The second-generation of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-2) has been officially providing positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services within the Asia-Pacific region for six years, ...starting from 2013. A comprehensive analysis of BDS-2 satellite broadcast navigation message performance during the past six years is highly demanded, not only for the regional service but also for the global service announced in December 2018. Therefore, this study focuses on the performance assessment of six-year BDS-2 broadcast navigation messages from 2013 to 2018 in three aspects: Message availability, anomaly detection, and signal-in-space user range errors (SIS UREs). Firstly, our results, based on International GNSS service (IGS) Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) navigation files, indicate that the BDS-2 Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and Inclined Geosynchronous Satellite Orbit (IGSO) satellites have >98.51% broadcast navigation message availability, and the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites has a ~90.03% availability. Secondly, the comparison between broadcast navigation messages and IGS precise products reveals that the User Range Accuracy Index (URAI) contained in the broadcast message could not reflect satellite performance correctly. Another satellite status indicator, space vehicle (SV) health, can only partially detect a satellite anomaly. The anomaly detection result using IGS precise products for reference shows 20241 anomalies out of 651038 broadcast navigation messages within six years. Finally, compared with the IGSO and MEO satellites, the orbit qualities of GEO satellites are significantly worse due to their large along-track orbit error. The clock performance of all satellites are at the comparable level. The satellite orbit type (GEO/IGSO/MEO) does not impact the orbit-only URE, global-average URE, and worst-case URE.
Polyaniline (PANI) particles were synthesized using aniline (AN), dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA), and ammonium persulfate (APS). The particles were analyzed using scanning electron microscope ...(SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A PANI/waterborne polyurethane composite material (PANI‐WPU) was obtained by combining it with polyethylene glycol (PEG600), diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), N‐methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), and dibutyltin lauric acid (DBTDL). The structure was characterized by the FTIR spectrum. The mechanical characteristics of the coating film were evaluated with respect to the PANI content, as well as its water absorption, glossiness, electrochemical corrosion resistance, and acid and alkali resistance. The PANI/waterborne polyurethane film has a maximum tensile strength of 23 ±1$$ \pm 1 $$ MPa, an elongation of 1012%, a pencil hardness of 5H, a flexibility of 2 mm, an impact resistance of 50 cm, the water absorption of 14.66%, and the glossiness of 99.9 ±0.1$$ \pm 0.1 $$ at 60°. When the PANI content is 0.7%, the mechanical characteristics, glossiness, and anti‐corrosion performance of the composite film improve. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of the aqueous polyurethane coating film with PANI can reach 99.74%, as shown by the examination of electrochemical polarization curves and impedance spectra. The tinplate is coated with a 0.7% PANI‐WPU composite material and edge sealing. This coating provides excellent protection against acid and alkali resistance, as demonstrated by its ability to withstand immersion in 10% H2SO4 and 10% NaOH solution for 90 days without any paint peeling off.
Free acids commonly exist in anhydride and esters because they are unstable and tend to break down into free acids, which affect the quality of subsequent products in industrial production. Phthalic ...anhydride and ethyl acetate undergo hydrolysis reactions to form phthalic acid and acetic acid. A differential pulse voltammetry method for the determination of phthalic acid and acetic acid was developed with a bare glassy carbon electrode. Phthalic acid and acetic acid caused a new cathodic peak at more positive potential during the reduction of 1,4‐benzoquinone in acetonitrile or aqueous solution. The new peaks are attributed to the drastic increase in pH at the electrode surface caused by the consumption of protons in the benzoquinone reduction reaction. The peak current of the new cathodic peak was dependent on the concentration of phthalic acid and acetic acid but independent of BQ, phthalic anhydride, and ethyl acetate. This method does not cause hydrolysis of anhydride and ester because no external base is introduced. Furthermore, the method is sensitive, rapid, and does not require pretreatment.
The concept of the signal-in-space (SIS) root-mean-square (RMS) user range error (URE) is used to evaluate the performance of multiple global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs); however, a complete ...analytical derivation has not been published. This article describes the instantaneous SIS URE and the instantaneous SIS RMS URE, explains the role of the instantaneous SIS RMS URE in evaluating the statistical accuracy of GNSS signals, and provides an analytical derivation of the instantaneous SIS RMS URE. This derivation is then compared to the equations found in various papers and performance standards to illustrate how the equations, although appearing different, actually measure the same quantity with differing constraints.
