Synthesis and characterization of (poly (N-vinyl formamide)—pregelled starch—graft copolymer

Bromate / cyclohexanone redox system was investigated as a novel initiator for graft copolymerization of N-vinyl formamide onto pregelled starch. A number of variables in the grafting reaction were investigated including N-vinyl formamide, cyclohexanone, bromate ion, sulphuric acid and pregelled starch concentrations, material to liquor ratio along with polymerization time and temperature. The graft copolymers were evaluated in terms of graft yield, graft reaction efficiency and homopolymer formation (%). The optimum conditions for grafting of N-vinyl formamide onto pregelled starch are: N-vinyl formamide 50% based on weight of substrate, cyclohexanone 15 mmol / l, bromate ion, 30 mmol / l, liquor ratio 10, pH 6, time 120 min., and temperature 40°C. On the other hand, characterizations of the resultant copolymers with respect to swelling capacity, solubility %, metal ion up-take and suitability as a sizing agent for cotton textiles were investigated. The results obtained reflect that, the resultant copolymer shows better results for the aforementioned properties in comparison with that obtained from native pregelled starch as a starting substrate.     

Coupled hydroelastic vibrations of an elliptical cylindrical tank with an elastic bottom

An exact three-dimensional analysis based on the linear potential theory and the elaborated method of eigenfunction expansion in elliptic coordinates are presented to study the free coupled elasto-hyrodynamic characteristics of an upright non-deformable cylindrical container of elliptical planform with a flexible bottom plate, filled to an arbitrary depth with an inviscid incompressible liquid. Extensive numerical data are presented in an orderly fashion for the first few symmetric/anti-symmetric coupled hydroelastic natural frequencies as a function of fluid depth parameter for two plate aspect ratios. Also, selected hydrodynamic and structural deformation modes shapes are presented in graphical form. The effects of liquid level, bottom plate elasticity, and cross sectional aspect ratio on the sloshing frequencies and hydrodynamic pressure modes are examined. The validity of the results is examined through computations using a commercial finite element package as well as by comparison with the data available in literature.     

Recycling of glass in synthesis of MCM-48 mesoporous silica as catalyst support for Ni<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> photocatalyst for Congo red dye removal

Glass was successfully recycled in the synthesis of mesoporous silica MCM-48 which was used as catalyst support for nickel oxide photocatalyst. The resulted products were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The precipitated nickel oxide is of Ni₂O₃ form and loading of it onto MCM-48 resulted in a reduction in the band gap energy from about 3.66 eV to about 2.4 eV. The role of MCM-48 as catalyst support for Ni₂O₃ in enhancing the adsorption capacity and photocatalytic properties of nickel oxide was evaluated through series of equilibrium studies and photocatalytic degradation of Congo red dye under visible light. Using of glass-based MCM-48 as catalyst support for Ni₂O₃ showed enhancing the adsorption capacity by 31.3 and 14.8% higher than the adsorption capacity of Ni₂O₃ and MCM-48, respectively. Also, the photocatalytic degradation percentage increased by about 67.3% relative to the Ni₂O₃ degradation percentage. The nature of MCM-48/Ni₂O₃ adsorption mechanism is chemisorption and occurs in multilayer form throughout the heterogeneous surface of the composite. The using of MCM-48 as support for Ni₂O₃ photocatalyst enhanced the adsorption capacity through increasing the total surface area. The loading process resulted in fixing of the Ni₂O₃ particles throughout the porous structure which producing more exposed active photocatalyst sites and active adsorption sites for the incident photons as well as preventing the nickel oxide particles from agglomeration. Based on the obtained results, supporting of Ni₂O₃ particles onto MCM-48 is promising active centers for the degradation of Congo red dye molecules.     

Shades of green: A psychographic segmentation of the green consumer in Kuwait using self-organizing maps

This study uses self-organizing maps (SOM) to examine the effect of various psychographic and cognitive factors on green consumption in Kuwait. SOM is a machine learning method that can be used to explore patterns in large and complex datasets for linear and non-linear patterns. The results show that major variables affecting green consumption are related to altruistic values, environmental concern, environmental knowledge, skepticism towards environmental claims, attitudes toward green consumption, and intention to buy green products. The study also shows that SOM models are capable of improving clustering quality while extracting valuable information from multidimensional data.     

The Effect of Nitrogen Injection on Production Improvement in an Iranian Rich Gas Condensate Reservoir

In gas condensate reservoirs, after a decrease in pressure below the dew point pressure, condensate formation would occur. One of the common and practical methods for prohibiting the rapid pressure drop in the reservoir and reduction of liquid dropout is gas injection. In this study, experimental measurement, the full field reservoir model and an economical evaluation have been performed to investigate the effect of nitrogen injection on an Iranian Southwestern gas condensate reservoir. At first, swelling and CVD tests were carried out to determine the swelling factor and changing the saturation pressure by nitrogen. Then, the full field simulation (history matching and prediction) was performed and finally an economical evaluation has been made. The results show that injecting more volumes of nitrogen cause to decrease the liquid dropout, increase the dew point pressure, and condensate ultimate recovery, but this process is not an economical project.     

