40 CFR 258.54 - Detection monitoring program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILLS Ground-Water Monitoring and Corrective Action § 258.54 Detection... indicator parameters for a MSWLF unit, in lieu of some or all of the heavy metals (constituents 1-15 in... parameters, waste constituents, and reaction products in the ground water; and (iv) The concentration or...

40 CFR 258.54 - Detection monitoring program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILLS Ground-Water Monitoring and Corrective Action § 258.54 Detection... indicator parameters for a MSWLF unit, in lieu of some or all of the heavy metals (constituents 1-15 in... parameters, waste constituents, and reaction products in the ground water; and (iv) The concentration or...

40 CFR 258.54 - Detection monitoring program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILLS Ground-Water Monitoring and Corrective Action § 258.54 Detection... indicator parameters for a MSWLF unit, in lieu of some or all of the heavy metals (constituents 1-15 in... parameters, waste constituents, and reaction products in the ground water; and (iv) The concentration or...

Method and apparatus for determining weldability of thin sheet metal

DOEpatents

Goodwin, Gene M.; Hudson, Joseph D.

1988-01-01

A fixture is provided for testing thin sheet metal specimens to evaluate hot-cracking sensitivity for determining metal weldability on a heat-to-heat basis or through varying welding parameters. A test specimen is stressed in a first direction with a load selectively adjustable over a wide range and then a weldment is passed along over the specimen in a direction transverse to the direction of strain to evaluate the hot-cracking characteristics of the sheet metal which are indicative of the weldability of the metal. The fixture provides evaluations of hot-cracking sensitivity for determining metal weldability in a highly reproducible manner with minimum human error.

Evaluation of solubility in simulated lung fluid of metals present in the slag from a metallurgical industry to produce metallic zinc.

PubMed

Lima, Rosilda M G; Carneiro, Luana G; Afonso, Júlio C; Cunha, Kenya M D

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine the solubility parameters (rapid and slow dissolution rates, rapid and slow dissolution fractions) for nickel, cadmium, zinc and manganese compounds present in a pile of slag accumulated under exposure to weathering. This slag was generated by a metallurgical industry that produced zinc and zinc alloys from hemimorphite (Zn(4)(OH)(2)Si(2)O(7).H(2)O) and willemite (Zn(2)SiO(4)) minerals. A static dissolution test in vitro was used to determine the solubility parameters and Gamble's solution was used as the simulated lung fluid (SLF), on a time basis ranging from 10 min to 1 year. The metal concentrations in the slag samples and in the SLF were determined using Particle Induced X-rays Emission (PIXE). There are significant differences in terms of solubility parameters among the metals. The results indicated that the zinc, nickel, cadmium and manganese compounds present in the slag were moderately soluble in the SLF. The rapid dissolution fractions of these metals are associated with their sulfates. In conclusion, this study confirms the harmful effects on the neighboring population of the airborne particles containing these metals that came from the slag.

Biomonitoring along the Tropical Southern Indian Coast with Multiple Biomarkers

PubMed Central

Vignesh, Sivanandham; Dahms, Hans-Uwe; Muthukumar, Krishnan; Vignesh, Gopalaswamy; James, Rathinam Arthur

2016-01-01

We assessed the spatial and temporal variations of pollution indicators and geochemical and trace metal parameters (23 in total) from water and sediment (144 samples) of three different eco-niches (beach, fishing harbor, and estuary) in larger coastal cities of southern India (Cuddalore and Pondicherry) for one year. A total of 120 marine Pseudomonas isolates were challenged against different concentrations of copper solutions and 10 different antibiotics in heavy metal and antibiotic resistance approaches, respectively. The study shows that 4.16% of the isolates could survive in 250 mM of copper; 70% were resistant to minimum concentrations. Strains were resistant (98.4%) to at least one antibiotic in Cuddalore compared to the Pondicherry (78.4%) region. Pollution index (PI) (0–14.55) and antibiotic resistance index (ARI) (0.05–0.10) ratio indicated that high bacterial and antibiotic loads were released into the coastal environment. The degree of trace metal contamination in sediments were calculated by enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo). Statistical parameters like two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, factor analysis and scatter matrix tools were employed between the 23 parameters in order to find sources, pathways, disparities and interactions of environmental pollutants. It indicates that geochemical and biological parameters were not strongly associated with each other (except a few) and were affected by different sources. Factor analysis elucidated, ‘microbe–metal’ interaction (Factor 1–48.86%), ‘anthropogenic’ factor (Factor 2–13.23%) and ‘Pseudomonas–Cadmium’ factor (Factor 3–11.74%), respectively. PMID:27941969

Dredging-related mobilisation of trace metals: a case study in The Netherlands.

PubMed

van den Berg, G A; Meijers, G G; van der Heijdt, L M; Zwolsman, J J

2001-06-01

Mobilisation of contaminants is an important issue in environmental risk assessment of dredging projects. This study has aimed at identifying the effects of dredging on mobilisation of trace metals (Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb). The intensities and time scales of trace metal mobilisation were investigated during an experimental dredging project conducted under field conditions. The loss of contaminated dredge spoil is mainly reflected by increasing levels of trace metals in the suspended matter, dissolved trace metal concentrations in the water column are not significantly influenced by the dredging activities. This indicates a strong binding mechanism of trace metals to the solid phase or a fast redistribution over sorptive phases in response to oxidation of e.g. trace metal sulphides. Given the differences in levels of reactive phases (Mn, Fe, sulphides and organic matter) between the riverine suspended matter and the sediments, changes in the levels of these parameters in the suspended matter upon dredging may give information on the processes influencing the behaviour of trace metals and on the potential loss of sediment during dredging operations. Therefore, we recommend to routinely measure these parameters in studies on contaminant behaviour related to dredging activities.

Study of metal transfer in CO2 laser+GMAW-P hybrid welding using argon-helium mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wang; Hua, Xueming; Liao, Wei; Li, Fang; Wang, Min

2014-03-01

The metal transfer in CO2 Laser+GMAW-P hybrid welding by using argon-helium mixtures was investigated and the effect of the laser on the mental transfer is discussed. A 650 nm laser, in conjunction with the shadow graph technique, is used to observe the metal transfer process. In order to analyze the heat input to the droplet and the droplet internal current line distribution. An optical emission spectroscopy system was employed to estimate default parameter and optimized plasma temperature, electron number densities distribution. The results indicate that the CO2 plasma plume have a significant impact to the electrode melting, droplet formation, detachment, impingement onto the workpiece and weld morphology. Since the current distribution direction flow changes to the keyhole, to obtain a metal transfer mode of one droplet per pulse, the welding parameters should be adjusted to a higher pulse time (TP) and a lower voltage.

Thermodynamic scaling of glassy dynamics and dynamic heterogeneities in metallic glass-forming liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yuan-Chao; Shang, Bao-Shuang; Guan, Peng-Fei; Yang, Yong; Bai, Hai-Yang; Wang, Wei-Hua

2016-09-01

A ternary metallic glass-forming liquid is found to be not strongly correlating thermodynamically, but its average dynamics, dynamic heterogeneities including the high order dynamic correlation length, and static structure are still well described by thermodynamic scaling with the same scaling exponent γ. This may indicate that the metallic liquid could be treated as a single-parameter liquid. As an intrinsic material constant stemming from the fundamental interatomic interactions, γ is theoretically predicted from the thermodynamic fluctuations of the potential energy and the virial. Although γ is conventionally understood merely from the repulsive part of the inter-particle potentials, the strong correlation between γ and the Grüneisen parameter up to the accuracy of the Dulong-Petit approximation demonstrates the important roles of anharmonicity and attractive force of the interatomic potential in governing glass transition of metallic glassformers. These findings may shed light on how to understand metallic glass formation from the fundamental interatomic interactions.

Observations on the deformation-induced beta internal friction peak in bcc metals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dicarlo, J. A.

1974-01-01

During a study of the effects of electron irradiation on the tungsten alpha mechanism, internal friction data were obtained. The data indicate that the mechanism underlying the beta peak does not possess the relaxation parameters generally associated with a simple dislocation process. The significance of the experimental results in the light of beta observations in other metals is discussed. It is suggested that the beta peaks in deformed bcc metals are the anelastic result of the thermally-activated relaxation of deformation-induced imperfections.

Metal Oxide Gas Sensors: Sensitivity and Influencing Factors

PubMed Central

Wang, Chengxiang; Yin, Longwei; Zhang, Luyuan; Xiang, Dong; Gao, Rui

2010-01-01

Conductometric semiconducting metal oxide gas sensors have been widely used and investigated in the detection of gases. Investigations have indicated that the gas sensing process is strongly related to surface reactions, so one of the important parameters of gas sensors, the sensitivity of the metal oxide based materials, will change with the factors influencing the surface reactions, such as chemical components, surface-modification and microstructures of sensing layers, temperature and humidity. In this brief review, attention will be focused on changes of sensitivity of conductometric semiconducting metal oxide gas sensors due to the five factors mentioned above. PMID:22294916

Geographical and pedological drivers of distribution and risks to soil fauna of seven metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in British soils.

PubMed

Spurgeon, David J; Rowland, Philip; Ainsworth, Gillian; Rothery, Peter; Long, Sara; Black, Helaina I J

2008-05-01

Concentrations of seven metals were measured in over 1000 samples as part of an integrated survey. Sixteen metal pairs were significantly positively correlated. Cluster analysis identified two clusters. Metals from the largest (Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn), but not the smallest (Cd, Pb) cluster were significantly negatively correlated with spatial location and soil pH and organic matter content. Cd and Pb were not correlated with these parameters, due possibly to the masking effect of recent extensive release. Analysis of trends with soil properties in different habitats indicated that general trends may not necessarily be applicable to all areas. A risk assessment indicated that Zn poses the most widespread direct risk to soil fauna and Cd the least. Any risks associated with high metal concentrations are, however, likely to be greatest in habitats such as arable and horticultural, improved grassland and built up areas where soil metal concentrations are more frequently elevated.

Stress evaluation of metallic material under steady state based on nonlinear critically refracted longitudinal wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Hanling; Zhang, Yuhua; Mao, Hanying; Li, Xinxin; Huang, Zhenfeng

2018-06-01

This paper presents the study of applying the nonlinear ultrasonic wave to evaluate the stress state of metallic materials under steady state. The pre-stress loading method is applied to guarantee components with steady stress. Three kinds of nonlinear ultrasonic experiments based on critically refracted longitudinal wave are conducted on components which the critically refracted longitudinal wave propagates along x, x1 and x2 direction. Experimental results indicate the second and third order relative nonlinear coefficients monotonically increase with stress, and the normalized relationship is consistent with simplified dislocation models, which indicates the experimental result is logical. The combined ultrasonic nonlinear parameter is proposed, and three stress evaluation models at x direction are established based on three ultrasonic nonlinear parameters, which the estimation error is below 5%. Then two stress detection models at x1 and x2 direction are built based on combined ultrasonic nonlinear parameter, the stress synthesis method is applied to calculate the magnitude and direction of principal stress. The results show the prediction error is within 5% and the angle deviation is within 1.5°. Therefore the nonlinear ultrasonic technique based on LCR wave could be applied to nondestructively evaluate the stress of metallic materials under steady state which the magnitude and direction are included.

Investigating the atomic level influencing factors of glass forming ability in NiAl and CuZr metallic glasses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sedighi, Sina; Kirk, Donald Walter; Singh, Chandra Veer, E-mail: chandraveer.singh@utoronto.ca

2015-09-21

Bulk metallic glasses are a relatively new class of amorphous metal alloy which possess unique mechanical and magnetic properties. The specific concentrations and combinations of alloy elements needed to prevent crystallization during melt quenching remains poorly understood. A correlation between atomic properties that can explain some of the previously identified glass forming ability (GFA) anomalies of the NiAl and CuZr systems has been identified, with these findings likely extensible to other transition metal–transition metal and transition metal–metalloid (TM–M) alloy classes as a whole. In this work, molecular dynamics simulation methods are utilized to study thermodynamic, kinetic, and structural properties ofmore » equiatomic CuZr and NiAl metallic glasses in an attempt to further understand the underlying connections between glass forming ability, nature of atomic level bonding, short and medium range ordering, and the evolution of structure and relaxation properties in the disordered phase. The anomalous breakdown of the fragility parameter as a useful GFA indicator in TM–M alloy systems is addressed through an in-depth investigation of bulk stiffness properties and the evolution of (pseudo)Gruneisen parameters over the quench domain, with the efficacy of other common glass forming ability indicators similarly being analyzed through direct computation in respective CuZr and NiAl systems. Comparison of fractional liquid-crystal density differences in the two systems revealed 2-3 times higher values for the NiAl system, providing further support for its efficacy as a general purpose GFA indicator.« less

Spectroscopic signatures of different symmetries of the superconducting order parameter in metal-decorated graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saari, Timo; Nieminen, Jouko; Bansil, Arun

2017-06-01

Motivated by the recent experiments indicating superconductivity in metal-decorated graphene sheets, we investigate their quasi-particle structure within the framework of an effective tight-binding Hamiltonian augmented by appropriate BCS-like pairing terms for p-type order parameter. The normal state band structure of graphene is modified not only through interaction with adsorbed metal atoms, but also due to the folding of bands at Brillouin zone boundaries resulting from a \\sqrt{3}× \\sqrt{3}R{{30}\\circ} reconstruction. Several different types of pairing symmetries are analyzed utilizing Nambu-Gorkov Green’s function techniques to show that p+\\text{i}p -symmetric nearest-neighbor pairing yields the most enhanced superconducting gap. The character of the order parameter depends on the nature of the atomic orbitals involved in the pairing process and exhibits interesting angular and radial asymmetries. Finally, we suggest a method to distinguish between singlet and triplet type superconductivity in the presence of magnetic substitutional impurities using scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

Old stellar populations. 5: Absorption feature indices for the complete LICK/IDS sample of stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worthey, Guy; Faber, S. M.; Gonzalez, J. Jesus; Burstein, D.

1994-01-01

Twenty-one optical absorption features, 11 of which have been previously defined, are automatically measured in a sample of 460 stars. Following Gorgas et al., the indices are summarized in fitting functions that give index strengths as functions of stellar temperature, gravity, and (Fe/H). This project was carried out with the purpose of predicting index strengths in the integrated light of stellar populations of different ages and metallicities, but the data should be valuable for stellar studies in the Galaxy as well. Several of the new indices appear to be promising indicators of metallicity for old stellar populations. A complete list of index data and atmospheric parameters is available in computer-readable form.

Evaluation of shielding parameters for heavy metal fluoride based tellurite-rich glasses for gamma ray shielding applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayyed, M. I.; Lakshminarayana, G.; Kityk, I. V.; Mahdi, M. A.

2017-10-01

In this work, we have evaluated the γ-ray shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), effective atomic number (Zeff), half value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP) and exposure buildup factors (EBF) for heavy metal fluoride (PbF2) based tellurite-rich glasses. In addition, neutron total macroscopic cross sections (∑R) for these glasses were also calculated. The maximum value for μ/ρ, Zeff and ∑R was found for heavy metal (Bi2O3) oxide introduced glass. The results of the selected glasses have been compared, in terms of MFP with different glass systems. The shielding effectiveness of the selected glasses is found comparable or better than of common ones, which indicates that these glasses with suitable oxides could be developed for gamma ray shielding applications.

Bioaccumulation of trace metals and total petroleum and genotoxicity responses in an edible fish population as indicators of marine pollution.

PubMed

D'Costa, Avelyno; Shyama, S K; Praveen Kumar, M K

2017-08-01

The present study reports the genetic damage and the concentrations of trace metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons prevailing in natural populations of an edible fish, Arius arius in different seasons along the coast of Goa, India as an indicator of the pollution status of coastal water. Fish were collected from a suspected polluted site and a reference site in the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Physico-chemical parameters as well as the concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and trace metals in the water and sediment as well as the tissues of fish collected from these sites were recorded. The genotoxicity status of the fish was assessed employing the micronucleus test and comet assay. A positive correlation (p<0.001) was observed between the tail DNA and micronuclei in all the fish collected. Multiple regression analysis revealed that tissue and environmental pollutant concentrations and genotoxicity were positively associated and higher in the tissues of the fish collected from the polluted site. Pollution indicators and genotoxicity tests, combined with other physiological or biochemical parameters represent an essential integrated approach for efficient monitoring of aquatic ecosystems in Goa. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mercury in mercury(II)-spiked soils is highly susceptible to plant bioaccumulation.

PubMed

Hlodák, Michal; Urík, Martin; Matúš, Peter; Kořenková, Lucia

2016-01-01

Heavy metal phytotoxicity assessments usually use soluble metal compounds in spiked soils to evaluate metal bioaccumulation, growth inhibition and adverse effects on physiological parameters. However, exampling mercury phytotoxicity for barley (Hordeum vulgare) this paper highlights unsuitability of this experimental approach. Mercury(II) in spiked soils is extremely bioavailable, and there experimentally determined bioaccumulation is significantly higher compared to reported mercury bioaccumulation efficiency from soils collected from mercury-polluted areas. Our results indicate this is not affected by soil sorption capacity, thus soil ageing and formation of more stable mercuric complexes with soil fractions is necessary for reasonable metal phytotoxicity assessments.

Comparison of varying operating parameters on heavy metals ecological risk during anaerobic co-digestion of chicken manure and corn stover.

PubMed

Yan, Yilong; Zhang, Liqiu; Feng, Li; Sun, Dezhi; Dang, Yan

2018-01-01

In this study, the potential ecological risk of heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, As, Cd, Pb, Cr) accumulation from anaerobic co-digestion of chicken manure (CM) and corn stover (CS) was evaluated by comparing different initial substrate concentrations, digestion temperatures, and mixture ratios. Results showed that the highest volumetric methane yield of 20.3±1.4L/L reactor was achieved with a CS:CM ratio of 3:1 (on volatile solid basis) in mesophilic solid state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD). Although co-digestion increased the concentrations of all tested heavy metals and the direct toxicity of some heavy metals, the potential ecological risk index indicated that the digestates were all classified as low ecological risk. The biogasification and risk variation of heavy metals were affected by the operating parameters. These results are significant and should be taken into consideration when optimizing co-digestion of animal manure and crop residues during full-scale projects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Can benthic foraminifera be used as bio-indicators of pollution in areas with a wide range of physicochemical variability?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martins, Maria Virgínia Alves; Pinto, Anita Fernandes Souza; Frontalini, Fabrizio; da Fonseca, Maria Clara Machado; Terroso, Denise Lara; Laut, Lazaro Luiz Mattos; Zaaboub, Noureddine; da Conceição Rodrigues, Maria Antonieta; Rocha, Fernando

2016-12-01

The Ria de Aveiro, a lagoon located in the NW coast of Portugal, presents a wide range of changes to the natural hydrodynamical and physicochemical conditions induced for instance by works of port engineering and pollution. In order to evaluate the response of living benthic foraminifera to the fluctuations in physicochemical parameters and pollution (metals and TOC), eight sediment samples were collected from canals and salt pans within the Aveiro City, in four different sampling events. During the sampling events, salinity showed the most significant fluctuations among the physicochemical parameters with the maximum range of variation at Troncalhada and Santiago salt pans. Species such as Haynesina germanica, Trochammina inflata and Entzia macrescens were found inhabiting these hypersaline environments with the widest fluctuations of physicochemical parameters. In contrast, Ammonia tepida dominated zones with high concentrations of metals and organic matter and in lower salinity waters. Parameters related to benthic foraminiferal assemblages (i.e., diversity and evenness) were found to significantly decline in stations polluted by metals and characterized by higher TOC content. Foraminiferal density reduced significantly in locations with a wide range of physicochemical temporal variability. This work shows that, even under extreme conditions caused by highly variable physicochemical parameters, benthic foraminiferal assemblages might be used as valuable bioindicators of environmental stress.

Biological and functional responses of in situ bioassays with Chironomus riparius larvae to assess river water quality and contamination.

PubMed

Faria, Mafalda S; Ré, Ana; Malcato, João; Silva, Paula C L D; Pestana, João; Agra, Ana R; Nogueira, António J A; Soares, Amadeu M V M

2006-12-01

Single species responses have the potential to measure impacts at earlier stages than more traditional methods based in community structure. This study evaluates a bioassay with biological (survival, development, growth) and functional (post-exposure feeding rate) responses of Chironomus riparius larvae to assess water quality and contamination in rivers. The bioassay with C. riparius third instar larvae was performed, in autumn and spring, in reference sites and in organic and metal contaminated sites in Portuguese rivers. Biotic, physical and chemical parameters were determined for each site. The relationship between both bioassays responses and biotic indices (IBMWP and IASPT) and the physical and chemical parameters of respective sites were determined. In general biotic indices were able to discriminate between contaminated and not contaminated sites although they demonstrated a poor ability to detect low level of metal contamination during autumn. IASPT was negatively related to ammonia concentrations in both seasons. No significant differences in survival and post-exposure feeding rate were found between sites. Development was inhibited in the most metal contaminated site during autumn, but pH and ammonia concentrations in water accounted for 82% of developmental variation during this season. Growth was highly inhibited in the most metal contaminated site during both seasons. In autumn, growth was also inhibited in the low metal contaminated site and, during this season, pH and Mn and Fe concentrations in water samples accounted for 97% of growth variation between sites. The results suggest that in situ bioassay with C. riparius larvae using growth as the endpoint is a responsive and suitable tool that can be used as bioindicator of metal pollution and to biomonitor water quality in metal contaminated rivers.

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, DFT optimization and biological activities of Schiff bases and their metal (II) complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauf, Abdur; Shah, Afzal; Munawar, Khurram Shahzad; Khan, Abdul Aziz; Abbasi, Rashda; Yameen, Muhammad Arfat; Khan, Asad Muhammad; Khan, Abdur Rahman; Qureshi, Irfan Zia; Kraatz, Heinz-Bernhard; Zia-ur-Rehman

2017-10-01

A Novel Schiff base, 3-(((4-chlorophenyl)imino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol (HL1) was successfully synthesized along with a structurally similar Schiff base 3-(((4-bromophenyl)imino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol (HL2). Both the Schiff bases were used to synthesize their zinc (II) and cobalt (II) complexes. These compounds were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis. Metal complexes were confirmed by TGA. Crystals of Schiff bases were also characterized by X-ray analysis and experimental parameters were found in line with the theoretical parameters. Quantum mechanical approach was also used to fine useful structural parameters and to ensure the geometry of metal complexes. The photometric behaviors of all the synthesized compounds were investigated in a wide pH range using BR buffers. The appearance of isosbestic points indicated the existence of Schiff bases in more than one isomeric form. Moreover, these compounds were screened for enzyme inhibition; antibacterial, cytotoxic and in vivo antidiabetic activities and compounds were found active against one or other activity. Results indicate that ZnL22 is a good inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase enzyme and possess highest potential against diabetes, blood cholesterol level and cancer cells. This effort just provides preliminary data for some biological properties. Further investigations are required to precisely determine mechanistic pathways of their use towards drug development.

Insights into Metal Oxide and Zero-Valent Metal Nanocrystal Formation on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Surfaces during Sol-Gel Process.

PubMed

Das, Dipesh; Sabaraya, Indu V; Sabo-Attwood, Tara; Saleh, Navid B

2018-06-05

Carbon nanotubes are hybridized with metal crystals to impart multifunctionality into the nanohybrids (NHs). Simple but effective synthesis techniques are desired to form both zero-valent and oxides of different metal species on carbon nanotube surfaces. Sol-gel technique brings in significant advantages and is a viable technique for such synthesis. This study probes the efficacy of sol-gel process and aims to identify underlying mechanisms of crystal formation. Standard electron potential (SEP) is used as a guiding parameter to choose the metal species; i.e., highly negative SEP (e.g., Zn) with oxide crystal tendency, highly positive SEP (e.g., Ag) with zero-valent crystal-tendency, and intermediate range SEP (e.g., Cu) to probe the oxidation tendency in crystal formation are chosen. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to evaluate the synthesized NHs. Results indicate that SEP can be a reliable guide for the resulting crystalline phase of a certain metal species, particularly when the magnitude of this parameter is relatively high. However, for intermediate range SEP-metals, mix phase crystals can be expected. For example, Cu will form Cu₂O and zero-valent Cu crystals, unless the synthesis is performed in a reducing environment.

Biochemical studies on the effect of different water resources in Hail region on liver and kidney functions of rats.

PubMed

Talkhan, Ola F A; Abd Elwahab, Safaa A E; Shalapy, Ebtessam M

2016-08-01

Low concentration of a heavy metal is toxic and can be classified as one of the pollution sources. Industrial and human waste can pollute water with heavy metals and soils breaking down under the effect of acidic rain, which release heavy metals into river, streams, lakes, and ground water. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in vital organs of the human body damages these organs, including the liver and kidney, which are the main organs for metabolism, detoxification, and excretion. The present study aims to investigate into concentrations of such heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in both ground and tap water samples collected from different areas in Hail region, KSA. Then, this study moves forward to examine the effects of such concentrations on the biochemistry of serum in rats. In this regard, the results demonstrate the presence of significant differences (p < 0.05) in the liver function parameters, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total proteins, albumin, and globulin between all the studied groups that were exposed to heavy-metals-polluted water, when compared with the control group. In addition, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the kidney function parameters, uric acid, urea, and creatinine, when compared with the control group. Thence, and as this study indicates, heavy-metals-polluted water can cause disturbance in the liver and kidney function parameters, which highlights health risks of the water polluted with heavy metals. In this sense, the concerned authorities should regularly carry out survey and should monitor underground water, and people have to be aware of such risks.

Tribolayer Formation in a Metal-on-Metal (MoM) Hip Joint: An Electrochemical Investigation

PubMed Central

Mathew, MT; Nagelli, C; Pourzal, R; Fischer, A; Laurent, MP; Jacobs, JJ; Wimmer, MA

2013-01-01

The demand for total hip replacement (THR) surgery is increasing in the younger population due to faster rehabilitation and more complete restoration of function. Up to 2009, metal-on-metal (MoM) hip joint bearings were a popular choice due to their design flexibility, post-operative stability and relatively low wear rates. The main wear mechanisms that occur along the bearing surface of MoM joints are tribochemical reactions that deposit a mixture of wear debris, metal ions and organic matrix of decomposed proteins known as a tribolayer. No in-depth electrochemical studies have been reported on the structure and characteristics of this tribolayer or about the parameters involved in its formation. In this study, we conducted an electrochemical investigation of different surfaces (bulk-like: control, nano-crystalline: new implant and tribolayer surface: retrieved implant) made out of two commonly used hip CoCrMo alloys (high-carbon and low-carbon). As per ASTM standard, cyclic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests were conducted. The results obtained from electrochemical parameters for different surfaces clearly indicated a reduction in corrosion for the tribolayer surface (Icorr: 0.76 μA/cm2). Further, polarization resistance (Rp:2.39±0.60MΩ/cm2) and capacitance (Cdl:15.20±0.75 μF/cm2) indicated variation in corrosion kinetics for the tribolayer surface, that attributed to its structure and stability in a simulated body environment. PMID:24099949

Mining-related metals in terrestrial food webs of the upper Clark Fork River basin

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pastorok, R.A.; LaTier, A.J.; Butcher, M.K.

1994-12-31

Fluvial deposits of tailings and other mining-related waste in selected riparian habitats of the Upper Clark Fork River basin (Montana) have resulted in metals enriched soils. The significance of metals exposure to selected wildlife species was evaluated by measuring tissue residues of metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, zinc) in key dietary species, including dominant grasses (tufted hair grass and redtop), willows, alfalfa, barley, invertebrates (grasshoppers, spiders, and beetles), and deer mice. Average metals concentrations in grasses, invertebrates, and deer mice collected from tailings-affected sites were elevated relative to reference to reference levels. Soil-tissue bioconcentration factors for grasses and invertebrates weremore » generally lower than expected based on the range of values in the literature, indicating the reduced bioavailability of metals from mining waste. In general, metals concentrations in willows, alfalfa, and barley were not elevated above reference levels. Using these data and plausible assumptions for other exposure parameters for white-tailed deer, red fox, and American kestrel, metals intake was estimated for soil and diet ingestion pathways. Comparisons of exposure estimates with toxicity reference values indicated that the elevated concentrations of metals in key food web species do not pose a significant risk to wildlife.« less

Spatial variability of heavy metals in estuarine, mangrove and coastal ecosystems along Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India.

PubMed

Sundaramanickam, Arumugam; Shanmugam, Nadanasabesan; Cholan, Shanmugam; Kumaresan, Saravanan; Madeswaran, Perumal; Balasubramanian, Thangavel

2016-11-01

An elaborate survey on the contamination of heavy metals was carried out in surface sediments of different ecosystems such as Vellar-Coleroon estuarine, Pichavaram mangrove and coastal region of Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India. The study was intended since, the coal based thermal power plant and oil refinery plant are proposed to set up along this coast and aquaculture industries and dredging activities are developing. The parameters such as soil texture, pH, total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metal (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn and Ni) concentrations were analyzed for the surface sediments during pre and postmonsoon seasons. Among the metals analyzed, Fe and Mn were found to have dominant as the levels were recorded as 11,804 μg g - 1 and 845.2 μg g - 1 respectively. A significant correlation was observed between total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metals. In the mangrove ecosystem, the levels of heavy metals found to be maximum indicating that the rich organic matter acts as an efficient binding agent for metals. The overall finding of the present study indicated that the sediments from the entire Vellar-Coleroon estuarine and Pichavaram mangrove ecosystems were found moderately polluted with cadmium metal. The result of cluster analysis indicated disparity in accumulation of heavy metals in sediments of different ecosystems due to the variations in organic matter. The heavy metals were transported from land to coastal through flood during monsoon season reflecting the variations in their levels in different ecosystems at postmonsoon season. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using Heavy Metal Content and Lipid Peroxidation Indicators in the Tissues of the Mussel Crenomytilus grayanus for Pollution Assessment After Marine Environmental Remediation.

PubMed

Belcheva, Nina; Istomina, Alexandra; Dovzhenko, Nadezhda; Lishavskaya, Tatiana; Chelomin, Victor

2015-10-01

We examined the effects of environmental remediation on the heavy metal concentration and lipid peroxidation activity in the digestive gland and gills of the marine mussel Crenomytilus grayanus. Changes in heavy metal concentrations and lipid peroxidation biomarkers in the tissues of mussels collected at a contaminated site were compared with those obtained from a reference site. Prior to remediation the concentration of Pb, Cu, Cd, Fe and Zn and the levels of malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes and lipofuscin in mussels collected from the contaminated site were significantly increased compared with those obtained from the reference site. Three years after remediation, these parameters did not significantly exceed the reference site parameters, except Pb, whose concentration, though markedly decreased, yet was much higher than in tissues of mussels from the reference site.

Seasonal assessment of biological indices, bioaccumulation, and bioavailability of heavy metals in sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus from Algerian west coast, applied to environmental monitoring.

PubMed

Rouane-Hacene, Omar; Boutiba, Zitouni; Benaissa, Meriem; Belhaouari, Benkhedda; Francour, Patrice; Guibbolini-Sabatier, Marielle E; Faverney, Christine Risso-De

2018-04-01

The aim of the present work was to extend our knowledge on the variability of trace metals in sea urchin tissues, focusing on seasonal fluctuations (2010 February for "winter," May for "spring," August for "summer," November for "autumn") in the three different sampling sites of Algerian west coast (Oran Harbor (S1), Ain Defla (S2), and Hadjaj (belonging to Mostaganem City S3)). For this purpose, the bioavailability (metal indices) and bioaccumulation (metal concentrations in soft tissues) of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd), the physiological characteristics (e.g., biological indices such as condition index (CI), repletion index (RI), gonad index (GI)), and the biometric parameters (diameter (D) and the height (H)) of sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus were assessed and related to seasons and sites. To investigate the metal bioavailability to sea urchins more precisely, the metal indices were used as a reliable tool in the present work, instead of the metal concentrations only. The interest to standardize metal concentrations with the weight of the urchin test is to overcome the metal burden variations in the soft tissues of urchin related to the seasonal weight changes of the soft body of animal. We evidence that the most contaminated sites were S1 and S2. Furthermore, it should be noted that the bioavailability of metals, corresponding to the values of metal indices, is also more pronounced in S1 and S2 compared to that measured in S3. Thus, a correlation is observed between seasonal metal content in urchin tissues from the three sites and the corresponding metal indices. The high metal concentrations were obtained during the period when RI and CI were highest. So, it appears that the bioaccumulation of metals in sea urchins of the three sites studied is significantly influenced by the reproductive cycle and diet, feeding activity, and physiological state of these organisms. We noticed that the sea urchins from the sites S1 and S2 were small in size. It is probable that these animals, whose internal tissues contained high concentrations of metals, have been exposed to metal pollution, which might have affected both their growth and altered their physiological capacity. This approach is very original and might be used in the monitoring of the quality of coastal waters, and the present work provided a useful data set for Mediterranean monitoring network.

Comparison of in vivo eccentricity and symmetry indices between metallic stents and bioresorbable vascular scaffolds: insights from the ABSORB and SPIRIT trials.

PubMed

Brugaletta, Salvatore; Gomez-Lara, Josep; Diletti, Roberto; Farooq, Vasim; van Geuns, Robert Jan; de Bruyne, Bernard; Dudek, Dariusz; Garcia-Garcia, Hector M; Ormiston, John A; Serruys, Patrick W

2012-02-01

To compare the geometrical parameters of a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) with a standard metallic stent. The introduction of polymeric bioresorbable materials in the design of novel coronary scaffolds may affect some geometrical parameters, such as eccentricity and symmetry indices, previously introduced as IVUS criteria for optimal metallic stent deployment. From ABSORB Cohort A, ABSORB Cohort B, SPIRIT I, and SPIRIT II, all patients implanted with BVS 1.0, BVS 1.1, or XIENCE V, respectively and intravascular ultrasound analyses post-implantation were selected. The eccentricity index was calculated frame by frame and expressed as an average per device (minimum diameter/maximum diameter). The symmetry index of the device was reported as ([maximum diameter - minimum diameter]/maximum diameter). Six months major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were analyzed. A total of 242 patients were selected (BVS 1.0: n = 28, BVS 1.1: n = 94, XIENCE V: n = 120). The BVS exhibited a significantly lower eccentricity index (BVS 1.0: 0.83 ± 0.09; BVS 1.1: 0.85 ± 0.08; XIENCE V: 0.90 ± 0.06; P < 0.01) and a significantly higher symmetry index (BVS 1.0: 0.30 ± 0.07; BVS 1.1: 0.31 ± 0.06, XIENCE V 0.26 ± 0.07; P < 0.01) as compared to the XIENCE V. An inverse correlation was found between the symmetry and eccentricity indices for both (BVS r = -0.69, P < 0.01; XIENCE V r = -0.61, P < 0.01). No differences in MACE were detected between the groups according to their geometrical parameters. The introduction of a new polymeric material in the design of BVS resulted in a lower eccentricity index and a higher symmetry index as compared to metallic stents, without detectable impact in MACE, at 6 months. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Response Ant Colony Optimization of End Milling Surface Roughness

PubMed Central

Kadirgama, K.; Noor, M. M.; Abd Alla, Ahmed N.

2010-01-01

Metal cutting processes are important due to increased consumer demands for quality metal cutting related products (more precise tolerances and better product surface roughness) that has driven the metal cutting industry to continuously improve quality control of metal cutting processes. This paper presents optimum surface roughness by using milling mould aluminium alloys (AA6061-T6) with Response Ant Colony Optimization (RACO). The approach is based on Response Surface Method (RSM) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). The main objectives to find the optimized parameters and the most dominant variables (cutting speed, feedrate, axial depth and radial depth). The first order model indicates that the feedrate is the most significant factor affecting surface roughness. PMID:22294914

A low-density M-type asteroid in the main belt.

PubMed

Margot, J L; Brown, M E

2003-06-20

The orbital parameters of a satellite revolving around 22 Kalliope indicate that the bulk density of this main-belt asteroid is 2.37 +/- 0.4 grams per cubic centimeter. M-type asteroids such as Kalliope are thought to be the disrupted metallic cores of differentiated bodies. The low-density indicates that Kalliope cannot be predominantly composed of metal and may be composed of chondritic material with approximately 30% porosity. The satellite orbit is circular, suggesting that Kalliope and its satellite have different internal structures and tidal dissipation rates. The satellite may be an aggregate of impact ejecta from an earlier collision with Kalliope.

Ir and Rare Earth's Elements determination by Neutron Activation Analysis and ICP - MS in soil samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salvini, A.; Cattadori, C.; Broggini, C.; Cagnazzo, M.; Ori, Gian Gabriele; Nisi, S.; Borio, A.; Manera, S.

2006-05-01

The platinum metals depleted in the earth's crust are relative to their cosmic abundance; concentration of these elements in sediments may thus indicate influxes of extraterrestrial material. Analysis of these parameters are done easily by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and comparative results with ICP-MS technique show a good match. Results, adjust parameters and limits of this method will be displayed in tables.

Effect of aeration rate, moisture content and composting period on availability of copper and lead during pig manure composting.

PubMed

Shen, Yujun; Zhao, Lixin; Meng, Haibo; Hou, Yueqing; Zhou, Haibin; Wang, Fei; Cheng, Hongsheng; Liu, Hongbin

2016-06-01

Pollution by heavy metals, such as copper and lead, has become a limiting factor for the land application of faecal manures, such as pig manure. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of composting process parameters, including aeration rate, moisture content and composting period, on the distribution of heavy metal species during composting, and to select an optimal parameter for copper and lead inactivation. Results showed that the distribution ratios of exchangeable fractions of copper and lead had a bigger decrease under conditions of aeration rate, 0.1 m(3) min(-1) m(-3), an initial moisture content of 65% and composting period of 50 days. Suboptimal composting process conditions could lead to increased availability of heavy metals. Statistical analysis indicated that the aeration rate was the main factor affecting copper and lead inactivation, while the effects of moisture content and composting period were not significant. The rates of reduction of copper-exchangeable fractions and lead-exchangeable fractions were positively correlated with increased pH. The optimal parameters for reducing heavy metal bioavailability during pig manure composting were aeration rate, 0.1 m(3) min(-1) m(-3), initial moisture content, 65%, and composting period, 20 days. © The Author(s) 2016.

A local leaky-box model for the local stellar surface density-gas surface density-gas phase metallicity relation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Guangtun Ben; Barrera-Ballesteros, Jorge K.; Heckman, Timothy M.; Zakamska, Nadia L.; Sánchez, Sebastian F.; Yan, Renbin; Brinkmann, Jonathan

2017-07-01

We revisit the relation between the stellar surface density, the gas surface density and the gas-phase metallicity of typical disc galaxies in the local Universe with the SDSS-IV/MaNGA survey, using the star formation rate surface density as an indicator for the gas surface density. We show that these three local parameters form a tight relationship, confirming previous works (e.g. by the PINGS and CALIFA surveys), but with a larger sample. We present a new local leaky-box model, assuming star-formation history and chemical evolution is localized except for outflowing materials. We derive closed-form solutions for the evolution of stellar surface density, gas surface density and gas-phase metallicity, and show that these parameters form a tight relation independent of initial gas density and time. We show that, with canonical values of model parameters, this predicted relation match the observed one well. In addition, we briefly describe a pathway to improving the current semi-analytic models of galaxy formation by incorporating the local leaky-box model in the cosmological context, which can potentially explain simultaneously multiple properties of Milky Way-type disc galaxies, such as the size growth and the global stellar mass-gas metallicity relation.

Novel Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Based Composite Material for the Sequestration of U(VI) and Th(IV) Metal Ions from Aqueous Environment.

PubMed

Alqadami, Ayoub Abdullah; Naushad, Mu; Alothman, Zeid Abdullah; Ghfar, Ayman A

2017-10-18

The combination of magnetic nanoparticles and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has demonstrated their prospective for pollutant sequestration. In this work, a magnetic metal-organic framework nanocomposite (Fe 3 O 4 @AMCA-MIL53(Al) was prepared and used for the removal of U(VI) and Th(IV) metal ions from aqueous environment. Fe 3 O 4 @AMCA-MIL53(Al) nanocomposite was characterized by TGA, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, HRTEM, BET, VSM (vibrating sample magnetometry), and XPS analyses. A batch technique was applied for the removal of the aforesaid metal ions using Fe 3 O 4 @AMCA-MIL53(Al) at different operating parameters. The isotherm and kinetic data were accurately described by the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models. The adsorption capacity was calculated to be 227.3 and 285.7 mg/g for U(VI) and Th(IV), respectively, by fitting the equilibrium data to the Langmuir model. The kinetic studies demonstrated that the equilibrium time was 90 min for each metal ion. Various thermodynamic parameters were evaluated which indicated the endothermic and spontaneous nature of adsorption. The collected outcomes showed that Fe 3 O 4 @AMCA-MIL53(Al) was a good material for the exclusion of these metal ions from aqueous medium. The adsorbed metals were easily recovered by desorption in 0.01 M HCl. The excellent adsorption capacity and the response to the magnetic field made this novel material an auspicious candidate for environmental remediation technologies.

Atmospheric pollution history at Linfen (China) uncovered by magnetic and chemical parameters of sediments from a water reservoir.

PubMed

Ma, Mingming; Hu, Shouyun; Cao, Liwan; Appel, Erwin; Wang, Longsheng

2015-09-01

We studied magnetic and chemical parameters of sediments from sediments of a water reservoir at Linfen (China) in order to quantitatively reconstruct the atmospheric pollution history in this region. The results show that the main magnetic phases are magnetite and maghemite originating from the surrounding catchment and from anthropogenic activities, and there is a significant positive relationship between magnetic concentration parameters and heavy metals concentrations, indicating that magnetic proxies can be used to monitor the anthropogenic pollution. In order to uncover the atmospheric pollution history, we combined the known events of environmental improvement with variations of magnetic susceptibility (χ) and heavy metals along the cores to obtain a detailed chronological framework. In addition, air comprehensive pollution index (ACPI) was reconstructed from regression equation among magnetic and chemical parameters as well as atmospheric monitoring data. Based on these results, the atmospheric pollution history was successfully reconstructed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Veyette, Mark J.; Muirhead, Philip S.; Mann, Andrew W.

We present near-infrared (NIR) synthetic spectra based on PHOENIX stellar atmosphere models of typical early and mid-M dwarfs with varied C and O abundances. We apply multiple recently published methods for determining M dwarf metallicity to our models to determine the effects of C and O abundances on metallicity indicators. We find that the pseudo-continuum level is very sensitive to C/O and that all metallicity indicators show a dependence on C and O abundances, especially in lower T {sub eff} models. In some cases, the inferred metallicity ranges over a full order of magnitude (>1 dex) when [C/Fe] and [O/Fe]more » are varied independently by ±0.2. We also find that [(O−C)/Fe], the difference in O and C abundances, is a better tracer of the pseudo-continuum level than C/O. Models of mid-M dwarfs with [C/Fe], [O/Fe], and [M/H] that are realistic in the context of galactic chemical evolution suggest that variation in [(O−C)/Fe] is the primary physical mechanism behind the M dwarf metallicity tracers investigated here. Empirically calibrated metallicity indicators are still valid for most nearby M dwarfs due to the tight correlation between [(O−C)/Fe] and [Fe/H] evident in spectroscopic surveys of solar neighborhood FGK stars. Variations in C and O abundances also affect the spectral energy distribution of M dwarfs. Allowing [O/Fe] to be a free parameter provides better agreement between the synthetic spectra and observed spectra of metal-rich M dwarfs. We suggest that flux-calibrated, low-resolution, NIR spectra can provide a path toward measuring C and O abundances in M dwarfs and breaking the degeneracy between C/O and [Fe/H] present in M dwarf metallicity indicators.« less

VizieR Online Data Catalog: LAMOST/SP_Ace DR1 catalog (Boeche+, 2018)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boeche, C.; Smith, M. C.; Grebel, E. K.; Zhong, J.; Hou, J. L.; Chen, L.; Stello, D.

2018-04-01

The catalog contains stellar parameters including effective temperature (Teff), gravity (log g), metallicity [M/H], together with chemical abundances [Fe/H] and [alpha/H], derived with the code SP_Ace. It consists of 2,052,662 spectra, mostly Milky Way stars, from which 1,097,231 have measured parameters. The confidence intervals of the stellar parameters are expressed along with their upper and lower limits. Together with these main parameters we report other auxiliary information such as object designation, RA, DE, and other diagnostics as indicated in the table description. (1 data file).

Distributions of Heavy Metals and Benzo[ a]pyrene in Oligotrophic Peat Soils and Peat Gleyzems of Northeastern Sakhalin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipatov, D. N.; Shcheglov, A. I.; Manakhov, D. V.; Karpukhin, M. M.; Zavgorodnyaya, Yu. A.; Tsvetnova, O. B.

2018-05-01

The contents and profile distributions of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, and benzo[a]pyrene in oligotrophic peat soils, oligotrophic peat gley soils (Dystric Fibric Histosols), humus-impregnated peat gleyzems (Dystric Histic Gleysols), and mucky gleyzems (Dystric Gleysols) have been analyzed with consideration for their degree of oligotrophicity and anthropogenic loads. Horizons with the accumulation (O, Tpyr, TT) and removal (Ghi,e) of heavy metals have been revealed. The increase in the content of heavy metals and benzo[ a]pyrene in the upper layer of oligotrophic peat soils under technogenic fallouts in the impact zone of flare and motor transport has been considered. Statistical parameters of the spatial variation of parameters in organic and gley horizons have been calculated. The variation coefficients of pollutant elements (Pb and Zn) in the surface horizons of soils increase to 100-125%. Positive correlations revealed between the content of some heavy metals in litter indicate their bioaccumulation and possible joint input with aerotechnogenic fallouts. No correlations are found between the contents of benzo[ a]pyrene and heavy metals, but a reliable negative correlation with the ash content is noted in the peat horizon.

[Magnetic Response of Dust-loaded Leaves in Parks of Shanghai to Atmospheric Heavy Metal Pollution].

PubMed

Liu, Fei; Chu, Hui-min; Zheng, Xiang-min

2015-12-01

To reveal the magnetic response to the atmospheric heavy metal pollution in leaves along urban parks, Camphor leaf samples, widely distributed at urban parks, were collected along the year leading wind direction of Shanghai, by setting two vertical and horizontal sections, using rock magnetic properties and heavy metal contents analysis. The results showed that the magnetic minerals of samples were predominated by ferromagnetic minerals, and both the concentration and grain size of magnetite particles gradually decreased with the winter monsoon direction from the main industrial district. A rigorous cleaning of leaves using ultrasonic agitator washer could remove about 63%-90% of low-field susceptibility values of the leaves, and this strongly indicated that the intensity of magnetic signal was mainly controlled by the PMs accumulated on the leaves surfaces. Moreover, there was a significant linear relationship between heavy metals contents (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, V and Pb) and magnetic parameters (0.442 ≤ R ≤ 0.799, P < 0.05), which suggested that magnetic parameters of urban park leaves could be used as a proxy for atmospheric heavy metal pollution. The results of multivariate statistical analysis showed that the content of magnetic minerals and heavy metal indust-loaded tree leaves was affected by associated pollution of industry and traffic.

Leachability of Heavy Metals from Lightweight Aggregates Made with Sewage Sludge and Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash

PubMed Central

Wei, Na

2015-01-01

Lightweight aggregate (LWA) production with sewage sludge and municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash is an effective approach for waste disposal. This study investigated the stability of heavy metals in LWA made from sewage sludge and MSWI fly ash. Leaching tests were conducted to find out the effects of MSWI fly ash/sewage sludge (MSWI FA/SS) ratio, sintering temperature and sintering time. It was found that with the increase of MSWI FA/SS ratio, leaching rates of all heavy metals firstly decreased and then increased, indicating the optimal ratio of MSWI fly ash/sewage sludge was 2:8. With the increase of sintering temperature and sintering time, the heavy metal solidifying efficiencies were strongly enhanced by crystallization and chemical incorporations within the aluminosilicate or silicate frameworks during the sintering process. However, taking cost-savings and lower energy consumption into account, 1100 °C and 8 min were selected as the optimal parameters for LWA sample- containing sludge production. Furthermore, heavy metal leaching concentrations under these optimal LWA production parameters were found to be in the range of China’s regulatory requirements. It is concluded that heavy metals can be properly stabilized in LWA samples containing sludge and cannot be easily released into the environment again to cause secondary pollution. PMID:25961800

Leachability of heavy metals from lightweight aggregates made with sewage sludge and municipal solid waste incineration fly ash.

PubMed

Wei, Na

2015-05-07

Lightweight aggregate (LWA) production with sewage sludge and municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash is an effective approach for waste disposal. This study investigated the stability of heavy metals in LWA made from sewage sludge and MSWI fly ash. Leaching tests were conducted to find out the effects of MSWI fly ash/sewage sludge (MSWI FA/SS) ratio, sintering temperature and sintering time. It was found that with the increase of MSWI FA/SS ratio, leaching rates of all heavy metals firstly decreased and then increased, indicating the optimal ratio of MSWI fly ash/sewage sludge was 2:8. With the increase of sintering temperature and sintering time, the heavy metal solidifying efficiencies were strongly enhanced by crystallization and chemical incorporations within the aluminosilicate or silicate frameworks during the sintering process. However, taking cost-savings and lower energy consumption into account, 1100 °C and 8 min were selected as the optimal parameters for LWA sample- containing sludge production. Furthermore, heavy metal leaching concentrations under these optimal LWA production parameters were found to be in the range of China's regulatory requirements. It is concluded that heavy metals can be properly stabilized in LWA samples containing sludge and cannot be easily released into the environment again to cause secondary pollution.

Detection of metal stress in boreal forest species using the 0.67-micron chlorophyll absorption band

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singhroy, Vernon H.; Kruse, Fred A.

1991-01-01

Several recent studies have shown that a shift of the red-edge inflection near 0.70 micron in vegetation reflectance spectra is an indicator of metal stress, partially attributable to changes in chlorophyll concentration. This 'red-edge shift', however, is difficult to detect and has been reported both toward longer (red) and shorter (blue) wavelengths. Our work demonstrates that direct measurement of the depth and width of the chlorophyll absorption band at 0.67 micron using digital feature extraction and absorption band characterization procedures developed for the analysis of mineral spectra is a more consistent indicator of metal stress. Additionally, the magnitude of these parameters is generally greater than that of the red edge shift and thus should be more amenable to detection and mapping using field and aircraft spectrometers.

Biosorption of molybdenum and chromium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pryfogle, P.A.; Maiers, D.T.; Wichlacz, P.L.

1989-01-01

The effects of metal solution concentration, biomass density, length of exposure time, and pH were determined for biosorption of molybdenum (Mo) and chromium (Cr) by three organisms. Results indicate that it is possible to sorb Mo and Cr from dilute solutions. Differences were observed in the abilities of an organism to sorb Mo and Cr as well as among respective abilities of the three microorganisms. This suggests an inherent selectivity of the organism which may afford the selectivity of the organism which may afford the means to control a sorption-based process. Results also indicate that the metal sorption abilities ofmore » these microorganisms depend on duration of exposure, biomass density, solution pH, and the metal concentration of the solution. Each of these parameters suggests an additional means of controlling the sorption process. 20 refs., 6 figs., 3 tabs.« less

Theoretical investigations of the optical spectra and g-shift in CsVX 3 ( X=Cl, Br, I)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Y.; He, W. S.; Zu, X. T.; Zhao, M. G.

2007-04-01

The paper presents a molecular orbital calculation of the optical spectra and g shift in CsVX 3 ( X=Cl, Br, I), in which the contribution due to the electrostatic parameter A0, the Trees correction, the spin-orbit coupling of the central transition metal ion and the ligand are included. In the present calculations, instead of the 10 parameters in the previous works, there are three fitting parameters because the appropriate double- ζ function of V is used. The calculated optical spectra and g shift agree well with the available experimental data. This indicates again that the double- ζ wave functions are the appropriate approximation in the calculation of the electronic structure properties. The results show that the contribution due to the 3s of the ligand and the conjunct action between the center metal ion and the ligand cannot been neglected.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing of Implantable Neurostimulators Exposed to Metal Detectors

PubMed Central

Seidman, Seth J; Kainz, Wolfgang; Casamento, Jon; Witters, Donald

2010-01-01

This paper presents results of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing of three implantable neurostimulators exposed to the magnetic fields emitted from several walk-through and hand-held metal detectors. The motivation behind this testing comes from numerous adverse event reports involving active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) and security systems that have been received by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). EMC testing was performed using three neurostimulators exposed to the emissions from 12 walk-through metal detectors (WTMDs) and 32 hand-held metal detectors (HHMDs). Emission measurements were performed on all HHMDs and WTMDs and summary data is presented. Results from the EMC testing indicate possible electromagnetic interference (EMI) between one of the neurostimulators and one WTMD and indicate that EMI between the three neurostimulators and HHMDs is unlikely. The results suggest that worst case situations for EMC testing are hard to predict and testing all major medical device modes and setting parameters are necessary to understand and characterize the EMC of AIMDs. PMID:20448818

Heavy metals binding properties of esterified lemon.

PubMed

Arslanoglu, Hasan; Altundogan, Hamdi Soner; Tumen, Fikret

2009-05-30

Sorption of Cd(2+), Cr(3+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+) and Zn(2+) onto a carboxyl groups-rich material prepared from lemon was investigated in batch systems. The results revealed that the sorption is highly pH dependent. Sorption kinetic data indicated that the equilibrium was achieved in the range of 30-240 min for different metal ions and sorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model for all metals studied. Relative sorption rate of various metal cations was found to be in the general order of Ni(2+)>Cd(2+)>Cu(2+)>Pb(2+)>Zn(2+)>Cr(3+). The binding characteristics of the sorbent for heavy metal ions were analyzed under various conditions and isotherm data was accurately fitted to the Langmuir equation. The metal binding capacity order calculated from Langmuir isotherm was Pb(2+)>Cu(2+)>Ni(2+)>Cd(2+)>Zn(2+)>Cr(3+). The mean free energy of metal sorption process calculated from Dubinin-Radushkevich parameter and the Polanyi potential was found to be in the range of 8-11 kJ mol(-1) for the metals studied showing that the main mechanism governing the sorption process seems to be ion exchange. The basic thermodynamic parameters of metals ion sorption process were calculated by using the Langmuir constants obtained from equilibration study. The DeltaG degrees and DeltaH degrees values for metals ion sorption on the lemon sorbent showed the process to be spontaneous and exothermic in nature. Relatively low DeltaH degrees values revealed that physical adsorption significantly contributed to the mechanism.

Study of contaminant transport at an open-tipping waste disposal site.

PubMed

Ashraf, Muhammad Aqeel; Yusoff, Ismail; Yusof, Mohamad; Alias, Yatimah

2013-07-01

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to estimate concentration of potential contaminants from landfill in the underlying groundwater, leachate, and surface water. Samples collected in the vicinity of the landfill were analyzed for physiochemical parameters, organic contaminants, and toxic heavy metals. Water quality results obtained were compared from published data and reports. The results indicate serious groundwater and surface water contamination in and around the waste disposal site. Analysis of the organic samples revealed that the site contains polychlorinated biphenyls and other organo-chlorine chemicals, principally chloro-benzenes. Although the amount of PCB concentration discovered was not extreme, their presence indicates a potentially serious environmental threat. Elevated concentrations of lead, copper, nickel, manganese, cadmium, and cobalt at the downgradient indicate that the contamination plume migrated further from the site, and the distribution of metals and metals containing wastes in the site is nonhomogeneous. These results clearly indicate that materials are poorly contained and are at risk of entering the environment. Therefore, full characterization of the dump contents and the integrity of the site are necessary to evaluate the scope of the problem and to identify suitable remediation options.

Concentration distribution and assessment of several heavy metals in sediments of west-four Pearl River Estuary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shanshan; Cao, Zhimin; Lan, Dongzhao; Zheng, Zhichang; Li, Guihai

2008-09-01

Grain size parameters, trace metals (Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ba, Zr and Sr) and total organic matter (TOM) of 38 surficial sediments and a sediment core of west-four Pearl River Estuary region were analyzed. The spacial distribution and the transportation procession of the chemical element in surficial sediments were studied mainly. Multivariate statistics are used to analyses the interrelationship of metal elements, TOM and the grain size parameters. The results demonstrated that terrigenous sediment taken by the rivers are main sources of the trace metal elements and TOM, and the lithology of parent material is a dominating factor controlling the trace metal composition in the surficial sediment. In addition, the hydrodynamic condition and landform are the dominating factors controlling the large-scale distribution, while the anthropogenic input in the coastal area alters the regional distribution of heavy metal elements Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn. The enrichment factor (EF) analysis was used for the differentiation of the metal source between anthropogenic and naturally occurring, and for the assessment of the anthropogenic influence, the deeper layer content of heavy metals were calculated as the background values and Zr was chosen as the reference element for Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn. The result indicate prevalent enrichment of Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cr, and the contamination of Pb is most obvious, further more, the peculiar high EF value sites of Zn and Pb probably suggest point source input.

Bioaccessibility of metals in alloys: Evaluation of three surrogate biofluids

PubMed Central

Hillwalker, Wendy E.; Anderson, Kim A.

2014-01-01

Bioaccessibility in vitro tests measure the solubility of materials in surrogate biofluids. However, the lack of uniform methods and the effects of variable test parameters on material solubility limit interpretation. One aim of this study was to measure and compare bioaccessibility of selected economically important alloys and metals in surrogate physiologically based biofluids representing oral, inhalation and dermal exposures. A second aim was to experimentally test different biofluid formulations and residence times in vitro. A third aim was evaluation of dissolution behavior of alloys with in vitro lung and dermal biofluid surrogates. This study evaluated the bioaccessibility of sixteen elements in six alloys and 3 elemental/metal powders. We found that the alloys/metals, the chemical properties of the surrogate fluid, and residence time all had major impacts on metal solubility. The large variability of bioaccessibility indicates the relevancy of assessing alloys as toxicologically distinct relative to individual metals. PMID:24212234

Heavy metal speciation, leaching and toxicity status of a tropical rain-fed river Damodar, India.

PubMed

Pal, Divya; Maiti, Subodh Kumar

2018-03-26

Speciations of metals were assessed in a tropical rain-fed river, flowing through the highly economically important part of the India. The pattern of distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were evaluated in water and sediment along with mineralogical characterization, changes with different water quality parameters and their respective health hazard to the local population along the Damodar River basin during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The outcome of the speciation analysis using MINTEQ indicated that free metal ions, carbonate, chloride and sulfate ions were predominantly in anionic inorganic fractions, while in cationic inorganic fractions metal loads were negligible. Metals loads were higher in sediment phase than in the aqueous phase. The estimated values of I geo in river sediment during both the seasons showed that most of the metals were found in the I geo class 0-1 which represents unpolluted to moderately polluted sediment status. The result of partition coefficient indicated the strong retention capability of Cr, Pb, Co and Mn, while Cd, Zn, Cu and Ni have resilient mobility capacity. The mineralogical analysis of sediment samples indicated that in Damodar River, quartz, kaolinite and calcite minerals were dominantly present. The hazard index values of Cd, Co and Cr were > 1 in river water, which suggested potential health risk for the children. A combination of pragmatic, computational and statistical relationship between ionic species and fractions of metals represented a strong persuasion for identifying the alikeness among the different sites of the river.

Inkjet-printed disposable metal complexing indicator-displacement assay for sulphide determination in water.

PubMed

Ariza-Avidad, M; Agudo-Acemel, M; Salinas-Castillo, A; Capitán-Vallvey, L F

2015-05-04

A sulphide selective colorimetric metal complexing indicator-displacement assay has been developed using an immobilized copper(II) complex of the azo dye 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol printed by inkjetting on a nylon support. The change in colour measured from the image of the disposable membrane acquired by a digital camera using the H coordinate of the HSV colour space as the analytical parameter is able to sense sulphide in aqueous solution at pH 7.4 with a dynamic range up to 145 μM, a detection limit of 0.10 μM and a precision between 2 and 11%. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Randic and Schultz molecular topological indices and their correlation with some X-ray absorption parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khatri, Sunil; Kekre, Pravin A.; Mishra, Ashutosh

2016-10-01

The properties of a molecular system are affected by the topology of molecule. Therefore many studies have been made where the various physic-chemical properties are correlated with the topological indices. These studies have shown a very good correlation demonstrating the utility of the graph theoretical approach. It is, therefore, very natural to expect that the various physical properties obtained by the X-ray absorption spectra may also show correlation with the topological indices. Some complexes were used to establish correlation between topological indices and some X-ray absorption parameters like chemical shift. The chemical shift is on the higher energy side of the metal edge in these complexes. The result obtained in these studies shows that the topological indices of organic molecule acting as a legands can be used for estimating edge shift theoretically.

Assessment of surface water quality of inland valleys for cropping in SW Nigeria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aboyeji, O. S.; Ogunkoya, O. O.

2017-05-01

Inland valley agro-ecosystems which are a category of wetlands have potential for sustainable crop production relative to uplands. A major challenge to their utilisation in the study area is their heterogeneity in hydrology, morphology, soil types and agro-economy. The study assessed the surface water quality of three typologies of the agro-ecosystems—amphitheatre-like valley-heads (Am), valley-side (VS), and low depression (LD)—for cropping. Surface water of six sites were sampled during the wet and dry seasons. The physicochemical properties and metal concentrations of the samples were analysed. Descriptive statistics and water quality indices were used to assess the suitability of the waters of the agro-ecosystems for cropping. Results showed that the valleys have neutral to slightly alkaline waters. Values of physicochemical parameters are generally within the acceptable range for cropping. The concentration of major cations varied across the inland valley types, but exhibited similar characteristics within each valley. The dominance of the major cations is in the order of Na > Ca > K > Mg. ANOVA results indicated that there is no significant difference in the concentration of heavy metals across the valleys ( F = 2.044, p = 0.138, α = 0.05). Generally, most of the physicochemical parameters and trace metals have low concentrations and are non-toxic to plants. Values of water quality indices (sodium adsorption ratio, soluble sodium percentage, total dissolved solids and permeability index) indicated that the concentrations of minerals in waters across the valley typologies are generally within permissible limits for cropping.

Automated System Tests High-Power MOSFET's

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huston, Steven W.; Wendt, Isabel O.

1994-01-01

Computer-controlled system tests metal-oxide/semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET's) at high voltages and currents. Measures seven parameters characterizing performance of MOSFET, with view toward obtaining early indication MOSFET defective. Use of test system prior to installation of power MOSFET in high-power circuit saves time and money.

Wear mechanisms of the biotribological nanocomposite a-C : H coatings implanted by metallic nanoparticles.

PubMed

Major, L; Janusz, M; Lackner, J M; Kot, M; Dyner, M; Major, B

2017-10-01

Recently, to reduce the residual stress and increase the mechanical properties of a-C:H coatings, metallic nanoparticles have been implanted into their structure. In the present work, to improve the properties of the coating, metallic nanoparticles, including Cu, Nb, Ta, Zr, AgPt and Ag, were inserted into the a-C:H structure. The applied biological and mechanical analysis allowed the optimal biotribological parameters to be indicated for the potential application as protective coatings for metallic medical tools. Wear mechanisms operating at the small length of the designed biotribological coating, such as a-C:H implanted by Zr nanoparticles, were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM analysis confirmed very good coating adhesion to the metallic substrate. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2017 Royal Microscopical Society.

Light quanta modulated characteristics of Ni uptake by Brassica juncea seedlings: the interdependence of plant metal concentration and biomass.

PubMed

Dasgupta-Schubert, N; Whelan, T; Reyes, M A; Lloren, C; Brandt, T T; Persans, M W

2007-01-01

The relationships between the concentration of metal in the growth medium, Cs, the concentration of metal absorbed by the plant, Cp, and the total biomass achieved, M, all of which are factors relevant to the efficiency of metal uptake and tolerance by the plant, have been investigated via the physiological response of Brassica juncea seedlings to Ni stress. The factorial growth experiments treated the Ni concentration in agar medium and the diurnal light quanta as independently variable parameters. Observations included the evidence of light enhancement of Ni toxicity in the root, as well as at the whole-plant level. The shoot mass index possibly is an indicator of the amount of shoot metal sequestration in B. juncea, as are the logarithmic variation of Cp with Cs and the power-law dependence of M on Cp. The sum total of these observations indicates that, for the Ni accumulating plant B. juncea, the overall metabolic allocation to either growth or metal tolerance of the plant is important. Neither a rapid biomass increase nor a high metal absorbed concentration favored the removal of high metal mass from the medium. Rather, the plants with a moderate rate of biomass growth and a moderate absorbed metal concentration demonstrated the ability to remove the maximum mass of metal from the medium. The implication of these results as related to the extant model of phyoextraction efficiency is discussed.

Ecological Risk Assessment of a Metal-Contaminated Area in the Tropics. Tier II: Detailed Assessment.

PubMed

Niemeyer, Júlia Carina; Moreira-Santos, Matilde; Ribeiro, Rui; Rutgers, Michiel; Nogueira, Marco Antonio; da Silva, Eduardo Mendes; Sousa, José Paulo

2015-01-01

This study presents data on the detailed evaluation (tier 2) of a site-specific ecological risk assessment (ssERA) in a former smelter area contaminated with metals (Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil). Combining information from three lines of evidence (LoE), chemical (ChemLoE), ecotoxicological (EcotoxLoE) and ecological (EcoLoE), in the Triad approach, integrated risk values were calculated to rank sites and confirm the potential risk disclosed with tier 1. Risk values were calculated for the habitat and for the retention functions in each sampling point. Habitat function included the ChemLoE calculated from total metal concentrations. The EcotoxLoE was based on reproduction tests with terrestrial invertebrates (Folsomia candida, Enchytraeus crypticus, Eisenia andrei), shoot length and plant biomass (Avena sativa, Brassica rapa). For the EcoLoE, ecological parameters (microbial parameters, soil invertebrate community, litter breakdown) were used to derive risk values. Retention function included the ChemLoE, calculated from extractable metal concentrations, and the EcotoxLoE based on eluate tests with aquatic organisms (Daphnia magna reproduction and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata growth). Results related to the habitat function indicated that the metal residues are sufficient to cause risk to biota, while the low metal levels in extracts and the general lack of toxicity in aquatic tests indicated a high soil retention capacity in most sampling points. Integrated risk of tier 2 showed the same trend of tier 1, suggesting the need to proceed with remediation actions. The high risk levels were related to direct toxicity to organisms and indirect effects, such as failure in the establishment of vegetation and the consequent loss of habitat quality for microorganisms and soil fauna. This study shed some light on the selection of tools for the tier 2 of an ssERA in tropical metal-contaminated sites, focusing on ecological receptors at risk and using available chemical methods, ecological surveys and ecotoxicity tests.

Ecological Risk Assessment of a Metal-Contaminated Area in the Tropics. Tier II: Detailed Assessment

PubMed Central

Niemeyer, Júlia Carina; Moreira-Santos, Matilde; Ribeiro, Rui; Rutgers, Michiel; Nogueira, Marco Antonio; da Silva, Eduardo Mendes; Sousa, José Paulo

2015-01-01

This study presents data on the detailed evaluation (tier 2) of a site-specific ecological risk assessment (ssERA) in a former smelter area contaminated with metals (Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil). Combining information from three lines of evidence (LoE), chemical (ChemLoE), ecotoxicological (EcotoxLoE) and ecological (EcoLoE), in the Triad approach, integrated risk values were calculated to rank sites and confirm the potential risk disclosed with tier 1. Risk values were calculated for the habitat and for the retention functions in each sampling point. Habitat function included the ChemLoE calculated from total metal concentrations. The EcotoxLoE was based on reproduction tests with terrestrial invertebrates (Folsomia candida, Enchytraeus crypticus, Eisenia andrei), shoot length and plant biomass (Avena sativa, Brassica rapa). For the EcoLoE, ecological parameters (microbial parameters, soil invertebrate community, litter breakdown) were used to derive risk values. Retention function included the ChemLoE, calculated from extractable metal concentrations, and the EcotoxLoE based on eluate tests with aquatic organisms (Daphnia magna reproduction and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata growth). Results related to the habitat function indicated that the metal residues are sufficient to cause risk to biota, while the low metal levels in extracts and the general lack of toxicity in aquatic tests indicated a high soil retention capacity in most sampling points. Integrated risk of tier 2 showed the same trend of tier 1, suggesting the need to proceed with remediation actions. The high risk levels were related to direct toxicity to organisms and indirect effects, such as failure in the establishment of vegetation and the consequent loss of habitat quality for microorganisms and soil fauna. This study shed some light on the selection of tools for the tier 2 of an ssERA in tropical metal-contaminated sites, focusing on ecological receptors at risk and using available chemical methods, ecological surveys and ecotoxicity tests. PMID:26528915

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Model SDSS colors for halo stars (Allende Prieto+, 2014)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allende Prieto, C.; Fernandez-Alvar, E.; Schlesinger, K. J.; Lee, Y. S.; Morrison, H. L.; Schneider, D. P.; Beers, T. C.; Bizyaev, D.; Ebelke, G.; Malanushenko, E.; Oravetz, D.; Pan, K.; Simmons, A.; Simmerer, J.; Sobeck, J.; Robin, A. C.

2014-06-01

We analyze a sample of tens of thousands of spectra of halo turnoff stars, obtained with the optical spectrographs of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), to characterize the stellar halo population "in situ" out to a distance of a few tens of kpc from the Sun. In this paper we describe the derivation of atmospheric parameters. We also derive the overall stellar metallicity distribution based on F-type stars observed as flux calibrators for the Baryonic Oscillations Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). Our analysis is based on an automated method that determines the set of parameters of a model atmosphere that best reproduces each observed spectrum. We use an optimization algorithm and evaluate model fluxes by means of interpolation in a pre-computed grid. In our analysis, we account for the spectrograph's varying resolution as a function of fiber and wavelength. Our results for early SDSS (pre-BOSS upgrade) data compare well with those from the SEGUE Stellar Parameter Pipeline (SSPP), except for stars at logg (cgs units) lower than 2.5. An analysis of stars in the globular cluster M13 reveals a dependence of the inferred metallicity on surface gravity for stars with logg<2.5, confirming the systematics identified in the comparison with the SSPP. We find that our metallicity estimates are significantly more precise than the SSPP results. We also find excellent agreement with several independent analyses. We show that the SDSS color criteria for selecting F-type halo turnoff stars as flux calibrators efficiently excludes stars with high metallicities, but does not significantly distort the shape of the metallicity distribution at low metallicity. We obtain a halo metallicity distribution that is narrower and more asymmetric than in previous studies. The lowest gravity stars in our sample, at tens of kpc from the Sun, indicate a shift of the metallicity distribution to lower abundances, consistent with that expected from a dual halo system in the Milky Way. (1 data file).

Deep SDSS optical spectroscopy of distant halo stars. I. Atmospheric parameters and stellar metallicity distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allende Prieto, C.; Fernández-Alvar, E.; Schlesinger, K. J.; Lee, Y. S.; Morrison, H. L.; Schneider, D. P.; Beers, T. C.; Bizyaev, D.; Ebelke, G.; Malanushenko, E.; Malanushenko, V.; Oravetz, D.; Pan, K.; Simmons, A.; Simmerer, J.; Sobeck, J.; Robin, A. C.

2014-08-01

Aims: We analyze a sample of tens of thousands of spectra of halo turnoff stars, obtained with the optical spectrographs of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), to characterize the stellar halo population "in situ" out to a distance of a few tens of kpc from the Sun. In this paper we describe the derivation of atmospheric parameters. We also derive the overall stellar metallicity distribution based on F-type stars observed as flux calibrators for the Baryonic Oscillations Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). Methods: Our analysis is based on an automated method that determines the set of parameters of a model atmosphere that reproduces each observed spectrum best. We used an optimization algorithm and evaluate model fluxes by means of interpolation in a precomputed grid. In our analysis, we account for the spectrograph's varying resolution as a function of fiber and wavelength. Our results for early SDSS (pre-BOSS upgrade) data compare well with those from the SEGUE Stellar Parameter Pipeline (SSPP), except for stars with log g (cgs units) lower than 2.5. Results: An analysis of stars in the globular cluster M 13 reveals a dependence of the inferred metallicity on surface gravity for stars with log g < 2.5, confirming the systematics identified in the comparison with the SSPP. We find that our metallicity estimates are significantly more precise than the SSPP results. We also find excellent agreement with several independent analyses. We show that the SDSS color criteria for selecting F-type halo turnoff stars as flux calibrators efficiently excludes stars with high metallicities, but does not significantly distort the shape of the metallicity distribution at low metallicity. We obtain a halo metallicity distribution that is narrower and more asymmetric than in previous studies. The lowest gravity stars in our sample, at tens of kpc from the Sun, indicate a shift of the metallicity distribution to lower abundances, consistent with what is expected from a dual halo system in the Milky Way. Full Table 1 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/568/A7

The effects of copper on blood and biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dethloff, G.M.; Schlenk, D.; Khan, S.; Bailey, H.C.

1999-01-01

Metals are released into aquatic systems from many sources, often at sublethal concentrations. The effects of sublethal concentrations of metals on fish are not entirely understood. The objective of this study was to determine the hematological and biochemical effects of a range of copper concentrations (6.4, 16.0, 26.9 ??g Cu/L) on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) over a prolonged period of time. Trout were exposed to copper, and, at intervals of 3, 7, 14, and 21 days, selected parameters were evaluated. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma glucose, and plasma cortisol levels were elevated in trout exposed to 26.9 ??g Cu/L at day 3 and then returned to levels comparable to control fish. Plasma protein and lactate levels were not significantly altered in trout from any copper treatment. Hepatic copper concentration and hepatic metallothionein mRNA expression were consistently elevated in trout exposed to 26.9 ??g Cu/L. Both of these parameters stabilized by day 3, with only hepatic copper concentration showing a further increase at day 21. Hepatic copper concentration and hepatic metallothionein mRNA expression appear to be robust indicators of copper exposure. Most blood-based parameters evaluated appear to be associated with a transitory, nonspecific stress response. The return of elevated hematological and biochemical parameters to control levels after 3 days and thestabilization of hepatic metallothionein mRNA expression and copper concentration over a similar time period suggested acclimation to dissolved copper at 26.9 ??g/L. Further analysis of the data on blood-based parameters indicated that certain parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma glucose, plasma cortisol) may be useful in field monitoring.

CARBON, NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND HEAVY METAL BUDGETS: HOW LARGE IS THE EELGRASS (ZOSTERA MARINA L.) SINK IN A TEMPERATE ESTUARY?

EPA Science Inventory

Seagrasses are often heralded as sentinel or indicator species because they are long-lived and integrate biological, physical and chemical parameters (Schlacher-Hoenlinger and Schlacher, 1998; Hoven et al., 1999; Pergent-Martini and Pergent, 2000). Several studies have shown ...

