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•Epitaxial Bi2Se3 thin films were grown on In(111) substrates via PLD.•Bi2Se3films exhibited smooth surfaces with triangular step-terrace pyramids.•Bi2Se3films exhibited a hardness of 2.1 GPa and a Young’s modulus of 58.6 GPa.•Thickness-dependent magnetoresistance revealed the signature of TSSs.•Bi2Se3films exhibited 24.04 and 48.11 GHz acoustic phonon modes induced by ultrafast laser pulses.

IMPORTANCE: There has been an increasing trend of using noncigarette products, including waterpipe tobacco (WTP), worldwide. While cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for numerous cancers, little is known about the association between WTP smoking and cancer mortality. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between WTP smoking and risk of cancer mortality in Vietnam. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study was based on data from the Hanoi Prospective Cohort Study, an ongoing study with a median (range) follow-up of 11.0 (0.1-11.6) years for participants aged 15 years or older in Northern Vietnam from 2007 through 2019. Data were analyzed from June 1 to September 1, 2023. EXPOSURES: Tobacco smoking and WTP smoking statuses. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Overall and site-specific cancer mortality. Cox proportional regression models were used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CIs for the associations between WTP smoking alone, cigarette smoking alone, and dual WTP and cigarette smoking and the risk of cancer death. RESULTS: A total of 554 cancer deaths were identified among the 39 401 study participants (mean [SD] age, 40.4 [18.8] years; 20 616 females [52.3%]). In multivariable models, compared with never smokers, ever smokers had a significantly increased risk of cancer mortality (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.48-2.35). Exclusive WTP smokers had the highest risk of cancer mortality compared with never smokers (HR, 2.66; 95% CI, 2.07-3.43). Risk of cancer mortality was higher for dual smokers of WTP and cigarettes (HR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.53-2.76) than for exclusive cigarette smokers (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.41-2.45). As most smokers (95.6% [8897 of 9312]) were male, these patterns were more apparent in male participants. Compared with never smokers, exclusive WTP smoking among males was associated with an elevated risk of death from liver cancer (HR, 3.92; 95% CI, 2.25-6.85), lung cancer (HR, 3.49; 95% CI, 2.08-5.88), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (HR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.27-6.12), and stomach cancer (HR, 4.11; 95% CI, 2.04-8.27). For exclusive WTP smokers, the risk of cancer mortality was highest among those who smoked 11 to 15 sessions per day (HR, 3.42; 95% CI, 2.03-5.75), started smoking at age 26 to 30 years (HR, 4.01; 95% CI, 2.63-6.11), smoked for 9 to 20 years (HR, 4.04; 95% CI, 2.16-7.56), and smoked 61 to 160 sessions annually (HR, 3.68; 95% CI, 2.38-5.71). For males, the risk of cancer death was lower for those who had quit smoking for more than 10 years, compared with those who quit smoking within 1 year (HR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11-0.66; P for trend < .001). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study in Vietnam, WTP smoking alone or in combination with cigarette smoking was associated with an increased risk of cancer death due to liver cancer, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and stomach cancer. A tailored program to control WTP smoking is warranted in Vietnam and low- and middle-income countries with a high prevalence of smoking and modest resources to address smoking-related issues.

Stable and high‐mechanical‐strength gel polymer electrolytes have been investigated by doping lithium salts (LiBr, LiClO4, and Li2SO4) as additive factors into PVA‐CH3COONa systems and highly activated carbon electrodes for symmetrical solid‐state supercapacitors (SSCs). The investigation of the supercapacitors with the presence of lithium salts in the electrolyte not only enhances the mechanical property of gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) but also improves the energy capability of supercapacitor devices. The electrode‐specific capacitance of supercapacitor‐doped LiClO4salt was at its maximum value at 100 F g−1(current density: 1.5 A g−1). These symmetrical SSCs are considered to have potential for developing eco‐friendly energy storage devices.

