Critical parameters near the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition in La0.67–xYxBa0.23Ca0.1MnO3 compounds（x=0.10 and x=0.15）

The critical properties of the mixed manganite La0.67–x Y x Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3 with x=0.10 and x=0.15 around the paramagnetic(PM)-ferromagnetic(FM) phase transition were investigated through various techniques. These involved modified Arrott plots, Kouvel-Fisher method and Widom scaling relation. Magnetic data, analyzed in the critical region, using the above methods, yielded the critical exponents for(x=0.10) La0.57Y0.10Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3(β=0.312±0.002 and γ=1.147±0.003 at T C=299.23±0.05 K). Moreover, the estimated critical exponents of(x=0.15) La0.52Y0.15Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3 were β=0.286±0.004 and γ=0.943±0.002 at T C=289.53±0.06 K. The critical exponents’ values were close to the theoretical values of 3D-Ising model and tricritical mean-field model. These results suggested that the present composition should be close to a tricritical point in the La0.67–x Y x Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3 phase diagram. Expressing the field dependence as ΔS M∝H n allowed us to establish a relationship between the exponent n and the critical exponents of the material and to propose a phenomenological universal curve for the field dependence of ΔS M.     

ZrCuAlNi系大块金属玻璃的非晶形成能力、热学和力学性能（英文）

分析ZrCuAlNi系大块金属玻璃的非晶形成能力、热学和力学性能。运用密实堆积和动态脆性指数模型从理论上确定合金的成分。采用铜模吸铸法在氩气保护下制备圆柱形和圆锥形铸锭。用X射线衍射表征圆锥形铸锭以便确定非晶结构。结果表明:两种合金的临界非晶直径为3 mm。用差示扫描量热法(DSC)分析其热行为,加热速率分别为0.5、0.67和0.83 K/s。γ参数、过冷液相区ΔT_x和约化玻璃转变温度T_(rg)等这些实验所得的参数均表明其具有高的非晶形成能力。非晶成分显示其脆性指数为40。合金的压缩试验采用的应变速率为0.016 s~(-1),得到弹性模量约为83 GPa,总应变约为5%,屈服强度为1.6 GPa,硬度为4 GPa。运用密实堆积和动态脆性指数模拟可以预测ZrCuAlNi系合金的非晶形成成分。     

Pulsed laser reshaping and fragmentation of upconversion nanoparticles-from hexagonal prisms to ID nanorods through“Medusa”-like structures

One dimensional(1D)nanostructures attract considerable attention,enabling a broad application owing to their unique properties.However,the precise mechanism of 1D morphology attainment remains a matter of debate.In this study,ultrafast picosecond(ps)laser-induced treatment on upconversion nanoparticles(UCNPs)is offered as a tool for 1 D-nanostructures formation.Fragmentation,reshaping through recrystallization process and bioadaptation of initially hydrophobic(β-Na_1.5Y_{1.5_}F₆:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺/β-Na_1.5Y_{1.5_}F₆)core/shell nanoparticles by means of one-step laser treatment in water are demonstrated.“True”1D nanostructures through"Medusa^-like structures can be obtained,maintaining anti-Stokes luminescence functionalities.A matter of the one-dimensional UCNPs based on direction of energy migration processes is debated.The proposed laser treatment approach is suitable for fast UCNP surface modification and nano-to-nano transformation,that open unique opportunities to expand UCNP applications in industry and biomedicine.     

