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The surface microstructure formed by physical or chemical modification is essential for the desired joint strength. However, defects in the bonding interface and adhesive can be found. Such defects decrease shear strength and durability. In this study, ultrasonic vibration was applied to liquid adhesive on the sandblasted aluminum alloy plates. With ultrasonic treatment, the joints obtained the compact bonding interfaces and lower porosity of the adhesive layer. The treatment improved the shear strength by 9.1%. After two weeks of hydrothermal aging, the shear strength of joints only sandblasted decreased drastically by 48.9%, while it was 14% for the joints with ultrasonic vibration. The cavitation effect in the adhesive was detected by the aluminum foil erosion method. The result showed that a great number of micro-jets generated by the cavitation effect have intensive impact on the bonding interface which provide the adhesive with powerful force to fill the micro-grooves. Another finding in this work is that bubbles were gathered in the adhesive away from the vibration area. This mechanism was successfully used to reduce the porosity of the adhesive layer of joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation is an upgrade version of the original entropic uncertainty relation with help of the quantum correlations between the measured subsystem and memory one. In this work, we analyze quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty (QMA-EU) and steered quantum coherence (SQC) for an arbitrary two-qubit X-state, and then we get analytically an explicit relation between the QMA-EU and SQC. As an example, we consider the two interacting two-level atomic systems coupled to independent dissipative environments and investigate dynamics of QMA-EU and SQC of atomic systems in terms of the various values of atomic coupling parameters, environmental factors and frequency detune between the two-level atoms and environmental modes. The results show that the QMA-EU for Pauli observable set is anti-correlated to the SQC in an arbitrary two-qubit X-state, strictly. As well, the sum of QMA-EU and SQC is merely related with the reduced quantum entropies of the subsystem. In the dissipative environment, the QMA-EU and SQC of two-qubit atomic system still exhibit strict anti-correlation relationship in all the evolution time, which is quite different from the connections between QMA-EU and quantum correlation measured by concurrence. Furthermore, the QMA-EU can be suppressed and SQC can be improved with increasing of coupling parameters and detuning amount in non-Markovian environments, effectively. The optimal atomic state can be denoted by the values of the trough of wave during the oscillation of QMA-EU and SQC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • B. pseudomycoides improves the specific surface area of biochar. • Biochar loaded with B. pseudomycoides mainly increases the removal rate of Cd(II). • F@BC enhances the removal of As(III) by precipitation and oxidation. • The bacteria-iron combination enhances the synergistic removal of Cd(II) and As(III). Bioremediation is one of the effective ways for heavy metal remediation. Iron-modified biochar (F@BC) loaded with Bacillus pseudomycoides (BF@BC) was synthesized to remove the coexistence of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in solutions. The results showed that B. pseudomycoides significantly increased the removal rate of Cd(II) by enhancing the specific surface area and Si-containing functional groups of biochar (BC). The surface of F@BC was enriched with Fe-containing functional groups, significantly improving As(III) adsorption. The combination of ferrihydrite and strains on BF@BC enhanced the removal of Cd(II) and As(III). It also promoted the oxidation of As(III) by producing an abundance of hydroxyl radicals (·OH). The maximum saturated adsorption capacity of BF@BC for Cd(II) and As(III) increased by 52.47% and 2.99 folds compared with BC, respectively. This study suggests that biochar loaded with Fe and bacteria could be sustainable for the remediation of the coexistence of Cd(II) and As(III) in solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV; Sabin types 1 and 3) replaced the trivalent OPV (Sabin types 1, 2 and 3) globally in April 2016. A routine schedule of 1 dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine and 3 subsequent doses of bOPV was implemented in Jiangsu simultaneously. The schedule was changed to 2 inactivated poliovirus vaccines + 2 bOPV on 1 September 2019. Although OPV type 2 has been removed, challenges persist because of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) with bOPV. Therefore, we analysed and evaluated the safety profile of bOPV administered in children based on passive postmarketing AEFI surveillance. Methods: We collected all bOPV‐related AEFI reports in Jiangsu from the Chinese National AEFI Information System (CNAEFIS) between May 2016 and April 2020. We obtained the administered doses of bOPV from the Jiangsu Provincial Electronic Immunization Registries System. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results: In total, 2084 bOPV‐related AEFIs were retrieved from the CNAEFIS. The overall reporting rate was 24.16 per 100 000 doses. Most AEFIs were nonserious. The most frequently reported symptoms were fever, rash and gastrointestinal disorders. Only 1.34% of AEFIs were serious, which thrombocytopenic purpura accounted for the largest category. Seventeen serious adverse events, including 2 vaccine‐associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) cases, were considered to be related to bOPV vaccination. The rate of VAPP was 0.2 per million doses. Conclusion: AEFI analysis showed that bOPV was well tolerated. The events most frequently reported were nonserious. However, bOPV can still cause VAPP. Attention should be given to risks related to bOPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process intensification in carbonylation of formaldehyde by active and passive enhancement was investigated in stirred tank reactor and membrane contactor, respectively. The increase of rotational speed and decrease of reaction solution volume was advantageous to the yield of glycolic acid in active strengthening experiments, indicating that the reaction was greatly affected by the mass transfer of CO. In passive reinforcement mode, the membrane contactor composed of PTFE hollow fibers with inner diameter of 0.85 mm or 0.42 mm was used as a novel reactor to improve the process mass transfer. The effects of reaction temperature, operation pressure, reaction time and reactant concentration were systematically studied. The results showed that membrane contactor was an effective reactor for the carbonylation of formaldehyde compared to the conventional tank reactor. This study provided a reference for the process intensification of similar gas-liquid reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membranes with suitable nanopores and tunable charge characteristics are highly desired for their good application prospects in specific membrane-based separations. This study focused on the synthesis of polyamide (PA) composite membranes with tunable pore size and perm-selectivity. Trimellitic anhydride chloride (TAC) with an anhydride group, was introduced as the co-reactant of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) to form PA film via interfacial polymerization with m -phenylenediamine on the surface of the polysulfone substrate membrane. Due to the chemistry character difference (the number of functional group and acylation activity) between TMC and TAC, the structure and physico-chemistry properties of the PA film could be tailored through the control of TAC concentration. As a result, the nanopore radius of the membrane varied from <0.32 to 1.14 nm, along with the improved water permeability from 2.3 to 9.8 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and selectivity of Na 2 SO 4 /NaCl from 2.2 to 4.9. This study provided a facile and effective approach for the fabrication of tailor-made membrane with tunable nanopore and ion selectivity designed at a molecular level. • PA-TFC membranes were fabricated with mixed organic phase monomers of TMC and TAC with an anhydride group. • The pore size (from RO to NF range) and charge of the membrane were tailored through varying the TAC content. • Enhanced perm-selectivity could be attained by the control of TAC content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The batch and continuous synthesis of glycolic acid via carbonylation of formaldehyde using high-temperature and high-pressure poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membrane contactor was demonstrated in this paper. The experiments in conventional stirred tank reactor were also conducted for comparison. The results showed that the yield of glycolic acid was significantly improved in membrane contactor system compared to the stirred tank reactor. At reaction temperature of 120 °C and reaction pressure of 5.0 MPa, the yield of glycolic acid was higher than 90% when the reaction time was 1 h, while it was only about 45% in the conventional stirred tank reactor. The enhancement of yield was due to the improvement of mass transfer or dispersion of CO in membrane contactor system, which could provide larger gas-liquid contact area and shorter mass transfer distance. The stability of PTFE hollow fibre membranes was also investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), liquid entry pressure (LEP), bubble point (BP) and contact angle (CA) measurements. The characterizations indicated that