFD), and Bare Ground (TE, MSI, and MPFD).

Removal of Phenols fromSynthetic Wastewater byHorseradish Peroxidase(HRP)

Plant peroxidase has a solid potential to remove phenol from wastewater. However, large-scale use of these enzymes for phenol removal requires a source of cheap, abundant, and easily accessible peroxidase-containing material. In this study, the horseradish peroxidase(HRP)removes the phenolic compound from the phenolic environment. The enzymatic method was used to show a reduction of toxicity between the treated and untreated phenolic solution. The HRP, with the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), reacted with the phenolic compound and produced a treated solution containing about 20% of phenol compared to the initial acidic solution. The concentration of the treated solution was then determined using UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. The effects of treating the acidic solution with HRPenzyme and H2O2were studied. The HRPenzyme decreases the amount of phenol present in an acidic solution by 80 %. The most effective concentrations for treating the acidic solution were HRPat 1.0 M and 1.0 M of H2O2at neutral pH.

Modelowanie numeryczne jako narzędzie do badania wybuchów wodoru

Currently, the burning of fossil fuels in industry or for transportation has a major negative impact on the environment. Most countries are concerned with environmental security and pollution regulation, motivating researchers around the world to find alternative solutions. An alternative solution may be the large-scale use of hydrogen. Applications of hydrogen in industry or for transportation face challenging conditions. Among other things, we are talking about pressures of up to 1000 bar, extreme temperatures starting from -253 °C (for liquefied hydrogen) and up to 650 °C - 950 °C (in the case of solid oxide electrolytic cells), as well as the imminent risk of explosion. This is because H2 has an extremely low ignition energy, with much wider flammability limits compared to other fuels such as methane or propane. Hydrogen is a highly reactive and explosive gas. Therefore, explosion protection is essential for all processes involving the use of hydrogen in one form or another. The same principles that are applied to natural gas can be applied. Hydrogen behaves similarly to methane in terms of explosion risk, meaning in principle that explosion protection works similarly for both gases. However, there are still many unknowns regarding the phenomenon of initiation and propagation of explosions caused by air-hydrogen mixtures. Taking into account the multiple aspects related to security techniques that must be taken into account for the use of hydrogen in industry or for transport, the current paper focuses on aspects with regard to the use of modern numerical modelling tools for increasing the occupational health and safety level in technological processes endangered by the occurrence of explosive atmospheres generated by air-hydrogen mixtures. It presents a review on the main research activities to be carried out within a the H2Model research project implemented between 2023 – 2026, project which focuses on numerical modelling on the ignition and propagation of explosions caused by air-hydrogen mixtures.

A pilot study of early childhood teachers’ views on teaching a structured physical education curriculum: challenges and recommendations

ABSTRACT Background Early childhood physical education (ECPE) is crucial for children’s development and lifelong learning. Children need developmentally appropriate, structured, and systematic opportunities in physical education (PE) to acquire fundamental physical skills, attitudes, values, and knowledge. The curriculum is the starting point for ensuring the educational success of all children. ECPE with a structured curriculum significantly influences children’s development and future quality of life, as a high-quality ECPE curriculum brings them physical, cognitive, academic, and affective developmental benefits. Teachers determine the quality of education through curriculum implementation and effective learning. Teachers’ attitudes and views are important factors for improving the quality of education. Much of the research has suggested requirements for early childhood teachers (ECTs) in implementing the curriculum. However, few studies have been conducted based on ECTs’ views regarding the implementation of a structured ECPE curriculum. Therefore, it is necessary to learn more about ECTs’ views on curriculum implementation. Purpose The pilot study analysed challenges ECTs face and their recommendations regarding a structured PE curriculum, the ‘Know It, Do It, Love It’ (KDL) curriculum implemented in a Chinese preschool, to assess how well it worked so that adaptations can be made for future large-scale use. Methodology This was a qualitative interpretivist study. The interpretivist research paradigm was used to better understand and interpret ECTs’ views based on their beliefs, values, and experiences. Six early childhood teachers in China participated in individual semi-structured interviews, and the data were analysed inductively via individual-case and cross-case analyses using the open code method. Findings The results revealed that the participants were extremely concerned about insufficient equipment, overloaded schedules, and a lack of professional training. Occasionally, inadequate equipment negatively affected children’s safety and interest in learning. The consistent heavy workload presented a significant challenge in implementing the curriculum. Participants were concerned that they did not have a professional background in PE, which resulted in reduced confidence in teaching the curriculum. Findings suggested that the structured PE curriculum should have activities suitable for indoor environments, develop specific lesson plans with detailed instructions, and secure parental support via a summary of empirical data on the benefits resulting from the curriculum. ECTs should have professional development opportunities to obtain PE knowledge and skills and maximise their willingness to improve their abilities to teach a structured PE curriculum. PE teachers should be provided with professional development in teaching language and improve their safety awareness.

