Poly(ether-block-amide) membrane with deformability and adjustable surface hydrophilicity for water purification

Freshwater resources are currently insufficient, and another form of freshwater resources, namely, ice, is very interesting except for the issue of how to use new materials for effective purification during the processing procedure. In this article, a new membrane material with multisize pore structure in the cross-section and intact thin skin layer on the upper and lower surfaces was successfully prepared by adding porogen, filler and setting heating environment during the phase separation process. The membrane exhibits excellent axial deformability, and its elongation at break can reach to 160% strain. Meanwhile, they all show elastic deformation behavior in the range from −60 to 100°C. Even if high content of hydrophobic filler is compounded into these membranes, that is, 5.7 wt% carbon tube content, water contact angle of membrane's surface is only 72.5°, demonstrating obvious hydrophilicity. In addition, in the water purification process, the adsorption rate constant reached ideal value of 0.26 s⁻¹, and the equilibrium adsorption capacity was about 2.8 g/g, showing fast and efficient water purification ability. In the mode of external heating source or the membrane's heat dissipation, these prepared membranes can melt the ice to obtain purified water and exhibit a controllable purification ability in this process.     

Young Scientists – Juniorprofessor Gregor D. Wehinger stellt sich vor

This article introduces assistant professor Gregor D. Wehinger of the Institute of Chemical and Electrochemical Process Engineering at Clausthal University of Technology. Besides recent research projects and teaching activities, he gives an overview about his commitment to the community. He reports on current research results in the field of CFD modeling of packed-bed reactors, redox-flow batteries, and multiphase systems. Furthermore, the use of virtual reality in teaching is presented.     

草莓（Fragaria × ananassa）叶水提物对UVB致 皮肤损伤的保护作用

在草莓叶水提物（Strawberry leaf water extract，SLWE）制备基础上，测定SLWE成分，抗氧化活性、抑制非酶糖基化（NEG）能力，及SLWE对正常生长人皮肤成纤维细胞（HFF-1）细胞活率、透明质酸（HA）、人I型胶原蛋白（COL I）、羟脯氨酸（HYP）、基质金属蛋白酶1（MMP-1）、基质金属蛋白酶9（MMP-9）含量，评价SLWE延缓皮肤衰老功效。在中波紫外线（UVB）致HFF-1损伤模型基础上，测定SLWE对保护组活性氧（ROS）、丙二醛（MDA）、MMP-1和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的影响，探讨SLWE对UVB致HFF-1损伤保护机制。结果表明：SLWE富含Vc、槲皮素、绿原酸、没食子酸及儿茶素类物质，其中槲皮素含量12.86 mg/L，表儿茶素含量10.13 mg/L。SLWE自由基清除能力良好，清除不同自由基能力依次为O2-?＞DPPH＞ABTS＞亚铁离子螯和＞?OH；水溶液体积分数为1%的SLWE非酶糖基化抑制率为87.17%；体积分数大于3%的SLWE可提高HFF-1中HA、COL I和HYP含量（p＜0.05），体积分数为6%的SLWE可降低MMP-1含量（p＜0.01），说明SLWE具有提升皮肤含水量，增加胶原含量，抑制胶原降解，实现延缓衰老的功效；在SLWE对UVB致HFF-1损伤保护模型中，SLWE可有效降低因UVB刺激而产生的ROS，体积分数6%的SLWE可显著降MDA，抑制MMP-1表达，提高SOD活力，说明SLWE有助于缓解氧化应激造成的细胞损伤。     

An Injectable Hydrogel for Simultaneous Photothermal Therapy and Photodynamic Therapy with Ultrahigh Efficiency Based on Carbon Dots and Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals

