Synthesis and application of zeolite and glass fiber supported zero valent iron nanoparticles as membrane component for removal nitrate and Cr (+6) ions

In the present paper the synthesis and characterization of zeolite and glass fiber supported zero valent iron nanoparticles (Ze-ZVI, GF-ZVI NPs) are reported.ZVI, Ze-ZVI and GF-ZVI NPs size, composition and morphology were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Synthesized nanostructures were tested as reducing agents of nitrate and hexavalent Chromium. Batch experiments were carried for revealing of efficacy of prepared nanomaterials (ZE-ZVI NPs and GF-ZVI NPs). Nitrate removal efficiency (at initial concentration 50 mg/mL) was rapidly increased from 26% to 76% for GF-ZVI NPs at 60-240 min time interval for and from 34% to 90% for ZE-ZVI NPs at the same time interval.Also was studied the efficacy of prepared nanostructures ZE-ZVI and ZE-ZVI NPs as membrane component with 5% of ZVI NPS weight contentfor the removal of nitrate from water solution that made 85% for ZE-ZVI NPs and 76% for GF-ZVI NPs, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the application of GF-ZVI and ZE-ZVI NPs as membrane component is advantageous because it allows to prevent the additional pollution of treated solution caused by unreacted ZVI NPs

the overall pulse model for water demand of aggregated residential users

Abstract The models for the end-user demand give a detailed description of the water request, which takes into account the consumes of each dwelling. Therefore, these approaches can model the water demand at WDS nodes by aggregating the single request of each user. The effectiveness of a novel approach the Overall Pulse model (OP)- to describe the aggregated water demand has been tested. In fact, the OP model, unlike the commonly used rectangular pulse models (e.g. PRP, NSRP), does not aim to reconstruct single demand pulses as they occur when home faucets and hydro-sanitary appliances are operated, but allows the generation of the water demand as it is observed at the house water meter. This feature makes the model very versatile, allowing the direct modeling of either a single user or of a group of n users. The possibility of 'pre-aggregation' of the water demand makes it easier to take into account the spatial variability of the model parameters. In the paper, the performance of the OP model is investigated, and to this aim the generated time series are compared with the observed ones of real users. In addition, the comparison of series obtained by means of the classical PRP approach and of the OP model show the effectiveness of the latter

Fluorescence Spectroscopy for the Diagnosis of Endometritis in the Mare

By exploiting the PMN property to produce high quantities of oxygen peroxide to neutralize pathogens, the oxygen peroxide content of uterine cells was measured to diagnose endometritis. After preliminary in vitro studies in which endometrial cells from slaughtered mares were mixed with leukocytes from peripheral blood, endometrial samples were collected by uterine flushing from mares before insemination. Staining endometrial cells with H2DCF-DA was combined with hydroethidine to normalize the fluorescence intensity with the cellular content of the sample. Stained cell smears were assumed as the gold standard of endometritis, and based on this assay, the samples were considered positive (C+) and negative (C-) for endometritis. The amount and the turbidity of fluid recovered by uterine flushing were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in C+ than in C-. Moreover, the oxygen peroxide content of the endometrial cells was significantly higher in the C+ than in the C- group (6.31 ± 1.92 vs. 3.12 ± 1.26, p = 0.001). Using the value of 4.4 as the cutoff level of this fluorescence cytology assay, it was found that only one C- sample exceeded the cutoff level (false positives = 7.7%) while three C+ samples showed values below the cutoff level (false negative = 11.5%)

Nitrates removal by bimetallic nanoparticles in water

Nitrate contamination of groundwater has become a major environmental concern since nitrates are easily transferred from unsatured zone to the satured one, due to their solubility and low sorptivity on soil particles caused by their negative charge. The effectiveness and rapidity of the reduction of NO3- is strongly dependent on the contact time, the concentration of the reductive agent, the properties and composition of the surrounding medium (pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, heavy metals and organic matter concentration). The aim of this work was to investigate the effectiveness of nZVI and bimetallic nanoparticles of Fe/Cu in the remediation of nitrate-polluted groundwaters. nZVI and Fe/Cu nanoparticles were prepared by sodium borohydride reduction method at room temperature and ambient pressure. Results confirm that the decontamination of nitrate in groundwater via the in-situ remediation by Fe/Cu nanoparticles is environmentally attractive. Batch experiments were conducted on water samples contaminated in laboratory using NaNO3 to fix the initial nitrate concentration to 57.5 mg/L. The Cu/Fe0 ratio was fixed to 0.05 (w/w) and the parameter investigated was the Fe0/NO3- weight ratio (5,10 and 15 w/w). During the tests the aqueous solution was analyzed to measure the evolution of NO3- and pH at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min. The results showed the increasing rate of reduction of nitrate by adding copper to ZVI particles; in fact fixing the Fe0/NO3- to 15 the tests without copper resulted in a complete removal within 150 min against the 60 min required by the tests with copper

Stallion Sperm Freezing with Different Extenders: Role of Antioxidant Activity and Nitric Oxide Production

