This article comments on the article by Du et al,who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing dam...This article comments on the article by Du et al,who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels.We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods.The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage,suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.展开更多
The advancement in endoscopic technology and techniques has increased its use in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.Reprocessing of reusable endoscopes remains a challenge.Inadequate reprocessing...The advancement in endoscopic technology and techniques has increased its use in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.Reprocessing of reusable endoscopes remains a challenge.Inadequate reprocessing leads to bacterial contamination of the endoscope,a significant cause of endoscope-related infections.To thoroughly address the complexities of cleaning a flexible endo-scope,various cleaning methods have been devised and tested across different studies.This letter evaluates one such method,spray flushing for flexible gastro-scopes,developed and tested in a randomized controlled trial by Du et al.Based on the post-processing test results for this method,Du et al conclude that there is improved cleaning efficacy and reduced damage compared to manual brush cleaning.The validity and reliability of the results could be further enhanced by carefully considering the study design and a few underlying concepts that contribute to the reprocessing quality of different types of endoscopes.展开更多
BACKGROUND Commonly used cleaning brushes in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes often cause damage within the working channels.AIM To develop a spray flushing system to achieving effective cleaning of the working...BACKGROUND Commonly used cleaning brushes in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes often cause damage within the working channels.AIM To develop a spray flushing system to achieving effective cleaning of the working channels while minimizing damage.METHODS This prospective study included 60 used endoscopes and 60 Teflon tubes randomly divided into a control group(n=30)and an experimental group(n=30).The material of Teflon tubes was the same as that of the endoscope working channel.Endoscopes in the control group were manually cleaned using traditional cleaning brushes,while those in the experimental group were cleaned using the newly developed spray flushing system.ATP levels,cleanliness,and microbiological testing of the working channels were measured.Additionally,Teflon tubes in the control group underwent 500 passes with a cleaning brush,while those in the experimental group were subjected to the spray flushing system,and channel damage was evaluated.RESULTS The ATP levels(RLU)in the two groups were 32.5(13-66)and 26(16-40),respectively(P>0.05).Cleanliness scores were 1.5(1-2)and 1(1-2),respectively(P>0.05).Debris was found in 73.3%of the control group,which was significantly higher than 46.7%in the experimental group(P<0.05).Microbiological tests for both groups yielded negative results.Teflon tube damage in the control group was rated at 4(4-5.25),which was significantly higher than in the experimental group 4(3-4)(P<0.01).CONCLUSION The spray flushing system demonstrated superior efficacy in removing debris and resulted in less damage to the endoscope working channels compared with traditional cleaning brushes.展开更多
Aimed at the problem of stochastic routings for reprocessing operations and highly variable processing times,an open queuing network is utilized to model a typical reprocessing system.In the model,each server is subje...Aimed at the problem of stochastic routings for reprocessing operations and highly variable processing times,an open queuing network is utilized to model a typical reprocessing system.In the model,each server is subject to breakdown and has a finite buffer capacity,while repair times,breakdown times and service time follow an exponential distribution.Based on the decomposition principle and the expansion methodology,an approximation analytical algorithm is proposed to calculate the mean reprocessing time,the throughput of each server and other parameters of the processing system.Then an approach to determining the quality of disassembled parts is suggested,on the basis of which the effect of parts quality on the performance of the reprocessing system is investigated.Numerical examples show that there is a negative correlation between quality of parts and their mean reprocessing time.Furthermore,marginal reprocessing time of the parts decrease with the drop in their quality.展开更多
Due to their unique features,such as the inherent safety,simplified fuel cycle,and continuous on-line reprocessing,molten salt reactors(MSRs)are regarded as one of the six reference reactors in the Generation IV Inter...Due to their unique features,such as the inherent safety,simplified fuel cycle,and continuous on-line reprocessing,molten salt reactors(MSRs)are regarded as one of the six reference reactors in the Generation IV International Forum(GEN-IV).Molten chloride salt fast reactors(MCFRs)are a type of MSR.Compared to molten fluoride salt reactors(MFSRs),MCFRs have a higher solubility of heavy metal atoms,a harder neutron spectrum,lower accumulation of fission products(FPs),and better breeding and transmutation performance.Thus,MCFRs have been recognized as a type of MSR with great prospects for future development.However,as the most important feature for MSRs,the effect of different reprocessing modes on MCFRs must be researched in depth.As such,this study investigated the effect of different isotopes,especially FPs,on the neutronic performance of an MCFR,such as its breeding performance.Furthermore,the characteristics of the different reprocessing modes and MCFR rates were analyzed in terms of safety,radioactivity level,neutron economy,and breeding capacity.In the end,a reprocessing method suitable for MCFRs was determined through calculation and analysis,which provides a reference for the further research of MCFRs.展开更多
The purpose of this article is to review the evidence regarding transmission of infection during gastrointestinal endoscopy, factors important in endoscope reprocessing and infection control, areas to focus on to impr...The purpose of this article is to review the evidence regarding transmission of infection during gastrointestinal endoscopy, factors important in endoscope reprocessing and infection control, areas to focus on to improve compliance, and recent developments and advances in the field.展开更多
