Chemical composition,antioxidative capacity and interactive antimicrobial potency of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad essential oil and antimicrobial agents against selected food‐related microorganisms

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidative activity of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad essential oil. The oil was analysed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty‐eight constituents were identified. The oxygenated monoterpenes (78.22%) were the principal compound group. Among them, carvacrol (53.86%) and thymol (19.84%) were the most abundant constituents. The oil exhibited an acceptable antimicrobial activity against most of the tested microorganisms. The checkerboard method was applied to determine fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) to interpret the synergetic, additive, indifference or antagonistic interactions between essential oil and each of antimicrobials (lysozyme, ciprofloxacin, fluconazole and amphotericin B) against food‐related microorganisms. The synergetic phenomenon (FICI ≤ 0.5) was observed in majority of combinations with the exception of the essential oil and lysozyme. The oil exhibited good 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 28.71 μg mL^?1). Also, the oil had strong antioxidative activity in β‐carotene‐linoleic acid assay relative antioxidant activity (RAA% = 95.45). This study demonstrated that the essential oil has beneficial biological properties and its simultaneous application with standard antimicrobials against food‐related microorganisms result in reduction in inhibitory doses of the antimicrobials in vitro.     

Magnetic solid phase extraction of copper from aquatic samples by Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles followed by atomic absorption spectrometric determination

A magnetic solid phase extraction was developed for preconcentration of Cu(II) as a 4-bromo-2-(2,4-dichloro-phenylimino)-phenol complex on Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ nanoparticles prior to its determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The effect of different parameters influencing the formation of the Cu complex and the extraction efficiency of the Cu complex were studied. Under optimal conditions, the calibration graph showed linearity in the range of 0.946–700 µg L^?1 (R² = 0.9995) of Cu(II). The limit of detection and relative standard deviation of the method (n = 6) were 0.283 µg L^?1 and 3.0%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to determine copper (II) in water samples.     

SiAlON–epoxy nanocomposite coatings: Corrosion and wear behavior

In this study, epoxy powder as a matrix was combined with different contents of silicon–aluminum–oxygen–nitrogen (SiAlON) nanoparticles using a planetary ball mill. Pure epoxy and nanocomposite powders were applied on the surface of plain carbon steel components by the electrostatic spraying method. Curing of the coatings was done in an oven or microwave for the appropriate time. The coating structure and morphology of the SiAlON nanoparticles were studied by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The corrosion properties of the coatings were assessed by immersion, Tafel polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results show that addition of 10 wt % SiAlON nanoparticles markedly increases the corrosion resistance of epoxy coatings. Thus, it can be inferred that the corrosion rate of these coatings is 15 to 18 times lower than that of pure epoxy samples and 8 to 11 times lower than coatings with 20 wt % SiAlON. The higher corrosion resistance of nanocomposite coatings can be attributed to the barrier properties of SiAlON nanoparticles. The tribological performance of the coatings was studied with the pin‐on‐disk test. The results of wear testing show that the samples containing 10 wt % SiAlON provide about five times more wear resistance than pure ones and about two times more than coatings with 20 wt % SiAlON. However, the coefficient of friction for nanocomposite coatings is reduced about 50% compared to the pure sample. Also, the curing process in either regime (oven or microwave) has the same effect on the corrosion and wear properties, and the coatings are completely crosslinked. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43855.     

Effect of modified single‐wall carbon nanotubes on mechanical and morphological properties of thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites based on (polyamide 6)/(acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)

Thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and polyamide 6 (PA6), with acid functionalized single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT), were prepared via a direct melt‐mixing process in an internal mixer. The influence of SWNT content (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5) on morphological properties of PA6/NBR with different ratios (80/20, 70/30, 60/40) were then investigated. Characterization of nanocomposites was conducted by using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs proved the droplet‐matrix blend morphology in which the size of NBR droplets decreased as the SWNT loading increased, suggesting dispersion of SWNT in the PA6 phase. It was further proved by transmission electron microscopy images, showing homogenous dispersion of SWNT in the PA6 phase. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed a slightly reduced percentage of crystallinity in samples containing SWNT. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites indicated an enhancement in tensile strength, modulus, and hardness on increasing SWNT content. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:336–341, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Treatment of Checkerboard Pressure in the Collocated Unstructured Finite-Volume Scheme

In this article, a new concept, “local triangle,” is described. A smoother pressure field is then obtained through the utilization of local triangles in a multiblock local triangulation method. The cell face velocity is corrected with a pressure-correction term which is usually underrelaxed. It is demonstrated that this relaxation factor has to be one, and it cannot be the general relaxation factor. It is indicated that the checkerboard oscillations are more significant at higher cell Reynolds numbers and, in turn, in this article, numerical simulations are mainly performed in turbulent flow.     

Experimental study of remaining creep life of SA-304L stainless steel using small punch creep test

In this paper, the remaining creep life of SA-304L stainless steel at elevated temperatures is studied. The small punch creep tests (SPCT) were performed on SA-304L virgin and aged materials at constant loads. Times to fracture and the minimum deflection rate in SPCTs were recorded, and the time-temperature parametric analysis was performed, based on experimental results. The constants of the Larson–Miller parameter and the Monkman–Grant relationship were obtained for different consumed creep life ratios, and eventually the equations were established to explain the variation of constants of the Larson–Miller parameter and the Monkman-Grant relationship with respect to the consumed creep life ratio.     

Objectification theory and deaf cultural identity attitudes: Roles in deaf women's eating disorder symptomatology.

This study examined the generalizability of direct and mediated links posited in objectification theory among internalization of sociocultural standards of beauty, body surveillance, body shame, and eating disorder symptoms with a sample of Deaf women. The study also examined the role of marginal Deaf cultural identity attitudes within this framework. Data from 177 Deaf women indicated positive relations among internalization, body surveillance, body shame, and eating disorder symptomatology. Consistent with tenets of objectification theory, body shame mediated the links of internalization and body surveillance with eating disorder symptoms. In addition, marginal Deaf identity attitudes (but not hearing, immersion, or bicultural attitudes) were linked uniquely with eating disorder constructs and had significant indirect relations through internalization with body surveillance, body shame, and eating disorder symptoms. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)