Size-controllable Au nanodot arrays (50, 63, and 83 nm dot size) with a narrow size distribution (±5%) were prepared by a direct contact printing method on an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. ...Titania was added to the Au nanodots using TiO2 sols of 2–3 nm in size. This created a precisely controlled Au nanodot with 110 nm of TiO2 overcoats. Using these precisely controlled nanodot arrays, the effects of Au nanodot size and TiO2 overcoats were investigated for photoelectrochemical water splitting using a three-electrode system with a fiber-optic visible light source. From UV–vis measurement, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak energy (E LSPR) increased and the LSPR line width (Γ) decreased with decreasing Au nanodot size. The generated plasmonic enhancement for the photoelectrochemical water splitting reaction increased with decreasing Au particle size. The measured plasmonic enhancement for light on/off experiments was 25 times for the 50 nm Au size and 10 times for the 83 nm Au nanodot size. The activity of each catalyst increased by a factor of 6 when TiO2 was added to the Au nanodots for all the samples. The activity of the catalyst was proportional to the quality factor (defined as Q = E LSPR/Γ) of the plasmonic metal nanostructure. The enhanced water splitting performance with the decreased Au nanodot size is probably due to more generated charge carriers (electron/hole pair) by local field enhancement as the quality factor increases.
The ocurrence and levels of PhACs, Endocrine Disrupting and related Compounds (EDCs) in seafood from potential contaminated areas in Europe has been studied. Macroalgae (Saccharina latissima and ...Laminaria digitata), bivalves (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mytilus spp., Chamalea gallina and Crassostrea gigas) and fish (Liza aurata and Platichthys flesus) from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, and Norway were analysed following 4 different analytical protocols depending on the organism and target group of contaminants. The results revealed the presence of 4 pharmaceutical compounds in macroalgae samples, 16 in bivalves and 10 in fish. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that PhACs have been detected in marine fish and in macroalgae. Besides, this is also the first time that dimetridazole, hydrochlorothiazide and tamsulosin have been detected in biota samples. The highest levels of PhACs corresponded to the psychiatric drug velanfaxine (up to 36.1ng/g dry weight (dw)) and the antibiotic azithromycin (up to 13.3ng/g dw) in bivalves from the Po delta (Italy). EDCs were not detected in macroalgae samples, however, the analysis revealed the presence of 10 EDCs in bivalves and 8 in fish. The highest levels corresponded to the organophosphorus flame retardant tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate (TBEP) reaching up to 98.4ng/g dw in mullet fish from the Tagus estuary. Bivalves, in particular mussels, have shown to be good bioindicator organisms for PhACs and fish for EDCs. Taking into consideration the concentrations and frequencies of detection of PhACs and EDCs in the seafood samples analysed, a list of candidates’ compounds for priorization in future studies has been proposed.
•CaSO4 removal using an asymmetric capacitive deionization reactor was evaluated.•Low-cost high surface area carbon electrodes coated with SiO2 and Al2O3 were tested.•Ion removal and regeneration ...observed in single-pass experiments.•Ca2+ and SO42− specific adsorption processes seemed to limit desorption processes.
Capacitive deionization is a potential technology for water softening. In this study, low-cost high surface area carbons coated with two different metal oxides (SiO2 on the cathode and Al2O3 on the anode) were employed. CaSO4 removal was investigated using a 400ml reactor in a ‘single-pass’ mode. Influence of applied voltage and flow rate on ion removal/regeneration, charge efficiency, and energy consumption was determined. High potentials (>1.2V) led to pH acidification and increased likelihood of faradaic reactions affecting ion electrosorption and charge efficiency. CaSO4 removal amounted 4.38mgg−1 of electrode material after 15min of cell polarization at 1.2V. Charge efficiencies of 60% and an energy consumption of 0.12kWhmol−1 of salt removed were obtained. Different regeneration modes (open circuit, short-circuit (SC) and reverse voltage (RV)) were studied. SC regeneration resulted in the highest ion regeneration efficiency while short applications of RV increased water recovery values but also increased energy cost. Oxide coatings avoided ion crossover when short circuit or low reverse voltage were used in regeneration. Ca2+ and SO42− ions adsorbed specifically on SiO2 and Al2O3, respectively with Ca2+ also adsorbing specifically to carbon alone. These chemical affinities directly influence the desorption process.
