Studies on Sodium Lignosulfonate Depolymerization Over Al2O3 Supported Catalysts Loaded with Metals and Metal Oxides in a Continuous Flow Reactor

The aim of this work was to study the how various heterogeneous catalysts perform upon lignosulfonate decomposition reactions. The main target of the study was to obtain extractable phenolic compounds as potential renewable chemicals for the production of fuel components and chemicals. The nature of the heterogeneous catalyst was found to have a great impact on the obtained product yields and the composition of the product mixture. Initially, a nickel–tungsten on alumina (NiW/Al₂O₃) reference catalyst was applied upon screening the influence of catalyst particle size and various reaction parameters. Significantly increasing product yields with decreasing catalyst particle size indicated that the lignosulfonate transformation takes place on the external catalyst surface due to large macromolecular structure of the feedstock. The contact time (space time velocity) and catalyst particle size were the most important factors influencing the selectivity profiles towards various products as well as the yields observed. The highest conversion to phenolics was obtained over in-house-prepared NiO/Al₂O₃ and NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalysts with various NiO and MoO₃ loadings.     

Electrochemical properties of heat-treated platinized titanium

The physicochemical properties and electrochemical behavior of platinized titanium anodes produced by a combined electrochemical method, which involves electrodeposition of a thin platinum layer on a titanium substrate followed by heat treatment, are studied. The process is shown to result in the appearance of a composite coating with a substantial content of titanium oxides. The composite obtained is an n-type semiconductor, the flat-band potentials of which and the number of charge carriers depend on the preparation conditions. It is proposed to use the reduction peak of oxygen-containing platinum compounds on the stripping voltammogram as a correlation parameter for predicting the electrocatalytic activity of heat-treated Ti/Pt composite electrodes with respect to the oxygen evolution reaction.     

Effect of biogeochemical factors on the Np(V) mobility under the conditions of remote zone of deep liquid radioactive waste repositories

Under the conditions of remote zone of deep liquid radioactive waste repositories (Eh of pore waters from −60 to 186 mV), Np occurs in oxidation states (V) and (IV) on mineral particles incorporated in surrounding rocks. Np(V) can be additionally sorbed on newly formed Fe oxide-hydroxide phases and on Fe(II)-containing minerals owing to the sorption of the reduced forms. The fraction of Np forms tightly fixed on the rock increases with time. Shewanella putrefaciens microorganisms and sulfate-reducing bacteria isolated from deep liquid radioactive wastes repositories reduce Np(V) under anaerobic conditions. The addition to S. putrefaciens culture medium of the rock from the horizon in which the deep liquid radioactive waste repository is arranged leads to deposition of a significant fraction of Np(IV) and Np(V) on the microbial biomass and rock. In the presence of nitrates, the fraction of the reduced Np fixed on the rock considerably decreases. Sulfate-reducing bacteria reduce Np(V) with the released hydrogen sulfide and, probably, in a dissimilation process. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of biogenic and abiogenic reduction of Np in deep liquid radioactive waste repositories, which will lead to a decrease in the Np(V) mobility.     

Dispositions to rash action moderate the associations between concurrent drinking, depressive symptoms, and alcohol problems during emerging adulthood.

“Impulsivity” has been consistently identified as a key personality predictor of alcohol-related problems and subsequent alcohol use disorder. Multiple prior studies have demonstrated impulsivity is an individual difference factor that strengthens the effects of some risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms, on alcohol problems. However, recent research indicated common measures of impulsivity actually reflect multiple dispositions toward rash action, and that alcohol problems were most consistently related to one of those dispositions, negative urgency. Little research has examined how specific dispositions to rash action may act as putative moderators of other risk factors for alcohol problems. The goal of the current study was to test which dispositions to rash action moderated the effects of concurrent alcohol use or depressive symptoms on alcohol problems. Using a large cross-sectional sample of college students (n = 573), the current study utilized semicontinuous regression models, which allow prediction of both the likelihood and level of alcohol problems. Negative urgency was found to be the main predictor of alcohol problems, above and beyond other dispositions to rash action, which replicates prior research. However, each of the other dispositions exhibited risk-enhancing effects on the relations between either depressive symptoms or alcohol use and concurrent alcohol problems. Specifically, lower levels of premeditation enhanced the association between depressive symptoms and alcohol problems, while lower perseverance and higher sensation seeking were related to more alcohol problems at higher levels of alcohol use. Results suggest that multiple dispositions to rash action were related to problematic alcohol use both directly and via their interaction with other risk factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multi-nutrient supplement reduced markers of inflammation and improved physical performance in active individuals of middle to older age: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background

Evidence suggests that folate deficiency may be causatively linked to depressive symptoms. However, little is known on the status of use of folic acid and vitamin supplements among people with mental disorders. This study examined the prevalence and the likelihood of use of folic acid or vitamin supplements among adults with depression and anxiety in comparison to those without these conditions.

Methods

Using data from 46, 119 participants (aged ≥ 18 years) in the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, we estimated the adjusted prevalence and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for taking folic acid and vitamin supplements among those with ever diagnosed depression (n = 8, 019), ever diagnosed anxiety (n = 5, 546) or elevated depressive symptoms (n = 3, 978, defined as having a depression severity score of ≥ 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 diagnostic algorithm).

