Utilization of an Organic Calcium Compound to Reduce SO₂ and NO Emissions from Sewage Sludge Combustion

To remove gas pollutant emissions from sewage sludge combustion, modified calcium magnesium acetate (MCMA) was used as an organic calcium compound (OCC) to blend with sludge. The main objective of this study was to determine the pollutant emission characteristics of sewage sludge and fuel blended with MCMA during combustion in a tube furnace. The effects of operating parameters on the mean SO₂ and NO emissions and the reduction ratios of SO₂ and NO were investigated. The results showed that MCMA simultaneously captured 69.9% of SO₂ and 31.3% of NO at a temperature of 800 °C and a Ca/S molar ratio of 2.0. Furthermore, the Ca/S ratio and reaction temperature significantly impacted the mean SO₂ emission and SO₂ reduction ratio. The SO₂ reduction ratio increased with increases of the Ca/S ratio and temperature. However, SO₂ emission decreased with increasing Ca/S ratio but increased with increasing reaction temperature. In addition to the main effects corresponding to single factors, the interaction effect of air flow rate and Ca/S ratio was a dominant factor that affected the mean NO emission and NO reduction ratio

Encapsulated Ni Nanoparticles within Silicalite‑1 Crystals for Upgrading Phenolic Compounds to Arenes

About 3–5 nm Ni nanoparticles were significantly encapsulated within different crystal sizes of a silicalite-1 matrix through tailoring the hydrothermal synthesis conditions and ratios of feeding materials, which were applied in the upgrading of phenolic compounds to arenes via the hydrogenolysis route. The smaller the sizes of Ni@silicalite-1 crystals with similar Ni contents and nanoparticles, the more obvious the active centers could be characterized. The enhancement in both phenol/m-cresol conversion and benzene/toluene selectivity was obtained with the decrease in crystal sizes of Ni@silicalite-1, which originated from the selective elimination of the hydroxyl group, hindrance of further hydrogenation of aromatics, and the formation of methane. Furthermore, Ni@silicalite-1 was first reported for its superior stability for more than 300 h during m-cresol conversion, which maintained a high conversion from 78.4% at 8 h to 76.2% at 334 h and aromatics yield from 73.1% at 8 h to 72.6% at 334 h. Therefore, Ni@silicalite-1 provided an alternative methodology for terminal priority to achieve selectivity control different from hydrogenation on phenyl rings via a thermodynamically favorable flat mode. Ni nanoparticles encapsulated within zeolites provided a new method to regulate the adsorption mode of reactants to modify aromatic selectivity steric effects originating from shape selectivity of the silicalite-1 matrix, which also contributed to much better stability of Ni nanoparticles

Polycation–Carbon Nanohybrids with Superior Rough Hollow Morphology for the NIR-II Responsive Multimodal Therapy

Polymer–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials have attracted much attention for the multimodal cancer therapy, while it is still desirable to explore hybrids with superior morphologies for two or more therapeutic modalities. In this work, four types of carbon nanoparticles with distinct morphologies were prepared by an elaborate template-carbonization corrosion process and then functionalized with a similar amount of the superior polycationic gene vector, CD-PGEA [consisting of one β-cyclodextrin core (CD) and two cationic ethanolamine-functionalized poly­(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGEA) arms] to evaluate the morphology-influenced gene and photothermal (PT) therapy. Benefiting from the starting rough hollow nanosphere (RHNS) core, the resultant nanohybrids RHNS-PGEA exhibited the highest gene transfection (including luciferase, fluorescent protein plasmid, and antioncogene p53) and NIR PT conversion efficiency among the four types of nanohybrids. Moreover, the efficient PT effect endowed RHNS-PGEA with PA imaging enhancement and an effective imaging guide for the tumor therapy. In addition, anticancer drug 10-hydroxy camptothecin was successfully encapsulated in RHNS with polycation coating, which also displayed the second near-infrared (NIR-II)-responsive drug release. Taking advantages of the superior gene delivery/PT effect and NIR-II-enhanced drug delivery, RHNS-PGEA realized a remarkable therapeutic effect of trimodal gene/PT/chemotherapy of malignant breast cancer treatment in vitro and in vivo. The present work offers a promising approach for the rational design of polymer–inorganic nanohybrids with superior morphology for the multimodal cancer therapy