Display omitted
•Nitrate was removed below regulatory limits using an asymmetric CDI system.•Cations did not affect nitrate removal when NaNO3 or Ca(NO3)2 solutions were tested.•Successful scale-up ...from a three-electrode cell to an eight-cell flow reactor was accomplished.•Time dependent ion removal was observed for cations.•Different ion removal mechanisms (electrosorption and specific adsorption) were hypothesized.
Contamination of groundwater with nitrates is a major concern, especially for areas relying on this as a drinking water source. In this work, a capacitive deionization (CDI) system equipped with carbon electrodes coated with different metal oxides was studied to determine its ability to reduce nitrate concentrations. Results performed in a three-electrode cell were used as a proof of concept and demonstrated that coated electrodes had higher nitrate removal than that of uncoated electrodes, likely because of a reduction in hydrophobicity and an increase in surface area provided by the metal oxides. Moreover, tests using different electrolytes (NaNO3 and Ca(NO3)2) revealed similar nitrate removal values, although different electrosorption patterns were observed for Na+ and Ca2+. Furthermore, an operational mode based on a multistep approach showed that nitrates could be removed below regulatory limits while reducing the volume of waste brine. A larger, eight-cell flow CDI reactor was also tested. The results from this reactor showed that the cell potential, as well as the ion being removed from a multicomponent solution (Ca2+, Na+, Cl−, NO3−) influence electrosorption kinetics. Different adsorption mechanisms based on ion charge/size/electrode affinity are discussed, possibly leading to a methodology for preferentially removing certain ions by CDI technology.
This article explores hybrid energy storage devices in which an individual electrode is composed of a mixture of the active materials used in lithium-ion batteries and ultracapacitors, allowing them ...to exhibit characteristics of both device types. In order to explore the breadth of options between a pure battery electrode and a pure ultracapacitor electrode, seven different electrode compositions containing mixtures of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 ) and activated carbon have been investigated. The hybrid electrodes have been implemented in an aqueous lithium sulfate electrolyte with single-electrode measurements using a reference electrode. The hybrid pulse power characterization (HPPC) test profile has been employed to characterize the energy and power capability of each electrode composition. An approach for converting single-electrode cycling results to full cell predictions suitable for the HPPC analysis procedure is presented. By executing this procedure, battery scale factors representing estimates of the quantity of active material required to achieve a set of energy storage target requirements have been calculated. Models of full 18650-format hybrid cells are developed to extend results to optimize a tailored energy storage system on the basis of total cell mass and volume. These results show that the required amount of active materials, total mass, or total volume of an energy storage system can be minimized for a given application by using a hybrid electrode and adjusting the constituent fraction of battery and ultracapacitor materials.
Epidemiology of anaphylaxis Tejedor Alonso, M. A.; Moro Moro, M.; Múgica García, M. V.
Clinical and experimental allergy,
June 2015, Letnik:
45, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Summary
Knowledge about the epidemiology of anaphylaxis is based on data from various sources: clinical practice, large secondary clinical and administrative databases of primary care or hospitalized ...patients, and recent surveys with representative samples of the general population. As several similar results are often reported in several publications and populations, such findings are highly like to be robust. One such finding is that the incidence and prevalence of anaphylaxis are higher than previously thought. Publications from the last 5 years reveal an incidence of between 50 and 112 episodes per 100 000 person‐years; estimated prevalence is 0.3–5.1% depending on the rigour of the definitions used. Figures are higher in children, especially those aged 0–4 years. Publications from various geographical areas based on clinical and administrative data on hospitalized patients suggest that the frequency of admissions due to anaphylaxis has increased (5–7‐fold in the last 10–15 years). Other publications point to a geographic gradient in the incidence of anaphylaxis, with higher frequencies recorded in areas with few hours of sunlight. However, these trends could be the result of factors other than a real change in the incidence of anaphylaxis, such as changes in disease coding and in the care provided. Based on data from the records of voluntary declarations of death by physicians and from large national databases, death from anaphylaxis remains very infrequent and stands at 0.35–1.06 deaths per million people per year, with no increases observed in the last 10–15 years. Although anaphylaxis can be fatal, recurrence of anaphylaxis – especially that associated with atopic diseases and hymenoptera stings – affects 26.5–54% of patients.
The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is polymorphic, encoding one of 3 common alleles (ε2, ε3, ε4) produced from combinations of 2 non-synonymous SNPs (rs429358 and rs7412). APOE plays an important role ...controlling plasma lipids but its association with adipocyte functionality and body fatness remains to be determined.
