High Temperature Coal-Gas Desulfurization: Kinetic Evaluation of a Zinc Ferrite Sorbent.

Thermogravimetric techniques were used to monitor the weight of cylindrical zinc ferrite extrudes in order to examine the sulfidation and regeneration kinetics. The reaction of zinc ferrite with H\sb2S (sulfidation) was studied over a temperature range of 573-973 K in gas streams containing 0.6-3 mol% hydrogen sulfide. Reduced zinc ferrite, ZnO plus Fe\sb3O\sb4, is capable of complete sulfidation from 873-973 K except at conditions where the iron oxide in the sorbent is reduced to FeO, in which case sulfidation does not go to completion. The sulfidation reaction is controlled by internal diffusion and mass transfer from the bulk gas phase to the pellet surface at temperatures greater than or equal to 773 K. The chemical reaction resistance is significant at temperatures below 773 K. The sulfidation reaction can be modeled successfully over the temperature range of 773-973 K by the unreacted core model (except when reduction to FeO occurs and sulfidation is incomplete). Regeneration was studied over the temperature range of 523-1123 K in an oxygen, steam, and nitrogen atmosphere. Complete regeneration is possible over the temperature range of 823-1023 K. Regeneration at temperatures above 1023 K is inhibited by structural property changes and is incomplete. Zinc sulfate is formed under all regeneration conditions at 823 K and in steam-free atmospheres at 923 K. This zinc sulfate can be decomposed by heating to 923 K in nitrogen or by introducing reducing gases at lower temperatures. The regeneration reaction with oxygen is controlled by internal diffusion and mass transfer at temperatures above 823 K. The regeneration reaction with steam has a significant chemical reaction resistance at all temperatures. The unreacted core model was used to describe regeneration with oxygen at 923 K. Multiple cycle studies showed that the sulfidation reactivity declines following regeneration at 1023 K, but increases following regeneration at 823 K. The increase is temporary and the reactivity slowly declines in subsequent cycles

Critical region of the finite temperature chiral transition

We study a Yukawa theory with spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking and with a large number N of fermions near the finite temperature phase transition. Critical properties in such a system can be described by the mean field theory very close to the transition point. We show that the width of the region where non-trivial critical behavior sets in is suppressed by a certain power of 1/N. Our Monte Carlo simulations confirm these analytical results. We discuss implications for the chiral phase transition in QCD.Comment: 18 page

Influência do avaliador no resultado da classificação de terras em capacidade de uso.

Por sofrerem uma exploração agrícola descontrolada, recursos naturais como o solo e a água tendem ao seu esgotamento. Como conseqüência, problemas ambientais que afetam diretamente a qualidade de vida da população acabaram sendo uma constante. Para minimizar esta situação o planejamento de uso das terras tornou-se prerrogativa básica para o uso adequado de áreas agrícolas

Critical exponents of the Gross-Neveu model from the effective average action

The phase transition of the Gross-Neveu model with N fermions is investigated by means of a non-perturbative evolution equation for the scale dependence of the effective average action. The critical exponents and scaling amplitudes are calculated for various values of N in d=3. It is also explicitely verified that the Neveu-Yukawa model belongs to the same universality class as the Gross-Neveu model.Comment: RevTeX, 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Typos corrected in equation

Numerical Portrait of a Relativistic Thin Film BCS Superfluid

We present results of numerical simulations of the 2+1d Nambu - Jona-Lasinio model with a non-zero baryon chemical potential mu including the effects of a diquark source term. Diquark condensates, susceptibilities and masses are measured as functions of source strength j. The results suggest that diquark condensation does not take place in the high density phase mu>mu_c, but rather that the condensate scales non-analytically with j implying a line of critical points and long range phase coherence. Analogies are drawn with the low temperature phase of the 2d XY model. The spectrum of the spin-1/2 sector is also studied yielding the quasiparticle dispersion relation. There is no evidence for a non-zero gap; rather the results are characteristic of a normal Fermi liquid with Fermi velocity less than that of light. We conclude that the high density phase of the model describes a relativistic gapless thin film BCS superfluid.Comment: 37 pages, 16 figure

New dual ATP-competitive inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV active against ESKAPE pathogens

The rise in multidrug-resistant bacteria defines the need for identification of new antibacterial agents that are less prone to resistance acquisition. Compounds that simultaneously inhibit multiple bacterial targets are more likely to suppress the evolution of target-based resistance than monotargeting compounds. The structurally similar ATP binding sites of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase. offer an opportunity to accomplish this goal. Here we present the design and structure-activity relationship analysis of balanced, low nanomolar inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV that show potent antibacterial activities against the ESKAPE pathogens. For inhibitor 31c, a crystal structure in complex with Staphylococcus aureus DNA gyrase B was obtained that confirms the mode of action of these compounds. The best inhibitor, 31h, does not show any in vitro cytotoxicity and has excellent potency against Gram-positive (MICs: range, 0.0078-0.0625 mg/mL) and Gram-negative pathogens (MICs: range, 1-2 mg/mL). Furthermore, 31h inhibits GyrB mutants that can develop resistance to other drugs. Based on these data, we expect that structural derivatives of 31h will represent a step toward clinically efficacious multitargeting antimicrobials that are not impacted by existing antimicrobial resistance. (C) 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Warming Can Boost Denitrification Disproportionately Due to Altered Oxygen Dynamics

