Self-sustained smouldering treatment technology for high-moisture sludge: Pilot-scaled tests with continuous operation.

Smouldering is a novel, low-energy, low-cost technology for disposing of sludge with high moisture. Currently, related researches focus on the lab-scale with batch disposal, but more reports about the pilot-scale with continuous process need to be done. Based on our previous research, this study further enlarged the pilot-scale smouldering reactor height from 1.

Comprehensive effect of increased calcium content in coal on the selenium emission from coal-fired power plants: Combined laboratory and field experiments.

Coal combustion is the major contributor to global toxic selenium (Se) emissions. Inorganic elements in coals significantly affect Se partitioning during combustion. This work confirmed that the calcium (Ca) in ash had a stronger relationship with Se retention at 1300 °C than other major elements.

Modeling of arsenic migration and emission characteristics in coal-fired power plants.

After coal combustion, the minerals present in fly ash can adsorb arsenic (As) during flue gas cooling and reduce As emissions. However, a quantitative description of this adsorption behavior is lacking. Herein, the As adsorption characteristics of minerals (Al/Ca/Fe/K/Mg/Na/Si) were investigated, and a model was developed to predict As content in fly ash.

Effects of temperature on the migration behaviour of arsenic and chromium in tannery sludge under CO gasification.

To reduce heavy metals (HMs) contamination from tannery sludge, this study investigated the migration behaviour of arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) at 700-900 °C using CO gasification. The HMs enrichment results showed that As contents of ash decreased (6.42→1.

Reducing CO/NO and absorbing heavy metals in self-sustained smouldering of high-moisture sludge by regulating inert media with low-cost natural zeolite.

Smouldering is a low-energy, low-cost, effective treatment technology for sludge with high moisture. However, combustible gas and pollution in the flue gas limit the low-cost operation. This work proposes a novel method to in-situ reduce gas emissions (CO, NO, VOCs) and absorb heavy metals by regulating inert media with low-cost natural zeolite in self-sustained smouldering of sludge, and the effect of natural zeolite blending ratio on the performance is deeply investigated by fixed-bed and smouldering experiments.

Experimental investigation on self-sustained smouldering of food-processing sludge with extremely high moisture content: From laboratory-scale to pilot-scale volumetric scale-up.

Although smouldering of solid waste with high moisture has shown strong promise in laboratory studies, there are fewer reports about the larger-scale device and continuous operation. This work studies a self-sustaining smouldering treatment of food-processing sludge (FPS) with extremely high moisture (over 85 %) in laboratory- and pilot-scale devices. Results from laboratory-scale experiments show that adding auxiliary fuel is necessary to maintain FPS self-sustaining smouldering, Sand: FPS: Sawdust = 25:5:1 is a reasonable mixing ratio.

Comparative study of inhibition mechanisms of structurally different flavonoid compounds on α-glucosidase and synergistic effect with acarbose.

Flavonoid compounds have anti-diabetic activity, which can control blood glucose levels by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity. In this paper, the inhibition mechanisms between four flavonoid compounds and α-glucosidase were studied by multispectroscopic methods and molecular docking. The results showed that the inhibitory activities of flavonoid compounds were higher than that of acarbose, and the sequence of inhibition effect was scutellarein > nepetin > apigenin > hispidulin > acarbose.

Experimental and DFT studies on the characteristics of PbO/PbCl adsorption by Si/Al- based sorbents in the simulated flue gas.

Mineral oxides are effective in-furnace sorbents used to control lead (Pb) emissions in flue gas at high temperatures. In this paper, the PbO/PbCl adsorption characteristics of sorbents were investigated via experimental and density functional theory (DFT) methods. The results show that Si/Al-based compounds can chemically adsorb Pb, and the adsorption is related to the Si-O and Al-O bonds in the sorbents.

Deep insight into the effect of NaCl/HCl/SO/CO in simulated flue gas on gas-phase arsenic adsorption over mineral oxide sorbents.

Coal combustion is one of the major pathways by which arsenic enters the ecological environment. An effective method to control arsenic emissions in-furnace is to transform the arsenic from a vapour to fly ash particles using mineral sorbents. However, flue gas components have a significant effect on gas-phase arsenic adsorption, which limits the industrial application of mineral sorbents.

Altered Effective Connectivity of Bilateral Hippocampus in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience cognitive deficits but the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms are not known. We therefore applied Granger causality analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the effective connectivity (EC) of the hippocampus in patients with T2DM. Eighty six patients with T2DM and 84 matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited.

Theoretical studies on the energy structures and optical properties of copper cysteamine - a novel sensitizer.

Copper cysteamine (Cu-Cy) is a new type of photosensitizer, which can be activated not only by ultraviolet light, but also by X-rays, microwaves and ultrasound to generate reactive oxygen species for treating cancer and infection diseases. Moreover, copper cysteamine has a strong luminescence, which can be used for both therapeutics and imaging. In addition, it can also be used for solid state lighting, radiation detection and sensing.

Exploration of Copper-Cysteamine Nanoparticles as a New Type of Agents for Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation.