Preparation and properties of probiotic concentrated yoghurt (labneh) fortified with conjugated linoleic acid

Milk of high conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) level (1.25 g per 100 g milk fat) was produced by inclusion of fish oil and rousted soy bean in the ration of Holstein cows as compared to 0.55 g per 100 g milk fat in the milk of animals receiving control diet. Milk of normal (control) and high CLA content (treatment) was spray‐dried. Labneh was made from 20 g L^?1 reconstituted milk using 3 mL per 100 mL yoghurt starter and 2 mL per 100 mL of probiotic cultures of Lactobacillus casei or Lactobacillus acidophilus. The control (C) and high CLA (T) labneh were analysed chemically and microbiologically, and their viscosities were determined during cold storage for 15 days. The fat content of labneh of high CLA was less than that of the control, but the total solids (TS) were unaffected by the CLA level. Labneh made with Lb. acidophilus had lower TS and higher acidity, exopolysaccharides and acetaldehyde contents and viscosity than that made with the use of Lb. casei. Labneh from the different treatments retained high counts of the added probiotic (>10⁸ cfu g^?1) throughout the storage period. The storage period had significant effects on all parameters determined.     

Effect of curing under pressure on compressive strength development of cemented paste backfill

The mechanical performance of cemented paste backfill (CPB) placed in underground openings (e.g., mine stopes) often differs from laboratory-predicted performance, even under the same atmospheric curing conditions (ambient temperature and relative humidity). This is probably due to the specific self-weight consolidation, different drainage conditions and confinement pressures encountered in the paste backfilled stopes. A new test system named CUAPS (Curing Under Applied Pressure System) was designed at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) to assess the hydro-mechanical performance of in situ CPB samples at laboratory scale. The CUAPS apparatus allows the effective curing of CPB samples subjected to an assortment of vertical pressure applications (curing under stresses) that can mimic in situ placement and consolidation conditions. The compressive strength development of CPB samples prepared from sulphide-rich mine tailings from Garpenberg polymetallic mine (Sweden) was investigated using CUAPS apparatus and conventional plastic moulds (unconsolidated undrained samples) in parallel. The effect of curing stress (i.e. simulating different consolidation conditions) on resultant geotechnical index parameters and hydromechanical properties of CPB samples was analyzed. The primary observation is the confirmation that the compressive strength development of the consolidated CPB samples is higher than that of unconsolidated undrained ones. It could be attributed to the removal of excess pore water mainly due to the applied pressure during the effective curing process, which seems to improve consolidation process of the CPB material. The results also account for the differences in the CPB strength observed between laboratory samples and in situ samples. Thus, CUAPS would be more suitable than conventional plastic moulds to collect data for preliminary and final design of CPB systems.     

Microstructure and phase composition of cordierite-based co-clinker

The aim of this work is to study the effect of phase composition and microstructure of cordierite-based co-clinkers on the electrical properties and coefficient of thermal expansion of cordierite briquettes. To achieve this aim talc and kaolinite samples were collected from quarries in the Egyptian desert. The samples are characterized using XRD, XRF, polarized light, cathodoluminescence and SEM microscopy attached with EDAX, in addition to X-ray micro-computed tomography (3D- µXCT). The electrical properties and coefficient of thermal expansion of the cordierite briquettes are determined using HiTESTER instrument and automatic Netzsch DIL402 PC dilatometer, respectively.Five talc-based batches were shaped and fired in the temperature range 1000–1350 °C for 2 h. The microstructural and physical characteristics of the resulted cordierite-based co-clinkers depend mainly on the viscosity of the liquid phase developed during firing. The microchemistry of the cordierite briquettes confirms their enrichment of both cordierite and ferroan-cordierite crystallized directly from locally developed melts. The dielectric constant and loss factor values for cordierite briquettes allow their possible use as insulator components in electronic applications.     

HF etching effect on sandblasted soda-lime glass properties

Our objective in this work is to study the HF etching chemical treatment effect on the mechanical and optical properties of soda-lime glass eroded with 200 g fixed sand mass. We followed the evolution of these properties in relation to the chemical attack duration.The results show a clear improvement of the measured properties. The strength of the eroded samples is 44.23 ± 0.91 MPa. It increases up to 57.73 ± 1.76 MPa after 15 min of treatment and reaches 181.43 ± 23.69 MPa after 1 h. This last value is much higher than the as received glass strength (117.5 ± 10.48 MPa). The optical transmission of the eroded samples is about 18.5%. During the first 2 min of the chemical treatment, an important drop of the optical transmission (12%) was observed. However, improvement of the transmission was achieved for longer chemical treatment durations. After 8 h of treatment, the optical transmission increases up to 57%. Microscopic observations show that the HF attack causes the opening and the blunting of the surface cracks. In general, the surface state is improved during the chemical treatment.     

Modeling the efficiency of top Arab banks: A DEA–neural network approach

This study investigates the efficiency of top Arab banks using two quantitative methodologies: data envelopment analysis and neural networks. The study uses a probabilistic neural network (PNN) and a traditional statistical classification method to model and classify the relative efficiency of top Arab banks. Accuracy indices are used to assess the classification accuracy of the models. Results indicate that the predictive accuracy of NN models is quite similar to that of traditional statistical methods. The study shows that the NN models have a great potential for the classification of banks’ relative efficiency due to their robustness and flexibility of modeling algorithms. From a policy perspective, this study highlights the economic importance of encouraging increased efficiency throughout the banking industry in the Arab world.