Percentage Of Destruction Research Articles

Synergistic action of bacteriophage and metabolites of Pseudomonas fluorescens JB3B and Streptomyces thermocarboxydus 18PM against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus and their biofilm

BackgroundFoodborne disease and food spoilage are the prime public health issue and food security round the globe. Significant disease outbreaks mostly linked to the existence of pathogenic bacteria that extremely challenging due to the persistence of biofilm-forming. Proteins and bacterial metabolites have been shown to have good antibacterial activity and effectively removal bacterial biofilm. Recently, bacteriophage and their encoded lytic proteins such as lysin have attracted attention as potential alternative agent to control undesirable pathogens in human body infection, increasing food safety as advance preservations and medical treatment such as phage therapy. For these reasons, the efficacy of bacteriophage and their potential in combination with bacterial metabolites from Phyllosphere and Actinomycetes bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens JB3B and Streptomyces thermocarboxydus 18PM crude extracts) was the aim of this present study.ResultsIn this study, bacteriophage BC-VP (1.28 ± 0.29 × 1011 PFU/ml) and ETEC-phage-TG (8.9 ± 2.19 × 108 PFU/ml) isolated from artificial lake water from previous study showed potential activity to control Bacillus cereus (BC) and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) population. The combination of BC-VP with metabolite (P. fluorescens JB3B and S. thermocarboxydus 18PM) which were known from previous study had antibiofilm activities were able to inhibit (86.1%; 83.3%) and destruct (41%; 45.5%) biofilm formation of B. cereus respectively. Likewise, the synergy of bacteriophage ETEC-phage-TG with the same crude extract also showed promising activity against biofilm of ETEC with percentage of inhibition (81.9%; 76.4%) and percentage of destruction (54.1%; 44.4%). Application in various food, combination of BC-VP and bacterial metabolite extract (P. fluorescens JB3B; S. thermocarboxydus 18PM) were able to reduce Bacillus cereus population in mashed potato (99.6%; 99.4%) at cold temperature (4 °C) and (68.9%; 56.6%) at room temperature (28 °C), boiled pasta (99.5%; 99.4%) and (84.7%; 75.7%), also soymilk (96.9%; 96.7%) and (42.4%; 39.4%) respectively. Likewise, combination of ETEC-phage-TG and bacterial metabolite (P. fluorescens JB3B; S. thermocarboxydus 18PM) potentially reduced ETEC population after two different temperatures (4 °C and 28 °C) incubation in bean sprouts (TFTC; TFTC) and (47.5%; 49.1%), chicken meat (TFTC; TFTC) and (58.1%; 54%), also minced beef (99.5%; 99.4%) and (41.1%; 28%). GC-MS determination performed, oxalic acid, phenol, phenylethyl alcohol, N-hexadecanoic acid, and pyrolol[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexadro-3-92-methylpropyl was the most active compound in P. fluorescens JB3B. 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, phenyl acetic acid, N-Hexadecanoic acid, pyrolol[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexadro-3-92-methylpropyl, and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was most active compound in the S. thermocarboxydus 18PM isolates.ConclusionsThe combination of isolated bacteriophages and bacterial metabolite showed promising results to be used as biocontrol candidate to overcome biofilm formed by foodborne and food spoilage bacteria using their ability to produce antibiofilm compounds and lytic activity. In addition, this combination also potentially reduces the use or replace the drawbacks of common application such as antibiotic treatment.

Reformer + Membrane separator plant for decarbonized hydrogen production from Biogas/Biomethane: An experimental study combined to energy efficiency and exergy analyses

Nowadays, the world energy production is still based on the exploitation of fossil fuels, mainly oil, coal, and natural gas, responsible for large greenhouse emissions in the environment. According to the measures proposed by the European Green Deal to meet the carbon neutrality by 2050, the decarbonisation of the global energy production processes represents a top priority. Hydrogen represents a carbon-free energy carrier, useful to drive the society toward a decarbonized-economy. The novelty of this work is represented by the experimental generation of clean hydrogen by a two stages plant constituted of a biogas/biomethane steam reformer and a Pd-Ag membrane separator, meanwhile applying on this simple case the methodology of the exergy analysis, identifying the main losses and suggesting improvements. Hence, it deals with the exergy analysis of the whole system with the process intensification operated by the membrane separator adopted instead of using several stages to separate/purify hydrogen − as conventionally done after the reforming stage (two water gas shift reactors, high and low temperature, followed by a pressure swing adsorption stage) − with the objective of recovering decarbonized hydrogen coming from the biogas/biomethane steam reformer, meeting the European targets indicated by the Clean Hydrogen Alliance. This approach allowed to understand the amount of irreversibilities present in such a system as well as how the thermal efficiency may be influenced by a number of parameters, constituting globally a baseline for the scaling up of this process technology from lab to bench/pilot scale. The best results of this work highlight that the utilization of biomethane in the feed stream to generate hydrogen resulted to be a better choice than biogas in terms of thermal efficiency (based on the lower heating value) of the whole system, equal to 73 % at 773 K, while the highest percentage of exergy destruction was concentrated in the condensation stage, with values varying between 76 % and 93 %, depending on the feed stream typology. The two stages system was able to meet the “decarbonized hydrogen production target 2027”, with a hydrogen recovery of 90 % and a purity of 99.9999 %. Last but not least, the overall exergy destroyed efficiency of the overall system in the two analyzed cases was 92 % (biomethane feed stream) and 88 % (biogas feed stream), respectively.

