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Sustainable HRT of 3–4 h achieved for MABR effluent with carbon and nitrogen meeting the discharge standard of level I class A in China for synthetic municipal wastewater treatment.

The northern slope water of the South China Sea (SCS) is oligotrophic. The regenerated nitrogen from dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) has been suggested to play a pivotal role in sustaining primary productivity; however, DON cycling has not been investigated there. Dissolved free amino acids (DFAAs) and polyamines (DFPAs) are two major groups of labile DON that are used rapidly by heterotrophic bacteria, and important in nitrogen cycling. Here, we measured turnover rates and concentrations of representative DFAAs (arginine and glutamic acid) and DFPAs (putrescine) in waters of the northern slope of the SCS, to estimate uptake rates and evaluate their potentials to fulfill carbon and nitrogen demands of bacterial production. Furthermore, homologs of genes encoding transporter systems for arginine (aotJ) and putrescine (potD/potF) were quantified in metagenomes from four depths at two sampling stations. The taxa encoding these genes were identified to gain insight into the composition of microbial communities potentially utilizing DFAAs and DFPAs. We found that uptake rates of two DFAAs and putrescine were more rapid than measured previously in seawater with similar environmental characteristics. The uptake of arginine and glutamic acids was estimated to account for 2.4-51% (19 ± 14%) and 2.7-59% (24 ± 20%) of bacterial carbon and nitrogen demand, respectively, and putrescine uptake contributed 4.4-100% (27 ± 33%) and 13-293% (80 ± 96%), respectively. Spatial variation in uptake rates indicated that biogeochemical cycling of DFAAs was distinct from that of DFPAs. Redundancy analysis and metagenomes demonstrated that environmental variables and distinction in bacterial assembleges using DFAAs and DFPAs could both affect their dynamics in the northern slope water of the SCS.

Due to the essential roles of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in both microbiol food loop and marine carbon cycling, changes in marine DOM composition have an important impact on the marine ecosystem and carbon cycling. In October 2014 and June 2015, two field investigations for the DOM in the upper 200 m were conducted in the slope region of the northern South China Sea to characterize the DOM composition via amino acid enantiomers. In June, our sampling locations were under upwelling impact induced by an eddy-pair event, whereas in October there were no eddies. High-frequency sampling (a few hours interval) over 24 h reveals that the variability of the amino acid carbon yield (min. 0.2%) and the D/L alanine ratio (min. 0.02) is larger than its corresponding analytical and propagated errors, suggesting solid short-term changes for these two molecular-based indicators. Section samples from June showed a lower D/L alanine ratio (0.43 vs. 0.53) and a GABA mol% (1.0% vs. 1.6%) relative to the section samples from October, suggesting that DOM in June is more fresh (less degraded) compared to that in October. A higher serine mol% (19.5% vs. 13.2%) and lower D/L serine ratio (0.06 vs. 0.24) from the diel observation in June relative to October further indicates that phytoplankton, rather than bacteria, plays an more important role in DOM composition alternation. This is consistent with the higher phytoplankton biomass found in June, promoted by the eddy-pair.

In this work, the protection of different quantum entanglement and correlation is explored by local filtering operations. The results show that the filtering operations can indeed be useful for combating amplitude-damping decoherence and recovering the quantum entanglement and correlation. In this scheme, although the final states satisfy the quantum entanglement and correlation, the corresponding initial noisy states does not satisfy them, which means that the filtering operations can reveal the hidden genuine quantum entanglement and correlation of these initial noisy states.

In this paper, we investigate the quantum correlation witnessed by trace distance discord and thermal entanglement in Heisenberg spin models with an inhomogeneous magnetic field. The results show that quantum correlation can be considerable controlled, and trace distance discord is more robust against temperature than thermal entanglement. Moreover, the quantum correlation at the fixed temperature T can be enhanced with coupling coefficient J increasing or magnetic field thinning. On the other hand, for any T and J both of them always exhibit the strict symmetry with respect to the inversion of magnetic field. Interestingly, we confirm that z -component J z in XXZ model greatly influences its phase diagram.

