Preparation of gold clusters on metal oxides by deposition-precipitation with microwave drying and their catalytic performance for CO and sulfide oxidation

Gold clusters and small nanoparticles supported on metal oxides could be prepared by deposition‐precipitation followed by microwave irradiation as a drying method and then calcination.The drying method influenced the size of the Au particles.Au(III)was partly reduced during conventional oven drying,resulting in Au aggregates.In contrast,Au(III)was preserved during microwave drying owing to rapid and uniform heating,and the Au diameter was minimized to1.4nm on Al2O3.This method can be applied to several metal oxide supports having different microwave absorption efficiencies,such as MnO2,Al2O3,and TiO2.These catalysts exhibited higher catalytic activities for CO oxidation at low temperature and for selective aerobic oxidation of sulfide than those prepared by conventional methods.

The Impact of Orographically-Induced Gravity Waves on the Diurnal Cycle of Rainfall over Southeast Kalimantan Island

Precipitation measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite indicate that the southeastern area of Kalimantan (Borneo) Island receives much less rainfall than elsewhere on the island during the period from July to October.Results from sur-face meteorological observations show that the diurnal cycle of rainfall differs greatly between the eastern and western coasts of the island.Rainfall on the western coast of the island is frequent in the afternoon and evening,whereas almost all rainfall on the eastern coast occurs in the morning.Meanwhile,the Global Positioning System (GPS)-derived precipitable water (PW) on the eastern coast shows a substantial decrease in moisture in the af-ternoon and evening.Numerical experiments with a mesoscale model reveal that gravity waves driven by di-urnal heating of the elevated land surface of the moun-tains on Sulawesi Island,which lies approximately 300 kilometers to the east of Kalimantan Island,significantly affect the diurnal cycle of rainfall over southeast Kali-mantan Island.

Highly efficient base-free aerobic oxidation of alcohols over gold nanoparticles supported on ZnO-CuO mixed oxides

The design and preparation of suitable supports are of great importance for gold catalysts to attain excellent catalytic performance for alcohol oxidation.In this work,we found that ZnO-CuO mixed oxides supported gold catalysts showed much better catalytic activity for base-free aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol than Au/ZnO and Au/CuO catalysts,and among them Au/Zn0.7Cu0.3O displayed the best catalytic performance.In addition,the Au/Zn0.7Cu0.3O catalyst could selectively catalyze the aerobic oxidation of a wide range of alcohols to produce the corresponding carbonyl compounds with high yields under mild conditions without base.Further characterizations indicated that the outstanding catalytic performance of Au/Zn0.7Cu0.3O was correlated with the small size of Au nanoparticles(NPs),good low-temperature reducibility,high concentration of surface oxygen species,and collaborative interaction between Au NPs and mixed oxide.

Causal relationships between survival rates, dietary and lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status and physical, mental and social health in elderly urban dwellers in Japan: A chronological study

Life expectancy was well known to associate with lifestyle habits, socioeconomic condition, and three health-related dimensions (physical, mental and social health status). However, the causal effect relationship among these variables remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the causal relationships among health and life conditions, socioeconomic status, dietary and lifestyle habits and three health-related dimensions in elderly urban dwellers in Tokyo, Japan. Of 16,462 eligible elderly individuals aged 65 years and older, 13,195 participants responded to the questionnaire survey conducted in September 2001 (a response rate of 80.2%). A follow-up survey was conducted in September 2004 and a total of 8162 survivors were followed until the end of August 2007 through the municipal resident's registry. Exploratory factor analysis defined five latent variables based on the 13 observed variables. From a cross-lagged effects variation model using structural equation modeling, causal relationships were analyzed using longitudinal data obtained at the 2001 and 2004 survey and the number of survival days between 2004 and 2007. After estimating a best-fit model, we discovered that health and life conditions were not determined by current dietary and lifestyle habits, which many studies showed. However, the conditions were more directly affected by three health-related dimensions three years earlier, and indirectly affected by educational attainment and previous annual income as well. The current model suggests that it might be of great importance for elderly individuals to emphasize the maintenance of psychological well being, physical activity, social communication and participation, as well as income, rather than focusing on improvements in diet and health-related lifestyles per se.