This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the polymeric properties of lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(iminehydroxyurethane)s(LNIPUs).The properties of the LNIPUs are affected by changes in the stoichiometr...This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the polymeric properties of lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(iminehydroxyurethane)s(LNIPUs).The properties of the LNIPUs are affected by changes in the stoichiometric feed ratios of the bis(6-membered cyclic carbonate)(BCC)and levulinate enzymatic hydrolysis lignin(LEHL).The results showed that the LNIPUs exhibited a short relaxation time and excellent thermal repair and degradation properties.With a change in the LEHL content in the LNIPUs to 45.53%,a relaxation time of only 9 s was achieved,and the thermal repair rate of the scratches reached 93%.Furthermore,the tensile strength of the LNIPUs decreased with an increase in the LEHL content after two hot-pressing processes,while a higher than 75% tensile strength was maintained after the second hot-pressing treatment.The LNIPUs exhibited thermoresponsive shape memory property with deformation and shape fixing at 80℃.In addition,the as-synthesized LNIPUs were soluble in ethylene glycol in the absence of any organic solvents.This work demonstrates the synthesis of LNIPUs with self-healing,reprocessing,shape memory,and degradation properties.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the application of enzyme in instrument cleaning for hospital sterile reprocessing and different factors that impact the enzyme activity.Methods Standard soil objects for instrument cleaning qual...Objective To evaluate the application of enzyme in instrument cleaning for hospital sterile reprocessing and different factors that impact the enzyme activity.Methods Standard soil objects for instrument cleaning quality evaluation,as testing coupons,were identified and used to evaluate different cleaning processes designed with varied conditions.Between testing groups using enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the amount of residual protein on the testing coupons were quantified and compared at different soaking time(10min,20min,30min,45min and 60min).Then,within the enzymatic detergent group,different testing conditions were further explored by adjusting factors,in⁃cluding the soaking temperature(25°C,30°C and 45°C),use solution pH(7.0,8.0),and enzyme dosing(1/80,1/40,1/20,3/40,1/10 and 3/20 in v/v).Then,through an observational comparative study for each testing condition,the time needed to achieve a complete soil removal through visual inspection of the testing coupons was documented for analyses.Results In the test of enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the non-enzymatic group did not show an obvious decline in the residual protein amount(1069μg at 10 min vs.1042μg at 60 min),whereas the enzymatic group showed significant decrease in residual protein quantity(947μg at 10 min vs.620μg at 60 min).Meanwhile,the amounts of the residual protein at different time points in the enzyme group(947μg at 10 min,864μg at 20 min,812μg at 30 min,691μg at 45 min,and 620μg at 60 min)were consistently lower than those at the same time schedule in the non-enzyme group(1069μg at 10 min,1069μg at 20 min,1067μg at 30 min,1059μg at 45 min,and 1042μg at 60 min).Furthermore,within the enzymatic group,the soaking temperature,use solution pH and enzyme dosing factors all appear to impact the enzyme activity and significantly contribute to the cleaning outcomes.Specifi⁃cally,the higher soaking temperature,higher use solution pH and higher enzyme dosing showed 58.4%,20.0%and 34.4%time reduction to completely remove the soil on the testing coupons,respectively.Conclusion Enzyme seems to play a significant role in the instrument cleaning process for hospital sterile reprocessing.The soaking temperature,cleaning use solution pH,and enzyme dosing all appear to be critical factors impacting the enzyme activity and thus the overall cleaning outcomes.In practice,cleaning process verification should be considered to ensure the optimal use conditions for enzyme cleaning performance are well-understood and consistently achieved at the facility level.展开更多
As the polyurethane foam(PUF)market,especially in the automotive sector,continues to grow,the environmental impacts of its petrochemical demands and end-of-life waste have motivated the industry to look for more susta...As the polyurethane foam(PUF)market,especially in the automotive sector,continues to grow,the environmental impacts of its petrochemical demands and end-of-life waste have motivated the industry to look for more sustainable solutions.This study explores the preparation of recyclable PUFs using commercially available soy polyols(Cargill's BiOH),aiming to enable improved thermal reprocessability of flexible PUFs via vitrimer chemistry.A series of“soy-PUFs”was produced by partially substituting petrochemical polyether polyols with 25%or 50%soy polyols in a standard reference formulation.Incorporation of soy polyols resulted in an increase in the stiffness of the resulting foams.Employing a modest amount(∼0.5 wt%)of dibutyltin dilaurate(DBTDL)in the formulations facilitated dynamic covalent bond exchanges in the cross-linked network during a mild“foam-to-sheet”reprocessing process(160°C),converting malleable PUFs into densified sheet materials(PUS)with proper compactness and mechanical performance(e.g.,tensile modulus=∼50 MPa).Soy-PUFs demonstrated a modestly enhanced stress relaxation behavior,suggesting adequate reprocessing ability.DMA results demonstrated the phenomenon of forming an“intermediate”region between the hard and soft domains of PUSs after reprocessing.展开更多
Remanufacturing is regarded as a sustainable manufacturing paradigm of energy conservation and environment protection.To improve the efficiency of the remanufacturing process,this work investigates an integrated sched...Remanufacturing is regarded as a sustainable manufacturing paradigm of energy conservation and environment protection.To improve the efficiency of the remanufacturing process,this work investigates an integrated scheduling problem for disassembly and reprocessing in a remanufacturing process,where product structures and uncertainty are taken into account.First,a stochastic programming model is developed to minimize the maximum completion time(makespan).Second,a Q-learning based hybrid meta-heuristic(Q-HMH)is specially devised.In each iteration,a Q-learning method is employed to adaptively choose a premium algorithm from four candidate ones,including genetic algorithm(GA),artificial bee colony(ABC),shuffled frog-leaping algorithm(SFLA),and simulated annealing(SA)methods.At last,simulation experiments are carried out by using sixteen instances with different scales,and three state-of-the-art algorithms in literature and an exact solver CPLEX are chosen for comparisons.By analyzing the results with the average relative percentage deviation(RPD)metric,we find that Q-HMH outperforms its rivals by 9.79%-26.76%.The results and comparisons verify the excellent competitiveness of Q-HMH for solving the concerned problems.展开更多
In current spent nuclear fuel reprocessing,the predominant method involves chemical extraction,leveraging the differing distribution ratios of elements to achieve separation and purification.Effective separation of ur...In current spent nuclear fuel reprocessing,the predominant method involves chemical extraction,leveraging the differing distribution ratios of elements to achieve separation and purification.Effective separation of uranium(U),plutonium(Pu),and neptunium(Np) typically relies on redox processes that alter their oxidation states during extraction.Therefore,reductants play a critical role in reprocessing processes.An important shift in the advanced reprocessing process is the use of salt-free reagents in the actinide separation process.In addition,the salt content in the reprocessing stream is often indicative of the overall technological sophistication of the process,and it is critical to reform the reductants used in the main process stream.Salt-free reductants have attracted much attention in recent years for basic and applied research in reprocessing processes because of their advantages such as being easily destroyed,not introducing salts,reacting quickly,simplifying the process,and reducing the amount of waste.This study summarizes emerging salt-free reagents with potential applications in reprocessing,and outlines their kinetic and chemical reaction mechanism properties in reducing Pu(Ⅳ) and Np(Ⅵ).The conclusion discusses the future potential of salt-free reagents in reprocessing.This study summarizes the currently well-studied salt-free reductants and offers recommendations and future research directions in salt-free alternatives.展开更多
