Optimization of synergistic biosorption of oxytetracycline and cadmium from binary mixtures on reed-based beads: modeling study using Brouers-Sotolongo models

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The first aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize reed-based-beads (BBR), an enhanced adsorbent from Tunisian reed. The second purpose...     

Development of novel and ecological keratin/cellulose-based composites for absorption of oils and organic solvents

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Keratin/cellulose cryogels were successfully fabricated using chicken feathers (CF) and cardboard (C) from environmental waste for the first time, to...     

车载精密光电设备平顺性试验研究

对某车载光电探测设备进行了平顺性试验研究。根据该光电设备的结构特点和性能要求,在旋转机座、俯仰转台和红外望远镜上选取3个测点,经试验得到了这3个测点在不同路况、不同车速情况下的加速度数据。通过对试验数据的整理,得出光电探测仪不同部位及整机的振动强度随车速变化曲线,为车载光电平台的减、隔振设计提供参考。     

First-trimester diagnosis of hydrolethalus syndrome in a Chinese family

We report a case resembling hydrolethalus syndrome in a Chinese family. Fetal polydactyly, syndactyly, encephalocele and cardiac malformation were detected on ultrasound examination at 12 weeks' gestation. Termination of pregnancy was performed, and postmortem examination confirmed the findings. This is the first report of a first-trimester prenatal diagnosis of hydrolethalus syndrome in the Chinese population. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of heavy metals among suspended particulates and dissolved phases in Suez Canal water

The concentrations and distribution of particulate and dissolved heavy metals, viz: Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe and Mn have been determined seasonally during 2003 in water samples collected from the Suez Canal. The presented data clarifies that the metals exhibited clear differences in their distribution between particulate and dissolved forms. The concentrations of particulate metals viz: Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe and Mn were high as compared to the dissolved form. Dissolved copper showed the highest percentage of total copper rather than particulate. The particulate forms of Pb, Cd, Fe and Mn had always-higher concentrations than the dissolved forms during the course of study except at summer season. The northern part of the Suez Canal at Port Said showed mean concentrations of particulate and dissolved Cu = 1.43 and 2.10, Zn = 8.61 and 3.17, Pb = 1.72 and 1.23, Cd = 0.35 and 0.35, Fe = 23.49 and 15.83 and Mn = 2.09 and 1.82 μg/L. These high concentrations may be attributed to the high activities, particularly, loading and unloading operations at Port Said harbour, industrial effluents and domestic drainage of Port Said city. On the other hand, Sinai side could be considered as reference site, as it is almost clean without harmful outfalls, where Cu = 0.16 and 0.56, Zn = 2.14 and 0.94, Pb = 6.29 and 3.44, Cd = 0.055 and 0.088, Fe = 6.29 and 3.44 and Mn = 0.56 and 0.26 μg/L for particulate and dissolved metals respectively.     

Personality of young drivers in Oman: Relationship to risky driving behaviors and crash involvement among Sultan Qaboos University students

Objective: Drivers’ behaviors such as violations and errors have been demonstrated to predict crash involvement among young Omani drivers. However, there is a dearth of studies linking risky driving behaviors to the personality of young drivers. The aim of the present study was to assess such traits within a sample of young Omani drivers (as measured through the behavioral inhibition system [BIS] and the behavioral activation system [BAS]) and determine links with aberrant driving behaviors and self-reported crash involvement.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Sultan Qaboos University that targeted all licensed Omani's undergraduate students. A total of 529 randomly selected students completed the self-reported questionnaire that included an assessment of driving behaviors (e.g., Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, DBQ) as well as the BIS/BAS measures.

Results: A total of 237 participants (44.8%) reported involvement in at least one crash since being licensed. Young drivers with lower BIS–Anxiety scores and higher BAS–Fun Seeking tendencies as well as male drivers were more likely to report driving violations. Statistically significant gender differences were observed on all BIS and BAS subscales (except for BAS–Fun) and the DBQ subscales, because males reported higher trait scores. Though personality traits were related to aberrant driving behaviors at the bivariate level, the constructs were not predictive of engaging in violations or errors. Furthermore, consistent with previous research, a supplementary multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only driving experience was predictive of crash involvement.

Conclusions: The findings highlight that though personality traits influence self-reported driving styles (and differ between the genders), the relationship with crash involvement is not as clear. This article further outlines the key findings of the study in regards to understanding core psychological constructs that increase crash risk.