Carrier Type Research Articles

Biostimulation of styrene-containing wastewater in carrier-supported anaerobic bioreactor towards enhancing biogas production and styrene degradation

Biological treatment of styrene-containing petrochemical wastewater usually suffers from styrene volatility and its toxicity to microorganisms. The main aim of the present study was to enhance the treatment performance of synthetic petrochemical wastewater using carrier-supported anaerobic bioreactor, in terms of biogas production and styrene degradation. For this purpose, three types of carrier, including magnetic granular activated carbon (MGAC), cuttlefish bone (CFB) and pumice, were used. A control reactor and the three carrier-supported reactors were operated under three styrene concentrations of 20 (cycle 1), 50 (cycle 2), and 100 (cycle 3) mg/L. Ethanol was used as a co-solvent and the total chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 500 mg/L in each cycle. According to the results, under all examined styrene concentrations, all the carrier-supported reactors exhibited higher styrene removal efficiency and gas production than the control reactor. Among carrier-containing rectors, the reactor supplemented with MGAC showed the best performance with styrene removal of 85.4 %–91.4 % and gas production of 368–890 mL/g COD added. The corresponding values for the control reactor were 72.3–79.2 % and 174–358 mL/g COD added. In addition, Carrier-containing reactors showed 31.2–67.2 % less styrene volatilization than the control reactor. The process performance was also affected by the styrene concentration so that the highest and the lowest gas productions were achieved for styrene contents of 50 and 100 mg/L, orderly. Using modified Gompertz model, it was found that the carriers shortened the lag phase and increased the maximum methane production rate, proving the establishment of stable conditions in carrier-supported reactors for the treatment of styrene-containing wastewater.

Computation Design: Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Formula of Pinostrobin

Nano lipid carriers (NLC) function by increasing the solubility and oral bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. This study was conducted to estimate the solubility of pinostrobin in various types of solid and liquid lipid carriers through computational design and to select the optimal NLC formula with the best candidate lipid carriers. Pinostrobin and all lipid carriers were determined for their interactions with the AutoDockTools program. The values of the free energy binding (ΔG), the inhibition constant (Ki), and the type of interaction visibility were recorded as a result of the molecular docking. The interaction type of visualization was determined by the BIOVIA Discovery Studio program. The results showed that apocarotenal was the best liquid lipid carrier with a ΔG value of -3.57 kcal/mol and a Ki value of 2.40 mM. Cetosteryl alcohol was the best carrier for solid lipids, with a ΔG value of -2.18 kcal/mol and a Ki value of 25.35 mM. Apocarotenal and cetostearyl alcohol as lipid carrier candidates for the NLC formula of pinostrobin.

Solubility and Dissolution Rate Enhancement of Aceclofenac by Solid Dispersion Employing Kneading and Solvent Evaporation Techniques

Background: Aceclofenac (ACF) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. ACF is belongs to BCS class II which has poor solubility in water (practically insoluble) and high permeability that leads to a low dissolution rate and reduced bioavailability. Objective: to enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of ACF using the solid dispersion method (SD) by two common techniques which were solvent evaporation (SE) and kneading (Kn) by using different carriers Mannitol, PVP k30, Soluplus®, and Urea in both techniques at 1:1 and 1:5 wight ratio. Methods: The effects of type of carrier and preparation method on solubility and dissolution rate of SD were studied. Solid dispersions were characterized for their, percentage yield, drug content, drug solubility and in-vitro dissolution rate in comparison with pure drug. Results: The best formula is obtained by the Kn formula (F16) which was formulated by the use of ACF: Soluplus®: with a weight ratio of 1:5 which gave a high percentage yield (99.5%), high drug content (99.8± 0.003%) and the best solubility enhancement which was 361 folds compared to pure ACF and faster dissolution rate which was 80% in 10 minutes compared to 20% for pure drug. Conclusion: the solubility and in-vitro dissolution rate of ACF was efficiently improved when prepared by SD techniques, utilizing both solvent evaporation and kneading methods. Furthermore, the kneading method was superior to solvent evaporation method due to the greater enhancement of solubility and dissolution rate obtained by all carriers and ratios with higher improvement by 1:5 ratio, and can be considered a successful and efficient strategy for solubility and in-vitro dissolution rate improvement of hydrophobic drugs.