Risk Assessment Mapping of Landscape Development Based on Ecological Service and Goods in Malaysia Lowland Tropical Rainforest

Amongst the impacts of converting forest to agricultural activities are soil erosion and degradation of ecology service values and goods （ESVG）. The soil erosion can be seen as on-site impacts, such as the problems of decreasing soil fertility and also its off-site impact such as the problems of sedimentation of the nearby rivers, whilst the degradation of ESVG are more holistie in nature, These impacts can be devastating in environmental, biological, and socio-economic manners. This paper reports the study undertaken on the impacts of agricultural development in 0.8 million ha of forest dominated landscape in Pasoh Forest Region （PFR）, Malaysia, within period of 8 years from 1995 to 2003. Three folds of impacts on agricultural development examined and analysed, are： （i） relationship of total soil loss and changes in land use pattern, （ii） mapping trends of ESVG for PFR in 1995 and 2003, and （iii） risk assessment of ESVG based on simulation of converting 339,630 ha of primary forest into mass-scale oil palm plantation. Results of this study indicated that although only minor changes of about 1464 ha （about 0.2% of PFR） of primary forest was converted to agricultural activities, it have significantly increased the total soil loss from 59 to 69 million ton/ha/yr. The mean rate of soil is loss for PFR is 0.8 mil ton/ha/yr and if translated into ESVG term, the soil loss costs about US$ 4.8mil/yr. However, majority of the soil loss within all land use classes are within range of very low-low risk categories （〈10 ton/ha/yr）. ESVG for PFR were costing US$ 179 millions in 1995, declined to US$114 millions in 2003 due to 0.2% reduction of forested land. The ESVG of converting 339,630 ha primary forest into mass plantation cost less than original forest within period of 20 years examined; the 20th year of conversion, the ESVG of plantation and to-remain as forest cost US$ 963 and US$ 575 millions, respectively. However, this difference is only marginal when full attributes of ESVG are considered.

Experimental and numerical study of buckling-restrained braces configured with out-of-plane eccentricity under cyclic loading

This study focuses on variations in the hysteretic behavior of buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)configured with or without out-of-plane eccentricity under cyclic loading.Quasi-static experiments and numerical simulations were carried out on concentrically and eccentrically loaded BRB specimens to investigate the mechanical properties,energy dissipation performance,stress distribution,and high-order deformation pattern.The experimental and numerical results showed that compared to the concentrically loaded BRBs,the stiffness,yield force,cumulated plastic ductility(CPD)coefficient,equivalent viscous damping coefficient and energy dissipation decreased,and the yield displacement and compression strength adjustment factor increased for the eccentrically loaded BRBs.With the existence of the out-of-plane eccentricity,the initial yield position changes from the yield segment to the junction between the yield segment and transition segment under a tensile load,while the initial high-order buckling pattern changes from a first-order C-shape to a secondorder S-shape under a compressive load.

Higher Performance Seismic Structures for Advanced Cities and Societies

1. Introduction Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, is the capital of Japan, a heavily earthquake-prone country. The Japanese population and much of its functionality are highly concentrated in Tokyo. The estimated damage to Tokyo as a result of future large earthquakes with a magnitude greater than the Japanese scale 7 is extremely high. The number of casualties could exceed 20 000 due to both the shaking itself and post-earthquake fires.

