Proposed Modification Research Articles

Why You Cannot Rank First: Modifications for Benchmarking Six-Degree-of-Freedom Visual Localization Algorithms

Robust and precise visual localization over extended periods of time poses a formidable challenge in the current domain of spatial vision. The primary difficulty lies in effectively addressing significant variations in appearance caused by seasonal changes (summer, winter, spring, autumn) and diverse lighting conditions (dawn, day, sunset, night). With the rapid development of related technologies, more and more relevant datasets have emerged, which has also promoted the progress of 6-DOF visual localization in both directions of autonomous vehicles and handheld devices.This manuscript endeavors to rectify the existing limitations of the current public benchmark for long-term visual localization, especially in the part on the autonomous vehicle challenge. Taking into account that autonomous vehicle datasets are primarily captured by multi-camera rigs with fixed extrinsic camera calibration and consist of serialized image sequences, we present several proposed modifications designed to enhance the rationality and comprehensiveness of the evaluation algorithm. We advocate for standardized preprocessing procedures to minimize the possibility of human intervention influencing evaluation results. These procedures involve aligning the positions of multiple cameras on the vehicle with a predetermined canonical reference system, replacing the individual camera positions with uniform vehicle poses, and incorporating sequence information to compensate for any failed localized poses. These steps are crucial in ensuring a just and accurate evaluation of algorithmic performance. Lastly, we introduce a novel indicator to resolve potential ties in the Schulze ranking among submitted methods. The inadequacies highlighted in this study are substantiated through simulations and actual experiments, which unequivocally demonstrate the necessity and effectiveness of our proposed amendments.

On the reduction of mixed Gaussian and impulsive noise in heavily corrupted color images

In this paper, a novel approach to the mixed Gaussian and impulsive noise reduction in color images is proposed. The described denoising framework is based on the Non-Local Means (NLM) technique, which proved to efficiently suppress only the Gaussian noise. To circumvent the incapacity of the NLM filter to cope with impulsive distortions, a robust similarity measure between image patches, which is insensitive to the impact of impulsive corruption, was elaborated. To increase the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the blockwise NLM implementation was applied. However, instead of generating a stack of output images that are finally averaged, an aggregation strategy combining all weights assigned to pixels from the processing block was developed and proved to be more efficient. Based on the results of comparisons with the existing denoising schemes, it can be concluded that the novel filter yields satisfactory results when suppressing high-intensity mixed noise in color images. Using the proposed filter the image edges are well preserved and the details are retained, while impulsive noise is efficiently removed. Additionally, the computational burden is not significantly increased, compared with the classic NLM, which makes the proposed modification applicative for practical image denoising tasks.

Analysis of collisions of precipitating solid particles with a wall in a viscous liquid

BACKGROUND: When calculating velocities of free precipitation of solid particle in a viscous Newtonian liquid, it is assumed that influence of incoming vessel head can be neglected. Necessity of considering this factor grows with a vessel head getting closer and with decrease of particles’ geometrical size. AIMS: Development of the method of calculating solid particles’ precipitation rate in a Newtonian fluid considering the incoming vessel head and definition the limits of its application. METHODS: The known analytical model of motion of precipitating disperses solid particles when approaching a vessel head is analyzed. It is shown that the known model of calculation of solid particles’ precipitation rate near the vessel head needs to be refined. RESULTS: The proposed modification of the analytical model of definition the solid particles’ precipitation rate considering the existence of a vessel head helps to ensure more credible results from physical standpoint. Recommendations regarding the influence of the Brownian motion of fluid’s molecules on motion of precipitating solid particles are given. CONCLUSION: Practical value of the study lies in ability to calculate solid particles’ precipitation rate near to a vessel head.

VAR Fabric Modification: Inducing Antibacterial Properties, Altering Wettability/Water Repellence, and Understanding Reactivity at the Molecular Level.

