THERMAL STUDIES OF POROUS ALUMINUM OXIDE MEMBRANES

Изучение оптических свойств наноразмерных мембран пористого анодного оксида алюминия позволяет значительно расширить области применения данного материала. В работе представлены результаты тепловизионных исследований мембран пористого анодного оксида алюминия с различными структурными параметрами. Построены профили распределения температуры для мембран, полученных в различных электролитах на основе серной, щавелевой и ортофосфорной кислотах. Установлено, что экранирование ИК излучения сильнее (примерно на 30%) проявляется у мембран с меньшим диаметром пор d ≈ 20 нм по сравнению с мембранами, у которых d ≈ 200 нм. Это связано с рассеиванием теплового излучения на неоднородностях структуры, которых значительно больше в мембранах пористого анодного оксида алюминия, полученных на серной кислоте. В качестве источников неоднородности выступают поры малого диаметра, недотравленные области и дефекты. Также, за счет повышенной активности серной кислоты по сравнению с другими используемыми кислотами большее количество анионов встраивается в структуру образца. Study of optical properties of nanoscale membranes of porous anodic alumina can significantly expand the scope of this material. The paper presents the results of thermal imaging studies of porous anodic alumina membranes with various structural parameters. Temperature distribution profiles for membranes obtained in various electrolytes based on sulfuric, oxalic and orthophosphoric acids have been constructed. It was found that the shielding of IR radiation is more pronounced (approximately 30 %) in membranes with a smaller pore diameter d ≈ 20 nm compared to membranes with a larger pore diameter d ≈ 200 nm. This is due to the scattering of thermal radiation on structural inhomogeneities, which are much higher in porous anodic alumina membranes obtained with sulfuric acid. Small-diameter pores, under-etched areas and defects act as sources of inhomogeneity. Also, due to the increased activity of sulfuric acid in comparison with other acids used, more anions are incorporated into the structure of the sample.

The effect of sludge retention time (SRT) on the Nitrifier typical kinetics at ambient temperature under the low ammonia density

Sludge retention time (SRT) regulation is one of the essential management techniques for refined control of the main-sidestream treatment process under the low ammonia density. It is indispensable to understand the effect of SRTs changes on the Nitrifier kinetics to obtain the functional separation of the Nitrifier and the refined control of the nitrification process. In this study, Nitrifier was cultured with conditions of 35 ± 0.5 °C, pH 7.5 ± 0.2, DO 5.0 ± 0.5 mg-O/L, and SRTs was controlled for 40 d, 20 d, 10 d, and 5 d. The net growth rate (), decay rate (), specific growth rate (), the yield of the Nitrifier (), temperature parameter (), and inhibition coefficient () have been measured and extended with the SRT decreases. Instead, the half-saturation coefficient () decreased. In addition, the limited value of pH inhibition occurs (), and the pH of keeping 5% maximum reaction rate () was in a relatively stable state. The trade of kinetics may be induced by the species structure of Nitrifier changed. The Nitrosomonas proportion was increased, and the Nitrospira used to be contrary with the SRT decreasing. It is a match for the functional separation of Nitrifier when SRTs was 20 d at ambient temperature under the low ammonia density. The kinetics of ammonia-oxidizing organism (AOO) and nitrite-oxidizing organism (NOO) in Nitrifier under different SRT conditions should be measured respectively to the refined control of the partial nitrification process in the future study. HIGHLIGHT The Nitrifier typical kinetics used to be affected notably by way of SRTs changes. The species structure of the Nitrifier was recognized beneath distinctive SRTs. The change of Nitrifier kinetics with SRTs used to be estimated by the species structure changes.

