Search

Reflux esophagitis (RE), an esophageal inflammation caused by reflux of gastric contents, often damages the lower esophagus, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of atractylenolide III (ATL III) on RE model rats. In this research, the RE rat model is established sequentially following hemipyloric ligation, cardia transection, and hydrochloric acid perfusion. Further, the RE-induced rats are intragastrically administrated with ATL III (0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 mg/kg/D) for 28 days to evaluate ATL III therapeutic effects. To study the molecular mechanism, RE rats are treated with a phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) agonist (740 Y–P) combined with ATL III. The histopathological changes in the esophagus are eventually observed by hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining. In addition to changes in gastric pH and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analyses are used to detect the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, mmol/L), interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, IL-1β in the esophageal tissues. As a result, the lesions in the esophageal tissues of RE rats are alleviated, decreasing the macroscopic observation scores of the esophageal mucosa after ATL III treatment,. The experimental results indicated significantly increased pH value of the gastric contents and reduced ROS, thiobarbituric acid reactants (TBARS), TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, and IL-1β levels, as well as expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, iNOS, and nuclear NF-κB proteins in esophageal tissues. In conclusion, the study indicated that ATL III could efficiently treat RE in rats by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory damage through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB/iNOS pathway.

This study evaluates and compares the effects of five actual solid filling materials (SFMs) on the operation and mechanical characteristics of liquid sodium thermoclinic heat storage (THS) tank, including the quartzite, high-temperature concrete, copper foam, silicon carbide and alumina ceramics. By utilizing the computational fluid dynamics method, the charging, discharging and mechanical performances of the THS tank using different SFMs as well as with no SFM are compared. The results demonstrate that the introduction of SFM can enhance the charging and discharging performances of the THS tank. The high-temperature concrete can lead to the maximum average discharging power of 4.93×105 J/s and the second maximum total discharging quantity of 7.55×109 J, and the alumina ceramics could bring the maximum total discharging quantity of 8.59×109 J and the second maximum average discharging power of 4.77×105 J/s. The THS tank using high-temperature concrete has the largest discharging efficiency of 90.14% as well as the smallest peak maximum mechanical stress of the THS tank wall (42.4 MPa). The THS tank with no SFM has the smallest total charging quantity and lowest discharging efficiency, which are 4.62×109 J and 77.84%. In general, the THS tanks using alumina ceramics and high-temperature concrete both have better operation performances, and the high-temperature concrete can bring the best mechanical performance of the THS tank.

This study aims to find a feasible photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) utilization method based on film-based beam splitting technology. In contrast with previous studies, the main novelty of this paper is proposing the design of an innovative PV/T system using both parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) and film-based beam splitter (FBS). The design approach of the PV/T system is presented. A new FBS used for this PV/T system is designed by using the Needle method, and its average reflectivity and transmissivity are 27.2% and 72.8%. By using Ray Tracing and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation methods, the performance evaluation of the PV/T system is conducted. The evaluation results reveal that when the East-West sun tracking error is 0.2°, the optical efficiencies of the photovoltaic module and the solar thermal collector tube (TCT) can be kept at 95% and 93.9%. Moreover, when the heat transfer fluid (HTF) in the TCT is selected to be the ethylene glycol, the operation analysis results demonstrate that the photoelectric efficiency of the photovoltaic module is 25.4% and the thermal efficiency of the PV/T system is 17.24%. The thermal performance of the system can be improved when the HTF flow velocity is increased properly or when the inlet HTF temperature is decreased. The technical feasibility of the proposed PV/T system can be revealed from the analysis results of this study.

This paper presents an influence estimate of typical factors on heat release and mechanics performances of the latent thermal energy storage (LTES) tank with phase change material (PCM) by using the liquid-structure coupled calculation approach. Two heat transfer material temperatures are evaluated, including the cold molten salt temperature (MST) and hot MST. The results demonstrate that when the cold MST decreases from 610 K to 530 K, the HR duration will be reduced, the total heat release quantity (HRQ) increases, the average heat release power (HRP) increases from 3.22 MW to 7.98 MW, but the peak maximum mechanical stress (MMS) of the tank wall also rises. As the hot MST rises from 730 K to 810 K, the HRQ increases obviously, the average HRP increases from 5.09 MW to 6.63 MW, but the peak MMS also increases to 159.6 MPa. Hence, to improve the HR performance of the LTES system, under the condition of ensuring the structural safety of the LTES system, the hot MST should appropriately be increased, and the cold MST should be decreased properly.

