On the Potential of a Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Polymer Inclusion Membrane Containing Aliquat® 336 and Dibutyl Phthalate for V(V) Extraction from Sulfate Solutions

A polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) composed of 50 wt% base polymer poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), 40 wt% extractant Aliquat® 336, and 10 wt% dibutyl phthalate as plasticizer/modifier provided the efficient extraction of vanadium(V) (initial concentration 50 mg L−1) from 0.1 M sulfate solutions (pH 2.5). The average mass and thickness of the PIMs (diameter 3.5 cm) were 0.057 g and 46 μm, respectively. It was suggested that V(V) was extracted as VO2SO4− via an anion exchange mechanism. The maximum PIM capacity was estimated to be ~56 mg of V(V)/g for the PIM. Quantitative back-extraction was achieved with a 50 mL solution of 6 M H2SO4/1 v/v% of H2O2. It was assumed that the back-extraction process involved the oxidation of VO2+ to VO(O2)+ by H2O2. The newly developed PIM, with the optimized composition mentioned above, exhibited an excellent selectivity for V(V) in the presence of metallic species present in digests of spent alumina hydrodesulfurization catalysts. Co-extraction of Mo(VI) with V(V) was eliminated by its selective extraction at pH 1.1. Characterization of the optimized PIM was performed by contact angle measurements, atomic-force microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/derivatives thermogravimetric analysis and stress–strain measurements. Replacement of dibutyl phthalate with 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether improved the stability of the studied PIMs.

In-Depth Analysis of Physicochemical Properties of Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) and Its Characterization through FTIR, XRD and SEM–EDX Techniques in the Foothills of the Hindu Kush Region of Northern Pakistan

The current study investigates the variation and physicochemical properties of ambient particulate matter (PM) in the very important location which lies in the foothills of the Hindu Kush ranges in northern Pakistan. This work investigates the mass concentration, mineral content, elemental composition and morphology of PM in three size fractions, i.e., PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, during the year of 2019. The collected samples were characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. During the study period, the average temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed were found to be 17.9 °C, 65.83%, 73.75 mm and 0.23 m/s, respectively. The results showed that the 24 h average mass concentration of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were 64 µgm−3, 43.9 µgm−3 and 22.4 µgm−3, respectively. The 24 h concentration of both PM10 and PM2.5 were 1.42 and 2.92 times greater, respectively, than the WHO limits. This study confirms the presence of minerals such as wollastonite, ammonium sulphate, wustite, illite, kaolinite, augite, crocidolite, calcite, calcium aluminosilicate, hematite, copper sulphate, dolomite, quartz, vaterite, calcium iron oxide, muscovite, gypsum and vermiculite. On the basis of FESEM-EDX analysis, 14 elements (O, C, Al, Si, Mg, Na, K, Ca, Fe, N, Mo, B, S and Cl) and six groups of PM (carbonaceous (45%), sulfate (13%), bioaerosols (8%), aluminosilicates (19%), quartz (10%) and nitrate (3%)) were identified.

Computational Modeling of Drug Dissolution in the Human Stomach

A computational model of drug dissolution in the human stomach is developed to investigate the interaction between gastric flow and orally administrated drug in the form of a solid tablet. The stomach model is derived from the anatomical imaging data and the motion and dissolution of the drug in the stomach are modeled via fluid-structure interaction combined with mass transport simulations. The effects of gastric motility and the associated fluid dynamics on the dissolution characteristics are investigated. Two different pill densities are considered to study the effects of the gastric flow as well as the gravitational force on the motion of the pill. The average mass transfer coefficient and the spatial distributions of the dissolved drug concentration are analyzed in detail. The results show that the retropulsive jet and recirculating flow in the antrum generated by the antral contraction wave play an important role in the motion of the pill as well as the transport and mixing of the dissolved drug concentration. It is also found that the gastric flow can increase the dissolution mass flux, especially when there is substantial relative motion between the gastric flow and the pill.

