Excessive Removal Research Articles

High-Q Emission from Colloidal Quantum Dots Embedded in Polymer Quasi-BIC Metasurfaces.

Metasurfaces supporting narrowband resonances are of significant interest in photonics for molecular sensing, quantum light source engineering, and nonlinear photonics. However, many device architectures rely on large refractive index dielectric materials and lengthy fabrication processes. In this work, we demonstrate quasi-bound states in the continuum (quasi-BICs) using a polymer metasurface exhibiting experimental quality factors of 305 at visible wavelengths. Our fabrication process only consists of electron-beam lithography and resist development, making it compatible with large-scale fabrication techniques. Additionally, we address the challenges of integrating colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) into the nanopillars, such as depletion-induced aggregation and excess nanoparticle removal, by leveraging our previously reported nanoparticle functionalization method and modified development procedures. We demonstrate both narrowband and polarized emission from our CQD-integrated quasi-BIC metasurfaces. Our proposed metasurface platform is broadly applicable across various quantum emitters and fabrication methods and could enable advancements in scalable manufacturing of resonant optical devices.

Comparison of optical-spectral characteristics of glioblastoma at intraoperative diagnosis and ex vivo optical biopsy

The difficulty of intraoperative delineation of glial tumors is due to the peculiarities of their growth along vessels and nerve fibers with infiltration of healthy white matter. Insufficiently complete removal of tumor tissues leads to recurrences, and excessive removal is fraught with neurological complications. Optical spectroscopy methods are characterized by high speed, accuracy and non-invasiveness, which determines the prospects of their use for intraoperative demarcation of the boundaries of such tumors. Fluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy have found wide application in intraoperative neuronavigation, mainly for detecting the edges of diffuse gliomas. At the same time, in recent years the direction of <i>ex vivo</i> spectral analysis of tumor samples using a combination of various optical spectroscopy methods, including both elastic and inelastic scattering spectroscopy, has been actively developed. Obviously, the ability to obtain spectra intraoperatively and on fresh specimens is different. The present article compares the results of the analysis of optical-spectral characteristics of intracranial tumors at intraoperative diagnosis and <i>ex vivo</i> analysis and proposes a mathematical model for interpretation of the observed dependencies.

Macronucleophagy maintains cell viability under nitrogen starvation by modulating micronucleophagy

Lysosome/vacuole-mediated intracellular degradation pathways, collectively known as autophagy, play crucial roles in the maintenance and regulation of various cellular functions. However, little is known about the relationship between different modes of autophagy. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nitrogen starvation triggers both macronucleophagy and micronucleophagy, in which nuclear components are degraded via macroautophagy and microautophagy, respectively. We previously revealed that Atg39-mediated macronucleophagy is important for cell survival under nitrogen starvation; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we reveal that defective Atg39-mediated macronucleophagy leads to the hyperactivation of micronucleophagy, resulting in the excessive transport of various nuclear components into the vacuole. Micronucleophagy occurs at the nucleus–vacuole junction (NVJ). We show that nuclear membrane proteins localized to the NVJ, including Nvj1, which is responsible for micronucleophagy, are degraded via macronucleophagy. Therefore, defective Atg39-mediated macronucleophagy results in the accumulation of Nvj1, which contributes to micronucleophagy enhancement. Blocking micronucleophagy almost completely suppresses cell death caused by the absence of Atg39, whereas enhanced micronucleophagy correlates with death in Atg39-mutant cells under nitrogen starvation. These results suggest that macronucleophagy modulates micronucleophagy in order to prevent the excess removal of nuclear components, thereby maintaining nuclear and cellular homeostasis during nitrogen starvation.

Curettage and Policresulen Tampon as A Modality Treatment in Management of Verucca

Background: Verruca, also known as warts is a skin disease characterized by epidermal growth. Verruca may occur anywhere especially on palms and soles. It appears as a rough, dark-grey colored surface and has similar features with clavus or callus, which frequently lead to inappropriate management.Patient and Method : We report two cases with verruca, one was on sole and another was on palm area treated with curettage and chemical ablation using policresulen solution. Both cases have histories of recurrences from the previous treatment, which was excision and primary closure.Results : The wound healed within seven days after treatment. There were no recurrences found after 6-month follow up.Summary : Our treatment (curettage and chemical ablation using policresulen) has two advantages: (1) it can avoid excessive tissue removal since this lesion only afect epidermal layer.

