A Personal and Practical Answer from A Clinical Perspective

Restoring sodium and fluid homeostasis in hemodialysis (HD) patients is a crucial aim to reduce cardiovascular burden and improve global outcome. This crucial target is achieved at maximum in one quarter of HD patients according to a recent study. Sodium and fluid balance relies on a multitarget approach involving dietary salt restriction, dialysis salt mass removal and eventually residual kidney function. Salt mass removal in hemodialysis relies on ultrafiltration (convective sodium), the dialysate–plasma sodium gradient (diffusive sodium) and total treatment time. Manual dialysate sodium prescription has three major aims: dialysate–plasma sodium gradient; sodium mass removal target; hemodialysis tolerance and patient risks. In the future, automated dialysate sodium adjustment by HD machine will facilitate this aim.

Assessing the potential efficacy of marine cloud brightening for cooling Earth using a simple heuristic model

A simple heuristic model is described to assess the potential for increasing solar reflection by augmenting the aerosol population below marine low clouds, which nominally leads to increased cloud droplet concentration and albedo. The model estimates the collective impact of many point source particle sprayers, each of which generates a plume of injected particles that affects clouds over a limited area. A look-up table derived from simulations of an explicit aerosol activation scheme is used to derive cloud droplet concentration as a function of the sub-cloud aerosol size distribution and updraft speed, and a modified version of Twomey's formulation is used to estimate radiative forcing. Plume overlap is accounted for using a Poisson distribution, assuming idealized elongated cuboid plumes that have a length driven by aerosol lifetime and wind speed, a width consistent with satellite observations of ship track broadening, and a depth equal to an assumed boundary layer depth. The model is found to perform favorably against estimates of brightening from large eddy simulation studies that explicitly model cloud responses to aerosol injections over a range of conditions. Although the heuristic model does not account for cloud condensate or coverage adjustments to aerosol, in most realistic ambient remote marine conditions these tend to augment the Twomey effect in the large eddy simulations, with the result being a modest underprediction of brightening in the heuristic model. The heuristic model is used to evaluate the potential for global radiative forcing from marine cloud brightening as a function of the quantity, size, and lifetime of salt particles injected per sprayer and the number of sprayers deployed. Radiative forcing is sensitive to both the background aerosol size distribution in the marine boundary layer into which particles are injected and the assumed updraft speed. Given representative values from the literature, radiative forcing sufficient to offset a doubling of carbon dioxide ΔF2×CO2 is possible but would require spraying 50 % or more of the ocean area. This is likely to require at least 104 sprayers to avoid major losses of particles due to near-sprayer coagulation. The optimal dry diameter of injected particles, for a given salt mass injection rate, is 30–60 nm. A major consequence is that the total salt emission rate (50–70 Tg yr−1) required to offset ΔF2×CO2 is a factor of five lower than the emissions rates required to generate significant forcing in previous studies with climate models, which have mostly assumed dry diameters for injected particles in excess of 200 nm. With the lower required emissions, the salt mass loading in the marine boundary layer for ΔF2×CO2 is dominated by natural salt aerosol, with injected particles only contributing ∼ 10 %. When using particle sizes optimized for cloud brightening, the aerosol direct radiative forcing is shown to make a minimal contribution to the overall radiative forcing.

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterizations of Ni(II) Thiosemicarbazone Bearing Anthracene

The X-ray structure of 9-anthraldehyde-4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone was firstly determined. The Ni(II) complex with this ligand was prepared upon reaction with chloride salt. Mass spectrometry result confirms correct formulation of the complex. Unusual 1H NMR signal pattern of anthracene moiety reveal cis arrangement cemented by intramolecular p–p stackings between aromatic rings. As a result of this interaction, the electronic structure of anthracene ring is perturbed and gives rise to structureless and broad absorption and emission bands.