PTFE membranes exhibited good chemical and thermal stability in this reaction system. This study provided new idea and reference for the carbonylation of formaldehyde and similar gas-liquid reactions. • Batch and continuous synthesis of glycolic acid via carbonylation of formaldehyde in membrane contactor was demonstrated. • Mass transfer of CO is greatly enhanced in membrane contractor system compared to the conventional tank reactor. • Membrane contactor can provide larger contact area and shorter diffusion path for gas-liquid reaction. • PTFE hollow fibers exhibited good stability under high temperature and high pressure conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paralipsa gularis (Zeller) is a storage pest; however, in recent years it has evolved into a considerable maize pest during the late growth stage in the border region between China and other Southeast Asian countries. Bt transgenic insect-resistant maize is an effective measure in controlling a wide range of lepidopteran pests, but there is a lack of research on the toxic effects of storage pests. We tested the toxicity of Bt-Cry1Ab, Vip3Aa, and their complex proteins against P. gularis via bioassay and investigated the efficiency of Bt-(Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa) maize in controlling P. gularis during the late growth stage of maize in the period 2022–2023. The bioassay results show that the susceptibilities of P. gularis to the two Bt proteins and their complex proteins were significantly different. The LC50 values of DBNCry1Ab ("DBN9936" event), DBNVip3Aa ("DBN9501" event), DBN Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa ("DBN3601T" event), and Syngenta Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa ("Bt11" event × "MIR162" event) were 0.038 μg/g, 0.114 μg/g, 0.110 μg/g, and 0.147 μg/g, and the GIC50 values were 0.014 μg/g, 0.073 μg/g, 0.027 μg/g, and 0.026 μg/g, respectively. Determination of the expression content of the insecticidal protein in different tissues of Bt-(Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa) maize shows that the total Bt protein content in different tissues was in the following order: stalk > bract > cob > kernel. However, the bioassay results show that the mortalities of P. gularis feeding on Bt-(Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa) maize in different tissues at different growth stages were all above 93.00%. The field trial indicates that the occurrence density of larvae and plant damage rate for conventional maize were 422.10 individuals/100 plants and 94.40%, respectively, whereas no larvae were found on Bt-(Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa) maize. In summary, this study implies that Bt-(Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa) maize has a high potential for control of P. gularis, providing a new technical measure for the management of the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Simultaneous production of pure water and salt crystal by S-VMDC. • Stirring and aeration are conducive to improve heat transfer in boundary layer. • Bulk crystallization plays dominated role with turbulent intensification. • The CSD of crystals can be regulated by selecting an optimal operation condition. Abstract The feasibility of simultaneous pure water production and salt crystal recovery from highly concentration NaCl solution was evaluated by utilizing a submerged vacuum membrane distillation crystallization (S-VMDC) system with different turbulent intensification modes. The effect of intensification mode including stirring and aeration on membrane distillation performance and crystallization behavior was investigated systematically. An iterative method was used to evaluate the heat transfer enhancement effect. The results indicated that both stirring and aeration had positive influence on permeate flux due to the improvement of heat transfer and weakening of polarization phenomenon in boundary layer. The dominated crystallization behavior converted from surface crystallization to bulk crystallization with the help of turbulent intensification, which in turn increased the limiting concentration of the feed solution. The size and distribution of crystallized product could be regulated by selecting an optimal intensification mode. With the combined effect of stirring rate at 1350 rpm and aeration rate at 0.20 m3/h, 31.85% NaCl crystals with relative desirable size distribution could be recovered from bulk solution. This study provided an alternative perspective to understand the enhancement effect of turbulent intensification strategy in S-VMDC process for concentrating saturation solution in both qualitative and quantitative ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the field of quantum cryptography, two-way direct quantum secure communication is a relatively new proposal for sharing secret information that is not fully explored yet. We propose a general model for two-way deterministic quantum key distribution, and a special mapping from integers to a uniformly distributed quantum space is introduced for qubit pad preparation. A reduced model, more practical, is also proposed by relaxing the security assumption of the qubit pad preparation. The main work of this paper focuses on the security proofs of these two models. Under collective attacks, we fully analyze the security basis of the general model, and, in a relatively simple way, we provide an analytical security proof for the reduced model in a depolarization quantum channel. Our results show exactly the analytical upper-bound of the amount of useful key that a powerful eavesdropper could extract in both models, and the security of the reduced model is not reduced. One advantage of this work is that the special mapping guarantees the random distribution property of the qubit pad in a uniformly distributed quantum space, thus guaranteeing the security of the two models, and the other advantage is the simplicity of the analytical derivations of security proofs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, a novel acyl chloride monomer trimellitic anhydride chloride (TAC) with an anhydride group was blended with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) as organic phase monomers to fabricate high-flux nanofiltration membranes. Due to the reaction activity differences of organic phase monomers (TMC and TAC) with piperazine, the chemical compositions and structures of polyamide active layer could be tailored through varying the TAC content. It was found that the participation of TAC could yield a looser polyamide separation layer on the polysulfone support membrane, along with an increased surface roughness, hydrophilicity, pore size and negative charge density. As a result, the resultant membrane exhibited excellent water-salt separation. When the TAC concentration was increased to 0.04 wt%, the optimized membrane exhibited a high pure water permeability (PWP) of 13.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, up to 2-fold, in comparison with the pristine membrane, whereas the salt rejections of Na 2 SO 4 , MgSO 4 and NaCl were 97.6%, 92.7%, and 34.0%, respectively. This work provided a novel and facile strategy to develop high-flux NF membrane. Highlights • NF membranes were prepared with mixed organic phase reactants of TMCand TAC with an anhydride group. • Membrane physicochemical properties and permselectivity were tuned by varying the TAC content. • The water flux of optimal NF membrane was 2 times to that of controlled membrane under the almost same salt rejections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of sintering conditions including manner, temperature and duration on properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fibre membrane fabricated by extrusion method was intensively investigated. Different from un-sintered and relaxed sintered, the fixed sintered PTFE hollow fibre membrane was observed to generate a uniform ‘fibril–node’ porous structure and a main crystal transformation to folded chain crystal with smaller size. Consequently, it was found that for fixed setting sintering, both temperature increase from 340°C to 400°C and duration prolongation obviously improved pore size, ethanol permeation performance and mechanical strength. Additionally, the test results revealed that the membrane sintered below virgin melting point (350°C) had a noticeable higher porosity but poorer ethanol permeation performance that could be primarily attributed to increased ratio of closed pore. The sintering condition exhibited evident influence on PTFE hollow fibre membrane thermal stability, though it showed no alteration to the thermal decomposition of PTFE. The obtained PTFE hollow fibre membrane was tested to evaluate their vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) performances. It was found that PTFE membrane from lower sintering temperature delivered a better salt rejection; on the other hand, the permeate flux was improved by increased vacuum pressure during VMD operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) porous hollow-fiber membranes were prepared by a method involving billet preform, paste extrusion, stretching, and sintering. The influence of stretching parameters including stretching ratio, temperature, and speed was systematically investigated. The structure and properties of these membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, filtration performance, and mechanical strength test. The results indicate that the stretching ratio is the most significant influencing factor for the formation of various regions in the stress-strain curve. With increasing stretching ratio, the porosity, maximum pore