: Sensitivity to freezing remains a critical issue in stallion semen cryopreservation procedures. To explore this topic in-depth, semen was collected from ten stallions, diluted with three different extenders, transported to the laboratory, and then centrifuged and frozen with four different extenders. We conducted analyses of sperm kinetics, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and hydrogen peroxide content both before and after freezing. Additionally, we assessed antioxidant activity using the ABTS and FRAP methods and measured nitric oxide stable metabolites (NOx) in the blank extenders, seminal plasma, and extenders conditioned by spermatozoa before and after freezing. We found significant variability in the antioxidant activity and NOx content of the blank extenders and the seminal plasma. In the seminal plasma, ABTS-based antioxidant activity and NOx values were correlated with some sperm kinematic parameters and MMP in refrigerated semen, while no correlation was observed in frozen sperm parameters. Sperm function varied significantly between stallions but not between extenders, either before or after freezing. However, significant differences in antioxidant activities and NOx values were found among extenders conditioned following freezing. These results provide new insights into the factors contributing to the variability in individual stallions' tolerance to sperm freezing

Raman-scattered O VI Features in the Symbiotic Nova RR Telescopii

RR Tel is an interacting binary system in which a hot white dwarf (WD) accretes matter from a Mira-type variable star via gravitational capture of its stellar wind. This symbiotic nova shows intense Raman-scattered O VI 1032 and 1038 features at 6825 ˚A and 7082 ˚A. We present high-resolution optical spectra of RR Tel taken in 2016 and 2017 with the Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle (MIKE) spectrograph at Magellan-Clay telescope, Chile. We aim to study the stellar wind accretion in RR Tel from the profile analysis of Raman O VI features. With an asymmetric O VI disk model, we derive a representative Keplerian speed of > 35 km s−1 , and the corresponding scale < 0.8 au. The best-fit for the Raman profiles is obtained with a mass loss rate of the Mira M˙ ∼ 2 × 10−6 M yr−1 and a wind terminal velocity v∞ ∼ 20 km s−1 . We compare the MIKE data with an archival spectrum taken in 2003 with the Fibre-fed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph (FEROS) at the MPG/ESO 2.2 m telescope. It allows us to highlight the profile variation of the Raman O VI features, indicative of a change in the density distribution of the O VI disk in the last two decades. We also report the detection of O VI recombination lines at 3811 ˚A and 3834 ˚A, which are blended with other emission lines. Our profile decomposition suggests that the recombination of O VII takes place nearer to the WD than the O VI 1032 and 1038 emission region.Fil: Heo, J. E.. Observatorio Gemini; Chile. Universidad de La Serena; Chile. Sejong University; Corea del SurFil: Lee, H. W.. Universidad de Sejong; Corea del SurFil: Angeloni, R.. Universidad de La Serena; ChileFil: Palma, Tali. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Departamento de Astrofísica Estelar; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Di Mille, F.. Observatorio Las Campanas; Chil

Electroantennographic responses of Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) to a range of volatile compounds

The red-necked longhorn beetle, Aromia bungii, is one of the most damaging pests of stone fruit trees. Native to the south-eastern Palearctic and Oriental regions, it invaded and is established to some extent in the Campania Region (Southern Italy). In several cerambycid species, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been shown to play a role in mate and host plant location. Increasing EAG amplitudes from the basal to the distal antennal segments were recorded in response to six selected plant volatiles. From the distal flagellomeres, the largest EAG responses (>0.8 mV) were elicited by 2-hexanol, octanal, sulcatone, guaiacol, sulcatol, 2,4-dimethyl-3-hexanol, 2,4-dimethyl-2-hexanone, heptanal, nonanal, (Z)-3-hexenol, and 1-heptanol in both sexes, and by linalool, (E)-2-heptenal, 1-octen-3-ol, (E)-2-octenal, 3-octanol, (E)-2-octen-1-ol, alfa-phellandrene, and alfa-terpinene in males. The olfactory system of both sexes proved to be sensitive to changes in stimulus concentration and compound structure. This study demonstrates the capability of A. bungii males and females to detect and discriminate among a wide range of VOCs and provides a basis for further olfactometer and field trapping experiments aimed at identifying behaviorally-active compounds useful for the implementation of semiochemical-based control strategies for this pest

Parental evaluation of a telemonitoring service for children with Type 1 Diabetes

Introduction In the past years, we developed a telemonitoring service for young patients affected by Type 1 Diabetes. That service provides data to the clinical staff and offers an important tool to the parents, that are able to oversee in real time their children. The aim of this work was to analyze the parents' perceived usefulness of the service. Methods The service was tested by the parents of 31 children enrolled in a seven-day clinical trial during a summer camp. To study the parents' perception we proposed and analyzed two questionnaires. A baseline questionnaire focused on the daily management and implications of their children's diabetes, while a post-study one measured the perceived benefits of telemonitoring. Questionnaires also included free text comment spaces. Results Analysis of the baseline questionnaires underlined the parents' suffering and fatigue: 51% of total responses showed a negative tendency and the mean value of the perceived quality of life was 64.13 in a 0-100 scale. In the post-study questionnaires about half of the parents believed in a possible improvement adopting telemonitoring. Moreover, the foreseen improvement in quality of life was significant, increasing from 64.13 to 78.39 ( p-value\u2009=\u20090.0001). The analysis of free text comments highlighted an improvement in mood, and parents' commitment was also proved by their willingness to pay for the service (median\u2009=\u2009200\u2009euro/year). Discussion A high number of parents appreciated the telemonitoring service and were confident that it could improve communication with physicians as well as the family's own peace of mind