Investigations on the thermal and flexural properties of plain weave carbon/epoxy-nanoclay composites by hand-layup technique

The matrix of carbon fiber/SC-15 epoxy composites was modified with Nanomer^® I-28E nanoclay, a surface modified montmorillonite mineral, to determine the effects of particle reinforcement on the response of these materials to flexural and thermomechanical loading. Different weight percentages of nanoclay were dispersed in SC-15 epoxy using sonication route. The nanophased epoxy was then used to manufacture plain weave carbon/epoxy nanocomposites using hand-layup process followed by vacuum bagging. Control samples of woven carbon fiber/epoxy were fabricated for comparison purposes. Effect of post curing on these samples was also investigated. 3-point bend flexure and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) studies were carried out on 8- and 3-layered samples respectively. Results of flexural tests indicate significant improvements in flexural strength and modulus for nanoclay reinforced composites as compared to the control samples. DMA studies also showed enhancement in thermomechanical properties especially in storage modulus though no appreciable change was noticed in glass transition temperature, T _g. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies were carried out to comprehend the effect of nanoclay on the microstructure and the failure modes.     

A simple time domain algorithm for the detection of ventricular fibrillation in electrocardiogram

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the most serious variety of arrhythmia which requires quick and accurate detection to save lives. In this paper, we propose a new time domain algorithm, called threshold crossing sample count (TCSC), which is an improved version of the threshold crossing interval (TCI) algorithm for VF detection. The algorithm is based on an important feature of the VF signal which relies on the random behavior of the electrical heart vector. By two simple operations: comparison and count, the technique calculates an effective measure which is used to separate life-threatening VF from other heart rhythms. For assessment of the performance of the algorithm, the method is applied on the complete MIT-BIH arrhythmia and CU databases, and a promising good performance is observed. Seven other classical and new VF detection algorithms, including TCI, have been simulated and comparative performance results in terms of different quality parameters are presented. The TCSC algorithm yields the highest value of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The new algorithm shows strong potential to be applied in clinical applications for faster and accurate detection of VF.     

Fabrication of CdS/SnS heterostructured device using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction deposited SnS

In the present work successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method has been employed for the growth of SnS films on chemical bath deposited CdS thin films. The as-grown and post annealed CdS/SnS heterostructures were investigated under dark and illuminated conditions. It has been observed that annealing improves the quality of the device. This paper presents the attempt towards realizing SnS based heterostructured devices using SnS films grown by SILAR technique.     

The prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and PFGE profiles of Laribacter hongkongensis in retail freshwater fish and edible frogs of southern China

Laribacter hongkongensis is a novel emerging pathogen associated with human gastroenteritis. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genotypic relationship of 199 L. hongkongensis isolates from 690 intestinal samples of fish and frogs. These samples were collected from retail markets in the city of Guangzhou in southern China from October 2008 to September 2009. L. hongkongensis was detected in from 80 (16.3%) out of 490 freshwater fish, and this number included 76 (32.3%) out of 235 grass carp and 4 (14.8%) out of 27 bighead carp. A higher isolation rate of 59.5% (119 out of 200) was observed in edible frogs. The isolation rate was highest in the spring in comparison with other seasons. Notably, 63.8% of the isolates were resistant to at least one class of antimicrobial agents. Analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed that the isolates could be grouped into three clusters. Isolates from fish intestines were grouped into two clusters: cluster I and II. Isolates of frog-origin and several fish-origin isolates were grouped into cluster III. Two patient-derived strains could be classed into cluster III. Extensive genetic heterogeneity among the isolates was observed. The results indicate that L. hongkongensis isolates exhibits host tropism, extensive resistance to widely used antimicrobials and diverse biological evolution in an aquatic environment. The frog is more likely than the freshwater fish to be the potential source for human infection with L. hongkongensis.     

From directed evolution to computational enzyme engineering—A review

Nature relies on a wide range of enzymes with specific biocatalytic roles to carry out much of the chemistry needed to sustain life. Enzymes catalyze the interconversion of a vast array of molecules with high specificity—from molecular nitrogen fixation to the synthesis of highly specialized hormones and quorum-sensing molecules. Ever increasing emphasis on renewable sources for energy and waste minimization has turned enzymes into key industrial workhorses for targeted chemical conversions. Modern enzymology is central to not only food and beverage manufacturing processes but also finds relevance in countless consumer product formulations such as proteolytic enzymes in detergents, amylases for excess bleach removal from textiles, proteases in meat tenderization, and lactoperoxidases in dairy products. Herein, we present an overview of enzyme science and engineering milestones and the emergence of directed evolution of enzymes for which the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Dr. Frances Arnold.     