Dual Exciton Polarization in Bipolar CeO2-x Nanocrystals Controlled by Defect-Based Redox Processes.

Discovering alternative means to control electronic states in semiconductor nanostructures is the key to the development of new quantum technologies. Controlling the cyclotron motion of free charge carriers in semiconductor nanocrystals using an external magnetic field generates a tunable angular momentum, as a collective electronic degree of freedom, which can be imparted to the electronic band states to achieve complete exciton polarization. The sign of this polarization is determined by the type of majority charge carriers in a given lattice. Using magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy, we demonstrate a simultaneous polarization of excitonic states in substoichiometric oxygen-deficient CeO2-x nanocrystals associated with electrons and holes, which can be controlled by the thermal treatment of colloidal nanocrystals in oxidizing or reducing conditions. The presence of both occupied and unoccupied midgap states, due to Ce3+ 4f and Ce4+ 4f orbitals, respectively, allows for selective probing of the effect of holes in the valence band (VB → Ce4+ 4f) and electrons in the conduction band (Ce3+ 4f → CB). The two transitions show the opposite sign at 300 K due to the opposite angular momenta associated with cyclotron electrons and holes. The ability to manipulate Ce 4f-derived midgap states by defect formation during the synthesis or postsynthesis treatment allows for a range of new technological applications of CeO2-x nanocrystals in optoelectronics.

Development of a test specimen carrier for the Taylor anvil test using 3D additive printing technology

Dynamic material testing is increasingly crucial for establishing a comprehensive description of material models. One of the primary testing methods is the Taylor Anvil Test (TAT). In this test, strain rates of up to 105 s−1 can be achieved at impact speeds of 250 m/s. Proper evaluation of a specific material specimen in this test relies on delivering the test specimen to the impact point both centrally and perpendicularly, as well as at the moment of reaching the maximum impact speed. This Article addresses the development of a new carrier for round test specimens manufactured using additive 3D printing technology from a polyactide polymer adapted for the TAT device with a calibre of 17 mm. The Article closely examines the influence of geometric parameters of the carrier itself, optimized using the Ansys Fluid Flow software, with a focus on internal ballistics, particularly to achieve perpendicular impact and maximum impact speed without causing the destruction of the carrier. A new type of test carrier was designed and subsequently tested for round test specimens made of the aluminium alloy Al 2024-T3, evaluating both the impact speeds of the carrier under identical initiation pressure parameters in the filling chamber and the impact speed parameters of the specimen, respectively, the strain rate of the test specimen.

Strongly coupled magneto-exciton condensates in large-angle twisted double bilayer graphene

Excitons, pairs of electrons and holes, undergo a Bose-Einstein condensation at low temperatures. An important platform to study excitons is double-layer two-dimensional electron gases, with two parallel planes of electrons and holes separated by a thin insulating layer. Lowering this separation (d) strengthens the exciton binding energy, however, leads to the undesired interlayer tunneling, resulting in annihilation of excitons. Here, we report the observation of a sequences of robust exciton condensates (ECs) in double bilayer graphene twisted to ~ 10° with no insulating mid-layer. The large momentum mismatch between two graphene layers suppresses interlayer tunneling, reaching a d ~ 0.334 nm. Measuring the bulk and edge transport, we find incompressible states corresponding to ECs when both layers are in half-filled N = 0, 1 Landau levels (LLs). Theoretical calculations suggest that the low-energy charged excitation of ECs can be meron-antimeron or particle-hole pair, which relies on both LL index and carrier type. Our results establish a novel platform with extreme coupling strength for studying quantum bosonic phase.