This study aims at proposing a public-private partnership project including the government (GOVT), coal-fired power plant (CTPP) and solar photovoltaic power plant (PVPP) toward carbon emission reduction and neutralization in China. The project is formed using the CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) and solar PV hydrogen production technologies. When all the participators cooperate, the influence of typical factors on the project is evaluated using the evolutionary game theory method. The results show that increasing the CCU subsidy can strengthen the participating intention of the CTPP but will reduce that of the GOVT. Improving the green electricity subsidy can strengthen the participating intention of the PVPP but will decrease that of the GOVT. To ensure the smooth running of the project, a relatively higher carbon emission penalty and a higher sales price of methanol should be ensured, the PVPP should control its daily working hours appropriately, and the proportion of electricity quantity of the PVPP used for hydrogen production should be increased. In this study, the suggested ranges of CCU and green electricity subsidy coefficients are 0.03–0.05 $/kWh and 0.0035–0.0045 $/kWh, the carbon emission penalty coefficient should be greater than 11 $/t, and the suggested range of daily working hours of the PVPP is 7–8 h.

In recent years, China has been promoting the process of carbon neutral by establishing carbon exchanges (CEs) and implementing relevant carbon emission reward and punishment policies. This study proposes a partnership of the CE, solar power plant (SPP) and coal-fired thermal power plant (TPP). Based on the tripartite evolutionary game model and current policies of China, the evolutionary processes are simulated and discussed. The results reveal that stable states can be achieved under different partnership modes. Effect evaluation results of typical parameters on the three participants show that on the premise of ensuring the participations of CE and SPP, properly reducing the prices of carbon emission share sold to the TPP will strengthen the participation willingness of TPP. The relatively reasonable selling price ranges of carbon emission share of the CE and SPP sold to the TPP are 6.0∼6.2 $/t and 5.3∼5.5 $/t, respectively. Higher zero carbon emission reward and higher carbon tax can strengthen the participation willingness of TPP and make the TPP achieve the carbon neutral. This study can provide a reference for the government and related industries to promote the carbon neutral development as well as the coordinated development of solar power and coal-fired thermal power.

The current study conducts the performance estimate of a new photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system using compact linear Fresnel reflector (CLFR) and Ag/CoSO4-PG nanofluids beam splitting device (BSD). Design method and working flow of the PV/T system are introduced. The absorption rate of the nanofluids BSD is 58.6% in the full spectral range. The optical behaviour evaluation results reveal a relatively high uniform sunlight irradiance distribution on the nanofluids BSD bottom and a single-peak shape sunlight irradiance distribution on the PV module. The optical efficiency of the PV/T system is 91.5% with a sun-tracking error of 0.2°. The operation behaviour of the PV/T system is analyzed by using the Computational Fluid Dynamics method. The analysis results indicate that the photoelectric efficiency of the PV module and thermal efficiency of the PV/T system are 30.2% and 49.3%. The thermal efficiency will increase when the inlet nanofluids flow velocity augments, or when the inlet nanofluids temperature decreases.

This study presents the design and performance evaluation of a novel concentration photovoltaic/thermal (PV/thermal) system based on parabolic trough concentrator and indium tin oxide-ethylene glycol (ITOEG) nanofluid spectral filter. The overall design principle of the PV/thermal system is introduced, and the ITOEG nanofluid spectral filter is prepared and experimentally tested. For the full spectrum, the average transmittance and absorbance of the nanofluid spectral filter are 69.1% and 30.9%. The optical behaviour evaluation results reveal a double-peak radiation flux density distribution on the nanofluid channel bottom surface as well as on the solar cell module surface. When the north-south sun-tracking error increases to 0.2°, the optical efficiency of the PV/thermal system decreases to 93.7%. That means the system has a relatively good adaptability to the sun-tracking error. The thermodynamic analysis results reveal that the theoretical photoelectric conversion and solar thermal efficiencies of the PV/thermal system are 29.1% and 17.2%. The thermal efficiency of the PV/thermal system can be increased by increasing the nanofluid inlet flow velocity or by decreasing the nanofluid inlet temperature properly.

