Rise In Concentration Research Articles

Subchronic Toxicity of Ethanol Extract of Mangosteen Rind (Garcinia Mangostana L.) on Kidney Function in Wistar Rats

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a fruit that possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. Before this, an acute toxicity test was conducted on the ethanol extract of mangosteen rind. However, further testing is required, specifically the subchronic toxicity test, to identify any hazardous effects that may not have been found in the previous study. The objective of this study is to evaluate the amount of toxicity based on the mortality rate, alterations in the relative weight of the kidneys, and changes in renal function as shown by levels of urea and creatinine. This study is an experimental investigation that employs the Post-test Only Control Group Design methodology, with a sample of 40 rats. The rats were categorized into two groups: the control group and the treatment group. The treatment group was divided into three subgroups, each receiving a dosage of 250 mg/kg body weight. The doses were 500 milligrams per kilogram and 1000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, respectively. The control group received simply water and feed. The duration of the treatment was 28 days. Observations were conducted over 28 days, which involved monitoring animal mortality. On the 29th day, a surgical procedure was carried out to assess the comparative weight of the kidneys and collect blood samples for analyzing the levels of urea and creatinine. The findings demonstrated no mortality in the test subjects, although there was an elevation in the relative mass of the kidneys and an increase in urea concentrations. The increase in urea levels was observed in female rats using the Kruskal–Wallis test (P = 0.019). The study was further conducted using the post-hoc Mann–Whitney test. Control female rats exhibited notable disparities when administered dosages of 250 mg/kgBW and 500 mg/kgBW. The repeated administration of an ethanolic extract derived from the peel of the mangosteen fruit had a detrimental impact on the functioning of the kidneys, as evidenced by a rise in urea concentrations. Keywords: mangosteen, toxicity test, subchronic, kidney

Responses of surface ozone under the tropical cyclone circulations: Case studies from Fujian Province, China

The circulation of tropical cyclones (TCs) exerts a multifaceted influence on the spatial and temporal distribution of surface pollutants. This study investigates the response of surface ozone (O3) concentration to the TCs in Fujian Province from June to December 2022 by analyzing the contributions of atmospheric pollutants, meteorological conditions, and dynamical transports. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition methods are used to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of affected O3, and a Gradient Boosting Regression Trees (GBRT) machine learning model is employed to estimate surface O3 concentration, quantifying the influence of each factor. The results indicate an anomaly increase in O3 concentration during this period, with photochemistry-related meteorological conditions being the primary influencer, accounting for 66.9% of O3 variations, elucidating the interpretability of the GBRT model for attributing changes in O3 concentration. Low relative humidity and high temperature conditions have been identified as pivotal factors influencing the rise in O3 concentrations. The presence of TC undermines this predominant influence, amplifying the role of transport factors and other atmospheric pollutants. In the case studies of TC (Muifa and Nanmadol, 2022), the slow or stagnant TCs triggered persistent downdrafts in its periphery and brought favorable meteorological conditions such as clear sky and warm temperature for photochemistry. TCs also enhances the impact of horizontal and vertical dynamic transport on O3 concentrations. This work provides vital insights into the complex interplay between TCs and surface O3 concentrations, highlighting the need for targeted environmental and air quality management strategies in regions frequently impacted by TCs.

Influence of Electrolyte Molarity and Applied Voltage on the Purification of Ferronickel by Electrolysis Method

The current advancements in the automotive industry highlight the critical need for electric vehicles, which require a reliable supply of nickel for battery production. A potential nickel source is Ferronickel's local content, which can be used as a secondary resource. However, research on converting smelted Ferronickel into electrolytic nickel is still limited. This study aims to examine the effects of electrolyte molarity and applied voltage during the electrolysis process for refining Ferronickel. The molarities of HCl employed in this research are 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 M for 2 hours. Additionally, the molarities of HCl are set at 2, 3, and 4 M for 6 hours. Further experiments were performed using varying voltages of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 V while keeping the solution concentration constant at 1 M and maintaining an electrolysis duration of 2 hours. The electrolysis solution was subsequently analyzed using the AAS (atomic absorption spectrophotometry) test. The results indicated that higher molarity levels were associated with increased current, resulting in faster reaction rates and greater solubilization of nickel metal. The Ni concentration rose with higher molarity, increasing from 76.50 mg/L in .25 M HCl to 91.88 mg/L in 1 M HCl. In contrast, the Fe concentration remained nearly constant across various molarity levels, ranging from 11.81 mg/L in .25 M HCl to 11.95 mg/L in 1 M HCl, suggesting a minimal influence of molarity below 1 M. Fe exhibited a strong positive correlation with increasing electrolyte molarity, showing a significant rise in concentration from 49.06 g/L at 2 M to 90.17 g/L at 4 M. Ni showed a more modest response to elevated molarity, with concentrations increasing from 11.95 g/L at 2 M to 22.70 g/L at 4 M. The Ni concentration increased with the applied voltage up to 6 V, reaching 95.57 mg/L, but then decreased to 77.67 mg/L at 8 V, indicating that the optimum voltage is 6 V. The Fe concentration displayed slight fluctuations but remained relatively stable across different voltage levels, measuring 11.81 mg/L at 1 V and 12.28 mg/L at 8 V, indicating that the applied voltage does not significantly influence Fe concentration in the solution.

