ENV-607: SURFACTANT-MODIFIED BIOMASS ADSORBENTS FOR ENHANCED REMOVAL OF POLLUTANTS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

From the view of economical efficiency and technology sustainability, considerable attention has been recently given to the use of low-cost biomass residues as adsorbents in pollution control. To achieve a desirable adsorptive efficiency, some efforts have also been made to modify biomass adsorbents through appropriate treatments. There is a particular interest in surfactant-assisted biomass surface modification. Although some findings from previous studies are encouraging, knowledge about the adsorption of pollutants onto surfactant-modified biomass is still limited. A number of issues about the characteristics of involved interface transport are poorly understood. The present study therefore aims to examine the adsorption of anionic azo dyes onto surfactant-modified biomass in the solution. Different surfactants are used for modification. The equilibrium and kinetic studies for the adsorption of anionic azo dyes on modified biomass are conducted and the effects of aqueous chemistry characteristics are also evaluated. The results present the potential of modified biomass as suitable adsorbent for the removal of anionic azo dyes from wastewater. It can help understand the migration patterns of organic pollutants at biomass-water interface

Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis: the prevalence and its association with clinical features

BackgroundCerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal band (CSF-OCB) is an established biomarker in diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS), however, there are no nationwide data on CSF-OCB prevalence and its diagnostic performance in Chinese MS patients, especially in the virtue of common standard operation procedure (SOP).MethodsWith a consensus SOP and the same isoelectric focusing system, we conducted a nationwide multi-center study on OCB status in consecutively, and recruited 483 MS patients and 880 non-MS patients, including neuro-inflammatory diseases (NID, n = 595) and non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND, n=285). Using a standardized case report form (CRF) to collect the clinical, radiological, immunological, and CSF data, we explored the association of CSF-OCB positivity with patient characters and the diagnostic performance of CSF-OCB in Chinese MS patients. Prospective source data collection, and retrospective data acquisition and statistical data analysis were used.Findings369 (76.4%) MS patients were OCB-positive, while 109 NID patients (18.3%) and 6 NIND patients (2.1%) were OCB-positive, respectively. Time from symptom onset to diagnosis was significantly shorter in OCB-positive than that in OCB-negative MS patients (13.2 vs 23.7 months, P=0.020). The prevalence of CSF-OCB in Chinese MS patients was significantly higher in high-latitude regions (41°-50°N)(P=0.016), and at high altitudes (>1000m)(P=0.025). The diagnostic performance of CSF-OCB differentiating MS from non-MS patients yielded a sensitivity of 76%, a specificity of 87%.InterpretationThe nationwide prevalence of CSF-OCB was 76.4% in Chinese MS patients, and demonstrated a good diagnostic performance in differentiating MS from other CNS diseases. The CSF-OCB prevalence showed a correlation with high latitude and altitude in Chinese MS patients

Atomic Force Microscopy in biology : a nanoscale tool to characterize the mechanical properties of cells

Cette thèse pluridisciplinaire porte sur le développement des mesures par microscopie à force atomique (AFM) pour la caractérisation des propriétés mécaniques de cellules. Le but est de développer de nouvelles fonctionnalités en AFM afin d'augmenter les possibilités d'analyse de cet outil puissant. En particulier, nous avons entrepris un couplage entre AFM et microscopie confocal de même que l'adaptation d'un module de microfluidique (FluidFM) permettant de mesurer les forces d'adhésion entre les cellules et un substrat spécifique. Afin de montrer les potentialités des différents modes AFM, nous travaillons sur des problématiques liées au cancer, à la progression tumorale et à la reconnaissance spécifique de récepteurs membranaires, en travaillant sur des souches de cancer du colon et de cancer du sein et en étudiant l'effet d'inhibiteurs endogènes ou exogènes sur les propriétés mécaniques des cellules. Le développement des outils AFM permettra d'obtenir des informations simultanées à des échelles allant de quelques nanomètres à plusieurs micromètres et trouvera également des applications pour les problématiques d’adhésion et de migration cellulaire liées à d’autres pathologies comme les maladies dégénératives.This multidisciplinary PhD project concerns the development of measurements by atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the characterization of the mechanical properties of cells. The goal is to develop new functionalities in AFM in order to increase the analysis possibilities of this powerful tool. In particular, we have undertaken a coupling between AFM and confocal microscopy as well as the adaptation of a microfluidic module (FluidFM) allowing to measure the adhesion forces between cells and a specific substrate.In order to show the potential of different AFM modes, we are working on issues related to cancer, tumor progression and specific recognition of membrane receptors, by working on strains of colon cancer and breast cancer and by studying the effect of endogenous or exogenous inhibitors on the mechanical properties of cells.The development of AFM tools will make it possible to obtain simultaneous information at scales ranging from a few nanometers to several micrometers and will also find applications for the problems of cell adhesion and migration linked to other pathologies such as degenerative diseases

