Ultrasound facilitates the synthesis of potassium hexatitanate and co-intercalation with PbS-CdS nanoparticles.

In this paper, ultrasonic irradiation was applied for the synthesis of K2Ti6O13 nanobelts and novel nanocomposite (PbS-CdS/Ti6O13) through ion exchanging and co-intercalation processes. Thirty minutes of ultrasonic irradiation caused the formation of pure, uniform potassium hexatitanate with smaller particle size. The incorporation of PbS and CdS nanoparticles into the layers and on the surface of titanate in the presence of ultrasound was done directly, without pre-treatment process and led to the preparation of new nanocomposite. The physicochemical properties of the layered K2Ti6O13 and PbS-CdS/Ti6O13 nanocomposite were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence technique (PL). The results showed that the PbS-CdS/Ti6O13 possessed a higher interlayer spacing than that of K2Ti6O13, which indicated the formation of an intercalated nanomaterial. Besides that the absorption edge of titanate shifted to the visible light region owing to the incorporation of semiconductor guest molecules. These characteristics make these nanocomposites promising for use as photocatalysts. Besides that, other samples were synthesized by stirring method at the same conditions and their characteristics were compared with sono-synthesized samples.

Sono-intercalation of CdS nanoparticles into the layers of titanate facilitates the sunlight degradation of Congo red.

In this paper, the degradation of Congo red (CR) as a dye was investigated by a new synthetic photocatalyst. The synthesis was done through the intercalation of CdS in the layers of titanate (K2Ti4O9) by the assistance of ultrasound. The photocatalyst was prepared via ion-exchange reaction and sulfuration processes in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. The samples were characterized by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The deposition of CdS nanoparticles on the surface and between the spaces of titanate layers led to the shift of absorption edge of titanate to the visible light region. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism of CR has been evaluated through the addition of some scavengers to the solution. In addition, the stability and reusability of the catalyst were examined in this work too.

Effect of changes in lung volume on acoustic transmission through the human respiratory system.

The variation of acoustic attenuation with lung density was determined in experimental studies on seven healthy human volunteers, using a change of lung volume as a means of varying lung density. White noise between 50 and 680 Hz was introduced into the mouth and the transmitted signals were recorded with four microphones on the posterior chest wall (left/right, top/base) at 24, 40, 60 and 80% of total lung capacity. The change in lung volume had a frequency-dependent effect on acoustic attenuation in all subjects. A frequency between 177 and 243 Hz was identified, where altering the lung volume between 24 and 80% of total lung capacity induced a change in attenuation of only 1.0 (+/-0.5) to 2.7 (+/-1.8) dB, while at a frequency of 364-436 Hz marked variations in attenuation 8.9 (+/-2.0) to 21.5 (+/-4.8) dB occurred with similar lung volume changes.

Sound transmission between 50 and 600 Hz in excised pig lungs filled with air and helium.

This study measured transit time (TT) and attenuation of sound transmitted through six pairs of excised pig lungs. Single-frequency sounds (50-600 Hz) were applied to the tracheal lumen, and the transmitted signals were monitored on the tracheal and lung surface using microphones. The effect of varying intrapulmonary pressure (Pip) between 5 and 25 cmH(2)O on TT and sound attenuation was studied using both air and helium (He) to inflate the lungs. From 50 to approximately 200 Hz, TT decreased from 4.5 ms at 50 Hz to 1 ms at 200 Hz (at 25 cmH(2)O). Between approximately 200 and 600 Hz, TT was relatively constant (1.1 ms at upper and 1.5 ms at lower sites). Gas density had very little effect on TT (air-to-He ratio of approximately 1.2 at upper sites and approximately 1 at lower sites at 25 cmH(2)O). Pip had marked effects (depending on gas and site) on TT between 50 and 200 Hz but no effect at higher frequencies. Attenuation was frequency dependent between 50 and 600 Hz, varying between -10 and -35 dB with air and -2 and -28 dB with He. Pip also had strong influence on attenuation, with a maximum sensitivity of 1.14 (air) and 0.64 dB/cmH(2)O (He) at 200 Hz. At 25 cmH(2)O and 200 Hz, attenuation with air was about three times higher than with He. This suggests that sound transmission through lungs may not be dominated by parenchyma but by the airways. The linear relationship between increasing Pip and increasing attenuation, which was found to be between 50 and approximately 100 Hz, was inverted above approximately 100 Hz. We suggest that this change is due to the transition of the parenchymal model from open to closed cell. These results indicate that acoustic propagation characteristics are a function of the density of the transmission media and, hence, may be used to locate collapsed lung tissue noninvasively.

Monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure during high frequency jet ventilation.

A new method has been developed to measure end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PECO2) during high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV). A digital flow controller incorporated in a computerized high frequency jet ventilator was used to deliver either a single deep breath or a series of three deep breaths. On user request, HFJV was interrupted and the deep breaths delivered, after which HFJV was resumed. Using a mathematical model, we were able to predict accurately the pressures to which the lungs would be inflated during deep breaths. The effect of varying the deep breath pressure (Pdb) on the ratio of end-tidal PCO2 to arterial (PCO2 (PECO2:PaCO2) was studied in three dogs. In all the dogs, within an optimum Pdb range of 5-10 cm H2O, PECO2 during the first deep breath was found to be similar (+/- 0.2 kPa) to the PaCO2 immediately before the onset of deep breaths. Deep breaths delivered above or below the optimum Pdb range resulted in a decrease in the ratio PECO2:PaCO2. The frequency of jet ventilation (12-200 b.p.m.) before the onset of the deep breaths did not affect PECO2:PaCO2.