The Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol Addition on the Optical Properties and Oxygen Detection Performance of Titanium Dioxide and Methylene Blue Nanocomposite Colorimetric Indicators.

In this study, we investigated the impact of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) incorporation on the optical properties and oxygen detection performance of a titanium dioxide/methylene blue (TiO/MB) nanocomposite colorimetric indicator for packaging applications. The nanocomposite was synthesized via mechanical milling of TiO nanoparticles with MB and citric acid. PVA, at varying concentrations (0, 3, 9, and 14 wt%), was introduced during the wet milling process to produce a homogeneous composite film.

Scientific justifications for the political decision-making on environmental remediation carried out after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

The Japanese government decided to implement environmental remediation after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (termed "1F" in Japan) accident on 11th March 2011. As the initial additional annual dose target was set to be 1 mSv or less as a long-term goal, we examined the decision-making process undertaken by the then leaders, particularly the Minister of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) who was responsible for the final decision. We found that technically based assessment of dose targets, health effects and risk-based approaches justified by scientific experts were not communicated to the then Minister and officials of the MOE before the remediation strategy was decided.

Discovery of Amorphous Iron Hydrides via Novel Quiescent Reaction in Aqueous Solution.

Novel amorphous iron hydrides (AIHs) are synthesized for the first time under ambient conditions by employing novel "quiescent reaction", without stirring for mixing solutions, during a conventional aqueous reduction-precipitation process. The kind and morphology of AIHs are dependent on the processing condition, where two types are found, with one form consisting of a tangle of uniform nanowires and the other being granular in nature. Both AIHs undergo transformation to crystalline α-Fe by heat treatment at 600 °C.

An optimum treatment for waste electronic home appliance in remote area: The case of Kinmen, Taiwan.

An optimum treatment system for the waste electronic home appliance in remote area by local pre-processing and outsourcing post-processing is proposed. The cost reduction potential of the proposed treatment system is presented for main four types of electronic home appliances by the case study of Kinmen, Taiwan. Implementation of local pre-processing in Kinmen, Taiwan can provide 42, 54, 32, and 41 TWD unit cost reduction for television, washing machine, refrigerator, and air conditioner, respectively, comparing to the current treatment system.

Structure and catalytic behaviour of CuO-CeO prepared by high-energy ball milling.

The aim of this study is to prepare CuO-CeO composite by means of mechanical milling and to investigate its characteristics as a catalyst. The structural and morphological features of milled samples are observed by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The redox property and total OSC (oxygen storage capacity) of the milled sample were measured by using GC-TCD and TG-DTA, which are important parameters to indicate the effectiveness of catalysts.

Assessment of new functional units for agrivoltaic systems.

In agrivoltaic systems, photovoltaic (PV) modules are ground-mounted between crops replacing a part of greenhouse or are set below or above the cover film of greenhouse; these can provide solutions with respect to land competition and climate change mitigation. These systems have certain additional functions, namely, sunlight sharing, land sharing and power generation, as compared to the conventional agricultural production systems. These new functions are not adequately performed by traditionally used functional units (FUs), such as the mass- or the area-based FU, in agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA).

New LnOCl (Ln = Sm, Nd) photocatalyst and novel cocatalytic effect on BiOCl in humid environment.

This is the first report on photocatalytic properties of LnOCl (Ln = Sm, Nd) compounds, and the novel cocatalytic effect on BiOCl in highly humid environments, evaluated via the photoremoval of nitric oxide (NO).

Gushing in canned beer: the effect of ultrasonic vibration.

Everybody has had the experience of a canned carbonated drink overflowing and soiling their clothes. It is difficult to guess the amount of overflow before opening the can, although the phenomenon can be simply explained as the result of the formation of gas bubbles. In this article, we report the surprising result that intensive shaking using ultrasonic vibration can calm this effect in beer.