Causal relationships between physical, mental and social health-related factors among the Japanese elderly: A chronological study

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of physical, mental and social well being. This study was conducted to explore chronological relationships between physical, mental and social factors. Among urban-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and over, data were collected via a self-report questionnaire in 2001 and 2004. The three health-related latent factors were identified with nine measurement variables by an exploratory factor analysis. A structural equation modeling method was used to analyze underlying relationships among the three factors with a cross-lagged model and a synchronous model. A total of 7,683 individuals aged between 65 and 84 years were analyzed. The three-year prior and current physical health significantly affected social health as well as mental health, and this effect appeared to be stronger in males compared to females. Maintenance of physical health may be crucial to support mental and social health among elderly individuals.

Verifying Ricardo＇s Model--Whether TPP is Right or Wrong？

Through his attempt to clarify justifiable economic circumstances where a policy of globalization and/or a policy of national isolation is proven valid, the author reveals in this thesis that there are two such economic phases： an economy where the theory of comparative advantage, proposed by David Ricardo, is applicable, and an economy where the theory is not applicable. The author applied his original approach to prove the validity of Ricardo＇s comparative advantage theory, and found that the theory can be justified only when a macro economy is in the thetical economic phase, where a policy of globalization is effective. It is a necessary and sufficient condition for the theory to be valid. In other words, Ricardo＇s theory of comparative advantage is not applicable when a macro economy is in the antithetical economic phase, where a policy of national isolation, instead of that of globalization, is valid. The thetical economic phase and the antithetical economic phase of a macro economy, referred to in this thesis by the author, are a version of an expression quite common in OR （operations research）.

One-Step Synthesis of Magnetically Recyclable Au/Co/Fe Triple- Layered Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Highly Efficient Catalysts for the Hydrolytic Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane

Magnetically recyclable Au/Co/Fe core-shell nanoparticles （NPs） have been successfully synthesized via a one-step in situ procedure. Transmission electron microscope （TEM）, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic （EDS）, and electron energy-loss spectroscopic （EELS） measurements revealed that the trimetallic Au/Co/Fe NPs have a triple-layered core-shell structure composed of a Au core, a Co-rich inter-layer, and a Fe-rich shell. The Au/Co/Fe core-shell NPs exhibit much higher catalytic activities for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane （NHBBH3, AB） than the monometallic （Au, Co, Fe） or bimetallic （AuCo, AuFe, CoFe） counterparts.

Determination of ammonium on an integrated microchip with LED-induced fluorescence detection

A simply fabricated microfluidic device integrated with a fluorescence detection system has been developed for on-line determination of ammonium in aqueous samples. A 365-nm light-emitting diode （LED） as an excitation source and a minor band pass filter were mounted into a polydimethylsiloxane （PDMS）-based microchip for the purpose of miniaturization of the entire analytical system. The ammonium sample reacted with o-phthaldialdehyde （OPA） on-chip with sodium sulfite as reducing reagent to produce a fluorescent isoindole derivative, which can emit fluorescence signal at about 425 nm when excited at 365 nm. Effects of pH, flow rate of solutions, concentrations of OPA-reagent, phosphate and sulfite salt were investigated. The calibration curve of ammonium in the range of 0.018- 1.8 μg/mL showed a good linear relationship with R2 = 0.9985, and the detection limit was （S /N = 3） 3.6 × 10 4 μg/mL. The relative standard deviation was 2.8% （n = 11） by calculating at 0.18 μg/mL ammonium for repeated detection. The system was applied to determine the ammonium concentration in rain and river waters, even extent to other analytes fluorescence detection by the presented device.

Shell microparticles of morphology controlled and inner-modified hole from sequential inkjet-printed double emulsions

This article presents sequential inkjet-based method to produce double emulsions as templates to fabricate morphology-controlled and inner-modified hole-shell microparticles. This sequential printing strategy for producing double emulsions circumvents complex wettability modification of the microchannels in lithography-based microfluidic device and largely saves the reagent in comparison to the coaxial two-phase jet in glass capillary. The formation of hole-shell structures is attributed to the diffusion of solvent out of droplets into butanol at the interface between oil and extract phase. The change of hole size is controlled by different diffusion rate, which is determined by changing the volume ratio of butanol and alcohol in extract phase.This presented flexible method can fabricate some functionalized microparticles in our future work.

