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Five different morphologies selectively synthesized through a microwave hydrothermal route in order to determine the dependence of degradation efficiency on TiO2 morphologies. These five morphologies include nanosphere, nanotube, hollow sphere, nanorod and granule-like particle. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Brunauer-Emment-Teller methods were used to characterize the morphologies, crystalline structures, and specific surface area of these nanostructured TiO2. Oxidants were used as sacrificial electron acceptor to accelerate the degradation. The degradation mechanism of oxalic acid on the surface of TiO2 influenced by oxidants was discussed.

BACKGROUND:Chlorella strains rather than terrestrial oil crops having higher oil content and shorter generation time have been considered as promising candidates for alternative biodiesel. Since the influence of light quality on oil formation of microalgae in either monoculture or mixed culture has been shown to be either inconsistent or ambiguous, a light-emitting diode (LED) photo-bioreactor with different light sources and intensities was used in this study to investigate a cost-effective lipid production process. RESULTS: The oil accumulation in a mixed culture of Chlorella sp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was higher than that in the monoculture under the different light sources used. Results of the influence of light quality on the mixed culture indicated that the optimal light wavelength and intensity for biomass formation was red LED light at 1000 lux, whereas the optimum for oil formation was blue LED light at 1000 lux. A novel two-stage LED photo-bioreactor was thus proposed and the highest Pmax and productivity in this study were obtained as 261 mg L−1 and 8.16 mg L−1 h−1, respectively. CONCLUSION: A novel two-stage LED photo-bioreactor using a mixed culture to optimize microalgal oil production was proposed and successfully demonstrated in this study. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry

A series of solution-processable electrochromic (EC) aromatic polyamides with bis(triphenylamine)ether (TPAO) units in the backbone were prepared by the phosphorylation polyamidation from a newly synthesized diamine monomer, bis(N-4-aminophenyl-N-4-methoxyphenyl-4-aminophenyl)ether, and various dicarboxylic acids. These polymers were highly soluble in many organic solvents and showed useful levels of thermal stability associated with high glass-transition tempera- tures and high char yields (higher than 50 at 800 � C in nitrogen). The polymer films showed reversible electrochemical oxidation and electrochromism with high contrast ratio in the visible range, which also exhibited moderate coloration efficiency (CE), low switching time, and good stability. Especially, the polya- mides with two electroactive nitrogen centers only showed one- stage oxidative coloring (no intervalence charge-transfer (IV-CT) band was detected), implying the two electrons are simultane- ously removed from the TPAO units on account of the ether-link- age definitely isolated the two redox centers. The mixed-valence (MV) Class I/II/III transition and electrochemistry of the synthe- sized model compounds were investigated for the bridged triar- ylamine system with various NAN distances and intramolecular electron transfer (ET) capability. V C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 49: 3805-3816, 2011

In the present study, ITO nanowires electrode within the anodized Ti0 2 nanotubes without using the polycarbonate membrane templates were attempted. The process begins with an anodized Ti0 2 nanotube arrays (TNA) and subsequent growth of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) nanowires into the Ti0 2 annotube arrays via the electrophoretic process (EPD). The open-end of Ti0 2 nanotubes were synthesized for the photoelectrode of DSSC. ITO nanowires were then grown into these TNA by EPD process. The composite of ITO/anodized TNA was employed as the working electrode for the assembly into DSSCs. The advantage of the present method is that the membrane templates in EPD process were not required. In addition, the ITO nanowires will surely not contact each other which might cause short circuit. The morphologies and the structures of ITO nanowires and TNA electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

BACKGROUND: Photoreceptors have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisae, however, the influence of light on the performance of ethanol fermentation of S. cerevisiae is not yet clear. The aims of this study are to elucidate the influence of light wavelength and intensity on the growth and ethanol production of S. cerevisiae and to describe a novel two-stage LED light process to optimize ethanol fermentation. RESULTS: Experimental results indicated that maximum biomass concentration Xmax of the batch under red LED light increased monotonically with light intensity, and the optimal specific product yield Yp/x was 13.2 g g−1 at 600 lux. Maximum ethanol concentration Pmax of the batch under blue LED light increased monotonically with light intensity, and the optimal Yp/x was 18.4 g g−1 at 900 lux. A novel two-stage LED light process achieved maximum Pmax, of 98.7 g dm−3 resulting in 36% improvement compared with that of the batch in the dark. CONCLUSION: The light wavelength and its intensity significantly affected cell growth and ethanol formation of S. cerevisiae. Red LED light (630 nm) stimulated cell growth but slightly inhibited ethanol formation. In contrast, blue LED light (470 nm) significantly inhibited cell growth but stimulated ethanol formation. A novel two-stage LED light process has been successfully demonstrated to optimize ethanol fermentation of S. cerevisiae. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry

Oolong tea contains polyphenolic catechins that can act as antioxidants and improve blood lipid status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a daily intake of Oolong tea for 30 d on the cholesterol profiles, lipid peroxidation level, and superoxide dismutase activity in athletes before and after exhaustive exercise. Twenty-two male rugby players served as the experiment subjects. They were divided into 2 groups: the tea-supplement group and control group. The results showed that there was a significant increase in total plasma cholesterol for both groups after training. There were no significant differences in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level after tea supplementation. However, ingestion of Oolong tea resulted in significantly lower resting and post-exhaustive exercise level of plasma malondialdehyde, and significantly lower resting level of superoxide dismutase activity. The results suggest that supplementation with Oolong tea for rugby players can decrease oxidative stress, and this can be explained by the decrease of lipid peroxidation level in cooperation with Oolong tea supplementation against the free radicals.

Epidemics of enterovirus 71 infections caused the rapid death of many children in Malaysia in 1997 and in Taiwan in 1998. Pulmonary edema occurred in most of the fatal cases and was considered to be neurogenic. The role of the heart was rarely investigated before. Between January 1998–January 2001, 34 consecutive patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit due to enterovirus infection were studied prospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: group I with pulmonary edema, and group II without pulmonary edema. Comparisons were made between the two groups based upon demographic, neurological, and cardiovascular manifestations. Group I consisted of 11 patients (5 boys, 6 girls; mean age, 22.8 months), and group II of 23 patients (12 boys, 11 girls; mean age, 28.8 months). There were no significant differences between the two groups in comparing sex, age, body weight, neurological severity, intracranial pressure, cell count, protein and glucose levels in cerebral spinal fluid, and blood pressure. All group I patients had left ventricular dysfunction, and their ejection fractions were significantly lower than those of patients in group II (37 ± 11% vs. 75 ± 6%, P

Principles of object to real image by the optical lens design, so that the floating image outside the system at 5 cm. The viewer in front of the optical system 50 cm can see the floating image in the air. The viewing angle at least 15°. With infrared virtual panel detection technology, viewers can use your finger to a noncontact touch, to control the floating image menu. Virtual touch module will become the new generation man–machine interface or interaction device. This virtual touch keypad is idea for public health such devices as ATM, hospital kios, etc.