Wetteranalyse als konkrete physikalische Herausforderung: Tor Bergerons bahnbrechende Beiträge aus Bergen und Leipzig während der 1920er Jahre

<p>Computergestützte Vorhersage- und Nowcasting-Methoden berücksichtigen heutzutage eine Vielzahl von physikalischen Prozessen, die bei der Integration der dynamischen Gleichung aktiv mitwirken. Vor hundert Jahren erarbeitete der Schwede <em>Tor Bergeron</em> (1891-1977) in Bergen und zeitweise in Leipzig eine Monographie "Über die dreidimensional verknüpfende Wetteranalyse", welche eine ganze Reihe derartiger Prozesse zu quantifizieren suchte und ihre Rolle bei der Entstehung und Fortbewegung von Luftmassen und besonders von Zyklonen darlegte. Die Arbeit erschien schließlich 1928 als umfangreiche Dissertationsschrift im Band 5 der noch jungen Zeitschrift <em>Geofysiske Publikasjoner. </em></p> <p>Zu den ausführlich dargelegten atmosphärenphysikalischen Meilensteinen gehören etwa: eine Diskussion von atmosphärenphysikalischen Erhaltungsgrößen; die Berücksichtigung von Aerosolen; die Dokumentation der Blockierung einer Frontalzone an den Alpen mit nachfolgender Leezyklogenese; die Entstehung von Luftmassentypen (kalte und warme) aufgrund von diabatischen Prozessen; die Verbindung von Sichtweite, Aerosolgehalt und Luftmassentyp; die Darstellung einer Prozesskette zur Niederschlagsbildung (heute: Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen-Prozess); die Präsentation eines kompletten Jahres (1922) von Aufstiegsdaten der potentiellen Temperatur als Beleg wechselnder Luftmassen. </p> <p>Die Präsentation folgt einer aktuellen Veröffentlichung (Schultz et al., 2020), welche die erstmalige Übersetzung von Bergerons Dissertation ins Englische begleitet. Wesentliche Abbildungen werden eingehend erläutert und mit neueren Daten verglichen. Lokale Bezüge zum Geophysikalischen Institut der Universität Leipzig unter Professor <em>Weickmann</em> werden besonders berücksichtigt.</p> <p>Literaturhinweise:</p> <p>Bergeron, T., 1928:  Über die dreidimensional verknüpfende Wetteranalyse. Erster Teil. Prinzipielle Einführung in das Problem der Luftmassen- und Frontenbildung. <em>Geofys. Publ.</em>, <strong>5</strong> (6), 1–118; online: <em>www.ngfweb.no/docs/NGF_GP_Vol05_no6.pdf</em> . </p> <p>Schultz, D.M., H. Volkert, B. Antonescu, and H.C. Davies, 2020:   Defender and Expositor of the Bergen Methods of Synoptic Analysis - Significance, History, and Translation of Bergeron’s (1928) “Three-Dimensionally Combining Synoptic Analysis”. <em>Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc.</em>, <strong>101</strong>, E2078-E2094; online: <em>https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-20-0021.1</em>  .  </p>

Perfiles del Afecto en la Predicción de la Depresión en dos Grupos de Población Mexicana

Se contrastan las diferencias en sintomatología depresiva entre mexicanos de dos polos urbanos importantes, analizando la predicción de la depresión a partir de los perfiles afectivos y variables sociodemográficas. Método. Participaron 1036 estudiantes, 431 del centro de México y 605 del noreste. Se evaluó la sintomatología depresiva mediante el CES-D-20 y perfil afectivo con el PANAS-20. Resultados. Hay una alta prevalencia de sintomatología depresiva en los participantes, con diferencia significativa entre los grupos. En el grupo del centro la depresión es predicha por el perfil de afecto autodestructivo, afecto alto, así como hábitos no saludables, mientras que en el noreste coincide en los primeros dos predictores diferenciándose porque se incorpora en el modelo el menor sentido de autorrealización. Conclusión. Nuestro estudio sugiere diferencias en la manifestación de la depresión por zona geográfica, con un perfil afectivo autodestructivo y de afecto alto. Es de interés resaltar que el perfil afectivo alto puede enmascarar la forma de manifestar la depresión, ya que se les puede considerar como personas extrovertidas y por tanto, subestimar el malestar emocional que puedan estar presentando. Este aspecto es fundamental en la mejor comprensión de la depresión en el campo clínico.

