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•A highly efficient activated hydrochar was synthesized from biowaste.•The material exhibits a remarkable specific surface area and mesoporosity.•The activated hydrochar displays a ...highly aromatic nature and a surface rich in oxygen and phosphorus groups.•The properties of the activated hydrochar enable it to effectively remove Cr (VI) and DCF from water over a wide pH range.•By harnessing chemical and physical interactions, it achieves impressive monolayer adsorption capacities of 240 mg g−1 and 539 mg g−1 towards DCF and Cr (VI), respectively.
In response to the current environmental crisis, this study focuses on converting biowaste into phosphorus-oxygen-rich activated hydrochar (AH) for removing persistent pollutants such as Diclofenac (DCF) and chromium (VI) (Cr (VI)) from polluted water. The AH was prepared via hydrothermal carbonization of argan nut shells followed by H3PO4 activation under an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The obtained AH was characterized by a high specific surface area of 1879 m2g−1, remarkable mesoporosity, and wide pore diameters. The AH was further analyzed revealing its highly aromatic nature, as well as the abundance of phosphorus and oxygen functional groups on its surface. These properties led to high adsorption capacities of diclofenac and chromium (VI) of 240 mgg−1 and 539 mgg−1, respectively. The investigations indicated that the AH applied physical and chemical forces for removing Cr (VI), while the uptake of DCF molecules was governed by physical forces. Indeed, the high aromaticity and oxygen functionality of AH facilitated the DCF adsorption through hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, and pore-filling. Meanwhile, the oxygen functionality and the oxygen and phosphorus electron-providing sites on the AH’s surface favor the removal of Cr (VI) ions through physical and chemical interactions, including electrostatic attractions, ion exchange, complexation, and oxidation–reduction reactions. These findings highlight the effectiveness of AH in the elimination of DCF and Cr (VI) from polluted water.
Our objective in this work consists in the synthesis, the characterization, the elaboration, the formulation, and the rheological study of the new phosphoric epoxy resin: pentaglycidyl ether ...pentaphenoxy of phosphorus (PGEPPP). Thus, we identified this polymer by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Then, its chemical structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance of proton (
1
H NMR) and carbon (
13
C NMR). Furthermore, the rheological analyzes of the epoxy resin and their composite (PGEPPP/MDA/PN) were determined by the RHM01-RD HAAKE rheometer. Moreover, this epoxy polymer and their composite have been applied in flow phenomena and implementation. Finally, we proceeded to the morphological of the composite (PGEPPP/MDA/PN) using the scanning electron microscope, in order to confirm the dispersion of the natural phosphate load incorporated into the prepared composite.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious disease that threatens human health. Despite consistent efforts to inhibit the virus, it has infected more than 58 million people, with 300,000 deaths per year. ...The HCV nonstructural protein NS5A plays a critical role in the viral life cycle, as it is a major contributor to the viral replication and assembly processes. Therefore, its importance is evident in all currently approved HCV combination treatments. The present study identifies new potential compounds for possible medical use against HCV using the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR). In this context, a set of 36 NS5A inhibitors was used to build QSAR models using genetic algorithm multiple linear regression (GA-MLR) and Monte Carlo optimization and were implemented in the software CORAL. The Monte Carlo method was used to build QSAR models using SMILES-based optimal descriptors. Four splits were performed and 24 QSAR models were developed and verified through internal and external validation. The model created for split 3 produced a higher value of the determination coefficients using the validation set (R
= 0.991 and Q
= 0.943). In addition, this model provides interesting information about the structural features responsible for the increase and decrease of inhibitory activity, which were used to develop eight novel NS5A inhibitors. The constructed GA-MLR model with satisfactory statistical parameters (R
= 0.915 and Q
= 0.941) confirmed the predicted inhibitory activity for these compounds. The Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination, and Toxicity (ADMET) predictions showed that the newly designed compounds were nontoxic and exhibited acceptable pharmacological properties. These results could accelerate the process of discovering new drugs against HCV.
