Acid-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline TiO2 from titanate nanotubes: Influence of acids on the photodegradation of gaseous toluene

In order to efficiently remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from indoor air, onedimensional titanate nanotubes (TiNTs) were hydrothermally treated to prepare TiO₂ nanocrystals with different crystalline phases, shapes and sizes. The influences of various acids such as CH₃COOH, HNO₃, HCl, HF and H₂SO₄ used in the treatment were separately compared to optimize the performance of the TiO₂ nanocrystals. Comparedwith the strong and corrosive inorganic acids, CH₃COOH was not only safer andmore environmentally friendly, but also more efficient in promoting the photocatalytic activity of the obtained TiO₂. Itwasobserved that the anatase TiO₂ synthesized in 15 mol/L CH₃COOH solution exhibited the highest photodegradation rate of gaseous toluene (94%), exceeding that of P25 (44%) by a factor ofmore than two. The improved photocatalytic activity was attributed to the small crystallite size and surface modification by CH₃COOH. The influence of relative humidity (20%-80%) on the performance of TiO₂ nanocrystals was also studied. The anatase TiO₂ synthesized in 15 mol/L CH₃COOH solution was more tolerant tomoisture than the other TiO₂ nanocrystals and P25.     

IKK inhibition prevents PM2.5-exacerbated cardiac injury in mice with type 2 diabetes

Epidemiological studies have found that individuals with diabetes mellitus(DM) display an increased susceptibility for adverse cardiovascular outcomes when exposed to air pollution.This study was conducted to explore the potential mechanism linking ambient fine particles(PM2.5) and heart injury in a Type 2 DM(T2DM) animal model. The KKay mouse, an animal model of T2DM, was exposed to concentrated ambient PM2.5 or filtered air for 8 weeks via a versatile aerosol exposure and concentrator system. Simultaneously, an inhibitor of IκB kinase-2(IKK-a)(IMD-0354), which is a blocker of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)nuclear translocation, was administrated by intracerebroventricular injection(ICV) to regulate the NF-êB pathway. The results showed that ambient PM2.5 induced the increase of, NF-êB, cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK) expression in cardiac tissue, and that IMD-0354 could alleviate the inflammatory injury. The results suggested that the NF-êB pathway plays an important role in mediating the PM2.5-induced cardiovascular injury in the T2DM model. Inhibiting NFκB may be a therapeutic option in air-pollution-exacerbated cardiovascular injury in diabetes mellitus.     

Structure and function of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial community respond differently to elevated ozone in field-planted wheat

To assess the responses of the soil microbial community to chronic ozone (O₃), wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum Linn.) were planted in the field and exposed to elevated O₃ (eO₃) concentration. Three treatments were employed: (1) Control treatment (CK), AOT40 = 0; (2) O₃-1, AOT40 = 1.59 ppm•h; (3) O₃-2, AOT40 = 9.17 ppm•h. Soil samples were collected for the assessment of microbial biomass C, community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs), and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). EO₃ concentration significantly reduced soil microbial carbon and changed microbial CLPPs in rhizosphere soil, but not in non-rhizosphere soil. The results of the PLFAs showed that eO₃ concentrations had significant effects on soil community structure in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. The relative abundances of fungal and actinomycetous indicator PLFAs decreased in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, while those of bacterial PLFAs increased. Thus the results proved that eO₃ concentration significantly changed the soil microbial community function and composition, which would influence the soil nutrient supply and carbon dynamics under O₃ exposure.     

Fabrication of ion doped WO3 photocatalysts through bulk and surface doping

Na⁺ doped WO₃ nanowire photocatalysts were prepared by using post-treatment (surface doping) and in situ (bulk doping) doping methods. Photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Blue was tested under visible light irradiation, the results showed that 1 wt.% Na⁺ bulk-doped WO₃ performed better, with higher photoactivity than surface-doped WO₃. Photoelectrochemical characterization revealed the differences in the photocatalytic process for surface doping and bulk doping. Uniform bulk doping could generate more electron–hole pairs, while minimizing the chance of electron–hole recombination. Some bulk properties such as the bandgap, Fermi level and band position could also be adjusted by bulk doping, but not by surface doping.     