Copper-cysteamine (Cu-Cy) nanoparticles (NPs) are a new type of sensitizers that can be activated by UV light, X-rays, microwaves and ultrasound to produce reactive oxygen species for cancer treatment. Here, for the first time, we explored Cu-Cy NPs for bacteria inactivation by treating gram-positive bacteria (methicillin-resistant and ) and gram-negative bacteria ( and ), respectively. The results show that Cu-Cy NPs are very effective in killing gram-positive bacteria but are quite limited in killing gram-negative bacteria yet.

X-ray induced photodynamic therapy with copper-cysteamine nanoparticles in mice tumors.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a treatment that uses a photosensitizer, molecular oxygen, and light to kill target cells, is a promising cancer treatment method. However, a limitation of PDT is its dependence on light that is not highly penetrating, precluding the treatment of tumors located deep in the body. Copper-cysteamine nanoparticles are a new type of photosensitizer that can generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen molecules upon activation by X-rays.

The effectiveness and safety of X-PDT for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

To clarify the effectiveness and safety of x-ray-activated photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Copper-cysteamine nanoparticles were used as a photosensitizer of X-PDT. The dark toxicity and cytotoxicity were studied Tumor volume, microvessel density and acute toxicity of mice were evaluated .

Altered Resting-State Functional Activity in Medication-Naive Patients With First-Episode Major Depression Disorder vs. Healthy Control: A Quantitative Meta-Analysis.

There is an urgent need for a meta-analysis that characterizes the brain states of major depression disorder (MDD) patients and potentially provides reliable biomarkers, because heterogeneity in the results of resting-state functional neuroimaging has been observed between studies, with some patients not showing the consistent changes, or even opposite patterns. Thus, we evaluated consistent regional brain activity alterations in medication-naive patients with first-episode unipolar MDD and compared the results with those in healthy controls (HCs). A systematic database search was conducted (in PubMed, Ovid, and Web of Knowledge) between January 1984 and July 2016 to select resting-state functional activity studies with a voxel-wise analysis in MDD.

Investigation of copper-cysteamine nanoparticles as a new photosensitizer for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver and occurs predominantly in patients with underlying chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. HCC is now the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with over 500,000 people affected. However, there is no complete effective (ideal) treatment for liver cancer yet, and the new methods are expected to be discovered.

Altered Resting-State Functional Activity in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quantitative Meta-Analysis.

There is accumulating evidence showing that patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have obvious changes in resting-state functional brain activity. So far, there have been no meta-analyses of the resting-state brain activity alterations in patients with ASD. We attempted to explore the resting-state functional activity changes in patients with ASD, possibly providing a new perspective for investigating the pathophysiology of patients with ASD.

Wavelength-shifting properties of luminescence nanoparticles for high energy particle detection and specific physics process observation.

Ultraviolet (UV) photon detection is becoming increasingly important in the quest to understand the fundamental building blocks of our universe. Basic properties of neutrinos and Dark Matter are currently being explored through interactions with noble elements. In response to interactions with fundamental particles, these elements emit scintillation photons in the UV range.

Inhibition of autophagy potentiates the apoptosis-inducing effects of photodynamic therapy on human colon cancer cells.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported to be a promising therapy for colon cancer because of its substantial safety features and its ability to induce a systematic reaction rather than local effects on the focal lesion in the intestine. Autophagy and apoptosis play important roles in the response to PDT. However, the role of autophagy after PDT treatment has not yet been clarified.

[Role of PpIX-based photodynamic therapy in promoting the damage and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cell and its mechanisms].

To explore the effects of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on induction of apoptosis and death in colon cancer cell and the underlying mechanisms.
 Methods: The cell killing effect of PDT on HCT116 cell was determined by cell counting kit (CCK). The cells were divided into a control group, a single light group, a single PpIX group, and a PDT group.

Investigation of Copper Cysteamine Nanoparticles as a New Type of Radiosensitiers for Colorectal Carcinoma Treatment.

Copper Cysteamine (Cu-Cy) is a new photosensitizer and a novel radiosensitizer that can be activated by light, X-ray and microwave to produce singlet oxygen for cancer treatment. However, the killing mechanism of Cu-Cy nanoparticles on cancer cells is not clear yet and Cu-Cy nanoparticles as novel radiosensitizers have never been tested on colorectal cancers. Here, for the first time, we investigate the treatment efficiency of Cu-Cy nanoparticles on SW620 colorectal cells and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the effects.

Reduced Gray Matter Volume in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Previous studies of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have found that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) exhibit gray matter alterations, but these findings are inconsistent and have not been quantitatively reviewed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a quantitative meta-analysis of VBM studies of patients with T2DM. The seed-based d mapping method was applied to quantitatively estimate the regional gray matter abnormalities in T2DM patients.

CuS nanoagents for photodynamic and photothermal therapies: Phenomena and possible mechanisms.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have been emerging as attractive and promising methods for tumor treatment in clinical approaches. CuS nanoparticles are effective and cost-effective agents for PTT. Recently, it was observed that CuS nanoparticles are also excellence candidates for PDT.