A web‐based performance assessment system for environmental protection: WePass

In response to the increasing public concern over the effects of construction waste on the environment, a performance assessment system has been designed to provide an instant, online assessment of how well a construction site performs environmentally, e.g. measuring the level of pollution generated from a construction site. Through the use of both Internet and database technologies, it is possible to collect and present data that are essential for environmental management online. To achieve this, a set of environmental performance parameters was derived through a postal questionnaire survey and interviews with experts in the field. A conceptual framework was developed, of which the key components were: template, knowledge base, output data and benchmark group. In combination, these factors provide a system that enables speedy assessment and effective management of environmental performance on construction sites, hence prompt decisions can be made and corrective actions can be taken before potential hazards turn into real disasters.     

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of the effect of sodium alendronate in the progression of experimental periodontitis in rats

The aim of the present research was to investigate the ultrastructural aspects and the immunoexpression of receptor activator of NFκB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) on experimental periodontal disease of alendronate (ALN)‐treated rats. Male Wistar rats received daily injections of 2.5 mg/kg body weight of ALN during 7 days previously and 7, 14, and 21 days after the insertion of a 4.0 silk suture into the gingival sulcus around the right upper second molar. Specimens were fixed in 0.1% glutaraldehyde + 4% formaldehyde under microwave irradiation, decalcified in 4.13% EDTA and paraffin embedded for TRAP histochemistry and immunohistochemistry for RANKL and OPG, or embedded in Spurr epoxy resin for TEM analysis. ALN reduced the activity of osteoclasts and significantly decreased the resorption of the alveolar crest. In the control group the alveolar crest appeared resorbed by TRAP‐positive osteoclasts, which presented ultrastructural features of activated cells. The immunoexpression of RANKL was not inhibited by the drug; however, the expression of OPG was increased in the treated animals. The alveolar crest of ALN‐treated specimens at 21 days showed signs of osteonecrosis, like empty osteocyte lacunae, the exposed bone regions and bacterial infection. The results showed that ALN treatment in individuals with periodontal disease represents a risk of osteonecrosis because of the reduced activity of osteoclasts resultant of the increased immunoexpression of OPG. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:902–909, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Diminished macrophage cholesterol removal rate by the altered HDL metabolism in the Nagase analbuminemic rat

Dyslipoproteinemia of the Nagase analbuminemic rat (NAR) is characterized by elevated concentrations of VLDL and LDL attributed to increased rates of liver lipoprotein synthesis. Increased lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in NAR HDL has been attributed to high plasma LCAT activity. We show here that, as compared with Sprague-Dawley rats (SDR), NAR plasma triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL TAG, protein, total phospholipids (PL), LPC, and PS are increased. These alterations rendered the NAR HDL particle more susceptible to the activity of the enzyme hepatic lipoprotein lipase (HL), which otherwise was unaltered in our study. Fractional catabolic rates in blood of the autologous ¹²⁵I-apoHDL (median and lower quartile values), were, respectively, 0.231 and 1.645 (n=10) in NAR as compared with 0.140 and 0.109 (n=10) in SDR (P=0.012), corresponding to synthesis rates of HDL protein of 89.8±33.7 mg/d in NAR and 17.4±6.5 mg/d in SDR (P=0.0122). Furthermore, Swiss mouse macrophage free-cholesterol (FC) efflux rates, measured as the percent [¹⁴C]-cholesterol efflux/6 h, were 8.2±2.3 (n=9) in NAR HDL and 11.2±3.2 (n=10) in SDR HDL (P=0.03). Therefore, in NAR the modification of the HDL composition slows down the cell FC efflux rate, and together with the increased rate of plasma HDL metabolism influences the reverse cholesterol transport system.     

初秋亚洲味：中式脆皮鸭

中国菜、泰国菜、印度菜以独特的风味备受推崇。想要在家里再现这些美味其实并不难，只要准备好材料，马上就可以动手制作了!不用担心，你一定会大获成功的!     

Molecular design of transition metal alkynyl complexes as building blocks for luminescent metal-based materials: structural and photophysical aspects

In this Account, the design and successful isolation of a series of soluble di- and polynuclear alkynyl complexes of selected metals with d(8) and d(10) electronic configurations are described. These organometallic complexes are found to exhibit rich photophysical and photochemical properties that are unique to the presence of the alkynyl ligand. By a systematic variation of the nature of the ligands, the metal centers, and certain structural features, the photophysical properties could be readily varied and their spectroscopic origins elucidated. Some of these complexes have been shown to be ideal building blocks for the design of luminescent organometallic oligomers and metal-based functional materials.     

Chemical and microbiological quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) slaughtered by different methods

The effect of two slaughter methods (immersion in ice-water slurry and electrical stunning followed by ice slurry asphyxiation) on chemical and microbiological parameters of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) stored in ice for 20 days was evaluated. No differences in total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), pH, carbohydrate or protein content of mucus were observed between the slaughter methods. Ice-slaughtered fish had lower bacteria counts at the beginning of storage, but higher counts than fish slaughtered by electricity at the end of storage (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences in the shelf life were observed between the slaughter methods evaluated (limit of acceptability – counts > 3 × 10⁶ CFU g⁻¹ – attained after 13–16 days). Results indicated that the chemical parameters evaluated have a limited applicability to assess the shelf life of grass carp stored in ice, since pH limit (6.8) was exceeded after 4 days, while TVB-N limit (30 mg%) was not attained after 20 days of storage.     

Competitative adsorption of two dissolved organics onto activated carbon—II: Adsorption kinetics in batch reactors

Bi-solute adsorption of dissolved organics by activated carbon was studied in a finite bath system. The batch tests with strongly adsorbable species show that at low concentrations (X < 0.1 mmol/1) only external mass transfer resistance is rate-determining. For higher concentrations internal mass transfer becomes increasingly important. This behavior indicates that the diffusional process within the particle occurs predominantly in the adsorbed phase.Bi-solute calculations were performed, using only single-solute data. Systems with differing equilibrium behavior, but similar diffusive properties of both solutes, were described adequately by a model which takes into account diffusion in the liquid-filled pores and in the adsorbed phase, as well as external mass transfer. Deviations between measured and predicted rates can be observed for systems with large differences in the mobility of the diffusing molecules, or if counter diffusion inside the particles occurs. It is likely that the discrepancies in these cases are caused by diffusional interactions between the two different species in the adsorbed phase.     

Analysis of the influence of different arrangements for ZrH moderator material on the performance of a SFR core

Different arrangements for the development of a fuel element design with reduced sodium void achieved by the use of the moderating material ZrH are investigated. In the study, the sodium void effect and the major feedback coefficients are analyzed. Besides the feedback coefficients, the influence on the operational parameters like neutron flux distribution, power distribution, and burnup distribution is investigated for the different possibilities of arranging the moderating material in the fuel element. Additionally, the fuel cycle parameters—breeding and minor actinide production—are analyzed. For a first evaluation of the behavior during transients, the influence of temperature changes in the ZrH is studied.