The effects of different UV‐B radiation intensities on morphological and biochemical characteristics in Ocimum basilicum L.

BACKGROUND: The effects of short‐term ultraviolet B (UV‐B) irradiation on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Cinnamon) plants at the 3–4 leaf pair and flowering stages were examined in controlled environment growth chambers. Plants were exposed to 0 (reference), 2 and 4 kJ UV‐B m^?2 day^?1 over 7 days. RESULTS: Exposure of basil plants to supplementary UV‐B light resulted in increased assimilating leaf area, fresh biomass and dry biomass. Stimulation of physiological functions in young basil plants under either applied UV‐B dose resulted in increased total chlorophyll content but no marked variation in carotenoid content. At the flowering stage the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of basil were affected by supplementary UV‐B radiation, decreasing with enhanced UV‐B exposure. Both total antioxidant activity (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical assay) and total phenolic compound content were increased by UV‐B light supplementation. Young and mature basil plants differed in their ascorbic acid content, which was dependent on UV‐B dose and plant age. UV‐B radiation resulted in decreased nitrate content in young basil plants (3–4 leaf pair stage). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the application of short‐exposure UV‐B radiation beneficially influenced both growth parameters and biochemical constituents in young and mature basil plants. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Shelf life of packaged sliced dry fermented sausage under different temperature

The aim of this study was to investigate the shelf-life of commercial sliced dry fermented sausage during storage at different temperatures. Different laminate composition was used for vacuum and nitrogen (100% N₂) packaging. The microbiological, physico-chemical and sensory parameters were analysed during 120 days storage at 4, 22 and 37 °C. Packaging materials were analysed for their barrier characteristic (oxygen permeability).     

Interaction of electrons with optical phonons localized in a quantum well

The scattering rate of electrons in a quantum well by localized polar optical and interface phonons is considered. The dependence of the force of the electron-phonon interaction on the frequency of optical phonons in materials of the heterostructure forming the electron and phonon quantum wells is determined. It is shown that, by varying the composition of semiconductors forming the quantum well and its barriers, it is possible to vary the scattering rates of electrons by a factor of several times. The scattering rates of electrons by polar optical phonons are calculated depending on the fractions In _x and In _y in the composition of semiconductors forming the In _x Al_{1 ? x} As/In _y Ga_{1 ? y} As quantum wells. Dependences of the mobility and saturated drift velocity of electrons in high electric fields and quantum wells In _y Ga_{1 ? y} As on the composition of the In _x Al_{1 ? x} As barriers introduced into quantum wells are determined experimentally. The electron mobility increases, while the saturated drift velocity decreases as the fraction of In _x in the composition of barriers is increased.     

A novel Cr–CeO2/La2O3 nanocomposite electrodeposited in sulphate Cr(III) bath

ABSTRACT

For the first time, the Cr–CeO₂ / La₂O₃ composite has been electrochemically deposited in a sulphate Cr (III) bath with an oxalate complexing agent. XRD analysis revealed that incorporation of CeO₂/La₂O₃ particles into the Cr matrix does not change its state and the Cr matrix remains fine-crystalline (crystallites size < 1?nm). The cross-section SEM and EDS analysis confirmed the incorporation of CeO₂/La₂O₃ particles into the Cr matrix. The studies of the mechanical properties of the Cr–CeO₂/La₂O₃ composite have shown that the hardness of the composite increases over that of the Cr deposit due to CeO₂/La₂O₃ particles incorporation, while both the friction coefficient and wear rate decrease. The mechanism of CeO₂/La₂O₃ nanoparticles incorporation into the Cr matrix has been discussed.     

Alkali-activated blends of calcined AlF3 production waste and clay

Recently, alkali-activated materials have shown great potential for use in the construction industry. The aim of this research was to study the properties of alkali-activated clay and the effect of incorporating AlF₃ production waste from a fertilizer production plant. The AlF₃ production waste, which was rich in alumina and silica, contributed to improved mechanical behaviour for all the mixtures investigated. This demonstrated the potential for use of this waste material. It was also noted that the dosage of Na₂O, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ are significant factors that influence the binding mechanism and properties of alkali-activated clay samples. The raw materials, precursors, and alkali-activated samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The highest compressive strength (17.50?MPa) was observed for alkali-activated clay samples containing 25% AlF₃ production waste, with an increase in compressive strength of up to 64% compared to the samples without the AlF₃ production waste. Deleterious natrite was shown to form in the samples without the production waste, which could be the reason for the lower observed mechanical properties of such samples.     

