AN ALTERNATIVE SPECIFICATION FOR MODELING GROUNDWATER DYNAMICS

This research extends previous work with dynamic models to manage groundwater quality by using the consumptive nitrate use rate instead of the nitrate application rate. The analysis indicates that misspecification results in overestimation of economic benefits, and supra-optimum nitrogen fertilizer application rates and groundwater nitrate stocks at a steady state.     

一种检验定性指标的有效方法

介绍了一种检验定性指标的有效方法,可用于确定产品的合格率和评价检验人员的检验水平。用该方法分析了某厂产品的一项实际指标,合格率为91 4%,还对该厂10名检验员的检验水平作了客观的评价。     

Synthesis of thiol chelating resins and their adsorption properties toward heavy metal ions

A series of chelating resins, derived from a macroreticular styrene-divinylbenzene (2%) copolymer beads grafted with various poly(ethylene glycols) HO? (? CH₂? CH₂? O? )_n? H(n = 0, 4, 9, 13) and containing thiol groups as chelating functions, have been synthesized in a three-step reaction sequence. The structure of the functionalized resins was confirmed by IR spectrophotometry, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The complexation behavior of these thiol resins was investigated towards Hg(II), Cu(II), and Pb(II) ions in aqueous solution by a batch equilibration technique. The influence of pH on adsorption capacity was also examined. The adsorption values for metal ions' intake followed the order Hg(II) > Cu(II) > Pb(II). The affinity of these polymers towards Hg(II) ions was so high that the total mercury level in the liquid decreased from 20 ppm to below 10 ppb after 2 h of treatment. Polymers can be regenerated by washing with a solution of hydrochloric acid (6N) and 10% by weight of an aqueous solution of thiourea. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

激光通道传输热特性对远场光束质量的影响

 通过仿真计算分析了激光在光束控制系统通道内传输所产生的热效应及其对远场光束质量的影响。激光传播由近轴波方程描述，用快速傅里叶变换技术求解；激光热效应引起的流场密度变化采用完全Navier-Stokes方程计算。计算给出了不同波长、不同吸收系数条件下的远场光斑情况。计算结果表明，在典型的工作条件和状态下，较高能量激光在光束控制系统通道内产生的热效应影响不容忽视，它会明显降低远场目标处的能量集中度，增大光斑的发散。     

Recovery of 177Lu from Irradiated HfO2 Targets for Nuclear Medicine Purposes

A new method of production of one of the most widely used isotopes in nuclear medicine, ¹⁷⁷Lu, with high chemical purity was developed; this method includes irradiation of the HfO₂ target with bremsstrahlung photons. The irradiated target was dissolved in HF and then diluted and placed onto a column filled with LN resin. Quantitative sorption of ¹⁷⁷Lu could be observed during this process. The column later was rinsed with the mixture of 0.1 M HF and 1 M HNO₃ and then 2 M HNO₃ to remove impurities. Quantitative desorption of ¹⁷⁷Lu was achieved by using 6 M HNO₃. The developed method of ¹⁷⁷Lu production ensures high purification of this isotope from macroquantities of hafnium and zirconium and radioactive impurities of carrier-free yttrium. The content of ^177mLu in ¹⁷⁷Lu in photonuclear production was determined. Due to high chemical and radionuclide purity, ¹⁷⁷Lu obtained by the developed method can be used in nuclear medicine.     

An Experimental Design Approach to Quantitative Expression for Quality Control of a Multicomponent Antidiabetic Formulation by the HILIC Method

A rapid and reproducible hydrophilic liquid chromatography (HILIC) process was established for concomitant determination of remogliflozin etabonate (RE), vildagliptin (VD), and metformin (MF) in a formulation. A face-centered central composite experimental design was employed to optimize and predict the chromatographic condition by statistically studying the surface response model and design space with desirability close to one. A HILIC column with a simple mobile phase of acetonitrile (65% v/v) and 20 mM phosphate buffer (35% v/v, pH 6, controlled with orthophosphoric acid) was used to separate RE, VD, and MF. RE, VD, and MF were separated in 3.6 min using an isocratic mode mobile phase flow at a flow rate of 1.4 mL at room temperature, and the analytes were examined by recording the absorption at 210 nm. The developed HILIC method was thoroughly validated for all parameters recommended by ICH, and linearity was observed in the ranges 20–150 µg/mL, 10–75 µg/mL, and 50–750 µg/mL for RE, VD, and MF, respectively, along with excellent regression coefficients (r² > 0.999). The calculated percentage relative deviation and relative error ascertained the precision and accuracy of the method. The selectivity and accuracy were further confirmed by the high percentage recovery of added standard drugs to the formulation using the standard addition technique. The robustness of the HILIC processes was confirmed by developing a half-normal probability plot and Pareto chart, as the slight variation of a single factor had no significant influence on the assay outcomes. Utilization of the optimized HILIC procedure for concurrent quantification of RE, VD, and MF in solid dosage forms showed accurate and reproducible results. Hence, the fast HILIC method can be regularly employed for the quality assurance of pharmaceutical preparations comprising RE, VD, and MF.     

