Observation of the Meissner state in superconducting arrays of 4-{\AA}ngstrom carbon nanotubes

We report clear observations of the magnetic Meissner effect in arrays of superconducting 4 {\AA} carbon nanotubes grown in the linear channels of AlPO4-5 (AFI) zeolite single crystals. Both bulk magnetization and magnetic torque experiments show a clear signature of the lower critical Hc1 transition, a pronounced difference in zero-field cooled and field cooled branches during temperature sweeps below 6K, and signatures of 1D superconducting fluctuations below ~15-18 K. These experiments extend the magnetic phase diagram we obtained previously by resistive experiments [Z. Wang et al., Phys. Rev. B 81, 174530 (2010)] towards low magnetic fields and within the range of zero resistance.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Dynamic air/liquid pockets for guiding microscale flow

Microscale flows of fluids are mainly guided either by solid matrices or by liquid–liquid interfaces. However, the solid matrices are plagued with persistent fouling problems, while liquid–liquid interfaces are limited to low-pressure applications. Here we report a dynamic liquid/solid/gas material containing both air and liquid pockets, which are formed by partially infiltrating a porous matrix with a functional liquid. Using detailed theoretical and experimental data, we show that the distribution of the air- and liquid-filled pores is responsive to pressure and enables the formation and instantaneous recovery of stable liquid–liquid interfaces that sustain a wide range of pressures and prevent channel contamination. This adaptive design is demonstrated for polymeric materials and extended to metal-based systems that can achieve unmatched mechanical and thermal stability. Our platform with its unique adaptive pressure and antifouling capabilities may offer potential solutions to flow control in microfluidics, medical devices, microscale synthesis, and biological assays

effectsofbacteriallyproducedprecipitatesonthemetabolismofsulfatereducingbacteriaduringthebiotreatmentprocessofcoppercontainingwastewater

A large volume of bacterially produced precipitates are generated during the bio-treatment of heavy metal wastewater. The composition of the bacterially produced precipitates and its effects on sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in copper-containing waste stream were evaluated in this study. The elemental composition of the microbial precipitate was studied using electrodispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and it was found that the ratio of S:Cu was 1.12. Combining with the results of copper distribution in the SRB metabolism culture, which was analyzed by the sequential extraction procedure, copper in the precipitates was determined as covellite (CuS). The bacterially produced precipitates caused a decrease of the sulfate reduction rate, and the more precipitates were generated, the lower the sulfate reduction rate was. The particle sizes of bacterially generated covellite were ranging from 0.03 to 2 mu m by particles size distribution (PSD) analysis, which was smaller than that of the SRB cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the microbial covellite was deposited on the surface of the cell. The effects of the microbial precipitate on SRB metabolism were found to be weakened by increasing the precipitation time and adding microbial polymeric substances in later experiments. These results provided direct evidence that the SRB activity was inhibited by the bacterially produced covellite, which enveloped the bacterium and thus affected the metabolism of SRB on mass transfer

Sci. China-Chem.

The mechanisms responsible for the fast granulation of anaerobic sludge caused by Mg2+ and Ca2+ addition was examined in four lab-scale expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors. Results indicated that both Mg2+ and Ca2+ accelerated the sludge-granulation process and increased the amount of polysaccharides and proteins in the sludge. Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDX) analysis revealed that, in a mature granule, both Mg2+ and Ca2+ composed as phosphate and calcium was distributed primarily in the periphery of the granule, while magnesium distributed mainly in the interior. The addition of Mg2+ was more favorable for the nuclei formation, whereas the addition of Ca2+ was more favorable for subgranule growth and maintaining the granules' rigid structure. Results showed that the addition of Mg2+ in the nuclei formation stage and Ca2+ in the granule-growth stage accelerated granulation more than adding only one of them in the granulation process.The mechanisms responsible for the fast granulation of anaerobic sludge caused by Mg2+ and Ca2+ addition was examined in four lab-scale expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors. Results indicated that both Mg2+ and Ca2+ accelerated the sludge-granulation process and increased the amount of polysaccharides and proteins in the sludge. Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDX) analysis revealed that, in a mature granule, both Mg2+ and Ca2+ composed as phosphate and calcium was distributed primarily in the periphery of the granule, while magnesium distributed mainly in the interior. The addition of Mg2+ was more favorable for the nuclei formation, whereas the addition of Ca2+ was more favorable for subgranule growth and maintaining the granules' rigid structure. Results showed that the addition of Mg2+ in the nuclei formation stage and Ca2+ in the granule-growth stage accelerated granulation more than adding only one of them in the granulation process

comparisonofmg2andca2enhancinganaerobicgranulationinanexpandedgranularsludgebedreactor

