Thermal and optical properties of Cd1-x Zn x S thin films by photoacoustics

Ternary compounds Cd_1-x Zn _x S for various Zn concentration in thin films are synthesized by spray pyrolysis and studied by photoacoustics technique for thermal and optical properties. The thermal diffusivity as a function of the alloy composition measured by photoacoustics shows a maximum at x = 0.6. The optical band gap increases with zinc concentration and the continuous change indicates the formation of solid solution.     

Exploring bioactive fraction of Sargassum wightii: In vitro elucidation of angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibition and antioxidant potential

Bioactive fraction of brown algae Sargassum wightii (SWE) was obtained using silica column chromatography and preparative Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). FT-IR and LC–mass spectrometry ESI analysis revealed presence of various phlorotannins in the SWE. The IC₅₀ value of SWE was found to be 59.91, 51.04, and 55.21 μg/ml for scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay, respectively. SWE inhibited angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) in mixed-type manner with IC₅₀ value of 56.96 µg/ml and Ki value of 45 µg/ml. The dual function such as antioxidant and ACE inhibition of SWE warrants further study to understand the antihypertensive potential in vivo.     

The UK Childhood Cancer Study: maternal occupational exposures and childhood leukaemia and lymphoma

Risks of childhood leukaemia and lymphoma were investigated for specific work-related exposures of mothers in the UK Childhood Cancer Study. Interviews with parents of 1881 leukaemia and lymphoma cases (0-14 years) and 3742 controls collected job histories recording exposure to eight specific agents. Exposure was (1) self-reported and (2) reviewed, based mainly on exposure probability and exposure level. Completeness, consistency and sufficiency evaluated data quality. Of all job exposures which were self-reported as exposed, 33% cases and 34% controls remained classified as exposed after review, with the remainder designated as partially exposed or unexposed. No review of underreporting of exposure was made. Data quality was 'good' for 26% of cases and 24% of controls. For self-reported exposure, significant risks of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were observed for solvents and petrol in all time windows. For reviewed exposure, solvents remained significant for ALL during pregnancy and postnatally. Restricting analyses to good-quality information removed all significant results. Refinement of exposure assessment revealed misclassification of self-reported exposures and data quality influenced risk assessment. Maternal exposure to solvents should further be investigated. These findings must invoke caution in the interpretation of risks reliant on self-reported occupational data.     

Design and fabrication of novel auxetic weft-knitted fabrics with Kevlar yarns

For the purpose of fabricating three kinds of auxetic weft knitted fabrics, three different geometrical structures namely rotational structure, foldable structure and double-headed arrow topological structures with three different knit loop lengths were produced using computerized flat knitting machine. Experimental results show that all three different weft knitted fabrics have auxetic effect. The Poisson’s ratio values of the three fabrics are inversely proportional to knit loop lengths. However, differences exist between the curves of Poisson’s ratio relative to strain. With regards to the rotational and double-headed arrow topological structures, the curves tend to be monotonic, whilst that of the foldable structure takes the form of a parabola. This research thus confirms the possibility of producing auxetic fabrics based on several geometrical structures using flat knitting technology     

1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ). Study of thermal behaviour. Part II

Abstract

Thermal behavior of TNAZ (1,3,3 - trinitroazetidine) was studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermogravimetryc analysis (TGA).

It was found out that TNAZ is thermally more stable than RDX, but less stable than HMX and TNT. The reaction of intensive thermal decomposition starts at 183–230 °C, depending on heating rate, while the first exothermic reaction was observed at 178 °C at the heating rate of 1 °C/min.

By applying multiple heating rate DSC measurements and Ozawa's method the activation energy of 161.3 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor of 8.27·10¹³ 1/s were calculated from DSC peak maximum temperature-heating rate relationship. By the same method the activation energy of 157.5 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor of 4.55·10¹³ 1/s were calculated from DTA peak maximum temperature.

By applying Flynn-Wall isoconversional method it was calculated from DSC measurements that the activation energy equals between 140 and 155.6 kJ/mol at degrees of conversion ranging between 0.3 and 0.7, while pre-exponential factor ranges between 7.8·10¹² and 1.92·10¹³ 1/s.     