The Edit Distance Function of Some Graphs

The edit distance function of a hereditary property is the asymptotically largest edit distance between a graph of density p ∈ [0, 1] and . Denote by Pn and Cn the path graph of order n and the cycle graph of order n, respectively. Let C2n*C_{2n}^* be the cycle graph C2n with a diagonal, and C˜n{\tilde C_n} be the graph with vertex set {v0, v1, . . . , vn−1} and E(C˜n)=E(Cn)∪{v0v2}E\left( {{{\tilde C}_n}} \right) = E\left( {{C_n}} \right) \cup \left\{ {{v_0}{v_2}} \right\}. Marchant and Thomason determined the edit distance function of C6*C_6^*. Peck studied the edit distance function of Cn, while Berikkyzy et al. studied the edit distance of powers of cycles. In this paper, by using the methods of Peck and Martin, we determine the edit distance function of C8*C_8^*, C˜n{\tilde C_n} and Pn, respectively

Integrated Scheduling for Steelmaking Continuous Casting— Hot Rolling Processes considering Hot Chain Logistics

Steelmaking continuous casting (SCC)—hot rolling (HR) is a key process in the production of steel products. It is also a process with large energy consumption. Energy saving has always been an important goal of production scheduling of this process. In this paper, aiming at integrated scheduling optimization for SCC-HR processes, energy saving objective is converted to minimize waiting time of slabs in slab yard, so as to reduce slab temperature loss and achieve the goal of saving energy. An integrated two-stage mathematical programming model is established for the above problems, and a hybrid algorithm of genetic algorithm and linear programming is designed for the integrated model. The correctness of the model and the validity of the algorithm are verified by computational experiments using simulated instances

Pecking order theory: A comparative test and insight analysis on its occurrence in the Philippine and Indonesian listed non-financial firms for the period 2005-2009

Pecking order theory states that there is a hierarchy in the financing choice of a firm, that being, internal financing, debt, then equity. This study regress cash dividends, cash used in investing activities, change in working capital, and net operating cash flow against change in noncurrent liabilities. The study aims to measure and compare the degree of occurrence of Pecking order theory between Philippines and Indonesia and give insights regarding the rationality or irrationality of listed firms financing behavior. Results show that Indonesian listed firms follow the Pecking order theory more closely than the Philippines. The financial sector is the best model that measures Pecking order theory in the Philippines, whereas in Indonesia it is the mining sector. Data utilized are from publicly listed non-financial firms in both Philippines and Indonesia. Specific financial data is mainly sourced from OSIRIS database, dated 2005 to 2009

Climate Change Impacts on Coastal and Offshore Petroleum Infrastructure and the Associated Oil Spill Risk: A Review

Climate change has been observed worldwide in recent decades, posing challenges to the coastal and offshore oil and gas infrastructure. It is crucial to identify how climate change affects these infrastructures and the associated oil spill risk. This paper provides an analysis of the vulnerability of coastal and offshore oil and gas infrastructure in response to climate change. The paper examines oil spill incidents worldwide and addresses climate change’s possible influences on oil spill risk. Moreover, available oil spill modeling and decision support tools for oil spill response are reviewed considering climate change. The paper signals the need for emerging decision and modeling tools considering climate change effects, which can help decision-makers to evaluate the risk on time and provide early warnings to adapt or prevent the unforeseen impacts on the oil industry partially resulting from global warming, including oil spill accidents

Herbicide applications increase greenhouse gas emissions of alfalfa pasture in the inland arid region of northwest China

Herbicides are used to control weeds in agricultural crops such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), which is a forage crop. It is unclear what, if any, effect herbicides have on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when used on alfalfa. Our study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 to investigate the effects of two herbicides (Quizalofop-p-ethyl, QE and Bentazone, BT) on methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil planted with alfalfa. QE is used to control grasses and BT is used for broadleaf weed control. Soil CO2 emissions and soil uptake of CH4 increased significantly in both years following the QE and BT treatments, although CO2 emissions differed significantly between the trial years. N2O emissions decreased relative to the control and showed no significant differences between the trial years. The application of QE and BT on alfalfa resulted in a significant increase in CO2 emissions which contributed to a significant increase in GHG emissions. The application of QE influenced GHG emissions more than BT. We demonstrated the potential effect that herbicide applications have on GHG fluxes, which are important when considering the effect of agricultural practices on GHG emissions and the potential for global warming over the next 100 years