Composite Nanoarchitectonics of Graphene Oxide for Better Understanding on Structural Effects on Photocatalytic Performance for Methylene Blue Dye

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - The fabrication of graphene/graphene oxide bounded metal nanostructures, to form hybrid composites, and their utilization for the...     

Progress on Epoxy/Polyamide and Inorganic Nanofiller-Based Hybrids: Introduction,Application, and Future Potential

An efficient method to obtain better properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites is to introduce thermoplastic polymer such as polyamide into thermosetting resin. Combined effect of both polymers provides extra-bonding sites for nanofiller dispersion. This review mainly covers inorganic nanofiller dispersed epoxy/polyamide nanocomposite and their applications. To understand interaction between thermoset epoxy and thermoplastic polyamide, knowledge of structure, synthesis, and categorization is worth important. Addition of inorganic nanofiller such as layered silicate and metal oxide results in enhanced thermomechanical, physiochemical, and anticorrosive properties of resultant nanocomposite. These nanocomposites have applications as protective coatings, adhesives, insulators in electrical devices, and in aerospace industries.     

Gurum Seeds: A Potential Source of Edible Oil

Cucurbitaceae family seeds are mostly discarded as agro-industrial wastes. Gurum (Citrullus lanatus var. colocynthoide) is an underutilized wild cucurbit plant, closely related to desert watermelon, which is grown abundantly in some African countries. Gurum seeds can play a significant role in health and nutrition due to their high oil content. This review describes the nutritional composition of gurum seeds and their oil profile. Gurum seeds are a good source of oil (27–35.5%), fiber (26–31%), crude protein (15–18%), and carbohydrates (14–17%). Gurum seeds oil is extracted by supercritical CO₂ (SFE), screw press, and solvent extraction techniques. The gurum seeds oil is composed of unsaturated fatty acids with a high proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2) and oleic acid (C18:1). Gurum seeds oil contains various bioactive compounds, such as tocopherols, phytosterols, and polyphenols. It is reported that solvent extraction gives a higher yield than the screw press and SFE, but the SFE is preferred due to safety issues. More studies are required for producing better quality gurum seeds oil by using novel extraction techniques that can increase oil yield.     

Generation of electrical energy using lead zirconate titanate (PZT-5A) piezoelectric material: Analytical,numerical and experimental verifications

Energy harvesting is the process of attaining energy from the external sources and transforming it into usable electrical energy. An analytical model of piezoelectric energy harvester has been developed to determine the output voltage across an electrical circuit when it is forced to undergo a base excitation. This model gives an easy approach to design and investigate the behavior of piezoelectric material. Numerical simulations have been carried out to determine the effect of frequency and loading on a Lead zirconate titanate (PZT-5A) piezoelectric material. It has been observed that the output voltage from the harvester increases when loading increases whereas its resonance frequency decreases. The analytical results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental and numerical simulation results.     

The impact of daylight saving time on electricity consumption: Evidence from southern Norway and Sweden

This paper examines the impact of daylight saving time (DST) on electricity consumption in southern Norway and Sweden. As DST was implemented in both the countries in 1980, we do not have a clear counterfactual in the form of a control period to identify the impact of DST directly with before and after or with and without analysis. This problem in the study is resolved by using “equivalent day normalization technique” to identify the impact of DST. The difference-in-difference (DID) average treatment effects model suggests an annual reduction of at least 1.0 percent in electricity consumption for both Norway and Sweden due to DST. The average annual electricity consumption reduction corresponding to DST effects equals 519 and 882 GWh for southern Norway and Sweden, resulting in an annual financial saving of 16.1 million Euros and 30.1 million Euros, respectively. The distribution of treatment effects across different hours of the day indicates a small but significant reduction in electricity consumption during the morning and a steep decline during the evening hours in both countries.     