In order to explore the effect of cadmium stress on root vigor and accumulation of five kinds of conventional metal elements in Salix variegata, a hydroponic experiment with different cadmium treatments were conducted. The cadmium treatments included 0 mg·L以秋华柳为试验材料,采用水培试验方式,设置CK(0 mg·L

We investigate the quantum correlations including quantum discord and entanglement under the amplitude damping channel. Our analysis results indicate that although the entanglement of initial state is degraded due to decoherence, the distribution trend of entanglement is not to be affected. Moreover, we find that the survival time for entanglement is much longer than for the Bell inequality violation, i.e., as time goes on the Bell inequality violation of final state may be not satisfied while the final state still remains entangled. Especially, although quantum entanglement and quantum discord all decrease under the amplitude damping channel, quantum discord (QD) is reduced significantly slower than entanglement. Therefore, the quantum discord is more robust against amplitude damping in comparison to entanglement measures. Furthermore, we also find that there are mixed states having quantum discord higher than that for pure states for a given degree of Bell's inequality violation. This means that the manipulation of nonclassical correlations via a pure state can result in a larger loss of quantum discord than that via a mixed state.

In the paper, we researched the quantum phase transition (QPT) in the anisotropic spin XXZ model by exploiting the quantum renormalization group (QRG) method. The innovation point is that we adopt a new approach called trace distance discord to indicate the quantum correlation of the system. QPT after several iterations of renormalization in current system has been observed. Consequently, it opened the possibility of investigation of QPR in the geometric discord territory. While the anisotropy suppresses the correlation due to favoring of the alignment of spins, the DM interaction restores the spoiled correlation via creation of the quantum fluctuations. We also apply quantum renormalization group method to probe the thermodynamic limit of the model and emerging of nonanalytic behavior of the correlation.

We investigate the decoherence to generate quantum discord between two separable qubits of an unentangled mixed state and propose a series of feasible schemes to enhance quantum discord by means of reliable quantum operations. By combing our schemes with the previous proposal, one can note that the generated quantum discord can be greatly enhanced. Moreover, our success probability entirely depends on the quantum measurement strength.

How the Unruh---Hawking effect and prepared states influence the entanglement distillability of a free Dirac field is investigated by using the Werner and Horodecki states. It is found that Werner and Horodecki states will be converted from distillable into the separate in the noninertial frame. The parameter $$\alpha $$? of the generic entangled states has a different effect on Werner-like and Horodecki-like states. For the Werner-like states, although the parameter $$\alpha $$? influences the entanglement, it does not change the range of the parameter $$F$$F where the entanglement distillability of the Werner-like states is possible. For the Horodecki-like states, the parameter $$\alpha $$? not only influences the entanglement but also changes the range of the parameter $$P$$P where the entanglement distillability of Horodecki-like states can be achieved.

In this paper, we propose a feasible scheme for purifying two-qubit entanglement in the presence of decoherence by employing weak measurements. As long as the entanglement parameter $$\alpha $$? and the measurement strength $$p$$p satisfy a certain condition, we can always achieve the purification without reference to the initial state. Furthermore, an arbitrary initial state can be directly purified into the maximally entangled state by setting measurement strength $$p=1-\frac{\left| \alpha \right| }{\sqrt{1-\left| \alpha \right| ^{2}}}$$p=1-?1-?2. The success probability of our scheme not only depends on measurement strength, but also closely links to the initial state.