X-ray flares raising upon magnetar plateau as an implication of a surrounding disk of newborn magnetized neutron star

The X-ray flares have usually been ascribed to long-lasting activities of the central engine of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), e.g., fallback accretion. The GRB X-ray plateaus, however, favor a millisecond magnetar central engine. The fallback accretion can be significantly suppressed due to the propeller effect of a magnetar. Therefore, if the propeller regime cannot resist the mass flow onto the surface of the magnetar efficiently, the X-ray flares raising upon the magnetar plateau would be expected. In this work, such peculiar cases are connected to the accretion process of the magnetars, and an implication for magnetar-disc structure is given. We investigate the repeated accretion process with multi-flare GRB 050730, and give a discussion for the accretion-induced variation of the magnetic field in GRB 111209A. Two or more flares exhibit in the GRB 050730, 060607A and 140304A; by adopting magnetar mass M = 1.4 M ⊙ and radius R = 12 km, the average mass flow rates of the corresponding surrounding disk are 3.53 × 10−4 M ⊙ s−1, 4.23 × 10−4 M ⊙ s−1, and 4.33 × 10−4 M ⊙ s−1, and the corresponding average sizes of the magnetosphere are 5.01 × 106 cm, 6.45 × 106 cm, and 1.09 × 107 cm, respectively. A statistic analysis that contains eight GRBs within 12 flares shows that the total mass loading in single flare is ∼ 2 × 10−5 M ⊙. In the lost mass of a disk, there are about 0.1% used to feed a collimated jet.

Four years of operational data for five hydrogen refueling stations

Worldwide about 550 hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) were in operation in 2021, of which 38%. were in Europe. With their number expected to grow even further, the collection and investigation of real-world station operative data are fundamental to tracking their activity in terms of safety issues, performances, costs, maintenance, reliability, and energy use. This paper shows and analyses the parameters that characterize the refueling of 350 bar fuel cell buses in four HRS within the 3Emotion project. The HRS are characterized by different refueling capacities, hydrogen supply schemes, storage volumes and pressures, and operational strategies. From data logs provided by the operators, a dataset of three years of operation has been created. In particular total hydrogen quantity, the fill amount dispensed to each bus, the refueling duration, the average mass flow rate, the number of refueling events and the daily number of refills, the daily profile, the utilization factor, and the availability are investigated. The results show similar hydrogen amount per fill distribution, but quite different refueling times among the stations. The average daily mass per bus is around 12.95 kg, the most frequent value 15 kg, the standard deviation 7.46. About 50% of the total amount of hydrogen is dispensed overnight and the refueling events per bus are typically every 24 hours. Finally, the station utilization is below 30% for all sites.

Rain drop size distribution characteristics of cyclonic and north east monsoon thunderstorm precipitating clouds observed over Kadapa (14.47°N, 78.82°E), Tropical semi-arid region of India

