Search

The amorphous SrTiO 3 - crystalline PbS heterojunctions were prepared through different weight percentages of PbS (5 and 10%) to promote the photocatalytic water splitting. The amorphous SrTiO 3 exhibits the combination of the hexagonal cone and nanoparticle like morphology. Similarly, the crystalline PbS shows nanoparticle like morphology. The XRD and TEM results further confirm the amorphous SrTiO 3 -crystalline PbS heterojunction formation. The EDS and XPS analysis confirm the presence of SrTiO 3 –PbS heterojunction. The SrTiO 3 –PbS heterojunction inhibits the self-trapped excitons recombination. The formation of amorphous-crystalline heterojunction suppress the electron transfer resistance which effectively reduces the charge carrier recombination. The SrTiO 3 –PbS (5%) shows efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production of 5.9 mmol g−1h−1 under ultraviolet irradiation. • Amorphous SrTiO 3 - crystalline PbS heterojunctions were synthesised with varied PbS concentrations (5 and 10%). • XRD and TEM analysis confirms the formation of amorphous SrTiO 3 - crystalline PbS heterojunction. • SrTiO 3 -PbS heterojunction inhibits the self-trapped excitons recombination and electron transfer resistance. • SrTiO 3 -PbS heterojunction enhance the photo generated electron transaction and hydrogen production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of electronic toll collection (ETC) over freeways not only enables nonstop traffic flows through toll collection zones but also facilitates more flexible schemes for road pricing, such as distance-based and time-based schemes, as both the on-ramp and off-ramp time stamps of a trip can be detected. Based on such an ETC environment, this study develops a road pricing model which considers the perspectives of road users, the government, and the ETC agent, seeking to attain greener transportation by leveraging the external costs related to environmental impact and accident potential. Thereupon, a Green Safety Indicator (GSI) is proposed to comprehensively account for the service level of freeway traffic. The optimal solution for the benefits generated from three scenarios are determined against GSI-based equilibria, which can maintain the revenue for the government, offer the ETC agent higher profits, and allow road users off-peak discounts, thereby promoting a tripartite win–win situation among stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial lightweight aggregate (LWA) is produced using water reservoir sediment, spent glass, and diatomaceous earth in various compositions and sintering temperatures between 1020°C and 1110°C. This study prepared aggregate samples whose physical properties included bloating index (BI), water absorption capacity (WAC), apparent density, and compressive strength. Results showed that the morphology of the external aggregated samples, the number of pores increased as the sintering temperature rose, while the water adsorption capacity decreased with the increasing sintering temperature. Apparent density generally decreased with an increasing fraction of waste glass (WG) because average particle size of the WG was larger than spent diatomaceous earth, and water reservoir sediment. Furthermore, LWA with lower apparent density corresponded to a higher BI. According to analysis results, formulations of water reservoir sediment 50%, WG 40%, and spent diatomaceous earth 10% and water reservoir sediment 40%, WG 40%, and spent diatomaceous earth 20% aggregated samples can be used to produce artificial LWA for use as structural concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to manage the food waste and soybean curd residue generated in Taiwan's National Ilan University by black soldier fly-aided co-composting. The food waste and soybean curd residue were co-composted with rice husk as a bulking agent in 4:1 ratio and 0.42 mg BSF/g waste. The higher organic matter degradation of 31.9% was found in Container B (black soldier flies aided food waste and rice husk co-composting) with a rate constant of 0.14 d−1. In Container D (black soldier flies aided soybean curd residue and rice husk co-composting), the organic matter degradation of 29.4% was found with a rate constant of 0.29 d−1. The matured compost of 6.02 kg was obtained from 20 kg of food waste, while 5.83 kg of matured compost was generated from 20 kg of soybean curd residue. The physico-chemical parameters of the final matured compost were in the favorable range of Taiwan's compost standards. The germination index was 188.6% and 194.78% in Containers B and D, respectively. The present study will expand the application of BSF at the institutional level which prove to be a feasible solution for rapid, clean, and efficient composting of post-consumer food wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen (Ace) in water was studied using Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5) supported TiO 2 materials, which were synthesized using a sol–gel method. The structural features of the photocatalysts were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface area (BET) measurements. The best loading content of TiO 2 over ZSM-5 was 40 wt% and the initial concentration of Ace was controlled at 15 mg L −1 with low intensity irradiations of 0.97 mW cm −2 , the degradation rate can reach to 96.6% after 180 min irradiation. Hydroxylation and photolysis were proposed as the initial step for Ace degradation. Main reaction intermediates and products were identified by GC–MS analysis. Additionally, the material was regenerated four times, while the degradation of Ace remained at a higher level of approximately 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a passive multi-purpose scheme for photographic image (PIM) detection and a device class identification method. The motivation for the scheme is the periodicity phenomenon caused by color filter arrays (CFAs) and the demosaicing process. The phenomenon only occurs in the Fourier spectrum in PIMs. The proposed scheme exploits prediction error statistics, local peak detection, and a PIM classifier to analyze the phenomenon for PIM detection. We also develop a hierarchical classifier for device class identification based on the analysis of local peaks in the Fourier spectrum. To evaluate the scheme’s performance, we compile a test dataset of PIMs and PRCG (photorealistic computer graphics) images, and analyze the impact of leak peak detection, JPEG lossy compression, and cropping operations on PIM detection. The accuracy rate of the scheme on 5805 test images is 95.56%, which is higher than that of the methods proposed in Sutthiwan et al. (2009) [1] and Gallagher and Chen (2008) [2]. In addition, for device class identification, the precision rate of the proposed method is at least 93% on Canon, Sony, and Nikon images. The experiment results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed multi-purpose scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first attempt at employing catalytic biochar to remove ground-level ozone at ambient temperature. With the increase in human activity, ozone has become a critical inorganic pollutant that needs to be addressed, using more sustainable methods. Fe- and Mn-impregnated catalytic biochars were prepared from a sugarcane feedstock via the wet impregnation