We analyzed fasting plasma lipids and genotyped the two main APOE-SNPs (rs429358 and rs7412), both located in the fourth exon of the APOE, in 4660 Caucasian middle-aged men free of cardiovascular disease.
The rs7412 SNP, which determines the APOE2 isoform, was significantly associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Girth (WG) in a multivariate model accounting for age, smoking status and plasma lipids. BMI and WG were highest in TT homozygotes and lowest in CC homozygotes. This effect was independent of the rs429358 SNP, which failed to show any association with the BMI and WG variables. The odds ratio of being obese (BMI>30) for individuals carrying the APOε2 allele, present in 14% of the cohort and defined by the rs7412 SNP, was also significant in this multivariate model, with an OR of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.01-1.59).
This study provides an evidence of a lipid-independent association between the APOE SNP rs7412 and body fatness surrogates, BMI and WG, in a large cohort of middle-aged males.
Nanoporous thin-film coatings of SiO2 and γ-Al2O3 on low surface area carbon fiber sheets may provide an alternative electrode material for capacitive deionization (CDI). In this paper, composite ...electrodes were fabricated by dipping a low surface area carbon fiber support (less than 2m2/g) into metal oxide sols of either acidic SiO2 (pH 2.9), basic SiO2 (pH 8.3) or γ-AlOOH. Furthermore, the number of times the supports were dipped into the respective sols was varied in an effort to deposit different quantities of the metal oxide. This resulted in composite electrodes with metal oxide contents ranging from 1.5 to 6.7% by weight and specific surface areas from 6 to 35m2/g. When these electrodes were submitted to CDI testing, the rate, as well as the quantity of Ca2+ removed, exceeded that of the uncoated carbon support, independent of the metal oxide coating utilized. Moreover, after 30min of removal, all of the composite electrodes removed >90% of the Ca2+ from a 1.0mM CaCl2 solution – an increase of over 30% as compared to that of the uncoated carbon. In addition, the rate of Ca2+ removal appeared to be dependent upon the nature of the metal oxide coating (SiO2>γ-Al2O3) on the carbon support. The ion removal observed in this work may be driven by electrical double layer formation, specific adsorption, and/or faradaic reactions, such as the oxidation of Cl− to ClO3−. During the regeneration of the electrode, it was shown that the application of an optimal electric potential increased the quantity of Ca2+ desorbed after 30min by approximately 60% for an uncoated pair of electrodes and 90% for a coated pair as compared with electrode regeneration performed under no applied potential. Furthermore, the coated electrode pair was able to withstand a higher voltage for regeneration than an uncoated pair before adsorption of counter-ions exceeded that of co-ions desorption.
Non-indigenous ascidians are of particular concern to aquaculture industry and, paradoxically, the activities associated with it represent an important way to translocate these species worldwide. In ...2012 a non-indigenous ascidian was found covering the oyster crops in the Ebro Delta (Western Mediterranean). We have identified the ascidian genetically and morphologically as
Didemnum vexillum
Kott, 2002. This finding indicates that the species is currently expanding its distribution in the Mediterranean Sea, as it has recently been found in the eastern basin (Venice, Adriatic Sea). Introduced populations of
D. vexillum
are found in temperate and cold waters worldwide, and a successful establishment in the Mediterranean implies a remarkable capacity of adaptability to warm, subtropical conditions. We assessed the life cycle (growth and reproduction) of the ascidian at the studied site. The species has a marked seasonal cycle, with regression in the warmest months and reappearance during winter. In spring
D. vexillum
reaches its maximum abundance, followed by a peak in reproduction just before regression. This cycle is reversed with respect to the one observed in colder waters, highlighting a plastic biological cycle of this invader and an hitherto unknown ability to establish itself in warm waters. We also analysed the genetic structure of the population of the Ebro Delta and the one established in the Lagoon of Venice using
COI
sequence data. The low genetic diversity in our samples (three haplotypes) was consistent with what is observed in the introduced populations worldwide. It is likely that the ascidian was introduced with oyster stock from bivalve cultures in the Atlantic French coasts, where the same three haplotypes have been reported. The high boating activity in the Ebro Delta makes further human-mediated transport of the species highly likely, and nearby fishing grounds can be severely affected if invaded. It is urgent to implement measures to prevent the continuous expansion of this ascidian pest in the Mediterranean.
PDF