Assessing effects of climate and technology uncertainties in large natural resource allocation problems

Abstract. The productivity of the world's natural resources is critically dependent on a variety of highly uncertain factors, which obscure individual investors and governments that seek to make long-term, sometimes irreversible, investments in their exploration and utilization. These dynamic considerations are poorly represented in disaggregated resource models, as incorporating uncertainty into large-dimensional problems presents a challenging computational task. In this paper, we apply the SCEQ algorithm (Cai and Judd, 2023) to solve a large-scale dynamic stochastic global land resource use problem with stochastic crop yields due to adverse climate impacts and limits on further technological progress. For the same model parameters and bounded shocks, the range of land conversion is considerably smaller for the dynamic stochastic model than for deterministic scenario analysis.

Effect of recycled agricultural waste on fume emission and physicochemical properties of crumb rubber modified asphalt

Crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) in the application process often produces lots of toxic fumes, and the composition is dominated by total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and H2S, which restricts its large-scale use in practical engineering. Therefore, three preferred agricultural wastes namely wood chip powder (WCP), peanut shell flour (PSF) and moxa stick ash (MSA) were added to CRMA to investigate their inhibition effect on CRMA fume in this work, and their inhibition mechanism on CRMA fume emission was discussed. Meanwhile, the influence effect of added agricultural waste on the physicochemical properties of CRMA was further analyzed and the modification mechanism was also explored. The experimental results indicate that the incorporated WCP, PSF and MSA can all inhibit the emission of TVOCs and H2S in CRMA to varying degrees. Compared with CRMA, the TVOCs concentrations of CRMA-WCP, CRMA-PSF and CRMA-MSA are reduced by 36.87 %, 11.72 % and 46.22 % under 190°C, respectively, while the H2S concentrations can be reduced by 53.45 %, 5.03 % and 62.67 %, respectively. The three agricultural wastes contain different mesoporous structures and their inhibition of CRMA fume is dominated by physical adsorption. Moreover, the added WCP, PSF and MSA can also synergize with crumb rubber to strengthen the rutting resistance of asphalt and upgrade the elastic recovery capacity of asphalt under different loads, and the enhancement effect is in the order of WCP > PSF > MSA. In summary, the three agricultural wastes preferred in this research are effective in suppressing the emission of toxic fumes from CRMA while improving its working performance, which can provide a new avenue for fume suppression in CRMA and multi-channel utilization of agricultural waste.

Experimental investigation of the hydrogen storage capacity in LaNi3.6Al0.4Mn0.3Co0.7 alloy

The development of efficient and safe hydrogen storage technologies is essential for the large-scale use of hydrogen as an energy source. Metal hydride compounds, such as LaNi5 are suitable for hydrogen storage. This study investigates the hydrogen storage properties of the LaNi3·6Al0·4Mn0·3CoO.7 metallic powder, focusing on the influence of temperature and pressure on its hydrogen absorption capacity. The compound was characterized by structural and thermal methods. XRD diffraction confirmed the formation of multiphase LaNi5, La2Ni3 and also the presence of very small amounts of free Ni phase, while FTIR spectroscopy identified the vibrational modes and provided information on the functional groups and chemical bands present in the sample. SEM showed the morphology and grain size distribution of the compound. DSC measurements were used to determine the specific heat capacity. Hydrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms were measured across a temperature range from Tfluid = 20 °C to Tfluid = 40 °C, with an applied hydrogen pressure of 15 bar. The findings revealed that the LaNi3·6Al0·4Mn0·3CoO.7 alloy exhibited its highest hydrogen absorption capacity, approximately 9.3 g/kg, at Tfluid = 15 °C. Furthermore, experimental investigations were conducted to analyze the influence of temperature and hydrogen pressure on the absorption quantity.

Pyridinic-N induced reversible adsorption of high-boiling-point organic gases on functionalized mesoporous carbon

Adsorptive capture of high-boiling-point organic gases (HBPOs) from hot flue gases is a key process in industry to tackle related environmental health or equipment clogging issues. However, few porous sorbents simultaneously achieve satisfactory adsorption capacity and regenerability due to strong affinity for HBPOs, compromising the economic viability and hindering the large-scale use of conventional disposable sorbents. In this work, we attempt to address this challenge by developing a functionalized mesoporous carbon (FMC) via the solution combustion synthesis method. Breakthrough experiments on phenanthrene and pyrene as representative HBPOs show that the FMC with lotus-shaped carbon sheet network, abundant 4–8 nm-concentrated mesoporosity, and oxygen/nitrogen-doped surface obtains unprecedented great capacity (1–2 orders of magnitude higher than reported values) and regenerability (peak desorption temperatures lower than respective boiling points). In situ characterizations and DFT simulations demonstrate the interfered π–π complexation as a highly reversible interaction between the carbonyl/pyridinic N-paired site and the polyaromatic adsorbate. The recyclability of FMC was demonstrated by negligible capacity reduction after 10 sorption cycles. This work showcases the potential for improving the economic feasibility of HBPOs capture by reducing the energy penalty and extending the sorbent lifetime.

