Numerical analysis of the crack growth path in the cement mantle of the reconstructed acetabulum

In this study, we use the finite element method to analyze the propagation's path of the crack in the orthopedic cement of the total hip replacement. In fact, a small python statement was incorporated with the Abaqus software to do in loop the following operations: extracting the crack propagation direction from the previous study using the maximal circumferential stresses criterion, drawing the new path, meshing and calculating again (stresses and fracture parameters). The loop is broken when the user's desired crack length is reached (number of propagations) or the value of the mode I stress intensity factor is negative. Results show that the crack propagation's path can be influenced by human body posture. The existing of a cavity in the vicinity of the crack can change its propagation path or can absolutely attract it enough to meet it. Crack can propagate in the outward direction (toward the acetabulum bone) and cannot propagate in the opposite direction, the mode I stress intensity factor increases with the crack length and that of mode II vanishes.     

Environmental exposure of the pediatric age groups in Cairo City and its suburbs to cadmium pollution.

In a trial to assess the exposure of subjects in the pediatric age group to cadmium (Cd) pollution, serum Cd was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry in 405 subjects, birth-18 years old, from Cairo City and its suburbs. Serum Cd mean concentrations were: 0.92 microg/l in 32 neonates (birth-4 weeks); 1.33 microg/l in 70 infants (4 weeks-2 years); 1.11 microg/l in 100 children in the preschool period (2-6 years); 1.34 microg/l in 103 primary school children (6-12 years); and 1.24 microg/l in 100 adolescents (12-18 years). In neonates, serum Cd was higher in babies with weights and heights that remained below the 5th percentile for age. Breast-fed infants had a serum Cd geometric mean level (1.25 microg/l) that was not in accordance to that of their mothers' milk (0.52 microg/l, P < 0.001), suggesting alternative routes of exposure. Environmental tobacco-smoke exposure was the most important determinant of Cd status in the school-aged children, the geometric mean being 1.42 microg/l in passive smokers vs. 1.2 microg/l in non-exposed children (P < 0.05). Moreover, adolescents who were active smokers had a significantly higher serum Cd level (1.7 microg/l) as compared to non-smokers (1.2 microg/l). Gender did influence the Cd status in adolescents, being higher among males, probably related to smoking, or to the difference in lifestyle of adolescents according to gender in the community. Alpha-1-microglobulinuria was accompanied by a higher serum Cd concentration in the group of adolescents only, suggesting a subclinical renal effect after several years of cumulative exposure. The residential classification, whether urban or suburban, did not influence the serum Cd status; neither did the present or past history of bronchial asthma. These findings certainly justify further evaluation of the problem of Cd pollution among Cairene individuals, knowing the long-term consequences of exposure to it. Systematic efforts for the proper disposal of Cd wastes and prevention of smoking in public places are recommended.     

Structure and electrical transport properties of pure and Li2O-doped CuO/MgO solid solution

The different electrical properties, σ, ?′, tan δ and E_σ of pure and Li₂O-doped CuO/MgO solid solution were investigated. The mole fraction of CuO (MF) was varied between 0.048 and 0.2. Pure and doped samples were subjected to heat treatments at 673 and 1073 K. The results revealed that the amount of CuO dissolved in MgO lattice increases progressively by increasing the MF as evidenced from the progressive decrease in the intensity of all diffraction lines of undissolved CuO phase. The dissolution process of copper ions in MgO lattice was accompanied by progressive increase in its lattice parameter. This process being conducted at 1073 K was accompanied by a significant progressive increase in the values of σ, ?′ and tan δ with subsequent decrease in the value of E_σ. The increase in the MF value of CuO from 0.048 to 0.2 led to a significant increase in the value of σ_DC, measured at room temperature, from 6.33 × 10⁻¹² to 9.9 × 10⁻¹⁰ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and E_σ decreases from 0.76 to 0.58 eV.Li₂O doping of the investigated system followed by calcination at 1073 K resulted in a measurable increase in values of σ, ?′ and tan δ with subsequent decrease in E_σ. These results were discussed in the light of the possible effective increase in the charge carriers concentration (Cu²⁺ions dissolved in MgO lattice) and also to an effective increase in mobility of these charge carriers by Li₂O doping.     

重新认识物理化学的地位和教学改革的必要性

针对物理化学被削弱的现状,本文着重从理论高度和具体实践阐明该学科在经济振兴、科技腾飞、造才育帅中的战略地位,并以实践能力和创新精神的培养为目标,论述了该课程在化学教学中的重要地位,存在的问题,进行教学改革的必要性.     

Virgin olive oil (VOO) production in Tunisia: The commercial potential of the major olive varieties from the arid Tataouine zone

The commercial potential of olive oils from three consecutive crop years, derived from the main autochthonous olive varieties Chemlali Tataouine, Fakhari Douirat, Zarrazi Douirat and Dhokar Douirat grown in the arid region of Tataounine (Tunisia) was examined with regards to stability and nutrition aspects. Several characteristics such as fatty acid composition, the extremely high phenol-type antioxidant content, and the low levels of green pigments suggested that these oils, the only fat source for the local people, are of promising composition. Efforts to develop commercial products from these varieties could improve antioxidant intake of the local population. The introduction of Good Manufacturing Practices is a prerequisite so that the quality observed for oils obtained by an Abencor system to be achieved also in real life. This can be feasible through appropriate oleoculture, which is often the only viable agricultural activity in remote arid regions such as Tataouine.     