Hkkjr ds vkU/kz izns’k jkT; ds v/kZ'kq"d HkwHkkx] dM+ik ¼14-47 fMxzh m-] 78-82 fMxzh iw- ½ esa yxk, x, d.k ds vkdkj vkSj osx ¼ikjohosy½ okys fMLMªksehVj l ‘ty’ pØokr ls mRiUu o"kZ.k es?kksa ¼07 uoEcj 2010½ rFkk mRrj iwoZ ¼,u- bZ-½ ekulwu xtZ okys rwQku ds o"kZ.k es?kksa ¼16 uoEcj 2010½ ds cw¡n ds vkdkj ds forj.kksa ¼vkj- ,l- Mh-½ dks ekik x;k gSA izs{k.kkRed ifj.kkeksa ls gesa ;g irk pyk gS fd pØokr dh otg ls mRiUu o"kZ.k es?kksa esa laoguh o"kZ.k izcy jgkA tcfd mRrj iwoZ ekulwu ds ekeys esa xtZ okys rwQku o"kZ.k laoguh es?k ds Hkkx Lrjh es?kksa dh rwyuk esa vf/kd gSaA pØokr ls mRiUu o"kZ.k] mRrj iwoZ ekulwu o"kZ.k dh rqyuk esa Lrjh {ks= ¼laoguh {ks=½ esa NksVh cw¡nksa ¼NksVh vkSj e/;e vkdkj dh cw¡nksa½ ls laca/k gSA Lrjh vkSj laoguh es?k {ks=ksa esa mRrj iwoZ ekulwu o"kZ.k dh rwyuk esa vkSlr nzO;eku Hkkfjr O;kl] pØokr ls mRiUu o"kZ.k dk Dm de gSA o"kkZ dh cw¡nksa ds vkdkj dk izs{k.k pØokrh; vkSj mRrj iwoZ ekulwu xtZ ds lkFk rwQkuksa ds o"kZ.k es?kksa esa vyx rjg dh fHkUurk ns[kh xbZ gSA Raindrop size distributions (RSD) of “JAL” Cyclone induced precipitating clouds (7 Nov. 2010) and North- East (NE) monsoon thunderstorm precipitating clouds (16 November 2010) were measured with a Particle Size and Velocity (PARSIVEL) disdrometer deployed at Kadapa (14.47°N; 78.82°E), a semiarid continental site in Andhra Pradesh state, India. From the observational results we find that stratiform precipitation is predominant than convective precipitation in cyclone induced precipitation clouds. Where as in the case of NE monsoon thunderstorm precipitation convective cloud fraction is more than stratiform clouds. The cyclone induced precipitation is associated with higher concentration of small drops (small and middrops) in stratiform region (convective region) than NE monsoon precipitation. The average mass weighted diameter, Dm of cyclone induced precipitation is less than the NE monsoon precipitation both in stratiform and convective cloud regions. The observed RSD are found distinctly vary from cyclonic and NE monsoon thunderstorm precipitating clouds.

Structure of poaching sturgeon species in the Irtysh River in 2013-2020 (according to ichthyologic examinations)

The study was carried out on the basis of the analysis of poaching sturgeon species in the lower reaches of the Irtysh River (the Tyumen region and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug), according to the results of forensic ichthyologic examinations over the period from 2013 to 2020. The size and weight ratio of Siberian sturgeon and sterlet in catches, the average weight of one fish species, the number of examinations performed, as well as the dynamics of these indicators for the considered time period were evaluated. As a result of the analysis performed, there has been seen an upward trend in the number of expert examinations (from 10 in 2013 to 25 in 2020). Among sturgeon species sterlet dominates in size, with the exception the period of 2017-2018. There has been stated the dynamics of increasing mass of Siberian sturgeon and, accordingly, a decrease for sterlet, with the average share of sturgeon to be less 50%. The average mass of a Siberian sturgeon species has increased from 0.8 to 1.2 kg, as well as a positive trend for the above period is noted when analyzing the total mass of sturgeon species during yearly examinations. Body mass of poached sterlet species hasn’t increased over the 8-year period, and its average value made 0.11–0.13 kg. Over the investigated period the number of forensic ichthyologic examinations has increased, the average mass growth dynamics in a Siberian sturgeon species has been stated, with predominating of immature species in both of sterlet and Siberian sturgeon catches.

Application methods of biostimulants affect the production and postharvest conservation of yellow melon

Worldwide, Brazil holds the fifth position in melon fruits exportation, further expanding its products to provide for the growing demand. This expansion is the result of the development and application of new technologies, including the management of the use of biostimulants. However, for melon crops, the information in the literature on the use of biostimulants remains limited to the effects of different doses on fruit quality at the time of harvest. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different methods of pre-harvest application of two biostimulants on the production and postharvest conservation of fruits of yellow melon cv. Iracema. The treatments consisted of a combination of three factors: two plant biostimulants (Crop Set® and Spray Dunger®), two application methods of the products (fertigation and spraying), and five times of postharvest storage (0, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days). An additional control treatment corresponded to plants without biostimulant application. The fruits were evaluated for production and physicochemical attributes: average mass, yield, flesh firmness, titratable acidity, soluble solids content, SSC/TA ratio, pH, total soluble sugars, and weight loss. Fertigation is the recommended application method of biostimulants for yellow melon due to its effect on the increase of average mass, yield, flesh firmness, soluble solids content, and total soluble sugars of the fruits in relation to the spraying method.

