Decoration of titania nanofibres with anatase nanoparticles as efficient photocatalysts for decomposing pesticides and phenols

Using a series of partial phase transitions, an effective photocatalyst with fibril morphology was prepared. The catalytic activities of these materials were tested against phenol and herbicide in water. Both H-titanate and TiO2-(B) fibres decorated with anatase nanocrystals were studied. It was found that anatase coated TiO2-(B) fibres prepared by a 45 h hydrothermal treatment followed by calcination were not only superior photocatalysts but could also be readily separated from the slurry after photocatalytic reactions due to its fibril morphology

The self-concept of children disfigured by burns and the effect of role-play on their self-concept

Bibliography: pages 200-211.This study aimed at investigating the role of physical-distinctiveness as a pertinent feature of self-concept, using the special case of children disfigured by burns. Within this group of children, the study also aimed to explore, by means of a comparative study, the possibility of improving the self-concept of burned children, through the use of selected components of the D.U.S.O. Guidance Programme. Lastly, the study aimed at gaining a clear picture of the burned child in terms of both social and psychological features. Twenty-seven subjects, in three matched groups (burn treatment group, burn control group and non-burn control group) took part in the study. The burn treatment group participated in the D.U.S.O. Programme which took place over a period of five consecutive days with five daily sessions of 90 minutes each. The burn control group took part in sessions similar to those of the burn treatment group, except that they participated in play and not the D.U.S.O. Programme. The non-burn control group was introduced as a baseline measure and did not take part in any sessions. It was hypothesized that the burn groups of children would show a significant increase in overall self-concept as a result of enrichment offered by the daily sessions. It was similarly hypothesized that, due to enrichment provided by the D.U.S.O. Programme, the burn treatment group would, when compared to the burn control group, show a significant increase in overall self-concept. It was further hypothesized that the burn treatment group would, when compared to the control groups, show a significant increase in social-self, parental-self, physical-self and school-self self-concept subscales while showing a significant decrease in aggression and body-image disturbance scores on the Draw-a-Person test, due to the greater understanding and acceptance of the self promoted by the D.U.S.O. Programme. Data obtained through the use of Laubscher's (1978) Self-Concept Questionnaire for Primary School Children (Afrikaans) and Machover's Draw-a-Person test failed to support the hypotheses. A broad trend for the burn treatment group to increase on social- and physical-self subscales of self-concept was, however, found. Quantitative data were combined and these, together with data from an Adaptation Questionnaire, based on the American Association on Mental Deficiency's "Adaptive Behaviour Scale" (1975), formed the basis for building-up a profile of the psychosocial adjustment of the burned child. Results were discussed with reference to the literature. The study's limitations were examined and future areas of research were suggested

Second order effects in RC columns: comparative analysis of design approaches

The objective of this project is to analyze different design approaches for RC columns, in particular those cases in which second order effects should be considered when the column is under compression. Throughout the study, a variety of support cases and different types of section will be presented for columns of different slenderness ratios. These cases will be resolved using the Simplified Methods provided in Eurocode 2 and the evolution of second order effects with the slenderness ratio will be studied. Within this study, the influence of creep, area of reinforcement and area of concrete in the second order moment will be investigated, to then discern the differences between the Nominal Stiffness and the Nominal Curvature methods. It will be determined that in the Nominal Stiffness method creep has an increasing effect as the slenderness ratio increments. Creep will have an effect in the Nominal Curvature method until a certain slenderness value is achieved, which depends on the compressive characteristic strength. When studying the influence of the areas of reinforcement and concrete in taking into account second order effects, it will also be deduced that increasing the area of reinforcement is a good solution if the slenderness only just exceeds the slenderness limit. If the slenderness is much higher than the limit, then it is better to increase the area of concrete since it will increase the limit and reduce the slenderness more effectively. The differences found between the three types of sections will also be a subject of study. These sections will be rectangular with reinforcement placed in opposite sides, rectangular with uniform distribution of reinforcement and circular with uniform distribution of reinforcement. The first section is the least affected by second order effects whilst the second section is the most affected. For the calculations, a tool in the form of a spreadsheet for the Simplified Methods will be created with the purpose of being intuitive to use and generate output values automatically. Finally, columns of different slenderness ratios will be modeled and tested by means of a finite element (FEM) analysis. The results of the evolution of the second order moment with the slenderness ratio will be compared to those obtained through the Simplified Methods and will prove to be quite similar

TOWARDS A POINTAL ECCLESIOLOGY: ZIZEK AND BADIOU IN THEOLOGICAL CONVERSATION

This thesis presents a survey of Alain Badiou’s ontology and theory of the “event,” including his understanding of “faithful subject,” followed by an examination of Slavoj Zizek’s materialist theology, undertaken with a view to what they can say to inform the modem Western Church. Though the thrust of their work is primarily political and ethical in nature, Zizek and Badiou will be drawn upon here to construct an outline of a “pointal ecclesiology,” by which is meant the collective fidelity of the Spirit community to a truth, point by point, in a world. While wholehearted appropriation of their work is not theologically unproblematic, an engagement with their thought proves to be enriching. TheresultisanunderstandingofnewpossibilitiesforChristianpolitical participation, Church diversity, fidelity to truth, and the collective

The MgSiO_3 system at high pressure: Thermodynamic properties of perovskite, postperovskite, and melt from global inversion of shock and static compression data

