Effect of Chemical Challenges on the Properties of Composite Resins

Objective. To evaluate the chemical degradation effect on microhardness and roughness of composite resins after aging. Materials and Methods. Specimens (n = 10) were used for Filtek Z350 XT (Z350), Filtek Bulk Fill (BULK), Micerium HRI (HRI), Micerium BIOFUNCION (BIO), and Vittra APS (VITTRA). Microhardness and roughness were performed before and after degradation with the followed solutions: citric acid, phosphoric acid, 75% alcohol, and distilled water. Samples were to a 180-day chemical cycling protocol. After degradation, one sample of each group was selected for scanning electron microscope evaluation. The data were analyzed with normal distribution (Kolmogorov–Smirnov) and similarities of variations for the Bartlett test. ANOVA (two-way) followed by Tukey’s test was performed considering treatment and composite resin P < 0.05 . Results. For microhardness and roughness, variations were noted to different solution and resin formulations. Z350 and HRI showed higher microhardness percentage loss, and it was more evident after storage in alcohol (−48.49 ± 20.16 and −25.02 ± 14.04, respectively) and citric acid (−65.05 ± 28.97 and 16.12 ± 8.35, respectively). For roughness, Z350 and VITTRA showed less delta values after alcohol storage (−0.047 ± 0.007 and −0.022 ± 0.009, respectively). HRI had the worst roughness for citric acid (−0.090 ± 0.025). All resins were not statistically different between each other in water and phosphoric acid. Conclusion. The formulations of restorative resin materials influenced in degree of surface degradation after 180 days of chemical degradation. Water was considered the solution that causes less degradation for microhardness and roughness evaluations. For microhardness, alcohol was considered the worst solution for Z350 and HRI. For superficial roughness, Z350 and VITTRA showed less degradation in alcohol and citric and phosphoric acid solutions.

Theoretical Thermodynamic Efficiency Limit of Isothermal Solar Fuel Generation from H2O/CO2 Splitting in Membrane Reactors

Solar fuel generation from thermochemical H2O or CO2 splitting is a promising and attractive approach for harvesting fuel without CO2 emissions. Yet, low conversion and high reaction temperature restrict its application. One method of increasing conversion at a lower temperature is to implement oxygen permeable membranes (OPM) into a membrane reactor configuration. This allows for the selective separation of generated oxygen and causes a forward shift in the equilibrium of H2O or CO2 splitting reactions. In this research, solar-driven fuel production via H2O or CO2 splitting with an OPM reactor is modeled in isothermal operation, with an emphasis on the calculation of the theoretical thermodynamic efficiency of the system. In addition to the energy required for the high temperature of the reaction, the energy required for maintaining low oxygen permeate pressure for oxygen removal has a large influence on the overall thermodynamic efficiency. The theoretical first-law thermodynamic efficiency is calculated using separation exergy, an electrochemical O2 pump, and a vacuum pump, which shows a maximum efficiency of 63.8%, 61.7%, and 8.00% for H2O splitting, respectively, and 63.6%, 61.5%, and 16.7% for CO2 splitting, respectively, in a temperature range of 800 °C to 2000 °C. The theoretical second-law thermodynamic efficiency is 55.7% and 65.7% for both H2O splitting and CO2 splitting at 2000 °C. An efficient O2 separation method is extremely crucial to achieve high thermodynamic efficiency, especially in the separation efficiency range of 0–20% and in relatively low reaction temperatures. This research is also applicable in other isothermal H2O or CO2 splitting systems (e.g., chemical cycling) due to similar thermodynamics.

Density and size-dependent bioturbation effects of the infaunal polychaete Nephtys incisa on sediment biogeochemistry and solute exchange

The impact of bioturbation on the geochemistry of aquatic sediments is known to depend on the benthic infauna species that are present. However, burrowing and activity patterns of each species may also change during the different stages of a life cycle. In this study, we examined the effects of four size classes of the polychaete Nephtys incisa on burrow networks and sediment biogeochemistry. In our experimental aquaria, the total biovolume (~ biomass) of Nephtys was kept constant, but different age classes were introduced, so the size and abundance varied between treatments. Despite differences in the geometry of burrow networks (due to varying density and size of burrows as revealed by X-radiography), the transport of nonreactive solutes (Br–) showed little difference between treatments. In contrast, the depth distribution of reactive solutes (Fe2+, Mn2+, TPO3– 4, TCO2, O2, pH) depended on oxidized sediment volumes and on spatial micro-heterogeneity related to burrowing patterns. Net fluxes of O2, TCO2, and NO– 3 fluxes were strongly affected by age-dependent burrowing patterns. Carbonate dissolution and remineralization rates (reflected by TCO 2fluxes) were enhanced as the size of individuals increased. NO– 3fluxes showed progressive change from dominance of nitrification (release) to denitrification (uptake) as burrow densities decreased with larger individuals. We conclude that different age-size classes of a single species at identical biovolume affect biogeo- chemical cycling differently, due to changes in burrow sizes and burrow densities. Because of redox reaction coupling associated with burrow geometries (Fe2+, Mn2+ oxidation patterns), similar magnitudes of nonlocal transport may be a misleading indicator of biogenic impacts. Our observations demonstrate that biogeochemical impacts must be evaluated in the context of size (age-) specific traits and population densities rather than biomass or biovolume alone.