size, and ethanol flux increase remarkably while bovine serum albumin rejection is reduced. These findings have the potential to facilitate PTFE membrane fabrication with finely tuned microporous structure for various application processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the safety and immunogenicity of two dosages of recombinant hepatitis B (HB) vaccine administered to infants born to HB-uninfected and HB-infected mothers. Methods A phase III, controlled, single-blinded clinical trial was conducted with 506 healthy newborns. The newborns were assigned to three groups based on maternal levels of HB surface antigen (HBsAg) and HB e antigen (HBeAg): Group A, HBsAg negative; Group B, HBsAg positive and HBeAg negative; and Group C, HBsAg positive and HBeAg positive. Three doses of 10 or 5 μg recombinant HB vaccine were randomly administered by 1:1 within 24 h after birth, at 1 month and at 6 months. Safety data and pre- and postvaccination blood samples were collected. Results A total of 326, 93, and 87 subjects were included in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Both dosages of HB vaccine were well tolerated by all subjects. The most common injection-site adverse reactions (ARs) and systemic ARs were pain and fever. After 1 month of the third dose, the Group A infants who received the 10 μg HB vaccine achieved a higher geometric mean concentration (GMC) of HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) than those who received the 5 μg dosage. Maternal anti-HBs serostatus did not influence HB vaccine immunogenicity at either dosage. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the anti-HBs seroconversion rate, GMCs, or estimated vaccine efficacy (EVE) against perinatal transmission between Groups B and C, regardless of dosage. However, the seroconversion rate and EVE of the 5 μg HB vaccine was lower in Group C than in Group B. Conclusions Both dosages of the HB vaccine were well tolerated and elicited a good immune response in infants of Group A, regardless of the maternal anti-HBs serostatus. EVE did not significantly differ between Groups B and C. Clinicaltrails.gov identifier: NCT02152709 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an asymmetric '4+2' protocol for quantum key distribution with finite photon pulses. The main work of this paper focuses on the composable security proof for this protocol in a finite-key scenario. Based on the essence security basis of the original '4+2' protocol proposed by Huttner et al. (Phys Rev A 51(3):1863-1869, ), we first develop the squashing model for this protocol with the quantum non-demolition measure theory. From this model, against the collective photon-number-splitting attack, we then provide the security proof (formulas of finite-key security bounds) for this protocol. The expected performance of this protocol are also evaluated on a priori reasonable expected values of parameters. Our work shows that the performance we derived is the lower one and it can cover long distances in the lossy channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on the existing carboxylic acid groups on surface of used commercial thin film composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane, two kinds of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives with different chains were grafted by carbodiimide-induced method to improve the antifouling property. The membranes before and after modification were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and static contact angle measurement. Moreover, the water flux, NaCl rejection and fouling experiments were also conducted. The changes of chemical composition and morphology on membrane surfaces indicated the successful grafting of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives. Compared to unmodified membrane, the modified membranes were more resistant to fouling in protein and cationic surfactant feeding solutions. The method in this study provided a new way for surface modification of commercial polyamide reverse osmosis membranes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, MW=302g/mol) membranes were prepared via UV-induced polymerization by adding various ethanol in prepolymerization solution. Membrane surface morphology, interior structure, chemical composition and mechanical property were investigated with scanning electron microscope (SEM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and tensile tester. The results suggested that decreasing PEGDA content in prepolymerization solution could gradually enlarge the pore size in the surface and the bulk of membranes, resulting in a higher water uptake and permeability, but a lower bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection. Meanwhile, the mechanical property decreased. Specifically, when the PEGDA content in prepolymerization solution changed from 100wt% to 45wt%, the pure water flux of membranes increased from zero to 340L/m2 h at 0.1Mpa. Finally, the BSA fouling and preliminary solvent soaking experiments also indicated that such membranes exhibited excellent antifouling and solvent-resistant properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel method of surface modification by grafting hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains onto the surface of a thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membrane was performed. Aminopolyethylene glycol monomethylether (MPEG-NH2) was used as grafting monomer. The membranes were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The changes in chemical composition and morphology of the membranes'' surface indicated the successful grafting process. Furthermore, a preliminary experiment confirmed that the grafting of PEG chains improved membrane antifouling property. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nafion-PTFE hollow fiber composite membranes were fabricated and applied in vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) process to improve the anti-fouling and anti-wetting performance in the presence of oil and surfactant. The composite membrane exhibited an underwater super-oilphobic property according to the contact angle test. The VMD performance when treating saline feed containing 3.5 wt% NaCl and 1000 ppm mineral oil for the composite membrane behaved a stable flux for 40 h. In construct, an immediate and sharply-declined flux was observed for the pristine PTFE, indicating the significant improvement in the anti-fouling property. Meanwhile, the composite membrane also alleviated the wetting phenomena caused by the surfactant comparing with the pristine PTFE membrane, and the Nafion-PTFE composite membrane behaves a stable flux and high salt rejection higher than 99.99% for 60 h treating saline feed containing O/W emulsions. The pressure depression effect of the Nafion layer on the mass transfer was analyzed. It was found that the depression could be reduced with the increasing of the feed temperature and the enhancement of the corresponding effective pore diameter of the Nafion layer, that the pressure depression factor decreased from 0.23 to 0.04 with the feed temperature increasing from 60 °C to 75 °C. Image 1 • An asymmetric composite membrane with a thin Nafion layer on the outside of a PTFE membrane was fabricated for VMD. • The application of Nafion-PTFE membrane to VMD was first studied and reported. • The Nafion-PTFE composite membrane showed good anti-fouling and anti-wetting property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the quantum-memory-assisted (QMA) entropic uncertainty relation in the two-qubit Heisenberg XXZ spin chain model. The contributions of relevant parameters of the model on the reducing of QMA entropic uncertainty concerning a pair of Pauli observables are studied in detail under the thermal equilibrium and intrinsic decoherence conditions, respectively. The results show that, in the case of thermal equilibrium, the lower of T and the stronger of spin coupling interaction J, Jz and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction Dz are more beneficial to the reducing of QMA entropic uncertainty. However, the stronger of external nonuniform magnetic field B hinders the reducing of the QMA entropic uncertainty. Meanwhile, there exists a critical phenomena with respect to B at the extremal low temperature. By taking into account the effect of intrinsic decoherence, it is found that the dynamical features of QMA entropic uncertainty are sensitive to the values of Dz and unnonuniform magnetic fields b . In the weak DM interaction region, the strengthening of Dz can markedly reduce the entropic uncertainty U during the evolution process, but, in the strong DM interaction region, the strengthening of Dz makes the effect of intrinsic decoherence more pronounced. Furthermore, the large nonuniformity b dose not suppress the entropic uncertainty but makes the oscillation behaviours of U and Ub disappear. The large nonuniformity b also makes the effect of intrinsic decoherence more pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The SWRO brine desalination process by a submerged vacuum membrane distillation system was investigated. • The reasons for flux attenuation were distinguished by the combination of experiment and theoretical calculation. • Flux attenuation could be alleviate by changing the operation mode. • NaCl Crystallization behavior was affected by both the existence of foreign ions and operation mode. This work studied the concentration of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine by a submerged vacuum membrane distillation (SVMD) process. Factors for flux attenuation including CaSO 4 crystallization,vapour pressure depression, the