The coating of fertilizers by polymers is one of the most efficient tools for their slow and control release into soil. This strategy avoids excessive use of the fertilizers and increases their ...availability to the crops needs. In the present paper, hydro-soluble diammonium phosphates (DAP) fertilizer was double coated following the dip-coating process by chitosan-clay composites as inner coating and paraffin wax as an outer coating. The chitosan composite preparation and characterization were deeply investigated. The montmorillonite (MMT) clay incorporation as filler improves the water barrier diffusion, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the composite. The combination of the swelling behavior of the chitosan-clay composite (inner coating) and the hydrophobic property of paraffin wax (outer coating) was confirmed by the water holding capacity evaluation and the phosphorus release essays in water and soil. Indeed, the phosphorus dissolution from the coated DAP granules was significantly delayed compared to the uncoated DAP. Moreover, the biodegradation study of composite material in soil and the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) tests revealed that the coating system proposed could be considered as a carbon source for microorganisms after the fertilization process, which confirms its sustainability.
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•Sustainable double-coating approach of DAP fertilizer for the slow-release properties.•The intercalation of clay galleries by the chitosan chain affects the diffusion kinetic of water across the coating material•The phosphorus dissolution rate was considerably delayed in water and soil with a qusi-Fickien diffusion mechanism.•The combination of hydrophobic property and water holding capacity in the proposed coating system for slow release DAP fertilizer was approved.•The biodegradation study reveals that the process of biodegradation could be considered as controlling factor of the nutrients release in soil.
Epoxy polymer, namely, decaglycidyl pentamethylene dianiline of phosphorus (DGPMDAP) was synthesized in three steps. The synthesis of epoxy polymer DGPMDAP was investigated by nuclear magnetic ...resonance spectroscopy, rheological analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM), stationary and transient electrochemical methods (PDP and EIS), respectively. The rheological properties of composite (DGPMDAP/MDA/TiO2) without and with different percentages of titanium dioxide (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) increase with both the increase in frequency and with rate of load of titanium dioxide. Besides, SEM micrographs shows a good dispersion of the titanium dioxide charge in the composite (DGPMDAP/MDA/TiO2) elaborated. The results of PDP show that epoxy polymer DGPMDAP acts as mixed type inhibitor and reaches maximum corrosion inhibition efficiency reaches 92 % at 10−3 M. Besides, EIS results indicate that DGPMDAP act as good inhibitor for carbon steel in 1 M HCl solution and its efficiency reaches 91 % at 10−3 M of DGPMDAP. Furthermore, the adsorption of DGPMDAP on carbon steel surface obeyed Langmuir isotherm.
Chemical engineering; Materials chemistry; Polymer; composite; NMR; Rheology; SEM; corrosion.
The mechanisms by which regulatory T (Treg) cells differentially control allergic and autoimmune responses remain unclear. We show that Treg cells in food allergy (FA) had decreased expression of ...transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) because of interleukin-4 (IL-4)- and signal transducer and activator of transciription-6 (STAT6)-dependent inhibition of Tgfb1 transcription. These changes were modeled by Treg cell-specific Tgfb1 monoallelic inactivation, which induced allergic dysregulation by impairing microbiota-dependent retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR-γt)+ Treg cell differentiation. This dysregulation was rescued by treatment with Clostridiales species, which upregulated Tgfb1 expression in Treg cells. Biallelic deficiency precipitated fatal autoimmunity with intense autoantibody production and dysregulated T follicular helper and B cell responses. These results identify a privileged role of Treg cell-derived TGF-β1 in regulating allergy and autoimmunity at distinct checkpoints in a Tgfb1 gene dose- and microbiota-dependent manner.
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•Treg cell-derived TGF-β1 regulates mast cell and IgE responses•Treg cell-derived TGF-β1 drives the differentiation of ROR-γt+ Treg cells during weaning•Haploinsufficiency of Tgfb1 in Treg cells dysregulates the allergic response•Biallelic deletion of Tgfb1 in Treg cells precipitates lethal autoimmunity
The cytokine TGFβ-1 is implicated in controlling allergic and autoimmune responses; however, the specific role of regulatory T (Treg) cell-derived TGF-β1 in governing these responses has been unclear. Turner et al. demonstrate that Treg cell-derived TGF-β1 is critical for restraining allergic and autoimmune diseases in a gene dose-dependent manner.