Single Dose of Chloroform Induces Hepatic Dysfunction with Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Response in Vivo

Chloroform (CH) is considered an urgent environmental pollutant that leads to critical health effects. This investigation was carried out to verify the involvement of serum cytokines in the hepatic dysfunction induced by single exposure to CH in laboratory rats. Eighteen adult male laboratory rats were separated into three groups of eight rats each. Control (CON) group included animals without any treatment, while the rest of the two groups were administrated trichloromethane at a dose of 477 mg/kg , orally then sacrificed after 1 day (CH-1) and 7day (CH-7) post-exposure. The results indicated that single-dose exposure induced liver dysfunction through significant elevation of serum activities of hepatic enzymes compared with unexposed control rats. Furthermore, chloroform intoxication caused a significant time-dependent rise in concentrations of some pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum of exposed rats. In conclusion, a single high dose of chloroform causes liver dysfunction and promotes the response of pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats.

Sensitivity of AERMOD (V21112) RLINEXT dispersion model outputs by source type to variability in single noise barrier height and separation distance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) introduced the RLINEXT modeling feature in the latest versions of AERMOD (since version v21112) to predict traffic-induced pollutant concentration when noise barriers are present. The research presented in this paper explores the impacts of noise barrier characteristics on AERMOD-predicted concentrations. The research finds that because AERMOD can currently only attach one barrier to each road side, and because that barrier only impacts the source to which it is attached, it is also important to split links so that they properly pair with barriers. Given the sensitivity of AERMOD-predicted concentrations to barrier characteristics (i.e., barrier heights and distances to roadway), the research also concludes that barriers must be appropriately matched with input links. This study investigated the sensitivity of CO concentration predicted by the latest AERMOD under various noise barrier conditions (barrier heights and distances between road and barrier) and meteorological conditions (wind directions and wind speeds). The results indicate that ground-level concentration of downwind receptors decreases with increased barrier heights, and that distant barriers have less of an impact on predicted concentrations. This study also explored the impact of noise barrier on both horizontal and vertical concentration profiles, indicating that concentrations rise behind the barrier as plumes are predicted to loft over the barrier. The sensitivity analysis associated with splitting roadway links to match with barriers indicated an impact on predicted concentration for certain receptors of up to 10%, but the overall the impact on maximum concentrations was marginal.

Holocene temperatures follow CO2 in southeastern Alaska

Understanding the temperature evolution during the Holocene is crucial for future climate projections. However, a puzzling discrepancy between climate models simulating a warming trend during the second half of the Holocene parallel to the rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations and proxy data suggesting cooling during this period – known as the Holocene temperature conundrum – limits our understanding of how climate will evolve in the future. To solve this conundrum, the inclusion of quantitative paleotemperature records from high-latitude sites, which are extremely rare, is essential. Here, we use the hydrogen isotopic composition of fluid inclusions in speleothems from southeastern Alaska to create a quantitative temperature reconstruction of the entire Holocene. We show that the temperature in southeastern Alaska followed CO2, in agreement with modeling results. Because our data show no proxy-model bias, they support a seasonal proxy bias to account for the Holocene temperature conundrum.

