Nanosheet-Assembled ZnO Microflower Photocatalysts

Large scale ZnO microflowers assembled by numerous nanosheets are synthesized through a facile and effective hydrothermal route. The structure and morphology of the resultant products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Photocatalytic properties of the as-synthesized products are also investigated. The results demonstrate that eosin red aqueous solution can be degraded over 97% after 110 min under UV light irradiation. In addition, methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) aqueous solution degradation experiments also are conducted in the same condition, respectively. It showed that nanosheet-assembled ZnO microflowers represent high photocatalytic activities with a degradation efficiency of 91% for CR with 90 min of irradiation and 90% for MO with 60 min of irradiation. The reported ZnO products may be promising candidates as the photocatalysts in waste water treatment

Dietary, Metabolic, and Potentially Environmental Modulation of the Lysine Acetylation Machinery

Healthy lifestyles and environment produce a good state of health. A number of scientific studies support the notion that external stimuli regulate an individual's epigenomic profile. Epigenetic changes play a key role in defining gene expression patterns under both normal and pathological conditions. As a major posttranslational modification, lysine (K) acetylation has received much attention, owing largely to its significant effects on chromatin dynamics and other cellular processes across species. Lysine acetyltransferases and deacetylases, two opposing families of enzymes governing K-acetylation, have been intimately linked to cancer and other diseases. These enzymes have been pursued by vigorous efforts for therapeutic development in the past 15 years or so. Interestingly, certain dietary components have been found to modulate acetylation levels in vivo. Here we review dietary, metabolic, and environmental modulators of the K-acetylation machinery and discuss how they may be of potential value in the context of disease prevention

The Influence of Cemented Paste Backfill on Groundwater Quality

AbstractThis little literature studies the influence of cemented paste backfill (CPB) on ground water in diggings based on quality comparison between tailings slurry, thickener overflow, indoor soak sample, and seepage of underground paste. Firstly, determine the proportion of injurious ingredient filled underground. Secondly, investigate the amount of hazardous material which are leached from paste during the long time soaking. At last, the detection is made on underground seepage water, and also sample's quality is judged by multi-object decision. The result shows, 16.74% ∼ 79.83% of injurious material in the tailings slurry has been filled into the underground, however, the soak and seepage water turned out to be level I and II when synthetically evaluated by five indexes, which shows the CPB would not pollute the underground water, and it is safe, also feasible to adopt CPB in mining industry

Orecchio: Extending Body-Language through Actuated Static and Dynamic Auricular Postures

In this paper, we propose using the auricle – the visible part of the ear – as a means of expressive output to extend body language to convey emotional states. With an initial exploratory study, we provide an initial set of dynamic and static auricular postures. Using these results, we examined the relationship between emotions and auricular postures, noting that dynamic postures involving stretching the top helix in fast (e.g., 2Hz) and slow speeds (1Hz) conveyed intense and mild pleasantness while static postures involving bending the side or top helix towards the center of the ear were associated with intense and mild unpleasantness. Based on the results, we developed a prototype (called Orrechio) with miniature motors, custommade robotic arms and other electronic components. A preliminary user evaluation showed that participants feel more comfortable using expressive auricular postures with people they are familiar with, and that it is a welcome addition to the vocabulary of human body language

Ethyl 2-[(Z)-2-benzyl­hydrazin-1-yl­idene]-2-bromo­acetate

In the title compound, C11H13BrN2O2, the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.011 Å) C—C(Br)=N—N(H)— fragment is 74.94 (16)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which generate C(6) chains propagating in [010]. Weak aromatic π–π stacking [centroid–centroid separation = 3.784 (3) Å] may also help to consolidate the packing

ZnO Film Photocatalysts

We have synthesized high-quality, nanoscale ultrathin ZnO films at relatively low temperature using a facile and effective hydrothermal approach. ZnO films were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectra (PL), and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The products demonstrated 95% photodegradation efficiency with Congo red (CR) after 40 min irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation experiments of methyl orange (MO) and eosin red also were carried out. The results indicate that the as-obtained ZnO films might be promising candidates as the excellent photocatalysts for elimination of waste water