Enhanced nutrient removal from aquaculture wastewater using optimized constructed wetlands: A comprehensive screening of microbial complexes, substrates, and macrophytes

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely used to treat wastewater from aquaculture, and their efficiency largely depends on active components like microbes, substrates, and macrophytes. This study screened various commercial microbial complexes, substrates, and macrophytes for their effectiveness in removing nitrogen and phosphorus from pond wastewater contaminated with fish feed and excreta (CPW). Four microbial complexes (MC1, MC2, MC3, and MC4) were screened, two substrate types (zeolite and ceramsite), and five common macrophytes—Pontederia crassipes (PC), Myriophyllum aquaticum (MA), Canna indica (CI), Typha latifolia (TL), and Phragmites australis (PA). Screening evaluation included COD, total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (AN), nitrate nitrogen (NN), and total phosphorus (TP) removal. Among microbial complexes, MC3 at 1.0 g/L (MC3-T2) exhibited the highest efficiency in COD (56 %), TN (66 %), AN (51 %), NN (69 %), and TP (59 %) removal. Screening of macrophytes showed that MA was most efficient with a decrease of 61 % COD, 91 % TN, 62 % AN, 84 % NN, and 69 % TP. Similarly, between both substrates, zeolite most effective, with 50–25 % COD, 12–7 % TN, 44–28 % AN, 71–47 % NN, and 45–19 % TP removal over six periods. Based on these findings, four artificial CWs were developed, with CW-2 (which carries MA, CI, MC3-T2, and zeolite) showed the highest removal of COD (57–43 %), TN (29–11 %), AN (65–28 %), NN (87–69 %), and TP (80–47 %) over eight periods. The development of CWs by utilizing these optimal components (particularly CW-2) provides highly effective solutions for excessive nutrients removal from CPW. This innovative approach presents a promising alternative for mitigating eutrophication and enhancing wastewater treatment processes.

The deep continual learning framework for prediction of blast-induced overbreak in tunnel construction

Blast-induced overbreak, characterized by the excessive removal of rock mass beyond the planned tunnel profile, poses significant safety risks, increases costs, and causes project delays during tunneling. Traditional machine/deep learning models have been developed to predict overbreak. However, these models are often inadequate because they are static and lack the flexibility to adapt to new, real-world data continuously. This study addresses this limitation by introducing a novel data-driven approach based on deep continual learning. The primary objective is to develop an adaptable predictive model with the ability of continual learning, which is particularly advantageous in dynamic environments like tunnel blasting. To achieve this, a self-attention multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model for overbreak prediction, integrated with two continual learning strategies (elastic weight consolidation (EWC) and memory replay (MR)), is developed. This step enables the overbreak prediction model to possess the ability to continuously learn real-world scenarios and adapt to the dynamic environment of tunnel blasting. The findings show that the continuous MLP model, empowered by EWC and MR, demonstrates superior adaptability and accuracy in predicting overbreak. Compared with the standard MLP model, which achieves a predictive accuracy of 0.831, the continuous MLP model achieves a predictive accuracy of 0.845 on unseen data. The integration of EWC and MR strategies proves to be a pivotal factor in developing deep learning models for the dynamic task of predicting overbreak. The continual learning strategies ensure that the models remain adaptable and accurate over time, which is essential for practical applications in dynamic environments of tunnel blasting operations.

Suturing techniques

The act of suturing wounds on the skin has been done for thousands of years. Closing dead space, supporting and strengthening wounds until healing increases their tensile strength, approximating skin edges for an esthetically pleasing and functional result, and minimizing the risks of bleeding and infection remain the primary goals of suture techniques, even though suture materials and techniques have changed. A well-planned closure or flap may have its post-operative appearance jeopardized if the wrong suture technique is used or if the procedure is not performed well. On the other hand, poor surgical skills cannot entirely be made up for by careful suturing. Poor incision placement with respect to relaxed skin tension lines, excessive removal of tissue, or inadequate undermining may limit the surgeon’s options in wound closure and suture placement. Gentle handling of the tissue is also important to optimize wound healing. The choice of suture technique depends on the type and anatomic location of the wound, thickness of the skin, degree of tension, and desired cosmetic result. Proper placement of sutures enhances the precise approximation of the wound edges, which helps minimize and redistribute skin tension. Wound eversion is essential to maximize the likelihood of good epidermal approximation. Eversion is desirable to minimize the risk of scar depression secondary to tissue contraction during healing. Usually, inversion is not desirable, and it probably does not decrease the risk of hypertrophic scarring in an individual with a propensity for hypertrophic scars. To maximize the esthetic and functional outcomes, dead space must be removed, natural anatomic shapes must be restored, and stitch marks must be minimized. This page describes the methods for placing sutures for different kinds of stitches, goes over why certain suture techniques are better than others and goes over the benefits and drawbacks of each suture technique. For the best possible closure of a wound, multiple suture techniques are frequently required. After reading this article, the reader ought to comprehend the basic techniques for inserting each type of suture as well as how and why specific sutures are selected.