Study of doping effect of cd on ZrO2 nanostructures for gas sensing applications

Abstract Here, we enforced the conventional precipitation approach to yield pure and cadmium doped (3% and 8%) ZrO2 powder, to examine the gas sensing proficiency of Zirconium metal oxide. Drop casting mechanism is hired for the formation of pure and cadmium doped ZrO2 films. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) outcomes recommended that the prepared pure and cadmium doped ZrO2 powder samples are pure with no subordinate phase, but slight shift in peaks were detected. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) portrait substantiates the uniform spherical like morphology of the samples. The Current Voltage (I-V) study affirms the good conducting nature of the samples. The photoluminescence (PL) inspection, confirms that the oxygen vacant spots are present in the processed samples. The UV-Diffuse Reflectance Spectra validates the decrement of band gap of the prepared samples with rise in dopant concentration. The gas sensing capabilities of the drop casted samples were examined for different gas concentrations of reducing gases like ammonia, acetone, ethanol, formaldehyde and xylene. From the output data, we interpreted that the prepared samples show favorable response towards the target gas, explicitly the 8% cadmium doped sample shows 39% of an extreme response towards ammonia gas. Likewise, it also accomplishes an expeditious response time (RST) and recovery time (RCT) among all samples. Thus, we resolved that the inclusion of cadmium content stacks up the gas sensing adaptability of the zirconium metal oxide.

Trend analyses of persistent organic pollutants in human milk from first-time mothers in Norway between 2002 and 2021

IntroductionPersistent organic pollutants (POPs) are stable compounds characterized by their resistance to degradation. From the 1960–70's organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as DDTs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) raised concerns regarding health and environmental impacts. This has led to the banning of POPs in the USA and Europe including Norway in 1980 and worldwide under the 2004 Stockholm Convention. The exposure of nursing infants to POPs has been a significant focus, prompting extensive research into the presence of these substances in human breast milk. In this study, we explored the temporal trends of POPs concentrations in breast milk sampled between 2002 and 2021 by comparing the concentration across the mother's year of birth. MethodTwo Norwegian cohorts of lactating women were utilized (the HUMIS study and the “Iodine in Early Life”-Study). Concentrations of 15 different POPs, including PCBs, OCPs, and brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) were measured in 513 breast milk samples that had been collected over two decades in a subset of first-time mothers. ResultsTime trend analysis indicated a steady decrease in concentration levels when adjusted for maternal age. The largest reduction was observed in β-HCH, age-adjusted (−17.1%, 95% CI -18.7, −15.4), followed by ∑6BDE (−9.1%, 95% CI -10.5, −7.7), ∑6PCBs (−7.1%, 95% CI -7.7, −6.5), and ∑2DDTs (−7.0%, 95% CI -8.0, −6.0). In contrast, an increasing trend was noted in the median concentrations of β-HCH, ∑2DDTs, and ∑6BDE in the mothers born in 1990–1994 to 1995–2002. ConclusionOur study demonstrates a decline of most POPs in breast milk, likely attributed to international regulatory efforts like the Stockholm Convention. Notably, an increase in the 95th percentile concentrations of β-HCH, ∑2DDTs, and ∑6BDEs was noted in mothers born in 1990–1994 compared to those born in 1995–2002 suggests demographic shifts that may influence exposure levels. Further research is needed to explore and understand the underlying factors for the rise in median concentrations of ∑6BDEs.

You Work for Us Now: Concentration in University-Performed Defense R&D

ABSTRACT Concentration in university research funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) has been rising in recent years, deviating from the steady levels of concentration in other federally-funded university research. The purpose of this paper is to explain that rise in concentration. When the DOD funds defense-specific R&D projects, there are two priorities affecting bureaucratic incentives: 1) Coordination incentivizes steering research toward specific technological ends, and 2) Security incentivizes actively limiting risks of information leakage. Sole source research center contracts make the necessary coordination and monitoring easier to achieve. As demand for projects that require more coordination and security increases, spending is allocated to sole source research centers leading to increasing concentration. Spending on military research projects awarded to universities such as aircrafts rapidly increased from 2008 to 2020 with much of that spending accruing to DOD-sponsored university research centers. Over that period, the share of obligations awarded to the 16 universities that manage DOD research centers rose from 37 percent in 2008 to 59 percent in 2020. This paper contributes to our understanding of the conditions under which policy makers choose to deviate from using grants to fund early-stage research and concentrate funding in a select group of performers.