Toxicological, morphological and cytochemical effects caused by the agrochemical Fastac Duo in africanized Apis mellifera tolerant to neonicotinoid thiamethoxam

Agriculture is one of the main bases of the Brazilian economy, its production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds is breaking records. This great productivity needs handling and care to maintain itself. Due to the occurrence of pests there is a need to use agrochemicals, which in addition to their direct effect on killing insect pests, also affects the viability of beneficial insects to Apis mellifera bees. These insects play an essential role in the pollination of many species. These pollinators have declined for at least 14 years due to several factors, including the large-scale use of agrochemicals. Thus, our research group is maintaining colonies of A. mellifera bees tolerant to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, given the importance of this agrochemical in pest control. Due to the high number of available agrochemicals, in the present study the toxicity, changes in chromatin and morphology of the midgut of workers A. mellifera F4 tolerant to thiamehtoxam, submitted to oral exposure with the agrochemical Fastac Duo (combination of acetamiprid and alpha -cipermethrin). Adult forage workers of A. mellifera F4 tolerant were collected and submitted to in vitro bioassays, by oral exposure for 24 and 72 hours. After this period, the workers were analyzed to check for mortality, dose/response ratio, using the cytochemical technique Critical Electrolyte Concentration (CEC). The most digestion occurs in bees to observe the morphology of this region of the digestive tract. The results showed that there was a high mortality of workers in the treatments performed indicating that there is no cross tolerance, that is, F4 is not tolerant to Fastac Duo, but there is a positive dose/response correlation, where the higher the dose used, the greater the mortality. The changes in the chromatin structure suggest that there is condensation of the chromatin and a decrease in gene expression in two concentrations analyzed at 24 and 72 hours. As for the morphology of the midgut, changes were detected at the cellular level, but the peritrophic membrane was preserved. Thus, the use of Fastac Duo should be avoided, or at least, used in minimum doses necessary to avoid the mortality of A. mellifera bees.

Optimal scheduling of energy routers based on distributed CAES systems

Abstract With the rise of renewable energy, distributed energy, and other different forms of energy, the architecture and function of the energy router are relatively perfect, for the topology of the energy router itself, different forms of energy in the energy router flow, conversion to realize the large-scale use of distributed energy equipment has also gradually become a hot spot of research. However, there are fewer studies on the energy router with a distributed CAES system to participate in the optimal scheduling of energy for integrated energy systems. Therefore, this paper is based on the operational domain model of an energy router with a distributed CAES system and analyzes the physical characteristics and coupling relationship of non-energy storage components, takes air pressure, temperature, and oil volume as state variables, takes charging, power generation, and heating power as external interfaces, and utilizes internal interface variables such as air quality and flow rate to realize energy storage, flow, and other internal interface variables to realize the communication between energy storage and non-energy storage elements, and finally determine the operation domain of the system. Secondly, the feasible domain of the energy router based on the distributed CAES system is portrayed, and the optimization of the system parameters is guided with the help of the relative distance by establishing the electric and thermal power constraints and the storage state constraints. Finally, the effectiveness of the feasible domain analysis method in the energy router of a distributed CAES system is verified by taking a northern region as an example.

Resistance differences of representative model microorganisms in different disinfection processes: ZIF-67, UVC and ozone

Due to their inherent nature, each type of microorganism exhibits unique resistance to various disinfection processes. Disinfection with nanomaterials represents a promising technology that has garnered significant interest. Among them, ZIF material has antibacterial and antiviral activities, and ZIF-67 material is a new type of nanomaterial that can effectively kill bacteria and viruses, with the potential for large-scale use. Therefore, in this paper, we investigate the differences between nanomaterial disinfection techniques (employing ZIF-67) and traditional inactivation techniques (e.g., ultraviolet-C and ozone). Phage MS2 and PhiX174 and their respective host E. coli were chosen as the representative microorganisms. Our findings indicate that phages exhibit greater resistance to ZIF-67 and traditional disinfection techniques than bacteria, but different techniques show specific disinfection effects on the three disinfection microorganisms. Considering the differences, choosing appropriate disinfection techniques based on the characteristics of the disinfected substances in practical disinfection technology selection is essential.