increase of heat transfer resistance and membrane fouling were distinguished by the combination of experiment and theoretical calculation. It was suggested that CaSO 4 crystallization was the main reason for flux attenuation, which should be eliminated by appropriate feed pretreatment with additional of Na 2 CO 3 and HCl. The combined effect of other three factors was another important reason for flux attenuation. Although the effect of CaSO 4 crystallization was eliminated, there still existed a critical VCF after which membrane fouling and increase of heat transfer resistance could not be neglected. The result indicated that this critical VCF was about 2.5 under the experimental condition, which was far less than the VCF at which NaCl solution reached saturation. Therefore, finding an effective method to mitigate membrane fouling was still necessary. It was concluded that decreasing the concentration rate by changing the operation mode could effectively increase the critical VCF to 3.7. Meanwhile, the crystallization behavior of NaCl and the size and quality of crystal products would be affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Membrane contactor was used as a gas-liquid separator in pressure swing process. • The two mass transfer mechanisms were analysed through calculation of viscous flux and mass transfer coefficients. • When integrated with membrane contactor for CO 2 absorption, stable and consistent performance was observed. A new method to regenerate high pressure CO 2 absorbent is presented in this paper, where PTFE hollow fiber membrane contactor was used as a gas–liquid separator in pressure swing process. CO 2 desorption happened in the membrane contactor at the same time. The two mass transfer mechanisms were analysed through calculation of viscous flux and mass transfer coefficients. Experimental results showed that CO 2 loading in regenerated absorbent increased with absorbent flow rate. This was due to decrease in membrane area available for CO 2 desorption, as most of the membrane area was utilized for gas-liquid separation. Co-current configuration exhibited higher CO 2 desorption driving force compared to counter-current configuration, hence its CO 2 loading in regenerated absorbent was lower. When integrated with membrane contactor for CO 2 absorption, stable and consistent performance was observed. Unlike conventional flash drum, membrane contactor did not have requirement on flashed gas velocity, because the membrane itself functioned as a screen to prevent fine liquid droplets from escaping the system along with flashed gas. Results from this study show that vessel size reduction up to 2.5 times could be achieved when PTFE membrane contactor was used, with absorbent regeneration energy as low as 0.94 GJ/ton CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation (QMA-EUR) addresses that the entropic uncertainty of measured particle can be reduced by the aid of another particle acting as quantum memory. Especially, the measurement precision for two incompatible observables can be improved. In this paper, we have studied QMA-EUR in the qubit–qubit and qubit–qubit-spin chain models and examined quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainties (QMA-EUs) and their lower bounds (LBs) of the spin-qubit measured subsystem in the case of spin-qutrit and spin-qubit acting as the quantum memories, respectively. The numerical results show that spin-qutrit memory subsystems can effectively suppress the amounts of QMA-EUs and LBs of the spin-qubit measurement subsystem, which indicates that it can broke the limits of entropic uncertainty relationship without quantum memory subsystem. But, the suppression effects are very different in both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic spin coupling cases. In general, one can get lower values of QMA-EUs and LBs by adjusting the thermal equilibrium temperature and relevant coupling parameters in the case of antiferromagnetic spin coupling case. Furthermore, we compared the regulation effects of reducing the values of QMA-EUs and LBs when the quantum memory subsystem is severed by spin-qutrit and spin-qubit, respectively, in the same model parameters condition. It is found that effects of spin-qutrit memory subsystem on reducing QMA-EUs and LBs are inferior to that of spin-qubit memory one. This comparative analysis result indicates that the dimensions of quantum measurement subsystem and quantum memory subsystem have a significant effect on the reducing the QMA-EUs and LBs in the entropic uncertainty game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the dynamical behaviors of quantum-memory-assisted (QMA) entropic uncertainty for the central two-qubit system coupled to the N-site spin XY chain environment with z-component Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya (DM) interaction and external magnetic field, asymmetrically. The results show that the dynamics of QMA entropic uncertainty for a pair of Pauli observables are oscillatory and ascending gradually with evolution time, which is anti-correlated to the entanglement of the two-qubit system. We also find that QMA entropic uncertainty exhibits sudden change phenomena near the critical point of quantum phase transform both in the case of weak and strong coupling regimes, which can act as a new witness of the critical point of quantum phase transition. Meanwhile, the DM interactions of the spin chain environment have non-equivalent effects on the QMA entropic uncertainty when the external magnetic field strength is far from the critical point. Furthermore, the asymmetricallity of the qubit-environment couplings has slightly effects on QMA entropic uncertainty in the case of strong coupling regime of the two-qubit system. While, in the weak coupling regime of the two-qubit system, QMA entropic uncertainty is very sensitive to the asymmetricallity of qubit-environment couplings. Finally, the larger the number of spin sites of the environment, the more quickly the QMA entropic uncertainty increases to the maximal value both in the weak and strong coupling regimes of the two-qubit system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Deep CO 2 removal using high pressure membrane contactor was proven able to reduce CO 2 content to < 0.005 mol% level, meeting requirement for atural Gas process. • Liquid phase mass transfer resistance was the highest compared to membrane phase and gas phase, showing that liquid was the bottleneck for mass transfer. • High liquid velocity was favored for better liquid phase mass transfer, resulted in high L/G ratio in deep CO 2 removal using membrane contactor. • Liquid flow rate reduction could not reduce L/G effectively as this led to more reduction in CO flux than L/G. • Membrane module length increase was able to achieve 70% reduction in L/G, with only 16% reduction in flux, offering lower energy consumption compared to conventional packed column in LNG process. Membrane contactor is a technology that intensifies conventional absorption column. However, liquid-to-gas ratios (L/G) of membrane contactor in existing reports are much higher compared to CO 2 absorption column, which results in higher solvent circulation rate and higher consumption in heating energy. This makes the technology less attractive for deep CO 2 removal. Direct reduction of liquid flow rate was not effective in lowering down L/G. Experimental results showed that 50% reduction in liquid flow rate could reduce L/G by 25%, but the reduction in CO 2 flux (33%) was higher due to decrease in liquid phase mass transfer coefficient which was dependent on liquid velocity. An alternative method to reduce L/G through membrane module length increase was proven, where L/G was reduced 70% with only 16% flux reduction. The flux reduction was only observed when L/G dropped below 0.80 L/mol and it was due to depletion of unreacted amine for CO 2 absorption. The lowest L/G value obtained in this study was 36% lower than the conventional absorption column in liquefied natural gas (LNG) process, showing that membrane contactor technology is not only energy-viable and more compact for deep CO 2 removal, but it also offers energy saving advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fouling and scaling in membrane distillation (MD) is one of the major obstacles to its long term stability. Submerging the membrane directly into the feed is an alternative method to prevent flow channel blockage. The fouling behavior of CaSO 4 in submerged vacuum membrane distillation at varying experimental conditions was investigated. It presented a two-stage trend when the initial concentration of CaSO 4 was < 2700 mg/L. Dramatic flux decline occurred once the feed was concentrated to a critical level of saturation. A on-line periodically air backwash was applied to reduce CaSO 4 crystals deposition on the membrane surface or penetration in the membrane pores. While the role of air bubbles in affecting the fouling behavior of CaSO 4 largely depended on the crystal formation mechanism. The fouling rate was reduced by 54% with the help of air backwash when surface crystallization controlled the process while negligible effect was made when bulk crystallization played a more important role. The result could be explained by combining the experimental data with a first-order kinetic model proposed by Tansel. The off-line water cleaning suggested that the fouling layer could be removed effectively without additional chemical agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the dynamic features of the quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation (QMA EUR) in the amplitude damping (AD) channel. The