For the future energy system, we propose a new closed nuclear energy cycle system, which consists of an accelerator-driven external neutron source, a ceramic reactor and an extend AIROX reprocessing. The attractive fe...For the future energy system, we propose a new closed nuclear energy cycle system, which consists of an accelerator-driven external neutron source, a ceramic reactor and an extend AIROX reprocessing. The attractive features of this system are as follows. (l) The operating mode of the reactor is a combination of subcritical mode and critical mode. initially, the reactor would be driven by the accelerator external neutron source in subcritical mode. A few years later, the reactor would reach the critical mode, and then would operate for a long time. (2) Nuclear fuels, coolants, and structure materials in the ceramic reactor core are made up of ceramic with excellent thermodynamics properties and neutron performance. Therefore, the ceramic reactor has extremely inherent safety, good breeding performance and high power generation efficiency. (3) Fuel reprocessing uses an extend AIROX reprocessing, which is a simple high-temperature dry process and rarely involved in chemical process. In this reprocessing, only most of fission products are separated. Other isotopes, including uranium isotopes, transuranic nuclides and long-lived fission products, would re-enter the reactor as new fuels. Therefore, this closed nuclear energy system could be known as ADANES, short for Accelerator-Driven Advanced Nuclear Energy System, which can greatly improve the utilization rate of nuclear fuels, enhance the nuclear safety, reduce the nuclear proliferation and become a sustainable and low-carbon energy supply for thousands of years.展开更多
This paper investigates the problem of inconsistent states of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data caused by incomplete execution of read/write operations during access to RFID tag memory. Passive RFID tag...This paper investigates the problem of inconsistent states of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data caused by incomplete execution of read/write operations during access to RFID tag memory. Passive RFID tags require RF communication to access memory data. This study is motivated by the volatility of RF communication, where instability is caused by intermittent connections and uncertain communication. If a given tag disappears from the communication area of the reader during the reading or writing of tag data, the operation is incomplete, resulting in an inconsistent state of tag data. To avoid this inconsistency, it is necessary to ensure that any operations on tag memory are completed. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous reprocessing model for finalizing any incomplete execution of read/write operations to remove inconsistent states. The basic idea is to resume incomplete operations autonomously by detecting a tag's re-observation from any reader. To achieve this, we present a concurrency control mechanism based on continuous query processing that enables the suspended tag operations to be re-executed. The performance study shows that our model improves the number of successful operations considerably in addition to suppressing inconsistent data access completely.展开更多
Atmospheric water vapor is an essential climate variable(ECV)with extensive spatial and temporal variations.Microwave humidity observations from meteorological satellites provide important information for climate syst...Atmospheric water vapor is an essential climate variable(ECV)with extensive spatial and temporal variations.Microwave humidity observations from meteorological satellites provide important information for climate system variables,including atmospheric water vapor and precipitable water,and assimilation in numerical weather prediction(NWP)and reanalysis.As one of the payloads onboard China’s second-generation polar-orbiting operational meteorological Fengyun-3(FY-3)satellites,the Microwave Humidity Sounder(MWHS)has been continuously observing the global humidity since 2008.The reprocessing of historical FY-3 MWHS data is documented in detail in this study.After calibrating and correcting the data,the quality of the reprocessed dataset is evaluated and the improvement is shown in this study.The results suggest that MWHS observations bias is reduced to approximately 0.8 K,compared with METOP-A Microwave Humidity Sounder(MHS).The temporal variability of MWHS is highly correlated with the instrument temperature.After reprocessing,the scene temperature dependency is mitigated for all 183 GHz channels,and the consistency and stability between FY-3A/B/C are also improved.展开更多
An inverse vulcanized polymer,SZIM combining Zn2+-imidazole coordination bonds and polysulfide bonds was synthesized and incorporated into bio-based Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) to generate EUG-SZIM-xs.The residual cry...An inverse vulcanized polymer,SZIM combining Zn2+-imidazole coordination bonds and polysulfide bonds was synthesized and incorporated into bio-based Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) to generate EUG-SZIM-xs.The residual crystallinity of the EUG matrix synergistically interacted with the dual cross-linking networks to establish reversible deformation domains,providing EUG-SZIM-xs with quick shape memory capability at moderate temperatures.The damping properties were also investigated,and EUG-SZIM-xs displayed high tanδ values (>0.3) when the SZIM dosage was higher than 5.5 phr,which showed a positive correlation with SZIM concentration.Such good damping performance endowed the EUG-SZIM-xs with broadband low-frequency sound absorption.In addition,the dual cross-linking networks endowed the materials with reprocessability under different catalytic systems,and the 1,8-diazobicyclic[5.4.0]undeca-7-ene (DBU)-catalyzed samples exhibited better mechanical properties than EUG-SZIM-xs.展开更多
Renewable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyesters are one of the most promising materials for achieving plastic replacement in the age of energy and environmental crisis.However,their properties still cannot compe...Renewable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyesters are one of the most promising materials for achieving plastic replacement in the age of energy and environmental crisis.However,their properties still cannot compete with those of petrochemical-based plastics,owing to insufficient molecular and/or microstructure designs.Herein,we utilize the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)-based MXene nanosheets for decorating carbon nanotube(CNT)and obtaining the structurally stable and highly dispersed dendritic heterostructured MXene@CNT,that can act as multi-roles,i.e.,polycondensation catalyst,crystal nucleator,and interface enhancer of polyester.The biobased MXene@CNT/polybutylene furandicarboxylate(PBF)(denoted as MCP)nanocomposites are synthesized by the strategy of“in situ catalytic polymerization and hot-pressing”.Benefiting from the multi-scale interactions(i.e.,covalent bonds,hydrogen bonds,and physical interlocks)in hybrid structure,the MCP presents exceptional mechanical strength(≈101 MPa),stiffness(≈3.1 GPa),toughness(≈130 MJ m^(-3)),and barrier properties(e.g.,O_(2)0.0187 barrer,CO_(2)0.0264 barrer,and H2O 1.57×10^(-14) g cm cm^(-2) s Pa)that are higher than most reported bio-based materials and engineering plastics.Moreover,it also displays satisfactory multifunctionality with high reprocessability(90%strength retention after 5 recycling),UV resistance(blocking 85%UVA rays),and solvent-resistant properties.As a state-of-art high-performance and multifunctional material,the novel bio-based MCP nanocomposite offers a more sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based plastics in packaging and engineering material fields.More importantly,our catalysis-interfacial strengthening integration strategy opens a door for designing and constructing high-performance bio-based polyester materials in future.展开更多