In this work, the effect of Hawking radiation on the quantum Fisher information (QFI) of Dirac particles is investigated in the background of a Schwarzschild black hole. Interestingly, it has been verified that the QFI with respect to the weight parameter $$\theta $$ of a target state is always independent of the Hawking temperature T. This implies that if we encode the information on the weight parameter, then we can affirm that the corresponding accuracy of the parameter estimation will be immune to the Hawking effect. Besides, it reveals that the QFI with respect to the phase parameter $$\phi $$ exhibits a decay behavior with the increase in the Hawking temperature T and converges to a nonzero value in the limit of infinite Hawking temperature T. Remarkably, it turns out that the function $$F_\phi $$ on $$\theta =\pi \big /4$$ symmetry was broken by the influence of the Hawking radiation. Finally, we generalize the case of a three-qubit system to a case of a N-qubit system, i.e., $$|\psi \rangle _{1,2,3,\ldots ,N} =(\cos \theta | 0 \rangle ^{\otimes N}+\sin \theta \mathrm{e}^{i\phi }| 1 \rangle ^{\otimes N})$$ and obtain an interesting result: the number of particles in the initial state does not affect the QFI $$F_\theta $$ , nor the QFI $$F_\phi $$ . However, with the increasing number of particles located near the event horizon, $$F_\phi $$ will be affected by Hawking radiation to a large extent, while $$F_\theta $$ is still free from disturbance resulting from the Hawking effects.

In this work, the quantum fisher information (QFI) and Bell non-locality of a multipartite fermionic system are investigated. Unlike the currently existing research of QFI, we focus our attention on the differences between quantum fisher information and Bell non-locality under the relativistic framework. The results show that although the relativistic motion affects the strength of the non-locality, it does not change the physical structure of non-locality. However, unlike the case of non-locality, the relativistic motion not only influence the precision of the QFI Fϕ but also broke the symmetry of the function Fϕ. The results also show that for a special multipartite system, "Equation missing", the number of particles of a initial state do not affect the Fθ. Furthermore, we also find that Fθ is completely unaffected in non-inertial frame if there are inertial observers. Finally, in view of the decay behavior of QFI and non-locality under the non-inertial frame, we proposed a effective scheme to battle against Unruh effect.

In this study, 5-fluorouracil-1-acetic acid was chemically conjugated with poly(glycerol-sebacate) (PGS) to form a unitary polymer poly(glycerol-sebacate- (5-fluorouracil-1-acetic acid)) (PGS-5-FU-CH2COOH). The structure, the in vitro antitumor activity of 5-FU-CH2COOH, the in vitro degradation, the drug release, and antitumor activity as well as the in vivo degradation and tissue biocompatibility of PGS-5-FU-CH2COOH were investigated. The 5-FU-CH2COOH inhibited HeLa (human cervical cancer cell line) and SGC-7901 (human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line) tumor cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.196 and 0.267 μM, respectively, after a 3-day incubation. The in vitro drug release profiles of PGS-5-FU-CH2COOH exhibited a biphasic release with an initial exponential phase in the first week and then the second constant linear phase. An in vitro antitumor assay of the PGS-5-FU-CH2COOH polymer showed significant cytotoxicity against tumor cells. The implanted PGS-5-FU-CH2COOH degraded completely in 1 month after implantation. The antitumor activity and improved drug release profile of PGS-5-FU-CH2COOH indicate its potential as an implantable polymer for cancer therapy.

Aspen Plus is a process software with great functions, almost all chemical process could be described by using it. Based on experimental equipment composition and related experimental results, a simulation model of biomass pyrolysis process occurring in a fluidized bed reactor is successfully developed. Via sensitivity analysis on products’ output change along with reaction temperature’s change and analysis of mutual relationship between fractions of product residues, reaction regulation of biomass pyrolysis process could be received. As a result, this model provides a useful description of the process for producing gas, liquid and solid products, however, receiving more data from experiment is the precondition of the simulation model’s optimization.

This paper studied the co-pyrolysis behavior of crop straw and swill-cooked dirty oil (≈ 2:1 ratio by weight) at 10, 30, 50K/min, in dynamic thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) under inert atmosphere, from 303K to 973K. The kinetic parameters were calculated using the method of Ozawa-Flynn-Wall, and mechanism was hypothesized as first-order model. The results showed that the dirty oil led degradation temperatures to slide towards higher slightly, meanwhile broadened the temperature interval of decomposition. However, the presence of dirty oil had little impact on activation energy. These findings indicated a significant synergistic relationship between straw and dirty oil, and it was practicable for co-pyrolysis from the viewpoint of thermal and kinetics analysis.

