Influence of PP content on mechanical properties,water absorption,and morphology in PA6/PP blend

PA6/polypropylene (PP) blends are investigated for obtaining balanced strength and toughness. The focus of this study is to understand the effect of PP content on mechanical property, water absorption, impact strength, thermal behavior, and morphology of PP in the absence and presence of PP-g-maleic anhydride compatibilizer. In comparison to pure PA6, all blends have higher impact strength with 161 and 124% increase at 5 wt % PP content in uncompatibilized and compatibilized blends (UB and CB), respectively. Morphology of impact fractured samples shows brittle fracture in the case of CB. scanning electron microscope of cryogenically fractured samples show decrease in domain size and change in shape from ellipsoid to spherical, from UB to CB. Then, 75% reduction in water absorption is observed for 50 wt % PP content UB. Postwater absorption yield strength (YS) remains constant above 10 wt % PP in both UB and CB and decrease in YS is less at higher PP content in CB. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47690.     

A p-silicon nanowire/n-ZnO thin film heterojunction diode prepared by thermal evaporation

This paper represents the electrical and optical characteristics of a SiNW/ZnO heterojunction diode and subsequent studies on the photodetection properties of the diode in the ultraviolet （UV） wavelength region. In this work, silicon nanowire arrays were prepared on p-type （100）-oriented Si substrate by an electroless metal deposition and etching method with the help of ultrasonication. After that, catalyst-free deposition of zinc oxide （ZnO） nanowires on a silicon nanowire （SiNW） array substrate was done by utilizing a simple and cost-effective thermal evaporation technique without using a buffer layer. The SEM and XRD techniques are used to show the quality of the as-grown ZnO nanowire film. The junction properties of the diode are evaluated by measuring current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics. The diode has a well-defined rectifying behavior with a rectification ratio of 190 at -t-2 V, turn-on voltage of 0.5 V, and barrier height is 0.727 eV at room temperature under dark conditions. The photodetection parameters of the diode are investigated in the bias voltage range of ± 2 V. The diode shows responsivity of 0.8 A/W at a bias voltage of 2 V under UV illumination （wavelength = 365 nm）. The characteristics of the device indicate that it can be used for UV detection applications in nano-optoelectronic and photonic devices.     

Characterizing megascopic textures in fluorospar ores at Okorusu mine

Recent field mapping in two open pits at the Okorusu fluorspar mine in Namibia confirmed the presence of a variety of host rocks that were replaced by fluorite ores. The presence of certain textures in the fluorite ores can be used to identify the original host rock that was replaced. The character of the original host rock prior to fluorite replacement, in turn, has a significant controlling influence upon the beneficiation problems that are experienced for those ores. Editor’s Note: A hypertext-enhanced version of this article is available on the JOM website at www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0004/Hagni-0004.html. For more information, contact R.D. Hagni, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri 65409-0410; (573) 341-4657; fax (573) 341-6935; e-mail rhagni@umr.edu.     

Plasticization of cellulose esters used in the coating of sustained release solid dosage forms

Plasticizer/polymer interactions have been studied by measuring intrinsic viscosity of six cellulose esters in a series of dialkyl phthalates and glyceryl triacetate. Mechanical properties (tensile strength and modulus of elasticity) of cast films were also measured. In general, high values for the reciprocal of modulus of elasticity and low tensile strength correlated with high intrinsic viscosity values. Among the plasticizers tested, dimethyl phthalate and glyceryl triacetate were most efficient.     

Enhancement of digestive enzymatic activity by cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) and role of spent cumin as a bionutrient

Cuminum cyminum L., commonly known as cumin, belongs to the apiacea family. The effects of different cumin extracts, e.g. saline, hot aqueous, oleoresin and essential oil were studied for various enzymatic activities. Results showed maximum increases in amylase, protease, lipase and phytase activities in the presence of saline and hot aqueous extracts, along with high antioxidant activity. The study was aimed at utilizing the deoiled cumin or spent cumin available from spice industries. The saline and hot aqueous extracts of spent cumin showed enzymatic activities similar to that of native cumin. The spent cumin had a carbohydrate content of 23%, protein 19%, fat 10% and soluble dietary fibre 5.5%, along with vitamins such as thiamine (0.05), riboflavin (0.28) and niacin (2.7) (mg/100 g). It was also a rich source of minerals, having Fe²⁺ (6.0) and Zn²⁺ (6.5) (mg/100 g). Different concentrations of phytase were used to improve the bioavailability of iron and zinc. Results showed that phytase (ratio of 1:1000), in the presence of 20 mM citric acid, increased iron and zinc bioavailability significantly. Thus, the spent cumin can find potential use in various health food formulations, showing improved digestibility and a good nutrient composition.     

Optical absorption and electron spin resonance studies of Cu2+ in Li2O-Na2O-B2O3-As2O3 glasses

The local structure around Cu²⁺ ion has been examined by means of electron spin resonance and optical absorption measurements in xLi₂O-(40-x)Na₂O-50B₂O₃-10As₂O₃ glasses. The site symmetry around Cu²⁺ ions is tetragonally distorted octahedral. The ground state of Cu²⁺ isd _x ²−y ².The glass exhibited broad absorption band near infrared region and small absorption band around 548 nm, which was assigned to the ²B_1g →²E_g transition.     