Reproductive Ability of Doe-Rabbits and Growth and Preservation of the Offspring by Feeding Sulfur Compounds

The use of organic minerals in the form of nanocompounds as a substitute for mineral inorganic salts is promising, but insufficiently studied. Therefore, the purpose of the search was to determine the influence of drinking sulfur citrate and sodium sulfate 14 days before insemination and up to 20th day of lactation on the reproductive capacity of rabbits and the preservation of the offspring up to 40th day of life. The research was carried out on rabbits of the second breed of Hyla breed in “Horlytsia”. Сontrol group were fed without restriction complete ration granular feed with free access to water. 1st experimental group were fed with the ration of the control group and during the day were watered with sulfur citrate, at the rate of 8 μg S/kg of body weight. II experimental group were fed with the ration of the control group and with water was given sodium sulfate in the amount of 40 mg S/kg of body weight. Additives to rabbits were watered 14 days before insemination and for up to 20 days of lactation. It was found that on the first day of life of young rabbits their number in the I and II experimental groups was respectively higher by 8.5 and 4.2% compared to the control. The number of young rabbits at 20 and 40 days of age in the I and II experimental groups was respectively higher by 10.4 and 4.4% and 14.0 and 4.6% compared to the control group. The weight of rabbits in the nest of the II experimental group at 1, 20 and 40 days of life was respectively higher by 2.8; 6.1 and 7.0%, which is based on the average mass of one rabbit for these periods and amounted to 1.1, respectively; 2.7 and 4.3% compared with animals in the control group. The average amount of milk produced by rabbits of I and II experimental groups was respectively higher by 10.2% and 6.6% per day and for 20 days of the lactation period compared to the control. The preservation of rabbits in the I and II experimental groups was respectively higher by 6.4 and 6.4% and 3.6 and 4.4% at 20 and 40 days of life of young rabbits compared to the control group. The results of the research indicate the possibility of additional use in the ration of rabbits of the addition of sulfur citrate in the amount of 8 μg S/kg of body weight to increase metabolism and reproductive capacity during periods of increased physiological load

In-situ X-ray Computed Tomography of Zinc-Air Primary Cells during Discharge: Correlating Discharge Rate to Anode Morphology

Zinc-air batteries are gaining attention as safe battery alternatives, with high theoretical energy densities and a high abundance of their constituent materials. However, barriers to their widespread adoption include the need to improve their cycling lifetime, as well as stability and avoiding degradation mechanisms such as zinc dendrite growth and hydrogen-producing side reactions. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a widely used technique for the study of batteries. In-situ/operando X-ray CT has been increasingly used to study the zinc anode of zinc-air batteries to evaluate the interesting morphological changes occurring during the reaction from Zn to ZnO during discharge (vice versa during charge). However, several studies have been carried out using synchrotron X-ray sources, which have limited availability for users. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of the discharge of commercial, primary zinc-air batteries using a laboratory based X-ray source for in-situ X-ray CT measurements. Four different discharge rates are investigated (C/30, C/60, C/90 and C/150), with tomograms collected at various stages throughout each discharge. Results confirm that with decreasing C-rate (i.e., decreasing discharge current) a greater volume of zinc is reacted, with average mass utilisations of 17%, 76%, 81% and 87% for C/30, C/60, C/90 and C/150, respectively. Furthermore, quantification using X-ray CT datasets showed that there is a direct correlation between the volume of zinc remaining in the cell and the state of charge (SoC) of the cell, which deviated from linearity for the longer C-rates. Finally, a potential new mechanism for shape change is discussed, where a zinc particle is replaced with a pore of a similar volume. As well as improvements in statistical relevance gained from multiple repeats for each C-rate, the results presented here could be used in both modelling of battery performance, as well as consideration for future anode design concepts.