initial state of qubit system and quantum memory system shared between Alice and Bob is assumed as extended by Werner-like (EWL) state. To reduce the amount of entropic uncertainty of Pauli observables in this noisy channel, we presented a reduction scheme by means of weak measurements (WMs) and weak measurement reversals (WMRs) before and after the entangled system subjecting to the noisy channel. It is shown that the prior WM and poster WMR can effectively reduce quantity of entropic uncertainty, but the poster WM operation cannot played a positive role on reduction of quantity of entropic uncertainty. We hope that our proposal could be verified experimentally and might possibly have future applications in quantum information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of cheap, efficient, and stable photocatalysts for degrading antibiotic contaminants remains challenging. Herein, Bi 2 O 3 /boron nitride (BN)/Co 3 O 4 ternary composites were synthesized using the impregnation method. The morphological characteristics, structural features, and photochemical properties of the prepared photocatalysts were investigated via X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible (Vis) diffuse reflectance spectrum techniques. BN was used as a charge transfer bridge in the ternary composites, which afforded a heterojunction between the two semiconductors. The formation of the heterojunction substantially enhanced the charge separation and improved the photocatalyst performance. The degradation activity of the Bi 2 O 3 /BN/Co 3 O 4 ternary composites against norfloxacin (NOR) under Vis light irradiation was investigated. The degradation rate of NOR using 5-wt% Bi 2 O 3 /BN/Co 3 O 4 reached 98% in 180 min, indicating excellent photocatalytic performance. The ternary composites also exhibited high photostability with a degradation efficiency of 88.4% after five cycles. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide radicals (•O 2 −), and holes (h+) played a synergistic role in the photocatalytic reaction, where h+ and •O 2 − were more important than •OH. Consequently, seven intermediates and major photocatalytic degradation pathways were identified. Toxicity experiments showed that the toxicity of the degradation solution to Chlorella pyrenoidosa decreased. Finally, the ecotoxicity of NOR and its intermediates were analyzed using the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool, with most intermediates exhibiting low toxicity. [Display omitted] • Novel Bi 2 O 3 /BN/Co 3 O 4 ternary composite photocatalytic materials synthesized by impregnation method. • High photocatalytic activity of Bi 2 O 3 /BN/Co 3 O 4 for the degradation of norfloxacin. • The photocatalytic mechanism of BN/Bi 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 system was introduced. • Degradation pathways and intermediate toxicity of norfloxacin were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a scheme for remote preparing a general two-particle state by two entangled states serving as the quantum communication channel. In this scheme, it is possible for the receiver to perfectly reconstruct the initial state that the sender hopes to prepare with the method of introducing an auxiliary qubit and postselection measurements in the situation of non-maximal entangled quantum channel. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the dissipation factors on the processing of the remote state preparation when the entangled resources are in the Markovian and non-Markovian noisy environments. It is shown that the fidelity of remote state preparation is decreasing exponentially over time in Markovian environments and attenuating oscillatorily in non-Markovian. However, when the non-Markovian and the detuning conditions are satisfied simultaneously, the fidelity can be preserved at comparative high levels, effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new kind of zwitterionic molecule, [3-(methacryloylamino)propyl]-dimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide inner salt (MPDSAH) was grafted onto polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration membrane surface using benzophenone (BP) as the initiator to improve the antifouling property. Polymer chain scission was suppressed by H-abstraction from methyl groups under long-wavelength UV irradiation (λ >300nm), which avoided the photodegradation of PSF ultrafiltration membrane. The effects of MPDSAH concentration, UV irradiation time and BP concentration on grafting degree (GD) and the improvement of membrane antifouling properties were investigated, respectively. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR) and scanning electron micrograph (SEM) were used to characterize the chemical and morphological changes of the membrane surface. Static contact angle (CA) measurements showed that the hydrophilicity of MPDSAH-modified PSF ultrafiltration membranes was enhanced with the increase of grafting degree. The flux of pure water decreased slightly after modification, while the rejection to bovine serum albumin (BSA) increased. The improvement of antifouling property for MPDSAH-modified membrane was accordant with the increase of grafting degree. In addition, compared to PSF membrane, the modified membranes could maintain a higher water flux in wide pH range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High-performance semi-permeable membranes play a vital role in the membrane-based separation technology for seawater and brackish water desalination. Herein, plasticizer-assisted interfacial polymerization (PAIP) was implemented to fabricate aromatic polyamide layers with improved water flux and comparable salt rejection for the first time. Specifically, plasticizer (i.e., diethyl phthalate, DEP) was introduced into the organic phase to perform interfacial polymerization. Effective regulation of the desalination performance was achieved via meticulously adjusting plasticizer concentration. With the addition of 0.5 wt% DEP, water flux promoted from 1.06 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 of the pristine membrane to 2.85 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, with NaCl rejection decreasing from 98.3% to 98.2%. With the addition of 1.5 wt% and 2.0 wt% DEP, water flux improved to 4.82 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and 5.95 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, respectively, more than 4.5 and 5.5 times that of the pristine membrane. Nevertheless, NaCl rejection decreased to 96.6% and 95.9%, respectively. The infrared detection revealed that the introduction of DEP disrupted the original intermolecular hydrogen bonding between polyamide chains, thereby enhancing the softness of the polyamide layer, which was demonstrated by the decreased Young's modulus. As a result, the water diffusion efficiency through the polyamide layer was promoted, leading to the significant enhancement of water flux. These findings pave a new route for the synthesis of the aromatic polyamide layer with excellent desalination performance to expand the application of membrane technology. Image 1 • Plasticizer-assisted interfacial polymerization was developed to prepare RO membranes. • Polyamide chain flexibility improved substantially in the presence of plasticizer. • Disruption of inter chain hydrogen bonding caused enhancement of chain flexibility. • Water flux enhanced due to more efficient transport channels for water molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Both types of EV71 vaccines showed satisfactory safety profiles in the target population. • The AEFI profiles of EV71 vaccines were identical to those in pre-marketing studies. • AEFIs after EV71 vaccination were mild and common. Two types of enterovirus 71 (EV71) vaccines, manufactured using human diploid (H2) and Vero cells, have been administered in Jiangsu Province, China since 2017. In this study, we evaluated their safety profiles using records collected from the Chinese National Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) Information System (CNAEFIS) and Electronic Immunization Registries System (EIRS) between 2017 and 2019. Demographic characteristics of the patients, AEFI incidence rates(IRs), symptoms, and time intervals were summarized from the reported AEFI data in the CNAEFIS. Also, the administered doses of the two vaccines were exported from the EIRS to calculate the IRs of AEFIs and thus compare the AEFIs between the two types of EV71 vaccines. In total, 209, 407, and 344 AEFIs cases following EV71 vaccine administration were reported during 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively, yielding IRs of 59.2, 48.2, and 54.2 per 100,000 doses, respectively. Fever, irritability, allergic eruptions, fatigue, loss of appetite, redness and induration at the injection site were the most commonly reported AEFIs. No significant differences in rare reactions were found between the two types of EV71 vaccinations. The majority of AEFIs were developed within 30 min to 3 days after administration. EV71 vaccines showed satisfactory safety profiles since their first use 3 years ago in the Jiangsu Province. The AEFI profiles were identical to those in pre-marketing studies; most AEFIs after vaccination were mild and common. More active surveillance studies should be performed to provide more comprehensive post-marketing safety data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hydrophobic FAS-PDMS/PEEK composite membranes were prepared by dip-coating method. • Honeycomb-like structures were observed dispersing on composite membrane surface. • The wetting resistance of membrane was improved after coating with FAS-PDMS layer. • Effects