The present work focuses on the surface coating of VAR technical fibers, consisting of 64% viscose (cellulose), 24% Kevlar, 10% other types of polyamides, and 2% antistatic polymers. Kevlar is an aramid material exhibiting excellent mechanical properties, while cellulose is a natural linear polymer composed of repeating β-d-glucose units, having several applications in the materials industry. Herein, we synthesized novel, tailor-designed organic molecules possessing functional groups able to anchor on VAR fabrics and cellulose materials, thus altering their properties on demand. To this end, we utilized methyl-α-d-glucopyranose as a model compound, both to optimize the reaction conditions, before applying them to the material and to understand the chemical behavior of the material at the molecular level. The efficient coating of the VAR fabric with the tailor-made compounds was then implemented. Thorough characterization studies using Raman and IR spectroscopies as well as SEM imaging and thermogravimetric analysis were also carried out. The wettability and water repellency and antibacterial properties of the modified VAR fabrics were also investigated in detail. To the best of our knowledge, such an approach has not been previously explored, among other factors regarding the understanding of the anchoring mechanism at the molecular level. The proposed modification protocol holds the potential to improve the properties of various cellulose-based materials beyond VAR fabrics.

New Adamantane-Containing Edaravone Conjugates as Potential Neuroprotective Agents for ALS Treatments.

Currently, there are no effective drugs for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Only two drugs-edaravone and riluzole-have been approved, but they have very limited efficacy. The aim of this work was to modify the structural core of the Edaravone-phenylpyrazolone moiety and combine it with aminoadamantane pharmacophore in order to expand the spectrum of its action to a number of processes involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. New conjugates of edaravone derivatives with 1-aminoadamantanes combined with alkylene or hydroxypropylene spacers were synthesized, and their biological activity was investigated. Compounds were found that could inhibit lipid peroxidation and calcium-related mitochondrial permeability, block fast sodium currents of CNS neurons, and reduce aggregation of the mutated form of the FUS-protein typical to ALS. So, the proposed modification of the edaravone molecule has allowed the obtaining of new original structures that combine some prospective therapeutic mechanisms against key chains of the pathogenesis of ALS. The identified lead compounds can be used for further optimization and development of new promising drugs on this basis for the treatment of ALS.

Analytical and experimental investigation of the flexural and bond adhesive properties of thermally modified rubberwood and hybrid glulam beams with WPVC composites

Thermal modification is a property improvement technique that uses high temperatures to treat wood. For wooden structural members used in construction, in addition to the mechanical properties of thermally modified wood, the wood adhesive bond strength becomes increasingly significant. The present study examined the effects of thermal modification, using various temperatures (180 °C, 190 °C, 210 °C, and 220 °C) on the mechanical properties and adhesive bond performance of rubberwood compared to unmodified rubberwood. The results indicated that increasing the modification temperature negatively affected the mechanical properties of the rubberwood and decreased the wood adhesive bond strength. To improve the durability performance and joint strength reduction, a wood/polyvinyl chloride (WPVC) composite material was combined with thermally modified rubberwood at a temperature of 180 °C, which offered the optimum results in terms of the mechanical properties and wood adhesive bond strength of the various proposed modification temperatures. The study also investigated the mechanical properties of hybrid glulam beams made from thermally modified rubberwood and WPVC composites using static flexural tests, comparing the results to those for the thermally modified rubberwood glulam beams. The findings suggested that the modulus of elasticity of the hybrid glulam beams was not significantly affected because the WPVC composite members were placed in a low load-bearing location. The hybrid glulam beams provided a 38.66 % lower flexural strength than the thermally modified rubberwood glulam beams. Overall, the increase in temperature during the modification process negatively impacted the mechanical properties and wood adhesive bond strength of rubberwood. Moreover, a theoretical analysis was carried out to provide a comparison with the experimental investigation by focusing on the flexural behaviour of glulam beams. The analytical model results showed a good correlation with the observed behaviour of the glulam beams produced by thermal modification at different temperatures. In particular, the behaviour of the glulam beams produced by thermal modification at a temperature of 180 °C could be effectively predicted with high confidence.

Temperature transition optimization in cryogenic systems: Application to liquid nitrogen expenditure reduction in a thermal vacuum chamber case study

This paper presents outcomes regarding liquid nitrogen consumption reduction in a thermal vacuum chamber, with the motivation of lessening operational costs during space equipment testing. The article briefly outlines the optimal control application to thermal and cryogenic-related control systems based on a gas cycle, and assesses liquid nitrogen savings opportunities for a chamber including six shrouds with independent temperature requirements. In this case study, optimization of temperature transition profiles and a proposed modification in the control setup yielded potential savings from 14.1% to 20.4% in the examined experimental transitions.

