Microstructural characterisation of a glass and a glass-ceramic obtained from municipal incinerator fly ash

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used to characterise the microstructure and chemical composition of a glass and a glass-ceramic material obtained from incinerator filter fly ash. Although the as-quenched material (vitrified fly ash) was amorphous under the detection limits of XRD, a dispersion of droplets indicating glass-in-glass phase separation was observed. In the glass-ceramic material (crystallised vitrified fly ash), crystals belonging to the pyroxene group and spinels were identified. The microstructure of the glass-ceramic consisted of crystals embedded in an amorphous glassy phase. The crystalline phases contain a higher amount of metallic elements (e.g. Al, Cr, Fe, Ni and Zn and most probably also other heavy metals) than the residual glassy phase. A change of composition of the residual glass phase in the glass-ceramic product, in comparison with the parent glass, is considered to explain, in comparative terms, the higher toxic potential of the glass-ceramic over the glass. The present results demonstrate that for an accurate assessment of the correlation between toxicity, release of hazardous compounds and microstructure, high-resolution characterisation techniques must be employed. In this context, the effect of crystallisation on the chemical durability of the products remains as an important area for further research.     

Towards a monitoring method and a number of multifaceted and hierarchical biodiversity indicators for urban and suburban parks

In this paper we develop a method for the general monitoring of the biodiversity in (sub)urban parks. The method works along two lines, that of habitat diversity and that of species diversity. On the habitat level we measure the diversity in so called ‘habitat units’. These units are divided in planar, linear and punctual elements. For each category we calculate a Shannon–Wiener diversity index and a saturation index. The latter is the ratio of the diversity index compared to the maximum diversity possible. On the species level we use the species number and diversity index of vascular plants, as measured in random sampling plots of 100 m² (for trees and shrubs) and 4 m² (for herbaceous vegetation). In addition, we also use the species number of butterflies, amphibians and breeding birds. These numbers are compared with the total species number in Flanders, resulting in a saturation index per park for butterflies, amphibians and breeding birds. In this way 20 biodiversity indicators are obtained. The proposed method was applied to the municipal park of Loppem (West-Flanders, Belgium), from which the necessary time budget has been calculated. Since it is the first application of a new method and no reference to other parks is available, the proposed bioindicators have been compared with criteria given in the literature on the selection of biodiversity indicators.     

Synchronization in Specification-based Multimedia Presentations

Several information protocols exist for exchange of multimedia information. The {H}yper{T}ext {T}ransfer {P}rotocol (HTTP) of NCSA combines hypertext techniques with multimedia to provide an intuitive, easy-to-use hypermedia interface. However, HTTP does not provide the means to synchronize different multimedia channels. The NCSA hypermedia browser, Mosaic, has been modified to incorporate synchronization constraints. Platform-independent multimedia authoring programs have been combined in a new synchronization scheme. The {H}yper{T}ext {M}arkup {L}anguage (HTML) has been extended to allow the specification of temporal dependencies between different media channels. This extension allows synchronization in the authoring of hypermedia presentations using Mosaic.     

Toward the Development of Printable Nanowire Electronics and Sensors

In recent years, there has been tremendous progress in the research and development of printable electronics on mechanically flexible substrates based on inorganic active components, which provide high performances and stable device operations at low cost. In this regard, various approaches have been developed for the direct transfer or printing of micro‐ and nanoscale, inorganic semiconductors on substrates. In this review article, we focus on the recent advancements in the large‐scale integration of single crystalline, inorganic‐nanowire (NW) arrays for electronic and sensor applications, specifically involving the contact printing of NWs at defined locations. We discuss the advantages, limitations, and the state‐of‐the‐art of this technology, and present an integration platform for future printable, heterogeneous‐sensor circuitry based on NW parallel arrays.     

Cardiac and Renal SARS-CoV-2 Viral Entry Protein Regulation by Androgens and Diet: Implications for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and COVID-19

The susceptibility and the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are associated with hyperandrogenism, obesity, and preexisting pulmonary, metabolic, renal, and cardiac conditions. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women, is associated with obesity, hyperandrogenism, and cardiometabolic dysregulations. We analyzed cardiac, renal, circulatory, and urinary SARS-CoV-2 viral entry proteins (ACE2, TMPRSS2, TMPRSS4, furin, cathepsin L, and ADAM17) and androgen receptor (AR) expression, in a peripubertal androgen exposure model of PCOS. Peripubertal female mice were treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and low (LFD) or high (HFD) fat diet for 90 days. HFD exacerbated DHT-induced increase in body weight, fat mass, and cardiac and renal hypertrophy. In the heart, DHT upregulated AR protein in both LFD and HFD, ACE2 in HFD, and ADAM17 in LFD. In the kidney, AR protein expression was upregulated by both DHT and HFD. Moreover, ACE2 and ADAM17 were upregulated by DHT in both diets. Renal TMPRSS2, furin, and cathepsin L were upregulated by DHT and differentially modulated by the diet. DHT upregulated urinary ACE2 in both diets, while neither treatment modified serum ACE2. Renal AR mRNA expression positively correlated with Ace2, Tmprss2, furin, cathepsin L, and ADAM17. Our findings suggest that women with PCOS could be a population with a high risk of COVID-19-associated cardiac and renal complications. Furthermore, our study suggests that weight loss by lifestyle modifications (i.e., diet) could potentially mitigate COVID-19-associated deleterious cardiorenal outcomes in women with PCOS.     

