Effect of phosphorus (P) on the structure and reactivity of biochars produced from the pyrolysis of acid-washed biomass loaded with P of various forms

This paper investigates the effect of phosphorus (P) on char structure and reactivity of char prepared from the fast pyrolysis of purposely-prepared P-loaded biomass samples at 1000 °C in absence of other inorganic species. Biomass was first acid-washed then loaded with P of three different occurrence forms (one organic P i.e. phytic acid, and two inorganic P i.e. orthophosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acid) at the same P content of 0.8 wt%. Experimental results show that both organic and inorganic P substantially increase char yields during pyrolysis from 6.2% for the biomass sample without P to 23.0–26.0% for P-loaded samples due to the enhanced crosslinking by P-containing structures in char, leading to increases in the char C and H contents and decrease in O content. The presence of P in biochars from fast pyrolysis of various P-loaded biomass samples plays important role in the evolution of char structure and intrinsic reactivity measured during low-temperature oxidation at 500 °C in air under chemical-reaction-controlled regime. After pyrolysis and subsequent char oxidation, all P in biomass either as organic or inorganic P are found to be present in forms of acid-insoluble organic structures. For char prepared from acid-washed wood, char reactivity increases with char conversion due to the increasing pore surface area at higher conversion. Comparatively, for char prepared from acid-washed wood loaded with various P at char conversion below 60%, the presence of P increases char intrinsic reactivity due to the enhanced crosslinking of reactive carbon structures and reduced condensation of char structures. However, at conversions above 60%, P-containing species in char lead to a significant decrease in char reactivity, due to the formation of abundant CO-P bonds, that is highly resistant to the oxidation in air, in the reacting chars.     

Cryptanalysis and Improvement of Ye et al’s Quantum Private Comparison Protocol

Recently, Ye et al. (Int. J. Theor. Phys. 56, 1517–1529, 2017) proposed a quantum private comparison (QPC) protocol based on five-qubit entanglement state. Two parties can verify that their secret information is equal or not with the help of the semi-honest third party (TP). However, in this paper we will point out the Ye et al.’s initial protocol is not safe under a special participant attack. That is a malicious participant can get the other party’s secret input information illegally under the forgery attack. Furthermore, we give two possible improvement protocols, which can perform this protocol secure against this kind of attack.

     

Reductions on equivalence relations generated by universal sets

Let X, Y be Polish spaces, , . We say A is universal for Γ provided that each x‐section of A is in Γ and each element of Γ occurs as an x‐section of A. An equivalence relation generated by a set is denoted by , where . The following results are shown:

• (1) If A is a set universal for all nonempty closed subsets of Y, then is a equivalence relation and .
• (2) If A is a set universal for all countable subsets of Y, then is a equivalence relation, and
  • (i) and ;
  • (ii) if , then ;
  • (iii) if every set is Lebesgue measurable or has the Baire property, then .
  • (iv) for , if every set has the Baire property, and E is any equivalence relation, then .

     

Graphs are (1,Δ+1)-choosable

A graph $G$ is $(k,k^{\prime })$-choosable if the following holds: For any list assignment $L$ which assigns to each vertex $v$ a set $L\left(v\right)$ of $k$ real numbers, and assigns to each edge $e$ a set $L\left(e\right)$ of $k^{\prime }$ real numbers, there is a total weighting $?:V\left(G\right)\cup E\left(G\right)\to R$ such that $?\left(z\right)\in L\left(z\right)$ for $z\in V\cup E$, and ${\sum }_{e\in E\left(u\right)}?\left(e\right)+?\left(u\right)\ne {\sum }_{e\in E\left(v\right)}?\left(e\right)+?\left(v\right)$ for every edge $uv$. This paper proves that if $G$ is a connected graph of maximum degree $\Delta \ge 2$, then $G$ is $(1,\Delta +1)$-choosable.     

Syntheses of chiral fused 4,5-diazafluorene–bis(nopinane) derivatives

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Cyclometallated 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene iridium(III) complexes: synthesis,structure, and photoluminescence properties

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Separation technique based on electrophoresis,chromatography and magnetism phenomena: the migration time and peak broadening

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Vertically Grown Few-Layer MoS2 Nanosheets on Hierarchical Carbon Nanocages for Pseudocapacitive Lithium Storage with Ultrahigh-Rate Capability and Long-Term Recyclability

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is an intensively studied anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its high theoretical capacity, but it is still confronted by severe challenges of unsatisfactory rate capability and cycle life. Herein, few-layer MoS₂ nanosheets, vertically grown on hierarchical carbon nanocages (hCNC) by a facile hydrothermal method, introduce pseudocapacitive lithium storage owing to the highly exposed MoS₂ basal planes, enhanced conductivity, and facilitated electrolyte access arising from good hybridization with hCNC. Thus, the optimized MoS₂/hCNC exhibits reversible capacities of 1670 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ after 50 cycles, 621 mAh g⁻¹ at 5.0 A g⁻¹ after 500 cycles, and 196 mAh g⁻¹ at 50 A g⁻¹ after 2500 cycles, which are among the best for MoS₂-based anode materials. The specific power and specific energy, which can reach 16.1 kW and 252.8 Wh after 3000 cycles, respectively, indicate great potential in high-power and long-life LIBs. These findings suggest a promising strategy for exploring advanced anode materials with high reversible capacity, high-rate capability, and long-term recyclability.     

Melatonin stimulates aromatase expression and estradiol production in human granulosa-lutein cells: relevance for high serum estradiol levels in patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is one of the most life-threatening and potentially fatal complications associated with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Although the pathogenesis of OHSS remains unclear, elevated serum estradiol (E2) levels before human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration are associated with the risk of OHSS. The pineal hormone melatonin and its receptors are expressed in human granulosa cells and have been shown to stimulate E2 production. However, the effect of melatonin on the expression of aromatase, an enzyme responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of E2, in human granulosa cells remains to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that melatonin upregulates aromatase expression in primary cultured human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells through the melatonin receptor-mediated PKA-CREB pathway. Using a mouse model of OHSS, we demonstrate that administration of the melatonin receptor inhibitor luzindole inhibits the development of OHSS. In addition, the expression of ovarian aromatase and serum E2 levels are upregulated in OHSS mice compared to control mice, but this upregulation is attenuated by inhibition of the function of melatonin. Moreover, clinical results reveal that aromatase expression levels are upregulated in hGL cells from OHSS patients. Melatonin and E2 levels in the follicular fluid are significantly higher in OHSS patients than in non-OHSS patients. Furthermore, melatonin levels are positively correlated with E2 levels in follicular fluid. This study helps to elucidate the mechanisms mediating the expression of aromatase in hGL cells and provides a potential mechanism explaining the high E2 levels in patients with OHSS.Subject terms: Endocrine reproductive disorders, Endocrine reproductive disorders