Quantum entanglement and nonlocality will suffer inevitable harm from decoherence environment. Based on GHZ state, we study the harm of the generalized amplitude damping (GAD) operation and the protection by the single local filtering (SLF) operation in this paper. We verify that the SLF functions to depress the loss of entanglement and nonlocality from GAD. This conclusion will guide us to select the best method to protect the GHZ state from GAD decoherence.

To explore the value of dual-time-point (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose integrated positron emission and computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) in differentiation of malignant from benign gastrointestinal diseases.Sixty five patients with suspected gastrointestinal lesions underwent dual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging. Standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated for semi-quantitative assessment. The SUV of the two acquisitions were signed SUV(early) and SUV(delayed), respectively. Then the change of SUVmax (ΔSUVmax) was calculated. The ROC curves of the SUV(early), SUV(delayed) and ΔSUV were drawn to find the best cut-off point value for differential diagnosis, and then the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were calculated, respectively.Of the malignant lesions, the SUVmax in delayed imaging were significantly higher than those in early imaging, while there were no significant differences of SUVmax between the two images of the benign lesions. The ΔSUVmax of the malignant lesions were significantly higher than that of the benign ones. Taking the SUVmax higher than 9.2 in early imaging as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 72.7%, the specificity was 85.7%, the positive predictive value was 91.4%, the negative predictive value was 60.0%, and the accuracy was 76.9%. Taking the SUVmax higher than 10.9 in delayed imaging as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 75.0%, the specificity was 90.5%, the positive predictive value was 94.3%, the negative predictive value was 63.3%, and the accuracy was 80.0%. Taking the ΔSUVmax higher than 5.1% as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 95.5%, the specificity was 85.7%, the positive predictive value was 93.3%, the negative predictive value was 90.0%, and the accuracy was 92.3%. The accuracy of dual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging was significantly higher than that of single-time point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.Dual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging is a useful method for differentiating malignant from benign gastrointestinal diseases, and it is superior to the single-time point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.

Curcumin is reported to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-tumor activities. The human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) encodes the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ currents. Inhibition of hERG K+ channels leads to cardiac repolarization prolongation, which contributes to either the anti-arrhythmic effects of anti-arrhythmic drugs, or the pro-arrhythmic effects (induction of long QT syndrome) of some drugs not used for anti-arrhythmias. Since curcumin shows multiple beneficial effects and clinical significance, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of curcumin on hERG K+ channels, elucidating its potential cardiac therapeutic or toxic effects. In whole-cell patch-clamp experiments, we found that curcumin inhibited hERG K+ currents in HEK293 cells stably expressing hERG channels in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 value of 5.55 μM. The deactivation, inactivation and the recovery time from inactivation of hERG channels were significantly changed by acute treatment of 10 μM curcumin. Incubation of 20 μM curcumin for 24 h reduced the HEK293 cell viability. Intravenous injection of maximal amount of curcumin in rabbits (20 mg/animal) did not affect the cardiac repolarization manifested with QTc value. We conclude that curcumin inhibits hERG K+ channels in vitro.

To develop a proper indicator which could predict water quality and trace pollution sources is critically important for the management of sustainable aquatic ecosystem. In our study, seven water samples collected from Wuliangsuhai Lake in Inner Mongolia were used. UV-visible spectra and synchronous fluorescence spectra were applied to investigate the humification degree and aromatic structure of dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from water samples. The results showed that both samples from W1 site and W3 site display lower humification degree and less aromatic structure, where industrial wastewater and domestic sewage, and reclaimed water of farmland irrigation, were accepted respectively. After computing the values of SUVA254, A280, A250/365, A253/203 and A226–400, we reached the conclusion that they have a consistent trend (W4> W6> W5> W2> W7> W1> W3). Fluorescence index (f450/500) was always utilised to interpret the origin of organic matter in a complex aquatic environment system. Values of f450/500 are closer to 1.60, indicating that humic substances derived from terrestrial sources and biological sources. Our study demonstrated that reclaimed water of farmland irrigation, industrial wastewater and domestic sewage will definitely influence the humification degree and amount of the aromatic structure of DOM.

