Sodium-dodecyl-sulphate-assisted synthesis of Ni nanoparticles: electrochemical properties

Stabilized nickel nanoparticles (SNNPs) were prepared using \(\hbox {Ni(acac)}_{2}\) (\(\hbox {acac} = \hbox {acetylacetonate}\)) via a simple solvothermal method. The synthesis of the nickel nanoparticles was performed in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) of different concentrations (mole ratios of SDS:\(\hbox {Ni(acac)}_{2} = 1{:}1\), 2:1 and 4:1), as the stabilizer, in order to appraise their influence on the morphology, size, dispersion, magnetic properties and electrochemical activity of the nickel nanoparticles. The synthesized products have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and electrochemical studies. It is noteworthy that the average particles size of the SNNPs has been reduced by increasing the SDS concentration, while at high concentration (mole ratio of SDS:\(\hbox {Ni(acac)}_{2} = 4{:}1\)), the small particles tend to coalesce and create a big one. The stabilized Ni nanoparticles could be used as electrode materials for hydrogen evolution in alkaline medium. The electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the higher conductivity and lower value of faraday resistance of the as-prepared samples were when the mole ratio of SDS:\(\hbox {Ni(acac)}_{2}\) was 2:1.     

Microstructure characterization,mechanical properties,compressibility and sintering behavior of Al-B4C nanocomposite powders

In the present work, Al-xB₄C nanocomposite (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in wt%, having the average B₄C size of 50 nm) were prepared using a high-energy ball mill. The milling times up to 16 h were applied. Then, the microstructural evolutions, mechanical properties, compressibility and sintering behavior of nanocomposites were investigated. The changes in powders morphology and microstructure during the milling process were characterized by laser diffraction particle size analyzer (LDA), SEM, XRD, EDS and TEM techniques. Compressibility and sintering behavior of milled powders compacted under different pressures (100–900 MPa) and at different sintering temperatures (500, 550 and 600 °C) were also studied. The pressing behavior of the nanocomposites was analyzed using linear compaction equations developed by Heckel, Panelli-Filho and Ge. The results showed the significant effects of B₄C amounts and sintering temperatures on the compressibility and sintering behavior of nanocomposites. The increase in the B₄C amount led to a decrease in both the compressibility rate and the sinterability of specimens. The maximum compression strength of 265 MPa and Vickers hardness of 165 VHN were obtained for Al-5 wt.% B₄C nanocomposite milled for 16 h followed by sintering at 600 °C.     

Multiple-slice imaging of a tissue-equivalent phantom by use of time-resolved optical tomography

Following several years of development the construction of a multichannel time-resolved imaging device for medical optical tomography has been completed. Images are reconstructed from time-resolved measurements by use of a scheme that employs a finite-element diffusion-based forward model and an iterative reconstruction solver. Prior to testing on clinical subjects the fully automated instrument and the reconstruction software are evaluated with tissue-equivalent phantoms. We describe our first attempt to generate multiple-slice images of a phantom without uniform properties along the axial direction, while still using a computationally fast two-dimensional reconstruction algorithm. The image quality is improved by the employment of an approximate correction method that uses scaling factors derived from the ratios of finite-element forward simulations in two and three spatial dimensions. The 32-channel system was employed to generate maps of the internal scattering and the absorption properties at 14 different transverse planes across the phantom. The images clearly reveal the locations of small inhomogeneous regions embedded within the phantom. These results were obtained by use of purely temporal data and without resource to reference measurements.     

Microstructural Evolution During the Hot Deformation of Ti-55Ni (at. pct) Intermetallic Alloy

The hot deformation behavior of Ti-55Ni (at. pct) alloy was studied using compression testing at 1173 K (900 °C) to 1323 K (1050 °C) and at the strain rates of 0.001 to 0.35 s⁻¹. The microstructure evolution was characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influences of hot-working parameters on the flow stress and microstructural features of this alloy were then analyzed. The results indicate that, depending on the temperature and strain rate, the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is the dominate mechanism. Besides, the particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) mechanism could partially recrystallize the structure. The PSN phenomenon is of significant importance for the Ti-55Ni (at. pct) that suffers from insufficient workability because of its high content of intermetallic phases. It is of interest that the discontinuous yielding phenomenon has been observed when the specimens were deformed at 1173 K (900 °C). Finally, the optimum parameters for hot working of Ti-55Ni (at. pct) alloy are determined as well.     