Kondo effects in variable-valence manganese-substituted thulium selenide

The MnXTm1‒XSe (0 ≤ Х ≤ 0.2) solid solutions have been first synthesized and their structural, magnetic, and transport properties have been studied in the temperature range of 80–1000 K and magnetic fields of up to 12 kOe. The surface morphology of the samples has been examined and the chemical analysis has been carried out. It is shown that the valence change with the increasing substitution concentration is accompanied by a change in the lattice parameter and a decrease in the magnetic moment of the samples. The Kondo temperatures caused by the manganese and thulium subsystem have been found in the low- and room-temperature regions. The temperature of localization of small-radius polarons has been determined. A drastic decrease in the relaxation time in the range of the manganese ion percolation through the lattice in the MnXTm1‒XSe system has been established. The change of the current carrier type upon variation in the temperature and substitution concentration was determined from the Seebeck coefficient. A high-temperature extremum of thermopower was revealed, which is explained within the framework of the Anderson model.

Analysis of Communication Characteristics and Social Impact of Short Video News

Due to the rapid development of science and technology, new media are more and more prevalent, and the mode of news dissemination has also undergone great changes. As a new type of news and information dissemination carrier, short video has rapidly become an important way for the public to obtain news and information by virtue of the advantages of concise content, rapid dissemination, multiple visual and sound experience, and strong interactivity. This paper analyzes the impact of short video news on society from the communication characteristics of short video news, in order to provide useful reference for the development of short video news.

Tableting Engineering in Halide Gradient Perovskite: Energy Band Regulation and Design of Carrier Dynamics for THz Sensing

AbstractComponent regulation in perovskite single crystals (SCs) sets the precondition for designing energy band and carrier dynamics, which is essential for exploring functional optoelectronic devices. However, entropy‐driven ion diffusion in SCs leads to component homogenization in a few hours, while the gradient films exhibit long‐term gradient stability. Therefore, tableting engineering is proposed to introduce appropriate boundaries, ensuring good short‐range alignment within the grains and suppressed ion diffusion in the long range. With 6–10 MPa pressure, transverse/longitudinal gradient MAPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) tablets are constructed. Due to the alignment of the valence band maximum from MAPbCl3 to MAPbBr3 to MAPbI3, the hole extraction is significantly promoted. As well, different metal electrodes are utilized to regulate the main carrier types. Hole‐type Au/gradient tablet/Au devices show an obvious rectification effect, while electron‐type Ag/gradient tablet/Ag devices have near‐Ohmic contact. Compared to the electron‐type devices, Au/gradient tablet/Au devices show a 3.9‐fold improvement in terahertz responsivity to 3.51 µA W−1, a 2.6‐fold reduction in noise‐equivalent power to 2.22 × 10−8 W Hz−1/ 2; and a 2.6‐fold increase in specific detectivity to 1.89 × 107 Jones. This work demonstrates the tableting engineering to realize stable compositional gradients for energy band regulation in weak‐signal THz detection.

Enhanced photocatalytic U(VI) reduction via double internal electric field in CoWO4/covalent organic frameworks p-n heterojunction

Photoreduction of highly toxic U(VI) to less toxic U(IV) is crucial for mitigating radioactive contamination. Herein, a CoWO4/TpDD p-n heterojunction is synthesized, with TpDD serving as the n-type semiconductor substrate and CoWO4 as the p-type semiconductor grown in situ on its surface. The Fermi energy difference between TpDD and CoWO4 provides the electrochemical potential for charge-hole separation. Moreover, the Coulombic forces from the distinct carrier types between the two materials synergistically facilitate the transfer of electrons and holes. Hence, an internal electric field directed from TpDD to CoWO4 is established. Under photoexcitation conditions, charges and holes migrate efficiently along the curved band and internal electric field, further enhancing charge-hole separation. As a result, the removal capacity of CoWO4/TpDD increases from 515.2 mg/g in the dark to 1754.6 mg/g under light conditions. Thus, constructing a p-n heterojunction proves to be an effective strategy for remediating uranium-contaminated environments.

