'Green' treatment of acid mine drainage - a step towards sustainability

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the mining and mineral processing industries and must incorporate the associated waste products. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one such by-product and is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the minerals industry today. The oxidation of sulphidic mine wastes often continues for a substantial period of time after mine closure, resulting in difficult and costly remediation and rehabilitation works. Mining companies are often reluctant to spend increasing amounts of money on waste treatment when the mine life is limited or even finished. Hence a simple, low maintenance and low-cost method of treating AMD is required. Whilst this paper does not address the issue of AMD, it does propose methods for removal of individual species from AMD with potential benefits, including raising AMD pH.

A novel concept of using biosolids as a biological adsorbent, or ‘biosorbent’, of metals from AMD is being investigated at a laboratory/pilot scale level. Biosolids are a by-product resulting from the biological treatment of wastewater, and have been previously shown to adsorb metals from aqueous solutions. This could lead to an environmentally sustainable or ‘green’ method for treating both AMD discharges and disposing/reusing the biosolids.

The result of a laboratory-scale study of the biosorption of Zn(II) is presented in this paper. Physical parameters including reaction kinetics, mixing speed and solution pH were investigated. Solution pH also rose an average of 2 pH units over the 24 hour equilibrium time – a valuable side effect when treating acid mine drainage. The outcome of the study highlights the usefulness of biosolids as a biosorbent for the removal/recovery of metal ions from acid mine drainage. A simple, low-cost treatment technology requiring low maintenance would be beneficial to the mining industry to address some issues relating to AMD and would help integrate environmental and economic considerations into sustainable environmental management.

Quantum cryptography - one step closer to reality

Most of cryptographic techniques today provide secure enough communications in society. However, none of them can provide unconditional security (except One-Time pad, which is the only such mechanism). They all have weaknesses. That is why they should be consistently updated and renovated along with changes in technology.

However, the quantum computers have potential to completely revolutionize cryptography. They would be so powerful that all complex computations and mathematical problems on which current cryptography rely, would become trivial. They would be able to solve them in a matter of seconds. At the same time quantum cryptography would offer perfectly secure communication.

This paper is brief introduction to quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and to existing quantum technology.

Effect of feeding systems on omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid and trans fatty acids in Australian beef cuts: potential impact on humnan health

The influence of feeding systems on the levels of functional lipids and other fatty acid concentrations in Australian beef was examined. Rump, strip loin and blade cuts obtained from grass feeding, short-term grain feeding (80 days; STGF) and long-term grain feedlot rations (150-200 days; LTFL) were used in the present study. The typical Australian feedlot ration contains more than 50% barley and/or sorghum and balanced with whole cottonseed and protein meals were used as feed for STGF and LTFL regimens. Meat cuts from 18 cattle for each feeding regimen were trimmed of visible fat and  connective tissue and then minced (300 g lean beef); replicate samples of 7g were used for fatty acid (FA) analysis. There was a significantly higher level of total omega-3 (n-3) and long chain n-3 FA in grass-fed beef (P <0.0001) than the grain-fed groups regardless of cut types. Cuts from STGF beef had significantly reduced levels of n-3 FA and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and similar levels of saturated, monounsaturated and n-6 FA compared with grass feeding (P <0.001). Cuts from LTFL beef had higher levels of saturated, monounsaturated, n-6 FA and trans 18:1 than similar  cuts from the other two groups (P <0.01), indicating that increased length of grain feeding was associated with more fat deposited in the carcass. There was a step-wise increase in trans 18:1 content from grass to STGF to LTGF, suggesting grain feeding elevates trans FA in beef, probably because of increased intake of 18:2n-6. Only grass-fed beef reached the target of more than 30mg of long chain n-3 FA/100 g muscle as recommended by Food Standard Australia and New Zealand for a food to be considered a source of omega- 3 fatty acids. The proportions of trans 18:1 and n-6 FA were higher (P<0.001) for both grain-fed beef groups than grass-fed beef. Data from the present study show that grain feeding decreases functional lipid  components (long chain n-3 FA and CLA) in Australian beef regardless of meat cuts, while increasing total trans 18:1 and saturated FA levels.

Joint European masters awards in construction management and construction economics : a positive step for surveying education?