AbstractTo contend with the current economic conditions, construction managers are recommended to identify sustainable construction supply chain management (CSCM) trends over the forthcoming years and adopt suitable techniques to manage construction projects strategically, tactically, and operationally. However, there is a shortage of studies exploring Lean Construction (LC) practices’ contributions to sustainable CSCM trends in the forthcoming years. Thus, this paper applies the integrated fuzzy AHP–Delphi approach to identify key sustainable CSCM trends and uses them as strategic evaluation criteria to assess and rank LC techniques. The evaluation was done by 28 experts having more than four years’ experience and expertise in lean construction and sustainable CSCM. This work also provides managerial implications by proposing a framework for LC techniques to advance sustainability throughout construction project phases.

This experimental study investigates the effects of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening on eccentrically loaded and corrosion-damaged reinforced concrete (RC) columns. The experimental program comprises two main phases: (1) inducing accelerated electrochemical corrosion in steel-bar RC column specimens and (2) subjecting both undamaged and corroded specimens to eccentric compression until failure. Five RC column specimens, sharing identical geometry, reinforcement detailing, and concrete mix, were fabricated. One served as an undamaged control, while the remaining four underwent corrosion induced by electrochemical means. Two of the corroded specimens were strengthened with CFRP sheets after repairing their concrete covers with non-shrink grout, while the other two received neither repair nor strengthening. The study examines the structural behavior of the corrosion-damaged RC columns and evaluates the effects of repair and strengthening solutions, including non-shrink grout and CFRP sheets, under eccentric loading conditions. The experimental results reveal a significant enhancement in the performance of the corrosion-damaged RC columns after applying non-shrink grout and CFRP sheet wrapping. In comparison to the undamaged control RC column, the ultimate bending moment decreases by 16.8% for corrosion-damaged RC columns, while it increases by 15.2% for strengthened RC columns. Furthermore, in accordance with the guidelines outlined in ACI 440.2R-17, a calculation is presented to establish the axial load-bending moment interaction diagram for the strengthened RC columns. This calculation provided a deeper understanding of how CFRP sheet strengthening improves the strength of corroded RC columns subjected to eccentric loading.

Energy and environmental issues are more pressing than ever with the task of reducing carbon emissions and finding new fuel sources to replace fossil fuels. One of the directions that is in line with the requirements of the time is to develop electric cars using completely electrified batteries to replace gasoline. Considering their high energy density and lengthy cycle life, lithium-ion batteries are frequently utilized in electric cars. The personal and property safety of passengers is gravely threatened by the spontaneous combustion accidents of electric cars caused by the thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, studies on early warning as well as solutions to overcome when a thermal runaway incident occurs have become increasingly important and urgent. The current study provides advancements in the thermal management, electrical management, and structural design of early warning battery thermal runaway applications in electric vehicles. This minireview aims to provide the most concise but complete information to provide an overview of the story of thermal runaway and development trends for early warning in the next decade.

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A nonenzymatic uric acid sensor is proposed based on an electrophoretically deposited Graphene/ITO electrode (EDG). The morphology and structure of the EDGs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. As a result, the EDGs electrode was successfully fabricated with a well‐adhered graphene film on the ITO substrate surface. The electrochemical properties of the EDG for uric acid were investigated in PBS buffer pH 7.4, using cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies. Quantification of uric acid using both cyclic scanning and differential addition polarization methods. As a result, the uric acid sensor has a linear range from 1 to 100 μM, sensitivity 318.4 (μAcm2mM‐1) from CV measurements. Moreover, by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the sensor has a linear range from 1 to 50 μM, a sensitivity of 1242.7 (μAcm2mM‐1), and the detection limit (LOD) of 0.6 μM (S/N = 3). The oxidation peak potential separation of uric acid, ascorbic, and dopamine at the EDG electrode showed that the uric sensor could eliminate interferences (ascorbic acid, dopamine) and be used to simultaneously determine uric acid, ascorbic acid, and dopamine.

We introduce a simple, low-cost, and environment friendly method to obtain high-fluorescence carbon dots and activated carbon via a one-step hydrothermal process using banana peels. The dispersion of carbon dots generated strong, bright-blue photoluminescence (average diameter 3–6 nm), which could be further used in biosensing, electronics, and catalysis applications research. Moreover, the precipitation accumulated at the bottom of the hydrothermal process contained activated carbon with a highly porous structure and large specific surface area (294.6 m2g−1), which could be used as a supercapacitor electrode. The three-electrode cell exhibited excellent capability and stability of the activated carbon as the working electrode in various aqueous electrolytes, with a high specific capacitance (199 F g−1) in an aqueous electrolyte (1-M KOH) and a high energy density of 54.15 Wh kg−1at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. Thus, based on the excellent characteristics of the carbon dots and the strong electrochemical properties of the activated carbon as an electrode material, the banana peels, as an abundant bioresource, can provide two excellent produces.