Deck motion prediction using neural kernel network Gaussian process regression

Deck motion prediction and compensation are critical technologies for carrier-based aircraft automatic landing. Traditional deck motion prediction methods rely on precision of motion models and parameter adjustments, facing challenges in adaptability to complex sea conditions, different types of carriers, changes in flight conditions, and limitations in prediction duration, as well as reliability issues. This paper proposes a deck motion prediction method based on the neural kernel network Gaussian process regression (NKN-GPR) model. The NKN-GPR model can utilize a neural kernel network (NKN) to automatically construct the Gaussian process regression (GPR) model′s composite kernel, effectively addressing the limitations of the automated kernel search (ACKS) algorithm, which heavily depends on manual prior knowledge. Simulation data is generated using a combination of sine wave and power spectrum models, and the NKN-GPR model is compared with an autoregressive (AR) model based on least squares in a simulated validation. The simulation results demonstrate that the NKN-GPR model exhibits significant advantages in motion prediction accuracy, smoothness, and prediction duration, which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. This study provides theoretical support for safe automatic landing of carrier-based aircraft.

Hydrogen corridors in Europe: strategies and countries involved

The European Union and other countries worldwide have identified fossil-free hydrogen as a key resource for implementing the transition to a low-carbon economy. The European Commission, which had already emphasised the importance of the hydrogen economy within the Green Deal Industrial Plan, has recently quantified the import target for 2030, 2024, and 2050. Unlike oil and gas reserves, renewable energy and green hydrogen have numerous potential producing or supplying countries; therefore, identifying trading partners requires several research and policy initiatives and the adoption of both technoeconomic and political criteria. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prospect for the development of future hydrogen energy corridors and how European states are organising their political and transport strategies. These strategies design international transport and logistics chains that include the entire hydrogen value chain (production, export, storage and consumption). A new transport and logistics structure is expected for the energy distribution of this vector. Networks and transport nodes will be substantially involved in anticipation of an increase in demand for this type of energy carrier, both in the vicinity of ports, due to industrial demand, and within ports, for the transport and storage of this resource, assuming the increasingly central role of energy hubs and making their role more and more complex, going beyond the classic connotation of intermodal nodes.

Graphene thermocouple fabricated on a flexible and transparent substrate

We demonstrate the realization of reliable, high-quality, micro-sized graphene-based field-effect devices on a flexible and transparent substrate, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET), using a convenient hot-press lamination transfer and employing parylene-N as a dielectric material for gating. Using this technique, we fabricate a graphene thermocouple on the EVA/PET substrate. Specifically, the graphene is patterned in a U-shape, and its legs are equipped with two independent top gates. Full control of the carrier density and type by electrostatic gating in the two graphene regions allow the formation of a thermocouple layout, exhibiting an enlarged thermovoltage signal when the two regions are doped with opposite types of carriers and leading to a maximum sensitivity with a thermopower of ∼73 µV/K. This agrees well with the working principle of thermocouple, and it proves the good compatibility and functionality of the graphene thermocouple on the EVA/PET substrate. Our findings suggest possible applications for producing scalable and reliable graphene-based electronic devices on flexible and transparent substrates in a simple way.

Efficiency of Virucidal Disinfectants on Wood Surfaces in Animal Husbandry.

The aim of this study was to test the inactivation of viruses on germ carriers of different types of wood using a disinfectant in order to assess the biosafety of wood as a building material in animal husbandry. The laboratory disinfectant efficacy tests were based on German testing guidelines and current European standards. Five different types of wood germ carriers, i.e., spruce (Picea abies), pine (Pinus sylvestris), poplar (Populus sp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), were inoculated with enveloped or non-enveloped viruses and then treated with one of three different disinfectants. The results revealed that intact, fine-sawn timber with a low roughness depth can be effectively inactivated. Peracetic acid proved to be the most effective disinfectant across all tests. Regardless of the pathogen and the type of wood, a concentration of 0.1% of the pure substance at a temperature of 10 °C and an exposure time of one hour can be recommended. At a temperature of -10 °C, a concentration of 0.75% is recommended. The basic chemicals formic acid and glutaraldehyde demonstrated only limited effectiveness overall. The synergistic effects of various wood components on the inactivation of viruses offer potential for further investigation. Disinfectant tests should also be conclusively verified in field trials to ensure that the results from standardised laboratory tests can be transferred to real stable conditions.

