Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) likely finds its application in source zone remediation. Two approaches to modify nZVI have been reported: bimetal (Fe-Me) and sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI). However, previous research has primarily focused on enhancing particle reactivity with these two modifications under more plume-like conditions. In this study, we systematically compared the trichloroethene (TCE) dechlorination pathway, rate, and electron selectivity of Fe-Me (Me: Pd, Ni, Cu, and Ag), S-nZVI, and nZVI with excess TCE simulating source zone conditions. TCE dechlorination on Fe-Me was primarily via hydrogenolysis while that on S-nZVI and nZVI was mainly via β-elimination. The surface-area normalized TCE reduction rate ( k) of Fe-Pd, S-nZVI, Fe-Ni, Fe-Cu, and Fe-Ag were ∼6800-, 190-, 130-, 20-, and 8-fold greater than nZVI. All bimetallic modification enhanced the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) while sulfidation inhibited HER. Fe-Cu and Fe-Ag negligibly enhanced electron utilization efficiency (ε) while Fe-Pd, Fe-Ni, and S-nZVI dramatically increased ε from 2% to ∼100%, 69%, and 72%, respectively. Adsorbed atomic hydrogen was identified to be responsible for the TCE dechlorination on Fe-Me but not on S-nZVI. The enhanced dechlorination rate along with the reduced HER of S-nZVI can be explained by that FeS conducting major electrons mediated TCE dechlorination while Fe oxides conducting minor electrons mediated HER.

Abstract--Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) is the preferred charging method for electric vehicles (EVs) powered by battery and supercapacitor. In this paper, a novel WPT system with constant current charging capability for sightseeing car with supercapacitor storage is designed. Firstly, an optimized magnetic coupler using ferrite cores and magnetic shielding structure are proposed to ensure stable power transfer and high efficiency. Compared with the traditional planar shape ferrite core coupler, the proposed magnetic coupler requires lesser ferrite material without degrading the performance of the WPT system. Secondly, the model of supercapacitor is applied to the WPT system and the relationship between equivalent load resistances of supercapacitor and charging time is analyzed in detail. Then, a Buck converter with PI controller is implemented on the secondary side to maintain constant charging current for the variable load. Finally, the proposed design is verified by experiments. Constant charging current of 31.5 A across transfer distance of 15 cm is achieved. The peak transfer power and system efficiency are 2.86 kW and 88.05%, respectively.Index Terms--Charging current regulation, magnetic coupler, supercapacitor (SC), variable load, wireless power transfer (WPT).

Calreticulin (CRT) is a soluble chaperone involved in the conformational maturation of glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Using biochemical and biophysical techniques including circular dichroism, proteolysis, and analytical ultracentrifugation, we have determined the effects of calcium and zinc ions on the structural properties of human CRT. Circular dichroism analysis has shown that the binding of calcium and zinc ions to CRT induces no significant changes in the secondary structure of the protein but affects in very distinct ways the local tertiary packing of these elements. More specifically, these studies have revealed that CRT adopts a more rigid and thermally stable structure upon binding calcium ions and a more loosely packed and thermally destabilized structure upon binding zinc ions. Consistent with these results, proteolysis experiments demonstrated that the intrinsic conformational flexibility of CRT can be modulated toward either a decrease or an increase in susceptibility to cleavage by chymotrypsin upon binding calcium or zinc ions, respectively. Results from sedimentation analysis indicated that the global three-dimensional structure of CRT is essentially unchanged upon binding calcium ions. In marked contrast, CRT self-associates reversibly to form dimers upon binding zinc ions. Collectively, our results provide evidence that calcium and zinc ions induce strikingly different changes in the biochemical and structural properties of CRT.

We introduce and study a so-called Wilson-loop d log representation of certain Feynman integrals for scattering amplitudes in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 4 SYM and beyond, which makes their evaluation completely straightforward. Such a representation was motivated by the dual Wilson loop picture, and it can also be derived by partial Feynman parametrization of loop integrals. We first introduce it for the simplest one-loop examples, the chiral pentagon in four dimensions and the three-mass-easy hexagon in six dimensions, which are represented by two- and three-fold d log integrals that are nicely related to each other. For multi-loop examples, we write the L-loop generalized penta-ladders as 2(L − 1)-fold d log integrals of some one-loop integral, so that once the latter is known, the integration can be performed in a systematic way. In particular, we write the eight-point penta-ladder as a 2L-fold d log integral whose symbol can be computed without performing any integration; we also obtain the last entries and the symbol alphabet of these integrals. Similarly we study the symbol of the seven-point double-penta-ladder, which is represented by a 2(L − 1)-fold integral of a hexagon; the latter can be written as a two-fold d log integral plus a boundary term. We comment on the relation of our representation to differential equations and resumming the ladders by solving certain integral equations.

We study cluster algebras for some all-loop Feynman integrals, including box-ladder, penta-box-ladder, and double-penta-ladder integrals. In addition to the well-known box ladder whose symbol alphabet is $$ {D}_2\simeq {A}_1^2 $$ D 2 ≃ A 1 2 , we show that penta-box ladder has an alphabet of D3 ≃ A3 and provide strong evidence that the alphabet of seven-point double-penta ladders can be identified with a D4 cluster algebra. We relate the symbol letters to the u variables of cluster configuration space, which provide a gauge-invariant description of the cluster algebra, and we find various sub-algebras associated with limits of the integrals. We comment on constraints similar to extended-Steinmann relations or cluster adjacency conditions on cluster function spaces. Our study of the symbol and alphabet is based on the recently proposed Wilson-loop d log representation, which allows us to predict higher-loop alphabet recursively; by applying it to certain eight-point and nine-point double-penta ladders, we also find D5 and D6 cluster functions respectively.

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Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation is one of the most dangerous insults for skin and causes sunburn, erythema, photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a yellow spice derived from dried rhizomes of Curcuma longa, has been shown to possess significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, anticoagulant and anti-infective effects. However, the protective effects of curcumin against acute photo-damage are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the photoprotective effects of curcumin against UVB-induced acute photo-damage in hairless mice and immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Topical application of curcumin significantly inhibited acute UVB (540 mJ cm , for 3 successive days)-induced inflammatory cells, collagen accrementition derangement and lipid peroxidation, and effectively induced NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear accumulation in uncovered (Uncv) hairless mice skin. Treatment of HaCaT cells with curcumin significantly attenuated acute UVB (300 mJ cm )-induced lactate dehydrogenase release, intracellular reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage, activated the expression of the phase II detoxifying enzymes and promoted DNA repair activity. The photoprotective effect provided by curcumin was potential associated with modulation of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response. Our study suggested that curcumin is a potential agent for preventing and/or treating UV radiation-induced acute inflammation and photoaging.