Design and experimentally measure a high performance metamaterial filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Ya-wen; Xu, Jing-cheng

2018-03-01

Metamaterial filter is a kind of expecting optoelectronic device. In this paper, a metal/dielectric/metal (M/D/M) structure metamaterial filter is simulated and measured. Simulated results indicate that the perfect impedance matching condition between the metamaterial filter and the free space leads to the transmission band. Measured results show that the proposed metamaterial filter achieves high performance transmission on TM and TE polarization directions. Moreover, the high transmission rate is also can be obtained when the incident angle reaches to 45°. Further measured results show that the transmission band can be expanded through optimizing structural parameters. The central frequency of the transmission band is also can be adjusted through optimizing structural parameters. The physical mechanism behind the central frequency shifted is solved through establishing an equivalent resonant circuit model.

Estimating metallicities with isochrone fits to photometric data of open clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monteiro, H.; Oliveira, A. F.; Dias, W. S.; Caetano, T. C.

2014-10-01

The metallicity is a critical parameter that affects the correct determination of stellar cluster's fundamental characteristics and has important implications in Galactic and Stellar evolution research. Fewer than 10% of the 2174 currently catalogued open clusters have their metallicity determined in the literature. In this work we present a method for estimating the metallicity of open clusters via non-subjective isochrone fitting using the cross-entropy global optimization algorithm applied to UBV photometric data. The free parameters distance, reddening, age, and metallicity are simultaneously determined by the fitting method. The fitting procedure uses weights for the observational data based on the estimation of membership likelihood for each star, which considers the observational magnitude limit, the density profile of stars as a function of radius from the center of the cluster, and the density of stars in multi-dimensional magnitude space. We present results of [Fe/H] for well-studied open clusters based on distinct UBV data sets. The [Fe/H] values obtained in the ten cases for which spectroscopic determinations were available in the literature agree, indicating that our method provides a good alternative to estimating [Fe/H] by using an objective isochrone fitting. Our results show that the typical precision is about 0.1 dex.

Surface order in cold liquids: X-ray reflectivity studies of dielectric liquids and comparison to liquid metals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chattopadhyay, S.; Ehrlich, S.; Uysal, A.

2010-05-17

Oscillatory surface-density profiles layers have previously been reported in several metallic liquids, one dielectric liquid, and in computer simulations of dielectric liquids. We have now seen surface layers in two other dielectric liquids, pentaphenyl trimethyl trisiloxane, and pentavinyl pentamethyl cyclopentasiloxane. These layers appear below T?285 K and T?130 K, respectively; both thresholds correspond to T/Tc?0.2 where Tc is the liquid-gas critical temperature. All metallic and dielectric liquid surfaces previously studied are also consistent with the existence of this T/Tc threshold, first indicated by the simulations of Chacon et al. The layer width parameters, determined using a distorted-crystal fitting model, followmore » common trends as functions of Tc for both metallic and dielectric liquids.« less

Development of metal oxide impregnated stilbite thick film ethanol sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mahabole, M. P., E-mail: kashinath.bogle@gmail.com; Lakhane, M. A.; Choudhari, A. L.

This paper presents the study of the sensing efficiency of Titanium oxide/ Stilbite and Copper oxide /Stilbite composites towards detection of hazardous pollutants like ethanol. Stilbite based composites are prepared by physically mixing zeolite with metal oxides namely TiO{sub 2} and CuO with weight ratios of 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25. The resulting sensor materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy techniques. Composite sensors are fabricated in the form of thick film by using screen printing technique. The effect of metal oxide concentration on various ethanol sensing parameters such as operating temperature, maximum uptake capacity and response/recoverymore » time are investigated. The results indicate that metal oxide impregnated stilbite composites have great potential as low temperature ethanol sensor.« less

Development of metal oxide impregnated stilbite thick film ethanol sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahabole, M. P.; Lakhane, M. A.; Choudhari, A. L.; Khairnar, R. S.

2016-05-01

This paper presents the study of the sensing efficiency of Titanium oxide/ Stilbite and Copper oxide /Stilbite composites towards detection of hazardous pollutants like ethanol. Stilbite based composites are prepared by physically mixing zeolite with metal oxides namely TiO2 and CuO with weight ratios of 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25. The resulting sensor materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy techniques. Composite sensors are fabricated in the form of thick film by using screen printing technique. The effect of metal oxide concentration on various ethanol sensing parameters such as operating temperature, maximum uptake capacity and response/recovery time are investigated. The results indicate that metal oxide impregnated stilbite composites have great potential as low temperature ethanol sensor.

Magnetic properties of Apollo samples and implications for regolith formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearce, G. W.; Strangway, D. W.; Gose, W. A.

1974-01-01

The magnetic properties of a number of Apollo 17 samples have been measured and confirm that regoliths of mare sites (Apollo 11, 12, 15 valley, and 17 valley) differ markedly from those of highland sites (Apollo 14, 16, and 17 massif) in the ratio of content of metallic to ferrous iron and in the grain size of metallic iron. The ratio of metallic to ferrous iron is correlated with mean particle size, a parameter representing maturity, for soils of Apollo 16 and roughly correlated with the age of the sites for soils of different sites. It is suggested that the ratio of metallic to ferrous iron may be an effective indicator of relative soil maturity for any one site and of the age of the soil material for any sites.

Development of a model to select plants with optimum metal phytoextraction potential.

PubMed

Guala, Sebastián D; Vega, Flora A; Covelo, Emma F

2011-07-01

The aim of the present study is to propose a nonlinear model which provides an indicator for the maximum phytoextraction of metals to help in the decision-making process. Research into different species and strategies plays an important role in the application of phytoextraction techniques to the remediation of contaminated soil. Also, the convenience of species according to their biomass and pollutant accumulation capacities has gained important space in discussions regarding remediation strategies, whether to choose species with low accumulation capacities and high biomass or high accumulation capacities with low biomass. The effects of heavy metals in soil on plant growth are studied by means of a nonlinear interaction model which relates the dynamics of the uptake of heavy metals by plants to heavy metal deposed in soil. The model, presented theoretically, provides an indicator for the maximum phytoextraction of metals which depends on adjustable parameters of both the plant and the environmental conditions. Finally, in order to clarify its applicability, a series of experimental results found in the literature are presented to show how the model performs consistently with real data. The inhibition of plant growth due to heavy metal concentration can be predicted by a simple kinetic model. The model proposed in this study makes it possible to characterize the nonlinear behaviour of the soil-plant interaction with heavy metal pollution in order to establish maximum uptake values for heavy metals in the harvestable part of plants.

Comprehensive stellar population models and the disentanglement of age and metallicity effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worthey, Guy

1994-01-01

The construction of detailed models for intermediate and old stellar populations is described. Input parameters include metallicity (-2 less than (Fe/H) less than 0.5), single-burst age (between 1.5 and 17 Gyr), and initial mass function (IMF) exponent. Quantities output include broadband magnitudes, spectral energy distributions, surface brightness fluctuation magnitudes, and a suite of 21 absorption feature indices. The models are checked against a wide variety of available observations. Examinations of model output yield the following conclusions. (1) If the percentage change delta age/delta Z approximately equals 3/2 for two populations, they will appear almost identical in most indices. A few indices break this degeneracy by being either more abundance sensitive (Fe4668, Fe5015, Fe5709, and Fe5782) or more age sensitive (G4300, H beta, and presumably higher order Balmer lines) than usual. (2) Present uncertainties in stellar evolution are of the same magnitude as the effects of IMF and Y in the indices studied. (3) Changes in abundance ratios (like (Mg/Fe)) are predicted to be readily apparent in the spectra of old stellar populations. (4) The I-band flux of a stellar population is predicted to be nearly independent of metallicity and only modestly sensitive to age. The I band is therefore recommended for standard candle work or studies of M/L in galaxies. Other conclusions stem from this work. (1) Intercomparison of models and observations of two TiO indices seem to indicate variation of the (V/Ti) ratio among galaxies, but it is not clear how this observation ties into the standard picture of chemical enrichment. (2) Current estimates of (Fe/H) for the most metal-rich globulars that are based on integrated indices are probably slightly too high. (3) Colors of population models from different authors exhibit a substantial range. At solar metallicity and 13 Gyr, this range corresponds to an age error of roughly +/- 7 Gyr. Model colors from different authors applied in a differential sense have smaller uncertainties. (4) In the present models the dominant error for colors is probably the transformation from stellar atmospheric parameters to stellar colors. (5) Stellar B - V is difficult to model, and current spreads among different authors can reach 0.2 mag. (6) If known defects in the stellar flux library are corrected, the population model colors of this work in passbands redder than U would be accurate to roughly 0.03 mag in an absolute sense. These corrections are not made in the tables of model output.

Using the Multipole Resonance Probe to Stabilize the Electron Density During a Reactive Sputter Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oberberg, Moritz; Styrnoll, Tim; Ries, Stefan; Bienholz, Stefan; Awakowicz, Peter

2015-09-01

Reactive sputter processes are used for the deposition of hard, wear-resistant and non-corrosive ceramic layers such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3) . A well known problem is target poisoning at high reactive gas flows, which results from the reaction of the reactive gas with the metal target. Consequently, the sputter rate decreases and secondary electron emission increases. Both parameters show a non-linear hysteresis behavior as a function of the reactive gas flow and this leads to process instabilities. This work presents a new control method of Al2O3 deposition in a multiple frequency CCP (MFCCP) based on plasma parameters. Until today, process controls use parameters such as spectral line intensities of sputtered metal as an indicator for the sputter rate. A coupling between plasma and substrate is not considered. The control system in this work uses a new plasma diagnostic method: The multipole resonance probe (MRP) measures plasma parameters such as electron density by analyzing a typical resonance frequency of the system response. This concept combines target processes and plasma effects and directly controls the sputter source instead of the resulting target parameters.

Characterization, Recovery Opportunities, and Valuation of Metals in Municipal Sludges from U.S. Wastewater Treatment Plants Nationwide.

PubMed

Westerhoff, Paul; Lee, Sungyun; Yang, Yu; Gordon, Gwyneth W; Hristovski, Kiril; Halden, Rolf U; Herckes, Pierre

2015-08-18

U.S. sewage sludges were analyzed for 58 regulated and nonregulated elements by ICP-MS and electron microscopy to explore opportunities for removal and recovery. Sludge/water distribution coefficients (KD, L/kg dry weight) spanned 5 orders of magnitude, indicating significant metal accumulation in biosolids. Rare-earth elements and minor metals (Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) detected in sludges showed enrichment factors (EFs) near unity, suggesting dust or soils as likely dominant sources. In contrast, most platinum group elements (i.e., Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt) showed high EF and KD values, indicating anthropogenic sources. Numerous metallic and metal oxide colloids (<100-500 nm diameter) were detected; the morphology of abundant aggregates of primary particles measuring <100 nm provided clues to their origin. For a community of 1 million people, metals in biosolids were valued at up to US$13 million annually. A model incorporating a parameter (KD × EF × $Value) to capture the relative potential for economic value from biosolids revealed the identity of the 13 most lucrative elements (Ag, Cu, Au, P, Fe, Pd, Mn, Zn, Ir, Al, Cd, Ti, Ga, and Cr) with a combined value of US $280/ton of sludge.

Seasonal variations and relationships between environmental parameters and heavy metal concentrations in tissues of Crassostrea species and in its ambience from the tropical estuaries.

PubMed

Shenai-Tirodkar, Prachi; Gauns, Mangesh; Kumar, Girish; Ansari, Zakir

2018-05-15

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physicochemical parameters and heavy metal (Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd) concentrations from sediment, seawater, and its accumulation in tissues of oyster species (Crassostrea madrasensis and C. gryphoides) from the three sites (Chicalim Bay (CB), Nerul Creek (NC), Chapora Bay (ChB)) along the Goa coast (India). Results showed enrichment of Cu and Ni in sediment exceeding the effect range low (ERL) level. The higher concentrations of Cu and Ni in sediments and in suspended particulate matter (SPM) from all the study sites are indicative of severe contamination of estuarine and associated habitats. Moreover, particulate Ni (at all the sites), Cu (at NC and ChB), Pb (at NC), and Cd (at CB and NC) concentrations were recorded more than its total loadings in surface sediment. Concentration of Cu and Cd in oyster tissue was several folds higher than its concentration in ambience. Further, this study showed that the levels of metal in oysters and their ambient environment were higher during the monsoon season. Hence, the consumption of oysters needs to be considered carefully with respect to the health hazards posed by the elevated levels of metal contaminants in certain seasons. The present study concludes that metals associated with the particulate matter in water column are the main source of metal accumulation in oyster. It is also suggested that concentration of metal pollutants in coastal and estuarine water bodies should be monitored regularly to ensure the acceptable limits of metal concentrations.

Localized spoof surface plasmon resonances at terahertz range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Lin; Xu, Mengjian; Zang, Xiaofei; Peng, Yan; Zhu, Yiming

2016-11-01

The influence of the inner disk radius r, the filling ratio α, numbers of sectors N, and the gap g on transmission response for corrugated metallic disk (CMD) with single C-shaped resonator(CSR) has been fully studied. The results indicate that varying parameters r can efficiently excite the higher order spoof localized surface plasmon modes in corrugated metallic disk. The relationship between the bright dipole and dark multipolar resonances presents the possibility of high Q dark resonances excitation. All results may be of great interest for diverse applications.

Relations between benthic community structure and metals concentrations in aquatic macroinvertebrates: Clark Fork River, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

1995-01-01

We sampled macroinvertebrate communities at six sites on the upper Clark Fork River, Montana, to determine relations between macroinvertebrate community structure and metals in invertebrates and the best benthic community metrics to use for ranking sites based on the relative severity of the effects of metals. Concentrations (μg/g) of six metals in invertebrates were determined: Al (range = 591–4193), As (2.7–34.1), Cd (0.13–8.38), Cu (26–1382), Pb (0.54–67.1), and Zn (212–1665). Concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and total metals were significantly correlated with at least one benthic metric. Copper (r = 0.88–0.94) and total metals (r = 0.90–0.97) provided the most highly significant correlations. Based on longitudinal site comparisons of metals in invertebrates, benthic community structure, and differences between proportionally scaled ranks, five benthic metrics provided the best indicators of relative impact: taxa richness, Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera (EPT) richness, chironomid richness, percentage of the most dominant taxon, and density. The two sites with the highest accumulations of invertebrate metals also demonstrated the greatest relative degree of impact based on these parameters. The most meaningful combinations of metrics indicate that the benthic community at the most upstream site is being severely impacted by metals. Two sites demonstrated little or no negative impact, and three sites demonstrated low or moderate levels of negative impacts, which may be due to a combination of metals and other factors such as organic enrichment. We recommend that benthic community structure and metals in invertebrates collected from riffle habitats be used to determine relative impacts in metals-contaminated river systems, owing to their close relation to metal availability and transfer to higher trophic levels.

Development of ultralight, super-elastic, hierarchical metallic meta-structures with i3DP technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dongxing; Xiao, Junfeng; Moorlag, Carolyn; Guo, Qiuquan; Yang, Jun

2017-11-01

Lightweight and mechanically robust materials show promising applications in thermal insulation, energy absorption, and battery catalyst supports. This study demonstrates an effective method for creation of ultralight metallic structures based on initiator-integrated 3D printing technology (i3DP), which provides a possible platform to design the materials with the best geometric parameters and desired mechanical performance. In this study, ultralight Ni foams with 3D interconnected hollow tubes were fabricated, consisting of hierarchical features spanning three scale orders ranging from submicron to centimeter. The resultant materials can achieve an ultralight density of as low as 5.1 mg cm-3 and nearly recover after significant compression up to 50%. Due to a high compression ratio, the hierarchical structure exhibits superior properties in terms of energy absorption and mechanical efficiency. The relationship of structural parameters and mechanical response was established. The ability of achieving ultralight density <10 mg cm-3 and the stable \\bar{E}˜ {\\bar{ρ }}2 scaling through all range of relative density, indicates an advantage over the previous stochastic metal foams. Overall, this initiator-integrated 3D printing approach provides metallic structures with substantial benefits from the hierarchical design and fabrication flexibility to ultralight applications.

Local structural aspects of metal-metal transition in IrTe2 from x-ray PDF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Runze; Abeykoon, Milinda; Zhou, Haidong; Yin, Weiguo; Bozin, Emil S.

Evolution of local atomic structure across the metal-metal transition in IrTe2 is explored by pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of x-ray total scattering data over 80 K

An RR Lyrae period shift in terms of the Fourier parameter Phi sub 31

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clement, Christine M.; Jankulak, Michael; Simon, Norman R.

1992-01-01

The Fourier phase parameter Phi sub 31 has been determined for RRc stars in five globular clusters, NGC 6171, M5, M3, M53, and M15. The results indicate that the RRc stars in a given cluster show a sequence of Phi sub 31 increasing with period, and that the higher the cluster metallicity, the higher the sequence lies in a plot of Phi sub 31 with period. The Phi sub 31 values for the stars in NGC 6171 and M5 presented here are based on observations made with the University of Toronto 0.61 m telescope at Las Campanas, Chile, while those for M3, M53, and M15 are based on published data. A bootstrap procedure has been used to establish the uncertainties in the Fourier parameters. The physical significance of the relationship among Phi sub 31, period, and metallicity is not yet understood. It will need to be tested with hydrodynamic pulsation models computed with new opacities.

Quality of Tourist Beaches in Huatulco, SW of Mexico: Multiproxy Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Retama, I.; Jonathan, M. P.; Rodriguez-Espinosa, P. F.

2014-12-01

40 beach water and sediment samples were collected from the inter-tidal zones of tourist beaches of Huatulco in the State of Oaxaca, South Western part of Mexico. The samples were collected in an aim to know the concentration pattern of metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn, Fe, As, Hg) in sediments and microplastics. Physico-chemical parameters like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and total dissolved solids, salinity and redox potential. Collection of samples was done during the peak season in April 2013. Our results from water samples indicate that the physico-chemical conditions of the beach water have been altered due to human activities in large numbers. The bioavailable metal concentrations indicate that enrichment of Pb, Cd, Cr and As and it is also supported by the higher values observed from the calculation of enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index. The higher values in the sediments is either due to natural sources like chemical weathering of rocks and external sources, which points to high tourism, agricultural activities in the region. Identification of micro-plastics was done through SEM photographs, indicating the type of plastic wastes deposited into the beach regions which can indicate the density, durability and the persistence level in the sediments. Eventhough the enrichment of metals and modification of beach water quality is observed, care need to be taken to avoid further damage to the coastal ecosystem. Keywords: Tourism, Beach sediments, Beach water, Micro plastics, Trace metals, Contamination indices, Huatulco, Mexico.

Low frequency vibrational spectra and the nature of metal-oxygen bond of alkaline earth metal acetylacetonates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fakheri, Hamideh; Tayyari, Sayyed Faramarz; Heravi, Mohammad Momen; Morsali, Ali

2017-12-01

Theoretical quantum chemistry calculations were used to assign the observed vibrational band frequencies of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba acetylacetonates complexes. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out at the B3LYP level, using LanL2DZ, def2SVP, and mixed, GenECP, (def2SVP for metal ions and 6-311++G** for all other atoms) basis sets. The B3LYP level, with mixed basis sets, was utilized for calculations of vibrational frequencies, IR intensity, and Raman activity. Analysis of the vibrational spectra indicates that there are several bands which could almost be assigned mainly to the metal-oxygen vibrations. The strongest Raman band in this region could be used as a measure of the stability of the complex. The effects of central metal on the bond orders and charge distributions in alkaline earth metal acetylacetonates were studied by the Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) method for fully optimized compounds. Optimization were performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level for the lighter alkaline earth metal complexes (Be, Mg, and Ca acetylacetonates) while the B3LYP level, using LanL2DZ (extrabasis, d and f on oxygen and metal atoms), def2SVP and mixed (def2SVP on metal ions and 6-311++G** for all other atoms) basis sets for all understudy complexes. Calculations indicate that the covalence nature of metal-oxygen bonds considerably decreases from Be to Ba complexes. The nature of metal-oxygen bond was further studied by using Atoms In Molecules (AIM) analysis. The topological parameters, Wiberg bond orders, natural charges of O and metal ions, and also some vibrational band frequencies were correlated with the stability constants of understudy complexes.

Gilbert damping of high anisotropy Co/Pt multilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devolder, Thibaut; Couet, S.; Swerts, J.; Kar, G. S.

2018-04-01

Using broadband ferromagnetic resonance, we measure the damping parameter of [Co(5 Å)/Pt(3 Å)] {× 6} multilayers, whose growth was optimized to maximize the perpendicular anisotropy. Structural characterizations indicate abrupt interfaces essentially free of intermixing, despite the miscible character of Co and Pt. Gilbert damping parameters as low as 0.021 can be obtained, despite a magneto-crystalline anisotropy as large as 106 J m-3. The inhomogeneous broadening accounts for part of the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth, indicating some structural disorder leading to a equivalent 20 mT of inhomogenity of the effective field. The unexpectedly relatively low damping factor indicates that the presence of the Pt heavy metal within the multilayer may not be detrimental to the damping provided that intermixing is avoided at the Co/Pt interfaces.

Bushfires and tank rainwater quality: a cause for concern?

PubMed

Spinks, Jean; Phillips, Suzanne; Robinson, Priscilla; Van Buynder, Paul

2006-03-01

In early 2003, after a prolonged drought period, extensive bushfires occurred in the east of Victoria affecting 1.5 million hectares of land. At the time, smoke and ash from bushfires, settling on roofs, contained pollutants that could potentially contaminate rainwater collected and stored in tanks for domestic use. The major concerns include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from incomplete combustion of organic matter and arsenic from burnt copper chrome arsenate (CCA) treated wood. An increase in microbial contamination through altered nutrient levels was also hypothesised. A pilot study of 49 rainwater tank owners was undertaken in north-east Victoria. A rainwater tank sample was taken and analysed for a variety of parameters including organic compounds, microbiological indicators, metals, nutrients and physico-chemical parameters. A survey was administered concurrently. A number of results were outside the Australian Drinking Water Guideline (ADWG) values for metals and microbiological indicator organisms, but not for any tested organic compounds. PAHs and arsenic are unlikely to be elevated in rainwater tanks as a result of bushfires, but cadmium may be of concern.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: OGLE UBVI phot. in Baade's Window (Paczynski+, 1999)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paczynski, B.; Udalski, A.; Szymanski, M.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzynski, G.; Soszynski, I.; Wozniak, P.; Zebrun, K.

2000-01-01

We present UBVI photometry for 8530 stars in Baade's Window obtained during the OGLE-II microlensing survey. Among these are over one thousand red clump giants. 1391 of them have photometry with errors smaller than 0.04, 0.06, 0.12, and 0.20 mag in the I, V, B, and U-band, respectively. We constructed a map of interstellar reddening. The corrected colors of the red clump giants: (U-B)0, (B-V)0, and (V-I)0 are very well correlated, indicating that a single parameter determines the observed spread of their values, reaching almost 2mag in the (U-B)0. It seems most likely that heavy element content is the dominant parameter, but it is possible that another parameter: the age (or mass) of a star moves it along the same trajectory in the color-color diagram as the metallicity. The current ambiguity can be resolved with spectral analysis, and our catalog may be useful as a finding list of red clump giants. We point out that these K giants are more suitable for a fair determination of the distribution of metallicity than brighter M giants. We also present a compilation of UBVI data for 308 red clump giants near the Sun, for which Hipparcos parallaxes are more accurate than 10%. Spectral analysis of their metallicity may provide information about the local metallicity distribution as well as the extent to which mass (age) of these stars affects their colors. (3 data files).

Evaluation of environmental magnetic pollution screening in soils of basaltic origin: results from Nashik Thermal Power Station, Maharashtra, India.

PubMed

Basavaiah, N; Blaha, U; Das, P K; Deenadayalan, K; Sadashiv, M B; Schulz, H

2011-08-01

Soils of basaltic origin cause difficulties in environmental magnetic screening for heavy metal pollution due to their natural high background values. Magnetic parameters and heavy metal content of highly magnetic topsoils from the Deccan Trap basalts are investigated to assess their potential for use in environmental magnetic pollution screening. This work extends the fast and cost-effective magnetic pollution screening techniques into soils with high natural magnetic signals. Fifty-five topsoil samples from N-S and W-E transects were collected and subdivided according to grain size using wet sieving technique. Magnetic susceptibility, soft isothermal remanent magnetization (Soft IRM), thermomagnetic analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and heavy metal analysis were performed on the samples. Magnetic analyses reveal a significant input of anthropogenic magnetic particulate matter within 6 km of the power plant and the adjacent ash pond. Results depend strongly on the stage of soil development and vary spatially. While results in the W, E, and S directions are easily interpretable, in the N direction, the contribution of the anthropogenic magnetic matter is difficult to assess due to high magnetic background values, less developed soils, and a more limited contribution from the fly ash sources. Prevailing winds towards directions with more enhanced values seem to have a certain effect on particulate matter accumulation in the topsoil. Thermomagnetic measurements show Verwey transition and Hopkinson peak, thus proving the presence of ferrimagnetic mineral phases close to the pollution source. A quantitative decrease of the anthropogenic ferrimagnetic mineral concentration with increased distance is evident in Soft IRM measurements. SEM investigations of quantitatively extracted magnetic particles confirm the fly ash distribution pattern obtained from the magnetic and heavy metal analyses. Evaluation of magnetic and chemical data in concert with the Pollution Load IndiceS (PLIS) of Pb, Zn, and Cu reveals a good relationship between magnetic susceptibility and the metal content. Integrated approaches in data acquisition of magnetic and chemical parameters enable the application of magnetic screening methods in highly magnetic soils. Combined data evaluation allows identification of sampling sites that are affected by human activity, through the deviation of the magnetic and chemical data from the general trend. It is shown that integrative analysis of magnetic parameters and a limited metal concentration dataset can enhance the quality of the output of environmental magnetic pollution screening significantly.

Sensitivity of midge larvae of Chironomus tentans Fabricius (Diptera Chironomidae) to heavy metals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khangarot, B.S.; Ray, P.K.

1989-03-01

The discharge of heavy metals into the natural waters has numerous obvious impacts on physical, chemical and biological parameters of aquatic ecosystem. Bioassay tests are important steps in establishing appropriate water quality criteria and standards for diverse use of ponds, lakes, streams and river waters. Therefore, the acute toxicities of various heavy metals to water flea Daphnia magna, and snail Lymnaea acuminata, and toad tadpoles Bufo mentanostictus have been reported from the authors' laboratory. Chironomid larvae might be particularly useful as indicators of water quality because they are widely distributed in freshwater systems and often from diverse communities within particularmore » habitat. The aim of this study was to determine the acute toxicity of ten heavy metals to the midge larvae Chironomus tentans Fabricius, which forms an important link in aquatic food chain(s).« less

Surface order in cold liquids: X-ray reflectivity studies of dielectric liquids and comparison to liquid metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chattopadhyay, Sudeshna; Uysal, Ahmet; Stripe, Benjamin; Ehrlich, Steven; Karapetrova, Evguenia A.; Dutta, Pulak

2010-05-01

Oscillatory surface-density profiles (layers) have previously been reported in several metallic liquids, one dielectric liquid, and in computer simulations of dielectric liquids. We have now seen surface layers in two other dielectric liquids, pentaphenyl trimethyl trisiloxane, and pentavinyl pentamethyl cyclopentasiloxane. These layers appear below T˜285K and T˜130K , respectively; both thresholds correspond to T/Tc˜0.2 where Tc is the liquid-gas critical temperature. All metallic and dielectric liquid surfaces previously studied are also consistent with the existence of this T/Tc threshold, first indicated by the simulations of Chacón [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 166101 (2001)]. The layer width parameters, determined using a distorted-crystal fitting model, follow common trends as functions of Tc for both metallic and dielectric liquids.

Evaluation of different isotherm models, kinetic, thermodynamic, and copper biosorption efficiency of Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.

PubMed

Kiliç, Zeynep; Atakol, Orhan; Aras, Sümer; Cansaran-Duman, Demet; Celikkol, Pelin; Emregul, Emel

2014-01-01

The biosorption characteristics of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution using Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. biomass were investigated. The biosorption efficiency of Cu(II) onto biomass was significantly influenced by the operating parameters. The maximum biosorption efficiency of L. pulmonaria was 65.3% at 10 mg/L initial metal concentration for 5 g/L lichen biomass dosage. The biosorption of Cu(II) ions onto biomass fits the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. The thermodynamic parameters indicate the feasibility and exothermic and spontaneous nature of the biosorption. The effective desorption achieved with HCl was 96%. Information on the nature of possible interactions between the functional groups of the L. pulmonaria biomass and Cu(II) ions was obtained via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the carboxyl (-COOH) and hydroxyl (-OH) groups of the biomass were mainly involved in the biosorption of Cu(II) onto L. pulmonaria biomass. The L. pulmonaria is a promising biosorbent for Cu(lI) ions because of its availability, low cost, and high metal biosorption and desorption capacities. Lobaria pulmonaria is a promising biosorbent for Cu(II) ions because of its availability, low cost, and high metal biosorption and desorption capacities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper on the biosorption Cu by L. pulmonaria.

A breakthrough biosorbent in removing heavy metals: Equilibrium, kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanism analyses in a lab-scale study.

PubMed

Abdolali, Atefeh; Ngo, Huu Hao; Guo, Wenshan; Lu, Shaoyong; Chen, Shiao-Shing; Nguyen, Nguyen Cong; Zhang, Xinbo; Wang, Jie; Wu, Yun

2016-01-15

A breakthrough biosorbent namely multi-metal binding biosorbent (MMBB) made from a combination of tea wastes, maple leaves and mandarin peels, was prepared to evaluate their biosorptive potential for removal of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from multi-metal aqueous solutions. FTIR and SEM were conducted, before and after biosorption, to explore the intensity and position of the available functional groups and changes in adsorbent surface morphology. Carboxylic, hydroxyl and amine groups were found to be the principal functional groups for the sorption of metals. MMBB exhibited best performance at pH 5.5 with maximum sorption capacities of 31.73, 41.06, 76.25 and 26.63 mg/g for Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), respectively. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order models represented the kinetic experimental data in different initial metal concentrations very well. Among two-parameter adsorption isotherm models, the Langmuir equation gave a better fit of the equilibrium data. For Cu(II) and Zn(II), the Khan isotherm describes better biosorption conditions while for Cd(II) and Pb(II), the Sips model was found to provide the best correlation of the biosorption equilibrium data. The calculated thermodynamic parameters indicated feasible, spontaneous and exothermic biosorption process. Overall, this novel MMBB can effectively be utilized as an adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Precise Control Over Morphology and Density of Metal and Transition Metal Nanostructures for Sensing and Energy Related Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, Minh

Metallic nanostructures are of great interest due to their applicability in various modern technologies, such as catalysis, sensing, and optoelectronics. In this work, we employed three solution-based methods, including colloidal suspension synthesis, modified galvanic displacement, and electrodeposition, to synthesize nanostructured metals and transition metals, including gold (Au), copper (Cu), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co). Our focus was to establish process-structure-property relationship and explore their applicability in the field of sensing and clean energy generation. More precisely we established relationships between experimental parameters, such as temperature, applied potential, electrolyte pH, reactant concentration, additive, and the number of deposition cycles, and the characteristics of the nanostructures, such as morphology, density, size, and size distribution. Our results indicated that the nanostructures were tunable by adjusting the process parameters. This provided insight into the growth mechanisms of the metallic nanostructures. Since properties of the nanostructures are tunable by controlling the structure, our results provided researchers with additional tools to obtain nanomaterials with desired properties for specific applications. The materials synthesized by our methods were utilized to as substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and as photocathodes for photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen. The results showed that the performances of our materials were either promising or compatible with those reported in the literature, thus bringing new opportunities to the development of low-cost, high-performance, and flexible nanomaterials for the current and future technologies.

Adsorption of divalent metals to metal oxide nanoparicles: Competitive and temperature effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grover, Valerie Ann

The presence of metals in natural waters is becoming a critical environmental and public health concern. Emerging nanotechnology and the use of metal oxide nanoparticles has been identified as a potential remediation technique in removing metals from water. However, practical applications are still being explored to determine how to apply their unique chemical and physical properties for full scale remediation projects. This thesis investigates the sorption properties of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) to hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in single- and binary-adsorbate systems. Competitive sorption was evaluated in 1L batch binary-metal systems with 0.05g/L nano-hematite at pH 8.0 and pH 6.0. Results indicate that the presence of a secondary metal can affect the sorption process depending upon the molar ratios, such as increased or reduced adsorption. Thermodynamic properties were also studied in order to better understand the effects of temperature on equilibrium and kinetic adsorption capabilities. Understanding the thermodynamic properties can also give insight to determine if the sorption process is a physical, chemical or ion exchange reaction. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy (DeltaH), entropy (DeltaS), and Gibbs free energy (DeltaG) were evaluated as a function of temperature, pH, and metal concentration. Results indicate that Pb(II) and Cu(II) adsorption to nano-hematite was an endothermic and physical adsorption process, while Zn(II) and Cd(II) adsorption was dependent upon the adsorbed concentration evaluated. However, metal adsorptions to nano-titanium dioxide were all found to be endothermic and physical adsorption processes; the spontaneity of metal adsorption was temperature dependent for both metal oxide nanoparticles.

Robust Design of Sheet Metal Forming Process Based on Kriging Metamodel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Yanmin

2011-08-01

Nowadays, sheet metal forming processes design is not a trivial task due to the complex issues to be taken into account (conflicting design goals, complex shapes forming and so on). Optimization methods have also been widely applied in sheet metal forming. Therefore, proper design methods to reduce time and costs have to be developed mostly based on computer aided procedures. At the same time, the existence of variations during manufacturing processes significantly may influence final product quality, rendering non-robust optimal solutions. In this paper, a small size of design of experiments is conducted to investigate how a stochastic behavior of noise factors affects drawing quality. The finite element software (LS_DYNA) is used to simulate the complex sheet metal stamping processes. The Kriging metamodel is adopted to map the relation between input process parameters and part quality. Robust design models for sheet metal forming process integrate adaptive importance sampling with Kriging model, in order to minimize impact of the variations and achieve reliable process parameters. In the adaptive sample, an improved criterion is used to provide direction in which additional training samples can be added to better the Kriging model. Nonlinear functions as test functions and a square stamping example (NUMISHEET'93) are employed to verify the proposed method. Final results indicate application feasibility of the aforesaid method proposed for multi-response robust design.

Effects of urban air pollutants on elemental accumulation and identification of oxidative stress biomarkers in the transplanted lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea.

PubMed

Oztetik, Elif; Cicek, Arzu

2011-07-01

Determining the origins of heavy metals, their accumulation, and their detoxification mechanisms constitutes a major problem in understanding environmental pollution in urban areas. The objective of this study was to detect the relative air quality in Eskisehir city center (Turkey) through the transplanted epiphytic lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea as a biomonitor of the concentrations of some heavy metals accumulated and to describe their toxic effects on lichen physiology during the study period of one year. The influence of heavy metal accumulations on macroelement levels were also examined. In addition to analysis of B, K, Ca, P, S, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu, total soluble proteins and oxidative stress parameters through glutathione (GSH) contents and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were also determined. Results indicate that, although the heavy metal concentrations were found to be gradually increased from the unpolluted control zone to the city center, the concentrations of macroelements S and Ca were higher in the polluted area. However, B, K, Mg, and P elements were found to be higher in the unpolluted area than in the polluted zones. It seems that heavy metals induce oxidative stress in lichens; we found enhancement of GSH concentrations and GST activity. Most probably, the expected destruction in this organism was reduced by the intervention of antioxidant capacity. Therefore, this report confirms the fact that the epiphytic lichen P. furfuracea is a good model for biomonitoring atmospheric quality for a long-term transplantation study, and oxidative stress parameters stand out as a tool for an early environment assessment of other physiological parameters. Copyright © 2011 SETAC.

Competitive adsorption of heavy metals in soil underlying an infiltration facility installed in an urban area.

PubMed

Hossain, M A; Furumai, H; Nakajima, F

2009-01-01

Accumulation of heavy metals at elevated concentration and potential of considerable amount of the accumulated heavy metals to reach the soil system was observed from earlier studies in soakaways sediments within an infiltration facility in Tokyo, Japan. In order to understand the competitive adsorption behaviour of heavy metals Zn, Ni and Cu in soil, competitive batch adsorption experiments were carried out using single metal and binary metal combinations on soil samples representative of underlying soil and surface soil at the site. Speciation analysis of the adsorbed metals was carried out through BCR sequential extraction method. Among the metals, Cu was not affected by competition while Zn and Ni were affected by competition of coexisting metals. The parameters of fitted 'Freundlich' and 'Langmuir' isotherms indicated more intense competition in underlying soil compared to surface soil for adsorption of Zn and Ni. The speciation of adsorbed metals revealed less selectivity of Zn and Ni to soil organic matter, while dominance of organic bound fraction was observed for Cu, especially in organic rich surface soil. Compared to underlying soil, the surface soil is expected to provide greater adsorption to heavy metals as well as provide greater stability to adsorbed metals, especially for Cu.

Spectral characterization, cyclic voltammetry, morphology, biological activities and DNA cleaving studies of amino acid Schiff base metal(II) complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neelakantan, M. A.; Rusalraj, F.; Dharmaraja, J.; Johnsonraja, S.; Jeyakumar, T.; Sankaranarayana Pillai, M.

2008-12-01

Metal complexes are synthesized with Schiff bases derived from o-phthalaldehyde (opa) and amino acids viz., glycine (gly) L-alanine (ala), L-phenylalanine (pal). Metal ions coordinate in a tetradentate or hexadentate manner with these N 2O 2 donor ligands, which are characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic moments, IR, electronic, 1H NMR and EPR spectral studies. The elemental analysis suggests the stoichiometry to be 1:1 (metal:ligand). Based on EPR studies, spin-Hamiltonian and bonding parameters have been calculated. The g-values calculated for copper complexes at 300 K and in frozen DMSO (77 K) indicate the presence of the unpaired electron in the d orbital. The evaluated metal-ligand bonding parameters showed strong in-plane σ- and π-bonding. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron micrography (SEM) analysis provide the crystalline nature and the morphology of the metal complexes. The cyclic voltammograms of the Cu(II)/Mn(II)/VO(II) complexes investigated in DMSO solution exhibit metal centered electroactivity in the potential range -1.5 to +1.5 V. The electrochemical data obtained for Cu(II) complexes explains the change of structural arrangement of the ligand around Cu(II) ions. The biological activity of the complexes has been tested on eight bacteria and three fungi. Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes show an increased activity in comparison to the controls. The metal complexes of opapal Schiff base were evaluated for their DNA cleaving activities with calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) under aerobic conditions. Cu(II) and VO(II) complexes show more pronounced activity in presence of the oxidant.

Risk Assessment of Metals in Urban Soils from a Typical Industrial City, Suzhou, Eastern China

PubMed Central

Wang, Gang; Liu, Hou-Qi; Gong, Yu; Wei, Yang; Miao, Ai-Jun; Yang, Liu-Yan; Zhong, Huan

2017-01-01

Risk of metals in urban soils is less studied, compared to that in other types of soils, hindering accurate assessment of human exposure to metals. In this study, the concentrations of five metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg) were analyzed in 167 surface soil samples collected from Suzhou city and their potential ecological and human health risks were assessed. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg except Cr, were higher than the background values in Jiangsu Province. Metal concentrations varied among districts, where sites of high contamination showed a punctate distribution. Principal components and correlation analyses revealed that As, Pb, and Cd could originate from the same sources. The geo-accumulation (Igeo) and potential ecological risk indices (RI) were calculated and the relatively low values of Igeo (<0) and RI (<150) suggested generally low ecological risk. The noncarcinogenic risks of the metals were relatively low for Suzhou residents (i.e., average hazard index or HI: 0.1199 for adults and 0.5935 for children, <1), while the total carcinogenic risks (TCR) of Cr and As were acceptable (TCR in the range of 1.0 × 10−6 to 1.0 × 10−4). Children faced a higher threat than adults. Results of Monte-Carlo simulations were lower than those obtained from models using deterministic parameters. Of all the uncertain parameters, the ingestion rate and body weight were the most sensitive for adults and children, respectively, while As was an important factor for both. The results as well as the factors controlling risks of metals could help better understand the risks of metals in urban soils of industrial cities in China. PMID:28880235

A Differential Abundance Analysis of Very Metal-poor Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Malley, Erin M.; McWilliam, Andrew; Chaboyer, Brian; Thompson, Ian

2017-04-01

We have performed a differential line-by-line chemical abundance analysis, ultimately relative to the Sun, of nine very metal-poor main-sequence (MS) halo stars, near [Fe/H] = -2 dex. Our abundances range from -2.66≤slant [{Fe}/{{H}}]≤slant -1.40 dex with conservative uncertainties of 0.07 dex. We find an average [α/Fe] = 0.34 ± 0.09 dex, typical of the Milky Way. While our spectroscopic atmosphere parameters provide good agreement with Hubble Space Telescope parallaxes, there is significant disagreement with temperature and gravity parameters indicated by observed colors and theoretical isochrones. Although a systematic underestimate of the stellar temperature by a few hundred degrees could explain this difference, it is not supported by current effective temperature studies and would create large uncertainties in the abundance determinations. Both 1D and < 3{{D}}> hydrodynamical models combined with separate 1D non-LTE effects do not yet account for the atmospheres of real metal-poor MS stars, but a fully 3D non-LTE treatment may be able to explain the ionization imbalance found in this work.

Vibration analysis of resistance spot welding joint for dissimilar plate structure (mild steel 1010 and stainless steel 304)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sani, M. S. M.; Nazri, N. A.; Alawi, D. A. J.

2017-09-01

Resistance spot welding (RSW) is a proficient joining method commonly used for sheet metal joining and become one of the oldest spot welding processes use in industry especially in the automotive. RSW involves the application of heat and pressure without neglecting time taken when joining two or more metal sheets at a localized area which is claimed as the most efficient welding process in metal fabrication. The purpose of this project is to perform model updating of RSW plate structure between mild steel 1010 and stainless steel 304. In order to do the updating, normal mode finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental modal analysis (EMA) have been carried out. Result shows that the discrepancies of natural frequency between FEA and EMA are below than 10 %. Sensitivity model updating is evaluated in order to make sure which parameters are influences in this structural dynamic modification. Young’s modulus and density both materials are indicate significant parameters to do model updating. As a conclusion, after perform model updating, total average error of dissimilar RSW plate is improved significantly.

Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Equilibrium Parameters for the Removal of Lead and Cadmium from Aqueous Solutions with Calcium Alginate Beads

PubMed Central

Alfaro-Cuevas-Villanueva, Ruth; Hidalgo-Vázquez, Aura Roxana; Cortés Penagos, Consuelo de Jesús; Cortés-Martínez, Raúl

2014-01-01

The sorption of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) by calcium alginate beads (CAB) from aqueous solutions in batch systems was investigated. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, as well as the sorption capacities of CAB in each system at different temperatures, were evaluated. The rate of sorption for both metals was rapid in the first 10 minutes and reached a maximum in 50 minutes. Sorption kinetic data were fitted to Lagergren, pseudo-second-order and Elovich models and it was found that the second-order kinetic model describes these data for the two metals; comparing kinetic parameters for Cd and Pb sorption a higher kinetic rate (K 2) for Pb was observed, indicating that the interaction between lead cations and alginate beads was faster than for cadmium. Similarly, isotherm data were fitted to different models reported in literature and it was found that the Langmuir-Freundlich (L-F) and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models describe the isotherms in all cases. CAB sorption capacity for cadmium was 27.4 mg/g and 150.4 mg/g for lead, at 25°C. Sorption capacities of Cd and Pb increase as temperature rises. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the cadmium and lead adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. It was also found that pH has an important effect on the adsorption of these metals by CAB, as more were removed at pH values between 6 and 7. PMID:24587740

A critical velocity interaction between fast barium and strontium atoms and the terrestial ionospheric plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deehr, C. S.; Wescott, E. M.; Stenbaek-Nielsen, H.; Romick, G. J.; Hallinan, T. J.; Foeppl, H.

1982-01-01

A disk of barium and strontium vapor traveling radially outward, perpendicular to the geomagnetic field lines, may be created by the detonation of a high-explosive, radially shaped charge with a liner composed of the two metals in the upper atmosphere. Because of solar radiation resonance, both the barium and the strontium may be optically tracked. Observations indicate the early formation of the metal ions thus evolved into a disk-shaped, stellate structure with a dark hole at the center of a radial structure. The results of these experiments indicate that the process could occur on a cosmic scale, and that unconfirmed aspects of the theory relating to this process could be determined through variation of the parameters in future radial rocket experiments.

On the Deduction of Galactic Abundances with Evolutionary Neural Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, M.; Diaz, A. I.

2007-12-01

A growing number of indicators are now being used with some confidence to measure the metallicity(Z) of photoionisation regions in planetary nebulae, galactic HII regions(GHIIRs), extra-galactic HII regions(EGHIIRs) and HII galaxies(HIIGs). However, a universal indicator valid also at high metallicities has yet to be found. Here, we report on a new artificial intelligence-based approach to determine metallicity indicators that shows promise for the provision of improved empirical fits. The method hinges on the application of an evolutionary neural network to observational emission line data. The network's DNA, encoded in its architecture, weights and neuron transfer functions, is evolved using a genetic algorithm. Furthermore, selection, operating on a set of 10 distinct neuron transfer functions, means that the empirical relation encoded in the network solution architecture is in functional rather than numerical form. Thus the network solutions provide an equation for the metallicity in terms of line ratios without a priori assumptions. Tapping into the mathematical power offered by this approach, we applied the network to detailed observations of both nebula and auroral emission lines from 0.33μ m-1μ m for a sample of 96 HII-type regions and we were able to obtain an empirical relation between Z and S_{23} with a dispersion of only 0.16 dex. We show how the method can be used to identify new diagnostics as well as the nonlinear relationship supposed to exist between the metallicity Z, ionisation parameter U and effective (or equivalent) temperature T*.

Interphase layer optimization for metal matrix composites with fabrication considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morel, M.; Saravanos, D. A.; Chamis, C. C.

1991-01-01

A methodology is presented to reduce the final matrix microstresses for metal matrix composites by concurrently optimizing the interphase characteristics and fabrication process. Application cases include interphase tailoring with and without fabrication considerations for two material systems, graphite/copper and silicon carbide/titanium. Results indicate that concurrent interphase/fabrication optimization produces significant reductions in the matrix residual stresses and strong coupling between interphase and fabrication tailoring. The interphase coefficient of thermal expansion and the fabrication consolidation pressure are the most important design parameters and must be concurrently optimized to further reduce the microstresses to more desirable magnitudes.

EMI Modeling for UXO Detection and Discrimination Underwater

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

detection and discrimination underwater,? submitted to the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) in response to the...phenomena from highly conducting and permeable metallic objects in underwater environments, and 3) investigate the impact of the electromagnetic parameters of...to the Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). The publication of this report does not indicate

A Three-Parameter Model for Predicting Fatigue Life of Ductile Metals Under Constant Amplitude Multiaxial Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jia; Li, Jing; Zhang, Zhong-ping

2013-04-01

In this article, a fatigue damage parameter is proposed to assess the multiaxial fatigue lives of ductile metals based on the critical plane concept: Fatigue crack initiation is controlled by the maximum shear strain, and the other important effect in the fatigue damage process is the normal strain and stress. This fatigue damage parameter introduces a stress-correlated factor, which describes the degree of the non-proportional cyclic hardening. Besides, a three-parameter multiaxial fatigue criterion is used to correlate the fatigue lifetime of metallic materials with the proposed damage parameter. Under the uniaxial loading, this three-parameter model reduces to the recently developed Zhang's model for predicting the uniaxial fatigue crack initiation life. The accuracy and reliability of this three-parameter model are checked against the experimental data found in literature through testing six different ductile metals under various strain paths with zero/non-zero mean stress.

A method for separation of heavy metal sources in urban groundwater using multiple lines of evidence.

PubMed

Hepburn, Emily; Northway, Anne; Bekele, Dawit; Liu, Gang-Jun; Currell, Matthew

2018-06-11

Determining sources of heavy metals in soils, sediments and groundwater is important for understanding their fate and transport and mitigating human and environmental exposures. Artificially imported fill, natural sediments and groundwater from 240 ha of reclaimed land at Fishermans Bend in Australia, were analysed for heavy metals and other parameters to determine the relative contributions from different possible sources. Fishermans Bend is Australia's largest urban re-development project, however, complicated land-use history, geology, and multiple contamination sources pose challenges to successful re-development. We developed a method for heavy metal source separation in groundwater using statistical categorisation of the data, analysis of soil leaching values and fill/sediment XRF profiling. The method identified two major sources of heavy metals in groundwater: 1. Point sources from local or up-gradient groundwater contaminated by industrial activities and/or legacy landfills; and 2. contaminated fill, where leaching of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn was observed. Across the precinct, metals were most commonly sourced from a combination of these sources; however, eight locations indicated at least one metal sourced solely from fill leaching, and 23 locations indicated at least one metal sourced solely from impacted groundwater. Concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater ranged from 0.0001 to 0.003 mg/L (Cd), 0.001-0.1 mg/L (Cr), 0.001-0.2 mg/L (Cu), 0.001-0.5 mg/L (Ni), 0.001-0.01 mg/L (Pb), and 0.005-1.2 mg/L (Zn). Our method can determine the likely contribution of different metal sources to groundwater, helping inform more detailed contamination assessments and precinct-wide management and remediation strategies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical reduction of CerMet fuels for transmutation using surrogate CeO2-Mo pellets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Claux, B.; Souček, P.; Malmbeck, R.; Rodrigues, A.; Glatz, J.-P.

2017-08-01

One of the concepts chosen for the transmutation of minor actinides in Accelerator Driven Systems or fast reactors proposes the use of fuels and targets containing minor actinides oxides embedded in an inert matrix either composed of molybdenum metal (CerMet fuel) or of ceramic magnesium oxide (CerCer fuel). Since the sufficient transmutation cannot be achieved in a single step, it requires multi-recycling of the fuel including recovery of the not transmuted minor actinides. In the present work, a pyrochemical process for treatment of Mo metal inert matrix based CerMet fuels is studied, particularly the electroreduction in molten chloride salt as a head-end step required prior the main separation process. At the initial stage, different inactive pellets simulating the fuel containing CeO2 as minor actinide surrogates were examined. The main studied parameters of the process efficiency were the porosity and composition of the pellets and the process parameters as current density and passed charge. The results indicated the feasibility of the process, gave insight into its limiting parameters and defined the parameters for the future experiment on minor actinide containing material.

Assessment and Characterisation of Ireland's Green Tides (Ulva Species)

PubMed Central

Wilkes, Robert J.; Heesch, Svenja; Bermejo, Ricardo; Johnson, Mark P.; Morrison, Liam

2017-01-01

Enrichment of nutrients and metals in seawater associated with anthropogenic activities can threaten aquatic ecosystems. Consequently, nutrient and metal concentrations are parameters used to define water quality. The European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) goes further than a contaminant-based approach and utilises indices to assess the Ecological Status (ES) of transitional water bodies (e.g. estuaries and lagoons). One assessment is based upon the abundance of opportunistic Ulva species, as an indication of eutrophication. The objective of this study was to characterise Ireland’s Ulva blooms through the use of WFD assessment, metal concentrations and taxonomic identity. Furthermore, the study assessed whether the ecological assessment is related to the metal composition in the Ulva. WFD algal bloom assessment revealed that the largest surveyed blooms had an estimated biomass of 2164 metric tonnes (w/w). DNA sequences identified biomass from all locations as Ulva rigida, with the exception of New Quay, which was Ulva rotundata. Some blooms contained significant amounts of As, Cu, Cr, Pb and Sn. The results showed that all metal concentrations had a negative relationship (except Se) with the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR). However, only in the case of Mn were these differences significant (p = 0.038). Overall, the metal composition and concentrations found in Ulva were site dependent, and not clearly related to the ES. Nevertheless, sites with a moderate or poor ES had a higher variability in the metals levels than in estuaries with a high ES. PMID:28045947

Influence of Solute Content and Solidification Parameters on Grain Refinement of Aluminum Weld Metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schempp, Philipp; Cross, Carl Edward; Pittner, Andreas; Rethmeier, Michael

2013-07-01

Grain refinement provides an important possibility to enhance the mechanical properties ( e.g., strength and ductility) and the weldability (susceptibility to solidification cracking) of aluminum weld metal. In the current study, a filler metal consisting of aluminum base metal and different amounts of commercial grain refiner Al Ti5B1 was produced. The filler metal was then deposited in the base metal and fused in a GTA welding process. Additions of titanium and boron reduced the weld metal mean grain size considerably and resulted in a transition from columnar to equiaxed grain shape ( CET). In commercial pure aluminum (Alloy 1050A), the grain-refining efficiency was higher than that in the Al alloys 6082 and 5083. Different welding and solidification parameters influenced the grain size response only slightly. Furthermore, the observed grain-size reduction was analyzed by means of the undercooling parameter P and the growth restriction parameter Q, which revealed the influence of solute elements and nucleant particles on grain size.

Zn (II) Removal from River Water Samples of Sembrong, Johor State, Malaysia by Electrokinetic Remediation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaidi, E.; Husna, MNF; Shakila, A.; Azhar, ATS; Arif, AM; Norshuhaila, MS

2017-08-01

Heavy metals pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems today. The treatment of heavy metals is of special concern due to their recalcitrance and persistence in the environment. Even many physical, chemical and biological treatment processes have been proposed to remove heavy metals from river water, the use of these treatment processes are not efficient and relatively costly. This study focused on the potential application of electrokinetic (EK) remediation in Sembrong River water to remove zinc (Zn2+). The physicochemical and biological parameters and water quality index (WQI) of Sembrong River water was characterized. The electrokinetic remediation experiments were performed by controlling pH, and electric density on voltage were observed and investigated. The results indicated that all physicochemical and biological parameters of Sembrong River complied with the standard discharged limit set by the Department of Environment (DOE). However, suspended solids (SS) and pH can be categorized as Class III according to INWQS. The best performance of 88% efficiency of zinc can be achieved EK experiment run at a fixed voltage of 30 V at pH 5.14 after 60 min of the process operate. This technology may be proposed for faster and eco-friendly removal of heavy metals in the environment.

Analysis of XPS spectra of Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ ions in oxide materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamashita, Toru; Hayes, Peter

2008-02-01

Samples of the iron oxides Fe 0.94O, Fe 3O 4, Fe 2O 3, and Fe 2SiO 4 were prepared by high temperature equilibration in controlled gas atmospheres. The samples were fractured in vacuum and high resolution XPS spectra of the fractured surfaces were measured. The peak positions and peak shape parameters of Fe 3p for Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ were derived from the Fe 3p XPS spectra of the standard samples of 2FeO·SiO 2 and Fe 2O 3, respectively. Using these parameters, the Fe 3p peaks of Fe 3O 4 and Fe 1- yO are analysed. The results indicate that high resolution XPS techniques can be used to determine the Fe 2+/Fe 3+ ratios in metal oxides. The technique has the potential for application to other transition metal oxide systems.

Gilbert Damping Parameter in MgO-Based Magnetic Tunnel Junctions from First Principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Hui-Min; Xia, Ke

2017-03-01

We perform a first-principles study of the Gilbert damping parameter (α ) in normal-metal/MgO-cap/ferromagnet/MgO-barrier/ferromagnetic magnetic tunnel junctions. The damping is enhanced by interface spin pumping, which can be parametrized by the spin-mixing conductance (G↑↓ ). The calculated dependence of Gilbert damping on the thickness of the MgO capping layer is consistent with experiment and indicates that the decreases in α with increasing thickness of the MgO capping layer is caused by suppression of spin pumping. Smaller α can be achieved by using a clean interface and alloys. For a thick MgO capping layer, the imaginary part of the spin-mixing conductance nearly equals the real part, and the large imaginary mixing conductance implies that the change in the frequency of ferromagnetic resonance can be observed experimentally. The normal-metal cap significantly affects the Gilbert damping.

Universal structural parameter to quantitatively predict metallic glass properties

DOE PAGES

Ding, Jun; Cheng, Yong-Qiang; Sheng, Howard; ...

2016-12-12

Quantitatively correlating the amorphous structure in metallic glasses (MGs) with their physical properties has been a long-sought goal. Here we introduce flexibility volume' as a universal indicator, to bridge the structural state the MG is in with its properties, on both atomic and macroscopic levels. The flexibility volume combines static atomic volume with dynamics information via atomic vibrations that probe local configurational space and interaction between neighbouring atoms. We demonstrate that flexibility volume is a physically appropriate parameter that can quantitatively predict the shear modulus, which is at the heart of many key properties of MGs. Moreover, the new parametermore » correlates strongly with atomic packing topology, and also with the activation energy for thermally activated relaxation and the propensity for stress-driven shear transformations. These correlations are expected to be robust across a very wide range of MG compositions, processing conditions and length scales.« less

Antioxidant response to metal pollution in Phragmites australis from Anzali wetland.

PubMed

Esmaeilzadeh, Marjan; Karbassi, Abdolreza; Bastami, Kazem Darvish

2017-06-15

This research was conducted to examine variations of antioxidant enzyme activity in Phragmites australis as a biomarker for metals such as As, Pb, Cu, and Cd. Samples of sediment and plants were collected from 7 stations located in Anzali wetland. Biochemical parameters including Catalase, Peroxidase and Ascorbate Peroxidase activity were analyzed in the roots, stems and leaves of P. australis. The obtained results indicated that there were significant differences among activities of antioxidant enzymes in three organs (p<0.05). Antioxidant enzyme activities in the organs for all studied stations were as the following order: stem

Refractive Index Sensor Based on a Metal-Insulator-Metal Waveguide Coupled with a Symmetric Structure.

PubMed

Yan, Shubin; Zhang, Meng; Zhao, Xuefeng; Zhang, Yanjun; Wang, Jicheng; Jin, Wen

2017-12-11

In this study, a new refractive index sensor based on a metal-insulator-metal waveguide coupled with a notched ring resonator and stub is designed. The finite element method is used to study the propagation characteristics of the sensor. According to the calculation results, the transmission spectrum exhibits a typical Fano resonance shape. The phenomenon of Fano resonance is caused by the coupling between the broadband spectrum and narrowband spectrum. In the design, the broadband spectrum signal is generated by the stub, while the narrowband spectrum signal is generated by the notched ring resonator. In addition, the structural parameters of the resonators and the structure filled with media of different refractive indices are varied to study the sensing properties. The maximum achieved sensitivity of the sensor reached 1071.4 nm/RIU. The results reveal potential applications of the coupled system in the field of sensors.

Magnetic Susceptibility Measurements for in Situ Characterization of Lunar Soil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oder, R. R.

1992-01-01

Magnetic separation is a viable method for concentration of components of lunar soils and rocks for use as feedstocks for manufacture of metals, oxygen, and for recovery of volatiles such as He-3. Work with lunar materials indicates that immature soils are the best candidates for magnetic beneficiation. The magnetic susceptibility at which selected soil components such as anorthite, ilmenite, or metallic iron are separated is not affected by soil maturity, but the recovery of the concentrated components is. Increasing soil maturity lowers recovery. Mature soils contain significant amounts of glass-encased metallic iron. Magnetic susceptibility, which is sensitive to metallic iron content, can be used to measure soil maturity. The relationship between the ratio of magnetic susceptibility and iron oxide and the conventional maturity parameter, I(sub s)/FeO, ferromagnetic resonant intensity divided by iron oxide content is given. The magnetic susceptibilities were determined using apparatus designed for magnetic separation of the lunar soils.

A novel biodegradable β-cyclodextrin-based hydrogel for the removal of heavy metal ions.

PubMed

Huang, Zhanhua; Wu, Qinglin; Liu, Shouxin; Liu, Tian; Zhang, Bin

2013-09-12

A novel biodegradable β-cyclodextrin-based gel (CAM) was prepared and applied to the removal of Cd(2+), Pb(2+) and Cu(2+) ions from aqueous solutions. CAM hydrogel has a typical three-dimensional network structure, and showed excellent capability for the removal of heavy metal ions. The effect of different experimental parameters, such as initial pH, adsorbent dosage and initial metal ion concentration, were investigated. The adsorption isotherm data fitted well to the Freundlich model. The adsorption capacity was in the order Pb(2+)>Cu(2+)>Cd(2+) under the same experimental conditions. The maximum adsorption capacities for the metal ions in terms of mg/g of dry gel were 210.6 for Pb(2+), 116.41 for Cu(2+), and 98.88 for Cd(2+). The biodegradation efficiency of the resin reached 79.4% for Gloeophyllum trabeum. The high adsorption capacity and kinetics results indicate that CAM can be used as an alternative adsorbent to remove heavy metals from aqueous solution. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Heavy metal, pH, and total solid content of maple sap and syrup produced in eastern Canada.

PubMed

Robinson, A R; MacLean, K S; MacConnell, H M

1989-01-01

Maple sap and syrups in eastern Canada were analyzed for pH, total solids, and the heavy metals Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn. The levels of heavy metals found were within the range normally contained in food and water samples except for Pb. The concentration factor found in reducing sap to syrup did not reflect the same concentration change for the measured parameters. This indicates removal or conversion of heavy metals and organic acids with the sugar sands. There was no statistical difference among provinces with respect to the heavy metal, pH, and total solids content of sap. The only significant difference in syrup occurred with Cu and this appeared to be the result of the processing procedure. As the season progressed, the Cu, Pb, pH, and total solids content of the sap decreased while Zn increased and Fe showed little change. Syrups reflected a similar change. Statistical differences occurred in sap composition among sites within each province.

Groundwater quality appraisal and its hydrochemical characterization in Ghaziabad (a region of indo-gangetic plain), Uttar Pradesh, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Uday Veer; Abhishek, Amar; Singh, Kunwar P.; Dhakate, Ratnakar; Singh, Netra Pal

2014-06-01

India's growing population enhances great pressure on groundwater resources. The Ghaziabad region is located in the northern Indo-Gangetic alluvium plain of India. Increased population and industrial activities make it imperative to appraise the quality of groundwater system to ensure long-term sustainability of resources. A total number of 250 groundwater samples were collected in two different seasons, viz., pre-monsoon and post monsoon and analyzed for major physico-chemical parameters. Broad range and great standard deviation occurs for most parameters, indicating chemical composition of groundwater affected by process, including water-rock interaction and anthropogenic effect. Iron was found as predominant heavy metal in groundwater samples followed by copper and lead. An exceptional high concentration of Chromium was found in some locations. Industrial activities as chrome plating and wood preservative are the key source to metal pollution in Ghaziabad region. On the basis of classification the area water shows normal sulfate, chloride and bi-carbonate type, respectively. Base-exchange indices classified 76 % of the groundwater sources was the sodium-bicarbonate type. The meteoric genesis indices demonstrated that 80 % of groundwater sources belong to a shallow meteoric water percolation type. Chadha's diagram suggested that the hydro-chemical faces belong to the HCO3 - dominant Ca2+-Mg2+ type along with Cl--dominant Ca2+-Mg2+-type. There was no significant change in pollution parameters in the selected seasons. Comparison of groundwater quality with Indian standards proves that majority of water samples are suitable for irrigation purposes but not for drinking.

Pressure effect on the electronic transport properties of Fe1+yTe1-xSex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arsenijević, Stevan; Gaál, Richard; Rønnow, Henrik; Viennois, Romain; Giannini, Enrico; van der Marel, Dirk; Forró, László

2012-02-01

We present a systematic study of electronic transport as function of pressure up to 25 kbar of Fe+yTe1-xSex single crystalline samples (with y=0.02, 0.05, and x=0, 0.2, and 0.3). Pressure is demonstrated to be a clean control parameter to drive the system with high Fe-excess through the metal-insulator (MIT) transition, in analogy with increasing the Se-doping or reducing the Fe-excess. The scaling of resistivity ρ(T, p) below 50 K identified a critical pressure of pc=8 kbar which separates non-metallic and metallic temperature dependences. At the pc the low-temperature sheet resistance is in the 6.5 kφ/square range. The Seebeck coefficient (S) at pc changes sign from negative to positive indicating a change in the electronic structure and in the balance between the electron and hole carriers. The S at the highest pressure exhibits low positive values similar to the metallic, superconducting cuprates. The critical MIT behavior, related to a quantum phase transition, indicates a universality of the Fe- and Cu-based high-Tc superconductors.

Effects of the essential metals copper and zinc in two freshwater detritivores species: Biochemical approach.

PubMed

Quintaneiro, C; Ranville, J; Nogueira, A J A

2015-08-01

The input of metals into freshwater ecosystems from natural and anthropogenic sources impairs water quality and can lead to biological alterations in organisms and plants, compromising the structure and the function of these ecosystems. Biochemical biomarkers may provide early detection of exposure to contaminants and indicate potential effects at higher levels of biological organisation. The effects of 48h exposures to copper and zinc on Atyaephyra desmarestii and Echinogammarus meridionalis were evaluated with a battery of biomarkers of oxidative stress and the determination of ingestion rates. The results showed different responses of biomarkers between species and each metal. Copper inhibited the enzymatic defence system of both species without signs of oxidative damage. Zinc induced the defence system in E. meriodionalis with no evidence of oxidative damage. However, in A. desmarestii exposed to zinc was observed oxidative damage. In addition, only zinc had significantly reduced the ingestion rate and just for E. meridionalis. The value of the integrated biomarkers response increased with concentration of both metals, which indicates that might be a valuable tool to interpretation of data as a whole, as different parameters have different weight according to type of exposure. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Regional probabilistic risk assessment of heavy metals in different environmental media and land uses: An urbanization-affected drinking water supply area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Chi; Cai, Yimin; Wang, Tieyu; Xiao, Rongbo; Chen, Weiping

2016-11-01

In this study, we proposed a Regional Probabilistic Risk Assessment (RPRA) to estimate the health risks of exposing residents to heavy metals in different environmental media and land uses. The mean and ranges of heavy metal concentrations were measured in water, sediments, soil profiles and surface soils under four land uses along the Shunde Waterway, a drinking water supply area in China. Hazard quotients (HQs) were estimated for various exposure routes and heavy metal species. Riverbank vegetable plots and private vegetable plots had 95th percentiles of total HQs greater than 3 and 1, respectively, indicating high risks of cultivation on the flooded riverbank. Vegetable uptake and leaching to groundwater were the two transfer routes of soil metals causing high health risks. Exposure risks during outdoor recreation, farming and swimming along the Shunde Waterway are theoretically safe. Arsenic and cadmium were identified as the priority pollutants that contribute the most risk among the heavy metals. Sensitivity analysis showed that the exposure route, variations in exposure parameters, mobility of heavy metals in soil, and metal concentrations all influenced the risk estimates.

Evaluation of MR issues for the latest standard brands of orthopedic metal implants: plates and screws.

PubMed

Zou, Yue-Fen; Chu, Bin; Wang, Chuan-Bing; Hu, Zhi-Yi

2015-03-01

The study was performed to evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) issues for the latest standard brands of plates and screws used in orthopedic surgery at a 1.5-T MR system, including the safety and metallic artifacts. The plates and screws (made of titanium alloy and stainless steel materials, according to the latest standard brands) were assessed for displacement in degrees, MRI-related heating and artifacts at a 1.5-T MR system. The displacement in degrees of the plates and screws was evaluated on an angel-measurement instrument at the entrance of the MR scanner. The MRI-related heating was assessed on a swine leg fixed with a plate by using a "worst-case" pulse sequence. A rectangular water phantom was designed to evaluate metallic artifacts of a screw on different sequences (T1/T2-weighted FSE, STIR, T2-FSE fat saturation, GRE, DWI) and then artifacts were evaluated on T2-weighted FSE sequence by modifying the scanning parameters including field of view (FOV), echo train length (ETL) and bandwidth to identify the influence of parameters on metallic artifacts. 15 volunteers with internal vertebral fixation (titanium alloy materials) were scanned with MR using axial and sagittal T2-FSE, sagittal T2-FSE fat suppression and STIR with conventional and optimized parameters, respectively. Then all images were graded by two experienced radiologists having the experience of more than 7 years under double-blind studies that is neither of them knew which was conventional parameter group and optimized parameter group. The average deflection angle of titanium alloy and stainless steel implants were 4.3° and 7.7°, respectively, (less than 45°) which indicated that the magnetically induced force was less than the weight of the object. The deflection angle of the titanium alloy implants was less than the stainless steel one (t=9.69, P<0.001). The average temperature changes of titanium alloy before and after the scan was 0.48°C and stainless steel implants was 0.74°C, respectively, with the background temperature changes of 0.24°C. The water phantom test indicated that the DWI sequence produced largest artifacts, while FSE pulse sequence produced smallest artifacts. And T2-weighted FSE fat saturation sequence produced larger artifacts than STIR sequence. The influence of the scanning parameters on metallic artifacts was verified that metallic artifacts increased with longer echo train length and bigger FOV, while decreased with larger bandwidth. The interreader agreement was good or excellent for each set of images graded with Cohen's Kappa statistic. Image grading of axial and sagittal T2-FSE with optimized parameters were significantly superior to that with conventional parameters (grade, 3.3±0.5 vs 2.7±0.6, P=0.003; 3.2±0.4 vs 1.9±0.7, P=0.001) and image of STIR sequence received a better grade than T2-FSE FS sequence (grade, 3.4±0.5 vs 1.7±0.6, P<0.001). The latest standard plates and screws used in orthopedic surgery do not pose an additional hazard or risk to patients undergoing MR imaging at 1.5-T or less. Though artifacts caused by them cannot be ignored because of their relatively large size, it is possible to be minimized by choosing appropriate pulse sequences and optimizing scanning parameters, such as FSE and STIR sequence with large bandwidth, small FOV and appropriate echo train length. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two-order parameters theory of the metal-insulator phase transition kinetics in the magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubovskii, L. B.

2018-05-01

The metal-insulator phase transition is considered within the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau approach for the phase transition described with two coupled order parameters. One of the order parameters is the mass density which variation is responsible for the origin of nonzero overlapping of the two different electron bands and the appearance of free electron carriers. This transition is assumed to be a first-order phase one. The free electron carriers are described with the vector-function representing the second-order parameter responsible for the continuous phase transition. This order parameter determines mostly the physical properties of the metal-insulator transition and leads to a singularity of the surface tension at the metal-insulator interface. The magnetic field is involved into the consideration of the system. The magnetic field leads to new singularities of the surface tension at the metal-insulator interface and results in a drastic variation of the phase transition kinetics. A strong singularity in the surface tension results from the Landau diamagnetism and determines anomalous features of the metal-insulator transition kinetics.

Drinking water quality in six small tea gardens of Sonitpur District of Assam, India, with special reference to heavy metals.

PubMed

Dutta, Joydev; Chetia, Mridul; Misra, A K

2011-10-01

Contamination of drinking water by arsenic and other heavy metals and their related toxicology is a serious concern now-a-days. Millions of individual world-wide are suffering from the arsenic and other heavy metal related diseases due to the consumption of contaminated groundwater. 60 water samples from different sources of 6 small tea gardens of Sonitpur district were collected to study the potability of water for drinking purposes. The water samples collected from sources like tube wells, ring wells and ponds were analyzed for arsenic, heavy metals like iron, manganese and mercury with sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, pH, total hardness, chloride, fluoride and sulphate. Some drain water samples of the tea garden areas were also collected to analyze the above mentioned water parameters to see the contamination level. Experiments revealed that 78% samples of total collection had arsenic content above the permissible limit (0.01 ppm) of WHO guideline value for drinking water. The highest arsenic was observed 0.09 ppm at one sample of Gobindra Dahal tea garden of Gohpur sub division of Sonitpur district. 94% samples had contamination due to manganese 39% samples had iron and 44% samples had Hg. The water quality data was subjected to some statistical treatments like NDA, cluster analysis and pearson correlation to observe the distribution pattern of the different water quality parameters. A strong pearson correlation coefficient was observed between parameters-arsenic and manganese (0.865) and arsenic and mercury (0.837) at 0.01 level, indicated the same sources of drinking water contamination.

Route towards cylindrical cloaking at visible frequencies using an optimization algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rottler, Andreas; Krüger, Benjamin; Heitmann, Detlef; Pfannkuche, Daniela; Mendach, Stefan

2012-12-01

We derive a model based on the Maxwell-Garnett effective-medium theory that describes a cylindrical cloaking shell composed of metal rods which are radially aligned in a dielectric host medium. We propose and demonstrate a minimization algorithm that calculates for given material parameters the optimal geometrical parameters of the cloaking shell such that its effective optical parameters fit the best to the required permittivity distribution for cylindrical cloaking. By means of sophisticated full-wave simulations we find that a cylindrical cloak with good performance using silver as the metal can be designed with our algorithm for wavelengths in the red part of the visible spectrum (623nm <λ<773nm). We also present a full-wave simulation of such a cloak at an exemplary wavelength of λ=729nm (ℏω=1.7eV) which indicates that our model is useful to find design rules of cloaks with good cloaking performance. Our calculations investigate a structure that is easy to fabricate using standard preparation techniques and therefore pave the way to a realization of guiding light around an object at visible frequencies, thus rendering it invisible.

Evaluation of metal enrichment and trophic status on the basis of biogeochemical analysis of shelf sediments of the southeastern Arabian Sea, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheriyan, Eldhose; Sreekanth, Athira; Mrudulrag, S. K.; Sujatha, C. H.

2015-10-01

The present study investigated the distribution of environmentally relevant metals and organic matter in the shelf sediments of the southeastern Arabian Sea using biogeochemical proxies for the assessment of environmental quality and trophic status. The distribution of metals in the study site followed the order: Fe>Mg>Pb>Ni>Mn>Co>Cu>Zn>Cd. High biological productivity associated with upwelling leads to significant accumulation of Cd higher than crustal abundance in the shelf region. The enrichment factor (EF) of metals demonstrate enrichment of Pb and Co which suggests the anthropogenic influence and not redox conditions. The sediment quality guidelines (SQG) in comparison with metal concentration revealed adverse effects, possibly occurring in marine benthic species. The spatial trend of metal enrichment along transects is appreciably controlled by the adsorption to fine grained sediments. The multivariate statistical analyses, such as correlations and principal component analysis (PCA) clearly indicated the control of texture, association of clay minerals in the degree of trace metal (Cd, Pb, Ni and Co) contamination from anthropogenic as well as natural sources. Low levels of Zn, preferably display scavenging by Fe/Mn metal oxides. Biochemical descriptors in sediments indicated meso-oligotrophic conditions prevailing in the summer monsoon. The ratios among various biogeochemical parameters such as total organic carbon/total nitrogen (TOC/TN<10), protein/carbohydrate (PRT/CHO<1) displayed that the organic matter deposited of marine origin which is relatively old with potentially low nutritional value. The close relationship between biochemical components and phytopigments suggest a major contribution of autochthonous phytodetritus derived organic matter. The study provides important information about sediment biogeochemistry and metal contamination from a potential fishery zone of Indian exclusive economic zone.