Assessing the potential efficacy of marine cloud brightening for cooling Earth using a simple heuristic model

A simple heuristic model is described to assess the potential for increasing solar reflection by augmenting the aerosol population below marine low clouds, which nominally leads to increased cloud droplet concentration and albedo. The model estimates the collective impact of many point-source particle sprayers, each of which generates a plume of injected particles that affects clouds over a limited area. A widely-used aerosol activation scheme is used to derive cloud droplet concentration as a function of the sub-cloud aerosol size distribution and updraft speed, and a modified version of Twomey's formulation is used to estimate radiative forcing. Plume overlap is accounted for using a Poisson distribution assuming idealized elongated cuboid plumes that have a length driven by aerosol lifetime and wind speed, a width consistent with satellite observations of ship track broadening, and a depth equal to an assumed boundary layer depth. The model is found to perform favorably against estimates of brightening from large eddy simulation studies that explicitly model cloud responses to aerosol injections over a range of conditions. Although the heuristic model does not account for cloud condensate or coverage adjustments to aerosol, in most realistic ambient remote marine conditions these tend to augment the Twomey effect in the large eddy simulations, with the resulting being a modest underprediction of brightening in the heuristic model. The heuristic model is used to evaluate the potential for global radiative forcing from marine cloud brightening as a function of the quantity, size, and lifetime of salt particles injected per sprayer and the number of sprayers deployed. Radiative forcing is sensitive to both the background aerosol size distribution in the marine boundary layer into which particles are injected, and the assumed updraft speed. Given representative values from the literature, radiative forcing sufficient to offset a doubling of carbon dioxide ΔF2xCO2 is possible but would require spraying over 50% or more of the ocean area. This is likely to require at least 104 sprayers to avoid major losses of particles due to near-sprayer coagulation. The optimal dry diameter of injected particles, for a given salt mass injection rate, is 30–60 nm. A major consequence is that the total salt emission rate (50–70 Tg/yr) required to offset F2xCO2 is a factor of five lower than the emissions rates required to generate significant forcing in previous studies with climate models, which have mostly assumed dry diameters for injected particles in excess of 200 nm. With the lower required emissions, the salt mass loading in the marine boundary layer for F2xCO2 is dominated by natural salt aerosol, with injected particles only contributing ~ 10%. When using particle sizes optimized for cloud brightening, the aerosol direct radiative forcing is shown to make a minimal contribution to the overall radiative forcing.

Molten salt synthesis of TiB2 nanopowder by reduction of TiO2 with MgB2

This research work presents the preparation of TiB2 nanopowders by molten-salt synthesis (MSS) technique from TiO2 and MgB2 as starting active materials and MgCl2 as a molten salt. The pure TiB2 nanopowders were finally prepared using 2M HCl aqueous solution to leach the synthesized samples. The effects of the firing temperature, firing time and reactants to salt ratio on the TiB2 nanopowders formation were examined. The results demonstrated that the TiB2 formation was completed even with reactants to salt mass ratio of 1:2 at 1000 ?C for 4 h. The TiB2 nanopowders synthesized with 1:2, 1:5 and 1:10 reactants to salt mass ratios have different particle sizes. Thus, the average particle sizes estimated from BET surface areas were 59, 55 and 46 nm for the samples synthesized with 1:2, 1:5 and 1:10 reactants to salts mass ratios, respectively. These results illustrated that the high concentration of MgCl2 plays a key role in the particles? size reduction. The above results assured that this research study presents a new low-temperature synthesis route for nano-sized metal diboride powders.

