Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol and oxalic acid on titanium dioxide electrodes

Photocatalytically active thin TiO(2) films were produced by spin-coating or dip-coating an alkoxy precursor onto a transparent conducting electrode substrate and by thermal oxidation of titanium metal. The thin films were used to study the photoelectrocatalytic or photoelectrochemical degradation of oxalic acid and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) under near UV (monochromatic, 365 nm) light irradiation. Degradation was monitored by a variety of methods. In the course of oxalic acid degradation, CO(2) formation accounted for up to 100% of the total organic carbon degradation for medium starting concentrations; for the degradation of 4-CP, less CO(2) was detected due to the higher number of oxidation steps, i.e. intermediates. Incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency, educt degradation and product formation as well as Faradaic efficiencies were calculated for the degradation experiments. Quantum yields and Faradaic efficiencies were found to be strongly dependent on concentration, with maximum values (quantum yield) around 1 for the highest concentrations of oxalic acid.     

Emotional intelligence and individual performance: evidence of direct and moderated effects

We examined the direct and moderated effects of an ability‐based measure of emotional intelligence (MSCEIT© V2.0) on individual performance in a sample of business undergraduates. Controlling for general mental ability and personality, emotional intelligence explained unique incremental variance in performance ratings on only one of two measures of interpersonal effectiveness (public speaking effectiveness). However, the interaction of emotional intelligence with conscientiousness explained unique incremental variance both in public speaking and group behavior effectiveness, as well as academic performance (cumulative GPA). We conclude that the effects of emotional intelligence on performance are more indirect than direct in nature. Individuals must not only have emotional intelligence, but also must be motivated to use it. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preliminary Evidence for Pollen as an Indicator of Recent Floodplain Accumulation Rates and Vegetation Changes: The Barmah-Millewa Forest, SE Australia

Eucalyptus forest; and in the composition of understorey herbs, sedges, and grasslands. Pollen concentration and charcoal and organic content also exhibit post-European changes. Thus, pollen analysis provides a technique for determining changes in sediment budgets and identifying major vegetation changes in floodplains.     

Assessing of Environmental Quality in Six Areas in India,Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

Environmental quality for environmental health has been examined visually by describing general conditions and drinking water supply, sanitation and solid waste treatment conditions and practices in six South-East Asian villages with a dense population. The environmental review was supplemented by discussions with local people and political and administrative decision makers. Some drinking water analyses were done in order to show the water quality to the local people. The quality of the general conditions and the conditions and practices of drinking water supply, excreta disposal and solid waste treatment practices have been graded with the grading system presented below. The grading could be done in 1 or 2 days in each area by two persons, of which one was an environmental scientist and the other a social scientist, who also knew the local culture and worked as a translator.