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AbstractBecause of thin academic literature in exploring BIM (Building Information Modelling) contributions to construction supply chain management (SCM) trends, this paper uses the structured Delphi technique to recognise key trends in construction SCM as well as assess contributions of recent BIM systems to the trends. This study also explores the barriers and enablers that impact the BIM contributions to SC (supply chain) trends associated to the categories of governance, SC issues, expertise and training, benefits and costs and demand. The results show that, due to shortcomings of current status, BIM systems have moderate supports to operational and tactical issues (process standardisation, problem-solving, and information sharing) rather than strategic business trends (integration, flexibility, SC drivers, further outsourcing, risk sharing or long-term trust). In order to get over the barriers, SC actors are recommended to follow the systematic process to achieve a higher BIM capability and the greater SC integration. The study is expected to have a theoretical contribution to the study field with the results related to BIM supports to SCM trends, especially in the context of the Canadian construction industry.

Purpose: To deal with the present situation and recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, construction firms are required to recognise the trends in construction supply chain management (CSCM) for the upcoming years and determine the appropriate practices towards the trends for the improvement of construction activities in terms of strategy, tactic and operations. This paper aims to recognise key trends in CSCM and uses these trends as strategic criteria for the evaluation and prioritisation of lean construction (LC) tools at different project phases including design and architectural engineering, planning and control, on-site construction and safety management. Design/methodology/approach: The integrated analytic hierarchy process–Delphi method is used to collect and analyse the data from construction experts to evaluate the importance levels of the CSCM trends and recommend the appropriate tools for LC practices to improve project performances. Findings: Seven key CSCM trends are identified: lean supply chain management (SCM), supply chain (SC) integration, SC standardisation, SC problem-solving, SC information-sharing, SC flexibility and SC sustainability. Based on these trends, a set of prioritised lean tools are suggested for LC practices, in which “virtual design construction” (VDC) and “last planner system” are considered as the central tools. These two LC practices can be integrated with other effective tools to support the strategic, tactical and operational targets in construction supply chain (CSC) projects. Research limitations/implications: This study gives the managerial implications by developing an application framework of LC practices for CSC projects. The framework promotes “VDC” as a strategic tool for the phase of design and architectural engineering and considers “last planner system” as the central LC practice for the phase of project planning and control. The framework also focuses on the improvement of efficiency in construction operations by taking into account the aspects of on-site collaboration, problem-solving, improvement and safety. Originality/value: Up to date, there is still a lack of researches in classifying and prioritising the significant LC tools for each project phase to deal with CSC issues in both breadth and depth. Thus, this study is performed to provide construction managers with the awareness of CSCM trends on which they can focus to have strategic criteria for selecting LC practices to improve CSC performances.

AbstractThis paper utilizes a systematic literature review methodology to identify the present focuses and discuss the future directions of decision-making in construction supply chain management (CSCM). The results show that, at present, the CSCM applications are still focusing on material and resources management with the internal supply chain (SC) integration. Strategic decisions related to building partnerships, IT-based planning and logistics-based planning are not conducted at the early phase of planning and design. For future trends in CSCM application, a framework is proposed to leverage the three important points: the collaborative planning and design with advanced techniques; the lean procurement with BIM and third-party logistics; and the application of Lean and BIM in construction operations and delivery. The original contribution of this paper is the attempt of identifying CSC decisions and suggests how they should be delivered during the phases of a construction project with the use of appropriate SC methods and tools.

