ALBERT

Description: Energies, Vol. 11, Pages 2401: Design and Optimization of Multiple Circumferential Casing Grooves Distribution Considering Sweep and Lean Variations on the Blade Tip Energies doi: 10.3390/en11092401 Authors: Weimin Song Yufei Zhang Haixin Chen This paper focuses on the design and optimization of the axial distribution of the circumferential groove casing treatment (CGCT). Effects of the axial location of multiple casing grooves on the flow structures are numerically studied. Sweep and lean variations are then introduced to the blade tip, and their influences on the grooves are discussed. The results show that the ability of the CGCT to relieve the blockage varies with the distribution of grooves, and the three-dimensional blading affects the performance of both the blade and the CGCT. Accordingly, a multi-objective optimization combining the CGCT design with the sweep and lean design is conducted. Objectives, including the total pressure ratio and the adiabatic efficiency, are set at the design point; meanwhile, the choking mass flow and the near-stall performance are constrained. The coupling between the CGCT and the blade is improved, which contributes to an optimal design point performance and a sufficient stall margin. The sweep and lean in the tip redistribute the spanwise and chordwise loading, which enhances the ability of the CGCT to improve the blade’s performance. This work shows that the present CGCT-blade integrated optimization is a practical engineering strategy to develop the working capacity and efficiency of a compressor blade while achieving the stall margin extension.

Description: Ecological preservation and sustainable development depend on active public involvement. The emergence of online environmental communities greatly facilitates people’s participation in green endeavors. The population penetration of such platforms accelerates as existing users persuade people around them and media coverage further attracts public attention. This snowball effect plays an important role in the user base expansion, but the specific mechanism of social influence involved is yet to be examined. Based on the social influence theory, cognitive response theory, and elaboration likelihood model, this study establishes a research model depicting the relationship between persuasion in terms of social influence and outcomes in terms of behavioral intention and actual participation through the mediation of cognitive responses in terms of perceived value and perceived risk. Empirical results from survey observations show that social influence has both moderated (by education) and mediated (through perceived risk) effects on behavioral intention, which leads to actual participation. Meanwhile, social influence shapes the perceived value, which has a direct and strong impact on actual participation. These central and peripheral routes through which social influence affects individual participation yield useful theoretical and practical implications on human behavior with online environmental communities.

Description: In this study, chitosan beads modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were successfully synthesized and employed for the removal of chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)). The adsorption performance of the adsorbent (SDS-chitosan beads) was examined by batch experiments. The partition coefficient (PC) as well as the adsorption capacity were evaluated to assess the true performance of the adsorbent in this work. The adsorbent (SDS-chitosan beads) showed a maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 3.23 mg·g−1 and PC of 9.5 mg·g−1·mM−1 for Cr(VI). The prepared adsorbent was characterized by different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of Cr(VI) in solution. The experimental data could be well-fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption process was favorable under the higher temperature condition. The SDS-modified chitosan beads synthesized in this work represent a promising adsorbent for removing Cr(VI).

