Mineralogy of air-pollution-control residues from a secondary lead smelter: environmental implications

The mineralogy and solubility of air-pollution-control (APC) residues from a secondary lead (Pb) smelter have been studied on samples from the Príbram smelter, Czech Republic, recycling car batteries, with the emphasis on their potential environmental effect. The presence of dominant anglesite (PbSO4) and laurionite (Pb(OH)Cl) was observed in a sintered residue from after-burning chambers (800-1000 degrees C). In contrast, low-temperature Pb-bearing phases, such as KCl x 2PbCl2 and caracolite (Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl), were detected in the major APC residue from bag-type fabric filters. Metallic elements, zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and tin (Sn) were found homogeneously distributed within this residue. The formation of anglesite, cotunnite (PbCl2), (Zn,Cd)2SnO4, and (Sb,As)2O3 was observed during the sintering of this APC residue at 500 degrees C in a rotary furnace. The 168 h leaching test on filter residue, representing the fraction that may escape the flue gas treatment system, indicated rapid release of Pb and other contaminants. Caracolite and KCl x 2PbCl2 are significantly dissolved, and anglesite and cotunnite form the alteration products, as was confirmed by mineralogical analysis and PHREEQC-2 modeling. The observed Pb-bearing chlorides have significantly higher solubility than anglesite and, following emission from the smelter stack, can readily dissolve, transferring Pb into the environmental milieu (soils, water, inhabited areas).     

Reactive phenylbenzimidazole UV absorbers and their application to cellulose textiles

New types of reactive UV absorbers for applications to cellulose textiles have been prepared. These substances are condensation products of sulfobenzimidazolaniline, cyanuric chloride, and aminophenyl‐(2‐sulfethoxy)‐sulfone. They were applied to bleached, unbleached, as well as dyed cellulose textiles with the aim to increase the protection effect of these textiles against UV radiation. All the tested textiles showed a marked increase in the UV protection factor (UPF). The effects of the UV absorbers tested neither interfere with the function of fluorescent brighteners (FBs) nor affect the hue of the used dyestuffs. They exhibit synergistic effect in the protection effectiveness against UV radiation: the UV absorbers used together with dyestuffs and FBs have a higher UPF factor than is the sum of UPF contributions of the individual components. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Narrow-band collisional activation technique for ion trap mass spectrometers.

Narrow-bandwidth signals were applied to the end caps of an ion trap mass spectrometer to excite ions during collisional activation. Excitation waveforms were created from a single-frequency component and a random noise component using a multiplier circuit. Tandem and higher order mass spectrometry experiments (MS3) can be performed without optimization of the supplemental frequency applied to the end cap electrodes. The usefulness of this method of ion excitation is demonstrated using singly and multiply protonated peptide ions as well as sodium-cationized carbohydrates.     

3GPP LTE‐Assisted Wi‐Fi‐Direct: Trial Implementation of Live D2D Technology

This paper is a first‐hand summary on our comprehensive live trial of cellular‐assisted device‐to‐device (D2D) communications currently being ratified by the standards community for next‐generation mobile broadband networks. In our test implementation, we employ a full‐featured 3GPP LTE network deployment and augment it with all necessary support to provide real‐time D2D connectivity over emerging Wi‐Fi‐Direct (WFD) technology. As a result, our LTE‐assisted WFD D2D system enjoys the required flexibility while meeting the existing standards in every feasible detail. Further, this paper provides an account on the extensive measurement campaign conducted with our implementation. The resulting real‐world measurements from this campaign quantify the numerical effects of D2D functionality on the resultant system performance. Consequently, they shed light on the general applicability of LTE‐assisted WFD solutions and associated operational ranges.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus in women and serum interleukin-6, sperm and zona pellucida antibodies

Systemic lupus erthematosus (SLE) has been very often associated with complication in reproduction. 29 SLE women divided into two groups A (10 patients aged 18-36 years) and B (19 patients aged 42-67 years) were queried with regard to general, obstetric and SLE history by the use of a questionnaire. Serum of each patient was tested for interleukin-6 (by ELISA), sperm antibodies (by mixed antiglobulin reaction and tray agglutination test) and zona pellucida antibodies (passive haemagglutination test and ELISA methods). Neuropathic, cutaneous and nephrotic symptoms prevailed in the SLE women. The group of younger women showed significant problems in fertility (only one woman became a happy mother) while 15 women in the elderly group were successfully pregnant before SLE diagnosis. Low serum II-6 levels were detectable only in 3 cases as a possible consequence of corticoid treatment. Levels of zona pellucida antibodies were higher in the elderly group B, levels of sperm antibodies were higher in contrast to younger SLE women (group A). The laboratory findings may be related to the severity of autoimmune disease and to menopause onset (group B) or good sexual activity (group A).     

A three-loop antenna system for performing near-field measurementsof electric and magnetic fields from video display terminals

This paper discusses the use of a three-loop antenna system (TLAS) for near-field measurement of electric and magnetic fields from video display terminals (VDTs). We calculated the electric and magnetic dipole moments to derive the electric and magnetic field patterns in the near field region. Electric and magnetic fields, emitted by several different models of VDTs, were evaluated with the TLAS and were compared with those measured by conventional electric and magnetic field probes at different distances and directions from VDTs. A good correlation (±1.6 dB) between the two measurement techniques was found. This agreement is within the accuracy (±2 dB) of the conventional field probe measurements     

Etiology of genital ulcers and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus coinfection in 10 US cities. The Genital Ulcer Disease Surveillance Group

To determine the etiology of genital ulcers and to assess the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in ulcer patients in 10 US cities, ulcer and serum specimens were collected from approximately 50 ulcer patients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in each city. Ulcer specimens were tested using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay to detect Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, and herpes simplex virus (HSV); sera were tested for antibody to HIV. H. ducreyi was detected in ulcer specimens from patients in Memphis (20% of specimens) and Chicago (12%). T. pallidum was detected in ulcer specimens from every city except Los Angeles (median, 9% of specimens; range, 0%-46%). HSV was detected in >/=50% of specimens from all cities except Memphis (42%). HIV seroprevalence in ulcer patients was 6% (range by city, 0%-18%). These data suggest that chancroid is prevalent in some US cities and that persons with genital ulcers should be a focus of HIV prevention activities.