Hydrolytic conditions of rice hulls by acid and alkaline treatments before enzymatic saccharification were optimized in this study. Based on the results of single-factor experiments and an orthogonal array experiment, reaction time was found to be the most important factor for the acidic hydrolysis of rice hulls. Maximum yield of sugars from 1 g of rice hulls by acidic treatment under optimized conditions was 213.6 mg. The yield of lignin removal from acidic pretreated rice hulls by alkaline treatment increased with increase in reaction temperature and time. The amount of sugars obtained from 1 g of pretreated rice hulls by enzymatic saccharification was 307.7 mg, and the conversion rate of sugars from crude fibers in pretreated rice hulls was about 72%. Instrumental analyses with FTIR and SEM indicated that lignin in rice hulls was partially removed by alkaline treatment, and the structure of rice hulls became deformed and more fibers were exposed to cellulases after acidic treatment. © KSBB hÉóïçêÇëW=êáÅÉ=ÜìääëI=éêÉíêÉ~íãÉåíI=ÜóÇêçäóëáëI=ë~ÅÅÜ~êáÑáÅ~íáçåI=ÅÉääìä~ëÉI=ÑÉêãÉåí~ÄäÉ=ëìÖ~êë= = = = =

Strongly-interacting nanomagnetic arrays are crucial across an ever-growing suite of technologies. Spanning neuromorphic computing, control over superconducting vortices and reconfigurable magnonics, the utility and appeal of these arrays lies in their vast range of distinct, stable magnetization states. Different states exhibit different functional behaviours, making precise, reconfigurable state control an essential cornerstone of such systems. However, few existing methodologies may reverse an arbitrary array element, and even fewer may do so under electrical control, vital for device integration. We demonstrate selective, reconfigurable magnetic reversal of ferromagnetic nanoislands via current-driven motion of a transverse domain wall in an adjacent nanowire. The reversal technique operates under all-electrical control with no reliance on external magnetic fields, rendering it highly suitable for device integration across a host of magnonic, spintronic and neuromorphic logic architectures. Here, the reversal technique is leveraged to realize two fully solid-state reconfigurable magnonic crystals, offering magnonic gating, filtering, transistor-like switching and peak-shifting without reliance on global magnetic fields.

In this study, the environmental behavior of malodor pollutants (MPs) [including reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs)] and aromatic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) were investigated around urban valley areas during several field campaigns (February through December 2006). The MPs measured in the study area include the RSCs (H(2)S, CH(3)SH, DMS, and DMDS), ammonia (NH(3)), and styrene (STY); the AVOCs include benzene (BEN), toluene (TOL), ethylbenzene (EB), m,p-xylene (MPX), and o-xylene (OX). The variation of most MP concentrations (except for DMDS) was found to be larger than that of AVOCs. It was found that STY (2,346 +/- 4,867 ppbv) was the most dominant MP followed by NH(3) (447 +/- 285), CH(3)SH (16 +/- 41), and the others (<8). The magnitude of AVOCs was found in the following descending order: TOL (1.4 +/- 2.2 ppbv), EB (1.0 +/- 2.1), MPX (0.9 +/- 2.0), and the others (<0.8). The concentration levels of most MPs on industrial (I) and downwind (D) sites were up to an order of magnitude higher than those at non-industrial (N) and upwind (U) sites. For most AVOCs, the former was ~3 times higher than the latter. For malodor intensity in RSCs, CH(3)SH was the dominant contributor. The concentration difference in target compounds between the sites/periods is likely to be caused by the combined effects such as emission sources, geographical features (e.g., semi-closed topography), and meteorological conditions (e.g., wind directions) in and outside the urban valley.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing demand for effective and safe disinfectants. A novel use of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas, which can satisfy such demand, has been reported. However, its efficacy and safety remain unclear. For the safe use of this gas, the stable release of specific concentrations is a must. A new type of ClO2 generator called Dr.CLOTM has recently been introduced. This study aimed to investigate: (1) the effects of Dr.CLOTM on inhibiting adenoviral amplification on human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells; and (2) the acute inhalation safety of using Dr.CLOTM in animal models. After infecting HBE cells with a recombinant adenovirus, the inhibitory power of Dr.CLOTM on the virus was expressed as IFU/mL in comparison with the control group. The safety of ClO2 gas was indirectly predicted using mice by measuring single-dose inhalation toxicity in specially designed chambers. Dr.CLOTM was found to evaporate in a very constant concentration range at 0–0.011 ppm/m3 for 42 days. In addition, 36–100% of adenoviral amplification was suppressed by Dr.CLOTM, depending on the conditions. The LC50 of ClO2 gas to mice was approximately 68 ppm for males and 141 ppm for females. Histopathological evaluation showed that the lungs of female mice were more resistant to the toxicity from higher ClO2 gas concentrations than those of male mice. Taken together, these results indicate that Dr.CLOTM can be used to provide a safe indoor environment due to its technology that maintains the stable concentration and release of ClO2 gas, which could suppress viral amplification and may prevent viral infections.

No abstract