With the goal of obtaining sustainable earth-abundant electrocatalyst materials displaying high performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), here we propose a facile one-pot plasma-induced electrochemical process for the fabrication of new core–shell structures of ultrathin MoS2nanosheets engulfed within onion-like graphene nanosheets (OGNs@MoS2). The resultant OGNs@MoS2structures not only increased the number of active sites of the semiconducting MoS2nanosheets but also enhanced their conductivity. Our OGNs@MoS2composites exhibited high HER performance, characterized by a low overpotential of 118 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm–2, a Tafel slope of 73 mV dec–1, and long-time stability of 105s without degradation; this performance is much better than that of the sheet-like graphene-wrapped MoS2composite GNs@MoS2(182 mV, 82 mV dec–1) and is among the best ever reported for composites involving MoS2and graphene nanosheets prepared through a simple one-batch process and using a low temperature and a short time for the HER. This approach appears to be an effective and simple strategy for tuning the morphologies of composites of graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide materials for a broad range of energy applications.

Water holds substantial energy in various forms, of which small-scale droplet-based energy is particularly abundant and promising in developing wearable and energy-harvesting technologies. In recent years, droplet-based electrical devices (DEDs) have garnered considerable attention as one of the most important research directions because of their compactness and high power generation potential. Droplet-based energy not only complements current energy sources but also shows potential for utilization in wearable technologies and as universal energy harvesters. In this review, we investigate recent developments in DEDs based on experiments that focus on the fundamental mechanisms of liquid–solid and liquid–liquid interactions. This review includes an exhaustive investigation of device structures based on material selection and output performance as pivotal factors, exploration of the potential applications of hydrovoltaic technologies, and a thorough analysis of the primary challenges impeding the improvement in the efficiency of energy conversion and upscaling of output power. Finally, we summarize the existing limitations, prospects, and opportunities of these emerging technologies.

In this paper, a new type of heterogeneous catalytic system was devised for the synthesis of 4,4′-bis-(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), (hereinafter referred to as bisphenol-VN). The properties of the catalytic system were studied using SEM–EDS and transmission electron microscope methods. The results have demonstrated the presence of hydrophobic phenolate layer on the surface of the catalytic system, which provides high catalytic activity in the synthesis of bisphenol-VN. The bisphenol-VN obtained was taken for structural analysis by SEM, IR and MS-HPLC methods to prove the purity of the product. Simultaneously, the bisphenol-VN was also tested in natural rubber to enhance the physical–mechanical properties. The use of bisphenol-VN extends the oxidation induction time of natural rubber by three times in the comparison with the commercial antioxidant 6PPD.

Doping nonmetal atoms into layered transition metal dichalcogenide MX2structures has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing their catalytic activities for the hydrogen evolution reaction. In this study, we developed a new and efficient one-step approach that involves simultaneous plasma-induced doping and exfoliating of MX2bulk into nanosheets–such as MoSe2, WSe2, MoS2, and WS2nanosheets–within a short time and at a low temperature (ca. 80 °C). Specifically, by utilizing active plasma that is generated with an asymmetric electrical field during the electrochemical reaction at the surface of the submerged cathode tip, we are able to achieve doping of nitrogen atoms, from the electrolytes, into the semiconducting 2H-MX2structures during their exfoliation process from the bulk states, forming N-doped MX2. We selected N-doped MoS2nanosheets for demonstrating their catalytic hydrogen evolution potential. We modulated the electronic and transport properties of the MoS2structure with the synergy of nitrogen doping and exfoliating for enhancing their catalytic activity. We found that the nitrogen concentration of 5.2 atom % at N-doped MoS2nanosheets have an excellent catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, where a low overpotential of 164 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm–2and a small Tafel slope of 71 dec mV–1–much lower than those of exfoliated MoS2nanosheets (207 mV, 82 dec mV–1) and bulk MoS2(602 mV, 198 dec mV–1)–as well as an extraordinary long-term stability of >25 h in 0.5 M H2SO4can be achieved.