Photochemistry of oxidized Hg(I) and Hg(II) species suggests missing mercury oxidation in the troposphere

Mercury (Hg), a global contaminant, is emitted mainly in its elemental form Hg0to the atmosphere where it is oxidized to reactive HgIIcompounds, which efficiently deposit to surface ecosystems. Therefore, the chemical cycling between the elemental and oxidized Hg forms in the atmosphere determines the scale and geographical pattern of global Hg deposition. Recent advances in the photochemistry of gas-phase oxidized HgIand HgIIspecies postulate their photodissociation back to Hg0as a crucial step in the atmospheric Hg redox cycle. However, the significance of these photodissociation mechanisms on atmospheric Hg chemistry, lifetime, and surface deposition remains uncertain. Here we implement a comprehensive and quantitative mechanism of the photochemical and thermal atmospheric reactions between Hg0, HgI, and HgIIspecies in a global model and evaluate the results against atmospheric Hg observations. We find that the photochemistry of HgIand HgIIleads to insufficient Hg oxidation globally. The combined efficient photoreduction of HgIand HgIIto Hg0competes with thermal oxidation of Hg0, resulting in a large model overestimation of 99% of measured Hg0and underestimation of 51% of oxidized Hg and ∼66% of HgIIwet deposition. This in turn leads to a significant increase in the calculated global atmospheric Hg lifetime of 20 mo, which is unrealistically longer than the 3–6-mo range based on observed atmospheric Hg variability. These results show that the HgIand HgIIphotoreduction processes largely offset the efficiency of bromine-initiated Hg0oxidation and reveal missing Hg oxidation processes in the troposphere.

Isolation and identification of low density polythene-degrading bacteria from soil of North West of Algeria

Plas c bags (Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) belong to the polymers, which plays a very important role in our daily lives by their diversi ed applica on. However, the accumula on of the plas c bags in the environment cons - tutes a serious problem and a real source for visual nuisance, pollu on of soil and marine environments. Furthermore, their biodegradation was the safest method of breakdown that possibly leaves behind less toxic residues and showed poten al of bio-geo chemical cycling of the substrate. The aim of the present work was the characterization of the isolated bacterial strains from a municipal land ll area of Tlemcen, North West Algeria, which were implicated by the biodegrada on ability of the Low Density Polyethylene. The degradation of the Low Density Polyethylene was inves gated by studying the bacterial growth of the isolated, inoculated on a solid culture medium, which was composed of LDPE as the sole carbon source with and with- out a nitrogen source and the selec on was based by the determination of the produced diameter of hydrolysis clear zone on the surface. Furthermore, the isolated, selected degrading Low Density Polyethylene bacterial ML002 has been iden ed by the study of their morphological, biochemical charac- teris cs and the ampli ca on of the fragment, coding the region of ARN 16S. The use of the API system indicated their belonging to the genus Bacillus Cereus, which has reduced the weight of LDPE by 0.26, 1.28, 1.53% a er 30, 90, 120 days respec vely. Furthermore, the amplified of the fragment, coding the region of ARN 16S by the isolated, selected bacterial ML002 indicated a similarity of 99.394% with Bacillus wiedmannii and Bacillus proteolyticus and 99.293% homology with Bacillus toyonensis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis.

Numerical Solution of a Class of Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations by Using Barycentric Interpolation Collocation Method

Partial differential equations (PDEs) are widely used in mechanics, control processes, ecological and economic systems, chemical cycling systems, and epidemiology. Although there are some numerical methods for solving PDEs, simple and efficient methods have always been the direction that scholars strive to pursue. Based on this problem, we give the meshless barycentric interpolation collocation method (MBICM) for solving a class of PDEs. Four numerical experiments are carried out and compared with other methods; the accuracy of the numerical solution obtained by the present method is obviously improved.

Zooplankton Biogeochemical Cycles

The structure of planktonic communities profoundly affects particle export and sequestration of organic material (the biological pump) and the chemical cycling of nutrients. This chapter describes the integral and multifaceted role zooplankton (both protozoan and metazoan) play in the export and cycling of elements in the ocean, with an emphasis on the North Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. Zooplankton consume a significant proportion of primary production across the world's oceans, and their metabolism plays a key role in recycling carbon, nitrogen, and other elements. The chapter also addresses how human or climate-influenced changes in North Atlantic zooplankton populations may in turn drive changes in zooplankton-mediated biogeochemical cycling.

Chemical cycling and deposition of atmospheric mercury in polar regions: review of recent measurements and comparison with models

Mercury (Hg) is a worldwide contaminant that can cause adverse health effects to wildlife and humans. While atmospheric modeling traces the link from emissions to deposition of Hg onto environmental surfaces, large uncertainties arise from our incomplete understanding of atmospheric processes (oxidation pathways, deposition, and re-emission). Atmospheric Hg reactivity is exacerbated in high latitudes and there is still much to be learned from polar regions in terms of atmospheric processes. This paper provides a synthesis of the atmospheric Hg monitoring data available in recent years (2011–2015) in the Arctic and in Antarctica along with a comparison of these observations with numerical simulations using four cutting-edge global models. The cycle of atmospheric Hg in the Arctic and in Antarctica presents both similarities and differences. Coastal sites in the two regions are both influenced by springtime atmospheric Hg depletion events and by summertime snowpack re-emission and oceanic evasion of Hg. The cycle of atmospheric Hg differs between the two regions primarily because of their different geography. While Arctic sites are significantly influenced by northern hemispheric Hg emissions especially in winter, coastal Antarctic sites are significantly influenced by the reactivity observed on the East Antarctic ice sheet due to katabatic winds. Based on the comparison of multi-model simulations with observations, this paper discusses whether the processes that affect atmospheric Hg seasonality and interannual variability are appropriately represented in the models and identifies research gaps in our understanding of the atmospheric Hg cycling in high latitudes.