Bi-metallic catalysts of mesoporous Al2O3 supported on Fe,Ni and Mn for methane decomposition: Effect of activation temperature

Methane decomposition reaction has been studied at three different activation temperatures (500 °C, 800 °C and 950 °C) over mesoporous alumina supported Ni–Fe and Mn–Fe based bimetallic catalysts. On co-impregnation of Ni on Fe/Al₂O₃ the activity of the catalyst was retained even at the high activation temperature at 950 °C and up to 180 min. The Ni promotion enhanced the reducibility of Fe/Al₂O₃ oxides showing higher catalytic activity with a hydrogen yield of 69%. The reactivity of bimetallic Mn and Fe over Al₂O₃ catalyst decreased at 800 °C and 950 °C activation temperatures. Regeneration studies revealed that the catalyst could be effectively recycled up to 9 times. The addition of O₂ (1 ml, 2 ml, 4 ml) in the feed enhanced substantially CH₄ conversion, the yield of hydrogen and the stability of the catalyst.     

Application of customer interruption costs in transmission networkreliability planning

A method that can be utilized to ascertain the optimum level of power supply reliability is used to compare the incremental cost of providing reliability with the incremental benefit of that reliability. The benefit of an increment of reliability can be considered to be the change in the customer interruption cost related to the change in the reliability level. Reliability cost-reliability benefit assessment is, thus, an important aspect of electric power supply planning process. Customer interruption costs form an essential input to this reliability cost-reliability benefit assessment process. This paper illustrates the utilization of customer interruption cost information in transmission network reliability planning using Canada's Alberta Interconnected Transmission Grid. The methodology presented in this paper can readily be applied to industrial and commercial power systems     

NEW XANTHIC ACID DERIVATIVES AS POTENTIAL REAGENTS IN THE SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF PRECIOUS METAL IONS: EXTRACTION OF PALLADIUM(II) WITH 13-BIS(0-BUTYLXANTHATO)PROPANE

ABSTRACT

Two series of new xanthic acid derivatives namely, the bis (O-butylxanthato) alkanes ( abbreviated as BBXAs or simply as bis-xanthates in this paper) have been synthesized in connection with the solvent extraction of precious metal ions. From an aqueous medium containing 0.1 M NaC10₄ (1 M=l mol dm^-3), these compounds exhibited high selectivity for extraction of Pd(II) and Ag(I) in dichloroethane, over most of the base metals as well as Pt(IV) and Au(III) ions. Towards Pd(II) and Ag(I) ions, the bis compounds act as SS chelating agents where the stabilities of the extractable complexes are determined by the length of the alkylene chain existing between the donor atoms. Pd(II) extraction has been studied in detail taking 13-bis(O-n-butylxanthato)propane (BnBXP) as the representative member of the series of bis-xanthates synthesized in this work. The extraction of palladium(II) was found to be quite slow in pure chloride medium. But, a mixed acid medium containing H₂SO₄ or HNO₃ in the presence of smaller amount of chloride ion provided optimum reversible extraction of palladium in dichloroethane, where Pd(II) forms 1:1 extractabic complexes with BnBXP. Pd(II) extraction is described in terms of the aqueous phase compositions, extraction and back-extraction data, extraction equilibrium, selectivity considerations and probable mechanisms of extraction.     

Tensile,flexural and morphological properties of electron beam-crosslinked LDPE–EPDM blends

The effect of electron beam (EB) irradiation on the tensile, flexural and morphological properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/ethylene-propylene diene elastomer (EPDM) blends had been studied in the absence and presence of crosslink promoters, such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) and triallyl cyanurate (TAC). Blends were prepared by melt mixing of LDPE and EPDM followed by EB irradiation at various doses. The gel fraction (%) of irradiated blends was increased with an increase in EPDM content as well as EB irradiation dose and consequently the tensile and flexural properties of the blends increased. The incorporation of crosslinking promoters accelerated the gel formation and improved the properties upon irradiation more efficiently. The phase morphology of fractured surface displayed immiscibility with a rough appearance before irradiation. But after irradiation, the surface became fine, smooth and uniform, which went on increasing upon irradiation, supporting the steady increase in mechanical properties. Surface appeared even smoother in the presence of TMPTA and TAC.     

Simultaneous polymerization and quaternization of 4‐vinyl pyridine

Quantitative polymerization of 4‐vinyl pyridine (4‐VP) and its quaternization has been done simultaneously for the first time in absence of organic solvents. 1, 4‐dibromo‐2‐butene acts as quaternizing agent. The quaternized polymer has been characterized by chemical, thermal and spectral analysis. The mechanistic path involved in the polymerization and quaternization has been elucidated. Particle size, surface area, ion exchange capacity and metal ion binding property were determined. The polymer was found to have pH‐dependent chromate ion binding capacity with high level of selectivity and good antibacterial activity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013