Polyetherimide-LaNi5 composite films for hydrogen storage applications

This study investigates the preparation of polyetherimide (PEI) – LaNi₅ composites films for hydrogen storage. Prior to the polymer addition, LaNi₅ was ball-milled at different conditions (250, 350, and 450 RPM) and annealed at 500 °C for 1 h under vacuum. The composites were produced with BM-LaNi₅-350 (PEI/LaNi₅-350) and annealed BM-LaNi₅-350 (PEI/LaNi₅-350-TT). Membranes were successfully produced through solvent casting assisted by an ultrasonic bath. The particles dispersion and the film morphology did not change after hydrogenation cycles. In the H₂ sorption experiments at 43 °C and 20 bar, the films stored H₂ without incubation time; both samples reached a capacity of ~0.6 wt%. The H₂ sorption kinetics of PEI/LaNi₅-350 was comparable to that of BM-LaNi₅-350, whereas PEI/LaNi₅-350-TT presented significantly slower kinetics. LaNi₅ oxidation was hindered by PEI, showing that it can be explored to improve metal hydrides air resistance. The results demonstrated that PEI films filled with LaNi₅ are promising materials for hydrogen storage.     

A computational literature review of football performance analysis through probabilistic topic modeling

This research aims to illustrate the potential use of concepts, techniques, and mining process tools to improve the systematic review process. Thus, a review was performed on two online databases (Scopus and ISI Web of Science) from 2012 to 2019. A total of 9649 studies were identified, which were analyzed using probabilistic topic modeling procedures within a machine learning approach. The Latent Dirichlet Allocation method, chosen for modeling, required the following stages: 1) data cleansing, and 2) data modeling into topics for coherence and perplexity analysis. All research was conducted according to the standards of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in a fully computerized way. The computational literature review is an integral part of a broader literature review process. The results presented met three criteria: (1) literature review for a research area, (2) analysis and classification of journals, and (3) analysis and classification of academic and individual research teams. The contribution of the article is to demonstrate how the publication network is formed in this particular field of research, and how the content of abstracts can be automatically analyzed to provide a set of research topics for quick understanding and application in future projects.

     

The Impact of International Crises on Maritime Transportation Based Global Value Chains

Networks and Spatial Economics - International trade has evolved into global value chains, a worldwide network highly impacted by global crises. Since maritime transportation is the most important...     

Effect of height on the corrosion of steel and galvanized steel in nontropical coastal marine environments

In this study, the behavior of carbon steel and galvanized steel in nontropical coastal marine environments was evaluated. Evaluation was carried out with specimens with dimensions of 10 cm × 10 cm × 0.3 cm. These specimens were exposed to four testing stations (Iquique, Mejillones, Los Vilos, and San Vicente), where racks were installed both at ground level (ground), as well as in the upper zone of electrical transmission towers (tower). In each station, 24 specimens of A36 carbon steel and galvanized steel were placed (12 each). The corrosivity of the environment was measured using the ISO 9223, 9225, and 9226 standards. The specimens were evaluated on-site, monthly, through visual inspection and photographic record. Once withdrawn, the corrosion rate was determined and the corrosion products were analyzed through Raman and Fourier-transform infrared. The results show that, in all cases, the corrosion rate is greater in the tower than on the ground. However, even though the Los Vilos station is located farther from the sea (3,500 vs. ≈500 m), the corrosion rate of steel in the tower is the highest. This is caused by the generation of HCl from the transformation of lepidocrocite into goethite, in the presence of low chloride content, which acidifies the steel/corrosion product interface. In the case of galvanized steel, the corrosion rate is a function of the chloride content in the atmosphere, obtaining an excellent correlation between both parameters.     