A Study on an Anticyclonic-Cyclonic Eddy Pair Off Fraser Island, Australia

This research examines a cyclonic-anticyclonic eddy (AE) pair off Fraser Island next to the eastern Australian coast in 2009 using the Bluelink Reanalysis data, where the local eddies are poorly understood. This eddy pair formed in July and dissipated in November. We detailed the horizontal and vertical structures of the eddy pair in terms of three-dimensional variations in relative vorticity, hydrographic properties, velocity, and dynamic structures, which presented notable scales of the eddy pair. The AE formed beside the meandering of the East Australian Current (EAC) at 24°S and had a tilting structure in the upper 1,000 m toward the EAC. A cyclonic eddy (CE) formed a month later and interacted with the AE, which had a tilting structure toward the AE in the upper 1,000 m. Heterogeneity in the AE and CE composing this eddy pair was observed in the horizontal and vertical planes. The AE had a stronger and more coherent dynamic structure than the CE. The AE and the EAC interacted in the generation stage when the EAC path shifted eastward, away from the coast. As the EAC subsequently swung back to the coastal area, the AE and the EAC separated. The AE then interacted with the surrounding eddy fields, propagated westward, before finally merging again with the EAC. The energy transfer during this process also indicated the interactions among the eddy pair, the surrounding eddy fields and the EAC. Baroclinic instability (BCI) was a main contributor to the AE in the generation stage. Barotropic instability (BTI) also contributed energy to the AE when it interacted with the EAC but accounted for a much smaller proportion. Both BCI and BTI contributed to the CE for most of its life cycle but to a much less extend than to the AE. The zonal heat and salt mass transported by the AE and CE were calculated based on a Lagrangian framework method, and these amounts were considerable compared with global zonal averaged heat and salt mass transported by other mesoscale eddies.

Brine Solution with Hydrocolloids Used to Enhance the Properties of Sterilized Meat

Research background. Retort processing is one of the most widely used methods of thermal inactivation that provides convenient, ready-to-eat foods. Although this technology remains widespread, it can be revamped through processing of novel ingredients such as gums. This article aims to investigate the effect of the hydrocolloids collagen, soy protein isolate, carrageenan and modified starch with different salt mass fractions on the retorted meat products. Experimental approach. Firstly, solutions of the added hydrocolloids of different salt mass fractions in order to stimulate the salting-in effect were studied. Lipid oxidation, syneresis and water activity were analysed during shelf life to find the best overall treatments. Lastly, sensory and texture analyses were then performed to assess the impact of the added hydrocolloids. Results and conclusions. Yield, cooking loss and water-holding capacity had better results when higher salt mass fractions with hydrocolloids were used. The physicochemical results distinguished collagen from the other tested hydrocolloids. Syneresis remained in similar ranges regardless of the treatment. No difference was observed in water activity either. However, sterilization, vacuum sealing and the addition of a hydrocolloid contributed to low oxidation levels in all treatments. Lastly, sensory, texture and shear force analyses confirmed that the products with collagen were harder and firmer than the control samples, which explains the preference of control samples by the panellists. Nevertheless, assessors did not perceive the presence of collagen. Novelty and scientific contribution. Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the retorted meat can be considerably improved when brine and hydrocolloids are combined with the retort technology.

Hydrothermal synthesis of framed titanosilicates with a structure of ivanyukite mineral

The phase formation in the Na2O-TiO2-SiO2-H2SO4-H2O system during hydrothermal has been studied. The obtained data were used for the producing of a new type of sorbents with a frame structure similar to the mineral ivanyukite. Excess amounts of silicon and sodium in relation to titanium (III) and titanium (IV) as well as pH up to 12 provide “supersaturating” of the salt mass and affect the rate of precipitation, phase composition, structure and surface properties. The framework arrangement of SiO4 tetrahedron and TiO6 octahedron create channels where Na+ and water molecules are located. The structure of ivanyukite along with mesoporosity provides its high ion-exchange properties.

New genetic type of leaching zones in the salts of the verkhnekamskoe salt deposit: hydrochemical, mineralogical and structural indicators

The brine-saturated leaching zone first encountered in the salt rocks of the Verkhnekamskoe Salt Deposit is characterized in detail. It consists of a cavernous nucleus (40×70 m), composed of an aposilvinite syngenite-halite rock with gypsum and kalistroncite, and a recrystallization halo 60–80 m wide, not containing secondary sulfates. Above the leaching zone is a linear zone of weathering and decarbonization of marls above the salt layer. This zone is controlled by the anticlinal crest of the sublatitudinal strike, extending parallel to the Durinsky Trough of the sedimentary-fault nature. The penetration of supra-salt waters into a salt deposit is associated with the manifestation of deformations in the salt mass at its hinge inflection during the formation of the Durinsky deflection in the Early Permian time. The connection of the brines of the investigated leaching zone with infiltration over-salt sulfate-calcium waters was revealed and their place was determined in the general scheme of genetic typification of natural brines and waters circulating in the salt deposit of the Verkhnekamskoe Salt Deposit.