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 5th European Conference in November 2004 focussed on enhancing collaboration at master's level in real estate education across Europe. In a context of increased global economic activity and increasing ties within the EU, there are benefits to business and to students in offering this type of educational provision. But is this paradigm true for construction economics (CE) and construction management (CM)? This paper examined the potential for collaboration and joint European awards in CM and CE. There is a political will for collaboration in HE based on economic drivers for the growth of the EU and changes are being implemented to enhance transparency and mobility for students. Professional bodies are expanding their European presence. Globalisation has resulted in greater opportunities for international real estate, and construction and there is growth in these sectors for practitioners. The difficulties with joint European collaboration are short course duration and the need to cover extensive subject matter. Other barriers are university structures, quality assurance procedures, costs and finances issues as well as IT, student services and support issues. The survey revealed that there are no RICS accredited CM / CE courses outside of the UK which inhibits collaboration. The sample was split in perceived demand for collaboration and the European focus within the courses is limited, as are field trips outside the UK. Student exchange on courses is rare. Generally there is a lag between the political will to greater student mobility and collaboration and the market, which is showing growth in multinational organisations and demand for pan European construction services and a professional body keen to deliver and support this growth. Within academia the barriers and current economic climate in HE preclude the widespread adoption of greater collaboration and development of joint awards, however this position may change.

Child-related information processing in step-parents : investigating the Cinderella effect

This thesis examined the over-representation of step-parents as perpetrators of child physical abuse. Results suggested a number of differences between step- and biological parents in attachment, information-processing, and disciplinary practices. Results were used to formulate a model of step-parental abuse, which has potential implications for the prevention of child physical abuse. The professional portfolio presents four cases from forensic practice in which predictions about further criminal behaviour are made. These cases are then used to discuss several practical questions that may be posed by psychologists who are considering which approach (clinical or actuarial) to use.

Biofunctionalization of 3D nylon 6,6 scaffolds using a two-step surface modification

Nylon is a relatively inert polymer. The ability to easily functionalize nylon with biomolecules will improve the utilization of nylon in biological systems. A potential use of the biofunctionalized nylon scaffolds is in devices for cell therapeutics that can specifically select cells present in small numbers, such as hematopoietic stem cells. This study developed a versatile and simple two-step technique combining oxygen plasma treatment with wet silanization to graft biomolecules onto nylon 6,6 3D porous scaffolds. Scaffolds that were exposed to oxygen plasma exhibited up to 13-fold increase in silane attachment ((3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane/(3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane) compared to untreated scaffolds. To address the limitation of nondestructive characterization of the surface chemistry of 3D scaffolds, fluorescent CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles were used as a reporting tool for -NH(2) functionalized surfaces. Scaffolds that were covalently bound with neutravidin protein remained stable in phosphate buffered saline up to four months. Functionality of the neutravidin-grafted scaffolds was demonstrated by the specific binding of CD4 cells to the scaffold via CD4-specific antibody. Ultimately, these neutravidin-functionalized 3D nylon scaffolds could be easily customized on demand utilizing a plethora of biotinylated biomolecules (antibodies, enzymes and proteins) to select for specific cell of interest. This technique can be extended to other applications, including the enhancement of cell-scaffold interactions.

One-Step synthesis of the pine-shaped nanostructure of aluminum nitride and its photoluminescence properties

An array of pine-shaped nanostructures of aluminum nitride (AlN) was synthesized through direct reaction between Al vapor and nitrogen gas in direct current (DC) arc discharge plasma without any catalyst or template. The as-prepared nanostructure consists of many pine-needle-shaped leaves with conical shape tips. The structure, morphology, and optical property of the nanostructure have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. A possible growth mechanism of the pine-shaped nanostructure was discussed. Two factors were found to be essential for branched nanostructure growth, i.e., the reaction time and N2 pressure. The photoluminescence spectrum of the nanostructure of AlN revealed an intense emission band, suggesting that there may be potential applications in electronic and optoelectronic nanodevices.

