Surface Loading Research Articles

Engineered Platelets for Cancer Therapy

ABSTRACTWhile nanomedicine research shows a great progress in the treatment of cancer, it still faces challenges of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Numerous studies have demonstrated intricate crosstalk between platelets and tumor cells. The re‐education of platelets by tumor cells enables these platelets to provide critical assistance for tumor proliferation, recurrence, and metastasis. Engineered platelets have shown promising potential in the treatment of tumors, postoperative tumor recurrence, and tumor metastasis. Different engineering technologies such as surface modification, gene editing, membrane coating, and loading into hydrogels can produce multifunctional and customized engineered platelets. These engineered platelets inherit the key properties of platelets, including long blood circulation, tumor targeting, and thrombus targeting, and can be stimulated to generate derivatized particles. In this review, we elucidate the critical role of platelets in the complex processes of tumorigenesis and tumor progression and summarize the emerging paradigm of engineered platelets in tumor therapy. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively explore the potential value of engineered platelets toward the clinical treatment of cancer, providing a valuable reference for the further development of engineered platelets and their broader applications in the field of cancer therapy.

Maximizing Oxygen Evolution Performance of NiFeOx Semitransparent Electrocatalysts Applicable to Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Device

In photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, semiconductor‐based photoelectrodes can improve reaction rates and durability by incorporating cocatalysts that serve as active sites for the water splitting process. However, achieving both high light transmittance and efficient catalytic activity is essential for these cocatalysts. This study aimed to optimize the surface loading of semitransparent NiFeOx thin‐film electrocatalysts to enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) rates while maintaining high light transmittance. NiFeOx thin films were deposited on fluorine‐doped SnO2 (FTO) transparent conductive substrates, and the relationship between the NiFeOx loading amount (Γ) and the OER rate was examined using electrochemical techniques. The OER rate of NiFeOx on FTO (NiFeOx/FTO) was the highest at a Γ value of 0.20 μmol cm‐2. To further explore the connection between this optimized Γ and PEC activity, the impact of Γ on the PEC OER performance of visible‐light‐absorbing α‐Fe2O3 semitransparent photoanodes was evaluated as a model system. Applying the optimized Γ of NiFeOx to modify the α‐Fe2O3 surface also led to enhanced PEC OER performance. These findings highlight the critical role of surface design, specifically the optimization of cocatalyst loading and electrocatalytic activity, in improving PEC water splitting efficiency, providing valuable guidelines for future semitransparent photoelectrode development.

Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands Efficiency with Varying Surface Loading Rates

Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands Efficiency with Varying Surface Loading Rates

Three-Dimensional Axisymmetric Analysis of Annular One-Dimensional Hexagonal Piezoelectric Quasicrystal Actuator/Sensor with Different Configurations

The presented article is about the axisymmetric deformation of an annular one-dimensional hexagonal piezoelectric quasicrystal actuator/sensor with different configurations, analyzed by the three-dimensional theory of piezoelectricity coupled with phonon and phason fields. The state space method is utilized to recast the basic equations of one-dimensional hexagonal piezoelectric quasicrystals into the transfer matrix form, and the state space equations of a laminated annular piezoelectric quasicrystal actuator/sensor are obtained. By virtue of the finite Hankel transform, the ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients for an annular quasicrystal actuator/sensor with a generalized elastic simple support boundary condition are derived. Subsequently, the propagator matrix method and inverse Hankel transform are used together to achieve the exact axisymmetric solution for the annular one-dimensional hexagonal piezoelectric quasicrystal actuator/sensor. Numerical illustrations are presented to investigate the influences of the thickness-to-span ratio on a single-layer annular piezoelectric quasicrystal actuator/sensor subjected to different top surface loads, and the effect of material parameters is also presented. Afterward, the present model is applied to compare the performance of different piezoelectric quasicrystal actuator/sensor configurations: the quasicrystal multilayer, quasicrystal unimorph, and quasicrystal bimorph.