Three-Dimensional Mapping of Chaput Tubercle Fractures: Evaluation of Morphologic Characteristics and Anterior Inferior Tibiofibular Ligament Involvement

Category: Ankle; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Chaput tubercle fractures, which are thought to represent tibial-sided avulsions of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), are prevalent in up to 30% of trimalleolar ankle fractures. The optimal treatment of small Chaput avulsions is debatable; direct fixation with suture anchor devices and indirect (syndesmotic) fixation are considered as viable options, with proponents on both sides. Moreover, recent literature highlights the potential anatomical alterations to the incisura tibialis resulting from malreduction of large Chaput fragments, furthering the case for direct fixation. Hence, we performed a CT- based three-dimensional fracture mapping study to identify the morphological characteristics of these fractures, and to determine whether they consistently involve the AITFL, tibial plafond and incisura tibialis. Methods: This study included adult patients who had an ankle fracture with a Chaput component; the scheme described by Rammelt et al. was used to classify these fractures. CT scans were obtained, and 3D models were generated. The models were superimposed over a statistical shape model of the right tibia which served as a template and fracture lines were marked. The footprints of proximal and main bands of the AITFL and Basset’s ligament were also marked on the template tibia. The tibial template along with the fracture lines was then imported into MATLAB, and an automated script was used to determine the fragment size (length, breadth, and height), fracture surface area, involvement of the tibial plafond, tibial incisura, and the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) and Basset’s ligament. Fracture maps and heat maps were generated. Agglomerative cluster analysis using Ward’s linkage was used to identify discrete fracture categories. Results: 76 patients, 21 males and 55 females were included in this study. Cluster analysis identified two distinct groups of fractures, each with two unique subgroups. We present this as a modification of the existing classification system. The first group, corresponded to Rammelt Type 1 fractures (sub centimetric extra-articular avulsion fractures, n=47). Of these, 19% (n=9) did not involve the AITFL, which we termed as Type 1a, and 91% (n=48) involved the AITFL, which we termed as Type 1b. The second group consisted of large intra-articular fractures that corresponded to Rammelt Type 2 injuries. Of these 23% (n=6) involved only the incisura, which we termed as Type 2a; 77 % involved both the incisura and the tibial plafond and were termed as Type 2b. Conclusion: We propose a modification of the existing classification of Chaput fractures on the basis of quantitative fracture mapping. This study provides new insights into the morphological characteristics of Chaput fractures. 19% of small Chaput fractures do not involve the AITFL and may not require direct fixation. Conversely, all large-sized fragments involve the incisura and necessitate anatomical reduction to achieve accurate syndesmotic reduction. Our proposed modification can aid in surgical decision-making, particularly in choosing between direct and indirect syndesmotic fixation.

Modified 3-Dimensional Alveolar Ridge Augmentation in the Anterior Maxilla: A Prospective Clinical Feasibility Study.

Vertical and horizontal reconstruction of the alveolar ridge, especially in the anterior maxilla, is considered a clinical challenge for dentists. There is still a lack of a standard technique to address the hurdles in 3-dimensional bone regeneration in the anterior maxilla. In this clinical feasibility study, we aimed to modify Khoury's technique by combining the conventional guided bone regeneration standards with the principles of this technique. The autogenous bone blocks were harvested from the retromolar area and grafted into the deficient anterior maxillae by mini-screws, and the gap was filled with xenogenic bone particles. The grafted site was covered with multilayered resorbable collagen membranes. Cone-beam computerized tomographic scans were obtained at the 6-month follow-ups, and the changes in ridge width and height were measured. Five subjects with multiple missing teeth at the anterior maxilla were included. The radiographic outcomes of the 6-month follow-ups revealed 1.2 mm of height and 3.5 mm of width gain. Between the 4- and 6-month visits, approximately 2 mm resorption in height and 0.3 mm in width occurred. No complications occurred. The proposed modification for Khoury's technique can serve as a feasible method in the 3-dimensional reconstruction of the anterior maxilla without additional autogenous bone particles.