Effects of food waste biogas residue composting on soil aggregates and its organic matter content in relocation site

Understanding the effects of food waste biogas residue composting and chemical amendments on soil aggregates composition of different particle sizes, stability, and organic matter distribution in relocation sites could provide primary data for improving soil quality and land utilization of food waste biogas residue composting. We analyzed the characteristics of soil aggregates distribution, stability of aggregates, and organic matter content in different particle sizes under treatments with different application amounts of food waste biogas residue composting, chemical amendments (β-cyclodextrin, calcium sulfate and ferric oxide were mixed at a mass ratio of 1:1:1), and control (100% soil). The results showed that 20% (soil: biogas residue composting=8:2) and 30% (soil: biogas residue composting =7:3) biogas residue composting significantly decreased the micro-aggregates content with the particle size of <0.106 mm and increased the large aggregates content with the particle size of 0.5-1.0 mm. All treatments significantly increased large aggregates content with the particle size of ≥2.0 mm, soil aggregate structure content, and mean weight diameter, but reduced the percentage of aggregate destruction. Among all the treatments, the effect of mixes application of 20% biogas residue composting and chemical amendments was the best. Biogas residue composting treatments significantly affected the distribution of organic matter in soil aggregates, with the strongest effect under 30% biogas residue composting treatment. Biogas residue composting treatments significantly increased soil organic matter content in all aggregates, with the maximal increase of organic matter content in soil micro-aggregates with the particle size of 0.106-0.25 mm. In conclusion, biogas residue composting could increase organic matter content of soil aggregates in different particle sizes, promote the formation of large soil aggregates, and improve the stability of aggregation. Specifically, the mixed application of biogas residue composting and chemical amendments performed better on soil improvement in relocation site.

Ovicidal Effect of Disinvasive Substances on the Eggs of Nematodiroses Causative Agents

The article deals with the study of the disinvasive effects of various percentage solutions of chemical substances on the eggs of nematodes in cattle under in vitro conditions. Based on the results obtained during the experiments, carried out under in vitro conditions it was found that 3.0% and 5.0% solutions of the deltatrine preparation destroy nematode eggs by 100%, and 3.0% and 5.0% solutions of the citrine preparation by 72.2-80.0%. In a concrete test object, with a 3-hour exposure, helminth eggs (1200 eggs) were destroyed by 100% from the impact of a 3.0% deltathrine preparation, by 63.6% from the impact of a 3.0% citrine solution (800 eggs), and by 58.3% from the impact of 4.0% phenol (700 eggs). Also on a wooden test object, with a 3-hour exposure, helminth eggs (1200 eggs) were destroyed by 100% from the impact of 3.0% deltathrine preparation, by 58.3% from the impact of a 3.0% citrine (700 eggs), and by 63.6% from the impact of 4.0% phenol solutions (600 eggs). For control purposes, ordinary water was added to the helminth eggs, and no decrease in their number was detected. At the next stage, having isolated them from other areas, 4 plots of 1 m2 each were allocated. For the purpose of the experiment, 93.3% of eggs died on a plot sprayed with a 3.0% solution of the deltatrine preparation, 66.7% of eggs died on a plot sprayed with a 3.0% solution of the citrine preparation, and 60.0% of eggs died on a plot sprayed with a 4.0% solution of phenol. Since under in vitro conditions, due to the direct effect of disinvasive substances on Nematodirus eggs, the eggs die quickly, however, in test objects, due to the fact that the eggs are mixed with feces on an area of 1 m2, the duration of action of chemicals increases, and the percentage of destruction of helminth eggs decreases.