Fluorescence spectroscopy relies on the fluorescence emitted by rigid conjugated systems and thus has been increasingly used to assess the soil organic matter (SOM) humification. This technique is widely applied to solution samples of humic substances, and so far no information exists about its applicability to solid-phase soil samples. Composite soil samples of different depths (0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm) were collected from four different halophyte communities along a saline-impact gradient, namely, Comm. Salicornia europaea (CSE), Comm. Suaeda glauca (CSG), Comm. Kalidium foliatum (CKF) and Comm. Sophora alopecuroides (CSA) located around Wuliangsuhai Lake. A humification index based on solid surface fluorescence spectroscopy (HIX(SSF)) was proposed, and compared with conventional humification indices I400/I360, I470/I360, I465/I399 and A4 /Al. There were close positive linear correlations between HIXass and 1400/1360, 145/I399 and A4/A1, but a poor positive linear correlation existed between the HIX(SSF) and I470/I360. The results indicated that HIX(SSF) can be taken as a tool to assess the soil humi fication. The HIX(SSF) of the CSE and CSG varied inappreciably within soil profiles and there was no trend with depth. However the HIX(SSF) varied appreciably in the CKF and CSA, and the HIX(SSF) of the bottom soil profile was higher than that of the other profiles. As a whole, the soil humification degree was low around Wuliangsuhai Lake, and the ecological environment was relatively fragile. The salinity showed a strong negative linear relationship with the I400/I360, I470/I360, I465/I399 and A4/A1, but a good negative linear relationship with the HIX(SSF). The results indicated that the degree of the SOM humification increased with the drop in the salinity. The HIX(SSF) can be an indicator not only of the degree of SOM humification, but also of the process of the salinisation.

Hirschsprung's disease is the congenital absence of generating the peristaltic contractions transmitting from the proximal colon to rectum. We previously have found that tetraethylammonium (TEA), the nonselective Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel blocker, increases the maximal contractile force and the amplitude of the contraction in rat duodenum. The present study is to test the effect of TEA on motility of colon and rectum from rats and Hirschsprung's disease patients in vitro, in order to find an alternative method to improve the syndrome of Hirschsprung's disease. The rectal and colonic motility was recorded by a tension transducer connected to a biology function experiment system. Histology was analyzed with standard hematoxylin and eosin staining. TEA (1, 3, and 5 mM) significantly increased the amplitude and frequency of contractility of colon and rectum from rats in longitudinal and circular direction. TEA at 5 and 15 mM concentrations showed no effect on histology of colon and rectum from rats that were administered locally with TEA into colon lumen from anus for 10 days. TEA at 15 mM increased the amplitude and frequency of contractions of the colon and rectum from Hirschsprung's disease patients. Our data showed that TEA increased the contractility of colon and rectum from rats and Hirschsprung's disease patients in vitro, suggesting that local administration of TEA in colon or rectum lumen might be an alternative method to ameliorate the syndrome of Hirschsprung's disease patients who are not cured completely by surgery or not suitable for surgery.

To extract polysaccharides from Caulerpa taxifolia and determine its anti-virus bioactivity.The crude polysaccharides were extracted by hot water and precipitated with ethanol, then they were further purified by DEAE-Cellulose and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. After determined by chemicophysical analysis, the polished polysaccharides were selenium treated and bio-assayed by MT and CPE methods.The crude extraction from Caulerpa taxifolia was a kind of sulfated polysaccharides in which the average content of polysaccharides and sulfate were 27. 9% and 11.5%, respectively. The recovery rate of the polished polysaccharides was 66.3% after the 2-column purification. The IC50 and TI of the purified polysaccharide SCpl1 were 2.2 mg/mL and 3057.0, respectively. After treated with selenium, the average diameter of the nanoparticle was 28.6 nm, and its bioactivity and TI index were enhanced significantly although with a higher cytotoxicity.The polysaccharides from Caulerpa taxifolia and its selenium particles was a kind of bioactive substance for anti-virus drug-candidate development.