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and melatonin in the suprachiasmatic nucleus: effects on the calcium signal transduction cascade

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) harbors an endogenous oscillator generating circadian rhythms that are synchronized to the external light/dark cycle by photic information transmitted via the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT). The RHT has recently been shown to contain pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) as neurotransmitter/neuromodulator. PACAPergic effects on cAMP-mediated signaling events in the SCN are restricted to distinct time windows and sensitive to melatonin. In neurons isolated from the SCN of neonatal rats we investigated by means of the fura-2 technique whether PACAP and melatonin also influence the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). PACAP elicited increases of [Ca2+]i in 27% of the analyzed neurons, many of which were also responsive to the RHT neurotransmitters glutamate and/or substance P. PACAP-induced changes of [Ca2+]i were independent of cAMP, because they were not mimicked by forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP. PACAP caused G-protein- and phospholipase C-mediated calcium release from inositol-trisphosphate-sensitive stores and subsequent protein kinase C-mediated calcium influx, demonstrated by treatment with GDP-beta-S, neomycin, U-73122, calcium-free saline, thapsigargin, bisindolylmaleimide, and chelerythrine. The calcium influx was insensitive to antagonists of voltage-gated calcium channels of the L-, N-, P-, Q- and T-type (diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil, omega-conotoxin, omega-agatoxin, amiloride). Immunocytochemical characterization of the analyzed cells revealed that >50% of the PACAP-sensitive neurons were GABA-immunopositive. Our data demonstrate that in the SCN PACAP affects the [Ca2+]i, suggesting that different signaling pathways (calcium as well as cAMP) are involved in PACAPergic neurotransmission or neuromodulation. Melatonin did not interfere with calcium signaling, indicating that in SCN neurons the hormone primarily affects the cAMP signaling pathway.     

Planck-Scale Corrections to the Cardy–Verlinde Formula in SAdS Black Hole

Possible corrections to the thermodynamic quantities of a 4D Schwarzschild–anti–de Sitter (SAdS) black hole are investigated by considering the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) and the modified dispersion relation (MDR) separately. The quantum gravitational corrections to the Hawking temperature, energy and entropy of the black hole are calculated based on both the GUP and the MDR analysis. The explicit form of the corrections is worked out up to the sixth power of the Planck length. The quantum-corrected thermodynamic quantities due to GUP and MDR are used separately to obtain the quantum-gravitational corrections to the Cardy–Verlinde (C–V) formula. It is found that the C–V formula receives some new corrections in either of approaches. Through comparison of the corrections obtained from GUP and MDR approaches, it is shown that the results of these two alternative approaches should be identical if one uses the suitable expansion coefficients. Finally, the renormalized form of the C–V formula is introduced by redefining the Virasoro operator and the central charge within both the GUP and the MDR.     

Simulation of Natural Depletion and Miscible Gas Injection Effects on Asphaltene Stability in Petroleum Reservoir Fluids

Natural depletion of petroleum reservoirs as well as gas injection for enhance oil recovery, are unavoidable processes in the oil industry. Foremost, prediction of the problems due to these two processes is very necessary and important. So many field and experimental experiences have shown that heavy organic depositions, especially asphaltene deposition, are principal results during these processes. Results of laboratory simulation of asphaltene deposition during the natural depletion of petroleum reservoirs and also during gas injection and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes are reported here. This is achieved through the design of a new experimental setup for the investigation of pressure and composition effects on asphaltene deposition in petroleum fluids at high pressure and high temperature conditions. In this work, asphaltene deposition during decreasing pressure, from pressures greater than reservoir pressure to pressures below the bubble point pressure (natural depletion) and also asphaltene deposition during natural gas injection in reservoir conditions, are studied for three samples—one recombined sample and two bottomhole samples. All of the obtained results from this work conform to theoretical and other experimental works.     

Predicting the flow stress behavior of Ni-42.5Ti-3Cu during hot deformation using constitutive equations

The hot deformation behavior of ternary Ni-42.5Ti-3Cu alloy was modeled. Hot compression tests were carried out at the temperatures from 800 °C to 1000°C and at the strain rates of 0.001 s^?1 to 1 s^?1. The experimental results were then used to determine the constants for developing constitutive equations. There was an unacceptable fitting between the predicted and experimental results using Zener-Hollomon parameter in a hyperbolic sinusoidal equation form. The mismatches among the experimental and predicted results were observed almost for all tested conditions. By modifying the Zener-Hollomon parameter for the compensation of strain rate, a very good agreement was achieved between the predicted values and experimental ones. Both predicted and experimental stress-strain curves illustrate the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization. Also, in both cases, the peak and steady state stresses raised with decrease of temperature and increase of strain rate. The very good agreement between the measured and predicted results indicates the high accuracy of developed model and constitutive equations which can be used for predicting and analyzing the hot deformation behavior of Ni-42.5Ti-3Cu.