Possible Influences on Ammonia Nitrogen Determination by Nessler's Reagent Spectrophotometry

Nessler's reagent spectrophotometry is the traditional method for ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) determination, which is adopted in the national standard of the People's Republic of China (HJ 535-2009). In order to improve the accuracy of such method, possible influences, Nessler's Reagent preparation, pH value of the solution, metal ions, organic solvents and natural organic matters, on NH3-N determination were discussed. The results suggested that the method B, employing KI, HgI2 and NaOH, is preferred in Nessler's Reagent preparation. And the Nessler's Reagent Spectrophotometry may be executed over a wide pH range (4-11). The metal ions, organic solvents and natural organic matters have significant influences in NH3-N detection. Keywords Nessler's Reagent, Ammonia Nitrogen, pH, Metal Ion, Organic Solvent, Natural Organic Matter. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-24-02 Publication date: December 31st 202

On the specific status of Scelimena spicupennis and a new record of S. discalis from China with mitochondrial genome characterization (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae)

The genus Scelimena Serville (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from China is reviewed. One species, Scelimena spicupennis Zheng & Ou, 2003 (China: Yunnan) is redescribed, and a new record of Scelimena discalis (Hancock, 1915) from China is given. An annotated identification key for Chinese species of the genus Scelimena is provided. Mitochondrial genes of S. spicupennis and S. discalis were sequenced and annotated. The sizes of the two sequenced mitogenomes are 17,552 bp (S. discalis), and 16,069 bp (S. spicupennis), respectively. All of the PCGs started with the typical ATN (ATT, ATC or ATG) or TTG codon and most ended with complete TAA or TAG codon, with the exception of the ND5 gene, which terminated with an incomplete T. The mitochondrial genomes for these two recorded species are provided, and the constructed phylogenetic tree supports their morphological taxonomic classification. The topology of the phylogenetic tree showed that three species of Scelimena were clustered into one branch and formed a monophyletic and a holophyletic group

Business Case for Energy Efficiency in Support of Climate Change Mitigation, Economic and Societal Benefits in China

This study seeks to provide policymakers and other stakeholders with actionable information towards a road map for reducing energy consumption cost-effectively. We focus on individual end use equipment types (hereafter referred to as appliance groups) that might be the subject of policies - such as labels, energy performance standards, and incentives - to affect market transformation in the short term, and on high-efficiency technology options that are available today. As the study title suggests, the high efficiency or Business Case scenario is constructed around a model of cost-effective efficiency improvement. Our analysis demonstrates that a significant reduction in energy consumption and emissions is achievable at net negative cost, that is, as a profitable investment for consumers. Net savings are calculated assuming no additional costs to energy consumption such as carbon taxes. Savings relative to the base case as calculated in this way is often referred to as 'economic savings potential'. Chinese energy demand has grown dramatically over the last few decades. While heavy industry still plays a dominant role in greenhouse gas emissions, demand from residential and commercial buildings has also seen rapid growth in percentage terms. In the residential sector this growth is driven by internal migration from the countryside to cities. Meanwhile, income in both urban and rural subsectors allows ownership of major appliances. While residences are still relatively small by U.S. or European standards, nearly all households own a refrigerator, a television and an air conditioner. In the future, ownership rates are not expected to grow as much as in other developing countries, because they are already close to saturation. However, the gradual turnover of equipment in the world's largest consumer market provides a huge opportunity for greenhouse gas mitigation. In addition to residences, commercial floor space has expanded rapidly in recent years, and construction continues at a rapid pace. Growth in this sector means that commercial lighting and HVAC will play an increasingly important role in energy demand in China. The outlook for efficiency improvement in China is encouraging, since the Chinese national and local governments have implemented significant policies to contain energy intensity and announced their intention to continue and accelerate these. In particular, the Chinese appliance standards program, first established in 1989, was significantly strengthened and modernized after the passage of the Energy Conservation Law of 1997. Since then, the program has expanded to encompass over 30 equipment types (including motor vehicles). The current study suggests that, in spite of these efforts, there is significant savings to be captured through wide adoption of technologies already available on the Chinese market. The approach of the study is to assess the impact of short-term actions on long-term impacts. 'Short-term' market transformation is assumed to occur by 2015, while 'long-term' energy demand reduction impacts are assessed in 2030. In the intervening years, most but not all of the equipment studied will turn over completely. Early in 2011, the Chinese government announced a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions intensity (per unit GDP) by 16% by 2015 as part of the 12th five year plan. These targets are consistent with longer term goals to reduce emissions intensity 40-45% relative to 2005 levels by 2020. The efforts of the 12th FYP focus on short-term gains to meet the four-year targets, and concentrate mainly in industry. Implementation of cost-effective technologies for all new equipment in the buildings sector thus is largely complementary to the 12th FYP goals, and would provide a mechanism to sustain intensity reductions in the medium and long term. The 15-year time frame is significant for many products, in the sense that delay of implementation postpones economic benefits and mitigation of emissions of carbon dioxide. Such delays would result in putting in place energy-wasting technologies, postponing improvement until the end of their service life, or potentially resulting in expensive investment either in additional energy supplies or in early replacement to achieve future energy or emissions reduction targets

Analysis of influencing factors for the determination of ammonia nitrogen in water by spectrophotometry

The research is supported by a Project Funded by the brand professional project form Yancheng teachers college (2016) and the teaching reform and practice of medicinal chemistry (2018YCTUJGY006) and the innovation and entrepreneurship training program for college students in jiangsu province（201910324016Z） Abstract The content of ammonia nitrogen in water was determined by national standard method - nessler's reagent spectrophotometry. Through comparison, it was found that the method of reagent configuration, the amount of reagent, the detection wavelength, the color development time and the temperature had an impact on the analysis results in the ammonia nitrogen measurement in water by the reagent spectrophotometry. Based on the experimental results, the factors influencing the determination of ammonia nitrogen by spectrophotometry with nessler's reagent were discussed. Keywords Nessler's reagent spectrophotometry, Ammonia nitrogen, Influencing factors, Blank value, ABS value, Correlation coefficient. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-31-08 Publication date: November 30th 201

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

The complete chloroplast genome of Lilium brownii F.E.Brown var. viridulum Baker (Liliaceae)

Lilium brownii F.E.Brown var. viridulum Baker is a medicinal and food plant that is widely distributed in northern and eastern Asia. Here, we report on the complete chloroplast genome sequence of L. brownii var. viridulum. The chloroplast genome is 152,665 bp in size and includes two inverted repeat regions of 53,052 bp, which is separated by a large single-copy region of 82,085 bp and a small single-copy region of 17,528 bp. A total of 131 genes were predicted, including 38 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 85 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis placed L. brownii var. viridulum under the family Liliaceae

Characterization of the chloroplast genome of a rare species Polygonatum sp. in China (Asparagaceae, Asparagales)

Polygonatum (Asparagaceae) is a medicinal and food plant that is naturally distributed in most of countries throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Here we report on the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of a rare species Polygonatum sp. without defoliation in late autumn or winter. The cp genome is 157,696 bp in size and includes two inverted repeat regions of 52,821bp, which is separated by a large single-copy region of 84,359 bp and a small single copy region of 20,516 bp. A total of 132 genes were predicted, including 38 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 86 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis placed Polygonatum sp. under the subfamily Nolinoideae of the family Asparagaceae