We present new equation-of-state (EoS) data acquired by shock loading to pressures up to 245 GPa on both low-density samples (MgSiO_3 glass) and high-density, polycrystalline aggregates (MgSiO_3 perovskite + majorite). The latter samples were synthesized using a large-volume press. Modeling indicates that these materials transform to perovskite, postperovskite, and/or melt with increasing pressure on their Hugoniots. We fit our results together with existing P-V-T data from dynamic and static compression experiments to constrain the thermal EoS for the three phases, all of which are of fundamental importance to the dynamics of the lower mantle. The EoS for perovskite and postperovskite are well described with third-order Birch-Murnaghan isentropes, offset with a Mie-Grüneisen-Debye formulation for thermal pressure. The addition of shock data helps to distinguish among discrepant static studies of perovskite, and for postperovskite, constrain a value of K' significantly larger than 4. For the melt, we define for the first time a single EoS that fits experimental data from ambient pressure to 230 GPa; the best fit requires a fourth-order isentrope. We also provide a new EoS for Mg_2SiO_4 liquid, calculated in a similar manner. The Grüneisen parameters of the solid phases decrease with pressure, whereas those of the melts increase, consistent with previous shock wave experiments as well as molecular dynamics simulations. We discuss implications of our modeling for thermal expansion in the lower mantle, stabilization of ultra-low-velocity zones associated with melting at the core-mantle boundary, and crystallization of a terrestrial magma ocean

A performance approach to the design and specification of foundations for industrial ground bearing slabs and pavements

The foundations for industrial flooring and pavements are normally designed based on measurements, or prediction, of the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of the subgrade, and from this the design thickness of the foundation is chosen utilising long established empirical relationships. The modulus of subgrade reaction (k) measured by static plate bearing tests may also be used, and is correlated to CBR. The thickness design charts are the same as those used for the design of highway foundations and are based primarily on observed performance. The foundations are then constructed to a recipe specification whereby specific (tightly graded) materials are placed and compacted upon the subgrade with specified plant. The soil CBR can only be regarded as an index property and does not directly or explicitly assess the primary functional performance parameters, of stiffness or strength. If CBR were replaced with direct measurement of these parameters, then the current empirical approach could be replaced with more powerful analytical design. Performance of the as-built foundation could then be better assured by compliance testing (end product) on site during construction. By moving to a performance-based specification approach, requiring some analytical foundation design, it is anticipated that more appropriate and efficient use of plant and materials can be made. This should enable better quality construction to be achieved, more efficient use of recycled materials or stabilisation of weak subgrades, hence leading to more sustainable construction. Recent research at Loughborough University has developed such a performance-based specification approach for the design of (major) highway foundations, and has assessed those devices suitable to measure the performance parameters for both design and compliance testing. In this paper the transfer of this technology to industrial flooring and paving is suggested. The benefits of a performance-based approach to foundation design and specification are explained. The loading and function of a foundation is described and the performance parameters required to perform these functions are detailed. Suitable methods currently available to measure these performance parameters are described in brief. Finally, the implications and benefits of a move to a performance-based specification approach are discussed

The specification and testing of a horizontal axis tidal turbine rotor monitoring approach.

The sustainable deployment of Horizontal Axis Tidal Turbines will require effective management and maintenance functions. In part, these can be supported by the engineering of suitable condition monitoring systems. The development of such a system is inevitably challenging, particularly given the present limited level of operational data associated with installed turbines during fault onset. To mitigate this limitation,a computational fluid dynamics model is used to simulate the operational response of a turbine under a known set of fault conditions. Turbine rotor imbalance faults were simulated by the introduction of increasing levels of pitch angle offset for a single turbine blade. The effects of these fault cases upon cyclic variations in the torque developed by the turbine rotor were then used to aid creation of a condition monitoring approach. A parametric tidal turbine rotor model was developed based on the outputs of the computational fluid dynamics models. The model was used to facilitate testing of the condition monitoring approach under a variety of more realistic conditions. The condition monitoring approach showed good performance in fault detection and diagnosis for simulations relating to turbulence intensities of up to 2 %. Finally,the condition monitoring approach was applied to simulations of 10 % turbulence intensity. Under the 10 % turbulence intensity case the rotor monitoring approach was successfully demonstrated in its use for fault detection. The paper closes with discussion of the effectiveness of using computational fluid dynamics simulations extended by parametric models to develop condition monitoring systems for horizontal axis tidal turbine applications

Structural basis of mitochondrial receptor binding and constriction by DRP1.

Mitochondrial inheritance, genome maintenance and metabolic adaptation depend on organelle fission by dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) and its mitochondrial receptors. DRP1 receptors include the paralogues mitochondrial dynamics proteins of 49 and 51 kDa (MID49 and MID51) and mitochondrial fission factor (MFF); however, the mechanisms by which these proteins recruit and regulate DRP1 are unknown. Here we present a cryo-electron microscopy structure of full-length human DRP1 co-assembled with MID49 and an analysis of structure- and disease-based mutations. We report that GTP induces a marked elongation and rotation of the GTPase domain, bundle-signalling element and connecting hinge loops of DRP1. In this conformation, a network of multivalent interactions promotes the polymerization of a linear DRP1 filament with MID49 or MID51. After co-assembly, GTP hydrolysis and exchange lead to MID receptor dissociation, filament shortening and curling of DRP1 oligomers into constricted and closed rings. Together, these views of full-length, receptor- and nucleotide-bound conformations reveal how DRP1 performs mechanical work through nucleotide-driven allostery