Polyrhodanine modified anodic aluminum oxide membrane for heavy metal ions removal.

PubMed

Song, Jooyoung; Oh, Hyuntaek; Kong, Hyeyoung; Jang, Jyongsik

2011-03-15

Polyrhodanine was immobilized onto the inner surface of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane via vapor deposition polymerization method. The polyrhodanine modified membrane was applied to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solution because polyrhodanine could be coordinated with specific metal ions. Several parameters such as initial metal concentration, contact time and metal species were evaluated systematically for uptake efficiencies of the fabricated membrane under continuous flow condition. Adsorption isotherms of Hg(II) ion on the AAO-polyrhodanine membrane were analyzed with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption rate of Hg(II) ion on the membrane was obeyed by a pseudo-second order equation, indicating the chemical adsorption. The maximum removal capacity of Hg(II) ion onto the fabricated membrane was measured to be 4.2 mmol/g polymer. The AAO-polyrhodanine membrane had also remarkable uptake performance toward Ag(I) and Pb(II) ions. Furthermore, the polyrhodanine modified membrane could be recycled after recovery process. These results demonstrated that the polyrhodanine modified AAO membrane provided potential applications for removing the hazardous heavy metal ions from wastewater. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Generic NICA-Donnan model parameters for metal-ion binding by humic substances.

PubMed

Milne, Christopher J; Kinniburgh, David G; van Riemsdijk, Willem H; Tipping, Edward

2003-03-01

A total of 171 datasets of literature and experimental data for metal-ion binding by fulvic and humic acids have been digitized and re-analyzed using the NICA-Donnan model. Generic parameter values have been derived that can be used for modeling in the absence of specific metalion binding measurements. These values complement the previously derived generic descriptions of proton binding. For ions where the ranges of pH, concentration, and ionic strength conditions are well covered by the available data,the generic parameters successfully describe the metalion binding behavior across a very wide range of conditions and for different humic and fulvic acids. Where published data for other metal ions are too sparse to constrain the model well, generic parameters have been estimated by interpolating trends observable in the parameter values of the well-defined data. Recommended generic NICA-Donnan model parameters are provided for 23 metal ions (Al, Am, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cm, Co, CrIII, Cu, Dy, Eu, FeII, FeIII, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Thv, UVIO2, VIIIO, and Zn) for both fulvic and humic acids. These parameters probably represent the best NICA-Donnan description of metal-ion binding that can be achieved using existing data.

Investigations of Heavy Metal Ion Sorption Using Nanocomposites of Iron-Modified Biochar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kołodyńska, D.; Bąk, J.; Kozioł, M.; Pylypchuk, L. V.

2017-06-01

Magnetic biochar nanocomposites were obtained by modification of biochar by zero-valent iron. The article provides information on the impact of contact time, initial Cd(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) ion concentrations, dose of the sorbents, solution pH and temperature on the adsorption capacity. On the basis of experiments, it was found that the optimum parameters for the sorption process are phase contact time 360 min (after this time, the equilibrium of all concentrations is reached), the dose of sorbent equal to 5 g/dm3, pH 5 and the temperature 295 K. The values of parameters calculated from the kinetic models and isotherms present the best match to the pseudo second order and Langmuir isotherm models. The calculated thermodynamic parameters ΔH 0, ΔS 0 and ΔG 0 indicate that the sorption of heavy metal ions is an exothermic and spontaneous process as well as favoured at lower temperatures, suggesting the physical character of sorption. The solution of nitric acid(V) at the concentration 0.1 mol/dm3 was the best acidic desorbing agent used for regeneration of metal-loaded magnetic sorbents. The physicochemical properties of synthesized composites were characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, XPS and TG analyses. The point characteristics of the double layer for biochar pHPZC and pHIEP were designated.

Study of Metal-NH[subscript 3] Interfaces (Metal= Cu, Ni, Ag) Using Potentiostatic Curves

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nunes, Nelson; Martins, Angela; Leitao, Ruben Elvas

2007-01-01

Experiment is conducted to determine the kinetic parameters of metal-solution interfaces. During the experiment the kinetic parameters for the interfaces Cu-NH[subscript 3], Ag-NH[subscript 3] and Ni-NH[subscript 3] is easily determined.

Electrode performance parameters for a radioisotope-powered AMTEC for space power applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Underwood, M. L.; O'Connor, D.; Williams, R. M.; Jeffries-Nakamura, B.; Ryan, M. A.; Bankston, C. P.

1992-01-01

The alkali metal thermoelastic converter (AMTEC) is a device for the direct conversion of heat to electricity. Recently a design of an AMTEC using a radioisotope heat source was described, but the optimum condenser temperature was hotter than the temperatures used in the laboratory to develop the electrode performance model. Now laboratory experiments have confirmed the dependence of two model parameters over a broader range of condenser and electrode temperatures for two candidate electrode compositions. One parameter, the electrochemical exchange current density at the reaction interface, is independent of the condenser temperature, and depends only upon the collision rate of sodium at the reaction zone. The second parameter, a morphological parameter, which measures the mass transport resistance through the electrode, is independent of condenser and electrode temperatures for molybdenum electrodes. For rhodium-tungsten electrodes, however, this parameter increases for decreasing electrode temperature, indicating an activated mass transport mechanism such as surface diffusion.

Characterization of iron, manganese, and copper synthetic hydroxyapatites by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sutter, B.; Wasowicz, T.; Howard, T.; Hossner, L. R.; Ming, D. W.

2002-01-01

The incorporation of micronutrients (e.g., Fe, Mn, Cu) into synthetic hydroxyapatite (SHA) is proposed for slow release of these nutrients to crops in NASA's Advanced Life Support (ALS) program for long-duration space missions. Separate Fe3+ (Fe-SHA), Mn2+ (Mn-SHA), and Cu2+ (Cu-SHA) containing SHA materials were synthesized by a precipitation method. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to determine the location of Fe3+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ ions in the SHA structure and to identify other Fe(3+)-, Mn(2+)-, and Cu(2+)-containing phases that formed during precipitation. The EPR parameters for Fe3+ (g=4.20 and 8.93) and for Mn2+ (g=2.01, A=9.4 mT, D=39.0 mT and E=10.5 mT) indicated that Fe3+ and Mn2+ possessed rhombic ion crystal fields within the SHA structure. The Cu2+ EPR parameters (g(z)=2.488, A(z)=5.2 mT) indicated that Cu2+ was coordinated to more than six oxygens. The rhombic environments of Fe3+ and Mn2+ along with the unique Cu2+ environment suggested that these metals substituted for the 7 or 9 coordinate Ca2+ in SHA. The EPR analyses also detected poorly crystalline metal oxyhydroxides or metal-phosphates associated with SHA. The Fe-, Mn-, and Cu-SHA materials are potential slow release sources of Fe, Mn, and Cu for ALS and terrestrial cropping systems.

Interiors of Enceladus and Rhea

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rappaport, N. J.; Iess, L.; Tortora, P.; Lunine, J. I.; Armstrong, J. W.; Asmar, S. W.; Somenzi, L.; Zingoni, F.

2006-01-01

Measurement method and data set: Gravity field parameters determined by means of range rate measurements over multiple arcs across flyby. Optical imaging not required when reliable a priori estimates of spacecraft state vector are available. Interior of Enceladus: Density of 1605 +/-14 kg/cu m, higher than pre-Cassini estimates, requires a substantial amount of rock to warmer interior to enhance likelihood of differentiation of water from rock-metal. Assume no porosity. Assuming Io s mean density for the rock-metal component, one finds its fractional mass to be 0.52+/-0.06. There is evidence that Enceladus may be differentiated: a) Areas devoid of craters must be geologically young. b) Systems of ridges, fractures, and groove indicate that the surface has been tectonically altered. c) Viscous relaxation of craters has occurred, and d) The plumes near the South pole indicate venting of subsurface volatiles.

Chemical behavior of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in a eutrophic reservoir: speciation and complexation capacity.

PubMed

Tonietto, Alessandra Emanuele; Lombardi, Ana Teresa; Choueri, Rodrigo Brasil; Vieira, Armando Augusto Henriques

2015-10-01

This research aimed at evaluating cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) speciation in water samples as well as determining water quality parameters (alkalinity, chlorophyll a, chloride, conductivity, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, inorganic carbon, nitrate, pH, total suspended solids, and water temperature) in a eutrophic reservoir. This was performed through calculation of free metal ions using the chemical equilibrium software MINEQL+ 4.61, determination of labile, dissolved, and total metal concentrations via differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, and determination of complexed metal by the difference between the total concentration of dissolved and labile metal. Additionally, ligand complexation capacities (CC), such as the strength of the association of metals-ligands (logK'ML) and ligand concentrations (C L) were calculated via Ruzic's linearization method. Water samples were taken in winter and summer, and the results showed that for total and dissolved metals, Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd concentration. In general, higher concentrations of Cu and Zn remained complexed with the dissolved fraction, while Pb was mostly complexed with particulate materials. Chemical equilibrium modeling (MINEQL+) showed that Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) dominated the labile species, while Cu and Pb were complexed with carbonates. Zinc was a unique metal for which a direct relation between dissolved species with labile and complexed forms was obtained. The CC for ligands indicated a higher C L for Cu, followed by Pb, Zn, and Cd in decreasing amounts. Nevertheless, the strength of the association of all metals and their respective ligands was similar. Factor analysis with principal component analysis as the extraction procedure confirmed seasonal effects on water quality parameters and metal speciation. Total, dissolved, and complexed Cu and total, dissolved, complexed, and labile Pb species were all higher in winter, whereas in summer, Zn was mostly present in the complexed form. A high degree of deterioration of the reservoir was confirmed by the results of this study.

Laser Direct Metal Deposition of 2024 Al Alloy: Trace Geometry Prediction via Machine Learning.

PubMed

Caiazzo, Fabrizia; Caggiano, Alessandra

2018-03-19

Laser direct metal deposition is an advanced additive manufacturing technology suitably applicable in maintenance, repair, and overhaul of high-cost products, allowing for minimal distortion of the workpiece, reduced heat affected zones, and superior surface quality. Special interest is growing for the repair and coating of 2024 aluminum alloy parts, extensively utilized for a wide range of applications in the automotive, military, and aerospace sectors due to its excellent plasticity, corrosion resistance, electric conductivity, and strength-to-weight ratio. A critical issue in the laser direct metal deposition process is related to the geometrical parameters of the cross-section of the deposited metal trace that should be controlled to meet the part specifications. In this research, a machine learning approach based on artificial neural networks is developed to find the correlation between the laser metal deposition process parameters and the output geometrical parameters of the deposited metal trace produced by laser direct metal deposition on 5-mm-thick 2024 aluminum alloy plates. The results show that the neural network-based machine learning paradigm is able to accurately estimate the appropriate process parameters required to obtain a specified geometry for the deposited metal trace.

Laser Direct Metal Deposition of 2024 Al Alloy: Trace Geometry Prediction via Machine Learning

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Laser direct metal deposition is an advanced additive manufacturing technology suitably applicable in maintenance, repair, and overhaul of high-cost products, allowing for minimal distortion of the workpiece, reduced heat affected zones, and superior surface quality. Special interest is growing for the repair and coating of 2024 aluminum alloy parts, extensively utilized for a wide range of applications in the automotive, military, and aerospace sectors due to its excellent plasticity, corrosion resistance, electric conductivity, and strength-to-weight ratio. A critical issue in the laser direct metal deposition process is related to the geometrical parameters of the cross-section of the deposited metal trace that should be controlled to meet the part specifications. In this research, a machine learning approach based on artificial neural networks is developed to find the correlation between the laser metal deposition process parameters and the output geometrical parameters of the deposited metal trace produced by laser direct metal deposition on 5-mm-thick 2024 aluminum alloy plates. The results show that the neural network-based machine learning paradigm is able to accurately estimate the appropriate process parameters required to obtain a specified geometry for the deposited metal trace. PMID:29562682

Metallurgy and mechanical properties variation with heat input,during dissimilar metal welding between stainless and carbon steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramdan, RD; Koswara, AL; Surasno; Wirawan, R.; Faturohman, F.; Widyanto, B.; Suratman, R.

2018-02-01

The present research focus on the metallurgy and mechanical aspect of dissimilar metal welding.One of the common parameters that significantly contribute to the metallurgical aspect on the metal during welding is heat input. Regarding this point, in the present research, voltage, current and the welding speed has been varied in order to observe the effect of heat input on the metallurgical and mechanical aspect of both welded metals. Welding was conducted by Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) on stainless and carbon steel with filler metal of ER 309. After welding, hardness test (micro-Vickers), tensile test, macro and micro-structure characterization and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) characterization were performed. It was observed no brittle martensite observed at HAZ of carbon steel, whereas sensitization was observed at the HAZ of stainless steel for all heat input variation at the present research. Generally, both HAZ at carbon steel and stainless steel did not affect tensile test result, however the formation of chromium carbide at the grain boundary of HAZ structure (sensitization) of stainless steel, indicate that better process and control of welding is required for dissimilar metal welding, especially to overcome this issue.

Spatial analysis and health risk assessment of heavy metals concentration in drinking water resources.

PubMed

Fallahzadeh, Reza Ali; Ghaneian, Mohammad Taghi; Miri, Mohammad; Dashti, Mohamad Mehdi

2017-11-01

The heavy metals available in drinking water can be considered as a threat to human health. Oncogenic risk of such metals is proven in several studies. Present study aimed to investigate concentration of the heavy metals including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in 39 water supply wells and 5 water reservoirs within the cities Ardakan, Meibod, Abarkouh, Bafgh, and Bahabad. The spatial distribution of the concentration was carried out by the software ArcGIS. Such simulations as non-carcinogenic hazard and lifetime cancer risk were conducted for lead and nickel using Monte Carlo technique. The sensitivity analysis was carried out to find the most important and effective parameters on risk assessment. The results indicated that concentration of all metals in 39 wells (except iron in 3 cases) reached the levels mentioned in EPA, World Health Organization, and Pollution Control Department standards. Based on the spatial distribution results at all studied regions, the highest concentrations of metals were derived, respectively, for iron and zinc. Calculated HQ values for non-carcinogenic hazard indicated a reasonable risk. Average lifetime cancer risks for the lead in Ardakan and nickel in Meibod and Bahabad were shown to be 1.09 × 10 -3 , 1.67 × 10 -1 , and 2 × 10 -1 , respectively, demonstrating high carcinogenic risk compared to similar standards and studies. The sensitivity analysis suggests high impact of concentration and BW in carcinogenic risk.

Critical points of metal vapors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khomkin, A. L., E-mail: alhomkin@mail.ru; Shumikhin, A. S.

2015-09-15

A new method is proposed for calculating the parameters of critical points and binodals for the vapor–liquid (insulator–metal) phase transition in vapors of metals with multielectron valence shells. The method is based on a model developed earlier for the vapors of alkali metals, atomic hydrogen, and exciton gas, proceeding from the assumption that the cohesion determining the basic characteristics of metals under normal conditions is also responsible for their properties in the vicinity of the critical point. It is proposed to calculate the cohesion of multielectron atoms using well-known scaling relations for the binding energy, which are constructed for mostmore » metals in the periodic table by processing the results of many numerical calculations. The adopted model allows the parameters of critical points and binodals for the vapor–liquid phase transition in metal vapors to be calculated using published data on the properties of metals under normal conditions. The parameters of critical points have been calculated for a large number of metals and show satisfactory agreement with experimental data for alkali metals and with available estimates for all other metals. Binodals of metals have been calculated for the first time.« less

Physicochemistry, morphology and leachability of selected metals from post-galvanized sewage sludge from screw factory in Łańcut, SE Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galas, Dagmara; Kalembkiewicz, Jan; Sitarz-Palczak, Elżbieta

2016-12-01

Morphology, physicochemical properties, chemical composition of post-galvanized sewage sludge from Screw Factory in Łańcut, leachability and mobility of metals has been analyzed. The analyses with the use of scanning electron microscope with an adapter to perform chemical analysis of microsites (EDS) showed that the material is characterized by a high fragmentation and a predominant number of irregularly shaped grains. The sewage sludge is alkaline with a large loss of ignition (34.6%) and small bulk density (< 1 g/cm3). The EDS analyses evidenced presence of oxygen, silicon, calcium, chromium, iron and zinc in all examined areas, and presence of manganese and copper in selected areas indicating a non-uniform distribution of metals in the sewage sludge. Within one-stage mineralization and FAAS technique a predominant share of calcium, zinc and iron in terms of dry matter was recorded in the sewage sludge. The contents of Co, Cr, Cu, K, Mn, Ni and Pb in sewage sludge are below 1%. Evaluation of mobility and leaching of metals in sewage sludge was carried out by means of two parameters: accumulation coefficient of mobile fractions and leaching level related to the mass solubility of sewage sludge. The results indicate that the short-term or long-term storage of not inactivated post-galvanized sewage sludge can result in release of metals.

Morphological, Raman, electrical and dielectric properties of rare earth doped X-type hexagonal ferrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majeed, Abdul; Khan, Muhammad Azhar; ur Raheem, Faseeh; Ahmad, Iftikhar; Akhtar, Majid Niaz; Warsi, Muhammad Farooq

2016-12-01

The influence of rare-earth metals (La, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy) on morphology, Raman, electrical and dielectric properties of Ba2NiCoRExFe28-xO46 ferrites were studied. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited the platelet like structure of these hexagonal ferrites. The surface morphology indicated the formation of ferrite grains in the nano-regime scale. The bands obtained at lower wave number may be attributed to the metal-oxygen vibration at octahedral site which confirm the development of hexagonal phase of these ferrites. The resonance peaks were observed in dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and quality factor versus frequency graphs. These dielectric parameters indicate that these ferrites nano-materials are potential candidates in the high frequency applications. The enhancement in DC electric resistivity from 2.48×108 to 1.20×109 Ω cm indicates that the prepared materials are beneficial for decreasing the eddy current losses at high frequencies and for the fabrication of multilayer chip inductor (MLCI) devices.

Sampling of Stochastic Input Parameters for Rockfall Calculations and for Structural Response Calculations Under Vibratory Ground Motion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

M. Gross

2004-09-01

The purpose of this scientific analysis is to define the sampled values of stochastic (random) input parameters for (1) rockfall calculations in the lithophysal and nonlithophysal zones under vibratory ground motions, and (2) structural response calculations for the drip shield and waste package under vibratory ground motions. This analysis supplies: (1) Sampled values of ground motion time history and synthetic fracture pattern for analysis of rockfall in emplacement drifts in nonlithophysal rock (Section 6.3 of ''Drift Degradation Analysis'', BSC 2004 [DIRS 166107]); (2) Sampled values of ground motion time history and rock mechanical properties category for analysis of rockfall inmore » emplacement drifts in lithophysal rock (Section 6.4 of ''Drift Degradation Analysis'', BSC 2004 [DIRS 166107]); (3) Sampled values of ground motion time history and metal to metal and metal to rock friction coefficient for analysis of waste package and drip shield damage to vibratory motion in ''Structural Calculations of Waste Package Exposed to Vibratory Ground Motion'' (BSC 2004 [DIRS 167083]) and in ''Structural Calculations of Drip Shield Exposed to Vibratory Ground Motion'' (BSC 2003 [DIRS 163425]). The sampled values are indices representing the number of ground motion time histories, number of fracture patterns and rock mass properties categories. These indices are translated into actual values within the respective analysis and model reports or calculations. This report identifies the uncertain parameters and documents the sampled values for these parameters. The sampled values are determined by GoldSim V6.04.007 [DIRS 151202] calculations using appropriate distribution types and parameter ranges. No software development or model development was required for these calculations. The calculation of the sampled values allows parameter uncertainty to be incorporated into the rockfall and structural response calculations that support development of the seismic scenario for the Total System Performance Assessment for the License Application (TSPA-LA). The results from this scientific analysis also address project requirements related to parameter uncertainty, as specified in the acceptance criteria in ''Yucca Mountain Review Plan, Final Report'' (NRC 2003 [DIRS 163274]). This document was prepared under the direction of ''Technical Work Plan for: Regulatory Integration Modeling of Drift Degradation, Waste Package and Drip Shield Vibratory Motion and Seismic Consequences'' (BSC 2004 [DIRS 170528]) which directed the work identified in work package ARTM05. This document was prepared under procedure AP-SIII.9Q, ''Scientific Analyses''. There are no specific known limitations to this analysis.« less

Evaluation of surface water quality indices and ecological risk assessment for heavy metals in scrap yard neighbourhood.

PubMed

Ojekunle, Olusheyi Z; Ojekunle, Olurotimi V; Adeyemi, Azeem A; Taiwo, Abayomi G; Sangowusi, Opeyemi R; Taiwo, Adewale M; Adekitan, Adetoun A

2016-01-01

Pollution of surface water with heavy metals from industrial activities especially those from scrap yard has caused a major threat to human life exposing man to series of hazard, diseases, disability and consequently death. This study focuses on water quality indices of Owode-Onirin and Lafenwa scrap yard with respect to its physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations by evaluating Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Metal Index (MI) and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). Fifteen water samples were selected randomly from two locations by purposive sampling methods. Five heavy metals which includes Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and standard analytical procedure were follow to ensure accuracy. One way analysis of variance was carried out to analyse the data. The concentrations of the heavy metals were significantly different between sampling locations. However, the mean concentrations of Cd (0.0121 mg/L) were found to be above the highest permissible value of Standard Organization of Nigeria standards for drinking water (SON 2007) and WHO (Guidelines for drinking water quality: incorporating 1st and 2nd Addlenda. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2004) for drinking water. Although Pb was present in two out of the fifteen water samples with a mean value of (0.0324 mg/L) which was also above the highest permissible value. The mean concentrations of Zn (0.2149 mg/L) and Cu (0.0341 mg/L) are found to be below the highest permissible value of the mentioned guideline while no trace of Ni was found in the water samples across the two sampling locations. The mean HPI 518.55 is far above the critical value of 100, indicates that selected water samples are critically polluted with heavy metals. MI revealed low quality water with mean value 4.83, suggests that the selected water is seriously affected with the present of heavy metal. The Hakanson PERI indicated that of the five heavy metals, the risk coefficient of Zn, Pb, Cu, and Ni had light levels of contamination while the level of Cd contamination posed the most serious potential ecological risk, with an index value between 14.1 and 234. The study concluded that order of magnitude to this five heavy metals contamination is Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni.

Associations of cadmium, zinc, and lead in soils from a lead and zinc mining area as studied by single and sequential extractions.

PubMed

Anju, M; Banerjee, D K

2011-05-01

An exploratory study of the area surrounding a historical Pb-Zn mining and smelting area in Zawar, India, detected significant contamination of the terrestrial environment by heavy metals. Soils (n=87) were analyzed for pH, EC, total organic matter (TOM), Pb, Zn, Mn, and Cd levels. The statistical analysis indicated that the frequency distribution of the analyzed parameters for these soils was not normal. The median concentrations of metals in surface soils were: Pb 420.21 μ g/g, Zn 870.25 μ g/g, Mn 696.70 μ g/g, and Cd 2.09 μ g/g. Zn concentrations were significantly correlated with Cd (r=0.867), indicating that levels of Cd are dependent on Zn. However, pH, electrical conductivity and total organic matter were not correlated significantly with Cd, Pb, Zn, and Mn. To assess the potential mobility of Cd, Pb, and Zn in soils, single (EDTA) as well as sequential extraction scheme (modified BCR) were applied to representative (n=23) soil samples. The amount of Cd, Pb, and Zn extracted by EDTA and their total concentrations showed linear positive correlation, which are statistically significant (r values for Cd, Pb, and Zn being 0.901, 0.971, and 0.795, respectively, and P values being <0.001). The correlation coefficients indicate a strong relation between EDTA-extractable metal and total metal. These results appear to justify the use of 'total' metal contents as a useful preliminary indicator of areas where the risks of metal excess or deficiency are high. The EDTA extractability was maximum for Cd followed by Pb and Zn in soils from all the locations. As indicated by single extraction, the apparent mobility and potential bioavailability of metals in soils followed the order: Cd ≥ Pb > > Zn. Soil samples were sequentially extracted (modified BCR) so that solid pools of Cd, Zn, and Pb could be partitioned into four operationally defined fractions viz. acid-soluble, reducible, oxidizable, and residual. Cadmium was present appreciably (39.41%) in the acid-soluble fraction and zinc was predominantly associated (32.42%) with residual fraction. Pb (66.86%) and Zn (30.44%) were present mainly in the reducible fraction. Assuming that the mobility and bioavailability are related to solubility of geochemical forms of metals and decrease in the order of extraction, the apparent mobility and potential metal bioavailability for these contaminated soil samples is Cd > Zn > Pb.

Heavy Metal Contents and Physical Parameters of Aegiceras corniculatum, Brassica juncea, and Litchi chinensis Honeys from Bangladesh

PubMed Central

Sarker, Nandita; Chowdhury, Muhammed Alamgir Zaman; Fakhruddin, Abu Naieum Muhammad; Fardous, Zeenath; Moniruzzaman, Mohammed; Gan, Siew Hua

2015-01-01

The present study was undertaken to determine the heavy metal levels and the physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and ash, moisture, and total sugar content) of honeys from Bangladesh. Three different floral honeys were investigated, namely, khalsi (Aegiceras corniculatum), mustard (Brassica juncea), and litchi (Litchi chinensis) honeys. The heavy metals in the honeys were determined by using a High Temperature Dry Oxidation method followed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The mean pH, EC, and ash, moisture, and total sugar contents of the investigated honeys were 3.6, 0.51 mS/cm, 0.18%, 18.83%, and 68.30%, respectively. Iron was the most abundant among all the investigated heavy metals, ranging from 13.51 to 15.44 mg/kg. The mean concentrations of Mn and Zn in the investigated honeys were 0.28 mg/kg and 2.99 mg/kg, respectively. Cd was below the detection limit, and lead was found in some honey samples, but their contents were below the recommended Maximum Acceptable Level. Cr was also found in all of the samples, but its concentration was within the limit. The physicochemical analysis of the honey samples yielded levels within the limits set by the international honey legislation, indicating that the honey samples were of good quality and had acceptable values for maturity, purity, and freshness. PMID:26618176

Heavy Metal Contents and Physical Parameters of Aegiceras corniculatum, Brassica juncea, and Litchi chinensis Honeys from Bangladesh.

PubMed

Sarker, Nandita; Chowdhury, Muhammed Alamgir Zaman; Fakhruddin, Abu Naieum Muhammad; Fardous, Zeenath; Moniruzzaman, Mohammed; Gan, Siew Hua

2015-01-01

The present study was undertaken to determine the heavy metal levels and the physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and ash, moisture, and total sugar content) of honeys from Bangladesh. Three different floral honeys were investigated, namely, khalsi (Aegiceras corniculatum), mustard (Brassica juncea), and litchi (Litchi chinensis) honeys. The heavy metals in the honeys were determined by using a High Temperature Dry Oxidation method followed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The mean pH, EC, and ash, moisture, and total sugar contents of the investigated honeys were 3.6, 0.51 mS/cm, 0.18%, 18.83%, and 68.30%, respectively. Iron was the most abundant among all the investigated heavy metals, ranging from 13.51 to 15.44 mg/kg. The mean concentrations of Mn and Zn in the investigated honeys were 0.28 mg/kg and 2.99 mg/kg, respectively. Cd was below the detection limit, and lead was found in some honey samples, but their contents were below the recommended Maximum Acceptable Level. Cr was also found in all of the samples, but its concentration was within the limit. The physicochemical analysis of the honey samples yielded levels within the limits set by the international honey legislation, indicating that the honey samples were of good quality and had acceptable values for maturity, purity, and freshness.

Contamination of Polish national parks with heavy metals.

PubMed

Staszewski, Tomasz; Łukasik, Włodzimierz; Kubiesa, Piotr

2012-07-01

The paper presents results of screening analysis of all Polish national parks (23) contamination with Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn on the basis of a three-level characteristic of heavy metal presence in Norway spruce stands: accumulation on the needle surface, concentration of heavy metals in spruce needles and concentration of bioavailable heavy metals in the soil. Based on the obtained results, the classification of forest ecosystem hazard in national parks with heavy metals was made using synthetic indicators. It was found out that Babiogórski, Magurski, Ojcowski and Gorczański National Parks, located in the southern part of the country, were the most polluted with heavy metals. It is probably due to a higher industrial activity in this part of Poland and the transboundary transport of air pollutants. A little lower level of pollution was observed in Kampinoski National Park located in the middle of the country. The concentration of heavy metals found in needles from national parks does not seem to be harmful for the health status of the trees. Statistically significant correlation between all parameters, which was found for cadmium--the most mobile of the analysed elements--shows that this metal can be proposed as a marker to reflect present effect of industrial emission on forests.

Mannosomes: a molluscan intracellular tubular membrane system related to heavy metal stress?

PubMed

Knigge, Thomas; Mann, Neelam; Parveen, Zahida; Perry, Christopher; Gernhöfer, Maike; Triebskorn, Rita; Köhler, Heinz R; Connock, Martin

2002-03-01

Amongst animals, several hydrogen peroxide-generating oxidases are apparently restricted to molluscs. One of these, D-mannitol oxidase, is concentrated in the alimentary system, where it is associated with its own subcellular membrane system of unique tubular morphology, most likely representing a structural modification of the ER. These structures can be purified by subcellular fractionation and have been termed 'mannosomes'. Little is known about the functions of mannitol oxidase or of mannosomes, but the previously reported molluscicide-induced increase in mannosomes implies their involvement in a general stress reaction. In this study, we examined the effects of heavy metal stress in the terrestrial gastropod Arion lusitanicus. The activity of mannitol oxidase and mannosome abundance were monitored, together with metal effects on heat-shock protein level, and these parameters were compared to heavy metal accumulation in the digestive gland. We found that mannitol oxidase is inhibited by heavy metals more than other oxidases. On the other hand, hsp70 levels and mannosomal protein were increased with enhanced heavy metal stress, the latter indicating a probable increase in the number of mannosome organelles. Thus, stress protein (hsp70) and mannosomal protein were positively correlated with heavy metal accumulation, whereas the enzyme activity showed a negative correlation with increasing heavy metal content of the slugs.

Relation between different metal pollution criteria in sediments and its contribution on assessing toxicity.

PubMed

Alves, Cristina M; Ferreira, Carlos M H; Soares, Helena M V M

2018-05-14

Several tools have been developed and applied to evaluate the metal pollution status of sediments and predict their potential ecological risk assessment. To date, a comprehensive relationship between the information given by these sediment tools for predicting metal bioavailability and the effective toxicity observed is lacking. In this work, the possible inter-correlations between the data outcoming from using several qualitative evaluation tools of the sediment contamination (contamination factor, CF, the enrichment factor, EF, or the geoaccumulation index, Igeo), metal speciation on sediments (evaluated by the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure) and free metal concentrations in pore waters were studied. It was also our aim to evaluate if these assessment tools could be used for predicting the pore waters toxicity data as toxicity proxy. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis revealed that two quality indices used (CF and EF) were highly correlatable with the more labile fractions from BCR sediment speciation. However, neither of these parameters did correlate with the toxicity of pore waters measured by the chronic toxicity (72 h) in Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. In contrast, the toxic effects of the given total metal load in sediments were better evaluated by using an additive metal approach using pore water free metal concentrations. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prediction of contact mechanics in metal-on-metal Total Hip Replacement for parametrically comprehensive designs and loads.

PubMed

Donaldson, Finn E; Nyman, Edward; Coburn, James C

2015-07-16

Manufacturers and investigators of Total Hip Replacement (THR) bearings require tools to predict the contact mechanics resulting from diverse design and loading parameters. This study provides contact mechanics solutions for metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings that encompass the current design space and could aid pre-clinical design optimization and evaluation. Stochastic finite element (FE) simulation was used to calculate the head-on-cup contact mechanics for five thousand combinations of design and loading parameters. FE results were used to train a Random Forest (RF) surrogate model to rapidly predict the contact patch dimensions, contact area, pressures and plastic deformations for arbitrary designs and loading. In addition to widely observed polar and edge contact, FE results included ring-polar, asymmetric-polar, and transitional categories which have previously received limited attention. Combinations of design and load parameters associated with each contact category were identified. Polar contact pressures were predicted in the range of 0-200 MPa with no permanent deformation. Edge loading (with subluxation) was associated with pressures greater than 500 MPa and induced permanent deformation in 83% of cases. Transitional-edge contact (with little subluxation) was associated with intermediate pressures and permanent deformation in most cases, indicating that, even with ideal anatomical alignment, bearings may face extreme wear challenges. Surrogate models were able to accurately predict contact mechanics 18,000 times faster than FE analyses. The developed surrogate models enable rapid prediction of MoM bearing contact mechanics across the most comprehensive range of loading and designs to date, and may be useful to those performing bearing design optimization or evaluation. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. UBVI Photometry of Stars in Baade's Window

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paczynski, B.; Udalski, A.; Szymanski, M.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzynski, G.; Soszynski, I.; Wozniak, P.; Zebrun, K.

1999-09-01

We present UBVI photometry for 8530 stars in Baade's Window obtained during the OGLE-II microlensing survey. Among these are over one thousand red clump giants. 1391 of them have photometry with errors smaller than 0.04, 0.06, 0.12, and 0.20 mag in the I, V, B, and U-band, respectively. We constructed a map of interstellar reddening. The corrected colors of the red clump giants: (U-B)_0, (B-V)_0, and (V-I)_0 are very well correlated, indicating that a single parameter determines the observed spread of their values, reaching almost 2 mag in the (U-B)_0. It seems most likely that heavy element content is the dominant parameter, but it is possible that another parameter: the age (or mass) of a star moves it along the same trajectory in the color-color diagram as the metallicity. The current ambiguity can be resolved with spectral analysis, and our catalog may be useful as a finding list of red clump giants. We point out that these K giants are more suitable for a fair determination of the distribution of metallicity than brighter M giants. We also present a compilation of UBVI data for 308 red clump giants near the Sun, for which Hipparcos parallaxes are more accurate than 10%. Spectral analysis of their metallicity may provide information about the local metallicity distribution as well as the extent to which mass (age) of these stars affects their colors. It is remarkable that in spite of a number of problems, stellar models agree with observations at the 0.1-0.2 mag level, making red clump giants not only the best calibrated but also the best understood standard candle.

Sensitivities of Earth's core and mantle compositions to accretion and differentiation processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fischer, Rebecca A.; Campbell, Andrew J.; Ciesla, Fred J.

2017-01-01

The Earth and other terrestrial planets formed through the accretion of smaller bodies, with their core and mantle compositions primarily set by metal-silicate interactions during accretion. The conditions of these interactions are poorly understood, but could provide insight into the mechanisms of planetary core formation and the composition of Earth's core. Here we present modeling of Earth's core formation, combining results of 100 N-body accretion simulations with high pressure-temperature metal-silicate partitioning experiments. We explored how various aspects of accretion and core formation influence the resulting core and mantle chemistry: depth of equilibration, amounts of metal and silicate that equilibrate, initial distribution of oxidation states in the disk, temperature distribution in the planet, and target:impactor ratio of equilibrating silicate. Virtually all sets of model parameters that are able to reproduce the Earth's mantle composition result in at least several weight percent of both silicon and oxygen in the core, with more silicon than oxygen. This implies that the core's light element budget may be dominated by these elements, and is consistent with ≤1-2 wt% of other light elements. Reproducing geochemical and geophysical constraints requires that Earth formed from reduced materials that equilibrated at temperatures near or slightly above the mantle liquidus during accretion. The results indicate a strong tradeoff between the compositional effects of the depth of equilibration and the amounts of metal and silicate that equilibrate, so these aspects should be targeted in future studies aiming to better understand core formation conditions. Over the range of allowed parameter space, core and mantle compositions are most sensitive to these factors as well as stochastic variations in what the planet accreted as a function of time, so tighter constraints on these parameters will lead to an improved understanding of Earth's core composition.

Electrochemical reaction mechanisms under various charge-discharge operating conditions for Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 in a lithium-ion battery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konishi, Hiroaki; Hirano, Tatsumi; Takamatsu, Daiko; Gunji, Akira; Feng, Xiaoliang; Furutsuki, Sho; Okumura, Takefumi; Terada, Shohei; Tamura, Kazuhisa

2018-06-01

The potential in each state of charge (SOC) during charging of Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 is higher than that during discharging. In other words, the potential hysteresis occurs between charging and discharging. Furthermore, the potential in each SOC changes according to the charge-discharge operating conditions, indicating that the charge-discharge reaction mechanism is also affected. To clarify the effect of charge-discharge operating conditions on the electrochemical reaction, Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 was charged and discharged under various charge-discharge operating ranges, and open-circuit potential (OCP), crystal structure, and oxidation states of the transition metals were evaluated by electrochemical measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). These results indicate that OCP, lattice parameters, and oxidation states of the transition metals of Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 in each SOC are not constant. The XRD results indicate that two phases, namely, LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2-like and Li2MnO3-like, exist in Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2. For the LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2-like phase, the relationship between OCP, lattice parameters, and oxidation states of the transition metals in each SOC is not affected by the charge-discharge operating conditions, indicating that extraction and insertion of lithium ions for the LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2-like phase progresses at almost the same potential. Although the extraction and insertion of lithium ions for the Li2MnO3-like phase progresses at almost the same potential in the low-SOC region, the OCP and lattice parameter in each SOC in the high-SOC region are not constant. Therefore, the extraction of lithium ions from the Li2MnO3-like phase in the high-SOC region causes the potential hysteresis of Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2.

Comparison of energy interaction parameters for the complexation of Pr(III) with glutathione reduced (GSH) in absence and presence of Zn(II) in aqueous and aquated organic solvents using 4f?4f transition spectra as PROBE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Th. David; Sumitra, Ch.; Yaiphaba, N.; Devi, H. Debecca; Devi, M. Indira; Singh, N. Rajmuhon

2005-04-01

The coordination chemistry of glutathione reduced (GSH) is of great importance as it acts as excellent model system for the binding of metal ions. The GSH complexation with metal ions is involved in the toxicology of different metal ions. Its coordination behaviour for soft metal ions and hard metal ions is found different because of the structure of GSH and its different potential binding sites. In our work we have studied two chemically dissimilar metal ions viz. Pr(III), which prefer hard donor site like carboxylic groups and Zn(II) the soft metal ion which prefer peptide-NH and sulphydryl groups. The absorption difference and comparative absorption spectroscopy involving 4f-4f transitions of the heterobimetallic Complexation of GSH with Pr(III) and Zn(II) has been explored in aqueous and aquated organic solvents. The variation in the energy parameters like Slater-Condon ( F K), Racah ( E K) and Lande ( ξ4f), Nephelauxetic parameter ( β) and bonding parameter ( b1/2) are computed to explain the nature of complexation.

Quantitative UV spectroscopy of early O stars on the Magellanic Clouds: The determination of the stellar metallicities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haser, Stefan M.; Pauldrach, Adalbert W. A.; Lennon, Danny J.; Kudritzki, Rolf-Peter; Lennon, Maguerite; Puls, Joachim; Voels, Stephen A.

1997-01-01

Ultraviolet spectra of four O stars in the Magellanic Clouds obtained with the faint object spectrograph of the Hubble Space Telescope are analyzed with respect to their metallicity. The metal abundances are derived from the stellar parameters and the mass loss rate with a two step procedure: hydrodynamic radiation-driven wind models with metallicity as a free parameter are constructed to fit the observed wind momentum rate and thus yield a dynamical metallicity, and synthetic spectra are computed for different metal abundances and compared to the observed spectra in order to obtain a spectroscopic metallicity.

1H NMR spectroscopic analysis detects metabolic disturbances in rat urine on acute exposure to heavy metal tungsten alloy based metals salt.

PubMed

Tyagi, Ritu; Rana, Poonam; Gupta, Mamta; Bhatnagar, Deepak; Srivastava, Shatakshi; Roy, Raja; Khushu, Subash

2014-03-25

Heavy metal tungsten alloys (HMTAs) have been found to be safer alternatives for making military munitions. Recently, some studies demonstrating the toxic potential of HMTAs have raised concern over the safety issues, and further propose that HMTAs exposure may lead to physiological disturbances as well. To look for the systemic effect of acute toxicity of HMTA based metals salt, (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopic profiling of rat urine was carried out. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered (intraperitoneal) low and high dose of mixture of HMTA based metals salt and NMR spectroscopy was carried out in urine samples collected at 8, 24, 72 and 120 h post dosing (p.d.). Serum biochemical parameters and liver histopathology were also conducted. The (1)H NMR spectra were analysed using multivariate analysis techniques to show the time- and dose-dependent biochemical variations in post HMTA based metals salt exposure. Urine metabolomic analysis showed changes associated with energy metabolism, amino acids, N-methyl nicotinamide, membrane and gut flora metabolites. Multivariate analysis showed maximum variation with best classification of control and treated groups at 24h p.d. At the end of the study, for the low dose group most of the changes at metabolite level reverted to control except for the energy metabolites; whereas, in the high dose group some of the changes still persisted. The observations were well correlated with histopathological and serum biochemical parameters. Further, metabolic pathway analysis clarified that amongst all the metabolic pathways analysed, tricarboxylic acid cycle was most affected at all the time points indicating a switchover in energy metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic. These results suggest that exposure of rats to acute doses of HMTA based metals salt disrupts physiological metabolism with moderate injury to the liver, which might indirectly result from heavy metals induced oxidative stress. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Feature-based characterisation of signature topography in laser powder bed fusion of metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senin, Nicola; Thompson, Adam; Leach, Richard

2018-04-01

The use of state-of-the-art areal topography measurement instrumentation allows for a high level of detail in the acquisition of topographic information at micrometric scales. The 3D geometric models of surface topography obtained from measured data create new opportunities for the investigation of manufacturing processes through characterisation of the surfaces of manufactured parts. Conventional methods for quantitative assessment of topography usually only involve the computation of texture parameters, summary indicators of topography-related characteristics that are computed over the investigated area. However, further useful information may be obtained through characterisation of signature topographic formations, as more direct indicators of manufacturing process behaviour and performance. In this work, laser powder bed fusion of metals is considered. An original algorithmic method is proposed to isolate relevant topographic formations and to quantify their dimensional and geometric properties, using areal topography data acquired by state-of-the-art areal topography measurement instrumentation.

SiO 2/SiC interface proved by positron annihilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maekawa, M.; Kawasuso, A.; Yoshikawa, M.; Itoh, H.

2003-06-01

We have studied positron annihilation in a Silicon carbide (SiC)-metal/oxide/semiconductor (MOS) structure using a monoenergetic positron beam. The Doppler broadening of annihilation quanta were measured as functions of the incident positron energy and the gate bias. Applying negative gate bias, significant increases in S-parameters were observed. This indicates the migration of implanted positrons towards SiO 2/SiC interface and annihilation at open-volume type defects. The behavior of S-parameters depending on the bias voltage was well correlated with the capacitance-voltage ( C- V) characteristics. We observed higher S-parameters and the interfacial trap density in MOS structures fabricated using the dry oxidation method as compared to those by pyrogenic oxidation method.

Assessing ecotoxicity and uptake of metals and metalloids in relation to two different earthworm species (Eiseina hortensis and Lumbricus terrestris).

PubMed

Leveque, Thibaut; Capowiez, Yvan; Schreck, Eva; Mazzia, Christophe; Auffan, Mélanie; Foucault, Yann; Austruy, Annabelle; Dumat, Camille

2013-08-01

Due to diffuse atmospheric fallouts of process particles enriched by metals and metalloids, polluted soils concern large areas at the global scale. Useful tools to assess ecotoxicity induced by these polluted soils are therefore needed. Earthworms are currently used as biotest, however the influence of specie and earthworm behaviour, soil characteristics are poorly highlighted. Our aim was therefore to assess the toxicity of various polluted soils with process particles enriches by metals and metalloids (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, As and Sb) collected from a lead recycling facility on two earthworm species belonging to different ecological types and thus likely to have contrasted behavioural responses (Eiseina hortensis and Lumbricus terrestris). The combination of behavioural factors measurements (cast production and biomass) and physico-chemical parameters such as metal absorption, bioaccumulation by earthworms and their localization in invertebrate tissues provided a valuable indication of pollutant bioavailability and ecotoxicity. Soil characteristics influenced ecotoxicity and metal uptake by earthworms, as well as their soil bioturbation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metal Dependence of the Xylose Isomerase from Piromyces sp. E2 Explored by Activity Profiling and Protein Crystallography

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Xylose isomerase from Piromyces sp. E2 (PirXI) can be used to equip Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the capacity to ferment xylose to ethanol. The biochemical properties and structure of the enzyme have not been described even though its metal content, catalytic parameters, and expression level are critical for rapid xylose utilization. We have isolated the enzyme after high-level expression in Escherichia coli, analyzed the metal dependence of its catalytic properties, and determined 12 crystal structures in the presence of different metals, substrates, and substrate analogues. The activity assays revealed that various bivalent metals can activate PirXI for xylose isomerization. Among these metals, Mn2+ is the most favorable for catalytic activity. Furthermore, the enzyme shows the highest affinity for Mn2+, which was established by measuring the activation constants (Kact) for different metals. Metal analysis of the purified enzyme showed that in vivo the enzyme binds a mixture of metals that is determined by metal availability as well as affinity, indicating that the native metal composition can influence activity. The crystal structures show the presence of an active site similar to that of other xylose isomerases, with a d-xylose binding site containing two tryptophans and a catalytic histidine, as well as two metal binding sites that are formed by carboxylate groups of conserved aspartates and glutamates. The binding positions and conformations of the metal-coordinating residues varied slightly for different metals, which is hypothesized to contribute to the observed metal dependence of the isomerase activity. PMID:29045784

Dependence of Nebular Heavy-element Abundance on H I Content for Spiral Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robertson, Paul; Shields, Gregory A.; Davé, Romeel; Blanc, Guillermo A.; Wright, Audrey

2013-08-01

We analyze the galactic H I content and nebular log (O/H) for 60 spiral galaxies in the Moustakas et al. (2006a) spectral catalog. After correcting for the mass-metallicity relationship, we show that the spirals in cluster environments show a positive correlation for log (O/H) on DEF, the galactic H I deficiency parameter, extending the results of previous analyses of the Virgo and Pegasus I clusters. Additionally, we show for the first time that galaxies in the field obey a similar dependence. The observed relationship between H I deficiency and galactic metallicity resembles similar trends shown by cosmological simulations of galaxy formation including inflows and outflows. These results indicate the previously observed metallicity-DEF correlation has a more universal interpretation than simply a cluster's effects on its member galaxies. Rather, we observe in all environments the stochastic effects of metal-poor infall as minor mergers and accretion help to build giant spirals.

Improving the relationship between soil characteristics and metal bioavailability by using reactive fractions of soil parameters in calcareous soils.

PubMed

de Santiago-Martín, Ana; van Oort, Folkert; González, Concepción; Quintana, José R; Lafuente, Antonio L; Lamy, Isabelle

2015-01-01

The contribution of the nature instead of the total content of soil parameters relevant to metal bioavailability in lettuce was tested using a series of low-polluted Mediterranean agricultural calcareous soils offering natural gradients in the content and composition of carbonate, organic, and oxide fractions. Two datasets were compared by canonical ordination based on redundancy analysis: total concentrations (TC dataset) of main soil parameters (constituents, phases, or elements) involved in metal retention and bioavailability; and chemically defined reactive fractions of these parameters (RF dataset). The metal bioavailability patterns were satisfactorily explained only when the RF dataset was used, and the results showed that the proportion of crystalline Fe oxides, dissolved organic C, diethylene-triamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cu and Zn, and a labile organic pool accounted for 76% of the variance. In addition, 2 multipollution scenarios by metal spiking were tested that showed better relationships with the RF dataset than with the TC dataset (up to 17% more) and new reactive fractions involved. For Mediterranean calcareous soils, the use of reactive pools of soil parameters rather than their total contents improved the relationships between soil constituents and metal bioavailability. Such pool determinations should be systematically included in studies dealing with bioavailability or risk assessment. © 2014 SETAC.

On a New Optimization Approach for the Hydroforming of Defects-Free Tubular Metallic Parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caseiro, J. F.; Valente, R. A. F.; Andrade-Campos, A.; Jorge, R. M. Natal

2011-05-01

In the hydroforming of tubular metallic components, process parameters (internal pressure, axial feed and counter-punch position) must be carefully set in order to avoid defects in the final part. If, on one hand, excessive pressure may lead to thinning and bursting during forming, on the other hand insufficient pressure may lead to an inadequate filling of the die. Similarly, an excessive axial feeding may lead to the formation of wrinkles, whilst an inadequate one may cause thinning and, consequentially, bursting. These apparently contradictory targets are virtually impossible to achieve without trial-and-error procedures in industry, unless optimization approaches are formulated and implemented for complex parts. In this sense, an optimization algorithm based on differentialevolutionary techniques is presented here, capable of being applied in the determination of the adequate process parameters for the hydroforming of metallic tubular components of complex geometries. The Hybrid Differential Evolution Particle Swarm Optimization (HDEPSO) algorithm, combining the advantages of a number of well-known distinct optimization strategies, acts along with a general purpose implicit finite element software, and is based on the definition of a wrinkling and thinning indicators. If defects are detected, the algorithm automatically corrects the process parameters and new numerical simulations are performed in real time. In the end, the algorithm proved to be robust and computationally cost-effective, thus providing a valid design tool for the conformation of defects-free components in industry [1].

The growth of the metallic ZrNx thin films on P-GaN substrate by pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Chengyan; Sui, Zhanpeng; Li, Yuxiong; Chu, Haoyu; Ding, Sunan; Zhao, Yanfei; Jiang, Chunping

2018-03-01

Although metal nitride thin films have attractive prospects in plasmonic applications due to its stable properties in harsh environments containing high temperatures, shock, and contaminants, the effect of deposition parameters on the properties of the metallic ZrN grown on III-N semiconductors by pulse laser deposition still lacks of detailed exploration. Here we have successfully prepared metallic ZrNx films on p-GaN substrate by pulsed laser deposition in N2 ambient of various pressures at a fixed substrate temperature (475 °C). It is found that the films exhibit quite smooth surfaces and (111) preferred orientation. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements indicate that carbon contamination can be completely removed and oxygen contamination is significantly reduced on the film surfaces after cleaning using Ar+ sputtering. The N/Zr ratio increases from 0.64 to 0.75 when the N2 pressure increases from 0.5 Pa to 3 Pa. The optical reflectivity spectra measured by the UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer show that the ZrNx is a typical and good metallic-like material and its metallic properties can be tuned with changing the film compositions.

Combined micromechanical and fabrication process optimization for metal-matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morel, M.; Saravanos, D. A.; Chamis, C. C.

1991-01-01

A method is presented to minimize the residual matrix stresses in metal matrix composites. Fabrication parameters such as temperature and consolidation pressure are optimized concurrently with the characteristics (i.e., modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, strength, and interphase thickness) of a fiber-matrix interphase. By including the interphase properties in the fabrication process, lower residual stresses are achievable. Results for an ultra-high modulus graphite (P100)/copper composite show a reduction of 21 percent for the maximum matrix microstress when optimizing the fabrication process alone. Concurrent optimization of the fabrication process and interphase properties show a 41 percent decrease in the maximum microstress. Therefore, this optimization method demonstrates the capability of reducing residual microstresses by altering the temperature and consolidation pressure histories and tailoring the interphase properties for an improved composite material. In addition, the results indicate that the consolidation pressures are the most important fabrication parameters, and the coefficient of thermal expansion is the most critical interphase property.

Loss-induced super scattering and gain-induced absorption.

PubMed

Feng, Simin

2016-01-25

Giant transmission and reflection of a finite bandwidth are demonstrated at the same wavelength when the electromagnetic wave is incident on a subwavelength array of parity-time (PT) symmetric dimers embedded in a metallic film. Remarkably, this phenomenon vanishes if the metallic substrate is lossless while keeping other parameters unchanged. Moreover super scattering can also occur when increasing the loss of the dimers while keeping the gain unchanged. When the metafilm is adjusted to the vicinity of an exceptional point, tuning either the substrate dissipation or the loss of the dimers can lead to supper scattering in stark contrast to what would be expected in conventional systems. In addition, increasing the gain of the dimers can increase the absorption near the exceptional point. These phenomena indicate that the PT-synthetic plasmonic metafilm can function as a thinfilm PT-plasmonic laser or absorber depending on the tuning parameter. One implication is that super radiation is possible from a cavity by tuning cavity dissipation or lossy element inside the cavity.

Concurrent micromechanical tailoring and fabrication process optimization for metal-matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morel, M.; Saravanos, D. A.; Chamis, Christos C.

1990-01-01

A method is presented to minimize the residual matrix stresses in metal matrix composites. Fabrication parameters such as temperature and consolidation pressure are optimized concurrently with the characteristics (i.e., modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, strength, and interphase thickness) of a fiber-matrix interphase. By including the interphase properties in the fabrication process, lower residual stresses are achievable. Results for an ultra-high modulus graphite (P100)/copper composite show a reduction of 21 percent for the maximum matrix microstress when optimizing the fabrication process alone. Concurrent optimization of the fabrication process and interphase properties show a 41 percent decrease in the maximum microstress. Therefore, this optimization method demonstrates the capability of reducing residual microstresses by altering the temperature and consolidation pressure histories and tailoring the interphase properties for an improved composite material. In addition, the results indicate that the consolidation pressures are the most important fabrication parameters, and the coefficient of thermal expansion is the most critical interphase property.

Biomechanical analysis of a newly designed bioabsorbable anterior cervical plate. Invited submission from the joint section meeting on disorders of the spine and peripheral nerves, March 2005.

PubMed

Ames, Christopher P; Acosta, Frank L; Chamberlain, Robert H; Larios, Adolfo Espinoza; Crawford, Neil R

2005-12-01

The authors present a biomechanical analysis of a newly designed bioabsorbable anterior cervical plate (ACP) for the treatment of one-level cervical degenerative disc disease. They studied anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in a human cadaveric model, comparing the stability of the cervical spine after placement of the bioabsorbable fusion plate, a bioabsorbable mesh, and a more traditional metallic ACP. Seven human cadaveric specimens underwent a C6-7 fibular graft-assisted ACDF placement. A one-level resorbable ACP was then placed and secured with bioabsorbable screws. Flexibility testing was performed on both intact and instrumented specimens using a servohydraulic system to create flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation motions. After data analysis, three parameters were calculated: angular range of motion, lax zone, and stiff zone. The results were compared with those obtained in a previous study of a resorbable fusion mesh and with those acquired using metallic fusion ACPs. For all parameters studied, the resorbable plate consistently conferred greater stability than the resorbable mesh. Moreover, it offered comparable stability with that of metallic fusion ACPs. Bioabsorbable plates provide better stability than resorbable mesh. Although the results of this study do not necessarily indicate that a resorbable plate confers equivalent stability to a metal plate, the resorbable ACP certainly yielded better results than the resorbable mesh. Bioabsorbable fusion ACPs should therefore be considered as alternatives to metal plates when a graft containment device is required.

New technology for recovering residual metals from nonmetallic fractions of waste printed circuit boards.

PubMed

Zhang, Guangwen; He, Yaqun; Wang, Haifeng; Zhang, Tao; Wang, Shuai; Yang, Xing; Xia, Wencheng

2017-06-01

Recycling of waste printed circuit boards is important for environmental protection and sustainable resource utilization. Corona electrostatic separation has been widely used to recycle metals from waste printed circuit boards, but it has poor separation efficiency for finer sized fractions. In this study, a new process of vibrated gas-solid fluidized bed was used to recycle residual metals from nonmetallic fractions, which were treated using the corona electrostatic separation technology. The effects of three main parameters, i.e., vibration frequency, superficial air flow velocity, and fluidizing time on gravity segregation, were investigated using a vibrating gas-solid fluidized bed. Each size fraction had its own optimum parameters. Corresponding to their optimal segregation performance, the products from each experiment were analyzed using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). From the results, it can be seen that the metal recoveries of -1+0.5mm, -0.5+0.25mm, and -0.25mm size fractions were 86.39%, 82.22% and 76.63%, respectively. After separation, each metal content in the -1+0.5 or -0.5+0.25mm size fraction reduced to 1% or less, while the Fe and Cu contents are up to 2.57% and 1.50%, respectively, in the -0.25mm size fraction. Images of the nonmetallic fractions with a size of -0.25mm indicated that a considerable amount of clavate glass fibers existed in these nonmetallic fractions, which may explain why fine particles had the poorest segregation performance. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

a Baseline Study of Physico-Chemical Parameters and Trace Metals in Waters of Manakudy, South-West Coast of India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramanian, M.; Muthumanikkam, J.

2013-05-01

The transport of trace metals from the land to ocean has a number of different routes and efficiencies. The sources of toxic elements into the rivers to be debouched into the sea through estuaries are either weathered naturally from the soils and rocks or introduced anthropogenically from point or non-point sources, in labile form or in particulate form. However, recent studies indicate that the transport of trace elements to the aquatic environment is much more complex than what has been thought. The chemistry and ecology of an estuarine system are entirely different from the fluvial as well as the marine system. Estuarine environment is characterized by a constantly changing mixture of salt and freshwater. In the present study area Manakudy estuary is situated about 8 kilometres north west of Kanyakumari (Latitude N 08 05 21.8 and Longitude E 077 29 03.7). To gain a better understanding of the geochemical behavior of physico-chemical parameters and trace elements in the estuary and to examine variations in associated chemical changes, 20 water samples were collected throughout the Manakudy estuary, a minor river in south-western India. These samples, collected in typical dry season during 2012, were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters, dissolved major and trace elements. Our results show that dissolved Na, Mg, Ca and Cl behave conservatively along the salinity gradient. The concentration of nutrients is normal and they are due to the higher organic activity in soils as well as faster rates of chemical weathering reaction in the source region. The concentration of major ions is due to tidal influence and it increases with salinity and the nutrients do behave non-conservatively due to biogenic removal. The conservative behaviour of the trace metals with salinity has been strongly affected by the introduction of these metals by external sources. Even though the trace metals in the contaminated water have been removed and incorporated in sediments due to flocculation, the concentration of these metals did not decrease. S.MUTHUSAMY M.sc.,M.phil., RESEARCH SCHOLAR UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS CHENNAI,TAMILNADU INDIA

Tunable geometric Fano resonances in a metal/insulator stack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grotewohl, Herbert

We present a theoretical analysis of surface-plasmon-mediated mode-coupling in a planar thin film metal/insulator stack. The spatial overlap of a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and a waveguide mode results in a Fano interference analog. Tuning of the material parameters effects the modes and output fields of the system. Lastly, the intensity and phase sensitivity of the system are compared to a standard surface plasmon resonance (SPR). We begin with background information on Fano interference, an interference effect between two indistinguishable pathways. Originally described for autoionization, we discuss the analogs in other systems. We discuss the features of Fano interference in the mode diagrams, and the Fano resonance observed in the output field. The idea of a geometric Fano resonance (GFR) occurring in the angular domain is presented. Background information on surface plasmon polaritons is covered next. The dielectric properties of metals and how they relate to surface plasmons is first reviewed. The theoretical background of SPPs on an infinite planar surface is covered. The modes of a two planar interface metal/insulator stack are reviewed and the leaky properties of the waveguide are shown in the reflectance. We solve for modes of a three interface metal/insulator stack and shows an avoided crossing in the modes indicative of Fano interference. We observe the asymmetric Fano resonance in the angular domain in the reflectance. The tunability of the material parameters tunes the GFR of the system. The GFR tuning is explored and different Fano lineshapes are observed. We also observe a reversal of the asymmetry Fano lineshape, attributed to the relate phase interactions of the non-interacting modes. The phase of the GFR is calculated and discussed for the variations of the parameters. The reflected field is explored as the insulator permittivities are varied. As the waveguide permittivity is varied, we show there is little response from the system. As the exterior permittivity is varied, the reflectance exhibits the geometric Fano resonance and the tunability of the lineshape is explored. Finally, we calculate the sensitivities of our metal/insulator stack to changes in the permittivity and compare them to the sensitivities of SPRs.

Transport properties of RCo_2B_2C with R = Dy, Ho, and Pr single

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duran, Alejandro; Escudero, Roberto

2002-03-01

Single crystals of (Dy, Ho, Pr)Co_2B_2C have been grown by a cold copper crucible method. Metallurgical and structural studies indicate that this borocarbide family melts incongruently and crystallizes as a derivative structure of the ThCr_2Si_2. The family accepts rare earth atoms depending on the type of transition metals used to form the compound. For instance with Ni atoms, all lanthanides ranging from the large lanthanum to lutetium ions are reported to form RNi_2B_2C single crystals, so far no single crystals have been obtained when changing Ni by Cobalt. A comparison of the structural parameters of the RCo_2B_2C with the RNiHo, Pr) compounds indicate that the atomic distance between transition metal atoms contracts with the insertion of the Co ion, resulting in an increasing of the c parameter and decreasing volume. Several recent reports published in the current literature related on the physical properties of RCo_2B_2C (R = rare earth metals and Y) have been only performed on polycrystalline samples, they commonly contain small amounts of second phases. High quality single crystals are necessaries in order to better understand the physical properties, such as anisotropy in the transport and in the magnetic properties. In this report we show magnetic susceptibility and resistivity measurements performed in single crystals in the ab-plane and c direction for 2 - 320 K temperature range for the three single crystals of (Dy, Ho, Pr)Co_2B_2C.

Flow units perspective on elastic recovery under sharp contact loading in metallic glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahzad, K.; Gulzar, A.; Wang, W. H.

2016-12-01

The obscure nature of glass physics has led to develop various correlations between different parameters and properties of metallic glasses. Despite these correlations, the clear picture of plastic deformation is still lacking. We have measured elastic recovery in metallic glasses by indentation, and found the elastic recovery correlate with different properties and parameters of metallic glasses. All these observations can be quite well explained with flow unit model which could provide clearer picture on the plastic deformations and nature of the metallic glasses.

Metal complexation properties of freshwater dissolved organic matter are explained by its aromaticity and by anthropogenic ligands.

PubMed

Baken, Stijn; Degryse, Fien; Verheyen, Liesbeth; Merckx, Roel; Smolders, Erik

2011-04-01

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters affects the fate and environmental effects of trace metals. We measured variability in the Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn affinity of 23 DOM samples isolated by reverse osmosis from freshwaters in natural, agricultural, and urban areas. Affinities at uniform pH and ionic composition were assayed at low, environmentally relevant free Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn activities. The C-normalized metal binding of DOM varied 4-fold (Cu) or about 10-fold (Cd, Ni, Zn) among samples. The dissolved organic carbon concentration ranged only 9-fold in the waters, illustrating that DOM quality is an equally important parameter for metal complexation as DOM quantity. The UV-absorbance of DOM explained metal affinity only for waters receiving few urban inputs, indicating that in those waters, aromatic humic substances are the dominant metal chelators. Larger metal affinities were found for DOM from waters with urban inputs. Aminopolycarboxylate ligands (mainly EDTA) were detected at concentrations up to 0.14 μM and partly explained the larger metal affinity. Nickel concentrations in these surface waters are strongly related to EDTA concentrations (R2=0.96) and this is underpinned by speciation calculations. It is concluded that metal complexation in waters with anthropogenic discharges is larger than that estimated with models that only take into account binding on humic substances.

Do constructed wetlands remove metals or increase metal bioavailability?

PubMed

Xu, Xiaoyu; Mills, Gary L

2018-07-15

The H-02 wetland was constructed to treat building process water and storm runoff water from the Tritium Processing Facility on the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (Aiken, SC). Monthly monitoring of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations and water quality parameters in surface waters continued from 2014 to 2016. Metal speciation was modeled at each sampling occasion. Total Cu and Zn concentrations released to the effluent stream were below the NPDES limit, and the average removal efficiency was 65.9% for Cu and 71.1% for Zn. The metal-removal processes were found out to be seasonally regulated by sulfur cycling indicated by laboratory and model results. High temperature, adequate labile organic matter, and anaerobic conditions during the warm months (February to August) favored sulfate reduction that produced sulfide minerals to significantly remove metals. However, the dominant reaction in sulfur cycling shifted to sulfide oxidation during the cool months (September to next March). High concentrations of metal-organic complexes were observed, especially colloidal complexes of metal and fulvic acid (FA), demonstrating adsorption to organic matter became the primary process for metal removal. Meanwhile, the accumulation of metal-FA complexes in the wetland system will cause negative effects to the surrounding environment as they are biologically reactive, highly bioavailable, and can be easily taken up and transferred to ecosystems by trophic exchange. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optimization and Analysis of Laser Beam Machining Parameters for Al7075-TiB2 In-situ Composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manjoth, S.; Keshavamurthy, R.; Pradeep Kumar, G. S.

2016-09-01

The paper focuses on laser beam machining (LBM) of In-situ synthesized Al7075-TiB2 metal matrix composite. Optimization and influence of laser machining process parameters on surface roughness, volumetric material removal rate (VMRR) and dimensional accuracy of composites were studied. Al7075-TiB2 metal matrix composite was synthesized by in-situ reaction technique using stir casting process. Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array was used to design experimental trials. Standoff distance (SOD) (0.3 - 0.5mm), Cutting Speed (1000 - 1200 m/hr) and Gas pressure (0.5 - 0.7 bar) were considered as variable input parameters at three different levels, while power and nozzle diameter were maintained constant with air as assisting gas. Optimized process parameters for surface roughness, volumetric material removal rate (VMRR) and dimensional accuracy were calculated by generating the main effects plot for signal noise ratio (S/N ratio) for surface roughness, VMRR and dimensional error using Minitab software (version 16). The Significant of standoff distance (SOD), cutting speed and gas pressure on surface roughness, volumetric material removal rate (VMRR) and dimensional error were calculated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Results indicate that, for surface roughness, cutting speed (56.38%) is most significant parameter followed by standoff distance (41.03%) and gas pressure (2.6%). For volumetric material removal (VMRR), gas pressure (42.32%) is most significant parameter followed by cutting speed (33.60%) and standoff distance (24.06%). For dimensional error, Standoff distance (53.34%) is most significant parameter followed by cutting speed (34.12%) and gas pressure (12.53%). Further, verification experiments were carried out to confirm performance of optimized process parameters.

Structural and electronic properties of M-MOF-74 (M = Mg, Co or Mn)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Oliveira, Aline; de Lima, Guilherme Ferreira; De Abreu, Heitor Avelino

2018-01-01

The Metal-Organic Frameworks M-MOF-74 (M = Mg, Co or Mn) were investigated through Density Functional Theory calculations. Structural parameters and band gap energies were determined in agreement with experimental data, with errors under 2%. The methods Electron Localization Function and Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules were applied to the analyses of the electronic density topology of the three solids. These methodologies indicated that the bonds between the metallic cations and the oxygen atoms are predominantly ionic while the other ones are predominantly covalent. Furthermore, non-conventional hydrogen bonds were identified to Mg-MOF-74 and Co-MOF-74, which were not observed to Mn-MOF-74.

An environmentally friendly ball milling process for recovery of valuable metals from e-waste scraps.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhi-Yuan; Zhang, Fu-Shen; Yao, TianQi

2017-10-01

The present study reports a mechanochemical (MC) process for effective recovery of copper (Cu) and precious metals (i.e. Pd and Ag) from e-waste scraps. Results indicated that the mixture of K 2 S 2 O 8 and NaCl (abbreviated as K 2 S 2 O 8 /NaCl hereafter) was the most effective co-milling reagents in terms of high recovery rate. After co-milling with K 2 S 2 O 8 /NaCl, soluble metallic compounds were produced and consequently benefit the subsequent leaching process. 99.9% of Cu and 95.5% of Pd in the e-waste particles could be recovered in 0.5mol/L diluted HCl in 15min. Ag was concentrated in the leaching residue as AgCl and then recovered in 1mol/L NH 3 solution. XRD and XPS analysis indicated that elemental metals in the raw materials were transformed into their corresponding oxidation state during ball milling process at low temperature, implying that solid-solid phase reactions is the reaction mechanism. Based on the results and thermodynamic parameters of the probable reactions, possible reaction pathways during ball milling were proposed. Suggestion on category of e-waste for ball milling process was put forward according to the experiment results. The designed metal recovery process of this study has the advantages of highly recovery rate and quick leaching speed. Thus, this study offers a promising and environmentally friendly method for recovering valuable metals from e-waste. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development and testing of a magnetic position sensor system for automotive and avionics applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacobs, Bryan C.; Nelson, Carl V.

2001-08-01

A magnetic sensor system has been developed to measure the 3-D location and orientation of a rigid body relative to an array of magnetic dipole transmitters. A generalized solution to the measurement problem has been formulated, allowing the transmitter and receiver parameters (position, orientation, number, etc.) to be optimized for various applications. Additionally, the method of images has been used to mitigate the impact of metallic materials in close proximity to the sensor. The resulting system allows precise tracking of high-speed motion in confined metal environments. The sensor system was recently configured and tested as an abdomen displacement sensor for an automobile crash-test dummy. The test results indicate a positional accuracy of approximately 1 mm rms during 20 m/s motions. The dynamic test results also confirmed earlier covariance model predictions, which were used to optimize the sensor geometry. A covariance analysis was performed to evaluate the applicability of this magnetic position system for tracking a pilot's head motion inside an aircraft cockpit. Realistic design parameters indicate that a robust tracking system, consisting of lightweight pickup coils mounted on a pilot's helmet, and an array of transmitter coils distributed throughout a cockpit, is feasible. Recent test and covariance results are presented.

Effects of moisture content and initial pH in composting process on heavy metal removal characteristics of grass clipping compost used for stormwater filtration.

PubMed

Khan, Eakalak; Khaodhir, Sutha; Ruangrote, Darin

2009-10-01

Heavy metals are common contaminants in stormwater runoff. One of the devices that can be used to effectively and economically remove heavy metals from runoff is a yard waste compost stormwater filter. The primary goal of composting is to reduce waste volume rather than to produce stormwater filter media. Moisture content (MC) and initial pH, the two important parameters in composting, were studied for their effects on yard waste volume reduction and heavy metal adsorption performances of the compost. The main objective of this investigation was to examine whether the conditions that provided high yard waste volume reduction would also result in compost with good heavy metal removal performances. Manila grass was composted at different initial pHs (5-9) and MCs (30-70%) and the composts were used to adsorb cadmium, copper, lead and zinc from water. Results indicated that MC is more critical than initial pH for both volume reduction and production of compost with high metal adsorption performances. The most optimal conditions for the two attributes were not exactly the same but lower MCs of 30-40% and pH 7 or higher tended to satisfy both high volume reduction and effective metal adsorption.

Regulation of tolerance of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to heavy metal toxicity by heme oxygenase-1 and carbon monoxide.

PubMed

Wei, Yuan Yuan; Zheng, Qi; Liu, Zhao Pu; Yang, Zhi Min

2011-09-01

Investigation of heavy metal tolerance genes in green algae is of great importance because heavy metals have become one of the major contaminants in the aquatic ecosystem. In plants, accumulation of heavy metals modifies many aspects of cellular functions. However, the mechanism by which heavy metals exert detrimental effects is poorly understood. In this study, we identified a role for HO-1 (encoding heme oxygenase-1) in regulating the response of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular green alga, to mercury (Hg). Transgenic algae overexpressing HO-1 showed high tolerance to Hg exposure, with a 48.2% increase in cell number over the wild type, but accumulated less Hg. Physiological analysis revealed that expression of HO-1 suppressed the Hg-induced generation of reactive oxygen species. We further identified the effect of carbon monoxide (CO), a product of HO-1-mediated heme degradation, on growth and physiological parameters. Interestingly, administration of exogenous CO at non-toxic levels also conferred the tolerance of algae to Hg exposure. The CO-mediated alleviation of Hg toxicity was closely related to the lower accumulation of Hg and free radical species. These results indicate that functional identification of HO-1 is useful for molecular breeding designed to improve plant tolerance to heavy metals and reduce heavy metal accumulation in plant cells.

Heavy metal removal from MSS fly ash by thermal and chlorination treatments

PubMed Central

Liu, Jingyong; Chen, Jiacong; Huang, Limao

2015-01-01

The thermal behavior of heavy metals in the co-incineration of municipal solid waste-sludge incinerator fly ash (MSS fly ash) was studied using a laboratory-scale tube furnace. The results indicate that without the addition of chlorinating agents, temperature was an important parameter and had significantly influenced on heavy metal removal, whereas the residence time had a weak effect. Between 900 and 1000 °C for 60 to 300 min, heavy metals reacted with chloride-inherent in the fly ash, and approximately 80 to 89% of Pb, 48% to 56% of Cd, 27% to 36% of Zn and 6% to 24% of Cu were removed. After the adding chlorinating agents, the evaporation rate of the heavy metals improved dramatically, where the evaporation rates of Cu and Zn were larger than that of Pb and Cd. As the amount of added chlorinating agents increased, the removal rate of heavy metals increased. However, the effect of the type of chlorinating agent on the chlorination of heavy metals differed considerably, where NaCl had the weakest effect on the removal rate of Cu, Cd and Zn. In terms of resource recovery and decontamination, MgCl2 and CaCl2 are the best choices due to their efficient removal of Zn. PMID:26602592

Electrode performance parameters for a radioisotope-powered AMTEC for space power applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Underwood, M.L.; O'Connor, D.; Williams, R.M.

1992-08-01

The alkali metal thermoelastic converter (AMTEC) is a device for the direct conversion of heat to electricity. Recently a design of an AMTEC using a radioisotope heat source was described, but the optimum condenser temperature was hotter than the temperatures used in the laboratory to develop the electrode performance model. Now laboratory experiments have confirmed the dependence of two model parameters over a broader range of condenser and electrode temperatures for two candidate electrode compositions. One parameter, the electrochemical exchange current density at the reaction interface, is independent of the condenser temperature, and depends only upon the collision rate ofmore » sodium at the reaction zone. The second parameter, a morphological parameter, which measures the mass transport resistance through the electrode, is independent of condenser and electrode temperatures for molybdenum electrodes. For rhodium-tungsten electrodes, however, this parameter increases for decreasing electrode temperature, indicating an activated mass transport mechanism such as surface diffusion. 21 refs.« less

Comparison of dry sliding wear and friction behavior of Al6061/SiC PMMC with Al6061 alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murthy, A. G. Shankara; Mehta, N. K.; Kumar, Pradeep

2018-04-01

Dry sliding wear and friction behavior tests were conducted on Al6061 alloy and Al6061/SiC particle reinforced metal matrix composites (PMMCs) reinforced with fine particles of 5, 10 and 15 µm size having 5,7.5 and 10% weight content fabricated by stir-casting route. Cylindrical sample pins produced as per ASTM standard were tested for various parameters like SiC size, weight content, load and sliding distance affecting the wear rate or resistance and friction. Results indicated that Al6061/SiCp composites exhibited good wear resistance compared to Al6061 alloy for the tested parameters.