Maximizing the Use of Out-of-Grade Hybrid Pine in Engineered Wood Products: Bond Performance, the Effect of Resin Streaking, Knots, and Pith

The evolution toward small-diameter and fast-growing plantation timbers such as the Pinus elliotti var. elliottii (Engelm) × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (Sénéclauze) (PEE×PCH) hybrids around the world is producing large volumes of core wood that are falling short of structural sawn timber grading requirements. Engineered timber products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated (glulam) offer potential solutions to value-adding this resource, but the bond performance of this feedstock and the extent to which current standards and guides address its common characteristics for bond performance need to be understood. This study investigated the bond quality and performance of clear defect-free, low stiffness out-of-grade PEE×PCH and evaluated this performance using the pass/fail criteria of the CLT bond performance requirements of three national CLT standards. 5-layer CLT delamination samples and shear block test samples were glued using one-component polyurethane (PUR). This process was repeated for common occurring characteristics in this resource of resin, knots, and pith to understand their impact and inform an evaluation on the need to restrict their inclusion. Clear samples had an average glue line delamination of 2.9% and an average glue line wood failure of 96.7%. Resin achieved 9.3% and 92.6%, respectively. While knots had the lowest performance at 24.4% and 77.4%, respectively. When pith was at or adjacent to the glue line, wood failure occurred through the pith and its immediate surrounding fiber. Shear strength and wood failure tests were carried out on glulam and CLT-oriented samples. CLT knot samples were tested in two load orientations. Glulam-oriented samples in clear, resin, pith, and knots achieved an average shear strength of 8.5 MPa, 8.2 MPa, 7.9 MPa, and 8.2 MPa, respectively, and wood failure of 86%, 85%, 90%, and 69%, respectively. CLT-oriented samples in clear and resin both achieved average shear strengths of 4.0 MPa; 0°-loaded and 90°-loaded pith samples achieved 3.6 MPa and 2.4 MPa, while 0°-loaded and 90°-loaded knot samples achieved 4.2 MPa and 4.7 MPa respectively. Average wood failures were 90%, 89%, 96%, 96%, 83%, and 51%, respectively. PRG320 was found to be the most restrictive standard. Resin, knots, and pith were not addressed in the evaluation of delamination or shear strength in any standard, and PRG320 was the only standard to restrict these characteristics over and above structural grading rules. The amount and type of characteristics present vary considerably in structurally graded wood, and even more so for this out-of-grade resource. It was determined that the negative impact that resin, knots, and pith have on bond quality and bond performance calls for some restriction of their inclusion in order to achieve the author’s interpretation of the intended bond performance requirements of the CLT standards, which currently do not address these characteristics well or at all. A proposed modification to the PRG320 effective bond area was presented as a proactive solution.

Thiol-ene click chemistry reaction for preparing superhydrophobic polyamide fabric with self-cleaning, UV-blocking, photothermal conversion and antibacterial properties

Polyphenols have been utilized to connect hydrophobic modifiers with certain substrates because of their adhesive properties and multiple active groups in their structure. Nevertheless, research is scarce regarding using polyphenols to enhance the superhydrophobic properties of polyamide. In this study, a plant-derived phenolic compound, p-coumaric acid (pCA), was chelated with Fe3+ and deposited on the polyamide 66 (PA66) surface to increase its roughness. Subsequently, octadecanethiol was grafted onto pCA using a thiol-ene click chemistry reaction to create a superhydrophobic modified PA66 fabric (pCA-Fe-SH-PA66) with a static water contact angle (CA) of 154.4° and a sliding angle (SA) of 2°. The resulting pCA-Fe-SH-PA66 demonstrated excellent capabilities in self-cleaning, UV-blocking, photothermal conversion, and oil-water separation. Furthermore, pCA-Fe-SH-PA66 exhibited remarkable antibacterial ability, displaying inhibitory rates of 97.00% against E. coli and 96.15% against S. aureus, respectively. Additionally, it demonstrated noteworthy stability in a series of tests, encompassing 225 min of washing, 1000 cycles of abrasion, 48 h of UV light aging, 48 h of acid/base solution, seawater, and organic reagents immersion. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that three additional plant-derived phenolic compounds, namely 3-hydroxycinnamic acid (HA), polyatin (PD), and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamic acid (HDA), can also be effectively utilized for the multifunctional modification of PA66 fabric. The proposed modification method is mild, fast, and simple, offering a novel approach to the multifunctional modification of synthetic materials. The modified PA66 fabric holds potential in applications such as oily wastewater treatment, outdoor sportswear, tents, and other fields.

Influence of Low Temperature Plasma Oxidizing on the Bioactivity of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy for Medical Applications.