Development and morphological analysis of the zone refining process for high purity germanium

A highly efficient purification process has been developed to enhance the purity of germanium (Ge) up to 13 N from an initial 4N purity. Hall effect measurements demonstrated that part of the zone refined Ge (ZRGe) bars exhibited p-type conductivity and high purity with a net charge carrier concentration of around 4–9 × 1010 cm−3. Noteworthy observations include a rise in carrier concentration (1011 to 1012 cm−3) at a very low zone refining (ZR) velocity of 1 mm/min, which is attributed to the diffusion of impurities from the container into the Ge melt. The purification efficiency was enhanced by optimizing the ZR velocity to around 4–5 mm/min. Purification was carried out at different process steps using graphite and quartz containers. Subsequent microstructural examinations, conducted in conjunction with wet-chemical etching of the sample unveiled the presence of various grains, grain boundaries (GBs), and low & high-density of dislocation clusters: These observations were made in samples that had undergone zone refining under various gas atmospheres including argon, nitrogen and hydrogen. Electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis reveals the characteristics of multiple grains and grain boundaries (GBs) of Ge refined in argon and nitrogen atmosphere, including low-angle GBs, high-angle GBs with coincide site lattice (CSL) Σ3, Σ9, Σ27a, and random angle GBs. In contrast, the EBSD results of Ge refined in hydrogen atmosphere shows larger grains with only a few low-angle grain boundaries. The materials refined in argon and nitrogen show a lower carrier lifetime (10–30 μs) owing to the presence of various high angle grains boundaries as well as low purity. Conversely, zone refining in hydrogen resulted in the carrier lifetime of around 50 μs in polycrystalline Ge wafers with larger grains.

Effect of heat production on MHD natural convection transport of nanofluid flow via a vertical uniform perforated plate: An unsteady analysis

This article statistically investigates the impact of heat production on the unstable MHD natural convection transport of nanofluid flow via a perforated sheet. The ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are derived from the partial differential equations (PDEs) by using of the similarity transformation. The dimensionless ordinary differential equations (ODEs) may be numerically resolved with the help of the MATLAB ODE45 tool and the finite difference method (FDM) along with the shooting strategy. Four innovative water-based nanofluids such as TiO2, Cu, Al2O3, and Ag are considered nanoparticles. The numerical results have been explained for the role of numerous non-dimensional numbers or parameters such as heat generation or absorption (Q), nanoparticle volume fraction (φ), Dufour number (Df), Prandtl number (Pr), magnetic force parameter (M), Soret number (Sr), and Schmidt number (Sc) on the fluid flow, and heat and mass transfer rates. The fluid temperature drops but velocity is enhanced for higher amounts of Q. Copper nanoparticle volume fraction up to 4 % shows a rise in temperature, concentration, and velocity curves. Heat transfer rate ( − θ′(0)) diminishes by about 124 %, while the values of f′(0) promote by approximately 26 % owing to an increase in the values of Q (heat generation) from 1.0 to 2.0. The value of ( − θ′(0)) increases by 49 %, but f′0 decreases by 15 % due to a rise in Q (heat absorption) from -3.0 to -10.0. The local skin friction coefficient (f′(0)) diminishes by about 65.21 % due to an increase in the values of the magnetic force parameter (M) from 0.5 to 3.5 whereas the rate of heat and mass transfer remain unchanged. As φ increased from 0.01 to 0.04, the local skin friction coefficient (f′(0)) exhibited a 36 % increase, while the heat transport rate (θ′(0)) decreased around by 10 %. In conclusion, a comparison was made between our findings and those of the published research. The comparison indicates a high degree of consistency.

Evaluating the behavior and environmental risks of carbamazepine and its metabolites in soil aquifer treatment: Insights from deconjugation dynamics and toxicity assessment

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment has been a growing concern. Recent studies highlight the ecological risks of pharmaceuticals, but most risk assessments focus on the parent drug, neglecting metabolites. This study examines the behavior and environmental risks of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its metabolites in soil aquifer treatment (SAT) for wastewater reclamation. Findings indicate that CBZ metabolites' total concentration exceeds that of CBZ. Notably, carbamazepine-N-glucuronide (CBZ-N-Glu) concentration decreased from 48.12 ng/L to undetectable levels during SAT, while CBZ concentration increased from 64.87 to 95 ng/L, suggesting possible deconjugation of CBZ-N-Glu. Batch and column experiments confirmed the hypothesis, showing a gradual disappearance of CBZ-Glu and a corresponding rise in CBZ concentration when CBZ-N-Glu was spiked into a recirculated SAT system. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) analysis revealed that CBZ exhibits higher acute and chronic toxicity, with metabolites showing varying levels of developmental toxicity. The study also evaluates the persistence, mobility, and toxicity (PMT) characteristics of CBZ and its metabolites, highlighting CBZ-N-Glu's particularly adverse PMT characteristics compared to CBZ. In summary, the residual pharmaceuticals in the reclaimed water process should be evaluated systematically, considering both the parent compounds and their metabolites.