Regional characteristics of industrial energy efficiency in China： application of stochastic frontier analysis method

This paper analyzed regional industrial energy efficiency in China with Total-Factor Energy Efficiency （TFEE）. The East region has the best energy efficiency and the Central and the West regions stand as the second and the third respectively. However, it is found that industrial energy efficiency of all regions increased from 1998 to 2006. This result is consistent with level of economic development of every region. The industries of all provinces in China are not yet at the frontier efficiency position, therefore, to the frontier as target, their technol- ogy levels and production processes should be adjusted accordingly. Compared with the conventional energy efficiency, the inverse of energy intensity, which is defined as the ratio of actual output to energy input, is regarded as Single-Factor Energy Efficiency （SFEE） index. Although TFEE ranks are not changed for each region, they are different for each province. The comparative result also shows that the substitution among inputs （labor, capital stock, and energy） to produce the output is significant. The SFEE scores could be over-estimated if energy is taken as the single input in the production. Finally, we identified determining factors affecting industrial energy efficiency using Tobit model. The results indicate that an increase of per capita Gross Domestic Product （GDP）, the percentage of output value of industry invested by Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad, energy price and investment of scientific and technological activities for industry could be possible contributors and drivers to the industrial energy efficiency. However, increasing of heavy industry will lead to worse industrial energy efficiency.

A chemo-mechanical switchable valve on microfluidic chip based on a thermally responsive block copolymer

Microfluidic devices have become a powerful tool for chemical and biologic applications.To control different functional parts on the microchip,valve plays a key role in the device.In conventional methods,physio-mechanical valves are usually used on microfluidic chip.Herein,we reported a chemo-mechanical switchable valve on microfluidic chip by using a thermally responsive block copolymer.The wettability changes of capillary with copolymer modification on inner surface were investigated to verify the function as a valve.Capillaries with modification of poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate)(P(NIPAAm-co-HFIPA))with a 20%HFIPA was demonstrated capable of control aqueous solution stop or go through.Then short capillaries with copolymer modification were integrated in microchannels as valves.With the temperature changing around lower critical solution temperature(LCST),the integrated chemo-mechanical switchable valve exhibited excellent“OPEN–CLOSE”behavior for microflow control.After optimization of the block copolymer sequences and molar ratio,a switching time as low as 20 s was achieved.The developed micro valve was demonstrated effective for flow control on microchip.

Nature experience promotes preference for and willingness to coexist with wild animals among urban and suburban residents in Malaysia

Introduction:A decline in direct experience with nature can lead to disaffection of natural environments,wildlife,and public indifference towards biodiversity conservation.This study measured on affective attitude towards wildlife(i.e.,preferences for and willingness to coexist with 22 animal species)and examined the relationships between these attitudes and childhood experiences with nature.Methods:A face to face interview was carried out in rapidly urbanizing Malaysia for both urban and suburban 357 adults(age>20 years old).Results:It found that Malaysian people liked several insects and squirrels,but disliked mammals generally.Mediation analysis,with controlling sociodemographic factors(gender,age and ethnicity),showed that childhood nature experience was positively associated with preference for wild animals(standardized path coefficient=0.18;p<0.001),and the preference had a strong correlation with willingness to coexistence(standardized path coefficient=0.61;p<0.001)with the animals.Childhood nature experience,however,had limited effects on willingness to coexist with the animals via the preference,particularly for unfavourable animals.These results suggest that preference and willingness scores,even though they were significantly correlated,were different sides of affective attitudes toward animals.Conclusions:Therefore,to promote biodiversity conservation programs,we need strategies to increase acceptance of wild animals via relevant environmental education and public communication,as well as opportunities for nature activities for children.