Demonstration scale treatment of drainage canal water in the Nile Delta through a combination of facultative lagoons and hybrid constructed wetlands

Drainage canal water (DCW), a mixture of Nile water, drainage water and municipal wastewater, is largely used for irrigation in the Nile Delta. Facultative lagoons (FL) and constructed wetlands (CWs) represent interesting options for DCW treatment before its agricultural re-use, but very few studies investigated their implementation in Egypt. This work aimed at developing at demonstration scale (250 m3 d-1) a FL+CW treatment train capable to turn DCW into an effluent reusable in agriculture. Three types of hybrid CWs were tested in parallel for 530 days. The combination of FL with a cascade hybrid CW, operated at a 200 L d-1 m-2 surface loading rate, led to medium-to-high removal efficiencies (suspended solids 90%, total nitrogen 84%, phosphate 80%, COD 67%, faecal coliforms 2.2 Log) and surface removal rates (COD 47.5 t y-1 ha-1, total nitrogen 10.9 t y-1 ha-1, faecal coliforms 1.5 1011 MPN y-1 ha-1). The effluent, compliant with class C of EU 2020/741 regulation, is potentially reusable to irrigate numerous Egyptian crops. The results show that the combination of FLs with cascade hybrid CWs has a great potential for the treatment of DCW and low-strength municipal wastewater, with near-zero energy consumption, null consumption of chemicals and a land requirement varying between 1.1% and 1.5% of the agricultural land irrigated with the treated DCW.

Aeroelastic Effects in Supersonic Shock-Turbulent Boundary Layer Interaction over Flexible Panels

The dynamic coupling between a Mach 1.94 shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction (SBLI) and a flexible panel is investigated. High-order numerical simulations are performed for distinctly different dynamic panel motions and rigid snapshots of their maximum deflected shape. They are compared with a baseline interaction over a rigid planar wall. The panel’s dynamic surface motions were obtained from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) wind tunnel experiments. The primary aim of the study was to determine whether there were any differences in the flow pressure loading on the compliant panel due to the various rigid and dynamic deformations considered. The results show that the examined panel deformations increase the SBLI size near the panel midpoint, where the deformation amplitude tends to be the largest. Relative to the rigid planar case, the examined surface deformations cause the mean-flow high-pressure surface loading caused by the impinging shock wave to shift downstream along the compliant panel midspan, albeit by a small amount. The spectrogram of the dynamic deformation and the flow surface pressure response suggests that the two are strongly coupled at the dominant (primary) mode but less so at the secondary modes. Although the primary mode frequencies overlap, they do not exactly match, with the pressure response frequency always being slightly higher in all three cases. The rigid deformations did not enhance the pressure power content at the SBLI. However, pre-SBLI and near the panel leading edge, the pressure power spectrum weakly increased throughout the resolved frequency range and overlapped with the onset of the amplification found in the dynamic deformation cases. Post-SBLI, the rigid deformations cause a weak enhancement at frequencies below 1 kHz, which closely match the dominant and secondary pressure response frequencies obtained in the dynamic cases.

Settling model to predict microplastics removal efficiency in wastewater treatments

AbstractMicroplastics (MPs) are plastic particles less than 5 mm and become a good carrier and vectors for contaminants in the environment. Current wastewater treatment technologies, including preliminary treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, and tertiary treatment, have a certain removal efficiency for MPs or nano‐scale plastic particles. The settling treatment is employed in several wastewater treatment processes. This work built a settling model based on the Reynolds number, drag coefficient, and settling mechanism to predict the microplastics removal efficiency. Microplastics with larger density difference with wastewater, larger size, and CSF closer to 1 are easily captured and have a higher removal efficiency. The calculated removal efficiency according to density, size distribution, different shapes, and the surface loading rate in the operation of wastewater treatment is in a reasonable removal efficiency range. The removal efficiency increases when the surface loading rate decreases.