Design of an ultrabroadband visible metamaterial absorber based on three-dimensional metallic nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Hao; Cheng, Yong Zhi

2017-09-01

We present the design and numerical simulations of an ultrabroadband visible metamaterial absorber (MMA) with polarization-insensitive and wide-angle based on three-dimensional (3D) metallic nanostructure. Distinct from previous designs, the proposed visible MMA only consisted of structured 3D metallic film constructed with an assembly of four vertical split-rings (FVSR) structure. For the optimized design of our MMA, the absorbance of over 90% with a relative bandwidth of 94.8% can be obtained. Further simulation results indicate that our design is polarization-insensitive and also operated well in a wide range of incident angles for both TE and TM modes. In addition, the designed visible MMA design can tolerate some geometric parameters errors in fabrication. Thus, the proposed visible MMA can be potential application in the photodetectors, thermal imaging, photoelectrochemical, and solar energy harvesting devices.

Strain Engineering to Modify the Electrochemistry of Energy Storage Electrodes

PubMed Central

Muralidharan, Nitin; Carter, Rachel; Oakes, Landon; Cohn, Adam P.; Pint, Cary L.

2016-01-01

Strain engineering has been a critical aspect of device design in semiconductor manufacturing for the past decade, but remains relatively unexplored for other applications, such as energy storage. Using mechanical strain as an input parameter to modulate electrochemical potentials of metal oxides opens new opportunities intersecting fields of electrochemistry and mechanics. Here we demonstrate that less than 0.1% strain on a Ni-Ti-O based metal-oxide formed on superelastic shape memory NiTi alloys leads to anodic and cathodic peak potential shifts by up to ~30 mV in an electrochemical cell. Moreover, using the superelastic properties of NiTi to enable strain recovery also recovers the electrochemical potential of the metal oxide, providing mechanistic evidence of strain-modified electrochemistry. These results indicate that mechanical energy can be coupled with electrochemical systems to efficiently design and optimize a new class of strain-modulated energy storage materials. PMID:27283872

Galactic chemical evolution and nucleocosmochronology - Standard model with terminated infall

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clayton, D. D.

1984-01-01

Some exactly soluble families of models for the chemical evolution of the Galaxy are presented. The parameters considered include gas mass, the age-metallicity relation, the star mass vs. metallicity, the age distribution, and the mean age of dwarfs. A short BASIC program for calculating these parameters is given. The calculation of metallicity gradients, nuclear cosmochronology, and extinct radioactivities is addressed. An especially simple, mathematically linear model is recommended as a standard model of galaxies with truncated infall due to its internal consistency and compact display of the physical effects of the parameters.

The determination of water quality and metal concentrations of Ampang Hilir Lake, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia.

PubMed

Said, Khaled S A; Shuhaimi-Othman, M; Ahmad, A K

2012-05-01

A study of water quality parameters (temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solid, dissolved oxygen, pH and water hardness) in Ampang Hilir Lake was conducted in January, April, July and October 2010. The water quality parameters were tested and recorded at different sampling stations chosen randomly using Hydrolab Data Sonde 4 and Surveyor 4 a water quality multi probe (USA). Six metals which were cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, zinc and copper were determined in five different compartments of the lake namely water, total suspended solids, plankton, sediment and fish. The metals concentration were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), Perkin Elmer Elan, model 9000.The water quality parameters were compared with National Water Quality Standard (NWQS Malaysia) while metal concentrations were compared with Malaysian and international standards. The study shows that water quality parameters are of class 2. This condition is suitable for recreational activities where body contact is allowed and suitable for sensitive fishing activities. Furthermore, metal concentrations were found to be lower than the international standards, therefore toxic effects for these metals would be rarely observed and the adverse effects to aquatic organisms would not frequently occur.

SPIDER. IV. OPTICAL AND NEAR-INFRARED COLOR GRADIENTS IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES: NEW INSIGHT INTO CORRELATIONS WITH GALAXY PROPERTIES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

La Barbera, F.; De Carvalho, R. R.; De La Rosa, I. G.

2010-11-15

We present an analysis of stellar population gradients in 4546 early-type galaxies (ETGs) with photometry in grizYHJK along with optical spectroscopy. ETGs were selected as bulge-dominated systems, displaying passive spectra within the SDSS fibers. A new approach is described which utilizes color information to constrain age and metallicity gradients. Defining an effective color gradient, {nabla}{sub *}, which incorporates all of the available color indices, we investigate how {nabla}{sub *} varies with galaxy mass proxies, i.e., velocity dispersion, stellar (M{sub *}) and dynamical (M{sub dyn}) masses, as well as age, metallicity, and [{alpha}/Fe]. ETGs with M{sub dyn} larger than 8.5 xmore » 10{sup 10} M{sub sun} have increasing age gradients and decreasing metallicity gradients with respect to mass, metallicity, and enhancement. We find that velocity dispersion and [{alpha}/Fe] are the main drivers of these correlations. ETGs with 2.5 x 10{sup 10} M{sub sun} {<=} M{sub dyn} {<=} 8.5 x 10{sup 10} M{sub sun} show no correlation of age, metallicity, and color gradients with respect to mass, although color gradients still correlate with stellar population parameters, and these correlations are independent of each other. In both mass regimes, the striking anti-correlation between color gradient and {alpha}-enhancement is significant at {approx}5{sigma} and results from the fact that metallicity gradient decreases with [{alpha}/Fe]. This anti-correlation may reflect the fact that star formation and metallicity enrichment are regulated by the interplay between the energy input from supernovae, and the temperature and pressure of the hot X-ray gas in ETGs. For all mass ranges, positive age gradients are associated with old galaxies (>5-7 Gyr). For galaxies younger than {approx}5 Gyr, mostly at low mass, the age gradient tends to be anti-correlated with the Age parameter, with more positive gradients at younger ages.« less

Calcium availability but not its content modulates metal toxicity in Scenedesmus quadricauda.

PubMed

Kováčik, Jozef; Dresler, Sławomir

2018-01-01

Impact of calcium nutrition (pre-culture on solid medium with standard or elevated Ca dose, i. e. 0.17 and 4.40mM marked as low and high Ca) on acute metal toxicity (Cd, Mn and Pb, 24h of exposure to 10µM) in freshwater green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda was studied. Surprisingly, Ca content differed only slightly between low and high Ca samples and applied metals rather suppressed its amount. Na content was higher in metal-exposed high Ca samples, indicating that Ca/Na ratio may affect accumulation of metals. Content of heavy metals increased in order Cd < Mn < Pb and high Ca samples contained less metal than low Ca samples at least in absorbed fraction. Accumulation of ascorbic acid and thiols (GSH - glutathione and PC2 - phytochelatin 2) was affected mainly by Cd, GSH also by Mn and PC2 by Pb with often significant differences between low Ca and high Ca samples. Calcium nutrition also affected responses of algae to metals at the level of antioxidative enzyme activities (SOD, APX, and CAT) and elevated values were typically found in high Ca samples while ROS (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical) were mainly depleted in Mn treatment. These data confirm that Ca nutrition affects accumulation of metals in algae and metabolic parameters as observed in vascular plants but, unlike them, rather Ca/Na ratio than absolute Ca content seems to regulate the uptake of metals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Biosorption of metal ions using a low cost modified adsorbent (Mauritia flexuosa): experimental design and mathematical modeling.

PubMed

Melo, Diego de Quadros; Vidal, Carla Bastos; Medeiros, Thiago Coutinho; Raulino, Giselle Santiago Cabral; Dervanoski, Adriana; Pinheiro, Márcio do Carmo; Nascimento, Ronaldo Ferreira do

2016-09-01

Buriti fibers were subjected to an alkaline pre-treatment and tested as an adsorbent to investigate the adsorption of copper, cadmium, lead and nickel in mono- and multi-element aqueous solutions, the results showed an increase in the adsorption capacity compared to the unmodified Buriti fiber. The effects of pH, adsorbent mass, agitation rate and initial metal ions concentration on the efficiency of the adsorption process were studied using a fractional 2(4-1) factorial design, and the results showed that all four parameters influenced metal adsorption differently. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence analysis were used to identify the groups that participated in the adsorption process and suggest its mechanisms and they indicated the probable mechanisms involved in the adsorption process are mainly ion exchange. Kinetic and thermodynamic equilibrium parameters were determined. The adsorption kinetics were adjusted to the homogeneous diffusion model. The adsorption equilibrium was reached in 30 min for Cu(2+) and Pb(2+), 20 min for Ni(2+) and instantaneously for Cd(2+). The results showed a significant difference was found in the competitiveness for the adsorption sites. A mathematical model was used to simulate the breakthrough curves in multi-element column adsorption considering the influences of external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion resistance.

Effective on-site Coulomb interaction and electron configurations in transition-metal complexes from constraint density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nawa, Kenji; Nakamura, Kohji; Akiyama, Toru; Ito, Tomonori; Weinert, Michael

Effective on-site Coulomb interactions (Ueff) and electron configurations in the localized d and f orbitals of metal complexes in transition-metal oxides and organometallic molecules, play a key role in the first-principles search for the true ground-state. However, wide ranges of values in the Ueff parameter of a material, even in the same ionic state, are often reported. Here, we revisit this issue from constraint density functional theory (DFT) by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The Ueff parameters for prototypical transition-metal oxides, TMO (TM =Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), were calculated by the second derivative of the total energy functional with respect to the d occupation numbers inside the muffin-tin (MT) spheres as a function of the sphere radius. We find that the calculated Ueff values depend significantly on the MT radius, with a variation of more than 3 eV when the MT radius changes from 2.0 to 2.7 a.u., but importantly an identical valence band structure can be produced in all the cases, with an approximate scaling of Ueff. This indicates that a simple transferability of the Ueff value among different calculation methods is not allowed. We further extend the constraint DFT to treat various electron configurations of the localized d-orbitals in organometallic molecules, TMCp2 (TM =Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), and find that the calculated Ueff values can reproduce the experimentally determined ground-state electron configurations.

Moisture Influence Reducing Method for Heavy Metals Detection in Plant Materials Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Case Study for Chromium Content Detection in Rice Leaves.

PubMed

Peng, Jiyu; He, Yong; Ye, Lanhan; Shen, Tingting; Liu, Fei; Kong, Wenwen; Liu, Xiaodan; Zhao, Yun

2017-07-18

Fast detection of heavy metals in plant materials is crucial for environmental remediation and ensuring food safety. However, most plant materials contain high moisture content, the influence of which cannot be simply ignored. Hence, we proposed moisture influence reducing method for fast detection of heavy metals using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). First, we investigated the effect of moisture content on signal intensity, stability, and plasma parameters (temperature and electron density) and determined the main influential factors (experimental parameters F and the change of analyte concentration) on the variations of signal. For chromium content detection, the rice leaves were performed with a quick drying procedure, and two strategies were further used to reduce the effect of moisture content and shot-to-shot fluctuation. An exponential model based on the intensity of background was used to correct the actual element concentration in analyte. Also, the ratio of signal-to-background for univariable calibration and partial least squared regression (PLSR) for multivariable calibration were used to compensate the prediction deviations. The PLSR calibration model obtained the best result, with the correlation coefficient of 0.9669 and root-mean-square error of 4.75 mg/kg in the prediction set. The preliminary results indicated that the proposed method allowed for the detection of heavy metals in plant materials using LIBS, and it could be possibly used for element mapping in future work.

Effects of wastewater irrigation on chemical and physical properties of Petroselinum crispum.

PubMed

Keser, Gonca; Buyuk, Gokhan

2012-06-01

The present study was carried out to assess the impact of wastewater on parsley (Petroselinum crispum). The parameters determined for soil were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Fe), and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb), while the parameters determined for the plant included pigment content, dry matter, nutrient element, and heavy metals. SOM, EC, and clay contents were higher, and pH was slightly acidic in soil treated with wastewater compared to control soil. The enrichment factors (EF) of the nutrient elements in contaminated soil are in the sequence of Na (2) > Ca (1.32) > Mn = Mg (1.17) > Cu (1.11) > Zn (1.08) > Fe (1.07) > K (0.93), while EF in parsley are Na (6.63) > Ca (1.60) > Mg (1.34) > Zn (1.15) > Fe (0.95) > Cu = K (0.90) > Mn (0.85). Application of wastewater significantly decreased dry matter, while photosynthetic pigment content increased in parsley. The enrichment of the heavy metals is in the sequence: Cd (1.142) > Pb (1.131) > Ni (1.112) > Cr (1.095). P. crispum shows a high transfer factor (TF > 1) for Cd signifying a high mobility of Cd from soil to plant. Thus, although the wastewater irrigation in parsley production aims to produce socioeconomic benefits, study results indicated that municipal wastewater is not suitable for irrigation of parsley because it has negative effects on plant and causes heavy metal accumulation.

Effective adsorption of oil droplets from oil-in-water emulsion using metal ions encapsulated biopolymers: Role of metal ions and their mechanism in oil removal.

PubMed

Elanchezhiyan, S Sd; Prabhu, Subbaiah Muthu; Meenakshi, Sankaran

2018-06-01

Herein, synthesized and compared the three different kinds of hybrid bio-polymeric composites viz., lanthanum embedded chitosan/gelatin (La@CS-GEL), zirconium embedded chitosan/gelatin (Zr@CS-GEL) and cerium embedded chitosan/gelatin (Ce@CS-GEL) in terms of their oil uptake efficiency. The adsorption efficiency was studied under various optimized parameters like contact time, pH, dose, initial oil concentration and temperature. The oil adsorption capacity was found to be 91, 82 and 45% for La@CS-GEL, Zr@CS-GEL and Ce@CS-GEL composites respectively. The metals were used as a bridging material to connect both CS and GEL using the hydrophilic groups to enhance the oil recovery by hydrophobic interaction. Also, the introduction of metal ions on the surface of biopolymers would modify the oil/water properties which in turn, decrease the interfacial tension between oil and water phases. The mechanism of oil uptake was explained using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) and heat of combustion. The experimental data confirmed Langmuir isotherm as the best fit for oil adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard free energy (ΔG°), standard enthalpy (ΔH°) and standard entropy (ΔS°) indicated that the oil adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. The oil adsorption mechanism was established based on isotherm and thermodynamic models. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of the Pb, Cr, and Cd distribution patterns with various chlorine additives in the bottom ashes of a low-temperature two-stage fluidized bed incinerator by chemical sequential extraction.

PubMed

Peng, Tzu-Huan; Lin, Chiou-Liang; Wey, Ming-Yen

2015-09-15

A novel low-temperature two-stage fluidized bed (LTTSFB) incinerator has been successfully developed to control heavy-metal emissions during municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment. However, the characteristics of the residual metal patterns during this process are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the metal patterns in the different partitions of the LTTSFB bottom ash by chemical sequential extraction. Artificial waste was used to simulate the MSW. Different parameters including the first-stage temperature, chloride additives, and operating gas velocity were also considered. Results indicated that during the low-temperature treatment process, a high metal mobility phase exists in the first-stage sand bed. The main patterns of Cd, Pb, and Cr observed were the water-soluble, exchangeable, and residual forms, respectively. With the different Cl additives, the results showed that polyvinyl chloride addition increased metal mobility in the LTTSFB bottom ash, while, sodium chloride addition may have reduced metal mobility due to the formation of eutectic material. The second-stage sand bed was found to have a lower risk of metal leaching. The results also suggested that, the residual ashes produced by the LTTSFB system must be taken into consideration given their high metal mobility. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Removal of heavy metals from artificial metals contaminated water samples based on micelle-templated silica modified with pyoverdin I.

PubMed

Tansupo, Panadda; Worakarn, Chamonkolpradit; Saksit, Chanthai; Ruangviriyachai, Chalerm

2009-01-01

The micelle-templated silica (MTS) was firstly chemically modified with 3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) before immobilized with pyoverdin I. The characteristics of pyoverdin I-anchored onto the modified MTS were investigated using fluorescence, infrared spectra and scanning electron microscopy. The specific surface area of all materials was calculated by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method using nitrogen isotherm adsorption data. As the results, the surface area of commercial silica gel decreased from 609.2 to 405.4 m2/g, it indicated that the pyoverdin I could be immobilized onto the surface of silica solid support. This adsorbent was used for extraction of Fe(III), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) in artificial metals contaminated water. Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace levels of metal ions were optimized with respect to different experimental parameters using batch procedure. The optimum pH value for the removal of metal ions simultaneously on this adsorbent was 4.0. Complete desorption of the adsorbed metal ions from the adsorbent was carried out using 0.25 mol/L of EDTA. The effect of different cations and anions on the adsorption of these metals on adsorbent was studied and the results showed that the proposed adsorbent could be applied to the highly saline samples and the sample which contains some transition metals.

Fluctuating asymmetry and mentum gaps in populations of the midge Chironomus riparius (Diptera: Chironomidae) from a metal-contaminated River

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Groenendijk, D.; Zeinstra, L.W.M.; Postma, J.F.

1998-10-01

The developmental stability of both metal-exposed and nonexposed Chironomus riparius populations from the lowland River Dommel was investigated using fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and the incidence of mentum gaps. It was hypothesized that larval development was affected by the influx of Cd, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Pb directly by chemical stress, as well as through inbreeding of metal-adapted and nonadapted specimens. Morphological para/meters were therefore assessed in field-collected larvae and in clean, laboratory-cultured, first-generation (F1) larvae. Fluctuating asymmetry values and mentum gap incidence at contaminated field sites were significantly higher than at clean, upstream locations. Furthermore, FA values of clean, laboratory-culturedmore » F1 larvae generally fell to reference values, indicating the direct effect of metal pollution on developmental aberrations. Mentum gaps were not observed in clean F1 cultures. Slightly elevated FA values were, however, still observed in clean F1 larvae from polluted locations downstream from the metal input. This residual disturbance was thought to reflect genetic stress emerging from interbreeding between metal-adapted and nonadapted specimens. Fluctuating asymmetry and mentum gaps together serve as a useful ecotoxicological marker for metal stress and, when combined with in situ studies and F1 cultures, allow for analysis of the response of animal populations to spatial and temporal gradients in metal exposure.« less

Pure electronic metal-insulator transition at the interface of complex oxides

DOE PAGES

Meyers, D.; Liu, Jian; Freeland, J. W.; ...

2016-06-21

We observed complex materials in electronic phases and transitions between them often involve coupling between many degrees of freedom whose entanglement convolutes understanding of the instigating mechanism. Metal-insulator transitions are one such problem where coupling to the structural, orbital, charge, and magnetic order parameters frequently obscures the underlying physics. We demonstrate a way to unravel this conundrum by heterostructuring a prototypical multi-ordered complex oxide NdNiO3 in ultra thin geometry, which preserves the metal-to-insulator transition and bulk-like magnetic order parameter, but entirely suppresses the symmetry lowering and long-range charge order parameter. Furthermore, these findings illustrate the utility of heterointerfaces as amore » powerful method for removing competing order parameters to gain greater insight into the nature of the transition, here revealing that the magnetic order generates the transition independently, leading to an exceptionally rare purely electronic metal-insulator transition with no symmetry change.« less

KECK ECHELLETTE SPECTROGRAPH AND IMAGER OBSERVATIONS OF METAL-POOR DAMPED Ly{alpha} SYSTEMS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Penprase, Bryan E.; Toro-Martinez, Irene; Beeler, Daniel J.

2010-09-20

We present the first results from a survey of SDSS quasars selected for strong H I damped Ly{alpha} (DLA) absorption with corresponding low equivalent width absorption from strong low-ion transitions (e.g., C II {lambda}1334 and Si II {lambda}1260). These metal-poor DLA candidates were selected from the SDSS fifth release quasar spectroscopic database, and comprise a large new sample for probing low-metallicity galaxies. Medium-resolution echellette spectra from the Keck Echellette Spectrograph and Imager spectrograph for an initial sample of 35 systems were obtained to explore the metal-poor tail of the DLA distribution and to investigate the nucleosynthetic patterns at these metallicities.more » We have estimated saturation corrections for the moderately underresolved spectra, and systems with very narrow Doppler parameters (b {<=} 5 km s{sup -1}) will likely have underestimated abundances. For those systems with Doppler parameters b > 5 km s{sup -1}, we have measured low-metallicity DLA gas with [X/H] <-2.4 for at least one of C, O, Si, or Fe. Assuming non-saturated components, we estimate that several DLA systems have [X/H] <-2.8, including five DLA systems with both low equivalent widths and low metallicity in transitions of both C II and O I. All of the measured DLA metallicities, however, exceed or are consistent with a metallicity of at least 1/1000 of solar, regardless of the effects of saturation in our spectra. Our results indicate that the metal-poor tail of galaxies at z {approx} 3 drops exponentially at [X/H] {approx}<-3. If the distribution of metallicity is Gaussian, the probability of identifying interstellar medium gas with lower abundance is extremely small, and our results suggest that DLA systems with [X/H] < -4.0 are extremely rare, and could comprise only 8 x 10{sup -7} of DLA systems. The relative abundances of species within these low-metallicity DLA systems are compared with stellar nucleosynthesis models, and are consistent with stars having masses of 30 M{sub sun} < M{sub *} < 100 M{sub sun}. The observed ratio of [C/O] for values of [O/H] <-2.5 exceeds values seen in moderate metallicity DLA systems, and also exceeds theoretical nucleosynthesis predictions for higher mass Population III stars. We also have observed a correlation between the column density N(C IV) with [Si/H] metallicity, suggestive of a trend between mass of the DLA system and its metallicity.« less

Inter- and intra-specific competition of duckweed under multiple heavy metal contaminated water.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhao; Shi, Huijuan; Kang, Xianjiang; Liu, Cunqi; Chen, Lingci; Liang, Xiaofei; Jin, Lei

2017-11-01

The influences of intra- and inter-species competition on ecosystems are poorly understood. Lemna aequinoctialis and Spirodela polyrhiza were used to assess the effects of exposure to different concentrations of multiple heavy metals (copper-cadmium-zinc), when the plants were grown in mixed- or mono-culture. Parameters assessed included relative growth rate (RGR), content of chlorophyll, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). Inter-specific competition was affected by metal concentration, with results indicating that inter-specific competition significantly affected duckweed growth and metal uptake in different heavy metal exposure conditions. Inter-specific competition increased growth rate of duckweed under high metal concentrations, although when compared with intra-specific competition, it caused no obvious differences under low metal concentrations. The growth of L. aequinoctialis was further increased in mixed culture when exposed to high metal concentrations, with inter-specific competition increasing the content of cadmium and zinc, while decreasing copper content of L. aequinoctialis compared with under intra-specific conditions. Conversely, inter-specific competition increased the content of copper and cadmium of S. polyrhiza, without causing obvious differences in zinc accumulation under high ambient concentrations. Under high metal conditions, inter-specific competition increased antioxidant enzyme activities in duckweed species, increasing resistance to heavy metals. Results show that inter-specific competition makes duckweed develop mechanisms to increase fitness and survival, such as enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities, rather than limiting metal uptake when exposed to high concentrations of multiple metals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of electric potential, NaCl, pH and distance between electrodes on efficiency of electrolysis in landfill leachate treatment.

PubMed

Erabee, Iqbal K; Ahsan, Amimul; Jose, Bipin; Arunkumar, T; Sathyamurthy, R; Idrus, Syazwani; Daud, N N Nik

2017-07-03

This study investigated the effects of different parameters on the removal efficiencies of organic and inorganic pollutants in landfill leachate treatment by electrolysis. Different parameters were considered such as the electric potential (e.g., 24, 40 and 60 V), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (e.g., 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 min), sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration (e.g., 1, 3, 5 and 7%), pH (e.g., 3, 7 and 9), electrodes materials [e.g., aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe)] and distance between electrodes (e.g., 1, 2 and 3 cm). The best operational condition of electrolysis was then recommended. The electric potential of 60 V with HRT of 120 min at 5% of NaCl solution using Al as anode and Fe as cathode (kept at a distance of 3 cm) was the most efficient condition which increased the removal efficiencies of various parameters such as turbidity, salinity, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and heavy metals (e.g., Zn and Mn). The higher removal percentages of many parameters, especially COD (94%) and Mn (93%) indicated that the electrolysis is an efficient technique for multi-pollutants (e.g., organic, inorganic and heavy metals) removal from the landfill leachate.

The impact of Mpererwe landfill in Kampala Uganda, on the surrounding environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mwiganga, M.; Kansiime, F.

Mpererwe landfill site receives solid wastes from the city of Kampala, Uganda. This study was carried out to assess and evaluate the appropriateness of the location and operation of this landfill, to determine the composition of the solid waste dumped at the landfill and the extent of contamination of landfill leachate to the neighbouring environment (water, soil and plants). Field observations and laboratory measurements were carried out to determine the concentration of nutrients, metals and numbers of bacteriological indicators in the landfill leachate. The landfill is not well located as it is close to a residential area (<200 m) and cattle farms. It is also located upstream of a wetland. The landfill generates nuisances like bad odour; there is scattering of waste by scavenger birds, flies and vermin. Industrial and hospital wastes are disposed of at the landfill without pre-treatment. The concentration of variables (nutrients, bacteriological indicators, BOD and heavy metals) in the leachate were higher than those recommended in the National Environment Standards for Discharge of Effluent into Water and on Land. A composite sample that was taken 1500 m down stream indicated that the wetland considerably reduced the concentration of the parameters that were measured except for sulfides. Despite the fact that there was accumulation of metals in the sediments, the concentration has not reached toxic levels to humans. Soil and plant analyses indicated deficiencies of zinc and copper. The concentration of these elements was lowest in the leachate canal.

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of complexes of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylacetophenoneoxime (HDMAOX) with copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and palladium(II)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Bibhesh K.; Jetley, Umesh K.; Sharma, Rakesh K.; Garg, Bhagwan S.

2007-09-01

A new series of complexes of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethyl acetophenone oxime (HDMAOX) with Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Pd(II) have been prepared and characterized by different physical techniques. Infrared spectra of the complexes indicate deprotonation and coordination of the phenolic OH. It also confirms that nitrogen atom of the oximino group contributes to the complexation. Electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal square planar geometry for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes and tetrahedral geometry for Co(II) complex. The elemental analyses and mass spectral data have justified the ML 2 composition of complexes. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal decomposition data using Coats and Redfern method. The geometry of the metal complexes has been optimized with the help of molecular modeling. The free ligand (HDMAOX) and its metal complexes have been tested in vitro against Alternarie alternate, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger fungi and Streptococcus, Staph, Staphylococcus and Escherchia coli bacteria in order to assess their antimicrobial potential. The results indicate that the ligand and its metal complexes possess antimicrobial properties.

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of complexes of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylacetophenoneoxime (HDMAOX) with copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and palladium(II).

PubMed

Singh, Bibhesh K; Jetley, Umesh K; Sharma, Rakesh K; Garg, Bhagwan S

2007-09-01

A new series of complexes of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethyl acetophenone oxime (HDMAOX) with Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Pd(II) have been prepared and characterized by different physical techniques. Infrared spectra of the complexes indicate deprotonation and coordination of the phenolic OH. It also confirms that nitrogen atom of the oximino group contributes to the complexation. Electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal square planar geometry for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes and tetrahedral geometry for Co(II) complex. The elemental analyses and mass spectral data have justified the ML(2) composition of complexes. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal decomposition data using Coats and Redfern method. The geometry of the metal complexes has been optimized with the help of molecular modeling. The free ligand (HDMAOX) and its metal complexes have been tested in vitro against Alternarie alternate, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger fungi and Streptococcus, Staph, Staphylococcus and Escherchia coli bacteria in order to assess their antimicrobial potential. The results indicate that the ligand and its metal complexes possess antimicrobial properties.

Relating fish health and reproductive metrics to contaminant bioaccumulation at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill site

DOE PAGES

Pracheil, Brenda M.; Marshall Adams, S.; Bevelhimer, Mark S.; ...

2016-05-06

A 4.1 million m 3 release of coal ash into the Emory and Clinch rivers in December 2008 at Tennessee Valley Authority s Kingston Fossil Plant has prompted a long-term, large-scale biological monitoring effort to determine if there are chronic effects of this spill on biota. Of concern in this spill were arsenic (As) and selenium (Se), heavy metal constituents of coal ash that can be toxic to fish and wildlife and also mercury (Hg): a legacy contaminant that can interact with Se in organisms. We used fish filet bioaccumulation data from Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, Redear Lepomis microlophus, Largemouth Bassmore » Micropterus salmoides and Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and metrics of fish health including fish condition indices, blood chemistry parameters and liver histopathology data collected from 2009-2013 to determine whether tissue heavy metal burdens relate 1) to each other 2) to metrics of fish health (e.g., blood chemistry characteristics and liver histopathology) and condition, and 3) whether relationships between fish health characteristics and heavy metals are related to site and ash-exposure. We found that burdens of Se and As are generally related to each other between tissues, but burdens of Hg between tissues are not generally positively associated. Taking analyses together, there appears to be reductions in growth and sublethal liver and kidney dysfunction in Bluegill and Largemouth Bass as indicated by blood chemistry parameters (elevated blood protein, glucose, phosphorous, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in ash-affected sites) and related to concentrations of As and Se. Seeing sub-lethal effects in these species of fish is interesting because Redear had the highest filet burdens of Se, but did not have biomarkers indicating disease or dysfunction. We conclude our study by highlighting the complexities inherent in multimetric fish health data and the need for continued monitoring to further untangle contaminant and fish health associations.« less

Relating fish health and reproductive metrics to contaminant bioaccumulation at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pracheil, Brenda M.; Marshall Adams, S.; Bevelhimer, Mark S.

A 4.1 million m 3 release of coal ash into the Emory and Clinch rivers in December 2008 at Tennessee Valley Authority s Kingston Fossil Plant has prompted a long-term, large-scale biological monitoring effort to determine if there are chronic effects of this spill on biota. Of concern in this spill were arsenic (As) and selenium (Se), heavy metal constituents of coal ash that can be toxic to fish and wildlife and also mercury (Hg): a legacy contaminant that can interact with Se in organisms. We used fish filet bioaccumulation data from Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, Redear Lepomis microlophus, Largemouth Bassmore » Micropterus salmoides and Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and metrics of fish health including fish condition indices, blood chemistry parameters and liver histopathology data collected from 2009-2013 to determine whether tissue heavy metal burdens relate 1) to each other 2) to metrics of fish health (e.g., blood chemistry characteristics and liver histopathology) and condition, and 3) whether relationships between fish health characteristics and heavy metals are related to site and ash-exposure. We found that burdens of Se and As are generally related to each other between tissues, but burdens of Hg between tissues are not generally positively associated. Taking analyses together, there appears to be reductions in growth and sublethal liver and kidney dysfunction in Bluegill and Largemouth Bass as indicated by blood chemistry parameters (elevated blood protein, glucose, phosphorous, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in ash-affected sites) and related to concentrations of As and Se. Seeing sub-lethal effects in these species of fish is interesting because Redear had the highest filet burdens of Se, but did not have biomarkers indicating disease or dysfunction. We conclude our study by highlighting the complexities inherent in multimetric fish health data and the need for continued monitoring to further untangle contaminant and fish health associations.« less

Hematological findings in neotropical fish Hoplias malabaricus exposed to subchronic and dietary doses of methylmercury, inorganic lead, and tributyltin chloride.

PubMed

Oliveira Ribeiro, C A; Filipak Neto, F; Mela, M; Silva, P H; Randi, M A F; Rabitto, I S; Alves Costa, J R M; Pelletier, E

2006-05-01

Hematological indices are gaining general acceptance as valuable tools in monitoring various aspects the health of fish exposed to contaminants. In this work some effects of methyl mercury (MeHg), inorganic lead (Pb2+), and tributyltin (TBT) in a tropical fish species were evaluated by hematological methods after a trophic exposition at a subchronic level. Forty-two mature individuals of the freshwater top predator fish Hoplias malabaricus were exposed to trophic doses (each 5 days) of MeHg (0.075 microg g(-1)), Pb2+ (21 microg g(-1)), and TBT (0.3 microg g(-1)) using young fish Astyanax sp. as prey vehicle. After 14 successive doses over 70 days, blood was sampled from exposed and control groups to evaluate hematological effects of metals on erythrocytes, total leukocytes and differential leukocytes counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell indices mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Transmission electron microscopy and image analysis of erythrocytes were also used to investigate some morphometric parameters. Results show no significant effects in MCH and MCHC for all tested metals, but differences were found in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and white blood cells counts. The number of leukocytes was increased in the presence of MeHg, suggesting effects on the immune system. Also the MCV increased in individuals exposed to MeHg. No ultrastructural damages were observed in red blood cells but the image analysis using light microscopy revealed differences in area, elongation, and roundness of erythrocytes from individuals exposed to Pb2+ and TBT but not in the group exposed to MeHg. The present work shows that changes in hematological and blood indices could highlight some barely detectable metal effects in fish after laboratory exposure to contaminated food, but their application in field biomonitoring using H. malabaricus will need more detailed studies and a careful consideration of environmental parameters.

Headgroup interactions and ion flotation efficiency in mixtures of a chelating surfactant, different foaming agents, and divalent metal ions.

PubMed

Svanedal, Ida; Boija, Susanne; Norgren, Magnus; Edlund, Håkan

2014-06-10

The correlation between interaction parameters and ion flotation efficiency in mixtures of chelating surfactant metal complexes and different foaming agents was investigated. We have recently shown that chelating surfactant 2-dodecyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (4-C12-DTPA) forms strong coordination complexes with divalent metal ions, and this can be utilized in ion flotation. Interaction parameters for mixed micelles and mixed monolayer formation for Mg(2+) and Ni(2+) complexes with the chelating surfactant 4-C12-DTPA and different foaming agents were calculated by Rubingh's regular solution theory. Parameters for the calculations were extracted from surface tension measurements and NMR diffusometry. The effects of metal ion coordination on the interactions between 4-C12-DTPA and the foaming agents could be linked to a previously established difference in coordination chemistry between the examined metal ions. As can be expected from mixtures of amphoteric surfactants, the interactions were strongly pH-dependent. Strong correlation was found between interaction parameter β(σ) for mixed monolayer formation and the phase-transfer efficiency of Ni(2+) complexes with 4-C12-DTPA during flotation in a customized flotation cell. In a mixture of Cu(2+) and Zn(2+), the significant difference in conditional stability constants (log K) between the metal complexes was utilized to selectively recover the metal complex with the highest log K (Cu(2+)) by ion flotation. Flotation experiments in an excess concentration of metal ions confirmed the coordination of more than one metal ion to the headgroup of 4-C12-DTPA.

Estimation of strength parameters of small-bore metal-polymer pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaydakov, V. V.; Chernova, K. V.; Penzin, A. V.

2018-03-01

The paper presents results from a set of laboratory studies of strength parameters of small-bore metal-polymer pipes of type TG-5/15. A wave method was used to estimate the provisional modulus of elasticity of the metal-polymer material of the pipes. Longitudinal deformation, transverse deformation and leak-off pressure were determined experimentally, with considerations for mechanical damage and pipe bend.

Reduction of metal artifacts: beam hardening and photon starvation effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadava, Girijesh K.; Pal, Debashish; Hsieh, Jiang

2014-03-01

The presence of metal-artifacts in CT imaging can obscure relevant anatomy and interfere with disease diagnosis. The cause and occurrence of metal-artifacts are primarily due to beam hardening, scatter, partial volume and photon starvation; however, the contribution to the artifacts from each of them depends on the type of hardware. A comparison of CT images obtained with different metallic hardware in various applications, along with acquisition and reconstruction parameters, helps understand methods for reducing or overcoming such artifacts. In this work, a metal beam hardening correction (BHC) and a projection-completion based metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithms were developed, and applied on phantom and clinical CT scans with various metallic implants. Stainless-steel and Titanium were used to model and correct for metal beam hardening effect. In the MAR algorithm, the corrupted projection samples are replaced by the combination of original projections and in-painted data obtained by forward projecting a prior image. The data included spine fixation screws, hip-implants, dental-filling, and body extremity fixations, covering range of clinically used metal implants. Comparison of BHC and MAR on different metallic implants was used to characterize dominant source of the artifacts, and conceivable methods to overcome those. Results of the study indicate that beam hardening could be a dominant source of artifact in many spine and extremity fixations, whereas dental and hip implants could be dominant source of photon starvation. The BHC algorithm could significantly improve image quality in CT scans with metallic screws, whereas MAR algorithm could alleviate artifacts in hip-implants and dentalfillings.

Analysis of the contaminants released from municipal solid waste landfill site: A case study.

PubMed

Samadder, S R; Prabhakar, R; Khan, D; Kishan, D; Chauhan, M S

2017-02-15

Release and transport of leachate from municipal solid waste landfills pose a potential hazard to both surrounding ecosystems and human populations. In the present study, soil, groundwater, and surface water samples were collected from the periphery of a municipal solid waste landfill (located at Ranital of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India) for laboratory analysis to understand the release of contaminants. The landfill does not receive any solid wastes for dumping now as the same is under a landfill closure plan. Groundwater and soil samples were collected from the bore holes of 15m deep drilled along the periphery of the landfill and the surface water samples were collected from the existing surface water courses near the landfill. The landfill had neither any bottom liner nor any leachate collection and treatment system. Thus the leachate generated from the landfills finds paths into the groundwater and surrounding surface water courses. Concentrations of various physico-chemical parameters including some toxic metals (in collected groundwater, soil, and surface water samples) and microbiological parameters (in surface water samples) were determined. The analyzed data were integrated into ArcGIS environment and the spatial distribution of the metals and other physic- chemical parameter across the landfill was extrapolated to observe the distribution. The statistical analysis and spatial variations indicated the leaching of metals from the landfill to the groundwater aquifer system. The study will help the readers and the municipal engineers to understand the release of contaminants from landfills for better management of municipal solid wastes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Metal based gas diffusion layers for enhanced fuel cell performance at high current densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, Nabeel; Van Steen, Eric; Tanaka, Shiro; Levecque, Pieter

2017-01-01

The gas diffusion layer strongly influences the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. A major drawback of current carbon fiber based GDLs is the non-controlled variation in porosity resulting in a random micro-structure. Moreover, when subjected to compression these materials show significant reduction in porosity and permeability leading to water management problems and mass transfer losses within the fuel cell. This study investigated the use of uniform perforated metal sheets as GDLs in conjunction with microchannel flowfields. A metal sheet design with a pitch of 110 μm and a hole diameter of 60 μm in combination with an MPL showed superior performance in the high current density region compared to a commercially available carbon paper based GDL in a single cell environment. Fuel cell testing with different oxidants (air, heliox and oxygen) indicate that the metal sheet offers both superior diffusion and reduced flooding in comparison to the carbon based GDL. The presence of the MPL has been found to be critical to the functionality of the metal sheet suggesting that the MPL design may represent an important optimisation parameter for further improvements in performance.

A Review of Permanent Magnet Stirring During Metal Solidification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Jie; Chen, Weiqing; Yang, Yindong; Mclean, Alexander

2017-12-01

Rather than using conventional electromagnetic stirring (EMS) with three-phase alternating current, permanent magnet stirring (PMS), based on the use of sintered NdFeB material which has excellent magnetic characteristics, can be employed to generate a magnetic field for the stirring of liquid metal during solidification. Recent experience with steel casting indicates that PMS requires less than 20 pct of the total energy compared with EMS. Despite the excellent magnetic density properties and low power consumption, this relatively new technology has received comparatively little attention by the metal casting community. This paper reviews simulation modeling, experimental studies, and industrial trials of PMS conducted during recent years. With the development of magnetic simulation software, the magnetic field and associated flow patterns generated by PMS have been evaluated. Based on the results obtained from laboratory experiments, the effects of PMS on metal solidification structures and typical defects such as surface pinholes and center cavities are summarized. The significance of findings obtained from trials of PMS within the metals processing sector, including the continuous casting of steel, are discussed with the aim of providing an overview of the relevant parameters that are of importance for further development and industrial application of this innovative technology.

Effects of heavy metal Cd pollution on microbial activities in soil.

PubMed

Shi, Weilin; Ma, Xiying

2017-12-23

Heavy metal contamination of soil occurs when heavy metals are introduced to soil through human activities, leading to the gradual deterioration of the ecology and environment. Microorganism activity reflects the intensity of various biochemical reactions in soil, and changes in it reflect the level of heavy metal pollution affecting the soil. The effects were studied of heavy metal Cd on the microbial activity of soil at different concentrations by investigating the respiratory intensity, urease activity, and catalase activity in forest soil and garden soil. The results showed that the respiratory intensity, urease and catalase activities in the garden soil were all higher than in the forest soil. Cd has obvious inhibitory effects on microbial activities. The three parameters exhibited a downward trend with increasing concentrations of Cd. Catalase activity increased when the mass concentration of Cd reached 1.0 mg/kg, indicating that low concentrations of Cd can promote the activity of some microorganisms. Respiratory intensity and urease activity also increased when the concentration reached 10.0 mg/kg, showing that respiratory intensity and urease activity have strong response mechanisms to adverse conditions. The effective state of Cd in soil, as well as inhibition of microbial activity, decreased with incubation time.

Winds of metal-poor OB stars: Updates from HST-COS UV spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García, M.; Herrero, A.; Najarro, F.; Lennon, D. J.; Urbaneja, M. A.

2015-01-01

In the race to break the SMC frontier and reach metallicity conditions closer to the First Stars the information from UV spectroscopy is usually overlooked. New HST-COS observations of OB stars in the metal-poor galaxy IC1613, with oxygen content ~1/10 solar, have proved the important role of UV spectroscopy to characterize blue massive stars and their winds. The terminal velocities (υ∞) and abundances derived from the dataset have shed new light on the problem of metal-poor massive stars with strong winds. Furthermore, our results question the υ∞-υ esc and υ∞-Z scaling relations whose use in optical-only studies may introduce large uncertainties in the derived mass loss rates and wind-momenta. Finally, our results indicate that the detailed abundance pattern of each star may have a non-negligible impact on its wind properties, and scaling these as a function of one single metallicity parameter is probably too coarse an approximation. Considering, for instance, that the [α/Fe] ratio evolves with the star formation history of each galaxy, we may be in need of updating all our wind recipes.

Developable images produced by x-rays using the nickel-hypophosphite system. 2: Exposure and development parameters for sodium hypophosphite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

May, C. E.; Philipp, W. H.; Marsik, S. J.

1972-01-01

Crystalline sodium hypophosphite was X-irradiated and then treated with an ammoniacal nickel hypophosphite solution. Treatment resulted in the precipitation of nickel metal. The yield of nickel metal varied directly with particle size, sample weight, X-ray voltage, target current, exposure time, and development time. These findings show the process to be potentially useful in X-ray type photography. The half-life for the latent image species was found to be relatively short; but this is not critical in most X-ray photography applications. Furthermore, the work can be interpreted on the basis that a hydrogen atom is involved in the mechanism and indicates that the autocatalytic development step may be self-poisoning.

Fabrication and Structural Characterization of an Ultrathin Film of a Two-Dimensional-Layered Metal-Organic Framework, {Fe(py)2[Ni(CN)4]} (py = pyridine).

PubMed

Sakaida, Shun; Haraguchi, Tomoyuki; Otsubo, Kazuya; Sakata, Osami; Fujiwara, Akihiko; Kitagawa, Hiroshi

2017-07-17

We report the fabrication and characterization of the first example of a tetracyanonickelate-based two-dimensional-layered metal-organic framework, {Fe(py) 2 Ni(CN) 4 } (py = pyridine), thin film. To fabricate a nanometer-sized thin film, we utilized the layer-by-layer method, whereby a substrate was alternately soaked in solutions of the structural components. Surface X-ray studies revealed that the fabricated film was crystalline with well-controlled growth directions both parallel and perpendicular to the substrate. In addition, lattice parameter analysis indicated that the crystal system is found to be close to higher symmetry by being downsized to a thin film.

Tailored metal matrix composites for high-temperature performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morel, M. R.; Saravanos, D. A.; Chamis, C. C.

1992-01-01

A multi-objective tailoring methodology is presented to maximize stiffness and load carrying capacity of a metal matrix cross-ply laminated at elevated temperatures. The fabrication process and fiber volume ratio are used as the design variables. A unique feature is the concurrent effects from fabrication, residual stresses, material nonlinearity, and thermo-mechanical loading on the laminate properties at the post-fabrication phase. For a (0/90)(sub s) graphite/copper laminate, strong coupling was observed between the fabrication process, laminate characteristics, and thermo-mechanical loading. The multi-objective tailoring was found to be more effective than single objective tailoring. Results indicate the potential to increase laminate stiffness and load carrying capacity by controlling the critical parameters of the fabrication process and the laminate.

Development of large-surface Nafion-metal composite actuator and its electrochemical characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noh, Taegeun; Tak, Yong Suk; Nam, Jaedo; Jeon, Jaewook; Kim, Hunmo; Choi, Hyoukryeol; Bae, Sang Sik

2001-07-01

Behaviors of nafion-based actuators are significantly affected by interfacial area between electrode and polymer electrolyte. Replication method was utilized to manufacture a large surface-area composite actuator. Etched aluminum foil was used as a template for replication using liquid nafion solution. Measurement of double layer charging and scanning electron microscopy indicated that interfacial area was greatly increased by replication method. Higher surface area induced a better bending performance of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). In parallel, the effect of cations on IPMC was interpreted with constant current experiment, linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. For univalent cations, ion size is the most influencing parameter on ionic mobility inside membrane. However, ion-ion interaction affects an ionic mobility for divalent cations.

Biochemical basis of mercury remediation and bioaccumulation by Enterobacter sp. EMB21.

PubMed

Sinha, Arvind; Kumar, Sumit; Khare, Sunil Kumar

2013-01-01

The aims of this study were to isolate metal bioaccumulating bacterial strains and to study their applications in removal of environmental problematic heavy metals like mercury. Five bacterial strains belonging to genera Enterobacter, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas were isolated from oil-spilled soil. Among these, one of the strains Enterobacter sp. EMB21 showed mercury bioaccumulation inside the cells simultaneous to its bioremediation. The bioaccumulation of remediated mercury was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray. The mercury-resistant loci in the Enterobacter sp. EMB21 cells were plasmid-mediated as confirmed by transformation of mercury-sensitive Escherichia coli DH5α by Enterobacter sp. EMB21 plasmid. Effect of different culture parameters viz-a-viz inoculum size, pH, carbon, and nitrogen source revealed that alkaline pH and presence of dextrose and yeast extract favored better remediation. The results indicated the usefulness of Enterobacter sp. EMB21 for the effective remediation of mercury in bioaccumulated form. The Enterobacter sp. EMB21 seems promising for heavy metal remediation wherein the remediated metal can be trapped inside the cells. The process can further be developed for the synthesis of valuable high-end functional alloy, nanoparticles, or metal conjugates from the metal being remediated.

Micro-nano filler metal foil on vacuum brazing of SiCp/Al composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Peng; Gao, Zeng; Niu, Jitai

2016-06-01

Using micro-nano (Al-5.25Si-26.7Cu)- xTi (wt%, x = 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0) foils as filler metal, the research obtained high-performance joints of aluminum matrix composites with high SiC particle content (60 vol%, SiCp/Al-MMCs). The effect of brazing process and Ti content on joint properties was investigated, respectively. The experimental results indicate that void free dense interface between SiC particle and metallic brazed seam with C-Al-Si-Ti product was readily obtained, and the joint shear strength enhanced with increasing brazing temperature from 560 to 580 °C or prolonging soaking time from 10 to 90 min. Sound joints with maximum shear strength of 112.5 MPa was achieved at 580 °C for soaking time of 90 min with (Al-5.25Si-26.7Cu)-2Ti filler, where Ti(AlSi)3 intermetallic is in situ strengthening phase dispersed in the joint and fracture occured in the filler metal layer. In this research, the beneficial effect of Ti addition into filler metal on improving wettability between SiC particle and metallic brazed seam was demonstrated, and capable welding parameters were broadened for SiCp/Al-MMCs with high SiC particle content.

Influence of heavy metals and 4-nonylphenol on reproductive function in fish.

PubMed

Popek, Włodzimierz; Dietrich, Grzegorz; Glogowski, Jan; Demska-Zakeś, Krystyna; Drag-Kozak, Ewa; Sionkowski, Jan; Łuszczek-Trojan, Ewa; Epler, Piotr; Demianowicz, Wiesław; Sarosiek, Beata; Kowalski, Radosław; Jankun, Małgorzata; Zakeś, Zdzisław; Król, Jarosław; Czerniak, Stanisław; Szczepkowski, Mirosław

2006-01-01

Many industrial and agricultural chemicals (including heavy metals and alkylphenols) present in the environment have adverse effects on the reproductive function in fish. Three studies were conducted to assess toxicity of these chemicals towards reproduction of freshwater fish. It was shown that heavy metals added to the diets accumulate in brain tissue of carp, and this accumulation results in inhibition of the secretion of noradrenaline and stimulation of the secretion of dopamine in the hypothalamus. These processes results in a disturbance of hormonal equilibrium of the hypothalamo-pituitary system, which can unfavorably influence the efficiency of artificial spawning in fish. Quality of salmonid and sturgeon sperm was impaired after in vitro exposure to heavy metals. The degree of this toxic effect was species-specific. It was demonstrated that sperm motility parameters appeared to be good indicators of adverse effects of heavy metals fish sperm. The protection role of seminal plasma against toxic effects of heavy metals was suggested for salmonid fish. Oral application of 4-nonylphenol (NP) disrupted reproduction in pikeperch. In juvenile fish a decrease in the percentage of males and an increase of intersex fish was observed in relation to dose of NP and time of exposure to this alkylphenol. Exposure of adult males to the NP led to the reduction in fecundity, milt quality and fertility.

The Relationship between TOC and pH with Exchangeable Heavy Metal Levels in Lithuanian Podzols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khaledian, Yones; Pereira, Paulo; Brevik, Eric C.; Pundyte, Neringa; Paliulis, Dainius

2017-04-01

Heavy metals can have a negative impact on public and environmental health. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between total organic carbon (TOC) and pH with exchangeable heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) in order to predict exchangeable heavy metal content in soils sampled near Panevėžys and Kaunas, Lithuania. Principal component regression (PCR) and nonlinear regression methods were tested to find the statistical relationship between TOC and pH with heavy metals. The results of PCR [R2 = 0.68, RMSE = 0.07] and non-linear regression [R2 = 0.74, RMSE= 0.065] (pH with TOC and exchangeable parameters) were statistically significant. However, this was not observed in the relationships of pH and TOC separately with exchangeable heavy metals. The results indicated that pH had a higher correlation with exchangeable heavy metals (non-linear regression [R2 = 0.72, RMSE= 0.066]) than TOC with heavy metals [R2 = 0.30, RMSE= 0.004]. It can be concluded that even though there was a strong relationship between TOC and pH with exchangeable metals, the metal mobility (exchangeable metals) can be explained by pH better than TOC in this study. Finally, manipulating soil pH could likely be productive to assess and control heavy metals when financial and time limitations exist (Khaledian et al. 2016). Reference(s) Khaledian Y, Pereira P, Brevik E.C, Pundyte N, Paliulis D. 2016. The Influence of Organic Carbon and pH on Heavy Metals, Potassium, and Magnesium Levels in Lithuanian Podzols. Land Degradation and Development. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2638

Deriving physical parameters of unresolved star clusters. V. M 31 PHAT star clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Meulenaer, P.; Stonkutė, R.; Vansevičius, V.

2017-06-01

Context. This study is the fifth of a series that investigates the degeneracy and stochasticity problems present in the determination of physical parameters such as age, mass, extinction, and metallicity of partially resolved or unresolved star cluster populations in external galaxies when using HST broad-band photometry. Aims: In this work we aim to derive parameters of star clusters using models with fixed and free metallicity based on the HST WFC3+ACS photometric system. The method is applied to derive parameters of a subsample of 1363 star clusters in the Andromeda galaxy observed with the HST. Methods: Following Paper III, we derive the star cluster parameters using a large grid of stochastic models that are compared to the six observed integrated broad-band WFC3+ACS magnitudes of star clusters. Results: We show that the age, mass, and extinction of the M 31 star clusters, derived assuming fixed solar metallicity, are in agreement with previous studies. We also demonstrate the ability of the WFC3+ACS photometric system to derive metallicity of star clusters older than 1 Gyr. We show that the metallicity derived using broad-band photometry of 36 massive M 31 star clusters is in good agreement with the metallicity derived using spectroscopy. Table 1 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/602/A112

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khomkin, A. L., E-mail: alhomkin@mail.ru; Shumikhin, A. S.

The conductivity of metal vapors at the critical point and near it has been considered. The liquid-metal conductivity originates in this region. The thermodynamic parameters of the critical point, the density of conduction electrons, and the conductivities of various metal vapors have been calculated within the unified approach. It has been proposed to consider the conductivity at the critical point—critical conductivity—as the fourth critical parameter in addition to the density, temperature, and pressure.

Nonequilibrium approach regarding metals from a linearised kappa distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domenech-Garret, J. L.

2017-10-01

The widely used kappa distribution functions develop high-energy tails through an adjustable kappa parameter. The aim of this work is to show that such a parameter can itself be regarded as a function, which entangles information about the sources of disequilibrium. We first derive and analyse an expanded Fermi-Dirac kappa distribution. Later, we use this expanded form to obtain an explicit analytical expression for the kappa parameter of a heated metal on which an external electric field is applied. We show that such a kappa index causes departures from equilibrium depending on the physical magnitudes. Finally, we study the role of temperature and electric field on such a parameter, which characterises the electron population of a metal out of equilibrium.

Comparison of Multilayer Dielectric Thin Films for Future Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitors: Al2O3/HfO2/Al2O3 versus SiO2/HfO2/SiO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Sang-Uk; Kwon, Hyuk-Min; Han, In-Shik; Jung, Yi-Jung; Kwak, Ho-Young; Choi, Woon-Il; Ha, Man-Lyun; Lee, Ju-Il; Kang, Chang-Yong; Lee, Byoung-Hun; Jammy, Raj; Lee, Hi-Deok

2011-10-01

In this paper, two kinds of multilayered metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors using Al2O3/HfO2/Al2O3 (AHA) and SiO2/HfO2/SiO2 (SHS) were fabricated and characterized for radio frequency (RF) and analog mixed signal (AMS) applications. The experimental results indicate that the AHA MIM capacitor (8.0 fF/µm2) is able to provide a higher capacitance density than the SHS MIM capacitor (5.1 fF/µm2), while maintaining a low leakage current of about 50 nA/cm2 at 1 V. The quadratic voltage coefficient of capacitance, α gradually decreases as a function of stress time under constant voltage stress (CVS). The parameter variation of SHS MIM capacitors is smaller than that of AHA MIM capacitors. The effects of CVS on voltage linearity and time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristics were also investigated.

Recovery of heavy metals from spent Ni-Cd batteries by a potentiostatic electrodeposition technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chun-Chen

Two heavy metals, Cd and Ni, have been separately recovered from spent AA-size Ni-Cd batteries by the potentiostatic electrodeposition and chemical precipitation methods, respectively. Various types and concentrations of HCl, H 2SO 4, and HNO 3 acids had been used as leach extractants. Experimental results indicate that the acid with the best leach capability is 4 M HCl. Three complexing reagents of NH 3, sodium acetate, sodium citrate have been chosen and tested. The most effective buffer is sodium citrate. The optimum mole ratio of metallic ion to citrate ion is 1:1. The recovery process for Cd metal is conducted by the potentiostatic electrodeposition in a leach electrolyte with a sodium citrate complex. The optimum applied potential for Cd recovery is in the range -1100 to -1120 mV (versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). The current efficiency for the recovery process is between 70 and 90% and depends strongly on the process parameters, e.g. liquor, concentration, applied potential, temperature, type of complex reagents, mole ratio, mass-transfer rate.

Experimental (FT-IR, FT-Raman, 1H, 13C NMR) and theoretical study of alkali metal 2-aminobenzoates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samsonowicz, M.; Świsłocka, R.; Regulska, E.; Lewandowski, W.

2008-09-01

The influence of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium on the electronic system of the 2-aminobenzoic acid was studied by the methods of molecular spectroscopy. The vibrational (FT-IR, FT-Raman) and NMR ( 1H and 13C) spectra for 2-aminobenzoic acid and its alkali metal salts were recorded. The assignment of vibrational spectra was done on the basis of literature data, theoretical calculations and our previous experience. Characteristic shifts of bands and changes in intensities of bands along the metal series were observed. The changes of chemical shifts of protons ( 1H NMR) and carbons ( 13C NMR) in the series of studied alkali metal 2-aminobenzoates were observed too. Optimized geometrical structures of studied compounds were calculated by B3LYP method using 6-311++G ∗∗ basis set. Geometric aromaticity indices, dipole moments and energies were also calculated. The theoretical wavenumbers and intensities of IR and Raman spectra were obtained. The calculated parameters were compared to experimental characteristic of studied compounds.

Assessment of the characteristic of nutrients, total metals, and fecal coliform in Sibu Laut River, Sarawak, Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soo, Chen-Lin; Ling, Teck-Yee; Lee, Nyanti; Apun, Kasing

2016-03-01

The concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), total metals, and fecal coliform (FC) coupling with chlorophyll- a (chl- a), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and other general environmental parameters were evaluated at the sub-surface and near-bottom water columns of 13 stations in the Sibu Laut River during low and high slack waters. The results indicated that inorganic nitrogen (mainly nitrate) was the primary form of nitrogen whereas organic phosphorus was the major form of phosphorus. The abundance of total heavy metals in Sibu Laut River and its tributaries was in the order of Pb < Cu < Zn < Cd. Fecal coliform concentration was relatively low along Sibu Laut River. The shrimp farm effluents contributed a substantial amount of chl- a, BOD5, nutrients, and FC to the receiving creek except for total metals. Nevertheless, the influence was merely noticeable in the intake creek and amended rapidly along Selang Sibu River and brought minimal effects on the Sibu Laut River. Besides, the domestic sewage effluents from villages nearby also contributed a substantial amount of pollutants.

Development of engineering parameters for the design of metal biosorption waste treatment systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Graham, W.S.

1991-12-03

Untreated landfill leachates and wastes from metal plating and mining operations are sources of environmental contamination by heavy metals. Because of their toxicity and potential for accumulation, the discharge of heavy metals must be controlled. Standard physical and chemical treatments used to remove metals from wastes such as concentration by electro-precipitation, ion exchange, solvent extraction, evaporative recovery, and conventional precipitation, are usually expensive and produce high quantities of sludge. Biosorption is the removal of metals from aqueous solutions by microorganisms. It is called biosorption rather than bioadsorption or bioaccumulation because the mechanisms of removal are not restricted to adsorption ormore » metabolic uptake and so the more general term is preferable and has come to be accepted. In this thesis the focus is one two microorganisms and two metals. However, the possible combinations of conditions such as pH, relative metal molarities, time of contact, and organism are numerous. These experiments are designed to provide optimized parameters to facilitate the design of a functioning biosorption system. The two metals chosen for study are copper and lead in aqueous solution. The two types of microorganisms chosen for testing include an actinomycete and a fungus. The purpose of this research is to identify the significant engineering parameters to be evaluated include reaction rates, equilibrium partitioning of metal ions between those in solution and those removed to the cells, optimum pH for achieving the removal or recovery goal, and biosorption selectivity for one metal over another.« less

Inoculation of Brassica oxyrrhina with plant growth promoting bacteria for the improvement of heavy metal phytoremediation under drought conditions.

PubMed

Ma, Ying; Rajkumar, Mani; Zhang, Chang; Freitas, Helena

2016-12-15

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of drought resistant serpentine rhizobacteria on plant growth and metal uptake by Brassica oxyrrhina under drought stress (DS) condition. Two drought resistant serpentine rhizobacterial strains namely Pseudomonas libanensis TR1 and Pseudomonas reactans Ph3R3 were selected based on their ability to stimulate seedling growth in roll towel assay. Further assessment on plant growth promoting (PGP) parameters revealed their ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, siderophore and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase. Moreover, both strains exhibited high resistance to various heavy metals, antibiotics, salinity and extreme temperature. Inoculation of TR1 and Ph3R3 significantly increased plant growth, leaf relative water and pigment content of B. oxyrrhina, whereas decreased concentrations of proline and malondialdehyde in leaves under metal stress in the absence and presence of DS. Regardless of soil water conditions, TR1 and Ph3R3 greatly improved organ metal concentrations, translocation and bioconcentration factors of Cu and Zn. The successful colonization and metabolic activities of P. libanensis TR1 and P. reactans Ph3R3 represented positive effects on plant development and metal phytoremediation under DS. These results indicate that these strains could be used as bio-inoculants for the improvement of phytoremediation of metal polluted soils under semiarid conditions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Combination of magnetic parameters and heavy metals to discriminate soil-contamination sources in Yinchuan--a typical oasis city of Northwestern China.

PubMed

Xia, Dunsheng; Wang, Bo; Yu, Ye; Jia, Jia; Nie, Yan; Wang, Xin; Xu, Shujing

2014-07-01

Various industrial processes and vehicular traffic result in harmful emissions containing both magnetic minerals and heavy metals. In this study, we investigated the levels of magnetic and heavy metal contamination of topsoils from Yinchuan city in northwestern China. The results demonstrate that magnetic mineral assemblages in the topsoil are dominated by pseudo-single domain (PSD) and multi-domain (MD) magnetite. The concentrations of anthropogenic heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) and the magnetic properties of χlf, SIRM, χARM, and 'SOFT' and 'HARD' remanence are significantly correlated, suggesting that the magnetic minerals and heavy metals have common sources. Combined use of principal components and fuzzy cluster analysis of the magnetic and chemical data set indicates that the magnetic and geochemical properties of the particulates emitted from different sources vary significantly. Samples from university campus and residential areas are mainly affected by crustal material, with low concentrations of magnetic minerals and heavy metals, while industrial pollution sources are characterized by high concentrations of coarse magnetite and Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn. Traffic pollution is characterized by Pb and Zn, and magnetite. Magnetic measurements of soils are capable of differentiating sources of magnetic minerals and heavy metals from industrial processes, vehicle fleets and soil parent material. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Near-infrared metallicities, radial velocities, and spectral types for 447 nearby M dwarfs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Newton, Elisabeth R.; Charbonneau, David; Irwin, Jonathan

We present metallicities, radial velocities, and near-infrared (NIR) spectral types for 447 M dwarfs determined from moderate resolution (R ≈ 2000) NIR spectra obtained with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF)/SpeX. These M dwarfs are primarily targets of the MEarth Survey, a transiting planet survey searching for super Earths around mid-to-late M dwarfs within 33 pc. We present NIR spectral types for each star and new spectral templates for the IRTF in the Y, J, H, and K-bands, created using M dwarfs with near-solar metallicities. We developed two spectroscopic distance calibrations that use NIR spectral type or an index basedmore » on the curvature of the K-band continuum. Our distance calibration has a scatter of 14%. We searched 27 NIR spectral lines and 10 spectral indices for metallicity sensitive features, taking into account correlated noise in our estimates of the errors on these parameters. We calibrated our relation using 36 M dwarfs in common proper pairs with an F-, G-, or K-type star of known metallicity. We validated the physical association of these pairs using proper motions, radial velocities, and spectroscopic distance estimates. Our resulting metallicity calibration uses the sodium doublet at 2.2 μm as the sole indicator for metallicity. It has an accuracy of 0.12 dex inferred from the scatter between the metallicities of the primaries and the estimated metallicities of the secondaries. Our relation is valid for NIR spectral types from M1V to M5V and for –1.0 dex < [Fe/H] < +0.35 dex. We present a new color-color metallicity relation using J – H and J – K colors that directly relates two observables: the distance from the M dwarf main sequence and equivalent width of the sodium line at 2.2 μm. We used radial velocities of M dwarf binaries, observations at different epochs, and comparison between our measurements and precisely measured radial velocities to demonstrate a 4 km s{sup –1} accuracy.« less

Enhanced Carbon Diffusion in Austenitic Stainless Steel Carburized at Low Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernst, F.; Avishai, A.; Kahn, H.; Gu, X.; Michal, G. M.; Heuer, A. H.

2009-08-01

Austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L was carburized by a novel, low-temperature gas-phase process. Using a calibrated scanning Auger microprobe (SAM) analysis of cross-sectional specimens under dynamic sputtering, we determined the fraction-depth profile of carbon. The profile is concave—very different from the shape expected for concentration-independent diffusion—and indicates a carbide-free solid solution with carbon levels up to 15 at. pct and a case depth of ≈30 μm. A Boltzmann-Matano analysis with a careful evaluation of the stochastic and potential systematic errors indicates that increasing levels of carbon significantly enhance carbon diffusion. For the highest carbon level observed (15 at. pct), the carbon diffusion coefficient is more than two orders of magnitude larger than in dilute solution. The most likely explanation for this strong increase is that carbon-induced local expansion of metal-metal atom distances, observed as an expansion of the lattice parameter, reduces the activation energy for carbon diffusion.

Functional Role of Infective Viral Particles on Metal Reduction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coates, John D.

2014-04-01

A proposed strategy for the remediation of uranium (U) contaminated sites was based on the immobilization of U by reducing the oxidized soluble U, U(VI), to form a reduced insoluble end product, U(IV). Previous studies identified Geobacter sp., including G. sulfurreducens and G. metallireducens, as predominant U(VI)-reducing bacteria under acetate-oxidizing and U(VI)-reducing conditions. Examination of the finished genome sequence annotation of the canonical metal reducing species Geobacter sulfurreducens strain PCA and G. metallireduceans strain GS-15 as well as the draft genome sequence of G. uraniumreducens strain Rf4 identified phage related proteins. In addition, the completed genome for Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans andmore » the draft genome sequence of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain G20, two more model metal-reducing bacteria, also revealed phage related sequences. The presence of these gene sequences indicated that Geobacter spp., Anaeromyxobacter spp., and Desulfovibrio spp. are susceptible to viral infection. Furthermore, viral populations in soils and sedimentary environments in the order of 6.4×10{sup 6}–2.7×10{sup 10} VLP’s cm{sup -3} have been observed. In some cases, viral populations exceed bacterial populations in these environments suggesting that a relationship may exist between viruses and bacteria. Our preliminary screens of samples collected from the ESR FRC indicated that viral like particles were observed in significant numbers. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential functional role viruses play in metal reduction specifically Fe(III) and U(VI) reduction, the environmental parameters affecting viral infection of metal reducing bacteria, and the subsequent effects on U transport.« less

Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic and Polymeric Thin Film Materials of Potential for Microgravity Processing Studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abdeldayem, Hossin; Frazier, Donald O.; Paley, Mark S.; Penn, Benjamin; Witherow, William K.; Bank, Curtis; Shields, Angela; Hicks, Rosline; Ashley, Paul R.

1996-01-01

In this paper, we will take a closer look at the state of the art of polydiacetylene, and metal-free phthalocyanine films, in view of the microgravity impact on their optical properties, their nonlinear optical properties and their potential advantages for integrated optics. These materials have many attractive features with regard to their use in integrated optical circuits and optical switching. Thin films of these materials processed in microgravity environment show enhanced optical quality and better molecular alignment than those processed in unit gravity. Our studies of these materials indicate that microgravity can play a major role in integrated optics technology. Polydiacetylene films are produced by UV irradiation of monomer solution through an optical window. This novel technique of forming polydiacetylene thin films has been modified for constructing sophisticated micro-structure integrated optical patterns using a pre-programmed UV-Laser beam. Wave guiding through these thin films by the prism coupler technique has been demonstrated. The third order nonlinear parameters of these films have been evaluated. Metal-free phthalocyanine films of good optical quality are processed in our laboratories by vapor deposition technique. Initial studies on these films indicate that they have excellent chemical, laser, and environmental stability. They have large nonlinear optical parameters and show intrinsic optical bistability. This bistability is essential for optical logic gates and optical switching applications. Waveguiding and device making investigations of these materials are underway.

Quantifying ligand effects in high-oxidation-state metal catalysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Billow, Brennan S.; McDaniel, Tanner J.; Odom, Aaron L.

2017-09-01

Catalysis by high-valent metals such as titanium(IV) impacts our lives daily through reactions like olefin polymerization. In any catalysis, optimization involves a careful choice of not just the metal but also the ancillary ligands. Because these choices dramatically impact the electronic structure of the system and, in turn, catalyst performance, new tools for catalyst development are needed. Understanding ancillary ligand effects is arguably one of the most critical aspects of catalyst optimization and, while parameters for phosphines have been used for decades with low-valent systems, a comparable system does not exist for high-valent metals. A new electronic parameter for ligand donation, derived from experiments on a high-valent chromium species, is now available. Here, we show that the new parameters enable quantitative determination of ancillary ligand effects on catalysis rate and, in some cases, even provide mechanistic information. Analysing reactions in this way can be used to design better catalyst architectures and paves the way for the use of such parameters in a host of high-valent processes.

Coupling to Tamm-plasmon-polaritons: dependence on structural parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumari, Anupa; Kumar, Samir; Shukla, Mukesh Kumar; Kumar, Govind; Sona Maji, Partha; Vijaya, R.; Das, Ritwick

2018-06-01

Tamm plasmon-polaritons (TPPs), formed at the interface of a plasmon-active metal and a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), are characterized by sharp resonances in the reflection spectrum. The features of these sharp TPP resonances are primarily dictated by the structural parameters as well as by the nature of materials of the constituent DBR and metal. In the present investigation, we experimentally and theoretically analyze the role played by the DBR parameters and the metal layer thickness in determining the efficiency of TPP-mode excitation using plane waves. The findings reveal that the minimum in the reflection spectrum depicting the TPP resonance is strongly influenced by the thickness of plasmon-active metal film as well as the number of DBR unit cells. In fact, there exists an optimum combination of the geometrical parameters for achieving a maximum coupling to TPP modes. A brief theoretical analysis elucidating the underlying mechanism behind such observations is also presented so as to optimally design TPP-based architectures for different applications.

How to control hydrogen level in (super) duplex stainless steel weldments using the GTAW or GMAW process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mee, V.V.D.; Meelker, H.; Schelde, R.V.D.

1999-01-01

In this investigation, an attempt is made to further the understanding of factors influencing the hydrogen content in duplex stainless steel gas tungsten arc (GTA) and gas metal arc (GMA) welds as well as to what extent it affects hydrogen-induced cracking susceptibility. The results indicated that susceptibility to hydrogen cracking using the GTA or GMA process appears to be limited. In practice, maintaining a moisture level below 10 ppm in the shielding gas is of less importance than the choice of welding parameters. Even a moisture level of 1000 ppm in the shielding gas, in combination with the correct weldingmore » parameters, will result in a sufficient low hydrogen content in the weld. Similarly, a moisture level in the shielding gas below 10 ppm does not necessarily result in low hydrogen content in the weld metal. Although very high ferrite levels were combined with high restrain and high hydrogen content, none of the GMA and GTA welds cracked. Susceptibility to hydrogen cracking is concluded to be limited.« less

Metal Sounds Stiffer than Drums for Ears, but Not Always for Hands: Low-Level Auditory Features Affect Multisensory Stiffness Perception More than High-Level Categorical Information

PubMed Central

Liu, Juan; Ando, Hiroshi

2016-01-01

Most real-world events stimulate multiple sensory modalities simultaneously. Usually, the stiffness of an object is perceived haptically. However, auditory signals also contain stiffness-related information, and people can form impressions of stiffness from the different impact sounds of metal, wood, or glass. To understand whether there is any interaction between auditory and haptic stiffness perception, and if so, whether the inferred material category is the most relevant auditory information, we conducted experiments using a force-feedback device and the modal synthesis method to present haptic stimuli and impact sound in accordance with participants’ actions, and to modulate low-level acoustic parameters, i.e., frequency and damping, without changing the inferred material categories of sound sources. We found that metal sounds consistently induced an impression of stiffer surfaces than did drum sounds in the audio-only condition, but participants haptically perceived surfaces with modulated metal sounds as significantly softer than the same surfaces with modulated drum sounds, which directly opposes the impression induced by these sounds alone. This result indicates that, although the inferred material category is strongly associated with audio-only stiffness perception, low-level acoustic parameters, especially damping, are more tightly integrated with haptic signals than the material category is. Frequency played an important role in both audio-only and audio-haptic conditions. Our study provides evidence that auditory information influences stiffness perception differently in unisensory and multisensory tasks. Furthermore, the data demonstrated that sounds with higher frequency and/or shorter decay time tended to be judged as stiffer, and contact sounds of stiff objects had no effect on the haptic perception of soft surfaces. We argue that the intrinsic physical relationship between object stiffness and acoustic parameters may be applied as prior knowledge to achieve robust estimation of stiffness in multisensory perception. PMID:27902718

Evaluation of the Applicability of Environmental Magnetic Pollution Screening in Soils of Basaltic Origin: Results from Nashik Thermal Power Station, Maharashtra, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blaha, U.; Nathani, B.; Das, P. K.; Kannan, D.

2011-12-01

Magnetic parameters and heavy metal contents of highly magnetic topsoil of the Deccan Trap basalt region were investigated for their potential to be used for environmental magnetic pollution screening. Data of magnetic susceptibility (χ) and soft isothermal remanent magnetization (Soft IRM) of 55 soil samples from N-S and W-E transects reveal a significant input of anthropogenic magnetic particulate matter within a range of 6 km around both the coal fired power plant and its adjacent ash pond. Less developed and thin topsoil layers as well as limited contribution from the fly ash sources in N direction pose difficulties for unambiguous assessment of the magnetic parameters. Heavy metal data, i.e. Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations of the soil grain size of <63 μm reveal similar distribution patterns as obtained from the magnetic parameters of all directions. Fluctuations are observed in magnetic as well as in heavy metal data and are primarily attributed to soil development. Thermo-magnetic measurements identify magnetite of anthropogenic origin in the vicinity of the pollution source based on Verwey-Transition and Hopkinson peak. The quantitative decrease of the anthropogenic ferrimagnetic mineral concentration with distance is proven by Soft IRM. Confirmation of the presence of extremely high and low amounts of ash particles in the magnetically and chemically distinguished zones is provided by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on quantitatively extracted magnetic particles at 5.5 km and 11.9 km distance. Evaluation of magnetic and chemical data including pollution load indices (PLIS) of Pb, Zn and Cu reveals good relationship of χ with the metal contents. The highest of the PLIS for Pb, Zn and Cu reveals threefold enhancement of concentration with respect to the natural background at 12 km distance and is obtained close to the fly ash sources.

Effect of iron on lipid peroxidation, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and bacoside-A content in medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri L.