method and pyrolysis at various temperatures, where the optimum value was determined to be 550 °C. The metal-impregnated biochar samples demonstrated enhanced surface areas and pore volumes compared with the pristine biochar (SCB550), resulting in improved ozone-adsorption capacity. SCB550-Fe exhibited an ozone-adsorption capacity of 52.1 mg/g at 20 ppm, which was approximately four times higher than that of SCB550. SCB550-Fe demonstrated superior ozone-removal performance compared to SCB550-Mn; 122 mg/g capacity as opposed to 116.2 mg/g at 80 ppm, respectively. Isothermal and kinetic modeling are also presented to suggest a plausible mechanism of ozone removal by catalytic biochar. This includes physical adsorption, complexation, electrostatic interaction, and electron transfer during the redox reaction between ozone and metals. Overall, this study should provide preliminary insights into ozone removal using biochar and promote further research regarding material optimization and kinetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study prepares a novel phosphorene (PN) and loads it onto TiO2 to fabricate PN-TiO2 and effectively photodegrade the hydrophobic environmental hormone 17β-estradiol in aqueous solutions. The effect of the PN on degradation efficiency is systematically investigated. It is observed that the doping of TiO2 with PN significantly enhances its photocatalytic and adsorption properties compared with that in the absence of PN; that is, the addition improves the adsorption capability of the composite. The optimal PN weight content is found to be 0.5%. The performance of the PN-TiO2 photocatalyst in degrading E2 is around 67.5%. However, its photodegradation efficiency gradually decreases when the PN content is further increased. This optimal PN content directly suggests synergistic interactions affecting the photodegrading efficiency. Compared with other PN-based photocatalysts mentioned in the literature, this PN-based material possesses striking advantages, such as higher energy efficiency, greater removal capacity, and superior cost-effectiveness. Further, the decrease in the biotoxicity of the water after treatment is evident in observing the development of zebrafish embryos. The studies of the catalyst performed on the zebrafish show that it results in a higher mortality rate at 96 h with a superior hatching rate and healthy fish development. In summary, the prepared PN-based materials exhibited promising photocatalytic capabilities for the removal and biotoxicity reduction of 17β-estradiol in aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is much interest in the potential of Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) to slow disease progression following HIV infection. Despite several studies demonstrating a positive association between ADCC and slower disease progression, it is possible that continued stimulation of NK cells by ADCC during chronic HIV infection could render these cells dysfunctional. Indeed, activation of NK cells by ADCC results in matrix metalloproteinase-induced reductions in CD16 expression and activation refractory periods. In addition, ex vivo analyses of NK cells from HIV-infected individuals revealed other alterations in phenotype, such as decreased expression of the activating NKp46 receptor that is essential for NK-mediated antitumor responses and immunity from infection. Because NKp46 shares a signaling pathway with CD16, we hypothesized that activation-induced downregulation of both receptors could be controlled by a common mechanism. We found that activation of NK cells by anti-HIV or anti-CD16 Abs resulted in NKp46 downregulation. The addition of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor attenuated NKp46 downregulation following NK cell activation by anti-HIV Abs. Consequently, these results suggest that continued stimulation through CD16 has the potential to impair natural cytotoxicity via attenuation of NKp46-dependent signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, zeolite synthesized based on bentonite via the alkali fusion-hydrothermal method, and the effects of different synthesis parameters on the crystallinity and silicon-aluminum ratio of zeolite were investigated. The zeolite particles were modified by cationic surfactant and magnetized to prepare a MCTAB-BZ composite, which was then applied to the adsorption of diethyl phthalate (DEP) from aqueous solution. The effects of operating factors, including pH value, adsorption dosage, temperature, and adsorption time on the kinetic and isotherm adsorption behavior were studied. Highly crystalline ANA-zeolite can be prepared with the alkali content of 1:1, the aging time of 20 h, the aging water content of 1:15, and the crystallization time of 24 h. The results of the adsorption experiment show that the novel adsorbent-MCTAB-BZ composite shows the best adsorption capacity when the adsorption dosage is 6.25 g/L, temperature is 30 °C and adsorption time is 180 min at the original pH value of the aqueous solution. The adsorption results are presented well by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model. [Display omitted] • Highly crystalline ANA-zeolite can be prepared under the best conditions. • The feasibility of using bentonite-synthesized zeolites as structural backbone synthetic adsorbents was demonstrated. • MCTAB-BZ was successfully applied on the DEP adsorption. • The best DEP adsorption onto MCTAB-BZ conditions were determined in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Among three chip-level electrostatic discharge (ESD) test standards, which were human-body model (HBM), machine model (MM), and charged-device model (CDM), the CDM ESD events became critical due to the larger and faster discharging currents. Besides input/output (I/O) circuits which were connected to I/O pads, core circuits also suffered from CDM ESD events caused by coupled currents between I/O lines and core lines. In this work, the CDM ESD robustness of the core circuits with and without inserting shielding lines were investigated in a 65-nm CMOS process. Verified in a silicon chip, the CDM ESD robustness of the core circuits with shielding lines were degraded. The failure mechanism of the test circuits was also investigated in this work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study aims to propose an algorithm for traffic estimation, particularly for urban roadway sections with insufficient data sources. Establishing an advanced traffic management system (ATMS) heavily depends on obtaining complete data. In this regard, traffic detectors play an important role in data acquisition. However, installing traffic detectors extensively over a metropolitan area can be rather expensive. As such, in most cities around the world, vehicle detectors for traffic data collection are relatively insufficient to meet requirements. In light of this, the current research therefore proposes a feasible algorithm of dynamic section flow prediction based on the automatic control theory and observer design for roadway sections with insufficient data sources. According to the numerical evaluation, the method is found to be satisfactory and acceptable in practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The behavior of methanol adsorption on