Clostridium luticellarii is a recently discovered acetogen that is uniquely capable of producing butyric and isobutyric acid from various substrates (e.g. methanol), but it is unclear which factors ...influence its (iso)butyric acid production from H2 and CO2. We aimed to investigate the autotrophic metabolism of C. luticellarii by identifying the necessary growth conditions and examining the effects of pH and metabolite levels on product titers and selectivity. Results show that autotrophic growth of C. luticellarii requires the addition of complex nutrient sources and the absence of shaking conditions. Further experiments combined with thermodynamic calculations identified pH as a key parameter governing the direction of metabolic fluxes. At circumneutral pH (~6.5), acetic acid is the sole metabolic end product but C. luticellarii possesses the unique ability to co‐oxidize organic acids such as valeric acid under high H2 partial pressures (>1 bar). Conversely, mildly acidic pH (≤5.5) stimulates the production of butyric and isobutyric acid while partly halting the oxidation of organic acids. Additionally, elevated acetic acid concentrations stimulated butyric and isobutyric acid production up to a combined selectivity of 53 ± 3%. Finally, our results suggest that isobutyric acid is produced by a reversible isomerization of butyric acid, but valeric and caproic acid are not isomerized. These combined insights can inform future efforts to optimize and scale‐up the production of valuable chemicals from CO2 using C. luticellarii.
Clostridium luticellarii is a highly flexible microorganism, able to reverse its (reverse) beta‐oxidation pathway depending on the pH. At circumneutral pH, C. luticellarii produces acetic acid from H2 and CO2 but is able to co‐oxidize organic acids and isomerize butyric acid. At mildly acidic pH (~5.5), C. luticellarii is able to produce acetic acid but also the chain elongation products butyric and isobutyric acid.
Gut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are associated with the development of various human diseases. In this study, we examined the role of astragaloside IV in modulating mouse gut ...microbiota structure and the generation of SCFAs, as well as in slow transit constipation (STC). An STC model was established by treating mice with loperamide, in which the therapeutic effects of astragaloside IV were evaluated. The microbiota community structure and SCFA content were analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, respectively. The influence of butyrate on STC was assessed using a mouse model and Cajal cells (ICC). Astragaloside IV promoted defecation, improved intestinal mobility, suppressed ICC loss and alleviated colonic lesions in STC mice. Alterations in gut microbiota community structure in STC mice, such as decreased Lactobacillus reuteri diversity, were improved following astragaloside IV treatment. Moreover, astragaloside IV up‐regulated butyric acid and valeric acid, but decreased isovaleric acid, in STC mouse stools. Butyrate promoted defecation, improved intestinal mobility, and enhanced ICC proliferation by regulating the AKT–NF‐κB signalling pathway. Astragaloside IV promoted intestinal transit in STC mice and inhibited ICC loss by regulating the gut microbiota community structure and generating butyric acid.
Adipic acid (AA) is a crucial feedstock for nylon polymers, and is industrially produced by thermal oxidation of cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol mixture (KA oil). However, this process consumes large ...quantities of corrosive nitric acid as oxidants, while emits ozone‐depleting greenhouse gas N2O. Here, an electrocatalytic strategy for selective oxidation of KA oil to AA coupled with H2 evolution over a Co3O4/graphdiyne cooperative catalyst (Co3O4/GDY) is reported. The Co3O4/GDY displays high electrooxidation activity of KA oil to AA (100 mA cm−2 at ≈1.5 V vs RHE), outperforming all the reported findings. Detailed ex situ and in situ experimental studies, theoretical calculations, and molecular dynamic simulations reveal that GDY not only facilitates the enrichment of cyclohexanone on the catalyst surface in aqueous medium, but also upshifts the d‐band center of Co sites, strengthening the adsorption/activation of cyclohexanone. This study offers a green route for AA synthesis and proposes a GDY interface engineering strategy for efficient electrooxidation.