PubMed

Sinha, Sarita; Saxena, Rohit

2006-03-01

The effect of Fe was investigated in medicinally important plant, Bacopa monnieri L. and the response on malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was found different in roots and leaves of the metal treated plants. Iron induced stress was observed as indicated by high level of lipid peroxidation, being more steep increase in leaves than roots. In roots, SOD activity was found to increase in metal treated plants except 80 and 160 microM at 72 h, whereas, it decreased in leaves except 10 and 40 microM after 48 h as compared to their respective controls. Among H2O2 eliminating enzymes, POD activity increased in roots, however, it decreased in leaves except at 10 and 40 microM Fe after 48 h as compared to control. At 24 and 48 h, APX activity and ascorbic acid content followed the similar trend and were found to increase in both parts of the metal treated plants as compared to their respective controls. The level of cysteine content in the roots increased at initial period of exposure; however, no marked change in its content was noticed in leaves. In both roots and leaves, non-protein thiol content was found to increase except at higher metal concentrations at 72 h. The data of proline content have shown significant (p<0.01) increase at 40 microM onwards in both part of the plants after 48 and 72 h. Correlation coefficient was evaluated between metal accumulations with various parameters and also between different antioxidant parameters with MDA. Since the level of bacoside-A (active constituent) content in metal treated plants increases, therefore, it is advisable to assess the biological activity of the plants before using for medicinal purposes, particularly in developing countries.

How market structure drives commodity prices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bin; Wong, K. Y. Michael; Chan, Amos H. M.; So, Tsz Yan; Heimonen, Hermanni; Wei, Junyi; Saad, David

2017-11-01

We introduce an agent-based model, in which agents set their prices to maximize profit. At steady state the market self-organizes into three groups: excess producers, consumers and balanced agents, with prices determined by their own resource level and a couple of macroscopic parameters that emerge naturally from the analysis, akin to mean-field parameters in statistical mechanics. When resources are scarce prices rise sharply below a turning point that marks the disappearance of excess producers. To compare the model with real empirical data, we study the relationship between commodity prices and stock-to-use ratios in a range of commodities such as agricultural products and metals. By introducing an elasticity parameter to mitigate noise and long-term changes in commodities data, we confirm the trend of rising prices, provide evidence for turning points, and indicate yield points for less essential commodities.

Microwave assisted digestion followed by ICP-MS for determination of trace metals in atmospheric and lake ecosystem.

PubMed

Ahmed, Manan; Chin, Ying Hui; Guo, Xinxin; Zhao, Xing-Min

2017-05-01

The study of trace metals in the atmosphere and lake water is important due to their critical effects on humans, aquatic animals and the geochemical balance of ecosystems. The objective of this study was to investigate the concentration of trace metals in atmospheric and lake water samples during the rainy season (before and after precipitation) between November and December 2015. Typical methods of sample preparation for trace metal determination such as cloud point extraction, solid phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction are time-consuming and difficult to perform; therefore, there is a crucial need for development of more effective sample preparation procedure. A convection microwave assisted digestion procedure for extraction of trace metals was developed for use prior to inductively couple plasma-mass spectrometric determination. The result showed that metals like zinc (133.50-419.30μg/m 3 ) and aluminum (53.58-378.93μg/m 3 ) had higher concentrations in atmospheric samples as compared to lake samples before precipitation. On the other hand, the concentrations of zinc, aluminum, chromium and arsenic were significantly higher in lake samples after precipitation and lower in atmospheric samples. The relationship between physicochemical parameters (pH and turbidity) and heavy metal concentrations was investigated as well. Furthermore, enrichment factor analysis indicated that anthropogenic sources such as soil dust, biomass burning and fuel combustion influenced the metal concentrations in the atmosphere. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Metal Resistance and Lithoautotrophy in the Extreme Thermoacidophile Metallosphaera sedula

PubMed Central

Maezato, Yukari; Johnson, Tyler; McCarthy, Samuel; Dana, Karl

2012-01-01

Archaea such as Metallosphaera sedula are thermophilic lithoautotrophs that occupy unusually acidic and metal-rich environments. These traits are thought to underlie their industrial importance for bioleaching of base and precious metals. In this study, a genetic approach was taken to investigate the specific relationship between metal resistance and lithoautotrophy during biotransformation of the primary copper ore, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). In this study, a genetic system was developed for M. sedula to investigate parameters that limit bioleaching of chalcopyrite. The functional role of the M. sedula copRTA operon was demonstrated by cross-species complementation of a copper-sensitive Sulfolobus solfataricus copR mutant. Inactivation of the gene encoding the M. sedula copper efflux protein, copA, using targeted recombination compromised metal resistance and eliminated chalcopyrite bioleaching. In contrast, a spontaneous M. sedula mutant (CuR1) with elevated metal resistance transformed chalcopyrite at an accelerated rate without affecting chemoheterotrophic growth. Proteomic analysis of CuR1 identified pleiotropic changes, including altered abundance of transport proteins having AAA-ATPase motifs. Addition of the insoluble carbonate mineral witherite (BaCO3) further stimulated chalcopyrite lithotrophy, indicating that carbon was a limiting factor. Since both mineral types were actively colonized, enhanced metal leaching may arise from the cooperative exchange of energy and carbon between surface-adhered populations. Genetic approaches provide a new means of improving the efficiency of metal bioleaching by enhancing the mechanistic understanding of thermophilic lithoautotrophy. PMID:23065978

Design of Experiments for the Thermal Characterization of Metallic Foam

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crittenden, Paul E.; Cole, Kevin D.

2003-01-01

Metallic foams are being investigated for possible use in the thermal protection systems of reusable launch vehicles. As a result, the performance of these materials needs to be characterized over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. In this paper a radiation/conduction model is presented for heat transfer in metallic foams. Candidates for the optimal transient experiment to determine the intrinsic properties of the model are found by two methods. First, an optimality criterion is used to find an experiment to find all of the parameters using one heating event. Second, a pair of heating events is used to determine the parameters in which one heating event is optimal for finding the parameters related to conduction, while the other heating event is optimal for finding the parameters associated with radiation. Simulated data containing random noise was analyzed to determine the parameters using both methods. In all cases the parameter estimates could be improved by analyzing a larger data record than suggested by the optimality criterion.

A review of biocompatible metal injection moulding process parameters for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Hamidi, M F F A; Harun, W S W; Samykano, M; Ghani, S A C; Ghazalli, Z; Ahmad, F; Sulong, A B

2017-09-01

Biocompatible metals have been revolutionizing the biomedical field, predominantly in human implant applications, where these metals widely used as a substitute to or as function restoration of degenerated tissues or organs. Powder metallurgy techniques, in specific the metal injection moulding (MIM) process, have been employed for the fabrication of controlled porous structures used for dental and orthopaedic surgical implants. The porous metal implant allows bony tissue ingrowth on the implant surface, thereby enhancing fixation and recovery. This paper elaborates a systematic classification of various biocompatible metals from the aspect of MIM process as used in medical industries. In this study, three biocompatible metals are reviewed-stainless steels, cobalt alloys, and titanium alloys. The applications of MIM technology in biomedicine focusing primarily on the MIM process setting parameters discussed thoroughly. This paper should be of value to investigators who are interested in state of the art of metal powder metallurgy, particularly the MIM technology for biocompatible metal implant design and development. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reflectance properties of one-dimensional metal-dielectric ternary photonic crystal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pandey, G. N., E-mail: gnpandey2009@gmail.com; Kumar, Narendra; Thapa, Khem B.

2016-05-06

Metallic photonic crystal has a very important application in absorption enhancement in solar cells. It has been found that an ultra-thin metallic layer becomes transparent due to internal scattering of light through the each interface of the dielectric and metal surfaces. The metal has absorption due to their surface plasmon and the plasmon has important parameters for changing optical properties of the metal. We consider ternary metallic-dielectric photonic crystal (MDPC) for having large probabilities to change the optical properties of the MDPC and the photonic crystals may be changed by changing dimensionality, symmetry, lattice parameters, Filling fraction and effective refractivemore » index refractive index contrast. In this present communication, we try to show that the photonic band gap in ternary metal-dielectric photonic crystal can be significantly enlarged when air dielectric constant is considered. All the theoretical analyses are made based on the transfer matrix method together with the Drude model of metal.« less

Numerical study on characteristic of two-dimensional metal/dielectric photonic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zong, Yi-Xin; Xia, Jian-Bai; Wu, Hai-Bin

2017-04-01

An improved plan-wave expansion method is adopted to theoretically study the photonic band diagrams of two-dimensional (2D) metal/dielectric photonic crystals. Based on the photonic band structures, the dependence of flat bands and photonic bandgaps on two parameters (dielectric constant and filling factor) are investigated for two types of 2D metal/dielectric (M/D) photonic crystals, hole and cylinder photonic crystals. The simulation results show that band structures are affected greatly by these two parameters. Flat bands and bandgaps can be easily obtained by tuning these parameters and the bandgap width may reach to the maximum at certain parameters. It is worth noting that the hole-type photonic crystals show more bandgaps than the corresponding cylinder ones, and the frequency ranges of bandgaps also depend strongly on these parameters. Besides, the photonic crystals containing metallic medium can obtain more modulation of photonic bands, band gaps, and large effective refractive index, etc. than the dielectric/dielectric ones. According to the numerical results, the needs of optical devices for flat bands and bandgaps can be met by selecting the suitable geometry and material parameters. Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2011CB922200) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 605210010).

Biodynamic modelling of the accumulation of Ag, Cd and Zn by the deposit-feeding polychaete Nereis diversicolor: inter-population variability and a generalised predictive model.

PubMed

Kalman, J; Smith, B D; Riba, I; Blasco, J; Rainbow, P S

2010-06-01

Biodynamic parameters of the ragworm Nereis diversicolor from southern Spain and south England were experimentally derived to assess the inter-population variability of physiological parameters of the bioaccumulation of Ag, Cd and Zn from water and sediment. Although there were some limited variations, these were not consistent with the local metal bioavailability nor with temperature changes. Incorporating the biodynamic parameters into a defined biodynamic model, confirmed that sediment is the predominant source of Cd and Zn accumulated by the worms, accounting in each case for 99% of the overall accumulated metals, whereas the contribution of dissolved Ag to the total accumulated by the worm increased from about 27 to about 53% with increasing dissolved Ag concentration. Standardised values of metal-specific parameters were chosen to generate a generalised model to be extended to N. diversicolor populations across a wide geographical range from western Europe to North Africa. According to the assumptions of this model, predicted steady state concentrations of Cd and Zn in N. diversicolor were overestimated, those of Ag underestimated, but still comparable to independent field measurements. We conclude that species-specific physiological metal bioaccumulation parameters are relatively constant over large geographical distances, and a single generalised biodynamic model does have potential to predict accumulated Ag, Cd and Zn concentrations in this polychaete from a single sediment metal concentration.

The relationship between magnetic parameters and heavy metal contents of indoor dust in e-waste recycling impacted area, Southeast China.

PubMed

Zhu, Zongmin; Han, Zhixuan; Bi, Xiangyang; Yang, Wenlin

2012-09-01

Environmental contamination due to uncontrolled e-waste recycling is an emerging global problem. The aim of this study is to test the applicability of magnetic methods for detecting the metal pollutants emitted from e-waste recycling activities. Dust samples collected from a typical e-waste recycling region in Guiyu, Guangdong Province, China, were investigated using magnetic, geochemical, micro-morphological and mineralogical analysis. The values of mass-specific susceptibility (χ) and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) in dusts from e-waste recycling impacted areas ranged from 101 to 636×10(-8) m(3) kg(-1) and from 10.5 to 85.2×10(-3) Am(2) kg(-1), respectively. There was a significant correlation between SIRM and χ (r(2)=0.747, p<0.001), indicating that ferrimagnetic minerals were dominating χ in the dust samples. The values of χ(fd)% varied from 2.6 to 4.6% with a mean of 3.4%, which suggested that magnetic carriers in the dusts are predominately coarse-grained particles. Two shapes of magnetic particles, spherule (10-150 μm) and angular-shaped particles (30-300 μm), were identified by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) analyses. κ-T curves, magnetic hysteresis loops and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that these magnetic particles were magnetite and goethite. There were significant correlations between SIRM and heavy metals (especially Cd, Co, Fe, Ni and Zn) as well as the Tomlinson pollution load index (PLI) of the dust, indicating that SIRM can be used as an efficient proxy for metal pollution in the e-waste recycling impacted area. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Macronutrients and trace metals in soil and food crops of Isfahan Province, Iran.

PubMed

Keshavarzi, Behnam; Moore, Farid; Ansari, Maryam; Rastegari Mehr, Meisam; Kaabi, Helena; Kermani, Maryam

2015-01-01

The distribution of 10 macronutrients and trace metals in the arable soils of Isfahan Province, their phytoavailability, and associated health risks were investigated; 134 plant and 114 soil samples (from 114 crop fields) were collected and analyzed at harvesting time. Calculation of the soil pollution index (SPI) revealed that arable soil polluted by metals was more severe in the north and southwest of the study area. The results of cluster analysis indicated that Pb, Zn, and Cu share a similar origin from industries and traffic. The concentrations of macronutrients and trace metals in the sampled crops were found in the order of K > Ca > S > Mg > P and Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb, respectively, whereas calculation of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) indicated that the accumulation of the investigated elements in crops was generally in the order of S ≈ K > P > Mg > Ca and Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Fe, respectively. Thus, various parameters including crop species and the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil also affected the bioavailability of the elements besides the total element contents in soil. Daily intake (DI) values of elements were lower than the recommended daily intake (RDI) levels in rice grains except for Fe and Mn, but for wheat grains, all elements displayed DI values higher than the RDI. Moreover, based on the hazard index (HI) values, inhabitants are experiencing a significant potential health risk solely due to the consumption of wheat and rice grains (particularly wheat grains). Mn health quotient (HQ) also indicated a high risk of Mn absorption for crop consumer inhabitants.

Impact of repeated single-metal and multi-metal pollution events on soil quality.

PubMed

Burges, Aritz; Epelde, Lur; Garbisu, Carlos

2015-02-01

Most frequently, soil metal pollution results from the occurrence of repeated single-metal and, above all, multi-metal pollution events, with concomitant adverse consequences for soil quality. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the impact of repeated single-metal and multi-metal (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) pollution events on soil quality, as reflected by the values of a variety of soil microbial parameters with potential as bioindicators of soil functioning. Specifically, parameters of microbial activity (potentially mineralizable nitrogen, β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activity) and biomass (fungal and bacterial gene abundance by RT-qPCR) were determined, in the artificially metal-polluted soil samples, at regular intervals over a period of 26 weeks. Similarly, we studied the evolution over time of CaCl2-extractable metal fractions, in order to estimate metal bioavailability in soil. Different metals showed different values of bioavailability and relative bioavailability ([metal]bio/[metal]tot) in soil throughout the experiment, under both repeated single-metal and multi-metal pollution events. Both repeated Zn-pollution and multi-metal pollution events led to a significant reduction in the values of acid phosphatase activity, and bacterial and fungal gene abundance, reflecting the negative impact of these repeated events on soil microbial activity and biomass, and, hence, soil quality. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Combined strain and composition-induced effects in the metal-insulator transition of epitaxial VO2 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Théry, V.; Boulle, A.; Crunteanu, A.; Orlianges, J. C.

2017-12-01

The role of epitaxial strain, thermal strain, and bulk (strain-free) lattice parameters in the metal-insulator transition (MIT) and the structural phase transition (SPT) of VO2 is investigated for the case of epitaxial films grown on (001)-oriented TiO2 substrates. Temperature-resolved X-ray reciprocal space mapping has been used to determine the absolute state of strain as well as the bulk lattice parameters of VO2 at 100 °C. For the thinnest film (15 nm), the state of strain is dominated by the film/substrate lattice mismatch yielding an in-plane tensile strain which, in turn, shifts both the MIT and the SPT towards lower temperatures. Conversely, for the thickest film (100 nm), the epitaxial strain is relaxed, so that the state of strain is dominated by the VO2/TiO2 thermal expansion mismatch which is responsible for a compressive in-plane strain. In all cases, a swelling of the strain-free VO2 unit-cell is observed which indicates the presence of interfacial oxygen vacancies and/or Ti diffusion into the VO2 films. The presence of oxygen vacancies stabilizes the metallic rutile phase and counterbalances the action of thermal strain on the MIT and the SPT and degrades the electric properties for the thinnest film. For the thickest film, the resistivity ratio is 6.4 × 104.

Water quality of Tampa Bay, Florida, June 1972-May 1976

USGS Publications Warehouse

Goetz, Carole L.; Goodwin, Carl R.

1980-01-01

A comprehensive assessment of the water quality of Tampa Bay, Florida, was initiated in 1970 to provide background information to evaluate the effects of widening and deepening the ship channel to the port of Tampa. This report provides results of water-quality sampling in the bay from 1972 to 1976, prior to dredging. Measurements of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, specific conductance, biochemical oxygen demand, and total organic carbon were made as well as measurements for several nutrient, metal, and pesticide parameters. Many parameters were measured at as many as three points in the vertical. These data indicate that Tampa Bay is well-mixed vertically with little density stratification. Time histories of average temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, specific conductance and nutrient values within four subareas of Tampa Bay are given to reveal seasonal or other trends during the period of record. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, specific conductance, nutrient, biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, and metal data are also presented as areal distributions. Nutrient concentrations were generally higher in Hillsborough Bay than in other sub-areas of Tampa Bay. Biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, and total organic nitrogen distribution patterns show regions of highest concentrations to be along bay shorelines near population centers. Of the metals analyzed, all were present in concentrations of less than 1 milligram per liter. (USGS)

The effect of welding parameters on surface quality of AA6351 aluminium alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yacob, S.; MAli, M. A.; Ahsan, Q.; Ariffin, N.; Ali, R.; Arshad, A.; Wahab, M. I. A.; Ismail, S. A.; Roji, NS M.; Din, W. B. W.; Zakaria, M. H.; Abdullah, A.; Yusof, M. I.; Kamarulzaman, K. Z.; Mahyuddin, A.; Hamzah, M. N.; Roslan, R.

2015-12-01

In the present work, the effects of gas metal arc welding-cold metal transfer (GMAW-CMT) parameters on surface roughness are experimentally assessed. The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of the effects of welding speed, material thickness and contact tip to work distance on the surface roughness. Experiments are conducted using single pass gas metal arc welding-cold metal transfer (GMAW-CMT) welding technique to join the material. The material used in this experiment was AA6351 aluminum alloy with the thickness of 5mm and 6mm. A Mahr Marsuft XR 20 machine was used to measure the average roughness (Ra) of AA6351 joints. The main and interaction effect analysis was carried out to identify process parameters that affect the surface roughness. The results show that all the input process parameters affect the surface roughness of AA6351 joints. Additionally, the average roughness (Ra) results also show a decreasing trend with increased of welding speed. It is proven that gas metal arc welding-cold metal transfer (GMAW-CMT)welding process has been successful in term of providing weld joint of good surface quality for AA6351 based on the low value surface roughness condition obtained in this setup. The outcome of this experimental shall be valuable for future fabrication process in order to obtained high good quality weld.

Extension of coupled multispecies metal transport and speciation (TRANSPEC) model to soil.

PubMed

Bhavsar, Satyendra P; Gandhi, Nilima; Diamond, Miriam L

2008-01-01

Atmospheric deposition of metals emitted from mining operations has raised metal concentrations in the surrounding soils. This repository may be remobilized and act as a source of metals to nearby surface aquatic systems. It is important to understand metal dynamics and the impact of various chemistry and fate parameters on metal movement in the soil environment in order to evaluate risk associated with metals in terrestrial ecosystems and accurately establish critical discharge limits that are protective of aquatic biota. Here we extend our previously developed coupled multispecies metal fate-TRANsport and SPECiation/complexation (TRANSPEC) model, which was applicable to surface aquatic systems. The extended TRANSPEC, termed TRANSPEC-II, estimates the partition coefficient, K(d), between the soil-solid and -soluble phases using site-specific data and a semi-empirical regression model obtained from literature. A geochemical model calculates metal and species fractions in the dissolved and colloidal phases of the soil solution. The multispecies fugacity/aquivalence based fate-transport model then estimates inter-media transport rates such as leaching from soil, soil runoff, and water-sediment exchanges of each metal species. The model is illustratively applied to Ni in the Kelly Lake watershed (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada), where several mining operations are located. The model results suggest that the current atmospheric fallout supplies only 4% of Ni removed from soil through soil runoff and leaching. Soil runoff contributes about 20% of Ni entering into Kelly Lake with the rest coming from other sources. Leaching to groundwater, apart from runoff, is also a major loss process for Ni in the soil. A sensitivity analysis indicates that raising soil pH to above 6 may substantially reduce metal runoff and improve water quality of nearby water bodies that are impacted by runoff.

Estimation of the viscosities of liquid binary alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Min; Su, Xiang-Yu

2018-01-01

As one of the most important physical and chemical properties, viscosity plays a critical role in physics and materials as a key parameter to quantitatively understanding the fluid transport process and reaction kinetics in metallurgical process design. Experimental and theoretical studies on liquid metals are problematic. Today, there are many empirical and semi-empirical models available with which to evaluate the viscosity of liquid metals and alloys. However, the parameter of mixed energy in these models is not easily determined, and most predictive models have been poorly applied. In the present study, a new thermodynamic parameter Δ G is proposed to predict liquid alloy viscosity. The prediction equation depends on basic physical and thermodynamic parameters, namely density, melting temperature, absolute atomic mass, electro-negativity, electron density, molar volume, Pauling radius, and mixing enthalpy. Our results show that the liquid alloy viscosity predicted using the proposed model is closely in line with the experimental values. In addition, if the component radius difference is greater than 0.03 nm at a certain temperature, the atomic size factor has a significant effect on the interaction of the binary liquid metal atoms. The proposed thermodynamic parameter Δ G also facilitates the study of other physical properties of liquid metals.

EFFECTS OF INHALATION OF METALLIC CONSTITUENTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER AIR POLLUTION ON CARDIOPULMONARY AND THERMOREGULATORY PARAMETERS IN HEALTH AND COMPROMISED RATS

EPA Science Inventory

EFFECTS OF INHALATION OF METALLIC CONSTITUENTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER AIR POLLUTION ON CARDIOPULMONARY AND THERMOREGULATORY PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY AND COMPROMISED RATS. Watkinson, WP, Campen, MJ, Wichers, LB, Nolan, JP, Kodavanti, UP, Schladweiler, MCJ, Evansky, PA, Lappi, ER,...

Bipolar Cascade Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers for RF Photonic Link Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-01

6 IV Current versus Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 MBE Molecular Beam Epitaxy ...of carrying maximum photocur- rent. Numerous material parameters have been studied. Growth parameters for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), metal-organic...12 MOCVD Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition . . . . . . . . . . 12 CBE Chemical Beam Epitaxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 LPE

A novel technique to control high temperature materials degradation in fossil plants

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gonzalez-Rodriguez, J.G.; Porcayo-Calderon, J.; Martinez-Villafane, A.

1995-11-01

High temperature corrosion of superheater (SH) and, specially, reheater (RH) is strongly dependent on metal temperature. In this work, a way to continuously monitor the metal temperature of SH or RH, elements developed by the Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas (IIE) is described and the effects of operating parameters on metal temperature are evaluated. Also, the effects the steam-generator design and metal temperature on the corrosion rates have been investigated. In some steam generators, corrosion rates were reduced from 0.7 to 0.2 mm/y by changing the tube material and reducing the metal temperature. Also, the effect of metal temperature on themore » residual life of a 347H tube in a 158MW steam generator is evaluated. It is concluded that metal temperature is the most important parameter in controlling the high-temperature materials behavior in boiler environments.« less

Effect of soil properties, heavy metals and emerging contaminants in the soil nematodes diversity.

PubMed

Gutiérrez, Carmen; Fernández, Carlos; Escuer, Miguel; Campos-Herrera, Raquel; Beltrán Rodríguez, Mª Eulalia; Carbonell, Gregoria; Rodríguez Martín, Jose Antonio

2016-06-01

Among soil organisms, nematodes are seen as the most promising candidates for bioindications of soil health. We hypothesized that the soil nematode community structure would differ in three land use areas (agricultural, forest and industrial soils), be modulated by soil parameters (N, P, K, pH, SOM, CaCO3, granulometric fraction, etc.), and strongly affected by high levels of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Hg) and emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals and personal care products, PPCPs). Although these pollutants did not significantly affect the total number of free-living nematodes, diversity and structure community indices vastly altered. Our data showed that whereas nematodes with r-strategy were tolerant, genera with k-strategy were negatively affected by the selected pollutants. These effects diminished in soils with high levels of heavy metals given their adaptation to the historical pollution in this area, but not to emerging pollutants like PPCPs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Environmental monitoring of water resources around a municipal landfill of the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

PubMed

de Medeiros Engelmann, Pâmela; Dos Santos, Victor Hugo Jacks Mendes; Moser, Letícia Isabela; do Canto Bruzza, Eduardo; Barbieri, Cristina Barazzetti; Barela, Pâmela Susin; de Moraes, Diogo Pompéu; Augustin, Adolpho Herbert; Goudinho, Flávio Soares; Melo, Clarissa Lovato; Ketzer, João Marcelo Medina; Rodrigues, Luiz Frederico

2017-09-01

In Brazil, landfills are commonly used as a method for the final disposal of waste that is compliant with the legislation. This technique, however, presents a risk to surface water and groundwater resources, owing to the leakage of metals, anions, and organic compounds. The geochemical monitoring of water resources is therefore extremely important, since the leachate can compromise the quality and use of surface water and groundwater close to landfills. In this paper, the results of analyses of metals, anions, ammonia, and physicochemical parameters were used to identify possible contamination of surface water and groundwater in a landfill area. A statistical multivariate approach was used. The values found for alkali metals, nitrate, and chloride indicate contamination in the regional groundwater and, moreover, surface waters also show variation when compared to the other background points, mainly for ammonia. Thus, the results of this study evidence the landfill leachate influence on the quality of groundwater and surface water in the study area.

Chemical and biological evaluation of Ranunculus muricatus.

PubMed

Khan, Farhat Ali; Zahoor, Muhammad; Khan, Ezzat

2016-03-01

Ranunculus muricatus is commonly known as spiny fruit buttercup and is used in the treatment of intermittent fevers, gout and asthma. Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals of Ranunculus muricatus indicated the presence of saponins, tannins, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids. Saponins were present in high amount as compared with other chemicals. Inorganic and heavy metals constituents were determined. Heavy metals estimation in the sample showed that iron was present in high amount followed by zinc even then the concentration of these metals is below acceptable limit. The physical parameters, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts were determined. Acetone extract fraction showed optimal antioxidant activity as compared to ethanol and chloroform fractions of the candidate plant. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the crude extract and extract fractions were determined by well agar diffusion method. Highest zone of inhibitions were observed for crude extract followed by acetone extract fraction against Micrococcus luteus. Antifungal activities were high for crude extracts against Candida Albican. Findings of this study show that Ranunculus muricatus has a good medicinal impact.

A subwavelength metal-grating assisted sensor of Kretschmann style for investigating the sample with high refractive index

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu-Feng, Li; Wei, Peng; Ya-Li, Zhao; Qiao, Wang; Ji-Lin, Wei

2016-03-01

In this paper, a subwavelength metal-grating assisted sensor of Kretschmann style that is capable of detecting the sample with a refractive index higher than that of the substrate is proposed. The sensor configuration is similar to the traditional Kretschmann structure, but the metal film is pattered into a grating. As a TM-polarized laser beam impinges from the substrate, a resonant dip point in reflectance curve is produced at a certain incident angle. Our studies indicate that the sensing sensitivity and resolution are affected by the grating’s gap and period, and after these parameters have been optimized, a sensing sensitivity of 51.484°/RIU is obtained with a slightly changing resolution. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61137005 and 61178067), the Science Foundation of Shanxi Province, China (Grant No. 2013021004-3/2014021021-1), the Pre-studied Project on Weapon Equipment, China (Grant No. 201262401090404), and the Specialized Research Foundation for Doctor of School, China (Grant No. 20122027).

Reflectance spectra of 'featureless' materials and the surface mineralogies of M- and E-class asteroids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cloutis, Edward A.; Smith, Dorian G.; Lambert, Richard St. J.; Gaffey, Michael J.

1990-01-01

In a search for diagnostic spectral parameters which can be used to distinguish different materials on the surface of asteroids and to provide information on the detection limits for mafic silicates, the 0.3- to 2.6-micron reflectance spectra of meteoritic enstatite (nearly pure MgSiO3), iron meteorite metal, magnetite, and amorphous carbon as well as various mixtures of these materials with mafic silicates were examined. Results are presented on the dependence of the spectral detectability of mafic silicates associated with metal, carbon, and magnetite on the particle sizes of the phases, their chemistries, crystal structures, and abundances. It is shown that the observational data for a representative M-class asteroid, (16) Psyche, are largely consistent with a fine-grained metal-rich surface assemblage, whereas data for the E-class asteroid (44) Nysa indicate that its surface is composed of fine-grained material similar to enstatite achondrites, with a small amount of material comparable to the chondritic inclusions found in the Cumberland Falls aubrite.

Main-chain metallopolymers at the static-dynamic boundary based on nickelocene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Musgrave, Rebecca A.; Russell, Andrew D.; Hayward, Dominic W.; Whittell, George R.; Lawrence, Paul G.; Gates, Paul J.; Green, Jennifer C.; Manners, Ian

2017-08-01

Interactions between metal ions and ligands in metal-containing polymers involve two bonding extremes: persistent covalent bonding, in which the polymers are essentially static in nature, or labile coordination bonding, which leads to dynamic supramolecular materials. Main-chain polymetallocenes based on ferrocene and cobaltocene fall into the former category because of the presence of strong metal-cyclopentadienyl bonds. Herein, we describe a main-chain polynickelocene—formed by ring-opening polymerization of a moderately strained [3]nickelocenophane monomer—that can be switched between static and dynamic states because of the relatively weak nickel-cyclopentadienyl ligand interactions. This is illustrated by the observation that, at a low concentration or at an elevated temperature in a coordinating or polar solvent, depolymerization of the polynickelocene occurs. A study of this dynamic polymer-monomer equilibrium by 1H NMR spectroscopy allowed the determination of the associated thermodynamic parameters. Microrheology data, however, indicated that under similar conditions the polynickelocene is considered to be static on the shorter rheological timescale.

Solid impingement erosion mechanisms and characterization of erosion resistance of ductile metals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, V. P.; Buckley, D. H.

1982-01-01

Experimental results pertaining to spherical glass bead and angular crushed glass particle impingement are presented. A concept of energy adsorption to explain the failure of material is proposed. The erosion characteristics of several pure metals were correlated with the proposed energy parameters and with other properties. Correlations of erosion and material properties were also carried out with these materials to study the effect of the angle of impingement. Analyses of extensive erosion data indicate that surface energy, strain energy, melting point, bulk modulus, hardness, ultimate resilience, atomic volume and product of linear coefficient of thermal expansion, bulk modulus, and temperature rise required for melting, and ultimate resilience, and hardness exhibit the best correlations. It appears that both energy and thermal properties contribute to the total erosion.

Electronic Properties of DNA-Based Schottky Barrier Diodes in Response to Alpha Particles.

PubMed

Al-Ta'ii, Hassan Maktuff Jaber; Periasamy, Vengadesh; Amin, Yusoff Mohd

2015-05-21

Detection of nuclear radiation such as alpha particles has become an important field of research in recent history due to nuclear threats and accidents. In this context; deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) acting as an organic semiconducting material could be utilized in a metal/semiconductor Schottky junction for detecting alpha particles. In this work we demonstrate for the first time the effect of alpha irradiation on an Al/DNA/p-Si/Al Schottky diode by investigating its current-voltage characteristics. The diodes were exposed for different periods (0-20 min) of irradiation. Various diode parameters such as ideality factor, barrier height, series resistance, Richardson constant and saturation current were then determined using conventional, Cheung and Cheung's and Norde methods. Generally, ideality factor or n values were observed to be greater than unity, which indicates the influence of some other current transport mechanism besides thermionic processes. Results indicated ideality factor variation between 9.97 and 9.57 for irradiation times between the ranges 0 to 20 min. Increase in the series resistance with increase in irradiation time was also observed when calculated using conventional and Cheung and Cheung's methods. These responses demonstrate that changes in the electrical characteristics of the metal-semiconductor-metal diode could be further utilized as sensing elements to detect alpha particles.

Environmental Quality Assessment of Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) Using Living Foraminifera Assemblages and a Multiproxy Approach.

PubMed

Alves Martins, Maria Virgínia; Zaaboub, Noureddine; Aleya, Lotfi; Frontalini, Fabrizio; Pereira, Egberto; Miranda, Paulo; Mane, Miguel; Rocha, Fernando; Laut, Lazaro; El Bour, Monia

2015-01-01

This study investigated the environmental quality of the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) through an integrated approach that combined environmental, biogeochemical, and living benthic foraminiferal analyses. Specifically, we analyzed the physicochemical parameters of the water and sediment. The textural, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of the sediment, including total organic carbon, total nitrogen, simultaneously extracted metals (SEM), acid volatile sulfides (AVS), chlorophyll a, CaCO3, and changes in bacterial populations and carbon isotopes were measured. The SEM/AVS values indicated the presence of relatively high concentrations of toxic metals in only some areas. Foraminiferal assemblages were dominated by species such as A. parkinsoniana (20-91%), Bolivina striatula (<40%), Hopkinsina atlantica (<17%), and Bolivina ordinaria (<15%) that cannot be considered typical of impacted coastal lagoons both in Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic regions. The results of this work suggest that Bizerte Lagoon is a unique setting. This lagoon is populated by typical marine species that invaded this ecosystem, attracted not only by the prevailing favorable environmental conditions but also by the abundance and quality of food. The results indicate that the metal pollution found in some areas have a negative impact on the assemblages of foraminifera. At present, however, this negative impact is not highly alarming.

Environmental Quality Assessment of Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) Using Living Foraminifera Assemblages and a Multiproxy Approach

PubMed Central

Alves Martins, Maria Virgínia; Zaaboub, Noureddine; Aleya, Lotfi; Frontalini, Fabrizio; Pereira, Egberto; Miranda, Paulo; Mane, Miguel; Rocha, Fernando; Laut, Lazaro; El Bour, Monia

2015-01-01

This study investigated the environmental quality of the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) through an integrated approach that combined environmental, biogeochemical, and living benthic foraminiferal analyses. Specifically, we analyzed the physicochemical parameters of the water and sediment. The textural, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of the sediment, including total organic carbon, total nitrogen, simultaneously extracted metals (SEM), acid volatile sulfides (AVS), chlorophyll a, CaCO3, and changes in bacterial populations and carbon isotopes were measured. The SEM/AVS values indicated the presence of relatively high concentrations of toxic metals in only some areas. Foraminiferal assemblages were dominated by species such as A. parkinsoniana (20–91%), Bolivina striatula (<40%), Hopkinsina atlantica (<17%), and Bolivina ordinaria (<15%) that cannot be considered typical of impacted coastal lagoons both in Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic regions. The results of this work suggest that Bizerte Lagoon is a unique setting. This lagoon is populated by typical marine species that invaded this ecosystem, attracted not only by the prevailing favorable environmental conditions but also by the abundance and quality of food. The results indicate that the metal pollution found in some areas have a negative impact on the assemblages of foraminifera. At present, however, this negative impact is not highly alarming. PMID:26372655

The effect of landfill age on municipal leachate composition.

PubMed

Kulikowska, Dorota; Klimiuk, Ewa

2008-09-01

The influence of municipal landfill age on temporal changes in municipal leachate quality on the basis of elaboration of 4 years monitoring of leachate from landfill in Wysieka near Bartoszyce (Poland) is presented in this study. In leachate, concentrations of organic compounds (COD, BOD(5)), nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus), mineral compounds, heavy metals and BTEX were investigated. It was shown that the principal pollutants in leachate were organics and ammonia - as landfill age increased, organics concentration (COD) in leachate decreased from 1,800 mg COD/l in the second year of landfill exploitation to 610 mg COD/l in the sixth year of exploitation and increase of ammonia nitrogen concentration from 98 mg N(NH)/l to 364 mg N(NH4) /l was observed. Fluctuation of other indexes (phosphorus, chlorides, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, dissolved solids, heavy metals, BTEX) depended rather on season of the year (seasonal variations) than landfill age. Moreover, the obtained data indicate that despite of short landfill's lifetime some parameters e.g. high pH (on average 7.84), low COD concentration (<2,000 mg COD/l), low BOD(5)/COD ratio (<0.4) and low heavy metal concentration, indicated that the landfill was characterized by methanogenic conditions already at the beginning of the monitoring period.

Gas Surface Interactions Occurring on Materials Within Ultrahigh Vacuum. Ph.D. Thesis - va. Polytechnic Inst.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Outlaw, R. A.

1972-01-01

The physical adsorption of nitrogen on the chemically cleaned surfaces of Pyrex, 347 stainless steel and polycrystalline nickel was investigated over the pressure range 1 x 10 to the minus 12th power to 3 x 10 to the minus 7th power torr and for temperatures 77.4 and 87.4 K. The adsorption data were linearized by the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation. The metal surfaces were cleaned by electron impact desorption (EID) and the desorbed gases analyzed by mass spectrometry. Work function measurements were also used to indicate changes in the surface condition following an EID dose. At least a monolayer of gas was observed to desorb from the metal surfaces. The isotherms revealed that the metal surfaces were very heterogeneous and that the Pyrex surface had been leached. The calculated isosteric heats of adsorption indicated that the relative order of the physical binding of nitrogen to the solids was 347 stainless steel Pyrex nickel. A relationship was observed to exist in the dynamic technique between the equilibration time and the pressure above the absorbed layer. The slope of the log-log plot of these parameters was found to be sensitive to the surface heterogeneity and may be related to the activation energy for surface diffusion of physically absorbed molecules.

Application of principal component analysis for the optimisation of lead(II) biosorption.

PubMed

Wajda, Łukasz; Duda-Chodak, Aleksandra; Tarko, Tomasz; Kamiński, Paweł

2017-10-03

Current study was focused on optimising lead(II) biosorption carried out by living cells of Arthrospira platensis using Principal Component Analysis. Various experimental conditions were considered: initial metal concentration (50 and 100 mg/l), solution pH (4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5) and contact time (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min) at constant rotary speed 200 rpm. It was found that when the biomass was separated from experimental solutions by the filtration, almost 50% of initial metal dose was removed by the filter paper. Moreover, pH was the most important parameter influencing examined processes. The Principal Component Analysis indicated that the most optimum conditions for lead(II) biosorption were metal initial concentration 100 mg/l, pH 4.5 and time 60 min. According to the analysis of the first component it might be stated that the lead(II) uptake increases in time. In overall, it was found to be useful for analysing data obtained in biosorption experiments and eliminating insignificant experimental conditions. Experimental data fitted Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich models indicating that physical and chemical absorption take place at the same time. Further studies are necessary to verify how sorption-desorption cycles affect A. platensis cells.

Effects of process parameters on properties of porous foams formed by laser-assisted melting of steel powder (AISI P21)/foaming agent (ZrH2) mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Ja-Ye; Lee, Ki-Yong; Shim, Do-Sik

2018-01-01

This paper describes the fabrication of lightweight metal foams using the directed energy deposition (DED) method. DED is a highly flexible additive manufacturing process wherein a metal powder mixed with a foaming agent is sprayed while a high-power laser is used to simultaneously melt the powder mixture into layered metal foams. In this study, a mixture of a carbon steel material (P21 powder) and a widely used foaming agent, ZrH2, is used to fabricate metal foams. The effects of various process parameters, such as the laser power, powder feed rate, powder gas flow rate, and scanning speed, on the deposition characteristics (porosity, pore size, and pore distribution) are investigated. The synthesized metal foams exhibit porosities of 10% or lower, and a mean pore area of 7 × 105 μm2. It is observed that the degree of foaming increases in proportion to the laser power to a certain extent. The results also show that the powder feed rate has the most pronounced effect on the porosity of the metal foams, while the powder gas flow rate is the most suitable parameter for adjusting the size of the pores formed within the foams. Further, the scanning speed, which determines the amounts of energy and powder delivered, has a significant effect on the height of the deposits as well as on the properties of the foams. Thus, during the DED process for fabricating metal foams, the pore size and distribution and hence the foam porosity can be tailored by varying the individual process parameters. These findings should be useful as reference data for the design of processes for fabricating porous metallic materials that meet the specific requirements for specialized parts.

Wall-slip of highly filled powder injection molding compounds: Effect of flow channel geometry and roughness

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hausnerova, Berenika; Sanetrnik, Daniel; Paravanova, Gordana

2014-05-15

The paper deals with the rheological behavior of highly filled compounds proceeded via powder injection molding (PIM) and applied in many sectors of industry (automotive, medicine, electronic or military). Online rheometer equipped with slit dies varying in surface roughness and dimensions was applied to investigate the wall-slip as a rheological phenomenon, which can be considered as a parameter indicating the separation of compound components (polymer binder and metallic powder) during high shear rates when injection molded.

Wall-slip of highly filled powder injection molding compounds: Effect of flow channel geometry and roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hausnerova, Berenika; Sanetrnik, Daniel; Paravanova, Gordana

2014-05-01

The paper deals with the rheological behavior of highly filled compounds proceeded via powder injection molding (PIM) and applied in many sectors of industry (automotive, medicine, electronic or military). Online rheometer equipped with slit dies varying in surface roughness and dimensions was applied to investigate the wall-slip as a rheological phenomenon, which can be considered as a parameter indicating the separation of compound components (polymer binder and metallic powder) during high shear rates when injection molded.

Parameterization of Highly Charged Metal Ions Using the 12-6-4 LJ-Type Nonbonded Model in Explicit Water

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Highly charged metal ions act as catalytic centers and structural elements in a broad range of chemical complexes. The nonbonded model for metal ions is extensively used in molecular simulations due to its simple form, computational speed, and transferability. We have proposed and parametrized a 12-6-4 LJ (Lennard-Jones)-type nonbonded model for divalent metal ions in previous work, which showed a marked improvement over the 12-6 LJ nonbonded model. In the present study, by treating the experimental hydration free energies and ion–oxygen distances of the first solvation shell as targets for our parametrization, we evaluated 12-6 LJ parameters for 18 M(III) and 6 M(IV) metal ions for three widely used water models (TIP3P, SPC/E, and TIP4PEW). As expected, the interaction energy underestimation of the 12-6 LJ nonbonded model increases dramatically for the highly charged metal ions. We then parametrized the 12-6-4 LJ-type nonbonded model for these metal ions with the three water models. The final parameters reproduced the target values with good accuracy, which is consistent with our previous experience using this potential. Finally, tests were performed on a protein system, and the obtained results validate the transferability of these nonbonded model parameters. PMID:25145273

Lattice matched semiconductor growth on crystalline metallic substrates

DOEpatents

Norman, Andrew G; Ptak, Aaron J; McMahon, William E

2013-11-05

Methods of fabricating a semiconductor layer or device and said devices are disclosed. The methods include but are not limited to providing a metal or metal alloy substrate having a crystalline surface with a known lattice parameter (a). The methods further include growing a crystalline semiconductor alloy layer on the crystalline substrate surface by coincident site lattice matched epitaxy. The semiconductor layer may be grown without any buffer layer between the alloy and the crystalline surface of the substrate. The semiconductor alloy may be prepared to have a lattice parameter (a') that is related to the lattice parameter (a). The semiconductor alloy may further be prepared to have a selected band gap.

Effect of certain alkaline metals on Pr doped glasses to investigate spectroscopic studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lenkennavar Susheela, K.; Madhu, A.; Eraiah, B.; Kokila, M. K.

2018-02-01

Incorporation of different Alkaline earth metal like Barium, Calcium and strontium in sodium lead borate glass doped with Pr3+ is studied. Physical parameters such as density, molar volume, molar refractivity etc have been evaluated. Effect of different atomic size of alkaline metal using optical and physical parameters is analysed. XRD and FTIR were carried out to know the structural behaviour of the glasses. Absorption and Emission spectra are recorded at room temperature and the results were discussed.

Landfill leachate treatment by an experimental subsurface flow constructed wetland in tropical climate countries.

PubMed

Ujang, Z; Soedjono, E; Salim, M R; Shutes, R B

2005-01-01

Municipal leachate was treated in an experimental unit of constructed wetlands of subsurface flow type. The parameters studied were organics (BOD and COD), solids and heavy metals (Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr and Pb). Using two types of emergent plants of Scirpus globulosus and Eriocaulon sexangulare, more than 80% removal was achieved for all the parameters. E. sexangulare removed organics and heavy metals better than Scirpus globulosus. A higher concentration of heavy metals in the influent did not change the removal efficiency.

Impact of process parameters on the structural and electrical properties of metal/PZT/Al2O3/silicon gate stack for non-volatile memory applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Prashant; Jha, Rajesh Kumar; Singh, Rajat Kumar; Singh, B. R.

2018-02-01

In this paper, we present the structural and electrical properties of the Al2O3 buffer layer on non-volatile memory behavior using Metal/PZT/Al2O3/Silicon structures. Metal/PZT/Silicon and Metal/Al2O3/Silicon structures were also fabricated and characterized to obtain capacitance and leakage current parameters. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT::35:65) and Al2O3 films were deposited by sputtering on the silicon substrate. Memory window, PUND, endurance, breakdown voltage, effective charges, flat-band voltage and leakage current density parameters were measured and the effects of process parameters on the structural and electrical characteristics were investigated. X-ray data show dominant (110) tetragonal phase of the PZT film, which crystallizes at 500 °C. The sputtered Al2O3 film annealed at different temperatures show dominant (312) orientation and amorphous nature at 425 °C. Multiple angle laser ellipsometric analysis reveals the temperature dependence of PZT film refractive index and extinction coefficient. Electrical characterization shows the maximum memory window of 3.9 V and breakdown voltage of 25 V for the Metal/Ferroelectric/Silicon (MFeS) structures annealed at 500 °C. With 10 nm Al2O3 layer in the Metal/Ferroelectric/Insulator/Silicon (MFeIS) structure, the memory window and breakdown voltage was improved to 7.21 and 35 V, respectively. Such structures show high endurance with no significant reduction polarization charge for upto 2.2 × 109 iteration cycles.

Investigation of the influence of pretreatment parameters on the surface characteristics of amorphous metal for use in power industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nieroda, Jolanta; Rybak, Andrzej; Kmita, Grzegorz; Sitarz, Maciej

2018-05-01

Metallic glasses are metallic materials, which exhibit an amorphous structure. These are mostly three or more component alloys, and some of them are magnetic metals. Materials of this kind are characterized by high electrical resistivity and at the same time exhibit very good magnetic properties (e.g. low-magnetization loss). The above mentioned properties are very useful in electrical engineering industry and this material is more and more popular as a substance for high-efficiency electrical devices production. This industry area is still evolving, and thus even higher efficiency of apparatus based on amorphous material is expected. A raw material must be carefully investigated and characterized before the main production process is started. Presented work contains results of complementary examination of amorphous metal Metglas 2605. Studies involve two ways to obtain clean and oxidized surface with high reactivity, namely degreasing followed by annealing process and plasma treatment. The amorphous metal parameters were examined by means of several techniques: surface free energy (SFE) measurements by sessile drop method, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and both ex situ and in situ Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, influence of plasma parameters on wetting properties were optimized in systematic way with Design of Experiments (DOE) method. A wide range of used methods allow to fully investigate the amorphous metal material during preliminary preparation of surface. Obtained results provide information about appropriate parameters that should be applied in order to obtain highly reactive surface with functional oxide layer on it.

The INT Search for Metal-Poor Stars: Spectroscopic Observations and Classification via Artificial Neural Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allende Prieto, Carlos; Rebolo, Rafael; García López, Ramón J.; Serra-Ricart, Miquel; Beers, Timothy C.; Rossi, Silvia; Bonifacio, Piercarlo; Molaro, Paolo

2000-09-01

With the dual aims of enlarging the list of extremely metal-poor stars identified in the Galaxy and boosting the numbers of moderately metal-deficient stars in directions that sample the rotational properties of the thick disk, we have used the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescope and the Intermediate Dispersion Spectrograph to carry out a survey of brighter (primarily northern hemisphere) metal-poor candidates selected from the HK objective-prism-interference-filter survey of Beers and collaborators. Over the course of only three observing runs (15 nights) we have obtained medium-resolution (λ/δλ~=2000) spectra for 1203 objects (V~=11-15). Spectral absorption-line indices and radial velocities have been measured for all the candidates. Metallicities, quantified by [Fe/H], and intrinsic (B-V)0 colors have been estimated for 731 stars with effective temperatures cooler than roughly 6500 K by using artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained with spectral indices. We show that this method performs as well as a previously explored Ca II K calibration technique, yet it presents some practical advantages. Among the candidates in our sample we identify 195 stars with [Fe/H]<=-1.0, 67 stars with [Fe/H]<=-2.0, and 12 new stars with [Fe/H]<=-3.0. Although the effective yield of metal-poor stars in our sample is not as large as that in previous HK survey follow-up programs, the rate of discovery per unit of telescope time is quite high. Further development of the ANN technique, with the networks being fed the entire spectrum, rather than just the spectral indices, holds the promise to produce fast, accurate, multidimensional spectral classifications (with the associated physical parameter estimates), as is required to process the large data flow provided by present and future instrumentation. Based on observations made with the Isaac Newton Telescope operated on the island of La Palma by the Isaac Newton Group in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

Quasars, clusters and cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhanda, Neelam

PART A: Acceleration of the Universe and Modified Gravity: We study the power of next-generation galaxy cluster surveys (such as eROSITA and WFXT) in constraining the cosmological parameters and especially the growth history of the Universe, using the information from galaxy cluster redshift and mass-function evolution and from cluster power spectrum. We use the Fisher Matrix formalism to evaluate the potential for the galaxy cluster surveys to make predictions about cosmological parameters like the gravitational growth index gamma. The primary purpose of this study has been to check whether we can rule out one or the other of the underlying gravity theories in light of the present uncertainty of mass-observable relations and their scatter evolution. We found that these surveys will provide better constraints on various cosmological parameters even after we admit a lack of complete knowledge about the galaxy cluster structure, and when we combine the information from the cluster number count redshift and mass evolution with that from the cluster power spectrum. Based on this, we studied the ability of different surveys to constrain the growth history of the Universe. It was found that whereas eROSITA surveys will need strong priors on cluster structure evolution to conclusively rule out one or the other of the two gravity models, General Relativity and DGP Braneworld Gravity; WFXT surveys do hold the special promise of differentiating growth and telling us whether it is GR or not, with its wide-field survey having the ability to say so even with 99% confidence. PART B: Chemical Evolution in Quasars: We studied chemical evolution in the broad emission line region (BELR) of nitrogen rich quasars drawn from the SDSS Quasar Catalogue IV. Using tools of emission-line spectroscopy, we made detailed abundance measurements of ˜ 40 quasars and estimated their metallicities using the line-intensity ratio method. It was found that quasars with strong nitrogen lines are indicators of high metallicities. Some of these quasars have reached metallicities as high as Z ˜ 20 Z⊙ . Our detailed analysis showed that except in three QSOs, most of the different line-intensity ratios implied the similar metallicities. This verifies that this abundance analysis technique does produce meaningful results. The exceptions are the line-intensity ratio NIV]/CIV, which gives systematically low metallicities and the line-intensity ratio NV/He II, which gives systematically high metallicities. We compared our findings with the predictions of the galactic chemical evolution models. From this study it was concluded that such high metallicities are reached either by requiring a top-heavy Initial Mass Function (IMF) for the quasar host galaxy as suggested by theoretical models, or by physically catastrophic events such as mergers that trigger star formation in already evolved systems which then leads to extreme metallicities in such quasars.

Influence of Co content on the biocompatibility and bio-corrosion of super ferritic stainless steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Y. R.; Jang, S. G.; Nam, H. S.; Shim, G. T.; Cho, H. H.; Kim, J. G.; Kim, Y. S.

2008-12-01

Bio-metals require high corrosion resistance, because their biocompatibility is closely related to this parameter. Bio-metals release metal ions into the human body, leading to deleterious effects. Allergies, dermatitis, and asthma are the predominant systemic effects resulting in the human body. In particular, Ni is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. In the present work, we designed new ferritic stainless steels wherein Ni is replaced with Co under consideration of allergic respondes and microstructural stability. This work focuses on the effect of Co content on the biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of high PRE super ferritic stainless steels in bio-solution and acidic chloride solution. In the case of the acidic chloride solution, with increasing Co content in the ferritic stainless steels, passive current density increased and critical pitting temperature (CPT) decreased. Also, in the passive state, AC impedance and repassivation rate were reduced. These results are attributed to the thermodynamic stability of cobalt ions, as indicated in the EpH diagram for a Co-H2O system. However, in the case of bio-solutions, with increasing Co content of the alloys, the passive current density decreased. AC impedance and repassivation rate meanwhile increased in the passive state. This is due to the increased ratios of Cr2O3/Cr(OH)3 and [Metal Oxide]/Metal + Metal Oxide] of the passive film formed in bio-solution.

Metal-rich, Metal-poor: Updated Stellar Population Models for Old Stellar Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conroy, Charlie; Villaume, Alexa; van Dokkum, Pieter G.; Lind, Karin

2018-02-01

We present updated stellar population models appropriate for old ages (>1 Gyr) and covering a wide range in metallicities (‑1.5 ≲ [Fe/H] ≲ 0.3). These models predict the full spectral variation associated with individual element abundance variation as a function of metallicity and age. The models span the optical–NIR wavelength range (0.37–2.4 μm), include a range of initial mass functions, and contain the flexibility to vary 18 individual elements including C, N, O, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, and Fe. To test the fidelity of the models, we fit them to integrated light optical spectra of 41 Galactic globular clusters (GCs). The value of testing models against GCs is that their ages, metallicities, and detailed abundance patterns have been derived from the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram in combination with high-resolution spectroscopy of individual stars. We determine stellar population parameters from fits to all wavelengths simultaneously (“full spectrum fitting”), and demonstrate explicitly with mock tests that this approach produces smaller uncertainties at fixed signal-to-noise ratio than fitting a standard set of 14 line indices. Comparison of our integrated-light results to literature values reveals good agreement in metallicity, [Fe/H]. When restricting to GCs without prominent blue horizontal branch populations, we also find good agreement with literature values for ages, [Mg/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [Ti/Fe].

Complexing agent and heavy metal removals from metal plating effluent by electrocoagulation with stainless steel electrodes.

PubMed

Kabdaşli, Işik; Arslan, Tülin; Olmez-Hanci, Tuğba; Arslan-Alaton, Idil; Tünay, Olcay

2009-06-15

In the present study, the treatability of a metal plating wastewater containing complexed metals originating from the nickel and zinc plating process by electrocoagulation using stainless steel electrodes was experimentally investigated. The study focused on the effect of important operation parameters on electrocoagulation process performance in terms of organic complex former, nickel and zinc removals as well as sludge production and specific energy consumption. The results indicated that increasing the applied current density from 2.25 to 9.0 mA/cm(2) appreciably enhanced TOC removal efficiency from 20% to 66%, but a further increase in the applied current density to 56.25 mA/cm(2) did not accelerate TOC removal rates. Electrolyte concentration did not affect the process performance significantly and the highest TOC reduction (66%) accompanied with complete heavy metal removals were achieved at the original chloride content ( approximately 1500 mg Cl/L) of the wastewater sample. Nickel removal performance was adversely affected by the decrease of initial pH from its original value of 6. Optimum working conditions for electrocoagulation of metal plating effluent were established as follows: an applied current density of 9 mA/cm(2), the effluent's original electrolyte concentration and pH of the composite sample. TOC removal rates obtained for all electrocoagulation runs fitted pseudo-first-order kinetics very well (R(2)>92-99).

Nanosecond multi-pulse laser milling for certain area removal of metal coating on plastics surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Kai; Jia, Zhenyuan; Ma, Jianwei; Liu, Wei; Wang, Ling

2014-12-01

Metal coating with functional pattern on engineering plastics surface plays an important role in industry applications; it can be obtained by adding or removing certain area of metal coating on engineering plastics surface. However, the manufacturing requirements are improved continuously and the plastic substrate presents three-dimensional (3D) structure-many of these parts cannot be fabricated by conventional processing methods, and a new manufacturing method is urgently needed. As the laser-processing technology has many advantages like high machining accuracy and constraints free substrate structure, the machining of the parts is studied through removing certain area of metal coating based on the nanosecond multi-pulse laser milling. To improve the edge quality of the functional pattern, generation mechanism and corresponding avoidance strategy of the processing defects are studied. Additionally, a prediction model for the laser ablation depth is proposed, which can effectively avoid the existence of residual metal coating and reduces the damage of substrate. With the optimal machining parameters, an equiangular spiral pattern on copper-clad polyimide (CCPI) is machined based on the laser milling at last. The experimental results indicate that the edge of the pattern is smooth and consistent, the substrate is flat and without damage. The achievements in this study could be applied in industrial production.

Affinity to bovine serum albumin and anticancer activity of some new water-soluble metal Schiff base complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asadi, Mozaffar; Asadi, Zahra; Zarei, Leila; Sadi, Somaye Barzegar; Amirghofran, Zahra

2014-12-01

Metal Schiff-base complexes show biological activity but they are usually insoluble in water so four new water-soluble metal Schiff base complexes of Na2[M(5-SO3-1,2-salben]; (5-SO3-1,2-salben denoted N,N";-bis(5-sulphosalicyliden)-1,2-diaminobenzylamine and M = Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn) were synthesized and characterized. The formation constants of the metal complexes were determined by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The interaction of these complexes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Type of quenching, binding constants, number of binding sites and binding stoichiometries were determined by fluorescence quenching method. The results showed that the mentioned complexes strongly bound to BSA. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that hydrophobic association was the major binding force and that the interaction was entropy driven and enthalpically disfavoured. The displacement experiment showed that these complexes could bind to the subdomain IIA (site I) of albumin. Furthermore the synchronous fluorescence spectra showed that the microenvironment of the tryptophan residues was not apparently changed. Based on the Förster theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the distance between the donor (Trp residues) and the acceptor metal complexes was obtained. The growth inhibitory effect of complexes toward the K562 cancer cell line was measured.

Short-time effect of heavy metals upon microbial community activity.

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Yao, Jun; Si, Yang; Chen, Huilun; Russel, Mohammad; Chen, Ke; Qian, Yiguang; Zaray, Gyula; Bramanti, Emilia

2010-01-15

Microcalorimetry was applied to assess and compare the toxic effect of heavy metals, such as As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb and Zn, on the soil microbial activities and community. About 1.0 g soil spiked 5.0mg glucose and 5.0mg ammonium sulfate, the microbial activities were recorded as power-time curves, and their indices, microbial growth rate constant k, total heat evolution Q(T), metabolic enthalpy Delta H(met) and mass specific heat rate J(Q/S), were calculated. Comparing these thermodynamic parameters associated with growth yield, a general order of toxicity to the soil was found to be Cr>Pb>As>Co>Zn>Cd>Cu. When soil was exposed to heavy metals, the amount of bacteria and fungi decreased with the incubation time, and the bacterial number diminished sharply. It illustrates that fungi are more tolerant, and bacteria-fungi ratio would be altered under metal stress. To determine the status of the glucose consumed, a glucose biosensor with eggshell membrane was used to measure the remaining glucose in soil sample. Results showed that the time at which glucose was consumed completely was agreed with the microcalorimetric time to a large extent, and depended on the toxicity of heavy metals as well.

Metal contamination in urban street sediment in Pisa (Italy) can affect the production of antioxidant metabolites in Taraxacum officinale Weber.

PubMed

Bretzel, Francesca; Benvenuti, Stefano; Pistelli, Laura

2014-02-01

Taraxacum officinale Weber (dandelion) is a very ubiquitous species, and it can grow in urban environments on metal-polluted sediments deposited in the gutters. This study represents a preliminary step to verify the presence of metals in sediments collected in urban streets in Pisa and to assess the alteration in dandelion metabolites in order to understand its adaptation to polluted environments. The soil and sediments were collected at three urban streets and analyzed for total and extractable Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Zn. The total values of Pb and Zn in street sediments exceeded the limits for residential areas of soils. Zn was the most mobile of the metals analyzed. Floating cultivations trials were set up with dandelion seedlings and street sediments. The metals were analyzed in roots and leaves. Antioxidant power, anthocyanins, polyphenols, non-protein thiols (NP-TH) and chlorophylls were measured in dandelion leaves. The first two parameters (anthocyanins and antioxidant power) were higher in the polluted samples compared to the control; chlorophyll content was lower in the treated samples, whereas NP-TH showed no differences. NP-TH groups determined in roots were associated with the root content of Zn and Pb. These results indicate that dandelion can tolerate plant stress by altering its metabolite content.

Competitive adsorption of dyes and heavy metals on zeolitic structures.

PubMed

Hernández-Montoya, V; Pérez-Cruz, M A; Mendoza-Castillo, D I; Moreno-Virgen, M R; Bonilla-Petriciolet, A

2013-02-15

The adsorption of Acid blue 25, basic blue 9, basic violet 3, Pb(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) ions has been studied in single and dye-metal binary solutions using two mineral materials: Clinoptilolite (CL) and ER (Erionite). These zeolites were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy; potentiometric titration and nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77 K to obtain their textural parameters. Results indicated that ER has an acidic character and a high specific surface (401 m(2) g(-1)) in contrast with the zeolite CL (21 m(2) g(-1)). Surprisingly, the removal of dyes was very similar for the two zeolites and they showed a considerable selectivity by the basic dyes in comparison with the acid dyes. In the case of heavy metals, ER was more effective in the adsorption process showing a selectivity of: Pb(2+) > Ni(2+) > Zn(2+) > Cd(2+). In the multicomponent adsorption experiments an antagonistic effect was observed in the removal of basic dyes and heavy metals. Particularly, the adsorbed amount of basic violet 3 decreased more significantly when the heavy metals are presents in contrast with the basic blue 9. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular properties of metal difluorides and their interactions with CO2 and H2O molecules: a DFT investigation.

PubMed

Arokiyanathan, Agnes Lincy; Lakshmipathi, Senthilkumar

2017-11-18

A computational study of metal difluorides (MF 2 ; M = Ca to Zn) and their interactions with carbon dioxide and water molecules was performed. The structural parameter values obtained and the results of AIM analysis and energy decomposition analysis indicated that the Ca-F bond is weaker and less ionic than the bonds in the transition metal difluorides. A deformation density plot revealed the stablizing influence of the Jahn-Teller effect in nonlinear MF 2 molecules (e.g., where M= Sc, Ti, Cr). An anaysis of the metal K-edge peaks of the difluorides showed that shifts in the edge energy were due to the combined effects of the ionicity, effective nuclear charge, and the spin state of the metal. The interactions of CO 2 with ScF 2 (Scc3 geometry) and TiF 2 (Tic2 geometry) caused CO 2 to shift from its usual linear geometry to a bent geometry (η 2 (C=O) binding mode), while it retained its linear geometry (η 1 (O) binding mode) when it interacted with the other metal difluorides. Energy decomposition analysis showed that, among the various geometries considered, the Scc3 and Tic2 geometries possessed the highest interaction energies and orbital interaction energies. Heavier transition metal difluorides showed stronger affinities for H 2 O, whereas the lighter transition metal (Sc and Ti) difluorides preferred CO 2 . Overall, the results of this study suggest that fluorides of lighter transition metals with partially filled d orbitals (e.g., Sc and Ti) could be used for CO 2 capture under moist conditions. Graphical abstract Interaction of metal difluorides with carbon dioxide and water.

Surface density: a new parameter in the fundamental metallicity relation of star-forming galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashimoto, Tetsuya; Goto, Tomotsugu; Momose, Rieko

2018-04-01

Star-forming galaxies display a close relation among stellar mass, metallicity, and star formation rate (or molecular-gas mass). This is known as the fundamental metallicity relation (FMR) (or molecular-gas FMR), and it has a profound implication on models of galaxy evolution. However, there still remains a significant residual scatter around the FMR. We show here that a fourth parameter, the surface density of stellar mass, reduces the dispersion around the molecular-gas FMR. In a principal component analysis of 29 physical parameters of 41 338 star-forming galaxies, the surface density of stellar mass is found to be the fourth most important parameter. The new 4D fundamental relation forms a tighter hypersurface that reduces the metallicity dispersion to 50 per cent of that of the molecular-gas FMR. We suggest that future analyses and models of galaxy evolution should consider the FMR in a 4D space that includes surface density. The dilution time-scale of gas inflow and the star-formation efficiency could explain the observational dependence on surface density of stellar mass.

Role of crystal field in mixed alkali metal effect: electron paramagnetic resonance study of mixed alkali metal oxyfluoro vanadate glasses.

PubMed

Honnavar, Gajanan V; Ramesh, K P; Bhat, S V

2014-01-23

The mixed alkali metal effect is a long-standing problem in glasses. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used by several researchers to study the mixed alkali metal effect, but a detailed analysis of the nearest neighbor environment of the glass former using spin-Hamiltonian parameters was elusive. In this study we have prepared a series of vanadate glasses having general formula (mol %) 40 V2O5-30BaF2-(30 - x)LiF-xRbF with x = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters of V(4+) ions were extracted by simulating and fitting to the experimental spectra using EasySpin. From the analysis of these parameters it is observed that the replacement of lithium ions by rubidium ions follows a "preferential substitution model". Using this proposed model, we were able to account for the observed variation in the ratio of the g parameter, which goes through a maximum. This reflects an asymmetric to symmetric changeover of the alkali metal ion environment around the vanadium site. Further, this model also accounts for the variation in oxidation state of vanadium ion, which was confirmed from the variation in signal intensity of EPR spectra.

Parameter Optimization Of Natural Hydroxyapatite/SS316l Via Metal Injection Molding (MIM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mustafa, N.; Ibrahim1, M. H. I.; Amin, A. M.; Asmawi, R.

2017-01-01

Metal injection molding (MIM) are well known as a worldwide application of powder injection molding (PIM) where as applied the shaping concept and the beneficial of plastic injection molding but develops the applications to various high performance metals and alloys, plus metal matrix composites and ceramics. This study investigates the strength of green part by using stainless steel 316L/ Natural hydroxyapatite composite as a feedstock. Stainless steel 316L (SS316L) was mixed with Natural hydroxyapatite (NHAP) by adding 40 wt. % Low Density Polyethylene and 60 %wt. Palm Stearin as a binder system at 63 wt. % powder loading consist of 90 % wt. of SS316 L and 10 wt. % NHAP prepared thru critical powder volume percentage (CPVC). Taguchi method was functional as a tool in determining the optimum green strength for Metal Injection Molding (MIM) parameters. The green strength was optimized with 4 significant injection parameter such as Injection temperature (A), Mold temperature (B), Pressure (C) and Speed (D) were selected throughout screening process. An orthogonal array of L9 (3)4 was conducted. The optimum injection parameters for highest green strength were established at A1, B2, C0 and D1 and where as calculated based on Signal to Noise Ratio.

Refined Dummy Atom Model of Mg(2+) by Simple Parameter Screening Strategy with Revised Experimental Solvation Free Energy.

PubMed

Jiang, Yang; Zhang, Haiyang; Feng, Wei; Tan, Tianwei

2015-12-28

Metal ions play an important role in the catalysis of metalloenzymes. To investigate metalloenzymes via molecular modeling, a set of accurate force field parameters for metal ions is highly imperative. To extend its application range and improve the performance, the dummy atom model of metal ions was refined through a simple parameter screening strategy using the Mg(2+) ion as an example. Using the AMBER ff03 force field with the TIP3P model, the refined model accurately reproduced the experimental geometric and thermodynamic properties of Mg(2+). Compared with point charge models and previous dummy atom models, the refined dummy atom model yields an enhanced performance for producing reliable ATP/GTP-Mg(2+)-protein conformations in three metalloenzyme systems with single or double metal centers. Similar to other unbounded models, the refined model failed to reproduce the Mg-Mg distance and favored a monodentate binding of carboxylate groups, and these drawbacks needed to be considered with care. The outperformance of the refined model is mainly attributed to the use of a revised (more accurate) experimental solvation free energy and a suitable free energy correction protocol. This work provides a parameter screening strategy that can be readily applied to refine the dummy atom models for metal ions.

Geochemical phase and particle size relationships of metals in urban road dust.

PubMed

Jayarathne, Ayomi; Egodawatta, Prasanna; Ayoko, Godwin A; Goonetilleke, Ashantha

2017-11-01

Detailed knowledge of the processes that metals undergo during dry weather periods whilst deposited on urban surfaces and their environmental significance is essential to predict the potential influence of metals on stormwater quality in order to develop appropriate stormwater pollution mitigation measures. However, very limited research has been undertaken in this area. Accordingly, this study investigated the geochemical phase and particle size relationships of seven metals which are commonly associated with urban road dust, using sequential extraction in order to assess their mobility characteristics. Metals in the sequentially extracted fractions of exchangeable, reducible, oxidisable and residual were found to follow a similar trend for different land uses even though they had variable accumulation loads. The high affinity of Cd and Zn for exchangeable reactions in both, bulk and size-fractionated solid samples confirmed their high mobility, while the significant enrichment of Ni and Cr in the stable residual fraction indicated a low risk of mobility. The study results also confirmed the availability of Cu, Pb and Mn in both, stable and mobile fractions. The fine fraction of solids (<150 μm) and antecedent dry days can be highlighted as important parameters when determining the fate of metals associated with urban road dust. The outcomes from this study are expected to contribute to the development of effective stormwater pollution mitigation strategies by taking into consideration the metal-particulate relationships. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Changes in electrical and thermal parameters of led packages under different current and heating stresses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayawardena, Adikaramge Asiri

The goal of this dissertation is to identify electrical and thermal parameters of an LED package that can be used to predict catastrophic failure real-time in an application. Through an experimental study the series electrical resistance and thermal resistance were identified as good indicators of contact failure of LED packages. This study investigated the long-term changes in series electrical resistance and thermal resistance of LED packages at three different current and junction temperature stress conditions. Experiment results showed that the series electrical resistance went through four phases of change; including periods of latency, rapid increase, saturation, and finally a sharp decline just before failure. Formation of voids in the contact metallization was identified as the underlying mechanism for series resistance increase. The rate of series resistance change was linked to void growth using the theory of electromigration. The rate of increase of series resistance is dependent on temperature and current density. The results indicate that void growth occurred in the cap (Au) layer, was constrained by the contact metal (Ni) layer, preventing open circuit failure of contact metal layer. Short circuit failure occurred due to electromigration induced metal diffusion along dislocations in GaN. The increase in ideality factor, and reverse leakage current with time provided further evidence to presence of metal in the semiconductor. An empirical model was derived for estimation of LED package failure time due to metal diffusion. The model is based on the experimental results and theories of electromigration and diffusion. Furthermore, the experimental results showed that the thermal resistance of LED packages increased with aging time. A relationship between thermal resistance change rate, with case temperature and temperature gradient within the LED package was developed. The results showed that dislocation creep is responsible for creep induced plastic deformation in the die-attach solder. The temperatures inside the LED package reached the melting point of die-attach solder due to delamination just before catastrophic open circuit failure. A combined model that could estimate life of LED packages based on catastrophic failure of thermal and electrical contacts is presented for the first time. This model can be used to make a-priori or real-time estimation of LED package life based on catastrophic failure. Finally, to illustrate the usefulness of the findings from this thesis, two different implementations of real-time life prediction using prognostics and health monitoring techniques are discussed.

Experimental investigation of two-phase heat transfer in a porous matrix.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Von Reth, R.; Frost, W.

1972-01-01

One-dimensional two-phase flow transpiration cooling through porous metal is studied experimentally. The experimental data is compared with a previous one-dimensional analysis. Good agreement with calculated temperature distribution is obtained as long as the basic assumptions of the analytical model are satisfied. Deviations from the basic assumptions are caused by nonhomogeneous and oscillating flow conditions. Preliminary derivation of nondimensional parameters which characterize the stable and unstable flow conditions is given. Superheated liquid droplets observed sputtering from the heated surface indicated incomplete evaporation at heat fluxes well in access of the latent energy transport. A parameter is developed to account for the nonequilibrium thermodynamic effects. Measured and calculated pressure drops show contradicting trends which are attributed to capillary forces.

Frictional sliding inclusions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Jin H.; Furuhashi, R.; Mura, T.

1993-02-01

S OLUTIONS ARE presented in closed form by using an averaging method for inclusions sliding along an interface due to uniform eigenstrains precribed in the inclusions. The associated stress fields are also analytically determined. A parameter s is introduced to indicate the relative magnitude of sliding compared with the extreme cases of perfect bonding and perfect sliding. When the parameter s becomes zero, the present solution coincides with Eshelby's solution which is the perfectly bonded case. In contrast, when the parameter s is unity, the solution agrees with Volterra's solution (M URA and F URUHASHI, 1984, J. appl. Mech.51, 308] for the perfect sliding case. Because of non-uniform elastic fields caused by sliding along the interface, the well-known Eshelby tensor is modified for the sliding inclusions. Moreover, based on the Mori-Tanaka theory (M ORI and T ANAKA, 1973, Acta Metall.21, 571), an overall stress-strain relation is established to characterize the sliding effect on the overall elastic moduli.

Revisiting Atmospheric Lead in NYC - Comparison of Archived Air Filters to Urban Park Sediments and Soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chillrud, S. N.; Ross, J. M.; Yan, B.; Bopp, R.

2015-12-01

Urban lake sediments have the potential to be used for reconstructing history of aerosols, providing data before the start of urban air quality monitoring. In a previous study, the similarity between radionuclide and excess Pb inventories (57 g/m^2) in Central Park Lake (CPL) sediments and those same parameters in Central Park soils (CPS) was interpreted to indicate that urban lake sediment cores from CPL represent deposition of atmospheric aerosols over the history of the park, which was constructed in the 1860s. Furthermore, metal ratios and metal chronologies indicated that incineration was the major source of Pb to the NYC atmosphere over the 20th century. In this report, we compare the lake chronologies for metals to a set of archived air filters collected by the Department of Energy's Environmental Measurement Lab (EML). These weekly filters of total suspended particulates (TSP) were collected by a high volume sampler located in lower Manhattan for radionuclides as part of the program focused on documenting radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons testing. Metal concentrations measured in subsamples of the EML filters collected between the 1970s to 1990s showed Pb decreasing more slowly than the records of Pb added to gasoline. Metal ratios in the filters were similar to the ratios measured in CPL sediments; the Pb to Sn ratios were roughly 20:1 and the Pb to Zn ratios were in close to 1. The similarity of the ratios provides additional solid support that the CP Lake sediment cores reflect atmospheric inputs. The enrichment of Pb in the large aerosol particle fraction (TSP), relative to fine PM2.5 fraction, demonstrates that the resuspended NYC soils and their historical contaminant burden, are the primary, current source of Pb to NYC air.

Development of Experimental Setup of Metal Rapid Prototyping Machine using Selective Laser Sintering Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, S. N.; Mulay, A. V.; Ahuja, B. B.

