•Comparative study of different AOPs for micropollutants removal at full-scale•Oxidants photolysis is proven to be more efficient than UV-C in MPs removal.•Very low oxidant dosages (0.05–0.5mM) and ...contact time (4–18s) were applied•Average MPs removal of 55 and 48% was reached using H2O2 and PMS respectively.•H2O2/UV-C is more efficient than UV-C, in terms cost:efficiency (€/m3·order).
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The high chemical stability and the low biodegradability of a vast number of micropollutants (MPs) impede their correct treatment in urban wastewater treatment plants. In most cases, the chemical oxidation is the only way to abate them. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have been experimentally proved as efficient in the removal of different micropollutants at lab-scale. However, there is not enough information about their application at full-scale. This manuscript reports the application of three different AOPs based on the addition of homogeneous oxidants hydrogen peroxide, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and persulfate anions (PS), in the UV-C tertiary treatment of Estiviel wastewater treatment plant (Toledo, Spain) previously designed and installed in the facility for disinfection.
AOPs based on the photolytic decomposition of oxidants have been demonstrated as more efficient than UV-C radiation alone on the removal of 25 different MPs using low dosages (0.05–0.5 mM) and very low UV-C contact time (4–18 s). Photolysis of PMS and H2O2 reached similar average MPs removal in all the range of oxidant dosages, obtaining the highest efficiency with 0.5 mM and 18 s of contact time (48 and 55% respectively). Nevertheless, PMS/UV-C reached slightly higher removal than H2O2/UV-C at low dosages. So, these treatments are selective to degrade the target compounds, obtaining different removal efficiencies for each compound regarding the oxidizing agent, dosages and UV-C contact time.
In all the cases, H2O2/UV-C is more efficient than PMS/UV-C, comparing the ratio cost:efficiency (€/m3·order). Even H2O2/UV-C treatments are more efficient than UV-C alone. Thus, the addition of 0.5 mM of H2O2 compensates the increased of UV-C contact time and therefore the increase of electrical consumption, that it should be need to increase the removal of MPs by UV-C treatments alone.
Summary
Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is becoming an important test to assess male infertility. Several different tests are available, but no consensus has yet been reached as to which tests are most ...predictive of infertility. Few publications have reported a comprehensive analysis comparing these methods within the same population. The objective of this study was to analyze the differences between the five most common methodologies, to study their correlations and to establish their cut‐off values, sensitivity and specificity in predicting male infertility. We found differences in SDF between fertile donors and infertile patients in TUNEL, SCSA, SCD and alkaline Comet assays, but none with the neutral Comet assay. The alkaline COMET assay was the best in predicting male infertility followed by TUNEL, SCD and SCSA, whereas the neutral COMET assay had no predictive power. For our patient population, threshold values for infertility were 20.05% for TUNEL assay, 18.90% for SCSA, 22.75% for the SCD test, 45.37% for alkaline Comet and 34.37% for neutral Comet. This work establishes in a comprehensive study that the all techniques except neutral Comet are useful to distinguish fertile and infertile men.
The scope of this review will be limited to highlighting the actions of 1 alpha ,25-dihydroxyvitamin D sub(3) (1,25(OH) sub(2)D sub(3)) mediated by nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) and discussing new ...developments in the structure/function analysis of the receptor, including the phenotype of VDR knockout mice and the biochemical classification of patients with point mutations in the receptor. These new advances, along with other recent research, will be interpreted to update our understanding of the molecular role of VDR, ranging from characterization of its natural gene and clinically significant polymorphisms, through its DNA contact sites and protein partners, to novel ligand analogs that hold the promise of influencing VDR conformation in a therapeutically beneficial fashion.
Composites that incorporate an electrically conducting filler, the hydrochloric polyaniline (PANI-Cl), into hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (HO-PDMS) matrix were evaluated for DC electrical, ...mechanical, thermal, morphological and piezo-resistive properties. The main focus of the study was on the electrical–mechanical behavior of these composites in view of possible piezo-resistive sensor application. The percolation threshold of conductivity was determined to be around 11.5 wt% of PANI-Cl. Compression/expansion cyclic experiments showed that the filler content modified the stiffness, the magnitude of Mullins effect and the hysteresis behavior in elastomeric composites. The piezo-resistive response of composites differed depending on the sample composition and also, on the strain rate. Composites with concentration above the percolation threshold exhibited at least three-order change of its electrical resistance in a narrow interval of maximum 2% of deformation. The piezo-resistive sensitivity and the reproducibility of response suggested the possibility to use this material as a transducer in an electromechanical device.
Context.
3C 84 is a nearby radio source with a complex total intensity structure, showing linear polarisation and spectral patterns. A detailed investigation of the central engine region necessitates ...the use of very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) above the hitherto available maximum frequency of 86 GHz.
Aims.
Using ultrahigh resolution VLBI observations at the currently highest available frequency of 228 GHz, we aim to perform a direct detection of compact structures and understand the physical conditions in the compact region of 3C 84.
Methods.
We used Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) 228 GHz observations and, given the limited (
u
,
v
)-coverage, applied geometric model fitting to the data. Furthermore, we employed quasi-simultaneously observed, ancillary multi-frequency VLBI data for the source in order to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the core structure.
Results.
