Biological Water Treatment by a Hybrid Fluidized-Bed Bioreactor: Theoretical Study

A hybrid fluidized-bed bioreactor for water purification was proposed and analyzed. It is a novel type of bioreactor characterized by hitherto unknown stationary and dynamic features. Steady-state characteristics of this hybrid bioreactor with external liquid circulation are presented. A quantitative analysis of steady-state properties of the bioreactor was performed with the aid of an original mathematical model developed for a double-substrate aerobic microbiological process. A steady-state analysis of aerobic processes characterized by different oxygen demand was performed. The effect of essential parameters was evaluated, including carbonaceous substrate concentration in the feed stream to the apparatus, aeration intensity, total residence time of a liquid in the bioreactor, and height of the bed of fine carrier particles.     

Flexural behaviour of RC slabs strengthened with prestressed CFRP strips using different anchorage systems

The Externally Bonded Reinforcement (EBR) technique using Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) has been commonly used to strengthen concrete structures in flexure. The use of prestressed CFRP material offers several advantages well-reported in the literature. Regardless of such as benefits, several studies on different topics are missing. The present work intends to contribute to the knowledge of two commercially available systems that differ on the type of anchorage: (i) the Mechanical Anchorage (MA), and (ii) the Gradient Anchorage (GA). For that purpose, an experimental program was carried out with twelve slabs monotonically tested under displacement control up to failure by using a four-point bending test configuration. The effect of type of anchorage system (MA and GA), prestrain level (0 and 0.4%), width (50 mm and 80 mm) and thickness (1.2 mm and 1.4 mm) of the CFRP laminate, and the surface preparation (grinded and sandblasted) on the flexural response were the main studied parameters. Better performance was observed for the slabs: (i) with prestressed laminates, (ii) for the MA system, and (iii) with sandblasted surface preparation.     

Visceral Obesity and Its Shared Role in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scoping Review of the Pathophysiology and Pharmacological Treatments

The association between obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been demonstrated in animal and epidemiological studies. However, the specific role of visceral obesity on cancer and CVD remains unclear. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a complex and metabolically active tissue, that can produce different adipokines and hormones, responsible for endocrine-metabolic comorbidities. This review explores the potential mechanisms related to VAT that may also be involved in cancer and CVD. In addition, we discuss the shared pharmacological treatments which may reduce the risk of both diseases. This review highlights that chronic inflammation, molecular aspects, metabolic syndrome, secretion of hormones and adiponectin associated to VAT may have synergistic effects and should be further studied in relation to cancer and CVD. Reductions in abdominal and visceral adiposity improve insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and cytokines, which consequently reduce the risk of CVD and some cancers. Several medications have shown to reduce visceral and/or subcutaneous fat. Further research is needed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms by which visceral obesity may cause both cancer and CVD. The role of visceral fat in cancer and CVD is an important area to advance. Public health policies to increase public awareness about VAT’s role and ways to manage or prevent it are needed.     

Improvement of the optical properties of electrodeposited CuInSe2 thin films by thermal and chemical treatments

Cu, In and Se have been codeposited in thin films by potentiostatic one-step electrodeposition. The as-deposited material has shown direct optical transitions attributable to the CuInSe₂ semiconductor, but also additional absorption corresponding to another semimetallic phase. The secondary phases are selenium and copper selenide compounds which have been determined by composition measurements. In order to eliminate the semimetallic phases and to improve the semiconductor behaviour of the electrodeposited material, thermal and chemical treatments have been performed. After heat-treatment of the samples at 400°C in flowing argon, elemental selenium loss has been detected together with an enhancement of the allowed direct optical transition. The subsequent chemical etching of the layers in a KCN solution has showed to be successful in eliminating the copper selenide phases which were responsible of the remaining sub-bandgap absorption.     

Are all cognitive therapies alike? A comparison of cognitive and noncognitive therapy process and implications for the application of empirically supported treatments.

The definition of an empirically supported treatment (EST) arguably embodies 2 untested assumptions: (a) that different manualized renditions of the same therapy are functionally equivalent and (b) that therapies can be reliably applied independently of therapist, setting, and format. These assumptions were tested as applied to cognitive therapy (CT), using process data from a large multisite study (N=235) that included 3 cognitive and 6 alternative therapies. Although the non-CTs were more variable than the CTs on 2 of 4 dimensions studied (directiveness and emotional arousal), there was considerable variation among the 3 CTs, even when implemented in the current context of rigorous training, manualization, and adherence checks. Results are discussed as related to the assumptions underlying EST criteria. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

饰面砖外墙面渗漏分析及其防治

通过对饰面砖外窗出现渗漏现象的机理和原因分析,提出针对性的预防处理措施和事后补救方法。     

木寡糖的研究进展

木寡糖可以从多种多样含木聚糖的原材料中通过化学法或酶法制得，然后再利用物理化学方法精制。作为食物配料，木寡糖具有许多有利的技术特性，并且具有调节肠功能的能力，能导致生物前效应。除了对肠功能的作用外，其他关于木寡糖的生物活性也作了相关综述，包括木寡糖在生物合成配置方面的作用以及他们的技术特性和市场前景。     

Influence of washing and of heat-treatment conditions on the thermal stability of VPI-5

Thorough washing of a VPI-5 synthesized with n-dipropylamine as template improves greatly its thermal stability while no major change is observed in the template content. A detailed study of the influence of the pretreatment conditions shows that in order to obtain a high thermal stability (up to at least 960 °C) two parameters are of importance. The removal of both the template and the adsorbed water requires either a low heating rate at atmospheric pressure or a low pressure (less than 3 Torr) when the heating rate is 300 ° per hour.     

Factors Affecting 1-Octen-3-ol in Mushrooms at Harvest and During Postharvest Storage

Harvesting experiments revealed that immature whole mushrooms with closed veils had higher 1-octen-3-0l levels than more mature whole mushrooms with open veils. The l-octen-3-01 content of the gills was higher in immature mushrooms with closed veils, gradually decreased with maturity as the veil opened, and finally increased after the gills were well exposed. Postharvest experiments demonstrated that storage temperature influenced the activity of lipoxygenase-hydroperoxide lyase, but no differences in 1-octen-3-01 content were observed. Enzyme activity as well as 1-octen-3-01 content decreased during storage. Addition of calcium chloride to irrigation water, employed to improve quality and shelf life of fresh mushrooms, increased the amount of l-octen-3-01 immediately after harvest.