Photostability of phenothiazinyl-substituted ethylenes

Photostability of phenothiazinyl-substituted ethylenes in both solution and in solid state (thin films) was investigated as a function of UV exposure time. Fluorescence intensity and spectral variation measurements in the presence and absence of ambient air were used to determine the effect of oxygen on the degradation of the compounds. The observed reduction in the fluorescence efficiency of air-saturated solutions and thin films subjected to UV was attributed to permanent photo-oxidative degradation. Photostability was higher in the cases of molecules that contained two bulky phenothiazinyl groups as compared to those containing only one phenothiazinyl group and a smaller phenyl substituent. Fully reversible fluorescence intensity decay in the degassed phenothiazine solutions was attributed to photo-isomerization, whereas the partially reversible changes in fluorescence intensity that were observed for films in the absence of air were ascribed to both photoexcited carrier capture by deep-traps acting as exciton quenching centres and degradation imparted by UV-induced bond scission.     

Corrosion resistance of nanocrystalline Mg–Cr alloys deposited by magnetron sputtering

Nanocrystalline Mg–Cr alloys were formed by dc magnetron sputtering in a wide range of concentrations. Structure, composition and grain sizes of the deposits were studied by XRD and XPS. EIS and dc-voltammetry showed that small chromium concentrations (2–8 at.%) had detrimental effect, while high corrosion resistance was observed when chromium content reached one third or so. Chromium refinement effect on alloy crystalline structure was found by XRD. The values of grain sizes were determined as follows: Mg–3Al (chromium-free) – over 100 nm, Mg–2Cr – 60.5 nm, Mg–8Cr – 44.6 nm, Mg–20Cr – 31.0 nm, Mg–45Cr, Mg–53Cr – ∼11.0 nm and ∼15 nm for sputtered Cr. Mott–Schottky plots showed that the spontaneous oxide layers formed on the alloys with high Cr content (Mg–36Cr, Mg–53Cr) were highly doped semiconductors of n-type. A conductivity change n–p was observed at E = 0.0 V (Ag/AgCl) in a buffer solution (pH 9.9). The conductivity change was also confirmed by photo-electrochemical measurements. Surface enrichment by chromium during initial stages of corrosion was determined, which promote corrosion resistance and provides an opportunity of surface auto-protection (self-healing) in damaged locations.     

Computational analysis of impact of a bullet against the multilayer fabrics in LS-DYNA

A finite element model of the ballistic test against the multi-layer paraaramid textiles package structure has been developed in LS-DYNA. The bullet has been considered as a deformable body in contact with the fabric package represented by an interwoven yarn structure. The simplification of the model has been achieved by means of the “mezzo-mechanical” approach by avoiding the direct modeling of filaments comprising the yarns. Instead, yarns have been modeled by using thin shell elements the thickness of which represents the real thickness of yarns as it can be measured in the weave. The zones of the fabric remote from the point of impact have been presented as a roughly meshed uniform orthotropic thin shell model. The junction between the two types of zones of the fabric has been performed by means of the tie constraint and by proper adjustment of material parameters ensuring the same speeds of wave propagation in the interwoven yarn structure and in the uniform shell. Physical and numerical experiments have been performed in order to identify the material model parameters and to validate the model.     

The influence of distribution and deposit of conductive coating on shielding effectiveness of textiles

This study presents the investigation of electrically conductive fabrics with low resistivity, coated with formulation containing the conjugated polymer system – poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulphonate (PEDOT-PSS). The samples of fabrics were coated with PEDOT-PSS, using a screen printing method, by different patterns or coating their surface fully with different coating deposit. Methods for measurement of electrostatic properties, reflection and transmission as well as the assessment of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) shielding effectiveness were used for the characterization of electrical properties of developed samples. EMR shielding properties were investigated within 2–12 GHz frequency bands. The highest attenuation of the electromagnetic energy among tested fabrics was obtained on the fabrics fully coated with paste and it depended on deposit considerably. The influence of distribution and deposit of conductive coating on shielding effectiveness of textiles were determined. Correlation between shielding effectiveness and electrostatic properties of developed coated fabrics was also discussed. Electrical properties of samples coated with formulation containing PEDOT-PSS were compared with these of fabrics with metalized yarns, developed by us earlier. The results of EMR shielding measurements showed that fabrics coated with the paste containing conductive polymer system compared to fabrics with in-weaved conductive metalized yarns have certain advantages as EMR shields.