Assessment of urbanization impacts in Tegucigalpa urban greenness via normalized difference vegetation index

Urban vegetation is essential to develop sustainable, habitable, and healthy cities. Urbanization in large cities may be detrimental to urban vegetation when urban planning is scarce. Tegucigalpa, Honduras's capital city, had an atypical 8-year period of intensive urbanization, which may have modified urban vegetation. Excessive tree removal and reduced urban greenness reports became abundant in local media. This paper aimed to determine if urbanization indeed modified Tegucigalpa's urban greenness to a detrimental level. A Landsat-8 imagery survey was conducted to assess Tegucigalpa's urban vegetation dynamics via the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for the 2013–2021 dry and rainy seasons. The results revealed a stable trend for the dry seasons NDVI remaining in constant proximity to 0.11 while increasing steadily to around 0.17 during the rainy seasons due to precipitation watering vegetation. Negligible fluctuations (<0.1) occurred throughout the study period, suggesting urbanization most likely did not shrink urban vegetation to the extreme extent stated by Honduran media. The NDVI provided a scientific basis for assessing Tegucigalpa's vegetation changes, preventing potential environmental conflicts. Although most researchers have reported that urbanization decreases NDVI in large cities, others found that urbanization does not always produce vegetation degradation and suggested that climatic variables are significant factors determining vegetation growth. Nevertheless, the steadily low NDVI in Tegucigalpa suggests the absence of sustainable urban planning to increase urban vegetation. Urban trees are central to sustainable urban planning; therefore, afforestation policies should be considered by Tegucigalpa's government and policymakers.

Inherent water in green pine needles and cypress leaves induces self-activation in microwave pyrolysis

The response of water to microwaves creates the possibility of activating green waste for the generation of porous biochar with inherent water. This hypothesis is verified herein through the microwave pyrolysis of green and dried pine needles and cypress leaves at 500 to 800 °C. The results indicate that the inherent water in the green samples induce steam reforming or gasification, thereby forming more gases at the expense of biochar and organics, such as light and heavy phenolics in bio-oil. The intensive gasification induced by the inherent water of green pine needles effectively promotes the pore development of biochar at 800 °C (805.9 versus 360.4 m2/g from the dried sample) and the adsorption of phenol (50.3 versus 34.8 mg/g from the dried sample). A similar result is observed for the pyrolysis of cypress leaves at 800 °C (452.1 m2/g from the green samples versus 110.8 m2/g from the dried samples). A lower temperature (i.e., 500 °C) with insufficient gasification results in no marked difference in pore development. Accelerated gasification with steam leads to the excessive removal of aliphatic organics but also introduces more oxygen in the biochar, making it more hydrophilic with a more fragmented surface. Nevertheless, potential local hot spots, if any, do not lead to the decomposition of inorganics, such as CaCO3, in the pyrolysis of green samples, while the pyrolysis of dried cypress does. The pyrolysis in in-situ infrared shows that 500 °C is required to effectively destruct hydrogen bonds in the green samples and the inherent water promotes the formation of more oxygen-containing functionalities but not aromatization.

Nominal and achieved stromal ablation depth after myopic transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy: implications for residual stromal thickness calculation

BackgroundThe primary objective of this investigation was to compare the nominal central ablation depth with the achieved central corneal stromal ablation depth after StreamLight transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK) for myopia with WaveLight® laser by Alcon Laboratories, TX, USA.MethodsThis ambispective study encompassed a retrospective analysis of 40 eyes who underwent treatment for myopia and astigmatism, followed by a prospective examination conducted 6–9 months postoperatively. Pre- and postoperative Avanti spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT; Optovue Inc., CA, USA) provided stromal and epithelial thickness maps. The difference between pre- and postoperative central stromal thicknesses at the corneal vertex was used to calculate the achieved stromal thickness ablation depth. This value was then compared with the corresponding central nominal depth on the laser ablation planning map.ResultsA total of 40 eyes (OD/OS:18/22) of 40 patients (31.4 ± 9.2 years) were available for evaluation. The mean treated spherical equivalent was − 2.98 ± 1.46 D. The mean nominal and achieved central stromal ablation depths were 51.22 µm and 59.67 μm, respectively, showing a mean stromal excessive ablation of 16.50%. The mean pre- and postoperative central epithelial thicknesses were 53.74 μm and 59.31 μm, respectively, showing a mean postoperative thickness increase of 10.46%. This increase in the epithelial thickness rendered the mean postoperative pachymetry reduction to 54.11 μm, only 2.33% greater than the mean nominal ablation depth.ConclusionsThe study revealed a central stromal ablation 16.50% greater than the nominal ablation depth. This excessive stromal removal was largely compensated for by the increase in epithelial thickness, resulting in a mean difference between the nominal ablation depth and the achieved central corneal pachymetry reduction of only 2.33%. This significant excessive central stromal ablation must be taken into consideration in the calculation of the residual stromal thickness.