The key metabolic signatures and biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced blood glucose elevation in chinese individuals exposed to diesel engine exhaust

Due to the complexity of environmental exposure factors and the low levels of exposure in the general population, identifying the key environmental factors associated with diabetes and understanding their potential mechanisms present significant challenges. This study aimed to identify key polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contributing to increased fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations and to explore their potential metabolic mechanisms. We recruited a highly PAH-exposed diesel engine exhaust testing population and healthy controls. Our findings found a positive association between FBG concentrations and PAH metabolites, identifying 1-OHNa, 2-OHPh, and 9-OHPh as major contributors to the rise in FBG concentrations induced by PAH mixtures. Specifically, each 10 % increase in 1-OHNa, 2-OHPh, and 9-OHPh concentrations led to increases in FBG concentrations of 0.201 %, 0.261 %, and 0.268 %, respectively. Targeted metabolomics analysis revealed significant alterations in metabolic pathways among those exposed to high levels of PAHs, including sirtuin signaling, asparagine metabolism, and proline metabolism pathway. Toxic function analysis highlighted differential metabolites involved in various dysglycemia-related conditions, such as cardiac arrhythmia and renal damage. Mediation analysis revealed that 2-aminooctanoic acid mediated the FBG elevation induced by 2-OHPh, while 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and hypoxanthine acted as partial suppressors. Notably, 2-aminooctanoic acid was identified as a crucial intermediary metabolic biomarker, mediating significant portions of the associations between the multiple different structures of OH-PAHs and elevated FBG concentrations, accounting for 16.73 %, 10.84 %, 10.00 %, and 11.90 % of these effects for 1-OHPyr, 2-OHFlu, the sum concentrations of 2- and 9-OHPh, and the sum concentrations of total OH-PAHs, respectively. Overall, our study explored the potential metabolic mechanisms underlying the elevated FBG induced by PAHs and identified 2-aminooctanoic acid as a pivotal metabolic biomarker, presenting a potential target for intervention.

Near zero background noise photoelectrochemical sensor based on sensitized signal probe CdS QDs-Dox intercalating double-stranded DNA for PEDV detection

The highly sensitive detection method for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is crucial for promptly identify infected pigs and effectively control the spread of the virus. In this study, the sensitization enhancement of organic photoactive material was combined with near zero background noise strategy for PEDV sensitive detection. A novel sensitized signal probe CdS quantum dots-doxycycline complex (CdS QDs-Dox) was prepared serving as a photoelectrochemical (PEC) probe embedded in dsDNA. Subsequently, a thiol-modified upstream inner primer (SH-FIP) was immobilized on the surface of electrode modified with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) via Au–S bonding, enabling the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of PEDV on the electrode surface. The PEC probe (CdS QDs-Dox) embedded in the amplified dsDNA groove showed an increasing photocurrent signal with the rise of PEDV concentration, establishing a near-zero background LAMP-PEC sensing platform for PEDV detection. Under optimized conditions, the photocurrent intensity of this platform exhibited a good linear relationship with PEDV concentrations ranging from 0.0005 pg/μL to 10 pg/μL, achieving a detection limit as low as 0.17 fg/μL. This platform demonstrates outstanding specificity and sensitivity, thereby enabling precise quantitative detection of diverse pathogens.