A new CO2 refrigeration system with two-phase ejector and parallel compression for supermarkets

This study explores the integration of parallel compression and a two-phase ejector in transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems, aiming to improve efficiency and performance. This innovative approach bridges the gap between conventional approaches and explores new energy-saving potential. The study uses thermodynamic modeling, mathematical simulation, and in-depth analysis to look at energy and exergy performance in a new configuration for applications in the retail sector at medium evaporation temperatures. The work investigates thermodynamic phenomena in a novel cycle with steady-state conditions, low pressure differentials, and adiabatic efficiency. The model is validated against experimental and theoretical published data, revealing component-specific exergy destruction and key parameters. The novel cycle efficiently extracts heat at higher temperatures, outperforming conventional and parallel cycles. Exergetic efficiency surpasses the standard cycle, with gas cooler pressure and temperature dependence enhancing efficiency by 40%–45%. The distribution of exergy destruction percentages reveals efficiency determinants, emphasizing heat exchange optimization and ejector responsiveness in energy dissipation dynamics. The study investigates the coefficient of performance (COP) dependence on gas cooler pressure and temperature, revealing superior performance compared to conventional cycles. COP increases by 50% at 80 bars, indicating enhanced efficiency. The new cycle offers exceptional efficiency gains, with a COP enhancement of over 75% for evaporator temperature transitions. Comparative analysis shows a COP superiority of up to 53% for lower evaporator temperatures and 20% for higher evaporator temperatures, demonstrating substantial energy savings and improved performance across various operating conditions.

Humic acid application on soil stability indices and enzyme activity at different bell pepper water requirements

Use of organic materials helps in reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers, contributing to the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. Humic acid can improve soil structure, especially in soils with low clay content, aiding in water retention and enhancing water absorption by plants. This characteristic has led to the attention of humic acid application in drought stress, particularly in arid soil regions. The present study aimed to investigate the simultaneous effects of humic acid and plant water requirements on the physical and biological properties of soil under bell pepper cultivation. The factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with three levels of humic acid: 0 (HA0), 2 (HA2), and 4 (HA4) g/Kg of soil and four levels of plant water requirements: 60 (L60), 80 (L80), 100 (L100), and 120 % (L120), with four replications under greenhouse conditions. Bell pepper seedlings were transferred to 10 Kg pots after applying humic acid treatments and after the establishing of seedlings, plant water requirement treatments were applied for 80 days. During this period, plants were maintained at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius during the day, 18 degrees Celsius at night, and a relative humidity of 75%, with a carbon dioxide concentration of 80 milligrams per liter. The results of this study showed that treatments L80HA4, L100HA4, and L120HA4 had the most significant impact on improving soil physical properties, such as normal stability index, total soil stability index, mean weight diameter of soil particles, soil particle stability, geometric mean diameter of soil particles, and reduction in soil particle destruction percentage. The highest values of wet and dry weight diameter of soil particles were observed in treatment L100HA4, which were 42.92%, 74%, and 67.01% higher, respectively, compared to the control (L60HA0). In contrast, the highest percentage of soil particle destruction was observed in treatment L60HA0, showing a 32.90% increase compared to treatment L100HA4. Furthermore, the best performance of bell pepper yield was observed in treatments L80HA4, L100H4, and L120HA4, although the differences between treatments were not statistically significant. The application of humic acid, in addition to improving bell pepper yield, increased water use efficiency and reduced water use. The lowest yield (3283 Kg/ha) and the lowest water consumption (3584 cubic meters/ha) were observed in treatments L60HA0 and L60HA4, respectively. Additionally, the results showed that the highest water use efficiency observed in L80HA4 treatment (7.45 Kg/m³), while the lowest was in L60HA0 treatment (0.80 Kg/m³). Moreover, humic acid significantly influenced the activity of soil enzymes, including soil phosphatase and urease. With more application of humic acid, soil moisture retention, microbial biomass carbon, urease, phosphatases activities increased. However, in treatments with full water requirements and 20 percent more than plant water requirements, enzyme activities decreased.

Long-Term Maize Intercropping with Peanut and Phosphorus Application Maintains Sustainable Farmland Productivity by Improving Soil Aggregate Stability and P Availability

The intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) and peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) (M||P) significantly enhances crop yield. In a long-term M||P field experiment with two P fertilizer levels, we examined how long-term M||P affects topsoil aggregate fractions and stability, organic carbon (SOC), available phosphorus (AP), and total phosphorus (TP) in each aggregate fraction, along with crop yields. Compared to their respective monocultures, long-term M||P substantially increased the proportion of topsoil mechanical macroaggregates (7.6–16.3%) and water-stable macroaggregates (&gt;1 mm) (13.8–36.1%), while reducing the unstable aggregate index (ELT) and the percentage of aggregation destruction (PAD). M||P significantly boosted the concentration (12.9–39.9%) and contribution rate (4.1–47.9%) of SOC in macroaggregates compared to single crops. Moreover, the concentration of TP in macroaggregates (&gt;1 mm) and AP in each aggregate fraction of M||P exceeded that of the respective single crops (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, M||P significantly increased the Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Al-P, and Fe-P concentrations of intercropped maize (IM) and the Ca8-P, O-P, and Ca10-P concentrations of intercropped peanuts (IP). The land equivalent ratio (LER) of M||P was higher than one, and M||P stubble improved the yield of subsequent winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) compared with sole-crop maize stubble. P application augmented the concentration of SOC, TP, and AP in macroaggregates, resulting in improved crop yields. In conclusion, our findings suggest that long-term M||P combined with P application sustains farmland productivity in the North China Plain by increasing SOC and macroaggregate fractions, improving aggregate stability, and enhancing soil P availability.

Transient exergy analysis of ejector cooling and thermoelectric generator systems using heat storage and parabolic trough collector for residential buildings

The large amount of energy consumption has attracted the attention to exploiting renewable energy sources, the most significant of which are solar energy applications in hot climates to meet the demands of cooling and power. The novelty of the present study lies in applying transient exergy analysis to two ejectors and two evaporators in an ejector cooling cycle. Furthermore, the study uses solar data specific to Tehran in Iran. Third, by absorbing waste heat from the hot parts of the condenser, the thermoelectric generator system provides the energy needed to run the pumping and electrical control systems, thereby creating a fully autonomous system. Thermodynamic model have been designed using EES software. The results of Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) have validated the parabolic trough solar model. The comparison with the experimental data collected by SNL during the LS-2 tests on the AZTRAK platform has shown good agreement. Weather conditions were analyzed as transients using Meteonorm software. The results show that the solar system produced the most heat in June and the least in December, with 816 kW and 262.3 kW, respectively. Additionally, production power and cooling in June are 5.9 kW and 86 kW, and in December: 2.7 kW and 28 kW. Regarding exergy destruction percentages, the solar collector has 86% and the storage tank has 6.5%.

How Much Subtalar and Ankle Joint Surface are Actually Destroyed when Reaming for Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) Nailing? A Cadaveric Study

Category: Ankle; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) nailing in the setting of acute ankle trauma has become increasingly popular over the last decade, with expanding indications. Potential advantages of TTC nailing include: less soft tissue dissection, decreased wound burden, and earlier weightbearing. No consensus exists as to whether formal joint preparation is necessary, and at one or both joints. While some argue that joint preparation is not necessary due to inherent joint destruction from the injury and reaming during TTC nailing, others advocate for preparation to facilitate fusion and ensure no further motion occurs at the joint which could lead to nonunion and/or hardware failure. The purpose of this study was to quantify the proportion of ankle and subtalar joint articular surface destruction associated with reaming for TTC nail fixation. Methods: Twelve cadaver feet from 6 specimens were procured. The specimens were reduced and pinned into neutral ankle dorsiflexion and neutral hindfoot alignment. Prior to reaming, each specimen was secured in a simulated supine position. Per standard TTC nailing technique, a 3.0 millimeter (mm) guide wire was inserted under fluoroscopy, retrograde from the calcaneus, through the talus, and into the tibia, followed by a 12mm opening reamer. The specimens were then dissected, exposing the tibial plafond (TP), talar dome (TD), posterior facet of the talus (PFT), and posterior facet of the calcaneus (PFC). Clinical images of each joint were obtained at an angle of 90 degrees and 12 centimeters (cm) from the joint surface. The images were processed using the ImageJ software platform. The total joint surface area, area of articular destruction, and the remaining joint surface area were calculated. The percentage of joint destruction associated with reaming was then calculated. Results: The mean surface area values and percentages of articular surface destruction are summarized in Table 1. The mean surface area (cm2) after reaming was 11.82, 13.70, 9.23, and 7.79 for the TP, TD, PFT, PFC, respectively. The percentage of articular cartilage destruction was 9.32%, 10.33%, 8.89%, and 10.28% for the TP, TD, PFT, PFC, respectively. No joint destruction was observed in the middle facets of the subtalar joint. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that reaming for TTC nail placement involves only a small portion (roughly 8-10%) of each of the articular surfaces of the ankle and subtalar joints. Violation of the middle facet of the subtalar joint did not occur. These results suggest that a significant portion of hindfoot articular surface remains after reaming for TTC nail. Formal joint preparation may be beneficial to aid with fusion after TTC nail placement, particularly when used in younger, more active individuals who sustain hindfoot and ankle trauma.