Functionalized monodisperse microbubble production: microfluidic method for fast, controlled, and automated removal of excess coating material

Functionalized monodisperse microbubbles have the potential to boost the sensitivity and efficacy of molecular ultrasound imaging and targeted drug delivery using bubbles and ultrasound. Monodisperse bubbles can be produced in a microfluidic flow focusing device. However, their functionalization and sequential use require removal of the excess lipids from the bubble suspension to minimize the use of expensive ligands and to avoid competitive binding and blocking of the receptor molecules. To date, excess lipid removal is performed by centrifugation, which is labor intensive and challenging to automate. More importantly, as we show, the increased hydrostatic pressure during centrifugation can reduce bubble monodispersity. Here, we introduce a novel automated microfluidic ’washing’ method. First, bubbles are injected in a microfluidic chamber 1 mm in height where they are left to float against the top wall. Second, lipid-free medium is pumped through the chamber to remove excess lipids while the bubbles remain located at the top wall. Third, the washed bubbles are resuspended and removed from the device into a collection vial. We demonstrate that the present method can (i) reduce the excess lipid concentration by 4 orders of magnitude, (ii) be fully automated, and (iii) be performed in minutes while the size distribution, functionality, and acoustic response of the bubbles remain unaffected. Thus, the presented method is a gateway to the fully automated production of functionalized monodisperse microbubbles.

Use of an autonomous robotic system for removal of fiber posts during endodontic retreatment: A clinical report

The removal of fiber posts for the retreatment of root canals can be challenging. An autonomous robotic (ATR) system was used for accurate and minimally invasive endodontic retreatment in a patient who presented with symptomatic apical periodontitis and pain emanating from the mandibular left first molar, which had been previously restored with 3 fiber posts. Intraoral scanning data, radiographic data, and bur sizes were integrated into preoperative software program to design a treatment plan. The ATR system enabled precise and efficient post removal. The remnant filling material was removed before endodontic retreatment, and radiographs at 3 months after the procedure showed satisfactory healing. This treatment demonstrated the accuracy and efficiency of the ATR system for the removal of fiber posts from pretreated teeth, while minimizing the duration of the procedure and avoiding excessive tissue removal.

The Efficiency of Phosphate Removal via Shallow Wastewater Injection into a Saline Carbonate Aquifer.

Wastewater-derived phosphate contributes to eutrophication if the phosphate is not efficiently removed before it is discharged to surface waters. In the Florida Keys (USA), shallow injection of treated wastewater into saline limestone aquifers is a common mode of wastewater disposal. We assessed the possibility of efficient and permanent phosphate removal following injection at a wastewater treatment facility in Marathon, Florida. The concentrations of nutrients, dissolved ions, and anthropogenic compounds in groundwater and nearshore waters were monitored over two years, as was the progression of a patch of fluorescent dye emplaced by the wastewater injection well. The density contrast between the wastewater effluent and saline groundwater caused the effluent plume to buoy to the shallow subsurface near the injection well. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and sucralose were both detected in nearshore waters, indicating incomplete removal of contaminants. However, ∼75% of the SRP is removed from the plume in the first 10 days of transit by adsorption followed by a slower removal mechanism, bringing the P removal efficiency above 90%. A positive relationship between excess calcium and phosphate removal efficiency, together with high levels of calcium phosphate mineral supersaturation, supports calcite dissolution followed by calcium phosphate mineralization as this slower removal process.

