Polypyrrole-based sensor for hydrazine and ammonia

An ultra-thin layer of polypyrrole can be coated on non-conducting substrates, e.g., acrylic, by dip coating into a colloidal suspension of polypyrrole. This thin coating reversibly combines with low concentrations of ammonia or hydrazine with a concomitant reversible increase in resistance; 0.1 μg cm^?3 of ammonia can readily be detected with a 1 cm² area of sensor.     

Monitoring of Airborne Organic Vapors Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Abstract

Automated, continuous monitoring of organic vapors in air under three field designs for plume drift was demonstrated using a hand-held ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) in characterizing IMS behavior as a point sensor. In one field study, the IMS was placed 50cm from a 9m² grass plot contaminated with methylsalicylate and response to airborne vapors was recorded during a 13hr period of atmospheric turbulence to illustrate susceptibility of point sensors to wind direction. A similar study under near-quiescent atmospheric conditions was made using dimethylsulfoxide. In a third study, the plume from a point source of dipropyleneglycolmonomethylether was interrogated over a 25m × 12m grid downwind with windspeeds of 6–18km h^?. Laboratory studies were used to measure instrumental response times and influences from potentially interfering atmospheric organic pollutants.     

Salt effect on molecular orientation at air/liquid methanol interface

The salt effects on molecular orientation at air/liquid methanol interface were investigated by the polarization-dependent sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy(SFG-VS). We clarified that the average tilting angle of the methyl group to be u = 308 58 at the air/pure methanol surface assuming a d-function orientational distribution. Upon the addition of 3 mol/L Na I, the methyl group tilts further away from the surface normal with a new u = 418 38. This orientational change does not explain the enhancement of the SFG-VS intensities when adding Na I, implying the number density of the methanol molecules with a net polar ordering in the surface region also changed with the Na I concentrations. These spectroscopic findings shed new light on the salt effects on the surfaces structures of the polar organic solutions. It was also shown that the accurate determination of the bulk refractive indices and Raman depolarization ratios for different salt concentrations is crucial to quantitatively interpret the SFG-VS data.     

Influence of staff number and internal constellation on surgical site infection in an operating room

Prediction of bacteria-carrying particle (BCP) dispersion and particle distribution released from staff members in an operating room (OR) is very important for creating and sustaining a safe indoor environment. Postoperative wound infections cause significant morbidity and mortality, and contribute to increased hospitalization time. Increasing the number of personnel within the OR disrupts the ventilation airflow pattern and causes enhanced contamination risk in the area of an open wound. Whether the amount of staff within the OR influences the BCP distribution in the surgical zone has rarely been investigated. This study was conducted to explore the influence of the number of personnel in the OR on the airflow field and the BCP distribution. This was performed by applying a numerical calculation to map the airflow field and Lagrangian particle tracking (LPT) for the BCP phase. The results are reported both for active sampling and passive monitoring approaches. Not surprisingly, a growing trend in the BCP concentration (cfu/m³) was observed as the amount of staff in the OR increased. Passive sampling shows unpredictable results due to the sedimentation rate, especially for small particles (5–10 μm). Risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) must be well understood to develop more effective prevention programs.     

Degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) in aqueous solution by mFe/Cu-air-PS system

In this study, batch experiments were conducted to investigate the performance of microscale Fe/Cu bimetallic particles-air-persulfate system (mFe/Cu-air-PS) for p-nitrophenol (PNP) treatment in aqueous solution. The results indicate that toxic and refractory PNP in aqueous solution could be decomposed effectively and transformed into lower toxicity intermediates.     

Determination of Formaldehyde Traces in Fabric and in Indoor Air by a Kinetic Fluorimetric Method

A simple and sensitive kinetic fluorimetric method is reported for the determination of trace amount of formaldehyde. The proposed method is based on the catalytic effect of formaldehyde on the oxidation reaction of rhodamine B with potassium chlorate in sulfuric acid solution. Formaldehyde in the range of 0.020-0.340 µg/mL can be determined with a limit of detection of 5.73 ng/mL. The method has been used to determine trace formaldehyde in fabric and in indoor air. The results thus obtained show good agreement with those determined by acetyl acetone method.     

Electrochemical sensors for environmental gas analysis

The application of electrochemical sensors for measurement of concentration of pollutant gases in air in the part-per-billion (10⁹) range is reviewed. Performance-limiting factors, particularly the effects of extremes and of relatively rapid changes in ambient temperature and humidity, are noted. Variations in composition of the electrolyte in the meniscus at the electrode–gas interface and instability of the solid–liquid–gas contact line, causing important variations in current due to background electrode reactions, are deduced and suggested as the reason for the performance limitations. Suggestions are made for mitigation through instrument design.     

液体空分流程形式浅析

通过对全液体空分装置不同流程组织形式进行分析和模拟计算、能耗与投资的比较,根据不同规格的产品要求,进行合适的流程形式选择,以可达到节能降耗的目的。     

Influence of staff number and internal constellation on surgical site infection in an operating room

Prediction of bacteria-carrying particle （BCP） dispersion and particle distribution released from staffmem- bers in an operating room （OR） is very important for creating and sustaining a safe indoor environment. Postoperative wound infections cause significant morbidity and mortality, and contribute to increased hospitalization time. Increasing the number of personnel within the OR disrupts the ventilation airflow pattern and causes enhanced contamination risk in the area of an open wound. Whether the amount of staffwithin the OR influences the BCP distribution in the surgical zone has rarely been investigated. This study was conducted to explore the influence of the number of personnel in the OR on the airflow field and the BCP distribution. This was performed by applying a numerical calculation to map the airflow field and Lagrangian particle tracking （LPT） for the BCP phase. The results are reported both for active sampling and passive monitoring approaches. Not surprisingly, a growing trend in the BCP concentration （cfu/ms） was observed as the amount of staff in the OR increased. Passive sampling shows unpredictable results due to the sedimentation rate, especially for small particles （5-10 i~m）. Risk factors for surgical site infections （SSls） must be well understood to develop more effective prevention programs.