Single step preparation of meso-porous and reduced graphene oxide by gamma-ray irradiation in gaseous phase

A facile and highly efficient route to produce simultaneously porous and reduced graphene oxide by gamma ray irradiation in hydrogen is here demonstrated. Narrowly distributed nano-scale pores (average size of ∼3 nm and surface density >44,900 pore μm-2) were generated across 10 μm thick graphene oxide bucky-papers at a total irradiation dose of 500 kGy. The graphene oxide sheet reduction was confirmed to occur homogeneously across the structures by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman analysis. This one-step, catalyst-free, high penetration and through-put technique, offers great promises potential for the mass production of reduced graphene oxide from cheap graphene oxide. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Upregulation of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) protein expression by an innate immunity component: promising potential for targeting radiosensitive retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma (RB), a malignant tumour of the eye arising from developing retina, is the most frequent primary intraocular malignancy of childhood. Its primary management with chemotherapy involves combination regimen of etoposide, vincristine and carboplatin and intra vitreal chemotherapy using melphalan when vitreous seeds develop. Radiotherapy is another effective mode in treating RB. We recently explored the notion if radiotherapy in RB can be mediated via Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS), an intrinsic membrane glycoprotein which is a key regulator of iodide access to thyroid gland. Its expression has been exploited successfully for diagnostic imaging and molecular radionuclide-based therapy of thyroid cancer. We determined that NIS is expressed endogenously in RB tumour tissues, and in retinoblastoma cell lines Y79 and Weri-Rb-1, and therefore made an attempt to enhance the endogenously low expression of NIS protein in both Y79 and Weri-Rb-1 cells. Here we report about the potential of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) which is a known chemo preventive and emerging safe anti-cancer bio drug, as well as a natural transcriptional activator of genes, to enhance the endogenous expression of NIS in Y79 and Weri-Rb-1 cells. Real time PCR revealed that both cell lines express mRNA of lactoferrin receptors while flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed the cells efficiently internalize bLf which upregulates NIS expression. These findings highlight an important step that could be taken towards the development of less harmful approaches for the treatment of RB by employing natural supplement bLf (with its clinically proven safe profile), and warrants further studies in future, focussing on enhancing NIS expression in RB cells and NIS functional assays in these cells.

Potential-resolved electrogenerated chemiluminescence for the selective detection of multiple luminophores

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) is fundamentally dependent on the applied electrode potential, and measuring ECL intensity over a range of different potentials is commonly used to examine the underlying chemical reaction pathways responsible for the emission of light. Several research groups have now demonstrated that the applied potential can be exploited to selectively elicit ECL from: 1) multiple excited states within a single chemical species; 2) multiple emitters sharing a common co-reactant; or 3) distinct ECL systems. This new generation of multiplexed ECL processes has been facilitated by the extensive development of novel electrochemiluminophores and instrumental approaches such as the near-continuous collection of ECL spectra with CCD detectors during voltammetry or chronoamperometry experiments. New dimensions: In electrogenerated chemiluminescence experiments the applied potential can be exploited to selectively elicit light from: multiple excited states within a single chemical species, multiple emitters sharing a common co-reactant, and distinct electrogenerated chemiluminescence systems. These findings may be used to develop low-cost portable analytical devices.

Daily step-count and change in waist circumference during a workplace pedometer program

Background: The health benefit associated with a daily step-count target within pedometer pro- grams is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine if the daily step-count attained during a four month pedometer-based workplace health program was associated with change in waist circumference (WC).

Methods: 762 Australian adults enrolled in a workplace pedometer pro- gram were recruited from ten workplaces in 2008. At the end of the program (four months), 436 participants were eligible for the current analysis. Data included demographics, perceived physical activity change during the program, measured WC at baseline and follow-up, and reported daily pedometer step-counts throughout the program. The association between daily step count and change in WC was examined using linear re- gression.

Results: WC improved by an average of –1.61cm (95% CI: –2.13, –1.09) by the end of the program. There was no relationship between daily step-count and the degree of change in WC. However, among participants reporting an in- crease in physical activity during the program a relationship between daily step count and change in WC was observed, such that those who un-dertook on average 10,000 steps or more per day improved their WC by –1.38cm (95%CI: –2.14, –0.63) more than those who did not achieve an average of 10,000 steps per day. Similarly, among individuals not meeting WC guidelines at baseline a greater daily step count was associ-ated with a greater decrease in WC.

