In this paper we describe the OpenGeoSys (OGS) project, which is a scientific open-source initiative for numerical simulation of thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical processes in porous media. The basic ...concept is to provide a flexible numerical framework (using primarily the Finite Element Method (FEM)) for solving multifield problems in porous and fractured media for applications in geoscience and hydrology. To this purpose OGS is based on an object-oriented FEM concept including a broad spectrum of interfaces for pre- and postprocessing. The OGS idea has been in development since the mid-eighties. We provide a short historical note about the continuous process of concept and software development having evolved through Fortran, C, and C++ implementations. The idea behind OGS is to provide an open platform to the community, outfitted with professional software-engineering tools such as platform-independent compiling and automated benchmarking. A comprehensive benchmarking book has been prepared for publication. Benchmarking has been proven to be a valuable tool for cooperation between different developer teams, for example, for code comparison and validation purposes (DEVOVALEX and CO
2
BENCH projects). On one hand, object-orientation (OO) provides a suitable framework for distributed code development; however, the parallelization of OO codes still lacks efficiency. High-performance-computing efficiency of OO codes is subject to future research.
Increasing performance demands and shorter use lifetimes of consumer electronics have resulted in the rapid growth of electronic waste. Currently, consumer electronics are typically made with ...nondecomposable, nonbiocompatible, and sometimes even toxic materials, leading to serious ecological challenges worldwide. Here, we report an example of totally disintegrable and biocompatible semiconducting polymers for thin-film transistors. The polymer consists of reversible imine bonds and building blocks that can be easily decomposed under mild acidic conditions. In addition, an ultrathin (800-nm) biodegradable cellulose substrate with high chemical and thermal stability is developed. Coupled with iron electrodes, we have successfully fabricated fully disintegrable and biocompatible polymer transistors. Furthermore, disintegrable and biocompatible pseudo-complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) flexible circuits are demonstrated. These flexible circuits are ultrathin (<1 μm) and ultralightweight (∼2 g/m²) with low operating voltage (4 V), yielding potential applications of these disintegrable semiconducting polymers in low-cost, biocompatible, and ultralightweight transient electronics.
► Direct or indirect mechanisms accounting for the enhancing nutrient bioavailability with biochar application are evaluated in the present study. ► Direct release form biochar is important for ...cations (e.g. K, Ca, Na, Mg) bioavailability with biochar addition. ► The SEM-EDX analysis indicated that mineral sorption on biochar surface influenced P sorption. ► The direct P release altered soil pH and changes of Fe, Al oxides and accumulation of Ca controlled P bioavailability with biochar application. ► The long term effect of P bioavailability with biochar application deserves further attention.
As a soil amendment and important bio-resources, biochar has been reported to increases in soil nutrient availability. However, the involved direct or indirect mechanisms are still not clear. In present study, we evaluated the effects of four biochar application rates (0, 1, 5 and 10%, w/w) on inorganic P fractions, available NO3−-N, NH4+-N, K, Na, Ca, Mg and of Fe, Al oxides in a sandy soil. To discern direct and indirect mechanisms, separately soil and biochar equivalent to the respective part in the mixture of soil and biochar were also studied. The results suggested that cations such as K, Ca, Na, Mg in mixture were mainly originated form biochar while inorganic N showed little effects form biochar regardless of direct or indirect mechanisms. P solubility with biochar application was more complex because they also affected by altering soil pH, changes of Fe and Al oxides, and direct P contributions from biochar. In addition, changes of Fe and Al oxides were complicated by altering soil pH, sorption on biochar, and direct release form biochar. In result, Fe and Al oxides showed no observable effects on P fractions in our soil type. Although P availability was enhanced due to the pH changes and direct release from biochar, the observed P availability was greatly lower than the predicted P availability because of the precipitation of large amount of Ca contained in biochar with soluble P in mixture. The results suggested that biochar application, resulting in pH changes and mineral sorption, can indirectly change nutrient bioavailability especially for P apart from direct release form biochar. The long term effect of P availability with biochar application deserves further attention for large-scale soil ecological restoration.
