Characterization of the Composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caesalpinia bonducella</Emphasis> Seed Grown in Temperate Regions of Pakistan

Caesalpinia bonducella is an oilseed that is indigenous to Pakistan. The hexane-extracted oil content from the seed kernel was 17.3 ± 1.0% DM (dry matter). The proximate analysis of C. bonducella seed estimated protein, fiber and ash contents to be 20.8 ± 1.4, 5.3 ± 1.0 and 4.6 ± 0.8%, respectively. Trace metals were determined comparable to commonly consumed legume seeds. α-Tocopherol was the predominant tocopherol ranging from 345.10 to 460.21 mg/kg of oil, followed by γ- and δ-tocopherol. The major sterols were β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, Δ5-avenasterol, Δ7-stigmastenol and Δ7 avenasterol. The kernel oil was found to contain a high level of linoleic acid (72.7 ± 1.0%) followed by oleic, stearic and palmitic acids. The high percentage of linoleic acid revealed that this oil is a potential source for the manufacture of cosmetics, paints, varnishes, soaps, liquid soaps and other products including biodiesel. These investigations suggest that C. bonducella oil is potentially an important dietary source of essential fatty acids and protein which could be employed for edible and commercial applications in various industries of Pakistan.     

Fabrication of HA/PHBV composite scaffolds through the emulsion freezing/freeze-drying process and characterisation of the scaffolds

Biodegradable polymer-based scaffolds containing osteoconductive hydroxyapatite (HA) particles can be very useful for bone tissue engineering. In this investigation, HA nanoparticles were incorporated in poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) polymer to fabricate osteoconductive composite scaffolds. PHBV and HA/PHBV scaffolds were made using an emulsion freezing/freeze-drying technique. The scaffolds produced were subsequently characterized using several techniques. It was found that the scaffolds were highly porous and had interconnected porous structures. The pore size ranged from several microns to around 300 mum. The spherical HA nanoparticles which were produced in-house through a nanoemulsion process could be incorporated into composite scaffolds although some of these nanoparticles existed on the surface of pore walls when a relatively large amount of HA was used for composite scaffolds. The incorporation of HA nanoparticles also enhanced compressive mechanical properties of the scaffolds.     

In situ reactive compatibilization of aramid/polystyrene blends using amine‐functionalized polystyrene

High molecular weight aramid chains (Ar) were synthesized from aromatic diamine and diacid chloride. Amine functionality was introduced to polystyrene (PS) in two steps i.e., nitration followed by reduction producing amino functional polystyrene (APS) which serves as a reactive compatibilizer, being reactive with the Ar end‐groups. APS was characterized by FTIR, NMR spectral data, and exploited in the preparation of Ar/APS blends, and the effect of reactive compatibilization on blend morphology and interfacial adhesion was explored. Two blend systems Ar/PS and Ar/APS were investigated over a range of PS or APS ratios. To assess the effect of amine units incorporated in PS, on the compatibility with Ar; morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties were probed. Incorporation of reactivity into the system has resulted in significant refinement of the blend morphology and augmentation of thermal stability. The in situ generation of APS‐g‐Ar copolymers during solution mixing of APS and Ar was evaluated using spectroscopic analysis. In addition to stabilizing the microstructure, in situ compatibilization was found to alter the mechanical properties of the Ar/APS interface. Ar/APS blend containing 10 wt% APS was found to demonstrate optimum mechanical reinforcement as complemented by the optimal thermal and morphological profiles of 10 wt% Ar/APS blend. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Oscillator strengths and transition probabilities from the Breit–Pauli R-matrix method: Ne IV

The atomic parameters–oscillator strengths, line strengths, radiative decay rates (A$A$), and lifetimes–for fine structure transitions of electric dipole (E1) type for the astrophysically abundant ion Ne IV are presented. The results include 868 fine structure levels with n≤$n\le$ 10, l≤$l\le$ 9, and 1/2≤J≤$\le J\le$ 19/2 of even and odd parities, and the corresponding 83,767 E1 transitions. The calculations were carried out using the relativistic Breit–Pauli R-matrix method in the close coupling approximation. The transitions have been identified spectroscopically using an algorithm based on quantum defect analysis and other criteria. The calculated energies agree with the 103 observed and identified energies to within 3% or better for most of the levels. Some larger differences are also noted. The A$A$-values show good to fair agreement with the very limited number of available transitions in the table compiled by NIST, but show very good agreement with the latest published multi-configuration Hartree–Fock calculations. The present transitions should be useful for diagnostics as well as for precise and complete spectral modeling in the soft X-ray to infra-red regions of astrophysical and laboratory plasmas.