Performance evaluation of once-through steam generator of a 626 MW supercritical oil-fired steam power plant under a variable operating load

Unforeseeable growth in the global population needs growing technological advances in establishing power plants to overcome this critical issue by reducing greenhouse gases. In the present study, a thermodynamic analysis for a 626 MW supercritical oil-fired steam power plant under different operating loads of 50%, 75%, 100%, and 105% at a sliding-pressure operation is conducted. Based on the actual operation of the examined plant, the results show that the condenser has the highest energy loss. As well, at a 100% full load, 88.6% of the total exergy is destructed in the once-through steam generator, followed by the turbine, and then the condenser. Hence, a significant concern is introduced toward the steam generator since it has the largest exergy destruction percentage relative to other cycle components. The heat transfer sets inside a once-through steam generator are studied and analyzed. The exergy destruction in the combustion process represents 58.6% and 54% of the overall boiler exergy destruction at an operating load of 50% and 100%, respectively. In addition, the evaporator has higher exergy destruction in comparison with other heating surfaces in the furnace.

Responses of water‐stable aggregates, their associated organic carbon and crop yield to the application of biogas slurry in a fluvo‐aquic soil of the North China plain

AbstractCrop productivity under intensive agriculture depends on the maintenance of fertility and soil structure. Chemical fertilizers are effective in supplying nutrients for crops but eventually lead to loss of the soil organic carbon that is important in supporting soil structure. Biogas slurry is an alternative to chemical fertilizers that potentially can both provide nutrients and promote organic carbon content. A field experiment was conducted to compare the effects of applying biogas slurry (BS), chemical fertilizer (CF) or a combination of both with 50% of nitrogen derived from each (BSCF) and no fertilizer application control (CK) to a fluvo‐aquic soil of the North China Plain. All fertilizer application treatments had equal nutrient supply and were continuously applied over 4 years. Annual yields of wheat and maize were determined. Water‐stable aggregates in size classes &gt;5 mm, 2–5 mm, 0.25–2 mm, 0.053–0.25 mm and &lt;0.053 mm in the topsoil of 20 cm were separated by wet sieving; mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), percentage of aggregates destruction (PAD) and fractal dimension (D) were derived. The concentrations of organic carbon associated with the aggregates were measured, and the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) was quantified. Fertilizer application treatments enhanced total crop yield by 49.1%–75.0%. Fertilizer application also increased the mass proportions of water‐stable macro‐aggregates by 81.6%–164.4%, MWD by 100.0%–264.3%, GMD by 54.5%–227.3%, while decreasing PAD by 15.4%–47.8% and D by 1.0%–3.8% (all relative to CK). The highest proportions of macro‐aggregates, the greatest aggregate stability and the greatest crop yield all resulted from BSCF. All fertilizer application treatments substantially increased the SOC content of water‐stable aggregates, with greater relative contribution in macro‐aggregates. Increased SOC in macro‐aggregates was mainly attributable to mass proportion changes rather than changes in their SOC concentrations. However, SOC concentration tended to account for a larger proportion of the total changes in micro‐aggregates. BSCF also produced the highest total soil organic carbon stocks in aggregates (40.3% and 57.3% greater than CF and CK, respectively). Our work demonstrates that half substitution of chemical fertilizer with biogas slurry is a practical management to enhance soil aggregation and its stability that is associated with a higher crop yield than either treatment individually. It also promotes organic carbon accumulation in soil aggregates, which will support sustainable agricultural development in fluvo‐aquic soil.

Responses of soil aggregate stability and soil erosion resistance to different bedrock strata dip and land use types in the karst trough valley of Southwest China

Soil aggregate stability is an important index that reflects soil quality and anti-erosion ability and strongly affects soil processes and functions. Bedrock strata dips (dip and anti-dip slopes) and land use types primarily influence soil aggregate stability, whereas the detailed mechanisms are unclear in karst trough valley. Therefore, to explore the effects of bedrock strata dip and land use type on soil aggregate stability in karst trough valleys, soils were collected from five major land use types (abandoned land, grassland, pepper fields, corn fields and forest) on dip and anti-dip slopes. The soil was fractionated into macroaggregates and microaggrates using dry and wet sieving analysis. The soil particle size distributions in the macroaggregates and microaggregates were measured in conventional laboratories. The results showed significant differences in soil aggregate stability among different bedrock strata dips, slope positions, and land use types (P < 0.05). The variation ranges of macroaggregates and microaggregates in the pepper fields of the dip slope were higher than those on the anti-dip slope. Comparing all land use types, the forest of the anti-dip slope had >0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (85.31%) and mean weight diameter (2.67 mm) on the upper slope compared to that in the other slope positions of the dip slope. In addition, the dip slope had a higher percentage of aggregate destruction (35.57%) than the anti-dip slope (29.81%), and the soil erodibility factor value of the natural forest of the dip/anti-dip slope was significantly lower than that of the other land use types (P < 0.05). When the content of large macroaggregates was larger, the soil macroaggregate weight was greater. When the failure rate of the soil aggregates was lower, the stability of the soil structure was better. Overall, these results suggest that natural forests can significantly improve the stability of soil aggregates, thereby improving soil erosion resistance. Therefore, natural recovery measures should be implemented on dip/anti-dip slopes of karst trough valleys.