Radiological Findings of Prostatic Arterial Anatomy for Prostatic Arterial Embolization: Preliminary Study in 55 Chinese Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To describe the prostatic arterial supply using Cone-beam computed tomography (CT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) before prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</p><p>Methods</p><p>In a retrospective study from January 2012 to January 2014, 55 male patients (110 hemipelves) with BPH who underwent PAE were evaluated by Cone-beam CT in addition to pelvic DSA during embolization planning. Each hemipelvis was evaluated regarding the number of prostatic arteries (PA) and their origins, diameters, territorial perfusion, and anastomoses with adjacent arteries.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 114 PAs were identified in 110 hemipelves. There was one PA in 96.4% of the hemipelves (n=106), and two independent PAs in the other 3.6% (n=4). The PA was found to originate from the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery in 39.5% of cases (n=45) , from the superior vesical artery in 32.6% (n=37), and from the internal pudendal artery in 27.9% of cases (n=32). Extra-prostatic anastomoses between PA and adjacent arteries were found in 39.1% of hemipelves (n=43). Intra-prostatic anastomoses between PAs and contra-lateral prostatic branches were found in 61.8% of hemipelves (n=68). In 67.3% of our study population (n=37), the prostate was dominantly supplied via a unilateral PA.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The prostatic vascularization is complex with frequent anatomic variations. Knowledge of the vascular anatomy of the prostate may provide indications for planning PAE and avoiding nontarget embolization.</p></div

Table_1_Altered brain functional connectivity in vegetative state and minimally conscious state.DOCX

ObjectivesThe pathological mechanism for a disorder of consciousness (DoC) is still not fully understood. Based on traditional behavioral scales, there is a high rate of misdiagnosis for subtypes of DoC. We aimed to explore whether topological characterization may explain the pathological mechanisms of DoC and be effective in diagnosing the subtypes of DoC.MethodsUsing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data, the weighted brain functional networks for normal control subjects and patients with vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) were constructed. Global and local network characteristics of each group were analyzed. A support vector machine was employed to identify MCS and VS patients.ResultsThe average connection strength was reduced in DoC patients and roughly equivalent in MCS and VS groups. Global efficiency, local efficiency, and clustering coefficients were reduced, and characteristic path length was increased in DoC patients (p 0.05). Nodal efficiency, nodal local efficiency, and nodal clustering coefficient were reduced in frontoparietal brain areas, limbic structures, and occipital and temporal brain areas (p ConclusionThere is an association between altered network structures and clinical symptoms of DoC. With the help of network metrics, it is feasible to differentiate MCS and VS patients.</p

Table_3_Altered brain functional connectivity in vegetative state and minimally conscious state.XLSX

ObjectivesThe pathological mechanism for a disorder of consciousness (DoC) is still not fully understood. Based on traditional behavioral scales, there is a high rate of misdiagnosis for subtypes of DoC. We aimed to explore whether topological characterization may explain the pathological mechanisms of DoC and be effective in diagnosing the subtypes of DoC.MethodsUsing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data, the weighted brain functional networks for normal control subjects and patients with vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) were constructed. Global and local network characteristics of each group were analyzed. A support vector machine was employed to identify MCS and VS patients.ResultsThe average connection strength was reduced in DoC patients and roughly equivalent in MCS and VS groups. Global efficiency, local efficiency, and clustering coefficients were reduced, and characteristic path length was increased in DoC patients (p 0.05). Nodal efficiency, nodal local efficiency, and nodal clustering coefficient were reduced in frontoparietal brain areas, limbic structures, and occipital and temporal brain areas (p ConclusionThere is an association between altered network structures and clinical symptoms of DoC. With the help of network metrics, it is feasible to differentiate MCS and VS patients.</p

Table_2_Altered brain functional connectivity in vegetative state and minimally conscious state.XLSX

ObjectivesThe pathological mechanism for a disorder of consciousness (DoC) is still not fully understood. Based on traditional behavioral scales, there is a high rate of misdiagnosis for subtypes of DoC. We aimed to explore whether topological characterization may explain the pathological mechanisms of DoC and be effective in diagnosing the subtypes of DoC.MethodsUsing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data, the weighted brain functional networks for normal control subjects and patients with vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) were constructed. Global and local network characteristics of each group were analyzed. A support vector machine was employed to identify MCS and VS patients.ResultsThe average connection strength was reduced in DoC patients and roughly equivalent in MCS and VS groups. Global efficiency, local efficiency, and clustering coefficients were reduced, and characteristic path length was increased in DoC patients (p 0.05). Nodal efficiency, nodal local efficiency, and nodal clustering coefficient were reduced in frontoparietal brain areas, limbic structures, and occipital and temporal brain areas (p ConclusionThere is an association between altered network structures and clinical symptoms of DoC. With the help of network metrics, it is feasible to differentiate MCS and VS patients.</p

Images from a 71-year-old male patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