Effect of AlCl3 concentration on nanoparticle removal by coagulation

In recent years, engineered nanoparticles, as a new group of contaminants emerging in natural water, have been given more attention. In order to understand the behavior of nanoparticles in the conventional water treatment process, three kinds of nanoparticle suspensions, namely multi-walled carbon nanotube-humic acid (MWCNT-HA), multi-walled carbon nanotube-N,N-dimethylformamide (MWCNT-DMF) and nanoTiO₂-humic acid (TiO₂-HA) were employed to investigate their coagulation removal efficiencies with varying aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) concentrations. Results showed that nanoparticle removal rate curves had a reverse “U” shape with increasing concentration of aluminum ion (Al^3 +). More than 90% of nanoparticles could be effectively removed by an appropriate Al^3 + concentration. At higher Al^3 + concentration, nanoparticles would be restabilized. The hydrodynamic particle size of nanoparticles was found to be the crucial factor influencing the effective concentration range (ECR) of Al^3 + for nanoparticle removal. The ECR of Al^3 + followed the order MWCNT-DMF > MWCNT-HA > TiO₂-HA, which is the reverse of the nanoparticle size trend. At a given concentration, smaller nanoparticles carry more surface charges, and thus consume more coagulants for neutralization. Therefore, over-saturation occurred at relatively higher Al^3 + concentration and a wider ECR was obtained. The ECR became broader with increasing pH because of the smaller hydrodynamic particle size of nanoparticles at higher pH values. A high ionic strength of NaCl can also widen the ECR due to its strong potential to compress the electric double layer. It was concluded that it is important to adjust the dose of Al^3 + in the ECR for nanoparticle removal in water treatment.     

安徽运漕地区隐伏地质体三维模型构建及应用

以安徽运漕地区为例,从地层与岩体特征入手,结合地质—地球物理信息,开展浅覆盖区隐伏地质体三维建模研究。介绍了划分建模单元及建立地质—地球物理模型和构建最终地质体模型的过程,针对区内侵入岩、浅成侵入岩发育情况,提出采用地层与岩体并行建模的思路,通过"先分后合"的方式构建地质体三维模型。最终的成果模型反映了研究区隐伏地质体的主要物性层(建模单元)、主要断裂与褶皱构造、岩浆隆起构造的空间展布特征,模型将区域重磁、断层展布、已知矿点与闪长岩类及三叠世周冲村组叠加显示,以三维可视化的方式标识了成矿有利地段的空间位置。     

HF对Cu-SSZ-13/堇青石的原位合成及脱除NO_x的影响

以Cu-TEPA为模板剂原位水热合成一系列具有优良deNOx特性的Cu-SSZ-13/堇青石整体式催化剂.为进一步改善其氨的选择性催化还原氮氧化物的活性,在制备过程中添加HF对原位制备Cu-SSZ-13/堇青石整体式催化剂进行改性.利用XRD、SEM、XPS、BET、ICP-AES等对样品进行了表征.结果表明,当nHF/nAl在0.015—0.0375时,晶化72 h的Cu-SSZ-13/堇青石表现出了优异的脱硝性能和抗老化性能,其最大转化率为99.8%,NOx转化率保持在90%以上的最宽活性温度窗口为280—640℃,而无HF的新鲜样品的NOx转化率保持在90%以上的活性温度窗口为300—580℃;720℃老化50 h处理后,nHF/nAl=0.015—0.0375样品的NOx转化率保持在90%以上的最宽活性温度窗口为360—520℃,未添加HF的老化样品相应的活性温度窗口为400—500℃.无论新鲜还是老化,nHF/nAl=0.015—0.0375样品在低温段200—300℃和高温段500—700℃的NOx转化率基本都大于未添加HF的样品.结合表征结果,在催化剂原位水热合成过程中HF的加入既提高了样品的相对结晶度和负载量,又增大了样品的比表面积和比孔容,且提高了Cu-SSZ-13/堇青石骨架结构的稳定性,进而在一定程度上改善了Cu-SSZ-13/堇青石的高温脱硝活性和水热稳定性.     

