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Microwave (MW)-assisted heterogeneous catalytic chemical reactions have opened advanced routines over the conventional methodology. MW absorption ability of catalyst governed by its particle size is the foremost important factor to be considered before designing catalysts for such MW-based chemistry. Despite considerable interest in applying metallic-based catalysts for MW-assisted reactions, the influences of particle size on catalyst’s MW absorption ability and its resultant activity remain elusive. Here, we report an effective approach to tailor the MW absorption ability of Co3O4 catalyst via controlling its particle size during the crystal growth. A developed theoretical model verified that a capping agent could regulate Co3O4 particle size effectively. For the unsupported Co3O4 catalysts, smaller particle size possessed higher MW absorption capacity and thereby delivered higher activity for MW-assisted bi-reforming of methane. High conversion of 63% CH4 and a syngas ratio (H2/CO) of 2.2 was achieved with the smallest Co3O4 particles, at 20 nm. In contrast, the supported Co3O4 samples required larger particles to ensure adequate exposure to the incident MW, which is partially covered by MW-inert support. The results disclose that by tailoring particles size appropriately, metallic-based catalysts can be optimised for MW-based chemical reactions.

Ecological niche models (ENMs) can project changes in species’ distributions under climate change and thus inform conservation efforts and further our understanding of patterns of change. Predictions of species’ distribution shifts under climate change in topographically and geologically complex landscapes, such as karst landforms, should be improved by better integration of non-climate abiotic variables, such as karst geology or habitat structure, into model projections. We built ENMs for one of the limestone langurs, a group of leaf monkeys adapted to forests on the Sino-Vietnamese limestone karst landform. We collected occurrence localities for Francois’ leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus francoisi) and thinned them to avoid sampling bias. We included as environmental parameters a global dataset for karst geology and 19 bioclimatic variables derived from monthly temperature and precipitation at 30 arc-second resolution. ENMs including karst geology and climatic variables outperformed and differed spatially from climate-only models. Across six future-climate scenario projections, the optimal karst+climate model differed from the best climate-only model and predicted more spatial overlap with karst in the future, a contraction in total area of suitable habitat by the 2070s, and a small loss in the amount of suitable habitat in existing conservation areas. This study shows the importance of considering other abiotic factors beyond climate in projections of suitable habitat under climate change for species in complex landscapes. Because our results show that karst and climate interact to explain the distribution of a karst-adapted species, the results also suggest that, under climate change, these interactions are likely to produce altered networks of species into novel biological communities. Finally, our results support the need for conservation of limestone habitats and cross-border collaboration to maintain refuges and movement connectivity for endangered species in the face of climate change.

Background People with Parkinson disease (PD) have difficulty initiating internally generated movements. We have shown that computer-based cognitive training can improve movement initiation. However, little is known about the optimal duration of training. Objectives To determine the optimal training duration for computer-based neurorehabilitation of internally represented movement initiation in people with PD. Methods Nineteen PD and twenty-one age-matched control participants, ages 50-85 years, were included in analysis of pre- and post-training evaluation and 30 training sessions. Computer training consisted of cued and un-cued movement trials. The presentation of a cue (a combination of numbers on either the right, left or both sides of the screen) indicated that participants should respond by typing the numbers. Successful cued trials were followed by un-cued trials consisting of a green filled circle. Participants re-enter the cued sequence, thus producing an internally represented (IR) movement. The training was adaptive. Outcome measures were reaction time and error rate, and cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was used to identify peak training improvement. Results Participants with PD were divided into impaired (IPD) and unimpaired (UPD) groups, based on mean control group pre-training performance. All three groups showed improved RT and error rates for IR trials; however, the IPD group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in reaction time. Training was most effective in participants with greater disease severity and duration. Peak day of training improvement for the IPD group was 8 days. Conclusion Optimal training duration was relatively short and the IPD group demonstrated the most gain, indicating that cognitive training should be tailored to individual needs.

Microwave (MW) methodology has opened up new opportunities for chemical reactions by providing novel routes that are not practical by conventional heating. This paper reports on M–Mo bimetallic cat...

In this work, seafood wastewater was treated by using MBBR reactor over a novel carrier (PUF-PVA gel) derived from the combination of a porous (PUF) and hydrophilic surface (PVA gel). A freezing-thawing method was used for the preparation of the novel PUF-PVA gel which is reported for the first time. Experimental results indicated that PUF-PVA gel carrier which possesses an excellent textural structure (specific surface area of 3.4 m2/g, pore size in the range of 10 – 40 μm and hydrophilic surface) accounts for faster water immersion and better microbial adhesion, resulting in the biofilm content attached at the start-up stage 2.4 times higher relative to conventional PUF carrier alone. The MBBR system can be operated stably at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 7 hours in which the organic loading rate ranged from 2.5 kg COD/m3.day to 5.1 kg COD/m3.day. When operated at the organic loading rate of 2.5 kg COD/m3.day, the maximum COD and the nitrogen removal efficiency of MBBR based on the PUF-PVA gel carrier were 92 ± 0.6% and 89 ± 3.4%, respectively, which is higher than that of the PUF carrier.

Block copolymer (BCP) thin films prepared by dip-coating are increasingly investigated, owing to the many promising application areas, the facility, and the industrial scalability of this technique. Yet, the effect of different dip-coating parameters on BCP nanostructure formation is still underdeveloped and the results of previous literature are limited to a few block copolymers. Here, we study the effect of the withdrawal rate and solvent selectivity on the morphology evolution of dip-coated polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) thin films by applying a wide range of dip-coating speeds and altering the volume ratio of the tetrahydrofuran-water solvent system. The dip-coated films were characterized using atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry. The nanodomain morphology, its feature sizes, its spanning, and the degree of ordering were investigated with regard to different dip-coating parameters. Notably, we have obtained a hexagonally packed BCP pattern with long-range order without the need for post-annealing processes. Overall, a solid understanding of the parameters affecting the formed surface patterns and their interplay was attained and explained, extending the knowledge of this field to more materials.