This article delves into the intricate world of controlling the longitudinal dynamics of autonomous vehicles. In the first part, we studied two distinct controllers: the Super Twisting Sliding Mode ...Control and its modified version enriched with the integration of fuzzy logic, applied to the longitudinal dynamics of the autonomous automobile to follow a desired speed longitudinal profile, the two controllers are compared with a Neural Network-Based Non-singular Terminal Sliding-Mode Control, the system takes the throttle and brake as its inputs and delivers speed and acceleration as outputs. The overarching objective is to ensure that the controlled vehicle maintains a close and precise alignment with the desired speed profile. The second part of our research is dedicated to the development of adaptive cruise control systems and cruise control according to the safety conditions. This controller consists of two blocks low and upper controller, in upper controller the inputs are the speeds of the automobile in front and of the autonomous automobile itself, the safety distance, the measured distance. The output is the desired acceleration. The objective is to maintain a distance between the front vehicles, greater than or equal to the safety distance. For this, to achieve this task, we have implemented a control system known as the Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller in the adaptive cruise control system to control this system. In the low controller block, the same controllers used in the first part: the Super Twisting Sliding Mode Control and its modified version based on fuzzy logic, are applied, the system inputs are throttle and brake, and the outputs are speed and acceleration. This system is processed by MATLAB code, we obtained a better result with our proposed controller such that the maximum absolute speed error is equal to 0.0144 m/s in the first case of speed tracking, and to 0.006 m/s in the second case of the using adaptive cruise control, the illustrations below show the efficiency and robustness of these controllers.
•A modified sliding mode controller based on Fuzzy logic to control the autonomous vehicle.•Control the longitudinal dynamics of the autonomous vehicle to follow a longitudinal profile of the desired speed.•An algorithm based on the safety distance to choose between running Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) or Cruise Control (CC) of the autonomous vehicle.•Compare the modified STSMC controller by integrating fuzzy logic into this controller with a Neural Network Based Non-singular Terminal Sliding Mode Control (RBF-NTSMC).
In the 21st century, tackling climate change is an important challenge, and the absorption of CO2 via urban greening employing photosynthesis offers a potential answer to the climate issue. Within ...this work, the city of Nador is chosen as a case study. The initiative in question proposes an enhanced technique focused on estimating the advantages of urban greening in terms of carbon storage and sequestration. This technique combines the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and the InVEST model, enabling the study of land use and land cover (LULC) scenarios within the location. These scenarios contain numerous alternatives, ranging from the adoption of intense and extensive green roofs to the establishment of gardens and woodland areas. The carbon storage modeling technique depends on the exploitation of land use maps, reinforced by a bibliographic examination of the key carbon reservoirs. The analysis of results from biophysical modeling indicates a considerable increase of over 45.36 % compared to the existing condition when the option of extensive green roofs is chosen. In the setting of extensive green roofs, this rise reaches a rate of 64.20 %. Furthermore, the restoration of the Gourougou forest north of the city leads to an increase of 70.30 %. The adoption of diverse combinations, such as the integration of green roofs with urban vegetation, greatly helps to further enhancing carbon storage. From a financial perspective, the additional value can range from $2,012,825.16 to $3,601,025.53, depending on the chosen scenario. This financial assessment highlights the possible advantages that might be converted into carbon credits in return for emission reduction, partially offsetting the expenses associated with the adoption of each greening solution. Ultimately, these findings give a chance for urban planners and green architecture professionals to perform in-depth planning analyses.
In recent years, the need for security of personal data is becoming progressively important. In this regard, the identification system based on fusion of multibiometric is most recommended for ...significantly improving and achieving the high performance accuracy. The main purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid system of combining the effect of tree efficient models: Convolutional neural network (CNN), Softmax and Random forest (RF) classifier based on multi-biometric fingerprint, finger-vein and face identification system. In conventional fingerprint system, image pre-processed is applied to separate the foreground and background region based on
-means and DBSCAN algorithm. Furthermore, the features are extracted using CNNs and dropout approach, after that, the Softmax performs as a recognizer. In conventional fingervein system, the region of interest image contrast enhancement using exposure fusion framework is input into the CNNs model. Moreover, the RF classifier is proposed for classification. In conventional face system, the CNNs architecture and Softmax are required to generate face feature vectors and classify personal recognition. The score provided by these systems is combined for improving Human identification. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on publicly available SDUMLA-HMT real multimodal biometric database using a GPU based implementation. Experimental results on the datasets has shown significant capability for identification biometric system. The proposed work can offer an accurate and efficient matching compared with other system based on unimodal, bimodal, multimodal characteristics.
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