platinum/poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) (Pt/PDMA) composite is investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis) and open circuit potential (OCP). The results of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy are used to verify the uniform dispersion of Pt in PDMA. The Fourier transform infrared spectra and OCP results revealed that Pt particles interact with PDMA through the electron-rich nitrogen sites, influencing the oxidation state of PDMA. A model is proposed for the methanol adsorption on Pt particles which changes the interaction between Pt and PDMA. With the proposed model, methanol concentration can be discerned using potentiometric measurements. The results of this study can be applied to methanol sensors for direct methanol fuel cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the cause of indoor air pollution and are readily emitted from furniture and cleaning agents. In Taiwan, the concentrations of indoor VOCs range roughly from 1 to 10 ppm. It is important to effectively reduce indoor VOC emissions and establish the implementation of long-term, low-cost, controlled techniques such as those found in the ultraviolet/titanium dioxide (UV/TiO2) control systems. This study evaluates the performance of a photoreactor activated by visible irradiation and packed with TiO2/quartz or TiO2/mobile catalytic material number 41 (MCM-41). The photocatalysts tested include commercial TiO2 (Degussa P-25) and synthesized TiO2 with a modified sol-gel process. The UV light had a wavelength of 365 nm and contained an 8-W, low-pressure mercury lamp. Reactants and products were analyzed quantitatively by using gas chromatography with a flame-ionization detector. It is important to understand the influence of such operational parameters, such as concentration of pollutant, temperature, and retention time of processing. The indoor concentrations of VOCs varied from 2 to 10 ppm. Additionally, the temperatures ranged from 15 to 35 °C and the retention time tested from 2 to 8.2 sec. The results show that quartz with TiO2 had a better photoreductive efficiency than quartz with MCM-41. The toluene degradation efficiency of 77.4% with UV/TiO2/quartz was larger than that of 54.4% with the UV/TiO2/MCM-41 system under 10-min reaction time. The degradation efficiency of the UV/TiO2 system decreased with the increasing concentrations of indoor VOCs. The toluene degradation efficiency at 2 ppm was approximately 5 times greater than that at 10 ppm. The photoreduction rate of the VOCs was also evaluated with the Langmuir-Hinshewood model and was shown to be pseudo-first-order kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cross-linking structural copolymer, poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline-co-2,5-diaminobenzenesulphonic acid) was synthesized by electrochemical deposition of two monomer, 2,5-dimethoxyaniline, DMA and 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid, DABSA. The cross-linking structure of copolymer was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric techniques. Copolymer with cross-linking structure provides more and deeper nucleation sites for the deposition of platinum (Pt) than homopolymer via electrochemical method, being certified by secondary ion mass spectrometer. Meanwhile, the existence of the SO3H group in copolymer might also help the electrodeposition of Pt. Copolymer-Pt nanocomposite film demonstrates better activity and stability toward methanol oxidation than homopolymer-Pt. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigates the toxicity of various pollutant species from motorcycle exhaust via dose–response analysis and margin of safety using Escherichia coli DH5α. The toxicity evaluation of the major components of motorcycle exhaust volatile organic compounds (VOCs), collected with impinger, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), collected with filter and XAD-2, is essential to determine emission standards for motorcycles. The toxicity of benzene (B), toluene (T), ethyl benzene (E) and xylene (X) was selected for comparison as standard VOCs emitted from motorcycles. In addition, three types of reformulated gasoline (high oxygenate and high benzene content (No. 1), low oxygen and high benzene (No. 2), and low oxygen and low benzene (No. 3) were prepared to reveal combined toxicity of individual compositions. Motorcycle exhaust is significantly more toxic than BTEX due to the highly toxic VOCs generated from incomplete combustion. Overall toxicity evaluation showed that the toxicity, indicated as EC50, was approximately as follows: PAHs>two-stroke engines>four-stroke engines>BTEX. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we investigated the performance of the single fuel cell with four gas diffusion electrodes with differently structured Pt–Ru electro-catalyst layers, as deposited by sputtering. The effects of the structural design of the Pt–Ru catalyst are discussed with reference to I–V polarization curves. Experimental results indicate that the performance of the fuel cell was affected by the microstructure of the sputter-deposited Pt–Ru layers on the E-TEK carbon clothes electrodes, the gas pressure, the operating temperature and the internally humidified temperatures. In the study range, the performance of the fuel cell is improved as the gas pressure, operating temperatures and the internal temperature increased. The measured I–V polarization curves reveal that the best performance of the designed layer electrodes was exhibited by model II with Pt/Ru multilayers, at a gas pressure of 200 KPa, a fuel cell operating temperature of 70 °C and an internally humidified temperature of 60 °C. The efficiencies of single cells with various structural designs follow the descending order model II, model III, model IV and model I. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study attempts to assess the effectiveness of control strategies for reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emission from the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wallpaper production industry. In Taiwan, methyl ethyl ketone, TOL, and cyclohexanone have comprised the major content of solvents, accounting for ∼113,000 t/yr to avoid excessive viscosity of plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and to increase facility in working. Emissions of these VOCs from solvents have caused serious odor and worse air quality problems. In this study, 80 stacks in five factories were tested to evaluate emission characteristics at each VOC source. After examining the VOC concentrations in the flue gases and contents, the VOC emission rate before treatment and from fugitive sources was 93,000 and 800 t/yr, respectively. In this study, the semiwet electrostatic precipitator is recommended for use as cost-effective control equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to recover valuable materials and to minimize the adverse effects of hazardous materials contained in scrap computers, a dismantling practice is commonly adopted to treat scrap computers. By using the dismantling process, both useful and hazardous materials can be manually separated and retrieved. On the basis of the properties of the retrieved materials, they can be sent to appropriate facilities for further recycling or treatment. Among the retrieved materials, the treatment of hazardous materials from cathode ray tubes (CRT) and printed circuit boards with integrated circuits have drawn considerable attention, thus implying that the proper treatment of such materials can greatly assure the successful recycling of scrap computers. For this reason, this study reviews the available technologies which can be applied to treat and recycle cathode ray tube components and printed circuit boards with integrated circuits. Actual recycling data from a scrap computer recycling plant located in Taiwan are also introduced. The data show that this recycling plant can recover 94.75wt.