Selective oxidation of cyclohexane: Ce promotion of nanostructured manganese tungstate

Cyclohexane selective oxidation over nanostructured MnWO4promoted with increasing amounts of Ce (1–5 wt%) has been investigated at mild conditions using molecular oxygen as oxidant. MnWO4nanorods were found to be an active catalyst for cyclohexane selective oxidation with selectivity to KA oil (cyclohexanol + cyclohexanone) of approximately 85%. The catalytic performance was improved by impregnation with 1 wt% Ce while the textural properties and crystallinity were preserved and Ce was well-dispersed on the surface. XPS analysis of 1%Ce-MnWO4showed Ce to be present mainly as Ce3+, which is known to promote oxygen adsorption, activation, and mobility. At higher Ce content, the proportion of Ce4+increased to be the main Ce species and large, heterogeneously-dispersed Ce oxide particles are formed on the catalyst surface. The lower Ce3+content reduces the promoting effect while the large Ce oxide particles block access to the active sites on the surface of the MnWO4nanorod. MnWO4and 1%Ce-MnWO4nanorods were shown to retain their selective oxidation performance in consecutive reaction runs. Surprisingly, physical mixtures of nanostructured MnWO4and a CeO2nanopowder showed enhanced selective oxidation activity compared to MnWO4alone reaching a plateau at 25–50 wt% CeO2, whereas CeO2nanopowder itself was found to be inactive at the reaction conditions. Ce promoted MnWO4shows promise as a catalyst for selective oxidation of cyclohexane and performs at least as well as the most active non-metallic heterogeneous catalysts reported in the literature

Influence of rebar diameter in concrete cracking studied using a discrete crack approach

The ability to model fracture propagation is critical to predict the structural response of a concrete member and possible failure mechanisms. Even for structures under normal service loads, good estimations on the overall deflections and associated stiffness are highly dependent on the onset of fracture and resulting crack pattern, both directly related with the tension-stiffening effect. With the aim of developing robust models to capture this behaviour, a preliminary numerical study is herein presented on the influence of rebar diameter in the cracking pattern of concrete beams captured numerically. Focus is first given to the performance of the numerical model and its mesh objectivity. Experimental results from concrete beams tested under flexural loads are adopted for validation. Two very distinct rebar diameters are used to assess the ability of the model in predicting the average crack opening, maximum crack opening and average crack spacing for a wide range of loads.ARC DE150101703, ARC DP14010052

Survey to architects: challenges to inspection and diagnosis in historical residential buildings

Using a web query among architects (n=57), we could identify the main obstacles found in the application of inspection and diagnosis procedures in historical residential buildings.  The results revealed that these procedures are not yet uniformly applied in this built heritage and pointed out the need to develop simplified methodologies and less resource-consuming methodologies, to ensure their applicability.The authors would like to acknowledge the support granted by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), in the scope of the Doctoral Program Eco-Construction and Rehabilitation (EcoCoRe), to the PhD scholarship with the reference PD/BD/127853/2016 that was fundamental for the development of this study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Anxiety, depression, traumatic stress and quality of life in colorectal cancer after different treatments: A study with Portuguese patients and their partners

Purpose: This study examines the impact of different modes of treatment on depression, anxiety, traumatic stress and quality of life in colorectal cancer patients and their partners. Methods: The sample was comprised of 114 oncology patients and 67 partners. All patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Participants were recruited from an Oncology Hospital in the North of Portugal and had been submitted to three modes of treatment: surgery, surgery plus chemotherapy or surgery followed by radiotherapy. Results: The results showed that patients who received only surgery, as treatment, had lower levels of depression, anxiety and traumatic stress symptoms when compared with patients who received surgery and chemotherapy or surgery plus radiotherapy. Partners of surgical patients presented lower levels of state anxiety and traumatic stress symptoms when compared with the other two groups. Patients with more depression had partners also more depressed. No relationship was found between anxiety and traumatic stress symptoms in patients and partners. Patients who received a diagnosis longer than 12 months had more traumatic stress, intrusion and hypervigilance. Patients with illness recurrence showed more traumatic symptoms. Anxiety and depression were the main predictors of patient’s quality of life. Traumatic stress was a predictor of symptom distress - pain/bowel pattern. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of providing psychological interventions for cancer patients and their partners. Chemotherapy patients and those diagnosed over a year, as well as their partners, are more at risk

Desilicated NaY zeolites impregnated with magnesium as catalysts for glucose isomerisation into fructose

Acknowledgement This work was performed with financial support from EPSRC(UK) under grant EP/K014749/1. Solid-state NMR spectra were obtained at the EPSRC UK National Solid-state NMR Service at Durham.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Dyadic adjustment in HPV-infected women one year after diagnosis

Objective: This study examined the contribution of age, type of human papillomavirus (HPV), attachment, sexual satisfaction, and spirituality in dyadic adjustment in women with HPV from diagnosis to one year later. Method: This is a longitudinal study with three assessment moments: (T1) at the diagnosis appointment, (T2) six months after, and (T3) 12 months after the diagnosis. Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire as well as several other measures: HPV Knowledge Questionnaire (HPVQ), Papanicolaou Exam Knowledge Questionnaire (PEK-Q), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS), Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS), Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-Short Form (ECR-S), Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing With Illness (SpREUK), and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). Results: Age showed a positive impact on sexual dissatisfaction at T2. Sexual dissatisfaction at T1 predicted sexual dissatisfaction at T2 and dyadic adjustment at T3. Spirituality and insecure attachment at T1 negatively predicted insecure attachment at T2, and the latter predicted dyadic adjustment at T3. Conclusions: The results corroborate the need to assess the dyad when women are diagnosed with HPV. Only then it will be possible to design differentiated intervention programs that take into consideration women's age, attachment style, and sexual satisfaction. Interventions should also include women's partners to promote dyadic adjustment in this population

Numerical modelling of concrete beams at serviceability conditions with a discrete crack approach and non-iterative solution-finding algorithms

This paper describes the development and validation of a comprehensive numerical model enabling the simulation of reinforced concrete beams at serviceability conditions using a discrete crack approach. The highly non-linear behaviour introduced by the different material models and the multiple cracks localising and propagating within the member pose a challenging task to classic iterative solvers, which often fail to converge. This limitation is solved with a non-iterative solution-finding algorithm, in which a total approach is used to overcome critical bifurcation points. The finite element model is validated using experimental data concerning lightweight aggregate concrete beams under flexural loading. The model is shown to properly simulate both overall and particular features of the structural response, including curvature, crack openings and crack patterns. The model is then applied to carry out a small parametric study on the role of the longitudinal reinforcement ratio and crack widths in reinforced concrete beams.ARC DE150101703, FCT UID/ ECI/04029/201