The treatment of oily wastewater is a critical environmental concern, and electrocoagulation (EC) has emerged as an effective method for reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) from this type of wastewater. This study investigates the effectiveness of continuous electrocoagulation in removing COD from real oily wastewater using a cathode configuration electrode between two tubular anodes coupled in a monopolar-parallel fashion to a DC power source. The research compares the removal efficiency, current efficiency, and operating cost of One-Sided Finned cathode (1SF) made from aluminum and Two-Sided Finned cathode 2SF made from stainless steel. The operating parameters considered are electrolysis time, current density, and flow rate. The results indicate that the elimination effectiveness of chemical oxygen demand (COD) employing 2SF was higher than that achieved with 1SF, with removal efficiencies of 93% and 82%, respectively. The operating cost of the 2SF was slightly higher than the (1SF), at 0.738 ($/m3) and 0.660 ($/m3), respectively. The current efficiency and Ohmic drop (ohm) were also higher for the 2SF than the 1SF. The order of the 1SF and 2SF was first-order, and both configurations were exothermic. The study provides valuable insights for enhancing COD removal via EC process including Two-Sided Finned cathode due to the larger active area provided by the 2SF design then the enhancement of providing huge amount of hydroxide ions required to increase electro-coagulants quantity compared to that provided by using One-Sided Finned cathode.

The joint W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) Spatial Data on the Web(SDW) Working Group developed a set of ontologies to describe sensors, actuators, samplers as well as their observations, actuation, and sampling activities. The ontologies have been published both as a W3C recommendation and as an OGC implementation standard. The set includes a lightweight core module called SOSA (Sensor, Observation, Sampler, and Actuator) available at: http://www.w3.org/ns/sosa/, and a more expressive extension module called SSN (Semantic Sensor Network) available at: http://www.w3.org/ns/ssn/. Together they describe systems of sensors and actuators, observations, the used procedures, the subjects and their properties being observed or acted upon, samples and the process of sampling, and so forth. The set of ontologies adopts a modular architecture with SOSA as a self-contained core that is extended by SSN and other modules to add expressivity and breadth. The SOSA/SSN ontologies are able to support a wide range of applications and use cases, including satellite imagery, large-scale scientific monitoring, industrial and household infrastructures, social sensing, citizen science, observation-driven ontology engineering, and the Internet of Things. In this paper we give an overview of the ontologies and discuss the rationale behind key design decisions, reporting on the differences between the new SSN ontology presented here and its predecessor [Web Semantics: Science, Services and Agents on the World Wide Web17(2012), 25–32] developed by the W3C Semantic Sensor Network Incubator group (the SSN-XG). We present usage examples and describe alignment modules that foster interoperability with other ontologies.

Data owners are creating an ever richer set of information resources online, and these are being used for more and more applications. Spatial data on the Web is becoming ubiquitous and voluminous with the rapid growth of location-based services, spatial technologies, dynamic location-based data and services published by different organizations. However, the heterogeneity and the peculiarities of spatial data, such as the use of different coordinate reference systems, make it difficult for data users, Web applications, and services to discover, interpret and use the information in the large and distributed system that is the Web. To make spatial data more effectively available, this paper summarizes the work of the joint W3C/OGC Working Group on Spatial Data on the Web that identifies 14 best practices for publishing spatial data on the Web. The paper extends that work by presenting the identified challenges and rationale for selection of the recommended best practices, framed by the set of principles that guided the selection. It describes best practices that are employed to enable publishing, discovery and retrieving (querying) spatial data on the Web, and identifies some areas where a best practice has not yet emerged.

Kinetic degradation of five typical pollutants including clothianidin (CLO), levofloxacin (LEV), p-nitrosodimethylaniline (RNO), paracetamol (PCM), and basic fuchsin (BF) by UV/persulfate (UV/PS) and other advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) (i.e., UV/H2O2, Fe2+/H2O2, electrochemical process, UV/PS/heat, UV/PS/Fe2+, UV/PS/Fe2O3, and UV/PS/rGO) were studied. The result showed that all pollutants were effectively degraded by UV/PS with different degradation rates. The oxidizing factors contributing to the pollutant degradation in UV/PS were studied, showing that UV is the predominant contributor to CLO degradation, while its contribution is negligible in the degradation of other compounds. •OH and SO4•-were the main radicals contributing to the degradation of all pollutants in UV/PS, except CLO. The second-order rate constant of •OH and SO4•-towards pollutants was determined according to the competition kinetic model, to be in the range of 109-1010M−1s−1. The degradation rate of pollutants in different AOPs were varied, because the oxidizing factors and their role in AOP systems directly affect the degradation efficiency of pollutants. In all AOPs, •OH radical played a major role in their degradation. The presence of water matrices has different influences on the degradation rates of pollutants. For example, 10 mM NO2-inhibited the degradation of pollutants to 99.1%, whereas Br-, SO42-, and F-had a lower inhibitory effect on their degradation. HPO42-can improve the degradation rate of BF, but it also significantly inhibited the degradation of PCM. The results also revealed that UV/PS/Fe2+and UV/PS/rGO can remarkably increase the degradation efficiency of all pollutants, while using α-Fe2O3and heat were less efficient. In addition, other parameters including COD removal, energy consumption, and toxicity assessment were also investigated to evaluate the potential application of UV/PS in practice.

