The stability of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) is expected to play a key role in the environmental risk assessment of nanotoxicity in aquatic systems. In this study, the effect of alginate (model polysaccharides) on the stability of CuO NPs in various environmentally relevant ionic strength conditions was investigated by using time-resolved dynamic light scattering. Significant aggregation of CuO NPs was observed in the presence of both monovalent and divalent cations. The critical coagulation concentrations (CCC) were 54.5 and 2.9 mM for NaNO3 and Ca(NO3)2, respectively. The presence of alginate slowed nano-CuO aggregation rates over the entire NaNO3 concentration range due to the combined electrostatic and steric effect. High concentrations of Ca2+ (>6 mM) resulted in stronger adsorption of alginate onto CuO NPs; however, enhanced aggregation of CuO NPs occurred simultaneously under the same conditions. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that the bridging interaction of alginate with Ca2+ might be an important mechanism for the enhanced aggregation. Furthermore, significant coagulation of the alginate molecules was observed in solutions of high Ca2+ concentrations, indicating a hetero-aggregation mechanism between the alginate-covered CuO NPs and the unabsorbed alginate. These results suggested a different aggregation mechanism of NPs might co-exist in aqueous systems enriched with natural organic matter, which should be taken into consideration in future studies.
The land evaluation and site assessment (LESA) method has been used extensively in the United States to assess agricultural
land suitability for different localities. Despite widespread use, LESA models rarely have been evaluated in a systematic,
comprehensive manner. This article discusses development of a LESA system for Hawaii, the first statewide application of the
LESA methodology. The empirical model was implemented with a computerized geographic information system (GIS). The system's
efficiency, ability to discriminate among land parcels, and robustness to subjective model parameter values are evaluated
with statistical analyses and map overlays of GIS data. Results show great potential to simplify the original model specification,
primarily through deletion of marginal site assessment factors. System output was generally insensitive to the numeric values
selected for model parameters, with exception of the ratio used to combine the land evaluation (LE) and site assessment (SA)
component scores. Relative supplies of the differing land attributes measured by the two components must be considered in
determining an appropriate LE:SA ratio for a given area. 相似文献
This study explored whether two principles describe the relationship between the size of a pay increase (a bonus expressed as a percentage of current salary) and the attractiveness of that increase. Based on a sample of sales personnel (N = 639) and consistent with the constant proportion principle of the psychophysical law, pay increase attractiveness was unrelated to current salary level after controlling for the size of the percentage increase. In addition, at any given salary level, the relationship between the size of the increase and its attractiveness was curvilinear. The attractiveness of larger and larger bonus percentages continues to increase, but at a decreasing rate supporting the principle of diminishing returns. 相似文献