In this study,a series of hindered urea bond(HUB)containing polyurethane-urea methacrylate prepolymers and a none HUB containing polyurethane methacrylate prepolymer were prepared using isobornyl methacrylate as the r...In this study,a series of hindered urea bond(HUB)containing polyurethane-urea methacrylate prepolymers and a none HUB containing polyurethane methacrylate prepolymer were prepared using isobornyl methacrylate as the reactive diluent via one-pot procedure.The prepolymers were characterized fully by various techniques.Then,their thermosets were fabricated via UV curing in presence of a photo initiator,and their mechanical property and thermal behavior were investigated and compared.Different from the none HUB containing thermoset,the HUB containing thermosets(defined as PUT)could be recycled and reprocessed by hot press under relatively mild conditions with high recovery ratio of mechanical property.Furthermore,zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles were modified with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate and the modified ZnO(defined as ZnO-TPM)was dispersed and polymerized into PUT matrix to prepare their nanocomposites.The influence of ZnO-TPM on the mechanical performance of the composites was evaluated,which indicated that the Young’s modulus and tensile strength increased gradually to the maximum values at ZnO-TPM content of 1 wt%and then decreased.The composites also displayed good reprocessability with improved recovery ratio compared to the pure PUT sample.In addition,the composite materials exhibited strong UV absorption capacity,implying their potential application in the circumstance where UV-shielding was required.展开更多
The incorporation of dynamic covalent bonds into thermosets facilitates the reprocessing of polymer networks,thereby meeting the sustainable requirements for polymer recycling.However,the mechanical properties of many...The incorporation of dynamic covalent bonds into thermosets facilitates the reprocessing of polymer networks,thereby meeting the sustainable requirements for polymer recycling.However,the mechanical properties of many materials often decline significantly upon reprocessing due to side reactions caused by harsh processing conditions.In this work,we find that the aromatic dithiocarbamate bond can undergo dissociation under mild conditions without the need for a catalyst,enabling the efficient reprocessing of the corresponding polydithiourethane.As a consequence,the mechanical properties of the polydithiourethane can be largely preserved after reprocessing.The discovery of this dynamic chemistry is anticipated to broaden the potential for material design in dynamic covalent polymer networks.展开更多
Sea surface temperature(SST)is a crucial physical parameter in meteorology and oceanography.This study demonstrates that the influence of earth incidence angle(EIA)on the SST retrieved from the microwave radiation ima...Sea surface temperature(SST)is a crucial physical parameter in meteorology and oceanography.This study demonstrates that the influence of earth incidence angle(EIA)on the SST retrieved from the microwave radiation imager(MWRI)onboard FengYun-3(FY-3)meteorological satellites should not be ignored.Compared with algorithms that do not consider the influence of EIA in the regression,those that integrate the EIA into the regression can enhance the accuracy of SST retrievals.Subsequently,based on the recalibrated Level 1B data from the FY-3/MWRI,a long-term SST dataset was reprocessed by employing the algorithm that integrates the EIA into the regression.The reprocessed SST data,including FY-3B/MWRI SST during 2010-2019,FY-3C/MWRI SST during 2013-2019,and FY-3D/MWRI SST during 2018-2020,were compared with the in-situ SST and the SST dataset from the Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Ice Analysis(OSTIA).The results show that the FY-3/MWRI SST data were consistent with both the in-situ SST and the OSTIA SST dataset.Compared with the Copernicus Climate Change Service V2.0 SST,the absolute deviation of the reprocessed SST,with a quality flag of 50,was less than 1.5℃.The root mean square errors of the FY-3/MWRI orbital,daily,and monthly SSTs,with a quality flag of 50,were approximately 0.82℃,0.69℃,and 0.37℃,respectively.The primary discrepancies between the FY-3/MWRI SST and the OSTIA SST were found mainly in the regions of the western boundary current and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.Overall,this reprocessed SST product is recommended for El Niño and La Niña events monitoring.展开更多
The conception of epoxy thermosets with both reprocessability and flame retardancy delineates a new horizon in polymer science,offering a material solution that is not only superior in fire safety but is also environm...The conception of epoxy thermosets with both reprocessability and flame retardancy delineates a new horizon in polymer science,offering a material solution that is not only superior in fire safety but is also environment friendly.Herein,a flame-retardant epoxy vitrimer(EV)was prepared using partially bio-based IADPPO(diphenylphosphine oxide itaconic anhydride)and citric acid as curing reagents via a solvent-free process.Their incorporation created covalent adaptable networks(CANs)in the matrix which promote reprocessability and recyclability.The EV exhibits excellent thermal stability with high initial decomposition temperature(T_(- 5wt%)∼308℃)and high glass transition temperature(T_(g)∼107℃),similar to the blank EV(115℃).The flame retardancy,mechanical properties,transesterification-based reprocessability,and flame-retardant mechanism were investigated.The EV containing 3 wt%phosphorus(EV IADPPO 3P)achieved UL-94 V0 classification with a limiting oxygen index(LOI)of 27%,while the virgin sample Blank EV(without phosphorus)burned completely.Additionally,increased flexural strength of 79%was observed for EV IADPPO 3P compared to Blank EV.Furthermore,the flame-retardant EV showed high malleability and reparability that could be thermomechanically reprocessed without sacrificing the thermal,mechanical,and flame-retardant properties.Thus,the newly developed epoxy vitrimer is not only fire-safe but fulfills the sustainability goals of today’s society.展开更多
文摘This article comments on the article by Du et al,who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels.We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods.The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage,suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.