% and 45.99wt.% of useful materials from the main machines (i.e., CPU, power supplier, fan, IC boards, DVD drive, CD drive, hard disk, soft disk, shell casing, etc.) and monitors of scrap computers, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper proposes a dynamic method to control an oversaturated traffic signal network by utilizing a bang-bang like model for the oversaturated intersections and TRANSYT-7F for the undersaturated intersections. An algorithm entitled the maximal progression possibility determines the optimal operating procedure by searching for progression routes and smoothing the transition between successive control cycles. The proposed model integrates two different operating procedures: saturated and undersaturated. The method was tested in a network comprising a core area of 12 initially oversaturated intersections that are surrounded by thirteen undersaturated intersections. It was concluded that the proposed method is much more effective in relieving congestion in a network than TRANSYT-7F. Since TRANSYT-7F is not suited for oversaturated network signal timing control, it can be mitigated through integration with the proposed model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes the field verification of the ADVANCE-F''s lateral controller for vehicle steering automation and hands-free lane keeping. The controller steers an equipped vehicle along a specially marked lane without cross-over lane markings. Testing results give preliminary verification that controller performance is stable and has robust capability on meandering roads. The results also reveal that the automatic steering mode can overcome the effects of unbalanced loading, missing alignment, and a distorted positioning of the photosensors that are provided for lateral guidance of the vehicle. A smooth transition process from the manual to the automatic mode is proposed to avoid abnormal and over-shooting situations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study provides novel attempt to use an aerobic biofiltration system containing entrapped mixed microbial cells (EMMC) for removal of (CH3)3N-dominant waste gases. In the study, heterotrophic microflora-immobilized cellulose was packed into an EMMC reactor to degrade (CH3)3N. Effects of (CH3)3N inlet concentrations in continuous mode of operation at various flow rates are indicated. The result indicated that the (CH3)3N removal efficiency is higher than 90% at inlet loading below 27.2 mg N h−1 and retention time 5.3 min. In addition, the maximal mass loading to reach approximately 99% efficiency was 95.5 mg N h−1 for trimethylamine treatment. This EMMC biofiltration system also showed higher tolerance to endure fluctuations in concentrations and flow rates and still maintained in stable performance for removal. Adaptability test in response to gradual shift up and down of inlet TMA loading indicated that lack of steady-state multiplicity and hysteresis guarantees the microbial communities more precisely adapted to continuous treatment for maintaining stability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fugitive dust emission from limestone extraction areas is a significant pollution source. The cracking operation in limestone extraction areas easily causes high total suspended particulate (TSP) concentrations in the atmosphere, occasionally exceeding the 1-hr national emission standard of Taiwan (500 µg/m³ ). The concentration and size distribution were measured at different distances (0.05-15 km) in the extraction areas. The highest hourly concentrations of TSP, PM10 (suspended particulate matter [PM] smaller than 10 µm), and PM2.5 (suspended PM smaller than 2.5 µm) are 1111, 825, and 236 µg/m³ , respectively, during the cracking process. Measurement results obtained from the Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor indicated that the mass median aerodynamic diameter is ∼0.7 µm, with the geometric standard deviation exceeding 7. In addition, the emission factors are 0.143 and 0.211 kg/t for both vertical well and stair extraction operations, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate that the corresponding TSP control efficiencies for spraying water, planting grass, setting short walls, paving gravel roads, and establishing vertical well transportation are ∼55, 50, 44, 22, and 30%, respectively. Furthermore, the PM10 control efficiencies are ∼45, 41, 54, 35, and 30%, respectively, whereas the PM[sub2.5] control efficiencies are roughly 23, 31, 15, 11, and 10%, individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric concentrations of chlorine atom (Cl⋅), chlorine monoxide radical (ClO⋅), and hydroxyl radical (HO⋅) in the coastal marine boundary layer are estimated in this study. A steady-state approach to their concentrations in equilibrium with other atmospheric chemical species is used. Measurements of atmospheric trace species, HCl, Cl2, HCHO, H2O2, CH3OOH, CH4, CO, SO2, NO, NO2, and O3, were performed at four sites in Taiwan during the spring of 1999. The results indicate that the concentrations of the Cl⋅ atom and the ClO⋅ and HO⋅ radicals decrease significantly with cloud cover. The calculated average daytime concentrations of Cl⋅, ClO⋅, and HO⋅ are 3×105, 1×107, and 6×105 molecules/cm3, respectively. Due to the high reactivity of Cl⋅ with hydrocarbons and its concentration level competitive to that of HO⋅, Cl⋅ should be a significant sink for hydrocarbons in these cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we solve the motion smoothing problem using genetic algorithms. Smooth motion generation is essential in the computer animation and virtual reality area. The motion of a rigid body in general consists of translation and orientation. The former is described by a space curve in three-dimensional Euclidean space while the latter is represented by a curve in the unit quaternion space. By adopting the geometric approach, the smoothness of both translation data and orientation data is measured from the strain energy perspective and a nonlinear optimization problem is formulated that aims to minimize the weighted sum of the strain–energy and the sum of the squared errors. A hybrid algorithm that combines genetic algorithms and local search schemes is deployed to solve this optimization problem and the experiments show that both smoothness and shape preservation of the resulting motion can be achieved by the proposed algorithm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines stereotypical ear covering in an autistic child. Correlation between ear covering and another child's screaming; Start of the ear covering when the screaming was present; Use of functional analysis to evaluate the behavior.

