Unravelling the importance of Ca2+ and Mg2+ as essential in anammox culture medium.

The mechanism and nitrogen removal performance of anammox process under different concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were explored from the perspective of molecular biology analysis based on the metabolic changes of the second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP). After 100-day operation, reactor with 98 mg/L Ca2+ and 30 mg/L Mg2+ achieved a higher anammox performance with an average total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency of 85.8%. Under the Mg2+concentration of 30 mg/L, a higher Ca2+ could accelerate anammox process by promoting the amplification of Candidatus Brocadia (0.62%) and production of Diguanylate cyclase (DGC-s: 6.54 × 108 copies/µL DNA) which function was to synthesize c-di-GMP. While under the Ca2+concentration of 49 mg/L, Mg2+ concentration at appropriate rang could promote the degradation process of c-di-GMP. Since Ca2+ had positive linear relationship with TN removal (R2 = 0.96), a higher Ca2+ concentration is recommended in the culture medium. This study provided a potential method for optimization of anammox process.

Flexible four-point conjugate thin film thermocouples with high reliability and sensitivity.

Thin film thermocouples (TFTCs) are designed by finite element analysis and fabricated on the flexible substrate (polyimide) based on radio frequency magnetron sputtering technology, which can be used to measure the temperature of the curved surface. Various novel structures of TFTCs with several multi-junctions are designed to improve the stability and the reliability of measurement. The characteristics of its thermoelectric output are simulated by software. As the temperature range varies between 10 °C and 200 °C, the electromotive force behavior experiments show that the average Seebeck coefficient of the TFTCs can reach 25.8 µV/°C, the resolution of sensor is less than 0.1 °C, and the temperature drift is only 1.3%, 1.2%, 1.0% at 84 °C, 110 °C, and 142 °C, respectively. The maximum drift rate of TFTCs is 0.234 °C/min at 142 °C. The flexible TFTC temperature sensor shows great advantages in sensitivity, stability, reliability resolution, and measuring range.

Color Doppler ultrasound morphology of glomus tumors of the extremities.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in the diagnosis of glomus tumors in the extremities. METHODS: Sonography results of 62 nodules of 50 patients with glomus tumors in the extremities confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The sex ratio in the group of 50 patients was (female:male) = 5.25:1. Glomus tumors were more common in women aged 30-40 years. 84 % (42/50) of glomus tumors occurred in the fingers, with the thumb being the most common. 2D results showed that 64.52 % (40/62) of 62 nodules were hypoechoic, 30.65 % (19/62) were heterogeneous echo, 4.84 % (3/62) were hyperechoic; 64.52 % (40/62) had a clear border, while 35.48 % (22/62) had an unclear border. CDFI showed that 38.71 % (24/62) had visible rich blood in the tumor, 35.48 % (22/62) had little visible blood in the tumor, and 25.81 % (16/62) had no significant intratumoral blood flow. Of the 50 patients, 92 % (46/50) showed a fixed contact pain, were sensitive to cold stimuli, which was improved by hot water and air, and for which anti-inflammatory treatment was ineffective. CONCLUSION: Glomus tumors in the extremities had certain ultrasound features, and its internal blood flow was diverse. Understanding this feature may be helpful for the diagnosis of non-typical glomus tumors.