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Efficient containment and capture of uranium (U(VI)) from aqueous solution is an essential component to ensure socially and environmentally sustainable development. Herein, the three-dimensional graphene/titanium dioxide composite (3D GA/TiO 2) was synthesized and applied as an effective adsorbent to remove U(VI) from wastewater as a function of contact time, temperature, pH and ion strength. The 3D GA/TiO 2 material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The batch experiments results indicated that the adsorption of U(VI) on materials were fitted with the pseudo-second order kinetics and Langmuir models. More specifically, 3D GA/TiO 2 (441.3 mg/g) was observed to outperform the GO (280.0 mg/g), rGO (140.9 mg/g) and TiO 2 (98.5 mg/g) at pH 5.0, which was attributable to the excellent cooperative effects. Furthermore, XPS analyses and DFT calculations confirmed the formation of surface complexes between oxygen-containing group and U(VI) with the U–O bonds length of 2.348 Å (U–O1) and 2.638 Å (U–O2). Meanwhile, the adsorption energy was calculated to be 1.60 eV, which showed a very strong chemisorption during the interaction process. It is believed that the 3D GA/TiO 2 revealed good removal performance for uranyl ions, which showed a great potential application to control the nuclear industrial pollution. Image 1 • 3D GA/TiO 2 composite was prepared via a facile and green method. • Synergistic effects improved the capture ability for U(VI) on 3D GA/TiO 2 than GO, rGO and TiO 2. • The adsorption energy of U(VI) onto 3D GA/TiO 2 was calculated to be 1.60 eV. • Interaction mechanism was electrostatic interaction and inner-sphere surface complexation. Three-dimensional graphene/titanium dioxide nanoparticle hybrids (3D GA/TiO 2) were fabricated and revealed excellent removal properties for uranyl ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The impacts of road surface texture on tyre/road noise are explored by analysing field data applying fast Fourier transform technique to tyre/road noise spectrum analysis. The results indicate that the tyre/road noise can be higher at lower frequency bands but lower at higher bands. Cluster analysis on surface texture in terms of wavelength identified three cluster groups that centred at 1.32mm, 3.65mm, and 5.11mm have different impacts on noise. The shorter wavelength group suppressed tyre/road noise, medium group aggravated it and the high wavelength group were outliers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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The effects of watching video movies on autonomic functions were estimated by measuring changes in pupillary and cardiovascular parameters in 10 senior subjects. The subjects looked at a series of video images (with accompanied sounds) taken during the execution of motor vehicles. The images were rear-projected on a large screen for 15 min. Pupil diameter and parameters of the light reflex were measured by an infrared pupillometer before and after the video presentation. Their electrocardiograms (ECG) and blood pressure were measured continuously. Subjects were divided into two groups depending on their values of blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose level. Subjects in Group A had blood pressures of less than 140 mm Hg and a fasting plasma glucose level of less than 7 mmol/dl (normal group). Other subjects were included in Group B (mild hypertension or diabetes mellitus group). While changes in pupillary light reflex after video viewing were minimal in the members of Group A, amplitudes of the pupillary reflex in the members of Group B varied over a significantly wide range. By the spectral analysis of cardiovascular rhythm, %LF and %HF components of blood pressure rhythm were significantly different between the two groups before video viewing. However, the ratios of frequency components before and after video viewing were not significantly different between the two groups. Our findings suggest that pupillary light reflex was less precisely controlled in subjects with mild autonomic dysfunction after prolonged audiovisual stimulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: To investigate metallosis in patients with magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) and characterize the metal particle profile of the tissues surrounding the rod., Methods: This was a prospective observational study of patients with early onset scoliosis (EOS) treated with MCGRs and undergoing rod exchange who were consecutively recruited between February 2019 and January 2020. Ten patients were recruited (mean age 12 years (SD 1.3); 2 M:8 F). The configurations of the MCGR were studied to reveal the distraction mechanisms, with crucial rod parts being the distractable piston rod and the magnetically driven rotor inside the barrel of the MCGR. Metal-on-metal contact in the form of ring-like wear marks on the piston was found on the distracted portion of the piston immediately outside the barrel opening (BO) through which the piston rod distracts. Biopsies of paraspinal muscles and control tissue samples were taken over and away from the wear marks, respectively. Spectral analyses of the rod alloy and biopsies were performed to reveal the metal constituents and concentrations. Histological analyses of the biopsies were performed with haematoxylin and eosin staining., Results: Titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), and neodymium (Nd) concentrations in the biopsies taken near the wear marks were found to be significantly higher than those in the control tissue samples. Significantly increased Nd concentrations were also found in the tissues near the barrel of the MCGR. Chronic inflammation was revealed by the histological studies with fibrosis and macrophage infiltration. Black particles were present within the macrophages in the fibrotic tissues., Conclusion: Ti and V were generated mainly at the BO due to metal-on-metal contact, whereas the Nd from the rotor of the MCGR is likely released from the BO during distraction sessions. Phagocytotic immune cells with black particles inside raise concern regarding the long-term implications of metallosis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(10):1375-1383.