文摘The advancement in endoscopic technology and techniques has increased its use in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.Reprocessing of reusable endoscopes remains a challenge.Inadequate reprocessing leads to bacterial contamination of the endoscope,a significant cause of endoscope-related infections.To thoroughly address the complexities of cleaning a flexible endo-scope,various cleaning methods have been devised and tested across different studies.This letter evaluates one such method,spray flushing for flexible gastro-scopes,developed and tested in a randomized controlled trial by Du et al.Based on the post-processing test results for this method,Du et al conclude that there is improved cleaning efficacy and reduced damage compared to manual brush cleaning.The validity and reliability of the results could be further enhanced by carefully considering the study design and a few underlying concepts that contribute to the reprocessing quality of different types of endoscopes.
基金West China Nursing Discipline Development Special Fund Project,No.HXHL21029。
文摘BACKGROUND Commonly used cleaning brushes in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes often cause damage within the working channels.AIM To develop a spray flushing system to achieving effective cleaning of the working channels while minimizing damage.METHODS This prospective study included 60 used endoscopes and 60 Teflon tubes randomly divided into a control group(n=30)and an experimental group(n=30).The material of Teflon tubes was the same as that of the endoscope working channel.Endoscopes in the control group were manually cleaned using traditional cleaning brushes,while those in the experimental group were cleaned using the newly developed spray flushing system.ATP levels,cleanliness,and microbiological testing of the working channels were measured.Additionally,Teflon tubes in the control group underwent 500 passes with a cleaning brush,while those in the experimental group were subjected to the spray flushing system,and channel damage was evaluated.RESULTS The ATP levels(RLU)in the two groups were 32.5(13-66)and 26(16-40),respectively(P>0.05).Cleanliness scores were 1.5(1-2)and 1(1-2),respectively(P>0.05).Debris was found in 73.3%of the control group,which was significantly higher than 46.7%in the experimental group(P<0.05).Microbiological tests for both groups yielded negative results.Teflon tube damage in the control group was rated at 4(4-5.25),which was significantly higher than in the experimental group 4(3-4)(P<0.01).CONCLUSION The spray flushing system demonstrated superior efficacy in removing debris and resulted in less damage to the endoscope working channels compared with traditional cleaning brushes.
文摘Aimed at the problem of stochastic routings for reprocessing operations and highly variable processing times,an open queuing network is utilized to model a typical reprocessing system.In the model,each server is subject to breakdown and has a finite buffer capacity,while repair times,breakdown times and service time follow an exponential distribution.Based on the decomposition principle and the expansion methodology,an approximation analytical algorithm is proposed to calculate the mean reprocessing time,the throughput of each server and other parameters of the processing system.Then an approach to determining the quality of disassembled parts is suggested,on the basis of which the effect of parts quality on the performance of the reprocessing system is investigated.Numerical examples show that there is a negative correlation between quality of parts and their mean reprocessing time.Furthermore,marginal reprocessing time of the parts decrease with the drop in their quality.
基金supported by the Chinese TMSR Strategic Pioneer Science and Technology Project (No.XDA02010000)the Frontier Science Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.QYZDY-SSW-JSC016)the Shanghai Sailing Program (No.20YF1457600).
文摘Due to their unique features,such as the inherent safety,simplified fuel cycle,and continuous on-line reprocessing,molten salt reactors(MSRs)are regarded as one of the six reference reactors in the Generation IV International Forum(GEN-IV).Molten chloride salt fast reactors(MCFRs)are a type of MSR.Compared to molten fluoride salt reactors(MFSRs),MCFRs have a higher solubility of heavy metal atoms,a harder neutron spectrum,lower accumulation of fission products(FPs),and better breeding and transmutation performance.Thus,MCFRs have been recognized as a type of MSR with great prospects for future development.However,as the most important feature for MSRs,the effect of different reprocessing modes on MCFRs must be researched in depth.As such,this study investigated the effect of different isotopes,especially FPs,on the neutronic performance of an MCFR,such as its breeding performance.Furthermore,the characteristics of the different reprocessing modes and MCFR rates were analyzed in terms of safety,radioactivity level,neutron economy,and breeding capacity.In the end,a reprocessing method suitable for MCFRs was determined through calculation and analysis,which provides a reference for the further research of MCFRs.
文摘The purpose of this article is to review the evidence regarding transmission of infection during gastrointestinal endoscopy, factors important in endoscope reprocessing and infection control, areas to focus on to improve compliance, and recent developments and advances in the field.
基金The authors wish to express their gratitude for the grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFB0307903)Natural Science Foundation of China(21706154)Foundation of Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education of China(KF201916).
文摘This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the polymeric properties of lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(iminehydroxyurethane)s(LNIPUs).The properties of the LNIPUs are affected by changes in the stoichiometric feed ratios of the bis(6-membered cyclic carbonate)(BCC)and levulinate enzymatic hydrolysis lignin(LEHL).The results showed that the LNIPUs exhibited a short relaxation time and excellent thermal repair and degradation properties.With a change in the LEHL content in the LNIPUs to 45.53%,a relaxation time of only 9 s was achieved,and the thermal repair rate of the scratches reached 93%.Furthermore,the tensile strength of the LNIPUs decreased with an increase in the LEHL content after two hot-pressing processes,while a higher than 75% tensile strength was maintained after the second hot-pressing treatment.The LNIPUs exhibited thermoresponsive shape memory property with deformation and shape fixing at 80℃.In addition,the as-synthesized LNIPUs were soluble in ethylene glycol in the absence of any organic solvents.This work demonstrates the synthesis of LNIPUs with self-healing,reprocessing,shape memory,and degradation properties.