Cotton fabric coated with graphene oxide nanosheets and CuO nanoparticles as a “dip catalyst” for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes

This research focuses on the immobilization in-situ of CuO nanoparticles on graphene oxide nanosheets modified cotton fabric (CuO/GO@CF) for the photodegradation, of organic dyes. The process involves coating the fabrics (CF) with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets through sonication.The produced CuO, GO@CF, and CuO/GO@CF have been characterized utilizing various physicochemical methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourrier Transformed Infra-Red (FTIR), trans mission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).The catalytic activity of the nanocomposite was assessed by methylene blue (MB) oxidation. Additionally, a detailed analysis was conducted to determine how various parameters, including catalyst surface, pH, MB concentration and CuO loading (%), affected the degradation efficiency. The results showed that the 10 %CuO/5 %GO@CF with a surface of 4 cm2 (2 × 2 cm) exhibited the highest catalytic activity, achieving a MB removal efficiency of 82 % in 90 min. Additionally, after successive reaction cycles, the synthesized composite showed excellent stability and no appreciable drop-in catalytic activity. Moreover, it was shown that the primary reactive oxidative species (ROSs) in charge of the extremely effective MB breakdown were HO.. Lastly, catalyst stability and recyclability showed that CuO/GO@CF might be used as a substitute photocatalyst for environmental cleanup and dye degradation. This synthetized composite can be easily added to and removed from the reaction solution while maintaining high catalytic performance in the removal of dyes and it could be beneficial in avoiding problems related to powder separation.

Na-Promoted Bimetallic Hydroxide Nanoparticles for Aerobic C-H Activation: Catalyst Design Principles and Insights into Reaction Mechanism.

A precious metal-free bimetallic FexMn1-x(OH)y hydroxide catalyst was developed that is capable of catalyzing aerobic C-H oxidation reactions at low temperatures, without the need for an initiator, relying sustainably on molecular oxygen. Through a systematic synthetic effort, we scanned a wide nanoparticle synthesis parameter space to lay out a detailed set of catalyst design principles unraveling how the Fe/Mn cation ratio, NaOH(aq) concentration used in the synthesis, catalyst washing procedures, extent of residual Na+ promoters on the catalyst surface, reaction temperature, and catalyst loading influence catalytic C-H activation performance as a function of the electronic, surface chemical, and crystal structure of FexMn1-x(OH)y bimetallic hydroxide nanostructures. Our comprehensive XRD, XPS, BET, ICP-MS, 1H NMR, and XANES structural/product characterization results as well as mechanistic kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies provided the following valuable insights into the molecular level origins of the catalytic performance of the bimetallic FexMn1-x(OH)y hydroxide nanostructures: (i) catalytic reactivity is due to the coexistence and synergistic operation of Fe3+ and Mn3+ cationic sites (with minor contributions from Fe2+ and Mn2+ sites) on the catalyst surface, where in the absence of one of these synergistic sites (i.e., in the presence of monometallic hydroxides), catalytic activity almost entirely vanishes, (ii) residual Na+ species on the catalyst surface act as efficient electronic promoters by increasing the electron density on the Fe3+ and Mn3+ cationic sites, which in turn, presumably enhance the electrophilic adsorption of organic reactants and strengthen the interaction between molecular oxygen and the catalyst surface, (iii) in the fluorene oxidation reaction the step dictating the reaction rate likely involved the breaking of a C-H bond (kH/kD = 2.4), (iv) reactivity patterns of a variety of alkylarene substrates indicate that the C-H bond cleavage follows a stepwise PT-ET (proton transfer-electron transfer) pathway.

A new membrane finite element based on the strain approach

Membrane elements with in-plane rotation are applicable for modeling thin planar structures that are only stressed by volume and surface loads acting in their plane. In this paper a new finite element designed for static and free vibration analysis, featuring a four-node configuration is presented. Each node incorporates two engineering displacements and a fictive rotation, aligning with strain approach principles. The displacements field of this element is based on the assumed functions for the various strains satisfying the compatibility equations. This developed element passed all benchmark tests in the case of bending and shear problems. In static analysis, the displacements, strains, and stresses are calculated, while the free vibration analysis aims to determine natural frequencies, including both axial and fundamental frequencies. The proposed membrane element is validate through a series of selected examples, demonstrating its effectiveness and accuracy. The results consistently indicate that the new element exhibits high performance and exactitude in both types of analysis.