of gas and liquid flow velocities on CO 2 absorption performance were studied. • FAS-PDMS/PEEK composite membrane contactor exhibited good application potential. In this study, as an efficient technology membrane absorption was applied with newly developed polyetheretherketone (PEEK) hollow fiber membrane (HFM) to remove CO 2 from flue gas. To alleviate membrane wetting issue, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (FAS) was integrated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and then crosslinked FAS-PDMS was coated on porous PEEK membranes to prepare composite membranes. Surface characterization verified that PDMS layer containing fluoroalkylsilane had been successfully formed on membrane surface. As mass ratio of FAS to PDMS in coating solution raised, an interesting honeycomb-like structure was observed dispersing on composite membrane surface. Meanwhile, water contact angle was improved from 90.0° to 133.5° indicating enhanced membrane hydrophobicity. The effects of gas and liquid flow velocities on CO 2 absorption performance of FAS-PDMS/PEEK HFM were systematically studied. The highest CO 2 removal efficiency of 99.6% was achieved when gas and liquid velocity were 0.027 and 0.019 m s−1. When gas velocity raised to 0.110 m s−1, the maximum absorption flux of 1.22 × 10-4 mol m−2 s−1 and overall mass-transfer coefficient of 2.69 × 10−5 m s−1 could be obtained. Compared with the original membrane, the CO 2 absorption flux of FAS-PDMS-0.6 HFM was increased by 50.9%, and the performance had no degradation in 36 h test. This study provides a novel strategy to alleviate the membrane wetting problem during CO 2 membrane absorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water condensation is a possible cause of membrane wetting in the operation of membrane contactors, especially under high-temperature conditions. In this study, water condensation in pores of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fiber membranes was investigated during high-pressure CO2 absorption around 70 °C. It was found that the liquid accumulation rate in the treated gas knock-out drum was constant during continuous operation for 24 h when all experimental conditions were fixed, indicating a stable degree of membrane wetting. However, as the operating parameters were changed, the equilibrium vapor pressure of water within membrane pores could change, which may result in a condensation-conducive environment. Water condensation in membrane pores was detected and proven indirectly through the increase in liquid accumulation rate in the treated gas knock-out drum. The Hagen–Poiseuille equation was used to correlate the liquid accumulation rate with the degree of membrane wetting. The degree of membrane wetting increased significantly from 1.8 × 10−15 m3 to 3.9 × 10−15 m3 when the feed gas flow rate was reduced from 1.45 kg/h to 0.40 kg/h in this study due to water condensation in membrane pores. The results of this study provide insights into potential operational limitations of membrane contactor for CO2 absorption under high-temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Organic input can improve soil quality by the interaction of soil properties. • Use animal-derived organic fertilizer had better soil quality than plant-derived. • AP, AN, GP and AK were selected as a minimum data set for evaluating soil quality. • Information from soil indicators is integrated into a standardization framework. • Appropriate methods of scoring and weighting are determined in the framework. Organic fertilizer applications can increase soil fertility and productivity and reduce chemical fertilizer use. However, few experimental studies have focused on effects of organic fertilizers on soil quality in a field ecosystem. The overarching goal of this study was to develop a soil quality index (SQI) for fertilization management in red soil farmland in China. The specific objectives were to determine 1) appropriate soil quality indicators, 2) a suitable weight assignment method (PCA, principal component analysis or MRA, multiple regression analysis) and 3) the optimal scoring function (standard or linear or non-linear). We analyzed 40 soil physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties under nine fertilization treatments (CK (no fertilizer), CF (chemical fertilizer), RF (60% chemical fertilizer), CFS (chemical fertilizer + straw), RFS (60% chemical fertilizer + straw), CFB (chemical fertilizer + biochar), RFB (60% chemical fertilizer + biochar), RFP (60% chemical fertilizer + pig manure), RFV (60% chemical fertilizer + vermicompost)) as potential soil quality indicators. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis were applied to determine the indicators responsive to management and for the confirmation of the six SQIs. Available phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium and gram-positive bacteria were chosen as the minimum data set from the total of 40 soil indictors. Management of organic and inorganic fertilizers affected each soil property in different ways, and the index based on the minimum data set, calculated using standard scoring function and weight assignment method of multiple regression analysis, was most accurate and sensitive. Application of a pig manure or vermicompost significantly increased SQI values relative to other treatments, followed by straw or biochar treatments which were higher than a single application of chemical fertilizer. These results indicate that the addition of organic fertilizers will not only improve soil quality, but also enhance rapeseed and sweet potato yield compared to chemical fertilizers. Additionally, the SQI method can provide a practical and quantitative tool for the evaluation of soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The considerable permeability of fully-aromatic polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is believed to be strongly dependent on the presence of a mount of internal voids within the polyamide separation layer, which provides additional permeation channels in addition to diffusion through the polyamide matrix. Based on this understanding, herein, we reported a novel strategy of developing highly permeable RO membranes via introducing a void-tailoring agent, (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)trichlorosilane (TFPTCS) into the traditional interfacial polymerization (IP) system composed of m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride. During IP process, the fast and violent hydrolysis and aminolysis of TFPTCS caused a significantly increasing pore size and porosity of the incipient polyamide film, which resulted in the formation of double- or multi-layer void structures with higher void fraction in the polyamide film. As a result, the TFPTCS added membrane showed a dramatic enhancement in water permeability, and the optimum condition was observed at the 0.03 wt% of TFPTCS concentration with 3.74 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, which was 2.8 times higher than that of the pristine membrane, while the salt rejection was almost unchanged (around 97.0%). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of void-tailoring inside the polyamide film, and encourage further exploration of new alternative void-tailoring agents to prepare highly permeable polyamide RO membranes for water desalination, which were seldom studied previously. • TFPTCS was introduced into the traditional MPD-TMC IP system to tune the internal void structure of the formed PA films. • The addition of TFPTCS led to an increase in the void volume within PA films, the pore size and porosity of PA back face. • The modified membrane showed a 2.8-fold improvement in water permeability without the loss of salt rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics have attracted widespread attention around the world because they are ubiquitous in the environment and can lead to antibiotic-resistant microbes developing and pose ecotoxicological risks. In this study, we determined the spatiotemporal distributions of 39 antibiotics in 19 drinking water sources in Jiangsu area of the lower Yangtze River and attempted to identify the sources of the antibiotics and to prioritize the antibiotics. The total antibiotic concentrations in spring and fall were 234.56–6515.99 and 151.12–2562.59 ng/L, respectively. In spring, the total antibiotic concentration gradually increased from upstream to downstream. In fall, the antibiotic concentration did not markedly vary upstream to downstream (total concentrations 151.12–432.17 ng/L) excluding site S9 and S10. Analysis using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model indicated that the antibiotics had four main sources. Pharmaceutical wastewater was the main source, contributing 34.1% and 41.2% of total antibiotics in spring and fall, respectively, and domestic wastewater was the second most important source, contributing 24.4% and 43% of total antibiotics in spring and fall, respectively. Pharmaceutical wastewater was the main source from midstream to downstream, but the other sources made different contributions in different areas because of the various ranges of human activities. An ecological risk assessment was performed. Stronger risks were posed by antibiotics in spring than fall, and fluoroquinolone antibiotics posed the strongest risks. Optimized risk quotients indicated that norfloxacin was a high-risk contaminant. An assessment of the risk of resistance development indicated that norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin posed moderate to high risks of resistance development and should be prioritized for risk management. The results of