Municipal sewage sludge always includes considerable amount of water, noxious substances, and varying chemical compositions; therefore, sludge utilization is imposed. Coal-sludge slurry (CSS), which is made by blending sewage sludge with coal, water, and additives, is being identified as a new and effective sludge utilization technology. The main objectives of the present investigation are research on the slurrying, rheology, and stability properties of five CSSs, and determine the influence of sludge type, sludge mixing proportion (R), temperature, and shear rate on the slurrying properties that play a critical role in CSS technology. Results showed that (i) the maximum solids loading (MSL) dropped sharply with the rise of R, ranging from 55.22% to 59.41% in the R = 15% case, compared to 69.16% in the R = 0 case; and (ii) the apparent viscosity dropped as the temperature rose from 20 °C to 50 °C, in an approximate linear correlation. All CSSs exhibited a pseudo-plastic rheology, and increasing ω and R resulted in a trend more toward pseudo-plastic behavior; moreover, the poorer the slurryability of the sludge, the more apparent the pseudoplastic trend. The static stability was getting better for CSS, compared to coal water slurry (CWS).

Background/Aims: Sestrin 2 is associated with the pathophysiology of several diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Sestrin 2 in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) during liver fibrogenesis. Methods: In this study, Sestrin 2 protein expression was detected in rat HSC-T6 cells challenged with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and in mice treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), a well-known model of hepatic fibrosis. Next, HSC-T6 cells and fibrotic mice were transfected with lentivirus. The mRNA expression levels of markers of liver fibrosis [alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen 1A1 (Col1A1)] were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell death and proliferation were evaluated by the MTT assay, and biochemical markers of liver damage in serum [alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST)] were also measured using a biochemical analyzer. Histopathological examination was used to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis, and protein expression [phospho-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), AMPK, phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and mTOR] was determined by western blotting. Results: We found that Sestrin 2 was elevated in both the HSC-T6 cell and hepatic fibrosis models. In vitro, overexpression of Sestrin 2 attenuated the mRNA levels of α-SMA and Col1A1, suppressed α-SMA protein expression, and modulated HSC-T6 cell proliferation. In vivo, overexpression of Sestrin 2 reduced the ALT and AST levels as well as the α-SMA and Col1A1 protein expression in the CCl₄ model of liver fibrosis. Moreover, the degree of liver fibrosis was ameliorated. Interestingly, overexpression of Sestrin 2 increased p-AMPK but decreased p-mTOR protein expression. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Sestrin 2 may attenuate the activation of HSCs and ameliorate liver fibrosis, most likely via upregulation of AMPK phosphorylation and suppression of the mTOR signaling pathway.

The present work focuses on the synthesis and properties of a novel multifunctional cerium(III) MOF, [Ce 2 (data) 3 (DMF) 4 ]•DMF (data 2− : 2,5-diaminoterephthalate), abbreviated as NH 2 -Ce-MUM-2. Its crystal structure reveals an intricate 3D 4,5-connected framework with a xah topology. This MOF features unique properties, such as open metal sites, presence of free amino groups, and high stability. Two main applications of NH 2 -Ce-MUM-2 were investigated: (i) as a heterogeneous catalyst in the CO 2 fixation into cyclic carbonates and (ii) as a material with third-order nonlinear optical activity. As a model reaction, the cycloaddition of CO 2 to propylene oxide to give the corresponding cyclic carbonate was explored under mild conditions, at the atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide and in the absence of cocatalyst and added solvent. Various reaction parameters were investigated toward optimization and exploration of substrate scope, revealing up to 99% product yields of cyclic carbonate products. Besides, the structure of NH 2 -Ce-MUM-2 is highly stable, permitting its recyclability and reusability in further catalytic experiments. The significant contributions of free amino groups and open metal sites within this catalyst were particularly considered when proposing a potential mechanism for the reaction. Z-Scan measurements were used to evaluate the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of NH 2 -Ce-MUM-2 at various laser intensities. A high two-photon absorption (TPA) under greater incident intensities shows that NH 2 -Ce-MUM-2 might be applicable in optical switching devices. Besides, the self-focusing effects of NH 2 -Ce-MUM-2 under various incident intensities were highlighted by the nonlinear index of refraction (n 2 ). By reporting the synthesis and characterization of a novel MOF, along with its highly promising catalytic and NLO behavior, the current study introduces an additional example of multifunctional material into a growing family of metal−organic frameworks.

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