Frequently implemented at freeway accesses to streamline traffic, ramp-metering control strategy is often implemented during rush hours in heavily congested areas. This article presents what the authors contend is a novel ramp-metering control model showing itself capable of optimizing mainline traffic by providing metering rates for access within the control segments. Based on Payne's continuum traffic stream model, a linear dynamic model with a quadratic objective function is constructed for integrated-responsive ramp-metering control. Incorporating online origin-destination (OD) estimation of coordinated interchanges into the proposed model increases efficiency of the control. In addition, an iterative algorithm is proposed to obtain the optimal solution. Simulation results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed model and its ability to streamline freeway traffic while avoiding traffic congestion.

We studied stereotypical ear covering in a child with autism. Results of a descriptive analysis were inconclusive but revealed a correlation between ear covering and another child's screaming. An analogue functional analysis showed that ear covering was emitted only when the screaming was present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well‐established electrode modifier, i. e. carboxylic acid (CA) functionalized‐multiwalled carbon nanotubes (f‐MWCNT), and a less explored safranin O (SFO) were fabricated on cuboidal graphite electrodes to develop two different voltammetric sensors for norfloxacin's electrochemical detection. The developed CA f‐MWCNT/graphite electrode and SFO/graphite showed a linear range of 3.10×10−7 to 3.13×10−5 M and 2.50×10−8 to 4.06×10−7 M with a limit of detection of 1.60×10−8 and 4.80×10−9 M, respectively. The practical applicability was tested in the spiked hospital wastewater, milk, and orange juice. It showed that the SFO could be a potential modifier for rapid, simple, and sensitive voltammetric detection of norfloxacin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which explores the three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic buckling structure made of metallic glasses. It mentions that Metallic Mimosa pudica, a three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic structure made of metallic glass. It discusses that residual stress and elastic distortion energy make the composite material to buckle within the elastic limit and to obey the minimum elastic energy criterion.

Examines the characteristics of mixed traffic flow of autopilot vehicles and manual vehicles, with emphasis on the positive effects of automatic vehicles on highway capacity control. Information on Intelligent Transport Systems; Reference to the use of advanced technologies to improve highway capacity; Details on the development of an automatic vehicle control system in Taiwan.

This paper presents a method for applying HOV lanes to the Taiwan freeway system. The purpose is to develop guidelines for designating alternative HOV lanes on existing freeways. Simulation results suggest that introducing HOV facilities would significantly improve traffic delays for short and long term steady states, especially during peak hour traffic flow. To ensure the success of the proposed HOV facilities, special attention should be devoted to public awareness and communication, as well as to related planning, education and enforcement issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.) is a prominent source of carotenoids, renowned for its exceptional concentration of these compounds. This study focuses on optimizing the extraction of active components from the aril of gac fruit by evaluating the effects of extraction temperature, solid–liquid ratio, and extraction time. The primary objective is to maximize the yield of gac oil while assessing its antioxidant capacity. To analyze the kinetics of the solid–liquid extraction process, both first-order and second-order kinetic models were employed, with the second-order model providing the best fit for the experimental data. In addition, the potential of gac fruit peel as a precursor for biochar production was investigated through carbonization. The resultant biochars were evaluated for their efficacy in adsorbing crystal violet (CV) dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorption efficiency of the biochars was found to be dependent on the carbonization temperature, with the highest efficiency observed for BCMC550 (91.72%), followed by BCM450 (81.35%), BCMC350 (78.35%), and BCMC250 (54.43%). The adsorption isotherm data conformed well to the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption behavior. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics were best described by the pseudo-second-order model. These findings underscore the potential of gac fruit and its byproducts for diverse industrial and environmental applications, highlighting the dual benefits of optimizing gac oil extraction and utilizing the peel for effective dye removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common organic pollutants that can cause adverse effects on human health. Treatment techniques, including photocatalytic oxidation, have been studied to remediate VOCs. Acetone was used as a model pollutant to investigate the photocatalytic degradation performance of electrospun photocatalytic nanofibers with synthesized flower-like titanium dioxide (F-TiO2) and cellulose acetate (CA). The synthesized F-TiO2 and photocatalytic nanofibers were characterized using FE-SEM, XRD, FTIR, UVVis, XPS, and a pore size and porosity analyzer. The addition of F-TiO2 decreases the diameter of the nanofibers. The photocatalytic degradation performance test showed an enhanced acetone degradation efficiency on F-TiO2/CA photocatalytic nanofibers (FT-CFs), with an up to 95.0% acetone degradation efficiency under optimum conditions, over P25 TiO2/CA photocatalytic nanofibers (T-CFs). The filtration efficiency of 3.0%FT-CF reached 99.9% with a filter basis weight of 0.660 g m−2 and face velocity of 5.0 cm−1 s. The filtration and photocatalytic degradation cycle tests revealed excellent reusability, with 97% particle filtration and no sign of material deterioration. Moreover, the biodegradability tests showed that the material can biodegrade in water and in soil for 30 and 40 days, respectively. This study demonstrates that electrospun FT-CFs exhibit exceptional photocatalytic degradation of acetone, a high filtration efficiency, excellent reusability, and biodegradability, making them a promising solution for VOC remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the synergistic effects of rGO and Pt over TiO 2 for the HER via artificial photosynthesis under UVB and visible light irradiation. The introduction of glycerol and industrial wastewater to the system as sacrificial reductants signifies that the major reaction pathway is photocatalytic partial water splitting. The material characterizations revealed successful heterojunction formation and provided insight into chemistry behind the activity of the photocatalysts. Amongst various combinations of rGO on TiO 2 , 1GNT exhibited an HER yield five times that of bare TiO 2 under UVB light. Addition of Pt led to the formation of a strong Schottky barrier at the heterojunction and consequently boosted HER performance. 