Effect of starch categories and mass ratio of TA/starch on the emulsifying performance and stability of emulsions stabilized by tannic acid-starch complexes

This study compounded natural corn starch (CS), mung bean starch (MBS) and potato starch (PS) with tannic acid (TA) to stabilize O/W Pickering emulsion. The effect of TA/starch mass ratio (0–0.25) and three starch categories on particle properties, emulsifying properties, lipid oxidation, freeze-thaw stability, emulsion powder and digestive properties were comprehensibly investigated. In detail, the TA/starch complexes size increased gradually (91.14 nm–200.87 nm) and the hydrophobicity first increased and then decreased (TA/CS > TA/MBS > TA/PS) with increasing TA/starch mass ratio. In addition, the emulsifying ability of TA/starch complexes also increased first and then decreased with increasing mass ratio, especially TA/CS system was the best, which was the same as the hydrophobicity conclusion (θow = 80.46°). Moreover, four starch-based emulsion application characteristics were further evaluated to reveal interface structure. Compared to CS and PS system, TA/MBS emulsion had stronger ability to resist the oil oxidation (TBA = 2.54 μg/mL), destruction of ice crystal (whiter emulsion powder) and digestive enzymes (FFAs = 75.33 %). It mainly attributed to the crosslinking network structure and the highest surface load of TA/MBS complexes. This study would provide new ideas for the design and application of emulsifying properties and emulsion stability.

Performance of unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced pile-supported embankments under localized surface loading: Analytical investigation

An analytical solution is proposed to identify the performance of unreinforced and geogrid-reinforcement pile-supported embankments under localized surface loading at working stress conditions based on the total efficacy and efficacy induced by soil arching alone, average strain of geogrid reinforcement, and average settlement of subsoil. This solution considered interactively soil arching within the embankment fill, the load-deflection behavior of geogrid reinforcement (if existed), and subsoil settlement. Specifically, the soil arching consisted of a structural arch with different stress states (evaluated by the elastoplastic state coefficient K) and a frictional arch. The load-deflection behavior of geogrid reinforcement was modeled by a membrane, with due consideration of the skin friction between the geogrid and soil. The subsoil was idealized as a one-dimensional compression model. The effectiveness of the proposed solution was verified by comparisons with results from the collected literature. It is shown that geogrid reinforcement improved the performance of embankments with low subsoil stiffness significantly more than that of those with high stiffness subsoil. A high tensile stiffness geogrid was found to be inefficient because its contribution to reducing the subsoil settlement and enhancing the load transfer efficacy was minimal. This paper provides a significant reference for optimizing these embankment design.

Numerical investigation on the slamming loads of a truncated trimaran hull entering regular waves

For ship slamming, waves can disturb the water entry progress and thus affect the slamming load characteristics. This paper studied the slamming loads of a trimaran entering regular waves based on the CFD method. The results of a trimaran model impacting calm water and wedge impacting waves are used to verify the present method. The free surface evolution and load characteristics of the trimaran model considering wave effects are discussed. The results showed that the position at which the structure touches the wave surface depends on the formation, deformation and escape of bubble flows, which cause obvious asymmetrical flow. The enclosure of the air cavity induces a step increase in pressure, and the pressure peak appears when the bubble fully escapes. Three typical positions, wave crest, wave cross and wave through, are chosen to explore the influence of waves on slamming loads. The impact load shows a 98% difference at different wave locations. In ship load forecasting, the position of the waves relative to the hull is noteworthy. The influence of the water entry velocity on the slamming load is further discussed. Bubble retention related to the water entry velocity is the key factor affecting the peak load.

Designing tungsten armoured plasma facing components to pulsed heat loads in magnetic fusion machines

A possible design rule for preventing surface damage from thermal transients to solid tungsten armour is proposed and formulated for the plasma facing components (divertor, first wall) of magnetic fusion machines. The rule is based on combined results from laboratory experiments and operating fusion machines, and fundamental engineering principles such as the heat flux factor (FHF) and fatigue usage fraction (FUF). As an example, the rule would allow 2.104 transient heat loads cycles at a FHF of 10MJm-2s-½ before the lifetime is considered exhausted. The formulation of the rule using engineering principles allows combining loads of different magnitudes and various number of cycles. A practical example of the rule usage is provided, illustrating loads combination and how the rule may contribute to the component geometrical design. The proposed rule is only valid for surface loading conditions, hence is not usable for volumetric loading conditions such as runaway electrons. Setting a budget lifetime and a design rule does not preclude actual plasma operation beyond the design lifetime. It is actually normal that experimental devices explore a larger domain than the one defined at the time of the design.