Description: Introduction: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired, life-threatening blood disease. While PNH is known to be a rare disease, the incidence and prevalence of the condition has been described only in a few small studies. In addition, while the International PNH registry is a rich source of data on real-world PNH patients globally, it is not possible to estimate the incidence and prevalence of PNH directly from the registry. As complement inhibitors are becoming the standard of care for PNH treatment, we also sought to explore how patients are managed following an incident PNH diagnosis. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of PNH and to describe real-world treatment patterns among patients newly diagnosed with PNH in the United States (US). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Truven US MarketScan Commercial/Medicare data (1 Jan 2015 to 30 June 2018), an employer-sponsored insurance claims database including annually approximately 30 million insured patients and their dependents' complete longitudinal records of inpatient services, outpatient services, and prescription drug claims covered under a variety of fee-for-service and capitated health plans. While these data are considered nationally representative of Americans with employer-provided health insurance, data come mainly from large employers. To estimate prevalence, we identified patients with ≥ 1 PNH diagnosis (ICD10: D59.5) among persons continually enrolled in the databases in 2017. To estimate incidence, we required ≥1-year of baseline enrolment and no PNH diagnosis or eculizumab exposure, identified using national drug codes [NDC] or procedure codes for drug administration, during the baseline period. Person-time accrued post-baseline until PNH diagnosis, end of study period, or disenrollment. We stratified incidence and prevalence estimates by age and sex and described patients with incident PNH in terms of demographics, comorbidities, and past-year healthcare resource utilization. Using Kaplan-Meier estimators, we estimated incidence of eculizumab initiation, timing of initiation, treatment duration, and risk of discontinuation/treatment holiday (〉42 days between eculizumab exposures [i.e. 14-day exposure period + 28-day grace period between infusions], the equivalent of missing 2 infusions assuming a bi-weekly infusion schedule for eculizumab) following the incident PNH diagnosis. While accounting for censoring, we also investigated patterns of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, identified using procedure codes, in terms of incidence and timing of first transfusion following an incident PNH diagnosis. Results: The prevalence of PNH varied little between 2016 and 2017, from 12 to 13 per 1,000,000. The incidence rate over the study period was 5.7 per 1,000,000 person-years, representing 257 incident PNH cases. The incidence rate of PNH increased with age and was similar across sex. At diagnosis, mean age was 50.0 years (standard deviation [SD]: 18.6), 3.1% (8/257) were less than 18 years, 52.1% were women, 19.5% had a past-year diagnosis of aplastic anemia, 8.2% had a past-year diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome, 14.0% had a past-year RBC transfusion, and 31.5% had been hospitalized in the past-year. Over a mean follow-up time of 385.6 days (SD: 253.2), 10.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.3-14.1%) of patients initiated eculizumab on average 60.5 days (SD: 55.9) from PNH diagnosis. At 1 year, about one third of patients discontinued eculizumab or had taken a treatment holiday; average treatment duration was 328.2 days (SD:245.4). Cumulative incidence of RBC transfusions at 6 months and 1 year was 14.6% (10.1-18.9%) and 17.4% (12.2-22.3%), respectively. On average, the first RBC transfusion occurred within 63.6 days (SD: 114.4) of an incident PNH diagnosis. Conclusions: In routine clinical practice, only a minority of patients recently diagnosed with PNH are initiated on eculizumab. Among PNH patients treated with eculizumab, less than 70% remain on treatment after 1 year. Findings must be interpreted in the context of limitations including lack of information on clone size, symptom burden, measures of disease activity, or bone marrow failure state which may affect treatment course. Future studies should explore factors affecting eculizumab initiation and persistence on treatment. Disclosures Jalbert: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chaudhari:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhang:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Weyne:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Shammo:Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Onconova: Research Funding; Apellis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astex Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria; CTI Pharma: Research Funding.

Description: Ecological preservation and sustainable development depend on active public involvement. The emergence of online environmental communities greatly facilitates people’s participation in green endeavors. The population penetration of such platforms accelerates as existing users persuade people around them and media coverage further attracts public attention. This snowball effect plays an important role in the user base expansion, but the specific mechanism of social influence involved is yet to be examined. Based on the social influence theory, cognitive response theory, and elaboration likelihood model, this study establishes a research model depicting the relationship between persuasion in terms of social influence and outcomes in terms of behavioral intention and actual participation through the mediation of cognitive responses in terms of perceived value and perceived risk. Empirical results from survey observations show that social influence has both moderated (by education) and mediated (through perceived risk) effects on behavioral intention, which leads to actual participation. Meanwhile, social influence shapes the perceived value, which has a direct and strong impact on actual participation. These central and peripheral routes through which social influence affects individual participation yield useful theoretical and practical implications on human behavior with online environmental communities.

Description: Vegetation restoration was effective way of protecting soil erosion and water conservation on the Loess Plateau. Carbon fractions and enzyme activities were sensitive parameters for assessment of soil remediation through revegetation. Forest, forest steppe and grassland soils were collected at 0–5 cm and 5–20 cm soil layers in Yanhe watershed, Shaanxi Province. Urease, sucrase, alkaline phosphatase, soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), easily oxidized organic carbon (EOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured. The results showed that carbon fraction contents and enzyme activities in the same soil layer followed the order that forest was higher than others. Carbon fraction contents and enzyme activities appeared that the 0–5 cm was higher than 5–20 cm soil layer. In addition, correlation analysis showed that urease activity was related to SOC, MBC, EOC and DOC at 0–5 cm layer; it was correlated with SOC, MBC and EOC at 5–20 cm layer. Sucrase activity had significant positive relationship with SOC, MBC and EOC. Alkaline phosphatase activity was related to EOC and DOC at 0–5 cm layer; it was correlated with MBC and EOC at 5–20 cm layer. The CCA reflected the relationship between sucrase activity and SOC. The contributions from the various forms of carbon fractions and enzyme activities as evaluated by the canonical coefficient of CV were on the order of SOC 〉 DOC 〉 MBC 〉 EOC; sucrase 〉 urease 〉 alkaline phosphatase. Vegetation type was an important factor influencing the variation of soil enzyme activities and carbon fractions on the Loess Plateau.