this study are important reference data for identifying key sources of antibiotics and developing strategies to manage antibiotic contamination in similar areas. [Display omitted] • 39 antibiotics in drinking water sources from lower Yangtze River were firstly studied. • Total concentration gradually increased from upstream to downstream in spring. • The four potential sources of antibiotics were identified by the PMF model. • Pharmaceutical wastewater was critical sources, domestic wastewater was the second. • Priority antibiotics with high ecological and resistance risks were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Within a microporous polymer membrane, its high gas separation performance is much dependent on the free volume element architecture. In this study, thermally rearranged poly(benzoxazole-co-amide) (TR-PBOA) copolymer membranes were prepared by in-situ thermal treating poly(o-hydroxyamide- co -amide) (PHAA) precursors, basing on commercially available TR-able and non TR-able diamines with different molar ratio. Free-volume topologies were tailored by controlling the degree of thermal rearrangement and the flexibility of the original chains. Upon thermal conversion, small cavities coalesced into bigger ones, representing hourglass-shaped cavities with larger cavities and small bottlenecks, resulting in the significant increase in permeability. It was found that thermal rearrangement mainly occurred near or above glass transition temperature (T g) where chain segments obtained enough motion ability, and TR-PBOA membrane prepared at this temperature possessed the maximal selectivity due to effective packing of rigid chains. When thermally treated at temperature much higher than T g , there was a compromise between thermal conversion and chain annealing. Compared to thermal treatment temperature, the effect of dwelling time on thermal conversion ratio was minor, as the formed rigid structure limited chain motion until enough energy was received at higher temperature. Furthermore, TR-PBOA membranes with appropriate ratio of PBO and PA contents displayed superior mechanical properties and gas transport performance, especially for CO 2 /CH 4 separation (CO 2 permeability was about 237 Barrer, CO 2 /CH 4 ideal selectivity was 36.6, plasticization pressure of CO 2 was 2.9 MPa) (1 Barrer=10−10 cm3 (STP) cm cm−2 s−1 cmHg−1) Highlights • TR-PBOA copolymer membranes were prepared by in-situ thermal treating PHAA precursors. • Thermal rearrangement mainly occurred near or above glass transition temperature. • The effect of dwell time on thermal conversion ratio was minor. • TR-PBOA membranes displayed superior CO 2 /CH 4 separation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane separation technology is one of the most promising strategies for post-combustion CO 2 capture. The high-performance membrane module is one of the most critical components in the CO 2 capture membrane system. The spiral-wound module is a promising type for industrial application; however, most of the research remains in the laboratory. In this work, industrial-scale spiral-wound membrane modules containing facilitated transport membranes have been developed and investigated. Under given practical operating conditions, an apparent gas separation performance was defined as an indicator to study the effects of various feed conditions on membrane performance within the module. As a crucial process parameter, the operating pressure was considered a variable to investigate the module performance at a fixed feed-to-permeate pressure ratio, and techno-economic indicators were also studied. Furthermore, a multi-core module containing up to 14 membrane elements was designed based on the experimental results of the arrangement mode cases. This work could bridge the research gap between membrane development and membrane system engineering. It could also provide essential data for the industrial application of post-combustion CO 2 capture. [Display omitted] • The industrial-scale spiral-wound membrane module was developed. • An apparent gas separation performance was defined to investigate feed conditions. • The effects of operating pressure and arrangement mode were discussed. • A multi-core membrane module containing up to 14 elements was designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of lithium from salt lakes is an important route for lithium sources. Due to the unique structure and separation mechanism, i.e., size exclusion and Donnan effect, nanofiltration (NF) is considered as a promising way to separate magnesium (Mg2+) and lithium (Li+) ions. However, the Mg2+/Li+ separation factor of NF membrane fabricated by traditional interfacial polymerization (IP) is usually dissatisfactory. Here, a swelling-embedding-shrinking strategy was proposed to modify polyethyleneimine (PEI)/trimesoyl chloride (TMC) NF membranes using diethylenetriamine (DETA) to improve the performance in Mg2+/Li+ separation. The pristine PEI/TMC NF membrane was swollen with methanol to increase the polyamide chain spacing followed by embedding electropositive DETA as a modifier. The charge properties and pore structure of the active layer could be regulated by optimizing the modification conditions. Within comparison to the pristine membrane (TFC-0), the pure water flux of modified NF membrane (TFC-3) increased by 63.6% because of the rougher surface and the larger pore size. Meanwhile, the embedding of electropositive DETA reduced the electronegative property of membrane surface. In consequence, TFC-3 membrane exhibited higher rejection of MgCl 2 (93.9% against 88.4%) and lower rejection of LiCl (31.0% against 32.1%), thus showing a twofold improvement in Mg2+/Li+ separation factor (S Li, Mg = 11.38 against 5.87). The swelling-embedding-shrinking strategy in this article provided a good reference for the modification of NF membranes in the separation of multivalent and monovalent ions. [Display omitted] • A swelling-embedding-shrinking strategy was proposed to enhance membrane performance. • Surface property and pore size could be regulated by embedding diethylenetriamine (DETA). • Modified PEI/TMC NF membrane had higher rejection of Mg2+ but lower rejection of Li+. • Mg2+/Li+ separation factor reached up to 11.38 compared to 5.87 of pristine membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 25 MdSPXs, belong to four subfamilies, were identified and characterised in Malus domestica , specific PSR element P1BS were found in the promoter of 16 MdSPXs. • 15 and 13 MdSPX2 responded to P and N deficiency, respectively, and the response exhibited apparent tissue-specificity. • The PSR involved in MdSPX1, MdSPX2 , and MdSPX5 depended on nitrogen availability. • MdSPXs were predicted to interact with multiple nitrate and phosphate signaling response proteins and transcription factors. • The expression of six MdSPX2 were affected by bZIP transcription factor MdTGA4. Phosphate (Pi) and nitrate (Ni) deficiencies are the major constraints for apple, significantly impacting the fruit yield and quality. SPX domain-containing proteins play important roles in Pi homeostasis and Pi signaling pathway, as well as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) nutrient balance in plants. However, SPX domain-containing proteins have not been analysed systematically in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.). In this study, a total of 25 MdSPXs were identified in M. domestica. According to phylogenetic relationships and C-terminal domains analyses, these MdSPXs were divided into four subfamilies: SPX (6), SPX-EXS (12), SPX-MFS (3), and SPX-RING (4).16 MdSPX s from these four subfamiles contain Phosphate starvation response 1-binding site (P1BS) in the promoter region. The expression profiles showed that 15 MdSPX s responded to P deficiency as well as N and P deficiencies, respectively, 13 MdSPX s responded to N deficiency in hydroponic 'M26' seedlings. The response of 11 common differentially expressed genes exhibited apparent tissue-specificity. Pi starvation response (PSR) involved in MdSPX1, MdSPX2 , and MdSPX5 depended on the N availability. In the predicted protein-protein interaction network, MdSPXs interact with important components of the P signaling network such as MdPHO2, MdPHRs, MdSIZ1, and MdPHTs, etc., and components of the N signaling network such as with MdNRTs and MdNLP6, etc., in addition to several TFs such as bZIP TF MdTGA4, an important Ni-responsive TF. Overexpression of MdTGA4 changed the expression of MdSPX2, MdSPX4, MdPHO1;6, MdPHO1;7, MdPHO1 ;9 and MdMFS2 in the transgenic apple calluses, and these genes contain as -1, a special binding element of TGA, in the promoter region. These results preliminarily confirmed the key role of MdSPXs in Pi homeostasis and Pi signaling pathway as well as Ni signaling pathway, offered a valuable guide for integrating N-P interactive regulation pathways in apple, and provided important genetic resources for the future research on the efficient utilization of P and N nutrients in apple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • New polyamide layer with rigid-flexible microstructure was constructed. • Both internal pores and positive charge density were remolded at molecular level. • "Useless pores" were widened and "defect pores" were repaired simultaneously. • Modified membrane exhibited much higher Mg2+/Li+ selectivity factor of 15.38. Lithium extraction from salt-lake brine with a high Mg2+/Li+ ratio is crucial for mitigating lithium supply shortage. Positively charged polyamide nanofiltration membranes, which are often prepared by performing interfacial polymerization (IP) using polyethyleneimine and trimesoyl