The present study elucidates the impact of glow discharge oxidation within a low-temperature plasma environment on the bioactivity characteristics of an NiTi shape memory alloy. The properties of the produced surface layers, such as structure (TEM observations), surface morphology (SEM observations), chemical and phase composition (EDS and XRD measurements), wettability (optical gonimeter), and the biological response of osteoblasts and platelets to the oxidized surface compared with the NiTi alloy without a surface layer are presented. The presented surface modification of the NiTi shape memory alloy, achieved through oxidizing in a low-temperature plasma environment, led to the creation of a continuous surface layer composed of nanocrystalline titanium oxide TiO2 (rutile). The findings obtained from this study provide evidence that the oxidized layer augments the bioactivity of the shape memory alloy. This augmentation was substantiated through the spontaneous biomimetic deposition of apatite from a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. Furthermore, the modified surface exhibited improved osteoblast proliferation, and enhanced platelet adhesion and activation. This proposed surface modification strategy holds promise as a prospective solution to enhance the biocompatibility and bioactivity of NiTi shape memory alloy intended for prolonged use in bone implant applications.

Variation of the feeding/resting period in modified vertical treatment wetlands (depth, zeolite as medium) employed for treating rural domestic wastewater in tourist areas.

This work aimed to evaluate the performance of modified vertical flow treatment wetlands (VF-TWs) in terms of depth and medium to assess the effect of the feeding/resting periods and footprint (FP). The modifications were proposed for treating domestic wastewater in rural areas with flow variations such as tourist sites. The experimental setup included six laboratory-scale VF-TWs: (a) normal (VF-N), bed depth 1.0 m, filled with sand and (b) modified (VF-M), bed depth 0.5 m, filled with sand (upper) and zeolite (bottom, saturated). The operation was divided into three phases (3 months each), varying the feeding/resting period and FP: phase I, 5 d/10 d, 2.6 m2/person-equivalent (PE); phase II, 3.5 d/3.5 d, 1.7 m2/PE; and phase III, only feeding no resting, 0.85 m2/PE. Influent and effluent grab samples were taken every 2 weeks. The results showed effective removal (above 60%) of total solids, organic matter, and pathogens for both VF-N and VF-M. Regarding nutrients, VF-M showed a phosphate removal below 60%, but no consistent removal (15-60%) of total nitrogen. Thus, the results suggest that proposed modifications can be an option to be established in tourist sites, but further work should be conducted to improve and optimize total nitrogen removal.

Advanced Flowrate Control of Petroleum Products in Transportation: An Optimized Modified Model Reference PID Approach

Efficient flowrate control is paramount for the seamless operation and reliability of petroleum transportation systems, where precise control of fluid movement ensures not only operational efficiency but also safety and cost-effectiveness. The main aim of this paper is to develop a highly effective modified model reference PID controller, tailored to ensure optimal flowrate control of petroleum products throughout their transportation. Initially, the petrol transportation process is analyzed to establish a suitable mathematical model based on vital factors like pipeline diameter, length, and pump attributes. However, using a basic first-order time delay model for petrol transportation systems is limiting due to inaccuracies, variable delay issues, safety oversights, and real-time control complexities. To improve this, the delay portion is approximated as a third-order transfer function to better reflect complex physical conditions. Subsequently, the PID controller is synthesized by modifying its structure to address flowrate control issues. These modifications primarily focus on the controller’s derivative component, involving the addition of a first-order filter and alterations to its structure. To optimize the proposed controller, the genetic, black hole, and zebra optimization techniques are employed, aiming to minimize an integral time absolute error cost function and ensure that the outlet flow of the controlled system closely follows the response of an appropriate reference model. They are chosen for their proficiency in complex optimization to enhance the controller's effectiveness by optimizing parameters within constraints, adapting to system dynamics, and ensuring optimal conditions. Through simulations, it is demonstrated that the proposed controller significantly enhances the stability and efficiency of the control system, while maintaining practical control signals. Moreover, the proposed modifications and intelligent tuning of the PID controller yield remarkable improvements compared to previous related work, resulting in a 36% reduction in rise time, a 63% reduction in settling time, an 80% reduction in overshoot, and a 98% reduction in cost value.

