Spatial Identification of Potential Dump Disposal Sites for Effective Waste Management in the Sunyani Municipality, Ghana

One daunting task faced by waste managers is to appropriately identify safe sites for waste disposal and this study combined expert knowledge, field observations and GIS-based modelbuilder to model and identify suitable dumpsites. Overview of the study area confirmed the random siting of dumpsites that poses threat to environmental safety. Land use and land cover classification produced an overall accuracy of 81.97% with kappa coefficient = 0.78, which was employed in the suitability search criteria. Other key derived parameters vital for safe dumpsite locations were distances to catchment > 100 m, distances to water bodies > 100 m, soil characteristics—clayey, topology (slope of 2 and 4) and geology—Granitoids. The weightings (%) obtained for the key parameters were: water = 32, connection to catchment area = 28, topology = 23, soil = 10 and geology = 7. The exclusion criteria and suitability analysis, based on assigned suitable values from the key weighted parameters in the modelbuilder, produced a map of potential waste disposal sites rating them as most suitable, suitable and less suitable for the Sunyani Municipality. The model for the site identification could be used as a guideline to provide first and quick impression on potential waste disposal sites for stakeholders in waste management. The suitable sites give an indicator for sites with the least possible environmental impact. The study however recommends that for specific locations, further in-depth research be done to suit site-specific conditions in order to improve accuracy.

An Approximated Voxel Approach for the Identification and Modelling of Ligand-Binding Sites

Most protein-ligand interactions take place on surfaces and include but not limited to factors such as chemical composition, hydrophobicity, electronegavitiy and shape complementarity. Past studies showed that protein-protein interactions occur on comparatively fiat regions whereas protein-ligand bindings involve crevices. In the search for such sites various approaches have been designed and developed each of which is algorithmically unique. The use of grid units or voxels has been demonstrated in early studies with relatively good results obtained. We present here an approximated approach comprising of the use of voxels and computer vision methods in the search for ligand-binding areas. Each test protein is modelled and analysed in 2D with all corresponding residues graphically presented for successfully identified sites. The study was carried out on 2 sets of proteins： FK506-bound proteins and heme-bound proteins with promising results obtained for all test cases.

Electronic structure engineering of transition metal dichalcogenides for boosting hydrogen energy conversion electrocatalysts

Electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production is an appealing strategy to reduce carbon emissions and generate renewable fuels.This promising process,however,is limited by its sluggish reaction kinetics and high-cost catalysts.The two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs)have presented great potential as electrocatalytic materials due to their tunable bandgaps,abundant defective active sites,and good chemical stability.Consequently,phase engineering,defect engineering and interface engineering have been adopted to manipulate the electronic structure of TMDCs for boosting their exceptional catalytic performance.Particularly,it is essential to clarify the local structure of catalytically active sites of TMDCs and their structural evolution in catalytic reactions using atomic resolution electron microscopy and the booming in situ technologies,which is beneficial for exploring the underlying reaction mechanism.In this review,the growth regulation,characterization,particularly atomic configurations of active sites in TMDCs are summarized.The significant role of electron microscopy in the understanding of the growth mechanism,the controlled synthesis and functional optimization of 2D TMDCs are discussed.This review will shed light on the design and synthesis of novel electrocatalysts with high performance,as well as prompt the application of advanced electron microscopy in the research of materials science.