Highly efficient electrooxidation of cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol mixture (KA oil) into adipic acid coupled with H2 evolution is achieved over a Co3O4/graphdiyne cooperative catalyst (Co3O4/GDY). GDY, as an electron modifier, can upshift the d‐band center of Co3O4, which facilitates the enrichment, adsorption, and activation of cyclohexanone on the catalyst surface in aqueous solutions, resulting in top‐level activity (100 mA cm−2 at ≈1.5 V vs RHE) and high yield of AA (>82%).
The study explored ferulic acid extraction from palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fiber using deep eutectic solvent (DES) of chlorine chloride—acetic acid as the extraction medium and the way to recover ...and recycle the DES thereafter. Antisolvent was added to selectively precipitate the ferulic acid, which was recovered by filtration thereafter. Recycling the DES without further purification led to increased ferulic acid yield with each subsequent extraction, likely due to retained ferulic acid. The retained ferulic acid and other impurities could be removed by precipitation brought upon by the addition of a second antisolvent. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that there was no excess ferulic acid in the recycled DES‐treated with two types of antisolvents (ethanol and water). The yield of ferulic acid increased from 0.1367–0.1856 g/g when treated with only one antisolvent to 0.1368–0.2897 g/g with two antisolvent treatments. Oil droplets were also observed in the DES upon the addition of antisolvent 2, with recovered oil ranging from 0.6% to 3%. The study emphasized the significance of using DES as an extraction medium for ferulic acid from oil palm EFB fiber and the method to recycle the DES for subsequent processes.
Recently, interest in converting bio‐derived fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) into added‐value products has significantly increased. The selectivity of ketonization reaction in the conversion of the ...FAMEs has significantly hampered the efficiency of this process. Herein, this work reports the preparation of catalysts with different levels of oxygen vacancies while the crystal phase remained unchanged. The catalyst with the highest level of oxygen vacancy exhibited the maximum selectivity. The density functional theory (DFT) simulation showed an increase in interatomic distances leading to the formation of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) upon the creation of oxygen vacancies. The surface measurements, type and density of acid sites of the catalysts, showed that the Lewis acid sites enhanced the selectivity for ketone production; while Bronsted acid sites increased the formation of by‐products. Moreover, the ketone formation rate was directly proportional to acid density. The findings of this research provide a different approach for catalyst design, based on defects engineering and their effect on the surface activity, which could be used for enhancing the catalytic performance of novel metal oxides.
The relationship between the level of oxygen vacancies (Ov) and acid‐base density was investigated in this work, as well as their effect on the catalytic performance for ketonization reaction. The results showed that increasing the catalysts′ Ov level could enhance the ketone formation by improving frustrated Lewis pairs formation and acid‐base pair density. The density of acid sites correlated with ketone formation.
Urolithiasis stands as a prevalent ailment within the urinary system, with hyperoxaluria and hypocitraturia being the most frequent manifestations characterized by excessive oxalic acid (OA) and ...deficient citric acid (CA) levels in urine. Detecting these compounds in urine quantitatively holds paramount importance for early urolithiasis screening. Existing methodologies fall short in achieving simultaneous and on‐site identification of OA and CA, posing challenges for accurate urolithiasis screening. Addressing this concern, the study successfully accomplishes the concurrent identification of OA and CA in urine through a combination of dual‐spectral analysis and biomimetic peroxidase utilization. Bovine serum albumin and dithiothreitol‐modified copper nanoclusters (BSA‐DTT‐CuNCs) are employed as biomimetic peroxidases, effectively mitigating interference and enabling the simultaneous determination of OA and CA. The quantification range spans from 0 to 12 mm for OA and 0.5 to 2.5 mm for CA, with detection limits of 0.18 and 0.11 mm, respectively. To facilitate swift and on‐location urine analysis, a fully automated urine analyzer (FAUA) is introduced that streamlines the process of biomarker pretreatment and identification within urine samples. Validation with real urine samples from urolithiasis patients demonstrates the method's diagnostic precision, highlighting the dual‐spectral technique and analyzer's promising role in urolithiasis screening.
A dual‐spectrum detection strategy based on BSA‐DTT‐CuNCs/NADH/phenol‐AAP is innovatively developed, enabling simultaneous detection of citric acid (CA) and oxalic acid (OA) in urine. Coupled with an innovative, fully‐automatic instrument that integrates sample pretreatment and detection, urine samples from patients with kidney stones are accurately identified, underscoring the method's feasibility and practical value.