Evaluation of Crop Models for Simulating and Optimizing Deficit Irrigation Systems in Arid and Semi-arid Countries Under Climate Variability

The variability of fresh water availability in arid and semi-arid countries poses a serious challenge to farmers to cope with when depending on irrigation for crop growing. This has shifted the focus onto improving irrigation management and water productivity (WP) through controlled deficit irrigation (DI). DI can be conceived as a strategy to deal with these challenges but more knowledge on risks and chances of this strategy is urgently needed. The availability of simulation models that can reliably predict crop yield under the influence of soil, atmosphere, irrigation, and agricultural management practices is a prerequisite for deriving reliable and effective deficit irrigation strategies. In this context, this article discusses the performance of the crop models CropWat, PILOTE, Daisy, and APSIM when being part of a stochastic simulation-based approach to improve WP by focusing primarily on the impact of climate variability. The stochastic framework consists of: (i) a weather generator for simulating regional impacts of climate variability; (ii) a tailor-made evolutionary optimization algorithm for optimal irrigation scheduling with limited water supply; and (iii) the above mentioned models for simulating water transport and crop growth in a sound manner. The results present stochastic crop water production functions (SCWPFs) that can be used as basic tools for assessing the impact on the risk for the potential yield due to water stress and climate variability. Example simulations from India, Malawi, France and Oman are presented and the suitability of these crop models to be employed in a framework for optimizing WP is evaluated.     

Optimization of oil extraction from locust bean using response surface methodology

Optimization of oil extraction from locust beans (Parkia biglobosa) using central composite rotatable design of RSM was carried out. Independent variables were roasting temperature (90, 100, 110, 120, 130°C) and roasting duration (5, 10 15, 20, 25 min), while the responses were oil yield (OY), free fatty acid (FFA), color (CO), stability, anisidine value (AV), and specific gravity (SG). Data obtained from this study were analyzed using ANOVA and regression analysis. OY, FFA, CO, oil stability, AV, and SG of the oil ranged between (19.0–22.5%), (0.65–3.1%), (37.9–199.9 mg/L), (3.6–6.4%), (11.4–59.9 mg/L), (0.7–0.9), respectively. Roasting conditions significantly influenced all dependent variables at p<0.05. Coefficients of determination (R²) of the generated models ranged from 0.49 to 0.98. Optimum roasting condition was 108°C for 10 min. This gave 22.3% OY, 1.7% FFA, 54.9 mg/L CO, 4.1% stability, 16.5 mg/L AV, and 0.9 SG. Desirability of 0.8 was obtained for optimum conditions. Practical applications: Generally, African locust bean is fermented to give condiment. It has not been used for commercial oil production despite its richness in oil, but soybean with a similar oil content of about 18–20% has been used both for condiment and commercial oil production. Research into the potential of locust bean as a source of edible oil is desirable. Roasting is among pre‐treatment methods employed in vegetable oil industry. Information on degree of influence of these parameters on quantity and quality of oil recovered oil from African locust benefits both entrepreneur and researchers. Also, the developed mathematical expression for OY, FFA, CO, oil stability, AV, and SG, as influenced by roasting temperature and duration is an effective tool in predicting these parameters. The research output has both immediate and potential application.     

Melt/solution processable conducting polyaniline: Elastomeric blends with EVA

Polyaniline (PANI) protonated with dopant, the sulfonic acid of 3‐pentadecylphenoxyacetic acid (SPDPAA; synthesized from an inexpensive naturally existing biomonomer, cardanol), was blended with an elastomeric polymer, the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer. Blending was performed either by emulsion polymerization of aniline into the EVA matrix or by the solution‐mixing method. Thin films were prepared by the conventional melt‐processing technique for an emulsion‐polymerized system and by the solution‐casting method for a solution‐mixed system. In the case of the emulsion‐polymerized system, the percolation threshold occurs at a very low weight percentage of PANI, and a maximum conductivity value of 0.85 S cm^?1 was obtained for 28.5 wt % of PANI. These elastomeric conducting blends were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR and UV‐visible spectral analysis, conductivity measurements, SEM, XRD, tensile properties, TGA, and DSC. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 1438–1447, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10408