The convenience of injectable hydrogels that can provide high loading of diverse phototherapy agents and further long-time retention at the tumor site has attracted tremendous interest in simultaneous photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapies. However, to incorporate the phototherapy agents into hydrogels, complex modifications are generally unavoidable. Moreover, these phototherapy agents usually suffer from low efficiency and work at different irradiation wavelengths outside the near infrared windows. Hence, a method for the fabrication of an injectable hydrogel for simultaneous photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy, through the Schiff-base reaction between amido modified carbon dots (NCDs) and aldehyde modified cellulose nanocrystals is proposed. The NCDs act as both phototherapy agents and crosslinkers to form hydrogels. Significantly, the NCDs demonstrate an extremely high photothermal conversion efficiency of 77.6% which is among the highest levels for photothermal agents and a high singlet quantum yield of 0.37 under a single 660 nm light-emitting diode irradiation. The hydrogels are examined through in vitro and in vivo animal experiments which show nontoxic and effectively tumor inhibition. Thus, the strategy of direct reaction of phototherapy agents and the matrix not only provides new strategies for injectable hydrogel fabrication but paves a new road for advanced tumor treatment.     

基于XGBoost算法的垃圾短信分层分级治理体系

为有效整治垃圾短信,不断提升不良信息治理的精准性,文章基于XGBoost算法构建了一套科学的分层分级垃圾短信治理体系。通过对用户入网、消费、通信行为等特征进行建模与运算,识别出用户发送垃圾短信的风险系数,并定义了六级用户。分级名单生成后,依托于垃圾短信拦截系统的分级策略管理功能,分别设置相匹配的拦截策略。在加大对中高危用户的识别和拦截力度的同时,有效降低了高价值用户因不良信息治理导致被误拦截的风险。该治理体系应用于辽宁移动管理实际以来,垃圾短信平均投诉量降幅34.82%。误关停投诉率稳定在0.1%以内。一至三级高价值客户群关停投诉量降幅27.43%。     

Pretreatment processes assisted subcritical water hydrolysis for valorisation of spent coffee grounds

This study investigated the effect of sequential extraction techniques and pretreatment methods in enhancing the recovery of high-value products from spent coffee ground. Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) deoiling was performed to recover non-polar lipids, and subcritical water (SCW) hydrolysis of deoiled spent coffee ground (SCG) was conducted involving pretreatment with ultrasound (US-SCG), and sample particle size reduction (PS-SCG). SCW temperature, solid/liquid mixing ratio, constant pressure and residence time were studied for their effect on extracting reducing sugars (RS), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 5-HMF, and furfural. Temperature increase enhanced hydrolysis efficiency and promoted RS dehydration into 5-HMF and furfural. At 180 °C and 40 mg/600 mL, TPC, TFC and RS values increased significantly with ultrasound pretreatment correlating with improved antioxidant activities by DPPH and ABTS assays. Highest amount of 5-HMF and furfural was obtained at 210°C (highest temperature studied) with 44.71 and 2.36 mg/100 g. Chlorogenic acid recovery was the highest in the non-deoiled SCG (15.07 mg/100 g), with no significant difference observed in PS-SCG, suggesting an increase due to its reduced particle size. The results of this study provide comprehensive knowledge on the combined effects of integrated engineering systems to boost the valorisation of SCGs into high-value products.     

隧道预应力锚杆锚固结构承载效应及围岩力学分析

隧道中锚杆与围岩作用机理比较复杂，设计多偏于类比法和经验法，以锚杆在连续均匀地层中形成锚固结构为出发点，建立锚固结构承载强度表达式，并确定锚杆设计参数。通过对锚固结构承载特性分析，得到各影响因素对承载强度的贡献程度，在此基础上提出了“支护力放大系数”和“锚固界限强度”概念，再将锚固结构整体考虑并等效成支护力对隧道围岩应力分布、塑性区、位移进行重新求解，最终结合数值模拟和算例验证。研究结果表明：锚固结构对锚杆支护力具有放大作用，对隧道深部围岩也提供一个较强的支护力，锚固结构强度影响程度由大到小依次为力学参数、锚固厚度、支护强度，其中力学参数对锚固承载强度起着至关重要作用，合理锚固厚度为洞径的0.4～0.8倍，进一步提出了围岩稳定性控制原则。数值模拟中锚杆支护、等效力支护与理论结果加以比较，隧道周边的塑性区、应力分布、位移基本一致，可为锚杆支护下隧道围岩控制提供一种科学的分析方法。     