Machining damage in the fabrication of polycrystalline diamond micro end mill with laser and grinding combined processing method

The high hardness and wear resistance of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) micro tool make it widely used in precision machining of small parts of difficult-to-machine materials. The laser and grinding combined machining is an effective method to fabricate PCD micro tools, but the machining damage is difficult to control, which will reduce the cutting performance and tool life. Therefore, this paper aims to deeply study the damage forms and damage formation mechanisms during the fabrication process of PCD micro end mills, so as to improve the quality of the PCD micro mills. The laser and grinding combined machining experiments of PCD micro end mill are carried out, and the surface morphology characteristics and cutting edge of the mill are observed and analyzed. The influence of process parameters on the fabrication quality of PCD micro mill is investigated. The experimental results show that the high temperature of the laser is the main factor causing damage, which causes the melting and oxidation of the surface material, and further forms micro cracks, pits and oxidized attachments on the PCD mill. In addition, diamond phase transformation and excessive removal of cobalt-rich layer will also lead to graphitization and micro-grooves on the mill surface. For the grinding process, the cutting edge is fractured by the impact of the wheel, resulting in micro notches, micro pits and micro cracks. The intergranular crack expansion of PCD material and cleavage breakage of diamond particles are the main causes of micro cracks and micro pits on the mill surface. In addition, the chips will also scratch the tool surface to produce micro nicks and cause the chips coating on the rake face. The research results are helpful to further understand the damage mechanism of laser and grinding combined machining PCD mill, so as to improve the fabrication quality of micro tools.

Biological interaction, esthetics, handling, and loss rate of temporary luting cements — a clinical single-blind randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesTo evaluate three temporary luting cements in terms of their restoration loss rates, biological interactions, esthetic properties, and handling characteristics.Materials and methods75 adults requiring fixed prosthodontics voluntarily participated in a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. After preparation, temporary restorations were luted with a randomly selected temporary luting cement (either Provicol QM Plus (PQP), Bifix Temp (BT), or Provicol QM Aesthetic (PQA)). Clinical examinations were performed one to two weeks after cementation. The following criteria were evaluated: tooth vitality, percussion, hypersensitivity, gingival bleeding, odor formation, esthetics, cement handling, removability, cleanability, and retention loss. Antagonistic teeth served as controls. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher’s exact test, where appropriate.ResultsThe overall loss rate of temporary restorations was 16.0%, showing no cement-specific differences. Postoperative hypersensitivity occurred in 8% of cases regardless of cement type. Esthetic impairment was reported by 31% of the PQP-fixed restorations, compared with 4.0% and 4.2% of the BT and PQA-bonded restorations. Cement application was reported to be easy in 100% of cases, excess removal in 88–96%, depending on the cement used.ConclusionsThe choice of luting material affects the esthetic appearance of a temporary restoration and should be considered, particularly in restorations in esthetically demanding areas. No significant differences between the cements were identified regarding biocompatibility, handling, and loss rate.Clinical relevanceTranslucent cements can help to reduce color interferences, resulting in a more appealing appearance of the temporary restoration.

New adhesive rehabilitation technique with indexed occlusal tabletops made by 3D printing technology.

In oral rehabilitation, a full mouth minimal invasive treatment can represent a major challenge for the patient and the dentist. The purpose of this article is to present a new technique to restore eroded teeth and recover the vertical dimension with a simple and predictable technique. Occlusal tabletop restorations are a suitable conservative option to restore anatomy and vertical dimension augmentation but highly sensitive. The cementation of those restorations without stable landmarks, the cement excess removal, the insertion path, or the time needed are some of the difficulties can be faced. Now a days with the new CAD-CAM techniques is possible to develop a new occlusal tabletop manufacturing alternative utilizing 3D-printed technology by unifying the restorations with a customized connector that allows us to print several onlays at same time, as a single object, also being cemented at once. This protocol reduces the technique sensitivity of a vertical dimension oral rehabilitation process, reduce the chair time, enhancing the patient-comfort and delivers a unique way to restore dental lost anatomy as a definitive or temporary way with printing materials. With the advent of new CAD-CAM 3D printing materials, which are increasingly versatile and gaining favor among clinicians, it is now possible to address complex clinical situations with greater predictability. This technology enables the development of treatment solutions that are both effective and efficient, consequently reducing clinical time for the patient.