On the Blackbody Spectrum of Kilonovae

The early spectra of the kilonova AT2017gfo have a remarkably smooth blackbody continuum, which reveals information on the thermal properties and radioactive heating within the ejecta. However, the widespread use of a single-temperature blackbody to fit kilonova data is theoretically invalid, because (1) the significant travel-time delays for a rapidly cooling surface result in a broad distribution of temperatures and (2) the relativistic Doppler correction varies across different surface elements. Thus, the observed spectrum should be a modified blackbody with a range of temperatures over the surface. In this paper we quantify the impact of these effects and illustrate the typical wavelength-dependent spectral corrections. We apply the multitemperature blackbody framework to the first-epoch X-shooter AT2017gfo spectrum, to deconvolve the underlying physical temperature at the photosphere from the relativistic Doppler shift. We show that the cooling and Doppler effects individually result in a variation of temperatures over the photosphere of up to 30%, but in combination these effects nearly cancel and produce the single-temperature blackbody observed. Finally, we show that fitting the UV, optical, or near-infrared separately yields blackbody temperatures consistent at the percent level, which puts stringent limits on any proposed modification of the spectral continuum.

Fine-Tuning of Air Electrode Microstructure and Its Composition as a Way to Enhance the Performance and Durability of Solid Oxide Electrolyzer - preliminary results

Among actions undertaken to reach a net-zero economy by 2050, implementation of the hydrogen technologies into various sectors e.g. energy and transport seems to be crucial. The significant increase of the installed capacity of electrolyzer in the last few years has been observed, which will accelerate in next decades to meet declared by many countries goals of their national hydrogen strategies. Nowadays, a dominant role on the electrolyze markets possess low temperature solution, namely, alkaline and PEM electrolyzes. However, due to higher efficiency – lower energy demand for hydrogen production, it is forecast that solid oxide electrolyzers (SOE) will take part of the market. The development of SOE, which are on the final R&D phase, is mainly focused on the extension of their lifespan and minimizing their manufacturing costs.The La1-xSrxCoO3-δ (LSC) and La1-xSrxCoyFe1-yO3-δ (LSCF) oxides due to their good catalytic activity and high mixed ionic-electronic conductivity are recognized as state-of-the-art air electrodes for SOC. However, Co-based perovskites are characterized by high thermal and chemical expansion, which might cause a mechanical mismatch with electrolyte, resulting in intensified SOC degradation. To mitigate mentioned issues different strategies have been proposed in the literature. Through the combined approach focused on modification of the bulk properties, simultaneously tailoring the microstructure of the electrodes and electrode/solid electrolyte interface, it is possible to overcome the kinetic limitations of operation at decreased temperatures.To maximize cell performance, and prevent the potential electrode degradation (i.e. its delamination) composite GDC-LSC/LSFC electrodes with gradual changes of the composition from electrolyte-electrode interphase to the electrode surface, were proposed. Furthermore, the impact of modification of electrode microstructure by an increase of its porosity and infiltration of the electrode surface with catalytically active oxides (e.g. PrxOy) was investigated. Fine-tuning of electrode porosity was achieved by the addition of the pore-forming agent, and the selection of its type (graphite or PMMA), amount, and size of its grains. Moreover, the work presents an approach to optimize the buffer layer, inter alia by its densifying, to mitigate Sr diffusion to the electrolyte and prevent air electrode delamination.The developed composite air electrodes were screen-printed (with an active area of 16 cm2) on the fuel electrode-supported cell and evaluated in the SOE mode at the 650-750 °C temperature range. Tests included measurements of j-V dependences and EIS spectra (at different temperatures, current densities, and for different gas flow delivered at the air side of the cell). In order to assess the impact of the added amount and type of pore-forming agent on the microstructure of the electrode layer, as well as to investigate possible microstructural changes of the cell after testing SEM, SEM-EDS, and FIB-SEM analysis were performed. The proposed modification of the composition and microstructure resulted in higher current densities and reduced cell polarization compared to standard cells with LSC and LSCF as the air electrode.AcknowledgmentsThe presented research was financially supported by: the National Centre for Research and Development, Poland, within project no. LIDER/1/0003/L-12/20/NCBR/2021 (research related to composite GDC-LSC/LSFC electrodes), and Ministry of Science and Higher Education through the statutory grant, within grant no. CPE.4000.001.2023 (research related to the improvement of the buffer layer-electrode interphase).

Electrically conductive membrane distillation via an alternating current operation for zero liquid discharge

Membrane distillation (MD) shows promise for achieving high salinity treatment and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) compared to conventional water treatment processes due to its unique characteristics, including low energy consumption and high resulting water quality. However, performance degradation due to fouling and scaling under high recovery conditions remains a challenge, particularly considering the need to control both cations and anions for maximum scaling mitigation. Accordingly, in this study, alternating current (AC) operation for electrically conductive membrane distillation (ECMD) is newly proposed, based on its potential for controlling both cations and anions, in contrast to conventional direct current (DC) operation. Systematic experiments and theoretical analysis show that water recovery in ECMD can be increased by 27% through AC operation. The proposed modification and effective AC operation of ECMD increase the practicality of using MD in desalination for a high recovery rate, perhaps even for ZLD.