Modulating d-p-band electron coupling by N-doping for promoting CuSAs-N/TiO2 photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Doping can effectively improve the light absorption of single-atoms photocatalysts, but the metal-support interaction (MSI) and surface electronic structure will change due to doping, which needs further study. Herein, we report a nano-TiO2 co-modified with internal doping of N and surface loading of Cu single atoms (CuSAs-N/TiO2) for photocatalytic water-splitting hydrogen evolution. Experimental and theoretical studies confirm that the internal doped N can interact strongly with the surface-loaded CuSAs by modulating the d-p-band electronic coupling. The enhancement of d-p-band electronic coupling enhances the strong electron interaction between CuSA and support of N-doped TiO2. Especially, it significantly affects the d-p-band electronic structure of the catalyst surface lattice and causes electron redistribution in the local structure of surface CuSAs, which can optimize the surface hydrogen evolution kinetics and promote hydrogen production. Consequently, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity, photoelectric response rate and light energy utilization of CuSAs-N/TiO2 are significantly improved. This work reveals the fundamental necessity of d-p-band electron coupling in MSI and catalyst surface electronic structure for driving solar water splitting. It provides valuable insights for the rational design of metal single-atom photocatalysts with high activity and efficient light energy utilization.

Hydraulic Design Concept of 6.60MLD Water Treatment Plant

Abstract: The design and construction of a 6.6 million liters per day (MLD) water treatment plant (WTP) in Belpada Village, Odisha, aim to meet the increasing water demand while ensuring public health through effective water treatment processes. The plant, which sources raw water from the Tel River, follows a well-structured treatment process that includes aeration, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. This journal outlines the hydraulic design, treatment schemes, and structural components of the WTP. Design calculations, based on CPHEEO standards, are also discussed, focusing on the hydraulic detention times, surface loading, filtration rates, and sludge management techniques.The design of water treatment plants (WTPs) plays a crucial role in delivering safe drinking water, especially in areas with high population density and industrial growth. The 6.6 MLD WTP designed for Belpada Village in Balangir District draws water from Tel River and utilizes a cascade aeration system for the removal of contaminants. This paper discusses the hydraulic and process design, focusing on flow rates, detention times, and surface loading parameters that meet the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) standards.

Paleoseismology of the Northern Kongur Shan Extensional System, NE Pamir: Implications for Potential Irregular Earthquake Recurrence

AbstractThe intricate and changing stress conditions within complex fault networks pose challenges in understanding earthquake recurrence and seismic hazards. The Kongur Shan Extensional System (KSES) in the northeastern Pamir, characterized by complex fault geometries and potentially variable surface loads in its surroundings, offers an ideal research area. Here we investigate three paleoseismic sites in the northern KSES, including lacustrine seismites in the Muji Basin, secondary fault scarps of the northern Kongur Shan Fault (KSF), and an exposure of the eastern Muji Fault. The seismites, as a regional record, indicate two Mw 6–7.3 paleoearthquakes occurring 720–680 and 1030–940 cal yr BP, with an interval of 230–330 years. The other two on‐fault sites reveal paleoearthquakes with compatible magnitudes but much longer average time intervals (ATI). Secondary fault scarps of the northern KSF indicate four Mw 6.9–7.2 paleoearthquakes since 4.8 ± 0.8 ka, with an ATI of 1,000–1,870 years. The fault exposure of the eastern Muji Fault indicates two Mw 6.8–7.3 paleoearthquakes since 2.7 ± 0.3 ka, with an ATI of 1,200–3,000 years. Using its previously constrained long‐term slip rate of ∼6.3 mm/yr and a simple Monte Carlo simulation of earthquake cycles, the observed ATI of the eastern Muji Fault suggests a “clustered” earthquake recurrence behavior. Such potential irregular earthquake recurrence is likely due to the low maturity and fault interaction in the northern KSES, and climate‐related changes in surface loads of paleolakes and glaciers.