A Lower 25(OH)D Level in COVID-19 Patients is Associated with Increased Mortality: An Observational Study

Background: Recent studies have shown that insufficient vitamin D supply is correlated with increase in COVID-19 cases and its mortality. Potentially, it may play an important role in controlling virus proliferation. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and clinical findings, and mortality rate in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 COVID-19 patients referred or admitted to Loghman-e-Hakim Hospital of Tehran, Iran, from February to June 2020. After patient selection, demographic information of all patients was recorded. Eventually, the relationship between basic demographic and clinical findings with vitamin D levels in all patients was evaluated. Results: The mean Vit-D levels in intubated and non-intubated patients were 22.95 ± 22.23 ng/mL and 21.64 ± 29.20 ng/mL, respectively (P = 0.018). In most of the outpatients (46.7%), Vit-D levels were between 21 - 30 ng/mL, and 47.6% of admitted patients had Vit-D ≤ 20 ng/mL. The mean Vit-D level in survived patients was significantly higher than patients who died (28.2 ± 21.18 ng/mL vs. 19.91 ± 14.18 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.021). While 34.2% (55 cases) of survived patients had Vit-D level ≥ 31 ng/mL, about 70% of death cases had Vit-D ≤ 20 ng/mL (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to our results, vitamin D supplementation could be beneficial in COVID-19 patients. However, further comprehensive clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Sustained Effects of Muscle Calpain System Genotypes on Tenderness Phenotypes of South African Beef Bulls during Ageing up to 20 Days

The most important factor that determines beef tenderness is its proteolytic activity and the balance between calpain1 protease activity and calpastatin inhibition is especially important, while contributions could arise from calpain2 and possibly calpain3. These processes are however affected by the meat aging process itself. To determine whether genotypes in the calpaincalpastatin system can enhance tenderness throughout a 20 day aging period, South African purebred beef bulls (n=166) were genotyped using the Illumina BovineHD SNP BeadChip, through genebased association analysis targeting the cast, capn3, capn2 and capn1 genes. The WarnerBratzler shear force (WBSF) and myofibril fragment length (MFL) of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) steaks were evaluated between d 3 d 20 of aging, with protease enzyme activity in the first 20 h postmortem. Although several of the 134 SNP associated with tenderness, only seven SNP in the cast, capn2 and capn1 genes sustained genetic associations, additive to agingassociated increases in tenderness for at least three of the four aging periods. While most genomic associations were relatively stable over time, some genotypes within SNP responded differently to aging, resulting in altered genomic effects over time. The level of aging at which genomic associations are performed is an important factor that determines whether SNP affect tenderness phenotypes.

Validation of Sentinel-2, MODIS, CGLS, SAF, GLASS and C3S Leaf Area Index Products in Maize Crops

We proposed a direct approach to validate hectometric and kilometric resolution leaf area index (LAI) products that involved the scaling up of field-measured LAI via the validation and recalibration of the decametric Sentinel-2 LAI product. We applied it over a test study area of maize crops in northern China using continuous field measurements of LAINet along the year 2019. Sentinel-2 LAI showed an overall accuracy of 0.67 in terms of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and it was used, after recalibration, as a benchmark to validate six coarse resolution LAI products: MODIS, Copernicus Global Land Service 1 km Version 2 (called GEOV2) and 300 m (GEOV3), Satellite Application Facility EUMETSAT Polar System (SAF EPS) 1.1 km, Global LAnd Surface Satellite (GLASS) 500 m and Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) 1 km V2. GEOV2, GEOV3 and MODIS showed a good agreement with reference LAI in terms of magnitude (RMSE ≤ 0.29) and phenology. SAF EPS (RMSE = 0.68) and C3S V2 (RMSE = 0.41), on the opposite, systematically underestimated high LAI values and showed systematic differences for phenological metrics: a delay of 6 days (d), 20 d and 24 d for the start, peak and the end of growing season, respectively, for SAF EPS and an advance of −4 d, −6 d and −6 d for C3S.