The relationship between quantum entanglement and non-locality is studied in a two-qubit system for pure states and Werner states. It is found that Werner states are more entangled than pure states if one compares the negativity for a given degree of non-locality. Furthermore, we also find that the entanglement produces sudden death for pure states but reaches to a fixed value for Werner states if the non-locality is not satisfied.

1. Werden Plexuszellen langer als wenige Minuten nach dem Tode in situ gelassen, so neigen sie zu einem vakuolaren Zerfall mit Verlust des Burstensaumes. 2. Werden Plexuszellen operativ in einer kombinierten Bulbokapnin-Athernarkose gewonnen, so zeigen sie eine starke Schwellung, die schlieslich auch auf den Kern ubergreift, und eine Ansammlung von Fett. 3. Unsere Versuche bestatigen, das die Weedsche Losung in die Plexuszellen eindringt. 4. Ebenso bestatigen sie Askanazys Beobachtung, das Eisen in die Plexuszellen eindringt, wenn Erytrocyten in den Liquor gelangen. Ob es sich bei diesen beiden Vorgangen um eine passive Infiltration oder um eine aktive Resorption handelt, wagen wir noch nicht zu entscheiden. 5. Es hat sich kein Anhaltspunkt dafur ergeben, das Fette oder Lipoide vom Liquorraum aus in den Plexus dringen. 6. Es fand sich nach Einspritzung gewaschener Erytrocyten ebenso nach Einspritzung von Luft oder Trypanblau in den Liquor eine Reaktion der Plexusepithelien, die wahrscheinlich eine nicht spezifische Antwort dieser Zellen auf Entzundungsreize darstellt. Sie besteht in einer truben Schwellung mit Vermehrung der Mitochondrien und des Golgi-Apparates und des intrazellularen Fettes. Bei den Versuchen mit Blutinjektion wurden die Veranderungen bis zu 12 Tagen nach der Injektion studiert. In dieser Zeit vermindert sich die Kernfarbbarkeit, wahrend die ubrige Zelle schon zur Norm zuruckkehrt.

Buschke1 and others believe that thallium acetate acts chiefly on the thyroid gland and the nervous system. Balbi,2 however, is of the opinion that it does not have such action. Since the Golgi apparatus and the mitochondria are the most vital cellular elements known so far, it is suggested that a study of the action of thallium acetate on these elements in the 2 tissues in question should yield more definite information than ordinary histological examination of the tissue as a whole. The following observations have been made:Eighteen albino rats of about the same age (3.25 to 3.5 months) and sex (male) were injected with a single injection of 8 mg. of thallium acetate per kilo of body weight and killed at weekly intervals thereafter for the study of the Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and other cellular elements in various organs and tissues. For each experiment, 3 animals were employed.Normally, the spinal ganglion cells contain a network-like Golgi apparatus and long and short, rod-like mitochondria inte...

Attention has already been called to the fact1 that Cajal's uraniumsilver method, devised primarily to demonstrate the Golgi apparatus, occasionally stains mitochondria. We are not aware of any critical test on record made to determine whether or not this method, without the part of silver-nitrate impregnation, is adaptable to the demonstration of mitochondria. In the course of our studies on the effects of heavy metallic salts upon cell structures, we have had occasion to use Cajal's “uranium-formalin fluid” as a general fixative. Various tissues of frog, white mouse, and guinea-pig were fixed in this fluid for 10 hours. After a quick wash in distilled water, the pieces were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin, and sections were stained with fuchsin and methyl green. In all cases, it was found that the mitochondria had been well fixed and excellently differentiated but mostly in cells near the surface of the block, the deeper-lying ones being less affected. This was evidently due to the poor penetration ...