2018-04-01

Unlike in the traditional manufacturing processes, additive manufacturing as rapid prototyping, allows designers to produce parts that were previously considered too complex to make economically. The shift is taking place from plastic prototype to fully functional metallic parts by direct deposition of metallic powders as produced parts can be directly used for desired purpose. This work is directed towards the development of experimental setup of metal rapid prototyping machine using selective laser sintering and studies the various parameters, which plays important role in the metal rapid prototyping using SLS technique. The machine structure in mainly divided into three main categories namely, (1) Z-movement of bed and table, (2) X-Y movement arrangement for LASER movements and (3) feeder mechanism. Z-movement of bed is controlled by using lead screw, bevel gear pair and stepper motor, which will maintain the accuracy of layer thickness. X-Y movements are controlled using timing belt and stepper motors for precise movements of LASER source. Feeder mechanism is then developed to control uniformity of layer thickness metal powder. Simultaneously, the study is carried out for selection of material. Various types of metal powders can be used for metal RP as Single metal powder, mixture of two metals powder, and combination of metal and polymer powder. Conclusion leads to use of mixture of two metals powder to minimize the problems such as, balling effect and porosity. Developed System can be validated by conducting various experiments on manufactured part to check mechanical and metallurgical properties. After studying the results of these experiments, various process parameters as LASER properties (as power, speed etc.), and material properties (as grain size and structure etc.) will be optimized. This work is mainly focused on the design and development of cost effective experimental setup of metal rapid prototyping using SLS technique which will gives the feel of metal rapid prototyping process and its important parameters.

A method for predicting optimized processing parameters for surfacing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dupont, J.N.; Marder, A.R.

1994-12-31

Welding is used extensively for surfacing applications. To operate a surfacing process efficiently, the variables must be optimized to produce low levels of dilution with the substrate while maintaining high deposition rates. An equation for dilution in terms of the welding variables, thermal efficiency factors, and thermophysical properties of the overlay and substrate was developed by balancing energy and mass terms across the welding arc. To test the validity of the resultant dilution equation, the PAW, GTAW, GMAW, and SAW processes were used to deposit austenitic stainless steel onto carbon steel over a wide range of parameters. Arc efficiency measurementsmore » were conducted using a Seebeck arc welding calorimeter. Melting efficiency was determined based on knowledge of the arc efficiency. Dilution was determined for each set of processing parameters using a quantitative image analysis system. The pertinent equations indicate dilution is a function of arc power (corrected for arc efficiency), filler metal feed rate, melting efficiency, and thermophysical properties of the overlay and substrate. With the aid of the dilution equation, the effect of processing parameters on dilution is presented by a new processing diagram. A new method is proposed for determining dilution from welding variables. Dilution is shown to depend on the arc power, filler metal feed rate, arc and melting efficiency, and the thermophysical properties of the overlay and substrate. Calculated dilution levels were compared with measured values over a large range of processing parameters and good agreement was obtained. The results have been applied to generate a processing diagram which can be used to: (1) predict the maximum deposition rate for a given arc power while maintaining adequate fusion with the substrate, and (2) predict the resultant level of dilution with the substrate.« less

Ligand electronic parameters as a measure of the polarization of the C≡O bond in [M(CO)(x)L(y)]n complexes and of the relative stabilization of [M(CO)(x)L(y)](n/n+1) species.

PubMed

Zobi, Fabio

2010-11-15

The electronic description of octahedral (fac-[M(CO)(3)L(3)](n), with M = Re, Ru, and Mn, and [Cr(CO)(5)L](n)), square-planar (cis-[Pt(CO)(2)L(2)](n)), and tetrahedral ([Ni(CO)(3)L](n)) carbonyl complexes (where L = monodentate ligand) was obtained via density functional theory and natural population analyses in order to understand what effects are probed in these species by vibrational spectroscopy and electrochemistry as a function of the ligand electronic parameter of the associated L. The analysis indicates that while ligand electronic parameters may be considered as a measure of the net donor power of the ligand, the net transfer of the electron density (or charge) does not occur from the ligand to the metal ion. In [M(CO)(x)L(y)](n) carbonyl species, the charge transfer occurs from the ligand L to the oxygen atom of the bound carbon monoxides. This charge transfer translates into changes of the polarization (or permanent dipole) and the covalency of the C≡O bonds, and it is this effect that is probed in IR spectroscopy. As the analysis shifts from IR radiations to electrochemical potentials, the parameters best describe the relative thermodynamic stability of the oxidized and reduced [M(CO)(x)L(y)](n/n+1) species. No relationship is found between the metal natural charge of the [M(CO)(x)L(y)](n) fragments analyzed and the parameters. Brief considerations are given on the possible design of CO-releasing molecules.

Impact of physical and chemical characteristics of breeding sites on mosquito larval abundance at Ismailia Governorate, Egypt.

PubMed

Bahgat, Iman Mohamed

2013-08-01

The distribution and monthly abundance of mosquito larvae in released water, drainage canals and sewage water tanks in Ismailia governorate were investigated. The results obtained indicated the presence of five culicine (Culex. pipiens, Cx. pusillus, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. theleri and Ochlerotatus. caspius) and two anopheline (Anopheles. multicolor and An. pharoensis) mosquito species. Significantly higher larval density was recorded in sewage water (n= 5534; 46.08%) as compared with released water (n = 2903; 24.17%) and drainage water (n= 3573; 29.75%). Culex pipiens was the most dominant mosquito species in the three habitats. The effects of environmental parameters including pH, biological and chemical oxygen demands, day time water temperature, plant growth, salinity, total organic matter and concentrations of heavy metals on larval population density were investigated. The positive correlations observed between heavy metals concentrations in the three habitats suggested relative uniformity of the sources of metal pollutants. Culex pipiens larvae demonstrated high tolerance to elevated levels of heavy metals in sewage water and compensatory effects of high nutrient levels generally associated with sewage or domestic waste. High densities of culicine larvae were accompanied by low density of anopheline larvae. This was attributed to water chemistry & competitive interactions.

TREFEX: Trend Estimation and Change Detection in the Response of MOX Gas Sensors

PubMed Central

Pashami, Sepideh; Lilienthal, Achim J.; Schaffernicht, Erik; Trincavelli, Marco

2013-01-01

Many applications of metal oxide gas sensors can benefit from reliable algorithms to detect significant changes in the sensor response. Significant changes indicate a change in the emission modality of a distant gas source and occur due to a sudden change of concentration or exposure to a different compound. As a consequence of turbulent gas transport and the relatively slow response and recovery times of metal oxide sensors, their response in open sampling configuration exhibits strong fluctuations that interfere with the changes of interest. In this paper we introduce TREFEX, a novel change point detection algorithm, especially designed for metal oxide gas sensors in an open sampling system. TREFEX models the response of MOX sensors as a piecewise exponential signal and considers the junctions between consecutive exponentials as change points. We formulate non-linear trend filtering and change point detection as a parameter-free convex optimization problem for single sensors and sensor arrays. We evaluate the performance of the TREFEX algorithm experimentally for different metal oxide sensors and several gas emission profiles. A comparison with the previously proposed GLR method shows a clearly superior performance of the TREFEX algorithm both in detection performance and in estimating the change time. PMID:23736853

Characterization of the Electric Double Layer Formation Dynamics of a Metal/Ionic Liquid/Metal Structure.

PubMed

Schmidt, Elliot; Shi, Sha; Ruden, P Paul; Frisbie, C Daniel

2016-06-15

Although ionic liquids (ILs) have been used extensively in recent years as a high-capacitance "dielectric" in electric double layer transistors, the dynamics of the double layer formation have remained relatively unexplored. Better understanding of the dynamics and relaxation processes involved in electric double layer formation will guide device optimization, particularly with regard to switching speed. In this paper, we explore the dynamical characteristics of an IL in a metal/ionic liquid/metal (M/IL/M) capacitor. In particular, we examine a Au/IL/Au structure where the IL is 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate. The experiments consist of frequency-dependent impedance measurements and time-dependent current vs voltage measurements for applied linear voltage ramps and abrupt voltage steps. The parameters of an equivalent circuit model are determined by fits to the impedance vs frequency data and subsequently verified by calculating the current vs voltage characteristics for the applied potential profiles. The data analysis indicates that the dynamics of the structure are characterized by a wide distribution of relaxation times spanning the range of less than microseconds to longer than seconds. Possible causes for these time scales are discussed.

Physiological responses of Tillandsia albida (Bromeliaceae) to long-term foliar metal application.

PubMed

Kováčik, Jozef; Klejdus, Bořivoj; Stork, František; Hedbavny, Josef

2012-11-15

The impact of 2-month foliar application of cadmium, nickel and their combination (10 μM) on Tillandsia albida was studied. Cadmium caused damage of tissue but assimilation pigments were depressed in Cd+Ni variant only. Stress-related parameters (ROS and peroxidase activities) were elevated by Cd and Cd+Ni while MDA content remained unaffected. Free amino acids accumulated the most in Ni alone but soluble proteins were not influenced. Among phenolic acids, mainly vanillin contributed to increase of their sum in all variants while soluble phenols even decreased in Cd+Ni and flavonols slightly increased in Cd variants. Phenolic enzymes showed negligible responses to almost all treatments. Mineral nutrients (K, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, and Zn) were not affected by metal application but N content increased. Total Cd or Ni amounts reached over 400 μg g(-1) DW and were not affected if metal alone and combined treatment is compared while absorbed content differed (ca. 50% of total Cd was absorbed while almost all Ni was absorbed). These data indicate tolerance of T. albida to foliar metal application and together with strong xerophytic morphology, use for environmental studies is recommended. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stabilization of heavy metals in soil using two organo-bentonites.

PubMed

Yu, Kai; Xu, Jian; Jiang, Xiaohong; Liu, Cun; McCall, Wesley; Lu, Jinlong

2017-10-01

Stabilization of Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cr and As in soil using tetramethylammonium (TMA) and dodecyltrimethylammonium (DTMA) modified bentonites (T-Bents and D-Bents) as amendments was investigated. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) was used to quantify the metal mobility after soil treatment. The structural parameters of modified bentonites, including the BET surface area, basal spacing and zeta potential were obtained as a function of the TMA and DTMA loading at 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200% of the bentonite's cation exchange capacity, respectively. The results indicated that the characteristics of the organo-bentonites fundamentally varied depending on the species and concentration of modifiers loaded on bentonite. T-Bents and D-Bents manifested distinct immobilization effectiveness towards various metals. In association with the organo-bentonite characteristics, the main interactive mechanisms for Cu, Zn and Cd proceeded via cation exchange, Hg proceeded via physical adsorption and partitioning, Cr and As proceeded via specific adsorption and electrostatic attraction, respectively. This study provided operational and mechanistic basis for optimizing the organic clay synthesis and selecting as the appropriate amendment for remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optical properties of metals: Infrared emissivity in the anomalous skin effect spectral region

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Echániz, T.; Pérez-Sáez, R. B., E-mail: raul.perez@ehu.es; Tello, M. J.

When the penetration depth of an electromagnetic wave in a metal is similar to the mean free path of the conduction electrons, the Drude classical theory is no longer satisfied and the skin effect becomes anomalous. Physical parameters of this theory for twelve metals were calculated and analyzed. The theory predicts an emissivity peak ε{sub peak} at room temperature in the mid-infrared for smooth surface metals that moves towards larger wavelengths as temperature decreases. Furthermore, the theory states that ε{sub peak} increases with the emission angle but its position, λ{sub peak}, is constant. Copper directional emissivity measurements as well asmore » emissivity obtained using optical constants data confirm the predictions of the theory. Considering the relationship between the specularity parameter p and the sample roughness, it is concluded that p is not the simple parameter it is usually assumed to be. Quantitative comparison between experimental data and theoretical predictions shows that the specularity parameter can be equal to one for roughness values larger than those predicted. An exhaustive analysis of the experimental optical parameters shows signs of a reflectance broad peak in Cu, Al, Au, and Mo around the wavelength predicted by the theory for p = 1.« less

Heat and metal transfer in gas metal arc welding using argon and helium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Joensson, P.G.; Eagar, T.W.; Szekely, J.

1995-04-01

This article describes a theoretical investigation on the arc parameters and metal transfer in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) of mild steel using argon and helium shielding gases. Major differences in the predicted arc parameters were determined to be due to large differences in thermophysical properties. Various findings from the study include that an arc cannot be struck in a pure helium atmosphere without the assistance of metal vapor, that a strong electromagnetic cathode force affects the fluid flow and heat transfer in the helium arc, providing a possible explanation for the experimentally observed globular transfer mode and that themore » tapering of t electrode in an argon arc is caused by electron condensation on the side of the electrode.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meyers, D.; Liu, Jian; Freeland, J. W.

We observed complex materials in electronic phases and transitions between them often involve coupling between many degrees of freedom whose entanglement convolutes understanding of the instigating mechanism. Metal-insulator transitions are one such problem where coupling to the structural, orbital, charge, and magnetic order parameters frequently obscures the underlying physics. We demonstrate a way to unravel this conundrum by heterostructuring a prototypical multi-ordered complex oxide NdNiO3 in ultra thin geometry, which preserves the metal-to-insulator transition and bulk-like magnetic order parameter, but entirely suppresses the symmetry lowering and long-range charge order parameter. Furthermore, these findings illustrate the utility of heterointerfaces as amore » powerful method for removing competing order parameters to gain greater insight into the nature of the transition, here revealing that the magnetic order generates the transition independently, leading to an exceptionally rare purely electronic metal-insulator transition with no symmetry change.« less

Influence of the clearance on in-vitro tribology of large diameter metal-on-metal articulations pertaining to resurfacing hip implants.

PubMed

Rieker, Claude B; Schön, Rolf; Konrad, Reto; Liebentritt, Gernot; Gnepf, Patric; Shen, Ming; Roberts, Paul; Grigoris, Peter

2005-04-01

Large-diameter metal-on-metal articulations may provide an opportunity for wear reduction in total hip implants because earlier studies have shown that the formation of a fluid film that completely separates the bearing surfaces is theoretically possible. In such a lubrication mode and under ideal conditions, there is theoretically no amount of wear. Studies have suggested that the two primary parameters controlling the lubrication mode are the diameter and the clearance of the articulation. The goal of the present study was to experimentally investigate the influence of these two parameters on the wear behavior of large-diameter metal-on-metal articulations pertaining to resurfacing hip implants. The results of this in vitro investigation showed that longer running-in periods and higher amounts of running-in wear were associated with larger clearances.

Design and characterization of planar capacitive imaging probe based on the measurement sensitivity distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, X.; Chen, G.; Li, W.; Huthchins, D. A.

2013-01-01

Previous work indicated that the capacitive imaging (CI) technique is a useful NDE tool which can be used on a wide range of materials, including metals, glass/carbon fibre composite materials and concrete. The imaging performance of the CI technique for a given application is determined by design parameters and characteristics of the CI probe. In this paper, a rapid method for calculating the whole probe sensitivity distribution based on the finite element model (FEM) is presented to provide a direct view of the imaging capabilities of the planar CI probe. Sensitivity distributions of CI probes with different geometries were obtained. Influencing factors on sensitivity distribution were studied. Comparisons between CI probes with point-to-point triangular electrode pair and back-to-back triangular electrode pair were made based on the analysis of the corresponding sensitivity distributions. The results indicated that the sensitivity distribution could be useful for optimising the probe design parameters and predicting the imaging performance.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chong, K.; Wang, W.X.

The green mussel Perna viridis and the clam Ruditapes philippinarum have been frequently used as biomonitors of coastal contamination in subtropical and tropical waters, yet the physiological processes controlling metal uptake in these bivalves are unknown. Assimilation efficiency (AE) is an important physiological parameter quantifying metal bioavailability from ingested food. The authors determined the AEs of Cd, CR, and Zn in these bivalves feeding on five species of phytoplankton and one natural section. The influences of the cytoplasmic distribution of metals in the algal cells and the digestive physiology of bivalves on metal AEs were also examined. Among the threemore » metals, Zn was generally assimilated at the highest efficiency, i.e., 21 to 36% in the mussels and 29 to 59% in the clams. Cr was the least assimilated metal, with AEs being 10 to 16% in the mussels and 11 to 24% in the clams. The AEs of Cd and Zn in the clams were 1.8 to 4.7 and 1.1 to 1.9 times higher, respectively, than the AEs in the mussels. Assimilation efficiencies of Cr were, however, comparable between the mussels and the clams. A positive significant relationship between the metal AE and the percent of metals in the algal cytoplasm was found only for Cd in the clams, suggesting that Cd fractionation in the algal cells influenced its assimilation. No significant relationship, however, was found for other metals in both bivalves. A significant relationship between Cr-assimilation efficiency and gut passage time (GPT) was documented in the mussels, indicating a higher assimilation when Cr was retained longer in the gut. There was also significant correlation of metal AEs among the three metals, which were probably subjected to the same digestive pathway in the bivalves. Their study demonstrated that both the green mussels and the clams were able to accumulate metals from ingested food source, and food quality appeared to have different effects on metal assimilation in different bivalve species.« less

EFFECTS OF INHALATION OF SOLUBLE METALLIC CONSTITUENTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER ON CARDIOPULMONARY, THERMOREGULATORY, AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN GUINEA PIGS

EPA Science Inventory

EFFECTS OF INHALATION OF SOLUBLE METALLIC CONSTITUENTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER ON CARDIOPULMONARY, THERMOREGULATORY, AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN GUINEA PIGS. JP Nolan1, LB Wichers2, J Stanek3, UP Kodavanti1, MCJ Schladweiler1, PA Evansky1, ER Lappi1, DL Costa1, and WP Watkinson1...

Estimating turbulent electrovortex flow parameters hear the dynamo cycle bifurcation point

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zimin, V.D.; Kolpakov, N.Yu.; Khripchenko, S.Yu.

1988-07-01

Models for estimating turbulent electrovortex flow parameters, derived in earlier studies, were delineated and extended in this paper to express those parameters near the dynamo cycle bifurcation point in a spherical cavity. Toroidal and poloidal fields rising from the induction currents within the liquid metal and their electrovortex interactions were calculated. Toroidal field strengthening by the poloidal electrovortex flow, the first part of the dynamo loop, was determined by the viscous dissipation in the liquid metal. The second part of the loop, in which the toroidal field localized in the liquid metal is converted to a poloidal field and emergesmore » from the sphere, was also established. The dissipative effects near the critical magnetic Reynolds number were estimated.« less

Effects of process parameters in plastic, metal, and ceramic injection molding processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Shi W.; Ahn, Seokyoung; Whang, Chul Jin; Park, Seong Jin; Atre, Sundar V.; Kim, Jookwon; German, Randall M.

2011-09-01

Plastic injection molding has been widely used in the past and is a dominant forming approach today. As the customer demands require materials with better engineering properties that were not feasible with polymers, powder injection molding with metal and ceramic powders has received considerable attention in recent decades. To better understand the differences in the plastic injection molding, metal injection molding, and ceramic injection molding, the effects of the core process parameters on the process performances has been studied using the state-of-the-art computer-aided engineering (CAE) design tool, PIMSolver® The design of experiments has been conducted using the Taguchi method to obtain the relative contributions of various process parameters onto the successful operations.

Solid phase extraction of copper(II) by fixed bed procedure on cation exchange complexing resins.

PubMed

Pesavento, Maria; Sturini, Michela; D'Agostino, Girolamo; Biesuz, Raffaela

2010-02-19

The efficiency of the metal ion recovery by solid phase extraction (SPE) in complexing resins columns is predicted by a simple model based on two parameters reflecting the sorption equilibria and kinetics of the metal ion on the considered resin. The parameter related to the adsorption equilibria was evaluated by the Gibbs-Donnan model, and that related to the kinetics by assuming that the ion exchange is the adsorption rate determining step. The predicted parameters make it possible to evaluate the breakthrough volume of the considered metal ion, Cu(II), from different kinds of complexing resins, and at different conditions, such as acidity and ionic composition. Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Hematological findings in neotropical fish Hoplias malabaricus exposed to subchronic and dietary doses of methylmercury, inorganic lead, and tributyltin chloride

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oliveira Ribeiro, C.A.; Filipak Neto, F.; Mela, M.

2006-05-15

Hematological indices are gaining general acceptance as valuable tools in monitoring various aspects the health of fish exposed to contaminants. In this work some effects of methyl mercury (MeHg), inorganic lead (Pb{sup 2+}), and tributyltin (TBT) in a tropical fish species were evaluated by hematological methods after a trophic exposition at a subchronic level. Forty-two mature individuals of the freshwater top predator fish Hoplias malabaricus were exposed to trophic doses (each 5 days) of MeHg (0.075 {mu}g g{sup -1}), Pb{sup 2+} (21 {mu}g g{sup -1}), and TBT (0.3 {mu}g g{sup -1}) using young fish Astyanax sp. as prey vehicle. Aftermore » 14 successive doses over 70 days, blood was sampled from exposed and control groups to evaluate hematological effects of metals on erythrocytes, total leukocytes and differential leukocytes counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell indices mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Transmission electron microscopy and image analysis of erythrocytes were also used to investigate some morphometric parameters. Results show no significant effects in MCH and MCHC for all tested metals, but differences were found in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and white blood cells counts. The number of leukocytes was increased in the presence of MeHg, suggesting effects on the immune system. Also the MCV increased in individuals exposed to MeHg. No ultrastructural damages were observed in red blood cells but the image analysis using light microscopy revealed differences in area, elongation, and roundness of erythrocytes from individuals exposed to Pb{sup 2+} and TBT but not in the group exposed to MeHg. The present work shows that changes in hematological and blood indices could highlight some barely detectable metal effects in fish after laboratory exposure to contaminated food, but their application in field biomonitoring using H. malabaricus will need more detailed studies and a careful consideration of environmental parameters.« less

Evaluations of groundwater contamination by leachates around Olusosun open dumpsite in Lagos metropolis, southwest Nigeria.

PubMed

Aboyeji, Olatunji Sunday; Eigbokhan, Stephen Femi

2016-12-01

A major cause of groundwater pollution in urban areas is contamination by leachates emanating from municipal solid waste dumpsites. The study evaluated the quality of water of selected boreholes and wells around Olusosun open solid waste dumpsite in Lagos metropolis, using water quality index (WQI) rating and geospatial techniques. Water samples were randomly collected from fifteen boreholes and five wells downslopes of the dumpsite. The samples were analysed for the physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals. Factor Analysis was employed to analyse the information content of the water quality indicators to determine their appropriateness for indexing. The spatial distribution of the WQIs determined using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation procedure. Results showed that the waters were generally acidic with 85% of pH values below the range suggested by WHO for drinking water. All samples contained concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in quantities higher than the recommended limit of 2.0 mg/l (average = 4.97 mg/l), while 40% of the samples contained concentration of K above the recommended limit. The concentration of heavy metals was generally low. The major cations (Mg, Na, and K) were highly positively correlated, and were positively correlated with pH, TA, TAL, TH and Cl. Negative correlations were observed between TDS, NO3(-) and PO4(3-); NO3(-) and Ag; and DO with the heavy metals. Eighteen parameters consisting of pH, EC, TDS, TA, TAL, TH, Cl, NO3(-), PO4(3-), Mg, Na, K, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cd, Ag and Pb were found to be the main indicators of groundwater pollution caused by landfill leachate percolation. Evaluation of the WQIs indicated that 35% of the water samples were unsuitable for consumption, while 15%, 15% and 35% were in the good, very good and excellent categorises, respectively. The degree of suitability of the borehole and well waters was closely related to proximity to the dumpsite. It is imperative that appropriate remediation strategies are adopted to forestall further contamination of the groundwater by leachates in the area. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigation of the binding of Salvianolic acid B to human serum albumin and the effect of metal ions on the binding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Tingting; Cao, Hui; Zhu, Shajun; Lu, Yapeng; Shang, Yanfang; Wang, Miao; Tang, Yanfeng; Zhu, Li

2011-10-01

The studies on the interaction between HSA and drugs have been an interesting research field in life science, chemistry and clinical medicine. There are also many metal ions present in blood plasma, thus the research about the effect of metal ions on the interaction between drugs and plasma proteins is crucial. In this study, the interaction of Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by the steady-state, synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. The results showed that Sal B had a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching mechanism. Binding parameters calculated showed that Sal B was bound to HSA with the binding affinities of 10 5 L mol -1. The thermodynamic parameters studies revealed that the binding was characterized by positive enthalpy and positive entropy changes, and hydrophobic interactions were the predominant intermolecular forces to stabilize the complex. The specific binding distance r (2.93 nm) between donor (HSA) and acceptor (Sal B) was obtained according to Förster non-radiative resonance energy transfer theory. The synchronous fluorescence experiment revealed that Sal B cannot lead to the microenvironmental changes around the Tyr and Trp residues of HSA, and the binding site of Sal B on HSA is located in hydrophobic cavity of subdomain IIA. The CD spectroscopy indicated the secondary structure of HSA is not changed in the presence of Sal B. Furthermore, The effect of metal ions (e.g. Zn 2+, Cu 2+, Co 2+, Ni 2+, Fe 3+) on the binding constant of Sal B-HSA complex was also discussed.

Magnetic zeolite NaA: synthesis, characterization based on metakaolin and its application for the removal of Cu2+, Pb2+.

PubMed

Liu, Haibo; Peng, Shuchuan; Shu, Lin; Chen, Tianhu; Bao, Teng; Frost, Ray L

2013-06-01

The optimum parameters for synthesis of zeolite NaA based on metakaolin were investigated according to results of cation exchange capacity and static water adsorption of all synthesis products and selected X-ray diffraction (XRD). Magnetic zeolite NaA was synthesized by adding Fe3O4 in the precursor of zeolite. Zeolite NaA and magnetic zeolite NaA were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XRD. Magnetic zeolite NaA with different Fe3O4 loadings was prepared and used for removal of heavy metals (Cu(2+), Pb(2+)). The results show the optimum parameters for synthesis zeolite NaA are SiO2/Al2O3=2.3, Na2O/SiO2=1.4, H2O/Na2O=50, crystallization time 8h, crystallization temperature 95 °C. The addition of Fe3O4 makes the NaA zeolite with good magnetic susceptibility and good magnetic stability regardless of the Fe3O4 loading, confirming the considerable separation efficiency. Additionally, Fe3O4 loading had a little effect on removal of heavy metal by magnetic zeolite, however, the adsorption capacity still reaches 2.3 mmol g(-1) for Cu(2+), Pb(2+) with a removal efficiency of over 95% in spite of 4.7% Fe3O4 loading. This indicates magnetic zeolite can be used to remove metal heavy at least Cu(2+), Pb(2+) from water with metallic contaminants and can be separated easily after a magnetic process. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Major factors influencing bacterial leaching of heavy metals (Cu and Zn) from anaerobic sludge.

PubMed

Couillard, D; Chartier, M; Mercier, G

1994-01-01

Anaerobically digested sewage sludges were treated for heavy metal removal through a biological solubilization process called bacterial leaching (bioleaching). The solubilization of copper and zinc from these sludges is described in this study: using continuously stirred tank reactors with and without sludge recycling at different mean hydraulic residence times (1, 2, 3 and 4 days). Significant linear equations were established for the solubilization of zinc and copper according to relevant parameters: oxygen reduction potential (ORP), pH and residence time (t). Zinc solubilization was related to the residence time with a r2 (explained variance) of 0.82. Considering only t=2 and 3 days explained variance of 0.31 and 0.24 were found between zinc solubilization as a function of ORP and pH indicating a minor importance of those two factors for this metal in the range of pH and ORP experimented. Cu solubilization was weakly correlated to mean hydraulic residence time (r2=0.48), while it was highly correlated to ORP (r2=0.80) and pH (r2=0.62) considering only t of 2 and 3 days in the case of pH and ORP. The ORP dependence of Cu solubilization has been clearly demonstrated in this study. In addition to this, the importance of the substrate concentration for Cu solubilization has been confirmed. The hypothesis of a biological solubilization of Cu by the indirect mechanism has been supported. The results permit, under optimum conditions, the drawing of linear equations which will allow prediction of metal solubilization efficiencies from the parameters pH (Cu), ORP (Cu) and residence time (Cu and Zn), during the treatment. The linear regressions will be a useful tool for routine operation of the process.

Monolayer graphene/SiC Schottky barrier diodes with improved barrier height uniformity as a sensing platform for the detection of heavy metals

PubMed Central

Eriksson, Jens; Khranovskyy, Volodymyr; Iakimov, Tihomir; Lloyd Spetz, Anita; Yakimova, Rositsa

2016-01-01

A vertical diode structure comprising homogeneous monolayer epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide is fabricated by thermal decomposition of a Si-face 4H-SiC wafer in argon atmosphere. Current–voltage characteristics of the graphene/SiC Schottky junction were analyzed by applying the thermionic-emission theory. Extracted values of the Schottky barrier height and the ideality factor are found to be 0.4879 ± 0.013 eV and 1.01803 ± 0.0049, respectively. Deviations of these parameters from average values are smaller than those of previously observed literature data, thereby implying uniformity of the Schottky barrier height over the whole diode area, a stable rectifying behaviour and a good quality of ohmic palladium–graphene contacts. Keeping in mind the strong sensitivity of graphene to analytes we propose the possibility to use the graphene/SiC Schottky diode as a sensing platform for the recognition of toxic heavy metals. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations we gain insight into the nature of the interaction of cadmium, mercury and lead with graphene as well as estimate the work function and the Schottky barrier height of the graphene/SiC structure before and after applying heavy metals to the sensing material. A shift of the I–V characteristics of the graphene/SiC-based sensor has been proposed as an indicator of presence of the heavy metals. Since the calculations suggested the strongest charge transfer between Pb and graphene, the proposed sensing platform was characterized by good selectivity towards lead atoms and slight interferences from cadmium and mercury. The dependence of the sensitivity parameters on the concentration of Cd, Hg and Pb is studied and discussed. PMID:28144530

Monolayer graphene/SiC Schottky barrier diodes with improved barrier height uniformity as a sensing platform for the detection of heavy metals.

PubMed

Shtepliuk, Ivan; Eriksson, Jens; Khranovskyy, Volodymyr; Iakimov, Tihomir; Lloyd Spetz, Anita; Yakimova, Rositsa

2016-01-01

A vertical diode structure comprising homogeneous monolayer epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide is fabricated by thermal decomposition of a Si-face 4H-SiC wafer in argon atmosphere. Current-voltage characteristics of the graphene/SiC Schottky junction were analyzed by applying the thermionic-emission theory. Extracted values of the Schottky barrier height and the ideality factor are found to be 0.4879 ± 0.013 eV and 1.01803 ± 0.0049, respectively. Deviations of these parameters from average values are smaller than those of previously observed literature data, thereby implying uniformity of the Schottky barrier height over the whole diode area, a stable rectifying behaviour and a good quality of ohmic palladium-graphene contacts. Keeping in mind the strong sensitivity of graphene to analytes we propose the possibility to use the graphene/SiC Schottky diode as a sensing platform for the recognition of toxic heavy metals. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations we gain insight into the nature of the interaction of cadmium, mercury and lead with graphene as well as estimate the work function and the Schottky barrier height of the graphene/SiC structure before and after applying heavy metals to the sensing material. A shift of the I - V characteristics of the graphene/SiC-based sensor has been proposed as an indicator of presence of the heavy metals. Since the calculations suggested the strongest charge transfer between Pb and graphene, the proposed sensing platform was characterized by good selectivity towards lead atoms and slight interferences from cadmium and mercury. The dependence of the sensitivity parameters on the concentration of Cd, Hg and Pb is studied and discussed.

Quality of wastewater reuse in agricultural irrigation and its impact on public health.

PubMed

Al-Hammad, Bushra Ahmed; Abd El-Salam, Magda Magdy; Ibrahim, Sahar Yassin

2014-11-01

This study is planned to perform a sanitary survey of the largest sewage treatment plant in Riyadh, KSA, fortnightly for 6 months to examine its effluent quality as an example for the growing dependence on reuse of treated municipal wastewater in agricultural irrigation purposes to cope with increasing water shortage. The biological and physico-chemical parameters of 12 wastewater samples from the plant were examined using standard methods. The physico-chemical analysis indicated that the surveyed municipal wastewater treatment plant contained some of the studied parameters, such as turbidity, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and residual chlorine above the maximum permissible wastewater limits set by the Saudi Standards. However, heavy metal concentrations in all samples were lower than the recommended standards. Total and faecal coliform counts were above the permissible limits indicating poor sanitation level. Fifty percent of all wastewater samples were contaminated with faecal coliforms but, surprisingly, Escherichia coli were only detected in 8.3 % of the samples. Regular monitoring and enhancement of microbial and physico-chemical parameters of the wastewater quality served by different wastewater treatment plants for reuse in agricultural irrigation is recommended to preserve the environment and public health.

The correlation between acoustic and magnetic properties in the long working metal boiler drum with the parameters of the electron microscope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ababkov, Nikolai, E-mail: n.ababkov@rambler.ru; Smirnov, Alexander, E-mail: galvas.kem@gmail.com

The present paper presents comparative analysis of measurement results of acoustic and magnetic properties in long working metal of boiler drums and the results obtained by methods of electronic microscopy. The structure of the metal sample from the fracture zone to the base metal (metal working sample long) and the center of the base metal before welding (weld metal sample) was investigated by electron microscopy. Studies performed by spectral acoustic, magnetic noise and electron microscopic methods were conducted on the same plots and the same samples of long working and weld metal of high-pressure boiler drums. The analysis of researchmore » results showed high sensitivity of spectral-acoustic and magnetic-noise methods to definition changes of microstructure parameters. Practical application of spectral-acoustic and magnetic noise NDT method is possible for the detection of irregularities and changes in structural and phase state of the long working and weld metal of boiler drums, made of a special molybdenum steel (such as 20M). The above technique can be used to evaluate the structure and physical-mechanical properties of the long working metal of boiler drums in the energy sector.« less

Influence of solid-liquid separation method parameters employed in soil leaching tests on apparent metal concentration.

PubMed

Imoto, Yukari; Yasutaka, Tetsuo; Someya, Masayuki; Higashino, Kazuo

2018-05-15

Soil leaching tests are commonly used to evaluate the leachability of hazardous materials, such as heavy metals, from the soil. Batch leaching tests often enhance soil colloidal mobility and may require solid-liquid separation procedures to remove excess soil particles. However, batch leaching test results depend on particles that can pass through a 0.45μm membrane filter and are influenced by test parameters such as centrifugal intensity and filtration volume per filter. To evaluate these parameters, we conducted batch leaching experiments using metal-contaminated soils and focused on the centrifugal intensity and filtration volume per filter used in solid-liquid separation methods currently employed in standard leaching tests. Our experiments showed that both centrifugal intensity and filtration volume per filter affected the reproducibility of batch leaching tests for some soil types. The results demonstrated that metal concentrations in the filtrates significantly differed according to the centrifugal intensity when it was 3000 g for 2h or less. Increased filtration volume per filter led to significant decreases in filtrate metal concentrations when filter cakes formed during filtration. Comparison of the filtration tests using 0.10 and 0.45μm membrane filters showed statistically significant differences in turbidity and metal concentration. These findings suggest that colloidal particles were not adequately removed from the extract and contributed substantially to the apparent metal concentrations in the leaching test of soil containing colloidal metals. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dimensionless Analysis and Mathematical Modeling of Electromagnetic Levitation (EML) of Metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Lei; Shi, Zhe; Li, Donghui; Yang, Yindong; Zhang, Guifang; McLean, Alexander; Chattopadhyay, Kinnor

2016-02-01

Electromagnetic levitation (EML), a contactless metal melting method, can be used to produce ultra-pure metals and alloys. In the EML process, the levitation force exerted on the droplet is of paramount importance and is affected by many parameters. In this paper, the relationship between levitation force and parameters affecting the levitation process were investigated by dimensionless analysis. The general formula developed by dimensionless analysis was tested and evaluated by numerical modeling. This technique can be employed to design levitation systems for a variety of materials.

Controlling interfacial properties in supported metal oxide catalysts through metal–organic framework templating

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abney, Carter W.; Patterson, Jacob T.; Gilhula, James C.

Precise control over the chemical structure of hard-matter materials is a grand challenge of basic science and a prerequisite for the development of advanced catalyst systems. In this work we report the application of a sacrificial metal-organic framework (MOF) template for the synthesis of a porous supported metal oxide catalyst, demonstrating proof-of-concept for a highly generalizable approach to the preparation new catalyst materials. Application of 2,2’-bipyridine-5,5’-dicarboxylic acid as the organic strut in the Ce MOF precursor results in chelation of Cu 2+ and affords isolation of the metal oxide precursor. Following pyrolysis of the template, homogeneously dispersed CuO nanoparticles aremore » formed in the resulting porous CeO 2 support. By partially substituting non-chelating 1,1’-biphenyl-4,4’-dicarboxylic acid, the Cu 2+ loading and dispersion can be finely tuned, allowing precise control over the CuO/CeO 2 interface in the final catalyst system. Characterization by x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and in situ IR spectroscopy/mass spectrometry confirm control over interface formation to be a function of template composition, constituting the first report of a MOF template being used to control interfacial properties in a supported metal oxide. Using CO oxidation as a model reaction, the system with the greatest number of interfaces possessed the lowest activation energy and better activity under differential conditions, but required higher temperature for catalytic onset and displayed inferior efficiency at 100 °C than systems with higher Cu-loading. This finding is attributable to greater CO adsorption in the more heavily-loaded systems, and indicates catalyst performance for these supported oxide systems to be a function of at least two parameters: size of adsorption site and extent of interface. In conclusion, optimization of catalyst materials thus requires precise control over synthesis parameters, such as is demonstrated by this MOF-templating method.« less

The effect of acidic pH and presence of metals as parameters in establishing a sulfidogenic process in anaerobic reactor.

PubMed

Vieira, Bárbara F; Couto, Pâmela T; Sancinetti, Giselle P; Klein, Bernhard; van Zyl, Dirk; Rodriguez, Renata P

2016-08-23

The successful use of anaerobic reactors for bioremediation of acid mine drainage has been shown in systems with neutral pH. However, the choice of an efficient and suitable process for such wastewater must consider the capability of operating at acidic pH and in the presence of metals. This work studies the performance of an anaerobic batch reactor, under conditions of varying initial pH for its efficiencies in sulfate removal and metal precipitation from synthetic acid mine drainage. The chemical oxygen demand/sulfate (COD/SO4(2-)) ratio used was 1.00, with ethanol chosen as the only energy and carbon source. The initial pH of the synthetic drainage was progressively set from 7.0 to 4.0 to make it as close as possible to that of real acid mine drainage. Metals were also added starting with iron, zinc, and finally copper. The effectiveness of sulfate and COD removal from the synthetic acid mine drainage increased as the initial pH was reduced. The sulfate removal increased from 38.5 ± 3.7% to 52.2 ± 3%, while the removal of organic matter started at 91.7 ± 2.4% and ended at 99 ± 1%. These results indicate that the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) community adapted to lower pH values. The metal removal observed was 88 ± 7% for iron, 98.0 ± 0.5% for zinc and 99 ± 1% for copper. At this stage, an increase in the sulfate removal was observed, which reaches up to 82.2 ± 5.8%. The kinetic parameters for sulfate removal were 0.22 ± 0.04 h(-1) with Fe, 0.26 ± 0.04 h(-1) with Fe and Zn and 0.44 ± 0.04 h(-1) with Fe, Zn, and Cu.

Electronic Structure Calculations of Hydrogen Storage in Lithium-Decorated Metal-Graphyne Framework.

PubMed

Kumar, Sandeep; Dhilip Kumar, Thogluva Janardhanan

2017-08-30

Porous metal-graphyne framework (MGF) made up of graphyne linker decorated with lithium has been investigated for hydrogen storage. Applying density functional theory spin-polarized generalized gradient approximation with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional containing Grimme's diffusion parameter with double numeric polarization basis set, the structural stability, and physicochemical properties have been analyzed. Each linker binds two Li atoms over the surface of the graphyne linker forming MGF-Li 8 by Dewar coordination. On saturation with hydrogen, each Li atom physisorbs three H 2 molecules resulting in MGF-Li 8 -H 24 . H 2 and Li interact by charge polarization mechanism leading to elongation in average H-H bond length indicating physisorption. Sorption energy decreases gradually from ≈0.4 to 0.20 eV on H 2 loading. Molecular dynamics simulations and computed sorption energy range indicate the high reversibility of H 2 in the MGF-Li 8 framework with the hydrogen storage capacity of 6.4 wt %. The calculated thermodynamic practical hydrogen storage at room temperature makes the Li-decorated MGF system a promising hydrogen storage material.

Starch-g-Poly-(N, N-dimethyl acrylamide-co-acrylic acid): an efficient Cr (VI) ion binder.

PubMed

Kolya, Haradhan; Roy, Anirban; Tripathy, Tridib

2015-01-01

Synthesis of Starch-g-(Poly N, N-dimethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) was carried out by solution polymerization technique using potassium perdisulfate (K(2)S(2)O(8)) as the initiator. The graft copolymer was characterized by measuring molecular weight, using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The synthetic graft copolymer was used for removal of hexavalent chromium ion [Cr (VI)] from its aqueous solution. Various operating variables affecting the metal sorption such as, the amount of adsorbent, solution pH, contact time, temperature and the Cr (VI) solution concentration were extensively investigated. FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed to study the metal complexation. The adsorption data could be well described by the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm model which indicate a chemisorption process. Calculation of the various thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption was also done. The negative value of free energy change (ΔG°) indicates the spontaneous nature of the adsorption. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crack propagation analysis and fatigue life prediction for structural alloy steel based on metal magnetic memory testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Chen; Hua, Lin; Wang, Xiaokai

2018-09-01

To monitor the crack propagation and predict the fatigue life of ferromagnetic material, the metal magnetic memory (MMM) testing was carried out to the single edge notched specimen made from structural alloy steel under three-point bending fatigue experiment in this paper. The variation of magnetic memory signal Hp (y) in process of fatigue crack propagation was investigated. The gradient K of Hp (y) was investigated and compared with the stress of specimen obtained by finite element analysis. It indicated that the gradient K can qualitatively reflect the distribution and variation of stress. The maximum gradient Kmax and crack size showed a good linear relationship, which indicated that the crack propagation can be estimated by MMM testing. Furthermore, the damage model represented by magnetic memory characteristic was created and a fatigue life prediction method was developed. The fatigue life can be evaluated by the relationship between damage parameter and normalized life. The method was also verified by another specimen. Because of MMM testing, it provided a new approach for predicting fatigue life.

Metal loading levels influence on REE distribution on humic acid: Experimental and Modelling approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marsac, R.; Davranche, M.; Gruau, G.; Dia, A.

2009-04-01

In natural organic-rich waters, rare earth elements (REE) speciation is mainly controlled by organic colloids such as humic acid (HA). Different series of REE-HA complexation experiments performed at several metal loading (REE/C) displayed two pattern shapes (i) at high metal loading, a middle-REE (MREE) downward concavity, and (ii) at low metal loading, a regular increase from La to Lu (e.g. Sonke and Salters, 2006; Pourret et al., 2007). Both REE patterns might be related to REE binding with different surface sites on HA. To understand REE-HA binding, REE-HA complexation experiments at various metals loading were carried out using ultrafiltration combined with ICP-MS measurements, for the 14 REE simultaneously. The patterns of the apparent coefficients of REE partition between HA and the inorganic solution (log Kd) evolved regularly according to the metal loading. The REE patterns presented a MREE downward concavity at low loading and a regular increase from La to Lu at high loading. The dataset was modelled with Model VI by adjusting two specific parameters, log KMA, the apparent complexation constant of HA low affinity sites and DLK2, the parameter increasing high affinity sites binding strength. Experiments and modelling provided evidence that HA high affinity sites controlled the REE binding with HA at low metal loading. The REE-HA complex could be as multidentate complexes with carboxylic or phenolic sites or potentially with sites constituted of N, P or S as donor atoms. Moreover, these high affinity sites could be different for light and heavy REE, because heavy REE have higher affinity for these sites, in low density, and could saturate them. These new Model VI parameter sets allowed the prediction of the REE-HA pattern shape evolution on a large range of pH and metal loading. According to the metal loading, the evolution of the calculated REE patterns was similar to the various REE pattern observed in natural acidic organic-rich waters (pH<7 and DOC>10 mg L-1). As a consequence, the metal loading could be the key parameter controlling the REE pattern in organic-rich waters.

Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals and the Environmental Quality of Soil in the Northern Plateau of Spain by Geostatistical Methods.

PubMed

Santos-Francés, Fernando; Martínez-Graña, Antonio; Zarza, Carmelo Ávila; Sánchez, Antonio García; Rojo, Pilar Alonso

2017-05-26

The environmental quality of soil in the central part of the Northern Plateau of Spain has been analyzed by studying the heavy metal content of 166 samples belonging to the horizons A, B and C of 89 soil profiles. The analysis to assess the environmental risk of heavy metals in the soil was carried out by means of the spatial distribution of nine heavy metals and the use of several pollution indices. The results showed that the concentration values of heavy metals (x ± S) in the superficial soil horizons were the following: With a total of 6.71 ± 3.51 mg kg -1, the contents of Cd is 0.08 ± 0.06 mg kg-1, Co is 6.49 ± 3.21 mg kg-1, Cu is 17.19 ± 10.69 mg kg-1, Cr is 18.68 ± 12.28 mg kg-1, Hg is 0.083 ± 0.063 mg kg-1, Ni is 12.05 ± 6.76 mg kg-1, Pb is 14.10 ± 11.32 mg kg-1 and Zn is 35.31 ± 14.63 mg kg-1. These nine metals exceed the values of the natural geological background level of Tertiary period sediments and rocks that form part of the Northern Plateau in Spain. Nemerow and Potential Ecological Risk indices were calculated, with the "improved" Nemerow index allowing pollution within the soil superficial horizons to be determined. The data obtained indicated that the majority of the soil (54.61%) showed low to moderate contamination, 22.31% showed moderate contamination and 21.54% of the samples were not contaminated. If we consider the Potential of Ecological Risk Index (RI), the largest percentage of soil samples showed low (70.79%) to moderate (25.38%) ecological risk of potential contamination, where the rest of the soil presented a considerable risk of contamination. The nine trace elements were divided into three principal components: PC1 (Cu, Cr, Ni, Co and Zn), PC2 (As and Hg) and PC3 (Cd). All metals accumulated in the soil came from parent rock, agricultural practices and the run-off of residual waters towards rivers and streams caused by industrial development and an increase in population density. Finally, cartography of the spatial distribution of the heavy metal contents in the soil of the Northern Plateau of Spain was generated using Kriging interpolation methods. Furthermore, the total heavy metal contents in three soil orders present in the area, namely Entisols, Inceptisols, and Alfisols, were analyzed. Other soil parameters, such as the organic matter content, pH, clay content and cation exchange capacity, was measured to determine their influence on and correlation with the heavy metal contents.

Characterization of solid particle erosion resistance of ductile metals based on their properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, P. V.; Buckley, D. H.

1985-01-01

This paper presents experimental results pertaining to spherical glass bead and angular crushed glass particle impingement. A concept of energy absorption to explain the failure of material is proposed and is correlated with the erosion characteristics of several pure metals. Analyses of extensive erosion data indicate that the properties - surface energy, specific melting energy, strain energy, melting point, bulk modulus, hardness, atomic volume - and the product of the parameters - linear coefficient of thermal expansion x bulk modulus x temperature rise required for melting, and ultimate resilience x hardness - exhibit the best correlations. The properties of surface energy and atomic volume are suggested for the first time for correlation purposes and are found to correlate well with erosion rates at different angles of impingement. It further appears that both energy and thermal properties contribute to the total erosion.

Inferring physical properties of galaxies from their emission-line spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ucci, G.; Ferrara, A.; Gallerani, S.; Pallottini, A.

2017-02-01

We present a new approach based on Supervised Machine Learning algorithms to infer key physical properties of galaxies (density, metallicity, column density and ionization parameter) from their emission-line spectra. We introduce a numerical code (called GAME, GAlaxy Machine learning for Emission lines) implementing this method and test it extensively. GAME delivers excellent predictive performances, especially for estimates of metallicity and column densities. We compare GAME with the most widely used diagnostics (e.g. R23, [N II] λ6584/Hα indicators) showing that it provides much better accuracy and wider applicability range. GAME is particularly suitable for use in combination with Integral Field Unit spectroscopy, both for rest-frame optical/UV nebular lines and far-infrared/sub-millimeter lines arising from photodissociation regions. Finally, GAME can also be applied to the analysis of synthetic galaxy maps built from numerical simulations.

A novel mixed-metal borate with large [B12O18(OH)6]6- motif: Synthesis, structure and property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Li; Pan, Jie; Xue, Zhen-Zhen; Wang, Guo-Ming; Wang, Ying-Xia

2018-01-01

A new mixed-metal polyborate, Na5Li[B12O18(OH)6]·2H2O (1), has been synthesized using solvothermal method and characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, respectively. It crystallizes in the trigonal space group R-3c (No. 167) with unit cell parameters of a = b = 9.6767(6) Å, c = 36.358(5) Å, and Z = 6. Its structure features unprecedented 3D framework constructed from novel honeycomb-shaped inorganic Na-O sheets with unique 12-MR sodium rings and supramolecular polyborate 2D layers of lithium-centered [B12O18(OH)6]6-. UV-Vis spectral characterization indicates that compound 1 is a wide-band-gap semiconductor.

Colour pairs for constraining the age and metallicity of stellar populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhongmu; Han, Zhanwen

2008-04-01

Using a widely used stellar-population synthesis model, we study the possibility of using pairs of AB system colours to break the well-known stellar age-metallicity degeneracy and to give constraints on two luminosity-weighted stellar-population parameters (age and metallicity). We present the relative age and metallicity sensitivities of the AB system colours that relate to the u,B,g,V,r,R,i, I,z,J,H and K bands, and we quantify the ability of various colour pairs to break the age-metallicity degeneracy. Our results suggest that a few pairs of colours can be used to constrain the above two stellar-population parameters. This will be very useful for exploring the stellar populations of distant galaxies. In detail, colour pairs [(r-K), (u-R)] and [(r-K), (u-r)] are shown to be the best pairs for estimating the luminosity-weighted stellar ages and metallicities of galaxies. They can constrain two stellar-population parameters on average with age uncertainties less than 3.89 Gyr and metallicity uncertainties less than 0.34 dex for typical colour uncertainties. The typical age uncertainties for young populations (age < 4.6 Gyr) and metal-rich populations (Z >= 0.001) are small (about 2.26 Gyr) while those for old populations (age >= 4.6 Gyr) and metal-poor populations (Z < 0.001) are much larger (about 6.88 Gyr). However, the metallicity uncertainties for metal-poor populations (about 0.0024) are much smaller than for other populations (about 0.015). Some other colour pairs can also possibly be used for constraining the two parameters. On the whole, the estimation of stellar-population parameters is likely to be reliable only for early-type galaxies with small colour errors and globular clusters, because such objects contain less dust. In fact, no galaxy is totally dust-free and early-type galaxies are also likely have some dust [e.g. E(B- V) ~ 0.05], which can change the stellar ages by about 2.5 Gyr and metallicities (Z) by about 0.015. When we compare the photometric estimates with previous spectroscopic estimates, we find some differences, especially when comparing the stellar ages determined by two methods. The differences mainly result from the young populations of galaxies. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain the absolute values of stellar ages and metallicities, but the results are useful for obtaining some relative values. In addition, our results suggest that colours relating to both UBVRIJHK and ugriz magnitudes are much better than either UBVRIJHK or ugriz colours for breaking the well-known degeneracy. The results also show that the stellar ages and metallicities of galaxies observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey can be estimated via photometry data. The data are available at the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strabourg (CDS) or on request to the authors. E-mail: zhongmu.li@gmail.com

The iron-nickel-phosphorus system: Effects on the distribution of trace elements during the evolution of iron meteorites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corrigan, Catherine M.; Chabot, Nancy L.; McCoy, Timothy J.; McDonough, William F.; Watson, Heather C.; Saslow, Sarah A.; Ash, Richard D.

2009-05-01

To better understand the partitioning behavior of elements during the formation and evolution of iron meteorites, two sets of experiments were conducted at 1 atm in the Fe-Ni-P system. The first set examined the effect of P on solid metal/liquid metal partitioning behavior of 22 elements, while the other set explored the effect of the crystal structures of body-centered cubic (α)- and face-centered cubic (γ)-solid Fe alloys on partitioning behavior. Overall, the effect of P on the partition coefficients for the majority of the elements was minimal. As, Au, Ga, Ge, Ir, Os, Pt, Re, and Sb showed slightly increasing partition coefficients with increasing P-content of the metallic liquid. Co, Cu, Pd, and Sn showed constant partition coefficients. Rh, Ru, W, and Mo showed phosphorophile (P-loving) tendencies. Parameterization models were applied to solid metal/liquid metal results for 12 elements. As, Au, Pt, and Re failed to match previous parameterization models, requiring the determination of separate parameters for the Fe-Ni-S and Fe-Ni-P systems. Experiments with coexisting α and γ Fe alloy solids produced partitioning ratios close to unity, indicating that an α versus γ Fe alloy crystal structure has only a minor influence on the partitioning behaviors of the trace element studied. A simple relationship between an element's natural crystal structure and its α/γ partitioning ratio was not observed. If an iron meteorite crystallizes from a single metallic liquid that contains both S and P, the effect of P on the distribution of elements between the crystallizing solids and the residual liquid will be minor in comparison to the effect of S. This indicates that to a first order, fractional crystallization models of the Fe-Ni-S-P system that do not take into account P are appropriate for interpreting the evolution of iron meteorites if the effects of S are appropriately included in the effort.

Levels of metals and semimetals in sedimentary cores in Bertioga Channel, Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sartoretto, J. R.; Salaroli, A.; Figueira, R. C.

2013-05-01

The Baixada Santista is one of the most exploited and populated regions of São Paulo state. During the last decades, due to intense industrialization the Baixada Santista has passed through a strong process of environmental degradation. Metals in sediments are persistent, present toxicity in varied concentrations and may be deposited reaching biota habitats. In this context, high concentrations of metals represent environmental concern to costal management. Bertioga Channel is part of this complex system and is known mainly by a wide adjacent mangrove area. The channel is 25 km long, connecting the upstream region of Santos estuary to the adjacent ocean through an inlet located at the city of Bertioga. Urban development generates the concern of potential waste influx from surrounding streams, generating deposits and contaminating surface sediments along the channel, which may lead to adjacent coastal issues. The objective of this study was to characterize the concentration of the following metals at Bertioga Channel sediments: Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc, V and Zn. Five sediment cores were sampled along the channel and analyzed. Determination of metals concentration was based on methods SW 846 US EPA 3050B and EPA 7471. High As concentrations were observed at all cores, with considerable concentration similarity between the first and second sampling points. Analytical results showed that cores Bertioga 4 and Bertioga 5 have accumulated high quantity of metals and semimetals, mainly As, Cd and Cr. Normalization of concentration values showed low contamination at the cores. Nevertheless, As and Hg values indicated moderate to significant contamination at a few sampling points. Despite of the low probability of contamination demonstrated by the normalized values, increasing at the sediment surface of Enrichment Factor (ER), Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Sediment Pollution Index (SPI) parameters were observed. Results indicate that industrialization process and environmental degradation at the region are acting for the last decades.

Removal of dust particles from metal-mirror surfaces by excimer-laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mann, Klaus R.; Wolff-Rottke, B.; Mueller, F.

1995-07-01

The effect of particle desorption from Al mirror surfaces by the influence of pulsed UV laser radiation has been studied. The investigations are closely related to the demands of astronomers, who are looking for a more effective way of cleaning the Al coatings of future very large telescope mirrors. A systematic parameter study has been performed in order to determine the irradiation conditions which yield the highest dust removal efficiency (i.e. reflectivity increase) on contaminated samples, taking particularly into account laser-induced damage and degradation effects of coating and substrate. The particle removal rate increases with increasing laser fluence, being limited however by the damage threshold of the coating. Therefore, parameters influencing the damage threshold of metal coatings like wavelength, pulse width, and number of pulses have been studied in detail. Data indicate that on Al coated BK7 and Zerodur samples KrF laser radiation yields the optimum result, with cleaning efficiencies comparable to polymer film stripping. The initial reflectivity of the clean coating can nearly be reinstalled, in particular when an additional solvent film on the sample surface is applied. Hence, laser desorption seems to be a viable method of cleaning large Al mirrors for telescopes.

Increased Uptake of Chelated Copper Ions by Lolium perenne Attributed to Amplified Membrane and Endodermal Damage

PubMed Central

Johnson, Anthea; Singhal, Naresh

2015-01-01

The contributions of mechanisms by which chelators influence metal translocation to plant shoot tissues are analyzed using a combination of numerical modelling and physical experiments. The model distinguishes between apoplastic and symplastic pathways of water and solute movement. It also includes the barrier effects of the endodermis and plasma membrane. Simulations are used to assess transport pathways for free and chelated metals, identifying mechanisms involved in chelate-enhanced phytoextraction. Hypothesized transport mechanisms and parameters specific to amendment treatments are estimated, with simulated results compared to experimental data. Parameter values for each amendment treatment are estimated based on literature and experimental values, and used for model calibration and simulation of amendment influences on solute transport pathways and mechanisms. Modeling indicates that chelation alters the pathways for Cu transport. For free ions, Cu transport to leaf tissue can be described using purely apoplastic or transcellular pathways. For strong chelators (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)), transport by the purely apoplastic pathway is insufficient to represent measured Cu transport to leaf tissue. Consistent with experimental observations, increased membrane permeability is required for simulating translocation in EDTA and DTPA treatments. Increasing the membrane permeability is key to enhancing phytoextraction efficiency. PMID:26512647

A New Electrochemical Approach for the Synthesis of Copper-Graphene Nanocomposite Foils with High Hardness

PubMed Central

Pavithra, Chokkakula L. P.; Sarada, Bulusu V.; Rajulapati, Koteswararao V.; Rao, Tata N.; Sundararajan, G.

2014-01-01

Graphene has proved its significant role as a reinforcement material in improving the strength of polymers as well as metal matrix composites due to its excellent mechanical properties. In addition, graphene is also shown to block dislocation motion in a nanolayered metal-graphene composites resulting in ultra high strength. In the present paper, we demonstrate the synthesis of very hard Cu-Graphene composite foils by a simple, scalable and economical pulse reverse electrodeposition method with a well designed pulse profile. Optimization of pulse parameters and current density resulted in composite foils with well dispersed graphene, exhibiting a high hardness of ~2.5 GPa and an increased elastic modulus of ~137 GPa while exhibiting an electrical conductivity comparable to that of pure Cu. The pulse parameters are designed in such a way to have finer grain size of Cu matrix as well as uniform dispersion of graphene throughout the matrix, contributing to high hardness and modulus. Annealing of these nanocomposite foils at 300°C, neither causes grain growth of the Cu matrix nor deteriorates the mechanical properties, indicating the role of graphene as an excellent reinforcement material as well as a grain growth inhibitor. PMID:24514043

Assessing phytotoxicity of heavy metals in remediated soil.

PubMed

Branzini, A; Zubillaga, M S

2010-01-01

Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and chromium (Cr) are pollutants that usually are accumulated in soils. Their toxicity can be decreased by applying amendments. We proposed to evaluate changes in Cu, Zn, and Cr availability, due to the application of amendments, through chemical analysis and phytotoxicity tests. The phytotoxicity test was carried out using species belonging to Sesbania genus; plant parameters were measured 48, 72, 96, and 168 hours after the start of incubation. The treatments included enriched soil, in addition to biosolid compost and triple superphosphate. Cu and Zn amounts were higher in treatments without amendments, indicating immobilization on the part of these. The amounts of Cr tended to decrease with amendments application. The amendments increased pH values and decreased EC; however, this had no impact on the results. No relationship was found among pH, EC, and plant parameters. Different behaviors were observed. S. virgata showed germination seed delay. In addition, while in S. virgata the IG increased during the assay, in S. punicea it diminished. The application of compost, fertilizer or both combined could be of interest for contaminated soils remediation. The use of chemical analysis and phytotoxicity tests allowed to estimate heavy metal availability and the effect on both Sesbania species.

Fiber Laser Welding-Brazing Characteristics of Dissimilar Metals AZ31B Mg Alloys to Copper with Mg-Based Filler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xiaoye; Tan, Caiwang; Meng, Shenghao; Chen, Bo; Song, Xiaoguo; Li, Liqun; Feng, Jicai

2018-03-01

Fiber laser welding-brazing of 1-mm-thick AZ31B Mg alloys to 1.5-mm-thick copper (T2) with Mg-based filler was performed in a lap configuration. The weld appearance, interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated with different heat inputs. The results indicated that processing windows for optimizing appropriate welding parameters were relatively narrow in this case. Visually acceptable joints with certain strength were achieved at appropriate welding parameters. The maximum tensile-shear fracture load of laser-welded-brazed Mg/Cu joint could reach 1730 N at the laser power of 1200 W, representing 64.1% joint efficiency relative to AZ31Mg base metal. The eutectic structure (α-Mg + Mg2Cu) and Mg-Cu intermetallic compound was observed at the Mg/Cu interface, and Mg-Al-Cu ternary intermetallic compound were identified between intermetallics and eutectic structure at high heat input. All the joints fractured at the Mg-Cu interface. However, the fracture mode was found to differ. For laser power of 1200 W, the surface was characterized by tearing edge, while that with poor joint strength was almost dominated by smooth surface or flat tear pattern.

Multivariate statistical techniques for the evaluation of surface water quality of the Himalayan foothills streams, Pakistan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malik, Riffat Naseem; Hashmi, Muhammad Zaffar

2017-10-01

Himalayan foothills streams, Pakistan play an important role in living water supply and irrigation of farmlands; thus, the water quality is closely related to public health. Multivariate techniques were applied to check spatial and seasonal trends, and metals contamination sources of the Himalayan foothills streams, Pakistan. Grab surface water samples were collected from different sites (5-15 cm water depth) in pre-washed polyethylene containers. Fast Sequential Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Varian FSAA-240) was used to measure the metals concentration. Concentrations of Ni, Cu, and Mn were high in pre-monsoon season than the post-monsoon season. Cluster analysis identified impaired, moderately impaired and least impaired clusters based on water parameters. Discriminant function analysis indicated spatial variability in water was due to temperature, electrical conductivity, nitrates, iron and lead whereas seasonal variations were correlated with 16 physicochemical parameters. Factor analysis identified municipal and poultry waste, automobile activities, surface runoff, and soil weathering as major sources of contamination. Levels of Mn, Cr, Fe, Pb, Cd, Zn and alkalinity were above the WHO and USEPA standards for surface water. The results of present study will help to higher authorities for the management of the Himalayan foothills streams.

Nondestructive, fast, and cost-effective image processing method for roughness measurement of randomly rough metallic surfaces.

PubMed

Ghodrati, Sajjad; Kandi, Saeideh Gorji; Mohseni, Mohsen

2018-06-01

In recent years, various surface roughness measurement methods have been proposed as alternatives to the commonly used stylus profilometry, which is a low-speed, destructive, expensive but precise method. In this study, a novel method, called "image profilometry," has been introduced for nondestructive, fast, and low-cost surface roughness measurement of randomly rough metallic samples based on image processing and machine vision. The impacts of influential parameters such as image resolution and filtering approach for elimination of the long wavelength surface undulations on the accuracy of the image profilometry results have been comprehensively investigated. Ten surface roughness parameters were measured for the samples using both the stylus and image profilometry. Based on the results, the best image resolution was 800 dpi, and the most practical filtering method was Gaussian convolution+cutoff. In these conditions, the best and worst correlation coefficients (R 2 ) between the stylus and image profilometry results were 0.9892 and 0.9313, respectively. Our results indicated that the image profilometry predicted the stylus profilometry results with high accuracy. Consequently, it could be a viable alternative to the stylus profilometry, particularly in online applications.

Study of a few cluster candidates in the Magellanic Bridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhury, Samyaday; Subramaniam Subramaniam, Annapurni; Sohn, Young-Jong

2018-06-01

The Magellanic Clouds (LMC & SMC) are gas rich, metal poor, dwarf satellite galaxies to our Milky Way that are interacting with each other. The Magellanic Bridge (MB), joining the larger and smaller Cloud is considered to be a signature of this interaction process. Studies have revealed that the MB, apart from gas also hosts stellar populations and star clusters. The number of clusters, with well-estimated parameters within the MB is still underway. In this work, we study a sample of 9 previously cataloged star clusters in the MB region. We use Washington C, Harris R and Cousins I bands data from literature, taken using the 4-m Blanco telescope to estimate the cluster properties (size, age, reddening). We also identify and separate out genuine cluster candidates from possible clusters/asterism. The increase in number of genuine cluster candidates with well-estimated parameters is important in the context of understanding cluster formation and evolution in such low-metallicity, and tidally disrupted environment. The clusters studied here can also help estimate distances to different parts of the MB, as recent studies indicate that portions of MB near the SMC is a closer to us, than the LMC.

Performance evaluation of a hybrid-passive landfill leachate treatment system using multivariate statistical techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wallace, Jack, E-mail: jack.wallace@ce.queensu.ca; Champagne, Pascale, E-mail: champagne@civil.queensu.ca; Monnier, Anne-Charlotte, E-mail: anne-charlotte.monnier@insa-lyon.fr

Highlights: • Performance of a hybrid passive landfill leachate treatment system was evaluated. • 33 Water chemistry parameters were sampled for 21 months and statistically analyzed. • Parameters were strongly linked and explained most (>40%) of the variation in data. • Alkalinity, ammonia, COD, heavy metals, and iron were criteria for performance. • Eight other parameters were key in modeling system dynamics and criteria. - Abstract: A pilot-scale hybrid-passive treatment system operated at the Merrick Landfill in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, treats municipal landfill leachate and provides for subsequent natural attenuation. Collected leachate is directed to a hybrid-passive treatment system,more » followed by controlled release to a natural attenuation zone before entering the nearby Little Sturgeon River. The study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of the system using multivariate statistical techniques to determine the interactions between parameters, major pollutants in the leachate, and the biological and chemical processes occurring in the system. Five parameters (ammonia, alkalinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), “heavy” metals of interest, with atomic weights above calcium, and iron) were set as criteria for the evaluation of system performance based on their toxicity to aquatic ecosystems and importance in treatment with respect to discharge regulations. System data for a full range of water quality parameters over a 21-month period were analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA), as well as principal components (PC) and partial least squares (PLS) regressions. PCA indicated a high degree of association for most parameters with the first PC, which explained a high percentage (>40%) of the variation in the data, suggesting strong statistical relationships among most of the parameters in the system. Regression analyses identified 8 parameters (set as independent variables) that were most frequently retained for modeling the five criteria parameters (set as dependent variables), on a statistically significant level: conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrite (NO{sub 2}{sup −}), organic nitrogen (N), oxidation reduction potential (ORP), pH, sulfate and total volatile solids (TVS). The criteria parameters and the significant explanatory parameters were most important in modeling the dynamics of the passive treatment system during the study period. Such techniques and procedures were found to be highly valuable and could be applied to other sites to determine parameters of interest in similar naturalized engineered systems.« less

A Review of Metal Injection Molding- Process, Optimization, Defects and Microwave Sintering on WC-Co Cemented Carbide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahbudin, S. N. A.; Othman, M. H.; Amin, Sri Yulis M.; Ibrahim, M. H. I.

2017-08-01

This article is about a review of optimization of metal injection molding and microwave sintering process on tungsten cemented carbide produce by metal injection molding process. In this study, the process parameters for the metal injection molding were optimized using Taguchi method. Taguchi methods have been used widely in engineering analysis to optimize the performance characteristics through the setting of design parameters. Microwave sintering is a process generally being used in powder metallurgy over the conventional method. It has typical characteristics such as accelerated heating rate, shortened processing cycle, high energy efficiency, fine and homogeneous microstructure, and enhanced mechanical performance, which is beneficial to prepare nanostructured cemented carbides in metal injection molding. Besides that, with an advanced and promising technology, metal injection molding has proven that can produce cemented carbides. Cemented tungsten carbide hard metal has been used widely in various applications due to its desirable combination of mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. Moreover, areas of study include common defects in metal injection molding and application of microwave sintering itself has been discussed in this paper.

Accumulation and effects of metal mixtures in two seaweed species.

PubMed

Jarvis, Tayler A; Bielmyer-Fraser, Gretchen K

2015-05-01

Metal pollution, due to various anthropogenic sources, may pose a threat to marine ecosystems. Metals can be introduced into food chains via bioaccumulation in primary producers, and may potentially lead to toxic effects. Macroalgae are used as food by a wide variety of organisms, and are therefore extremely important in aquatic systems. This study investigated the accumulation and effects of metals in two macroalgae species. The green seaweed, Ulva lactuca and the red seaweed, Agardhiella subulata were each concurrently exposed to five metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Zn) and U. lactuca was also exposed to each metal individually for 48 h. Metal accumulation in the seaweed was measured, and various photosynthetic parameters were assessed, using imaging pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry. Increased metal accumulation occurred in both seaweed species after 48 h exposure to metal mixtures and each metal individually. The distribution of metals in both seaweed species changed with increasing metal exposure concentrations, resulting in higher proportions of Cu and Zn in the metal-exposed groups, as compared to respective controls. Further, U. lactuca accumulated higher concentrations of metals when exposed to each metal individually rather than in metal mixtures, suggesting interactions among metals for uptake and/or bioaccumulation. Significant impairment of photosynthetic parameters in U. lactuca was observed after exposure to 100 and 1000 μg/L metal mixtures, as well as 100 μg/L of either Cd or Cu. These results demonstrate metal bioaccumulation and toxic effects in important primary producers, and may have implications for higher trophic levels. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Optical observation of metal jet generated by high speed inclined collision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, A.; Tanaka, S.; Hokamoto, K.

2017-02-01

Explosive welding, one of the high energy rate material processing, is known the technique to weld strongly for the dissimilar metal combinations. When a metal is collided to the other metal at high velocity with a certain angle, good welding is achieved in this technique. Important parameters of the explosive welding method are the collision velocity and the collision angle. And it is necessary to know these parameters to obtain the explosively welded materials of several metals combinations. However, the optical observation for the collision of metal plate accelerated by the explosive is difficult because of the obstruction by the spreading of detonation gas. In the present work a single-stage powder gun and high speed video camera were used to observe the inclined collision of metals at the high velocity. Projectile consisted by a metal disc and sabot was accelerated by the deflagration of a gunpowder and was collided to another metal disc set with a certain angle. Metal jet was generated at the collision point when the projectile was collided to the target disc in the range of suitable conditions. By using this observation system, a series of the flow from the high speed collision to the generation of metal jet could be taken photographs clearly. This investigation shows the experimental results of the similar and dissimilar metal collision, with comparing the visualization of a metal jet simulated numerically.

Stellar populations in the bulges of isolated galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morelli, L.; Parmiggiani, M.; Corsini, E. M.; Costantin, L.; Dalla Bontà, E.; Méndez-Abreu, J.; Pizzella, A.

2016-12-01

We present photometry and long-slit spectroscopy for 12 S0 and spiral galaxies selected from the Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies. The structural parameters of the sample galaxies are derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey I-band images by performing a two-dimensional photometric decomposition of the surface brightness distribution. This is assumed to be the sum of the contribution of a Sérsic bulge, an exponential disc, and a Ferrers bar characterized by elliptical and concentric isophotes with constant ellipticity and position angles. The rotation curves and velocity dispersion profiles of the stellar component are measured from the spectra obtained along the major axis of galaxies. The radial profiles of the Hβ, Mg and Fe line-strength indices are derived too. Correlations between the central values of the Mg2 and line-strength indices and the velocity dispersion are found. The mean age, total metallicity and total α/Fe enhancement of the stellar population in the centre and at the radius, where the bulge gives the same contribution to the total surface brightness as the remaining components, are obtained using stellar population models with variable element abundance ratios. We identify intermediate-age bulges with solar metallicity and old bulges with a large spread in metallicity. Most of the sample bulges display supersolar α/Fe enhancement, no gradient in age and negative gradients of metallicity and α/Fe enhancement. These findings support a formation scenario via dissipative collapse where environmental effects are remarkably less important than in the assembly of bulges of galaxies in groups and clusters.

Geo-accumulation index and contamination factors of heavy metals (Zn and Pb) in urban river sediment.

PubMed

Haris, Hazzeman; Looi, Ley Juen; Aris, Ahmad Zaharin; Mokhtar, Nor Farhanna; Ayob, Nur Ain Ayunie; Yusoff, Fatimah Md; Salleh, Abu Bakar; Praveena, Sarva Mangala

2017-12-01

The aim of the present study was to appraise the levels of heavy metal contamination (Zn and Pb) in sediment of the Langat River (Selangor, Malaysia). Samples were collected randomly from 15 sampling stations located along the Langat River. The parameters measured were pH, redox potential, salinity, electrical conductivity, loss of ignition, cation exchanges capacity (Na, Mg, Ca, K), and metal ions (Zn and Pb). The geo-accumulation index (I geo ) and contamination factor (C f ) were applied to determine and classify the magnitude of heavy metal pollution in this urban river sediment. Results revealed that the I geo of Pb indicated unpolluted to moderately polluted sediment at most of the sampling stations, whereas Zn was considered to be within background concentration. The I geo results were refined by the C f values, which showed Pb with very high C f at 12 stations. Zinc, on the other hand, had low to moderate C f values. These findings indicated that the sediment of the Langat River is severely polluted with Pb. The Zn concentration at most sampling points was well below most sediment quality guidelines. However, 40% of the sampling points were found to have a Pb concentration higher than the consensus-based probable effect concentration of 128 mg/kg (concentrations above this value are likely to cause harmful effects). This result not only highlights the severity of Pb pollution in the sediment of the Langat River, but also the potential risk it poses to the environment.

Exact Critical Exponents for the Antiferromagnetic Quantum Critical Metal in Two Dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlief, Andres; Lunts, Peter; Lee, Sung-Sik

2017-04-01

Unconventional metallic states which do not support well-defined single-particle excitations can arise near quantum phase transitions as strong quantum fluctuations of incipient order parameters prevent electrons from forming coherent quasiparticles. Although antiferromagnetic phase transitions occur commonly in correlated metals, understanding the nature of the strange metal realized at the critical point in layered systems has been hampered by a lack of reliable theoretical methods that take into account strong quantum fluctuations. We present a nonperturbative solution to the low-energy theory for the antiferromagnetic quantum critical metal in two spatial dimensions. Being a strongly coupled theory, it can still be solved reliably in the low-energy limit as quantum fluctuations are organized by a new control parameter that emerges dynamically. We predict the exact critical exponents that govern the universal scaling of physical observables at low temperatures.

Application of Taguchi optimisation of electro metal - electro winning (EMEW) for nickel metal from laterite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sudibyo, Hermida, L.; Junaedi, A.; Putra, F. A.

2017-11-01

Nickel and cobalt metal able to process from low grade laterite using solvent extraction and electrowinning. One of electrowinning methods which has good performance to produce pure metal is electrometal-electrowinninge(EMEW). In this work, solventextraction was used to separate nickel and cobalt which useCyanex-Versatic Acid in toluene as an organic phase. An aqueous phase of extraction was processed using EMEW in order to deposit the nickel metal in Cathode electrode. The parameters which used in this work were batch temperature, operation time, voltage, and boric acid concentration. Those parameters were studied and optimized using the design of experiment of Taguchi. The Taguchi analysis result shows that the optimum result of EMEW was at 60°C of batch temperature, 2 Voltage, 6 hours operation and 0.5 M of boric acid.