文摘Objective To evaluate the application of enzyme in instrument cleaning for hospital sterile reprocessing and different factors that impact the enzyme activity.Methods Standard soil objects for instrument cleaning quality evaluation,as testing coupons,were identified and used to evaluate different cleaning processes designed with varied conditions.Between testing groups using enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the amount of residual protein on the testing coupons were quantified and compared at different soaking time(10min,20min,30min,45min and 60min).Then,within the enzymatic detergent group,different testing conditions were further explored by adjusting factors,in⁃cluding the soaking temperature(25°C,30°C and 45°C),use solution pH(7.0,8.0),and enzyme dosing(1/80,1/40,1/20,3/40,1/10 and 3/20 in v/v).Then,through an observational comparative study for each testing condition,the time needed to achieve a complete soil removal through visual inspection of the testing coupons was documented for analyses.Results In the test of enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the non-enzymatic group did not show an obvious decline in the residual protein amount(1069μg at 10 min vs.1042μg at 60 min),whereas the enzymatic group showed significant decrease in residual protein quantity(947μg at 10 min vs.620μg at 60 min).Meanwhile,the amounts of the residual protein at different time points in the enzyme group(947μg at 10 min,864μg at 20 min,812μg at 30 min,691μg at 45 min,and 620μg at 60 min)were consistently lower than those at the same time schedule in the non-enzyme group(1069μg at 10 min,1069μg at 20 min,1067μg at 30 min,1059μg at 45 min,and 1042μg at 60 min).Furthermore,within the enzymatic group,the soaking temperature,use solution pH and enzyme dosing factors all appear to impact the enzyme activity and significantly contribute to the cleaning outcomes.Specifi⁃cally,the higher soaking temperature,higher use solution pH and higher enzyme dosing showed 58.4%,20.0%and 34.4%time reduction to completely remove the soil on the testing coupons,respectively.Conclusion Enzyme seems to play a significant role in the instrument cleaning process for hospital sterile reprocessing.The soaking temperature,cleaning use solution pH,and enzyme dosing all appear to be critical factors impacting the enzyme activity and thus the overall cleaning outcomes.In practice,cleaning process verification should be considered to ensure the optimal use conditions for enzyme cleaning performance are well-understood and consistently achieved at the facility level.
基金the financial support from the United Soybean Board,Project No.2333-102-0201 and 2422-106-010.
文摘As the polyurethane foam(PUF)market,especially in the automotive sector,continues to grow,the environmental impacts of its petrochemical demands and end-of-life waste have motivated the industry to look for more sustainable solutions.This study explores the preparation of recyclable PUFs using commercially available soy polyols(Cargill's BiOH),aiming to enable improved thermal reprocessability of flexible PUFs via vitrimer chemistry.A series of“soy-PUFs”was produced by partially substituting petrochemical polyether polyols with 25%or 50%soy polyols in a standard reference formulation.Incorporation of soy polyols resulted in an increase in the stiffness of the resulting foams.Employing a modest amount(∼0.5 wt%)of dibutyltin dilaurate(DBTDL)in the formulations facilitated dynamic covalent bond exchanges in the cross-linked network during a mild“foam-to-sheet”reprocessing process(160°C),converting malleable PUFs into densified sheet materials(PUS)with proper compactness and mechanical performance(e.g.,tensile modulus=∼50 MPa).Soy-PUFs demonstrated a modestly enhanced stress relaxation behavior,suggesting adequate reprocessing ability.DMA results demonstrated the phenomenon of forming an“intermediate”region between the hard and soft domains of PUSs after reprocessing.
基金This work was in part supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund(FDCT),Macao SAR,(No.0019/2021/A)Shandong Province Outstanding Youth Innovation Team Project of Colleges and Universities(No.2020RWG011),National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.62173356 and 61703320)+2 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR202111110025)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023A1515011531)Zhuhai Industry-University-Research Project with Hongkong and Macao(No.ZH22017002210014PWC).
文摘Remanufacturing is regarded as a sustainable manufacturing paradigm of energy conservation and environment protection.To improve the efficiency of the remanufacturing process,this work investigates an integrated scheduling problem for disassembly and reprocessing in a remanufacturing process,where product structures and uncertainty are taken into account.First,a stochastic programming model is developed to minimize the maximum completion time(makespan).Second,a Q-learning based hybrid meta-heuristic(Q-HMH)is specially devised.In each iteration,a Q-learning method is employed to adaptively choose a premium algorithm from four candidate ones,including genetic algorithm(GA),artificial bee colony(ABC),shuffled frog-leaping algorithm(SFLA),and simulated annealing(SA)methods.At last,simulation experiments are carried out by using sixteen instances with different scales,and three state-of-the-art algorithms in literature and an exact solver CPLEX are chosen for comparisons.By analyzing the results with the average relative percentage deviation(RPD)metric,we find that Q-HMH outperforms its rivals by 9.79%-26.76%.The results and comparisons verify the excellent competitiveness of Q-HMH for solving the concerned problems.
文摘In current spent nuclear fuel reprocessing,the predominant method involves chemical extraction,leveraging the differing distribution ratios of elements to achieve separation and purification.Effective separation of uranium(U),plutonium(Pu),and neptunium(Np) typically relies on redox processes that alter their oxidation states during extraction.Therefore,reductants play a critical role in reprocessing processes.An important shift in the advanced reprocessing process is the use of salt-free reagents in the actinide separation process.In addition,the salt content in the reprocessing stream is often indicative of the overall technological sophistication of the process,and it is critical to reform the reductants used in the main process stream.Salt-free reductants have attracted much attention in recent years for basic and applied research in reprocessing processes because of their advantages such as being easily destroyed,not introducing salts,reacting quickly,simplifying the process,and reducing the amount of waste.This study summarizes emerging salt-free reagents with potential applications in reprocessing,and outlines their kinetic and chemical reaction mechanism properties in reducing Pu(Ⅳ) and Np(Ⅵ).The conclusion discusses the future potential of salt-free reagents in reprocessing.This study summarizes the currently well-studied salt-free reductants and offers recommendations and future research directions in salt-free alternatives.