Exploring threshold of Al-impurities towards high-performance Al-doped Regenerated LiCoO2

Direct regeneration, as the main recycling manner, displays the short-process and high economic value, which has been devoted to considerable attentions. Limited by the existed pre-treatments, there are still some Al-impurities of spent material, resulting in the unstable electrochemical properties of regenerated material, meanwhile the excessive removal of Al-impurities brings the risk of regeneration cost. Thus, exploring the threshold reference of Al-impurities is urgent for regeneration of spent materials. Herein, through the introduction of Al2O3 with different content, spent LiCoO2 were successfully regenerated, displaying the evolution of physical-chemical properties. With suitable Al adding (0.02 wt.%), the broadening layer distance and storage space are found. As a cathode, the as-optimized sample shows a capacity of 172.7 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C, and the capacity retention was 84 % after 500 cycles at 5.0 C, even better than Al-impurity-free regenerated sample. Supported by the detailed kinetic analysis, it could be deduced that, suitable Al-introduction is beneficial for the fast insertion/extraction of ions, meanwhile too excess adding could bring about the blocking of diffusion paths and by-production surface stacking. Given this, this work is expected to shed light on the physical-chemical effect of Al-impurities, meanwhile offering the threshold reference for Al-doping content in practical regenerated industry.

Clinical efficacy and performance evaluation of a bendable remote robot system for a bone tumour surgery: A pilot animal study.

Traditional open surgery for bone tumours sometimes has as a consequence an excessive removal of healthy bone tissue because of the limitations of rigid surgical instruments, increasing infection risk and recovery time. We propose a remote robot with a 4.5-mm diameter bendable end-effector, offering four degrees of freedom for accessing the inside of the bone and performing tumour debridement. The preclinical studies evaluated the effectiveness, clinical scenario, and usability across 12 total surgeries-six phantom surgeries and six bovine bone surgeries. Evaluation criteria included skin incision size, bone window size, surgical time, removal rate, and conversion to open surgery. Preclinical studies demonstrated that the robotic approach requires significantly smaller incision size and procedure times than traditional open curettage. This study validated the performance of the proposed system by assessing its preclinical effectiveness and optimising surgical methods using human phantom and bovine bone tumour models.

Theory-Driven Tailoring of the Microenvironment of Quaternary Ammonium Binding Sites on Electrospun Nanofibers for Efficient Bilirubin Removal in Hemoperfusion.

Efficient adsorbents for excess bilirubin removal are extremely important for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. However, traditional adsorbents, such as activated carbons and ion-exchange resins, still suffer from dissatisfactory adsorption performance and poor blood compatibility. Herein, we adopted a rational design strategy guided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to prepare blood-compatible quaternary ammonium group grafted electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber adsorbents. The calculation analysis and adsorption experiments were used to investigate the structure-function relationship between group types and bilirubin adsorption, both indicating that quaternary ammonium groups with suitable configurations played a crucial role in bilirubin binding. The obtained nanofiber adsorbents showed the bilirubin removal efficiency above 90% even at a coexisting BSA concentration of 50 g L-1. The maximum adsorption capacities were 818.9 mg g-1 in free bilirubin solution and 163.7 mg g-1 in albumin bound bilirubin solution. The nanofiber adsorbents also showed considerable bilirubin removal in dynamic adsorption to reduce the bilirubin concentration to a normal level, which was better than commercial activated carbons. Our study demonstrates the high feasibility of a theory-driven design method for the development of grafted electrospun nanofibers, which have good potential as bilirubin adsorbents in hemoperfusion applications.

Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI): A flexible and tunable technology for customized water softening

There is a growing demand for water treatment systems for which the quality of feedwater in and product water out are not necessarily fixed with “tunable” technologies essential in many instances to satisfy the unique requirements of particular end-users. For example, in household applications, the optimal water hardness differs for particular end uses of the supplied product (such as water for potable purposes, water for hydration, or water for coffee or tea brewing) with the inclusion of specific minerals enhancing the suitability of the product in each case. However, conventional softening technologies are not dynamically flexible or tunable and, typically, simply remove all hardness ions from the feedwater. Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) can potentially fill this gap with its process flexibility and tunability achieved by fine tuning different operational parameters. In this article, we demonstrate that constant-current MCDI can be operated flexibly by increasing or decreasing the current and flow rate simultaneously to achieve the same desalination performance but different productivity whilst maintaining high water recovery. This characteristic can be used to operate MCDI in an energy-efficient manner to produce treated water more slowly at times of normal demand but more rapidly at times of peak demand. We also highlight the “tunability” of MCDI enabling the control of effluent hardness over different desired ranges by correlating the rates of hardness and conductivity removal using a power function model. Using this model, it is possible to either i) soften water to the same hardness level regardless of the fluctuation in hardness of feed waters, or ii) precisely control the effluent hardness at different levels to avoid excessive or insufficient hardness removal.