Donated fortified cereal blends improve the nutrient density of traditional complementary foods in Haiti, but iron and zinc gaps remain for infants

This research assesses whether fortified cereal blends such as corn-soy blend (CSB) or wheat-soy (WSB) blend can significantly contribute to improving the quality of the diet of infants and young children 6 to 23 months of age. A series of participatory recipe trials was conducted to assess current complementary feeding practices in the Central Plateau of Haiti and to develop new, improved recipes by using a combination of locally available ingredients and foods and donated fortified cereal blends. Our findings show that it is feasible to improve the nutritional quality of complementary foods in poor rural areas of Haiti, using locally available ingredients and fortified cereal blends. Significant improvements in the concentrations of vitamin A could be obtained by including acceptable and affordable amounts of locally available vitamin A-rich foods such as pumpkin or eggs. Only preparations using CSB, however, could achieve the recommended concentrations of iron and zinc in complementary foods, and even this was achievable only for 12- to 23-month-old children. For infants, and especially those between 6 and 8 months of age, the high requirements of 7.7 mg of iron and 1.6 mg of zinc per 100 kcal of complementary foods could not be met, even with a combination of fortified CSB and other locally available, acceptable, and affordable foods. The same was true for the zinc density of complementary foods among 9- to 11-month-old children, which could not be achieved even with fortified CSB. Thus, in this population, fortified cereal blends were key to achieving the recommended iron and zinc densities of complementary foods for children 12 to 23 months of age, but they were not sufficient for infants. Complementary approaches, such as improving the availability, access, and intake of animal-source foods or the use of home fortification techniques (using spreads, sprinkles, or dispersible tablets), are needed to ensure adequate iron and zinc density of complementary foods for infants younger than 12 months in resource-constrained environments such as rural Haiti.     

Explaining radical group behavior: Developing emotion and efficacy routes to normative and nonnormative collective action.

A recent model of collective action distinguishes 2 distinct pathways: an emotional pathway whereby anger in response to injustice motivates action and an efficacy pathway where the belief that issues can be solved collectively increases the likelihood that group members take action (van Zomeren, Spears, Fischer, & Leach, 2004). Research supporting this model has, however, focused entirely on relatively normative actions such as participating in demonstrations. We argue that the relations between emotions, efficacy, and action differ for more extreme, nonnormative actions and propose (a) that nonnormative actions are often driven by a sense of low efficacy and (b) that contempt, which, unlike anger, entails psychological distancing and a lack of reconciliatory intentions, predicts nonnormative action. These ideas were tested in 3 survey studies examining student protests against tuition fees in Germany (N = 332), Indian Muslims' action support in relation to ingroup disadvantage (N = 156), and British Muslims' responses to British foreign policy (N = 466). Results were generally supportive of predictions and indicated that (a) anger was strongly related to normative action but overall unrelated or less strongly related to nonnormative action, (b) contempt was either unrelated or negatively related to normative action but significantly positively predicted nonnormative action, and (c) efficacy was positively related to normative action and negatively related to nonnormative action. The implications of these findings for understanding and dealing with extreme intergroup phenomena such as terrorism are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Degradation of Carbamazepine by Photo-assisted Ozonation: Influence of Wavelength and Intensity of Radiation

This article presents the results of an investigation into the function of UV in a photo-assisted ozonation process for treatment of carbamazepine (CBZ) in treated domestic wastewaters. Experiments were conducted on synthetic spiked water and secondary treated municipal wastewater. Degradation of CBZ was studied for various combination of O₃ dosage ranging from 4.8 to 14.4 mg/h and UV intensities with varying intensity and wavelength (UVC: λ = 254 nm and UVA: 352 nm). In synthetic spiked water, CBZ was degraded to below detectable limits within 0.5 min for ozone dose of 14.4 mg/h. The rate of degradation of CBZ increased exponentially with increase in ozone dose following a zero-order rate at each dose level. The degradation rate of CBZ in wastewater was slower compared to deionized water (DI) water by 40–75% for various doses of ozone, presumably due to the presence of organic matter remaining in treated wastewater. Optimal UV intensities for UVA and UVC were obtained as 0.62 and 0.82 mW/cm² for all doses of ozone in synthetic spiked water samples and UV intensities beyond this resulted in lower rates of degradation of CBZ. For photo-assisted ozonation with ozone doses of 9.6 and 14.4 mg/L, rate constants were two times higher for UVA irradiations as compared to UVC irradiation. Contrary to observations in DI water, experiments in wastewater showed increase in rate of degradation with higher UV intensities. Overall, photo-assisted ozonation was found to be appropriate for both water and wastewater treatment by exploiting the benefit of direct attack of ozone and of produced ^?OH radicals to yield a greater extent of mineralization of CBZ.     

Tannic acid-based tough hyperbranched epoxy thermoset as an advanced environmentally sustainable high-performing material

Bio-based resources are progressively replacing those of petroleum-based to address the detrimental impact on environment and health issues. In this regard, hyperbranched epoxy resins with three different compositions were synthesized by simple polycondensation reaction of bio-based branching reactant, diethanolamide of gallic acid with bisphenol-A, and epichlorohydrin. Diethanolamide of gallic acid was obtained from the reaction between tannic acid and diethanol amine in the presence of sodium methoxide catalyst. FTIR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analyses were employed to confirm the structure of branching unit and hyperbranched resins. Poly(amido amine)-cured hyperbranched epoxy thermosets exhibited superior properties, such as tensile strength (45–57.2 against 38.5 MPa), elongation-at-break (16.3–24.2 against 5 %), scratch hardness (>10 against 7 kg), toughness (577.8–859.1 against 150.2 MPa), tensile adhesive strength (1647–2086 against 581 MPa), and biodegradability (17.6–31 against 2.2 %), compared with the conventional bisphenol-A-based epoxy, prepared under the same conditions. These results simply indicate the advantageous of the bio-based moiety and hyperbranched architecture on the overall performance of the thermosets. Moreover, good antioxidative response of these thermosets expands their applications as protective coatings and adhesive materials. Thus, diethanolamide of gallic acid-based hyperbranched epoxy thermoset can be used as potent ecofriendly advanced material in multifaceted applications.