The mechanisms responsible for the fast granulation of anaerobic sludge caused by Mg2+ and Ca2+ addition was examined in four lab-scale expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors. Results indicated that both Mg2+ and Ca2+ accelerated the sludge-granulation process and increased the amount of polysaccharides and proteins in the sludge. Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDX) analysis revealed that, in a mature granule, both Mg2+ and Ca2+ composed as phosphate and calcium was distributed primarily in the periphery of the granule, while magnesium distributed mainly in the interior. The addition of Mg2+ was more favorable for the nuclei formation, whereas the addition of Ca2+ was more favorable for subgranule growth and maintaining the granules' rigid structure. Results showed that the addition of Mg2+ in the nuclei formation stage and Ca2+ in the granule-growth stage accelerated granulation more than adding only one of them in the granulation process

comparisonofmg2andca2enhancinganaerobicgranulationinanexpandedgranularsludgebedreactor

The mechanisms responsible for the fast granulation of anaerobic sludge caused by Mg2+ and Ca2+ addition was examined in four lab-scale expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors. Results indicated that both Mg2+ and Ca2+ accelerated the sludge-granulation process and increased the amount of polysaccharides and proteins in the sludge. Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDX) analysis revealed that, in a mature granule, both Mg2+ and Ca2+ composed as phosphate and calcium was distributed primarily in the periphery of the granule, while magnesium distributed mainly in the interior. The addition of Mg2+ was more favorable for the nuclei formation, whereas the addition of Ca2+ was more favorable for subgranule growth and maintaining the granules' rigid structure. Results showed that the addition of Mg2+ in the nuclei formation stage and Ca2+ in the granule-growth stage accelerated granulation more than adding only one of them in the granulation process

Spatial distribution of bacterial community in EGSB reactor treating synthetic sulfate-containing wastewater at low organic loading rate

Given that the consumption of organic substances entails costly biodesulfurization, the characteristics of the bacterial community in a reactor should be determined to increase the desulfurizing rate under low organic loading condition. In this study, the bacterial community distribution in the expanded granular sludge bed reactor used to treat sulfate-containing wastewater with low organic loading rate was determined by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and 16S rDNA clone library analyses. DGGE results showed that the predominant bacteria were stable and accounted for similar to 90 % sulfate removal efficiency. Differences in band positions and intensities indicated that the distribution and abundance of bacteria were affected by their positions in the reactor. Typical bands were identified in the bacterial community comprising Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium, Thiomonas, Acinetobacter, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi. Their functions in the reactor were also discussed. The possible links between the functional and microbial responses were also investigated based on the characteristic and spatial distribution of each bacterium in consortium

Chin. Sci. Bull.

Given that the consumption of organic substances entails costly biodesulfurization, the characteristics of the bacterial community in a reactor should be determined to increase the desulfurizing rate under low organic loading condition. In this study, the bacterial community distribution in the expanded granular sludge bed reactor used to treat sulfate-containing wastewater with low organic loading rate was determined by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and 16S rDNA clone library analyses. DGGE results showed that the predominant bacteria were stable and accounted for similar to 90 % sulfate removal efficiency. Differences in band positions and intensities indicated that the distribution and abundance of bacteria were affected by their positions in the reactor. Typical bands were identified in the bacterial community comprising Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium, Thiomonas, Acinetobacter, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi. Their functions in the reactor were also discussed. The possible links between the functional and microbial responses were also investigated based on the characteristic and spatial distribution of each bacterium in consortium.Given that the consumption of organic substances entails costly biodesulfurization, the characteristics of the bacterial community in a reactor should be determined to increase the desulfurizing rate under low organic loading condition. In this study, the bacterial community distribution in the expanded granular sludge bed reactor used to treat sulfate-containing wastewater with low organic loading rate was determined by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and 16S rDNA clone library analyses. DGGE results showed that the predominant bacteria were stable and accounted for similar to 90 % sulfate removal efficiency. Differences in band positions and intensities indicated that the distribution and abundance of bacteria were affected by their positions in the reactor. Typical bands were identified in the bacterial community comprising Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium, Thiomonas, Acinetobacter, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi. Their functions in the reactor were also discussed. The possible links between the functional and microbial responses were also investigated based on the characteristic and spatial distribution of each bacterium in consortium

Research of Spatial Parameter Codec in MDCT Domain

Abstract: With stereo audio stepping into people’s daily lives, spatial parametric technology comes to its broad prospects for development. Spatial parameteric technology is a method for stereo compression. MDCT is excluded in the current scheme for spatial cues representation, due to its lacking of phase information and energy conservation. In this paper, Construction of new spatial parameter codec framework in MDCT domain, and Optimization of calculating for the new module, to reduce computational complexity of the system.Through the research, implementation, and testing of this two parts, the new spatial parameter codec system, which is constructed in this subject, completes all the basic functions of spatial parametric technology. To compare with the EaacPlus system, the output stereo of the new system gains a considerable subjective and objective test scores. This research makes a contribution to the spatial parametric technology in MDCT domain, and provides a new train of thought to reduce complexity of EaacPlus system