Results

Overall, women were more likely than men to take folic acid supplements 1-4 times/day (50.2% versus 38.7%, P < 0.001) and vitamin supplements (62.5% versus 49.8%, P < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, men with ever diagnosed depression or anxiety were 42% and 83%, respectively, more likely to take folic acid supplements < 1 time/day; 44% and 39%, respectively, more likely to take folic acid supplements 1-4 times/day; and 40% and 46%, respectively, more likely to take vitamin supplements compared to men without these conditions (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Women with ever diagnosed depression were 13% more likely to take folic acid supplements 1-4 times/day and 15% more likely to take vitamin supplements than women without this condition (P < 0.05 for both comparisons). Use of folic acid and vitamin supplements did not differ significantly by elevated depressive symptoms in either sex.

Conclusion

The prevalence and the likelihood of taking folic acid and vitamin supplements varied substantially by a history of diagnosed depression among both men and women and by a history of diagnosed anxiety among men, but not by presence of elevated depressive symptoms in either sex.     

Stability of Microstructure of Ultrafine‐Grained Copper Under Fatigue and Thermal Exposition

Abstract: Effect of cyclic loading and thermal exposition on microstructure of bulk ultrafine‐grained Cu prepared by equal channel angular pressing was experimentally investigated by means of electron backscattering diffraction and by transmission electron microscopy. Stability of the microstructure under stress‐controlled cyclic loading with a tensile mean stress of 200 MPa was shown to be high. Neither dynamic grain coarsening nor development of bimodal microstructure was observed. However, annealing at 250 °C for 30 min resulted in formation of bimodal microstructure. Consequently, fatigue strength of annealed specimens was low.     

Structure-sorption properties of thermoexpanded graphite and possibilities of its use for the removal of organic matter from aqueous solutions

Based on the data on adsorption of vapors of nitrogen, n-hexane, water, and electrochemical measurements it has been shown that thermoexpanded graphite possesses a nonuniform-porous structure and a vividly expressed hydrophobic surface per 1 m² of which there are ～10¹⁸ of active hydrophilic centers. We have carried out their identification. We have investigated adsorption of anionic (sulfonol, direct scarlet dye, fulvic acids), cationic (crystalline violet dye), and nonionogenic (i-OcPh(OE)₁₀) organic matter on the surface of thermoexpanded graphite. It has been shown that the use of the sorbent under investigation in the processes of water purification of dissolved organic compounds has good prospects.     

New plasma surface-treated memory alloys: Towards a new generation of “smart” orthopaedic materials

This paper describes the corrosion resistance, surface mechanical properties, cyto-compatibility, and in-vivo performance of plasma-treated and untreated NiTi samples. Nickel–titanium discs containing 50.8% Ni were treated by nitrogen and carbon plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). After nitrogen plasma treatment, a layer of stable titanium nitride is formed on the NiTi surface. Titanium carbide is also found at the surface after carbon plasma implantation. Compared to the untreated samples, the corrosion resistances of the plasma PIII samples are better by a factor of five and the surface hardness and elastic modulus are better by a factor of two. The concentration of Ni leached into the simulated body fluids from the untreated samples is 30 ppm, whereas that from the plasma-treated PIII are undetectable. Although there is no significant difference in the ability of cells to grow on either surface, bone formation is found to be better on the nitrogen and carbon PIII sample surfaces at post-operation 2 weeks. All these improvements can be attributed to the formation of titanium nitride and titanium carbide on the surface.     

A biomimetic hierarchical scaffold: natural growth of nanotitanates on three-dimensional microporous Ti-based metals

Nanophase materials are promising alternative implant materials in tissue engineering. Here we report for the first time the large-scale direct growth of nanostructured bioactive titanates on three-dimensional (3D) microporous Ti-based metal (NiTi and Ti) scaffolds via a facile low temperature hydrothermal treatment. The nanostructured titanates show characteristics of 1D nanobelts/nanowires on a nanoskeleton layer. Besides resembling cancelous bone structure on the micro/macroscale, the 1D nanostructured titanate on the exposed surface is similar to the lowest level of hierarchical organization of collagen and hydroxyapatite. The resulting surface displays superhydrophilicity and favors deposition of hydroxyapatite and accelerates cell attachment and proliferation. The remarkable simplicity of this process makes it widely accessible as an enabling technique for applications from engineering materials treatment including energy-absorption materials and pollution-treatment materials to biotechnology.     

SUSTAINABILITY OF TOILET FLUSHING WATER SUPPLY IN HONG KONG

Hong Kong is an Asian city with nearly 7 million people. Because of the lack of natural resources, the local water supply is not adequate to meet the demand. Fresh water supply in Hong Kong relies on the cross border import of water from the East River (Dongjiang) in China. To conserve fresh water, seawater has been used for toilet flushing since the 1950s. In this paper, the current status of seawater for toilet flushing in Hong Kong is reviewed, and the future strategy toward sustainable toilet flushing water supply, including other alternatives, is discussed.