Kinetics and thermodynamics modeling of Nd(III) removal from aqueous solution using modified Amberlite XAD7

New adsorbent material was obtained by modification of commercial Amberlite XAD7 with thiourea that represents a non-toxic, cheap and environmentally friendly extractant. Prepared adsorbent was used for removal of neodymium ions from aqueous solutions. Thiourea modified Amberlite involved in this study shows good adsorption capacities (74.3 mg/g) and excellent efficiency during Nd removal process. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the Nd adsorption process kinetic, thermodynamic and equilibrium studies were performed, establishing this way which kinetic model better describes the Nd adsorption process. Moreover the thermodynamic studies prove that the Nd adsorption on thiourea modified Amberlite XAD7 is an endothermic and spontaneous process.     

Significant population structure in Australian Cryptolestes ferrugineus and interpreting the potential spread of phosphine resistance

An analysis of the population genetics of Cryptolestes ferrugineus, across all major regions in Australia where grain is grown and stored in bulk, provides an initial step in investigating the movement of these insects and implications for the spread of phosphine resistance. Microsatellite data revealed two levels of genetic structure. Across Australia, two clusters were detected, one in eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania) and Western Australia (Cluster 1) and one in South Australia (Cluster 2). Intermediate between them, in eastern South Australia, are a couple of populations that are equally admixed for the two clusters. Populations in Western Australia and western SA belong to different clusters suggesting that the extensive and arid Nullarbor Plain restricts the natural dispersal of these beetles. Isolation-by-distance and the detection of clustering among local populations suggests there is considerable gene flow at a local scale in C. ferrugineus, and we infer this is by flight. Limited natural gene flow between eastern and western Australia might, in part, explain why extremely high resistance has not been detected in Western Australia.     

Using 3D modeling and remote sensing capabilities for a better understanding of spatio-temporal heterogeneities of phytoplankton abundance in large lakes

Lake biological parameters show important spatio-temporal heterogeneities. This is why explaining the spatial patchiness of phytoplankton abundance has been a recurrent ecological issue and is an essential prerequisite for objectively assessing, protecting and restoring freshwater ecosystems. The drivers of these heterogeneities can be identified by modeling their dynamics. This approach is useful for theoretical and applied limnology. In this study, a 3D hydrodynamic model of Lake Geneva (France/Switzerland) was created. It is based on the Delft3D suite software and includes the main tributary (Rhône River) and two-dimensional high-resolution meteorological forcing. It provides 3D maps of water temperature and current velocities with a 1?h time step on a 1?km horizontal grid size and with a vertical resolution of 1?m near the surface to 7?m at the bottom of the lake. The dynamics and the drivers of phytoplankton heterogeneities were assessed by combining the outputs of the model and chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) data from MERIS satellite images between 2008 and 2012. Results highlight physical mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of seasonal hot-spots in phytoplankton abundance in the lake. At the beginning of spring, Chl-a heterogeneities are usually caused by an earlier onset of phytoplankton growth in the shallowest and more sheltered areas; spatial differences in the timing of phytoplankton growth can be explained by spatial variability in thermal stratification dynamics. In summer, transient and locally higher phytoplankton abundances are observed in relation to the impact of basin-scale upwelling.     

Non-linear adsorption modeling of fatty esters and oleic estolide esters via boundary lubrication coefficient of friction measurements

The frictional behaviors of a variety of fatty esters (methyl oleate (MO), methyl palmitate (MP), methyl laurate (ML), and 2-ethylhexyl oleate (EHO)) and oleic estolide esters (methyl oleic estolide ester (ME) and 2-ethylhexyl oleic estolide ester (EHE)) as additives in hexadecane have been examined in a boundary lubrication test regime using steel contacts. Critical additive concentrations were defined and used to perform novel and simple Langmuir analyses that provide an order of adsorption energies: EHE ≥ ME > EHO > MP > MO ≥ ML. Application of Langmuir, Temkin, and Frumkin–Fowler–Guggenheim (FFG) adsorption models via non-linear fitting demonstrates the necessary inclusion of cooperative effects in the applied model. Fits of the steady-state coefficient of friction (COF)-concentration data for EHE, ME, and EHO indicate slight cooperative adsorption. MO, MP, and ML data require larger attractive interaction terms (α ≤ −2.3) to be adequately fit. Primary adsorption energies calculated via a general adsorption model are necessarily decreased while total adsorption energies correlate well with values obtained via critical concentration analyses. To account for multiple surface-site coverage a multiple-site model was defined. The intuitive assumption of multiple-site coverage of more massive components suggests deceptively increased calculated adsorption energies for typically applied models (e.g. FFG, Langmuir).     