Role of mesoporous silica functionalized with boronic acid derivative in targeted delivery of doxorubicin and co-delivery of doxorubicin and resveratrol

Phenylboronic acid derivatives have gained interest due to their ability to reversibly bind to 1,2-diols, such as sialic acid receptors overexpressed by breast cancer cells. In this study, two types of mesoporous silica, MCM-41 and SBA-15, were functionalized with 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid (CPBA) through the amidation reaction, and the resulting materials MCM-CPBA and SBA-CPBA were used as carriers for doxorubicin (Dox) or for co-delivery of doxorubicin and resveratrol. In the case of MCM-CPBA material, all amine groups were involved in the condensation reaction with boronic acid derivative, while in the case of SBA-CPBA, free amine groups remained on the silica surface. Dox release profiles, performed in phosphate buffer solution pH 5.5, showed a faster release kinetics of Dox and a higher cumulative drug release for co-delivery system. Larger pores of SBA-15-type carrier influenced the Dox release profile as the diffusion of drug molecules was favored, a higher cumulative drug release being obtained in the case of SBA-CPBA than for MCM-CPBA. Biological assessment of the developed drug delivery systems demonstrated lower cytotoxicity on BJ fibroblasts than on BT474 breast cancer cells. Evaluation of drug delivery systems by hyperspectral microscopy evidenced a higher internalization rate of Dox when was loaded on functionalized silica carriers compared to the free drug into BT474 cells. The internalization rate of doxorubicin-loaded carrier depended on the type of carrier; a better internalization was observed for cancer cells when were treated with Dox-loaded MCM-CPBA nanoparticles than for Dox-loaded SBA-CPBA that might be attributed to smaller size of MCM-CPBA nanoparticles.

Single-Stranded Nucleic Acid Transmembrane Molecular Carriers Based on Positively Charged Helical Foldamers.

Transmembrane delivery of biologically active nucleic acids is an important process in cells and has inspired one to develop advanced drug delivery techniques. In this contribution, molecular-level single-stranded nucleic acid transmembrane carriers are reported based on 3.2nm long Huc's foldamers (AOrnQ3Q3)8 and (mQ3Q2)8 with linearly and helically aligned positive charges, respectively. These two foldamers not only show very strong DNA affinity via electrostatic interactions but also discriminatively bind single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) and double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA), corroborating the importance of precise charge arrangement in the electrostatic interactions. More importantly, these two foldamers are capable of efficiently transporting ss-DNA across the lipid membranes, and the ss-DNA transport activity of (AOrnQ3Q3)8 with linearly aligned charges is higher than that of (mQ3Q2)8 with helically aligned charges. Thus a type of novel single-stranded nucleic acid transmembrane molecular carriers based on positively charged helical foldamers are introduced. Further, effective and enhanced expression in EGFP-mRNA transfection experiments strongly demonstrates the potential of positively charged foldamers for RNA transmembrane transport and therapy.

Tenacity of Animal Disease Viruses on Wood Surfaces Relevant to Animal Husbandry

The aim of this study was to analyse the hygienic suitability of wood often used in animal husbandry. To this end, the inactivation of viruses (Enterovirus E as a surrogate for non-enveloped viruses and Newcastle disease virus as a surrogate for enveloped viruses) on germ carriers consisting of various types of wood was studied over an extended period to assess the biosafety of wood as an agricultural building material. The study was designed to assess the intrinsic biocidal activity of the wood itself, without the use of a disinfectant. The laboratory tests were based on German test guidelines and current European standards. Five different types of wood germ carriers, i.e., spruce (Picea abies), pine (Pinus sylvestris), poplar (Populus sp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), as well as stainless-steel carriers, were inoculated with enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and stored for up to four months, and the remaining infectivity of the viruses was continuously assessed. The results showed that intact, finely sawn timber with a low depth of roughness had an inactivating effect on the viruses up to 7.5 decadal logarithmic levels. For the non-enveloped virus, inactivation was fastest on Douglas fir wood, with the target reduction for effective inactivation (reduction by factor 4.0 log10) being achieved after two weeks, and for the enveloped virus on pine wood, it was already achieved from the day of drying. The hygienic effects of the wood carriers may be due to their hygroscopic properties and wood constituents. These effects offer potential for further investigation, including tests with other wood species rich in extractives.