Conclusions: Within a workplace pedometer program, reported daily step count was not associated with greater reductions in WC. However, it was a useful in-dicator of potential health benefits in those who increased their level of physical activity during the program. Pedometer programs need to com- municate clearly the importance of both a step goal and improvement in step count to manage participant expectations about improvements in health markers.

Implementation of China's new policies on organ procurement: An important but challenging step forward

In the last decade, health authorities in China have made a series of policy announcements concerning organ procurement programs and changes in practice have been intermittently reported (1). The international community of transplant professionals has followed these reports closely, preoccupied with one fundamental issue: the procurement of organs from executed prisoners, a practice that for many years has provided the majority of organs transplanted in China. Sharif et al. describe this practice as “ethically indefensible” (2), an evaluation that reflects the position embraced by the international community for more than two decades (3-5). Sharif et al. express concern that whilst some transplant programs in China have ceased using organs from executed prisoners, others continue to do so, and that all organs procured from the deceased may be allocated through a collective pool as part of the new China Organ Transplant Response System, effectively “laundering” organs obtained from prisoners. They also note that one of the new strategies to encourage deceased donation of organs among the Chinese public has involved financial incentives for donor families, another practice that has been strongly critiqued by the international professional community and global health authorities (6,7).

In China and in the United States, proponents of organ procurement from executed prisoners have argued that prisoners should not be denied the option to donate organs after their death if they so choose, as this may provide them or their families solace and an opportunity for moral, spiritual or social redemption (8,9). However, the predominant argument in favour of the practice appears to be essentially pragmatic: prisoners condemned to death represent an additional pool of potential “donors” with organs that will otherwise “go to waste” (10). In contrast, international professional societies and the World Health Organization among others have argued that the practice not only violates the core principles of medical ethics but also thereby undermines efforts to establish a sufficient supply of deceased donor organs. In this commentary, we reaffirm the ethics policy of The Transplantation Society (TTS) concerning organ procurement from executed prisoners (4), and briefly discuss the implications of this policy for international professional engagement with China at this time of significant evolution of Chinese organ procurement programs.

The abolition of defensive homicide : a step towards populist punitivism at the expense of mentally impaired offenders

The offence of defensive homicide was abolished in Victoria in November 2014, following a widely held perception that it was being abused by violent men. While primarily associated with battered women who killed in response to prolonged family violence — but who were unable to establish their offending as self-defence — a less publicised rationale underpinning the introduction of defensive homicide was to provide an alternative offence for offenders with cognitive impairments not covered by the mental impairment (formerly the insanity) defence. Cognitive impairments are complex and varied in their nature and symptomatology. Offenders presenting with cognitive impairments therefore require an appropriate range of legal responses to capture the nuances and appropriate moral culpability of their conduct. Drawing from an analysis of the cases of defensive homicide heard over its 10–year lifespan, this article contends that the abolition of defensive homicide did not adequately take into consideration the potential impacts on individuals whose mental conditions are not typically covered by the restrictive mental impairment defence. We further argue that the decision to abolish defensive homicide was driven by dominant, populist voices, without sufficient attention given to the offence’s potential to achieve the aims underpinning its enactment, including providing an alternative offence for women who kill in response to prolonged family violence.

One-step preparation of graphene nanosheets via ball milling of graphite and the application in lithium-ion batteries

An improved method for mass production of good-quality graphene nanosheets (GNs) via ball milling pristine graphite with dry ice is presented. We also report the enhanced performance of these GNs as working electrode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this improved method, the decrease of necessary ball milling time from 48 to 24 h and the increase of Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area from 389.4 to 490 m2/g might be resulted from the proper mixing of stainless steel balls with different diameters and the optimization of agitation speed. The as-prepared GNs are investigated in detail using a number of techniques, such as scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffractometer, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic. To demonstrate the potential applications of these GNs, the performances of the LIBs with pure Fe3O4 electrode and Fe3O4/graphene (Fe3O4/G) composite electrode were carefully evaluated. Compared to Fe3O4-LIBs, Fe3O4/G-LIBs exhibited prominently enhanced performance and a reversible specific capacity of 900 mAh g−1 after 5 cycles at 100 and 490 mAh g−1 after 5 cycles at 800 mA g−1. The improved cyclic stability and enhanced rate capability were also obtained.