Verifying the geographical origin of poultry: The application of stable isotope and trace element (SITE) analysis

Stable isotope and elemental analysis, together with statistical processing of the resultant data has been used to determine the geographical origin of poultry and hence provide a means to verify poultry labels originating from major producing countries/regions. Multivariate statistical analysis has demonstrated that 18 variables, including carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and elemental concentrations of magnesium, thallium, rubidium and molybdenum, are important parameters in poultry origin determination. Using cross-validated discriminant analysis 88.3% of poultry geographical origins were correctly classified (n = 339). Individual correct-classification rates were as follows; China, 100% (n = 36); Brazil, 94.1% (n = 101); Europe 92% (n = 87); Chile 82.6% (n = 46); Thailand, 70.3% (n = 46) and Argentina 50% (n = 10). The main identification errors were associated with miss-classification of Argentinean samples with those originating from Chile and Thailand. Carbon stable isotope ratios of chicken meat indicate the quantity of maize in the diet and this leads to useful discrimination between a large proportion of European poultry and poultry reared in locations such as South America, Thailand and China where maize feeding predominates. The use of poultry carbon isotope values as a simple ‘screening’ parameter to differentiate European poultry meat from other major importers is not as reliable as for the differentiation of European and South American beef. However carbon isotope ratios will be useful in most instances to corroborate suspicion of mislabelling of non corn-fed European poultry. The stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in chicken meat change in a similar way to surface waters around the globe. Our findings support the hypothesis that the global isotopic variation of stable isotopes in drinking water and feed are transferred into animal tissue and can be used to help establish an animal's geographic origin. This is a significant finding and mirrors our observations for beef skeletal muscle δ²H ‰ and δ¹⁸O ‰ values. These systematic variations can be exploited to give a ‘low-resolution’ indication of an animal's geographic origin (e.g. Northern Europe versus the tropics).     

Computer simulation studies of recombination of ions in multi ion-pair ensembles—II. Processes characterized by long mean free paths of charged species

The problem of the recombination of charged species for the case in which initially one or more non-separable pairs of oppositely charged ions are present in the system is treated by means of computer simulation method.The calculations of the electron–cation recombination in the systems characterized by long mean free path (MFP) of an electron between the scattering events were performed. The calculations of the recombination kinetics and escape probability for single pairs were compared with the Debye–Smoluchowski–Onsager theory. It was found that for large MFPs, of above 10–20% of the Onsager distance in the medium, the theory based on the diffusion model is no longer valid, even for isolated ion pairs.The multi-pair effects were investigated by simulation of the electron–cation recombination in clusters composed of up to ten pairs. The deviations of the multi-pair kinetics and escape probability from the corresponding single-pair results are significant.In a series of preliminary calculations it was found that, in contrast to the processes characterized by short MFPs, the mechanism of the energy and momentum transfer during the electron scattering process influences very significantly both the recombination kinetics and the escape probability.     

A conceptual CSO emission model: SEWSIM

CSO emission is widely considered a significant pollution source to receiving waters in urban areas. The existing deterministic sewer models are not able to predict CSO emission effectively. In this study, a conceptual CSO emission model SEWSIM has been developed using a powerful programming package MATLAB and SIMULINK. A sewer system consisting of an impervious catchment and a sewer network is schematised as two linear dynamic reservoirs. The following physical processes are conceptually modelled: rainfall-runoff; surface solids buildup and washoff; sewer sediment erosion and deposition. The model is suitable for both event-based and continuous simulations. Some simulation results demonstrate that SEWSIM predicts pollution load of CSO emission more effectively than deterministic models.     

Interactive assistants provide ease of use for novices: the development of prototypes and descendants

The purpose of this article is to relate early software development features, such as Microsoft Bob's “interactive assistants,” to the new software products on the market today that feature “intelligent, interactive assistants” and enhanced help features. Also, the role of training with intelligent software in the business and academic settings will be explored. This article is emphatically not meant to promote any singular software product or manufacturer, merely to analyze and discuss new and effective features of software, how they developed, and their impact on human users from a practical, rather than empirical, standpoint.