Exploring the nexus of grain production and climate variability under nitrogen and hydrothermal regimes using CERES-wheat model

Field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Bathinda from 2017-18 to 2019-20 to evaluate the growth and yield of wheat under varying sowing dates (Nov. 15, Nov. 30 & Dec 15), irrigation regimes (IW: CP = 0.6, 0.8, & 1.0), and nitrogen levels 80% RDN, RDN & 120% RDN). Timely sowing (15 November) resulted in significantly highest grain yield (5090 kg ha-1) and delay in sowing caused reduction in yield by 2.83 % and 9.91 % in crop sown on 30 November and 15 December respectively. Yield and yield attributes were found to increase with increase in irrigation and nitrogen levels. The highest yield was achieved with 15 November sowing, IW: CPE ratio 1.0 and 120% RDN. The sensitivity of the validated CERES-wheat model to increase in temperature by 0.7, 1.2, 1.5 0C and CO2 concentration by 435, 460, 500 ppm, as projected for years 2030, 2040 and 2050 respectively, revealed reduction in the wheat yield. The combination of 15 November sown crop, irrigation at IW:CPE ratio 1.0, and recommended dose of nitrogen showed resilience against increasing CO2 concentration and temperature rise.

Influence of Anesthetic Regimes on Extracellular Vesicles following Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Coronary Artery Disease.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in aortocoronary bypass surgery, potentially via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their micro-RNA content. Clinical data implicate that propofol might inhibit the cardioprotective RIPC effect. This prospective, randomized study investigated the influence of different anesthetic regimes on RIPC efficacy and EV micro-RNA signatures. We also assessed the impact of propofol on cell protection after hypoxic conditioning and EV-mediated RIPC in vitro. H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts were subjected to hypoxia, with or without propofol, and subsequent simulated ischemia-reperfusion injury. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Blood samples of 64 patients receiving anesthetic maintenance with propofol or isoflurane, along with RIPC or sham procedures, were analyzed, and EVs were enriched using a polymer-based method. Propofol administration corresponded with increased Troponin T levels (4669 ± 435.6 pg/mL), suggesting an inhibition of the cardioprotective RIPC effect. RIPC leads to a notable rise in miR-21 concentrations in the group receiving propofol anesthesia (fold change 7.22 ± 6.6). In vitro experiments showed that apoptosis reduction was compromised with propofol and only occurred in an EV-enriched preconditioning medium, not in an EV-depleted medium. Our study could clinically and experimentally confirm propofol inhibition of RIPC protection. Increased miR-21 expression could provide evidence for a possible inhibitory mechanism.

Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Deep-Sea Mining: A Study on Swirling Flow Transportation of Double-Size Mineral Particles

Deep-sea minerals are regarded as the most economically viable and promising mineral resource. Vertical hydraulic lifting represents one of the most promising methods for deep-sea mining lifting systems. To mitigate the potential for clogging due to the aggregation of particles in vertical pipe transport during deep-sea mining operations, this paper employs numerical simulations utilizing the computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) model to investigate the swirling flow transportation of mineral particles. The characteristics of the swirling flow field and the motion law of double-size particles at different swirling ratios are investigated. The findings demonstrate that, in comparison to axial transport within the pipeline, the particle movement observed in swirling flow transport exhibits an upward spiral trajectory. This phenomenon facilitates the orderly movement of particles, thereby enhancing the fluidization of particles within the pipeline. An increase in the swirling ratio (SR) has a considerable impact on the velocity within the pipe. The tangential velocity distribution undergoes a gradual transition from centrosymmetric to non-centrosymmetric as the distance from the inlet increases. An increase in the SR results in an enhanced aggregation of particles at the wall, accompanied by a notable rise in the local particle concentration. The value of SR = 0.3 represents a critical threshold. When SR exceeds this value, the distribution of particles in the cross-section reaches a relatively stable state, rendering it challenging to further alter the distribution and concentration of particles, even if the SR is augmented. Furthermore, the maximum local particle concentration in the vicinity of the wall tends to be stable. These results provide valuable insights into vertical pipe swirling flow transport for deep-sea mining.

Exploring the adsorption of 4,4’-[oxalylbis(imino)]bis(2-hydroxybenzoic acid) layer at steel/biogasoline interface by the combined electrical-optical-simulation approach

