University at Buffalo

About: University at Buffalo is a education organization based out in Buffalo, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 33773 authors who have published 63840 publications receiving 2278954 citations. The organization is also known as: UB & State University of New York at Buffalo.

BINARY MgO-BASED SOLID SOLUTION CATALYSTS FOR METHANE CONVERSION TO SYNGAS

Abstract: The excellent catalytic performance and high stability of MgO–NiO solid solution catalysts in CH4 conversion to syngas generated the recent outburst of interest for the binary MgO-based solid solutions. This review will focus on the relationship between the catalytic performance of the binary MgO-based solid solution and its properties in the CO2 reforming, the partial oxidation and the steam reforming of methane. First, the development of methane conversion to syngas will be summarized. Second, the role of the basicity and of the solid solution in the design of a catalyst that can inhibit carbon deposition and active metal sintering will be examined. Third, the main results regarding the catalytic performance of the MgO-based solid solutions will be presented. Fourth, detailed information regarding the effects of the NiO/MgO composition, surface area, pore distribution, crystal lattice parameter, precursors, and preparation condition on its catalytic behavior will be provided.

The Integrated Behavioural Model for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: a systematic review of behavioural models and a framework for designing and evaluating behaviour change interventions in infrastructure-restricted settings

Abstract: Promotion and provision of low-cost technologies that enable improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices are seen as viable solutions for reducing high rates of morbidity and mortality due to enteric illnesses in low-income countries A number of theoretical models, explanatory frameworks, and decision-making models have emerged which attempt to guide behaviour change interventions related to WASH The design and evaluation of such interventions would benefit from a synthesis of this body of theory informing WASH behaviour change and maintenance We completed a systematic review of existing models and frameworks through a search of related articles available in PubMed and in the grey literature Information on the organization of behavioural determinants was extracted from the references that fulfilled the selection criteria and synthesized Results from this synthesis were combined with other relevant literature, and from feedback through concurrent formative and pilot research conducted in the context of two cluster-randomized trials on the efficacy of WASH behaviour change interventions to inform the development of a framework to guide the development and evaluation of WASH interventions: the Integrated Behavioural Model for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (IBM-WASH) We identified 15 WASH-specific theoretical models, behaviour change frameworks, or programmatic models, of which 9 addressed our review questions Existing models under-represented the potential role of technology in influencing behavioural outcomes, focused on individual-level behavioural determinants, and had largely ignored the role of the physical and natural environment IBM-WASH attempts to correct this by acknowledging three dimensions (Contextual Factors, Psychosocial Factors, and Technology Factors) that operate on five-levels (structural, community, household, individual, and habitual) A number of WASH-specific models and frameworks exist, yet with some limitations The IBM-WASH model aims to provide both a conceptual and practical tool for improving our understanding and evaluation of the multi-level multi-dimensional factors that influence water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in infrastructure-constrained settings We outline future applications of our proposed model as well as future research priorities needed to advance our understanding of the sustained adoption of water, sanitation, and hygiene technologies and practices

Long-range and short-range mechanisms of hydrophobic attraction and hydrophilic repulsion in specific and aspecific interactions

Abstract: Among the three different non-covalent forces acting in aqueous media, i.e. Lifshitz-van der Waals (LW), Lewis acid-base (AB) and electrical double layer (EL) forces, the AB forces or electron-acceptor/electron-donor interactions are quantitatively by far the predominant ones. A subset of the AB forces acting in water causes the hydrophobic effect, which is the attraction caused by the hydrogen-bonding (AB) free energy of cohesion between the water molecules which surround all apolar as well as polar molecules and particles when they are immersed in water. As the polar energy of cohesion among water molecules is an innate property of water, the hydrophobic attraction (due to the hydrophobic effect) is unavoidably always present in aqueous media and has a value of DeltaG(hydrophobic) = -102 mJ/m(2), at 20 degrees C, being equal to the AB free energy of cohesion between the water molecules at that temperature. The strong underlying hydrophobic attraction due to this effect can, however, be surmounted by very hydrophilic molecules and particles that attract water molecules more strongly than the free energy of attraction of these molecules or particles for one another, plus the hydrogen-bonding free energy of cohesion between the water molecules, thus resulting in a net non-electrical double layer repulsion. Each of the three non-covalent forces, LW, AB or EL, any of which can be independently attractive or repulsive, decays, dependent on the circumstances, as a function of distance according to different rules. These rules, following an extended DLVO (XDLVO) approach, are given, as well as the measurement methods for the LW, AB and EL surface thermodynamic properties, determined at "contact". The implications of the resulting hydrophobic attractive and hydrophilic repulsive free energies, as a function of distance, are discussed with respect to specific and aspecific interactions in biological systems. The discussion furnishes a description of the manner by which shorter-range specific attractions can surmount the usually much stronger long-range aspecific repulsion, and ends with examples of in vitro and in vivo effects of hydrophilization of biopolymers, particles or surfaces by linkage with polyethylene oxide (PEO; also called polyethylene glycol, PEG).

Techniques of Measuring Contact Angles

Abstract: The previous chapter was largely theoretical, in that it dealt with the interpretation of contact angle results in terms of solid surface energies. It also delved into the question of how the structure of a solid surface affects the contact angle that a liquid forms on the solid. The level of structure considered there included features that are not macroscopically observed, such as microheterogeneities, or minute peaks, pits, hills, and grooves in various geometries. Their existence may be inferred from certain observations, such as contact angle hysteresis, and sometimes they can be observed directly, e.g., with the optical or electron microscope.