Effect of transition metal doping under reducing calcination atmosphere on photocatalytic property of TiO2 immobilized on SiO2 beads

TiO₂ immobilized on SiO₂ (TiO₂/SiO₂) have been prepared by sol-gel method and various ions of transition metals (Cr³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺) were doped on the photocatalyst using wet impregnation method under reducing calcination atmosphere. The photocatalytic activity of metal doped TiO₂/SiO₂ towards phenol degradation under black light irradiation were investigated and compared with undoped TiO₂/SiO₂. The results showed that the photoresponse of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ doped TiO₂/SiO₂ were larger than undoped TiO₂/SiO₂, indicating that the photogenerated carriers were separated more efficiently in Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ doped TiO₂/SiO₂. The reactivity was in the order of Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Cr³⁺ > Co²⁺. The different photoreactivity was ascribed to combine effect of the different ionic radii and photocorrison tendency of the dopants. The sample was also characterized by surface analytical methods such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron micrograph/electron dispersive X-ray analyzer and UV-Vis absorption spectrum.     

The strain gradient approach to predict necking in tube hydroforming

A stress-based forming limit diagram for necking prediction which is based on the strain gradient theory of plasticity in conjunction with the M–K model has been represented and used in tube hydroforming. In this study, the finite element model for bulge forming of straight tube has been constructed and verified with published experimental data. The adaptive simulation technique is based on the ability to detect the onset and growth of defects (e.g., wrinkling, and bursting) and to promptly readjust the loading paths. Thus, a suitable load path has been obtained by applying Adaptive Simulation Method in ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL).     

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Human Noroviruses in Korean Groundwater Between 2008 and 2010

RT-PCR, nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were performed for genotyping and molecular characterization of noroviruses isolated from Korean groundwater. Among 160 samples collected from 80 sites between 2008 and 2010, 14 samples (8.7?%) from 12 sites were positive for noroviruses (NoVs). The percentages of NoV-positive samples in 2008, 2009, and 2010 were 22.2, 3.2, and 0?%, respectively, representing a yearly decrease. GII-positive samples (n?=?9, 5.6?%) outnumbered GI-positive samples (n?=?5, 3.1?%). The genotypes of the GI NoVs were GI.2, GI.5, and GI.6, and the genotypes of the GII NoVs were all GII.4. One sample, HM623465, was very similar to CUK-3 and CBNU2 and two GII.4 sequences isolated from the stool of Korean gastroenteritis patients. A BLASTN search revealed several nucleotide sequences highly similar to those of NoVs isolated in this study. The original isolation sources for these similar NoVs were mostly stool (n?=?731, 80.0?%) and groundwater (n?=?135, 14.8?%), and all the countries from which they were isolated were almost in Asia (96.0?%); specifically, China (n?=?192, 21.0?%), Japan (n?=?383, 41.9?%), Korea (n?=?296, 32.4?%), and other Asian countries (n?=?6, 0.7?%). These results suggest that Korean groundwater might be contaminated with NoVs from the stool of infected patients and that these NoVs in turn cause new cases of gastroenteritis through a typical fecal-oral route with region-specific circulation. Therefore, it is important to properly treat sewage, which may include waterborne viruses and manage point sources in groundwater for national health and sanitation. In addition, continuous molecular surveillance remains important for understanding circulating NoVs.     

BiOBr/Bi2MoO6异质结的构筑及对甲基橙的吸附/光催化性能的协同作用机制

采用简单的沉积-沉淀法合成了BiOBr/Bi_2MoO_6(BOB/BMO)异质结,采用XRD、XPS、TEM、SEM、EDS、FT-IR、UV-Vis-DRS、PL、PC和EIS等测试技术对光催化剂的物相组成、形貌、光吸收特性和光电化学性能等进行系统表征,并以模型污染物甲基橙(MO)的吸附和光催化降解作为探针来评价BiOBr/Bi_2MoO_6异质结的吸附性能与光催化活性增强机制.SEM和TEM分析结果表明,所得Bi_2MoO_6微球由大量厚度约为20~50 nm的纳米片组成;沉淀-沉积法所得样品的形貌分析显示,尺寸约为10 nm的BiOBr量子点均匀沉积在Bi_2MoO_6微球表面,形成的新颖的BOB/BMO异质结.N2吸附/脱附结果表明,Bi_2MoO_6和BiOBr形成异质结具有大的比表面积(64.94 m2·g-1),且表面孔结构丰富.吸附/光催化降解实验结果表明,与纯Bi_2MoO_6或者BiOBr相比,BOB/BMO异质结表现出更好的吸附性能和光催化活性.吸附/光催化协同作用机理分析表明,BOB/BMO异质结具有大的比表面积和丰富的孔结构是其吸附性能增强的主要原因.此外,光致发光(PL)谱、光电流(PC)和交流阻抗(EIS)分析进一步揭示了BOB/BMO异质结有利于光生载流子的分离与转移,导致光催化活性增强,二者的协同作用使其对MO具有优越的去除性能.此外,BOB/BMO异质结较稳定,重复使用性能良好,有望用于MO废水的实际处理.     