Exergy Analysis of Transcritical CO2 Air-Source Heat Pump with Honeycomb Gas Cooler

In order to build an efficient and energy-saving CO2 heat pump system and to improve the heat transfer efficiency of the gas cooler, a novel honeycomb gas cooler with a compact structure, high heat transfer efficiency, and high pressure-bearing capacity was proposed in our previous work. To clarify the components in the system that need further optimization and to improve its performance, an exergy analysis of a transcritical CO2 air-source heat pump system with the novel honeycomb gas cooler is studied in this paper. Based on the second law of thermodynamics, the exergy model of each component in the heat pump system is established, and the irreversible loss of each component is analyzed. In addition, the degree of energy loss of the honeycomb gas cooler is clarified, and the possibility and direction of system optimization are pointed out. The results show that the exergy efficiency of the system is 35.33% under nominal operating conditions, and there is a lot of room for improvement in its energy utilization. The three components with the largest exergy destruction percentage are the compressor, throttle valve, and evaporator in the order of 36.13%, 22.90%, and 19.51%, respectively. These components with high exergy destruction percentages are the main reasons for the large irreversible losses of the system.

Comparative assessment of macro-,micro- and molecular rheological factors in patients with ischemic stroke. (Preliminary results)

Currently, the main cause of death in the developed countries of the world arediseasesofthecirculatorysystem,includingvasculardiseasesofthebrain.are diseases of the circulatory system, including vascular diseases of the brain. Thedevelopmentandimplementationofnewprogramsandmethodsfordi-The development and implementation of new programs and methods for di-agnosing,treatingandpreventingcerebrovasculardiseasesisthemostimport-agnosing, treating and preventing cerebrovascular diseases is the most import-antmedical,socialandeconomictask.Prioritizationoffundamentalstudiesinant medical, social and economic task. Prioritization of fundamental studies in thefieldsofneurologyandangiologyhasbeenthestudyofpathophysiologicalthe fi elds of neurology and angiology has been the study of pathophysiological mechanismsofischemicstrokedevelopment,asstudyofrheologicalproperties.mechanisms of ischemic stroke development, as study of rheological properties. Ourgoalwastostudyagroupofpatientswithischemicbrainstroke.OurgroupOur goal was to study a group of patients with ischemic brain stroke. Our group wasfrom10peoplewithanaverageage72±5,4years,thecontrolgroupcon-was from 10 people with an average age 72±5,4 years, the control group con-sistedofvolunteersaged69±2,3years(n=12).Allsubjectsunderwentthefol-sisted of volunteers aged 69±2,3 years (n=12). All subjects underwent the fol-lowingstudies1)Tomonitoracrorheologicalfactors,weexaminedhematocritlowing studies 1) To monitor acrorheological factors, we examined hematocrit andplasmaviscosity.ForthisweusedHumanCounter,Germany.2)Tomonitorand plasma viscosity. For this we used HumanCounter, Germany. 2) To monitor macrorheologicalfactors,westudiedtheaggregabilityoferythrocytesandthemacrorheological factors, we studied the aggregability of erythrocytes and the deformabilityoferythrocytemembranes.Forthisweusedthetextureanalysisdeformability of erythrocyte membranes. For this we used the texture analysis methodandthefiltrationmethod.Itturnedoutthatinthegroupofpatientsmethod and the fi ltration method. It turned out that in the group of patients withischemicstroke,allparameterswerechanged,butthepercentageofsignifi-with ischemic stroke, all parameters were changed, but the percentage of significant destruction was most observed in the direction of microrheological factors, moreprecisely,theaggregationoferythrocyteschangedbymorethan2timesmore precisely, the aggregation of erythrocytes changed by more than 2 times comparedtothecontrolgroup.Ourpreliminaryexperimentshaveshownthatcompared to the control group. Our preliminary experiments have shown that erythrocyteaggregationisanecessaryparameterforassessingbloodrheology.erythrocyte aggregation is a necessary parameter for assessing blood rheology

Mesospheric Ozone Depletion Depending on Different Levels of Geomagnetic Disturbances and Seasons