Biomachining - A new approach for micromachining of metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vigneshwaran, S. C. Sakthi; Ramakrishnan, R.; Arun Prakash, C.; Sashank, C.

2018-04-01

Machining is the process of removal of material from workpiece. Machining can be done by physical, chemical or biological methods. Though physical and chemical methods have been widely used in machining process, they have their own disadvantages such as development of heat affected zone and usage of hazardous chemicals. Biomachining is the machining process in which bacteria is used to remove material from the metal parts. Chemolithotrophic bacteria such as Acidothiobacillus ferroxidans has been used in biomachining of metals like copper, iron etc. These bacteria are used because of their property of catalyzing the oxidation of inorganic substances. Biomachining is a suitable process for micromachining of metals. This paper reviews the biomachining process and various mechanisms involved in biomachining. This paper also briefs about various parameters/factors to be considered in biomachining and also the effect of those parameters on metal removal rate.

The W-W02 Oxygen Fugacity Buffer at High Pressures and Temperatures: Implications for f02 Buffering and Metal-silicate Partitioning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shofner, G. A.; Campbell, A. J.; Danielson, L.; Righter, K.

2013-01-01

Oxygen fugacity (fO2) controls multivalent phase equilibria and partitioning of redox-sensitive elements, and it is important to understand this thermodynamic parameter in experimental and natural systems. The coexistence of a metal and its oxide at equilibrium constitutes an oxygen buffer which can be used to control or calculate fO2 in high pressure experiments. Application of 1-bar buffers to high pressure conditions can lead to inaccuracies in fO2 calculations because of unconstrained pressure dependencies. Extending fO2 buffers to pressures and temperatures corresponding to the Earth's deep interior requires precise determinations of the difference in volume (Delta) V) between the buffer phases. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction data were obtained using diamond anvil cells (DAC) and a multi anvil press (MAP) to measure unit cell volumes of W and WO2 at pressures and temperatures up to 70 GPa and 2300 K. These data were fitted to Birch-Murnaghan 3rd-order thermal equations of state using a thermal pressure approach; parameters for W are KT = 306 GPa, KT' = 4.06, and aKT = 0.00417 GPa K-1. Two structural phase transitions were observed for WO2 at 4 and 32 GPa with structures in P21/c, Pnma and C2/c space groups. Equations of state were fitted for these phases over their respective pressure ranges yielding the parameters KT = 190, 213, 300 GPa, KT' = 4.24, 5.17, 4 (fixed), and aKT = 0.00506, 0.00419, 0.00467 GPa K-1 for the P21/c, Pnma and C2/c phases, respectively. The W-WO2 buffer (WWO) was extended to high pressure by inverting the W and WO2 equations of state to obtain phase volumes at discrete pressures (1-bar to 100 GPa, 1 GPa increments) along isotherms (300 to 3000K, 100 K increments). The slope of the absolute fO2 of the WWO buffer is positive with increasing temperature up to approximately 70 GPa and is negative above this pressure. The slope is positive along isotherms from 1000 to 3000K with increasing pressure up to at least 100 GPa. The WWO buffer is at a higher fO2 than the IW buffer at pressures lower than 40 GPa, and the magnitude of this difference decreases at higher pressures. This qualitatively indicates an increasingly lithophile character for W at higher pressures. The WWO buffer was quantitatively applied to W metal-silicate partitioning by using the WWO-IW buffer difference in combination with literature data on W metal-silicate partitioning to model the exchange coefficient (KD) for the Fe-W exchange reaction. This approach captures the pressure dependence of W metal-silicate partitioning using the WWO-IW buffer difference and models the activities of the components in the silicate and metallic phases using an expression of the Gibbs excess energy of mixing. Calculation of KD along a peridotite liquidus predicts a decrease in W siderophility at higher pressures that supports the qualitative behavior predicted by the WWO-IW buffer difference, and agrees with findings of others. Comparing the competing effects of temperature and pressure on W metal-silicate partitioning, our results indicate that pressure exerts a greater effect.

[Research advances in heavy metals pollution ecology of diatom].

PubMed

Ding, Teng-Da; Ni, Wan-Min; Zhang, Jian-Ying

2012-03-01

Diatom, due to its high sensitivity to environmental change, is one of the bio-indicators of aquatic ecosystem health, and some typical diatom species have been applied to indicate the heavy metals pollution of water body. With the focus on the surface water heavy metals pollution, this paper reviewed the research advances in the toxic effect of heavy metals pollution on diatom, biosorption and bioaccumulation of heavy metals by diatom, ecological adaptation mechanisms of diatom to heavy metals pollution, and roles of diatom as bio-indicator and in ecological restoration of heavy metals pollution. The growth tendency of diatom and the morphological change of frustule under heavy metals pollution as well as the differences in heavy metals biosorption and bioaccumulation by diatom, the ecological adaptation mechanisms of diatom on heavy metals surface complexation and ion exchange, and the roles of diatom as bio-indicator and in ecological restoration of heavy metals polluted water body were also discussed. This review could provide scientific evidences for the prevention of aquatic ecosystems heavy metals pollution and related early warning techniques.

Formation and characterization of metallic iron grains in coal-based reduction of oolitic iron ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yong-sheng; Han, Yue-xin; Li, Yan-feng; Li, Yan-jun

2017-02-01

To reveal the formation and characteristics of metallic iron grains in coal-based reduction, oolitic iron ore was isothermally reduced in various reduction times at various reduction temperatures. The microstructure and size of the metallic iron phase were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and a Bgrimm process mineralogy analyzer. In the results, the reduced Fe separates from the ore and forms metallic iron protuberances, and then the subsequent reduced Fe diffuses to the protuberances and grows into metallic iron grains. Most of the metallic iron grains exist in the quasi-spherical shape and inlaid in the slag matrix. The cumulative frequency of metallic iron grain size is markedly influenced by both reduction time and temperature. With increasing reduction temperature and time, the grain size of metallic iron obviously increases. According to the classical grain growth equation, the growth kinetic parameters, i.e., time exponent, growth activation energy, and pre-exponential constant, are estimated to be 1.3759 ± 0.0374, 103.18 kJ·mol-1, and 922.05, respectively. Using these calculated parameters, a growth model is established to describe the growth behavior of metallic iron grains.

The ionisation parameter of star-forming galaxies evolves with the specific star formation rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaasinen, Melanie; Kewley, Lisa; Bian, Fuyan; Groves, Brent; Kashino, Daichi; Silverman, John; Kartaltepe, Jeyhan

2018-04-01

We investigate the evolution of the ionisation parameter of star-forming galaxies using a high-redshift (z ˜ 1.5) sample from the FMOS-COSMOS survey and matched low-redshift samples from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. By constructing samples of low-redshift galaxies for which the stellar mass (M*), star formation rate (SFR) and specific star formation rate (sSFR) are matched to the high-redshift sample we remove the effects of an evolution in these properties. We also account for the effect of metallicity by jointly constraining the metallicity and ionisation parameter of each sample. We find an evolution in the ionisation parameter for main-sequence, star-forming galaxies and show that this evolution is driven by the evolution of sSFR. By analysing the matched samples as well as a larger sample of z < 0.3, star-forming galaxies we show that high ionisation parameters are directly linked to high sSFRs and are not simply the byproduct of an evolution in metallicity. Our results are physically consistent with the definition of the ionisation parameter, a measure of the hydrogen ionising photon flux relative to the number density of hydrogen atoms.

Synthesis, spectral characterization and computed optical analysis of potent triazole based compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumrra, Sajjad H.; Mushtaq, Fazila; Khalid, Muhammad; Raza, Muhammad Asam; Nazar, Muhammad Faizan; Ali, Bakhat; Braga, Ataualpa A. C.

2018-02-01

Biologically active triazole Schiff base ligand (L) and metal complexes [Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)] are reported herein. The ligand acted as tridentate and coordinated towards metallic ions via azomethine-N, triazolic-N moiety and deprotonated-O of phenyl substituents in an octahedral manner. These compounds were characterized by physical, spectral and analytical analysis. The synthesized ligand and metal complexes were screened for antibacterial pathogens against Chromohalobacter salexigens, Chromohalobacter israelensi, Halomonas halofila and Halomonas salina, antifungal bioassay against Aspergillus niger and Aspergellus flavin, antioxidant (DPPH, phosphomolybdate) and also for enzyme inhibition [butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)] studies. The results of these activities indicated the ligand to possess potential activity which significantly increased upon chelation. Moreover, vibrational bands, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) and natural bond analysis (NBO) of ligand (1) were carried out through density functional theory (DFT) with B3lYP/6-311 ++G (d,p) approach. While, UV-Vis analysis was performed by time dependent TD-DFT with B3lYP/6-311 ++G (d,p) method. NBO analysis revealed that investigated compound (L) contains enormous molecular stability owing to hyper conjugative interactions. Theoretical spectroscopic findings showed good agreement to experimental spectroscopic data. Global reactivity descriptors were calculated using the energies of FMOs which indicated compound (L) might be bioactive. These parameters confirmed the charge transfer phenomenon and reasonable correspondence with experimental bioactivity results.

Heavy metal accumulation by Corchorus olitorius L. irrigated with wastewater.

PubMed

Ahmed, Dalia A; Slima, Dalia F

2018-05-01

Many agricultural soils in Egypt irrigated with untreated wastewater. Herein, we investigated the effect of untreated industrial wastewater irrigation on the soil and fodder plant Corchorus olittorius (Jew mallow). It also aimed to assess its effect on the growth measurements as well as analyses of soils, irrigation waters, and plants for heavy metal and nutrient concentrations. Significant differences between irrigation waters and soil irrigated with fresh and wastewater were recognized. Wastewater irrigation leads to remarkable reduction in the growth parameters and reduced its vegetative biomass. The concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn were high significant and above phytotoxic concentrations in leaves (edible part) and roots of wastewater-irrigated plant. The present study indicated that Jew mallow plant tends to phytostabilize (Cd, Ni, and Mn) in its root and had the ability to translocate (Pb, Cu, Cr, Fe, and Zn) to its leaves. Higher concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn in the roots than leaves indicate that the roots are hyper-accumulators for Pb, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn more than the leaves. The research study recommended that there is a need to protect the soil from contamination through regular monitoring and not to cultivate Jew mallow in wastewater-irrigated soil and that it had a high capacity to accumulate heavy metals in its edible part and causes several harmful health effects for consumers.

Antibiotic resistance genes and intI1 prevalence in a swine wastewater treatment plant and correlation with metal resistance, bacterial community and wastewater parameters.

PubMed

Yuan, Qing-Bin; Zhai, Yi-Fan; Mao, Bu-Yun; Hu, Nan

2018-06-07

The livestock wastewater treatment plant represents an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance determinants in the environment. The study explored the prevalence of five antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs, including sulI, tetA, qnrD, mphB and mcr-1) and class 1 integron (intI1) in a typical livestock wastewater treatment plant, and analyzed their integrated association with two metal resistance genes (copA and czcA), two pathogens genes (Staphylococcus and Campylobacter), bacterial community and wastewater properties. Results indicated that all investigated genes were detected in the plant. The treatment plant could not completely remove ARGs abundances, with up to 2.2 × 10 4 ~3.7 × 10 8 copies/L of them remaining in the effluent. Mcr-1 was further enriched by 27-fold in the subsequent pond. The correlation analysis showed that mphB significantly correlateed with tetA and intI. Mcr-1 strongly correlated with copA. MphB and intI significantly correlated with czcA. The correlations implied a potential co-selection risk of bacterial resistant to antibiotics and metals. Redundancy analyses indicated that qnrD and mcr-1 strongly correlated with 13 and 14 bacterial genera, respectively. Most ARGs positively correlated to wastewater nutrients, indicating that an efficient reduction of wastewater nutrients would contribute to the antibiotic resistance control. The study will provide useful implications on fates and reductions of ARGs in livestock facilities and receiving environments. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Spectroscopic, thermal analysis and DFT computational studies of salen-type Schiff base complexes.

PubMed

Ebrahimi, Hossein Pasha; Hadi, Jabbar S; Abdulnabi, Zuhair A; Bolandnazar, Zeinab

2014-01-03

A new series of metal(II) complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) have been synthesized from a salen-type Schiff base ligand derived from o-vanillin and 4-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine and characterized by elemental analysis, spectral (IR, UV-Vis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and EI-mass), molar conductance measurements and thermal analysis techniques. Coats-Redfern method has been utilized to calculate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the metal complexes. The molecular geometry, Mulliken atomic charges of the studied compounds were investigated theoretically by performing density functional theory (DFT) to access reliable results to the experimental values. The theoretical (13)C chemical shift results of the studied compounds have been calculated at the B3LYP, PBEPBE and PW91PW91 methods and standard 6-311+G(d,p) basis set starting from optimized geometry. The comparison of the results indicates that B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) yields good agreement with the observed chemical shifts. The measured low molar conductance values in DMF indicate that the metal complexes are non-electrolytes. The spectral and thermal analysis reveals that all complexes have octahedral geometry except Cu(II) complex which can attain the square planner arrangement. The presence of lattice and coordinated water molecules are indicated by thermograms of the complexes. The thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analyses confirm high stability for all complexes followed by thermal decomposition in different steps. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Lethal and sub-lethal effects on the Asian common toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus from exposure to hexavalent chromium.

PubMed

Fernando, Vindhya A K; Weerasena, Jagathpriya; Lakraj, G Pemantha; Perera, Inoka C; Dangalle, Chandima D; Handunnetti, Shiroma; Premawansa, Sunil; Wijesinghe, Mayuri R

2016-08-01

Chromium discharged in industrial effluents frequently occurs as an environmental pollutant, but the lethal and sub-lethal effects the heavy metal might cause in animals exposed to it have been insufficiently investigated. Selecting the amphibian Duttaphrynus melanostictus, we carried out laboratory tests to investigate the effects of short and long term exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in both tadpoles and adult toads. The concentrations used were 0.002, 0.02, 0.2, 1.0 and 2.0mg/L, the first three corresponding to field levels. In vitro exposures were also carried out using toad erythrocytes and Cr(VI) concentrations of 0.0015, 0.003, 0.015, 0.03, 0.15mg/L. Mortality, growth retardation, developmental delays and structural aberrations were noted in the metal-treated tadpoles, with increasing incidence corresponding to increase in Cr(VI) level and duration of exposure. Many of the sub-lethal effects were evident with long term exposure to environmentally relevant levels of the toxicant. Changes in selected blood parameters and erythrocyte morphometry were also detected in Cr(VI) exposed toads, indicating anaemic and leucopenic conditions. In the genotoxicity study, DNA damage indicated by comet assay and increased micronuclei frequency, occurred at the low Cr(VI) concentrations tested. The multiple deleterious effects of exposure to chromium signal the need for monitoring and controlling the discharge of chromium to the environment. The dose-dependency and genotoxic effects observed in this widely distributed Asian toad indicates its suitability for monitoring heavy metal pollution in aquatic systems. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Immobilization remediation of Cd and Pb contaminated soil: remediation potential and soil environmental quality].

PubMed

Sun, Yue-Bing; Wang, Peng-Chao; Xu, Ying-Ming; Sun, Yang; Qin, Xu; Zhao, Li-Jie; Wang, Lin; Liang, Xue-Feng

2014-12-01

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the immobilization remediation effects of sepiolite on soils artificially combined contamination by Cd and Pb using a set of various pH and speciation of Cd and Pb in soil, heavy metal concentration in Oryza sativa L., and soil enzyme activity and microbial quantity. Results showed that the addition of sepiolite increased the soil pH, and the exchangeable fraction of heavy metals was converted into Fe-Mn oxide, organic and residual forms, the concentration of exchangeable form of Cd and Pb reduced by 1.4% - 72.9% and 11.8% - 51.4%, respectively, when compared with the control. The contents of heavy metals decreased with increasing sepiolite, with the maximal Cd reduction of 39.8%, 36.4%, 55.2% and 32.4%, respectively, and 22.1%, 54.6%, 43.5% and 17.8% for Pb, respectively, in the stems, leaves, brown rice and husk in contrast to CK. The addition of sepiolite could improve the soil environmental quality, the catalase and urease activities and the amount of bacteria and actinomycete were increased to some extents. Although the fungi number and invertase activity were inhibited compared with the control group, it was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The significant correlation between pH, available heavy metal content, urease and invertase activities and heavy metal concentration in the plants indicated that these parameters could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of stabilization remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.

The Enhancement of spin Hall torque efficiency and Reduction of Gilbert damping in spin Hall metal/normal metal/ferromagnetic trilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Minh-Hai; Pai, Chi-Feng; Ralph, Daniel C.; Buhrman, Robert A.

2015-03-01

The spin Hall effect (SHE) in ferromagnet/heavy metal bilayer structures has been demonstrated to be a powerful means for producing pure spin currents and for exerting spin-orbit damping-like and field-like torques on the ferromagnetic layer. Large spin Hall (SH) angles have been reported for Pt, beta-Ta and beta-W films and have been utilized to achieve magnetic switching of in-plane and out-of-plane magnetized nanomagnets, spin torque auto-oscillators, and the control of high velocity domain wall motion. For many of the proposed applications of the SHE it is also important to achieve an effective Gilbert damping parameter that is as low as possible. In general the spin orbit torques and the effective damping are predicted to depend directly on the spin-mixing conductance of the SH metal/ferromagnet interface. This opens up the possibility of tuning these properties with the insertion of a very thin layer of another metal between the SH metal and the ferromagnet. Here we will report on experiments with such trilayer structures in which we have observed both a large enhancement of the spin Hall torque efficiency and a significant reduction in the effective Gilbert damping. Our results indicate that there is considerable opportunity to optimize the effectiveness and energy efficiency of the damping-like torque through engineering of such trilayer structures. Supported in part by NSF and Samsung Electronics Corporation.

A study of the feasibility of mechanical pumps for use with the Pioneer-Venus probe mass spectrometer inlet system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, N. C.; Crosmer, W. E.; Nowak, D.

1973-01-01

A survey of mechanical vacuum pumps was completed. A small Roots blower for flight mass spectrometer applications was evaluated with respect to system operating parameters in a number of different modes of operation. The survey indicated that a metal bellows pump might be a viable alternative for the systems requirements. The results of the study are given, including current status of possible flight-type pumps, a systems analysis using available pumps, and recommendations for fabrication and tests of a potential flight-type pump.

Co-occurrence correlations of heavy metals in sediments revealed using network analysis.

PubMed

Liu, Lili; Wang, Zhiping; Ju, Feng; Zhang, Tong

2015-01-01

In this study, the correlation-based study was used to identify the co-occurrence correlations among metals in marine sediment of Hong Kong, based on the long-term (from 1991 to 2011) temporal and spatial monitoring data. 14 stations out of the total 45 marine sediment monitoring stations were selected from three representative areas, including Deep Bay, Victoria Harbour and Mirs Bay. Firstly, Spearman's rank correlation-based network analysis was conducted as the first step to identify the co-occurrence correlations of metals from raw metadata, and then for further analysis using the normalized metadata. The correlations patterns obtained by network were consistent with those obtained by the other statistic normalization methods, including annual ratios, R-squared coefficient and Pearson correlation coefficient. Both Deep Bay and Victoria Harbour have been polluted by heavy metals, especially for Pb and Cu, which showed strong co-occurrence with other heavy metals (e.g. Cr, Ni, Zn and etc.) and little correlations with the reference parameters (Fe or Al). For Mirs Bay, which has better marine sediment quality compared with Deep Bay and Victoria Harbour, the co-occurrence patterns revealed by network analysis indicated that the metals in sediment dominantly followed the natural geography process. Besides the wide applications in biology, sociology and informatics, it is the first time to apply network analysis in the researches of environment pollutions. This study demonstrated its powerful application for revealing the co-occurrence correlations among heavy metals in marine sediments, which could be further applied for other pollutants in various environment systems. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of S. mutans on base-metal dental casting alloy toxicity.

PubMed

McGinley, E L; Dowling, A H; Moran, G P; Fleming, G J P

2013-01-01

We have highlighted that exposure of base-metal dental casting alloys to the acidogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans significantly increases cellular toxicity following exposure to immortalized human TR146 oral keratinocytes. With Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), S. mutans-treated nickel-based (Ni-based) and cobalt-chromium-based (Co-Cr-based) dental casting alloys were shown to leach elevated levels of metal ions compared with untreated dental casting alloys. We targeted several biological parameters: cell morphology, viable cell counts, cell metabolic activity, cell toxicity, and inflammatory cytokine expression. S. mutans-treated dental casting alloys disrupted cell morphology, elicited significantly decreased viable cell counts (p < 0.0001) and cell metabolic activity (p < 0.0001), and significantly increased cell toxicity (p < 0.0001) and inflammatory cytokine expression (p < 0.0001). S. mutans-treated Ni-based dental casting alloys induced elevated levels of cellular toxicity compared with S. mutans-treated Co-Cr-based dental casting alloys. While our findings indicated that the exacerbated release of metal ions from S. mutans-treated base-metal dental casting alloys was the likely result of the pH reduction during S. mutans growth, the exact nature of mechanisms leading to accelerated dissolution of alloy-discs is not yet fully understood. Given the predominance of S. mutans oral carriage and the exacerbated cytotoxicity observed in TR146 cells following exposure to S. mutans-treated base-metal dental casting alloys, the implications for the long-term stability of base-metal dental restorations in the oral cavity are a cause for concern.

Indices of soil contamination by heavy metals - methodology of calculation for pollution assessment (minireview).

PubMed

Weissmannová, Helena Doležalová; Pavlovský, Jiří

2017-11-07

This article provides the assessment of heavy metal soil pollution with using the calculation of various pollution indices and contains also summarization of the sources of heavy metal soil pollution. Twenty described indices of the assessment of soil pollution consist of two groups: single indices and total complex indices of pollution or contamination with relevant classes of pollution. This minireview provides also the classification of pollution indices in terms of the complex assessment of soil quality. In addition, based on the comparison of metal concentrations in soil-selected sites of the world and used indices of pollution or contamination in soils, the concentration of heavy metal in contaminated soils varied widely, and pollution indices confirmed the significant contribution of soil pollution from anthropogenic activities mainly in urban and industrial areas.

Using biotic ligand models to predict metal toxicity in mineralized systems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, Kathleen S.; Balistrieri, Laurie S.; Todd, Andrew S.

2015-01-01

The biotic ligand model (BLM) is a numerical approach that couples chemical speciation calculations with toxicological information to predict the toxicity of aquatic metals. This approach was proposed as an alternative to expensive toxicological testing, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency incorporated the BLM into the 2007 revised aquatic life ambient freshwater quality criteria for Cu. Research BLMs for Ag, Ni, Pb, and Zn are also available, and many other BLMs are under development. Current BLMs are limited to ‘one metal, one organism’ considerations. Although the BLM generally is an improvement over previous approaches to determining water quality criteria, there are several challenges in implementing the BLM, particularly at mined and mineralized sites. These challenges include: (1) historically incomplete datasets for BLM input parameters, especially dissolved organic carbon (DOC), (2) several concerns about DOC, such as DOC fractionation in Fe- and Al-rich systems and differences in DOC quality that result in variations in metal-binding affinities, (3) water-quality parameters and resulting metal-toxicity predictions that are temporally and spatially dependent, (4) additional influences on metal bioavailability, such as multiple metal toxicity, dietary metal toxicity, and competition among organisms or metals, (5) potential importance of metal interactions with solid or gas phases and/or kinetically controlled reactions, and (6) tolerance to metal toxicity observed for aquatic organisms living in areas with elevated metal concentrations.

Cold Gas-Sprayed Deposition of Metallic Coatings onto Ceramic Substrates Using Laser Surface Texturing Pre-treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromer, R.; Danlos, Y.; Costil, S.

2018-04-01

Cold spraying enables a variety of metals dense coatings onto metal surfaces. Supersonic gas jet accelerates particles which undergo with the substrate plastic deformation. Different bonding mechanisms can be created depending on the materials. The particle-substrate contact time, contact temperature and contact area upon impact are the parameters influencing physicochemical and mechanical bonds. The resultant bonding arose from plastic deformation of the particle and substrate and temperature increasing at the interface. The objective was to create specific topography to enable metallic particle adhesion onto ceramic substrates. Ceramic did not demonstrate deformation during the impact which minimized the intimate bonds. Laser surface texturing was hence used as prior surface treatment to create specific topography and to enable mechanical anchoring. Particle compressive states were necessary to build up coating. The coating deposition efficiency and adhesion strength were evaluated. Textured surface is required to obtain strong adhesion of metallic coatings onto ceramic substrates. Consequently, cold spray coating parameters depend on the target material and a methodology was established with particle parameters (diameters, velocities, temperatures) and particle/substrate properties to adapt the surface topography. Laser surface texturing is a promising tool to increase the cold spraying applications.

Spectrometric analyses in comparison to the physiological condition of heavy metal stressed floodplain vegetation in a standardised experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Götze, Christian; Jung, András; Merbach, Ines; Wennrich, Rainer; Gläßer, Cornelia

2010-06-01

Floodplain ecosystems are affected by flood dynamics, nutrient supply as well as anthropogenic activities. Heavy metal pollution poses a serious environmental challenge. Pollution transfer from the soil to vegetation is still present at the central location of Elbe River, Germany. The goal of this study was to assess and separate the current heavy metal contamination of the floodplain ecosystem, using spectrometric field and laboratory measurements. A standardized pot experiment with floodplain vegetation in differently contaminated soils provided the basis for the measurements. The dominant plant types of the floodplains are: Urtica dioica, Phalaris arundinacea and Alopecurus pratensis, these were also chemically analysed. Various vegetation indices and methods were used to estimate the red edge position, to normalise the spectral curve of the vegetation and to investigate the potential of different methods for separating plant stress in floodplain vegetation. The main task was to compare spectral bands during phenological phases to find a method to detect heavy metal stress in plants. A multi-level algorithm for the curve parameterisation was developed. Chemo-analytical and ecophysiological parameters of plants were considered in the results and correlated with spectral data. The results of this study show the influence of heavy metals on the spectral characteristics of the focal plants. The developed method (depth CR1730) showed significant relationship between the plants and the contamination.

Application of geoaccumulation index and enrichment factors on the assessment of heavy metal pollution in the sediments.

PubMed

Shafie, Nur Aliaa; Aris, Ahmad Zaharin; Zakaria, Mohamad Pauzi; Haris, Hazzeman; Lim, Wan Ying; Isa, Noorain Mohd

2013-01-01

An investigative study was carried out in Langat River to determine the heavy metal pollution in the sediment with 22 sampling stations selected for the collection of sediment samples. The sediment samples were digested and analyzed for extractable metal ((48)Cd, (29)Cu, (30)Zn, (33)As, (82)Pb) using the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Parameters, such as pH, Eh, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and loss on ignition (LOI) were also determined. The assessment of heavy metal pollution was derived using the enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I(geo)). This study revealed that the sediment is predominantly by As > Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu. As recorded the highest EF value at 187.45 followed by Cd (100.59), Pb (20.32), Zn (12.42) and Cu (3.46). This is similar to the I(geo), which indicates that the highest level goes to As (2.2), exhibits moderately polluted. Meanwhile, Cd recorded 1.8 and Pb (0.23), which illustrates that both of these elements vary from unpolluted to moderately polluted. The Cu and Zn levels are below 0, which demonstrates background concentrations. The findings are expected to update the current status of the heavy metal pollution as well as creating awareness concerning the security of the river water as a drinking water source.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as bio-indicators of metals contamination in sediments, Qarun Lake as a case study, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abd El Naby, Ahmed; Al Menoufy, Safia; Gad, Ahmed

2018-03-01

Qarun Lake, in the Fayoum Depression of the Western Desert of Egypt, lies within the deepest area in the River Nile flood plain. The drainage water in the Qarun Lake is derived from the discharge of the natural and artificial drainage systems in the Fayoum. Mixed domestic and agricultural pollutants, including heavy metals, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates and pesticides, are discharged into Qarun Lake. Forty-six samples, collected from the undisturbed layer of sediments were used for benthic foraminiferal analysis. Concentrations of some selected trace metal elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn) were also determined. Statistical analysis of the abiotic variables (Texture distribution of sediments, Physico-chemical parameters, and metals concentrations) and of the biotic variables (distribution of benthic foraminiferal species) were also performed. The Q-mode cluster analysis of benthic foraminiferal distribution has provided evidence that the Qarun Lake can be subdivided into two cluster groups (A and B), reflecting environmental changes in the lake ecosystem. Cluster B can also be subdivided into two sub-clusters (B1 and B2). The presence of only pollution tolerant taxa with higher faunal density and lower diversity and the absence of the other foraminiferal assemblages in cluster A were attributed to the high concentration of trace metal elements and the strong environmental stress at the eastern and central parts of the Qarun Lake.

Determination of DNA methylation associated with Acer rubrum (red maple) adaptation to metals: analysis of global DNA modifications and methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism.

PubMed

Kim, Nam-Soo; Im, Min-Ji; Nkongolo, Kabwe

2016-08-01

Red maple (Acer rubum), a common deciduous tree species in Northern Ontario, has shown resistance to soil metal contamination. Previous reports have indicated that this plant does not accumulate metals in its tissue. However, low level of nickel and copper corresponding to the bioavailable levels in contaminated soils in Northern Ontario causes severe physiological damages. No differentiation between metal-contaminated and uncontaminated populations has been reported based on genetic analyses. The main objective of this study was to assess whether DNA methylation is involved in A. rubrum adaptation to soil metal contamination. Global cytosine and methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) analyses were carried out in A. rubrum populations from metal-contaminated and uncontaminated sites. The global modified cytosine ratios in genomic DNA revealed a significant decrease in cytosine methylation in genotypes from a metal-contaminated site compared to uncontaminated populations. Other genotypes from a different metal-contaminated site within the same region appear to be recalcitrant to metal-induced DNA alterations even ≥30 years of tree life exposure to nickel and copper. MSAP analysis showed a high level of polymorphisms in both uncontaminated (77%) and metal-contaminated (72%) populations. Overall, 205 CCGG loci were identified in which 127 were methylated in either outer or inner cytosine. No differentiation among populations was established based on several genetic parameters tested. The variations for nonmethylated and methylated loci were compared by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). For methylated loci, molecular variance among and within populations was 1.5% and 13.2%, respectively. These values were low (0.6% for among populations and 5.8% for within populations) for unmethylated loci. Metal contamination is seen to affect methylation of cytosine residues in CCGG motifs in the A. rubrum populations that were analyzed.

Analyzing the international exergy flow network of ferrous metal ores.

PubMed

Qi, Hai; An, Haizhong; Hao, Xiaoqing; Zhong, Weiqiong; Zhang, Yanbing

2014-01-01

This paper employs an un-weighted and weighted exergy network to study the properties of ferrous metal ores in countries worldwide and their evolution from 2002 to 2012. We find that there are few countries controlling most of the ferrous metal ore exports in terms of exergy and that the entire exergy flow network is becoming more heterogeneous though the addition of new nodes. The increasing of the average clustering coefficient indicates that the formation of an international exergy flow system and regional integration is improving. When we contrast the average out strength of exergy and the average out strength of currency, we find both similarities and differences. Prices are affected largely by human factors; thus, the growth rate of the average out strength of currency has fluctuated acutely in the eleven years from 2002 to 2012. Exergy is defined as the maximum work that can be extracted from a system and can reflect the true cost in the world, and this parameter fluctuates much less. Performing an analysis based on the two aspects of exergy and currency, we find that the network is becoming uneven.

Highly active Pt/MoC and Pt/TiC catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction: Effects of the carbide metal/carbon ratio on the catalyst performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rodriguez, José A.; Ramírez, Pedro J.; Gutierrez, Ramón A.

We present that Pt/MoC and Pt/TiC(001) are excellent catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift (WGS, CO + H 2O → H 2 + CO 2) reaction. They exhibit high-activity, stability and selectivity. The highest catalytic activities are seen for small coverages of Pt on the carbide substrates. Synergistic effects at the metal-carbide interface produce an enhancement in chemical activity with respect to pure Pt, MoC and TiC. A clear correlation is found between the ability of the Pt/MoC and Pt/TiC(001) surfaces to partially dissociate water and their catalytic activity for the WGS reaction. Finally, an overall comparison of the resultsmore » for Pt/MoC and Pt/Mo 2C(001) indicates that the metal/carbon ratio in the carbide support can have a strong influence in the stability and selectivity of WGS catalysts and is a parameter that must be taken into consideration when designing these systems.« less

β-Lactam antibiotics. Spectroscopy and molecular orbital (MO) calculations . Part I: IR studies of complexation in penicillin-transition metal ion systems and semi-empirical PM3 calculations on simple model compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kupka, Teobald

1997-12-01

IR studies were preformed to determine possible transition metal ion binding sites of penicillin. the observed changes in spectral position and shape of characteristic IR bands of cloxacillin in the presence of transition metal ions (both in solutions and in the solid state) indicate formation of M-L complexes with engagement of -COO - and/or -CONH- functional groups. The small shift of νCO towards higher frequencies rules out direct M-L interaction via β-lactam carbonyl. PM3 calculations on simple model compounds (substituted formamide, cyclic ketones, lactams and substituted monocyclic β-lactams) have been performed. All structures were fully optimized and the calculated bond lengths, angles, heats of formation and CO stretching frequencies were discussed to determine the β-lactam binding sites and to explain its susceptibility towards nucleophilic attack (hydrolysis in vitro) and biological activity. The relative changes of calculated values were critically compared with available experimental data and same correlation between structural parameters and in vivo activity was shown.

Dissolved Concentrations, Sources, and Risk Evaluation of Selected Metals in Surface Water from Mangla Lake, Pakistan

PubMed Central

Saleem, Muhammad; Iqbal, Javed; Shah, Munir H.

2014-01-01

The present study is carried out for the assessment of water quality parameters and selected metals levels in surface water from Mangla Lake, Pakistan. The metal levels (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Average levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb were higher than the allowable concentrations set by national and international agencies. Principal component analysis indicated significant anthropogenic contributions of Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb in the water reservoir. Noncarcinogenic risk assessment was then evaluated using Hazard Quotient (HQing/derm) and Hazard Index (HIing/derm) following USEPA methodology. For adults and children, Cd, Co, Cr, and Pb (HQing > 1) emerged as the most important pollutants leading to noncarcinogenic concerns via ingestion route, whereas there was no risk via dermal contact of surface water. This study helps in establishing pollutant loading reduction goal and the total maximum daily loads, and consequently contributes to preserve public health and develop water conservation strategy. PMID:24744690

Immobilization of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on Cotton Gauze for the Bioleaching of Waste Printed Circuit Boards.

PubMed

Nie, Hongyan; Zhu, Nengwu; Cao, Yanlan; Xu, Zhiguo; Wu, Pingxiao

2015-10-01

The bioleaching parameters of metal concentrates from waste printed circuit boards by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans immobilized on cotton gauze in a two-step reactor were investigated in this study. The results indicated that an average ferrous iron oxidation rate of 0.54 g/(L·h) and a ferrous iron oxidation ratio of 96.90 % were obtained after 12 h at aeration rate of 1 L/min in bio-oxidation reactor. After 96 h, the highest leaching efficiency of copper reached 91.68 % under the conditions of the content of the metal powder 12 g/L, the retention time 6 h, and the aeration rate 1 L/min. The bioleaching efficiency of copper could be above 91.12 % under repeated continuous batch operation. Meanwhile, 95.32 % of zinc, 90.32 % of magnesium, 86.31 % of aluminum, and 59.07 % of nickel were extracted after 96 h. All the findings suggested that the recovery of metal concentrates from waste printed circuit boards via immobilization of A. ferrooxidans on cotton gauze was feasible.

Analysis of periodically patterned metallic nanostructures for infrared absorber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Sha; Yuan, Ying; Long, Huabao; Liu, Runhan; Wei, Dong; Zhang, Xinyu; Wang, Haiwei; Xie, Changsheng

2018-02-01

With rapid advancement of infrared detecting technology in both military and civil domains, the photo-electronic performances of near-infrared detectors have been widely concerned. Currently, near-infrared detectors demonstrate some problems such as low sensitivity, low detectivity, and relatively small array scale. The current studies show that surface plasmons (SPs) stimulated over the surface of metallic nanostructures by incident light can be used to break the diffraction limit and thus concentrate light into sub-wavelength scale, so as to indicate a method to develop a new type of infrared absorber or detector with very large array. In this paper, we present the design and characterization of periodically patterned metallic nanostructures that combine nanometer thickness aluminum film with silicon wafer. Numerical computations show that there are some valleys caused by surface plasmons in the reflection spectrum in the infrared region, and both red shift and blue shift of the reflection spectrum were observed through changing the nanostructural parameters such as angle α and diameters D. Moreover, the strong E-field intensity is located at the sharp corner of the nano-structures.

Analyzing the International Exergy Flow Network of Ferrous Metal Ores

PubMed Central

Qi, Hai; An, Haizhong; Hao, Xiaoqing; Zhong, Weiqiong; Zhang, Yanbing

2014-01-01

This paper employs an un-weighted and weighted exergy network to study the properties of ferrous metal ores in countries worldwide and their evolution from 2002 to 2012. We find that there are few countries controlling most of the ferrous metal ore exports in terms of exergy and that the entire exergy flow network is becoming more heterogeneous though the addition of new nodes. The increasing of the average clustering coefficient indicates that the formation of an international exergy flow system and regional integration is improving. When we contrast the average out strength of exergy and the average out strength of currency, we find both similarities and differences. Prices are affected largely by human factors; thus, the growth rate of the average out strength of currency has fluctuated acutely in the eleven years from 2002 to 2012. Exergy is defined as the maximum work that can be extracted from a system and can reflect the true cost in the world, and this parameter fluctuates much less. Performing an analysis based on the two aspects of exergy and currency, we find that the network is becoming uneven. PMID:25188407

Highly active Pt/MoC and Pt/TiC catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction: Effects of the carbide metal/carbon ratio on the catalyst performance

DOE PAGES

Rodriguez, José A.; Ramírez, Pedro J.; Gutierrez, Ramón A.

2016-09-20

We present that Pt/MoC and Pt/TiC(001) are excellent catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift (WGS, CO + H 2O → H 2 + CO 2) reaction. They exhibit high-activity, stability and selectivity. The highest catalytic activities are seen for small coverages of Pt on the carbide substrates. Synergistic effects at the metal-carbide interface produce an enhancement in chemical activity with respect to pure Pt, MoC and TiC. A clear correlation is found between the ability of the Pt/MoC and Pt/TiC(001) surfaces to partially dissociate water and their catalytic activity for the WGS reaction. Finally, an overall comparison of the resultsmore » for Pt/MoC and Pt/Mo 2C(001) indicates that the metal/carbon ratio in the carbide support can have a strong influence in the stability and selectivity of WGS catalysts and is a parameter that must be taken into consideration when designing these systems.« less

Phosphorus-loaded biochar changes soil heavy metals availability and uptake potential of maize (Zea mays L.) plants.

PubMed

Ahmad, Munir; Usman, Adel R A; Al-Faraj, Abdullah S; Ahmad, Mahtab; Sallam, Abdelazeem; Al-Wabel, Mohammad I

2018-03-01

Biochar (BC) was produced by pyrolyzing the date palm leaf waste at 600 °C and then loaded with phosphorus (P) via sorption process. Greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the application effects of BC and P-loaded biochar (BCP) on growth and availability of P and heavy metals to maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown in contaminated mining soil. The treatments consisted of BC and BCP (at application rates of 5, 10, 20, and 30 g kg -1 of soil), recommended NK and NPK, and a control (no amendment). Sorption experiment showed that Langmuir predicted maximum P sorption capacity of BC was 13.71 mg g -1 . Applying BCP increased the soil available P, while BC and BCP significantly decreased the soil labile heavy metals compared to control. Likewise, heavy metals in exchangeable and reducible fractions were transformed to more stable fraction with BC and BCP applications. The highest application rate of BCP (3%) was most effective treatment in enhancing plant growth parameters (shoot and root lengths and dry matter) and uptake of P and heavy metals by 2-3 folds. However, based on metal uptake and phytoextraction indices, total heavy metals extraction by maize plants was very small for practical application. It could be concluded that using P-loaded biochar as a soil additive may be considered a promising tool to immobilize heavy metals in contaminated mining areas, while positive effects on the biomass growth of plants may assist the stabilization of contaminated areas affected by wind and water erosion. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigation on mechanical properties of welded material under different types of welding filler (shielded metal arc welding)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tahir, Abdullah Mohd; Lair, Noor Ajian Mohd; Wei, Foo Jun

2018-05-01

The Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is (or the Stick welding) defined as a welding process, which melts and joins metals with an arc between a welding filler (electrode rod) and the workpieces. The main objective was to study the mechanical properties of welded metal under different types of welding fillers and current for SMAW. This project utilized the Design of Experiment (DOE) by adopting the Full Factorial Design. The independent variables were the types of welding filler and welding current, whereas the other welding parameters were fixed at the optimum value. The levels for types of welding filler were by the models of welding filler (E6013, E7016 and E7018) used and the levels for welding current were 80A and 90A. The responses were the mechanical properties of welded material, which include tensile strength and hardness. The experiment was analyzed using the two way ANOVA. The results prove that there are significant effects of welding filler types and current levels on the tensile strength and hardness of the welded metal. At the same time, the ANOVA results and interaction plot indicate that there are significant interactions between the welding filler types and the welding current on both the hardness and tensile strength of the welded metals, which has never been reported before. This project found that when the amount of heat input with increase, the mechanical properties such as tensile strength and hardness decrease. The optimum tensile strength for welded metal is produced by the welding filler E7016 and the optimum of hardness of welded metal is produced by the welding filler E7018 at welding current of 80A.

Influence of tool geometry and processing parameters on welding defects and mechanical properties for friction stir welding of 6061 Aluminium alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daneji, A.; Ali, M.; Pervaiz, S.

2018-04-01

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a form of solid state welding process for joining metals, alloys, and selective composites. Over the years, FSW development has provided an improved way of producing welding joints, and consequently got accepted in numerous industries such as aerospace, automotive, rail and marine etc. In FSW, the base metal properties control the material’s plastic flow under the influence of a rotating tool whereas, the process and tool parameters play a vital role in the quality of weld. In the current investigation, an array of square butt joints of 6061 Aluminum alloy was to be welded under varying FSW process and tool geometry related parameters, after which the resulting weld was evaluated for the corresponding mechanical properties and welding defects. The study incorporates FSW process and tool parameters such as welding speed, pin height and pin thread pitch as input parameters. However, the weld quality related defects and mechanical properties were treated as output parameters. The experimentation paves way to investigate the correlation between the inputs and the outputs. The correlation between inputs and outputs were used as tool to predict the optimized FSW process and tool parameters for a desired weld output of the base metals under investigation. The study also provides reflection on the effect of said parameters on a welding defect such as wormhole.

Microelectrode investigation of the reactions between metallic pipe materials and monochloramine

EPA Science Inventory

Water quality parameters (i.e., pH, dissolved oxygen [DO], and phosphate) are known to impact metal reactivity with disinfectants and therefore corrosion and metals release into drinking water supplies. With various water utilities switching from free chlorine to chloramines for ...

Study of single crystals of metal solid solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doty, J. P.; Reising, J. A.

1973-01-01

The growth of single crystals of relatively high melting point metals such as silver, copper, gold, and their alloys was investigated. The purpose was to develop background information necessary to support a space flight experiment and to generate ground based data for comparison. The ground based data, when compared to the data from space grown crystals, are intended to identify any effects which zero-gravity might have on the basic process of single crystal growth of these metals. The ultimate purposes of the complete investigation are to: (1) determine specific metals and alloys to be investigated; (2) grow single metal crystals in a terrestrial laboratory; (3) determine crystal characteristics, properties, and growth parameters that will be effected by zero-gravity; (4) evaluate terrestrially grown crystals; (5) grow single metal crystals in a space laboratory such as Skylab; (6) evaluate the space grown crystals; (7) compare for zero-gravity effects of crystal characteristics, properties, and parameters; and (8) make a recommendation as to production of these crystals as a routine space manufacturing proceses.

Effect of Energy Input on the Characteristic of AISI H13 and D2 Tool Steels Deposited by a Directed Energy Deposition Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jun Seok; Park, Joo Hyun; Lee, Min-Gyu; Sung, Ji Hyun; Cha, Kyoung Je; Kim, Da Hye

2016-05-01

Among the many additive manufacturing technologies, the directed energy deposition (DED) process has attracted significant attention because of the application of metal products. Metal deposited by the DED process has different properties than wrought metal because of the rapid solidification rate, the high thermal gradient between the deposited metal and substrate, etc. Additionally, many operating parameters, such as laser power, beam diameter, traverse speed, and powder mass flow rate, must be considered since the characteristics of the deposited metal are affected by the operating parameters. In the present study, the effect of energy input on the characteristics of H13 and D2 steels deposited by a direct metal tooling process based on the DED process was investigated. In particular, we report that the hardness of the deposited H13 and D2 steels decreased with increasing energy input, which we discuss by considering microstructural observations and thermodynamics.

Chemical enrichment in cosmological, smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiersma, Robert P. C.; Schaye, Joop; Theuns, Tom; Dalla Vecchia, Claudio; Tornatore, Luca

2009-10-01

We present an implementation of stellar evolution and chemical feedback for smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations. We consider the timed release of individual elements by both massive (Type II supernovae and stellar winds) and intermediate-mass stars (Type Ia supernovae and asymptotic giant branch stars). We illustrate the results of our method using a suite of cosmological simulations that include new prescriptions for radiative cooling, star formation and galactic winds. Radiative cooling is implemented element-by-element, in the presence of an ionizing radiation background, and we track all 11 elements that contribute significantly to the radiative cooling. While all simulations presented here use a single set of physical parameters, we take specific care to investigate the robustness of the predictions of chemodynamical simulations with respect to the ingredients, the methods and the numerical convergence. A comparison of nucleosynthetic yields taken from the literature indicates that relative abundance ratios may only be reliable at the factor of 2 level, even for a fixed initial mass function. Abundances relative to iron are even more uncertain because the rate of Type Ia supernovae is not well known. We contrast two reasonable definitions of the metallicity of a resolution element and find that while they agree for high metallicities, there are large differences at low metallicities. We argue that the discrepancy is indicative of the lack of metal mixing caused by the fact that metals are stuck to particles. We argue that since this is a (numerical) sampling problem, solving it by using a poorly constrained physical process such as diffusion could have undesired consequences. We demonstrate that the two metallicity definitions result in redshift z = 0 stellar masses that can differ by up to a factor of 2, because of the sensitivity of the cooling rates to the elemental abundances. Finally, we use several 5123 particle simulations to investigate the evolution of the distribution of heavy elements, which we find to be in reasonably good agreement with available observational constraints. We find that by z = 0 most of the metals are locked up in stars. The gaseous metals are distributed over a very wide range of gas densities and temperatures. The shock-heated warm-hot intergalactic medium has a relatively high metallicity of ~10-1Zsolar that evolves only weakly, and is therefore an important reservoir of metals. Any census aiming to account for most of the metal mass will have to take a wide variety of objects and structures into account.

Direct Metal Deposition of H13 Tool Steel on Copper Alloy Substrate: Parametric Investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imran, M. Khalid; Masood, S. H.; Brandt, Milan

2015-12-01

Over the past decade, researchers have demonstrated interest in tribology and prototyping by the laser aided material deposition process. Laser aided direct metal deposition (DMD) enables the formation of a uniform clad by melting the powder to form desired component from metal powder materials. In this research H13 tool steel has been used to clad on a copper alloy substrate using DMD. The effects of laser parameters on the quality of DMD deposited clad have been investigated and acceptable processing parameters have been determined largely through trial-and-error approaches. The relationships between DMD process parameters and the product characteristics such as porosity, micro-cracks and microhardness have been analysed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), image analysis software (ImageJ) and microhardness tester. It has been found that DMD parameters such as laser power, powder mass flow rate, feed rate and focus size have an important role in clad quality and crack formation.

Metal wastage design guidelines for bubbling fluidized-bed combustors. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lyczkowski, R.W.; Podolski, W.F.; Bouillard, J.X.

These metal wastage design guidelines identify relationships between metal wastage and (1) design parameters (such as tube size, tube spacing and pitch, tube bundle and fluidized-bed height to distributor, and heat exchanger tube material properties) and (2) operating parameters (such as fluidizing velocity, particle size, particle hardness, and angularity). The guidelines are of both a quantitative and qualitative nature. Simplified mechanistic models are described, which account for the essential hydrodynamics and metal wastage processes occurring in bubbling fluidized beds. The empirical correlational approach complements the use of these models in the development of these design guidelines. Data used for modelmore » and guideline validation are summarized and referenced. Sample calculations and recommended design procedures are included. The influences of dependent variables on metal wastage, such as solids velocity, bubble size, and in-bed pressure fluctuations, are discussed.« less

Electronic structures and magnetic/optical properties of metal phthalocyanine complexes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baba, Shintaro; Suzuki, Atsushi, E-mail: suzuki@mat.usp.ac.jp; Oku, Takeo

2016-02-01

Electronic structures and magnetic / optical properties of metal phthalocyanine complexes were studied by quantum calculations using density functional theory. Effects of central metal and expansion of π orbital on aromatic ring as conjugation system on the electronic structures, magnetic, optical properties and vibration modes of infrared and Raman spectra of metal phthalocyanines were investigated. Electron and charge density distribution and energy levels near frontier orbital and excited states were influenced by the deformed structures varied with central metal and charge. The magnetic parameters of chemical shifts in {sup 13}C-nuclear magnetic resonance ({sup 13}C-NMR), principle g-tensor, A-tensor, V-tensor of electricmore » field gradient and asymmetry parameters derived from the deformed structures with magnetic interaction of nuclear quadruple interaction based on electron and charge density distribution with a bias of charge near ligand under crystal field.« less

Testing the Planet-Metallicity Correlation in M-dwarfs with Gemini GNIRS Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hobson, M. J.; Jofré, E.; García, L.; Petrucci, R.; Gómez, M.

2018-04-01

While the planet-metallicity correlation for FGK main-sequence stars hosting giant planets is well established, it is less clear for M-dwarf stars. We determine stellar parameters and metallicities for 16 M-dwarf stars, 11 of which host planets, with near-infrared spectra from the Gemini Near-Infrared Spectrograph (GNIRS). We find that M-dwarfs with planets are preferentially metal-rich compared to those without planets. This result is supported by the analysis of a larger catalogue of 18 M stars with planets and 213 M stars without known planets T15, and demonstrates the utility of GNIRS spectra to obtain reliable stellar parameters of M stars. We also find that M dwarfs with giant planets are preferentially more metallic than those with low-mass planets, in agreement with previous results for solar-type stars. These results favor the core accretion model of planetary formation.

Geochemical Background and Baseline Values Determination and Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils of the Andes Mountain Range (Cajamarca-Huancavelica, Peru).

PubMed

Santos-Francés, Fernando; Martinez-Graña, Antonio; Alonso Rojo, Pilar; García Sánchez, Antonio

2017-07-31

Concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and one metalloid (As) as well as various parameters (pH, organic carbon, granulometric analysis and cation exchange capacity) were analyzed in 77 soil samples collected in the mining areas of La Zanja and Colquirrumi (Department of Cajamarca) and Julcani (Department of Huancavelica). Our study proposed geochemical baseline values for heavy metals in a natural region (La Zanja) from samples collected during the period of the environmental impact study (2006), that is, from an earlier period which occurred at the beginning of the exploitation of the current gold mine. The baseline values obtained were as follows: 8.26 mg kg-1 for Cr; 56.97 mg kg-1 for Ni; 22, 20 mg kg-1 for the Cu; 47.42 mg kg-1 for Zn; 27.50 mg kg-1 for As; 4.36 mg kg-1 for Cd; 4.89 mg kg-1 for Hg, and 44.87 mg kg-1 for Pb. Through the use of different indices of heavy metal contamination (geo-accumulation index (Igeo), improved Nemerow index (IIN) and potential ecological risk index (RI)), the degree of pollution caused by mining activities in two areas, Colquirrumi and Julcani, which have a high density of mining sites in operation, was determined. The values obtained from these indices indicated that the Colquirrumi region was the most contaminated, followed by Julcani. The area of La Zanja, despite being free of mining operations, presented slight diffuse pollution. Several positive correlations were obtained, with a high level of significance, between pH, organic carbon content, cation exchange capacity, and the Cr, Pb and Ni concentrations of the soils. The spatial distribution of the heavy metals was realized by means of the interpolation method of ordinary kriging. The results obtained and the experience gained in this work were necessary to facilitate the identification of soil contamination processes in high altitude areas of the Andes Western Cordillera (Peru) as a basis for taking appropriate measures when restoring soils, during mine closure processes, and to protect the quality of soil resources.

Force Field Development and Molecular Dynamics of [NiFe] Hydrogenase

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, Dayle MA; Xiong, Yijia; Straatsma, TP

2012-05-09

Classical molecular force-field parameters describing the structure and motion of metal clusters in [NiFe] hydrogenase enzymes can be used to compare the dynamics and thermodynamics of [NiFe] under different oxidation, protonation, and ligation circumstances. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations of small model clusters representative of the active site and the proximal, medial, and distal Fe/S metal centers and their attached protein side chains, we have calculated classical force-field parameters for [NiFe] in reduced and oxidized states, including internal coordinates, force constants, and atom-centered charges. Derived force constants revealed that cysteinate ligands bound to the metal ions are more flexiblemore » in the Ni-B active site, which has a bridging hydroxide ligand, than in the Ni-C active site, which has a bridging hydride. Ten nanosecond all-atom, explicit-solvent MD simulations of [NiFe] hydrogenase in oxidized and reduced catalytic states established the stability of the derived force-field parameters in terms of C{alpha} and metal cluster fluctuations. Average active site structures from the protein MD simulations are consistent with [NiFe] structures from the Protein Data Bank, suggesting that the derived force-field parameters are transferrable to other hydrogenases beyond the structure used for testing. A comparison of experimental H{sub 2}-production rates demonstrated a relationship between cysteinate side chain rotation and activity, justifying the use of a fully dynamic model of [NiFe] metal cluster motion.« less

Metal mixture modeling evaluation project: 2. Comparison of four modeling approaches.

PubMed

Farley, Kevin J; Meyer, Joseph S; Balistrieri, Laurie S; De Schamphelaere, Karel A C; Iwasaki, Yuichi; Janssen, Colin R; Kamo, Masashi; Lofts, Stephen; Mebane, Christopher A; Naito, Wataru; Ryan, Adam C; Santore, Robert C; Tipping, Edward

2015-04-01

As part of the Metal Mixture Modeling Evaluation (MMME) project, models were developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Japan), the US Geological Survey (USA), HDR|HydroQual (USA), and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (United Kingdom) to address the effects of metal mixtures on biological responses of aquatic organisms. A comparison of the 4 models, as they were presented at the MMME workshop in Brussels, Belgium (May 2012), is provided in the present study. Overall, the models were found to be similar in structure (free ion activities computed by the Windermere humic aqueous model [WHAM]; specific or nonspecific binding of metals/cations in or on the organism; specification of metal potency factors or toxicity response functions to relate metal accumulation to biological response). Major differences in modeling approaches are attributed to various modeling assumptions (e.g., single vs multiple types of binding sites on the organism) and specific calibration strategies that affected the selection of model parameters. The models provided a reasonable description of additive (or nearly additive) toxicity for a number of individual toxicity test results. Less-than-additive toxicity was more difficult to describe with the available models. Because of limitations in the available datasets and the strong interrelationships among the model parameters (binding constants, potency factors, toxicity response parameters), further evaluation of specific model assumptions and calibration strategies is needed. © 2014 SETAC.

Metal Mixture Modeling Evaluation project: 2. Comparison of four modeling approaches

USGS Publications Warehouse

Farley, Kevin J.; Meyer, Joe; Balistrieri, Laurie S.; DeSchamphelaere, Karl; Iwasaki, Yuichi; Janssen, Colin; Kamo, Masashi; Lofts, Steve; Mebane, Christopher A.; Naito, Wataru; Ryan, Adam C.; Santore, Robert C.; Tipping, Edward

2015-01-01

As part of the Metal Mixture Modeling Evaluation (MMME) project, models were developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Japan), the U.S. Geological Survey (USA), HDR⎪HydroQual, Inc. (USA), and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK) to address the effects of metal mixtures on biological responses of aquatic organisms. A comparison of the 4 models, as they were presented at the MMME Workshop in Brussels, Belgium (May 2012), is provided herein. Overall, the models were found to be similar in structure (free ion activities computed by WHAM; specific or non-specific binding of metals/cations in or on the organism; specification of metal potency factors and/or toxicity response functions to relate metal accumulation to biological response). Major differences in modeling approaches are attributed to various modeling assumptions (e.g., single versus multiple types of binding site on the organism) and specific calibration strategies that affected the selection of model parameters. The models provided a reasonable description of additive (or nearly additive) toxicity for a number of individual toxicity test results. Less-than-additive toxicity was more difficult to describe with the available models. Because of limitations in the available datasets and the strong inter-relationships among the model parameters (log KM values, potency factors, toxicity response parameters), further evaluation of specific model assumptions and calibration strategies is needed.

Laser based micro forming and assembly.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

MacCallum, Danny O'Neill; Wong, Chung-Nin Channy; Knorovsky, Gerald Albert

2006-11-01

It has been shown that thermal energy imparted to a metallic substrate by laser heating induces a transient temperature gradient through the thickness of the sample. In favorable conditions of laser fluence and absorptivity, the resulting inhomogeneous thermal strain leads to a measurable permanent deflection. This project established parameters for laser micro forming of thin materials that are relevant to MESA generation weapon system components and confirmed methods for producing micrometer displacements with repeatable bend direction and magnitude. Precise micro forming vectors were realized through computational finite element analysis (FEA) of laser-induced transient heating that indicated the optimal combination ofmore » laser heat input relative to the material being heated and its thermal mass. Precise laser micro forming was demonstrated in two practical manufacturing operations of importance to the DOE complex: micrometer gap adjustments of precious metal alloy contacts and forming of meso scale cones.« less

Quantum-chemistry based calibration of the alkali metal cation series (Li(+)-Cs(+)) for large-scale polarizable molecular mechanics/dynamics simulations.

PubMed

Dudev, Todor; Devereux, Mike; Meuwly, Markus; Lim, Carmay; Piquemal, Jean-Philip; Gresh, Nohad

2015-02-15

The alkali metal cations in the series Li(+)-Cs(+) act as major partners in a diversity of biological processes and in bioinorganic chemistry. In this article, we present the results of their calibration in the context of the SIBFA polarizable molecular mechanics/dynamics procedure. It relies on quantum-chemistry (QC) energy-decomposition analyses of their monoligated complexes with representative O-, N-, S-, and Se- ligands, performed with the aug-cc-pVTZ(-f) basis set at the Hartree-Fock level. Close agreement with QC is obtained for each individual contribution, even though the calibration involves only a limited set of cation-specific parameters. This agreement is preserved in tests on polyligated complexes with four and six O- ligands, water and formamide, indicating the transferability of the procedure. Preliminary extensions to density functional theory calculations are reported. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of interaction mechanisms of copper phthalocyanine and nickel phthalocyanine thin films with chemical vapours

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ridhi, R.; Singh, Sukhdeep; Saini, G. S. S.; Tripathi, S. K.

2018-04-01

The present study deals with comparing interaction mechanisms of copper phthalocyanine and nickel phthalocyanine with versatile chemical vapours: reducing, stable aromatic and oxidizing vapours namely; diethylamine, benzene and bromine. The variation in electrical current of phthalocyanines with exposure of chemical vapours is used as the detection parameter for studying interaction behaviour. Nickel phthalocyanine is found to exhibit anomalous behaviour after exposure of reducing vapour diethylamine due to alteration in its spectroscopic transitions and magnetic states. The observed sensitivities of copper phthalocyanine and nickel phthalcyanine films are different in spite of their similar bond numbers, indicating significant role of central metal atom in interaction mechanism. The variations in electronic transition levels after vapours exposure, studied using UV-Visible spectroscopy confirmed our electrical sensing results. Bromine exposure leads to significant changes in vibrational bands of metal phthalocyanines as compared to other vapours.

The influence of oxidation time on the properties of oxidized zinc films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rambu, A. P.

2012-09-01

The effect of oxidation time on the structural characteristics and electronic transport mechanism of zinc oxide thin films prepared by thermal oxidation, have been investigated. Zinc metallic films were deposited by thermal evaporation under vacuum, the subsequent oxidation of Zn films being carried out in open atmosphere. XRD and AFM analysis indicate that obtained films posses a polycrystalline structure, the crystallites having a preferential orientation. Structural analysis reveals that microstructure of the films (crystallite size, surface roughness, internal stress) is depending on the oxidation time of metallic films. The electrical behavior of ZnO films was investigated, during a heat treatment (two heating/cooling cycles). It was observed that after the first heating, the temperature dependences of electrical conductivity become reversible. Mott variable range hopping model was proposed to analyze the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity, in low temperature ranges. Values of some characteristic parameters were calculated.

Nanoparticle mediated ablation of breast cancer cells using a nanosecond pulsed electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burford, Christopher

In the past, both nanomaterials and various heating modalities have been researched as means for treating cancers. However, many of the current methodologies have the flaws of inconsistent tumor ablation and significant destruction of healthy cells. Based on research performed using constant radiofrequency electric fields and metallic nanoparticles (where cell necrosis is induced by the heating of these nanoparticles) we have developed a modality that simlarly uses functionalized metallic nanoparticles, specific for the T47D breast cancer cell line, and nanosecond pulsed electric fields as the hyperthermic inducer. Using both iron oxide and gold nanoparticles the results of our pilot studies indicated that up to 90% of the cancer cells were ablated given the optimal treatment parameters. These quantities of ablated cells were achieved using a cumulative exposure time 6 orders of magnitude less than most in vitro radiofrequency electric field studies.

Effect of different sound atmospheres on SnO2:Sb thin films prepared by dip coating technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kocyigit, Adem; Ozturk, Erhan; Ejderha, Kadir; Turgut, Guven

2017-11-01

Different sound atmosphere effects were investigated on SnO2:Sb thin films, which were deposited with dip coating technique. Two sound atmospheres were used in this study; one of them was nay sound atmosphere for soft sound, another was metallic sound for hard sound. X-ray diffraction (XRD) graphs have indicated that the films have different orientations and structural parameters in quiet room, metallic and soft sound atmospheres. It could be seen from UV-Vis spectrometer measurements that films have different band gaps and optical transmittances with changing sound atmospheres. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and AFM images of the films have been pointed out that surfaces of films have been affected with changing sound atmospheres. The electrical measurements have shown that films have different I-V plots and different sheet resistances with changing sound atmospheres. These sound effects may be used to manage atoms in nano dimensions.

Study on electrostatic and electromagnetic probes operated in ceramic and metallic depositing plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Styrnoll, T.; Bienholz, S.; Lapke, M.; Awakowicz, P.

2014-04-01

This paper discusses plasma probe diagnostics, namely the multipole resonance probe (MRP) and Langmuir probe (LP), operated in depositing plasmas. The aim of this work is to show that the combination of both probes provides stable and robust measurements and clear determination of plasma parameters for metallic and ceramic coating processes. The probes use different approaches to determine plasma parameters, e.g. electron density ne and electron temperature Te. The LP is a well-established plasma diagnostic, and its applicability in technological plasmas is well documented. The LP is a dc probe that performs a voltage sweep and analyses the measured current, which makes it insensitive against conductive metallic coating. However, once the LP is dielectrically coated with a ceramic film, its functionality is constricted. In contrast, the MRP was recently presented as a monitoring tool, which is insensitive to coating with dielectric ceramics. It is a new plasma diagnostic based on the concept of active plasma resonance spectroscopy, which uses the universal characteristic of all plasmas to resonate on or near the electron plasma frequency. The MRP emits a frequency sweep and the absorption of the signal, the |S11| parameter, is analysed. Since the MRP concept is based on electromagnetic waves, which are able to transmit dielectrics, it is insensitive to dielectric coatings. But once the MRP is metallized with a thin conductive film, no undisturbed RF-signal can be emitted into the plasma, which leads to falsified plasma parameter. In order to compare both systems, during metallic or dielectric coating, the probes are operated in a magnetron CCP, which is equipped with a titanium target. We present measurements in metallic and dielectric coating processes with both probes and elaborate advantages and problems of each probe operated in each coating environment.

Machining of Molybdenum by EDM-EP and EDC Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, K. L.; Chen, H. J.; Lee, H. M.; Lo, J. S.

2017-12-01

Molybdenum metal (Mo) can be machined with conventional tools and equipment, however, its refractory propertytends to chip when being machined. In this study, the nonconventional processes of electrical discharge machining (EDM) and electro-polishing (EP) have been conducted to investigate the machining of Mo metal and fabrication of Mo grid. Satisfactory surface quality was obtained using appropriate EDM parameters of Ip ≦ 3A and Ton < 80μs at a constant pulse interval of 100μs. The finished Mometal has accomplished by selecting appropriate EP parameters such as electrolyte flow rate of 0.42m/s under EP voltage of 50V and flush time of 20 sec to remove the recast layer and craters on the surface of Mo metal. The surface roughness of machined Mo metal can be improved from Ra of 0.93μm (Rmax = 8.51μm) to 0.23μm (Rmax = 1.48μm). Machined Mo metal surface, when used as grid component in electron gun, needs to be modified by coating materials with high work function, such as silicon carbide (SiC). The main purpose of this study is to explore the electrical discharge coating (EDC) process for coating the SiC layer on EDMed Mo metal. Experimental results proved that the appropriate parameters of Ip = 5A and Ton = 50μs at Toff = 10μs can obtain the deposit with about 60μm thickness. The major phase of deposit on machined Mo surface was SiC ceramic, while the minor phases included MoSi2 and/or SiO2 with the presence of free Si due to improper discharging parameters and the use of silicone oil as the dielectric fluid.

Screened hybrid functional applied to 3d0→3d8 transition-metal perovskites LaMO3 (M = Sc-Cu): Influence of the exchange mixing parameter on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Jiangang; Franchini, Cesare

2012-12-01

We assess the performance of the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE) screened hybrid density functional scheme applied to the perovskite family LaMO3 (M = Sc-Cu) and discuss the role of the mixing parameter α [which determines the fraction of exact Hartree-Fock exchange included in the density functional theory (DFT) exchange-correlation functional] on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties. The physical complexity of this class of compounds, manifested by the largely varying electronic characters (band/Mott-Hubbard/charge-transfer insulators and metals), magnetic orderings, structural distortions (cooperative Jahn-Teller-type instabilities), as well as by the strong competition between localization/delocalization effects associated with the gradual filling of the t2g and eg orbitals, symbolize a critical and challenging case for theory. Our results indicate that HSE is able to provide a consistent picture of the complex physical scenario encountered across the LaMO3 series and significantly improve the standard DFT description. The only exceptions are the correlated paramagnetic metals LaNiO3 and LaCuO3, which are found to be treated better within DFT. By fitting the ground-state properties with respect to α, we have constructed a set of “optimum” values of α from LaScO3 to LaCuO3: it is found that the optimum mixing parameter decreases with increasing filling of the d manifold (LaScO3: 0.25; LaTiO3 and LaVO3: 0.10-0.15; LaCrO3, LaMnO3, and LaFeO3: 0.15; LaCoO3: 0.05; LaNiO3 and LaCuO3: 0). This trend can be nicely correlated with the modulation of the screening and dielectric properties across the LaMO3 series, thus providing a physical justification to the empirical fitting procedure. Finally, we show that by using this set of optimum mixing parameter, HSE predict dielectric constants in very good agreement with the experimental ones.

Hot HB Stars in Globular Clusters - Physical Parameters and Consequences for Theory. VI. The Second Parameter Pair M3 and M13

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moehler, S.; Landsman, W. B.; Sweigart, A. V.; Grundahl, F.

2002-01-01

We present the results of spectroscopic analyses of hot horizontal branch (HB) stars in M13 and M3, which form a famous second parameter pair. From the spectra we derived - for the first time in M13 - atmospheric parameters (effective temperature and surface gravity) as well as abundances of helium, magnesium, and iron. Consistent with analyses of hot HB stars in other globular clusters we find evidence for helium depletion and iron enrichment in stars hotter than about 12,000 K in both M3 and M13. Accounting for the iron enrichment substantially improves the agreement with canonical evolutionary models, although the derived gravities and masses are still somewhat too low. This remaining discrepancy may be an indication that scaled-solar metal-rich model atmospheres do not adequately represent the highly non-solar abundance ratios found in blue HB stars with radiative levitation. We discuss the effects of an enhancement in the envelope helium abundance on the atmospheric parameters of the blue HB stars, as might be caused by deep mixing on the red giant branch or primordial pollution from an earlier generation of intermediate mass asymptotic giant branch stars.

Metal Decorated Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Polyimide Composites with High Dielectric Constants and Low Loss Factors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghose, Sayata; Watson, Kent A.; Dudley, Kenneth L.; Elliott, Holly A.; Smith, Joseph G.; Connell, John W.

2009-01-01

The measurement of observable electromagnetic phenomena in materials and their derived intrinsic electric material properties are of prime importance in the discovery and development of material systems for electronic and aerospace applications. Nanocomposite materials comprised of metal decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by a facile method and characterized. Metal particles such as silver, platinum and palladium with diameters ranging from less than 5 to over 50 nanometers were distributed randomly on the MWCNTs. The metal-containing MWCNTs were then melt mixed into a polymer matrix and the mixture extruded as ribbons. These extruded ribbons exhibited a moderate to high degree of MWCNT alignment as determined by HRSEM. These ribbons were then fabricated into test specimens while maintaining MWCNT alignment and subsequently characterized for electromagnetic properties at 8-12 GHz. The present study is focused on silver decorated MWCNTs dispersed in an Ultem polyimide matrix. The results of the electromagnetic characterization showed that certain sample configurations exhibited a decoupling of the permittivity and loss factor (?? and ??) indicating that these properties could be tailored within certain limits. The decoupling and independent control of these fundamental electrical material parameters offer a new class of materials with potential applications in electronics, microwave engineering and optics.

Source apportionment of heavy metals and their ecological risk in a tropical river basin system.

PubMed

Kumar, Balwant; Singh, Umesh Kumar

2018-06-27

Surface water and sediment samples were collected from Ajay River basin to appraise the behavior of heavy metals with surrounding environments and their inter-elemental relationships. Parameters like pH and organic carbon are having a minimal role in heavy metal distribution while some elements like Fe and Cu showed great affinity for organic matter based on linear regression analysis (LRA). Ficklin diagram justified that river basin is not contaminated through acidic pollutants. The river basin is highly enriched with Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni which were much higher than world average values, average shale standard, effect range low (ERL), and threshold effect level (TEL). PCA and LRA verified that Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni were mainly derived from anthropogenic inputs, and others like Fe, Mn, Zn, and Co came from geogenic sources. Pollution indices revealed that river basin is moderately to highly contaminated by Cu, Cd, and Ni. Furthermore, Ajay River basin is under strong potential ecological risk based on the obtained value of risk index and probable effect level/effect range median quotient index. However, river basin is strongly influenced by lithological properties, diversified hydrogeological settings, mineralization and mobilization of subsurface materials, and urban and industrial effluents which are controlling the heavy metals.

Laser-induced selective metallization of polypropylene doped with multiwall carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratautas, Karolis; Gedvilas, Mindaugas; Stankevičiene, Ina; Jagminienė, Aldona; Norkus, Eugenijus; Pira, Nello Li; Sinopoli, Stefano; Račiukaitis, Gediminas

2017-08-01

Moulded interconnect devices (MID) offer the material, weight and cost saving by integration electronic circuits directly into polymeric components used in automotive and other consumer products. Lasers are used to write circuits directly by modifying the surface of polymers followed by an electroless metal plating. A new composite material - the polypropylene doped with multiwall carbon nanotubes was developed for the laser-induced selective metallization. Mechanism of surface activation by laser irradiation was investigated in details utilising pico- and nanoseconds lasers. Deposition of copper was performed in the autocatalytic electroless plating bath. The laser-activated polymer surfaces have been studied using the Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Microscopic images revealed that surface becomes active only after its melting by a laser. Alterations in the Raman spectra of the D and G bands indicated the clustering of carbon additives in the composite material. Optimal laser parameters for the surface activation were found by measuring a sheet resistance of the finally metal-plated samples. A spatially selective copper plating was achieved with the smallest conductor line width of 22 μm at the laser scanning speed of 3 m/s and the pulse repetition rate of 100 kHz. Finally, the technique was validated by making functional electronic circuits by this MID approach.

Sulfuric acid baking and leaching of spent Co-Mo/Al2O3 catalyst.

PubMed

Kim, Hong-In; Park, Kyung-Ho; Mishra, Devabrata

2009-07-30

Dissolution of metals from a pre-oxidized refinery plant spent Co-Mo/Al(2)O(3) catalyst have been tried through low temperature (200-450 degrees C) sulfuric acid baking followed by mild leaching process. Direct sulfuric acid leaching of the same sample, resulted poor Al and Mo recoveries, whereas leaching after sulfuric acid baking significantly improved the recoveries of above two metals. The pre-oxidized spent catalyst, obtained from a Korean refinery plant found to contain 40% Al, 9.92% Mo, 2.28% Co, 2.5% C and trace amount of other elements such as Fe, Ni, S and P. XRD results indicated the host matrix to be poorly crystalline gamma- Al(2)O(3). The effect of various baking parameters such as catalyst-to-acid ratio, baking temperature and baking time on percentage dissolutions of metals has been studied. It was observed that, metals dissolution increases with increase in the baking temperature up to 300 degrees C, then decreases with further increase in the baking temperature. Under optimum baking condition more than 90% Co and Mo, and 93% Al could be dissolved from the spent catalyst with the following leaching condition: H(2)SO(4)=2% (v/v), temperature=95 degrees C, time=60 min and Pulp density=5%.

The sorption of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc ions from aqueous solutions on a raw diatomite from Algeria.

PubMed

Safa, Messaouda; Larouci, Mohammed; Meddah, Boumediene; Valemens, Pierre

2012-01-01

The adsorption of Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) ions from aqueous solution by Algerian raw diatomite was studied. The influences of different sorption parameters such as contact pH solution, contact time and initial metal ions concentration were studied to optimize the reaction conditions. The metals ions adsorption was strictly pH dependent. The maximum adsorption capacities towards Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) were 0.319, 0.311, 0.18 and 0.096 mmol g(-1), respectively. The kinetic data were modelled using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic equations. Among the kinetic models studied, the pseudo-second-order equation was the best applicable model to describe the sorption process. Equilibrium isotherm data were analysed using the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherms; the results showed that the adsorption equilibrium was well described by both model isotherms. The negative value of free energy change ΔG indicates feasible and spontaneous adsorption of four metal ions on raw diatomite. According to these results, the high exchange capacities of different metal ions at high and low concentration levels, and given the low cost of the investigated adsorbent in this work, Algerian diatomite was considered to be an excellent adsorbent.

