Gold supported on metal oxides for carbon monoxide oxidation

Au has been loaded (1% wt.) on different commercial oxide supports (CuO, La₂O₃, Y₂O₃, NiO) by three different methods: double impregnation (DIM), liquid-phase reductive deposition (LPRD), and ultrasonication (US). Samples were characterised by N₂ adsorption at −196 °C, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, high-angle annular dark-field imaging (Z-contrast), X-ray diffraction, and temperature programmed reduction. CO oxidation was used as a test reaction to compare the catalytic activities. The best results were obtained with Au loaded by DIM on the NiO support, with an activity of 7.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol_CO·g_Au ⁻¹·s⁻¹ at room temperature. This is most likely related to the Au nanoparticle size being the smallest in this catalyst (average 4.8 nm), since it is well known that gold particle size determines the catalytic activity. Other samples, having larger Au particle sizes (in the 2–12 nm range, with average sizes ranging from 4.8 to 6.8 nm), showed lower activities. Nevertheless, all samples prepared by DIM had activities (from 1.1 × 10⁻⁴ to 7.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol_CO·g_Au ⁻¹·s⁻¹, at room temperature) above those reported in the literature for gold on similar oxide supports. Therefore, this method gives better results than the most usual methods of deposition-precipitation or co-precipitation.      

Causes and prevention of boating fatalities

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes and prevention of the 333 boating deaths that occurred in Australia over the period 1992-1998. It involved: assessment of the Coroner's findings; review of witness statements, police reports, autopsy findings, search and rescue reports, weather maps and reports; analysis of forensic and scientific data; assessment of photographic evidence; review of other related information. The data were coded according to a recently developed national data standard. It was found that nearly half of the vessels involved had an insufficient number of personal flotation devices for the number of people on board; of all people killed only 9% were wearing them, and survivors were more than two times more likely to have been wearing them. If usage could be increased to 75%, five lives could be saved each year with a cost saving to the Australian community of nearly $8 million. The contribution of alcohol to boating deaths (28% in excess of 0.05g/100ml) was similar to its contribution to road deaths. The sequence of events resulting in a boating death was initiated most often by capsize (36%). Capsize was more likely to involve overloading or improper loading, hazardous wind or sea conditions, and dinghies. Twenty-five percent of the vessels involved in fatalities were dinghies and they were more likely to be overloaded, involve capsize, alcohol, and failure to wear a personal flotation device. Fatalities involving personal watercraft were mainly caused by human factors. Boating causes a significant level of harm to the Australian community measured in terms of mortality. This can be reduced by a concerted effort to address the identified hazards and protective factors.     

Can’t bibliometric analysts do better? How quality assessment without field expertise does not work

Scientometrics - The article is an invited comment on Guy Madison and Therese Söderlund (M&S): Comparisons of content and scientific quality indicators across peer-reviewed journal...     

On the usefulness of quantitative safety goals for state regulation of energy systems

The potential usefulness of quantitative safety goals for energy systems in the State of California is evaluated. Five energy-related risk issues, previously dealt with by state regulatory agencies, are examined for the role played by risk in decision-making and the possible role that quantitative safety goals might have played. Several other energy-related risk situations are identified and briefly discussed. It is concluded that quantitative safety goals do not appear to be needed for risk management of energy systems in California. However, there does appear to be a role for a central office of risk management in the State governmental structure. Such an office would provide a reference and evaluation service for other agencies. The potential usefulness of establishing threshold levels of risk for different kinds of action is also noted.     

Language deficits, localization, and grammar: Evidence for a distributive model of language breakdown in aphasic patients and neurologically intact individuals.

Selective deficits in aphasic patients' grammatical production and comprehension are often cited as evidence that syntactic processing is modular and localizable in discrete areas of the brain (e.g., Y. Grodzinsky, 2000). The authors review a large body of experimental evidence suggesting that morphosyntactic deficits can be observed in a number of aphasic and neurologically intact populations. They present new data showing that receptive agrammatism is found not only over a range of aphasic groups, but is also observed in neurologically intact individuals processing under stressful conditions. The authors suggest that these data are most compatible with a domain-general account of language, one that emphasizes the interaction of linguistic distributions with the properties of an associative processor working under normal or suboptimal conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Will fifty cooks spoil the broth? The debate over entrusting Head Start to the states.

Many researchers and policymakers recognize the importance of preschool education, particularly for low-income children, and the role of state governments has become increasingly prominent in providing services. At the same time, some policy analysts have urged that Head Start should be shifted from federal to state control. Others, however, believe this is inadvisable. We sought to inform the debate over whether entrusting Head Start to the states would be a sound policy decision by examining extant state preschool programs. Our survey of 31 programs that matched our criteria suggested that state-funded initiatives vary widely in design, implementation, and quality. There are some common areas of strength and weakness: States tend to be strong in domains such as classroom quality, but are weak on providing comprehensive services. Overall, we find reason for serious concern regarding Head Start devolution from federal to state control at this time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pursuit and adjustment of goals during unemployment: The role of age.

This longitudinal study investigated the predictive value of 2 self-regulatory processes (goal pursuit and goal adjustment) on mental health and reemployment success over a period of 8 months. A total of 87 unemployed job seekers participated in this study. There is some evidence that age moderated the relationship between goal pursuit and goal adjustment with mental health and reemployment success. Contrary to expectations, goal pursuit was positively related to mental health for relatively older individuals. The authors found no effects of goal adjustment on mental health. However, as expected, goal adjustment had a negative relationship with reemployment success for relatively younger individuals. The authors found no moderator effects of age on the relationship between goal pursuit and reemployment success. Thus, the study revealed different relationships between self-regulatory processes and mental health as well as reemployment success for younger and older individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpretation of phase diagrams of ternary reciprocal systems by complete conversion points

A new classification of ternary reciprocal systems is proposed taking into account the number of thermal effects in the thermograms of complete conversion points. The classification is useful for general evaluation of the liquid surface of the systems.