Cerium oxide has attracted attention recently for its photocatalytic properties, but there are gaps in understanding its performance, especially at low and high pH. UV irradiation of ceria nanoparticles causes electrons from photogenerated electron-hole pairs to localize as small polarons, yielding Ce3+ ions. In pH 10 solution, ceria nanoparticles capped with polyacrylic acid ligands can accumulate large numbers of Ce3+ defects as revealed by strong bleaching of the absorption onset.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA stable sol of cerium oxide nanoparticles forms spontaneously when cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate (CAN) is dissolved in room-temperature water at mM concentrations. Electron microscopy experiments reveal the formation of highly crystalline cerium oxide particles several nm in diameter and suggest that they are formed from amorphous particles that are similar in size. Under the low pH conditions of the experiments, the nanoparticles form a stable dispersion and show no evidence of aggregation, even many months after synthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe rise in emergency admissions has been 2-3 per cent over the last 20 years and shows no sign of abatement. Medical emergencies account for most of the increase Emergency admissions should be divided into short and long stays. This type of analysis shows that the bulk of the increase in emergency admissions has been for short-stay patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo major hospital moves in Lanarkshire were completed smoothly by predicting the number of emergency admissions likely over the crucial periods and involving GPs and all the hospitals concerned. An analysis of emergency admissions was one factor in deciding which days the moves should take place on. A workshop after the first move was finished proved important.
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