Pseudoaneurysm rupture in patients with pancreatitis is a rare but fatal etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a rare case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient who presented simultaneously with two pseudoaneurysms, a potential cause of severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Angiography was successfully performed with coil embolization of the target arteries and both pseudoaneurysmal sacs. The patient was discharged 9 days after admission without further events within a 3-month follow-up period.

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The pristine biochars are negatively charged, hindering the adsorption of NO3−and PO43−in water. The current study developed a 2 M AlCl3- modified biochar and elucidated the co-adsorption behaviour of these ions at the equilibrium condition. The adsorption of NO3−and PO43−onto the biochar modelled by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The results demonstrate that the max adsorption capacity of NO3−, and PO43−in the solution containing one solute ion were 31.80 mg/g and 95.05 mg/g; in the mixed solution of two solute ions were 26.67 mg/g and 78.99 mg/g, respectively. This modified biochar was evidenced as an effective adsorbent to remove simultaneously NO3-and PO43-from aqueous solutions. Adsorption using this material is an appropriate method for eutrophication mitigation.

H-2 haplotype differences distinguish the related C57BL/KsJ (BKs) and C57BL/6J (B6) inbred strains. BKs mice are more susceptible to diabetes induction by a recessive obesity gene, diabetes (db), or by multi-dose streptozotocin (MSZ) administration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the H-2 differences were the important genetic background modifiers determining inbred strain susceptibility or resistance to these diabetogenic stresses. Diabetes susceptibility of BKs.B6-H-2b congenic mice was compared with that of the parental BKs and B6 stocks. In addition, diabetes severity was studied in (B6 × BKs)F1 and F2db/db mice and an H-2 segregation analysis was performed. BKs susceptibility genes expressed in a dominant fashion in the F1 generation, and were transmitted to F2db/db males without apparent segregation. No association between H-2b haplotype and B6-type diabetes resistance was found in response to either the db mutation or to MSZ. Insulitis, associated with development of hyperglycemia in BKs males, also occurred in the H-2b congenic stock. However, an apparent interaction between H-2b haplotype, the db mutation (on chromosome 4), and male gender (Y chromosome?) was indicated by a segregation ratio distortion in recovery of this genotype. A more moderate diabetes in some F2db/db females suggested that non-MHC-linked genes controlling sex steroid metabolism were the important determinants of diabetogenic sensitivities in the C57BL stocks. In support of the latter, strain differences were demonstrated in activity levels of steroid sulfatase, which is regulated by a sex-linked gene likely expressed on both the X and Y chromosome, and which may control tissue levels of active androgens and estrogens. We show that the diabetes-susceptible F1 hybrids exhibit the higher activity associated with the BKs strain.

Aromatic compounds can be efficiently degraded using boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes by the anodic oxidation based on the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH). In this study, the degradation of Cartap in Padan 95SP (a pesticide) by BDD via the reaction between Cartap and oxidizing species (such as hydroxyl radicals, active chlorine, and persulfate) was investigated. Operating parameters including applied current density, the types of electrolyte, and the initial concentration of Padan 95SP were studied in order to determine their effect on the degradation efficiency of Cartap. The concentration of Cartap was determined by UV–Vis spectroscopy according to a 5,5-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) procedure. The optimal conditions for Cartap degradation were determined (concentration of electrolyte: 0.05 M Na2SO4, initial concentration of Padan 95SP of 300 mg·L−1, pH = 3, current density: j = 20 mA·cm−2). High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry techniques were used to characterize commercially available Padan 95SP, the decomposition of Cartap and the formation of electrochemical by-products.