Thermo-economic analysis of a direct supercritical CO2 electric power generation system using geothermal heat

A comprehensive thermo-economic model combining a geothermal heat mining system and a direct supercritical CO₂ turbine expansion electric power generation system was proposed in this paper. Assisted by this integrated model, thermo-economic and optimization analyses for the key design parameters of the whole system including the geothermal well pattern and operational conditions were performed to obtain a minimal levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Specifically, in geothermal heat extraction simulation, an integrated wellbore-reservoir system model (T2Well/ECO2N) was used to generate a database for creating a fast, predictive, and compatible geothermal heat mining model by employing a response surface methodology. A parametric study was conducted to demonstrate the impact of turbine discharge pressure, injection and production well distance, CO₂ injection flowrate, CO₂ injection temperature, and monitored production well bottom pressure on LCOE, system thermal efficiency, and capital cost. It was found that for a 100 MW_e power plant, a minimal LCOE of $0.177/kWh was achieved for a 20-year steady operation without considering CO₂ sequestration credit. In addition, when CO₂ sequestration credit is $1.00/t, an LCOE breakeven point compared to a conventional geothermal power plant is achieved and a breakpoint for generating electric power generation at no cost was achieved for a sequestration credit of $2.05/t.     

Progressive changes in water and sediment quality in a wetland system for control of highway runoff

Innovative wetland based systems were designed and installed on the Newbury Bypass, Berkshire, England to provide flow balancing and pollution control for road runoff. The systems were monitored over 18 months to evaluate performance, pollutant removal processes and offer improved design and operation codes for this new application of wetlands. Water quality, sediment accumulation rates, and metal concentrations in size-fractionated, settling solids and deposited sediments were determined in parts of the system to provide information on spatial and temporal variability. The results presented here show that over the long term, there were progressive changes in parts of the system for BOD and COD and for metal concentrations in the sediment fractions, which occurred with linear (or semi log-linear) rates, despite variability in flow rates, retention times and in pollutant loading to the system. Future work will continue monitoring to increase the data set, examine possible processes contributing to the regression constants, and test the potential use of the regressions in system modelling. Attempts at modelling road runoff treatment using wetlands must allow for progressions, since the systems can only be effective if they retain removed metals in the sediment sink.     

Chlorophyll-a determination via continuous measurement of plankton fluorescence: methodology development

A methodology is presented for the continuous measurement of chlorophyll-a concentration due to plankton, in surface water environments. A Turner 10-AU fluorometer equipped with the F4T5.B2/BP lamp (blue lamp), a Cs 5-60 equivalent excitation path filter, and a 680 nm emission filter, has been used. This configuration allows the in vivo, in situ determination of chlorophyll-a by measuring the fluorescence due to the pigments. In field work the fluorometer, data logging and positioning equipment were placed aboard a manageable boat which navigated following a scheme of regularly spaced crossings. Some water samples were collected during the measurement for laboratory chlorophyll-a measurements by the spectrophotometric method, thus providing for calibration and comparison. Spatial chlorophyll-a concentration distributions can be easily defined in large volumes, such as reservoirs, etc. Two distinct environments have been monitored: in the Vargem das Flores reservoir chlorophyll-a concentrations varied between 0.7 and 2.6 mg/m3, whereas in the Lagoa Santa lake these values lied in the 12 to 18 mg/m3 range. The simplicity, versatility and economy of the method, added to the large amount of data that can be gathered in a single run, clearly justify its use in field environmental studies.     

Runoff of particle bound pollutants from urban impervious surfaces studied by analysis of sediments from stormwater traps

Runoff sediments from 68 small stormwater traps around the harbor of urban Bergen, Norway, were sampled and the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined in addition to grain size. Our study provides empirical data from a large area in the interface between the urban and marine environment, studying the active transport of pollutants from land-based sources. The results of the analyses clearly demonstrate the importance of the urban environment representing a variety of contamination sources, and that stormwater runoff is an important dispersion mechanism of toxic pollutants. The concentrations of different pollutants in urban runoff sediments show that there are several active pollution sources supplying the sewage systems with PCBs, PAHs and heavy metals such as lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd). The concentration of PCB7 in the urban runoff sediments ranged between < 0.0004 and 0.704 mg/kg. For PAH16, the concentration range was < 0.2-80 mg/kg, whereas the concentration ranges of Pb, Zn and Cd were 9-675, 51.3-4670 and 0.02-11.1 mg/kg respectively. Grain size distribution in 21 selected samples varied from a median particle diameter of 13 to 646 microm. However, several samples had very fine-grained particles even up to the 90 percentile of the samples, making them available for stormwater dispersion in suspended form. The sampling approach proposed in this paper will provide environmental authorities with a useful tool to examine ongoing urban contamination of harbors and similar recipients.     