Modified PROMISE criteria for standardized interpretation of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)-targeted PET.

There are image interpretation criteria to standardize reporting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted positron emission tomography (PET). As up to 10% of prostate cancer (PC) do not express PSMA, other targets such as gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) are evaluated. Research on GRPR-targeted imaging has been slowly increasing in usage at staging and biochemical recurrence (BCR) of PC. We therefore propose a modification of the Prostate Cancer Molecular Imaging Standardized Evaluation (PROMISE) criteria (mPROMISE) for GRPR-targeted PET. [68Ga]Ga-RM2 PET data from initially prospective studies performed at our institution were retrospectively reviewed: 44 patients were imaged for staging and 100 patients for BCR PC. Two nuclear medicine physicians independently evaluated PET according to the mPROMISE criteria. A third expert reader served as standard reference. Interreader reliability was computed for GRPR expression, prostate bed (T), lymph node (N), skeleton (Mb), organ (Mc) metastases, and final judgment of the scan. The interrater reliability for GRPR PET at staging was moderate for GRPR expression (0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40, 0.78), substantial for T-stage (0.78; 95% CI 0.63, 0.94), and almost perfect for N-stage (0.97; 95% CI 0.92, 1.00) and final judgment (0.92; 95% CI 0.82, 1.00). The interreader agreement at BCR showed substantial agreement for GRPR expression (0.70; 95% CI 0.59, 0.81) and final judgment (0.65; 95% CI 0.53, 0.78), while almost perfect agreement was seen across the major categories (T, N, Mb, Mc). Acceptable performance of the mPROMISE criteria was found for all subsets when compared to the standard reference. Interpreting GRPR-targeted PET using the mPROMISE criteria showed its reliability with substantial or almost perfect interrater agreement across all major categories. The proposed modification of the PROMISE criteria will aid clinicians in decreasing the level of uncertainty, and clinical trials to achieve uniform evaluation, reporting, and comparability of GRPR-targeted PET. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03113617 and NCT02624518.

Preparation and characterization of electrospun PVDF/PVP/SiO2 nanofiber membrane for oil-water separation

For oily wastewater purification, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membranes have been widely noticed for their excellent mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. However, it is prone to serious oil fouling problems during use, resulting in reduced flux and inability to be used repeatedly. It has become a hot research topic to develop simple methods to realize its hydrophilic modification for oily wastewater treatment to address this problem. Herein, a novel separation membrane was prepared by doping polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) into PVDF using a facile one-step electrospinning method. The modified membrane shows hydrophilicity, water contact angle (WCA) is 0°, oleophobicity in water, and oil contact angle (OCA) is more than 145° and has good separation efficiency and flux for both oil-water mixtures and emulsions. After 30 times of mixture and emulsion separation tests, the separation efficiency is above 99.5 % and 97 %, respectively, showing good separation and reusability. Besides, compared with hydrophilic modification methods such as surface coating and grafting, the proposed modification method is simpler and has great potential in treating oily wastewater.

Assessment of the application for modification of the terms of the authorisation of the feed additive consisting of Bacillus subtilisDSM 32324, Bacillus subtilisDSM 32325 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciensDSM 25840 (GalliPro® Fit) for all poultry species for fattening and reared for laying/breeding (Chr. Hansen A/S).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Bacillus subtilis DSM 32324, Bacillus subtilis DSM 32325 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 25840 (GalliPro® Fit) as a zootechnical feed additive for all poultry species for fattening and reared for laying or for breeding. The additive is already authorised for use in feed and water for drinking for the above-mentioned species. With this application, the company requested the modification of the current authorisations as regards the simultaneous use of the additive with the coccidiostats monensin, salinomycin, narasin, nicarbazin+narasin and lasalocid. The proposed modification in the conditions of the authorisation would not modify the conclusions previously drawn regarding the safety of GalliPro® Fit. The additive is safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. The additive is not a dermal/eye irritant but should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. The FEEDAP Panel was not in the position to conclude on the skin sensitisation potential. The Panel concluded that GalliPro® Fit is compatible with the coccidiostats monensin, salinomycin, narasin, nicarbazin+narasin and lasalocid.