This study aims to develop advanced sorbents for the removal of hydrocarbons from surface waters. The microemulsion method was implemented to modify the surface structure of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) by attaching a hydrocarbon tail on its surface. The structural and surface chemistry properties of the prepared adsorbents were studied by different surface analytical techniques such as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Raman-spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the microstructure and morphology of the samples. Different model hydrocarbon compounds were used for this investigation. The hydrocarbon removal efficiencies of the unmodified and functionalized sorbents were studied by using total organic carbon analyzer (TOC), gas chromatography (GC), and UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis) techniques. Surface chemistry studies over raw and microemulsified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (μEMWCNT) revealed that that microemulsion functionalization resulted in changes in the CH bending vibrations of the functionalized MWCNTs as compared to the raw MWCNTs, demonstrating the existence of intermolecular CH-π interactions between the carbon nanotubes and lauric/miristic acid. The experimental results revealed that microemulsion technique as a type of surface functionalization solved one main issue regarding MWCNTs modification as it proved to have a beneficial effect on MWCNTs’ hydrophobic properties without the need for additional functionalization and substitution steps to attach hydrocarbon side chains. Using kerosene as a hydrocarbon model mixture, compared with raw MWCNTs, the maximum adsorption capacity of μMWCNTs increased by 63.5 %. Additionally, the outcomes indicated that the n-octane adsorption capacities over μEMWCNTs reached 6.07 g/g. The kinetic studies demonstrated that the adsorption process over μMWCNTs could be well described by the pseudo-second-order model with a high correlation coefficient.

ABSTRACTBackground: Global health academic partnerships are centered around a core tension: they often mirror or reproduce the very cross-national inequities they seek to alleviate. On the one hand, they risk worsening power dynamics that perpetuate health disparities; on the other, they form an essential response to the need for healthcare resources to reach marginalized populations across the globe.Objectives: This study characterizes the broader landscape of global health academic partnerships, including challenges to developing ethical, equitable, and sustainable models. It then lays out guiding principles of the specific partnership approach, and considers how lessons learned might be applied in other resource-limited settings.Methods: The experience of a partnership between the Ministry of Health in Nepal, the non-profit healthcare provider Possible, and the Health Equity Action and Leadership Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine was reviewed. The quality and effectiveness of the partnership was assessed using the Tropical Health and Education Trust Principles of Partnership framework.Results: Various strategies can be taken by partnerships to better align the perspectives of patients and public sector providers with those of expatriate physicians. Actions can also be taken to bring greater equity to the wealth and power gaps inherent within global health academic partnerships.Conclusions: This study provides recommendations gleaned from the analysis, with an aim towards both future refinement of the partnership and broader applications of its lessons and principles. It specifically highlights the importance of targeted engagements with academic medical centers and the need for efficient organizational work-flow practices. It considers how to both prioritize national and host institution goals, and meet the career development needs of global health clinicians.

The combination of one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and two-dimensional (2D) graphene materials to generate three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotube-graphene hybrid thin films (CNGHTFs) has attracted great attention owing to their intriguing properties via the synergistic effects of these two materials on their electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties in comparison with their individual components. This review aims to provide a brief introduction of recent trends in preparation methodologies and some outstanding applications of CNGHTFs. It contains two main scientific subjects. The first of these is the research on preparation techniques of CNGHTFs, including reduction agent-assisted mechanical blending of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and CNTs, hybridization methods for layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of CNTs and rGO sheets, multi-step methods using combinations of a solution and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processing, one-step growth of CNGHTFs by the CVD method, and modified CVD methods via thermal deposition of carbon source on catalyst surfaces. The advantages and disadvantages of the preparation methods of CNGHTFs are presented and discussed in detail. The second scientific subject of the review is the research on some outstanding applications of CNGHTFs in various research fields, including transparent conductors, electron field emitters, field-effect transistors, biosensors and supercapacitors. In most cases, the CNGHTFs showed superior performances than those of the pristine GO/graphene or CNT materials. Therefore, the CNGHTFs exhibit as high-potential materials for various practical applications. Opportunites and challenges in the fields are also presented.