<p>(a). DSA of the anterior division of left internal iliac artery performed with same-side anterior oblique projection (30°). The straight arrow marks the superior vesical artery, the thick arrow marks the left prostatic artery (PA), dotted arrow marks the internal pudendal artery, and the open arrow marks the accessory pudendal artery. Prostate gland opacification is seen inside the dotted circle. (b). Coronal Cone-beam CT performed after selective catheterization of the anterior division of left internal iliac artery. The curved arrow marks the left PA, the straight arrow marks the superior vesical artery, and the thick arrow marks the internal pudendal artery. The prostate gland perfusion is seen inside the dotted circle. The left PA originates from the anterior common gluteal-pudendal trunk. (c). Coronal Cone-beam CT performed after selective catheterization of the left PA. The PA bifurcates into anterior/lateral (curved arrow) and inferior vesical artery (dotted arrow), and the straight arrow marks the superior vesical artery. The prostate gland perfusion is seen inside the dotted circle. The image showed that the left PA vascularizing majority of the prostate gland. (d). Axial cone-beam CT performed after selective catheterization of the left PA (straight arrow). The curved arrow marks the anterior/lateral PA. The prostate gland perfusion is seen inside the dotted circle. (e). DSA of the anterior division of right internal iliac artery performed with same-side anterior oblique projection (30°). The straight arrow marks the right PA, the dotted arrow marks the anterior/lateral branch of the right PA, the curved arrow marks the internal pudendal artery, and the thick arrow marks the inferior gluteal artery. Prostate gland opacification is seen inside the dotted circle. (f). Coronal Cone-beam CT performed after selective catheterization of the anterior division of right internal iliac artery. The straight arrow marks the right PA had a superior origin from the internal pudendal artery (thick arrow), the curved arrow marks the rectal artery. The right PA originates from the internal pudendal artery. (g). Coronal Cone-beam CT performed after selective catheterization of the right PA. The PA bifurcates into anterior/lateral (straight arrow) and posterior/lateral PAs (thick arrow) with anastomoses to the internal pudendal artery (dotted arrow) rendering potential nontarget embolization with small-sized embolic particles. The prostate gland perfusion is seen inside the dotted circle. The imaging showed that the right PA vascularized minority of the prostate gland. (h). Axial Cone-beam CT performed after selective catheterization of the right PA. The straight arrow marks the PA anastomoses to the internal pudendal artery, and the thick arrow marks the rectum. The prostate gland perfusion is seen inside the dotted circle. In this case, anastomosis occlusion with micro-coils prior to PAE is a better option.</p

Anion Exchange Nanocomposite Membranes Modified with Graphene Oxide and Polydopamine: Interfacial Structure and Antifouling Applications

In this work, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was utilized to probe interfacial structures of antifouling anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with different modifying architectures fabricated by graphene oxide (GO) and polydopamine (PDA). Results showed that the GO@PDA modified AEMs with a compact GO@PDA layer exhibited a new interface between the modifying layer and membrane matrix, different from the loose GO-modified AEMs. After fouling experiments, from quantifying electrical equivalent circuits fitted to EIS results, it could be found that GO-modified AEMs and PDA-modified AEMs exhibited a significant foulants layer, although the modifying layer reduced the amount of foulants absorbed in the membrane matrix. For GO@PDA-modified AEMs, the increase in ohmic resistance and the foulants layer was almost negligible. Only a small amount of foulants accumulating on the GO@PDA layer affected the capacitive resistance of the interfacial layer obviously. It was concluded that the electrochemical properties and interface of modified AEMs was influenced by the structure of modifying layer, and a dense and compact modifying layer could be more effective to block the foulants from depositing on the surface of AEMs and entering the membrane matrix. The electrochemical characterizations helped to elucidate the antifouling mechanism of modified AEMs with different structures and get a good understanding of the correlation among the properties, structures, and antifouling performance of the modifying layer

Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance on NiS<i>_x</i>@Co₃O₄/Nickel Foam Electrocatalysts with Their Photothermal Property

Based on the principle of heterogeneous catalysis for water electrolysis, electrocatalysts with appropriate electronic structure and photothermal property are expected to drive the oxygen evolution reaction effectively. Herein, amorphous NiSx-coupled nanourchin-like Co3O4 was prepared on nickel foam (NiSx@Co3O4/NF) and investigated as a electrocatalyst for photothermal-assisted oxygen evolution reaction. The experimental investigations and simulant calculations jointly revealed NiSx@Co3O4/NF to be of suitable electronic structure and high near-infrared photothermal conversion capability to achieve the oxygen evolution reaction advantageously both in thermodynamics and in kinetics. Relative to Co3O4/NF and NiSx/NF, better oxygen evolution reaction activity, kinetics, and stability were achieved on NiSx@Co3O4/NF in 1.0 M KOH owing to the NiSx/Co3O4 synergetic effect. In addition, the oxygen evolution reaction performance of NiSx@Co3O4/NF can be obviously enhanced under near-infrared light irradiation, since NiSx@Co3O4 can absorb the near-infrared light to produce electric and thermal field. For the photothermal-mediated oxygen evolution reaction, the overpotential and Tafel slope of NiSx@Co3O4/NF at 50 mA cm–2 were reduced by 23 mV and 13 mV/dec, respectively. The present work provides an inspiring reference to design and develop photothermal-assisted water electrolysis using abundant solar energy