Energetic electron precipitation (EEP) into the atmosphere are considered to play an important role in the natural forcing of the ozone variability and dynamics of the middle atmosphere during magnetospheric and geomagnetic disturbances. Energetic electrons from the radiation belt spill out into the atmosphere during geomagnetic disturbances and cause additional ionization rates in the polar middle atmosphere. These rates of induced atmospheric ionization lead to the formation of radicals in ion-molecular reactions at the heights of the mesosphere with the formation of reactive compounds of odd nitrogen groups NOy and odd hydrogen groups HOx. These compounds are involved in catalytic reactions that destroy ozone. The percentage of ozone destruction can depend not only intensity of EEP but also on season where it happens. In this work, we study mesospheric ozone depletion depending on seasons and precipitating energetic electrons with energies from keV up to relativistic energies about 1 MeV, based on the NOAA POES satellites observations in 2003. For estimation ozone deplation we use a one-dimensional radiative-convective model with ion chemistry. As one of the main results, we show that, despite the intensity of EEP-induced ionization rates, polar mesospheric ozone cannot be destroyed by EEP in summer in the presence of UV radiation. In winter time, the maximum ozone depletion, at altitude of about 80 km, can reach up to 80% during strong geomagnetic disturbances. In fall and spring, the maximum ozone depletion is less intense and can reach 20% during strong geomagnetic disturbances. Linear relation of EEP induced maximum mesospheric ozone depletion depending on geomagnetic disturbances and seasons have been obtained.

Analysis of multi-cascade CCHP system with gas turbine bypass extraction air energy storage

The operational load of gas turbine can be regulated by using compressor bypass extraction. In this paper, a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system integrating gas turbine cycle (GTC), compressed air energy storage (CAES), supercritical CO2 Brayton recompression cycle (SCRC), organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and absorption refrigeration cycle (ARC) is proposed. The use of CAES not only enables flexible recovery of waste heat and load demand regulation, but also enables effective storage and secondary use of bypass extracted air from the compressor. The temperature of the graded expanded air is reduced and returned to the gas turbine unit, improving its thermal performance. The exergy and economic analyses show that the GTC has the largest percentage of both exergy destruction and investment cost rates, over 60%. Under the proposed operation model, the payback period of a single gas turbine is 4.12 years, and the payback period of the proposed CCHP system is 2.44 years. Thermodynamic, economic and environmental evaluation models are established to analyze the system performance at different loads. At the lowest load operation, the energy efficiency of the CCHP system can reach 75.99%, the exergy efficiency is 45.89%, the unit energy cost is 0.032 $/kWh, and the greenhouse gas equivalent emission is 0.313 kgCO2e/kWh. Compared with the other four cascade waste heat recovery systems, the proposed CCHP system greatly improves the thermodynamic performance and reduces the unit energy cost rate and greenhouse gas equivalent emissions, especially under low load operation conditions.

The Impacts of the Hydrological Regime on the Soil Aggregate Size Distribution and Stability in the Riparian Zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

The impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) has greatly altered the hydrological regime and thus formed a distinctive riparian zone with anti-seasonal inundation and exposure, which may affect the soil aggregate properties in this riparian zone. Yet, the soil aggregate size distribution and stability influenced by the hydrological regime along the step-impounded elevation have rarely been documented. This study aimed to elucidate how the hydrological regime of the TGR affected the aggregate size distribution and stability in the riparian zone. Based on the step-impounded elevation, topsoil samples were collected from four elevation-dependent transects in a middle section of the TGR. Dry-sieving and wet-sieving methods were employed. The results showed that, with a decrease in the elevation gradient, the mass percentage of the &gt;5 mm aggregates significantly decreased, while the proportions of the other size classes presented an increasing trend. Additionally, the mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), aggregate stability rate (ASR), and percentage of aggregate destruction (PAD) of the fractal dimension showed a successive decrease with a decrease in the elevation gradient, whereas PADMWD, PADGMD, PADASR, and the fractal dimension demonstrated a reverse trend. It can thus be deduced that the hydrological regime of the TGR significantly modified the aggregate size distribution and dramatically reduced the aggregate stability, which may provide a crucial basis for assessing the soil erosion in similar riparian zones.