HNO_3在气相及SiO_2表面的紫外光解反应

利用紫外及红外吸收光谱等分析手段对365 nm光照下HNO3在气相与SiO2表面的光解反应进行了研究.考察了HNO3浓度、光照时间、相对湿度等条件对反应的影响.结果表明:随着HNO3浓度及光照时间的增加,光解产生的NO2和NO浓度均呈指数增加;无水汽情况下,400 Pa的HNO3光解45 min后,产生NO2及NO浓度比气相光解产生的分别高约3及1.7倍.HNO3光解产生的HONO的浓度随相对湿度的增加而呈线性增加,在SiO2颗粒物表面光解产生的NO2浓度随着相对湿度的增加而减少,而NO浓度则随之增大.400 Pa的HNO3光照45 min后,SiO2表面光解产生的HONO浓度是气相光解的3倍、SiO2表面暗反应的约30倍.     

Geographic range size and extinction risk assessment in nomadic species

Geographic range size is often conceptualized as a fixed attribute of a species and treated as such for the purposes of quantification of extinction risk; species occupying smaller geographic ranges are assumed to have a higher risk of extinction, all else being equal. However many species are mobile, and their movements range from relatively predictable to‐and‐fro migrations to complex irregular movements shown by nomadic species. These movements can lead to substantial temporary expansion and contraction of geographic ranges, potentially to levels which may pose an extinction risk. By linking occurrence data with environmental conditions at the time of observations of nomadic species, we modeled the dynamic distributions of 43 arid‐zone nomadic bird species across the Australian continent for each month over 11 years and calculated minimum range size and extent of fluctuation in geographic range size from these models. There was enormous variability in predicted spatial distribution over time; 10 species varied in estimated geographic range size by more than an order of magnitude, and 2 species varied by >2 orders of magnitude. During times of poor environmental conditions, several species not currently classified as globally threatened contracted their ranges to very small areas, despite their normally large geographic range size. This finding raises questions about the adequacy of conventional assessments of extinction risk based on static geographic range size (e.g., IUCN Red Listing). Climate change is predicted to affect the pattern of resource fluctuations across much of the southern hemisphere, where nomadism is the dominant form of animal movement, so it is critical we begin to understand the consequences of this for accurate threat assessment of nomadic species. Our approach provides a tool for discovering spatial dynamics in highly mobile species and can be used to unlock valuable information for improved extinction risk assessment and conservation planning.     

The difference conservation makes to extinction risk of the world's ungulates

Previous studies show that conservation actions have prevented extinctions, recovered populations, and reduced declining trends in global biodiversity. However, all studies to date have substantially underestimated the difference conservation action makes because they failed to account fully for what would have happened in the absence thereof. We undertook a scenario‐based thought experiment to better quantify the effect conservation actions have had on the extinction risk of the world's 235 recognized ungulate species. We did so by comparing species’ observed conservation status in 2008 with their estimated status under counterfactual scenarios in which conservation efforts ceased in 1996. We estimated that without conservation at least 148 species would have deteriorated by one International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category, including 6 species that now would be listed as extinct or extinct in the wild. The overall decline in the conservation status of ungulates would have been nearly 8 times worse than observed. This trend would have been greater still if not for conservation on private lands. While some species have benefited from highly targeted interventions, such as reintroduction, most benefited collaterally from conservation such as habitat protection. We found that the difference conservation action makes to the conservation status of the world's ungulate species is likely to be higher than previously estimated. Increased, and sustained, investment could help achieve further improvements.