Review of Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Environmental Quality Applications

Fluorescence spectroscopy is an optical spectroscopic method that has been applied for the assessment of environmental quality extensively during the last 20 years. Most of the earlier works have used conventional light sources in spectrofluorometers to assess quality. Many recent works have used laser sources of light for the same purpose. The improvement of the energy sources and of the higher resolution spectrometers has led to a tremendous increase in applications. The motivation for the present review study is the increasing use of laser sources in environmental applications. The review is divided in two parts. The fundamental principles of fluorescence spectroscopy are described in the first part. The environmental applications are described in the second part.     

Feasibility of Defatted Juice from Sea-Buckthorn Berries (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) as a Wheat Beer Enhancer

Juice made from sea-buckthorn berries (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a valuable source of bioactive compounds, vitamins, as well as micro- and macronutrients. By applying defatted sea-buckthorn juice, it is possible to enhance wheat beer and change its sensory properties and the contents of bioactive compounds in the finished product. A sensory assessment showed that wheat beers with a 5% v/v addition of sea-buckthorn juice were characterised by a balanced taste and aroma (overall impression). Physicochemical analyses showed that, compared to the control samples, wheat beers enhanced with defatted sea-buckthorn juice at a rate of 5% v/v or 10% v/v had high total acidity with respective mean values of 5.30 and 6.88 (0.1 M NaOH/100 mL), energy values lower on average by 4.04% and 8.35%, respective polyphenol contents of 274.1 mg GAE/L and 249.7 mg GAE/L, as well as higher antioxidant activity (measured using DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays). The findings show that the samples of wheat beer enhanced with sea-buckthorn juice had average ascorbic acid contents of 2.5 and 4.5 mg/100 mL (in samples with 5% v/v and 10% v/v additions, respectively) and contained flavone glycosides, e.g., kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide-7-O-hexoside. Based on the current findings, it can be concluded that wheat beer enhanced with sea-buckthorn juice could emerge as a new trend in the brewing industry.     

Optimized Selection of Water Resource Allocation Schemes Based on Improved Connection Entropy in Beijing’s Southern Plain

Increased urbanization has caused problems such as increasing water consumption and the continuous deterioration of the groundwater environment. It is necessary to consider the groundwater quality in the water resource optimization system and increase the rate of reclaimed water development to reduce the amount of groundwater exploitation and achieve sustainable development of water resources. This study used the Daxing District, a region of Beijing’s southern plain, as an example to evaluate water quality by analyzing water quality data of surface and groundwater from 2012 to 2016 and actual water-use schemes from 2006 to 2016. Three groundwater extraction modes were set up based on NO₃–N concentrations, water resources were optimized under three extraction modes, and water resource optimization schemes were determined based on the improved connection entropy. The results show that (1) the surface water quality was poor, and the proportion of V₄ type water in the indexes of NH₃–N and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was the largest. The surface water can only be used for agricultural irrigation. The pollution sources contributing most to NH₃–N and COD were domestic and agricultural pollution sources. (2) The groundwater quality was good. The NO₃–N index was primarily type I–III water, accounting for 95.20% of the total samples. Severe NH₃–N pollution areas were mainly in the northern region, and most regional groundwater can be used for various purposes. (3) Taking 2016 as an example, three groundwater exploitation modes were set to optimize water resource allocation, and the results showed that the rate of groundwater development and NO₃–N pollution decreased significantly after optimization. (4) Connection entropy is an evaluation method that combines connection numbers and entropy, including identify, difference, and opposition entropy. As connection entropy being a kind of complete entropy, which can reflect the difference of the system in different states, based on the improved connection entropy, the connection entropies of optimal water resource allocation and actual water-use schemes were calculated. The connection entropy of groundwater exploitation mode 3 was less than that of groundwater exploitation modes 1 and 2 and actual water-use schemes from 2006 to 2016. Therefore, exploitation mode 3’s water resource optimization scheme was recommended. In the paper, satisfactory results have been obtained. As a kind of complete entropy, connection entropy has great research value in dealing with complex hydrological problems. This study’s research methods and outcomes can provide methodological and theoretical lessons for water management in freshwater-deficient areas.     

Raman Method in Identification of Species and Varieties,Assessment of Plant Maturity and Crop Quality—A Review

The present review covers reports discussing potential applications of the specificity of Raman techniques in the advancement of digital farming, in line with an assumption of yield maximisation with minimum environmental impact of agriculture. Raman is an optical spectroscopy method which can be used to perform immediate, label-free detection and quantification of key compounds without destroying the sample. The authors particularly focused on the reports discussing the use of Raman spectroscopy in monitoring the physiological status of plants, assessing crop maturity and quality, plant pathology and ripening, and identifying plant species and their varieties. In recent years, research reports have presented evidence confirming the effectiveness of Raman spectroscopy in identifying biotic and abiotic stresses in plants as well as in phenotyping and digital selection of plants in farming. Raman techniques used in precision agriculture can significantly improve capacities for farming management, crop quality assessment, as well as biological and chemical contaminant detection, thereby contributing to food safety as well as the productivity and profitability of agriculture. This review aims to increase the awareness of the growing potential of Raman spectroscopy in agriculture among plant breeders, geneticists, farmers and engineers.