Molecular subtypes of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from faecal and surface water samples in the Oldman River watershed, Alberta, Canada

Campylobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from 898 faecal, 43 sewage, and 342 surface water samples from the Oldman River were characterized using bacterial subtyping methods in order to investigate potential sources of contamination of the watershed. Among these pathogens, Campylobacter spp. were the most frequently isolated from faecal, sewage, and surface water samples (266/895, 11/43, and 91/342, respectively), followed by Salmonella (67/898, 8/43, and 29/342, respectively), and E. coli O157:H7 (16/898, 2/43, and 8/342, respectively). Salmonella Rubislaw was the most common serovar isolated from water. This serovar was also isolated from two wild bird species. Most other serovars isolated from water were either not isolated from animals or were isolated from multiple species. E. coli O157:H7 was predominantly isolated from cattle. The most common phage-types of this pathogen from cattle were also the most common among water isolates, and there were exact pulsed field gel electrophoresis and comparative genomic fingerprint matches between cattle, sewage, and water isolates. Campylobacters were commonly isolated from surface waters and faeces from most animal species. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the Campylobacter flaA gene identified several location and host species-specific (cattle, goose, pig) fingerprints. Molecular subtyping of these bacterial pathogens shows considerable promise as a tool for determining the sources of faecal pollution of water.     

Metal contamination at a wood preservation site: characterisation and experimental studies on remediation

The aim of this investigation was to determine the occurrence of As, Cu, Cr and Zn in the soil at an abandoned wood preservation unit and to examine some possible extractants for the contaminants in the soil. The mean As content of the contaminated surface soils (0-10 cm) was 186 mg kg(-1), where as the mean concentrations of Cu, Cr and Zn in soils from the contaminated area were 26, 29 and 91 mg kg(-1), respectively. The elevated As content in the mineral soils is related to adsorption of inorganic As phases in the fine grained fractions, which are characterised by large surface area and high positive surface charge under the current acidic conditions. Cu and Cr were found to be rather mobile, which is reflected in their lower abundance in soils and significant accumulation in sediments in the drainage leaving the area. The fine fraction of the soil (<0.125 mm) has an average metal content increased by nearly 34% as compared to the <2-mm fraction conventionally used for the analysis and assessment of soil contamination. The <2-mm fraction constitutes approximately 65% of the total weight while the fine fraction (<0.125 mm) constitutes approximately 10%. These facts, taken together, are essential for the choice of remediation measures. Oxalate solutions have been tested as extractants for soil remediation. Dark acid oxalate extraction dissolves the amorphous Al- and Fe-oxides and hydroxides and mobilises the adsorbed inorganic As species. Oxalate also acts as a ligand for the cationic heavy metals, releasing them from exchangeable sites. With a three-step sequential leaching, up to 98-99% of the metals could be removed. At lower concentrations and higher pH, the leaching decreased to approximately 70%.     

Synthesis of ettringite: a way to deal with the acid wastewaters of aluminium anodising industry

Synthesis of ettringite from acid wastewaters of the aluminium anodising industry has been studied as a possible route of reducing the emissions to the environment, recovering at the same time resource materials as a useful marketable mineral. Wastewaters of different concentrations have been subjected to the process of synthesis suspending calcium oxide and calcium aluminate powders at different time and pH conditions. High caustic alkalinity (pH approximately 12) and low sulphate concentrations (<0.1 M) are the most suitable conditions to synthesise ettringite. The mineral characterisation has been performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), proving the high purity of the pursued solid product when hydrated in the appropriate sodium hydroxide concentrations. In such conditions, around 90% of the aluminium initially present in the wastewater solutions is recovered in the form of ettringite.