Ion-exchange membranes for blue energy generation: A short overview focused on nanocomposite

Blue energy can be harvested from salinity gradients between saline water and freshwater by reverse electrodialysis (RED). RED as a conversion technique to generate blue energy has received increasing attention in recent decades. As part of the RED system, ion exchange membranes (IEMs) are key elements to the success of future blue energy generation. However, its suboptimal performance often limits the applications and stagnates the deve­lopment of the technology. The key properties of IEMs include ion exchange capacity, perm­selectivity, and electrical resistance. The enhancement of such physical and electrochemical properties is crucial for studying energy production with acceptable output efficiency on a commercial scale. Recently, many studies have tried blending nanotechnology into the membrane fabrication process. Hybridizing inorganic nanomaterials with an organic polymeric material showed the great potential of improving electrical conductivity and perm­selectivity, as well as other membrane characteristics for power performance. In this short review, recent developments on the IEM synthesis in association with potential nanomaterials are reviewed and raising issues regarding the application and commercialization of RED-based energy production are discussed

Frequency Characteristics of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube Resonator with Different Length

In this paper, we have conducted classical molecular dynamics simulations for DWCNTs of various wall lengths to investigate their use as ultrahigh frequency nano-mechanical resonators. We sought to determine the variations in the frequency of these resonators according to changes in the DWCNT wall lengths. For a double-walled carbon nanotube resonator with a shorter inner nanotube, the shorter inner nanotube can be considered to be a flexible core, and thus, the length influences the fundamental frequency. In this paper, we analyze the variation in frequency of ultra-high frequency nano-mechnical resonators constructed from DWCNTs with different wall lengths

Effectiveness of the Novel Herbal Medicine, KIOM-MA, and Its Bioconversion Product, KIOM-MA128, on the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

This study was conducted to determine if oral administration of the novel herbal medicine, KIOM-MA, and its Lactobacillus acidophilus-fermented product, KIOM-MA128, has therapeutic properties for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Using AD-induced BALB/c mice by Ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide, the effectiveness of KIOM-MA and KIOM-MA128 on AD was evaluated. Oral administration of KIOM-MA and KIOM-MA128 reduced major clinical signs of AD including erythema/darkening, edema/papulation, excoriations, lichenification/prurigo, and dryness. Interestingly, KIOM-MA128 more significantly improved AD-related symptoms including decrease of IgE level in the plasma as well as reduction of scratching behavior, skin severity in the AD BALB/c model. HPLC analysis showed the significant changes in the constituent patterns between KIOM-MA and KIOM-MA128. Our results suggest that both KIOM-MA and KIOM-MA128 have potential for therapeutic reagent for the treatment of AD, and further, the efficacy is significantly enhanced by L. acidophilus fermentation via increases in its indicator molecule

FEASIBILITY OF BREWING MAKGEOLLI (TURBID RICE WINE) USING PARTIALLY GELATINIZED WHEAT FLOUR AND TAPIOCA FLOUR

Makgeolli is made from cooked rice or wheat, then brewed with nuruk (Korean fermentation starter) for several days. But, nowadays, attempts have been made to use various raw materials and process innovations to make makgeolli for particular purposes.  This study aimed to evaluate the quality of makgeolly made from partially gelatinized wheat flour and tapioca flour. Five different combination of wheat flour and tapioca flour were used to manufacture makgeolli. The results showed that different combination of partially gelatinized wheat flour and tapioca flour significantly affected the chemical and sensorial characteristics of makgeolli. Increasing proportion of wheat flour produced higher level of total acid, amino acidity, reducing sugar and total solid of makgeolli. Inversely, alcohol content was higher when higher level of tapioca flour was used. In general, sensorial characteristics of makgeolli made from partially gelatinized wheat flour and tapioca flour didn’t acceptable by panelists. Thus, brewing makgeolli by using partially gelatinized wheat flour and tapioca flour isn’t acceptable in term of sensorial characteristics

Ultraviolet photodepletion spectroscopy of dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether complexes with alkali metal cations

Ultraviolet photodepletion spectra of dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether complexes with alkali metal cations (M+-DB18C6, M = Cs, Rb, K, Na, and Li) were obtained in the gas phase using electrospray ionization quadrupole ion-trap reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The spectra exhibited a few distinct absorption bands in the wavenumber region of 35450−37800 cm^(−1). The lowest-energy band was tentatively assigned to be the origin of the S_0-S_1 transition, and the second band to a vibronic transition arising from the “benzene breathing” mode in conjunction with symmetric or asymmetric stretching vibration of the bonds between the metal cation and the oxygen atoms in DB18C6. The red shifts of the origin bands were observed in the spectra as the size of the metal cation in M^+-DB18C6 increased from Li^+ to Cs^+. We suggested that these red shifts arose mainly from the decrease in the binding energies of larger-sized metal cations to DB18C6 at the electronic ground state. These size effects of the metal cations on the geometric and electronic structures, and the binding properties of the complexes at the S_0 and S_1 states were further elucidated by theoretical calculations using density functional and time-dependent density functional theories

Palladium Catalysts for Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane with Preferential B−H Activation

Cationic Pd(II) complexes catalyzed the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane in the most efficient manner with the release of 2.0 equiv of H_2 in less than 60 s at 25 °C. Most of the hydrogen atoms were obtained from the boron atom of the ammonia borane. The first step of the dehydrogenation reaction was elaborated using density functional theory calculations

The Influence of Preoperative Bladder Outlet Obstruction on Continence and Satisfaction in Patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence after Midurethral Sling

Purpose We studied the influence of preoperative bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) on postoperative continence rates and patient satisfaction after the midurethral sling procedure. Methods A total of 159 women who underwent the midurethral sling procedure were evaluated. Using the Blaivas-Groutz nomogram, we assigned the patients were assigned to Group I (n=37, no obstruction), Group II (n=89, mild obstruction), or Group III (n=33, moderate to severe obstruction). Continence rates, patient satisfaction, urinary sensation scale and uroflowmetry were evaluated postoperatively. Results There were no significant differences in continence rates, satisfaction, or postoperative maximal flow rate between the 3 groups. Postoperative urgency was improved after surgery in Groups I and II (P<0.05) but not in Group III. Conclusions BOO does not seem to be a risk factor for failure after the midurethral sling procedure. However, BOO may be considered as a potential factor for persistent storage symptoms after the midurethral sling