基金supported by the"Strategic Priority Research Program"of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA03030100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11605264)
文摘For the future energy system, we propose a new closed nuclear energy cycle system, which consists of an accelerator-driven external neutron source, a ceramic reactor and an extend AIROX reprocessing. The attractive features of this system are as follows. (l) The operating mode of the reactor is a combination of subcritical mode and critical mode. initially, the reactor would be driven by the accelerator external neutron source in subcritical mode. A few years later, the reactor would reach the critical mode, and then would operate for a long time. (2) Nuclear fuels, coolants, and structure materials in the ceramic reactor core are made up of ceramic with excellent thermodynamics properties and neutron performance. Therefore, the ceramic reactor has extremely inherent safety, good breeding performance and high power generation efficiency. (3) Fuel reprocessing uses an extend AIROX reprocessing, which is a simple high-temperature dry process and rarely involved in chemical process. In this reprocessing, only most of fission products are separated. Other isotopes, including uranium isotopes, transuranic nuclides and long-lived fission products, would re-enter the reactor as new fuels. Therefore, this closed nuclear energy system could be known as ADANES, short for Accelerator-Driven Advanced Nuclear Energy System, which can greatly improve the utilization rate of nuclear fuels, enhance the nuclear safety, reduce the nuclear proliferation and become a sustainable and low-carbon energy supply for thousands of years.
基金supported by the Grant of the Regional Core Research Program/Institute of Logistics Information Technology of Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
文摘This paper investigates the problem of inconsistent states of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data caused by incomplete execution of read/write operations during access to RFID tag memory. Passive RFID tags require RF communication to access memory data. This study is motivated by the volatility of RF communication, where instability is caused by intermittent connections and uncertain communication. If a given tag disappears from the communication area of the reader during the reading or writing of tag data, the operation is incomplete, resulting in an inconsistent state of tag data. To avoid this inconsistency, it is necessary to ensure that any operations on tag memory are completed. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous reprocessing model for finalizing any incomplete execution of read/write operations to remove inconsistent states. The basic idea is to resume incomplete operations autonomously by detecting a tag's re-observation from any reader. To achieve this, we present a concurrency control mechanism based on continuous query processing that enables the suspended tag operations to be re-executed. The performance study shows that our model improves the number of successful operations considerably in addition to suppressing inconsistent data access completely.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFB0504900 and 2018YFB0504902)National Natural Science Foundation of China(41775020,42005105,and 41905034)。
文摘Atmospheric water vapor is an essential climate variable(ECV)with extensive spatial and temporal variations.Microwave humidity observations from meteorological satellites provide important information for climate system variables,including atmospheric water vapor and precipitable water,and assimilation in numerical weather prediction(NWP)and reanalysis.As one of the payloads onboard China’s second-generation polar-orbiting operational meteorological Fengyun-3(FY-3)satellites,the Microwave Humidity Sounder(MWHS)has been continuously observing the global humidity since 2008.The reprocessing of historical FY-3 MWHS data is documented in detail in this study.After calibrating and correcting the data,the quality of the reprocessed dataset is evaluated and the improvement is shown in this study.The results suggest that MWHS observations bias is reduced to approximately 0.8 K,compared with METOP-A Microwave Humidity Sounder(MHS).The temporal variability of MWHS is highly correlated with the instrument temperature.After reprocessing,the scene temperature dependency is mitigated for all 183 GHz channels,and the consistency and stability between FY-3A/B/C are also improved.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(No.2024JJ7392)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52463002)+1 种基金Educational Commission of Hunan Province(No.22A0383)Special Funds for Construction of Innovative Provinces in Hunan Province(No.2020SK2028).
文摘An inverse vulcanized polymer,SZIM combining Zn2+-imidazole coordination bonds and polysulfide bonds was synthesized and incorporated into bio-based Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) to generate EUG-SZIM-xs.The residual crystallinity of the EUG matrix synergistically interacted with the dual cross-linking networks to establish reversible deformation domains,providing EUG-SZIM-xs with quick shape memory capability at moderate temperatures.The damping properties were also investigated,and EUG-SZIM-xs displayed high tanδ values (>0.3) when the SZIM dosage was higher than 5.5 phr,which showed a positive correlation with SZIM concentration.Such good damping performance endowed the EUG-SZIM-xs with broadband low-frequency sound absorption.In addition,the dual cross-linking networks endowed the materials with reprocessability under different catalytic systems,and the 1,8-diazobicyclic[5.4.0]undeca-7-ene (DBU)-catalyzed samples exhibited better mechanical properties than EUG-SZIM-xs.
基金financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.NSFC52473104)National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFC2104500)+3 种基金Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.Y24B040002)Ningbo 2025 Key Scientific Research Programs(Grant No.2022Z160)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2023M733601)the Ningbo Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.2023I333&2023J409).