chloride, are considered to be promising candidates for Mg2+/Li+ separation owing to their high energy efficiency and low environmental impact. However, the performance of these membranes is severely hindered by "useless pores" and "defects" present in the flexible polyamide layer. Herein, we provide a facile strategy for modifying flexible semi-aromatic polyamide chains by intercalating a rigid electropositive monomer, histamine, to remold the internal pores and positive charge density at a molecular level. Two routes, namely, "swelling-embedding-reacting-shrinking (SERS)" and "in-situ interposition (SIP)" were used to construct a new polyamide layer with rigid–flexible microstructures. The fabricated SERS-0.50 membrane showed a 5-fold higher water flux and 2-fold increase in the Mg2+/Li+ separation factor compared with the IP membrane. Moreover, the SIP-0.15 membrane with an enhanced positive charge density exhibited a considerably higher Mg2+/Li+ separation factor (15.38, 500 % increase compared with that of the IP membrane) for brine with a Mg2+/Li+ ratio of 20. This study provides a reference for developing nanofiltration membranes used for high-efficiency Mg2+/Li+ separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration is considered a promising technology for separation of multivalent/monovalent ions such as extracting lithium from Salt Lake brine with high Mg2+/Li+ ratio. However, the nanofiltration membranes fabricated via conventional interfacial polymerization process generally possess negatively charged surface and have low Mg2+/Li+ selectivity. Herein, we proposed a new and facile method, i.e., reversed interfacial polymerization (RIP), to prepare nanofiltration membranes with positively charged surface and uniform charge distribution. The sequence of amine (polyethyleneimine, PEI) and acyl chloride (trimesoyl chloride, TMC) monomers on polysulfone support was reversed compared to the conventional interfacial polymerization (IP) process. Moreover, the solvent of amine monomer was acetone instead of water. The nanofiltration membranes fabricated by this method exhibited higher water flux (from 4.88 to 22.25 Lm−2h−1) and MgCl 2 rejection (from 84.36% to 97.71%). Meanwhile, LiCl/MgCl 2 separation factor in single salt solution reached up to 13.93, which was almost quadruple compared to the conventional control membrane. In addition, the developed nanofiltration membrane also exhibited an excellent separation selectivity (S Li, Mg = 9.22) in mixture system (Mg2+/Li+ mass ratio of 20), which had good application potential in extracting lithium resources from Salt Lake brine. [Display omitted] • A facile reversed interfacial polymerization (RIP) method was proposed. • Positively charged nanofiltration membranes with uniform charge distribution. • Acetone was selected as solvent of polyethyleneimine monomer instead of water. • Mg2+/Li+ selectivity reached 13.93 and 9.22 in single and mixed salt system, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) nanoparticles were used as sacrificial additives to fabricate PSf substrate membranes and based on which thin film composite (TFC) membranes were prepared using m-Phenylenediamine (MPD) and 1, 3, 5-trimesoylchloride (TMC) as the monomers. Then CaCO 3 nanoparticles dispersed in PSf matrix were effectively etched with hydrochloric acid to increase the substrate porosity. The effect of CaCO 3 loading (ranging from 0 to 10.0 wt%) was systematically investigated. The results showed that the substrate membranes fabricated with CaCO 3 incorporation exhibited higher porosity and smaller structural parameter, which is advantageous for improving water permeability and reducing mass transfer resistance. As for forward osmosis (FO) performance, the TFC membranes fabricated using modified substrates exhibited much higher water flux than the control TFC membrane prepared by substrate without CaCO 3 incorporation in both AL-FS and AL-DS mode when using DI water as the feed and 2 M NaCl as draw solution. The optimized TFC21 membrane also had better performance than other commercial TFC membranes in simulated seawater desalination. Moreover, the reduced membrane structural parameter indicated that the internal concentration polarization (ICP) could be mitigated via the etching method. This study provides a low cost and feasible way to reduce the ICP in FO membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel nanofiltration membrane prepared by interfacial polymerization of purposefully synthesized polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHGH) with antibacterial property and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membrane was investigated. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to characterize the chemical structures and morphologies of the active layers of obtained membranes. The effects of monomer concentrations, reaction time, curing temperature and time on filtration performance of the composite nanofiltration membranes were discussed. It was found that the membrane rejections to different salts followed the order of MgCl2>MgSO4>Na2SO4>NaCl. Dyes rejection results further showed the feasibility for the membranes to separate small organic molecules with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of around 700Da. Antibacterial experiments indicated that the newly prepared composite nanofiltration membrane had effective inhibition against Escherichia coli. Furthermore, a 50h fouling test using high concentration of bacteria solution also demonstrated an enhanced anti-biofouling performance of the composite nanofiltration membrane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The enhancement in selectivity of nanofiltration (NF) membranes is of great significance for extending the application areas and improving the process economy, especially for the separation of monovalent/divalent ions. The characteristics of moderately increased pore size, fewer nonselective defects and a more uniform structure are conducive to NF membrane exhibiting higher rejection of divalent ions but lower rejection of monovalent ions. Nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NP-10) was introduced in interfacial polymerization process in this study to optimize the microstructure and surface properties of polyamide (PA) layer to manufacture highly selective NF membranes. The hydrophobic benzene ring and aliphatic chain in NP-10 could form a local space that restricted the interfacial polymerization reaction on the side of the oil phase, thereby appropriately increasing the pore size of the PA layer. It was advantageous to the permeation of water molecules and monovalent ions with a smaller radius. The long hydrophilic oxyethylene group as a guide could facilitate the uniform diffusion of the monomer to the water/hexane interface. NP-10 as an amphiphilic substance would form a self-assembled network at the water/hexane interface, which was expected to optimize the distribution of aqueous amine monomers at the phase interface. Meanwhile, introducing NP-10 can form a stable interface and reduce the interface disturbance, thus inhibiting the formation of non-selective macropores (or "defects") in PA layer, which could improve the separation selectivity of monovalent/divalent ions. In addition, the hydrophilicity and electronegativity were also enhanced. The results showed that the MWCO of NF membrane increased from 210.1 Da (TFC-0) to 269.6 Da (TFC-0.25), and the average pore radius increased from 0.248 nm to 0.276 nm. The water flux of optimized membrane was doubled compared to the control membrane. Most important, the optimized exhibited higher rejection of divalent Na 2 SO 4 (from 98.07% to 99.43%), and meanwhile lower rejection of monovalent NaCl (from 54.07% to 27.52%). NaCl/Na 2 SO 4 separation factor reached up to 130.53, which was about four times of TFC-0 membrane. [Display omitted] • Separation factor (NaCl/Na 2 SO 4) reached up to 130.53. • Higher rejection of divalent ions but lower rejection of monovalent ions. • Moderately increased pore size, fewer defects, and uniform structure. • Restricted IP reaction to appropriately increase the pore size of PA layer. • A stable interface and reduce the interface disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic curing is an effective way to enhance the curing extent of composite material bonding in the aerospace industry. The non-thermal effect of ultrasonic has been revealed to improve curing efficiency. However, the mechanism of the ultrasonic non-thermal effect is still not clear. In this work, a variable activation energy model of ultrasonic curing was established by utilizing the iso-conversional method, including the activation energy of the thermal effect and activation energy of the non-thermal effect. The thermal effect caused by ultrasonic was accurately peeled off. An obvious decrease in activation energy was found from 54 kJ/mol in thermal curing to 38 kJ/mol in ultrasonic curing. The activation energy of the reaction system in ultrasonic curing was substituted into the modified Kamal autocatalytic equation, and the parameters of the ultrasonic curing kinetic model were estimated by means of an ALO algorithm. Further discussion based on in situ FTIR showed that the non-thermal effect of ultrasonic can affect the vibration strength, stability, and chemical bond energy of internal groups, but cannot cause the fracture of chemical bonds. Moreover, frontier molecular orbital analysis showed that the chemical reactivity of epoxy/amine molecules increased and the HOMO–LUMO energy gap decreased from 6.511 eV to 5.617 eV under the effect of ultrasonic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]