Size and symmetry of the superconducting gap in the f.c.c. Cs3C60 polymorph close to the metal-Mott insulator boundary.

PubMed

Potočnik, Anton; Krajnc, Andraž; Jeglič, Peter; Takabayashi, Yasuhiro; Ganin, Alexey Y; Prassides, Kosmas; Rosseinsky, Matthew J; Arčon, Denis

2014-03-03

The alkali fullerides, A(3)C(60) (A = alkali metal) are molecular superconductors that undergo a transition to a magnetic Mott-insulating state at large lattice parameters. However, although the size and the symmetry of the superconducting gap, Δ, are both crucial for the understanding of the pairing mechanism, they are currently unknown for superconducting fullerides close to the correlation-driven magnetic insulator. Here we report a comprehensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of face-centred-cubic (f.c.c.) Cs(3)C(60) polymorph, which can be tuned continuously through the bandwidth-controlled Mott insulator-metal/superconductor transition by pressure. When superconductivity emerges from the insulating state at large interfullerene separations upon compression, we observe an isotropic (s-wave) Δ with a large gap-to-superconducting transition temperature ratio, 2Δ0/k(B)T(c) = 5.3(2) [Δ0 = Δ(0 K)]. 2Δ0/k(B)T(c) decreases continuously upon pressurization until it approaches a value of ~3.5, characteristic of weak-coupling BCS theory of superconductivity despite the dome-shaped dependence of Tc on interfullerene separation. The results indicate the importance of the electronic correlations for the pairing interaction as the metal/superconductor-insulator boundary is approached.

The Red-giant Branch Bump Revisited: Constraints on Envelope Overshooting in a Wide Range of Masses and Metallicities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Saniya; Hall, Oliver J.; Miglio, Andrea; Davies, Guy R.; Mosser, Benoît; Girardi, Léo; Montalbán, Josefina

2018-06-01

The red-giant branch bump provides valuable information for the investigation of the internal structure of low-mass stars. Because current models are unable to accurately predict the occurrence and efficiency of mixing processes beyond convective boundaries, one can use the luminosity of the bump—a diagnostic of the maximum extension of the convective envelope during the first-dredge up—as a calibrator for such processes. By combining asteroseismic and spectroscopic constraints, we expand the analysis of the bump to masses and metallicities beyond those previously accessible using globular clusters. Our data set comprises nearly 3000 red-giant stars observed by Kepler and with APOGEE spectra. Using statistical mixture models, we are able to detect the bump in the average seismic parameters ν max and < {{Δ }}ν > , and show that its observed position reveals general trends with mass and metallicity in line with expectations from models. Moreover, our analysis indicates that standard stellar models underestimate the depth of efficiently mixed envelopes. The inclusion of significant overshooting from the base of the convective envelope, with an efficiency that increases with decreasing metallicity, allows us to reproduce the observed location of the bump. Interestingly, this trend was also reported in previous studies of globular clusters.

Size and symmetry of the superconducting gap in the f.c.c. Cs3C60 polymorph close to the metal-Mott insulator boundary

PubMed Central

Potočnik, Anton; Krajnc, Andraž; Jeglič, Peter; Takabayashi, Yasuhiro; Ganin, Alexey Y.; Prassides, Kosmas; Rosseinsky, Matthew J.; Arčon, Denis

2014-01-01

The alkali fullerides, A3C60 (A = alkali metal) are molecular superconductors that undergo a transition to a magnetic Mott-insulating state at large lattice parameters. However, although the size and the symmetry of the superconducting gap, Δ, are both crucial for the understanding of the pairing mechanism, they are currently unknown for superconducting fullerides close to the correlation-driven magnetic insulator. Here we report a comprehensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of face-centred-cubic (f.c.c.) Cs3C60 polymorph, which can be tuned continuously through the bandwidth-controlled Mott insulator-metal/superconductor transition by pressure. When superconductivity emerges from the insulating state at large interfullerene separations upon compression, we observe an isotropic (s-wave) Δ with a large gap-to-superconducting transition temperature ratio, 2Δ0/kBTc = 5.3(2) [Δ0 = Δ(0 K)]. 2Δ0/kBTc decreases continuously upon pressurization until it approaches a value of ~3.5, characteristic of weak-coupling BCS theory of superconductivity despite the dome-shaped dependence of Tc on interfullerene separation. The results indicate the importance of the electronic correlations for the pairing interaction as the metal/superconductor-insulator boundary is approached. PMID:24584087

Data reduction and calibration for LAMOST survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Ali; Zhang, Jiannan; Chen, Jianjun; Song, Yihan; Wu, Yue; Bai, Zhongrui; Wang, Fengfei; Du, Bing; Zhang, Haotong

2014-01-01

There are three data pipelines for LAMOST survey. The raw data is reduced to one dimension spectra by the data reduction pipeline(2D pipeline), the extracted spectra are classified and measured by the spectral analysis pipeline(1D pipeline), while stellar parameters are measured by LASP pipeline. (a) The data reduction pipeline. The main tasks of the data reduction pipeline include bias calibration, flat field, spectra extraction, sky subtraction, wavelength calibration, exposure merging and wavelength band connection. (b) The spectra analysis pipeline. This pipeline is designed to classify and identify objects from the extracted spectra and to measure their redshift (or radial velocity). The PCAZ (Glazebrook et al. 1998) method is applied to do the classification and redshift measurement. (c) Stellar parameters LASP. Stellar parameters pipeline (LASP) is to estimate stellar atmospheric parameters, e.g. effective temperature Teff, surface gravity log g, and metallicity [Fe/H], for F, G and K type stars. To effectively determine those fundamental stellar measurements, three steps with different methods are employed. The first step utilizes the line indices to approximately define the effective temperature range of the analyzed star. Secondly, a set of the initial approximate values of the three parameters are given based on template fitting method. Finally, we exploit ULySS (Koleva et al. 2009) to give the final values of parameters through minimizing the χ 2 value between the observed spectrum and a multidimensional grid of model spectra which is generated by an interpolating of ELODIE library. There are two other classification for A type star and M type star. For A type star, standard MK system is employed (Gray et al. 2009) to give each object temperature class and luminosity type. For M type star, they are classified into subclasses by an improved Hammer method, and metallicity of each objects is also given. During the pilot survey, algorithms were improved and the pipelines were tested. The products of LAMOST survey will include extracted and calibrated spectra in FITS format, a catalog of FGK stars with stellar parameters, a catalog of M dwarf with subclass and metallicity, and a catalog of A type star with MK classification. A part of the pilot survey data, including about 319 000 high quality spectra with SNR > 10, a catalog of stellar parameters of FGK stars and another catalog of a subclass of M type stars have been released to the public in August 2012 (Luo et al. 2012). The general survey started from October 2012, and completed the first year survey. The formal data release one (DR1) is being prepared, which will include both pilot survey and first year general survey, and planed to be released under the LAMOST data policy.

Optimization of the fiber laser parameters for local high-temperature impact on metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yatsko, Dmitrii S.; Polonik, Marina V.; Dudko, Olga V.

2016-11-01

This paper presents the local laser heating process of surface layer of the metal sample. The aim is to create the molten pool with the required depth by laser thermal treatment. During the heating the metal temperature at any point of the molten zone should not reach the boiling point of the main material. The laser power, exposure time and the spot size of a laser beam are selected as the variable parameters. The mathematical model for heat transfer in a semi-infinite body, applicable to finite slab, is used for preliminary theoretical estimation of acceptable parameters values of the laser thermal treatment. The optimization problem is solved by using an algorithm based on the scanning method of the search space (the zero-order method of conditional optimization). The calculated values of the parameters (the optimal set of "laser radiation power - exposure time - spot radius") are used to conduct a series of natural experiments to obtain a molten pool with the required depth. A two-stage experiment consists of: a local laser treatment of metal plate (steel) and then the examination of the microsection of the laser irradiated region. According to the experimental results, we can judge the adequacy of the ongoing calculations within the selected models.

Effects of smelting parameters on the slag/metal separation behaviors of Hongge vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite metallized pellets obtained from the gas-based direct reduction process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Cong; Chu, Man-sheng; Tang, Jue; Liu, Zheng-gen

2018-06-01

Smelting separations of Hongge vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite metallized pellets (HVTMP) prepared by gas-based direct reduction were investigated, and the effects of smelting parameters on the slag/metal separation behaviors were analyzed. Relevant mechanisms were elucidated using X-ray diffraction analysis, FACTSAGE 7.0 calculations, and scanning electron microscopy observations. The results show that, when the smelting temperature, time, and C/O ratio are increased, the recoveries of V and Cr of HVTMP in pig iron are improved, the recovery of Fe initially increases and subsequently decreases, and the recovery of TiO2 in slag decreases. When the smelting CaO/SiO2 ratio is increased, the recoveries of Fe, V, and Cr in pig iron increase and the recovery of TiO2 in slag initially increases and subsequently decreases. The appropriate smelting separation parameters for HVTMP are as follows: smelting temperature of 1873 K; smelting time of 30-50 min; C/O ratio of 1.25; and CaO/SiO2 ratio of 0.50. With these optimized parameters (smelting time: 30 min), the recoveries of Fe, V, Cr, and TiO2 are 99.5%, 91.24%, 92.41%, and 94.86%, respectively.

Computing elastic anisotropy to discover gum-metal-like structural alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winter, I. S.; de Jong, M.; Asta, M.; Chrzan, D. C.

2017-08-01

The computer aided discovery of structural alloys is a burgeoning but still challenging area of research. A primary challenge in the field is to identify computable screening parameters that embody key structural alloy properties. Here, an elastic anisotropy parameter that captures a material's susceptibility to solute solution strengthening is identified. The parameter has many applications in the discovery and optimization of structural materials. As a first example, the parameter is used to identify alloys that might display the super elasticity, super strength, and high ductility of the class of TiNb alloys known as gum metals. In addition, it is noted that the parameter can be used to screen candidate alloys for shape memory response, and potentially aid in the optimization of the mechanical properties of high-entropy alloys.

Response of Benthic Foraminifera to Organic Matter Quantity and Quality and Bioavailable Concentrations of Metals in Aveiro Lagoon (Portugal)

PubMed Central

Martins, Maria Virgínia Alves; Silva, Frederico; Laut, Lazaro L. M.; Frontalini, Fabrizio; Clemente, Iara M. M. M.; Miranda, Paulo; Figueira, Rubens; Sousa, Silvia H. M.; Dias, João M. Alveirinho

2015-01-01

This work analyses the distribution of living benthic foraminiferal assemblages of surface sediments in different intertidal areas of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), a polihaline and anthropized coastal lagoon. The relationships among foraminiferal assemblages in association with environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, Eh and pH), grain size, the quantity and quality of organic matter (enrichment in carbohydrates, proteins and lipids), pollution caused by metals, and mineralogical data are studied in an attempt to identify indicators of adaptability to environmental stress. In particular, concentrations of selected metals in the surficial sediment are investigated to assess environmental pollution levels that are further synthetically parameterised by the Pollution Load Index (PLI). The PLI variations allowed the identification of five main polluted areas. Concentrations of metals were also analysed in three extracted phases to evaluate their possible mobility, bioavailability and toxicity in the surficial sediment. Polluted sediment in the form of both organic matter and metals can be found in the most confined zones. Whereas enrichment in organic matter and related biopolymers causes an increase in foraminifera density, pollution by metals leads to a decline in foraminiferal abundance and diversity in those zones. The first situation may be justified by the existence of opportunistic species (with high reproduction rate) that can live in low oxic conditions. The second is explained by the sensitivity of some species to pressure caused by metals. The quality of the organic matter found in these places and the option of a different food source should also explain the tolerance of several species to pollution caused by metals, despite their low reproductive rate in the most polluted areas. In this study, species that are sensitive and tolerant to organic matter and metal enrichment are identified, as is the differential sensitivity/tolerance of some species to metals enrichment. PMID:25706860

Lability of Cd, Cu, and Zn in polluted soils treated with lime, beringite, and red mud and identification of a non-labile colloidal fraction of metals using istopic techniques.

PubMed

Lombi, Enzo; Hamon, Rebecca E; McGrath, Steve P; McLaughlin, Mike J

2003-03-01

The use of soil amendments has been proposed as a low input alternative for the remediation of metal polluted soils. However, little information is available concerning the stability, and therefore the longevity, of the remediation treatments when important soil parameters change. In this paper we investigate the effect of pH changes on the lability of heavy metals in soils treated with lime, beringite, and red mud using a modified isotopic dilution technique in combination with a stepwise acidification procedure. Significant amounts of nonlabile (fixed) Cu and Zn were found to be associated with colloids <0.2 microm in the solution phase. The results obtained indicated that the mobility of fixed colloidal metals is significant and increases with soil pH. This must be considered because most of the soil amendments are alkaline and increase soil pH. All the soil amendments significantly decreased the lability of Cd, Zn, and Cu in the soils as a whole. However, when the soils were re-acidified, the labile pool of metals increased sharply and in the case of lime and beringite, the lability of the metals was similar, at equal pH, to the untreated soil. In contrast the lability of metals in the red mud treated soils was always smaller than that in the untreated soils across the range of pH values tested. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of lime and beringite is similar and probably related to increased metal adsorption and precipitation of metal hydroxides and carbonates at high pH. In the case of red mud, a combination of pH dependent and independent mechanisms (possibly solid-phase diffusion or migration into micropores) may be responsible for the metal fixation observed.

Induced metal redistribution and bioavailability enhancement in contaminated river sediment during in situ biogeochemical remediation.

PubMed

Liu, Tongzhou; Zhang, Zhen; Mao, Yanqing; Yan, Dickson Y S

2016-04-01

In situ sediment remediation using Ca(NO3)2 or CaO2 for odor mitigation and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and organic pollutant (such as TPH and PAHs) removal was reported in many studies and fieldwork. Yet, the associated effects on metal mobilization and potential distortion in bioavailability were not well documented. In this study, contaminated river sediment was treated by Ca(NO3)2 and CaO2 in bench studies. Through the investigation of AVS removal, organic matter removal, the changes in sediment oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), microbial activity, and other indigenous parameters, the effects on metal bioavailability, bioaccessibility, and fraction redistribution in sediment were evaluated. The major mechanisms for sediment treated by Ca(NO3)2 and CaO2 are biostimulation with indigenous denitrifying bacteria and chemical oxidation, respectively. After applying Ca(NO3)2 and CaO2, the decreases of metal concentrations in the treated sediment were insignificant within a 35-day incubation period. However, the [SEMtot-AVS]/f OC increased near to the effective boundary of toxicity (100 μmol g(-1) organic carbon (OC)), indicating that both bioavailability and bioaccessibility of metals (Cu, Zn, and Ni) to benthic organisms are enhanced after remediation. Metals were found redistributed from relatively stable fractions (oxidizable and residual fractions) to weakly bound fractions (exchangeable and reducible fractions), and the results are in line with the enhanced metal bioavailability. Compared with Ca(NO3)2, CaO2 led to higher enhancement in metal bioavailability and bioaccessibility, and more significant metal redistribution, probably due to its stronger chemical reactive capacity to AVS and sediment organic matter. The reactions in CaO2-treated sediment would probably shift from physicochemical to biochemical heterotrophic oxidation for sediment organic matter degradation. Therefore, further investigation on the long-term metal redistribution and associated mobility as well as bioavailability is recommended.

Fractionation and ecological risk of metals in urban river sediments in Zhongshan City, Pearl River Delta.

PubMed

Cai, Jiannan; Cao, Yingzi; Tan, Haijian; Wang, Yanman; Luo, Jiaqi

2011-09-01

Surface sediments collected from nine urban rivers located in Zhongshan City, Pearl River Delta, were analyzed for total concentration of metals with digestion and chemical fractionation adopting the modified European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure. The results showed that concentration and fractionation of metals varied significantly among the rivers. The total concentration of eight metals in most rivers did not exceed the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soil, Grade III. The potential ecological risk of metals to rivers were related to the land use patterns, in the order of manufacturing areas > residential areas > agriculture areas. The concentration of Pb in the reducible fraction was relatively high (60.0-84.3%). The dominant proportions of Cd, Zn and Cu were primary in the non-residual fraction (67.0%, 71.8% and 81.4% on average respectively), while the percentages of the residual fractions of Cr and Ni varied over a wide range (43-85% and 24-71% respectively). The approaches of the Håkanson ecological risk index and Secondary Phase Enrichment Factor were applied for ecological risk assessment and metal enrichment calculation. The results indicated Hg and Cd had posed high potential ecological risk to urban rivers in this region. Meanwhile, there was widespread pollution and high enrichment of Cu in river sediments in this region. Multiple regression analysis showed that five water quality parameters (pH, DO, COD(Mn), NH(4)(+)-N, TP) had little influence on the distribution of metal fractionation. This result revealed that the ecological risk of metals was not eliminated along with the improvement in water quality. Correlation studies showed that among the metals, Group A (Cd, As, Pb, Zn Hg, r = 0.730-0.924) and Group B (Cr, Cu, Ni, r = 0.815-0.948) were obtained, and the metal contaminations were from industrial activities rather than residential.

Heavy metals in sediments associated with anourous assemblies in agroecosystems of North Argentine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez Turu, Nancy; Cáceres Díaz, Raúl Omar; Acosta, Rebeca

2017-04-01

Heavy metals come from anthropogenic sources, agricultural and industrial, constitute a danger to aquatic biota and are used as an indicator of environmental deterioration. In agroecosystems that use pesticides, surface accumulation occurs by drift and runoff at lower levels of land that are appropriate spaces for the anurans' reproductive activities. Thus, heavy metals usually accumulate in surface sediments and generate an environment of chronic toxicity. The study was carried out at the Experimental Agricultural Station INTA Salta, Cerrillos, pcia. Of Salta, located at 24 ° 53'45''South and 65 ° 27'51''West at a height of 1240 meters. The annual average temperature is 23.8 ° C, the annual variation of the average temperature, corresponds to the "continental" type, with the maximum in the month of December and the minimum in June. The average annual temperature of the soil at 0.10 m. Of depth is 20.4 ° C. The annual distribution of the precipitations indicates the existence of a rainy season between October and April, that concentrates 90% of the precipitations and another one dries the rest of the year, with 720 mm. Of annual rainfall. The soils are of little development of horizons, corresponding to Inceptisols, Ustocrept udico, Series Cerrillos, of alluvial origin, well drained, developed on medium to fine textures, free to loamy loam, poor in organic matter and nitrogen. Soils of fluvio lacustrine origin, rich in silt and weak aggregation. Amphibians have been able to exploit the resources provided by agroecosystems and remain in a metapopulation system within an altered landscape. However, there is a tendency to decrease the density and diversity of amphibians in highly disturbed areas. Some authors suggest that changes in the patterns of amphibian diversity that inhabit agricultural landscapes allow inferring the depopulation of species less tolerant to environmental transformation associated with intensive and sustained agricultural activities over time. In Argentina, the information linking the presence of heavy metals and their influence on population and community parameters in anurans is limited due to the methodological complexity that makes it difficult to test hypotheses. We evaluated a community parameter, species richness (r) as a first indicator of environmental quality, comparing two environments. Both sites were differentiated by the type of crop to which they were destined (fruit and tobacco), differential agronomic management, while they were similar with respect to the hydrological regime and soils. The samples to analyze the anuran assembly in each of the environments consisted of standardized techniques of audio strip transects (AST) and visual encounter surveys (VES) during two breeding seasons in an agroecosystem in the province of Salta, Argentina. Likewise, samples of soils composed of 20 pikes were taken in a transect, separated 5 m. Between each pique, to a depth of 0 to 5 cm. Chromium (Cr) was evaluated; Nickel (Ni); Copper (Cu); Cadmium (Cd); Manganese (Mn); Magnesium (Mg) and Aluminum (Al) in an accredited external services laboratory, using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results indicate significant differences in the species richness between the two sites (χ2 = 4.55) and an increase in the heavy metal concentration of the Treatment (tobacco) with respect to the Witness (fruit trees) + 52.38% in (Cr); + 21.43% in (Ni); + 155.56% in (Cu); + 100% (Cd); + 12.9% in (Mg) and + 51.31% in (Al). The Treatment had 63.6% fewer species than the Witness, with a similar landscape conformation. Key words: fruit trees, tobacco, soil, wealth, indicator, pesticides.

Bimodal star formation - Constraints from the solar neighborhood

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wyse, Rosemary F. G.; Silk, J.

1987-01-01

The chemical evolution resulting from a simple model of bimodal star formulation is investigated, using constraints from the solar neighborhood to set the parameters of the initial mass function and star formation rate. The two modes are an exclusively massive star mode, which forms stars at an exponentially declining rate, and a mode which contains stars of all masses and has a constant star formation rate. Satisfactory agreement with the age-metallicity relation for the thin disk and with the metallicity structure of the thin-disk and spheroid stars is possible only for a small range of parameter values. The preferred model offers a resolution to several of the long-standing problems of galactic chemical evolution, including explanations of the age-metallicity relation, the gas consumption time scale, and the stellar cumulative metallicity distributions.

Influence of the heat transfer on the thermoelastic response of metals on heating by the laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sudenkov, Y. V.; Zimin, B. A.; Sventitskaya, V. E.

2018-05-01

The paper presents an analysis of the effect of the heat transfer process in metals on the parameters of thermal stresses under pulsed laser action. The dynamic problem of thermoelasticity is considered as a two-stage process. The first stage is determined by the time of action of the radiation pulse. The second stage is caused by the dynamics of the heat transfer process after the end of the laser pulse. For showing the continuity of thermoelastic and thermoelectric processes, the analysis of the electronic mechanism for the propagation of heat in metals and the results of experimental studies of these processes are presented. The results of the experiments demonstrate the high sensitivity of the parameters of thermoelastic and thermoelectric pulses to the microstructure of metals.

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY FUNDAMENTAL PARAMETERS THAT INFLUENCE METAL LEACHING CHEMISTRY IN LANDFILLS SYSTEMS (PRESENTATION)

EPA Science Inventory

Various anthropogenic activities generate hazardous solid wastes that are affluent in heavy metals, which can cause significant damage to the environment and human health. Heavy metals/metalloids can exist in multiple oxidation states, and can undergo oxidation or reduction when ...

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY FUNDAMENTAL PARAMETERS THAT INFLUENCE METAL LEACHING CHEMISTRY IN LANDFILLS SYSTEMS (ABSTRACT)

EPA Science Inventory

Various anthropogenic activities generate hazardous solid wastes that are affluent in heavy metals, which can cause significant damage to the environment and human health. Heavy metals/metalloids can exist in multiple oxidation states, and can undergo oxidation or reduction when ...

Correlation between ionic radii of metals and thermal decomposition of supramolecular structure of azodye complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Sonbati, A. Z.; Diab, M. A.; El-Bindary, A. A.; Eldesoky, A. M.; Morgan, Sh. M.

2015-01-01

An interesting azodye heterocyclic ligand of copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and uranyl(II) complexes have been synthesized by the reaction of metal salts with 5-(2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one azo)-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone (HL) yields 1:1 and 1:2 (M:L) complexes depending on the reaction conditions. The elemental analysis, magnetic moments, spectral (UV-Vis, IR, 1H and 13C NMR and ESR) and thermal studies were used to characterize the isolated complexes. The molecular structures of the ligand tautomers are optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters are calculated. The IR spectra showed that the ligand (HL) act as monobasic tridentate/neutral bidentate through the (sbnd Ndbnd N), enolic (Csbnd O)- and/or oxygen keto moiety groups forming a five/six-membered structures. According to intramolecular hydrogen bond leads to increasing of the complexes stability. The molar conductivities show that all the complexes are non-electrolytes. The ESR spectra indicate that the free electron is in dxy orbital. The calculated bonding parameter indicates that in-plane σ-bonding is more covalent than in-plane π-bonding. The coordination geometry is five/six-coordinated trigonal bipyramidal for complex (1) and octahedral for complexes (2-6). The value of covalency factor β12 and orbital reduction factor K accounts for the covalent nature of the complexes. The activation thermodynamic parameters are calculated using Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger methods. The synthesized ligand (HL) and its Cu(II) complexes (1, 2 and 4) are screened for their biological activity against bacterial and fungal species. The ligand (HL) showed antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli. The ligand (HL) and its Cu(II) complexes (2 and 4) have very high antifungal activity against Penicillium italicum. The inhibitive action of ligand (HL), against the corrosion of C-steel in 2 M HCl solution has been investigated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Accurate Atmospheric Parameters at Moderate Resolution Using Spectral Indices: Preliminary Application to the MARVELS Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghezzi, Luan; Dutra-Ferreira, Letícia; Lorenzo-Oliveira, Diego; Porto de Mello, Gustavo F.; Santiago, Basílio X.; De Lee, Nathan; Lee, Brian L.; da Costa, Luiz N.; Maia, Marcio A. G.; Ogando, Ricardo L. C.; Wisniewski, John P.; González Hernández, Jonay I.; Stassun, Keivan G.; Fleming, Scott W.; Schneider, Donald P.; Mahadevan, Suvrath; Cargile, Phillip; Ge, Jian; Pepper, Joshua; Wang, Ji; Paegert, Martin

2014-12-01

Studies of Galactic chemical, and dynamical evolution in the solar neighborhood depend on the availability of precise atmospheric parameters (effective temperature T eff, metallicity [Fe/H], and surface gravity log g) for solar-type stars. Many large-scale spectroscopic surveys operate at low to moderate spectral resolution for efficiency in observing large samples, which makes the stellar characterization difficult due to the high degree of blending of spectral features. Therefore, most surveys employ spectral synthesis, which is a powerful technique, but relies heavily on the completeness and accuracy of atomic line databases and can yield possibly correlated atmospheric parameters. In this work, we use an alternative method based on spectral indices to determine the atmospheric parameters of a sample of nearby FGK dwarfs and subgiants observed by the MARVELS survey at moderate resolving power (R ~ 12,000). To avoid a time-consuming manual analysis, we have developed three codes to automatically normalize the observed spectra, measure the equivalent widths of the indices, and, through a comparison of those with values calculated with predetermined calibrations, estimate the atmospheric parameters of the stars. The calibrations were derived using a sample of 309 stars with precise stellar parameters obtained from the analysis of high-resolution FEROS spectra, permitting the low-resolution equivalent widths to be directly related to the stellar parameters. A validation test of the method was conducted with a sample of 30 MARVELS targets that also have reliable atmospheric parameters derived from the high-resolution spectra and spectroscopic analysis based on the excitation and ionization equilibria method. Our approach was able to recover the parameters within 80 K for T eff, 0.05 dex for [Fe/H], and 0.15 dex for log g, values that are lower than or equal to the typical external uncertainties found between different high-resolution analyses. An additional test was performed with a subsample of 138 stars from the ELODIE stellar library, and the literature atmospheric parameters were recovered within 125 K for T eff, 0.10 dex for [Fe/H], and 0.29 dex for log g. These precisions are consistent with or better than those provided by the pipelines of surveys operating with similar resolutions. These results show that the spectral indices are a competitive tool to characterize stars with intermediate resolution spectra. Based on observations obtained with the 2.2 m MPG telescope at the European Southern Observatory (La Silla, Chile), under the agreement ESO-Observatório Nacional/MCT, and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which is owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium.

Testing iSpec for the determination of atmospheric parameters and abundances of δ Cephei and RR Lyrae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blanco-Cuaresma, S.; Anderson, R. I.; Eyer, L.; Mowlavi, N.

2017-03-01

Classical Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars are radially pulsating stars where the spectral type varies according to pulsation phase. Several studies used synthesis and the equivalent width method to determine the variations of effective temperature, surface gravity and metallicity for classical Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars (Luck and Andrievsky 2004; Kovtyukh et al. 2005; Andrievsky et al 2005; Luck et al 2008; Takeda et al. 2013; Fossati et al. 2014). We evaluated the applicability of iSpec (Blanco-Cuaresma et al. 2014 - http://www.blancocuaresma.com/s/), which has been extensively used with non-pulsating FGK stars, and derived atmospheric parameters as a function of phase for δ Cephei and RR Lyrae (the two prototypes stars for each class). The results showed that when we apply a non-adapted traditional spectroscopic method to pulsating stars, derived gravities do not seem to follow a physically logical evolution. Nevertheless, metallicity is globally stable and effective temperature variations globally agree with expectations from the radius variations indicated by the radial velocity variability. Max/min values and average results agree with the literature. In terms of broadening parameters, macroturbulent and projected rotation velocities are very difficult to disentangle even if their profiles are not exactly the same. Individual chemical abundances as function of phase are stable as it was expected (the chemical composition of the star should not vary). We plan to use this information to identify absorption lines that are reliable and stable (less affected by blending) during the whole pulsating cycle. This new line selection may help to improve the determination of atmospheric parameters and it could allow us to be more confident in the study of other less known Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars.

The ionization parameter of star-forming galaxies evolves with the specific star formation rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaasinen, Melanie; Kewley, Lisa; Bian, Fuyan; Groves, Brent; Kashino, Daichi; Silverman, John; Kartaltepe, Jeyhan

2018-07-01

We investigate the evolution of the ionization parameter of star-forming galaxies using a high-redshift (z˜ 1.5) sample from the FMOS-COSMOS (Fibre Multi-Object Spectrograph-COSMic evOlution Survey) and matched low-redshift samples from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. By constructing samples of low-redshift galaxies for which the stellar mass (M*), star formation rate (SFR), and specific star formation rate (sSFR) are matched to the high-redshift sample, we remove the effects of an evolution in these properties. We also account for the effect of metallicity by jointly constraining the metallicity and ionization parameter of each sample. We find an evolution in the ionization parameter for main-sequence, star-forming galaxies and show that this evolution is driven by the evolution of sSFR. By analysing the matched samples as well as a larger sample of z< 0.3, star-forming galaxies we show that high ionization parameters are directly linked to high sSFRs and are not simply the by-product of an evolution in metallicity. Our results are physically consistent with the definition of the ionization parameter, a measure of the hydrogen ionizing photon flux relative to the number density of hydrogen atoms.

Parametric studies on tensile strength in joining AA6061- T6 and AA7075-T6 by gas metal arc welding process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishak, M.; Noordin, N. F. M.; Shah, L. H.

2015-12-01

Proper selection of the welding parameters can result in better joining. In this study, the effects of various welding parameters on tensile strength in joining dissimilar aluminum alloys AA6061-T6 and AA7075-T6 were investigated. 2 mm thick samples of both base metals were welded by semi-automatic gas metal arc welding (GMAW) using filler wire ER5356. The welding current, arc voltage and welding speed were chosen as variables parameters. The strength of each specimen after the welding operations were tested and the effects of these parameters on tensile strength were identified by using Taguchi method. The range of parameter for welding current were chosen from 100 to 115 A, arc voltage from 17 to 20 V and welding speed from 2 to 5 mm/s. L16 orthogonal array was used to obtained 16 runs of experiments. It was found that the highest tensile strength (194.34 MPa) was obtained with the combination of a welding current of 115 A, welding voltage of 18 V and welding speed of 4 mm/s. Through analysis of variance (ANOVA), the welding voltage was the most effected parameter on tensile strength with percentage of contribution at 41.30%.

Effect of the combination of different welding parameters on melting characteristics of grade 1 titanium with a pulsed Nd-Yag laser.

PubMed

Bertrand, C; Laplanche, O; Rocca, J P; Le Petitcorps, Y; Nammour, S

2007-11-01

The laser is a very attractive tool for joining dental metallic alloys. However, the choice of the setting parameters can hardly influence the welding performances. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of several parameters (pulse shaping, pulse frequency, focal spot size...) on the quality of the microstructure. Grade 1 titanium plates have been welded with a pulsed Nd-Yag laser. Suitable power, pulse duration, focal spot size, and flow of argon gas were fixed by the operator. Five different pulse shapes and three pulse frequencies were investigated. Two pulse shapes available on this laser unit were eliminated because they considerably hardened the metal. As the pulse frequency rose, the metal was more and more ejected, and a plasma on the surface of the metal increased the oxygen contamination in the welded area. Frequencies of 1 or 2 Hz are optimum for a dental use. Three pulse shapes can be used for titanium but the rectangular shape gives better results.

Gamma rays shielding parameters for white metal alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Taranjot; Sharma, Jeewan; Singh, Tejbir

2018-05-01

In the present study, an attempt has been made to check the feasibility of white metal alloys as gamma rays shielding materials. Different combinations of cadmium, lead, tin and zinc were used to prepare quaternary alloys Pb60Sn20ZnxCd20-x (where x = 5, 10, 15) using melt quench technique. These alloys were also known as white metal alloys because of its shining appearance. The density of prepared alloys has been measured using Archimedes Principle. Gamma rays shielding parameters viz. mass attenuation coefficient (µm), effective atomic number (Zeff), electron density (Nel), Mean free path (mfp), Half value layer (HVL) and Tenth value layer (TVL) has been evaluated for these alloys in the wide energy range from 1 keV to 100 GeV. The WinXCom software has been used for obtaining mass attenuation coefficient values for the prepared alloys in the given energy range. The effective atomic number (Zeff) has been assigned to prepared alloys using atomic to electronic cross section ratio method. Further, the variation of various shielding parameters with photon energy has been investigated for the prepared white metal alloys.

Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals and the Environmental Quality of Soil in the Northern Plateau of Spain by Geostatistical Methods

PubMed Central

Santos-Francés, Fernando; Martínez-Graña, Antonio; Ávila Zarza, Carmelo; García Sánchez, Antonio; Alonso Rojo, Pilar

2017-01-01

The environmental quality of soil in the central part of the Northern Plateau of Spain has been analyzed by studying the heavy metal content of 166 samples belonging to the horizons A, B and C of 89 soil profiles. The analysis to assess the environmental risk of heavy metals in the soil was carried out by means of the spatial distribution of nine heavy metals and the use of several pollution indices. The results showed that the concentration values of heavy metals (x¯ ± S) in the superficial soil horizons were the following: With a total of 6.71 ± 3.51 mg·kg−1, the contents of Cd is 0.08 ± 0.06 mg·kg−1, Co is 6.49 ± 3.21 mg·kg−1, Cu is 17.19 ± 10.69 mg·kg−1, Cr is 18.68 ± 12.28 mg·kg−1, Hg is 0.083 ± 0.063 mg·kg−1, Ni is 12.05 ± 6.76 mg·kg−1, Pb is 14.10 ± 11.32 mg·kg−1 and Zn is 35.31 ± 14.63 mg·kg−1. These nine metals exceed the values of the natural geological background level of Tertiary period sediments and rocks that form part of the Northern Plateau in Spain. Nemerow and Potential Ecological Risk indices were calculated, with the “improved” Nemerow index allowing pollution within the soil superficial horizons to be determined. The data obtained indicated that the majority of the soil (54.61%) showed low to moderate contamination, 22.31% showed moderate contamination and 21.54% of the samples were not contaminated. If we consider the Potential of Ecological Risk Index (RI), the largest percentage of soil samples showed low (70.79%) to moderate (25.38%) ecological risk of potential contamination, where the rest of the soil presented a considerable risk of contamination. The nine trace elements were divided into three principal components: PC1 (Cu, Cr, Ni, Co and Zn), PC2 (As and Hg) and PC3 (Cd). All metals accumulated in the soil came from parent rock, agricultural practices and the run-off of residual waters towards rivers and streams caused by industrial development and an increase in population density. Finally, cartography of the spatial distribution of the heavy metal contents in the soil of the Northern Plateau of Spain was generated using Kriging interpolation methods. Furthermore, the total heavy metal contents in three soil orders present in the area, namely Entisols, Inceptisols, and Alfisols, were analyzed. Other soil parameters, such as the organic matter content, pH, clay content and cation exchange capacity, was measured to determine their influence on and correlation with the heavy metal contents. PMID:28587142

Basic Parameters of Metal Behavior under High Rate Forming

DTIC Science & Technology

1962-03-01

1ii PHOTOGRAPH THIS SHEET II LEVELr• At-ký W •I)-_) -N INVENTORY z DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION may. 6•t S]/ tp i - 0~o- o’•5,,? 3 ’ \\NAL- TR-/I. -a I .. ~1...TR 111.2/20- 3 BASIC PARAMETERS OF METAL BEHAVIOUR "> UNDER HIGH RATE FORMING L L j Fourth Interim Report to ell- L’,I I U. S. ARMY MATERIALS...RESEARCH AGENCY 1• I iiC::Ur:ui i 1,,i .:1 ’•:, 1 r/ n od I P,101c rolcso. Filing Subjects: I. Explosive forming 2. Dynamic behavior of metals 3 . High rate

Consistency of the free-volume approach to the homogeneous deformation of metallic glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blétry, Marc; Thai, Minh Thanh; Champion, Yannick; Perrière, Loïc; Ochin, Patrick

2014-05-01

One of the most widely used approaches to model metallic-glasses high-temperature homogeneous deformation is the free-volume theory, developed by Cohen and Turnbull and extended by Spaepen. A simple elastoviscoplastic formulation has been proposed that allows one to determine various parameters of such a model. This approach is applied here to the results obtained by de Hey et al. on a Pd-based metallic glass. In their study, de Hey et al. were able to determine some of the parameters used in the elastoviscoplastic formulation through DSC modeling coupled with mechanical tests, and the consistency of the two viewpoints was assessed.

Process parameter-growth environment-film property relationships for reactive sputter deposited metal (V, Nb, Zr, Y, Au) oxide, nitride, and oxynitride films. Final report, 1 January 1989-30 June 1993

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aita, C.R.

1993-09-30

The research developed process parameter-growth environment-film property relations (phase maps) for model sputter-deposited transition metal oxides, nitrides, and oxynitrides grown by reactive sputter deposition at low temperature. Optical emission spectrometry was used for plasma diagnostics. The results summarized here include the role of sputtered metal-oxygen molecular flux in oxide film growth; structural differences in highest valence oxides including conditions for amorphous growth; and using fundamental optical absorption edge features to probe short range structural disorder. Eight appendices containing sixteen journal articles are included.

Influence of Processing Parameters on the Flow Path in Friction Stir Welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, J. A.; Nunes, A. C., Jr.

2006-01-01

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid phase welding process that unites thermal and mechanical aspects to produce a high quality joint. The process variables are rpm, translational weld speed, and downward plunge force. The strain-temperature history of a metal element at each point on the cross-section of the weld is determined by the individual flow path taken by the particular filament of metal flowing around the tool as influenced by the process variables. The resulting properties of the weld are determined by the strain-temperature history. Thus to control FSW properties, improved understanding of the processing parameters on the metal flow path is necessary.

Optimized protocols for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with thoracic metallic implants.

PubMed

Olivieri, Laura J; Cross, Russell R; O'Brien, Kendall E; Ratnayaka, Kanishka; Hansen, Michael S

2015-09-01

Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a valuable tool in congenital heart disease; however patients frequently have metal devices in the chest from the treatment of their disease that complicate imaging. Methods are needed to improve imaging around metal implants near the heart. Basic sequence parameter manipulations have the potential to minimize artifact while limiting effects on image resolution and quality. Our objective was to design cine and static cardiac imaging sequences to minimize metal artifact while maintaining image quality. Using systematic variation of standard imaging parameters on a fluid-filled phantom containing commonly used metal cardiac devices, we developed optimized sequences for steady-state free precession (SSFP), gradient recalled echo (GRE) cine imaging, and turbo spin-echo (TSE) black-blood imaging. We imaged 17 consecutive patients undergoing routine cardiac MR with 25 metal implants of various origins using both standard and optimized imaging protocols for a given slice position. We rated images for quality and metal artifact size by measuring metal artifact in two orthogonal planes within the image. All metal artifacts were reduced with optimized imaging. The average metal artifact reduction for the optimized SSFP cine was 1.5+/-1.8 mm, and for the optimized GRE cine the reduction was 4.6+/-4.5 mm (P < 0.05). Quality ratings favored the optimized GRE cine. Similarly, the average metal artifact reduction for the optimized TSE images was 1.6+/-1.7 mm (P < 0.05), and quality ratings favored the optimized TSE imaging. Imaging sequences tailored to minimize metal artifact are easily created by modifying basic sequence parameters, and images are superior to standard imaging sequences in both quality and artifact size. Specifically, for optimized cine imaging a GRE sequence should be used with settings that favor short echo time, i.e. flow compensation off, weak asymmetrical echo and a relatively high receiver bandwidth. For static black-blood imaging, a TSE sequence should be used with fat saturation turned off and high receiver bandwidth.

Multifunctional two-photon active silica-coated Au@MnO Janus particles for selective dual functionalization and imaging.

PubMed

Schick, Isabel; Lorenz, Steffen; Gehrig, Dominik; Schilmann, Anna-Maria; Bauer, Heiko; Panthöfer, Martin; Fischer, Karl; Strand, Dennis; Laquai, Frédéric; Tremel, Wolfgang

2014-02-12

Monodisperse multifunctional and nontoxic Au@MnO Janus particles with different sizes and morphologies were prepared by a seed-mediated nucleation and growth technique with precise control over domain sizes, surface functionalization, and dye labeling. The metal oxide domain could be coated selectively with a thin silica layer, leaving the metal domain untouched. In particular, size and morphology of the individual (metal and metal oxide) domains could be controlled by adjustment of the synthetic parameters. The SiO2 coating of the oxide domain allows biomolecule conjugation (e.g., antibodies, proteins) in a single step for converting the photoluminescent and superparamagnetic Janus nanoparticles into multifunctional efficient vehicles for theranostics. The Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-)TEM, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), optical (UV-vis) spectroscopy, confocal laser fluorescence scanning microscopy (CLSM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The functionalized nanoparticles were stable in buffer solution or serum, showing no indication of aggregation. Biocompatibility and potential biomedical applications of the Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles were assayed by a cell viability analysis by coincubating the Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles with Caki 1 and HeLa cells. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with CLSM revealed the silica-coated Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles to be highly two-photon active; no indication for an electronic interaction between the dye molecules incorporated in the silica shell surrounding the MnO domains and the attached Au domains was found; fluorescence quenching was observed when dye molecules were bound directly to the Au domains.

Effects of welding fumes of differing composition and solubility on free radical production and acute lung injury and inflammation in rats.

PubMed

Taylor, Michael D; Roberts, Jenny R; Leonard, Stephen S; Shi, Xianglin; Antonini, James M

2003-09-01

The goals of this study were to examine acute lung damage and inflammation, as well as free radical production, caused by welding fumes of different chemical compositions and solubilities. The fumes were from a gas metal arc welding using a mild-steel (GMA-MS) or stainless-steel electrode (GMA-SS) and a manual metal arc welding using a stainless-steel electrode (MMA-SS), which was further separated into soluble and insoluble fractions. The MMA-SS was the only fume to contain soluble chromium. Free radical production was observed only in suspensions of MMA-SS fume under various conditions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally instilled with either a welding fume suspension at 2 mg/rat or a saline vehicle, and various parameters of inflammation and damage were measured at 3 h and days 1, 3, and 6. Only the MMA-SS treatment caused a continued increase in lung weight until day 6 and elevated lipid peroxidation at day 3. All of the fumes caused increases in macrophages and neutrophils obtained by lavage, but the increased cellularity was extended through day 6 following the MMA-SS treatment only. Only the MMA-SS treatment led to an increased recovery of eosinophils and damage to the alveolar-capillary barrier. While all of the fumes produced increases in cytotoxicity, the MMA-SS treatment caused the maximal response at day 3. These findings indicate that different welding fumes caused varied responses in the lungs of rats, correlated to their metal composition and ability to produce free radicals. Additionally, both the soluble and insoluble fractions of the MMA-SS fume were required to produce most effects, indicating that the responses are not dependent exclusively on the soluble metals.

Impact of microbial communities from tropical soils on the mobilization of trace metals during dissolution of cinnabar ore.

PubMed

Balland-Bolou-Bi, Clarisse; Turc, Benjamin; Alphonse, Vanessa; Bousserrhine, Noureddine

2017-06-01

Biodissolution experiments on cinnabar ore (mercury sulphide and other sulphide minerals, such as pyrite) were performed with microorganisms extracted directly from soil. These experiments were carried out in closed systems under aerobic and anaerobic conditions with 2 different soils sampled in French Guyana. The two main objectives of this study were (1) to quantify the ability of microorganisms to mobilize metals (Fe, Al, Hg) during the dissolution of cinnabar ore, and (2) to identify the links between the type and chemical properties of soils, environmental parameters such as season and the strategies developed by indigenous microorganisms extracted from tropical natural soils to mobilize metals. Results indicate that microbial communities extracted directly from various soils are able to (1) survive in the presence of cinnabar ore, as indicated by consumption of carbon sources and, (2) leach Hg from cinnabar in oxic and anoxic dissolution experiments via the acidification of the medium and the production of low molecular mass organic acids (LMMOAs). The dissolution rate of cinnabar in aerobic conditions with microbial communities ranged from 4.8×10 -4 to 2.6×10 -3 μmol/m 2 /day and was independent of the metabolites released by the microorganisms. In addition, these results suggest an indirect action by the microorganisms in the cinnabar dissolution. Additionally, because iron is a key element in the dynamics of Hg, microbes were stimulated by the presence of this metal, and microbes released LMMOAs that leached iron from iron-bearing minerals, such as pyrite and oxy-hydroxide of iron, in the mixed cinnabar ore. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Assessment of the impact of landfill on groundwater quality: a case study of the Pirana site in western India.

PubMed

Singh, Umesh Kumar; Kumar, Manish; Chauhan, Rita; Jha, Pawan Kumar; Ramanathan, Al; Subramanian, V

2008-06-01

In present study focus has been given on estimating quality and toxicity of waste with respect to heavy metals and its impact on groundwater quality, using statistical and empirical relationships between different hydrochemical data, so that easy monitoring may be possible which in turn help the sustainable management of landfill site and municipal solid waste. Samples of solid waste, leachate and groundwater were analyzed to evaluate the impact of leachates on groundwater through the comparison of their hydrochemical nature. Results suggest the existence of an empirical relationship between some specific indicator parameters like heavy metals of all three above mentioned sample type. Further, K/Mg ratio also indicates three groundwater samples heavily impacted from leachate contamination. A good number of samples are also showing higher values for NO(3)(-) and Pb than that of World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water regulation. Predominance of Fe and Zn in both groundwater and solid waste samples may be due to metal plating industries in the area. Factor analysis is used as a tool to explain observed relation between numerous variables in term of simpler relation, which may help to deduce the strength of relation. Positive loading of most of the factors for heavy metal clearly shows landfill impact on ground water quality especially along the hydraulic gradient. Cluster analysis, further substantiates the impact of landfill. Two major groups of samples obtained from cluster analysis suggest that one group comprises samples that are severely under the influence of landfill and contaminated leachates along the groundwater flow direction while other assorted with samples without having such influence.

Equilibrium Isotherm, Kinetic Modeling, Optimization, and Characterization Studies of Cadmium Adsorption by Surface-Engineered Escherichia coli

PubMed Central

Tafakori, Vida; Zadmard, Reza; Tabandeh, Fatemeh; Amoozegar, Mohammad Ali; Ahmadian, Gholamreza

2017-01-01

Background: Amongst the methods that remove heavy metals from environment, biosorption approaches have received increased attention because of their environmentally friendly and cost-effective feature, as well as their superior performances. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the ability of a surface-engineered Escherichia coli, carrying the cyanobacterial metallothionein on the cell surface, in the removal of Ca (II) from solution under different experimental conditions. The biosorption process was optimized using central composite design. In parallel, the kinetics of metal biosorption was studied, and the rate constants of different kinetic models were calculated. Results: Cadmium biosorption is followed by the second-order kinetics. Freundlich and Langmuir equations were used to analyze sorption data; characteristic parameters were determined for each adsorption isotherm. The biosorption process was optimized using the central composite design. The optimal cadmium sorption capacity (284.69 nmol/mg biomass) was obtained at 40°C (pH 8) and a biomass dosage of 10 mg. The influence of two elutants, EDTA and CaCl2, was also assessed on metal recovery. Approximately, 68.58% and 56.54% of the adsorbed cadmium were removed by EDTA and CaCl2 during desorption, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) analysis indicated that carboxyl, amino, phosphoryl, thiol, and hydroxyl are the main chemical groups involved in the cadmium bioadsorption process. Conclusion: Results from this study implied that chemical adsorption on the heterogeneous surface of E. coli E and optimization of adsorption parameters provides a highly efficient bioadsorbent. PMID:28555492

Shining a light on galactic outflows: photoionized outflows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chisholm, John; Tremonti, Christy A.; Leitherer, Claus; Chen, Yanmei; Wofford, Aida

2016-04-01

We study the ionization structure of galactic outflows in 37 nearby, star-forming galaxies with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. We use the O I, Si II, Si III, and Si IV ultraviolet absorption lines to characterize the different ionization states of outflowing gas. We measure the equivalent widths, line widths, and outflow velocities of the four transitions, and find shallow scaling relations between them and galactic stellar mass and star formation rate. Regardless of the ionization potential, lines of similar strength have similar velocities and line widths, indicating that the four transitions can be modelled as a comoving phase. The Si equivalent width ratios (e.g. Si IV/Si II) have low dispersion, and little variation with stellar mass; while ratios with O I and Si vary by a factor of 2 for a given stellar mass. Photoionization models reproduce these equivalent width ratios, while shock models under predict the relative amount of high ionization gas. The photoionization models constrain the ionization parameter (U) between -2.25 < log (U) < -1.5, and require that the outflow metallicities are greater than 0.5 Z⊙. We derive ionization fractions for the transitions, and show that the range of ionization parameters and stellar metallicities leads to a factor of 1.15-10 variation in the ionization fractions. Historically, mass outflow rates are calculated by converting a column density measurement from a single metal ion into a total hydrogen column density using an ionization fraction, thus mass outflow rates are sensitive to the assumed ionization structure of the outflow.

Adsorption of toxic metal ion Cr(VI) from aqueous state by TiO2-MCM-41: equilibrium and kinetic studies.

PubMed

Parida, Kulamani; Mishra, Krushna Gopal; Dash, Suresh Kumar

2012-11-30

This paper deals with the immobilization of various weight percentage of TiO(2) on mesoporous MCM-41, characterization of the materials by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and evaluation of the adsorption capacity toward Cr(VI) removal. It is found that the MCM-41 structure retained after loading of TiO(2) but the surface area and pore diameter decreased due to pore blockage. Adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous state was investigated on TiO(2)-MCM-41 by changing various parameters such as pH, metal ion concentration, and the temperature. When TiO(2) loading was more than 20 wt.%, the adsorption activity (25)TiO(2)-MCM-41 reduced significantly due to considerable decrease in the surface area. It is also observed that TiO(2) and neat MCM-41 exhibits very less Cr(VI) adsorption compared to TiO(2)-MCM-41. The adsorption of Cr(VI) onto (20)TiO(2)-MCM-41 at pH~5.5 and temperature 323 K was 91% at 100mg/L Cr(VI) metal ion concentration in 80 min. The experimental data fitted well to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption of Cr(VI) on TiO(2)-MCM-41 followed a second order kinetics with higher values of intra-particle diffusion rate. Thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption process is endothermic in nature and desorption studies indicated a chemisorption mode. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimizing the operating parameters of corona electrostatic separation for recycling waste scraped printed circuit boards by computer simulation of electric field.

PubMed

Li, Jia; Lu, Hongzhou; Liu, Shushu; Xu, Zhenming

2008-05-01

The printed circuit board (PCB) has a metal content of nearly 28% metal, including an abundance of nonferrous metals such as copper, lead, and tin. The purity of precious metals in PCBs is more than 10 times that of rich-content minerals. Therefore, the recycling of PCBs is an important subject, not only from the viewpoint of waste treatment, but also with respect to the recovery of valuable materials. Compared with traditional process the corona electrostatic separation (CES) had no waste water or gas during the process and it had high productivity with a low-energy cost. In this paper, the roll-type corona electrostatic separator was used to separate metals and nonmetals from scraped waste PCBs. The software MATLAB was used to simulate the distribution of electric field in separating space. It was found that, the variations of parameters of electrodes and applied voltages directly influenced the distribution of electric field. Through the correlation of simulated and experimental results, the good separation results were got under the optimized operating parameter: U=20-30 kV, L=L(1)=L(2)=0.21 m, R(1)=0.114, R(2)=0.019 m, theta(1)=20 degrees and theta(2)=60 degrees .

Hole mobility in various transition-metal-oxides doped organic semiconductor films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Seung-Jun; Lee, Jeong-Hwan; Kim, Jae-Min; Kim, Jang-Joo

2017-01-01

Hole mobility in various p-doped organic semiconductors possessing different energetic disorder parameters in low-to-moderate doping range is reported. The hole mobility is reduced by orders of magnitude and converged to 10-7-10-6 cm2/Vs at a doping concentration of 5 mol. % for all the materials, even though the pristine organic films possess orders of magnitude of different mobilities from 10-5 to 10-3 cm2/Vs. These results indicate that the ionized dopants behave as traps for generated carriers to reduce the mobility. Further increase in the doping concentration either increases or decreases the mobility depending on the energetic disorder parameters of the organic films. These phenomena are interpreted based on the Coulomb trap depth of the ionized dopants and energetic disorder of the host layers.

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of CdO-Al2O3-Bi2O3-B2O3 quaternary glasses containing VO2+ ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lalithaphani, A. V.; Srinivas, B.; Hameed, Abdul; Chary, M. Narasimha; Shareefuddin, Md.

2018-04-01

Borate glasses containing different concentrations of heavy metal oxide (CdO) with 2mol% of V2O5 as the paramagnetic probe were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. The prepared glasses were characterized by XRD to confirm the amorphous nature. EPR and Optical absorption studies were carried out at room temperature. EPR spectra of these glass samples were recorded at X-band frequency with 100 kHz field modulation at room temperature. From the EPR spectra the spin-Hamiltonian parameters were evaluated. The spin-Hamiltonian parameter values indicated that g|| < g┴ < ge [=2.0023] and A∥︀ > A┴. This suggests that VO2+ ions are present in octahedral sites with tetragonal compression and belong to C4v symmetry with dxy being the ground state. The measure of tetragonal distortion (Δg∥︀/Δg┴)varies non-linearly with glass composition indicating change in tetragonal distortion. The covalency rates were estimated. The number of spins participating in the resonance [N] and susceptibility (χ) values were also evaluated.

WHT follow-up observations of extremely metal-poor stars identified from SDSS and LAMOST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguado, D. S.; González Hernández, J. I.; Allende Prieto, C.; Rebolo, R.

2017-09-01

Aims: We have identified several tens of extremely metal-poor star candidates from SDSS and LAMOST, which we follow up with the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) telescope to confirm their metallicity. Methods: We followed a robust two-step methodology. We first analyzed the SDSS and LAMOST spectra. A first set of stellar parameters was derived from these spectra with the FERRE code, taking advantage of the continuum shape to determine the atmospheric parameters, in particular, the effective temperature. Second, we selected interesting targets for follow-up observations, some of them with very low-quality SDSS or LAMOST data. We then obtained and analyzed higher-quality medium-resolution spectra obtained with the Intermediate dispersion Spectrograph and Imaging System (ISIS) on the WHT to arrive at a second more reliable set of atmospheric parameters. This allowed us to derive the metallicity with accuracy, and we confirm the extremely metal-poor nature in most cases. In this second step we also employed FERRE, but we took a running mean to normalize both the observed and the synthetic spectra, and therefore the final parameters do not rely on having an accurate flux calibration or continuum placement. We have analyzed with the same tools and following the same procedure six well-known metal-poor stars, five of them at [Fe/H] <-4 to verify our results. This showed that our methodology is able to derive accurate metallicity determinations down to [Fe/H] <-5.0. Results: The results for these six reference stars give us confidence on the metallicity scale for the rest of the sample. In addition, we present 12 new extremely metal-poor candidates: 2 stars at [Fe/H] ≃-4, 6 more in the range -4 < [Fe / H] < -3.5, and 4 more at -3.5 < [Fe / H] < -3.0. Conclusions: We conclude that we can reliably determine metallicities for extremely metal-poor stars with a precision of 0.2 dex from medium-resolution spectroscopy with our improved methodology. This provides a highly effective way of verifying candidates from lower quality data. Our model spectra and the details of the fitting algorithm are made public to facilitate the standardization of the analysis of spectra from the same or similar instruments. The model spectra are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/605/A40

Enhanced biosorption of transition metals by living Chlorella vulgaris immobilized in Ca-alginate beads.

PubMed

Ahmad, Ashfaq; Bhat, A H; Buang, Azizul

2018-02-01

In this study freely suspended and Ca-alginate immobilized C. vulgaris cells were used for the biosorption of Fe(II), Mn(II), and Zn(II) ions, from the aqueous solution. Experimental data showed that biosorption capacity of algal cells was strongly dependent on the operational condition such as pH, initial metal ions concentration, dosages, contact time and temperature. The maximum biosorption of Fe(II) 43.43, Mn(II) 40.98 and Zn(II) 37.43 mg/g was achieved with Ca-alginate immobilized algal cells at optimum pH of 6.0, algal cells dosage 0.6 g/L, and contact time of 450 min at room temperature. The biosorption efficiency of freely suspended and immobilized C. vulgaris cells for heavy metals removal from the industrial wastewater was validated. Modeling of biosorption kinetics showed good agreements with pseudo-second-order. Langmuir and D-R isotherm models exhibited the best fit of experimental data. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) revealed that the biosorption of considered metal ions was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic at 25-45°C. The SEM showed porous morphology which greatly helps in the biosorption of heavy metals. The Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and X-rays Photon Spectroscopy (XPS) data spectra indicated that the functional groups predominately involved in the biosorption were C-N, -OH, COO-, -CH, C=C, C=S and -C-. These results shows that immobilized algal cells in alginate beads could potentially enhance the biosorption of considered metal ions than freely suspended cells. Furthermore, the biosorbent has significantly removed heavy metals from industrial wastewater at the optimized condition.

Removal of industrial dyes and heavy metals by Beauveria bassiana: FTIR, SEM, TEM and AFM investigations with Pb(II).

PubMed

Gola, Deepak; Malik, Anushree; Namburath, Maneesh; Ahammad, Shaikh Ziauddin

2017-10-01

Presence of industrial dyes and heavy metal as a contaminant in environment poses a great risk to human health. In order to develop a potential technology for remediation of dyes (Reactive remazol red, Yellow 3RS, Indanthrene blue and Vat novatic grey) and heavy metal [Cu(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI) and Pb(II)] contamination, present study was performed with entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (MTCC no. 4580). High dye removal (88-97%) was observed during the growth of B. bassiana while removal percentage for heavy metals ranged from 58 to 75%. Further, detailed investigations were performed with Pb(II) in terms of growth kinetics, effect of process parameters and mechanism of removal. Growth rate decreased from 0.118 h -1 (control) to 0.031 h -1 , showing 28% reduction in biomass at 30 mg L -1 Pb(II) with 58.4% metal removal. Maximum Pb(II) removal was observed at 30 °C, neutral pH and 30 mg L -1 initial metal concentration. FTIR analysis indicated the changes induced by Pb(II) in functional groups on biomass surface. Further, microscopic analysis (SEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM)) was performed to understand the changes in cell surface morphology of the fungal cell. SEM micrograph showed a clear deformation of fungal hyphae, whereas AFM studies proved the increase in surface roughness (RSM) in comparison to control cell. Homogenous bioaccumulation of Pb(II) inside the fungal cell was clearly depicted by TEM-high-angle annular dark field coupled with EDX. Present study provides an insight into the mechanism of Pb(II) bioremediation and strengthens the significance of using entomopathogenic fungus such as B. bassiana for metal and dye removal.

Simultaneous enhancement of sludge dewaterability and removal of sludge-borne heavy metals through a novel oxidative leaching induced by nano-CaO2.

PubMed

Wu, Boran; Dai, Xiaohu; Chai, Xiaoli

2017-07-01

The production of sewage sludge with the presence of various contaminants has been a serious issue for the operation of wastewater treatment plants on both the economical and environmental sides. To minimize the sludge volume to be handled and limit the potential environmental risk, this study developed a novel oxidative leaching process for enhanced sewage sludge dewatering and simultaneous removal of heavy metals based on nano-CaO 2 . Response surface methodology determined the following optimal conditioning parameters in terms of capillary suction time reduction: 0.0906 g/g dry solid (DS) nano-CaO 2 , 0.9969 mmol/g DS Fe 2+ , and pH of 5.59. The speciation partitioning analysis of the heavy metals pre and post nano-CaO 2 peroxidation indicated that the content of organically bound metals decreased and the percentage of soluble fraction increased substantially, which was beneficial for the removal of heavy metals through the dewatering unit. Nano-CaO 2 peroxidation could also induce the transformation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from the tightly bound layers to the loosely bound layers of sewage sludge flocs. Through the decline of the Ryan-Weber constant of fluorescence titration and the pseudo-first-order kinetic constant of complexation, it was verified that the binding capacity of EPS with metal ions could be damaged by nano-CaO 2 peroxidation, which was the primary mechanism behind the substantial reduction of organically bound metals. This study is believed to provide novel insights into the application of nanotechnology in terms of the simultaneous volume and toxicity reduction of sewage sludge. Graphical abstract.

Molecular dynamics of palmitic acid and lead palmitate in cross-linked linseed oil films: Implications from deuterium magnetic resonance for lead soap formation in traditional oil paintings.

PubMed

Catalano, Jaclyn; Murphy, Anna; Yao, Yao; Zumbulyadis, Nicholas; Centeno, Silvia A; Dybowski, Cecil

2018-02-01

Many oil paintings, dating from the 15th century to the present, are affected by the formation of heavy-metal carboxylates (soaps) that alter the structural integrity and appearance of the works. Through transport phenomena not yet understood, free fatty acids formed from oils used as binders migrate through the paint film and react with heavy-metal ions that are constituents of pigments and/or driers, forming metal carboxylates. The local molecular dynamics of fatty acids and metal carboxylates are factors influencing material transport in these systems. We report temperature-dependent 2 H NMR spectra of palmitic acid and lead palmitate as pure materials, in cross-linked linseed oil films, and in a lead white linseed oil paint film as part of our broader research into metal soap formation. Local dynamics at the α carbon, at the terminal methyl group, and at the middle of the fatty acid chain were observed in specifically deuterated materials. Changes in the dynamic behavior with temperature were observed by the appearance of two species, a solid-like material and a liquid-like material. The relative amounts of the two phases and their deuterium NMR parameters indicate that the amount of liquid-like material and the local dynamics at that site increase with temperature. At the three locations along the chain and at all temperatures, there is a larger percentage of acyl chains of both palmitic acid and lead palmitate that are "mobile" or liquid-like in linseed oil films than there are in the pure materials. However, the percentage of liquid-like species is decreased in a lead white paint film, as compared to a linseed oil matrix. In addition, these experiments indicate that there is a larger percentage of liquid-like acyl chains of palmitic acid than of lead palmitate under identical conditions in these model paint systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Controlling the interparticle spacing of Au-salt loaded micelles and Au nanoparticles on flat surfaces.

PubMed

Bansmann, J; Kielbassa, S; Hoster, H; Weigl, F; Boyen, H G; Wiedwald, U; Ziemann, P; Behm, R J

2007-09-25

The self-organization of diblock copolymers into micellar structures in an appropriate solvent allows the deposition of well ordered arrays of pure metal and alloy nanoparticles on flat surfaces with narrow distributions in particle size and interparticle spacing. Here we investigated the influence of the materials (substrate and polymer) and deposition parameters (temperature and emersion velocity) on the deposition of metal salt loaded micelles by dip-coating from solution and on the order and inter-particle spacing of the micellar deposits and thus of the metal nanoparticle arrays resulting after plasma removal of the polymer shell. For identical substrate and polymer, variation of the process parameters temperature and emersion velocity enables the controlled modification of the interparticle distance within a certain length regime. Moreover, also the degree of hexagonal order of the final array depends sensitively on these parameters.

The Identification of the Deformation Stage of a Metal Specimen Based on Acoustic Emission Data Analysis

PubMed Central

Zou, Shenao; Yan, Fengying; Yang, Guoan; Sun, Wei

2017-01-01

The acoustic emission (AE) signals of metal materials have been widely used to identify the deformation stage of a pressure vessel. In this work, Q235 steel samples with different propagation distances and geometrical structures are stretched to get the corresponding acoustic emission signals. Then the obtained acoustic emission signals are de-noised by empirical mode decomposition (EMD), and then decomposed into two different frequency ranges, i.e., one mainly corresponding to metal deformation and the other mainly corresponding to friction signals. The ratio of signal energy between two frequency ranges is defined as a new acoustic emission characteristic parameter. Differences can be observed at different deformation stages in both magnitude and data distribution range. Compared with other acoustic emission parameters, the proposed parameter is valid in different setups of the propagation medium and the coupled stiffness. PMID:28387703

Influence of Femtosecond Laser Parameters and Environment on Surface Texture Characteristics of Metals and Non-Metals - State of the Art

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bharatish, A.; Soundarapandian, S.

2018-04-01

Enhancing the surface functionality by ultrashort pulsed laser texturing has received the considerable attention from researchers in the past few decades. Femtosecond lasers are widely adopted since it provides high repeatability and reproducibility by minimizing the heat affected zone (HAZ) and other collateral damages to a great extent. The present paper reports some recent studies being made worldwide on femtosecond laser surface texturing of metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, thinfilms and advanced nanocomposites. It presents the state of the art knowledge in femtosecond laser surface texturing and the potential of this technology to improve properties in terms of biological, tribological and wetting performance. Since the texture quality and functionality are enhanced by the proper selection of appropriate laser parameters and ambient conditions for individual application, reporting the influence of laser parameters on surface texture characteristics assume utmost importance.

Influence of Femtosecond Laser Parameters and Environment on Surface Texture Characteristics of Metals and Non-Metals - State of the Art

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bharatish, A.; Soundarapandian, S.

2018-06-01

Enhancing the surface functionality by ultrashort pulsed laser texturing has received the considerable attention from researchers in the past few decades. Femtosecond lasers are widely adopted since it provides high repeatability and reproducibility by minimizing the heat affected zone (HAZ) and other collateral damages to a great extent. The present paper reports some recent studies being made worldwide on femtosecond laser surface texturing of metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, thinfilms and advanced nanocomposites. It presents the state of the art knowledge in femtosecond laser surface texturing and the potential of this technology to improve properties in terms of biological, tribological and wetting performance. Since the texture quality and functionality are enhanced by the proper selection of appropriate laser parameters and ambient conditions for individual application, reporting the influence of laser parameters on surface texture characteristics assume utmost importance.

Statistical analysis of porosity of 17-4PH alloy processed by selective laser melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponnusamy, P.; Masood, S. H.; Ruan, D.; Palanisamy, S.; Mohamed, O. A.

2017-07-01

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a powder-bed type Additive Manufacturing (AM) process, where parts are built layer-by-layer by laser melting of powder layers of metal. There are several SLM process parameters that affect the accuracy and quality of the metal parts produced by SLM. Therefore, it is essential to understand the effect of these parameters on the quality and properties of the parts built by this process. In this paper, using Taguchi design of experiments, the effect of four SLM process parameters namely laser power, defocus distance, layer thickness and build orientation are considered on the porosity of 17-4PH stainless steel parts built on ProX200 SLM direct metal printer. The porositywas found to be optimum at a defocus distance of -4mm and a laser power of 240 W with a layer thickness of 30 μm and using vertical build orientation.

Finding the Edge of the Galactic Wind's Influence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werk, Jessica; Prochaska, J. Xavier; Tumlinson, Jason; Tripp, Todd; Thom, Christopher; Ford, Amanda Brady

2011-08-01

Brand new results from the HST Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the low-z IGM combined with low-resolution optical spectroscopy of galaxy absorbers indicate that there is a correlation between the total star formation rates of L* galaxies and the strength of the OVI absorption in their halos out to 150 kpc. That diffuse, highly-ionized metals surrounding L* galaxies are a sensitive function of recent star formation suggests we may be seeing the effects of feedback in action in the far reaches of a galaxy's halo. Here, we propose to examine this correlation over a broader range of parameters, for galaxies with luminosities ranging from 0.01 L* to L*, having data- rich QSO sightlines passing through their halos at impact parameters up to 300 kpc. Using a combination of GMOS-S imaging and multi-slit spectroscopy, we will determine the star formation rates and metallicities of galaxies from the recently-published LCO/WFCCD redshift survey. We will use existing UV spectral data for the 14 QSO sightlines to analyze the OVI absorption in the circumgalactic medium of the surveyed galaxies. Our goal is to measure the radius at which OVI absorption no longer correlates with galaxy SFR. This observational estimate for the extent to which galactic winds propagate will provide robust constraints on the simulations that model their effects.

Synthesis, structure, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of (2-amino-4-methylpyrimidine)-(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)copper(II) monohydrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uçar, İbrahim; Karabulut, Bünyamin; Bulut, Ahmet; Büyükgüngör, Orhan

2007-05-01

The (2-amino-4-methylpyrimidine)-(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)copper(II) monohydrate complex was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, UV/Vis, EPR), thermal (TG/DTA) and electrochemical methods. X-ray structural analysis of the title complex revealed that the copper ion can be considered to have two coordination spheres. In the first coordination sphere the copper ion forms distorted square-planar geometry with trans-N 2O 2 donor set, and also the metal ion is weakly bonded to the amino-nitrogen in the layer over and to the carboxylic oxygen in the layer underneath in the second coordination sphere. The second coordination environment on the copper ion is attributed to pseudo octahedron. The powder EPR spectra of Cu(II) complex at room and liquid nitrogen temperature were recorded. The calculated g and A parameters have indicated that the paramagnetic centre is axially symmetric. The molecular orbital bond coefficients of the Cu(II) ion in d 9 state is also calculated by using EPR and optical absorption parameters. The cyclic voltammogram of the title complex investigated in DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) solution exhibits only metal centered electroactivity in the potential range -1.25 to 1.5 V versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode.

Quantitative Analysis of Electroplated Nickel Coating on Hard Metal

PubMed Central

Wahab, Hassan A.; Noordin, M. Y.; Izman, S.

2013-01-01

Electroplated nickel coating on cemented carbide is a potential pretreatment technique for providing an interlayer prior to diamond deposition on the hard metal substrate. The electroplated nickel coating is expected to be of high quality, for example, indicated by having adequate thickness and uniformity. Electroplating parameters should be set accordingly for this purpose. In this study, the gap distances between the electrodes and duration of electroplating process are the investigated variables. Their effect on the coating thickness and uniformity was analyzed and quantified using design of experiment. The nickel deposition was carried out by electroplating in a standard Watt's solution keeping other plating parameters (current: 0.1 Amp, electric potential: 1.0 V, and pH: 3.5) constant. The gap distance between anode and cathode varied at 5, 10, and 15 mm, while the plating time was 10, 20, and 30 minutes. Coating thickness was found to be proportional to the plating time and inversely proportional to the electrode gap distance, while the uniformity tends to improve at a large electrode gap. Empirical models of both coating thickness and uniformity were developed within the ranges of the gap distance and plating time settings, and an optimized solution was determined using these models. PMID:23997678

The Applicability of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Assessing Chromium Induced Toxicity in the Fish Labeo rohita

PubMed Central

Khare, Ankur; Dange, Swati

2014-01-01

The evaluation of metal's toxicity in freshwater is one of the imperative areas of research and there is an emergent concern on the development of techniques for detecting toxic effects in aquatic animals. Oxidative stress biomarkers are very useful in assessing the health of aquatic life and more in depth studies are necessary to establish an exact cause effect relationship. Therefore, to study the effectiveness of this approach, a laboratory study was conducted in the fish Labeo rohita as a function of hexavalent chromium and the toxicity indices using a battery of oxidative stress biomarkers such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GR) in the liver, muscle, gills, and brain have been studied along with biometric parameters, behavioral changes, and Cr bioaccumulation. A significant increased HSI was observed in contrast to CF which reduced significantly. SOD, CAT, and GR activity increased significantly in all the tissues of treated fishes. The bioaccumulation of Cr was highest in liver followed by gills, muscle, and brain. This study highlights the significance of using a set of integrated biomarker and advocate to include these parameters in National Water Quality Monitoring Program in areas potentially polluted with metals to assess the health of the ecosystem. PMID:25302308

Removal of dust particles from metal mirror surfaces by excimer laser radiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mann, K.; Wolff-Rottke, B.; Mueller, F.

1995-12-31

The effect of particle desorption from Al mirror surfaces by the influence of pulsed UV laser radiation has been studied. The investigations are closely related to the demands of astronomers, who are looking for a more effective way of cleaning the Al coatings of future very large telescope (VLT) mirrors. A systematic parameter study has been performed in order to determine the irradiation conditions which yield the highest dust removal efficiency (i.e. reflectivity increase) on contaminated samples, taking particularly into account laser induced damage and degradation effects of coating and substrate. The particle removal rate increases with increasing laser fluence,more » being limited however by the damage threshold of the coating. Therefore, parameters influencing the damage threshold of metal coatings like wavelength, pulse width and number of pulses have been studied in detail. Data indicate that on Al coated BK7 and Zerodur samples KrF laser radiation yields the optimum result, with cleaning efficiencies comparable to polymer film stripping. The initial reflectivity of the clean coating can nearly be reinstalled, in particular when an additional solvent film on the sample surface is applied. Hence, laser desorption seems to be a viable method of cleaning large Al mirrors for telescopes.« less

Kinetics and thermal stability of the Ni62Nb38- x Ta x ( x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) bulk metallic glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, MengKe; Zhang, Yi; Xia, Lei; Yu, Peng

2017-07-01

We studied thermal stability and its relationship to the glass-forming ability (GFA) of the Ni62Nb38- x Ta x ( x=5, 10, 15, 20, 25) bulk metallic glasses (BMG) from a kinetic point of view. By fitting the heating-rate dependence of glass transition temperature ( T g onset) and crystallization temperatures ( T x onset and T x peak) of the Ni62Nb38- x Ta x BMG using the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) equation, we obtained the ideal glass transition and crystallization temperatures ( T g 0 and T x 0) and the fragility parameter ( m), and also constructed continuous heating transition (CHT) diagrams for crystallization of the BMG. The CHT diagrams of the BMG indicate enhanced thermal stability by Ta addition; the T g 0 as well as the T x 0 also illustrates this improved stability limit. The compositional dependence of m, which agrees well with that of the reduced glass-transition temperature, indicates a strong correlation between liquid fragility and glass-forming ability in the present alloy system. These results provide new evidence for understanding thermal stability, liquid fragility, and GFA in BMG.