Opportunities for combining data of Estonian and Russian monitoring to reflect on water quality in large transboundary Lake Peipsi

Lake Peipsi, one of the world’s largest lakes, is shared between Estonia and Russia. The water quality in different parts of the lake has so far been assessed independently. Here we explore opportunities for combining data of Estonian and Russian monitoring. For that, we 1) analysed the compatibility of data for some water quality variables; 2) estimated the potential effects of the differences in sampling frequency; 3) provided a few regression models to calculate the missing data for months not sampled by the Russian side. Data of the concurrent Estonian and Russian sampling indicated a good compatibility. Estonian data analysis suggested that water quality assessment results are sensitive to sampling frequency. For example, total phosphorus (TP) in the largest basin showed a long-term decreasing trend in three month data that disappeared when data for other months were added. Disregarding some months may lead to under- or overestimation of certain factors with no consistency in the response of different basins. Hence, data of the whole ice-free period are recommended for an adequate water quality assessment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that monthly values of the water quality variables of the same year are autocorrelated. Based on this, we filled the gaps in the long-term data and compiled a dataset for the whole lake that enables its most comprehensive use in water quality assessment and management. Long-term data revealed no water quality improvement of Lake Peipsi. Further reduction of the external nutrient load is needed. Eutrophication is sustained by high internal phosphorus load.     

Phase evolution of a novel silicon-alumina-fused mullite-containing Ti2O3 refractory at 1300 °C in N2

A novel silicon-alumina-fused mullite-containing Ti₂O₃ composite refractory is prepared and sintered in the presence of solid carbon at 1300 °C in N₂. The sintered samples exhibit a functional gradient characteristic. The phase evolution can be described as follows: Passive and active oxidation of Si to form SiO₂ and SiO to reduce the partial pressure of oxygen. SiO(g) and Si react with N₂ to form Si₃N₄ respectively. As the temperature increases and the partial pressure of oxygen decreases, Ti₂O₃ reacts with CO and N₂ to form Ti(C,N)ss, which is accompanied by the release of O₂. Si₃N₄ fixes the O₂ and reacts to form Si₂N₂O, and Si₂N₂O reacts with Al₂O₃ to form O′-Sialon, thereby realizing the transformation from Si₃N₄ to Sialon. CO and residual carbon from the pyrolysis of phenolic resin react with SiO(s) and Si to form SiC. The dense layer formed by SiC and SiO₂ blocks the diffusion of external gas to the central parts of the samples, there is still free Si which can continue to react and transform into a non-oxide reinforcing phase. In this paper, the reaction models are presented.     

Pt modified TiO2/NiO p-n junction with enhanced surface reaction and charge separation for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Efficient charge separation is crucial for solar energy conversion in semiconductor-based systems. Creating p-n junction is an effective strategy to enhance charge separation because the built-in electric field could inhibit charge recombination. However, in many situations, the high reaction barrier will limit the surface reaction rate, resulting in poor carrier utilization of the p-n junction. Here, with carefully designed cocatalyst loading, we successfully overcome the limitation and obtain the full effectiveness of the p-n junction. When used for photocatalytic water splitting, the well-designed catalyst exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity, with a hydrogen evolution rate as high as 13.2 mmol h^?1 g^?1, which is 18 times higher than that of the pristine p-n junction. Further investigation reveals that the enhancement should be attributed to the synergistic effect between cocatalyst and p-n junction, with the cocatalyst improves reaction rate on the surface and the p-n junction accelerates charge separation in the bulk simultaneously. This work provides an effective strategy to modify the surface properties of p-n junction through cocatalysts-loading for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.