Synergistic enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 via in-situ surface alkalization and CQDs loading strategies

The CQDs/alkaline carbon nitride heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized employing dicyandiamide as the nitrogen material, Citric acid was used as the carbon source, while KCl and NH4Cl were as alkaline reagents. The study investigated the influence of CQDs on the adsorption performance, photocatalytic activity, and band structure of alkalized carbon nitride. The dark adsorption results revealed that CNK/CQDs1: 12 exhibited outstanding adsorption performance, capable of degrading adsorbed pollutants in a relatively short period. The photocatalytic degradation study demonstrates that CNK/CQDs1:12 exhibits significantly higher degradation efficiencies compared to the pristine CN and alkalinized CNK samples, with degradation efficiencies of 94.4 % for Methylene Blue (MB) and 71.68 % for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) within 60 min. This is due to the synergistic effects of alkalization of the g-C3N4 surface and CQDs loading, which modified the heterojunction interfacial charge transfer efficiency, suppressing the recombination of photoelectron-hole pair, extending the life span of transient photogenerated carriers, thereby improving photocatalytic activity. Free radical trapping experiment indicated that h+ and ·O2− are the primary active species during the photocatalytic degradation process of CNK/CQDs1:12.

Seismic Performance Evaluation of Pipelines Buried in Sandy Soils Reinforced with FRP Micropiles: A Numerical Study

Unstable sandy soil poses significant challenges for buried pipelines, particularly due to the increased risk of displacement and stress-induced fractures resulting from soil settlement and earthquake-induced ground deformation. These concerns are especially critical in seismically active regions where underground infrastructure is at higher risk. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites present a promising and sustainable alternative for deep foundations, offering durability and reduced maintenance costs compared to conventional materials. This study introduces a novel approach to enhancing the seismic performance of pipelines buried in sandy soils by numerically investigating a three-dimensional (3D) multipipe grouting micro anti-slide pile system, utilizing a polyurethane polymer slurry as the grouting material. Key parameters such as pile spacing, diameter, and length, along with the effects of soil wetting and various earthquake intensities, were examined under the influence of surface loads exerted by a fully loaded truck. The results demonstrate that using polymer micropiles significantly reduces soil and pipeline settlement by 15% to 50%, with larger pile diameters and lengths further decreasing settlement and strain on pipelines. While seismic excitation increases settlement, polymer grouting effectively mitigates this impact, leading to substantial reductions in settlement.

Integrated treatment of black wastewater using sedimentation, constructed wetland, and nanoparticles coagulation

ABSTRACT The aim of the present investigation was to achieve an efficient treatment for black wastewater for non-restricted reuse. The treatment included sedimentation followed by horizontal flow constructed wetland (HF-CW), and finally chemical coagulation using magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. For the wetland, the average organic loading rate (OLR) was 42.83 biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)/m2day and 71.30 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/m2 day, while average surface loading rate was 0.185 m3/m2 day. The obtained results revealed that removal percentage of COD, BOD, and total suspended solids (TSS) by sedimentation followed by processing through wetlands was 80.3, 81.6, and 80%, which corresponds to 76, 42.56, and 54 mg/l, respectively. When magnetite nanoparticles were added to the HF-CW effluent at the optimum dose of 25 mg/l in combination with 10 mg/l FeCl3, the overall removal rate increased to reach 95.9, 99.1, 99.17, 92.3, 94.3, 94.3, and 91.3% for turbidity, COD, BOD, TSS, phosphate (PO4), total nitrogen (TN), and sulfide, respectively. The corresponding residual concentrations were 5 NTU, 8, 5, 18 according to table 3, 0.07, 1, and 1.04 mg/l, respectively. According to the national and international regulations, the present final treated effluent can be safely reused as a non-restricted source for agriculture purposes. The overall results revealed that the implemented study is simple, efficient, reliable, and economical, particularly for remote areas, according to the non-restricted reuse requirements.