Organic materials (e.g., furfural residue) are generally believed to improve the physical and chemical properties of saline soils with low fertility. Recently, biochar has been received more ...attention as a possible measure to improve the carbon balance and improve soil quality in some degraded soils. However, little is known about their different amelioration of a sandy saline soil. In this study, 56 d incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of furfural and its biochar on the properties of saline soil. The results showed that both furfural and biochar greatly reduced pH, increased soil organic carbon (SOC) content and cation exchange capacity (CEC), and enhanced the available phosphorus (P) in the soil. Furfural is more efficient than biochar in reducing pH: 5% furfural lowered the soil pH by 0.5-0.8 (soil pH: 8.3-8.6), while 5% biochar decreased by 0.25-0.4 due to the loss of acidity in pyrolysis process. With respect to available P, furfural addition at a rate of 5% increased available P content by 4-6 times in comparison to 2-5 times with biochar application. In reducing soil exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), biochar is slightly superior to furfural because soil ESP reduced by 51% and 43% with 5% furfural and 5% biochar at the end of incubation. In addition, no significant differences were observed between furfural and biochar about their capacity to retain N, P in leaching solution and to increase CEC in soil. These facts may be caused by the relatively short incubation time. In general, furfural and biochar exhibited a different effect depending on the property: furfural was more effective in decreasing pH and increasing available P, whereas biochar played a more important role in increasing SOC and reducing ESP of saline soil.
Hazardous heavy metal pollution of soils is an increasingly urgent problem all over the world. The zeolite as a natural amendment has been studied extensively for the remediation of hazardous heavy ...metal-polluted soils with recycling. But its theory and application dose are not fully clear. This paper reviews the related aspects of theory and application progress for the remediation of hazardous heavy metal-polluted soils by natural zeolite, with special emphasis on single/co-remediation. Based on the comments on hazardous heavy metal behavior characteristics in leaching and rhizosphere and remediation with zeolite for heavy metal-polluted soils, it indicated that the research of rhizosphere should be strengthened. Theory of remediation with natural zeolite could make breakthroughs due to the investigation on synthetic zeolite. Co-remediation with natural zeolite may be applied and studied with more prospect and sustainable recycling.
Objectives
To explore the impact of age on the association between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods
A total of 1991 patients with AF ...(69 ± 13 years, 54.9% female) were divided into three age groups: < 65 years, 65-75 years, and > 75 years, and followed for one year. The primary outcome was defined as all-cause mortality, with secondary outcomes including thromboembolism and major bleeding. Cox regression models were utilized to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
Compared to patients aged < 65 years, elder groups had much lower BMI and more comorbidities other than a lower prevalence of valvular heart disease. During one-year follow-up, 277 (13.9%) patients died, 158 (7.9%) underwent thromboembolism events and 26 (1.3%) had major bleeding. Mortality and thromboembolism risk were both notably higher in patients with advanced age (all P values < 0.001). Using normal weight patients as reference, mortality risk was significantly lower in overweight (HR 0.548; 95% CI 0.404-0.744) and obese patients (HR 0.536; 95% CI 0.325-0.883) for the entire cohort, with reduced death risk mainly observed in overweight patients aged 65-75 years (HR 0.285; 95% CI 0.131-0.621) and aged > 75 years (HR 0.686; 95% CI 0.473-0.993), but not in patients aged < 65 years. Continuous analyses of BMI indicated consistent results.
Conclusion
High BMI is associated with reduced mortality rate in patients with AF, and this association is affected by age, with the so-called “obesity paradox” confined to those with advanced age rather than young patients.
Efficient energy boost of the laser-accelerated ions is critical for their applications in biomedical and hadron research. Achiev-able energies continue to rise, with currently highest energies, ...allowing access to medical therapy energy windows. Here, a new regime of simultaneous acceleration of ~100 MeV protons and multi-100 MeV carbon-ions from plasma micro-channel targets is proposed by using a ~10
W/cm
modest intensity laser pulse. It is found that two trains of overdense electron bunches are dragged out from the micro-channel and effectively accelerated by the longitudinal electric-field excited in the plasma channel. With the optimized channel size, these "superponderomotive" energetic electrons can be focused on the front surface of the attached plastic substrate. The much intense sheath electric-field is formed on the rear side, leading to up to ~10-fold ionic energy increase compared to the simple planar geometry. The analytical prediction of the optimal channel size and ion maximum energies is derived, which shows good agreement with the particle-in-cell simulations.
Objectives:
Determine the validity and reliability of a remote, technician-guided cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis (MS), incorporating the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the ...California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (CVLT-II).
Methods:
In 100 patients, we compared conventional in-person testing to remote, web-assisted assessments, and in 36 patients, we assessed test–retest reliability using two equivalent, alternative forms.
Results:
In-person and remote-administered SDMT (r = 0.85) and CVLT-II (r = 0.71) results were very similar. Reliability was adequate and alternative forms of SDMT (r = 0.92) and CVLT-II (r = 0.81) produced similar results.
Conclusions:
Findings indicate remote assessment can provide valid, reliable measures of cognitive function in MS.
PDF