Reactions at the steel/biogasoline interface trigger the adsorption of 4,4’-[Oxalylbis(imino)]bis(2-hydroxybenzoic Acid) (ODA) layer on the steel surface, thereby activating a mechanism that inhibited the early reactions. Exploring the conditionally deposited ODA layer requires a combined approach, including electrical, optical, and simulation techniques to track the film development and coating characteristics over time, and with the assistance of atomic force microscopy, quantum chemistry (DFT), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to reveal the adsorption mechanism of the ODA layer at steel/biogasoline interface. The four experimental ODA concentrations were conducted, related to the simulated un-coverage, undersaturated-, saturated-, and oversaturated-coverage model of the adsorbate on the adsorbent. The EC-RS data examines surface compositions and their distribution, coating/solution interface, and coating/substrate adhesion by, respectively, Raman spectroscopy (RS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and current density—potential (I-V) scan. Namely, RS pointed out that an organic layer was established when ODA was added to the simulated biogasoline. EIS results revealed insulator behaviors of the ODA layer at the solid–liquid interface, limiting the charge transfer between the steel substrate and the biogasoline. I-V results showed an increase in surface current density and a decrease in surface polarization resistance of the coating with the rise in ODA concentration. The AFM morphology profile verified the degradation of the sample’s surface when exposed to biogasoline and the minimization of surface damage by ODA addition through adsorption. The simulation findings revealed that the adsorption of ODA on steel preferred physisorption, reaching the most stable state at a specified temperature and ODA concentration. The adsorption mechanism follows the Generalized Langmuir isotherm. The adsorbate (ODA molecules) can produce a transition phase with the steel substrate surface, which modifies the surface thermodynamic characteristics. The combined electro-optical-simulation technique can be applied to investigate various surface phenomena (reactions, catalyzes, adsorption). It especially helps to understand the protective mechanism of inhibitors in different media.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates the formation of specialized ribosomes during high salt stress in yeast.

Rps26-deficient ribosomes are a physiologically relevant ribosome population which arises during osmotic stress to support the translation of mRNAs involved in the response to high salt in yeast. They are formed by binding of the chaperone Tsr2 to fully assembled ribosomes to release Rps26 when intracellular Na+ concentrations rise. Tsr2-mediated Rps26 release is reversible, enabling a rapid response that conserves ribosomes. However, because the concentration of Tsr2 relative to ribosomes is low, how the released Rps26•Tsr2 complex is managed to allow for accumulation of Rps26-deficient ribosomes to nearly 50% of all ribosomes remains unclear. Here we show that released Rps26 is degraded via the Pro/N-degron pathway, enabling the accumulation of Rps26-deficient ribosomes. Substitution of the N-terminal proline of Rps26 to serine increases the stability of free Rps26, limits the accumulation of Rps26-deficient ribosomes and renders yeast sensitive to high salt. The GID-complex, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and its adaptor Gid4, mediate polyubiquitination of Rps26 at Lys66 and Lys70. Moreover, this ubiquitination event is required for Rps26 degradation, the accumulation of Rps26-deficient ribosomes and the high salt stress resistance. Together, the data show that targeted degradation of released Rps26 from the Rps26•Tsr2 complex allows Tsr2 to be recycled, thus facilitating multiple rounds of Rps26 release.

Polyetheramine enhanced biosurfactant/biopolymer flooding for enhanced oil recovery

The application of conventional alkali, surfactant and polymer in alkali/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding has exposed the inherent shortcomings of pollution and damage to reservoirs. Hence, finding new environmentally friendly alternatives is essential for the sustainable development of ASP flooding. In this paper, we proposed a novel ternary combination utilizing organic alkali polyetheramine, biosurfactant, and biopolymer as alternative chemical agents for ASP flooding. Specifically, the ASP system composed of polyetheramine D230, biosurfactant sophorolipid (SL) and biopolymer welan gum (WLG) exhibited excellent potential in improving oil recovery. The interfacial tension measurements proved that D230 could react with organic acids in crude oil to generate surface-active soaps, which cooperated with SL to reduce the oil–water interfacial tension to 10−2 mN/m. The rheological measurements demonstrated that the addition of D230 could increase the viscosity of low concentration WLG solution, but this phenomenon gradually disappeared with the rise of WLG concentration. Even at higher WLG concentration, D230 only caused a slight decrease in system viscosity, which facilitated the improvement of sweep efficiency. Emulsification and contact angle measurements indicated that D230/SL blend had outstanding emulsifying ability and successfully altered the quartz surface from oil-wet to water-wet. Core flooding experiments and micromodel experiments showed that the D230/SL/WLG system significantly enhanced oil recovery by 22.66 %, which was attributed to the high viscosity, low interfacial tension, excellent wettability reversal and emulsifying abilities of the system. The economic benefit assessment indicated that this ASP system has the potential to be economic, rendering it profitable even during periods of low oil prices. Furthermore, the EC50 value of 52,600 mg/L for D230/SL/WLG demonstrated its environmental friendliness.