文摘Renewable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyesters are one of the most promising materials for achieving plastic replacement in the age of energy and environmental crisis.However,their properties still cannot compete with those of petrochemical-based plastics,owing to insufficient molecular and/or microstructure designs.Herein,we utilize the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)-based MXene nanosheets for decorating carbon nanotube(CNT)and obtaining the structurally stable and highly dispersed dendritic heterostructured MXene@CNT,that can act as multi-roles,i.e.,polycondensation catalyst,crystal nucleator,and interface enhancer of polyester.The biobased MXene@CNT/polybutylene furandicarboxylate(PBF)(denoted as MCP)nanocomposites are synthesized by the strategy of“in situ catalytic polymerization and hot-pressing”.Benefiting from the multi-scale interactions(i.e.,covalent bonds,hydrogen bonds,and physical interlocks)in hybrid structure,the MCP presents exceptional mechanical strength(≈101 MPa),stiffness(≈3.1 GPa),toughness(≈130 MJ m^(-3)),and barrier properties(e.g.,O_(2)0.0187 barrer,CO_(2)0.0264 barrer,and H2O 1.57×10^(-14) g cm cm^(-2) s Pa)that are higher than most reported bio-based materials and engineering plastics.Moreover,it also displays satisfactory multifunctionality with high reprocessability(90%strength retention after 5 recycling),UV resistance(blocking 85%UVA rays),and solvent-resistant properties.As a state-of-art high-performance and multifunctional material,the novel bio-based MCP nanocomposite offers a more sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based plastics in packaging and engineering material fields.More importantly,our catalysis-interfacial strengthening integration strategy opens a door for designing and constructing high-performance bio-based polyester materials in future.
文摘In this study,a series of hindered urea bond(HUB)containing polyurethane-urea methacrylate prepolymers and a none HUB containing polyurethane methacrylate prepolymer were prepared using isobornyl methacrylate as the reactive diluent via one-pot procedure.The prepolymers were characterized fully by various techniques.Then,their thermosets were fabricated via UV curing in presence of a photo initiator,and their mechanical property and thermal behavior were investigated and compared.Different from the none HUB containing thermoset,the HUB containing thermosets(defined as PUT)could be recycled and reprocessed by hot press under relatively mild conditions with high recovery ratio of mechanical property.Furthermore,zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles were modified with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate and the modified ZnO(defined as ZnO-TPM)was dispersed and polymerized into PUT matrix to prepare their nanocomposites.The influence of ZnO-TPM on the mechanical performance of the composites was evaluated,which indicated that the Young’s modulus and tensile strength increased gradually to the maximum values at ZnO-TPM content of 1 wt%and then decreased.The composites also displayed good reprocessability with improved recovery ratio compared to the pure PUT sample.In addition,the composite materials exhibited strong UV absorption capacity,implying their potential application in the circumstance where UV-shielding was required.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22275162 and 52322307)。
文摘The incorporation of dynamic covalent bonds into thermosets facilitates the reprocessing of polymer networks,thereby meeting the sustainable requirements for polymer recycling.However,the mechanical properties of many materials often decline significantly upon reprocessing due to side reactions caused by harsh processing conditions.In this work,we find that the aromatic dithiocarbamate bond can undergo dissociation under mild conditions without the need for a catalyst,enabling the efficient reprocessing of the corresponding polydithiourethane.As a consequence,the mechanical properties of the polydithiourethane can be largely preserved after reprocessing.The discovery of this dynamic chemistry is anticipated to broaden the potential for material design in dynamic covalent polymer networks.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(42330602)Youth Innovation Team for“FengYun Satellite Remote Sensing Product Verification”(CMA2023QN12)。
文摘Sea surface temperature(SST)is a crucial physical parameter in meteorology and oceanography.This study demonstrates that the influence of earth incidence angle(EIA)on the SST retrieved from the microwave radiation imager(MWRI)onboard FengYun-3(FY-3)meteorological satellites should not be ignored.Compared with algorithms that do not consider the influence of EIA in the regression,those that integrate the EIA into the regression can enhance the accuracy of SST retrievals.Subsequently,based on the recalibrated Level 1B data from the FY-3/MWRI,a long-term SST dataset was reprocessed by employing the algorithm that integrates the EIA into the regression.The reprocessed SST data,including FY-3B/MWRI SST during 2010-2019,FY-3C/MWRI SST during 2013-2019,and FY-3D/MWRI SST during 2018-2020,were compared with the in-situ SST and the SST dataset from the Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Ice Analysis(OSTIA).The results show that the FY-3/MWRI SST data were consistent with both the in-situ SST and the OSTIA SST dataset.Compared with the Copernicus Climate Change Service V2.0 SST,the absolute deviation of the reprocessed SST,with a quality flag of 50,was less than 1.5℃.The root mean square errors of the FY-3/MWRI orbital,daily,and monthly SSTs,with a quality flag of 50,were approximately 0.82℃,0.69℃,and 0.37℃,respectively.The primary discrepancies between the FY-3/MWRI SST and the OSTIA SST were found mainly in the regions of the western boundary current and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.Overall,this reprocessed SST product is recommended for El Niño and La Niña events monitoring.
基金partially supported by the Swiss National Sci-ence Foundation(Grant No.200021L_196923)by funds from the Zürcher Stiftung für Textilforschung(Winterthur,Switzerland)supported by the China Scholarship Council(CSC No.202006260103)。
文摘The conception of epoxy thermosets with both reprocessability and flame retardancy delineates a new horizon in polymer science,offering a material solution that is not only superior in fire safety but is also environment friendly.Herein,a flame-retardant epoxy vitrimer(EV)was prepared using partially bio-based IADPPO(diphenylphosphine oxide itaconic anhydride)and citric acid as curing reagents via a solvent-free process.Their incorporation created covalent adaptable networks(CANs)in the matrix which promote reprocessability and recyclability.The EV exhibits excellent thermal stability with high initial decomposition temperature(T_(- 5wt%)∼308℃)and high glass transition temperature(T_(g)∼107℃),similar to the blank EV(115℃).The flame retardancy,mechanical properties,transesterification-based reprocessability,and flame-retardant mechanism were investigated.The EV containing 3 wt%phosphorus(EV IADPPO 3P)achieved UL-94 V0 classification with a limiting oxygen index(LOI)of 27%,while the virgin sample Blank EV(without phosphorus)burned completely.Additionally,increased flexural strength of 79%was observed for EV IADPPO 3P compared to Blank EV.Furthermore,the flame-retardant EV showed high malleability and reparability that could be thermomechanically reprocessed without sacrificing the thermal,mechanical,and flame-retardant properties.Thus,the newly developed epoxy vitrimer is not only fire-safe but fulfills the sustainability goals of today’s society.