CuxNi1-xO nanostructures and their nanocomposites with reduced graphene oxide: Synthesis,characterization, and photocatalytic applications

NiO nanostructure was synthesized using a simple co-precipitation method and was embedded on reduced graphene oxide surface via ultrasonication. Structural investigations were made through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and functional groups were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD analysis revealed the grain size reduction with doping. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of metal-oxygen bond in pristine and doped NiO nanostructure as well as the presence of carbon containing groups. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the particle size decreased when NiO nanostructure was doped with copper. BET surface area was found to increase almost up to 43 m²/g for Cu doped NiO nanostructure/rGO composite. Current-voltage measurements were performed using two probe method. UV–Visible spectroscopic profiles showed the blue and red shift for Cu doped NiO nanostructure and Cu doped NiO Nanostructure/rGO composite respectively. Rate constant for Cu doped NiO nanostructure/rGO composite found to increase 4.4 times than pristine NiO nanostructure.     

Predicting the performance of concrete structures exposed to chemically aggressive environment—Field validation

The behavior of two series of concrete slabs exposed to sulfate-bearing soils was investigated by a numerical model called STADIUM. In addition to the diffusion of ions and moisture, the model also accounts for the effects of dissolution/precipitation reactions on the transport mechanisms. The simulations yielded by the model were compared to the actual degradation of the slabs after 8 years of exposure. The microstructural alterations of concrete resulting from the penetration of magnesium, chloride and sulfate ions were studied by backscatter mode scanning electron microscope observations and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. The comparison of both series of data indicates that the model can reliably predict the various features of the microstructural alterations of concrete.

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Résumé Le comportement de deux séries de dalles sur sol en béton exposées à des sols chimiquement agressifs a été étudié à l'aide d'un code de calcul numérique appelé STADIUM. Ce modèle permet de décrire le transport couplé de l'eau et des ions dans des matériaux poreux non-saturés en prenant en considération l'influence des réactions chimiques. Les résultats des simultations de la dégradation du béton après huit ans d'exposition à des ions chlore, sulfate et magnésium. Les observations ont été réalisées par microscopie électronique à balayage. Des analyses par dispersion des rayons X ont également été effectuées. Les données démontrent clairement que le modèle perment de prédire avec précision le comportement du béton soumis à différents types d'agression chimique.

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Editorial Note Laval University (Canada) is a RILEM Titular Member. Prof. J. Marchand was awarded the 2000 Robert L'Hermite Medal. He is Editor in Chief for Concrete Science and Engineering and Associate Editor for Materials and Structures. He participates in RILEM TC 186-ISA ‘Internal Sulfate attack’.     

Multiple factor design for reactive mixture selection for use in reactive walls in mine drainage treatment.

Sulfate-reducing reactive walls installed in situ in the path of acid mine drainage contaminated groundwater, present a promising passive treatment technology. However, a rigorous and methodical selection of the most appropriate reactive mixture composition still needs to be investigated. The aim of this study was the selection of the most reactive medium using a multiple factor design and the modeling of the sulfate-reduction rate. Reactivity of 17 mixtures was assessed in batch reactors (in duplicates) using a synthetic AMD. Results indicate that within 41 days, sulfate concentrations decreased from initial concentrations of 2,000-3,200 mg/l to final concentrations of <90 mg/l. Metal removal efficiencies ranged between 51-84% for Ni and 73-93% for Zn. Generated sulfate-reduction rate predictive models which had very satisfactory parameters (R2 = 0.86, F = 62.38 (p-level < 10(-13)) and R2 = 0.90. F = 62.30 (p-level < 10(-13))) identified poultry manure and two other carbon sources as the critical variables for sulfate-reduction rate.     

Dysprosium doped Ga:La:S glass for an efficient optical fibreamplifier operating at 1.3 μm

The authors present experimental results which indicate that a Dy ³⁺-doped Ga:La:S glass fibre amplifier may be operated efficiently at 1.3 μm with an optimum device length significantly shorter than a comparable Pr³⁺-doped glass fibre amplifier. Moreover, the efficiency exceeds that obtained from the Pr³⁺-doped ZBLAN devices currently available     

Is prostate specific antigen density an important prognostic indicator for patients with prostate cancer treated with external beam therapy?

The purpose of this study was to determine if prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) is a predictor of outcome following external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer, and to compare it with other prognostic factors. Between January 1990 and December 1993, 205 patients with T1-T3 adenocarcinoma of the prostate received a radical course of external beam irradiation, with no prior or adjuvant hormonal therapy. All patients had pre- and post-treatment serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) evaluation. They were followed up for at least 24 months. PSAD was defined as the ratio of pre-treatment serum PSA to the prostate volume, as determined from CT treatment planning scans. Prostate volumes were calculated using the prostate ellipse formula. Median PSA density was 0.37, with a range 0.01-6.7. Biochemical failure was defined as three consecutive rises in serum PSA, regardless of the magnitude of elevation. 4-year biochemical disease-free survival (BDFS) for patients with PSAD < or = 0.3 was 60%, compared with 22% for patients with PSAD > 0.3 (p = < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, pre-treatment PSA (p = < 0.001), Gleason score (p = 0.002), and stage (p = 0.03) were independent predictors of BDFS, while PSAD was not an important prognosticator (p = 0.62). Pre-treatment serum PSA is the most important prognosticator of BDFS, following external beam radiotherapy, for patients with prostate cancer. PSA density did not predict treatment outcome.     

Dosimetric evaluation of a widely used kilovoltage x-ray unit for endocavitary radiotherapy

In this paper we present the dosimetric data of a Therapax DTX300 kilovoltage x-ray unit for endocavitary rectal irradiation. The unit if operated at tube voltage of 40-60 kVp (30 mA) with an added filtration of 0.2-0.4 mm Al generates acceptable beam qualities comparable to those of the original Papillon technique. Relative dosimetric measurements were performed at the cone end (37.2 cm SSD) of a 3 cm diameter rectal cone using various detectors to ensure the accuracy. A Monte Carlo method was used to calculate correction factors for the diode used in the percentage depth-dose (PDD) measurement, and to study the effect of the detector size on the beam profile. The PDD data were determined using the diode measurement corrected for its energy and angular response. It was found that the PTW N23342 and Markus parallel-plate chamber can be used directly to measure the PDD for this beam quality with 2% uncertainty. Measurement and Monte Carlo results have shown that the detector size has a significant effect on the penumbral profile. Film and diode detectors have a better spatial resolution compared to ionization chambers, but they may give an incorrect profile tail due to either nonlinear response at low energy or angular dependence. This can be corrected using the ionization-chamber measurement, based on the Monte Carlo analysis. The isodose distributions for this x-ray unit are presented.