Background: Global warming and the alteration of the global nitrogen cycle are major anthropogenic threats to the environment. Denitrification, the biological conversion of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen, removes a substantial fraction of the nitrogen from aquatic ecosystems, and can therefore help to reduce eutrophication effects. However, potential responses of denitrification to warming are poorly understood. Although several studies have reported increased denitrification rates with rising temperature, the impact of temperature on denitrification seems to vary widely between systems. Methodology/Principal Findings: We explored the effects of warming on denitrification rates using microcosm experiments, field measurements and a simple model approach. Our results suggest that a three degree temperature rise will double denitrification rates. By performing experiments at fixed oxygen concentrations as well as with oxygen concentrations varying freely with temperature, we demonstrate that this strong temperature dependence of denitrification can be explained by a systematic decrease of oxygen concentrations with rising temperature. Warming decreases oxygen concentrations due to reduced solubility, and more importantly, because respiration rates rise more steeply with temperature than photosynthesis. Conclusions/Significance: Our results show that denitrification rates in aquatic ecosystems are strongly temperature dependent, and that this is amplified by the temperature dependencies of photosynthesis and respiration. Our result

The role of emotions on consumers’ satisfaction within the fitness context

Previous studies have suggested that consumption-related emotions are important to understand post-purchase reactions. This study examines the relationship between fitness consumers’ emotions and overall satisfaction. After an initial step of free-thought listing and content validity, followed by a pre-test, a survey was conducted among consumers of five different fitness centers (n=786). The questionnaire included measures to assess positive and negative emotions, as well as overall satisfaction with the fitness center. The results gathered through a structural equation model provide evidence that negative emotion experienced by consumers impacts negatively overall satisfaction, while positive emotion have a positive effect on overall satisfaction. These findings suggest managerial implications, such as the need to collect consumers’ perceptions of both tangible and intangible aspects of the services, listen costumers’ opinions in a regular basis, and provide regular training to staff members, in order to identify the triggers of positive emotions and contribute to increased levels of overall satisfaction. Guidelines for future research within the fitness context are also suggested.Estudos precedentes sugerem que as emoções relacionadas com o consumo são importantes para compreender as reações dos consumidores após a compra. Este estudo analisa a relação entre as emoções dos consumidores de fitness e satisfação global. Depois de uma etapa inicial de listagem de pensamento-livre e validade de conteúdo, seguido de um pré-teste, foi realizada uma pesquisa entre os consumidores de cinco centros de fitness diferentes (n = 786). O questionário incluiu medidas para avaliar as emoções positivas e negativas, bem como a satisfação global com o centro de fitness. Os resultados obtidos através de um modelo de equações estruturais forneceram evidências de que as emoções negativas vivenciadas pelos consumidores impactam negativamente a satisfação global, enquanto as emoções positivas têm um efeito positivo sobre a satisfação global. Estes resultados sugerem implicações para os gestores, tais como a necessidade de recolher informação sobre a perceção dos consumidores dos aspetos tangíveis e intangíveis dos serviços, ouvir regularmente as opiniões dos consumidores e facultar formação regular aos colaboradores. Isto permitirá identificar os aspetos que desencadeiam emoções positivas e contribuir para o aumento dos níveis de satisfação global. Orientações para futuras pesquisas no contexto de fitness também são sugeridas.Sin financiación0.185 SJR (2015) Q3, 1090/1779 Medicine (miscellaneous); Q4, 177/229 Health (social science), 112/128 Sports scienceUE

Iron Accumulation with Age, Oxidative Stress and Functional Decline

Identification of biological mediators in sarcopenia is pertinent to the development of targeted interventions to alleviate this condition. Iron is recognized as a potent pro-oxidant and a catalyst for the formation of reactive oxygen species in biological systems. It is well accepted that iron accumulates with senescence in several organs, but little is known about iron accumulation in muscle and how it may affect muscle function. In addition, it is unclear if interventions which reduced age-related loss of muscle quality, such as calorie restriction, impact iron accumulation. We investigated non-heme iron concentration, oxidative stress to nucleic acids in gastrocnemius muscle and key indices of sarcopenia (muscle mass and grip strength) in male Fischer 344 X Brown Norway rats fed ad libitum (AL) or a calorie restricted diet (60% of ad libitum food intake starting at 4 months of age) at 8, 18, 29 and 37 months of age. Total non-heme iron levels in the gastrocnemius muscle of AL rats increased progressively with age. Between 29 and 37 months of age, the non-heme iron concentration increased by approximately 200% in AL-fed rats. Most importantly, the levels of oxidized RNA in gastrocnemius muscle of AL rats were significantly increased as well. The striking age-associated increase in non-heme iron and oxidized RNA levels and decrease in sarcopenia indices were all attenuated in the calorie restriction (CR) rats. These findings strongly suggest that the age-related iron accumulation in muscle contributes to increased oxidative damage and sarcopenia, and that CR effectively attenuates these negative effects