Cavitation Mediated 3D Microstructured Architectures from Nanocarbon

Here, the formation of high surface area microscale assemblies of nanocarbon through phosphate and ultrasound cavitation treatment is reported. Despite high conductivity and large surface area, potential health and safety concerns limit the use of nanocarbon and add challenges to handling. Previously, it is shown that phosphate ultrasonic bonding is ineffective for organic materials but in this study, it is found that by a preliminary oxidizing treatment, several carbons can be readily assembled from xerogels. Assembling nanocarbon into microparticles can usually require a binder or surfactants, which can reduce surface area or conductivity and generate a low microsphere yield. Carbon nanotube microspheres are nitrogen‐doped and flower‐like nanostructured Pt deposited on their surface, and finally showcased as efficient cathode electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (half‐wave potential 0.78 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode) and methanol oxidation (417 mA mg^?1). In particular, no significant degradation of the catalysts is detected after 12 000 cycles (26.6 h). These results indicate the potential of this multimaterial assembly method and open a new way to improve handling of nanoscale materials.     

Impact of Free Fatty Acids and Phospholipids on Reverse Micelles Formation and Lipid Oxidation in Bulk Oil

Association colloids such as phospholipid reverse micelles could increase the rate of lipid oxidation in bulk oils. In addition to phospholipids, other surface active minor components in commercial oils such as free fatty acids may impact lipid oxidation rates and the physical properties of reverse micelles. In this study, the effects of free fatty acids on changes in the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) in stripped corn oil (SCO) were determined by using the 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane solubilization technique. Different free fatty acids including myristoleic, oleic, elaidic, linoleic and eicosenoic were added at 0.5 % by wt along with the DOPC into the bulk oils. There was no significant effect of free fatty acids with different chain length, configuration and number of double bonds on the CMC value for DOPC in bulk oil. However, increasing concentrations of oleic acid (0.5 to 5 % by wt) caused the CMC value for DOPC in bulk oils to increase from 400 to 1,000 μmol/kg oil. Physical properties of DOPC reverse micelles in the presence of free fatty acids in bulk oils were also investigated by the small angle X-ray scattering technique. Results showed that free fatty acids could impact on the reverse micelle structure of DOPC in bulk oils. Moreover, free fatty acid decreased pH inside reverse micelle as confirmed by the NMR studies. The oxidation studies done by monitoring the lipid hydroperoxide and hexanal formation revealed that free fatty acids exhibited pro-oxidative activity in the presence and absence of DOPC. Different types of free fatty acids had similar pro-oxidative activity in bulk oil.     

Best practices for organizational change management within electrical contractors

Few studies have investigated best practices for organizational change management (OCM) within the electrical contracting industry. This study had two research questions: first, to determine whether there is a relationship between electrical contractor usage of OCM practices and successful change adoption; second, to identify whether electrical contractors have recommendations for how to effectively implement OCM practices within their companies. The first research question was assessed via a national survey of 94 electrical contractors who had recently adopted an organizational change. The second question was explored through 11 in-depth interviews of electrical contractors who had implemented organizational changes such as prefabrication, management team realignment, new software, paperless mobile technology, payroll automation, and entering into a new market. Results showed OCM practices were associated with successful change adoption. OCM practices that had a direct association with successful change adoption included change agent effectiveness, a realistic timescale, providing change-related training, senior leadership commitment, measuring performance benchmarks, providing sufficient resources, and effective change message communication. Interviewees recommended best practices for executing these OCM practices. Contributions include being the first study to investigate OCM practices specifically within the electrical contracting industry and identification of how practitioners can implement OCM practices for their change initiatives.