1P0.5 GT presented the highest of 28.5 mmol g−1 h−1 with glycerol and 9.6 mmol g−1 h−1 with wastewater under UVB light respectively. For both binary and ternary photocatalysts, the HER performances dwindled under visible light irradiation, accentuating the insufficient activation of the TiO 2. In addition, 1PT outperformed all the other photocatalysts thereby elucidating the impression that rGO and Pt does not work well together in enhancing HER despite quenching the exciton recombination rate of TiO 2 significantly. The role of pH in the synthesis and the experiments has been discussed. Finally, the underlying mechanisms in the photodeposition and photoreformation have been proposed. • Synergistic effects of rGO & Pt over TiO 2 towards HER via artificial photosynthesis • Comprehensive characterization of as-synthesized photocatalysts. • Proposed underlying HER and Photodeposition mechanisms. • Tested glycerol & wastewater to determine HER efficiency in real world scenario. • Highly efficient photocatalyst generated up to 28.5 mmol g−1 h−1 H 2 under UVB light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetone is solvent widely used in laboratories and factories. Serious problems will occur when it is exposed to the environment. Therefore, a new design for a bimetallic metal functional group catalyst that can convert acetone into carbon dioxide and water within 250 °C was prepared, in order to effectively treat acetone and reduce the required energy. Hydrophobic Y type zeolite adsorption and low-temperature catalytic combustion were used to continuously treat acetone, and the effect of different operating parameters (including different metal loads, metal content, transformation temperature, pollutant concentration, and space velocity) on the efficiency of acetone treatment was discussed in this study. The isothermal adsorption model, kinetics, and thermodynamic model analysis were also used to establish the reaction mechanism, and to explore the factors affecting the catalyst reaction rate. The results show that the acetone conversion rate of 10-Fe1Mn1-USY reaches 90% at 400 ppm, 20,000 h−1 space velocity, and 227 °C. The kinetic behavior of the reaction between 10-Fe1Mn1-USY and acetone is more suited to the Power-rate Law model. Arrhenius equation analysis results show that the required activation energy for the reaction between 10-Fe1Mn1-USY and acetone is 70.2 kJ mol−1, and the collision frequency factor is 2.81 × 105 s−1. This reaction is an endothermic reaction, and the main reaction mechanism is surface metal oxidation. A new design for a bimetallic metal functional group catalyst that can convert acetone into carbon dioxide and water within 250 ℃ was prepared, in order to effectively treat acetone and reduce the required energy. Hydrophobic Y type zeolite adsorption and low-temperature catalytic combustion were used to continuously treat acetone, and the effect of different operating parameters on the efficiency of acetone treatment was discussed in this study. Result shown that the redox reaction between the adsorbed acetone and the active oxygen on the surface of the catalyst to generate CO2 and H2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S–modified MXene (Ti3C2Tx@S–5) was prepared to improve the catalytic activity of MXene in the electrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). Here, S groups in the form of Ti–S and S–O species were anchored onto MXene, resulting in superior conductivity and surface activity. Ti3C2Tx@S–5 exhibited an excellent performance of 100% TC degradation under the conditions of 25 °C, a pH of 6, a TC concentration of 10 mg L−1, and an applied current of 20 mA. Radical quenching and EPR analyses revealed that ·O2− and 1O2 played dominant roles in Ti3C2Tx@S–5 and Ti3C2Tx systems. Furthermore, S modification promoted the triggering of ·OH and active chlorine, which contributed to the acceleration of TC degradation. The involvement of these active substances in degradation pathways was further proven. This research advances the S modification of MXene and improves TC degradation by promoting the triggering of ·OH and active chlorine, broadening the applicability of MXene material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti-doped MCM-41 with different Si/Ti molar ratios was prepared at room temperature to degrade tetracycline antibiotics in aqueous solution. The Ti was doped into the skeleton structure of MCM-41. The photocatalytic activity of Ti-doped MCM-41 was investigated. The optimal catalyst had Si/Ti molar ratio of 25 and over 99% removal of oxytetracycline in 150 min, and the removal could maintain 98% after 5 reuses. Ions and soluble organic matters in natural water affected the degradation reaction when Ti-doped MCM-41 was used to treat simulated wastewater of chicken farms. The degradation products of oxytetracycline, tetracycline and chlortetracycline were detected by Escherichia coli DH5α and HPLC–MS/MS. No intermediate product with higher toxicity was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skeletal muscle progenitors' proliferation and migration are crucial stages of myogenesis. Identifying drug candidates that contribute to myogenesis can have a positive impact on atrophying muscle. The purpose of the study is to synthesize the Antrodia cinnamomea (AC)-β-cyclodextrin (BCD) inclusion complex (IC) and understand its in vitro pro-regenerative influence in murine skeletal C2C12 myoblasts. The IC was subjected to various nano-characterization studies. Fluorescent IC was synthesized to understand the cellular uptake of IC. Furthermore, 25 µg/mL, 12.5 µg/mL, and 6.25 µg/mL of IC were tested on murine C2C12 skeletal muscle cells for their anti-inflammatory, pro-migratory, and pro-proliferative action. The cellular internalization of IC occurred rapidly via pinocytosis. IC (252.6 ± 3.2 nm size and −37.24 ± 1.55 surface charge) exhibited anti-inflammatory action by suppressing the secretion of interleukin-6 and enhanced cell proliferation with promising cytocompatibility. A 12.5 μg/mL dose of IC promoted cell migration in 24 h, but the same dose of AC significantly reduced cell migration, suggesting modification by BCD. Molecular studies revealed that IC promoted C2C12 myoblasts migration by upregulating long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT-1, SYISL, and activating the pPKC/β-catenin pathway. Our study is the first report on the pro-proliferative and pro-migratory effects of BCD-modified extracts of AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury is a physiological toxin released by spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs) and is considered a serious pollutant. As the world’s largest producer of fluorescent lamps, China suffers from SFL pollution because of inefficient recycling and management of SFLs. Drawing upon the most successful practices worldwide, this paper suggests the recycling of SFLs on the basis of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system in China. Manufacturers and importers are the main parties responsible for the take-back, recycling, and disposal of SFLs in the EPR system. In view of the situation in China and to address the objectives of the EPR system, this paper recommends the implementation of a third-party take-back mode for small- and medium-scale enterprises and of a take-back mode for large enterprises to be carried out by original equipment manufacturers. This paper suggests an extended responsibility fund to finance and support the SFL recycling system and discusses in detail the different recycling network systems and fund flows of the two take-back modes. By conducting a case study, the authors determine that the subsidy rate for SFLs that a recycling company can obtain from the extended responsibility fund for recycling and disposing of lamps can be set at $1.35/kg. The authors also predict the levy level that fluorescent lamp manufacturers must submit.Implications:For policymakers, a proper and effective way to manage and recycle spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs) is necessary. The recommended system and the predicted number values of the subsidy rate and levy level can be the basis in practice. For people, the proper management measures will reduce exposure from SFLs effectively, especially the risk of exposure to mercury. For society, the measures can help increase resource utilization rate. For manufacturers, an effective extended responsibility fund will motivate them to improve processing technique and green design. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and titania (TiO2) Degussa P-25 were mixed to generate TiO2nonwoven filters using electrospinning. The wires of titanium dioxide and the nonwoven binding titania nanofibers were formed using 14 kV voltage and a distance of 15 cm. A single-factor experimental method was used to investigate the effects of parameters such as initial concentration, retention time, and light source on acetone removal by nonwoven binding titania nanofibers. Furthermore, the effects of parameters such as gas pressure, particle size, initial concentration, and retention time on the removal of particulates were also assessed. The results showed that the degradation efficiency increased with decreasing initial concentrations and increasing retention time. The best operational conditions during this study for the removal of acetone using the TiO2nonwoven filters were a retention time of 100 sec, initial acetone concentration of 250 ppm, and ultraviolet (UV) light source of 254 nm. Under those conditions, 99% acetone removal efficiency was obtained. In addition, 90% particulate matter removal efficiency was reached when the particulate size was greater than 200 nm and the reaction time was longer than 5 minutes. The prepared TiO2/nanofiber has good performance for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate removal at the same time. Implications:In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and titania (TiO2) Degussa P-25 were mixed to generate TiO2 nonwoven filters using electrospinning. The results showed that the optimum operating conditions for the removal of acetone using the TiO2 nonwoven filters were a retention time of 100 sec, initial acetone concentration of 250 ppm, and UV light source of 254 nm. Under those conditions, 99% acetone removal efficiency was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) films with two-dimensional structure were successfully prepared via the modified Hummer method. It is proven that redox method is a promising way to synthesize GO films on a large scale. Comprehensive characterizations of the properties of GO films were conducted. TEM and DFM analyses showed that GO sheets prepared in this study had single and double lamellar layer structure and a thickness of 2~3 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was selected to measure the crystal structure of GO sheet. Fourier-transform infrared spectra analyzer (FT-IR) was used to certify the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups in GO films. The tests of UV-VIS spectrometer and TGA analyzer indicated that GO sheet possessed excellent optical response and outstanding thermal stability. Elemental analyzer (EA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) analyzed the components synthetic material. Simultaneously, chemical structure of GO sheet was described in this study. Discussion and references for further research on graphene are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study used various biocarriers (e.g., porites corals, Biolite™, porous ceramic filter media (PCFM)) to immobilize cells in fixed bed bioreactor (FBB) for wastewater decolorization. As prior studies proposed, an innovative graphical method of constant-slope isoclines to determine maximal allowable treatment capacity (MATC) was used as screening criteria for feasibility of packing matrices of immobilized cell systems (ICSs). Moreover, detailed inspection upon physical and chemical characteristics of packing matrices was also carried out to confirm the consistency of MTAC. The result of isocline analysis was in parallel with physical characteristics of biocarriers (i.e., porites coral>Biolite™>PCFM). This first-attempt study successfully provided perspective in general terms to assess how the selected supporting materials were suitable to be packing matrices of ICSs for industrial applications (e.g., wastewater treatment). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mesoporous MCM-41 was synthesized using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant and spent glass as the silica source. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The results showed that the surface area, pore volume and pore diameter could be up to 1328m2 g−1, 0.82cm3 g−1 and 2.62nm, respectively. The toluene adsorption capacity of MCM-41 (from pure chemical sources) at different concentrations could be calculated to be about 60, 104, 195 and 262mgg−1, respectively. In terms of breakthrough curve shape, the experimental results for G-MCM (from spent glass) were similar to those for MCM-41. Furthermore, the adsorption capacities of MCM-41 and G-MCM (mesoporous silica materials synthesized from spent glass) were almost the same. In this study, the effects of operation parameters, such as contact time and mixture concentration, on adsorption performance were also assessed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Co-catalyst free SrTiO3 was prepared by hydrothermal method and it's calcinated by different temperatures such as 300, 500, 700, and 900 °C to improve the photocatalytic hydrogen production. The SrTiO3 exhibits a cubic crystal structure which was revealed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show the combination of nano spherical-needle morphology changed into nano-cubic morphology when the temperature varied from 300 to 900 °C. Further, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) result also confirms the nano-cubic crystal structure with well-resolved edges. The elemental mapping analysis shows the Sr, Ti, O elements were distributed uniformly in the prepared SrTiO3. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms the presence of chemical compositions and valance state of Sr, Ti, O elements in SrTiO3. The self-trapped excitons recombination of SrTiO3 was analyzed by photoluminescence (PL) analysis. The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis of SrTiO3-900 °C shows the lowest electron transfer resistance which promotes effective charge separation. Among the different catalysts, SrTiO3-900 °C gives 6.8 mmol g−1 h−1 of hydrogen under Ultra-Violet irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study explored dye decolorization and bioelectricity generation of indigenous Proteus hauseri ZMd44 for dye-bearing wastewater treatment. Chemical structures of azo dyes apparently affected the performance of dye biodecolorization. Additions of diazo dye C.I. reactive blue 160 (RBu160) stimulated simultaneous dye decolorization and bioelectricity generation of ZMd44 in single chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, high-level additions of RBu160 repressed capabilities of power production in MFC due to competition of electrons used for reductive decolorization. Decolorized intermediates of RBu160-phenyl methadiamine and 5-sulfoanthranilic acid as electron shuttles might mediate electron transport for current generation in MFC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The goal of this study is to find out the exhaust emissions differences produced by different kinds of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from used cooking oils and animal fats, as well as the importance of the purification step in exhaust emissions production. A total of 120L of waste vegetable oil and 30L of waste frying oil were collected and converted into three batches of FAME. There were two batches of FAME produced from waste vegetable oil (B01 and B02), and one batch of FAME produced by mixing 2% of waste frying oil with waste vegetable oil (B03). The FAMEs used in this study had higher density, kinematic viscosity, and flash point, but a lower gross heating value, when compared to the premium diesel. The B01 engine produced higher CO formation and the diesel-fuelled engine produced higher CO than the B02 and B03 did for engine speeds higher than 1400rpm. Most of the FAME fuels produced higher CO2 than the diesel fuel did. The FAME fuels emitted higher NO x and PM, but lower SO2, than the diesel fuel. C n H2n+2, diphenyl sulfone (C12H10O2S), and diethyl phthalate (C12H14O4) can be selected as the character index for the combustion of FAME. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, wasted cooking oil from restaurants was used to produce neat (pure) biodiesel through transesterification, and this converted biodiesel was then used to prepare biodiesel/diesel blends. The goal of this study was to compare the trace formation from the exhaust tail gas of a diesel engine when operated using the different fuel type: neat biodiesel, biodiesel/diesel blends, and normal diesel fuels. B20 produced the lowest CO concentration for all engine speeds. B50 produced higher CO2 than other fuels for all engine speeds, except at 2000rpm where B20 gave the highest. The biodiesel and biodiesel/diesel blend fuels produced higher NO x for various engine speeds as expected. SO2 formation not only showed an increasing trend with increased engine speed but also showed an increasing trend as the percentage of diesel increased in the fuels. Among the collected data, the PM concentrations from B100 engines were higher than from other fuelled engines for the tested engine speed and most biodiesel-contained fuels produced higher PM than the pure diesel fuel did. Overall, we may conclude that B20 and B50 are the optimum fuel blends. The species of trace formation in the biodiesel-contained fuelled engine exhaust were mainly C n H2n+2, DEP, and DPS. For the B100, B80, B50, and D fuelled engines, C15H32 was the dominant species for all engine speeds, while squalene (C30H50) was the dominant for B20. DEP was only observed in the B100, B80, and B50 fuelled engines in this study. The D fuelled engine showed a higher DPS production for engine speeds higher than 1200rpm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study evaluated the performance of photo-Fenton reaction initiated by the UV irradiation with H2O2/Fe3+, denoted as UV/H2O2/Fe3+, to decompose di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in the aqueous solution. The concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) was chosen as a mineralization index of the decomposition of DBP by the UV/H2O2/Fe3+ process. A second-order kinetic model with respect to TOC was adequately adopted to represent the mineralization of DBP by the UV/H2O2/Fe3+ process. The experimental results of this study suggested that the dosages with 4.74×10−5 molmin−1 L−1 H2O2 and initial Fe3+ loading concentration of 4.50×10−4 molL−1 in the solution at pH 3.0 with 120μWcm−2 UV (312nm) provided the optimal operation conditions for the mineralization of DBP (5mgL−1) yielding a 92.4% mineralization efficiency at 90min reaction time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Basic oxygen furnace slag (BOF slag) is a solid waste arisen from the steel making process. FeO is one of the major components of BOF slag. The FeO-containing property of BOF slag makes it possible to catalyze the Fenton reaction. Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye is chosen as the target compound in this study. This study has investigated the catalytic performance of BOF slag on the Fenton reaction to decompose RB5 in aqueous solution. A first-order kinetic model with respect to TOC was adopted to explain the mineralization of RB5 by the H2O2/BOF slag process. The experimental results in this study suggested that dosage with 1.49×10−4 Mmin−1 H2O2 and 12.5g l−1 BOF slag in the solution at pH 2 provided the optimal operation conditions for the mineralization of RB5 yielding a 51.2% treatment efficiency at 100min reaction time, and complete decoloration can be achieved within 30min reaction time. The H2O2/Fe2+ ratio was then determined to be 6.06:1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]