Reversible Polarity Control in 2D MoTe2 Field‐Effect Transistors for Complementary Logic Gate Applications

AbstractPrecise control over polarity in field‐effect transistors (FETs) plays a pivotal role in the design and construction of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) logic circuits. In particular, achieving such precise polarity control in 2D semiconductors is crucial for the further development of advanced electronic applications beyond unit devices. This paper presents a systematic investigation on the reversible transition of carrier types in a 2D MoTe2 semiconductor under different annealing atmospheres. Photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that annealing processes in vacuum and in ambient air induce a modification in the density of states, resulting in alterations in p‐type or n‐type characteristics. These reversible changes are attributed to the physisorption and elimination of oxygen on the surface of MoTe2. Furthermore, it is found that the device geometry affects the polarity of the transistor. By strategically manipulating both the annealing conditions and the geometric configuration, the n‐ and p‐type unipolar characteristics of MoTe2 FETs are successfully modulated and ultimately demonstrating that the functionality of not only a complementary inverter with a high voltage gain of ≈20, but also more complex logic circuits of NAND and NOR gates.

Study of the Adsorption and Separation Behavior of Scandium and Zirconium by Trialkyl Phosphine Oxide-Modified Resins in Sulfuric and Hydrochloric Acid Media.

Zirconium is recognized as one of the main impurities of the rare earth element scandium during purification. It presents significant challenges due to its similar chemical properties, making separating it difficult. This study used trialkyl phosphine oxide (TRPO) as a functional ligand, and the effects of carrier type and acidity on adsorption performance were first investigated. Among these, the novel extraction resin SiO2-P as a carrier for TRPO demonstrated more prominent separation performance in 0.2 M H2SO4 and 5 M HCl solutions. The kinetic and isotherm data were consistent with the pseudo-secondary kinetics and Langmuir model, respectively, and the adsorption process could be regarded as homogeneous monolayer adsorption subject to the dual effects of chemisorption and internal diffusion. In addition, thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption process of zirconium under the experimental conditions was a spontaneous endothermic process. Combined with the results of SEM-EDS, FT-IR, and XPS analyses, scandium and zirconium were successfully adsorbed by the resin and uniformly distributed on its surface, and the greater affinity of the P=O groups on the resin for zirconium was the critical factor contributing to the separation of scandium and zirconium. Finally, scandium and zirconium in sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid media were extracted and separated by column experiments, and the purity of scandium could reach 99.8% and 99.99%, respectively.

Advances in the Design of Functional Cellulose Based Nanopesticide Delivery Systems.

The advancement of science and technology, coupled with the growing environmental consciousness among individuals, has led to a shift in pesticide development from traditional methods characterized by inefficiency and misuse toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach. Cellulose, as the most abundant natural renewable resource, has opened up a new avenue in the field of biobased drug carriers by developing cellulose-based drug delivery systems. These systems offer unique advantages in terms of deposition rate enhancement, modification facilitation, and environmental impact reduction when designing nanopesticides. Consequently, their application in the field of nanoscale pesticides has gained widespread recognition. The present study provides a comprehensive review of cellulose modification methods, carrier types for cellulose-based nanopesticides delivery systems (CPDS), and various stimulus-response factors influencing pesticide release. Additionally, the main challenges in the design and application of CPDS are summarized, highlighting the immense potential of cellulose-based materials in the field of nanopesticides.