We report the detection of a highly ordered, strong magnetic field around the central, supermassive black hole of 3C 84. The brightness temperature analysis suggests that the system is in equipartition. We also determined a turnover frequency of
ν
m
= (113 ± 4) GHz, a corresponding synchrotron self-absorbed magnetic field of
B
SSA
= (2.9 ± 1.6) G, and an equipartition magnetic field of
B
eq
= (5.2 ± 0.6) G. Three components are resolved with the highest fractional polarisation detected for this object (
m
net
= (17.0 ± 3.9)%). The positions of the components are compatible with those seen in low-frequency VLBI observations since 2017–2018. We report a steeply negative slope of the spectrum at 228 GHz. We used these findings to test existing models of jet formation, propagation, and Faraday rotation in 3C 84.
Conclusions.
The findings of our investigation into different flow geometries and black hole spins support an advection-dominated accretion flow in a magnetically arrested state around a rapidly rotating supermassive black hole as a model of the jet-launching system in the core of 3C 84. However, systematic uncertainties due to the limited (
u
,
v
)-coverage, however, cannot be ignored. Our upcoming work using new EHT data, which offer full imaging capabilities, will shed more light on the compact region of 3C 84.
•Conversion degree and rate reaction of the curing reaction increase with temperature.•At low temperature, the particles exhibit catalytic effect, similar to the OH groups.•At high temperature, B4C ...micro-particles increase the n-order rate reaction.•The diffusion constant diminishes with temperature for all the studied materials.•The autocatalytic reaction is favored by the effect of 6% nanoparticles.
This study employs Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique and focuses on the curing kinetics and the activation energy of the commercial epoxy resin (which cures at room temperature for 12h) filled with boron carbide particles (B4C) in different amount (6 and 12wt%) and particle size (60nm, 7 and 23μm). An isothermal dwell at different temperatures (25, 35 and 50°C) was used for 180min. Thereafter, the temperature is increased by 5°Cmin−1 up to 200°C to complete the curing process. Conversion degree is calculated by combining both methods.
The kinetic constant and the reaction order are calculated using Kamal's equation with diffusion control. Consequently, the activation energy is computed assuming Arrhenius’ equation.The results show a significant influence of the temperature on the reaction mechanism. Furthermore, polymerization kinetics is affected by B4C additions depending on the amount and size of the added particles.
Polyaniline–poly(
n-butyl methacrylate) (PAn–PBMA) composite films were obtained by casting. The homogeneous films were prepared with poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and poly(vinyl ethyl ether) ...(PVEE) as dispersants, and the electric conductivity, mechanical properties and morphology were studied. The PAn integration to the composite is better when PVEE is used as dispersant, but the conductivity is higher when PVME is used. The composites with PVME were tested as chemical sensors for H
2O
2 and NH
3, showing good performance. These samples were also tested as biosensor for urea and uric acid using urease and uricase enzymes, respectively. The best results were as chemical sensor for H
2O
2, NH
3, and as biosensors for serum urea determination.
•Sol-gel ZrO2–3%molY2O3 coating deposited on P91 steel was tested in Solar Salt.•Isothermal immersion tests at 500 °C were performed for 1000 h.•The behaviour of coated P91 was directly comparable to ...that of the uncoated 304.•The behaviour was assessed both from a technical and environmental point of view.•Environmental benefits were obtained using P91 with ZrO2–Y2O3 compared to 304.
Sol-gel ZrO2–3%molY2O3 coating deposited by means of a dip-coating application on P91 steel was statically tested at 500 °C in contact with Solar Salt (60% wt.% NaNO3/40 wt.% of KNO3) for 1000 h. This work assessed the behaviour of the coated P91 steel both from a technical and environmental point of view. Both studies were compared to those obtained with AISI 304 steel, which is currently used in commercial CSP plants. In terms of corrosion evaluation, the behaviour of the coated P91 was directly comparable to that of the uncoated AISI 304, SEM micrographs revealing the better behaviour of coated samples and the maintenance of a compact coating layer, with a thickness ranging between 1 and 1.4 μm. Furthermore, environmental analyses revealed the environmental benefits obtained by using lower Cr-Ni content steel coated with ZrO2–Y2O3 compared to AISI 304 alloy, since this coating had a negligible environmental impact (its influence is below 0.03%). Thus, the proposed scenario seems to be workable in CSP high-temperature applications both from technical and environmental points of view. The linked technical-environmental quantification provided in this paper highlights the importance of considering the whole assessment when conducting material selection for CSP applications.
The current consensus on the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of essential thrombocythemia (ET) is based on experts’ recommendations. However, several aspects of the diagnosis of, prognosis of, ...and therapy for ET are still controversial. The Delphi method was employed with an expert panel of members of the Spanish Group of Ph-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in order to identify the degree of agreement on the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of ET. Nine leading experts selected a total of 41 clinical hematologists with well-known expertise in ET. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect the questions rated in a four-step scale. The questions were grouped into four blocks: diagnosis, risk stratification, goals of therapy, and treatment strategy. After the first round consisting of 80 questions, a second round including 14 additional questions focused on the recommendations advocated by experts of the European LeukemiaNet in 2011 was analyzed. The median and mean values for the first and second rounds were calculated. A summary of the conclusions considered as the most representative of each block of questions is presented. The Delphi method is a powerful instrument to address the current approaches and controversies surrounding ET.
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