Ge-doped ZnO nanorods grown on FTO for photoelectrochemical water splitting with exceptional photoconversion efficiency

In this study, a considerable effort has been devoted for the synthesis of Ge-doped ZnO nanorods on FTO as an efficient and robust photoanode material for solar water splitting. A unique, optimized, and ultra-rapid fabrication method to produce uniform nanorods (30–70 nm in diameter) has been demonstrated using radio frequency sputtering followed by electrochemical anodization. The effect of Ge doping on the conductivity, charge carrier concentration, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties of ZnO was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD), UV–Vis spectrometer, and Mott Schottky analysis. Glancing angle XRD confirmed the presence of wurtzite structure with a preferable orientation around (101) plane, which is of particular interest for many applications. As evidenced by the photoelectrochemical and transient photocurrent measurements, the fabricated Ge-doped ZnO nanorods exhibited enhanced photocurrent (12 mA/cm²) with an exceptional open circuit voltage of ?1.07 V_SCE (?0.416 V_RHE) under AM1.5G illumination, compared to the undoped ZnO based-photoanodes. Moreover, the Ge-doped ZnO nanorods showed unprecedented photoconversion efficiency of 3.6% under AM1.5G illumination. Therefore, the fabricated Ge-doped ZnO nanorods could be a promising conductive photoanode for water splitting.     

Synthesis and characterization of partially crystalline nanosized ZSM-5 zeolites

Partially crystalline nanosize ZSM-5 with high surface area (678 m²/g) was synthesized successfully without using organic template by a two-step temperature process. Aluminum nitrate was used as aluminum source for the first time to synthesize ZSM-5 materials. The presence of MFI structure of the materials was analyzed by XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and TEM techniques. Addition of commercial HZSM-5 as a seeding agent to the reactants resulted an increase in crystallinity of the ZSM-5 sample and subsequent decrease in specific surface area. The partially crystalline samples exhibited low microporosity and remarkably high meso/macropore volume with pore diameters around 30 nm.     

Structural,magnetic and electrical properties of Ga-substituted NiCuZn nanocrystalline ferrite

In this work, we studied the substitution effect of iron by gallium on the structural, magnetic and electrical properties of the ferrite system; Ni_0.5Cu_0.25Zn_0.25Fe_2−xGa_xO₄ (x = 0–1.0), synthesized by using the urea combustion method. XRD patterns of the samples calcined at 700 °C show only cubic spinel ferrite with an average crystallite sizes in the range of 40–54 nm. The lattice parameters were slightly changed with increasing Ga content which can be explained on the basis of the relative ionic radii of Ga³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. FT-IR measurements show two fundamental absorption bands, assigned to the vibration of tetrahedral and octahedral complexes, which were slightly changed with increasing Ga content. Mössbauer measurements enable us to predict the possible cation distribution of the system. It was found that Ga³⁺ ion prefer to substitute Fe³⁺ ions located in the octahedral site. Superparamagnetic state was observed in the Mössbauer spectra of the samples with Ga content >0.5. The decrease of the magnetic hyperfine field with gallium concentration was explained on the basis of supertransferred hyperfine interaction. A semiconducting behavior was inferred for all samples and the conductivity values were found to decrease with increasing the Ga content. The conduction mechanism in the spinel ferrite compounds was explained in terms of the hopping conduction process. The dielectric constant measured as a function of frequency and temperature was found to be dependent on the Ga concentration. The determined transition temperature was found to decrease with increasing Ga content.     

Fatty acids,volatiles, sterols and triterpenic alcohols of six monovarietal Tunisian virgin olive oils

Fatty acids, volatiles, sterols, aliphatic and triterpenic alcohols of six monovarietal Tunisian virgin olive oils were analyzed. The results suggested that the compositional data concerning the above analytical fractions were effective in discriminating between varieties. The oils were found to contain high levels of oleic acid (up to 71.70% in the Oueslati variety). β‐Sitosterol (up to 85.46% in the Jdallou variety) and Δ5‐avenasterol (up to 30.97% in the El Hor variety) were the principal sterols in all samples; campesterol and stigmasterol were found at low levels. (E)‐2‐Hexenal was the main compound that characterizes the olive oil headspace of all samples. The other compounds identified were mainly C₆ aliphatic components.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies of the cationic dye removal capability of a novel biosorbent Tamarindus indica from textile wastewater

In this paper, the use of tamarind hull biosorbent (Tamarindus indica) has been investigated to remove cationic dyes from textile eflluent. Basic Violet 6 and Basic Red 18 were used as cationic dye models. The surface characteristics of tamarind hull were investigated using Fourier Transform–infrared and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of process variables such as adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and pH were studied. The presence of fuctional groups such as hydroxy and amine groups onto the tamarind hull surface were proved by Fourier Transform–infrared analysis. Data were evaluated for compliance with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The results indicated that the data for adsorption of Basic Violet 6 and Basic Red 18 onto tamarind hull fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm model. Also, the adsorption kinetics of Basic Violet 6 and Basic Red 18 on biosorbent was studied. The rates of sorption were found to conform to pseudo‐second‐order kinetics with good correlation. Results indicated that tamarind hull could be used as a biosorbent to remove cationic organics from contaminated watercourses.