An LC-MS Method for Evaluating Photostability of Naloxone Hydrochloride I.V. Infusion

Naloxone is a well-known opioid antagonist indicated for the treatment of CNS （central nervous system） and respiratory depression induced by natural or synthetic opioid in adults and neonates whose mothers have received opioids. While it has been reported that an injection of 0.2 mg/mL of naloxone hydrochloride is physically and chemically stable, data on photostability on continuous i.v. infusion of 0.2 mg/mL of naloxone hydrochloride has not been reported. Therefore, a method was required for assessment of naloxone hydrochloride photostability. A high performance LC-MS （liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry） method was established to evaluate the photostability of naloxone hydrochloride. Injections of naloxone hydrochloride in 0.9% sodium chloride were exposed to artificial light and stored at room temperature （22 ~C） and 37 ~C. Naloxone losses up to 9.79% of its initial concentration when exposed to light at room temperature for 192 h, but the degradation increased up to 14.91% as the storage temperature increase. The disappearance of naloxone hydrochloride was correlated with the appearance of nor-oxymorphonedegradant. Naloxone hydrochloride is photosensitive and degradation increased at highly temperature and light intensity. Therefore, naloxone i.v. infusion solutions should either be protected from light and/or be frequently replaced when being administered to patients.     

Project Oriented Problem Based Learning: A Wireless Sensor Network Perspective

Every nation rely on latest engineering technologies to foster in today’s technological era. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is one of the latest emerging technologies being the center of interest of today’s researchers. All the researchers work hard to produce quick deliverables through Research and Development (RandD) and by applying different learning pedagogues. Currently, the learning pedagogues in Engineering RandD are Project Based Learning and Problem Based Learning (PBL). Based on these pedagogues, this paper propose and implements a hybrid pedagogy called Project Oriented PBL (PO-PBL) which is time effective and result oriented learning pedagogy. It has resulted in providing impetus to RandD in WSNs. Further the proposed pedagogy is divided into two paradigms namely PO-PBL Macro Model and PO-PBL Micro Model. We observed that PO-PBL Macro Model results in optimal number of deliverables in time restricted manner over large scale. Moreover, we have also implemented PO-PBL Micro Model, compared it with PO-PBL Macro Model and propose PO-PBL Micro Model as basis for designing self-learning algorithm for WSNs devices.     

Use of low CaO unprocessed steel slag in concrete as fine aggregate

Steel slag, which is produced locally in great amounts, has a negative impact on the environment when disposed. Local steel slag has a low CaO content and has no pozzolanic activity.In this research, local unprocessed steel slag is introduced in concrete mixes. Various mixes with compressive strength ranging from 25 to 45 MPa are studied. The slag is used as fine aggregate replacing the sand in the mixes, partly or totally. Ratios of 0%, 15%, 30%, 50% and 100% are used.Depending on the grade of concrete, the compressive strength is improved when steel slag is used for low sand replacement ratios (up to 30%).When optimum values are used, the 28-day tensile strength of concrete is improved by 1.4–2.4 times and the compressive strength is improved by 1.1–1.3 times depending on the replacement ratio and the grade of concrete. The best results are obtained for replacement ratios of 30–50% for tensile strength and 15–30% for compressive strength.Therefore, the use of steel slag in concrete would enhance the strength of concrete, especially tensile strength, provided the correct ratio is used.     

Use of basalt in asphalt concrete mixes

One of the main reasons behind the appearance of early distresses in Jordan roads and the low surface skid resistance is the use of marginal quality limestone aggregate. Large quantities of good quality basalt are available in the Northeastern parts of Jordan. In this research, the possibility of improving the properties of local asphalt concrete mixes by replacing different portions of the normally used limestone aggregate by basalt was investigated. The replacement included total replacement of the limestone by basalt, replacing the coarse aggregate, and replacing the fine aggregate. Results showed that the optimal mix was the mix that had basalt coarse aggregate and limestone fine aggregate. In order to overcome the stripping potential of the optimal mix, 20% of the filler portion of the aggregate, material smaller than 0.075 mm, was replaced by lime. The optimal mix showed superiority, over the tested mixes, in all the evaluated properties, which were Marshall Stability, indirect tensile strength, stripping resistance, resilient modulus, dynamic creep, fatigue, and rutting.