Effects of chloride, sulfate and natural organic matter (NOM) on the accumulation and release of trace-level inorganic contaminants from corroding iron.

This study examined effects of varying levels of anions (chloride and sulfate) and natural organic matter (NOM) on iron release from and accumulation of inorganic contaminants in corrosion scales formed on iron coupons exposed to drinking water. Changes of concentrations of sulfate and chloride were observed to affect iron release and, in lesser extent, the retention of representative inorganic contaminants (vanadium, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, lead and uranium); but, effects of NOM were more pronounced. DOC concentration of 1 mg/L caused iron release to increase, with average soluble and total iron concentrations being four and two times, respectively, higher than those in the absence of NOM.

Effects of blending of desalinated and conventionally treated surface water on iron corrosion and its release from corroding surfaces and pre-existing scales.

This study examined effects of blending desalinated water with conventionally treated surface water on iron corrosion and release from corroding metal surfaces and pre-existing scales exposed to waters having varying fractions of desalinated water, alkalinities, pH values and orthophosphate levels. The presence of desalinated water resulted in markedly decreased 0.45 μm-filtered soluble iron concentrations.

Factors affecting caregivers' perceptions of residents' oral health in long-term care facilities in Taiwan.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between resident oral care policies provided by 2 types of long-term care (LTC) institutions. The study also investigated factors affecting LTC institutional caregivers' perceptions of the residents' oral health. Overall, 103 completed questionnaires were returned.

Speciation of trace inorganic contaminants in corrosion scales and deposits formed in drinking water distribution systems.

Sequential extractions utilizing the modified Tessier scheme (Krishnamurti et al., 1995) and measurements of soluble and particulate metal released from suspended solids were used in this study to determine the speciation and mobility of inorganic contaminants (As, Cr, V, U, Cd, Ni, and Mn) found in corrosion scales and particles mobilized during hydraulic flushing events. Arsenic, chromium and vanadium are primarily associated with the mobilization-resistant fraction that is resistant to all eluents used in this study and also bound in highly stable crystalline iron oxides.

Characterization of elemental and structural composition of corrosion scales and deposits formed in drinking water distribution systems.

Corrosion scales and deposits formed within drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) have the potential to retain inorganic contaminants. The objective of this study was to characterize the elemental and structural composition of extracted pipe solids and hydraulically-mobile deposits originating from representative DWDSs. Goethite (alpha-FeOOH), magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) and siderite (FeCO(3)) were the primary crystalline phases identified in most of the selected samples.

Novel approach to fuzzy-wavelet ECG signal analysis for a mobile device.

This paper describes a signal processing technique for ECG signal analysis based upon the combination of wavelet analysis and fuzzy c-means clustering. The signal analysis technique is implemented into a biomedical signal diagnostic unit that is the carry on device for the Wireless Nano-Bios Diagnostic System (WNBDS) developed at National Taiwan University. The WNBDS integrates mobile devices and remote data base servers to conduct online monitoring and remote healthcare applications.

Red soil as a regenerable sorbent for high temperature removal of hydrogen sulfide from coal gas.

In this study, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) was removed from coal gas by red soil under high temperature in a fixed-bed reactor. Red soil powders were collected from the northern, center and southern of Taiwan. They were characterized by XRPD, porosity analysis and DCB chemical analysis.