Support for maternal manipulation of developmental nutrition in a facultatively eusocial bee, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megalopta genalis</Emphasis> (Halictidae)

Developmental maternal effects are a potentially important source of phenotypic variation, but they can be difficult to distinguish from other environmental factors. This is an important distinction within the context of social evolution, because if variation in offspring helping behavior is due to maternal manipulation, social selection may act on maternal phenotypes, as well as those of offspring. Factors correlated with social castes have been linked to variation in developmental nutrition, which might provide opportunity for females to manipulate the social behavior of their offspring. Megalopta genalis is a mass-provisioning facultatively eusocial sweat bee for which production of males and females in social and solitary nests is concurrent and asynchronous. Female offspring may become either gynes (reproductive dispersers) or workers (non-reproductive helpers). We predicted that if maternal manipulation plays a role in M. genalis caste determination, investment in daughters should vary more than for sons. The mass and protein content of pollen stores provided to female offspring varied significantly more than those of males, but volume and sugar content did not. Sugar content varied more among female eggs in social nests than in solitary nests. Provisions were larger, with higher nutrient content, for female eggs and in social nests. Adult females and males show different patterns of allometry, and their investment ratio ranged from 1.23 to 1.69. Adult body weight varied more for females than males, possibly reflecting increased variation in maternal investment in female offspring. These differences are consistent with a role for maternal manipulation in the social plasticity observed in M. genalis.     

Molecular composition of recycled organic wastes,as determined by solid-state 13C NMR and elemental analyses

Using solid state ¹³C NMR data and elemental composition in a molecular mixing model, we estimated the molecular components of the organic matter in 16 recycled organic (RO) wastes representative of the major materials generated in the Sydney basin area. Close correspondence was found between the measured NMR signal intensities and those predicted by the model for all RO wastes except for poultry manure char. Molecular nature of the organic matter differed widely between the RO wastes. As a proportion of organic C, carbohydrate C ranged from 0.07 to 0.63, protein C from <0.01 to 0.66, lignin C from <0.01 to 0.31, aliphatic C from 0.09 to 0.73, carbonyl C from 0.02 to 0.23, and char C from 0 to 0.45. This method is considered preferable to techniques involving imprecise extraction methods for RO wastes. Molecular composition data has great potential as a predictor of RO waste soil carbon and nutrient outcomes.     

Effects of landfill gas on subtropical woody plants

An account is given of the influence of landfill gas on tree growth in the field at Gin Drinkers' Bay (GDB) landfill, Hong Kong, and in the laboratory. Ten species (Acacia confusa, Albizzia lebbek, Aporusa chinensis, Bombax malabaricum, Castanopsis fissa, Liquidambar formosana, Litsea glutinosa, Machilus breviflora, Pinus elliottii, andTristania conferta), belonging to eight families, were transplanted to two sites, one with a high concentration of landfill gas in the cover soil (high-gas site, HGS) and the other with a relatively low concentration of gas (low-gas site, LGS). Apart from the gaseous composition, the general soil properties were similar. A strong negative correlation between tree growth and landfill gas concentration was observed. A laboratory study using the simulated landfill gas to fumigate seedlings of the above species showed that the adventitious root growth ofAporusa chinensis, Bombax malabaricum, Machilus breviflora, andTristania confera was stimulated by the gas, with shallow root systems being induced.Acacia confusa, Albizzia lebbek, andLitsea glutinosa were gas-tolerant, while root growth ofCastanopsis fissa, Liquidambar formosana, andPinus elliottii was inhibited. In most cases, shoot growth was not affected, exceptions beingBombax malabaricum, Liquidambar formosana, andTristania conferta, where stunted growth and/or reduced foliation was observed. A very high CO₂ concentration in cover soil limits the depth of the root system. Trees with a shallow root system become very susceptible to water stress. The effects of low O₂ concentration in soil are less important than the effects of high CO₂ concentration.Acacia confusa, Albizzia lebbek, andTristania conferta are suited for growth on subtropical completed landfills mainly due to their gas tolerance and/or drought tolerance.     

Assessment of medical care costs of injuries due to alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes

The purpose of this study was to estimate the total medical care costs of individuals injured in motor vehicle crashes and in crashes where alcohol was involved. Crashes were studied that involved 2,728 vehicle occupants and 191 pedestrians with injuries as reported in 1979 by the National Accident Sampling System, a probability sample of all motor vehicle crashes occurring in the united States. Medical care costs were assigned by using Abbreviated Injury Scale codes in accordance with other published research. Determination of alcohol involvement was based on crash characteristics. Results indicate that 20.2 % of medical care costs for motor vehicle crash injuries may be due to crashes where alcohol was involved. It was estimated that alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes cost between $434 million and $483 million in medical care alone in the United States in 1979.