Lignite bioorganic fertilizer enhanced microbial co-occurrence network stability and plant–microbe interactions in saline-sodic soil

Lignite-converted bioorganic fertilizer substantially improves soil physiochemical properties, but little is known about how lignite bioorganic fertilizer (LBF) affects soil microbial communities and how the changed microbial communities impact their stability, functions, and crop growth in saline-sodic soil. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted in saline-sodic soil in the upper Yellow River basin, Northwest China. Three treatments, i.e., the control treatment without organic fertilizer (CK), the farmyard manure treatment (FYM) amended with 21 t ha−1 (same as local farmers) sheep manure, and the LBF treatment amended with the optimal rate of LBF (3.0 and 4.5 t ha−1), were designed in this study. The results showed that after two years of application of LBF and FYM, the percentage of aggregate destruction (PAD) was significantly reduced by 14.4 % and 9.4 %, respectively, while the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was obviously increased by 114.4 % and 99.7 %, respectively. The LBF treatment significantly increased the contributions of nestedness to total dissimilarity by 101.4 % and 156.2 % in bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. LBF contributed to the shift from stochasticity to variable selection in the assembly of the fungal community. The LBF treatment enriched the bacterial classes of Gammaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Methylomirabilia and fungal classes of Glomeromycetes and GS13, which were mainly driven by PAD and Ks. Additionally, the LBF treatment significantly increased the robustness and positive cohesions and decreased the vulnerability of the bacterial co-occurrence networks in both 2019 and 2020 in comparison with the CK treatment, indicating that the LBF treatment increased stability of bacterial community. The relative abundance of chemoheterotrophy and arbuscular mycorrhizae in the LBF treatment were 89.6 % and 854.4 % higher than those in the CK treatment, respectively, showing that the LBF enhanced sunflower–microbe interactions. The FYM treatment improved the functions mainly regarding sulfur respiration and hydrocarbon degradation by 309.7 % and 212.8 % in comparison with the CK treatment, respectively. The core rhizomicrobiomes in the LBF treatment showed strong positive connections with the stabilities of both bacterial and fungal co-occurrence networks, as well as the relative abundance and potential functions of chemoheterotrophy and arbuscular mycorrhizae. These factors were also linked to the growth of sunflowers. This study reveals that the LBF improved sunflower growth due to enhance microbial community stability and sunflower–microbe interactions through altering core rhizomicrobiomes in saline-sodic farmland.

Evaluating the effects of formation and stabilization of opal/sand aggregates with organic matter amendments

Opal (SiO2·nH2O, amorphous silica), the by-product of alumina extraction from coal fly ash (CFA), has a strong adsorption capacity and is also an important component of clay minerals in soils. The combining of opal with sand to form artificial soils is an effective disposal strategy for large-scale CFA stockpiles and reduction of environmental risk. Nevertheless, its poor physical condition limits plant growth. Organic matter (OM) amendments have broad potential applications for water-holding and improving soil aggregation. Effects of OMs (vermicompost (VC), bagasse (BA), biochar (BC) and humic acid (HA)) on the formation, stability and pore characteristics of opal/sand aggregates were evaluated through 60-day laboratory incubation experiments. Results demonstrated that four OMs could reduce pH, with BC having the most significant effect, VC significantly increasing the electrical conductivity (EC) and TOC content of the aggregates. Except for HA, other OMs could improve the aggregates' water-holding capacity. The mean weight diameter (MWD) and percentage of >0.25 mm aggregates (R0.25) of BA-treated aggregates were the largest, and BA had the most noticeable contribution to macro-aggregate's formation. The best aggregate stability was obtained with HA treatment, meanwhile the percentage of aggregate destruction (PAD0.25) decreased with the addition of HA. After amendments, the proportion of organic functional groups increased, which favored aggregate's formation and stability; the surface pore characteristics were improved, with the porosity ranging from 70% to 75%, reaching the level of well-structured soil. Overall, the addition of VC and HA can effectively promote aggregates' formation and stabilization. This research may play a key role in converting CFA or opal into artificial soil. The combining of opal with sand to form artificial soil will not only solve the environmental problems caused by large-scale CFA stockpiles but will also enable the comprehensive utilization of siliceous materials in agriculture.

Mechanochemical treatment of hexachlorobenzene-contaminated soil with additives.

The use of mechanochemistry for the remediation of hexachlorobenzene (HCB)-contaminated soil was investigated. Additives such as alkaline materials, neutral materials, natural minerals, and solid waste were studied to explore their effect on the degradation of hexachlorobenzene in soil with single or combined addition by mechanochemical method. The best combination of materials were determined based on HCB destruction percentage by considering the impact on soil quality, the treatment cost, and the availability of additives. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) analysis were conducted for the mechanism studies. The combination of albite and ferric oxide (Fe3O4) was found to achieve the best performance in the degradation of HCB with the destruction percentage from 74.3 to 92.5% after 2-h and 6-h reaction, respectively. The developed fracture structure and complex compositions of albite provided abundant reaction sites for mechanochemical degradation of HCB in soil.