Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Properties of Mesoporous Cobalt Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves

Isomorphously substituted cobalt(II) hexagonal mesoporous aluminophosphate (CoHMA) molecular sieves were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. It was deduced that cobalt ions exhibit a divalent oxidation state in tetrahedral coordination in mesoporous aluminophosphates. Further, unlike cobalt-containing microporous aluminophosphate molecular sieves, Co(II) ions remain in a tetrahedral geometry even after calcination. The catalytic activity of CoHMA was tested for the cyclohexane oxidation reaction under mild conditions. Remarkable substrate conversion and product (cyclohexanol) selectivity were obtained compared to several previously reported heterogeneous catalysts.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP): A versatile and forceful tool for functional membranes

The progress in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) provides an effective means for the design and preparation of functional membranes. Polymeric membranes with different macromolecular architectures applied in fuel cells, including block and graft copolymers are conveniently prepared via ATRP. Moreover, ATRP has also been widely used to introduce functionality onto the membrane surface to enhance its use in specific applications, such as antifouling, stimuli-responsive, adsorption function and pervaporation. In this review, the recent design and synthesis of advanced functional membranes via the ATRP technique are discussed in detail and their especial advantages are highlighted by selected examples extract the principles for preparation or modification of membranes using the ATRP methodology.     

A Histogram Matching Approach for assessment of flow regime alteration: application to environmental flow optimization

In this paper we present a Histogram Matching Approach (HMA) for assessment of the flow regime alteration. The HMA uses the degree of histogram dissimilarity as a metric for impact assessment, which is based on the quadratic‐form distance between the frequency vectors of the pre‐ and post‐impact histograms weighted by a specified similarity matrix. The HMA is coupled with an aggregated multiobjective optimization genetic algorithm and applied to a case study on the Kaoping diversion weir (Taiwan) for determining the optimal environmental flow scheme that balances the ecosystem and human needs objectives. Two key issues are addressed in this study. First, we compare the performances of the HMA and existing Range of Variability Approach (RVA). Second, we employ three types of similarity function to investigate their effect on the outcomes of the HMA. The results reveal that the HMA consistently outperforms the RVA in preserving the natural flow variability regardless of what type of similarity function is used. No single type of similarity function can be found that would simultaneously best preserve the natural patterns of 32 Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA). For the situations where the water‐supply reliability is of critical concern, the pulse similarity is recommended because it would assure the smallest water‐supply deficit. If, however, minor degradation in the water‐supply reliability may be overlooked, the linear similarity is suggested because it would generally result in the post‐impact flows that most satisfactorily resemble to the natural flow regime. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

气候变化和人类活动干扰下万泉河流域水文情势变化特征分析

由于气候变化和人类活动的共同作用,众多河流的水文情势发生改变,因此分析环境变化的河流水文情势影响机理对河流保护有重要意义。基于万泉河加报站1957～2014年的日流量资料,通过Mann-Kendall和累积距平法诊断径流序列的突变点,将水文序列划分为两个时间序列,采用水文变化指标法(IHA)、变化范围法(RVA)和直方图匹配法(HMA)分析万泉河水文情势的改变度。结果表明,年径流序列1990年发生突变;变异后,径流特性发生改变,逆转次数显著增加,增幅为28.81%,RVA法的水文改变度DR值为89.85%,发生了高度变异,HMA法的水文改变度DH值为66.34%,表现为中度变异,会对生态系统稳定性带来威胁;流域内热带雨林破坏加剧,植被结构改变是导致河流水文情势变化的重要原因。研究结果可为水资源管理和生态保护提供参考。     

A Heavy Metal-Associated Protein (AcHMA1) from the Halophyte,Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt., Confers Tolerance to Iron and Other Abiotic Stresses When Expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Many heavy metals are essential for metabolic processes, but are toxic at elevated levels. Metal tolerance proteins provide resistance to this toxicity. In this study, we identified and characterized a heavy metal-associated protein, AcHMA1, from the halophyte, Atriplex canescens. Sequence analysis has revealed that AcHMA1 contains two heavy metal binding domains. Treatments with metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd or Pb), PEG6000 and NaHCO₃ highly induced AcHMA1 expression in A. canescens, whereas NaCl and low temperature decreased its expression. The role of AcHMA1 in metal stress tolerance was examined using a yeast expression system. Expression of the AcHMA1 gene significantly increased the ability of yeast cells to adapt to and recover from exposure to excess iron. AcHMA1 expression also provided salt, alkaline, osmotic and oxidant stress tolerance in yeast cells. Finally, subcellular localization of an AcHMA1/GFP fusion protein expressed in tobacco cells showed that AcHMA1 was localized in the plasma membrane. Thus, our results suggest that AcHMA1 encodes a membrane-localized metal tolerance protein that mediates the detoxification of iron in eukaryotes. Furthermore, AcHMA1 also participates in the response to abiotic stress.     

The Investigation of the Impact of Carbon Nano Tube on Bitumen and HMA Performance

With the increase of traffic and consequently, and the loads applied on the roads, the need for a more durable pavement has a special significance. Therefore, the researchers have been seeking to improve the functional properties of bitumen and asphalt. For this reason, different materials have been used to modify these properties. In this study, the carbon nano tube (CNT) has been used as the modifier of bitumen performance. The use of this additive has improved both the classic (softening point, penetration degree, and so on) and performance (complex modulus, phase angle, fatigue parameter, rutting factor) properties of bitumen in comparison to the standard bitumen.     

高应力比作用下沥青混合料的疲劳特性

基于超载车辆在路面内产生的应力往往接近沥青混凝土的极限应力和超载车辆的频繁性的事实,项目选用应力比为0．7、0．8、0．9和间歇时间分别为0s、1s进行沥青混合料的小梁疲劳试验。试验结果表明：a)在高应力比情况下,沥青混合料的疲劳性能明显不同于低应力情况,不能用同一个疲劳方程来表示,在应力比为0．5时是个分界点；b)间歇时间对沥青混合料的疲劳性能影响很大,间歇时间越长,同应力比情况下,其疲劳寿命也越长；c)得到了所用高应力比条件下,不同间歇时间的疲劳方程。     

Field performance of top-down fatigue cracking for warm mix asphalt pavements

As a result of repeated rehabilitation efforts over the past few decades, often asphalt pavements have become deep-strength pavements. Consequently, top-down cracking has become a primary distress type. In particular, the top-down cracking performance of warm mix asphalt (WMA) pavements, i.e. how does it compare with similar hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements is largely unclear mainly due to the lack of field performance data. This paper presents an effort of monitoring the top-down cracking performance of 28 pavement projects including WMA pavements and their corresponding HMA control pavements with service lives ranging between 4 and 10 years. These pavements cover different climate zones, WMA technologies, service years, pavement structures and traffic volume levels. Two rounds of distress surveys were conducted at a two-year interval, and the material (asphalt binder and mixture) properties of the pavements were determined using field cores. The top-down cracking performance of the HMA and WMA pavements was compared based on the first and second round distress surveys. It was found that the HMA and WMA pavement in general exhibited comparable performance. The significant determinants (material properties) for top-down cracking were determined, which were vertical failure deformation of mixes measured at 20 °C from indirect tension test.