This study proposes a novel hybrid solar-gas power and hydrogen-production system, which is comprised by the solar tower thermal system, gas-steam turbine combined cycle and organic Rankine cycle-based hydrogen-production system. Based on the Ebsilon code, the operation processes of the hybrid system are simulated. The results show that the output power and electric efficiency of the hybrid system are 103.9 MW and 41.3%, and the daily hydrogen output is 62.2 kg. The operation simulation results of the hybrid system reveal that the gas-steam combined cycle and solar island can both achieve stable operations, and the power generation section and hydrogen-production device can both work effectively, which means the hybrid system is technically feasible. The exergy estimate results of the hybrid system show that the combustion chamber and solar receiver have the two largest exergy destructions, which are 56.5 MW and 45.3 MW. That means the performances of the two components can be further improved. For the hydrogen-production system, the exergy destructions of the proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, turbine, condenser and evaporator of the organic Rankine cycle are 0.156 MW, 0.111 MW, 2.338 MW and 1.891 MW, and the corresponding exergy efficiencies are 51.2%, 92.6%, 80.7% and 79.5%, respectively.

The current study proposes a novel solar PV and thermal (PVT) system based on the combination of linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) concentrator and ITO-EG nano-fluids optical filter. Preparation and relevant measurements of the ITO nano-particles as well as the ITO-EG nano-fluids are conducted. The test results reveal that the optical filter has an average absorptivity of 30.9% in the spectrum range of 250.0–2500.0 nm. The solar concentration behaviour of the PVT system is revealed and the sensitivity analysis results of sun tracking error indicate that when the north-south tracking error is 0.2°, the overall optical efficiency is 90.12%, which means the PVT system has a relatively good adaptive faculty on sun tracking error. Theoretical thermodynamic calculation and CFD simulation methods are utilized to estimate the operation behaviour of the PVT system. The results demonstrate that the PVT system has a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 29.6% as well as a thermal efficiency of 18.52%. Parametric analysis results show that the thermal efficiency of the PVT system can be improved by increasing the inlet nano-fluids flow velocity as well as the ambient temperature, or by reducing the inlet nano-fluids temperature or convection heat transfer coefficient.

Management of men with prostate cancer is fraught with uncertainty as physicians and patients balance efficacy with potential toxicity and diminished quality of life. Utilization of genomics as a prognostic biomarker has improved the informed decision-making process by enabling more rationale treatment choices. Recently investigations have begun to determine whether genomic information from tumor transcriptome data can be used to impact clinical decision-making beyond prognosis. Here we discuss the potential of genomics to alter management of a patient who presented with high-risk prostate adenocarcinoma. We suggest that this information help selecting patients for advanced imaging, chemotherapies, or clinical trial.

Seventeen organic phosphorus pesticides (OPs) and 18 organic chlorine pesticides (OCs) at water from Jiulong River Estuary (JLRE) are determined by SPE-GC-(FPD and microECD). The contents of the total OPs (17) ranged from 134.8 to 354.6 ng/l (the mean is 227.2 ng/l). Total OCs concentrations varied from 115.4 to 414.7 ng/l in water (mean 237.7 ng/l). The levels of total hexachlorocyclohexane in water varied from 31.95 to 129.8 ng/l (mean 62.51 ng/l), and those of total DDTs were in the range 19.24-96.64 ng/l (mean 48.69 ng/l). The distribution and behavior characteristics of OPs indicate that five main OPs (methamidophos, dichlorvos, malathion, omethoate and dimethoate) occupied the most part of the total OPs, in addition, the sources of the OPs (mainly from current usage) are not stable. While the OCs mainly came from early application and were more stable. The OPs did not have obvious correlation with the dissoved organic carbon and suspended particulate matter at water from JLRE. It maybe due to the complicated hydrological kinetics in the estuary, and the higher water solubility and weak absorption (with organic matter) action of OPs. When compared with other areas, the OPs and OCs level in JLRE are some moderate.