Evaluation of the Collapsibility of Soils in the Semiarid Region of Pernambuco,Brazil

Some unsaturated soils may undergo volumetric changes when submitted to an increase in its water content or are inundated under applied loads. This behavior is related to the volumetric instability when the water content is changed. Natural collapsible soils in Brazil are generally found in alluvial, colluvial and residual soils. There are known occurrences of natural collapsible soils in many states of Brasil. In the last two decades, many public projects have been developed in areas where the occurrence of collapsible soils has been associated to geotechnical problems. The present paper devoted to study the collapsible soils in the state of Pernambuco which has been associated with large engineering projects such as housing and irrigation canals. The geotechnical investigation program included test with a field apparatus, called Expanso-colapsometer, which allows the measurement of the field settlements of a small 0.10 m of diameter plate inserted at any depth inside an auger boring hole. Reconnaissance borings with SPT （standard penetration test）, investigation pits with undisturbed block sampling and disturbed samples for laboratory tests were also made in order to assess the type and characteristics of the soil. Field tests used the Expanso-colapsometer to measure the settlement of the soil in selected depths under controlled flooding. Laboratory work included double and standard oedometer tests with a controlled rate of water inflow of 1.0 mL/s. It was found that the volume change of the soils when flooded depends on their natural stress state （vertical stress, suction head and structure of soil）.     

Niobium sulfide as a dopant for Mo/TiO2 catalysts

Mo/TiO₂ catalysts were modified with Nb by two different methods, sol–gel and surface deposition, in order to study the effect of Nb incorporation on the thiophene HDS activity. The results show that the formation of Nb–Ti mixed oxides leads to catalysts with poor HDS activity while the deposition of Nb oxide species on the surface of TiO₂ leads to catalysts with activities larger than those of Mo/Al₂O₃ and Mo/TiO₂. This increase in activity was attributed to the formation of a larger population of Mo sulfur anionic vacancies when Nb was surface deposited on the TiO₂.     

Quantitation and Distribution of Polar Compounds in an Extra Virgin Olive Oil Used in Fryings with Turnover of Fresh Oil

The alteration of an extra virgin olive oil used in 75 repeated and intermittent deep-fat fryings of potatoes (with a frequent turnover of fresh oil) was measured by column and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). Total polar content increased slightly but continuously in the fryer's oil during the first 30 fryings from 2.76 ± 0.01 mg/100 mg oil (mean ± SD) to 6.60 ± 0.00 mg/100 mg used oil, followed by a tendency to reach a near steady state after a large number of fryings. Compounds related to thermoxidative alteration also increased significantly in the oil used 75 times to fry potatoes. Triglyceride dimers increased from 0.03 ± 0.01 mg/100 mg unused oil to 1.65 ± 0.05 mg/100 mg oil at the thirtieth fryings while triglyceride polymers and oxidized triglycerides did so during the first 60 fryings (0.07 ± 0.01 mg/100 mg oil and 0.56 ± 0.03 mg/100 mg oil in the unused oil respectively to 0.38 ± 0.01 mg/100 mg oil or 2.95 ± 0.15 mg/100 mg oil in the used oil, respectively). Both of these changes were followed by a tendency of these polar compounds to reach a near steady state in later successive fryings. Nevertheless, diglycerides and free fatty acids related to hydrolytic alteration remained quite stable throughout the frying process. Data from this study indicate that repeated fryings of potatoes in extra virgin olive oil with a frequent turnover of fresh oil throughout the frying slightly increased the level of polar material in the fryer oil during the first fryings followed by minor changes and by a tendency to reach a near steady state in successive fryings.     

Effect of oil replenishment during deep-fat frying of frozen foods in sunflower oil and high-oleic acid sunflower oil

Frying stability of sunflower oil (SO) with 23% oleic acid and 61% linoleic acid, and of high-oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO) with 74% oleic acid and 13% linoleic acid was studied during 20 discontinuous deep-fat fryings of various frozen foods, with or without frequent replenishment of the used oil with fresh oil. Alterations of both oils were measured by column, gas-liquid and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. Total polar content and compounds, related to thermoxidative changes, and diacylglycerides, related to hydrolytic changes, increased in all oils during frying but reached higher levels in SO than in HOSO. Nevertheless, the increased levels of diacylglycerides observed may result from the frozen potatoes prefried in palm oil. Oleic acid in HOSO and linoleic acid in SO significantly decreased, but the fatty acid modifications that occurred during the repeated fryings were not only related to thermoxidative alteration but also to interactions between the bath oil and the fat in the fried products. Data from this study also indicated that HOSO performed more satisfactorily than SO in repeated fryings of frozen foods. Moreover, frequent addition of fresh oil throughout the deep-frying process minimized thermoxidative and hydrolytic changes in the frying oils and extended the frying life of the oils.     

Corrosion effects in thin‐film photovoltaic modules

Electrochemical corrosion effects can occur in thin‐film photovoltaic (PV) modules that are fabricated on tin‐oxide‐coated glass when operating at high voltages and at elevated temperatures in a humid climate. The current study shows that this corrosion is associated with a delamination of the tin oxide layer from the glass, which is caused by sodium accumulation near the interface between the tin oxide and the glass and by the ingression of moisture into the PV module from the edges. This corrosion in thin‐film PV modules can be significantly reduced by altering the growth conditions of the tin oxide or by using zinc oxide as a transparent conductive oxide electrode. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.