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation: Efficacy,safety, and formulation challenges

World population growth and aging are posing unprecedented challenges in sustaining the health of 9.1 billion people that will be occupying the planet by 2050. Although noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes are among the top 10 global causes of death, they can be prevented by risk factor reduction, early detection, and adequate treatment. Since a healthy diet along with dietary supplementation could play an important role to reduce morbidity and cut off its associated health care costs, research in the food and nutrition area is required to find solutions to global challenges affecting health. As a result of the healthy living trend, dietary supplements category is growing fast, leading to an urgent need for dietitians, physicians, and policy makers to broaden the scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of a wide range of active ingredients. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), as the third most consumed dietary supplement, and as a potential candidate for the treatment of various noncommunicable diseases that are among the global top 10 causes of death, has gained interest over years. Scientific evidence regarding mainly CoQ10 efficacy and safety, as well as formulation challenges, is addressed in this review.     

Microstructure assessment of suspension plasma spraying coatings from multicomponent submicronic Y-TZP/Al2O3/SiC particles

In this research, Suspension Plasma Spraying (SPS) technique was used for the thermal deposition of a multicomponent mixture made up of an Y-TZP/Al₂O₃ matrix with SiC particles. Two suspensions of Y-TZP and Al₂O₃ with different SiC particles content (6?wt% and 12?wt%) were tested as feedstocks in the SPS process. Three stand-off distances were varied in order to assess coating microstructure and evaluate the presence of SiC in the final coatings. Coatings were characterised in terms of porosity, microstructure and phase distribution. The estimate of the amount of SiC in the coating was carried out by XRD technique.Findings showed typical cauliflower-like SPS microstructure which intensifies with stand-off distance. Coatings porosity varied significantly between 8% and 25% whereas minimum porosity was found for the intermedium stand-off distance of 40?mm.Microstructure analysis also revealed the presence of SiC particles in the coatings which was confirmed by EDX analysis, overall XRD tests as well as TG analysis. Finally, evaluation of SiC content in the final coatings by means of XRD analysis showed that most of SiC particles (c.a 80%) of the feedstocks were preserved in the final coatings.     

Ionic conductivities and high resolution microscopic evaluation of grain and grain boundaries of cerium-based codoped solid electrolytes

Doped CeGdO and codoped CeGdOSmO compositions were synthesized, giving rise to nanoparticulate powders. Ionic conductivities at bulk and grain boundaries of the sintered samples were determined, exhibiting increased conductivity in the samaria-codoped samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a significant reduction in the grain size of samaria-codoped electrolytes. This reduced grain size of the codoped samples caused a reduction in Schottky barrier height, increasing oxygen vacancy concentration in the space-charge layer of the grain boundary and culminating in greater ionic conductivity in the boundary region. For the gadolinium doped samples, high resolution transmission electron microscopy images at grains showed the presence of large cluster of defects (nanodomains), hindering the movement of charge carriers and reducing ionic conductivity. However, the samaria-codoped system displayed better homogeneity at atomic level, resulting in reduced oxygen vacancy ordering and, consequently, smaller nanodomains and higher bulk (grain) conductivity. The reduced grain sizes and smaller nanodomains caused by codoping favor the ionic conductivity of ceria-based ceramics, doped with gadolinia and codoped with samaria.     

Quality assurance and quality control of subgrade compaction using the dynamic cone penetrometer

The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is a device that is used in the construction industry for the assessment of in situ soil compaction quality. Over the past few decades, numerous correlations have been developed between the DCP test results and soil strength and stiffness parameters. This paper proposes a comprehensive set of criteria and recommendations for quality control (QC) of compacted subgrade that take into account the inherent statistical variability of DCP test results. For the development of the QC criteria, a new statistical methodology is used to extract representative test values from the raw field DCP test data. In order to use the proposed QC criteria, soils are first classified into two broad categories (fine-grained and coarse-grained) depending on their fabric and response to compaction efforts. Test results indicate that (i) for fine-grained soils, the DCP test values have good correlation with the plasticity index (PI), which is indicative of the type and amount of clay content of the soil and (ii) for coarse-grained soils, the DCP test values have good correlation with the optimum water content of the soil, which is directly related to its in situ density. DCP blow count correlation equations are presented for both soil categories. Recommendations for field DCP testing and data analysis are also provided to highlight the significance of the statistical distribution of the DCP test results in QC testing of compacted subgrade.